Arabia. Peninsula Valdez: “Paradise for Marine Animals” Mayan Cenotes Park

Arabia

(the inhabitants of the country are called Jeziret al-Arab, that is, the Arabian island; Turks and Persians call it Arabistan) - represents the vast southwestern peninsula of Asia, separated from the Asian mainland by the Persian Gulf as part of the Indian Ocean and connected to the solid land by the plains of the Syrian-Arabian Desert. Connected to Africa by the Isthmus of Suez and separated from it by the Red, or Red, Sea, which narrows in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait to 30 km in width, Africa represents a transitional link between Africa and Asia. The peninsula lies between 12° 45" and 30° 25" N. w. and between 50° 30" and 76° 22" E. duty. (from Ferro). Africa extends from the shores of the Indian Ocean to the north-west to the borders of the Syrian-Mesopotamian desert for 2325 km, from the Isthmus of Suez to Basra for 1500 km; in parallel to Jeddah - its width is more than 2000 km. The area occupied by Arabia, including the Sinai Peninsula and the Syrian Desert, has 3,156,000 km2, therefore accounting for one quarter of the entire European continent.

Parts of the Arabian Peninsula

The peninsula is divided into the following parts:

1) El-Gajr in the N.W., or Stony Arabia ( Arabia petraea), with 7,000 inhabitants, under Ottoman rule; 2) Hedjas - coast from 19° north latitude. and approx. to 58 1/2° East. longitude, including Mecca and Medina, 357,194 km, with the Sinai Peninsula and Hedud with 480,000 inhabitants; further 3) Azir - 116,176 km with 400,000 inhabitants. and 4) Yemen - 110,120 km with 600,000 inhabitants; both were conquered by the Turks in 1871-73, so the Turkish possessions in this west. parts of A. occupy 583,490 km. In the middle, the northern part is: 5) the Syrian Desert, or the Country of the Bedouins, with the oval lowland Dzhauf or Jof with 28,000. and the sandy steppe of Nofud. 6) the state of Shammar (Shomer) with 500,000 inhabitants. and the main city of Hail. 7) Wahhabi state in Nejed, 523,098 km with 1,133,000 inhabitants. and the main city of Rijad. Qasim and, apparently, Harik separated from it, so that the area decreased significantly, but the number of inhabitants decreased to a less significant extent. The former eastern part of this state 8) El-Gaza, or Hedjer, 81,328 km with 218,000 women. (the main city of Hofguf), was conquered by the Turks. 9) The state of the Omani Sultan, erroneously called the Muscat imam (according to Pelgrave, Muscat is not the main city at all, and its ruler is not the imam, that is, the highest clergy), 210,450 km with 1,598,000 inhabitants . 10) In the eastern part of Yemen, on the mountainous seashore, lies the still almost unknown Mahrakh, whose inhabitants speak a special dialect, and to the north - Hadhramaut. 11) Between these southern regions and the Nedjed Sultanate are the vast sandy deserts of Dakhna and Ahkaf. Moreover, a narrow strip of sand along the shore of the Red Sea is called Tihama, that is, a lowland descending to the sea. Likewise, El-Ahkaf means a desert covered with hills. The desert character, rocky or sandy, in the absence of fresh water, is predominant in Arabia, although, according to Pelgrave, three-quarters of the country has cultivable soil.

