Do you know the best way to see the world? Undoubtedly, this is travel, and alone. So you can satisfy your desires, take an open look at original places, cultures and traditions, without relying on someone else's opinion. To travel alone means to rediscover yourself.
Do you want to go hiking on popular routes? Take a sip of delicious coffee in famous cafes? Get aesthetic pleasure from going to a museum or a famous concert hall? Meet other travelers, make new friends and leave precious memories? Feel free to go and do it alone. Of course, you will only be interested in best places on the planet, which we will now tell you about.
New Zealand
New Zealand made our list of the best places, as it has everything your heart desires, any adventurer. Lush vegetation everywhere, mesmerizing views of mountains, valleys and plains... all this served as the perfect backdrop for the events of one of the greatest movie hits of all time, The Lord of the Rings.
Despite being ranked 4th out of 162 on the Global Peace Index for safer living, this country has adventures that will give you an adrenaline rush. There you can try bungee jumping, go to cruise, hiking or cycling through the beautiful countryside where you can meet friendly locals. With such a busy pastime, you will forget that you are on a trip without a companion. Don't know where to start? Go to the capital of adventure, a real paradise for travelers.
Norway
Norway is one of the countries famous for its picturesque fjords (narrow but deep bays between sheer cliffs). To make a transition along them is an opportunity that cannot be missed, because nature in those places arranges a free spectacle for travelers - a bewitching northern lights, the magnificence of which cannot be described in words!
The coast of Norway stretches for 1500 km, and wherever you look, you will find stunning views everywhere. This is definitely one of the most beautiful places on earth and a must visit if you love to travel. Norway - tenth on the list of the safest countries - has unspoilt natural beauty with a cool climate where even the winter sun is itself warmed by the warmth of the locals.
Switzerland
Switzerland is known not only as a safe place to stay, ranking fifth on the Global Peace Index, but also as a country with breathtaking scenery despite its small size. System public transport works smoothly and efficiently, so you can easily explore city after city on your own. Just wander the streets and you will feel the congenial atmosphere of these enchanting cities like Zurich. Even walking or shopping alone, you will never feel out of place, because, as a rule, the Swiss are quite isolated from each other. After putting on a pair of reliable hiking boots, go on a tour of the city and make sure that everyone should visit.
Little Switzerland has a spectacular landscape to suit all tastes: green fields, rolling hills, snow-capped mountains, colorful valleys, sparkling glaciers. All this indisputably testifies that whole generations of Swiss from year to year zealously guard the natural beauty of their country.
Costa Rica
There is a country in Central America that every tourist must visit, whether he is traveling alone or with a group. They say this is the happiest place in the world -. Gifted with vibrant diversity natural wonders, it can show everything from magnificent river valleys and majestic volcanoes to the inviting beaches along the coast, where surfing is a lifestyle not to be missed. It goes without saying that other water sports can also be enjoyed there. It is believed that many types of entertainment and adventure travel originate there.
A trip to the foggy forests will give you an incomparable experience. This phenomenon excites not only tourists, but also scientists. In these forests in Costa Rica, humidity levels are always consistently high, which brings down the temperature considerably. So in addition to hiking boots, you will definitely need to bring a warm sweater with you. Well, the 42nd place in the list of safe countries for living allows this country to replenish the history with stories about peaceful and happy people.
Austria
Third on the Global Peace Index, Austria is a real boon for solo travellers. Traveling within this small country is a pleasure. She can offer any guest a tour of taste filled with true Austrian traditions, with her famous concert halls, historical museums, world-famous cafes and an efficient transport system. The country is famous not only for its natural beauty and stunning scenery, but also for its rich musical culture. Remember, Mozart himself comes from Austria.
So, if you love artistic culture, baroque architecture, dense forests and emerald lakes, as well as rich and unsurpassed culinary traditions, you can get it all at once in Austria.
Traveling alone is a chance to try something new, something you have never experienced before. In addition, rooms for one person are always available and will save you a nice amount. There are also some other helpful tips:
- plan the whole trip in advance, thinking through all the details, especially pay attention to accommodation;
- learn to take only what you need with you - this way, your luggage will be much easier;
- always have a mobile phone with you when roaming with all the necessary contacts;
- tell people you trust about your travel itinerary;
- always trust your inner voice.
We present the most beautiful places of our country, which should be seen not only by every photographer and traveler, but also by every inhabitant of our vast Russia. Read our material and you will see: we all have something to be proud of!
Natural parks, reserves
Lena Pillars, Yakutia
Lena Pillars - nature Park in Russia, located on the banks of the Lena River in the Khangalassky ulus of Yakutia, 104 km from the city of Pokrovsk. The complex of vertically elongated rocks stretching for many kilometers, bizarrely piled up along the banks of the Lena, a deep valley cutting through the Prilenskoye plateau, never ceases to attract photographers and travelers. The pillars reach the highest density between the villages of Petrovskoye and Tit-Ary.
The height of the rock formations reaches 100 meters. Scientists believe that the formation of rocks began 560-540 million years ago, and the formation of the Lena Pillars as a form of relief - about 400 thousand years ago.
The Lena Pillars Nature Park was organized on the basis of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) dated August 16, 1994 No. 837 and the government decree dated February 10, 1995 and is subordinate to the regional Ministry of Nature Protection. The area of the park is 485 thousand hectares, the park consists of two branches - "Pillars" and "Sinsky".
Valley of Geysers, Kamchatka
The Valley of Geysers, one of the largest geyser fields in the world and the only one in Eurasia, is located in Kamchatka in the Kronotsky State Biosphere Reserve, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Volcanoes of Kamchatka natural complex.
The valley is a deep canyon of the Geysernaya River, on the sides of which, on an area of about 6 square meters. km there are numerous outlets of geysers, hot springs, mud pots, thermal sites, waterfalls and lakes. This area has abnormally high biodiversity and high contrast natural conditions and microclimate. The ecosystem of the Valley of Geysers is unique for the whole country. The reserve regime operates on the territory of the valley.
Since 1992, helicopter excursions have been organized here, under an agreement with the reserve, there is a strict system of rules for organizing excursions in order to maintain the balance of the ecosystem. In 2008, according to the voting results, the Valley of Geysers was included in the list of seven wonders of Russia.
Weathering pillars, Komi Republic
Pillars of weathering (Mansi blockheads) is a geological monument located in the Troitsko-Pechora region of the Komi Republic on the territory of the Pechoro-Ilychsky reserve on Mount Man-Pupu-ner (“Small mountain of idols” translated from the Mansi language), in the interfluve of the Ichotlyaga and Pechora rivers . There are many legends associated with this extraordinary place. Pillars are considered one of the seven wonders of Russia.
Weathering Pillars are located quite far from inhabited places. Getting to them is already a feat in a sense. For this, by the way, you need to get a pass from the administration of the reserve. From the side of the Sverdlovsk region and the Perm region there are hiking route, from the Republic of Komi - automobile, water and foot routes.
About 200 million years ago, in place of stone pillars were high mountains. Rain, snow, wind, frost and heat gradually destroyed the mountains, and first of all the weak rocks. Hard sericite-quartzite schists were less destroyed and survived to this day, while soft rocks were destroyed by weathering and carried by water and wind into relief depressions.
One pillar, 34 m high, stands somewhat apart from the others. Six others lined up at the edge of the cliff. The pillars have bizarre outlines and, depending on the place of inspection, resemble that figure. huge man, then the head of a horse or a ram. Indeed, this place is ideal for a photographer's fantasy! In the past, the Mansi deified the grandiose stone sculptures, worshiped them, but climbing the Manpupuner was considered the greatest sin.
