People have always been attracted mystical places, covered with legends, tales, stories of miracles. And what more dangerous place, the more daredevils sought to solve his riddle

To be afraid of spirits - do not go to the steppe

People have always been attracted by mystical places covered in legends, tales, stories of miracles. And the more dangerous the place, the more daredevils sought to solve its mystery. In this regard, Kazakhstanis, one might say, are lucky - there are a huge number of such “ mysterious islands"like a magnet attracting curious tourists. In the “K” collection we will talk about the most mystical of them.

Ungurtas

The village of Ungurtas is 100 km from Almaty.

Another name for Ungurtas is the “Navel of the Earth,” since it is here, as many claim, that the celestial system connects with the Earth system. According to legend, it was on the site of Ungurtas that Ahmed Yasawi lived at one time. They say that at the age of 63, feeling the approaching decline of his life, he began to look for a calm, secluded corner. The ideal option was Ungurtas, where Ahmed Yasawi spent the rest of his life in an underground cell. Near the dungeon, his relatives and numerous students settled, who listened to the instructions and teachings of the thinker. The place where the monastery stood is now called Aidarly Aidahar-Ata.

Aydarly Aydahar-Ata is an energy column with a diameter of 8 meters. “The place where a flow of energy rushing into the sky emerges from the earth, which cleanses, replenishes, and strengthens the human energy field,” the official explanation says.

People who visited Ungurtas are sure that the radiation coming from the depths charges and cleanses them. The place for “energy recharging” was chosen by both psychics and astrologers, and ordinary pilgrims from all over the world.

True, there were cases when Ungurtas refused to accept people. The so-called gate became the border. The book-shaped stone invites everyone to stop in front of it. “Kneel and pray. For you are ascending the Mountain of Reason,” the inscription reads. But not everyone can go beyond the gate. You may get a headache, blurred vision, and feel suffocated. People describe their feelings differently at the moment when they could not climb the mountain. Some people see a thick wall that makes no sense to break through. Others talk about the feeling of chains that bind their arms and legs and do not allow them to move further.

In addition to the energy flow, each of the caves of Ungurtas - unique place with a unique energy and healing properties inherent only to it.

Kok-Kol

Jambyl Region.

According to local residents, Lake Kol-Kol is home to a water spirit - Aidahar. Modern researchers of anomalies say that a prehistoric creature lives in the reservoir, miraculously preserved to this day - a relative of the Loch Ness monster. This is precisely what explains the stories of fishermen and shepherds, who claim that they often saw waterfowl and animals drinking water near the shore being “dragged” into the lake.

In fact, near Lake Kol-Kol there are quite strange physical properties: the water in it is constantly fresh and “alive”, although not a single river or source flows into the lake. Sometimes large funnels appear on the water, drawing in various floating objects. Often the smooth surface of the lake is instantly covered with small ripples.

Hydrologists are thinking about the system underground caves, but it has not yet been possible to thoroughly explore the lake: in some areas it is bottomless.

However, a group of divers from Irkutsk managed to get some answer. Researchers tried to find the bottom of the lake, but all attempts were unsuccessful. During one of the dives giant funnel suddenly appeared and absorbed one of the divers in a matter of seconds. Searches in the depths of the lake yielded nothing. A decision was made to stop the rescue operation.

However, quite unexpectedly, the members of the expedition received news that their friend was alive. It turned out that a kilometer from the lake there is a valley through which a fast river flows. It was there that the missing diver was found. Alive and unharmed, he said that the lake carried him through the underground depths and pushed him up. At that moment he felt the action of some unknown force...

Singing Dune

Altyn-Emel National Park is 182 km northeast of Almaty.

According to one legend, the great Genghis Khan rests under the Singing Dune along with his warriors, and the singing sand is the soul of the khan, which from time to time reminds his descendants of himself and his exploits. Another legend says that Shaitan, who was returning through the steppe to his home after “a successful day,” turned into a dune. Tired, he stopped and lay down to rest. He fell soundly asleep, after which he turned into a dune, and the sound was a groan of dissatisfaction emitted by the shaitan that they were trying to disturb him.

The sound produced by a unique dune is always different. Sometimes it resembles a barely perceptible squeak, sometimes it is difficult to distinguish it from a sophisticated melody, close to the sound of an organ, and sometimes it is a terrifying roar.

Presumably the dune creates musical works using discharges of electricity. The strength of the sound depends on the number of moving grains of sand; the greater their mass, the clearer and louder the sound of the Singing Dune.

Dead Lake

District of the village of Gerasimovka, Almaty region.

They say that about a century ago, a certain groom, suspecting his beloved of infidelity, became so distraught that in a fit of jealousy he drowned the innocent maiden in the lake. Since then the lake has become Dead.

In fact, one of the features of this small (60 by 100 meters) reservoir is that even in the hottest summer its water remains icy and its level remains unchanged. Although other bodies of water of this region in the summer, under the scorching rays of the sun, they noticeably dry out, and sometimes dry out, turning into a small puddle. In addition, there are no fish in Dead Lake, no algae or other vegetation.

