Fifth stop. Large Asian continent. I will include it here the Russian Federation and Israel.
Angkor wat
is an enormous Buddhist temple complex in Cambodia. It is the largest religious monument in the world by the size of the area measuring 162.6 hectares (1.626 km2; 402 acres). Primarily built, on the beginning of 12th century, as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, it was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century. Its name literally translates to “temple city” in the Khmer language of the region. Its testimonial to the fact, that it was built by Emperor Suryavarman II, (1113 to 1150), to serve as the official temple, and at the same time the political center of his empire. Large wall separates the sacred temple ground, from the security moat, that is surrounding the entire place. The temple itself, is made up of three galleries (a corridors running along the length of the temple) with a centrally located sanctuary, commemorated by five stone towers. The five stone towers are meant to mimic the five mountain ranges of Mt. Meru—the mythical home of the gods, for both Hindus and Buddhists.
Borobudur
It is a Mahayana Buddhist (one of 2 main branches of Buddhism) temple founded in 9th-century temple, not far from the town of Muntilan, in Central Java, Indonesia. It is the world’s largest Buddhist temple. The size of the construction is slightly intimidating, the total surface takes over 26,910 square feet (123 square meters). The temple is created from nine assembled platforms, six square and three circular, topped by a central dome. It is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 Buddha statues. The central dome is surrounded by 72 Buddha statues, each seated inside a perforated stupa (bell shaped; dome shaped; mount shaped place for meditation).
Taj Mahal, India
Build on the southern bank of the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628 to 1658) to be the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. An ivory-white marble mausoleum it also houses the tomb of Shah Jahan himself. The burial place is the centerpiece of a 42-acre (17-hectare) complex, that is as well includes a mosque and a guest house and is set in formal gardens bordered on three sides and protected by wall. It took 10 years to finish the construction on the site, and in 2020 (going by the amount of money spend, and the inflation rates) it would cost nearly 1 Billion dollars, to create this masterpiece. The Taj Mahal is the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage.
Great Wall of China
It is not one seamless construction, but in fact any smaller (pieces) fragments joined together, to created uniform structure. It built across the historical northern borders of ancient Chinese states and Imperial China as protection against attacks of various nomadic groups. Several first fortifications were built from as early as the 7th century BC. The First Emperor of China Qin Shi Huang (220–206 BC), joined carefully chosen portions of the wall. Next Emperors to follow, were connecting more parts, maintaining the present ones, at the same time. The well-known, by historians, are the sections of the wall built by the Ming dynasty (1368–1644). It was officially finished in 1878. The wall is made of cement, rocks, bricks, and powdered dirt. Thanks to modern scientific techniques, and archaeological work, it is believed that the full extend of The Great measures astonishing 13.71 mile (21,196 kilometers) with all its branches, trenches, and natural defensive barriers such as hills and rivers. Till this day, it is the longest structure humans have ever built.
Babylon
In modern day Iraq, there are waste ruins of, what was in antiquity, one of the greatest empires – Babylon. The city built along both banks of the Euphrates river, and was dependent on the rain season, and river overflowing, to water the crops. The earliest, known to historians, reference of Babylon (as a small village/town) can be found on a clay tablet from the Akkadian Empire, from the period of the reign of Sargon of Akkad (2334–2279 BC). It is not completely clear, if there was one continuous or two separate Babylonian Empires, following each other footsteps. These two empires achieved regional dominance between the 19th and 15th centuries BC, and again between the 7th and 6th centuries BC. It is highly likely that Babylon was the largest city in the world (around 1770 – c. 1670 BC), and once more (around 612 – c. 320 BC). It was possibly the first city to reach a population above 200,000, with the for the highest size of its area array from 890 to 900 hectares (2,200 acres). Unfortunately, not much is left from the ancient mega city, and not much survived till our times. The remains of the city are about 53 miles (85 kilometers) south of Baghdad. They include a large tell of broken mud-brick buildings and debris.
Petra
is a historic city in southern Jordan, located in the opening, fully surrounded by mountain. It is recognizable for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. It is believed that Nabataeans (nomadic Arabs) tribes might have settled here, and the site in what would become the capital as early as the 4th century BC. They were exceptionally skillful in harvesting rainwater, cultivation, and stone carving. Petra thrived in the 1st century AD, when its most famous Al-Khazneh structure (believed to be the mausoleum king Aretas IV) – was constructed. Its population at the highest point could reach 20,000 inhabitants. Petra is often called the “Rose City” due to the color of the stone from which it is carved. The main structures are: Al-Khazneh (“the Treasury”); Petra Pool and Garden Complex; Great Temple; Ad – Deir.