Curonian Spit, Kaliningrad Region
curonian spit- sandy spit located on the coast Baltic Sea and the Curonian Lagoon. It is a narrow and long strip of saber-shaped land separating the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea and stretching from the city of Zelenogradsk in the Kaliningrad region to the city of Klaipeda (Smiltyne) (Lithuania). The name of the spit comes from the name of the ancient tribes of the Curonians, who lived here before the colonization of Prussia by the Germans.
Length - 98 kilometers, width ranges from 400 meters (near the village of Lesnoy) to 3.8 kilometers (near Cape Bulviko, just north of Nida).
The Curonian Spit is a unique natural and anthropogenic landscape and a territory of exceptional aesthetic significance: the Curonian Spit is the largest sand body, which, along with the Hel and Vistula, is part of the Baltic sand spits complex, which has no analogues in the world. The high level of biological diversity due to the combination of different landscapes - from desert (dunes) to tundra (raised swamp) - gives an idea of important and long-term ecological and biological processes in evolution.
The most significant element of the relief of the spit is a continuous strip of white sand dunes 0.3 - 1 km wide, partly approaching the highest in the world (up to 68 m). Due to its geographic location and northeast-southwest orientation, it serves as a corridor for migratory birds of many species flying from the northwestern regions of Russia, Finland and the Baltic countries to the countries of the Middle and Southern Europe. Every year, in spring and autumn, from 10 to 20 million birds fly over the spit, a significant part of which stops here for rest and feeding.
Favorable climatic conditions allow you to relax on the Curonian Spit from May to November. In 2000, the Curonian Spit was included in the list world heritage UNESCO.
Nature reserve "Stolby". Krasnoyarsk region
The reserve is located on the northwestern spurs of the Eastern Sayan, bordering on the Central Siberian Plateau. The natural boundaries of the protected area are the right tributaries of the river. Yenisei: in the northeast - the Bazaikha river, in the south and southwest - the Mana and Bolshaya Slizneva rivers. From the northeast, the territory borders on the city of Krasnoyarsk, the border of the reserve can be reached by bus. The reserve was founded in 1925 on the initiative of the city residents to preserve natural complexes around the picturesque syenite remnants - "pillars". At present, its area is 47,219 hectares. Submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
lakes
Lake Baikal, Eastern Siberia
It is unlikely that Baikal needs any descriptions, but still ... Baikal is the deepest lake on the planet, the largest natural reservoir of fresh water. The lake and coastal areas are distinguished by a unique diversity of flora and fauna. locals and many in Russia traditionally call Baikal the sea.
The value of the maximum depth of the lake - 1642 m - was established in 1983 by L. G. Kolotilo and A. I. Sulimov during hydrographic work. The average depth of the lake is also very high - 744.4 m. In addition to Baikal, only two lakes on Earth have a depth of more than 1000 meters: Tanganyika (1470 m) and the Caspian Sea (1025 m). One of the visiting cards of Russia, a place that you need to see with your own eyes at least once in your life!
Lake Seliger, Tver and Novgorod regions
Another place that needs no introduction. By the way, Seliger has another name - Ostashkovskoye Lake, after the name of the city of Ostashkov standing on the lake shore. The area of the lake is 260 sq. km, including about 38 sq. km. km falls on the islands (there are more than 160 of them on Seliger). The largest among them is the island of Khachin. The area of the entire pool is 2275 sq. km.
Seliger receives 110 tributaries. The largest are the rivers Krapivenka, Soroga and Seremukha. Only one river Selizharovka flows from it. The lake lies at an altitude of 205 meters above sea level and is of glacial origin. This explains its peculiar shape - it is not a lake in the usual sense, but rather a chain of lakes stretching from north to south for 100 km and interconnected by short narrow channels. The coastline with a length of more than 500 km is notable for its indentation - capes overgrown with forests, deep picturesque bays protruding into the land, diverse in shape of the island.
The water in Seliger is clear, transparency reaches 5 meters. On the shores of the southern part of Lake Seliger are the city of Ostashkov and the estate "New Yeltsy".
Lake Kezenoy-am, Chechen Republic
Kezenoy-am is a lake on the border of the Vedeno region of the Chechen Republic and the Botlikh region of Dagestan. This is the largest and deepest lake in the North Caucasus, located at an altitude of more than 1800 meters above sea level. The surface of the lake is 2.4 sq. km.
The depth of the lake reaches 74 m. The length of the lake from north to south is 2 kilometers, and from west to east - 2.7 kilometers. The maximum width is 735 meters. Length coastline- 10 kilometers.
Lake Baskunchak
Akhtubinsky district, Astrakhan region
Baskunchak - salt Lake with an area of about 115 sq. km in the Akhtubinsky district of the Astrakhan region, about 270 km north of the Caspian Sea, and 53 km east of the Volga. Lake Baskunchak is part of a unique natural complex, which includes Mount Bolshoye Bogdo. In 1997, the Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky natural complex was declared a reserve (Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky reserve), where a special environmental regime was established on an area of 53.7 thousand hectares.
On the coast of the lake there are deposits of medicinal clays. In June-August, tourists come to the lake to swim in brine and take mud baths. There is no need to talk about the beauty of these places. There are no less photographers than those wishing to improve their health.
Jack London Lake, Magadan Region
Located in the upper reaches of the Kolyma River in the Yagodninsky district of the Magadan region, lies among the mountains, at an altitude of 803 meters, the length of the lake in the northwest direction is 10 kilometers, the depth is 50 meters.
There are many small lakes around Jack London Lake. The most prominent in size are the lakes Mechta, Anemone, Gray Gull, Invisible, Neighboring, Kudinovskie lakes. One of the most beautiful and exotic lakes Far East. Old-timers say that the lake got its name thanks to an unusual find made by the “discoverers”. When the lake was discovered, on the shore, the researchers found Jack London's book "Martin Eden".
Lake Elton, Volgograd region
Elton is a salty drainless self-sustaining lake in the Pallasovsky district of the Volgograd region, located near the border with Kazakhstan. It is considered the largest mineral lake in Europe and one of the most mineralized in the world. They say that the name of the lake comes from the Mongolian word "Altyn-Nor" - "gold mine".
The area of the lake is 152 sq. km. Until 1882, salt was mined on the Elton, in 1910 the medical sanatorium "Elton" was founded on its shore (moved to a new location in 1945). In 2001, the lake and the surrounding areas of virgin steppes (106 thousand hectares) became part of the State Institution "Natural Park" Elton "".
Blue Lakes. Cherek-Balkar Gorge, Kabardino-Balkaria
A group of five karst lakes in the Cherek region of Kabardino-Balkaria is located at the foot of a rocky ridge, from where the Cherek-Balkar gorge begins. Located at the entrance to the gorge, Blue Lake is a unique a natural phenomenon, interesting not only for Kabardino-Balkaria, but also on a national scale. Lower Blue Lake has several names: Chirik-kel (balk.) - rotten (stinking) lake; Sherej-ana (kab.) - mother of Cherek; Psykhurei (kab.) - round water (lake), natural artesian well.
The uniqueness of the Lower blue lake lies in the fact that with a relatively small surface (only 235 × 130 m), its depth reaches 258 meters. The water temperature on the surface in winter and summer is about +9 degrees. Not a single stream or river flows into the lake, but about 70 million liters flow out daily. At the same time, the level of the lake is unchanged, which is explained by powerful underwater sources. The blue color of the water is due to the presence of hydrogen sulfide and the refraction of light rays in a deep pool.
The nature here is quite picturesque: green hills, dense beech forests on steep slopes, and in the distance, in a blue haze, peaks sparkling in the sun. Closer to Babugent, the greenery becomes brighter, juicier. Near the village of Babugent there is a fork in the road. At the beginning of the road to the lake, there is a cave in the rock, in which traces of an ancient V-X parking centuries AD. Now many bats settle there, and sometimes, in bad weather, shepherds with flocks of sheep hide.
