Unusual city parks. The best city parks in the world. Denali, Alaska
The nature of planet Earth is surprisingly diverse and rich. However, throughout the existence of civilization, man has interfered with the natural formation and laws of wildlife. Back in the 19th century, people realized that it was necessary to take measures to preserve many natural formations, as well as certain species of flora and fauna. Thus, today we have the opportunity to admire the perfect creations of nature, as well as to see rare species of endangered animals or plants, and all this - in natural conditions, where man does not interfere. So, we present to your attention the ten most picturesque national natural parks in the world.
1. Yellowstone Natural Park
The first national park in history was opened in the United States at the end of the 19th century. This is the now famous Yellowstone Natural Park, located on the border of three US states at once. This biosphere reserve has international status and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Yellowstone Plateau is rich in thermal springs and geysers, throwing hot streams to a height of over 40 meters. There are only five geyser fields in the world, one of which is Yellowstone. However, it is here that exactly half of all the thermal springs of the planet are concentrated. Yellowstone Lake is located in the crater of the world's largest volcano. Over two thousand different plants grow here, and several hundred species of animals live, among which are the grizzly bear, the American bison, and the cougar. On the territory of the park there are hotels, campsites and shops, there are museums and information centers, there are several paved roads and about 2 thousand km of marked trails.
2. Grand Canyon in Arizona
The United States also has one of the deepest canyons on the planet - the Grand Canyon in Arizona, on the Colorado Plateau. This canyon was formed from the constant flow of the Colorado River in the thickness of limestone and various rocks, sandstone and shale. It was formed more than five million years ago, and represents the geological history of the planet in a section. It is the bewitching beauty of multi-colored rock layers that attracts more than 2 million people annually. The depth of the canyon is more than 1.5 thousand meters, to go down to the very bottom, tourists will need more than one hour of time. Moreover, the climate at the bottom of the canyon and at its top is strikingly different - while at the top it will be about 15-20 degrees of heat, at the bottom the temperature can rise to all 40 degrees. Therefore, tourists prefer to view the beauty of the canyon from observation platforms, and rafting on the Colorado River in inflatable boats or rafts is the most popular.
3. Plitvice Lakes in Croatia
The Plitvice Lakes Nature Reserve in Croatia is considered the most beautiful national park in Europe. And. There are about 16 lakes on the territory of the park, which have an amazing color - bright blue, which is why all the photos of the reserve look like a photo montage. There are also about 20 caves and more than 140 beautiful waterfalls, by the way, it is the waterfalls that are becoming more and more every year. Pedestrian routes are laid on the territory of the park, traffic is prohibited here, and you can admire the amazing underwater world through clear azure water from wooden decks built especially for visitors. It is forbidden to swim in the lakes of the reserve, they are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The park also contains rare and unique types of vegetation that have been preserved since ancient times.
4. Iguazu National Park
On the border of Argentina and Brazil is the Iguazu National Park, the main attraction of which is the beautiful waterfall of the same name. The name of the park is translated as "Big Water", and this is not surprising. This is a real park of waterfalls, of which there are more than 270. The nature of the park resembles the Amazonian tropics, there are several levels of a growing forest, striking in its colorfulness and lush vegetation. You can travel around the park and see the waterfalls right in your swimsuit, because there is no escape from the splashes of the waterfalls. For inspections, special bridges, crossings and viewing platforms are equipped here. From the height of the waterfalls, you can go down by jeep and boat to their foot.
5. Serengeti Park in Tanzania
There are also quite a few national natural parks on the African continent. One of the oldest and most beautiful is the Serengeti Park in Tanzania. The name of the park is translated as "Endless Plains", and its main attraction is the animal world. It is here that there are more than three million individuals of large animals, many of which are on the verge of extinction, as well as over 500 species of rare birds. The plains and savannas of the park are considered the best place on earth to observe the life of lions and cheetahs, antelopes and giraffes, elephants and rhinos, as well as many other animals in natural conditions. It is in the Serengeti park that the largest population of lions on the planet lives.