There is a version that all living things in it are killed by toxic gas released from a crevice at the bottom. However, she has not yet received confirmation - divers diving into the waters of the Dead Lake say that it is impossible to stay in it for more than five minutes, even with a tank full of air.

Shaitankol

Karaganda region, five kilometers west of Karkaralinsk.

According to one legend, one day the famous Kazakh hero Er Targyn spent the night on the shore of a mysterious reservoir. At night, he was awakened by a naked girl of unprecedented beauty and lured into the lake. In the pond itself, the beautiful stranger suddenly turned into a terrible old woman, who dug her claws into the young man and dragged him into the depths. However, the hero dealt with the witch, smashed her head with his fist, climbed ashore and threw the dead body of the old woman back into the water, after which she immediately came to life and began to threaten Er Targyn.

According to another legend, the lake was formed from the tears of mothers mourning their sons who died in battle with the Dzungars.

Whatever it is, oh mysterious lake newspapers were written back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Since all kinds of devilry happened in its vicinity and people disappeared, in 1905 it was decided to consecrate the reservoir and then rename it the Holy. However, this turned out to be not so easy. During the prayer service, suddenly, as if out of nowhere, a terrible whirlwind came, knocking the people gathered for prayer off their feet. However, as soon as the prayer service stopped, the hurricane subsided.

The water of the lake of amazing bright blue color is surrounded by dilapidated granite rocks. Shaitankol has no feeding rivers or springs, but the water level here never decreases or rises, despite the abundant melting of snow, heavy rains or, conversely, long periods of summer drought. And, according to the old-timers of these places, the volume of Shaitankol’s water is capable of flooding the entire Karkaralinsk and its surroundings.

The literature indicates that the lake has a double bottom. Depth unknown. It looks like the water flooded the vent a long time ago extinct volcano. Extreme sportsmen from Ersain Shygaev’s group once tried to measure the depth of the lake. Having gone out on an inflatable boat to the middle of the reservoir, they began to lower the load on a rope three hundred meters long. The homemade lot went completely under water, never reaching the bottom.

Then Ersain Shygaev decided to explore the bottom of the lake with scuba gear. “The bottom of the lake turned out to be very beautiful. Huge boulders, algae, schools of fish. The water was quite clear. I immediately rushed to where our lot fell into the abyss. And I saw a semicircular “bowl” the size of a football arena, in the center of which gaped a bottomless abyss. I did not dare to swim over the abyss. So he froze on the edge of a cliff, like an idol. And suddenly I saw something strange in the center of the pit. It was as if the back of a huge whale appeared for a moment from the darkness and disappeared into the darkness again... I pulled the rope so that my friends would pull me to the surface, and then I felt that oxygen had stopped flowing from the cylinders for no apparent reason. I barely suppressed panic and, trying not to look back, rushed upstairs,” he said in an interview.

Esotericists believe that at the bottom of the lake there is a portal, a “funnel”, or a wormhole through which various entities from alternative universes enter our world. According to eyewitnesses, the lake comes alive at night. A quiet evening is suddenly interrupted by a hurricane, strange shadows rush across the surface of the lake, running into people spending the night on the shore and touching them with cold limbs, luminous objects appear above the water.

02.08.2017 - 19:53

Become a gold miner. The largest gold deposits in the world and Kazakhstan

This summer, a new Code “On Subsoil and Subsoil Use” came into force in our country. One of its most important innovations is the prospecting license, which allows citizens who receive it to independently mine gold. the site will tell you which regions of Kazakhstan and the world have the largest gold reserves

Not long ago we asked the heroes of the “Gold Rush” program. And this summer, a new Code “On Subsoil and Subsoil Use” came into force in our country. One of its most important innovations is the prospecting license, which allows citizens who receive it to independently mine gold. the site will tell you which regions of Kazakhstan and the world have the largest gold reserves

Kazakhstan

According to the Committee of Geology and Subsoil Use, there are 343 gold deposits in Kazakhstan. Last year, the country produced about 85 tons of gold. The regions of the republic with the largest gold reserves include East Kazakhstan, Akmola and Karaganda regions.

The largest gold mine in the country is the Vasilkovskoye deposit, which is located 17 km northwest of Kokshetau. Its proven reserves of the precious metal exceed 370 tons. Today it is part of the assets of the Altyntau group of companies. The second largest gold deposit in the country is the Bakyrchik mine, which is located in northeast Kazakhstan. If we take into account the nearby Bolshevik deposit, the total reserves of both mines are 208 tons. Since 2014, these deposits have been owned by Polymetal International, but it was only in the summer of 2018 that the Bakyrchik mining enterprise, which is developing the mines, was launched. It is expected that in 2019 the enterprise will produce more than 10 tons of precious metal per year. Among the country's significant gold deposits, one can also highlight Aksu, Zholymbet and Bestyube, which are located in the Akmola region. Their total reserves exceed 100 tons, and the forecast is 400 tons.

