Introduction to Gold Coast, Australia

A lively, sun-drenched and welcoming city on Australia’s south-east coast, the Gold Coast is a tourist hotspot that offers bucketloads of sun, sea and sand while also standing in close proximity to many of the Queensland’s major sites of natural beauty.


The Gold Coast City's climate is sub-tropical with 287 days of sunshine annually and enjoys near perfect year round sunshine, housed along over 70 kilometres of pristine beaches and a thriving resort scene. With over 260km of navigable waterways (nine times more than Venice); a Regional Botanic Gardens and numerous parks; scores of major shopping centres and small boutiques as well as plenty of sightseeing opportunities, the Gold Coast offers a host options for every kind of holidaymaker.


There is also a fine collection of restaurants and cafes scattered around the Gold Coast, offering cuisine from around the world at a range of establishments to suit every taste and budget. Evening entertainment can be found at the city’s array of bars, clubs and theatres, as well as Conrad Jupiters Casino and several nearby theme parks. A large selection of wildlife, tropical rainforest's and awe-inspiring hinterland surround the Gold Coast City, with abundant wildlife and numerous bushwalks. Boasting a thriving and diverse city centre surrounded by miles of picturesque hinterland and glorious coastline, the Gold Coast provides a host of activities for every interest and all types of holidaymaker. 




Main Facts 


Geographical Location of the Gold Coast 


Gold Coast City is situated in the southeast corner of Queensland, to the south of Brisbane, the state capital. It is separated from Logan City, a suburban area of Brisbane by the Albert River. There the Gold Coast City stretches from Yatala and Russell Island to the border with New South Wales approximately 56km south, and extends west to the foothills of the Great Dividing Range in World Heritage listed Lamington National Park. To the west, the city is bordered by a part of the Great Dividing Range commonly referred to as the Gold Coast hinterland. A 206 km² section of the mountain range is protected by Lamington National Park and has been listed as a World Heritage area in recognition of its outstanding geological features and the high number of rare and threatened rainforest species.


Land/Sea Boundaries of the Gold Coast 


Gold Coast is situated in the southern part of Queensland, along a coastline framing the Pacific Ocean. It stretches form the southern end of Logan City to the southern part of Coolangatta, in New South Wales for about 60 km. The most important river in this region is the Nerang River, which is a very important source of trade as well as relaxation for the people of Gold Coast. The diversity of the geography of Gold Coast is exhibited by the Great Dividing Range, which is also known as the Gold Coast hinterland. The Lamington National Park, one of the World Heritage sites, envelopes roughly 206 square km² of the mountain.


Languages of the Gold Coast 


The spoken language is predominantly English and around 90% of Australians speak English. However, the Gold Coast is a multicultural area, so many other languages are also present to some degree; primarily Chinese, Greek, Italian and Vietnamese. 


Currency of the Gold Coast 


The currency in Gold Coast is the Australian Dollar. It is the only accepted currency in the city. 




History of Gold Coast, Australia



Captain James Cook became the first European to note the region when he sailed along the coast on May 16, 1770 in the HM Bark Endeavour. Many escaped convicts from the nearby Moreton Bay penal settlement hid in the surrounding area, the region remaining largely uninhabited by Europeans until 1823 when explorer John Oxley landed at Mermaid Beach, which was named after his boat, a cutter named Mermaid. The populace of the area was boosted as the hinterland's red cedar supply attracted large numbers of people to the area in the mid 1800s.


The western suburb of Nerang was surveyed and established as a base for the industry. Later in 1875, Southport was surveyed and established and quickly grew a reputation as a secluded holiday destination for the upper class Brisbane residents. In 1925, tourism to the area grew rapidly when Jim Cavill established the Surfers Paradise Hotel, which transformed to Circle on Cavill neighbouring with Towers of Chevron Renaissance shopping mall and resort apartment complex. The population grew steadily to support the tourism industry and by the 1940s, real estate speculators and journalists were referring to the area as the "Gold Coast." The true origin of the name is still debatable. The name "Gold Coast" was officially proclaimed in 1958 when the South Coast Town Council was renamed "Gold Coast Town Council".


During the 1970s, real-estate developers gained a dominant role in local politics, and high-rises began to dominate the area now known as Surfers Paradise and later in 1981 the airport was established. In 1994 the Gold Coast City Council and the Shire of Albert amalgamated to create new city boundaries under the administration of the City of Gold Coast Council. In recent years, the Gold Coast has continued to develop as one of the nation’s best tourist destinations and build upon its reputations as a holiday hotspot surrounded by a host of first-rate attractions, cultural landmarks and area of stunning natural beauty.

Costs in Gold Coast, Australia 


The Gold Coast has the same public holidays as the UK, with several local additions. Most public holidays become long weekends, and should a fixed-date holiday such as New Year’s Day fall on a weekend, the following Monday will usually be a holiday. Annual special events include:

Maratea coast Hiking Southern Italy

Until just a few years ago, hiking was a necessity in the impoverished mountains of southern Italy. The rural roads joining hilltop villages to the coast-bound highways were often washed away by seasonal torrents and broken by neglect. Private automobiles were rare, at least by comparison to the more prosperous north.


In recent years, prospects in southern Italy have changed; little mom-and-pop olive groves have given way to large corporate farms, and everyone, it seems, has a recent-vintage car in which to tool around on the region's still-terrifying but better-maintained mountain roads. Now that the area is more easily accessible, outsiders have begun to discover southern Italy as a vacation spot, and they're been bringing their pastimes, like hiking, with them.