Seydozero, Kola Peninsula, Murmansk region
Lake in the Lovozero tundra on Kola Peninsula. "Seid" in translation from the Sami language means "sacred". The lake is located at an altitude of 189 m above sea level. The length of Seydozero is 8 km, the width is from 1.5 to 2.5 km.
According to a number of science fiction writers and ufologists, one of the alleged places of existence of the Hyperborean civilization. Seekers of the unknown have been exploring these places since 1922.
Lake (reservoir) Zyuratkul. Chelyabinsk region
Zyuratkul is located in the Satkinsky district of the Chelyabinsk region on the territory of the national park of the same name. One of the highest (724 m above sea level) reservoirs of the Southern Urals. Reservoir surround mountain ranges covered with dark coniferous forests. To the southwest is the Nurgush ridge - the highest ridge in the Chelyabinsk region. The main river that feeds the reservoir is the Bolshoi Kyl. Near the source of the Satka River and the dam is the small village of Zyuratkul, connected by bus with the city of Satka.
Previously, Zyuratkul was a natural lake. Now - a reservoir formed by a dam built on the Big Satka. A giant geoglyph was found near the lake. About forty stone tools made of quartzite were also found. The stone chipping technique makes it possible to date the tools to the Neolithic and Eneolithic (VI-III millennium BC). Researchers are still inclined towards the Copper-Stone Age (IV-III millennium BC). It is noted that at that time there were practically no forests in the Southern Urals (they appeared only 2,500 years ago), so the figure was easy to build and then view from a neighboring ridge until it was covered with a layer of soil.
Until the winter of 2012, another popular attraction was located on the shores of Lake Zyuratkul - Kitova Pier, which was also called the "Ural Disneyland". But in the fall of 2012, by a court decision, it was demolished.
Mountains and volcanoes
Elbrus, Kabardino-Balkaria
Elbrus is a stratovolcano located on the border of the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. Elbrus is located north of the Greater Caucasus Range and is the highest peak in Russia. Given that the border between Europe and Asia is ambiguous, Elbrus is often also called the highest European mountain peak, thereby referring it to the list of "Seven Peaks".
The height of the western peak is 5642 m, the eastern one is 5621 m. The gorges of Adylsu, Shkheldy, Adyrsu, Donguz-Orun and Ushba massifs are very popular among climbers and mountain tourists. Elbrus is the most popular ski resort in Russia. The total area of Elbrus glaciers is 134.5 sq. km. The most famous of them are: Big and Small Azau, Terskol.
Altai mountains
The Altai Mountains represent a complex system of the highest ranges in Siberia, separated by deep river valleys and vast intramountain and intermountain basins. The mountain system at the junction of the borders of Russia, Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan. It is divided into Southern Altai (Southwestern), Southeastern Altai and Eastern Altai, Central Altai, Northern and Northeastern Altai, Northwestern Altai.
The Altai, Katunsky nature reserves and the Ukok plateau together form the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Altai - Golden Mountains". Thousands of tourists come to Altai. This is a favorite place for photo tours and independent trips.
Plateau "Divnogorie", Liskinsky district, Voronezh region
"Divnogorye" - a hill and a museum-reserve in the Liskinsky district of the Voronezh region of Russia. It is located 10 km west of the district center on the right bank of the Don River and 80 km south of Voronezh. The museum was founded here in 1988, and in 1991 it received the status of a museum-reserve. Currently, the museum-reserve is one of the most popular and most recognizable sights of the Voronezh region. Every season, from May to October, it is visited by more than 60 thousand tourists.
The area of the museum-reserve is more than 11 sq. km. The maximum height of the plateau above sea level reaches 181 meters, relative - 103 meters (the mouth of the Quiet Pine River at the confluence with the Don, which flows at the foot of the plateau, is located at an altitude of 78 m above sea level).
Dombay-Ulgen, Karachay-Cherkess Republic
Dombay-Ulgen is the peak of the western part of the Dividing Range of the Greater Caucasus (on the border of Abkhazia and the Karachay-Cherkess Republic). Dombay-Ulgen is the highest peak of Abkhazia, located east of the village of Dombay, has three peaks: western (4036 m), main (4046 m) and eastern (3950 m).
A steep ridge extends from the main peak to the north, ending in a lowering - the "Dombay saddle". From the Dombai saddle, there is a classic route (category 3B) going up, accessible for climbing in one day with a descent to the camp.
Putorana Plateau, Krasnoyarsk Territory
The Putorana Plateau is a mountain range located in the northwest of the Central Siberian Plateau. In the north and west, the plateau breaks off with a steep ledge (800 m or more), while the southern and eastern parts are characterized by gentle slopes. The maximum height of the plateau is 1701 m, among the highest peaks are the Kamen (1701 m), Holokit (1542 m), Kotuyskaya (1510 m) mountains. In the north, the Putorana Plateau borders on the Taimyr Peninsula. The name Putorana, translated from Evenki, means "lakes with steep banks."
The area of the plateau is 250 thousand square kilometers, which is comparable to the territory of Great Britain. On the territory of the plateau is the Putorana State nature reserve recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Marble canyon Ruskeala, Republic of Karelia, Ruskeala village
Mountain Park "Ruskeala" is a tourist complex located in the Sortavalsky district of the Republic of Karelia, near the village of Ruskeala. The main object of the complex is a former marble quarry filled with groundwater.
The quarries, discovered by pastor Alopeus, began to be developed at the beginning of the reign of Catherine II. The first developments were led by Captain Kozhin, who was advised by Italian experts. Today, the length of the quarry from north to south is 460 meters, the width is up to 100 meters. The distance from the highest point of the quarry wall to its bottom is over 50 meters. The transparency of water reaches 15-18 meters.
Ruskeala marble was used in the construction of the most beautiful and significant buildings in St. Petersburg and its palace suburbs. St. Isaac's Cathedral was lined with it, the floors of the Kazan Cathedral were laid out, the window sills of the Hermitage were made, the windows of the Marble Palace and the facade of the Mikhailovsky Castle were framed, as well as the underground halls of the Primorskaya and Ladozhskaya stations of the St. Petersburg metro. In 2010, a significant part of the filming of the film "The Dark World" took place in Ruskeala.
Eastern and Western Sayans. Eastern Siberia
Eastern and Western Sayans - a common name for two mountain systems in southern Siberia. They distinguish the Western Sayan (length 650 km, height up to 3971 m - Mount Mongun-Taiga, which is the top of the ridge of the same name - the highest peak in Eastern Siberia, however, more often this ridge is not attributed to the Sayan, but is isolated into a separate mountain system- the mountains of Tuva), consisting of leveled and peaked ridges, on which there is no glaciation, separated by intermountain basins, and the Eastern Sayan (length about 1000 km, height up to 3491 m - Mount Munku-Sardyk) with typical mid-mountain ridges bearing glaciers. The rivers belong to the Yenisei basin. Mountain taiga prevails on the slopes, turning into mountain tundra.
The Western Sayan in the southwestern part borders on Altai. Its main ridge is the Dividing Sayan Range with the highest point - Mount Kyzyl-Taiga (3121 m). The ridges of the Western Sayan are characterized by steep slopes, indented relief, and vast areas of stone placers. The height of the ridges in the west does not exceed 2500-3000 m, in the east it decreases to 2000 m.
The Eastern Sayan stretches almost at right angles to the Western. Its ridges form a system of "white mountains" (Manskoye, Kanskoye) and "proteins", which got their name because of the non-melting all year round snow on the peaks. In the central part, in the upper reaches of the Kazyr and Kizir rivers, several ridges form a "knot" with the highest point - Grandiose Peak (2982 m). In the southeast there are the highest and hardest-to-reach ridges - Big Sayan, Tunkinskiye Goltsy, Kitoyskiye Goltsy, Kropotkin. The highest point of the Eastern Sayan - Munku-Sardyk (3491 m) is located in the ridge of the same name. Between the Sayan ridges there are more than a dozen basins of various sizes and depths, the most famous of which is the Abakan-Minusinsk basin, known for its archaeological sites. It is worth noting a large number of waterfalls.
