Amazon River – the river that not only South America but our entire planet cannot be imagined without – seems to have been explored length and breadth. But somehow every year scientists find out something about it they’ve never thought of before. We tried to gather most interesting and least-known facts about it in our feature.
It owes its name to cultural knowledge of a Spanish conquistador Francisco de Orellana. While discovering South American lands in search for legendary El Dorado, conqueror and his troops sustained vicious attack of local aborigines and most bellicose among them were women. Upon having scarcely fought back, impressed Spaniard who wanted to give the river his own name first, recalled myths of Ancient Greece where a way of life of the Amazons was described – courageous representatives of the gentle sex. It was in their honor that Orellana called the basin.Photo thesun.co.uk
In twentieth century Amazon River was involved in a dramatic competition with Nile River for the title of the world’s longest river. Calculations after calculation showed it and African giant take lead in turns. Only by the end of the century South American researchers arrived at a consensus with their Egyptian colleagues and admitted: Nile River is indeed longer but Amazon River channels far larger amounts of fresh water. The argument was over at that but the question remains if it is going to stay like this forever even more so with a tributary discovered somewhere in the Andes, the one that Amazon River seems to be starting from. It adds some kilometers to its length that already exceeds 7000…Photo intrepidtravel.com
If forests in general are “lungs of the planet” than tropics that spread along Amazon River constitute a superstation in terms of oxygen production. Just to think of it, over 20% of all air of the world is generated there. And all in all entire eco system is priceless for the planet therefore thoughtless deforestation is a global problem that needs to be solved in 21st century.
Speaking about records, we cannot but mention the fact that inside Amazon River’s basin, in the territory of Brazil, world’s largest river island, Marajó, is situated. Its territory can be compared to the territory of Switzerland.Photo tourthetropics.com
It seems like this gigantomaina penetrates everything that has to do with Amazon River. Among unique plants and animals that inhabit the area, Victoria amazonica (once called Victoria regia) water lily is especially distinctive. Just to think of it, its leaves reach 3 meters in diameter and can hold weight up to 50 kilograms.
Among animals inhabiting the river itself or neighboring territory, there are piranhas, cheetahs and anacondas however multi-colored frogs are considered most dangerous. There are several species of those, one scarier than another: venom of just one individual is enough to kill several dozens people at a time. Therefore locals wouldn’t even think of coming close to river banks without wearing extra thick boots.
Indian tribes that live in the vicinity of Amazon River are still poorly studied. All because their way of life is very reclusive and places they inhabit are hard to reach even having modern means of transport. However these people are very interesting, take at least the Marubo tribe. They have an ancient tradition of playing drums night and day in the same rhythm shifting each other. Thank to it entire tribe have their pulse synchronized and all dwellers feel like they are one. Medical specialists confirmed that heartbeat rates are almost identical even if the ones of children and elderly people are compared.Photofmtdata.ru
Amazingly, there still isn’t a single bridge build across Amazon River because not only is it long but also very wide – on some sections in periods of flood it turns into a real sea with about 80 kilometers of water between the banks! Only in 2010 a passage across one of its main tributaries Rio Negro was built. And altogether Amazon River has about 15 thousand tributaries…
In 2011 it was recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of Nature.
Kyrgyzstan is called Middle Asian Switzerland. Mountains, rivers, waterfalls, caves, cols and green meadows aren’t a speck inferior in terms of aesthetics to European ones yet travelers haven't duly appreciated this country so far. Across-the-board exploration of the land by the state’s guests has only just begun. And alongside hotels that are being swiftly erected, ordinary yurts are still offered for residence to feel local natural.
To build a settlement on flatland - is this such a hard trick to pull off? A completely different story is when land is self-willed and rock-ribbed both directly and metaphorically speaking. People have been trying to master land and have own say in in-rock urban development for centuries. But only those who succeded in finding common ground with Earth managed to create true novels in stone.
When I, as a little girl, for the first time passed my hand over trimmed bush, my palm got scratched with sharp edges of twigs and lasting arborvitae fragrance hit my nose. Mesmerized, I was not able to take my eyes away from the cones, balls and squares that surrounded me in the park of a small resort town. I felt like being inside a fairy tale, where behind the leaves I could notice a smile of the Cheshire Cat.
