Interesting Facts About The Amazon River

This exotics Amazon River is located in the South America. This river is the tropical river that contains more than a hundred animal plants species, therefore, this river become one of the most important river in the world. Extended more than seven squared kilometers in the Brazil land and this river brings bigger amount of water than the other river in any parts of the world. In fact, this amazing river is liable for about one fifth or about twenty percents of the clean water that runs into the ocean.

After the Nil River in Africa, the Amazon River is the longest river in the world and about 6000 km or 3,500 miles long. Beside this river spreads along the Amazon rainforest, it is also become the habitat of the exotics tropical animals like piranha fish, anaconda snake, dwarf caiman, and giant Amazon River turtle.

The animals which exist in the Amazon River are exotics and cannot be found in the other habitat, even in the same tropical region. The animals exist there is like piranha fish, this small fish has a large and sharp teeth. It comes in a blue, grey or even black colors and it is usually appears in a 6 inches to 12 inches long. Then the second is anaconda. This largest snake in the world can be growth up to about 35 feet long. This snake usually appears in a dark green or dark brown for the scales. Then the dwarf caiman is the crocodile family that usually lived in the fresh water and caiman usually camouflages their skin to masquerade the surrounding to make the predators could not see them.

The Amazon River animal makes this place become the number one tourist destination in several purposes like for ecological research for Tropical River, or just for the nature travelled as usual. By reason of the enormous quantity of water in addition to residue that are placed where this river finally found the Ocean of Atlantics, the salinity and the colors of the Atlantic Ocean are adapted for just about 320 km or 200 miles from the delta of Amazon. For a large amount of its alleyway, this tropical exotic River can be as far as one to eight miles long. During rain seasons, the Amazon River can be so much wider and has a very quick stream.

What You Can Do In Austrilian Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is a major tourist destination in the world. There are more than 80 neighborhoods that are part of the Gold Coast, Surfers Paradise with some of the most famous, Burleigh, Mermaid Beach, Southport and Currumbin. Many names are of indigenous origin, and it is interesting to know what they mean. For example, Tallebudgera comes from "life", which means "fish" meaning "budgerie" and of course, refers to abundant fish stocks there.

There are many things to do and see during your visit to the Costa Dorada. The region is home to many theme parks, as the world of dreams, Wet'n'Wild, Movie World and Sea World. These three are within thirty minutes of each other and are very close to Surfers Paradise.

In the world of the sea, the whole family can enjoy the dolphins, sharks and more, but also the opportunity to swim, relax and track racing, water-based, and Movie World, also known as the name of Warner Brothers view is perfect for movie lovers with their families. There are many walks around the theme of the movie, but also artists who dress like movie characters like Scooby Doo, Batman, and many others, and will be happy to take a picture.

Wet'n'Wild is a water park with Warner Bros., which is open all year surrounded. With seventeen slides and four pools, you can be sure it's safe for the whole family to visit.
The Gold Coast is known for its beautiful beaches, so no visit would be complete without a visit to one of the many beaches. One of the best beaches for swimming in Burleigh. Calm water almost every day, there are also surf Burleigh Heads to South Beach.

Burleigh Heads is a beautiful lush native forest, these two paths, one short and another attack at the tip, and the views are stunning, stretching north of Surfers Paradise, coming to Tweed Heads in the south. Hikers and also visit Tamborine Mountain, beautiful scenery and a variety of wildlife.

Springbrook is located in Gold Coast, where you can go where you want native wildlife and ancient Antarctic beech. Purlingbrook waterfalls and other breathtaking waterfalls located in Springbrook. You can also enjoy a dip in the pool or go Waringa night and a visit to the cave to see the fireflies.

For a really great experience, you can visit the Q1 building in Surfers Paradise. And "the tallest building in Australia and the fifth tallest residential tower in the world. With more than 77 levels you'll see a beautiful view of the beach and you can see from Brisbane to Byron Bay and time of the Gold Coast Hinterland.

Jupiter Casino is located south of Surfers Paradise, with more than 1,000 slot machines and 70 table games for guests to play. You can also stay a couple of nights in well appointed rooms that are equipped with modern facilities such as flat-screen TVs.

The Grand Canyon Is One Of The World's Greatest Wonders

The Grand Canyon is one of the world's greatest wonders. Many people have probably seen at least an image of it, but there are many facts about the Grand Canyon not many people know.

Situated in Arizona, the Grand Canyon is home to the Grand Canyon National Park. Before the United States was settled by the Europeans, the Pueblo people considered the Canyon a holy site, even making pilgrimages to it. It was "discovered" by Europeans in 1540.

The Grand Canyon is one of the United States' most popular tourist attractions. It attracts over 5 million visitors each year, mostly Americans. In 1956, the Grand Canyon was also the site of the world's worst commercial air crash to have ever occurred up to that point. On June 30, two commercial airliners collided above the canyon. The wreckage fell into the eastern part of the canyon and resulted in the deaths of everyone aboard – 128 passengers and crew. That accident led to laws about high-altitude flight ways and the control of airplanes by ground controllers.

The Grand Canyon is basically a chasm that's 227 miles long and up to 18 miles wide between its furthest points. Depending on where you're standing, its height differs. At the lowest point at Yavapai Point, it's measured at 2,400 feet above sea level, and at the highest, below the North Rim, it's measured at 5,400 feet above sea level.

One of the more interesting facts about the Grand Canyon is the actual time it took for the Grand Canyon to form. It was formed by the great Colorado River which flows into the canyon from the west. Over time, it slowly began eroding the mountains, carving deeper into the canyon. It's estimated that it took the Colorado River about 3 to 6 million years to cut so deeply into the canyon. The river that flows through the canyon is about 300 feet wide and 100 feet deep, flowing at about 4 miles per hour.

Another thing few people realize about the Grand Canyon is that it's home to many different species of animals. There are 25 different types of reptiles, 5 species of amphibians, 250 species of birds, and 70 species of mammals; many of them unique to the area.

The Grand Canyon is one of the world's most unique and imposing natural wonders. It's little wonder why so many people visit the Grand Canyon National Park every year.

Remember These Advices When You Travel To Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls has a strong reason why it deserves one of the world's best natural wonders. Even though it is illegal to do some daredevil acts, many people still try to do the action for it is regarded as crazy yet prestigious by others.

Niagara Falls is located in the official border between New York and Ontario. Both of them are united to draw up the Niagara Gorge's southern point. Niagara Falls consists of three collective waterfalls called the the Bridal Veil Falls, Horseshoe Falls and the American Falls.

Canada has the Horseshoe Falls, while the US has the two others. The boundary was established in 1819 but now it is disputed because of construction and erosion.
The charm of the natural wonder never wears off despite the controversies. Many newlywed couples selected resorts around Niagara River for their honeymoon.

For those who want to marry in here, there are wedding chapels in the area for a quickie wedding. Hotels and resorts are scattered, trying to draw more visitors to come and stay.

It was during the last ice age that the Niagara Falls was formed. When glaciers faded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciations, water from the Great Lakes made its own way to the Atlantic Ocean through the Niagara Escarpment.

Besides for tourism industry, the Niagara Falls is also used as a significant source of hydroelectric power.

The Inniskillin Winery is recommended for romantic couples. Meanwhile, family with kids in the group can visit the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and the Aquarium of Niagara or Marine Land. The kids can also learn about Niagara Falls' history through a couple museums in the area.

The language used on American-side Niagara Falls is of course English. In the meantime, even though Canada has two official languages, most people on the Canadian-side Niagara Falls choose to speak in English other than in French. Just like the custom in the United States, visitors always leave a 15-20 percent tip for quality service at restaurants. Hotel workers will also appreciate the same amount of the tip. Unfortunately, most restaurants in the area are chain and fast food restaurants. Fine dining restaurants are easier to find on the Canadian-side than on the American-side.

Here are some travel tips if you intend to visit Niagara Falls in the near future:

- Most people choose the Canadian-side to enjoy the falls as it is seen as a more beautiful place than the American-side. Furthermore, the selection of hotels and restaurants are also wider.

- Most Canadian-side hotels and restaurants accept US dollars and major credit cards for the payment.

- However, by seeing the currencies at the time you may also exchange money before crossing the border to get the advantage of the fluctuation.

- Many vendors sell cheesy souvenirs and drinks at unreasonable price.

- Do not trap yourself in the slot machines. There are many more valuable things to do than spending money on such a wasteful game.

You Can Travel To The Alps All The Year Around

I am a snowboarder. I am addicted to the rush of cold air that carries me down a mountain. I am a thrill seeker on snow, searching high and low for the perfect powder, pushing my limits so I am faster, stronger, better. Sometimes I fall, sometimes I hurt but always there are the mountains that I love and can't resist and for ten years one mountain range in particular have been calling my name.