6. Snowdonia National Park in Wales, UK
No less interesting for lovers of natural beauty and attractions is the Snowdonia National Park in Wales, UK. This is one of the first three national parks in the country, it was created about 60 years ago. The name of the park comes from the name of Mount Snowdon, 1065 meters high, the highest point in Wales. The park occupies a quarter of the entire territory of Wales, about 20 thousand people live here. On the territory of the park there are many lakes, including the largest in area in the UK, as well as unique flora and fauna. There are more than 2 km of hiking trails, as well as about 200 km of trails for horseback riding. Historic railroads pass through the park.
7. Kakadu National Park
The most beautiful place in the green continent of Australia is Kakadu National Park, which is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The territory of the park is 100 km wide and 200 km long. Here you can meet thousands of species of animals, birds and reptiles, Kakadu Park is also a real find for entomologists - more than 1000 species of various insects live here. The park is surrounded by high rocky mountains, which, as it were, protect it from the world of civilization and allow nature to dominate here. In addition to mountains, there are forests and steppes, caves and waterfalls, rivers and lakes. There are many interesting things in the park for lovers of antiquities - ancient writings and rock paintings were found at archaeological excavations. To date, Kakadu Park is the most visited nature reserve in Australia.
8. In Ulkans in Hawaii
No less interesting will be a visit to the Hawaiian volcanoes volcanic park on the islands of Hawaii. It is here that the most active active volcano of the planet Kilauea is located, the last eruption on which began in 1983 and continues to the present. The activity of the volcano is monitored by a scientific observatory, and tourists are allowed to visit the park. Volcanic National Park was founded at the beginning of the 20th century and covers an area of about 1300 square kilometers. Here you can see the results of volcanic activity and the processes of thousands of years ago, which, in fact, formed the islands of Hawaii in the middle of the ocean. Moreover, here is a unique ecosystem, rare species of plants grow, including fern forests, as well as many species of animals and birds.
9. H Komodo National Park in Indonesia
On the territory of Asia there are also many natural attractions that need protection and protection. To this end, the Komodo National Park in Indonesia was created. It includes three large islands and many small ones, as well as a water area. Only here is found an ancient species of Komodo monitor lizards, which are also called Komodo dragons, and the park itself is listed by UNESCO. During the activity of prehistoric lizards, the species of which is included in the Red Book, excursions are organized for tourists to their habitats. The underwater world is striking in its brightness and brilliance, there are many coral reefs and rare species of fish. There are excellent conditions for snorkeling, diving and snorkelling.
10. Belovezhskaya Pushcha in Belarus
It is worth mentioning the oldest nature reserve in Europe - Belovezhskaya Pushcha in Belarus. As a national park, or protected natural area, the reserve was known as early as the 15th-16th centuries. The park is included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List. The main wealth of Belovezhskaya Pushcha is coniferous-deciduous forests, which have retained their original appearance. In addition to natural attractions, historical monuments have been preserved here - the sites of primitive man, fortresses and even a palace. For tourists, hotels and recreation centers have been built here.
A new park opened in London for the first time in 100 years. A year after the Olympic Games, it was the place where they were held - in the Stratford area of Newham County. Deciding not to leave the site abandoned, the city administration used it as a city park. Moreover, to turn the sports complex into a park, it took more than 14 billion euros.
Now the park has lawns, benches, pavilions with coffee and snacks, fountains with drinking water. It also has walking and cycling paths and developed several routes for walking.
However, the improvement of the park is still ongoing, while it is only 20 percent operational. In the next few years, a watersports palace, a ski center (the largest in the UK), an entertainment center and many more infrastructure facilities will open here. It is also planned to open a 115-meter observation deck.
It can rightly be said that this park will become one of the most famous in the city.
We have collected 5 more of the most popular city parks in the world.
Central Park, New York, USA
Central Park is one of the largest urban parks in the world.
