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World Heritage Tour in Nara

This is an itinerary in Nara, covering as many World Heritage Sites (WH) as possible with the discount three day pass, arriving from and leaving to Kyoto/Osaka.

Understand
Nara Prefecture has the most World Heritage Sites in Japan — 3. This article proposes the most efficient way to cover them. Nara has the following World Heritage Sites:

 * Buddhist Monuments in the Horyu-ji Area
 * Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara
 * Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range (Yoshino and Omine Area)

Prepare
Make sure to get Nara World Heritage three day pass -Nara, Ikaruga, Yoshino Areas (奈良世界遺産フリーきっぷ 奈良・斑鳩・吉野コース Nara Sekai Isan Furī Kippu - Nara, Ikaruga, Yoshino kō-su) at Kintetsu Railway stations (below). It's valid only for Kintetsu Railway and Nara Kotsu Bus services (not for JR), but covers all the transportation expenses of the following itinerary (except Yoshino Ropeway). Tell the ticket clerk on what date you will start using it and you can get a pass one month in advance. There are also one-day and two-day passes without Yoshino area.

This three day pass costs:
 * ¥2800 (¥1400 for a child), if traveling from Osaka (Namba, Nipponbashi, Uehonmachi, Tsuruhashi stations on Kintetsu Line), gaining ¥1690 discount.
 * ¥3000 (¥1500 for a child), if traveling from Kyoto (Kintetsu Kyoto station), gaining a ¥1630 discount.

This itinerary is based on the WEEKDAY timetable, and may vary on Saturday, Sunday and national holidays.

Also bring this PDF MAP of railways in Nara with you.

Get in
Leave your hotel in Osaka or Kyoto as early as possible for Nara after rush hour (7:00-9:00).

From Osaka

 * Rapid Expresses (快速急行) depart from Namba station at 8:38, 8:51, 9:04, 9:13, 9:25, 9:37, 9:44, 9:55, 10:07, 10:17, 10:24, 10:32 and arrive at terminal Nara Station between 9:17 and 11:10, also making stops at Nipponbashi, Uehonmachi, Tsuruhashi stations in Osaka. No change is needed.

From Kyoto

 * Expresses (急行) depart from Kyoto station at 8:39(for Nara), 8:52, 9:09, 9:24, 9:39, 9:52(for Nara), 10:10, 10:25 and arrive at Nara Station between 9:27 and 11:15.

On your way to Nara, stop at Yamato-Saidaiji Station and walk to the Heijo Palace Site (WH) (appr. 15 minutes). The grounds are quite vast, so if you choose to visit the museums (at opposite ends of the area), you may be pressed for time to see the rest of the day's sites, depending on how long you take to see each. It may be wise to give the museums a miss, as they are not of any great interest. At the very least, walk to the center of the grounds to see the actual excavation site and the remnants of the old imperial palace. You may also enjoy seeing the Suzakumon Gate, although it is a modern reconstruction.

Go back to Yamato-Saidaiji Station and head to Nara Staton where you will find the rest of the days sites.

Main article Nara

You can best manage your time by visiting the sites in the following order (You will go through the Kofukuji area on the way to/from Gango-ji Temple, so order is not as important here.) The others are listed in the order you will pass them walking away from the station:
 * Kofuku-ji Temple (WH) (admission free in the premises, open 24h)
 * Gango-ji Temple (WH) (admission ¥400, open 9:00-17:00)
 * Todai-ji Temple (WH) (admission free in the premises, ¥500 for the Main Hall, open 8:00-16:00 in Nov to Feb, longer in the other months)
 * Kasuga Taisha Shrine (WH) (admission free in the premises, open 24h)
 * Kasugayama Premeval Forest (WH)

Note that the three day pass is valid for Nara Kotsu Bus service in central Nara.

Get in
In the morning, catch the train from Kintetsu Nara station to Yamato-Saidaiji station (2 stops from Nara) and then to Yoshino. There are lots of commuter service between Nara and Yamato-Saidaiji stations, arriving at Yamato-Saidaiji every 10 minutes.

 * Expresses (急行) depart from Yamato-Saidaiji station at 8:22, 8:41, 9:28, 9:52, 10:23 bound for terminal Kashihara Jingu Mae station (7 stops). Change your train there for terminal Yoshino Station.

Main article Yoshino

 * Mt. Yoshino (WH)
 * Yoshino Mikumari Shrine (WH)
 * Yoshimizu Shrine (WH)
 * Kimpu Shrine (WH)
 * Kimpusen-ji Temple (WH)
 * Mt. Omine (WH)
 * Ominesan-ji Temple (WH)
 * Omine Okugake Michi (Route)(WH)
 * Tamaki Shrine (WH)
 * Kumano Sankei Michi Kohechi (Route)(WH)

Go next

 * Expresses (急行) depart from Kashihara Jingu Mae station at X:07 and X:37 every hour between 11 and 15, 16:08, 16:37, 17:08, 17:39, 18:08, 18:38, 19:08, 19:40, 20:06, 20:35 and arrive at Yamato-Saidaiji station (7 stops) in 30 minutes. There are lots of commuter service between Nara and Yamato-Saidaiji stations, arriving at Nara in 10 minutes.

Day 3 Outskirt NARA and HORYU-JI
This day, you will leave Nara and have to check out of your hotel in the morning. But you will probably be able to leave your baggage there until late afternoon.

In the morning, catch the bus on Nara-Nishinokyo-Ikaruga Excursion Bus line (Line No. 97) from Kintetsu Nara (at 8:43) or JR Nara (at 8:45) stations to terminal Horyu-ji (E-15)(at 9:43) and Hokki-ji (E-13).

Main article Horyu-ji, Nara

In the afternoon, catch the bus (Line No. 97) at 12:43 or 13:43 to Yakushi-ji (E-10) and Toshodai-ji (E-8). The distance from Yakushi-ji to Toshodai-ji is 600m and can be covered on foot. The latest bus departs from Toshodai-ji (E-8) at 16:23 and arrives at Kintetsu Nara station at 16:40.

 * Horyu-ji Temple (WH) (admission ¥1000, open 8:00-16:30 in Nov to Feb, 30 minutes longer in the other months)
 * Hokki-ji Temple (WH) (admission ¥400, open 8:00-16:30 in Nov to Feb, 30 minutes longer in the other months)
 * Yakushi-ji Temple (WH) (admission ¥800, open 8:30-17:00, the latest entry 16:30)
 * Toshodai-ji Temple (WH) (admission ¥600, open 8:30-17:00, the latest entry 16:30)

Go next
Pick up your baggage at your hotel and leave Nara for Osaka or Kyoto. No extra charge is needed if you travel from Kyoto/Osaka and back to the same city. Otherwise, Pay the extra fee at the Kintetsu train station in Osaka or Kyoto.
 * ¥430 when you travel to Nara from Kyoto and leave for Osaka.
 * ¥540 when you travel to Nara from Osaka and leave for Kyoto.

For Osaka

 * Rapid Expresses (快速急行) or Expresses (急行) depart from Kintetsu Nara station bound for terminal Namba at least five times every hour between 16 and 20. The journey takes three quarters of an hour.

For Kyoto

 * Expresses (急行) depart from Kintetsu Nara station directly bound for terminal Kyoto station at 17:17, 18:16, 19:16, 19:49 and 20:17. The journey takes less than an hour, arriving between 18:03 and 21:03. If you miss these trains, catch the train for Osaka (above) and change the train at Yamato-Saidaiji station (2 stops from Nara).

title: World Heritage Tour in Nara


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Worms

 * See Pests for vermin.

Worms is a city in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of Germany. You can still see many vestiges of the old city walls, particularly the Torturmplatz and the Karolingerstraße. The Dom of St. Peter and St Paul, which was completed in 1325 survived the destruction of World War II.

Understand
Being one of the older German cities, Worms played a key role in German history. Worms' current incarnation was founded by Charlemagne, and the city's bishopric dates back to the fourth century. The town is famous for the Diet of Worms, to which Luther was summoned in 1521 to Emperor Charles V. He refused to recant his beliefs, saying the famous words "Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me. Amen." As a result, he was declared vogelfrei (outlaw) by the secular authorities and excommunicated by the church.

The city also has a rich Jewish history.

By train
It is served by trains from Bingen, Mainz, Bensheim, Mannheim, or Ludwigshafen (Rhein).

There is a ticket office in the main station of Worms (closed on Saturday afternoon, Sundays and holidays).

By car
Reach by the B47 either from the A61 (west) or the A67 or A5 (east) over the Rhine.

Get around
Walking is the best way to enjoy the historical centre.

There is also a bus system running day and night; buy tickets from the drivers.

See

 * City Walls
 * The Park and the manor-house in Herrnsheim. The park was created by Friedrich Ludwig Sckell, who designed the "Englischer Garten" in Munich as well.
 * River Banks with restaurants

Do

 * Cross the Rhine bridge for a walk through the green eastern banks. You can bathe in the Rhine, too! The water quality is again very good, even the salmon have returned!