Though still far from crowded, the ancient footpaths of southern Italy's Maratea Coast, in constant use since the Neolithic era, now boast more Vibram-booted walkers than flock-shooing shepherds. Local hiking enthusiasts have made modest improvements on those paths, marking them with unobtrusive signs that point the way to the area's many natural attractions—limestone caves, stony beaches, gushing cliffside springs, and tall mountains among them.
The most difficult of the hikes near the Maratea coast is marked on signs and trail maps as the Percorso Monte Crivo. It leads from the canyon-hugging town of Maratea up into the granite and limestone formations of the Serra Cappallera. It begins at the trailhead near the town's famed seventy-foot-tall statue of Christ the Redeemer, with its arms fully extended to form the shape of a cross. My friend Renato Formisani, who bases his ocean-going sailboat Flora in Maratea's larger harbor, is fond of grumbling about the statue, which, even a die-hard believer might admit, doesn't quite fit into an otherwise stunning view of tall mountains tumbling into a crystalline sea. Renato is more bothered, though, by the fact that the statue faces inland. "Jesus ought to be looking out for us sailors," he says. "We need the protection more than the landlubbers."


That may be true today, but the Maratea coast's tall mountains are famed for their wildness, and the the people who once lived among them, who needed watching. In the Aeneid, Virgil tells us that it was here that Aeneas's helmsman Palinurus washed ashore after falling asleep on watch—and here that the local inhabitants promptly butchered the unfortunate stranger. In more recent years, the cave-riddled hills served as hiding places for bandits, Mafiosi, and antifascist guerrillas. The odds of being robbed or injured here were solid enough that for many years few outsiders came to the region—which was just fine by the locals, who kept to their vineyards and gardens and worked the fertile sea pretty much unnoticed.


The Percorso Monte Crivo winds along a cart road until it reaches a broad limestone shelf called the Piedi la Scala, where you'll find a small rest area sporting a fountain of delicious spring water. The path climbs from there to the top of 3,858-foot (1,176 m) Monte Crivo, following streams cut into forested canyons. The trail is steep, but the views it affords are well worth the effort. At its higher elevations, too, the path is overgrown with fennel, thyme, and sage, stalks of which brush up against your pant legs to give you the scent of a good marinara sauce, an improvement over the odor of the usual sweating mountaineer. The Monte Crivo trail is only 2.5 miles (4.1 km) long from start to finish, but it's difficult. Plan on two hours to make the top, and another two or three to descend.
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 An easier trail of about the same distance as the Percorso Monte Crivo begins south of the Marina di Maratea near Castrocucco Beach. Here, the ruins of a Norman castle overlook a small rocky island into which the sea has carved a series of deep grottos. The trail climbs to just above 1,300 feet (400 m) above sea level along the Vallone Arenara ("sandy vale"), ending near the hills dotted with olive groves above the hamlet of Massa. From there, you can descend along a narrow auto road to Maratea, or cross to the Percorso Monte Crivo due north. Again, from Maratea, plan on about three hours each way.

A third trail, known locally as the Malvello, runs roughly midway between Maratea and the mountaintop village of Trecchina. The trail is a little more than 5.5 miles (9 km) long and takes 4-5 hours. The Malvello trail follows a broad coastal plane below Monte Coccovello, a steep, 4,941-foot (1,505 m) rise that affords a view of Lagonegro, the village where, legend has it, the smiling woman who sat for Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa lived out her last years. Paths to the mountaintop are unsigned but easy to follow. A marked trail leads to the tiny cliffside village of Cersuta, then continues along a rocky beach that commands a sweeping view of the Gulf of Policastro. A few private campsites have been set up along this beach, and, if you're inclined to rough it, just pitch a tent there and wait for someone to come along to collect the fee, which runs to about 5,000 lire, or under $2.50, a night.






Keep your eyes open, too, for wolves. Maratea's paths connect to other ancient roads that lead north and south to two of Italy's least-visited national parks: the Parco Nazionale del Cilento e Vallo Diano and the Parco Nazionale del Pollino. Both embrace some of the tallest peaks in the southern Apennines and large populations of wildlife—including Canis lupus, which has disappeared from most other parts of western Europe.

Amalfi Coast: Introduction

The Amalfi Coast is one of the most splendidly beautiful--and historically significant--areas in Italy. The area is comprised of the southern coast of the Sorrentine Peninsula, south of Naples and part of the province of Salerno. In the northern coast we find the town of Sorrento, from which the Peninsula derives its name, and along the southern coast we find the region's main towns of Positano, Ravello, Atrani, and Amalfi. The island of Capri, located nearby in the Bay of Naples, is also considered part of the Amalfi Coast. 


The rugged coastline, sunny brilliance, and high mountain towns of the Amalfi Coast--as well as its proximity to Naples and the major archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum--have made the area a favorite with tourists, artists, and writers. Sorrento, Capri, and Positano have flourished as a home base for wealthy expatriates, particularly since the end of World War II. The town of Amalfi itself was at one time an important port in the region during the Middle Ages, and much more populated than it is today. 


While the area can be difficult to navigate, particularly if one is driving (the winding, twisting roads among these cliff towns are notorious), each town has its own individual charm and history. Positano, where the houses are stacked along the steep cliffs, is not unlike Capri in that it has an international reputation for drawing the wealthy. Its surplus of expensive, three-star hotels and restaurants and shops are indicators of that. A big draw in Positano is the beach area. 


Amalfi, which was, as previously mentioned, a one-time maritime power, now runs at a much slower (and smaller) pace. It also boasts some beautiful and arresting architecture, including the colorful Duomo located in the town's main piazza. Atrani, a kilometer east of Amalfi, also has impressive architecture worth exploring. 


