10 Best Low-Cost Airlines in the World - 2012

You are planning to visit various tourist destinations in one go and is thinking what to do as flight costs would make a hole in your pocket; don’t worry, a recent survey by “The World Airline Awards” give you the details about the best low-cost airlines in the world. Once you know which airline is the best when it comes to low-cost, you can peacefully travel around the world without burning a hole in your pocket.

The Best Low-Cost Airline of the year 2012

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World Airline Awards has conducted a survey in 160 countries to decide the world’s best low-cost airlines. This award was declared at Farnborough International Airshow held in England. The survey was taken from millions of air travelers (close to 18 million travelers) over a period of one year (June 2011 to July 2012).

Majority of the Asian airlines dominated this list.

AirAsia once again emerges as the world’s best low-cost airline. They have retained this position for the fourth consecutive year.

Jetstar Airways moved one spot down from its last year rankings to finish at 3^rd spot and Virgin America claimed the 2^nd spot.

World’s Best Low-Cost Airlines – 2012

10. Indigo Airlines

9. Azul Airlines

8. Southwest Airlines

7. Jetstar Asia

6. WestJet

5. easyJet

4. AirAsiaX

3. Jetstar Airways

2. Virgin America

1. AirAsia

Enjoy your air travel and visit your favorite travel destination!

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7 Beautiful Canyons around the World

Canyons are also called as gorges; these are formed due to long time erosions of rivers. One can spot canyons in dry or parched areas as physical weathering conditions play a major role in the formation of canyons. The canyon walls are in general formed of resistant granite or sandstone. When talking about canyons one can never forget the “Grand Canyon” in Arizona; however, we are going to take a look at equally beautiful canyons around the world other than Grand Canyon.

7. Matka Canyon, Skopje, Macedonia

Matka Canyon, popular tourist destination in Macedonia

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Matka (means womb) Canyon is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Macedonia. It is a home for 10 caves and the length of the caves vary between 20 meters to 176 meters. According to New7Wonders of Nature project, Vrelo Cave in Matka is one among the top 77 natural sites. There are lots of monasteries in Matka Canyon. One can spot lots of butterflies and bats at Matka Canyon; it is home for nearly 77 endemic butterfly species. This is one of the best spots for alpine hiking, kayaking, fishing and swimming; the best season is between April and November.

6. Kings Canyon, Northern Territory, Australia

Kings Canyon, Australia

Kings Canyon forms a part of Watarrka National Park in Australia and is a popular tourist destination for adventurous hikers or travelers. This is also a best place to watch rare and beautiful looking birds like Spinifex pigeon, black-breasted buzzard, dusky grasswren, etc. There are two walks in Kings Canyon; one walk takes you to the bottom of the canyon and the other to the top of the canyon. It is at the top walk that one finds “Heartbreak hill” that offers spectacular and scenic views of the entire landscape, a permanent waterhole, and sandstone domes; remember this is too steep and hence called the “Heartbreak Hill” or “Heart attack Hill.”

5. Charyn Canyon, Almaty, Kazakhstan

Charyn Canyon, best place to watch unusually shaped rock formations

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Charyn Canyon is located in Charyn River and is a part of Charyn National Park in Kazakshtan. This is the best place to watch unusual and oddly shaped rock formations; this is the reason why one part of it is also called as “Valley of Castles.” It resembles “Grand Canyon” in many ways even though it is much smaller in size; it is nicknamed “the little brother of Grand Canyon.”

4. Blyde River Canyon, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Blyde River Canyon, Second largest canyon in Africa

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Blyde (means happy or glad) River Canyon is believed to be the world’s largest green canyon as one can witness lush green scenery everywhere around the canyon and Africa’s second largest canyon. Due to the lush subtropical foliage, it is home for many species of birds, antelopes and fishes. Some of the bird species include the beautiful Narina Trogon, Bald Ibis, Green Twinspot, Wood Owl, Jackal Buzzard, etc. This is a most sought tourist spot or attraction in Mpumalanga.