Mountains and irrigation

The entire north of the peninsula up to 28° N. w. represents a low-lying plain intersected by ridges of low hills. At 28°, the Jebl-Shamara mountain range rises at the main point to almost 1800 m, consisting of several high, granite, bush-covered spurs of Jebl-Aja (350 m above ground level) and Jebl-Selma. They are separated from each other by the Albatin plain. To the north of this plain is the Dahi Desert. Further to the South A. there is an elevated plateau, mainly of solid granite cartilage, cut from South West to North East and from South to North by mountain spurs and countless deep valleys surrounded by exposed and steep rocks, i.e. n. wadi Only in this constantly or periodically irrigated area, which represents soil capable of cultivation, is a settled population found. Here one can see in stripes a running depression of the surface, covered with sand and having a rocky base. A wide mountain valley, abundantly irrigated, rich in fruits and grains, goes, gradually descending, from the Assyrian Radwai Mountains in the east to the Persian Gulf and divides the entire mountainous part of the country into northern and southern. This valley is the best part of the vast region called Iemameha. The main mountain elevation here is Jebl Imarieh, or El Arid. It goes along a steep white wall to the north, separated from 59° east. d. to the northeast to Deraijeh and extends even further to the north under the name of Dzhebl-Tueka. From Derayzhek to the north there is another mountain range, Jebl el-Khair. To the south of Western Iemamekh, parallel to Jebl-Imarieh, but 300 meters away. distance from it, a chain is seen going to the north, which is considered to be Jebl Menakib, mentioned by Arab writers. Many Arabian mountains undoubtedly remain unknown to this day.

Name Jebl There are also stone terraces of the internal mountain plateau descending to the sea, the jagged ledges of which form entire walls. To the east of Hedjas, one of these walls is known as Jebl el-Hedjas; another part of this chain, in Jebl Shar, rises to 2300 m at 24° N. w. and is called Jebl Radwa. On the E. from it there are 1300 and 1625 meters between the peaks. lies Medina. The mountain range between Mecca and Taif is called Jebl Qora. At 19° N. w. a gap is formed between the mountain ranges, a passage from the seashore into the interior of the country is the so-called. Assyrian Tihama. From here to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait the mountain range that runs is called Jebl el-Yemen; the southernmost part, broken and rich in peaks, is called El-Jeblya. It reaches 3200 meters. heights and, adjoining the vast mountainous region of Sana'a, which makes up the El-Jof district, descends steeply to the sandy plain of Marebah. Sana'a lies at an altitude of 2130 m, and its surrounding peaks range from 650 to 1300 m in height above the ground. Many mountain streams originate in these mountains, irrigating deep mountain valleys, but reaching no further than Tihama, where they are covered with sand. Although the steep mountain slopes, from which the soil layer has long disappeared, are for the most part deserted and devoid of any vegetation, nevertheless, in many mountainous regions, namely basaltic ones, there are fertile cultivated areas, such as the southern part of Yemen and Hadramaut. once known as Happy Arabia ( Arabia felix), whose fragrant products brought her great fame. The whole western mountainous region is rocky, but there is no lack of trees, streams and springs, so that this whole strip in the southern extremity is well populated. In general, wherever water and the possibility of irrigation are found, we encounter trees and fenced fields, and vast, well-watered valleys stretch between wild basalt rocks. Herds of Bedouins graze in the valleys to the south and east; settled, hardworking farmers live to the north and west, whose villages are decorated with gardens, groups of palm trees and extensive coffee plantations. The irrigation system in some areas, namely Yemen, has reached a high degree of perfection. Deep wells, cisterns and funnel-shaped reservoirs are filled with water, which flows in streams during the rainy season, and then quickly evaporates during the hot, dry season. However, with the help of artificial reservoirs it is possible to keep coffee plantations in a flourishing state. The reservoirs are located in terraces one above the other. First of all, they use the lower ones until they are exhausted, then they fill them from those that lie above, and finally, if necessary, they resort to deeper wells and cisterns. All agriculture in Arabia is based on this irrigation system.

There is not a single large river in Arabia, since the hot air and sand absorb atmospheric moisture too quickly. Moreover, sometimes years pass during which not a drop of rain falls. It is very likely that in the east a river reaches the Persian Gulf, flowing partly underground (under sand); The existence of such a river is indicated by the many freshwater springs found near the seashore. Another permanent, that is, non-drying, river (which is extremely rare in Africa) is the Maidan, which flows into the sea in the west near Aden. In Northern Arabia, a large water system is called Wadi er Rumem and originates from the Radwai Mountains; it is called at the beginning Wadi el-Ghamd, and where the mountains end - Wadi Nej; it flows first to the southeast towards Medina, then to the northeast to Hanakia, from where it flows east to Aban. In this direction it receives all the winter rivers of Hedjas. A more significant river is Wadi Hagir, along the banks of which follows the caravan road of pilgrims between Haid and Mecca. Then it flows in an easterly direction to Anets and here turns to the north, and then to the east and east and flows, apparently, into the Euphrates at Suk-e-Shuyukh. Near the mouths it reaches a width that requires a whole day to cross, and in winter it is often completely inaccessible. In the summer, or even most of the year, its flow is interrupted in a sandy strip from 7-800 km.