This is one of the largest city parks in the world. Its area is about 3.5 million square meters. The architect, Frederic Lo Omstad, who won the competition for the design of the park, tried to create a universal place where everyone would be happy to come, regardless of their social status. In the mid-60s, Central Park experienced a period of decline, when gangs of hooligans ousted ordinary residents from the park, but then, thanks to the initiative of the townspeople, it revived again, once again becoming a popular place for walking and recreation.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, Australia
The Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne is one of the most beautiful parks in the world. It was created in 1846, and today more than 12 thousand species of plants from all over the world grow there. Also in the garden is the National Herbarium of Queen Victoria.
The park has very comfortable walking paths, allowing you to see a unique landscape behind each new turn.
Ueno Park, Tokyo, Japan
Ueno Park is located in the center of Tokyo and is an extension of Kan'eiji Temple. On its territory there are several major museums: the National Museum of Tokyo, the National Museum of Western Art, the Tokyo City Art Museum and the National Science Museum. The park also includes a zoo.
This is one of the most popular parks in Japan.
The park is especially popular in spring, when cherry trees bloom there. At this time, the park becomes one of the most beautiful places in the city and therefore beloved by visitors.
Park Guell, Barcelona, Spain
Park Güell is one of the most unusual parks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was designed at the beginning of the 20th century. Initially, it was supposed to be a small garden city. However, out of the planned 60 houses, only 2 were built, in one of them the famous architect Antonio Gaudi lived for several years. Then this house became the Gaudí Museum.
According to legend, workers collected pieces of tiles and bottle glass to decorate facades, columns, benches and sculptures from all streets. One of the brightest and most famous sculptures in the park is the dragon, which is considered a holy duty for every tourist to take a picture with.
Ibirapuera Park, Sao Paulo, Brazil
The huge city of Sao Paulo needs a good park.
For the city of São Paulo, with over 20 million inhabitants, a good park is essential. The park includes a museum of contemporary art, a conference centre, pavilions for a contemporary art biennale and a planetarium. Every weekend it hosts Brazilian music concerts.
The park will be implemented under the franchise of the American company DreamWorks, but almost a third of its area will be occupied by the projects of the Soyuzmultfilm film studio. The Archcouncil portal compares the concepts of the five most famous theme parks in the world.
The first attractions appeared in Europe at the site of annual fairs and carnivals and, as a rule, only swings and ice slides were offered from the attractions. Today, amusement parks are entire cities with a complex urban environment, "fabulous" architecture and a huge range of public spaces and diverse infrastructure.
Today, thousands of people visit popular amusement parks every day, the most famous of them being Disneyland. The first such park opened in Orlando on October 1, 1971, on a territory with a total area of over 8,000 hectares. The total area of the fairy-tale city is 121.7 square kilometers and includes four parks, two water parks, six golf courses, several dozen hotels, numerous restaurants, and an area for entertainment events of Disney.
Construction was carried out in several stages: in 1971, the first part of the park, the Magic Kingdom, began to operate. In 1982, another theme park was opened dedicated to the world of the future and scientific achievements. In 1989, Disney's Hollywood Studios appeared, and in 1998, Animal Kingdom.
The first area that visitors enter when entering the park is Main Street. The main street is designed to resemble an ordinary Midwestern city of the early 20th century. Walt Disney was directly involved in the planning of the street, along with designers and architects. There is a railway station, a town square, a cinema, a city hall, a fire station equipped with steam engines, a market, shops, arcade games, double-decker buses, horse-drawn carts, old cars, and much more that contains a reminder of the past. The buildings are built in 3/4 scale for the first floor, 5/8 for the second and 1/2 for the third - with each floor the scale decreases by 1/8.
On the main street of the Magic Kingdom themed area is Cinderella's castle, which is a symbol of the Disney company and its cartoons. Its height is about 55 meters, but the building seems much higher due to an optical illusion: the second floor of the building is slightly lower than the first, and the third is slightly lower than the second, and so on. As a result, the building looks much larger and taller than it really is. Externally painted in gray and blue colors, with spiers covered with pure gold leaf, the castle resembles a medieval palace-fortress. The main architect Herbert Riemann was inspired by many real castles: Fontainebleau, Chenonceau, Chambord and Chaumont in France, Neuschwanstein in Germany, Alcazar in Spain. And although it seems that the castle is made of stone, it is built of concrete and steel. There is a legend that the design allows you to quickly disassemble it in the event of a hurricane. In reality, this could take several months, since the frame is welded and not bolted. But the structure is designed to withstand the strong winds of Florida. The fiberglass-coated steel structure is anchored to a concrete foundation and is capable of withstanding wind gusts of up to 175 km/h.
