Interesting facts about Macedonia are an excellent opportunity to learn more about the Balkan countries. Today, this state cannot boast a strong economy and influence on the world stage. However, the government had significant political and military power in ancient times.
The Republic of Macedonia is a state in southeastern Europe on the Balkan Peninsula. Member of the UN as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
Interesting facts about Macedonia
1. Macedonia is a country located south of the Balkan Peninsula.
2. Macedonia is a small European state located on the Balkan Peninsula, bordering Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria, Albania, and Greece.
3. There are several Macedonias: the Pirin is a region in southwestern Bulgaria, Aegean is a region in northern Greece, and Vardar partly belongs to Serbia.
4. The modern state of the Republic of Macedonia is located between all these countries. It occupies an area historically called Vardar Macedonia - after the name of the Vardar River.
5. Macedonia is the only country that gained independence from Yugoslavia peacefully. It became a separate state in 1991
6. Although Macedonia is now a very small state, it used to be the greatest empire that conquered most of the world.
7. This is one of the oldest settlements in Europe. The first settlements on the territory of this country date back to 5000 BC. However, the first traces of organized cities date back to 808 BC, when the Argead dynasty controlled the area.
8. The name of the country comes from the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia, which was named after the ancient Macedonians. The name Μακεδόνες (Makedónes) comes from the ancient Greek adjective μακεδνός (makednós), which literally translates as "high". Perhaps the Macedonians got this name because of their physical characteristics, or their mountainous habitats.
9. More than five centuries, until 1912, Macedonia was part of the Ottoman Empire. Therefore, some local traditions, dishes and even music are reminiscent of Turkish ones.
10. The Macedonians have always wanted to gain independence, so they often heroically rebelled against the Turks.
11. In memory of one heroic uprising, a huge monument was erected - “Macedonium” in the city of Krushevo, where the Ilinden uprising broke out in 1903, as a result of which the Krushevo Republic was created. The republic did not last long - ten days later the Turks dispersed this uprising, killing all the revolutionaries. The revolutionaries became heroes, their names are heard in the national anthem, and August 2 (Ilya according to the church calendar, “Ilinden”) is celebrated on a grand scale every year.
12. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, Macedonia did not have statehood, and its fate was decided by its neighbors, who defeated the Turks in the First Balkan War and then quarreled with each other.
13.Macedonia is the second most mountainous country in the world. About 85% of the territory of this state is covered with mountains. It is second only to Montenegro, whose territory is 89% mountains.
14. There are 34 mountains in the country, the height of each of which exceeds 2000 meters above sea level.
15. Macedonia is a country with a territory of 26 thousand km2, and a population of just over two million people, of which about 500 thousand live in the capital, Skopje.
16. The city of Skopje has experienced many devastating earthquakes throughout its history. The most serious earthquakes occurred in 518 and 1963. These earthquakes almost completely destroyed the city.
17. Now Skopje has been completely restored and has the unofficial name of the "city of monuments", since on its territory there are monuments at almost every step.
18. In Skopje, there is the Church of the Holy Savior with a unique iconostasis dating back to the 6th century.
19. Skopje is a city where it is colder in winter than in the rest of Macedonia, and hotter in summer. Macedonia has a warm and dry climate, with 300 sunny days a year. In winter, the temperature is not lower than -5, usually from 0 to +5, in summer - +25+35, sometimes up to +40. If there is a thunderstorm, lightning is sure to strike.
20. In the mountains of Macedonia it is colder and there is snow. Ski resorts: Mavrovo, Krushevo, Popova Shapka. The Mavrovo National Park is open to tourists in the summer as well.
21. In the mountainous northwestern regions of Macedonia, there are quite large areas of forest vegetation. The lower slopes are dominated by deciduous forests. At altitudes up to 2000 meters above sea level, coniferous forests predominate.
22. These forests are home to a large number of wild animals such as wild pigs, wolves, bears, lynxes and others.
23. About 67% of the inhabitants of Macedonia are Orthodox Christians, 30% are Muslims.
24. Orthodox Macedonian ancestors were Slavs who, as the local history textbook says, came from beyond the Carpathians in the 6th-7th centuries AD. e.
25. Macedonians speak Macedonian. There is such a language. Everyone understands and freely communicates with Serbs, Croats, Montenegrins, Bulgarians, these are different languages, but they are similar. The younger generation in the cities speaks English. The older generation once learned Russian at school, but, as a rule, no one remembers anything.
26. Despite the modest size of the country, there are many different dialects of Macedonian, which can be very different from the literary one.
28. Formal languages such as Greek and Church Slavonic were often used for writing by these people. The Macedonian alphabet was created only in 1945.
29.Now the Macedonian language is one of the most difficult languages to learn.
30. Macedonia is a predominantly agricultural country, fully self-sufficient in food. The main crops grown in this country are tobacco, fruits (mainly apples and grapes), various vegetables, wheat, rice and corn. Viticulture is quite developed in Macedonia.
31. Here everywhere, among the hills and low mountains, along the valleys and along the roads, fields and vineyards stretch.
32. Ohrid is a small town in the southwest of the country. There are 365 churches in this city (one for each day of the year). Several of these churches have been abandoned, but Ohrid is still the city with the largest number of churches, if not in the world then at least in Europe.
33. August 26, 1910 in Skopje was born Agnes Gonje Boyadjiiu, who is now known to the whole world as Mother Teresa. Today, in the center of the capital, you can visit her house-museum.
34. At 30 kilometers from the city of Kumanovo, at an altitude of 1030 meters, there is the oldest observatory in the world - Kukino. Its age is about 4 thousand years. This is the most important archaeological site discovered in Macedonia.
35. The Millennium Cross in Skopje is the highest in the world. It has a height of 66 meters and is located on the top of Mount Vodno (1066 meters). It was built for the 2000th anniversary of Christianity in Macedonia.
36. Macedonia is landlocked, but has many lakes, of which the most famous is Lake Ohrid.
37. Lake Ohrid is the oldest and deepest in the Balkans, it is located at an altitude of 750 meters above sea level, a depth of about 300 meters, according to scientists, it is about five million years old. Also, more than 200 endemic species of animals live in Lake Ohrid.
38. The water in Lake Ohrid is very clean. Wastewater is not drained into it, even the river that flows into the lake is cleaned of debris before that.
39. The waters of the Crni Drin River, which flows into Lake Ohrid, do not mix with the waters of the lake, and from a height you can see how it flows through the turquoise water with a black ribbon and flows out from the opposite side.
40. The city of Ohrid, on which the lake is located, is famous for the first Slavic university, a large number of churches, a beautiful monastery that rises above the water, and an ancient amphitheater. The city of Ohrid and its lake were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1980.
41. Every wealthy Macedonian has a house or apartment in Ohrid, where they come for the weekend, but they prefer to spend their holidays in Montenegro or Greece, because the sea is warmer than the lake.
