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Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 , Big Almaty Lake
The Big Almaty Lake belongs to the Bostandyk district of Alma-Ata and is located 20 km south-east of the center of the former capital of Kazakhstan. The state border with Kyrgyzstan passes in the immediate vicinity of the reservoir, but the presence of a special pass for visiting the BAO is not required.
Contrary to its name, the alpine lake has a small area of water surface. It is located at an altitude of more than 2500 m above sea level, surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks of the Trans-Ili Alatau.
The mountain cleft appeared as a result of active tectonic processes that occurred in the distant past. More than two thousand years ago, a powerful earthquake triggered a large-scale collapse that blocked the gorge. As a result, a natural dam was formed and a deep reservoir striking with its unearthly beauty, which became a real turquoise pearl of the Northern Tien Shan.
Croatia 🇭🇷, Trogir city
Trogir is the epitome of Croatian comfort and hospitality. There are no noisy crowds of travelers and busy car traffic. People come to the city not only because of its historical value, but also for the tranquility, landscapes and the pleasant aroma of an olive grove.
Trogir owes its name to the Greek colonists. Landing on the Balkan coast, they first noticed the hills "dotted" with numerous herds of goats. It seemed that the area literally abounds with these animals, so the name for the new settlement did not take long to wait. The ancient toponym "Tragurion" comes from the Greek word tragos – "goat".
The most favorable time for summer holidays in Trogir is June. During the day, the mercury column rises to +26-27 °C, after sunset it drops to +17-18 °C. The water temperature reaches +22-23 °C. July and August are the least suitable for excursions, when the stifling heat reigns in Trogir (+30-32 °C). Tourists feel comfortable only in the evening. The water warms up to +25 °C.
Germany 🇩🇪, Marienplatz, New Town Hall
The new Town Hall is located in the heart of Munich — on Marienplatz Square. The building of the New Town Hall is one of the most famous tourist attractions of the city.
The unique architecture of the New Town Hall, in the style of the new Gothic. Although, as its name already implies, it was built relatively recently — in 1905, thanks to the fashionable desire for "historicism" at that time, the town hall looks like a medieval castle.
The main facade features sculptures of almost all the dukes and kings of Bavaria, as well as the figure of the founding father of the city — King Henry the Lion. In the central opening stands a sculpture of Prince Regent Leopold on horseback, then the de facto ruler of Bavaria. On the facade facing Weinstrasse, a huge dragon reminds of the terrible threat of the plague.
Italy🇮🇹, Capri Island
Capri is a wonderful island in the Bay of Naples, one of the most charming resorts in Italy. A small island with steep shores rises from the sea. It is an island of thickets of purple, pink and white bougainvillea and lemon trees, labyrinths of narrow and crooked streets and pastel-colored houses.
Capri has long been a favorite vacation spot of the Roman emperors. the island was discovered by avid travelers from England, then artists and writers from other countries began to visit there.
The beauty of Capri is legendary. The length of the island is 6 km, and the maximum width is 2.5 km. Sheer limestone mountain slopes protrude from the water - sometimes more than 500 m in height. The landscape of the island is characterized by unusual rocky formations, cliffs, but above all - a lot of caves and grottoes.
Turkey🇹🇷, Istanbul, Arnavutkey district
Arnavutkey is an area north of the central historical part of Istanbul, located on the European part of the Strait and occupies a protruding cape.
This word itself means "Arnaut village". Historically, the population was mixed: apparently, there really once lived an Albanian community, part of which served in the guard of the Ottoman Empire - hence the name, the guard soldiers were often called "Arnaut", robbers.
But this place is better known as a Greek fishing village with its ancient temple. It became part of Istanbul only in 1850.
Then the Turkish nobility chose a beautiful stretch of the coast — they began to build country houses here, on the very shore of the bay — they still remain almost the most expensive real estate in the city.
Now this place is considered non-touristic: there are few bright sights here. But this is one of the most prestigious and expensive areas to live in.
