Monday, May 14, 2012

12 of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World

A bay is loosely defined as a body of water partly enclosed by land. Generally they have calmer waters than the surrounding sea and are a good place for ships to shelter from the weather. Also, bays are often very beautiful and represent unavoidable tourist attractions in the countries where they are located. This is our selection of some of the most beautiful bays in the world, enjoy the post.

1. Wineglass Bay, Tasmania, Australia
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Wineglass Bay is one of the most secluded, remote bays in the world and consistently ranked as one of the best and most beautiful. Its fame for seclusion is well-earned, as the walk to the beach through woodlands takes about an hour, but is very much worthwhile. Wineglass Bay is actually located near Hobart, Tasmania, an island off the southern tip of Australia, right below Melbourne, Victoria.
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Freycinet Peninsula, 2.5 hours from Hobart, is the home of Wineglass Bay, and offers natural, breathtaking beauty and plenty of opportunity to bushwalk or hike. The one-hour trek through the woods empties you at the site of a lookout point above the bay. Here, you will witness the vast beauty of the region firsthand, then continue down to the beach itself, marveling at the perfection of it, for a swim in the crystalline waters. On the southern end of the beach watch the Hazards – 300-meter (990 ft) high granite rock sheers – burst into pink flame as the sun sets. [link, map]

2. Navagio Bay, Greece
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Navagio Bay, or the Shipwreck, is an isolated sandy bay on Zakynthos island and one of the most famous bays in Greece. It is notable because it is home to the wreck of the alleged smuggler ship Panagiotis; thus, it is often referred to as 'Smugglers Cove'. Navagio Bay is located on the north-west shore of the Ionian island of Zakynthos (Zante), in the Municipality of Elation.
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The area is defined by its sheer limestone cliffs, white sand beaches, and clear blue water, which attract thousands of tourists yearly. The best views of the bay can be seen from a viewpoint platform at the top of the cliffs. Island tour trips stop off here regularly. It is also interesting that the Bay is accessible only by boat. [link, map]

3. Palm Bay, Australia
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Nestled amongst the swaying palms fringing the white-sand beach and the glistening turquoise waters of Long Island (Whitsunday Islands) lies Palm Bay. A picturesque sweeping bay you can approach it through the dredged channel and lagoon and offers a safe overnight anchorage. From here the visiting yachtsman can take advantage of the bays exclusive and intimate resort, Pepper Palm Bay.
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Head further inland and explore the islands National Park by taking one of the many tracks and trails across the islands dense bush and visit some stunning secluded beaches and dramatic headlands whilst experiencing Australian flora and fauna at it’s best. [link, map]

4. Bay of Islands, New Zealand
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The Bay of Islands is one of the most popular holiday destinations in New Zealand. The picturesque area contains 144 islands, many secluded bays and some great sandy beaches. This beautiful bay has an abundance of marine life including whales, penguins, dolphins and the big marlin.
Urupukapuka Island in the Bay of Islands  link
Also, this bay is a popular gathering place for sailing yachts on world cruises and international sport fishermen. The bay is also historically significant as it was the first part of New Zealand settled by Europeans. [link, map]

5. Hanauma Bay, Hawaii, USA
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Hanauma is a marine embayment formed within a volcanic cone and located along the southeast coast of the Island of Oʻahu (just east of Honolulu) in the Hawaiian Islands. Hanauma is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Island and has suffered somewhat from overuse (at one time accommodating over three million visitors per year). In 1956, dynamite was used to clear portions of the reef to make room for telephone cables linking Hawaii to the west coast of the US.
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Hanauma is both a Nature Preserve and a Marine Life Conservation District. Visitors are required by law to refrain from mistreating marine animals or from touching, walking, or otherwise having contact with coral heads, which appear much like large rocks on the ocean floor. About 400 species of fish are known to inhabit the bay. Hanauma Bay is known for its abundance of Green sea turtles, known as Honu. Hanauma is a nursery ground for the immature turtles, which have their nesting grounds at French Frigate Shoals. It is also known for its abundance of parrotfish. [link, map]

6. Maya Bay, Thailand
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Maya Bay is a stunningly beautiful bay that's sheltered by 100-metre (330 ft) high cliffs on three sides. Inside the bay there are several beaches, most are small and some only exist at low tide. The main one is around 200 metres (660 ft) long with silky soft white sand, underwater colourful coral and exotic fish in exceptionally clear water; the whole bay is one big reef.
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The best time to visit Maya Bay is between November and April during the high season when seas are calm and access to the bay is easy. Rough seas from May to October may hinder access but rarely deny entry. [link]

