Askania-Nova : UKRAINE Travel Tourism World Heritage Hotel

Askania-Nova : UKRAINE

Askania-Nova is a biosphere reserve in Kherson Oblast, Ukraine, located within the dry Tavriya steppe. The natural reserve was established in 1874 by landowner Friedrich Eduardovych Falz-Fein around the German settlement Askania-Nova . The reserve consists of the acclimatization zoo, botanical garden (2.1 km²), and a virgin steppe preserve (110 km²), and has total area of 825 km². The reserve consists of the acclimatization zoo, botanical garden (2.1 km², or 518.9 acre), and virgin steppe preserve (110 km², or 42.5 sq mi), the last such area in Europe) and has total area of 825 km² (318.5 sq mi). In addition to local species it hosts ostriches, bisons, antelopes, wild horses, llamas, zebras and many bird species. More than 200 species of foliaceous and coniferous plants were brought from different parts of the world and planted in the dendrologic garden during 1885 - 1902. About 600 higher plants (both perennial and annual), 16 species of which were entered to the Red Data Book of Ukraine, have been preserved in their primary natural form. The reserve is known for the group of Przewalski's Horse, the largest group kept in captivity, living on area around 30 km² (11.5 sq mi). Today's official name of the reserve is Інститут тваринництва степових районів ім. М.Ф. Іванова "Асканія-Нова" ("Institute of Steppe Animal Farming Askania-Nova"). In 2008, Askania was named one of 7 Natural wonders of Ukraine. The reserve became the only Ukrainian national nominee in the New7wonders of Nature campaign (group E - Forests, National Parks, Natural reservs).







The reserve consists of the acclimatization zoo, botanical garden (2.1 km², or 518.9 acre), and virgin steppe preserve (110 km², or 42.5 sq mi), the last such area in Europe) and has total area of 825 km² (318.5 sq mi). In addition to local species it hosts ostriches, bisons, antelopes, wild horses, llamas, zebras and many bird species. More than 200 species of foliaceous and coniferous plants were brought from different parts of the world and planted in the dendrologic garden during 1885 - 1902. About 600 higher plants (both perennial and annual), 16 species of which were entered to the Red Data Book of Ukraine, have been preserved in their primary natural form. The reserve is known for the group of Przewalski's Horse, the largest group kept in captivity, living on area around 30 km² (11.5 sq mi). Today's official name of the reserve is Інститут тваринництва степових районів ім. М.Ф. Іванова "Асканія-Нова" ("Institute of Steppe Animal Farming Askania-Nova"). In 2008, Askania was named one of 7 Natural wonders of Ukraine. The reserve became the only Ukrainian national nominee in the New7wonders of Nature campaign (group E - Forests, National Parks, Natural reservs).Today this reservation is the highlight of the Kherson region for numerous tourists who travel across the south of Ukraine. And it all began from the hobby of ten-year-old Friedrich: breeding local birds in aviaries he received as a gift from his father. Some people considered Friedrich Falz-Fein a strange person for his “non-commercial” interests, but the international scientific community called him “the Askanian Darwin” and “the first ecologist”. After visiting dozens of zoos and botanical gardens around the world, he implemented the newest techniques of animal breeding. To carry on his experiments, he consulted with leading scientists on the selection of domestic animals, as well as acclimatisation and breeding of rare species. By that time, his park was the third-largest private zoo in Europe, after those in London and Amsterdam. At the end of the 19th century, the Askania-Nova zoo hosted 208 species of birds and 52 species of ungulates from Eurasia, Africa, the Americas and Australia. Friedrich Falz-Fein built his collection over 42 years, increasing the number of species every year until 1916. Today, the oldest heir of the family is a nephew of the founder of the Askania-Nova reserve: Eduard Oleksandrovych Falz-Fein (born in 1912), in his time a famous sportsman, journalist and businessman. Since 1936, he is a subject of the Lichtenstein principality, where he resides now in the Askania-Nova villa. Baron Falz-Fein is one of the few sponsors who supports the reserve financially and morally, at the same time restoring historic justice about the works of his great predecessor.







Biosphere Reserve Askania Nova - a unique corner of nature: here is the only station in Europe steppes, who had never dealt with the plough (once excavated will not be restored steppe). Reserve Nova Kakhovka assigned to "100 great reserves and parks" Peace same book, published in Moscow publishing house "Veche" in 2002 (author-originator Yudina NA). Museum under the open sky: here alone preserved ancient burial mounds, stone Scythian women, created by ancient sculptor. The reserve covers an area of 11 thousand ha.; adjoins the forest park with artificial ponds and canals, where inhabit many animals and birds. In Askaniyskoy steppes more than 400 species of herbs and flowers, cereals dominate. In late April start tulips bloom, then irises, astragalus, hyacinth, lyutiki. In May - carnations, daisies. In summer steppe, muffled in the fir haze kovylya, transfused waves from the slightest breeze blow. Askaniysky park covering about 200 hectares. It differs from the wild steppe zone. It is divided according to a strict plan. The park about 150 kinds and forms of trees and bushes. Ilex maple, Crimean pine, pyramidal and kolonnovidny oaks, juniper, elm, spruce, ash, white acacia, near water - weeping willows. Centre songs Park - a picturesque pond.

Djoudj, Sanctuary : SENEGAL Travel Tourism World Heritage Hotel

Djoudj, Sanctuary : SENEGAL

The Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary lies on the southeast bank of the River Senegal in Senegal, north east of St-Louis. It provides a range of wetland habitats which prove very popular with migrating birds. About 400 species of birds and a wide range of wildlife inhabit the park. In the Senegal River delta, the Djoudj Sanctuary is a wetland of 16,000 hectares, comprised of a large lake surrounded by streams, ponds and backwaters, which form a living but fragile sanctuary for one and a half million birds, such as the white pelican, the purple heron, the African spoonbill, the great egret and the cormorant.Threats to the Site:ituated in the Senegal river delta, the Djoudj Sanctuary is a wetland of 16,000 ha, comprising a large lake surrounded by streams, ponds and backwaters. It forms a living but fragile sanctuary for some 1.5 million birds, such as the white pelican, the purple heron, the African spoonbill, the great egret and the cormorant. PHYSICAL FEATURES The park is in a vast basin of impermeable holomorphic soils forming saline flats in the Senegal River delta between the main channel to the north, the Djoudj bayou and the Gorom, or bayou to the south. This delta, of which Djoudj is a small part, has been subject to flooding and to the development of dyke systems for many years, the latest in 1963. These dykes have allowed fresh water to be retained in the Djoudj basin for longer periods than normal, benefiting the waterbirds. Salinity varies, from nearly fresh during winter inundations to brackish as the water levels fall. CLIMATE Sahelian with alternate wet and dry seasons. Mean annual precipitation is 300mm and mean annual temperature 27°C. During the dry season, it is the wettest area in the region, but in recent years rainfall has been less than one fifth of the average and Djoudj has been much drier. VEGETATION Vegetation reflects a low rainfall on unfavourable holomorphic soils. The Sahelien type savanna is dominated by spiny bushes, acacias such as Acacia nilotica, A.tortilis, A








The Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (French: Parc national des oiseaux du Djoudj) lies on the southeast bank of the River Senegal in Senegal, north east of St-Louis. It provides a range of wetland habitats which prove very popular with migrating birds, many of which have just crossed the Sahara. Of almost 400 species of birds, the most visible are pelicans and flamingos. Less conspicuous are the Aquatic Warblers migrating here from Europe; for these, the park is the single most important wintering site yet discovered [1]. A wide range of wildlife also inhabits the park, which is designated a World Heritage Site. The site was added to the list of World Heritage Sites in Danger in 2000 due to the introduction of the invasive giant salvinia plant, which threatens to choke out the park's native vegetation. However it was removed from the list in 2006 Situated in the Senegal River delta, the Djoudj Sanctuary is a wetland of 16,000 ha, comprising a large lake surrounded by streams, ponds and backwaters. It forms a living but fragile sanctuary for some 1.5 million birds, such as the white pelican, the purple heron, the African spoonbill, the great egret and the cormorant Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary provides a range of wetland habitats which prove very popular with migrating birds, many of which have just crossed the Sahara. Of almost 400 species of birds, the most visible are pelicans and flamingos. Less conspicuous are the Aquatic Warblers migrating here from Europe; for these, the park is the single most important wintering site yet discovered. A wide range of wildlife also inhabits the park.