Chile 🇨🇱, salt lagoons in the Atacama Desert
Salar de Atacama is one of the largest salt marshes in the world. It is located at an altitude of 2300m. There used to be an ocean floor here. The mountains formed around raised part of the ocean, resulting in a huge lake. Under the scorching rays of the sun, it dried up - so a giant salt marsh appeared. The salt layer can reach one and a half kilometers!
Water accumulates under the salt crust. It seeps through a complex system of channels from the Andean Cordillera. Sometimes faults form in the salt marsh, through which the purest blue lakes appear on the surface.
The lake in which everyone swims is called Laguna Piedra, but tourists call it Caxap - in honor of the neighboring reservoir.
The concentration of salt in the water here is higher than in the Dead Sea - the water pushes to the surface, not allowing you to dive. Drowning in this lake will not work, but splashing your eyes with salt water is easy.
Spain 🇪🇸, flour mill
The old Flour mill is an autonomous hydraulic engineering complex, the history of which dates back to the 14th century. The complex with its impressive buildings is replete with beautiful natural channels and huge, beautiful gardens.
Its geographical location, in the mountains north of Madrid, in the town of Torremocha de Jarama, gives it a mild climate, as it is located in a fertile valley surrounded by mountains.
In the 80s of the last century, the territory of the former flour mill underwent restoration. Special attention was paid to respect and restoration of the natural and architectural environment.
Since then, magnificent and beautiful holidays have been held on it, mainly weddings, of course. This place is very popular with Madrid brides, because the photos from there are truly magical.
Greece 🇬🇷, Astypalea
Astypalea is a small island in the southeast of the Aegean Sea, it is quite small — 18 km long and 13 km wide. There are only three settlements on the island, which are located on the western side, the eastern part is deserted. The island consists of two parts connected by an isthmus.
When looking at the Greek island of Astypalea from a bird's-eye view, it seems as if it looks like a butterfly with asymmetrical wings. Most of its eastern wing is deserted and uninhabited, and the western wing is almost completely covered with endless forests. The local flora is quite modest, it is represented by shrubs, juniper and low grass. Citrus trees can also be found. Flocks of sheep and goats move through numerous meadows and fields. Thanks to the latter, very tasty cheese is produced here — a favorite product of the guests of Astypalea.
Spain 🇪🇸, Seville
Seville is a city in the south of Spain, the capital of Andalusia. It is located on a plain on the Guadalquivir River, which divides the city into two parts - the historical center (on the left bank) and Triana. Seville is one of the most charming cities in Spain, which boasts amazing sights and relics of the past, elegant architecture and a magical atmosphere. Here, in the capital of Andalusia, Eastern and Western culture, Moorish and Spanish historical heritage collide and bizarrely mix. The city fascinates at first sight, it is a real cultural and historical heart of Spain.
Seville features elegant buildings and cobblestone pavements, ancient street lights and horse-drawn carriages, incendiary flamenco rhythms and as many as three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Here you can see the sights that will definitely make an impression! For example, the Cathedral of Seville is one of the largest Gothic churches in the world with a majestic tower that was once the minaret of an ancient mosque.
Netherlands 🇳🇱, Githorn Village
The Dutch village of Giethoorn is one of the most cozy settlements in the world. Instead of roads, there are river channels, and boats and silent boats powered by electricity are a popular means of transportation. As for land transport, the locals made an exception only for bicycles, laying narrow bike paths along the shores, along which pedestrians also move. And on the sides of the trails – grass, flowers and trees.
Githorn is called "Little Venice" because of the huge number of canals crossing the village. The number of bridges is also striking: there are more than 170 of them here, and they are almost opposite every house that is near the water. Some bridges are part of the street, others lead directly to the house. The bridge can be approached by one of the many paths.
Another feature of the settlement is a huge number of goat horns, which are a reminder of what the village was named after. They can be seen on the walls of houses, on the fence, on the roof.