3. Colca Canyon, Arequipa, Peru

Colca Canyon during winter

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Colca Canyon is believed to be the deepest canyon in the world and is the third most popular tourist destination in Peru. To watch the near threatened Andean Condor species, one must go to Cruz del Condor, which is nearly 3,960 feet below the canyon’s rim. One can also watch lots of other bird species like Giant Colibri, Andean goose, vicuna, etc. There are lots of other things one can do at Colca Canyon other than bird watching; this includes taking a dip in the hot springs, hiking, trekking, mountaineering, visiting archeological sites, etc.

2. Fish River Canyon, Namibia, Africa

Fish River Canyon during early morning

Fish River Canyon is the world’s second largest and the largest in Africa. This is one of the most sought after tourist attraction in Namibia. This is one of the best mountaineering spots, but the sad part is that hikers have to sleep outdoors during their trekking. The best time for hiking is between May and mid-September as hiking is prohibited in the summer season owing to very high temperatures.

1.Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, Tibet, China

Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon, the deepest and the largest canyon in the world

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Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon is considered the deepest and the largest canyon in the world. Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon is place for unique plants, bird species and is home for King Cobra. Some of the unique species include Ice Mouse, Ice Flea, etc. This boasts of rich biological resources, spectacular scenery and a popular eco-tourism spot. It is a best spot for whitewater kayaking.

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Architectural Wonders – 5 Splendid Step Pyramids

I always awe at the sight of old buildings for the way they have been constructed without using any modern machinery or equipment; have you? One such architectural wonder is the “Brihadeeswarar Temple” or “Big Temple” in India that does not cast a shadow on the ground. There are so many such architectural wonders and one among them is the pyramids. Step pyramids are large structures and are made of several layers of stone. Here are some of the fabulous and impressive step pyramids just for you.

5. Pyramid of Djoser, Memphis, Egypt

Pyramid of Djoser, first step pyramid in Egypt

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Pyramid of Djoser is the first step pyramid built in Egypt by the architect Imhotep during 27^th century BC. It has six mastabs, meaning flat roof rectangular surfaces that are built on top of one another. It is made of white polished limestone. The total height of the pyramid is 62 meters. The complex is surrounded by 10.5 meters high Tura limestone walls. Pyramid of Djoser has six steps and the entire structure was built in two stages.

4. Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacan, Mexico

Pyramid of the Moon, Mexico 

This is the second largest pyramid in Teotihuacan and was believed to be constructed between 200 and 450 AD. There is a platform on top of the pyramid; this is where the ceremonies are conducted for the Great Goddess of Teotihuacan. She is the goddess of water, fertility, earth and creation. To the opposite of this platform, one can find Plaza of the Moon; this contains the central altar and the bodies are positioned to form a cross known as the “Teotihuacan Cross.”

3. Borobudur, Magelang, Indonesia

Borobudur, UNESCO World Heritage Site in Indonesia

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This is a 9^th century Mahayana Buddhist monument with six square platforms that are topped by three circular platforms. This is decorated with 2,672 relief panels (a sculpture created using relief panels gives an impression that the sculpture is raised above the background) and 504 Buddha statues. Borobudur was constructed during Sailendra Dynasty during the 9^th century. Borobudur is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited tourist attractions in Indonesia.

2. Ziggurat of Ur, Dhi Qar Province, Iraq

Ziggurat of Ur (house whose foundation creates terror)

Ziggurat of Ur, also called as the Great Ziggurat of Ur means “house whose foundation creates terror” and was built during 21^st century BC (Early Bronze Age). This was later restored by King Nabonidus as the ziggurat crumbled during 6^th century BC. This is a gigantic step pyramid and is 100 feet high and 210 feet in length.

1. El Castillo, Chichen Itza, Yucatan

The famous equinox at El Castillo, Yucatan

Castillo means “castle” in Spanish; this is also called as the “Temple of Kukulkan” and was built somewhere between 9^th and 12^th centuries CE. This temple was built for the God Kukulkan; he is the Yucatec Maya Feathered Serpent deity. There are a series of square terraces on all four sides of the temple; each side has 91 steps when all these steps added with the top step, the total is 365. During spring and autumn equinoxes, sun rays fall on the northwest corner of the pyramid; this casts a triangular shadow and it is believed that an illusion of the feathered serpent crawling is formed. National Institute of Anthropology and History is maintaining this site recently.

