The world's most colourful landscapes

The Wave, Arizona

The colourful sandstone rock formation in the Coyote Buttes North Area of the US state features a pattern of beautiful curves and dates back to the Jurassic age.

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

The world's largest salt flat, formed from several prehistoric lakes, is laid out over a source of brine which contains nearly half of the world's lithium reserves.

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Northern Lights

Elusive and ethereal, the Northern Lights are one of the great, timeless thrills of travel, a beautiful, shifting dance of nocturnal rainbows that many viewers find a humbling and spiritually uplifting experience. They occur most commonly in the Arctic region, and in recent years the chance of enjoying the spectacle has become a prime reason to fly north for a winter break, writes Telegraph Travel's Nigel Tisdall.

The Northern Lights: Trip of a Lifetime

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Caño Cristales, Colombia

This river, famous for its red-coloured underwater plants in the remote La Macarena National Park, is a good illustration of locals taking a hand in tourism. A local community, formerly controlled by FARC, a revolutionary guerrilla organisation, now manages the river and Colombian tourists are already coming to explore an area they had only previously read about in newspapers, writes Chris Moss, Telegraph Travel's Colombia expert.

Colombia travel guide

Picture: Alamy

Keukenhof, Netherlands

Set in the heart of the Netherlands’ prime bulb region south-west of Amsterdam, the Keukenhof claims to be the most beautiful spring garden in the world. Artistically presented across its 79 acres are arcs and curves, lines and strips of tulips, narcissi and hyacinths in unnaturally vivid colours, interspersed by reflective ponds and whimsical sculptures, writes Telegraph Travel's Fred Mawer.

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Rice terraces, Vietnam

The rice paddies in Vietnam form one of the most striking green landscapes in the world. The country is the second largest exporter of rice in the world.

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Quebrada de Humahuaca, Argentina

This Unesco World Heritage site is set in the Jujuy province of north-west Argentina. The region has been populated for at least 10,000 years. The Rio Grande river runs through the valley during the summer.

Picture: Alamy

Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming

Stretching 250ft by 380ft, the Grand Prismatic is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone National Park and the third largest in the world. Set in the Midway Geyser Basin, green algae forms its inner circle, followed by a yellow rim that fades to orange and red on its outermost border.

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Dallol, Ethiopia

At Dallol, in the Denakil Depression, Africa dips to a depth of 116m below sea level, and the temperature soars. Dallol has the highest average air temperature in the world, calculated at 34.4°C. Head across the salt plain to the Dallol volcano, the lowest on earth, if that's not hot enough for you.

Picture: Alamy

Chocolate Hills, Philippines

Bohol Island's 1,200 or so Chocolate Hills are a bit like giant Maltesers melted across a huge tray – which makes this attraction a mouth-watering prospect for those legions among us with a weakness in that direction. Pleasantly unusual to behold rather than stunning, these unique mounds of limestone vary in height, up to nearly 400 feet. To savour the hills at their tastiest, go in the summer (January to May) when they’ve dried out to brown, writes Telegraph Travel's Steve Lunt.

Philippines: an introductory guide

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Rated as one of the seven wonders of the natural world, this World Heritage Site stretches for 2,300 kilometres (1,430 miles) along the Queensland coast – from Bundaberg to the Torres Strait. In addition to being the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem, it is also the planet’s largest protected marine area, supporting 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusc, writes Mark Chipperfiled. Telegraph Travel's Australia expert.

The Great Barrier Reef: Trip of a Lifetime

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Mendenhall Glacier cave, Alaska

These caves have icy walls in varying depths of blue, that shimmer as meltwater seeps over them. There are several caves within the glacier, some that can be reached on a trek, others that are much harder to get to.

Alaska cruise guide

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Antelope Canyon, Arizona

The mouth of the upper Antelope Canyon is one of the most popular and accessible slot canyons in the south-western United States, writes Telegraph Travel's Jolyon Attwooll, who visited the area where Danny Boyle's 127 Hours film was shot.

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Okama, Japan

This crater lake at the centre of Mount Zao in Honshu, the largest and most populous island of Japan, is surrounded by three mountain ranges - the Kattadake, Kumanodake and Goshikidake.

Picture: Alamy

Lavender fields, Provence

Bright-striped lavender fields are one of Provence's key sights in the summer, before the harvest. The ripples of colour mark out the contours of the region's gently undulating hills and are much photographed by eager tourists.

