10 Incredible Natural Swimming Pools In The World

Of course, it is not hard to find a better swimming pool around your city. Today majority of hotels provide fascinating swimming pools for their customers. Still, swimming in a natural pools can be a different experience for you. It will make you more connected to the nature, offers you perfect relaxation. Here 10 incredible natural swimming pools around the world.

10

 Kuang Si Falls, Luang Prabang, North Central Laos

Kuang Si falls is a series of beautiful falls and pools, located in the Luang Prabang city of Laos. It is probably the most beautiful tourist attraction in the Luang Prabang. Kunag Si falls is actually surrounded by lush tropical jungle. So apart from the breathtaking view of the falls, you can enjoy the pleasant mild weather. There are trails in the jungle that lead you to the falls.
Once you reached the falls, you can see spectacular cascades of water and several pools. Fortunately, a number of pools in this falls are perfect for swimming. For changing the cloths, you can find the wooden huts near the falls.
All season are perfect for experiencing the Kuang Si Falls. During the dry season, you can see beautiful turquoise and green colored water. The color is due to the mixing of minerals to the water.
During rainy season, you can expect strong currents at Kunag Si falls. So such condition can be inconvenient for swimming. Even though, you can enjoy in the spraying of water.
The waterfalls are not the only attraction in the Kuang Si Park. The jungle trekking is another popular tourist activity in this area. On the way to the Kuang Si falls you will also get a close view of traditional village life.

9

 Grotta Della Poesia, Roca Vecchia, Italy

The Grotta della poesia is a spectacular limestone pool located on the Adriatic coast in Italy. This natural pool is also known as Cave of poetry. It is said to be a beautiful princess was used to bath in this natural pool. The local people started to believe that this habit is the secret behind her beauty.
Soon, the news spread throughout the Southern Italy. The poets of that time also featured the story of this natural pool within their works. Thus, this natural pool the coast of the Adriatic Sea is named as ‘Cave of poetry’.
This 600 square meters natural pool is excavated by years of continuous action of sea. The grotto della poesia pool has a circular pattern. It also have to openings, one at sea side and another at landside. The aqua blue waters of this pools is truly amazing and will offers unique swimming experience for you.

8

 To Sua Ocean Trench, Lotofaga Village, Upolu Island, Samoa

It is a large swimming hole located in Lotofaga village of Samoa. This ocean trench is at a depth of 30 meters. There is a ladder installed on this site to access the pool. The water of this natural pool is very clear and has brilliant blue coloration.
The To Sua Ocean trench is fed by an ocean. The visitors can safely swim in this pool as it is not so deep. There are huts at the top of this pool to relax, eat and drink. This site is also surrounded by beautiful gardens and a scenic beach is very near to it.

7

 Dudu Lagoon, EL Dudu, Cabrera, Dominican Republic

Of course, the pristine beaches may be the main thing you love about Dominican Republic. But the beaches are not the only best swimming spots in the Dominican Republic. In the Cabrera town of the Northeastern coast of the Dominican Republic, there is a sinkhole called as Dudu. It is very popular among international tourists for its cool, crystal clear water.
Unlike the beaches the water of Dudu lagoon is much cooler and clearer. This beautiful natural pool has a depth of 100 feet. There is a small staircase to access the pool. In addition to this facility, you can also find pendulum type ropes there. For a fun filled experience, you can use these ropes to swing and drop down into the cool water of the lagoon.
Never think that swimming is the only activity you can enjoy in the beautiful Dudu lagoon. This cenote has underwater caves. So it is also a good place for scuba diving. You can dive into the nearby lake through the caves. It can be a unique and thrilling experience for you.

6

 Hinatuan Enchanted River, Mindanao, Philippines

As the name indicates, the Enchanted River is a stunningly colorful river located in the Mindanao Island in Philippines. No one is known about the origin of this beautiful river. That is why the enchanted river is called so.
For first time visitors, the enchanted river look like a surreal place. Because the color of the river is astonishingly beautiful. It ranges from aquamarine to blue. You can see dark blue color in the deep parts of the river. At the same time the shallow parts of the river reflect aquamarine to light blue color.
The enchanted river is actually a small, deep river that is very close to the sea. As the water is very clear, you can even see the bottom of the river. The water in the river is also completely free from dirt. All these conditions attracts tourists from around the world to the enchanted river.
According to the local people some spots in the enchanted river have the influence of spirits. So that not all areas are allowed for swimming. The night time swimming is also prohibited in this area. Luckily, you can find all facilities near the enchanted river, including cottages, life jackets and delicious seafood.

5

 Havasu Falls, Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States

The Havasu Falls is a picturesque waterfall located within the Grand Canyon in Arizona State of U.S. It is just 1.5 miles away from the Supai tribal village. The Havasu Falls is renowned worldwide for its vivid blue green color water. There are also several pools that formed as a result of mineralization.
Among the hikers, Havasu Falls are their favorite destination within the Grand Canyon. The brilliant coloration of water and perfect natural pools in a stunning red rock surrounding make it a surreal attraction.
The vibrant blue-green coloration of water is due to the high concentration of calcium carbonate. Luckily, the temperature variation for water of Havasu falls is minimal. Throughout the year it offers a pleasant temperature between 21 and 25 degree Celsius.

4

 Hamilton Pool Preserve, Austin, Texas, U.S

The Hamilton pool is a favorite summer swimming destination for Americans as well as international tourists. This amazing natural pool is located within a 232 acres of protected area in Austin city of Texas State. The Hamilton pool has striking green water and surrounded by large limestone slabs. There is also a small waterfall spills from the limestone roof.
The Hamilton pool was formed over thousands of years ago, when the continuous natural erosion collapsed the dome of an underground river. Fortunately, this unique natural pool never gets dried up. It is truly a wonder of Austin City. An unforgettable swimming experience is guaranteed for the visitors.
The entry to the Hamilton pool is completely free. There are so much to see in the nature preserve apart from the Hamilton pool. You can see some rarest birds and plants in the protected area around the pool. But biking and fishing are not allowed in this area.

3

 Pamukkale Thermal Pools, Denizli Province, Southwestern Turkey

The word Pamukkale means cotton castle in Turkish. Like the name suggest the limestone walls of the Pamukkale has a cotton castle like outlook. Anyway, it is a great natural thermal pool located in the Denizli province in Southwestern Turkey. It contains a group of hot springs and Travertines. The globally popular Pamukkale has been used as a thermal spa since 2nd century B.C.
The unique castle like shape of Pamukkale was formed by continuous deposition of minerals by the hot springs over the years. This 1.7 mile long natural site contains 17 hot springs in total. The limestone-terraces of Pamukkale get collected with thermal waters from the hot springs. The mineral rich waters of Pamukkale pools also have the power to cure several skin diseases.

2

 Devil’s pool, Victoria Falls, Border of Zambia and Zimbabwe

At a water flow rate of 500 million liter per minute and a width of almost 1 mile, the Victoria Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in the world. It also has twice the height of Niagara Falls. How about swimming at the edge of such an enormous waterfall? Thankfully, there is a natural rock pool at the edge of the Victoria Falls called ‘Devil’s pool’ on the Zambia side.
The Devil’s pool has formed as a result of thousands of years of erosion. During the dry season, when the water level drops, you can safely swim in the Devil’s pool. That is at the edge of 108 meter high Victoria Falls. The natural rock wall at the edge of the waterfall will stop you from being swept down.
There are experienced guides to show you the exact spot of Devil’s pool. You have to take a boat the Zambezi River to reach the Devil’s pool. At one time, no more than 16 people are allowed to swim in the Devil’s pool. You can sit at the edge of Victoria Falls.
The view from the top of the Victoria waterfalls will definitely leave you breathless. In fact, from no other place can enjoy such can incredible view of Victoria Falls. Remember, the swimming in the Devil’s pool can only enjoy during the dry season. In rainy season, the water level will rise. So any attempt to swim in the Devil’s pool in such a condition can be too dangerous.

1

 Ik Kil Cenote, Yucatan, Mexico

Ik Kil cenote is probably the most amazing natural pool in the Americas. It is an amazing rounded, swimming hole with crystal clear blue water. The Ik Kil cenote is located within the Eco-Archaeological Park in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico.
The Ik Kil cenote has a great importance in the Mayan civilization. Centuries ago, they have been used this cenote for relaxation and ritual services. Today, it is one of most popular natural pools around the world. The popular Chichen Itza archeological site is also very close to the Ik Kil cenote.
The Ik kil cenote was formed by the collapsing of a cave. This 60 meters wide cenote has a depth of 35 meters. The water of Ik Kil cenote is 56 meters below the ground level. There is a ladder carved into the limestone wall of the cenote to access the pool.
Undoubtedly, Ik Kil cenote is a great place for swimming and diving. The cool, clear water of this cenote offers you a much relaxing experience.

