Macau Tower

Macau Tower Convention & Entertainment Centre

History:
On a visit to Auckland, New Zealand, Hong Kong casino billionaire Stanley Ho Hung-Sun was
so impressed by the Sky Tower in Auckland that he commissioned a similar one to be built in
Macau. The tower was designed by New Zealand engineering firm Beca Group and Gordon
Moller of Moller Architects for Sociedade de Turismo e Diversões de Macau. Construction work
of the tower started in 1998, and the tower was officially opened on December 19, 2001.
Geography:

Portuguese: Centro de Convenções e Entretenimento da Torre de Macau), also known as Macau

Tower, is a tower located in Sé, Macau. The tower measures 338 m (1,109 ft) in height from ground
level to the highest point. Its observation deck features panoramic views, restaurants, theaters,
shopping malls and the Skywalk X, a thrilling walking tour around the outer rim. It offers the best
view of Macau and in recent years has been used for a variety of adventurous activities. At 233
metres, the Macau Tower's tethered "skyjump" and Bungee jump by AJ Hackett[1] from the tower's
outer rim, is the highest commercial skyjump in the world (233 metres), and the second highest
commercial decelerator descent facility in the world, after Vegas' Stratosphere skyjump at 252
metres.[2] The tower was created by the architecture firm of Moller Architects.
The tower is one of the members of the World Federation of Great Towers. Besides being used for
observation and entertainment, the tower is also used for telecommunications and broadcasting. It
and the Grand Lisboa hotel are the most recognizable landmarks in the Macao skyline.

1
The Venetian Macao

The Venetian Macao San Luca Canal

HISTORY:

The Venetian Macao (Chinese: 澳門威尼斯人) is a luxury hotel and casinoresort in Macau owned
by the American Las Vegas Sands company. The Venetian is a 39-story,[1] casino hotel on the Cotai
Strip in Macau. The 10,500,000-square-foot (980,000 m2) Venetian Macao is modeled on its sister
casino resort The Venetian Las Vegas. The Venetian Macao is the largest casino in the world, the
largest single structure hotel building in Asia, and also the seventh-largest building in the world by
floor area.The main hotel tower was finished in July 2007 and the resort officially opened on 28
August 2007.[2] The resort has 3,000 suites, 1,200,000 sq ft (110,000 m2) of convention space,
1,600,000 sq ft (150,000 m2) of retail, 550,000 square feet (51,000 m2) of casino space – with
3,400 slot machines and 800 gambling tables and the 15,000-seat Cotai Arena for entertainment
and sports events.The lead architect for the Venetian Macao were Aedas and HKS, Inc. joint
venture, who were responsible for the design, coordination and implementation of the project on site.

GEOGRAPHY:
The casino measures 546,000 sq ft (50,700 m2).[4] It is further divided into four themed gaming
areas—namely, Golden Fish, Imperial House, Red Dragon and Phoenix. The casino consists of over
6,000 slot machines and 800 gambling tables.
The hotel offers a club called Paiza Club which caters to premium guests. The club comes with its
own entrance, lobby, reception, and guest lifts to the rooms. The gaming area of the Paiza Club is
divided into individual private gaming rooms each named for notable Asian cities and regions such
as Yunnan, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The guests of the club have
exclusive access to the club dining outlet, the Paiza Club Dining & Lounge, which is open 24 hours a
day.

2
A-Ma Temple

History
The name Macau was thought to be derived from the name of the temple. It is said that when the
Portuguese sailors landed at the coast just outside the temple and asked the name of the place, the
natives replied Maa-gok or A-maa-gok (lit. "The Pavilion of the Mother"). The Portuguese then
named the peninsula "Macau".[1] The temple was well described in ancient Chinese texts, as well as
represented in paintings, related to Macao. It is also one of the first scenes photographed in Macao.
In 2005, the temple became one of the designated sites of the Historic Centre of Macau,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Architecture
Temple consists of six main parts:[2] Gate Pavilion, the Memorial Arch, the Prayer Hall, the Hall of
Benevolence (the oldest part of the temple), the Hall of Guanyin, Zhengjiao Chanlin - Buddhist
Pavilion.

Location São Lourenço

Town or city Macau

Country China

Completed 1488

3
Museum of Macau

The Macau Museum (Chinese: 澳門博物館; Portuguese: Museu de Macau) is located on the hill of
the Fortaleza do Monte in Santo António, Macau, China.[1][2] The museum presents the history of the
city and territory of the former Portuguese colony of Macau, now a Special Administrative Region of
the People's Republic of China.

Planning for the museum started in April 1995, its construction began in September 1996. The
museum was inaugurated on 18 April 1998. The museum building is located within the interior of
the Fortaleza do Monte. Its total size is about 2,800 m², with around 2,100 m² of exhibition space.

Established 18 April 1998 (inaugurated)

Location Santo António, Macau, China

Coordinates 22.197205°N 113.541684°E

4
Macao Giant Panda Pavilion

The Macao Giant Panda Pavilion (Chinese: 澳門大熊貓館) is a zoo in Seac Pai Van
Park, Coloane, Macau, China. It is located at the Macao Zoo. The Panda Pavilion is a nature park
containing multiple animal species ranging from gorillas, flamingos, monkeys, and of course the
famous pandas. Admission is free to see the animals.

Architecture
The pavilion is shaped like a giant fan in an area of 3,000 m2. It consists of indoor activity quarters,
outdoor yard and indoor exhibition area.

General information

Type Zoo

Location Coloane, Macau, China

Technical details

Floor area 3,000 m2

5
Lou Lim Ieoc Garden

Lou Lim Ieoc Garden (Chinese: 盧廉若公園; Portuguese: Jardim de Lou Lim Ioc) is a garden in São
Lázaro, Macau, China. It is located at the northern territory of Macau, which borders the Mainland
Chinese city of Zhu Hai. The garden was built in 1906 by local merchant Lou Kau as part of his
residence, and its design follows the well-known Suzhou Gardens. It turned over to the Macau
government in 1974 as a public park, which is popular with local inhabitants.

Type Garden

Location São Lázaro, Macau, China

Created 1906

Owned by Government of Macau

6
Flora Garden

History
The garden used to be the ground for Flora Palace, a mansion during the Portuguese Macau era.

The Flora Garden (Chinese: 二龍喉公園; Portuguese: Jardim da Flora) is a flower garden in São
Lázaro, Macau, China. The garden is located at the foothill of Guia Hill.[1] It is Macau's largest public
park.

Type Flower garden

Location São Lázaro, Macau, China

7
Hac Sa Beach

The name "Hac Sa", is a translation from Cantonese (Chinese: 黑沙; Cantonese Yale: Hāksā),
literally means the famous black sand. However, to prevent the beach from disappearing due
to erosion, Macau government has refilled the beach with yellow sand artificially. The dark colour
comes from the minerals in the water which is lighter than other volcanic beaches like those
in Hawaii. The beach is located near Hac Sa Reservoir Country Park.[1] A stream that originates from
Hac Sa Reservoir runs through the central area of the beach.

Hac Sa Beach (Portuguese: Baía de Hác Sá) is a beach in Coloane, Macau. It is the largest natural
beach in Macau.

Cantonese Yale Hāksā Hóitāan

Literal meaning Black sand beach

8
Nam Van Lake

The Nam Van Lake (Chinese: 南灣湖; Portuguese: Lago Nam Van) is a man-made lake
in Sé, Macau, China. It is one of two man made lakes in Macau. It is located at the southern end
of Macau Peninsula.
The lake was once part of a bay (Praia Grande Bay), created when the causeway (Avenida Dr Sun
Yat Sen) partially closed off the bay. The project to close the lake began in 1991 to attract more
development in Macau.[1] Nam Vanmeans South Bay in Chinese.
Much of the land southwest of the bay was created from landfill.
The Macau Legislative Assembly Building and Superior Court of Macau Buildingoverlook the lake.
The lake is bisected by the Ponte Governador Nobre de Carvalho or Macau-Taipa Bridge.
There are four man-made islands within Nam Van Lake. Along with Sai Van Lake, the two artificial
lakes cover 80 hectarces of space.
The lake is currently used for several water sports, including sprint kayaking, rowing and dragon
boat racing.

Location Sé, Macau, China

9
 Type Lake

Seac Pai Van Park

History
The area was originally a farmland. It was then later converted into a multipurpose park. In 1981, it
was listed as a protected area.

The Seac Pai Van Park (Chinese: 石排灣郊野公園; Portuguese: Parque de Seac Pai Va) is a park
in Coloane, Macau, China. It is the largest natural green area in Macau and is governed by the Civil
and Municipal Affairs Bureau.

Geology
The park covers an area of around 20 hectares.

Type Park

Location Coloane, Macau, China

10
 Area 20 hectares

Floating market

Thailand
In Thailand, floating markets (Thai: talātnām) are well supported locally and mainly serve as tourist
attractions.[1] One of their purposes is to allow domestic visitors and international tourists to be able
to experience the culture of riverside shopping.

History
In the past[2] the areas adjacent to the rivers were the first to be populated. Thus most communities
of Thailand were built at the sides of rivers. The waterways served as means of transportation and
the center of economic activity as well. Boats were mainly used for both local and regional trade,
bringing goods from those that produced to those that could barter and trade. Such ways of life of
the riverside communities, especially in the Chao Phraya River Basin increased the number of
floating markets.

11
Floating markets became the hubs of the communities in the central plain of Thailand for
centuries.[3] In the Ayutthaya Period (1350–1767), due to the existence of several adjoining canals
which were suitable for trading, they helped to gain popularity for this type of market.
Early in the Rattanakosin Period (1782–1868), this kind of market was still lively with the crowds.
Nonetheless, soon after the region grew and Bangkok began to develop, road and rail networks
were increasingly constructed in place of the canals. This resulted in people choosing to travel by
land instead of by water. Therefore, some of the floating markets were forced to move onto the
ground, some were renovated and some were closed down.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

History
The original founding of the temple remains a legend and there are a few varied versions. The
temple is said to have been founded in 1383 when the first stupa was built.[1] Over time, the temple
has expanded, and been made to look more extravagant with many more holy shrines added. A
road to the temple was first built in 1935.

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep (Thai: วัดพระธาตุดอยสุเทพ, Thai

pronunciation: [wát.pʰráʔ.tʰâat.dɔɔj.sùʔ.tʰêep], Northern Thai pronunciation: [wa̋t.pʰa̋ʔ.tʰâat.dɔɔj.súʔ.têep])
is a Theravada wat in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. The temple is often referred to as "Doi
Suthep" although this is actually the name of the mountain where it's located. It is a sacred site to
many Thai people. The temple is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the city of Chiang Mai. From the
temple, impressive views of downtown Chiang Mai can be seen.

12
According to legend, a monk named Sumanathera from the Sukhothai Kingdomhad a dream. In this
vision he was told to go to Pang Cha and look for a relic. Sumanathera ventured to Pang Cha and
found a bone. Many claim it was Gautama Buddha's shoulder bone. The relic displayed magical
powers: it glowed, it was able to vanish, it could move and replicate itself. Sumanathera took the
relic to King Dhammaraja, who ruled Sukhothai. The eager Dhammaraja made offerings and hosted
a ceremony when Sumanathera arrived. However, the relic displayed no abnormal characteristics,
and the king, doubtful of the relic's authenticity, told Sumanathera to keep it.

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya (city)

History
Ayutthaya was founded in 1351[a] by King U Thong, who went there to escape a smallpox outbreak
in Lop Buri and proclaimed it the capital of his kingdom, often referred to as the Ayutthaya
kingdom or Siam. Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai.[2] It is estimated
that Ayutthaya by the year 1600 had a population of about 300,000, with the population perhaps
reaching 1,000,000 around 1700, making it one of the world's largest cities at that time,[3] when it was
sometimes known as the "Venice of the East".[4][5]In 1767, the city was destroyed by the Burmese
army, resulting in the collapse of the kingdom. The ruins of the old city are preserved in
the Ayutthaya historical park,[6] which is recognised internationally as a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site.
The ruins, characterised by the prang (reliquary towers) and gigantic monasteries, give an idea of
the city's past splendour.[7] Modern Ayutthaya was refounded a few kilometres to the east.

Geography
The city is about 40 miles (64 km) north of Bangkok.Phra Nakhon Si
Ayutthaya (Thai: พระนครศรีอยุธยา, pronounced [pʰráʔ ná(ʔ).kʰɔ̄ːn sǐː ʔā.jút.tʰā.jāː]; also spelled
"Ayudhya"), or locally and simply Ayutthaya, is the former capital of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
province in Thailand. Located in the valley of the Chao Phraya River.

13
 Country Thailand

Province Ayutthaya

District Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

Named for Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, India

Sukhothai Historical Park

14
History
Zones of influence of Sukhothai and its neighbours, c. 1300Prior to the 13th century, a succession
of Tai kingdoms existed on the northern highlands including the Ngoenyang (centered on Chiang
Saen; predecessor of Lan Na) kingdom and the Heokam (centered on Chiang Hung,
modern Jinghong in China) kingdom of Tai Lue people. Sukhothai had been a trade center and part
of Lawo, which was under the domination of the Khmer Empire. The migration of Tai people into the
upper Chao Phraya valley was somewhat gradual.Modern historians believe that the secession of
Sukhothai (once known as Sukhodaya) from the Khmer empire began as early as 1180 during the
reign of Pho Khun Sri Naw Namthom who was the ruler of Sukhothai and the peripheral city of Sri
Satchanalai (modern day Amphoe Si Satchanalai in Sukhothai Province). Sukhothai had enjoyed
substantial autonomy until it was re-conquered around 1180 by the Monsof Lawo under Khomsabad
Khlonlampong.

Location Sukhothai, Thailand

Part of Historic Town of Sukhothai and Associated Historic

Towns

Area 7,000 ha

Khao Yai National Park

15
History
Around 1922 some people from Ban Tha Dan and Ban Tha Chai villages in Nakhon Nayok
Province built a settlement within the forest in the Sankamphaeng mountains. Up to 30 households
cultivated the land. The area was formally recognized by the government and classified as Tambon
Khao Yai within Pak Phli District.
However, due to its remoteness from the authorities it became a refuge for criminals and fugitives.
After an attempt to capture the suspects in the area, in 1932 the villagers were relocated into the
plains some 30 km away and the tambon status was cancelled.
In 1959 the prime minister, Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and
the Ministry of the Interior to create a process whereby national parks could be established.

Location Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Nearest city Pak Chong District

Area 2,168 km2 (837 sq mi)

Established 1962

Governing body Department of National Parks, Wildlife and

Plant Conservation

Pai, Thailand

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History
The recorded history of the area starts about 800 years ago with the establishment of a settlement
(today known as Ban Wiang Nuea) about 3 km north of modern-day Pai. Ban Wiang Nuea was
founded in 1251 AD by Shan immigrants from the region of modern-day northern Myanmar. Due to
the area's remoteness and seclusion, people in those times were mainly cut off from news of the
outside world and therefore not much concerned with the politics of Lanna and the rest of Thailand.
That changed drastically in the course of the 14th and 15th centuries, when the first settlers arrived
from Chiang Mai. It was part of Lanna policy of the time to send citizens loyal to the Lanna throne to
the outposts of the empire, in order to consolidate and affirm Lanna's territorial authority. The result
was a conflict that eventually led to a series of wars over territorial dominance in the Pai area. The
Lanna troops finally defeated the Shan soldiers in 1481, forcing them to retire to Myanmar territory.
The Shan families who had lived in the area for a long time, establishing households, farming their
land and raising their families, were granted permission to stay by the Lanna prince, along with a
certain degree of cultural and social autonomy under the law and authority of the Lanna kingdom.
Ban Wiang Nuea as a result became a village sharply divided into two parts by a wall into a "Shan"
part and a "Lanna" part.