42. Ohrid resembles the Adriatic coast: a beautiful promenade, many restaurants and hotels. The beaches are located outside the city. There are sun loungers for vacationers by the water, restaurants and cafes right behind them, modern toilets are equipped every 50 meters, which have never been paid. Sun loungers are also free, you just need to order drinks in a cafe. There are wild beaches, but they are unpopular.
43. Local residents are very friendly. They are very fond of tourists. Many offer accommodation to tourists. Others take tourists on a boat. Souvenirs, soda, baked corn, glazed donuts, books, antiques are sold on the embankment.
44. Many Germans, Belgians, Swiss, Danes, tourists from the Baltic countries and Scandinavia.
45.After Macedonia became an independent country in 1991, the small village of Vevkani, located in the mountains north of Lake Ohrid, declared itself the first micronation in the Balkan Peninsula, even though the inhabitants of Vevkani were all ethnic Macedonians. The inhabitants of this village had their own flag and currency, but the so-called "republic" did not last long.
46. In this state there is a system of caves Vrelo, located near Skopje, the depth of which reaches 230 meters. These are currently the deepest caves in the Balkans and the second deepest in Europe.
47. Alexander the Great was an ancient Macedonian, not a Greek. The Greeks even refused him participation in the Olympic Games, referring to the fact that only Greeks have the right to take part.
48. The Greeks managed to force the Macedonians to change their coat of arms, arrogating to themselves the rights to the "Sun of Alexander". But the patriots still decorate their premises and even make tattoos with the coat of arms and various phrases, the meaning of which is: “we will die, but we will not change our name.”
49. In the center of Skopje, a huge monument to Alexander the Great was recently erected, but in order not to anger the Greeks, they called it “Warrior on Horseback”.
50. In the city of Bitola, the ruins of Heraclea, the palace of Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great, have been preserved.
51. Very often in this country, the construction of any object, house or garage is interrupted due to an accidental important find and archaeological excavations begin instead. There is even a joke like this: “Don’t piss me off, otherwise I’ll plant an amphora in your garden, and in the morning you will receive archaeologists.”
52. Macedonians are very patriotic citizens. Each house has a flag, souvenirs or clothing with national symbols, they love their cuisine, music, football team and believe that everything Macedonian is the best.
53. 20:00 - time for the evening news, all of Macedonia falls to the TV screens. The population is especially happy about news from other countries with the mention of Macedonia, even if someone just found their state on the map.
54. Macedonians make unique blankets from sheep's wool, which look like the skin of a bear, they are called yamboli. They are painted in different colors and laid on the sofa, and when the yambolia wears out, they are thrown on the floor instead of a rug.
55.There are three types of popular music in Macedonia: folk popular music, popular music and children's music.
56. Macedonian folk music is very patriotic, reminiscent of the wedding music of Western Ukrainians and Moldovans.
57. The children's stage consists of several festivals where children of different ages perform, all this is shown on local television. Thus, children have their own, children's idols, favorite songs on children's topics.
58. The city of Struga every year becomes the venue for poetry evenings, which attract poets from all over the world.
59. The city of Prilep is known for its summer beer festival, where Balkan pop stars perform.
60. Socialism in Yugoslavia differed significantly from the Soviet one, land was not taken away from people, private enterprise was allowed. In Macedonia, many family businesses were inherited by the current owners from their grandfather-great-grandfather, these are all sorts of workshops, vineyards, shops, as well as land.
61. In central Macedonia, growing tobacco has been a popular form of income since the 18th century. They collect it, string it on long needles, then on threads two meters long and dry it on the street, after which they keep it in the attic until winter, and in winter they rent it to a tobacco factory. This is very hard work. All family members are involved in this work, starting from the age of 4-5.
62. Macedonians grow more than 40 types of peppers of different sizes, colors, shapes, tastes and pungency. It can be said that this is one of the main food products along with wheat, feta cheese and tomatoes.
63. There is no buckwheat and herring in Macedonia. Herring in Macedonians is disgusting.
64. In the mountains of Macedonia there are villages where there are thousands of times more sheep than people.
65. There are deposits of marble in Macedonia. Whole marble mountains. Therefore, the completely marble central square of a small town is not uncommon, here it is not expensive. In the process of marble extraction, a lot of marble scrap remains - curved slabs of different sizes, marble chips. Local residents lay out their yards with slabs; you can often find an ordinary house with a beautiful marble yard.
66.The Macedonian diaspora exceeds the population of the country itself. Most Macedonians live in the USA, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Germany. They emigrated in several waves, starting from the 19th century, fleeing poverty and Ottoman oppression.
67. Foreign Macedonians, as they are called in the country, come to their homeland regularly, marry the same foreign Macedonians, met “down” (“below”), in their homeland.
68. Macedonians will proudly show a foreigner their house, their neighbor’s house, the city, and the history of the country, and all this with pride.
69. They treat Russians with respect. Russians consider all citizens of the CIS countries. And the Russian mafia scare small naughty children.
70. What cannot be expressed in words is the atmosphere in the country. The unhurried pace of life of self-proud Macedonians. Magical sunrises and sunsets against the backdrop of endless mountains. Sweet smells of hot Macedonian summer. Macedonia needs to be felt, and for this you need to come here.
The most famous sights of Rio de Janeiro, which everyone knows for sure, are the annual carnival and the statue of Jesus. In fact, this city has many more little-known, but no less interesting places and facts. Which? Now we'll tell you.
Amazingly beautiful beaches, delicious food, interesting excursions - just to have time to see everything in the time allotted for vacation. But you should be careful, after all, Rio, unfortunately, is not among the safe cities.
Amazing facts about Rio de Janeiro
1. The magnificent Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro is famous all over the world.
2. Rio de Janeiro is a truly amazing place that is famous and proud of its achievements.
3. Contrary to popular belief, this city is not the capital of Brazil.
4. Rio de Janeiro for a long time disputed this role with another metropolis, Sao Paulo, and as a result, in order not to offend anyone, the authorities erected a new city, which was named Brasilia and became the capital.
5. By the way, Rio de Janeiro surpasses the capital in almost all respects, not to mention the famous annual festival, which attracts tourists from all over the world.
6. Rio de Janeiro is built in Guanabara Bay.
7.A Guanabara Bay is the second largest bay in Brazil. It boasts of its inexhaustible wealth: a scale of 413 kilometers, 53 beaches and over a hundred islands.
8. The date of foundation of the city is March 1, 1565. Carnivals and the monument of Christ, and not only them, brought great fame to this city.
9. The monument to Christ the Redeemer was no less famous than the Eiffel Tower in Paris, or, for example, the Statue of Liberty in New York. Therefore, in 2007, the authorities decided to include this monument in the list of New Wonders of the World.
