Son Doong Cave (Cave Passage in the World), Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, Quang Binh, Central Vietnam

Son Doong Cave (Vietnamese: Hang Son Doong) is world's largest cave, located in Quang Binh province, Vietnam. It is found by a local man named Ho Khanh in 1991 and was recently discovered in 2009 by British cavers, led by Howard Limbert. The name "Son Doong" cave means "mountain river cave", It was created 2-5 million years ago by river water eroding away the limestone underneath the mountain Where the limestone was weak, the ceiling collapsed creating huge skylights.

 

Son Doong Cave is known as the world’s largest natural cave, housing many limestone grottoes, stalactites and stalagmites. Set within Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park (about 500km south of Hanoi), the cave is a must visit for adventurous travelers looking to explore one of Vietnam’s natural gems during their holiday.

 

 

Hang Sơn Đoòng was found by a local man named Hồ Khanh in 1991. The whistling sound of wind and roar of a rushing stream in the cave heard through the entrance as well as the steep descent prevented the local people from entering the cave. Only in 2009 did the cave become internationally known after a group of cavers from the British Cave Research Association, led by Howard Limbert, conducted a survey in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng from 10 to 14 April 2009. Their progress was stopped by a large, 60-metre (200 ft) high flowstone-coated wall, which was named the Great Wall of Vietnam. It was traversed in 2010 when the group reached the end of the cave passage

Formed of Carboniferous/Permian limestone, the main Sơn Đoòng cave passage is the largest known cave passage in the world by volume – 38.4×106 cubic meters (1.36×109 cu ft), according to Howard Limbert. It is more than 5 kilometers (3.1 mi) long, 200 meters (660 ft) high and 150 meters (490 ft) wide. Its cross-section is believed to be twice that of the next largest passage, in Deer Cave, Malaysia. The cave runs for approximately 9 kilometers (5.6 mi) and is punctuated by 2 large dolines, which are areas where the ceiling of the cave has collapsed. The dolines allow sunlight to enter sections of the cave, resulting in the growth of trees as well as other vegetation. The cave contains some of the tallest known stalagmites in the world, which are up to 70 m tall. Behind the Great Wall of Vietnam were found cave pearls the size of baseballs, an abnormally large size

To reach Hang Son Doong, it’s a six-km-long hike through the rainforest, which includes passing through a small village that’s home to the Ban Doong ethnic group. Entrance to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park costs VND 40,000, plus additional fees (which usually range between VND 80,000 and VND 150,000) to enter the caves via a guided tour. Oxalis Adventure Tours offer a four-day, three-night Son Doong Cave Expedition that’s available between February and August. Priced at VND 68,700,000 per person, the tour is inclusive of camping equipment, safety gear and caving equipment, as well as four meals a day, bottled water, a first aid kit and medical rescue equipment. The expedition also benefits from guidance from a professional technical advisor, an English-speaking guide, five safety assistants, and a porter team to carry gear and prepare meals throughout the journey.

To reach Hang Son Doong, it’s a six-km-long hike through the rainforest, which includes passing through a small village that’s home to the Ban Doong ethnic group. Entrance to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park costs VND 40,000, plus additional fees (which usually range between VND 80,000 and VND 150,000) to enter the caves via a guided tour. Oxalis Adventure Tours offer a four-day, three-night Son Doong Cave Expedition that’s available between February and August. Priced at VND 68,700,000 per person, the tour is inclusive of camping equipment, safety gear and caving equipment, as well as four meals a day, bottled water, a first aid kit and medical rescue equipment. The expedition also benefits from guidance from a professional technical advisor, an English-speaking guide, five safety assistants, and a porter team to carry gear and prepare meals throughout the journey.