Italy 🇮🇹, Polignano a Mare
Polignano a Mare is a town in the Apulia region in the province of Bari. This is one of the most beautiful and photogenic places in Southern Italy, a resort with pretty rocky beaches and a relaxed provincial atmosphere. Polignano a Mare is a charming seaside town located on the picturesque rocky coast of the Adriatic.
The city has a typically Mediterranean climate with mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.
Almost in the center of Polignano a Mare there is a bay with a magnificent white pebble beach, surrounded by high cliffs and crystal clear water. The beach is called Lama Monachile or Cala Porto and is the main public beach of the city.
Polignano a Mare has an ancient, more than two thousand-year history. It is believed that in the 4th century BC the ancient Greeks founded the colony of Neapolis here. During the Roman period, Polignano a Mare was an important trading center on the way from Rome to Brindisi.
USA 🇺🇸, Vanonta Gorge
The appearance of the Vanonta Gorge seems to have descended from the pages of fantasy books.
High basalt walls, completely covered with a thick layer of moss, thickets of ferns and multiple lichens – probably, fairy-tale dwarfs and elves live in such places.
Vanonta is part of the Columbia River and there are even four waterfalls in the gorge, so the local flora is rich in unique aquatic plants. The territory of the gorge is protected by the US Forest Service.
An arm of the Vanonta River (Oneonta Creek) passes through the gorge. There are four large waterfalls on the river. The middle Waterfall of Vanonta (Middle Oneonta Falls) is clearly visible from the path and is often confused with the upper and lower waterfalls. The lower part of the gorge is protected, so there are no passages on the bridge and paths.
Germany 🇩🇪, Rock Massif and Bastai Bridge
Right above the Elbe, where the river makes a sharp turn, steep, narrow and high stone pillars rise to a height of almost 200 meters. The Bastai rocks look like the fingers of a huge hand coming out of the very depths of the earth's surface.
Bastai is a magnificent and incredibly beautiful creation of nature, consisting of sandstone rocks with numerous terraces, caves, arches and narrow valleys. Islands of pine forest and single trees growing in the most inaccessible and unexpected places make this stone masterpiece of nature surprisingly alive.
Saxon Switzerland has long attracted travelers with its magnificent landscapes, and Bastay has become an object of mass tourism. At the very beginning of the 19th century, shops were built here, in 1824 a bridge was built between the rocks, and in 1826 a restaurant was opened. Also, these fantastic rocks have always been popular with climbers.
Thailand 🇹🇭, Phi Phi Archipelago
Phi Phi is an archipelago between mainland Thailand and Phuket. It belongs to the province of Krabi. In total, 6 islands belong to the archipelago, the most touristic of which is Phi Phi Don.
There is no airport on Phi Phi Don, so everyone gets to the island by ferry. The island is completely pedestrian, there are no vehicles on it. Everyone walks either on foot or uses the services of a water taxi (taxi-boat). The water taxi has a fixed price tag. Price signs are posted all over the island.
From Tonsai Bay, as well as from many hotels, motor boat tours of Phi Phi Don Island are offered. At the same time, stops are made during which you can go scuba diving or just swim.
The island of Phi Phi Le is only a few kilometers away, uninhabited, but vacationers, thirsty for silence, as well as scuba diving enthusiasts, constantly come here.
Turkey 🇹🇷, Istanbul, Blue Mosque
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul, or Sultan Ahmet Mosque, is the most significant religious building in the city. The massive temple with 5 main and 8 auxiliary round domes and 6 sharp needles of minarets got its name because of the internal lining with ceramic tiles with rich blue patterns. The Blue Mosque, built at the beginning of the XVII century, is still in operation. The silver-gray complex on the shore of the Bosphorus, surrounded by gardens, simultaneously accommodates up to 10,000 believers. Tourists, subject to certain rules, are also allowed there at a strictly allotted time.
The massiveness of the squat domes advancing on each other is softened by the points of the minarets pointing upwards. The project was clearly influenced by Hagia Sophia and Islamic architecture, in particular the Suleymaniye Mosque, built half a century earlier in the time of Suleiman the Magnificent.
