Rock of the Three Whales, Viewpoint of the Moon, Charyn Canyon, Cypress Swamps: alien places of our planet

We have prepared another trip to the alien places of our planet. We found these amazing creations of nature in such countries: Thailand, Kazakhstan, Angola, USA. Enjoy watching!

 

Three Whale Rock, Thailand

Hin Sam Wan (translated from Thai as "The Rock of the Three Whales") is an unusual rock formation about 75 million years old, located in the jungles of Thailand, in the province of Bueng Kan. It is named so because at a certain angle the rocks look like a family of whales.

Only two rocks ("mother whale" and "father whale") are accessible on foot, it is impossible to reach the "baby whale" on foot. Hikers who climb to the top of the Three Whales cliff enjoy unspoiled views that stretch to the beaches of the Mekong and the mountains of neighboring Laos.

You can devote a whole day to the trip to the rock of the Three Whales. Visitors can choose from nine different hiking trails. On these hikes, you can find waterfalls, a wide variety of plants and animals, and even some peace and quiet. While here, stay at sunset if you have time. There is nothing better than watching the sunset over Thailand from the back of a giant stone whale.

 

Moon Viewpoint, Angola

Miradoro da Lua (Miradouro da Lua) is translated from Portuguese as "Viewpoint of the Moon". This is a collection of rocks that resembles the landscape of the moon. This moon-like landscape is located 40 km south of the capital of Angola – Luanda, and is one of its most important tourist attractions.

Miradoro da Lua was formed over a long period of time by erosion caused by wind and rain.

There is a roadside observation deck that provides a great opportunity to see this geological wonder up close, giving every visitor the feeling that they are on the moon.

 

Charyn Canyon, Kazakhstan

Charyn Canyon is another alien canyon that stretches for 154 km along the Charyn River in Kazakhstan. The canyon is located 195 km east of the city of Almaty, near the border with China.

This natural monument is composed of sedimentary rocks, whose age is about 12 million years. The height of the steep mountains of the canyon reaches 150-300 meters. The slopes are formed both as a result of the destruction of rocks (denudation) and as a result of sedimentation of rocks (marls – white calcareous rocks).

The most interesting place for tourists is the so-called Valley of Castles or Red Canyon. This is a dry gorge washed by melt waters. It is located perpendicular to the Sharyn River, which flows through clay-sand mountains and stone cliffs. The length of the Red Canyon is about 3 km, the width is from 20 to 130 meters, and the depth is up to 100 meters.

The Charyn Canyon is part of the territory of the Charyn National Park, formed on February 23, 2004.

The gateway to the national natural park and a place of attraction for tourists from all over the world is the Sharyn Visitor Center. It is a place for tourist information, education, scientific research, volunteer movement, a place for meetings, trainings, seminars, lectures, exhibitions, as well as a space in which you can work with a view of the mesmerizing landscapes. The visitor center offers various activities and services for visitors. There are guided tours on a daily basis.

 

Cypress swamps, USA

These fantastic cypress swamps are located in the USA, on the border of Louisiana and Texas. It is in this place that optimal conditions for growth have developed for this type of tree.

For life, the swamp cypress chooses wet land areas – river banks and swamps. Sunlight is not very important to him, but warmth is necessary. And another key factor is the high rainfall. Its dense wood is resistant to decay, and it loves water so much that it can grow in conditions that no other land plant can stand.

During the first five years of its life, the swamp cypress grows up to three meters, at the age of 40 it is already a 21-meter tree, and by the century the average height is 36 meters. After another 100 years, growth stops, and then the tree does not change in size, moreover, it can live up to 1000 years.

You can take a walk through the fantastic forest with the help of a virtual tour – just go to our article "Fabulous cypress swamps in USA | 360° visibility".