Almost everywhere in the Sayans, dark coniferous taiga spruce-cedar-fir forests prevail, rising in the western and central parts up to altitudes of 1500–1800 m and more; light deciduous-cedar forests form the upper border of the forest at altitudes of 2000–2500 m. Animal world as rich as vegetable. The largest city located in Sayanakh - Krasnoyarsk.
Mountains of Shikhany. Republic of Bashkortostan
Shikhany - isolated hills in the Bashkir Cis-Urals, consisting of four single mountains: Tratau, Shakhtau, Yuraktau and Kushtau, which form a narrow chain stretched along the Belaya River for 20 km. Shikhany are located near the cities of Sterlitamak and Ishimbay. They are unique monuments of nature - the remains barrier reef formed in the warm sea of the early Permian period. The imprints of ancient plants and animals have been preserved in the stones of which these shikhans are made.
The highest shihan is Tratau (or Toratau). Its height is 402 meters above sea level, and its relative height is 280 meters. At its foot, the ruins of a women's prison, one of the islands of the Gulag archipelago, have been preserved. Shikhan Tratau flaunts on the coat of arms of the city of Ishimbay, is a symbol of the Ishimbay region of Bashkiria. In the past, this mountain was considered sacred.
Volcano Krenitsyn. Sakhalin Region, Onekotan Island
Active volcano on Onekotan Big Island Kuril ridge. The largest two-tiered "volcano within a volcano" in the world is located in the southern part of Onekotan Island. The height of the volcano is 1324 m.
The volcanic cone rises in the form of an island inside Lake Koltsevoe lying at an altitude of 400 m (diameter about 7 km). The lake is surrounded by somma - the walls of the more ancient Tao-Rusyr caldera (heights 540–920 m with a base diameter of 16–17 km).
Only one historical eruption is known, which happened in 1952.
Volcano Tyatya, Kuril Islands
An active volcano on the Kunashir Island of the Great Kuril Ridge, on the territory of the Kuril Reserve. In geographical terms, Tyatya is a stratovolcano of the somma-vesuvius type ("volcano in a volcano"). Height reaches 1819 m ( highest point Kunashir; in 1977 and subsequent years, the southeastern part of the rim of the summit crater collapsed, and most of the material collapsed into the northeastern crater. As a result, the total height of the volcano has decreased by about 30-50 meters and is now probably less than 1800 meters above sea level).
The height of the somma is 1485 m, it has a regular truncated cone with a diameter of 15–18 km at the base and up to 2.5 km at the annular ridge. The foot slopes of the volcano are decorated with coniferous-broad-leaved forests with bamboo and thickets of stone birch and elfin cedar. In the forests at the foot you can often meet a bear. The path to the volcano is difficult, but most tourists get to the volcano from Yuzhno-Kurilsk.
caves
Orda cave, Perm region
Orda Cave is located on the southwestern outskirts of the village of Orda in the Perm Territory, on the left bank of the Kungur River. Consists of "dry" and underwater parts. The length of the dry part is 300 meters, underwater - 4600 meters. To date, the Ordinskaya cave is the longest flooded cave in Russia. In addition, part of the cave is the longest siphon in the CIS - 935 meters.
The cave is ranked 21st among the longest gypsum caves in the world. Famous photographer Viktor Lyagushkin dedicated a whole photo project to Orda Cave.
Kungur cave, Perm region
This is one of the most popular attractions in Siberia and the Urals, a natural monument of all-Russian significance. The cave is located in the Perm Territory, on the right bank of the Sylva River on the outskirts of the city of Kungur in the village of Filippovka, 100 km from Perm.
A unique geological monument - one of the largest karst caves in the European part of Russia, the seventh longest gypsum cave in the world. The length of the cave is about 5700 m, of which 1.5 km is equipped for tourists. average temperature air in the center of the cave +5 °C, relative humidity in the center of the cave - 100%. Kungur cave contains 58 grottoes, 70 lakes, 146 t. "organ pipes" (the highest - in the Etheric grotto, 22 m) - high shafts, reaching almost to the surface.
Architecture
Leaning tower of Nevyansk. Sverdlovsk region, city of Nevyansk
Not everyone knows that we in Russia have our own kind of Leaning Tower of Pisa - an inclined tower in the center of Nevyansk, built in the first half of the 18th century by order of Akinfiy Demidov.
The height of the tower is 57.5 meters, the base is a square with a side of 9.5 m. The deviation of the tower from the vertical is about 1.85 m, and the greatest slope is observed at the lower tier (3 ° 16 "). The exact date of construction of the tower is unknown, different sources give dates ranging from 1721 to 1745.
The tower is a massive quadrangle with 3 octagonal tiers built on top. Inside the tower is divided into several levels - floors.
The purpose of the first floor is not exactly established. Demidov's office was located on the second floor, and during the Soviet era there was a prison in it. On the third floor there was a laboratory: traces of silver and gold were found in the soot taken from the chimneys of furnaces. According to one version, Demidov minted counterfeit money here. According to another, here Demidov, secretly from the state treasury, smelted silver and gold, which was mined in his mines in Altai.
Even higher is the so-called "auditory room". Its peculiarity is that standing in one corner of the room, you can clearly hear what they say in the opposite corner. The effect observed in the room is associated with the special shape of the ceiling - it is vaulted and at the same time slightly flattened.
On the seventh and eighth floors there are chiming chimes created by the English watchmaker Richard Phelps in 1730. The tower is completed by a roof and a metal spire with a weather vane hoisted on it, made of perforated iron, in which the noble coat of arms of the Demidovs is engraved.
There is a legend saying that the tower tilted due to the flooding of the cellars with all the workers who minted counterfeit money. By Decree of the Council of Ministers of the RSFSR No. 1327 of August 30, 1960, the tower was included in the list historical monuments subject to protection as monuments of national importance.
Ivolginsky datsan. Republic of Buryatia, the village of Verkhnyaya Ivolga
Ivolginsky datsan is a large Buddhist monastic complex, the center of the Buddhist traditional Sangha of Russia, which is the largest Buddhist community in Buryatia. One of the brightest monuments of Russian history and architecture. Located in the village of Verkhnyaya Ivolga, 36 km from the center of Ulan-Ude.
Swallow's Nest. Republic of Crimea
Among all the sights of Crimea, it is not easy to choose one thing. But we decided to stop at one of the most inspiring places. The Swallow's Nest is a monument of architecture and history, located on a sheer 40-meter Aurora cliff of Cape Ai-Todor in the village of Gaspra (Yalta City Council).
The building looks like a medieval knight's castle like the Belem tower or the Miramare villa near Trieste. The first wooden building on this site was erected for a retired Russian general after the Russian-Turkish war of 1877–1878; it can be seen on the canvases of famous marine painters: I. K. Aivazovsky, L. F. Lagorio, A. P. Bogolyubov, and also in photographs of the time.
The second owner of this amazing dacha was the court physician A. K. Tobin. There is also very little information about him. After his death, the house was owned by a widow for some time, who sold the plot to the Moscow merchant Rakhmanina. She demolished the old building, and soon a wooden castle appeared, which she called "Swallow's Nest".
The Swallow's Nest got its present form thanks to the oil industrialist Baron Steingel, who liked to relax in the Crimea. Steingel bought a summer cottage on the Aurora Rock and decided to build a romantic castle there, which resembles medieval buildings on the banks of the Rhine. The project for the new house was commissioned from engineer and sculptor Leonid Sherwood, son of architect Vladimir Sherwood, author of the Historical Museum on Red Square in Moscow.
