Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is the largest known rift in the world. The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided gorge that were made by the Colorado River in north Arizona, USA. It is because of heavy mineral deposits that one can see the canyon as bright red, brown and orange in color.

This canyon is a part of the large Grand Canyon national park designated by Theodore Roosevelt. The park is almost 277 miles long and 4 to 18 miles wide. The canyons are the main point of attraction in the nation park.

The president of The United States, Theodore Roosevelt, used to quite often come to the national park for enjoyment and hunting. Statistics show that the canyons were made by the Colorado River some six million years ago and have the deepest depth, of over a mile. It is said that the river started cutting layers of rocks from the west initially and gradually moved to the east. The place was inhabited by the Native Americans who lived within the caves. The site during this time was a holy place for the pilgrims and the first person to explore this part of the world was a European guy who arrived from Spain to this site in 1540. During the year 1869, Major John Wesley Powell made the first recorded journey to this place.

Some of the best adventures that a tourist can indulge into are Colorado River rafting, helicopter tours and other guided tours via land. One can stay in the best Grand Canyon hotels and lodges to make the journey memorable.

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Amalfi Drive & Coast

The Stretch of the Amalfi Drive is next to the coastline of Sorrento and is known for its beauty. This is a one way road and thus experiences a lot of traffic. While on your way to the Amalfi, one would pass through Pasitano, which is a place that is close to the mountains, and you can view the sea on the other end. On the way there are a lot of villages also.

The life in Amalfi is very active and busy. That is the reason a lot of time is consumed if one wants to just cross the streets next to the harbor or go uphill. While going uphill can be big fun, coming down is not very interesting as it does not offer much as the path is extremely narrow. The best part to do in places like Amalfi is to find out places that are not meant for visitors as in some interiors, hence difficult to locate however, offer better and more personalized services.

Tourists can also go in for a boat ride along the harbor. The view from the water to the mountain is just splendid. Tourists must plan how to go to this place if hiring taxies or going by buses because the parking space in Amalfi Drive is so narrow, the buses have a specific time slot of entry and exit. One can hire a private Limousine with an English speaking driver who would drive you along the coast. The place has some worth restaurants that offer seafood to seafood lovers.

Many beach towns are located on the Amalfi Coast, including Vietri sul Mare, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Ravello, Scala, Atrani, Amalfi, Conca dei Marini, Furore, Praiano and Positano.

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Golden Temple (Darbar Sahib or Harmandar Sahib)

The Golden Temple in India, which is often called the “Darbar Sahib or Harmandar Sahib” by the Indians, is one of the oldest places of worship for the ‘Sikhs’ and is located in Amritsar, Punjab. It is considered one of the holiest, blessed and sacrosanct places in India. It is a symbol of both beauty and peace. The temple is surrounded by a small man-made lake which has tons and tones of fishes in it. This lake is supposed to have holy water. The temple can be entered from four different sides and thus symbolizes openness, acceptance. This concept is based on the old tents which were open from all four sides, welcoming travelers from all directions.

The Golden Temple has three holy trees. There is also a small Sikh Museum near the Ghanta Ghar in Amritsar which is very rich in information, especially for the first time visitors. The entire top of the temple is made of pure gold and thus adds a lot of pride and beauty to the entire temple.

During the earlier days, this place was a huge lake surrounded by a thin line of forests. It is also said that Buddha journeyed to find out the real meaning of life spent some considerable time in this place. The first guru of the Sikh community called the Guru Nank also used to meditate in this peaceful place and years after he passed away, many of his disciples kept coming back to the site and then it finally became a sacred place. It was during the Fifth Guru, Arjana when the Temple was finally built 1604. It was Guru Arjan who installed the “Guru Granth Sahib” in the temple and appointed the first reader in August 1604. The temples architecture is that of both Hindu and Muslims. On many occasions, it was destroyed by a certain set of community and rebuilt by the Sikhs.

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Kashmir Valley

Kashmir is a beautiful valley lying between the Himalayas and the Pir Panjal Range. It is situated in the northwest region of India and is 135 km long and 32 km wide. It is said that if there is heaven on earth, then it is in Kashmir. Kashmir was made by the Jhelum River, it is said that during earlier days, it was an imperative part for the Hinduism and later for Buddhism. Srinagar is the capital of Jammu and Kashmir.

Kashmir is known for its breathtaking scenic beauty. The Kashmir Valley is in the shape of a saucer. The local people of Kashmir are mostly into agriculture and lead a very plain and simple life. The summer capital vfg is known for a very beautiful place called the Seven Springs. Visitors can see the beauty through the beautiful trolleys. I went to this divine place when I was doing my primary school and during those days, the trolley was open and could only accommodate 2 people. It was a very scary, yet a magnificent site from the up.

Shikaras, also called as the wooden boats in Srinagar are yet again another breathtaking place to visit. In the clam beautiful lake with a picturesque view, everything looks beautiful just like a fresh canvas painting with bright and nice colors. Visitors spend a lot of time in this place. One can hire houseboats or rent and stay for as long as they want. The interiors of the houseboats are simply exotic. Kashmir is a hot piece of property for India, however, is being eyed by Pakistan. Despite the constant terror that prevails in Kashmir, visitors under army protection find it extremely safe to visit it.

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Pompeii (Forgotten City)

Pompeii, also known as the forgotten city, was a Roman settlement that was devastated by volcanic eruptions in 79 A.D. It is located in the province of Naples (Campania, Italy).The city was first occupied by Romans in the 6th century and converted into a Resort city. The Pompeii city is an attraction for archaeologists from all over the world due to the fact that most of the architectures has been preserved by the ashes from the volcanic eruption.

The volcano that was responsible for the destruction of Pompeii is called Mount Vesuvius. The eruptions from the volcano were so strong that the buildings and the people were covered in twelve thick layers of mud and ash. After the city was covered in volcanic ashes, it was slowly forgotten and erased from the history books until it got rediscovered in 1738 by workers working for King of Naples.

Before Pompeii succumbed to the eruptions, it used to be a blossoming township and a progressive commercial port of the Sarno River in Italy. The most notable buildings that have been excavated from the ashes are a Roman basilica and an amphitheatre. The excavations also include many intact wall paintings, pottery and coinage. Pompeii was one of the earliest excavated cities in the world, where archeological work started in 1738.

In today’s world, University of Bradford is responsible for most of the excavations and provides the history of the great city in the form of photos available on the internet. Pompeii city is a highly visited tourist place due to its unique architectural designs and

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Hagia Sophia (Church of the Holy Wisdom)

Hagia Sophia, also known as the “Church of the Holy Wisdom”, is located in Istanbul, Turkey. The church has been turned into a museum now. The church was made by the first Christian Emperor – Constantine the Great, who is also known as the founder of Constantinople. This church is the greatest church out of the many churches he built in many cities. The church which stands today is nothing of the original one due to the destruction that occurred through time. When the original Hagia Sophia was destroyed, it was rebuilt by Theodosius the Great, but sadly it was burnt down again in the Nika riots of 532. Some of the remains can still be seen after deep excavations.

