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Most Beautiful Places In The World (PHOTOS) by Andyblaze: 9:01pm On Jul 15, 2014 |
1. MALDIVES Like one of Mother Nature’s emoticons, this lovable heart-shaped island can be found in the Republic of the Maldives, a country that is spread out over 35,000 square miles in the Indian Ocean, 250 miles southwest of India. The nation is comprised of 1,190 coral islands formed around 26 natural atolls, each of which is made of a coral reef circling a lagoon. While the Maldives is one the world’s most geographically dispersed countries, it is the smallest Asian country in both land area and population; only 200 of those islands are populated. Hello, deserted island paradise. 2. RICE TERRACES OF VIETNAM While the terraces pictured here are located in Lao Cai province of Vietnam, equally mesmerizing scenes can be found throughout Southeast Asia where people have been doing the seemingly impossible for millennia: growing rice – which requires a flat surface and a lot of water – in mountainous areas. The trick? Terraced paddy fields that not only yield substantial crops of the widely consumed staple, but are also a gorgeous sight to behold. Agriculture at its best ... and most beautiful! 3.SALAR DE UYUNI At 4,086 square miles, Salar de Uyuni in southwest Bolivia holds the record for the largest salt flats in the world. In fact, so flat are the flats that the U.S. Geological Survey found that elevation variations across the entire area were less than one meter. It is the flattest place on the planet, and it is so stunningly featureless that you can see the curvature of the Earth there. Needless to say, this provides an opportunity to create what might be considered the planet's largest mirror, a place for the sky and earth to collide in dizzying illusions. (We wonder if the moon catches glimpses of her own reflection there.) 4. HAMPI Located in the northern state of Karnataka in India, the ruins of Hampi represent the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, which was in power for several hundred years starting in the 14th century. The bewitching, crumbling remnants of temples, palaces, aquatic structures, ancient market streets, royal pavilions, military forts and municipal buildings are among the more than 500 monuments scattered amid a wild landscape of giant boulders, palm groves, banana plantations and paddy fields. The hauntingly beautiful ruins spread out over an area of nearly 10 square miles, like an offbeat amusement park paying homage to antiquities and the ghosts of empires past.
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Re: Most Beautiful Places In The World (PHOTOS) by ggrin(f): 9:14pm On Jul 15, 2014 |
I don click d topic finish b4 I see d moniker Andyblaze aiye oti baje ![]() |
Re: Most Beautiful Places In The World (PHOTOS) by MISSYTOSIN(f): 9:38pm On Jul 15, 2014 |
Picture no 2 tho...soo beautiful. |
Re: Most Beautiful Places In The World (PHOTOS) by 3coins(m): 9:42pm On Jul 15, 2014 |
Andyblaze is changing... |
Re: Most Beautiful Places In The World (PHOTOS) by Andyblaze: 9:56pm On Jul 15, 2014 |
1. Los Glaciares Located in southwest Argentina along the border of Chile, Los Glaciares National Park offers 2,807 square miles of rugged mountains, large lakes and a lot of — you guessed it — ice; the Patagonia ice field occupies nearly half of the park and represents the largest ice mantle outside of Antarctica. It contains 47 glaciers, along with another 200 smaller glaciers not included in the main field. Mount Fitz Roy (pictured here) is in the northern part of the park. Its 11,168 feet of sheer granite makes it one of the most challenging mountains to climb in the world, but hikers can enjoy the less arduous routes around it, not to mention the incredible play of colors that reflect off the face of the mountain each morning with the sunrise. 2. Blue Lagoon Iceland is a place of stunning wonders, like glaciers, volcanoes, geysers, fjords and beautiful lagoons filled with healing geothermal seawater — not to mention the 13 different kinds of elves that inhabit the country, according to Icelandic folklore. (And given the enchanted beauty of the country, is it any wonder that people believe it's rife with sprites?) The Blue Lagoon falls under the "healing geothermal seawater" category; its namesake, blue-hued waters are not only gorgeous to look at, but they are praised by many for their deeply salubrious nature. 3. Pamukkale The 17 hot water springs that fill the travertine terraces of Pamukkale in southwestern Turkey have been providing soothing mineral soaks to bathers for thousands of years. But beyond the health benefits, the area is a geologic wonder that occurs when calcite is deposited by the water as it pours over the edges of the pools. The result is an expansive cliff covered in white sparkling cascades of stone; petrified waterfalls that look like the work of fairy magic frozen in time. The location was the home of the ancient Greco-Roman city of Hierapolis, which was built on top of the "cotton castle" – and that is what Pamukkale means in Turkish. 4.Antelope Canyon Located just outside of Page, Arizona, the dreamlike landscape of Antelope Canyon is one of the most bizarre – and beautiful – in the country. The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is "Tse' bighanilini," which means "the place where water runs through rocks." And indeed, Antelope Creek, which flows into nearby Lake Powell, forms two sections of slot canyons, the diligent work of water and time carving otherworldly formations into stone that never fail to inspire involuntary gasps of “ooh” and “aah.” Add to that the play of desert light and the result is downright breathtaking.
