Features of the country

The relief of the inhabited islands is mostly rocky, in the lowlands there are tropical forests dominated by rare species of palms and tree ferns. Areas of agricultural activity are concentrated on the coast of the ocean.

The climate in Seychelles is tropical, from November to April, the temperature is 30-35 degrees and the humidity exceeds 80%. In winter, the sky is obscured by clouds, it rains. In the summer, the temperature rarely drops below +26 degrees. Floods with natural disasters in Seychelles are rare, which is why these islands are so loved by tourists, because they are located away from the cyclone zone.

Rest at the resort pleasure expensive, a day of stay on the island will cost at least 270 euros. A room in a three-star hotel can be taken for about 185 euros, dinner at a cafe will cost 40 euros or more, the cost of transportation is estimated at 50 euros.

The official religion in the Seychelles is Catholicism. Religious holidays here have the status of the state. Local residents believe in omens and practice witchcraft, though this is prohibited by law.

Seychellois speak three languages – French, Creole and English. The islands were part of Britain for about a century and a half, so English is used by officials, businessmen and tourists.

Seychelles’ culture has been shaped by the folk traditions of Africans, Indians, and Madagascans. Music is dominated by African motifs, and the locals love to play the drums and guitar. Folk arts and crafts are also well developed here. Products made from turtle shells, palm fibers and coconut shells are popular far beyond the islands.

Beaches

The beaches in Seychelles are varied. Among them there are secluded corners surrounded by cliffs, as well as areas with well-developed infrastructure.

Sours d’Arjan beach

This beach is located on La Digue Island in the national reserve and is considered one of the best beaches in the Seychelles. It is often visited for diving and underwater fishing. Against the backdrop of beautiful rocks, you can make a lot of luxurious pictures to remember. There are restaurants on the beach, where you can eat delicious food.

Anse Soleil Beach

This beach is over 200 m long and about 20 m wide. It is covered with fine white sand. One of its advantages is the gentle entrance to the sea, which is important for holidaymakers with children. Minus of this place – the high waves, which remain almost all the time. The bottom is sandy and rocky, and the depth increases sharply during the tide. Special infrastructure on this beach there is no, so umbrellas and sun loungers have to bring with you. Nearby there are stores, catering facilities, there are hotels.

This beach is not the most crowded in the Seychelles, here prefer to rest the hotel owners and surfers. Tourists like to organize picnics here.

Anse Intendance Beach

Anse Intendance is one of the most beautiful beaches in Seychelles. It’s located in a bay on the southwest coast of Mahe. It can be reached directly from the airport by a winding road through a dense rain forest.

Anse Royal Beach

Beach located in a large bay in the southeast of the island of Mahe. It is separated from the airport by 11 km. It can be easily reached by bus or cab. Nearby there is parking and a public transport stop.

Beau Vallon Beach

Beau Wallon beach is located in the bay of the same name in the northwest of the island of Mahé, part of the Seychelles archipelago. The beach line is 2 km long and is surrounded by dense tropical thickets that create comfortable shade. Many tourists get to this beach by boat.

Cuisine

Seychelles cuisine is a unique combination of culinary traditions of different peoples. In local restaurants tourists are offered both Creole and European dishes. Here you can also try Asian cuisine.

A great influence on Seychelles cuisine had France in the eighteenth century. This happened thanks to the French settlers, who brought their traditions in the preparation of fish.

Slaves from Africa invented the dish based on sweet potatoes, they also started frying bananas. Thanks to them, the Seychellois learned what garlic and vanilla and ginger were.

The Chinese and Indians made local dishes spicier and more flavorful with spices.

Transportation

Seychelles has a large number of islands separated by an ocean. You can move between them both by water and by air. Helicopter rides can afford only the most wealthy tourists. Most people prefer to use ferries. Also convenient to move between the islands by boat and yacht.

Public ferries ply on a schedule. They are used as tourists and locals.

Helicopters fly only in the daytime, which is associated with safety.

Experienced tourists are advised to arrive to the islands by an international flight early in the morning to have enough time to get to the desired destination.

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Before you go on a trip to Malta, check out the most interesting facts about the country.