Climate

Population - approx. 3.5 million, ch. arr. Arabs are divided into settled farmers in the oases and nomadic pastoralists, or his successors, the caliphs. With the transfer of the capital of the caliphs to. Turkish to the rescue. The government came to the founder of modern Egypt - Khedive Mehmed Ali, who, after a long struggle, managed to break the power of the Wahhabis. Only Abdul Hamid (q.v.) managed to subjugate Arabia with bribery, blood and iron. He set countless sects against each other, artificially causing discord, unrest and excesses. The coming of the Young Turks (see) to power did not change the situation. The Young Turks forcibly Turkized the Arab tribes. The national movement among the latter was quite strong. In 1913, a congress of representatives of Arab nationalists took place in Paris. The national movement was led by the landed aristocracy, which combined spiritual and secular power over the Arab tribes. During the World War, the British, who established a blockade of Hejas and thereby cut him off from the only source of his income - pilgrimage, managed to induce the Emir of Hejas Hussein to go over to the side of the Entente. Throughout 1915 he bargained with the British. In , after concluding an agreement with England, Hussein rebelled against the Turks and proclaimed the independence of Hejas. Subsequently, Hussein's insistent demands to fulfill the promises given to him by the British to create an Arab federation under his leadership aroused the discontent of England. When in September the Wahhabis (q.v.), led by the Sultan of Nejd Ibn Saud, approached Mecca, Hussein, under pressure from England, renounced the throne in favor of his son Ali. In October, the Wahhabis occupied Mecca and King Ali was forced to retire to Jeddah, which was subject to a long siege. In the middle, England announced the annexation of the port of Aqaba (on the Red Sea, southeast of the Suez Canal) and the important railway. point Ma'an to Transjordan, mandated by the League of Nations. This annexation, in connection with the agreement concluded in November 1925 with Ibn Saud, according to which a “corridor” connecting Transjordan with Iraq went to Transjordan, contributed to the completion of the unbroken chain of English. possessions from the Red Sea to the Indian Ocean. In response to the indicated concession by Ibn Saud, England agreed to his occupation of Hejas.

In December 1925, Jeddah fell, and in January, Ibn Saud proclaimed himself king of Hejas.

Italy, directly interested in Yemen, located next to its African possessions, entered into trade agreements with its owner.

Literature: Gurko-Kryazhin V.A., Arab East and imperialism, M. 1926.

Ya. Kitaygorodsky.

The Arabian Peninsula is 2,700 km long, 1,400 to 2,400 km wide; its area is 3500 million square meters. km, which is almost 7 times the area of ​​France. It lies in a belt of huge subtropical deserts. On its territory there are several large sandy deserts, which in landscape terms are a continuation of the Sahara, as if closing it from the east. Their area is over 1 million square meters. km. The largest of them is the Rub al-Khali desert (over 600 thousand sq. km).

In the deserts of Greater Nefud, Small Nefud, Nefud-Dakhi, El-Jafur, Nefud es-Sirr and others, there are about 450 thousand square meters under sandy layers. km. In the north of the peninsula there is the gravelly Syrian Desert and the rocky Al-Hajara.

In terms of relief, Arabia is a high plateau with elevated western and southern edges. The climate of the Arabian Peninsula is subtropical and tropical, which creates an exceptional wealth of thermal resources. Average annual temperatures in the south of the peninsula reach maximum values ​​on the entire Eurasian continent - about 30 ° C. In the rest of the territory, in all months of the year, average temperatures are above 15 ° C. The annual sum of average daily temperatures above 15 ° C is 9000-10000 ° C.

