Finistère, France

Finistère is Brittany’s most westerly department and shares its borders with theCôtes-d’Armor and Morbihan departments. Its préfecture (administrative town of the area) is Quimper and sub-prefectures are Brest, Châteaulin and Morlaix. This department is wide of 6,733 square kilometres and has 840,600 inhabitants (Bretons) in total. Due to its situation along the English Channel (north) and the Atlantic Ocean (south), many things involve the sea (numerous fishermen and sailors, traditions referring to the sea, etc.). The nature is gorgeous in the Finistere department, as in the whole Brittany region. You will find numerous fine sandy beaches as well as parks or nature reserves.

Overview

Brittany is a very sought-after region amongst Brits and the Finistere department is not an exception to the rule. The name “Finistère” was chosen due to the department’s geographical location - at the land’s end - and comes from the Latin language (Finis Terrae). Breton people have a particular culture. Even if Finistere belongs to France, they still keep their own identity and retain their own traditions (dances, songs, gastronomy). Of course Brittany does not benefit from a very warm climate like the Languedoc or Provence regions, but the wonderful landscapes will easily make you forget this drawback! Finistere is an authentic and original department that you will enjoy discovering.

Finistere Immobilier & Property Market Trends

Property prices in the Brittany region are neither the highest nor the lowest ones amongst all the French regions. Housing prices in Brittany are still under the national average for this region. Of course if you want to buy a property along the coast, it will be more expensive than in the inland.

Buying a property in Finistere is really accessible: it costs about €1,757/ square metre. You will pay around €8.66 / square metre / month to rent a house or apartment. Most properties in the Finistere department are detached houses (73%) and 47% of the accommodation are 5-room properties or more.

The Finistere department is a great place to look for bargains! If you like renovating houses, you will be pleased in this department as it is easy to find cheap ancient houses to renovate. We advise you to pay attention to the location where you buy a property, as some villages or towns are not well-linked to the main Breton towns.

To get updated info about housing prices in the Dordogne, please browse our French Property Market Reports published in the News Section every month.

5 Reasons to Buy a Property in Finistere

The Brittany region does not have the greatest climate of France, but has many other assets on offer: an outstanding nature, an interesting cultural heritage, etc.

·         Strolls and tours: thanks to more than 5,000km of marked-out tracks, you will be able to discover Finistere’s heritage by foot, car, riding a horse or a bike, etc. Just make your choice!

·         Sights: the Batz and Ouessant islands are located just a few miles away from the Finistere department. Batz - at the north of the department, close to Roscoff - is only 2 miles long and 1 mile wide. The îles d’Ouessant et de Batz are very calm areas where nature has been preserved. The great climate, sandy coves, as well as the greenery and rocky cliffs make of these islands the perfect places to go if you want to relax and be in harmony with the nature.

·         Cultural heritage: you will find plenty of museums, castles, lighthouses and parks in the Finistere department. These monuments or areas will allow you to discover the history of this particular zone (to avoid repetition) - where the sea has an essential role. We advise you Daoulas’ abbey, the Domaine de Trévarez(Trévarez’s field), Batz’s and Ouessant’s lighthouses, etc.

·         Fauna and flora: Finistere’s natural heritage is very rich and worth a visit. The department has more than 2,500 hectares of natural areas, including dunes, forests, archeological sites, etc. The Armorique Regional Natural Park and thePointe du Raz are the most famous ones. There are also Aquariums and wildlife parks for instance.

·         Breton lifestyle: as a part of Brittany, the Finistere department is deeply influenced by the regional culture. Let’s discover Breton beautiful dances, songs, games and gastronomy (crêpes, galettes - buckwheat pancakes - cider, seafood dishes, etc.). The locals are renowned for being very welcoming and will be glad to explain you their special culture.

Local Property Market: 5 Popular Towns

·         Brest property: rapidly rebuilt after World War II, Brest lost some of its historical legacy as it was destroyed. But this town has still places of interest, such as – for instance – a castle nowadays hosting a museum, an annual festival about Breton culture and a massive drawbridge (Pont de Recouvrance).

·         Concarneau property: both modern and traditional styles coexist in this town. The Ville Close (medieval town) - located on an island in the harbour - is very active thanks to its touristy assets. Fishing has an essential role in Concarneau as its harbour is one of the biggest of France.

·         Morlaix property: there is a great viaduc in Morlaix, as well as several interesting museums and a botanical garden. The bay is really beautiful, the château du taureau is located on a small island in this bay.