BEACHES IN RIO DE JANEIRO
10. Rio de Janeiro has amazingly beautiful beaches, there are 53 of them, delicious food, interesting excursions.
11. And it turns out that the sky over Rio is the bluest in the world, according to one of the studies.
12. The name Rio de Janeiro is translated from Portuguese as "January River". True, there is no river here - the navigators who discovered these lands made a mistake and mistook an ordinary bay for a river mouth. Kommersant
13. But the name stuck, and so it remained. This name was given to the future city by the Portuguese, approximately in the 16th century.
14. Self-name of local residents - "carioca". Moreover, it is not the Brazilians in general who call themselves that, but the residents of Rio.
15. Rio has over 6.7 million inhabitants. And this is about 5 times more than in all of Estonia, and this is not counting the suburbs. Yes, and the population of the favelas is problematic to count.
16. There are more than 1,000 slums in Rio, which are called favelas here. Some of them are relatively safe, while others even the police prefer not to call.
17. A third of all imports going to South America pass through the giant seaport of Rio de Janeiro.
18. The symbol of Rio de Janeiro is a giant statue of Christ the Redeemer, towering over the city.
19. Its height from the base to the top is 38 meters, and it took nine years to build it, while importing building materials, just imagine, from Sweden.
20. The official opening of the statue of Christ the Redeemer took place in 1931.
21. Lightning is a frequent visitor over the expanses of Brazil, since the country is located near the equator (the most active seismic point).
THE HARBOR OF RIO DE JANEIRO
22. Every year the statue is struck by lightning. The famous statue of Jesus has no thumb, due to being struck by lightning in 2014.
23. During the Napoleonic Wars, Brazil was still a colony of Portugal, and it was here, in Rio de Janeiro, that the royal family of this country fled, fleeing from Napoleon.
24. Here she stayed for 12 years, and during this period, Rio de Janeiro was officially the Portuguese capital.
25. By the way, this is the only case in the world when the capital of a European country was located outside of Europe.
26. The royal family of Portugal had to go on the run and settle in Rio. At the same time, the family took one of the most valuable things in Portugal: the Royal Library, which consisted of 60,000 volumes. Thanks to this historical event, another advantage of this place is the eighth largest library.
CARNIVAL IN RIO DE JANEIRO
27. Rio annually hosts one of the largest and most colorful carnivals in the world. It ranks first both in terms of the number of official participants (about 2 million) and the number of foreign guests coming to this event.
28. Bicycles are quite popular here. Rio has about 75 kilometers of cycle paths. They are laid mainly along the picturesque places on the coast.
29. Rio de Janeiro has the oldest tram line in all of South America, launched back in 1896. She still works, by the way.
30. Carioca - this is how the indigenous people of Rio call themselves. This name goes into the depths of history, even before the appearance of Europeans on these lands. And in translation, it means "house of the white man."
31. The most popular gift that city residents give each other for the holidays is flowers.
32. Here, after marriage, the wife does not change her surname to that of her husband. She adds him to hers.
33. The famous Brazilian dance samba originates from here. Initially, it was a dance of African slaves brought here by the Portuguese to work on plantations.
34. Samba is the most popular dance in the city. There are about 200 schools in Rio that teach the art of samba dance.
35. There is an international airport on Ilha do Governador (the island of Guanabara Bay). This is the main airport in Rio de Janeiro.
36. Unfortunately, the crime rate in Rio is second only to Chicago. It is quite dangerous here, and not only at night. There are a lot of police in Rio de Janeiro, but they cannot cope with security.
THE BAY OF CORCOVADO
37. Several times the city authorities were even forced to ask the army to send regular troops into the city in order to restore order. The last time this happened was in 2018.
38. In Rio de Janeiro, by law, it is allowed to pass intersections at red lights at night without stopping. The reason is simple - a car stopped on an empty night street can easily be robbed.
39. By the way, during the carnival in Rio de Janeiro, crime increases.
40. The golden sandy beaches of Rio cover an area of more than 50 thousand kilometers.
41. Not surprisingly, this tropical city is one of the most visited tourist destinations. More than 3 million tourists come to Rio every year.
42. The world's largest urban forest is located here. Visitors who find themselves in this place often have the feeling that they are in a relatively small town. And the whole mystery is that right in the middle of a large metropolis is the largest forest area. And this protected area is called Floresta da Tijuca (the size of the forest is 33 square kilometers).
43. Surprisingly, the walls of houses in Rio are mostly painted with graffiti. Most of the buildings here are painted with graffiti to a height of two or three floors. More often there are interesting, and even breathtaking paintings, than ordinary yard tasteless inscriptions.
44. Three-quarters of the people of Rio de Janeiro regularly attend football matches, and everyone is interested in football to one degree or another.
45. The biggest football match took place in Rio on July 16, 1950. This date will forever remain in the memory of Brazilians who love football so much.
46. And in 2016, the famous Olympic Games were held in Rio.
47. In the entire history of observations, the air temperature in Rio de Janeiro has never dropped below plus 6 degrees.
48. Sometimes even icebergs from Antarctica swim here, and they can be seen not far from the coast. But that rarely happens.
49. The full name of the city sounds like this: San Sebastian de Rio de Janeiro. The place was named in honor of the Portuguese monarch who ruled these lands. But the full name did not stick, because of its length.
50. The amazing beauty of Rio does not leave tourists indifferent. Millions of tourists visit Rio every year and leave many admiring memories of this interesting city.
Saint Lucia is an island country next to South America. The economy is developed through tourism, agriculture, and foreign investment.
Cosmopolitans obtain second citizenship of Saint Lucia to travel without visas to 145 countries, including the Schengen states, the UK, Andorra, and Singapore.
We tell you where Saint Lucia is located, what is worth seeing in the country, how the local population lives, and how much it will cost to rest on one of the favorite islands of Americans.
Amazing facts about Saint Lucia
1. Saint Lucia is a state located on the same name island in the Lesser Antilles archipelago, a former colony of Great Britain.
2. Saint Lucia is an island nation located between the islands of Saint Vincent and Martinique. The Atlantic Ocean borders the island to the east and the Caribbean Sea to the west.
3. Saint Lucia is located northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. Saint Lucia is a sovereign island country in the Caribbean.
4. Saint Lucia is currently the only country in the world named after a woman: Saint Lucy of Syracuse. This Christian saint and martyr is the patroness of people with vision problems.
5. Corresponding the name of the island on which this Caribbean state is now located was given by French sailors who were shipwrecked next to it on the day of this saint's holiday (December 13). This holiday is celebrated to this day in Catholic and Protestant countries.
6. Contrary to the earlier opinion, Christopher Columbus did not discover this island. True, the island was indeed part of the route along which the world-famous explorer walked, but the Columbus team did not land on it.
7. The first people on this island were not Europeans. According to the results of research by historians and archaeologists, the island was initially inhabited by the Arawak Indian tribe during the settlement from the continental part of South America.
8. The Arawaks inhabited the region from the 2nd millennium BC to the 1st millennium AD. The population of these Indians began to decrease significantly with the arrival of Europeans in America, who brought smallpox and other deadly diseases to the natives.
