The Grand Tour and beyond.

We’re all familiar with the rolling hills of Tuscany, the cliffs of Santorini, the Eiffel Tower in Paris. But Europe is so much more than classic postcard images. As the continent’s Eastern half becomes more accessible, spots like the ports of Dubrovnik, the caves of Slovenia, and the Renaissance towns of the Czech Republic are becoming more popular as travelers venture off the traditional backpacker’s route. As everywhere, sustainable tourism practices are needed to protect this region’s intense natural beauty.

(above) Appenzell Innerrhoden, Switzerland

Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK

Telc, Czech Republic

Cyprus

Bua, Sweden

Reykjavik, Iceland

Istanbul, Turkey

Mariazell, Austria

Kiev, Ukraine

Crete, Greece

St. Petersburg, Russia

The Pyrenees, Aquitaine, France

Wick, Scotland

Aalesund, Norway

Berlin, Germany

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland

Capri, Italy 

Karkonosze, Poland

Postojna Cave, Slovenia

Paris, France

Margam Park, Wales, UK

Dresden, Germany

Barbarin, Spain

Berg, Austria

Florence, Italy

Copenhagen, Denmark

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Luster Kommune, Norway

Porto, Portugal

Boka Kotorska, Montenegro

Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Lanzada, Spain

Castelluccio di Norcia, Italy

Moscow, Russia

Skradinski Buk, Croatia

London, England, UK

Lake Baikal, Siberia, Russia

Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Santorini, Greece

ALSO CHECK OUT:

40 Gorgeous Photos of North America

40 Gorgeous Photos of Asia

40 Gorgeous Photos of Latin America

25 Photos of Islands Threatened By Climate Change

The post 40 Gorgeous Photos of Europe appeared first on EcoSalon.

Did you read the Reuters report last week on the dismal state of British beaches?

Turns out that a survey conducted by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) found an average of 2,195 items of trash per kilometer of beach. And this is on beaches that, unlike Glass Beach, were never, ever designated official dump zones.

These numbers are based on reports by the 5000 volunteers recruited by MCS to help clear the beaches of trash. All in all, 374 beaches were surveyed with 385,659 items of trash recovered. Of the trash found,  30% was food packaging and cigarette butts and 13% was discarded fishing paraphernalia.

The MSC wants to halve the trash on British beaches by 2015, but given the fact that there was a 110% increase in dumping over the past 15 years, they will have their work cut out for them educating and encouraging those who don’t seem to see the problem with dumping trash wherever they want.

On a brighter note, 44 beaches in Wales have been getting “Green Coast” awards for their clean environment and unspoilt natural beauty.  This doesn’t mean that Wales isn’t also suffering from beach trash, however – apparently, volunteers cleared almost 50,000 litter items strewn across sand at 56 beaches just last year.

Image: Alan Cleaver 2000

The post No Treasure, Just Trash on British Beaches appeared first on EcoSalon.