Cairns, November 28 (No.2000-129) - The historic city of Zabid in Yemen, the Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary in Senegal and the Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Pakistan were inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger by UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee which has been meeting in Cairns, Australia, since yesterday under the presidency of Peter King of Australia. Historic City of Zabid (Yemen). A former capital of Yemen, from the 13th to the 15th century, Zabid was a city of great importance in the Arab and Muslim world for many centuries because of its Islamic university. Today the city is in decline and in a very poor state of conservation. A mission of experts has observed serious deterioration in the city’s heritage: around 40% of the city’s houses have been replaced by concrete buildings, and other houses and the ancient souk are in a deteriorating state. The Yemeni government has asked for Zabid to be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger to facilitate its preservation. Djoudj National Bird Sanctuary (Senegal). Situated in the Senegal River delta, the Djoudj Sanctuary is a wetland of 16,000 hectares, which form a vital but fragile sanctuary for 1.5 million birds, such as the white pelican, the purple heron, the African spoonbill, the great egret and the cormorant. The sanctuary is now threatened by the invasion of a water plant, Salvinia molesta, which has crossed over the Senegal River and invaded the Diawling National Park of Mauritania. An attempt was made in June this year to use biological control methods by releasing plant-eating beetles provided by South Africa, but this has proved to be inadequate. Here too, the national authorities are backing the inscription on the List so as to facilitate their task and help them appeal for financial support from donors. Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (Pakistan). Testimonies of the brilliant Mogul civilisation, the fort contains palaces and marble mosques decorated with mosaics and gilt. The gardens, built on three terraces with lodges, waterfalls and large ornamental ponds, are an example of a rarely equalled sophistication. Tanks built 375 years ago to supply water to the Garden’s fountains were destroyed in June 1999 to widen the road which borders the gardens on their south side. The perimeter walls of the Garden are also deteriorating. In view of the damage observed and the threat facing the site, the Committee decided to inscribe it on the List of World Heritage in Danger, in response to a request from the Pakistani government that the international community take action to safeguard the site.

Chitwan, National Park : NEPAL Travel Tourism World Heritage Hotel

Chitwan, National Park : NEPAL

Chitwan National Park, covering an area of 932 km², was established in 1973. It is located at the foot of the Himalayas in the Terai region, and the park is rich in flora and fauna, which include one of the last populations of single-horned Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) and the Bengal tiger. Chitwan National Park is rich in flora and fauna, including one of the last populations of single-horned Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) and the Bengal tiger Panthera tigris tigris. The area was known as "Four Mile Forest" (चार कोसे झाडी) and a hunting reserve for big game hunting until 1951. The park is now a popular destination for ecotourists and includes canoeing, elephant rides, and guided jungle walks. Adjacent to the National Park in the east is the Parsa Wildlife Reserve (49.900 ha) and further east the Bara Hunting Reserve (25.900 ha). In the south the Chitwan is contiguous with the Indian Valmiki Tiger Reserve. The vegetation consits mainly of moist deciduous forests, with the sal as dominating tree species. In the Churia Hills pine trees predominate. On the floodplains of the large Rivers, by name the Rapti, the Reu and the Narayani there are large areas covered with Elephant grass alternating with riverine Forests mainly composed of Simal, Khair and Sisau trees. The Chitwan National Park is home to at least 43 species of mammals, 450 species of birds, and 45 species of amphibians and reptiles. Elephants and Indian rhinos are the largest species found in the park, but a lot of other large herbivores are found in the park, gaur, sambar deer, Indian muntjac, chital, hog deer, mainland serow, chousingha and wild boar. Three large predator species, tigers, leopards, dholes prey on them and carrion eaters like striped hyenas are also found. Sloth bears are among the main attractions of the Park. Smaller carivore species are golden jackal, yellow-throated marten, ratel, smooth coated otter, small Indian civet, large Indian civet, spotted linsang, common palm civet, binturong, small Indian mongoose, Indian grey mongoose, crab-eating mongose, leopard cat, marbled cat and fishing cat. Further mammal species found in the park are rhesus monkeys, hanuman langurs, Indian pangolin, northern palm squirrel, red giant flying squirrel, particoloured flying squirrel, Indian porcupine, hispid hare, Indian hare and ganges dolphin.







Nepal is a land of extreme contrasts in climate and geography, It has a unique topography ranging from lowlands with sub-tropical jungles to arctic conditions in the Himalayan highlands. Within a mere 150 kilometers the land rises from near sea level in the south to over 8000 meters in the North. This, together with the monsoon rainfall along the south facing slopes, has resulted in compacting virtually all climate zones found on planet Earth. As a result, Nepal has been endowed with a great diversity of life-zones providing a home for a large variety of plants, birds and animals. The Terai lowlands are defined by a belt of well-watered floodplains stretching from the Indian border northward to the first slopes of the Bhabhar and the Siwalik Range. This is the richest habitat in the land with tall grasslands interspersed with riverine and hardwood sal forest . Here one can see wildlife such as the swamp deer, musk deer, black buck, blue bull, the royal Bengal tiger, gharial and marsh mugger crocodile and the last of a breed of Asiatic wild buffalo. This area is also rich in birdlife with a variety of babbles and orioles, koels and drongos, peacocks and floricans, and a multitude of wintering wildfowl. There are five protected areas in Nepal - Koshi Tappu and Parsa in the east, Sukla Phanta and Dhorpatan for hunting in the west and Shivapuri in the. mid-mountain region. The Churia, also known as the. siwalik, is the southern most range of the Himalaya. No where do they rise above 1,220 meters, This range is famous for fossil deposits of Pleistocene mammals, among them 10 species of elephants, 6 rhinoceros, hippopotamus, saber-toothed cats, various antelopes and primates such as the orang-utan, long extinct in the subcontinent, Situated north of the Churia are broad, low valleys of the inner Terai know as the Doons. These valleys are not unlike the outer plains with tall elephant grass, swamps and ox-bow lakes where the last of the one-horned rhinoceros survive. Royal Chitwan National Park in the Inner Terai of central Nepal is the first and best protected area in the kingdom. Once one of the most famous big game hunting areas in Asia. Chitwan now offers protection to a large array of mammals such as the. one-horned rhinoceros, tiger, leopard, sloth bear and the gaur (wild bison) as well as more than 400 species of birds.








Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP) has long been one of the country’s treasures of natural wonders. The park is situated in south central Nepal, covering 932 sq. km. in the subtropical lowlands of the inner Terai. The area comprising the Tikauli forest - from Rapti river to the foothills of the Mahabharat - extending over an area of 175 sq. km. was declared Mahendra Mriga Kunj (Mahendra Deer Park) by the late King Mahendra in 1959. In 1963, the area south of Rapti River was demarcated as a rhinoceros sanctuary. The area was gazetted as the country’s first national park in 1973. Recognizing its unique ecosystems of international significance, UNESCO declared RCNP a World Heritage Site in 1984. In 1996, an area of 750 sq. km surrounding the park was declared a buffer zone which consists of forests and private lands. The park and the local people jointly initiate community development activities and manage natural resources in the buffer zone. His Majesty’s Government has made a provision of plowing back 30-50 percent of the park revenue for community development in the buffer zone.