At the beginning of World War I, the estate was bought by the Moscow merchant P. Shelaputin, who opened a restaurant in the castle. In the 1930s, there was a reading room of the local Rest House, but the premises were recognized as emergency and closed.
In 1927, the Swallow's Nest was damaged during a strong earthquake. It was not until 1967–1968 that repairs were made. In addition to the monolithic slab, the entire structure was surrounded by anti-seismic belts. The tower, increased in height, acquired more decorative effect thanks to four spiers. In 2013, cracks were found in the foundation slab, and in the autumn the visit was suspended for design work on the reconstruction - strengthening the rock.
And 6 more amazing places:
Chara Sands, Trans-Baikal Territory
Chara Sands is a tract in the Kalarsky district of the Trans-Baikal Territory, which is a sandy massif about 10 km by 5 km in size. The Chara sands are located in the basin of the same name, in the foothills of the Kodar ridge, 9 kilometers from the village of Chara, between the valleys of the Chara, Middle Sakukan and Upper Sakukan rivers. The massif is a geological monument of nature of the geomorphological type of federal rank.
BAM station Novaya Chara is 10 kilometers away. The massif is elongated from the southwest to the northeast and occupies an area of about 50 sq. km. There are no such large massifs of free-flowing moving sands in any basin of Transbaikalia. The Chara sands are outwardly similar to the deserts of Central Asia. The vegetation is slightly different from the taiga: there are areas with larch, dwarf birch and moisture-loving dwarf pine. In the northeastern part of the tract there are two small lakes - Alyonushka and Tayozhnoye.
Avacha Bay, Kamchatka Territory
Avacha Bay is a large non-freezing bay of the Pacific Ocean near the south-east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, it is the main transport "gateway" of the Kamchatka Territory. The main advantage of the bay is that it is one of the largest bays in the world: it can accommodate any ship in the world!
The length of the bay is 24 kilometers, the width at the entrance is 3 kilometers, the total area of the water surface is 215 sq. km. Depth up to 26 meters. The Avacha and Paratunka rivers flow into the bay. The cities of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and Vilyuchinsk are located along the shores of the bay. The bay is the main base Pacific Fleet Russia in Kamchatka.
A kind of symbol of the bay and its attraction are the Three Brothers rocks, located at the exit to the open Avacha Bay.
Commander Islands. Aleutsky District, Kamchatka Territory
Commander Islands - an archipelago of four islands in the southwestern part of the Bering Sea of the Pacific Ocean, administratively part of the Aleutsky District of the Kamchatka Territory of Russia. The islands are named after the navigator Commander Vitus Bering, who discovered them in 1741. On the largest of them - Bering Island - there is a grave of a navigator. Commander Islands - a place of mixing of Russian and Aleutian cultures. They have great potential for the development of northern tourism.
Patomsky crater. Irkutsk region
Patomsky crater - a cone of crushed limestone blocks on the slope of a mountain in the Patomsky Highlands in the Irkutsk region. Discovered in 1949 by geologist Vadim Viktorovich Kolpakov. Among the local population it is called the "Nest of the Fiery Eagle", also known as the "Kolpakov's Cone", "Dzhebulda Crater", "Yavaldinsky Crater".
This is a geological object unique in its characteristics, which is a ring structure of the central type with a bulk cone composed of limestone and other rocks. The Patom crater was formed over a long period of time about 500 years ago.
The diameter of the crater along the ridge is 76 m. The cone is crowned with a flat top, which is an annular shaft. In the center of the funnel there is a hill up to 12 m high. The total volume of the cone is estimated at 230-250 thousand cubic meters, the mass is about a million tons.
Agura waterfalls. City of Sochi, Krasnodar Territory
Cascade of waterfalls located on the Agura River in the Khostinsky district of Sochi. The distance from the Black Sea coast is 4 km. Further up the river - the Middle waterfall, then the Upper.
The Lower Agur waterfall is the first and most interesting of the three large waterfalls on the Agura River. It consists of two cascades: the lower one is 18 m high and the upper one is 12 m high. Under it is a wide and deep pool of blue water. From the Devil's hole canyon to the Lower waterfall is approximately 1.5 km. Behind the first waterfall, a series of stairs and rises lead up through 500 m to the Middle Agur waterfall - 23 meters, and then to the Upper - 21 meters waterfall. Near the Upper waterfall, to the left of the path, there are rocks called Eagles.
Vasyugan swamps. Tomsk, Novosibirsk and Omsk regions
Some of the largest swamps in the world are located in Western Siberia, between the Ob and Irtysh rivers, on the territory of the Vasyugan Plain, which is mostly within Tomsk region, and in small parts - the Novosibirsk and Omsk regions and the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.
The swamp area is 53 thousand square meters. km (for comparison: the area of Switzerland is 41 thousand sq. km), the length from west to east is 573 km, from north to south - 320 km.
Vasyugan swamps arose about 10 thousand years ago and have been constantly increasing since then - 75% of their modern area was swamped less than 500 years ago. Marshes are the main source of fresh water in the region (water reserves - 400 cubic km), there are about 800 thousand small lakes, many rivers originate from swamps, in particular: Ava, Bakchar, Big Yugan, Vasyugan, Demyanka, etc. d.
Vasyugan swamps are home to numerous local fauna, including rare ones. Of the rare species of animals in the swamps, in particular, reindeer, golden eagle, white-tailed eagle, osprey, gray shrike, peregrine falcon live. Squirrels, elks, sables, wood grouses, white partridges, hazel grouses, black grouses are present in significant quantities, mink, otter, wolverine are in smaller quantities. The flora also includes rare and endangered plant species and plant communities. Cranberries, blueberries, and cloudberries are widely distributed among wild plants.
Now the fauna and flora of the swamps is under threat due to the development of the territory during the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas fields.
In preparing the article, materials from Wikipedia were used.
Happy travels!
Our planet is beautiful, and you can find the best vacation spots for yourself in it. You can travel to popular tourist destinations, or you can choose places where you will not meet a large concentration of tourists.
Here are a few less popular places among tourists, where you can relax and have a good time:
1. Unusual places to stay: underground beach
Hidden underground, a secret beach on one of the Marieta Islands in Mexico boasts crystal clear water. You can get to it by boat along a long tunnel or by swimming.
2. Savage holidays in Peru
Huacachina is an uninhabited oasis in Peru. It is located near the city of Lima, Peru. Today this place is visited by those who like wild vacation- people come with backpacks, put up tents, swim and do sandboarding (boarding on the dunes) and quad biking on the sands.
3. Vacation abroad: a village in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Those who have ever been to the village of Blagaj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, were delighted with the incredibly beautiful Blagai Tekia Monastery, built right next to a rock in a cave where the Buna River originates. Tourists can see the beautiful wooden interior of the monastery.
4. Relax on the pink lake
Lake Hillier on Middle Island, southwestern Australia is pink. Even if you fill the bottle with water, it will be pink. Why the water is pink is still unknown, but scientists suggest that the reason lies in the salinity and specific microorganisms that live in the lake.
5. Scuba diving between North America and Europe
Silfra is a rift located in Lake Thingvadlavatn in Thingvellir National Park, Iceland and is part of the divergent boundary between the N American Plate and the Eurasian Plate. Not only is the water here the cleanest, but the rift itself is so narrow that divers can touch North America and Europe at the same time.
6. Where to go on vacation: Isola Bellu
In the 1600s, Isola Bella was transformed from an ordinary stone island in the middle of Lake Maggiore, Italy, into a flower garden surrounding the palace. In addition to the palace, the territory of the island is also known for its baroque gardens.
7. Family vacation in the Maltese countryside
Popeye Village in Malta was originally created for the filming of the 1980 movie Popeye, but has since been converted into a theme park. 3 truckloads of paint (about 2,000 gallons) were used to create the film's sets. Today, tourists can go boating here, visit a wine house and jump on water jumps.
