Millions of tourists annually visit the most interesting places in the world. What could be more tempting than taking a picture against the backdrop of the unusual Chinese Danxia rocks, seeing with your own eyes the Gates of Hell located in Turkmenistan, enjoying cherry blossoms in the Japanese Hitachi park, walking along the streets of the abandoned town of Pripyat near Chernobyl?
10 most incredible places on our planet:
- City of Machu Picchu.
- Flower fields in Holland.
- Danxia Geopark.
- Moon Valley in Argentina.
- Wulingyuan mountains.
- Gates of Hell in the Karakum desert.
- Bobsleigh track in Sarajevo.
- Ghost town Pripyat.
- Abandoned ship "Airfield".
Man-made wonders of the planet
In 1911, an archaeologist from the United States, Hiram Bingham, while in Peru, accidentally discovered the ruins of a fortress city hidden in the Andes. Machu Picchu.
It is believed that the town was founded in the middle of the 15th century and for some time served as a residence for the ruler of the Inca Empire Pachacutec, and after his death it turned into a place where children of the nobility were taught. Tourists are attracted by the unique architecture of Machu Picchu.
Located at an altitude of more than 2 km above sea level, ancient city attracts travelers with unusual buildings built of polished rectangular stones. In total, about 200 buildings have been preserved in it, including several temples dedicated to the sun god Inti. Modern scientists were struck by the scale of buildings, because in order to build them, it was necessary to have the broadest knowledge in the field of engineering, geology, astronomy and other sciences that mankind did not possess at that time. How the ancient Incas created the city remains a big mystery. Some researchers even seriously suggest that aliens took part in the construction of Machu Picchu.
Flower fields in Holland
The Netherlands is known in every corner of the world not only for the Red Light District or the Marijuana Museum, but also for the picturesque fields of tulips.
The fashion for growing these flowers dates back to the distant 16th century. It was then that the botanist Karl Clusius first planted several tulip bulbs in the Leiden Botanical Garden.
Outlandish flowers quickly fell in love with the local population, soon any noble Dutchman considered it an honor to grow them at home. Today, tulips of all varieties and the most incredible shades grow on endless plantations located on the coast of the North Sea, as well as near Amsterdam, The Hague, Leiden, Enkhuizen and Delft. You can admire the incredibly beautiful flower fields in the Netherlands from mid-April to the end of the first decade of May.
Most unusual gardens are located in Japan. To verify this, just visit national park Hitachi, spread over as much as 120 hectares in the city of Hitachinaka on the island of Honshu.
Previously, in its place was military base United States, but since 1973, the Japanese authorities have decided to plant vast territories with luxurious flowers, shrubs and trees. For the whole 18 years, work was carried out to improve the park, and in 1991 it was first opened to the public. IN different times Cherry blossoms, kochia, tulips, lilies and other plants bloom on huge plantations throughout the year, turning Hitachi into a place of indescribable beauty.
Unusual creations of nature
In the Chinese province of Gansu, not far from the city of Zhangye, there is a unique Danxia Geopark. He became famous throughout the world thanks to the unusual colored rocks.
It may seem to an inexperienced tourist that a person had a hand in their creation, but this is not so. Zhangye Danxia rocks are natural object, they were formed over 24 million years from deposits of red sandstone and other mineral rocks. Their unusual shapes, colors and patterns are the result of numerous weather disasters.. Today, there is not a single landscape formation on the planet that even remotely resembles Danxia, so the geopark is very popular among lovers of unusual experiences.
Contrary to expectations, Moon Valley is not located on the natural satellite of the Earth, but in the northwestern part of Argentina. The Ischigualasto Provincial Park got its name because of its alien appearance.
There is practically no flora and fauna in the valley. Its attraction is unusual geological formations, similar to polished bowling balls with a diameter of up to 70 cm. Scientists today are unable to explain their origin. The area gained particular interest among tourists after NASA employees tested their rovers on it.
Located in the Hunan province of China, the Wulingyuan Mountains are 3,000 peaks and cliffs covered with greenery, some of which reach a height of up to 800 m.
Between them there are gorges with picturesque lakes, streams and waterfalls. Few people know, but it was the mountains of Wulingyuan that inspired the authors of the film "Avatar" to create fabulous landscapes that amaze the audience.