Read more at: http://www.vietnam-guide.com/attractions/son-doong-cave.htm?cid=ch:OTH:001

To reach Hang Son Doong, it’s a six-km-long hike through the rainforest, which includes passing through a small village that’s home to the Ban Doong ethnic group. Entrance to Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park costs VND 40,000, plus additional fees (which usually range between VND 80,000 and VND 150,000) to enter the caves via a guided tour. Oxalis Adventure Tours offer a four-day, three-night Son Doong Cave Expedition that’s available between February and August. Priced at VND 68,700,000 per person, the tour is inclusive of camping equipment, safety gear and caving equipment, as well as four meals a day, bottled water, a first aid kit and medical rescue equipment. The expedition also benefits from guidance from a professional technical advisor, an English-speaking guide, five safety assistants, and a porter team to carry gear and prepare meals throughout the journey.

Read more at: http://www.vietnam-guide.com/attractions/son-doong-cave.htm?cid=ch:OTH:001

 

Read more at: http://www.vietnam-guide.com/attractions/son-doong-cave.htm?cid=ch:OTH:001

Crooked Forest (The mysterious), Northwest Poland

Crooked Forest  is the group of 400 pine trees in the northwest of Poland appear to be almost normal, but they are not. If you look at the base of these trees, you might feel like you’ve just entered a strange mystical fairy tale. All of the trees have the same northward 90-degree bend at the base of their limb. Known as the “Crooked Forest,” this unique site remains an unexplained mystery. Every tree in the Crooked Forest has the same haunting bend, but despite bent beginnings, all of the trees have grown to be tall and seemingly unhampered by their C shape curves. Some experts believe that the trees grew like this because they incurred some sort of damage to the tip and along some side branches.Trees are resilient, and so they continued to thrive, relying on the one branch they had left to take over complete function and grow upwards. Whatever damage occurred to one tree must have happened to them all because they remain uniform in deformity.

 The Crooked Forest is around 80 years old. It is estimated that the damage that made them look how they do today occurred when the trees were about 7 years old. This would have been before the Second World War reached Poland. Which helps to explain the most popular theory about how the trees came to be crooked. As the story goes, in 1930 a group of farmers planted these trees, intentionally damaging the base in order to create some sort of product, perhaps uniquely shaped furniture. The world may never know if it’s true because the farmers were unable to finish their work after the invasion on Poland during World War II dismantled their plans.It is likely the trees were formed like this to make furniture, ship mantels, or numerous other woodworking projects. After all it’s not unheard of to grow trees with a curve in the branch for certain wood-made parts. This practice produces what is known as “compass timbers.”

Even if that’s the reason these trees are now crooked, it still seems so odd and unexplained, simply because someone’s work was never completed. Others surmise that a snowstorm could have knocked the trees like this, freezing them into a bent position until the snow and ice melted come spring. The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to this unsolved mystery. There are plenty of trees in the area, all of which grow upright from the base without the funky curve distinct to the Crooked Forest clan. The Crooked Forest is an odd occurrence in a seemingly ordinary place. So perhaps you are wondering why none of the locals have answers to what caused the formation of the Crooked Forest.

This is likely because the local town was devastated during World War II. It wasn’t until the 1970’s, when a new power and heat plant came to the town that it began to reestablish itself. The Crooked Forest is located right near this power plant, known as Dolna Odra (‘Lower Oder’) power plant. Today tourists come to enjoy many beautiful natural sites common to this area—none of which happen to be as unexplainable as the Crooked Forest. If you are ever in Poland you can visit the 22 rows of oddly shaped trees. The Crooked Forest is located in a suburb called Gryfino in the Zachodniopomorskie province. One look at the forest and you start to imagine endless possibilities, so much history packed into the roots of these trees-if only trees could talk!

Mount Roraima (Hike to the top of the “Lost World”), South America

Mount Roraima is the highest of the Pakaraima chain of tepui plateaus in South America. First described by the English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh during his 1595 expedition, its 31-square-kilometre (12-square-mile) summit area is bounded on all sides by cliffs rising 400 metres (1,300 ft). The mountain also serves as the tripoint of Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil. Mount Roraima lies on the Guiana Shield in the southeastern corner of Venezuela's 30,000-square-kilometre (12,000-square-mile) Canaima National Park forming the highest peak of Guyana's Highland Range.

