text:
Southeastern Alaska

Southeastern Alaska is sometimes called the Alaska "panhandle". It consists of a thin strip of land and islands between Canada's British Columbia and the northern Pacific Ocean. It includes the Inside Passage, a series of waterways largely protected from the Pacific by islands, providing a safer sea route up and down the coast.

Cities
Because of the rugged coastal mountains surrounding Southeast Alaska, only three SE Alaskan communities (Haines, Skagway, and Hyder) are connected by road through Canada to the lower 48 states. All the other SE Alaskan cities, including those on the mainland, are effectively "island" cities, reachable only by air or by sea.
 * – Gateway to Hubbard Glacier
 * – settlement on Chichagof Island
 * – Gateway to Glacier Bay National Park
 * – Old mining town rich in history, is also the main link to the Alcan highway and Whitehorse, BC. Home of the White Pass & Yukon Railroad.
 * – eco-friendly historical town, popular with hikers, fisherman, rafters, and snowmobilers. Connection to Alcan highway. Few cruise ships visit Haines making it more quaint.
 * – State capital and third largest city. Home to Mendenhall Glacier & a handful of museums. Popular cruise ship port.
 * – small native Alaskan village, home to Icy Strait Point, which is a cruise-tourism attraction offering the worlds longest zip-line and bear watching tours.
 * – A popular stop for ferries and few cruise ships, rich in Russian colonial history. Site of 1867 handover from Russia to USA.
 * – fishing village with a strong Norwegian heritage on Mitkof Island
 * – Gateway to the Stikine River, on Wrangell Island
 * – accessible via float plane and ferry from Ketchikan. A beautiful place with great fishing and good lodging available
 * – easternmost settlement in Alaska; isolated, only accessible by road from Stewart, BC. You can't travel to anywhere in the United States from Hyder. There are no border controls for the U.S. if you cross into Hyder. If you go back into Canada there is one, so bring a passport at all times. They unofficially use the time zone of British Columbia, use Canadian dollars, use Canadian phone numbers, and use Canadian fire and ambulance services. You can fly to Ketchikan from a seaplane base, but you need a passport when you arrive in Ketchikan.
 * – Alaska's southernmost and fourth largest city, gateway to Alaska for northbound travelers on inside passage. Very popular cruise ship port.

Other destinations

 * – dynamic change in the wake of dramatic glacial movements
 * – Gold! Headlines read in 1897, starting the rush north to Alaska
 * – a segment of coastal temperate rainforest
 * – Alaska's oldest federally designated park was established in 1910 to commemorate the 1804 Battle of Sitka
 * – a group of 1,100 islands.
 * – a group of 1,100 islands.

Get in
Due to the physical terrain and the lack of contiguous roads, getting in by air or by sea are the only ways for travelers to reach the southeastern region and for locals to receive mail, food, supplies, vehicles and other needed items (by air, ferry or barge).

By plane

 * Alaska Airlines connects Anchorage to Seattle through multiple cities/towns in southeastern Alaska in a point to point routing paradigm called the "milk run". Except Juneau not all cities/towns are included on the same schedule. Other destinations included on the "milk run" are Gustavus, Ketchikan , Petersburg , Juneau , Sitka , Wrangell , and Yakutat . Some of the flights only serve Juneau from Anchorage or Seattle. See schedules, see below under Get around.
 * Skywest dba Delta Connection and Delta Airlines only serves Juneau, Sitka and Ketchikan from Seattle, seasonally in the summer.
 * Air Canada Express goes up to Prince Rupert from Vancouver where passengers continue north by ferry (See below).

By ship

 * The Alaska Marine Highway System connects the southeast from Prince Rupert BC to Bellingham WA on two separate routes, and is the primary way of getting around via the Inside Passage. During the summer, they offer onward sailing across the Gulf of Alaska to/from Prince William Sound and the Kenai Peninsula in South Central Region. The vessels are capable of carrying vehicles.

By car
Despite the steep terrain there are highways through the Yukon Territory and British Columbia to reach Southeastern Alaska by car. Keep in mind that the roads are in remote sparsely populated areas with limited services that are further apart with the roads impassable during the winter months. Travelers must be sure to have proper travel documents to cross into Canada and re-enter the United States:
 * Yukon_Highway_2.svg & Alaska_98_shield.svg Klondike Highway Connects from its northern terminus with YT-Hwy 1 at Carcross Cutoff (19.7 km east/southeast of Whitehorse) to Skagaway. It is 175 km between Whitehorse and Skagaway.
 * Yukon_Highway_3.svg & Alaska_7_shield.svg Haines Road connects between Haines and Haines Junction in the Yukon Territory, east of Kluane National Park. It is the nearest route to a direct highway connection between the southeastern panhandle and the Interior of Alaska via Alcan/Beaver Border crossing on YT-Hwy 1/AK-Hwy 2. It is a total of  to reach Fairbanks from Haines.
 * BC-16 (TCH).svg BC Yellowhead blank.svg The Yellowhead Highway connects Prince Rupert to BC-97.svg in Prince George. From here one can go north to the southern terminus of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek, continue east into the rest of Canada, or go south towards the Lower 48. See the Pan-American Highway article for an outline of possible routes one can take to reach the Lower 48. This is the nearest road to Southeast Alaska from the Lower 48. From Prince Rupert travelers would still have to board a AMHS ferry to continue north into Southeastern Alaska.

Get around
There is very limited overland access from outside the region, meaning that for all practical purposes, the panhandle might as well be an island. Due to the high fjords and rocky shorelines, there are very few roads in this part of Alaska. Most villages are linked by State funded ferry service - The Alaska Marine Highway, as well as seaplane and land plane service.

By plane

 * connects Anchorage to Seattle through multiple cities/towns in southeastern Alaska in a point to point routing paradigm called the "milk run". Except Juneau not all cities/towns are included on the same schedule. Other destinations included on the "milk run" are Gustavus, Ketchikan , Petersburg , Juneau , Sitka , Wrangell , and/or Yakutat . See schedules.

The following are local companies that provide service in smaller float planes to access more communities with the ability to land on water or on land. They can also be chartered (as "bush pilots") to go to a specific location:
 * They serve Angoon, Elfin Cove, Excursion Inlet, Gustavus, Haines, Hoonah, Juneau, Kake, Klawock, Pelican, Petersburg, Sitka, Skagway, Tenakee Springs, Whitehorse in different route combinations
 * They serve Gustavus, Juneau, and Sitka
 * Juneau to Excursion Inlet.

By sea
Juneau is the hub for the Alaska Marine Highway System, offering frequent trips to Haines, Skagway, and Sitka; with less frequent ferries to Petersburg, Wrangell, and Ketchikan. Many smaller villages get service only once or twice a month. Haines & Skagway have links to the Alcan Highway, and many travelers opt to drive to these two points to catch the daily ferry to Juneau and then on to other destinations; Prince Rupert also has frequent ferry service (3 times a week) to Ketchikan and Juneau. Ferry service from Bellingham links most of the larger villages/towns, however it only operates twice a month in the winter and three times a month in the summer; space fills up quickly so reservations need to be made far in advance.

 * makes the :45 min. passage through Taiya Inlet of Lynn Canal, between Haines and Skagway on a passenger only vessel. It is NOT part of the Alaska Highway System and is operated by a private company.

 * connects Hollis on Prince of Wales Island to Ketchikan (nearest port for the Alaska Marine Highway System).

By car

 * Alaska 7 shield.svg serves as the main north-south highway through Southeastern Alaska. Due to the steep terrain and the many fjords and sounds cutting through the area the highway does not traverse the entire area but in segments. Travelers would still have to use the ferries to get across longer distances. Everywhere else there are various local roads connecting the cities and towns with each other and to access certain wilderness areas and local neighborhoods. In other areas travelers will have to charter a plane or have access to a private boat to get to a remote park, camping spot or a lodge as they are not accessible by road.

Do

 * Mendenhall Glacier – free to the public (visitors center has a small entry charge) this is one of the most visited glaciers in the world. Explore the miles of trails around Mendenhall Lake, or get up close by hiking the West Glacier trail. Located in Juneau.
 * Mount Roberts Tram – take Southeast's only tram up nearly above Juneau and enjoy breathtaking views, wine & dine at the restaurant, or hike one of the many trails accessible from the tram at the top. Located in Juneau.
 * – located in Hoonah

Drink
Juneau has a few popular bars, notably the Viking, Imperial, and Alaskan – all of which are open year round. The Red Dog Saloon, however, is the most popular but is only open during the busy summer season.

title: Southeastern Alaska


text:
Southeastern Albania

Southeastern Albania is a region of Albania.

Cities

 * – Thought to be one of the oldest towns in Albania, it is a new member of the UNESCO world heritage list. Berat has long been known as the "city of 1001 windows" because of its unique Ottoman/Albanian architecture.  It has a well preserved castle with residents still living inside its protective walls. Nearby is located the world famous Osum Canyon.
 * – a municipality in Elbasan County,
 * – Another UNESCO city, located in the south is known for its unique Ottoman period architecture. There is a large castle on the hill in the middle of the city which served as a jail for many generations. A Military Museum and Art Gallery are now located inside. Gjirokastër is also the birthplace of former communist Leader, Enver Hoxha, as well as Albania's most internationally famous author, Ismail Kadare, their homes now serve as museums.
 * – several miles from the Greek border, this city is Albania's cultural capital. It is full of life during the summer when you can find couples and families strolling through the city's main park, Parku Rinia. You can hike to the top of the beautiful mountain Moravia and view the city and its surrounding landscape.  Don't miss the Korca Brewery (famous throughout Albania) which sponsors a week long Beer Festival every August!
 * – A small city located in the east of Albania, perched atop the river Shkumbin.
 * – Nicknamed “The City of Roses,” Përmet is located in the Vjosa River Valley, approximately 30 km from the Greek border. The city is known for its clean environment and tradition of wine and raki making. Old Permet is worth a look. It is also famous for its nearby thermal springs, located in a beautiful river valley.
 * – Overshadowed by its glitzy neighbors on the Macedonian side of the lake, the town of Pogradec has been experiencing a revival.
 * — municipality including the Albanian part of Lake Prespa.
 * — municipality including the Albanian part of Lake Prespa.

