Two different geographic features helped to shape the development of Pakistan. One of those features was created by inland waterways, and the other was created by the mountains, mountains that cover so much of the terrain within Pakistan.

As civilizations developed along the Nile and around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, one group of ancient people discovered the richness of the valley along the Indus and Ghaggus Hakra Rivers. At that time, the need for production of food by farming drove the creation of settlements. Thus many people settled in the valley around the Indus and Ghaggus Hakra Rivers. Their settlements introduced the elements of civilization into the region that was to become Pakistan.

The people in that valley had access to rich mineral deposits, deposits in the surrounding mountains. They were able to mine copper, lead and tin. That combination of metals gave the growing settlements the ability to make bronze tools, bronze weapons and other bronze implements.

Now as the people in that settlement began to negotiate and trade with the nomads who passed over the mountains, the world began to hear about the resources in the Indus valley. Some of those who heard about those resources wanted to seize a piece of them. They wanted to invade the settlements around the Indus and Ghaggus Hakra Rivers.

A second geographic feature, the Kyber Balon Pass, gave prospective invaders a ready pathway into the growing settlements. That is why the region now known as Pakistan has seen many different invaders.

The invaders came from at least three different directions. Mongols invaded the region from the northeast. Turks and Afghans invaded from the northwest. Greeks, Persians and Arabs invaded from the west. Until the coming of the British, no foreigners had approached the region that is now Pakistan from the Arabic Sea, the body of water that is fed by waters from the Persian Gulf.

Today, Pakistan is bordered by India on the east and China in the north. To the west, Pakistan has two neighbors-Iran and Afghanistan. The waters of the Arabic Sea remain the southern border of Pakistan.

The climate of Pakistan exhibits a large range of climatic conditions. In the lower elevations, there are a number of desert regions. There the summers can be hot and unpleasant. In the higher elevations, inhabitants must endure snow and cold temperatures in the winter. The trials of the mountain dwellers were demonstrated by a short but powerful geographic happening.

On the morning of October 8, 2005, an earthquake rocked the Pakistani controlled region of Kashmir. Soon many aid groups struggled to find a way into the isolated villages. They wanted to reach those villages before the arrival of freezing temperatures, and before snow had covered the area.

The world’s response to that earthquake highlighted both the climate and geography of Pakistan. The world saw many pictures of the mountains in northern Pakistan. The world also got a clear view of how very cold it becomes in those mountainous regions during the winter months.
wedding fans

Before the Second World War, Muslims and Hindus lived together a country under the control of England. A number of the Muslims formed the All India Muslim League. After the Second World War, when the separation of India led to the creation of: Pakistan, the flag of the Muslim League served as the basis for the flag of Pakistan.

A designer named Amir-Din Khidwai studied the League’s flag, as he tried to design a flag for a new, independent nation. Finally he arrived at a design, and he presented it to the men who would run the new Pakistan government. The Pakistan government adopted his design on August 11, 1947.

The Pakistan flag has a dark green background, emblematic of the large Muslim population in that country. Still, the Muslims of Pakistan wanted people of all faiths to feel welcome in their country. For that reason, the flag of Pakistan has a wide white bar along the side that touches the flag pole. That bar signals a welcome to all religious minorities.

On the dark green background of the Pakistan flag, one finds a white crescent moon and white, five-pointed star. The moon is meant to represent progress; the star designates the importance of light and knowledge. The Pakistan flag indicated the readiness of Pakistani citizens to look to light and knowledge and to encourage progress within Pakistan.

The Pakistan government has pronounced rules about the flying of the Pakistan flag. The government has called for display of the flag at full mast on March 23 of each year. That display recognizes both the adoption of the Lahore Resolution in 1940 and the Declaration of the Republic of Pakistan in 1956.

Flag raisers in Pakistan also make a point of hoisting the flag each year on the eighth day of August. That is considered to be Pakistan’s Independence Day. Authorities in Pakistan became free of British control on August 8, 1947.

A look at the map of Pakistan shows where government officials expect to see the dark green flag with the white symbols. The Pakistan flag flies at the various crossing points along each of Pakistan’s borders. Citizens of India, the country to the east of Pakistan can thus see the Pakistan flag from India’s western border.

