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Europe
The Ural Mountains, the Ural
Sea and the Caspian Sea divide Europe from Asia. Albania has both wild
mountainous areas and a delightful Atlantic coastline offering much to its
visitors. Andorra is a tiny country in the eastern Pyrenees sandwiched in
between France and Spain consisting of a narrow valleys and high mountains.
Austria is one of the premier skiing destinations in the world with breathtaking
mountain scenery. Belarus, which shares a border with Russia, has picturesque
villages ancient castles and monuments and thousands of lakes and forests. The
small country of Belgium has two main regions. In the Flemish region of the
north, the people are mostly Flemish-speaking, while in the southern region of
the Walloon, the people mainly speak French. Bosnia And Herzegovinia is a
country of winding aqua rivers and woodland and mountain scenes.
Breathtaking mountains and
golden beaches bring millions of tourists to Bulgaria each year. The coastline
of Croatia extends for more than 1000 km along the Mediterranean Sea. The
country also consists of more than 1000 islands. The island of Cyprus, also
known as Aphrodite's Isle, is the site of many World Heritage Sites, pine clad
mountains and stunning beaches. Along with the historic city of Prague and spa
towns, the Czech Republic has 11 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Denmark is one of the
smallest countries in Europe and has many picturesque villages, historic castles
and monuments and a coastline that includes many secluded coves and bays. You
can still see the Sami people herding reindeer in the Lapland region of northern
Finland or visit the Swedish speaking wooden towns of the south. Iceland is a
large island in the North Atlantic that is quite close to the Artic Circle. The
coastline is indented with valleys and fjords and there are many thermal
springs. Luxembourg has the highest population of foreigners than any other
country in Europe and this contributes to its cosmopolitan ambiance. Most of the
Netherlands is flat country dotted with windmills and tulips. Norway is the land
of the fjords and the midnight sun in its location above the Artic Circle. As a
neighbour to Norway, Sweden shares much of the same scenic beauty, but much of
the country is forested and dotted with thousands of lakes.
Ireland is a "green" country
where the legends of fairies and leprechauns are woven in which the prehistoric
sites that abound in the countryside. The northern part of the island, known as
Northern Ireland is a constituency of Britain. The Channel Islands are a group
of islands in the English Channel off the French coats of Normandy. The United Kingdom has the largest cultural diversity of any of the countries in Europe. It
is made up of the countries of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Wales is an historic country with fairytale castles, dramatic mountains and
sweeping stretches of beaches along the coast. Scotland has long been associated
with the Loch Ness Monster, but it is a land of exquisite scenic beauty in its
lochs, glens and mountains.
Estonia, the most northerly
of the three former Soviet Baltic states, is a sparsely populated country, half
of which is covered by forests. Latvia, a small country on the Baltic Sea, is
alive with ancient history and traditions as well as breathtaking scenery in its
lakes, rivers and forests. France is a multifaceted land with a myriad of
attractions and cultures from the boulevards of Paris to the skiing areas of the
Alps. Germany is a country of remarkable diversity, due in part to its being a
conglomeration of independent states before it unification in the 19th
century. Tucked in between Switzerland and Austria, Liechtenstein is a peaceful,
beautiful country with stunning mountain ranges and valleys. Macedonia is a
mountainous country located right in the heart of the Balkans with beautiful
valleys and lakes. Poland is located in the center of Europe with lowlands,
uplands and mountainous areas.
The Rock of Gibraltar contains more than 140 caves and as such is a paradise for adventurers from
sailing and diving to bird watching. It is known as the place where Europe meets
Africa. Portugal enjoys an idyllic climate and has picture postcard settings and
villages. Italy is a boot shaped peninsula that juts out into the Mediterranean.
From the beaches of Tuscany to the medieval hill villages, it is not hard to
experience the unique culture of the country. Greece is known as the birthplace
of civilization, which is evident in the ancient architecture that still
remains. Malta consists of five islands - Malta, Gozo, Comino, Comminotto and
Filfla - all of which are located on the Mediterranean. Spain shares a border
with Gibraltar and France, but most of the country lies along the shores of the
Mediterranean Sea.
Hungary is a small European
country renowned for its ability to retain its traditional language and culture.
It has many beautiful landscapes and thermal springs. Lithuania is a land of
castles where the landscape changes from dense forest to cast plains. Moldova is
a landlocked European country that doesn't see many tourists mainly because its
charms are not widely known outside the region. With its beautiful climate,
golden beaches and renowned casinos, it is little wonder that Monaco is such a
popular tourist destination. Romania is the largest of the Balkan States and is
the site of the largest wetland in Europe. Switzerland, though small, is a
country renowned for the high quality of life its residents enjoy. It is also
famous for its breathtaking mountains and skiing resorts.