The Pros & Cons Of A Forex Trading Career

Owing to its high liquidity, 24/7 schedule, and easy accessibility, forex trading has emerged as a popular career, especially for people with a financial background. Being your own boss with the comforts of making money using your laptop/mobile when its convenient for you is enough motivation for both young graduates and experienced professionals to consider forex trading as a career. However, forex trading has its disadvantages, as well as its advantages. (See related: Forex Tutorial: Introduction to Currency Trading.)
Pros

• Low Costs: Forex trading can have very low costs (brokerage and commissions). There are no commissions in a real sense – most forex brokers make profits from the spreads between forex currencies. Hence, one does not have to worry about including separate brokerage charges, eliminating an overhead. Compare that to equity or other securities trading where the brokerage structure varies widely and a trader must take such fees into account. (See related: Forex Broker Guide.)
• Suits Varying Trading Styles: The forex markets run all day, enabling trades at one’s convenience, which is very advantageous to short-term traders who tend to take positions over short durations (say a few minutes to a few hours). Few traders makes trades during complete off-hours. For example, Australia’s daytime is the nighttime for the East Coast of the US. A US-based trader may trade AUD during US business hours, as little development is expected and prices are in stable range during such off-hours for AUD. Such traders adopt high-volume, low-profit trading strategies, as they have little profit margins due to a lack of developments specific to forex markets. Instead, they attempt to make profits on relatively stable low volatility duration and compensate with high volume trades. Traders can also take long-term positions, which can last from days to several weeks; forex trading is very accommodating in this way. (See related: How To Become A Successful Forex Trader.)
• Offers Very High Liquidity: Compared with any other financial markets, the forex market has the largest number of market participants. This provides highest level of liquidity, which means even large orders of currency trades are easily filled efficiently without any large price deviations. This eliminates the possibility of price manipulation and price anomalies, thereby enabling tighter spreads that lead to more efficient pricing. One need not worry about the high volatility during opening and closing hours, or stagnant price ranges during the afternoons, which are trademarks of equity markets. Unless major events are expected, one can observe similar price patterns (of high, mid or low volatility) throughout the non-stop trading.
• No Central Exchange: Being an over-the-counter market operating across the globe, there is no central exchange or regulator for the forex market. Various countries’ central banks occasionally interfere as needed, but these are rare events, occurring under extreme conditions. Most such developments are already perceived and priced into the market. Such a decentralized and deregulated market helps avoid any sudden surprises. Compare that to equity markets, where a company can suddenly declare a dividend or report huge losses, leading to huge price changes. In addition, the chances of insider trading are almost nil (especially on major currency pairs), as there are no insiders in the forex market, which is dependent on global factors and perceived developments.

Such deregulation also helps keep costs low. Orders are directly placed with the broker who executes it on their own. Another advantage of deregulated markets is the ability to take short positions, something that is banned for a few security classes in other markets.

• Volatility Is a Trader’s Friend: The major currencies frequently display high price swings. If trades are placed wisely, high volatility assists in enormous profit making opportunities.
• Variety Of Pairs To Trade: There are 28 major currency pairs involving eight major currencies. Criteria for choosing a pair can be convenient timing, volatility patterns, or economic developments. A forex trader who loves volatility can easily switch from one currency pair to the other. (See related: Top 8 Most Tradable Currencies.)
• Low Capital Requirements: Due to tight spreads in terms of pips, one can easily start forex trading with a small amount of initial capital. Without more capital, it may not be possible to trade in other markets (like equity, futures or options). Availability of margin trading with high leverage factor (up to 50-to-1) comes as the icing on the cake for forex trades. While trading on such high margins comes with its own risks, it also makes it easier to get better profit potential with limited capital.
• Ease: There are hundreds of forex technical indicators to draw on for short-term trades, and several fundamental analysis theories and tools for long-term forex trading, creating enormous choice for traders with varying levels of experiences to make a swift entry into forex trading.

In essence, there are lots of advantages to forex trading as a career, but there are disadvantages as well.
Cons

• Lack of Transparency: Due to the deregulated nature of the forex market dominated by brokers, one actually trades against professionals. Being broker-driven means that the forex market may not be fully transparent. A trader may not have any control on how his trade order gets fulfilled, may not get the best price, or may get limited views on trading quotes as provided only by his selected broker. A simple solution is to deal only with regulated brokers who fall within purview of broker regulators. The market may not be under the control of the regulators, but the activities of brokers are.
• Complex Price Determination Process: Forex rates are influenced by multiple factors, primarily global politics or economics that can be difficult to analyze information and draw reliable conclusions to trade on. Most forex trading happens on technical indicators, which is the primary reason for the high volatility in forex markets. Getting the technicals wrong will result in a loss. (See related: Forex Technical Analysis.)
• High Risk, High Leverage: Forex trading is available on high leverage, meaning one can get profit/loss exposure multiple times of the trading capital. Forex markets allow leverage of 50:1, so one needs to have only $1 to take a forex position worth $50. While a trader can benefit from leverage, a loss is magnified. Forex trading can easily turn into a loss-making nightmare, unless one has a robust knowledge of leverage, an efficient capital allocation scheme, and strong control over emotions (e.g., the willingness to cut losses short).
• Self- Directed Learning: In the stock market, a trader can seek professional assistance from portfolio managers, trade advisors, and relationship managers. Forex traders are completely on their own with little or no assistance. Disciplined and continuous self-directed learning is a must throughout the trading career. Most beginners quit during the initial phase, primarily because of losses suffered due to limited forex trading knowledge and improper trading.
• High Volatility: With no control over macro-economic and geopolitical developments, one can easily suffer huge losses in the highly volatile forex market. If things go wrong with a particular stock, shareholders can put pressure on management to initiate required changes, and they can alternatively approach regulators. Forex traders have nowhere to go. When Iceland went bankrupt, forex traders holding Icelandic krona could only watch. The alleged scams involving the Iraqi dinar exist because there is no authority to control its valuations. (Related: Is Iraqi Dinar a Wise Investment?) The 24/7 markets make it difficult to regularly monitor prices and volatility. The best approach is to keep strict stop losses for all forex trades and trade systematically through a well-planned approach.

The Bottom Line
Often perceived as easy moneymaking career, forex trading is actually quite difficult, though highly engaging. Perseverance, continuous learning, efficient capital management techniques, the ability to take risks, and a robust trading plan are needed to be a successful forex trader.

Should You Trade Forex Or Stocks?

Today's investors and active traders have access to a growing number of trading instruments, from tried-and-true blue chips and industrials, to the fast-paced futures and forex markets. Deciding which of these markets to trade can be complicated, and many factors need to be considered in order to make the best choice.

The most important element may be the trader's or investor's risk tolerance and trading style. For example, buy-and-hold investors are often more suited to participating in the stock market, while short-term traders, including swing, day and scalp traders, may prefer markets where price volatility is more pronounced. In this article, we'll compare investing in the forex market to buying into blue chip stocks, indexes and industrials. (Learn about the forex market and get to know some beginner trading strategies; check out Forex Trading: A Beginner's Guide.)
TUTORIAL: The Ultimate Forex Guide
Forex Vs. Blue Chips
The foreign exchange market is the world's largest financial market, accounting for more than $4 trillion in average traded value each day as of 2011. Many traders are attracted to the forex market because of its high liquidity, around-the-clock trading and the amount of leverage that is afforded to participants.
Blue chips, on the other hand, are stocks from well-established and financially sound companies. These stocks are generally able to operate profitably during challenging economic conditions, and have a history of paying dividends. Blue chips are generally considered to be less volatile than many other investments, and are often used to provide steady growth potential to investors' portfolios.
Volatility
Volatility is a measure of short-term price fluctuations. While some traders, particularly short-term and day traders, rely on volatility in order to profit from quick price swings in the market, other traders are more comfortable with less volatile and less risky investments. As such, many short-term traders are attracted to the forex markets, while buy-and-hold investors may prefer the stability offered by blue chips.
Leverage
Leverage is another consideration. In the United States, investors generally have access to 2:1 leverage for stocks. The forex market offers a substantially higher leverage of up to 50:1, and in parts of the world even higher leverage is available. Is all this leverage a good thing? Not necessarily. While it certainly provides the springboard to build equity with a very small investment - forex accounts can be opened with as little as $100 - leverage can just as easily destroy a trading account. (For more insight, see Forex Leverage: A Double-Edged Sword.)