·         Quimper property: Finistere’s major administrative town is very pretty. You will find there many very interesting monuments dating from the Middle Ages. In the medieval town (Vieux Quimper), there are numerous shops, restaurants and half-timbered houses. Singers and bagpipers often make shows in the evening for the greatest delight of the tourists.

·         Roscoff property: with a strategic location along the coast in the north of the Finistere department, Roscoff is famous for its ferry port. But there are also an exotic garden, a beautiful church and an Aquarium for instance.

Property Styles and Architecture in Finistere

·         Breton chaumières: these typical properties are very sought-after as they have a strong character. The main features of a chaumiere are the following ones: a thatched (made up of wheat, rye or reeds) and sloping roof, narrow rooms, as well as a long and rectangular shape. Local materials - such as stones, wood and clay - were used to built these Breton chaumières.

·         Longère houses: these properties are typical of Brittany’s rural architecture. From these Longere houses, we often have an outstanding view on the Breton countryside. Of a rectangular shape, its rear facing the dominant winds, built in granite and with thatched or slated roofs, the Breton longere house can be found almost everywhere in the Brittany region, but also in Normandy and Aquitaine.

·         Coastal houses: especially located in northern Brittany and in the Finistere department, these properties have very small windows and very few openings. Often cut in two parts, the windows of such a house evoke embrasures. Most of them are surrounded with special mouldings. The doors of the coastal houses are low and narrow.

Source: http://www.french-property.com/property/bretagne/finistere/insight/

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Fernando De Noronha, Brazil

Fernando de Noronha (Portuguese pronunciation: [feʁˈnɐ̃du d(ʒ)ɨ noˈɾoɲɐ]) is an archipelago of 21 islands and islets in the Atlantic Ocean, 354 km (220 mi) offshore from the Brazilian coast. The archipelago got its name from the Portuguese merchant Fernão de Loronha, to whom it was given by the Portuguese crown for services rendered regarding wood imported from Brazil. The main island has an area of 18.4 square kilometres (7.1 sq mi) and had a population estimated at 2,718 in 2012. The area is a specialmunicipality (distrito estadual) of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco (despite being closer to the state of Rio Grande do Norte), with about 70% established in 1988 as a national maritime park.

In 2001 UNESCO designated it as a World Heritage Site because of the importance of its environment. Its timezone is UTC-02:00 all year around. The local population and travellers can get to Noronha by plane or cruise from Recife^[3] (545 km). An environmental preservation fee is charged from tourists upon arrival by Ibama (Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources).

The islands of this archipelago are the visible parts of a range of submerged mountains. It consists of 21 islands, islets and rocks of volcanic origin. The main island has an area of 18 km² (6.9 sq mi), being 10 km (6.2 mi) long and 3.5 km (2.2 mi) wide at its maximum. The base of this enormous volcanic formation is 756 metres (2,480 ft) below the surface. The main island, from which the group gets its name, makes up 91% of the total area; the islands of Rata, Sela Gineta, Cabeluda and São José, together with the islets of Leão and Viúva make up the rest. The central upland of the main island is called the Quixaba.

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Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park protects a large part of Australia's Great Barrier Reef from damaging activities. Fishing and the removal of artefacts or wildlife (fish, coral, sea shells, etc.) is strictly regulated, and commercial shipping traffic must stick to certain specific defined shipping routes that avoid the most sensitive areas of the park. The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest cluster of corals and other exotic marine life.

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) is the administrator of the park. It issues permits for various forms of use of the marine park, and monitors usage in the park to ensure compliance with rules and regulations associated with the park. GBRMPA is funded by Commonwealth Government appropriations, which include an environmental management charge levied on the permit-holders' passengers. Currently this is A$5.50 per day per passenger (to a maximum of $16.50 per trip).

The park lies east of the mainland coast of Queensland, starting in the north at Cape York. Its northern boundary is the circle of latitude 10°41'S (running east up to the eastern edge of the Great Barrier Reef at 145º19'33"E), thereby encompassing those few uninhabited Torres Strait Islands that are east of Cape York, south of 10°41'S and north of 11°00'S. The largest of those island are Albany Island (5.9 km² or 2.3 sq mi), Turtle Head Island 12.8 km² or 4.9 sq mi and Trochus Island 2.2 km² or 0.85 sq mi. Further islands are Mai Island 0.25 km² or 0.097 sq mi, Bush Island 0.2 km² or 0.077 sq mi, Tree Islet 0.01 km² or 0.0039 sq mi, Brewis Island 0.05 km² or 0.019 sq mi, and a few unnamed islets.