The highest point in Guyana and the highest point of the Brazilian state of Roraima lie on the plateau, but Venezuela and Brazil have higher mountains elsewhere. The triple border point is at 5°12′08″N 60°44′07″W, but the mountain's highest point is Laberintos del Norte. 

 

Many of the species found on Roraima are unique to the tepui plateaus with two local endemic plants found on Roraima summit. Plants such as pitcher plants, Campanula , and the rare Rapatea heather are commonly found on the escarpment and summit. It rains almost every day of the year. Almost the entire surface of the summit is bare sandstone, with only a few bushes and algae present. Low scanty and bristling vegetation is also found in the small, sandy marshes that intersperse the rocky summit. Most of the nutrients that are present in the soil are washed away by torrents that cascade over the edge, forming some of the highest waterfalls in the world.

There are multiple examples of unique fauna atop Mount Roraima. Oreophrynella quelchii, commonly called the Roraima Bush Toad, is a diurnal toad usually found on open rock surfaces and shrubland. It is a species of toad in the family Bufonidae and breeds by direct development. The species is currently listed as vulnerable and there is a need for increased education among tourists to make them aware of the importance of not handling these animals in the wild. Close population monitoring is also required, particularly since this species is known only from a single location. The species is protected in Monumento Natural Los Tepuyes in Venezuela, and Parque Nacional Monte Roraima in Brazil

 

Although the steep sides of the plateau make it difficult to access, it was the first recorded major tepui to be climbed: Sir Everard im Thurn walked up a forested ramp in December 1884 to scale the plateau. This is the same route hikers take today. A report by the noted South American researcher Robert Schomburgk inspired the Scottish author Arthur Conan Doyle to write his novel The Lost World about the discovery of a living prehistoric world full of dinosaurs and other primordial creatures.

The only non-technical route to the top is the Paraitepui route from Venezuela; any other approach will involve climbing gear. Mount Roraima has been climbed on a few occasions from the Guyana and Brazil sides, but as the mountain is entirely bordered on both these sides by enormous sheer cliffs that include high overhanging (negative-inclination) stretches, these are extremely difficult and technical rock climbing routes. Such climbs would also require difficult authorizations for entering restricted-access national parks in the respective countries.In Brazil the Monte Roraima National Park lies within the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Territory, and is not open to the public without permission.

The 2013 Austrian documentary Jäger des Augenblicks - Ein Abenteuer am Mount Roraima (Moment Hunters - An Adventure on Mount Roraima) shows rock climbers Kurt Albert, Holger Heuber, and Stefan Glowacz climbing to the top of Mount Roraima from the Guyana side. Similarly, in 2010 Brazilian climbers Eliseu Frechou, Fernando Leal and Márcio Bruno opened a new route on the Guyanese side, climbing to the top in 12 days of a very difficult vertical wall climb.

Rainbow River or Caño Cristales (Color of Nature), Serrania de la Macarena, Colombia

Rainbov River or Caño Cristales is a Colombian river located in the Serrania de la Macarena province of Meta. It's a tributary of the Guayabero River. The river is commonly called the "River of Five Colors" or the "Liquid Rainbow," and is even referred to as the most beautiful river in the world due to its striking colors. The bed of the river from the end of July through November is variously colored yellow, green, blue, black, and especially red, the last caused by Macarenia clavigera plants (family Podostemaceae) on the bottom of the river.

The quartzite rocks of the Serrania de la Macarena tableland formed approximately 1.2 billion years ago. They are a western extension of the Guiana Shield of Venezuela.

Caño Cristales is a fast river with many rapids and waterfalls. Often in the bed have formed small circular pits - giant's kettles, which have been formed by pebbles or chunks of harder rocks. Once one of these harder rock fragments falls into one of the cavities, it is rotated by the water current and begins to carve at the cavity wall and increases the dimensions of the pit

The Serranía de la Macarena is located on the border of three large ecosystems, each of them with high diversity of flora and fauna: the Andes, the Eastern Llanos, and the Amazon rain-forest. Plant and animal life are struggling with the lack of nutrients on the solid rock surface of the tableland and have developed diverse adaptations. The representative biome of the Serranía de La Macarena is the hydrophytic rainforest: hot, warm, and cold. The tableland is home to about 420 species of birds, 10 species of amphibians, 43 species of reptiles, and 69 primates.

