There's nothing like beautiful views to relax. Which country has the most of them? British travel agency Rough Guides decided to answer this question. It asked its readers to rank countries in terms of their beauty.
However, since the agency is English-speaking, the countries there are familiar to the European-American eye. That is why Russia is not even in the top twenty, but you and I know that it is the most beautiful country. That is why it was placed in 10th place in the rating.
10. Russia
Our country is the largest in the world. And the larger the territory, the more variety of landscapes, and therefore, the more places worth visiting. The Russian climate varies from arctic to subtropical.
- In the north, travelers admire the northern lights, endless ice fields and bright summer grasses.
- In the south, people bask in the Black Sea in the summer and ski down the mountains in the winter.
- In the east, they enjoy the vast green sea of forests and swim in the clear waters of the most beautiful lake in the world - Baikal.
- However, the true symbols of Russia are the modest daisies and birch groves that have taken a fancy to the central belt of the European part of Russia. They are modest, but full of quiet charm. Like the Russian people.
9. USA
Perhaps the American national pride was hurt by the fact that the US was only ranked ninth in the top 10 most beautiful countries. Well, you can't be exceptional in everything.
This vast country combines all the climate zones of the Earth. There you can find landscapes for every taste: from the snowy forests of the north to the scorching deserts of the south. And also the tropical coast of California, the ominous swamps of Louisiana, the idyllic rural landscapes of Maryland and the endless expanses of the prairies.
8. Iceland
Surprisingly, tourists have taken a liking to Iceland's rugged northern beauty, with its jet-black beaches (thanks to volcanic rock), gorgeous curtains of the northern lights, and overall gloomy feel. It's a welcome change from the more traditional beauties of other countries.
We recommend that travelers take a dip in the hot springs – you can swim in them even in winter.
7. Mexico
The ancient land that gave shelter to great and, alas, vanished nations of the past is distinguished by its striking beauty. Travelers who set foot on Mexican soil for the first time do not know where to run. Should they go to the beaches of the Pacific Ocean, where they can play "water sloth", basking in the shallows, or to the urban exotica of Mexico City? Or should they go deep into the country, which beckons with mysterious ruins and mysteries of ancient civilizations?
The country's landscapes range from the classic white sand beaches of the California coast, through the deserted, cactus-covered areas of the country's center, to the lush tropical forests of the south.
Mexico is a thunderous mix of Native American cultural traditions and Spanish colonialism that has given the world some of the finest examples of modern art. And sombreros, tequila, tacos and Salma Hayek!
6. Indonesia
Exotic Indonesia has captured the hearts of travelers with the diversity of its landscapes, which can only be rivaled by the diversity of the peoples who inhabit it.
The Indonesian archipelago consists of 17.5 thousand islands. And each island is at least a little different from its neighbors - both in nature and in its inhabitants. More than 500 different languages are spoken in the country!
One of the most popular places is Bali and Lombok, where tourists admire unique religious buildings, and surfers enjoy conquering the waves.
And people go to the island of Borneo to touch the wild tropical nature. Perhaps you will be lucky and see the "forest man", an orangutan, in its natural environment.
5. South Africa
The only African country on the list is certainly very beautiful. And huge - its area is about the same as if you put Spain next to France. In addition to Table Mountain, which serves as the country's calling card, people come here to feed the penguins, which calmly walk along some of the best beaches in the world, a few steps from the capital, Cape Town.
And on the hills of the Western Cape they grow grapes, the sweetness of which can be experienced during a tasting of local wines.
4. Italy
Few areas of the world have received as much praise for their beauty as Italy. This small country has an astonishing diversity of landscapes, from the gentle slopes of Chianti, where the best grapes are grown, to the sparkling sandy beaches of the Amalfi Coast and the rugged, understated beauty of the Dolomites.
Italy is also simply strewn with ancient and medieval architectural monuments. Rome, Florence and Venice are steeped in history mixed with romance, and the houses with tiled roofs seem to have appeared straight from a fairy tale.
And only the lazy did not sing the praises of Italian food, and then, probably, because their mouths were full.
3. New Zealand
The beauty of this island nation was truly revealed to the world by The Lord of the Rings. It was New Zealand landscapes that director Peter Jackson borrowed for his version of Middle-earth. New Zealanders themselves have long known about the beauty of their homeland, which they lovingly call Godzone, which translates as "God's personal domain."
As for visitors, there are few who, having arrived in New Zealand, do not fall in love with its green hills, vast beaches, primeval forests, snow-capped mountains and dormant volcanoes. Adding to the country's charm is its unique ecosystem, where flightless birds have taken the place of mammals.
2. Canada
The land of maple syrup, wild geese and beavers took the honorable second place in the selection of the most beautiful countries. The vast expanses of this North American state have not been fully conquered by man.
The Yukon Province remains wild, and despite its size (5% of the country's land area), it is home to only 0.1% of Canada's population. In stark contrast, densely populated Toronto and Montreal offer visitors a taste of Canadian urban culture and ancient monuments from the early settlers' time.
British Columbia's mountains are a magnet for skiers and snowboarders, and Instagram users love taking selfies against the backdrop of the turquoise waters of the beautiful (and very cold) Lake Louise.
1. Scotland
When asked which country is the most beautiful, most Rough Guides readers named Scotland. Although we Russians may be offended by the Eurocentricity (and even more so by the Anglocentricity) of the survey, it is hard to argue with the beauty of Scotland.
Wind-kissed rocky shores, clear mountain lakes, majestic castles and valleys of wondrous beauty covered with heather and many other flowers... Aren't these some of the most beautiful places in the world?
Add in a thousand years of history and excellent whisky, and it’s easy to see why Scotland is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. And the Scottish government is keen to develop the infrastructure needed to make travellers comfortable. Even on the slopes of the Scottish mountains you can play golf, cycle and hike.
Just don't bring a bagpipe home with you as a souvenir - your neighbors won't thank you.
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