Other destinations

 * – A national park inhabited by rare plant and animal species
 * – A region, including Prespa National Park, within Pustec.
 * – Mountain ridge and national park in the southern part of Albania, not far from Berat. This part of the country is formed by parallel mountain ridges (up to around 2000-2500 m) separated by valleys. Although the ridges are not very long, they offer few days of hiking with enormous scenic beauty and fantastic panoramic views. Tomorri is one of the most known ridges with a Bektash monastery and chapel on the very top.
 * near Gramsh
 * – North of Permet
 * – East of Korçë

 * Historic Moscopole (Voskopoja), alpine Dardha, Boboshticë, and Vithkuq villages near Korçë, and Benjë, and Leusë villages near Përmet

Understand
This is the inland region of Albania to the south of the Shkumbin River. It borders North Macedonia and Greece and includes the great border lakes, Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa.

Talk
The native tongue of much of the region is the southern, namely Tosk, dialect of Albanian. The official standard of Albanian is based on this dialect.

You will also encounter native Greek speakers in the southern reaches of the region, although the use of Greek is discouraged by the government. In the Prespa region, Macedonian is also spoken by a minority.

Get in

 * From North Macedonia – Qafe Thanë at SH9 road, Tushemisht, or Goricë border crossings.
 * From Greece – Kapshticë at SH3 road, Tre Urat, or Kakavia at SH4 road.

Get around
Getting around by car or bus is probably the only available means of transportation. Lack of paving is not uncommon especially inland.

Do

 * Rafting in the Osum and Langarica Canyons of the region
 * Hike the surrounding mountains of Dardhe alpine village and skiing at a modest local ski resort
 * Horseback or walking tours along the footsteps of Lord Byron's visit of 1809
 * Visit Old Permet and examine the architecture of Benje and Leusa villages

Thermal springs and baths

 * Elbasan – Has two main spa centers about 12 km south of the city, Llixhat and Tregan, with proper hotels and curative centers.
 * Banjat e Benjës – Near Përmet, one of the most popular hot springs and thermal pools in Albania, although free for everyone to enjoy in a picturesque river valley with an old Ottoman bridge.

Eat

 * Traditional Gliko sweets
 * Libohove village has been considered by Lord Byron as having the best food he had ever tasted during his stay in Ottoman Albania.
 * Byrek me dy peta, a pizza like pie
 * Beans, Tave Peshku, and Pastrama dish in Prespa region
 * Kernacka and baked Ohrid Trout (koran)

Drink

 * Raki of Përmet made from wild plums

Go next

 * Albanian Riviera
 * Kastoria, Greece
 * Ioannina, Greece
 * Ohrid, North Macedonia

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Southeastern Albania


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Southeastern Anatolia

Southeastern Anatolia (Turkish: Güneydoğu Anadolu), is a region in the south east of Turkey. It borders Syria to the south and Iraq to the southeast, and forms part of the majority Kurdish-inhabited area known as Kurdistan.

Cities

 * — a bland oil-drilling town; might serve as a hub for visiting Hasankeyf

 * — a border town near the main crossing to Iraq
 * — a town on the Euphrates with a sanctuary for the critically endangered bald ibises
 * — the largest city of the region with an old town surrounded by city walls, which are the second longest in the world after the Great Wall of China
 * — a town on the Tigris with an ancient castle and rock-cut tombs
 * — home to Çayönü, an 8000-year-old ancient city
 * — another large city of the region; this is arguably the last "Europeanized" city when heading east and is often dubbed the gastronomy capital of Turkey
 * — a historic town on the Euphrates, unfortunately half of which is swallowed by a dam lake, though this presents the unique experience of taking a boat tour to a hilltop citadel in what is essentially semi-desert lands
 * — an ancient village south of Urfa renowned for its "beehive" adobe houses topped by a dome
 * — a village on the banks of the Tigris with an impressive medieval heritage, some of which is lost under a dam lake
 * — ancient burial mounds yet to be excavated and vineyards surround the town
 * — squarely off the tourists' radar, this fairly large city is home to a bazaar and is nationally known for its ice-cream, thickened by orchid roots
 * — the base town for exploring Mount Nemrut
 * — the site of Carchemish and the Biblical battle of the same name
 * — a town on the Syrian border with a historic core; hosts more refugees than its native population
 * — a hilltop historic city with exquisite stonework architecture and Syriac churches
 * — a roadside town between Gaziantep and Urfa, near ancient Zeugma
 * — a border town with an ancient Syriac Orthodox church and the intriguing desert ruins of Dara
 * (officially Şanlıurfa) — a wonderful city featuring arched Middle East architecture, Abraham's birthplace, Göbeklitepe and a gigantic archaeological museum
 * — near Botan Valley National Park

Other destinations

 * (Mt. Nimrod) — a UNESCO World Heritage site with majestic ancient statues on its summit, and plenty of immense, striking views
 * — ruins of a Roman castle between Diyarbakır and Mardin; this was the main centre of Mithraism, a mystery religion.

Understand

Culturally, linguistically, and geographically, Southeastern Anatolia has a lot in common with its southern neighbours, namely Syria and Iraq, and is the most Middle Eastern part of Turkey.

The southern half of the region is fairly shadeless plains (in part sprawling uniformly flat into the distance); this area is dominated by steppes that are bright yellow in summer. The northern half is relatively rugged, but is nevertheless mostly barren.

The two major rivers of the Middle East, the Euphrates (Turkish: Fırat) and the Tigris (Turkish: Dicle), begin from the snowy mountains of Eastern Anatolia, and flow through the region before crossing Turkey's southern border into Syria and Iraq. Many Southeastern Anatolian cities and sites are on or near the banks of either.

While you may occasionally come across a tout in relatively touristy parts (e.g., Urfa) or kids asking for money — which seems to be pretty much the full extent of their English vocabulary, apart from the ubiquitous hello — the local people are extremely hospitable and friendly (often to a fault) and are willing to help you in any way they can. They are just proud that, after so many years of armed conflict and political instability, travellers from faraway places are now making the effort to see their hometowns.

People
Outsiders often assume Southeastern Anatolia is inhabited by the Kurds entirely, but on a closer look, you will find a diverse array of religions and ethnicities in the region, although not up to the levels once found during the Ottoman period.

The western quarter of the region, more precisely west of the Euphrates River, is mostly populated by the Turks, with villages populated by the Kurds scattered around. On the other hand, the majority of the population east of the Euphrates is Kurdish.

The southernmost parts of the region along the Syrian border, as well as a strip in the northeast ranging from Hasankeyf to Siirt are among the main centres of the local Arab population in Turkey.

The ancient Tur Abdin region in the southeast, centred around Mardin and including the western half of Şırnak Province, is a place unto itself, historically dominated by the Oriental Orthodox Syriacs (Süryaniler), whose population was decimated in what many consider a genocide attempt during the turmoil of World War I, and much of the remaining rural population relocated to the cities or abroad during the bloody episodes of the PKK conflict from the 1980s. Amongst the inhabitants of this area are the Yazidis, a Kurdish-speaking people with a fairly unique belief system. Combining influences from Sufi Islam and ancient Mesopotamian and Persian religions, Yazidism highly reveres Melek Taus, a central figure of the religion symbolized by a peacock and seen as the source of light and the representative of God on Earth; however many non-Yazidi locals often compare Melek Taus to the "satan" figure of Abrahamic religions (a comparison Yazidis find highly offensive), and derogate the Yazidi religion as "heathenism" or "original Satanism". The daily Yazidi prayers, during which the participants face the Sun, are conducted on hilltops twice, at sunrise and sunset. Most Yazidis emigrated from their ancestral region, and those that didn't, keep a low profile and live in fairly remote villages, as a result of centuries of repression as well as religious commands to stay away from non-Yazidis.

There was also a sizable Armenian population in Southeastern Anatolia, but the mass deportations, massacres, and the genocide in 1915 hit the community hard. As of the early 2020s, there is a handful of mostly elderly Armenians in the region, mainly in Diyarbakır.

In addition to the mentioned ethnicities, all sedentary, there are also nomadic Kurds, who pass the winter in the relatively warmer region and move on to the cooler plateaus of Eastern Anatolia with their herds in summer, in search of pasture.

Climate
The climate is subcontinental Medtiterranean, with indisputably scorching, rainless summers - average daytime temperatures are ever so slightly below 40°C during July and August - warm springs and chilly, rainy winters. Northern parts of the region may see sporadic snow in winter.

Talk
In Southeastern Anatolia, the Euphrates forms some sort of linguistic boundary: the west of the river is mostly Turkish-speaking with a Kurdish-speaking minority while the mother tongue for most of the locals east of the Euphrates is Kurdish.

Arabic might be useful as it is the native language of many in the southern and eastern parts of the region, especially in and around Urfa, Hasankeyf, and Siirt, although the local dialect may not be intelligible for the speakers of the Middle Eastern varieties south of the border. Syriac, also known as Assyrian, a direct descendant of Jesus Christ's mother tongue, Aramaic, can also be heard spoken by small communities in and around Mardin, Midyat, and Şırnak.

Regardless of their native language, most locals are fluent in Turkish, although heavily accented in most cases.