Provence travel guide

Picture: Fotolia/AP

Fly Geyser, Nevada

This geyser is said to have been "accidentally" created as a result of well drillings which took place nearby in the mid-Sixties, which caused the build-up and eruption of dissolved minerals. Its colours come from thermophilic algae which thrive in high temperatures.

Picture: Alamy

Lake Natron, Tanzania

This salt and soda lake looks like something you might expect to see on the planet Mars. A blaze of cracked magenta, the lake is deadly and calcifies any animals that have the misfortune to take a dip in its fiery shores.

Picture: Alamy

Kelimutu craters in Flores, Indonesia

Local legend holds that at least one of these three lakes is inhabited by evil spirits and, when they can turn as dark as an inkwell, you can see why. Each crater lake changes colour and in the past they have been variously brown, red, turquoise and blue.

Picture: Alamy

Shubazakura Hill, Japan

Set in Hitsujiyama Park overlooking the city of Chichibu, around 400,000 pink moss flowers come to bloom between April and May on this hill spanning 17,600 square metres. Nearly 1,000 cherry trees also blossom in April.

Picture: Alamy

Verdon Gorge, Provence

The Gorge du Verdon, France's answer to the Grand Canyon, plunges 1,000ft to the emerald-green river below. Just across the breathtaking void is La Palud-sur-Verdon, the rugged highland village in which we began our tour of the region known as La Provence Verte, writes Telegraph Travel's Ray Kershaw.

Provence travel guide

Picture: Fotolia/AP

By Telegraph

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Son Doong Cave: A top 10 lifetime trip

When caught with a case of wanderlust, Viet Nam’s Son Doong Cave is one of the few particular places that stand out among the crowd on this beautiful planet, the Huffington Post said on its website. 

Until about six years ago, nobody had EVER explored Son Doong Cave, the world’s largest by most counts - but now it is one of the top 10 trips on our ultimate shortlist of places we’d absolutely love to see, the website added.

Located approximately 500km south of Ha Noi, the cave is more than 200m wide, 150m high and about 9km long. It houses a jungle and a river and could fit a 40-storey skyscraper within its walls.

Source: VOV

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10 romantic destinations you should know about

Paris is romantic -Everybody knows that. But it doesn't have a trademark on the term, and it's certainly not the only destination out there rousing amorous couples into expressing their love.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we've put together a list of 10 little-known spots that are equally dreamy.

Be it a combination of food, wine and a hot tub, a mix of sun, sand and serenity or a pairing of cobblestone streets with colonial facades, each of these destinations presents an alluring backdrop to set the mood for couples.

Udaipur (India)

What's the first place that comes to mind when you hear the word "romance"?

Chances are it isn't India, but the Rajasthan oasis of Udaipur could shatter any preconceived notions about the subcontinent.

Appearing like a mirage on the edge of the Thar Desert, Udaipur is treasure of flamboyant palaces, majestic forts and streets brimming with jewelers and craftsmen.

There are plenty of characters, too.

Men like their mustaches long enough to twirl, women like their saris bright enough to blind and musicians sing their gypsy ballads with enough raw passion to break hearts.

After basking in the Rajput-era opulence along Lake Pichola, it's easy to see why Udaipur is considered one of the most romantic spots in all of Asia.

Waiheke Island (New Zealand)

Waiheke's Delamore Lodge offers stunning views over Owhaneke Bay.

Auckland may be on the horizon, but laid back Waiheke feels miles away from New Zealand's biggest city with its secluded bush walks, sheltered beaches and emerald, boat-bobbing bays.

Add to the mix two dozen boutique wineries where afternoons can be swirled, sniffed and sipped away, and it's possible to see why an increasing number of vacationers are bypassing Auckland altogether for the 30-minute ferry ride across the Hauraki Gulf to this island paradise.

Waiheke is the kind of place where urban multimillionaires mingle with hippie fishermen, where quirky art galleries elbow for prime real estate next to trendy seafood haunts with city-to-sea views.

Cafayate (Argentina)

Cafayate is a scenic tour de force of dramatic pre-Andean peaks, romantic hilltop estancias and seductive street-side cafes.

It also doubles as Argentina's second wine center after Mendoza.

Whereas Mendoza is the big bold land of Malbec, Cafayate is a region dominated by the aromatic Torrontes, a white wine grape that grows exceptionally well in the cold and windswept Calchaquies Valley.

At this Andean anomaly you can sit with a glass of wine among the vines and stare out at a multicolored mountain-scape of twisted sedimentary strata that looks, at least to tipsy eyes, as if it was crafted by an abstract expressionist.