Trading Hours
Another consideration in choosing a trading instrument is the time period that each is traded. Trading sessions for stocks are limited to exchange hours, generally 9:30am to 4pm Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday with the exception of market holidays. The forex market, on the other hand, remains active round-the-clock from 5pm EST Sunday, through 5pm EST Friday, opening in Sydney, then traveling around the world to Tokyo, London and New York. The flexibility to trade during U.S. Asian and European markets, with good liquidity virtually any time of day, is an added bonus to traders whose schedules would otherwise limit their trading activity. (Just because the forex market trades 24 hours a day doesn't mean you have to. See How To Set A Forex Trading Schedule.)
Forex Vs. Indexes
Stock market indexes are a combination of similar stocks, which can be used as a benchmark for a particular portfolio or the broad market. In the U.S. financial markets, major indexes include the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), the Nasdaq Composite Index, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index (S&P 500) and the Russell 2000. The indexes provide traders and investors with an important method of gauging the movement of the overall market.
A range of products provide traders and investors broad market exposure through stock market indexes. Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on stock market indexes, such as S&P Depository Receipts (SPY) and the Nasdaq-100 (QQQQ), are widely traded. Stock index futures and e-mini index futures are other popular instruments based on the underlying indexes. The e-minis boast strong liquidity and have become favorites among short-term traders because of favorable average daily price ranges. In addition, the contract size is much more affordable than the full-sized stock index futures contracts. The e-minis, including the e-mini S&P 500, the e-mini Nasdaq 100, the e-mini Russell 2000 and the mini-sized Dow Futures are traded around the clock on all-electronic, transparent networks. (To learn more, check out Forex Minis Shrink Risk Exposure.)
Volatility
The volatility and liquidity of the e-mini contracts is enjoyed by the many short-term traders who participate in stock market indexes. The major equity index futures trade at an average daily notional value of $145 billion, exceeding the combined traded dollar volume of the underlying 500 stocks. The average daily range in price movement of the e-mini contracts affords great opportunity for profiting from short-term market moves.
While the average daily traded value pales in comparison to that of the forex markets, the e-minis provide many of the same perks that are available to forex traders, including reliable liquidity, daily average price movement quotes that are conducive to short-term profits, and trading outside of regular U.S. market hours.
Leverage
Futures traders can use large amounts of leverage similar to that available to forex traders. With futures, the leverage is referred to as margin, a mandatory deposit that can be used by a broker to cover account losses. Minimum margin requirements are set by the exchanges where the contracts are traded, and can be as little as 5% of the contract's value. Brokers may choose to require higher margin amounts. Like forex, then, futures traders have the ability to trade in large position sizes with a small investment, creating the opportunity to enjoy huge gains - or suffer devastating losses.
Trading hours
While trading does exist nearly around the clock for the electronically traded e-minis (trading ceases for about an hour a day to enable institutional investors to value their positions), the volume may be lower than the forex market, and liquidity during off-market hours could be a concern depending on the particular contract and time of day.
Tax Treatment
While outside the scope of this article, it should be noted that various trading instruments are treated differently at tax time. Short-term gains on futures contracts, for example, may be eligible for lower tax rates than short-term gains on stocks. In addition, active traders may be eligible to choose the mark-to-market (MTM) status for IRS purposes, which allows deductions for trading-related expenses, such as platform fees or education. In order to claim MTM status, the IRS expects trading to be the individual's primary business; IRS Publication 550 and Revenue Procedure 99-17 cover the basic guidelines on how to properly qualify as a trader for tax purposes. It is strongly recommended that traders and investors seek the advice and expertise of a qualified accountant or other tax specialist to most favorably manage investment activities and related tax liabilities. (Trading forex can make for a confusing time organizing your taxes. These simple steps will keep everything straight. Check out Forex Taxation Basics.)
The Bottom Line
The internet and electronic trading have opened the doors to active traders and investors around the world to participate in a growing variety of markets. The decision to trade stocks, forex or futures contracts is often based on risk tolerance, account size and convenience. If an active trader is not available during regular market hours to enter, exit or properly manage trades, stocks are not the best option. However, if an investor's market strategy is to buy and hold for the long term, generating steady growth and earning dividends, stocks are a practical choice. Regardless of which instrument(s) a trader or investor selects, the decision should be based on which is the best fit.

Top Reasons Forex Traders Fail

The forex market is the largest and most accessible financial market in the world, but although there are many forex investors, few are truly successful ones. Many traders fail for the same reasons that investors fail in other asset classes. In addition, the extreme amount of leverage - the use of borrowed capital to increase the potential return of investments - provided by the market, and the relatively small amounts of margin required when trading currencies, deny traders the opportunity to make numerous low-risk mistakes. Factors specific to trading currencies can cause some traders to expect greater investment returns than the market can consistently offer, or to take more risk than they would when trading in other markets.
Forex Market Trading Hazards
Certain mistakes can keep traders from achieving their investment goals. Following are some of the common pitfalls that can plague forex traders:

• Not Maintaining Trading Discipline
  The largest mistake any trader can make is to let emotions control trading decisions. Becoming a successful forex trader means achieving a few big wins while suffering many smaller losses. Experiencing many consecutive losses is difficult to handle emotionally and can test a trader's patience and confidence. Trying to beat the market or giving in to fear and greed can lead to cutting winners short and letting losing trades run out of control. Conquering emotion is achieved by trading within a well-constructed trading plan that assists in maintaining trading discipline.

• Trading Without a Plan
  Whether one trades forex or any other asset class, the first step in achieving success is to create and follow a trading plan. "Failing to plan is planning to fail" is an adage that holds true for any type of trading. The successful trader works within a documented plan that includes risk management rules and specifies the expected return on investment (ROI). Adhering to a strategic trading plan can help investors evade some of the most common trading pitfalls; if you don't have a plan, you're selling yourself short in what you can accomplish in the forex market.

• Failing to Adapt to the Market
  Before the market even opens, you should create a plan for every trade. Conducting scenario analysis and planning the moves and countermoves for every potential market situation can significantly reduce the risk of large, unexpected losses. As the market changes, it presents new opportunities and risks. No panacea or foolproof "system" can persistently prevail over the long term. The most successful traders adapt to market changes and modify their strategies to conform to them. Successful traders plan for low probability events and are rarely surprised if they occur. Through an education and adaptation process, they stay ahead of the pack and continuously find new and creative ways to profit from the evolving market.
• Learning Through Trial and Error
  Without a doubt, the most expensive way to learn to trade the currency markets is through trial and error. Discovering the appropriate trading strategies by learning from your mistakes is not an efficient way to trade any market. Since forex is considerably different from the equity market, the probability of new traders sustaining account-crippling losses is high. The most efficient way to become a successful currency trader is to access the experience of successful traders. This can be done through a formal trading education or through a mentor relationship with someone who has a notable track record. One of the best ways to perfect your skills is to shadow a successful trader, especially when you add hours of practice on your own.
• Having Unrealistic Expectations
  No matter what anyone says, trading forex is not a get-rich-quick scheme. Becoming proficient enough to accumulate profits is not a sprint - it's a marathon. Success requires recurrent efforts to master the strategies involved. Swinging for the fences or trying to force the market to provide abnormal returns usually results in traders risking more capital than warranted by the potential profits. Foregoing trade discipline to gamble on unrealistic gains means abandoning risk and money management rules that are designed to prevent market remorse.
• Poor Risk and Money Management
  Traders should put as much focus on risk management as they do on developing strategy. Some naive individuals will trade without protection and abstain from using stop losses and similar tactics in fear of being stopped out too early. At any given time, successful traders know exactly how much of their investment capital is at risk and are satisfied that it is appropriate in relation to the projected benefits. As the trading account becomes larger, capital preservation becomes more important. Diversification among trading strategies and currency pairs, in concert with the appropriate position sizing, can insulate a trading account from unfixable losses. Superior traders will segment their accounts into separate risk/return tranches, where only a small portion of their account is used for high-risk trades and the balance is traded conservatively. This type of asset allocation strategy will also ensure that low-probability events and broken trades cannot devastate one's trading account.