Underground road to hell
Listing unusual places in the world, it is worth mentioning the Gates of Hell, located in the Karakum Desert (Turkmenistan). An attraction with such an impressive name is a gas crater, the depth of which reaches 20 m, and the diameter is 60 m.
It was formed in 1971 after an unsuccessful search for underground gas. While drilling a well, Soviet geologists stumbled upon a void filled with natural gas, into which the earth and equipment located on its surface fell through. To prevent the gas from escaping from the crater and poisoning people living in nearby settlements, it was decided to set fire to it.
The mineral seekers expected that it would go out in a few days, but they were greatly mistaken. More than 40 years have passed since the formation of the crater, and the natural gas in it burns without ceasing. From the outside, this spectacle has a mystical appearance.
Forgotten corners of the world
The most beautiful abandoned places in the world have always attracted the attention of travelers. Once in Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina), tourists should go to the long-forgotten bobsleigh track.
A modern, world-class track was built on the eve of the 1984 Winter Olympics, its length was more than 1.5 km. The track was used after the end of the Olympics until the beginning civil war in Yugoslavia in 1991. The hostilities in this Balkan country have long ended, but the interest in bobsledding among the local population has subsided. The track, where the best athletes of the planet fought for prizes, has been in an abandoned state for more than two decades and is of interest only to travelers.
The small town of Pripyat in the north of Ukraine can be called without exaggeration the most interesting settlement in the post-Soviet space. Founded in 1970 as a city of nuclear scientists, after 16 years it ceased to exist. The reason for this was the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant located 3 km from it. After the explosion at the power unit, the entire population of Pripyat was evacuated. The city turned into an exclusion zone, and the people began to call it a ghost.
Today in Pripyat everything looks the same as at the time of the tragedy. Once in the city, as if transported back 3 decades. The walls of buildings are decorated with communist slogans, schools and kindergartens are waiting for pupils, and apartments are waiting for their owners. But the city differs from other settlements in that no one is going to return to it. Its streets are filled with a piercing silence, and only tourists and guides meet among the people.
Travelers looking for the most beautiful abandoned places in the world should head to Australia. On this distant mainland in Homebush Bay, the remains of the steamship Airfield have been resting for many years.
The British ship was launched in 1911 and carried ammunition and coal during World War II. Now Airfield is considered the most famous abandoned ship on the planet. Real thickets of mango trees grew on its deck, which is why it was popularly called the "Floating Forest". The ship looks especially spectacular in the rays of sunset.
To answer the question "Which places with the most the best climate in the world?" First we need to clarify what we mean by "better climate" because most people would probably give different answers. Some prefer warmer weather, others cooler climates.
In essence, the best one should be the one that is easier to tolerate from the body in a year and does not need any major adaptation to extreme temperatures. The best climate should not be too humid or too cold or warm.
Places must be unaffected by extreme weather events like regular floods, hurricanes, heatwaves, snowstorms and others. We must also be completely objective. The places that travel magazines advertise as pieces of paradise are indeed fabulously beautiful, but very often the climate there is too hot or humid.
We tried to choose places in such a way that their climate was the most healthy. Very often, when it comes to a better climate, everyone first of all remembers the Caribbean. Yes, the weather is really wonderful there, but the summer half of the year is too rainy and the region often becomes a victim of hurricanes.
During the summer months, Caribbean holidays can be hit hard by rain and tropical storms. In general, the most popular tourist destinations do not always have the best weather conditions. You will probably notice that most of these places are either extremely densely populated or are popular tourist destinations.
And it cannot be otherwise - after all, the weather is of paramount importance. You may also notice that almost all the places that claim to have the most pleasant climate are close to a large body of water (sea or ocean). This is no coincidence. Around large water basins, the weather is usually the mildest and most pleasant.
1. Canary Islands. They are located near the coast of Africa, the Canary Islands are a Spanish possession. They enjoy probably the best climate you can imagine. Here is eternal summer or rather eternal spring. Usually the places that are located south of the 30th parallel have a very hot tropical climate, but these islands are no exception.
The cold Canary Current cools the islands as the ocean temperature is in the range of 19-25 degrees throughout the year and this prevents the air temperature from getting too high or too low. In summer the daily temperature is about 26°C, and in winter about 21°C. The weather is very easily tolerated even by the most pretentious people.
Most places don't get rainy in general, so any time of the year if you go it's unlikely that rain will spoil your holiday. The exception is Northern part island of Tenerife, which endures quite heavy rains, and sometimes rainy days reach up to 15 per month.