There are several ways to get from one park to another: firstly, a whole bus fleet with the Disney Transport brand is available to visitors for free. The park is also transported by the Disney World Monorail System and a water taxi.
Great attention is paid to landscaping: annually, 750 professional gardeners plant three million plants for flower beds, usually more than one hundred thousand trees and more than four million bushes. Around 200 plants are trimmed into different configurations by professional tree and shrub trimmers. Plants in the theme park in Orlando come from 50 countries.
There is a large amusement park from Disney in Europe. It is located in the Parisian suburb of Marne-la-Vallee, 32 km from Paris. The park opened on April 12, 1992, and its area is 1943 hectares. There are two theme parks here - Disneyland Park, opened in 1992, and Walt Disney Studio Park, which appeared 10 years later. In addition to attractions, you can play golf and tennis here, and even work out at the Manchester United children's football school. Disneyland has its own business and residential districts, as well as a train station. There is a Disney entertainment village with nightclubs, discos, restaurants and boutiques.
For those who have already visited other Disneyland parks, many places will seem familiar, because all Disney parks are built according to a single concept. The beginning of the Disneyland Paris park looks the same as in Florida, Los Angeles and Tokyo. The first thing you will see is Main Street, which gives you an idea of the main street of a typical 1900s American town. Clockwise from it are different park areas of Disneyland, and directly opposite is the Castle of Sleeping Beauty.
At Disneyland Paris, right at the entrance to the park, visitors can use the station with elegant old-style trains, which can take a sightseeing tour around the entire park or get to the theme area of your choice. The atmosphere of antiquity on Main Street is complemented by retro pleasure cars. To the right and left along the Main Street are indoor exhibition galleries dedicated to the pages of American history, as well as a variety of cafes and restaurants.
Disneyland has several green islands, but there are no lawns where you can sit on the grass, which is a significant omission for a family-friendly park.
It would be a mistake to think that the entire entertainment industry is given over to Disney characters alone. In the neighborhood of the original factory of the legendary LEGO constructor, in the Danish town of Billund, the first Legoland appeared on the planet. This unusual amusement park was built back in 1968 from 46 million LEGO bricks, and its infrastructure is located on the territory of more than 100 thousand square meters. The park is divided into eight thematic zones, each of which is designed for children of a certain age. So, for the smallest, DuploLand was created with a soft coating. Miniland is a whole country of Lego blocks, where even the houses are copies of existing real buildings. For older children, ImaginationZone will be interesting, where they will be given complete creative freedom in terms of creating new toys from LEGO. The Silverstone race track is especially popular. On it you can independently ride on special cars, including sports cars.
In general, the park presents a huge number of breathtaking rides, all kinds of structures and playgrounds for activities and games. There are stylized streets, for example, a pirate street for boys and a pink-colored princess street for girls. In addition to cafes and restaurants, Legoland has its own hotel, and right at the entrance to the park you can buy everything you need: cameras, sunscreen, glasses, souvenirs. The largest LEGO store in the world is also located here. The incredible popularity of the park has led to the fact that "Legolands" began to appear in other countries: in Windsor (UK), California (USA) and Günzburg (Germany).
In French Poitiers there is another park with an unusual concept, which is called nothing more than a "21st century park" or "cinema park". The Futuroscope is dedicated to visual technologies and is a kind of city of the future, consisting of huge, multi-storey building-sized futuristic cinema buildings. Nature and architecture merge here to create a unique space. Spread over an area of 100 hectares, spheres, cubes and mirrors are in perfect harmony with water, trees and flowers, creating original and amazing perspectives. The symbol of the Futuroscope is a white ball on a glass pyramid - Solido, which is built on the basis of the proportions of the golden section.