Many Arabic and Farsi expressions have made their way into the local vernacular.

While traveling in Southeastern Anatolia, it is important to be conscious of whom you are speaking with. At military checkpoints, Turkish and English will suffice (most Turkish officers speak some English, usually due to previous training in the United States); it is critical not to test your smattering of Kurdish words with the Turkish military. When amongst Kurdish friends, the Kurdish language is appropriate, but be sure not to place your hosts in an uncomfortable situation by speaking in Kurdish while other Turks are present.

Still, Turkish is widely known in Kurdish majority cities such as Diyarbakir and Batman. In fact, no province in the region has a Turkish literacy rate lower than 92%, so you will not have major issues being understood if you speak Turkish in non-rural Kurdish-majority areas.

Get in
While not on the same level as the buses in western Anatolia, the bus service into and throughout Southeastern Anatolia is decent enough. You'll find buses running from and between most major destinations daily (oftentimes more than once daily). In the very deep southeast around Şırnak, Beytüşşebap and Hakkari, dolmuş (shared van-taxis) and minibuses are far more common but do not run as frequently or on as tight a schedule.

Major regional airports with domestic connections are in Gaziantep, Urfa, and Diyarbakır.

Diyarbakır and Batman have three times weekly train services (Güney Express) from Ankara, the national capital, with a number of stops in Central Anatolia.

Gaziantep is connected to the west by a motorway. There are also other major, but occasionally pot-holed, highways from the north, south, and southeast into the region.

Get around
Bus and minibus service is generally robust, although schedules are not closely adhered to and you may find yourself waiting an extra hour or two for that minibus that everyone has been promising will arrive soon. Private vehicles often serve as taxis but for fees that are higher than one would expect. Be ready to haggle. Hitchhiking is far easier than anywhere else in Turkey, with lift offers generally coming from the first vehicle passing by. It's pretty much safe, too, as long as you stick on the main roads at least. In the past, however, it's known that PKK have raided private traffic on roads in deeper southeastern Anatolia.

Many roads in the region are full of potholes and locals drive somewhat recklessly, even more so than the rest of the country, so be extra careful if you are the one who is driving actually.

Historic attractions
The most likely entrance into the region, Gaziantep, for the most part a modern and large city, is home to a castle, a couple of Armenian churches, which were converted into mosques after the 1915 genocide, and perhaps most importantly, the extensive collection of the Mosaic Museum, which hosts stunning mosaics excavated at the nearby site of Zeugma (we will get to that).

In the remote countryside near the Syrian border southwest of Gaziantep is the Yesemek sculpture workshop, an evocative hillside full of half-finished sculptures dating back to the Hittites, who formed the earliest kingdom in Anatolia in the Bronze Age. This was where many of the sculptures embellishing their kingdom, which once extended from almost the Black Sea coast to well into Syria, came from; with the collapse of the kingdom, the quarry was abandoned as were the sculptures, before they got a chance to be completed and moved to their final locations.

Roughly half-way between Gaziantep and Urfa and slightly off the modern highway is Zeugma, which was known for its pontoon bridge crossing the Silk Road over the Euphrates in the Roman era. While much of the site has been drowned under the waters of the Birecik Dam, and most of the heritage removed to the Mosaic Museum of Gaziantep, the excavations are still going on, and it may be worthwhile to check out the site itself.

On the opposite rim of the dam lake lies the pretty old town of Halfeti, which is half submerged like its western neighbour, Zeugma — the lonely minaret rising from the water, with the adjoining mosque inundated, can be considered an icon of the common ill fortune of many sites in the region, dominated by two major rivers. The picturesque town is notable for its historic buildings made of yellow stones common in the region, and boat tours to an outlying hilltop fortress over the dam lake are available.

East from there, Urfa is associated with Abrahamic myths, and its fully preserved old town has plenty of stone buildings, mosques, and a pond full of fish considered holy by the locals, all overlooked by a Roman-era castle.

In the northern outskirts of the city, the ongoing archaeological excavations at the hilltop temple of Göbeklitepe reveal numerous surprising findings about the religious history of humankind. Dated to 9000 BCE, this is the earliest temple known to the date, and it was the nomads who built the place — its construction predates sedentarization of any human group. The reliefs all over the pillars arranged in a circular fashion might be the archetypes of the motifs of the succeeding belief systems all over the world, making here the source of the idea of "religion".

Harran lies south of Urfa. It was first established by the Assyrian Empire as a trade post, and had been a major centre of early Islamic learning; the ruins of a university dating back to that era still exists. Nowadays, it is rather a small village, and is known for its unique "beehive houses".

The desert lands east of Harran feature some amazing and truly off-the-beaten path attractions. The open-air temple of Soğmatar/Sumatar is in the village of Yağmurlu, dedicated to the Mesopotamian moon god Sin, which had a wide following in the region until the 4th century CE, when his cult gave way for solar worship. Further on is the impressive ruins of Şuayip Şehri, an ancient Roman city, associated by the locals with Shuaib (Jethro in the Judeo-Christian tradition); he is believed to had spent time in a local underground cave.

Then comes beautiful Mardin, its twisting alleys lined by houses, mosques, and churches with highly elaborate stonework cascading from a mountainside with a breathtaking view of the endless Mesopotamian plains below, which extend beyond the border into Syria.

Not far from the town in the east is the Deyrulzafaran Monastery, which had been the seat of the Syriac Orthodox Church for centuries. The monastery is active and is open for visits. The ruins of Dara which started as a Byzantine garrison town against the Persians are out in the desert further along.

North from Mardin, Midyat is another town with stunning stone architecture and is just as beautiful, if not more, although without Mardin's superb location on the side of a mountain.

Further north, Hasankeyf was on a splendid setting on the Tigris, with its citadel high over the river. Once the capital of the Artukids, a medieval Turkish dynasty who founded a local kingdom in the region, Hasankeyf was considered to be one of the few of its type in Turkey, being a preserved medieval town. Sadly, most of it has been lost under the waters of the Ilısu Dam lake, although the citadel is on a sufficiently elevated ground to be spared (with boat tours taking travellers there from New Hasankeyf), and some of the heritage was relocated to the new site of the town some distance away.

To the northwest, past the magnificent Malabadi Bridge also built by the Artukids, you will arrive at the city walls of Diyarbakır. The enclosed old city inside, although a little run down, is full of mosques, churches, coffehouses, and caravanserais made of local black basalt rocks.

West from Diyarbakır comes Mount Nemrut, with its lofty summit adorned by an almost uncountable number of colossal statues of ancient deities, and affording a great view of the surrounding mountains.

Kahramanmaraş west of Mt Nemrut is mostly a modern city, although its historic core features a bazaar where traditional artisanship is still valued.

Nature
Half-way between Gaziantep and Urfa, the cliffs over the Euphrates in Birecik are one of the few refugees of the critically endangered northern bald ibis (Geronticus eremita, Turkish: kelaynak), the range of which extended over much of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East in the previous centuries. Due to numerous reasons (hunting, loss of habitat, and pesticide pollution being the major culprits), less and less pairs returned from their annual migration down to Ethiopia through Arabia in the latter half of the 20th century (only a single pair managed back in 1990), so the colony in Birecik has since 1992 been kept in a semi-wild fashion, lest it go fully extinct — the birds are free for most of the year, but taken into captivity after the breeding season to prevent migration. Due to its conservation status, the species has served as one of the icons for the Turkish environmental movement since its early years.

The hilly steppelands northeast of Ceylanpınar (Turkish for "gazelle's spring") are home to about 700 Arabian sand gazelles (Gazella marica), a vulnerable species with a worldwide population of likely less than 3,000 in wild, found in pockets of its original range covering much of Southern and Southeastern Anatolia, and Syrian and Arabian deserts. In 1978, the local state farm, which has a guesthouse on site, started an ongoing breeding programme for the species.

The volcanic Mt. Karacadağ, between Diyarbakır and Urfa, is the only notable summit in the fairly flat plateau of Southeastern Anatolia. Its foothills are usually thought to be the site of domestication of wheat, the main staple of much of the world's population. In springs, the wild wheats still grow their ears there, which is also a popular wintering ground for the nomadic Kurds.

The Beyazsu (Turkish)/Avaspi (Kurdish, both meaning "white water") area, with its creek through a ravine lined by wooden balconies on stilts, a couple rapids and much greenery between Midyat and Nusaybin, is a weekend favourite of the locals for picnicking.

Lush cedar forests cover the high meadows over the Taurus Mountains surrounding Kahramanmaraş.

After all, the deeply bright yellow steppe of the Southeastern Anatolian plateau is a sight in itself, even if it is watched just as a blurry image on the other side of the windowpane when passing through.

Eat

The region, Gaziantep in particular, is nationally renowned for its culinary offerings. Many of the restaurants elsewhere in the country are established and run by people from the area, supplying versions of the local meals, often retrofitted and tamed to the taste of non-locals.

Drawing on the Middle Eastern to a great extent, the local cuisine is heavily dependent on meaty fare; Gaziantep and Urfa particularly are famous for their local varieties of kebabs and lahmacuns. Çiğ köfte is another local specialty that can nowadays be found at joints nationwide. Despite the name ("raw meatball"), the modern recipe no longer includes meat (uncooked, originally) to avoid raised eyebrows from the health authorities, and is mostly a mushy mixture of bulgur wheat, and a series of fresh vegetables and spices. Speaking of which, the locals love to use many different spices on their meal, you've been warned. Vegetarians will have a tough time in the region and should prepare themselves for spending a lot of time between supermarket shelves looking for canned food and eating lots of boring pastry.