Nam Ha National Park : LAO Travel Tourism World Heritage Hotel

Nam Ha National Park : LAO

The Nam Ha National Park is situated in the extreme northwest of the Laos, in Luang Namtha Province, and comprises 222,400 hectares of land ranging from the lowlands of the Luang Namtha Plain to the 2,000-m-high peaks of its northern highlands. The altitude ranges from 560 m on the plain to 2,094 m at the highest peak and thus, supports a wide variety of flora. Exploring by boat, Simon Crerar shared a mutual curiosity with Laotian villagers
We are sitting beside a river in northern Laos, eating the best meal of our lives: dried buffalo meat, raw red chilli, river algae and cold sticky rice, served on banana leaf. You don’t endure transcontinental flights, spine-jarring bus rides and manic tuk-tuks just to eat lunch. My girlfriend and I are here to explore the vast new Nam Ha national park. With our guide, Bouaket, and his assistant, Mr Pow, we will spend three days travelling down the Nam Ha River, in valleys reachable only by boat, sleeping each night in a different village. Earlier, our departure had been watched by hoards of half- inquisitive, half-scared kids. Soon we were steering our inflatable kayaks through lively rapids. Travelling by river, we hoped to skip the gruelling hikes that typify many treks. The first morning’s paddling alone through gorgeous primary- growth rainforest has justified the cost of the trip ($420 a person). Later we will see troops of monkeys in treetops, huge lizards basking in the sun, soaring eagles, kingfishers and swimming snakes, plus a dazzling array of butterflies and dragonflies. Over lunch, Ket explains that we are now entering a region populated by tribes who arrived here hundreds of years ago from China and Burma; people with their own languages and unique From 1998 to 2003, direct threats to the priority areas were determined. Threats include hunting of wildlife for sale or food, over-harvesting of non-timber forest products, and slash and burn agriculture. A threat assessment was used to rank the area, intensity, and urgency of the direct threats so that protected area activities could be prioritized to reduce the most serious threats to site biodiversity. Activities, which were carried out over the next several years, included the training of a National Protected Area Unit to implement natural resource management, enforcement, and conservation education. In 1999, a plan for research and monitoring was initiated in order to determine the effectiveness of management activities for reducing threats and sustaining species.









Set to begin in October 2005, this project will take place within the Nam Ha National Protected Area (Nam Ha NPA). Forests form the economic base for rural communities: they provide food, fuel, medicine, and construction materials. A significant portion of subsistence needs and income come from Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP). WCS will work in collaboration with the Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA), who is currently working within seven villages on the outskirts of the Nam Ha NPA as part of the ADB Northern Economic Corridor project. ADRA is committed to integrated rural development and seeks WCS assistance in natural resource management. WCS work in this area in the past (make link to Nam Ha NPA page) show that people hunt a lot of wild animals for food, and that most animals weigh less than two kilograms because larger mammals have been killed off or displaced by habitat destruction. Together, ADRA and WCS hope to create a more sustainable way of life for villagers near the Nam Ha NPA. The project will incorporate village-based surveys of the abundance of NTFP and wildlife in the forest, the development of village rules to manage the harvest of these resources and the development of a monitoring system of NTFP and wildlife harvestin The Nam Ha National Protected Area (NPA) was established in 1993 with the introduction of the Lao PDR protected area system. Nam Ha NPA is located in Luang Namtha province in northern Lao PDR. It spans five districts and covers 222,300 hectares of evergreen and broadleaf forests and harbors 288 species of birds and at least 38 species of mammals. In a biological prioritization of the country’s 20 protected areas, Nam Ha ranked 3rd for birds and 5th for large mammals in a national species analysis. Overall Nam Ha ranked third in the national management priority index. This was based on the value of the biodiversity, watershed, eco-tourism potential, and level of pressure on the site. Nam Ha NPA harbors the endangered Asian elephant, four large cat species of which the tiger and clouded leopard are listed as globally threatened, Sun bear and Asiatic black bear, and six ungulate species including the vulnerable guar and southern serow. WCS has been active in the Nam Ha NPA since 1996, and this site has become a Lao model for protected area management. The project was initiated with participatory rural appraisals and village “buy-in”. Village wildlife reports were followed up by a wildlife and habitat survey by a joint Department of Forestry/WCS survey team early in 1997, which concentrated on large mammals and birds. Based on these reports, several habitat areas were identified for priority action, and in 1999 the Prime Minister tripled the size of the NPA, making it the third largest protected area in the country. In December 2003 the Prime Ministers Office declared the Nam Ha NPA to be the only Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) Heritage Park in the Lao PDR.








The Lanten speak their own language and write a script based on Chinese characters. They worship ancestors and village spirits. There is no school. The children pummel rice as soon as they can walk. Grandmothers carry babies, toddlers stumble around with machetes.
The women’s thick black hair is swept up and held in place with chunky silver jewellery; most intriguingly they have no eyebrows (they are removed to mark the end of childhood).
We sleep in simple huts. To avoid headmen pocketing all the money from such visits, families take it in turns to look after visitors. Arriving somewhere like Ban Nam Khoy makes me feel like a 19th-century colonialist discovering a “savage” people. Elsewhere in Laos the outside world is gradually creeping in. Out here, we feellike exhibits in a human zoo , the locals gather around to try out Helen’s sunglasses, fiddle with our playing cards and press my watch’s luminous button. At dinner, every mouthful is tracked by dozens of pairs of shy eyes. We feel lucky to catch a way of life probably doomed to extinction as Laos develops. Next evening, we stay at the more prosperous Khamu village of Ban Hat Yong, sleeping in a shaky bamboo hut beside a shop selling “Colon” biscuits, cashew nuts and warm beer. The Khamu wear Tibetan-style tunics and wonderfully fluorescent tartan headscarves. Many women sport the ruined gums of the betel-nut addict. The older men smoke opium. Scores of children clamber over each other to watch us change. Later, we find the entire village crammed into a hut watching uproarious stand-up comedy videos, the generator powered by a boat propeller dangled in the river. Skipping the show, we gaze in wonder at the darkest, most star-packed sky we have ever seen. We doze off beside a clucking chicken. Next morning, the same bird is boiling in the breakfast pot.

Avenue of the Baobabs : MADAGASCAR Travel Tourism World Heritage Hotel

Avenue of the Baobabs : MADAGASCAR

The Avenue or Alley of the Baobabs is a prominent group of baobab trees in western Madagascar. Along the Avenue are about a dozen trees some 30 m in height, of the Adansonia grandidieri species, which is endemic to Madagascar. Baobab trees can be up to 800 years old and are known locally as renala (Malagasy for "mother of the forest"). They are a legacy of the dense tropical forests that once thrived on Madagascar. The trees did not originally tower in isolation over the scrub landscape but stood in a dense forest. Over the years, as the country's population grew, the forests were cleared for agriculture, leaving only the baobab trees, which the locals preserved as much in respect as for their value as a food source and building material. The Avenue or Alley of the Baobabs is a prominent group of baobab trees lining the dirt road between Morondava and Belon'i Tsiribihina in the Menabe region in western Madagascar. Its striking landscape draws travelers from around the world, making it one of the most visited locations in the region. It has been a center of local conservation efforts, and was granted temporary protected status in July 2007 by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests, the first step toward making it Madagascar's first national monument Along the Avenue are about a dozen trees about 30 meters in height, of the species Adansonia grandidieri, endemic to Madagascar. Baobab trees, up to 800 years old, known locally as renala (Malagasy for "mother of the forest"), are a legacy of the dense tropical forests that once thrived on Madagascar. The trees did not originally tower in isolation over the sere landscape of scrub but stood in dense forest. Over the years, as the country's population grew, the forests were cleared for agriculture, leaving only the baobab trees, which the locals preserved as much in respect as for their value as a food source and building material. The area is not a national park, and the trees are threatened by further deforestation, effluent from encroaching rice paddies and sugarcane plantations, and brush and forest fires.[3] Despite its popularity as a tourist destination, the area has no visitor center or gate fees, and local residents receive little income from tourism. Conservation International in partnership with Fanamby, a Malagasy NGO, has launched an ecotourism project aimed at conservation of the area and economic improvement for the local communit








