Friday, May 21, 2021

11 Great Canyons Around The World

 Canyons are formed from the Constant Erosion of Mountains, Cliffs or Escarpments and Peaks from The Action and Course of Wind and Water, usually Rivers. 

Rivers have a Natural Tendency to cut through Underlying Surfaces and will Eventually Wear Away Rock Layers to lessen their Own Pitch. Given enough time, their Bottoms will Gradually Reach a Baseline Elevation. Which is the Same Elevation as the Body of Water it will Eventually Drain into. This action, when the River Source and Mouth are at Much Different Base Elevations, will Form a Canyon.

The World has many Canyons that have been formed from the action of Meandering Rivers. The View of Naturally Sculpted Rocks is Absolutely Mesmerizing. 


1. Indus Gorge, Ladakh, India


This Canyon was formed from the Confluence of The Mighty Indus and Zanskar Rivers. The different shades of Blue of Each River look like An Easel being used to obtain a Deeper, Richer Color. Many Trekkers head to this Cliff to watch the Rivers Meet and take in this Awesome View.


2. Fjaðrárgljúfur Canyon, Iceland


Pronounced as "Flea-ya-du-Ragh-Glee-yo-Miyur" is a Canyon in South East Iceland which is up to 100 m deep and about 2 kilometres long, with the Fjaðrá (Flea-ya-du-Ragh) River flowing through it. It is located near the Village of Kirkjubæjarklaustur (Kir-kyu-bae-yar-klos-tur).

The Canyon was created by Progressive Erosion by flowing Water from Glaciers through the Rocks and Palagonite.


3. Colca Canyon, Peru


With a depth of 3270 meters, this is The Deepest Canyon in the World and is twice as deep as the famed Grand Canyon. Explorers estimated the depth as recent as 30 years ago.


4. Verdon Gorge, France


Sculpted by the Turquoise Waters of the Verdon River in Southern France, this Canyon is 25 km long and 700 meters deep. Due to its close proximity to the Beautiful French Riviera, it is a Popular Place for Tourists who come Kayaking and Swimming. The Limestone Walls, which are several hundreds of meters high, attract many Rock Climbers. It is considered an outstanding destination for Multi-Pitch Climbing.


5. Gandikota Canyon, India


Sculpted by the Pennar River in Andhra Pradesh, the Canyon is located close to the Village of Gandikota, which is home to a Historic Fort which overlooks it. At a height of 300 feet, the view is that of Red Granite Boulders and the Pennar River flowing underneath. 

Other than the Fort, there are Several Temples, The Jamia Masjid and Several View Points to Enjoy the Scenery.


6. Waimea Canyon, Hawaii, USA


Forget about the Beaches and Tropical Foliage that you would Naturally associate with the Hawaiian Archipelago. There are Places that have High Elevations. Say aloha to the Waimea Canyon, 16 km long and 900 meters deep on the western edge of Kaua'i island. You'll completely forget where you are.


7. Blyde River Canyon, South Africa


South Africa never ceases to amaze with Safaris, Beaches, Mountains, and Jungles. But there's yet another addition, Canyons. The Blyde River Canyon is 25 km long and 750 meters deep, the Lush Greenery covering the Rocks and Hills is absolutely breathtaking.


8. The Grand Canyon, Arizona, USA


Famed for its Crimson Brilliance thanks to Hollywood Movies and as a Favorite American Family Road Trip Destination, the Grand Canyon is the Ist of all the Canyons we think of. Sculpted by the Colorado River. It is home to a Prehistoric Petrified Forest that has Trees and Foliage that have become Solid Rock.

The waiting list to raft through the Colorado River in this spot can extend up to 10 years!


9. Fish River Canyon, Namibia


Remote and Wild, daytime temperatures in this part of interior Namibia can go as high up as 40 degrees Celsius. The Fish River Canyon is The Largest in Africa and features a Gigantic Ravine, in total about 160 km long, up to 27 km wide and in places almost 550 meters deep.

It is possible to drive up the Canyon and get a bird's eye view of the River. 


10. Itaimbezinho Canyon, Brazil


A 1000 km south of the Hustle and Bustle of Rio, the Itaimbezinho Canyon is part of a National Park and is sometimes overlooked by Many Visitors to the Country. The drive can be very bumpy from Porto Alegre or other nearby Towns. The walking Trails are calming and peaceful. In the afternoons, it fogs up, so do make your ascent in the morning.


11. Kali Gandaki Gorge, Nepal


The Kali Gandaki Gorge has been used as a Trade Route between India and Tibet for Centuries. Today, it is part of a Popular Trekking Route from Pokhara to Muktinath, part of the Annapurna Circuit. The Gorge is within the Annapurna Conservation Area.

Tuesday, May 18, 2021

Curaçao Island - World Heritage City


Imagine an Island in the middle of Bright Blue Water with a Shoreline Dotted in Painted Buildings that look like Neapolitan Ice Cream. If you can picture that, then you’re headed down the path toward Curacao, an Island in the Dutch ABC’s off the Coast of Venezuela.