Two official languages

Malta has two official languages – Maltese and English. The first can be called unique, it has no resemblance to any of the European languages, belonging to a group of Semitic languages used in the Middle East, the northern and eastern part of the African continent. The Maltese also use English, which is the language of communication with tourists. Among the locals there are also many who speak Italian.

The smallest state of the European Union

Malta is one of the smallest countries in the world. She is 185th place out of 194. The island state and its attractions can be visited very quickly. As part of the EU, it is the tiniest country at all. But despite its modest size, Malta attracts travelers from all over the world. This is one of the best places for ecotourism and beach holidays.

It is noteworthy that one of the hypotheses says that the islands of the Maltese archipelago are remnants of Atlantis.

Left-hand traffic

Everyone who plans to visit Malta should know the traffic in this country is left-handed. This fact is explained by the fact that until 21.09.64, the island country was part of Britain, was a British colony. In England, traffic on the roads is also left-handed, as in Portugal and Sweden.

This information is especially important for those who are going to travel in Malta by rented car. Not everyone can quickly adjust to this.

Water in the gutters is desalinated

Another interesting fact about Malta is that there are no freshwater springs on its territory – not a single one. Natural rivers and lakes are completely absent. For locals, this creates certain difficulties, which are solved by desalination of water in reservoirs. This fact once again confirms the uniqueness of the island state.

It rains 60 days a year

Few people know that it rains in Malta for 60 days a year with a constant stream of flowers and fruit bearing almost all year round. The moisture is vital for the plants. Flowers and trees grow along roadways. As the seasons change, the flowerbeds only change configuration and color. Malta’s nature is very beautiful at all times of the year, which is what makes it so attractive.

Malta is one of the few countries that issues licenses for online casinos

Lovers of online casino games will also not be bored in Malta. They will be able to place bets and have a great time. Malta is one of the few states that issue licenses for online casinos https://onlinecasinozonder.nl/. The work of such institutions in the country is legal and controlled by the authorities. Play in the web casino tourists can with peace of mind.

Main religion on the island is Catholicism

Catholicism is the main religion on the island. The bodies of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church have the right to decide which principles are just and which are wrong. The religious teachings of the Roman Catholic Apostolic faith are taught in all schools on the island and are part of compulsory education. Approximately half of the population attends church services on a regular basis. And the country recognizes the right to freedom of religious belief.

Most populous country in Europe

Malta is considered to be the most populous country in Europe. In terms of world statistics, it is in fifth place. The population density per square kilometer here is 1432 people. Retired people from England and other European countries often immigrate here. Maltese people are increasingly marrying foreigners. The population is growing, and the area of the country is not so large, so the density is high. Some tourists, impressed by the Maltese beauty, decide to move here permanently.

Malta consists of 8 islands

Malta is a beautiful island country located in the Mediterranean Sea. It is separated from Cilicia by 93 km, and from Tunisia – 300 km. It has eight islands, but only three of them are inhabited – Malta, Gozo and Camino. The other islands are too small to live on. Gozo and Camino won the Gold Award for excellent coastal conditions. They are in third place in the list of the best coasts in Europe. For tourists here is a real paradise, sunbathing on clean beaches and swimming in the warm sea is a pleasure.

Abortion is prohibited in Malta

Until 2015, Malta was the only state in the EU whose legislation did not provide for the possibility of divorce. Even today, its laws prohibit the termination of a pregnancy. Women cannot simply go and have an abortion of their own free will; it is against the law. There are no exceptions at all, because the country is very religious. It is noteworthy that same-sex marriages are allowed in Malta, such couples can even adopt children.

In addition, at the Maltese beaches is a ban on partial or total nudity, but many tourists do not comply with it. It is inadmissible to visit the temples in the headdresses and open clothing. On the territory of the country is also forbidden to smoke in public places.

Malta is quite an interesting country, a trip here will bring a lot of positive emotions, will learn a lot.

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The city’s economy is mainly made up of companies subordinate to the tourist infrastructure, as well as manufacturers of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, beverages, textiles and building materials. In addition, the city is a key financial center and home to many head offices of world-renowned companies such as: Coca-Cola, Royal Dutch Shell, El Paso, Esso, IBM, Petrobras, EBX.