Country Thailand

Province Mae Hong Son

District Amphoe Pai

Chiang Mai
Huai Tueng Thao Lake, NW of Chiang Mai

17
History
Mangrai founded Chiang Mai in 1294[10] or 1296[2]:209 on the site of an older city of the Lawa
people called Wiang Nopburi.[11][12] Gordon Young, in his 1962 book The Hill tribes of Northern
Thailand, mentions how a Wa chieftain in British Burma told him that the Wa, a people who are
closely related to the Lawa, once lived in the Chiang Mai valley in "sizeable cities".[13]
Chiang Mai succeeded Chiang Rai as the capital of Lan Na. Pha Yu enlarged and fortified the city,
and built Wat Phra Singh in honor of his father Kham Fu.[2]:226–227The ruler was known as the chao.
The city was surrounded by a moat and a defensive wall since nearby Taungoo Dynasty of
the Bamar people was a constant threat, as were the armies of the Mongol Empire, which only
decades earlier had conquered most of Yunnan, China, and in 1292 overran the
bordering Dai kingdom of Chiang Hung.

Geography
Chiang Mai has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw), tempered by the low latitude and moderate
elevation, with warm to hot weather year-round, though nighttime conditions during the dry season
can be cool and much lower than daytime highs. The maximum temperature ever recorded was
42.4 °C (108.3 °F) in May 2005.[19] Cold and hot weather effects occur immediately but cold effects
last longer than hot effects and contribute to higher cold related motility risk among old people aged
more than 85 years.

Phi Phi Islands

18
 Beach surrounded by limestone cliffs, typical of the islands

History
From archaeological discoveries, it is believed that the area was one of the oldest communities in
Thailand, dating back to the prehistoric period. It is believed that this province may have taken its
name from Krabi, which means "sword". This may come from a legend that an ancient sword was
unearthed prior to the city’s founding.
The name "Phi Phi" (pronounced as "pee-pee") originates from Malay. The original name for the
islands was Pulau Api-Api ("the fiery isle"). The name refers to the Pokok Api-Api, or "fiery tree"
(grey mangrove) which is found throughout the island.

Geography
There are six islands in the group known as Phi Phi. They lie 40 kilometres (25 miles) south-east of
Phuket and are part of Hat Nopparat Thara-Ko Phi Phi National Park[2]which is home to an
abundance of corals and marine life. There are limestone mountains with cliffs, caves, and long
white sandy beaches.[3] The national park covers a total area of 242,437 rai (38,790 ha).
Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Lee are the largest and most well-known islands. Phi Phi Don is 9.73
square kilometres (3.76 square miles): 8 kilometres (5.0 miles) in length and 3.5 kilometres (2.2
miles) wide. Phi Phi Lee is 2 kilometres (1.2 miles). In total, the islands occupy 12.25 square
kilometres (4.73 square miles).

Railay Beach

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Railay (Thai: อ่าวไร่เลย์), also known as Rai Leh, is a large peninsula between the city
of Krabi and Ao Nang in Thailand.[1] It is accessible only by boat due to high limestone cliffs cutting
off mainland access. These cliffs attract rock climbers from all over the world, but the area is also
popular due to its beautiful beaches and quiet relaxing atmosphere. Accommodation ranges from
bungalows and medium-priced resorts in East Railay to a collection of luxury resorts focused on
West Railay, though one, Rajavadee, spans both waterfronts and also has a beachfront restaurant
at Ao Phra Nang. The four main areas of Railay consist of Phra Nang, West Railay, East Railay,
and Ton Sai. Ton Sai caters to climbers and the backpacker set and is more rustic in character than
the glitz of West Railay and the shops and restaurants of the East Railay boardwalk.

East Railay
East Railay Beach is the docking point for boats arriving from Krabi. The East Beach is primarily
covered in dense mangrovesand is unsuitable for swimming. At the northern end of the waterfront
there is a commercial area along a boardwalk/promenade with many restaurants and bars and
various services including a muay Thai school, and lower-priced resorts than in West Railay. Above,
on the trail that leads to Ton Sai, is the Diamond Cave, which features a walkway into its depths. At
the southern end of the boardwalk there is access to a public trail that meanders under overhanging
limestone cliffs and provides access to Phra Nang Beach.

West Railay
West Railay Beach, connected to the east side by paths through the large resorts or by trails through
thin jungle cover, is the primary destination for beach-goers in Railay. The beach is flanked by high
limestone cliffs on either side. Long-tail boats are available to hire for transport to Ao Nang, 15
minutes north of Railay. In addition, ferries departing Railay for Ko Phi Phi and points west
including Phuket depart from the West beach. The focal point of West Railay Beach is a short
promenade (walking street) lined with restaurants and shops.

Grand Palace

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History
The construction of the Grand Palace began on 6 May 1782, at the order of King Phutthayotfa
Chulalok (Rama I). Having seized the crown from King Taksin of Thonburi, King Rama I was intent
on building a capital city for his new Chakri Dynasty. He moved the seat of power from the city
of Thonburi, on the west side of the Chao Phraya River, to the east side at Bangkok. The new capital
city was turned into an artificial island when canals were dug along the east side. The island was
given the name 'Rattanakosin'. The previous royal residence was the Derm Palace, constructed for
King Taksin in 1768.The new palace was built on a rectangular piece of land on the very west side of
the island, between Wat Pho to the south, Wat Mahathat to the north and with the Chao Phraya
River on the west. This location was previously occupied by a Chinese community, whom King
Rama I ordered to relocate to an area south and outside of the city walls; the area is now Bangkok's
Chinatown.

GEOGRAPHY:
Construction of the palace began on 6 May 1782, at the order of King Phutthayotfa Chulalok (Rama
I), the founder of the Chakri Dynasty, when he moved the capital city from Thonburi to Bangkok.
Throughout successive reigns, many new buildings and structures were added, especially during the
reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). By 1925, the king, the Royal Family and the government
were no longer permanently settled at the palace, and had moved to other residences. After
the abolition of absolute monarchy in 1932, all government agencies completely moved out of the
palace.In shape, the palace complex is roughly rectangular and has a combined area of 218,400
square metres (2,351,000 sq ft), surrounded by four walls. It is situated on the banks of the Chao
Phraya River at the heart of the Rattanakosin Island, today in the Phra Nakhon District. The Grand
Palace is bordered by Sanam Luang and Na Phra Lan Road to the north, Maharaj Road to the
west, Sanam Chai Road to the east and Thai Wang Road to the south.

Karakorum

21
History
Under Ögedei and his successors, Karakorum became a major site for world politics. Möngke
Khan had the palace enlarged, and the great stupa temple completed.[3]They had the Parisian
goldsmith, Guillaume Bouchier,[7][8] design the famous Silver Tree of Karakorum for the city
centre.[9] A large tree sculpted of silver and other precious metals rose up from the middle of the
courtyard and loomed over the palace, with the branches of the tree extended into the building.
Silver fruit hung from the limbs and it had four golden serpents braided around the trunk, while within
the top of the tree was placed a trumpet angel, all as automata performing for the emperor's
pleasure. When the khan wanted to summon the drinks for his guests, the mechanical angel raised
the trumpet to his lips and sounded the horn, whereupon the mouths of the serpents began to gush
out a fountain of alcoholic beverages into the large silver basin arranged at the base of the tree.

Type Ruins of a former capital

Location Övörkhangai

Province, Mongolia

Nearest Kharkhorin
city

Gorkhi-Terelj National Park

22
Gorkhi-Terelj National Park (Mongolian: Горхи-Тэрэлж [ɡɔrxi tɛrɛɮʃ], creek-rhododendron) is one
of the national parks of Mongolia. The Terelj tourist zone has a number of "tourist camps"
(Mongolian: жуулчны бааз, juulchny baaz). It is connected with Ulaanbaatar by a paved road (main
road to the East #A0501 Baganuur-Öndörkhaan direction, 37 km from Ulaanbaatar city center, left
turn to the branch #A24, 5 km later road crosses Tuul River and the National park territory begins).
The road comes to the Gorkhiin Davaa (Mongolian: Горхийн даваа) pass. Most of the tourist camps
and tourist attractions are before this pass. The road then ends at the settlement of Terelj, which
features small shops and restaurants. The Terelj settlement is located in the valley of the Terelj
River (Terelj Gol), approximately 66 km from the Ulaanbaatar city center. The national park tourist
zone is formally in Nalaikh düüreg (district) part of Ulaanbaatar municipality, the rest of the protected
zone beginning to the north of the Terelj River, is located in Mongolia's Töv Province (Töv aimag).
A small southern portion of the park is developed for tourists, with restaurants, souvenir shops,
horses and camels for rent, and tourist gercamps, many of them run by the Juulchin corporation, the
former state tourism company. However, most of the park is undeveloped and difficult to access.
Attractions include Khagiin Khar Lake, a 20m deep glacial lake 80 km upstream from the tourist
camps, and Yestii Hot Water Springs, natural hot springs 18 km further upstream. The park also has
a Buddhist monastery that is open to visitors. Park wildlife includes brown bears and over 250
species of birds. The Tuul River flows through the park.
The park has many rock formations for rock climbers, and includes two famous formations named
for things they resemble: Turtle Rock (Mongolian: Melkhii Khad) and the Old Man Reading a Book
(Praying Lama Rock).
Many Westerners were introduced to Gorkhi-Terelj National Park when the CBS reality television
program The Amazing Racevisited the park in the second episode of its tenth season.

Telmen Lake

23
Telmen Lake (Mongolian: Тэлмэн нуур) is a saltwater lake in Zavkhan, Mongolia. Three islands are
located in the lake, which is a gathering point for migratory birds. The water salinity is 6.49-7.61‰.
Average temperature ranges from -32 oC in January to 12 oC in July.[1] From 6,210 to 3,960 years
ago, as determined by radiocarbon dating, Lake Telmen was between 15 and 20m shallower than it
is at present.

Location Zavkhan Province

Basin countries Mongolia

Max. length 28 km (17 mi)

Max. width 16 km (9.9 mi)

Surface area 194 km2 (75 sq mi)

Max. depth 27 m (89 ft)

Water volume 2.671 km3(2,165,000 acre⋅ft)

Surface elevation 1,789 m (5,869 ft)

Khar-Us Lake

Khar-Us-Nuur lake, Mongolia, Jargalant-Khairkhan Mounts under snow cup

24
Khar-Us Lake (Mongolian:Хар-Ус нуур, lit. "black water lake") is a lake in western Mongolia in
the Great Lakes Depression. It is the upper one in a system of the interconnected lakes: Khar-
Us, Khar, Dörgön, Airag and Khyargas.

Its area value (1,852 km²) includes the island Agbash (or Ak-Bashi, white head) area (274 km²), so
the water surface area is 1,578 km² only.[1]
Some sources are using different Khar-Us Lake Lake statistics values:[2]

 Water level: 1,160.08 m

 Surface area: 1,496.6 km²
 Average depth: 2.1 m
 Volume: 3.12 km³.

Primary inflow is the Khovd River, which creates a large river delta.
So called Genghis Khan's wall runs along the western shore of the Khar-Us Lake. It is possible to
find it at the Google Map and Google Earth satellite maps 47°53′29″N 91°59′37″E.

Tavan Bogd

25
The Tavan Bogd (Mongolian: Таван богд, [tɑwɑŋ ˈbɔɡ.dɔ], lit. "five saints") is a
mountain massif in Mongolia, near the triple border with China and Russia. Its highest peak,
the Khüiten Peak (formerly also known as Nairmadal Peak) is the highest point of Mongolia at 4374
meters above sea level.
The Tavan Bogd massif is located mostly within the Bayan-Olgii Provinceof Mongolia; its northern
slopes are in Russia's Altai Republic, and western, in China's Burqin County.
Besides the Khüiten Peak, the Tavan Bogd massif includes four other peaks: Nairamdal, Malchin,
Bürged (eagle) and Olgii (motherland).
Geography

Ulaankhus soum and Tsengel soum, Bayan-Olgii

Location Province, Mongolia

Parent range Mongol-Altai Mountains

Climbing

First ascent 1956

Easiest route Hiking

Orkhon Valley

26
For many centuries, the Orkhon Valley was viewed as the seat of the imperial power of the steppes.
The first evidence comes from a stone stele with runic inscriptions, which was erected in the valley
by Bilge Khan, an 8th-century ruler of the Göktürk Empire. Some 25 miles to the north of the stele, in
the shadow of the sacred forest-mountain Ötüken, was his Ördü, or nomadic capital. During
the Qidan domination of the valley, the stele was reinscribed in three languages, so as to record the
deeds of a Qidan potentate.
Mountains were considered sacred in Tengriism as an axis mundi, but Ötüken was especially sacred
because the ancestor spirits of the khagans and beysresided here. Moreover, a force called qut was
believed to emanate from this mountain, granting the khagan the divine right to rule the Turkic
tribes.[1]Whoever controlled this valley was considered heavenly appointed leader of the Turks and
could rally the tribes. Thus control of the Orkhon Valley was of the utmost strategic importance for
every Turkic state. Historically every Turkic capital (Ördü) was located here for this exact reason.
There were many houses by the bank but they are all gone now.

Location Mongolia

Criteria Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv)

Reference 1081rev

Inscription 2004 (28th Session)

Area 121,967 ha (301,390 acres)

Buffer zone 61,044 ha (150,840 acres)

Khustain Nuruu National Park

27
History
The Mongolian Government declared Hustai National Park as a Specially Protected Area in 1993,
one year after the initiation of the reintroduction project of the Takhi[1] (Przewalski's horse) to the
Hustain Nuruu. The HNP extends through the Khentii Mountains and includes the western edge of
the Mongolian steppe at the boundaries of Altanbulag, Argalant and Bayankhangai Soums of Töv
Province. The park is about 100 km from the capital city of Ulaanbaatar to the west.
The HNP covers 50,600 ha land which is home to 459 species of vascular plants, 85 species
of lichens, 90 species of moss and 33 species of mushrooms. 44 species of mammals have been
recorded, including red deer, Mongolian gazelle, roe deer, wild boar, wild sheep, ibex, Mongolian
marmots, grey wolves, Eurasian lynx, Pallas cat, red fox, corsac fox and Eurasian badger. The 217
species of birds include golden eagle, lammergeier, great bustard, whooper swan, black
stork, Daurian partridge and little owl. There are 16 species of fish, 2 species of amphibians, and
385 species of insects (including 21 species of ants, 55 species of butterflies, 10 species of bush
crickets and 29 species of grasshoppers). A new species of soil insect has been found in the Hustai
and given the scientific name of Epidamaeus khustaiensis.

Location Mongolia

Area 506 km²

Established 2003

Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake

28
Terkhiin Tsagaan Lake (Mongolian: Тэрхийн Цагаан нуур, translit. Terhiin Cagaan nuur) also
known as White Lake is a lake in the Khangai Mountains in central Mongolia. The Khorgo volcano is
located near the eastern end of the lake and the Suman River springs from lake.

Location Khangai Mountains

48°10′15″N 99°43′20″ECoordinates:
Coordinates
48°10′15″N 99°43′20″E

Basin countries Mongolia

Max. length 16 km (9.9 mi)

Max. width 4–10 km (2.5–6.2 mi)

Surface area 61 km2 (24 sq mi)

Average depth 20 m (66 ft)

Surface 2,060 m (6,760 ft)

elevation

Ramsar Wetland

Official name Terhiyn Tsagaan Nuur

Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park

29
Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park (Mongolian: Говь гурван сайхан байгалийн цогцолбор
газар, Gobi three beauties nature complex) is a national park in southern Mongolia. The park was
established in 1993, and expanded to its current size in 2000. The park, at nearly 27,000 square
kilometers, is the largest national park in Mongolia, stretching 380 km from east to west and 80 km
from north to south.[1]
The park is named for the Gurvan Saikhan Mountains, which translates to the Three Beauties. The
name is derived from three subranges, the East, Middle and West Beauty. The range forms the
eastern half of the park.
The park lies on the northern edge of the Gobi desert. The higher elevations contain areas
of steppe, and reach elevations of up to 2,600 meters. A number of rare plants and animals are
found in the park, including the elusive snow leopard and the Gobi camel. Areas of sand dunes are
found, most famously the Khongoryn Els - the Singing Sands. Another major tourist destination
is Yolyn Am, which is connected with Dalanzadgad by paved road and a mountain valley that
contains a large ice field through most of the year.
The park is usually accessed via the town of Dalanzadgad, which has airport service to Ulaanbaatar.