Go next

 * Osthofen
 * Oppenheim
 * Mainz
 * Mannheim
 * Heidelberg
 * Frankfurt
 * Towns along the Bergstraße

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

title: Worms


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Worthing

Worthing is the largest town in West Sussex. The town lies nestled between the English Channel and the South Downs National Park. It is a seaside town with a pier, a prom and pleasant seaside parks. Since the 19th century, it has been nicknamed 'Sunny Worthing' thanks to its reputedly sunny and mild microclimate.

Understand
For much of the 20th century the town seems to have taken its eye off the ball with regards tourism, preferring to see itself as a town by the sea rather than a seaside town. In the 21st century, the town has been getting its act together; palm trees have been planted along the beach promenade, the Dome Cinema has been restored and the area around Splash Point revitalised. The town has a growing reputation for the arts and now hosts the Worthing Birdman event which attracts tens of thousands of people. Further regeneration work is planned, including a £150-million redevelopment of the Teville Gate area near the station.

The hills around Worthing were home to some of Britain's earliest and most extensive flint-mining operations, which saw some of the hardest flint available mined for thousands of years and exported across much of Britain and Europe. These flints helped people to fell trees, bringing about the neolithic revolution turning the nomadic Stone Age into a settled agricultural Bronze Age. Church Hill dates from 4500 BC. You can still see the filled-in mineshafts on the edge of Cissbury Ring, just north of town.

Settled since the Bronze Age, Worthing remained a small fishing hamlet until the 1750s, when various wealthy citizens visited for the hunting and fishing opportunities afforded by the area. Princess Amelia, daughter of King George III, stayed in Montague Place in 1798, which put the town firmly on the map of England's fashionable society. In the 19th century, Worthing was an elegant and fashionable resort attracting the rich and famous of the day.

It is famous for being used as the location for the movie Wish You Were Here nd for its literary connections. Oscar Wilde named the central character of The Importance of Being Earnest after the town, and wrote the play while stayed here at the height of the town`s fashionability in the 1890s. Jane Austen's unfinished novel Sanditon is thought to have been significantly based on experiences from her stay in Worthing in 1805. A blue plaque marks the former home of Nobel prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter in Ambrose Place.

Today Worthing has a windsurfing and kitesurfing centre at the western end of the promenade and is a good place to stay for visitors wishing to explore the South Downs which are just north of the town.

Worthing (population 100,000) is a large town and the centre of an urban area of 185,000. With nearby Brighton, it forms part of England's tenth largest conurbation, with nearly half a million residents.

Local information

 * Worthing local information website

Get in
Worthing is around 100 km (60 miles) south of London and 18 km (11 miles) or so along the coast from Brighton.

By train
Trains to Worthing run from Victoria and London Bridge stations in London, taking about 75 minutes, while Gatwick Airport is about 45 minutes away. There are also trains which run along the coast to Brighton (around 20 minutes). To the west lie Chichester (around 30 minutes) and Portsmouth (an hour).

Southern Railway tickets to London and some other destinations can be purchased from as little as £3 (£2 with rail cards) one way, if purchased online from their website. The tickets can then be collected form the automated machines at your departure station.

The main railway station is located just northwest of the town centre.

By car
The A27 also runs through the north of the town so, it is very easy to get to from Brighton and Chichester (depending on the direction). The A24 links Worthing to the M25 and London and is dual carriageway for much of its length. The A264/M23 provides a dual carriageway link from the A24 to Gatwick Airport.

By bus
National Express operates services to the town's bus station on the seafront close to the Dome Cinema. The journey from London to Worthing takes about 2 hr 40 min. Tickets are much cheaper if booked in advance online.

Cycling
To the east of Worthing the South Coast Cycle Route runs along the coastline, so you can cycle along the promenade down to Lancing and Shoreham. A cycle route also goes from the train station to the seafront.

On foot
The main pedestrian shopping centre on Montague and South Streets is only one block from the seafront.

By bus
Stagecoach operates bus services throughout the town and local area. The Pulse is a service running every 10 minutes in the daytime between Durrington and Lancing via Worthing town centre. The 700 Coastliner runs between Brighton and Littlehampton, every 15 to 20 minutes, with a stop in Worthing just outside the Dome Cinema.

Compass Buses also provides buses in the town.

By train
Southern Railway runs trains across Worthing's main station (known simply as ) and four suburban stations (from east to west these are, , and ).

See

 * is free to stroll 6AM-10PM.
 * Visit local artists at the Worthing Open Houses event. More than 45 local homes open their doors to the public to display a wide range of arts and crafts from local artists. In 2011 the event takes place in the last two weekends of June and first weekend of July.
 * Visit the reproduction of the Sistine Chapel ceiling located in English Martyrs Catholic Church 4 miles (7 km) to the west of the town centre, near Goring Station. Open Tu-Fr 10AM-4.
 * Highdown hill, north of Goring, provides scenic views of the town and also has the historic Highdown Gardens open to the public. Both are free of charge. Highdown Gardens is open Apr-Sep: daily 10AM-6PM, Oct-Nov: M-F 10AM-4:30PM, Dec-Jan: M-F 10AM-4PM, Feb-Mar: M-F 10AM-4:30PM. There's also a cafe and a hotel/restaurant by the entrance.
 * Visit the reproduction of the Sistine Chapel ceiling located in English Martyrs Catholic Church 4 miles (7 km) to the west of the town centre, near Goring Station. Open Tu-Fr 10AM-4.
 * Highdown hill, north of Goring, provides scenic views of the town and also has the historic Highdown Gardens open to the public. Both are free of charge. Highdown Gardens is open Apr-Sep: daily 10AM-6PM, Oct-Nov: M-F 10AM-4:30PM, Dec-Jan: M-F 10AM-4PM, Feb-Mar: M-F 10AM-4:30PM. There's also a cafe and a hotel/restaurant by the entrance.

Do

 * Stroll along the prom or hire a bike from the cycle hire shop on the seafront.
 * K66 Surf Division hire stand-up paddle boards and kayaks. They're on Beach Parade east of the pier.
 * Don't miss the fishermen selling fish from their boats on East Worthing Beach. Oscar Wilde's residence here in 1894 is commemorated by a blue plaque on the modern building at the eastern end of the Esplanade.
 * Admire the views of the town's art deco pier from Splash Point, with its rainbow mist water feature and pleasant seating area. Located 100 metres east of the pier.
 * Visit one of the town's theatres :
 * Connaught Theatre offers productions visiting from London's West End as well as repertory theatre in an art-deco setting.
 * Pavilion Theatre offers a range of shows from children's shows to general entertainers in the beach-side pavilion on Worthing Pier.
 * Assembly Hall is the town's main venue for music, with its excellent acoustics. It is home to the Worthing Symphony Orchestra, the only professional orchestra in West Sussex, which puts on Spring and Autumn seasons.
 * Cissbury Ring is one of Britain's most impressive Iron Age hillforts, managed by the National Trust and lying in the newly created South Downs National Park just north of the town. Consider walking from the Worthing suburb of Broadwater or the nearby village of Sompting with its picturesque 11th-century church.
 * Worthing Thunder play Sept-April in the BBL, the UK's top basketball league. Catch them at Worthing Leisure Centre, close to Durrington Station, two miles west of the town centre.
 * Cricket: Worthing CC play in the Sussex Cricket League. It's an easy walk from town centre just north of the main railway station.
 * Broadwater CC have played on Broadwater Green a few miles north of town since the 18th century. There is a traditional pub named the Cricketers opposite the green.
 * Cricket: Worthing CC play in the Sussex Cricket League. It's an easy walk from town centre just north of the main railway station.
 * Broadwater CC have played on Broadwater Green a few miles north of town since the 18th century. There is a traditional pub named the Cricketers opposite the green.

Golf

 * Worthing GC has two 18-hole courses on the South Downs. The Lower Course is reckoned to be one of the best downland courses in England. The Upper Course boasts some spectacular views across much of the south coast, from the Isle of Wight to Beachy Head.
 * Hill Barn GC is a nice 18-hole course on the South Downs. Former municipal course in private hands and benefiting from their investment. The club hosted European Tour events in the 1970s.
 * Brooklands Golf Centre  is a municipal, nine-hole learners course. Looks good now the trees have grown and has a nice water feature. Close to the seafront east of town.
 * Splash Point Mini Golf is Worthing's only crazy golf course, near seafront behind Splash Point.
 * Marine Gardens Putting Green is a small putting green close to the seafront west of the town centre.

Events

 * Worthing Music & Arts Festival has try-outs Feb-March and the main event in June.
 * Worthing Pride is next held 5-6 Juty 2024.
 * Worthing Birdman  competition is in August: see grown men jumping off Worthing Pier in their attempts to 'fly' the furthest, and with the wackiest costumes. If the weather's good you can expect to be joined by 20,000 to 30,000 others.

