Harbour of Rio de Janeiro

 The Harbour of Rio de Janeiro is located in Brazil and was created by erosion from the Atlantic Ocean. The Harbour is surrounded by gorgeous mountains that include Sugar Loaf at 1,296 feet (395 m), Corcovado Peak at 2,310 feet (704 m), and the hills of Tijuca at 3,350 feet (1021 m).

Best Ways to Experience the Harbour of Rio de Janeiro

 The best way to experience the Harbour of Rio de Janeiro is to explore the harbour and see it from the various views that are offered. One of the reasons that the Harbour of Rio de Janeiro is a natural wonder of the world is because of the different perspectives the harbour offers – visitors need to get out and about and see the harbour from multiple vistas.

The best times to explore the Harbour of Rio de Janeiro is during the months of September and October. The weather is nice and the humidity has not set in.

Harbour of Rio de Janeiro Travel Tips

 Getting to Rio de Janeiro is easy. The city is one of the largest and most popular cities in Brazil. Many major airlines fly directly into the city providing plenty of options for travel. 

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The Paricutin

Paricutin is a cinder cone volcano in Michoacán, Mexico.  Paricutin was named one of the seven natural wonders as an active volcano.  The volcano has been dormant since the last eruption in 1952.  It was established as a natural wonder because mankind witnessed its birth. 

The volcano was also fast growing reaching three-fourths of its size within the first year.

Its official height varies reported as 9,101 feet (2,774 meters) or 10,397 feet (3,000 meters).

Best Ways to Experience Paricutin 

The best way to experiencing Paricutin is by taking hikes through the sandy banks and lava fields that surround the volcano.  To make the most of your Paricutin adventure, plan on staying overnight at least one if not two days.  The 12 mile roundtrip journey can be taken as an adventurous hike or can be made easier by riding horses.  It makes for a long day either way. 

On this journey you will traverse past lava fields, buried village homes and a church reaching the top of Paricutin.

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Mount Everest

Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world with the summit reaching a peak of 8848 m. It is located in the Himalayan mountain range on the border between Nepal and Tibet, China. Mount Everest represent the highest spot on earth, although it is not the tallest mountain in the world.

Best ways to see the mountain 

The best way to see Mount Everest probably depends on who you are and the perspective you are seeking. For the more adventurous individuals the best way to see Mount Everest is to make the trek and hike to the base of the mountain. For more experienced individual climbers, a climb to the upper base camp. But this experience is costly; the Nepal government now requires potential climbers to purchase a $ 25,000USD climbing permit. For the common visitor, the best way to see Mount Everest is probably to take a guided flight around the mountain.

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Most Popular Stops in the Canyon:

The Abyss

With a drop of 3,000 feet to the Tonto Platform, the Abyss is one of the most frequented stops on West Rim Drive. From the Abyss, you’ll be able to see the isolated sandstone columns, the largest of which , the Monument is something that should not be missed.

Bright Angel Lodge

Built of Oregon pine logs and native stone in 1935, Bright Angel Lodge is comprised of rustic cabins set off from the main building. The rocks used in the lodge’s “geologic” fireplace are arranged in the same order in which they are layered in the Grand Canyon.

Bright Angel Trailhead

Starting near Kolb Studio, this trailhead is the starting point for perhaps the best known of all the trails descending to the bottom of the canyon. Originally a bighorn sheep path that was later used by the Havasupai Indians, it was widened late in the 19th century and descends 5,510 feet to the Colorado River. If you plan to traverse the trail for very long, you should have the proper equipment and notify the park representatives at the visitor center.

Desert View and the Watchtower

From the top of the 70 feet stone-and-mortar watchtower, you can see even the distant Painted Desert to the east and the 3,000 feet high Vermilion Cliffs rising from a plateau near the Utah border. The Colorado River too is visible in this nearly 360 degree panorama.

El Tovar Hotel

Built in 1905, this log structure retains nearly all of its early days. If the weather is cool, a stone fireplace will help to warm you. The lobby, a rustic delight is a treasure chest of taxidermy. The back porch provides a beautiful vantage point for viewing the canyon.

Grand Canyon Railway

In 1989 the Grand Canyon Railway re-inaugurated service along a route established in 1901. The trip, which runs over 60 miles in restored cars from Williams Depot to the South Rim takes the train through prairie, ranch and national park land to the log-cabin train station in Grand Canyon Village.

Grand Canyon Skywalk

The Grand Canyon Skywalk

A closer look at the skywalk

 The experience of a lifetime!

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The Canyon

The Grand Canyon is a massive gorge located in the state of Arizona in the United States. It was created by the Colorado River. Despite not being the steepest nor the longest canyon in the world, the Grand Canyon is recognized as a natural wonder because of the overall scale and size combined with the beautifully colored landscape. The canyon offers a variety of lookouts and experiences that provide visitors with a view that cannot be matched.