Hagia Sophia is the greatest example of Byzantine architecture built with beautiful mosaics, galleries and pillars. Many of it mosaic paintings are great samples of the Byzantine’s culture and artisitic levels. The building is an architectural wonder and survived many earthquakes. The church has great influence on Muslim, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox worlds.

The church has been destroyed and restored many a times. The most notable restoration was done by Abdulmecid II, who called upon Swiss architects to restore the damaged dome, pillars and other exterior work. In 1934, the church was turned into the Ayasofya Museum by the Turkish President – Kemal Ataturk. The change involved removal of prayer rugs, and some of the calligraphic panels were moved to other mosques. In today world, Hagia Sophia still stands strong, thanks to UNESCO, which has taken the task of preserving the site by cleaning and restoring the great church.

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Yellow River (Huang He)

The Yellow River (also called the Huang He) is the second longest river in the People’s Republic of China and is the sixth longest in the world being about 3,010 miles (4,845 km) in length. In china it is known by both positive and negative nicknames. The positive one being “the cradle of China” because it is the birthplace of northern Chinese civilization and the negative one being “China’s sorrow” because of the flooding that occurs that causes a large amount of damage.

The Yellow River is called "the cradle of Chinese civilization", as its basin is the birthplace of ancient Chinese civilizations and was the most prosperous region in early Chinese history. But frequent devastating flooding when the silt washed down from the upper reaches elevated the river bed in its lower course higher and higher, sometimes above the level of the surrounding fields, has also earned it the unenviable names "China's Sorrow" and "Scourge of the Sons of Han."

According to China Exploration and Research Society, the source of the Yellow River is at 34 29 31.1N, 96 20 24.6E near the eastern edge of Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. The source tribituaries drain into Gyaring Lake and Ngoring Lake on the western edge of Golog Prefecture high in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in the far west of China. In the Zoige Basin along the boundary with Gansu Province, the Yellow River loops northwest and then northeast before turning south, creating the "Ordos Loop", and then flows generally eastward across northern China to the Gulf of Bohai, draining a basin of 752,443 square kilometres (290,520 sq mi) which nourishes 140 million people with drinking water and irrigation.

The river is commonly divided into three stages. These are roughly the northeast of the Tibetan Plateau, the Ordos Loop and the North China Plain. However, different scholars have different opinions on how the three stages are divided.This article adopts the division used by the Yellow River Conservancy Commission

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Ob-Irtysh River

The Ob-Irtysh river system makes up the seventh largest river in the world. The Irtysh is a tributary of the Ob and is actually longer than the Ob. These rivers are located in Siberia and together are about 3,364 miles (5,410 km) in length. They form a major basin in Asia, encompassing most of Western Siberia and the Altay Mountains.

The Ob-Irtysh rivers together form one of the largest river basins in the world, but also drain an area among the least populated and least known to outsiders. The rivers flow from the isolated mountain ranges of Central Asia (the ALTAI and Sayan ranges) across the sparsely populated Western Siberian Lowland to the Kara Sea, a subsidiary of the Arctic Ocean. Population density for the basin as a whole is only nine persons per square km, but there are several large cities clustered around the mineral wealth of the river’s southern watershed: Omsk on the Irtysh and Novosibirsk on the Ob are the largest cities in Siberia, along with Chelyabinsk, located on a tributary in the western part of the Ob-Irtysh Basin, in the Ural Mountains, which form the basin’s western boundary. The basin covers 1,159,274 square mi (2,972,497 square km)— roughly the same as the Mississippi basin—and lies mostly within Russia, though the southernmost courses of the Irtysh flow through northern Kazakhstan and small corners of Mongolia and Xinjiang, China.

Altogether the rivers and their tributaries connect about 17,000 miles (27,400 km) of navigable waterways, though most of these are frozen for much of the year. The Ob and Irtysh Rivers both have their headwaters in the highlands of the Altai Mountains, on the borders of Mongolia, where peaks reach heights of 13,200 ft (4,000 m) or more. This is one of the most remote spots on Earth, where four countries come together (Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and China), over 3,000 mi (4,800 km) from the sea.

The two rivers start on different sides of this range, however, and do not meet up until both rivers have crossed most of the flat Siberian plains. The Irtysh is longer, but the Ob has more volume, and when they meet, at Khanty Mansiysk (a town named for the two dominant local indigenous groups), their course becomes sluggish and marshy. The far north of Russia is mostly flat and marshy, with little precipitation. Agriculture is severely limited by harsh climate and year-round permafrost. The Ob becomes divided into many ribbons, subject to enormous spring floods and dangerous ice flows during summer thaws. Here the river valley can at times reach 25 mi (40 km) wide.

The Ob enters the sea through the 600 mi (375 km) Gulf of Ob, a forked indentation of the Kara Sea. The region was sparsely populated by nomadic peoples (Mansy, Khanty, Nenets, and Samoyedic peoples) for centuries until Russians became attracted to the area for its “soft gold”: furs of numerous squirrels, otters, ermine, mink, and sable. Fortified wooden stockades were built at river junctions as trappers and merchants moved eastward, including such cities as Tobolsk (1587) on the Irtysh, and Salekhard (1595) on the Ob. This latter city is one of the furthest north in all of Russia, located close to where the Urals meet the Arctic at the Gulf of Ob and where the forests meet the Arctic tundra. Later cities were founded on the upper Ob (Narym and Tomsk) before the push for furs moved on eastward into Siberia. The large industrial cities of the south were built later, with the development of coal and iron ore industries, especially in the Kuznetsk Basin, and more recent pumping of oil near Surgut on the middle Ob. Because of the river’s swampiness and lengthy periods of ice cover (generally October to May), it is not used much for navigation.

There has been some harnessing of the great volumes of water flowing off of the Altai Mountains, notably at a hydropower station on the Irtysh in northeastern Kazakhstan, at Ust-Kamenogorsk, close to where the river (called the Ertix) flows out of Mongolia and into the large Zaysan lake. This region is one of Kazakhstan’s most industrialized and holds a large portion of its population. The lower parts of the rivers are spawning grounds for sturgeon, salmon and whitefish, and the Ob estuary forms one of the largest fishing industries in the Russian Arctic.

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Congo River

The Congo River (also known as the Zaire River) is a river in Africa, and is the deepest river in the world, with measured depths in excess of 230 m (750 ft). It is the second largest river in the world by volume of water discharged, though it has only one-fifth the volume of the world's largest river, the Amazon. Additionally, its overall length of 4,700 km (2,920 mi) makes it the ninth longest river.

Its drainage basin covers 4,014,500 square kilometres (1,550,000 sq mi). The Congo's discharge at its mouth ranges from 23,000 cubic metres per second (810,000 cu ft/s) to 75,000 cubic metres per second (2,600,000 cu ft/s), with an average of 41,000 cubic metres per second (1,400,000 cu ft/s).

