Traveling the world can be easy and it can be cheap. As a matter of fact, with a little bit of effort and practice, you too can travel the world with very little money. For a long time now, the idea that “traveling is expensive” has prevented many people from experiencing adventure. Below, we are going to cover the top ten ways that anyone can travel the world safely and cheaply.
10. Choose the Right Location to Travel
One of the easiest ways to save money before you even venture out on your journey is to choose the right location. Keep in mind that certain areas of the world are much more expensive to travel than others. For example, countries like New Zealand, Japan, and Europe tend to be relatively expensive while countries like South America or South-East Asia tend to be relatively cheap.
9. Don’t Book Accommodations before You Arrive
As tempting as it may sound, don’t book your accommodations prior to reaching your destination. A lot of travelers tend to book hotels or hostels for a week only to figure out that they want to leave after one night. Here is a useful tip: if you do decide to book accommodations before you arrive, make sure that you only book for the day that you arrive. This will give you an entire day to determine whether or not that location is a suitable match for your needs. Also, if you are going to be staying in the same place for an extended period of time, don’t be afraid to try and negotiate a discount.
8. Participate in Free Activities
When traveling on a budget, one of the best things you can do is to participate in free activities. This is especially true when you are visiting expensive countries like Europe or Australia. When you make it your goal to do only those things which are free, you accomplish two things: one, you save money and two, you stay busy which essentially lessens the chance of you slipping up and spending more money than you have to. When traveling, try going for a walk, taking some pictures, and sitting down at a local café and enjoy some cheap coffee.
7. Buy Local Food
While traveling, few can argue that food tends to be one of the most expensive aspects about a trip. This is especially true if you are staying in an area that is predominantly known for serving Western Style food. If are staying in an area that promotes it, try food shopping from local vendors. This is where you will find the best deals and not to mention, some fairly decent meals. And despite what many travelers may believe, most vendors sell fresh and healthy food so the chances of becoming sick are small.
6. Pack Light
If you only bring a single backpack full of all your possessions on a trip then you will be saving yourself a lot of money and a lot of hassle. For example, you won’t have to pay your airlines the extra fee associated with bringing on too many bags. Plus, you will be able to walk more places (and not take taxis) when you are carrying a small bag full of stuff. You don’t need to bring your entire kitchen and the truth is that you can perfectly manage with a small amount of things while traveling.
5. Bring a Friend
Traveling with a friend or even a group of people for that matter will ultimately save you a lot of money. You will be eligible for group discounts and also be able to split the price of all your accommodations. And even if you only manage to bring one friend with you, that will still cut traveling expenses in half.
4. Stick to Beaches
If you’re visiting a country that has a few beaches, make them your new hang out spot for the majority of your stay. You would be surprised by how much money you can save by lounging on the beach all day while drinking cheap drinks and receiving cheap massages. Not to mention, areas around beaches tend to be a lot of fun and can provide you with a lot of cheap activities like scuba diving, surfing, and swimming.
3. Bargain for Everything
If you are from the United States or any other Western part of the world then you probably aren’t accustomed to doing a lot of bargaining. Prices in these areas are generally set and there isn’t much wiggle room to make offers. The opposite applies in the Eastern part of the world. Most countries here are built around bargaining and you would be surprised by how much discount items you can get your hands on if you simply ask.
Here is a simple rule of thumb: the price that you see for most items is often double of what the actual price is. Don’t be afraid to bid low and never feel ashamed to walk away empty handed. In some cases, they may come back to you with a lower price.
2. Ride Bicycles
While this tip may appear silly, it actually works. Instead of taking public transportation everywhere you go, try riding bicycles. They are cheap, efficient, and can take you anywhere that you need to go. Not to mention, you can receive a nice workout if you are using them most of the time. Plus, if you are following our other tips and packing light then you can simply take all of your possessions with you and take a full sightseeing trip of the city that you are visiting.
1. Have Money Coming in
This tip may be the hardest to utilize but it also happens to be the most effective. If you can have money coming in while you’re traveling then it will save you the trouble of needing to tighten your budget. Some people do part time freelance work while traveling while others try to find general labor positions around the city they are visiting. Either way, this is a good tip to follow so that you can have money in your pocket while traveling.
A feral child is a human child who has lived isolated from human contact from a very young age, and has no (or little) experience of human care, loving or social behavior, and, crucially, of human language.Some feral children have been confined by people (usually their own parents); in some cases this child abandonment was due to the parents’ rejection of a child’s severe intellectual or physical impairment. Feral children may have experienced severe child abuse or trauma before being abandoned or running away. Others are alleged to have been brought up by animals; some are said to have lived in the wild on their own. Just over one hundred incidents have been reported in total, here we enumerate 10 of them who got famous in their own times.
10. Dina Sanichar, the Indian Wolf Boy
Date found: 1867
Age when found: 6
Location: Sekandra, India
Years in the wild: 6
Animals: wolves
Dina Sanichar, one of the boys who lived at the Sekandra orphanage, is usually assumed to have been mentally sub-normal. He was removed from a wolves’ cave in 1867 when he was about six years old. Dina Sanichar was discovered when hunters in the jungles of Bulandshahr were astonished to see a boy follow a wolf into her den, running on all fours. They smoked out the wolf and her companion and shot the wolf.
He initially exhibited all the habits of a wild animal, tearing off clothes and eating food from the ground. He was eventually weaned off raw meat onto cooked, but never did learn to speak. He apparently became addicted to tobacco. Dina Sanichar died in 1895.
9. Kamala and Amala, the Wolf Girls of Midnapore
Date found: 1920
Age when found: 8 (Kamala), 1.5 (Amala)
Location: Midnapore, India
Years in the wild: 8, 1
Animals: wolves
Perhaps one of the best-known and controversial stories of feral children is that of Amala and Kamala. Kamala and Amala are two of the most interesting cases of feral children. The wolf girls were about 18 months (Amala) and eight years old (Kamala) when they were found together in a wolves’ den. However, it is believed that they were not sisters, but were abandoned — or taken by wolves — some years apart.
In that year, Reverend Joseph Singh, a missionary in charge of an orphanage in Northern India, heard of two ghostly spirit figures seen accompanying a band of wolves near Midnapore in the Bengal jungle. The local villagers were fearful of these apparitions but local custom forbid them to do any harm to the wolves. Intrigued, Singh built a hide in a tree top over-looking the lair of the wolf pack, an old ten-foot high termite mound that had become hollowed out with time. As the moon rose, Singh saw the wolves come out one by one. Then sticking their heads out briefly to sniff the night air before bounding forwards into the clearing came two hunched and horrible figures. As Singh described the “ghosts” in his diary, they were: “Hideous looking…hand, foot and body like a human being; but the head was a big ball of something covering the shoulders and the upper portion of the bust…Their eyes were bright and piercing, unlike human eyes…Both of them ran on all fours.”