Citizens of Iran and Afghanistan can view the flag of Pakistan from points to the west of Pakistan. A section of Afghanistan and a section of China are found north of Pakistan. The green flag of Pakistan flies from points along that northern border. The waters that come from the Persian Gulf flow past southern Pakistan. Ships in that waterway can expect to see the green flag of Pakistan.

One section in the north of Pakistan has required the placement of a special footnote on the map of Pakistan. That is the region of land known as Kashmir. One portion of the land in Kashmir is administered by authorities from Pakistan, but is does not have provincial status in Pakistan. A second portion of Kashmir is administered by Indian authorities.
wedding blog

Las Vegas Top 10 Pools

What do you do in Las Vegas during the daytime after an evening in the Casino? Enjoy a buffet breakfast in your favorite restaurant, take a walk, see some attractions, then…
a must do…relax, take a Swim and get a tan.

Here are the TOP TEN POOLS in Las Vegas with a brief description of their offerings and themes. Did you know many visitors to Las Vegas book their Hotel based on their favorite pool? Seems like most first time visitors to Las Vegas have the impression that it is at least 100 degrees here year round. Well, it isn’t. Most outdoor pools are open from March/April to October/November! We’ve listed Hotels that have year round indoor pools or heated outdoor pools.

THE TOP 10 POOLS IN LAS VEGAS
10. The Palms Night Time Fun! Be Cool! Hang out! 75,000 square feet of pool, 21 Cabanas, The “Skin Pool Lounge”, music, dance by the pool, enjoy “Wet N Wild” after dark!

9. Luxor – The Luxor has created a 7 acre, Egyptian theme complex that is nothing short of spectacular! Outstanding poolside service, open year round! Be treated like King Tut!

8. Venetian – Known to be the ultimate romantic destination for couples. 5 full acres of pools, fountains, flower gardens and statues. Relax, get a tan, be in love. Even get married. That’s AMORE’!

7. Bellagio – What can we say? Prestige, Ritzy, Swanky just what you would expect from
a Billion Dollar setting! 85,000 square feet of 6 pools, beautiful fountains, colors, flowers and Premier service. Be pampered in an elegant refuge for the rich!

6. MGM Grand – A longtime favorite of Hollywood Movie Stars, a 27,000 square foot complex of beautiful pools, spas and “Backlot River” where you can have a drink and take a leisurely 3 MPH float around the complex! Get a tan where the stars of “Le Femme” hang out!

5. Flamingo – From the dreams of Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel in 1947 to the posh pool fun of today. Enjoy the lush Hawaiian theme with water slides, stone water falls, even shade! Luxury at it’s finest. Try their specialty drinks!

4. Caesar’s Palace – Roman decadence in the Garden of the Gods! 3 pools covering 5 acres of Italian opulance! Have a drink by stone pediments and be served frozen grapes by Goddesses (weekends only). Or, have your photo taken by the pool with Caesar and Cleopatra! Very cool!

3. The Mirage – A Polynesian tropical jungle lagoon. Amazingly beautiful foliage amidst waterfalls, 3 waterslides, hidden alcoves covering 5 full acres of jungle. An afternoon of sunshine and cool fun you will remember for years to come.

2. Hard Rock – Want to party? This is the place you want to be! Vegas’ party central. The Pool Party runs from 10:00 AM to Midnight 7 days a week! Hang out with Rock Stars, Movie Stars and the “Beautiful People” or play Las Vegas’ only blackjack tables in the water! Pools, hot tubs, 37 cabanas, a float river and Party, Party, Party!

1. Mandolay Bay – Mandolay Bay went all out in creating an 11 acre lagoon of lush greens. They hauled in 1,700 tons of sand to create Vegas’ only Wave Pool with 6’ waves of bodysurfer paradise. 4 pools, waterfalls surrounded by a jungle atmosphere where you can take a ¼ mile RiverRide or relax the day away and come away with a Las Vegas tan!

We give full credit for the Pool Rankings to the kind folks at The Travel Channel. The comments are from the editor of Las Vegas $Discount$.