The river and its tributaries flow through the Congo rainforest, the second largest rain forest area in the world, second only to the Amazon Rainforest in South America. The river also has the second-largest flow in the world, behind the Amazon; the third-largest drainage basin of any river, behind the Amazon and Río de la Plata rivers; and is one of the deepest rivers in the world, at depths greater than 230 m (750 ft).Because large sections of the river basin lie above and below the equator, its flow is stable, as there is always at least one part of the river experiencing a rainy season.

The Congo gets its name from the ancient Kingdom of Kongo which inhabited the lands at the mouth of the river. The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of the Congo, both countries lying along the river's banks, are named after it. Between 1971 and 1997 the government of then-Zaire called it the Zaire River.

The sources of the Congo are in the highlands and mountains of the East African Rift, as well as Lake Tanganyika and Lake Mweru, which feed the Lualaba River, which then becomes the Congo below Boyoma Falls. The Chambeshi River in Zambia is generally taken as the source of the Congo in line with the accepted practice worldwide of using the longest tributary, as with the Nile River.

The Congo flows generally northwards from Kisangani just below the Boyoma falls, then gradually bends southwestwards, passing by Mbandaka, joining with the Ubangi River, and running into the Pool Malebo (Stanley Pool). Kinshasa (formerly Léopoldville) and Brazzaville are on opposite sides of the river at the Pool, where the river narrows and falls through a number of cataracts in deep canyons (collectively known as the Livingstone Falls), running by Matadi and Boma, and into the sea at the small town of Muanda.

The Congo River Basin is one of the distinct physiographic sections of the larger Mid-African province, which in turn is part of the larger African massive physiographic division.

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Amur River (Heilong Jiang)

The Amur River (also called the Heilong Jiang) is the world’s ninth longest river and is also the border between the Russian Far East and Northeastern China. This River flows across northeast Asia to the Strait of Tartary, where it finally drains into the Pacific Ocean. It was has been called the” Black River” because it was sacred to the Manchu and the Qing Dynasty and it is also a symbol of Russian-Chinese relations.

It rises in the hills of western Manchuria at the confluence of its two major affluents, the Shilka River and the Ergune River, at an elevation of 303 metres (994 ft).It flows east forming the border between China and Russia, and slowly makes a great arc to the southeast for about 400 kilometres (250 mi), receiving many tributaries and passing many small towns. At Huma, it is joined by a major tributary, the Huma River. Afterwards it continues to flow south until between the cities of Blagoveschensk (Russia) and Heihe (China), it widens significantly as it is joined by the Zeya River, one of its most important tributaries.

The Amur arcs to the east and turns southeast again at the confluence with the Bureya River, then does not receive another significant tributary for nearly 250 kilometres (160 mi) before its confluence with its largest tributary, the Songhua River, at Tongjiang. At the confluence with the Songhua the river turns northeast, now flowing towards Khabarovsk, where it joins the Ussuri River and ceases to define the Russia-China border. Now the river spreads out dramatically into a braided character, flowing north-northeast through a wide valley in eastern Russia, passing Amursk and Komsomolsk-on-Amur. The valley narrows after about 200 kilometres (120 mi) and the river again flows north onto plains at the confluence with the Amgun River. Shortly after the Amur turns sharply east and into an estuary at Nikolayevsk-on-Amur, about 20 kilometres (12 mi) downstream of which it flows into the Strait of Tartary /Tatar Strait.

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Lena River

The Lena River is Russia’s greatest river and being approximately 2,800 miles (4,400 km), it also the world’s tenth longest river. This river has seven different tributary rivers that join with it and they are the Kirenga River, the Olyokyma River, the Vitim River, the Amga River, the Aldan River, the Vilyuy River and the Maya River. It has the unique distinction of the River who appears to be the largest river in the world when looked at with a Mercator

The majority of researchers believe that the name of the river Lena has been acquired from the original Even-Evenk name Elyu-Ene, which means "the Large River". "Lena" is also a popular name for women in Russia.

The river around 1890

According to folktales related a century after the fact, in the years 1620-23 a party of Russian fur hunters under the leadership of Demid Pyanda sailed up Lower Tunguska,and discovered the proximity of Lena and either carried their boats there or built new ones. In 1623 Pyanda explored some 2400 kilometers of the river from its upper rocky part to its wide flow in the central Yakutia. In 1628 Vasily Bugor and ten men reached the Lena, collected yasak from the natives and founded Kirinsk in 1632. In 1631 the voyevoda of Yeniseisk sent Pyotr Beketov and twenty men to found an ostrog at Yakutsk (founded in 1632). From Yakutsk other expeditions spread out to the south and east. The Lena delta was reached in 1633.

Baron Eduard Von Toll, accompanied by Alexander von Bunge, carried out an expedition to the Lena delta area and the islands of New Siberia on behalf of the Russian Imperial Academy of Sciences in 1885. They explored the Lena delta with its multitude of arms that flow towards the Polar sea. Then in spring 1886 they investigated the New Siberian Islands and the Yana River and its tributaries. During one year and two days the expedition covered 25,000 km, of which 4,200 km were up rivers, carrying out geodesic surveys en route.

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov took his alias, Lenin, from the river Lena, possibly because he was exiled to the Central Siberian Plateau.

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Yenisei River

The Yenisei is thought of as the greatest river system that flows in the Arctic Ocean and at 3,445 miles (5,539 km), is the fifth longest river in the world. It is in Russia and is mainly in the Siberian region. This river includes several hydro-electric dams that fuel a significant part of Russia’s primary industry.

The upper reaches, subject to rapids and flooding, pass through sparsely populated areas. The middle section is controlled by a series of massive hydroelectric dams fuelling significant Russian primary industry. Partly built by gulag labor in Soviet times, industrial contamination remains a serious problem in an area hard to police. Moving on through sparsely-populated taiga, the Yenisei swells with numerous tributaries and finally reaches the Kara Sea in desolate tundra where it is icebound for more than half the year.

The maximum depth of the Yenisei River is 80 feet (24 m) and the average depth is 45 feet (14 m). The depth of river outflow is 106 feet (32 m) and inflow is 101 feet (31 m).

Ancient nomadic tribes such as the Ket people and the Yugh people lived along its banks. The Ket, numbering about 1000, are the only survivors today of those who originally lived throughout central southern Siberia near the river banks. Their extinct relatives included the Kotts, Assans, Arins, Baikots, and Pumpokols who lived further upriver to the south. The modern Ket lived in the eastern middle areas of the river before being assimilated politically into Russia during the 17th through 19th centuries.

Russians first reached the upper Yenisei in 1605, travelling from the Ob River, up the Ket River, portaging and then down the Yenisei as far as the Sym River. In 1607 they went east up the Angara River and in 1608 south towards Krasnoyarsk. Yeniseisk at the Ket-Angara junction was founded in 1619 and Krasnoyarsk upriver in 1628. In 1607 the lower Yenisei was reached from Mangazeya, with the founding Turukhansk at the mouth of the Lower Tunguska. The mouth of the Yenisey was reached in 1610 and the Stony Tunguska some time before 1626.

