Patagonia, Southern Argentina.

Patagonia Located in Southern Argentina, Patagonia is one of the largest regions of the country. It can aptly be described as a haven for nature lovers and the region offers you a rare opportunity to experience pristine natural beauty.

Patagonia was once a home to extinct dinosaurs and the proof of this is spread in many places across the region. There are huge dinosaur footprints beside the lake in Villa El Chocon and several dinosaur eggs have been discovered in northern Neuquen.

Etymologically, the name Patagonia has been derived from the word ‘patagon’ that Megallan used to describe the aboriginal people that his expedition conceived to be giants. Their height of these mythical people was supposedly almost double the normal height.

Patagonia is interspersed with extended lakes and gigantic mountains along with some unique geological features and landscapes. But then this is not all, it is also a paradise for wildlife lovers. Places like Peninsula Valdes and the lake region of Bariloche boast of penguin colonies, where you can also watch whales from close quarters. These places are also famous for their glaciers. Both these places resemble European alpine resorts. The region seems to have been inhabited continuously since 10,000 BC, by various cultures and alternating waves of migration, the details of which are as yet poorly understood.

These areas are also the sites of numerous activities and sports like skiing, hiking, biking, golfing and rafting. Some of the major attractions of the place are the Perito Moreno Glacier, the Upsala Glacier and Glacier National Park. You can also visit Tierra del Fuego that is situated in the southern part of Patagonia. It is a region, which is renowned for its spectacular glaciers, ocean channels and colonies of penguins. Overall Patagonia highlights the wildlife resources of Argentina and represents an altogether different face of the country.

• There are about 5.5 million sheep in Argentinian Patagonia.
• The Welsh were the first Europeans to settle in Patagonia.
• The Chilean Patagonia region has around 5,000 rivers.

Patagonia is located at the southern part of Argentina. You can reach Patagonia by taking a flight from Santiago or Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas. Alternatively, you can take the Navimag ferry from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales, or board on a bus from Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas.


Patagonia is located in the Southern Hemisphere, thus the seasons here are entirely the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere. As several activities can be carried out here for fun and adventure throughout the year, Patagonia can be visited all year round

•        Fly Fishing from November to May
•        Kayaking and Horseback Riding from December to April
•        Trekking / Hiking and Photography from November to April
•        Bird Watching from December to March
•        Sightseeing from October to May
•        Skiing and Snowboarding from June to September

Nearby Attractions: El Chaltén, Puerto Madryn, Palaeontology Museum, Punta Tombo and Camarones.

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Corcovado, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, is the Corcovado. The Corcovado is a mountain and the name means ‘hunchback’ in Portuguese. Previously, the mountain was named Pinaculo da Tentacao, which means ‘Pinnacle of Temptation’.

The Corcovado is world famous for the huge Christ the Redeemer statue crowning its peak. From the peak tourists can enjoy sweeping panoramic views of the sea and mountains. With outstretched arms the statue of Christ the Redeemer is 98 feet high and is situated on a 26-feet pedestal. The statute weighs 1,145 tons, and it also has a chapel which can accommodate 150 people.

This monument celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2001. It was inaugurated on 12th October, 1931, on the day of Our Lady of Aparecida (national patroness). The statue was designed by Carlos Oswald and developed by the Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa. The statute took five years to complete.

Travelers can climb up the Corcovado by taking the century-old Corcovado Train or car. While travelling up by train they can experience the beautiful landscape of Rio De Janeiro. The train was inaugurated by Dom Pedro II , Emperor of Brazil, in 1884 and the whole ride takes around 20 minutes.

The ride is environment friendly as the train is electric. Part of the funds from the entrance tickets goes to the Brazilian Institute for the Preservation of Nature or IBAMA. While climbing the mountain you will pass through the largest urban forest in the world, the Tijuca Forest. It is a great place for walking and bicycle riding. In 1881 the whole forest was replanted with 60,000 trees by Major Manoel Gomes Archer.

It is impossible to imagine a trip to Rio de Janeiro without visiting Christ the Redeemer. Located on top of Corcovado's Mount, the monument is the best-known Brazilian image, famous all over the world. Every year, more than six hundred thousand people are taken to Christ the Redeemer's statue through the almost hundred-year-old Corcovado's Railway, the oldest tourist excursion in the country.

Apart from being amazed by seeing Marvelous City's most beautiful landscapes, visitors will also take an educational trip throughout Brazil's recent history. Corcovado's Train was inaugurated in 1884 by Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II and it has already transported on its cars several distinguished personalities such as popes, kings, princes, presidents, artist and scientists.

This is also an eco-tour. The train cuts through the world's largest urban forest: Tijuca's National Park, a part of the so-called Atlantic Forest, considered as an example of nature conservation.

And everyone who travels on Corcovado's Railway helps take care of the forest: the train is moved by electricity; therefore, it's not contaminating whatsoever. In addition to that, part of the ticket sale will go to fundraising for Brazilian Institute of the Environment (IBAMA) which is in charge of forest conservation issues.
 