USA

The United States of America is one of the largest gold-mining countries in the world; it is not for nothing that several gold rushes occurred here at one time: in North Carolina, Georgia, California, Colorado, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota and Alaska. Even today there are a lot of gold miners in the country, inspired by the records of their predecessors, who, despite the difficult living conditions of the miner, spend months searching for the precious metal. Sometimes there is serious competition between them: for example, the youngest gold miner in Alaska, Parker Schnabel, is going to extract at least 170 kg of gold worth more than $7 million in order to defeat his eternal rival Tony Bitts. You can find out how this competition turns out in the new season of the Gold Rush program, which airs on Tuesdays on the Discovery Channel.

The most gold-bearing region of the United States is the state of Nevada, which produces about 75% of American gold and also contains the largest deposits of this precious metal in the country. One of them is the Carlin gold mine, owned by Newmont Mining Corporation. Gold was first discovered here in the seventies of the 19th century, but only a century later the mine began to be actively developed. Over the past few years, it has consistently produced about 28 tons of valuable metal per year. Other major mines in the state include Cortez and Goldstrike, owned by the Canadian company Barrick Gold Corporation, each producing more than 28 tons of gold annually.

Australia

Another country that is a leader in gold mining is Australia. Like the United States, it experienced several gold rushes in its time. For the last financial year – from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018. – About 310 tons of precious metal were mined in the country. This result is surpassed only by the figures for 1998, when production volume was 318 tons.

Among the deposits, the best performance was demonstrated by the Boddington (about 22.8 tons) and Super Pit (about 20.6 tons) mines - both are located in Western Australia, which accounts for 70% of the gold mined in the country. The first of them is owned by Newmont Mining Corporation, and ownership of the second is shared by Newmont Mining Corporation and Barrick Gold Corporation. The region is also home to the Tropicana field, company-owned AngloGold Ashanti Limited and Independence Group NL - 13.1 tons of gold were mined here in the last financial year.

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa was also not spared Golden fever. It happened shortly after the discovery of the Witwatersrand gold deposit in 1886. Gold mining by industrial methods began here in 1952, and in 1970 the mine brought in more than 1 thousand tons - since then this record has never been broken. It is believed that more than half of the gold mined throughout human history comes from the Witwatersrand.

It is curious that the city of Johannesburg owes its appearance to the Witwatersrand Gold Rush. Since the mine was discovered, adventurers from all over the world began to flock here, which is why the scattered mountain villages located nearby gradually merged into one settlement. However, more and more miners arrived there, which is why the government was forced to allocate a small plot of land for the construction of a new city. Johannesburg soon grew and became the largest city in the country by population.

Uzbekistan

One of the largest gold deposits in the world is located in the neighboring republic - the Muruntau mine in the southwest of the Kyzylkum desert in the Navoi region of Uzbekistan. Last year it brought about 100 tons of gold, which allowed the country to enter the top ten world leaders in gold mining. The discovery of this deposit occurred in 1958, and industrial gold mining at the mine began in 1969. The development of the deposit is carried out by the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine.

As you know, 71 percent of our Earth's surface is covered with water. From space, our beloved planet looks like a blue ball because bodies of water reflect the sun's rays in the blue spectrum.

Photos from NASA spacecraft show us a magnificent view of the marble-blue Earth from space. There are many in our world beautiful rivers, lakes, impressive waterfalls, stunning glaciers and clear reservoirs surrounded by snowy mountains. Fortunately, each of us can see all these magnificent creations of nature.

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10

Suez Canal, Egypt

160 kilometers long, 300 meters wide - this is the size of this artificial waterway that connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Red Sea. The Suez Canal is considered the shortest route between Europe and Asia. This makes transporting goods and trade much easier, cutting down complex routes around Africa. Currently, the Suez Canal is one of the busiest waterways in the world, and it has had far fewer accidents than other similar structures.

The construction of the Suez Canal took a total of 10 years. Since 1859, ships from all countries could already pass through the Suez Canal, carrying cargo along the Europe-Asia route. The Suez Canal's advanced radar control system monitors every vessel passing through. In emergency situations, this system allows emergency services to respond immediately, thereby reducing the risks for ships passing through the canal.

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9

Bora Bora, France

Bora Bora is one of the most beautiful places in the world, designed for international tourism. This group of islands is a territorial part of France and is located in Pacific Ocean. Bora Bora is white sandy beaches, blue lagoons and glamorous resorts, which invariably enjoy enormous popularity among vacationers.

Currently, it is tourism that supports the entire economy of the island. Glazed, comfortable villas make this place a tourist paradise. Snorkeling and diving in Crystal clean water attract thousands of people who want to enjoy the beauty water element and relax on sunny beaches Bora bora.

