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Western Netherlands

The Western Netherlands is the region that most foreign visitors to the Netherlands attend. Quite frankly, many of them don't even see any other part of the country at all—this region has everything you'd expect from the country and has the most sights and activities. It is the most urbanized area of the country. Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht, the four largest cities of the country, are all in this region. There is an abundance of airports, ports, museums, restaurants and nightlife. However, most of the land is still of a rural nature. The endless flat polders Holland is famous for are omnipresent—with the occasional cute village popping up. Interesting places like Kinderdijk, Marken, Oudewater, Volendam and Zaanse Schans are just a short train/bus (or bike!) ride from the major cities.

Cities

 * — traveller magnet due to its impressive architecture, lovely canals, museums and infamous nightlife
 * — historic town popular for its cheese market
 * — historic unspoiled town with traditional architecture, canals, bikes, and the world famous blue and white ceramics
 * — 17th century town centre, shops and numerous museums
 * — world-famous for its Gouda cheese and the home of stroopwafels
 * — historic student city with the oldest university in the country and three national museums
 * — modern architecture, as well as one of the largest ports in the world
 * — judicial capital of the world, as well as the seat of the Dutch government and the royal family
 * — historic city, university town and the Rietveld Schröder House

Other destinations

 * — more than 800,000 visitors see these enormous flower gardens each spring
 * — these mills show the Dutch landscape in all its glory
 * — largest and most-populous beach resort of the Netherlands; administratively a part of The Hague
 * — this used to be an island community, but an evacuation in 1859 put an end to it all
 * — the international airport of Amsterdam, one of Europe's busiest airport cities
 * — one of the West Frisian Islands, it houses great tourist resorts for its beaches
 * — open-air display of Dutch windmills and houses
 * — traditional Dutch villages with clogs, wooden houses and windmills
 * — forests, beaches and dunes to hike or cycle around in

Understand

The Western Netherlands is the most visited part of the Netherlands and is a very diverse region. It is home to the largest cities of the country, but the typical Dutch rural landscapes can also be found here. Its four provinces are among the most densely populated areas in Europe. Much of the territory is part of the Randstad, a conurbation with more than 7.5 million inhabitants. It consists of the four largest cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague and Utrecht) and their surrounding areas. Randstad means "rim city", as it is shaped like an urbanized circle with an empty green space in the middle. That center is known as the Groene Hart ("Green Heart"), a rural area that mostly consists of pancake flat polders and lakes.

The Randstad is an economic powerhouse that other regions of the country rely on. Trade is probably the most important economic activity in the Netherlands due to its geographic location between Germany and the North Sea. The Port of Rotterdam is the largest port of Europe and its trade over the Rhine with the German Ruhr area is an important engine for the Dutch economy. Amsterdam is an important financial center and many multinationals have their headquarters in the city. Amsterdam also has the country's largest airport, Schiphol Airport, which is the third busiest airport of the continent (2016), and one of the world's airport cities.

Not the capital Amsterdam, but The Hague is the country's political center. The Binnenhof is where much of the country's important political decisions are made. The Hague is not just important nationally, but also has a large influence on justice and international relations on a global scale. It is known as the "judicial capital of the world" as it is home to some of the world's most important international institutions: the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and Europol. The Peace Palace is a symbol of international cooperation and peace.

By plane
Many visitors to the Western Netherlands (and the Netherlands in general) arrive at Schiphol Airport. It is not in Amsterdam, but is in the adjacent municipality of Haarlemmermeer on reclaimed land below sea level.

Rotterdam The Hague Airport is a much smaller airport that been functioning as a base for low-cost carriers to other European destinations. More information about the airport can be found in the Rotterdam article. In the future Lelystad Airport in Lelystad will be further expanded to allow low-cost carriers to land there.

By train
There are a plethora of train services running to all other provinces of the country. Also, there are international connections with Antwerp, Brussels, Berlin, Frankfurt and Milan. Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Leiden are the major train hubs.

By car
Many roads connect the western region with other regions of the Netherlands. If you're coming from the south, the A2 connects Amsterdam and Utrecht with 's-Hertogenbosch, Eindhoven and Maastricht, while the A27 is the principal connection from Breda and the Flemish Diamond metropolitan region. If you're coming from the east, the A12 connects the region with the Hoge Veluwe National Park, Arnhem and the Ruhr in Germany, and the A1 is leading to the region from Twente and Apeldoorn. From northern provinces like Friesland or Groningen, the A6 or A7 (over the Afsluitdijk) is the fastest route.

By train
Most foreign visitors use the train to get around. The Netherlands Railways serves nearly every large town, and you can use the website to plan your journey ahead of time.

The major cities of Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Utrecht all have local urban rail services as well. Trams serve all these 4 cities, with metro subway services available in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Line E of the Rotterdam Metro extends to serve The Hague's central station.

By bus
The bus is mostly used as a way of transport within towns or between towns in the same area. Bus travel is time-consuming, confusing and slow, so avoid it if there's rail transport available. There's a plethora of bus companies available that all serve a different set of regions and provinces. You can plan your journey at 9292.nl.

By car
The Randstad has various motorways. Traffic jams can occur at any time of the day; however rush hour lasts during 06:00–10.00 and 15:00–19:00. Major bottlenecks can create traffic jams up to 20 kilometres in length. Most motorways are no wider than 2x2 or 2x3 lanes. Some hard shoulders are in use as peak hour lanes - traffic is allowed to use the hard shoulder as a third lane during periods of congestion, when signs indicate. Because of the lack of sufficient minor roads, local traffic also uses the motorways for short distances.

By bicycle
Cycling is a popular activity among the Dutch and a great way to see more of the landscape. There are bicycle paths between all towns, some of which traverse through picturesque villages, green polders and forests. Some scenic bicycle paths are numbered and sign-posted throughout the region; maps for them are provided at local tourist information offices. Cycling is especially appealing in the Zaanstreek-Waterland, Gooi en Vechtstreek and the Green Heart.

Historic towns
There are dozens of historic towns in the Netherlands that deserve a visit. The most well-known obviously is the historic 17th-century city center of Amsterdam. Its historic architecture can be explored by a boat tour which goes through its lovely canals (known as grachten). The center became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010.

Many visitors include a day-trip to one of the West's other historic cities. North Holland is filled with them — Haarlem, Alkmaar, Hoorn and Enkhuizen are less than one hour away as a day-trip from the capital. South Holland also has a few interesting historic towns. Delft is a tourist-favorite with its traditional architecture, canals, bikes, and the world famous blue and white ceramics. Gouda is known from the world famous Gouda cheese — but besides the cheese market, its historic town center is a really fun walk. Leiden, while historical, has much of a student-feel due the presence of the oldest university of the Netherlands there.

The traditionally Catholic city of Utrecht is not visited a lot by foreigners, but it’s hard to understand why — it has the amenities of a big city, but its canals feel even more calm and relaxed than those in average medium-sized cities. Its an excellent destination to visit some antique stores or grab a beer while seeing the boats pass by. Amersfoort is a lot smaller, but again, its ancient center makes for a nice day out.

Traditional Holland

The Holland of cheese, windmills, clogs and polders can best be seen in the countryside. Most foreigners at least incorporate a visit to the Zaanstreek-Waterland — a traditional region of small villages where a traditional folk culture is still present. The most visited attraction of the area is the Zaanse Schans, which is only 10 km north of Amsterdam. It's a cute display of typical Dutch windmills. Volendam is a well-known traditional fishing village, often visited for its magnificent waterfront boulevard and its people wearing old Dutch costumes. More authentic nearby communities include Monnickendam and Marken, the latter with its characteristic wooden houses.

Another famous export product of Holland is cheese, and you might want to catch a traditional cheese market. The largest cheese market of the Netherlands is held in Alkmaar. Gouda is world-famous for its Gouda cheese, and that town also has its own cheese market. The cheese market of Edam is another fair choice if you want to see (and taste) some. Beemster also has its own cheese, which is sold all over the world, but more interesting is the Beemster Polder. Because of its historical relevance, and because the original grid pattern of the area is still largely intact, it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1999.

Beside the Gouda cheese market, South Holland has a lot more typical Hollandic scenery on offer. Every Spring, the Bulb Region becomes alive with miles and miles of enormous flower fields — including tulips. Hundreds of thousands of visitors go to the Keukenhof each year to see its beautifully arranged flowers. The windmills at Kinderdijk, about 20 km east from Rotterdam, are very authentic and make a great stroll through the countryside. Delft is also a must-see for its typical Dutch blue and white ceramics.

The new landmass: Flevoland
Flevoland is a new province reclaimed in the 20th century from the sea: it consists of the Noordoostpolder and the Flevopolder close to Amsterdam, the largest artificial island of the world. As these areas have been only populated after World War II, the cities here are not considered very attractive by most of the Dutch. You may be interested, for example, in the National Aviation Museum in Lelystad, the province's capital, or the Oostvaardersplassen nature reserve.

Oddly enough, there is one traditional community residing in the Noordoostpolder. The reason for that is that two former islands have been integrated into the Noordoostpolder. Urk is one of these former islands, and one of the most religiously Protestant communities of the country. You might still spot some traditional villagers in their old costumes or wooden shoes.

Another former island is Schokland, which used to be a similar community like Urk, but it had to be evacuated in 1859 due to destructive floods. Some old buildings still remain, and the area with its museum has the honor of being the first UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Netherlands in 1995.

Castles and fortifications
The region is filled with history and there are plenty of castles and fortifications to be found. Surrounding Amsterdam in the province of North Holland is the Defence Line of Amsterdam (Stelling van Amsterdam), a 135 km long ring of fortifications around the capital city. In total, it consists of 42 forts about 10 to 15 kilometers from the city center. It's surrounded by low polder lands, which could easily be flooded in time of war. While the line was constructed from the 19th-century, many of its 42 forts are actually structures from the Middle Ages.