A major agricultural product is pistachio, grown in the countryside surrounding Gaziantep and Siirt, in the southwest and northeast of the region respectively. While its standard Turkish name is Antep fıstığı ("the nut of Gaziantep"), the people of Siirt vehemently object to this association, and instead prefer to call it Siirt fıstığı ("the nut of Siirt") or bıttım, a local name mostly unknown in the rest of the country. The Gaziantep variety is smaller and tastier (sssh, don't mention that while in Siirt), but both are worth a try.

Pistachios make their way into numerous desserts, including baklava — ask any Turk where the best baklava is, and they will invariably reply Gaziantep (even those from Siirt).

Additionally, delicacies such as Ciger, Meftune, and Perde Pilavi are really popular in the province of Diyarbakır, and the culinary specialties differentiate towards the northern segment of the province as Ergani's cuisine is more identical to Elazig's.

Drink
Tea (çay): it's everywhere. Be sure to add copious amounts of sugar to blend in with the local population. Anything less than three cubes just won't do.

Menengiç coffee or Kurdish coffee is a caffeine-free hot beverage made from roasted wild pistachios.

Boğazkere is a local grape cultivar grown in the Tigris valley near Diyarbakır. It is processed into a red wine with high tannic levels, and a strong body. Bulk of this wine used to be produced in Ergani in the past, and this factor influenced the city's traditions.

Furthermore, the Syriac population of Mardin also has a winemaking tradition; the product is marketed under the name Süryani şarabı ("Syriac wine").

Stay safe
Stay abreast of the news in northern Iraq and southeastern Turkey before and during your visit to the region. The politics of the region is very fluid with the Turkish government threatening military intervention into northern Iraq and the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) making raids on military outposts as well as attacking civilian targets like minibuses. The Turkish military will sometimes declare security zones in the area, making civilian travel to the region impossible. It is often best to talk to fellow travelers in Istanbul, Ankara or, even better, Diyarbakir before making your way into the deep southeast. Don't trust the Istanbulites who will suggest that you won't live through any visit east of Ankara. A vast majority of them have never left Istanbul. A trip to southeastern Anatolia is very much feasible and, for the most part, safe. The deep southeast should be done with more caution, but it too is possible for the hardy traveler.

On some non-major routes, you may run into a few military checkpoints, though all you need to do is showing your passport (therefore keep it handy during rides, not buried deep in your backpack). Keeping a short list of cities on your itinerary in mind may save time in case of further questioning at checkpoints.

Stay healthy
The arid climate in Southeastern Anatolia can quickly dry your skin, particularly your hands, and especially if you have a sensitive skin and/or are living in a humid, coastal climate. So don't forget to pack along some kind of moisturizer if you intend to stay more than a few days in the region.

Being not accustomed to heavily spicy/hot food, in addition to the fact that some food is prepared in less than perfectly hygienic ways, may lead to stomach trouble in some travellers whilst in the region.

Go next
Don't: It's far too beautiful.

But if the travel bug keeps you from settling in a place for a prolonged period, heading west from Southeastern Anatolia, if you have not already arrived from that direction, will make you meet warm waters of the Mediterranean, a totally different world. But if you rather prefer to chill than to sunbathe, then head north and east into the mountainous realm of Eastern Anatolia.

Iraqi Kurdistan and Syria are also nearby, but not advisable to visit because of ongoing wars. For the record, though, the border of Iraqi Kurdistan can be crossed via the Habur border gate near Silopi, southeast of Mardin and the Syrian border, which is to the south, can be crossed via a number of border gates south of Gaziantep, Urfa, and Mardin. As of September 2019, all border crossings with Syria are closed.

The "Deep Southeast"

 * Getting off the beathen path in the deep southeast — If militant activity is quiet, take the highway from Şırnak to Hakkari, with a detour north to Beytüşşebap. The highway skirts along the Habur River, the border between Turkey and Iraq, and affords spectacular views of the Kandil Mountains. A few minibuses run daily from Şırnak to Beytüşşebap. A morning dolmuş (shared van-taxi) runs daily from Beytüşşebap to Hakkari, where you can catch proper coaches for northern destinations.

title: Southeastern Anatolia


text:
Southeastern Idaho

Southeastern Idaho is in Idaho.

Cities

 * — known for its annual Spud Day festival
 * — known for its annual Spud Day festival
 * — known for its annual Spud Day festival
 * — known for its annual Spud Day festival
 * — known for its annual Spud Day festival
 * — known for its annual Spud Day festival

Other destinations

 * - where emigrants were always mortified of an ambush

title: Southeastern Idaho


text:
Southeastern Islands

The Southeastern Islands of Bali, Indonesia, are splendid for diving, snorkelling, surfing, exploration and relaxing.

Regions

 * Nusa Lembongan — the most visited of the islands offers accommodation and restaurants for all tastes and is a great place to relax with everything you need within arms reach.
 * Nusa Ceningan — the smallest of the trio is connected to Lembongan by a bridge, but still found to be more quiet and rural.
 * Nusa Penida — wild, untamed island which offers world class diving.

Understand
These three islands sit some off the southeastern coast of Bali. The Badung Strait separates the islands from Bali. All three feature white sand beaches and wonderfully crystal clear waters.

Nusa Lembongan is by far the best known by visitors and has a well developed level of tourism-related infrastructure within its 8 km² or so. This is a popular destination for surfing, diving or relaxing, with three highly rated surf breaks, some lovely beaches, and a range of accommodation and restaurants to suit all budgets.

Nusa Ceningan is a tiny island where fewer people stay and is much quieter and rural than Lembongan. It is easily reached by a suspension bridge from Nusa Lembongan. The island has a well-regarded surf break, has a few cool beaches, and is a fun place to explore. Some accommodation, restaurants, etc., can be found here as well.

Nusa Penida is huge in comparison to the other two at more than 200 km². It is hardest to reach of the three and is still a wild and untamed island in many ways. There are quite some tourist facilities to be found, but in numbers it is still nothing compared to Nusa Lembongan. This is an island of stunning natural rugged beauty, and tourist development plans have been rumoured and mooted to no effect for many years. Nusa Penida is best known as a world-class diving destination.

There is several local villages across the islands where tourism, fishing and seaweed farming are among the largest sources of income. Subsistence farming is still common on parts of Nusa Penida.

Get in

The only realistic way (although you can charter a helicopter) to reach these islands from Bali is by boat. There are several options according to budget and speed. It is straightforward to reach Nusa Lembongan and visitors to Nusa Penida usually come via Nusa Lembongan, although direct services from Bali are available. All services involve getting your feet wet as there are no jetties to speak of. Nusa Ceningan is reached on foot or by bike via the suspension bridge that connects it and Nusa Lembongan.

To Nusa Lembongan from South Bali
From South Bali there are boat services to Nusa Lembongan, departing from Sanur Beach and Benoa Harbour. More information about the boat services is in the main Nusa Lembongan article.

To Nusa Lembongan from East Bali
Regular public ferry services run to Nusa Lembongan from Padang Bai and Kusamba, but these are unreliable, get very crowded and have a poor safety record. Not recommended.

To Nusa Penida direct from Bali
It is possible to take regular public ferries to Nusa Penida direct from Sanur, Kusamba or Padang Bai in East Bali, but this is difficult. The services are very sketchy, sometimes over-loaded and cannot be recommended for safety reasons.

Boat charters
You are able to charter speedboats to get into either Nusa Lembongan or Nusa Penida from Sanur or Padang Bai. Expect to pay about Rp 1,000,000 each way. Contact the speedboat operators or make enquiries in person at the relevant point of departure one day in advance.

Get around

Renting a motorcycle is a practical option and widely available on Nusa Lembongan]. Expect to pay between Rp 70,000 and 100,000 per day. Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan lend themselves very well to walking. Bicycles are also a good option and can be rented at many outlets on Nusa Lembongan. Keen cyclists may like to bring their own mountain bike in with them.

There are no taxis on any of the three islands but locals will be keen to offer you rides in the back of truck for a nominal fare. There are a few bemos on Nusa Penida mostly plying the north coast road between Toyapakeh and Sampalan.

A motorbike is essential for exploring Nusa Penida and can be rented when you arrive in Toyapakeh or Sampalan. Some visitors from Nusa Lembongan arrive with rented pushbikes; make sure you get permission to take the bike off Nusa Lembongan first. Roads in Nusa Penida are rough and in remote areas no more than stone-strewn tracks.

Nusa Ceningan is easily reached from Nusa Lembongan reached via the (slightly rickety) suspension bridge. The bridge allows traffic by foot, bicycle and motorbike.

There is no scheduled way to get between Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Penida but a charter boat might be possible.

Getting between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Penida
Public boats depart daily at 06:00 close to the suspension bridge between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan and run to Toyapakeh or Buyuk Harbour near Sampalan in northern Nusa Penida. There are also services from the Jungut Batu area of Nusa Lembongan to Nusa Penida. All of these can be a little 'worrying' at times and are often very crowded.

Charter boats are available, departing from and arriving at the same area as the public boats. If you are staying on Nusa Lembongan, ask at your hotel. If not, go to the shoreline close to the suspension bridge or to the beach at Jungut Batu and ask around amongst the boatmen. Rates certainly vary but expect to pay around Rp 300,000 one way.

The story is similar in reverse for the return journey.

See

Sunsets over Bali are not to be missed. Any west-facing spot will do the trick but amongst the best are Jungut Batu beach on Nusa Lembongan, the ridge of high ground which runs the length of Nusa Ceningan and the highest point of Nusa Penida, Puncak Mundi. On a good day, the reflection on the ocean combines with the sun dropping behind Bali to create a truly breathtaking scene.