In Arabia, the average absolute minimum temperatures of the coolest month - January - are always positive, never falling below 10 ° C, but more often remaining at 20 ° C. In June, the warmest month, temperatures are above 30 ° C everywhere, with absolute maximums of 50- 54° C. The amount of precipitation in most of the peninsula does not exceed 100 mm and only in the mountainous outskirts in the west and southwest it increases to 750 mm (they are brought by the summer monsoon).

In most of Arabia, precipitation is confined to the winter-spring period. In the Rub al-Khali desert, precipitation may not fall for more than five years. The climatic regime of Arabia is characterized by a large role of winds. In winter, the cold temal (that is, north) wind prevails, accompanied by strong squalls, sometimes short showers and thunderstorms. In spring and early summer, a sultry southern wind called samum is common, which carries large masses of sand. The low amount of precipitation determines the drainage of most of the territory and the low availability of water resources. Within almost the entire peninsula, the river network is represented by temporary watercourses.

The Rub al-Khali Desert (the Arabs call it “empty place”) is the largest sandy desert plain in the Arabian Peninsula. Up to 500 thousand sq. Its area is occupied by lifeless sands, justifying its name. The desert occupies a vast tectonic depression in the south of the peninsula between the Central Arabian plateaus and the belt of marginal mountains in southern Arabia. Its height is about 500 meters above sea level, with a gradual decrease to the east to 100 meters and transition to vast coastal salt marshes. The southwestern region of the desert is a completely lifeless space where quicksand white sands are found among the ocean and yellowish sandy waves.

The desert is a museum of aeolian landforms. They are represented mainly by ridge, dune and hummocky-ridge sands. There are almost all forms of aeolian relief here - from single dunes and dunes to powerful longitudinal dunes.

Groundwater in the desert, as throughout the Arabian Peninsula, is significant and is not located deep from the surface - within 10 meters.

Sandy desert Great Nefud (Red Desert) - an area of ​​​​about 80,000 square meters. km is located in the northern part of the Arabian Peninsula. This desert is one of the most beautiful deserts in the world due to the color of the surface: from bright red in the morning to almost white at noon. Big Nefud is a sea of ​​sand with widespread accumulations of developed dune sands up to 100 meters high, occupying intermountain depressions where Cretaceous sandstones were intensively weathered. The bulk of the sands was formed as a result of this process.

North of the Great Nefud Desert is the small rocky Al Hamad Desert. Its surface is strewn with boulders, fragments of silicon and limestone, and granite slabs.

The Little Nefud sandy desert occupies an ancient semicircular drainage channel, 20-80 km wide and about 1200 km long, connecting the Rub al-Khalib desert in the south with the Greater Nefud desert in the north. A significant area of ​​the desert is represented by dune sands of various types. Small Nefud is relatively rich in groundwater, the reserves of which are replenished by underground flow, and in landscape terms it is not much different from other sandy deserts of Arabia.

Within Arabia, the basis of the fauna consists of Arabian and Sahara-Arabian species proper, and in the northern and eastern outskirts of Arabia, a significant participation of species of the Iranian-Turanian complex can be traced. Endemism is insignificantly expressed. Several species of gerbils are endemic to the Arabian deserts: black-tailed, royal, Arabian oryx, Arabian tahr. The basis of the mammal world is made up of a variety of gerbils. In the south-west of the peninsula there is a grass mouse.

These rodents inhabit mountain slopes and river beds with relatively rich grass cover. Jerboas are active only at night, widespread in the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula - from Syria and Iraq to the southern coast of Arabia. There is a rodent - the black-tailed dormouse. In the mountainous regions of Arabia, Syrian damads are common. Ungulates are very diverse (common gazelle, goitered gazelle). The Arabian oryx, a large antelope, inhabits sandy and rocky deserts, feeds on plant food, and can go without water for a long time. The Nubian goat lives in the mountainous regions of the Arabian Peninsula. The desert of Arabia is inhabited by: sand fox, wolf (everywhere), ferret (northern part of Arabia).

The world of birds is represented: desert and crested lark, desert sparrow, desert warbler, golden eagle, white-bellied sandgrouse, houbara bustard, dun nightjar.