Managing Leverage
Although these mistakes can afflict all types of traders and investors, issues inherent in the forex market can significantly increase trading risks. The significant amount of financial leverage afforded forex traders presents additional risk that must be managed.
Leverage provides traders with an opportunity to enhance returns. But leverage and the commensurate financial risk is a double-edged sword that amplifies the downside as much as it adds to potential gains. The forex market allows traders to leverage their accounts as much as 400:1, which can lead to massive trading gains in some cases - and account for crippling losses in others. The market allows traders to use vast amounts of financial risk, but in many cases it is in a trader's best interest to limit the amount of leverage used.

Most professional traders use about 2:1 leverage by trading one standard lot ($100,000) for every $50,000 in their trading accounts. This coincides with one mini lot ($10,000) for every $5,000 and one micro lot ($1,000) for every $500 of account value. The amount of leverage available comes from the amount of margin that brokers require for each trade. Margin is simply a good faith deposit that you make to insulate the broker from potential losses on a trade. The bank pools the margin deposits into one very large margin deposit that it uses to make trades with the interbank market. Anyone that has ever had a trade go horribly wrong knows about the dreadful margin call, where brokers demand additional cash deposits; if they don't get them, they will sell the position at a loss to mitigate further losses or recoup their capital.
Many forex brokers require various amounts of margin, which translates into the following popular leverage ratios:

Margin	Maximum Leverage
5%	20:1
3%	33:1
2%	50:1
1%	100:1
0.5%	200:1
0.25%	400:1

The reason many forex traders fail is that they are undercapitalized in relation to the size of the trades they make. It is either greed or the prospect of controlling vast amounts of money with only a small amount of capital that coerces forex traders to take on such huge and fragile financial risk. For example, at a 100:1 leverage (a rather common leverage ratio), it only takes a -1% change in price to result in a 100% loss. And every loss, even the small ones taken by being stopped out of a trade early, only exacerbates the problem by reducing the overall account balance and further increasing the leverage ratio.
Not only does leverage magnify losses, but it also increases transaction costs as a percent of account value. For example, if a trader with a mini account of $500 uses 100:1 leverage by buying five mini lots ($10,000) of a currency pair with a five-pip spread, the trader also incurs $25 in transaction costs [(1/pip x 5 pip spread) x 5 lots]. Before the trade even begins, he or she has to catch up, since the $25 in transaction costs represents 5% of the account value. The higher the leverage, the higher the transaction costs as a percentage of account value, and these costs increase as the account value drops.
While the forex market is expected to be less volatile in the long term than the equity market, it is obvious that the inability to withstand periodic losses and the negative effect of those periodic losses through high leverage levels are a disaster waiting to happen. These issues are compounded by the fact that the forex market contains a significant level of macroeconomic and political risks that can create short-term pricing inefficiencies and play havoc with the value of certain currency pairs.
Conclusion
Many of the factors that cause forex traders to fail are similar to those that plague investors in other asset classes. The simplest way to avoid some of these pitfalls is to build a relationship with other successful forex traders who can teach you the trading disciplines required by the asset class, including the risk and money management rules required to trade the forex market. Only then will you be able to plan appropriately and trade with the return expectations that keep you from taking excessive risk for the potential benefits.
While understanding the macroeconomic, technical and fundamental analysis necessary for trading forex is as important as the requisite trading psychology, one of the largest factors that separates success from failure is a trader's ability to manage a trading account. The keys to account management include making sure to be sufficiently capitalized, using appropriate trade sizing and limiting financial risk by using smart leverage levels.

10 Ways To Avoid Losing Money In Forex

The global forex market boasts over $4 trillion in average daily trading volume, making it the largest financial market in the world. Forex's popularity entices traders of all levels, from greenhorns just learning about the financial markets to well-seasoned professionals. Because it is so easy to trade forex - with round-the-clock sessions, access to significant leverage and relatively low costs - it is also very easy to lose money trading forex. This article will take a look at 10 ways that traders can avoid losing money in the competitive forex market. (There are no specifically forex focused programs, but there are still some advanced education alternatives for forex traders. Check out 5 Forex Designations.)
TUTORIAL: Trader's Guide To Forex
1. Do Your Homework – Learn Before You Burn Just because forex is easy to get into doesn't mean that due diligence can be avoided. Learning about forex is integral to a trader's success in the forex markets. While the majority of learning comes from live trading and experience, a trader should learn everything possible about the forex markets, including the geopolitical and economic factors that affect a trader's preferred currencies. Homework is an ongoing effort as traders need to be prepared to adapt to changing market conditions, regulations and world events. Part of this research process involves developing a trading plan. (For more, check out 10 Steps To Building A Winning Trading Plan.)
2. Take the Time to Find a Reputable Broker The forex industry has much less oversight than other markets, so it is possible to end up doing business with a less-than-reputable forex broker. Due to concerns about the safety of deposits and the overall integrity of a broker, forex traders should only open an account with a firm that is a member of the National Futures Association (NFA) and that is registered with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as a futures commission merchant. Each country outside of the United States has its own regulatory body with which legitimate forex brokers should be registered.
Traders should also research each broker's account offerings, including leverage amounts, commissions and spreads, initial deposits, and account funding and withdrawal policies. A helpful customer service representative should have all this information and be able to answer any questions regarding the firm's services and policies. (Discover the best ways to find a broker who will help you succeed in the forex market. Refer to 5 Tips For Selecting A Forex Broker.)
3. Use a Practice Account
Nearly all trading platforms come with a practice account, sometimes called a simulated account or demo account. These accounts allow traders to place hypothetical trades without a funded account. Perhaps the most important benefit of a practice account is that it allows a trader to become adept at order entry techniques.
Few things are as damaging to a trading account (and a trader's confidence) as pushing the wrong button when opening or exiting a position. It is not uncommon, for example, for a new trader to accidentally add to a losing position instead of closing the trade. Multiple errors in order entry can lead to large, unprotected losing trades. Aside from the devastating financial implications, this situation is incredibly stressful. Practice makes perfect: experiment with order entries before placing real money on the line.

4. Keep Charts Clean
Once a forex trader has opened an account, it may be tempting to take advantage of all the technical analysis tools offered by the trading platform. While many of these indicators are well-suited to the forex markets, it is important to remember to keep analysis techniques to a minimum in order for them to be effective. Using the same types of indicators – such as two volatility indicators or two oscillators, for example – can become redundant and can even give opposing signals. This should be avoided.
Any analysis technique that is not regularly used to enhance trading performance should be removed from the chart. In addition to the tools that are applied to the chart, the overall look of the workspace should be considered. The chosen colors, fonts and types of price bars (line, candle bar, range bar, etc) should create an easy-to-read and interpret chart, allowing the trader to more effectively respond to changing market conditions.
5. Protect Your Trading Account
While there is much focus on making money in forex trading, it is important to learn how to avoid losing money. Proper money management techniques are an integral part of successful trading. Many veteran traders would agree that one can enter a position at any price and still make money – it's how one gets out of the trade that matters.
Part of this is knowing when to accept your losses and move on. Always using a protective stop loss is an effective way to make sure that losses remain reasonable. Traders can also consider using a maximum daily loss amount beyond which all positions would be closed and no new trades initiated until the next trading session. While traders should have plans to limit losses, it is equally essential to protect profits. Money management techniques, such as utilizing trailing stops, can help preserve winnings while still giving a trade room to grow.
6. Start Small When Going Live
Once a trader has done his or her homework, spent time with a practice account and has a trading plan in place, it may be time to go live – that is, start trading with real money at stake. No amount of practice trading can exactly simulate real trading, and as such it is vital to start small when going live.
Factors like emotions and slippage cannot be fully understood and accounted for until trading live. Additionally, a trading plan that performed like champ in backtesting results or practice trading could, in reality, fail miserably when applied to a live market. By starting small, a trader can evaluate his or her trading plan and emotions, and gain more practice in executing precise order entries – without risking the entire trading account in the process.
7. Use Reasonable Leverage
Forex trading is unique in the amount of leverage that is afforded to its participants. One of the reasons forex is so attractive is that traders have the opportunity to make potentially large profits with a very small investment – sometimes as little as $50. Properly used, leverage does provide potential for growth; however, leverage can just as easily amplify losses. A trader can control the amount of leverage used by basing position size on the account balance. For example, if a trader has $10,000 in a forex account, a $100,000 position (one standard lot) would utilize 10:1 leverage. While the trader could open a much larger position if he or she were to maximize leverage, a smaller position will limit risk. (For additional reading, see Adding Leverage To Your Forex Trading.)
8. Keep Good Records A trading journal is an effective way to learn from both losses and successes in forex trading. Keeping a record of trading activity containing dates, instruments, profits, losses, and, perhaps most importantly, the trader's own performance and emotions can be incredibly beneficial to growing as a successful trader. When periodically reviewed, a trading journal provides important feedback that makes learning possible. Einstein once said that "insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Without a trading journal and good record keeping, traders are likely to continue making the same mistakes, minimizing their chances of become profitable and successful traders.
9. Understand Tax Implications and Treatment It is important to understand the tax implications and treatment of forex trading activity in order to be prepared at tax time. Consulting with a qualified accountant or tax specialist can help avoid any surprises at tax time, and can help individuals take advantage of various tax laws, such as the marked-to-market accounting. Since tax laws change regularly, it is prudent to develop a relationship with a trusted and reliable professional that can guide and manage all tax-related matters.
10. Treat Trading As a Business
It is essential to treat forex trading as a business, and to remember that individual wins and losses don't matter in the short run; it is how the trading business performs over time that is important. As such, traders should try to avoid becoming overly emotional with either wins or losses, and treat each as just another day at the office. As with any business, forex trading incurs expenses, losses, taxes, risk and uncertainty. Also, just as small businesses rarely become successful overnight, neither do most forex traders. Planning, setting realistic goals, staying organized and learning from both successes and failures will help ensure a long, successful career as a forex trader.
The Bottom Line
The worldwide forex market is attractive to many traders because of its low account requirements, round-the-clock trading and access to high amounts of leverage. When approached as a business, forex trading can be profitable and rewarding. In summary, traders can avoid losing money in forex by:

• Being well-prepared
• Having the patience and discipline to study and research
• Applying sound money management techniques
• Approaching trading activity as a business

Top 10 Most Beautiful Cat Breeds In The World

Cats are one of the most popular pets in the world. The playful nature of cute cats adds joy and happiness to our life. They are also affectionate, trainable and intelligent. Here the list of 10 most beautiful cat breeds in the world.

10

Exotic Shorthair

The exotic shorthair cats are also known as shorthaired Persian. The cat has the same body and a flat face as that of Persian except short coast. The exotic hair breed was developed in 1950 by crossing Persian cats with different short haired cat breeds. Unlike Persian cats exotic shorthair cats have short  coast. So that the exotic shorthair breed doesn’t demand daily grooming requirement like Persian cats. At the same time exotic shorthair cat meets all other standards of Persian cats and become a popular pet today.
Exotic shorthairs are extremely loyal, playful, sweet and affectionate cats. They demand your attention and like to sit on your lap. Exotic shorthair  weighs up to 15 pounds and very short in height. Like Persian cats they available in wide variety of colors including silver, cream, smoke, blue and black. The short and broad face, small ears, short nose and wide eyes keep the cuteness of exotic hair throughout their life. They are also not easily affected by diseases.

9

British Shorthair

The British shorthair is one of the ancient cat breeds in the world. This cat breed was imported Britain from Egypt in the 1st century A.D. The medium sized British shorthair cats are extremely affectionate and calm. They easily get attached with family members and other pets in the house. The dense and short coast of British shorthair cats is found in black, blue, white, red, cream, silver and gold colors.

8

Abyssinian

The medium sized foreign looking Abyssinian cats are named after Abyssinia ( Former name of Ethiopia) from where it was thought to be originated. It is also said to be Abyssinian cat has resemblance with a sacred cat  of Ancient Egypt. They have wedge shaped ears and pointed ears. The short and deep coast of Abyssinian cats are in deep reddish brown shade. They are very intelligent, active and playful. Owners can also train the Abyssinian cats easily.

7

Birman

The Birman is one of most attractive cat breeds with striking coloration. It is also called as ‘Sacred cat of Burma. According to a legend a group of white cats was once lived in a Burmese temple. Unfortunately the main priest got murdered by the robbers. The one white cat came beside the priest and offered intimacy for his final movement. After the death of priest all the white cats in the temple got transformed into attractive golden color with the grace of Goddess of the temple. The eyes of the cats also look blueish just like the Goddess.
Even it is a mythology the birman cat breed developed in Burma and got introduced in Europe and U.S in the 20th century. All birman kittens remain in pure white color for first two years. After that different marking appears on face, ears, legs and tail. The marking on their body appears in different colors including chocolate, blue, red, cream, lilac and seal. But the legs of the birman breed remain white for all life.
The muscular body of birman cats weighs between 5-7 kilograms. They also has medium sized tail and lengthy coast. Bitman breed is not so active but they like to be with their owners. They also make a bond with other pets in the house.

6

Toyger

The tiger looking toyger cat breed was developed by the cross between a standard Bengal tabby and a striped domestic short hair. It is also very hard to find this special cat breed outside the United States. The toyger cat breed is still in development. The unique tiger like marking are randomly distributed on light orange colored coat.
The toyger cat has a medium sized muscular body and weighs between 4-6 kilograms. The cat also has small rounded ears and a long tail. Toyger cats are playful and love to bond with people. Toygers are also one of intelligent car breeds and can be easily trained. Toygers also use their camouflage coats to catch small domestic animals.

5

Scottish Fold

The special Scottish fold cat breeds are better known for their unique ears, folded forward and down. It is the dominant gene-mutation that causes the ears to bend like this. It also gives a clean rounded appearance for the head of Scottish fold cats. The Scottish fold also has large rounded eyes and a round face. It gives a complete pretty round look for Scottish fold cat.
Unlike matured cats the Scottish fold kittens have straight ears and it begins to fold after three weeks from the birth. There are both long haired and short haired Scottish fold cats. Their coast has a verity of colors including chocolate, blue, red, lavender and different combinations of white. Scottish folds are playful and very affectionate. They also used to sit in ‘Buddha position’ by balancing the body on hind legs.

4

Ragdoll

The ragdoll is an attractive semi-longhair cat breed with amazing blue eyes. Ragdolls is a very affectionate, playful, loyal and home loving cat that love to follow you every time at home. They are also intelligent enough to hide the claws while play with you. They are also known for greet you at the doors just like guard dogs.
The coat of ragdoll cats appear in four different patters called pointed, mitted, bicolor and lynx. Each pattern comes in a variety of colors including blue, seal, chocolate, red, lilac and cream. They shed their shiny hairs in different seasons. The ears and tail of ragdoll cats have dark markings. They weigh between 3.5 -8 kilograms and have an average lifespan of 14 years.

3

Maine Coon

The attractive and extremely affectionate maine coons are the largest domesticated cat breed in the world. It is said to be main coon was originated from a cross between semi-wild and domestic cats. They are also known as American longhair. Maine coon cats are as loyal and friendly as dogs. The maine coon breed comes in a wide variety of patterns and colors. They can be found in red, orange, cream, white, black, silver colors.
The attractive coat of maine coon cats are also water resistant. The thick coat also helps them to withstand in extreme cold climate. The large and round eyes of maine coon cats come in green, gold, copper and white colors. The active maine coon cats also have a better understanding of the human world. Unlike other pet cats they never demand all time attention from the owner. They just follow the master and show deep affection through a variety of chirps.

2

Siamese Cat

The extremely social and affectionate Siamese cats have more communication power than any other cat breeds in the world. They produce a meaningful monologue for you. It shows their worthy attempt for communicating with you. The loud and harsh sound of Siamese cats tells you exactly what they want. They like to follow you all time and to rest on your lap. This extremely social cat demands your company and never like to be alone in the house.
The attractive Siamese cats have a muscular body, triangular head, elongated ears and almond shaped eyes. All Siamese kittens are born with pure cream color. But the color start to change after they become four weeks old. Majority of adult Siamese cats have dark brown points and creamy body. The short coat of Siamese cats also comes in ivory, cinnamon pink, bluish-white and milk-chocolate colors.

1

Persian Cat

The long haired and elegant Persian cats are one of the oldest and most popular cat breeds in the world. It is said to be this attractive cat breed originated in Persia (former name of Iran). The remarkable coat of Persian cat has more than 80 color variations including white, black, blue, chocolate, red, cream, silver and lilac. The eyes of Persian cats come in deep blue, blue-green or brown colors. The medium sized Persian cat has rounded head, full cheek, large-rounded eyes and short nose.
The Persian cats are extremely affectionate and they demand your attention. Most of cat lovers like to own Persian cats because of their quiet and calm nature. They never jump or climb inside the house. They like to spend most of their time with house members and other pets.

Top 10 Most Expensive Buildings In The World 2016

There are many landmark buildings across the world. They are highly decorative exteriors and interiors. In case of most expensive buildings in the world the list never end only with the skyscrapers. It also may include luxury hotels, residential buildings, commercial buildings…etc. The followings are 10 most expensive buildings in the world.

