Th e Orkney Islands

Th e Orkney Islands lie at the frontier of the North Sea and the
Atlantic Ocean and are one of Scotland�s most scenic holiday destinations. Th ey
represent an archipelago of over 70 small islands and isles.
Orkney�s history stretches back over 4,500 years, and the islands� famous
Neolithic settlements make up the �Heart of Neolithic Orkney� UNESCO
World Heritage site, a fascinating collection of Neolithic monuments,
stone circles and tombs.
Only 17 of the islands are inhabited, with most residents clustered
around the towns of Kirkwell and Stromness. Key attractions include the
magnifi cent 12th century St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, the Orkney
Museum in Stromness, off ering an insight into the islands� unique culture and
history and others. Th e islands
off er the perfect setting for an active holiday with some of Scotland�s best
hiking and cycling trails, a number of
golf courses and ample trout fi shing spots in the lochs.
Pinnacles
Th e lunar-like Pinnacles form one of Australia's most unique and
fascinating natural landscapes. Formed over millions of years, thousands of tall
limestone spires rise eerily out of the yellow desert sands
of Nambung National Park. It is thought that the raw material for the
limestone of the Pinnacles came from seashells in an earlier era that
was rich in marine life. Th ese shells were broken down into lime-rich
sands that were blown inland to form high mobile dunes.
Th e limestone formations of the Pinnacles vary in size and shape;
some are as small as a mouse whilst many are as big as 3.5m high. Th e
Pinnacles Desert is best seen at dawn or dusk when they cast long,
strange shadows over the rippling yellow sand dunes. Although the desert teems with
wildlife, most animals are
nocturnal. However, it is not uncommon to see western grey kangaroos, emus and many
sorts of reptiles and
birds like black-shouldered kites hanging around the strange stones.
Natural Wonders: the Art of God
One touch of nature makes the whole
world kin. W. Shakespeare
121
Grand Canyon
One of the oldest National Parks in the nation, the Grand Canyon
National Park is one of the major natural wonders of the world. Th e
Grand Canyon, is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in
the state of Arizona in the United States. President Th eodore Roosevelt
was a major proponent of preservation of the Grand Canyon area, and
visited it on numerous occasions to hunt and enjoy the scenery.
Th e Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29
km) wide and attains a depth of over a mile (6,093 feet or 1,857 meters). Th e
rocks of the canyon walls range from 250 million years old
at the top to over 2 billion years old at the bottom. Each layer of rock
represents a distinct geological period of the Earth's past. Nearly two billion
years of Earth's geological history
have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their channels
through layer aft er layer of rock
while the Colorado Plateau was uplift ed.
With its awe inspiring views, the turbulent Colorado River, numerous hiking trails,
and recreational opportunities, the park is visited by more than 5 million tourists
each year.