Natural Wonders of the World Beautiful sights to see, wonderful places to be... 2010-09-17T11:07:45Z http://worldsnaturalwonders.com/feed/atom/ WordPress admin <![CDATA[Greatest Natural Wonders of the World: A Documentary]]> http://worldsnaturalwonders.com/?p=66 2010-09-17T02:10:23Z 2010-09-17T01:21:29Z This BBC production is so far the best documentary about the world’s natural wonders. The film is entitled Greatest Natural Wonders of the World. This hour-long documentary is hosted by English broadcaster and naturalist David Attenborough for BBC One Programmes and was broadcast by BBC in 2002 (Lame. Why I just see this after eight years).

Natural Wonders of the World - Ayers Rock

Australia’s Ayers Rock – one of world’s natural wonders. (Source)

This one-of-a-kind documentary covers natural wonders of the seven continents:Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

Part 6:

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admin <![CDATA[K2 Mountain, World’s Second Tallest Mountain]]> http://localhost/worldsnaturalwonders.com/?p=57 2010-09-02T00:18:00Z 2010-09-02T00:18:00Z With a peak elevation of 28,251 ft, K2 is the second tallest mountain on Earth, second from Mount Everest. It is part of the Karakoram Range, and is located on the border between the Taxkorgan Tajik Autonomous County of Xinjiang, China, and Gilgit, in Gilgit-Baltistan of Pakistan. It’s name is derived from the notation used by the Great Trigonometric Survey. Thomas Montgomerie made the first survey of the Karakoram from Mount Haramukh, some 210 km to the south, and sketched the two most prominent peaks, labelling them K1 and K2.

K2+Peak

K2 Peak. (Source)

Despite it’s natural and captivating beauty, K2 is known as the Savage Mountain. This title is due to the difficulty of ascent, severe weather and the 2nd highest fatality rate of climber. In fact, one in every four people who reached the summit died trying to climb it.

It is typically climbed in June, July, or August. The weather near the summit is very unpredictable and dangerous, especially during winter season. So dangerous that K2 has never been climbed in winter.

Cloud+in+the+K2+summit

Clouds in K2 Peak. (Source)

Cloud+in+the+K2+summit

Clouds in K2 Peak. (Source)

There are six major routes to have been climbed on the south side of the mountain: West Ridge, West Face, Southwest Pillar, South Face, South-southeast Spur, Abruzzi Spur. The north side is the steepest where is rises 10,499 ft in only 9,843 ft of horizontal distance.

K2′s very first successful climb to the summit was done by Italians named Achille Compagnoni and Lino Lacedelli in July 31, 1954.

North+Side+of+K2

North side, the steepest side of K2. (Source)

K2 Peak

Climbers with K2 in background. (Source)

K2 Peak

On the way to K2 peak. (Source)

K2+Climbers

Climbers with K2 in background. (Source)

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Camp in the foot of K2. (Source)

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K2 Climbers and crew. (Source)
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admin <![CDATA[Salar de Uyuni, World’s Largest Salt Flat]]> http://localhost/worldsnaturalwonders.com/?p=56 2010-09-15T02:24:16Z 2010-08-31T00:12:00Z Salar de Uyuni also known as Salar de Tunupa is the world”s largest salt flat. It measures 10,582 square kilometers and is located in the Potosí and Oruro departments in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes. It is 11,995 ft above the mean sea level.

Salar+de+Uyuni+as+seen+from+space

As see from space. (Source)

incahuasi+island+in+the+center+of+Salar+de+Uyuni

Incahuasi island in the center of Salar de Uyuni. (Source)

dried+surface+of+the+Salar+de+Uyuni

Dried Surface. (Source)

The Salar was formed as a result of transformations between several prehistoric lakes. The area was part of a giant prehistoric lake called Lake Minchin some 30,000–42,000 years ago. It is covered by a few meters of salt crust, which has an extraordinary flatness with the average altitude variations within one meter over the entire area of the Salar. The crust serves as a source of salt and covers a pool of brine, which is exceptionally rich in lithium. It contains 50% to 70% of the world”s lithium reserves and is yet to be extracted.

The salt is the Salar is being mined and the salt block is also use to make construction materials like walls for hotels.