Nusa Lembongan] hosts several really attractive and unspoilt hidden white sand beaches and coves. Dream Beach and Sunset Beach in the south west are especially recommended. You can easily spend a whole day at either as they both have small beach-side restaurants. Neither beach is suitable for swimming though. The headland of Devil's Tear separates these two beaches and is a great spot to see the crashing waves of the Indian Ocean.

The whole southern coast of Nusa Penida has spectacular, high white limestone cliffs which will simply take your breath away. Even by the standards of Nusa Penida, the southern quarter is remote and inaccessible. The roads are difficult and in places distinctly hairy. But once you get there it will all seem worthwhile. Try anywhere along the south coast between Pendem and Batumadeg. Goa Karang Sari is a large limestone cave on the east coast of Nusa Penida about 4 km north of Suana village. Find a local to help guide you and bring a flashlight. There are some impressive stalactites and other typical limestone formations. The entrance is a stiff climb from the road level. Of great religious and cultural significance.

Seaweed farming is a well-established micro industry here and areas around all three islands are planted and harvested. The seaweed is mostly destined for the north Asian cosmetics market. The best place to see this in action is the estuarine channel between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan.

Do
Nusa Penida is best known as a world-class diving destination. The rich waters around the three islands support no less than 247 species of coral, 562 species of fish and Green and Olive Ridley Turtles. Many dive operators based in Bali and neighbouring Nusa Lembongan offer specific dive trips to Nusa Penida. Special attractions include fabulous, huge Mola Mola (Oceanic Sunfish) in season and large Manta Rays year round. Mola Mola are migratory fish and most likely from July to October although sightings are reported all year round. There is diving available here for beginners but most of the dives require a decent level of experience. If you are not a diver, there are excellent snorkelling spots including Mushroom Bay and the northern mangroves on Nusa Lembongan and Crystal Bay on Nusa Penida.

Nusa Lembongan is well known as a surfing destination and there are three breaks here: Playgrounds, Shipwrecks and Lacerations. All three lie off the east coast and there is a thriving surf scene in Jungut Batu. The waves are good if sometimes a little crowded. There is also a break of the south coast of Nusa Ceningan known as the Ceningan Break.

There is a substantial mangrove forest around the north coast of Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan totalling some 210 hectares. This is best explored in a traditional outrigger boat called a jukung which can be hired with a captain on the day. This combines well with some snorkelling which is good just offshore from the mangroves.

Eat
Nusa Lembongan offers a choice of eating options restaurants ranging from streetside push carts serving local noodles and soup to fine dining in an elegant resort. Locally caught seafood is especially recommended and you will not be short of options in the Jungut Batu and Mushroom Bay areas.

Options are much thinner on the ground in Nusa Penida with a few local warungs on the north coast and very little elsewhere.

Drink
Jungut Batu has a well established surf scene and there are a few waterfront bars there worth checking out. Expect very cold beer, Australian sports and lots of surfie talk. A small but growing monthly full moon party takes place on the beach north of Jungut batu (Blue Corner Beach) in Lembongan.

Sleep
Virtually all of the accommodation is on Nusa Lembongan with just a handful of very simple homestays on Nusa Penida and one solitary bed and breakfast on Nusa Ceningan. This tends to be budget and the lower end of the mid-range category, but there are a few luxury options and more scheduled to appear soon.

Go next

 * Direct speedboat transfer to the Gili Islands, Lombok is an interesting option.
 * Back to Sanur in Bali.

title: Southeastern Islands


text:
Southeastern Kansas

Southeastern Kansas is a region of Kansas. Geographically it is dominated by a broad rolling landscape located between the Flint Hills to the west and includes the Ozarks to the southeast. It was first inhabited by several Native American tribes. After settlement by European  Americans, frontier towns largely dependent on cattle ranching, and mining, were wracked by violence over the issue of slavery both before and during the American Civil War. Coal mining was the most prevalent type of mining in Southeastern Kansas because of the amount of coal found, and because of the quality and thickness of its coal.

By car
One can enter southeast Kansas via the following US Highways:
 * US 75, which runs north-south through Independence and Neodesha.
 * US 166, which runs east-west through Independence and Coffeyville
 * US 169, which runs north-south through Coffeyville and near Cherryvale and Chanute.

By plane

 * Chanute Martin Johnson Airport (CNU) is a general aviation airport.
 * Coffeyville Municipal Airport (CFV) is a general aviation airport.
 * Independence Municipal Airport (IDP) is a general aviation airport.
 * Tulsa International Airport (TUL) is approximately 90 miles south of the Oklahoma/Kansas border.

Get around
Driving is the best way to get around in this region.

Iola

 * Buster Keaton Celebration held annually in Iola. Keaton is a native of Piqua, seven miles west of Iola.  On the last weekend of September, the community celebrates his life viewings of his films, talks from experts, and workshops.  Admission is free.

Elsewhere

 * ]

 * Katy Days, celebrating Parsons' railroad heritage, is held every Memorial Day weekend (fourth weekend in May) in Parsons.

Stay safe
Kansas is part of Tornado Alley. Tornadoes are most common in late spring and early summer. If you plan to visit any part of Kansas, you should brush up on Tornado safety.

title: Southeastern Kansas


text:
Southeastern Myanmar

Southeastern Myanmar is a region of Myanmar.

Cities

 * (Tavoy), the capital of Tanintharyi Division
 * (Pa-an), the capital of Kayin State
 * (Kawthaung, Victoria Point)
 * - home of the famous pagoda-on-a-boulder, balancing delicately over a cliff
 * (Moulmien), the capital of Mon State
 * - only accessible to foreigners from Mae Sot in Tak Province, northern Thailand
 * (Mergui)
 * - only accessible to foreigners via Three Pagodas Pass from Kanchanaburi Province, central Thailand
 * - only accessible to foreigners from Mae Sot in Tak Province, northern Thailand
 * (Mergui)
 * - only accessible to foreigners via Three Pagodas Pass from Kanchanaburi Province, central Thailand

title: Southeastern Myanmar


text:
Southeastern New Brunswick

Southeastern New Brunswick is in a region of the Canadian province of New Brunswick.

Cities

 * — the largest city in New Brunswick and home of the Magnetic Hill Optical Illusion
 * — the largest predominantly francophone city in Canada outside Québec
 * — a small town across the river from Moncton
 * — home of La Dune de Bouctouche, with hiking and cycling trails and 12 km of whispering sand dunes
 * — rural area located along Northumberland Strait near the Confederation Bridge
 * — the self-proclaimed "lobster capital of the world"
 * — new town formed from the amalgamation of Sackville, Dorchester, and Aulac; home to Mount Allison University

Other destinations

 * — a very long sand dune, bogs, a boardwalk trail, eight hiking trails, a network of bicycle trails, two campgrounds, canoe and boat launch and the Cap-St-Louis fishing port
 * — The tide swings 14 m (47 ft) here, twice every 25 hours. For three hours before and after low tide, you can walk on the bay floor and look up at a half-dozen 30-m-tall "flower pot" sandstone towers topped by trees. Be sure to check the low tide times and aim to arrive one to three hours before the lowest tide. See Moncton. Take Route 114 to Hopewell Cape, 47 km southeast of Moncton, look for park signs.

By car
From the US: From Quebec:
 * I-95 through Maine to the Trans-Canada Route 2, through Fredericton
 * Route 9 (through Maine) to Route 1 (Canada) through St. Stephen, Saint John
 * Route 185 to Edmundston, and then down the Trans-Canada Route 2

By plane
The airport in Moncton has flights from Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, Calgary, Ottawa and Newark (New Jersey)

Halifax Airport is 2 hours away in Nova Scotia with many more direct and non-stop flights from other cities in Canada, the United States, and Europe.

By train
Rail service to Moncton is provided by VIA Rail and its Ocean train, operating between Montréal and Halifax via Quebec City.

By bus
Maritimebus provides service from Rivière-du-Loup (Quebec), from Halifax (NS) to Sackville and Moncton, and from Charlottetown (PEI) to Shediac and Moncton.

Get around
Codiac Transit provides service between Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview.

Maritimebus provides service between Sackville, Moncton, and Shediac.

See
The Magnetic Hill Optical Illusion in Moncton is a gravity hill, a type of optical illusion created by rising and descending terrain, in which it appears that cars roll uphill when in neutral gear.

The Tidal Bore Park in downtown Moncton has amphitheatre-style seating for bore viewing. The tidal bore happens when the Bay of Fundy rising tide brings water counter to the normal flow of Petitcodiac river. The once-famous thundering flow has been reduced to a 6-inch ripple by nearby causeway, but still an unusual sight when it is visible.

Fort Beauséjour—Fort Cumberland National Historic Site in Aulac, near Sackville is a French fortress built in 1751. The ruins have been partially reconstructed, with a museum on-site.

Le Pays de la Saguine is a reproduction of an Acadian village, near Bouctouche, with history presented through theatre, comedy, music and Acadian food (July and August only).

Do
Swimming, cycling and hiking in Kouchibouguac Park, or go on a river adventure in a voyageur-style canoe to going seal watching.

The region has some great beaches: Kelly Beach in Kouchibouguac Park, or Parlee Beach Provincial Park and Plage L'Aboiteau near Shediac.

The Lobster Festival is a fun-filled week in mid-July of just about everything in Shediac. Fun for the family, parties for the adults, rides and live entertainment, lobster for everyone!

title: Southeastern New Brunswick


text:
Southeastern Quebec

Southeastern Quebec is a coastal region in Quebec with small towns and villages hugging the coast. It is east of Quebec City and south of the St. Lawrence River. The Gaspé is particularly scenic.