One of them is the Muiderslot, a 13th-century castle in Muiden that's definitely worth a visit. Nearby are the 17th-century fortifications of Naarden, which are among the best preserved in Europe. The town is an example of a Spanish star fort, in an exceptional quality and complete with fortified walls and a moat. Weesp is another fortified town near Amsterdam, and could be a nice daytrip.

Then there is Castle De Haar in Utrecht, which has a history since at least 1391. It did fell into ruins in the 17th-century and had to be largely rebuilt in 1892 by the Dutch architect P.J.H. Cuypers — he did a magnificent job at it.

Modern architecture

Rotterdam is the only Dutch city that could be thought of as having a decent modern skyline. It was already a centre of modernist architecture in the early 1900s, but since its city centre was heavily bombed throughout World War II, it got a completely different feel than traditional Amsterdam. Rotterdam is a play garden of modern architects, which has led to the largest residential building (Montevideo Tower) and the largest office building (Maastoren) of the country. The Euromast and the Erasmus Bridge are must-visits as they are an integral part of the look and feel of Rotterdam's skyline. The city is also home to some quirky architecture, such as the cube houses. Though, Rotterdam has also some old parts like Delftshaven.

Utrecht has the Rietveld Schröder House, arguably the only true De Stijl building and another UNESCO-designated site. Other modern architecture nuts might want to spend some time in Hilversum, where architect Dudok designed a lot of buildings (and even whole neighborhoods) in the New Objectivity style. His most important creation there is the Hilversum Town Hall. Many other architects have also contributed to Hilversum as it is today, including Jan Duiker, MVRDV, Pierre Cuypers and Ben van Berkel.

Flevoland is a new province, its land has been reclaimed from the sea in the 20th century. This gave the province a completely different feel than the old provinces. Almere is like a suburb of Amsterdam, and while many Dutch claim it as the most boring city of the country, it does have a lot of modern architectural highlights. Some neighborhoods in Almere gave their inhabitants the freedom to design their own building. Others have been designed by famous architects, such as La Defense Offices by Ben van Berkel.

Do
Cycling is a popular activity among the Dutch as it is a fun way to get some exercise and get around beautiful towns and the surrounding nature. Obviously a bicycle tour through the center of Amsterdam is well-worth it, but many other regions are fun to cycle through as well — such as the Zaanstreek-Waterland, the Gooi en Vechtstreek or the Green Heart. During Springtime a cycle tour through the Bulb Region is well worth it as you can take pictures of enormous and colorful flower fields.

When you say beach, most Dutch people will think of Scheveningen, which is an integral part of the city of The Hague (don't say this out loud though as the people of Scheveningen feel their town as having a separate identity). It is the most popular seaside resort of the country, and expect it to be very crowded when the temperatures get tropical. It has a long sandy beach, an esplanade, a pier, and a lighthouse. The 19th-century luxury hotel and restaurant Kurhaus makes for an impressive sight and is well-known all over the country. The most important seaside resort of North Holland is Zandvoort, but its a lot calmer and is not to be compared with the former. Other calm beaches can be found in Bergen, Kennemerland, the Bulb Region and the island of Texel.

Many locals enjoy water sports at the artificial lakes in the area. Wijdemeren, Aalsmeer, Kaag, Stichtse Vecht and plenty of destinations in the Green Heart can be visited for this purpose. Other lakes such as Markermeer are surrounding the Flevopolder island.

Eat

The Western Netherlands have a cuisine that is remarkably different than the other regions in the country (Western cuisine includes Zeeland and Southwest Gelderland). It is known for its world famous cheese, such as Gouda, Leyden, Edam, Leerdam and Beemster cheese. Some of these cheeses, mostly notably Gouda, is sold in supermarkets all over the world including the United States and the United Kingdom.

Another dairy product home to the region is butter. The butter produced in South Holland is known for its large amount of milkfat compared to butter from other European countries. Buttermilk, that is produced during the butter-making process is also a typical product for the region.

As the Dutch have always fought against the sea, seafood is some of the most traditional food of the region. Raw herring is a must-try, especially with cut onions sprinkled on top and wrapped in a bread roll. Other seafood you could try are kibbeling, mussels, eels, oysters and shrimps. You can buy them in sea food carts in the city center of most towns or in supermarkets.

Drink
Beer is the traditional alcoholic beverage of the region, especially the pilsner variety (known in Dutch as pils). Every town has a bar with its local beer on offer, in larger cities bars usually have a wider selection of beers available. Jenever is a high proof juniper-flavoured spirit that is very popular in the region, especially among older generations. In the English-speaking world, this beverage is known as Dutch gin, and it is the variety from which other kinds of gin evolved. Another alcoholic beverage from the region is advocaat, a rich and creamy liqueur made from eggs, sugar and brandy. It has a yellowish appearance and a smooth, custard-like flavour. It generally has an alcohol percentage between 14% and 20%.

Stay safe
The Western region is safe in general. There are some outer suburbs that are better avoided, especially in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and The Hague, but these are mostly outside of the typical tourist spots.

Go next
The Hoge Veluwe National Park is a popular visit among the locals. Day-trips to 's-Hertogenbosch, Breda, Nijmegen and Zwolle are just a few of the options available.

title: Western Netherlands


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Western Nevada

Western Nevada is in Nevada. It comprises Carson City, Douglas County, Lyon County, Storey County, and Washoe County.

Cities

 * – state capital
 * and – a gambling city with plenty of things to do, the other Las Vegas
 * – a western town with traditional architecture and saloons
 * and – a gambling city with plenty of things to do, the other Las Vegas
 * – a western town with traditional architecture and saloons
 * – a western town with traditional architecture and saloons
 * – a western town with traditional architecture and saloons

Other destinations

 * – a small micronation just outside of Dayton
 * – a small micronation just outside of Dayton
 * – a small micronation just outside of Dayton

Understand
Western Nevada is home to the Comstock Lode, one of the richest silver finds in history. The discovery of silver in 1859 led to a massive mining boom in the area creating fortunes for some and poverty and despair for most. The nickname for Nevada, The Silver State, was coined for this era. The most enduring legacy of the Comstock rush is the advances to mining technology the effort to extract silver brought.

The mining history of this region is very much in alive with Virginia City being the crown jewel of the mining district. The parallel history of the railroads that supported the mines is also very much in the forefront here in the form of the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City and a restored section of the historic Virginia and Truckee Railroad running passenger excursions.

Climate
The climate in this region ranges from the forested mountains around Lake Tahoe to the semi-arid high desert of the eastern areas in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges. With this wide variation in altitude and climate, temperatures and precipitation vary throughout the region.

For the areas east of the mountains, the annual low is about 19°F and the high is 92°F (-7°C–33°C) with annual precipitation of about 7.5 in (19 cm). For Lake Tahoe area, the large body of water had a moderating effect on the temperature with a low of 23°F and a high of 78°F (-5°C–25°C). Annual precipitation is about 18 in (45 cm).

Geography
The southwestern portion of this region is dominated by Lake Tahoe and heavily forested slopes surrounding it. The shoreline of the lake rests at 6,230 ft (1,899 m) while the mountains surrounding it reach to over 8,000 ft (2,438 m) topping out at Mt. Rose with an altitude of 10,776 ft (3,285 m). This region is known for its skiing in the winter and provides a cool escape from the heat of the lower eastern portions of the region during the summer.

The remainder of this region slopes down to the east into the Great Basin ranging from 5,000 ft to 3,500 ft (1,524–1,066 m) in elevation. As with much of Nevada, the terrain is composed of north-south trending mountain ranges with valleys in between. The northern half of this region is particularly mountainous and sparsely populated with Gerlach being the northernmost town of any size, located 90 miles (145 km) from Nevada northern border.

By plane

General aviation pilots may use any of the following airports:

By car
From the east and west, Interstate 80 offers the best way to get to the region. From the south, U.S. Highway 395 enters the Carson Valley at Dresslerville. Access from the north is via State Route 447, Surprise Valley Road, a 2-lane highway which snakes its way down to Gerlach. The far northern portions of this region are predominantly roadless wilderness; however, the far north can be accessed via County Road 8 from the east and west and County Road 34 from the east and north.

Get around
Travel between the northern and southern parts of this region requires a detour west into California or east into Northern Nevada to bypass the brutally rugged terrain the dominates the north part of Western Nevada.

Go next

 * California's Gold Country is just across the border. Home of the 1849 California Gold Rush, it offers a companion experience to Nevada's Silver Rush.
 * Yosemite National Park is a 2.5 hour drive south of Carson City.
 * Lassen Volcanic National Park, showcasing an active volcanic area that last erupted in 1915, is a 3-hour drive to the northwest of Reno.

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

title: Western Nevada


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Western Newfoundland

Western Newfoundland is part of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador, running along the western edge of the island of Newfoundland.

Towns and cities

 * — the largest city in Western Newfoundland, its port is an attraction for visiting cruise ships
 * — the closest major town to Gros Morne National Park, and home to the principal airport for western Newfoundland
 * — connected to the island by a narrow isthmus, it has a lively francophone community descended from French fisherfolk and Acadians
 * — the main point of entry for Trans-Canada Highway traffic arriving by ferry from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
 * — home to Ernest Harmon U.S. Air Force from 1941 to 1966, the town uses many former USAF structures for housing, recreation and entertainment

Other destinations

 * — home to L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, a former Viking settlement at the northern tip of the peninsula
 * — a UNESCO World Heritage site, and an area of impressive natural beauty, rural Newfoundland culture, and unique geological wonders

Understand
As part of the 1763 Treaty of Paris, France ceded to Great Britain all of its territories in what is now Canada, except for the islands of St.-Pierre and Miquelon. The treaty gave France the right to continue fishing along the west coast of Newfoundland, a right it retained until 1904.

As a consequence, western Newfoundland developed much later than the rest of the island. Without access to the fish stocks of the area, the predominantly English and Irish Newfoundlanders had no reason to settle there, and the French fishers were not supposed to settle there. Some French did settle, and their descendants continue to live in French on the Port au Port Peninsula. While central and eastern Newfoundland towns have historic buildings, western Newfoundland buildings are mostly of 20th-century construction.