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Salt production. (Source)

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Salt building. (Source)

Salt building. (Source)

When covered with water, the Salar becomes one of the largest mirrors on Earth.

reflection+at+Salar+de+Uyuni

Reflection. (Source)

watching+sunset+at+Salar+de+Uyuni

Sunset reflection. (Source)

One major tourist attraction is an antique train cemetery which is 3 kilometers outside Uyuni and is connected to it by the old train tracks. The town served in the past as a distribution hub for the trains carrying minerals enroute to Pacific Ocean ports. The rail lines were built by British engineers arriving near the end of the 19th century and formed a sizeable community in Uyuni.

train_cemetery_Salar+de+Uyuni

The train cemetery. (Source)

piles+of+salt+at+Salar+de+Uyuni

Piles of salt. (Source)

Despite having salt everywhere, has a variety of plants and animals.

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Llamas roaming the Salar. (Source)

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Giant cactus. (Source)

The large area, clear skies and exceptional surface flatness make the Salar an ideal object for calibrating the altimeters of the Earth observation satellites. The Salar also serves as the major transport route across the Bolivian Altiplano and is a major breeding ground for several species of pink flamingos.

Pink Adean flamingos. (Source)

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Pink Adean flamingos. (Source)
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admin <![CDATA[Lake Titicaca, World’s Highest Commercially Navigable Lake]]> http://localhost/worldsnaturalwonders.com/?p=55 2010-09-15T02:23:26Z 2010-08-29T10:31:00Z Lake Titicaca is a lake located on the border of Peru and Bolivia. At 12,500 ft above sea level, it is the highest commercially navigable lake in the world. It is also the largest lake in South America.

Lake Titicaca is fed by rainfall and meltwater from glaciers on the sierras that lie adjacent the Altiplano. The five major river systems, Ramis, Coata, Ilave, Huancané, and Suchez and 20 other smaller streams, also fed the lake.

from isla del sol, Lake_Titicaca

Taquile Island Lake Titicaca

Amantani island, lake titicaca

Lake Titicaca

Isla de la luna, Lake Titicaca

Copacabana, Bolivia, Lake Titicaca

A view from space show the lake and glaciers on the sierras that feeds it.

View from space, Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca has 41 islands, some of which are densely populated. It is notable for a population of people who live on the Uros – a group of 42 or so artificial islands made of floating reeds called totora (a reed that abounds in the shallows of the lake). These islands have become a major tourist attraction for Peru, drawing excursions from the lakeside city of Puno. Their original purpose was defensive, and they could be moved if a threat arose. Many of the islands contain watchtowers largely constructed of reeds.

uros, lake titicaca

floating island, Lake Titicaca

uros, floating reed, Lake Titicaca

boat made of reeds, Lake Titicaca

uros people, floating reed, Lake Titicaca

The Bolivian Naval Force uses the lake to carry out naval exercises, maintaining an active navy despite being a landlocked country.

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admin <![CDATA[Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park]]> http://localhost/worldsnaturalwonders.com/?p=54 2010-09-15T02:22:25Z 2010-08-27T01:10:00Z Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the B? Tr?ch and Minh Hóa districts of central Quang Binh Province, in north-central Vietnam. The national park zone covers 857.54 km2 and a buffer zone of 1,954 km2. It was created to protect one of the world”s two largest karst regions with 300 caves and grottoes and also protects the ecosystem of limestone forest of the Annamite Range region in north central coast of Vietnam.

Rice paddies and lime mountains, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park

Rice paddies and lime mountains, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park. (Source)

The Phong Nha-Ke Bang area is noted for its cave and grotto systems. It is composed of 300 caves and grottos with a total length of about 70 km, of which only 20 have been surveyed by Vietnamese and British scientists – 17 of these are in located in the Phong Nha area and three in the Ke Bang area. After April 2009, total length of caves and grottoes are 126 km.

Inside Phong Nha Cave, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park

Inside Phong Nha Cave, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park. (Source)

Before discovery of Son Doong Cave in April 2009, Phong Nha held several world cave records, as it has the longest underground river, as well as the largest caverns and passageways. Son Doong Cave is the world”s largest cave Son Doong Cave, was discovered by a team of British cave explorers of British Caving Association.

The park contains many fascinating rock formations, and Ke Bang forest. The plateau on which the park is situated is probably one of the finest and most distinctive examples of a complex karst landform in Southeast Asia.

