Thứ Năm, 26 tháng 2, 2015

The world's most colourful landscapes

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The Wave, Arizona
The colourful sandstone rock formation in the Coyote Buttes North Area of the US state features a pattern of beautiful curves and dates back to the Jurassic age.
The Wave, Arizona The colourful sandstone rock formation in the Coyote Buttes North Area of the US state features a pattern of beautiful curves and dates back to the Jurassic age.
Picture: Fotolia/AP

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
The world's largest salt flat, formed from several prehistoric lakes, is laid out over a source of brine which contains nearly half of the world's lithium reserves.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia The world's largest salt flat, formed from several prehistoric lakes, is laid out over a source of brine which contains nearly half of the world's lithium reserves.
Picture: Fotolia/AP

Northern Lights
Elusive and ethereal, the Northern Lights are one of the great, timeless thrills of travel, a beautiful, shifting dance of nocturnal rainbows that many viewers find a humbling and spiritually uplifting experience. They occur most commonly in the Arctic region, and in recent years the chance of enjoying the spectacle has become a prime reason to fly north for a winter break, writes Telegraph Travel's Nigel Tisdall.
The Northern Lights: Trip of a Lifetime
Northern Lights Elusive and ethereal, the Northern Lights are one of the great, timeless thrills of travel, a beautiful, shifting dance of nocturnal rainbows that many viewers find a humbling and spiritually uplifting experience. They occur most commonly in the Arctic region, and in recent years the chance of enjoying the spectacle has become a prime reason to fly north for a winter break, writes Telegraph Travel's Nigel Tisdall. The Northern Lights: Trip of a Lifetime
Picture: Fotolia/AP

Caño Cristales, Colombia
This river, famous for its red-coloured underwater plants in the remote La Macarena National Park, is a good illustration of locals taking a hand in tourism. A local community, formerly controlled by FARC, a revolutionary guerrilla organisation, now manages the river and Colombian tourists are already coming to explore an area they had only previously read about in newspapers, writes Chris Moss, Telegraph Travel's Colombia expert.
Colombia travel guide
Caño Cristales, Colombia This river, famous for its red-coloured underwater plants in the remote La Macarena National Park, is a good illustration of locals taking a hand in tourism. A local community, formerly controlled by FARC, a revolutionary guerrilla organisation, now manages the river and Colombian tourists are already coming to explore an area they had only previously read about in newspapers, writes Chris Moss, Telegraph Travel's Colombia expert. Colombia travel guide
Picture: Alamy

Keukenhof, Netherlands
Set in the heart of the Netherlands’ prime bulb region south-west of Amsterdam, the Keukenhof claims to be the most beautiful spring garden in the world. Artistically presented across its 79 acres are arcs and curves, lines and strips of tulips, narcissi and hyacinths in unnaturally vivid colours, interspersed by reflective ponds and whimsical sculptures, writes Telegraph Travel's Fred Mawer.
Keukenhof, Netherlands Set in the heart of the Netherlands’ prime bulb region south-west of Amsterdam, the Keukenhof claims to be the most beautiful spring garden in the world. Artistically presented across its 79 acres are arcs and curves, lines and strips of tulips, narcissi and hyacinths in unnaturally vivid colours, interspersed by reflective ponds and whimsical sculptures, writes Telegraph Travel's Fred Mawer.
Picture: Fotolia/AP

Rice terraces, Vietnam
The rice paddies in Vietnam form one of the most striking green landscapes in the world. The country is the second largest exporter of rice in the world.
Rice terraces, Vietnam The rice paddies in Vietnam form one of the most striking green landscapes in the world. The country is the second largest exporter of rice in the world.
Picture: Fotolia/AP

Quebrada de Humahuaca, Argentina
This Unesco World Heritage site is set in the Jujuy province of north-west Argentina. The region has been populated for at least 10,000 years. The Rio Grande river runs through the valley during the summer.
Quebrada de Humahuaca, Argentina This Unesco World Heritage site is set in the Jujuy province of north-west Argentina. The region has been populated for at least 10,000 years. The Rio Grande river runs through the valley during the summer.
Picture: Alamy

Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming
Stretching 250ft by 380ft, the Grand Prismatic is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone National Park and the third largest in the world. Set in the Midway Geyser Basin, green algae forms its inner circle, followed by a yellow rim that fades to orange and red on its outermost border.
Grand Prismatic Spring, Wyoming Stretching 250ft by 380ft, the Grand Prismatic is the largest hot spring in Yellowstone National Park and the third largest in the world. Set in the Midway Geyser Basin, green algae forms its inner circle, followed by a yellow rim that fades to orange and red on its outermost border.
Picture: Fotolia/AP

Dallol, Ethiopia
At Dallol, in the Denakil Depression, Africa dips to a depth of 116m below sea level, and the temperature soars. Dallol has the highest average air temperature in the world, calculated at 34.4°C. Head across the salt plain to the Dallol volcano, the lowest on earth, if that's not hot enough for you.
Dallol, Ethiopia At Dallol, in the Denakil Depression, Africa dips to a depth of 116m below sea level, and the temperature soars. Dallol has the highest average air temperature in the world, calculated at 34.4°C. Head across the salt plain to the Dallol volcano, the lowest on earth, if that's not hot enough for you.
Picture: Alamy

Chocolate Hills, Philippines
Bohol Island's 1,200 or so Chocolate Hills are a bit like giant Maltesers melted across a huge tray – which makes this attraction a mouth-watering prospect for those legions among us with a weakness in that direction. Pleasantly unusual to behold rather than stunning, these unique mounds of limestone vary in height, up to nearly 400 feet. To savour the hills at their tastiest, go in the summer (January to May) when they’ve dried out to brown, writes Telegraph Travel's Steve Lunt.
Philippines: an introductory guide
Chocolate Hills, Philippines Bohol Island's 1,200 or so Chocolate Hills are a bit like giant Maltesers melted across a huge tray – which makes this attraction a mouth-watering prospect for those legions among us with a weakness in that direction. Pleasantly unusual to behold rather than stunning, these unique mounds of limestone vary in height, up to nearly 400 feet. To savour the hills at their tastiest, go in the summer (January to May) when they’ve dried out to brown, writes Telegraph Travel's Steve Lunt. Philippines: an introductory guide
Picture: Fotolia/AP

Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Rated as one of the seven wonders of the natural world, this World Heritage Site stretches for 2,300 kilometres (1,430 miles) along the Queensland coast – from Bundaberg to the Torres Strait. In addition to being the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem, it is also the planet’s largest protected marine area, supporting 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusc, writes Mark Chipperfiled. Telegraph Travel's Australia expert.
The Great Barrier Reef: Trip of a Lifetime
Great Barrier Reef, Australia Rated as one of the seven wonders of the natural world, this World Heritage Site stretches for 2,300 kilometres (1,430 miles) along the Queensland coast – from Bundaberg to the Torres Strait. In addition to being the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem, it is also the planet’s largest protected marine area, supporting 400 types of coral, 1,500 species of fish and 4,000 types of mollusc, writes Mark Chipperfiled. Telegraph Travel's Australia expert. The Great Barrier Reef: Trip of a Lifetime
Picture: Fotolia/AP

Mendenhall Glacier cave, Alaska
These caves have icy walls in varying depths of blue, that shimmer as meltwater seeps over them. There are several caves within the glacier, some that can be reached on a trek, others that are much harder to get to.
Alaska cruise guide
Mendenhall Glacier cave, Alaska These caves have icy walls in varying depths of blue, that shimmer as meltwater seeps over them. There are several caves within the glacier, some that can be reached on a trek, others that are much harder to get to. Alaska cruise guide
Picture: Fotolia/AP