7. Bay of Kotor, Montenegro
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The Bay of Kotor in south-western Montenegro is a winding bay on the Adriatic Sea. The bay, sometimes called Europe's southernmost fjord, is in fact a ria of the disintegrated Bokelj River which used to run from the high mountain plateaus of Mount Orjen. It is an important tourist attraction in Montenegro.
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The bay is composed of several smaller broad bays, united by narrower channels, forming one of the finest natural harbours in Europe. The bay inlet was formerly a river system. Very intensive tectonics and karstification processes led to the disintegration of this river. After heavy rain the famous waterfall of Sopot spring at Risan appears, and Škurda, another well known spring runs through a canyon from Lovćen (mountain). [link, map]

8. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam
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Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and a popular travel destination, located in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. Ha Long Bay is a center of a larger zone which includes Bái Tử Long bay to the northeast, and Cát Bà islands to the southwest. These larger zones share similar geological, geographical, geomorphological, climate, and cultural characters.
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The bay consists of a dense cluster of over 3,000 limestone monolithic islands each topped with thick jungle vegetation, rising spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. Hang Đầu Gỗ (Wooden stakes cave) is the largest grotto in the Hạ Long area. There are two bigger islands, Tuần Châu and Cat Ba, that have permanent inhabitants, as well as tourist facilities including hotels and beaches. There are a number of beautiful beaches on the smaller islands. [map]

9. Marigot Bay, Saint Lucia
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Marigot Bay is located on the western coast of the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia, 3.75 miles (6 km) southwest from Castries and a short distance from the Saint Lucian National Marine Reserve. It is surrounded on three sides by steep, forested hills.
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Marigot Bay is a historic landmark, having been the site of a number of battles between the French and British navies. The American novelist James A. Michener famously described Marigot Bay as "The most beautiful bay in the Caribbean." [link, map]

10. Phang Nga Bay, Thailand
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Phang Nga Bay is a 400 sq km (154 sq mi) bay in the Andaman Sea between the island of Phuket and the mainland of the Malay peninsula of southern Thailand. Since 1981, an extensive section of the bay has been protected as the Ao Phang Nga National Park. Limestone cliffs with caves, collapsed cave systems and archaeological sites are found about Phang Nga Bay.
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Phang Nga is a shallow bay with 42 islands, comprising shallow marine waters and intertidal forested wetlands, with at least 28 species of mangrove; seagrass beds and coral reefs are also present. At least 88 bird species, including the globally threatened Malaysian Plover and Asiatic Dowitcher, can be found within the site, as well as 82 fish species, 18 reptiles, three amphibians, and 17 mammal species. [link, map]

11. Hanalei Bay, Hawaii, USA
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Hanalei Bay is the largest bay on the north shore of Kauaʻi island in Hawaii. The town of Hanalei is at the mid-point of the bay. Hanalei Bay consists of nearly two miles (3 km) of beach, surrounded by mountains. In the summer, the bay offers excellent mooring for sailboats, stand up paddle boarding and swimming.
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Hanalei means "lei-shaped bay," a fitting description of this almost perfectly circular bay. With over two miles of clean, white sand bordering its inner margin and a backdrop of waterfalls and mountains peaks ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 feet (300-1.200m) high, Hanalei Bay is considered by many visitors and residents to be the most beautiful beach setting in Hawai'i. One of the best views of the beach is from the Princeville Hotel, located on the bluff above the east point of the bay. [link1, link2, map]

12. Villefranche Bay, France
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This bay is one of the most beautiful bay in France. A top place for divers and biggest cruse boats. The bay of Villefranche is one of the deepest natural harbours of any port in the Mediterranean Sea and provides safe anchorage for large ships, reaching depths of 95 m (320 ft) between the Cape of Nice and Cap Ferrat; it extends to the south to form a 500 m (1700 ft) abyss known as the undersea Canyon of Villefranche at about one nautical mile off the coastline. [link, map]

Monday, May 7, 2012

8 Lesser Known Crowded Islands From Around the World

When you think of islands, wide, pristine beaches and uninhabited jungles typically come to mind. These 8 lesser-known islands probably use to be like that once - but today, they have developed into entire towns. Islanders often have problems due to congestion in these settlements, and tourists from time to time come to enjoy the special charm of crowded islands...

