Mendenhall Glacier, up close and personal
Photo by: MarmotChaser, Creative Commons

Located approximately 12 miles from downtown Juneau is one of the most beautiful glaciers easily accessible to visitors. There is a river of ice that flows for 12 miles from the Juneau Icefield down to Mendenhall Lake. It got its name in honor of Thomas Corwin Mendenhall in 1891 but previously had various names such as Auke Glacier, Sitaantaagu and Akk Wtaaksit.

The glacier is a popular destination for visitors from around the globe, not only for its stunning beauty but because it is a testament of the effects of global warming. Scientists believe that the glacier has been receding since the 1700’s and is now retreating at a rate of 25 to 30 feet a year. This phenomenon has attracted around 500,000 visitors a year, mostly from cruise ships that tour the area frequently.

Cruise ships are not the only way to visit the Glacier, Juneau can only be accessed by sea or air travel. The terrain surrounding the Tongass National Forest is too steep and rugged making Juneau inaccessible by land. The Alaskan Marine Highway System (AMHS) has ferries that travel to Juneau on regular schedules. Once in Juneau, you can take the Glacier Express busses that have trips to the glacier leaving every 30 minutes. There are also private tour operators if you want to have a more personalized tour.

There are different hiking trails around the glacier and all of them will give you an excellent view. Walking on the glacier itself can only be done by professionals or people who have had proper training.

If you would like to see Mendenhall Glacier and you are also interested in camping, then the Mendenhall Lake Campground has the facilities that you will need. There are 60 units in the campground including 10 units for 22 ft. trailers and 7 units for backpackers. Campers can stay at the campgrounds for a minimal fee.

Mining office in one of many museums
Photo by: Jerzy Strzelecki, Creative Commons

One of the places that you should go to are the Alaska State Museums. This is a great place to learn about the heritage of Alaska and to view thousands of artifacts carefully accumulated throughout the years.

Established in June 6, 1900, the Museums started to accumulate and preserve artifacts collected throughout the region. There was a rapid growth in the number of artifacts collected but it was only 20 years later when these were made available for public viewing. The care of the artifacts and the establishment of the current building that houses the museum can be attributed to the efforts of the citizens of Juneau even if the museum has since been turned over to the State of Alaska.

Much of the work carried out at the museum is done by volunteers. Tasks such as greeting visitors, setting up exhibitions and other day-to-day chores are performed by these volunteers. Training on how to help with exhibitions and the proper conservation of artifacts is provided to the volunteers.

The artifacts at the museum are arranged by their meaning and not necessarily by the value they have. Many of these artifacts illustrate the way of life of the natives of Alaska. A lot of information about the history of Alaska can be gained just by visiting the museum for a couple of hours. It would take about half a day to get a more in depth look at the artifacts. Children can also enjoy a visit to the museum and will sure to have fun at the children’s area.

Many books and quality Alaska Native Artworks can be purchased at the museum stores. Jewelry, exhibition catalogues, cards and posters are also available. Shops are operated by the Friends of the Organization.

The Museums have been accredited by the American Association of Museums in 1975 and has gained subsequent accreditations in 1987 and 2001.

Resident wolf at Alaska Zoo
Photo by: novemberwolf, Creative Commons

If you are looking for a place to visit which will surely be enjoyed by the kids and the adults, you should visit the famous Alaska Zoo. Located in Anchorage, it is easily accessible with minimal to no traffic drive. You can easily find it on a map or you can just even ask directions from the locals. It is important to call the information center of the zoo before your visit to inquire if they will be having special events or to check the operating hours so you will be able to maximize your visit and enjoy it to the fullest.

The zoo serves as shelter to many of the animals. Here you will get to see the wildlife with your very eyes. Their bears are one of the most famous animals to the visiting tourists, most especially to the foreign ones. Polar bear, grizzly bear, glacier bear, you will get to see them all. Aside from the very touristy attractive bears, there also are the other members of the animal kingdom which are worth seeing and getting to see up close as well. It is not only going to be all sightseeing, you will also definitely learn more about the animals and your eyes will be more opened as to why you should be even more caring to the environment.

Alaska Zoo is definitely one place to visit if you want to get closer to nature and to get acquainted with animals you haven’t seen before. Make sure to drop by the zoo, most especially on holidays, because the zoo has beautiful presentations during those times. It is advisable to wear your most comfortable clothes and shoes to freely roam around the area. There are already available areas where you can eat and shops where you buy souvenirs as well.