8. Vacation in China: red land
The Red Land in Dongchuan is 250 km from Kunming. High air temperatures and frequent rains in the region have turned the color of Dongchuan's soil to red. The soil contains oxidized iron and minerals that affect the color of the mail and flowering plants all year round.
9. Unusual places on earth: Darvaza
Darvaza is a gas crater in Turkmenistan. Both locals and tourists are nicknamed given place"The door to the underworld" or "The gate to hell". This huge fire hole was created in 1971 when Soviet geologists foundaccumulation of underground gasnear the village of Darvaza.
When drilling of an exploratory well began, experts discovered an underground void - at that moment the earth collapsed, after which a large hole filled with gas formed. In order to avoid poisoning people and livestock with gas, it was decided to set fire to the gas. Geologists believed that the fire would go out after a few days, but they were wrong. The natural gas that is constantly coming out of the crater has been keeping the fire going around the clock for several years now.
10. Vacation on Flores Island
Flores Island, an island off the coast of Portugal, is famous for its flowers dotted throughout the island. The name Florish came about precisely because of this feature. The island also has natural hot springs and lagoons where you can swim.
11. Active holidays in Greece
Ghiola on the island of Thassos in Greece is an isolated lagoon that has developed naturally. This lagoon is located near the settlement of Astris. Getting here is not easy, as the nearest road is about 1 km away, and leaving the car, you will have to walk. But if you succeed, you will enjoy not only a beautiful view, but also be able to swim in unusual place with sea views.
12. Rest without the sea: an unusual cathedral over the rocks
Las Lajas Church is located 7 km from the city of Ipiales, Colombia, on the border of Colombia and Ecuador. It is located in the canyon of the Guaitara River, above green rocks and waterfalls, and is one of the most popular temples in the country. The cathedral, created in the neo-Gothic style, stands right on the bridge.
13. Where to go on vacation in the summer: the dunes in Brazil
During the rainy seasons national park Lencois Maranhenses in the state of Maranhao, Brazil, appears in an unusual form. Due to frequent rains and 40-meter sand dunes, a large number of lagoons form here, but there is no vegetation.
The best time to visit this place is between July and September, when the deepest lagoons are most abundant.
14. Rest in the jungle of Guatemala
The Guatemalan natural monument Semuc Champey is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful places in the country and in the world. This place is hidden from the eyes of tourists deep in the jungle. The name was given to it by the Kekchi Indians, and it is translated as "a place where the river goes underground." Around - the jungle, and among them you can relax in the cool waters of natural pools.
15. Unusual city in New Zealand
Take a dip in the hot springs of Rotorua on the shores of the lake of the same name. They are located on the North Island, New Zealand. The city of Rotorua is also known for its geysers, thermal waters and mud pools. This city was nicknamed "Sulphur City" (Sulfur City).
16. Vacation in Spain
The city of Setenil de las Bodegas appeared among a network of caves in the rocks above the Rio Trejo, Spain. The white houses of this rock city are built into the rock, and some even use it as a roof.
Here you can find many bars and restaurants serving delicious food.
17. Unusual park in South Africa
Namaqualand National Park in South Africa got its name in honor of the Nama people living in those places. Just once a year (usually in the spring), these arid valleys experience rain and turn into colorful flower carpets of orange and white daisies.
It is worth noting that tourists are forbidden to visit this place, but during the season of daisies, a huge number of people from all over the world come, settle in towns and camp on the periphery of the park.
18. Cave in France
Discovered by a hunter in 1836, a cave in the commune of Saint-Marseille-d'Ardèche, France contains a network of underground reservoirs and rock formations with a total length of more than 60 km.
19. Holidays in French Polynesia
Rangiroa is the largest atoll in the Tuamotu archipelago and is located in French Polynesia. Here you can find a large number of oysters that produce black pearls.
The land area is 79 sq. km, and it itself consists of a cluster of 415 small islands. This place is also famous among divers and dolphin lovers. In addition, manta rays, green sea turtles and hammerhead sharks live here.
20. Unusual city in Italy
The small Italian town of Castelluccio, Italy, is located near the commune of Norcia. It is known for its huge variety of flowers that bloom between the end of May and July.
Bonus
marble cave
The Marble Caves are located on Lake Buenos Aires (or General Carrera).
For thousands of years, waves crashed against the calcium carbonate walls and eventually formed marble patterns on the cave walls.
This lake of glacial origin can be found on the border of Chile and Argentina.
12.09.2014
Tourist flows wash the Colosseum and the Eiffel Tower, the hotels of Antalya and the Maldives, but there are places in the world that are clearly underestimated by the tourism industry.
And it's great! There are much fewer people there than on the trampled tourist routes, but at the same time they are no less beautiful and amazing.
Restaurant Grotta Palazzese, Italy
This restaurant, located in the cave of Polignano on Mare beach, is one of the most amazing places on the planet to dine deliciously.
Chichillian, Rhone-Alpes, France
The magnificent Mont Aiguile rises 2,000 meters above the French community of Chichilyans. Mont Aigui is known as the "Inaccessible Mountain" - its slopes are equally sheer from all sides. The summit was not conquered until 1492 and became the first mountain that people decided to climb just like that, out of pure curiosity. It is believed that mountaineering was born with its conquest.
Tiger's Nest Monastery, Paro Valley, Bhutan
This 17th-century temple sits on the edge of a cliff, almost 1,000 meters above the Paro Valley. The holy site was built to protect the cave where Guru Padmasambhava, the Buddhist leader, meditated for three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Dubrovnik - ancient city With rich history. Passed generations have left stunning architectural treasures in Dubrovnik, which, combined with the beauties of the local nature, made the city the “Pearl of the Adriatic”. Among other things, the series "Game of Thrones" was filmed there.
Albarracin, Aragon, Spain
Perfectly preserved medieval town in northern Spain, Albarracín is famous for cave paintings (important evidence of Levantine prehistoric art) and for its Picaportes, unique doorknobs. Each door in the city and the handle to it are unique and created by local craftsmen in accordance with ancient customs and technologies.
Bagan, Burma (Myanmar)
Pagan - ancient capital kingdom of the same name on the territory of modern Myanmar. Currently, on the site of the ancient city is archaeological zone with thousands of pagodas, temples, stupas, monasteries.
Aescher Hotel, Switzerland
The hotel is so high in the Alps that the only way to get there is on foot or by cable car. Therefore, the hotel is only available during the summer season and is open from April to October. The living conditions at the Aescher Hotel can be called Spartan. Guests come here to hike and walk through the picturesque mountainous area, visit natural caves, and look into the museum of prehistoric finds.
Haiku stairs, Hawaii
Known as the "Stairway to Heaven," this hiking trail takes you through the highlands of Oahu, Hawaii. 3992 steps rise to a height of 850 meters above sea level and offer a magical view of the island.
Lake Thingvallavatn, Iceland
The lake is part of the Thingvellir National Park. The islands on the lake are of volcanic origin. Faults around the lake show that in this place the tectonic plates of Europe and America oppose each other. Lucky divers can swim between the tectonic plates of the continents, each year moving away from each other by 2 centimeters.
Chefchaouen, Morocco
Chefchaouen - small town, located on the slopes of the Reef Mountains in northwestern Morocco. It was founded in 1471, and until 1920 only 3 foreigners visited it. Now the city is best known for its old part, almost all the houses in which are painted in different shades of blue. The reason for this choice is in religion. In addition to Muslims, Chefchaouen has long been home to a fairly large community of Sephardic Jews. They brought with them the belief that blue is the color of the tassels of the prayer veil, the tallit.
Lord Howe Island, Australia
This island is still practically untouched by man: a very small indigenous population and only 400 tourists allowed here annually. This restriction is intended to protect the unique landscape of Lord Howe, whose crystal clear lagoon is home to a coral reef.