Antelope Canyon, Arizona
The mouth of the upper Antelope Canyon is one of the most popular and accessible slot canyons in the south-western United States, writes Telegraph Travel's Jolyon Attwooll, who visited the area where Danny Boyle's 127 Hours film was shot.
Antelope Canyon, Arizona The mouth of the upper Antelope Canyon is one of the most popular and accessible slot canyons in the south-western United States, writes Telegraph Travel's Jolyon Attwooll, who visited the area where Danny Boyle's 127 Hours film was shot.
Picture: Fotolia/AP

Okama, Japan
This crater lake at the centre of Mount Zao in Honshu, the largest and most populous island of Japan, is surrounded by three mountain ranges - the Kattadake, Kumanodake and Goshikidake.
Okama, Japan This crater lake at the centre of Mount Zao in Honshu, the largest and most populous island of Japan, is surrounded by three mountain ranges - the Kattadake, Kumanodake and Goshikidake.
Picture: Alamy

Lavender fields, Provence
Bright-striped lavender fields are one of Provence's key sights in the summer, before the harvest. The ripples of colour mark out the contours of the region's gently undulating hills and are much photographed by eager tourists.
Provence travel guide
Lavender fields, Provence Bright-striped lavender fields are one of Provence's key sights in the summer, before the harvest. The ripples of colour mark out the contours of the region's gently undulating hills and are much photographed by eager tourists. Provence travel guide
Picture: Fotolia/AP

Fly Geyser, Nevada
This geyser is said to have been "accidentally" created as a result of well drillings which took place nearby in the mid-Sixties, which caused the build-up and eruption of dissolved minerals. Its colours come from thermophilic algae which thrive in high temperatures.
Fly Geyser, Nevada This geyser is said to have been "accidentally" created as a result of well drillings which took place nearby in the mid-Sixties, which caused the build-up and eruption of dissolved minerals. Its colours come from thermophilic algae which thrive in high temperatures.
Picture: Alamy

Lake Natron, Tanzania
This salt and soda lake looks like something you might expect to see on the planet Mars. A blaze of cracked magenta, the lake is deadly and calcifies any animals that have the misfortune to take a dip in its fiery shores.
Lake Natron, Tanzania This salt and soda lake looks like something you might expect to see on the planet Mars. A blaze of cracked magenta, the lake is deadly and calcifies any animals that have the misfortune to take a dip in its fiery shores
Picture: Alamy

Kelimutu craters in Flores, Indonesia
Local legend holds that at least one of these three lakes is inhabited by evil spirits and, when they can turn as dark as an inkwell, you can see why. Each crater lake changes colour and in the past they have been variously brown, red, turquoise and blue.
Kelimutu craters in Flores, Indonesia Local legend holds that at least one of these three lakes is inhabited by evil spirits and, when they can turn as dark as an inkwell, you can see why. Each crater lake changes colour and in the past they have been variously brown, red, turquoise and blue.
Picture: Alamy

Shubazakura Hill, Japan
Set in Hitsujiyama Park overlooking the city of Chichibu, around 400,000 pink moss flowers come to bloom between April and May on this hill spanning 17,600 square metres. Nearly 1,000 cherry trees also blossom in April.
Shubazakura Hill, Japan Set in Hitsujiyama Park overlooking the city of Chichibu, around 400,000 pink moss flowers come to bloom between April and May on this hill spanning 17,600 square metres. Nearly 1,000 cherry trees also blossom in April.
Picture: Alamy

Verdon Gorge, Provence
The Gorge du Verdon, France's answer to the Grand Canyon, plunges 1,000ft to the emerald-green river below. Just across the breathtaking void is La Palud-sur-Verdon, the rugged highland village in which we began our tour of the region known as La Provence Verte, writes Telegraph Travel's Ray Kershaw.
Provence travel guide
Verdon Gorge, Provence The Gorge du Verdon, France's answer to the Grand Canyon, plunges 1,000ft to the emerald-green river below. Just across the breathtaking void is La Palud-sur-Verdon, the rugged highland village in which we began our tour of the region known as La Provence Verte, writes Telegraph Travel's Ray Kershaw.
Picture: Fotolia/AP
By Telegraph

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