Mount Kilimanjaro, United Republic of Tanzania. Mendenhall Ice Caves, Alaska, USA

They say about the dead: "He is no longer with us." Sometimes even Christians forget the simple and joyful truth: with God there are no dead, with Him all are alive. The Saints remind us of this with their care and help both at turning points in history and in situations that at first glance do not deserve such attention. , whose death we are celebrating today, he performed most of the miracles after his bodily death - and continues to perform them when people in faith ask him for help.

1. About the city of Opochka and hidden stones

Once the Lithuanian king sent a large army with many military weapons to the city of Opochka, not far from Pskov, wanting to ruin it. The inhabitants of the city courageously resisted the Lithuanians and killed many. But the enemies new force rushed to the city, trying to take it with all sorts of ingenious ways. The townspeople resisted as best they could, so that there were almost no stones and trees left in the city - everything was thrown from the walls onto the enemies. The only hope was in God.

And then one woman appeared in a dream the Monk Sergius and said: “Why are the governor and the inhabitants of the city discouraged and think that they have nothing left to defend themselves - stones and trees? Or do they not know that many stones lie in the ground near the city church behind the altar?

Waking up, the woman told Vasily and all the people about this governor, but they did not believe her. Only one beggar, having heard her words, went to the indicated place near that church and, taking something in his hands, began to dig the ground - and found a stone that twenty people could hardly move. Then other people came running, began to dig and found a whole warehouse of stones underground, which no one had seen or heard anything about before. Stones were raised on the walls of the city.

At night, the enemies put ladders against the walls and tried to climb them, but the townspeople beat them with the remaining trees and stones they had just found. The remnants of the enemy troops hastened to get out.

2. About the appearance of the Russian saint to the Tatars

When Kazan was still a Tatar city, many of the inhabitants somehow saw how St. Sergius walked along the walls of the city, overshadowed it with a cross and sprinkled it with water. They asked their wise men, "What does this mean?" They answered: “Oh, woe to us! With the appearance of this elder, our end is approaching: soon the Christian faith will shine here and Rus' will rule our kingdom.

And so it happened: soon Prince Ivan Vasilievich went to war against the reigning city of Kazan, conquered it and annexed it with all the surrounding lands to the Russian land, and then erected numerous churches in it and built the monastery of St. Sergius.

3. About the miracle in the monastery of the Monk during the siege

One Sunday, after the morning service, the resident of the Trinity monastery, Irinarkh, dozed off. In a dream, he saw how St. Sergius enters the cell and says to him: “Tell the city leaders that a huge enemy force will rush at you next night, but do not weaken, but trust in the mercy of God.” Then he saw how the saint went around the walls and outbuildings and sprinkled the monastery buildings with holy water.

The next night, after the miracle worker's warning, at the third hour, an army approached the monastery, wanting to destroy it. The people who were in the fortress fought courageously against the enemies and defended the monastery.

4. About the incredulous monk and three blind horses

A certain monk, who was in the hospital, heard that they were talking about the miracles of the great Sergius, and, lying on his bed, he simply thought about the horses on which the Reverend sent three monks to Moscow with the message - where did these horses come from, who saw them and is it all true.

Thinking, he turned to the wall and suddenly heard that the door to the cell was opened and the footsteps of someone entering were heard, but he did not turn around to see who it was, because the sick then often entered and left the cell, and many poor laymen lived here. Then the elder heard him being called: “Brother, turn around here, I’ll tell you something.” But the elder did not turn around, but objected: “Say so, brother, what is the matter. I can't turn around, you know I'm sick." But the newcomer repeated: “Elder, turn around! What are you lazy about?

The patient answered: “I don’t want to harm myself, speak like that,” he thought that someone who lived in the cell was talking to him, and therefore did not want to look at the newcomer and fell silent. The visitor began to reproach him: “Why are you mad, old man? And why are you disobedient? Is it monastic? Or does God not have mercy to give you recovery from your illness? The elder was surprised at such reproaches and said to himself: “Who is it that condemns me? Who have I offended?

He wanted to turn around - and suddenly stood up completely healthy and recognized the miracle worker by the appearance depicted on the icon.

The monk said to him: “Why do you doubt? I actually sent my disciples.” And the elder innocently asked: “Yes, on what did you send them, my lord?” And the monk answered: “He sent on those three blind horses, which the groom Athanasius Oshcherin drove out of the monastery, to a fenced-off place.”

The elder felt healthy, and, seized with fear, repented that he had rebuked the saint, and then he came with his feet to the church and told everyone about what had happened to him. And those blind horses were looked for everywhere, but they were not found.

5. About the carpenter, and why the doors of temples are locked from the outside

Once in a church, workers were setting up scaffolding for wall painting. One of them lay down to take a nap from extreme fatigue and fell asleep. Everyone left the church, but they did not look for him, and they did not even think that he was here, and they locked the western doors of the church (the southern and northern doors were then closed from the inside).

And then a handsome old man came up to the sleeping worker and poked him in the ribs; he, waking up, sees - the old man is standing and says to him: “Go to rest from labors in a proper place; here, in the holy church, it is fitting not to rest, but to pray,” and led him from the upper tiers to the church floor. The carpenter, greatly frightened, did not know how to get out of the church. The elder led him to the church doors, pointed to the inner bolt and said: “Come out and tell the rulers about everything, hiding nothing.” In fear, he pushed back the bolt and left the church, came to his comrades, but did not dare to say anything to anyone.

