NEW 7 WONDERS OF NATURE
1)
AMAZON
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French
Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela
The Amazon Rainforest, also known as Amazonia, the Amazon jungle
or the Amazon Basin, encompasses seven million square kilometers (1.7 billion
acres), though the forest itself occupies some 5.5 million square kilometers
(1.4 billion acres), located within nine nations. The Amazon represents over
half of the planet's remaining rainforests and comprises the largest and most
species-rich tract of tropical rainforest in the world. The Amazon River is the
largest river in the world by volume, with a total flow greater than the top
ten rivers worldwide combined. It accounts for approximately one-fifth of the
total world river flow and has the biggest drainage basin on the planet. Not a
single bridge crosses the Amazon.
2) HALONG BAY
Viet Nam
Halong Bay is located in Quáng Ninh province, Vietnam. The bay
features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes.
The bay has a 120 kilometre long coastline and is approximately 1,553 square
kilometres in size with 1969 islets. Several of the islands are hollow, with
enormous caves, other support floating villages of fishermen, who ply the
shallow waters for 200 species of fish and 450 different kinds of mollusks.
Another specific feature of Halong Bay is the abundance of lakes inside the
limestone islands, for example, Dau Be island has six enclosed lakes. All these
island lakes occupy drowned dolines within fengcong karst.
3) IGUAZU FALLS
Argentina, Brazil
Iguazu Falls, in Iguazu River, are one of the world's largest
waterfalls. They extend over 2,700 m (nearly 2 miles) in a semi-circular
shape. Of the 275 falls that collectively make up Iguassu Falls,
"Devil's Throat" is the tallest at 80 m in height. Iguazu Falls are
on the border between the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentine province
of Misiones, and are surrounded by two National Parks (BR/ARG). Both are
subtropical rainforests that are host to hundreds of rare and endangered
species of flora and fauna.
4) JEJU ISLAND
Korea (south)
Jejudo is a volcanic island, 130 km from the southern coast of
Korea. The largest island and smallest province in Korea, the island has a
surface area of 1,846 sqkm. A central feature of Jeju is Hallasan, the tallest
mountain in South Korea and a dormant volcano, which rises 1,950 m above sea
level. 360 satellite volcanoes are around the main volcano.
5) KOMODO
Indonesia
Indonesia’s Komodo National Park includes the three larger islands
Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller ones, for a total area of
1,817 square kilometers (603 square kilometers of it land). The national park
was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon. Later, it was also dedicated
to protecting other species, including marine animals. The islands of the
national park are of volcanic origin.
6) PUERTO
PRINCESA UNDERGROUND RIVER
Philippines
The Puerto Princesa Underground River is located about 50 km north
of the city of Puerto Princesa, Palawan, Philippines. It features a limestone
karst mountain landscape with an 8.2 km. navigable underground river. A
distinguishing feature of the river is that it winds through a cave before
flowing directly into the South China Sea. It includes major formations of
stalactites and stalagmites, and several large chambers. The lower portion of
the river is subject to tidal influences. The underground river is reputed to
be the world's longest. At the mouth of the cave, a clear lagoon is framed by
ancient trees growing right to the water's edge. Monkeys, large monitor
lizards, and squirrels find their niche on the beach near the cave.
7) TABLE
MOUNTAIN
South Africa
Table Mountain is a South African icon and the only natural site
on the planet to have a constellation of stars named after it - Mensa, meaning
“the table.” The flat-topped mountain has withstood six million years of
erosion and hosts the richest, yet smallest floral kingdom on earth with over
1,470 floral species. Table Mountain boasts numerous rare and endangered
species. It is the most recognized site in Cape Town, the gateway to Africa,
owing to its unique flat-topped peaks which reach 1,086 m above sea level.SOURCE : http://www.n7w.com/
