Monday, May 2, 2011

top 10 Beautiful Yet Toxic Caterpillars

Caterpillars come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Their beauty can often be deceiving since their hairs often contain venom which can be poisonous to humans and predators. Toxic caterpillars can be found in many places including backyard gardens, parks and fields. The following list describes 10 of the most beautiful, yet dangerously toxic caterpillars in the world.

1. The Saddleback Caterpillar

Acharia stimulea e1300854638172 10 Beautiful Yet Toxic Caterpillars
This unique looking slug caterpillar is mostly green with brown at each end with a white-ringed purple-brown dot in the center which looks like a saddle. When fully grown, it measures approximately one inch long and 3/8 inch wide. It has a pair of fleshy horns at each end which contain hairs that secrete irritating venom along with protruding spines in every direction. Its stings are painful and can cause swelling, nausea and a rash which lasts for days. The Saddleback Caterpillar can be found in gardens, flower pots, fields and forests. It eats everything from garden plants to trees and shrubs.

2) The Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar

Tyria jacobaeae caterpillar e1300854752309 10 Beautiful Yet Toxic Caterpillars
This creature starts off pale yellow, but later develops the bright orange/yellow and jet black striped bands. It has a voracious appetite and can consume entire areas of weeds. When it runs out of food, or sometimes for no apparent reason, it can actually turn cannibalistic. The Cinnabar Moth Caterpillar was introduced into New Zealand, Australia and North America to biologically control poisonous ragwort and Tansy. Oftentimes, these caterpillars cluster together in an attempt to defend themselves against predators. As they age, they tend to act aggressively toward each other. Survival is often cut short due to completely consuming food sources before reaching maturity.

3) The Monarch Caterpillar

Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus Vertical Caterpillar 10 Beautiful Yet Toxic Caterpillars
This yellow, black and white striped caterpillar is so small immediately after hatching that it can barely be seen. It has two pairs of black filaments, one pair on each end of the body. It grows very fast, feeds only on milkweed leaves and cannot exist without them. When fully grown, the Monarch Caterpillar is about 2 inches long. Although beautiful to look at, it is poisonous or distasteful to birds and mammals due to cardiac glycosides that are contained in the milkweed it eats. When the Monarch Caterpillar emerges into a butterfly, it is considered the most beautiful and “king” of all butterflies.

4) The Gypsy Moth Caterpillar

gypsy moth catepillar e1300854931987 10 Beautiful Yet Toxic Caterpillars
Present from May through mid-July, newly hatched Gypsy Moth Caterpillars are black with long stiff bristles. Older caterpillars have five pairs of raised blue spots and six pairs of raised red spots on their backs with fewer hairs. The hairs can cause pain on contact and lead to dermatitis. In order to spread throughout the forest, they climb to tree tops, spin a thread, dangle from it and wait for the breeze to carry them away. These caterpillars love to feed on certain types of leaves, such as maple, elm and oak. Damage from feeding infestations can cause complete defoliation leading to disease, vulnerability to other insects or tree death.

5) The Bag Shelter Caterpillar

Thaumetopoea pityocampa e1300854998338 10 Beautiful Yet Toxic Caterpillars
Known as Processionary Caterpillars for walking in processions, these are amongst the most dangerous and should not be touched. Coming in contact with one can cause external and internal bleeding. The poison contains chemicals which are potent enough to cause humans to bleed to death. Airborne hairs will cause rashes and respiratory problems. Bag Shelter Caterpillars are dark brown with a brown head and long soft hairs. They live inside a brown bag made of silk and come out at night to feed. They can be found resting or hiding on the base of medium to large size wattle tree trunks and eat the leaves.

6) The Puss Caterpillar

Puss caterpillar1 10 Beautiful Yet Toxic Caterpillars
The most poisonous caterpillar in North America is the Puss or Woolly Slug Caterpillar. Don’t be fooled by its fluffy cotton ball appearance as it will release acid on anything that touches it and is loaded with poisonous spines all over its body. Although the long, soft hairs are harmless, the spines can cause immediate, excruciating pain. Symptoms from a sting can last several days and include headache, nausea and vomiting. Its colors vary from grayish-white to golden-brown to dark charcoal gray and its body tapers to a tail. These inch long caterpillars can be found in citrus trees, elms, oaks and garden plants.