There are numerous lizards everywhere, and quite a few snakes (including poisonous ones). Among the insects during the day you can see desert ants, locusts, and borer beetles, and with the onset of darkness, beetles - darkling beetles, nocturnal ground beetles, and cutworm butterflies - become active. At night, predatory arachnids emerge from their burrows - tarantulas, salpugs, scorpions.

Each of us in a geography lesson was once faced with the need to define what a peninsula is. We will look at this definition in detail, discuss the types of peninsulas and interesting facts that are known to us today.

Islands and peninsulas

An island is a piece of land surrounded by water on all sides that is above sea level. One of the most interesting islands is René-Levasseur, located in Canada. It is unique in that it is located in the center of Lake Manicouagan, right in the middle of the mainland. It can be seen even from space.

What is a peninsula? The definition from 7th grade geography is that it is a part of a protruding continent surrounded by water on three sides. That is, the peninsula in most cases has a one-way connection with the mainland. The size of the peninsula is a relative concept. The small peninsula is sometimes called the cape. But most often the peninsulas are quite impressive in size.

Peninsulas are distinguished by origin

The indigenous group includes the following:

1. Detached peninsulas. They are a continuation of the land, part of the mainland. For example, Apennine. Its area is 131,337 km². Most of it is occupied by Italy.
2. Joined. Geologically, these areas do not belong to the mainland and are an independent part of the land, which “moored” to the shore and firmly settled there. A striking example of such a neighborhood is the Hindustan Peninsula. It is located in Asia; states such as India, Bangladesh and Pakistan are located on its territory. In fact, it is a fragment of Gondwana - as a result of the collapse of which Australia, South America, Africa, and Antarctica were formed.

There is also a separate group - accumulative peninsulas. What are accumulative? They are formed in rivers and lakes due to the creation of a bridge of lake and river sediments that connect part of the mainland with the island. In this way, the Buzachi Peninsula in the Caspian Sea was formed.

The largest peninsula in the world

Now that we have looked at the definition of what a peninsula is, let’s move on to the description of the largest of them. It is an Arabian peninsula with an area of ​​approximately 2,730 square meters. However, its exact area is impossible to calculate, because it is not known where the mainland ends and the peninsula begins. It is the largest in the world.

Most of it is occupied by Saudi Arabia, and the remaining territory is occupied by small countries such as Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The southern regions of Iraq and Jordan are also located here.

The peninsula (the definition from geography of what a peninsula is is described above) is considered the place where the Islamic faith came to life. The most famous shrines of the Muslim world are located on it - Mecca and Medina.

In mid-summer, there is abnormal heat here, which makes it impossible to go outside at noon. The maximum value is +55 °C. At the same time, no more than 100 mm of precipitation falls per year. Arabia is one of the driest places in the world.

Here are the most interesting facts about the major islands of our Earth.

1. West Antarctica, or the Antarctic Peninsula, is the second largest in area after the Arabian Peninsula. It is absolutely unsuitable for human life. It's so cold here that if you throw a piece of steel on the ice, it will break into pieces. There are also no seasons on the peninsula - scientists live following the time of their homeland. Only 10 mm of precipitation falls per year. At the same time, 70% of the entire planet’s fresh water is stored in ice.

2. The Iberian Peninsula is one of the largest. Located in southwest Europe. There are 3 states on it - Spain, Portugal and Andorra (as well as the British possession - Gibraltar). It is also called Iberian - from the name of the ancient people of the Iberians, who lived here before the Romans chose the territory.

3. Crimea, the Eurasian peninsula, is one of the most unique on the planet. Just 100 years ago it was called more poetically - Taurida. Homer mentioned the peninsula in his poem “The Odyssey,” which dates back to the 9th-11th centuries BC. Presumably, in one of the Crimean caves, Odysseus met with cannibal giants. This cave is today considered one of the most mysterious in Crimea. The ancient Greeks called it the Harbor of Omens.

4. Labrador. Not everyone knows that such a peninsula exists. Meanwhile, it is quite large - its area is 1.6 million km 2. Located in Canada. It was named after the Portuguese navigator, but many associate it with a large breed of dog. The climate here is characterized as temperate, with wet winters and cool summers. But in the north in summer the temperature averages -7 degrees.