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Architectural Wonders – 7 Magnificent Modern Day Pyramids

Pyramid is any structure that resembles the geometrical pyramid shape, which is triangular in the outer and converging to one single point at the top. When talking about pyramids the first thing that comes to our minds are the Great Pyramids of Giza; almost all of us associate pyramids with Egyptians. Does this mean you can find pyramids only in Egypt? There are modern day pyramids, which are also famous tourist attractions.

Louvre Pyramid, Paris, France

Louvre Pyramid, made of glass at day.

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Louvre Pyramid is situated in the main courtyard of Louvre Museum, Paris. It is made of large glass and metal and is enclosed by three small pyramids. One has to enter the Louvre Pyramid to go to the Louvre Palace; in other words, Louvre Pyramid is the main entrance for Louvre Palace. This is one of the major tourist attractions in Paris, France; this was designed by the architect I. M. Pei. This architectural wonder consists of glass segments of which 603 are rhombus-shaped and 70 are triangular shaped.

Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, Astana, Kazakhstan

Palace of Peace and Recognition

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Palace of Peace and Reconciliation, also called as the Pyramid of Peace of Accord was mainly constructed to host the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions. The height of the building is 62 meters and was designed by British architects Fosters and Partners. The design consists of five storeys of triangles and each triangle measures 12 meter on a side. The lower three storeys of triangles are made of pale granite and the upper or the remaining two storeys of triangles are made of glazed apex.

Walter Pyramid, Long Beach, California

Walter Pyramid, a multi-purpose stadium.

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Walter Pyramid was formerly called as the “Long Beach Pyramid”; this is a multi-purpose stadium with a seating capacity of 5,000. Walter Pyramid was opened in the year 1994 and was designed by architect Don Gibbs. The entire structure is made of sheets of dark blue corrugated aluminum. One of the unique features of Walter Pyramid is that it is a mathematically true pyramid as the perimeter of each side measure exactly 105 meter. The name of the pyramid was changed to Walter from Long Beach due to the fact that Dr. Mike and Arline Walter donated $2.1 million for the university.

Pyramid Arena, Memphis, Tennessee

Pyramid Arena, world's seventh largest pyramid.

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Pyramid Arena, the seventh largest pyramid in the world and was originally constructed as an arena that can accommodate nearly 20,000 people. As the design largely resembles with the pyramids in the Egypt, this was formerly called as the “Great American Pyramid.” There was a statue in front of the pyramid, which was then moved inside the campus was created from the mold of the actual statue in Egypt. It is believed that no major sports event took place in this arena since 2004 and is currently being converted to Brass Pro Shops (they are a privately held retailer who holds a large collection of outdoor gears specifically for hunting, fishing, etc.)

Transamerica Pyramid, San Francisco, California

Top of Transamerica Pyramid, one of the world's five tallest buildings

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Transamerica Pyramid was one of the five world’s tallest buildings when the construction took place and is still the tallest skyscraper in San Francisco. This was originally the headquarters for Transamerica Corporation and was designed by the architect William Pereira. When designing, the designers took major care to ensure the building withstands earthquake; visitors are allowed only till the first floor of the building. Concrete and steel rebar are used for the construction of the base and the entire façade of the building is covered with crushed quartz. The cap at the top of the building is made of aluminum and is illuminated from within so as to matchup with the night appearance.

Moody Gardens, Galveston, Texas

Aquarium Pyramid at the Moody Gardens, one among the largest aquariums in the world.

Moody Gardens is funded and operated by Moody Foundation and is a major tourist attraction in Texas; this complex has zoo, beach, water slides, gardens, cinemas, restaurants, etc. This features three pyramid attractions; they are:

a. Aquarium Pyramid – one of the world’s largest aquariums with more than 8,000 species of fishes, invertebrates, reptiles, mammals, and plants; the color of the pyramid is blue and is 12 stories high.

b. Rainforest Pyramid – features rainforests from various countries across Asia, Africa and America and is 10 stories high. Visit this place to see exotic collections of rare plants, plus otters, Saki monkeys, Chinese Alligators, etc.

c. Discovery Pyramid – is deep pink colored and features motion simulator and traveling exhibits. 