Hoi An (Vietnam)

Widely regarded as the culinary capital of the Vietnam, Hoi An's signature dishes are seldom seen outside of the region, and owe their complexity to centuries of trade in and out of what was one of Southeast Asia's most important ports.

Take cao lau. This culinary globetrotter is a textural puzzle of thick rice noodles resting in a light broth, topped with pork, mint, basil, peanuts, lettuce, sprouts and a pile of croutons.

For a foodie couple on a tight budget, there are few places in the world that can pack such a culinary punch at such a low price in such an absorbing environment.

Quirimbas Islands (Mozambique)

Anantara Medjumbe Island Resort sits on a tiny island in the Quirimbas Archipelago.

Move over Seychelles and Mauritius, there's a newcomer to the world of high-end Indian Ocean resorts.

The Quirimbas Islands off the northeastern coast of Mozambique aren't much more than a collection of bone-white dollops of sand jutting out of a turquoise sea, but now that they're dotted with lavish, beachside digs they're fast becoming one of Africa's top getaways for diving, birding or simply lounging.

Much of the 32-island archipelago is protected as part of the Quirimbas National Park, keeping development at bay and the views unadulterated.

If couples are seeking an escape from the crowds -- not to mention the trappings of the 21st century - this is the place.

Middleburg, Virginia (United States)

Virginia may be known for its historic battlefields, rolling hills and politically minded Washington commuters, but in recent years the Old Dominion State has grown a reputation for something altogether different: fine wine.

Virginia has blossomed from a place with just 64 wineries at the turn of the 21st century to one with 250 and growing, making it the fifth-largest wine producing state in the United States.

The 18th-century village of Middleburg, one hour west of the nation's capital, lies in the nucleus of this thriving industry and makes an ideal base from which to soak up the area's old world elegance and down-home country charm.

It's the kind of place where fox hunters rub shoulders with equestrians and couples meander from heritage B&Bs along shop-lined streets into a bucolic countryside of white picket fences, undulating vines and barn-chic wineries.

Middleburg is refined without being stuffy, historic without being antiquated and an impossibly romantic getaway little known outside of the Beltway.

Mostar (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

The Old Bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

There was nothing romantic about Mostar two decades ago when it was a bombed-out battleground of the Bosnian War.

However, this medieval city has bounced back to its prewar glory thanks to $15 million in UNESCO and World Bank funding and more than a decade of meticulous restoration.

Mostar's revived Old Bridge Area (Stari Most) epitomizes the city's kaleidoscope of cultures and ideas with its pre-Ottoman, Eastern Ottoman, Mediterranean and Western European architectural features.

The bridge itself is something of a symbol of reconciliation and ethnic harmony in the Balkans -- not to mention the heart and soul of an enchanting old town known for its cobblestone streets, colorful shops and multi-ethnic restaurants clambering for space along the banks of the turquoise Neretva River.

Mostar's battle scars remain in plain sight, but if the constant stream of lovers on Stari Most is any indication, its history-imbued streets remain undeniably alluring.

Peter Island (British Virgin Islands)

Who doesn't dream about having their own private island with crystalline waters and sugary crescents of shady palm-lined sand?

That, in essence, is what's on offer at Peter Island, a private resort and spa within the paradisaical puzzle that is the British Virgin Islands.

With one marina, two recreation areas, three room types, four dining options, five beaches and innumerable opportunities for sailing, snorkeling or scuba diving, you can easily do a little bit of everything or a whole lot of nothing on this 1,800-acre tropical hideaway.

For indulgence, quietude and exclusivity, it's hard to find a more majestic Eden.

Vernazza (Italy)

Vernazza is one of the five fishing villages that make up the Cinque Terre.

Picture a quintessential Mediterranean harbor town of cobblestone streets and cliff-clinging casas, encase it in terraced olive groves and plop a medieval castle on top of it all and you can begin to envision Vernazza, a pint-sized gem of the Italian Riviera where the diet -- wine, pesto, focaccia, antipasto -- is as agreeable as the seaside views.

Vernazza is but one of five fishing villages collectively known as Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating to the 11th century.

The Sentiero Azzurro (blue trail) links each of these car-free havens along a rugged coastal path that includes a famous stretch known as Via dell' Amore (Lovers Lane), located between the postcard-perfect villages of Riomaggiore and Manarola.

This is the place to pack a picnic lunch, take a hike through the hill-hugging vineyards and let the landscape set the mood.

Galle (Sri Lanka)

Streets imbued with history? Check.

Fine art, inspiring cuisine and luxurious lodgings at bargain basement prices? Check, check and check.