History

In 1975, the Government of Australia enacted the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975, which created the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and defined what acts were prohibited on the Reef. The Australian Government also has recognised the ecological significance of this Park by its inclusion in the nation's Biodiversity Action Plan. The Government of Australia manages the reef through the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and in partnership with the Government of Queensland, to ensure that it is widely understood and used in a sustainable manner. A combination of zoning, management plans, permits, education and incentives (such as eco-tourism certification) is used in the effort to conserve the Great Barrier Reef.

As many species of the Great Barrier Reef are migratory, many international, national, and interstate conventions or pieces of legislation must be taken into account when strategies for conservation are made.

Some international conventions that the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park must follow are: the Bonn Convention, Ramsar Site (for the Bowling Green Bay National Park site),CITES, JAMBA and CAMBA. Some national legislation that the Park must follow are: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975, Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development, National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia's Biological Diversity, Australia’s Oceans Policy, National Strategy for the Conservation of Australian Species and Communities Threatened with Extinction. Some state legislation that the Park must follow are: Nature Conservation Act 1992, Marine Parks Act 1982, Fisheries Act 1994, Queensland Nature Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 1994.

For example, the Queensland Government has enacted several plans attempting to regulate fishing. The East Coast Trawl Management Plan 1999 aimed to regulate trawling through limiting the times when trawling is permitted and restricting gear used. The Fisheries (Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery) Management Plan 2003 aimed at reducing the annual commercial catch to 1996 levels, disallowing fishing when the fish are spawning and increasing the minimum legal size of fish.

The Great Barrier Reef was selected as a World Heritage Site in 1981. Up until 1999, there were four main zones in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. They were the "Far Northern", "Cairns", "Central" and "Mackay/Capricorn" sections. These zoning sections were created between 1983–1987. Another section, the "Gumoo Woojabuddee" section was declared in 1998. Each section had its own zoning plan. The Great Barrier Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003 superseded all previous zoning plans, coming into effect on 1 July 2004.

In July 2004, a new zoning plan was brought into effect for the entire Marine Park, and has been widely acclaimed as a new global benchmark for the conservation of marine ecosystems. The rezoning was based on the application of systematic conservation planning techniques, using the MARXAN software. On 1 July 2004 the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park became the largest protected sea area in the world when the Australian Government increased the areas protected from extractive activities (such as fishing) from 4.6% to 33.3% of the park. As of 2006, the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Monument is the largest protected marine area in the world. The management committee draws inspiration from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority's management strategies.

The current method of zoning is called the "Representative Areas Program", which chooses "typical" areas of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. They can then be protected in "Green Zones" (no-take zones). The Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area has been divided into 70 bioregions, of which 30 are reef bioregions,  and 40 are non-reef bioregions.

In 2006, a review was undertaken of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975. Some recommendations of the review are that there should be no further zoning plan changes until 2013, and that every five years, a peer-reviewed Outlook Report should be published, examining the health of the Great Barrier Reef, the management of the Reef, and environmental pressures.

In early 2007, GBRMPA was one of three nominees for the Destination Award in the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

On 3 April 2010, The Shen Neng 1, a Chinese ship carrying 950 tonnes of oil, ran aground, causing the 2010 Great Barrier Reef oil spill.

The week before 21 July 2013, on the second day of the biennial joint training exercise Talisman Saber, two American AV-8B Harrier fighter jets launched from aircraft carrierUSS Bonhomme Richard (LHD-6) dropped four bombs, weighing a total 1.8 metric tons (4,000 pounds), into more than 50 metres (164 ft) of water. None exploded and no coral was damaged.

In June 2014, GBRMPA confirmed five of its directors had taken voluntary redundancies including the director of heritage conservation, the director of policy and governance and the director of coastal ecosystems and water quality. The round of redundancies was offered in order to achieve cost savings.

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Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst, Hungary and Slovakia

The variety of formations and the fact that they are concentrated in a restricted area means that the 712 caves currently identified make up a typical temperate-zone karstic system. Because they display an extremely rare combination of tropical and glacial climatic effects, they make it possible to study geological history over tens of millions of years.