Komodo National Park
Located in Indonesia. The wildlife park was created in 1980 to protect one extremally special animal. Of course, I am talking about Komodo dragon! The world largest lizard! The park takes over three larger islands Komodo, Padar and Rinca, and 26 smaller ones, the total protected area reaches 670 square miles (1,733 square kilometers, with 233 square miles (603 square kilometers) being the land surface. There is something distinctly prehistoric about the way a Komodo dragon looks and moves: up to 10 feet in length and more than 300 pounds, Komodo dragons are no doubt, the heaviest lizards on Earth. They have long, flat heads with rounded noses, scaly skin, arched legs, and huge, muscular tails. You can feel intimidated, by the primal, dinosaur look. the hot and dry climate of the park, with savannah vegetation, makes it a good habitat for the dragon and other animals. Large coral reefs (especially on the north-east coast) added feature to the park, together with rich marine life: whale sharks, ocean sunfish, manta rays, eagle rays, pygmy seahorse, false pipefish, clown frogfish, nudibranchs, blue-ringed octopus, sponges, tunicates.
Tubbataha Reef
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This natural Park lies in the middle of the Sulu Sea, about 31 miles (50kilometers) the most western province of the Philippines. The marine life and bird sanctuary involve around of two huge atolls (North Atoll and South Atoll) and the much smaller Jessie Beazley Reef, stretching over a total area of 374.6 square miles (97,030 hectares). The Tubbataha Reef park is recognized as a center of marine biodiversity. It contains 75% of the world known coral species, 40% of the world’s reef fish species. Over 1000 species of see life, lives around the reef with many of them to be considered as endangered. Manta rays, lionfish, sea turtles, clownfish, and sharks, Giant trevally (jacks), hammerhead sharks, barracudas, manta rays, palm-sized Moorish idols, napoleon wrasse, parrotfish, and moray eels live in the sanctuary. There have been some reports of sightings of whale sharks and tiger sharks. The reefs also serve as a nesting ground for Hawksbill and Green sea turtles.
Old city of Jerusalem and its walls
Surrounded by ancient walls, the Old City of Jerusalem, located in modern day Israel. Ancient city, of an extraordinary meaning, to the three largest religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Muslim). With its complicated geopolitical history, it witnesses many conflicts and conquests. The Old City located in the heart of modern Jerusalem. Divided into four parts: Jewish Quarter, Armenian Quarter, Muslim Quarter and Moroccan Quarter. The outside wall, enclosing the precious city, has 8 gates: Zion, Dung, Marcy, Damascus, Lion’s, Herod’s, New Gate, Jaffa, that is leads to many historical buildings and places (described in bible, and din other scripts). It is a home to holy sites such as: The Wailing Wall – The Kotel (The Western Wall – remnants of the second temple of Jerusalem), the Kotel tunnels, Dome of the Rock, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Via Dolorosa, Tower of Davis (Citadel), Old City Market (Arab Souq), and so much more.
Cappadocia
Land in modern day Turkey, with the earliest recording of the name, goes back to late 6th century BC. Herodotus, in his History book, mention Cappadocians as well. Long, and complicated history, through Persian, Greeks, Babylonian conquests, left a mark on the identity and traditions. The Cappadocia region which lays in the middle of the historic Silk Road trading route. The Hittites, the Persians, Alexander the Great, the Romans, the Byzantines, and the Ottomans all laid claim to the land at one time or another. Except historical value, there is one part, geological one, especially worth mentioning and protecting (hence UNESCO stepped in). those are so called “Fairy chimneys” rock formations. They are looking kind of like cone shaped mushrooms, growing up from the ground, creating almost a magical landscape. They were created, by thousands of years of geological processes, after volcanic eruptions. The size of the chimneys can range from 6ft (average human size) to even 10 story building. Göreme, is a place where the nature meets human ingenuity. The religious groups living there, started to build dwellings underground, as well as carving the chimneys, an make a chambers in them. That was well documented by 842 Villages and small towns were developed in this way, with an underground churches were being richly decorated with colored paintings.
Samarkand (Samarqand)
It is a place on the Crossroads of Cultures in modern day Uzbekistan. The ancient city, located in the route of famous Sil Road, connecting merchants from Far China with the Mediterranean. Samarqand is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Central Asia. There is evidence of human activity around the city from the late Paleolithic Era (Stone Age). Modern day Samarkand is divided into two parts: the old city, and the new city. The second one was established during the days of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union, and it includes administrative buildings, cultural centers, and educational institutions. The old city includes historical monuments, shops, and old private houses; the most know of them is Ragistan. The city main public square, with 3 Madrasahs (building of any of educational, or cultural means) constructed in a proximity to the city square. An mausoleums: Ruhabad, Khoja Daniyar, Bibi Khanum, Gure Amir (Shrine of Timur and Timurids) and many more officials and religious buildings.
Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park
protected area in north-central Vietnam near the Hin Namno Reserve in Laos, encloses the oldest karst mountains (type of landscape where the vanishing of the bedrock has created sinkholes, sinking streams, caves, springs, and other characteristic features. Karst is associated with soluble (material that can be dissolved, melted) rock types such as limestone, marble, and gypsum) in Asia, formed approximately 400 million years ago. Pierced with hundreds of cave systems (more than 300), many of extraordinary scale and length – and spectacular underground rivers. The park includes the world’s largest cave – Hang Son Doong. It is more than 3.1 mile (5 kilometers) long, 660 feet (200 meters) high and 490 feet (150 meters) wide. It is interrupted by 2 large dolines (sinkholes), which are areas where the ceiling of the cave has collapsed. They allow sunlight to enter sections of the cave, resulting in the growth of trees as well as other vegetation.
Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras
The site is in fact five locations, close to each other, creating a group, of visually stunning place, and they are: the Batad Rice Terraces, Bangaan Rice Terraces (both in Banaue), Mayoyao Rice Terraces (in Mayoyao), Hungduan Rice Terraces (in Hungduan) and Nagacadan Rice Terraces (in Kiangan). They are located on different heights. The stone or mud walls are carefully careful carved and build in, onto the natural contours of hills and mountains to create the fields. They are intricately connected with creation of elaborate irrigation systems, harvesting water from the forests of the mountain tops, and use it to irrigate the flat rice fields. The Rice terrace are the perfect example of human advanced thinking, and the remarkable ability of human culture to adapt to new social roles and needs, as well as varies climate pressures.
Potala Palace
Literally meaning “Pure Land” or “High Heavenly Realm”, It a perfect example of the dzong fortress, which is characteristic type of fortification architecture found mainly in Bhutan and Tibet. The architecture is colossal in style with towering outer walls surrounding a complex of courtyards, temples, administrative offices, and monks’ accommodation.; it is found in the city of Lhasa, in Tibet. The palace is situated, 425 feet (130 meters) above the Lhasa River valley, on the crest of Mar-po-ri (Red Mountain) and soars up considerably from its rocky base. Potrang Karpo (completed in 1648; White Palace) was the main residence of the Dalai Lama, and even one time once served as the headquarters of the Tibetan government. From the middle of the 18th century, it was being used as a winter palace. Potrang Marpo (completed in 1694; Red Palace) is a home of several chapels, sacred statues, and the tombs of eight Dalai Lamas. More than 200,000 statues and 10,000 altars are located within the sacred complex. The structure measures 1300 feet (400 meters) east-west and 1150 feet (350 meters) north-south. Tilting, exterior stone walls, on average 9.8 feet (3 meters) thick at the top, whooping 16 feet (5 meters) thick at the base. The strengthen them against earthquakes, the technique of using copper poured into the foundations, was employed. Thirteen stories, including over 1,000 rooms. Till this day, it continues to be a major pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists.
Ellora Caves
largest rock-cut monastery-temple cave complexes in the world, located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, in India. They are showcasing Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain (Jain Dharma, is an ancient Indian religion) shrines, and artwork, created somewhere in the years 600–1000 CE period. There are more than 100 caves at the location, all exhumed from the basalt cliffs in the Charanandri Hills. 34 of them, are open to visitors. 12 of them are dedicated to Buddhist mythology (caves 1–12), 17 of them are dedicated to Hindu deities (caves 13–29) and 5 are dedicated to Jain beliefs (caves 30–34). Each of the religious caves complex, are representing deities, mythologies, and monasteries of each religion. They were built near another, to showcase the religious harmony that existed in ancient India. Financing for the construction of the monuments was provided by royals, merchants, and the wealthiest group of the region. Cave 16 features the largest single monolithic rock excavation in the world, the Kailash temple, a chariot shaped monument dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Lena Pillars (Lenskiye Stolby)
It is a breathtaking geological formation and nature park, (at the same time) with the same name located on the banks of the Lena River in Yakutia, (with its main city – Yakutsk, recognizes as world coldest city) in far eastern Siberia, which is the coldest part of Russia. This amazing, geological formation stretches over about 155 miles (250 kilometers) of the right bank, of Lena River. The pillars are 490–980 feet (150–300 meters) high and were formed in some of the Cambrian period (541 million years ago to 485.4 million years ago).