“January River” is the translation of the name of Brazil’s greatest city, Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro has a fascinating ancient history, beginning in the 16th century with pirates, natives, and noble nobles. The city was founded in March 1565 on the 1st, and was originally called San Sebastião de Rio de Janeiro, after the Portuguese King Sebastião I. The thickets of pau brasil trees found along this coast, whose valuable red wood was used to make musical instruments and expensive furniture, are now considered a national symbol of Brazil. The city was built as a military base in opposition to the French, and was repeatedly attacked by them.

The growth of the city’s population began around 1690, when gold was discovered in Minas Gerais, and Rio de Janeiro became a natural port for transporting it to Europe. By 1763 the city had a population of 50,000 and the colonial administration from Salvador de Bahia was transferred here. The city’s importance reached its peak in 1808, with the immigration of the Portuguese royal court, forced to flee Portugal after Napoleon’s invasion. This fact made Rio de Janeiro the capital of a European state outside Europe. The population by then was about 65,000. This was a golden period for the city, as Don Juan VI initiated the construction of many buildings in the city, such as the Royal Library, the Royal School of Sciences, Arts and Crafts. A botanical garden was laid out and the city’s infrastructure was improved.

One of the leading areas for the city was agriculture – the cultivation of sugar cane, which remains one of the main areas of Brazil to this day, along with the cultivation of coffee plantations and the export of coffee.

By the end of the 19th century the city’s population had literally exploded due to European immigration and internal immigration (mostly former slaves). And by 1890 Rio de Janeiro boasted a population of over a million people, where a quarter were foreigners. Today, the population is more than 6 million, and the population of the surrounding areas is more than 7 million.

Rio de Janeiro is divided into three main areas: central, southern, and northern. When the city is described as sandy beaches, mountains and ocean, this is essentially what the South Zone is called. The most famous landmarks located here are Sugar Loaf Mountain and the statue of Christ the Redeemer, erected in 1930 and known for its amazing and miraculous stories – the calling cards of Rio de Janeiro, and perhaps even of Brazil. It is an affluent neighborhood known for its Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon beaches. This area, with the advent of multifamily high-rise buildings, has become one of the most densely populated areas of Brazil.

The central area, it is also the business district, the center of the city, the shopping, banking and business center. This is the original location of Rio de Janeiro. This is where the municipal government and public institutions are located. More than 30 major museums are located in the central zone. During the modernization of the city’s municipal infrastructure, the original buildings of colonial architecture were destroyed here.

The Northern Zone includes the main port areas, and the industrial area of Rio de Janeiro. Brazil’s main imports and exports pass through the port: iron ore, manganese, coffee, cotton, hides and meat. The zone is located north and west of the central zone, along the border of Guanabara Bay to the east. It is home to Brazil’s second-largest airport, just 13 kilometers from the city, and the main Maracana Stadium, which can accommodate 200,000 fans.

There is a saying that “to see everything in Rio de Janeiro, you have to move here forever. The city is literally flooded with cultural and historical sites of interest to visit. The Republican Museum, the National Monument for victims of World War II, the Neo Classical Museum, the Indian Museum, the Villa Lobos Museum and many others are their treasures for those who love history and culture. The Museum of Modern Art (Museu de Arte Moderna) and the National Museum of Fine Arts (Museu Nacional de Belas Artes) are for lovers of the art of painting. It features the largest collection of paintings in the world, dating back to the 15th century. The planetarium and the city park also invite visitors to see the sights of the city. There are two military museums – Fortaleza Santa Cruz and Copacabana Fort-each displays information and artifacts from all of Rio de Janeiro’s military conflicts. For theater buffs, Carmen Miranda Museum offers an exhibition of costumes, belongings, the 1940s Hollywood star, as well as a film library and information about her life.

The botanical garden, known for its alley of palm trees, exotic animal and bird collections, has over 7,000 specimens of plants and is considered one of the best gardens in the world.

Examples of modern Brazilian architecture in Rio de Janeiro include the Ministry of Education, the Brazilian headquarters of the Press Association, and the Museum of Modern Art. Educational institutions include: The University, the Military and Naval Academies, and the Biological Research Center. Famous churches include the ornate 18th-century Candelaria Church, the Church of Nosa Senhora da Gloria, a 17th-century Franciscan monastery, and a 16th-century Benedictine monastery.