The baobabs of Madagascar have to be seen to be believed. Of eight baobab species in the world, six are endemic to Madagascar; one other is found in Africa and another in Australia. This indicates that Madagascar is the country in which baobab trees first originated, and the other two species migrated across the ocean and followed a different evolution chain in Africa and Australia. The best place to see one of these species, the Adansonia granddieri, is the Avenue des Baobabs. This is a large region with the majestic tree in abundance, and a sacred baobab with offerings around it showing the significance of the trees. There are also two that have become intertwined, and are known as Les Baobabs Amoureux. If you arrive at sunrise or sunset, the view is striking, and good photos are a guarantee. The nearest town to the Avenue of the Baobabs is Morondava. The area was the centre of the Sakalava kingdom, and the tombs here are spectacular and beautiful. It is now the centre of a rice-growing and ostrich-farming area, and is popular as a seaside resort with a laidback and friendly atmosphere. There are lots of good places to eat and the sea provides entertainment by way of swimming, snorkelling and diving. Other places to visit include the zebu marchet, which is held in the first village outside of Morondova, Analeiva. There are also some spectacular tombs, but the people are quite secretive about their locations due to vandalism of the drawings and carvings on them. To the north of the town there are dry deciduous forests which have a biological importance found barely anywhere else. This forest type is one of the most endangered in the world, and the flora and fauna includes many endemic species. Particularly numerous are reptiles such as tortoises, snakes and lizards. Eight species of lemur are found including white sifaka and the rare pale fork-marked lemur. The world’s smallest primate, the Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur, is also found in the forest. This weighs just 30 g. Another natural area in Madagascar, Kirindy has abundant wildlife such as the giant jumping rat and the narrow-striped mongoose. The largest Malagasy carnivore, the fosa, is also found here and it is getting fairly easy to see.








Madagascar has always been on top of my list of countries to see. Since a child i have been fascinated by this mysterious island with it's dense forests, bizarre landscapes and mysterious animals. In 2004 we finally made the trip. It turned out to be as fascinating as i hoped for, very diverse with amazingly friendly and happy people. There is no major tourism yet so you will feel all alone. It's a safe and pleasant country to travel around and i can recommend it to everyone. We have been so impressed that we already booked our tickets for a next trip later this year. This particular photo was shot during a long drive to the west coast, after our 3-day canoe trip through one of Madagascar's most rural areas. Avenue de Baobab is one of Madagascar's highlights and probably the most photographed spot. If only we had enough time to wait for sunset!

Sinharaja Rainforest : SRI LANKA Travel Tourism World Heritage Hotel

Sinharaja Rainforest : SRI LANKA

Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a national park in Sri Lanka. The densely forested reserve, home to an incredible number of different trees and animal species, including amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and insects, is 21 kilometers from east to west and 7 kilometers from north to south. The hilly virgin rainforest was saved from the worst of commercial logging by its inaccessibility. Sinharaja (11,250 ha), is the jewel of the last remaining virgin rainforest crown in country is located in the wet zone of the country. the primeval Sinharaja covers 8900 hectares of breathtakingly beautiful, continuous forest. Beautiful Streams, springs, rivers, waterfalls, leopard, monkeys, butterflies and moths, rare trees, valuable shrubs and medicinal herbs are all found within its green canopy. A trek along the sinharaja paths would provide nature entusiast a never to be forgotten experience of sights and sounds and feelings. Due to its high bio-diversity and ecological importance, it has been declared as a National Heritage Wilderness Area and it is the only natural World Heritage Site (declared by UNESCO) in the country. Sinharaja is one of the few virgin forests left in the world, The forest has series of mountains and ridges rising abruptly from 90m to 1170m above mean sea level. Situated in Ratnapura, Galle and Matara districts in the interior wet zone of the south west of the island. This is Sri Lanka's most important rainforest. The forest has tall trees growing in close proximity, but winding paths make it easy to walk along the forest floor. It is inhabited by water monitors, torque macaques, leopards, giant squirrels, purple-faced leaf monkeys and leeches. Bird life includes Ceylon Spurfowl, Ceylon Junglefowl, Ceylon Wood Pigeon, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Layard's Parakeet, Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Ceylon Small Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul, Spotted-winged Thrush, Brown-capped Babbler, Orange-billed Babbler, Ashy-headed Laughing-Thrush, Ceylon Blue Magpie, Ceylon White-headed Starling, Ceylon Hill Munia, Ceylon Hill Myna, Malabar Trogon, Black Bulbul, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Green Imperial Pigeon, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch and Yellow-browned Bulbul.







Located in south-west Sri Lanka, Sinharaja is the country's last viable area of primary tropical rainforest. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare. There is much endemic wildlife, especially birds, but the reserve is also home to over 50% of Sri Lanka's endemic species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians. Sri Lanka's tropical rain forest, the Sinharaja is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. One of the few virgin forests left in the world. Visitors are required to obtain permits from the Wildlife Department in order to visit this sanctuary. Streams, springs, rivers, waterfalls, leopard, monkeys, butterflies and moths, rare trees, valuable shrubs and medicinal herbs are all found within its green canopy. A trek along prescribed paths would provide nature lovers with a never to be forgotten experience of sights and sounds. The largest mammal in the forest is the rarely spotted leopard, also infrequently glimpsed are the rusty spotted and wild fishing cats. Sambhur, barking deer and wild boar browse on the forest floor. The more common troops of purple-faced langur monkeys will chatter and move through the trees above you, but you're more likely to hear them than actually see them. There are also rats, shrews, giant squirrels, porcupines, civets, mongooses, venomous snakes, 20 species of birds and 45 species of reptiles!. Located in south-west Sri Lanka, Sinharaja is the country's last viable area of primary tropical rainforest. More than 60% of the trees are endemic and many of them are considered rare. There is much endemic wildlife, especially birds, but the reserve is also home to over 50% of Sri Lanka's endemic species of mammals and butterflies, as well as many kinds of insects, reptiles and rare amphibians.







Sinharaja Forest Reserve is a national park in Sri Lanka. It is of international significance and has been designated a Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site by UNESCO. The hilly virgin rainforest, part of the Sri Lanka lowland rain forests ecoregion, was saved from the worst of commercial logging by its inaccessibility, and was designated a World Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and a World Heritage Site in 1988. The reserve's name translates as Kingdom of the Lion. The reserve is only 21 km from east to west, and a maximum of 7 km from north to south, but it is a treasure trove of endemic species, including trees, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Because of the dense vegetation, wildlife is not as easily seen as at dry-zone national parks such as Yala. There are about 3 elephants and the 15 or so leopards are rarely seen. The commonest larger mammal is the endemic Purple-faced Langur. An interesting phenomenon is that birds tend to move in mixed feeding flocks, invariably led by the fearless Greater Racket-tailed Drongo and the noisy Orange-billed Babbler. Of Sri Lanka's 26 endemic birds, the 20 rainforest species all occur here, including the elusive Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal and Sri Lanka Blue Magpie. Reptiles include the endemic Green pit viper and Hump-nosed vipers, and there are a large variety of amphibians, especially tree frogs. Invertebrates include the endemic Common Birdwing butterfly and the inevitable leeches.