During the morning service, the sexton, having opened the western doors and entered the church, found that the northern doors were not locked, and seeing this, they went cold with fear, believing that there were thieves. After a while, the carpenter came and told what had happened to him, without hiding anything. And since then, all church doors have been locked from the outside.

6. About Fyodor Matveev and his illness

One man named Fyodor Matveev lived not far from the monastery of St. Sergius. And his eyes hurt so much that he did not sleep for many days, day or night. Once upon a time summer time he led the mule into the field and, exhausted from illness, fell face down on the ground and mentally asked the miracle worker Sergius to heal him. Lying like that, he fell asleep in a thin sleep and heard a voice telling him: “Go to the monastery and serve a prayer service to the miracle worker Sergius.”

Then he heard his name: “Fyodor!” - quickly raised his head, looked and saw with his own eyes a monk sitting on a white horse. The monk rode by and became invisible, and at that time Fyodor's eyes were healed of the disease. He realized that he had received healing from God through the prayers of the great miracle worker Sergius, went to the monastery Holy Trinity, to the great helper of the Monk Sergius and served a prayer service, giving glory to God for being healed of the disease through the prayers of the saint.

7. About the repentance of the buffoon

In 1600, a certain archer named Sergius, a buffoon, lived not far from the Sergius Lavra. Many times he swore off buffoonery, intending to stop this soul-destroying occupation, but he did not fulfill his vow. When he began to buffoon, he lost his mind and fell into a serious illness, and when he swore, he was healed from his illness and from madness.

He happened to be in Moscow, and he began to buffoon again, forgetting about the vow, and immediately fell into madness. He was brought to the courtyard of the Sergius monastery, and he stayed here for several days, and his illness did not recede. Then he remembered his former vows and vowed to stop buffoonery until his death. And he began to pray to the all-merciful God, calling for the help of St. Sergius.

And so, standing in the Church of the Epiphany in front of the icon of the Savior, he suddenly saw that the hair on his head seemed to catch fire, and he screamed out of fear, and from that moment his reason returned to him, and the disease receded. Returning from Moscow, he served as a archer and was healthy and reasonable, as before.

8. About the fire in the temple

An interesting miracle happened to one of the most famous inhabitants of the Lavra, Archimandrite Alipy (Voronov). He later became the abbot of the Pskov-Caves Monastery, and in the Lavra he carried the obedience of a restorer. He worked on frescoes in the Sergius (Refectory) Church. Scaffolding has already been installed, restoration material has been laid out. At night, Saint Sergius appeared to him:

“Father Alipiy, why are you sleeping?” Run to the temple!

He immediately got up and ran. The temple was on fire. The rag just caught fire. Everything was extinguished without any great damage, thanks to the miraculous intervention of St. Sergius.

9. About heavenly prosphora

Schema-Archimandrite Josiah (Evsenok), brother Joseph before the schema, even before the revolution was a tonsurer of the Chernigov skete. This is one of the legendary Lavra elders who was able to return to the Lavra after its opening in 1946. Only a few of its pre-revolutionary inhabitants caught the revival of the Lavra, Father Joseph is one of them. He was a monk of a high spiritual life, he possessed many gifts of grace, carried the obedience of a confessor: he instructed, strengthened in the faith everyone who came to him, which attracted the attention of the authorities.

In Khrushchev's times, he was exiled to the North, to camps. After some time, he gets pneumonia there. He spent several days with a temperature over 40 degrees in the camp infirmary. In the end, the doctors, making sure that the person is already a suicide bomber - there is nothing to waste time and medicine on him - they transfer him to an unheated room in the winter with the confidence that he will not live until morning, and the story of his treatment will end there.

At night, the priest had a vision: St. Sergius comes up to him and says: “I care even more about those of you who are in exile, outside the monastery,” and at the same time holds out a prosphora to him. Father Iosif sees for sure that this is Lavra prosphora, and feels its warmth in his freezing palm, as if it had just been baked. He ate this prosphora. The next morning, when not only doctors came for him, but also two porters in order to carry the corpse to the burial place, they saw that the priest was not only alive, but also completely healthy.

Later, when Father Joseph was released and he returned to the monastery, the priest only grieved about one thing: “Why did I eat all the prosphora then? It was a heavenly prosphora, it was possible to leave at least a little bit.

10. About how to become a real monk

In the Trinity-Sergius Lavra there was a revered confessor, Sheikhumen Selafiil (Migachev), he had many spiritual children. The enemy raised a special dislike for him from one of the abbots of the monastery. Batiushka periodically experienced the “humiliating actions” of his superiors. People always gathered around him. He had a special kindness. Before the monastery, he was a family man, so he felt all the sorrows and troubles of those who came, he could understand and console.

One day he was standing on the steps of the Refectory Church, and in the presence of his numerous children the governor somehow offended him. Then he ordered to undress him to his cassock. The father's heart could not stand these tests. He came to the cell and, left alone, decided to leave the monastery. Then he packed his meager monastic belongings into a suitcase. After praying, he, according to Russian custom, sat down on the road. Huge grief no longer fought in his heart with the intention to leave the monastery.