View of Juneau from Mount Roberts Tramway
Photo by: righto…, Creative Commons

Alaska has an abundance of plants and wildlife and the best place to really see their beauty through the Mount Roberts Trail. The trail is about four and a half miles long and the starting point is around 100 feet above sea level, just above the Russian Orthodox Church on 6th street. Hiking on the trail is recommended from April through late October which is considered to be the driest month. Rain gear is an absolute necessity for hikers since Juneau is known for sudden heavy rainstorms even during climbing season. Early November through April would not be a good time to go hiking on this trail.

Hiking on the Trail is a great experience but hikers should be prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. Alaskan trails are known to be unforgiving so be sure to have all the required hiking gear, plenty of water, a map and a GPS. It is not recommended to hike on the trail alone so always go with someone and let others know where you are going.
There are no man made hazards on the trail and the only plant life that hikers should be aware of is the Devil’s Club plant. These plants have wide leaves with sharp spines that can easily penetrate the skin so they should never be touched.

Hikers are treated with a view of a variety of wildlife. Mountain goats, Sitka black tail deer, black bears, Eagles and red squirrels are only some of the wildlife that can be found on the trail. There are also culturally modified trees and an abundance of plant life in the dense forest.
Hikers have a choice of either hiking up Mount Roberts, and take Mt. Roberts Tram coming back down or taking the tram up and hiking down. Caution should be taken when taking the hike down because the trail that leads down through the forest is a steep one and is often muddy and slippery.

The flag of Benin was adopted in 1959. It was changed because of the accession of the Marxist regime in 1975. However, upon the latter’s fall, the old design was reintroduced on august 1, 1990. The colors are the traditional Pan-African colors. The green symbolized hope, the yellow symbolized wealth and the color red symbolizes courage. The Republic of Benin is located in West Africa. It borders Togo to the west, Nigeria to the east and Niger and Burkina Faso to the north.

The Bight (bay) of Benin, its small southern coastline, is where a majority of the population is located. Porto-Novo, though named the capital of the country, Cotonou is where the seat of government is located. Cotonou is also the largest city of the country. With almost 9.05 million people, Benin is a tropical, sub Saharan nation.

Since the 17th century to the 19th, the Kingdom of Dahomey conquered the land of today’s Benin. The region became one of the Slave Coast during the early 17th due to the prevalence of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. However, with the slave trade banned and regional power was diminished on 1892, France took over the area renaming it to French Dahomey.

The design on Benin’s flag before the new one was introduced, was a green band throughout the surface of the flag with a small red star on the upper left hand of it. The new flag of Benin shows a pure color green horizontal band on the left side and an equally vertical proportioned yellow and red on the right.

Figuring out what country was the flag you saw is very easy if it was Benin’s flag because not all flags has three big parts colored and also almost no flags in the world has no ensigns or symbols in it. However, this is not to show that Benin is a local or simple country.

Katmai National Park & and a foraging bear.
Photo by: Marshmallow, Creative Commons

One of the major destinations of tourists visiting Alaska is the Katmai National Park & Preserve. Developed in 1918, this United States National Park in Southern Alaska is home to its famous brown bears and The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. This valley was formed after the 1912 eruption of the Novarupta.

The national park covers an area of 7,383 square miles, 5,288 square miles is a designated wilderness area. Within this vast area are at least fourteen volcanoes and several archaeological sites. The park itself got its name from Mt. Katmai, the centerpiece stratovolcano. Long before the creation of The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes and the brown bear population, this area was once inhabited by humans. The area is rich with history dating back to Paleo-arctic tradition all the way up to the Thule tradition.

A lot of activities can be enjoyed at Katmai National Park. Camping, fishing, backpacking and hiking are some of the most common. Boat tours and kayaking are also available for people who seek more adventure. One of the most exciting activities is to get a glimpse of the brown bears that live in the park. Bear viewing platforms are located around the park. The park is home to more than 2,000 brown bears. A lot of these bears can be found near the Brook Falls viewing platform as this is where the salmon are spawning.

The brown bears found at the Park & Preserve are well taken care of. A lot of work is given for the care of the bears. They never get in contact with human food or interact with humans in any way. This is one of the reasons why these brown bears are not interested in people and photographs of them can be taken at much closer distances than brown bears in other areas.

The Egyptian flag consists of three equal horizontal red along with color white and black bands of the Arab Liberation flag since the Egyptian Revolution of 1952. The Eagle of Saladin, Egypt’s national emblem, is centered in the white band. Egypt’s flag today was adopted on October 4, 1984.