The girls seemed to have no trace of humanness in the way they acted and thought. It was as if they had the minds of wolves. They tore off any clothes put on them and would only eat raw meat. They slept curled up together in a tight ball and growled and twitched in their sleep. They only came awake after the moon rose and howled to be let free again. They had spent so long on all fours that their tendons and joints had shortened to the point where it was impossible for them to straighten their legs and even attempt to walk upright. They never smiled or showed any interest in human company. The only emotion that crossed their faces was fear. Even their senses had become wolf-like. Singh claimed their eyes were supernaturally sharp at night and would glow in the dark like a cat’s. They could smell a lump of meat right across the orphanage’s three acre yard. Their hearing was also sharp – except, like Victor, the voice of humans seemed strangely inaudible to their ears.
A poor but relatively well educated man, Singh did his best to rehabilitate his charges. Influenced by the horticultural model of child development, he theorised that the wolf habits acquired by Kamala and Amala had somehow blocked the free expression of their innate human characteristics. Singh felt it was his job (not least, for religious reasons) to wean the girls from their lupine ways and so allow their buried humanity to emerge. Unhappily, before his experiment had progressed far, the younger girl, Amala, sickened and died. This proved a great set-back to Kamala, who had only just started to lose her fear of other humans and her orphanage surroundings. Kamala went into a prolonged mourning and for a while, Singh feared for her life as well. But eventually Kamala recovered and Singh started a patient programme of rehabilitation.
8. Daniel, The Andes Goat Boy
Date found: 1990
Age when found: 12
Location: Andes, Perú
Years in the wild: 8
Animals: goats
The Andes Goat-Boy was found in the Andes, Peru, in 1990, and was said to have been raised by goats for eight years. He is supposed to have survived by drinking their milk, and eating roots and berries. Being in wild, he developed the obvious feral characteristics.
He tended to walk with all his 4 limbs, his hands and feet were hardened due to scar formation that acted like his hoofs. He could communicate with goats and could not learn human language.
Date found: 1946
Age when found: around 10
Location: Syrian desert
Years in the wild: 9
Animals: gazelles
A boy aged around 10 was found in the midst of a herd of gazelles in the Syrian desert, and was only caught with the help of an Iraqi army jeep, because he could run at speeds of up to 50 kph. Although terribly thin, he was said to have been extremely fit and strong, with muscles of steel. He was captured and bound hand and foot.
Armen says the Syrian Gazelle-Boy was still alive in 1955, when he (the boy) made an attempt to escape from whichever unpleasant state institution he was incarcerated in. I won’t offend your sensibilities by telling you what they did to him to stop him escaping again.
The Life Magazine story of 9 September 1946 agrees pretty much with the other reports. It states that the previous month, a group of hunters found a boy running wild with a herd of gazelles in the Syrian steppes. About 10 – 14 years old at the time of discovery, he was believed to have been abandoned as a baby. He was taken to an asylum for the insane. Sunday Express, puts the same story but says boy’s speed of 50 mph, not 50 kph.
6. Bello, the Nigerian Chimp Boy
Date found: 1996
Age when found: 2
Location: Nigeria
Years in the wild: 1
Animals: chimps
Bello, the Nigerian Chimp Boy was found in 1996, at the age of about two. Both mentally and physically disabled, he had probably been abandoned by his parents at the age of about six months, a common practice with disabled children among the Fulani, a nomadic people who range great distances over the west African Sahel region.
Believed to have been adopted and raised by chimpanzees, Bello was found with a chimpanzee family in the Falgore forest, 150 km south of Kano in northern Nigeria. When the story reached the news agencies some six years later in 2002, Bello had been living at the Tudun Maliki Torrey home in Kano.
When first discovered, Bello walked like a chimpanzee, using his legs but dragging his arms on the ground. He would leap about at night in the dormitory, disturbing the other children, smashing and throwing things. Six years later Bello was much calmer, but would still leap around in a chimpanzee-like fashion, make chimpanzee-like noises, and clap his cupped hands over his head repeatedly. Bello died in 2005.
5. John Ssebunya, the Ugandan Monkey Boy
Date found: 1991
Age when found: 6
Location: Uganda
Years in the wild: 3
Animals: monkeys
John Ssebunya was born in the mid 1980s, but ran away from home (probably aged around three) after seeing his mother murdered by his own father. It is generally accepted that John Ssebunya was cared for at least to some extent by green African (vervet) monkeys while in the jungle. John was found by a tribeswoman or girl (called Millie) in 1991, hiding in a tree. She returned with menfolk from the village and, as is so often the case, not only did John resist capture but also his adoptive family came to his defence, throwing sticks at the villagers.
Initial reports suggest John Ssebunya’s entire body was covered with hair called hypertrichosis. When he defecated, he excreted worms over half a metre long. Once captured and cleaned up — he was covered in scars and wounds, with knees scarred from crawling — he was identified as John Ssebunya. He was given by Millie to the care of Paul and Molly Wasswa, who run a charitable foundation for orphans. He couldn’t talk or cry initially, but has subsequently learned to speak. This suggests that he may have learned some speech before his stay in the wild.
John now not only talks but also sings, and tours with the Pearl of Africa children’s choir. John was the subject of the BBC documentary Living Proof, screened on 13 October 1999.
4. Traian Caldarar, the Romanian Dog Boy
Date found: 2002
Age when found: 7
Location: Brasov, Romănia
Years in the wild: 3
Animals: dogs
Traian Caldarar is a Romanian boy who apparently lived wild, separated from his family, for three years. He is believed to have left the family home because of domestic violence. His mother, Lina Caldarar, said that she loved her son but had a violent partner, who was always beating her. When she lost Traian, she was distraught, and hoped he had perhaps been adopted by another family. She said: “When I fled, I lost contact with Traian, although I tried to get him back. He [the boy’s father] didn’t allow me to take my child, even though I tried to. He said the child belonged to him.”
Although aged seven when he was found, Traian Caldarar was only the size of a three-year-old, could not speak, and was naked and living in a cardboard box covered with a polythene sheet. He suffered from severe rickets, had infected injuries and his circulation was poor, possibly because of frostbite. Doctors believe it would have been impossible for Traian to survive on his own and speculated that he received assistance from the many stray dogs in the Transylvanian countryside. He was found near the body of a dog that he had apparently been eating.
Traian Caldarar was found after the car of a shepherd, Manolescu Ioan, broke down. Mr Ioan had to walk from his pastures and came across child who he reported to police, who later captured the boy. Traian walked with the bandy gait of a chimpanzee and tried to sleep under his bed rather than on it. Dr Mircea Florea said: “He was found in an animal position and his movements are animalistic. The facts show that he was not brought up in a social environment. He becomes very agitated when he does not have food. He is looking for something to eat all the time. He sleeps after he eats.”
3. Rochom P’ngieng, Cambodian Jungle Girl
Date found: 2007
Age when found: 29
Location: Cambodian Jungle
Years in the wild: 19
Animals: various animals
The so-called Cambodian Jungle girl is a Cambodian woman who emerged from the jungle in Ratanakiri province, Cambodia on January 13, 2007. A family in a nearby village claimed that the woman was their daughter Rochom Pn’gieng (born 1979) age 29 or 30 who had disappeared 18 or 19 years previously; the story was covered in most media as one of a feral child who lived in the jungle for most of her life.