Ravello, located higher than Amalfi, can be difficult to get to, but worth it for the astonishing views of the sea, and the sense of peace and quiet that pervades the town. Once an important trade town in the Renaissance, Ravello fell upon hard times afterward, but has retained its considerable historical charm. There are many fine examples of architecture here, as seen in the churches and villas, that are flavored by Eastern (i.e., Arabic and Greek) influences. 


The region also includes the town of Vietri sul Mare, known as the capital of southern Italy's handcrafted ceramics industry. 


Finally, the town of Sorrento is the western entry point for the region, and has been well established as a tourist haven since the nineteenth century. The town still retains that feel today, as it is dominated yearly by an influx of largely British tourists--their presence is seen in the number of pubs visible in the area. Still, Sorrento is a good base from which to explore the Amalfi Coast because of its location and the fact that it serves as a transportation hub in and out of the region.

Introduction Port of Eden

The Port of Eden is the southern most declared port in NSW and services the south coast of NSW, including the towns of Bega, Merimbula, Bombala and Cooma. The Port is home to one of the largest fishing fleets in NSW and also has significant capacity to service the needs of a variety of importers and exporters.


Woodchip export is currently the major trade for the port. In the financial year ended 30 June 2009, 908,382 mass tones were exported by South East Fibre Exports Pty Ltd to customers in Japan and Taiwan. This trade is supplemented by exports of softwood logs and general cargo from the Multi-Purpose Wharf. 


NSW Maritime is the manager of the Port of Eden and provides a Harbour Master, pilotage services, hydrographic surveys, management of wharves, port security functions and ongoing investment in infrastructure. 


To facilitate trade NSW Maritime has developed an 8 hectare cargo storage facility which was opened in 2006 and located adjacent to the Multi Purpose Wharf.
  

ALL PAKISTAN COASTS INTRODUCTION

Pakistan shares a 1,200 kilometres long coast line with the Arabian Sea - a mid sea which joins the the strategic oil line of Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean. On it lie the Karachi Port which has been serving this part of the erstwhile Indian subcontinent and later Pakistan on its creation in 1947. However, owing to the growing needs of the country, there was a need to develop other smaller coastal ports into major cargo handling ports. Beside Karachi, Pasni, Jiwani, Gadani, Ormara and Gwadar are other ports which are being developed into world class ship handling centres. Of these Gwadar is the latest development, which is almost completed and recently in December 2008, it has started handling shipping operations with the arrival of three urea laded ships.Introduction




Karachi Port:




 Karachi Port is the hub of Pakistan's entire economic activities as 98 per cent of the entire foreign trade is conducted through this port. Read more about the history of Karachi Port (Wikipedia). As such Karachi Port is being modernized at a total cost of Rs. 5 billion including World Bank loan of US $ 91.4 million. The Government has increased emphasis on an early completion of the entire scheme. As a result the following projects have already become functional:-


OP-V:- OP-V has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 510 million with an annual handling capacity of 6 to 8 million tons liquid cargo. The project has been in operation since April, 1994.



Circular Road:- To solve the problem of traffic congestion around Port area and central city areas of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, the Government has given go ahead signal for construction of a Circular Road comprising Southern By-pass, Jinnah Bridge (Phase-II) and Northern By-pass at an estimated cost of Rs. 1353 million. The first phase of the project has been completed in December, 1997.



Reconstruction/Rehabilitation of Berths No.5-10:- To enable Karachi Port to handle increasing volume of cargo, the Government has directed to reconstruct/rehabilitate the Berths No. 5-10 at an estimated cost of US $ 60 million within the next 2 years.



Container Terminals.- In order to modernize cargo handling at Karachi Port, the Government has directed KPT to set up another Container Terminal at West Wharf (Berths NO.22-24) through private sector at an estimated cost of US $ 75 million. 


Port Muhammad Bin Qasim




With the coming up of the Steel Mills near Karachi and to meet the increasing demand of coal, it was decided to construct a sea port some 35 kilometres west of Karachi. It was constructed in the late 1970s and named after the Muslim general Muhammad bin Qasim who captured the area around 712 A.D. The port was developed close to the Pakistan Steel Mills complex near the Indus River delta. Port Qasim is Pakistan's second busiest port, handling about 35% of the nation's cargo (17 million tons per annum). It is located in an old channel of the Indus River at a distance of 35 kilometres east of Karachi city centre. The total area of the port comprises 1,000 acres (4 km²) with an adjacent 11,000 acre (45 km²) industrial estate. The approach to the port is along a 45-kilometre long Navigation Channel which provides safe navigation for vessels up to 75,000 DWT. The geographic position of the Port places it in close proximity to major shipping routes. One of it's major advantages is the proximity to national transport facilities - 15 kilometres from the Pakistan National Highway, 14 kilometres from the National Railway network through six railway tracks located immediately behind the berths and 22 kilometres from Jinnah International Airport.


Gwadar Deep Sea Port:




 Gwadar was once a fishing village on the Arabian Sea coast in Balochistan province and some 72 kilometres from the Iranian border. It is situated about 400km from the Strait of Hormuz, a major conduit for global oil supplies. More than 13 million bbl/d of oil pass through the Strait. It is strategically located between three increasingly important regions: the oil-rich Middle East, heavily populated South Asia and the economically emerging and resource-laden region of Central Asia. The present town of Gwadar, Pakistan, lies on the Arabian Sea coast about 30 miles (48 km) to the east of Gwadar Bay. Gwadar's location and history have given it a unique blend of cultures. The Arabic influence upon Gwadar is strong as a consequence of the Omani era and the close proximity of other Arab-majority regions. The legacy of the Omani slave trade is observed in the population by the presence of residents which can trace their descent from the African slaves who were trafficked through the town (en route to destinations in the Muslim Far East. The area also has a remarkable religious diversity, being home to not only Sunni Muslims, but also to groups of Christians, Hindus, Parsis, and various minorities. 


