20
munnar »
WESTERN GHATS, INDIA
The Western Ghats are among the
world’s grandest and most diverse
mountain ranges, stretching almost
1,000 miles (1,600 km) down India’s
western coast. At least 139 species of
mammals and 508 bird species thrive
here. Among the 5,000 species of
flora is one that has greatly improved
the lot of humankind over the millen-
nia: Camellia sinensis, the tea plant,
dressing the hills in vibrant greens.
Tea plantations swathe the slopes of
the Western Ghats around Munnar.
19
jotunheimen
national park
BESSEGGEN, NORWAY
Vast lakes of sparkling water weave
through high, wind-scoured mountain
ridges in this magnificently empty,
ice-carved park. Hikers tackling the
region’s tough but popular seven-
hour Besseggen Trail will experience
some of the breathtaking grandeur of
a region Norwegians call the “Land of
the Giants.”The view from the top of the Besseg-
gen Trail is one of Norway’s finest.21
cradle
mountain
national park
TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA
Jagged peaks, ancient rain forest,
beech woods, and alpine heathland
make up much of Cradle Mountain’s
pristine wilderness, a haven for
remarkable wildlife that is crisscrossed
by trails such as the Overland Track,
one of Australia’s finest bush walks.Beech trees cloak the slopes between
Lake Wilks and Cradle Mountain.«
«