She came to international attention after emerging filthy, naked and scared from the dense jungle of Ratanakiri province in remote northeastern Cambodia on January 13, 2007. After a villager noticed food missing from a lunch box, he staked out the area, spotted the woman, gathered some friends and caught her.
She was recognised by her father, policeman Ksor Lu long, because of a scar on her back. He said Rochom P’ngieng was lost in the Cambodian jungle at the age of eight when herding buffalo with her six-year-old sister (who also disappeared). One week after being discovered, she experienced difficulties adjusting to civilized life. Local police reported that she was only able to say three words: “father”, “mother” and “stomachache”. A Spanish psychologist who visited the girl reported that she “made some words and smiled in response to a game involving toy animals and a mirror” but did not speak any recognizable language. When she was thirsty or hungry, she pointed at her mouth. She preferred to crawl rather than walk upright. The family watched Rochom P’ngieng around the clock to make sure she did not run off back to the jungle, as she tried to do several times. Her mother constantly had to pull back on the clothes when she tried to take them off. A visiting Guardian reporter described the family as genuinely caring for her and the woman as listless and sad but restless at night. In May 2010, Rochom P’ngieng has fled back to the jungle. Despite the searching they have not managed to recover her.
2. The Russian Bird Boy
Date found: 2008
Age when found: 7
Location: Volgograd, Russia
Years in the wild: 7
Animals: birds
In 2008, Russian care workers rescued a seven-year-old “bird-boy” who could communicate only by “chirping” after his mother raised him in a virtual aviary, it has been reported. Authorities said the neglected child was found living in a tiny two-room apartment surrounded by cages containing dozens of birds, bird feed and droppings.
The so-called “bird-boy” did not understand any human language and communicates instead by chirping and flapping his arms, Russian newspaper Pravda reported. Social worker Galina Volskaya, who was involved is rescuing the child from his home in Kirovsky, Volgograd, said he was treated like another pet by his 31-year-old mother who never spoke to him. Miss Volskaya said: “When you start talking to him, he chirps.”
Russian authorities say the child was not physically harmed but is suffering from “Mowgli syndrome”, named after the Jungle Book character raised by wild animals, and cannot engage in any normal human communication.
Pravda reported: “(his mother) had her own domestic birds and fed wild ones. (She) neither beat him nor left him without food. She just never talked to him. It was all the birds that communicated with the boy and taught him birds’ language. “He just chirps and when realising that he is not understood, and starts to wave hands in the way birds winnow wings.” The boy’s mother signed an abdication form to release the child into care after he was discovered. He was temporarily transferred to an asylum, but later soon was sent to the centre of psychological care, according to reports.
1. Oxana Malaya, The Ukrainian Dog Girl
Date found: 1991
Age when found: 8
Location: Blagoveshchenka, Ukraine
Years in the wild: 5
Animals: dogs
Not really either a feral child or a confined child, but rather a neglected one, Oxana Malaya spent much of her childhood between the ages of 3 and 8 living in a kennel in the back garden of the family home in Novaya Blagoveschenka, Ukraine, although she did spend some time in the house with her alcholic and neglectful parents.
Oxana’s alcoholic parents were unable to care for her, and at three years of age she was exiled from her home. They lived in an impoverished area where there were wild dogs roaming the streets. She took refuge in a shed inhabited by these dogs behind her house. She was cared for by them and learned their behaviors and mannerisms. The bonding with the pack of dogs was so strong that the authorities who came to rescue her were driven away in the first attempt by the dogs. Her actions and sounds mimicked those of her carers. She growled, barked, walked on all fours and crouched like a wild dog, sniffed at her food before she ate it, and was found to have acquired extremely acute senses of hearing, smell and sight. She only knew how to say “yes” and “no” when she was rescued.
When she was discovered, Oxana found it difficult to acquire normal human social and emotional skills. She had been deprived of intellectual and social stimulation, and her only emotional support had come from the dogs she lived with. Oxana’s lack of exposure to language in a social context made it very difficult for her to improve her language skills. When first found in 1991 she could hardly speak.
As of 2010 at the age of 26, Oxana resides at a home for the mentally handicapped, where she helps look after the cows in the clinic’s farm. She has expressed that she is happiest when among dogs.
Although not the first space telescope, Hubble is one of the largest and most versatile, and is well-known as both a vital research tool and a public relations boon for astronomy. Hubble has sent us such pictures from this macrocosm that we believe our universe is not only intensely far-out, but also almost impossibly dazzling. We have collected here the finest picture collection from 20 years of Hubble telescoping.
1. Crab Nebula
Image Source The Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant, all that remains of a tremendous stellar explosion. Observers in China and Japan recorded the supernova nearly 1,000 years ago, in 1054.
2. Antennae Galaxies
Image Source These two spiral galaxies, drawn together by gravity, started to interact a few hundred million years ago. The Antennae Galaxies are the nearest and youngest examples of a pair of colliding galaxies.
3. Supergiant Star V838
Image Source V838 Monocerotis is a red variable star in the constellation Monoceros about 20,000 light years from the Sun. Also known as Starry Night, so named because it reminded astronomers of the Vincent van Gogh canvas. It is a halo of light around a star in the Milky Way.
4. Bug Nebula
Image Source Gas released by a dying star races across space at more than 600,000 miles an hour, forming the delicate shape of a celestial butterfly. This nebula is also known as NGC 6302 or the Bug Nebula.
5. Mystic Moutain
Image Source Hubble’s 20th anniversary image shows a mountain of dust and gas rising in the Carina Nebula . The top of a three-light-year tall pillar of cool hydrogen is being worn away by the radiation of nearby stars, while stars within the pillar unleash jets of gas that stream from the peaks.
6. Cigar Galaxy
Image Source Messier 82 or Cigar Galaxy is a prototypenearby starburst galaxy about 12 million light-years away which is five times as bright as the whole Milky Way and one hundred times as bright as our galaxy’s center.
7. Ant Nebula
Image Source Technical name Mz 3 , is a young bipolar planetary nebula made of gaseous dusty clouds that are composed of a bright core and four distinct high-velocity outflows that have been named lobes and seems to resemble an ant. The nebula lies within our galaxy between 3,000 and 6,000 light years from Earth.
This image, released for Hubble’s 17th anniversary, shows a region of star birth and death in the Carina Nebula. The nebula contains at least a dozen brilliant stars that are 50 to 100 times the mass of our Sun.
Image Source Discovered by Karl Ludwig Harding , probably before 1824, this object is one of the closest to the Earth of all the bright planetary nebulae. The estimated distance is about 700 light-years. It is very famous being similar to the “The Sauron’s Great Eye from Lord of the Rings”
Waterfalls are a gift of God to earth, making the land spectacular and enchantingly beautiful. They create a divine, miraculous and heaven-sent vision. It’s thick foamy water splashing down the cliffs partitions the land and the water fumes and droplets spread in air while producing amazing sounds. This list takes the readers on a tour to breathtakingly beautiful waterfalls around the globe.
