While most people have the idea that volcano eruptions are one of the most destructive disasters in nature , seeing a volcano erupt is a wonderful experience, and you can really feel the heat by climbing to the summit of Pacaya for a close-up view.

There are guided tours every day up this highly active volcano from Antigua, giving travelers a chance to see Mother Nature at her most powerful.Pacaya is an easy drive from Antigua, a beautiful city with many colorful houses along its old streets that are turned into art-works during its Holy Week festival. No matter when you come to Antigua, you won’t miss the Pacaya-tour companies.

But climbing Pacaya is no easy job: it is 2,560 meters high, and reaching the summit takes two to three hours of seemingly one-step-forward and two-step-back movements. As you climb you hear the dull sounds of eruptions high above. Steaming, hot remains from recent eruptions begin to line the path as you near the active summit: the Mckenney Cone (火山锥). Just as though you were going to walk over to the edge of the cone, the road turns to the left and up to the relative safety of the old, inactive summit.

Many tours are timed so that you arrive at the cone of the volcano in plenty of time for sunset and the full contrast between the erupting red lava(岩浆) and the darkening sky. On a good day the view from the summit is extremely exciting. The active mouth boils,   sending red lava   over its sides, and once in a while shoots hot steams up to 100 meters into the air. There is a strong bad smell in the air even if you take care to be upwind of the cone. As evening turns deeper into the night, the burning lava quietly falls down the side of the volcano. For you, too, it is time to get down.

Record fires sweeping across the Amazon recently have been making the headlines as scientists and environmental groups are worried that they will worsen climate change crisis and endanger biodiversity(生物多样性）。

As the largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon is often called"the lungs of the world”. It is also home to about 3 million species of plants and animals, and 1 million local people. The vast area of rainforest plays an important role in the world's ecosystem because it absorbs heat instead of reflecting heat back into the atmosphere. It also stores carbon dioxide and produces oxygen, ensuring that less carbon is released, reducing the effects of climate change.

＂Any forest destroyed is a danger to biodiversity and the people who use that biodiversity," Thomas Lovejoy, an ecologist at George Mason University told National Geographic."The great danger is that a lot of carbon goes into the atmosphere,"he stressed."In the midst of the global climate crisis, we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity.The Amazon must be protected,"UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said.

Data from the National Institute for Space Research(INPE)show that the number of forest fires in Brazil quickly increased by 82 percent from January to August a year ago.A total of 71,497 forest fires were registered in the country in the first 8 months of 2019,up from 39,194 in the same period in 2018,INPE said.＂We estimate that the forest areas in the Brazilian Amazon have decreased something between 20 and 30 percent compared to the last 12 months," Carlos Nobre, a researcher at the University of Sao Paulo, told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

Brazil owns about 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest,whose degradation(恶化）could have severe consequences for global climate and rainfall.The extent of the area ruined by fires has yet to be determined, but the emergency has gone beyond Brazil's borders.

Palawan is a must for the global traveller, with its charming scenery, untouched rainforests and world-class resorts(度假胜地). Palawan’s beaches simply have no equal, and there are scores of islands for the travelers to explore.

Diving

Divers troop to Palawan, which lies at the very heart of the Coral Triangle biodiversity corridor(走廊). The highlight is Tubbataha Reefs National Park, which is accessible only by live-aboard boat from late March to mid-June.

Island hopping

Top of most visitors’ lists is boarding a trusty speed boat and setting off to explore Palawan’s 1780 islands. Why not take a multiday journey, camping on remote islands under the stars, far removed from other tourists?

Beaches

The best part about Palawan’s glorious beaches? Only a few are known to the masses. The rest are yours for the taking. EI Nido has a seemingly endless supply of sandy sights. North of EI Nido, a rough road leads to Nacpan Beach. Way up north, the Calamian Islands are often ringed 360-degrees by blindingly white sand.

Jungle adventures

Close to 50% of Palawan’s old-growth forest cover remains untouched, by far the most among Philippine provinces. Naturalists can explore the rainforests in search of animals and birdwatchers migrate from around the globe to spot unusual bird species. Additionally, determined hikers can scale numerous peaks.

Palawan has always had a responsible attitude towards its environment. Against the destruction of coastal ecosystems and illegal logging and fishing, several award-wining resorts are leading the way toward a more sustainable future, mixing native design and low-carbon elements to create living spaces that will last. Ecotourism will play a role in determining the future of the islands.