Mouth of underground river, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park

Mouth of underground river, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park. (Source)

Inside of underground river, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park

Inside of underground river, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park. (Source)

Son river, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park

Son river, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park. (Source)

Rice plantation, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park

Rice plantation, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park. (Source)

Son River, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park

Son River, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National park. (Source)

Mouth of underground river, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National park

Mouth of underground river, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National park. (Source)

Mouth of underground river, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National park

Mouth of underground river, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National park. (Source)

Inside Tien son cave, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National park

Inside Tien son cave, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National park. (Source)

Inside Phong Nha cave, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National park

Inside Phong Nha cave, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National park. (Source)

Inside Phong Nha cave, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National park

Inside Phong Nha cave, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National park. (Source)

Boat of tourists, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National park

Boat of tourists, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National park. (Source)

Stalagmite inside Phong Nha cave, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National park

Stalagmite inside Phong Nha cave, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National park. (Source)
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admin <![CDATA[Fansipan Mountain, The Highest mountain in Indochina]]> http://localhost/worldsnaturalwonders.com/?p=53 2010-09-15T02:25:52Z 2010-08-26T01:03:00Z Fansipan, also known as Fan Si Pan or in Phan Xi Pang in Vietnamese, is a mountain in Vietnam. At 10,312 ft, it is the highest mountain in Indochina. It is located in the Lào Cai province in Northwest Vietnam, 9 km southwest of Sa Pa Township in the Hoang Lien Son Mountain Range.

Due to it”s high elevation, Fansipan is dubbed “the Roof of Indochina”. With about 2,024 floral varieties and 327 faunal species, it is to be approved as one of the very few ecotourist spots of Vietnam.

The topography of Fansipan is varied. Muong Hoa Valley, at the lowest altitude at 950 to 1 000m, is created by a narrow strip of land at the base on the east side of the mountain. It can be climbed in a steep and fairly strenuous hike. Many tour companies in the area offers arrange hikes to the summit taking from one to three days.

Fansipan Peak marker. (Source)

Sunset at Fansipan Peak

Sunset at Fansipan Peak. (Source)

Looking down from Fansipan Peak

Looking down from Fansipan Peak. (Source)

Climbers at Fansipan mountain trail

Climbers at Fansipan mountain trail. (Source)

Fansipan mountain trail

Fansipan mountain trail. (Source)

Clouds at Fansipan Peak

Clouds at Fansipan Peak. (Source)

Clear sky at Fansipan Peak

Clear sky at Fansipan Peak. (Source)

A mountain climber at Fansipan Peak

A mountain climber pose for the priceless reward at Fansipan Peak. (Source)
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admin <![CDATA[Red Sea Reef]]> http://localhost/worldsnaturalwonders.com/?p=52 2010-09-15T02:31:58Z 2010-08-25T00:25:00Z The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. It is connected to the ocean through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez- leading to the Suez Canal.

The Red Sea is a rich and diverse ecosystem. It stretches over 1,240 miles along the coast of Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea. It has more than 1,100 species of fish – this includes 42 species of deepwater fish – and nearly 10% of these are exclusive to this region and cannot be found anywhere in the world. The rich diversity of species found here is due to the 2,000 km of coral reef extending along its coastline. These fringing reefs are 5000–7000 years old and are largely formed of stony acropora and porites corals. The reef features include abundant aquatic life, platforms, lagoons, and cylinders. It was recognized by the Egyptian government, who set up the Ras Mohammed National Park in 1983.

Map of Red Sea

Map of Red Sea. (Source)

Fishes at Red Sea reef

Fishes at Red Sea reef. (Source)

Red Sea reef can be seen even in shallow water

Red Sea reef can be seen even in shallow water. (Source)

Fishes in Red Sea reef

Fishes in Red Sea reef. (Source)

Fishes in Red Sea reef

Fishes in Red Sea reef. (Source)

Fishes in Red Sea reef

Fishes in Red Sea reef. (Source)

Fishes in Red Sea reef

Fishes in Red Sea reef. (Source)

Corals and Fishes in Red Sea reef

Corals and Fishes in Red Sea reef. (Source)

Corals in Red Sea reef(Source)

Clownfish in a red anemone

Clownfish in a red anemone. (Source)
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admin <![CDATA[Mount Damavand]]> http://localhost/worldsnaturalwonders.com/?p=51 2010-08-23T23:30:00Z 2010-08-23T23:30:00Z Standing at 8,406 ft, Mount Damavand is Iran’s highest peak. It is also the highest point in the Middle East and the highest volcano in Asia. It is known locally as Donbavand, and is located near the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, in Amol county, Mazandaran, 66 kilometres northeast of Tehran. Despite it’s true beauty, Mount Damavand is potentially an active volcano. There are fumaroles near the summit crater emitting sulfur, and were known to be active on July 6, 2007.