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Lake Baikal, Siberia

Lake Baikal is the oldest and deepest lake in the world. It is located in South-Eastern Siberia. The lake has a depth of 1700 m, and was formed 25 million years ago from a real prehistoric sea. 20 percent of the total volume of fresh water in the world is contained in Baikal. Around the lake are located picturesque nature reserves protected by the government. Clean and beautiful Baikal is included in the lists world heritage UNESCO.

In the Baikal region, there are many cultural, archaeological and historical values. The surrounding area of ​​the lake is home to 1,340 species of animals. Many of them are unique and are found only in the Baikal region. Ancient mountains, mighty taiga and small islands make the Baikal region one of the most biologically diverse places in the world.

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7

Great Blue Hole, Belize

This is a large natural underwater drainage well located 70 kilometers from sea level, in the center of the barrier reef in Belize. Its huge funnel is 120 meters deep and 300 meters in diameter. It was formed during the Ice Age, 150,000 years ago, before the glaciers completely disappeared. The gradual melting of ice and rising sea levels precisely caused the formation of this miracle of nature.

The Great Blue Hole became a World Heritage Site in 1997. More than 500 rare forms of animals and plants live here. Every year, this natural sinkhole attracts many tourists from all over the world who come here, mainly for scuba diving.

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Venice is a group of 117 small islands separated by canals and connected by bridges. The canals divide the city into 117 small cozy islands. From time immemorial, these water arteries have been used as the main transport network in Venice. The Grand Canal, the city's main waterway, is the largest canal in Venice, 3.8 km long and 60 - 90 meters wide.

A Grand Canal tour is the best way to explore Venice while gaining in-depth knowledge of the city's historical importance. For large tours of Venice, gondolas, traditional punts, and more modern ones are mainly used motor boats. You will be able to take a close look at all the beauty of historical buildings, palaces, churches and see the famous hundred-year-old Rialto Bridge.

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5

Dead Sea, Jordan

The Dead Sea is one of the saltiest bodies of water in the world, located on the border of Israel and Jordan. The salinity of the Dead Sea fluctuates on average between 34-35 percent. This is almost ten times more than regular salted sea ​​water. The increased salt content in the water causes the complete absence of aquatic flora and fauna, which is why this lake is called the “Dead Sea”. The lake is located 423 meters below sea level, and is the lowest place on land.

Such a high concentration of salt allows tourists to effortlessly swim in the Dead Sea, almost without moving their limbs. This water benefits human health as it contains large amounts of beneficial minerals such as potassium, calcium, sulfur and bromine. The Dead Sea can cure various skin conditions and help you get rid of toxins. They say that minerals Dead Sea in ancient times they were transported to Egypt, where they were used for the mummification of Egyptian pharaohs.

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4

The Nile is the longest river in our world, with an approximate length of 6650 kilometers. It starts in Burundi and passes through Kenya, Erythra, Congo, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia, where it meets the waters Mediterranean Sea. The Nile played a very important role in the life of the ancient Egyptians.

The river was the main source of food, water and a waterway for transporting goods between countries. At the same time, when the Nile overflowed its banks as a result of seasonal rains, all the lands of Egypt were flooded with water for a long time. This helped the ancient Egyptians easily grow seeds of cultivated plants.

All historical monuments Egypt, including the pyramids are located near the banks of the Nile. The Nile Delta covers an area of ​​up to 160 kilometers in width and as many as 40 million people live around it using the waters of the sacred river.

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Niagara Falls, United States of America

Niagara Falls is located on the border between Canada and the United States. Niagara consists of three waterfalls, American Stream, Bridlevale and Horseshoe. These three falls together create a water flow of 85,000 feet per second. This is the highest water flow in the world. The Horseshoe is the largest of Niagara's three waterfalls, and most of it is located closer to Canada. "American Stream" and "Bridevale" are located in the United States.

Niagara was formed 10,000 years ago during the Wisconsin Glaciation. The brilliant green color of the water at Niagara Falls is caused by salt and rock mixing with the water at high speeds. The whirlpool created Niagara Falls has an area of ​​1.2 kilometers. Its depth is the same as the height of Niagara, and is 52 meters. Water from Niagara flows into Lake Ontario in the Canadian province.

Amazing video of Niagara Falls:

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2

Victoria Falls on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls is the most big waterfall in the world and is one of seven natural wonders Sveta. It is located on the Zambezi River between the states of Zambia and Zimbabwe. Victoria Falls extends over a mile in width, and provides a drop of water of five hundred million cubic meters per minute. The water falls to a depth of 93 meters and sprays heavily, crashing against the rocks. Because of this water cloud, Victoria Falls is visible at a distance of 50 kilometers to the naked eye.

The strong spray of water causes constant rain in the forests surrounding the waterfall. Surprisingly, you can swim on the edge of the waterfall without much risk. The natural stone side will not allow you to fall down along with the water. This pool is known as the Devil's Pool. During the full moon, one of the most magnificent natural phenomena known as the “Moon Rainbow” occurs at Victoria Falls. A beautiful rainbow is visible at this time above the waterfall, in the bright moonlight refracted by the water splashes.