Curaçao is a Lesser Antilles island Country in the Southern Caribbean Sea and the Dutch Caribbean Region, about 65 km (40 mi) North of the Venezuelan Coast.  It is a Constituent Country (Dutchland) of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Together with Aruba and Bonaire it forms the ABC islands. Collectively, Curaçao, Aruba and other Dutch islands in the Caribbean are often called the Dutch Caribbean.



The Country was formerly part of the Curaçao and Dependencies Colony from 1815 to 1954 and later the Netherlands Antilles from 1954 to 2010, as "Island Territory of Curaçao" and is now formally called the Country of Curaçao.  It includes The Main island of Curaçao and the Much Smaller, Uninhabited Island of Klein Curaçao ("Little Curaçao"). Curaçao has a population of 158,665 (January 2019 est.) and an Area of 444 km2 (171 sq mi); its capital is Willemstad.



Sea Aquarium and Dolphin Academy 


1. Willemstad, The Capital, features Unique, Multi-Colored Buildings influenced by Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese Architecture and Colonial Planning. A UNESCO World Heritage City, Willemstad represents the organic growth of a Multicultural City, seizing on its European influences in a Tropical Location.


2. Once an Island owned by the Dutch, the residents are Polyglots. English, Dutch, Spanish and Papiamentu, a local language, are spoken here.


3.The Alcohol Curacao was developed here from the Laraha Plant, which produces a Bitter Citrus Fruit.
Native Dance - Bulawaya 


4. The Local Cuisine is a Delightful Mix of Multi-Ethnic Foods, bringing in influences from Dutch, Spanish, Sephardic Jew and Afro-Caribbean Cultures. It’s referred to as Krioyo, pronounced the same as the Spanish word Criollo.


5. In 2015, a Spaceport opened in Curacao to support Suborbital Space Tourism Flights and Research Flights. Curacao was chosen because of its friendly environment, opportunities for added Tourist Adventures and Dutch Legal and Business Structures.



Saturday, May 15, 2021

Metéora, Greece - UNESCO World Heritage

 The Meteora Greek is a Rock Formation in Central Greece hosting One of The Largest and Most Precipitously Built Complexes of Eastern Orthodox Monasteries, IInd in Importance only to Mount Athos. 


The 6 (of an original 24) Monasteries are built on Immense Natural Pillars and Hill-Like Rounded Boulders that dominate the local area. It is located near the Town of
 Kalabaka at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios River and Pindus Mountains.



Meteora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List under Criteria I, II, IV, V, and VII.



Meteora means "Lofty", "Elevated" and is Etymologically related to Meteor.














Sunday, May 9, 2021

Incredible Caves Where You Can Swim and Dive

Brazil's Chapada Diamantina National Park 

Brazil's Chapada Diamantina National Park is known for its Waterfalls and Caverns with Colorful Pools. One of these Pools is Poco Azul (or the Blue Well), A Flooded Cave where Visitors can swim in Crystal-Clear Waters or glide around the remains of Old Submerged Trees, still in excellent condition, according to Atlas Obscura.  

Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park in South Australia


Diver and Photographer Liz Rogers observes a fellow diver as she explores the Cathedral and the Chasm, Part of Piccaninnie Ponds cave system in the Piccaninnie Ponds Conservation Park in South Australia and one of the country's top diving locations. The water is so clear here that there is a spot where it is possible to look up from 98 feet down and see clouds in the blue sky above. 


Island of Vis in Croatia, the 'Green Cave


Located near the Island of Vis in Croatia, the 'Green Cave' is one of two popular 'colorful' cave destinations in the area (the Blue Cave is also worth a visit). The Green Cave, accessible by boat, is known for for the visible green beam of light that penetrates through the opening on its roof and breaks on the sea surface, making it a Unique Place for Swimming and Snorkeling.


The Grotto, Saipan 


With clear waters and an impressive diversity of Sea Life, Saipan is known for its incredible Scuba Diving Sites. Most famous of these dive spots is The Grotto, a collapsed underwater cave. Divers sometimes encounter Turtles, White Tip Sharks and Clown Triggerfish on this Dive.  


Marieta Islands, Mexico 


One of the Most Popular Attractions in Puerto Vallarta in Mexico is the stunning 'hidden beach' in the Marieta Islands. The site was formed by a collapse of the Volcanic Rock that makes up the Island. Over time, a Cave was created by the Sea and Visitors have to swim through the Tunnel in the Cave to access the Beach.


Blue Cave, Island of Kastellorizo, Greece


The Most Popular Attraction in the Island of Kastellorizo, Greece, the Blue Cave is known for its Dazzling Turquoise Color, created by light of the Sun, which is refracted through the Sea and reflected in the Interior. There Cave is accessible by Small Boats, which take Visitors to the Site for a Swim in the Clear Waters.

Friday, May 7, 2021

Caño Cristales - The Most Beautiful River

The River of 5 Colors


The Caño Cristales River is located in the Serrania De La Macarena region of Colombia. 



"The River of 5 Colors", 



"The Wet Rainbow" 



or even "The Most Beautiful River In The World" 



are some of its names, because of the Red, Blue, Green and Yellow algae that exists at the bottom of the River 



and creates a Unique Result. See some of the most beautiful, colorful photos of this Unique River