Corcovado's Railway

Corcovado's Railway was the first of its kind to use electric energy in Brazil. It's even older than Christ's statue itself and was inaugurated in 1884 by Emperor Dom Pedro II. In fact, the train was used for four consecutive years at that time to carry parts of the monument.

Back in those days, the steam engine was regarded as a real miracle of civil engineering for covering a 3824-meter long railway in a complete steep terrain. However, in 1910, these trains were replaced by electric machines and more recently, in 1979, the company Esfeco took charge of the railway and brought safer and more modern train models from Switzerland.

Christ the Redeemer

The typical Brazilian post-card had its foundation stone placed in 1922 and was inaugurated on October 12, 1931. Christ the Redeemer, icon of Rio de Janeiro city, was chosen out of 21 nominated monuments all over the world as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World through an online and cellular phone messaging election organized by the New Seven Wonders Foundation from Switzerland. 

The prize was really deserved. From its 38-meter height – and from Corcovado's Mount's 710-meter tall, Christ the Redeemer is the symbol of faith and happiness of carioca people (native Rio de Janeiro people) and it will turn 82 years old in 2013. Since the year 2000, when it gained a new lighting system, the monument has been going through a upgrading process. The highest point of it was the installation of mechanical access in 2002, including escalators and panoramic elevators.

Tijuca Forest

Situated in the heart of the city, a few minutes away from most part of Rio's neighborhoods, Tijuca Forest is the world's largest urban forest replanted by men. Its reforestation was carried out in XIX century as a pioneer initiative in Latin America, after years of indiscriminate logging and planting, mainly for coffee production. Holding around 3200 hectares, this natural area features hundreds of flora and fauna species which can be only found within the Atlantic Forest.

Tijuca Forest owns locations and historical attractions that are worth a visit, such as: Cascatinha (Little Waterfall), Capela Mayrink (Mayrink Chapel), Mirante Excelsior (Excelsior Viewpoint), Barracão (Big Shack), Gruta Paulo and Virginia (Paulo and Virginia Cave), Lago das Fadas (Fairy's Lake), Vista Chinesa (Chinese Viewpoint) and Açude da Solidão (Solitude Weir), all of them spots often visited by entire families on the weekends.

• ·  The mountain peak is 2330-feet high and lies west of the city center.
• ·  Corcovado is a granite peak.

The Corcovado Mountain is located in central Rio De Janeiro. It is located inside the Tijuca Forest which is a national park. Antonio Carlos Jobim International Airport is the nearest airport to the Corcovado mountain. The peak can be accessed both by road and railways.


The months from September through November are the best time to visit the Corcovado mountain.

Nearby Attractions: Rio de Janeiro, Sugarloaf Mountain, Guanabara Bay, Copacabana Beach, Ipanema Beach and Tijuca Jungle.

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Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island in South Australia boasts of unspoilt and pristine beauty as the authorities did not want the natural beauty of the place to be diminished by overdevelopment and excessive tourism. It is one of the rare places in the world where civilization and wilderness co-exist in harmony and peace. The place is replete with a wide array of flora and fauna, cliffs and beaches.

As far as the fauna of the island is concerned, besides kangaroos, you can also see sea lions, penguins, dolphins and koalas here in a natural environment. The island houses the premier sea lion watching destination, the Seal Bay Conservation Park that boasts of 600 sea lions. The park allows you to see the sea lions from close quarters, you can see them idling about in the sun, nurturing pups, or heading into the ocean for fish. The island also features the Flinders Chase National Park that is located on the south-western tip of the island, and is home to a wide spectrum of flora and fauna.

Kangaroo Island’s coastline is replete with spectacular beaches and cliffs. Some of the popular beach destinations in the area are Stokes Bay, Emu Bay and Vivonne Bay. These beaches are an ideal place to rest and relax and also offer breathtaking natural beauty and scenery. Antechamber Bay on Dudley Peninsula is a site for camping and bush walking on Kangaroo Island.

While on Kangaroo Island do not miss:

·         Tasting honey made by Ligurian bees.

·         Fishing on pristine beaches.

·         Going on an eco tour or charter.

·         Surfing under the dramatic rock arc of Admirals Arch

·         Staying at the super-luxe clifftop Southern Ocean Lodge (if budget is not a constraint)

·  Kangaroo Island covers an area of 4,405 sq km.

·  It is Australia’s third largest island.

·  The island features a coastline of 540 km.

·  Prospect Hill is the highest point of Kangaroo Island.

Kangaroo Island is located near the tip of the South Australia’s Fleurieu Peninsula. The journey to Kangaroo Island from Adelaide Airport takes around four hours and the trip includes a ferry.

                                    

Kangaroo Island can be visited throughout the year. It has milder winters and cooler summers.
December through February are summer months and the wildlife takes refuge in the bush habitat to escape the summer heat. The beaches look spectacular at this time. From March through May due to the rainfall there is greenery and the waterways start flowing. The months of September to November mark rebirth. It is spring time, and a number of animals, birds and flowers are seen on the island. From June to August the island experiences winter and is the most appealing time as in the backdrop of the lush green countryside abundant wildlife can be spotted performing their natural activities.

Nearby Attractions: Fleurieu Peninsula, Adelaide, Flinders Ranges, and Eyre Peninsula.

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