1. Mexcaltitan, Mexico
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Population:  818 inhabitants
Area:          -
Mexcaltitán is a small island city off the Pacific coast of Mexico. The town sits low in the marshy, mangrove-lined channels that surround it, and during the June to October rainy season, water floods the streets and everyone rows from place to place in boats.
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Some experts believe that Mexcaltitán may actually be the legendary Aztlán, the ancestral homeland of the Aztec people. Today it’s foremost a shrimping town, with shrimps spread out to dry on any available surface throughout the town. [link, map]

2. Ebeye Island, Marshall Islands
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Population: 15 000 inhabitants
Area:         0,36 sq km (0.14 sq mi)
Ebeye is the most populous island of Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands, as well as the center for Marshallese culture in the Ralik Chain of the archipelago. Over 50% of the population is estimated to be under the age of 18. It is the fifth most densely populated island in the world.
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When the United States decided to test nuclear weapons in the South Pacific, they chose to do so amongst the atolls of the Marshall Islands. U.S. officials uprooted many residents from Bikini Atoll and Enewetak Atoll to insure that the testing did not directly harm human life. The relocated Marshallese had to move somewhere, and most moved to Ebeye under the assistance of the United States. This forced relocation caused a huge mess, including a severe housing shortage and land owner legality issues that persist today. The combination of factors created an environment of hostility and squalor, creating the slum of the South Pacific. [link1link2, map]

3. Flores, Guatemala
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Population:  13 700 inhabitants
Area:           -
The Island of Flores is located on Lake Peten Itza in Guatemala. It was formerly called Tayasal. The Island is named after Cirilo Flores, one of the first Guatemaltecos to call for independence from the Colonial powers. 
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On the island is located homonymous town - Flores. This town is quiet small island town, but it is hosting lots of restaurants, hotels, guesthouses, handicraft and souvenir stores, Internet caffee’s, etc. Island is connected to the mainland by a narrow causeway. The causeway connects Flores to the two surrounding towns which are home to most of the area’s population. The two neighboring towns are Santa Elena and San Benito both of which sit along the shores of Lake Peten Itza and service Flores. [link1link2, map]

4. Santa Cruz del Islote, Colombia
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Population: 1 247 inhabitants
Area:         0,1 sq km (0.04 sq mi)
The most densely populated island in the world is Santa Cruz del Islote, a microslum off the coast of Colombia. This tropical island is located in the emerald waters of the idyllic Caribbean, though is packed so tight that most activities are done off island.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hotelpuntafaro/4420707286/in/photostream/
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The residents have to use neighboring islands as cemetery, recreation grounds, and the residents work on the mainland instead of on the island. Students from the island attend school on neighboring mainland. The Mucura Island Hotels are a prime source of work for the residents. [linkmap]

5. Migingo Island, Kenya
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Population:  130 inhabitants
Area:          0,02 sq km (0.008 sq mi)
Migingo is a tiny 2,000-square-metre (half-acre) island, about half the size of a football pitch in Lake VictoriaA rocky and rugged piece of land with little vegetation, Migingo is one of three small islands in close proximity. 
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In 2008–09 the island itself was claimed by both Kenya and Uganda. July 2009 a survey team found that the island is 510 metres (1,670 ft) east of the Kenya-Uganda border within the lake. The island has a population of about 130 (according to 2009 census), mostly fishermen and fish traders, who are served by four pubs and a pharmacy on the island. [link, map]

6. Fadiouth, Senegal
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Population: 9 000 inhabitants
Area:         0,15 sq km (0.06 sq mi)
Fadiouth is very densely populated town at the end of the Petite Côte (coast) of Senegal, south-east of Dakar. It is perched on homonymous island that's made almost entirely of clam shells. The island is accessible by a narrow wood bridge which is only accessible to pedestrians.
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This town was predominantly Catholic but now also has a small Muslim community. The major economic activities for the villagers of Fadiouth are fishing and rice cultivation.  Since the town is located in a large river delta, farmers have taken advantage of the shallow flood plain caused by the river to grow rice in the area. [link, map]

7. Lindau, Germany
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Population: 3 000 inhabitants
Area:         0,68 sq km (0.26 sq mi)
Lindau is a Bavarian town and an island on the eastern side of Lake Constance, the Bodensee. The historic city of Lindau is located on an 0.68-square-kilometre island which is connected with the mainland by a road bridge and the causeway of the railway to Lindau station.
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Lindau is located near the meeting point of the Austrian, German and Swiss borders. It is popular with sightseers and holidaymakers for its medieval city centre and pleasant location on Lake Constance. [link, map]

8. Isola dei Pescatori, Italy
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Population: 50 inhabitants
Area:         0,034 sq km (0.013 sq mi)
Isola dei Pescatori (Fishermen’s Island) is the most northerly of the three principal Borromean Islands in Lago Maggiore. With a population of about 50, it is the only one island to be inhabited all year round.
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A narrow street running along its spine is joined by cobbled alleys to the promenade which encircles the island. The promenade is frequently flooded and the houses built against it are constructed to allow for this. While the traditional occupation of fishing still exists, its picturesque charms has made tourism the most important source of income for the islanders. [link, map]

Wednesday, February 15, 2012