By air

 * Deer Lake Regional Airport is the main gateway to the region with daily flights from Halifax, St. John's and Toronto year-round, and from Montreal in summer.
 * Stephenville International Airport has weekly service from Toronto during the summer tourist season.

By boat

 * Marine Atlantic operates car ferry service from North Sydney, Nova Scotia, to Port aux Basques.

By car
Deer Lake is 640 km west of St. John's on the Trans-Canada Highway.

By bus
DRL Coachlines and Newhook's Transportation offers scheduled passenger coach services from St. John's through Deer Lake to Port Aux Basques.

Get around
The Trans-Canada Highway (#1) will take you from Port aux Basques in the south to Deer Lake, and provincial highway 430 will take you up the Great Northern Peninsula to St. Anthony at the northern tip of the island.

Norpen Bus Service runs a shuttle from Deer Lake to St. Anthony (for L'Anse aux Meadows) on Tuesdays & Fridays.

See
Western Newfoundland's two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Gros Morne National Park and L'Anse aux Meadows, are the main draws to this region.

Gros Morne is known for its fjord-like lakes, and ruggedly beautiful tablelands. The interpretation centre and recreated Viking village at L'Anse aux Meadows explain the history of the Europeans who settled there almost half a century before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas.

The Port au Port Peninsula provides a window into the culture of a French-speaking community that has been isolated for centuries.

Do
Gros Morne National Park offers 20 marked day-trip hiking trails and longer excursions. Boat trips on Western Brook Pond and Bonne Bay are easy ways to see the dramatic scenery of these faux fjords.

Eat
You can find moose (steaks, burgers) in some restaurants. Moose are an introduced species that are a bit of a nuisance, so their population is controlled through hunting. Moose meat is surprisingly rich and tasty.

With the local fishing industry, fresh seafood is available throughout this region. Lobster season is during spring (April-July) with restaurants in the area able to procure directly from the fisheries. Both saltwater fish such as cod and halibut and freshwater fish such as trout are a part of many menus.

Berry jams and pastries are produced in this region. Try pastries and jams of cloudberry (bakeapple) and partridgeberry, which are native to this area. You'll find that breakfast will usually come with a selection of these jams.

Stay safe
When driving, keep your eyes peeled for moose on the highways. Especially in the spring rutting season, moose will dart from the forest onto the highways. Car-moose crashes are frequent and are a serious cause of fatalities (human and moose). An encounter between a car and a 500-kg, 2-m-tall moose at high speed is something to be avoided.

Go next

 * Take the ferry at Port-aux-Basques to North Sydney, Nova Scotia.
 * Continue exploring the rest of the Newfoundland.

title: Western Newfoundland


text:
Western New York

Western New York is a phrase often used within the state of New York, but it really has no consistent definition.

In Buffalo and its immediate surrounding areas, the term encompasses only the westernmost eight counties of New York. As you go farther east, though, the definition generally expands accordingly. Rochester, for example, is usually considered to be part of Western New York everywhere except in Buffalo. At the extreme, some residents include Syracuse in the area, although it's more often considered part of Central New York.

Regions
The following regions include parts of Western New York:

 * The Niagara Frontier is entirely within Western New York, no matter who is defining the term.
 * The Southern Tier — the westernmost counties are almost always included in Western New York.
 * The Finger Lakes — much of this area is often included in Western New York, especially the city of Rochester.

title: Western New York


text:
Western North Dakota

Western North Dakota is a region in North Dakota in the United States.

Get in
This area can be accessed by Interstate 94, Highways 85, 12 and 52.
 * Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport
 * The Amtrak Empire Builder stops in Minot, Stanley, and Williston (North Dakota).

Get around
Most roads are two lane highways. Conditions can be difficult to drive in during winter.

See

 * Rodeos are a regular event in the summer

Stay safe
Due to oil and natural gas this area has seen explosive growth. Wild West gold towns are the best comparison. Although these are small towns use the same precautions you would travelling in a large city.

title: Western North Dakota


text:
Western Plains (Lower Saxony)

Western Plains is in Lower Saxony.

Understand
This region is largely rural and pretty "off the beaten track".

title: Western Plains (Lower Saxony)


text:
Western Province (Sri Lanka)

Western Sri Lanka is a province in Sri Lanka. Being the province where the capital and the main international airport are, nearly all travellers to Sri Lanka will start their holiday here. Before heading further afield, it is well worth visiting the many attractions this province has to offer.

Cities

 * — beach resort
 * — the capital and largest city in Sri Lanka
 * — a city in the west coast which is well known for its scenic beach and the historical milestone "Panadura Vadaya" (meaning: Panadura Debate)
 * — more than just the town where the airport is!
 * — the current national capital; not of great touristical importance but is well served by restaurants and shops
 * — the current national capital; not of great touristical importance but is well served by restaurants and shops
 * — the current national capital; not of great touristical importance but is well served by restaurants and shops

Get in
Bandaranaike International Airport is in Negombo, 33km north of Colombo. Almost every traveller entering Sri Lanka will enter here. It is not a world-class airport, but it does the job smoothly enough. The airport is well-connected to Colombo by express bus, and a high-speed rail line is planned. Until then, the nearest railway station to the airport is Katunayake South, 1 km away.

Go next
Colombo is the hub of the country's cheap and efficient rail network. Take the train from here to Ella in the hill country, to Jaffna in the far north, to historical Galle and the beaches of the south-west and south coasts, or even to the main towns of the east coast: Batticaloa and Trincomalee.

title: Western Province (Sri Lanka)


text:
Western Sahara

Western Sahara is an area on the west coast of North Africa. A former Spanish colony, its governance is disputed between Morocco and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). After a UN-brokered ceasefire in 1991 ended a war between the two, Morocco ended up de facto controlling about 80% (and almost the entire coast) of the disputed area, with SADR controlling the region around the Mauritanian and Algerian borders. The Berm is the de facto border between the two administrations, and the areas around it are full of landmines.

Other destinations
For those interested in sight-seeing, there are few opportunities to see wildlife or natural formations other than the dunes. The area controlled by the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)—known as the Free Zone or Liberated Territories—is of interest to those interested in the political conflict.

Understand
While there is a long coastline, much of it is rocky and not fit for beaches or travel. Large-scale fishing and ports are at Ad Dakhla. Much of the territory is arid desert.

The area to the immediate east of the sand wall (also known as "the Berm") was peppered by land mines and should be considered off-limits to any traveler: the territory had one of the highest concentrations of land mines in the world and even where warning signs were posted, most are gone due to the weather. The SADR destroyed its landmines several years ago but some may remain. The Moroccan side of the wall still contains thousands of mines and is extremely dangerous. Furthermore, the SADR-controlled Free Zone has almost no roads, so profound navigation experience and a 4×4 with high ground clearance is required. The gates in the berm, which can be used by UN patrols, are not open to regular travelers.

The political situation has been in a stalemate for decades. Breakdowns in negotiations have led to threats to break the ceasefire, and indeed, there has been some fighting in the 2020s.

SADR has been recognized by only around 46 countries and has control over only a largely uninhabited eastern slice of territory. Explicit support for the Moroccan view is also scarce, with the United States being the first country to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the region in 2020 (as part of a deal wherein Morocco and Israel would normalize relations in exchange for US recognition of Moroccan claims in the region).

History
Under Spanish rule, as Spanish Sahara, the territory was divided by Spain into two administrative regions: the northern strip, known as Saguia el-Hamra, and the southern two-thirds, named Río de Oro.

Morocco occupied and annexed the northern two-thirds of Spanish Sahara in 1976, while the rest was annexed by Mauritania; the Polisario declared the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). When Mauritania withdrew in 1979, Morocco annexed the southern portion of the territory. A guerrilla war with the Polisario Front liberation movement contesting Rabat's sovereignty ended in a 1991 cease-fire. A referendum on final status has been repeatedly postponed; a sticking point regarding any potential referendum is who would get to vote. In 2020, the United States agreed to formally back Morocco's claims to the region in return for Morocco normalizing relations with Israel.

Political situation on the Moroccan side
There has been unrest and protests in the Morocco-controlled area, met harshly by police. Where popular sympathies lie is unclear.

The Moroccan name for Western Sahara is "Southern Provinces"; calling it "Western Sahara" can bring your political position into question, and people who don't share the Moroccan government's position can be deported and banned from re-entering Western Sahara. The safest and most hassle-free way of traveling in this area is to ignore politics completely.

Unlike in other parts of Morocco, checkpoints on the road are to be taken very seriously: always come to a full stop unless explicitly motioned to move on. Travel plans communicated at the last checkpoint should not be changed spontaneously: travelers are sometimes tracked pretty well, and if you show up in a different place than the one on your itinerary, questions may be asked.

Moroccan officials are very wary of journalists and humanitarian aid workers, due to a perceived interference with what they consider purely Moroccan matters. It is strongly advised that you not mention a profession even remotely related to those. This is also true for the immigration forms filled out when entering Morocco — officials at every checkpoint can retrieve that data via phone and sometimes do.

People
Western Sahara's inhabitants, known as Sahrawis, are of Arab and Berber ethnicity and speak the Hassānīya dialect of Arabic. They are hospitable and known for their elaborate tea ceremonies.

Economy
Western Sahara depends on pastoral nomadism, fishing, and phosphate mining as the principal sources of income for the population. The territory lacks sufficient rainfall for sustainable agricultural production, and most of the food for the urban population must be imported. Virtually all trade and other economic activities are controlled by the Moroccan government. Moroccan energy interests in 2001 signed contracts to explore for oil off the coast of Western Sahara, a move that has angered Polisario and international observers. Incomes and standards of living in Western Sahara are substantially below the Moroccan level. Basic food items and gas are subsidized by the Moroccan government.

