Located in the Navarra region, about 100 km North-West from Zaragoza, the desert area of the Bardenas Reales is characterized by clay and chalk soils eroded by wind and water, creating stunning landscapes like canyons, plateaus and strange shaped hills (one of that, the Cabezos Castildetierra, is considered the symbol of this area).
The area (about 42.000 hectares) is divided into three well-defined zones: the Bardena Negra, the Plano and the Bardena Blanca.
Landscape, temperature and movie-location (in 1999 it was the set of a nuclear bunker in James Bond – The World is not Enough and recently it has become the Dothraki Sea in the popular tv series Game of Thrones) make this area similar to the Western U.S.A. famous national parks.
Known to be the gentle giant of the sea, the Whale Shark is the biggest fish of our oceans, with up to 15 meters in length and 10 tons of weight. They may live up to 150 years.
Owing to their friendly behavior, unlike other tourist boat tours like whales watching or shark cage diving, it is allowed for tourists diving and snorkeling alongside this incredible fish.
Here are the best places in the world for diving & snorkeling with whale sharks:
Mexico Isla Holbox and Cancun: from May to September Cabo San Lucas: from September to April
Honduras
Utila: from March to May and from August to November
Belize
Gladden Spit: from April to June
Australia Ningaloo Reef: from March to September
Philippines Donsol Bay and Sogod Bay: from December to May Oslob: all year Puerto Princesa: from April to November
Mozambique Tofo Beach and Bazaruto Archipelago: from October to April
Madagascar Nosy Be Island: from September to December
Seychelles South Mahé: September and November
Thailand Koh Tao: from March to May & from October to December Hin Daeng and Hin Muang: from February to April
Richelieu Rock, Surin Islands: from January to March
Maldives
South Ari Atoll: All Year
Djibouti Bay of Ghoubbet: October and February
Tanzania Mafia Island: from September to March
Indonesia
Cenderawasih Bay, Papua: from October to April Triton Bay, Papua: September to June Saleh Bay, Sumbawa: All Year Talisayan Bay, Borneo: June to September
Located at the punto triple, the border between Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela, the Mount Roraima (Roroi-ma) is, along with the Auyantepui (where is the Salto del Angel, the world’s highest waterfall), the most famous Tepui in South America. The Tepui (in Pemòn language “house of the Gods”) are table-top mountains formed after the erosion of the sandstone plateau that once covered the granite base between the Amazon forest and the Orinoco River, and between the Atlantic coast and the Rio Negro.
According to the beliefs of the Pemòn (people who inhabited the Gran Sabana area for centuries), Mount Roraima was originally a huge tree which bore all the fruits and vegetables of the world. After the tree fall, his stump, turned to stone, later became the house of the Gods. Due to his sacred status, the Pemòn people never attempted to climb the Roraima, so the mountain remained unexplored for many years.
The first exploration was led by Walter Raleigh, in 1596; later, the legend of Mount Roraima was the inspiration for the Scottish writer Arthur Conan Doyle in his novel The Lost World (1912) and for the Werner Herzog‘s movie The Wild Blue Yonder (2005).
Today the Mount Roraima can be visited (joining a guided tour) by travelers and tourists: with its beautiful natural landscapes including the Valley of the Crystals, the sinkhole El Foso and the Labyrinth it is one of the most fascinating destinations of the American continent, although there are no lost world’s dinosaurs.
The Carcharodon Carcharias, commonly known as the great white shark, lives in the coastal waters of all the major oceans.
Its size is average 3,5 to 4 meters in length for males and 4,6 to 5 meters for females (larger female individuals can reach up to 6,2 meters and almost 2 tons of weight; the largest white shark ever captured was a female of 7,14 meters). They can swim up to 56 km/h and reach depths of 1.200 meters under the sea level.
Maybe the most powerful and cruel predator, it is one of the most fascinating animals on earth.