Outstanding Universal Value

Brief synthesis 

The Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst are outstanding for the large number of complex, diverse and relatively intact caves concentrated into a relatively small area. Located at the north-eastern border of Hungary and the south-eastern border of Slovakia, this exceptional group of 712 caves, recorded at time of inscription, lies under a protected area of 56,651 ha and a larger buffer zone. Today more than 1000 caves are known. Karst processes have produced a rich diversity of structures and habitats that are important from a biological, geological and paleontological point of view. While the karst continues to develop in mountains of medium height and under temperate climate conditions, sediments and fossil landforms provide ample evidence of Late Cretaceous and early Tertiary subtropical and tropical climatic conditions as well as periglacial denudational activity during the Quaternary. Shaped over tens of millions of years, the area provides an excellent demonstration of karst formation during both tropical and glacial climates, which is very unusual and probably better documented here than anywhere else in the world.

The most significant cave system in the property is that of Baradla-Domica, a cross-border network richly decorated with stalagmites and stalactites, which is an important active stream cave in the temperate climatic zone and a Ramsar site. Also worth mentioning is the Dobsina Ice Cave, one of the most beautiful in the world. Among the ice-filled caves in the property, the Silica Ice Cave is located at the lowest latitude within the temperate climatic zone. The close proximity of many different types of caves of diverse morphology, including vadose and epiphreatic stream caves, vertical shafts and hypogenic or mixing corrosion caves, as well as important archaeological remains, makes the property an outstanding subterranean museum. Its ecosystems provide habitat for more than 500 troglobiont or troglophil species, including some which are endemic. The interactions between geological karst processes occurring on the surface with those occurring beneath make this area a natural field laboratory.

Criteria (viii): The property Caves of Aggtelek and Slovak Karst, while typical of many karst localities in Europe, is distinctive in its great number (with 712 recorded at time of inscription) of different types of caves found in a concentrated area. Geological processes causing karst features to be buried by sediment and then later reactivated or exhumed provide evidence pertaining to the geologic history of the last tens of millions of years. Relicts of pre-Pleistocene karst (i.e. more than about 2 million years old) are very distinct in the area, and many of them show evidence for sub-tropical and tropical climate forms. These include rounded hills that are relicts of tropical karst later modified by Pleistocene periglacial weathering. This suite of paleokarst features, showing a combination of both tropical and glacial climates, is very unusual and is probably better documented in the Slovak Karst than anywhere else in the world.

Integrity

More than 99% of the Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst is preserved in its original natural condition and is well protected. The other 1% has been substantially modified as “show-caves” to allow human use, which includes 300,000 visitors annually. All of the caves are State-owned and the land above them has protected status. The cave system is exceptionally sensitive to environmental changes, including agricultural pollution, deforestation and soil erosion. Maintenance of the integrity of active geological and hydrological processes (karst formation and the development or evolution of stalagmites and stalactites) requires integrated management of the entire water catchment area.

Protection and management requirements

All of the caves are State-owned and their protection is guaranteed by the Act no. LIII. 1996 on nature protection in Hungary and by the Slovak Constitution no. 90/2001, and the Act of Nature Protection and Landscape no. 543/2002 in Slovakia, irrespective of ownership or protection status of the surface areas. However, in both countries most of the surface area of the property has National Park designation. Aggtelek Karst is administered by the Aggtelek National Park Directorate and the Slovak Karst is managed by the Slovak Karst National Park Directorate (surface) and Slovak Caves Administration (caves). These administrative bodies carry out joint projects including research, protection and monitoring.

The main protection and management requirement is to ensure strict control over surface activities in order to avoid agricultural pollution, deforestation and soil erosion that may affect the quality and quantity of water infiltrating the karst. The property needs to be monitored to ensure that the water quality in the catchment area of the caves is appropriate (including controlling the use of agricultural chemicals) and to prevent large-scale soil erosion and the infiltration of humus and alluvial soil into the caves. This means that the establishment of buffer zones where appropriate, the completion of sewage systems, and the elimination of illegal garbage disposal and building debris in the surrounding settlements are necessary.

Levels of sustainable tourism need to be determined with the involvement of local communities, and monitoring systems need to be completed and implemented. Further research and exploration is needed with regard to the interconnection of the karst cave system. Long-term tasks are related to the need to mitigate impacts caused by climate change, such as extreme changes in water levels. The transboundary property requires a harmonised and coordinated management approach in which the management plan is regularly reviewed. 

