#854 Blue Mountains, NSW, Australia

http://www.bluemts.com.au/

This is the view I remember, but when I saw it, I don't think there was a gondola sitting above the depths. It was my first experience of a hail stone storm -- I didn't understand how it could be so hot, yet with massive pieces of ice falling from the sky.

A short drive up from Sydney, the mountains encompass a large area of inland New South Wales. I remember how the mountains seemed to drop off, as opposed to rising up, and this would make sense considering they are a sandstone plateau with gorges being carved out of it.

The aboriginal legend is a Gundungurra creation story where the Dreamtime half-fish half-reptile creatures Mirigan and Garangatch fought a large battle, scarring the landscape. Many areas of archaeological importance are in the area (22,000 years old), with the rock shelter Red Hands Cave having ancient hand stencils and other areas having grinding stones and carved animal track images.

They were called the blue mountains because of the appearance from a distance, believed to be caused by mie scattering combined with ultraviolet radiation, and the terpenoids emitted by the many eucalyptus trees (though I admit I don't really know what that means!).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:BlueMountains123.jpg

Source: http://www.bluemts.com.au/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Mountains_(New_South_Wales)

#869 Candy Cane Mountains, Azerbaijan

The descriptive name was coined by travel writer Mark Elliot because of the beautiful stripey colors, but there isn't really anything there except a beautiful road through a majestic pink and white valley. Because all farming is still shepherd-driven, there are no fences, nor any buildings. The road is simple and the scenery pretty -- but many visitors come here because of its proximity to the capital Baku. How do you find it? Turn off the main northern highway at the large grain elevator where there is an inconvenient police checkpoint. 

Aside from a couple of abandoned cooperative farms, there is a very small isolated bust of poet Mikayil Mushviq across a small footbridge near the house where he was supposed to have lived. 

One of the most incredible things about the candy canes though, are the super conical bullet-like fossils that litter the ground everywhere. 

Source: Azerbaijan, 4th Edition by Mark Elliot

#870 Shahara, Yemen

At the top of Jebel Shahara in Northern Yemen, a bumpy military escorted pickup truck ride up an ancient cobble-stoned road, lies an old village with timeless traditions that continue much as they would have millenia ago. Women get water from the central cistern every morning, its green cover a sign of its natural state. The multiple story buildings with icing-like whitewash are the same as they were centuries ago, tall buildings for the age they were built and cozy family-centered communities.

The town itself was a mountain fortress because of its inaccessability, and for centuries has been a safe refuge from invadors (Turkish or domestic) for rural people and Imams alike. It was famous for its scholarship, and the beautiful terraced fields allowed it to be self-sufficient in times of crisis.

The Ancient "Bridge of Sighs" a stone arch above a 300 foot canyon built in the 17th Century to connect two mountain towns is still used to carry grain, sheet, and other local products like the addictive narcotic leaf qat and of course, coffee.

This spectacular place is 2600m above sea level and it is a magnificent journey just to get there. Despite being an important tourist site, there are no restaurants and barely a handful of homestay hotels. The military escort on parts of the road is required by the government due to the likelihood of kidnapping militias, and many cars will not stop en route due to the danger. A really amazing place -- I feel lucky to have been here!

Source: http://www.viewzone.com/y-page31.html

#882 Lemaire Channel, Anarctica

While it may appear to be a very large channel, in bad weather its possible to have to navigate the small (1,600m wide at its narrowest), iceberg-filled area in fog and clouds so low you can't see either side -- if you can pass through at all due to the ice. Nicknamed by visitors as 'Kodak Gap', it is a spectacular, narrow passage between the Antarctic Kiev Peninsula and Booth Island. It was named by De Gerlache for a fellow Belgian explorer (of the Congo!), the first to traverse it 1898. Such high cliffs (3000m) on either side make for spectacular scenery, making a large ship appear nothing more than a toy.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemaire_Channel
http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/travel/locations/lemaire_channel.shtml

#890 Ushuaia, Argentina

Few places in the world can claim superlatives, but many like to do it. Ushuaia's claim to fame is that it is the world's southern-most city, and there are no disputes: it's too cold here to deny it! The end of the world, and yet the gateway to the beautiful Tierra del Fuego National Park and a hot cruise ship destination for both around South America cruises and for thsoe departing for Antartica.

Originally settled as a penal colony and by British missionaries, but now it is one of the best paid cities in Argentina. Sitting in front of the Martial mountains with both winter and summer sports, it is a spectacular location.

#901 Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

Elusive Denali only comes out completed from behind her skirt of clouds once or twice a season and is so large she easily contrives her own weather system. In order to get to where you can see the mountain it is several hours bus ride into the park -- an enormous area of natural beauty and national importance. When I read about McCandless disappearing into the park to live in an old bus, I really didn't understand the scope of the place -- it would be very easy to get lost never to be seen again. 

Like any animal sightseeing in the wild, we were marvelling over moose miles below us on the river, and a bear in the distance, and the marmots were very cute! It is such a vast space and so breathtaking!