Cities

 * the gateway to Forillon National Park; it doesn't have much of interest to visitors, but it is the peninsula's main service centre
 * — the terminus of the easternmost ferry crossing of the St. Lawrence
 * — a tourist town at the eastern tip of the peninsula is most famous for the Percé Rock — an arch-shaped rock formation swarmed constantly in the summer months by tour boats (and seabirds)
 * — the biggest city of Bas-Saint-Laurent, known for its student community
 * — home of the Musee du Bas Saint-Laurent, which has a huge collection of photographs

Other destinations

 * — the Magdalen Islands are remote and beautiful, sandy strips of land in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
 * — its Chic-Choc mountains, one of Quebec's highest mountain ranges, are part of the Appalachian Mountains

Understand
This is the most "maritime" part of Quebec. Its economy and culture are, much like neighbouring New England or Atlantic Canada, heavily influenced by the sea. This area was explored by Europeans (mainly people from the Basque-speaking region of France) hunting for whales, before becoming a French-speaking agricultural settlement using the St. Lawrence River for transportation.

Nowadays, whale-watching, not hunting, is an important industry here along with fishing and farming.

Talk
French is the primary language of communication here, and you hardly hear any English spoken, although many younger people are bilingual.

By car
Autoroute 20 will bring you into the region from Montreal or Quebec City and goes through Rivière-du-Loup to Trois-Pistoles. Route 132 continues up the river to Rimouski, and into the Gaspesie and to Campbellton, New Brunswick.

Autoroute 85 will bring you from Edmunston, New Brunswick.

By boat
There are ferries across the St. Lawrence River from Saint-Siméon to Rivière-du-Loup, Forestville to Rimouski, and from Baie-Comeau/Godbout to Matane.

By plane
Aéroport régional de Mont-Joli is the closest airport with scheduled flights, 35 km to the east of Rimouski. It has flights from Baie-Comeau, Montréal, Quebec City, Sept-Îles and Bonaventure/Îles de la Madeleine.

Michel Pouliot Gaspé Airport (Aéroport Michel-Pouliot de Gaspé) and Bonaventure Airport (Aéroport de Bonaventure)  each serve a handful of Québécois destinations.

By train
Via Rail's Ocean service between Montreal and Halifax stops three times a week in Rimouski, La Pocatière, Trois-Pistoles, Rivière-du-Loup and Matapedia.

By bus
Orléans Express has many daily runs to Rivière-du-Loup from Quebec City and Montreal with onward connections to Rimouski. Maritime Bus offers service from the Maritimes; connections can be made at Campbellton, just across the river from Pointe-à-la-Croix, QC.

By car
Route 132 runs along the shore of the St. Lawrence River the length of the Bas-St-Laurent region and around the Gaspé Peninsula. The faster and less scenic Autoroute 20 follows a parallel route through Rivière-du-Loup as far as Trois-Pistoles.

Route 299 cuts through the virgin wilderness of the peninsula's interior from New Richmond to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts.

By bus
Two Orléans Express buses per day follow Route 132 eastward around either side of the Gaspé peninsula.

RéGÎM (Régie Intermunicipale de Transport, or Intermunicipal Transportation Board) is a rural public transit network with about a dozen routes that cover most of the Gaspé Peninsula, except the Matapédia Valley.

By bike
The Route Verte 1 of Quebec's cycling network is mostly a bike lane along the paved shoulder of Route 132, with some detours along secondary roads and directly through village centres that are bypassed by the highway. There are many sections have not been completed.

See
The drive along the coast of the Gaspé Peninsula is spectacular. And the Gaspé Peninsula offers four national and provincial parks (in Quebec, both are called parcs nationals): Gaspésie National Park, Forillon National Park, Miguasha National Park, and the Gaspé Peninsula's marquee tourist attraction, Bonaventure Island and Percé Rock National Park. The latter is home to Percé Rock, a rock formation pierced through the bottom by a 15-metre (49-foot) arch, and to Bonaventure Island, home of the world's largest breeding colony of gannets, and to thousands of cormorants, puffins and murres.

For history and culture, you can explore Point-au-Père maritime historic site, which has the second-tallest lighthouse in Canada, and a marine museum with an exhibit on the sinking of the Empress of Ireland ocean, and the Onondaga, a Canadian Navy submarine. The Musee du Bas Saint-Laurent, in Rivière-du-Loup, has nearly 250,000 photographic images mainly covering the first half of the 20th century. The Aster scientific station, in Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, has an interactive exhibition and a telescope of 356 mm.

In Bonaventure, the Quebec Acadian Museum is an interpretive museum that retells the saga of the Acadian settlers of Quebec. In New Richmond, the Gaspesian British Heritage Village has a recreation of an 18th-century Loyalist town with 20 period-style buildings including houses, a school, a general store, and a lighthouse.

Do
Almost 2,600 km of ATV trails crisscross the Gaspé Peninsula, linking seaside villages and penetrating the rugged interior. There are trails hundreds of kilometres of trails for hikers along the coast and in the mountains. The most famous of these is a segment of the International Appalachian Trail which links with the American Appalachian Trail. The Quebec leg crosses the Gaspé Peninsula from Matapédia, on the border with New Brunswick, to Cap-Gaspé in Forillon National Park, and passes through the Matapédia Valley and Gaspésie National Park and along the St. Lawrence coast. Ile aux Lievres, 8 km off Rivière-du-Loup (accessible by passenger boat), has 45 km of hiking trails. The 144-km Bas-Saint-Laurent National Trail stretches from Trois-Pistoles to Degelis crossing 10 municipalities. Hikers will move from a seascape to a more forested landscape along the Trois-Pistoles River.

Throughout the region, fishing, boating, water sports, or spending time on the beaches along the St. Lawrence or in Chaleur Bay (so named because of its warm waters). There are also many mountain streams and lakes in the interior. Salmon fishing is particularly popular.

In winter, there are great places for skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing. More than 6 metres of snow fall each year on the Chic-Chocs Mountains, which offer great slopes in a variety of locations. Snowmobilers can take advantage of an extensive network of trails.

Stay safe
The articles cold weather and winter driving have advice which will be relevant to many travellers in this region. Black bears and moose can be particular dangers. See dangerous animals for information on safety advice.

title: Southeastern Quebec


text:
Southeastern Slovenia

Southeastern Slovenia is a region in Slovenia.

Cities

 * — Carthusian Monastary - town of same name located in Northeast
 * — Carthusian Monastary - town of same name located in Northeast
 * — Carthusian Monastary - town of same name located in Northeast
 * — Carthusian Monastary - town of same name located in Northeast

Other destinations

 * (White Carniola)
 * (Lower Carniola)
 * (Lower Carniola)

title: Southeastern Slovenia


text:
Southeastern Yunnan

Southeastern Yunnan is in China.

Regions

 * Honghe Prefecture - literally translates into the "Red River" prefecture. The prefecture does, in fact, straddle the river and while the north of Honghe is generally warm and arid, the south is generally tropical and green.  No matter where you are within the prefecture, however, you can rely on some fantastic mountains ranges or hilly terrain
 * Yuxi Prefecture

Cities

 * - city on the northern shore of Fuxian Lake known for its World Heritage-listed fossil site
 * - tin miners' city in Honghe Prefecture
 * - a gateway to Vietnam
 * - a historic city, with Southern China's largest Temple of Confucius
 * - county level city in Honghe Prefecture
 * - capital of Honghe Prefecture
 * (石屏) - the culture the Yi People
 * - mosques around the shores of Lake Qilu
 * - famous for Hani people's terrace rice fields
 * - capital of Yuxi Prefecture, home to the biggest tobacco factory in Asia
 * - famous for Hani people's terrace rice fields
 * - capital of Yuxi Prefecture, home to the biggest tobacco factory in Asia

Get in
The old narrow-gauge railway linking Kunming with Hekou on the Vietnamese border sees no passenger service along most of its length. However, a new standard-gauge railway has been completed in the early 2010s between Kunming and Hekou. Stops include many of the southeastern Yunnan cities: Yuxi, Tonghai, Jianshui, Mengzi, Hekou. There are about half a dozen trains a day in each direction on the Kunming-Mengzi section; fewer, south of Mengzi. Most of the train stations on the new railway are a fairly long way out of the towns they serve, but local bus service between the station and the town is usually available.

Mengzi has an airport as well.

By train
Trains can be used to move between the cities on the new (standard-gauge) Kunming-Hekou line (via Kunyang, Yuxi, Tonghai, Jianshui, and Mengzi). Thanks to extensive tunneling, the railway is straighter than most roads, which makes a train trip faster and more pleasant than one by bus. Note that in most cities, the train station is quite a way out of town, but bus service to central city is usually available.

There is a century-old old narrow-gauge, 100 km or so to the east of the new standard-gauge line, but it has no passenger service.

By bus
Buses can be used to travel everywhere else; Mengzi is the region's main hub.

By bicycle
Traveling by bicycle in SE Yunnan is possible, and often quite rewarding. Most cities are within a day's trip from one another (60-80 km) along a provincial highway (省道). As cities are usually in river or lake valleys, riding between two cities will involve climbing at least a couple of hundred meters, and then losing elevation.

The Red River flows in a narrow and deep valley, about 1,000 m below the towns north or south of it, so all the roads descending into it have an impressive series of switchbacks.

Be aware of the combination of the usual hazards of riding in China. When crossing industrial/commercial suburbs of most cities, you'll go through a belt of congested roads, smoke and dust. Once outside of the densely populated area, the traffic is usually low, but the road may have some sections being repaired - or in dire need of repair.