A giant cube that focuses the sun's rays, huge mirror crystals, a metal structure with a broken shape, a composition of pipes of different heights - all these futuristic objects demonstrate a dynamic multidimensional cinema. Each hall in cinemas has its own type of screen system, located in different ways: not only vertically, but also above the head, under the feet, in a circle. The area of the largest surface on which the image is projected reaches 600 sq.m. The effect of presence is enhanced by special glasses and movable chairs controlled by hydraulics.
All attractions in the park are built on the principle of visual perception and, thanks to the latest multimedia technologies, evoke such strong visual sensations that for visitors the virtual world magically turns into a real one. For example, in "Sympho" the body becomes a musical instrument, the child plays intuitively, blocking the light rays. In addition to cinema, the park has unusual cable cars, an observation tower, ponds, fountains, a bird maze and computer games. The most grandiose show in the Futuroscope is a laser show. The action is shown in the open air in the evening. The image is generated by monochromatic beams in the millions of tiny water droplets that make up the screen.
During its existence, "Futuroscope" has gained immense popularity far beyond the borders of France. The park has become a real mecca for movie lovers and fans of virtual reality.
This park holds the second place in popularity in Europe, second only to Disneyland Paris. And this place is located in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, not far from the town of Rust and the border with France. The park opened back in 1975 and was originally a showcase for the achievements of the Mack family, which has been making vehicles since 1780. So among the rides there are ten roller coasters at once. The park can be safely called a real resort. After all, here, like Disneyland, many hotels are open in the surrounding area.
The concept of Europa-Park lies in its name - its thematic zones are miniature copies of European countries. Little Russia has been recreated using classic wooden huts, next to which there is a copy of the Mir station and the Lada autodrome. Miniature France is home to Europe's tallest rollercoaster, the Silver Star, and in Scandinavia, among fjord-like landscapes, you can find an entire river for rafting. In Germany, you will find a whole fleet of vintage cars, which, moreover, are also used by children. And in Spain there is a slide called "Columbus' Boat", a ride on which will give an understanding of how people feel during a storm.
In addition to rides and cinema, Europe-Park offers exciting costumed performances: a jousting tournament in Spain, a carnival in Venice, an ice show Dancing on Ice, and children's performances. In winter, in the off-season, the park hosts the Euro Dance Festival with the participation of famous dance couples and dancers.
Images: dianliwenmi.com, krainamriy.kiev.ua, miroland.com, jazztour.ru, redigo.ru, kickvick.com, stratagem-france.ru, testingich.de
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The new public spaces of 2017, continuing to exist at the intersection of social interests and cultural values, are increasingly becoming open-air museums and laboratories. Developers developing public spaces are more likely to turn to historical sites than equip new ones, and most of their projects are immediately conceived as an ideal panorama for tourist Instagram accounts. Most of the spaces that have emerged over the past year are becoming both a city and nature at the same time: the concept of “natural urbanism”, with a concise example - the High Line Park, remains the main trend and way of existence of nature in an urban environment.
1. Times Square in New York
In 2017, the reconstruction of the most popular square in the world, Times Square in New York, was completed. The author of the project is the Norwegian architectural bureau Snøhetta.
The work lasted 7 years. During this time, engineering networks were reconstructed on the square, coatings were replaced, and street furniture was installed. The architects used large concrete slabs with steel inserts to reflect the lights of the city. Author's individual benches made of granite separate pedestrian flows, and also hide the electricity outlets, which are so necessary for events. Facades were put in order, the number of signs was optimized and the quality of media screens was improved.
Using the example of Times Square, one can trace the real effect of landscaping: when pedestrians were allocated 2 times more space, criminal activity, the number of accidents involving pedestrians and air pollution significantly decreased.
Photo: snohetta
2. China Open Air Rice Museum
The aim of the project was to awaken public interest in the topic of archeology and attract tourists to the poor agricultural region of Hunan province.
