The Big Hole

The Big Hole - World Tourism will discuss about the The Big Hole. Maybe you do not believe this when you first see it. Yes, all this does not seem real and looks like a computer trick. But this is true, The Big Hole Kimberley Mine which is located in an underground mine located in Kimberley, South Africa, and claimed to be the biggest hole dug by hand.

The Big Hole is currently trying to register as a World Heritage Site.  The Big Hole has a surface area of ​​17 hectares or about 42 hectares and 463 meters or approximately 1519 feet wide. From July 1871 until mid-1914 up to 50,000 miners dug the hole with picks and shovels, yielding 2720 kilograms of diamonds. It was excavated to a depth of 240 meters or about 790 feet, but then partially infilled with debris reducing the depth of about 215 meters or about 705 feet.

Since then it has accumulated about 40 meters or about 130 ft of water, leaving the 175 meters, or about 574 feet from the hole visible. After the operation on the ground became too dangerous and unproductive, the kimberlite pipes of the Kimberley Mine also mined underground by Cecil Rhodes' De Beers company to a depth of 1097 meters or approximately 3599 feet. Large companies have been subsequently worked in the  The Big Hole up to a depth of 215 meters, with a surface area of about 17 acres, and circumference of 1.6 kilometers.

Based on the idea of ​​creating "a lasting legacy for the people of Kimberley." Between 2002 and 2005, De Beers invested R50 million in developing the  The Big Hole into a world-class tourism facilities, new facilities, Kimberley  The Big Hole , outlining a theme 'Diamonds and Destiny', is expected to double the number of visitors to the  The Big Hole .

#955 Galway, Ireland

When I rented a car in Ireland, I drove coast to coast, and the first place in the west that I aimed for was Galway.

A beautiful port town, with pretty harbor-front houses, it was memorable even if it was raining, although maybe I remember it because it's where I had to pay 1000 euros to fix the dent in my rental car because I didn't pay attention to where I was reversing...

Regardless of that, it is a pretty place, with castles (Lynch's Castle, Menlo Castle), canals, cemeteries and a nice pedestrianized main street. While being the third largest city in Ireland, it feels like a cozy quaint town as well.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galway
http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-most-underrated-cities/12

#956 The Blue Hole, Belize

I have never really been a destination diver, but more of an opportunistic one: When there's a dive shop and good diving and I have time, I'll try and fit in a dive or two. The Blue Hole in Belize is an exception, however. Two hours boat ride from the nearest caye through open water, the Blue Hole has to be something you are determined to get to. And it's worth it.

It's a deep dive (120 ft/40m) so quite short (around 8 mins at the bottom), with not so many fish or coral, although sharks are common. What I loved the most were the massive stalactites that we swam through at our deepest depth -- bigger than I've seen in most land caves, but very unique to be seen underwater (they only grow on land, of course). It was formed as a cave in the limestone millions of years ago and collapsed into a cenote. With the rise in sea levels most likely just after the last ice age, it is now underwater in the middle of a pristine, magical reef (Lighthouse Atoll) near the second largest barrier reef in the world (running the entire length of Belize's coast). Amazing place!

 

Sources of photos: Please note that these photos are not my own. I simply did not have the equipment to take deep dive photos and neither the time nor the money to do a fly over. Credit for these photos should go to: ambergriscaye.com, tahitiangoddess.wordpress.com/2012/05/31/great-blue-hole-belize/, uecophotoexplorers.com, www.gadling.com/2008/07/15/belize-it-or-not-diving-the-blue-hole/, lonelyplanet.com, http://rumshopryan.com/2010/08/27/worlds-largest-blue-hole-belize-diving/

#957 Niagara Falls, USA/Canada

Forming part of the border between these two enormous countries, Niagara Falls on the Niagara River is the collective name for the three sets of falls between Canadian Ontario and American New York. The highest flow rate of any falls in the world, the volume of water passing is visually impressive and the spray can be felt from quite far away. Check out these photos from the boat tours and the walk under the waterfall to get an idea of how much water there is everywhere. A major tourist attraction for both sides, they are loud, wet, wild and impressive.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Falls

#958 Ha Long Bay, Vietnam

An other-worldly place with plugs of limestone rock shooting up from a peaceful, picturesque bay as if someone decided to create a maze of rock, but then it eroded into the sea, Ha Long Bay literally means 'Dragon descending', and it's the kind of place where the mythology that named it seems like it could happen there.

With thousands of islands ranging in size, many with caves and minimal vegetation, the bay stretches several kilometers and from the place where you set sail in order to visit the many islands, you can't see the open sea. The distinctive twin sail boats with trapezoidal yellow sails are not a fast journey and feel timeless, despite the modern amenities.

Pictures: Film, 1998
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ha_Long_Bay



Eye of Africa

Eye of Africa - World Tourism will discuss about the Eye of Africa. Some people call him Richat structure, which is dubbed as the Sahara and Guelb er eyes Richat, Eye of Africa is having a circular shape that stands out is located in the Sahara desert in the middle of Mauritania is not much Ouadane.

