Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for national parks
Hiking and Hot Springs in Hokkaido
By Linda Tancs
Named after the volcanic caldera lakes of Lake Shikotsu and Lake Tōya, Shikotsu-Tōya National Park is located in Hokkaido, the second-largest and least developed of Japan’s four main islands. The rugged wilderness offers refuge for many endemic species of flora and fauna, including Ezo foxes, black woodpeckers and alpine hares. Untouched woodland provides spectacular trekking opportunities along steep-sided Hohei Gorge. You’ll also find many bathing spots among the hot springs; the popular hot spring resort of Noboribetsu is within the park. Another adventure worth checking out is a ride on the Mount Usu Ropeway, a line that climbs Mount Usu, an active volcano in the park. Mount Yōtei, one of the highest peaks in the park, is said to be a look-alike Mount Fuji. See if you agree.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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Biodiversity in Ecuador
By Linda Tancs
Considered one of the most biodiverse places on Earth, Yasuní National Park is the largest protected area of continental Ecuador. It teems with life, which isn’t all that surprising considering that it sits at the intersection of the Amazon, the Andes and the Equator. It boasts around 1,300 tree species, 600 bird species, 400 fish species and at least 170 species of mammals, including the endangered white-bellied spider monkey and the giant otter. The park is also home to several indigenous communities. Most visitors fly from Quito to the gateway town of Coca. Tours of the park are available through lodges and river cruises.
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Chile’s Biosphere
By Linda Tancs
A wonderland of volcanoes and lakes, Chile’s Lauca National Park in the northeast forms part of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve thanks to its diverse collection of flora and fauna. Indeed, over 130 different bird species live in the park, in addition to the distinctive vicuñas, vizcachas and condors. A major attraction in the park is Lake Chungará, one of the highest lakes in the world, located at the foot of the Payachata twin volcanoes in all their snow-capped glory.
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Land of Flowers
By Linda Tancs
Part of the semi-desert Succulent Karoo biome, Namaqualand is an arid area of South Africa that becomes a carpet of wildflowers after the winter rains end in August. Roughly between mid-August and mid-September, it’s home to the richest bulb flora of any arid region in the world, with more than 1,000 of its estimated 3,500 plant species found nowhere else on Earth. The Skilpad and Korhaan walking trails offer great views of this spectacular, one-of-a-kind display. You might want to stay awhile at one of the temporary flower camps, like Skilpad Rest Camp or one of the various camping options along the coast.
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Diversity in Tanzania
By Linda Tancs
Udzungwa Mountains National Park is part of the Eastern Arc Mountains, a chain of mountains found in Tanzania and Kenya. It’s home to a variety of rare, endemic and endangered species including the endangered Iringa (or Uhehe) Red Colobus monkey and rare gems like the Sanje Crested Mangabey as well as the Udzungwa Forest Partridge. Accessible only on foot, the park might not yield these hidden treasures, but you can observe the 550-foot drop of Sanje Waterfalls, Tanzania’s highest waterfall, and swim in its plunge pool.
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Bolivia’s Oldest Park
By Linda Tancs
Bolivia’s highest point is the extinct stratovolcano Sajama, rising to 21,463 feet. Naturally it’s the centerpiece of Sajama National Park, the country’s oldest national park. Hiking and mountain trekking are popular ways to engage with the natural, cultural and historical features of the park. One of its prized highlights is the Quenoa forest, recognized as one of the highest forests in the world. In fact, the preservation of this prized treasure is a primary reason why the area became a national park. You’ll also find historic burial buildings, cave paintings and remnants of colonial architecture along with native wildlife like the Andean mountain cat.
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Argentina’s Oldest Park
By Linda Tancs
Located in Argentina’s fabled Lake District, Nahuel Huapi National Park is the country’s oldest national park. Established in 1934, it’s named for Nahuel Huapi, the park’s largest glacial lake. The expansive environment is ringed by the Andes, featuring Mount Tronador, a dormant volcano. You’ll also find dense forest areas that provide cover for pudu, the world’s smallest deer. January is a popular time for hiking and lake rafting.
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Painting the Sky
By Linda Tancs
Legend has it that the gods dipped their paint brushes into Costa Rica’s Rio Celeste (Blue River) while painting the sky. The river gets its amazing blue hue from sulfur emitted from volcanic activity courtesy of Tenorio Volcano, which lends its name to Tenorio Volcano National Park. Located in northern Costa Rica, it’s one of the country’s youngest national parks, prized not only for the volcano but also for Rio Celeste waterfall. You’ll find an abundance of natural hot springs, along with mud pots and a beautiful cloud forest at the summit of the volcano. A trek through the entire park will take four or five hours.
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An African Amphitheatre
By Linda Tancs
A hikers’ paradise, Royal Natal National Park in South Africa is best known for its Amphitheatre. Park of the Drakensberg escarpment, it’s a massive cliff face that spans 3 miles and reaches nearly 1,700 feet. One of the world’s tallest waterfalls cascades from the clifftops, feeding the Tugela River below as it heads east to the Indian Ocean. You’ll find an abundance of trails to explore on foot and on horseback with a comprehensive guidebook available for visitors, so take your time. Accommodations include a lodge, cottages and chalets.
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Where Prairies Meet Peaks
By Linda Tancs
There’s no such thing as a bad time to visit Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada. It just depends on your taste. This time of year the wildlife viewing is best, especially for black bear, elk, bighorn sheep and deer roaming around larch and aspen groves sporting brilliant shades of yellow and gold. If springtime color is your pleasure, then you’ll love the wildflowers exploding in the prairies, including Waterton’s signature beargrass. Summer brings the thickest crowds and recreational experiences, whereas winter promises more solitude framed by snowy backdrops of the Rocky Mountains. The park borders Montana’s Glacier National Park.
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