Kafue National Park : ZAMBIA Travel Tourism World Heritage Hotel

Kafue National Park : ZAMBIA

Kafue National Park is the largest national park in Zambia, covering an area of about 22,400 square km. It is the second largest park in Africa and is home to over 55 different species of animals.The park is named for the Kafue River. It stretches over three provinces: North Western, Central and Southern. Kafue is Zambia’s oldest park and by far the largest. It was proclaimed in 1950 and is spread over 22 400 square kilometres - the second largest national park in the world and about the size of Wales. Despite the Park’s proximity to both Lusaka and the Copperbelt, it has remained underdeveloped until the most recent years. Despite the depravations of poaching and lack of management, the Park is still a raw and diverse slice of African wilderness with excellent game viewing, birdwatching and fishing opportunities. From the astounding Busanga Plains in the North-western section of the Park to the tree-choked wilderness and the lush dambos of the south., fed by the emerald green Lunga, Lufupa and Kafue Rivers, the park sustains huge herds of a great diversity of wildlife. From the thousands of red lechwe on the Plains, the ubiquitous puku, the stately sable and roan antelopes in the woodland to the diminutive oribi and duiker. The solid-rumped defassa waterbuck, herds of tsessebe, hartebeest, zebra and buffalo make for a full menu of antelope. Kafue National Park was established in 1924 after the British colonial government moved the traditional owners of the area, the Nkoya people of (King) Mwene Kabulwebulwe, from their traditional hunting grounds into the Mumbwa District to the east. Dissatisfaction with the pace of development in Central Province and a lack of benefit from tourism in the park have led to calls from Nkoya leaders to establish a new province in the area which they have proposed to call Kafue Province









park, south-central Zambia. Established in 1950 and located about 200 miles (322 km) west of Lusaka, the park covers an area of 8,650 square miles (22,400 square km) and consists of a vast and gently undulating plateau, situated along the middle reaches of the Kafue River and its two tributaries, the Lufupa and the Lunga. The vegetation is lush and green, varying from mixed forest, thicket, woodland, and grass in the south to broad alluvial grassland and patches of evergreen forests in the north. Perennial swamps in the northwest drain into the Lufupa River via the Busanga floodplains. The park’s wildlife includes hippopotamus, buffalo, zebra, elephant, black rhinoceros, lion, sable, oribi, kudu, impala, roan antelope, eland, lechwe, gnu, sitatunga, duiker, and crocodile. There are numerous bird species, including openbill, saddlebill, wattled crane, crested crane, jucana, cormorant, Ross’s lourie, Boehm’s bee eater, black barbed barbet, fish eagle, marabou stork, and vulture. There are camps at Ngoma, Kalala, Nanzhila, Chunga, Kafwala, Lufupa, Moshi, and Ntemwa; safaris are conducted on foot. Kafue National Park is the largest national park in Zambia, covering an area of about 22,400 km² (similar in size to Wales or Massachusetts). It is the second largest park in Africa and is home to over 55 different species of animals. The park is named for the Kafue River. It stretches over three provinces: North Western, Central and Southern. The main access is via the Great West Road from Lusaka to Mongu which crosses the park north of its centre. Seasonal dirt roads also link from Kalomo and Namwala in the south and south-east, and Kasempa in the north.







Most of the park lies in the Central Zambezian Miombo woodlands ecoregion characterised by savanna grasslands with Miombo tree species, growing thickly in some patches, with a few small dambos (grasslands which become marshy in the rainy season) interspresed among them. In the south there are stony hills and rocky outcrops where the more sparse Zambezian and Mopane woodlands ecoregion takes over, and Mopane trees adapted to hotter drier conditions replace Miombo. A thin belt of evergreen forest lines the banks of the Kafue River, which has been controversially dammed just outside the park at Itezhi-Tezhi Dam, forming a reservoir within the park. Patches of Baikiaea (teak) and Cryptosepalum evergreen forest occur in the south and west. The jewel in Kafue's crown however is the Zambezian flooded grasslands ecoregion in the north, including the Busanga Swamp and plains. These support large herds of herbivores and their predators. In the dry season the animals keep close to the swamps and marshy creeks and are easily seen. The area is also noted for its birdlife. Ngoma in the south is the headquarters of the park but this area together with th NanzhilaPlains are less visited and have become somewhat run down since the Itezhi-Tezhi Dam was built and more lodges were developed in the north. The reservoir cut the north-south track through the park and now it is necessary to detour outside the park to drive between Ngoma and Chunga.

Zaamin National Park : UZBEKISTAN Travel Tourism World Heritage Hotel

Zaamin National Park : UZBEKISTAN

The Zaamin National Park is situated in Jizzakh Province, on the northern slopes of the Turkestan Mountain Range. Its total area comprises 15,600 hectares. The elevations range from 1,700 m (in the Guralash valley) to 3,571 m (Guralash Peak). Zaamin National Park (Jizzakh Province) is the oldest nature preserve in Uzbekistan, created in 1926 as Guralash Nature Preserve on the northern slopes of the western part of Turkestan Range, in the valleys of the rivers Kulsoy, Guralash, Baikungur, and Aldashmansoy. Total area 156 square kilometres. Elevations from 1,700 m (in the Guralash valley) to 3,571 m (Guralash Peak). The territory consists of two sites: Zaamin State Reserve and Zaamin National Park, located in the northern slope of Turkistan mountain range and bordering upon each other. Zaamin State Reserve organized in 1960, located in Zaamin and Bakhmal regions on the area of 26840 hectares. Zaamin National Park organized in 1978, located in Zaamin region on the area of 24110 hectares. The reserve provides the preservation in the absolute inviolability condition of all natural properties and complexes, which located on its territory. The park was created aimed at preservation, rebuilding and recreational investigation of unique mountain-pines ecosystems. There are two marked zones in the park - recreation and buffer. The mountain-pines ecosystems, which stay 1760-3500 m. above sea level, are under the protection. More than 700 form of plants resented in the flora from them forest forming-zarafshan, hemi globe-shaped and Turkistan pines. Pine forests of represent area are the largest massifs in the region. There are many rare forms of animals (14) and plants (18), inscribed into the Red Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan.Slopes of all mountains in Central Asia were once covered with archa - the Asian variety of juniper reaching 18 meters in height. They began disappearing simultaneously with the development of humanity between the Amudarja and Syrdarja. Archa is a good fuel that produces a lot of heat, and its felling began long before A.D.Junipers need time to recover. A tree becomes truly mature only after 100-150 years. By the early 20th century, archa forests in Turkestan survived only high in the mountains. Unfortunately, intensive cattle breeding the Soviet regime brought with it all but did away with them too. Collective farms' sheep and cow ate and trampled what had not been cut down yet. Scientists say that climatic changes in Central Asia (leading to the drying up of the Sea of Aral and shortage of water in general) began with degradation of mountainous forests in the Pamirs and Tyen Shan. Archa forests can only be found in national parks in modern Uzbekistan. The largest of them is located in the southern part of the Dzhizak region, in the Zaamin district. The first archa national park was established there in 1926. It was closed for the Great Patriotic War, and reestablished in 1960. Sharaf Rashidov, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Uzbek Communist Party who had a dacha in the Zaamin mountains, ordered establishment of a resort in the national park in 1972. The whole national park was soon given the status of a People's Park.