Long Description

The Caves of Aggtelek Karst and Slovak Karst lie over a total area of 55,800 ha and topographically comprise limestone plateaus dissected by deep river valleys. The territory is characterized by a fully developed karst landscape, of which dolines are the most typical surface landform. These have developed through solution and are, on average, 100 m wide and 20 m deep. Other surface phenomena include sinkholes and karren fields. This is the most extensively explored karst area in Europe, and a total of 712 caves have so far been identified. Many of the younger caves which have formed at the plateau edges, such as Krasnchorska and Gombasecka, occur on several levels and contain dripstone decorations. The most notable of these is the Baradla-Domica cave system which is 21 km long and connects Hungary with Slovakia. These caves are also noted for having the world's highest stalagmite, aragonite and sinter formations and an ice filled abyss, which considering the territory's height above sea level, is a unique phenomenon for central Europe. All these karst landforms are the result of long-term geomorphologic processes typical of this temperate climatic zone.

Hydrological conditions are characterized by a lack of surface streams, except between mountain basins, and the complex circulation of underground water. The flora is representative of both Pannonian and Carpathian elements. A unique biotope arises where two floral sectors overlap, and consequently many rare endemics can be found throughout the territory. Approximately 70% of the territory consists of deciduous woodland dominated by hornbeam and oak.

The fauna includes wolf, lynx, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, wild cat and badger. Nesting bird species include: rock bunting, black stork, corncrake, imperial eagle, dipper, Ural owl, saker falcon, short-toed eagle, honey buzzard. Of particular scientific interest are the cave and subterranean water fauna. Beetles and other insects are abundant. Cave worms are often found in sand and clay deposits whereas molluscs are associated with underground streams, and crustaceans occur including an endemic species of primitive carb. A total of 21 bat species have been identified in the Slovak Karst.

The caves themselves are of moderate extent and are not as long, deep or decorated as are other world caves. A significant aspect of the area is that it has undergone a great deal of fossilization and later exhumation of landscape features and subsurface groundwater routes. In other words, many karst features, after having formed, were buried by later sediment and then later reactivated or exhumed by erosional removal of the sediment. The resulting karst features contain a great deal of evidence pertaining to the geological history of the last several millions of years. The present karst landscape has been developing intermittently since the late Cretaceous period.

There is one sizeable settlement (Silica) and two hamlets within the Slovak protected area and two villages (Aggtelek and Josvaf with approximately 1,100 inhabitants) inside the Aggtelek National Park's boundaries. There is a serious pollution problem which is contaminating cave waters and threatening the park's ecosystem. This arises from the increased use of pesticides and fertilizers in the surrounding areas and from tourist's vehicles and nearby industry.

Source: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/725

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Mount Bromo, Indonesia

Mount Bromo (Indonesian: Gunung Bromo), is an active volcano and part of the Tengger massif, in East Java, Indonesia. At 2,329 metres (7,641 ft) it is not the highest peak of the massif, but is the most well known. The massif area is one of the most visited tourist attractions in East Java, Indonesia. The volcano belongs to the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park. The name of Bromo derived from Javanese pronunciation of Brahma, the Hindu creator god.

Mount Bromo sits in the middle of a vast plain called the "Sea of Sand" (Javanese: Segara Wedi or Indonesian: Lautan Pasir), a protected nature reserve since 1919. The typical way to visit Mount Bromo is from the nearby mountain village of Cemoro Lawang. From there it is possible to walk to the volcano in about 45 minutes, but it is also possible to take an organised jeep tour, which includes a stop at the viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan (2,770 m or 9,088 ft) (Indonesian: Gunung Penanjakan). The viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan can also be reached on foot in about two hours. From inside the caldera, sulfur is collected by workers.

Depending on the degree of volcanic activity, the Indonesian Centre for Vulcanology and Disaster Hazard Mitigation sometimes issues warnings against visiting Mount Bromo.

Culture

On the fourteenth day of the Hindu festival of Yadnya Kasada, the Tenggerese people of Probolinggo, East Java, travel up the mountain in order to make offerings of fruit, rice, vegetables, flowers and sacrifices of livestock to the mountain gods by throwing them into the caldera of the volcano. The origin of the ritual lies in the 15th century legend where a princess named Roro Anteng started the principality of Tengger with her husband, Joko Seger. The couple were childless and therefore beseeched the assistance of the mountain gods. The gods granted them 24 children but stipulated that the 25th child, named Kesuma, must be thrown into the volcano as a human sacrifice. The gods' request was implemented. The tradition of throwing sacrifices into the volcano to appease these ancient deities continues today and is called the Yadnya Kasada ceremony. Though fraught with danger, some locals risk climbing down into the crater in an attempt to recollect the sacrificed goods that they believe could bring them good luck.