Tsetserleg (city)

30
 Buyandelgeruulekh Monastery

History
Tsetserleg is an ancient cultural and commercial centre. It was once the seat of a monastery, built by
the First Khalkh Zaya Pandita, Luvsanperenlei (1642–1715) (who should not be confused with Zaya
Pandita Namkhaijantsan (1599–1662)). It consisted of the main Guden Süm, the Right, or Summer
Semchin Temple, and the Left, or Winter Semchin Temple, all built in the early 1680s. The sixth
Zaya Pandita, Jambatseren, was killed by the Communists in 1932, and the main Guden temple was
turned into a museum. There is a seventh Zaya Pandita, but he mostly lives in Ulan Bator and visits
only occasionally.

Country Mongolia

Province Arkhangai Province

Founded ~1631

Area

• Total 536 km2 (207 sq mi)

N Seoul Tower

31
History
Built in 1969, and at a cost of approximately 2.5 million USD, the tower was opened to the public in
1980. Seoul Tower was completed on December 3, 1971, designed by architects at Jangjongryul
though at the time the facility interior was not furnished. It took until August 1975, for the third floor of
the observatory deck, museum, open hall, souvenir shop, in addition to bring the other facilities to
completion. However, despite finalization of tower construction, the observatory was closed to the
public until October 15, 1980. Since then, the tower has been a landmark of Seoul. Tower elevation
ranges from 236.7 m (777 ft) at the base to 479.7 m (1,574 ft) above sea level.

Seoul Tower had its name changed to N Seoul Tower in 2005 whereas the "N" stands for 'new',
'Namsan', and 'nature.' Approximately 15 billion KRW was spent in renovating and remodeling the
tower.[4][5]When N Seoul Tower's original owner merged with CJ Corporation, it was renamed the N
Seoul Tower (official name CJ Seoul Tower). It has also been known as the Namsan Tower or Seoul
Tower. It is also Korea's first general radio wave tower that holds transmissions antennas of KBS,
MBC, SBS TV, FM, PBC, TBS, CBS, and BBS FM.[6] Seoul Tower chosen to worldwide travel expert
evaluation and reader preferences is registered the world's 500 attractions in research.

Bukchon Hanok Village

32
History
The area of Bukchon, which consists of neighborhoods: Wonseo-dong, Jae-dong, Gye-
dong, Gahoe-dong and Insa-dong, was traditionally the residential quarter of high-ranking
government officials and nobility during the Joseon Dynasty. It is located north of Cheonggye
Stream and Jongno, hence named Bukchon, which means north village. [2]Traditionally, this place
was inhabited by nobles, serving in the palace and their families. Later on, due to wars and
disasters, the place was occupied by commoners.

Tourism
A poll of nearly 2,000 foreign visitors, conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government in
November 2011, stated that exploring the narrow streets of Bukchon was their fourth favorite activity
in Seoul.[3]
According to data by the Bukchon Traditional Culture Center 30,000 people visited the area in 2007.
However, after the Village was featured in television programmes, such as 1 Night 2
Days and Personal Taste, the number rose to 318,000 in 2010. In 2012 the figure is expected to
double to more than 600,000.[4]
A large beautiful hanok has open to the public in 2015, as part of the Seoul Museum of History. It is
located in a alley, just on the foot of the hill. Entrance is free, the visit allows to see those traditional
housing in 15-20 minutes.

Deoksugung

33
History
Deoksugung was originally the residence of Prince Wolsan, the older brother of King Seongjong.
This residence became a royal 'palace' during the Imjin war after all of the other palaces were
burned in 1592 during the Imjin wars. King Seonjo was the first Joseon king to reside at the
palace. King Gwanghaegun was crowned in this palace in 1608, and renamed it Gyeongun-
gung (경운궁, 慶運宮) in 1611. After the official palace was moved to the rebuilt Changdeokgung in
1618, it was used as an auxiliary palace for 270 years and was renamed Seogung (West Palace).
In 1897, after the incident when Emperor Gojong took refuge in the Russian legation, he returned to
this place and named it Gyeongungung again. Expansion of the facility followed after his return. After
Emperor Gojong abdicated the throne to Emperor Sunjong, he continued to live in this palace. The
palace was then renamed Deoksugung, as a reference to a wish for longevity of Emperor Gojong.
Emperor Gojong died in Hamnyeongjeon.
Deoksugung, also known as Gyeongun-gung, Deoksugung Palace, or Deoksu Palace, is a
walled compound of palaces in Seoul that was inhabited by members of Korea's royal family during
the Joseon monarchy until colonial period around the turn of the 20th century. It is one of the "Five
Grand Palaces" built by the kings of the Joseon Dynasty.[1] The buildings are of varying styles,
including some of natural cryptomeria wood[citation needed]), painted wood, and stucco. Some buildings
were built of stone to replicate western palatial structures.In addition to the traditional palace
buildings, there are also forested gardens, a statue of King Sejong the Great and the National
Museum of Art, which holds special exhibitions. The palace is located near City Hall Station.
Deoksugung, like the other "Five Grand Palaces" in Seoul, was intentionally heavily destroyed during
the colonial period of Korea. Currently, only one third of the structures that were standing before the
occupation remain.

Haeundae Beach

Haeundae Beach (Hangul: 해운대해수욕장; Hanja:海雲臺海水浴場; RR: Hae'undae haesuyokjang)

is a beach located in Busan, South Korea, and is often considered one of Korea's most famous and
beautiful beaches. Haeundae Beach, which is 1.5km long, is located in the Eastern part of Busan, in
the Haeundae District. It is accessible from Haeundae Station on Line 2, and it takes approximately

34
40 minutes to reach the beach by subway from Busan Station in the city's historic area, and less
than one hour from Gimhae International Airport.[1]
Haeundae Beach is often considered Busan and South Korea's, along with Gwangalli
Beach (Busan), Gyeongpo Beach (Gangneung) or Hyeopjae Beach (Jeju City). Due to its length,
beauty, and because of its easy access from downtown Busan, the beach is busy year-round, and
holds numerous festivals. Haeundae is also closely associated with cinema, as it partly hosts
the Busan International Film Festival, and was featured prominently in the 2009 disaster movie Tidal
Wave.[2]
The beach is popular with Korean tourists, although it has recently seen an afflux or foreign tourists,
from China, Japan and Western countries. The beach and surrounding area is particularly crowded
during the summer months of July and August. Amongst the sights of Haeundae
are Dongbaekseom, at the West end of the beach, which is a popular fishing area. Oryukdo, a group
of small islets East of the beach, are also considered a symbol of Busan. The neighborhood
surrounding Haeundae is home to most of Busan's expatriate population.
There are many beach-related cultural events in Haeundae. Along with Geumjeongsan and
Dalmajigogae, Haeundae is one of the most popular spots in Busan to view the New Year sunrise, a
popular tradition in Korea. In addition, the "Polar Bear Club", a popular beach event during which
participants bathe in near 0°C water, is held annually since 1988 in January in front of the Chosun
Beach Hotel.[3]
Due to its fame, Haeundae is considered one of the most expensive areas in Korea, and the most
expensive outside of the Seoul Capital Area. This has led to numerous urban development projects
near Haeundae Beach and the nearby Marine City, including supertall skyscrapers such
as Haeundae Doosan We've the Zenith and Haeundae LCT The Sharp.

Hwaseong Fortress

35
King Jeongjo apparently built Hwaseong Fortress to prepare for a move of the capital from Seoul to
Suwon. Suwon was purported to be strategically positioned to connect Seoul with the West Sea
(Yellow Sea) and China. The king wanted to leave the factional strife of the court to carry out reforms
and believed that Suwon had the potential to grow into a new and prosperous capital. To encourage
growth, he ordered people to move to Suwon at considerable expense and exempted them from
taxes for ten years. King Jeongjo also ordered public works, such as the building of educational
facilities to better facilitate the city as a capital.

Hwaseong Fortress or Suwon Hwaseong is a fortification surrounding the centre of Suwon, the
provincial capital of Gyeonggi-do, in South Korea.[1] It was built from 1794 to 1796 by King Jeongjo of
the Joseon Dynasty to house and honour the remains of his father, Prince Sado. Sado had been
executed by being locked alive inside a rice chest by his own father King Yeongjo after failing to
obey a command to commit suicide. Located 30 kilometres (19 mi) south of Seoul and enclosing
much of central Suwon, the fortress includes King Jeongjo's palace Haenggung. The site was
designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1997. Suwoncheon, the main stream in Suwon,
flows through the center of the fortress.

Hwaseong Fortress was built over a two and a half-year period, from 1794 to 1796 according to the
designs of the architect Jeong Yak-yong, who would later become a renowned leader of
the Silhak movement. Silhak, which means practical learning, encouraged the use of science and
industry, and Jeong incorporated fortress designs from Korea and Chinaalong with contemporary
science into his plans. The use of brick as a building material for the fortress and employment of
efficient pulleys and cranes were also due to the influence of Silhak.

Seoraksan

Mount Gwonggeumseong in Seoraksan National Park

Seoraksan is the highest mountain in the Taebaek mountain range in the Gangwon Province in
eastern South Korea.[1] It is located in a national park near the city of Sokcho. After
the Hallasan volcano on Jeju Island and Jirisan in the south, Seoraksan is the third highest mountain

36
in South Korea. The Daechongbong Peak (대청봉) of Seoraksan reaches 1,708 meters (5,603 feet).
The Taebaek mountain chain is often considered the backbone of the Korean peninsula.
The national park attracts many domestic and international tourists all year round, but the main
season for Seoraksan national park is autumn. The autumn colours in the area are considered
amongst the most beautiful in Korea. The red and yellow forest is interrupted by rocks and small
mountain streams flow amidst this. During the rainy season in summer—especially after a typhoon—
these streams can swell.

Geography:

Seoraksan is located in the Gangwon Provincein eastern South

Korea

Location South Korea

Parent range Taebaek Mountains

Climbing

Jeju Island

37
History
From April 3, 1948 to May 1949, the South Korean government conducted
an anticommunist campaign to suppress an attempted uprising on the island. The main cause for the
rebellion was the election scheduled for May 10, 1948, designed by the United Nations Temporary
Commission on Korea (UNTCOK) to create a new government for all of Korea. The elections were
only planned for the south of the country, the half of the peninsula under UNTCOK control. Fearing
that the elections would further reinforce division, guerrilla fighters for the South Korean Labor
party(SKLP) reacted violently, attacking local police and rightist youth groups stationed on Jeju
Island. Atrocities were committed by both sides, but those by South Korean government forces are
the best-documented. On one occasion, American soldiers discovered the bodies of 97 people who
had been killed by government forces. On another, American soldiers encountered police who were
executing 76 villagers.

Geography
Jejudo is a volcanic island, dominated by Hallasan: a volcano 1,950 metres (6,400 ft) high and the
highest mountain in South Korea. The island measures approximately 73 kilometres (45 mi) across,
east to west, and 41 kilometres (25 mi) from north to south. The island formed by volcanic eruptions
approximately 2 million years ago, during the Cenozoic era. The island consists chiefly of basalt and
lava.An area covering about 12% (224 square kilometres or 86 square miles) of Jejudo is known
as Gotjawal Forest. This area remained uncultivated until the 21st century, as its base of ʻAʻā
lava made it difficult to develop for agriculture. Because this forest remained pristine for so long, it
has a unique ecology.The forest is the main source of groundwater and thus the main water source
for the half million people of the island, because rainwater penetrates directly into the aquifer through
the cracks of the ʻAʻā lava under the forest. Gotjawal forest is considered an internationally
important wetland under the Ramsar Convention by some researchers[18] because it is the habitat of
unique species of plants and is the main source of water for the residents, although to date it has not
been declared a Ramsar site.

Gyeongbokgung

38
History
Gyeongbokgung was originally constructed in 1394 by King Taejo, the first king and the founder of
the Joseon dynasty, and its name was conceived by an influential government minister
named Jeong Do-jeon. Afterwards, the palace was continuously expanded during the reign of King
Taejong and King Sejong the Great. It was severely damaged by fire in 1553, and its costly
restoration, ordered by King Myeongjong, was completed in the following year.
However, four decades later, the Gyeongbokgung Palace was burnt to the ground during
the Japanese invasions of Korea of 1592-1598. The royal court was moved to the Changdeokgung
Palace. The Gyeongbokgung palace site was left in ruins for the next three centuries.

Gyeongbokgung (Hangul: 경복궁; Hanja: 景福宮), also known as Gyeongbokgung

Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, was the main royal palaceof the Joseon dynasty. Built in 1395, it is
located in northern Seoul, South Korea. The largest of the Five Grand Palaces built by the Joseon
dynasty, Gyeongbokgung served as the home of Kings of the Joseon dynasty, the Kings'
households, as well as the government of Joseon.
Gyeongbokgung continued to serve as the main palace of the Joseon dynasty until the premises
were destroyed by fire during the Imjin War (1592–1598) and abandoned for two centuries.
However, in the 19th century, all of the palace's 7,700 rooms were later restored under the
leadership of Prince Regent Heungseon during the reign of King Gojong. Some 500 buildings were
restored on a site of over 40 hectares.[1][2] The architectural principles of ancient Korea were
incorporated into the tradition and appearance of the Joseon royal court.

South Gyeongsang Province

39
History
Before 1895, the area corresponding to modern-day Gyeongsangnam-do was part
of Gyeongsang Province, one of the Eight Provinces of Koreaduring the Joseon Dynasty. In 1895,
southern Gyeongsang was replaced by the districts of Jinju in the west and Dongnae (modern-
day Busan) in the east. In 1896, they were merged to form Gyeongsangnam-do.
The provincial capital was originally at Jinju; it moved in 1925 to Busan. In 1948, Gyeongsangnam-
do became part of South Korea. In 1963, Busan separated from Gyeongsangnam-do to become
a Directly Governed City(Jikhalsi). In 1983, the provincial capital moved from Busan to Changwon.
In 1995, Busan became a Metropolitan City (Gwangyeoksi), and Ulsanseparated from
Gyeongsangnam-do to become a Metropolitan City in 1997.

Geography
The province is part of the Yeongnam region, on the north by Gyeongsangbuk-do province, on the
west Jeollabuk-do and Jeollanam-doprovinces, and on the south by the Korea Strait far
from Japan (Nagasaki Prefecture). Most of the province is drained by the Nakdong River and its
tributaries. The total area of the province is 10,533 square kilometres (4,067 sq mi).

Namiseom

Namisum is a tiny half-moon shaped island located in Chuncheon, South Korea, formed as it was
inundated by the rising water of the North Han River as the result of the construction of

40
Cheongpyeong Dam (청평댐) in 1944. Its name originated from General Nami (남이장군),[1] who died at
the age of 28 after being falsely accused of treason during the reign of King Sejo, the seventh king of
the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. Although his grave was not discovered, there were a pile of stones
where his body was supposed to be buried. It was believed that if someone took even one stone
from there, it would bring misfortune to their house. A tour company arranged the grave with soil and
then developed Namisum into an amusement park.

Geography
Namisum is located 3.8 km from Gapyeong County, but belongs to Chuncheon in Gangwon-do. It is
430,000 square meters in area and approximately 4 km in diameter.
Naminara is a micronation, and the "visa" issued by Naminara is required in order to enter
Namiseom. It declared itself a self-governing country in 2006 as acceding to General Nami's natural
greatness of soul and appointed Ryu Hongjun as the 1st head of culture and Suzanna Samstag Oh
as a foreign head. In addition, it has invented its own passport, currency, stamp and telephone card,
and has promoted the establishment of Naminara in other countries.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Ross Island, Andaman

41
History
The earliest archaeological evidence documents some 2,200 years.
However, genetic and cultural studies suggest that the indigenous Andamanese people may have
been isolated from other populations during the Middle Paleolithic, which ended 30,000 years
ago.[7] Since that time, the Andamanese have diversified into linguistically and culturally distinct,
territorial groups.
The Nicobar Islands appear to have been populated by people of various backgrounds. By the time
of European contact, the indigenous inhabitants had coalesced into the Nicobarese people,
speaking a Mon-Khmer language; and the Shompen, whose language is of uncertain affiliation. Both
are unrelated to the Andamanese, but being closely related to the Austroasiatic languages in
mainland Southeast Asia.