5. The Apennine Peninsula is famous for the fact that it contains the Apennine mountain range, which crosses it exactly in the middle. It resembles the spine of a peninsula, dividing the area into eastern and western parts.

Finally

Of course, these are not all peninsulas that deserve attention. Our planet Earth is so huge that we can really talk about all its geographical features endlessly.

The number and total area of ​​the territory of the Russian peninsulas is much less than. The following peninsulas adjoin the territory of the country: Gydansky, Kamchatka, Kanin, Kolsky, Taimyr, Tamansky, Chukotka and Yamal. They are mainly located in the Asian part and have a harsh climate. Below is a list, maps and brief descriptions of the six largest peninsulas of Russia in order of increasing area.

Chukotka Peninsula

Chukotka Peninsula on the map/Wikipedia

The area of ​​the peninsula is 49 thousand km². It is located between the Bering and Chukchi Seas. The capital is the city of Anadyr. The peninsula is based on mountainous terrain. Some mountain ranges exceed 1 km in height. Closer to the sea bays of the Chukotka Peninsula there are lowlands. Due to its location in the Far North of Russia, the climate is very harsh. January temperatures average -40º C. In summer the thermometer rises to +10º C.

The territory is also forest-tundra. Trees include alder, poplar and larch. The wooded area is home to a few species: wolverine, polar bear and wolf. There are several hundred species of birds, and walruses are also found on the shores of the peninsula.

Kola Peninsula

Kola Peninsula on the map/Wikipedia

The area of ​​the Kola Peninsula is approximately 100 thousand km². The lands are located at the junction of Bely and Barents. The largest cities are Murmansk, Kirovsk, Apatity, Severomorsk.

Thanks to the collision of tectonic plates, a unique landscape was formed on the peninsula: mountains, forests covered with conifers, and a plateau. The Arctic climate contributed to the formation of numerous lakes, swamps, lowlands and depressions. The main attraction of the peninsula is considered to be the Khibiny Mountains. Their highest point is 1200 m. Skiing is possible most of the year: snow covers the slopes from November to June. There are unique ones in the region. One of them is a small desert. The second is the White Sea coast, which is strewn with fragments of minerals.

There are three nature reserves on the Kola Peninsula. The area is famous for eider nesting sites. occupies 20% of the lands of the Murmansk region. In the forests of the peninsula you can see spruce, birch and larch. There are many berry bushes, edible mushrooms, and rare medicinal plants. The fauna is usually divided into forests. More than sixty species of mammals are found on the Kola Peninsula. In addition to them, there are many, and. The forests are inhabited by bears, arctic foxes, and foxes. Reindeer, lemmings, and voles live on the tundra.

Char, salmon and brown trout spawn in the waters of the adjacent seas. Navaga, cod, herring and haddock are commercial fish species. Pinnipeds include the spotted seal, bearded seal, and ringed seal. Whaling has led to the fact that there are fewer than ten species of whales on the Murmansk coast.

Yamal

Yamal Peninsula on the map/Wikipedia

The area of ​​the peninsula is about 122 thousand km², the length of the peninsula is 700 km, the width is up to 240 km. It lies in the northern part of Western Siberia and is washed by the Kara Sea. Panaevsk, Mys Kamenny, and Salemal are considered large settlements. Gas and oil deposits have been discovered in Yamal, so the infrastructure of the peninsula is constantly developing.

Due to its location in northern Russia, the peninsula has an arctic climate. Winters with winds and snowstorms continue most of the year. Summer temperatures on average rise to +6º C. At the border with the continent, the tundra turns into forest-tundra. The mossy ground is gradually covered with bushes. There are no heights on the peninsula; the landscape is dominated by flat land. The rivers flow into the Kara Sea.

The vegetation is represented by conifers and deciduous trees. Heather and wild rosemary can be found. The fauna is also diverse. The most common mammals are wolves, arctic foxes and reindeer. There are a lot of birds, especially representatives of the Red Book. The rivers are rich in commercial fish. The local population catches whitefish, lenok, char, muksun and Siberian perch.

