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Dongchuan Red Land, China

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.

sightseeing and map:

https://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/yunnan/kunming/dongchuan-red-land.htm

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. Makalu  8 463 m (China, Nepal)
6. Cho Oyu 8 201 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 Peak  8 047 m (Pakistan)
13. Shishapangma 8 012 m (Pakistan)
14. Gyachung Kang 7 952 m (China, Nepal)
15. Himalchuli  7 893 m (Nepal)

LONGEST RIVERS

1. Amazon, Ucayali, Apurímac 6 992 km (Brazil, Perù, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Venezuela)
2. Nile, Kagera 6 853 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, Selenge 5 539 km (Russia, Mongolia)
6. Huang He 5 464 km (China)
7. Ob, Irtysh 5 410 km (Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Mongolia)
8. Paraná, Río de la Plata 4 880 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, Darling 3 672 km (Australia)

LARGEST LAKES

1. Caspian Sea 436 000 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 Lake 31 000 sq km (Canada)
9. Malawi 29 500 sq km (Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania)
10. Great Slave Lake 27 000 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. Vinnufossen  860 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 Falls  788 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

LARGEST COUNTRIES by population (2019)

1. China 1 435 000 000
2. India 1 369 500 000
3. U.S.A. 330 054 000
4. Indonesia 272 877 000
5. Brazil 210 573 000
6. Pakistan 216 316 000
7. Nigeria 200 963 600
8. Bangladesh 167 400 000
9. Russia 146 793 744
10. Mexico 126 577 691
11. Japan 126 150 000
12. Philippines 108 365 000
13. Egypt 99 416 400
14. Ethiopia 98 665 000
15. Vietnam 96 208 985

LARGEST CITIES by population (Administrative Areas)

1. Chongqing  30 165 500  (China)
2. Shanghai 24 183 300  (China)
3. Beijing 21 707 000  (China)
4. Istanbul 15 029 200  (Turkey)
5. Karachi 14 910 300  (India)
6. Dhaka 14 399 000  (Bangladesh)
7. Tokyo 13 515 300  (Japan)
8. Moscow  13 200 000  (Russia)
9. Guangzhou 13 081 000  (China)
10. Shenzhen  12 528 300  (China)
11. Mumbai 12 442 300  (India)
12. Sao Paulo 12 038 000  (Brazil)
13. Kinshasa 11 462 000  (Congo)
14. Tianjin 11 249 000  (China)
15. Lahore 11 126 000  (Pakistan)

LARGEST CITIES by population (Urban Areas)

1. Delhi 46 960 000  (India)
2. Tokyo 37 832 900  (Japan)
3. Shanghai 34 854 300  (China)
4. Jakarta 31 689 600  (Indonesia)
5. Chongqing  30 165 500  (China)
6. Seoul 25 514 000  (South Korea)
7. Guangzhou 25 000 000  (China)
8. Beijing 21 707 000  (China)
9. Manila 24 650 000  (Philippines)
10. New York 23 522 900  (U.S.A.)
11. Shenzhen 23 300 000  (China)
12. Mexico City 21 650 700  (Mexico)
13. Sao Paulo 21 243 000  (Brazil)
14. Lagos 21 000 000  (Nigeria)
15. Mumbai 20 748 400  (India)

TALLEST BUILDINGS

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 Tower  555 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 Center  492 m (Shanghai, China)
13. International Commerce Centre   484 m (Hong Kong, China)
14. Wuhan Greenland Center  476 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

Waitomo Caves, New Zealand

The Waitomo Glowworm Caves, part of the Waitomo Caves system that includes the Ruakuri Cave and the Aranui Cave, are located in the southern Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand, about ten km northwest of Te Kuiti.

They are known for its population of thousands Arachnocampa luminosa, a species of glowworms that radiate the ceiling with their blue luminescent, creating a unique atmosphere.

The guided tour brings visitors through the caves by boat rides.

Russian Seven Wonders

As written by the historian Herodotus (450 b.C.), the ancient list of the Seven Wonders of the World was formed by:

Colossus of Rhodes
Great Pyramid of Giza
Hanging Gardens of Babylon
Lighthouse of Alexandria
Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
Statue of Zeus at Olympia
Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

The only still existing wonder is the Great Pyramid of Giza, the other wonders were destroyed by the time and the human’s hand.