Buy
You will find the main high street shops around South Street and Montague Street. Most of the town's banks are listed where these streets meet, and the much loved general store Wilko's is here as well.

Montague Street is pedestrianised and is home to a market every Wednesday. South Street Square hosts a Farmers' Market on the fourth Saturday of every month.

There are two arcades, one Victorian, and one modern, off the western end of Montague Street, where small independent retailers can be found. Warwick Street, and the West End of Montague Street also feature independent shops.

Information on the shops and facilities in the pedestrian town centre can be found here

While in Worthing, look out for a type of sweet named Worthings after the town, available from various places including the shop at the town's Museum and Art Gallery.

Eat
Many different international cuisines are offered in Worthing, and most offer excellent food at a reasonable price. There main area for eating out in Worthing is in and around the pedestrianised Warwick Street. There are also an increasing number of restaurants around the West End of the town centre, about 1km west of South Street, around the west end of Montague Street and Rowlands Road.

For Italian food, go to 'Pomodoro e Mozzarella' on Warwick Street. This restaurant is far superior to the nearby franchises of Ask and Pizza Express, and offers authentic Italian cuisine in a friendly but very intimate atmosphere. Be sure to make a reservation if you want an evening meal there on a Friday or a weekend night. For Chinese food, try either China Palace or Fortune Inn on Chapel Road; the first is somewhat more expensive than the second, but both offer good food. China Palace has both a traditional a la carte menu and also a 'buffet' menu - for a fixed price, you can eat as much as you like, but it is cooked to order rather than being displayed in open gastronorms in the self-service style. Good Indian food can be found slightly away from the town centre on Goring Road at Shafiques. Ask for the window seat here and watch the local world go by.

For a bite to eat during the day, head to Bath Place, just off the east end of Montague Street, where you will find two very interesting cafés: Thai Lunch Box and Parklife. Thai Lunch Box offers a fairly traditional sandwich menu backed up by an extensive menu of Thai food. Look out for the oriental supermarket next door - pop in and have a look round if you have time. Parklife (almost directly opposite TLB) serves all sorts, including milkshakes in over 50 different flavours.

 * Crabshack is a seafood restaurant at 2 Marine Parade, open Su Tu-Th noon-3PM, F Sa noon-8:30PM.
 * Level One is a food court on the first level of a multistorey car-park, on Marine Parade 100 yards west of the pier. It's open F Sa noon-9PM, Su noon-7PM.
 * Tern is a restaurant at the end of the pier open Th-Sa 12:30-2PM, 7:30PM-10PM.

Drink
Although the South Street drinking strip is typical, there are many good pubs dotted around the centre. Worthing has become known for its micropubs, running to as many as ten.

Sleep
There are good Bed and Breakfast establishments in East Worthing along and just off the Brighton Road. Sea front rooms here offer excellent views of the picturesque fishing beach and the English Channel beyond.
 * Premier Inn is at 127 Marine Parade next to the Burlington.
 * Sleep is a budget hotel at 37 Richmond Rd, 100 yards west of the Museum & Art Gallery.
 * Premier Inn is at 127 Marine Parade next to the Burlington.
 * Sleep is a budget hotel at 37 Richmond Rd, 100 yards west of the Museum & Art Gallery.
 * Sleep is a budget hotel at 37 Richmond Rd, 100 yards west of the Museum & Art Gallery.

Stay safe
Although Worthing is generally a very safe place to be, like many large towns, the town centre can get fairly rowdy on Friday and Saturday nights.

Connect
As of Feb 2023, Worthing and its approach roads have 4G from EE, Three and Vodafone, and 5G from O2.

Go next

 * Arundel is a pretty town, steeped in history and famed for its castle and cathedral.  11 miles (18km) west of Worthing along the A27.  Stagecoach's 700 bus will take you there.  By train you need to change at Ford or Barnham
 * Brighton lies 11 miles (18km) along the coast to the east. Brighton is often congested to drive through so you may find it easier to take the train (20 minutes) or use Stagecoach's 700 bus.
 * London is an hour and a quarter away via train or 2 hours via coach.

title: Worthing


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Worthington

There is more than one place called Worthington: (but they are all pretty small)

United States of America

 * Worthington (Indiana)
 * Worthington (Iowa)
 * Worthington (Kentucky)
 * Worthington (Massachusetts)
 * Worthington (Minnesota)
 * Worthington (Missouri)
 * Worthington (Ohio)
 * Worthington (Pennsylvania)
 * Worthington (West Virginia)

title: Worthington


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Worthington (Minnesota)

Worthington is a city in Southern Minnesota.

Get in
Interstate 90, US Highway 59, Minnesota Highway 60.

title: Worthington (Minnesota)


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Worthington (Ohio)

Worthington is a city in the Greater Columbus area of Ohio. Located slightly North of Columbus on State Route 23. Founded in 1803, with a New England heritage reflected in it's authentic brick sidewalks and central Village Green, many of the city’s original commercial buildings and churches still stand.

Get in
Located at the intersection of U.S. Route 23 and State Route 161. I71 to 161 head West 2 miles.

Go next

 * Columbus

title: Worthington (Ohio)


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Wrangel Island

Wrangel Island is an Arctic island in Chukotka in the Russian Far East. For its rare Arctic tundra ecosystem, home to over 400 rare plant species and large quantities of charismatic megafauna, including Pacific walruses, polar bears, and grey whales, it is a.

History
1764 was the first reported discovery of Wrangel Island by the Cossack Sergeant Stepan Andreyev. Calling it Tikegen Land, Andreyev found evidence of its inhabitants, the Krahay. Eventually, the island was named after Baron Ferdinand von Wrangel (1797–1870), who, after reading Andreyev's report and hearing Chukchi stories of land at the island's coordinates, set off on an expedition (1820–1824) to discover the island, with no success.

Since the mid 1800s there have been several landings and attempted landings on the island. Depending on the time of the year, access to the island can be manageable or virtually impossible.

The first recorded landing on the island was in 1866 by a German whaler, Eduard Dallmann.

Several expeditions in the later 19th and early 20th centuries proved fatal to the explorers involved, including the infamous 1921 expedition to the island funded by Vilhjalmur Stefansson. Canadian Allan Crawford, Americans Fred Maurer, Lorne Knight and Milton Galle, and Iñupiat seamstress and cook Ada Blackjack left Alaska in 1921 to claim the island for Canada. On 16 September 1921, the team was left on Wrangel Island with the promise a ship would relieve them with another crew in early 1922.

A schooner sent to pick up the crew became stuck in the ice in 1922 and the rescue was abandoned until the weather became better in 1923. During that time the explorers quickly ran out of food, and unable to capture game to survive on Crawford, Maurer and Galle set out on foot in January 1923 towards Siberia for help. The men were never seen again. Lorne Knight developed scurvy and died in April 1923 on the island.

Ada Blackjack was left alone, save for the cat Vic brought along with the men for company, and was forced to learn how to hunt and shoot game on the island to survive. She was eventually rescued on 19 August 1923 when a ship made it to the island with a relief crew.

Landscape
Suffering from a severe polar climate, Wrangel Island has a barren look to it with little vegetation life. The island does not have trees, and the ground is mostly dry and hard in areas.

The island has over 900 lakes that, while salty, are considered to have the lowest amount of salt in the Arctic region.

Get in
Wrangel Island is a difficult place to travel to independently. Access to the Wrangel Island Reserve is strictly controlled. In the summer months of July and August, when ice conditions allow, a few tourist ships visit the Island. An expedition ship, the Spirit of Enderby (Russian name: Professor Khromov) operated by natural history expedition cruise company Heritage Expeditions takes 50 passengers every July and August to Wrangel Island. These expeditions take two weeks and start and finish in the Port of Anadyr, which is accessible by direct flight from Moscow, and charter flight from Nome, Alaska.

Go next

 * Pevek — the Federation's northernmost town and seaport on the Arctic Ocean

title: Wrangel Island


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Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve

'''Wrangell-St. Elias National Park''', with over 13 million acres (55000 km2), is the largest US national park. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located in Alaska, the park has no trails and you'll find no Princess Bus Lines (yet). It is a beautifully glaciated, vast and amazing place. You can drive the washboarded McCarthy Road from Chitina to McCarthy and access the park from there. You cannot drive your car into McCarthy. Once at the end of the road you'll find a footbridge that will lead you into "downtown". Kennicott, an old copper mining town is 5 miles down the road from McCarthy. Nizina is the other access point. It is worth the price to flight-see as the views are amazing. If time and wallet allow, the best way to get into the back country is via small plane. Base camping or a point-to-point hike might very well become the best memory of your Alaskan adventure.