Crossing himself, he stood up with a sigh, bent down to the suitcase, and at the moment when he took it by the handle, another hand fell on his hand: “If you endure everything, you will become a real monk,” he clearly heard the voice of St. Sergius.

Father Selaphiel later said with tenderness in his heart to the brethren: “No matter what they do to me now, no matter how they humiliate me now, no matter who insults me, I will labor here with St. Sergius until the end of my life.” This brother fulfilled his promise: he stayed hopelessly in the Lavra to a ripe old age and died in peace at the age of 93.

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Many tourists travel to Barcelona to admire the architectural masterpieces of Antoni Gaudí. But you don't have to fly to the Catalan capital. All his legacy...

The personality of Antonio Gaudi is enigmatic and mysterious. The second person who, in my opinion, has a similar aura - not even a real man, and the character of the novel by Francis Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby. And with what ease the hero of the novel enchanted his audience with soirees, with the same ease Gaudí's works capture our heart, soul and memory. What is his genius?

Perhaps the answer lies on the surface. He is around us. Gaudi deified nature and drew inspiration from it. He was the first to decide to transfer the laws of nature to architecture.

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Its church spiers top with sheaves of cereals and ears of corn, the arches of the windows are crowned with baskets of fruit, and bunches of grapes hang from the façades; drainpipes meander in the form of snakes and reptiles; chimneys are twisted with snails, and fence grates are forged in the form of palm leaves. Everything ingenious is simple!

During his life, Antonio Gaudí created more than 20 architectural masterpieces, 10 of which are located directly in Barcelona.

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I invite you to take a fascinating walk through the streets of Barcelona and get acquainted with the masterpieces of Gaudí's architecture, which have no analogues to this day.

And you can stay in Barcelona in these hotels:

1. House Vicens (Casa Vicens)

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The House of Vicens was Gaudí's first significant work. It was built between 1883 and 1888 by order of the owner of the ceramic tile factory, Manuel Vicens Muntaner.

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For the first time inspecting the site of a future construction site, Gaudi discovered a giant flowering palm tree surrounded by a carpet of yellow flowers - marigolds. All these motifs Gaudi later included in the design of the house: palm leaves found their place on the fence, and marigolds became the pattern of ceramic tiles.

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Gaudí developed the design of the entire building, from the meticulous finishing of the exterior to the decorative solutions. interior spaces, up to the painting of walls and stained-glass windows.

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Since the house is a private property, it is closed to the public. However, one day a year, May 22, the owners of the house open its doors to guests.

2. Pavilions of the Guell estate (Pavellons Güell)

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It was on this project that two great men met who for many years to come determined the image of Barcelona: the architect Antonio Gaudí and Count Eusebi Güell. By order of Güell, Antonio had to reconstruct the patron's summer country residence: remake the park and erect a gate with a fence, build new pavilions and design stables with an indoor arena. And in order to show a single idea for the entire project, the architect made all the buildings in the same style, using the same building material and a pattern resembling dragon scales.

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It was during the construction of the Guell pavilions that Gaudi first used the trencadis technique - facing the surface with irregularly shaped pieces of ceramic or glass. Later, we will meet this technology in the design of benches in the Park Güell and many other works of the architect.

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Unfortunately, today only the entrance group with a gate decorated with a dragon has survived from the building. As conceived by Gaudí, the dragon guarded the garden with golden apples, bestowing eternal youth and immortality.

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When the gate was opened, the head and paws of the dragon moved, frightening and surprising guests and passers-by. Today, you can approach the Dragon without fear - it will remain motionless and freely let you into the estate.

3. Palau Güell

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The next large-scale project created by Antonio Gaudi for Güell is a residential building, or rather, a palace. This magnificent Venetian "palazzo" is squeezed into a small space of 22 by 18 meters.

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Fully evaluate appearance the entire Palace Güell is impossible from any point, because Carrer Nou de la Rambla is very densely built up. To surprise viewers who are at a great distance from the building, Gaudí designed unusual chimney towers.

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Gaudí believed that there was only one architectural element cannot be a worthy decoration of the roof. Therefore, in the castle, the roof is designed according to the "scenographic" principle. Each chimney is made in the form of a whimsical turret, turning the roof into a magical garden. Gaudi uses this favorite technique in many of his future projects.

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At the entrance, between the two forged gates of the palace, Gaudi placed the coat of arms of Catalonia, and engraved the initials of Euzebi Güell - "E" and "G" on the gates themselves.

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4. College of the Order of Saint Teresa (Collegi de las Teresianes)

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"Collegi de las Teresianes" - a school at the monastery of St. Teresa - also became one of the architectural masterpieces of Antonio Gaudi. The college building was built between 1888 and 1890 by order of Enric d'Usso, the priest who founded the Teresian Order.

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Initially, the development of the plan was entrusted to the architect Juan B. Ponsom. He was working on a project whole year, and even managed to build the building up to the second floor, when the construction was entrusted to Gaudi. The young brilliant architect managed to make significant changes to the initial design and complete the construction in less than a year.

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For Gaudí it was unusual project. Firstly, he had to work on a limited budget, so ordinary brick and imitation stone were used in the construction. And secondly, his fantasy was "framed". Antonio first coordinated all his architectural and decorative ideas with the priest, and only after that he could bring them to life. It's not surprising that most of from the plan was rejected.

