Zhangye Danxia Landform, China

Zhangye Danxia Landform

Two tiny figures walk on a boardwalk among colourful rock formations at the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park in Gansu Province, China. The unusual colours of the rocks are the result of red sandstone and mineral deposits being laid down over 24 million years.

Danxia Landform is a broad term used to describe geological formations composed of limestone and conglomerate that have been molded through a series of specific, complex geological processes. These structures are unique to China and are characterized by their deep red hues, steep cliffs, and distinctive shapes.

Mount Danxia of China's Guangdong Province is home to some of the bigger Danxia Landform attractions. A particular interest is a natural pilaar as Yangyuanshi, or Male Stone for reasons that are immediately obvious. Not far from Yangyuanshi is its female counterpart, Yinyuanshi, effectively reenforcing the conviction that Mother Nature has a sense of humor, and posibly a rather juvenile one at that.

Other noteworthy Danxia Landscapes include the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park, which is home to some of the largest examples of Danxia. Located in the Gansu Province, the Zhangye Danxia are particularly striking their beautiful multicolored patterns of rock strata.

Sagano Bamboo Forest, Japan

Sagano Bamboo Forest

Sagano Bamboo Forest is located in Arashiyama, a district on the west outskirts of Kyoto,  Japan.

Sagano Bamboo Forest is one of the most amazing natural sites in Japan.

One of the most interesting facts about Sagano Bamboo Forest is the sound which the wind makes while it blows amongst the bamboo. Amazingly enough, this sound has been voted on as one of the ”one hundred must-be-preserved sounds of Japan” by the Japanese government. As mentioned the Sagano Bamboo Forest is not too far from Kyoto’s main streets – (30 minutes by train).

Another interesting fact –  the railing on the sides of the road is composed out of old, dry and fallen parts of bamboo.

The path leading through the bamboo forest that stretches from Nonomiya Shrine to Okochi Sanso Villa will be lit up. Experience the greens and the exotic shadows of the bamboo forest when dimly lit.

Mendenhall Ice Caves, Juneau, Alaska

Mendenhall Ice Caves

Mendenhall Glacier is a glacier about 12 miles long located in Mendenhall Valley, about 12 miles from downtown Juneau in the southeast area of the U.S. state of Alaska.

The Mendenhall Glacier is a 12-mile-long glacier in the Mendenhall Valley, located only 12 miles from downtown Juneau in Southeast Alaska. Federally protected as part of the Mendenhall Galcier Recreation Area, a unit of the Tongass National Forest, the glacier originally had two names, Sitaantaagu ("Glacier Behind the Town") and Aak'wtaaksit ("Glacier Behind the Little Lake"). 

The Ice Caves are inside the glacier, accessible only to those willing to kayak to, and then ice climb over the glacier. However, the glacier is retreating increasingly fast as global warming heats the oceans and temperatures rise.

Monitored since 1942 by the Juneau Icefield Rsearch Program, the Mendenhall Glacier has receded almost 2 miles since 1958, while previously it had receded only 0.5 miles since 1500. The caves are in part a function of this increased glacial melting.

Hitachi Seaside Park, Japan

Hitachi Seaside Park

Hitachi Seaside Park is a public park in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan.

Less than two hours from Tokyo, the Hitachi Seaside Park is a palette of colors, changing from one season to another, making it an all-year-round paradise.

In the spring, these baby-blue flowers, called nemophilas, bloom all over the park. It's as if you’re standing in the middle of powdery blue goodness.

With an area of about 190ha,Hitachi seaside park boasts its a wide variety of seasonal flower gardens such as narcissus and tulip in spring , nemophila and rose in early summer , zinnia in summer and kochia and cosmos in autumn.

An amusement park (cycling road,BMX course,athletic field, BBQ space) is set up as an annex.

Salar de Uyuni: One of the World’s Largest Mirrors, Bolivia

Solar De Uyuni

Prehistoric lakes once covered Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni near the crest of the Andes. When these lakes dried up over hundreds of thousands of years, their rich salt content was left behind, and it became the thick salt crust that coats the region today. The shallow pools of brine are also rich in lithium – they contain 50 to 70 percent of the earth’s reserves.

During the rainy season, most of the enormous salt flat is covered by shallow water, as rain has nowhere to drain.  These few inches of water have a dazzling effect on the landscape, transforming the plane into one endless mirror that reflects the sun, sky, clouds, visitors and the indigenous pink flamingos that heavily populate the area.

The region is 11,995 feet above sea level, making it an optimal spot to monitor and calibrate satellites. The incredible clouds often break to clear skies, with blue and white reflected below. Salar de Uyuni sees a lot of traffic ranging from from tourists to companies coming to mine the layers of salt, potassium, lithium and magnesium from the surface. It is also a major car transport route during the dry seasons. Salar de Uyuni is a beautiful natural mirror, but also an important source from salt and lithium, which is a vital component in electric batteries.

Tulip Fields, Netherlands

Tulips Field

If the sight of daffodils and other spring flowers raises your spirits after the greys of winter, why not pop across to the Netherlands and see the tulip fields in all their myriad colours? Let our gallery whet your appetite for the glory in store.

Each year, from March to May, the Dutch countryside becomes a sea of tulips, hyacinths and all manner of other flowers. Mere photos can only give a hint of the pure explosion of colour and scent all around. Amsterdam's bulb belt stretches for thirty miles from Haarlem, just outside the capital, to Leiden. Known as Bloembollenstreek – bloem is bloom or blossom, bollen is bulbs, and streek is region – it's a low land area close to the North Sea coast with a sandy soil and mild wet climate that makes it ideal for bulb cultivation.

The best way to view the sights is to rent a bike and cycle, maybe along the trail that links Oude Wetering  and Gouda, or the one from Gouda to Willemstad where there is the attraction of the traditional Dutch windmills to add to the picture-perfection of the views. There's the chance to attend the biggest flower auction in the world at Aalsmer, or visit the Keukenhof gardens and have your breath taken away by the spectacle produced by over seven million flowering bulbs. “Get on you bike” never sounded such fun!

Tunnel Of Love, Ukraine

Tunnel of love

The Tunnel of Love, located in Ukraine, used to be just another train rail section, but eventually turned into one of the most romantic spots on Earth.

As trees were left to grow freely around the rails, the passing train was the only thing shaping its way through. Eventually, by crossing the Kleven village forest back and forth three times a day, the train shaped a closed tunnel according to it’s size.

Today the Tunnel of Love is highly popular among lovers: it is believed that if two people are sincere in their love and cross the tunnel while holding each other’s hands, their wishes will come true.