Marble Caves, Patagonia, Chile
Bright blue grottoes, partially submerged in the turquoise waters of Lake Carrera on the border of Argentina and Chile. The locals call them the Marble Cathedral.
Bishop's Castle, Colorado, USA
One of the craziest castles in the world is located in America, created solely by the builder Jim Bishop. It is worth visiting for inspiration - and you can also get married here.
Huacachina, an oasis in the Sechura desert, Peru
Just over a hundred people permanently live in the village of Huakachina. According to local legend, the lake was created after a beautiful princess was taken by surprise by a young hunter while swimming in the pool. The girl managed to escape, and the pool turned into a lake. The folds of the fleeing princess's robes became the dunes surrounding Huacachina, and she herself soon returned to the lake and still lives in it as a mermaid.
Bastei Bridge over the Elbe River, Germany
The Bastei Bridge in Saxony is a marvel of engineering in the first half of the 19th century. The monumental structure was built of wood in 1824, and a quarter of a century later it was replaced with a more durable sandstone structure. Length architectural monument- 76.5 meters.
Cappadocia, Turkey
Cappadocia is famous for its unique landscape of volcanic origin, underground cities, created in 1 thousand BC. e. and extensive cave monasteries, leading its history from the time of the early Christians. Göreme National Park and Cappadocia cave settlements are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. All this is best seen from balloons. from which amazing view .
Hallstatt, Austria
Hallstatt is a medieval village with less than 1,000 inhabitants. Its main attraction is the salt mines, the oldest in Europe, which have been developed for three thousand years. Information about the village appears in written sources from 1311. O medieval history Almost no Hallstatt data has been preserved due to its remoteness from the means of communication.
Leptis Magna, Tripoli, Libya
Once upon a time, Leptis Magna was one of the main cities of the Roman Empire, and for its planning features it was even nicknamed “Rome in Africa”. Now its ruins are a great playground for the adventurer.
Alcazar in Segovia, Spain
Alcazar in Segovia - the palace and fortress of the Spanish kings in the historical part of the city of Segovia. It is located on a rock at the confluence of the Eresma and Clamores rivers, near the mountains of Guadarrama. This position on the cliff makes it one of the most beautiful and recognizable palaces in Spain. Alcazar was originally built as a fortress, but managed to visit royal palace, the State Prison and the Royal Artillery Academy.
Alter do Chao, Brazil
Surrounded by the Amazonian forests and boasting a magnificent beach, this city is known as Love Island. A few meters from the beach is the huge Lago Verde lagoon, which is home to many animals. The only way to reach it is by canoe.
Le Moulin du Roc Hotel, France
Deep in the Dordogne province you will find an old mill converted into a charming hotel on the banks of a quiet river. There is nothing for miles around. And in the hotel itself is one of the famous Michelin restaurants.
Hall of Peacocks in Sammezzano Castle, Tuscany, Italy
The abandoned castle of Sammezzano, which housed a luxury hotel in the last century, is now practically closed to the public. You can only get there by special occasions. Most beautiful hall castle - Hall of Peacocks - got its name from the unique bright ceilings with carved ornaments in the Moorish style.
Deception Island, Antarctica
This ring-shaped island, difficult to access for tourists, has become a refuge from storms and icebergs for many creatures, including thousands of penguins. If you want to escape the cold, know that the island is active volcano and abounds in hot springs.
Melissani Cave, Kefalonia, Greece
In Greek mythology, nymphs inhabited this mysterious cave and lured men with their beauty. Through a huge hole in the “ceiling”, sunlight enters the cave, shining on the surface of the purest lake Melissani.
State of Meghalaya, India
The hills of Meghalaya are constantly flooded with tropical rain and valleys in this beautiful yet remote forest. often turn into rivers and then vice versa.
Craco, Italy
Not far from the Gulf of Taranto in Italy, on a high cliff rises the ancient city of Craco, whose inhabitants have abandoned it. For about a thousand years there were people here, but then they left this place, which has now turned into ruins. It is said to be haunted now.
Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra, Portugal
Quinta de Regaleira Castle, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the palace complex, is one of the most romantic places in Portugal. Main riddle Regaleira - a well that goes deep into the earth. The spiral gallery that goes around it has nine levels, each level has fifteen steps. These nine levels symbolize the nine circles of hell, the nine circles of purgatory and the nine circles of heaven described by Dante.
Weisgerbergasse street, Nuremberg, Germany
Weisgerbergasse is a historic street in Nuremberg famous for its stunning wrought iron signs.
Procida, Italy
Procida is the smallest of the islands Gulf of Naples. The inhabitants of Procida still lead a very patriarchal lifestyle: instead of converting all their houses into apartments for rent, they still prefer to grow lemons in old gardens and fish in rocky bays.
Lofoten Islands, Norway
Group Lofoten Islands located beyond the Arctic Circle. Here you can see bizarre fishing villages, deepest in the world coral reef and the northern lights of incredible beauty.
Coconut Island, Costa Rica
The biggest desert island v pacific ocean. Known for the fact that, according to popular legends, the largest treasure is hidden on it, which has not yet been discovered by anyone. And this island is just a paradise for divers due to its rich underwater fauna.
Rock tombs in the city of Mira, Turkey
The city of Mira was located 5 km from the coast mediterranean sea. The ruins of a magnificent Greco-Roman theater and rock-cut tombs have survived from the city. The uniqueness and originality of the tombs can be explained by the fact that the peoples of Lycia had a custom to bury the dead in elevated places, as it was assumed that this would help them get to heaven.
During the Christian era in 300 AD. e. Nicholas from Patara, known in the Orthodox tradition as Nicholas the Wonderworker (aka Santa Claus), having studied in Xanth, became the bishop of Mira, where he preached until his death.
Herrenchiemsee castle in Bavaria, Germany
According to the plans of King Ludwig II, the “New Versailles”, the Temple of Glory, was supposed to appear here, in which the king wanted to hold festivities in memory of Louis XIV. As a result, the king himself lived in this palace for only 9 days, but after him there was almost a copy, although reduced by 8 times, of Versailles itself.
Fes, Morocco
You are now looking at the oldest leather tannery in the world. In fact, this sight is not for the faint of heart - there is always a specific smell of leather and tannins, which will remind the tourist of visiting Morocco for a long time to come.
Blagaj, Bosnia and Herzegovina
By itself, the town of Blagay does not represent anything, it is rather just a village. But next to it is the source of the Buna River, it is very picturesque. In the 16th century, a “tekiya” (from Turkish - “tekke”), a monastery of dervishes, was erected here.
Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic
This city was founded in the 13th century and little has changed since then . A unique opportunity to visit the whole medieval city.
Nauru, Micronesia
Nauru is tiny Island state with a population of less than 10,000 people. It is one of the least visited places in the world - simply because few people know about it. Nauru hides miles of pristine beaches and forests - so if you want to relax on an island paradise, hurry up to buy a ticket there. Until other tourists come running.
Ittoqqortoormiit, Greenland
Getting to Ittoqkortoormiit is as difficult as pronouncing its name: only once a week from the capital of Iceland by plane to Greenland, and then by helicopter or boat to the town itself. But it's worth it: this colorful little town sits on the world's longest icy river system.
Marsaxlokk, Malta
Even in ancient times, this place was used by the Carthaginians, and then by the Romans as the main harbor of Malta. In 1565, when the Ottoman Turkey attempted to take over the island, Marsaxlokk had a Turkish fleet stationed there.
Monument Valley, Utah USA
The valley is a unique geological formation located on the territory of the Navajo Indian Reservation, one of the national symbols of the United States. The valley serves as one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the United States; scenes of many movies were filmed on its territory, as well as clips and commercials dedicated to the "cowboy" theme.