Rio de Janeiro is no doubt famous for its famous carnival. Hundreds of thousands of people attend the carnival every year, held for four days in February. The city is thrilled by the euphoric colors of the carnival costumes, music and dancing. Other notable events taking place in the city include:

New Year’s Eve celebrations. There are musical performances and music on the stages of the city. People dressed in white gather on Copacabana Beach to say goodbye to the passing, and welcome the arrival of the new year. The event culminates with fireworks over the ocean;
Campfire Festival. A celebration of Brazilian folklore, held with lighted bonfires throughout the city;
Brazil’s Independence Day. Numerous cultural and sporting events take place in the city during this time.
Rio de Janeiro is characterized by water sports, including water skiing, paragliding, scuba diving, and windsurfing. Locals spend hours playing soccer on the beaches.

The city is famous for its active nightlife with its bars, stores, hotels, strip clubs, numerous restaurants and jazz. The beach clubs of Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana districts are the most popular places to spend entertaining evenings and nights.

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Features of the Atacama
The Atacama Desert in South America is considered one of the oldest on the planet. Evidence indicates that it was formed at least 20 million years ago. The desert stretches from the Chile-Peru border for 1,000 km along the ocean and covers about 105,000 km².

The Atacama Desert looks very different from what we are used to seeing in pictures. It is more often absolutely lifeless stony areas, because the desert is part of the Andes. The coastal areas are sometimes several hundred meters above sea level.

Why is Atacama the driest desert?
A desert is an area with annual precipitation not exceeding 250 mm, in Atacama it falls 25 times less. Another difference between the Chilean desert and other arid regions of the planet is that it is the coldest in the world. The average daily air temperature during the year here ranges from 0-25 ° C. It’s relatively hot during the day and sometimes freezing at night.

The blame for Atacama’s drought lies in the high mountains and the cold Pacific Current. It would seem that the ocean, on the contrary, should more than saturate the coastal areas with rain, but not in the case of Atacama. The cold Humboldt Current passes through here, so water temperatures off the northwestern coast of Chile are significantly cooler than usual in these latitudes. By crossing the current, the sea wind cools, dries out, and reaches the mainland without a drop of moisture.

On the other hand, the rains could come from the east, but here, too, the “rain shadow” phenomenon is a problem. The clouds with their accumulated moisture can’t get over the high mountains, so all the rain falls on the eastern slopes of the Andes, never irrigating the Atacama.

Life in the Desert
Chileans are not intimidated by the dryness of the Atacama. It is home to more than a million Atacamenos, the name of the indigenous people. They are the descendants of the ancient Indians, who mostly live in coastal towns, mining and fishing villages.

Locals pump water from underground springs wherever possible. Using modern irrigation techniques, they manage to grow vegetables and fruits even on arid soils. In addition, atacamenos extract moisture from the thick fogs called kamanchaka with the help of special foggers.

What to see in the Atacama Desert
The Atacama occupies a huge area. Tourist attractions are scattered throughout the desert, so you need to decide on an itinerary in advance. It is most reasonable to tour from the cities of Antofagasta, San Pedro de Atacama, Calama, Arika or Iquique. The desert has a well-developed road network.

San Pedro de Atacama is the main tourist center of the desert. Here you can stay overnight and eat, buy a tour, and rent a car. There’s not much to see in the town itself, except for the main attraction, the church of San Pedro, which was built in the 17th century. In the northern part of the city is the pre-Columbian village of Pucara de Quitor. It is famous for its fortress of the XII century.

In relative proximity to San Pedro is the oldest human settlement in Chile, Tulor. This archaeological site is the ruins of round adobe buildings several thousand years old.

The picturesque area known as Lunar Valley, 15 km west of the city, is one of the driest places on the planet. In some of its areas there has been no rain for hundreds of years. The scenery and conditions match those of Mars, so explorers of the red planet use the valley as a testing ground.

From San Pedro there is a road to the world’s third largest salt marsh, the Salar de Atacama, whose fabulous ethereal vistas are stunningly beautiful. Flocks of flamingos grazing near the shores of the salt lagoons complete the range of colors. The most famous among them is the Sekhar Lagoon. The concentration of salt in its water is so great that the human body pushes to the surface. Among the salt lagoons, there are two unique reservoirs of fresh water, they are called Oko de Sekhar.

