MOST BEAUTIFUL & BREATHTAKING PLACES IN THE WORLD

MOST BEAUTIFUL AND BREATHTAKING PLACES IN THE WORLD

1)   Pink Lake, Western Australia

Western Australia is home to a number of extraordinary ‘pink lakes’. Lake Hillier is a pink-coloured lake on Middle Island, the largest of the islands that make up the Recherché Archipelago off the coast of Esperance. Esperance is approximately 720 kilometres south-east of Perth on Western Australia's southern coastline. From above the lake appears a solid bubble gum pink. The lake is about 600 meters long, and is surrounded by a rim of sand and dense woodland of paper bark and eucalyptus trees. A narrow strip of sand dunes covered by vegetation separates it from the blue Southern Ocean. No-one fully knows why the lake is pink. Scientists speculate that the colour comes from a dye created by bacteria that lives in the salt crusts.

 

    2)     Mendenhall Ice Caves, Juneau, Alaska

Mendenhall Glacier, a 12-mile-long mass of ice in Juneau, Alaska, is a popular tourist attraction. Few visitors, however, see the glacier from its most spectacular vantage point: inside it. Rising global temperatures have caused the glacier to start melting—it has receded by about two miles since 1958. Water has carved caves into the interior, creating surreal, turquoise-toned worlds whose shapes are ever changing. A trip to the Mendenhall ice caves requires an arduous journey—it involves a kayak ride or long hike, an ice climb, and faith that the melting caverns won't collapse in on you—but the incredible landscapes are a once-in-a-lifetime sight.

      3)     Glow worm cave, New Zealand

The Waitomo Glow-worm Caves, located just outside the main Waitomo township on the North Island of New Zealand, is a famous attraction because of a sizeable population of glow-worms that live in the caves. Glow-worms or Arachnocampa luminosa are tiny, bioluminescent creatures that produce a blue-green light and are found exclusively in New Zealand.

4   4)     Sea Glass Beach, Fort Bragg, CA

Located in Northern California among the rocky coastline is what can be considered the Mecca for sea glass collectors around the world. A short walk to the beach off Elm Street in Fort Bragg, CA, is an area that once was the town dumping ground. Its otherworldly shoreline is now littered with smooth shards of sea glass. From the early 20th century the area was used to dump the town's trash. Commonly known as "The Dumps" by the locals, fires were intermittently started to reduce the amount of refuse that collected there. This practice lasted until 1967, at which point the North Coast Water Quality Board wisely prevented any further dumping in this location.

     5)     Ice hotel at Sorrisniva, Alta, Norway

Norway's Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel is a beautiful ice hotel found 15 kilometres outside the town of Alta, in the region Finn mark (north-eastern Norway). From here, it's only 3 hours to the North Cape. An ice hotel is a temporary hotel made up of snow and sculpted blocks of ice. They may be visited by adventurous travellers that are comfortable with the outdoors. Ice hotels are dependent upon sub-freezing temperatures, are constructed from ice and snow, and typically have to be rebuilt every year. Ice hotels exist in several countries, and they have varying construction styles, services and amenities, the latter of which may include ice bars, restaurants, chapels, saunas and hot tubs.

    

       

6)   Ruby Falls, Chattanooga, Tennessee

Ruby Falls is a 145-foot high underground waterfall located within Lookout Mountain, near Chattanooga, Tennessee in the United States. The cave which houses Ruby Falls was formed with the formation of Lookout Mountain. About 200 to 240 million years ago (in the Carboniferous, at the end of the Palaeozoic) the eastern Tennessee area was covered with a shallow sea, the sediments of which  eventually formed limestone rock. About 200 million years ago, this area was uplifted and subsequent erosion has created the current topography. The limestone in which the cave is formed is still relatively horizontal, just as it was deposited when it was below sea level. The Lookout Mountain Caverns, which includes Ruby Falls Cave, is a limestone cave. These caves occur when slightly acidic groundwater enters subterranean streams and eats away at the relatively soluble limestone, causing narrow cracks to widen into passages and caves in a process called chemical weathering. The stream which makes up the Falls entered the cave sometime after its formation.

      7)     Vettica, Campania, Italy

Hamlet of the town of Amalfi and renowned seaside, Vettica Minore is set at the boundaries of the town. Like all other towns of the Amalfi coast, it is characterised by a perfect combination between the luxuriant hills and the crystalline blue of the sea. Here, you can find some of the most picturesque beaches of the bay, such as the beach of Santa Croce and the magnificent natural arch, also known as "The Lovers Arch”. The promontory of Vettica is dominated by the XVI century tower, owned for many years to Carlo Ponti, the famous film producer, engagement present for his wife, Sophia Loren.
The Medieval parish church is dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel.