Wildlife includes hares, foxes, porcupines, wolves, bears, Turkestan lynxes, etc. The road across the Sufa Pass leads to the famous spring in the no less famous grotto with stone staircases and arches. Its bitingly cold water has the sweet taste of chilled milk. Tourists and even locals are not permitted to proceed further on because this is the state border between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. Access to Zaamin was restricted when the civil war raged in Tajikistan. Approaching the border even now is hazardous because of minefields. At the same time, the resort under the pass and a dozens spas nearby welcome tourists and vacationers. When this correspondent was in Zaamin, a convention of young Uzbek writers was taking place there. Representative of the personnel say that officials of the medium level with their families like to vacate there. The locals' income depends to a substantial degree on tourism. Dishes of local cuisine are offered as one of the attractions. Gourmets from Dzhizak and even Samarkand and Tashkent come here to taste the tandyr-kabo - a dish of mutton and... juniper. Kumys, a fermented milk of cares, is served with it. For some reason, travel agencies working in and with Uzbekistan, do not often offer trips to Zaamin. Probably because of the distance from international airports and absence of modern hotels in Dzhizak. Still, according to what information this news agency has compiled, the national and regional authorities do plan to develop Zaamin infrastructure. They contemplate construction of a modern highway that will connect Zaamin and Samarkand, the tourist capital of Uzbekistan.

Obo Natural Park : SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE Travel Tourism World Heritage Hotel

Obo Natural Park : SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

The Obo national park is a national reserve in the south-west part of the volcanic island of Sao Tomé, a mountain which culminates in Pico de São Tomé (2,024 m) The park offers dramatic landscapes with torrents and waterfalls on its slopes, white and black sand beaches, sheer cliffs over the sea, as well as tropical forest.The native flora (700 species including a hundred orchids) and fauna (birds and marine turtles) are of particular interest as many species are endemic. From October to February, turtles can be observed laying their eggs at Praja de Micolo.
Discovered on St Thomas' day in 1470 by Portuguese navigators, Sao Tomé which was uninhabited, is like a jewel in the Gulf of Guinea off the Gabonese coast. This ancient volcanic cone culminating in Pico de São Tomé (2 024 metres asl), offers dramatic landscapes with torrents and waterfalls on its slopes, white and black sand beaches, sheer cliffs over the sea, tropical forest and extensive cocoa plantations with their beautiful " roças " (colonial houses). The native flora (700 species including a hundred orchids) and fauna (birds and marine turtles) are of particular interest as many species are endemic. The Obo Natural Park was created recently and helps to protect the unique natural heritage of Sao Tome island. From October to February, turtles can be observed laying their eggs at Praja de Micolo.







The Obo Natural Park was created recently and helps to protect the unique natural heritage of Sao Tome island. From October to February, turtles can be observed laying their eggs at Praja de Micolo. The native flora (700 species including a hundred orchids) and fauna (birds and marine turtles) are of particular interest as many species are endemic. Except for a few small mangroves on the south and savanna scrub on the north coast, Sao Tome and Principe’s vegetation was composed of humid forests that covered almost uniformly 90% of the islands territory, from the coast to the summit of the Pico de São Tomé (2024m), and comprise of three categories: the Atlantic rain forest of high altitude "Obo", which lies within the national parks, the secondary forest or “capoeira”, comprised of abandoned plantations that have reverted back to native vegetation cover 31% of the island, and the shade forests which provide shade to the key agricultural crops. In 1988 scientists classified the forests of Sao Tomé and Principe as the second most important in terms of biological interest of the 75 forests of Africa. The Atlantic rain forest of high altitude, Obô, contains the majority of the fauna and flora that gave Sao Tomé and Principe its classification. After recent reserch expedition, the WWF also classified the Sao Tome and Principe forests as one of the world 200 Eco-region, that means as one of the 200 most important biodiversity area in the world. Given that many of Eco-region cover widespread areas (the forest of the Congo basin, for example), the presence of Sao Tome and Principe in this list testifies its exceptional nature. Of the 700 local plant types, about 100 of these are only found in Sao Tome and Principe, including a begonia that grows up to 3 m high, and unique orchids.








The bird life is also other of the natural wonders of the country: with about 1000 km2, Sao Tome and Principe has 28 species of endemic birds. Only Sao Tome island has 21 endemic species. This is an extraordinary number because islands with the similar dimensions usually have 1 to 2 endemic bird species. The number of endemic birds has led the BirdLife International to classifies each island as a 'Endemic Bird Area' (EBA), and both islands are the only ocean small islands between the first 25% EBA’s of the world. This unique natural heritage is being protected for the benefit of later generations in an exemplary manner by an EU financed ONG, the ECOFAC (Programme for Conservation and Rational Utilization of Forest Ecosystems in Central Africa). As part of the ECOFAC management plan, a ecotourism strategy has been launched with has lead to the creation in 1993 the protected areas of the Obo National Park (Parque Natural Ôbo) on both Sao Tome and Principe islands, covering about 29,500ha and includes examples of all the different biotopes – the lowland and mountain forests, mangroves and a savanna area. Later, the Tinhosa Islands Nature Preserve was created, covering 15ha, and the Rolas Islet Preserve, covering 6ha. 4 protected áreas in total, covering a land surface of 29,537ha, which correspond to about 30% of the country’s surface. These protected areas were defined to preserve and protect forest, coastal and marine ecosystems and promote orderly zoning and natural resource management so as to guarantee the continuity of evolutionary processes that have been going on for millions of years.

Sapo National Park : LIBERIA Travel Tourism World Heritage Hotel

Sapo National Park : LIBERIA

Sapo National Park is a national park in Sinoe County, Liberia that covers an area of 1,800 square km. It is the country's largest protected area of rainforest and contains the second-largest area of primary tropical rainforest in western Africa. Sapo National Park is located in the Upper Guinean forest ecosystem, a biodiversity hotspot with very high mammal species diversity. Sapo National Park is a national park in Sinoe County, Liberia. It is the country's largest protected area of rainfores and its only national park, and contains the second-largest area of primary tropical rainforest in West Africa after Taï National Park in neighbouring Côte d'Ivoire Agriculture, construction, fishing, hunting, human settlement, and logging are prohibited in the park. Sapo National Park is located in the Upper Guinean forest ecosystem, a biodiversity hotspot that has "the highest mammal species diversity of any region in the world", according to Conservation International,[8][9] and in the Western Guinean lowland forests ecoregion, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature's ecoregions classification scheme.







Sapo National Park (SNP), located in the south-central portion of Liberia, encompasses 180,363 ha of lowland rainforest, including swampy areas, dryland and riparian forests, and represents one of - if not the most - intact forest ecosystem in Liberia. Notable fauna within the park include forest elephant (Loxodonta africana cyclotis), Jentink’s (Cephalophus jentinki) and Zebra Duikers (C. zebra) and large primate populations, including the Diana monkey (Cercopithecus diana), red colobus (Procolobus badius), black and white Colobus (Colobus polycomos) and the western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus). Also found within the park are several populations of the endangered pygmy hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis). Sapo National Park (SNP), located in the south-central portion of Liberia, encompasses 180,363 ha of lowland rainforest, including swampy areas, dryland and riparian forests, and represents one of - if not the most - intact forest ecosystem in Liberia. Notable fauna within the park include forest elephant (Loxodonta africana cyclotis), Jentink’s (Cephalophus jentinki) and Zebra Duikers (C. zebra) and large primate populations, including the Diana monkey (Cercopithecus diana), red colobus (Procolobus badius), black and white Colobus (Colobus polycomos) and the western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus). Also found within the park are several populations of the endangered pygmy hippopotamus (Hexaprotodon liberiensis).