7) The Stinging Rose Caterpillar

rose slug 10 Beautiful Yet Toxic Caterpillars
The flamboyant Stinging Rose or Rose Slug Caterpillar is less than an inch long and comes in red, orange and yellow with purple and green pinstripes. It proudly wears its bright colors as a warning announcing how dangerous it is; aka aposematic coloration. This colorful species has black-tipped spines with poison glands. Touching this caterpillar will cause the tips of the spines to break off and venom to enter the skin. This can cause an irritating skin rash and a hypersensitive reaction. These caterpillars can be found on woody plants such as dogwood, maple, oak, cherry, apple, poplar and hickory.

8) The Hickory Tussock Caterpillar

Lophocampa caryae M 2 e1300855309421 10 Beautiful Yet Toxic Caterpillars
These black and white caterpillars are covered in grayish-white hairs with black spots on the sides and black tufts along the middle of the back. Two long, sharp, thin black hairs protrude from the front and back of the caterpillar connected to poison glands. Poisoning occurs when coming into contact with hairs or spines and causes skin rashes or hypersensitivity. Hickory Tussock Caterpillars are commonly seen from June to September and can be found in southern Canada and parts of North America. They feed for about eight weeks on hickory, pecan and walnuts in addition to elm, oak and willow.

9) The Io Moth Caterpillar

Io moth caterpillar1 10 Beautiful Yet Toxic Caterpillars
As the Io Moth Caterpillar develops, it goes from orange to bright green with red and white stripes running the length of the body. These two inch creatures tend to travel in single file processions over food plants and young caterpillars feed in groups. Two types of poisons are released from their spines with the slightest touch and pack a powerful sting, burning sensation and inflammation. They feed on many trees and shrubs including willow, maple, elm, oak, holly, aspen, locust, cherry, pear and sassafras. This species can be found in open woods, meadows and cornfields from February through September.

10) The Spiny Oak Slug Caterpillar

SpinyOakSlugLarva 10 Beautiful Yet Toxic Caterpillars
This beautiful caterpillar comes in a rainbow of pastel colors including green, blue, pink and yellow and is a little less than an inch long. It is rather flat and has four clusters of darker spines near the hind end. Poison released by the spines can cause a severe reaction and warrant medical attention. The Spiny Oak Slug Caterpillar likes to feed on sycamore, willow, ash, oak, hackberry and chestnut along with other trees and smaller woody plants. This species can be found in the woodlands from southern Quebec to Maine and south through Missouri, Texas and Florida.

10 of the Worlds Spikiest living things

Not all creatures or plants have a guaranteed way to defend themselves against others who want to harm them. Nature has given many species a built-in safeguard from their predators, and some have no protection at all. An earthworm, for example has no guard against the birds that would scoop them up and swallow them whole. A marigold flower was gifted with a bad odor to ward off many animals that would eat them, but is this odor enough of a defense to guard against all predators? No, it is not. There are some animals that would just hold their noses… and some were given no great smelling ability to begin with, so they would not care. There are some living things that have inoculations that will preserve them from being endangered. They will not be on the endangered list for a long, long time.

1. Thorny Devil

Thorny Devil crop 10 of the Worlds Spikiest Living Things
This gentle lizard lives in central Australia, an arid and sandy habitat. It feeds on ants and tarantulas and grows up to 8 inches long. You would think that something this small would be prime pickings for most other animals, but this thorny devil is covered with sharp, hard thorns. Not only does that deter predators, but the thorny devil also can camouflage itself by changing colors to imitate its surroundings. This animal knows another trick. It has a false head on the back of its neck so when a predator comes around the thorny devil will bury its real head in the sand for protection.

2. Sea Urchins

sea urchin e1300852957821 10 of the Worlds Spikiest Living Things
Fascinating animals that have spines surrounding their shell for protection, these animals do have a couple of predators that find their way around the spikes: humans and sea otters. There is not too much to eat on a sea urchin, but as typical humans, we will always find something to eat or a use for it. People actually collect them for decoration. One kind of urchin, the flower urchin, has venom on the tip of its spikes. Nobody wants to eat a poisonous pincushion! The sea urchin has hundreds of tiny tuber feet, which they use for traveling. They eat bits of plants and small animals by using their teeth. They grow five teeth in the middle of their backside, which they use to pull, tear and rip algae off rocks. They are about four inches and come in many different colors, purple and pink being the most common. The sea urchin can live and reproduce for up to 200 years.