    

  8)   Turquoise Sea, Cyprus

Here on this ancient island one enters into a Blue Zone. The colour of the Mediterranean changes from crystal clear turquoise to lapis to azure and there is no end to blue water. With perfect weather almost 365 days of the year, the sky above remains the colour of a robin's egg and there is no end to blue sky.

   

      

9)     Athabasca Falls At Dusk, Jasper, Alberta, Canada

Athabasca Falls is a waterfall in Jasper National Park on the upper Athabasca River, approximately 30 kilometres south of the town site of Jasper, Alberta, Canada, and just west of the Ice fields Park

way. A powerful, picturesque waterfall, Athabasca Falls is not known so much for the height of the falls (23 metres), as it is known for its force due to the large quantity of water falling into the gorge. Even on a cold morning in the fall , when river levels tend to be at their lowest, copious amounts of water flow over the falls. The river 'falls' over a layer of hard quartzite and through the softer limestone below carving the short gorge and a number of potholes. The falls can be safely viewed and photographed from various viewing platforms and walking trails around the falls. Access is from the nearby parking lot, which leads off Highway 93A just northeast of the falls. Highway 93A takes off from the nearby Ice fields Parkway and crosses the falls on the way north to the town of Jasper. White water rafting often starts below the falls to travel downstream on the Athabasca River to Jasper. It is a Class 5 waterfall, with a drop of 80 ft (24 m) and a width of 60 ft (18 m).

     10) Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye, Scotland

Located at The Cuilin Hills, Isle of Skye, Scotland, the Fairy Pools are a series of clear, cold pools and waterfalls formed as Allt Coir' a' Mhadaidh tumbles down from the foothills of the Black Cuillins into Glen Brittle. Park at the Forestry car park and follow the sign posted path opposite the parking area. To reach the pools take the right fork on the path after a hundred yards or so, and follow the trail for about 10 minutes to where the ground rises in a small plateau. The location of the Pools beneath the looming bulk of the Cuillins is wonderful, and the drama of the waterfalls and the sinuous beauty of the rock formations carved by the falling water give the Fairy Pools a magical feel.

BY,

SHIRLEY A/P SUBRAMANIAM

A13A1587

 

Italy's 10 Perfect Places To Visit

Italy 

What’s not to love about Italy? Located in Southern Europe, this boot-shaped country is one of the world’s most popular travel destinations for a number of reasons that include art treasures, trendy fashion, stunning landscapes, passionate people and top-class cuisine. Italy offers so much to see and do that it would take a lifetime to explore. Italians are known for their zeal for life, and this trait shows up in every aspect of their culture from their animated language to their superb fashion and impeccable cuisine. Exercised across the country is the Italian tradition, la passeggiata, where locals go out for an evening stroll to enjoy life as well as to show off new clothes and new romances. An overview of the best places to visit in Italy:

1. ROME

Formerly the capital of the Roman Empire, Rome today is the government seat and capital city of Italy. Located in the country’s central region of Lazio, Rome is a vast and complex city that is both historic and modern at the same time. Best known for housing ancient Roman structures and the Vatican City, Rome has endured for more than 2,500 years as an important center for culture, power and religion.

2. Tuscany 

Italy’s most famous region, Tuscany conjures images of beautiful rolling hills, olive groves, vineyards and cypress trees. The many pleasures of Tuscany include tasting wine in Chianti, simply relaxing in hill towns such as San Gimignano or exploring Renaissance art in Florance. The medieval city of Siena also holds excellent works of art while its historic center is one of the most popular places to visit in Italy. Elba, the largest of several Tuscan islands, offers great beaches while Pisa is world-famous for its Leaning Tower.

3. Venice 

One of the best places to visit in Italy, Venice is a unique city in that is built upon a lagoon surrounded by the Adriatic Sea. Located in northeastern Italy, Venice is an archipelago of 118 islands all connected by hundreds of beautiful bridges and scenic canals. Of the canals, the Grand Canal is most famous and divides the city into two sections. Picturesque waterways and historic architecture make Venice one of the most romantic cities in the world.

4.  Pompeii 

One of Italy’s most visited tourist destinations, Pompeii is a famous Roman city which was buried under several feet of volcanic ash for nearly 1,700 years after the cataclysmic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. The site is located near the modern city of Naples. A tour of Pompeii offers a fascinating insight into the everyday life of the ancient Roman world. Visitors can walk along the ancient streets to see the remains of bakeries, brothels and baths.

5. Amalfi Coast 

Situated in Italy’s southwestern region of Campania, the Amalfi Coast is known for its extraordinary beauty that makes it one of Italy’s top tourist destinations. Stretching 30 miles along the southern side of the Sorrento Peninsula, the Amalfi Coast is prized for its picturesque coastline that features shimmering bays, craggy cliffs, lemon tree gardens, multicolored villas and ritzy resorts.

