Category Amazing Places

               Colosseum or the Flavian Amphitheatre is a huge amphitheater that was built in Rome between 70 and 72 BC. It was constructed during the rule of Vespasian, a Roman emperor of the Flavian dynasty. The magnificent structure is located just east of the Palatine Hill. 

          The Colosseum, said to be the biggest amphitheatre in the entire Roman Empire, could house around sixty thousand spectators. Structurally, it was an oval or round building that had rising levels of seats arranged around a central open space. This space called the arena was meant for staging entertainment, gladiator fights etc.

          However, in medieval times the Colosseum was damaged by lightning and earthquake. It was also largely vandalized, as a result of which its marble seats and decorative materials disappeared. The building was subsequently used as a place to house animals and slaves. The Serious efforts to preserve the majestic construction were made only in the 19th century.

          Bora Bora is a striking volcanic island part of the Leeward group in the Society Islands of French Polynesia. Surrounded by a lagoon and coral reefs, it lies in the central South Pacific Ocean. The earliest name of the island is known to have been ‘Pora pora mai to pora’, meaning ‘created by the gods’ in the local Tahitian dialect. It later became ‘Bora Bora’.

          Historically, the island was inhabited by Polynesian people sometime in the 4th century BC. It gained global attention only in the 18th century when the Dutch admiral Jacob Roggeveen spotted it in 1722. In the late 19th century, Bora Bora was annexed by France.

          In terms of its geography, the settlement of Vaitape lies on the western side of the main island. In the central region, there are two peaks rising from an extinct volcano. They are the Mount Pahia and the Mount Otemanu. Other than these, the island offers much more too visiting tourists.

          The Great Barrier Reef is the longest and the largest reef system in the world. It is a complex of coral reefs, shoals and small islands in the Pacific Ocean, located off the northeastern coast of Australia. Roughly covering an area of 350,000 square kilometres the reef is one of the largest structures ever built by living creatures. Tiny organisms called coral polyps work behind the composition of this wonderful marine system.

          Interestingly, there are many other forms of life supported by the Great Barrier Reef. This includes around 300 species of hard coral as well as anemones, sponges, worms, gastropods, lobsters, crayfish, prawns, crabs, and a great variety of fishes and birds. Historical evidences suggest that the reef has also been important for humans, especially the Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander peoples. They have been living in the region for thousands of years and the reef is part of their culture.

           The Sydney Harbour of Australia is a waterway known to the world for its striking scenery and environment. It is one of the favourite destinations of people who love swimming, sailing, yachting, kayaking and diving. With over hundred kilometres of shorelines, natural parks and historical sites surrounding, this natural harbour is a trademark of the city of Sydney.

           The renowned Sydney Harbour Bridge and the performing art centre of Sydney Opera House lie close to the harbour. There are other amazing islands as well nearby, including the Fort Denison, Shark Island, Clark Island, Rodd Island, Goat Island and Cockatoo Islands.

           Going by historical evidence, one can perceive that Sydney Harbour had a considerable role during the Second World War. It was related to the construction of the Sydney Harbour anti-submarine boom net in 1942 as a measure to protect the harbour from submarine attack. 

          Any inland area that lies far from large, populated centres is called an Outback in Australia. It usually refers to the semiarid inland areas of eastern Australia and the arid centre of the Western Plateau and its semi arid northern plains where water bodies are scattered and sometimes dry. Such places are important in terms of environment as well as tourism.

          Historically, even the driest remote regions have been inhabited by indigenous Australians for around 50,000 years. As a result, such areas have become part of the Australian heritage, history and folklore.

          Today, the Outback is regarded as the largest remaining, intact natural area on Earth. The MacDonnell Ranges, the town of Birdsville, the Katherine Gorge, Uluru and the Devil’s Marbles are some of the popular tourist attractions in the country’s Outback. Many animals like red kangaroos and dingoes that are well-adapted to the climatic conditions can be seen in the regions.

          Livestock grazing or pastoralism, using cattle and sheep form the largest industry across the Outback. 

           The smallest of the Australian states, Tasmania is famous across the world as a ‘natural state’ with about 45 per cent of its area lying in reserves, national parks and World Heritage Sites. Geographically, this island is located 240 kilometres to the south of the Australian mainland, and has its capital in Hobart. It encompasses the main island of Tasmania and 334 islands surrounding it.

           Historical evidences show that the name ‘Tasmania’ comes from Abel Janszoon Tasman, the Dutch explorer who happened to be the first European to discover the island.

           Today, Tasmania is most famous for its spectacular mountains, lakes and coastal scenery. At a height of 1,617 metres, Mount Ossa is the highest peak on the island. It stands proudly in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park which is part of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area that preserves all the national parks and reserves in the state.

          The Canadian Rockies are a magnificent segment of the Rocky Mountains that extend some 1600 kilometres from the northern British Columbia in Canada. They form a border between the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.

          There are a number of peaks and ranges on the Canadian Rockies. This includes Mount Robson that stands the highest, Mount Joffre. Mount Assiniboine and Mount Columbia.

          Out of the high peaks, only Mount Temple has an established scrambling route. But even this is dangerous for climbers without adequate experience. Besides, the upper slopes of the mountain are covered with snow, making it all the more difficult to move upward.

          A good portion of the mountain range is protected by five national and three provincial parks. The Banff, Jasper, and Waterton Lakes National Parks among these on the eastern slopes in Alberta are also famous for the spectacular alpine scenery they offer.

          There are numerous river systems that have their source in the Canadian Rockies. 

            Churchill is a town in northern Manitoba in Canada, most famous for polar bears. It is the northernmost seaport of the country, and is located on the west shore of the Hudson Bay.

            As said before, Churchill is home to a large number of polar bears and has earned the title ‘the Polar Bear Capital of the World’.

            In autumn, the town witnesses the movement of animals from inland towards the shores. The tourism industry in the region is developed by focusing on the migration habits of the bears. There are modified buses called ‘tundra buggies’ that carry tourists safely to view polar bears.

            In addition to this, there are thousands of beluga whales in the waters of Churchill that make the place even more interesting. The movement of the whales into the warmer waters of the Churchill River estuary in the months of July and August is said to be a major attraction.

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