Category Amazing Places

          The Lake District is a region credited with a fascinating countryside in Cumbria, the north-west of England. With numerous lakes and more than 100 mountain peaks, it covers a total area of 2,243 square kilometres. The region was declared a national park in 1951 in order to protect its natural resources for future generations.

          Also known as the Lakes or the Lakeland, this breathtaking destination has been very special to nature lovers since time immemorial. Poet William Wordsworth is one of them whose early writings reflect the beauty of this place. In fact, there was a group called the Lake Poets during the turn of the nineteenth century, comprising poets and writers all of whom lived in the Lake District.

          As mentioned earlier, there are many important lakes and mountains situated in the Lake District. This includes the largest, Lake Windermere and the highest English mountain Scafell Pike. The area is also one of the most populated notional parks in the country having major settlements within the mountainous areas. Keswick, Windermere, Ambleside, and Bowness-on-Winder-mere are the four large towns here. 

               The Giant’s Causeway is an extensive area covering about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns. It is spread over six kilometres along the northern coast of Northern Ireland, on the edge of the Antrim plateau. These stone pillars with up to seven irregular sides that point out of the cliff are just a spectacular sight.

               This Causeway was formed some 50 million years ago as a result of a volcanic eruption that caused lava to flow towards the coast. When it came in contact with the sea, the lava cooled, forming layers of basalt columns. And because of the pressure between the columns, each of them sculpted into different shapes. Ever since it was first documented. in 1693, the Giant’s Causeway has been subjected to studies by geologists. It stands as a special place, not just for the formations but also for the grasslands close by. There were human settlements in the area during the 1800s, but it is now uninhabited. However, more than three lakh persons visit the site every year. 

          Andalusia is a historical region of Spain, located in the southern portion of the country. It is an autonomous community which has the city of Sevilla as its capital.

          Divided into eight provinces, Andalusia is the most populated and the second largest of the communities.

          Andalusia was a wealthy and politically influential region. Even today the remains of its culture and traditions can be seen in the community’s architecture, language and customs. The famous bull fights and the gypsy flamenco music with dance are two highlights of the culture.

          Other major tourist attractions here include the city centres of Ubeda and Baeza in the province of Jaen, both which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Great Mosque of Cordoba, the Alhambra in Granada, along with numerous museums, cathedrals, castles, forts, monasteries and stunning beaches. 

            The Dolomites are a fascinating group of mountains that lie on the eastern section of the northern Italian Alps. It consists of a number of majestic peaks out of which 18 rise to more than 1000 feet. The Marmolada is the highest of all, at a height of 3341.8 metres.

            The first scientific study about the region was made by the 18th century French geologist Dieudonne Dolomieu. It is from him that the mountain range and its rock took their name. Geologically, the range is formed of light-coloured dolomitic limestones. As many as 41 glaciers are seen in the region. Most of the lower slopes of the mountain were once covered by thick forests, but today only patches of woodland remain.

            The main peaks of the Dolomites were climbed in the 1860s by English mountaineers. However, the range has witnessed major disasters after that. In 1963, more than 2500 people died after a landslide occurred in the southern Dolomites. It caused the Vaiont Dam to overspill and flood the village of Longarone.

            Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco is the highest mountain in Europe. It is located in the Alps and lies along the border of France and Italy, extending to Switzerland. Ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence, the mountain rises to a height of 4,808 metres above the sea level.

            Literally meaning ‘White Mountain’, the Mont Blanc is covered for at least 100 square kilometres by glaciers.

            The importance of the mountain was brought before the world in the 18th century when P. Martel, Jean A. Deluc and Horace Benedict de Saussure drew attention to it as the Western Europe’s highest mountain, in separate attempts. It later created an interest among climbers.

            In 1786, the summit was conquered by Michel-Gabriel Paccard and Jacques Balmat Today, the region is one of the most important tourist centres on the continent, and has facilities for winter sports as well. The famous Mont Blanc Tunnel is another major attraction here. 

            Petra tou Romiou or the Rock of the Greek is a sea stack seen in the coastal city Pafos in Cyprus.

            What make the formation famous are its beauty as well as mythological relevance. The rock has a magnificent structure with corals, seaweed and pieces of shells on it.

            According to legend, Petra tou Romiou is situated where the Greek goddess Aphrodite was born. Hence, it is also known as Aphrodite’s Rock. According to another folk story, a person who swims around the rock is believed to be blessed with eternal beauty. However, this may not be easy, as the sea is usually very rough making it difficult to enter the water. Tourists are often advised not to swim here. Climbing the rock is also prohibited.

            There is one more legend associated with the Petra tou Romiou. It says that the rock was thrown by Basil, the legendary hero in the epic of Digenes Akrites, from the Toodos Mountains. He did this to destroy the Arab ships that were on the way to take over Cyprus. The rock landed where it is now situated.