Climate
Western Sahara is a hot, dry desert; consequently, rain is rare, but flash floods occasionally occur. Cold offshore air currents produce fog and heavy dew. There is very little water in the ground. This coupled with a lack of water vapor in the air, which in other regions acts as a greenhouse gas, allows daytime heat to be lost very rapidly into space via infrared radiation. The result is harsh cold nights, despite the very high daytime temperatures. In comparison with the Central Sahara, though, the Western Sahara has more moisture in the air, and a lower annual temperature range due to proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. Along most of the coastline, thick fog can form in the early morning hours and greatly reduce visibility until noon.

Landscapes
Mostly low, flat desert, with large areas of rocky or sandy surfaces rising to small mountains in south and northeast. Low-lying sand dunes cover the territory.

If you are traveling overland, you will find no border formalities between Morocco and Western Sahara. Your passport may be asked for at the many checkpoints on the road south, but will not be stamped, as the Moroccan authorities regard the Western Sahara as part of Morocco.

Get in

The vast majority of Western Sahara is administered by Morocco, which considers it an integral part of its territory, so the same entry conditions apply as for the rest of Morocco. However, independent travel in the region is restricted. While crossing through Western Sahara while traveling overland between Morocco and Mauritania is usually OK, some travelers have been turned back when trying to enter, especially during periods of political strife. At any time, travelers can be turned back if they are suspected to have any interest in the political or humanitarian situation: any hint at journalistic activities or anything even remotely connected (like working as cameraperson for even an advertisement agency) should be avoided.

Official entry requirements for SADR-controlled areas are unclear, but in practice, the area is entirely off-limits to visitors: you cannot legally cross the heavily guarded and mined berm from the Moroccan-controlled side, and the land border with Algeria, which used to be the entry route, is closed. There are no legal border crossings from Mauritania into SADR-controlled territory, either.

By plane

 * From Spain, the Canary Islands and various cities in Morocco: Laayoune, Hassan I Airport
 * From Agadir, Casablanca and seasonally from the Canary Islands: Dakhla Airport
 * Τhe Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT) decided to open the Dakhla-Paris route with Royal Air Maroc, as of early 2021.

Even for domestic flights, passport controls are stricter than in the rest of Morocco.

By bus
Buses connect all larger cities and will drop passengers anywhere along the road when asked.

By boat
While there has been discussion or restoring the ferry to Tarfaya from the Canary Islands, as of June 2019, it seemed unlikely.

By car
See also the section below.

 * From the north, along the coast: From Agadir one can just drive down the RN1 through Tiznit, Guelmim, Tan-Tan, passing Tarfaya east, through Akhfenir, Laayoune, Boujdour, Dakhla all the way to Mauritania.
 * From the north, through the desert: The road from Assa via Zag to Al-Mahbes apparently has been closed for years, but was open between Assa and Zag as of early 2014. Continuing onwards to Al-Mahbes was denied by local authorities with reference to the frequent military operations, landmines and general security concerns. Al-Mahbes is relatively close to Tindouf, the Polisario's headquarter and the refugee camps, which possibly renders the region sensitive in the view of the Moroccan military. Moreover, this region is rumored to be possibly part of the operational area of Al-Qaeda in Magreb.
 * From the south: Entering Western-Sahara from the south (Mauritania) involves passing through a few kilometers of no-man's land, which is notorious for its landmines, bandits, and false guides offering to guide you through the strip. Only attempt this passage in full daylight and with either a reliable guide, or much more practical, in a convoy; just talk to some truck drivers at the border. Do not be misled by the old tarmac road which you will cross: this is the so-called "Spanish Road", which dates back to the era of Spanish Sahara (before 1975) and in both directions only leads to impassable sand dunes and minefields. Only a few meters of this road are still in use today, which are close to the Mauritanian Border Post. Do not venture on this road any further than this. Deadly incidents have continued to occur as result of falsely interpreting the Spanish Road as the right track.

By bike
There is a bike route by the coast, from Guelmin in Morocco via Western Sahara and Mauritania to Saint Louis in Senegal. See Cycling the Western Sahara.

By car
Traveling by car is probably one of the most convenient means of transport in Western Sahara, as public transport restricts one to larger settlements. Though there are some precautions one should take:

 * Always refuel before any longer stretch on the road. That larger town on your map might turn out to be a small village without a gas station. Especially south of Tan-Tan, settlements are few and far between.
 * The road's condition changes from "awesome" to "abysmal", often without warning and sometimes every few kilometers. Don't follow the guy who overtakes you with —you might meet him later anyway, with a broken axle, a good 100 m off the road. Don't even trust your own experience on a road—a single night of rain can turn a great road into a terrible one.
 * When going off-road, either know that the area is free of mines or have a reliable guide. Follow existing tracks where possible.
 * Take a mobile with you, it will work in almost all areas and it will make life easier when the car breaks down.
 * And the usual desert tips: bring more than enough water, something to keep you warm at night in case you have to sleep in your car.
 * There are several police checkpoints along the road. Additionally to the typical controls at the entrance and exit of main villages (Laâyoune, Cape Bojador and Dakhla), there are checkpoints on the bridge over the Oued Drâa (N28º 31.862’ W10º 56.669’) just before Tan-Tan, 2km before Sidi Akhfenir (on the first cheapfuel station: N28º 05.814’ W12º 02.824’) and on the crossroad to Dakhla (N23º 53.615’ W15º 40.585’). At the crossroad, if you just want to fill out in the nearby fuel station and not want to drive all the way to Dakhla, explain that to the police which will probably let you pass more rapidly. In fact, police checkpoints are usually friendly and things can move very rapidly if you hand out a photocopied paper with the details of the travellers: name, surname, date and place of birth, address, profession, number and validity of the passport, coming from, going to, date of entry in Morocco and the Moroccan police number (a group of letters and numbers stamped usually on the last page of the passport when entering Morocco); and also of the vehicle: brand, model and license plate number. Be aware that radars for estimating speed are on the rise in Morocco, and they are no exception in Western Sahara; a typical spot for speed checking is on the southern exit of Laâyoune.

Talk
The native language of the majority is Hassaniya Arabic. It is not mutually intelligible with Standard Arabic, which is not widely spoken.

Moroccan Arabic is also widely spoken, and is the lingua franca on the streets and the workplace because of the many Moroccans residing in the country.

French is spoken by a lot of those who moved in from Morocco proper and to some degree by a lot of locals who sometimes deal with tourists.

Spanish is spoken rarely (mostly by those old enough to have learned it under Spanish occupation), English even rarer.

People are generally very patient with people they don't share a language with and are also used to communicating with their hands and feet. Also, because of a very low literacy level, writing things down does not help communication much.

See

 * The Saharan desert.
 * Remnants of the Spanish colonial rule in the capital El Aaiún.
 * Many beautiful, completely unspoiled beaches that sometimes go on for miles.

Money
The official currency of the Moroccan-controlled portion is the Moroccan dirham, sometimes symbolised as "Dh", "Dhs, "DH", "درهم, or the plural form of "دراهم" or "Dhm" (ISO code: MAD). It's divided into 100 santime or centimes (c). There are 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, 1, 2, 5 and 10 dirham coins, although coins smaller than 20c are rarely seen these days. Banknotes are available in denominations of Dh 20, 50, 100 and 200.

The SADR has also minted its own pesetas ("Pts.", ISO code: EHP). It has an official exchange rate of €1 for 166.386 Pts. Algerian dinars and Mauritanian ouguiyas circulate alongside the Sahrawi peseta in the Sahrawi refugee camps and the SADR-controlled part of Western Sahara.

Costs
Prices are lower than in Morocco, in part due to Moroccan government's subsidization policy.

Eat
With fishing being the main source of income for the local population, fish is the obvious choice: It is fresh and very cheap.

Drink
Traditional Sahrawi hospitality includes the serving of tea to all guests in one's home. The tea is really strong, even for people used to high caffeine intake.

Stay safe
Hot, dry, dust-and-sand-laden sirocco wind can occur during winter and spring; widespread harmattan haze exists 60% of time, often severely restricting visibility. There are low-level uprisings and political violence which is altogether rare, but can escalate. Occupying powers are likely to evict foreigners in such case.

The N1—and even more so the roads into the heart of the territory—are very remote roads, with facilities and settlements being easily away from each other. Take enough fuel (always refuel before going on the next leg, you never know what is going to happen) and enough water (several liters per person). Mobile network connection exists along N1.

Landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO)
There was war in Western Sahara for over 15 years in the 1970s and 1980s, and as a result, the landmine and UXO situation to this day remains quite unclear, despite efforts of the Moroccan Government to improve the situation. There are landmines not only in the remote parts of the country close to berm, but all the way down main coastal road (N1) to the Mauritanian border. Google Earth clearly shows the efforts to clear minefields all along N1, which continue to this day—despite Moroccan officers tending to tell tourists that this part of the country is safe. Around the settlements (Boujdour, Ad-Dakhla, Golfe de Cintra) the situation seems to be slightly worse, possibly due their strategic significance in the war. The warning signs are sometimes so rusty that they can't be recognised anymore, but usually the combination of two small metal signs is a strong indicator.

Keep eyes open to lines of stones, cairns, staples of old tyres and similar man-made marking—they are usually meaningful! Generally, any place off the tarmac-road of N1 and off-branching tarmac roads must be considered unsafe. Car-wrecks are strong indicators—do not explore these! Strategically significant points (the various small passes, narrow valleys, elevated points, etc.) are more dangerous, but this does not mean that other places are safe. Any man-made fortifications (straight sand-walls, round sand-wall [for artillery] and any other military looking movements of ground) pose particular danger (esp. south of Ad-Dakhla, but also south of Boujdour). It might be that these were mined when being abandoned to prevent them from falling into the other party's hand, or it might be that the surroundings were mined from the beginning to protect against guerrilla attacks, but anyway the mine-cleaning patterns strongly indicate that such places were and possibly continue to be particularly dangerous. Few to no mine-clearing efforts can be observed off the N1 - that possibly means that (e.g. for lack of touristic significance) these areas continue to be mined and efforts were focussed at the immediate surrounding of N1.