In 2007, the New Seven Wonders of the World list was declared after an initiative by the Swiss corporation New7Wonders Foundation:

Great Wall of China

Petra, Jordan

Christ the Redeemer, Brazil

Machu Picchu, Perù

Chichen Itza, Mexico

Taj Mahal, India

Colosseum, Italy

Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt

In 2008, a curious initiative by the Russian newspaper Izvestia, Radio Mayak and a Russian television channel, determined The Seven Wonders of Russia:

Mount Elbrus
Volcano located in the western area of Russia, it’s the tenth most prominent mountain in the world and the highest Caucasian (5.643 m) mountain.
Mount Elbrus has two twin summits, whose ascent is accessible to all climbers, though, according to many experts, it is considered dangerous because of its potential volcanic activity.

The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed
Church located in the Red Square, Moscow, it’s now a museum, built from 1555 on orders from Ivan IV Vasilyevich “the Terrible” in commemoration of the capture of Astrakhan and Kazan.
The cathedral, since 1990 in the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s list, is one of the most famous Russians symbols.

The Peterhof Palace
Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and referred as the “Russian Versailles”, it is a series of outstanding palaces and gardens located in Saint Petersburg, built in 1714 on the orders of Peter the Great.

Mamayev Kurgan
A memorial complex in the city of Volgograd commemorating the Battle of Stalingrad (World War II, 1942- 1943), built between 1959 and 1967.

The complex is dominated by the Mother Russia statue (85 m high).

The Valley of Geysers
Located in the Kronotskij Natural Reserve, Kamchatka Peninsula, this spectacular valley has one of the largest concentration of geysers in the world with hundreds of living geysers and hot springs.

Discovered in the 1950’s it is now a UNESCO World Heritage site; the valley, due to its instability, is often subject to geological disasters like the events in 2007 and 2014 that had hardly damaged the landscape.

Lake Baikal
Formed more than 20 million years ago and located in the southern area of Siberia, it is the largest by freshwater, the deepest (1.642 m depth) and maybe the oldest an clearest lake in the world.

In 1996 the lake was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Manpupuner rock formations
Also known as the Seven Strong Men Rock Formations, these seven gigantic (30-45 m high) stone pillars are located in the Pechoro-Ilychski Reserve, western Ural mountains.
The pillars have bizarre shapes formed through the effects of wind, rain, ice and snow.

Margherita di Savoia salt pans, Italy

The Margherita di Savoia Salt Pans Natural Reserve is located about 10 km north of Barletta (Apulia, Italy). It is the largest salt pan in Europe, the third in the world after the Makgadikgadi Pans (Botswana) and the Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia).

The salt pan area is 20 km long and 5 km wide, with a total surface of about 45 square km; each year 30 million cubic meters of marine water is used for the production of about six million quintals of salt.

The clay soil guarantees a high level of impermeability.

The natural reserve has a great biodiversity of bird species, among which the pink flamingos, perfectly camouflaged with the salt pans (some areas are pink colored given the presence of the micro-algae Dunaliella salina, one of the few organisms that can live in hypersaline conditions).

http://www.margheritadisavoia.com/

Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

With 16 km of diameter and 265 square km area, the Ngorongoro Crater is the world’s largest unbroken volcanic caldera. Formed three million years ago by a massive volcano, it is located in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Tanzania). Due to its climatic conditions, the crater area has its own, unique, ecosystem.

Around the Magadi Lake, in the middle of the crater, live an impressive variety of animal species, among which elephants, black rhinos, leopards, lions, buffalos, hippos, hyenas, crocodiles, cheetah and thousands of pink flamingos, giving the area the appearance of a large water park for wild animals.

The Ngorongoro Conservation Area is the only one Tanzania’s Park in which the Masai population can live and move freely.

https://www.ngorongorocratertanzania.org/

via Francigena, Europe

As well as the most famous Camino de Santiago, the via Francigena was, in the Middle Ages, one of the major Christian pilgrimage routes; it connected Canterbury to Rome crossing the Alps through the Gran San Bernardo pass and it was considered an essential way on the road to the Holy Land.

Today the via Francigena crosses beautiful landscapes through the Somme battlefields, the Champagne region, the Alps and the Tuscany hills leading to the beautiful Rome.

Part of the original path has deviated from the historical route in favor of less busy roads and tourist facilities along the route are now increasing.

The via Francigena could be an interesting alternative pilgrimage way to the Camino de Santiago.

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