Vår vakre verden – Amerika
There are a lot of beautiful places in the world. Nature has formed the landscape in many different ways. In this article, we’ll take a look at some examples of this from America. These are ten of the most special places on the continent.
Las Vegas
1. The Statue of Liberty | The United States
The Statue of Liberty is world-famous, and perhaps one of the most famous symbols of the United States. You can take a ferry from Manhattan to Staten Island to get a good view.
If you want to see the statue close up, take the ferry to Liberty Island. You will be able to see the lower part of the statue, but if you want to go higher up, you need to upgrade your ticket. The statue is 92 metres high and inside, there are 403 steps up to the head. The statue is also a lighthouse.
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France in 1886. It was the sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi and engineer Gustave Eiffel that were the brains behind it. In her right hand, the Statue of Liberty holds a torch. This is a symbol of freedom that lights up the world. In her left hand, she holds a roll, which symbolises what is right or wrong in society. All people are born equal, and everyone has the right to a good life and freedom.
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Frihetsstatuen New York
2. Machu Picchu | Peru
Machu Picchu lies in Peru. It is an old Inca ruin that is 2,350 metres high and the site is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city first became known to the West in the 20th century. It was discovered by Yale professor Hiram Bingham.
The Inca Indians ruled over a big part of South America. This lasted until the Spanish won in 1532. The Incas had no written language but were still able to communicate across the land. Today, only ruins are left of the fantastic city.
Today, the place is a world-famous labyrinth. A lot of tourists come here every year. To get here, you have to walk through forest, jungle, mountain scenery and more. The trip itself is very exciting.
Did you know…?
New research points out that people have probably lived in Machu Picchu for a longer time than we have thought.
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Machu Picchu
3. Niagara Falls | North America
Niagara Falls lies between the United States and Canada. It is three waterfalls made into one: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil.
Thousands of tourists travel to the famous waterfall. They want to take pictures of themselves next to the water. Most people go there in the summer. From Goat Island, you have an impressive view of the falls and you can go there by car or foot via a bridge.
About 2,400 cubic metres of water flow down Horseshoe Falls – the largest of the three waterfalls – every second. One cubic metre of water is the same as 1,000 litres!
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4. Galápagos Islands | Equador
A group of islands called “Las Islas Encantadas” (“the enchanted islands”) lies 1,000 kilometres west of Ecuador in South America. You can find unique animal and plant life here. Charles Darwin visited in 1835 and it was here that he got his ideas for the theory of evolution.
Many of the creatures on the Galapagos Islands are only found here. They don’t care that much about people visiting. Examples of species that live here are tropical penguins, marine iguanas and birds with bright blue feet.
The most fascinating animal found here is the elephant tortoise which can become over 100 years old. The Island is named after this animal as galapagos is the Spanish word for turtle
These islands were formed from several volcanic outbursts. Today this is a paradise. Crystal clear water, blue skies and a lot of water animals makes it a paradise for divers. Since it lies so close to the equator, the temperature doesn’t change much. It is between 21 and 30 degrees Celsius around the year.
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Galapagosøyene
5. Mount Rushmore | The United States
Mount Rushmore is one of the biggest attractions in America. You find it in the Black Hills in South Dakota. 400 people worked for 14 years to make the 18-metre-high faces of the four presidents.
It was sculptor Gutzon Borglum who got the job and made the sculptures of the great men of the United States: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt.
Many native people in America see the Black Hills as sacred land and think that the sculptures have been carved on stolen land. This is an attraction that will be around for a long time.
Did you know…?
A model of Mount Rushmore has been built from 1.5 million Lego bricks in Legoland.
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6. Rio de Janeiro | Brasil
People from Rio call the city Maravilhosa, which means “the magnificent city”. In Rio, you will find white beaches, mountains and perhaps the biggest attraction is the famous Copacabana Beach. This beach is a four-kilometre-long paradise.
If you are in Rio, you need to take the cable cars up to Sugarloaf Mountain. This is a 396 metre high mountain tower that gives a fantastic view of the city of Guanabara Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The city is known for people dancing and singing in the streets. The biggest party of the year takes place each February and is known as the Rio Carnival.
At the top of Corcovado mountain, there is a 710-metre-tall statue of Christ. It is a bit difficult to get there, you have to take a train for 20 minutes and then you climb more than 220 steps to get there. But it is definitely worth the effort to enjoy the view.
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7. Grand Canyon | The United States
The Grand Canyon was created by the Colorado River. One thing that is amazing about it is all the different shades of red, yellow and orange. The valley is almost 450 kilometres long and 29 kilometres wide in some places. At the West Rim, you’ll find Skywalk, a glass-bottom platform with a fantastic view.
In the summer, it is very hot, but you can find shade in small oases and streams. It looks very beautiful, like a Christmas card with snow covering the landscape. The Colorado River also has small rivers, cliffs and cactus gardens. The experiences are all lined up and waiting for you!
For a true experience of the Grand Canyon, you should see it both up close and from the air. We recommend a trip by plane or helicopter, as then you also get to see Monument Valley, Rainbow Bridge and Lake Powell with its eroded sandstone cliffs.
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Grand Canyon
8. The rainforest | South America
When you fly over the Amazon rainforest, you get a fantastic view. A lot of different animals live there. The forest is about 5.5 million square kilometres and is in nine different countries in South America.
In the rainforest, there are 30,000 plant species, 1,800 fish species, 1,300 bird species and many other animals. Other animals you may see are emperor tamarins, yellow-winged rays, jaguars, crocodiles, wild boars and dolphins.
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Amazonas
9. Las Vegas | The United States
NASA says that Las Vegas is the brightest area on earth looked at from space. Las Vegas is one of a kind, with a six-mile road named Las Vegas Boulevard. This is called “The Strip” and is like a glamorous theme park. Also, you do not want to miss the “Vegas” sign.
Vegas is all about glitter and glamour. Over 40 million tourists visit every year. Las Vegas is known for entertainment and gambling and a lot of famous artists perform here. You find food from many cultures, and the city is famous for its generous buffets. You can also shop in really expensive stores or treat yourself to a spa treatment.
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10. Volcán Arenal | Costa Rica
The Arenal Volcano is in the west of Costa Rica and is one of the country’s most famous destinations. It is 1,670 metres high and is the most active volcano. Today it is mostly a cloud of smoke and some shaking of the ground, but both the volcano and the wildlife are very much alive.
You can’t climb this cone-shaped volcano yourself. But you can see the old lava flow and the wildlife in the area. Over 50 percent of Costa Rica’s birdlife can be found in the National Park.
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Vulkanen Arenal
Sources:
- 101 steder du må oppleve (før du dør) (2020)
Orage Forlag AS
- Frihetsstatuen i Store norske leksikon på snl.no.
Hentet 2021 M08 25 fra https://snl.no/Frihetsstatuen
- Siverts, Henning; Opsvik, Tor: Inkariket i Store norske leksikon på snl.no.
Hentet 2021 M08 25 fra https://snl.no/Inkariket
- Forskning.no (23.08.21): Sommerpalasset Machu Picchu kan være eldre enn forskerne trodde
https://forskning.no/arkeologi/sommerpalasset-machu-picchu-kan-vaere-eldre-enn-forskerne-trodde/1894867
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