Friday 19 September 2014

World's Longest Suspension Bridge in Sochi, Russia



The world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge opened this summer in Sochi National Park, Russia. The pedestrian bridge is located on the extreme corner of the National Park. The beautiful 1,800-foot-long bridge was built over a striking 650 foot gorge, and provides tourist a spectacular view of the mountains and the river below. Moreover theirs is another attraction is bungee jumping. There’re many diverse points on the bridge from which you can bungee. The bridge is part of the AJ Hackett Sochi Sky-park that was opened around the similar time as this bridge. The Sochi Sky-park Bridge was developed in collaboration with New Zealand, and it took two years, used 740 tons of metal and 2,000 cubic meters of concrete to construct. The Bridge is designed to withstand a 9-magnitude earthquake and the concurrent presence of 3,000 people over it.



Sunday 14 September 2014

Lake Heviz Hungary



Lake Heviz is located nearby to the town of Heviz in Hungary, near the western end of Lake Balaton, approximately 8 kilometers away from Keszthely. The Lake Heviz has 47,500 square meters surface area; and it is Europe's largest thermal lake and the second largest thermal lake in the world. The Lake Heviz hot waters has different temperatures diffuse from fissures under the water’s surface, mix with the cold water of the lake to generate a continuous temperature that upholds throughout the season. The water is very rich in carbonic acid, calcium, sulphur, magnesium, hydrogen carbonate and even slightly radioactive substances that are well believed to have medicinal properties.

At the center of the lake is a wooden bath house constructed in the 18th century that looks more or less the same as it was more than two hundred years ago. Stunning water lilies, brought to Hungary at the end of the 19th century, dot the lake supporting the rich ecology. Mist covers the surface slowing down evaporation, and creepers protect the medicinal mud on the bottom of the lake. Lake Heviz-1 the peat-bottomed lake is mainly fed by cold and warm water rich in mineral content originating in springs located in a 40 m deep cave. The flow in the spring is so high that it is fully replenishes the lake every 3 days. The temperature of the Lake Heviz varies between 23-25 °C in winter and 33-36 °C in summer.

The lake’s curative effect is believed to be an effective product of the unique blend of organic and inorganic materials found in the waters. Therefore; Lake Heviz is a biologically active lake and home to a great number of bacteria. Certain of the species found in the waters is rare and unique to the lake. For example, Micromonospora heviziensis, bacteria that is a very potent protein and cellulose decomposer, can only be established here in the entire world. Likewise, for the two thermophile blue green alga species (Pseudanabaena papillaterminata and Pseudanabaena crassa), Lake Heviz is the only Hungarian habitat. Source: Charismatic Planet

Purakaunui Falls New Zealand



The beautiful Purakaunui Falls are a cascading three-tiered waterfall on the Purakaunui River, located in The Catlins in the southern South Island of New Zealand. The Purakaunui is 20 meters/66 ft tall. It is one of very few South Island waterfalls away from the alpine region; it has long been a widespread destination. The waterfalls are an iconic image for The Catlins region and were featured on a New Zealand postage stamp in 1976. 

The Purakaunui falls is located 17 km to the southwest of the small town of Owaka and 5 kilometers from the river’s outflow into the Pacific Ocean. The falls can be accessed via a 10-minute bush walk from a car park on the Waikoato Valley Purakaunui Falls Road, a gravel side-road off the main Owaka-Invercargill road. Although Purakaunui Falls are not part of the Catlins Forest Park, they’re well surrounded by native bush be made of of podocarp and silver beech, in a picturesque reserve of five square kilometers. 

A trivial viewing platform nearby the top of the falls is reachable by wheelchair. Steps continue down to the main viewing platform at the base of the 20 metres three tiered cascade. There is a big car park at Purakaunui Falls Road with toilets and picnic tables. The Catlins is one of the must See places in New Zealand, due to attractive highway, plenteously of walks, memorable view of the Southern Ocean, exclusive animals and so one, make this part of New Zealand just the right place to visit, no matter whether you've been here before or not.  The Pūrākaunui Falls is one of Otago’s iconic, however in the area, make some efforts to go and visit Purakaunui Beach as well. Source: Charismatic Planet

Friday 12 September 2014

Mocona Falls, Argentina


Everyone knows the most popular waterfall in Argentina which is Iguazu Falls. But very few peoples know about Moconá Falls take the crown for the most unique waterfall in Argentina. Moconá falls is also recognized as Yucuma Falls, and it is located in the Uruguay River, in the province of Misiones, in Argentina, 337 kilometers from the city of Posadas and 322 kilometers from Iguazu Falls. Moconá fall does not follow the normal downward and forward trajectory that most waterfalls do. 

In its place, it runs along the length of the river with water spilling off the side into a gorge.  This is about three kilometers long waterfall and probably the only waterfalls in the world to run parallel to the river rather than perpendicular. The name Moconá means “To Swallow Everything” in the Guarani language and is used mostly in Argentina. Yucuma means “the big fall” and is popular in Brazil.

The Uruguay River acts as a natural border between Brazil and Argentina, and this exclusive geological feature is shared by both countries. A strange feature of the Uruguay River is the presence of a submerged canyon or trench at the bottom of the river channel.  This is well believed that the canyon have formed during the Ice Age, when the climate was drier and the river was narrower is up to 100 meters deep and 15 to 30% of the width of the river. The canyon is only visible in two places, one of which is the Moconá Falls.

Normally waterfalls itself is not visible for 150 days a year. During some time, the falls become more like rapids. When water level becomes low and falls below the edge of the canyon, it begins spilling into the now exposed canyon, and formed in Moconá Falls. The height of waterfall varies from five to seven meters, mainly depending on the volume of the water dragged by the Uruguay River. Therefore the width of waterfall also varies entirely depends upon volume of water ranging between 1,800 meters and 3,000 meters wide.

The most importantly the area where the Moconá falls are located is considered a Provincial Park which includes the Yabotí Biosphere Reserve. Myriad lodges have been settled down in the area which provides accommodation for visitors in search of water activities such as rubber boat rafting, canoe outings, kayaking and safaris along the river and creeks around this wetland. Source: Charismatic Planet