Brazilian wonders

Two places in Brazil were selected to the second phase of the Official New7Wonders of Nature campaign: Fernando de Noronha and The Iguaçu Falls! According to the website (www.new7wonders.com), 261 qualified national and multinational nominees are now competing to make it to the top 77.

Fernando de Noronha is formed by a group of 21 islands in the Atlantic Ocean, about 354km offshore the Brazilian coast. The archipelago is the visible part of a range of submerged mountains, and the base of this enormous volcanic formation is 756m below the surface. The airplane ticket and the hotel can be a little expensive, but totally worth it! I've been there in 2001 and it's GORGEOUS: paradise beaches, with perfectly clear blue water... If you are adventurous, you are in the right place. Get ready to walk, because that's the best way to visit the beaches!!! And you can go to a beginner's lesson of scuba diving... Besides that, you can watch the dolphins at the bay or the turtles to put their eggs in the sand. Everything protected by law and watched by biologists. (Check more pictures)

Another Brazilian natural beauty selected was The Iguaçu Falls, one of the largest water falls in the world. This national beauty is formed by a group of 275 falls, extended over 2,700 m (nearly 2 miles), in a semi-circular shape. The "Devil's Throat" is the tallest one, with 80m of height. The Falls are on the border between of Brazil and Argentine, in the Iguaçu River. Visit the official website: www.cataratasdoiguacu.com.br