The Times newspaper edition recognized Ålesund as the most beautiful town in Norway. It is not without reason: wayward sea, mesmerizing northern nature, famous fjords, fabulous multi-coloured houses in the Art Nouveau style and the legendary Trolls' Path, beckon those wishing to see the stunning wild landscapes.
Lighthouse - this word evokes beautiful associations: sea adventures, storms, huge ships. And we do not want to dispel these thoughts, but rather to add fuel to the fire. There is a great amount of them in the world, they are striking by their beauty and inimitable. Today we are sharing with you the quintet of amazing lighthouses!
Each of us wants to escape rush of a city from time to time and lie low somewhere far from everything and anything. And it better be a place where one can listen to whisper of waves, feel light breeze and forever make friends with inimitably loud silence that muffles every disturbing thought…
As a child I could spend hours gazing at the sky and spying majestic flocks of birds winging their way south. For a kid this movement was a real magic. Today my bookshelf hosts almost no books about magic, though I am still excited about feathered tribes travelling in hope to land on their winter grounds.
Ice and snow has long been used by artists to create different figures and objects, and only 1960, this age-old skill became a new trend of a land art! The largest number of winter artworks is created during special festivals about which we will tell our readers.
The cold season brings not only such important things as wrapping into a reindeer sweater, drinking hot chocolate and once again reviewing Christmas comedies. Thus, sport has not been canceled yet, so OUTLLOK compiled top five ski resort bucket list for you to cheer up and get out of your winter sleep.
We are continuing our narration about the most breath-taking national reservations in Africa! There are five more primordial world areas where time hardly slowed down its running being afraid of worrying the natural harmony…
Icy island of Greenland was first discovered by the Norwegian Vikings. This fact is surprising since this nomadic tribe had enough courage to penetrate into the harsh Arctic climate. We will not delve into searching for reasons which led warlike people to edge of the earth, but supply the modern traveller with the list of core Arctic attractions with a unique Greenlandic touch.
Insanely beautiful, raw and refined Africa is exactly the place where one should plunge into a whirlpool of wild nature, taking over an unusual role of a guest in the abode of animals, not vice versa... Here you can free your mind from all artificial and imaginary stuff, feeling like a tiny speck in the vast and exciting world...
Nature and heritage are above and beyond temporary drawbacks in infrastructure and services of Kyrgyzstan, which in terms of tourism is approaching to Georgia and Armenia. Let's consider this through the example of the cosy city of Karakol.
A thing that for tourists is a reason to click photo cameras in amazement, for local citizens is a source for constant concern and even grave danger. A chain of fire-breathing volcanoes, banded with salt lakes and thermal geysers, is believed to be one of the most astonishing spots on the planet. But one thing is to have a look and leave and completely another – to constantly ‘sit on a powderkeg’.
When, if not now to conquer summits, overcome seas and climb on the rocks? People often make great efforts to enjoy the comfort through the whole lifetime. But sometimes our soul needs some romance, so OUTLOOK presents seven unique canyons.
It has been known since olden times that wine-making process is a true art that is within the power only of the ones sincerely in love with their trade. Let alone beauty of masterpieces created by skillful hands – grape gardens, scattered in various nooks of the world, that impress with grandeur and adorn this planet, ornamenting it with bright juicy colors.
At the bare mention of the word lake, our imagination pictures soothing, nostalgia-laden images of quite pond cosily embraced by the grassy hills. OUTLOOK prepared a selection of the most spectacular lakes, which will change your understanding of this work of nature. Each of them has something to surprise, whether it is unusual water shade, or frightening ability to petrify living creatures.
Ordering coffee, we usually refer to it just as Americano, Espresso or Latte... However, good coffee shops that offer really high-quality coffee, would ask you to specify a type of coffee beans and the country of origin. And at this point many visitors usually feel at deadlock.
Facet of Botswana diamonds shine brightly. But aside from gemstones every woman in the world dreams about, there are many other treasures in this African nook. Today let us have a look at this country for ourselves...
After the legendary Frenchman Jacques-Yves Cousteau and his colleagues invented and perfected self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, scuba diving firmly entered the list of the most popular, but unfortunately, unsafe hobbies. OUTLOOK warns and talks about the most extreme places to do scuba diving.
Photo thesun.co.uk
Photo intrepidtravel.com
Photo tourthetropics.com
Photo fmtdata.ru