The Free Officers whom King Farouk lost to in the Revolution of 1952 designated specific symbolism to all of the three bands of the Arab Liberation Flag. The color red represents the period before the Revolution. It was a time described by the skirmish against the monarchy and the British occupation of the nation. The white on the other hand represents the peaceful nature of the Revolution. The black represents the halt of the cruelty of the people in Egypt at the hands of the foreign colonialism and monarchy.

The use of Egypt’s Arab Liberation flag triggered the inspiration of other Arab nations. The similar horizontal tri-color is used by countries like Iraq, Syria and Yemen that is formerly known as Libya. The only dissimilarity is the presence of the recognized ensigns and emblems on the white band.

The Muhammad Ali Dynasty was the one who determined the transformation of the modern Egyptian flag. It was the era when Egypt was united with Sudan and later by the Arab nationalism on their rise.

The flag of Egypt is hoisted on all Governmental buildings on the end of the week (Fridays) and national holidays, opening sessions of the People’s Assembly and other occasions declared by the Minister Interior. The flag is hoisted daily on borders, other official buildings and the embassies along the overseas on Revolution day on July 23 every year. Abusing the flag is a criminal offense and is punishable by law as it implies mockery of power of the nation. Penalties are provisioned and it governs the abuse of flags from other nations.

The Libyan flag was adopted on November 11, 1977. It consists of a simple green band with no ensigns, logos and emblems. It is the only national flag that has only one color and no design. The flag of the independent kingdom was black, red and green with a crescent moon and a star on the center of it. Since the Libyan revolution of 1969, the flag transitioned to the Arab Liberation flag of horizontal red, white, and black colors. In 1971, Libya joined the Federation of Arab Republics with Syria and Egypt which utilized the same kind of flag with a hawk ensign in the middle and the name of the country under it.

In 1977, when Libya left the federation, the new plain green designed flag was adopted. The color green stands for the people’s devotion to Islam and is also the national color of Libya.

The design of the flag is very unique. Being the only flag on the world that has no symbols and other colors in it, it can be categorized by many in a glance even if it was paired alongside with other nation’s flag. The flag itself can be a testament of the country’s simplicity and elegance. The flag can be the determining factor on a country’s characteristics, being so; Libya can be foretold to be a very modest country with very little vainness towards the design of its own symbol.

Compared to the other flags of other nations, Libya’s flag can be the simplest yet elegant flag. It can give the visitor who might visit Libya the feel of the country even though they haven’t been there yet. The connotation of a country for some people is that a country with a beautiful flag can mean that the country is pure, rich and clean.

A Grumman G21A on display at the museum
Photo by: Sir Midred Pierce, Creative Commons

The Aviation Heritage Museum caters to anyone’s interest in aviation. This is not your ordinary museum; this is one museum which will not be all history and heavenly bodies. Here, you will be entertained by the history and development of aviation in Alaska. Since its opening to the public in 1988, the museum is located in Anchorage. It has been through a lot of changes and improvements. From the simple two story building and original one hangar, the heritage museum is now composed of more hangars and more aircrafts for tourists to see firsthand.

Due to the popularity of the museum, it would be ideal to call in advance to make sure that you will get to enter and enjoy the museum fully. Feel free to inquire about the operation hours and the activities they can offer for interested tourists like you. Since the renovation project of the museum in 2006, visitors and the things you can see inside have noticeably increased in number. The family will surely love a visit in the museum. Seeing these preserved aircrafts in the museum is for everybody.

The popularity of the museum has proven to be getting bigger since they had expanded their parking area to accommodate visitors. Complete your visit to Alaska, make sure to include the Aviation Heritage Museum in your tour itinerary. Grab the chance of a lifetime to witness closely the aviation history of Alaska. It is not every day that you get to walk amongst the aircrafts and hangars, and learn on how aviation in one place developed over the years.

The flag of Kenya originates from the Kenya African National Union. Known as the KANU, it is a political party that ruled Kenya for almost 40 years since its independence from the British colonizers rule in 1963 until its electoral loss at the end of 2002. Before 1960 when it was renamed, it was known to be the Kenya African Union. The colors symbolizes the black majority, red for the blood that was shed during the struggle for independence, and the color green for the nation’s land. The color white fimbriation was added after a while. It signifies peace. The colors black, red and white traditionally is a Maasai shield and two spears symbolize the protection of all the things that is catastrophic.

The flag of Kenya symbolizes that the country is strong against colonizers. It can be an intimidating sight to see because of the power the flag enforces in Kenya. The shield that is shown across the flag shows that the people in Kenya are a force to be reckoned with. And the color combination or the Tricolor band that is flaunted can shows that the country is full of pride and serenity.