The patterns of cleaning mine-fields indicate that in not all cases does the Moroccan Government seem to be aware of the location of minefields, which requires more or less random search pattern. Moreover, on Google Earth it can be seen that where minefields have previously been cleared, new clearing activities have resumed later. This again indicates that even traces of cleared minefields do not guarantee safety. This includes the surroundings of the lagoon of Ad-Dakhla, including the lands north of it.

Stay healthy
No matter whether you travel in a private car or on a bus, always take enough water for at least 24 hours to be prepared if the vehicle breaks down.

Don't touch unknown vegetation—some of the seemingly good looking fruit one can find on the road side are poisonous even when just touched (one looks like miniature water melons, another like small cucumbers).

When climbing some of the rare stone formations, be aware of scorpions. Even though extremely rare, sometimes cobras are spotted (usually after a period of a few days with hot winds blowing to the West).

The quality of tap water is variable; ask before drinking it, or just drink bottled water.

Respect
The culture is Islamic but not particularly strict; the form of Islam that developed among the nomad population is non-mosque-based. Political and social displays of Sahrawi nationalism are violently repressed by the Moroccan police and military.

Connect
Teleboutiques and internet cafes are not hard to find in the cities, but connection speed may vary from place to place. Most cafes, restaurants and hotels offer free wifi.

title: Western Sahara


text:
Western Siberia

Western Siberia is a region in Siberia, Russia.

Go next

 * Krasnoyarsk Krai (Evenkia, Krasnoyarsk, Taymyria)
 * Eastern Siberia (Buryatia, Zabaykalsky Krai, Irkutsk Oblast, Tuva)

title: Western Siberia


text:
Western Slovakia

Western Slovakia is in the region including the capital Bratislava, the Slovakian Danube River Valley, and other lower-lying territory, bounded on the north by the Czech Republic, on the west by Austria, on the south by Hungary.

Cities

 * — Capital and the largest city of Slovakia with a beautifully restored historical centre full of Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance churches, houses and palaces, cobblestone streets, fountains, pleasant cafes and lively and cosmopolitan atmosphere.
 * — Probably the most beautiful castle in Slovakia.
 * —
 * — Enjoyable castle which is now a museum of the Tekov region.
 * — One of the oldest Slovak towns with the castle and well preserved historical centre consisting many baroque palaces and burger´s houses
 * — The most famous spa town in Slovakia.
 * —
 * — One of the most beautiful Slovak towns with a castle lying above the city overlooking the historical centre and the river Váh
 * — the oldest Slovak town with the highest number of churches (12) and well preserved baroque architecture

Do

Mountain ranges / national parks:

Go next
Central Slovakia

Czech Republic | Austria | Hungary | Poland

title: Western Slovakia


text:
Western Tamil Nadu

Western Tamil Nadu is in Tamil Nadu, India. It consist of Coimbatore, Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Erode, Nilgiris and Tiruppur districts.

Cities

 * — largest city in the region; industrial and educational cluster; the textile capital of South India; also known as the Manchester of the South
 * — Hill station
 * — Hill town
 * — center for turmeric and textile productions; known as textile city and turmeric city
 * — also known as mini Kollywood; famous for white silk, turmeric and plantain
 * — Hill town
 * — Hill station
 * — a popular hill station; reachable by heritage mountain railway from Mettupaalayam
 * — Picture postcard views
 * — also known as an export city; largest exporter of textiles in the country
 * — Tourist destination
 * — Little cute town
 * — Small ethnic place
 * — Tourist destination
 * — Little cute town
 * — Small ethnic place

Other destinations

 * — offers a variety of flora and fauna plus the opportunity to go on an elephant safari

Get in
From Karnataka via Mysore, Bangalore.

Eat
Traditional South Indian food on plantain leaf.

Drink
Hot piping coffee.

Stay safe
Be careful at waterfalls as rocks may be slippery. Do not enter forests without permission and proper things like a torch (flashlight), drinking water, magnetic compass, food, adequate clothing, and maps as mobile signals are not available within some forests. Do not litter plastic wrappers or bottles in forests. Do not start a campfire in the jungle.

Go next

 * Bandipur National Park
 * Nagarhole National Park
 * Kodagu
 * Chamarajanagar
 * Melukote

title: Western Tamil Nadu


text:
Western Tarai

The Western Tarai consists of the western part of the Tarai Mountain Range in Nepal.

Cities

 * - also known as Siddharthanagar
 * - one of the fastest growing cities of Nepal, often called Narayangadh
 * - a region of ancient Shakya kingdom that is considered a holy pilgrimage place for Buddhists, its headquarters is the town of Taulihawa
 * - birthplace of Buddha
 * - the eastern gateway to Chitwan National Park and jungle safaris
 * - the eastern gateway to Chitwan National Park and jungle safaris
 * - the eastern gateway to Chitwan National Park and jungle safaris

Get in
Gautam Buddha Airport

title: Western Tarai


text:
Western Tennessee

Western Tennessee, more often known as West Tennessee, is the region of Tennessee west of the Tennessee River. The region also includes all of Hardin County, a rural county on the state's borders with Alabama and Mississippi that is bisected by the Tennessee River.

Cities

 * — First city of the blues and the home of rock 'n' roll.
 * — First city of the blues and the home of rock 'n' roll.
 * — First city of the blues and the home of rock 'n' roll.

Get in
There are many roads that lead in and out of the region. The to main interstates that come into West Tennessee is I-40 through Nashville, I-155 into Dyersburg from Missouri, and I-40 and I-55 into Memphis from Arkansas and Mississippi, respectively.

Get around
The only way plausible way to get around West Tennessee is to drive.

Eat
Expect Southern cuisine; that is, don't be surprised if asking, "What is grits?" gets some funny looks.

Drink
While you're in West Tennessee, or the South in general, you should try sweet tea.

Stay safe
If driving, with the exception of the interstate in most cases, at dusk or night, keep an eye out for deer. West Tennessee has a large population of deer and they will cross the road. Deer are usually the most active between 6-10PM If a deer does try to cross while you are driving, aim your car to where the deer is at, not where the animal is going.

Go next

 * East Tennessee - The Eastern Grand Division of Tennessee with valleys and ridges plus several ranges of the Appalachian Mountains
 * Middle Tennessee - The Middle Grand Division extends east from the Tennessee River including both the Central Basin and the Highland Rim. It is the state's most prosperous area, including cities such as Nashville.

title: Western Tennessee


text:
Western Thrace

Western Thrace is a region in Greece. In Greek, it is referred simply as Thrace (Greek: Θράκη), as there is no other Thrace in Greece. Eastern Thrace is part of Turkey.

Tourism in Western Thrace is developing along the seacoast from Abdera to Maroneia but many travelers on their way to Turkey still make few stops in the region. The archaeological sites of Abdera and Maroneia, the traditional settlements of Xanthi and Komotini, the Rhodope Mountains range and the Nestos River gorge and delta, are the most interesting features of Western Thrace.

Regions

 * Rhodope Mountains — Region - mountainous lonely region with interesting ancient Thracian cult sites
 * Evros Region — nature reserve with a large number of bird species
 * Pomaks Region (Pomakochoria) — Charming villages scattered in the green Rhodope valleys and graceful mosques complete with tall minarets.

Cities

 * — Coastal city with ferry links to Samothrace
 * (meaning 'Twin Walls') — A typical Greek town, but well worth a detour if you are interested in Byzantine and Ottoman styles of art.
 * — A charming 'Pomak' (Greek Muslim) village on a valley of the Rhodope Mountains.
 * — A town with a 12th century Byzantine style church adorned with numerous frescoes.
 * — City with a Muslim/Turkish community
 * — the ancient Ismaros, the largest and most important of all Greek colonies of Western Thrace, mentioned by Homer in the Odyssey.
 * — The old town still preserves its traditional flair, attracting plenty of tourists from Thessaloniki and other Greek cities.
 * — An old town with pleasant cobbled narrow streets and old buildings

Other destinations

 * — Lake and site of Anastasiopolis a Byzantine archaeological site
 * — One of the wealthiest cities of Ancient Greece, birthplace of the philosophers Democritus, Protagoras and Anaxarchus, and the lyric poet Anacreon.
 * — One of the wealthiest cities of Ancient Greece,
 * — Marshes and wetlands across the Turkish borders attracting large flocks of migratory birds in autumn, when breeding is over in Europe.
 * — Heavily wooded hills providing a habitat for diverse wildlife not common in other areas of Western Thrace.
 * — The best seaside resort of Western Thrace.
 * — Comprises freshwater lakes and ponds that offer refuge for birds and various mammals. Further north extends the “Kotza Orman" (Great Forest), once a very large forest but today restricted to some fragments along both sides of the river.

Talk
Greek is the native language of most the people of Thrace. Most of the Muslims in Thrace are ethnic Turks and speak Turkish as a native language. In villages north of Xanthi, Pomaks, who are ethnic Bulgarian Muslims, speak Pomakika (a dialect of Bulgarian). However, most people also speak passable English and some may speak German or other European languages.

By plane
The closest airport is "Alexander the Great" airport in Kavala City. Flights, mostly charters, from all over Europe.

Alexandroupolis International Airport "Dimokritos"

By road

 * is just 6 km southwest of on the Turkish side.
 * — The main border crossing between Greece and Turkey.
 * — Main border crossing between Greece and Bulgaria.
 * (Balkan Toresi) — This mountain pass provides quick access from central Bulgaria to Western Thrace, some 30 kilometres (19 mi) from Komotini, and to the Greek motorway Egnatia Odos. The distance from Kardzhali to Komotini via Makaza is around 70 kilometres (43 mi) and takes approximately one hour and 15 minutes by car.
 * — The Greek border lies just 5 km away from the Bulgarian town Zlatograd. A very scenic route though driving can be a very hard experience.

Some private companies running comfortable buses are Simeonidis Tours, Crazy Holidays and the low cost Alpar Tourism (€20).