Pakistan identified Gwadar as a port site in 1964. However, it was only in 2001 that significant steps were taken with the help of Chinese assistance in the construction and development of the deep-sea port. The total cost of the project is estimated at US$1.16 billion, of which China has contributed about $198 million for the first phase for construction of three multi-purpose ship berths. China has also invested another $200 million toward building a highway connecting Gwadar port with Karachi. 




Ormara


Ormara is a small port located on the Makran coastline along the Arabian Sea in Balochistan province of Pakistan. It is located 450 kilometres west of Karachi, and east of coastal village Pasni. Jinnah naval base of Pakistan Navy is also located at Ormara. Ormara also has a small airport for landing of short run aircraft like the Fokker. Ormara is an old coastal town. Its historical routes are linked with Alexander the Great, who stayed here with his army for a few days on his way back from Indus region after conquering the lands of Sindh, Panjab and the NWFP regions of modern day Pakistan which he joined to his expanding Hellenic empire, in 325-27 BC. One of his generals "Ormoz" died here and the present day Ormara was named after him. For a few centuries, Ormara remained a battle field between the Baloch Sardar (local feudal) and foreign aggressors. Before independence, it was part of the state of Las Bela and afterward it became part of Makran Division. Being an isolated town, it remained undeveloped, however with the naval presence around, life has taken a positive change for the locals with many local industries and the resultant increase in jobs available for the locals. It has a population of about forty thousand people and still offers a traditional look at how the ancients lived. Most residents make their livelihood from fishing; a few of them also work in Middle Eastern countries. Ormara has witnessed considerable growth in recent years especially with the foundation of the Makran coastal highway, which integrated the area more with the mainstream Pakistani economy and major urban centres allowing for easier transport of goods, commerce and people.


Pasni


Pasni is a medium-sized town and a fishing port in along the Makran coastline Balochistan, Pakistan. It is located about 300 km from Karachi. The town houses a modern fish harbour and Port of Pasni, with fishing being the main occupation of the town dwellers. Frozen catch is also sent to Turbat and Karachi for sale in the larger markets. A joint-user airfield is shared by Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Pakistan Navy and civil aviation. PAF as well as PN-Aviation operational facilities are housed nearby. Daily commercial flights link the town with Karachi. In 2008, the government approved the construction of Shadi Kaur storage dam near Pasni, which is expected to alleviate some of the power deficiency of the region. Administratively, Pasni is the headquarters of the Pasni sub-division of Gwadar district that includes Pasni and Ormara Tehsils (tehsil - county) as well as Astola Island which lies 40km ESE of Pasni, in the Arabian Sea. The city of Pasni is itself administratively subdivided into two Union Councils.


Jiwani




Jiwani - a small fishing harbour, holds strategic importance in the region, located immediately adjacent to the shipping lanes to and from the Persian Gulf. This is the main reason that the town hosts a small naval base and an airport with a 5,500-foot runway. Jiwani is located at the eastern end of Gwadar Bay, which is shared between Iran and Pakistan. The area around the bay includes an important mangrove forest extending across the international border, and is an important habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, especially the endangered Olive Ridley and Green Turtles. Being free from pollution, Jiwani is reminiscent of a South Sea island, with vast stretches of sandy beaches giving onto the clean, clear green waters of the Arabian Sea. For the same reason, Jiwani is rich in biodiversity. Recently, WWF-Pakistan established the Jiwani Conservation and Information Centre (JCIC). The aim is to contribute towards the conservation of biodiversity in the area, through information dissemination. 


With the extension of the Makran Coastal Highway from Gwadar, Jiwani is a place to be seen especially by those who are interested in observing history more closely. Jiwani has a small airport located 10 km away from the city centre. It is not a major airport of Pakistan but has weekly flights connecting it with Gwadar, Pasni and Karachi.


Jiwani has been used World War II as allied base and remains of same base are available. Visiting the barracks area of the base used during World War 2 reveals many handwritten small stories and name of Allied Pilots. There is another story linked to Jiwani and that is Queen Victoria planned to visit the area to watch sunset and a hut which is now known as "Victoria Hut" was built for this purpose. Whether Queen Victoria visited or not but the Victoria hut is still being maintained by Pakistan Coast Guards.

longest coast of pakistan

pakistan longest coastal area are balochitan
Longest Coastline Of Pakistan is Balochistan coastline which is 771 kms long while the total length of the coastal areas of Pakistan is about 1100 km. The coastal areas of Pakistan are in the province of Sindh and Balochistan. These coastal areas are on the shore of Arabian sea and it connects Pakistan with other countries of the world through a sea route. Gawadar and Karachi are two prominent ports on thesecoastal areas of Pakisan. The city of Gawadar is developing very sharply because of the seaport. Gwadar is a district along the sea in south of the Makran. The coastline of Gwadar District is about 600 Kilometers long. Gawadar port can become a trade hub for all the neighbouring land locked central Asian countries of Pakistan

