Australia The Daintree Rainforest is one of the oldest undisturbed forests in the world. Thanks to its isolated location, it has remained both continuous and reasonably unchanged for tens of millions of years (the exact length of time is unknown). A large part of the rainforest is located in the Daintree National Park, which is now part of the Wet Tropics, a UNESCO World … [Read more...]
SAGANO BAMBOO FOREST
Japan The Sagano Bamboo Forest is the best preserved bamboo forest in Japan and one of the most popular in the Far East. Located in a large natural area outside of Kyoto, it is close to several other important natural, cultural and historic sites, many of which are collectively part of the Arashiyama National Historic Site. The area known as Arashiyama is home to an ancient … [Read more...]
JIUZHAIGOU FOREST
China The Jiuzhaigou Forest is one of the premier natural destinations in China, and one of the most beautiful woodlands to be found in the Far East. Located in a valley of the same name at the foothills of the Himalayas, the scenery is unparalleled. The valley is also rich in history and culture, and is a very popular vacation destination. The Jiuzhaigou Valley and its … [Read more...]
SPINY FOREST
Madagascar The Spiny Forest of southern Madagascar is one of the world’s most unusual woodlands. Largely a scrubland with desert-like conditions, the Spiny Forest is home to a number of species of trees that have specially adapted to the climate, including cacti and baobobs. A small part of the forest is protected within the Andohahela National Park, which is a UNESCO World … [Read more...]
CONGO RAINFOREST
Congo/Cameroon The Congo Rainforest is the largest rainforest in Africa and the second largest in the world after the Amazon. Crisscrossed with many rivers and waterways, the heart of the rainforest is the namesake Congo River, one of the longest on the continent. The Congo, once referred to as the ‘Dark Heart of Africa’, was the epitome of exotic adventure to the European … [Read more...]
CROOKED FOREST
Poland The Crooked Forest in Poland is home to one of the biggest mysteries in nature: a grove of about four hundred pine trees with trunks bent and twisted at mind boggling angles. The weirdest part of these unique trees is whether or not it is a natural phenomenon or if it was done purposely by man, and if the latter, what was the purpose? Scientists and layman alike have … [Read more...]
BLACK FOREST
Germany The Black Forest is Europe’s most famous woodland. Bordered by the Rhine River and the Alps in the heart of Europe, the Black Forest is the land of Germanic legend and the fairytales of the Brothers Grimm. It is the forest of ‘once upon a time’, the fabled bedtime words heard every night by children around the world. It is also a place of hiking trails, waterfalls … [Read more...]
HALLE FOREST
Belgium Halle Forest (also known as Hallerbos) is a small forest outside of Halle, Belgium which for a few weeks every year is one of the most magnificent natural sites in Central Europe. Home to a variety of hardwoods, Halle Forest blooms every year with millions of bluebell flowers which cover the forest floor like a carpet. During these periods, the forest swarms with … [Read more...]
AMAZON RAINFOREST
Brazil/Colombia/Peru The Amazon Rainforest is the largest forest in the world, as well as one of its largest ecological zones. Sprawling across a huge swath of Brazil, Columbia and Peru (as well as a few other countries), this massive woodland makes up half of the world’s rainforests. Its dominant feature, besides its biodiversity, is the immense Amazon River which meanders … [Read more...]
REDWOOD FOREST
*California The Redwood Forest is home to large numbers of sequoia redwood trees, the largest trees (and also among the oldest and largest living things) on Earth. Located in a series of four parks (one national, three state), the redwoods here soar hundreds of feet into the sky and date back thousands of years. Collecticely the Redwood Forests are a UNESCO World Heritage … [Read more...]