By train
A railway winds through the mountains from Thessaloniki to Strymonas (where the line branches to Sofia), Serres, Drama, Xanthi, Komotini and Alexandroupolis; it doesn't serve Kavala on the coast. In early 2021 no passenger trains are running on this line.

A train runs once M-F from Alexandroupolis to Pythion, Kastaneis and Dikaia, taking two hours. Kastaneis is a short walk from the Turkish border, 4 km from Edirne. Since 2011 there are no cross-border trains to Turkey, take the bus. The line beyond Dikaia continues to Ormenio and Svilengrad in Bulgaria, but since 2020 it's been closed for upgrading. So no trains to Bulgaria either.

When the national borders were redrawn in 1923, it caused the mainline from Turkey to make two loops into Greece before entering Bulgaria. Eventually Turkey and Greece re-routed their railways to avoid this. So this means that riding the train between Pythion and Dikaia is one mighty cheap way of re-creating the route of the original Orient Express.

By car
The new super-highway Egnatia can get you anywhere in the region within an hour or an hour and a half for the most remote areas. It connects all the major cities in Thrace from Xanthi to the border crossing with Bulgaria in Kastanies north of Evros or the customs with Turkey to the east.

By bus
Even the smallest rural villages can be accessed by using a combination of local run buses.

By train
Frequent stops all along the region's sole train line and cities dotted along the Evros River. A scenic route for some but rather slow for the busy traveler.

By boat
SAOS will sail you to Samothraki daily or even more frequently during the summer period.

See

 * — A magnificent stone bridge
 * — A small but well preserved Macedonian tomb dating back to the first half of 4th century B.C.
 * (Thrakika Meteora) — Amazing rocky peaks surrounded by abandoned settlements. Access by car through a dirt road that starts east of Iasmos Town.
 * (Thrakika Meteora) — Amazing rocky peaks surrounded by abandoned settlements. Access by car through a dirt road that starts east of Iasmos Town.

Do
Kayak or canoe descent of the river Nestos has become a popular sport and numerous hotels in Stavroupoli and nearby villages provide a trip package. Horse riding along the gorge is also available.

You can go for hiking in the Erimanthos Forest on the southern slopes of Rhodope mountains and spend the night in the basic cottages owned by the local park rangers.

Stay safe
Mosquitoes are a matter of increasing concern along the coastal marshes. As a rule the hotels do not provide anything and you have to buy specific products to protect yourself

Go next
These area are within easy reach once you are done in Western Thrace:
 * Macedonia to west.
 * Northern Thrace (Bulgaria) to north.
 * Eastern Thrace (Turkey) to east.
 * Island of Samothrace to south.

title: Western Thrace


text:
Western Transdanubia

Western Transdanubia (Hungarian: Nyugat-Dunántúl) is a region in western Hungary.

Cities

 * – there are many cafés, restaurants, boutiques, and night clubs in its lovely baroque city center, center of Győr–Moson–Sopron County
 * – a historic town on the Austrian border
 * – a thermal spa and dentistry town
 * – a bilingual town on the Austrian border
 * – former Roman colony, center of Vas County
 * – center of Zala County
 * – a bilingual town on the Austrian border
 * – former Roman colony, center of Vas County
 * – center of Zala County

Other destinations

 * – Fertő Lake a cultural landscape on the UNESCO World Heritage List

By train
Northern Transdanubia (Budapest-Tatabánya-Győr-Mosonmagyaróvár rail line) directly connected with Vienna (eight per day, 'SparSchiene' ticket from €13 (one way), 2014). Special ticket prices for direct trains toward west to Salzburg (eight per day), and  Innsbruck (twice a day, RW ticket from €89 ). EURegio Spezial tickets arw valid for daily one return trip, from Monday to next Monday 09:00 any train (on the given routes). Győr-Vienna-Győr: €49.

From Sopron, Szentgotthárd], and Szombathely, trains depart to east and south Austrian destinations (Vienna, Graz (return from €39), Klagenfurt, Villach, Wiener Neustadt).

From Pécs via Nagykanizsa trains to Vienna

By bus
From Kőszeg bus depart to Oberpullendorf in Burgenland (weekly, 20 min) by Vasi Volán company. From Győr also every two hours there is a bus to Vienna.

By train
Northern Transdanubia, (Budapest-Tatabánya-Győr-Mosonmagyaróvár rail line,) directly connected with Munich (five per day, one of night train, one-way ticket from €29, 2014), and from Frankfurt (6 hours), via Stuttgart 'railjet' trains (weekly two, from €49, 2014) or daily more with change at Vienna.

By bus
Some bus lines pass this region: see on the homepage of Volánbusz, which is the national bus company and also the local Eurolines representation.Orangeways bus company, T.:+36 30 830-9696, offers cheap tickets between Győr and Berlin, Cologne, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Munich.

By train

 * From Nagykanizsa train departs to Zagreb in Croatia (daily, 3 hours)
 * Take 'Citadella' InterCity express, IC 246/247, stop at Székesfehérvár, Veszprém, Zalaegerszeg to Murska Sobota, (Slovenia), Ptuj, (Slovenia), Maribor (Slovenia)
 * 'Istria express', 1246/1247 take it at Székesfehérvár or Veszprém or Zalaegerszeg to Ljubljana (Slovenia) and Koper (Slovenia)

By bus
From Pécs via Mohács to Osijek twice a week, 2 hours by Pannon Volán.

Slovakia and Czech Republic
From Győr start buses to Bratislava in Slovakia with Cseh-busz one way/return Ft 3000/5000, three per day, 1 hour and Praha in Czech Republic (one way/return Ft 6000/11000 three per day, 5½ hour, ) See Volan bus company site.

Switzerland
There is a direct train connection between Győr and Zurich (twice a day).

Go next

 * Central Transdanubia
 * Lake Balaton
 * Southern Transdanubia

title: Western Transdanubia


text:
Western Uganda

Western Uganda is a region of Uganda.

Cities

 * — generally considered Uganda's most attractive settlement with extensive tea plantations, some fine old buildings and a superb Rwenzori backdrop.
 * — is a small city in the far south of the country and the stopover to go to Lake Bunyonyi and the southeastern National Parks.
 * — a stopover to visit the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
 * — biggest village in the Crater Lakes area
 * — a stopover to visit the Mgahinga Gorilla National Park.
 * — biggest village in the Crater Lakes area
 * — biggest village in the Crater Lakes area
 * — biggest village in the Crater Lakes area
 * — biggest village in the Crater Lakes area

Other destinations

 * is the primary gorilla tracking location. There are troupes reached from Buhoma (north) and a new troupe reached from the south at Nkuringo.
 * - pretty lake with several tiny islands
 * near the town of Fort Portal is famed for chimpanzee tracking and is highly recommended. Twitchers will know that some of the best birding in central Africa is here too. The Kasese Crater Lakes are in the area.
 * is at the confluence of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. One gorilla troop can be tracked from here, but its range sometimes takes it into one of the other two countries, so may not be accessible. The Virunga Mountains are the dramatic spine of the park, recently active volcanic peaks. Much other remarkable wildlife is in this often overlooked park.
 * has several parts to it, but the main section between Lake Edward and Lake George is a more concentrated version of East African parks as far as animals are concerned, although with less splendid vistas unless the mist-shrouded Ruwenzori Mountains are visible. The Ugandan Kob is an endemic antelope (and is on the coat of arms along with the crested crane, including on currency). Worth considering is a drive among volcanic crater lakes on the south edge of the Ruwenzoris. Kazinga channel has the greatest concentration of Hippos in Africa in this park and the park is home to the famous tree climbing lions.
 * is a mountain range in south-west Uganda bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is 120 km (75 mi) long and 48 km (30 mi) wide with its highest peak at Mt. Stanley (5109 m/16,761 ft). The range was first described in the 2nd century by ancient Greek astronomer Ptolemy as the "Mountains of the moon", and first ascended in 1896 by Italian explorers. By the end of 2006, its ice cap has retreated from 6.4 km² (2.5 sq mi) a century ago, to less than a 1.28 km² (0.5 sq mi). In the Rwenzori Mountains near Fort Portal you find Mitandi. The place represents a unique opportunity to explore the mountains and get to know the culture of the local Bakonzo mountain people.
 * is a mountain range in south-west Uganda bordering the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is 120 km (75 mi) long and 48 km (30 mi) wide with its highest peak at Mt. Stanley (5109 m/16,761 ft). The range was first described in the 2nd century by ancient Greek astronomer Ptolemy as the "Mountains of the moon", and first ascended in 1896 by Italian explorers. By the end of 2006, its ice cap has retreated from 6.4 km² (2.5 sq mi) a century ago, to less than a 1.28 km² (0.5 sq mi). In the Rwenzori Mountains near Fort Portal you find Mitandi. The place represents a unique opportunity to explore the mountains and get to know the culture of the local Bakonzo mountain people.

title: Western Uganda


text:
Western Ukraine

Western Ukraine (Ukrainian: Західна Україна) makes up about a quarter of Ukraine and has the closest affinities with Central Europe of all Ukraine's regions.

Cities

 * (Львів) – the undisputed centre of Western Ukraine
 * (Чернівці́, Černivci)
 * (Луцьк)
 * (Іва́но-Франкі́вськ)
 * (Хмельни́цький, Chmel'nyc'kyj)
 * (Коломия, Kolomyja)
 * (Любомль) – a prominent Jewish town during pre-Holocaust times
 * (Рівне)
 * (Тернопіль)
 * (Ужгород)

Other destinations

 * The Carpathians of Zakarpatska Oblast
 * — the historic Capital of Podolia, very picturesque medieval castle.
 * — there are 2977 kinds of plants from different climatic zones, including 521 kinds of trees and bushes, 395 kinds of fruit plants, 620 kinds of tropic plants, 111 kinds of health-giving herbaceous plants of local and wild flora, 19 archaeological sights, more than 302 historical-architectural sights.