Country India

Established 1 November 1956

Capital and largest city Port Blair

Area[1]

• Total 8,250 km2 (3,190 sq mi)

Area rank 28th

Tirumala

42
Tirumala is a census town in Chittoor district of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The town is a
part of Tirupati Urban Development Authority and located in Tirupati (rural) mandal of Tirupati
revenue division.[1] It is a hill town where Tirumala Venkateswara Temple is located, which is the
abode of Lord Venkateswara.

Geography
Tirumala is located 3,200 feet (980 m) above sea level and covers an area of approximately 10.33
square miles (26.8 km2). Surrounding the hills are seven peaks of Seshachalam range, Eastern
Ghats namely Seshadri, Neeladri, Garudadri, Anjanadri, Vrushabadri, Narayanadri and Venkatadri.
The temple of Sri Venkateswara[2] is on the seventh peak (Venkatadri).
At 21 km point on the Tirupati – Tirumala Ghat road, there is a major discontinuity
of stratigraphic significance that represents a period of remarkable serenity in the geological history
of the Earth. This is referred to as Eparchaean Unconformity. This Unconformity separates
the ProterozoicNagari Quartazite and Archean granite representing a time gap of 800 Ma.[3]In 2001,
the Geological Survey of India(GSI) declared the Eparchaean Unconfirmity to be one of the 26
"Geological Monuments of India.

Country India

State Andhra Pradesh

District Chittoor

Andhra Pradesh

Rushikonda beach view

43
History
A tribe named Andhra was mentioned in Sanskrit texts such as Aitareya Brahmana (800–500 BCE).
According to Aitareya Brahmana of the Rig Veda, the Andhras left north India and settled in south
India.[21][22][23] The Satavahanas have been mentioned by the names Andhra, Andhrara-
jateeya and Andhrabhrtya in the Puranic literature.[24][25] They did not refer themselves as Andhra in
any of their coins or inscriptions; it is possible that they were termed as Andhras because of their
ethnicity or because their territory included the Andhra region.

Geography
The state has varied topography ranging from the hills of Eastern Ghats and Nallamala Hills to the
shores of Bay of Bengal that supports varied ecosystems, rich diversity of flora and fauna. There are
two main rivers namely, Krishna and Godavari, that flow through the state. The seacoast of the state
extends along the Bay of Bengalfrom Srikakulam to Nellore district.[59] The plains to the east of
Eastern Ghats form the Eastern coastal plains. The coastal plains are for the most part of delta
regions formed by the Godavari, Krishna, and Penner Rivers. The Eastern Ghats are discontinuous
and individual sections have local names. The Eastern Ghats are a major dividing line in the state's
geography. The Kadapa Basin]formed by two arching branches of the Eastern Ghats is a mineral-
rich area. The Ghats become more pronounced towards the south and extreme north of the coast.
Most of the coastal plains are put to intense agricultural use. The Rayalaseemaregion has semi-arid
conditions.

Ethipothala Falls

44
Ethipothala Falls is a 70 feet (21 m) high river cascade, situated in Guntur district, Andhra
Pradesh India. Located on the Chandravanka river, which is a tributary of River Krishna joining on its
right bank. The waterfall is a combination of three streams namely Chandravanka Vagu, Nakkala
Vagu and Tummala Vagu. It is situated about 11 kilometres (6.8 mi) from Nagarjuna Sagar
Dam.[1] The river then joins the Krishna river after the dam after travelling about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi)
from the falls. A strategic view point was created by Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department from the
adjacent hillock. There are Ranganatha and Dattatreya temples in the vicinity. There is
a crocodile breeding centre in the pond formed by the water fall. Water from the Nagarjuna Sagar
right bank canal is released in to the above streams to keep the water fall alive or flowing throughout
the year for tourism purpose.

Location Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh, India

India

16°19′N 79°25′ECoordinates:
Coordinates
16°19′N 79°25′E

Type Cascade

Total height 70 feet (21 m)

Belum Caves

45
The Belum Caves is the largest and longest cave system open to the public on the Indian
subcontinent, known for its speleothems, such as stalactite and stalagmite formations. The Belum
Caves have long passages, galleries, spacious caverns with fresh water and siphons. This natural
cave system was formed over the course of tens of thousands of years by the constant flow of
underground water. The cave system reaches its deepest point ( 46 m (151 ft) from entrance level)
at the point known as Pataalaganga.[1] In Telugu language, it is called Belum Guhalu. Belum Caves
have a length of 3,229 m (10,593.8 ft), making them the second largest natural caves on the Indian
Subcontinent after the Krem Liat Prah caves in Meghalaya. It is one of the centrally
protected monuments of national importance.[2]
Belum came to scientific attention in 1884 by a British surveyor, Robert Bruce Foote and from 1982
to 1984, a team of German speleologists headed by H. Daniel Gebauer conducted a detailed
exploration of the caves. Thereafter in 1988, the state government declared the site protected,
and Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) developed the caves as a tourist
attraction in February 2002. Today, 3.5 km (2.2 mi) of the caves have been successfully explored,
though only 1.5 km (0.9 mi) is accessible to visitors.[1]There are 16 different pathways, including the
main entrance and there are deposits of quartz in the caves. The caves consist of black limestone.

Location Belum Village in KolimigundlaMandal of Kurnool

District

Region Andhra Pradesh, India

Kanaka Durga Temple

46
Kanaka Durga Temple is a famous hindu Temple of Goddess Durga located in Vijayawada, Andhra
Pradesh. The temple is located on the Indrakeeladri hill, on the banks of Krishna River. Kaalika
puraana, Durgaa sapthashati and other vedic literature have mentioned about Goddess Kanaka
Durga on the Indrakeelaadri and have described the deity as Swayambhu, (self-manifested) in
Triteeya kalpa.

Geography

Country India

State Andhra Pradesh

Locale Vijayawada

Culture

Sanctum Kanaka Durga

Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga

47
History:
There are inscriptional evidences from the Satvahana Dyanasty which place the temple to be
existent from the 2nd century. Most modern additions were done during the time of king Harihara
of Vijayanagara Empire. When Shiva and Parvati decided to find suitable brides for their
sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya argued as to who is to get wedded first. Shiva bade that the one who
goes round the world in Pradakshinam could get married first. By the time Kartikeya could go round
the world on his vahana, Ganesha went round his parents 7 times (for according to Shastras, going
in pradakshinam round one's parents is equivalent to going once round the world
(Bhupradakshinam)). Siva got Buddhi(intellect), Siddhi (spiritual power), and Riddhi (prosperity)
married to Ganesha. Kartikeya on his return was enraged and went away to stay alone on Mount
Kraunja in the name of Kumarabrahmachari. On seeing his father coming over to pacify him, he tried
to move to another place, but on the request of the Devas, stayed close by. The place where Siva
and Parvati stayed came to be known as Shrishailam.

Geography:

Country India

State Andhra Pradesh

Locale Srisailam

Kodandarama Temple

48
Kodandaramaswami Temple (Kannada: ಕೋದಂಡರಾಮಸ್ವಾ ಮಿ ದೇವಸ್ವಾ ನKannada
pronunciation: [kod̪ʌɳɖʌɾaməswami]) is a Hindu shrine located at Hiremagalur near Chikkamagaluru,
in Chikkamagaluru district, Karnataka, India. The temple deity is called Kodandarama, as Rama, and
his brother Lakshmanaare depicted holding arrows.
The temple is State protected and appears to have been constructed in three stages, with
its garbhagrha and sukhanasi structures in the Hoysala style. The remaining portions are additions
in Dravidian style. The present navaranga is of the 14th century. While the mukhamandapa may be
of the 16th century. The outer walls of the garbhagruha and vestibule are raised on a square
basement which consists of six cornices. The outer walls of the navaranga and mukhamandapa are
built with brick and mortar. The projection of the vestibule appears to be of the 17th century.

Geography

Country India

State Karnataka

Location Hiremagalur

Culture

Sanctum Rama or Kodandarama

Panambur Beach

49
Panambur Beach is a beach in the city of Mangalore in the Indian state of Karnataka.
This beach is on the shores of Arabian sea and is credited as one of the safest and best maintained
beaches of India.[1] It is the most popular, well connected and most visited beach of coastal
Karnataka.[2]
The beach is located in the place called Panambur 10 km north of the City center [3] which comes
under the administration of Mangalore City Corporation.
As of now this beach is maintained by a private enterprise under the banner of Panambur Beach
Tourism Development Project. Other attractions include jet ski rides, boating, dolphin viewing, food
stalls and is also known for its highly skilled and trained lifeguards who patrol the beach to ensure
visitor safety.
This beach has been popular for its picturesque sunsets, the beautiful port area and a picnic spot for
tourists and locals alike and offers very good views of the sunset. The beach attracts good number
of visitors due to its close proximity to the city. The ships anchored out in the sea waiting for berth in
the harbor can be seen from the Beach which presents an attractive picture.

Location Panambur

City Mangalore

Country India

Varkala Beach

50
Varkala Beach, also known as Papanasham Beach is a beach
in Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, along the Arabian Sea, part of the Indian Ocean. The
word Papanasham means wash away sins. It is believed that a dip in the waters of Papanasham
Beach washes away all the sins in one's life.

Sights
Varkala beach is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to the Arabian
Sea.[1] These cliffs are of tertiary sedimentary formation, and named by geologists as Varkala
Formation. They are a geological monument as recorded by the Geological Survey of India. Water
spouts and spas are on the sides of these cliffs.

Geography
Varkala is located at 8.73°N 76.71°E.[4]

Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu Geopark

51
Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu Geopark (Indonesian: Taman Bumi Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu) is a
national Geopark at Pelabuhan Ratu of Sukabumi Regency in West Java , Indonesia. It was
recognized by UNESCO in 2015 as a national geopark. It was being proposed to become member
of Global Geopark Network (GGN) to be recognized UNESCO by 2017.UNESCO has made the park
as a part of the Global Geoparks Network in April, 2018.[2]
The park has land area of about 128,000 hectares. It is spread over 8 sub-districts and 74 villages
of Pelabuhan Ratu.

Location Pelabuhan Ratu, West Java, Indonesia

Nearest city Bandung and Jakarta

Coordinates: 6.974610°S 106.527763°E[1]

Coordinates

Area 128,000 ha (320,000 acres)

Komodo National Park

52
History
Komodo National Park was established in 1980 and was declared a World Heritage Site and a Man
and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1991. The park was initially established to conserve the
unique Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), first discovered by the scientific world in 1912 by
Lieutenant J. K. H. van Steyn van Henbroek, the Civil Administrator in Reo, Flores Island. Since then
conservation goals have expanded to protecting its entire biodiversity, both marine and terrestrial.
The majority of the people in and around the park are fishermen originally from Bima (Sumbawa),
Manggarai, South Flores, and South Sulawesi. Those from South Sulawesi are from the Suku Bajau
or Bugis ethnic groups. The Suku Bajau were originally nomadic and moved from location to location
in the region of Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and Maluku, to make their livelihoods. Descendants of the
original people of Komodo, the Ata Modo, still live in Komodo, but there are no pure blood people left
and their culture and language is slowly being integrated with the recent migrants.
Little is known of the early history of the Komodo islanders. They were subjects of the Sultanate of
Bima, although the island’s remoteness from Bima meant its affairs were probably little troubled by
the Sultanate other than by occasional demand for tribute.

Geography and climate

The park comprises a coastal section of western Flores, the three larger islands
of Komodo, Padar and Rinca, 26 smaller islands and the surrounding waters of the Sape Straights.
The islands of the national park are of volcanic origin. The terrain is generally rugged, characterized
by rounded hills,[3] with altitudes up to 735 m.[2] The climate is one of the driest of Indonesia with
annual rainfall between 800mm and 1000mm. Mean daily temperatures in the dry season from May
to October are around 40 °C.

Berbak National Park

53
The Berbak National Park in Sumatra island, Jambi province of Indonesia, forms part of the largest
undisturbed swamp forest in southeastern Asia,[2]and the peat swamp forest with the greatest
number of palm species.[3]Protected since 1935 under Dutch colonial law and later declared a
national park, it has been also recognised as a wetland of international importance.

Geography
Berbak National Park occupies part of the vast alluvial plain of East Sumatra, which comprises
approximately one quarter of the island. The region is predominantly flat, being dissected by a
number of meandering rivers that drain in a northeasterly direction toward the coast. Along the coast
and lower sections of the rivers, extensive beach ridges and intertidal mudflats occur. The area
contains 600 km2 of freshwater swamp forest and 1,100 km2 of undisturbed peatswamp forest. Its
eastern boundary is bordered by muddy coast and a small fringe of mangrove forest. The southern
border is the Benu River. The maximum coastal tidal range is 2-2.5 m decreasing to 1 m upstream.
The rivers are up to 20 m deep and contain acid peatwater.

Tangkuban Perahu

54
A study conducted in 2001 determined that Tangkuban Perahu has erupted at least 30 times in the
previous 40,750 years. Studies of the tephra layers within 3 km of the crater revealed that twenty
one were minor eruptions and the remaining nine were major eruptions. The eruptions that occurred
prior to approximately 10,000 years ago were magmatic/phreatomagmatic. The eruptions that
occurred after 10,000 years ago were phreatic."[5] The volcano erupted as recently as October 5,
2013.Tangkuban Perahu (spelt Tangkuban Parahu in the local Sundanese dialect) is
a stratovolcano 30 km north of the city of Bandung, the provincial capital of West Java, Indonesia. It
erupted in 1826, 1829, 1842, 1846, 1896, 1910, 1926, 1929, 1952, 1957, 1961, 1965, 1967, 1969,
1983, and 2013. It is a popular tourist attraction where tourists can hike or ride to the edge of
the crater to view the hot water springs and boiling mud up close, and buy eggs cooked on the hot
surface.[2] Together with Mount Burangrang and Bukit Tunggul, it is a remnant of the ancient Mount
Sunda after the plinian eruption caused the Caldera to collapse.In April 2005 the Directorate of
Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation raised an alert, forbidding visitors from going up the
volcano. "Sensors on the slopes of the two mountains - Anak Krakatoa on the southern tip
of Sumatra Island and Tangkuban Perahu in Java - picked up an increase in volcanic activity and a
build up of gases, said government volcanologist Syamsul Rizal."[3] On the mountain's northern flank
is Death Valley, which derives its name from frequent accumulation of poisonous gases.

Geography

Mountain type Stratovolcano

Last eruption 2013[1]

Puncak

55
History
Puncak (old Dutch spelling Poentjak) is the name of a pass on the Indonesian island of Java which
one passes when one of Bogor to Bandung travel.
The highland, being cooler than Batavia, has already been popular resort area for the inhabitants of
Batavia who is looking for cooler air. Many Swiss-type chalets were built around Puncak during the
pre-World War II colonial period.
Today Puncak Pass is surrounded by hotels and resorts.

Puncak is famous for its individual private resorts/villas, which can be rented out for individual or
group bookings. Many schools and companies organized group outings, business conference, and
trainings in those resorts.
There are many tea plantations on either side of the main Puncak road, and the many activities you
can do there; from paragliding, tea plantation walking, or just relaxing and admiring the beautiful
view.
In addition, Puncak also has a lot of landmarks and tourist attractions, such as Taman Safari,
Puncak Pas, and Kota Bunga. Another tourist attraction, just south of the pass, is the Cibodas
Botanical Garden. Taman Safari, a wildlife park, is also located in Puncak. There is a volcanic
lake Telaga Warna near the main route.

Lake Toba

56
Lake Toba is the site of a massive supervolcanic eruption estimated at VEI 8 that occurred 69,000 to
77,000 years ago,[2][3][4] representing a climate-changing event. Recent advances in dating methods
suggest a more accurate identification of 74,000 years ago as the date.[5] It is the largest-known
explosive eruption on Earth in the last 25 million years. According to the Toba catastrophe theory, it
had global consequences for human populations; it killed most humans living at that time and is
believed to have created a population bottleneck in central east Africa and India, which affects the
genetic make-up of the human worldwide population to the present.[6]

It has been accepted that the eruption of Toba led to a volcanic winterwith a worldwide decrease in
temperature between 3 to 5 °C (5.4 to 9.0 °F), and up to 15 °C (27 °F) in higher latitudes. Additional
studies in Lake Malawi in East Africa show significant amounts of ash being deposited from the Toba
eruptions, even at that great distance, but little indication of a significant climatic effect in East
Africa.[7]
On 18 June 2018, Lake Toba was the scene of a ferry disaster, in which over 190 people drowned.