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Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Big barrier reef is the largest coral reef in the world, one of the seven natural wonders of the world. These are 900 islands connected together with a length of more than 2,300 kilometers. The reef is large enough to be seen from space and is recognized as a national symbol of Australia. The Great Barrier Reef contains more than 3,000 individual reefs created by microorganisms over millions of years. It was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981.

The Great Barrier Reef supports a huge diversity of marine life. About 1,500 species of fish, 3,000 species of shellfish, 500 species of worms, 133 species of sharks and rays, and 30 species of whales and dolphins live there. The tourism industry is very developed here. Glass-bottom boat tours, exciting scuba diving and kayaking are popular among holidaymakers. The Great Barrier Reef attracts around 2 million visitors every year.

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Conclusion

• South of France.

  Van Gogh dedicated more than a dozen paintings to the towns of the French Camargue region: fishing schooners on the coast of Sainte-Marie-de-la-Mer and streets under the scorching sun of Arles inspired him year after year.
• St. Petersburg residents Olga and Alexey Valyaev took a year and a half vacation. During this time they traveled to 45 countries.
• Finns know a lot about winter fun and, no matter what kind of winter it is, they are always ready for it. Not in warm countries Locals go in January - February, and take out skis, skates and... golf clubs.
• If you want to explore several European capitals, take a ride through the picturesque corners of the Old World and take a peek into small towns and at the same time stay within a certain budget, it’s time for you to bus tour.
• One of the parks' features is the so-called Hidden Mickeys - stylized images of Mickey Mouse, consisting of three circles representing Mickey's head and ears, which can be found literally everywhere, there are even bushes in the shape of a mouse's head.
• Vasca da Gama, the famous navigator, was Portuguese. Now one of the attractions of the capital of Portugal is the bridge named after him. The length of the bridge is 17,185 m. This is the longest long bridge in Europe.
• The kilt, the traditional clothing of the Scottish Highlanders, is a piece of fabric fastened around the waist with belts. The Scots believed that the kilt gave a person majesty and masculinity.
• In Thailand, the most respected part of the body is the head; only parents or monks can touch it. And the feet are considered the dirtiest part of the body, so they should not be shown.
• There is an ancient Greek legend about the creation of the world: God sifted all the soil on Earth through a sieve to create countries. When each country received its share, he threw the stones remaining in the sieve over his shoulder - thus Greece was born.
• A direct flight from Vladivostok to Saipan lasts five hours. But Tokyo and Seoul are much closer to it, so the majority of vacationers on the island are Japanese and Koreans. This is a convenient neighborhood: Asians rarely go into the sea, preferring swimming pools, so there are always plenty of free sun loungers on the beach.
• Many people are afraid to travel abroad on their own. But this is the 21st century, and a person who has mastered the Internet has many opportunities! Moreover, as recent examples show, travel agencies can fail.
• Sakhalin - largest island Russia has east coast Asia. It is washed by the Seas of Okhotsk and Japan. About 100 species of animals and plants listed in the Red Book live on Sakhalin.
• Altai - unique Mountain country with vast spaces untouched by civilization. In ancient Turkic languages, Altai means “golden”.
• Breakfast on the grass, as well as lunch, afternoon tea and dinner will bring a lot of joy to a group of friends or a close-knit family. True, spending time in nature requires following some rules. 1
• In addition to well-known sights, new sculptures are constantly appearing in St. Petersburg, which the townspeople immediately endow with magical properties, and new “places of power” are opening up.
• IN South Australia, on the edge of the Great Victoria Desert, in one of the most desolate and sparsely populated places on the continent, lies the city of Coober Pedy.
• Many of our citizens love to relax and travel abroad. But it’s not enough to buy a ticket and fly or arrive to the chosen country and city. In other countries, many pitfalls may await you 1

• Brazil

  In Brazil, it is not customary to pay in cash; almost everyone always uses credit cards. If you pay in cash, it is almost impossible to wait for exact change. Everything, even groceries, can be purchased in installments for 2-3 months.

• India

  India has 150,000 post offices, making the postal delivery network the largest in the world. But it often happens that a letter takes two weeks to travel a distance of 50 kilometers.

• Egyptian pyramids

  Some 19th century English astronomers argued that the pyramids were astronomical observatories and could be used as a sundial.

• Mariana Trench

  Mariana Trench called the fourth pole of the Earth in addition to the North, South and Everest - the high peak. Earth

• Lake Titicaca

  Today one of the most visited cities on the lake among tourists is Puno. It was founded in 1668 near a mine where silver was mined.

• America

  In some states in America, it is legal to grow hemp at home. In these states, small amounts of home-grown cannabis are considered home-grown medicinal products. About the same as horseradish or mint.

• Official nicknames of US states.

  Each US state, in addition to its name, has an official nickname (some even several), reflecting a feature of history or geography.