WORLD COASTS ALL OVER THE WORLD

Europe

1. Norway

2. Svalbard and Jan Mayen

3. Sweden

4. Finland

5. Russian East Baltic

6. Estonia

7. Latvia

8. Lithuania
9. Kaliningrad
10. Poland
11. Germany
12. Denmark
13. The Netherlands
14. Belgium
15. North Coast of France
16. West Coast of France
17. Mediterranean France
18. Corsica
19. Spain
20. Gibraltar
21. Portugal
22. Italy
23. Malta
24. Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Yugoslavia
25. Albania
26. Greece
27. Bulgaria

28. Romania

29. Ukraine
30. Sea of Azov

Russian Federation
1. Russian Baltic (The Russian Gulf of Finland and Kaliningrad)
2. Russian Black Sea Coast
3. The Pacific Coast of Russia
4. The Arctic Coast of Russia
5. The Arctic Coast of Russia: Appendix A
6. Russian Caspian Coast

Middle East
1. Republic of Georgia
2. Turkey
3. Cyprus

4. Syria

5. Lebanon

6. Israel (with the Gaza Strip)

7. Jordan

Caspian Sea
1. Iran - Caspian Sea Coast
2. Turkmenistan
3. Kazakhstan
4. Caspian Russian Coast
5. Azerbaijan

North Africa
1. Egypt
2. Libya
3. Tunisia
4. Algeria
5. Morocco

West Africa
1. Mauritania
2. Senegal and Gambia
3. Guinea Bissau
4. Republic of Guinea
5. Sierra Leone
6. Liberia
7. Ivory Coast
8. Ghana
9. Togo and Benin
10. Nigeria
11. Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea
12. Gabon, Congo, Cabinda and Zaïre
13. Angola
14. Namibia

South Africa
1. South Africa

East Africa
1. Mozambique
2. Tanzania
3. Kenya
4. Somalia and Djibouti
5. Eritrea
6. Sudan

South West Asia
1. Saudi Arabia
2. Yemen and Oman (Southern Arabia)
3. United Arab Emirates
4. Qatar
5. Bahrein
6. Kuwait and Iraq
7. Iran

South Asia
1. Pakistan
2. India
3. Sri Lanka
4. Bangladesh
5. Burma

Indian Ocean
1. Madagascar
2. Indian Ocean Islands

South East Asia
1. Thailand
2. Malaysia Introduction
3. Malaysia - Perlis
4. Malaysia - Kedah and Langkawi
5. Malaysia - Penang
6. Malaysia - Perak
7. Malaysia - Selangor
8. Malaysia - Negeri Sembilan
9. Malaysia - Melaka
10. Malaysia - Johor
11. Malaysia - Pahang
12. Malaysia - Terengganu
13. Malaysia - Kelantan
14. Malaysia - Sabah and Labuan
15. Malaysia - Sarawak
16. Singapore
17. Brunei (Negara Brunei Darussalam)
18. Cambodia
19. Vietnam
20. Philippines
21. Indonesia
22. East Timor
23. Papua New Guinea

East Asia
1. China
2. Taiwan
3. North Korea
4. South Korea
5. Japan

Australia
1. Australia Introduction
2. New South Wales (with Jervis Bay - Australian Capital Territory)
3. Lord Howe Island - (New South Wales)
4. Norfolk Island
5. Queensland
6. Northern Territory
7. Western Australia
8. South Australia
9. Victoria
10. Tasmania

New Zealand
1. New Zealand

Pacific Ocean
1. New Caledonia and the Loyalty Islands
2. Fiji
3. Society Islands
4. Other Pacific Islands

Antarctica
1. Antarctica
Canada
1. British Columbia
2. Eastern Canada
3. Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon Islands
4. Northern Canada



Caribbean Islands
1. Cuba
2. Jamaica
3. Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic)
4. Puerto Rico
5. Lesser Antilles

Atlantic Ocean
1. Bahamas
2. Bermuda
3. Greenland
4. Iceland
5. Other Atlantic Ocean Islands

British Isles
1. Introduction to England and Wales

2. Cumbria

3. Lancashire, Merseyside and Cheshire

4. Isle of Man
5. North Wales and Anglesey
6. West Wales
7. South Wales
8. Severn Estuary
9. Avon, Somerset and North Devon
10. Cornwall
11. Isles of Scilly

12. South Devon

13. Dorset

14. Hampshire

15. Isle of Wight

16. Sussex

17. Kent

18. Essex

19. Suffolk

20. Norfolk

21. Lincolnshire

22. Yorkshire and Cleveland

23. Durham, Tyne and Wear

24. Northumberland

25. Scotland

26. Northern Ireland

27. Ireland

28. Channel Islands

United States of America south america,central america coasts

United States of America

1. Alaska

2. Washington

3. Oregon

4. California
5. Texas
6. Louisiana
7. Mississippi
8. Alabama
9. Florida
10. Georgia and South Carolina
11. North Carolina
12. Atlantic Coast Central :- (Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey)
13. New York and New England
14. Great Lakes
15. Hawaii
Central America
1. Mexico
2. Pacific Coasts of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama
3. Caribbean Coasts of Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Belize
4. Colombia

South America
1. Ecuador
2. Peru
3. Chile
4. Argentina
5. Uruguay
6. Brazil
7. French Guiana
8. Surinam
9. Guyana
10. Venezuela

PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER TERMINAL

Karachi also plays the major roll for the economy of Pakistan being the coastline and only harbor for the country. Kemari, Karachi Port Trust (KPT) is a Pakistan’s oldest Sea port It is also significant to mention that the first Muslim Conqueror to India, Mohammad Bin Qasim, landed at Daibal, in vicinity of Karachi in 711 A.D. the existing Port started taking shape in 1854, when the projects of dredging the main navigable channel and the construction of a mole or causeway joining the main harbor with the rest of the city were undertaken. About 5 years later, construction of Manora Breakwater, Keamari Groyne, the Napier Mole Bridge, Native Jetty and the Chinna Creek were started which gave initial shape to the port.