Because of the lack of rain in the Atacama Desert, ancient geoglyphs – giant drawings on the surface of the ground – are well preserved. Scientists believe that they were painted by caravan drivers, to mark the routes. The most massive collection of such images is Serros Pintados, there are more than 350 of them. In Atacama they also found the largest geoglyph in the world, it is called Tarapaka or Giant of the Atacama Desert. The figure is almost 90 meters long. It can be fully seen only from a bird’s-eye view.

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Description of Angel Falls
Despite the fact that the waterfall is remote from civilization, life here boils – because to see the natural attraction come from everywhere. This is because Angel has a height of 979 meters. The Pemon Indians who live here call the waterfall “Kerepacupai Mera”, which translates as “the waterfall with the greatest depth”.

The water falls at such a velocity that it turns into dust even 300 meters to the ground. This makes it seem as if the water, falling with a powerful stream, simply dissipates into fog. And in the dense jungle, as if out of nowhere, a beautiful river called Churun appears.

In addition to being the highest, Angel Falls are very difficult to reach. The state does not take any steps to develop the region in any way. But thanks to this it has been possible to preserve the uniqueness of nature.

How the waterfall was formed
As already mentioned, the waterfall is located in South America on the Guiana Plateau. The terrain is undulating plains with pinnacles that stand in the middle of flat areas, the plateaus. The base of these flat areas is composed of hardened lava and red sandstone.

Zigzagging down the highlands, the Churun River ends up on a plateau, which is also the summit of Mount Auyantepui. Approaching the precipice, the speed of the river becomes faster and faster, and it begins its fall. The water first travels 807 meters and then collides with an obstacle and flies another 172 meters.

An interesting fact is that to this day geologists still can not define the height of the waterfall – some believe that it is 979 meters, while others tend to 1054 meters. And all this because the river has cut a notch at the top of the precipice, so the waterfall does not start with the top edge, but below about 80-100 meters.

Historical Facts
Before 1933, no one knew of the existence of the waterfall except the tribes living there. They believed that there were evil spirits on the mountain, so they did not dare to climb to the top.

On November 19, 1935, James Angel, an American pilot, flew to the area in search of either gold or diamonds. Flying over the area, Angel noticed a stunning waterfall that impressed him greatly. Two years later, James Angel flew there again with his wife and two traveling companions. But one of the landing gear broke during the landing, so the team had to go down an unknown road on their own. Fortunately no one was hurt and all four of them were back in civilization after only 11 days. The story about the waterfall drew the attention of journalists and geologists.

In 1949, an expedition was assembled that armed themselves with maps and axes to wade through the lianas of the jungle. Upon arrival, their amazement and surprise was boundless: as it turned out, the new waterfall was as much as 20 times higher than the previously known Niagara Falls. After the expedition, they gave an exact description of the waterfall, determined its height, and named it after the pilot – the last name Angel in Spanish reads Angel.

How to get to the waterfall
There are 5 regular flights to Canaima from Ciudad Bolívar, Porlamar, Caracas and Puerto Ordaz. These are not government flights, but commercial flights with small planes. Flights range from $110 to $300 per person. More information can be found here.

From Canaima, you can still get there by canoe on the Churún River.

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The name of the South American lake was invented by the Spaniards who colonized the continent and they used the language of the Quechua Indian people. The word “caca” was used by the descendants of the Incas for the rock, and “titi” for the puma. It is noteworthy that the beautiful wild cat was considered by the brave and bellicose Quechuas as their totem animal.

Before the arrival of Europeans to the south of Lake Titicaca there was a territory of one of the first South American empires – Tiwanaku. Its inhabitants spoke the Puquina language and called the mountain reservoir “Lake Puquina”. The Aymara Indians called it “Mamacota,” and today the locals call the majestic lake “Chuquivita.

How the lake came to be in the mountains
Scientists have always been interested in the history of the origin of the lake, which lies at an altitude of 3,812 meters above sea level. How could such a vast reservoir of fresh water appear in the mountains? Geological studies have shown that about 100 million years ago the lake was located 3.7 km lower. It was a large saltwater lagoon connecting to the ocean. Together with the Andes mountain ranges, the bay gradually rose to higher altitudes and became freshwater.

