Iceland is a beautiful place that is surrounded with a number of geographical wonders that are believed to be immensely distributed in the wide diversity. The indigenous land is also surrounded by a number of wide and open horizons that has all the power to just attract any visitor towards itself with a sense of gravity and independent freedom.

When visiting Iceland you just may feel an ever living quest so that you can always explore the beautiful topographical diversity the very moment you step on the soils of Iceland. The famous Namaskar pass which is located near the North of beautiful Lake Myvatn is also considered as one of the wonders of the world, and is one such place that you must surely visit when in Iceland.

Situated at a height of 410 m in the famous Mount. Namafjall, this pass has managed to derive its name based on the 19^th century due to sulfur recovery from this mountain. One of the best ways to reach to the famous pass certainly is to try and take route No. 1 of the Ring road that is located between the Mynav and the Egilssta. There is also another route which is called as the Serpentine routes which you can take from the Reykjahli, that is situated at least 5 Kms away. Lake Myvatn is one place that is also looked up as most famous resort area of Iceland and can be reached just within 45 minutes from the nearest town. So, once you have managed to reach Hinauffahrt, you may immediately get a nice view of the Muckensee and the Jar-ba-sholar, which is also a famous volcanic crater and covers the Jar-bo-in lagoon right behind it.

A stretch of hot water springs called as Hverarond is certainly located just at the foot of this famous mountain and these are better known for the wide variety that they keep on changing. There are also a number of mud holes, mud pots or fumaroles that can always be seen boiling with extra amount of energy.

The famous Namaskar pass is just situated at a little distance to Krafla volcano and there are also a number of other geological spots that are located nearby to it including desert Myvatsorafi and Burfellshraun. Whenever visiting Namaskar pass you have to keep in mind to visit Heibquellengebiet, Pseudo craters of Skutusta, Dimmuborgir’s lava formations and also the historic waterfalls of Go-afoss which is just located nearby to the road.

At the foothills of this spectacular volcanic mountain is an expanse of hot springs called Hverarönd or Hverir that are known for their changing variety. You may also find a number of fumaroles, mud pools and mud pots that all seem to be boiling with relentless energy. The pass Námaskarð is strategically located at a short distance from the Krafla volcano system as well as other interesting geological spots like Búrfellshraun and the desert Mývatsöræfi. While visiting Námaskarð, you must not miss the Heißquellengebiet, lava formations of Dimmuborgir, pseudo craters of Skútustaðir and the historic waterfall Goðafoss by the road.

Photo from bishop72

However, Námaskarð earns its notoriety chiefly because of its sulphurous mud springs called solfataras and steam springs called fumaroles. Though you will scarcely find any pure water spring in this wonderful geothermal site of Iceland, the beauty of the colorful minerals defies all comparisons. The gigantic size of the mud craters is what makes you go ‘wow’ at the sight of them. You get parking, accommodation and dining facilities at Grýtubakki.

The other thing that is sure to strike you about Námaskarð is the sheer lack of vegetation. However, if you give a thought to the high temperature range, it does not appear an impossibility altogether. The constant emission of the fumes has made the ground utterly sterile and acidic, unfit to sustain any floras and faunas. You must bear in mind that the fumes can be harmful for humans as well.

Hence, better not forget to cover your nose or wear a mask while enjoying the hues of mineral deposits. You also must be careful about where you walk. Do not try to get over adventurous and cross the ropes that surround the pools. The ground beyond might crumble any moment and accidents do occur every now and then due to the erosive nature of the mud springs. There are no guards or guides to keep you off from the impending danger and so you must look after yourself.

Photo from hkvam

It needs a visit to Námaskarð and Lake Mývatn to dispel the myth of icy coldness that people tend to associate with Iceland. In fact, Mývatn ranks fourth among the largest lakes of Iceland and remains the favorite haunt of various species of birds. The efflorescence of the sulphuric gases and hydrogen sulphide lets loose a riot of colors to flood the neighboring rhyolite rocks of this region. The view of the magnificent Lake Mývatn coupled with the turbulent bubbling and overhanging fog gives you a feeling that you have arrived at some extraterrestrial land or is it the gateway to hell!

Are you familiar with the saga of Xi, a Bushman of the Kalahari Desert? Well, have you seen the fantastic movie “The God Must Be Crazy”? Then, I hope you will know the excellent landscape of Botswana. In fact, Botswana is a perfect adventurous place that has lots of mysterious truth for you to know them. Basically, Botswana is not a big country but is covered with delightful and different lifestyles. In fact, the people of the nation are meager; you can be surprised reaching a hot welcome in this wonderful part of the African continent. Some of Botswana’s locations are semi-deserts that give tourists lots of chances to have dissimilar experiences.

Botswana is also a good and famous playing spot for the players and you can find here various game parks and nature reserves than any other country in the whole world. Moreover, Botswana is known as world’s most famous safari tourists places and hence, pit forwards a lot of fun for the safari extremists. When you are in Botswana, you must not miss going to the superb sights, such as the Makgadigadi Pans and Central Kalahari and get pleasure from their exoticism.

If you love adventure and want to see the great locations of Delta, you can go the excellent Okavango Delta that is a wonderful sightseeing place and would create your tour a perfect tour even experienced! Apart from this, you would definitely enjoy great with a Botswana safari that provides actually magnificent experiences amongst its untouched environment.

Botswana is a country of various natural landscapes and you can see here mind-blowing quagmires, deserts and savanna forests and many more incredible scenes that are true happiness and gratification. Though Botswana is enough far from seashore, people love to visit Botswana and enjoy enough in many national parks and game reserves here. The Chobe National Park, Moremi National Park in the Okavango Delta and the Central Kalahari Game reserve are famous worldwide for wild lifestyle and locations as well. Botswana is absolutely a courageous place for tourists! It doles you out untamed life with its authenticity. Be confident that you have your carrying weapons with you and take pleasure being together with animals about them you have heard only in magazines! Enjoy in gambia hotel .