History
European exploration of the Copper Basin began in the early 1780s. By 1819, the Russians had established a trading post called Copper Fort in the area. The U.S. Geological Survey later made topographic and geologic maps of the country, which led to mineral development of the Wrangell Mountains. The first gold discovery in the northern Wrangell Mountains was on Jacksina Creek near the headwaters of the Nabesna River in 1899. A year later, prospectors traced chalcocite to deposits on Bonanza Ridge, which eventually became the incredibly rich Bonanza Mine, one of five mines that supplied copper and silver ore to the now-historic Kennecott Mill. The Kennecott mines did not go into full production until 1911, when the completion of a 196-mile-long railroad from Cordova, near the mouth of the Copper River, to the Kennecott mining town allowed transport of the rich copper concentrate. In 27 years of operation, over a billion pounds of ore valued at $100-300 million was hauled on the railroad.

The mine and the railroad were abandoned in 1938. The railroad bed now provides the base for most of the Chitina-McCarthy Road along the south flank of the Wrangell Mountains in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. In 1913, gold discoveries in the Nabesna area led to construction of the Nabesna Road, which was built in the early 1930s and used to haul gold ore from the now-closed Nabesna Mine. Today, the Nabesna Road provides vehicle access along the north side of the Wrangell Mountains into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.

After the Kennecott mines closed, several efforts were made to revive interest in the area. By 1925 companies throughout the U.S. advertised the Richardson Highway as the center portion of the "Golden Belt Line." Ernest Gruening, Director of U.S. Territories and later Alaska's governor and a U.S. Senator, was the first to recommend the area as a national park or monument. In 1978, Present Jimmy Carter declared the area a National Monument because of its scientific and cultural significance. When Congress passed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act in 1980, the Wrangell Mountains became part of the 13.2 million-acre Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, the largest U.S. National Park.

Landscape
Located in the southeast corner of Alaska (north of the Inside Passage), Wrangell-St. Elias is the largest national park in the United States and contains an impressive set of peaks over 16,000 ft, including Mt. Wrangell at 18,008 ft. Several of the peaks are active volcanoes. Because it covers such a large area, the remote wilderness landscape is highly diversified. There are lowland marshes, spruce forests, rock canyons, alpine tundra, glaciers, scree, ice and snow fields and rocky coastline.

Climate
The winter is long, dark, and extremely cold with highs of 5-7 °F and nighttime lows dipping to -50 °F! Daytime skies are usually clear and at night the aurora dances overhead. Exceptionally dry snow covers the ground to around two feet. The spring season brings clear skies, increasingly longer days, and warming temperatures. Average highs are 40-50 °F. Lows may still dip into the teens and single digits.

During the summer wildflowers and mosquitoes peak in June and July - consider bringing a head-net! June and July are also the warmest months, with highs reaching near 80 °F on some days, but it can snow any month of the year in the highcountry. The prime backcountry season is June 20 to August 20 due to snow depths at higher elevations. Drizzling rains are not uncommon throughout the summer and, in general, rainfall increases in August and September, especially along the coast. Autumn arrives early; willows and aspens begin to change color by mid-August. This season can be delightfully clear, spectacular, and mosquito-free, but it often too short. First snows often fall in September.

Visitor information

 * Park website

Get in
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve has no entrance stations or gates, and never closes. People visit year-round by foot, car, airplane, ATV, snowmobile, ski, etc. The headquarters building is open weekdays year-round.

By car
Access into the Park/Preserve is usually by private vehicle along unpaved gravel roads, via watercraft, or by chartered air taxi service from Tok, Glennallen (Gulkana), McCarthy, Valdez, Cordova or Yakutat. Glennallen, the largest community near the park, is located at the junction of the Richardson and Glenn Highways.

From Glennallen, surface access into the Park/Preserve is via either the McCarthy Road (from Chitina to McCarthy - 60 miles) or the Nabesna Road (from Slana to Nabesna - 42 miles). Both are unpaved gravel roads usually suitable for passenger vehicles. Drivers should check current road conditions at Park Headquarters,, or at the respective ranger station listed below:

By bus
Alaska Direct Bus Line +1-800-770-6652 runs a bus from Anchorage to Tok, with multiple stops along the way, including in Glennallen. Call for days and schedules.

Seasonally, Backcountry Connections +1 907 822-5292 makes daily runs from Glennallen to McCarthy.

[http://www.alaskayukontravel.com/ Wrangell-St. Elias Tours] also operates daily tours to Kennicott and McCarthy from Chitina and Kenny Lake. Additionally, Wrangell-St,. Elias Tours provides direct transportation to McCarthy from Anchorage. +1-907-960-2020.

By air
Copper Valley Air has scheduled flights on Wednesdays and Fridays. Call +1 907 822-4200 for prices and flight times. Wrangell Mountain Air, +1-800-478-1160, offers three daily flights (Mid-May to Mid-September) from Chitina to McCarthy with advance reservations.

There are many airstrips throughout the park/preserve. These can be reached via private airplane or by contacting one of the air taxi services licensed to operate in the park/preserve. A list of Local Air Taxi operators is available from Park Headquarters.

Fees and permits
There are no entrance stations or required fees to enter Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.

See
Although there is much wildlife in the park, it is so huge that they have much space to spread out in and some visitors will not see as much as they might in some other parts of Alaska. But there are both black and brown bears, as well as small groups of caribou.

Do
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park offers endless adventures ranging from 1/2 days walking on glaciers to week long trips in the backcountry. Local guides give the best information and offer the best services one provider is Kennicott Wilderness Guides.

This is one of the most popular ways to see the central parts of the park. Flights can average $1 per minute, but you can see a lot in an hour or two. Two providers based in McCarthy are Wrangell Mountain Air and McCarthy Air.

Other popular activities include mountain biking, river trips, mountaineering, fishing, hunting, ATVs (permits are required) and kayaking.

Lodging
McCarthy is generally lacking in budget accommodation. The Lancaster Backpacking Hotel is not a hostel, but a relatively cheaper hotel - because the rooms are not heated. The only hostel-type accommodation, as of 2007, was the Kennicott River Lodge, just west of town across the bridge, and not to be confused with the pricey Kennicott Glacier Lodge, above McCarthy in the town of Kennicott. Kennicott River Lodge has cabins, some of which are generally rented out by the bed. But they also take groups, so these cabins are often unavailable. These beds tend to be about $25 when available. Otherwise, if you want to stay indoors, there are no budget accommodations.

Camping
Within the park you can set up camp just about anywhere you would like at no charge. It is best to speak with a park ranger at the park visitor's center (south of Glennallen on the Richardson Hwy) or at the north end of McCarthy Road in Chitina to get the most recent update on conditions in the park, especially if you are planning on a multi-day trek. Bears are everywhere. At higher altitudes, there are no trees for stowing food so be sure to bring a bear proof canister. If you don't have one they can be borrowed at no charge from the ranger station. Be sure to get the latest info on fire restrictions. It is best to be equipped with a propane stove in case of dry and/or windy conditions. Always remember to leave a detailed plan of your route with someone if you are planning to journey far into the park.

Backcountry
Wrangell-St. Elias' (WRST) backcountry is truly vast. Although Denali National Park has the highest single peak in Alaska, WRST has more high peaks and more glaciers. And there are no permits or backcountry zones. The park service will lend you a bear canister, but there are very few rules in this park, aside from the basic requirements not to damage the environment. In this wilderness, as in much of Alaska, you're on your own.

The best online guides tend to be the websites of the bush plane operators in McCarthy (Wrangell Mountain Air and McCarthy Air) as well as the national park page.

Although it is possible to visit some parts of the WRST backcountry from a car, the true backcountry requires short bush flights, not so much because they are extremely distant, but because there are rivers that most hikers cannot cross. The layout of the park, with McCarthy at the end of a flagpole indent inside of the park, means that these flights are shorter, and thus cheaper, than for most Alaskan parks. Two flights (dropoff and pickup later on) can be had for as cheap as a few hundred dollars for some areas.

The park service maintains a number of first-come first-serve cabins, most of which you can fly to.

Although the common statement is that there are no trails, it would be more accurate to say that there are no (or few) maintained trails. Whether from earlier mining efforts, or from current use, there are trails in some areas, such as going over Chitistone Pass and down Chitistone Canyon on the Goat Trail. Such trails will tend to disappear at times.

Stay safe
Park service offices make bear canisters available with a credit card as a guarantee. The bug season tends to go from some time in June through July, and end soon after. August is the rainy season. So if you go in the summer, you choose between bugs and rain, though it does not rain constantly and there can be periods of nice weather.


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Wray

Wray is in the Eastern Plains of Colorado.

title: Wray


text:
Wreck diving

Wreck diving is a specific type of scuba diving. Most wreck diving is done on shipwrecks, but wrecks of aircraft are also commonly explored by scuba divers. There are also a lesser number of more exotic wrecks which are dived upon, ranging from trains and buses to collapsed naval radar stations.

All scuba divers require some form of training, but many divers engage in additional training before diving on wrecks. Wreck diving is often subdivided into three types:
 * non-penetration, ie. swimming over and around the wreck.
 * limited penetration, going into an overhead environment, subject to a limit of 130 feet/40 meters cumulative linear distance to surface (ie. depth plus length of penetration).
 * full penetration, going deeper into the overhead environment in the wreck.