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Re: Most Beautiful Places In The World (PHOTOS) by Andyblaze: 10:10pm On Jul 15, 2014 |
1. Cave of the Crystals Hidden nearly 1,000 feet beneath the ground in Naica, Mexico, is an implausible scene, one that could serve as the natural world's testament to the adage that truth is stranger than fiction. Most of us have held crystals in our hands, but here in the subterranean "Sistine Chapel of crystals," the translucent selenite specimens measure up to 36 feet in length and weigh up to 55 tons, making them some of the largest crystals known to man. The magical Cave of the Crystals is about 30 feet wide and 90 feet long, with a floor tiled in perfectly faceted crystalline blocks from which the giant mineral beams emerge. Clearly, this is where they've been hiding all the unicorns. 2. Sossusvlei Located in the southern part of the Namib desert in the Republic of Namibia, Sossusvlei is a treasure trove of sand dunes of staggering size and cinematic splendor. The pristine mountains of sand were built by the air, having been pushed and shifted by the colliding easterly winds from the Atlantic Ocean and the westerly winds from the Naukluft Mountains. They are believed to be 60 to 80 million years old and represent the highest sand dunes in the world — and easy contenders for the most beautiful. While they are visited by tourists who leave their footprints in the sand daily, all traces of humankind are erased each night as the winds sweep up the mess and return the dunes to a state of perfection for the next day. 3. Neuschwanstein Castle Princess Aurora, are you in there? While this fairytale castle perched atop a hill in the Bavarian Alps never actually housed a royal family – King Ludwig II of Bavaria who commissioned it died before its completion in 1886 – it was the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty castle. We've selected this photo because it shows a castle floating in the clouds, but the dreamy mist obscures the picturesque view of the rugged peaks and magnificent scenery of the Hohenschwangau Valley below. You'll have to go see it for yourself; just don't get tangled up with any bad fairies. 4. Yangshuo, China In southern China is Yangshuo County, an area that offers a captivating mix of karst pinnacles, caves, lush vegetation, traditional Chinese architecture, rice fields and the inexorably picturesque Li River, which many believe is the most beautiful waterway in the world. The mountains in the region are an irresistible magnet for climbers from all over the globe, while other tourists enjoy biking through the villages or taking a bamboo raft ride down the famous river.
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Re: Most Beautiful Places In The World (PHOTOS) by Andyblaze: 2:05pm On Jul 16, 2014 |
1. Big Island While most people associate Hawaii with the "perfect beaches and palm trees" brand of beauty, we're taking another tack here; we're adding Big Island to the list for its "otherworldly planet turning itself inside out" appeal. Pristine Pacific paradises are one thing, but the opportunity to see active volcanoes oozing and spewing lava is a humbling sight. Between 1983 and 2002, lava flows added 543 acres of land mass to the island; how incredible to be able to witness geology in action. (And if you get tired of watching volcanoes, you can always head back to the perfect beaches and palm trees.) 2. Antarctica, Southern Ocean The stark frigid atmosphere of the southern tip of the globe may not be all that hospitable, but its beauty is sublime. Antarctica holds the title as the coldest, windiest and driest continent, with nearly 98 percent of it covered in very deep ice. This all conspires to create stunning landscapes of pure white snow mingling with blue ice in structures of architectural magnificence. Striking as it is though, the land is so forbidding that the sea supports most of the continent’s wildlife, which is relatively meager in diversity. There are a number of flying bird species, as well as eight species of penguins, seven species of pennipeds and around 10 species of cetaceans. However, you may be surprised to learn that there are over 100 species of moss, 400 species of lichen-forming fungi and over 1,000 species of free-living fungi. Heroic life forms, to be sure 3. Lavender fields of France For this one we're also considering the olfactory component, because fields of vibrant flowers in Provence, France are one thing; but add waves of heady lavender fragrance to the setting and it's a slam-dunk in the beautiful places department. We can thank the Romans for bringing lavender to France, which they did more than 2,000 years ago. The hillsides and plateaus provided the perfect place for wild lavender to flourish and throughout the Middle Ages the local Provencal inhabitants collected the flowers for natural remedies and cleaning. By the end of the 19th century, increased attention was paid to maintaining and cultivating the lavender, resulting in its thriving position in the economy, culture and fields of the region today. Take a deep breath. 4. Taktsang Palphug Monastery Also known as the Tiger’s Nest, the Taktsang Palphug Monastery can be found near the city of Paro in Bhutan, the small eastern Himalayan country nestled between India and China. The monastery, which is perched on a cliff at an elevation of over 10,000 feet, was built in 1692 at the site of the cave where a guru by the name of Padmasambhava meditated (as the story goes) for three years, three months, three weeks and three hours back in the 8th century. This dream home for hermits remains a great example of Bhutanese architecture, an exquisite jewel tucked into the rugged beauty of its surroundings.