Pakistan🇵🇰, Umbrella waterfall
Umbrella Waterfall is located in Sadiq district from Abbottabad district. It has recently become a new tourist attraction in Pakistan's CPC province.
The waterfall is located 27 kilometers from Havelyan. To get to Umbrella Waterfall, you will have to walk about 30-45 minutes from the village of Pune. Umbrella Waterfall is located on the same road where the famous Sajikot Waterfall is located.
Many visitors say that this beautiful waterfall has an impressive force of nature. Shimmering and feeding, splashing into thousands of splinters causes delight, and the rumbling water scares and reveals the soul.
South Korea 🇰🇷, Purple Island
On the islands of Bankol and Bakji, residents have repainted all their houses, bridges and roads in the shade of the national flower of Mugunkhwa, a pale lilac hibiscus. They also planted a variety of flowers to match the surroundings, such as asters and lavender. The purpose of such an unusual transformation was to make your city a tourist attraction.
In restaurants located on the islands, you will be offered to taste purple rice, and food will be brought on the same color plates.
It offers tourists three walking purple pedestrian bridges that connect two small islands with a larger island. If you are wearing purple clothes, you can go to the island for free.
Tiny quiet islands, which embody a unique tourist project, are inhabited by a little more than a hundred people. Since 2015, more than four million dollars have been invested in it. The campaign officially launched in 2019.
USA 🇺🇸,Idaho, Sawtooth National Park
The Sawtooth National Recreation Area is located in the valley of the Wood River. Majestic and breathtaking landscapes attract many tourists here. Here you will find rivers full of salmon and more than 300 high-altitude lakes that lie between the jagged peaks of the mountains.
The recreation area was established in 1927 and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.
On the territory of the park you can join hiking, rafting, camping, rock climbing, kayaking, mountain biking, fishing and hunting.
Most of the trails in the central part of the park are open to mountain bike enthusiasts. The remaining roads are open to off-road vehicles.
Fishing enthusiasts will be interested to know that boats can be used on lakes, this will make fishing even more interesting.
In winter and spring, cross-country skiing, sledding and snowmobiling, snowshoeing, winter camping and ice skating become popular activities.
Thailand 🇹🇭, Hong Island
Thailand is famous for its islands all over the world, and we are talking now not only about popular tourist destinations, such as Phuket or the Phi Phi Islands, there are fabulously beautiful corners of nature untouched by civilization, such as Hong Island.
Koh Hong is located just 5 km from the mainland of Krabi Province. Translated from Thai, the name means "an island with emptiness inside", and appeared due to the presence of a picturesque lagoon, which the rocks of the island surround from all sides, leaving only a narrow opening through which you can get there by boat or kayak.
Hong Island is part of the archipelago of the same name, consisting of 16 islands, so you can often hear the name "Hong Island". There is no infrastructure on it, except for a tent with drinks.
Boats bringing tourists, after disembarking, depart from the beach, leaving the opportunity to enjoy its beauties with the full feeling that you are on a desert island.
China🇨🇳, Puzhehey Park
Puzhehei National Tourist Resort is located in Yunnan Province in China, its area is 165 sq. km. Such relief and landscapes are extremely rare in the world, and for China this place is generally unique.
256 tourist sites are located on a relatively small area. In total, 312 isolated hills, 83 caves, 68 karst lakes can be counted on the territory of the park.
People from three different ethnic nationalities live in the region. For example, the people of Sani adhere to the religion of animism, i.e. they worship nature. Their traditional festivals attract a huge number of tourists.
The name of the national park is rooted in the dialect of the Sani people. "Pu Jae Hei" (普者黑) means a place teeming with fish and shrimp.
The best time to visit the national park is July and August. At this time, you can catch the blooming of lotuses, as well as get to the grand festival of "painted faces".
Norway 🇳🇴, Lake Lovatnet
In the west of Norway, in the municipality of Strin in the Sogn og Fjordane district, there is a lake Lovatnet (Lovatnet). Its unusually green, mysterious color, especially bright in the sun, is explained by the glacial origin of the water.