Geology
The Toba caldera complex in North Sumatra comprises four overlapping volcanic craters that adjoin
the Sumatran "volcanic front". With 100 by 30 km [62 by 19 mi] it is the world's
largest Quaternary caldera, and the fourth and youngest caldera. It intersects the three older
calderas. An estimated 2,800 km3 (670 cu mi) of dense-rock equivalent pyroclastic material, known
as the youngest Toba tuff, was released during one of the largest explosive volcanic eruptions in
recent geological history. Following this eruption, a resurgent dome formed within the new caldera,
joining two half-domes separated by a longitudinal graben.[3]
At least four cones, four stratovolcanoes, and three craters are visible in the lake. The Tandukbenua
cone on the northwestern edge of the caldera has only sparse vegetation, suggesting a young age
of several hundred years. Also, the Pusubukit (Hill Center) volcano (1,971 m above sea level) on the
south edge of the caldera is solfatarically active.

57
Bali

Tanah Lot, Bali, Indonesia

History
Bali was inhabited around 2000 BC by Austronesian people who migrated originally from Southeast
Asia and Oceania through Maritime Southeast Asia.[17][18] Culturally and linguistically, the Balinese are
closely related to the people of the Indonesian archipelago, Malaysia, the Philippines and
Oceania.[18] Stone tools dating from this time have been found near the village of Cekik in the island's
west.

Geography
The island of Bali lies 3.2 km (2.0 mi) east of Java, and is approximately 8 degrees south of
the equator. Bali and Java are separated by the Bali Strait. East to west, the island is approximately
153 km (95 mi) wide and spans approximately 112 km (70 mi) north to south; administratively it
covers 5,780 km2 (2,230 sq mi), or 5,577 km2 (2,153 sq mi) without Nusa Penida District;[38] its
population density is roughly 750 people/km2 (1,900 people/sq mi).Bali's central mountains include
several peaks over 2,000 metres (6,600 feet) in elevation and active volcanoes such as Mount
Batur. The highest is Mount Agung (3,031 m, 9,944 ft), known as the "mother mountain", which is an
active volcano rated as one of the world's most likely sites for a massive eruption within the next 100
years.[39] As of late 2017 Mount Agung has started erupting and large numbers of people have been
evacuated, the airport in Bali has been closed. The extent of the eruption is as of November 2017
impossible to predict.[40]Mountains range from centre to the eastern side, with Mount Agung the
easternmost peak. Bali's volcanic nature has contributed to its exceptional fertility and its tall
mountain ranges provide the high rainfall that supports the highly productive agriculture sector.
South of the mountains is a broad, steadily descending area where most of Bali's large rice crop is
grown. The northern side of the mountains slopes more steeply to the sea and is the main coffee
producing area of the island, along with rice, vegetables and cattle. The longest river, Ayung River,
flows approximately 75 km (47 mi) (see List of rivers of Bali).

58
Ternate

Ternate is an island in the Maluku Islands (Moluccas) of eastern Indonesia. It was the center of the
former Sultanate of Ternate. It is off the west coast of the larger island of Halmahera. The city has a
population of just under 200,000 on some 111.39 km2.[1]Like its neighbouring island, Tidore, Ternate
is a visually dramatic cone-shape. The two are ancient
Islamic sultanates (Ternate's Sultanate and Tidore's) with a long history of bitter rivalry. The islands
were once the world's single major producer of cloves,[2] a commodity that allowed their sultans to
become amongst the wealthiest and most powerful of all sultans in the Indonesian region. In the
precolonial era, Ternate was the dominant political and economic power over most of the "Spice
Islands" of Maluku.Today, Ternate City is the largest town in the province of North Maluku, within
which the island constitutes a municipality (kotamadya). It is, however, no longer the provincial
capital, a title now held by the town of Sofifi on Halmahera.The "Ternate Essay" was a pioneering
account of evolution by natural selectionwritten on the island by Alfred Russel Wallace in 1858 and
famously sent to Charles Darwin. Darwin at once responded by publishing Wallace's essay
alongside his own accounts of the theory.

Geography
Ternate is dominated by the volcanic Mount Gamalama (1715 m). An 1840 eruption destroyed most
houses. Recent eruptions occurred in 1980, 1983, 1994 and 2011.[3] During the 2011 eruption,
Indonesia closed a domestic airport near the volcano for several days following ash emissions that
reached 2,000 metres (6,600 feet) into the atmosphere.[4]The foothills are home to groves of clove
trees, and climbs to the peak of the volcano can be made. The airport lies along the northeast
coastline.Hiri island is a volcanic cone lying off the northern tip of Ternate. Crocodile-infested
crater Tolire Lake lies in the northwest and is bordered by sheer cliffs. Ternate beaches include
Sulamadaha (on the northern tip), Afetaduma and Jouburiki in the west, and the beach at the village
of Kastela in the southeast.

59
Mount Bromo

Mount Bromo (Indonesian: Gunung Bromo), is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif,
in East Java, Indonesia. At 2,329 meters (7,641 ft) it is not the highest peak of the massif, but is the
most well known. The massif area is one of the most visited tourist attractions in East
Java, Indonesia. The volcano belongs to the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. The name
of Bromo derived from Javanese pronunciation of Brahma, the Hinducreator god.
Mount Bromo sits in the middle of a plain called the "Sea of Sand" (Javanese: Segara
Wedi or Indonesian: Lautan Pasir), a protected nature reserve since 1919. The typical way to visit
Mount Bromo is from the nearby mountain village of Cemoro Lawang. From there it is possible to
walk to the volcano in about 45 minutes, but it is also possible to take an organised jeep tour, which
includes a stop at the viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan (2,770 m or 9,088 ft) (Indonesian: Gunung
Penanjakan). The viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan can also be reached on foot in about two hours.
Depending on the degree of volcanic activity, the Indonesian Centre for Volcanology and Disaster
Hazard Mitigation sometimes issues warnings against visiting Mount Bromo.
Geography:

Geology

Mountain type Somma volcano

Last eruption November 2015 – February 2016

60
Bunaken

Bunaken is an island of 8 km², part of the Bunaken National Marine Park. Bunaken is located at the
northern tip of the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. It belongs administratively to the municipality
of Manado. Scuba diving attracts many visitors to the island.
Bunaken National Park extends over an area of 890.65 km² of which only 3% is terrestrial, including
Bunaken Island, as well as the islands of Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen.
The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are up to 1,566 m deep in Manado Bay, with
temperatures ranging between 27 and 29 °C. It has a high diversity of - corals, fish, echinoderms or
sponges. Notably, 7 of the 8 species of giant clams that occur in the world, occur in Bunaken. It also
claims to have seven times more genera of coral than Hawaii,[1] and has more than 70% of all the
known fish species of the Indo-Western Pacific.
Oceanic currents may explain, in part, why Bunaken National Marine Park has such a high level of
biodiversity. Northeasternly currents generally sweep through the park but abundant counter
currents and gyros related to lunar cycles are believed to be a trap for free swimming larvae. This is
particularly true on the south side of the crescent-shaped Bunaken Island, lying in the heart of
the park. A snorkeler or diver in the vicinity of Lekuan or Fukui may spot over 33 species of butterfly
fish and numerous types of groupers, damsels, wrasses and gobies. The gobies, smallish fish with
bulging eyes and modified fins that allow them to attach to hard surfaces, are the most diverse but
least known group of fish in the park.

61
Mount Fuji

History
Mount Fuji is an attractive volcanic cone and a frequent subject of Japanese artespecially after 1600,
when Edo (now Tokyo) became the capital and people saw the mountain while traveling on
the Tōkaidō road. The mountain is mentioned in Japanese literature throughout the ages and is the
subject of many poems.[15] One of the modern artists who depicted Fuji in almost all her works
was Tamako Kataoka.It is thought that the first recorded ascent was in 663 by an anonymous
monk.[citation needed] The summit has been thought of as sacred since ancient times and was forbidden to
women until the Meiji Era in the late 1860s. Ancient samurai used the base of the mountain as a
remote training area, near the present-day town of Gotemba. The shōgun Minamoto no
Yoritomo held yabusame in the area in the early Kamakura period. Founded by Nikko Shonin in
1290 on the lower slopes of Mount Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture is the Taiseki-ji temple complex, the
central base headquarters of Nichiren Shōshū Buddhism, which is visited by thousands
of westerners and Asian believers from neighbouring countries each year who go on
varying Tozan pilgrimages.

Geography
Mount Fuji is a very distinctive feature of the geography of Japan. It stands 3,776.24 m (12,389 ft)
tall and is located near the Pacific coast of central Honshu, just west of Tokyo. It straddles the
boundary of Shizuoka and Yamanashi Prefectures. Four small cities surround it: Gotemba to the
east, Fujiyoshida to the north, Fujinomiya to the southwest, and Fuji to the south. It is also
surrounded by five lakes: Lake Kawaguchi, Lake Yamanaka, Lake Sai, Lake Motosu and Lake
Shōji.[30] They, and nearby Lake Ashi, provide views of the mountain. The mountain is part of the Fuji-
Hakone-Izu National Park. It can be seen more distantly from Yokohama, Tokyo, and sometimes as
far as Chiba, Saitama, Tochigi, Ibaraki and Lake Hamana when the sky is clear. Particularly in the
winter it can be seen from the Shinkansen until it reaches Utsunomiya station. It has also been
photographed from space during a space shuttle mission.

62
Himeji Castle

History
Himeji Castle's construction dates to 1333, when a fort was constructed on Himeyama hill
by Akamatsu Norimura, the ruler of the ancient Harima Province.[3] In 1346, his son Sadanori
demolished this fort and built Himeyama Castle in its place.[3][13] In 1545, the Kuroda clan was
stationed here by order of the Kodera clan, and feudal ruler Kuroda Shigetaka remodeled the castle
into Himeji Castle, completing the work in 1561.[3][14] In 1580, Kuroda Yoshitaka presented the castle
to Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and in 1581 Hideyoshi significantly remodeled the castle, building a three-
story keep with an area of about 55 m2 (590 sq ft).[5][14]
Following the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600, Tokugawa Ieyasu granted Himeji Castle to his son-in-
law, Ikeda Terumasa, as a reward for his help in battle.[3]Ikeda demolished the three-story keep that
had been created by Hideyoshi, and completely rebuilt and expanded the castle from 1601 to 1609,
adding three moats and transforming it into the castle complex that is seen today.[3][5] The
expenditure of labor involved in this expansion is believed to have totaled 2.5 million man-
days.[3] Ikeda died in 1613, passing the castle to his son, who also died three years later.[4] In
1617, Honda Tadamasa and his family inherited the castle, and Honda added several buildings to
the castle complex, including a special tower for his daughter-in-law, Princess Sen (千姫Senhime).

34°50′22″N 134°41′38″ECoordinates:
Coordinates
34°50′22″N 134°41′38″E

Type Azuchi-Momoyama castle[1]

Height 46.4 m (152 ft)

63
Tokyo Disneyland

History
The initial contract for the construction of Disneyland in Chiba Prefecture was signed in April 1979.
Japanese engineers and architects visited California to tour Disneyland and prepare to construct the
new park.[5] The construction of the park began a year later and was covered by hundreds of
reporters as an indication of the high expectations for the park in the future. The final cost of Tokyo
Disneyland was 180 billion yen rather than the projected 100 billion yen.

Tokyo Disneyland.

Location Tokyo Disney Resort, Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture,

Japan

Theme Fairy tales and Disney characters

Operated The Oriental Land Company

by

Opened April 15, 1983; 35 years ago

Area 115 acres (47 ha)

64
Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan (ユニバーサル・スタジオ・ジャパン Yunibāsaru Sutajio Japan), located in Osaka,

is one of four Universal Studios theme parks, owned and operated by USJ Co., Ltd., which is wholly
owned by NBCUniversal(as of 2017). The park is similar to the Universal Orlando Resort since it
also contains selected attractions from Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Studios
Hollywood.The park opened on 31 March 2001. Over 11 million guests visited the park in its opening
year, making it the world's fastest amusement park to have achieved the 10 million milestone at the
time. Since then, Universal Studios Japan has had approximately 8 million visitors every year. Most
visitors are Japanese tourists and tourists from other Asian countries such as South Korea. It is also
very popular among Western tourists and expatriates. In 2005, Goldman Sachsbecame the largest
shareholder in Universal Studios Japan.Various events were held in the year 2011 to celebrate the
park's tenth anniversary, by which time a total of 88 million guests had cumulatively attended the
park. There were 700,000 annual passport holders in June 2012, and in the 2012 fiscal year, 9.75
million guests visited the park. During the 2013 fiscal year, Universal Studios Japan received 10.5
million guests. Various factors contributed to this growth in 2013, including the opening of the
backwards roller coaster "Hollywood Dream – The Ride: Backdrop" in March, and the "New Amazing
Adventure of Spider-Man - The Ride 4K3D" in July, which installed new 4KHD technology, which
proved to be popular among the younger generation. The family area "Universal Wonderland" which
opened in March 2012 also attracted many families.

Location Konohana-ku, Osaka, Japan

Theme Show business and Universalentertainment

Owner USJ Co., Ltd. (wholly owned by NBCUniversal, a

division of Comcast)[1]

65
Osaka Castle

History
In 1583 Toyotomi Hideyoshi commenced construction on the site of the Ikkō-ikkitemple of Ishiyama
Hongan-ji.[4] The basic plan was modeled after Azuchi Castle, the headquarters of Oda Nobunaga.
Toyotomi wanted to build a castle that mirrored Oda's, but surpassed it in every way: the plan
featured a five-story main tower, with three extra stories underground, and gold leaf on the sides of
the tower to impress visitors. In 1585 the Inner donjon was completed. Toyotomi continued to extend
and expand the castle, making it more and more formidable to attackers. In 1597 construction was
completed and Hideyoshi died the year after. Osaka Castle passed to his son, Toyotomi Hideyori.

Type Azuchi-Momoyama castle

Site information

Condition Reconstructed

66
Tenryū-ji

History
In the early Heian period, Empress Tachibana no Kachiko, wife of Emperor Saga, founded a temple
called Danrin-ji on the site of present-day Tenryū-ji. The temple fell into disrepair over the next four
hundred years.
In the mid-thirteenth century, Emperor Go-Saga and his son Emperor Kameyamaturned the area
into an imperial villa which they called "Kameyama Detached Palace"(亀山殿 Kameyama-dono). The
name "Kameyama", which literally means "turtle mountain", was selected due to the shape of Mt.
Ogura, which lies to the west of Tenryū-ji—it is said to be similar to the shape of a turtle's shell. All
Japanese temples constructed after the Nara period have a sangō, a mountain name used as an
honorary prefix. Tenryū-ji's sangō, Reigizan (霊亀山, "mountain of the spirit turtle"), was also
selected due to the shape of Mt. Ogura.

Location 68 Saga Tenryuji Susukinobaba-

chō,

Ukyō-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture

Deity Shaka Nyorai (Śākyamuni)

Country Japan

67
Amanohashidate

Tango-Amanohashidate-Ōeyama Quasi-National Park (丹後天橋立大江山国定公園 Tango-

Amanohashidate-Ōeyama Kokutei Kōen) is a Quasi-National Park in northern Kyōto
Prefecture, Japan. Established in 2007, the park comprises a number of non-contiguous areas of the
former Tango Province, with a central focus on Mount Ōe (大江山) and Amanohashidate, one of
the Three Views of Japan.

Tate-iwa

Location Kyōto Prefecture, Japan

Area 190.23 km²

Established 3 August 2007

68
Daigo-ji

Daigo-ji (醍醐寺 Daigo-ji) is a Shingon Buddhist temple in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan. Its main
devotion (honzon) is Yakushi. Daigo, literally "ghee", is used figuratively to mean "crème de la
crème" and is a metaphor of the most profound part of Buddhist thoughts.

