Beautiful Sceneries of Italy

Italy is full of so many exciting things which you seldom find anywhere else in the world. There is a lot to see about the ancient Roman civilization and heritage. A part from that, there are many scenic drives and rides which you can enjoy and make your trip one of the most memorable one. Some of the best scenic drives and rides of Italy have been discussed below:

1. Strada delle Dolomiti

It is included in the best scenic drives of Europe. It has a beautiful location that is; it falls through the green mountains for 66 miles between Bolzano and Cortina. As you go along, you find numerous vistas and dozens of white bright snow-caped peaks. They are really high. 18 of these snow covered peaks have a height of more than 3000 meters. It is delight for all those people who are greatly fascinated by the snow and beauties of nature.

2.

Amalfi Coast Drive

It is a low-lane road which clings to the hillside. It is simply marvelous with forested mountains at its one side and plunging cliffs and azure blue Mediterranean on the other. You can view the place and experience the awesome beauties of nature. There are many attractions on Amalfi Coast which pull the people almost from all over the world. Public transportation is also easily available and it has got its own charm and fun.

3. Campania by Water

It is the most interesting place to enjoy around Campania. This is the only way which leads you to Capri. You can also go to Capri from helicopter but if you want to adopt land route, this is the only way. The main ports are Naples and Sorrento. Dozens of departures are made in high seasons because millions of people come to enjoy this beautiful place.

4. Mt. Etna, Sicily

People normally don’t find the volcanic mountains fascinating but this one is the most beautiful volcanic mountain of Europe with an elegant peak. You can have a thrilling and adventurous ride. A visit to Mt. Etna is simple exciting. If you ever get a chance to visit Italy, don’t miss a chance to visit this magnificent place of heaven.

These places are really awesome. They attract the people from all parts of the world, who specially come to visit Italy and this natural treasure. It makes their trips a bit more thrilling, adventurous and exciting. People really enjoy while having a visit to such scenic places.

Every city has got its own unique and peculiar characteristics which distinguish it from others. It is not like a city is more superior or beautiful, but each is equally attractive. It actually depends on the people, which place they really choose to spend their vacations but such scenic places are visited by everyone who comes to Italy.

So, if you ever go to Italy there is a lot to see and enjoy. The best thing about Italy is the rich and colorful heritage of Roman civilization. But there are many other places where you can go, enjoy the time, witness the beauty, and make your tour one of the best ones. So don’t miss to visit these scenic places of Italy.

World’s Best Places to Live

According to  “Quality of Living Survey” which was conducted by Mercer Consultings world’s top 10 places for living were ranked .The rankings are based on point index established by Mercer Consultings, Cities are compared with New York as the base city with an index score of 100.

The survey also highlights those cities with the highest personal safety ranking based on internal stability, crime, effectiveness of law enforcement, and relationships with other countries.

Here are the world’s top ten places to live:

1. Vienna, Austria

Vienna is ranked number one in 2009 survey while it was on second number in 2008. Total population of the city is 1,664,146 and country’s total population is 8,210,281. The average age of people or life expectancy is 79.5 and GDP is $325 billion.

2. Zurich, Switzerland

In 2008 Zurich was on top but this drop to second place. The population of city is 1,307,567 and country’s total population is 7,604,467. GDP is 309.9 billion and life expectancy is 80.85.

3. Geneva, Switzerland

Last year Geneva was on second place this year on third. Total population of the city is 438,177 and country’s population is 7,604,467.  According to official figures life expectancy is 80.85 and GDP of country is $309.9 billion.

4. Vancouver, Canada

In 2008 Vancouver was on 4^th place still consistent on 4^th. The population of city is 2,285,900 and country’s total population is 33,487,208 with GDP of $1.3 trillion. Life expectancy is 81.2 years.

5. Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland is largest and most populous urban area in New Zealand. In ranking its on 5^th place. The population of the city is 1,303,068 and country’s population is 4,213,418. GDP of country is $116.6 billion and life expectancy is 80.36 years.

6. Dusseldorf, Germany

Dusseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. This city is still consistent at No.6 ranking as compare to last year.  Population of the city is 581,858 and Germany’s total population is 82,329,758. GDP of the country is $2.86 trillion and life expectancy is 79.2 years.

7. Munich, Germany

Munich is the capital city of Bavaria in Germany, its located on the river Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich is ranked at 7^th place as best place in world for living. Total population of Munich is 1,300,000 with life expectancy of 79.2 years.

8. Frankfurt, Germany

Frankfurt is largest city in the German state of Hesse and 5^th largest city in Germany but in survey ranking it’s on 8^th number.

Total population of the city is 662,000 with life expectancy of 79.2 years.

9. Bern, Switzerland

Bern is capital city of Switzerland. Its population is 962,983 while country’s total population is 7,604,467. In survey ranking it is on 9^th place as best place to live. Total GDP of country is $309.9 billion and life expectancy is 80.85 years.

