|
Below, you'll find extensive information on leading
costa rica restaurants articles and products to help you on your way
to success.
Enjoy A Vacation In Caribbean National Parks
By Jennifer Smith, Thu Dec 8th
Most travelers are familiar with their home country's nationalparks system, but the Caribbean's parks get relatively littlenotice. From the many national parks throughout the DominicanRepublic to the world's second longest barrier reef in Belize,there are a wide range of natural activities and sights todelight all ages. Want to spend an afternoon underwater, swimming with the fish?What about a morning watching beautiful tropical birds awaken?Or an evening gazing at the sun setting
over mountains? You cando all of this in the national parks found throughout theCaribbean. Unusual Terrain (Article continued below)
Travelers looking for a place to stretch their legs can findjust what they're looking for among the Caribbean islands. Withso many different island terrains, doing a bit of islandexploration is never dull. The famous Trois Pitons in Dominica offer picturesque splendor,while the geysers in the interestingly-named Valley ofDesolation will delight visitors. Dominica is well-known for itsincredible nature and relatively untouched physicalsurroundings. You'll find the Dominican Republic's highest peak, Pico Duarte,in the Cordillera Central mountain range, which is located inThe Madre de Las Aguas protected area. At more than 10,000 feettall, Pico Duarte is the tallest mountain in the Caribbean. Ofcourse, mountains aren't all you'll find on the DominicanRepublic. The ancient solenodon, a mammal which first appeared30 million years ago, now lives only on this island. Rincon de la Vieja, or Old Woman's Corner, is another uniquepark in for vacationers interested in sights withheights. The volcano is said to be named for an old lady inGuatuso tribal lore who is, in some stories, angry, but inothers is a kind old lady whose cooking fires send up the smokefor which the peak is known. This volcano is known to bubble andsteam even now. Aruba offers an entirely different kind of island terrain in itsArikok National Park. Don't forget to pack some extra water whenexploring this desert island. Aruba is unique in the Caribbeanand is known for its divi divi trees, aloe, and unusual animals. Rainforests can be found at the other end of the terrainspectrum, and the most well-known is probably Puerto Rico's ElYunque, the only rainforest within the U.S. National Parkssystem. Vacationers can explore the forest and see sights likeno other. Incredible animals and plants also flourish in thisbeautiful spot. Aquatic Adventures While some travelers may be content to stay on land, othersenjoy time spent exploring beneath the waves. Fortunately, theCaribbean is full of incredible underwater sights, from sunkenships to amazing sea creatures. Hol Chan Marine Reserve in Belize is just one of many areas fullof underwater treasures. Snorkel off of the world'ssecond-largest barrier reef during your stay in this uniquevacation hideaway. Make sure to check out the world-famous bluehole, where the bottom suddenly drops to more than 300 feet in anearly-perfect circle. Saba's National Marine Park was established in 1987 to helppreserve Saba's natural underwater beauty. What makes thispreserve unique is that the tiny island did not establish thepark to repair an already-damaged environment, but to stop anydamage from occurring, so these pristine reefs offer somethingtruly one of a kind. Curaçao also has a marine park in which snorkelers and diverscan take in picturesque shipwrecks covered in coral. With almost1,500 acres of marine park to explore, it's hard to go wrong! Although Caribbean islands share many characteristics, each hasits own terrain and culture, making the Caribbean a diverseplace. Planning to explore the islands? Take a look at whattheir national parks have to offer. About the author:Jennifer Smith writes for Curacao-Guide.info, PuertoRico-Guide.info,and other Segisys travel Web sites. © 2005, Interactive Internet Websites, Inc. Article may only bereprinted if it is not modified in any way, and if all linksremain live. | Sign In |