10. Ramona Falls, Mount Hood Wilderness, Oregon, USA
Ramona Falls, Mount Hood Wilderness, Oregon, USA Source Ramona Falls is in Mount Hood Wilderness in Oregon, USA. This 120-foot long fall drapes across a stair-stepped cliff of columnar basalt. The amazing shape of the columnar basalt was formed due to eruption of lava. It is a renowned tourist spot and a famous hiking venue. 7.1 mile loop to the fall gains 1000 ft of elevation.
9. Duden Waterfalls, Turkey
Duden Waterfalls, Turkey Duden Waterfalls are a group of waterfalls on the Duden River in the province of Antalya, Turkey. The water of the Lower Duden waterfall falls gracefully into the Mediterranean sea after sliding across a rocky cliff. It is a famous tourist attraction at a small distance of 10 Km from the beaches in the South East of Antalya.
8. Jog Fall/ Gerusoppe falls/ Gersoppa Falls and Jogada Gundi, India
Jog Falls, India Source Jog Fall is the highest waterfall in India. It is created by the Sharavathi River falling from a height of 253 meters. The waterfall is a famous tourist attraction as well as a source of energy. A power station is operational since 1948 using the water of this waterfall. With a capacity of 120 MW, it is one of the largest hydro-electric stations in India.
7. Yosemite Firefall or Horsetail Falls
Yosemite Fall, USA Source Source Source Yosemite Firefall or horsetail firefall in Yosemite village, Mariposa County, is a divine, miraculous and heaven-sent vision, a sight which must be relished once in a lifetime. Under perfect conditions, it gives the vision of 1500 ft long firefall flowing down the cliff. In reality it is not lava or fire but water marvelously flowing down. This firefall finds it’s explanation in science which supports it’s formation. This waterfall in Yosemite looks like a firefall if it meets two conditions. Firstly, it should be the end of winters and the ice should be melting. The weather should be all misty and cloudy. Secondly, the sun must set at a perfect angle. Once the conditions are met, the waterfall glows like fire. It seems that the water suddenly transformed into fire or the cliff is on fire. All these conditions are met in the last two weeks of February when the snow melts and sun sets at the desired angle. Curious nature loving tourists and photographers come from all over the world to have a look at this remarkable sight. It is best viewed from a picnic area along Northside Drive.
Godafoss waterfall or the waterfall of gods is the most beautiful waterfall of Iceland. The water of the river Skjálfandafljót falls from a height of 12 meters spreading to a width of 30 meters. It has a very interesting story behind it’s name. In 999 Christianity was made the official religion of Iceland. At this point Þorgeir threw his Norse gods into the river. This act of his gave the fall it’s name, Waterfall of gods. An Icelandic ship was named after the fall, which was sunk by a German U-Boat in World War II. This caused great loss of life.
Whether through magnetic perception, solar or lunar guidance, landmarks, smell, echolocation, or any other method—many of earth’s creatures love to travel. Our planet is filled with overlapping migratory patterns that form the fabric of the earth’s natural systems. Whether through biology that is beyond our perception, travel patterns passed on through generations (such as elephants), or through sheer desperation in the face of shrinking habitats, animals are always on the move. This list includes fish, birds, mammals, and insects that exhibit their unique brands of awe-inspiring wanderlust.
10. Gray Whales
Any number of whales could be placed on this list as great migrators. Our oceans are interlaced with corridors that whales use in finding calm waters to birth their calves or cold waters to consume their share of krill. The gray whale serves as a premiere example of these marine mammals’ nomadic way of life. Hunted to near extinction by the early 20th century (and extirpated from the European coast), these creatures have made a comeback in the North Pacific Ocean. Every autumn, a group of these whales embark on a 3-4 month journey that begins in the Chukchi Sea and ends in the basking warm waters of Mexico. Since they are often chased by orcas, these gentle giants saunter along best they can. The Pacific gray whale migration is highly documented and has become a great source of ecotourism.
9. Flying Foxes
Australia is home to four distinct types of flying foxes (fruit bats). These bats can be sensitive to extreme heat, which they try to avoid best they can. Their susceptibility to heat stress (especially among grey-headed flying foxes) will become a further problem as the global climate continues to warm. Their migrations are fueled by the need for blossoming plants and the nectar they contain. So it is that they require a large range to operate efficiently, something that is becoming harder to come by due to deforestation and agriculture. They travel to and from a variety of habitats such as swamp, rainforests and other types of woodlands. The flying foxes will continue to share similar declining fates as the iconic koala, since both animals look to the eucalyptus trees as a main source of food.
8. Pacific Walrus
Walruses love to spend a portion of their year on ice and their summers on rocky terrain near the sea. During the deep freeze, their icy habit becomes too impenetrable for good fishing. This cycle will always lead to migration on an undetermined scale. Walruses might find something suitable close by or far away. Walruses in the Pacific tend to perform an epic journey from the Bering Sea through Bering Strait and to the pack ice of the frosty Chukchi Sea and vice versa. Females and calves are more migratory than the big bulls, and many calves are birthed during the northern trip. These animals have been hunted to near extinction many times, but enjoy joint protection from the USA and Russia, one of the few things we can agree on.
7. Tuna
It has been well documented that many marine species of fish live a migratory life. Often it is these fish that are heavily targeted by commercial fishing. The reason being is a lack of international law concerning the harvesting of fish that migrate throughout the oceanic gyre. Tuna and types of fish like it travel around the entirety of the ocean and so cross a multitude of nations’ waters as well. One country thinks that if they do not harvest the fish then someone else will. The end result is a mass harvesting of (and extinction of many) types of migratory species of fish. Over half the species of tuna are facing extinction in the near future. Yet, in many of the world’s markets you can still purchase their meat fairly cheap. If we want to keep having our tuna sushi, we better start considering more sustainable options in fishing.
6. Salmon
Regardless of the ocean of origin, salmon migrations are famously dramatic. These fish leave the ocean and enter freshwater rivers, swim upstream, and dodge predators at every turn. Perhaps the most widely publicized obstacles of this journey are the roadblocks that the grizzly bears set up along the way. These tubby mammals enjoy lining the tops of the many waterfalls along the way and sit down to fish. The salmon are force to make a leap of faith that either ends in a fresh batch of cold spring water or a terrifying crunching sound made by the mashing of their bones by massive bear-jaws. For every few hundred fish that make it past these furry fishermen, one gets filleted. The mission might seem suicidal, and that’s because it is. After all this effort—even if a salmon makes it where it wants to go—then the fish simply opens its mouth really wide like an underwater scream, mates, goes belly up, and dies. Their decaying carcasses are left to feed the ecosystem from whence they came.