3. Lionfish

lionfish e1300853121192 10 of the Worlds Spikiest Living Things
The stunning lionfish is named for its fan-shaped fins and a spiky dorsal fin, which make them look like they have a huge lion’s mane. They have two predator defenses that come in handy. One is that their color allows them to be camouflaged in their habitat, and they also have venom in their dorsal spines. This poison will make a human sick and unable to breathe normally, but it is very seldom fatal. The lionfish will grow to be about a foot long, and people describe them as being ill tempered because the fish has nothing to fear thanks to its sharp and venomous spikes. It is considered one of the most poisonous fish in the world.

4. Porcupine fish

Diodon nicthemerus e1300853211325 10 of the Worlds Spikiest Living Things
These interesting little swimmers are much like the puffer fish, only they have spines all over their skin. The fish grows to be around four feet or larger and instead of having venom in their spikes, the porcupine fish have a poison in their bodies, which if ingested could paralyze a person or even cause death. These fish have large beck-like teeth that never stop growing, so they like to live around coral to bite on and wear their teeth down. If they are threatened by another bigger fish, the porcupine will inflate its body, just like the puffer, and become too big for the predator to eat. These fish are great swimmers except, as you can imagine, when they are all puffed up.

5. Australian echidna

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These echidnas are sometimes called spiny anteaters. Their bodies are brownish black and covered with spines and coarse hair. The arms of the echidna are very strong with claws that are designed to dig. The snout on this animal is long and tubular which helps them smell their prey and eat it, too. The echidna’s snout also contains a sticky tongue that helps the animal catch their prey. They can stick their tongue in an ant hole and come out with hundreds of their favorite snack. Some even have spikes on their tongues. These spiny anteaters can live to be 40 or 50 years old.

6. European Hedgehog

European Hedgehog e1300853375186 10 of the Worlds Spikiest Living Things
This hedgehog has no tail so that more of its body can be covered with dense spines. When in danger, the hedgehog will roll up in a ball of spines to stick anything that wants to take a bite. They are little guys growing to only nine or ten and a half inches long. They love to eat small animals, worms, insects and spiders, but they will also try to find birds’ eggs to eat. This might be the European hedgehog’s downfall. They are eating so many eggs of ground nesting waders like Snipe, Dunlin, Redshank and Lapwing, that they are considered a pest in some areas.

7. Spiny-backed Orb Weaver

Spiny backed orbweaver spider 10 of the Worlds Spikiest Living Things
Even though this little spider is noticeable because of its colors, it does not have anything strange or different going on with it otherwise. It does have a hard abdomen that can be white, orange, or yellow with red markings. And, oh, yes… there are thorns coming out of this abdomen that supposedly protect it from predators, but the spider is so small no other animal can see it to eat it. Other than that, it is a typical spider that weaves flat webs to catch flying bugs for its dinner. They are harmless and only come indoors if someone or something brings them inside.

8. Io Moth Caterpillar

Io moth caterpillar 10 of the Worlds Spikiest Living Things
This little caterpillar is very cute with its little yellow trees sticking out all over its body. You would probably want to pick it up to have a closer look. If you did, you would more than likely have either an itchy or a burning sensation or need medical assistance. Those little yellow tree-like structures are spines that are attached to poison glands and are meant for predators. Their bodies are pale green with yellow and red stripes growing to about two inches. Even though they catch your eye and are interesting to look at, you had better look at them from afar. These caterpillars turn into the most beautiful butterflies you have ever seen.

9. Spike-headed Katydid

Spike headed Katydid 10 of the Worlds Spikiest Living Things
This is the craziest looking thing ever seen. It is related to the grasshopper and cricket, but this katydid must have been adopted. This insect is a bright beautiful green color with little thorns all over its body—even its legs. If you would touch one of the thorns, it would easily cut through your skin. Its head is bigger than a grasshopper’s head, and it has what looks like a crown on the top of it made out of thorns with a reddish hue.