9. In 1550, the French pirate Francois Le Clerc founded the first European settlement on Pigeon Island, located near Saint Lucia and now part of the country of the same name.
10. Saint Lucia has 158 kilometers (98 miles) of coastline.
11. The area of the Caribbean state is 617 square kilometers. This is approximately 1.5 times less than the area of Kyiv (839 square kilometers) and two times larger than the area of Minsk (349 square kilometers). Also, the size of St. Lucia is 3.5 times larger than the Washington, DC (USA) area.
12. The population of Saint Lucia is about 188 thousand people. This is almost 800 times less than in the Russian Federation.
13. The local population accounts for only about 0.002% of Earth's total population. The country is in 193rd place in the world ranking of countries in terms of population (between Samoa and Kiribati).
14. The island often changed hands. The French were the first European settlers to settle on the island. In 1660 they made a peace treaty with the native Indians.
15. At the same time, the island has a long colonial history. In the 17th and 18th centuries alone, control of the territory changed hands between the British and the French 14 times. As the island frequently changed hands between British and French colonists, Saint Lucia was also known as the "Helena of the West Indies."
16. In 1814, the British finally took control of this place. Between 1958 and 1962, the island was a member of the Federation of the West Indies. In 1979, Saint Lucia became an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations, an organization created by the United Kingdom.
17. Saint Lucia declared independence from the British Empire (now the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) on 22 February 1979. The islanders celebrate this holiday very actively since many of them witnessed the proclamation of the independence of their homeland.
18. Like most Caribbean countries, Saint Lucia is part of the British Commonwealth of Nations. Queen Elizabeth II is still considered the head of this state, represented by a governor-general. According to the constitution, it can be any citizen of the Commonwealth, appointed by the will of the monarch. A local native is usually selected for this post based on the country's head of government's recommendation.
19. The Royal Police Force includes a special forces unit and the Coast Guard.
20. Administratively, the country is divided into 11 parishes. There are local self-government bodies - city and village councils and administrations.
21. Having a volcanic origin, the island of St. Lucia is more mountainous than most other islands located in the Caribbean.
MOUNTAINS IN SAINT LUCIA
22. Rising 950 meters, Mount Jimi is the highest point among the ridges of wooded mountains that divide the island from north to south.
23. Two other large local mountains form the Piton chain, the most famous landmark of Saint Lucia and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
24. Gros Piton and Petit Piton are two mountains that rise sharply from the Caribbean coast and surround a small bay. The Piton Mitan ridge interconnects them.
25. The low mountains located in the central part of the island are covered with forests in which many orchids grow. Numerous rivers and streams flow down from the hills, forming small waterfalls.
26. The climate of the island is tropical, with trade winds. The average monthly temperature is around 26°C. The dry season lasts from January to April and the rainy season from May to August. In September-October, "Indian summer" comes, reminiscent of "Indian summer" in Russia.
CASTRIES - THE CAPITAL PORT OF THE STATE
27. The bulk of the population are blacks and mulattoes - the descendants of enslaved people brought from Africa after the extermination of the Indians.
28. The official language is English, although a large part of the population speaks Patois, the local dialect of French.
29. The modern symbol of this country is a parrot; the past one is an iguana. Since 1980, the national symbol of Saint Lucia has officially been a parrot, found only on the same name island. A parrot with a green plumage color, a blue-violet forehead, and front of the head, blue head, ears, and cheeks inhabits the island's tropical forests, living on mountain slopes at an altitude of up to 1 thousand meters above sea level.
30. Now, this bird is on the verge of extinction. The damage to the bird population was caused by many years of felling and uprooting old trees, replacing forests with plantations, and hunters and birders. At the end of the last century, about four hundred individuals were in the wild. Now parrots are under state protection.
31. Interestingly, before the arrival of Europeans, a completely different animal was the island's symbol. The first inhabitants of St. Lucia, among the Arawaks who arrived from South America, called this place Ioanalao. It means "land of the iguanas."
32. Most islanders live in the coastal part of Saint Lucia at the foot of the mountain range. About 60 thousand people live in the island's northern region, mainly in the capital city of Castries. The Indians have descendants. And even today, ancient Arawak languages are spoken by a small number of people from Saint Lucia, as well as neighboring island nations such as Grenada, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba.
33. Multilingualism is a common socio-cultural phenomenon in the Caribbean island. Although the official language of Saint Lucia is English, Patois Creole and Queyol French are spoken by 95 percent of the population.
34. In this regard, the islanders bypass most other peoples. Indeed, according to the latest research, only about 75% of the world's population speaks two or more languages (multilingualism) to one degree or another.
35. Although plantation slavery was abolished in the island nation as early as 1834, Saint Lucia remained an island dependent on agricultural production and cheap manual labor for a long time.
36. Agriculture was concentrated on the cultivation of sugar cane. In 1964, sugar cane plantations were converted to banana production.
BANANA PLANTATIONS
37. Bananas are still the main crop on the island to this day, complemented by the production of coconuts, cocoa, citrus fruits, spices, cassava, and sustainable fishing industry.
38. But Saint Lucia is not a "banana republic." Rapidly developing since the 70s of the last century, tourism is vital to the economy of the Caribbean state.
39. The most significant number of tourists visit the island by sea on cruise ships through one of the five major ports. The completion of the construction of a new terminal for Quantum-class cruise ships gave an enormous impetus to the development of cruise tourism.
40. Ports are connected with the capital and other cities by a ring road that runs throughout the island. Tourists here can rent not only cars but also yachts or helicopters.
41. Islanders lived long in warmth and were surrounded by lush vegetation. The average life expectancy in Saint Lucia is 72 years. The officially registered literacy rate of the local population is about 67 percent of the people.
42. This Caribbean island nation is the same size as Islay in Scotland. And if Islay is known for single malt Scotch whiskey (Laphroaig or Lagavulin), then St. Lucia has become famous for slightly different alcoholic beverages. We are talking about popular varieties of rum, such as Chairman's Reserve and Rodney's Reserve.
43. To attract more wealthy guests to the island, its authorities periodically arrange large-scale cultural events. So, the islanders hold a variety of sports festivals.
44. An annual jazz festival is also held there, attracting tourists and musicians from all over the world to the resorts of St. Lucia. The festival's grand finale takes place on Pigeon Island, located to the north of the country's main island of Saint Lucia, also called similarly.
DEREK WALCOTT
45. Despite a relatively modest population, this country can boast of having two Nobel Prize winners among its citizens at once. Sir Arthur Lewis, born in Saint Lucia in 1915, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1979. Derek Walcott, awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1992, was born in Castries in 1930.
46. As a result, Saint Lucia ranks second in the world rankings regarding the ratio of Nobel Prize winners compared to the total population. Only the Faroe Islands (one Nobel laureate out of 49,000) have a higher density of Nobel laureates.