During World War II, Nazi Germany and the Japanese Empire agreed to divide Asia along a line that followed the Yenisei River to the border of China, and then along the border of China and the Soviet Union, the northern and western borders of Afghanistan, and the border between Iran and India (what is now Pakistan was then part of India).

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Missouri-Mississippi River

The Missouri-Mississippi River system at about 3,900 miles (6,300 km) in length, it is the fourth longest river in the world. Its average discharge of water makes it the tenth largest river in the world. It is the only river located in North America that made the top ten longest rivers list. Also, its name comes from an Ojibwe word meaning “Great River”. About 98.5 percent of this river is located within the United States, the rest resides in Canada.

For at least 10,000 years, Native Americans have lived along the Mississippi and its tributaries. Most were hunter-gatherers or herders, but some such as the Mound builders formed prolific agricultural societies. The arrival of Europeans in the 1500s forever changed the native way of life as first explorers, then settlers, ventured into the basin in increasing numbers. The river served first as barrier – forming borders for New Spain, New France, and the early United States – then as vital transportation artery and communications link. In the 19th century, during the height of Manifest Destiny, the Mississippi and several western tributaries, most notably the Missouri, formed pathways for pioneers partaking in the western expansion of the United States.

Formed from thick layers of this river's silt deposits, the Mississippi River Valley is one of the most fertile agricultural regions of the country and as a result came the rise of the river's storied steamboat era. During the American Civil War, the Mississippi's capture by Union forces marked a turning point towards victory because of this very importance as a route of trade and travel, not least to the Confederacy. Because of substantial growth of cities, and the larger ships and barges that have supplanted riverboats, the decades following the 1900s saw massive engineering works applied to the river system, such as the often in-combination construction of levees, locks and dams.

Since modern development of the basin began, the Mississippi has also seen its share of pollution and environmental problems – most notably large volumes of agricultural runoff, which has led to the Gulf of Mexico dead zone off the Delta. In recent years, the river has shown a steady shift towards the Atchafalaya River channel in the Delta; a course change would prove disastrous to seaports such as New Orleans. A system of dikes and gates has so far held the Mississippi at bay, but due to fluvial processes the shift becomes more likely each year.

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Yangtze River (Chang Jiang)

The Yangtze River (also called the Chang Jiang) is about 3,915 miles (6,380 km) in length and is considered the third longest river in the world. It is located in the People’s Republic of China and it flows from its source in the Qinghai Province, to the East China Sea at Shanghai. Because it is the largest river in this region it is important economically, historically and culturally. It also id the home of the world’s largest hydro-electric power system, the Three Gorges Dam.

The Yangtze, Yangzi or Cháng Jiāng is the longest river in Asia. The Yangtze drains one-fifth of China's land area and its river basin is home to one-third of China's population. Along with the Yellow River, the Yangtze is the most important river in the history, culture and economy of China. The prosperous Yangtze River Delta generates as much as 20% of China's GDP. The river is an important physical and cultural dividing line between North and South China. Chinese living north of the Yangtze speak varying dialects of Mandarin. Most of the provinces south of the river have native Sinitic languages that are unintelligible to Mandarin-speakers.

The Yangtze River flows through a wide array of ecosystems and is itself habitat to several endemic and endangered species including the Yangtze River dolphin (now extinct), Chinese alligator, and the Yangtze sturgeon. For thousands of years, man has used the river for water, irrigation, sanitation, transportation, industry, boundary-marking and war. The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is the largest hydro-electric power station in the world. In recent years, the river has suffered from industrial pollution, agricultural run-off, siltation, and loss of wetland and lakes, which exacerbates seasonal flooding. Some sections of the river are now protected as nature reserves. A stretch of the Yangtze flowing through deep gorges in western Yunnan is part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Amazon River

The Amazon is approximately 3,980 miles (6,400km) in length and is known as the second longest river in the world. It passes though seven countries in South America and is actually the largest river in terms of volume and flow. In fact, it accounts for one-fifth of the world’s river flow. For these reasons scientist dispute that it should be considered the longest river in the world as well, but this title is not yet theirs.

The Amazon Basin, the largest drainage basin in the world, covers about 40 percent of South America, an area of approximately 7,050,000 square kilometres (2,720,000 sq mi). It gathers its waters from 5 degrees north latitude to 20 degrees south latitude. Its most remote sources are found on the inter-Andean plateau, just a short distance from the Pacific Ocean.

The Amazon River and its tributaries are characterized by extensive forested areas that become flooded every rainy season. Every year the river rises more than 9 metres (30 ft), flooding the surrounding forests, known as várzea ("flooded forests"). The Amazon's flooded forests are the most extensive example of this habitat type in the world. In an average dry season, 110,000 square kilometres (42,000 sq mi) of land are water-covered, while in the wet season, the flooded area of the Amazon Basin rises to 350,000 square kilometres (140,000 sq mi).

The quantity of water released by the Amazon to the Atlantic Ocean is enormous: up to 300,000 cubic metres per second (11,000,000 cu ft/s) in the rainy season, with an average of 209,000 cubic metres per second (7,400,000 cu ft/s) from 1973 to 1990.The Amazon is responsible for about 20% of the Earth's freshwater entering the ocean. The river pushes a vast plume of freshwater into the ocean. The plume is about 400 kilometres (250 mi) long and between 100 and 200 kilometres (62 and 120 mi) wide. The freshwater, being lighter, overrides the salty ocean, diluting the salinity and altering the color of the ocean surface over an area up to 1,000,000 square miles (2,600,000 km2) large. For centuries ships have reported freshwater near the Amazon's mouth yet well out of sight of land in what otherwise seemed to be the open ocean.

The Atlantic has sufficient wave and tidal energy to carry most of the Amazon's sediments out to sea, thus the Amazon does not form a true delta. The great deltas of the world are all in relatively protected bodies of water while the Amazon empties directly into the turbulent Atlantic.

The tidal bore is the reason the Amazon does not have a protruding delta; the ocean rapidly carries away the vast volume of silt carried by the Amazon, making it impossible for a delta to grow past the shoreline.

There is a natural water union between the Amazon and the Orinoco basins, the so-called Casiquiare canal. The Casiquiare is a river distributary of the upper Orinoco, which flows southward into the Rio Negro, which in turn flows into the Amazon. The Casiquiare is the largest river on the planet that links two major river systems, a so called bifurcation.

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Nile River (World's Longest River)

The Nile has long been considered the longest river in the world. It is about 4,135 miles (6,650 km) in length and flows in a northward direction to where it finally drains into the Mediterranean Sea. It passes through ten countries on the continent of Africa, where it has been a main source of water and life since ancient times.

The Nile has two major tributaries, the White Nile and Blue Nile. The latter is the source of most of the water and fertile soil. The former is the longer. The White Nile rises in the Great Lakes region of central Africa, with the most distant source being as-yet undetermined, and located in either Rwanda or Burundi. It flows north through Tanzania, Lake Victoria, Uganda and South Sudan. The Blue Nile starts at Lake Tana in Ethiopia at 12°02′09″N 037°15′53″E and flows into Sudan from the southeast. The two rivers meet near the Sudanese capital of Khartoum.