I have snowboarded in Austria, France and Italy surveying and judging and comparing their corners of the Alps, but for some reason I've never snowboarded in the Swiss Alps… so why exactly was I headed there in the middle of summer?

Because the Alps are beautiful in the summer so why not tick off a corner of my favourite mountain range during the warmer months. They are as worthy of a visit in summer as they are in winter, perhaps even more so because quite frankly if you're not a snow sports enthusiast – and I understand well that it's not for everyone – the Alps remain a haven for holiday opportunities all against a stunning backdrop. So when my boyfriend embarked on an epic road trip from one temporary home in the south of France to our next in the capital of cool, Berlin, we knew we'd have to make a stop somewhere on the way.

We climbed up and up and up mountain roads, which meandered their way to Laax where we stayed in Rocks Resort, a collection of smart, designer apartments a shuffle of salopettes away from the ski lift. Despite it being the end of August and we began our journey in blistering heat, the mountain air and scenic journey we encountered felt like we were travelling across time towards winter as much as we were crossing countries in Europe.

There followed three days of adjusting to our new and unfamiliar surroundings. The clouds never left our side, the temperature was nearly 20 degrees cooler than the south of France and I delighted in being surrounded by alpine style hotels, buildings and of course, the food. Our apartment served us well – comfortable, sleek, modern – I would be lying if I said we didn't discuss coming back in winter, it was all too easy to think about enjoying the steam room in our apartment or cooking up a feast to be shared after a day on the slopes.

Instead we had a range of summer activities we could have enjoyed – hiking, mountain and downhill biking, paragliding and climbing. We are snow bunnies at heart so aside from a few brisk walks up steep hills and a few too many hours in the nearby hotel's spa, we spent our days watching the clouds gather and dreaming about snow fall.

So in this awkward two month period before the skis season starts as some of us itch to layer up, wax down and pick out a new woolly hat, don't forget that the Alps deserve your love in the summer and all seasons as much as they do in winter, and if these photos are anything to go by they have a lot of love to give you too.

There Are Several Interesting Facts Of The Dead Sea

The Dead Sea, also known as the Salt Sea, is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. It's a hypersaline lake that is truly one of Earth's unique places. Below you will find several interesting facts of this fascinating place.

The Dead Sea is 377m deep, making it the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. A hypersaline lake is a landlocked body of water that contains significant concentrations of sodium chloride or other mineral salts, with saline levels surpassing that of ocean water.

With 33.7% salinity, the Dead Sea is one of the world's saltiest bodies of water. Although Lake Assal, Garabogazköl and some hypersaline lakes of the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica (such as Don Juan Pond) have reported higher salinities.
The Dead Sea's unusually high salt concentration means that people can easily float in the Dead Sea due to natural buoyancy. In this respect the Dead Sea is similar to the Great Salt Lake in Utah in the United States.

The Dead Sea is roughly 8.6 times saltier than the ocean. This salinity makes for a harsh environment in which animals cannot flourish. The high salinity prevents macroscopic aquatic organisms such as fish and aquatic plants from living in it, though minuscule quantities of bacteria and microbial fungi are present.

The Dead Sea area has become a major center for health research and treatment for several reasons. The mineral content of the water, the very low content of pollens and other allergens in the atmosphere, the reduced ultraviolet component of solar radiation, and the higher atmospheric pressure at this great depth each have specific health effects.

Biblically, the Dead Sea was a place of refuge for King David. It was one of the world's first health resorts (for Herod the Great), and it has been the supplier of a wide variety of products, from balms for Egyptian mummification to potash for fertilizers.

An unusual feature of the Dead Sea is its discharge of asphalt. From deep seeps, the Dead Sea constantly spits up small pebbles and blocks of the black substance. Asphalt coated figurines and bitumen coated Neolithic skulls from archaeological sites have been found. Egyptian mummification processes used asphalt imported from the Dead Sea region.

A List Of The Best Hawaiian Beaches

Long weekends and beaches go hand in hand. When it comes to finding the best Hawaiian beaches, there are almost as many choices as there are locations themselves. And in Hawaii, they number in the hundreds. We're sharing a few more of our favorites today before heading up to Hanalei Bay. Please add yours to the list!

1. Hanalei Bay Kauai

Hanalei Bay, iconic Kauai is an island favorite and that of travelers worldwide. There isn't much we haven't already said about this beauty that's been featured in films including most recently The Descendants.

2. Makena Beach Maui

South of Wailea, this is one of the island's best beaches and a great escape when staying to the north at Lahaina and beyond. The beach is long and wide, protected by lava walls. It has great swimming, snorkeling, and sunbathing with terrific views of neighboring Kahoolawe and Molokini.

3. Hapuna Beach, Big Island

We featured this photo on the Beat of Hawaii Facebook fan page yesterday. This beach is loved by visitors and locals alike. It has everything from good state park facilities with camping to a resort tucked at the far end. It's big enough that it all works. Hapuna is known for swimming, boarding, snorkeling and sunbathing that are consistently top notch. Do you know about turtle cove? At the far end of the beach, near the hotel, you'll see Hawaiian green sea turtles.

Protecting Mediterranean Sea Is So Necessary Now

The Mediterranean Sea is home to more than 400 million people spread across 22 countries, of which 143 million people live on the coast, and about another 175 million visit the region each year. The well being of all these people depends on the health of the environment of the Mediterranean Sea.

The Mediterranean environment is one of the richest and at the same time one of the most vulnerable in the world as its marine and coastal environments are exposed to a combination of pressures, 80% of which come from land-based pollution.

More than half of urban areas on the Mediterranean with a population over 100,000 do not have waste water treatment plants and 60% of the wastewater produced in these areas is directly discharged into the sea. More than 80% of landfills in southern and eastern Mediterranean countries are not monitored. The marine environment of the Mediterranean is especially exposed to agricultural waste, airborne particles and river run-off, which carries pathogens, heavy metals, organic pollutants, oils and radioactive substances into the sea.

Rapid urbanisation coupled with increasing and unsustainable development of tourism in the Mediterranean Sea’s coast has contributed to significant environmental and health problems. Pollution from industry, shipping and households, the loss of open areas, and the destruction of coastal ecosystems for construction projects are also taking their toll.

In November 2006 a timetable of action for the Horizon 2020 Initiative was launched. One of these actions called on the European Investment Bank or World Bank to work with donor countries to identify projects which are having the largest impact on Mediterranean pollution levels - upstream and downstream pollution - across the Mediterranean Region.

The identification of priority hotspots investments were conducted by the European Investment Bank in cooperation with the United Nation's Environment Programme's Mediterranean Action Plan. The activities of the MeHSIP will primarily focus on providing support to the Horizon 2020 initiative and partner countries in implementing priority pollution reduction investment projects.

The EIB will now proceed in finalising a list of projects under the Mediterranean Hotspot Investment Programme based on the 44 projects already identified in seven Mediterranean countries. Among the criteria for determining the potential investment in projects are the projects' importance for the country or the Mediterranean region, how significantly they reduce pollution, the sustainability of the operations, and the loan repayment capacity of the projects' promoters and the amounts required from donors.

There Is A List Of Beautiful European Beaches

Beautiful beaches are sure to be targeted tourist as one vacation destination. Did you know, beaches with exotic sights not only in the tropics area, in continental Europe there are also many beautiful beach. The following is a list of beautiful European beaches.

Patara beach

Patara is a coastal village located on the Turkish Riviera, in the south of Turkey. This beach is the longest beach in the Mediterranean, with beautiful white sand. According to legend, Patara was the birthplace of Apollo and in the work of the old Roman rule, Patara became one of the most important ports in the Western Mediterranean. As evidence, on the beach there are relics of the ancient Romans in the form of archaeological sites.

Behind the beach, sand dune beaches adorn the surrounding landscape, coupled with views of the Taurus Mountains. To protect the environment, the coast of the building is not allowed there. In addition, the beach is just one of the few beaches in the world to be a rare turtle habitat, Loggerhead turtle. These turtles come to the beach for incubating eggs, every year in May and October.

Corsica island

Corsica is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Corsica is located to the west of Italy, 160 km southeast French mainland, and north of Sardinia. Corsican island is famous as the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. French hero of the house can still be found on this beautiful island, despite having turned into a museum of history. Although this place has been popular with tourists, but the island of Corsica still beauty, with white sand beaches, mountains and the city against the backdrop of a small harbor suitable as a place to relax.

Kefalonia

Kefalonia is the largest island in the Ionian Islands, located in western Greece, with an area of ​​350 square kilometers. The island is named after the mythological figure Cephalus, meaning Head Island.

Among the Greek islands, Kefalonia is an island that has a unique beauty, with a calm sea and small houses on the seafront colorful. The sea around the island’s beaches suitable for sightseeing cruise by boat or small ship, to some cape remote and deserted.