The Neolithic settlement area of Chengtuxian has the status of an archaeological site with more than 6,500 years of history. Local farmers continue to use the fields to grow rice, while archaeologists are excavating.
Chinese landscape architects Turenscape Studio have designed a delicate landscape park that blends neatly into the surrounding nature. Wooden terraces with seating areas crisscross the rice paddies. The glass and steel bridge seems to have grown out of the same rice field. It lifts tourists up to four meters above the excavation site and serves as the perfect place to take photos. The structures of the structures do not harm the fields and almost do not shade the crops. Tourists can watch both archaeologists and peasants at work.
The Rice Museum received the top landscape award of 2017 at the World Architecture Festival as a project that managed to combine architecture, archaeological history, agriculture and tourism.
Photo:
3. Adventure botanical garden for children in Australia
Children’s WILD PLAY Garden was created for children under 12 years old by the architects of the ASPECT studio in Sydney. The area of the park is more than 6500 square meters. Children can wade through thick bamboo, move along bridges, make their way through an artesian pool with streams and fountains, explore, enjoy and admire. The botanical garden has everything for adventure, while it is extremely safe there. The architects emphasize that they were inspired by the children themselves for such a project. Thinking like parents and designers at the same time, the architects took note of the characteristics of children's play in nature to design the space of the botanical garden.
Photo: aspect
4 San Francisco Transit Garden
The Dogpatch Ropewalk project is reminiscent of a ship's deck that has emerged in the midst of development. Local architects Fletcher Studio have designed a transit garden, linking two streets with a cozy courtyard.
They drew inspiration from the industrial past of the area. It was once the home of the Tubbs Cordage Company, whose wooden pier stretched far into the waters of San Francisco Bay. Hence the nautical theme. The design used red as a symbol of the red thread in a real rope, and masts that shape the space and make it attractive.
Photo: fletcherstudio
5. Sculptural landscape for games in Switzerland
Gilles Brusset has done the intricate landscaping and created what is probably the most brutal playground in the world. His bureau Payarchitectures, through its projects, constantly asks the society the question: "Is a landscape architect an artist?".
The site is located between the park and the art school, connecting them physically and symbolically. Bituminous mixture, peat and aluminum paint were used for the work. The adjacent Meirin Park was made from the same materials. It is impossible to come up with a game scenario on such a playground in advance; this helps children to reveal their skills and abilities in a new way. The scale of the site allows them to feel like giants on the body of the Earth. The poetic idea of the topographic game, the sculpture, the new artistic meaning in the city and the primal boldness make the project a unique discovery of 2017.
Photo: payarchitectures
6. Amphitheater near the White City
In the autumn of 2017, a completely unique space for Moscow was opened - Khokhlovskaya Square. The project was developed by the French architect Irene Jao-Rakitin together with Strelka Design Bureau as part of the reconstruction of the Boulevard Ring.
The project is built on contrasting combinations: an archaeological find and a new amphitheater, white stone walls of the old city and black concrete, a sharp drop in relief. The wall of the White City - the center of the composition - was restored by specialists and even received the Moscow Restoration award. The architects tried to draw attention to the cultural heritage and create an accessible environment for all citizens. The coatings used in the project are a new solution for the city center. Previously, water-permeable coatings, concrete and vertical gardening were only found in parks.
Photo: Mark Sery, Strelka Magazine
7. Park on the site of the forest in Toulouse
The new park in Toulouse links several districts together. Architects dream that in the future it will become the green artery of the city. The park runs along the hill and demonstrates the geographical, architectural heritage of the place. In the future, the historical relief and the forest that once grew on the site of the park will be restored there.
Natural springs, preserved aqueducts - structures for supplying water from Roman times - are emphasized by the laconic design of the terraces located along the water line.
The architects of URBICUS Ltd. we designed modern children's and sports grounds, a dry fountain, terraces, recreation areas and paid attention to details.
Photo: landezine
8 Return Of The Chicago River
Sasaki and Ross Barney Architects have completed a waterfront renovation in Chicago. The architects provided for new functional connections in the project, which should fill the life of the townspeople with new events and revive the coastal zones.