In Galle, crumbling Dutch-colonial buildings house fusion restaurants and fragrant spice shops fight for tourist dollars alongside breezy galleries of ethnic-inspired art.

Located in the heart of a perfectly preserved hexagonal stone fort and within eyeshot of a serene stretch of sand, Sri Lanka's whimsical southern charmer ticks all the boxes on romantic travel checklists

By CNN

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9 Awesome Things To Do on Country Borders

From playing volleyball between countries to ringing a doorbell in one country and running to the other, check out list of nine fun things to do at a country's border that don't involve high security measures and endless paperwork. 

1. Play volleyball at the U.S./Mexico border

The U.S. is on the left, Mexico on the right. Taken on April 14, 2007.

Residents of Naco, Arizona join residents of Naco, Mexico for a volleyball match every year during the fourth "Fiesta Bi-Nacional" at the fence that separates the U.S. and Mexico. 

The two communities used to be one with people passing freely across the road, but that all changed years ago when a 13-foot-high border fence formally split Naco's US and Mexican sides. (Source)

2. Ride snowmobiles between Norway, where it's illegal, and Sweden, where it's not

Riding Snowmobiles for fun is illegal to the right, legal to the left.

A spectacular snowy route marks the border between Sweden and Norway, and is a perfect challenge for adventure-loving snowmobilers. To one side is Norway, where riding a snowmobile for fun is illegal, while to the other side is Sweden, where it is allowed. (Source)

3. Switch from a left-Hand road to a right-hand road at a bridge between Macau and China

What happens when left-hand roads meet right-hand roads? Like Hong Kong, Macau still drives on the left under Chinese rule, which means travelers between Macau and other parts of China must switch sides of the road without even leaving the country. At the Lotus Bridge between Macau and Hengqin Island (Mainland China), cars on the Chinese side loop under the bridge on a weirdly asymmetric partial cloverleaf in order to switch lanes. (Source)

4. Play golf on the border of Sweden and Finland, where half the holes are in one country and half in the other

The Green Zone Or Tornio Golf Club is a unique golf course with 9 holes in one country (Finland), and the remaining 9 in another (Sweden). The border follows the Tornio River, which runs through the course. Due to its location, it is possible to play golf at any time of the day or night in full sunshine during golfing season. If that isn't a unique golfing experience, I don't know what is. (Source)

5. Hit a home run over the U.S. border to Canada or Mexico

Craig Robinson – author of the popular blog "Flip Flop Fly Ball" and a book of baseball infographics – found all the baseball fields in Canada and Mexico where one could conceivably hit a home run into the United States, or vice-versa.

From Canada into the U.S. you have two places to do it, one from the U.S. into Mexico and six from Mexico into the U.S. (Source)

6. See three Countries in one boat trip, and visit the Iguazu Falls

A two-hour tour navigates the Iguazu River on a boat around the Three Borders Landmark where Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay meet. On your way back, you can catch another boat trip that goes right under the Iguazu Falls, one of the world's largest. (Source | Photo)

7. Catch two dinosaurs kissing at the border of China and Mongolia

In the far north of China, on the border with Mongolia, you'll find the statues of two towering brontosauruses on either side of the main highway, with their long necks stretching until their mouths meet as if to share a kiss.

Called "The Dinosaur City," nearby Erenhot was once the home of dinosaurs. Many fossils have been discovered in the area, including the biggest and best-preserved dinosaur fossil in Asia. Besides the scenic boulevard, the city also has a dinosaur museum and a theme park called “Dinosaur Fairyland." The arch of the kissing dinosaurs was built in 2007 to showcase the region's reputation as a fossil hot-spot. (Source)

8. Draw a crop circle at the border between Poland and Ukraine

It's not like anyone can do it, but artist Jaroslaw Koziara grew this gigantic "crop circle" fish in a field between Horodyszcze (Poland) and Warez (Ukraine) for the Land Art Festival of 2011. He wanted to symbolize the history of unity and trade along the border between the two nations, showing that nature and culture exist beyond the geopolitical borders laid down by humans. The artist grew the installation by sowing 23 kinds of plants along the border in the shape of two fish. (Source)

9. Ring two different doorbells of a house on the border of Belgium and The Netherlands

There's a house on the border of the Belgian town of Baarle-Nassau and the Dutch town of Baarle-Hertog. It has two addresses and two doorbells. Let the 5-year-old in you ring them both, then run away to either country. (Source)

10. BONUS #1: Place a foot in each hemisphere of the equator

Granted, it's not a country border, but it's still worth mentioning. 