47. Orchids and a range of other exotic plants will grow in the lush rainforests of this island country. Saint Lucia is also adorned with pristine white and black sand beaches. The average annual temperature there is around 27ºC.
48. The islanders did not win the Olympics, despite their love of cricket. There are no Olympic medals in the piggy bank of Saint Lucia athletes. None. The most considerable Olympic achievement of the islanders was the performance of a team of six successfully qualified athletes at the Olympic Games in Atlanta (USA) in 1996.
49. But this does not prevent Caribbean athletes from keeping their bodies in good shape. Fortunately, there are more than enough sports infrastructure facilities in Saint Lucia. And, of course, we are talking not only about the numerous pools next to the no less numerous local hotel complexes. The island also has several grounds for playing cricket, which is widespread and very popular.
50. Tourism and bananas are the primary sources of foreign exchange for Saint Lucia.
51. Society in Saint Lucia is matriarchal rather than patriarchal. On this island, women are usually entirely responsible for running the household. They manage the home and raise their children. And in most cases, they do it with little or no help from men.
52. From a very early age, girls on the island receive more education from their parents than boys. This continues in school and colleges. For this reason, more and more women are taking on leadership roles, making careers while men continue to do unskilled work.
53. Many islanders practice the use of traditional therapies and alternative medicine. The island even has several relevant medical facilities. Some locals have a wealth of experience using plants and herbs combined into various tinctures, poultices, and remedies.
54. There are also practicing shamans in the country (locally known as Obeah or Tchenbwaorzeb). With the help of spells, these people treat not only medical ailments but also mental disorders and troubles of a supernatural origin. But even with traditional medicine in Saint Lucia, everything is in order.
55. Saint Lucia is a trendy destination for weddings and honeymoons.
56. The island state is also considered a natural paradise for divers. The waters of the jurisdiction offer them multi-layered underwater walls, shipwrecks, and coral reefs that form unique ecosystems with very colorful inhabitants.
57. There are two airports in St. Lucia - St. Lucia Huanora and Castries George Charles. The airport in Castries is intended for local airlines, while Huanora serves international flights connecting the island with New York, London, Toronto, Miami, Chicago, Montreal, and other major cities.
58. Citizenship in this country gives many bonuses. For example, being the owner of her passport, you can easily open bank accounts worldwide and freely invest in different parts of the world.
59. Saint Lucia is also an excellent base for expanding business globally.
60. Saint Lucia is part of the Commonwealth, led by Great Britain. It is a member of the UN and its specialized organizations, the Organization of American States and the Organizations of the Eastern Caribbean States, the Caribbean Community, and the Caribbean Common Market.
Interesting facts about Bangladesh are an excellent opportunity to learn more about South Asia. This country was a British colony for a long time, and only in 1971 received independence from it.
Bangladesh is a small but very densely populated country located in southern Asia. Much has it in common with neighboring India- culture, traditions, customs, and the peoples themselves inhabiting Bangladesh. This state, along with China, is one of the leading suppliers of cheap labor - a vast number of various things sold worldwide are made in Bangladesh.
Facts about Bangladesh
1. Bangladesh is a small country located in southern Asia.
2. Bangladesh as a country did not exist until 1971. Indian, Turkic, and Mongol tribes ruled its territory and the British for centuries.
3. This country was a British colony for a long time, and only in 1971 receive independence from it.
4. Bangladesh has many things in common with neighboring India - culture, traditions, customs, and the people who inhabit the country.
5. This state, like China, is one of the leading suppliers of cheap labor. A vast number of various things that are sold around the world are made in Bangladesh.
6. Bangladesh is the most populous state on the planet - 1154 people per 1 km².
THE CAPITAL OF BANGLADESH IS DHAKA CITY
7. The capital of Bangladesh is the city of Dhaka. It is the 5th largest city in the world and the most densely populated.
8. The area of Dhaka is 304 km2. About 10 million people live in this area. Compared with Moscow, its area is 2561 km2, and the population is slightly more than 12.5 million people.
DHAKA BY NIGHT
9. There is incredible movement due to the high population density in Bangladesh, especially in Dhaka. Here, those caught in a traffic jam will need about 30-40 minutes to drive 1 kilometer. Dhaka also has deplorable roads, so traffic rarely exceeds 75 km/h.
10. In addition, the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, is very polluted. In addition to lousy air, car sirens constantly sound, unpleasant odors are present, etc.
11. According to a report by The Economist Intelligence Unit, Dhaka is the second most uninhabitable city on the planet.
COPY OF THE TAJ MAHAL IN BANGLADESH
12. In the vicinity of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, the local oligarch Asanullah Moni built a life-size copy of the Taj Mahal. This building is located on the territory of his possessions. one
13. In 1757, the territory of this state was conquered by Britain (previously, it was under the control of the Mongols).
14. In 1857, there was a sepoy uprising, which led to the transfer of the region to the British Raj.
15. In 1947, the British Raj gave up territories due to a decade-long independence movement. At the same time, the countries of India and Pakistan (East and West) were created. Bangladesh was "East Pakistan" and became an independent state only in 1971.
16. On the country's territory, many archaeological sites and artifacts are over 4000 years old, dating back to 2000 BC.
SOMAPURI VIHARA MONASTERY
17. Somapuri Vihara Monastery, built in the 8th century, is one of South Asia's most significant archaeological sites. The complex is spread over an area of more than 11 hectares.
18. After the division of British India into Bangladesh, a unique enclave of the third order was formed - Dakhala Kagrabari.
19. The territory of India was surrounded by the lands of Bangladesh, which, in turn, were surrounded by the possessions of India, and those were again located within the borders of Bangladesh.
20. This terrible mess was only resolved in 2015 when the two countries' governments signed an agreement on exchanging territories.
21. Bangladesh ranks 10th in the world in terms of population.
22. Bangladesh is a monistic country with 98% of Bengalis.
23. But a large number of citizens of this country, approximately 7.5 million people, live outside their country.
24. Almost half of this number live in India, about 1 million in Saudi Arabia, and the rest in the Middle East.
25. The Bangladeshi diaspora has contributed enormously to their country's economy as foreign workers constantly send remittances home. Approximately 5% of Bangladesh's GDP is remittances from citizens abroad.
26. Most Bangladeshi citizens are engaged in agriculture. It is estimated that approximately 70% of the population is farmers. Without farming, many people in this country could not survive.
27. About 96% of the country's income comes from selling clothing and fabrics. Moreover, many popular brands manufacture clothes in Bangladesh due to low labor and production costs.
28. Approximately 90% of the population is Muslim. Among Bangladeshi Muslims, 96% are Sunnis, 3% are Shiites, and about 1% are Ahmadis.
29. Bangladesh is the world's fourth largest Muslim country. This state is second only to Indonesia, Pakistan, and India.
30. The official language in the country is Bangla, known as Bengali. Also, many people speak English, especially in urban areas.