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The architect nevertheless decorated the school as much as possible. To do this, he used numerous neat arches and decorative elements on the battlements of the building, which look like professors' hats.

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5. House Calvet (Casa Calvet) Another masterpiece of the architect Antoni Gaudí in Barcelona at first glance seems ordinary and unremarkable, but it's worth taking a closer look...

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Gaudí's Calvet House was built by order of the widow of the late industrialist Pere Calvet, in accordance with all the criteria for a "profitable" house. Shops were located on the first floor, the hostess herself lived on the second floor, and the remaining levels were given to tenants.

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It's a paradox, but the most "ordinary" creation of Antonio Gaudi immediately after construction, in 1900, was recognized as the best building in Barcelona. For many, this came as a surprise, since by this time Antonio had completed several projects that looked more refined and sophisticated. However, the authorities of the capital of Catalonia, it was this creation that seemed the most worthy.

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In the design of the facade, Gaudi thought through every little thing. So, honeycombs suggested the shape of the peephole to the architect. When creating it, the genius dipped his fingers into the clay mass several times, and then filled the resulting shape with metal.

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And the knockers on the front doors hit the image of the bed bug. Perhaps, according to the ancient Catalan custom, the killing of this insect brought good luck and prosperity to the house. Or maybe Antoni Gaudí just didn't like pests.

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Today, the Kalvet house is still used for its intended purpose: the basement is reserved for warehouses, the first floor is occupied by an office, and residential apartments are located on the remaining floors.

6. Figueres House on Bellesguard Street, Barcelona (Casa Figueras)

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At the beginning of the 15th century, King Marty the Humane built on the slope of Mount Tibidabo magnificent palace who called Bellesguard - translated from Catalan " beautiful view". Five centuries later, in 1900, a completely different, more modest neo-Gothic palace by architect Antonio Gaudi arose on the same site. Subsequently, he received the name House of Figueres.

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The house turned out in a rather bizarre style. The structure seems to be directed upwards, although the structure itself is far from being high. Gaudi achieved a similar effect by using a sharp spire in the construction, as well as by deliberately overestimating each part of the house. The height of the basement was 3 meters, the first floor - 5 meters, mezzanine - 6 meters. Overall Height the house reaches 33 meters and it looks completely completed in the vertical direction.

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In the course of construction work, Gaudí displaced the medieval road somewhat and placed it on vaults with inclined columns. He also uses this technique in Park Güell.

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Until 2013, the house of Figueres was closed to the public, but since the owners needed funds for reconstruction, they decided to open it to tourists.

Slowly, we are approaching the most interesting. These are the well-known and popular sights of Antoni Gaudi's hands in Barcelona, ​​and the first of them is Park Güell.

7. Park Guell. Garden City (Parc Güell)

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Probably, each of us at least once saw Gaudí's gingerbread houses - one of the symbols of the capital of Catalonia, which is found on postcards, magnets and other souvenirs. We can find them at the entrance to Park Güell, or sometimes it is called "Gaudi Park".

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Once upon a time this popular park in Barcelona began its development as a commercial project. After a trip to England, Guell was impressed park areas and fired up with the idea to create something similar in Barcelona. To do this, he purchased a large plot on a hill and asked Antoni Gaudí to take over the project. According to Güell's idea, the park was to become a residential community for the Catalan elite. But the inhabitants of the city did not support his efforts. As a result, only 3 exhibition copies were built from residential buildings, in which the authors of the project themselves - Güell and Gaudi, as well as their lawyer friend, settled. Later, the Barcelona City Council bought the property from the heirs of the patron and transformed it into a city park, and opened a municipal school and a museum in two houses. The lawyer's house still belongs to his family.

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The architect did a great job. He designed all the necessary communication systems, planned the streets and squares, built viaducts, ramparts, entrance pavilions and a staircase that leads to the hall "100 columns". On the roof of the hall is located big square, surrounded by a bright curved bench around the perimeter.

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8. Casa Batlló

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"House of Bones", "Dragon House", "Yawning House" are all names by which Casa Batllo in Barcelona is known. This attraction is located in the very center of Barcelona, ​​and with all your desire you will not be able to pass by without noticing it. A humpbacked roof that looks like a dragon's spine, a mosaic facade that changes color depending on the lighting, balconies that resemble the faces of big-eyed flies or skulls - all this makes an indelible impression.

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Antonio Gaudí received an order for the reconstruction of the house from a textile magnate who planned to completely demolish the old building. Keeping the original structure of the house, the architect designed two new facades. The main one overlooks Passeig de Gracia, the back one goes inside the quarter.

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To improve the lighting and ventilation of the building, Gaudi combined the light shafts into a single courtyard. Here, the architect created a special play of chiaroscuro: in order to achieve uniform lighting, Gaudí gradually changes the color of the ceramic cladding from white to blue and blue.

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Part of the façade is covered in a mosaic of broken ceramic tiles that starts in golden hues, continues in orange, and ends in blue-green.

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9. House Mila - Pedrera (Casa Milà)

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Casa Mila is Antonio Gaudí's latest secular project. After its construction, the architect devoted himself entirely to the main masterpiece of his life - the Sagrada Familia Cathedral. Initially, the people of Barcelona did not accept Gaudí's new creation. Mila's house was nicknamed "Pedrera" which means "quarry" because of its uneven and ponderous appearance. Builders and owners of the house were even fined several times for non-compliance with generally accepted standards. But soon the passions subsided, they quickly got used to the house and began to treat it as another creation of a genius.