Gydan Peninsula

Gydan Peninsula on the map/dic.academic.ru

The area of ​​the peninsula is approximately 160 thousand km², length is about 400 km, width is up to 400 km. The Gydan Peninsula is located in the West Siberian Lowland, abutting the Kara Sea. The peninsula has an arctic climate, and winter lasts more than six months. Summer is short and cold, there is a polar night and a polar day. There are many rivers and lakes on the peninsula. Often the surface is lowlands and swamps.

The flora and fauna have adapted to extreme living conditions. The flora is sparse due to cold winds. The most common species are lichens, mosses, dwarf trees and creeping shrubs. Forest-tundra vegetation appears near the southern border: saxifrage, polar poppy.

The species composition of animals is determined by low temperatures. Reindeer, arctic fox and fox feel good on the Gydan Peninsula. In summer, a variety of birds fly to the nesting grounds: geese, plovers, and white-fronted geese. Some of them are included in the Red Book. Walruses, fin whales and polar bears are considered rare visitors. A huge number of species of freshwater fish live in reservoirs.

Kamchatka

Kamchatka Peninsula on the map/Wikipedia

The area of ​​the territory is 270 thousand km², length 1200 km, width up to 440 km. Kamchatka is washed by the waters of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk in the west, as well as by the waters of the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean in the east. The Kamchatka Territory occupies the lands of the peninsula, Karaginsky Island and the Commander Islands. The major cities are Vilyuchinsk, Elizovo, and the regional center is Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

The peninsula is famous for its active volcanoes and mineral water springs. Mountain ranges occupy two thirds of the territory. In the center is Klyuchevskaya Sopka, the most powerful volcano in the country. There are several ski resorts in the vicinity of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.

The diverse flora is due to a combination of volcanic activity, the presence of mountain ranges and precipitation. More than two hundred Red Book plants are found in Kamchatka. The peninsula is home to the Kamchatka brown bear, ermine, bighorn sheep and polar wolf. In the last century, a squirrel came to these lands. In the forests there are rodents such as muskrats and. Sometimes, from the tundra side, a polar bear visits the peninsula.

Taimyr

Taimyr Peninsula on the map/Wikipedia

Area 400 thousand km². The peninsula is the largest in the country and the tenth largest in the world by area. It is located in the central part of Siberia, between the mouths of the Yenisei and Khatanga. Located in the Far North of Russia, Taimyr is characterized by a harsh climate. Winter lasts 8 months. The landscape is represented by tundra and arctic deserts. Rocky lands with lichens and bushes give way to cedar forests. Taimyr is home to reindeer, musk ox, arctic fox, and sable. Walruses set up rookeries on the coasts. Internal and external reservoirs are rich in fish.

Rio Lagartos Park is one of the world's most important protected areas, where specialists study and preserve bird populations. The reserve is located in the state of Yucatan.

Rio Lagartos is a huge lagoon in northeastern Mexico. On an area of ​​60 thousand hectares there are several habitats of unique birds. Mangroves and coastal forests are home to the Caribbean pink flamingo.

Hundreds of tourists come to the reserve every day to admire the birds. The most convenient way to do this is to take a four-hour guided boat tour.

A small tourist town with a hotel and a restaurant specializing in traditional Indian cuisine has also been built here.

Mayan Cenotes Park

Cenote Maya Park is a park that is located inside a cave. It is famous for its natural underground formations and large natural swimming pool.

The park is located in the middle of the jungle, so to get to it you have to travel a long way through the forest.

In the park you can practice various types of tourism, such as diving and mountaineering. Groups of four people are allowed into the cave, accompanied by a guide. Here you can also swim in an underground lake and take pictures against the backdrop of high natural relief.

There is a Mayan table in the park. Here you can taste traditional dishes, which include rice, chicken, beans, fruits, soup, dessert, and cheese.

Climate control systems are installed in the dungeon. It is the responsibility of workers to monitor the temperature both in the water and on the surface.

Eco-theme park Xcaret

Xcaret Eco-Themed Natural Park is 45 minutes' drive from Cancun.