'Hold still," says my wife, plucking a large insect from my beard as we stopped by a small beach along the Sinoe River minutes after a downpour blasted through the lush canopy of trees. "It was camouflaged in there." That's when it struck me just how far away from civilization we really were. To get here - deep in one of the last remaining bits of virgin West African rain forest - we had taken the daily one-and-a-half-hour UN peacekeeping helicopter flight from Liberia's war-ravaged capital, Monrovia, to the remote coastal town of Greenville. Then we took a jarring, three-hour truck ride through a seemingly endless series of fender-deep mud puddles to the Sapo National Park headquarters. From there, it was a four-hour hike through dense jungle, including a river crossing on a tiny, makeshift raft.RS "These are the rapids," proclaims Blamah Goll, the jovial chief park warden, laughing as he tells us how a UN official once stripped to his skivvies and frolicked in the currents. Few outsiders have been to this park. It's simply too hard to get to, even for the most intrepid traveler. Indeed, the country itself - ravaged by a brutal, 14-year civil war that ended in 2003 - is hardly a tourist destination. And Sapo is no Yellowstone. There's no infrastructure whatsoever. Our group of four - two city-slicker Liberians from Monrovia, my wife who shot photos for the trip, and I - stayed in the warden's house, a small cement structure recently built thanks to money from the US Agency for International Development. But there's no visitor housing, no facilities. The "main entrance" to the park is two hours away from the warden's house, accessible only on foot, and it is in no way distinguishable from any other stretch of jungle along the river. Once inside the park, there are no trails. You have to rely completely on the park staff and the local guides - stern-faced ex-hunters hired so they'd stop poaching the endangered animals in the park for "bush meat."

Codri : MOLDOVA Travel Tourism World Heritage Hotel

Codri : MOLDOVA

Codri is the name of the forests that grow in the hilly part of Moldova. These uplands are interlaced by deep, flat valleys, ravines, and landslide-scoured depressions separated by sharp ridges. Steep, forest-clad slopes account for much of the Codri. The highest point in Moldova, Bălăneşti Hill, measures 429 m and is located in the Corneşti Hills, between Prut and Răut rivers, in a core Codri area. Codri (plural; also sometimes singular Codru) is the name of the forests that grow in the hilly part of Moldova. During the Middle Ages most of Principality of Moldavia's hills were forested, and the forested area in general was referred to as Codri, with bigger regional forests often given names such as Codrii Cosminului (Cosmin Codri), Codrii Plonini (Plonini Codri), Codrii Hotinului (Hotin Codri; also Pădurea Hotinului, Hotin Forrest), Codrii Orheiului (Orhei Codri), Codrii Lăpuşnei (Lăpuşna Codri). Although the hills represent about 80%–90% of the territory Moldova, the forested area has decreased after 1800 due to intensive agriculture of the fertile land to about 12%. Despite the fact that there are still several big forests that have been preserved, including some designated as National Parks, the country currently suffers from acute insufficiency of forests (with respect to its normal ecology), translated into poorer and less water for human and irrigation use. These uplands are interlaced by deep, flat valleys, ravines, and landslide-scoured depressions separated by sharp ridges. Steep, forest-clad slopes account for much of the Codri.The highest point in Moldova, Bălăneşti Hill (Dealul Bălăneşti; 429 m or 1,407 ft) is located in the Corneşti Hills, located between Prut and Răut rivers, in a core Codri area.






During the Middle Ages most of Principality of Moldavia's hills were forested, and the forested area in general was referred to as Codri, with bigger regional forests often given names such as Codrii Cosminului (Cosmin Codri), Codrii Plonini (Plonini Codri), Codrii Hotinului (Hotin Codri; also Pădurea Hotinului, Hotin Forrest), Codrii Orheiului (Orhei Codri), Codrii Lăpuşnei (Lăpuşna Codri). Although the hills represent about 80%-90% of the territory Moldova, the forested area has decreased after 1800 due to intensive agriculture of the fertile land to about 12%. Despite the fact that there are still several big forests that have been preserved, including some designated as National Parks, the country currently suffers from acute insufficiency of forests (with respect to its normal ecology), translated into poorer and less water for human and irrigation use. During Middle Ages most of Principality of Moldavia's hills were forested, and the forested area in general was referred as Codri, with bigger regional forests often given names such as Codrii Cosminului (Cosmin Codri), Codrii Plonini (Plonini Codri), Codrii Hotinului (Hotin Codri; also Pădurea Hotinului, Hotin Forrest), Codrii Orheiului (Orhei Codri), Codrii Lăpuşnei (Lăpuşna Codri).







These uplands are interlaced by deep, flat valleys, ravines, and landslide-scoured depressions separated by sharp ridges. Steep, forest-clad slopes account for much of the Codri. The highest point in Moldova, Bălăneşti Hill (Dealul Bălăneşti; 429 m or 1,407 ft) is located in the Corneşti Hills, located between Prut and Răut rivers, in a core Codri area. The uplands of the centre of the republic, the Codri Hills, lie at an average elevation of about 1,150 to 1,300 feet (350 to 400 metres), and the highest point, Mount Bălănești, in the west, reaches 1,407 feet (429 metres). These uplands are interlaced by deep, flat valleys, ravines, and landslide-scoured depressions separated by sharp ridges. Steep forested slopes...

Aukštaitija National Park : LITHUANIA Travel Tourism World Heritage Hotel

Aukštaitija National Park : LITHUANIA

Aukštaitija National Park is a national park in northeastern Lithuania, about 100 km north of Vilnius. Established in 1974, it is the oldest of the 5 national parks in Lithuania. Park territory occupies 405.7 square km. Over 70 percent of its territory is covered by woods, of which 80 percent are pine stands, some 200 years old. An amazing 64 species of plants, 8 of fungi and 48 different kinds of birds are found in the park. The park is famous for its biodiversity - 59% of all plant species in Lithuania can be found in the park, although it covers less than 1% of Lithuania's territory. Aukštaitija National Park is a national park in northeastern Lithuania, about 100 km north of Vilnius. Established in 1974 it is the oldest of the 5 national parks in Lithuania. At first it was named Lithuanian SSR National Park to emphasize that it is the first such park in the republic. In 1991 4 other parks were established and were renamed after ethnographic regions of Lithuania. The park was renamed after Aukštaitija. Park territory occupies 405.7 km². Ignalina district municipality controls about 50% of the area. Utena and Švenčionys district municipalities control 25%. Strictly protected areas occupy 2.1%. One can enter this territory only with accompanying employee of the park. Over 70 percent of its territory is covered by woods. 80 percent of woods are pine stands, some reaching 200 years old. 64 species of plants, 8 of fungi, 48 of birds that are found in the park are included in the Red book of Lithuania. The park is famous for its biodiversity - 59% of all plant species in Lithuania can be found in the park that covers less than 1% of Lithuania's territory. There are 116 villages in the park with about 2300 residents. The first villages are mentioned in the 14th century (Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, was first mentioned in written sources in 1323). The most famous of the villages is Palūšė where park administration resides. Its church, built in 1750, is considered to be the oldest surviving wooden church in Lithuania and was featured on 1 litas banknote. Stripeikiai is the oldest village in the park. It is now known for its unique Lithuanian Museum of Ancient Beekeeping. Ginučiai is another famous village. Tourist are attracted by its watermill built in the 19th century. It is one of the few mills that still has the original mechanisms. Thus it is declared an engineering monument. Two hill forts of national importance are nearby. Kaltanėnai town with 300 inhabitants is the biggest settlement.A classical 1972 Lithuanian movie about an outlaw and national folk hero Tadas Blinda was filmed in Šuminai village. This and other 5 villages are declared architectural monuments.