Muttart Conservatory, Edmonton, Alberta

Muttart Conservatory, a botanical garden with four pyramid structures

Muttart Conservatory, a botanical garden comprises of four pyramid structures made of glass where three pyramids showcases plants from various climatic conditions like arid, temperate, tropical, etc. and the fourth one is designed with a theme that will change all through the year (one can witness a lot of ornamental flowering plants in the fourth pyramid). There are two large and two small pyramids; the area of larger ones is 660 sq. m. and the smaller ones are 410 sq. m. Visit Muttart Conservatory to witness plants from all over the world.

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10 Must See World Famous Towers

A tower is in general a tall structure that can either stand alone or be a part of a large structure. The oldest tower known is a circular stone tower constructed in 8000 BC. There are lots of world famous towers; find a short list of 10 famous and must see towers of the world.

10. Himalayan Towers, Tibet

Himalayan Towers, the stone star-shaped towers, Tibet

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Himalayan Towers is also referred as “Stone star-shaped tower.” These are a series of stone towers where the major part of the tower is located in Kham with minor parts in various cities like Changthang, Miniak, Kongpo and Gyalrong. It is believed that this tower is very old and may have been built anywhere between 500 and 1800 years ago. The star shape was constructed to strengthen the towers.

9. Shukhov Tower, Moscow

Shukhov Tower, the first hyperboloid structure

Shukhov Tower is a radio tower in Moscow; it is also called as the Shabolovka Tower. This is a free-standing structure designed by Vladimir Shukhov. It is 160 meter high and is built of steel. Shukhov Tower was built during the Russian Civil War. This tower has a hyperboloid structure and features in the list of Endangered Buildings of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

8. Zizkov Television Tower, Prague

Zizkov Tower, an example of high-tech architecture

An example of high-tech architecture, this tower was designed by the architect Vaclav Aulicky and the construction took place between 1985 and 1992. This tower dominates the skyline of Prague. This tower has a nickname called “Baikonur” due to its rock shape. It is sad to say, but the truth is that the Czechs have voted this tower as “the second ugliest building in the world.” despite this fact of ugliest building, the management of the tower is trying to woo visitors by showing the technological innovations.

7. El Faro Towers, Argentina

El Faro Towers, the two, twin interconnected towers

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El Faro Towers was designed by the architect Torres El Faro; these are two, twin interconnected towers. The total height of the tower is 160 meter and has 160 apartments. These have a gym, sauna, spa, outdoor pool, underground parking for both the occupants and the guests. Initially, it was decided to construct a 170 meter high tower, but later was reduced to 160 meter. There are aerial bridges connecting these two towers at 4 levels; the construction of the first tower got over in 2003 and the second tower in 2005.

6. Sky Tower, New Zealand

Sky Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere

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Sky Tower, designed by Craig Craig Moller Ltd. is an observation and telecommunications tower. It is 328 meters tall and the tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere. It is believed that on an average around 50,000 visitors visit this iconic tower of New Zealand every year. There is a feature called “Skyjump” in the observation deck for jumpers; they are controlled by guide-cable-control to prevent collision of jumpers with the tower. Due to the extensive illumination, various projects were promoted by displaying various light colors from Sky Tower.

5. Big Ben, United Kingdom

Big Ben, world's largest four-faced chiming clock

Big Ben, the most popular landmark and a tourist attraction of United Kingdom is a clock tower and is the world’s largest four-faced chiming clock. The construction of Big Ben was completed in the year 1859; the year 2009 marked the 150^th year of this iconic structure. The tower is 96.3 meters high, where the bottom 61 meter of the structure is constructed using brickwork and the remaining tower is made of cast iron. Due to various changes in the ground conditions, Big Ben has started to tilt a little to the north-west and sometimes oscillates between east and west. It is a good idea to visit this iconic structure before any severe damage is done.

4. CN Tower, Canada

CN Tower, the largest free-standing structure in the world

CN Tower was the world’s largest free-standing structure before the construction of Burj Khalifa and attracts nearly 2 million international visitors every year. CN refers to “Canadian National,” which is the railway company of Canada that built this free-standing structure in the year 1976. CN Tower is one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World. The lighting scheme of the tower is changed to celebrate major events; incandescent lights were used to light the tower earlier, but not anymore. It has the famous 360 revolving restaurant.

3. Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy

Leaning Tower of Pisa, Italy, a free-standing bell tower

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Leaning Tower of Pisa a free-standing bell tower of a cathedral; it is a very popular tourist attraction and a landmark of Italy. The total height of the tower from the low side is 56.70 meter and from the ground is 55.86 meter. It is tough to believe that the entire construction of the tower took in phased manner and the time frame taken to complete the construction was 177 years. There is a speculation about the architect behind this powerful landmark; therefore, not sure on whose idea it is.

2. Eiffel Tower, France

Eiffel Tower, the tallest building in Paris and a popular tourist destination

Eiffel Tower is the tallest building in Paris and a famous tourist place; this was constructed in the year 1889 as an arch at the entrance of the 1889 World’s Fair. The architect of the Eiffel Tower is Gustave Eiffel and therefore named as Eiffel Tower in his remembrance. The total height of the tower is 320 meters. If the broadcast antennas are not included, this is the second tallest structure in France. There are totally three levels in the tower and tickets are sold to visit the first and second levels; one can also have tasty food in these levels as there are lots of restaurants. Each year, Eiffel Tower receives close to million visitors.

1. Petronas Tower, Malaysia

Petronas Towers, Malaysia, the tallest twin building ever built

Can anybody forget or leave Petronas Towers when talking about world’s famous towers? Petronas Tower, also called as the Petronas Twin Towers is the tallest twin building ever built; it was designed by the architect Cesar Phil and Deejay Cerico with consultations from J.C. Guinto and Dominic Minick Saibo. This tower has 88 floors; it was the second tower that was completed first. Tower 1 is exclusively for Petronas and their subsidiaries; however, Tower 2 has a lot of offices for many giant companies like Huawei Technologies, TCS, HCL, Accenture, Bloomberg, etc.

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Top 5 World’s Fastest Roller Coasters

Roller coasters, aren’t they the first thing we look forward to ride when visiting an amusement park or a theme park? Do you feel a lump in your throat when these roller coasters drop vertically from a great height? Even though for many the height of the roller coasters makes them dizzy, the popularity of roller coasters haven’t diminished; take a look at the fastest roller coasters in the world and make sure you visit them during your holiday. Majority of these fastest roller coasters are in the USA; however, some are in Asian countries too.

5. Name: Tower of Terror II

Location: Dreamworld Amusement Park, Coomera, Queensland, Australia

Speed: 100 miles per hour

Tower of Terror II, the fourth tallest and fastest roller coaster with a speed of 100 mph

This was considered the fastest and the tallest roller coaster when it was constructed in the year 1997. This roller coaster was called Tower of Terror II after its modification and launch in September 2010. Tower of Terror II holds other records like fourth tallest and fastest roller coaster and third tallest roller coaster drops. It reaches the maximum speed of 100 mph in just 7 seconds and has a maximum G Force of 4.5. A total of 14 passengers can be seated in one single vehicle; this passenger vehicle is called the “Escape pod.”

5. Name: Superman: Escape from Krypton

Location: Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, California, USA

Speed: 100 miles per hour

Superman: Escape from Krypton, the world's fifth tallest and faster roller coaster

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This roller coaster shares the 5^th spot with Tower of Terror II in terms of speed. This was opened in the year 1977 and is very similar to the Tower of Terror II. This was originally called the Superman: The Escape and after redevelopment called the Superman: Escape from Krypton. This roller coaster was closed almost all through later half of 2010 and was opened only on March 2011. This too reaches the maximum speed in about 7 seconds and the maximum G Force is 4.9. For about roughly 6.5 seconds, riders of this roller coaster feel weightless and are believed to be one of the loudest roller coaster rides. The other record this roller coaster holds is that it is the world’s fifth fastest and tallest roller coaster.

4. Name: Dodonpa

Location: Fuji-Q Highland Amusement Park, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan

Speed: 107 miles per hour

Dodonpa Roller Coaster, world's scariest roller coaster

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This roller coaster made its debut with two records; one being the faster roller coaster and second is the fastest acceleration of just 1.8 seconds to reach the maximum speed of 107 miles per hour. This is considered to be one of the scariest roller coasters in the world. The maximum G Force is 4.3. Drum beats are put through the entire session of boarding to landing where the riders can hear three consecutive drum beats called Do-don-pa. There is a false start feature that gives riders a feel of failed launch and this is followed by the surprise accidental launch.