Once the Chicago River served only industrial needs, then it was turned around, after which the Chicago Riverwalk program was launched - an initiative to return the river to the citizens. The main objectives of the program are to clean the water in the river, create six coastal zones and provide pedestrian links along the river and lake nearby.
It was difficult to implement the technical side of the project: the architects had to take into account the annual dynamics of floods. The result was a linear park along the water that literally revitalized Chicago's economy. Now there are new restaurants opening with terraces and great views. Residents have the opportunity to engage in water sports and fishing right in the city center. New trees allow you to sit by the water in the shade, and a water amphitheater connects the high street and the river with a sculptural staircase.
Photo: worldlandscapearchitect
9. Former parking near the walls of a medieval fortress in Italy
In 2011, a competition was held for the reconstruction of the square of the fortress town of Peschiera del Garda, located near Verona. In 2017, the square was rebuilt according to the project of the winners - CLAB Architettura.
Recently, the walls of the fortress were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Before the reconstruction, the territory accommodated 200 cars, even earlier it was used as a training ground for the military, in connection with this, they want to give the square a new name - "Armory Plaza".
The architects were faced with the task of integrating the military heritage into the fabric of the modern city and maintaining the austere mood of the square. To do this, when paving the pedestrian zone, white stone, concrete gravel and cobblestones were used, and a partially preserved parking lot was highlighted with multi-colored pavement. Organized places for recreation, lighting, landscaping and a fountain appeared there.
Photo: clubstudio
10. "My Street" in Guangzhou
Yongqingfang is located in the heart of the old city of Guangzhou. It used to be the economic center of southern China. In recent years, the city has experienced an urban boom. Many streets have been reconstructed. The concept of the transformation of the old city was to preserve the way of life of the townspeople and maintain the already existing social ties.
The project to transform the three abandoned lanes was handled by Lab D + H architects from Los Angeles. In order to preserve and demonstrate the historical heritage of the area, the authors left the original building materials: tiles, bricks, natural stone, wood - and turned them into landscape elements. For example, old tiles are cited in the paving of the streets, and small architectural forms made of treated, specially rusted steel are combined with red brick facades and Chinese lanterns. Since the streets are quite narrow, lighting was built into the facades of buildings and paved roads.
The beautification of the Yuntsingfang quarter is a completely new example of the restoration of the old city. The success of the landscape strategy proves that entrepreneurs, tourists and locals can coexist harmoniously.
The American television channel CNN has ranked the 30 most beautiful national parks in the world. The evaluation criteria were the beauty of nature and picturesque places, the safety and hospitality of local residents. The TV channel drew attention to the fact that US parks do not participate in the rating.
30 PHOTOS
1. The first place in the ranking was given to the Iguazu Falls National Park in Argentina. Surrounded by tropical nature, the waterfalls on the Iguazu River are considered to be one of the most beautiful and spectacular places on Earth. (Photo: REUTERS/Jorge Adorno). 
2. The second place in the ranking was taken by Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina. 30 percent of the park is covered with ice, which is why it is also called the Glacier Park in Patagonia. (Photo: 123 RF). 
3. Third place: another National Park of Argentina - Nahuel Huapi, which is located in the Andes at an altitude of 767 meters above sea level. (Photo: 123 RF). 
4. Fourth place: Gandoca-Manzanilla National Reserve in Costa Rica. 
5. Fifth place in the ranking: Tikal National Park in Guatemala. It includes one of the largest and most famous archaeological sites in the world - the most important center of the Mayan civilization of Tikal. (Photo: 123 RF). 
6. Sixth place in the ranking: Rapa Nui National Park, which is located on Easter Island (Chile) and is famous for its stone sculptures - moai. It is believed that this is the most geographically distant inhabited island in the world from other islands and lands. (Photo: 123 RF). 
7. Seventh place: Torres del Paine National Park located in the Chilean part of Patagonia. According to scientists, the park is 11 million years old. (Photo: 123 RF). 
8. Eighth place: Canaima National Park, located in the southeast of Venezuela. It is here that the highest waterfall in the world - Angel Falls - is located. (Photo: Flickr/Heather Thorkelson). 
9. Ninth place: National Park of the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. The famous Galapagos tortoises, which gave the name to the islands, are the longest-lived animals - they live for more than two hundred years. (Photo: 123 RF). 
10. Tenth place: Cairngorms National Park in Scotland. The park has vast wastelands where birds nest. (Photo: Flickr). 
11. Eleventh place: Göreme National Park in Turkey, which is also an open-air museum - there are 350 Byzantine churches carved from the rocks. (Photo: 123 RF). 
12. Twelfth place: Tatzhansky or Tatrinsky National Park is the only high-mountain park in Poland created to protect unique mountain landscapes, flora and fauna. (Photo: Marek Podmokly/Agencja Gazeta). 
13. Thirteenth place: Croatian Plitvice Lakes National Park, which includes 16 beautiful karst lakes connected by waterfalls. (Photo: 123 RF). 
14. Fourteenth place: Victoria Falls National Park - located on the Zambezi River in Zambia. (Photo: 123 RF). 
15. Fifteenth place: Kruger National Park is the oldest park in South Africa, which is part of the Kruger-to-Canyons Biosphere Reserve. (Photo: 123 RF). 
16. Sixteenth place: Namib-Naukluft National Park in Namibia. Its area is almost 50 thousand square kilometers, mostly desert, and is one of the largest protected areas in the world. (Photo: 123 RF). 
17. Seventeenth place: Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe. Even in the dry season, there is a lot of moisture left here, which is very important for the ecosystem and animals. (Photo: Flickr / ninara). 
18. Eighteenth place: Murchison Falls National Park in Uganda, on its territory there are many water cascades that waterfowl love. (Photo: 123 RF). 
19. Nineteenth place: Halgurd Sakran National Park in Iraq, which includes Mount Halgurd with a height of 3607 meters. (Facebook/press materials). 
20. Twentieth place: the deserted Ein Avdat National Park in Israel, which guards the beautiful territories of the canyon, inhabited during the time of the first Christians by monks and Nabataeans. (Photo: 123 RF). 
21. Twenty-first place: Zhangjiajie National Park in China. It was here that the famous film "Avatar" was filmed. (Photo: 123 RF). 
22. Twenty-second place: Najangsan National Park in South Korea - it is especially beautiful in autumn. The park is hidden in the mountains of Najangsan south of Seoul. (Photo: 123 RF). 
23. Twenty-third place: Pagsanhan Gorge National Park in the Philippines. It includes the largest waterfalls in the country. According to legend, before the appearance of the waterfalls, two twins lived in this place. Once, after a severe drought, one of them died, then the second twin climbed high rocks and began to curse the gods, when suddenly a spring began to beat from under his feet, which laid the foundation for waterfalls. (Photo: 123 RF). 
24. Twenty-fourth place: Minneriya National Park in Sri Lanka, the main pride of which is a large population of elephants. (Photo: 123 RF). 
25. Twenty-fifth place: Sundarbans National Park is a tiger and biosphere reserve in India. (Photo: 123 RF). 
26. Twenty-sixth place: Bannerghatta National Park in India. Part of the park is a nature reserve, where more than a hundred species of birds, many mammals (including elephants, bears, leopards) and insects are under strict protection. There is also an animal rescue center here. (Photo: Flickr / Nisha D). 
27. Twenty-seventh place: Bandhavgarh National Park, the largest population of tigers in all of India lives here. (Photo: 123 RF). 
28. Twenty-eighth place: Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Australia. The famous red-brown mountain Uluru (Ayers Rock) changes its color depending on the angle of the light. (Photo: 123 RF). 
29. Twenty-ninth place: Blue Mountains National Park in Australia. The name "Blue Mountains" comes from the blue eucalyptus trees growing on the slopes of the mountains. (Photo: 123 RF). 
30. Thirtieth place: Paparoa National Park in New Zealand, the main attraction of which are pancake limestone rocks, as well as beautiful caves. (Photo: 123 RF).
