Vredefort Dome

Two billion years ago a meteorite hit the earth creating an enormous impact crater.This area, near Vredefort in the Free State, is now known as the Vredefort Dome. Vredefort Dome a truly unique, indeed mind-boggling site . It is 120 km south-west of Johannesburg and also it is the oldest astrobleme found on earth. With a radius of 190km, it is also the largest and the most deeply eroded. It is said to have been created by a chunk of rock the size of Table Mountain vaporizing 70 Cubic Kilometres of earth on impact and a crater 300km wide. The Vredefort Dome is among the top three, and is the oldest and largest clearly visible meteorite impact site in the world. Vredefort's original impact scar measures 380km across and consists of three concentric circles of uplifted rock. They were created by the rebound of rock below the impact site when the asteroid hit. Vredefort Dome bears witness to the world’s greatest known single energy release event, which caused devastating global change, including, according to some scientists, major evolutionary changes. Vredefort is the only example on earth to provide a full geological profile of an astrobleme below the crater floor. The inner circle, is still visible and can be seen in the beautiful range of hills near Parys and Vredefort.Within the ring of hills found granitic gneiss rock. The force of the impact produced deep fractures in the underlying rock. Rock melted by the impact flowed down into the cracks, producing what are now exposed as ridges of hard dark rock - the granophyre dykes.The Vredefort Dome is a natural heritage site.When you visit the area you will find small hills in a large dome shape with beautiful valleys between them. Evidence has been found by geologists that the cause of this upliftment was an extreme impact event. Its mountains and valleys, the Vaal River bed, and many different climatic and soil conditions giving rise to a vast variety of different vegetations, exceptionally varied bird life, all this makes the Dome a very special place to live in and to visit. It was voted South Africa's seventh World Heritage site at Unesco's 29th World Heritage Committee meeting in Durban in July 2005.

Best Time To Visit :-

The dome is an all-year round destination, although in the winter months the cooler air and reduced vegetation make hiking easier.The nearby structure of the Dome to the north is very recognizable.You can enjoy hiking and bird-watching, Canoeing, rafting and fishing, camping, riding, mountain-biking and -climbing on the site.

Some Attractions of South Africa :-

The Bund :Shanghai

The Bund is one of the most recognizable architectural symbols of Shanghai. The word ‘bund’ derives from an Anglo-Indian word for an embankment along a muddy waterfront and that is what it was in the beginning, when the first British company opened an office there in 1846. It became the epitome of elegance during Shanghai’s history as a city of trade. Now many attractive new constructions have been erected in addition to the historical buildings. A 771-metre long retaining wall for flood control was built. Atop the wall is a spacious walkway for sightseeing. Paved with colorful tiles and dotted with flower beds and European-style garden lights. It is a good place for a leisurely stroll and a view of the Huangpu River. The Bund, which extends from Jinling Road in the south to the Waibaidu Bridge over the Suzhou Creek in the north, is on the western bank of the 114 kilometer long Huangpu River, a tributary of the Yangtze River.

The Bund stretches one mile along the bank of the Huangpu River. Traditionally, the Bund begins at Yan'an Road (formerly Edward VII Avenue) in the south and ends at Waibaidu Bridge (formerly Garden Bridge) in the north, which crosses Suzhou Creek.The Bund centres on a stretch of the Zhongshan Road, named after Sun Yat-sen. Zhongshan Road is a largely circular road which formed the traditional conceptual boundary of Shanghai city "proper". To the west of this stretch of the road stands some 52 buildings of various Western classical and modern styles which is the main feature of the Bund (see Architecture and buildings below). To the east of the road was formerly a stretch of parkland culminating at Huangpu Park.This area is now much reduced due to the expansion of Zhongshan Road. Further east is a tall levee, constructed in the 1990s to ward off flood waters. The construction of this high wall has dramatically changed the appearance of the Bund.Looking out on the river, various cargo vessels, speedier tourist ferries and other locally owned boats, some of which remind visitors they are still in a developing country, can be seen navigating the Huangpu. Visitors might need reminding, with the towering skyscrapers, the Oriental Pearl Tower, the neon lights indicating the offices of top world brands and European architecture surrounding them.


The commemorative square at the junction with Nanjing Road features a fountain and a statue of Chen Yi, who in 1949 became the first mayor of Shanghai in the communist era. Opposite the Customs Building is an electronic clock that shows standard times in various world localities on a water-like curtain. All around are Chinese wisterias, gingko trees and azaleas. Buildings in Greek, Renaissance and Baroque styles can be seen along the west of the Bund.
The wharf for pleasure boat rides is also at the end of Nanjing Road. A boat ride on the Huangpu River will take visitors down to the estuary of the Yangtze River and back in just over three hours.

More Shanghai attractions...

Scuba Diving In Goa

Water sports activities during Goa trip leaves an everlasting impression to the mind of the tourists who seek fun, tranquility and thrilling experience too. Water sports in Goa provide a delightful touring experience in Goa. Scuba diving is one of the popular events that can be enjoyed by true adventure lover. Trip to Goa provides scuba diving highlighting the underwater delight in Goa. You can witness the attractive corals, beautiful shells and fishes under the water. The adventurous water sports like scuba diving offers an opportunity to witness the underwater treasure of Goa. The temperate and safe water of Goa makes it ideal for the beginners. The Goa marine life is quite similar to the marine life in Maldives.

Scuba diving in Goa is a delightful experience. Welcome to the world of underwater delight in Goa. Attractive corals, colored and beautiful, shells and fishes all invite exploration. Adventurous sports like Scuba Diving help you to unearth the underwater treasure of Goa. Underwater visibility in Goa ranges for five meters to ten meters throughout the tourist season. The waters in Goa are safe and temperate. The absence of riptide currents makes the waters ideal for beginners.

Dive Site:
The Marine life of the Goa is quite similar to that of the Maldives. The underwater world of Goa has the presence of Spanish and Portuguese sailing ship wreckage and that of World War II wreckages. This makes the fish life prolific. Grand Island is a much-frequented site for local diving. Popular sites near the island are Suzy's Wreck, Davy Jones Lockers, Sail Rock, Turbo Tunnel, Surge City, Uma Guma Reef, and Bounty Bay. Angria Bank is a world class diving site around 120 miles from Goa. It has an underwater mass about half the size of Goa and is treasure house of corals and fishes. Diving here is an unforgettable experience. The rocky outcrop in the Pigeon Island has an interesting marine life and a very clear visibility. Malvan Shoal has shallow sites in between Vengurla and Malvan. The crystal clear water gives a clear view of the interesting marine life here.

Ideal Season for Scuba Diving In Goa :
The best season for enjoying water sports in Goa is from October to May. It's the season when the skies are cloudless and blue and the water remains placid .

Goa attractions...