Caño Cristales river has a wide variety of aquatic plants. The water of the river is extremely clear due to the lack of nutrients and small particles. Almost unique is the bright red - pink coloration of riverbed after the rainy period in the end of July - November. This color is caused by great quantities of endemic plant species Macarenia clavígera. This plant is found in some more local rivers, such as the Caño Siete Machos. These red plants adhere tightly to rocks in places where the river has faster current.

Gardens by the Bay (Largest Nature Park), Marina Bay, Singapore

Gardens by the Bay is a nature park spanning 101 hectares (250 acres) of reclaimed land in central Singapore, adjacent to the Marina Reservoir. The park consists of three waterfront gardens: Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden. 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 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 Wilkinson Eyre, 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 PM Link (project management). The park is quite popular, with 6.4 million visitors in 2014, and it had its 20 millionth visitor in November 2015

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

  

 

Bay Central Garden will act as a link between Bay  South and Bay  East  Gardens. It  stands at  15  hectares (37 acres) with a 3-kilometre (1.9 mi) waterfront promenade  that  allows  fo r scenic  walks stretching  from the city center to the east of Singapore. More developments of  Bay  Central  Garden  are coming in the next few years.

Bay East Garden

Bay East Garden is 32 hectares (79 acres) in size and it has a 2-kilometre (1.2 mi) promenade frontage bordering the Marina Reservoir. An interim park was developed at Bay East Garden in support of the 2010 Summer Youth Olympics. The first phase of the garden was opened to the public in October 2011, allowing alternative access to the Marina Barrage.

It is designed as a series of large tropical leaf-shaped gardens, each with its own specific landscaping design, character and theme. There will be five water inlets aligned with the prevailing wind direction, maximizing and extending the shoreline while allowing wind and water to penetrate the site to help cool areas of activity around them. Bay East Garden provides visitors with an unobstructed view of the city skyline. Upcoming developments of Bay East Garden will be based on the theme of water.

Bay South Garden

Bay South Garden opened to the public on 29 June 2012. It is the largest of the three gardens at 54 hectares (130 acres) and aims to showcase the best of tropical horticulture and garden artistry.

The overall concept of its master plan draws inspiration from an orchid as it is representative of the tropics and of Singapore, being the country's national flower, the Vanda 'Miss Joaquim'. The orchid takes root at the waterfront (conservatories), while the leaves (land forms), shoots (paths, roads and link ways) and secondary roots (water, energy and communication lines) then form an integrated network with blooms (theme gardens and Super trees) at key intersections.

Gardens By The Bay Attractions:

• Flower Dome - Enter a world of perpetual spring, where unique plants bloom. 
• Cloud Forest - Step into a realm high in the mountains. 
• OCBC Skyway -Take a scenic stroll, 22 metres above ground, in the very heart of nature. 
• Super tree Grove - Stand in awe of the amazing Supertrees. 
• Far East Organization Children's Garden -Explore the sights and sounds of nature’s playground. 
• Bay East Garden -Welcome to a world of serenity at bay east by the waterfront. 
• Dragonfly & Kingfisher Lakes -Immerse in the fascinating aquatic ecosystem. 
• Heritage Gardens - Bringing the history of singapore to life through the fascinating story of plants. 
• World of Plants - Explore a beautiful botanical world that’s intriguing and always full of surprises. 
• The Canyon - Come marvel at rocks of wonder at The Canyon. 
• Sun Pavilion - Be transported to some of the world’s most dynamic drylands and deserts. 
• Art Sculptures -Connecting people with the stories of plants and the world at large.

For More Details = Gardens By The Bay