The Kenyan flag can be easily spotted because of its unique design. It shows a shield across its flag. This shield is an indicator for people who studies flags or even for people who likes to read about national symbols. The shield is a very unique design to a beautiful flag. If Kenya’s flag is alongside another nation’s flag.

Muskoxen and young
Photo by: Liz (perspicacious.org), Creative Commons

If you love wildlife and you want to see animals which you do not normally see in person in everyday life, a visit to the Large Animal Research Station is perfect for you. Found in Fairbanks, Alaska, you will surely enjoy getting to see domestic reindeer, caribou and the famous muskoxen. It is an educational site which is highly recommended for everyone, most especially with kids. A visit to the research station does not only give people a chance to see wildlife, but it also allows them to learn more things about nature. Aside from seeing these animals, you will also get to hear and gain information.

There are times when the animals will not go near you, so it is suggested to have binoculars with you. You do not have to worry though, because most of the time, you will get to see these animals up close, you may even get to touch them with the assistance of the tour guide who will accompany you. The sight of the animals with their babies is sure to thrill you. You will get to see how the mothers take care of their offspring.

A visit to a place like this once in a while will open your eyes and make you realize that you should take care of the environment really well. The animals which you see and encounter at the research stations will stop growing in numbers if you do not start caring for nature. Aside from the amazing experience of getting in contact with the animals, the most important thing that a visit in the research station will teach you is to be respectful of the things in the wild.

After its colonization by European countries, Ivory Coast was home to kingdoms that include the Gyaaman, Baoule and the Kong Empire. There were the Anvi Kingdoms of Indenie and Sanwi which attempted to retain their separation from the French colonial period and after Ivory Coast’s independence. A treaty was made for Ivory Coast dating from 1843 to 1833 making them a protectorate of France.

In 1893, it became a French colony included as a part of the European scramble for Africa. It is perhaps better known as Côte d’Ivoire. The official language of Ivory Coast is French though many of the local dialects are widely used including Dioula, Baole, Dan, Anyin and Cebaara Senufo. In addition, the main religions that are used in the nation are Islam and Christianity along with other various indigenous religions.

The flag of Ivory Coast features three equal vertical bands of orange with white alongside the color green. After Ivory Coast’s Independence, the country formed a loose alliance of West African states. The flags of the states that were included on the alliance were influenced by both the Pan-African colors first used by Ghana and also by the French Tricolor flag of the former colonial power.

The chosen colors for the flag of Ivory Coast were also used by Niger, one of the alliances of the country. They were meant to symbolize the following: orange stands for the land, the northern savannah and its fertility; the white represents solemnity, and green represents hope and the surrounding environment. The flag was adopted in 1959 after its independence.

The flag of Ivory Coast can be hard to be determined if paired up, side by side with other nation’s flag because of the simplicity of it. However, one factor than can separate them is the use of the color orange on one of its bands.

Port of Anchorage aerial view
Photo by: US Army Corps of Engineers, Creative Commons

The Port of Anchorage is definitely the busiest port in Alaska. It is a good place to visit if you wish to see cargo ships which carries the petroleum in and outside Alaska. It would be very interesting to see these big cargo vessels. Aside from being the most active port in the state, this port is quite famous because it is the only port which survived massive earthquake during the Good Friday of the year1964. Since then, it has been the busiest and most crowded port in Alaska. Because it became the main shipping area, the port was expanded to cater all the incoming and outgoing vessels.

The good thing about visiting the port is that you do not have to pay for anything. Viewing is definitely for free, you will get to enjoy watching the loading and unloading of the ships, you will get to witness the departure and docking of the big cargo vessels even at a distance. One of the best things to do, aside from watching the cargo vessels, is to people watch. It is always fun to look at people who work their bodies out. It is going to be a great opportunity to observe how people work in a very busy port like this one.

If you have been though a tiring tour the whole day and you just want to relax, the best time to visit the place is when the sun is just about to set. You will not only get to see the busy cargos and the people, you will also get a good view of the sea and the sunset. Make sure to take a camera with you to document your sightseeing experience. You have to remember though, that you need to keep your distance in order to avoid getting through the people who are working. Just stay in the viewing area made especially for tourists like you.

The Ethiopian flag was adopted on February 6, 1996. The green, yellow and red colors are traditionally used since Emperor Menelik’s reign and were the combination of the design in a flag in 1895. Ethiopia’s flag today and ensign were adopted since the defeat of the Marxist Mengistu dynasty. They were in power from 1974 to 1991. The intent of the emblem was to signify both diversity and unity of the country. The color blue represents peace, the star represents unity and diversity and prosperity are what the sun’s rays symbolize.