The construction of the wharves started in 1882, and by 1914 the East Wharves and the Napier Mole Boat Wharf had been completed. During the period between 1927 and 1944, the West Wharves of the Port, the lighterage berths and the ship-repairing berths were constructed. Most of these facilities were obsolete by the time Pakistan came into existence in 1947. Since then, the port administration has embarked on extensive development of the port on modern lines. At the time of independence in 1947, the Port capacity was about 1.5 million tons of dry cargo and 1.0 million tons of P.O.L. products per annum. Karachi Port is now handling over 14 million tons of liquid cargo and 12 million tons of dry cargo, including 652,315 TEUs which constitute about 80% of import/ export of the country

Total Area of berths 6-9 is 220,000 square meters. Berths newly constructed by KPT with a planned depth of 13.5m and quay wall of 600 meters. Pakistan International Container Terminal was formed as the Terminal Operating Company and dedicated container terminal operations commenced on August 9th , 2002. PICT has taken possession of approximately 208,000 square meters of area and completed necessary civil works and office construction for the smooth functioning of the Terminal. The Terminal now possesses dedicated Custom Facilities, Customer Services with one window facilities – including collection of KPT Wharfage dues, Operations Office, Communications Centre and round the clock Private Terminal Security. PICT is providing services to 4 liner shipping lines weekly (on average) and handling container volumes of over 240,000 TEU’s annually.

PICT has 200 Reefer Points Operational and are expanding the capacity further.

PICT has acquired the following new equipment for the timely completion of Phase 1 which was achieved in March 2004:
 

2 Ship-to-Shore Gantry Cranes

4 Rubber Tyred Gantries
          
4 Reach Stackers, 1 Top Lifter
 

2 Empty Container Handlers
      
2 Container Stuffing Forklifts
    
10 Tractor Units
 

20 Trailer Units 
                            
5 Service Vehicles

Karachi The Busy Port City of Pakistan

Karachi in southern Pakistan, is the capital of the Sind Province, and lies on the Arabian Sea, at the northwestern edge of the Indus River delta. With its wide sunny beaches, deep-sea fishing, and horse racing all-year round, the city keeps you on your toes throughout your stay.
Karachi is also a major port centered on the island of Kiamari, and along with its international airport they act as a hub for international trade, transport, manufacturing and commerce. Karachi is the country’s center of commerce although the capital was moved to Islamabad in 1963.

The Karachi Harbor was once known as the gateway to Asia, due to its strategic geographical location. The harbor is a sheltered bay to the south-west of the city, protected from storms by the Sandspit Beach, the Manora Island and the Oyster Rocks, making it even more ideal. Karachi was a small fishing village in the early 19th Century but its history dates back much further and some historians identify it as a place from where a part of Alexander's Army boarded the Greek Flotilla in 326 BC.

Two rivers pass through the city—the River Malir and the River Lyari. Dense mangroves and creeks of the Indus delta can be found towards the southeastern side of the city.

Under British rule, the city became the chief outlet for Indus Valley cotton and grain exports. Spread over 3,530 sq. km, the metropolitan area along with its suburbs comprises the world's second most populated city. The region is largely flat or in some places has rolling plains, with hills on the western and northern boundaries of the urban sprawl. It is locally called the City of Lights for its liveliness and the City of The Quaid, for not only being both the birth and death place of Muhammad Ali Jinnah the founder of Pakistan but also his home after 1947.

Coastal Attraction

Most of us are fascinated by the sea. We belong on dry land but a marine panorama holds an awe-inspiring response matched only by the night sky, mountain ranges and great forests. From childhood to old age, being on the edge of the land holds a fascination. Everything about the coast is unique, the light is brighter and bluer, the air is fresher, the flora and fauna are specialised and the weather is often localised. These are just some of the things make the coast a special place to be, whether for a holiday break or for the long term.

We hope you enjoy looking at, and probably dreaming about, what it must be like to live in or spend quality time in these lovely places. More than that, we hope you actually find yourself breathing in the sea air, eating fresh fish and feeling the sand between your toes.

Clouds started pouring their blessed water in Karachi

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 It was such a lovely weather that I couldn’t stop myself from enjoying it and celebrating the beautiful weather with my friends. What could be a better place to visit other than SEA VIEW, the best of the best place in Karachi.
Let me give you an over view of Sea View, it’s actually corniche of Karachi. The moment you reach sea view road, you see beautiful heart throbbing waves splashing and hitting the edge. Lots of people go there to see the sunset, and many even go there to see the sunrise, people jog/walk there and many rich lads bring their horse for horse-riding on seaside (who would miss if one gets an opportunity).
Many bhutta Wala’s, goley gandey wala, Kehwa, Chaye wala are roaming there to serve you. But now there are many take away outlets there that have all the cuisines from Pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, rolls, biryani, juices, coffee, tea etc.
Not to forget Pizza Hut van there, a drive-thru McDonalds, Salt n pepper Village, Floating Boat, etc (hope I didn’t miss any)After sunset, normally people think that it might get dark there and dangerous but let me tell you it’s so bright there, that you might find a dropped common pin because there are so many lamp posts with brighter lights in them and many cops roaming around for security.
It’s a safe and calm place where waves that might seem quiet have so much noise in them that many a times people get afraid of these waves, especially when oil spills in the sea or when there is cyclone news, sea view road gets closed for security purposes. Not to forget, one can’t date there because of our efficient Karachi police. So there is no chance for youngsters to do anything

