Wonderful Places To See In Costa Rica

A popular tourist attraction for adventure enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, it is surprising that just since a short decade ago this small Central American nation has grown to become one of the world's top places to travel.

Popular and breath-taking beaches abound, such as the Manuel Antonio, Playa Dominical and Montezuma to name but a few. Pristine white beaches, crystal clear blue water and peaceful nature scenes beckon many to escape from the daily pressures and rejuvenate both the body and mind. Perhaps you are considering a vacation or holiday and would like to see something magnificently beautiful and unique?

In efforts to maintain much of the beautiful surroundings, much of this country's land has been turned into protected parks and reserves to prohibit the breath-taking and lush environment from deforestation and logging. Costa Rica today prides itself on having 58 wildlife refuges, 27 national parks, 15 wetland areas, 11 forest reserves and 8 biological reserves as well as another 12 conservation regions that protect the very diverse natural habitats found in this country.

Popular national parks abound in the area and include, but are not limited to the Chirripo National Park, which houses its tallest mountain, the Arenal Volcano National Park, which has Costa Rica's most active volcano, the Barra Honda National Park with its limestone caves, the Las Baulas National Marine Park which is home to an enormous amount of leatherback turtles and the Corcovado National Park, which is thought by some people to be the most biologically intense place on the entire earth.

The country is known for having well over 8,000 different species of plants and trees, approximately 1,000 or more different types of saltwater and fresh fish species, over 800 indigenous and migrant birds and over 200 different types of reptiles. This broadly ranged abundance of wildlife and nature helps to make Costa Rica a truly unique and very natural paradise on earth. Costa Rica also has many endangered animals such as the Leatherback turtles, Oliver Ridley turtles, Tapir, Golden Toad, and the West Indian manatee to name but a few.

The unique variety of both archeological and historical places in Costa Rica offers an extremely interesting view into this country's cultural heritage. While visiting and truly experiencing the vast assortment of historical museums and monuments in this amazing country, one might actually be able to feel the past come to life for him as if he were actually living back in those times, if only but for a few days or a week.

The capital city of San Jose is by far the best place to begin to discover the rich history of Costa Rica, since many of the best museums are located in this city. A few of the most notable historic places of Costa Rica include Museo Nacional De Costa Rica, Museo de Arte Costarricense and, last but certainly not least, Cartago City.

In closing, there is so much to write about such a truly beautiful and peaceful country, that one article simply cannot do it justice. My suggestion? You may want to dust off that passport, start booking flights, packing your family's bags and jet off for the trip of a lifetime to Costa Rica.

Learn more about Costa Rica and discover a great place to stay at Coffee Farm Bed and Breakfast, a Costa Rica bed and breakfast and inn catering to the medical tourist and health tourism. Visit us at: http://www.coffeefarmbedandbreakfast.com/

Pompeii - Mt Vesuvius

Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius or Vesuvio, the volcano near Naples, is an interesting place to explore. Mount Vesuvius, one of the world's most dangerous volcanoes, has an eruption cycle of about 20 years, but the last eruption was in 1944. Lets continue to find out more about Pompeii Mt Vesuvius.

Mount Vesuvius Active Volcano

When you finally reach the edge of the crater, you will be staggered at its size. Inside the crater itself, it is possible to see glimpses of steam rising from the side of the crater demonstrating that Mt Vesuvius is an active volcano.

Eruption of Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii

It is unknown how many people left Pompeii after the first earthquake, but a considerable number did indeed leave the devastation behind and move to other cities within the Roman Empire. By the 1st century, Pompeii was one of a number of towns located around the base of Mount Vesuvius. Love and sex were considered earthly practices of a man's life that were encouraged by the benevolence of Venus. Some aspects of the Pompeii culture were distinctly erotic, including phallic worship.

Pompeii Eruption of Vesuvius

The eruption was documented by contemporary historians and is generally accepted as having started on 24 August 79, relying on one version of the text of Pliny's letter. The overall experience of the Vesuvius eruption, must have been etched on Pliny's memory given the trauma of the occasion, and the loss of his uncle, Pliny the Elder, with whom he had a close relationship.

Mount Vesuvius What Happened?