There are no hurricanes because they form in too warm weather. water basins, and here is ocean water with a moderate temperature. The annual temperature amplitudes are quite small, and the islands know neither cold nor heat. And in addition, it is good to know that the Canary Islands are among the places with the cleanest air and low dust on the planet.
2. Located near the equator, the second largest city in Kenya and neighboring resorts enjoy luxurious weather throughout the year. Here from January to December it is always around 25-30°C. No more, no less.
It is almost always partly cloudy here, which reminds you that you are at the equator and should always be ready for a little rain.
Light cloudiness makes the weather feel a bit cooler - around 24-26°C all year round, as we know it's the sun that makes the heat hard to bear. In addition, near the equator, the weather is usually almost never windy. In general, the conditions are ideal for tourism and recreation throughout the year.
3. Hawaiian Islands. Hawaii is the sunniest and warmest american state, but without extreme high temperatures in summer. There is no rainy season, no hurricanes and generally no adverse weather conditions. The dustiness in Hawaii is very low, similar to the Canary Islands.
For a mild climate, mainly the location of the islands in the very center contributes Pacific Ocean. This justifies the glory of Hawaii as one of the best tourist destinations. Temperatures here range from 26 to 30°C throughout the year. In winter, the amount of precipitation increases slightly, but is generally normal throughout the year.
4. Costa Rica. Similar to Kenya, Costa Rica also has a very pleasant warm subequatorial climate. Temperature constant - all year round are between 24 and 26°C, which makes the country extremely popular for people who are looking for tropical paradise to buy real estate.
The climate is humid, but precipitation is usually short. There are hardly any days when there is no sun. You will feel comfortable without feeling the weather too warm or cold.
5. Located near the equator in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the Galapagos Islands enjoy a great equatorial climate. The temperature varies from 21 to 28°C. Usually the weather is relatively dry. The first 6 months of the year are warmer and slightly wetter.
lovely climatic conditions are one of the reasons why an exceptional animal thrives here and vegetable world. The climate of the Galapagos is very well tolerated by tourists, since there are no extreme prices here. In addition, there are no hurricanes here, and the water of the Pacific Ocean has very pleasant moderate temperatures.
6. Bermuda. Bermuda is one of the places in the world with the best climate. They are located quite north in the subtropics, but have a mild and not very hot tropical climate. The reason is the warm current of the Gulf Stream, which brings warm waters far into Europe.
The temperature here varies from 21°C in January to 30°C in August. The ocean acts as a natural air conditioner and the degrees are at a pleasant level.
7. The capital of Mexico has a cool tropical mountain climate. The high altitude saves the city from the unbearable heat typical of the tropics. Temperatures here range from 21 to no more than 27°C with heavy rainfall during the summer months.
The warmest weather is in May and the coldest in December. The mild climate is one of the reasons for the huge population of the Mexican capital.
8. Sao Paulo. The largest Brazilian city is located in the tropics South America. It is located on a high plateau, not far from the shores of the ocean. Although Rio de Janeiro is located in almost the same geographical latitude, Sao Paulo has a much cooler and milder climate.
The temperature here varies from 22 to 27°C throughout the year. Both Mexico City and São Paulo have such a large population, to some extent due to its mild climate.
9. Costa del Sol. Most South coast Spain is popular place to spend the winter for millions of Europeans, as well as people coming from colder countries around the world.
The Mediterranean coast of Andalusia is the warmest and sunny place in Europe. Unlike the Caribbean, there is a short winter here, but in fact, 2-3 months with daytime temperatures around 17-18 degrees are easier to bear than 6 months of the rainy season.
The Mediterranean Sea has a strong influence, maintaining pleasant and healthy temperatures throughout the year. Even according to some scientists, along the very coast on the Costa del Sol there is a tropical microclimate, the temperatures of which are abnormally high for Europe. Summers are very warm with temperatures around 29°C. The climate is generally quite dry and the sun is plentiful 12 months of the year.
10. San Diego. The southernmost of all the Pacific cities in the United States - San Diego, has a wonderful climate, formed under the influence of the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. The cold streams that pass near California make the summers pleasant without much heat. At the same time, constant ocean temperatures keep winter values relatively high.
Temperatures in the city range from 19 to 25°C and the weather is sunny and dry throughout the year. The local climate bears a striking resemblance to that of southern Spanish province Andalusia.