Non-penetration diving can usually be undertaken safely by most certified scuba divers. Divers are often recommended to undertake additional training, such as a wreck diver specialty course, before engaging in limited penetration diving. Full penetration diving is regarded as a type of technical diving, which requires significant additional experience, training and equipment.

Destinations
Almost every scuba diving destination in the world offers some form of wreck diving. For many areas this is as an alternative to diving on coral and other reefs; in other areas, the wrecks are the only diving attraction.

Scuba diving publications frequently print articles about "the top 10 wreck dives in the world", and broadly speaking the wrecks in any particular article tend to include some from the following list:

 * Bianca C, sunk in 1961 off Grenada in the Caribbean.
 * Blackjack B17, a Flying Fortress bomber which crashed off Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea.
 * Captain Keith Tibbetts, a Russian destroyer sunk as an artificial reef off Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands.
 * Fujikawa Maru, one of the many excellent World War Two shipwrecks in Truk Lagoon.
 * SMS Markgraf, and SMS Koln, German warships from World War I scuttled in Scapa Flow, Scotland.
 * Nagato, a Japanese World War II battleship, and the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga which were sunk in Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands as part of the post-war US nuclear tests.
 * USS Oriskany, a US aircraft carrier deliberately sunk as an artificial reef off Pensacola, Florida.
 * SS President Coolidge off Vanuatu.
 * SS Thislegorm, a British World War II shipwreck sunk by a mine off Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt in the Red Sea.
 * Umbria, a World War II shipwreck scuttled off Port Sudan, Sudan.
 * SS Yongala, sunk in a cyclone in 1911 off coast of Ayr, Australia.
 * MS Zenobia, a roll-on roll-off ferry which sunk off Larnaca, Cyprus.

The writers of these articles may have a rather limited knowledge of wrecks they have not visited, may not actually have visited many, and in journalism "top" is often equated with most popular, easily accessible, and near a resort owned by one of their advertising clients.

However there are a huge number of other popular wreck dives elsewhere in the world, including:

Regional articles which include wreck diving sites:
 * Scuba diving in Australia
 * Scuba diving in the British Virgin Islands
 * Diving the Cape Peninsula and False Bay, Cape Town, South Africa
 * Diving in Durban, South Africa
 * Diving in Port Elizabeth, South Africa
 * Dive sites of Saipan, Micronesia
 * Diving in Sweden

Isolated wreck site articles:
 * HMS Birkenhead, Danger point, South Africa

Learn
In addition to basic scuba diving certification, many people intending to dive on wrecks seek further training, both for their own safety, and also to increase their enjoyment.

Specialty courses
Many recreational diver training organisations offer wreck diving 'speciality' courses, as a supplement to basic training. According to statistics from PADI (the largest diver training organisation in the world), wreck diving is their single most popular speciality diving course.

Wreck diving speciality courses focus on the particular hazards presented by wrecks, and introduce divers to basic reel handling skills to enable them to engage in safer penetrations into the wreck. Most agencies impose a limit on recreational divers of a cumulative distance of 130 feet/40 meters of combined depth plus penetration.

Also bear in mind that shallower wrecks tend to get broken up by the elements much more quickly. Accordingly, the better preserved shipwrecks tend to be deeper. Many divers who engage in wreck diving undertake further training in deep diving as well.

Technical courses
Divers who wish to engage in more extensive penetrations usually undertake specialist technical diver training. Two of the best known technical wreck diving courses are the Advanced Wreck Diver course from TDI (the largest technical diver training organisation in the world), and the Wreck Penetration Diver course from NAUI.

Certification agencies
Recognised recreational certification agencies include:
 * ACUC: American Canadian Underwater Certifications
 * ANDI: American Nitrox Divers International
 * BSAC: The British Sub Aqua Club bases its training on a network of affiliated clubs.
 * CMAS: The French-based Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques, a volunteer-run amateur organisation with many national affiliates.
 * GUE: Global Underwater Explorers concentrates on technical and cave diving specialties.
 * IANTD: International Association of Nitrox Technical Divers.
 * IDEA: The International Diving Educators Association
 * ISI: The Independent Scuba Instructors
 * NAUI: The National Association of Underwater Instructors, US-based, is the oldest recreational scuba certification agency.
 * PADI: The Professional Association of Diving Instructors, the largest scuba certification agency, a commercialised agency targeting recreational divers who want to be certified quickly.
 * PDIC: The Professional Diving Instructors Corporation
 * SDI/TDI: The Scuba Divers International/Technical Divers International, a certification agency which trains with an emphasis on practical diving skills. SDI focuses on the recreational side of scuba diving and TDI is the side that specializes in Technical Diving.
 * SSI: Scuba Schools International, another large commercialised certification agency.

Get in
For a general synopsis of this topic, see the relevant subsections under Scuba diving - Get in and the national and regional dive guide articles. A general listing of national dive guide articles can be found under Scuba diving — Destinations, and some of these will list regional dive guide articles in their destination sections.

Do
Wreck diving is an attractive activity for scuba divers for several different reasons:

 * Marine life, wrecks are artificial reefs, which create a habitat for marine life and often attract both smaller residents and larger predators. Many famous shipwrecks are also in marine parks, which helps preserve the marine life.
 * Artefacts, many wrecks contain cargo or machinery, which is not normally closely observable on working, floating vessels. For example, many wartime wrecks contain military cargoes such as torpedoes or gas masks.  Older wrecks may employ older equipment, such as telegraphs, not commonly seen on more modern ships.
 * History, although some wrecks were deliberately sunk as dive sites, many wrecks have a tragic or poignant history to their sinking. It is sometimes said that behind every great wreck dive is a great shipwreck story.
 * Photography, in good visibility, wrecks provide a dramatic backdrop for underwater photographers. They also have the singular advantage that, unlike less predictable marine life, wrecks generally sit still for the photographer.
 * Mystery, many people have seen films such as The Deep, Fool's Gold and Into the Blue, in which lost treasure is found on a shipwreck. Although very few wrecks contain actual treasure, almost all underwater wrecks still possess that alluring quality of mystery.

Buy
In addition to conventional scuba diving equipment, wreck divers will normally carry additional items of kit. Wreck divers generally try to configure their kit so as to minimise "danglies", or any item of kit which might snag on the wreck, or any fishing gear which may be caught on the wreck. When penetrating a shipwreck, all equipment should be clipped in and secured close to the diver's body to stay streamlined. The clips used should be of a type which can not accidentally clip onto a line (those are known as suicide clips by cave divers), or should be weak enough to be broken free if they get snagged.
 * Reels, to link themselves to the point of entry whilst penetrating.
 * Lights, at least one, and as many as three or four depending upon the level of penetration.
 * Knife/cutting tool, conscious of their higher entanglement risk, many wreck divers carry additional cutting tools, either a knife, or shears, line cutter, or Z-blade.
 * Long hoses, in the event that divers need to share air in a restricted environment, a conventional alternate second stage on a diving regulator could be impractical.

Stay safe
In addition to general safety advice relating to diving (as to which, see Scuba diving - stay safe) wreck divers face a number of hazards in addition to those present in conventional scuba diving. Overhead environments may prevent direct access to the surface. Sharp edges may be present on the wreck. Some wartime shipwrecks may contain explosive cargos, and some wrecks may contain toxic materials or pollutants. Wrecks are also a magnet for fishermen, due to the fish that often gather on them, and fishing line and nets may become snagged on the wreck and present an entanglement risk for divers.

Most wrecks are slowly disintegrating. The structure becomes weaker as the material corrodes or rots, and at some stage it will collapse. This is not a good time to be inside. Those wrecks which are exposed to rough sea conditions will generally deteriorate faster, but oddly enough, are also usually less of a risk for collapsing on divers, as this usually happens during a storm when no divers are around. The wrecks that are below the wave action are the ones which are more likely to collapse without warning, possibly when an unlucky diver bumps againat a critically weakened structure, and precipitates a collapse. This is very unusual, but remains a possibility, and is one of the reasons why divers should be adequately trained before attempting penetrations — it helps if you can recognise some of the signs of impending structural failure.

In conditions of poor visibility it is possible to accidentally penetrate some wrecks. If you are lucky, you will also accidentally find your way out again. If you are suitably skilled, you may also find your way out. When diving at a site where this is a possibility, it is prudent to tow a surface marker buoy on a line, or tie off a line at a point known to be outside the wreck before venturing too close in the darkness. Your line is the only guarantee of a way out.