Due to its proximity to Italy, Kefalonia especially popular for tourists who come from the State Pizza. Besides voyage, other interesting tourist attractions in Kefalonia is an underground lake Mellisani and Myrtos Beach.

Sardinia

Want to meet a lot of travelers and tourists from other parts of the world? Sardinia is the place. Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily. Sardinia located between Italy, Spain and Tunisia, on the southern island of Corsica sebalah. Sardinia has a beautiful view of the typical mediteran.

Oceans surrounded by white sand beaches like in the tropical island. Sardinia is also often a tourist destination world celebrities, such as Rihanna, Heidi Klum, Janet Jackson, and many more world celebrities.

Sesimbra
Located in the west of Portugal, Sesimbra is a small fishing port. Here also there is a beautiful beach with blue sea and bright cheap accommodations in the vicinity. As well as the fishing, the beach is also famous for its sport fishing. Especially the sword fish, the degree of difficulty is high enough to attract the interest of many tourists.

Sesimbra untouched by posh resorts, but that’s why this place still has wonderful charm of a typical fishing village. The beach is suitable for swimming, and if lucky you can see dolphins while swimming at the beach. On the edge of the harbor there are also many delicious seafood restaurants.

Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast is a coastal area south of the Sorrentine Peninsula, southern Italy. This beach is one of the most popular beaches in Italy are visited by thousands of tourists, especially during the summer. The coastline along the Amalfi Coast is truly remarkable, extending along the 50 kilometers between the high cliffs, wide streets, gardens, lemon and wine, and white villas. The resort surrounding a magnet for world travelers, and is now developing on the beach has been terminated to maintain its natural authenticity.

Mesmerized Beauty of Nature Himachal

Fondly referred as the ‘Devbhoomi', Himachal Pradesh located in the northern part of Indian subcontinent. The valley is spectacularly soaked in the mesmerizing beauty of nature with undulating snow clad mountain peaks, green lush forests, serene lakes, raging rivers, alpine meadows and stunning hill stations.
Himachal Tour Packages unleash numerous holiday destinations and sites that offer memorable holiday experience to the tourists. Hill stations such as Shimla, Manali, Kullu, Dalhousie, Dharamshala, Kufri, Solan, Chamba valley, Chail, Kangra Valley, Kasauli, Lahaul and Spiti Valley are the some of the most popular tourist destination in the state. All these peaceful destinations are located in blissful natural setting with spectacular natural beauty, pleasant climate, cool and serene environment and charming attractions that attracts the tourists from all corners of the world. Himachal Pradesh Tourism has also contributed a lot in upgrading the infrastructural facilities in the state, which make the state a perfect place to visit.

The state is blessed by wealth of natural beauty and dotted with most fascinating hill destinations of the country. Himachal Pradesh tourism is not only acclaimed for its beautiful hill stations but also known for incorporating various ancient temples and spiritual sites. Undulating slopes of its valley serves as the pristine platform to engage in adventurous activities. In Himachal, a tourist can enjoy adventure activities like trekking, mountaineering, skiing, white water rafting, rock climbing, kayaking, hiking, heli skiing, para gliding, fishing, angling, camping, etc. While, in the places like Rohtang Pass and Solang Valley, one can have the ethereal experience in absolute snowfall, Lahaul and Spiti valley offers the beauty of Stark lunar landscape.
This beautiful state of India is the perfect place to enjoy vacation or honeymoon in the lap of Himalaya. Each of the hill station and plain valley is endowed with blessings of nature that never fails to lure the attention of tourists throughout the year. Nahan, Mandi, Khajjiar, Chail, Paonta Sahib, Sirmaur are other lesser known places in Himachal which equally offer natural splendor. These places are far away from humdrums of tourist's rush and serves as the peaceful getaways for discerning travelers. If you really want to experience unexplored beauty of nature and its ecstasy, you must visit this paradisiacal land on the earth. Visit the land and enjoy your holiday to the fullest in a most memorable and delightful way.

Enjoy The Nature Beauty Of Ansoo Lake

It shapes is like a tear or u can say ansoo ...so its called ansoo lake......basically... once a time the whole vally is flooded by melting of glasiers and thats who this lake sums up...and unfortunatly its shape is like a ansoo..wow.
Ansoo Lake is a high-altitude lake (elevation 16,490 feet or 5,027 metres) in the Kaghan Valley in the Mansehra District of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. It is near Malika Parbat in the Himalayan range.
It can be reached by a difficult trek from Saiful Mulook Lake. The name comes from its tear-like shape (the Urdu word Ansoo means teardrop). The lake is said to have been discovered in 1993 by Pakistan Air Force pilots who were flying low above the area. Earlier, the lake was not even known to the locals.

Unlike all other lakes (except some one) this lake is not located in a valley but on a peak top and is highest lake in the world. I have found it on Google Earth!
Ansoo Lake is a high-altitude lake (elevation 13,540 feet or 4,126 metres) in the Kaghan Valley in the Mansehra District of the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan. It is near Malika Parbat in the Himalayan range.
It can be reached by a difficult trek from Saiful Mulook Lake and requires physical and mental fitness. If one chooses to walk it takes more than eight hours for a round trip starting from lake Saif ul Muluk. The trek is covered with snow in most parts of the year. The best time to trek is from 25th July to 30th August. The optimal time to set off for the lake is around 09:00 in the morning. Horses can also be hired from the Lake Saif ul Muluk along with a guide person who will take you to Ansoo Lake. It costs almost PKR 800-1000 per horse. Another trek to reach Ansoo Lake is from Mahandri, which is 40 km below Naran, but this is a less trod route and the difficulties are unknown. The name "Ansoo" comes from its tear-like shape (the Urdu word Ansoo means teardrop). The lake is said to have been discovered in 1993 by Pakistan Air Force pilots who were flying low above the area. Earlier, the lake was not even known to the locals.

The Most Beautiful Landscapes In Greece - Myrtos Beach

Searching for a great last minuet cheap package holidays deal? Why not check out the Island of Greece with night life, long sandy stretch beaches, glorious sunshine and culture a plenty. There are plenty of Greek package holidays to choose from, and here are some Greek destinations that travel experts proclaim are the most recommended for travelers to seek out if they want to see some of the most beautiful landscapes in Greece and have a great time.

Kefalonia Geography

Kefalonia is a beautiful Ionian Island in the Western Greece, popularised most recently by Louis De Berniéres portrayal of his picturesque Kefalonian village in his best selling Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. The island is densely covered in vegetation and has a wonderfully diverse range of diverse natural beauty. Its beaches, particularly are known for their beauty, and Myrtos Beach has recently been ranked fifth in the world, making it a major tourist attraction.

For those interested in history, The Argostoli Archaeological Museum is well worth a visit, showcasing a plethora of artefacts ranging from the Neolithic to the Hellenistic period, this museum has informative and easy to digest information. For something a little bit different, the Historic and Folklore Museum in Korgialenio houses exhibitions of utilitarian and military objects that serve to illustrate the island’s cultural history. For those more geologically inclined, the Natural History Museum in Daugata exhibits a wide range of flora, fauna and fossils.

There are a number of beaches on Kefalonia which are inaccessible by land but worth seeing nonetheless. Hiring a boat for the day will mean that you can take advantage of the solitude of these idyllic spots. Swimming and Scuba Diving near these coves and caves are also hugely popular pastimes.

Myrtos Beach

Myrtos Beach is one of the most dramatic on the largest of the Ionian Greek islands. It is located about twenty miles north of the capital city of Argostoli near the charming little town of Assos. Like Porto Katsiki Beach on nearby Lefkada, Myrtos Beach Kefalonia is set at the foot of high, steep cliffs in a deep and wide bay. Before descending the cliffs to the beach below, it is worth spending some time savoring the spectacular views from above. Myrtos Beach holidays take advantage of one of the most scenic and photographed spots in all the islands.

Myrtos Beach has a number of services, including shopping, cafés, and tavernas, and you can rent sun beds and umbrellas. There is little shade here, so an umbrella or sunscreen is important. When you settle yourself on the fine white sand, you should take some care on either end of the beach. The cliffs are quite close to the water in these two areas, and there is a danger of falling rocks—that's why you will see fewer people in those two places. The beach is very wide in the center, so that portion of the beach is quite safe. Wind and waves pick up in the afternoon, so this is when to go if you want your Myrtos Beach holidays to include windsurfing. The best transportation to get here is a car or motor scooter rental. The road is twisting and steep, and those with walking issues may wish to choose a more accessible beach where you don't have to walk down steps carved into the cliffs. You can also book day trips to Myrtos Beach Kefalonia by boat from many of the towns and villages along the coast.