The last major eruption was in March 1944 and it destroyed the villages of San Sebastiano al Vesuvio, Massa di Somma, Ottaviano, and part of San Giorgio a Cremano. The eruption of Mt Vesuvius in 1906 was particularly destructive, killing over 100 people and ejecting the most lava ever recorded from a Vesuvian eruption. Since 1944, the volcano has been silent.

Pliny The Younger Mt Vesuvius

Many contemporary sculptures are described and discussed by Pliny the Elder in his Naturalis Historia published in 77 AD. Campi Flegrei, furthermore known as the Phlegraean Fields (from Greek meaning burning fields), is a large 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) wide caldera situated to the west of the city of Naples. Pliny was here with his Uncle when the eruption of Mt Vesuvius happened. Pliny's uncle, the naturalist Pliny the Elder, was in charge of area warships, but he turned his fleet to rescuing residents and died.

Mt Vesuvius Lava

Mount Vesuvius was built up by a series of lava flows and a number of smaller explosive eruptions interspersed in-between. The lava is composed of adesite, viscous in nature. The whole of Mount Vesuvius comprises layers of lava, volcanic ash and pumice.

Pompeii Volcanoes Area

The pyroclastic blast from the eruption incinerated the inhabitants of Herculaneum. Almost 2,000 years later, You have the opportunity to explore the preserved ruins of this famed disaster.A busy commercial centre with a population of 10,000-20,000, the ancient Pompeii covered about 160 acres on the seaward end of the fertile Sarno Plain. Along with Herculaneum, its sister city, Pompeii was destroyed and completely buried during a long catastrophic eruption of the volcano Mount Vesuvius spanning two days in 79 AD.

Pompeii Herculaneum

Both Pompeii and Herculaneum have since been excavated to reveal many intact buildings and wall paintings. A full day Pompeii and Herculaneum tour can be a historical discovery exploring the archaeological sites of the Bay of Naples. Silent for thousands of years, Pompeii and Herculaneum are now living museums of life in the Roman Empire.

And now I would like to invite you to visit the following link for more information on visiting Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi Coast, City of Naples and other places in the Bay of Naples when you visit http://Pompeiitours.org/mt-vesuvius/ (<--click this link)

From Francesca Laguida - expert local guide and author on Pompeii, Vesuvius, the Amalfi Coast, Capri and the city of Naples Italy.

(c) Copyright 2010 and Beyond - All rights reserved.
Webmasters: Get unique articles like this by contacting me at above link, or republish with all links intact

Journey to the Centre of Tenerife

The best thing about Tenerife's unique landscape is that it has everything from sandy beaches, mountains, volcanic rock formations and forests offering a great outdoor adventure for the nature lovers. The island features two main mountain areas and two national parks.

The Teide National Park in Tenerife is the biggest natural attraction on the island. The park covers an area of 18,990 ha and boasts the highest peak in Spain, the Teide-Pico Viejo strato-volcano. Standing 3,718m above sea level and 7,500m above the ocean floor, it is considered the third tallest volcanic structure in the worlds. What's most spectacular is its environment which represents a rich and diverse collection of volcanic features and landscapes. The park itself lies about 2000m above sea level and is known as the most visited National Park in Spain and it entertains 3.5 million visitors annually. Winters are cold with snow fall and gale winds whereas during summer temperature reach well above 40 degrees Celsius making the area arid and landscape closely resembling a scene out of a cow boy movie. The Park can be easily accessed by bus or private vehicle and the volcano can be access either by foot or by cable car. The peak offers breathtaking views of Gran canaria, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro - certainly is the height of Tenerife.

For those interested in experiencing the Tenerife adventure, the island hosts a range of lodging options. Hotels in Tenerife include luxury accommodation, budget hotels, self catered apartments and even cottages. For the extreme outdoor type and the best ever encounter with nature, many areas in the island feature camping sites. Enjoy nature and adventure Tenerife style.

Los Gigantes offer adventure as well as relaxation. Located on the west coast of Tenerife, in the Santiago del Teide municipality, the town's main features are giant rock formations which rise 500 - 800 metres above sea level. Known as the Acantilados de los Gigantes, these giant cliffs feature astonishingly sheer rock walls practically plunging into the ocean below. For the best views of the cliffs and to experience their true magnitude try a boat ride from the nearby marina. Across the bay you can find the resort town and port of Los Gigantes - major tourist attraction in the island. It features a small black sand beach, a small town and a heap of hotels and apartments.