Understand
After the breakup of medieval Kievan Rus, today's Western Ukraine was ruled by the Principality or Kingdom of Galicia-Volhynia (centered on Halych and Volodymyr) from the 12th to the 14th century. The region was then conquered partly by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and partly by the Kingdom of Poland. Both united to form the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth that included Western Ukraine until the Partitions of Poland in the late-18th century.

Subsequently, the Northwest (Volhynia) belonged to the Russian Empire, while the Southwest (Galicia, Bukovina and Transcarpathia) was part of Austria-Hungary and thus under a strongly Central European influence. After the end of World War I and the collapse of Austria-Hungary, the formerly Austro-Hungarian parts formed a short-lived West Ukrainian People's Republic before being reclaimed by now independent Poland. Western Ukraine suffered greatly during World War II under the terror of both Nazi Germany and the Stalinist Soviet Union, while the nationalistic Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) fought against both empires but also committed murderous crimes against ethnic minorities such as Jews, Poles, Hungarians and Russians. One of the most notorious of these crimes was the Volhynia Massacre, in which up to 100,000 ethnic Poles were massacred by Ukrainian nationalists. Stepan Bandera, one of the most prominent leaders of the UPA, is venerated as a national hero in Ukraine, and you will often see statues of him in this region, but this veneration draws sharp criticism from neighbouring Poland.

The region was only reunited with the rest of Ukraine under Soviet rule after the War. During this era, the population of Western Ukraine maintained the strongest sense of a separate Ukrainian national identity, and the use of Ukrainian language has been most vigorous. Ukrainian independence was most strongly advocated here, and symbols of Soviet rule were removed more quickly than in other regions. The vast majority of the Ukrainian diaspora in the United States and Canada also trace their ancestry to this region, and they continue to maintain strong cultural and familial ties.

While Eastern Ukraine became heavily industrialised during Soviet times, the West remained mostly agricultural. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the region benefited from increased trade with the European Union and developed new economic sectors. However, the GDP per capita is still lower than in the central and eastern regions.

Due to this chequered history, significant numbers of minority ethnic groups remain in this area, and many remnants of the Central European past of this region still to be seen in architecture, religious practices, languages, cuisine and politics. Unlike the rest of majority Eastern Orthodox Ukraine, the three oblasts of Galicia (Lviv, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk) have a "Greek Catholic" majority. This means that they celebrate their services according to the Eastern (Byzantine) rite like Eastern Orthodox Christians, but recognize the Pope in Rome as their highest religious authority like Roman Catholics.

In the political conflicts of the 21st century, a solid majority of Western Ukrainians have favored stronger ties with the European Union and NATO. The Orange Revolution and Euromaidan parties had the highest support rates here. But far-right ultra-nationalists like the Svoboda ("Freedom") party also scored strongly in the region.

During the war with Russia since 2014, it has been the safest region in Ukraine. In the course of the 2022 Russian invasion, however, Western Ukrainian cities have been hit by missiles and air strikes.

Talk
Unlike in the rest of Ukraine, Ukrainian is the sole language of everyday life in this region. While most can also speak and write in Russian well and the languages are closely related, many Western Ukrainians refuse to speak the language for political reasons, and some may even find it offensive to be addressed in Russian. Thus, learning a few basic phrases in Ukrainian will endear you to the locals. Most signs are only Ukrainian, and only a few also include Russian, something prevalent even as a Soviet province. Minority languages include Romanian, Hungarian, Polish, Slovak and German. Foreign languages (apart from Russian) are mainly English and German.

By plane

 * Lviv international airport

By train

 * There is a direct train from Kraków to L'viv once a day, plus one with a change. A sleeper berth is required on the train, as only sleeping cars are carried across the border to Ukraine. Do not pay a cash 'reservation charge' to the Ukrainian conductor on the second train. Ensure you have your reservations for the second train in your possession and fully identifiable.
 * Trains from Hungary and Slovakia come through Lviv, usually on their way to Kyiv. Train-fare from both countries is approx US$80 per person for a bed in a sleeping car. Make sure to bring enough food and water for at least 12 hours (15 hours from Budapest).
 * A quick and direct way to get to Romania is to take the 601L train from Lviv to Solotvino (Transcarpathia Oblast); it departs Lviv at 20:23 and arrives in Solotvino at 09:47. Cost of ticket costs less than €10 depending on whether one chooses 2nd class "kupet" or 3rd class "platzkart". Solotvino is a very small town, and the border station (which will be on the other side of the Tisa river, or the right hand side of the train) is not too hard to locate: when exiting the train, take a left until you approach the first road. At the road, take a right, and walk about 100 m before coming to a three-way intersection (there will be a monument in the middle. Take a left onto the road that heads down into the river valley, and you'll come straight to the border station. You'll be treated very professionally, and possibly with preference over the Romanian majority who cross the border to take advantage of the lower Ukrainian prices. Once you cross the border, you'll be in Sighetu Marmaţiei, a charming and secluded town, and from here one can take advantage of the direct train to Braşov/Bucharest that leaves that afternoon around 16:00 or 17:00. The direct train from Sighetu Marmatiei to Brasov/Bucharest is found under two different train numbers. The train leaves Sighetu Marmatiei at 17:11 (local time) and arrives in Bucharest at 09:56. You can get off at Brasov at 04:22. For more info check the Romanian Railways website.
 * Lviv is a major railway hub; there are some more connections, for example, to Croatia, Moldova, and Serbia.

By bus

 * There are daily buses from Polish cities: Warsaw, Przemyśl, Lublin, Wrocław. It is possible also to get there by bus from other European cities.
 * From Przemyśl there are 2 types of buses that regularly travel to L'viv. The first is the PKS (Polish Coach Buses) and the second is private buses.
 * There is a daily night bus service provided by Eurobus from Kraków bus station to Lviv, departing at 21:50 from Kraków and supposed to arrive at 06:00 in Lviv (depending on delays at the border . The price is around 90 zł (Oct 2011). There is also a | Eurolines bus (but not every day) from Kraków, departing at 11:30 to Lviv, arriving at 21:10. This bus continues onwards to Kyiv to arrive at around 06:00 the next morning. The price to Lviv is around 75 zł and discounts (ISIC, etc.) apply (Oct 2011). The bus from Brest (Belarus) to Lviv departs every day on 08:45 from platform 7 and arrives in Lviv at 17:33. The price is around US$20. Most of international buses arrive at Stryisky bus station, on the outskirts of Lviv. To get to the centre you take trolleybus 5. Ticket: 1.25 грн (you must buy another one for big luggage) can be bought in a kiosk or from the driver.
 * Countless buses connect Lviv directly with Prague and some other Czech cities, passing through Poland, but mostly not stopping there to take passengers. These can be best viewed using the Czech integrated timetable (English version also available and working). Advance reservation is recommended and for some buses also possible online, at the bus operator's website. Although these buses can get you from the West to Lviv far faster than trains, they are not meant for western tourists. Instead, they are targeted primarily at Ukrainian emigrant workers earning their living in the Czech Republic. As such, brace yourself for at least 10 hours in the jolly company of drinking and smoking (!) workers returning with their hard-earned cash back home.

By car
Ukrainian roads are bad, and Ukrainian drivers have an aggressive driving style. When you drive into Lviv, make sure you have a good map because getting lost in this town is very easy.

Pay close attention to speed limits (which are often badly marked, with signs far off the road, covered with branches etc.), but the speeding fines are usually low if nothing else is wrong with your car. In towns, the speed limit is usually 60 km/h (40 mph). Speed limits on "nationals" (single carriageway countryside roads) is 90 km/h (55 mph). The poor average quality of the roads already acts as a speed checker. The speed limit on highways (motorways) is 110–120 km/h (75 mph).

Corruption is widespread among Ukrainian police. When you are stopped for speeding or other violations, officers might aggressively try and extract ridiculous sums of money from you (€100 and up), offering "reductions" if you pay on the spot (the proposed alternative being some unpleasant and more expensive way, all made up).

The highest legal fine in Ukraine is the equivalent of about US$200. But the fine should be paid in the bank, not directly to police officer! So if you're asked for fine demand a written ticket for you to pay later instead. Don't let them intimidate you. It's very useful to have an embassy phone number handy for these cases (you should not under any circumstances travel around Ukraine without your embassy/consulate number handy anyway). If you mention your embassy/consulate, they'll let you off the hook quicker than you know it. At any rate, write down the officers' badge numbers, rank, plate number of the police car, and notify the nearest embassy/consulate in detail, to help fight these corrupt practices.

On foot
Take a train to Przemyśl near the Polish-Ukrainian border. From Kraków it costs about ~50 zł and takes between 4 and 5 hr. From Przemyśl you take a bus or a local train to Medyka at the border ('granica' in Polish) for 2 zł. Private buses are found just outside of Przemyśl train station on the opposite side from the main bus station. They head to the border when they are full, which can take a while at night and travel to the border is about 15 minutes (about 10 km of rough road). The mini-buses drop you off at the, while Medyka train station is approx. 1 km away.

Pedestrian crossing: Queues at the border crossings can be unpredictable and hellish. If you do encounter a queue and are in a hurry, get the guards attention, explain your situation and they will more than likely let you go through immediately. Be polite! 30 minutes from Medyka to Sheheni (Шегині) on foot is now the norm.

There are lots of "ants" - these are people who cross into Poland with relatively cheap Ukrainian cigarettes and spirits, then buy meats and cheeses at low EU prices and return to Ukraine to sell them for a profit. Everyone has to pass through a turnstile and the bulky bags and suitcases they carry are too big to fit. There is a huge log jam of people trying to fit their bags through that turnstile and ugly words are common. Tourists with backpacks are sometimes let through by the "ants".

On the Ukraine side, private buses can be taken to Lviv; these take about 1.5 hours, and can be found at the bus station around 300 m up the main road, past all the shops, on the first major road to your left. Right outside the border you will probably meet touts who will tell you that they have best prices and invite to their cars and buses, this option may be faster but is definitely more expensive. The price for a bus from the station is 24.5 грн (Apr 2013); the buses are often packed and can be uncomfortable at times. There are no ATMs in Sheheni. However, there are lots of money changers, so make sure you bring enough currency of some sort to pay for your ticket to L'viv.The bus from Shehyni will most likely arrive next to the main train station in Lviv.