The flag’s colors which stand for African unity can also be seen on one of the oldest African flags. The Ethiopian Empire in 1897 used these colors for the flag a year after Ethiopia decisively protected itself from colonialism against Italy at the Battle of Adwa. The tri-color scheme of Ethiopia’s flag has been used since the 19th century and was previously used as the official banner of the Solomonic dynasty, the Ethiopian empire.

The design of the flag is very unique because of it’s in depth design and symbolism. The Lion of Judah is the feat of the emblem in the royal flog. It is a crowned lion carrying a cross centered in the yellow mid-section of the banner. The flag is interpreted to be a link between the people and the nation that was united by the Ethiopian church.

The sacred cross carried by the lion was the symbol previously used by Ethiopia, and has been used since the early 17th century. While red is currently featured at the lower part of the tri-color, it was reversed until the end of the mid-19th century. The addition of the emblem was in 1996. The tri-color band, known as the Pan-African colors are also used and adopted by other African nations who gained independence from their colonial rulers.

Mongolia is located near east and Central Asia. It is bounded by the People’s Republic of China to the south east and west, while on its northern side is Russia. The capital city of Mongolia is Ulaanbaalar and is considered the largest city in the country. It also hosts thirty percent of the nation’s population making it a huge urban region. The form of government practiced in the country is a parliamentary republic. Mongolia has its origins and territory in the various nomadic empires of the East and Central Asia.

These nomadic tribes consist of the Xianbei, the Rouran, the Gokturks and many other tribes. The Mongol Empire was created by the great conqueror, Gengis Khan in 1206. After the 17th century, Mongolia fell under the rule of the Qing Dynasty and in 1911 at the end of the Qing dynasty, Mongolia proclaimed its independence. The fight for the country’s independence lasted until 1921 when it established its independence from China and by 1945, to be recognized internationally as a sovereign state.

During its struggle against China, it was heavily influenced by the Russians and the Soviet political system and this was reflected in Mongolian politics. When Communism in East Europe experienced a collapse in 1989, Mongolia also experienced Democratic Revolution in early 1990. This political event steered the way for a new constitution in 1992.

The flag of Mongolia currently in use is made up of three vertical stripes of the same width positioned on the hoist side of the flag with the colors red, blue and red respectively. The red portion at the hoist end of the flag is the national emblem colored in yellow as its centerpiece. The national emblem is a combination of geometric depictions of the sun, moon, earth, water and the Taijitu (also known as the yin-yang) fashioned in a pillar composition. This flag was used beginning in February 12, 1992.

NOTE: Compare the flags before and after 1992,can you tell the difference?

Misty Fjords without the mist.
Photo by: get directly down, Creative Commons

The Misty Fjords National Monument was inaugurated by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. This wide area of 9,246 square kilometers is protected by the United States Forest Service. Most of the area is designated as wilderness but 614 square kilometers of it is the Quartz Hill molybdenum deposit. This is quite possibly one of the largest mineral deposits today.

The area is so remote that visitors usually opt to see the area on cruise ship tours or from above operated by tour operators in Juneau or Ketchikan. It would be impossible for large cruise ships to navigate through the small twisting channels of Misty Fjords. Smaller cruise ships are capable of entering the waters. Visitors who are looking for adventure can opt to spend a few days, or more, exploring the area by kayak.

The reason behind the name of Misty Fjords is because the area is often covered by Mist and clouds. This is one area where you will often see bald eagles grabbing salmon out of the water. These dark-green waters are also home to an abundance of jelly-fish.

Two of the most popular destinations within Misty Fjords are Rudyerd Bay and Eddystone Rock. Cliffs that are almost vertical surround Punchbowl Cove in Rudyerd Bay while New Eddystone Rock is the core of an extinct volcano.

This National Monument may be a wilderness but the experience of seeing a wilderness has now greatly diminished. Thousands of visitors every week flock to see the beauty of the national park. The sheer amount of visitors has really diminished the wilderness experience for some people. Some groups have raised their concerns over the steadily growing number of visitors in the area. They are calling for a better planned tourism schedule so that the wilderness experience can still be appreciated by other visitors.

First raised on April 1, 1959, and after obtaining complete independence, the flag of Mauritania is a telling highlight of the importance of its location in Africa, the widely followed Islamic religion, and the French name of its country – Republique Islamique de Mauritanie. Just like other countries in Africa, the colors of the flag of Mauritania have the hints of Pan-African colors which represent the status of the country as an African nation. The Mauritanian flag has emerald green as the dominant color, with a five-pointed star and crescent, all in yellow colors, situated at its center. There are no available official records indicating the exact specification and proportion of the star and the crescent. But the measurement of the flag is 2:3.