10. Sydney, Australia

Sydney is largest city of Australia and state capital of New South Wales. In ranking it is on 10^th place. Total population of Sydney is 4,336,374 and Australia’s population is 21,262,641. GDP of country is $800.5 billion and life expectancy is 81.6 years.

According to survey Europe again dominated the list of best living places in the world. The U.S. cities Honolulu and San Francisco hardly made into top 30.

Lake Baikal

Ice layer, which is almost 3 feet thick, always covers Lake Baikal during winters and till beginning of March that remains same.  Lake Baikal is 400 mile long and 5,000 foot deep. But in next two months the sun will get brighter and the ice on lake will slowly start melting with a process punctuated by cracking sounds not unlike the sharp report of guns.

Sacred Lake

According to Russians this “Sacred Lake” is 25 millions years old and this is the oldest lake on the planet. It is also the deepest lake, holding more water than all of North America’s Great Lakes combined. The aquatic life of the lake comprises more than 1,500 animal species and 1,000 plant species, two third of which are found in this lake only. A marine scientist Andy Rechnitzer says that Baikal is biologically more diverse than other lakes in the world that’s because of its oxygen rich water, which circulates from its surface to its deepest depths, a process likely related to geothermal vents.

Animal Habitat in Lake Baikal

The most interesting animal in the lake is Baikal seal or nurpa, the world’s only fresh water seal.  Nurpas use their sharp claws to carve dens for their families while ice is still forming. It’s easy to find their dens, only look for air bubbles trapped in the ice after being exhaled by nurpas.  The small breathing holes can be seen also that drifted by seals.

Diving in Lake Baikal

Diving in Lake Baikal is totally different than diving in other warms waters. Here for diving a crewmember must use a small metal saw to cut a small hole in the ice. After that a circular manhole size opening is cut with a chain saw, and long poles are used to push the round slab under the ice, though the water is warmer than the air (36 degree F) but still its so much cold for scuba diving.  That’s why every 30 seconds or so divers must tug on safety lines attached to their wrists to let the crew above knows that they are all right.

Seal’s Den

The seal’s den is very complicated ice carving that is having tunnels and an igloo like canopy that function as an air pocket. Naturally nurpas are shy, and pups resting on a bunk bed of ice quickly dive into the water when startled by a visitor.

Weather Conditions

The weather and water conditions in June are much different. Though the water temperature is same as it is in spring but the air temperature is usually in the 60s. Anyhow visibility underwater is 200 feet that’s many time greater than most lakes. The “ Great vis” at that time of the year is caused by the water’s relative lack of minerals and by countless small crustaceans eating the algae, plankton, and bacteria that can cloud fresh water and salt water alike. However clarity don’t last long.

Despite from that only after few minutes of entering water they face such furious cold that pains their ears, face and fingers but divers still exploring the shallows of Baikal. They can see clouds and sky from 50 feet depth, looking down the sea fields of fluffy green algae.

Underwater Habitat in Lake Baikal

The greens spires of three-foot tall candelabra sponges poke through the algae. Such large sponges which get their color from algae living symbiotically n their tissues are not rare in saltwater but in other freshwater lakes they have no parallel. Basically sponges are homes for amphipods, alien looking shrimp like creatures that are as small as specks or as large as human thumbs. There are 240 species of them in the waters of Lake Baikal.

Sculpins always hide in the algae and sponges, bottom dwelling fish that are masters of camouflage that can change their body colors and appearance according to their surroundings. Like most cold-water species these ancient fish don’t move fast because it’s too cold in the lake to make quick moves. The lake’s 40 species of Sculpins comprising 80 percent of Baikal’s fish biomass rely on camouflage for protection against larger fish.

Northern Part of the Lake

Near the northern part of the lake at a depth of approximately 1,350 feet a geothermal vent provides warmth for the community of sponges, snails, worms, and fish living in the pitch-dark environment. The existence of this vent confirms that Baikal is a place where continental masses are being pulled apart. The photographer Emory Kristof who visited this site for the National Geographic Society says that the communities of life in lake Baikal normally resembles organisms found in an ocean so this similarity of organisms gives weight to the theory that Baikal is an ocean in the making.

Omul Fish

Omul a rarely seen creature and delicious fish that is found only in this lake but this fish is having a small population in the lake. Its scarcity indicates Baikal is ecologically out of balance, that’s because of the destructive effects of industrial development and logging nearby.

Vadim Fialkov of the Lake Baikal Limnological Institute describes that local environmental groups had put pressure on the government to reduce the amount of effluents that are dumped into the lake. And with passage of time and if got some luck we will get Baikal back to its original condition. To help the effort, UNESCO had recommended that the lake and its watershed be designated a World Heritage Site.