Hotels with Pools Open Year Round
Bellagio (1) Wynn (5) Venetian (1)
Las Vegas Hilton (1) Monte Carlo (1) Paris/Bally’s (1)
Rio (1) Mandolay Bay (1) Luxor (1)
Flamingo (1) Caesar’s Palace (1) Red Rock (1)
Green Valley Ranch (1) Tropicana (1) Ritz Carlton (1)
Stratosphere (1) MGM Grand (1) Hyatt Lake Las Vegas (1)

During the winter months all of these pools are maintained at 74 to 82 degrees and nearly all offer one or more Jacuzzi’s.

This article may be re-printed in its entirety as long as this active link is displayed.
http://www.lasvegas-discount.com

Copyright 2002-2007 DEN Publishing Co. Las Vegas-Discount.com

all rights reserved
About the Author:

Some of the cars in Pakistan are imported into the country. Some car factories in Pakistan serve as the site for assemblage of unique vehicles, vehicles designed for sale on the Pakistan automobile market. During the years of 2005 and 2006, important transactions promised to impact the sale within Pakistan of both imported and assembled cars.

In December of 2005, Korean makers of the Tata Daewoo Commercial Vehicle (TDCV) signed a technical assistance agreement with Afzal Motors of Pakistan. The Koreans agreed to assemble TDCVs inside of Pakistan. The first assembled TDCVs rolled out of a factory in Karachi during the final quarter of 2006.

As residents of Karachi admired those large vehicles, a second significant transaction was about to take place. On December 20, 2006, the Pakistan government announced creation of an Auto Industry Development Plan. The government of Pakistan had agreed to that Plan in an effort to spur car production within the borders of Pakistan.

Creators of the Auto Industry Development Plan had two goals in mind. First, they wanted to increase the level of competition among the small car makers in Pakistan. In order to raise the level of that competition, the Development Plan called for limits on the number of used cars imported into Pakistan.

Second, the creators of the Auto Industry Development Plan wanted to spur progress in the areas of design and innovation. The Plan creators hoped that increased competition among the car assembly plants would motivate car assemblers to create marketable new car designs, and to conceive of well-accepted car innovations.

The Auto Industry Development Plan promised to help the various car assemblers operating in Pakistan. Toyota, Suzuki, Honda, Hyundai and Kia all have assembly plants in Pakistan. The existence of those plants now provides Pakistanis in the automobile industry with a sure way to display their design skills and their innovative thinking.

Dewan Farooque Motors has a growing presence in Pakistan. Like Toyota, Honda and Suzuki, it assembles vehicles inside of Pakistan. The people of Pakistan seem to favor the passenger cars. There are at least 10 different models offered by Dewan Motors. The people of Pakistan have shows less interest in Dewan’s recreational and commercial vehicles.

While the government of Pakistan has reached out to the car assemblers in that country, the government has not forsaken the companies that import new vehicles. Chevrolet is one such company. A Pakistani looking for a new Chevrolet must visit a facility operated by Nexus Motors.

At such a facility, a prospective car buyer can find cars with two original names and one rather common name: Aved, Optra and Joy. Those vehicles, all of which have been imported from the U.S., compete with the cars assembled in Pakistan’s car factories.

Another important player in Pakistan’s car market is Pakistan Motors. Pakistan Motors purchases many used imports. It then uses its online presence to sell those used imports to Pakistan residents, residents who have discovered just how to go about shopping for a car on the Internet.
About the Author:

Pakistan is small yet a wonderful place to visit. The word ‘Pakistan’ means ‘Land of the Pure’ in Urdu language. This country is specially significant for people who love history, though it has its share of picturesque locations as well.

Some Of The Best Attractions In Pakistan

The Indus Valley Civilization – The Pakistan territory was until 1947 Indian territory and is the house to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization which can be dated back as long as 3000 BC. The two highly significant historical spots, the Harappa (on the banks of the River Ravi) and the Mohenjodaro are situated in Pakistan and are a must-see for any history buff.

The Marakan Coastline – This is a wonderful 754 kilometers stretch of coastline where in 325 BC saw the great warrior Alexander the Great march during the Greek war. It also saw another great leader, General Muhammad Bin Qasim lead his army on the Sindh expedition.

The Silk Road – this is a very popular tourist attraction in Pakistan. This road winds through the Himalayan range, crosses the Indus River and passes through the Hunza and Gilgit valleys. This is now a motorable road which in the ancient days had been used for silk trading.