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When building Pedrera, Antoni Gaudí used technology that was far ahead of its time. Instead of the classic supporting and load-bearing walls, it used an irregularly shaped steel frame reinforced with arches and columns. Thanks to this, it was possible to give the facade of the house an unusual floating shape, and the layout of the apartments, at the request of the owner of the house, could change at any time. This technology is also very popular among modern builders who use it in the construction of monolithic-frame houses. But more than a century has passed!

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Sagrada Familia is the main masterpiece of Antonio Gaudi, the project of his whole life, to which he dedicated 43 years. The construction of the cathedral began in 1882 under the direction of the architect Francesco del Villara. But a year later, young Gaudi was appointed in his place. According to his idea, the height of the cathedral should be only one meter lower than the highest mountain in Barcelona - 170 meters. With this, the architect wanted to show that what was created by human hands cannot be higher than what God created.

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The expiatory temple of the Sagrada Familia, like many other creations of Gaudí, is designed in the spirit of the philosophy of unity with nature. The building should be crowned with 18 towers - this is a symbol of the apostles, evangelists and Jesus Christ.

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The facades of the cathedral are already decorated with sculptures depicting not only biblical characters, but also animals, grapes and various symbols reflecting facts from the life of saints.

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It is noteworthy that the animal figures were created by Gaudí himself. He put his "models" to sleep and created their exact sculptures.

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The interior of the cathedral is also thought out to the smallest detail. Gaudi assumed that from the inside the cathedral would resemble a forest, with stars visible through the branches of trees. As a reflection of this idea, multifaceted columns appeared in the cathedral, supporting the high vaults of the temple.

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Closer to the vaults, the columns change their shape and branch out like trees. stars in it grandiose project steel window openings located on different height.

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The death of Antonio Gaudi was as extraordinary as his whole life, as well as his work. On June 7, 1926, at the age of 73, he was hit by a tram. The architect lost consciousness, but the cabmen were in no hurry to take him to the hospital: he had neither money nor documents, and he looked extremely untidy. As a result, he ended up in a hospital for the poor. Gaudí died on June 10, 1926 and was buried in his favorite place - in the Expiatory Church of the Sagrada Familia.

// vedma-cook.livejournal.com

vedma_cook
30/12/2015 17:00

The opinion of tourists may not coincide with the opinion of the editors.

Travel portal Budget Travel has compiled a list of ten wonders of the world that may disappear by 2030. The inevitability of death will attract an additional influx of tourists to the miracles. They will want to look at the sights of the Earth, which will soon be gone, experts say.

(Total 10 photos)

1 Belize Barrier Reef

Belize Barrier Reef already suffered severe damage in 1998, losing up to 50% of corals in many places. Its corals are still bleaching, both due to global warming and human activities.

2. Congo Depression

Congo depression - the second largest massif of the jungle after the Amazon basin. By 2040, up to two thirds of the unique flora and fauna, according to the UN, will be lost if effective measures for their protection.

Forests are subjected to merciless cutting for the purpose of grazing, mines, and also during the guerrilla war in this region of Africa. Decrease in forest surface area leads to reduction of imbibition carbon dioxide, and thus rain, which contributes to climate change.

3. Dead Sea

Over the past four decades, its area has decreased by a third, and it has become shallow by 24 meters. Former beaches are now one and a half kilometers away from coastline. Water in the Dead Sea comes only from the Jordan River, but the countries surrounding it take more and more water from the river. As a result, after 50 years Dead Sea won't at all.

Moreover, the manufacturers of cosmetics and potassium carbonate are constantly depleting the mineral reserves of the seabed.

4. National everglades park(Florida, USA)

The swamps that occupy the main part of its territory are subject to pollution from the surrounding farms, as well as the invasion of alien living beings.

Not to mention that 60% of the local water is pumped out for delivery to nearby cities and on farms.

As a result, the area of ​​the park - the only place where the Florida panther lives - has already halved since 1900. Within 40 years, the Florida panther, like 20 other animal species, may disappear completely.

5. Madagascar

If you do not save the forests of this island African state, in 35 years they will be completely cut down and burned, and their inhabitants will die out. Reserves occupy only 5% of the island, preventing animals from moving safely throughout Madagascar.

Some of the island's rare animal species have not even been studied and registered, and may become extinct before they can be explored.

6. Maldives

If global warming continues, these islands, rising just over two meters above sea level, will be flooded. In 2008, the President of the State already announced the acquisition of land in other countries, in particular, in India, for the resettlement of citizens who were forced to leave their homes flooded by the ocean. In 2009, to emphasize the coming danger, he held a government meeting underwater.

7. North and South Poles

Global warming threatens 80% of Antarctica's emperor penguins with extinction. In the Arctic, destruction threatens polar bears, because along with melting polar ice Entire ecosystems are dying, including food chains. New ice massifs will stop forming in Antarctica within 20-40 years.

8. Tiger population

More than half of the world's tigers live in India. Total in the world wild nature there are 3,200 left, while in 1900 there were 100,000 in India alone. Completely tigers can become extinct in 12 years. For the needs of the Chinese traditional medicine kill an average of one tiger per day. Reserves for tigers exist, but they do not provide reliable female migration routes necessary for the full reproduction of the population.

9. Jungle Tahuamanu (Peru)

In the Peruvian province of Madre de Dios, there are almost the last mahogany reserves in the world. And it grows in the jungle of Tahuamanu. But due to illegal logging, they are declining. The US buys about 80% of the mahogany. After all, from every tree you can make furniture worth a million dollars.

Lumberjacks build roads that allow farmers and hunters to enter the jungle, which in turn disturbs the indigenous people and destroys the ecosystem. In addition, gold mining that is carried out in neighboring areas leads to air and water pollution with mercury.

10. Yangtze River Basin

Many observers, including Chinese officials, have already acknowledged that most of the flora and fauna that inhabit this natural region is under threat of extinction.

This is due to deforestation, the construction of dams and the formation of reservoirs. There is also the danger of an earthquake.

Tourist flows can have a twofold effect on the corners of nature: on the one hand, they obviously worsen the ecological state unique places Earth, only hastening their death. On the other hand, local governments can spend tourism revenue on measures to preserve natural wonders.

People are not always to blame for their destruction. Sometimes this process occurs under the influence of forces of nature. But be that as it may, if you want to see them not only in the photo, but also live, then I advise you to do this in the very near future.
1. In pacific ocean 3703 kilometers west of the coast of Chile is Easter Island, known throughout the world for its ancient stone statues. To date, 897 statues have survived.

Many people think that their eyes are directed towards the ocean, but in fact this is not so. All giants look inland. See amazing monuments ancient culture and history, many tourists come every year. But among them, alas, there are quite a few irresponsible people who cause irreparable harm to the island's ecosystem and stone giants. Because of this, the islanders raised the issue of limiting the flow of curious people. Therefore, if you want to see the amazing statues with your own eyes, we advise you not to delay the trip. It is possible that very soon, in order to see the sights of Easter Island, you will have to fill out a lot of documents and go through many formalities in order to prove that you do not intend to cause any harm to the island and its inhabitants.
2. NASA research has confirmed the fact that Antarctica is gradually melting. It happens pretty quickly. Of course, until the moment when the last block of ice on the continent becomes a tiny puddle is still far away. But scientists are already seriously concerned about the dynamics of this process.


In this regard, a number of measures have been taken in order to reduce the human impact on the local ecosystem. For example, ships with more than 500 passengers on board were banned from entering Antarctic waters. To see the icy beauty of the continent, it is best to contact the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators. The employees of this company develop the most optimal and safe route for travelers and for the ecosystem of the continent. This is how a responsible and reasonable attitude to the nature of Antarctica is being promoted.
3. Many know about ancient city Inca Machu Picchu, located on a mountain plateau in Peru. But very few have heard of another similar monument of Indian culture - the city of Choquequirao.


Europeans first learned of its existence in 1768. But excavations began to be carried out here only in 1970. The flow of tourists here is very low. This is due to the fact that you can get here only on your own - on foot. The road will take almost two days, so there are not so many people who want to wander between the ancient ruins. To draw attention to the ancient monument of architecture and make Choquequirao more accessible for study, the local government plans to open a five-kilometer cable car. It is expected that in this way the flow of tourists will increase significantly and will amount to several thousand people a day. Therefore, if you are not attracted by the prospect of wandering around in a crowd, hurry up. There is not much time left.
4. Snow-capped Mount Kilimanjaro is extraordinarily beautiful. Few things compare to her. This amazing volcano located on the African continent, even the world-famous brilliant writer Ernest Hemingway dedicated his work. But, unfortunately, there is very little left of the snow that the author wrote about.


According to recent studies, no more than fifteen percent of the former snow cover of Kilimanjaro has survived, and every year it continues to rapidly decrease. To see the extraordinary beauty of the snow-capped highest mountain in Africa, you should seek help from local travel agencies. Here you will not only be helped with the ascent and provided with all the necessary things, but will also be given reliable experienced guides.
5. All diving fans know about the existence of the Great Barrier Reef near northeast coast Australia. Every year, at least a thousand fans of scuba diving with masks and flippers rest here. This brought irreparable damage to the local ecosystem - water was polluted, many rare reef inhabitants were destroyed.


According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Great Barrier Reef, which has been formed over the course of seven millennia, may cease to exist in forty years if human intervention in the local ecosystem is as active and reckless. Therefore, if you are planning a trip to these Amazing places, remember that corals are unusually fragile. It is better not to touch them, and even more so not to break off pieces “for memory”. Don't be like barbarians!
6. Do eastern shores Puerto Rico is located two picturesque islands Culebra and Vieques. Looking at their pristine beauty, it's hard to even believe that this place served as a training ground a couple of decades ago. American bombers practiced air strikes here. Numerous protests by local residents led to the cessation of military testing. But the damage to the ecosystem of the islands is already irreparable.


Do not improve the situation and the flow of numerous tourists. If a law is not passed soon to restrict access to the territory of the islands, local flora and the fauna will be finally exterminated. In the meantime, there is still the opportunity to swim in the glowing waters of Vieques Bay and see the fabulously beautiful coral reef of Playa Carlos Rosario off the coast of Culebra.
7. The Dead Sea is considered to be one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world. Unfortunately, it is also on the verge of extinction. This is due to the activities of local industrial enterprises, which take up to eighty percent of the water that should flow into the sea.