Known popularly throughout the world, the star and crescent are long-standing symbols of the Islamic faith. Islam is also the major faith in Mauritania. Going further into the details of the Mauritanian flag, the emerald green represents Islam and the hopeful future of Mauritania. The yellow color denotes the great Saharan desert. There is also an accepted belief that the designs of the Mauritanian flag was personally made by the former Mauritanian President Mukthar Ould Dada.

The star and crescent is the distinctive feature of the Mauritanian flag. According to the Islamic faith, the five-pointed star and crescent symbolize awareness, sincerity and triumph. It also means spirituality and independence. Legend has it that in 339 BC, a radiant and shining moon was the primary reason why Philip of Macedon failed to conquer Byzantium. To immortalize their gratefulness, the people adopted the crescent. Today, the star and crescent is widely associated with Islamic faith and is mostly adopted by Muslim countries in their respective flags. While the Jews have the Star of David, the Christians the symbol of the cross, the Muslims also have the crescent and the star.

Maldives is an archipelago country located in the Indian Ocean. It is officially called the Republic of Maldives. The island is made up of twenty six land masses extending in the north to south direction. The island is in the Laccadive Sea of the Northern Indian Ocean. Its boundaries include Sri Lanka and India in the south west direction. Maldives is composed of many islands and the central archipelago is the Lakshadweep-Maldives-Chagos group of islands. The islands are really the peaks of a huge underwater sierra standing at the bottom of the Indian Ocean and the Arabic Sea. The archipelago has a territory of approximately 90,000 square kilometers and the islands are very geographically spread. The capital of Maldives is the city of male and is found in the south of North Male Atoll. This is the seat of government and traditionally called the King’s island because the palace of the royal dynasties who first ruled it was built there.

The flag of Maldives is made up of a prominent red field with a green rectangle at its center and a white crescent moon vertically positioned in it. The closing of the crescent moon is facing the hoist side. The red field in the flag signifies the bravery of the national heroes and the blood that they shed for the protection of their nation. The green area represents peace and wealth for the people. The white crescent moon means that the state is one in its Islamic faith and tradition.

The design of the flag had undergone many modifications since it was first made in the early 20th century. The earliest flag was a simple plain red banner. The next flag featured the Dhandimathi, a black and white striped hoist and used until the early 20th century. The next addition was made by the former Prime Minister Abdul Majeed Didi in the form of a white crescent moon in the center. In 1926 until 1932, there was the addition of the green rectangle in the center.

The national flag has its opening facing the hoist side while the state flag’s crescent faces the opposite direction. In 1953 to 1965, Maldives was made a republic and the flag has undergone another change. The national flag ceased to be used and the new flag featured a five pointed white star besides the crescent moon.

When the sultanate reign was reinstated in 1954, the flag was not altered back but Muhammad Fareed Didi, the last sultan of Maldives made the flag particularly for the sultan and today; this design of the flag is still the Presidential Standard. In 1965, Maldives became independent and the striped hoist was eliminated and this is the current flag used by the country.

The flag of Mali is composed of three colors green, gold and red (adaptation of the French tricolor) which are formed as vertical brands with equal width – green positioned first, followed by gold and red. Adapting also some of the Pan-African colors, the flag of Mali was somewhat identical to the flag of Guinea only that the sequence of the colors is reversed. The current configuration of the flag was approved on March 1, 1961. The colors of Mali flag are associated with its vibrant history. They are interpreted as follows: the green stripe signifies hope, gold symbolizes purity and wealth and red indicates the force and the struggles of the heroes of independence.

The original flag of Mali was first raised on April 4, 1959 at the time of the creation of Mali Federation when French Sudan and Senegal joined forces. Mali Federation obtained its independence on June 20, 1960 and shortly thereafter Senegal, due to inherent discord, disaffiliated from the Federation, built a new nation and adopted its own flag.

The black kanaga has been the crowning feature of the flag of Mali together with the tricolors until the kanaga was abandoned on March 1, 1961. It was believed that the black kanaga symbol included in the first flag was the idea of Leopold Senghor, who came to be the later Senegal president. Up until now, the Mali flag retained the tricolors of the Pan-African colors. The black-colored kanaga, in stick-figure, is in the form of a human shape with arms extending upwards towards the sky. The figure is contrary to Muslim beliefs about making human images and was widely condemned. Later, mounting pressures from the Muslim front eventually caused its removal from the flag.