Eye of Africa has been deeply eroded structure, looking slightly elliptical with a diameter ranging from 40-km, shaped dome. Composed of sedimentary rocks are exposed to some scraping on the central dome Late Proterozoic to Ordovician age rocks and sand is located around ujunggnya. some sedimentary rocks derived from these structures dip outward at 10 ° -20 °. Differential erosion-resistant layer of quartzite has created a high-relief circular cuestas. Eye center of Africa consists of siliceous breccia area having a diameter of at least 3 km.

#959 Svaneti, Georgia

Hidden high in the western Caucasus mountains of Georgia, well above the snow line in winter, is the Svaneti valley. It's picturesque steep hills criss-crossed with cool creeks and gushing mountain streams, the summer pastures green and lush but the mountain peaks always snow-capped.

Svaneti's mystique lies in its history. Its inaccessibility provided a safe haven for those in the valleys and plains below in times of conflict and war, particularly during the time of the marauding Mongols. Valuables, jewelry and riches were brought up the valley and stored in special towers, accessible only through one door, so easily defended. The towns of Mestia, and the villages of Lenjeri and Latali hold towers and relics of this time, with the prescence of many simple stone towers, still maintained in old fashioned ways, where the stone walls are black with soot from fires and the wooden frames and animal husbandry haven't changed in centuries. The UNESCO World Heritage listed tower-houses are starting to crumble, but those that remain are a connection to stories and heritage and a testament to isolation.

Source: http://www.tikatours.com/geo/index.php?wiv=red&dos=3&id=27
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svaneti
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/709/

#960 Bran Castle, Romania

Dracula's Castle in Romania is a happening tourist spot these days, despite the fact that neither Dracula nor Bram Stoker who wrote about it lived or even visited here. So this place is amazing because it is a testament to advertising, propaganda, and the impact of a good story!

Bran Castle, which is really more of a big house than a castle, is one of many interesting sites in the Carpathian mountains. It is built on a high hill, next to an even higher hill of green meadows and forests, but lacking much of a view over the castle. It's architecture is interesting with odd shaped courtyards, multi-level rooms and winding corridors and staircases. Full of charm and well maintained with a bear skin rug, the decorations are evocative of 18th century country living.

While I can commend it for being ambianced-filled, it was disappointingly roped off and full of tour groups, so perhaps not so amazing after all?

#961 Esfahan, Iran

Beautiful, romantic, historic Esfahan: even the name sounds beautiful and evokes emotion! If ever there was a city to evoke the essence of Iran and Persian culture, Esfahan is a pretty good place for it. With its hot summers and cool winters, its iconic blue-tiled domes and muqarnas (the sheer quantity of which is an Islamic architecture buff's dream), the fantastic shopping, and its place on silk trade routes of antiquity, it is memorable and atmospheric.

Its Naghsh-e Jahan Square (Imam Square) is one of the biggest public squares in the world, and is faced with buildings each spectacular in their own right. With Ali Qapu Palace, the Grand Bazaar, Madrassas, Mosques, across the river there is even Vank Cathedral, it is a mixture of heritage and culture.

12th C Pol-e Sharestan Bridge of 33 arches.

The Grand Bazaar during the lunch hour siesta.

One mosque off of Iman Square

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isfahan

Finding the perfect accommodation in Barcelona

When you come to Barcelona, one of the main things that you want to get right the first time is the accommodation, because once you're here there is no way to change where you're staying... And you're going to be staying in your accommodation every night. So how does one go about choosing the accommodation that is right for them? Well that's what this article is all about.

The first choice you can make is either a hotel or an apartment. There is no right answer to this one and depends on what you're looking for. If you wish to be able to depend on others to provide you with a lot of service, but havelimited freely available resources, then you may want to stay at a hotel. On the other hand, if your desire is to be a bit more independent, have access to a large range of freely provided resources, and get a 'home away from home' feel, then you should consider staying in a Barcelona apartment. When you return to your accommodation at night you will feel more like a citizen returning to their home rather than a tourist returning to their room.

The next thing to consider is price, if you're choosing to stay in an apartment in Barcelona you'll be pleased to find a large range of prices, from private and spacious apartments that are even better value than staying in a shared hostel, to luxurious apartments complete with jacuzzis and private swimming poolsaround the same price as a 4-star hotel. The former being priced at around 13€ per person per night and the latter at around 48€ per person per night. The cheap accommodation Barcelona has to offer has no limits if you begin to open yourself to the possibility of staying in an apartment.

If you're travelling as a family, then an apartment is definitely the most suited accommodation for you. You will have all the privacy you need as your children can sleep in a completely different room, and all without spending all that extra cash on a hotel suite. Apartments in Barcelona are usually provided withfamilies in mind, and include family activities like board games and family-orientated DVDs.

Everyone is different and therefore barcelona apartment rentals aren't going to be for everyone, obviously some people prefer the experience of meeting new people in a hostel and the sense of community brings, and others love the idea of being able to call room service for the smallest of reasons. At the end of the day it is up to you, but at least now a new option has crossed your mind. So the next time you plan a trip to Barcelona or in Spain you can get Cheap Airfare on CheapOair!