Sunset at Mount Damavand

Sunset at Mount Damavand. (Source)

Mount Damavand from space. (Source)

Mount Damavand has a special place in Persian mythology and folklore. It is regarded the Mount Olympus of Persian mythology.

Mount Damavand in winter

Mount Damavand in winter. (Source)

City view with Mount Damavand in the background

City view with Mount Damavand in the background. (Source)

Due to it volcanic activity, Monut Damavand has some thermal springs with therapeutic qualities. These mineral hot springs are mainly located on the volcano’s flanks and at the base. It’s most important hot springs are located in Abe Garm Larijan in a village by the name Larijan in the district of Larijan in Lar Valley . The water from this spring is useful in the treatment of chronic wounds and skin diseases. Near these springs there are public baths with small pools for public use.

Mount Damavand during spring

Mount Damavand during spring. (Source)

cloud cap of Mount Damavand

Cloud cap of Mount Damavand. (Source)

Mount Damavand reflection in rice paddies

Mount Damavand reflection. (Source)

Beautiful sunrise of Mount Damavand

Beautiful sunrise of Mount Damavand. (Source)

If you are planning to climb this mountain, there about 16 known routes you can take. There routes has varying difficulties, some of them are very dangerous and requires rock climbing.

In the foot of Mount Damavand

In the foot of Mount Damavand. (Source)

The best major settlement for mountain climbers is the new Iranian Mountain Federation Camp in Polour village, located on the south of the mountain. The most popular route is the Southern Route which has step stamps and also a camp midway called Bargah Sevom Camp/Shelter at about 13,845 ft. The longest route is the Northeastern and it takes two whole days to reach the summit while the western route is famous for its sunset view.

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admin <![CDATA[Singing Sand Dunes of Kazakhstan]]> http://localhost/worldsnaturalwonders.com/?p=50 2010-08-22T05:04:00Z 2010-08-22T05:04:00Z The Singing Sand Dunes of Kazakhstan can be found (or heard) in the Altyn-Emel State National Park, the country’s largest national park. The singing sand dunes, also knows as whistling sand or barking sand, is dessert sand that produces sound. This phenomenon is caused by wind passing over dunes or by walking on the sand which create small avalanches and in turn creates the sound. The most common sound frequency emitted is said to be close to 450 Hz.

Singing Sand Dunes of Kazakhstan

Singing sand dune in Altyn-Emel National Park, Almaty Province, Kazakhstan. (Source)

Most often the sound created by this singing dune is in single musical note, either G, E or F.

Singing sand dune in Altyn-Emel National Park, Almaty Province, Kazakhstan

Singing sand dune in Altyn-Emel National Park, Almaty Province, Kazakhstan. (Source)

Singing sand dune in Altyn-Emel National Park, Almaty Province, Kazakhstan

Singing sand dune in Altyn-Emel National Park, Almaty Province, Kazakhstan. (Source)

There are approximately 30 sites in the world where the sand produces sound naturally. Certain conditions have to come together to create singing sand:
- the sand grains have to be round and between 0.1 and 0.5 mm in diameter.
- the sand has to contain silica.
- the sand needs to be a certain humidity

The sound have been described as “roaring” or “booming”, as you can hear in this video.

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admin <![CDATA[Kaieteur Falls]]> http://localhost/worldsnaturalwonders.com/?p=49 2010-08-21T10:20:00Z 2010-08-21T10:20:00Z Located in central Guyana in Potaro-Siparuni region, Kaieteur Falls is the world’s largest single drop waterfalls. It is located in the Kaieteur National Park. The waterfalls alone is 741 feet. It then flows over a series of steep cascades that, when included in the measurements, bring the total height to 822 ft.

Full front view from above. (Source)

Kaieteur Falls’ amazing characteristic is it’s combination of height and high-volume of water. Due to the volume of water – averaging 663 cubic meters per second, it is considered as one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world.

View from a plane. (Source)

Kaieteur Falls is about five times higher than the more well known Niagara Falls.

Full view of the waterfalls. (Source)

Kaieteur Falls’ lookout rock. (Source)

The lookout rock in Kaieteur Falls is one of the favorite tourists spot to take pictures with the waterfalls as the background

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