Page 12 - Off The Tourist Trail - 1000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives (Part 2 of 2)

180 44 MORE BREATHTAKING NATURAL WONDERS

NATURAL WONDERS

ABOVE Aerial view of the dazzling sapphire lakes at Jiuzhai Gou, China

JIUZHAI GOU LAKES, SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA The lush mountainous area of AGGTELEK CAVES, HUNGARY These ARCHES NATIONAL PARK, UTAH, USA
Jiuzhai Gou is an earthly paradise known for its 90-plus crystal-clear lakes that sparkle vast underground caves protect record- One of nature’s seemingly random acts was
with greens and blues ranging from sapphire to jade, and for its generously gushing sized stalactites and stalagmites, as well to erode the rich sandstone of the high
waterfalls. Divided into three main valleys, the preserve is home to diverse vegetation, as snails, beetles, worms, and crabs. Just desert in Utah into arches – around 2,000
including bamboo forests that sustain the endangered giant panda population. Fall is a three of the hundreds of caves are open of them. You may want a guide in this
good time to visit, when the leaves burn fiery shades of yellow, gold, and red. The area is to the public, and the longest runs for dramatic landscape, where temperatures
not easy to reach – it is 10 hours by road from Chengdu, the nearest big town. 13 miles (21 km) into nearby Slovenia. can fluctuate alarmingly in 24 hours.

BAKO NATIONAL PARK, SARAWAK, BEARA PENINSULA, IRELAND In the BLUE LAGOON, ICELAND This must be the ultimate bathing experience – and it could
MALAYSIA Bearded pigs, mouse deer, far southwest of Ireland, this toe of land do you good, too. A steaming blue pool at a cozy 105°F (40°C), this surreal open-air bath,
flying lemurs, long-nosed monkeys, and dipping into the Atlantic is as wild and located 24 miles (39 km) from Reykjavík, is warm enough to swim in at any time of year.
hairy-nosed otters are just some of the wonderful as the country gets. The great As clean as it is clear, the salt water is run-off from the neighboring power station, which
fabulous animals you’re likely to spot rocky peninsula, between Kenmare and pumps it up from 1 mile (1.5 km) below the ground, where it is piping hot, harnesses its
on the jungle trails of Bako, the jewel of Bantry bays, offers some spectacular heat and then releases it into the lagoon, where it gradually cools. The water is said to
Borneo’s national parks. scenery and wonderful walking country. be good for your skin, and health and beauty treatments are on hand.

BUCKSKIN GULCH, UTAH, USA VALLE DE LA LUNA, CHILE Upon arrival COLCA CANYON, PERU Standing on the
Slot canyons are characterized by their in the Atacama Desert’s Valle de la Luna, edge of this mighty canyon, which is twice
narrow openings and great depth, and you would be forgiven for thinking you had as deep as the Grand Canyon, you’ll see
nowhere in the world are they as deep landed on the moon. Cavernous valleys magnificent condors catching thermals
– or as long – as at Buckskin Gulch. The and steep ridges sculpted entirely by that rise from the valley floor. Ancient
sunless depths of this 15-mile (25-km) nature cover a spectrum of changing hues. terraces on the canyon’s sloping sides
canyon can be walked, although some For somewhere so uninhabitable, there’s maintain communities that farmed here
people like to go canyoneering too. The a surprising amount to do, from trekking before the Incas arrived. A good way to
gulch is a tributary of the Paria River, to sand-boarding, and a visit at sunset explore this magical place is on a white-
which flows into the Colorado River. rewards you with breathtaking views. water rafting trip of the Río Colca.

CURONIAN SPIT, LITHUANIA Europe’s KAA-IYA DEL GRAN CHACO NATIONAL FISH RIVER CANYON, NAMIBIA This
largest beach stretches for nearly 62 PARK, BOLIVIA This tropical forest gets magnificent canyon, one of the largest in
miles (100 km) along the Baltic Sea, and so little rain that many of its animals have the world, was created by the wear and
has the highest dunes in the northern adapted so that they can go for days tear of the river and the collapse of the
hemisphere. If you visit on a sunny day, without water: deer and tapirs get their valley bottom through a shift in the earth’s
you may well think you have arrived in liquid from cacti, while big cats rely on crust. The best way to get to know it is on
the middle of an Arabian desert. The fluids from their prey. The forest is also a five-day hiking trail, but you must come
sand bar encloses an enormous lagoon thought to be home to around 1,000 prepared, as there are no facilities. Try to
and has a fragile ecosystem, so obey the jaguars – the largest number in any visit in winter (May–Sep), when the river is
local rules to avoid causing erosion. protected area in the world. less torrential than in the summer months.

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