31. Some non-Bengali Muslims speak Urdu as their first language.
32. Despite its small size, Bahrain has unique places and sights in every corner of the city or village.
33. The country's sights are diverse and unique, and each architectural monument has an exciting history. Interesting places in Bangladesh are located mainly in the city of Dhaka and Chittagong.
34. The sights of Bangladesh are the great pride of the Bengali people. Most people here are believers, so there are many mosques and Buddhist temples in Dhaka.
MOSQUE BAITUL MUKARRAM
35. The Baitul Mukarram Mosque was built in 1960; its style resembles the famous Kaaba, the main shrine of all Muslims. Of course, it also has its characteristics, for example, the painted elements on the walls are made in a modern style, and at the entrance to the mosque, the most beautiful reservoir greets visitors.
36. The history of Bangladesh began 4 thousand years ago, during which time the people of the republic had to endure many wars and revolutions. Therefore, it is not surprising that in the country, the monuments of Bangladesh are literally "at every turn."
MEMORIAL MONUMENT SHIKHID-MINAR
37. Memorial monument Shahid-Minar, located in the central part of the capital. In the mid-1950s, residents staged a peaceful demonstration in support of the preservation of the Bengali language. The government of Pakistan decided to suspend the rally, resulting in a significant clash between civilians and law enforcement agencies.
38. Students of the city of Dhaka erected a temporary monument in memory of the tragedy, which was destroyed. The final restoration of the memorial was possible only after the last international recognition of the independence of Bangladesh.
39. Bangladesh is known to many as a charming country that boasts beautiful nature. Glittering rivers, stunning mountain ranges - all this is available in Bangladesh.
PINK PALACE
40. This country is home to the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans. This forest has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1997. Its area is 10,000 km2, of which 6,000 km2 are located in Bangladesh, the remaining 4,000 km2 in India.
41. Most of the republic is located only a few meters above sea level. Several researchers claim that 10% of the territory of Bangladesh will be flooded if the sea level rises by at least 1 meter.
42. A very unusual phenomenon can be observed in Barisal. For inexplicable reasons, you can hear sounds reminiscent of artillery shots. In this regard, this phenomenon was nicknamed "the guns of Barisal."
BANGLADESH NATIONAL MUSEUM
43. The museums of Bangladesh have several departments: ethnographic, department of natural history, department of world civilization, etc. The National Museum of Bangladesh was built at the beginning of the last century. Its archive contains more than ten thousand exhibits: ancient relics, paintings, weapons, sculptures, tapestries, and much more.
44. Bangladesh has competed in every Olympic Games since 1984 but has failed to win a single medal.
45. The national flower of the People's Republic of Bangladesh is the lily, and the animal is the Bengal tiger.
46. The building of the National Assembly of Bangladesh is one of the unusual objects in the capital due to its design structure. The design of the building combines concrete, water, and light. Appearance - these are geometric shapes folded together: squares, triangles, circles.
47. The main difference between the seasons in the country is the amount of rain. This is because the air temperature in Bangladesh almost does not change.
COX BAZAR BEACH IN BANGLADESH
48. Bangladesh has the longest beach in Asia. It's called Cox's Bazar. The beach is located in the Bay of Bengal, in the southwestern part of the country, and is the longest in Asia and the 3rd in the world. The length of Cox's Bazar is 120 kilometers.
49. Citizens of Bangladesh are exceptionally hospitable. For this reason, they may invite any stranger into their home. The guest must try all the treats on the table, as refusing food here will be regarded as disrespectful to the hosts.
50. Despite poverty, the country has a relatively high literacy level. Among adults, about 76% of men and 70% of women are literate. Among young people, the figures are even higher. About 92% of the country's young population aged 15 to 24 are educated.
35 cities of the world that are breathtaking in the photo, but in real life they can upset
Not all popular destinations and hyped, advertised cities, places and areas in the world will in reality create an image that has been specially given to this or that locality to attract tourists. Otherwise, tourists simply would not go if there was not an interesting background behind the place of their trip.
Advertised cities that upset many tourists (Reddit users share)
Here's a compilation of Reddit users' thoughts for travel bloggers where people candidly talked about their experiences visiting some of the most famous cities among tourists. And ... they did not like them from the word AT ALL!
The experience, of course, is subjective, but we think you should know about it too, so as not to be too upset about those places where you dreamed of visiting for tourism purposes, but are unlikely to get there in the foreseeable future!
1. Dubai, UAE
“This is the main clickbait of the whole world. “We have the biggest/tallest/most expensive…” and “YOU WON’T BELIEVE WHEN YOU SEE THIS…” It’s really just government propaganda.”
2. Las Vegas, USA
“I once ordered 4 drinks and my bill was $117. And also the heat. And noise. And it's all creepy." — BubotheGunganEwok / Reddit
3. Portland, USA
“I live in Oregon. People constantly say that Portland is the best city in the world. I tell everyone…please visit other cities. Portland is nice, but my God, it's not the coolest city in the world." — lesbyeen / Reddit
4. Athens, Greece
“I was itching to go there because I am Greek. The air here is dirty, polluted, and all the famous ruins are right next to the city buildings that do not match the style. The place looks like part of a third world country." imatiredwoman/reddit
5. Myrtle Beach, USA
"I'm not even saying that this place has a good reputation, I'm just saying that any positive attitude towards it makes it overrated." — ThereGoesJoe / Reddit
6. Amsterdam, Netherlands
“Amsterdam in the summer is too crowded with tourists who come here in search of dubious pleasures. It's much nicer here in the winter, and nearby towns like Delft and Utrecht are just as good if you like beautiful views." — GroundbreakingCow435 / Reddit
7. Birmingham, UK
“I don’t understand how the only thing of interest in the UK’s second largest city can just be a mall?! It's such a gloomy, gray place that's not interesting at all. Every other major city in the UK has its own unique qualities and attractions that make it worth visiting. I haven't seen anything like this in Birmingham yet." — thats_up_top / Reddit
8. Delhi, India
“There are much better places to visit in India. Most Indians from other parts of the country are already aware of this, but in my experience, I am baffled by the fact that tourists almost always go there.” — samurai489 / Reddit
9. Atlantic City, USA
“You go a few blocks from the boardwalk and it’s incredibly depressing. It is quite obvious that this is an area exploited by large casinos while the locals are reduced to absolute poverty, but they are still forced to smile in order to work in the shops that are necessary for the flow of tourists. — juanzy / Reddit
10. American side of Niagara Falls
“The American side of Niagara Falls is bullshit! There are a lot of shabby buildings and banal tourist traps, and it's disgusting." — Zudop / Reddit
11. Dublin, Ireland
“I love Ireland and places like Killarney are incredible, but Dublin is just an average, mediocre city where everything is overpriced.” — AnAwesomeWalrus/Reddit