Basic safety precautions
All diving involving overhead environments is inherently more risky. Cave divers are taught the following mnemonic in relation to ways in which the risks can be minimised: The Good Divers Are Living (or sometimes: The Good Divers Always Live).
 * T - stands for Training. Don't do the dives if you don't have the training. Experience is not always an adequate substitute — you may have been lucky so far. Adequate training gives you the skills you hope to never need.
 * G - stands for Guidelines. By laying a guideline you can find your way out if your lights fail, or silt reduces visibility to zero. In some cases where the wreck lies on its side or upside down, the route may simply be confusing, and it is very embarrassing to forget the way out, even if you finally work it out.
 * D - stands for Depth. Deeper waters means more nitrogen narcosis - divers need to have their wits about them inside high risk environments.  Stay within your limits. Use Helium based gases for deeper dives if you can. They are more expensive and require extra training, but they improve the dive experience, as you remain more aware of what is happening around you, and remember the dive much better when not narked.
 * A - stands for Air supply. Divers should always turn back at or before they hit two thirds of their original gas supply.  One third is to go in, one third to get back out, and one third for your buddy in case of loss of gas emergencies. For full penetrations consider carrying a fully independent bailout gas supply. The life it saves may be yours.
 * L - stands for Lights. If you are penetrating beyond the zone where surface light can reach, divers are trained to carry at least three battery operated lights.  It is no fun to be stuck in the middle of a shipwreck unable to see with a diminishing air reserve, though if properly trained, and using a guideline, it should not be a big problem to find your way out. The line is more important for safety than the lights, but the light will make you much happier at the time, as long as you have the line in place.

Respect

Many popular diving wrecks have suffered over the years due to the depredations of souvenir hunting divers. In the past, many areas have had a culture of artefact removal from wrecks, but there has been far greater emphasis on preserving the historical nature of the wrecks. Many countries now impose stiff criminal penalties on divers who remove artefacts. Other wrecks have suffered over the years due to heavy usage by divers and the resultant accidental impacts.

Although increasingly less common, some wrecks which attract divers still contain human remains. Divers are well advised to respect the last resting place of the people who perished when the vessel sank.

Divers should strive to abide by the following basic guidelines when on wrecks:

Some dive organisations promote a diving variant of the leave no trace motto: "take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but bubbles."
 * Look but don't touch, nature will eventually grind each shipwreck away into rust - there is no need to accelerate the process. Besides, a scrape from a rusty metal wreck can be nasty.
 * Don't take souvenirs, everything you take is one less thing for future divers to look at, and often one less home for sea creatures. This is also illegal in some areas in the case of both protected marine sanctuaries and wrecks.
 * Learn good buoyancy control, so that you can avoid accidental damage to the site from crashing into things. It will also help you avoid accidental damage to yourself or stirring up silt if you penetrate inside the wreck.

Specific guidance to local wreck legislation may be found in some of the national dive guide articles:
 * Diving on wrecks in South Africa

title: Wreck diving


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Wrexham

Wrexham (Welsh: Wrecsam) is a city in Clwyd in North Wales. It's industrial, but has lost its former trades of coal-mining and brick-making. It was granted "city" status in 2022, but this is ceremonial and doesn't affect its governance. In 2021 the population of Wrexham was 44,785.

This is Wrexham is the visitor information centre. It's within Tŷ Pawb gallery on Market St, opposite Xplore! science museum, and open M-Sa 09:00-17:00.

Understand
When the Romans arrived in 48 AD they encountered a tribe based in the Wrekin hillfort above Wroxeter. That tribe may have had an outpost here, thus Wrocansaetan the settlers from Wrekin or Wroxeter. The Romans laid into them all then marched on to Deva, their encampment on the Dee that is now Chester.

This area is a borderland, but largely peaceful since Wales was conquered by England in the 13th century. Owain Glyndŵr rebelled in the 15th century and re-established an independent Wales, but was overthrown and his realm suppressed. Wrexham then became part of Denbighshire, nowadays Clwyd. It was a small market town until the 18th century, then industrialised with leather trades, lead and coal mining, brick-making, breweries and iron works.

These industries scarred the landscape, while Wrexham grew to govern a ring of grubby villages. During the 20th century the industries withered - lead mining ceased in 1914, and coal mining during the bitter disputes of the 1970s. (The Gresford colliery disaster claimed 266 lives in 1934.) The mines also caused subsidence damage to many fine old buildings - Erddig Hall was on the brink of being demolished. The colliery sites have now been refurbished into light industrial and business parks.

Town centre is mostly modern but many 18th and 19th century buildings remain, with the grime scrubbed off. In 1989 the main road A483 was re-routed to the west and upgraded to a fast dual carriageway. This reduced traffic pressure through town and slashed travel times north to Chester and south beyond Oswestry.

By plane
The nearest airports are Liverpool and Manchester, both about an hour's drive. Consider also Birmingham, which has direct trains to Wrexham.

By bus

For long-distance routes change at Chester. Neither National Express nor Megabus runs to Wrexham.

Get around
Town is walkable, but you really need wheels to explore further out. Bus 42 (M-Sa hourly) runs to the southern suburb of Hightown: get off at Stockwell Grove to be within walking distance of Erddig.

Taxis in town include Speedie Cars (+44 1978 262829) and Yellow Cars (+44 1978 286286).

See

 * Town centre retains its medieval street pattern radiating from St Giles, with higgledy-piggledy thoroughfares, arcades and alleyways.
 * St Mary's Cathedral is RC, built in neo-Gothic in 1857. It's on Regent St 200 yards north of Central Station.
 * Bellevue Park is a pleasant green space a quarter mile south of Central station.
 * Acton Park is larger, with a fishing lake, at the northeast edge of town.
 * Bersham Ironworks 2 miles west of town remain closed in 2023.
 * Bellevue Park is a pleasant green space a quarter mile south of Central station.
 * Acton Park is larger, with a fishing lake, at the northeast edge of town.
 * Bersham Ironworks 2 miles west of town remain closed in 2023.
 * Bersham Ironworks 2 miles west of town remain closed in 2023.

Do

 * Cinema: Odeon in Eagles Meadow Shopping Centre shows mainstream releases.
 * Catrin Finch Centre is the University's own performance venue, adjacent on the campus.
 * Football:
 * Rugby Union: Wrexham RFC play the 15-a-side game away down in the amateur leagues. Their home ground is on Bryn Estate Rd, 3 miles east of town.
 * Rugby League: North Wales Crusaders played in Wrexham to 2021 but then relocated to Colwyn Bay.
 * Golf: Wrexham GC is three miles northeast on A534 Holt Rd. White tees 6131 yards, par 70, visitor round £50.
 * Clays GC is another mile west. Moss Valley GC is three miles north in Pentre Broughton.
 * Rugby League: North Wales Crusaders played in Wrexham to 2021 but then relocated to Colwyn Bay.
 * Golf: Wrexham GC is three miles northeast on A534 Holt Rd. White tees 6131 yards, par 70, visitor round £50.
 * Clays GC is another mile west. Moss Valley GC is three miles north in Pentre Broughton.
 * Golf: Wrexham GC is three miles northeast on A534 Holt Rd. White tees 6131 yards, par 70, visitor round £50.
 * Clays GC is another mile west. Moss Valley GC is three miles north in Pentre Broughton.
 * Clays GC is another mile west. Moss Valley GC is three miles north in Pentre Broughton.

 * Horse-racing:
 * Focus Wales showcases new music from Wales. The next is 9-11 May 2024 at several venues across town.
 * Wrexham Walking Festival has volunteer-led walks. The next are probably May 30 - 7 June 2024, tbc.
 * Wales Comic Con is held annually in the city.
 * Wrexham Feast is a food and drink festival. The next is probably 21-23 Sept 2024, tbc.

Buy

 * Retail strips in city centre are Bank Street, Henblas Street, High Street, King Street, Regent Street, Overton Arcade, Hope Street and Queen Street.
 * Island Green is the mall around Central station, Eagles Meadow is east side of the centre with Border Retail Park further east, and Central Retail Park is by General station.

Budget

 * Town centre has the usual fast food chains.
 * Jones' Fish and Chip shop is a takeaway chippy at 43 St Georges Cres, open M-W, Sa 09:00-14:00, Th F 09:00-19:00.
 * Rock Suite Cafe at 15 Hill St serves traditional and American cuisine M-Sa 09:30-15:30.
 * Kristina's Cafe at 56 Chester St serves trad food M-Sa 09:00-16:00.
 * Caffi Cwtch on Chester Rd supports the work of Nightingale House Hospice. It's open M-Sa 10:00-16:00.
 * Other cafes include Cafe de Galles, Heaven Coffee Shop and Bank Street Social.
 * Other cafes include Cafe de Galles, Heaven Coffee Shop and Bank Street Social.

Mid-range

 * The Lemon Tree: see Sleep for this restaurant with rooms, serving all day.
 * The Lemon Tree: see Sleep for this restaurant with rooms, serving all day.
 * The Lemon Tree: see Sleep for this restaurant with rooms, serving all day.
 * The Lemon Tree: see Sleep for this restaurant with rooms, serving all day.
 * The Lemon Tree: see Sleep for this restaurant with rooms, serving all day.
 * The Lemon Tree: see Sleep for this restaurant with rooms, serving all day.
 * The Lemon Tree: see Sleep for this restaurant with rooms, serving all day.