• Geographical names

  Off the coast of Alaska there are several rocky islands with very expressive names in Spanish: Albreolo - “look both ways”, Alargetto - “stand aside”, Kita Sueño - “don’t sleep”.

• Geographical facts

  The Philippine and Caroline Islands are named after Spanish kings Philip II and Charles II. And one of the most big rivers South Africa- Orange - it is called so not at all for the color of its water, but in honor of the Prince of Orange from the royal dynasty of the Netherlands.

• Islands and countries

  The area of ​​Saint-Michel in northwestern France is an island twice a day and a peninsula twice a day. This peculiar phenomenon is caused by strong ebbs and flows in this part of the Atlantic Ocean.

• And in the hot tropics...

  Coffee is grown in approximately 80 countries around the world, which are located in the zone between the northern and southern tropics: it is in this zone that the coffee tree grows best and produces beans of the highest quality.

• From the history of the islands

  In 1568, the Spanish navigator A. Mendaña de Neira landed on then unknown islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Spaniard traded with local residents gold and called these Solomon Islands, comparing them with the “Golden Country of Solomon.”

• Islands and states

  The biggest Island state in the world - the Republic of Indonesia. It consists of 18,108 islands, of which about 1,000 have a permanent population.

When we hear the word “lake”, a picture appears in our imagination - a wonderful place to relax, where you can swim and fish. However, this is not always the case. Some lakes inspire fear and horror. And there are reasons for this.

Lake Pustoe (Russia)

Its location is the Kuznetsk Alatau region located in Western Siberia. Lake Pustoe is a fresh and environmentally friendly reservoir of continental origin, because it is completely free of chemicals. Many scientists have repeatedly conducted studies of water from the lake, which have never confirmed the presence of any toxic components in it.

The lake has clean water that is suitable for drinking and resembles champagne, as it is dominated by completely safe bubbles of natural gases. However, researchers were unable to determine the reason why there was no fish in the lake.

In the vicinity of Lake Pustogo there have never been environmental disasters or extraordinary technical incidents polluting the reservoir. The chemical composition of its water does not differ from the nearest reservoirs of the reserve, which are distinguished by an abundance of fish resources. Moreover, the reservoir feeds several fresh, clean reservoirs in the vicinity; the fact that there is fish in them will add special mystery to what is happening in these dreams.

There have been several attempts to introduce unpretentious fish species such as pike, perch and crucian carp into the reservoir. Each of them ended in failure, the fish died, the aquatic plants rotted. And today there is no grass or birds on the banks of the reservoir, there are no fish or fry in the water, the lake guards its mysteries.

Why are there no fish in the lake?

Samples from the Kuznetsk reservoir were studied by chemists from the USA, Great Britain and Germany. However, no one was able to put forward a sensible version explaining the lack of fish in the reservoir. Scientists are not yet able to answer the questions of ordinary people about what is happening to the Kuznetsk reservoir.

However, scientists repeat attempts to explain the extraordinary phenomenon of Empty Lake with enviable frequency. There are many people who want to visit the shores of the unusual lake; tourists come here and stay overnight. Some of them dream of touching the mystery of nature and unraveling it.

Lake of Death (Italy)

Our world is amazing and beautiful, its nature can be endlessly admired and enjoyed. But besides this, there are places on our Earth that sometimes lead us to bewilderment. Among such places is the Lake of Death on the island of Sicily. This lake can be considered one of the phenomena and unique natural phenomena. The name itself suggests that this lake is deadly for all living things. Any living organism that gets into this lake will inevitably die.

This lake is the most dangerous on our planet. The lake is absolutely lifeless and there are no living organisms in it. The shores of the lake are deserted and lifeless; nothing grows here. Everything is connected with the fact that any living creature that enters the aquatic environment immediately dies. If a person decides to swim in this lake, he will literally dissolve in the lake in a few minutes.

When information about this place appeared in the scientific world, a scientific expedition was immediately sent there to study this phenomenon. The lake revealed its secrets with great difficulty. Water analyzes showed that the lake’s aquatic environment contains a large amount of concentrated sulfuric acid. Scientists were not immediately able to figure out where the sulfuric acid comes from in the lake. Scientists have put forward several hypotheses about this.

The first hypothesis stated that at the bottom of the lake there are rocks that, when washed away by water, become enriched with acid. But further study of the lake showed that at the bottom of the lake there are two sources that release concentrated sulfuric acid into the lake’s water environment. This explains why any organic matter dissolves in the lake.

Dead Lake (Kazakhstan)

Kazakhstan has anomalous lake, which attracts the attention of many people. It is located in the Taldykurgan region, the village of Gerasimovka. Its dimensions are not large, only 100x60 meters. This body of water is called Dead. The fact is that there is nothing in the lake, neither algae nor fish. The water there is unusually icy.

Low water temperatures remain even when there is intense sunshine outside. People drown there all the time. For some unknown reason, scuba divers begin to choke after three minutes of diving. Locals do not advise anyone to go there, and they themselves bypass it anomalous place.

Blue Lake (Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia)

Blue karst abyss in Kabardino-Balkaria. Not a single river or stream flows into this lake, although it loses up to 70 million liters of water every day, but its volume and depth do not change at all. The blue color of the lake is due to the high content of hydrogen sulfide in the water. There are no fish here at all.

What makes this lake creepy is the fact that no one has been able to figure out its depth. The fact is that the bottom consists of an extensive system of caves. Researchers have still not been able to figure out what the lowest point of this karst lake. It is believed that under Blue lake The world's largest underwater cave system.

Boiling Lake (Dominican Republic)

The name speaks for itself. Located in Dominica, the beautiful Caribbean, this lake is actually the second largest natural hot spring on the ground. The temperature of the water in the boiling lake reaches 90 degrees Celsius and there is hardly anyone who wants to test the temperature of the source on their own skin. Just look at the photographs and it becomes clear that the water here is practically boiling. The temperature cannot be regulated because it is the result of a crack in the bottom of the lake through which hot lava erupts.

Lake Powell (USA)

Despite its common name (Horseshoe), located near the town of Mammoth Lakes, Lake Powell is a terrifying killer. The city of Mammoth Lakes was built on top of active volcano, but this is not best location. However, for many years the lake was considered safe. But about 20 years ago, the trees around Horseshoe suddenly began to dry out and die.

After ruling out all possible diseases, scientists decided that the trees were being suffocated by excessive levels of carbon dioxide slowly seeping through the ground from underground chambers of cooling magma. In 2006, three tourists took refuge in a cave near the lake and suffocated from carbon dioxide.

Lake Karachay (Russia)

Located in beautiful Ural mountains Russia, this dark blue lake is one of the most dangerous bodies of water in the world. During a secret government project, the lake was used as a dump site for radioactive waste for many years beginning in 1951.

This place is so toxic that a 5-minute visit can make a person sick, and a longer visit of an hour is guaranteed to be fatal. During a drought in 1961, the wind carried toxic dust that affected 500,000 people - a tragedy comparable to the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. It is definitely one of the most polluted places on Earth.

Lake Kivu (Democratic Republic of Congo)

This lake lies on the border between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, with large layers of carbon dioxide at the base of the volcanic rock, as well as 55 billion cubic meters of methane at the bottom. This explosive combination makes Lake Kivu the deadliest of the world's three explosive lakes. Any earthquake or volcanic activity could pose a lethal threat to the 2 million people living in this region. They can die from both methane explosions and carbon dioxide suffocation.

Lake Michigan (Canada)

Of the five Great Lakes on the border of Canada and the United States, Lake Michigan is the deadliest. Warm, attractive lake - popular place holiday for numerous tourists, despite its dangerous undercurrents, which claim at least several lives every year.

The shape of Lake Michigan makes it particularly susceptible to dangerous currents that arise spontaneously and abruptly. The lake becomes more dangerous in the fall, October and November, when sudden and significant changes in water and air temperatures occur. The height of the waves can reach several meters.

Mono Lake (USA)

One of the most developed ecosystems in the world, Mono Lake is located in the county of the same name in California. This ancient salt lake has no fish, but trillions of bacteria and small algae thrive in it. unique waters. Up until 1941 this is amazing beautiful lake was healthy and strong. But Los Angeles, which was just beginning its giant growth spurt, stepped in. The city drained the tributaries of the lake, which began to dry up.

This is a scandalous destruction natural resources continued for almost 50 years and when it was stopped in 1990, Mono Lake had already lost half its volume and its salinity had doubled. Mono has become a toxic alkaline lake filled with carbonates, chlorides and sulfates. Los Angeles has decided to correct its mistake, but the restoration project will take decades.

Lake Manoun (Cameroon)

Located in the Oku Volcanic Field in Cameroon, Lake Monoun appears to be a completely normal body of water. But its appearance is deceiving, as it is one of three explosive lakes on earth. In 1984, Monun exploded without warning, releasing a cloud of carbon dioxide and killing 37 people. Twelve of the dead were riding in a truck and stopped to watch the aftermath of the explosion. It was at this moment that the lethal gas did its job.

Lake Nyos (Cameroon)

In 1986, Lake Nyos, located just 100 kilometers from Lake Monun, exploded following a magma eruption and released carbon dioxide, converting the water into carbonic acid. As a result of a massive landslide, the lake abruptly released a giant cloud of carbon dioxide, killing thousands of people and animals in local cities and villages. The tragedy was the first known major suffocation caused by natural phenomenon. The lake continues to pose a threat because its natural wall is fragile and even the slightest earthquake can destroy it.

Natron (Tanzania)

Lake Natron in Tanzania not only kills its inhabitants, but also mummifies their bodies. On the shores of the lake there are mummified flamingos, small birds, and bats. The creepiest thing is that the victims freeze in natural poses with their heads raised. It was as if they froze for a moment and remained that way forever. The water in the lake is bright red due to the microorganisms living in it, closer to the shore it is already orange, and in some places it is a normal color.

The evaporation of the lake scares away large predators, and the absence of natural enemies attracts a huge number of birds and small animals. They live on the banks of the Natron, reproduce, and after death they are mummified. A large amount of hydrogen contained in water and increased alkalinity contribute to the release of soda, salt and lime. They prevent the remains of the inhabitants of the lake from decomposing.

Lakes occupy about 1.8% globe, mostly these are small, quiet bodies of water with gently sloping sandy shores. But there are real giant lakes, several hundred kilometers long, with an area larger than some seas, on the surface of which real storms with multi-meter waves rage. Meet the ten most large lakes in the world.

10. Great Slave Lake

Great Slave Lake has an area of ​​28,930 km², and is the remains of a body of water formed after the melting of glaciers formed during the Ice Age. This is the deepest lake in North America, located in Canada, with a depth of 614 meters, which is bordered on one side by the tundra and on the other by the Canadian boundary shield. The name of the lake was given in honor of the Indian tribe that lived on the shore, whose name was very similar to the English word “slave”, which translates as “slave”.

9. Lake Malawi

Lake Malawi, also known as Nyasa, with an area of ​​30,044 km 2, contains 7% of the world's fresh water reserves. The reservoir is a depression on the border of Mozambique, Tanzania and Malawi, 706 meters deep, into which 14 rivers flow. Storms often rage along the steep shores of the lake, during which shipping almost completely stops.

8. Great Bear Lake

The most big lake Canada, Great Bear Lake has an area of ​​31,153 km². The reservoir is located beyond the Arctic Circle at an altitude of 186 meters above sea level and has a depth of 413 meters. It was from uranium mined on the shores of Great Bear Lake that the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were made.

7. Lake Baikal

Lake Baikal, with an area of ​​31,722 km², is the largest freshwater reservoir in the world, storing 19% of the world's freshwater reserves. The reservoir, 1,637 meters deep, was formed at the site of a tectonic fault, and is surrounded on all sides by hills and mountains. By the way, this is the most deep lake in a world where more than 300 rivers flow in and only one river, the Angara, flows out. Most importantly, Baikal and its shores are home to a large number of animals and plants that are not found anywhere else in the world.

6. Lake Tanganyika

Lake Tanganyika, with an area of ​​32,893 km 2, located on the border of Congo, Tanzania, Zambia and Burundi, was formed at the site of a tectonic fault on the border of the African and Arabian tectonic plates. It is the second deepest (its depth is 1,470 meters) enclosed body of water in the world and the second largest fresh water lake in the world. It also bears the title of the longest lake in the world, stretching 673 kilometers from north to south. The shores of Tanganyika are high cliffs and only with east side There are flat areas. Due to the fact that the lake was formed many millions of years ago with a closed ecosystem, there are many unique species fish that you won't find anywhere else in the world.

5. Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan, with an area of ​​58,000 km2, is the only one of the five Great Lakes that is entirely located in the United States. It is located at an altitude of 177 meters above sea level, its depth is 281 meters. Michigan is located high in northern latitudes and its waters are frozen for about four months of the year.

4. Lake Huron

Lake Huron, on the border of the USA and Canada, with an area of ​​59,600 km 2, has a depth of 229 meters and is located at an altitude of 176 meters above sea level. The most interesting thing is that Huron has a simply huge number of islands, more than 30 thousand, among which Manitoulin Island stands apart, the largest freshwater island in the world, which in turn contains the largest inland lake in the world - Manitou, with an area of ​​106 km 2.

3. Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria, with an area of ​​69,485 km2, is the largest African and tropical lake in the world. The reservoir was formed in a depression on the East African platform on the border of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda at an altitude of 1134 meters above sea level. Lake with big amount bays, bays and islands, surrounded by low swampy shores, only in the southwestern part, the water rests against sharply rising cliffs. Victoria has a depth of 84 meters, the main source of water replenishment of which is tropical rains. By the way, this is where the most long river in the world - Nile.

2. Lake Superior

The second largest in the world and the most large lake North America– Upper, has an area of ​​82.414 km 2. The reservoir was formed in the basin as a result of the movement of tectonic plates and soil erosion, which was filled with water from melted glaciers. Strong winds constantly blow over the lake, 406 meters deep, not protected by mountains, which is why strong seiches (standing waves) often form on its surface, severely destroying the shores.

1. Caspian Sea

The largest lake in the world is the Caspian Sea, yes, it is a lake, despite the fact that it is most often called a sea, has an area of ​​371,000 km 2. The banks of this reservoir are flat and swampy, only in the northern part they are strongly indented, in the area of ​​​​the delta of the Volga and Ural rivers. The Caspian Sea, which is located on the border of Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, has a depth of 1025 meters. The most interesting thing is that this lake appeared as a result of tectonic shifts, which led to the appearance of a closed body of water separated from the world ocean.