12. Los Angeles, USA
"It's dirty, it's criminal, it's full of homeless people, it's crowded, it's ugly and it's hard to get around." — Effective_James / Reddit
13. Palm Springs, USA
“There is literally nothing to do here, except go to some 4-star restaurant and play golf. Although there is no normal golf even in Palm Springs. So many celebrities come here as if it's some kind of luxury city, but it really isn't. People here just sip alcohol and vote against all the interesting things proposed.” — Aroused_Sloth / Reddit
14. Niagara Falls, Canada
“I grew up there. The head directs most of the taxes to casinos and tourism with flashy attractions in the style of Vegas. — PretendLibrarian0 / Reddit
15. Cairo, Egypt
"It's beautiful, but there's a new and unusual way to be deceived around every corner." — lordpanda / Reddit
16. Miami, USA
"There's nothing! Sure, there are a couple of interesting places to visit - Biscay is a really interesting place - but if you want to do something that doesn't involve hanging out at the mall or sunbathing, Miami is the void that slowly sucks your thoughts out. Miami is hell that somehow fooled the entire continent into thinking it was heaven." — machu_pikacchu / Reddit
17. San Francisco, USA
“The Golden Gate Bridge and the pier are cool, but the rest of the city is disgusting. Absolutely dirty and very expensive even for a mediocre hotel.” — awkjen / Reddit
18. Albuquerque, USA
"Albuquerque. It's like the bad east side of any city, but the WHOLE city seems like that." — tshirtguy2000 / Reddit
19. Vancouver, Canada
“It's beautiful, but inaccessible to life. It's also quite dangerous, especially in East Hastings in Vancouver. It's like a completely different world." — AmielJohn/ Reddit
20. Clearwater Beach, USA
“Such a dense building that there is almost no beach left. The traffic is TERRIBLE, so plan on 2-4 hours of your beach time just for the ride. Sucks for the locals." — kurnadurn/reddit
21. Pompeii, Italy
“The atmosphere was toxic, the local fair was pretty bland, nothing was showing at the local amphitheater, and it seemed like everyone you visited was asleep.” — GluttonAsteroth/Reddit
22. Austin, USA
"Austin, Texas. Lived there in the 90s and it was pretty cool. Now it's a crowded, expensive city." — DontShootTheFood / Reddit
23. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
“There is nothing more beautiful in this city. Now it's just a war zone, people are killing each other for nothing, no one is following the laws, and the state doesn't have enough power to fight the drug lords, so they basically do what they want." — ArthurNeedHelp / Reddit
24. Branson, USA
Branson, Missouri. Just don't go there...”
25. Cabot Cove, USA
Cabot Cove, Murder Capital of the World. Of course, all murders are solved, but would you really want to live in a city with so many easy-to-solve crimes?” —Andvare/Reddit
26. Bali, Indonesia
“Bali has changed so much in the last 10 years. It used to be so beautiful and amazing... now it's full of "digital nomads", overpriced food and other civilizational "goodies". I remember when it was just a cool place to surf with cheap food." — HippoNo9775 / Reddit
27. Beijing, China
"Beijing. I arrived at the end of the Trans-Mongolian Railroad trip after seeing so many incredible places and I think it was just a huge anti-climax. I didn't like being touched and laughed at on the subway (I'm European with very white skin and curly hair). Overall it was really challenging despite some amazing views.” — Teapigs1984 / Reddit
28. Manila, Philippines
"Manila... The traffic was terrible and it was so dirty, beautiful buildings, but the whole experience was tense." — Bigjay_37 / Reddit
29. Ottawa, Canada
"You could die of boredom if Montreal wasn't around." — tshirtguy2000 / Reddit
30. Philadelphia, USA
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. No offense to the people who live there, but I felt that everyone was angry, traffic and parking are worse than in Manhattan, and the city does not have any of the redeeming qualities of New York.” – YOLO_SWAG_SATAN / Reddit
31. Bangkok, Thailand
"Literally hell on earth." — vch01 / Reddit
32. Marrakesh, Morocco
“I know that everyone loves Marrakesh, but I hated it. It used to be awesome around 2000, but now it's like a Disneyland style version of their culture to cater to western tourists. Men dressed as Ali Baba pretending to be desert nomads. Their "handmade goods" are just cheap fakes from China and you can't walk five meters without being noticed by the scammers. Literally every block. The whole city seems to be just a facade to attract stupid money tourists. I understand why people love it, but that was my opinion. — legshampoo / Reddit
33. Paris, France
"So... that there is a syndrome named after this city where tourists see what it really is and lose the intrigue." — Alvinmcnoodle1 / Reddit
34. Trenton, USA
“I didn’t actually visit it and didn’t intend to go there, I just passed by on the Amtrak train. I woke up from a nap and saw that the train had just stopped in a place that looked like Raccoon City. Rubbish was everywhere and most of the buildings looked abandoned. The sky was cloudy and literally green. Kind of sickly yellow-green. And the creepiest thing is, I didn't see a single car driving down the street, or anyone walking outside on the bare sidewalks. All shops and restaurants looked closed and empty.
In fact, for a moment, I felt as if I were seized with fear, in a haze after sleep. I just wanted the doors to close and the train to move out of there. No one took the Amtrak in Trenton. I didn't even know if anyone was in this Trenton... As the train started moving and we passed through the city center, a railway bridge across the river caught my attention. On the side was a massive sign that read TRENTON CREATES, THE WORLD TAKES. — tr0nvicious / Reddit
35. Frankfurt, Germany
"Just a kind of boring banking/political city."
The Republic of Palau is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. At least, this is how those who visit this island nation usually speak of it, admire the green islands growing from the sea surface and dive underwater, seeing with their own eyes the fantastic underwater world of Palau. It is as beautiful as the travel brochures promise.
Amazing facts about Palau
The country of Palau is, as it were, an independent state, but at the same time, as it were, not. It is associated with the United States; that is, it partially controls and undertakes, if necessary, to provide Palau with protection and patronage.
1. The Republic of Palau is one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
2. This is how those who visit this island nation usually speak of it, admire the green islands growing from the sea surface, and dive under the water, seeing with their eyes the fantastic underwater world of Palau.
3. Palau is an island state in the northwest of Oceania. It occupies the extreme western part of the arc of the Caroline Islands.
4. In the west and north, the country is washed by the waters of the Philippine Sea. The country consists of 26 large and more than 300 small islands. Most of the islands are covered with evergreen tropical forests.
5. They are divided into two groups: southwestern (Tobi Islands, Sonsorol Islands, and others) and the Palau Islands proper. Most uninhabited of the 328 islands that make up the Republic of Palau.
6. In the past, the Palau Islands belonged to Spain, Germany, Japan, and the United States.
7. The Republic of Palau received independence from the USA only in 1994, which makes it one of the youngest states in the world.
8. The official currency of Palau is the US dollar.
WATERFALLS OF PALAU
9. About 21 thousand people live in the entire Republic of Palau. This is about 600 times less than in Moscow. And from year to year, it practically does not change.