On the Segara Wedi sand plain sits a Hindu temple called Pura Luhur Poten. The temple holds a significant importance to the Tenggerese scattered across the mountain villages, such as Ngadisari, Wonokitri, Ngadas, Argosari, Ranu Prani, Ledok Ombo and Wonokerso. The temple organises the annual Yadnya Kasada ceremony which lasts for about one month. On the 14th day, the Tenggerese congregate at Pura Luhur Poten to ask for blessings from Ida Sang Hyang Widi Wasa and the God of Mahameru (Mount Semeru). Then the crowd proceeds along the crater edges of Mt Bromo where offerings are thrown into the crater. The major difference between this temple and Balinese ones are the type of stones and building materials. Pura Luhur Poten uses natural black stones from volcanoes nearby, while Balinese temples are mostly made from red bricks. Inside this pura, there are several buildings and enclosures aligned in a mandala zone composition.

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Freycinet National Park, Tasmania, Australia

Freycinet National Park is home to dramatic pink granite peaks, secluded bays, white sandy beaches and abundant birdlife. Situated on Tasmania's beautiful East Coast, the Park occupies most of the Freycinet Peninsula and looks out to the Tasman Sea from the eastern side and back towards the Tasmanian coastline from the west.

Freycinet National Park is loaded with natural assets, including the pink granite peaks of the Hazards Range that dominate the Peninsula and the iconic Wineglass Bay. The short trek to Wineglass Bay lookout is a bit of a scramble, but it's well worth it for one of Tasmania's most photographed views.

There are many more short walks across the park that are suitable for all abilities and that lead to secluded bays, clean beaches and bird-filled lagoons.

For an excellent half day trek, continue on from the Wineglass Bay lookout down to the beautiful, perfectly curved beach and back to the park entrance via the Hazards Range for amazing views of Great Oyster Bay and the coastline surrounding the sleepy seaside village of Swansea. The Hazards look their best at sunrise and sunset when the pink granite glows bright and brilliant.

For a longer trek, take on the whole length of the Freycinet Peninsula on a minimum two day walk, taking in more remote places like Cooks Beach and Bryans Beach. Be prepared with water and supplies and take your time for an even longer stay in this beautiful part of Tasmania.

The beautiful beaches and pristine waters that surround the park can be enjoyed with swimming, kayaking or just lazing on the perfect white sand, while diving and snorkeling are rewarded with underwater views of abundant marine life.

And if you want to see more of the park but your time is limited, or you just want to travel in style, then why not take a cruise and experience the Park's stunning scenery and abundant wildlife up close.

The Moulting Lagoon is a RAMSAR wetland sanctuary for black swans, water fowl and other migratory birds. If you're lucky, you might spot a white-bellied sea-eagle gliding overhead.

There's a visitor centre, shop and outdoor theatre at the park entrance with electric barbecues, picnic tables, water and toilets located in the park.

 

CAMPING AND ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation in and around Freycinet National Park ranges from basic camping to luxury eco-retreats, with much of it located in the village of Coles Bay near the park entrance. Camping inside the park is extremely popular in summer and autumn and is allocated by ballot in August each year.

The nearby coastal towns of Swanick, Swansea and Bicheno also have a range of places to stay.

 

DIRECTIONS

Freycinet National Park is about 2.5 hours from both Hobart and Launceston via the A3 Tasman Highway.

Source: http://www.discovertasmania.com.au/about/national-parks-and-wilderness/freycinet-national-park-wineglass-bay

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Iguazú National Park, Argentina

The Iguazu National Park of South America contains one of the wonders of the natural world, the Iguazu waterfalls or Cataratas del Iguazú in Spanish. Located on Argentina's northern border with Brazil, the Iguazu Falls attract nearly 2 million visitors each year making it one of the most popular sites in the whole of South America. People travel from all over the globe to experience the power of one of the world's largest waterfalls. The Iguazu National Park is also home to an array of exotic flora and fauna. Since 1984 the park has benefited from its status as one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites.

The name Iguazu originates from the local Guarani and Tupi tribes' words for “big” and “water”. According to local legend, the falls were created when an enraged god slashed the river into two levels to thwart the escape attempts of a beautiful woman that had planned to marry who left him for another man. The waterfalls split the upper and lower levels of the vast Iguazu River, which forms a significant part of the Parana River, South America's second largest river after the Amazon. Overall, the Iguazu Falls are made up of an impressive 275 waterfalls with drops that vary from 60-82 meters at the highest point. The edge of the upper plateau, from which the water drops, stretches for 1.7 miles and is broken up by numerous islands that form the separate falls.