Lithuania's first national park - Aukstaitija - was established in 1974 and covers an area of 30 thousand hectares. Over 70 % of its territory is pine stands. Some of the pine trees are over 200 years old. Scattered among the woods and hills are some 100 smaller and larger lakes, often interconnected by rivulets and streams. The largest of them is lake Dringis - 721 ha. The Tauragnas is the deepest lake in Lithuania - 60 m. The Baluosas features seven islands, one of which has a little lake of its own, feeding the Baluosas waters through a small stream. The woods, marshes and meadows of the Aukstaitija National Park abound in rare plant species, including a number of plants that are listed in the Red Data Book of Lithuania and are protected as endangered species. The lakes and rivers, too, are rich in wildlife, from Canadian mink to a variety of birds that can bring quite a few exciting moments to a devoted birdwatcher. The parks territory embraces some 80 settlements and villages, some of which have retained not only their old original layout but also archaic wooden farm buildings and other structures. The Paluse village, which is a tourist centre of the Aukstaitija National Park, was first mentioned in written sources in 1651. It still boasts an octagonal wooden church dating back to 1757. One of the most beautiful views of the park is accessible from the top of the Ledakalnis (Ice Hill). Aukstaitija National Park is equipped with inexpensive camping grounds for those travelling by water or road. The campsites are well equipped with fireplaces, parking areas and other facilities. For 30 years Aukštaitija National Park (40,570 ha) has been famous as the foremost ecotourism area of the country with perfect conditions for water tourism. The territory fascinates with splendid clean lakes, connected by picturesque linkups, ethnographic villages, vivid shapes of the surface, abundance of forests and harmony of the nature. In this territory traveling is possible in all ways and in all seasons. In summer the Park becomes the capital of water tourism.







The Park has preserved the Ažvinčiai old forest, a unique ecosystem of the upper reaches of the Žeimena river, located at the junction of three different types of landscape. The park contains 126 lakes (the largest ones are Kretuonas (829 ha), Dringis (725 ha), Baluošas (442 ha), and the deepest lake is Tauragnas (60.5 m)) as if created precisely for water tourism. By lakes and their linkups one can sail up to 70 km and even reach Vilnius by sailing the Žeimena river. The height of the hills here reaches over 200 m, and the most imposing is the Šiliniškės crest with the mounds of Ginučiai and Papiliakalnė, and Ladakalnis, one of the most beautiful observation stations in Lithuania, opening the scenery of six lake pools. Visitors can also enjoy the views in the distance from a specially equipped tower near Ginučiai. The park is home to over 200 species of birds, 60 species of mammals and 900 species of plants, including 120 species listed in the Red Book. Aukstaitija National Park was founded in 1974. At present the total area of the park is 40,570 hectares. The park is located nearly 100 km to the north of Vilnius, and roughly 170 km to the north east of Kaunas. The railway St. Petersburg.- Vilnius - Warsaw - Berlin passes along the south-east boundary of the park. 50% of the park area belongs to Ignalina district, 25% to Utena district, and 25% - to Švenčionys district. The headquarters of Aukštaitija National Park is in the village of Palūšė, Ignalina disrict. Aukštaitija National Park has 116 villages with the total population of 2000. The largest settlement in the park is Kaltanėnai with 300 residents. Other 10 settlements have about 100 inhabitants. Most of villages are in fact as a group of a few farmsteads. The Northern part of the park with largest woods is the most sparsely populated. Here villages are located close to lakes or on riverbanks. There are some surviving lone farm- steads. Six ethnographic villages - Šuminai, Strazdai, Varniškės-2, Salos-2 - retained the old village development structure. Kretuonys, Sakališkės, Meironys, Ginučiai are villages vith one street planing structure. Their peculiarity is that houses are built on both sides of the streets with their narrow side facing the street and auxiliary building behind them. The relief of Aukštaitija National Park is especially various. The park area is on the average 150-155 altitude above sea level. The highest hills rise over 200 metres a.s.l. The deepest hollows (down to 40-60 m) are flooded by water. The range of surface variation is nearly 100 meters. The relief was shaped by Ice Age which had covered Lithuania a number of times. Moraine eminencies with lakes were shaped during the last glacier period. Siliniškės ridge of the hills is of special interest, extending into Ginučiai and Papiliakalnė mounds and the Hill Ladakalnis. From both sides it is surrounded by two deep lakes. The climate in Aukštaitija National Park is sea-continental. The park has on the average 1707 sunny hours of a year. The annual average temperature is +5.5 °C. July is the warmest month (average temperature +18.5 °C). The early frosts come in the second half of September, while the last ones may occur as late as May 20. Permanent snow cover forms in late December. Annual precipitation is 600-650 mm. The highest temperature of 33 °C was registered in summer of the 1992.

Sage Mountain National Park : VIRGIN ISLANDS, BRITISH Travel Tourism World Heritage Hotel

Sage Mountain National Park : VIRGIN ISLANDS, BRITISH

The British Virgin Islands largest island, Tortola, is home to Sage Mountain National Park. This 92-acre reserve includes the 1,780-foot Mt. Sage and a forest with 15- to 20-foot tall fern trees, bulletwood trees, West Indian and broadleaf mahogany trees and white cedars. The British Virgin Islands comprise around sixty tropicalThe Park encompasses the highest point of a ridge running east/west along the spine of Tortola. The elevation of the Park ranges from 750 feet at the western end to 1716 feet at Mount Sage, which is the highest point in the Virgin Islands, US and British. Most of the Park is above 1000 feet, and at this elevation precipitation and cloud cover increase sufficiently to support some forest species (e.g., bullet wood, Manilkara bidentata) normally associated with rain forest in Puerto Rico. Several rare and endangered plant species grow within Sage Mountain. A small area of about 29 and half acres retains much of the character of the original forests that were found at this elevation and in guts in Tortola. This is because the rough boulder terrain here discouraged clearance of vegetation for agriculture apart from some selective logging. Since acquisition by the Trust in 1964, tree planting has been carried out on previously cultivated areas, using West Indies Mahogany and White Cedar, and some natural regeneration has occurred. Caribbean islands, located in the Virgin Islands archipelago.








At 1,716 feet, Sage Mountain is the highest peak in the BVI. From the parking area, a trail leads you in a loop not only to the peak itself (and extraordinary views) but also to a small rain forest that is sometimes shrouded in mist. Most of the forest was cut down over the centuries to clear land for sugarcane, cotton, and other crops; to create pastureland; or simply to utilize the stands of timber. In 1964 this park was established to preserve what remained. Up here you can see mahogany trees, white cedars, mountain guavas, elephant-ear vines, mamey trees, and giant bullet woods, to say nothing of such birds as mountain doves and thrushes. Take a taxi from Road Town or drive up Joe's Hill Road and make a left onto Ridge Road toward Chalwell and Doty villages. The road dead-ends at the park. The Park encompasses the highest point of a ridge running east/west along the spine of Tortola. The elevation of the Park ranges from 750 feet at the western end to 1716 feet at Mount Sage, which is the highest point in the Virgin Islands, US and British. Most of the Park is above 1000 feet, and at this elevation precipitation and cloud cover increase sufficiently to support some forest species (e.g., bullet wood, Manilkara bidentata) normally associated with rain forest in Puerto Rico. Several rare and endangered plant species grow within Sage Mountain.








The Mount Healthy Windmill is an outstanding symbol of the sugar plantation era in the BVI. It is the only one of its kind remaining in the entire British Virgin Islands. The 18th century mill overlooks the north shore of Tortola, and apart from the Callwood Distillery in Cane Garden Bay is the only relic from a period when sugar was 'King' not only in the bVI, but also in the Caribbean. The windmill was one of the two types used in the BVI. The others were mills operated by mules, horses or oxen. The windmill received its power from four long rudder- like arms turning in the wind. When the rudders turned, they powered the mechanism, a central shaft, which rotated the large rollers, crushing the cane through large iron rollers and squeezing out the cane juice. Just outside the area where the windmill stands, there are other remains believed to be the Boiling House and the Overseer's Quarters. James Anderson started the Anderson Estate (Mount Healthy) in 1798. It was then taken over by Bezaliel Hodge, Tortola's largest landowner. The estate changed owners as the years progressed and in 1872, John Dawson and Simon Scatliffe bought the mill from Augustus McClevity. After Scatliffe's death in 1881, Dawson bought the other 50 percent share and became the sole owner of Mount Healthy.