Jaunted

Queensland Travel

Please Tourists, Don't Pee in the Lake

October 17, 2008 at 9:00 AM | 0 Comments

So, we're sure your momma told you not to pee in the swimming pool--but did she also tell you it's bad to pee in a lake? Down in Australia, the beautiful Basin Lake on Fraser Island off Queensland isn't doing well these days, and one of the causes is high levels of urine in the water.

The official word is that too many tourists are using the lake as a toilet and that's led the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service to consider closing one of the access tracks to reduce visitor numbers.

Right now 35,000 people visit the lake every year and since there's no in- or outflow from the lake, whatever goes in, stays in. Our alternative suggestion is to simply stick up a big notice advertising the current urine levels in the lake. We're fairly sure most people would skip the swim.

Related Stories:
· Sunscreen, Urine Damaging Fraser Island Lake [ABC]
· Queensland Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: John Brennan]

Slovenia Travel

Green Travel: Lakes That Bleed in Slovenia

September 30, 2008 at 9:05 AM | 0 Comments

Traveling somewhere green makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside, so we were quite excited to read the UK Times shortlist of the best Green Spaces 2008. The first of two nominations for the best open space in Europe went to Slovenia's Lake Bled, a place we'd like to officially add to our wanna-go-there list.

Lake Bled, despite the unfortunate name, is not blood red or even ugly at all: It's a clear, picturesque glacial lake in the Julian Alps, in the north-west corner of Slovenia--that's heading towards Austria. With a church on an island in the middle of it (often used for weddings, if you're looking to elope) and a medieval castle on one shore, it's not only green but snap-happy beautiful too.

And if you want a more strenuous vacation, then Lake Bled is also extremely popular with rowers. The World Rowing Championships have already been held there three times, and they're gearing up for the fourth one in 2011. Good on you, Lake Bled, we say.

Related Stories:
· Green Spaces 2008: The Finalists [UK Times]
· Slovenia Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: StrudelMonkey]

UNESCO

Out of Bridges, Austrian Wants to Sell You a Lake

August 12, 2008 at 11:01 AM | 0 Comments

Nicolette Waechter is tired of her family's lake in the resort district of Salzkammergut in Austria. So she's selling Mondsee, and €16 million ($24 million) seems to be the going price.

Mondsee, or Moon Lake, is about a mile wide and 10 miles long, and it's one of only five lakes of substantial size in Austria that is still privately owned. It's also part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it has lent its name to a Neolithic people who built pile dwellings on its shores between 3600 BC and 3300 BC.

But it's not without problems: Waechter has lost numerous court cases trying to ban motorboats on the lake. At least one potential buyer would probably be happy with those rulings, though. Local tabloids say billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz, the co-creator of Red Bull, is interested.

Related Stories:
· One of Austria's Privately Owned Lakes for Sale [AFP, via Google]
· World Heritage Sites coverage [Jaunted]

Croatia

Party by the Lakes in Croatia

October 25, 2006 at 9:15 AM | 0 Comments

Picture the colors deep green, turquoise, sky blue, aquamarine and azure, and you've got only the colors that cover about 10% of the incredible shades you'll see at the Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia.

Situated inland between the Z-towns (Zagreb and Zadar), this collection of lakes, waterfalls, forest and hiking trails has been World Heritage listed since 1979, and deservedly so. It's all joined by walking paths, bus shuttles and a ferry or two, making all kinds of days out there possible.

Now one Plitvice Lakes website--that poetically describes the lakes' creation as "a scientific phenomenon"--is so impressed by this natural beauty, it's inviting all readers to the lakes for a New Year's Eve Party. Sixteen lakes, hundreds of waterfalls, middle of winter, plenty of alcohol. This sounds like a slightly dangerous situation to us, but taking an accidental midnight swim (not permitted, just so you know) is one way to appreciate all those colors better.

[Photo: Seamus Knox]

Lakes

Tar Pits Are Real

January 4, 2006 at 9:19 AM | 0 Comments

Trinidad's Pitch Lake is a 95 acre lake of tar on the island's east coast.

Rastafarian tour guides will show you the ins and outs of the "giant parking lot".

The tar is over 350 feet deep and according to one visitor:

The Lake seemed to me more than anything to be like a large creature with no face, only arms and guts in which it slowly swallowed everything around it.

Sounds kinda like that Sarlacc Pit that swallowed Boba Fett.