When most of us plan a cruise, a place like the Russian Far East is generally not the first destination to pop up. But it may be time to consider it given the unique experience this area of the world has to offer.

Start your cruise to the Russian Far East on board the newly refurbished Orion II and travel in comfort and luxury while enjoying the 5-star cuisine prepared for you daily by a world renowned chef. Return to your suite and relax in comfortable surroundings as Orion Expedition Cruises guides you to one of the most inhabited places in the world – by wildlife.

The Russian Far East is home to bird colonies, seal rookeries, sea lions and brown bears. Behold the amazing spectacle of wild animals roaming free in their natural habitat. Experience peerless beauty as you travel along the Zhupanova River, home to the Stellar Eagle, in a Zodiac. Get up close and personal with the nine kilogram trout and five species of Pacific salmon that flow through the river. Then journey in your Zodiac to Shumshu Island where you can observe sea otters living and resting
in kelp beds just off the shore.

Perhaps visiting the Northern Ring of Fire, home to numerous volcanoes, is more your style. This beautiful collection of land has been shaped by the long term effects of volcanic activity in the area and is a stunning landscape that few people get the chance to see or experience.

If you are a history buff, you’ll enjoy visiting Atlasov Island where, hidden in the dunes, are abandoned buildings and a women’s prison from the Soviet era. Another highlight on your itinerary is a visit to Urup and Chiropy Islands, home to the remnants of ancient Ainu settlements a long with the cabins of the old Russian fur traders.

A cruise to the Russian Far East is a unique experience. From the history to the wildlife, the Russian Far East offers something for everyone. If you are looking for something off the beaten track or simply looking to travel to a forgotten part of the world, then this cruise is ideal for you. Experience the beauty for yourself in 5-star luxury and comfort and bring home photos of the wilderness, volcanoes and splendour of the Russian Far East.

The following are ten of the most endangered cultural sites. There are quite a number of such endangered sites, but these are sure worth checking out. They have withstood many natural calamities and men have also done their contributions in trying to demolish them but they still stand strong. However, they may not last long if actions are not taken to prevent man form causing further harm.

The first one is Fenestrelle Fortress. This fortress is found in Italy. It is popularly known as the great wall of the Alps and it covers 320 acres of land. It is termed as one of the most fortified large historic sites in Europe. It stretches for almost two miles long and its peak is 6000 feet above sea level.

Another one is the Church of Nativity found in Bethlehem. This is believed to be the place where Christ was born. It has survived many earthquakes and invasions by haters of the Christian faith.

The next one is the Hill of Tara, found in Ireland. This is the spiritual heart of the region. A motorway is expected to be constructed near this very important cultural treasure. This motorway will alter the site very much and in coming years, it may not be counted among the world heritage sites.

The fourth would be Chan Chan found in Peru. This city is said to have been the largest in North and South America about 600 years ago. It is located along the Pacific coast.

Another is the City of Hasankeyf. This city is located in Turkey. It is an ancient city that has thousands of human made caves that are very many years old. Recently, a new hydroelectric power generation dam has been built and is threatening the existence of this ancient treasure.

Then there are the Xumi shan Grottoes. They are found in China. They are a collection of ancient Buddhist cave temples. They are dated to somewhere between the fifth and tenth century A.D. Human settlement has led to erosion which is threatening these caves. Earthquakes are also causing a lot of destruction to these caves.

Another would be the Historic Route 66. This historic site is found in the USA. This was a 2400 mile highway, that had neon lights showing eating places by the road. It was covered by many inter-state highways.

Then there is the Dampier Rock Art Complex. This is located in the North Western part of Australia. It has caves that have over 500,000 rock carvings on the walls. These carvings are facing destruction by industrial action by man. It is believed that a quarter of the site is already destroyed and if development continues at this rate, the whole of the rock art can be completely destroyed very soon.

We also have the Visoki Decani. This is located in Monastery Kosovo. It is dated back to the fourteenth century and is composed of the most well preserved medieval churches in Balkans and real estate canberra.

The final one is the Jaisalmer Fort. This fort is found in Rajahstan, which is the North Western desert state of India. This fort has withstood numerous sandstorms and earthquakes and yet it is still standing.