10

Princess Tower, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, US$2.17 Billion

The 101 story Princess Tower in Dubai is the tallest residential building in the world at a height of 414 meters. It is also the second tallest building in Dubai, next to Burj Khalifa. The total construction cost of this residential skyscraper estimated at US$2.17 billion. The construction of this building was started in 2006 and took six years for the completion. The Princess tower features 763 residential units, 8 retail units,  957 parking units and 13 elevators.

9

City Of Dreams, Macau, China, US$2.40 Billion

The widely popular city of dreams hotel-casino in Macau offers an unforgettable gaming experience for the visitors. This property is owned by Melco PBL entertainment. The 37 story hotel and casino block includes four towers. Two towers named as grand Hyatt Macau and other two are hard rock hotel and crown towers hotel respectively. The total cost of this luxury building is estimated at US$2.40 billion. City of dreams was officially opened in 2009.
The building includes restaurants, bars, theaters, casino and shopping centers. The gaming section in the city of dreams spanning an area of 420000 square feet. There are 1514 gaming machines and 450 gaming tables in total.
The dancing water theater is the another major attraction in the city of dreams. It displays a spectacular water show and artwork like no other in the world. This amazing theater can accommodate 2000 spectators at a time. The pool within this theater can hold 3.4 million gallons of water. The theater was opened in 2010 and the shows are created by great Italian-Belgian show maker Franco Dragone.

8

Venetian Macau, Macau, China, US$2.40 Billion

The Venetian Macau is a 39 story casino resort located in City of Macau in China. It is owned by an American casino company named Las Vegas Sands. This US$2.40 billion building was officially opened on 28th August 2007. Spanning a floor area of 98000 square meters it is the largest casino in the world. The Venetian Macau is also the largest hotel in Asia by floor area. This luxury casino resort was designed by two renowned architectural firms Aedas and HKS, Inc.
There are 3000 suites, retail space of 149000 square meters, convention space of 111000 square meters and a 51000 square meters mega casino in Venetian Macau.  The flagship casino has 800 gambling tables and 3400 slot machines. The indoor area of this casino has a seating capacity of 15000. The Venetian Macau also has 350 branded retail stores and 30 restaurants in total. 

7

Wynn Resort, Las Vegas, United States, US$2.70 Billion

The 45 story US$2.70 billion Wynn is the sixth largest hotel in the world. This hotel covers an area of 615 acres. It is owned by Nevada based Wynn resorts limited corporation. The Wynn resort has 2716 rooms, 223000 square ft convention center, 76000 square ft retail space and a 111000 square ft casino. The shopping section of Wynn includes a number of renowned retailers such as Cartier, Brioni, Alexander McQueen, Dior and Chanel. The resort also features 260000 square feet meeting place, 60000 square feet beach club and wedding chapels.

6

One World Trade Center, New York, United States,US$3.80 Billion

The 104 story One World Trade Center located in New York City is the tallest building in the United States at 1451 feet. This skyscraper is also known as the ‘freedom tower’. It was built to replace and commemorate the twin tower of the original Word Trade Center which destroyed on 9/11 terrorist attack.
The construction of this amazing building started on 27th April 2006 and completed in 2013. This icon of modern architecture was designed by renowned architecture David Childs.  The strong and abundant steel frame and concrete-core shear wall of the building promises safety and sustainability. The total cost of this great project estimated at US$3.80 billion.
The One World Trade Center has 71 floors of office space, 270000 sq ft space for U.S General Service Administration, 190000 sq ft of space for magazine publisher Conde Nast, 55000 sq ft of retail space, a public lobby and an observation desk. The 9/11 museum in the building displays artifacts, videos and stories of original world trade center. The building also has a connection to 11 New York City subways , ferry terminal and to the WTC transportation hub.

5

Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas, Las Vegas, United States, US$3.90 Billion

The Cosmopolitan is a 52 story luxury resort casino located in Las Vegas Strip of Nevada. This US$3.90 billion resort feature two towers. It was built by Germany based Duetsche bank. Today the is resort casino is owned by NYC based Blackstone group corporation, sold by Duetsche bank in 2014 for US$1.73 billion. This grand resort contains 3000 rooms, a 110000 sq ft mega casino, 300000 sq ft of retail space, 150000 sq ft of convention center, 222934 sq ft of public area, 40000 sq ft of spa and fitness area, 641850 sq ft back-of-house area and a theater with seating capacity of 1800.

4

Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, US$3.90 Billion

The US$3.90 billion seven star Emirates Palace is the second most expensive hotel ever built in the world. This luxury hotel is located in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The hotel was owned by the Abu Dhabi government. Emirates Palace is also the official guest palace of Abu Dhabi Government.
It was designed by British architect John Elliott. This amazing hotel was officially opened in 2005. Besides the luxury hospitality the Emirates Palace also has 85 hectares of spectacular gardens and lawns.
The Emirates Palace has a total floor area of 850000 square meters. It contains 302 rooms, 16 Place suits, 92 suits, parking area for 2500 vehicles, helipad and a marina. There are also six ruler’s suites on the top floor of the hotel which are reserved for Royal families of the UAE.
Emirate Palace also features 114 impressive domes standing at a height of 60 meters. The private beach of Emirates Palace stretches across 1.3 kilometers. The hotel also offers swimming pools, luxury spa, tennis courts and cricket courts.

3

Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore, US$4.93 Billion

The Resort World Sentosa is the third most expensive casino ever built in the world. The total construction cost of this resort casino is estimated at US$4.93 billion, built by the Malaysian conglomerate Genting Group. The Resorts World Sentosa situated in an area of 49 hectares. This integrated resort comprises hotels, resorts, casino and a number of attractions.
The Resort World Sentosa has four hotels in total and the casino spanning a floor area of 15000 square meters. The marine life park in this integrated resort is the largest oceanarium in the world. It occupies an area of 8 hectares. This large oceanarium house more than 100000 marine animals. The resort also contains the Universal Studios theme park. The park features many attractions like Madagascar theme park ride, Transformer ride, The lost world and Ancient Egypt. 

2

Marina Bay Sands, Marina Bay, Singapore, US$5.5 Billion

The US$5.5 billion Marina Bay Sands is the most expensive integrated resort ever built. It is one of the most popular tourist attractions of Singapore. This iconic building is situated in an area of 15.5 hectares. This luxury building contains restaurants, a hotel, exhibition centers, theaters, retailers and entertainment venues. It was built by Nevada based Las Vegas Sands Corporation. This integrated resort was officially opened on 23rd June 2010.
Marina Bay Sands comprises three 55 story buildings and it is capped by Sands Sky park. The sky park at a height of 200 meters above ground level offers a panoramic view of the Singapore skyline. The park also 150 meters swimming pool and it is the longest elevated swimming pool in the world. The sky park also features a night club and a restaurant.
There are 2561 luxury rooms and suites in total. The large convention center of Marina Bay Sands spanning a space of 1200000 sq ft. It can accommodate more than 45000 people at a time. The grand 15000 square meters Marina Bay Sands casino has 1500 slot machines, 35 private gaming rooms and 600 gaming tables. The two theaters in this resort casino named grand theater and sands theater have a seating capacity of 2155 and 1680. Marina Bay Sands also has 300 retail stores in total.  

1

Abraj Al Bait, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, US$15 Billion

The 120 story Abraj Al Bait is the most expensive skyscraper in the world. The building costs US$15 billion for the construction. It is located in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Abraj Al Bait situated near largest and holiest Masjid al-Haram mosque. The hotel spanning a floor area of 1500000 square meters and can accommodate 100000 people.
The hotel mainly attracts the pilgrims that come to Mecca to conduct Hajj. Abraj Al Bait also features a view into the courtyard of Masjid al-Haram mosque. This Saudi Arabian government owned luxury hotel was designed by Lebanon based Dar Al-Handasah architectural group. The hotel was officially opened in 2012.
The construction of this luxury hotel was started in 2004 and took 8 years for its completion. At a height of 601 meters Abraj Al Bait is the tallest hotel in the world. It is also the fourth tallest building in the world. One main attraction of  Abraj Al Bait is its 43 m* 43 m sized clock standing at a height of 530 meters and crowned by a spire. It is the tallest and largest clock in the world. The hotel also features six residential towers, a prayer hall that has a capacity of 3800 persons, a convention center, a five story shopping mall and two heliports. 