Being face to face with a great white shark is one of the most exciting experiences you could ever have. There are few places in the world where do that: here are the best places for the great white shark cage diving:
We suggest you to contact the local companies to check the sharks presence before planning the trip.
DON’T miss it if you are traveling in these places… and don’t think about Steven Spielberg’s cult movie Jaws…
** November 2020 update about the presence of white sharks in South Africa**
In the past three years, there has been a significant decline in the number of great white sharks in Gansbaai, one of the best places in the world to meet the majestic predators. Although a lot of news reported that the decline has been caused by Orcas attacks, the local research institutes expressed their concern about that: Orcas could have had an impact on the shark’s reduction, but several other reasons have to be considered, such as lack of protection of the environment, a decrease of food sources and fishing nets.
However, in the last months of 2020, some of the Shark Diving Companies reported sightings of a few great white sharks in the bay.
For further information, read the interesting report on White Shark Diving Company’s blog page at the following link:
The Polar Aurora, well known as Aurora Borealis/Australis or Northern/Southern Lights depending on which hemisphere it occurs, is an optical phenomenon of the atmosphere, characterized by green, blue and red luminous bands with a different range of shapes.
The phenomenon, visible in two stripes around the magnetic poles and more intense and frequent during high solar activity, is caused by the interaction of charged electrons of the solar wind with the earth’s ionosphere (a process similar to the neon lamp light). The color depends on the atmosphere’s gases: atomic oxygen is responsible for the green, the molecular oxygen for the red and nitrogen for the blue color.
According to old myths, the Northern Lights appear for the Inuits like souls playing with walrus skulls, for Lappish they are created by the tail of a big fox that hits the snow and it is believed that children conceived beneath them are more intelligent and lucky.
In Central Europe, they were considered a bad omen due to the predominance of red in its colours.
Best places to see Northern Lights / Aurora Borealis (the best period is from September to April):
Iceland: Kirkjufell, Reykjavik, Jökulsárlón Lake, Þingvellir National Park Norway: Svalbard Islands, North Cape, Tromsø, Alta, Karasjok Finland: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort, Inari Lake, Sodanklya, Luosto Sweden: Abisko National Park, Kiruna region Alaska, USA: Fairbanks, Denali National Park, Juneau, Barrow, Coldfoot Canada: Mucho Lake Provincial Park, Yukon, British Columbia, Yellowknife Greenland: Kulusuk, Ammassalik, Kangerlussuaq Fær Øer Islands Russia: Kola Peninsula Scotland: Caithness coast Ireland: Donegal region, Malin Head, Antrim region
Best places to see Southern Lights / Aurora Australis (the best period is from March to September):
Antarctica New Zealand: Stewart Island, Lake Tekapo, Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, The Catlins Australia: Mount Wellington (Tasmania), Victoria Argentina: Ushuaia South Georgia Island Falkland Islands
The Dongchuan Red Land is located in Huashitou Country, Dongchuan District, Yunnan Province, China at 1.800 – 2.500 meters high.
It is a stunning natural landscape characterized by an unusual red-colored soil formed by oxidated iron elements deposited after centuries due to the humid and warm climate conditions.
During the year, the terraces used for cultivation (potatoes, rapeseed, wheat, barley, rape…) form artistic compositions similar to a painted picture.
The most suitable time for red soil photography is during spring and autumn, when most of the cultivations are in bloom.
The local people say that the perfect time for taking pictures is after the rain, when the wet sunlit land becomes more colorful.
There are many buses to get to Dongchuan from Kunming, which usually takes about 4-5 hours.