See

 * The Chengjiang fossil site, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List
 * Cultural Landscape of Honghe Hani Rice Terraces - UNESCO World Heritage site since 2013

Do

 * Fuxian lake

Eat
Locally produced tropical fruit are available in the southern part of the region. Try local bananas, jackfruit, passion fruit, loquats, and even mangoes. Strawberries are grown in large fields in the northern counties of the region, e.g. around Yuxi.

title: Southeastern Yunnan


text:
Southeastern Zimbabwe

Southeastern Zimbabwe is a region in Zimbabwe corresponding to Masvingo province and the southern part of Midlands province. The northern part is more industrial with much of the country's mineral wealth while the south has national parks and the Great Zimbabwe ruins.

title: Southeastern Zimbabwe


text:
Southeast Iowa

Southeast Iowa is in United States of America.

Understand
This small region includes the counties of Louisa, Des Moines (which is not the same as the city Des Moines in Central Iowa), Lee, Henry, Van Buren, and Jefferson. All together, about 125,000 people live in this region.

Get in
Amtrak's passenger train the Southwest Chief stops in Fort Madison on its runs between Chicago and other stops in Illinois on one side and Missouri, Kansas, and other states on the other as it makes its way to Los Angeles.

Stay safe
Especially during the spring and early summer months, travelers should be aware of tornadoes and flood risks.

title: Southeast Iowa


text:
Southeast Ireland

Southeast Ireland is a region of Ireland comprising Counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford. With a population of 422,062 in 2016, it's one of the eight regions of Ireland for statistical and planning purposes, specifically "IE052 - NUTS Level III"; it's not a unit of local government. Historically most of it was part of the kingdom or province of Leinster, but County Waterford lay in Munster. The southeast has historic cities, pastoral landscapes and long sandy beaches.

Cities and towns

 * is Ireland's oldest city, founded by the Vikings, and embellished and battled over since. It has the best concentration of visitor attractions and facilities in this region.
 * has an elegant castle, gardens and cathedral, with other mansions and gardens in the nearby countryside.
 * blends history and modern attractions
 * has a medieval core, and is second only to Waterford in its concentration of visitor facilities.
 * is an attractive small city near Rosslare ferry port.
 * was the centre of the 1798 rebellion, and the tiny nearby village of Ferns has a cluster of medieval ruins.
 * is near the JFK arboretum and Kennedy family homestead.

Other destinations

 * is a self-proclaimed independent principality off the Wexford coast, reached by boat trips from Kilmore Quay. The Wexford rebel enclave lasted six weeks, the Kilkenny Confederacy of Ireland lasted six years, but somehow this one has endured since 1945. Either the mainland authorities are short of muskets and gumption, or the taxes that the "Prince" says he won't pay aren't really that much in arrears.

Understand
Glaciers created Ireland's notorious bogs but cleared early from the southeast, leaving a low-lying, well-drained and fertile region. Its two coasts are lined with little coves and sandy beaches where sailing boats could easily draw up, so it attracted many early settlers. No-one knows how the Celts first reached Ireland circa 500 BC, but via the southeast seems likely. The Vikings founded the city of Waterford; the Normans first landed in Wexford and decided to stay for keeps. Here in Tudor times the English resumed the land grab, so Sir Walter Raleigh became a wealthy landowner around Lismore. Castles, abbeys and mansion houses reaped the profits of the farmland. The southeast was also the seat of two major rebellions: by the 17th century Kilkenny Confederacy against Cromwell, and by the United Irishmen in Wexford in 1798.

This means that the region lacks spectacular scenery, but it more than compensates with its rich historic heritage, wealth of visitor facilities, and good transport. And it's somehow homage to the early voyagers and spirit of Sir Walter that the southeast saw the first-ever Ryanair flight, from Waterford to Gatwick in 1985. Equally true to that spirit, it was among the first routes to be axed.

Get in
Dublin Airport is usually the best place to fly into, for its range of flights at competitive prices. It's obviously some distance from the southeast but has good direct public transport, and if you hire a car you're soon on the motorway south.

Cork airport is closer but has fewer flights. Waterford airport lost its commercial flights in 2016. Trains run 5-7 times a day from Dublin Heuston to Waterford, taking 2 hr 15 min via Newbridge, Kildare, Athy, Carlow, Bagenalstown / Muine Bheag, Kilkenny and Thomastown. Dublin Heuston is also the station for Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway and Mayo. Waterford has a branchline service twice a day to Carrick-on-Suir, Clonmel, Cahir, Tipperary and Limerick Junction, for trains to Cork, Kerry and Limerick.

Trains run five times a day from Dublin Connolly to Rosslare town and Europort, for ferries from Wales and the continent. They take 3 hours via Dún Laoghaire, Bray, Wicklow Town, Rathdrum, Arklow, Gorey, Enniscorthy and Wexford. Dublin Connolly is also the station for Belfast, Sligo and Dublin DART trains. The railway between Wexford and Waterford was axed in 2010 so there is no link between the two main lines.

Buses run direct from Dublin airport and city to Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Waterford and Cork. Bus Éireann is the main operator but they have competition on these routes. Their Bus 40 trundles the breadth of Ireland from Rosslare via Wexford, New Ross, Waterford, Cork, Killarney and Tralee, while Bus 73 runs from Athlone across the midlands to Waterford.

Motorways fan out from Dublin and are toll-free once you leave the city M50.

By boat, Rosslare has ferries from Wales, and in summer direct from Europe. You could also take the ferry from Liverpool or Holyhead to Dublin and drive south. Cork has no ferries but is often visited by cruise ships.

Get around
See above for inter-city rail and bus routes: any two points on the same transport corridor will have good connections, but then there's a lot in between. Thomastown is a good example, with trains and buses rushing between Dublin and Waterford. But the town's main attraction Jerpoint Abbey is 3 km away along a busy road with no public transport or pavement, so you need at least a bike. That might also get you as far as charming Inistioge, but then the distances become daunting so you need a car.

The navigable River Barrow flows through the southeast, but is tidal up beyond New Ross, off limits to rented boats.

See

 * Many of the top sights are Heritage Ireland Sites. A heritage card valid for a year costs €21 for an adult.
 * Castles: lots, with good examples at Kilkenny, Dungarvan, Lismore, Wexford and Ferns. The strangest miscellany is in County Carlow, with a psychiatrically disturbed one in Carlow town, a plush one near Tullow that reckons to assist the Goddess Isis, a figment of mi'lord's imagination in Bagenalstown, and some that nobody can find; plus many battered stumps.
 * City walls are preserved here and there in Kilkenny and Waterford.
 * Museums abound. History focused on this region is the Confederacy (against Cromwell) in Kilkenny, and the 1798 United Irishmen rebellion in County Wexford.
 * Abbeys and churches include St Mary's Church at Gowran, Jerpoint Abbey in Thomastown, and Tintern in New Ross.
 * Gardens include Altamont in County Carlow, the Japanese Garden in Tramore and the JFK Arboretum at New Ross.

Do

 * Beaches: best for family bathing are on the sheltered east coast of County Wexford. Lots more south-facing, but more exposed, and their sand bars were notorious for wrecking ships. Outside Tramore to warn of its treacherous bay is joint-winner of The World's Campest Lighthouse, built as a flouncy Georgian sailor lad. The title is shared with his twin brother at Rosses Point near Sligo.
 * Canal boats: the region is traversed by the Barrow Navigation. It branches off the Grand Canal (navigable from the Liffey in Dublin to the Shannon near Longford) at Robertstown in County Kildare. It courses south to Athy, Carlow, Bagenalstown, Graignamanagh and St Mullins, then becomes tidal down to New Ross, Waterford and out to sea. The river is also navigable up to Kilkenny.
 * Gaelic games: the four county GAA teams play home games in their county towns. Kilkenny is a good place to watch hurling as it's their dominant sport, whereas it's Gaelic football in the rest of Ireland.
 * Mountains in this region are for soggy hikes not technical stuff, such as the Knockmealdown range between Waterford and Tipperary, reaching 794 m.

Eat

 * Waterford has the best selection of restaurants in the region, including Japanese and upmarket French.
 * Wexford also has a wide selection, but that county's top dining is probably The Duck in Gorey.
 * In Kilkenny the best reviews are for Rinuccini and Zuni in town, and for Mount Juliet golf resort near Thomastown.
 * Carlow town has nothing special, but it's worth venturing out to the country house hotels beyond Tullow.
 * The blaa is a Waterford specialty - a soft bap. They don't keep, so you must eat them fresh, which is why they're only found in and around the city, and becoming uncommon even there. Snaffle them down while you can.

Drink

 * Lots of pubs everywhere, but Kilkenny has the most unusual: Kyteler's was home to one of the first people in Europe to be persecuted as a witch, Cleere's contains a theatre, and Left Bank was stunningly redecorated after the bank left.
 * There are breweries in Carlow, Bagenalstown, Wexford, Gorey, Waterford and Dungarvan, but Kilkenny Beer and Smithwick's are nowadays brewed in Dublin.
 * Distilleries are in Carlow, Enniscorthy, Waterford and Lismore.

Stay safe
The region is lowland; take care on the water but the main hazards are man-made, especially traffic.

Go next

 * West is County Cork and the rugged Atlantic coast through Kerry.
 * Northwest lie the midlands, bisected by the Shannon, with Athlone and Clonmacnoise in the middle.
 * North rise the Wicklow mountains, with plush mansions at their foot then the outskirts of Dublin.

title: Southeast Ireland


text:
Southeast Michigan

Southeast Michigan is the region of Michigan closest to Ohio and the Canadian province of Ontario. Although the name is commonly used to mean "the Detroit area", and the state's megalopolis is an important presence, it contains considerably more than the Motor City.

Cities

 * — home to the University of Michigan, has a vibrant downtown and arts scene
 * — largest city in Michigan, the Motor City
 * — home of the largest walled prison in the world
 * – the county seat and largest city in St. Clair county

Talk
English is by far the most common language in this part of the country.