10. Thorn Trees of Africa

Acacia erioloba 10 of the Worlds Spikiest Living Things
Last but not least is a plant that has tremendous thorns growing all over it. The thorns can be long and straight or short and curved. These thorns deter any animal from climbing it to eat the leaves, but some animals, like giraffes, have leathery tongues and don’t feel the pain against either type of thorn. When this happens, the tree produces chemicals, which make the leaves taste bad. This acacia also has a deal worked out with cocktail ants. They chase off insects while the tree lets them live in the thorns and eat sweet sap the tree produces.

10 Top Mountain Treks

Almost all adventure seekers enjoy mountain trekking. It is an exciting and adventurous sport, be it mountain climbing, camping, rock climbing or exploring. The following ten mountain treks are, if not the most famous, definitely among the most famous in the world. Some of them are only for professionals, others are easier to climb, but each of them is awe-inspiring.

1. Mont Blanc

monrblanc 10 Top Mountain Treks in the World
This is rightfully a classic of Europe’s circuits. It is amongst the most popular mountaineering routes in the entire world. Its popularity has been growing since the end of the 18th century. The splendid views of Mont Blanc are due to the fact that this famous trek goes through various deep glacial valleys and traverses three countries: Italy, Switzerland, and France. The difficulty rating for this trek is moderate to strenuous.

2. Lycian Way

lycian way 10 Top Mountain Treks in the World
This is the first long distance footpath one should make in Turkey. It may not be amongst the most legendary mountain treks, but it is still genuinely impressive though under-appreciated. This Turkish trek winds along the most dramatic coastline of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Mount Olympus’ limestone peaks which rise very high above the dazzling aquamarine waters. It goes by sunken cities and ancient ruins, meandering through beautiful wooded valleys but also along magnificent cliff tops that overlook desolate beaches. The difficulty rating for this trek is moderate to strenuous.

3. The GR20

gr20 10 Top Mountain Treks in the World
This mountain trek is actually named The Grand Randonnée 20 but the Corsicans also call it Fra li Monti. It is undoubtedly among the toughest yet finest long-distance mountain treks in Europe. This superb pathway was established in 1972 and it goes across the island of Corsica in the Mediterranean Sea from the northern side towards the southern. The landscape variety is amazing, starting with steep and rocky paths in the northern part and ending with abundant green meadows down in the south. The difficulty rating for this trek is challenging.

4. Mount Toubkal Climb

Mount Toubkal e1301032457200 10 Top Mountain Treks in the World
This is the highest peak in North Africa and probably a surprising selection for many. But once you reach the summit and get the chance to admire the Marrakech plains which roll away towards the north as well as the Anti Atlas mountains towards the south, you will understand how special this trek is. The panoramic views are completed by the tooth-like crests of the High Atlas spreading to the west and east. As it winds up towards the summit, the path goes through secluded Berber villages which have not changed for centuries, a captivating insight into a forgotten way of life. The difficulty rating for this trek is strenuous.

5. Kilimanjaro Climb

Kilimanjaro Climb e1301032523482 10 Top Mountain Treks in the World
This mountain trek is definitely more renowned than its cousin from Morocco. Mount Kilimanjaro’s summit offers a unique view which is simply amazing. The glacier capped volcano which rises from the lavish forests of the plains around it goes up 5,895 meters into the stratosphere and this makes it the highest point in Africa. The difficulty rating for this trek is strenuous to tough.

6. Everest Base Camp

Everest kalapatthar crop e1301032668547 10 Top Mountain Treks in the World
Mount Everest lies at the very heart of Nepal, which is without a doubt one of the most marvelous countries on Earth. It is known as the highest point on this planet. The summit is reachable only by the professional mountaineer; however, the Everest Base Camp can be attained by any experienced trekker. This mountain trek may be the most famed of them all. It pursues the well-known, classic route through Sherpa and attracts numerous trekkers year after year. The difficulty rating for this trek is strenuous.

7. Annapurna Sanctuary

Annapurna Sanctuary e1301032728836 10 Top Mountain Treks in the World
This is some kind of a natural amphitheatre formed by part of the Annapurna Himal massif which is very vast and has a few peaks that go beyond 7,000 meters. It is ringed by fellow giants Annapurna 1, Gangapurna, Glacier Dome, Machhapuchhare and Fang. This mountain trek is a reasonably tough high altitude one which however presents mountain views that are awe-inspiring and which can compete with any other perspective offered by the Himalayas. The difficulty rating for this trek is moderate to challenging.