Once part of the Soviet
Union, The Russian Federation is the largest country in the world with a
landscape that is diverse and challenging. The Ukraine is one of the largest and
most varied countries of Europe with the stunning images of the Black Sea, the
Carpathian Mountains and the Central Plains. Often referred to as a miniature
Europe, Slovenia is one of the smallest countries on the continent tucked in
between the Alps and the Mediterranean Sea. San Marino measures only 24 square
miles, but every sight is a dazzling one from the mountain peaks to the lush
valleys. Lying adjacent to the Czech Republic, Slovakia is a land of canyons,
caves and meadows, all of which stand in the shadows of the beautiful Tatra
Mountains.
North America
North America takes up the
northern half of the Western Hemisphere. Canada is the northernmost country on
the continent bordered by the Atlantic, Pacific and Artic Oceans, The United States is its nearest neighbour, a vast country with 50 states.
No matter where you travel
in Belize, you will see wondrous archaeological sites and wildlife sanctuaries as
well as have opportunities to engage in numerous outdoor activities. Costa Rica
is an island with a variety of landscapes and cultural diversity, which when
combined with the warm climate makes it an exciting place to visit. Most of the
country of El Salvador is volcanic with many archaeological treasures dating
back to the Mayan people. Guatemala, too, has a long and varied Mayan culture
with many of the people in the remote villages still wearing the traditional
dress. Honduras is a country of lowlands and fertile valleys and a history long
acquainted with pirates. Although there is no lack of tourist attractions in
Nicaragua, much of the country has yet to be discovered by tourists with many of
the locations lying off the beaten track. Panama lies at the center of the world
forming an land bridge between North and South America.
Often called the Spice
Islands, Grenada is a small island in the Caribbean Sea and is one of the
smallest independent nations in the Western World. Guadeloupe is an island in
the Caribbean Sea, but is part of France. Another island in the Caribbean is
Puerto Rico, which is a constituency of the United States.
South America
South America is a large
continent that forms the southern half of the Western Hemisphere. Argentina
takes up a significant portion of the southern part of the continent and is a
land with diverse terrains, including the Andes Mountains. Bolivia is a country
marked by high mountain peaks and breathtaking lakes and rivers. Often called
the giant of South America, Brazil consists of dazzling beaches, colonial towns
and lush rainforests. It is the fifth largest country in the world. Chile is a
narrow strip of land along the Pacific coast of the continent.
Colombia has a Caribbean
coastline, with large mountain lakes and the Amazon River basin. Ecuador
straddles the equator and has parts of the country in the Northern and Southern
hemispheres. French Guiana has the ideal location of being situated between the
Caribbean and the Amazon Basin and as such is home to many protected species of
wildlife. Paraguay is a landlocked country in South America and is very sparsely
populated. Mexico borders on the United States so that it extends from North to
South America. It has coastlines on both the Caribbean and Pacific Oceans.
Peru is the land of the
Incas and many of the historic sites in the country reflect this heritage.
Suriname is filled with fascinating wildlife and culture in a land that is 80%
covered by a tropical rainforest. With over 500 km of beaches, Uruguay is known
as the Oriental Republic because of its location on the eastern bank of Rio de
la Plata. It is one of the smallest republics on this continent. The home of the
world's highest waterfall, Venezuela is a land of jungles, waterfalls, tropical
beaches and huge mountain ranges.
Oceania
Oceania refers to the
islands in the South Pacific and is divided into three regions - Melanesia,
Micronesia and Polynesia. Australia is one of these islands and is the largest
island in the world. It has an abundance of wildlife not found anywhere else in
the world, such as kangaroos. Located about 3500 km northeast of New Zealand,
the Cook Islands consist of two groups of islands. The southern group is mainly
coral atolls, while the northern group is mainly volcanic. Fiji is made up of
almost 300 islands that are mostly volcanic in nature. In earlier decades it was
known as the Cannibal Isles because of the dangerous waters around the
coastlines and the fierce warrior inhabitants.
French Polynesia is a
collection of islands in the South Pacific that are administered by France. The
largest of these islands is Tahiti. Guam is the largest and most southerly of
the Marinas Islands and is the location of a large US military base. Micronesia,
or the Federated States of Micronesia, is a small nation consisting of many
islands that are divided into seven territories. New Caledonia is believed to be
the fragment of an ancient continent and as such has unique plant and wildlife
not seen in any other part of the world due to its isolated location.
New Zealand is a land of
exquisite beauty in its rugged coastline, pristine beaches and snow-capped Alps.
The Northern Mariana Islands consists of a chain of 44 islands with beautiful
bays, spectacular cliffs and high mountains. There are 600 islands in the
country of Papua New Guinea that stretch out into the Pacific from the mainland
of Southeast Asia. The tribes of this country speak more than 700 different
languages. Samoa is a collection of islands that were once known as the
Navigators Islands because of the natives' skill in water navigation. Vanuatu is
an archipelago of colourful reef islands, active volcanoes and rainforests.
Asia, Africa and Caribbean Guide
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