 

The world monument fund does not necessarily need to be a new idea. It is a special fund that had been developed to help in maintaining buildings and other structures that are deemed to have monumental qualities. In case such buildings are going into decay or they are getting damaged, the fund can be expended for the purpose of putting things together again and giving such buildings new lease of life. The place of the fund is incomparable. It had been very useful in getting several monumental billings back in shape.

One thing about such monumental buildings is that they are almost always old. During the periods they had stood their round, they had to battle with bad weather and some other adverse environmental conditions. After taking the beating for so long, some of them may tend to bulk under the pressure. It then becomes very important to support them with a fund like the one made available by the world monument fund.  If such monuments are allowed to get destroyed, the world will surely miss them. Many of the buildings and monuments had contributed to the human development over the years. Many of them had been very important parts of human history and losing sight of them may have adverse effect on the general existence of man itself. It then becomes very important to get such buildings maintained.  This is the exact purpose of the world monument fund.

One thing that makes the world monument finds a real worthy project is the fact that, the fund raised can be used for any monumental edifice anywhere in the world. This complete absence of racism or favoritism makes it one of the best things to be introduced into the human life.

Several such buildings have benefited greatly from the helping hands of this fund.  Many more monumental edifices are also in consideration to be helped by the fund.  The body in charge of the world monument fund does not work alone in getting those monuments maintained. They work hand in hand with several volunteers and with the local authority of the country in which the particular repair or maintenance is going on.

With the aid of the world monument fund, the buildings and structures we hold dare can still be maintained to ensure that they do not go into extinction. Those buildings and monuments that we must have read about in stories can still be seen by generations yet unborn. It will not sound right if the coming generation is only able to read about such things without being able to see them as they really are.

Conclusion

The helping hand proffered by the world monument fund has its own economic benefit to the government. When such monumental edifices are repaired, tourist from all walks of like will have something to feed their curiosity on.  The government of the country where the monument is situated is also expected to raise good money through the tourist attraction that the monument is presenting.

 

A cultural landscape is any unique geographical site or surrounding that involves the work of men and nature, and identifies with historical events and groups of people .The landscapes can be categorized into three parts; those that are wholly and physically constructed by men (landscapes designed by an artist), those that came about due to nature (historical landscapes) and finally, those that involve both nature and the action of men during evolution (vernacular landscapes). Cultural landscaping owes it’s origin in Europe.

Why do we need to protect our cultural landscape?

For historical purposes – Since man and land evolution are based on historical developments, we need to know how things came to be the way they are. Our cultural landscape justifies an already existing history. It is through this history that we learn and are able to improve our lives and our environment in general.

To define the future society – A lot of experiences today can be used to define the future. Issues such as global warming and environmental pollution can be studied and solutions to curb them deliberated.

To avoid internal and external conflicts – Issues may come up that cause conflict when we do not take good care of the natural landscape. These conflicts can be between people and the government or among citizens. Through proper conservation and protection, we can ensure peace and productively maintain the landscape.

For development purposes – Through proper management of the available resources, we are able to develop and improve the already existing cultural landscape. We can turn different areas into recreational facilities for our own benefit, and renew the existing ones into better projects.

Job creation – In any given area of cultural landscaping you will find and artist and employees in relevant ministries that are given the responsibilities to ensure the protection of the landscape.

Educational purposes – A lot of research is being carried out in order to improve peoples’ livelihood. This research is not only being used locally, but on international fronts through sharing of knowledge and exchange programs.

Conservation of the environment – Due to the various forms of encroachments in the ecosystems, it calls for active responsibility to protect the cultural landscape. We will be able to conserve our environment by practicing restoration and daily upkeep. This may involve legislations that must be put in place to control how we relate to the cultural landscape.

Foreign exchange and income generation – Most countries are endowed with awesome natural landscapes that are very attractive. In this regard, most tourists travel to enjoy this topography, and the process they have to pay a fee in order to access the sights. Through these attractions, a country earns a lot of money.

The continued existence of humanity and other species is based partly on cultural landscapes. Many international organizations, in collaboration with governments, have come in to help with conservation through various laws, and by offering educational tips to make sure citizens see the need to protect these areas. Moreover, many citizens are taking it upon themselves to nurture these cultural landscapes, and a lot of environmental groups are assisting by providing viable protective measures to ensure later generations benefit as well.