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10 Fantastic Geographical Facts

To celebrate ye olde Christmas tradition of giving books chock full of useless facts – usually only read on the loo – we thought we’d share a video on some curious geographical factoids. You never know when the info will come in handy! Enjoy.

And for those too lazy to watch the whole video (It’s OK, it’s a few days before Christmas… you’re busy!), here are the facts listed below:

1. Central Park in New York, at 80 acres, is bigger than the Principality of Monaco.

2. Jericho is world’s oldest continually inhabited city.

3. Holland is the lowest country in the world, with around third of the land below sea level.

4. If Manhattan had the same population density as Alaska there would only be 17 people living there.

5. Only 28% of Africa is wilderness. Percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%.

6. Only about 2% of the islands in the Caribbean are inhabited.

7. Antarctica is the only land in the world not owned by any country.

8. Canada has an estimated 200 lakes, more than the rest if the world combined.

9. There are more Irish in New York City than in Dublin, more Italians than in Rome and more Jews than in Tel Aviv.

10. Since its formation more than 12,000 years ago, erosion has caused Niagara Falls to move backwards by about 7 miles (11kms).

Do you know any outstanding geographical facts? If so, do share in the comments below.

eco camp kenya

Ecotourism Kenya Rates Elephant Pepper Camp

eco camp kenya

The fabulous Elephant Pepper Camp in Kenya is the definition of relaxed isolation. Situated in the heart of the great African wilderness that attracts millions of tourists a year, the lodge is the perfect place for a stress-free getaway. Choose from plenty of safari and outback activities during the day and relax around the campfire at night, listening to the sounds of Africa. Read More

mekong river trader

Responsible Tourism E-guide For Mekong River Valley Region

mekong river traderImage: flydime

If you’re frustrated with the cultural and environmental depreciation caused by tourism, Mekong Responsible Tourism have produced an e-guide for the region, which should certainly offer you something to cheer about. This site has been set up with the sole objective of promoting only tourism that helps preserve the cultural and environmental heritage of the Mekong River Valley region in Southeast Asia. Read More

The Sealander: Is It a Caravan, Is It a Boat? No, It’s a Caraboat!

caravan boat

Heard of the Sealander? Neither had we. But it looks cool. Especially if you can’t decide between a cruise and a road trip (ah, it’s a hard life).

Meet the new Cara Boat. It’s a caravan. But it’s also a boat. You can tour your favourite country for a few weeks and then, when you get bored, sail off into the sunset in search of pastures new. The Sealander is the modern take on the caravan, designed by a German engineer, which lets you adapt the nation’s favourite holiday accessory into a boat.

Internally, the caravan is not much different to a standard mobile home. It’s got a bed, a drop down table, a little kitchen and a sink. Hook it up to your car and off you go. But the Sealander also has a motor, which allows you to slip into the water and cruise around. Read More

River Cottage is the Most Sustainable Restaurant in the UK

hugh fearnley whittingstall Images via GeorgeNick and The Natter

British celebrity chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is known in the UK for his cookery show which shows the loveable cook searching for all ways to integrate sustainable practises into modern day kitchens. The slightly eccentric chef has made his living appearing on TV shows, and is most famous for cooking everything from scratch at River Cottage, which has now become a business in his own right.

The River Cottage brand has become known in organic circles as a pioneer of the ‘grow your own’ movement. The practises adopted at River Cottage have been so successful that the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) has awarded the business the highest award possible, making it the most sustainable restaurant in the UK. Read More

10 Great Green Travel Essentials

Written by Prachi Ahmed

If you’re a regular traveller, you’ll more than likely have been asked at some point on your travels: “What would you never travel without?” No doubt everyone will have a different answer, but time and time again you’ll hear the usual suspects creep into the conversation. Here we give you the green alternative to some of the most popular travel ‘must-haves’.

1. Day Pack

osprey day pack

The Warp, from Osprey’s ReSource Series, is a day bag made from recycled PET. It fits comfortably over one shoulder, and has room for money and a cell phone, as well as a clip for keys and a webbed hip strap for added security. The recycled PET material for these bags is sourced from plastic soda and water bottles, keeping thousands of them out of landfills and waterways. These bags are available in several different colors, and are an attractive, efficient, and environmentally-responsible way to carry your gear on a short trip. Read More

ecotourism peru

Enchanting Eco Truly Park is the Perfect Peruvian Retreat

ecotourism peruImage: Juan Carlos

Located in Aucallama, a small Peruvian district about an hour away from Lima, is the unique ecological artistic community Eco Truly Park. What was once a tract of unworkable, sandy land has been transformed into a community that has become an inspiring example of healthy, natural, yet simple, living.

ecotourism peru All Images: Eco Yoga Villages

Drawing heavily from Indian ideals and lifestyle, the community believes in living in harmony with its surroundings. The cluster of quaint, vernacular mud houses that greet your eyes on entering Eco Truly Park are constructed from locally sourced materials like bamboo, mud, reclaimed wood, and recycled glass. Decorated with Indian motifs, these conical structures are a testament to what can be achieved when following a self-sustainable lifestyle. They seem to blend into their surroundings like they were meant to belong there – right between the Pacific Sea and huge sand dunes. Read More

Ruins in jabal moussa

Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve, Lebanon

If you thought ecotourism was all about the trekking through the Amazon or animal spotting in Africa, then think again. Every year, the list of ecotourism destinations is expanding and branching out from traditional hot spots to places you wouldn’t usually think about venturing through. Jabal Moussa in Lebanon proves to be one such newly added gem. Read on to find out why.

Ruins in jabal moussaAll images © Association for the Protection of Jabal Moussa via UNESCO

Sitting on the slopes of the Mount Lebanon mountain chain in the Keserwan-Jbeil area, Jabal Moussa is a Biosphere Reserve covering an area of 6500ha. Incorporating a number of local villages, the aim of Jabal Moussa is to sponsor local development while reducing the impact of tourism and mining activities on the beautiful surroundings. Read More

koala eucalyptus

Can Airlines Really Fly on Eucalyptus Leaves?

This is a guest post by David Boyd

It sounds crazy, but eucalyptus leaves may soon become the new jet fuel. Virgin Australia Ltd. plan to turn the proliferate foliage into fuel to protect the environment. Eucalyptus has long been the diet of choice for Koalas, but soon could essentially be converted to fuel for airplanes. Currently, Virgin Australia is the only airline piloting this experimental alternative fuel. If they succeed, it won’t be long until the new biofuel spreads to other airlines for use.

koala eucalyptusImage: AnimalSpecies

To investigate the alternative fuel, Virgin Australia has formed a joint venture with Melbourne’s Renewable Oil Corporation and Vancouver’s Dynamotive Energy Systems. They are focusing on the mallee species of the eucalyptus tree. Read More

green algae

Takes Going Green to a Whole New Level

green algae swimmer

Imagine heading to the beach for the day to cool off from the intense heat only to find a blanket of squidgy green algae covering the shore. It happened to a hoard of day trippers in Qingdao, China just last month, but unlike most parts of the world they weren’t put off by the reams of green slime. No, they embraced the moment and jumped on in!
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