3. Name: Top Thrill Dragster

Location: Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio, USA

Speed: 120 miles per hour

Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster; the tagline is "Race for the Sky"

The tagline of this roller coaster is “Race for the Sky” and it surely gives this experience to its riders. This is the second tallest roller coaster in the world. It reaches the maximum speed at 3.8 seconds. When debuted, it holds the records for tallest, fastest, and steepest roller coaster. The theme of the Top Thrill Dragster roller coaster is Top Fuel Drag Racing motor sport. There are a total of 6 trains with 5 cars and each train can accommodate 20 riders. The speed of the launch is controlled by a computer.

2. Name: Kingda Ka

Location: Six Flages Great Adventure, Jackson Township, New Jersey, USA

Speed: 128 miles per hour

Kingda Ka, the tallest roller coaster in the world

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It was the fastest roller coaster until November 2010 and is still the world’s tallest roller coaster. The maximum speed of 128 mph is reached within 3.5 seconds. It made its debut in the year 2005. This roller coaster suffered various setbacks and was closed at various points of time in the years 2005 and 2009. There was damage in 2011 shortly before the Hurricane Irene and was re-opened on April 2012. The theme of Kingda Ka is a mythical tiger. There are four trains with 5 cars and each train can take a maximum of 18 riders at a time.

1. Name: Formula Rossa

Location: Ferrari World, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Speed: 150 miles per hour

Formula Rossa, the fastest roller coaster in the world inspired by Italian racetrack Autodromo Nazionale Monza

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Formula Rossa is currently the world’s fastest roller coaster and reaches the maximum speed of 150 miles per hour within 4.9 seconds; the maximum G Force is 4.8. The shape of the track was designed or inspired by the legendary Italian racetrack called Autodromo Nazionale Monza. As it rides very fast, the riders in the front row are requested to wear protective glasses to avoid insects or any airborne particles entering their eyes. There are 2 trains with 4 cars with a maximum seating capacity of 16 riders per train.

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Australia: 10 Major Tourist Attractions in Sydney

Sydney is not only a big city in Australia, but also a great place for scenic views, nightlife, aquariums, parks, and much more. It was found that in the year 2008, Sydney received close to 2.7 visitors from all over the world. When talking about Australia or Sydney, the first point of visitor attraction that comes to our mind is the Sydney Opera House. It is definitely one of the major attractions, but there are other tourist attractions too. Discover some of the major points of tourist attractions in Sydney here.

Sydney Harbour Bridge

Panoramic view of Sydney Harbour Bridge from the north shore of Kirribillli

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Sydney harbour is one of the world’s most beautiful natural harbours and the Sydney Harbour Bridge carries almost all modes of transportation between Sydney Central Business District and the North Shore; it is a steel bridge. Sydney Harbour Bridge holds a Guinness World Record for the widest long-span bridge in the world. One of the major tourist attractions of the Sydney Harbour Bridge is the south-east pylon; one can access this through a pedestrian walkway. It is a major tourist attraction almost all through the year, but it is at its best during the New Year Eve.

Sydney Opera House

View of Sydney Opera House at night

When talking about Australia can anyone forget the famous Opera House? Sydney Opera House is the one of the most distinctive buildings of the 20^th century that was conceived by a Danish Architect named Jorn Ultzon. This building entered the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the year 2007. There are multiple performing avenues in this building and is a chief tourist attraction in Sydney. One can find a lot of recording studios, cafes, retail outlets, restaurants, and much more in this distinguishing building.

Royal Botanical Gardens

A pond at the Royal Botanical Gardens

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The total area of the Royal Botanical gardens is 30 hectares and is the most central of the three botanical gardens present in Sydney and maintained by the trust of “The Domain.” It is situated east of Sydney Opera House. If you wish to see fruitbats and grey-headed flying foxes, the best place to visit is the Royal Botanical Gardens; however, for the past couple of years, huge recorded sounds are played to drive away the fruitbats as they destroy the trees in the garden. The garden is opened on all days throughout the year.