8. The Huayhuash Circuit

Huayhuash Circuit 10 Top Mountain Treks in the World
Any true walking enthusiast should try this mountain trek. It is meant for those who are ready to take on a physical challenge. The trek follows a breathtaking high altitude course through the Andes, visiting the famous valley mentioned by Joe Simpson in “Touching the World”, his epic story. The Huayhuash has splendidly glaciated peaks which can be very steep (this includes Yerupaja, Peru’s second highest peak – 6634m) which make it probably the most majestic range of the Peruvian Andes. The difficulty rating for this trek is strenuous.

9. The Inca Trail

inca trail e1301032875393 10 Top Mountain Treks in the World
No one can argue that this is the most renowned mountain trek in all South America. It is truly a “must” for any decent trekker. In the beginning it was meant to be a highway (an ancient one) which used to connect Cuzco, the Inca capital, with the famous Machu Picchu, the lost city. Fortunately, now it has been reinstated to its original magnificence. This pathway goes through the splendid mountain scenery of cloud forest and snow covered Andean peaks, the supreme goal being Machu Picchu, obviously. The difficulty rating for this trek is moderate.

10. Fitzroy and Paine

fitzroy and paine e1301032986279 10 Top Mountain Treks in the World
This Argentinian mountain trek is a really adventurous one that goes among the overwhelming summits on the Continental Ice-Cap. This mighty sculpting force which lies right on the eastern side of the world’s third largest mass of ice has given birth to a scenery of jagged mountains, sparkling lakes and sensational glaciers “working” together with the brutal movements of plate tectonics. This is definitely a stunning trek that leads the walker through the wilderness of Patagonia. The difficulty rating for this trek is strenuous.

Amazing places

US Meteor Crater

Meteor Crater
Meteor Crater
Meteor Crater
Meteor Crater is located in the northern region of the Arizona desert, United States. Approximately 45 miles easy of Flagstaff this massive crater is the handy work of a 50 meter wide meteorite that broke the atmosphere and smashed into our planet sometime around 50, 000 years ago. Although now a desert, this area was once grassy plains dotted with woodlands that ancient beasts like the wholly mammoth and ground sloths would have inhabited.

Don Juan Pond

Don Juan Pond
Don Juan Pond
Don Juan Pond
Located in Antarctica, the Don Juan Pond is a seriously salty body of water. To put things in perspective, compared with the dead sea which is 8 times saltier than sea water, the Don Juan Pond is a staggering 18 times saltier than sea water! Although not very deep, the Don Juan Pond never freezes thanks to its high salt content even when temperatures drop as low as -30 degrees. This intriguing body of water was first discovered in 1961.

The Great Dune of Pyla

The Great Dune of Pyla
The Great Dune of Pyla
The Great Dune of Pyla
When you think of sand dunes you mostly think of deserts, right? Well there are no deserts in Europe however the Great Dune of Pyla is indeed Europe’s largest sand dune. Located in France, the Great Dune of Pyla is a massive tourist attraction and a favorite spot of para gliders. The dune comes in from the coast with the steep side facing a forest, such a strange sight! Running along 3km of coastline the dune peaks of a height of around 100 meters and covers 500 meters from coast to forest, truly spectacular!

83 – 42

83-42
83-42
83-42
83-42 does have a strange name and certainly doesn’t seem extraordinary at first glance, however this small piece of land which is only 35 x 15 meters is the northernmost piece of permanent land on the earth which measures at around 400 miles from the North Pole. 83-42 was discovered in 1998 and was confirmed to be a permanent land formation after the discovery of lichen on the island. Only 5 people have ever stepped foot on 83-42.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011