6. Milan 

Nearly destroyed from heavy bombing during WWII, Milan has since reconstructed and now shines as one of the wealthiest cities in Europe. Widely regarded as a mega fashion center teeming in designer shops, Milan also attracts many to its surviving world famous treasures like Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, The Last Supper, the La Scala Opera House, the Castello Sforzesco and one of the world’s largest Gothic cathedral.

7. Cinque Terre 

Meaning “Five Lands,” Cinque Terre comprises the five villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Vernazza, Monterosso and Corniglia. Located in Italy’s northwestern coastal region of Liguria, the villages of Cinque Terre feature some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes that include steep cliff sides and wine terraces dating back to hundreds of years.

8.  Sicily

The largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily is an autonomous region of Italy that also includes several smaller isles. It is separated from the mainland region of Calabria by the 5 km (2 miles) Straits of Messina. Home to every great Mediterranean civilization, Sicily is rich in art and history; from Agrigento’s Valley of the Temples to Palermo’s Baroque churches. The island’s most striking geological feature is Mount Etna, Europe’s tallest active volcano.

9. Italian Lake District 

The Italian Lake District stretches across Northern Italy. The southern ends of most of the lakes are relatively flat but the northern ends are mountainous as the lakes reach deep into the Alps. Popular with tourists for over 100 years, the Italian Lakes combine good weather with attractive scenery. Garda is the largest lake, and offers stunning scenery, especially in its mountainous northern stretches. Como is equally stunning, with forested slopes rising directly from the water’s edge. Further west, Maggiore is less popular yet just as beautiful, with several popular family resorts.

10. Naples 

One of the busiest metropolitan cities in the country, Naples is the capital of the Campania region in Southern Italy. The city of Naples offers a treasure trove of art works and historic sites as well as a vibrant atmosphere of shops, restaurants and nightlife venues. Many favorite Italian foods originated from here such as pizza, spaghetti and parmigiana. These dishes are taken seriously in Naples and usually feature fresh, locally grown ingredients.









by, 

NURHAZIQAH BINTI ISMAIL
A13A0898

Top 10 Scenic in Brazil

The word "Brazil" comes from brazilwood, a tree that once grew plentifully along the Brazilian coast. In Portuguese, brazilwood is called pau-brasil, with the word brasil commonly given the etymology "red like an ember", formed from Latin brasa ("ember") and the suffix -il (from -iculum or -ilium). As brazilwood produces a deep red dye, it was highly valued by the European cloth industry and was the earliest commercially exploited product from Brazil. Throughout the 16th century, massive amounts of brazilwood were harvested by indigenous peoples (mostly Tupi) along the Brazilian coast, who sold the timber to European traders (mostly Portuguese, but also French) in return for assorted European consumer goods. The official name of the land, in original Portuguese records, was the "Land of the Holy Cross" (Terra da Santa Cruz), but European sailors and merchants commonly called it simply the "Land of Brazil" (Terra do Brasil) on account of the brazilwood trade. The popular appellation eclipsed and eventually supplanted the official name. Early sailors sometimes also called it the "Land of Parrots" (Terra di Papaga). In the Guarani language, an official language of Paraguay, Brazil is called "Pindorama". This was the name the indigenous population gave to the region, meaning "land of the palm trees".

 

1. Rio de Janeiro

 

 

 

There is no destination on earth more animated and exciting than Rio de Janeiro. Located in southeastern Brazil, Rio de Janeiro is the most visited city of South America due to its famous mountain, landmarks, beaches and carnival festival. Rio de Janeiro is situated on one of the world's largest harbors surrounded by natural attractions that include the Sugarloaf and Corcovado mountains and famous beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema. The city's iconic landmark is the enormous Christ the Redeemer statue sitting a top Corcovado mountain.

 

2. Fernando de Noronha

 

 

Fernando de Noronha is a beautiful archipelago with pristine beaches, landscapes and wildlife, situated 354km (220 miles) off the northeastern coast in Brazil. The archipelago was discovered by Amerigo Vespucci in 1503 and temporarily occupied by the Dutch and Frech before Portugal established dominion in 1737. Today only the largest of the 21 islands is inhabited with a population of about 3,500. The islands are a Mecca for divers and snorkelers with warm waters year-round and very good visibilty even at depths of 50 meters.

 

3. Salvador Beaches

 

 

Salvador is the capital of the state of Bahia, with an attractive colonial town, a vibrant musical scene and loads of exceptional beaches all around. The beaches range from calm inlets, ideal for swimming, diving and sailing as well as open sea inlets with strong waves, popular with surfers. There are also beaches surrounded by reefs, forming natural pools of stone, ideal for children.