1. Everest 8 848 m (China, Nepal) 2. K2 8 611 m (China, Pakistan) 3. Kangchenjunga 8 586 m (India, Nepal) 4. Lhotse 8 516 m (China, Nepal) 5. Makalu8 463 m (China, Nepal) 6. Cho Oyu8 201 m (China, Nepal) 7. Dhaulagiri 8 167 m (Nepal) 8. Manaslu 8 163 m (Nepal) 9. Nanga Parbat 8 125 m (Pakistan) 10. Annapurna 8 091 m (Nepal) 11. Gasherbrum 8 068 m (Pakistan) 12. Broad Peak8 047 m (Pakistan) 13. Shishapangma 8 012 m (Pakistan) 14. Gyachung Kang7 952 m (China, Nepal) 15. Himalchuli 7 893 m (Nepal)
LONGEST RIVERS
1. Amazon, Ucayali, Apurímac6 992 km (Brazil, Perù, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Venezuela) 2. Nile, Kagera6 853 km (Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Egypt, Congo, South Sudan) 3. Yangtze 6 300 km (China) 4. Mississippi, Missouri, Jefferson 6 275 km (U.S.A., Canada) 5. Yenisei, Angara, Selenge5 539 km (Russia, Mongolia) 6. Huang He 5 464 km (China) 7. Ob, Irtysh5 410 km (Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia) 8. Paraná, Río de la Plata4 880 km (Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay) 9. Congo, Chambeshi 4 700 km (Central African Republic, Congo, Angola, Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Cameroon, Zambia, Burundi, Rwanda) 10. Amur, Argun 4 444 km (Russia, Mongolia, China) 11. Lena 4 400 km (Russia) 12. Mekong 4 350 km (China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam) 13. Mackenzie, Slave, Peace, Finlay 4 241 km (Canada) 14. Niger 4 200 km (Nigeria, Mali, Niger, Algeria, Cameroon, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Chad, Benin) 15. Murray, Darling3 672 km (Australia)
LARGEST LAKES
1. Caspian Sea436 000 sq km (Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Iran) 2. Superior 82 100 sq km (Canada, U.S.A.) 3. Victoria 68 870 sq km (Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania) 4. Huron 59 600 sq km (Canada, U.S.A.) 5. Michigan 58 000 sq km (U.S.A.) 6. Tanganyika 32 600 sq km (Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia, Congo) 7. Baikal 31 500 sq km (Russia) 8. Great Bear Lake31 000 sq km (Canada) 9. Malawi 29 500 sq km (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania) 10. Great Slave Lake27 000 sq km (Canada) 11. Erie 25 700 sq km (Canada, U.S.A.) 12. Winnipeg 24 514 sq km (Canada) 13. Ontario 18 960 sq km (Canada, U.S.A.) 14. Ladoga 18 130 sq km (Russia) 15. Balkhash 16 400 sq km (Kazakhstan)
TALLEST WATERFALLS
1. Angel Falls 979 m (Venezuela) 2. Tugela Falls 948 m (South Africa) 3. Tres Hermanas Falls 914 m (Perù) 4. Olo’upena Falls 900 m (Hawaii, U.S.A.) 5. Yumbilla Falls 896 m (Perù) 6. Vinnufossen860 m (Norway) 7. Balaifossen 850 m (Norway) 8. Pu’uka’oku Falls 840 m (Hawaii, U.S.A.) 9. James Bruce Falls 840 m (Canada) 10. Brownie Falls 836 m (New Zealand) 11. Strupenfossen 820 m (Norway) 12. Ramnefjellsfossen 818 m (Pakistan) 13. Waihilau Falls 792 m (Hawaii, U.S.A.) 14. Colonial Creek Falls788 m (U.S.A.) 15. Mongefossen 773 m (Norway)
COLDEST PLACES
