Bali is also blessed with a beautiful nature. Endless sand
beaches envelope most of Bali's shores, where silvery waves
come home to. Tall cliffs border the eastern shores. Volcanic
mountains crown the center of Bali, home to Gunung Agung
(Mount Divine), the sacred abode of the gods and the goddesses.
Green
forests stretch on from east to west of the northern
part of Bali, nurturing numerous flora and fauna that can
only be found here.
Beaches
The beaches of Bali are, in one word, magnificent! From
the stretch of sand in Kuta,
fenced far in the South by the runway of Denpasar International
Airport; the peaceful elegance of Nusa
Dua; the mysterious quietness and somberness of Candidasa,
as a temple dedicated to the sea goddess submerges; to the
spectacular sunsets of Lovina
in the North.
Waves
The beaches of Bali readily accept the arrival of the waves,
time and time again. And they vary. In the stretch of Nusa
Dua alone you can find soft waves for the beginner
surfers to the wildest of waves that will challenge even
the most experienced of the surfers. Yeh Saneh in the East,
Uluwatu in the South, and Medewi slightly to the West, are
all excellent site for waves.
Lakes
There are four lakes in Bali. Lake Batur, the old crater
of Mount Batur, is the largest. Kintamani offers an excellent
panoramic view of the lake, and the lake itself effectively
fences in the Bali Aga people in Trunyan. Lake Bratan, the
second largest, is near the town of Bedugul. Lake Buyan
andn Lake Temblingan are also near.
Mountains
The string of volcanic mountains crown the Northern part
of Bali. The tallest is Gunung Agung (or Mount Divine),
the abode of the gods and the goddesses.
Forests,
Flora, and Fauna
The wild forests of Bali can be found mostly in the Bali
Barat National Park, dedicated to the preservation of wildlife.
And the tropical climate of Bali endows it with a rich flora.
In the forests, tall tropical trees reach for the sky, nursing
a variety of wild orchids to grow on their branches. Pine
trees carpet the mountains. Ever protective, waringin trees
faithfully stand at the center of every village. Flowers
beautifully punctuate little gardens in every house, and
most importantly, spreading their sweet fragrance into the
midnight air and completing offerings to the gods and goddesses.
Bali tigers (Panthera tigris balica) used to roam
these forests, but now you can only find deer or wild boars.
Bali Barat National Park is also reestablished as the new
habitat for Bali Starling (Jalak Bali), a sweet,
white bird that has inspired
many a painter. Sea turtles, another protected species,
can playfully accompany you when you go snorkeling in the
the waters of Nusa Dua.
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