The first flag of Mali under the Mali Federation was a replication of the Ghana flag, except that the colors followed the designs of the French Tricolor. The colors were originally thought as the everlasting symbols of the harmony of African nations.

The current configuration of the flag of Malawi is not a new one. Under the current president, who took office in 2012, the Malawi flag has reverted back to the one they have had since 1964 through 2010 when parliament agreed to the change on May 28, 2012. The flag that flew previous to 2012 was adapted on July 29, 2010, as proposed by the Democratic Progressive Party which ruled the government of Malawi at that time. Under the present set-up, the flag returns to three colors – red, black, and green.

The black, red and green colors are side by side with each other forming horizontal stripes with the black stripe on top, followed by red in the middle and green at the bottom part. The main features of the flag has not changed. The original flag has three colors, but the placing of colors was entirely different. The original design has the black color on top, followed by red at the center and then green just below it. A rising sun perches on the black stripe area. The original flag was approved on July 6, 1964.

The flag that flew prior to the current one had almost the same configuration of red, black and green colors were placed side by side with each other forming horizontal stripes with the red color on the top portion, followed by black in the middle and green at the bottom part. At the center of the flag was a white-colored full sun with rays. It is said that the full-centered sun symbolizes the economic development that Malawi has underwent after attaining complete independence.

The rich history of Malawi provides a deep explanation about the design of its old flag. The black stood for the African peoples, green symbolizes the color of nature while the red denotes the color of the blood spilt during its struggle for independence. The previous flag has a lot in common with the pan-African flag of Marcus Garvey’s design. The old flag has also great similarities with the flag of the Republic of Biafra which is now non-existent.

The adoption of a new flag in 2010 received diverse criticisms from all sectors of the population. One opposition party took the flag’s legitimacy question to the court. But despite the widespread condemnation of the change, the new flag was eventually hoisted.

And now, Malawi has returned and not forgotten their history and flies its old flag anew.

Margerie Glacier off Glacier Bay
Photo by: kimberlykv, Creative Commons

There are places that are a must see. These are places that are majestic and unbelievably beautiful that you will surely regret if unseen. One of these places which you should go and visit at least once in our lifetime is the Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. As one of the national parks in the whole of United States, this park in Alaska is undoubtedly one of the best tourist destinations and is considered as one of UNESCO’s Heritage Sites.

When you tour the park, your eyes can literally pop out because of the beauty of the place. You can see sea lion, the wonderful ice capping and landscape. It will feel like it was all a dream because of its unbelievable grandeur. Make sure you have your cameras and binoculars ready. No matter what direction you look at, you will surely find something worthy to take a picture of. You will never get tired of looking at the picturesque scenery.

300,000 visitors per year is proof of how attractive the park is.

For you and your family to fully enjoy this visit, remind everyone to dress appropriately. Bring enough warm clothing if you can, so in case your tolerance for the cold is not that high, you are prepared and you can still enjoy the visit. Check your things before finally going in the park. Make sure your cameras are fully charged to capture the moments and the places which catch your attention. If you are lucky enough, you will not just get to see the rocky slopes, glacier formations and snow covered mountain, you might also get to see the wildlife inhabitants of the park. Something you would not want to miss in the world.

The flag of Morocco, which was first raised on November 17, 1915, is set against a red background, bordered with a strip of green, and the so-called “Seal of Solomon” consisting of a five-point star placed at its center. Red has a very profound importance in the history of Morocco as Moroccans believe they are the direct descendants of the royal family of Prophet Muhammad through Fatima, the spouse of the Fourth Caliphate, Ali. Red has also a historic importance to the Imams of Yemen and the sharifs of Mecca.

Starting in the 17th century, at the time when Morocco was still under the rule of the Alaouite Dynasty, the Moroccan flags were mostly in red color with no markings. It was only until Mulay Yusuf ruled Morocco in 1915 that the green laced pentagon-shaped star was placed at the center of the flag. The pentagon-shaped star was generally used by occults for centuries. It is said that the “Seal of Solomon” was used in the flag in order to distinguish the flag from the other flags of Islamic nations with similar red background.

The original design of the flag had been used continuously even at the time of French and Spanish domination of Morocco. However, it was required to be used in land only; sea use was entirely prohibited. When Morocco finally acquired its independence in 1956, the original design of the flag was considered as the national flag of Morocco.

According to old traditions, there is symbolism involved in the colors of the flag. For the Moroccan flag, red stands for courage, bravery, strength and force. The red interlaced also represents love, joy and hope. Green is also a significant color under Muslim faith. The shape and flag ratio of the Moroccan flag is described as 2:3.