Lake Titicaca in South America
Today, traces of the surf and fossil remains of the inhabitants of the ancient sea can be seen on the rocks surrounding the lake shores. The bottom of the body of water is home to invertebrate marine fish, crustaceans, and some shark species. Although considered freshwater, the lake has all kinds of salts typical of the Pacific Ocean dissolved in its water, and the level of mineralization is quite high at 1%.

Geographic features
Titicaca sits on the Altiplano mountain plateau and is the highest navigable lake on the planet. And there has been regular steamboating here for over 100 years. The Andean body of water also leads as the largest freshwater lake in South America. Titicaca holds 893 cubic kilometers of clear water. Interestingly, the water in the central part of the huge reservoir has a constant temperature of +10 … +12 ° C and therefore never freezes. But near the shores, night frosts often cover the surface of the reservoir with a layer of thin ice.

There are about three hundred rivers flowing into Titicaca, and the total area of the watershed covers more than 58 thousand square kilometers. Like Baikal, only one river, the Desaguadero, flows out of this lake. It is navigable in its upper reaches, but then the freshwater waterway passes through saline soils, becomes shallow, and the water in it becomes salty. Curiously, the Desaguadero takes only 5% of the lake’s volume. The rest of the water evaporates from strong solar radiation and mountain winds.

Underwater mysteries of Lake Titicaca
Since the 16th century, when Europeans began colonizing South America, many scientific studies of the lake and its underwater world have been conducted. According to extant Amerindian legends at the bottom of the Andean body of water rests the ancient Inca city of Wanaku. It was tried to find it several times. In the 1960s, the famous explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau was looking for traces of the mysterious city, but the lake did not want to give up its mystery.

In 2000, divers from Italy came to Titicaca. Their discoveries amazed the scientific world! At a depth of 30 m, scientists found a long terrace, which looked like an ancient sidewalk, and 1 km under the water was a stone wall. However, the most amazing find was a stone statue in the form of a human head. The same sculptures were found earlier on the ruins of the Indian city of Tiwanaku, which is located 15 kilometers south of Lake Titicaca. The analysis showed that the underwater finds are 1.5 thousand years old.

In 2013, Bolivian and Belgian archaeologists continued underwater research. From the bottom of the lake was raised more than two thousand unique artifacts, which relate to the ancient Tiwanaku empire and to later periods of South American history. Researchers found objects made of gold and silver, as well as stylized animal figurines.

Natural attractions
Titicaca attracts tourists with the beauty of its high-altitude nature. At a distance from the lake shores rise the snow-capped peaks of the Andes. On the northwest coast stretches the territory of the Titicaca National Reserve. The nature reserve, covering 36,180 hectares, was created to protect the unique biodiversity of the mountain reservoir and colonies of nesting and migratory birds.

Since 1997 the shores of Titicaca, covered with reeds, have the status of wetlands of international importance and are protected as habitats for rare species of waterfowl such as ducks, geese, gulls and flamingos. In the waters of the lake inhabits the salmon trout, reaching a length of one meter.

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The Galapagos are a species of turtle that live on the islands, which is why the archipelago is named after them. These clusters of patches of land are also called simply Galapagos, Turtle Islands, or the Colón Archipelago. The area also used to be called the Enchanted Islands because it was difficult to dock on land. Numerous currents made navigation difficult, so not everyone was able to reach the shores.Galapagos

The first approximate map of these places was made by a pirate, so all the islands were named after pirates or people who helped them. They were later renamed, but some inhabitants continue to use the old versions. Even the map shows names from different eras.

Geographic features
The archipelago consists of 19 islands, 13 of which are of volcanic origin. It also includes 107 rock outcrops and reclaimed land that protrude above the surface of the water. Looking at the map, you can understand where the islands are located. The largest of them – Isabela, is also the youngest. There are active volcanoes, so the island is still subject to change due to emissions and eruptions, the last occurred in 2005.SEALs

Despite the fact that Galapagos is an equatorial archipelago, the climate here is not hot at all. The reason lies in the cold current that washes the shores. From this the water temperature can drop below 20 degrees. The average annual figure falls into the range of 23-24 degrees. It is worth mentioning that water in the Galapagos Islands is a big problem, as there are almost no sources of fresh water.

