Charyn Canyon National Park is a protected area in southeastern Kazakhstan, east of Almaty, centered on the dramatic Charyn Canyon carved by the Charyn River. The park covers a landscape of deep gorges, dry valleys, cliffs, and semi-desert plains at the edge of the Tian Shan. Charyn Canyon is the park's best-known feature, with layers of sedimentary rock exposed along steep walls shaped by erosion.
The Saltee Islands are a small archipelago in the Irish Sea off the coast of County Wexford, consisting of Great Saltee and Little Saltee. Great Saltee is the larger island and is known for its low grassy landscape, rocky shoreline, and extensive seabird colonies. The islands are privately owned but Great Saltee is accessible to visitors by boat during suitable conditions.
Welcome to...Tsavo National Park, Kenya: Tsavo is crucial to elephant conservation and is home to approximately 12,570 elephants, about one-third of all the elephants in Kenya.
Canyon de Chelly National Monument lies in northeastern Arizona on Navajo Nation land, surrounding a network of deep sandstone canyons near Chinle. The monument is distinctive because it is both a protected landscape and a living community, with Diné families continuing to farm, raise livestock, and maintain homes within the canyon.
Photo Credit: Photo by Andrew Turner from Wikimedia
Photo Credit: Photo by Andrew Turner from Wikimedia
Named after the Italian city of Genoa, Genovesa Island is a dormant volcano in the Galápagos Islands. Its nickname, Bird Island, stems from the large and diverse bird population including storm petrels, red-footed boobies, swallow-tailed gulls and more.
Its unique horseshoe shape is the result of the eruption of a shield volcano followed by the collapse of one side of the caldera wall. This formed Darwin Bay and its surrounding cliffs, home to many of the afore-mentioned birds. Lake Arcturus, a salt-water crater lake, lies at the center of the island.
Adventurous visitors can also climb up Prince Philip's Steps, also known as El Barranco. This steep, rocky path leads to a marvelous viewpoint at the top of 82-foot cliffs but its initial incline can be daunting.
Other Popular Destinations in Ecuador
Galapagos Islands
Off the coast of Ecuador, the iconic and biodiverse Galápagos Islands, made famous by Charles Darwin’s nineteenth-century research expeditions on HMS Beagle, beckon you. This glittering archipelago, surrounded by vivid turquoise waves, abounds with stunning beaches and spectacular wildlife, perfect for the adventurous traveler.
Guayaquil
Guayaquil, Ecuador, is a vibrant port city and a frequent starting point for cruises to the Galapagos Islands.