Luna Park

The current face at the entrance of Luna Park

Luna Park is an amusement park located at Milsons Point, the northern shore of Sydney Harbour. This amusement park was opened in the year 1935, which was then opened to the public only for nine months a year; however, after 1972, this park is opened all year-round. This park was closed often for repair works and renovations, but is now functional till date from 2004. This amusement park holds a place in the New South Wales State Heritage Register. The main point of attraction is the Luna Park’s face; it is 30 feet wide. There are a list of rides like Rotor, Flying Saucer, Tango Train, Wild Mouse, and Tumblebug to name a few. There are also separate rides for kids like Whirly Wheel, U-Drive, etc.

Sydney Tower

Sydney Tower, tallest free standing structure in Sydney

Sydney Tower is the tallest free-standing structure in Sydney and the second tallest in Australia; it is called by various names such as Sydney Tower Eye, AMP Tower, Centrepoint, etc. This is one of the major tourist attractions of Sydney and can be seen from various vantage points across the city. The construction of the tower was over in the year 1975; public access was given only in the year 1981. The shopping center was connected to other areas of the tower in the year 2009; this is when the large illuminated “Westfield” logo came into place. Four sections of the tower are opened to public; this includes restaurants, observation deck, etc. The famous 360 revolving restaurant is at Level 1, Sydney Tower Buffet and Level 2 and Sky Venue, the highest event space in the entire southern hemisphere is at Level 3.

Taronga Zoo

Rustic Bridge at Taronga Zoo, designed with reminiscent of Italian grottoes

Taronga Zoo is yet another tourist attraction situated in the shores of Sydney Harbour and was officially opened in the year 1916. Taronga means “beautiful view” in the aboriginal word. This is one of the largest zoos in the world with over 2,600 animals spread across an area of 52 acres. The rustic bridge of the zoo was designed with reminiscent of Italian grottoes. There is a taronga ferry wharf available for the tourists to go around the zoo and is one of the preferred modes of transport.

Sydney Aquarium

Sharks at Sydney Aquarium

Image courtesy: Wikipedia

Sydney Aquarium is opened to public and is situated on the east side of Darling Harbour. This aquarium holds the largest collection of aquatic species of Australia with nearly 6,000 fishes. How will it be if sharks swim above your head? Does that sound terrifying? Don’t worry…this aquarium has acrylic glass tunnels and this is where the sharks move; this gives the visitors an impact of sharks moving above their head. Sydney Aquarium also holds a miniature or a recreation of “The Great Barrier Reef.”

Bondi Beach

Panoramic View of Bondi Beach

Image courtesy: Wikipedia

Bondi Beach is a popular name in the area and one of the main points of tourist attraction. In the aboriginal word, bondi mean “water breaking over rocks” and according to the Australian Museum, bondi mean “place where a flight of nullas took place.” This beach holds a place in the Australian National Heritage List. Surfing is a major sport in this beach. Surf Live Saving Australia has given a rating of 4 to the northern end and 7 to the southern side in a scale of 1 to 10 where 1 mean safe and 10 mean hazardous.

Darling Harbour

Panoramic View of the Darling Harbour

Image courtesy: Wikipedia

Darling harbour is situated very close to Sydney city center and one of the largest recreational areas on the outskirts of Sydney Central Business District. There are lots of tourist attractions near Darling harbour; some of them include: 

• Harbourside Shopping Centre
• Tumbalong Park
• Powerhouse Museum
• Sydney Aquarium

Blue Mountains

Panoramic view of the Blue Mountains with Three Sisters on the far left

Image courtesy: Wikipedia

The foot hills of these Blue Mountains starts roughly around 50 km west of the state capital and extends towards the west of Coxs River. At different elevations, one can experience different climatic conditions; the weather ranges from subzero to 22 degrees centigrade. At the higher ridges, major vegetation is eucalyptus plants and on the sheltered gorges, one can witness rainforests. Blue Mountains became a part of UNESCO World Heritage list on November 2000. What is there for tourists at Blue Mountains? There are a number of tourist attractions like: 

• The Giant Staircase; this provide natural walk along the valley and passes very close to Three Sisters, the natural sandstone rock formation.
• Limestone caves called the Jenolan Caves.
• Toy museum
• Apple orchards at Shipley Plateau.
• The Zig Zag Railway

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