There are few Myrtos Beach hotels right at the beach. Although you can find some nice apartments and residences in Assos, most visitors enjoying Myrtos Beach holidays will choose accommodation in the resort town of Agia Efemia, which is located on the opposite (eastern) side of the island about five miles away. Most of these are two- and three-star studios and apartments, making this a very popular place for family vacations. A couple miles south of Agia Efemia is the port town of Sami, where Greece ferries from other islands (as well as the city of Brindisi in Italy) dock. Here you will find the only five-star property on the island, the Ionian Emerald Resort. It's actually in the nearby village of Karavomylos, and offers a café, restaurant, bar, full-service spa and fitness center, and children's play facilities. The distance from here to Myrtos Beach is only nine miles.

Things to do around Myrtos Beach Kefalonia include sightseeing in the charming villages, which boast numerous old churches and monasteries. Near Assos in Fiskardo are the ruins of an old Venetian palace, and the coast has a number of caves that were used in ancient times. There are many other beautiful beaches, including some that are nesting sites for the rare loggerhead and green sea turtle. The Archaeological Museum in Argostoli is excellent, and you will find wonderful traditional Greek tavernas and dining spots in most of the larger towns and villages.

The beautiful beach at Myrtos Bay, on the Ionian island of Kefalonia, is known as Myrtos and is backed by steep limestone cliffs.

Why go?
Myrtos is often lauded as one of the most dramatic beaches in Greece with its mile-and-a-half long arc of dazzling white pebbles that cuts deep into a sheer cliff on the island’s northwest coast. Film buffs will recognise it as the location for the mine explosion in Captain Corelli’s Mandolin and the first time you catch sight of it from the coast road high above is truly memorable.

What is there to do?
Unless you can handle the sun all day, this is a great spot to come in the late afternoon for a glorious Ionian sunset. Despite its popularity, the beach has been kept free of watersports, so swimming is the only exercise available.

Bars and bites
A local ordinance banning permanent structures means only the odd mobile canteen is tucked at the back of the beach. Traditional Greek meals, washed down with the excellent local Robola wine, are available three miles uphill at the simple Klima grill or Alexandros taverna in Divarata village. You’ll have to head into to the capital Argostoli for nightlife options.

Getting there
The nearest you can get by public transport is the top of the winding three-mile approach road on any bus bound for Assos or Fiskardo. Consequently, a hired vehicle or stout legs are the way to go. Kefalonia has daily flights from Athens and several weekly services from the UK, while ferries leave from Patra and Kyllini on the mainland.

Nepenthes Can Get Rid Of The Mosquitoes

Nepenthes can be grown in a variety of containers, but plastic pots are generally preferred because they are economical, lightweight, and come in a great range of sizes. Most Nepenthes will do well in a one-gallon pot, but some of the larger species (N. bicalcarata, N. merrilliana, N. sumatrana, others) require containers of 4-5 gallons to reach full size. Seedlings and young plants can be grown in 4-6 inch pots or trays. Clay pots, though attractive, are avoided by many growers due to the belief that they accumulate harmful salts and chemicals. However, experience shows that healthy Nepenthes can be grown for many years in clay pots, especially if they are given high-qualtiy pure water.

Containers should always have sufficient holes to permit rapid drainage and good soil aeration. Hanging baskets and pots are an excellent way to display larger specimens, and allows for the trailing vines and tendrils to grow without support.

The far more common method of Nepenthes propagation for the hobbyist or small scale nursery is stem cuttings. The exact details of the procedure vary considerably between different growers, so the following are guidelines that can be easily modified.

When to take cuttings: Nepenthes cuttings can be taken at any time of the year, but the cuttings taken when the parent plant is actively growing seem to take faster and have greater success rate. This probably has more to due with the health and vigor of parent plant than the actual cutting time. If the parent plant is growing well, chances are the cuttings will do well under the same conditions. If the parent plant is not doing well, the temperature could be too hot or cold and the cuttings may not root well under those conditions.

What material to take for cuttings: The ideal Nepenthes propagation situation is a plant that has a tall climbing stem with widely-separated leaves and a new basal rosette of leaves. In this case, the climbing stem (either the whole stem or just the tip) can be taken as cutting material leaving the parent plant with an intact basal rosette. If you only want to generate a single new plant, then the active growing tip of the stem with about 2 to 3 leaves is the absolute best cutting material. The stem on the parent plant will generally re-sprout near the tip assuming there are still green leaves on that stem. It will take the parent plant a few months to re-sprout and look presentable again. If you want to generate a large number of plants, then clip the entire climbing stem so the plant has just a basal rosette.

If the plant lacks a basal rosette there are two options. The cuttings can be taken immediately but do leave at least 4 green leaves on the stem. If it is a long stem it may be better to encourage the plant to grow a new basal rosette. You do this by laying the pot on the side and letting the long stem go out horizontally or, even better, hang down. In a few months the plant should sprout a new basal rosette an you can remove the whole climbing stem.

Some growers suggest cutting the leaves in half, thus leaving only the half of the leaf nearest the stem. The reason for cutting the leaf in half is to reduce transpiration from the leaf and thus reducing the chance that the cutting will dry out. However, if the cuttings are sealed in a plastic bag that ensures a very high humidity, then this is not necessary. Pitchers can also be left on if desired, but they typically make the cuttings hard to fit in a bag (particularly if there are many cuttings in a single pot) so I typically remove them.

Some growers split the stem up about 10 mm from cut end. Do it under water and in such a way as the blade is NEVER pointed toward any of your body parts you want to keep. After the stem is split, shove a small piece of Sphagnum moss up the slit to hold the two sides somewhat apart. Some growers use rooting hormone on the cut edges. In our experience using hormone is not helpful and too strong a hormone concentration can actually keep the cuttings from forming roots. If the cutting forms a callus but no roots then the hormone is too strong. If you still want to use a hormone, you should never dip the cutting into the jar of hormone as this would contaminate it. Pour out a small amount on a piece of paper and touch the cut edge to hormone on the paper or use a small brush to apply a small amount. If you use a liquid hormone use the amount recommended for soft wood cuttings at the recommended time in the solution.

This once named cultivar was found a top a tall, misty mountain in the tropics region where Nepenthes originate from. A expedition was planned up to the mountain in the late 80′s to see what types of Nepenthes lived up there. Once they reached the top, the Nepenthes experts from Borneo Exotics Inc. found a Nepenthes Truncata that was way darker than any other of the normal specimens observed in cultivation. The big Nepenthes was lofted in the notch of a high tree. Since the plant was flowering female, the experts decided to collect seeds from it, and headed back down to the nursery.

Many years later seven dark seedlings were chosen out of the seed batch and have since been raised to big tall plants. Each plant was given a cultivar name like N. Truncata ‘king of clubs” and so forth. The two most interesting Nepenthes, N. Truncata “Queen of Hearts” and N. Truncata “King of Spades”, decided to flower. Now, their colorful and sought after offspring have been spread to growers all around the world, including me.

Take A Look At Some Of The Interesting Factors Of The Bermuda Grass

Bermuda grass has originated from the African Savannas and is also the main grass of the tropical and sub-tropical regions. Known to survive well in dry conditions, it is best grown in areas that have heavy rainfall. This is because with heavy rainfall, the leaves remain moist. The Bermuda grass is also known to re-grow quickly in times when it get destroyed due to fire.

What exactly is Bermuda Grass?

Bermuda grass is found throughout the southern states in the USA. This is generally found in warmer climates and can be found in pastures and open woodlands. The ‘Cynodon dactylon’ or the Bermuda grass is known as Bermuda in the United States simply because it was introduced from the Bermuda island.

The Bermuda grass not only recovers quickly from fires, it can even grow at a fast pace in poor soil. This kind of grass can even re-grow even if it is cut. This is because it has long roots, which are often difficult to destroy. The common Bermuda grass is therefore drought resistant and can also make a good turf if it is tended to, with care. These can be easily planted with the help of the Bermuda grass seed; and with great care it can prove to be a very high quality lawn grass.

The Bermuda grass is used for lawns, tennis courts, golf courses and other such landscaping areas. The golf courses generally make use of the Bermuda grass very extensively. This Bermuda grass is low on maintenance and can face the strength of the full sunlight. The Bermuda grass seed heads are quite similar to the seed heads of the crab grass. Therefore, these are frequently confused with each other. This kind of grass is also known to form a thick or dense mat on the ground. Therefore, the Bermuda grass is also known as a creeping grass because whenever the node touches the ground, it tends to reproduce from the roots that are under the ground. The Bermuda grass seed heads are generally around 1-3 inches in size and start growing within two weeks.

There are two varieties of Bermuda grass:
The Common Bermuda
The Hybrid Bermuda

The common Bermuda has a medium texture, whereas the hybrid variety has a fine texture.