The total cost for this route is approximately €15 and maybe less if you have a student card. It is around half the price of the next cheapest option. Whether to take it depends on your stress tolerance, Polish language skills and ability to push and shove at the border, but it's an adventure!

Get around
Best way to get around Carpathian part of Western Ukraine is to use trains or buses. Check the local train schedules and bus schedules, both only in Ukrainian.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Two world heritages made up of several components have a sizable number of their sites in western Ukraine; the Beech Forests of Europe and the Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpatian Region. In addition three points of the Struve Geodetic Arc are to the west and south of Khmelnytskyi.

Cope
Smuggling is a fact of life between Eastern Poland and Western Ukraine. The harsh economic situation in these two respective regions forces many into the trade, involving people of all ages. You may witness individuals unscrewing panels and pulling out plastic-wrapped cigarette cartons, and may even be asked to politely move to enable access to a hidden cavity. Similarly if you decide to use the toilet you may find it blocked with cartons of cigarettes and your seat may feel uncomfortable if someone's removed the soft filling and replaced it with cigarettes. The key here is to exercise your common sense. These people are only doing their 'job' and thus should be treated with respect. There is no need for alarm! In fact it can be fascinating watching just how many cigarettes a single train carriage can hold and later watching as everything is removed on arrival in the EU. Border guards may ask you if anyone has been smuggling but the best response is to claim that you were sleeping or pretend not to understand.

You are legally allowed to bring through the EU border 40 cigarettes (two packs) or 20 cigarillos or 10 cigars or 50 g of smoking tobacco and 1 l of spirits (above 22% alcohol) or 2 l of alcohol (e.g. sparkling wine below 22% alcohol) and 4 l of non-sparkling wine and 16 l of beer. If you are below 17 years old it's half of these amounts.

title: Western Ukraine


text:
Western Utah

Western Utah is a region of Utah encompassing the counties of Box Elder and Tooele, as well as the western halves of the counties of Juab, Millard, and Beaver (west of longitude 113W).

Cities

 * — a small Mormon city (by Utah standards) near Promontory Peak and home to the Brigham City Tabernacle
 * — a large town near Deseret Peak and Miller Motorsports Park
 * — a small town in western Beaver County, just east of the particularly atmospheric ghost town of Frisco
 * — a small copper mining city by the Tooele Army Depot (the training base of the Enola Gay crew); also home to about $5 million in the Prison Break universe
 * — on Utah's western border, this is the eastern half of Nevada's West Wendover, which is essentially the same city, but serves as a gambling retreat for Utahns

Other destinations

 * — high peaks, often snow-capped, surrounded by barren desert; popular with backpackers.
 * — an otherworldly flat white expanse

Understand
Western Utah is covered with gigantic expanses of flat desert, punctuated by sudden, forested mountains. Its larger towns are all located in the extreme east of the region, near the more populated regions of Wasatch Range and Central Utah. Much of the region is off limits to the curious and the adventurous, as it is home to the Dugway Proving Grounds, an enormous military area which has been the object of not a few conspiracy/UFO theories. Travelers who do make it out to the far western desert will be rewarded mostly with solitude, but also some extreme (and potentially dangerous) desert wilderness backpacking opportunities. Note that at only 60 miles from Salt Lake City you are likely to only encounter sage brush covered desert or trail heads leading into the mountains. A tamer outdoors experience can be had at the region's most popular attraction, the Deseret Wilderness Area.

By car
Going through Utah north-south is Interstate 15, an important route across the United States that connects to routes that lead into western Utah. Also crossing western Utah east-west is U.S. Route 50 and Interstate 80, both of which are major highways but Interstate 80 being the far more used of the two.

Get around
The two "main" desert roads heading into the remote west are US-6 from Delta and US-29 from Milford. They mostly just serve to take you further into nowhere, but you will be rewarded with some impressive, if monotonous, desert vistas. US-6, if you follow it far enough, will eventually get you to Great Basin National Park in Nevada.

Desert Art
The vast empty desert landscape of Western Utah has proven to be a tempting canvas over the years for the artist who prefers nature over a museum.

The, considered to be the central work of American sculptor Robert Smithson, is an earthwork sculpture constructed in 1970. Built entirely of mud, salt crystals, basalt rocks, earth, and water on the northeastern shore of the Great Salt Lake near Rozel Point, it forms a 1,500-foot-long (460 m), 15-foot-wide (4.6 m) counterclockwise coil jutting from the shore of the lake which is only visible when the level of the Great Salt Lake falls below an elevation of 4,197.8 feet (1,279.5 m). Construction of the Jetty occurred during a drought when the water level of the lake was unusually low; however, within a few years, the water level returned to normal and submerged the Jetty for the next three decades. It first resurfaced in 2004, and changing water levels have submerged and uncovered the Jetty several times in the years since. Originally black basalt rock against ruddy water, it is now largely white against pink due to salt encrustation and lower water levels.

The Jetty is extremely far from most human habitation. It is located 17 miles by dirt road, through active pastureland, from the Golden Spike National Historic Site, which is itself ~32 (paved) miles from the nearest town of Corrine, Utah. Ensure you will have gas enough for the ~100 mile roundtrip, and time enough to be back on paved roads before dark.

In poor weather conditions it can be extremely dangerous to attempt to visit the Spiral Jetty as even though there are signs directing you to the Jetty, it would be very easy to get lost if they are missed due to poor visibility. An accident with the cattle that are often found on the road would leave you not only stranded, but liable for the damages to the livestock.

The Spiral itself will most likely be partially or fully submerged when you arrive, although a climb up the nearby hills can provide a better vantage point from which the Jetty can be seen even if it is underwater.

Other art installations in the desert of Western Utah include the, an abstract structure vaguely resembling a tree that makes for a memorable roadside landmark about half way across the salt flats on Interstate 80, and the , a series of concrete tunnels with sun holes on the top in the shape of constellations. The four tunnels are arranged in an X pattern: one pair is aligned perfectly with the sun at the summer solstice, and the other pair at the winter solstice.

Relive the days of the Pony Express
While the Pony Express existed for only a short time, it left its mark on Utah. You can explore parts of the original route throughout western Utah. There is an historic marker commemorating the located along Utah State Route 36. If you drive east from this spot, you can take the Pony Express Road back toward the Wasatch Mountains. Drive 3/4 of a mile (1.1km) farther south and Pony Express Road heads west deep into the western desert. Both of these roads are compacted dirt but well maintained and graded so high-clearance vehicles are not required.

Drive approximately 24 3/4 miles (39.75km) along the west-heading Pony Express Road and you will come to which is maintained by the US Bureau of Land Management. Adjacent to the campground is the with not only an historic marker but the original stone construction station building intact.

Stay safe
Do not head far out into the desert without reserve water and gasoline. Expect to need a gallon of water per day per person in the event that an emergency situation develops. You should also carry sunscreen and a first aid kit in case you are unable to return immediately.

Cell phone service is spotty at best across the western desert, and in most areas non-existent. If you plan to travel in this area, be sure to have alternate communication methods available (satellite phone, CB radio, amateur radio, signalling mirrors or lighting, etc.).

Be sure to notify friends, family, or others about your intended itinerary, camping locations, travel timetable and when to expect contact from you.

Go next

 * Central Nevada has similar countryside and is the location of the Great Basin National Park.
 * All around western Utah is the Grand Circle of U.S. National Parks.

title: Western Utah


text:
Western Visayas

Western Visayas (Region VI) is an administrative region in the Visayas island group in the Philippines. It includes the island of Panay and some smaller islands near it, the small island province of Guimaras, and the province of Negros Occidental. The world-famous beach island of Boracay is just off the northern tip of Panay.

Wikivoyage divides the Visayas up without using the administrative regions; see the Visayas article for details.

Provinces
Four of the provinces in the region are mainly on Panay Island: One province has an island to itself: Another is part of the large island of Negros, not all of which is counted in this region:
 * Aklan, includes the beach resort island, Boracay
 * Antique
 * Capiz
 * Iloilo, with Panay's most populous city, Iloilo City
 * Guimaras is a small island in the strait between Panay and Negros.
 * Negros Occidental is counted as part of the Western Visayas, but Negros Oriental as part of the Central Visayas.

In the Philippine government's administrative system, the Western Visayas are Region VI. At one time that region also included Palawan further west, but now they treat it as part of the Mimaropa region, administratively under Luzon. Wikivoyage treats Palawan as a separate region.

Cities

 * - Provincial capital of Negors Occidental, largest city in the region.
 * - Provincial capital of Iloilo, home of the famous Dinagyang Festival.
 * - Provincial capital of Guimaras.
 * - Provincial capital of Aklan, gateway to the world famous Boracay.
 * - Provincial capital of Antique
 * - Provincial capital of Capiz.

Other destinations

 * - a highly developed and very popular beach resort area

Talk
There are different local languages in the provinces of the region, all related but not mutually intelligible. Negros Occidental, Guimaras and Iloilo have Hiligaynon, Aklan has Akeanon, Capiz Capiznon, and Antique has Kinaray-a.

Both Tagalog (main language of Luzon to the north, and an official language for the whole country) and Cebuano (main language of various areas to the south and east) are also moderately commonly spoken, though neither is native to this region. Foreign residents in this region sometimes prefer to learn one of them, rather than a local language, because they are more widely useful.

English spoken well by most of the middle and elite class, and less well by many others.

Get in
Iloilo City is Panay's largest city and main transport hub. It has an airport with many domestic flights and some international flights. Ferries connect to nearby Guimaras and Bacolod, and to more distant places such as Palawan and Manila.

Kalibo airport gets many international charter flights full of Boracay-bound tourists. There are also scheduled flights from Manila, Cebu and some international destinations.

See

 * Miag-ao Church which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Iloilo

title: Western Visayas