The pleasant climate in San Diego is repeatedly mentioned in many Hollywood productions and is the reason that many wealthy Americans live here.
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Are you planning to change permanent place residence and go to another country? We bring to your attention a fresh rating of 17 cities in the world that are best suited for the life of an expat. On the menu: high level life, good job prospects, rich leisure activities and the opportunity to make new friends!
The rating was compiled on the basis of data from the international company InterNations, which helps expats around the world adapt to life in a foreign country. More than 14,000 people took part in the survey.
New York, USA
The city is known for its high cost of living, but its forte- great prospects for career growth.
Photo: choicehotels.com 16 Zurich, Switzerland
Swiss cities now and then shoot up in various rankings with high rates. Zurich is no exception, because it is one of the best in the world in terms of quality of life.
Photo: swisskyline.ch 15 Berlin, Germany
The capital of Germany is considered not only a great place to find work and have fun, but also beautiful city for raising children.
Photo: go2festival.com Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva is attractive to expats with excellent job opportunities and a high standard of living. And here live some of the richest people in the world.
Photo: alamy.com 13 Frankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt is a real center of jobs for migrants, which is why it made it to this ranking.
Photo: flickr.com by Rudy 12 Basel, Switzerland
Quiet and cozy town with picturesque landscapes. Basel shares borders with France and Germany, which provides excellent employment opportunities. Is it worth repeating and talking about a high standard of living?
Photo: myswitzerland.com 11 Barcelona, Spain
sunny city has a lot of advantages for the life of an immigrant: career prospects, a beach on the coast mediterranean sea, excellent cuisine and many options for a noisy and fun holiday at any time of the year.
Photo: 2015.phpconference.es
10
Toronto, Canada
Toronto is highly regarded by expats as an ideal city for making friends.
Photo: jumpshell.com 9 Mexico City, Mexico
The densely populated capital of Mexico is famous for its excellent weather conditions and moderate prices. Emigrants note that salaries here can be enough for a long time.
Photo: mentesalternas.com 8 Sydney, Australia
Sydney, one of largest cities Australia, is the center of trade. It is suitable for employment, and also pleases with an abundance of places for fun.
Photo: visitnsw.com 7 Munich, Germany
Munich scores highly with expats thanks to its annual beer festivals, as well as its high standard of living and excellent job opportunities.
Photo: protrav.ru 6 Vienna, Austria
Emigrants noted the excellent weather in Vienna and the high standard of living.
Photo: austria-time.ru 5 Singapore
The city-state is known as one of the cleanest in the world and enjoys a high standard of living with an enviable average salary.
Photo: fourseasons.com 4 Dusseldorf, Germany
A city in western Germany scores very high in terms of living standards.
Photo: nice-places.com 3 Madrid, Spain
Expats have highly appreciated the Spanish city. According to them, it is easy to settle in here and make new friends. The low cost of living also played a role in receiving high ratings from respondents.
Photo: edificiosenventamadrid.com
Houston, USA
The fourth-largest city in the US ranked second thanks to its relatively low cost of living.
Photo: businessinsider.com 1 Melbourne, Australia
The second most populous city in Australia took the first position in the ranking, because 79% of respondents were satisfied with their employment and personal life here. The presence of a variety of leisure activities also raised the city to the top of the rankings.
Photo: wallpapersdsc.net The Economist Intelligence Unit, a reputable analytics firm, has unveiled its 2011 ranking of the world's best cities to live in. Notably, the ranking also includes two Russian cities: St. Petersburg is on the 68th place, and Moscow - on the 70th.
The criterion for assessing the standard of living in 140 cities various countries there were 30 parameters for the company's experts. Among them are security, the level of health care, stability in the social sphere, education, the level of infrastructure development, the availability of goods and services, the environment and the diversity of cultural life.
1. 10th place. Auckland, New Zealand, with a score of 95.7 points
10th place in the ranking The largest city New Zealand Auckland. Its population is 1.3 million people, and this is a quarter of the total population of the country.
Today, Auckland is the center of economic and cultural life New Zealand. Alas, there are not many historical sights in the city, but the hearts of all those who come here for the first time will surely conquer its picturesqueness and beauty.
2. Auckland is home to the tallest structure in the Southern Hemisphere: the Tower sky tower (sky tower), whose height is 328 meters.
3. Auckland at night.
Auckland is washed by three sea bays. 48 extinct volcanoes are located within the city.