Uses of Bermuda Grass:

• Apart from the home lawns and the golf courses, the Bermuda grass is considered to be very sacred amongst the Hindus in India. The juice when squeezed from the stems can be used as an astringent for medical purposes.
• Bermuda grass is also used in homeopathy where the juice is used with other medicines. It is also known to increase the strength of the body by making it resistant to common allergies.
• The Bermuda grass is also useful in the farming and animal husbandry section.
• It also proves to be an excellent grass for cattle and it can prevent land soil erosion which may be caused due to an excess amount of water during the rains.

Maintenance of Bermuda Grass:

• One has to keep a track of the schedule for fertilizing the Bermuda grass. Follow a timetable that would require you to add fertilizers every 45 days.
• Ensure that you water it deeply. Watering this grass deeply would ensure that it has deep roots and this would in turn make your grass look good especially during the summer season. This would also largely depend on the consistency of the soil.
• Ensure that you mow it regularly.
• In order to prevent winter weeds, you can check the market to stock certain pesticides that can prevent weeds from growing in the lawns. Ask the local store about the certain months you may need to stick to this practice, to apply these pesticides to keep your lawn looking at its best at all times.

The Bermuda grass thus proves to be a very good choice when it comes to a hot and sunny climate and it is also known to be very resilient and resistant to common everyday wear and tear that can happen in the garden. The Bermuda grass therefore scores high and is very popular due to its low maintenance factor.

Provide You Detailed Facts About A Guava Tree And Its Growth

Guava trees are members of the myrtle family of tropical trees and shrubs. Guava is also called Psidium in Latin. The myrtle family consists of 100 species of tropical plants and trees. Tropical climate suits guava trees and they are native to Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. It grows in abundance in some parts of southeast Asia, the Caribbean and some parts of Africa. A guava tree normally reaches up to a height of four meters and has large leaves with blazing veins. The tree bears white color flowers that possess many stamens which mature into a pear shaped, yellow color fruit which has numerous seeds.

How to Grow Guava Tree

Climatic Requirements: Ideally guava trees require warm climate to grow. They normally are found in countries with hot summers and cool winters. Vegetation and fruits grow in abundance if the temperature is in between 15°C and 28°C. The flowers come out in 3 to 6 months and bear fruits. During this fruit bearing stage, if the temperature falls below 15°C, the quality of fruit suffers. The tree is well adapted to both summer and winter temperatures. They can also survive in droughts very well and grow best in areas which receive almost 1000 to 1500 mm of rainfall. If the rain is sparse, trees should be watered during the dry period, especially if there are fruits.

Soil Required: Basically all types of soil suit the growth of a guava tree. The trees are normally found near streams, brooks and rivers. They survive in these areas despite the excessive water logging and poor soil conditions. If you want a well-grown guava tree, you should plant it in well-drained soils. They can also be grown in soils which are not suitable for many other plants.

Soil Preparation: Before planting a new guava plant, examine the soil carefully with respect to its depth, drainage and compacted layers. The ideal depth of the soil to plant a guava tree should be 800 mm.

Planting the Guava Tree: The recommended planting distance is 2 m between each tree in a row. If you want your guava tree to always remain healthy and productive make sure it is not planted too close to each other. If you are planting thes trees on a large-scale make sure that the space between them must be enough to pass tractors, spraying machines and laborers.

Pruning Guava Trees

• You can start pruning young guava plants when they are only 3 to 4 months old. Always prune grown guava trees after summer when they have borne fruits.
• Take out all the ground root suckers and dead wood which gets accumulated on the tree. Skirt infected branches will stop the fruiting of this tree and can also cause harm to the tree.
• Always prune a guava tree in a judicious manner. Make a cut above the lateral branch, take care that you don't chop of branches which are bearing new flowers.
• Avoid pruning any dead parts of the tree which may have died due to weather conditions. You can remove the dead branches at any time.
• Pruning with dirty or dull tools may cause a long term damage to the tree. Always make sure that your cutting tools are clean and sanitized before you prune any tree or plant.

Guava Tree Care

• Guavas are climatic fruits. They can be picked green and will still ripen in storage and shipping. Always place it in a sunny location away from other trees. Make sure the soil is free from flooding and it drains well after rainfall.
• Don't allow any tree or grass to grow around the tree's location as it will interfere with the guava tree's growing process.
• Enrich the tree four to six times a year using a good quality fertilizer. You can also use nutritional sprays which contain zinc, manganese, boron and iron.
• Water the guava tree every alternate day in the first week. Never water the tree during the rainy seasons.
• Always keep an open eye for the Caribbean fruit fly, the guava moth, the red banded thrip and the guava white fly.
• Covering the fruit with a paper bag has also proved useful in preventing insect infestation. If you want professional help, get in touch with the local Agricultural Organization.

Guava tree will remain evergreen if it is nurtured and cared properly. I hope by reading this article you will think about planting a guava tree in your garden.

Freshwater Aquarium Plants Enhance The Beauty Of An Aquarium

Having and maintaining a freshwater aquarium is a fun activity that you need to perform carefully too. Along with adding some beautiful types of freshwater fish tank fish, you also need to take care of the freshwater aquarium landscaping! By landscaping I mean live aquarium plants and their proper care. There are various kinds of freshwater aquarium plants to choose from, on the basis of their water hardiness level and suitability for the types of aquarium fish that you have in your aquarium. These plants are available in all shapes, sizes and colors, however, they have their own requirements when it comes to the water quality, fish and diseases. Let's find out more.

How to Care for Freshwater Aquarium Plants

If you are a beginner aquarist, then you may like to start with some hardy plants that are capable of surviving in more hardy water zones. That way you will negate the chances of making mistakes regarding freshwater aquarium plants care, that might affect the health of your freshwater fish. Here are a few things that you must consider before you select aquarium plants. Along with fish compatibility, you should also make sure that the plants that you are choosing are well taken care of, by providing them enough light, nutrition and water pH levels.

Fish Compatibility
The plants that you are choosing should be compatible with the types of freshwater aquarium fish that you have. Many fish like Oscars, goldfish and silver dollars enjoy uprooting plants and hence, you can put live aquarium plants without much of a difficulty. You need to check with the local aquarist and make sure what kinds of plants are compatible with the types of fish that you have.

Water Hardiness
As we know by now, various types of plants have various water conditions. Hence, it is important to find out the exact required water conditions for the plants that you want to purchase. Along with hardiness, you also need to check whether pH of water is suitable for healthy growth of the plants that you are purchasing.

Lighting Level
Along with the water conditions that are required for your fish, you need to take care of the light conditions that are required for aquarium plants too. Various types of plants need various kinds of lighting levels. Hence, be sure and provide the correct amount of lighting for the plants that you have selected. If you live in a humid and less sunny area then you should choose freshwater low light plants that require less amount of light to thrive.

Substrate Quality
These plants will survive on healthy aquarium substrate and hence, you need to check whether you have selected the right kind of substrate for the plants that you have selected. Along with placing them in the substrate, you can also purchase those special clay planters for aquarium plants. You need to provide the plants with correct nutrients like iron supplements if you are planning to plant them directly in gravel.

Plant Types
Some good plants that you can use for landscaping include, Amazon sword ( amnicus), Argentine sword (argentinensis), hygrophila polysperma, Java fern ( pteropus), umbrella plant (Spathiphyllum wallisii), vallisneria spiralis, hygrophila, anarchis, duckweed, salvinia, bladderwort, riccia, banana plants, water sprite, spath (grown underwater), red arrowhead (Regina Red), cherry hedge, green hedge, mondo grass, red edge, etc. If you are looking for freshwater low light aquarium plants, then you can use, Java moss, anubias, Christmas moss or Amano moss, wolfia, frogbit, giant salvinia, sagittaria dwarf, red cryptocoryne wendtii, green cryptocoryne wendtii, etc.

You need to take all the possible care so that your plants and fish stay healthy and safe in that environment.

Go About The Right Method Of Mulching Around Trees

Let's start by trying to answer the question, what is mulching around trees? Mulching is the process used to create a protective covering around the trees. This covering consists mostly of vegetable matter. A mulch can be made of natural substances or artificial substances. Mulching is beneficial for a plant's health.

What are the Benefits of Mulching?
Is mulching necessary, is a very common question asked by many people. Yes, proper mulching under trees is necessary for a tree's health. Read these benefits of mulching to know what makes mulching trees necessary. Mulching around trees helps in preventing soil erosion. Mulching prevents light from reaching the surface of the soil. This prevents any weed growth. So, mulching for weed control is a good idea. As the mulch decays, it enriches the soil by adding nutrients to it. Thus, using the product obtained from composting as a mulch for trees, acts as a good fertilizer. Mulching helps the soil to retain the moisture, thus preventing evaporation. A mulch is a slope around the tree or plant. So, the possibility of a lawn equipment like lawn mowers running over a tree or shrub is less, due to mulching. In gardening, mulch is very commonly used to beautify the area.