By plane

 * Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Romulus

 * Bishop International Airport in Flint

By train
For starters, visit the website of the Southern Michigan Railroad Society for a basic gist if needed.

AMTRAK runs daily trains on the east - west line that go from their station downtown Detroit  to Ann Arbor to Chicago and vice versa.

Another popular train ride is north to the Canadian city of Toronto for weekend trips.

By bus
Lake Erie Transit is head-quartered in Monroe.

Do

 * Beaches, Canoeing, Kayaking, and more Metro Detroit's popular destinations include Metropolitan Beach in Harrison Township., Stony Creek Beach, and Kensington Beach. Detroit's Huron Clinton Metro Park system is a great source of fun. Enjoy canoe trips on the Huron River.
 * Golf Metro Detroit has many golf courses. Try Detroit's Metro parks, St John's Resort in Plymouth, and more.
 * Horse Racing Hazel Park Raceway, Northville Downs, and Windsor Raceway.
 * Michigan International Speedway 12626 US-12, Brooklyn, MI. Home to annual ARCA, NASCAR Cup and Xfinity Series races. Also hosts the annual Faster Horses 3 day country music festival.

Eat
Wild grapes for one's pick-me-'round, especially in and around the River Raisin's water shed while exploring the river.

Stay safe
If you feel unfamiliar with the rest of the region (at least when it comes to highways), the Monroe County Library System could be your best bet.

Go next

 * West Michigan
 * Central Michigan
 * Northwest Ohio
 * Ohio Erie shore west
 * Lake Erie Islands

title: Southeast Michigan


text:
Southeast Missouri

Southeast Region of Missouri.

Cities

 * — Hometown of former Governor Warren E. Hearnes.  Visit in the springtime.
 * — Hometown of former Governor Warren E. Hearnes.  Visit in the springtime.
 * — Hometown of former Governor Warren E. Hearnes.  Visit in the springtime.
 * — Hometown of former Governor Warren E. Hearnes.  Visit in the springtime.

See

 * Big Springs Park — on the outskirts of Van Buren, it is one of North America's largest freshwater springs.
 * Historic downtowns of Charleston and Cape Girardeau.

Rivers
The Black, Current, North Fork of the White, and their tributaries are a major draw for recreational canoeing and kayaking. There are many outfitters in this region who can help you plan a trip.

title: Southeast Missouri


text:
Southeast New Mexico

Southeastern New Mexico is a region of the state of New Mexico in the United States of America. It is less well endowed with significant travel destinations than most other regions of New Mexico, but does include the spectacular Carlsbad Caverns National Park, a vast and scenic sea of sand at White Sands National Park, mountain scenery in the Sacramento and Guadalupe Mountains, and the town of Roswell, which enjoys a weird notoriety among UFO aficionados.

Cities

 * - A large community on the western side of this region with a few attractions, most notably an extensive museum of space history with exhibits and artifacts on space travel.
 * - A town that serves as the gateway to the Carlsbad Caverns and holds much of the traveler amenities for those heading to the caverns.
 * - A resort town high in the Sacramento Mountains with some lovely mountain scenery and interesting nearby attractions like a solar observatory.
 * - A prominent community near the Texas border with some minor attractions.
 * - A small desert town most famed as the final resting place of Old West outlaw Billy the Kid.
 * - Another prominent community near the Texas border.
 * - A small community in the Sacramento Mountains noted for its association with Billy the Kid.
 * - A fairly quiet agricultural town near the Texas border.
 * - The largest town in this region, famed for its curious association with an alleged UFO crash.
 * - The largest community in the Sacramento Mountains, popular among travelers — particularly Texans seeking cool mountain air — for its mountain scenery, resorts, and horse racing track.

Other destinations

 * - A park famed for its massive and dazzling underground caverns, among the largest in the world.
 * - Encompasses much of the mountainous terrain of this region.
 * - Contains the vast reach of the world's largest gypsum sand dune field.

Understand
The boundary between this region and Southwest New Mexico is indistinct and open to debate, but for purposes of this article, is taken to be the western slopes of the Sacramento Mountains including (just barely) White Sands National Park. Otherwise, it is bounded on the east and south by the Texas state line, and on the north by Interstate highway 40, which follows the route of historic Route 66 in New Mexico.

Thus defined, this is mainly a low, flat region with a number of affinities to the Texas Panhandle; indeed, the area bounded by Clovis, Roswell, Carlsbad and Hobbs is commonly called "Little Texas" not only for its social leanings but also because of its extensive oil fields. However, in addition to the Sacramentos, it does contain the rugged Guadalupe Mountains that rise west of Artesia, Carlsbad and Roswell and continue across the Texas state line to Guadalupe Mountains National Park and the highest point in Texas, Guadalupe Peak. Most of the region's scenic points of interest are in or near the Sacramentos or Guadalupes, with Carlsbad Caverns in the latter's foothills and White Sands just west of the former.

This geology affects the traveler in one non-obvious way. The "Little Texas" part of the state is basically a vast plain with an extensive layer of gypsum rock beneath it. While this permeable rock is valuable in preserving the limited precipitation (nearly the entire region qualifies as "desert"), it also means that water drawn from wells in the region has a taste that can charitably be described as "vile." It's perfectly safe to drink, but such is its taste that this is a good region in which to make use of bottled water.

Talk
English, although there are some Spanish speakers in the region. The local version of English involves an accent more like a "Texas drawl" than the rapid-fire, "machine gun" accent typical of other parts of New Mexico (particularly the north central region) in which Spanish speakers are more common. This slower-paced version of English will be more accessible to many visitors for whom English is not their first language. Additionally, there are some Mescalero-Chiricahua Apache speakers on the Mescalero reservation.

Get in

Carlsbad, Clovis , Roswell and Hobbs  have limited commuter air service. Otherwise, those arriving by air may find it more convenient to fly into Lubbock, Midland, El Paso, or Amarillo. There is limited bus service. The main roads entering this region (US 62, 180, 285, 380) are generally in good shape year-round, as the lower elevation of this region, compared to the rest of the state, tends to soften the blow of winter storms, etc.

Get around
Drive; there really isn't a viable alternative. The presence of the petroleum industry in this corner of the state has the advantage for the driver of providing a somewhat higher density of towns with gas stations, etc., than in some other parts of New Mexico. The northwestern reaches of the region, however, are still very thinly populated, and if you're driving in this area (e.g. between I-40 and Roswell), keep an eye on the gas gauge.

US and state highways in the region are generally in good shape. However, if you're heading into the mountains, particularly the Guadalupes, for outdoor adventure, check locally on the condition of Forest Service roads, which can be very rough; some will challenge even the experienced 4-wheel driver.

Stay safe
This is the hottest of New Mexico's regions. When driving cross-country or hiking, make sure you have an ample water supply, and monitor yourself for heat problems. Other weather- and climate-related hazards are less likely to be a concern, but the region can get occasional tornadoes, some of them severe, at practically any time of year. If it's stormy, check radio or TV for tornado watches and warnings. The violent thunderstorms that harbor the twisters can also produce incredibly intense, if short-lived, rain and hail, which can cause dangerous flash floods in arroyos even a number of miles downstream of the storms. You probably won't have to face danger from these floods (it's a desert, after all, and the storms are rare), but use caution if there are thunderclouds about. You probably won't see a tornado either, but check the Tornado safety page if you're concerned, or just curious, about the possibility.

Desert flora and fauna are inimical to mankind; a high proportion of plants and animals here are spiny, thorny, or poisonous. There are any number of varieties of cactus here that will cheerfully leave spines in you when contacted, and if you've ever had a lechuguilla (relative of ornamental yucca) spine in your leg, you'll go well out of your way to avoid another one. Hiking boots are a good idea when you're on the trails, as are long pants to deflect the spines, even if they're uncomfortably hot. Rattlesnakes are common in the region but are rarely encountered and pose little threat to the hiker, as long as you don't poke limbs into crannies and crevices, and take a little extra care at sunrise and sunset.

Towns of the region are small enough not to have serious crime or other urban problems. Like all of New Mexico, there are problems here with drunk driving, exacerbated by the long distances and open roads that encourage driving too fast. Use caution and avoid highway hypnosis that can cause you to lower your guard when an intoxicated motorist comes your way.

Go next
The rugged, flat country of the Texas Panhandle lies to the east, while the more varied terrain of the Big Bend Country of Texas lies to the south, with its mountains, canyons, and grasslands. To the west is Southwest New Mexico, home to a few curious attractions and plenty of local color.

title: Southeast New Mexico


text:
South East Nigeria

South East Nigeria (Igboland) is a region of Nigeria. It is composed of the following states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo.

Cities
Abia State
 * — a railway and agricultural market centre
 * — a railway and agricultural market centre
 * — a railway and agricultural market centre
 * — a railway and agricultural market centre
 * — a railway and agricultural market centre

Anambra State
 * — the state capital
 * — a major industrial and commercial hub
 * — a historic port city from the pre-colonial era that is the state's largest city, and is home to the largest market in Africa
 * — a historic port city from the pre-colonial era that is the state's largest city, and is home to the largest market in Africa

Ebonyi State

Enugu State
 * — a popular filming location for Nollywood productions

Imo State
 * — the entertainment capital of Nigeria because of its high density of hotels, high street casinos, and production studios
 * — the commercial capital of Imo state

Understand
The dominant languages of the region are Igbo and English.

Talk
Although most people in the southeast speak English, it is best learning a few words and phrases in Igbo, the dominant language here.

By car
South East Nigeria has a well-developed road system that makes travel easy by car. Vehicles can be hired at any one of the cities.

Eat
Yams are the cultural food of the Igbos, the people of eastern Nigeria.

title: South East Nigeria