Patagonia Photos

Torres del Paine National Park
Sunset casts a rosy glow over granite peaks encircling a glacial lake in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. Chile's prized jewel the 598,000 acre (242,00-hectare) national park is a mosaic of landforms including soaring mountains, golden pampas and grinding ice fields. at the southern tip of South America the region of Patagonia includes parts of Argentina and Chile.

 

Moreno Glacier

Moreno Glacier rises above Lake Argentino as a rugged wall three miles (4.8 kilometers) wide and almost 200 feet (60 meters) rall. One of 47 massive ice fields in argentine Patagonia's Glaciers National Park, this grinding, groaning force of nature covers a hundred square miles (260 square kilometers).

 

Copahue Provincial Park

Hundred foot dall (30 meter tall) araucaria trees surrounding a waterfall reach of the stars in Argentina's Copahue Provincial Park. Living relics of the Jurassic period, these thousand year old giants stand as symbols of Patagonia tenacity in a landscape both severe and sublime.

By: Unknown On 3:35 AM

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Saskatoon

Surrounded by endless fields of shimmering wheat today's Saskatoon is a pocket of Saskatchewan's culture, vitality and welxoming praiarie spirit. These days city streets are buzzing with an infusion of new restaurants and residents breweriese and bras, marking Saskatoon one of Canada's fastest growing cities. Downtown has gone from a pretty lazy place most evenings to a place where you can't find a parking spot, says Chris Kirkland editor of the city magazine Planet S. With the South Saskatchewan flowing through the minddle of town river life is integral to the heart of the city, says Patti McGillivray, vice president of the Saskatoon Heritage Society. Almost half of the city is on each side of the river, so crossing east and west over the bridges, seeing the river and walking the riverbank trails all are part of daily life here.

When to Go: With more sunlight per year than any other Canadian city, Saskatoon comes alive in summer, with celebrations like jazz, theater and folk festivals held June to August. New to town: MoSoFest which prides itself on being Saskatoon's most diverse festival and this year featured 60 bands in seven venues. During winter kickseldding and cross country skiing are popular in Meewasin. The Potash Corp Wintershines festival takes place late January early February with an ice park ice carving competitions and soup cook-offs. Christmas lights add a festive glow to the outdoor skating rink beside the Delta Bessborough hotel.

How to Get Around: The city is easy to explore by foot vehicle or bike. Rent a cruiser tander or longboard ar Saskatoon Bicycle Rentals or plan your bus route online. In Meewasin Park bike or hike trails alongside the water or rent a kayak to paddle under the seven bridges that connect the east and west sides of the city. Discover 6,000 years of First Nation history at Wanuskewin Heritage Park a regional highlight anda National Heritage site that is a 20 minute drive northeast of downtown About two hours south, catch a free ride on Saskatchewan's largest ferry, the Riverhurst running 24 hours a day across Lake Diefenbaker.

Where to stay: The Delta Bessborough is the city's most iconic hotel a historical landmark opened opened by the Canadian National Railway in 1932 Overlooking the river the Bess's distinctive turrets add credence to a city that has been called the Paris of the prairies. A block away is the modern James Hotel a high end boutique hotel with 59 guest rooms and suites and live music most weekend nights in the casual lobby bar. Travelodge and Sandman are mid-level options.

What to buy: A wide range of products from local farmers and arisans can be found at Sask Made Marketplace. It's a one stop shop for candles, chocolate condiments, books, salts, and soaps. Lucky Bastard is a boutique distillery praised for its organic saskatoon and sea buckthorn berry liqueurs.

Fun Fact: An hour and a half drive southeast of saskatoon is little manitou Lake. Saltier than the ocean bathers float effortlessly while engoying the purported healing benefits of the warm mineral rich waters. This rare saline lake has been called "Cabada's Dead Sea."

By: Unknown On 5:32 AM

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Northern Territory, Australia

Australia's Top End wears colors that sing: rust red earth deep blue skies and the folden eyes of watchful crocodiles in the flower-tangled waterways of Kakadu National Park.

But it's the people here who make the place come alive.

We are older than the Pyaramids and older than the Bible. We have had no dictators. No caste systems and no concept of money, says Robert Mills spokesman fot the Larrakia people on his walks around Lameroo Beach.

More than 50 Aboriginal tribes still live in the "NT" and new goverment partnerships have created a respectful  balance in the outback. Visitors can gaze at Rainbow Serpent rock art from one of the longest existing societies on Earth While the artists can live on the land in peace. Frontier town Darwin sports an energetic face-lift, with an interactive history museum a redeveloped waterfront a deck chair cinema and a flurry of cosmopolitan markets.

One oldie remains though: the annual Beer Can Regatta with boats fashioned from leftover "tinnies" of Melbourne Bitter and other brews. Like everything else the event runs on "NT time". Not today, not tommorrow. Next tuesday maybe.

Where to Go: May-July (early dry season) and Agust-September (late dry season) are the best times to visit with clear skies and lower humidity. March to May is rainy, yet ideal for viewing aquatic birds (such as pelicans, egrets and herons) and water lilies and other perennial water plants. Barramundi fishing is best February to April.

How to Get Around: Fly into Alice Springs or Drawin, rent a car and follow a designated self-drive tour. The Northern Territory encompasses 548,265 square miles (more than Texas, California and Colorado combined) and 95 percent of the roads are paved.

Where to Stay: Exclusive Bamurru Plains offers safari-style accommodations (nine elevated, screened in suites with private baths) in a remote bush setting (you can hear the buffalo splashing in the floodplains). The camp is located on a coastal buffalo station (a 25-minute flight from Drawin) and named for the local magpie geese, tens of thousands of which serenade guests each morning Rates cover all meals.

Cultural Tip: When charting a self-drive tour, check to see if your travels will bring you through an Indigenous Protected Area (IPA). Many IPA communities or lands require tourist permits to enter. When visiting, follow the Australian government's IPA visitor guidelines designed to protect and respect the privacy, environment and cultural traditions of indigenous people.
 
Fun Fact: Even if you can't see crocodiles in a territory waterway they likely can see you. Northern Australia is home to approximately 150,000 saltwater crocodiles and at least 100,000 freshwater crocodiles. The Mary River has the highest concentration, with nearly 15 saltwater crocs per half mile.

By: Unknown On 10:50 AM

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