What are the Different Types of Mulch?
There are two types of mulch - organic and inorganic. Organic mulch is prepared using natural substances. These substances include leaves, bark of trees, grass, vegetable waste, etc. Organic mulch contains natural substances and therefore it decomposes easily. Inorganic mulch is a mixture of both natural and artificial substances like, pebbles, rubber, black plastic, etc. Inorganic mulch does not decompose. They are a good choice, if you have a weed problem.

How Much to Mulch?
Mulches should be 2 - 4 inches high for trees. This is the appropriate height required for mulching, which gives an effective covering to the soil. However, to calculate the amount of mulch required, there are two major factors to be considered. The first one is the square foot area of your garden and the second factor is the amount of mulch depth, you want, in inches. To calculate the square foot of the mulch area, calculate the total area of the garden and subtract the plant area occupied. This is the area where you can lay the mulch. Knowing the regular thickness of mulch, according to different constituting substances also helps in making an easy decision. For example, if the mulch is made of compost, the thickness will be around 1 - 3 inches, for a mulch made of leaves, it will be 4 - 5 inches thick, and a peat moss mulch will be about 1 inch thick.

How to Mulch Around Trees?
The first step in how to mulch around trees, is to clean the area before applying the mulch. Remove all the grass, weeds and leaves near the tree. Create a circular border of stones around the trees. This border should be of 3 inches diameter. Using your hands, spread the mulch. Make a mulch of the required thickness. Settle the mulch by watering it. This method can be also used for mulching fruit trees and flower trees.

To mulch around plants, follow this method. Clean the area of any weeds or leaves. Form a circle made of medium-sized rocks. This circle should be around 2 and a half inches. Spread a 2 inches thick layer of mulch with your hands. Also, make sure that the mulch is at least 2 inches away from the stems of the plant.

What is the Right Time for Mulching?
Mulching around trees or plants is beneficial throughout the year. However, follow these mulching tips for different seasons. For autumn, use a thick layer of mulch for the trees around 4 inches high. In winter, provide the trees with an extra one inch thickness of mulch. Mulching in the spring time, should be done after the soil warms. For tomato plant, use mulching after the tomatoes blossom.

These were some of the FAQ's about mulching around trees. Here are some more tips which will help you in mulching around trees.

• Prepare individual mulch according to the type of tree or plant.
• Check the thickness of the mulch regularly. If required add more mulch, to meet the standard mulch thickness.
• Sometimes there will be lumps formed in the mulch. Use your hands to break these lumps.
• Do not pile up the mulch against the stem of the plant or tree trunk.
• Organic mulch is more popular. If you are using organic mulching under trees, keep it well aerated and well drained.
• If you face drainage problems with the mulch, decrease an inch of the mulch thickness.
• Avoid sour mulches as they give out a pungent smell. These mulches can prove harmful for young plants as they might produce toxic elements over some time.
• Prevent excessive moisture in the mulch. This might lead to rotting of the roots.
• Excessive mulching may lead to infestation by rodents and spread of certain diseases.

Now you are aware of the general mulching practices. And by keeping these tips for mulching in mind, you can go about the right method of mulching around trees. So, start mulching around your garden and enjoy the benefits of mulching.

With This Information On What Is Deforestation

Luxuriant forests are not just a dwelling place for the birds or the arboreal inhabitants, but, they are important for the survival of living entities too. Starting from small plants to the astonishingly large trees, each play their part in absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen for life survival. You might have heard about deforestation in the Amazon. The Amazon, once known for its thick vegetation and rich biodiversity is now facing problem for loss of biodiversity, just because of deforestation. The following paragraphs will highlight on what is deforestation and its related impacts on the environment.

What is Deforestation: An Overview

Deforestation is an unavoidable environmental issue that requires immediate attention. It is the practice of chopping down trees to such an extent that the global climate is slowly undergoing changes. As per environment conservation reports, the annual rate of deforestation in the US is very high, ranking seventh in the global list of primary forest loss. For better understanding on what is deforestation, refer to the following points.

Deforestation Causes
Everyone of us are familiar with the negative deforestation effects. But, why does deforestation happen? The main causes of deforestation are related to increased population and urbanization; while a few are natural, like forest fire and acid rain. Some common reasons for cutting trees are providing room for developmental projects, agriculture, animal grazing and residential homes. Also, trees are cut down for mining, oil extraction, lumber, paper industry and fuels.

Impact of Deforestation
The major impacts of deforestation are soil erosion, disturbance in water cycle, loss of habitat, reduced biodiversity, flood, drought and climate change. A drastic change in the climate is also responsible for increasing deforestation. This happens when the trees and vegetation in the area cannot cope up with the prevailing environmental conditions. No wonder, the number of endangered species is increased day by day.

Deforestation and Global Warming
Speaking more about what is deforestation, global warming and deforestation are directly linked to each other. With the rapid declining rate of forest, there are lesser trees for absorption of greenhouse gases (GHGs) (especially carbon dioxide). With significant increase of greenhouse gas in the environment, there is increase in the amount of heat trapped by GHG. The outcomes are raised in seasonal temperature and global warming.

Deforestation Facts
As far as facts about deforestation are concerned, much of the forest destruction occurred during the period 1960-1990. Believe it or not, the total rainforest of Brazil (Atlantic coast) is reduced by about 90-95 percent. Other areas which share the same statistics are Madagascar and Philippines. If the rate of deforestation continues in the same pace as it is today, the rainforests will be cleared completely within the next 100 years.

Deforestation Statistics
Though the loss of primary forest is a concern for every state, the problems of deforestation vary from one place to another. With reference to deforestation statistics, the rate of forest destruction is highest in regions of South America, Central Africa and Southeast Asia. On an average, 60 hectares of rainforest are cut down per minute, which accounts to lost of 86,000 hectares per day.

Deforestation Prevention
Regarding deforestation solutions, the practical implementation of purported strategies requires collective effort of all responsible citizens. Every state should have stringent legislation concerning cutting of trees, forest management, reforestation, commercial growing of forest and so on. Illegal logging, infrastructure development and mining should be kept under control.

With this information on what is deforestation, I hope you are clear with your doubts regarding the causes and effects of deforestation. So, in order to increase existing forest areas, every responsible citizen should make an effort to grow more trees (reforestation) in the coming years. This man-made forest will not be as sound as the natural forest cover, but it definitely helps in conserving the biodiversity and regulating the environmental conditions to some extent.

Get Close To The Nature-Hulun Buir Grassland

Hulun Buir Grassland, located in China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, is found to the west of Great Khingan and famous for the Hulun Nur and Buir Nur areas. The terrain is high in the east and lower in the west, the elevation is 650-700 meters and total area is about 93,000 square meters. The annual average temperature is about 0℃, frost-free period is 85-155 days, and annual precipitation is about 250-350 millimeters. Here the locals grow spring wheat, potatoes, and a small quantity of vegetables.

The floodlands grow meadows with plump grass yielding 200-300 kg per acre. This traditional grazing land, which is suited for raising cattle, sheep and horses is famous for Sanhe cattle and horses. Since 1958, a number of large mechanized state farms have been continuously established to engage in agricultural reclamation. Some of the naturally occurring phenomena include: large sandlots in the central and south of Hulun Buir Grassland, precious forest resources due to unique steppification and the Mongolian pine forests. To meet transportation needs, the Binzhou Railway goes across the grassland.

East Hulun Buir Grassland is adorned with hundreds of silver chains and numerous pearls. The rivers and lakes originating from the Greater Xing’an Mountain that ranges across eastern Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang Province. Rivers in Hulun Buir share one feature. They all dash down the mountains when they get to the flat terrain; they become mild and take their time meandering through the meadows.

The Mergel Gol River is said to have 'the most bends on earth', but the Yimin River, which runs from Ewenki Banner into the city of Hailar, has even more bends. Yimin River forms a pattern of tortuous ribbons. The flat terrain enables the rivers to linger on as long as they wish, nurturing the land on both banks and supporting the numerous flocks and herds of Hulun Buir.

The Hulun Nur (Nur means lake in Monglian), on the Orxon Gol River, is the fifth largest freshwater lake in China. Covering 2,339 sq kilometers, the lake is also referred to by the Mongols as a 'Dalai' (sea). Also on the Orxon Gol River but upstream in the south is Buir Nur, the boundary lake between China and Mongolia. When spring comes, shoals of fish in the Buir Nur will swim downstream along the Orxon Gol River to lay their eggs in the Hulun Nur. Between the two lakes is the Dalai Lake Nature Reserve.

Situated near Hulun Buir City, this land is one of the world's three top grasslands - experts all tend to agree that there is none better than it though. It is the lifeblood of Mongolia and is the primary cattle-producing area in ae country famous for its livestock quality. There are also thousands of large and small lakes within the border of Inner Mongolia. The grassland itself is a boundless prairie full of vast green waves. When a gentle breeze stirs the grassland, sheep flocks interspersed as the passing cloud and flying catkins venture on their way... The landscape is so beautiful and the carefree feeling that accompanies you as you visit here is like nothing else in China.