Although the equator runs through hundreds of places, one country that takes particular pride in its unique geographical location is Ecuador. There's a monument in a park named "Mitad del Mundo" or "Middle of the World" with a thick yellow line that supposedly marks the precise position of the equator.

It should be pointed out, however, that the actual equator lies about 240 meters to the north of the indicated line. The land where the Equator actually runs is traversed by a ravine and its ground was not suitable to hold a monument, so the government chose a different location. (Just don't tell the half million tourists that.) 

11. BONUS #2: Dive into the tectonic boundary between North America and Eurasia near Iceland

In 2011, Alex Mustard dived 80ft into the crevice between the North American and Eurasian plates near Iceland to capture some spectacular photos. The area is riddled with faults, valleys, volcanoes and hot springs, which are caused by the plates pulling apart at about one inch per year.

It should be pointed out, however, that tectonics are more of a zonal thing. You can't necessarily say that the rocks on the left belong to the North American plate, while the rocks on the right belong to the Eurasian plate. The geologic processes that are occurring in the area are creating these valleys and canyons, but it is more of a fuzzy divide instead of a sharp, clear one that the pictures make it out to be. (Source)

By Oddee

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12 incredible UNESCO sites you've probably never heard of

A number of UNESCO Heritage Sites remain unknown to a large percentage of travelers. Here are 12 world treasures you might not even know exist

Surrounded by forests of beech, fir and spruce, a multi-level system of 16 lakes spills into waterfalls and pools in Croatia's Plitvice Lakes National Park. The lakes are known for their distinctive colors, which can be turquoise, green, blue or gray

Sailing or kayaking Greenland's Ilulissat Icefjord offers spectacular views of a calving glacier as it cascades into the fjord. Not just an incredible sight, the thunderous roar of ice breaking is a primal thrill

The core of Shirakami-Sanchi in the mountains of northern Honshu is the last of the Siebold's beech forest that once dominated the slopes of northern Japan. The largest in East Asia, the untouched beech forest has very few visitors, partly due to permit requirements and lack of man-made facilities

The 18 interconnected lakes of Ounianga in the landlocked African nation of Chad are lined with palms, dunes and sandstone formations. Some of the lakes are covered with floating green reeds, offering an intense contrast against the blue water. Others are so salty the rocky shore is encrusted in white salt deposits

Covering four national parks in Canada and Alaska, one of this UNESCO Heritage Site's biggest draws (literally) is Mount Logan in Kluane National Park. At 5,959 meters (16,404 feet), Canada and tallest mountain is a haven for hikers and campers

Among Socotra's unique plant life is the dragon blood tree, which oozes dark red sap when damaged, and the bottle tree, which looks like a massive elephant leg with pink flowers sprouting on top. Not yet discovered by the masses, Socotra has pristine white coastal dunes that are constantly reshaped by wind during the monsoon.

Reunion Island is dominated by two volcanic peaks, the dormant Piton de Neiges and the highly active Piton de la Fournaise. Helicopter rides are among the best ways to see the French island's massive walls and three cliff-rimmed cirques

Jiuzhaigou means: Valley of the Nine Villages. The park consists of crystal clear, electric blue, green and purple pools, terraced lakes and waterfalls surrounded by snowy mountains. The giant panda and elusive snow leopard, as well as endemic species such as the Tengmalm's owl, are among rare wildlife that lives in the forests.

Te Wahipounamu includes four national parks, from Mount Cook and Mount Aspiring to Fiordland and Westland. New Zealand's highest mountain, Mount Cook at 3,755 meters (9,842 feet), is found in Te Wahipounamu. So are the country's largest glaciers, tallest forest, most rugged coastline and deepest fjords and lakes

Divers and snorkelers can spot three species of turtles on the Ningaloo Coast. An estimated 10,000 turtle nests are found on the coast each year. Whale sharks are another marvel found off Australia's western shores during an annual gathering that draws 300 to 500 of the sea creatures. Many of Ningaloo's pristine snorkeling sites are accessible from the beach.

The Skocjan Caves house one of the world's largest known underground river canyons, created by the Reka River. The system of limestone caverns includes four picturesque chasms, which can be up to 150 meters deep and 120 meters wide.

Uninhabited and virtually untouched by humans, the Aldabra Atoll consists of four islets around a large shallow lagoon, encircled by coral reefs. The raised coral atoll is the largest of its kind and one of the few not yet impacted by human influences.

Source: CNN

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