The northeastern part of Tenerife is dominated by Macizo de Anaga. This mountain range extends from the northeastern Punta de Anaga to the southwestern Cuz del Carmen. The range features mountain points of Bichuelo, Anambro, Pico Limante, Cruz de Taborno, Chinobre, and Cruz del Carmen. The cliffs are treacherous and therefore not easy to access by vehicle. The only road runs through San Andres and the northwestern part of the mountain range. The altitude of the mountains and its location on the island has helped in the existence of a rare diversity of natural habitats. The natural park was founded in 1987 and is known as Parque Rural de Anaga.

Tenerife hotels and Tenerife destination reviews etc. He is currently working for roomsnet.com which offers visitors the option of world wide hotel bookings. Roomsnet.com offers many last minute Tenerife hotel deals for holidaymakers.

Volcano Tour From Oahu

The Island of Hawaii has five separate volcanoes that erupted somewhat sequentially, one overlapping the other. These are: Kohala, Mauna Kea, Hualalai, Mauna Loa and K+lauea.

Mauna Loa is the world's largest volcano and one of five volcanoes that form the Big Island. Mauna Loa has no recent eruptions, but eruptions in 1926 and 1950 destroyed towns. The city of Hilo is partly built on lava flows.

Kohala is probably the oldest volcano that composes the Island of Hawaii. This extinct volcano is 5.480 feet above sea level.

Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano and is the highest point in the state of Hawaii with 13.796 feet (4.200 m). Muna kea means "white mountain" in Hawaiian language; this name makes reference to its regularly snow-capped during the winter.

Hualalai is the third youngest and third-most historically active volcano on the Big Island.

Take the best volcano tour including a 40-minutes walk were you can see the most active volcano in the world: The Kilauea. This volcano has been erupting steadily since 1983. Kilauea lies next to the much larger Mauna Loa volcano.

On this adventure tour you will visit one of the most volcanically active environments in the world. Pele, Hawaii´s volcano goddess, will surprise you with its anger. Get impressed by the beauty of Pele´s creations which includes Hawaii´s unique black sand beaches.

Later, you will get in touch with a much more calm landscape: the tropical rainforest and the cascading waterfalls, while you learn about Hawaii´s culture and history.

If you are staying on Oahu but you would like to visit a neighbor island for a day, you might go to the Big Island and get as close to the active lava flows as Civil Defense allows. One of the visits that the Oahu tours offers to you is the Big Island Volcano and Waterfalls Tour.

Article by Kani Amea

Mount Etna - A Thrilling Sicily Destination!

When you hear of active volcanoes, one cannot help but think of Mount Etna, one of the world's most famous volcanoes. Located on the east coast of the island of Sicily, Mount Etna is the largest active volcano in the world. It is known as a stratovolcano, which means that it is conical and was built by the eruption of lava, ashes and pyroclastic flows. Currently it stands about 3,329 meters (10,922 ft.) high, but this is constantly changing due to summit eruptions.

In ancient times, the Greeks believed it to be the home of the god of fire, Vulcan. They also thought that when the mountain was erupting it meant that Vulcan was forging weapons for Mars, the god of war. Mount Etna is reported to have had erupted approximately 200 times since 1500 BC, with the most recent major eruption occurring in 2001.

Mount Etna creates a majestic dominant feature against the Sicilian skyline. It is Sicily's greatest natural attraction and much of the tourism of Sicily is due to this awe-inspiring volcano. In fact, the volcano forms part one of Italy's greatest and most beautiful national parks, Parco Regionale dell' Etna.

The mountain's surface is covered with solidified lava but much of its slope is also covered in forests where various species of oak, stone pine, birch and beech grow over its sloped surface. The changing tree colors in autumn make it a truly spectacular sight.

Mount Etna's forests are home to an abundance of wildlife. Fox, squirrels, weasels, hedgehogs, porcupine and possible a few wild cats live in the forests, and owls, falcons, partridges and even golden eagles can be viewed circulating above. There are also herons, ducks and other migratory birds in the nearby Gurrida Lake area. Apart from the awesome hikes in the woods and up the mountain in the summer, Mount Etna also offers skiing in the winter months. All of this adds to the tourist's pleasure of enjoying this natural wildlife area even more.

Of course, the major attraction for most tourists would be the thrilling hike up the mountain. The majority of tourists visit the south side of the mountain and hike only a short distance up the mountain. This trail is free for all to use.