Exploring the Islands and their inhabitants
Since the discovery of the islands in March 1535 no one took much interest in the wildlife world of this area until Charles Darwin and his expedition explored the Colón Archipelago. Prior to that, the islands had been a haven for pirates, though they were considered a colony of Spain. Later there was a question of who owned the tropical islands, and in 1832 the Galapagos officially became part of Ecuador and Puerto Baquerizo Moreno was named the capital of the province.

Darwin spent many years on the islands studying the diversity of the finch species. It was here that he developed the foundations of the future evolutionary theory. The animal life on the Turtle Islands is so rich and unlike the fauna in other parts of the world that it could be studied for decades, but no one did it after Darwin, although the Galapagos was recognized as a unique place.

During World War II, the U.S. set up a military base here; at the end of hostilities, the islands were turned into a haven for convicts. Only in 1936, the archipelago was given the status of a National Park, and then began to pay more attention to the protection of natural resources. However, some species by that time were already on the verge of extinction, which is described in detail in the documentary film about the islands.

Because of the specific climatic conditions and formation of the islands, there are many birds, mammals, fish, and plants that are not found anywhere else. The largest animal in the area is the Galapagos sea lion, but of greater interest are giant turtles, boobies, sea lizards, flamingos, and penguins.

Tourist Centers
Tourists when planning a trip want to know how to get to an amazing place. You can choose two popular ways: during a cruise or by plane. There are two airports in the Colón Archipelago, but most often land in Baltre. This is a small island north of Santa Cruz, where Ecuador’s official military bases are now located. It is easily accessible from here to most of the islands popular with tourists.

The photos from the Galapagos Islands are spectacular because there are amazingly beautiful beaches. You can spend the whole day in the blue lagoon, enjoying the tropical sun without the debilitating heat. Many people prefer to go scuba diving, as the seabed abounds with colors because of the volcanic lava frozen in the coastal zone.

In addition, some species of animals are happy to swirl with scuba divers, as they are already accustomed to humans here. But the islands are inhabited by sharks, so you should find out in advance if diving is allowed in the chosen place.Exotic bird

What country wouldn’t be proud of such an amazing place as the Galapagos, given that it is a World Heritage Site. The scenery is more like a picture, as it surprises with an abundance of colors on every side. It is true that to preserve the natural beauty and its inhabitants

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Such an unusual surface, and even with the cone-shaped salt mounds, looks like the land of distant planets. But the most interesting thing happens here during the rainy season. The lake is covered with the thinnest layer of water and becomes a solid reflecting surface. The sky, reflecting in Uyuni, seems to merge here with the land, and it is impossible to draw a line between them. By the way, man has used this natural phenomenon to his advantage. Calibration of orbital satellites takes place here, and it becomes several times more accurate as compared to the calibration on the ocean surface.

The graveyard of steam locomotives
As if supporting the theme of lifeless desert, here is … a cemetery of steam locomotives of the mid-20th century. The fact is that three kilometers from the town of Uyuni there were railroad tracks. Once it was a busy thoroughfare, but over time, mining operations at the local mines declined, and the steam locomotives remained abandoned. Their rusty iron hulks against the snow-white salt look like Salvador Dali’s paintings.

The Bolivians do what they can to make sure that as many tourists as possible visit the site. In addition to souvenirs made of salt, locals make whole houses of salt blocks, the same material are made of beds, tables and chairs. Everyone can spend the night in the “salt hotel”.

Geysers and Flamingos
In addition to the salt marsh, the town of Uyuni becomes a base for tourists who come to see the local geysers. In the geyser valley of Sol de Macan the height of water columns can reach 100m! There are craters of boiling mud all around. Another pride of the locals are colonies of graceful flamingos, the pink, red-brown James flamingos.

A trip to Latin America is already a significant event, and if you combine it with a visit to such a unique place as the Uyuni salt marsh, the trip becomes simply magical. Just imagine driving a jeep on the mirror-like surface of the lake, seeing the world from a high mountain plateau, spending the night in a hotel made entirely of salt, and all this will give you the mysterious Bolivia.

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