Interestingly, the flag of Morocco stays unaltered even after the restoration of Moroccan sultanate and after it gained independence.

The flag of Madagascar was first hoisted in October 14, 1958 prior to the declaration of its independence in June 26, 1960. It was first flown alongside its preparation for a referendum which tackled its membership with the French community. The flag is composed of three colors white, red and green. The red and green are placed together (red on top, green below) to form two horizontal stripes while the white color is placed perpendicular to the two horizontal stripes.

The colors impressed on the flags represent the struggles of its people for independence from French tyranny. The history of Madagascar will tell that the colors green and red were once used by Queen Ranavalona III as the flag of Merina kingdom which yielded to France’s domination in 1896. Queen Ranavalona III was the last reigning Merina monarch before the kingdom succumbed to French rule.

There is also another widely accepted theory which suggests that the colors signify the Southeast Asian origins of the Malagasy people who came to Madagascar centuries before. As you can see, the red color is also a dominant color of the Indonesian flag. Further, the color green represented Hova, the famous commoners of Madagascar, who led various independence uprisings and the revolution against France which caused the overthrow of the French regime. Under contemporary Madagascar, the colors took on different interpretations. They now believe that the red color symbolizes sovereignty, green for hope and white for purity.

What is most interesting and unique about the flag of Madagascar is that the flag remained the same as it was when it was first adopted, and despite the change of Madagascar’s constitution – setting it apart from all other country flags. This just shows how the people of Madagascar value the fruit of their struggles and blood of their heroes after years of tyrannical rule and search for independence.

The Ugandan flag is composed of three colors in alternating sequence – black, yellow and red – consisting of six horizontal bands of equal widths. A white circle is situated right at its center encircling a grey crowned crane (facing towards the hoist) – the official symbol of Uganda. The three colors used in the flag are considered representations of the African aspirations. The color black signifies the African black; the yellow connotes the sunshine of Africa and the red which symbolizes the blood upon which the entire African nations are linked. Red is also interpreted as a symbol for fraternity. The bird crane is known for its legendary tender characteristics. It served as the army badge of Ugandan military under British domination.

The Ugandan flag officially became its national flag after it successfully obtained its freedom from the United Kingdom in October 9, 1962. At the time, however, political discord caused the introduction of another flag as espoused by the ruling party.

When the People’s Congress Party snapped victory in the election that followed, a fresh flag design was presented and had since been the official flag of Uganda, as it stands now. It is said that the three colors (black, yellow and red) were adopted from the colors of the People’s Congress Party.

The flag of Uganda was designed by the artistic hand of Mr. Grace Ibingira, the Minister of Justice in Uganda at the time of the flag’s adoption. The current flag was the second out of Ibingira’s two designs. Remarkably, the flag of Uganda did not undergo alterations since its adoption and despite the tumultuous recent history of Uganda.

It was believed that the Ugandan President Idi Amin Dada stole the original piece of the Ugandan flag, coat of arms and emblem and took them to Saudi Arabia in the middle of rebellion which sought his expulsion. It was believed that the stolen national symbols of Uganda were sold by the heirs of Amin after the latter’s death.

The current South African flag is a new one which replaced the original flag that was in use since 1928. Taken from the designs of Frederick Brownell (State Herald), the current national flag is now the symbol of South Africa’s new democracy. The whole design of the flag symbolizes the convergence of both the South African’s past and future.

The flag has four colors; red, blue, green, black, white and yellow. The African flag is composed of one red and blue stripe (of the same width) placed on the upper portion and lower portion, respectively. Both colors are divided in the center by a horizontal Y-shaped green stripe which opens into a black-colored isosceles triangle on the left portion. A tiny yellow stripe forming the same shape as the triangle serves as a division between the Y-shape and the triangle. All the colors red, green and blue are separated by a narrow stripe of white.

The principal colors and design of the African flag all have meaningful representations in the history of South Africa. But while other countries attach personalized meanings to the symbols and colors of their respective flags, the colors of the South Africa flag do not have official interpretations. The black, green and gold appearing in the new flag had once been integrated into the flags of South African Liberation movements. They symbolize the black population. Likewise, the colors green, blue, red and white, which signify the white population, have British, Dutch and Boer undertones. It is also believed that the Y-shape green stands for the unity of the African ethnic minorities and its bright future ahead toward a united South Africa.

The present South African flag was approved as the new national flag of South Africa at the commencement of its 1994 general election. What is most unique about the flag is that it is the only flag in the world containing six colors as the primary colors.