Introduction port qasim

Port Muhammad Bin Qasim is adjacent to the town of the same name in southeastern Karachi, Pakistan, on the Arabian Sea and the delta of the Indus River. Port Muhammad Bin Qasim was constructed in the 1970s to take some of the burgeoning traffic clogging the Port of Karachi. Today, it is Pakistan’s’ second biggest port.Vessels approach Port Muhammad Bin Qasim through a 45-kilometer Navigation Channel that can accommodate vessels to 75 thousand DWT. Tidal variation at Port Muhammad Bin Qasim ranges from 0.5 to 3.5 meters. One of Port Muhammad Bin Qasim’s advantages its location near the national highway network (the National Highway is 15 kilometers away), the rail network (the National Railway is 14 kilometers away), and air transport (22 kilometers from Jinnah International Airport). The National Railway has six tracks immediately behind the berths.
Port Muhammad Bin Qasim contains nine berths that handle cargo. It contains a multi-purpose terminal with four multi-purpose berths, each 200 meters in length. The Qasim International Container Terminal has two berths, each 300 meters long. The Engro Vopak Chemical Terminal has one berth. Pakistan Steel Mills uses the 279-meter-long Iron Ore and Coal Berth. The Fotco Oil Terminal has one berth but has room to add another four.
Port Muhammad Bin Qasim’s International Container Terminal contains two container-handling berths that were converted from four former multi-purpose berths. The terminal is the country’s first dedicated international container terminal, and it has been operating since mid-1997. The terminal covers 240 thousand square meters and has capacity to handle 360 thousand TEUs per year. It can accommodate vessels to 272 meters long and up to 45 thousand DWT. The terminal has rail-mounted ship-to-shore gantry cranes.
Working with Pakistan GasPort, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim is adding a floating Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal that will handle 3 million tons per year and accommodate vessels to 75 thousand DWT. Initial detailed surveys have been completed, and the project is scheduled to be completed in late 2010. The M/s Granada Group of Companies is planning a new specialized Liquefied Natural Gas Floating Terminal that will handle 3.5 million tons per year. Technical proposals are being evaluated.

Port Muhammad Bin Qasim is adding a dedicated Coal, Clinker/Cement Terminal that will handle 4 million tons per year and accommodate vessels to 75 thousand DWT.
Port Muhammad Bin Qasim is also planning to add a second Oil Jetty to handle products from the proposed Indus Oil Refinery. The jetty will have capacity for 9 million tons per year and will accommodate vessels to 75 thousand DWT.
Pakistan Steel Mills has requested a second Iron Ore and Coal Berth at Port Muhammad Bin Qasim. The port is planning to add a facility, to be synchronized with expansions of the steel mills, with capacity for 8 million tons per year that can accommodate vessels to 75 thousand DWT. Port Muhammad Bin Qasim is completing construction of a new Liquid Cargo Terminal to handle up to 4 million tons per year. Covering an area of more than 16.5 thousand square meters, the terminal will accommodate vessels to 35 thousand DWT.
Scheduled for completion in 2010, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim is adding a second container terminal with capacity for almost 1.2 million TEUs under an agreement with Dubai Port World. Covering an area of 250 thousand square meters, the terminal will support 6000-TEU container vessels.
In addition to these projects, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim is undertaking improvements at the port that include deepening and widening the navigation channel and completing the computerization systems supporting port operations.
Port Muhammad Bin Qasim’s Fotco Oil Terminal has operated since 1995. This state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly terminal can handle 9 million tons of furnace oil per year, and there is room to add three more berths that would raise its capacity to 27 million tons per year. The facility’s jetty can accommodate vessels to 75 thousand DWT, and the terminal can berth tankers to 63 thousand DWT. Since it opened, the terminal has handled more than 29 million tons of furnace oil. In early 2001, it started handling white oil, and it has handled British Petroleum crude oil. Anticipating growth in Pakistan’s future needs for petroleum, the terminal can have four more berths and product pipelines. In addition, Port Muhammad Bin Qasim has set aside over 31 hectares of land for a POL Storage Tank Farm.

Activity at Port Qasim

KARACHI: Brisk shipping activity was observed at 0the Port Qasim where five ships carrying containers, rice and furnace oil were berthed at Qasim International Containers Terminal, Multi Purpose Terminal and FOTCO Terminal respectively Tuesday.
Meanwhile four more ships carrying containers, general cargo and furnace oil also arrived at outer anchorage of Port Qasim on same day.

Berth occupancy was 90 percent at the Port where a total of eleven ships were engaged at PQA berths to load/offload containers, rice, sugar, seeds, canola seeds, furnace oil and palm oil respectively during last 24 hours.

A cargo volume of 10,1680 tonnes comprising 81,535 tonnes imports and 20,145 tonnes exports inclusive of containerized cargo carried in 2,148 containers (TEUs) was handled at the Port during last 24 hours.

Three containers ships sailed out to sea on early morning, while two more ships are expected to sail later today till 12 noon.

Two containers ships and one general cargo ship are expected to take berths at Qasim International Containers Terminal and Multi Purpose Terminal on Wednesday. Shipping activity remained active at the Port Qasim where two ships carrying edible oil and chemicals were berthed at Liquid Cargo Terminal and Engro Vopak Terminal respectively Monday. Meanwhile five more ships carrying containers and furnace oil also arrived at outer anchorage of Port Qasim on same day. Berth occupancy was maintained at the Port at 70 percent on Monday where a total of eight ships were engaged at PQA berths to load/offload rice, sugar, seeds, chemicals and palm oil respectively during last 24 hours.