In addition to various attractions, the park has a reef aquarium, beaches, a pool with dolphins, and a butterfly pavilion.

In the park, the history of Mexico from pre-Hispanic times to the present day will be revealed to you. You will see costumed performances with music and dancing, an ancient ball game, the ancient Papantla Flyers ceremony, take part in the Day of the Dead festival - in a word, you will plunge headlong into the historical past and culture of the Mayan people and their descendants.

Xcaret Park is open to visitors all year round.

Xcaret Park

The most famous natural amusement park in Mexico and the Caribbean with almost free-living animals and numerous beaches. The area of ​​the park exceeds 80 hectares. Here you can swim along an underground river, visit an aquarium, a turtle farm, a butterfly park, as well as swim with dolphins, take a horseback ride on a sandy beach or snorkel.

Every evening the park hosts colorful performances involving hundreds of artists. The show generally focuses on life in Mexico during the Mayan period, the Spanish Colonial period, and today.

There are numerous cafes and restaurants in the park.

Xplor Adventure Park

The Xplor Adventure Park was created in 2009 and is located on an area of ​​59 hectares, of which 8 hectares are underground.

In the above-ground part of the park, various extreme jungle adventures await you. But the highlight of the park is its underground part, located in natural caves. This is an underground river, incredibly beautiful stalactites and stalagmites and a spirit of adventure.

The safety of the park's extreme attractions is confirmed by many international certificates, so you can be sure that nothing will happen to you in the adventure park.

Xplor Activity Park

The park of active extreme entertainment will attract visitors for the whole day. It will delight its guests with seven types of challenges: ziplining, a buggy ride through the jungle, swimming on and without rafts, riding in hanging hammocks and others.

The park is equipped with a high degree of security, so every visitor will feel safe and comfortable here. Each visitor is given a helmet at the entrance, which must be worn at all times in the park. Each helmet has a built-in chip that records where and when tourists’ photographs were taken.

The price of a ticket to the park is not cheap, but the vivid impressions and desired adrenaline are worth it. You need to wrap your equipment in cellophane, since water contact is guaranteed.

Shel Ha Park

Xel Ha Park is one of Mexico's ecological reserves on the Yucatan Peninsula. In addition to the beautiful nature, in the park you can admire the picturesque sea bay and karst lakes.

However, Shel Ha is more famous for its entertainment opportunities rather than its natural resources.

Tourists in the park can go diving, swim in the bay wearing life jackets or rings, and even swim with dolphins. The park provides all the necessary equipment for outdoor activities: fins, scuba gear, towels and much more.

Zoological Park Centenario

Zoological Park Centenario is one of the famous zoos in Mexico.

It was created at the beginning of the twentieth century - in 1910. Since its construction, the zoological park has been rebuilt several times. Its largest reconstruction took place in 1962.

Here you can see several dozen wild animals that live on the Yucatan Peninsula. In the Centenario Zoological Park, Mexican birds live in a huge aviary.

In addition to animals and birds, the Centenario Zoological Park contains several species of different plants and trees that grow on the Yucatan Peninsula.

There is a small lake in the Centenario Zoological Park. Anyone can travel along it on rented boats.

The zoo has a pedestrian area and a train area. All the zoo's pets can be viewed from the window of the mini-locomotive.

On the territory of the zoological park there is also a small fountain, a special recreation area, and several playgrounds for children.

Eco-park Tanka

Tanca is a vast ecological park in the eastern part of the Yucatan Peninsula, allowing you to fully enjoy the lush nature of the Mexican jungle and the carefully preserved culture of the Mayan Indians.

Tanka Eco-Park attracts tourists with a varied tourism program, which includes a lot of entertainment - bungee riding, swimming in magical Indian lakes, canoeing, jeep rides through the jungle, as well as a visit to a real Mayan village, getting to know their life and culture . During the excursion you can learn many interesting facts, try exotic tropical fruits and, of course, enjoy the magical views of untouched nature.

Tanka Park attracts fans of eco-tourism from all over the world, offering tourists a rich program and many experiences. Fans of marvelous tropical nature and various exotics are unlikely to be disappointed.

Sights of the Yucatan Peninsula