Touring the Canyon 

The Grand Canyon, which stretches for over 250 miles along the Colorado River and is almost 2 km deep has a wide array of breathtaking scenic delights, among them the vast geologic history that is exposed to your view by the work of many years of erosion.

Some of the larger animals seen wondering in and around the Grand Canyon include big horn sheep, mule deer, mountain lions, bobcats and coyote. Birds you many see include both Bald and Golden Eagles, several types of hawks including the Red-tailed Hawk, Jays of all types, Mountain Chickadees and Wild Turkeys. Reptiles include many species of lizards and snakes.

Well known for its size and its very intricate and diverse landscape it is also very significant geologically because of the ancient rock layers that are so well preserved and so beautifully exposed to the eye in the walls of the canyon. They present a living history of the continent of North America and are spectacular both in what they afford us historically as well as scenically.

Whatever your reasons for traveling to the Grand Canyon; to spend time hiking deep into the canyons, or to run the rapids of the Colorado River far below; a trip here will have you standing at the canyon rim staring in rapt admiration of the beauty that is exposed to your view.

Tourism

Approximately five million people travel to the canyon each year, and most will see the canyon from the south rim, coming for the scenery and very little more. There is, however, a great deal more to be seen and done in the Grand Canyon, including Grand Canyon Village, Hermits Rest Road and Desert View Drive. The South Rim, 60 miles north of Williams and 80 miles north of Flagstaff, Arizona, is the most easily accessed part of the park and is open all year.

Best Time to Visit

The best times to explore the Grand Canyon could easily be debated. Winter scenes are arguably some of the most spectacular scenes, however the winter months close the roads to the North Rim which really provide the better views of the vastness of canyon. With that said, the best time to explore the Grand Canyon is during the summer months which provide visitors with greater access to a variety of opportunities that the Grand Canyon provides to explorers.

If ever you are going to visit the canyon, one thing you should not forget is to make earley reservations. There are over 5 million visitors to the Grand Canyon every year and making reservations early is one of the best ways to make sure you get access to the adventure and exploration that you desire.

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The Great Barrier Reef is the LARGEST coral reef system in the world.

It stretches for over 2600 km and includes over 900 islands, over 2,900 separate reefs, and supports one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.

Believe it or not, it can even be seen from outer space!!

There are many ways in which you can see the Great Barrier Reef.

A guaranteed spectacular experience is to have an up close and personal encounter through either a snorkeling or scuba diving expedition.

In most cases, a pontoon boat will be used to make the reef most accessible.

“Live aboards” floating guest facilities that provide an opportunity for visitors to experience the reef up close for extended periods. Visitors can select from a variety of boat or cruise tours that include single day trips, extended stays and varying boat sizes. No matter what type of craft or what length of stay, it is imperative to make sure that you take time to snorkel or scuba dive in order to ensure the best experience possible.

A helicopter tour is an excellent way to get above the Great Barrier Reef and witness the size and expanse of this spectacular marine natural wonder. 

Handy travel tips:

Many cities along the coast of Queensland in Australia offer boating tours. Approximately 2 million visitors travel to the Great Barrier Reef every year, so it is important to plan early providing the greatest chance of arranging the options that brings the best experience. Also, since the weather is usually fairly hot, a bottle of sunblock lotion can never go amiss.

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The Aurora Borealis are also known as the Polar Auroras or the Northern Lights.

They are naturally formed lights that create intriguing and spectacular displays in the sky. They usually appear as glowing sheets or dancing waves of light, diffused lights lighting up the horizon. they are most amazing when they appear as waves of light unfurling in the skies; almost as though they are dancing.

The best way to experience the Northern Lights is to just stand in amazement as you watch them dancing above you.

The best chances to witness the dancing Aurora occur between the months of March to April and September to October.

Where? Near the magnetic poles. The arctic islands of Canada.

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- located in Venezuela

- publicised on 16 November 1933

- has a height of approximately 980 metres

- also the longest single drop in the world

- plunge waterfall

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The Victoria Falls, between Zimbabwe and Zambia

The Victoria Falls is one of the 7 natural wonders of the world.

It is claimed to be the largest waterfall in the world with a base width of 1708m.

The Victoria falls have 7 gorges.

Almost 300 000 people visit the falls annually!

Formed because of difference in the rates of erosion of sandstone and basalt.

What makes this waterfall special?

Well, of course, it’s the largest waterfall in the world. However, what is really fascinating is the Devil’s Armchair.

The Devil’s Armchair is a deep pool literally at the brink of a 300+ft metres fall! Absolutely incredible!

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I’m sure everyone has heard of the 7 wonders of the world, right?

Now, this blog is a list of amazing natural phenomenons that are really impressive.

By natural, I meant that the formation of said structures was without the aid of manpower.

I find the processes creating these wonders are really fascinating and so, I will also be posting information regarding their formations.

Hope you find my blog an interesting read…

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