5. Army Ants
For many animals large or small their life is a migration. Perhaps one of the most distinct examples of this nomadic lifestyle can be found in the continents of Africa and South America. There are over 200 species of army ants out there, and these little buggers provide perhaps the best example of swarm mentality, that is many individuals acting as one, in the animal kingdom. Their life is so nomadic that they don’t even build dwellings. Instead, they come together to form their own structure called a bivouac. This living breathing structure becomes a temporary breeding factory where parts of their prey are brought back to be consumed. Impressively, these ants can dismember prey many times their own size through teamwork and swarm tactics. Their sharp mandibles can cut down even tarantulas into kibbles and bits in no time.
4. Sandhill Cranes
Hundreds of thousands of sandhill cranes travel from Northeast Siberia to the American Midwest and South every year. They travel in flocks of over ten thousand birds in size, and delve deep into states such as New Mexico and Arizona. They glide through thermal columns, or areas of hot air rising from the earth as a result of uneven solar radiation, to save energy for the long haul. If you watch a flock of sandhill cranes, then you might even make out an outline of a thermal column they are using. This species is also estimated to be millions of years old. Their migration to America’s heartland is relatively new, however. The migration is a result of adapting to the ever increasing presence of humans worldwide. At the end of their southern trek, they find their main food source: the discarded remnants left over from the mechanical harvesting of farms. The farmers enjoy the new accompaniment by these ancient creatures as they help clean up the place.
3. Wildebeest
Perhaps no animal is best known for its migratory prowess than the wildebeest. The timing of their trips is irregular, but it is thought that they follow average patterns of rainfall and the accompanying foliage growth. Wildebeest often travel with zebra to use them as extra crocodile bait for when they swarm perilous river crossings. They also exhibit a special knowledge of the languages of other animals, and so respond to many different calls of alarm. Even with their uncanny ability to come together and work through a swarm mentality, these guys still end up delivering lunch to the doorstep of Africa’s keystone predators. Vultures also follow this migration as an important food source, and so find themselves fatefully entangled with the wildebeest. If wildebeest numbers run low through natural famine or poaching, the vultures also suffer.
2. Monarch Butterflies
Monarch butterflies are fairly common in many northeast states of the USA, and range even as far north as Canada. They often herald the coming of warm weather and dazzle our eyes during the dog days of summer. What we may not realize, or at least comprehend the magnitude of, is that these beautiful creates travel over 5000 miles (to and from) each year. When they notice that winter is coming, these butterflies pack up and head south to Mexico and areas of the US bordering it. The year-round warm temperature accommodates these critters until they are ready to head north again. The back and forth dynamic is simply because that while the monarchs can’t survive winter in the north, they need the blooms of larvae that the breaking of spring provides. Insect spawns aren’t as common or as predictable in the warm recesses of the monarch’s wintering grounds.
1. Arctic Terns
The holder of the longest migration from start to finish, the Arctic tern is a winged badass that loves to travel. They are found at both the North and South Polar Regions and enjoy the summer at each location. When the winter winds begin to blow in, these wanderlusts pack up and head to literally the polar opposite of the world. If you do the math, they travel over 40,000 miles every year. With each healthy bird living around 30 years, that’s over 1,200,000 miles traveled over every lifespan. Like George Clooney, the Arctic tern spends much of its life up in the air. For food, these feathered commuters will often mug other birds in the air, forcing them to drop their prey. They stop their migratory habits to nest every one to three years.
It’s well-known that there are miles of layers between the ground we walk on and the solid core of the Earth, some 4000 miles away. But how close can you get to that core? There are places on Earth which naturally go down to unbelievable depths, and then there are man-made structures that try to reproduce that. This list could easily consist of nothing but ocean trenches, but for a bit of variety we’ve included some other deep places, some of which are accessible…but most are not. Find out more in our Top 10 Deepest Places on Earth.
10. Woodingdean Well
We’ll start with a man-made feat, and a remarkable one at that. Going down to 850 feet below sea level, the Woodingdean Well is the world’s deepest hand-dug well and was started in 1858. It took 4 years to complete and in total was 1285 feet, although the initial plan was to dig just 400. It was all done by groups of men on rickety ladders, sweating in the intense heat of the hole and at least one man lost his life during the project. Even more remarkably, it was dug largely by paupers from the local workhouse who, presumably, were in no position to complain about the extremely unsafe conditions. The hole is still there, deep into the earth, but has been covered over at the surface level.
9. Tagebau Hambach
At 961 feet below sea level, the Tagebau Hambach mine is an open lignite mine in Elsdorf, Germany and it is the deepest open mine in the world. The whole mine is 1213 feet deep and contains the biggest excavator in the world, which removes around 24,000 tonnes of lignite every day – around a stadium’s worth. It even has its own tourist attraction – Sophienhöhe, an artificial wooden hill from which visitors can see the mine. It’s also a record holder in its own right, being the biggest artificial hill in the world – at 990 feet above sea level, it’s as high as the mine is deep. Both are worth visiting!
8. El Zacatón
And now for something that’s not artificial – the world’s deepest sinkhole. Sinkholes are a curious natural phenomenon, as they just appear in the Earth with no warning and when this happens in populated areas, the devastation can be terrible. However, this is no new sinkhole – Zacatón in Mexico has been around since the Pleistocene, and is a beautiful natural feature, filled with water. It goes down to 1112 feet below sea level, which was measured by an automated robot. Humans have also tried to reach the bottom, with a pair of divers in 1994 getting down as far as 925 feet. However, one of them – Sheck Exley – sadly died from high pressure nervous syndrome at around 900 feet, showing that depths like this can be dangerous, even for highly experienced cave divers (Exley was an expert in the subject and had written books about it). Since then, no other people have attempted to reach the bottom. Beautiful but dangerous.
7. Lake Baikal
Another natural wonder, Lake Baikal in Russia is the deepest lake in the world, reaching down to 5,387 feet. There has been much exploration of the lake, with the Russian Academy of Sciences sending small submersible craft down there in 2008 and they reached a depth of 5,180 feet, failing to break the world record for deepest freshwater dive (the record was also set in Baikal, by Anatoly Sagalevich in 1990 and he reached 5,371 feet). But the scientists are not the only ones with an interest in Baikal – it’s also much desired by the leisure industry, as the clear waters – known as the “Pearl of Siberia” – bring tourists flocking to its shores. New hotels and an adventure trail are being planned for the lakeside but thankfully other plans in the region – like installing an oil pipe under the lake – have come to nothing. So it looks like Baikal will be preserved for the future, and one day someone might even reach the bottom of it…
6. Krubera Voronya Cave
Now, here’s one that’s not for anyone who’s a bit claustrophobic. Voronya cave in Georgia is the deepest cave in the world, reaching down 7,208 feet. The cave actually has two names – Krubera was given to it in the 1960s, after the Russian geographer Alexander Kruber but the explorers who came later called it “Voronya Cave” which means “Cave of Crows” – after, of course, the crows that gathered there. Since 2000, expeditions down the cave have become a yearly occurrence, with teams from the Ukraine, Britain, France and Spain attempting to establish just how deep it is. Expeditions during the 80s regularly pushed the cave depth up by hundreds of meters – it might be that Voronya is much deeper than we even suspect. It’s certainly the only cave on Earth deeper than 2000 metres (6,561 feet) and mapping it is a daunting and very long-term task!