Hulun Buir Grassland is famous for the following three reasons: first is the legend surrounding former mogul Genghis Khan. Secondly is the fact that grass yielded from the high-quality meadow always fetches a good price in Southeast Asia and thirdly, the Sanhe Horses and Sanhe Cattle are famous world-wide.

Spruce Trees Have Been A Subject Of Fascination For Mankind

Spruce trees are coniferous trees, of the Picea genus, found in the northern temperate and taiga regions of the planet. They are predominantly characterized by their whorled branches and conical shape. Spruce trees have several uses, ranging from use of its wood in several musical instruments, to the use of some species as a Christmas tree during the Yuletide season.

Although the first thing that comes to our mind when we hear the word 'spruce' is Christmas tree, not many people are aware of the various facts about spruce trees. These facts include their fast paced growth, different varieties, usage, etc. Let's take a look at some facts about these coniferous trees.

Spruce Trees Growth: One of the most fascinating spruce trees facts is their growth. The average growth rate of these conifers is 6 to 11 inches per year. However, Sitka spruce, Norway spruce, and Colorado blue spruce are known as the fast growing spruce species. The Sitka spruce can attain a growth rate of approximately 60 inches per year, and grow up to a height of 160 to 220 feet in its lifetime. Norway spruce has a growth rate of 30 inches per year, while Colorado blue spruce has a growth rate of 13 inches. Some species of spruce trees can even grow up to 20 feet in width. These trees are popular choices when it comes to tree houses for kids.

Spruce Trees Varieties: There are thirty-five varieties of spruce trees found all over the world. From this, seven varieties of the spruce family are found in North America. These are

• Black Spruce (Picea mariana)
• Colorado Spruce (Picea pungens)
• Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens var. glauca)
• Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
• Serbian Spruce (Picea omorika)
• Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis)
• White Spruce (Picea glauca)

The entire lot of thirty-five varieties of spruce trees are categorized into 5 groups - Clade I, Clade II, Clade III, Clade IV and Clade V.

Spruce Trees Diseases and Insects: Spruce trees are vulnerable to a disease known as the Rhizosphaera needlecast, wherein the tree experiences premature needlecast i.e. fall of needle like leaves. These coniferous trees are also home to several insects, prominent ones being

• Cooley Spruce Gall Adelgid
• Spruce Spider Mite
• Eastern Spruce Gall Adelgid
• Douglas-fir Tussock Moth
• Cytospora Canker Spruce
• Needle Miner
• Spruce Budworm

Other than this, spruce trees also face problems such as salt injury, wherein the branches start getting damaged starting from below, and frost injury, wherein the late spring frost damages the tender new growth.

Mind-boggling Spruce Tree Facts

If these general facts about spruce trees weren't enough, here are some more spruce tree facts which are bound to leave you in awe.

• The word 'spruce' in English language is derived from the French word 'Pruce' meaning Prussia, from where spruce trees are believed to have originated.
• In order to quench their thirst, early American Indians used to chew the frankincense, a gum like resin, that formed on spruce tree bark when it was cut.
• A cluster of Norway spruce growing in the mountains of western Sweden are claimed to be the oldest known living trees with an age 9,550 years.
• The spruce trees are the loftiest among the European trees. They can reach heights of 125 to 150 feet, at times even 180 feet, and sport a tapering stem with an average diameter of around 6 feet.
• The Norwegian people gave the Norway spruce as a token of appreciation of British friendship during the World War II.

Spruce trees have been a subject of fascination for mankind since a long time. The above mentioned spruce tree facts would no doubt contribute to the popularity of these coniferous tree species.

Lavender Plants Can Be A Great Addition To Your Garden

Lavender belonging to the genus "Lavandula" is an extremely beautiful flower that tempts every gardener to cultivate and fall in love with it. Lavandula constitutes nearly thirty species of plants belonging to mint family. In this article, we will be discussing the different lavender plant varieties that have attracted gardeners for ages. This plant is a resident of Mediterranean. It can survive in rock, dry and sunny habitat. This plant is naturally resistant to pest and is also drought tolerant. The beautiful and useful lavender herb plants have a quality of attracting insects that are beneficial and lures beautiful butterflies, like other herbs. Apart from being widely known for its beautiful blooms and fragrance it is also famous for its medicinal qualities. The soothing fragrance of lavender flower also makes it an excellent essential oil. Since the Victorian age, its fragrance is known as a symbol of purity and piousness. Lavender was known as "herb of love" in the middle age. Like many Lavender benefits, there are many Lavender plant varieties as well. If we talk about cultivation of lavender, growing Lavender from seeds is quite difficult, but inexpensive. This plant blooms in different shapes and colors all over the world in various climatic conditions.

Lavender plants are a favorite among gardeners for the heavenly smell of their attractive flowers. Lavender flowers can give a truly beautiful look to a landscape or a garden. Lavender or lavendula is actually a genus of mostly perennial flowering plants, which are native to the Mediterranean region, India and tropical Africa. Some lavender species are herbaceous plants, while a few fall into the category of shrubs and subshrubs. Lavender is a member of the mint family. There are around 39 species of flowering plants that belong to the genus lavender.

Plant Description
Most of the members of the genus, lavender are perennial herbs. These plants can be distinguished by their upright and erect stem and shoots. The leaves of lavender plants are usually silvery green in color and they can be entire or pinnate, depending on the particular species or types. There are three main types of lavender plants, true or English lavender, Spanish lavender and French lavender. The true or English lavender is hardy to zones 5 to 8, and it bears deep purple colored flowers, while its leaves are quite narrow.

On the other hand, Spanish lavender is hardy to zones 8 to 10, and its leaves are dark green in color. The shape of the flowers of Spanish lavender resemble a pineapple, and they are usually purple or white in color. French lavender plants are hardy to zones 5 to 8, and they usually bear light purple colored flowers, while their leaves are serrated and gray in color. Lavender plants usually bear flowers in whorls, and they form a spike above the foliage at the top of the slender stalk. The color of the flowers usually range from blue, violet to lilac and dark purple. The flowers of certain species of lavender plants are used to extract an essential oil, known as the lavender oil.

Lavender Plant Care
Lavender plants are one of the few flowering plants, that require minimal care and maintenance. They can be grown from seeds and seedlings. There are several types of lavender plants. So, you will find many varieties of lavender plants for sale. But, be sure to select a variety that is suitable for planting in the climatic conditions of your area. In general, lavender plant can tolerate and thrive in a wide range of growing conditions. They need at least 7 to 8 hours of sunlight. They usually prefer loose and well-drained, alkaline soil. Learn more about growing lavender and growing lavender from seeds.

While planting a lavender plant, do not forget to add some compost to the planting hole. Generally, lavender plants are first grown in a pot or containers, and then shifted to well-worked soil. Dampness is one of the important factors that can impede the growth lavender plant. Therefore, it is advisable to leave some space among the plants, so as to ensure proper air circulation. Lavender plants produce better blooms in warm climates. Therefore, many gardeners prefer to apply a layer of sand around the plant, so as to promote heat retention. This in turn, encourages the growth of more fragrant flowers. Know more about growing lavender in containers.

Next to soil type, the two most important aspect of lavender plant care are watering and pruning. Lavender is a drought resistant plant and so, it requires minimal watering, once it establishes itself firmly. However, the young plants would require watering at regular intervals, especially during the first growing season. After the plant develops a strong root system, it would require watering only in the dry season, and in extremely hot conditions. As far as lavender plants pruning is concerned, spring is the ideal time for doing this. Pruning lavender plants is very simple. All you have to do is to keep harvesting the flowers. At the end of the flowering season, just prune back the plants by a few inches. The taller plants can be however, pruned back to about one third of their height. Also, cut back the foliage by about one third. Before pruning a lavender plant in spring, wait for the new growth to appear. When the new growth appears, leave it undisturbed for about a month, after which cut back half of the new foliage.

This is how you can grow and maintain lavender plants in your flower garden or landscape. Gardeners prefer to grow these ornamental plants to create low hedges and borders. But, they are also excellent for growing in a rock garden and cottage garden. Apart from these, you can put it to so many uses. Lavender spikes can be used for dried flower arrangement, while the flowers can be added to salads and used for cooking. You can include the dried flowers in sachets and keep them in the closets and drawers to repel moth and other insects, and also to give your clothing a fresh smell. Thus lavender plants can be used in numerous ways and so, they can be a great addition to your garden.

Beautiful Spring Flowers Are In Full Bloom

Some flowers grow in spring whereas some of the beautiful blossoms are seen during fall. Seasons come and go, but every season has its own set of characteristic floral blooms that mark the advent of these season. Spring flowers are the basically the flowers that bloom in spring and these can be categorized as early spring flowers and late spring flowers depending on the time of flowering. Here is a list of different types of spring flowers and some interesting facts and information about them.