The northern section of the river flows almost entirely through desert, from Sudan into Egypt, a country whose civilization has depended on the river since ancient times. Most of the population and cities of Egypt lie along those parts of the Nile valley north of Aswan, and nearly all the cultural and historical sites of Ancient Egypt are found along riverbanks. The Nile ends in a large delta that empties into the Mediterranean Sea.

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Mount Everest (World's Highest Mountain)

Mount Everest is said to be the tallest mountain on Earth. It literally means the top or the head of the sky. Mount Everest touches the borders of China, Tibet, and Nepal and is a part of the Himalayan Range… Its total height above sea level is 29,029 ft. During 1856, the name of Mount Everest was Peak XV. Its official name was given by the Geographical Society.

Despite the fact it is the highest peak in the world, hikers from all over the world come and climb this mountain despite all difficulties. A whole team of climbers can help both armature and novice climbers climb the peak. If one follows the standard route to climb, it is quite safe to climb the mountains. However, the problem in the Himalayas are faced with bad weather, fast wind and low breathing that can happen due to high altitude.

Climbers must pay heavy amount of money to climb the mountain, which acts as a continuous source of income to Nepal. However, an equal amount has to be raised to get license and permit of $25,000 to climb the Mount Everest. Till 2007, 210 people have lost their lives while climbing Mount Everest due to high storm.

There are two main routes for climbing Mt. Everest. One is from the Southeast of Nepal and the other is from the North of Tibet. The most preferred route out of the two is the Southeast that starts from Nepal. The best time to start climbing is during May, before the summer monsoon, as the direction of the wind is quite favorable during that time.

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Emerald Buddha Temple

Temple of the Emerald Buddha, also called Wat Phra Kaew, is considered the most sacred temple (wat) of Buddha in Thailand. Wat Phra Kaew is located within the historic center of Bangkok (district Phra Nakhon), inside the grounds of the Grand Palace. Within the temple is a valuable artifact called the Emerald Buddha Statue and it is said to be the idol that protects the city. The Statue of Emerald Buddha is made up of green jade (not emerald) and is dressed in gold clothes with a total height of 45cm.

As far as the history of the statue goes, it is said that it was made in India during 43 BC in Patliputra. The statue was transferred to Sri Lanka for its safeguard. And then, years later in 1784, it was placed within Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok, Thailand. The structure of the statue is called the Jasper Statue. Tourists not only come to this place because of its sacred beauty but also to adore and admire the beautiful statue that stands in the middle of the temple. It is green in color and covered all over with gold. The statue has three different set of clothes which are changed only by the King when the seasons change. The sets of clothes which are not used are kept safe in Regalia (public grounds) for public display. The temple is like a personal chapel of the royal family and therefore, does not house any kind of monks.

The entrance to the temple is from the backside and faces the back of the Emeral Buddha Statue. To reach the entrance to the ubosot, the audience has to climb up to the terrace. The temple is covered entirely by a gallery, the outside of which is depicted with paintings from the Ramakien epic.

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Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is situated in New York City, United States. In total, this museum contains more than two million pieces of art which is divided into 19 different departments. It is also called the ‘The Met’ Museum, which is one of the largest art museum in the world. It also has a smaller department in upper Manhattan which displays historic features of medieval art.

The museum has a collection of classical antique, art of Ancient Egypt, printings and sculptures of the European royals,  as well as the American modern art. It also has historic holdings of all the continents like Africa, Asia, Islamic and many more. It is also an encyclopedia for a full collection of musical instruments, weapons, armor, costumes including accessories from all parts of the world. So much so that it also has great collection of interiors right from the 1st century till the modern age interior design.

The making of the Metropolitan Museum is very unique. A lot of people from different sections and walks of life came together to form it is 1870. This group had leading businessmen, financiers, known artist who had a notion of bringing the art and education in front of the American public. It was formally opened for the local public in 1872.

The Metropolitan is known for its sleekness, great and rich color contrast and the lighting effect adds a touch of polished monuments. Its architectural structure is Gothic and is governed by the local administration of New York. Tourists find this place extremely worth spending time with their family and friends.

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Kathmandu City

Kathmandu is the biggest city and the official capital of Nepal. It is located in Kathmandu Valley, which has two other cities called Lalitpur and Bhaktapur. One is the old city and the other is the new city of Kathmandu Valley. The language spoken in Nepal is Napali. Kathmandu city has a total population of 700,000 and it is the only developed and modern city in the entire Nepal.

The view from the Airport is so breathtaking as it is covered from hills all over and has untapped natural beauty and greenery all over. The main religion followed in Kathmandu is Hinduism. It is present in the center of the Himalayas and some of the peaks of the Himalayas are clearly visible.

Kathmandu has a very famous temple that is called Kaasthamandap, which was built in 1567 AD. It is also called Marusthal and is entirely made of wood. It is now rules by the government, but once, it was ruled by the royal house.

Swayambhunath and Boudhanath are two famous stupas within Kathmandu. It also has a famous Hindu shrine, called Pashupatinath. Kathmandu city, throughout the year, has honeymoon visitors visiting mostly from India. The city has a small thickly populated place where you will find monks in abundance. The city has seven most prominent groups of monuments that are rich in culture and heritage, which speak volumes about the city historic past. Durbar Square and Changu Narayan temple are very unique, which is worth a visit.

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Mecca (Makkah)

Mecca, also called Makkah, is a city in Saudi Arab. It is the holiest city in Islam, which is considered to be very sacred to Muslims faith. There is a saying that goes: “anyone who is born a Muslim, must visit Mecca at least once to wash his or her sins”. It is very interesting to know that almost two to three million Hajjis (pilgrimage to Mecca) pay visit to this city every year. Mecca today is facing both good and bad times. Good times because its popularity and bad times because of infrastructure problem.

Mecca is the home of Masjid Al Haram. Initially, it was a place for trading during the 7th century. Also, till 1924, it was governed by the local sheriffs’. After that, it saw a lot of modernization in its size and structure. Today, it is ruled by the local municipality of Mecca with a Mayor who is directly appointed by the Government of Saudi Arabia.

The history of Mecca takes one back to 2000 BC, with some people believing that Abraham built the Kaaba with his son, Ishmael. Over the years, this place had almost three hundred and sixty idols. Mecca today has the biggest Mosque in the world. Everyday, daily prayers are offered in it and another step is being taken by the government to renovate the entire place so that it can accommodate 900000 people at a time.

By Saudi law, non-Muslims are forbidden to enter Mecca, which is strictly enforced by the government.

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Versailles

Versailles is the palace of the versalmonator, means a power house or a chateau. In the older days, Versailles was a small village, it is only now that it is a sub urban part of Paris which is the capital of France. Versailles in late 17th century was considered the strongest political power house where the monarch used to sit, when the royal family was enforced to come back to Paris. The political side to the building has made it so famous that tourists like to pay their visit to this building.