As a result, the water level drops catastrophically. Over the past hundred years, it has dropped twenty-five meters. Now this process has accelerated significantly. Local authorities are seriously concerned about the situation and are planning to take a number of measures to save the unique reservoir. The project under development is called "Red-Dead". An option is being considered to “dilute” the Dead Sea with water from the Red Sea. Ecologists are confident that such a move will completely destroy the unique ecosystem of the Dead Sea. But if this is not done, then in just forty years the sea will dry up completely.
8. One of the main attractions of India is the huge Taj Mahal mausoleum, built in the 17th century by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth.


Every year, about three million tourists come to look at the amazingly beautiful architectural structure. But over the years, the palace-mosque is deteriorating, so in five years, at the initiative of UNESCO, the cultural and historical monument may be closed to visitors. If you have a desire to admire the magnificent chambers, decorated unearthly beauty patterns, marble flowers and gem mosaics, hurry up. It may not be possible soon.
9. The city of romantics and lovers Venice every year gradually goes under water (by about five millimeters annually). Even the first inhabitants rebuilt the city twice, rising to higher islands.


Today, this problem has again become acute for the local population. This is due to the deplorable state of the wooden supports of buildings, industrial water intake from artesian sources and the congestion of the city with buildings and residents. The authorities have repeatedly tried to solve the situation. But, alas, so far to no avail. According to experts, by 2028 Venice will become completely uninhabitable.
10. Tibet is amazing Mountain country with a unique culture. In 1950, she was at the mercy of the Chinese invaders. This did not have the best effect on the development of its culture.


The spiritual leader of the Tibetans, the Dalai Lama, and many other people known to the general public have repeatedly raised the issue of liberating the country. But, despite all the hype in the media and loud statements, cultural values and traditions local population continue to be mercilessly destroyed. Systematically, the Chinese government closes access to tourists here. Therefore, if you are still lucky enough to get here, be sure to visit the Potal Palace and the Ganden Monastery. They will not leave you indifferent.

Ecology

There are natural wonders in every country, and in some countries there are those that are known to the whole world. This list brings together a few little-known wonders that are incredible in their beauty, and these are exactly the places that are definitely worth visiting when planning your next vacation. Below you will find only one beauty in each of the countries represented, but this is by no means an exhaustive list.

natural wonders

10. Erg Chebbi

Morocco

Erg is an area that is covered with huge sand dunes. Erg Chebbi is the only erg located in the Sahara in southeastern Morocco. The length of these sand dunes is more than 22 kilometers from north to south and about 5 kilometers from west to east. South part erga is located near the village of Merzouga, which serves as a local tourist center.

It is worth noting that the height of the dunes in this area is about 150 meters, they are very beautiful orange and are very popular among tourists. Erg Chebbi is located in the very center of the rocky desert, and its sand arrives in constant motion.

Until the early 2000s, it was extremely difficult to get to the erg, because no paved roads were built to it. Later, a road was built that goes around the erg.

Besides the fact that these stunning, created by the wind sand dunes take you to another world, they are supposed to have healing power, so the Moroccans visit these places every year to plunge into the hot sand up to their necks.

9. Bryce Canyon

Everyone knows about the Grand Canyon in the USA, but hardly anyone living outside the USA has heard of national park Bryce Canyon, located in Utah. The main attraction of the park is Bryce Canyon. Although it is called a canyon, Bryce is more like a huge amphitheater, built by the erosion of sedimentary rocks under the influence of water, wind and ice.

Hoodoos, as these geological structures of bright colors (red, white, orange) are called, are a very beautiful sight at any time of the day, especially at sunset or sunrise.

Bryce is located much higher than other famous parks ( Grand Canyon and Zion), it is located at an altitude of about 2500 meters above sea level. Therefore, the territory of the canyon is very different in climate and ecology. Thus, tourists, who often combine visits to all three parks during their travels, feel this contrast.

The area surrounding the canyon was inhabited by Mormons in the mid-19th century. The name of the canyon was in honor of Ebenezer Bryce. It was he who founded the estate in this place, the area around which, 53 years later, in 1928, became a national park. The park is visited by fewer tourists compared to Zion and the Grand Canyon due to its remoteness.

unknown nature

8. Pantanal

Brazil

The swampy lowland Pantanal (this is how "pantanal" is translated into Russian) is a huge tectonic depression on the territory of Brazil. Parts of it are in Paraguay and Bolivia, and total area is over 150,000 square kilometers, making it the largest wetland in the world.

Nature in this region is striking in its contrasts, animal world is also quite varied. The Pantanal is home to 80 species of mammals, over 3,500 species of vegetation, over 200 different species of fish, about 700 species of birds and over 50 reptiles.

More than 20 million alligators and crocodiles, giant eating ants and capybaras live here. Moreover, on the territory of the Pantanal there is a nature reserve, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The main city of the Pantanal is Corumba, which is the port of the Paraguay River. It is worth noting that the city is connected by rail with Sao Paulo.

7. Playa Ostional

Costa Rica

It is one of the most important nesting sites for ridley turtles in the world. You can watch the turtles laying their eggs on Ostional Beach almost all year round, however, the most a large number of turtles "stay" here during the rainy season, from May to December.

