Category Amazing Places

          The Florida Keys is an interesting chain of islands located off the coast of southern Florida. It begins in the Atlantic Ocean, south of the Miami Beach and curves into the Gulf of Mexico.

          What makes the Keys special is their incomparable ecological richness and coral reefs. It is said that the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park here contains the largest living coral formations in North America.

          The Key Largo is the largest of the keys, extending long 50 kilometres. But the most populated and economically developed area is the Key West. The Overseas Highway that runs from the mainland to the Key West connects all of the islands. It consists of 42 bridges, and is one of the longest overwater roads in the world.

          The Great Smoky Mountains is a popular mountain range in the United States. Geographically, they form a segment of the Appalachian Mountains in eastern Tennessee and the western North Carolina. Also known by the name Great Smokies or Smokies, the place is highly praised for its rich ecosystem.

          The most important part of the Great Smoky Mountains is the national park with the same name.

          Trees like hemlock, black cherry, black walnut, yellow birch etc. can be found inside the park. Also, there are many species of wildlife like the black bears, white tailed deer, ruffed grouse, wild boars, raccoons and numerous attractive song-birds, that make the Great Smoky National Park all the more fascinating.

          There are as well a number of historical structures maintained within the Smokies Park as well, like those at the Cades Cove, and the Elk-mont. As per records, more than 9 million people visit the place every year. 

          Acadia was the name of a colony established by the French in North America. It included the places that we now know as Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and parts of New Brunswick, the Gaspe Peninsula, and Maine. The colony was important for its geographic position as it was close to fishing grounds, shipping routes and the British colonies along the Atlantic coast.

          However, there are more reasons that add to the relevance of Acadia. It stood out in beauty and diversity that captivated any visitor. As a result the Acadia National Park was founded in the US state of Maine in the early 20th century.

          The biggest attractions of the park are the mountains, wood-lands, lakes, and an ocean shoreline.

          It spreads across more than 49,000 acres, including 30,000 acres on the Mount Desert Island, and on smaller islands close by.

          The Bazaruto Archipelago is one of the most riveting places in the continent. It is located off the southern coast of Mozambique. Bazaruto, Benguerra, Magaruque, Santa Carolina and Bangue are the five islands that make up the cluster.

          The deep blue waters, unspoiled sandy beaches, palm trees and coral reefs are what make the islands an international travel destination. The rock island of Santa Carolina, particularly, has three beautiful beaches with coral reefs. It is regarded as the ‘gem’ of the islands, and sometimes, also called the Paradise Island.

          Besides such attractiveness, the islands are also said to be home to a large number of marine animals on the Indo-Pacific region. These include the humpback whales, spinner, humpback and bottlenose dolphins, marlins, barracudas, marine turtles and dugongs, a marine mammal.

          In 1971, the archipelago became a national park, ensuring more protection to the species. 

               Mount Mulanje or the Mulanje Massif is a large rock hill located in Malawi. The peculiarity of the mount is that it rises sharply from the plains of Chiradzulu that surrounds it, and the tea-growing Mulanje district.

               There are as many as 20 rocky peaks on the plateaus, out of which the Sapitwa is the highest point. It stands at a height of 3002 metres.  

               Incidentally, Mount Mulanje is one of the biggest in Africa. The mountain is rich in wildlife, where one can spot tiny ante-lopes like the klipspringer to various other small mammals. There are as well a variety of birds as well, like the buzzard, and black eagle.

               In fact, it is part of the protected Mulanje Mountain Forest Reserve. It is also home to the famous Mulanje cypress, a tree that is heavily logged and thought to be endangered.

               For its natural ecosystem and beauty, the Mount Mulanje remains one of the most popular hiking and climbing destinations in Africa, with thousands visiting it each year.

          The Spitzkoppe is a world famous group of rounded granite mountains seen in the Namib Desert. They are located between the towns of Usakos and Swakopmund and are more than 120 million years old. Standing at a height of 1784 metres, the Spitzkoppe is a very popular spot among climbers across the world. The first ascent was recorded in 1946 by Hans and Else Wong-schofsky and J. de V. Graaf.

          There are many features that attract visitors to the Spitzkoppe. The ‘Small Spitzkoppe’ that stands at a height of 1584 metres above sea level and the dome-like Pondok Mountains are two of them.

          On the eastern side lies the Bushman’s Paradise, a cave that offers a walk up the steep incline through a fixed steel cable. In these parts, one can see remains of Bushman paintings and rock art. Sadly, most of it has been damaged in the course of time. However, there are some rock paintings still preserved at the Small Bushman’s Paradise and Golden Snake sites.