 

4. Foz do Iguacu

 



 

One of the world's most stunning natural wonders, Iguazu Falls is a series of magnificent waterfalls located on the Iguazu River, straddling the border between Brazil and Argentina. The falls in and of themselves are a breathtaking spectacle, but their beauty is all the more enhanced by the surrounding lush forest teeming in exotic wildlife. The gateway to falls on the Brazilian side is Foz do Iguacu, a big and reasonably safe city by Brazilian standards.

 

5. Recife

 

 

Nicknamed the 'Venice of Brazil' because its numerous waterways and bridges, Recife is the capital of the Pernambuco state and one of the largest and most important cities on Brazil's northeastern coast. Situated amid tropical forests wih many islands and rivers, Recife is a popular tourist destination because of its scenery, historic old town, beaches and vibrant culture. 

 

6. Parati

 

 

A paradise of tropical forests, waterfalls, emerald sea and constant mountains, Parati is a popular tourist attraction located along Brazil's Green Coast in the Rio de Janeiro state. Also spelled Paraty, this beautiful city is a former Portugese colony established on the shores of the Bay of Ilha Grande.

 

7. Florianopolis

 

 

Florianopolis or Floripa as it is affectionately known, is a city which straddles the mainland and the island of Santa Catarina. The city's colonial part has cobbled streets and colonial architecture, as well as a historical museum, a cathedral and the Mercado Municipal, which is not to be missed for its delicious local fruits and products. It is whale-watching season here from July to October as it is at this time that southern right whales breed in the bay.

 

8. Arpoador, Rio de Janeiro

 

 

Arpoador, one of the most visited beaches in Brazil, is a neighborhood sandwiched between two of the popular beaches, viz. Copacabana and Ipanema. The beach offers stunning views of the sunset and is highly-picked by the families and surfers. This 500m-long beach featuring crystalline water, is somewhat quieter than the other beaches. Equipped with floodlights for night surfing and about 3m-tall breakers, the Arpoador Beach is regarded as the best surf spot in Rio. The imposing Arpoador Rock is the main highlight of the beach. This rock was named after the Portuguese settlers and locals of Brazil, who used to hunt whales from the rock using a harpoon to strike them. The word Arpoador means “harpoon thrower.” The rocks at the beach have trails for a leisure walk. From here you can also enjoy the views of the sunrise and sunset. People also love to dive into the sea from the cliffs. As the Arpoador beach is located in the center of the Rio’s panoramic coastline, it offers stunning views of the lights of Ipanema, Leblon, and Vidigal flashing underneath the peaks of Dois Irmãos, and of the Copacabana beach. The nightlife at the beach is interesting. The views of the beach illumined with the gleaming lights are magical. The 24-hour Zona Sul supermarket of Copacabana, along with some bars and shops is at a walking distance from the beach. There are two mini skateboarding bowls in the Garota da Ipanema Park, that overlooks the beach. The MPB (Música Popular Brasileira) artists perform in the concerts hosted by the park. Some of the popular restaurants at the beach include Koni Store, and Restaurant Arpoador. The beach Arpoador is also famous for its discos. Xangri Lá, Inn Arpoador Buzios, Arpoador Inn, Hotel Cristal Palace, and Hotel Fasano are some of the best places to stay on the beach. At Hotel Fasano, you may get a glimpse of celebrities like Lenny Kravitz, and Beyoncé.

 

9. Sao Paulo Aquarium

 

 

The Sao Paulo Aquarium is located in a residential neighborhood of Sao Paulo City in Brazil. It takes approximately 13 minutes to reach the aquarium from the Congonhas-São Paulo Airport in Avenida Washington Luís, Sao Paulo (via North-South Corridor and Rua Luis Gois). You can reach the aquarium by a car, a bus, or Subway. Board on the 5108-10 JD CELESTE bus and get down at R. Vieira de Almeida, 223, located at a walking distance of 275 meters from the aquarium. The Green Line – Santos-Imigrantes Subway station is located at a walking distance of 590 meters from the aquarium.



 

10. Lençóis Maranhenses National Park

 

 

 

Located on the eastern coast of the state of Maranhão by the banks of the Preguiças River, the park embraces the municipalities of Humberto de Campos, Primeira Cruz, Santo Amaro do Maranhão and Barreirinhas, the latest serving as the main jumping off point into the protected park. There are several regular bus/truck routes between Barreirinhas and São Luís, Brazil (Maranhão's capital), a distance of about 260 km (160 mi). There are also air taxis from São Luís to Barreirinhas. The Rio Preguiças river connects the park to Atins, a small town at the southern edge of the park. The most important access roads near the park are BR-135, BR-222, MA-404, and MA-225. The National Park is quite extensive and has no direct access roads. Because of the nature of the park's protected status, most vehicles are not permitted access. Entrance to the park is made exclusively by 4-wheel drive trucks.

 

 

Written by,

 

HELMI SYAFIZAN BIN JOHARI

A13A1448