History
Daigo-ji was founded in the early Heian period.[2] In 874, Rigen-daishi (Shōbō) founded the temple.
After having fallen ill and abdicated in 930, Emperor Daigo entered Buddhist priesthood at this
temple. As a monk, he took the Buddhist name Hō-kongō; and shortly thereafter, died at the age of
46. He was buried in the temple, which is why his posthumous name was Daigo.

Location 22 Daigo Higashiōji-

chō, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto

Prefecture

Affiliation Daigo School of Shingon

Buddhism

Deity Yakushi Nyorai(Bhaiṣajyaguru)

Country Japan

69
Japanese castle

History
Originally conceived as fortresses for military defense, Japanese castles were placed in strategic
locations, along trade routes, roads, and rivers. Though castles continued to be built with these
considerations, for centuries, fortresses were also built as centres of governance. By the Sengoku
period, they had come to serve as the homes of daimyōs (feudal lords), to impress and to intimidate
rivals not only with their defences but also with their sizes, architecture, and elegant interiors. In
1576, Oda Nobunaga was among the first to build one of these palace-like castles: Azuchi
Castlewas Japan's first castle to have a tower keep (天守閣, tenshukaku), and it inspired
both Toyotomi Hideyoshi's Osaka Castle and Tokugawa Ieyasu's Edo Castle.[3]Azuchi served as the
governing center of Oda's territories, and as his lavish home, but it was also very keenly and
strategically placed. A short distance away from the capital of Kyoto, which had long been a target of
violence, Azuchi's carefully chosen location allowed it a great degree of control over the
transportation and communication routes of Oda's enemies.

During the early 20th century, a new movement for the preservation of heritage grew. The first law
for the preservation of sites of historical or cultural significance was enacted in 1919, and was
followed ten years later by the 1929 National Treasure Preservation Law.[16][17] With the enactment of
these laws, local governments had an obligation to prevent any further destruction, and they had
some of the funds and resources of the national government to improve on these historically
significant sites.
By the 1920s, nationalism was on the rise, and a new pride was found in the castles, which became
symbols of Japan's warrior traditions.[18] With new advances in construction, some of the previously
destroyed castles were re-built quickly and cheaply with steel-reinforced concrete, such as the main
tower of Osaka Castle, which was first re-built in 1928.

70
Kyoto

Kotohiki beach

History
Ample archaeological evidence suggests human settlement in Kyoto began as early as
the Paleolithic period,[8] however, not much published material is retained about human activity in the
area before the 6th century, around which time the Shimogamo Shrine is believed to have been
established. The Hamaguri rebellion of 1864 burnt down 28,000 houses in the city which showed the
rebels' dissatisfaction towards the Tokugawa Shogunate.[12] The subsequent move of the Emperor to
Tokyo in 1869 weakened the economy. The modern city of Kyoto was formed on April 1, 1889. The
construction of Lake Biwa Canal in 1890 was one measure taken to revive the city. The population of
the city exceeded one million in 1932.

Geography
yoto is located in a valley, part of the Yamashiro (or Kyoto) Basin, in the eastern part of the
mountainous region known as the Tamba highlands. The Yamashiro Basin is surrounded on three
sides by mountains known as Higashiyama, Kitayama and Nishiyama, with a height just above 1,000
metres (3,281 ft) above sea level. This interior positioning results in hot summers and cold winters.
There are three rivers in the basin, the Ujigawa to the south, the Katsuragawa to the west, and
the Kamogawa to the east. Kyoto City takes up 17.9% of the land in the prefecture with an area of
827.9 square kilometres (319.7 sq mi). The original city was arranged in accordance with
traditional Chinese feng shui following the model of the ancient Chinese capital of Chang'an.
The Imperial Palace faced south, resulting in Ukyō (the right sector of the capital) being on the west
while Sakyō (the left sector) is on the east. The streets in the modern-day wards
of Nakagyō, Shimogyō, and Kamigyō-ku still follow a grid pattern.

71
Jerusalem

History
Given the city's central position in both Jewish nationalism (Zionism) and Palestinian nationalism, the
selectivity required to summarize some 5,000 years of inhabited history is often influenced by ideological
bias or background (see Historiography and nationalism).The periods of Jewish sovereignty in the city's
history are important to Israeli/Jewish nationalists (Zionists), who claim the right to the city based on
Jewish descent from the Israelite Kingdom of Judah, of which Jerusalem was the capital. In contrast,
Palestinian nationalists claim the right to the city based on modern Palestinians' descent from many
different peoples who have lived in the region over the centuries, rather than those from a particular
period. Both sides claim the history of the city has been politicized by the other in order to strengthen their
relative claims to the city, and that this is borne out by the different focuses the different writers place on
the various events and eras in the city's history.

Geography
Jerusalem is situated on the southern spur of a plateau in the Judaean Mountains, which include
the Mount of Olives (East) and Mount Scopus (North East). The elevation of the Old City is approximately
760 m (2,490 ft). The whole of Jerusalem is surrounded by valleys and dry riverbeds (wadis).
The Kidron, Hinnom, and Tyropoeon Valleys intersect in an area just south of the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Kidron Valley runs to the east of the Old City and separates the Mount of Olives from the city proper.
Along the southern side of old Jerusalem is the Valley of Hinnom, a steep ravine associated in
biblical eschatology with the concept of Gehenna or Hell. The Tyropoeon Valley commenced in the
northwest near the Damascus Gate, ran south-southeasterly through the center of the Old City down to
the Pool of Siloam, and divided the lower part into two hills, the Temple Mount to the east, and the rest of
the city to the west (the lower and the upper cities described by Josephus). Today, this valley is hidden by
debris that has accumulated over the centuries. In biblical times, Jerusalem was surrounded by forests of
almond, olive and pine trees. Over centuries of warfare and neglect, these forests were destroyed.
Farmers in the Jerusalem region thus built stone terraces along the slopes to hold back the soil, a feature
still very much in evidence in the Jerusalem landscape.

72
Nazareth

History
Archaeological researchers have revealed that a funerary and cult center at Kfar HaHoresh, about two
miles (3.2 km) from current Nazareth, dates back roughly 9000 years to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B era.
The remains of some 65 individuals were found, buried under huge horizontal headstone structures,
some of which consisted of up to 3 tons of locally produced white plaster. Decorated human skulls
uncovered there have led archaeologists to identify Kfar HaHoresh as a major cult centre in that era. In
1620 the Catholic Church purchased an area in the Nazareth basin measuring approximately 100 m
× 150 m (328.08 ft× 492.13 ft) on the side of the hill known as the Nebi Sa'in. The Franciscan
priest Bellarmino Bagatti, "Director of Christian Archaeology", carried out extensive excavation of this
"Venerated Area" from 1955 to 1965. Fr. Bagatti uncovered pottery dating from the Middle Bronze
Age (2200 to 1500 BC) and ceramics, silos and grinding mills from the Iron Age (1500 to 586 BC) which
indicated substantial settlement in the Nazareth basin at that time.However, lack of archaeological
evidence for Nazareth from Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Hellenistic or Early Roman times, at least in
the major excavations between 1955 and 1990, shows that the settlement apparently came to an abrupt
end about 720 BC, when the Assyrians destroyed many towns in the area.

Geography

Two locations for Nazareth are cited in ancient texts: the Galilean (northern) location in the Christian
gospels and a southern (Judean) location mentioned in several early noncanonical texts. Modern-day
Nazareth is nestled in a natural bowl which reaches from 320 metres above sea level to the crest of the
hills about 488 metres. Nazareth is about 25 kilometres from the Sea of Galilee and about 9 kilometres
west from Mount Tabor. The major cities of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv are situated approximately 146
kilometres and 108 kilometres respectively, away from Nazareth. The Nazareth Range, in which the town
lies, is the southernmost of several parallel east-west hill ranges that characterize the elevated tableau of
Lower Galilee.

73
Avshalom Cave

The cave has been the focus of paleoclimate research, which allowed reconstruction of the region's
semi-arid climate for the past 185,000 years.[1] According to the American geologist James Aronson,
the Soreq Cave Nature Reserve is the Rosetta stone of climate history in the Eastern
Mediterranean.

Avshalom Cave (Hebrew: ‫)מערת אבשלום‬, also known as Soreq Cave(Arabic: ‫مغارة سوريك‬, Mghar
Suriq) or Stalactites Cave (Hebrew: ‫מערת הנטיפים‬, Me'arat HaNetifim), is a 5,000 m2 cave on the
western side of Mt. Ye'ela, in the Judean hills in Israel, unique for its dense concentration
of stalactites and other cave formations.

Location On the western slopes of the Judean Hills,

south of Nahal Soreq and approximately 2

kilometers east of Bet Shemesh.

Nearest city Bet Shemesh

Governing body Israel Nature and Parks Authority

74
Biblical Mount Sinai

ُ , translit. Ṭūr Sīnāʼ or Egyptian Arabic: ‫سى‬

Mount Sinai (Arabic: ‫طور سِينَاء‬ َ ‫ َجبَل ُمو‬, translit. Jabal
Mūsā, lit. 'Mountain of Moses'; Classical Syriac: ‫ ܛܘܪܐ ܕܣܝܢܝ‬or Classical Syriac: ‫ܛܘܪܐ‬
‫ ;ܕܡܘܫܐ‬Hebrew: ‫הַ ר ִסינַי‬, Har Sinai; Greek: Όρος Σινάι; Latin: Mons Sinai), also known as Mount
Horeb or Gabal Musa, is a mountain in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt that is a possible location of
the biblical Mount Sinai, which is considered a holy site by the Abrahamic religions. Mount Sinai is
mentioned many times in the Book of Exodus and other books of the Bible,[1] and
the Quran.[2] According to Jewish, Christian, and Islamic tradition, the biblical Mount Sinai was the
place where Mosesreceived the Ten Commandments.

Geography
Mount Sinai is a 2,285-metre (7,497 ft) moderately high mountain near the city of Saint Catherine in
the Sinai region. It is next to Mount Catherine (at 2,629 m or 8,625 ft, the highest peak in Egypt).[3] It
is surrounded on all sides by higher peaks of the mountain range.

Geology
Mount Sinai's rocks were formed in the late stage of the Arabian-Nubian Shield's (ANS) evolution.
Mount Sinai displays a ring complex[4] that consists of alkaline granites intruded into diverse rock
types, including volcanics. The granites range in composition from syenogranite to alkali feldspar
granite. The volcanic rocks are alkaline to peralkaline and they are represented by subaerial flows
and eruptions and subvolcanic porphyry. Generally, the nature of the exposed rocks in Mount Sinai
indicates that they originated from differing depths.

75
Galilee
Sea of Galilee

History
According to the Bible, Galilee was named by the Israelites and was the tribal region of Naphthali
and Dan, at times overlapping the Tribe of Asher's land. However, Dan was dispersed among the
whole people rather than isolated to the lands of Dan, as the Tribe of Dan was the hereditary local
law enforcement and judiciary for the whole nation. Normally,Galilee is just referred to as Naphthali.
Chapter 9 of 1 Kings states that Solomon rewarded his Phoenician ally, King Hiram I of Sidon, with
twenty cities in the land of Galilee, which would then have been either settled by foreigners during
and after the reign of Hiram, or by those who had been forcibly deported there by later conquerors
such as the Assyrians. Hiram, to reciprocate previous gifts given to David, accepted the upland plain
among the mountains of Naphtali and renamed it "the land of Cabul" for a time.

Geography
Most of Galilee consists of rocky terrain, at heights of between 500 and 700 m. Several high
mountains are in the region, including Mount Tabor and Mount Meron, which have relatively low
temperatures and high rainfall. As a result of this climate, flora and fauna thrive in the region, while
many birds annually migrate from colder climates to Africa and back through the Hula–Jordan
corridor. The streams and waterfalls, the latter mainly in Upper Galilee, along with vast fields of
greenery and colourful wildflowers, as well as numerous towns of biblical importance, make the
region a popular tourist destination.
Due to its high rainfall 900 millimetres (35 in)–1,200 millimetres (47 in), mild temperatures and high
mountains (Mount Meron's elevation is 1,000–1,208 m), the upper Galilee region contains some
distinctive flora and fauna: prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus), Lebanese cedar (Cedrus libani),
which grows in a small grove on Mount Meron, cyclamens, paeonias, and Rhododendron
ponticum which sometimes appears on Meron.

76
Hula Valley

History
Prior to its drainage in the early 1950s, Lake Hula was 5.3 kilometers long and 4.4 kilometers wide,
extending over 12-14 square kilometers. It was about one and a half meters deep in summer and
three meters deep in winter. The marsh-like lake was fed by a number of perennial springs.[4] The
lake attracted human settlement from early prehistoric times. Paleolithicarchaeological remains were
found near the Bnot Yaakov ("Daughters of Jacob") bridge at the southern end of the valley. The first
permanent settlement, Enan (Mallaha), dates from 9,000-10,000 years ago and was discovered in
the valley.
The Hula Valley was a main junction on the important trade route connecting the large commercial
centre of Damascus with the eastern Mediterranean coast and Egypt. During the Bronze Age, the
cities of Hazor and Laish were built at key locations on this route approximately 4,000 years ago. At
some point the area came under Israelite control until it was captured by the Assyrian armies
of Tiglath-Pileser III and its inhabitants were driven away. The Bible records lake "Merom" as the site
of a victory of Joshua over the Canaanites.

Geography
The Hula Valley lies within the northern part of the Syrian-African Rift Valley at an elevation of about
70 meters above sea level, and covers an area of 177 square kilometers (25 km by 6–8 km). On both
sides of the valley are steep slopes: the Golan Heights to the east and the Upper Galilee's Naftali
mountains to the west rise to 400 to 900 meters above sea level. Basalt hills of about 200 meters
above sea level along the southern side of the valley intercept the Jordan River, and are commonly
referred to as the basalt "plug", the Korazim block, or Korazim plateau(actually a temporary
geologic base level), as they restrict water drainage downstream into the Sea of Galilee.

77
Tower of David

History

As evidenced by the archaeological discovery of the Broad Wall, King Hezekiah was the first to fortify this
area.[4] The city's fortifications demonstrate that by the late eighth century the city had expanded to
include the hill to the west of the Temple Mount. The motivation for building the walled fortification was
the expected invasion of Judea by Sennacherib. The wall might be the one referred to in Nehemiah 3:8
and Isaiah 22:9-10
During the 2nd century BCE, the Old City of Jerusalem expanded further onto the so-called Western Hill.
This 773-meter-high prominence, which comprises the modern Armenian and Jewish Quarters as well
as Mount Zion, was bounded by steep valleys on all sides except for the northern one. The first
settlement in this area was about 150 BCE around the time of the Hasmonean kings[2] when
what Josephus Flavius named the First Wall was constructed.
The Tower of David (Hebrew: ‫מגדל דוד‬, Migdal David, Arabic: ‫برج داود‬, Burj Daud), also known as
the Jerusalem Citadel, is an ancient citadel located near the Jaffa Gate entrance to western edge of
the Old City of Jerusalem.
The citadel that stands today dates to the Mamluk and Ottoman periods. It was built on the site of a series
of earlier ancient fortifications of the Hasmonean, Herodian-era, Byzantine and Early Muslim periods,
after being destroyed repeatedly during the last decades of Crusader presence in the Holy Land by
Ayyubid and Mamluk rulers.[1] It contains important archaeological finds dating back over 2,000 years
including a quarry dated to the First Temple period, and is a popular venue for benefit events, craft
shows, concerts, and sound-and-light performances.
Dan Bahat writes that the original three Hasmonean towers were altered by Herod, and that "The
northeastern tower was replaced by a much larger, more massive tower, dubbed the "Tower of David"
beginning in the 5th century C.E."[2] The name "Tower of David" is due to Byzantine Christians who
believed the site to be the palace of King David.[3] They borrowed the name "Tower of David" from the
Song of Songs, attributed to Solomon, King David's son, who wrote: "Thy neck is like the Tower of David
built with turrets, whereon there hang a thousand shields, all the armor of the mighty men." (Song of
Songs, 4:4)

78
Egypt

History

There is evidence of rock carvings along the Nile terraces and in desert oases. In the 10th millennium BC,
a culture of hunter-gatherers and fishers was replaced by a grain-grinding culture. Climate changes or
overgrazing around 8000 BC began to desiccate the pastoral lands of Egypt, forming the Sahara.
Early tribal peoplesmigrated to the Nile River where they developed a settled agricultural economy and
more centralised society. By about 6000 BC, a Neolithic culture rooted in the Nile Valley. During the
Neolithic era, several predynastic cultures developed independently in Upper and Lower Egypt.
The Badarian culture and the successor Naqada series are generally regarded as precursors to dynastic
Egypt. The earliest known Lower Egyptian site, Merimda, predates the Badarian by about seven hundred
years. Contemporaneous Lower Egyptian communities coexisted with their southern counterparts for
more than two thousand years, remaining culturally distinct, but maintaining frequent contact through
trade. The earliest known evidence of Egyptian hieroglyphic inscriptions appeared during the predynastic
period on Naqada III pottery vessels, dated to about 3200 BC.