Top 10 Happiest Countries In The World 2015

What are the main factors that determine the happiness of a nation? The better life index released from Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development or OECD reveals the happiest places on Earth. This report is based on several factors including education, employment, life satisfaction, income, health, and the environment. Here the list of 10 happiest countries in the world.
The life satisfaction score reflects how people of a country evaluate their life. Its value ranges from 0 to 10.

10

Netherlands, Life Satisfaction Score : 7.4

The Dutch are one of most satisfied people in the world. The 75% of Dutch who aged between 15 and 64 have a job. The average household income in the Netherlands is US$25493. It is actually the amount of money left after all types of taxes. It is an important indicator of standard of living of a country. The Dutch also finds education as an important part of life and the literacy rate in the Netherlands is 99%.
The Dutch people also maintain a great work-life balance to keep the happiness within the family. Only a few percentage people work for long hours in the Netherlands. Both working men and women in the Netherlands find enough time to complete their domestic work and for childcare.
You can see a strong social network between Dutch people. They don’t hesitate to help other people. This strong support between Dutch people also limits the population of isolated people in the society. The average life expectancy of Dutch people is 81 years. The country has one of the best healthcare systems in Europe.

9

Sweden, Life Satisfaction Score : 7.4

Sweden is one of the least corrupt countries in the world. The transparent government is one of the key factors for the well-being of citizens. Sweden also has high voters turnout of 85%. It indicates the majority of Swedes trust their government. In case of employment, the 74% of Swedes who aged between 15-64 have a paid job. Sweden also has a high disposable income of US$23047. It represents the better life standard of Swedes.
The number of people who worked for long hours is very less in Sweden. It ensures a better work-life balance and Swedish parents get enough time for childcare. They have a literacy rate of 99%. The compulsory system to a secondary language other than Swedish promises better language skills to the students.
Stockholm, The capital of Sweden is the first green capital in Europe. The city renowned for its large number of public green areas. The Swedes also have access to high purity water all throughout the country. The average life expectancy of Swedes is 82 years. The government spends 9% of nation’s GDP ( US$558.9 Billion) on health care very year to provide good health care services to the people.

8

Finland, Life Satisfaction Score : 7.4

The smarter education system, cheaper health care, strong social network and better working conditions make Finland as one of the happiest countries in the world. Unlike other developed countries, the school hours are much shorter in Finland. But they provide a smart educational system, excellent student-teacher ratios and well-being service for all children. The 83% of Finns have qualified with university level degrees.
Finland has an average employment rate of 70%. The Finns earned a disposable income of US$25739 a year. They invest a major part of their earnings for education and training. It develops better skill and provide great job opportunities for people.
The well-educated Finns are also very friendly. They maintain a strong connection between each other in the society. The Finns like to involve in public services and to help other people. Undoubtedly it maintains a positive atmosphere in the society.
The Finns also maintain an appreciative gender equality in the country. The 40% seats of Finnish government are occupied by women. Finland also has a very low rate of maternal death and provide exceptionally well mother and child care. It makes Finland to one of the best places to be a mother. Finns are also one of the most healthiest people in the world. The average life expectancy of Finns is 81 years.

7

 Australia, Life Satisfaction Score : 7.4

With GDP of US$1.5 trillion Australia is one of largest economic powers in the world. The 72% of Australians who aged between 15 and 64 have a job. The disposable income of Australians is US$31197 a year. It represents Australians maintain a higher living standard. Australians also face a very low risk of losing their job.
The 74% percentage of Australians qualified with a high school level degree. They also ranked in top level reading, science programs, and maths. The world-class education system in Australia also attracts the foreigners to the country. The ‘school to work’ program in Australian schools let the students develop working skill before they finish their degree. Such programs in Australia not only open a world of opportunities but also built a productive workforce.
Australia is also home to a number of natural wonders. The great barrier reef in Queensland is the largest coral system on Earth. This 2300 km long coral reef system can even see from space. Every year this natural wonder generates over US$3 billion for the Australian government. Besides this the beautiful beaches, pink colored lakes, and world amazing national parks make Australia to an amazing country to visit and live.
Australia has a voter turnout of 93% and it indicates the high civic engagement in the country. The openness of Australian government also ensures the well-being of citizens. Australians are very much satisfied with their life.
They maintain a good relationship with the other people. They also believe that there is always someone to give any kind of support for them. The average life expectancy of Australians is 82 years. The majority of Australians are also satisfied with the quality of water.

6

Iceland, Life Satisfaction Score : 7.5

Iceland is rich, beautiful, peaceful and world class educational system. So there is no wonder why this country has one of the happiest people on Earth. Iceland has a high working population, 80% of Icelanders have a paid job. The employment rate of women is also much higher in Iceland, over 79%. But the Icelanders maintain a perfect work-life balance so that their daily life becomes less stressful.
Iceland also has a well-educated population. The university degree is so cheap in Iceland. The students only have to pay the registration fee only. The high-quality education maintains to keep the literacy rate of the country to 100%. Icelanders are also top performers at reading and science and math based programs.
The crime rate in Iceland is very low. It plays an important role in the well-being of citizens. They treat the prisoners in an entirely different way. The prisoners get lots of encouragement from officers to develop themselves. They can also do paid work. This method inspires the prisoners to lead a good life in their rest of the life.
Iceland is also a better place to be a woman. The country has the remarkable rate in gender equality. You can see the presence of women in all major sections like politics, employment and education. The first female president in Europe also from Iceland. Vigdis Finnbogadottir became the first female president of Iceland in 1980.
The average life expectancy of Icelanders is 82 years. Iceland has a good environment to live in, has only low pollution rate. The infant mortality rate in Iceland is also very low. There is also a well-organized health care and excellent doctor-patient ratio in Iceland.

5

Austria, Life Satisfaction Score : 7.5

Safety is an important factor that defines the happiness of citizens in a country. In that way, Austria is the best place to live in. The country has very low crime rate. The girls can securely travel in Austria at any time. Austria is also known for the cleanliness and beautiful landscapes.
The employment rate in Austria is 73%. Even the full-time workers find time for socializing, childcare and to enjoy their won hobbies. The Austrians also get enough holidays in a year to enjoy their life. They are one of most relaxed citizens in the world.
More than 82% of Austrians are qualified with a high school equivalent degree. The universities in Austria also have a good reputation. The students in Austria also get a great discount for a number of world-class concerts.
Austria is rich in culture. Vienna, The capital of Austria is known for its historic architecture and music concerts. The city is also consistently ranked as the most livable city in the world by considering the quality of life. Austria also offers cheap access to operas and museums.
Austria is remarkably clean and tidy place. The pollution rate in Austria is also low. There is also strict recycling law in the country to protect the environment. The Austrians are also satisfied with the quality of air, water and parks. The public transport system in Austria is also efficient and clean.
The average life expectancy of Austrians is 82 years. The country has an extensive network of hospitals and high population of doctors. All citizens of Austria get free access to basic health care. The emergency services in Austria are also very efficient.

4

Denmark, Life Satisfaction Score : 7.6

Denmark consistently ranked in top levels in many measures including security, trust, health, wealth, and education. Trust is the main factor that makes the Danes one of the happiest people in the world. The Danes maintain a high level of trust between each other. They give more importance to relationships than money.
The strong social network also keeps away the stress and bring more opportunities to their daily life. Danes are not too ambitious. They have a great sense of human equality.
The government has a great influence on the well-being of citizens. Denmark has much transparent government and has a remarkable voter turnout of 88%. The Danes have the right to access undisclosed information under freedom of information law. Unsurprisingly Denmark also ranks among places with greater gender equality.
Even on working days the Danes involve in socializing, childcare, domestic work and their own hobbies. It keeps away depression and anxiety from their daily life. ‘Hygge’ is a Danish term for the social gathering. Danes believe that Hygge create a positive atmosphere and bring happiness. They found winter season as a perfect time for Hygge. During the winter season, Danes gather together at parks, beaches and streets.
Copenhagen, The capital city of Denmark is one of the greenest cities in the world. The majority of the residents in the city chooses cycles or walking to reach their home or office. The Copenhagen also has remarkable bicycle routes. They also follow a number of environmental policies to make the city carbon-neutral by the year 2025.
The taxes are very high in Denmark. But the government offers free health care services and education for citizens. The government also provides remarkable benefits and support for unemployed people.