The building covers a total area of 110,000 square meters with 700 rooms in it with 67 staircases and more that 200 windows. The Versailles for sure is a grand place worth visiting. The building has lots of paintings, handmade sculptures, drawings, objects and furniture.

It was during the year 1038, when for the first time, the name Versailles was coined. During this period, the villagers of this village was on a small castle and there was a church which was governed by the local landlords of the village. Versailles was built by the French men and it was also called the unofficial capital of France. It is only ten kilometers away from Paris. The way in which the streets of Washington DC are made have been based upon Versailles’ model of streets. The city welcomes its visitors with open arms and provides one of the best luxurious hotels, food & site seeing facility to them. Whenever visitors plan to visit this part of the city, they make it a long holiday so that they can spend quality time in the Versailles.

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Canal of Venice

The beautiful Venice is surrounded by water all over and is located on the north of Italy. The capital of Venice is Veneto. It is commonly known as the city of lovers, water and also the city of bridges. It is spread over 118 Islands, not very big in size. Venice is very famous in the worlds because of its canals. The city has in total 150 canals and the most important canal in Venice is called the Grand Canal. It is responsible for managing the traffic in water by corridor management. Instead of visiting any place by transportation means of roads or air, it is very common to find water buses and water taxi. It seems that the people here live in a different land and world altogether.

During the day time, the city is very much crowded with visitors all across the world trying to experience love and romance in the city. Narrow yet beautiful canals, bridges streets give a very different feel of the place. Anyone who visits this place immediately falls in love with it. The nights on the other hand are quiet and peaceful.

Motor boats are not allowed to travel in small canals that are narrow, windy and lead to the old city. The city has almost 400 bridges and the Grand Canal cuts the city equally into two proportionate halves from the north to the south. The total length of the Grand Canal is three kilometers. One of the constant threat that the city is experiencing is the air, wind and water pollution over and above the natural disaster like the flood and weakening infrastructure of the building.

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Louvre Museum

The national museum of France is the Louvre and is situated in Paris. It is one of the most historic pieces of art that has been restored by the French. There is a very common saying for the French that they consider themselves the best in the world. One can only be less or equal but never better than them. The museum is spread in a total area of 652,300 square feet and has more than thirty five thousand objects placed in it. It is almost impossible to see the entire museum in a couple of hours and do justice to every piece of art that is placed from the 6th century BC till the 19th century AD.

This museum was actually built as the fort for Philip II and some remains of the fort are still present, not exactly in its best shape. A lot of changes in terms of its structure have been made to give it the present look and finally it was decided to keep the royal collection in the museum. The museum was inaugurated in 1739. However, due to some infrastructural problems, it was shut down for almost a period of 5 years. Some of the most famous pieces of art that is displayed is the Antonio Canova’s Psyche, the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa painting, some handprints and drawings, Egypt, Greek, and roman antiques, along with handmade cultures and beautiful glass paintings. The museum thus has a very rich heritage that has made the French proud of it.

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Alhambra

The Alhambra in Spain is called the red fortress and it is located in Granada, Spain. This place is a fort that is very complex in its structure. It was built by the Moorish who was a ruler in Southern Spain. The Fortress was made on a hilly terrain on the south – east of the city. Today, the Alhambra is one of the main tourist attractions of the country. Quite a few years ago, it was known to be a residential place of the Muslim rulers. It has some very intrinsic and beautiful Islamic architecture. During the 16th century, it had many interventions and all that can even be seen today.

The total length of the Alhambra is 740 meter and it has one of the largest widths. The best and the strongest position is the citadel. Other than the west side of the place, all the other sides of the wall is weak. In total, it has 13 towers. A river divides the Granada Valley and the Alhambra Park is kind of parallel to the Monte Mauror.

The Alhambra is a true reflection of the ruler Nasrid Emirate of Granada. A lot of people with distinct wellness and intellect have been a part of this place as refuges. This site has a very complex mix of both the natural and manmade places. It is said that Muslims are suppose to be one of the best craftsmen and every little piece of work in this proves this statement right. The entire fortress is made up of red clay.

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Sistine Chapel

Sistine Chapel in the Vatican City is one of the most famous chapels in the world. It is said to be the official residence of the pope who lives in the Vatican City. It has pulled so much attraction because of its great and intricate architecture and decoration that has been carved by some of the greatest artist. It has one of the best and the great painted ceiling that covers a total area of twelve thousands square feet. The paintings depict the life of Christ and Moses, which took almost 2 to 3 years.

Because of these paintings, Sistine Chapel is considered a religious place. Whenever a new pope is appointed, this place serves as the venue for the auspicious ceremony. The chapel in the Vatican City is famous for its location of conclaves. This is actually a physical chapel, during the fourth pope, this comprised of more than 200 plus officials right from the high end official to the clerks of the Vatican City. In total, there were almost 50 occasions in one year when all from the Sistine Chapel should meet. Some of them were masses, however the others were basilicas. The most common usages of the Sistine Chapel are the masses on Christmas eve and during Easter. Later, after some time, the chapel was rebuilt so that it could accommodate larger numbers of public. The very first mass in the Sistine Chapel was held during the 15th century. This ceremony was a beautiful devotion to the virgin Mary.

When the chapel is involved in hosting different grand occasions, visiting is off limit. The chapel serves as a venue for the election of the pope. Whenever there is an election, an extra chimney is added to the piece and based on the selection criteria, either a white or a black smoke is raised.

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Hong Kong Harbor (Victoria Harbor)

The Hong Kong Harbor (now Victoria Harbor) in China is located somewhere between the Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Peninsula. This harbor, because of its location on the south, favored the Britisher’s to make it one of the most famous and the biggest center for trade. The shore over the years has undergone enormous change.

It is a very common tourist’s attraction because of its beautiful scenic view of Hong Kong and its harbor. This harbor display spectacular fireworks during the 2nd night of the lunar year and thus is very common point for the tourists and the localities. It is also used to form recreation like swimming and polo. The harbor was initially called the Hong Kong Harbor and its modern name is the Victoria Harbor. This name change was done to ensure and pacify the fleet that belonged to Queen Victoria. As the manufacture sector increased day by day, club races were stopped because of access of pollution.

The latest proposed recovery extends along the waterfront from Sheung Wan to Causeway Bay had to face a lot of conflict. Till this time, the harbor became very important and a known location for the localities in Hong Kong. Some common activists went against the government and raised protests as the environment of one of the most natural asset was in threat. The harbor today of course is very well maintained by the government of China and Hong Kong attracts many new and old visitors. It is also fully engaged in the proper trade and is still the best and the largest harbor in Hong Kong.

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Vienna

Vienna is the capital of Austria in Europe. It is the largest city in the country. The capital is studded with old remains of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Situated along the River Danube, the city is known all over the world for its cafes, confectionary, and coffee. You are sure to fall in love with this city.