PAKISTAN INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER TERMINAL

Total Area of berths 6-9 is 220,000 square meters. Berths newly constructed by KPT with a planned depth of 13.5m and quay wall of 600 meters. Pakistan International Container Terminal was formed as the Terminal Operating Company and dedicated container terminal operations commenced on August 9th , 2002. PICT has taken possession of approximately 208,000 square meters of area and completed necessary civil works and office construction for the smooth functioning of the Terminal. The Terminal now possesses dedicated Custom Facilities, Customer Services with one window facilities – including collection of KPT Wharfage dues, Operations Office, Communications Centre and round the clock Private Terminal Security. PICT is providing services to 4 liner shipping lines weekly (on average) and handling container volumes of over 240,000 TEU’s annually.

Death fish

The dead fish started appearing on Saturday afternoon but by Sunday evening, the number of fish has increased alarmingly,” said Keamari Town UC-4 Councilor Abdul Ghani. He added that it was not just dead fish but dead turtles that were being spotted in this area as well.
The mysterious arrival of thousands of dead fish of different sizes into the backwaters of the Karachi harbor, near Baba Island and Bhitt Island, late Saturday night, has created panic among fishermen but the Karachi Port Trust authorities have said they died in the annual Red Tide phenomenon.
Resident of Shamspir village, Suliman, blamed the harbor authorities for allowing deep sea trailers to take all the fish in the open sea, leaving the local fishermen with no choice but to fish on the polluted shores. “We don’t know what to do and how to earn our livelihood in such conditions. Many of us are thinking of changing our profession,” he said.

However, KPT officials rejected the fishermen’s claims that the fish died of toxic chemicals. “This is the work of the Red Tide, locally known as ‘Mara Pani (The killer water).’ It is a normal phenomenon and happens several times a year. There is no need to panic,” said the Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Marine Pollution Control Manager, Muhammad Zahiya Usmani. He also rejected that the fish died in the harbor limits.

“The fish died because of the high tide, outside of the harbor, and then came within the harbor limits with the tide,” said Usmani. Rejecting claims of industrial poisoning, he said that heavy layer of poisonous red algae that forms during a specific period every year, comes to the surface and attracts the fish. When the fish come in contact with the red algae and try to eat it, they die. This happens a lot but this time the high tide has brought the dead fish to the surface,” he said

Ancient coins thata 95 km east of karachi port

Thatta is about 95 kilometers east of the Port of Karachi. This historic town of some 22 thousand residents was the capital of three dynasties before it was ruled by Delhi's Mughal emperors. The remains of the ancient glorious city illustrate the civilization of ancient Sindh. Located near Pakistan's biggest freshwater lake, its monuments are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Chaukani are tombs from the 15th to 18th Centuries that are scattered across a large area at Thatta. Each tomb is different, and their sandstone carvings illustrate the relationships between the local tribes and their neighbors in Iran, central Asia, and Turkey. Banbhore, excavated in 1962, is the place where Alexander the Great established a town in 325 BC and where the first Muslim conqueror arrived in 711 AD. The Jamia Masjid was built by Moghal Emperor Shah Jehan, the creator of the Taj Mahal. Dating from the 15th to 17th Centuries, the Makli Tombs represent a huge 15.5 square kilometer necropolis with exquisite architecture, stone carvings, and glazed tiles.

The National Museum of Pakistan, located in the Port of Karachi, focuses on the cultural history of the country. Its displays include archaeological artifacts, Islamic art, and historical documents. The museum has 11 galleries, including 52 rare manuscripts of the Holy Qur'an in the Qur'an Gallery. Other galleries cover the mysterious and ancient Indus Civilization, sculptures from the Gandhara civilization, ancient coins, precious Islamic art, miniature paintings, and many manuscripts telling the story of Pakistan's political beginnings. The Ethnological gallery contains life-size statues of the ethnic groups living today in Pakistan's four provinces. Visitors should set aside several hours to explore this wonderful museum.

Cruising and Travel karachi port

The City of Karachi is to Pakistan what New York City is to the United States. Life is hurried, and time is money. Among the world's largest cities, the Port of Karachi has suffered many years of neglect. The city government, under the direction of Pakistan's president, has recently undertaken ambitious efforts to revitalize the city with the vision of making it the "City by the Sea." With a history as an important port city in the British Empire, the Port of Karachi has many beautiful Victorian buildings and much colonial architecture.

The Port of Karachi has an arid climate moderated by its proximity to the sea. The climate is a mild one with little rain. Winters are mild, and summers are hot. The city enjoys a relatively constant level of humidity, and cool breezes from the sea relieve the summer's heat. The winter months from November to February, are thought to be the best times to visit the Port of Karachi. Temperatures range from an average high of 34 °C (93 °F) in May and June to an average low of 13 °C (55 °F) in December and January.

The Mohatta Palace Museum is located in the house of successful entrepreneur Shiv Rattan Mohatta in the late 1920s. Having made a fortune in shipping and trading, he commissioned architect Agha Hussain Ahmed who had been the chief surveyor for the city. The mansion was built in the Mughal revival style, recreating the Anglo-Mughal palaces of the earlier Rajput princes. Covering over 1.7 thousand square meters, the palace contains stately rooms for entertainment on the ground floor and private rooms above. The balcony faces the Arabian Sea, and the palace is adorned with five rooftop domes and octagonal towers at the corners. The museum features the history and development of Pakistan's ceramic crafts from the 7000 BC Mehrgarh period through the 3500 BC Indus Valley Civilization to modern times. It contains more than wonderful 400 historic objects.