Karachi – this is the former capital of Pakistan. The city is situated on the Arabian sea and has one of the most beautiful beaches in Asia, the Clifton beach. As it was the capital Karachi has also become a great economic center in the country. It is a great place for shopping as well as for sampling the excellent Pakistani food. While you are in the city, remember to visit the tom of Quai-e-Azam. For children the zoo would make an excellent recreation spot. Tourists can also enjoy boat rides that can hired from the harbor.

Islamabad – this is the capital of Pakistan since 1963. As such this city has been highly beautified to match its importance. The gardens, the wide roads, the beautiful modern architectural designs – everything makes this city a pleasure to behold. Check out the Shah Faisal Mosque which is large enough to host 10 thousand worshipers at one time and the Dama-e-Koh which is one of the finest terraced gardens in Asia.

Lahore – There is a legend saying that this city had established by Prince Ram of the Sita-Ram fame though this is not really backed by historians. This is a city where you can see a perfect blend of the past and present – there are buildings that date from the time of the Mughals, the British and the present day. The overall effect is thoroughly fascinating.

K-2 of the Himalayan range of mountains – the second largest peak in the world, the K2 is situated in Pakistan in the Karakoram Range of mountains. The Pakistan Government encourages mountain climbing and if you are an avid sport person, this would provide you just the right challenge.

Water sports – for those who love water sports, Pakistan has plenty to offer. Visit the rivers Indus, Hunza, Pankora, Swat and Kunhar for as much fun and challenges as you seek. The Pakistan Government has made special arrangements for tourists is these locations.

Rawal Lake – this is one excellent picnic spot that all tourists who visit Pakistan must see and enjoy. The Rawal Lake is man-made and it has been beautified especially for tourists with gardens and exquisite plantation.
About the Author:

If you were asked to make a list of the ten best nature and wildlife adventure travel destinations and tours in the world, which would you choose?

Well, some of the contenders in the top adventure tours ranking list might surprise you or be the exact ones that you would have chosen yourself because the ranking is compiled by using trip reports and reviews from past travelers who have been there and experienced the adventure travel tours and destinations for themselves.

So here is the list of the top 10 nature adventure travel tours and destinations on earth in reverse order…

10. Madagascar

As far as unique wildlife goes, Madagascar takes the first prize. A total of 80% of the plant species and many of the animals are only found there and nowhere else in the world. The highlights on a Madagascar adventure travel trip are the many different kinds of lemur, chameleon and frogs that you are sure to see.

9. Great Barrier Reef

With over 1.8 million visitors per year, this world heritage site which is the largest structure on earth built by living organisms certainly deserves its place in the top 10 rankings. The amount and diversity of the marine life here is simply astonishing.

8. Polar Bear Trek

The time left to be able to see this magnificent predator in its natural habitat may be very short because they are threatened due to global warming and climate change. The polar bear is the biggest of its kind in the world and is at the top of the food chain with its only natural enemy being man.

7. Tiger Safari

The thrill of seeing this beautiful big cat from the back of an elephant in one of India’s National Parks is incomparable. There are only around 6000 of them left in the world and they are very secretive so spotting one or more of them on safari is a rare privilege that not many people have had.

6. Whale Watching

They are so big that it almost seems impossible for flesh and blood to exist in such abundance and when they jump clear of the water (breaching) with that huge bulk the laws of physics seem to be suspended for a few moments. You only really appreciate just how massive whales are when you get close to them on a whale watching adventure travel tour.

You may also be lucky enough to be able to listen to them communicate through their complex language of whistles and squeaks.

5. Wildebeest Migration

If you thought rush hour was bad, try being a wildebeest in the Serengeti when about 1.5 million of your neighbors decide that it’s time to hit the road to find better grazing and water, all at the same time. It is one of the biggest mass migrations in the world and all the predators like lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and crocodile feast when the migration moves through their territory.

4. Swim With Wild Dolphins

Everyone who does this comes back with an almost mystical appreciation of the fact that the dolphins choose to swim with them and even seem to enjoy the close company to humans. They sometimes come within touching distance of swimmers (but touching them is strictly not allowed) and leap from the water as if tempting the humans to copy them.

It’s the connection with such an intelligent animal even though it is completely wild that makes this adventure travel experience so special.

3, 2 and 1.
About the Author: