PerLuxe Travels’ Post

One of my favourite islands🌏🩷 Bora Bora, a stunning island in French Polynesia, features an extinct volcano at its heart. The island's highest point, Mount Otemanu, rises majestically in the center of the atoll. The lagoon and fringing reef surrounding Bora Bora provide breathtaking views and natural protection. The Teavanui Passage, the only opening to the ocean, allows large ships to enter the serene lagoon. The main island boasts four bays: Faanui Bay, Tuuraapuo Bay, Povai Bay, and Hitiaa Bay. Tuuraapuo Bay separates the island from the volcanic islets Toopua and Toopua-iti. 🌏🩷🩵

In Iceland, there's a spot where green fields, a yellow river, a black beach, and the ocean all come together. The Yellow River, located in Vatnajokull National Park, gets its color from sulfur-rich geothermal activity nearby. The black sand beaches are a result of volcanic activity, with glacial rivers carrying basalt particles to the shore. 1) The Yellow River: The vivid yellow color comes from sulfur and minerals from nearby volcanic areas. 2) Black sand beaches: The black sand is formed by hot lava from dormant volcanoes that cools and solidifies in the cold ocean water. Reynisfjara, a famous black sand beach, is located on the south coast near the village of Vík. 3) Green fields: Lush green fields border the yellow river and black sand beaches. 

Seychelles isn't a single land mass, but rather an archipelago consisting of 115 islands scattered over 177 square miles of Indian Ocean. These dots of lands hold the distinction of being the world's only mid-ocean islands composed of granite, as most islands tend to be remnants of volcanic lava flows. Despite their hard as...well, granite...surface, the islands are by and large carpeted in lush jungles, which are home to a diversity of life. Only 33 of the islands are actually inhabited, with Mahe, Praslin, and La Digue being the largest, most populous, and most hospitable. #powerofafrica

Well, if all the anecdotes and gut feelings weren't enough, the official numbers are out: Iceland is indeed seeing a drop in tourism numbers, partially in thanks due to the volcanic situation on Reykjanes Peninsula. Statistics Iceland (Hagstofa Íslands) reports that April overnight stays here on the island are down almost 15% YoY. And national air carrier Icelandair saw broad layoffs last week due to weaker demands. It's a stark contrast to 2021, when the reawakened Fagradalsfjall volcanic system injected life back into a ailing tourism sector here in Iceland after suffering from the effects of pandemic shut-downs. Now with an eruption less remote, bordering the famous Blue Lagoon and even people's homes, the scary telephoto lens enhanced pictures plastered across The New York Times do not help our situation. Even my daily travel news site, Skift, has covered the tumultuous shifts in tourism numbers. I will be giving a talk this week at Kaptio about the current volcanic situation, and if there's one thing I hope people take away from this post (and my talk) is that Iceland is safe. Please share this far and wide. Travel to Iceland is one-of-a-kind and we have a wealth of sites to see that do not involve flaming hot lava. (Unless of course you want to go to the Lava Show) https://lnkd.in/dp8ciudt

Are there any volcanologist out there that can calculate the volume of “green house gases” being produced per hour from such natural eruptions??? And can numerate the global activity of such events on any given day ??? For those who would claim that all “climate change” is mankind induced, to prove that, you must first prove that all such natural events have no impact. The sheer volumes of gases in such events in days can equal decades of human contributions, yet seem to be conveniently overlooked. Are there any scientists that can tell me the estimated natural contributions? The climate has always , and will always, be in a state of flux. It has never been static, and mankind will adapt as it has in the past. https://lnkd.in/eE-gKHdJ

Is it still safe to visit #iceland ? That’s the question on the minds of many tourists after a section of the island nation was placed under a state of emergency following a spike in seismic activity. The recent uptick in occurrences of small #earthquakes began on October 24 and has reached as many as 1,000 quakes in 24 hours—and scientists are predicting an imminent volcanic eruption. From midnight to about noon local time on November 14, more than 700 earthquakes were recorded along the magma corridor, according to the Icelandic Meteorological Office, most of which were micro-quakes. But the office is warning that this means there is a “significant likelihood of a #volcanic eruption in the coming days” in the Reykjanes Peninsula, a region in Southwestern Iceland about 27 miles from the capital of Reykjavik. https://lnkd.in/dDkTe9vh #tourism #Tourisminsights #pakistan #tourismindustry #AtharJ #ecotourism #sustainabletourism #sustainability #sustainabledevelopment #tourismmarketing #60seconds 

How to plan a route across the South Pacific https://ift.tt/lVLof7H A final Pacific crossing passage from French Polynesia to New Zealand takes the Swan 37 Elixir halfway around the world, writes Max Campbell We leave Tahiti with strong trades. Easterlies funnel along the side of the volcanic island, and Elixir tears downwind toward Mo’orea. It’s humpback season. Occasionally, behind foaming crests, we glimpse their immense bodies – the sun reflecting off their polished backs. The islands’ saw-toothed ridges of dark rock catch the fluffy tradewind clouds. Deep, verdant valleys add to the ethereal scene. There’s something magical about the South Pacific. It’s the people and the places, tales of ancient voyagers and abstract deities. A sense of fierce beauty in every glance of swaying palms and textured lagoons. We’re halfway through our Pacific crossing. Over the last four months we’ve covered 3,500 miles from the arid shorelines of Mexico, through the secluded communities of the Marquesas and Tuamotus and into the pristine lagoons of the Society Islands. Ahead, there’s another 2,500 miles – the ‘dangerous middle’ through Samoa and Tonga and onward to New Zealand. The Societies The Societies blend the striking volcanic formations of the Marquesas with the circular atolls of the Tuamotus. They consist of a volcanic island, engulfed by a barrier reef. Tahiti is the largest, and a succession of smaller islands extend a few hundred miles west, towards the next island nation, The Cook Islands. After Tahiti and Mo’orea, we make quick stops at Raiatea, Maupiti and Maupiha’a. The islands become progressively less populated and a clear trend emerges: the smaller the population, the friendlier the locals. There’s a steep price on groceries in French Polynesia. Fortunately, we discover the trading economy. Our worn lines, fish hooks, torn sails, and old clothes gain a newfound value. A modest bag is readily swapped for a few weeks’ worth of fresh provisions. The South Seas island of Mo’orea, part of the Society Islands of French Polynesia. Photo: Max Campbell On Maupiha’a, among the smallest and westernmost islands in French Polynesia, we meet Marcello and his family. The island is a vast atoll. Humpbacks play in the shelving water beyond the lagoon, while sharks patrol the shallows within. A permanent cloud of terns circle the winding strip of land. Several subtle signs; a small motorboat and a few discrete structures, hint at the presence of humans. A supply ship visits Maupiha’a once every two years, and Marcello’s family are completely self-sufficient. Curious, we make our way ashore with a bag of assorted items: clothes, rope and a few luxuries. We return with two freshly steamed coconut crabs, and enough tern eggs to last us to Samoa. We fly out of the atoll, propelled by a four-knot current. Maupiha’a, with its eight resourceful souls, is a unique stop on our South Pacific journey. What you need to know to sail across the Pacific W...

What nation grows five centimeters wider every year? “(Very) slowly but surely, Iceland is getting bigger. The island nation is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which is where two continental plates — the Eurasian and North American plates — meet. These two plates are moving apart very slowly, and they're bringing Iceland along for the ride in both directions so that the country grows about five centimeters per year. As the island splits, volcanic activity fills in the gap to create more land mass — in fact, that’s how Iceland came to be in the first place. The island is made of lava rock, which resulted in the fantastic, otherworldly landscapes that draw thousands of visitors from around the world. Iceland is one of the youngest landmasses on the planet, and it’s still home to some of the world’s most active volcanoes today.” Source: Iceland.is | Date Updated: December 19, 2022

A new feature in the latest article by Global Traveler Magazine: The 2024 Taste of Iceland Tour through North America wraps up this year with stops in a selection of major American cities. A multiday immersion into the culture, food and music of Iceland, tour stops also feature Icelandic experts happy to share the multitude of reasons why this fascinating island nation should be at the top of every traveler’s dream list! “The recent seismic events are localized to a rural area near the eruption site, with road closures in place to ensure safety. These events do not pose any threat to people. Iceland, being a volcanic island, experiences seismic activity as part of normal life. This very geological activity is one of the reasons Iceland is such an incredibly interesting place to visit. Travelers can explore volcanic landscapes, relax in geothermal baths, visit black sand beaches, and even snorkel between tectonic plates — all because of our unique geology.” - Kristín M., Marketing Manager. Read more in the article: https://lnkd.in/eS2FMuRh

▪️The Massif de Hogar is a mountain range that rises suddenly to the west of Tamanrassete, Algeria. The region has an average height of 900 meters above sea level, the highest point is Mount Tahat, in the center of Atakor. It culminates at 3,003 meters high, and is also the highest peak in Algeria. The Hogar massif is essentially made up of volcanic rocks and constitutes a vast rocky region within the Sahara desert. ▪️The Hoggar Mountains are home to the Ahaggar National Park, one of the country's national parks. ▪️The Hoggar mountain range typically has hot summers, with a cold climate in winter. Temperatures drop below freezing in winter. Precipitation is rare and sporadic throughout the year. However, because the climate is less extreme than in most other areas of the Sahara, the mountains are an important location for biodiversity, including a number of relict species. The Hoggar Mountains are part of the Western Sahara montane xeric forests ecoregion. ▪️The park also contains a population of herbivores, such as the Saharan subspecies of the Berber sheep and the Dorcas gazelle. The vegetation in this area includes trees such as Vachellia tortilis, Vachellia seyal, myrtle and Tamarix aphylla which are spread throughout the area. Other plants may include Citrullus colocynthis and Calotropis procera . ▪️The Hogar massif is the land of the Imuagues, a tribe of the Tuareg people. The oasis of Abalassa near the town of Tamanrassete is the site of the tomb of the famous leader Tin Hinan, the matriarch believed to have been the ancestor of the Tuareg people in the Hogar Mountains. 📸 By Дмитрий Дубиковский