There is, however, another hike which adventurous visitors may take where they can traverse to the summit for a breathtaking view into the eye of the volcano. For this a guide is needed, but the hike is well worth the effort because it allows the tourist to experience the full impact of the smells and views and even feel like they are a part of the volcano's turbulent history. The hike to the top is not an easy one because it becomes quite steep when the summit is approached and the cinders and ash make it rough going. It is a dark, inhospitable landscape and because of this it is often used by scientists to test robots before sending them to Mars. The atmospheric and geological conditions are deemed to be much the same.

A visit to Mount Etna would make an exciting and thrilling destination for any tourist. The thrill of climbing an active volcano, the wonder of hiking through various nature trails along the way, and experiencing the fantastic Sicilian culture all make Mount Etna worth adding to any tourist's next travel itinerary.

I have loved Sicily for as far back as I can remember and I return to this island paradise every chance I get. My grandparents came to America from this beautiful land in the early 1900's, bringing with them all the tradition and passion that is Sicily. From the beautiful beaches and Roman architecture, to the heavenly food and romantic charm, I hope you will come to love Sicily as much as I do! Stop by for a visit at http://www.beauty-and-romance-of-sicily.com

Global Warming

Is globe sitting on active volcano?
Are the world leaders aware and really know?
Do they know entire globe is on fire?
Industries and pollution they encourage and admire,

Weather changes fast with unseasonal rain,
Flood is creating havoc ant that is worry main,
Everything we stand to loose and nothing to gain,
All efforts are wasted and going in vain

World's powerful nations flout the rules
Advise other nations and look they fool
Rain brings storms and snow in deserts,
They hold meetings only for concerts,

Glaciers are drifting and slowly melting,
Cold regions boil and people are sweating,
Human race is in danger and survival at stake,
People not bother and are not still awake,

Seas and oceans are rising and may swell,
Waves may sweep areas and not speak well
Shores may be washed and play havoc
Destruction will be as times cloak

Nothing will be left and efforts fail to save
Nature's fury will add to injury and will not pave
Neglect of nature means digging grave
Who can offer solution and act as brave?

Forests are over and vastly vanishing,
Green belt only in name and finishing,
Oil, gas, smoke generally polluting the air,
You may find your children with white hair,

Diseases of several kinds may not find cure,
Unnatural deaths certain and asking for sure,
We displease the nature and inviting wrath,
Inhaling poison inside which is difficult to breath,

One fifth of land will be totally submerged,
Sea will rise enormously and can't be contained
Situation so alarming that it can't be managed,
No solution in sight and resolutions not arranged,

Something is to be done in earnestness,
Industries can thrive but with neatness,
Water can be used freely but with purpose
Human lives can be saved before they are disposed

Can we not be serious again?
Back to nature and energy regain,
Lovely green fields mushroom with fresh air,
Will the efforts not be necessary and fair?

hasmukh amathalal

How to Save Nature

We know that mother nature has given us all the things we need, i.e., food, cloth and shelter. Our ancestors were also completely depend on nature. They gave complete respect to nature. They take how much they need and what they need.

But as the civilization progress, the greed's of human also cherishes. As the population increases, more destruction was done to nature. They started to cut trees for land and farming, killing animals so that they can capture the place where animal live, etc. But the thing was in limit.

As the industrialization and globalization trend came, more harmful destruction is done. Now for setting industries the land is required, so forest were cut. For connecting one city to other city, mountains were drilled so as to make roads and railways. Also dams were made to generate ever increasing need of electricity. This all caused heavy load on the heart of mother nature.

The main destruction caused by nature is Global Warming. Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation. Due to Global warming the glaciers will melt and the level of sea water increase. If it continues, then one day whole earth will be sink.

Now we had done so much damage to nature, now its our responsibility to prevent damage to nature. We all can follow some simple but effective measures, which is as follows:-

1. Plant more and more trees.
2. Switch off lights when not needed.
3. Use CFL instead of bulbs.
4. Use public transport more and more.
5. Use cycle for travelling near distance.
6. Encourage car pool.
7. Use solar energy and wind energy for household purpose.

I want to say that please visit my blog daily as I post new and latest research news on our environment.

The view expressed in this article is of own ideas and knowledge. I post my opinions on my blog http://swatzfalcon.blogspot.com/ which is based on nature.