Mount Fiji
located on the island of Honshū (one of the four Japanese islands), is the highest mountain in Japan. It is the second-highest volcano situated on the Asian island (right after Mount Kerinci on Sumatra), and seventh-highest, volcano mountain, on the planet Earth, located on the island. The Mount Fiji is standing tall at 12,389,2 feet (3,776.24 meters). It is a n active volcano, with the last recorded eruption recorded in 1707/1708. It is a definite symbol of Japan, and it is present on almost every postcard. Fiji stands 62 miles (100 kilometers) from Tokyo, and on the clear, sunny day, is fully visible from the distance. Its peak is covered in snow, for a few months of the year, only adding to its look.
Volcanoes of Kamchatka
There are more than 300 volcanoes on the Kamchatka peninsula, in Eastern Russia. 29 of them are still active. But Kamchatka’s volcanoes are remarkable for more than their numbers. The high concentration of volcanos (active and non-active), it is truly natural phenomenon. The highest volcano, and the largest active volcano in the Northern Hemisphere, at the same time, is Klyuchevskaya Sopka, reaching 15.584 feet (4,750 meters) tall. There is one volcano, that is gained recognition, as the most perfectly looking one: symmetrically shaped, and the true model picture of beauty – Kronotsky. The smaller volcanoes range in height from: 8372 feet (2552 meters) – Ostry volcano to 3166 (965meters) – Fedotych volcano.
HaLong Bay
The name translates to “descending dragon”. The picturesque location in Vietnam, is immensely popular tourist attractions. The bay includes thousands of limestone karsts (the same limestone formations as in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park), stretching over an area of around 600 square miles (1,553 square kilometers), and including about 2,000 islets, most of which are limestone. The central part of the bay has an area of 129 square miles (334 square kilometers) with a high density of 775 islets. The isles come in various shapes and sizes. Large number of them monolithic islands each topped with thick jungle vegetation, rising spectacularly from the ocean. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves. Hang Dau Go (Wooden Stakes cave) is the largest grotto in the Ha Long area. A population of around 1,600 people live on Hạ Long Bay in four fishing villages: Cua Van, Ba Hang, Cong Tau and Vong Vieng in Hung Thang ward, Ha Long city. They live on the unique floating houses and are surviving thanks to fishing the shallow waters for 200 species of fish and 450 different kinds of mollusks. Various of the islands have obtained their names, due to the shapes they resemble: Voi Islet (elephant), Ga Choi Islet (fighting cock), Khi Islet (monkey), and Mai Nha Islet (roof). The islands are rich in fauna and flora.
Forbidden City
is a palace complex in the city of Beijing, in China. With the total area of 7,800,000 square feet (720,000 square meters), it is the largest palace in the world still in existence. It lies at the center of the Imperial City of Beijing. According to the history, the city was built around the palace complex. It is surrounded by numerous magnificent gardens and temples including Zhongshan Park, the sacrificial Imperial Ancestral Temple, Beihai Park, and Jingshan Park. Built between 1406 and 1420, the complex has the stunning number of 980 buildings, allegedly including 9,999 rooms and covering 72 hectares (over 180 acres). The palace, that is in modern days is a home to Palace Museum, it was once a winter residence of the Emperor of China from the Ming to Qing dynasty (between 1420 and 1924). The complex, served as the home of Chinese emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political center of the Chinese government for almost 500 years. The name “Forbidden” derived from Chinese name “Zijin Cheng” and describes mythologically, the realm of the Celestial Emperor and his family, and The Forbidden City, as the residence of the terrestrial emperor, was its earthly counterpart. The second explanation is that no one could enter or leave the palace without the emperor’s permission, because it was forbidden.
Mogao Caves
also known as the “Thousand Buddha Grottoe” s or “Caves of the Thousand Buddhas”. It is formed system of 500 temples. They are in the desert, about 16 miles (25 kilometers) south-east of the town of Dunhuang in north western China. In 14th century, that place become more popular, and well know, due to busy desert crossroads on the caravan routes of the Silk Road linking China and the West. Traders, merchants, and travelers, were passing through, stopping in their travels, to rest, refuel, and give thanks for safe arrival here, and praying for protections on the next part of the journey. The caves are a home to the finest examples of Buddhist art, that it was created during a period of 1,000 years. The first caves were dug out in AD 366 as places of Buddhist meditation and worship. According to the records states that in 366 monks carved the first caves into the cliff stretching about 1 mile along the Daquan River. The Mogao Caves are the best known of the Chinese Buddhist grottoes and, along with Longmen Grottoes and Yungang Grottoes, are one of the three famous ancient Buddhist sculptural sites of China.
Waah