Further out

 * The Beeches in Gresford is a Whitbread Inn with food next to Premier Inn Wrexham North.
 * The Hollybush nearby in Cefyn-y-Bedd village gets mixed reviews.
 * The Hollybush nearby in Cefyn-y-Bedd village gets mixed reviews.
 * The Hollybush nearby in Cefyn-y-Bedd village gets mixed reviews.
 * The Hollybush nearby in Cefyn-y-Bedd village gets mixed reviews.
 * The Hollybush nearby in Cefyn-y-Bedd village gets mixed reviews.

Drink

 * Horse & Jockey at 32 Hope St is a friendly trad pub open M-Th 09:00-22:30, F Sa 08:00-02:00, Su 12:00-22:30.
 * Golden Lion at 12 High St is a snug place with karaoke, open Su-Th 11:30-23:00, F Sa 11:30-00:00. Cash only.
 * Wrexham Cwtch or Crafty Dragon at 29 High St serves food and is open Th-Su 12:00-22:00.
 * The Bank is a wine bar and tapas restaurant at 43 High St, open W-F 12:00-22:00, Sa 12:00-23:00.
 * Cross Foxes at 15 Abbott St is a welcoming place open daily 10:00-01:00.
 * Old Swan at 6 Abbott St is a small pub with karaoke, dog-friendly. It's open daily 12:00-01:00.
 * Nags Head on Mount St has a beer garden and is open daily 11:00-23:00.
 * Wynnstay Arms: see Sleep for this hotel bar. In 1876 the Football Association of Wales was founded here over a pint or three.
 * Ironworks at 7 Town Hill has large burgers and a friendly dog. It's open Th-Sa 13:30-01:00.
 * 1 to 5 is a nightclub on Town Hill open Tu-Th 19:00-00:00, F-M 12:00-00:00.
 * Plas Coch on Plas Coch Rd just north of the football stadium serves steak and pizza. It's open daily 12:00-22:00.
 * 1 to 5 is a nightclub on Town Hill open Tu-Th 19:00-00:00, F-M 12:00-00:00.
 * Plas Coch on Plas Coch Rd just north of the football stadium serves steak and pizza. It's open daily 12:00-22:00.

Sleep

Connect
Wrexham and its approach roads have 4G from all UK carriers. As of April 2023, 5G has not reached town, but is getting close.

Go next

 * Chirk has an imposing 13th century Castle.
 * Llangollen has many well-preserved old buildings.
 * Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Llangollen soars across the River Dee.
 * Glyn Ceiriog is the village at the foot of scenic Ceiriog Valley.
 * Offa's Dyke Path is a coast-to-coast trail passing 7 miles west of town, through the dramatic valley of World's End.
 * Chester is a must-see, a charming walled city.
 * Liverpool is a lively rejuvenated city needing a few days to explore.

title: Wrexham


text:
Wrocław

Wrocław (pronounced VROHTS-wahf ''; also known as Breslau, its German name, and English name until 1945) is the largest city in Lower Silesia in Poland. It is home to 674,000 people within the city limits (2022) and the metropolitan area has a population of 1.3 million making it the largest city in Western Poland.

Wrocław is the historic capital of Silesia and it has changed hands repeatedly over the centuries. At different points throughout history, Wrocław has been in the Kingdom of Poland, Bohemia, the Austrian Empire, Prussia and Germany. In 1945 the city became a part of Poland again as the borders of Poland were moved westwards in the immediate aftermath of World War II. The city came to international fame as it hosted a number of football matches during the Euro 2012 Championships and was one of the 2016 European Capitals of Culture. The World Games took place in Wrocław in 2017.

History
Like many cities in Central Europe, it is a city with a troubled past, having seen a lot of violence and devastation. Prior to the Second World War, Breslau was the capital of the German province of Prussian Lower Silesia. It became Polish territory when, after the War, the Soviets moved the German/Polish border westward to the Oder/Neisse Line and ethnically cleansed the area of its overwhelmingly German population through mass expulsion. Breslau was almost completely destroyed during the end of the War as the Red Army fought its way into Germany towards Berlin, being declared a "Fortress City" by Adolf Hitler. However, since the end of the Communist regime in 1989 it has been wonderfully restored and can now be counted among the highlights of Poland and of all Central Europe.

Talk
The official language is Polish. The city is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination, and serves as Poland's secondary financial services centre (after Warsaw). Thus, you should be able to a find sufficient number of English speakers to get by. German is probably much more widely spoken and understood here than in other regions of Poland.

Tourist information
There are two tourist information points on the main market square (Rynek). There is a tourist information in the main railway station.

By plane

Is served by:
 * LOT - Warsaw
 * KLM - Amsterdam Schiphol
 * Lufthansa - Frankfurt Airport, Munich Airport
 * Scandinavian Airlines - Copenhagen Airport
 * Ryanair - Brussels-Charleroi, Cork, Dublin, Girona, Glasgow-Prestwick, Leeds-Bradford, Liverpool, London-Stansted, Malta, Nottingham/East Midlands, Rome-Ciampino, Shannon, Treviso, Sofia
 * Wizz Air - Doncaster/Sheffield, Dortmund, Eindhoven, London-Luton, Birmingham

From the airport, bus 106 operates from the terminal building to central Wrocław during daytime roughly every twenty minutes. There is also a night bus 206. The night bus will take approximately one hour to get to the city centre. If you are not sure how to get to your final destination in Wrocław by public transport, it might be helpful to use the journey planner. Single-ride tickets from Wrocław Airport to the city center cost 4,60 zł (or 2,30 zł for students or ISIC/EURO 26 holders) and can be purchased at the automatic ticket vending machine at the stop or on board.

At night, some of the bus 206 services operate on the same route as bus 106.

A taxi to the city centre or train station will cost around 45-60 zł during the daytime.

By train

Wrocław is a major hub on the Polish rail network, with several trains a day to all large Polish cities (route planner).

There are about ten daily arrivals from Warsaw. Travel time varies from 3½ hours by the new high speed trains, up to almost 7 hours with a TLK (cheap) train.

Several trains a day arrive from Kraków. There are quite a lot of trains from Poznań, which itself receives trains from Szczecin, Bydgoszcz, and Berlin.

As of July 2021 the train from Berlin to Kraków and the overnight train from Berlin to Vienna both call at Wrocław and operate daily. Travel time is around 4½ hours from Berlin or 7 hours overnight from Vienna.

To get to Wrocław from Dresden take the train to Zgorzelec just across the border operated by Trilex. From there Polish trains run to Wrocław, taking about 4h to cover the distance between Dresden and Wrocław.

By bus
All international and national buses stop at the PKS Centrum station which is located directly behind the main train station (timetable; click "Odjazdy autobusów z Dworca Centralnego PKS").

Wrocław is a stop on the Eurolines international coach network.

FlixBus operates routes to Prague and Warsaw (via Łódź). Tickets are only available online, but traveling with them is comfortable. Buses are brand new and free Wi-Fi is available on board. Tickets are cheap when bought in advance. One-way tickets are available from 1 zł (plus 1 zł for reservation). They also operate buses to and from Krakow about once an hour.

Given the state of the railway connection to/from Germany (see above) several providers of Intercity buses in Germany (including Deutsche Bahn) also serve Wroclaw, mostly from Berlin and Dresden, with some making intermediate stops.

Get around
The centre of Wrocław is navigable on foot, but the city has an excellent public-transport system for access to the suburbs and outlying attractions, with 57 bus lines, 22 tram lines and 13 night bus lines. As well as that, taxis are readily available and quite affordable, even for those on a budget.

By bus or tram
Details on how to travel around Wrocław and ticket types and prices. You can also use the journey planner.

Tickets
There are two types of tickets: A reduced fare is available and costs 50% of the regular fare. Pupils of Polish schools under the age of 21 and seniors aged 65 and over ride for free. A proof of age or a school ID is needed.
 * Single-ride tickets cost 4,60 zł. These tickets are not time-based or route-based - you must pay each time you enter a different vehicle.
 * Period tickets:
 * 15-minutes for 3,20 zł,
 * 30-minutes for 4 zł,
 * 60-minutes for 5,20 zł,
 * 90-minutes for 7 zł,
 * 24-hours for 15 zł,
 * 48-hours for 26 zł,
 * 72-hours for 32 zł,
 * 168-hours (7-days) 54 zł.

You must validate all tickets on boarding the bus or tram, or you'll face a 150 zł fine (plus the price of a ticket) if caught by an inspector (100 zł if paid within 7 days). A period ticket only needs to validated on the first vehicle that you board. After that, you just need to keep it on you for inspection.

Tickets are sold in lots of places. Look for "Ruch" kiosks, post offices. You should be able to buy them in most newsagents also. In the city centre you can find lots of ticket machines offering all types of tickets.