There are numerous places to see in Vienna. But you must start your journey by visiting the Museum of Fine Arts. This is one of the best art museums in the world. Its great collection includes works by artists such as Titian, Tintoretto, Rembrandt, and Velazquez. The museum also holds a fine collection of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art, apart from an impressive collection of coins.

The Schatzkammer or the Imperial Treasury is also a must-see. The treasury contains the Habsburgs’ collection of crowns and jewels that are said to be the best in Europe. The New Palace is also of immense interest to the tourists. Part of the Imperial Palace, the New Palace has a magnificent weapons collection. This collection is the second-largest collection of its kind in the world. Among the palaces of Vienna, the Belvedere is one of the most important. It was the summer residence of Prince Eugene of Savoy. The palace has been converted into a museum now, and houses some of the best-known works of art in the world. There is also a beautiful collection of tapestries inside the museum.

From here on, you can proceed to see the Giant Ferris Wheel. Built in the year 1897, the Ferris wheel stands at a height of 212ft. It has 15 cabins with glass windows that offer a spectacular view of the city of Vienna. The Sisi Museum also attracts many tourists, especially women. Dedicated to Empress Elisabeth ‘Sisi’ Habsburg, this museum showcases her personal items such as her clothes and letters. The death mask created after Sisi was assassinated in the 1898 is also displayed here.

Vienna’s other must-see attractions include its wine taverns. Most of these wine taverns are situated a few kilometers outside the capital city. They are called Heurigen in the local language. A majority of the wine taverns will serve you a small spread of snacks consisting of blood sausages, cheese spreads, breads, and potato salad in addition to the wine.

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Prague

Prague is the capital of Czech Republic. The largest city in its country, it boasts of a long history, which is linked intrinsically to the history of Europe. The city has brilliant architecture, visible almost everywhere – from beautiful bridges to stunning buildings.

The most important tourist destination in the city of Prague is the Prague Castle, largest ancient castle in the world. It is even registered in the Guinness Book of World Records. From here, you can sample some of the most spectacular sights in the capital city. Inside the castle, tourists can visit several palaces and museums, as well as the St. Vitus Cathedral, which is nearby. You can stroll in the Royal Garden and watch the Changing of Guards ceremony.

The Charles Bridge of Prague is an architectural treat in itself. Built over the River Vltava, this bridge is approximately 600 years old. It is built in the Gothic style, and is lined with baroque statues of 30 religious figures. For more information into the history of Prague, perhaps a visit to the Stare mesto or the Old Town will be the best. This part of the city is steeped in history, with Tyn Church, made in pure Gothic style or the Orloj, the astronomical clock. This section of the city also houses the Estate Theatre which first staged Mozart’s opera titled Don Giovanni.

Josefov is known for being the Jewish part of the city. It is renowned for preserving various synagogues, all unique in nature. It is also home to the oldest synagogue in Europe, called the Staronova syngoga.

At the Kafka Museum in the city that holds a permanent exhibition in his house, lovers of Kafka can familiarize themselves with him. You can avail of several passes that offer guided tours to this enigmatic city. If you want to go souvenir-shopping in the city before you leave, beware. Shopkeepers here try to pass a lot of goods made in Russia as Prague memorabilia.

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Cairo

Cairo is the capital of Egypt,  It is also the largest city in the African continent. It is home to over 16 million people and is definitely chaotic, exotic, dusty, smelly, and extremely beautiful.

There are just so many places to see and things to do in Cairo that a two-day trip is absolutely not enough. When visiting the city, make sure that you have several days in your vacation calendar and extra batteries your cameras.

The best time to go to Cairo Egypt is during the cooler months between November and March. Summer is very hot and you may not enjoy walking around when you are all sweaty and thirsty.

Attractions in Cairo:

• Coptic Cairo or Masr al-Qadima is the most ancient part of the city which was the original Babylon. It is the Coptic Christian community center where churches abound. One of the highlights includes the Hanging Church—the center of the Coptic worship. Ben Ezra synagogue is also located here. This is the oldest synagogue in the country.
• Islamic Cairo. This is where you can see a lot of mosques (one of them is the Mosque of Mohammed Ali) and the Citadel. If you love to shop, this is also the perfect place for you. The Khan Al-Khalili bazaar is teeming with people and products that are unique in the country and is a great place to buy souvenirs from.
• Egyptian Museum. Along with the sarcophagi, mummies, and other ancient relics, the museum itself is a reflection of the country’s archeological glory.
• Qarafa, or the city of the dead, is also a great place to see. Although it may not sound to be the liveliest part of the country to visit, it is definitely fascinating. Ornate tombs here have served as houses for many poor Egyptians living in the area and have become their places of business too.
• Nile River. You may rent an ancient sail boat called the Falucca and enjoy the view of the historic river as you reflect on the many things you have witnessed for the first time in your life.

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Moscow

One of the greatest cities in the world, Moscow has played a crucial role, both in the Russian history as well as the history of the world. It is a city of extremes. On one hand is its remarkable past, while on the other hand you can see the capital city buzzing with the energy typical of the 21st century. This combination only increases the intrigue called Moscow, and beckons you even more.

As a tourist destination, Moscow is a place best seen on foot. With numerous museums and several palaces and religious centers to see, you will never get tired of walking here. You can start by visiting the Kremlin. Seat of Russian might, the Kremlin is the most famous place in the whole city. It is actually a fortified complex consisting of several government buildings, palaces, as well as several ancient churches. It was built in the year 1156. While the Kremlin is a must-visit, the Armory inside the Kremlin is especially interesting as it houses exhibits from the time of the Czars. Women in particular will be thrilled to see the stupendous collection of diamonds, also found in the armory. The Kremlin also serves as the official residence of the Russian President.

Your next stop could be in the heart of the city, to the Red Square. The Red Square is surrounded by St. Basil cathedral, the State History Museum, Lenin’s Mausoleum, and Kremlin on its sides.

Another sight that will pull you towards itself is that of Cathedral of St. Basil the Blessed, also known as St. Basil Cathedral. This cathedral was built to commemorate Russia’s victory over Poland in the 16th century. It is said that the best time to visit the cathedral is in the night during a light snowfall. Yet another much-revered site in Moscow is the Lenin’s Mausoleum. Inside the mausoleum, you will be able to actually see Lenin, lying in an embalmed state. Unfortunately, photography of any kind is not allowed here. So take in the sights of the mausoleum well, lest you forget it.

If you want, you can plan your Moscow trip in a way that it coincides with some of the famous festivals held in the city. Notable among these are the City Day celebrations. Organized during the first week of September, Moscow celebrates its birthday during this week. You can join in the party and enjoy the parade, pulsating music, scrumptious food, and fireworks in front of the Red Square. If you happen to visit the city in December, you will be in for a real treat. December Nights is perhaps Moscow’s best-known festival, featuring a series of classical concerts. Some of Russia’s greatest and the most talented musicians perform in this festival, which is held at the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts.

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Amsterdam (Venice of the North)

Amsterdam is often referred to as the ‘Venice of the North’. With its romantic canals, breathtaking architecture, famous museums, and fancy cafes, the likeness is not dissimilar. Also a haven for the connoisseur of liqueur, and a shopper’s delight, this city seems to have it all.