In the narrow intermountain valley of Lodalen, the lake is squeezed by high steep mountain slopes with snow-white snow caps, blue glacier layers on the tops and waterfalls falling down. Its length is 11 kilometers, width does not exceed one and a half, the surface is at 52 m above sea level. Lovatnet discharges water into the Nordfjord through a river channel.
The lake is considered one of the most beautiful in Norway. The surrounding landscape is filled with drama, enhanced by the tragic history of local residents of the first half of the 20th century. Three times huge boulders broke off from the Ramnefjell rock, causing a tsunami when landslides fell into the water.
Kyrgyzstan🇰🇬, Grigorievskoe gorge
Grigoriev Gorge (Kyrgyz name Chon Ak-Suu) is located on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul, 60 kilometers from the city of Cholpon-Ata and 110 km from the city of Balykchy. The valley descends from the Kungei Ala-Too ridge near the village of Grigoryevka.
Grigoriev Gorge is considered one of the most famous sights of Issyk-Kul. The sweet smell of pine trees, green mountain slopes, the noise of a mountain river, high-altitude lakes lure tourists vacationing on Issyk-Kul. The most beautiful Tien Shan fir trees grow in this gorge.
The mountain slopes of the Grigoriev Gorge are covered with red mountain poppy, which spreads like a carpet across the valley. The length of the valley is 35 kilometers. Stormy glacial water of crystal purity rushes along the bottom of the gorge.
Tourists can take a walk or ride a horse here, enjoying the surrounding nature; see semi-wild yaks, demonstrations of handicraft and horse riding art.
Switzerland 🇨🇭, France 🇫🇷, Lake Geneva (Leman)
Lake Geneva, called Leman by the French, is the largest lake in Central Europe. It belongs simultaneously to Switzerland and France, has a length of 72 km, a width of up to 13 km, a depth of 310 m, lies in the floodplain of the Rhone River and resembles a crescent in shape, which bends near the village of Ivor. The bend divides the lake into Large and Small.
The Swiss side of the lake is surrounded by vineyards, and the French side is surrounded by Alpine Mountains.
On the northern shore there is one of the most popular resort places — the "Swiss Riviera". The Alps protect the riviera from the cold northern winds, so the microclimate at the edge of the lake is almost subtropical: palm trees are planted on the embankments, and the surrounding hills are sown with vineyards.
Thailand 🇹🇭, Koh Tao Island
Koh Tao is an island in the Gulf of Thailand in the south of Thailand, in the province of Surat Thani, whose name translates literally as Turtle Island. The island is not large at all — about 21 square kilometers, where less than one and a half thousand people live.
In 1933-1947, this island was famous for the fact that there was a prison for political prisoners here, and today it is known to most people as an excellent sea and dive resort, where there is no hustle and bustle of Koh Samui, and even more so Phuket. The entire economy of the island is based on tourism. Koh Tao is considered one of the best places in Thailand to explore and practice diving because of its colorful underwater world. There is practically no current and a large number of dive sites, schools and shops where you can buy all the necessary equipment.
UAE🇦🇪, Dubai, Lake of Love
Lake of Love is an artificial lake in the shape of hearts, located in the Rub al-Khali desert, 40 km from Dubai. Perhaps the best attraction for couples in love who decide to visit the Middle East.
From a technical point of view, these are two lakes in the form of intertwined hearts. You will find it near the oasis of Al-Qudra. This amazing landmark with an area of 55,000 m2 is visible even from space.
The Lake of Love is located at a great distance from the city blocks of Dubai and looks like a real oasis surrounded by desert. In addition to the heart-shaped lakes themselves, thousands of shrubs, about 16,000 trees and countless bright flowers have been planted here.
In this amazing place there are not only plants, but also fish. The lakes here are shallow, and goldfish and koi carp live in them. Birds can often be seen on the trees of the oasis.