Geography

Egypt lies primarily between latitudes 22° and 32°N, and longitudes 25° and 35°E. At 1,001,450 square
kilometres (386,660 sq mi) it is the world's 30th-largest country. Due to the extreme aridity of Egypt's
climate, population centres are concentrated along the narrow Nile Valley and Delta, meaning that about
99% of the population uses about 5.5% of the total land area. 98% of Egyptians live on 3% of the territory.
Egypt is bordered by Libya to the west, the Sudan to the south, and the Gaza Strip and Israel to the east.
Egypt's important role in geopolitics stems from its strategic position: a transcontinental nation, it
possesses a land bridge (the Isthmus of Suez) between Africa and Asia, traversed by a navigable
waterway (the Suez Canal) that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean by way of the
Red Sea.

79
Ein Gedi

History
The name Ein Gedi is composed of two Hebrew words: ein means spring and gǝdi means goat-kid.
Ein Gedi thus means "kid spring" or "fountain of the kid".Fleeing from King Saul, David hides in the
strongholds at Ein Gedi (1 Samuel 23:29 and 24:1-2) and Saul seeks him "even upon the most
craggy rocks, which are accessible only to wild goats" (1 Samuel 24:2). Psalm 63, subtitled a Psalm
of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah, has been associated with David's sojourn in the
desert of En-gedi.
The Song of Songs (Song of Solomon 1:14) speaks of the "vineyards of En Gedi". The words
of Ecclesiasticus 24:18, "I was exalted like a palm tree in Cades" (’en aígialoîs), may perhaps be
understood as the palm trees of Ein Gedi.
GEOGRAPHY:

Kibbutz Ein Gedi, founded in 1956, is located about a kilometer from the oasis. It offers various
tourist attractions and takes advantage of the local weather patterns and the abundance of natural
water to cultivate out-of-season produce. The kibbutz area contains an internationally
acclaimed botanical garden covering an area of 100 dunams(10 ha, 24.7 acres). There one can find
more than 900 species of plants from all over the world. The kibbutz is also home to the Ein Gedi
Eco Park, which functions as both a zoo and an environmental education center, demonstrating
sustainable technologies such as solar cookers, greywater systems, mud buildings, and compost
toilets.

80
Dead Sea

Natural history

There are two contending hypotheses about the origin of the low elevation of the Dead Sea. The older
hypothesis is that the Dead Sea lies in a true rift zone, an extension of the Red Sea Rift, or even of
the Great Rift Valley of eastern Africa. A more recent hypothesis is that the Dead Sea basin is a
consequence of a "step-over" discontinuity along the Dead Sea Transform, creating an extension of the
crust with consequent subsidence.Around 3.7 million years ago, what is now the valley of the Jordan
River, Dead Sea, and the northern Wadi Arabah was repeatedly inundated by waters from
the Mediterranean Sea. The waters formed in a narrow, crooked bay that is called by geologists
the Sedom Lagoon, which was connected to the sea through what is now the Jezreel Valley. The floods
of the valley came and went depending on long-scale climate change. The Sedom Lagoon deposited
beds of salt that eventually became 2.5 km (1.55 mi) thick.Approximately two million years ago, the land
between the Rift Valley and the Mediterranean Sea rose to such an extent that the ocean could no longer
flood the area. Thus, the long lagoon became a landlocked lake. The Sedom Lagoon extended at its
maximum from the Sea of Galilee in the north to somewhere around 50 km (30 mi) south of the current
southern end of the Dead Sea, and the subsequent lakes obviously never surpassed this expanse.
The Hula Depression was never part of any of these water bodies due to its higher elevation and the high
threshold of the Korazim block separating it from the Sea of Galilee basin.

Geography

The Dead Sea is an endorheic lake located in the Jordan Rift Valley, a geographic feature formed by
the Dead Sea Transform (DST). This left lateral-moving transform fault lies along the tectonic plate
boundary between the African Plate and the Arabian Plate. It runs between the East Anatolian Fault zone
in Turkey and the northern end of the Red Sea Rift offshore of the southern tip of Sinai. It is here that the
Upper Jordan River/Sea of Galilee/Lower Jordan River water system comes to an end.

81
Lantau Island

History
Early human artifacts have been discovered on the island. These include rock carvings at Shek Pik,
which are thought to date back to the Bronze Age, and a stone circle at Fan Lauwhich is probably
from the Neolithic Age. Both sites are located on the southwestern coast of the island.The island
was often shown in navigation maps because of its proximity to a major sea route in South China. In
1276, the Southern Song Dynasty court fled to Guangdong by boat to escape Mongolinvaders,
leaving Emperor Gong of Song behind. The resistance centred on two young princes, Emperor
Gong's brothers. The older boy Zhao Shi, was declared emperor at the age of nine, ascending the
throne as Emperor Duanzong of Song. In 1277, the imperial court sought refuge first in Silvermine
Bay (Mui Wo) on Lantau Island (then known as Gangzhou (碙州), and later in today's Kowloon City.
The older brother became ill, died, and was succeeded by the younger brother Zhao Bing (Emperor
Bing of Song) at the age of seven. He died in 1279, and the Song Dynasty ended. These emperors
are also believed to have held court in the Tung Chung valley, which takes its name from a local
hero who gave up his life for the emperor.

Geography
With a land mass of 147.16 square kilometres (56.82 sq mi), it is the largest island in Hong
Kong,[1] almost twice the size of Hong Kong Island. Lantau Island primarily consists of mountainous
terrain. Lantau Peak (934 metres (3,064 ft)) is the highest point of the island.[1] It is the second
highest in Hong Kong, after Tai Mo Shan, and is almost twice the height of Victoria Peak. Other
mountains include Sunset Peakat 898 m (2,946 ft), Lin Fa Shan at 766 m (2,513 ft), Nei Lak Shan at
751 m (2,464 ft) and Yi Tung Shan at 747 m (2,451 ft).

82
Hung Shing Yeh Beach

History
On 11 March 1979, about 100 Vietnamese refugees aboard the Skyluckfreighter jumped ship and
swam to Lamma Island.[2] About half of them were picked up at sea by police, while the other half
mainly landed at Hung Shing Yeh Beach. They were all captured by the police.[3]
The beach building was completed by the Regional Council in 1997/1998. The new structure
comprised changing rooms, toilets, a first aid room, a staff office, a catamaran store, a lifeguard
lookout, and waste treatment facilities.

The Hung Shung Yeh Beach (Chinese: 洪聖爺灣泳灘) is a beach in Lamma Island, Hong Kong.[1] It
is the most popular beach in Lamma Island. The beach is equipped with toilets, showers and
changing rooms. It is also protected by shark net. The beach overlooks the Lamma Power Station.

Location within Hong Kong

Location Lamma Island, Hong Kong

Beach length 150 metres

Patrolled by Leisure and Cultural Services Department

83
Repulse Bay

History
The origins of the bay's English name have become extremely obscure. There are, however, many
stories — none resting on any solid evidence that has so far been established. A typical example is
that in 1841, the bay was used as a base by pirates and caused serious concern to foreign merchant
ships trading with China. The pirates were subsequently repulsed by the Royal Navy, hence the
name. There is no evidence of any such origin in the extensive British naval log books of the period.
Another story holds that the bay was named after HMS Repulse which was stationed at the bay at
one point. No HMS Repulse ever visited Hong Kong, let alone Repulse Bay and the
1868 Repulse served only on the west coast of the Americas (1872-77) and thereafter in British
waters. It is known that the name appeared on the earliest British official map of Hong Kong by Lt TB
Collinson RE in 1845. However, British Admiralty charts never used the name until the 20th century,
instead sticking to the quite erroneous name given by Commander Edward Belcher RN in his 1841
survey, Chonghom Bay. The source of the name remains unknown.

Geography
Repulse Bay is located in the south of Hong Kong Island, to the east of Deep Water Bay and to the
west of Middle Bay and South Bay. Middle Island is located off Hong Kong Island, between Repulse
Bay and Deep Water Bay.

Longevity Bridge of Kwun Yam Shrine, Repulse Bay

Chinese 淺水灣

Literal meaning Shallow Water Bay

84
Victoria Peak

History
As early as the 19th century, the Peak attracted prominent European residents because of
its panoramic view over the city and its temperate climate compared to the sub-tropical climate in the rest
of Hong Kong. The sixth Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Richard MacDonnell had a summer residence built
on the Peak circa 1868.[1] Those that built houses named them whimsically, such as The Eyrie, and the
Austin Arms.These original residents reached their homes by sedan chairs, which were carried up and
down the steep slope of Victoria Peak. This limited development of the Peak until the opening of the Peak
Tram funicular in 1888. The boost to accessibility caused by the opening of the Peak Tram created
demand for residences on the Peak. Between 1904 and 1930, the Peak Reservation
Ordinancedesignated the Peak as an exclusive residential area reserved for non-Chinese. They also
reserved the Peak Tram for the use of such passengers during peak periods. The Peak remains an
upmarket residential area, although residency today is based on wealth.

Victoria Peak from Victoria Gap

Highest point

Elevation 552 m (1,811 ft)

Prominence 552 metres (1,811 ft)

22°16′31.69″N 114°8′37.78″ECoordinates:
Coordinates 22°16′31.69″N 114°8′37.78″E 

Geography

Location Hong Kong

85
Lamma Island

History
According to archaeological findings, human settlement on the northern and eastern part of Lamma
Island can be traced back to around 4000–3000 BC,[5]the Middle Neolithic and Bronze Ages. Yung
Shue Ha, one of Lamma's earliest villages, was settled in the early 19th century by a clan from
China's Bao'an County.

Geography
Lamma Island is located to the southwest of Hong Kong Island. It is the third largest island of Hong
Kong, with an area of 13.55 km2 (5.23 sq mi)[4] and a length of 7 kilometres (4.3 mi). The northern
village is called Yung Shue Wan(Banyan Tree Bay) and the eastern village is called Sok Kwu
Wan (RainbowBay). Few people live on the southern part of Lamma. Access for much of this part is
by hiking or private boat. Sham Wan, an important breeding site for sea turtles, is located there.

Mount Stenhouse (山地塘, Shan Tei Tong) is the tallest mountain in Lamma 353 metres (1,158
feet) above sea level, situated between Sok Kwu Wan and Sham Wan. Unusually shaped rocks can
be found all over this mountain, but a gruelling hike is necessary to access these.

Hong Kong

Region New Territories

District Islands District

86
Hong Kong Disneyland

History
Penny's Bay was filled in to provide land for the construction of Hong Kong Disneyland. The bay was
previously undeveloped except for the Cheoy Lee Shipyard, which opened in the 1960s.[13]
Chief Executive of Hong Kong Tung Chee Hwa was instrumental in introducing the Disneyland
project to Hong Kong. When the SARS epidemic devastated the city's economy in 2003, it was
hoped that the new Disneyland would help boost confidence in Hong Kong's tourism industry.[14]
Hong Kong Disneyland had one of the shortest construction periods of any Disneyland-style theme
park. On 12 January 2003, more than 400 guests celebrated the groundbreaking of Hong Kong
Disneyland after the finishing of land reclamation in Penny's Bay. The audience included Tung Chee
Hwa; Michael D. Eisner, former chairman and CEO of The Walt Disney Company; Bob
Iger, president of The Walt Disney Company; and Jay Rasulo, former president of Walt Disney Parks
and Resorts.[15] On 23 September 2004, a special "castle topping ceremony" was held in the park to
commemorate the placing of the tallest turret on Sleeping Beauty Castle. Hong Kong Disneyland
was officially opened to the public on 12 September 2005 by then Chief Executive of Hong
Kong Donald Tsang, Chief Executive OfficerMichael Eisner, President Bob Iger. Beijing offered its
significant support by sending Zeng Qinghong as Vice President of the People's Republic of
China.[14] In order to help Hong Kong Disneyland grow, Beijing also deliberately slowed down the
development of Shanghai Disney Resort, which was first planned for the early 2000s.

GEOGRAPHY
The park is divided into "lands" (themed areas) and well-concealed backstage areas. On entering a
land, a guest is completely immersed in a themed environment and is unable to see or hear any
other realm. The idea behind this was to develop theatrical "stages" with seamless passages from
one land to the next. The public areas occupy approximately 27.4 hectares (68 acres). When the
park initially opened, it consisted of only four themed areas instead of the traditional five lands:

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Ocean Park Hong Kong

The Grand Aquarium in Ocean Park

History
Opened in January 1977 by the Governor of Hong Kong, Sir Murray MacLehose, Ocean Park was
constructed as a subsidiary of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, with HK$150 million of funding. The land
was provided free by the Hong Kong Government. Between 1982 and 1984, the Jockey Club put a
further HK$240 million into developing facilities at Tai Shue Wan and thrill rides at the Summit.
Ocean Park ceased to be a Jockey Club subsidiary on 1 July 1987, becoming its own statutory body,
with a Government-appointed Board. The Jockey Club established a HK$200 million trust to ensure
the Park's continued development. At present, Ocean Park is managed by the Ocean Park
Corporation, a financially independent, non-profit organisation.
In 2003, Allan Zeman, known for leading the creation of the popular Lan Kwai Fong entertainment
district of Hong Kong, was appointed Chairman of Ocean Park Corporation, a position he held for 11
years.
Geography:
Covering an area of 91.5 hectares (226 acres), the park is separated by a large mountain into two
areas, The Summit (Headland) and The Waterfront (Lowland). These areas can be reached by a 1.5
kilometres (0.93 mi) cable car system, or the Ocean Express funicular railway. To ascend the
Headland comprises several hills, visitors can use Hong Kong's second longest outdoor escalator.[10]
The theme park has various attractions and rides, including four roller coasters, and also animal
exhibits with different themes, such as a giant panda habitat, rainforest and polar displays, as well as
an aquarium featuring the world's largest aquarium dome. Between 1979 and 1997, Ocean Park was
most famous for its signature killer whale, Miss Hoi Wai.

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Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens

Garden Fountain at night

History

The park was previously named Bing Tau Fa Yuen (「兵頭花園」).[1] "Bing Tau" literally means "the head of
the soldiers" or the "Commander-in-Chief". According to Hong Kong's Leisure and Cultural Services
Department, it was nicknamed as such by the city's Chinese community, as it was the former site of the
city's Government House.[3] Others said Bing Tau was just the phonetic transliteration of the first two
syllables of the word botanical. In the old days, many lovers liked to go there on a date.

The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens (Chinese: 香港動植物公園) is one of the
oldest zoological and botanical centres in the world. It occupies an area of 5.6 hectares at Mid-levels, on
the northern slope of Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. Founded in 1864, its first stage had been opened to the
public in 1871.[1] It is the oldest park in Hong Kong.[2]Similar to Hong Kong Park, Hong Kong Zoological
and Botanical Gardens provides a natural environment and atmosphere in Central District. It is bigger
than Hong Kong Park and contains more plants, birds and facilities.