Early spring flowers include buttercup anemones, irises, eastern redbuds and many other flowers. Other popular early spring flowers include, Ghostflower, Snowdrop, Lesser celandine, Field Wood-rush and Contra Costa goldfields.

Yellow Anemone (Anemone ranunculoides): This spring flower also known as the yellow wood anemone or buttercup anemone, is a species of a herbaceous perennial plant. It grows in forests across most of Continental Europe, and rarely in the Mediterranean region. Yellow anemone flowers between March and May. The flowers of this plant are about 1.5 cm diameter and have five to eight rich yellow colored petal-like segments.

Early Star-of-Bethlehem (Gagea bohemica): Also known as the Welsch Star of Bethlehem or the Radnor Lily, this spring flowering plant in the genus Gagea of the family Liliaceae. It is found in the Mediterranean region, central Europe and in some parts of France and Germany. The flowers are seen from January to March or April. There are around four flowers on each plant and the flowers are yellow and have six petals and are about 1½ cm in diameter.

Iris: Iris is a genus, which includes as many as 200 to300 species of flowering plants with colorful flowers. There exist a wide variety of Iris flowers, which are found in various parts of the world. Iris is the state flower of Tennessee. Irises are extensively grown as ornamental plants in gardens.

Eastern Redbud (Cercis Canadensis): It is a large shrub or small tree which is native to eastern North America. The flowers are seen in April or May. The flowers are papilionaceous and rose colored. There are five petals in which the upper petal is the smallest and is enclosed in the bud by the wings and encircled by the broader petals. These flowers are borne in groups of four to eight together.

Types of Spring Flowers: Late Spring Flowers

Late spring flowers include several flowers like mountain laurels, spring snowflakes, bloodroots and sweet crabapple flowers. Some of the other popular late spring flowers include chestnut oak flowers and Carolina Silver bells.

Mountain-laurel (Kalmia latifolia): this spring flower is also known as Spoonwood and is a flowering plant that belongs to the family Ericaceae. These flowers are native to the eastern United States. The flowers of Mountain - laurel bloom between May and June and are star-shaped and appear in clusters. The flower colors range from red to pink to white. It blooms between May and June. This spring flower is also known as Ivy bush or Calico Bush, Sheep Laurel, Lambkill and Clamoun. All parts of the plant are poisonous. This is the state flower of Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

Spring Snowflake (Leucojum vernum): The snowflakes are native to southern Europe but they have been introduced and have naturalized in other locations like the east coast of North America. The snowflake flowers are small and bell-shaped, white with a green spot at the end of each petal. The flowers are seen from March to May and have a slight yet distinctive fragrance.

Sweet crabapple (Malus coronaria): This spring flower is native to north America. The flowers appear around May or June. The flowers are rose-colored, fragrant and are borne in five or six-flowered umbels. The calyx of the flowers is urn-shaped, five lobed and slender. There are five round petals, which have long narrow claws and show a crenulated margin.

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria Canadensis): This spring flower is native to eastern North America from Nova Scotia, Canada southward to Florida. The bloodroot flowers are produced from March to May. The flowers appear over clasping leaves while blooming and have 8-12 delicate white petals and yellow reproductive parts. Bees and flies pollinate the bloodroot flowers. The seeds develop in elongated green pods and ripen before the foliage goes dormant.

All the different types of spring flowers are a source of great joy during spring. Spring flowers truly make the spring season a picturesque time of the year, when the nature spreads her lovely colors in every bloom and peta as we stare in awe and marvel at the beauty of the spring flowers.

Beautiful Rivers In Spain For Nature Lovers

Apart from the mountains, the parks and the beautiful beaches and landscapes, Spain has a variety of rivers that are interestingly beautiful. The rivers complete the beautiful natural landscapes of this second largest tourist destination. The river banks act as very good spots for picnicking, soul searching or just for experiencing peace and quiet for nature lovers.

River Tajo

This is the longest river in Spain and begins its course in Madrid's eastern mountains. This beautiful and important river is also referred to as Tagus and it cuts across Toledo, central Spain, up to the border of Portugal and Spain. From here, it continues its course to Portugal and into the Atlantic Ocean. Tajo River is very important, as its water is the main power source of Spain. Reservoirs and dams have been built for hydroelectricity production. This attracts people who want to see the generation of power.

The beauty of the river is the deep gorges it has and the various beautiful waterfalls that it creates on its course. It stretches 625 miles with Jarama and Alagon as its tributaries.

River Ebro

Marking 565 miles in length, this river is considered to be Spain's most voluminous. Its course starts in Fontibre, flowing through Logrono, Miranda de Ebro, Zaragoza and Catalonia. It drains at Tarragona into the Mediterranean Sea. The significance of the river is the fact that it was the Northern Roman and Southern Carthaginian division point, which holds an important historic period.

Cultivation of rice, vegetables and citrus is done on the river's wetland area, in Tarragona, where Ebro Delta is found. This land is exquisite and beautiful.

River Guadiana

This river forms part of Spain Portugal border, as it flows through Spain's south central area and Portugal's south eastern area. The river's course begins from Cuenca province mountains, through Damiel marshy areas, then cuts westward through Toledo Mountains gorges. Hydroelectric power is also generated from this river, although not much.

These are some of the most beautiful and significant rivers in Spain that are worth checking out. They form very beautiful and attractive landscapes, some of which are breathtaking. Bridges found on some of these rivers are good spots for taking beautiful pictures that will forever hold the beautiful memories of Spain.

It is always a good thing to explore as much as possible, when touring in any part of the world, unlike reserving oneself to the major areas of attraction alone.

Hottest And The Largest Desert Of Sahara

The Sahara desert, reputed to be the hottest and the largest desert in the world, is a place full of challenges due to its extreme climate. Here are some interesting Sahara desert facts to brief you about some details associated with this enigmatic land. Long endless miles of sand dunes and scorching heat, this is probably the image one has in mind when one thinks about deserts. The desert is known to offer many challenges for those who wish to live life on the wild side, however, in the recent times, many aspects have changed about the same.

The Sahara desert is one of nature's wonders and has always mystified people with its vast stretches of sand. This desert is also home to a variety of plants and animals naturally equipped to handle the extremities of this area. These Sahara desert facts will brief you about many such interesting details about this very amazing place! Sahara Desert Facts: The Sahara desert covers around 9,000,000 square kilometers and the overall area is as large as the continental United States.

The Sahara desert also has the reputation of being the world's largest hot desert! The landforms in this desert often undergo constant change. These landforms are shaped as per the direction of the wind and the occasional rainfalls. Although being a desert area, one can notice annual rainfall in many regions of this vast land area. There are different climates witnessed in different regions such as the subtropical climate in the northern land whereas a tropical climate in the southern area. Over the years, the climate of the Sahara desert has undergone humungous changes. This desert therefore, is known for its harsh climates so typical of all deserts! This hot desert has annual temperatures that can exceed 30 degrees C. Some of the hottest months have temperatures exceeding 50 degrees C.

 In the winters, the temperatures drop below freezing points. This itself explains the diverse climates of this hot desert. Studies have revealed the changing size of the Sahara desert! Observations made with the help of satellite photographs have proven this desert can shrink or even grow. The Sahara desert is home to quite a few species of animals. Camels and goats are the only ones amongst the domesticated animals one may see out here. Apart from these, the Saharan cheetah, the sand vipers, scorpions and monitor lizards can be found out here. This desert has some of the tallest sand dunes and these can reach 189 meters in height. The land area also has stone plateaus, large gravel plains, dry valleys and even sand flats.

The Sahara desert has around 500 species of flora. These consist of mainly ephemeral plants known locally as Acheb. At some oases, close to the Nile Valley, one can find olive trees growing out here. Vegetation is found in areas where the ground water reaches the surface of the land. This place has mainly nomadic groups of people that move from place to place. Nomads wear a particular headdress known as Howli. These people are mainly engaged in trading and hunting. The low population is due to the rather difficult conditions seen in the Sahara desert. The Sahara desert stretches over areas of Northern Africa, from the Red Sea to the areas close to the outskirts of the Atlantic Ocean.

This desert shares it boundaries with the Atlas Mountains, the Mediterranean Sea, Egypt, Sudan and valley of the Niger River. Emi Koussi is the highest peak that is seen in the Tibesti Mountains. This peak has a height of 3415 m. Farming is being practiced in certain areas of the Sahara desert with the help of drought-resistant plants. Some areas of this land have been transformed in order to prevent soil erosion. This mysterious and vast place also has some of the most magnificent landscapes and despite harsh weather, it has attracted people to study details associated with the Sahara desert. This desert is more than a hot and dry place, it is one of the most remarkable areas known to man!