Founded in the 12th century, Amsterdam rose from being a small fishing village to the capital of Netherlands, and also its largest city. It boasts of a glorious past, especially in the Dutch Golden Age, when it was one of the most important ports in the world. It retains the title of being one of Europe’s financial hubs from back in the 17th century, when it was called ‘Northern Europe’s marketplace’. Today, the city is home to seven of world’s top 500 companies. As a tourist destination, Amsterdam is an interesting patchwork of history, culture, food and entertainment, making it a veritable dream for many visitors. No wonder then that the city plays host to over 4.2 million tourists annually.

If you are a history buff, museums would be a great way to start your tour of Amsterdam. The most important museums in this city are located at het Museumplein or the Museum Square. Built in the 19th century, this square houses the famous Rijksmuseum. It is the national museum of Netherlands. It was actually founded in The Hague in the year 1800, but was moved to Amsterdam in 1808 at the behest of King Louis Bonaparte. The Rijksmuseum is said to have the largest collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age, including the world-renowned The Night Watch by Rembrandt as well as a good collection of Asian art. Currently, due to renovations and expansion, tourists are allowed to only one section of the museum. Rijksmuseum will be fully open to the public in the year 2012 or 2013.

Amsterdam was home to Van Gogh for a brief period of time. A museum has been made in the city in then great painter’s honor. Called the Van Gogh Museum, it is the most frequented museums of all in the city of Amsterdam. It houses some of the most famous works of the painter including works such as the Aardappeleters (The Potato Eaters) or the Zonnenbloemen. The Rembrandt’s house, the place where the painter lived and worked, is located in Amsterdam. It has been restored to its former state for the tourists to visit. The city also boasts of the Anne Frank House – the wartime hiding place of the famous Jewish girl, who wrote a diary called, The Diary of Anne Frank recounting the wartime horrors of the Second World War.

Tourists can even take a canal trip from the Damrak. These trips last about 90 minutes and give you a glimpse of the city from its waters. Amsterdam is a laid-back city, where shops and offices open only around 10 in the morning. If you want a taste of the relaxed pace of life in this city, the best way to do it is to walk around, take the tram, or hire a bike. While walking or cycling, if you come across a hofje, do stop and take a look. Hofjes are tiny courtyards hidden in between houses. The Begijnhof is the largest, and the most well-known of them all. The Begijnhof will lead you to an English church, dating back to 1400 AD and to the old house of Amsterdam. Built in 1475, this house is one of the few wooden houses left in the city today. Those of you who love flora and fauna, a visit to the Artis Zoo and Hortus Horticultural Garden respectively is a must.

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Dublin (Town of the Hurdled Ford)

The Irish call it Baile Atha Cliath or the “Town of the Hurdled Ford,” but the world knows it as ‘Dublin,’ the capital of the Republic of Ireland. A great historical city, Dublin today is one of the most important financial centers of the world. It is also fast developing into a major tourist destination. Situated near the River Liffey, Dublin is a relatively small place, and the best way to see it is on foot.

Though the city of Dublin traces its origins to the First century BC, the city is said to be established by the Norse in about 841 BC. The city turned into a military power after the Norman Invasion of Ireland. The Dublin Caste had an important part to play during this time. You can tour the Dublin castle even today and acquaint yourself to this city’s past. You can know more about the history of Dublin by visiting the National Museum of Ireland. The city is known for its beautiful architecture, most of it dating back to the 17th century. 

It is also famous all over the world for being home to literary giants such as George Bernard Shaw, W.B.Yeats, Jonathan Swift, Samuel Beckett, and Oscar Wilde. Therefore, do make a point to visit the National Print Museum of Ireland. You can also visit the Chester Beatty Library for a glimpse into some of the oldest manuscripts and sacred texts of Ireland. Visiting the Dublin Writers’ Museum is a must for all bookworms. Dublin is also home to the famous creator of Dracula, Bram Stoker. You can go through a chilling description of Stoker’s life at the Bram Stoker’s Museum.

If you can’t get enough of this historical city, then go to Kilmainham Gaol. This is the place where prisoners of the 1916 Easter Rising were executed. After a hectic day full of sightseeing, relax by sipping on Dublin’s own Guinness. If you are interested, you can take a tour of the Guinness Storehouse. You can even indulge in some shopping out here in Dublin. Grafton Street is the most famous shopping street here. You can visit the Powerscourt Centre, a shopping centre set inside a restored 18th century town house. Don’t forget to pick up some Irish jewelry from here.

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Barcelona

Known for its rich cultural heritage, the city of Barcelona is one of the major tourist destinations of the world. Not only that, it is also the second largest city in Spain. However, few know that Barcelona was originally founded as a Roman city. There are two stories regarding the founding of the city. According to one legend, Barcelona was founded by Hercules about 400 years before he built the city of Rome. It goes on to say that this city was finally rebuilt by Hamilcar Barca, father of Hannibal. The legend says that Hamilcar Barca named the city Barcino after his family.

Today, Barcelona is growing at a rapid rate. The headquarters of the Union of Mediterranean is based in Barcelona. It also hosted the 1992 Olympics. The city’s cultural history dates back about 2000 years. It has numerous museums and architectural sites that tell its story. Some of the architectural wonders in Barcelona belong to the days of Roman settlement in the city. Some of these buildings have been declared as World Heritage Sites. One of the architects, Antoni Gaudi is fairly visible all throughout the city through his works. The unfinished Sagrada Familia, under construction since 1882, perhaps is his best work. It is said that work on this monolith will finish only by the year 2026. Barcelona’s architecture has another feather in its cap. It was the first city in the world to have received the RIBA Royal Gold Medal. This coveted medal is normally awarded to individual architects only.

The city also has various interesting museums and they are all sure to interest you, especially if you are a lover of art. Some of the prominent museums in Barcelona are The National Museum of Art of Catalonia; it has a great collection of Romanesque Art. The Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art prides itself on its collection of post-1945 Catalan and Spanish Art. Be sure to devote enough time for both these museums. The Picasso Museum is also worth a visit. Take some time out to visit the Cosmocaixa. It is a science museum and also a recipient of the European Museum of the Year Award. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, check out the Erotic Museum of Barcelona. The vibrant art and creative scene here is confirmed by the number of new design hotels which famous architects and brands have put their name to in recent years.

In all this, do not forget to stop by the famous beaches of Barcelona. Sant Sebastia and Barceloneta are few of the most frequented beaches of the city. If not the beach, then you can come and relax in Barcelona’s parks. Park Guell, designed by Antoni Gaudi is a must-visit, since it is also a world-heritage site. The city also has a famous sporting history. It is home to FC Barcelona, a famous football club. The team has two UEFA championships to its credit. The city organizes several running competitions all around the year. These competitions see as many as 60,000 participants annually. You can also book your seats at Montmelo for Formula One Spanish Grand Prix as well Catalan Motorcycle Prix.

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