Date opened 1871

Location Mid-levels, Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

Land area 5.6 Acres

No. of animals 700+

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Kowloon Park

History
The park was formerly the site of the Whitfield Barracks of the British Army, with a former battery
(Kowloon West II Battery) in the northwestern part of the Park.
The Urban Council redeveloped the site into the Kowloon Park in 1970.[2] More than 70 buildings
were demolished to make way for the park.[3] The first stage of the park was officially opened on 24
June 1970 by the then Governor of Hong Kong, Sir David Trench.[1] The opening was celebrated by
a lion dance as well as a folk dance by students of the Tai Hang Tung Primary School PM Session.
Music was provided by the band of the First Battalion, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers.[4] Sir David unveiled
a commemorative plaque and declared Kowloon Park open.[4] The first phase comprised 18 acres
out of a planned 26 acres.[3] It featured a floral clock as well as a Chinese garden set within an
English landscape, which a government spokesman called "a reminder of Hongkong's cosmopolitan
cultural heritage."

Location Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Area 13.3 hectares

Opened 1970

Operated by Leisure and Cultural Services Department

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Central, Hong Kong

Night view of Statue Square

History
The British landed on Possession Point of Sheung Wan in 1841. They soon decided to build a city on the
north coast of Hong Kong Island, and the present-day Central was chosen to house major military
facilities and an administrative centre. The area soon attracted both Westerners and Chinese to trade and
live in the area, and a Canton Bazaar (precursor of Central Market) was built between Cochrane
Street and Graham Street in 1842. The area was soon zoned for Westerners only, and the Chinese
residents were restricted to Sheung Wan. [It was zoned for "Western-style buildings," meaning buildings
with minimum space and hygiene standards]. The area was largely dominated by the presence of Victoria
City. The popularity of this area would also boost the population of Hong Kong from 5,000 in 1841 to
24,000 in 1848.[4] Government House and other Hong Kong Governmentbuildings were completed during
this period on Government Hill. Various barracks, naval base and residence of Commander, Flagstaff
House were built on the east end of the district. Between 1860 and 1880 the construction of City Hall,
Theatre Royal and other financial structures made Central the heart of Hong Kong.

Central (also Central District; Chinese: 中環) is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located
in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria
Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula. The area was the heart
of Victoria City, although that name is rarely used today.
As the central business district of Hong Kong, it is the area where many multinational financial services
corporations have their headquarters. Consulates general and consulates of many countries are also
located in this area, as is Government Hill, the site of the government headquarters. The area, with its
proximity to Victoria Harbour, has served as the centre of trade and financial activities from the earliest

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days of the British colonial era in 1841, and continues to flourish and serve as the place of administration
after the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997.

Singapore River

History

The mouth of the Singapore River was the old Port of Singapore, being naturally sheltered by the southern islands.
Historically, the city of Singapore initially grew around the port so the river mouth became the centre
of trade, commerce and finance.
At one time, Singapore River was the very lifeblood of the colony, the trade artery, the center of commercial activity,
the heart of entrepot trade, the vessel of importance, the capillaries of life and the place which was frequented by
the secret societies, the swaylos (Cantonese for coolies who worked on a boat) and the coolies who worked for
the philanthropist Tan Tock Seng at Ellenborough Market and the towkay (Hokkienfor business owner) Tan Kim
Seng who was busy filling his godown with the riches of the East.

Geography
The Singapore River is approximately 3.2 kilometers long [1] from its source at Kim Seng Bridge to where it empties
into Marina Bay; the river extends more than two kilometers beyond its original source at Kim Seng Bridge
as Alexandra Canal, as far as the junction of Commonwealth Avenue.

Native name Sungai Singapura

Country Singapore

Physical characteristics

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 Main source Alexandra Canal

East Coast Park

The East Coast Park (Chinese: 东海岸公园; Malay: Taman Pantai Timur; Tamil: கிழக்கு கடற் கரை
பூங் கா) is a beach park encompassing the planning areas of Marine Parade, Bedok and Tampines,
along the southeastern coast of Singapore. It was opened in the 1970s, when the government completed
reclaiming land off the coast at Katong which extends from Changi to Kallang. It serves various seaside
communities such as Kallang, Marine Parade and Bedok.

The 185 hectare East Coast Park is the largest park in Singapore, and is built entirely on reclaimed
land with a man-made beach, where swimming is possible. The beach is protected by breakwaters.
The park is a popular place for people to relax and unwind. The park has barbecue pits, chalets, food
centres and amenities for various sports activities. Visitors can fish at Bedok Jetty (Area F). A cycling
and inline skating track runs along the perimeter of the park, which measures over 15 km long. It is
connected to Changi Beach Park by the Coastal Park Connector Network, an 8 km park connector
running along Changi Coast Road.

Location southeastern coast of Singapore

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 Area 185 hectares (460 acres)

Operated by National Parks Board

Pulau Palawan

Pulau Palawan is not to be confused with an unnamed U-shaped artificial sandy islet that is linked to
Palawan Beach on Sentosa by a simple suspension bridge.[2] The islet has two lookout towers, and
there is a sign on the islet erected by the Sentosa Development Corporationdeclaring that it is the
"southernmost point of Continental Asia". This may be disputed on the ground that the islet is not
part of Continental Asia since it is only linked to Sentosa by a bridge. Sentosa itself is connected to
the main island of Singapore by a causeway, and Singapore is in turn linked to Peninsular
Malaysia by two causeways. In addition, another beach on Sentosa called Tanjong Beach is further
south than the islet.

Pulau Palawan, also known as Palawan Island, is a slipper-shaped isletlocated just off the
southwestern coast of Sentosa, south of Singapore. It lies approximately opposite Beach Station of
the Sentosa Express monorail system, which is between Siloso Beach and Palawan
Beach. Palawan is most likely a variant of the Malay word pahlawan, meaning "hero" or "warrior".[1][2]

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Originally a reef known as Serembu Palawan,[3] and marked on at least one map as "Palawan Reef",
it was renamed Pulau Palawan after land reclamation. The island now has an area similar to that
of Pulau Biola, about 0.4 hectares (0.99 acres).

Bukit Timah

History
In December 1843, a carriage way road was completed leading up to the hill. A small hut with chairs
was constructed for visitors. The hill was viewed then as an "excellent sanatorium", as the air was
"cooler and fresher than the plain, producing an agreeable exhilaration of spirits".
Bukit Timah is known as eyam malai (tin hill) in Tamil, being a literal translation of the Malay name.
For some, it is synonymous with the Singapore Turf Club, where members and paying visitors flock
on race days. This course is closed to the public, unlike the former course (now Farrer Park) where
the general public enjoyed watching the king's sport for free.
The 25-km long Bukit Timah Road, the longest road in Singapore, running north and south, takes its
name from this hill. The road to Kranji was completed in 1845. Apparently, the area was so infested
with tigers that it constituted a serious threat to human life. In 1860, nearly 200 people were reported
to have been killed by tigers in and about the gambier and pepperplantations. The first ride
on horseback across the island was along Bukit Timah Road in 1840; it took four days and was
made by Mr Thomson and Dr Little.

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Bukit Timah (Chinese: 武吉知马, Tamil: புக்கித் திமா), often abbreviated as Bt Timah, is
a planning area and residential estate located in the westernmost part of the Central
Region of Singapore. Bukit Timah lies roughly 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the Central Business
District, bordering the Central Water Catchment to the north, Bukit Panjang to the
northwest, Queenstown to the south, Tanglin to the southeast, Clementi to the southwest, Novena to
the east and Bukit Batok to the west.
With little government-funded public housing developments in the area, Bukit Timah has one of the
highest densities of private housing out of any other planning areas in the country. Compared to
other places located in the outskirts of the city, residential properties in Bukit Timah are far more
expensive.

Mount Faber

History
Mount Faber was known as Telok Blangah Hill but was later renamed after Captain Charles Edward
Faber of the Madras Engineers, the superintending engineer in
the Straits and Governor Butterworth's brother-in-law, who arrived in Singapore in September 1844.
Faber cut through the thick undergrowth, allowing the road to the top of the hill to be built. The
original winding road was referred to in the press at that time as a "stupidly narrow road".
The article also questioned the change of the name from what it deemed its originally more
appropriate Malay name. A signal station was erected on the hill in 1845. This signal station was
transferred from Pulau Blakang Mati (now Sentosa) because of the "injurious miasma" on the island.
After the Indian Mutiny of 1857, the Straits government decided to convert Mount Faber into a fort for
fear of revolt among the local Indian sepoys. Defence work was carried out

96
and granite emplacements for guns were completed halfway up the hill, but Mount Faber never
became a fort. An observatory was built there in 1905.

Geography
The vegetation around Mount Faber is secondary rainforest that is smaller and less dense than
on Bukit Timah Hill. Mount Faber is one of the higher hills in Singapore at 106 metres (348 ft.), lower
than Bukit Timah Hill (164 m (538 ft.)) and Bukit Gombak(133 m (436 ft.) and 113 m (371 ft.)). It is
separated from the adjacent slightly lower Telok Blangah Hill by Henderson Road.

Singapore Botanic Gardens

History
The first "Botanical and Experimental Garden" in Singapore was established in 1822 on Government
Hill at Fort Canning by Sir Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore and a keen naturalist.
The Garden's main task was to evaluate for cultivationcrops which were of potential economic
importance including those yielding fruits, vegetables, spices and other raw materials. This first
Garden closed in 1829.[5]
It was not until 30 years later that the present Singapore Botanic Gardens began in 1859, when the
Singapore Agri-horticultural Society was granted 32 hectares of land in Tanglin by the colonial
government, which had obtained it from the merchant Hoo Ah Kay, known as Whampoa, in
exchange for land at Boat Quay.

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The National Orchid Garden, within the main gardens, is at the forefront of orchid studies and a
pioneer in the cultivation of hybrids, complementing the nation's status as a major exporter of cut
orchids. Aided by the equatorial climate, it houses the largest orchid collection of 1,200 species and
2,000 hybrids.
Early in the nation's independence, Singapore Botanic Gardens' expertise helped to transform the
island into a tropical Garden City, an image and moniker for which the nation is widely known. In
1981, the hybrid climbing orchid, Vanda Miss Joaquim, was chosen as the nation's national flower.
Singapore's "orchid diplomacy" honours visiting head of states, dignitaries and celebrities, by naming
its finest hybrids after them; these are displayed at its popular VIP Orchid Gardens.

Singapore Zoo

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History
Prior to the establishment of Singapore Zoo, there were other short-lived zoos in Singapore's history,
including the first recorded zoo founded in the early 1870s at the present-day Singapore Botanic
Gardens,[3] a zoo opened in the 1920s in Ponggol (present-day Punggol) by animal trader William
Lawrence Soma Basapa and two zoos run by two brothers by the surname of Chan during the
1960s.The conception of the Singapore Zoo dates from 1969.
At the time, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) decided to use some of its land holdings
around reservoirs for parks and open recreational facilities. The executive chairman of the PUB, Dr
Ong Swee Law, set aside 88 ha (220 acres) of land for the construction of a zoological garden.In
1970, consultants and staff were hired, and in 1971, the construction of the basic 50 enclosures was
started. Animals were collected from dealers and donated by sponsors.
The director of the Colombo Zoo in Sri Lanka, Lyn de Alwis, was hired as a special consultant to
work out the problems inherent in tropical zoos.
The Singapore Zoo, formerly known as the Singapore Zoological Gardens and commonly known
locally as the Mandai Zoo, occupies 28 hectares (69 acres) on the margins of Upper Seletar
Reservoir within Singapore's heavily forested central catchment area. The zoo was built at a cost
of $9 million granted by the government of Singapore and opened on 27 June 1973. It is operated
by Wildlife Reserves Singapore, who also manage the neighbouring Night Safari, River Safari and
the Jurong Bird Park. There are about 315 species of animal in the zoo, of which some 16 percent
are considered to be threatened species. The zoo attracts 1.7 million visitors each year.[1]
From the beginning, Singapore Zoo followed the modern trend of displaying animals in naturalistic,
'open' exhibits with hidden barriers, moats, and glass between the animals and visitors. It houses the
largest captive colony of orangutans in the world.

Chinese Garden, Singapore

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Chinese Garden (Chinese: 裕华园; Malay: Taman Cina), is a park in Jurong East, Singapore. Built
in 1975 by the JTC Corporation and designed by Prof. Yuen-chen Yu, an architect from Taiwan, the
Chinese Garden’s concept is based on Chinese gardening art. The main characteristic is the
integration of splendid architectural features with the natural environment. The Chinese Garden is
modeled along the northern Chinese imperial style of architecture and landscaping.[1] It is located
next to Chinese Garden MRT Station and connected to the adjacent Japanese Garden by a bridge.
Along with the aforementioned Japanese Garden, the two gardens are collectively known as
the Jurong Gardens.

Chinese Garden

Type Tourist attraction

Location Yuan Ching Road, Jurong East, Singapore

Area 135,000 square meters

Opened 1975

Operated by JTC Corporation

Gardens by the Bay

The Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay

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Gardens by the Bay is a nature park spanning 101 hectares (250 acres) of reclaimed land[2] in
the Central Region of Singapore, adjacent to the Marina Reservoir. The park consists of three
waterfront gardens: Bay South Garden (in Marina South, Bay East Garden (in Marina East) and Bay
Central Garden (in Downtown Core and Kallang).[3] The largest of the gardens is Bay South Garden
at 54 hectares (130 acres).
Gardens by the Bay is part of a strategy by the Singapore government to transform Singapore from
a "Garden City" to a "City in a Garden". The stated aim is to raise the quality of life by enhancing
greenery and flora in the city.
First announced by the Prime Minister, Lee Hsien Loong, at the National Day Rally in 2005, Gardens
by the Bay was intended to be Singapore's premier urban outdoor recreation space, and a national
icon.
In 2006, an international competition for the design of the park was held, attracting more than 70
entries submitted by 170 firms from 24 countries. Two British firms – Grant Associates and Dominic
White[4] – were awarded the contracts for the Bay South and Bay East Gardens respectively.
Alongside the lead designers Grant Associates, the design team for Bay South
included WilkinsonEyre, Atelier Ten (environmental design consultants) and Atelier One (structural
engineers). They were supported by a number of Singapore firms including CPG
Consultants (architecture, civil and structural, mechanical and electrical), Meinhardt
Infrastructure(civil and structural), Langdon & Seah (cost consultants) and PMLink (project
management).
Being one of the popular tourist attractions in Singapore, the park received 6.4 million visitors in
2014, while topping its 20 millionth visitor mark in November 2015.

Pulau Ubin
Bumboats waiting at Pulau Ubin jetty for passengers.

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History

Pulau Ubin first appeared on map in an 1828 sketch of the Island of Singapore as Pulo Obinand in Franklin and Jackson's map
as Po. Ubin. Since the British founding of Singapore, the island has been known for its granite. The numerous granite quarries on
the island supply the local construction industry. The granite outcrops are particularly spectacular from the sea because their
grooves and fluted sides create furrows and ridges on each granite rock slab. These features are captured in John Turnbull
Thomson's 1850 painting — Grooved stones on Pulo Ubin near Singapore.
The granite from Pulau Ubin was used in the construction of Horsburgh Lighthouse. Tongkangs ferried the huge rock blocks (30 by
20 feet) from the island to Pedra Branca, the site of the lighthouse, in 1850 and 1851.
With growing attention and interest in nature, visitors to Pulau Ubin has increased over the years. Pulau Ubin Recreation Area,
which included Chek Jawa, was created to cater to local tourism. The site is about 700 hectares within the 1020-hectare Pulau Ubin.
One of the current popular tourist attractions on the island is Chek Jawa. A previous coral reef 5000 years ago, Chek Jawa can be
said to be virtually unspoilt, with a variety of marine wildlife comparable to other islands, such as sea hares, sea
squirts, octopuses, starfishes, sand dollars, fishes, sponges, cuttlefishes and nudibranches.
A boardwalk runs through the mangrove, allowing visitors to observe the plant and marine life at close range. During low tide, a
limited number of people are allowed to walk on the tidal flats.

Geography

Location Southeast Asia

Archipelago Malay Archipelago

Area 10.19 km2 (3.93 sq mi)

102