4. Panorama of Auckland from the Sky Tower.
5. 9th place. Adelaide, Australia with a score of 95.9
9th place is occupied by the capital and largest city of the state of South Australia, the fifth largest city in the country - Adelaide. Its population is more than 1.1 million people
10. The city got its name in honor of the Queen - the wife of the King of Great Britain and Hanover, William IV, who occupied the throne from 1830 to 1837.
The city is located on the ocean. The small central part of Adelaide is built up mainly with high-rise buildings, there are also several modern skyscrapers here. In general, the city has one or two floors. The three integral components of Adelaide are perfect cleanliness, neatness and impeccable decoration of buildings.
11. Victoria Fountain.
12. Kangaroo Island.
In Adelaide, tourists are also attracted by the third largest island in Australia called Kangaroo. This is a nature reserve wildlife, there is a colony of sea lions, and the coast is ideal for fishing.
The average income per worker in Adelaide is the same as in the whole country. However, the standard of living and the cost of real estate here is much lower than in other major cities in Australia.
13. 8th place. Perth, Australia with a score of 95.9.
Perth is the largest city and capital of Western Australia. Its population is about 1,200,000 people. He is on the coast indian ocean.
14. The city is one of the main economic centers of Australia. Here gold, diamonds and nickel are mined. Moreover, it is in this region that the world's largest deposits of gold and nickel are located (in the Kalgoorlie region), and the world's largest diamond-bearing region, Kimberley, is the main competitor of diamond deposits in South Africa and Yakutia.
15. The city landscape of Perth is unthinkable without modern skyscrapers.
16. Perth is often referred to as the "Pearl of Australia". Ancient architecture, a convenient pedestrian zone in the center, a beautiful view of the river - Perth is a real Mecca for tourists.
17. One of the attractions of Perth is the Wolf Creek meteorite crater.
18. The mild Mediterranean climate, wonderful beaches, restaurants, bars and nightclubs in Perth attract many tourists.
19. 7th place. Sydney, Australia with a score of 96.1.
Sydney is the largest city on the southeast coast of Australia. Its area is twice that of another giant city - New York. Thus, all travelers here face the same problem - how to have time to see everything.
20. A huge number of parks and green areas is the main difference between Sydney and other major cities on the planet: 34 hectares of the Royal Botanic Garden peacefully coexist with skyscrapers in the City.
21. In the summer, active life in Sydney leaves the City and moves to the beaches. Sydney has over 20 city beaches and a dozen harbours. Most famous beach Bondi. This the best place in Sydney for surfing.
22. Evening Sydney is indescribably beautiful: on the waterfront, the lights of skyscrapers are reflected in the water of the harbor. The building of the Sydney Opera House is a kind of visiting card of Sydney.
23. Another of the main attractions of Sydney is Harbor Bridge, the most big bridge cities. In addition, it is one of the largest steel arch bridges in the world.
24. Sydney, Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House: aerial view.
25. 6th place. Helsinki, Finland, 96.2 points
Helsinki is the capital and largest city of Finland. The population is 578 thousand people.
26. The streets of the city are washed by bays, bridges are thrown between nearby islands, and ferries carry out communication with remote islands. Helsinki is enveloped in the smell of the sea, and in the ports here there is an incessant noise from arriving and departing ships.
Helsinki is the center of business, education, culture and science in Finland. There are 8 universities and 6 technology parks in Greater Helsinki.
27. View of the city center. Cathedral- one of the attractions of Helsinki.
28. 70% of all foreign companies operating in Finland are located in this city.
29. Helsinki is a maritime city. It is located on the peninsulas and islands of the Baltic coastline.
30. 5th place. Calgary, Canada with 96.6 points
Calgary is the largest city in Alberta, Canada. This is an area of foothills and prairies, located about 80 km east of the watershed of the Canadian Rockies.
31. The sun shines here on average 2400 hours a year, so the city is one of the sunniest in Canada.
32. Calgary is located in the transition zone between the foothills of the Canadian Rockies and the Canadian Prairies. It is to this factor that it owes its rather hilly relief. The center of Calgary is located at an altitude of approximately 1048 m above sea level.
33. The center of life in Calgary is oil production. Oil fields were discovered at the beginning of the 20th century. Paradoxically, at the same time, this city is considered by many organizations to be one of the cleanest in the world.