10. English here has official status on a par with Palauan, but in practice, only about 15% of the population speaks it. Primarily those who work with tourists.
11. Almost all Palauans profess various denominations of Christianity, but about 9% adhere to the Modekngei religion, which is not found in other countries. It combines elements of Christianity and traditional local beliefs.
12. The Spanish navigators called these islands “Enchanted” because they could not reach them due to storms and strong headwinds, although they tried repeatedly.
13. The climate here is one of the best on the planet - all year round, the air temperature here is from 25 to 30 degrees, give or take.
14. Precipitation here is more than 3000 mm per year, and humidity averages about 80%. February and March are the driest months, while June to August is a period of prolonged tropical rains.
15. Typhoons are rare here, as Palau is outside the typhoon belt, but sometimes they still sweep over the islands (usually between June and December). The island's water temperature is about 20 ° C all year round.
NATIONAL MUSEUM OF PALAU
16. An important attraction is the National Museum of Palau - a good enough place to understand the national culture and history.
17. Here, you can also find several interesting natural and ethnographic exhibits: the head of a 5-meter crocodile, the largest ever caught on the islands, beads, and money from shells, sea charts from cords and sticks, carvings and other items of local history and crafts, a beautiful traditional "bai" (joint meeting center) made of wood and straw, as well as a small collection of Japanese military equipment from World War II.
CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL MUSEUM
18. The Dolphin Center near the coast of Koror, the International Center for the Study of Coral Reefs with a beautiful aquarium, deserves attention here.
19. The best resort complex in the country is Palau Pacific Resort, with an extensive range of entertainment, a first-class dive center, and a secluded resort complex Carolines Resort.
20. Here is the famous Blue Corner dive site (closer to the Rock Islands), where you can expect to meet any sea creature - there is an incredible variety of fish and crustaceans, nurse sharks, barracudas soft and hard corals.
UNDERWATER WORLD IN THE WATER WASHING PALAU
21. About 130 sharks live in the waters washing the shores of Palau. And there are about 1500 species of other fish.
22. There is no army at all in this country.
23. There are no political parties here.
24. Here is one of the natural wonders of the world, Jellyfish Lake, which several million of them exist. They have bred so much due to the lack of natural enemies and therefore have lost the ability to sting.
25. the giant bivalve mollusks in the world live in the coastal waters of Palau - giant tridacna, up to 2 meters in diameter and weighing up to 220-250 kilograms.
ANGAUR ISLAND
26. Angaur Island, or Ngeur (only 8 square kilometers), is the southernmost in the Palau group of islands. This is a somewhat mysterious and calm place with only two villages and 188 inhabitants.
27. This island became famous for its phosphate mines, which the Germans began to develop in 1909. Now, on the site of mines and quarries, green ponds serve as the home of a small colony of crocodiles.
28. By the way, this is also the only place in the country where monkeys live - macaques that escaped from the cages of German miners at one time formed an utterly independent population and feel great among the green thickets of Angaur.
29. Another unique feature of the island is the dominance of the three official languages - English, Japanese, and Angaur (Western Austronesian group), as well as the country's first casino, opened by the national congress's decision in 2003.
30. There is virtually no crime in Palau.
CITY OF KOROR IN PALAU
31. Koror - the economic center and former capital of Palau - is located on the island of the same name. Now it is a much less vibrant city compared to the time when it was dominated by the Japanese, with a leisurely Micronesian pace of life, with a complete absence of crowds and bustle.
32. Here you can still find the remains of the traditional past, but at best this city is an excellent place to relax for a day or two, no more. But from here, starting a trip to Peleliu, Angaur, the Rock Islands, and many popular dive sites is very convenient.
33. The underwater world of Palau is vibrant. The vertical walls of the rocks, sheerly going into the abyss, are covered with a variety of bright corals - these are soft corals and fans of gorgonians and openwork colonies of macroporous corals. The total number of coral species in Palau reaches 700.
34. Various invertebrates live among the corals: starfish, Gorgon's Head brittle stars, crabs and shrimps, sea urchins, colorful nudibranchs, and huge pleurobranchia. At the bottom, huge tridacnas with bright mantles of different colors are visible: emerald green, blue, and purple.
35. Various tropical fish live near coral thickets, including giant Napoleon fish. In the water column near the steep outer walls of the reefs, pelagic fish are found in large numbers: tuna, marlin, mackerel, and barracuda.
36. In the Ulong Channel - a natural channel in the barrier reef - at a depth of 20 meters on a sandy plateau at the entrance to the track, whitetip and gray reef sharks constantly swim with cleaner fish. Diving with whitetip and gray reef sharks is unforgettable.
37. Saltwater crocodiles are found in Palau, and dives with crocodiles are organized for lovers of the exotic.
38. In addition to diving in the sea, dives are organized in Lake Medusa. The jellyfish here are similar to the Black Sea corners but differ in their orange color and the fact that they have lost their stinging cells during evolution. Dives are carried out in the first set; below 10 meters, the water is toxic.
39. Just 35 kilometers south of Koror are the famous Rock Islands - one of the best places for outdoor activities in the Pacific Ocean. The mushroom-shaped limestone rocks of this island group (about 200 islets and reefs in total) are covered with a robust vegetation cap, and the waters around are considered one of the most abundant places on Earth. Therefore they serve as a recognized Mecca for divers.
40. The main points of attraction here are the famous Ngemelis coral wall, which begins at the surface of the water and goes to a depth of 300 meters with a continuous cover of sponges, soft corals, gorgonians, and giant black coral “trees.”
BEACHES ON THE ROCK ISLANDS
41. Also, on the Rock Islands, there are many snow-white shores of coral sand, caves with stalactites and underground channels, ancient petroglyphs (especially on the island of Oolong), and other traces of ancient peoples (fascinating is the quarry where stone money of the Yapese culture was made, located in a cave near Airer-Channel).
42. There is no public transport in Palau at all. All residents use their vehicles.
43. And the guests of this state have only two options - to rent a car or a motorcycle or to use a costly taxi.
44. Due to the particular historical conditions of the country, it is impossible to single out any specific local cuisine here. Most traditional island dishes are variations on recipes from Polynesian and Melanesian peoples, with a substantial admixture of Japanese, Filipino and American cuisine.
45. The main elements of the traditional cuisine of Palau are coconut milk and copra, cassava (tapioca), sweet potatoes, and all kinds of fish and seafood.
46. Diplomatic relations between Palau and Russia were established only in 2006.
47. The only products exported here are coconut meat (copra) and some seafood.
48. Theft is not universal in Palau.
49. Slightly less than 10% of residents are not literate.
50. Locals are eager to help tourists determine the best fishing spots, so marlin, sailfish, tuna, mahi-mahi, and wahoo in a center and a half are not rare guests in the catches of sport fishing enthusiasts.