A “magical” coral reef stretching as far as the eye can see has been discovered off the coast of the South Pacific island Tahiti. The beautiful reef took around 25 years to grow and was found in the “twilight zone”, where it is highly unusual to unearth such a find as there is barely enough light to sustain life. “It was magical to witness giant, beautiful rose corals which stretch for as far as the eye can see. It was like a work of art,” said French photographer Alexis Rosenfeld, who led the team of international divers that made the discovery. The acres of giant corals in pristine condition show no sign of being damaged by climate change and demonstrate just how little we know about the ocean, according to experts. They say it shows the need to protect the world’s remaining healthy reefs from environmental damage. Read the full story here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-new..
Tag Archives: Islands
Wildlife: Orangutans On The Island Of Borneo
Learning survival skills is a must for baby orangutans to live in the rainforest among their predators, however, not all of them are natural acrobats!
The Bornean orangutan is a species of orangutan endemic to the island of Borneo. Together with the Sumatran orangutan and Tapanuli orangutan, it belongs to the only genus of great apes native to Asia.
Borneo, a giant, rugged island in Southeast Asia’s Malay Archipelago, is shared by the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, Indonesian Kalimantan and the tiny nation of Brunei. It’s known for its beaches and ancient, biodiverse rainforest, home to wildlife including orangutans and clouded leopards. In Sabah is 4,095m-tall Mount Kinabalu, the island’s highest peak, and, offshore, the famed dive site Sipadan Island.
Island Views: Ko Lanta Yai Off Western Thailand (4K)
Ko Lanta Yai is an island in the Strait of Malacca off the west coast of Thailand, between the Phi Phi Islands and the mainland. It is administratively part of Krabi Province, most of which is on the mainland.
Scotland Views: Shetland Islands In Winter (Video)
Simon Parker braves the rain and wind to see Shetland’s wonderful wildlife and stunning landscapes minus the summer crowds.
Shetland Islands, also called Zetland or Shetland, group of about 100 islands, fewer than 20 of them inhabited, in Scotland, 130 miles (210 km) north of the Scottish mainland, at the northern extremity of the United Kingdom. They constitute the Shetland Islands council area and the historic county of Shetland. Among the settlements on Mainland, the largest island, is Scalloway, a fishing port. Lerwick, also on Mainland, is the islands’ largest town and commercial and administrative centre.
Walking Tours: Heraklion – Capital Of Crete (4K)
Heraklion, also known as Iraklio, is a port city and the capital of the Greek island of Crete. It’s known for the Palace of Knossos, just outside the city. The huge archaeological site dates back thousands of years to the Minoan civilization, and includes frescoes and baths. Guarding the city’s Venetian port is the 16th-century Koules fortress. Heraklion Archaeological Museum has a large collection of Minoan art.
Views: Fly Fishing In Cocos Keeling Islands, Australia
For the past two years Australians have been limited to travel within their own country. This is not all bad news when you realise the diversity of fishing options in Australian waters. In early 2021, Josh Hutchins, of Aussie Fly Fisher, and film-maker, Kane Chenoweth, set off to one of Australia’s most remote regions in search of clean water, tropical vibes and big fish – the Cocos Keeling Islands.
With bountiful bonefish, intermittent shark-dodging, and relaxed Island vibes – Cocos was full of surprises.
Despite schools of bonefish and the odd-GT distraction, we had a primary goal for the trip: a Bumphead Parrotfish. We’d seen it done in the Seychelles, and we wanted to catch one in our home waters. Let the mission begin…
Location: Australia
Views: Zanzibar Island, Tanzania, East Africa (4K)
Zanzibar, Swahili Unguja, island in the Indian Ocean, lying 22 miles (35 km) off the coast of east-central Africa. In 1964 Zanzibar, together with Pemba Island and some other smaller islands, joined with Tanganyika on the mainland to form the United Republic of Tanzania. Area 600 square miles (1,554 square km). Pop. (2007 est.) 713,000.
Before the development of eastern African mainland ports, Zanzibar was the trade focus of the region and enjoyed an important entrepôt trade. The island’s economy now depends on agriculture and fishing. Considerable areas of fertile soil and a favourable climate enable the production of a variety of tropical crops, most importantly cloves and coconuts. Local food crops, such as rice, cassava, yams, and tropical fruit, are also important. Fish is an important part of the diet, and local fisheries employ perhaps about one-tenth of the population.
Views: Secret Islands Of The Everglades, Florida
The Everglades is a water world — It’s the widest and slowest river in the United States. But in the heart of this great water body exist secret islands that have outsize importance for the cultural heritage of a people and for the biodiversity of this important wetland. Thousands of these tree islands dot the Everglades.
For generations, the Miccosukee people have called these islands home. And they’ve long understood that the islands are a giver of life in this unforgiving environment. The islands are some of the only dry land around and harbor a surprising diversity of plant and animal life, including: coyotes, bobcat, bear, and even the Florida panther.
But among the scientific establishment, the islands are little understood. Researchers from the Miccosukee tribe are working to understand how animals use the islands and what role they play in the larger Everglades ecosystem. With the islands under threat from outside forces, their studies have taken on increased urgency. What they’re finding could be key to preserving the Miccosukee culture and the balance of life in this great river.
Hotel Tours: Hacienda Na Xamena In Ibiza, Spain (4K)
Hacienda Na Xamena, a hotel on the Spanish island of Ibiza. Enjoying magnificent views, the bohemian style property is suspended on coastal cliffs, 180 m (600 ft) high over the sea level, in the heart of a preserved natural park.
Video chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:30 Lobby 4:49 Room 11:48 Pool deck 21:14 Spa 23:56 Dinner 27:56 Breakfast
Ibiza is one of the Balearic islands, an archipelago of Spain in the Mediterranean Sea. It’s well known for the lively nightlife in Ibiza Town and Sant Antoni, where major European nightclubs have summer outposts. It’s also home to quiet villages, yoga retreats and beaches, from Platja d’en Bossa, lined with hotels, bars and shops, to quieter sandy coves backed by pine-clad hills found all around the coast.
Island Hikes: Fira To Oia On Santorini, Greece (4K)
The distance from Fira to Oia is around 10.5km (6.5 miles) one-way and this walk shows it in its entirety.. We start our walk in the afternoon in the capital town of Santorini Fira and finish in beautiful Oia around 2 hours later in time for sunset. The walking path passes by the towns of Firostefani (great sunset) and Imerovigli on the way to Oia which is the most picturesque town on the island.
Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea. It was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, forever shaping its rugged landscape. The whitewashed, cubiform houses of its 2 principal towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs above an underwater caldera (crater). They overlook the sea, small islands to the west and beaches made up of black, red and white lava pebbles.
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