1. Vostok Station, Antarctica -89,2 °C -128.6 °F 2. Amundsen – Scott south pole station, Antarctica -82,8 °C -117 °F 3. Dome Argus, Antarctica -82,5 °C -116.5 °F 4. Verkhoyansk, Russia -69,8 °C -93.6 °F 5. Oymyakon, Russia -67,8 °C -90 °F 6. North Ice, Greenland -66,1 °C -87 °F 7. Snag, Canada -63 °C -81.4 °F 8. Prospect Creek, Alaska, U.S.A. -62 °C -80 °F 9. Ust Shchugor, Russia -58,1 °C -72.6 °F 10. Medicine Lake, U.S.A. -57 °C -70 °F 11. Malgovik, Sweden -53 °C -63.4 °F 12. Grunloch Doline, Austria -52,6 °C -62.9 °F 13. Mohe County, China -52,3 °C -62.1 °F 14. Kittila, Finland -51,5 °C -60.7 °F 15. Karasjok, Norway -51,4 °C -60.5 °F
HOTTEST PLACES
1. Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley, U.S.A. 56,7 °C 134.1 °F 2. Kebili, Tunisia 55,0 °C 131 °F 3. Ahwaz, Iran 54,0 °C 129 °F 4. Mitribah, Kuwait 54,0 °C 129.2 °F 5. Tirat Zvi, Israel 54,0 °C 129.2 °F 6. Basra, Iraq 53,9 °C 129.0 °F 7. Mohenjo, Pakistan 53,5 °C 128.3 °F 8. Al Jazeera Border Gate, United Arab Emirates 52,1 °C 125.8 °F 9. Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 52,0 °C 125.6 °F 10. El Bayadh, Algeria 51,3 °C 124.3 °F 11. Phalodi, India 51,0 °C 123.8 °F 12. Buraimi, Oman 50,8 °C 123.4 °F 13. Semara, Western Sahara 50,7 °C 123.3 °F 14. Oodnadatta, Australia 50,7 °C 123.3 °F 15. Turpan, Xinjiang, China 50,5 °C 122.9 °F
LARGEST COUNTRIES by area
1. Russia 17 098 246 sq km 2. Canada 9 984 670 sq km 3. China 9 596 961 sq km 4. U.S.A. 9 525 067 sq km 5. Brazil 8 515 767 sq km 6. Australia 7 692 024 sq km 7. India 3 287 263 sq km 8. Argentina 2 780 400 sq km 9. Kazakhstan 2 724 900 sq km 10. Algeria 2 381 741 sq km 11. Congo 2 344 858 sq km 12. Saudi Arabia 2 149 690 sq km 13. Mexico 1 964 375 sq km 14. Indonesia 1 910 931 sq km 15. Sudan 1 861 484 sq km
1. Burj Khalifa 828 m (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) 2. Shanghai Tower 632 m (Shanghai, China) 3. Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower 601 m (Mecca, Saudi Arabia) 4. Ping An Finance Center 599 m (Shenzen, China) 5. Goldin Finance 117 597 m (Tianjin, China) 6. Lotte World Tower555 m (Seoul, South Korea) 7. One World Trade Center 541 m (New York City, U.S.A.) 8. CTF Finance Center 530 m (Guangzhou, China) 9. CTF Finance Center 530 m (Tianjin, China) 10. China Zun 528 m (Beijing, China) 11. Taipei 101 508 m (Taipei, Taiwan) 12. World Financial Center492 m (Shanghai, China) 13. International Commerce Centre 484 m (Hong Kong, China) 14. Wuhan Greenland Center476 m (Wuhan, China) 15. Central Park Tower 472 m (New York City, U.S.A.)
LARGEST ANIMALS (average weight – length)
1. Blue whale 110 ton – 25 m 2. North Pacific whale 60 ton – 15,5 m 3. Sperm whale 31,25 ton – 13,2 m 4. Whale shark 11,8 ton – 9,7 m 5. Killer whale 6,3 ton – 7 m 6. Basking shark 5,2 ton – 7 m 7. African elephant 4,9 ton – 6,8 m 8. Asian elephant 4,15 ton – 6,3 m 9. Great white shark 2,1 ton – 4,8 m 10. White rhinoceros 2 ton – 4,5 m 11. Saltwater crocodile 2 ton – 4,5 m 12. Hippopotamus 1,8 ton – 4,5 m 13. Black rhinoceros 1,1 ton – 2,9 m 14. Giraffe 1 ton – 5,15 m 15. Ocean sunfish 1 ton – 1,8 m
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