, .The named places have so far remained aloof from the popular ones. tourist routes, despite the amazing local architectural monuments and natural wonders.
When thinking about where to go in 2018, you should choose not only among popular locations. There will probably be huge queues and inflated prices. And besides, there are many directions that remain little known but incredibly beautiful and interesting.
So, in 2018 it is worth visiting countries that are not yet overloaded with tourists, or where some really worthwhile events will take place: like Eurovision or the Olympic Games. CNN writes about this in its selection of new interesting directions. TSN.Tourism selected 10 of the most amazing and colorful of them.
Cape Verde
The islands of Cape Verde are the perfect place for an exotic vacation. They are located near the western coast of Africa and combine African, Pyrenean and Brazilian cultural heritage. However, Cape Verde has a completely heavenly atmosphere. This applies to both the weather and the surrounding landscapes.
The islands are located 570 kilometers from the nearest city in mainland Africa - Dakar. They are of volcanic origin, and therefore cozy beaches and bays contrast with jagged peaks and gorges. Among these opposites there are many luxurious hotels and tropical bungalows, connected by winding cobbled alleys surrounded by Dragon trees.
Read also:
One of the most popular places in the archipelago is the city of Mindelo on the island of Sao Vicente. Vacationers swim here in the bays Atlantic Ocean, drinking local rum and various dishes, listening to folk melodies in the national dialect.
visualhunt.com/CarolineG2011
Botum Sakor National Park, Cambodia
In the southwestern corner of Cambodia is the huge Botum Sakor National Park. The natural wonders of this country are concentrated here: from evergreen tropical forests to coastal plains and cliffs.
About 180 hectares of the park is occupied by the so-called Southwest Elephant Corridor. It is here that the largest population of Asian elephants lives, as well as a number of rare birds and animals.
In the vicinity of the park there are a number of hotels and bungalows built in vintage style for relaxing among wildlife. They are located near rivers, picturesque rocky waterfalls and on the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Here you can not only observe nature from the inhabited territory and swim in the bay, but also go on a safari deep into the reserve.
www.flickr.com/Jesus Roncero
Valletta, Malta
The capital of Malta - Valletta - was named the cultural center of Europe for 2018. The country is located in the Mediterranean Sea, between Italy and Tunisia. The cultures of these countries are intertwined on the island and in just 20 minutes you can "move" from Ancient Greece to the Middle East. A similar contrast is noticeable in architecture, and also in cooking, thanks to the dishes that are served here.
So far, Valletta is not included in the popular tourist and cruise routes, as opposed to Venice and Rome. And therefore, here you can, without excessive crowds, relax on the island beaches and see local attractions. The pearl of the city is Cathedral Saint John - a knight who was a native of Malta. And a nice bonus to sparsely populated resorts islands will be Instagram photos that few can boast of.
Gozo is an island of the Maltese archipelago, which is also worthy of attention. Previously, there was a rocky arch "Blue Eye" above the bay, which became known thanks to the TV series " Game of Thrones", but it collapsed in 2017. Nevertheless, Gozo will be interesting to see the steep, rocky shores that form cozy bays with deserted beaches and azure green water.
www.flickr.com/zacke82
Serbia
The countries of the former Yugoslavia are becoming increasingly popular destinations for holidays in Europe. This, in particular, applies to Croatia and Montenegro, which attract vacationers with the luxurious coasts of the Adriatic Sea. But Serbia, among the former Soviet republics, remains the least visited. One of the reasons is that the country is not washed by any sea.
However, Serbia has a number of other advantages. So, you should go to the country to learn about the history of the region, see amazing architectural monuments and natural wonders, and also try different varieties of local cheeses. At the same time, holidays in Serbia will be much cheaper in comparison with neighboring states.
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In winter, it is worth going to Serbia for the sake of the Kopaonik and Zlatibor National Parks. Here you can go skiing or boarding and see the karst rocks covered with pine needles. In addition, another park - "Tara" - will be good option for summer travel. It attracts travelers with untouched mountain landscapes, rivers, animals and huge artificial lake Zaovine.
It is worth adding that a lot of ancient architecture, among the Soviet buildings, has been preserved in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade. In addition, traveling here is also an opportunity to see the Danube. From Belgrade, you can take a direct route to the seaside town of Bar in Montenegro.
www.flickr.com/Sergiu_TM
Nagano, Japan
Nagano is a health and ski resort in Japan. It is popular due to its onsen hot springs, around which sanatoriums and the infrastructure of the city arose. It also hosted the 1998 Winter Olympics. In the vicinity of Nagano, there are a number of mountain slopes for skiing and boarding, as well as hotels with various levels of service. Some of them were built last year and are being prepared in every way for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which will be held in Tokyo.
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It is worth going to Nagano not only for active or recreational holidays - there are also many monuments of ancient Japanese architecture. So, not far from the city, it is worth visiting the 16th-century Motsumoto Castle.
www.flickr.com/Cheng Yang, Chen
Essaouira, Morocco
Essaouira is an ancient port city with numerous beaches that are washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, the buildings of the old quarters and a huge fort of the 18th century have been preserved here. However, the resort has best hotels in Marocco. And yet, in Essaouira, local fishermen constantly bring fresh fish, which you can buy in the market or taste in one of the restaurants.
Despite all the charms, Essaouira is less popular among Moroccan resorts compared to Marrakech, Agadir and Casablanca. That is why on the ocean coast and near popular architectural sights it is not very crowded.
One of the disadvantages of the resort is the powerful winds that blow from the Atlantic Ocean and raise waves. But it allows you to surf and windsurf.
www.flickr.com/Federica Gentile
Crete, Greece
Crete is worth a visit for those who want to see the architecture of the ancient Greeks, learn a little more about mythology and soak up the Mediterranean beaches.
In 2017, Heraklion, the capital of Crete, became the most popular city among the new tourist destinations in Europe. Travelers are attracted to the island by mountains and valleys that occupy a significant part of it, as well as by the picturesque landscapes of the embankments.
History buffs come to see the archaeological treasures left by the Minoan civilization, one of the oldest in Europe. Archaeological Museum Heraklion stores many statues, bas-reliefs, amphorae, ornaments, drawings and miniatures of ancient buildings that will be of interest to those who are fond of mythology. Another iconic place is the palace of Knossos with the labyrinth of the Minotaur.
The best time to travel to Crete is from April to October. At this time, it will be possible not only to see the nature and sights of the island, but also to swim in the sea and go diving. Diving here is especially interesting because, in addition to landscapes, you can see the sunken ships of the Second World War.
visualhunt.com/Over Doz
Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea
Experienced travelers have long known about the ski resort South Korea- PyeongChang, but it has never been a popular tourist destination. However, in 2018, the city gained worldwide fame thanks to the hosting of the Winter Olympic Games here from February 9 to 25.
The mountains around Pyeongchang are gentle, there are no cliffs with steep descents like those of northern Japan. But the city has modern hotels, quality ski runs of incredible length and high-speed sky passes. And in connection with the Olympics, the infrastructure of the resort has been significantly improved and a number of new tourist routes have been opened.
www.flickr.com/Republic of Korea
Lisbon, Portugal
The capital of Portugal, Lisbon, is located on the hills descending to the Atlantic coast and to the Gulf of Tagus. The coast here is dotted with many elegant squares with sculptures that border small harbors and luxurious beaches.
The city itself is known for its ancient buildings: the triumphal arch of Rua Augusta and the castle of St. George, as well as a number of various fortresses and squares, cathedrals and monasteries. In addition, Lisbon is famous for its panoramas with multi-colored old buildings, covered with brick-colored roofs, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
And the most romantic place near Lisbon is the Sintra Natural Park. This is a kind of resort area with hotels, palaces and castles among the mountains on the ocean coast.
