Long millennia humid tropical climate and abundant rainfall have worked over the landscape at the north-western coast of the Gulf of Tonkin. Water gnaws at folding limestone land, washed away the soft rock, leaving the tower outliers riddled with caves and grottoes. As the years passed, lithospheric plate fell, shore retreated, the land became the sea floor, and thousands of mountains, cliffs and rocks islands rose above the water surface. So a Halong Bay.
Such landscapes geologists call ostantsevym tropical karst. Something similar can be seen, for example, in Thailand, China or Cuba, in the valley of Viñales. But there are outliers on land.
Once thought that the islands of the bay vytochili sea and wind. And sometimes even suggested that the bizarre relief Halong Bay owes a huge meteorite fallen here.
But all these versions, of course, does not stand up to scrutiny. After all, every Vietnamese know that Halong this case the clutches of a dragon, with which abound in local land. Dragon ran to the sea, and the traces of its tail and claws become valleys, and when he jumped into the sea, the water flooded them, leaving only the top surface of the rocks.
It is said that the dragon still lives in the green waters of the Gulf.
And do not interfere with the dragon or thousands of tourists that come to see the local beauty in the many junks or fishermen that for many years lived in the bay in their floating houses.
Cliffs numerous islands of Halong Bay do not allow cost housing on land. It decided to live right on the water.
Junk Kuavan came to the village.
Today, the locals seem to earn more than fishing, and skating around his village many tourists.
However, you can do your muscle power, riding a kayak.
But local residents have not forgotten their main fishery. They continue to weave a network and catch fish.
And, perhaps, do not assume that their village has a reputation of one of the most picturesque villages in the world.
Tropical Karst is rich in caves. One of the biggest caves in Halong - Sangsot cave, which is located in the interior of the island Daobohon. The bay in front of the cave is always full of ships, an endless stream of bringing people here.
The cave has three large halls with stalactites and stalagmites.
The cave is lit in some places lamps with acid filters. But it penetrates into the light of day.
Rather, it is not even a cave, and a huge grotto.
The most beautiful time in Halong Bay begins at sunset.
The rocks are painted in yellow and orange.
Hanging above the water mist ocher twitching.
Sun, playing highlights on the water and fishing boats glasses, all slopes below the horizon ...
... Clings top of the island, and within minutes Halong covers night. In the impenetrable darkness visible only lights in the cabins junks, but sometimes water spotlight highlights for fans to pick up on the hook for another squid.