Perce Town Canada draws numerous tourists every summer because of the geological attraction that is the Perce Rock. It translates literally to “pierced rock” which is a fine description for the massive limestone formation.

Geographically speaking, the Perce Rock sits in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, a little off the tip of Gaspe Peninsula. It lies within the territory of Quebec, Canada. Its measurements are exceptional: 1420 ft. in length; 296 ft in width; and 289 ft. at its peak. Observers will notice a huge arch (50 ft high) at the tip of the Perce Rock as it touches the sea. This arch is responsible for the island’s name, and is one of the largest, most spectacular rock arches in the world.

Ageless stories in the rock

Without a doubt, the Perce Rock gives the fishing village of Perce Town its quaint, romantic charm. Aside from the ambiance, though, what draws the more geologically inclined traveler is the rich mineral formation found on the Perce Rock. It is home to millions of marine fossils including tetracoralla, brachiopods, triolobites, and ostracods, all from the Devonian Period. Archeologists and enthusiasts visit the site often to study its structure.

The arch that once was

The pierced rock used to have two arches until one of the outer arches collapsed in June 17, 1845. Despite the loss of one arch, the Perce Rock is still tagged one of the valued seven wonders of Canada.

Setting foot on the rock

Perce Rock’s visitors can visit the limestone rock formation itself during a specific time of the day. For four hours during low tide, a huge split is revealed providing foothold for visitors who want to set foot on the much talked about Perce Rock. It’s ill-advised for individuals to visit the rock on their own, as it juts dangerously onto deeper levels of the sea. Guided boat tours are available from the nearby fishing villages of Perce Town.

The best time to visit the Perce Rock is in the summer when the weather is perfectly clear, and the waters are calm. Some people might want to beat the peak season to save money, but they’ll miss out on seeing the Perce Rock at its finest.

Accommodations

Small hotels and inns line the nearby islands of Perce Town and Bonaventure Island. The Perce Rock itself is unpopulated, as it is made out of pure limestone. Summer travelers prefer the charm and rustic feel or Perce Town’s fishing village. It’s also nearer the rock, so the boat tours are bound to be cheaper from that home base.

]]> http://www.worldmaxtravel.com/2009/06/visiting-the-wonders-of-perce-rock/feed/ 1 http://www.worldmaxtravel.com/2009/06/balloon-tours-over-the-grand-canyon-national-park/ http://www.worldmaxtravel.com/2009/06/balloon-tours-over-the-grand-canyon-national-park/#comments Tue, 02 Jun 2009 21:38:45 +0000 kikonja http://worldmaxtravel.com/?p=3

The Grand Canyon in Arizona is one of the most breath taking sites in the world. It is one of the most popular tourist spot in America if not the whole world. It is nature’s wonder how the Colorado River formed the canyon that extends 277 miles long, 4 to 18 miles wide, and 6,000 feet deep.

Discovering the Grand Canyon National Park is an exciting and exhilarating experience. There are a lot of activities that will help you explore the Grand Canyon in different perspectives:

• Walking or Hiking around designated tourist paths
• Rent a vehicle and tour the park with your family
• Join other groups and take a bus tour
• Be like a cowboy and ride a donkey down the gorge
• Luxuriously rent a Helicopter
• Splash your way with available rafting tours
• Roll down the river ring boats

The possibilities are endless and each of these options will let you see the Grand Canyon in different aspects. You can also try hot air ballooning to explore this nature’s wonder while riding the winds.

Hot Air Ballooning Provides Pure Delight

You cannot just stand by the metal rails and enjoy the water mists in the air. You just can’t let the experience of being one with nature when you are in the Grand Canyon Park. Hot air ballooning to see the vastness of the canyon is a wonderful experience.

Riding a balloon gives a unique thrill. You cannot ride a hot air balloon everyday. The ride is a lot peaceful than renting a chopper so you can quietly appreciate the beauty of the landform and the rushing river.

While riding the balloon you can enjoy the lift of the calm winds and be one with the elements. Enjoy the sun on your skin and breathe in fresh air. When you are up there you will know more why you a lot of people are mesmerized with the magnificence of the Grand Canyon.

Afloat in a Balloon over the Canyon

If you are ballooning over the Grand Canyon it is best to dress in layers. Note that these rides are timed at dawn or dusk when the winds are at their friendliest speeds. It may be a bit cold in the altitude where you will cruise or it may be a bit warm when the sun is already up.

There is nothing to be scared of when riding a balloon. It will be an experience of lifetime that you will never forget. Some may be in doubt of entrusting their lives with a pilot and the hot air balloon, but it is totally safe.

The hot air balloon just follows a basic science concept— hot air floats. So the balloon is controlled by the pilot by heating up the air so you will rise and lowering down the flame so you will gradually descend.

The speed will vary depending on your altitude and direction. There is also no need to worry about feeling the wind on your face because the balloon actually floats on top of the gust. The balloon will glide over the air and provide you smooth, enjoyable tour.

From above, you can appreciate the play of light and shadow. You can also see the striations on the rock formations that are from the Paleozoic Era. The Grand Canyon is renowned for the long range and wide sequence of archaic rocks. You can also see how the river traverses the gorge and appreciate like how birds see them from the sky.

The Grand Canyon hot air balloon tours give you an opportunity to see one of the nature’s wonders from a different perspective. When you ride the balloon, don’t forget to bring your cameras and preserve the memories.