5. Kidd Mine
The deepest mine on Earth is Mponeng Mine in South Africa, at a depth of 13,123 feet. However, the mine that goes deepest below sea level is Kidd Mine in Ontario, Canada which reaches 8,967 feet below sea level. The total depth is around 10,000 feet and as it’s so far north, it is closer to the center of the Earth than any other mine. It opened in 1964, as an open-pit mine and has gradually expanded underground. It is now the biggest copper mine in the world, employing 2,200 workers and producing millions of tonnes of ore every year. It is due to close in 2017 after receiving extra funding in 2008 to carry on work until then.
4. Litke Deep
As mentioned earlier, the deepest places on Earth all tend to be under the ocean. So here’s the deepest Arctic trench – the Litke Deep in the Eurasian Basin. At 350 km north of the “arctic wilderness” of Svalbard, it’s at one of the extremes of the Earth, so as well as being very deep (17,881 feet) it’s also very cold. It’s the 20th deepest ocean trench in the world and probably one of the most inhospitable places in the world. It was named after the ice-breaking ship that discovered it in 1955 – the Fyodor Litke. The icebreaker had been in service since 1909 and had been heavily used in the Soviet era for Arctic exploration. It also served during the Second World War and was eventually scrapped in 1960.
3. Milwaukee Deep
There are many deep trenches in the Atlantic Ocean – the Romanche Trench at 25,459 feet and the South Sandwich trench at 27,650 are just two of them. But the deepest of them all is the Puerto Rico Trench, and specifically the Milwaukee Deep, which reaches 28,680 feet below sea level. It’s found 76 miles north of Puerto Rico and was named after the USS Milwaukee, which discovered the deep on February 14th 1939 and recorded the reading of 28,860 feet. 13 years later, the wildlife vessel Theodore N. Gill also measured the deep and recorded a depth of 28,560 feet.
The Puerto Rico Trench itself is located along the border that marks where the Caribbean Sea ended and the Atlantic Ocean starts. It’s near a fault zone, which raises geologists as they believe it might cause an earthquake very soon, which in turn would generate a tsunami. It’s not happened yet, which is why geologists feel it’s overdue for a major event. A very deep and very dangerous trench.
2. Mariana Trench
The top five deepest trenches are all in the Pacific Ocean – the Tonga Trench, the Philippine Trench, the Kuril- Kamchatka Trench and the Kermadec Trench are all over 30,000 feet deep but the deepest of them all is the Mariana Trench, at an amazing 35,994 feet deep. Being the deepest in the world, it has been the subject of much exploration and at one point there was an intense competition between entrepreneur Richard Branson and film director James Cameron as to who could reach the bottom first. Cameron won, reaching the bottom in March 2012. He descended in his “torpedo sub”in 2 hours 36 minutes before spending a few hours taking samples from the trench floor. He then noticed oil leaking from his 43-inch sub and so decided to ascend before he was stranded down there. There are several unusual lifeforms at the bottom of the trench, including foot-long amphipods and sea cucumbers that camouflage themselves against the sandy bottom. There is almost certainly more to be discovered at the bottom of the trench and, given the interest in what lies down there, there’s bound to be more explorations soon.
1. Kola Superdeep Borehole
The deepest place on Earth is somewhere that’s never been accessed by human beings, but it is man-made. It’s the Kola Superdeep Borehole and it’s the deepest hole ever drilled, at 40,230 feet underground. When the project started in 1970, the aim was 49,000 feet but the temperatures were higher than anyone expected -356F – and if they’d got to 49,000 feet it would have gone up to 572F, which would be a difficult temperature for the drill to work out, even if it didn’t just melt. So drilling stopped in 1992 and reached a third of a way through the continental crust. The current record holder for longest borehole is currently Odoptu OP-11 well at 40,502 ft, but the Kola Borehole remains the deepest hole below the surface ever drilled.
The world is a masterpiece of God which is packed with astonishing and inspiring wonders. Once you come across with these natural marvels, their natural beauty will take your breath away. Although, it is impossible to gather all geographical wonders in one list, somehow, I managed to compile a list of geographical wonders which I found most incredible.
10. Florida Red Tides
The red color of Florida tides are produced when marine phytoplankton algae accumulate in the water column. Certain species of this kind of algae, more correctly termed phytoplankton, contain photosynthetic pigments that vary in color from green to brown to red, and when the algae are present in high concentrations, the water appears to be colored red.
The term “Florida Red tide” is most often used to describe a phytoplankton algae increase and change the color of the sea to reddish brown hue When the density of these algae increase organisms more then tens of millions of cells per liter of seawater, then the color of the sea water changes to reddish-brown hue.
9. Columnar Basalt
Columnar Basalts are rock formations resulting from the sudden cooling of lava flow. These are formed in a random cellular network though the equally distributed sides is six, giving the hexagonal structures as it is man made Hexagonal shape. It is a dark black or grey colored rock, having silica and comparatively rich in iron and magnesium. Some basalts are crystal clear and many are very fine-grained and compact. Basaltic lavas may be soft or pumice-like. Olivine and augite are the most common minerals. In basalt 45 to 50 % silica and in remaining, Iron, alumunium, and other mineral are found.
8. Cerrado Protected Areas
Cerrado, located in Brazil, is the largest, oldest and biologically richest savanna in the world, of which less than 10% remains in a natural state. About 600 km apart in the centre of the South America continent, has permitted the survival of rare species during periods of past climatic change, and the area will be crucial in maintaining this biodiversity during upcoming climatic change. The site contains over 50 to 60% of all Cerrado plants and almost 70 to 80 % of its vertebrate species, also many rare small animals that are not found in rest of the world.
7. Puerto Prince
The Puerto Princesa is the most significant and important protected areas of the Philippines. It has a spectacular limestone t landscape with one of the most complex cave systems. It contains an 8.2 km long underground river that flow directly to the sea. The lower half of the river is brackish and due to ocean tide, water of the underground river directly flows into the sea. The crystal and egg shape rock formations, and a 20 million year old Miocene age serenia fossil in the cave increases and further adds to its scientific value. The Puerto Princesa Underground River is declared as one of the Wonders of Nature.
6. Jeju Island
The largest island in Korea, this island is the smallest province of South Korea. The island has a surface area of 1,900 sq km and has oval shape. Jeju is a volcanic island and 130 km from the southern coast of Korea. Hallasan is the tallest mountain in South Korea on Jeju island and is a dormant volcano, which rises 1,950 m above sea level. 360 satellite volcanoes are around the main volcano.
