The Great Barrier Reef- Australia

One of the natural wonders of the world, the Great Barrier Reef off the east coast of Australia is the world’s largest coral reef. It has the distinction of being placed in the World Heritage as well as the National Heritage lists.With more than 600 islands and coral cays, the reef covers more than 300,000 sq. km. Corals make up the reefs and cays and are responsible for a huge variety of sea life in the reef — green turtles, several varieties of whales and dolphins, the dugong, about 4000 types of mollusks, 1500 different species of fish, as well as beautifully colored bird life encompassing at least 200 species. The Great Reef Marine Park is a huge tourist attraction with millions of tourists visiting the area each year. Sporting activities include reef sailing, scuba diving, and snorkeling, amongst others.

Skardu Valley – Pakistan

Skardu Valley is part of the Baltistan. Baltistan is spread over an area of 26,000 square kilometres – just right below the jagged and glaciated ramparts of the Karakoram. Once part of Laddakh, it was known as Tibet-i-Khurd – Little Tibet. Archaeological exploration has proven that it was encompassed by the Silk Trade Route.

Pamukkale“castle-Turkey

 

Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, is a natural site and attraction in southwest Turkey in the province of Denizli. Pamukkale is located in the interior of Turkey in the Aegean region, in the Menderes valley, which enjoys a temperate climate most of the year.The ancient city of Hierapolis was built on top of the white “castle”, which in total is 2,700 meters long and 160 m in height. It can be seen from the hills on the opposite side of the valley in the city of Denizli, 20 km away.
 The tectonic movements that took place in the fault depression of the Menderes river basin triggered frequent earthquakes, and gave rise to a number of very hot springs. The water of these springs, with its large mineral content, chalk in particular created Pamukkale. Apart from some radioactive material, the water contains large amounts of bicarbonate and calcium, which leads to precipitation of calcium bi-carbonate.
Every second 250 liters of hot water emerges from this spring, precipitating 2.20 grams of lime per liter of chalk or 0.55 kilograms per second. Over time, some sources dried up because of earthquakes, while new ones emerged in the area.
The effect of this natural phenomenon has left thick white layers of limestone and travertine cascading down the mountain slope resembling a frozen waterfall. One type of these formations is travertine terraces formed by crescent-shaped with a surface layer of water, lying in a staggered arrangement of the upper third of the slope, with steps ranging from 1 million to 6 feet high. The other way is to stalactites, propping up and connecting these terraces.
The oldest of these rocks is crystalline marble, quartzite and schist. These date back to the Pliocene period, while the upper layer belongs to the Quaternary. new deposits of calcium carbonate give the site a dazzling white appearance.

Statue of Liberty in New York-America

The Statue of Liberty in New York is a gift from the people of France to the US to commemorate the friendship between two countries. It represents a woman wearing a stola and carrying a torch in her raised right hand and a tabula ansata tablet.

Fingal's Cave-Scotland

Fingal's Cave, on the island of Staffa off the west coast of Scotland (near Mull and Iona), is a sea cave formed within Tertiary basalt lava flows which have cooled to form hexagonal columns (like those of the Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland). There is a path in on one side which involves stepping from the top of one column to the next. The cave stretches 250 feet in to the rock and its roof is 70 feet above the sea. Fingal's cave was the inspriration for Mendelssohn's Hebridean overture.The cave has a large arched entrance and is filled by the sea; however, boats cannot enter.