34. Olympic Plaza. Another well-known landmark is noticeable in the distance ––––– Calgary Tower (Calgary Tower), whose height is 91 m. It is famous for its design - slightly swaying in the wind, the tower maintains its stability even with very strong gusts.
35. Downtown Calgary, photo taken in 2010.
36. 4th place. Toronto, Canada, with a score of 97.2.
Toronto is the largest city in Canada and the capital of the province of Ontario. The city received its current name in 1834.
37. Toronto is considered the most multicultural city in Canada. Immigrants make up about 49% of its residents. View of the city from a helicopter, November 2010.
38. It is in Toronto that the longest street in the world is located - Young Street, listed in the Guinness Book of Records due to its length of 1896 km. In addition, Toronto is home to the largest zoo in the world. Its area is 283 hectares. About 5,000 animals are kept here in conditions close to their natural habitat.
Aerial view of Toronto from the other side.
39. The world's tallest TV tower, the CN tower, was built back in 1976. Its height together with the spire reaches 553 meters, and at a height of 446 meters there is a closed observation deck.
40. The TV tower is visible from anywhere in Toronto.
41. The Toronto Islands are a great place to relax and have picnics. This place is often chosen by both locals and tourists. View of the city from the island.
42. Without a doubt, the main attraction in the vicinity of Toronto is Niagara Falls. It is located 140 km from Toronto between lakes Ontario and Erie on the border with the United States.
43. And this is the Toronto of the near future
44. 3rd place. Melbourne, Australia with a score of 97.5.
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia and the capital of the state of Victoria. Its population is about 3.8 million people. Melbourne is a major commercial, industrial and cultural centers countries. In addition, it is often called sports and cultural capital Australia.
45. Melbourne rightfully bears the title of the most picturesque city in Australia. Exquisite Victorian architecture is combined with wonderful nature here.
46. Connoisseurs of Victorian architecture should take a walk along the main street of the city. It's called Swanston.
47. If you want to see the whole of Melbourne at once, climb observation deck Rialto towers. This is a skyscraper whose height is 253 meters.
View of Melbourne from the Rialto Tower.
48. One of the attractions of the city is the art center of Victoria.
49. Yarra River, Melbourne.
50.
51. 2nd place. Vienna, Austria, with a score of 97.9 points.
Vienna is the capital of Austria. The city is located in the eastern part of the country. The population of Vienna, including its suburbs, is about 2.3 million.
52. Vienna is the world capital of music, thanks to a galaxy of famous musicians who lived and worked in this city. Among them are Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert.
53. Vienna, spread out on the banks of the Danube, is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
54. Vienna has everything: luxurious palaces, squares, cozy streets and numerous squares. One of the most recognizable buildings of the city, its “visiting card” is the Town Hall.
55. Hofburg was the main residence of the imperial court in Vienna and a favorite seat of the Austrian Habsburgs in winter time. Currently, the Hofburg, consisting of 2600 halls and rooms, is the official residence of the President of Austria.
56. Not far from the capital is viennese wood- Austrian mountain range. This is a wonderful forest area with its own towns and hotels, resorts and thermal springs- Wonderful seating area.
57.1 place. Vancouver, Canada, 98.0 points
So, here we come to the first place. Analyst company Economist Intelligence Unit believes that the best city on Earth to live is the Canadian city of Vancouver.
58. Vancouver lies at the foot of the Pacific coastline of the North American Cordilleras for west coast Canada, on the coast picturesque bay.
59. Vancouver is the third largest city in Canada. Its population is 2,433,000 people. Moreover, it is the largest locality provinces British Columbia.
Vancouver looks like this from a height of 500 meters.
60. Vancouver at night.
61. Vancouver is one of the most picturesque cities in the country. It is surrounded by dense coniferous forest, snow-capped mountains and fjords.
62. Vancouver has many rivers. Their banks are connected by 20 bridges, 3 of which are drawbridges.
63. This is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, located by the ocean. spacious beaches, picturesque parks, the majestic architecture of the buildings are the hallmarks of Vancouver. High-class hotels, an abundance of museums, shops, restaurants and sports centers attract many tourists from all over the world.
Vancouver has a mild climate. The fact is that it is part of a unique ecosystem - a temperate rainforest. Summers are not hot here, and it rarely snows in winter.
64. Science Center.
65. On the hill of Little Mountain is the famous Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver.
(average: 4,23
out of 5)
The authoritative analytical company Economist Intelligence Unit has published a rating best cities world to live for 2011. Two Russian cities were also included in the rating: St. Petersburg took 68th place, and Moscow - 70th.