Believe it or not, there are foods that will allow you to live longer. A lot of people wonder whether or not there is a simple route towards longer living and eating right is definitely a step in the right direction. The best part is that you don’t need to look any further than your local stores for the top 10 foods that we are about to cover.
10. Broccoli
Broccoli has more Vitamin C in it than most fruits. It contains a larger percentage of calcium than milk and has more fiber than bread. To put it simply, it is the best of all three worlds and will help you live longer. Broccoli is made up of a very powerful anti-carcinogen, which is basically a chemical that helps fight cancer and cancer-related substances. It doesn’t stop there. Broccoli can also help prevent heart disease, ulcers, and various other viruses.
9. Chamomile
Another food that you could take in order to live longer is chamomile. This food is a member of the dairy family and it contains many healing properties. For one, it is similar to a muscle relaxant and it will decrease a lot of physical tension in your body. This reduces the chance of having a heart attack induced by stress. To top it all off, chamomile will allow your body to detoxify as it removes harmful waste products from building up.
8. Cranberries
Eating cranberries can provide your body with a high amount of vitamin C as well as chemicals that are designed to defend your body against bacteria. Aside from the fact that cranberries taste good, they can also fight cancer as well as urinary tract infections. You can eat cranberries with oatmeal, muffins or simply drink it as a juice for the best results.
7. Oily Fish
When people search for foods that are going to help them live longer, they hardly ever think that fish or fish-related products would make it onto the list. The reality is though that these foods are actually the healthiest for you. More specifically, oily fish (like trout and salmon) are all very loaded with omega-3 and fatty acids. Because of this, they can successfully lower your cholesterol level as well as prevent you from having blood clot or stroke. The best way to eat oily fish is grilled, baked, or raw.
6. Lemons
Lemons are extremely rich in vitamin C. Because of this, they can help ward off infections as well as prevent sore throats and mouth ulcers. The best part is that lemons can go well with most foods and drinks and they don’t contain many calories. You can try squeezing a fresh lemon over some fish or into an empty glass or you can eat it raw if you are feeling up to it. In some cases, lemons even go well with certain sauces and salad dressings.
Nowadays, with our speedy communications and the whole of human knowledge at the press of a button, it’s tempting to think that we have the monopoly on ideas. That everything we believe is infallible and it’s only people in the past that had these crazy theories. But let’s not get too smug – after all, the “crazy theories” of the past were, at the time, widely accepted as credible and, in their own way, “proven.”
So, in 100 years’ time, future people may look back at our non-flying cars and finger-operated internet devices (while using their own iPads through the power of their minds) and laugh. But if we’re going to be mocked in the future, we might as well look at some of the commonly-accepted ideas of the past and be glad that things have moved on…
10. The Earth is the Center of the Universe
As future humans share galacto-coffee with their alien friends, they will laugh at those of us in the 21st century who didn’t believe in life on other planets. Who thought that the Earth was the center of the universe. But at least we don’t literally believe that Earth is the center of the universe, as the Ancient Greeks did. According to the most notable thinkers of the time – Aristotle and Ptomely among others – all the stars and heavenly bodies that we can see at night are all circling the Earth. As is the sun during the day. This idea was commonly accepted until the 16th century, when it was first suggested that maybe we circled the sun instead….and as for all those other planets, that’s a different story. But there are few people who would subscribe to the geocentric view now.
9. Smoking is Good for your Throat
This one seems almost unbelievable, given that smoking has been linked to a host of throat and mouth-related cancers but there was a time when smoking was considered not only benign but actually beneficial. Hence the advert that until recently was still visible on a building in South London – “For your throat’s sake, smoke”. The advertisers were Craven-A, who had developed a special cork filter to protect your throat while smoking. Another advert ran “So cool-so smooth to the throat” and one featured in the Montreal Gazette said “My throat is safe with Craven-A”. Needless to say those kind of ads probably wouldn’t get approved now. And no, smoking is not good for your throat.
8. Spoiled Babies Become Socialist Babies
For years, parents lived in fear of “spoiling” their babies. Too much attention would make it needy, too many cuddles would make it clingy…the baby must be separated as much and as early as possible in order to prevent those kind of problems. But one child expert, Walter W. Sackett Jr., took this approach even further and gave American parents a cast-iron reason not to spoil their babies in his 1962 book “Bringing up Babies”. If you spoil your baby, it will become a socialist.
In his words “If we teach our offspring to expect everything to be provided on demand, we must admit the possibility that we are sowing the seeds of socialism”. At the height of the Cold War, this was a worrying prospect indeed and parents took the advice on board. Stop cuddling that baby! It’s unpatriotic!
7. You Can Inherit Traits From Your Mother’s Previous Partners
Now this model of thinking – known as telegony – is so illogical it defies belief. The theory is that if your mother has had a previous partner, you could inherit genetic traits from them rather than from your father. How? Well no-one really explains that, but it was avidly adopted by racists everywhere – the Nazis, for example, believed that once a woman had a non-Aryan partner, her children could never be considered Aryan. An article from Pravda explains that people used phrases like “polluting the chromosome chain”, which is the kind of pseudo-science speak you’d expect from ignorant racists.
One of the examples often cited when it comes to telegony is “Lord Morton’s Mare” – a 19th century horse that was born to two white horses, who emerged with stripy legs. The legs were attributed to the mare’s previous breeding with a quagga, an now-extinct type of zebra (above). This isn’t a particularly compelling piece of “evidence” and was later explained by the theory of recessive genes. Looks like telegony has very little basis then!
6. The Earth is Hollow
Theories about the Earth have kept people busy for centuries. And the theory that the Earth is hollow is one for has persisted, with some people even believing it today. It’s been the basis of science-fiction novels (e.g. “Journey to the Center of the Earth”) and there are said to be all manner of things in there – from subterranean civilizations to the Garden of Eden.
If this all seems ridiculous, then take a look at the beliefs of Scientologists and you’ll realize that weird beliefs are pretty widespread. The Hollow Earth theory may be persistent but it hasn’t been generally accepted since around the 18th Century, when knowledge about planet formation disproved the theory.
5. The Best Way of Soothing a Baby is Morphine
Another shining example of old-fashioned parenting next, with the use of “Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup” for all those niggling childhood illnesses. Now, any parent will tell you that teething is a long and painful process for all involved, and no doubt many would be tempted to lace their child’s medicine with morphine. But no-one would actually do it, would they?
In the 19th century, however, things were different and the soothing syrup produced by Mrs Winslow did, in fact, contain 5mg of morphine. No doubt the adverts were true when they said that it would “relieve the poor sufferers immediately” but they weren’t quite so true when they said it was “perfectly harmless”. Mrs Winslow’s syrup was American, but there were many British equivalents that contained similar ingredients. No wonder Victorian London had a problem with opiate addicts – they were brought up on the stuff!
4. You Can Poison Your Baby With “Angry Breastmilk”
On the subject of babies, there have been some interesting theories put out about the ancient and mystifying art of breastfeeding. A common one around the start of the twentieth century was that if a mother was angry, it would turn her breastmilk sour. Luckily that isn’t the case, given how many breastfeeding mothers are also dealing with stubborn 3-year-olds that would make even Gandhi swear.