In every bus and tram there is a ticket machine installed too. Payment is only possible by credit or debit card (Visa/MasterCard/American Express). Maestro cards are not accepted. The ticket machine on the bus or tram does not print your ticket – the ticket is coded on your payment card. The validity of the ticket (this service is particularly useful in time tickets) can be checked in the ticket machine.

Transporting baggage and animals requires no additional ticket.

If you're planning to stay longer, check out the Urbancard offer.

Route numbers

 * 0-79 — trams
 * A,C,D,E,K,N — express buses (ticket costs 3.20 zł)
 * 100-149 — normal buses
 * 3xx — normal buses, peak hours only
 * 4xx — fast buses
 * 6xx — suburban buses (if outside town, ticket costs 3.20 zł)
 * 240-259 — night buses (ticket costs 3.20 zł)

By taxi

 * List of taxi companies.

By bicycle
Between April and November you can rent bicycles at about 70 locations throughout the city with the Wroclaw City Bike (Wrocławski Rower Miejski, WRM) system which is operated by Nextbike Polska on behalf of the city. You need to register once online and pay an initial fee of 10 zł. For the first 20 min you can then use the bicycles for free. 20- to 40-min rental periods cost 2 zł and every additional hour costs 4 zł. A customer service office for questions or registration is on ul. Świętego Antoniego 8 (open Tu 06:00-16:00, Th 11:00-21:00). Customer service can also called on +48 71 738 1111 or +48 71 715 2772.

Museums

 * National Museum branches:
 * City Museum of Wrocław has several subsidiaries:
 * City Museum of Wrocław has several subsidiaries:
 * City Museum of Wrocław has several subsidiaries:
 * City Museum of Wrocław has several subsidiaries:
 * City Museum of Wrocław has several subsidiaries:

Do

 * Football: Śląsk Wrocław play soccer in Ekstraklasa, Poland's top tier. Their home ground (capacity 45,000) is Stadion Wrocław or Tarczyński Arena, 6 km northwest of city centre. The 2025 UEFA Europa Conference League final will be played there, probably on 28 May 2025, tbc.
 * Football: Śląsk Wrocław play soccer in Ekstraklasa, Poland's top tier. Their home ground (capacity 45,000) is Stadion Wrocław or Tarczyński Arena, 6 km northwest of city centre. The 2025 UEFA Europa Conference League final will be played there, probably on 28 May 2025, tbc.
 * Football: Śląsk Wrocław play soccer in Ekstraklasa, Poland's top tier. Their home ground (capacity 45,000) is Stadion Wrocław or Tarczyński Arena, 6 km northwest of city centre. The 2025 UEFA Europa Conference League final will be played there, probably on 28 May 2025, tbc.
 * Football: Śląsk Wrocław play soccer in Ekstraklasa, Poland's top tier. Their home ground (capacity 45,000) is Stadion Wrocław or Tarczyński Arena, 6 km northwest of city centre. The 2025 UEFA Europa Conference League final will be played there, probably on 28 May 2025, tbc.
 * Football: Śląsk Wrocław play soccer in Ekstraklasa, Poland's top tier. Their home ground (capacity 45,000) is Stadion Wrocław or Tarczyński Arena, 6 km northwest of city centre. The 2025 UEFA Europa Conference League final will be played there, probably on 28 May 2025, tbc.
 * Football: Śląsk Wrocław play soccer in Ekstraklasa, Poland's top tier. Their home ground (capacity 45,000) is Stadion Wrocław or Tarczyński Arena, 6 km northwest of city centre. The 2025 UEFA Europa Conference League final will be played there, probably on 28 May 2025, tbc.

With children
Some free public playgrounds:

Learn
Polish for foreigners is taught in several schools.

Work
Wrocław is a major financial services centre, with headquarters of several companies from the sector, most importantly the Getin Holding.

Budget

Cultural note: the "bars" listed below are in fact self-service canteens, known as milk bars (bar mleczny), offering inexpensive and traditional Polish meals. They are a gastronomic and cultural experience. They should be open even on national holidays. Expect short queues.

Drink

There are many different clubs and pubs in Wroclaw. Most of them are located in the centre of the old town, many good ones however, are situated a few crossings from the Town Square, not within its borders. The Town Square mostly contains some not very specific, quite expensive restaurants, although it is worth mentioning the Spiż Cellar, an interesting mini-brewery with a few tasty kinds of locally made beer and a unique interior design. There are also two discos that are popular among fans of house/techno music - Daytona and Związki. However, pub-wanderers, who want to meet interesting people and/or get involved in some discussions will probably enjoy places situated in some less obvious locations than right in the Town Square. Good examples of such places are:

There are plenty of other clubs and pubs in Wroclaw. It's a great adventure to explore them because most have their own specific style and atmosphere.

Budget

 * International Youth Hostels
 * Premiere Classe Wroclaw Centrum
 * International Youth Hostels
 * Premiere Classe Wroclaw Centrum
 * International Youth Hostels
 * Premiere Classe Wroclaw Centrum
 * Premiere Classe Wroclaw Centrum
 * Premiere Classe Wroclaw Centrum
 * Premiere Classe Wroclaw Centrum
 * Premiere Classe Wroclaw Centrum
 * Premiere Classe Wroclaw Centrum
 * Premiere Classe Wroclaw Centrum

Mid-range

 * Campanile Wroclaw Centrum
 * Orbis Hotel Wroclaw
 * Hotel im. Jana Pawła II
 * HP Park Plaza
 * Best Western Hotel Prima Wrocław
 * Novotel Wrocław
 * HP Park Plaza
 * Best Western Hotel Prima Wrocław
 * Novotel Wrocław

Splurge

 * The Granary - La Suite Hotel
 * Europeum Hotel
 * Puro Hotel
 * Mercure Wrocław Centrum
 * The Granary - La Suite Hotel
 * Europeum Hotel
 * Puro Hotel
 * Mercure Wrocław Centrum

Medical tourism
Wroclaw is also popular destination for medical tourism. A lot of experienced and trustworthy plastic surgeons work in Wroclaw. The most popular aesthetic surgeries in Wroclaw are: breast enlargement, liposuction, tummy tuck and rhinoplasty. These clinics specialize in treating foreign patients:

 * Prestige
 * Coramed
 * Noa Clinic
 * Medicus Self

Stay safe
Wrocław, like most of Poland, is a very safe city but you should exercise the usual caution and keep guard of your valuables especially around crowded places or places popular with tourists like the main train station or the town square (Rynek).

Connect
As of Aug 2022 city centre has 5G from all Polish carriers, while outlying districts and the approach highways have 4G. Wifi is widely available in public places.

Consulates

 * 🇪🇺 EU
 * 🇩🇪 Germany

 * 🇺🇦 Ukraine

Go next

 * Świdnica — interesting old town, UNESCO Heritage Peace Church.
 * Bolesławiec — some 100 km (60 mi) away, the place to shop for porcelain, with a nearby Kliczków Castle converted to a hotel.
 * Jawor — UNESCO Heritage Peace Church.
 * Gola Dzierżoniowska Castle — a beautiful castle less than 50 km South of Wroclaw.
 * Jelenia Góra — a town of hot springs just twenty minutes away from the mountains.
 * Wałbrzych — to visit the nearby Książ Castle.
 * Niemcza, about 50 km to the south, is a small town with a larger historical importance and a row of lovely Baroque buildings on the Rynek (Market Square).

title: Wrocław


text:
Wudalianchi National Forest Park

Wudalianchi National Forest Park  (五大连池国家森林公园) is in Heilongjiang province.

Understand
Wudalianchi, or Five Interconnected Lakes, is a topographical miracle wrought by an erupting volcanic mountain more than 60,000 years ago. The mountains and caves around the lakes, and the waters in them, are known for their exotic shapes and hues. It is also the location of China's largest cold mineral water recuperating center.

Get in
Buses to and from Harbin's main long-distance bus station on a daily basis (takes about 5 hours). The buses drop off and load at the WuDaLianchi Worker's Sanatorium.

Get around
Private minivans are the only way to see most of the Park. Drivers congregate near a bilingual map of the Park where you can show them where you want to go and then negotiate a price. The map is opposite the entrance to Nan Quan (South Spring) which is a half hour walk east of the Worker's Sanatorium.

See

 * Laohei Shan and Shi Hai (Mt. Laohei and the Sea of Stone)- most popular volcano in the park
 * Lava Ice Cavern and Lava Snow Cavern (Bing Dong) - year round colored light show
 * Zhongling Temple - fine views from the temple and fat Buddhas to boot

Do

 * Do come visit during the annual Water Drinking Festival held by the local Daur minority in May

title: Wudalianchi National Forest Park


text:
Wuhai

Wuhai (乌海; Wūhǎi) is a city (and prefecture) in Inner Mongolia Province in China.

Understand
Wuhai is located on the Yellow River between the Gobi and Ordos deserts, and has a population of just over 250,000

title: Wuhai