Turkey 🇹🇷, Antalya, Aspendos Amphitheater
Aspendos Theater is considered the most preserved Turkish theater. Built in the second century by Master Zeno, it could accommodate up to seventeen thousand people on its stands.
The theater consists of a front facade with five tiers, decorated with relief cutouts. You can enter the theater through huge doors with inscriptions or through a door on the central facade. The theater once even had a royal entrance with five doors.
In the niches in front of the theater stage, you can see the image of bulls' heads, wreaths and various fruits, and most importantly, the god of wine — Dionysus.
The Greek architect Zeno, who is credited with the construction of the theater, took into account all acoustic requirements. This is evidenced by the location of the stage and stairs. The arched gallery gives the amphitheater a special charm.
Mexico🇲🇽, Cancun
Cancun, which until recently was a sleepy fishing village on the Yucatan Peninsula, pulled out its "lucky ticket" in the 70s of the last century. Today it is one of the most developed resort towns of the Caribbean coast, with first-class five-star hotels, most of which are located along the narrow island "appendix", separated from the mainland by 9 kilometers of clear waters.
The elite outgrowth is called — Zona Hoteles — and is a long and narrow 25-kilometer sand spit.
Cancun is a resort known primarily for beach holidays. It is famous for a multi-kilometer strip of fine snow-white sand, similar to powder, and turquoise-colored water. The beaches of Cancun are federal property, any tourist has the right to visit them.
The resort is located almost parallel to the coral reef Palankar. The local waters are amazingly clean — sometimes visibility reaches 100 meters, which makes Cancun a recognized mecca for divers from all over the world.
Italy 🇮🇹, Alberobello
Alberobello is one of the most unusual places in Italy. This city is famous primarily for its unique houses, which are called "trullo", they are not seen anywhere else in the world. Trullo is a house built of limestone that has a roof in the shape of a cone. Such a house is a traditional dwelling.
Alberobello is located in the southern part of the country. It should be noted that this Italian town is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List for its beautiful architecture.
The main attraction of the city is, of course, the quarter with Trullo houses. The city has many souvenir shops, small museums, cafes and restaurants where you can taste delicious local cuisine. The main part of the city is typical of small Italian cities. The most interesting part of Alberobello is the area called Rione Monti, in which there are about 1000 trulli. Tourists can enter many of these houses and get acquainted with their interior decoration.
Russia🇷🇺, Novosibirsk region, Berd rocks
Berd Rocks is an ecological park in the Novosibirsk region with an area of 27 hectares.
The natural monument is located 4 kilometers from the village of Novososedovo, Iskitimsky district. This is a rocky section with a length of 1.3 km, located near the Berd River, bordering on one side with the mouth of the Bolshoy Klyuch Stream.
Locals call the Berd rocks St. John's Wort, namely, the rock on which the main observation deck is located. This is one of the most beautiful places in the Novosibirsk region: being on top of a cliff, you can see the winding Berd River, mixed forests with a predominance of pine and birch, green banks, the Lower Meadows tract on the left bank of the Berd River from the south side. The height of the rocks is about 300 meters.
The territory became nature conservation in 2000. Here, due to the combination of forest and steppe zones, rare plants and animals are found. The area looks very picturesque both in warm seasons and in winter.
Portugal 🇵🇹, Madeira Archipelago
The Madeira archipelago consists of the islands of Madeira with an area of 740 square kilometers and Porto Santo with an area of 42 square kilometers, as well as many small islands that are uninhabited. Madeira is an autonomous region of Portugal, located on these islands, which is significantly distant from the mainland of Europe (1000 km) and from the African coast (500 km). The local islands were discovered by Portuguese sailors at the beginning of the XV century.
The topography of the island of Madeira is distinguished by two features: high mountains and deep gorges. This island, lost in the ocean, cannot boast of numerous beaches, as the coastline is difficult to reach cliffs. But in Madeira, special ladders leading to the ocean have been thought out.
Madeira can offer tourists fishing and hunting, windsurfing and diving, there are many golf courses, tennis and hiking trails for trekking.