One of the most impressive features of the Iguazu Falls is a narrow chasm known as the “Devil's Throat”. This 150 meter wide and 700 meter long U-shaped enclave is the best place to truly appreciate the raw power of Iguazu Falls as water thunders down from all sides. Over half of the water that passes over the Iguazu Falls does so through the “Devil's Throat”. This dramatic site is what gave rise to such an evocative name as is Devil's Throat.

In terms of average annual water flow, Iguazu River is ranked after North America's Niagara Falls. However, when Iguazu River is at its highest, Iguazu Falls becomes the largest waterfall on the planet with a maximum recorded water flow of 452,000 cubic feet per second. With a superior height than that of Niagara Falls, and less restricted views than that of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, some argue that Iguazu Falls is the most impressive set of waterfalls in the world. In fact, the New Seven Wonders of the World Foundation selected Iguazu Falls in Argentina as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

These famous falls are located in the Iguazu National Park, one of thirty Argentine national parks. The first Argentine national parks were founded as far back as 1903 in Patagonia's Lake District. The Iguazu Park has maintained national park status since 1934, providing protection to local flora and fauna by prohibiting hunting and logging in addition to putting tight restrictions on development in the area. The Iguazu National Park currently spans 212 square miles on the Argentina side alone, continuing on the Brazilian side of the Iguazu River to create an even larger protected area for wildlife and plants.

Animals that can be found in the Iguazu Park are typical to those found in any South American rainforest. The most impressive species include jaguars, tapirs, anteaters and the elusive ocelot which is considered to be a type of dwarf leopard. Many of these animals are on endangered species lists and the Iguazu National Park provides an integral role in protecting them from the threats of poaching and deforestation.

Despite the massive tourist appeal of Iguazu Park, authorities are keen to reduce the impact humans have upon the natural surroundings when they visit. Access to Iguazu Falls is restricted and a special “Rainforest Ecological Train” is used to carry passengers from the park entrance, through the jungle and to the falls. Alternatively the falls can be reached via a series of forest trails of varying grades of difficulty. The park charges an entrance fee of around USD $25 to ensure that both Iguazu National Park and Iguazu Falls, as well as the surrounding land and wildlife, are preserved for future generations.

Source: http://www.donquijote.org/culture/argentina/places/parks/iguazu-national-park

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Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve, Madagascar

Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve comprises karstic landscapes and limestone uplands cut into impressive 'tsingy' peaks and a 'forest' of limestone needles, the spectacular canyon of the Manambolo river, rolling hills and high peaks. The undisturbed forests, lakes and mangrove swamps are the habitat for rare and endangered lemurs and birds.

Outstanding Universal Value

 Brief synthesis

The Tsingy de Bemaraha Integral Nature Reserve is located in the District of Antsalova and in the region of the central west part of Madagascar. It is part of the Melaky region, in the autonomous province of Mahajanga, and localized between 44°34’ to 44°57’ longitude east and 18°12’ to 19°09’ latitude south. Its total area is 152,000 ha.

The Reserve offers a wide variety of geomorphological structures. It is a veritable cathedral of limestone and offers one of the most spectacular natural landscapes of the Grand Island and even of the world. The western part of the plateau presents a very dissected or ‘lapiezée’ relief, most of which is covered by a dense, dry and deciduous forest. In its eastern part, the forest is interspersed by savannas.

The Tsingy of Bemaraha is considered a centre for endemism by its wealth in faunal and floral species. 

Criterion (vii): The Tsingy de Bemaraha Integral Nature Reserve represents rare or eminently remarkable geological phenomena and of exceptional beauty. It presents impressive geological elements including karstic scenery with a highly dissected limestone massif, crossed by a deep river gorge  which is the spectacular expression of a stage of evolution of the earth in the form of a « forest of sharp stones » with high limestone pinnacles rising up to 100 metres, forming veritable cathedrals, offering a grandiose, spectacular natural landscape. Further, « the Tsingy » of the limestone plateau forms an unusual feature of outstanding beauty, unique in the world, universally recognized by the effect created by the shades of forest green on metallic reflections of the grey karst “bristles”.

Criterion (x): The Tsingy de Bemaraha Integral Nature Reserve contains communities of rare and/or threatened animal species. In addition to a forestry cover of more than 85,000 ha and excellent examples of principal types of ecosystem from rainforest habitats to very dry ones, the property contains a very rich biological diversity on a world level, due to its faunal and floral species, their rarity and containment presenting spectacular adaption and insular characteristics, enabling the conservation in situ of endemism and biological diversity. The same applies to the habitats of very rare species all threatened with extinction, which are either endemic or subordinate: 11 species of Lemur; 6 bird species; 2 local endemic amphibian species; 17 endemic reptile species including the famous miniscule chameleon, Brookesia perarmata; as well as a species of rodent, Nesomys lambertoni, that only exists in the Reserve. Linked to the diversity of habitats, systematic research will without doubt shortly enable the addition of new species to this list. Furthermore, certain surrounding lakes, also dependent on the hydrological system of the property, have been listed as Ramsar sites.