Thousands of females come ashore to lay 100-120 eggs in the black sand.

The most "massive arrival" was recorded, as a result of which 300,000 - 500,000 animals laid eggs at the same time! Can you imagine several million turtle babies 50 days after each "invasion"?

When you take a boat trip across the ocean, you will also see a large number of turtles floating on the surface of the water, they do this to get oxygen. You can dive into the water and have a little swim with these incredible animals while the dolphins watch you.

Monuments of wildlife

6. Blue Lagoon

Iceland

The Blue Lagoon is a geothermal spa that is one of the most visited attractions in Iceland. Water with steam is part of lava formations. The spa is located on the so-called lava fields in Grindavik (Reykjanes Peninsula, southwestern Iceland). The geothermal complex of the blue lagoon is clearly visible from any satellite.

The warm water (temperatures range from 37 to 39 degrees Celsius) is rich in silica and sulfur minerals, and swimming in the lagoon is known to help some people suffering from skin conditions such as psoriasis.

However, if you decide to take a dip in the lagoon, keep in mind that due to the laws of hygiene, all bathers are required to take a nude shower before and after visiting the lagoon. There is also a research center on site, where scientists are trying to create medications to fight skin diseases with mineral-rich water.

The water in the lagoon comes from a nearby geothermal station and is updated every 2 days. Superheated water is vented from the ground near the lava flow and used to run a turbine that produces electricity.

Passing through turbines, steam and hot water pass through a heat exchanger to heat the municipal system. The water then enters the lagoon for recreational and medicinal purposes.

It is alleged that in June 2007 the Blue Lagoon acquired a green hue, which caused bewilderment of local residents and tourists.

5. Valle de la Luna

Chile

Once in Valle de la Luna, you may think that you have miraculously landed on the moon. The Valley of the Moon is located in the Atacama Desert in Chile.

In the valley there are a huge number of various stone and sand formations that were formed with the help of wind and water. The valley itself has an impressive range of colors and textures, so its surface is somewhat similar to the surface of the moon.

There are also dry lakes in the valley, where salt deposits cover the area in white, and various salt outcrops look like man-made sculptures. Moreover, it is also observed big variety caves. In 1982, due to the incredible beauty of the valley, it was declared a natural monument, and thanks to the strange lunar landscape, it got its name.

The valley is also considered one of the driest places on earth, and some areas of it have not received moisture for hundreds of years. It was here that the prototype rover was tested due to the dry and forbidding terrain of the valley.

4. Colca Canyon

Peru

Colca Canyon is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon in the US and is still inhabited by people who maintain the food-growing fields in the state they flourished in the Incas. locals also strictly uphold the traditions of their ancestors.

This is the third attraction of Peru in terms of the number of tourists. Despite being referred to as the world's deepest canyon, its "walls" are not as vertical as those of the Grand Canyon.

The Colca Valley is a colorful Andean valley with pre-Indian roots and towns founded during Spanish colonial times. Through the Colca Valley you can get to the most remote source of the Amazon River.

Other attractions include the Infiernillo Geyser, the dormant Hualka Hualka volcano, which can be reached on foot, horseback or mountain bikes. Not to be missed are a number of houses called "casas vivenciales" where tourists can stay with a local family and contribute to their daily activities.

3. Wai-O-Tapu

New Zealand

Wai-O-Tapu (translated as "sacred waters") is one of the incredible "thermal" wonders of New Zealand. You can walk through all this wonder in three hours, however, around every turn you will find a new surprise, from geysers to stunning colored lakes that you need to see with your own eyes to believe that they are real.

On the territory of this miracle there are mud pools and boiling mud springs, as well as an incredibly beautiful geyser called Lady Knox. Before the occupation of this territory by Europeans, it was inhabited by the Ngati Vaoa tribe, who constantly traveled by canoe.

Wai-O-Tapu has long been extremely popular among tourists. Despite the fact that this territory has been protected since 1931, it still remains a favorite tourist destination. Among the most famous hot springs are the Champagne Pool and the Artist's Palette.

2. Jiuzhaigou Valley

China

Jiuzhaigou means "nine villages" in translation. And it got its name thanks to the nine Tibetan villages located in the valley. The whole valley is full beautiful rivers, lakes, multi-level waterfalls and is surrounded by snowy mountains. It is a natural wonder of such incredible beauty that it is considered a World Biosphere Reserve.

The valley is made up of three small valleys that together form a Y-like shape. Compared to other popular Chinese landscape attractions, the valley is difficult to access by land.

Tourists, in order to be able to contemplate the incredible beauty, must travel by bus for 10 hours along the road, on which rockfalls often occur, and in the rainy season, landslides, which, in turn, adds 2-3 hours to the journey, and sometimes more.

1. Tsingzhi du Bemaraha Nature Reserve

Madagascar

The reserve is an honorary member of the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Thanks to the incredible limestone formations, the reserve got its name.

The date of creation of the reserve, with an area of ​​152,000 hectares, is 1927, the reason for its creation is the protection of unique mangrove forests and incredible wildlife (lemurs, indri, etc.).

The limestone plateau forms a real forest of stones, while, nearby, the Manambolo River flows through a multi-colored canyon. There is a huge amount of virgin tropical deciduous forests, as well as xerophytic plants.