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Re: Most Beautiful Places In The World (PHOTOS) by Andyblaze: 4:31pm On Jul 16, 2014 |
1. Mount Fuji While many of the world's most notable mountains are famed for their imposing drama, Japan's Mount Fuji is a departure from the norm. It doesn't brood; it's serene and contemplative — which isn't to say that it doesn't have some personality. At 12,388 feet it is Japan's highest mountain; and although it hasn't erupted since 1707, it is still considered an active volcano. Yet it somehow manages to exude a sense of calm. And if ever a mountain were to be a muse, Mount Fuji would be it. For centuries its form has been a recurring theme in paintings, literature, gardens and other crafts. As UNESCO describes it, the mountain's perfect, snow-capped conical form has "inspired artists ... to produce images that transcended cultures, allowed the mountain to be known around the world, and had a profound influence on the development of Western art." It remains a potent and sacred symbol of Japan. 2.Tunnel of Love Ukraine's Tunnel of Love located near the town of Klevin may not be the most dramatic spot on our list, but for the tree-loving romantic, it may steal the show. Fortunately, someone decided that train tracks and forests need not be mutually exclusive, and thus, a towering tunnel through the trees has been maintained to allow travel of a train that makes its way through the fairytale passage three times a day. The rest of the time, this arboreal archway – which is nearly 2 miles long – hosts strolling lovers and is said to seal promises made there if their love is true. 3.Cappadocia It's possible that the only way you could improve upon the stunning spectacle of the “fairy chimney” pinnacles found in central Turkey's Cappadocia region is by enhancing the already surreal scene with some hot air balloons. But balloons or not, Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia — as the area is officially called — is a marvel. Located on the Central Anatolia plateau, the volcanic landscape has teamed up with the forces of erosion to create the ridges, valleys and towers that have provided a rich backdrop to a fascinating human history since at least the 4th century. Within many of the towering pinnacles are caves which house domestic dwellings and churches, many with intact frescoes; while below the ground are expansive subterranean cities — one which extends five levels down and once harbored 20,000 people. It is one of world's most striking and largest cave-dwelling complexes and offers impeccable examples of post- iconoclastic Byzantine art. Oh, and bonus points for being able to stay in a cool cave hotel if you visit. 4.Lake Baikal With an impressive age of 25 million years, Lake Baikal in southeastern Siberia is the oldest lake in the world; with depths reaching nearly 5,400 feet, it is also the deepest lake on the planet. In fact, it contains 20 percent of Earth’s total unfrozen freshwater reserve. But beyond its impressive stats, it is a marvel of nature and beauty. Known as the "Galapagos of Russia," Lake Baikal is one of the most biodiverse places anywhere, thanks to its age and isolation. It plays host to over 1,340 species of animal (745 endemic) and 570 species of plant (150 endemic). The area surrounding the lake is no less spectacular and includes mountains, boreal forests, tundra, lakes, islands and steppes; according to UNESCO, which includes the region in its World Heritage List, the area is “exceptionally picturesque.” Even just a sliver of the lake when frozen, as pictured here, hints at its secrets and allure.
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Re: Most Beautiful Places In The World (PHOTOS) by Andyblaze: 4:55pm On Jul 16, 2014 |
SOUrCE - www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/photos/30-of-the-most-beautiful-places-in-the-world/lake-baikal Cc: Seun , Mukina2 , obinoscopy |
Re: Most Beautiful Places In The World (PHOTOS) by mstik(f): 3:10am On Jul 18, 2014 |
wow, andyblaze. you r beginning to make sense these days. i hope this lasts long.. |
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