Integrity

Since its national listing in 1927, the protection of the Reserve is partially assured due to the very difficult access formed by the karst barriers and vegetation formations still intact. Currently, the dense, dry forest covers an area of 80,000 ha, that is a little more than half of the Reserve. It still constitutes a suitable habitat for the conservation of animal and plant species. Another part of the property is composed of karst system (limestone), forming an exceptional landscape. The savanicole formation occupies nearly all the other half of the Reserve (47.6%). This entire zone, that contains botanical characteristic elements of the landscape, provides favourable natural conditions for livestock breeding. Consequently, each year, anthropogenic fires cover some areas of the savanna and affect a part of the borders and the forests. Human and cattle disruption to the integrity must be part of the elements to monitor in the Reserve.

Protection and management requirements

The Reserve has the status of « Integral Natural Reserve » representing the strongest protection at the national level, since 1927. Until 1990, apart from the presence of a Chief of the Reserve, staff from the Ministry of Water and Forests assures the protection in situ, the property has not had any organized management structure. However, the Government, UNESCO and WWF were willing to allocate funds to improve management and conservation. To this end, a document which is at the same time a strategic management plan for the Reserve, was prepared to constitute an overall planning reference. Presently, the Reserve has a management and conservation plan, including bush fire control, and the implementation of this plan was already undertaken during this decade.

Since 1991, an institution mandated by the Malagasy State assures the management and conservation of this site, the « National Association for the Management of Protected Areas », that has become the « Madagascar National Parks ». Moreover, a change in the status from the Integral Nature Reserve to National Park is envisaged to redefine physically and legally the boundaries as well as the eventual promotion of ecotourism, in permanent consultation with the neighbouring communities and the State.

In the border areas of the property, the management of wild fires in grazing lands with the communities remains one of the major management concerns especially in the northern part. At the same time, developing tourism impacts shall be monitored to use as a socio-economic integration tool which does not negatively affect the integrity of the property in the mid- or long-term, whist being a stimulant for local development. The financial income resulting from the development of ecotourism is beginning to have its positive impacts on conservation activities.

Long Description

The integral nature reserve of Tsingy of Bemaraha lies 60-80 km inland from the west coast in the northern sector of the Antsingy region of the Bemaraha Plateau, north of the Manambolo River Gorge. The additional forests and lakes nominated include all the remaining native forest, mangrove and lakes between the west coast and the Bemaraha Reserve, lying between the Sohanina and Manambolo rivers.

Much of the reserve integral to Tsingy de Bemaraha comprises limestone karst, delimited to the east by abrupt cliffs which rise some 300-400 m above the Hanambolo River valley and extend several tens of kilometres from north to south. The western slopes rise more gently, and the whole western region of the reserve forms a plateau with rounded hillocks which slope away to the west. To the north undulating hills alternate with limestone extrusions, whereas in the south extensive pinnacle formations make access extremely restricted. The Hanambolo River Gorge is on the southern edge of the reserve. Both seasonal and permanent rivers flow on the plateau (draining to the west), and numerous permanent springs arise at the base of the Tsingy on both sides.

Vegetation is characteristic of the calcareous karst regions of western Madagascar, with dense, dry, deciduous forest, and extensive anthropogenic savannahs.

The fauna of the region has not been studied in any detail. The Tsingy is the only known location for chameleon, and the only western dry forest site known for Madagascar grey-throated rail (only previously known from north-western and eastern Madagascar). The reserve is also the only protected area where the endemic nesomyine rodent is known to occur and there is also an unconfirmed report of aye-aye just outside the reserve. Other notable species include goshawk, which may be threatened, and lemur, all of which are (or may be) threatened.

Historical Description

December 1927, and is now protected under Decree No. 66-242 of 1 June 1966. The ancient cemeteries within the Manambolo Gorge, the gorge itself, and the "foreet rochers" (which includes the reserve), are all designated "natural monuments and sites" under a decree of 25 August 1937, all three being listed by an 'arrete' 11 February 1939. However, this latte r designation does not imply any degree of management or protection.

Source: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/494

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