Monkey Eating Eagle
The Philippine Eagle- Pithecophaga jefferyi,also known as the Great Philippine Eagle or Monkey-eating Eagle, is among the rarest, largest, and most powerful birds in the world. This bird of prey is endemic to forests in the Philippines, where it is the national bird. It has numerous local names, including HaribonHaring Ibon (which means "Bird King") and banog. Killing thiscritically endangered species is punishable under Philippine law by twelve years in jail and heavy fines.Can you imagine a hawk that, despite having a wingspan greater than 213 cm (7 ft.), manoeuvres through the forest canopy with ease and snatches monkeys from trees? Well, the Philippine Eagle is just such a bird!
The Philippine Eagle is sometimes known as the Monkey-eating Eagle. While they do eat monkeys such as long-tailed macaques, flying lemurs are much more common prey.
These eagles are rather plainly coloured birds, being largely brown-backed and white-chested. When they are excited, they raise a short crest on the head, which gives them a punk look. They can be extremely long-lived—one captive bird died at the ripe old age of 41.
The Philippine Eagle is the second largest of its group, smaller than only the Harpy Eagle. Unfortunately, it is the rarest, with only several hundred pairs left in the rainforests of the Philippines (and only on the islands of Luzon, Samar, Leyte and Mindanao).
The reason these eagles are so rare today is simple: most of their habitat has been cut down. Each breeding pair needs between 65 and 130 square kilometres (25 to 50 square miles) of continuous rainforest for territory, so the destruction of 90% of the Philippine rainforest has been particularly devastating to this species.
Protection of the remaining forest and the establishment of the Philippine Eagle Foundation on Mindanao Island (where more than 20 birds have been raised, as of 2008) have been positive steps to saving this species. The Philippine Eagle has been the Philippines’s national emblem since 1995.

Thursday, January 20, 2011


10 World Biggest Holes Created By Human and Nature




It is believed that holes are wrath of god on this earth and are pathway to hell. Most people reading this would agree but here it is certainly not the case. Holes created in different parts of the world either due to human works like mining, as sum of these are diamond mine shafts that have been abandoned or due to wrath of god as we all know through meteor shower or something similar falling that made the dinosaurs extinct are today popular vacation spots as they are a visual extravaganza.
Whether it’s the Great Blue Hole of Belize, Mirny Diamond Mine of Siberia or the Burning Gates of Turkmenistan, all of these attract a hell lot of tourists and adventure seekers every year just to get a glimpse and experience the ultimate souvenir of nature. Check these cool pictures.
Mirny Diamond Mine of Siberia
Great Blue Hole – Belize
Burning Gates of Turkmenistan
Kimberley Big Hole -  South Africa
Bingham Canyon Mine – Utah
Glory Hole in Monticello Dam California
Diavik Diamond Mine – Canada
Guatemala Sinkhole
Chuquicamata Copper Mine – Chile
Udachnaya Pipe – Russia

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

10Banaue Rice Terraces
Philippines
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The Banaue Rice Terraces are 2000-year old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the indigenous people. The Rice Terraces are commonly referred to by Filipinos as the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. It is commonly thought that the terraces were built with minimal equipment, largely by hand. The terraces are located approximately 1500 meters (5000 ft) above sea level and cover 10,360 square kilometers (about 4000 square miles) of mountainside. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. It is said that if the steps are put end to end it would encircle half the globe. Locals to this day still plant rice and vegetables on the terraces. The result is the gradual erosion of the characteristic “steps”, which need constant reconstruction and care.
9
Sigiriya
Sri Lanka
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Sigiriya (Lion’s rock) is an ancient rock fortress and palace ruin situated in the central Matale District of Sri Lanka, surrounded by the remains of an extensive network of gardens, reservoirs, and other structures. A popular tourist destination, Sigiriya is also renowned for its ancient paintings (frescos), which are reminiscent of the Ajanta Caves of India. The Sigiriya was built during the reign of King Kassapa I (AD 477 – 495), and it is one of the seven World Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka. Sigiriya may have been inhabited through prehistoric times. It was used as a rock-shelter mountain monastery from about the 5th century BC, with caves prepared and donated by devotees to the Buddhist Sangha.
8
Tower of Hercules
Spain
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The Tower of Hercules is an ancient Roman lighthouse on a peninsula about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) from the centre of A Coruña, Galicia, in north-western Spain. The name Corunna is said to be derived from the ancient column. The structure is 55 meters (180 ft) tall and overlooks the North Atlantic coast of Spain. It is almost 1900 years old, was rehabilitated in 1791, and is the oldest Roman lighthouse still used as a lighthouse.
7
Toruń
Poland
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Toruń is a city in northern Poland, on the Vistula River. The medieval old town of Toruń is the birthplace of Nicolaus Copernicus. The first settlement in the vicinity is dated by archaeologists to 1100 BC. During medieval times, in the 7th-13th centuries, it was the location of an old Polish settlement, at a ford in the river. The Teutonic Knights built a castle in the vicinity of the Polish settlement in the years 1230-31. In 1263 Franciscan monks settled in the city, followed in 1239 by Dominicans. In 1264 the nearby New Town was founded. In 1280, the city (or as it was then, both cities) joined the mercantile Hanseatic League and was soon turned into an important medieval trade centre. As you can see from the photograph above, it is a beautiful medieval city and well worth visiting.

