Sunday, January 21, 2007

PREPARE TO GO ON A JOURNEY!!!

Definitely rent it! Worth the rental fee--very good movie!

I'm editing this post, so that I can participate in Motivated Mom's "Monday Morning Movie Review".

I gave it a Four Stars because I really enjoyed this documentary, the kids did too and I must say that I learnt a lot watching this :) Enjoy!!!

The Greatest Places on Earth!!!



It was one of my Netflix movies and I watched it last night.....you know there is something wonderful about sitting back and just watching a documentary sometimes. As much as I love action, drama and comedy and all sorts of fiction movies, occasionally I want to just watch something REAL and know that it wasn't made up or invented, there were no special effects added to it, which makes it amazing to see.

So IMAX, the Seven Greatest Places on Earth takes you to the mighty gush of the Amazon River; the foreboding icebergs of Greenland; the towering beauty of Iguazu Falls; the
undulating sand dunes of the Namib Desert; the watery maze of the Okavango Delta; the diverse wildlife of Madagascar; and the indescribable majesty of Tibet.

I thought that with it being sunday and we're all ho
me and warm and comfy, what would be better than to go on a journey without having to leave our homes? Consider it a Geography lesson courtesy of me and IMAX LOL


THE AMAZON RIVER

Click picture above for a video of the amazon

The Amazon River is the second longest river in the world, and the largest in terms of the size of its watershed, the number of tributaries, and the volume of water discharged into the sea. No bridge crosses the river along its entire length.


The Amazon and its tributaries flow through the countries of Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil before emptying into the Atlantic Ocean 6, 437 kilometers (4,000 miles) from the Amazon's headwaters high in the Andes mountains of Peru. This huge watershed includes the largest tropical rainforest in the world as well as areas of dry grassland, or savannah.


THE ICEBERGS OF GREENLAND

Click picture above for a video of Greenland

Greenland is the world’s largest island and a land of extremes. Its diverse landscape is rich in culture, history and wildlife.


Greenland is the largest island in the world. Its northerly location, at the point where the Atlantic meets the Arctic Ocean, means that Greenland is surrounded principally by cold ocean currents, so the coasts are constantly being cooled. This, combined with the radiation of cold from the inland ice, gives Greenland its arctic climate.
The ice cap or inland ice covers 1,833,900 square km, equivalent to 85 percent of Greenland's total area, and extends 2,500 km (1,553 miles) from north to south and up to 1,000 km from east to west.


At its center, the ice can be up to 3 km thick, representing 10 percent of the world's total fresh water reserves.If all the ice were to melt, the world's oceans would rise seven meters.


THE IGUAZU FALLS

Click picture above for a video of the Iguazu Falls

Taller than Niagara Falls, twice as wide with 275 cascades spread in a horsehoe shape over nearly two miles of the Iguazu River, Iguazú Falls are the result of a volcanic eruption which left yet another large crack in the earth. During the rainy season of November - March, the rate of flow of water going over the falls may reach 450,000 cubic feet (12,750 cubic m) per second.



Situated in Iguazú National Park, some 20 km. from Puerto Iguazú in the north of the province, these falls are shared by Brazil and Argentina. Iguazú river is born in Paraná state in Brazil, and after crossing 1,200 km. on a plateau where it receives several affluents, it reaches a fault forming a crack in the interleaved layers of sandstone and basalt where the river runs.


THE NAMIB DESERT


Click picture above for a video of the Namib Desert

In the Nama language, Namib means “vast”, and this is no exaggeration. At 50,000 km2, the Namib-Naukluft park is the largest conservation area in Namibia, and one of the largest in the world.

The parched Namib desert has orange dunes blown into razor-sharp ridges by the sand-shifting wind. The famous Sossusvlei sand dunes are the highest in the world at over 300 m, towering over their Arabian rivals, and just begging to be climbed barefoot.

Animals, insects and plants have adapted to live in this generally inhospitable region. Apart from infrequent rains, they rely on the sea mist that rolls far inland.


THE OKAVANGO DELTA

Click picture above for a video of the Okavango Delta, including a catfish
and a green mamba snake.

The Okavango Delta is the largest inland delta on Earth. Instead of flowing into the sea, the annual flood of fresh water flows inland, spreading over 15 000km² of the Kalahari sand in a maze of lagoons and channels.

The countless islands that emerge from its waterways give rise to several diverse ecosystems, which in turn are home to vast numbers of game and a myriad of bird species. The crystal clear waters support many kinds of fish. The area is a birder’s paradise.

The heart of the delta can be accessed only by air. Since it is an exclusive destination, it remains wild and relatively unpopulated.


MADAGASCAR

Click picture above for a video of beautiful Madagascar

Madagascar lies in the Indian Ocean off the southeast coast of Africa opposite Mozambique. The world's fourth-largest island, it is twice the size of Arizona. The country's low-lying coastal area gives way to a central plateau. The once densely wooded interior has largely been cut down.



Madagascar is home to more than 250,000 species of which 70% are found nowhere else on the globe.

There are more than 20 ethnic groups in Madagascar from the Indonesian-looking Merina in the highlands to Arabic Antaimoro on the eastern coast.


TIBET


Click picture above for a video of amazing Tibet

Tibet (Xizang), the Roof of the World, remained unknown to the world until the beginning of the 20th century. The massive, snowy land has exerted an awesome draw on travelers and adventurers ever since. Its majestic scenery, mysterious and exotic religious culture, and wonderful people, reward every tourist with an indelible life long memory!

Tibetan people are warm and hospitable. Tourists can visit local families and experience the daily life of Tibetan people. Holidays and festivals are the most important days in Tibet. Enjoying the local food and dancing with beautiful Tibetan girls are the most excellent ways to celebrate these joyful times.




Beside white snow capped mountains, verdant virgin forests, clean running rivers and tranquil beautiful lakes, the devotional pilgrim progress toward their places of worship by prostrating themselves under the sky and along the roads, making people humble and modest. Tibet, the lost paradise under the sky, is undoubtedly a place where the spirit lives!


I have to tell you, I really enjoyed revisiting these places, it's just wonderful to see such beauty in nature.

None of the pictures are mine (obviously lol) so credit goes to the great internet, online travel guides and the wonderful people that shared their personal videos on YOUTUBE.

8 comments:

Jill said...

Sandra...I love all of the pictures, but especially Greenland and Iguazu River! They are breath-taking. Thanks so much for sharing them!!

Courtney said...

Wow! How amazing. What a great idea too. I think the kids would love something like this. Matt & I would too. Thanks for sharing. I know what movie we'll be watching next weekend:)

someone else said...

Those are incredibly beautiful! Thanks for the tour.

Unknown said...

Those are really beautiful..Just browing and thought i would say hello.. Great blog design here!

Anonymous said...

Wow those waterfalls, how amazing. Can you imagine the spray, it must disperse for miles.

Susanne said...

Love the pictures, especially of that little guy with the yellow sticky uppy hairdo from Madagascar. Looks a bit like me when I first get up in the morning! :v)

I love Imax shows. They are incredibly well done and engaging! I'll have to rent this one.

Jen said...

What a great way to start a Monday morning! Thanks for the trip around the world.

Come on over to my blog to join in my "Monday Morning Movie Review" at http://motivatedmom.blogspot.com/

Have a great day!

gail@more than a song said...

Those pictures are amazing!
Thanks for sharing it Sandra.