It is true that extreme stress can affect a mother’s supply, but nowadays, no-one pays attention to books like the 1916 parenting guide by the Sadlers that said that colic was caused by mothers thinking angry thoughts. As one government website puts it “Feelings cannot change the composition of human milk.” So there.
3. Leeches Can Cure Everything
Another theory that has some modern supporters, leeches were once seen as a cure for all ills. The practice is said to have started 2,500 years ago in India as a way of bloodletting but the Ancient Greeks were also keen pioneers of the technique, believing that the “four humors” of the body (blood, phlegm, black and yellow bile) needed to be in balance in order to ensure good health. If they were out of balance, you became ill. So letting blood was a way to balance that and leeches are very good at blood-sucking. It’s more than likely that this whole idea completely freaks you out but if it doesn’t, you can still see leech therapists today (pictured above.)
2. Thalidomide is Good for Pregnant Women
And yet more suspect medical advice here, which led to an international tragedy. In 1957, a new wonder drug called Thalidomide was launched onto the market. Initially intended to treat insomnia and headaches, it quickly became apparent that it was also good at curing morning sickness. So doctors started prescribing it widely to pregnant women, with no idea that it would cause hideous defects in their unborn children.
The effect was devastating – thousands of babies died and thousands more were born without limbs. Eventually, it was traced back to Thalidomide and the drug was withdrawn. It still remains on the market, for very specific medical uses, but there is a clear warning about using it while pregnant. What’s terrifying about this scandal is how happily everyone accepted their doctor’s advice without questioning. The only positive side to the whole affair is that regulation has subsequently become much tighter, especially when prescribing for pregnancy.
1. The Earth is Flat
Remember I mentioned earlier that some people persist in beliefs that others gave up a long time ago? Well, this is the definitive example. The Flat Earth Society still believes what everyone believed pre-Columbus – that the Earth is a flat disc, with the North Pole in the Middle and Antarctica spread around the edge. Apparently, this is taken form literal translations of the Bible (e.g. Psalm 75:3 “When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars”, which implies that the Earth is on pillars).
The only problem with taking the Bible literally is that it was written by people who only had access to the understanding of their time, and pictures from space have shown us quite conclusively that the Earth is round. Still, the Flat Earthers may consider that all part of the conspiracy…you make your own mind up!
The mesmerizing feeling of warm sun rays leaning down into tropical waters, and breaking back through the water’s vivid facade as it rebounds off the glistening scales of a rare fish provides an experience that stays in one’s memory for a lifetime. I thought I’d share some of the most beautiful species that I know in the waters. There are in the order i consider them the most vibrant and beautiful, since, beauty is, ofcourse, in the eye of the beholder.
1. Mandarinfish
Not to be confused with Mandarin Fish (Chinese Perch). The mandarinfish or mandarin dragonet ( Synchiropus splendidus ), is a small, brightly-colored member of the dragonet family, which is popular in the saltwater aquarium trade. A lesser-known species, these are probably the single most colorful and vibrant fish I’ve ever seen. The mandarinfish is native to the Pacific, ranging approximately from the Ryukyu Islands south to Australia. Yes! They are definitely the most colourful fish in the world.
2. Juvenile Emporer Angel Fish
This a very famous fish known to non-divers more than the divers. However most of them don’t know the different between the youngs and the adults of these kinds. Juveniles are most fascinating fish in the waters. They are dark blue with electric blue and white rings; adults have yellow and blue stripes, with black around the eyes. It takes about four years for an emperor angelfish to acquire its adult colouring. They grow to 40 cm (15.75 in) in length.
3.Lion Fish
The lionfish is one of the most venomous fish on the ocean floor. Lionfish have venomous dorsal spines that are used purely for defense. When threatened, the fish often faces its attacker in an upside down posture which brings its spines to bear. However, a lionfish’s sting is usually not fatal to humans. If a human is envenomed, that person will experience extreme pain, and possibly headaches, vomiting, and breathing difficulties. However they are one of the most beautiful and colorful fish.
4. Clown Trigger Fish
Triggerfishes are about 40 species of often brightly colored fishes of the family Balistidae . Often marked by lines and spots, they inhabit tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world, with the greatest species richness in the Indo-Pacific. Most are found in relatively shallow, coastal habitats, especially at coral reefs, but a few, such as the aptly named oceanic triggerfish. One of the most beautiful of their species is the clown trigger fish, it’s designs and colours are literally breathtaking!
5. Nudibranch
A nudibranch is a member of what is now a taxonomic clade now, rather than a fish. Nudibranchs are often casually called ” sea slugs “, a non-scientific term. This has led some people to assume that every sea slug must be a nudibranch. Nudibranchs are very numerous in terms of species, and are often very attractive and noticeable. Among this group can be found the most colorful creatures on earth.
6. Symphysodon
All Symphysodon species have a laterally compressed body shape. , however, extended finnage is absent giving Symphysodon a more rounded shape. It is this body shape from which their common name, “discus”, is derived. The sides of the fish are frequently patterned in shades of green, red, brown, and blue. The height and length of the grown fish are both about 20–25 cm (8–10 in).
7. Mantis Shrimp
Mantis shrimp appear in a variety of colours, from shades of browns to bright neon colours. Although they are common animals and among the most important predators in many shallow, tropical and sub-tropical marine habitats they are poorly understood as many species spend most of their life tucked away in burrows and holes. Although it happens rarely, some larger species of mantis shrimp are capable of breaking through aquarium glass with a single strike from this weapon.
8. Moorish Idol
One of the most difficult fish to keep in a home aquarium (and very expensive as well), to most aquarists Moorish idol are the pinnacle of the hobby. You may think you’ve seen them before, but you’re probably getting them confused with another species, the Bannerfish (also known as the False Idol). With distinctively compressed and disk-like bodies, moorish idols stand out in contrasting bands of black, white and yellow which make them look very attractive to aquarium keepers.
9. Clownfish
Also known as Anemonefish, Clownfish are some beautiful fish which generally consist of a yellow/orange body with white stripes along with black lining along it’s fins or black body with yellow/orange areas along it’s lower body and fins , though this depends upon the species of Clownfish and they come in various displays. Many show white bars or patches. The largest reach a length of 18 centimetres (7.1 in), while the smallest barely reach 10 centimetres (3.9 in).
10. Rainbow Parrot Fish
Named Parrot fish because of their calcareous bird-like beaks. Parrot fish use these beaks to crush and eat the small invertebrates that live in coral. Much of the sand and sea floor of coral reefs are actually remains of meals from the parrot fish, they chew the coral, eat the invertebrates and spit out the leftover calcium. In most species, the initial phase is dull red, brown or grey, while the terminal phase is vividly green or blue with bright pink or yellow patches. The remarkably different terminal and initial phases were first described as separate species in several cases, but there are also some species where the phases are similar.
