Category Amazing Places

Why is Cartagena a very famous historical place?

            The city of Cartagena is the capital of the Bolivar State, and the fifth-largest city in Colombia. It lies in the northern part of Columbia in the Caribbean coast region. The city is known to the world for its historical significance.

          Settlements around the Cartagena Bay date back to 4000 BC. It is believed that various indigenous people had inhabited the place back then. The city was, however, founded in 1533 by a Spanish commander Pedro de Heredia, and remained a major colony of Spain for nearly three centuries. In fact, it was named after the Cartagena city of Spain. During the Spanish rule, the Columbian Cartagena was a centre of political and economic activities. It was also a major slave market.

          In 1811, Cartagena declared independence from Spain and the following years witnessed great confusion and fights. The city that was once economically stable then declined in commerce. However, after the opening of petroleum fields in the Magdalena River valley in 1917, Cartagena experienced a renewed growth. Today, it is an important city in Columbia. 

 
 
 
 
 

Why is Torres del Paine National Park special?

          The Torres del Paine National Park is a national park in southern Chilean Patagonia. It covers an area of around 242,242 hectares and is one of the largest and most-visited parks in Chile. In 1978, it was designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

          Part of the National System of Protected Forested Areas of Chile, the Torres del Paine national park promises many spectacular views and moments to a visitor. One of the main attractions here is a small mountain group called the Cordillera Paine. Besides, the region also encompasses glaciers, lakes and rivers. The Dickson Lake, Nordenskjold Lake, Pehoe Lake, Grey Lake, Sarmiento Lake, and Del Toro Lake are some of the famous lakes here. Another water body flowing through the park is the beautiful Paine River.

          In addition to these, the Torres del Paine national park is noted for its flora and fauna. It has documented a wide variety of plant species including 85 non-native ones. It is also home to many animals like Guanacos, pumas, foxes and the endangered Chilean Huemul.

 

Why is Lake Atitlan considered as a beautiful site?

               Lake Atitlan is a magnificent lake in southwestern Guatemala, lying in the central highlands. It is said to be the deepest lake in Central America with a maximum depth of about 340 metres. The three cone-shaped volcanoes of Atitlan, Toliman, and San Pedro lie on the borders of the lake.

               There are many reasons why Lake Atitlan remains a global attraction. On the shores of this lake are situated numerous villages that still have the Mayan culture.

               As it is known to the rest of the world, the Atitlan Lake is very attractive. It stands out for its immense and picturesque setting, surrounded by mountains, volcanoes and wildflowers. According to German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, it is ‘the most beautiful lake in the world’. In 1955, the region around the lake became a national park. Corn, onions, beans, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers and pitahaya fruit are the major crops in the area on which the indigenous people depend.

 

Why is the Geiranger Fjord unique?

            The Geiranger Fjord is one of many inlets from the sea along Norway’s western coast. It is located in the Sunnmore region of More og Romsdal County and is one of the most visited tourist sites in the country.

            What makes the Geiranger Fjord special is its scenic beauty. There are a number of abandoned farms that lie along the sides of the fjord. Skagefla, Knivsfla, and Bloomberg are the most visited among these today. Close to them lies the beautiful village of Geiranger, which is thought to be one of the best travel destinations in Europe for its scenery.

            Another feature that adds to the charm of the fjord is the impressive waterfalls called ‘Seven Sisters’ and ‘Suitor’. Both the falls face each other across the fjord. An interesting story about them is that the ‘Suitor’ is trying to woo the sisters opposite. There is one more attractive falls here – the Bridal Veil.

            For its splendour, the Geiranger fjord has been the subject of many films. The famous animated movie by Disney named ‘Frozen’ was inspired by the fjord. 

What makes Faroe Island a tourist attraction?

          Faroe Islands is a cluster of beautiful islands in the North Atlantic Ocean that lie between Iceland and Norway. It is a self-governing administrative division of Denmark. As many as 17 inhabited islands are part of this cluster, along with many islets and reefs.

          The Faroe Islands are said to be high and rugged due to their volcanic composition.

          The islands are largely treeless and the natural vegetation consists of moss, grass, and wetland. It also lacks indigenous mammals, reptiles and toads but is home to rats and hares. There are as well numerous sea birds on the island.

          The Faroese people are said to be mostly descendants of Norwegian Vikings who colonized the place in AD 800. Many of them depend on sheep rising for their livelihood. But the economy of the island primarily focuses on fishing and related industries. Faroese and Danish are the two official languages on the island. The former had a rich oral literature that was not written down until the 19th century.

Why is Stonehenge an amazing location to view?

            The Stonehenge is a prehistoric stone circle monument, cemetery, and archaeological site located on the Salisbury Plain in England. It is believed to have been built between 3000 and 1520 BC, in six stages.

            There are many stories on why the Stonehenge was built. Many scholars hold that it was a place of worship or a burial ground.

            However, it is unique for its artificially shaped sarsen stones, arranged in a peculiar way. There were two groups in which the large stones were arranged – one was a circle of flat stones that rested on top of stones standing upright. The other was a group within the circle – a horseshoe shaped group of five pairs of upright stones.

            There is a straight path called the Avenue that leads away from the circles. An upright stone named the Heel Stone stands near the centre of the Avenue.