The quality of life in 140 cities of different countries was assessed by the company's experts according to 30 parameters, including security, healthcare, social stability, education, infrastructure development, availability of goods and services, the state of the environment and the diversity of cultural life.
By tradition, let's start from the last, 10th place. So…
10th place. Auckland, New Zealand, 95.7 points
In 10th place is Auckland. This largest city in New Zealand with a population of about 1.3 million people, which is a quarter of the total population of the country.
Today Auckland is the economic and cultural center of New Zealand. The city is not rich in historical sights, but Auckland strikes many hearts of those who come here for the first time with its picturesque beauty.
sky tower(Sky Tower) 328 meters high - tallest building in the southern hemisphere:
Auckland is surrounded by three sea bays, within the city there are 48 extinct volcanoes.
Night Auckland:
Panorama of Auckland from the Sky Tower (clickable 2500 x 651 px):
9th place. Adelaide, Australia, 95.9 points
9th place belongs to the capital and to big city state of South Australia, fifth largest city in the country with a population of more than 1.1 million people - the city Adelaide.
It is named after the Queen - the wife of the King of Great Britain and Hanover, William IV, who sat on the throne from 1830 to 1837.
The city is located on the ocean. central part Adelaide is multi-storey, with a few modern skyscrapers is not large, and the rest of the city is one or two storey in nature. Perfect cleanliness, tidiness and impeccable decoration of buildings are the hallmark of Adelaide.
Victoria Fountain:
Here, in Adelaide, tourists are attracted by Australia's third largest Kangaroo Island - a wildlife sanctuary with a colony of sea lions and a beautiful coastline for fishing.
Kangaroo Island:
The average income per worker in Adelaide does not differ from that in the country, however, the standard of living and the cost of real estate here are much lower than in other major Australian cities.
8th place. Perth, Australia, 95.9 points
Perth is the largest city and capital of Western Australia. with a population of about 1,200,000 people, located on the shores of the Indian Ocean.
The city is considered one of the main economic centers of Australia. Gold, diamonds and nickel are mined here. It is here that the world's largest discovered deposits of gold and nickel are located in the Kalgoorlie region, as well as the world's largest diamond-bearing region, Kimberley, which is the main competitor of South African and Yakutian diamond deposits.
Modern skyscrapers are a characteristic detail of the Perth cityscape:
Perth is called "pearl of australia". Ancient buildings, a convenient pedestrian zone in the center of Perth, beautiful views of the river make Perth very attractive for tourists.
(clickable 1575 x 656 px):
One of the attractions Wolf Creek meteorite crater:
Many are attracted by Perth's mild and even Mediterranean climate, magnificent beaches, restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
7th place. Sydney, Australia, 96.1 points
Australia's largest city on the southeast coast - Sydney. It is twice the size of another giant city - New York, and the main problem for all travelers is how to have time to see as much as possible.
The number of parks and green oases makes Sydney unlike other major cities on the planet: next to the skyscrapers in the City - 34 hectares of territory Royal Botanic Gardens:
In the summer, all life in Sydney moves from the City to the beaches, with over 20 city beaches and a dozen harbours. The most famous beach of Bondi (Bondi) - favorite place surfers in Sydney.
(clickable 2000 x 792 px):
In the evening, Sydney is incredibly beautiful: on the waterfront, the lights of skyscrapers pierce the water of the harbor. One of Sydney's most recognizable buildings - Sydney Opera House:
Another major attraction in Sydney is the Harbor Bridge. It is the largest bridge in the city and one of the largest steel arch bridges in the world. (clickable 2500 x 911 px):
Aerial view of Sydney, Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House:
6th place. Helsinki, Finland, 96.2 points
Helsinki is the capital and largest city of Finland with a population of 578 thousand people.
The streets of the city go around the bays, bridges connect the islands, and ferries connect with the remote islands. Helsinki is saturated with the smell of the sea, and in the ports there is a constant noise from arriving and departing ships.
Helsinki is the center of business, education, culture and science in Finland. There are 8 universities and 6 technology parks in Greater Helsinki.
View of the city center. One of the sights of Helsinki - the Cathedral:
70% of foreign companies operating in Finland are located in this city.
Built on the peninsulas and islands of the Baltic coastline, Helsinki is a maritime city.