6
Ajanta Caves
India
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The Ajanta Caves in Maharashtra, India are rock-cut cave monuments dating from the second century BC, containing paintings and sculpture considered to be masterpieces of both Buddhist religious art and universal pictorial art. By AD 480 the caves at Ajanta were abandoned. During the next 1300 years the jungle grew back and the caves were hidden, unvisited and undisturbed until the Spring of 1819 when a British officer in the Madras army entered the steep gorge on the trail of a tiger. Somehow, deep within the tangled undergrowth, he came across the almost hidden entrance to one of the caves. Exploring that first cave, long since a home to nothing more than birds and bats and a lair for other, larger, animals, Captain Smith wrote his name in pencil on one of the walls. Still faintly visible, it records his name and the date, April 1819.


5
Valley of Flowers
India
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The Valley of Flowers is an outstandingly beautiful high-altitude Himalayan valley that has been acknowledged as such by renowned mountaineers and botanists in literature for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer. Its ‘gentle’ landscape, breathtakingly beautiful meadows of alpine flowers and ease of access complement the rugged, mountain wilderness for which the inner basin of Nanda Devi National Park is renowned. Valley of flower is splashed with colour as it bloomed with hundreds different beautiful flowers, taking on various shades of colours as time progressed. Valley was declared a national park in 1982, and now it is a World Heritage Site. The locals, of course, always knew of the existence of the valley, and believed that it was inhabited by fairies.
4
Metéora
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The Metéora (“suspended rocks”) is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece, second only to Mount Athos. The six monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and Pindus Mountains, in central Greece. Access to the monasteries was originally (and deliberately) difficult, requiring either long ladders lashed together or large nets used to haul up both goods and people. This required quite a leap of faith – the ropes were replaced, so the story goes, only “when the Lord let them break”.
3
Bagan
Myanmar
Bagan-1
Bagan is an ancient city in the Mandalay Division of Burma. Formally titled Arimaddanapura or Arimaddana (the City of the Enemy Crusher) and also known as Tambadipa (the Land of Copper) or Tassadessa (the Parched Land), it was the ancient capital of several ancient kingdoms in Burma. Bagan was submitted to become a UNESCO heritage site[1] but many speculate of politics as partly the reason for the exclusion. UNESCO does not designate Bagan as a World Heritage Site. The main reason given is that the military junta (SPDC) has haphazardly restored ancient stupas, temples and buildings, ignoring original architectural styles and using modern materials which bear little or no resemblance to the original designs. Nevertheless, this is still a must-see wonder of the world.
2
Leptis Magna
Libya
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Leptis Magna was a prominent city of the Roman Empire. Its ruins are located in Al Khums, Libya, 130 km east of Tripoli, on the coast where the Wadi Lebda meets the sea. The site is one of the most spectacular and unspoiled Roman ruins in the Mediterranean. The city appears to have been founded by Phoenician colonists sometime around 1100 BC, although it did not achieve prominence until Carthage became a major power in the Mediterranean Sea in the 4th century BC. It nominally remained part of Carthage’s dominions until the end of the Third Punic War in 146 BC and then became part of the Roman Republic, although from about 200 BC onward, it was for all intents and purposes an independent city.
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Library of Celsus
Turkey
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This is number one for strictly personal reasons. I love books, I love libraries, and this site is dedicated to knowledge (as are libraries). The library of Celsus (in Turkey) was built to store 12,000 scrolls and to serve as a monumental tomb for Celsus (who had been consul in 92 AD, governor of Asia in 115 AD, and a wealthy and popular local citizen). The building is important as one of few remaining examples of an ancient Roman-influenced library. It also shows that public libraries were built not only in Rome itself but throughout the Roman Empire. In a massive restoration which is considered to be very true to the historic building, the front façade was rebuilt and now serves as a prime example of Roman public architecture.

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