5th place. Calgary, Canada, 96.6 points
Calgary is the largest city in the province of Alberta in Canada, in the foothills and prairies, about 80 km east of the watershed of the Canadian Rockies.
The city is one of the sunniest in Canada- The sun shines there on average 2400 hours a year.
Calgary is located in the transition zone between the foothills of the Canadian Rockies and the Canadian Prairies, so its terrain is quite hilly. The height of the center of Calgary above sea level is approximately 1048 m.
Life in Calgary, one way or another, revolves around oil production. Its deposits were discovered at the beginning of the 20th century. Despite this, this city is considered by many organizations one of the cleanest in the world.
Olympic Plaza. In the distance you can see a famous landmark - Calgary Tower (Calgary Tower), 91 m high. It is designed in such a way that, swaying slightly in the wind, even with very strong gusts, maintain its stability:
Downtown Calgary, 2010 (clickable 2000 x 561 px):
4th place. Toronto, Canada, 97.2 points
Toronto is Canada's largest city and the provincial capital of Ontario. The current name of the city was given in 1834.
Toronto is Canada's most diverse city, with about 49% of its residents being immigrants. View of the city from a helicopter, November 2010:
Toronto is also home to longest street in the world- Young Street, listed in the Guinness Book of Records and having a length of 1896 km. Here is located largest zoo in the world. The area of the zoo is 283 hectares. Here, in conditions close to their natural habitat, about 5,000 various animals are kept.
View from a height of Toronto from the other side:
CN tower - world's tallest TV tower built back in 1976. Its height with a spire is 553 meters, and at a height of 446 meters there is a closed observation deck.
Here it is difficult to find a point where the TV tower would not be visible:
The Toronto Islands are a great place to relax and have picnics. Locals and tourists like to get out here. View of the city from the island:
The main attraction in the Toronto area is Niagara Falls. It is located between lakes Ontario and Erie on the border with the United States, 140 km from Toronto:
This is what Toronto looks like in the near future. (clickable, 1700 x 802):
3rd place. Melbourne, Australia, 97.5 points
Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia with a population of about 3.8 million and the capital of the state of Victoria. The city is considered one of the main commercial, industrial and cultural centers of Australia. It is also often referred to as the sports and cultural capital of the country.
Melbourne is considered to be the most picturesque city Australia. There is both exquisite Victorian architecture and wonderful nature.
Connoisseurs of Victorian architecture should take a walk along Swanston Street. It is the main street of the city:
Anyone who wants to see all of Melbourne at once should go up to the observation deck of the Rialto Tower. This is a skyscraper whose height is 253 meters.
View from the Rialto Tower (clickable, 2000 x 548 px):
One of the attractions is the arts center of Victoria:
Yarra River, Melbourne:
2nd place. Vienna, Austria, 97.9 points
Vienna is the capital of Austria located in the eastern part of the country. The population of Vienna, including its suburbs, is about 2.3 million.
This is one of the most charming cities in Europe, spread out on the banks of the Danube.
Vienna is a world-famous center of music, thanks to a long line of famous musicians who lived and worked in this city: Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, Schubert.
There are luxurious palaces, majestic squares, picturesque streets and numerous squares. One of the most recognizable buildings in the city is the City Hall:
Hofburg - the winter residence of the Austrian Habsburgs and the main seat of the imperial court in Vienna. Currently - official residence the President of Austria. In total, it has 2600 halls and rooms:
Located near the capital viennese wood- a mountain range in Austria. This is a wonderful natural recreation area - a whole forest area with its own towns and hotels, resorts and thermal springs:
1 place. Vancouver, Canada, 98.0 points
So, we got to the 1st place. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit, The best city in the world to live in is Vancouver..
Vancouver is located on the west coast of Canada, on the shores of a picturesque bay, at the foot of the Pacific coastline of the North American Cordilleras.
It is the 3rd largest city in Canada with a population of 2,433,000 and the largest city in the province of British Columbia.
Vancouver from a height of 500 meters:
Night Vancouver:
One of the most picturesque cities in the country is surrounded by dense coniferous forests, snowy mountains and fjords.
There are 20 bridges across numerous rivers of the city, 3 of which are drawbridges.
This is one of the most beautiful ocean cities in the world. There are spacious beaches, lush parks, and magnificent architecture of buildings. Tourists from all over the world are attracted by comfortable hotels, many museums, shops, restaurants and sports facilities.