3

Canada, Life Satisfaction Score : 7.6

Compared to other North American countries Canadians enjoy more positive experiences and life satisfaction. The country has high a disposable income of US$30000. It indicates the higher living standards of Canadians. More than 70% of Canadians owns their own home and automobiles. They follow a perfect work-life to make their daily life less stressful and to involve in domestic works.
Canadians never fear much about the robbery and other threat from the criminals. Because the rate of crime and homicide in Canada is very low. In case of emergency, they will also get immediate support from police and medical care services.
The Canada is also one of least corrupt countries in the world. The government authorities in Canada are committed to finding new programs for the development of the country and for the well-being of the citizens. The Canadian government also provide great support for citizens in case of unemployment and health issues.
Canada is also home to world-class educational institutions. The country has a literacy rate of 99%. They also provide exceptional language training for students. The affordable and extraordinary educational system in Canada also attracts foreigners from around the world.
There is no age discrimination in Canada. The citizens under 65 get same job opportunities in the country. Another important factor that makes Canada so popular is nothing but its natural beauty. The country is home to many wilderness areas, natural reserves, thousands of provincial parks and 42 national parks. The great abundance of trees across the country also maintains the quality of air.

2

Norway, Life Satisfaction Score : 7.7

Undoubtedly Norway is one of the greatest places in the world. Norway ranks in top level among the happiest, safest, healthiest and well-educated countries. The unemployment rate in Norway is just 3.4% and personal earnings are much higher. The working population on full-time contracts will get five weeks of holidays every year. In that way, Norwegians follow an outstanding standard of living.
There is extremely low criminal and incarceration rate in Norway. It is also one of the least corrupt countries in the world. The Norwegian Government committed to providing equal benefits to everyone in the society. The older and disabled people will also get health insurance and pension from the government.
More than 82% of Norwegians are qualified with a high school level degree. The school system in Norway is inexpensive and exceptional in quality. Every educational institution in Norway also has a student welfare organization.
Norway is also known for its natural beauty. The country is home to thousands of lakes, many wilderness areas, breathtaking fjords and unspoiled beaches. The Lofoten archipelago in Norway also offers a spectacular view of Northern lights. The ‘allemannsrett’ or ‘freedom to roam law’ in Norway lets anyone to tent or hike in all uncultivated areas in the country.
The average life expectancy of Norwegians is 81 years. The majority of hospitals in Norway are public hospitals. All citizens get free basic medical services. The health care system in Norway also demands no fee for treatment related to pregnancy.

1

Switzerland, Life Satisfaction Score : 7.8

The small and beautiful Switzerland is home to the happiest people on Earth. The country is economically very strong and has a much transparent government. The unemployment rate of Switzerland is just 2.9%. The working citizens also get high wages in the country. At the same time, the taxes are very low in Switzerland.
The majority of Swiss citizens don’t work for long hours. They spend with family members, friends, involve in child care and their own hobbies on weekends and evenings. They also enjoy sports activities on a daily basis. It makes the Swiss citizen fit and energetic.
The crime rate in Switzerland is extremely low. It is very safe to roam across the country at any time you like. Thus, Switzerland is one of the best places for women to live in. The Swiss cities are also clean and tidy.
In Switzerland, 86% of adults are qualities with a high school equivalent degree. All educational institutions in Switzerland are relatively cheap and good in quality. The Swiss government also offers a scholarship for international students. The Swiss citizens are also top in innovation, job training, and productivity.
Switzerland also has an extensive network of hospitals and excellent doctor-patient ratio. It is not a tax based service and the patients have to pay themselves through health insurance schemes. Unsurprisingly the Swiss citizens are one of the healthiest people in the world. The average life expectancy of Swiss is 83 years. The majority of citizens are also satisfied with water and air quality in the country.

Top 10 Greenest Cities Around The World

Why green living is very important? The sustainability of energy resources is important for the survival of our future generations. Going green is the only solution for a better tomorrow. There are many cities across the world where many hectares of land allotted for green spaces, rely more on renewable energy sources, choose cycling or walking over cars and active involvement in recycling processes. Check out 10 greenest cities in the world.

10

 Oslo, Norway

The Norwegian capital Oslo is surrounded by forested hills and lakes. Out of 454 square kilometers of total area 242 square kilometers of area of this green city are covered by dense forest. In fact two-thirds of Oslo city are protected areas. Stricter environmental laws in the city protect its natural resources and beauty.
There are a large number of parks, open areas and 343 lakes in Oslo city. These areas make the city look so greenish and keeps its surroundings calm and cool.
The city government also has a mission to make Oslo carbon neutral by 2020. The production of biogas from organic wastes and fossil fuel from sewages indicates how close the Oslo to this goal. There are more than 700 public charging stations in Oslo. In the upcoming years you can also see the enhancement of fuel cell cars and buses in Oslo city.

9

 Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki, the capital city of Finland is one of most greenish and livable cities in Europe. This city consists of more than 310 islands. Some of these islands are known for picturesque sandy beaches. The government’s plan to build offshore wind power parks indicates the better energy management in the city.
The natives are also satisfied with the air quality of Helsinki. The use of renewable energy resources also can improve the air quality to new heights. The better ecological principles in the city also protects its natural surroundings and resources.
Helsinki is also known for high level of recycling processes. It not only reduces the pollution but also fulfill the energy needs in the city. In case of transportation majority citizens choose cycling or walking to reach their home or office.

8

 San Francisco, U.S

The high level of recycling is the main reason behind San Francisco’s growth as one of the greenest cities in the U.S. The city government has a mission to make the city zero waste by 2020. The wastes from residents and other places directly goes for recycling instead into the trashes. The non-biodegradable plastic bags are also banned in the city back in 2007.
The efficient environmental programs and policies in San Francisco actively encourage the use of renewable energy. In nearby future the city relies more on renewable energy sources like solar power, wind power, hydro-Geo thermal power and biofuel than fossil fuels. Thus the city can become greenish and healthier than before.
There are many community benefit programs in San Francisco. The cycling, vanpool, electric transportation and sharing of rides in the city help to save some money and to reduce emission of greenhouse gases.

7

 London, England

It is quite challenging to maintain green spaces within a major city. Amazingly, half of London city is green, has 14164 hectares of green spaces. It includes parks, wildlife habitats, natural reserves, gardens and outdoor spaces. These green spaces ensures better bio-diversity, less rainwater run-off, less pollution and better air quality.
The London array, a wind farm in the Kent county of Southeast England is the largest offshore wind farm in the world. This large wind farm produces enough power to meet the needs of 25% of all London homes. This renewable energy project also cuts down the carbon emission in the city by a larger percentage.
The active promotion of renewable energy sources and new green projects also leads the city to carbon neutral by next decade. You can also see hundreds of hybrid buses on the street of London. In upcoming years more fuel cell powered buses will start service in London.

6

 Reykjavik, Iceland

The Icelandic capital Reykjavik city has the largest geo-thermal heating system in the world. There are 30 active volcanoes in total in the country. This leads to Icelanders to rely on hydrothermal energy than fossil fuels. In fact 100 percentage of the electrical requirement of Reykjavik city derived from hydro-geothermal energy sources.
The high availability of geothermal power in the city also meets the needs of hot water for the majority of inhabitants. It is because there is a consistent cold climate in Reykjavik city. The use of these renewable energy sources also keep the city away from excessive emissions of carbon dioxide.

5

 Curitiba, Brazil

The Curitiba city in Southern Brazil is known for its urban planning. The city has 12 acres of green space per 1000 inhabitants. The city has 400 square kilometers of green spaces in total. The vast green spaces in the city offers better biodiversity conditions and keep the surrounding calm and cool.
You can see missions of trees along the highways of Curitiba city. The popular botanical garden of Curitiba is also home to more than 350000 species of plants. There are strict environmental laws in Curitiba to protect its green spaces. The illegal logging and use of land containing local vegetation is strictly prevented in this city.
There is also an efficient transit system in Curitiba city. The majority of the population choose buses for making their trip. It limits the usage of private vehicles and emission of carbon dioxide. The pedestrian paths and cycling routes in the Curitiba city is also well maintained.

4

 Vancouver, Canada

The coastal city of Vancouver is one of most livable and greenest cities in the world. It is renewable hydroelectric energy that makes up 93% of all electrical requirements of the city. The Vancouver city continued to rely on more renewable energy sources to bring down the carbon dioxide emission to the lowest level.
The city government and inhabitants also have an ambitious vision to make Vancouver the greenest city in the world by 2020. They also formed an efficient team called GCAT (Greenest City Action Team) to achieve this mission.
According to their plan by 2020 the Vancouver will rely more on renewable energy sources to cut down the carbon dioxide emission. This mission also offers thousands of job opportunities in green business. By 2020 they also aim to plant more trees, improve air and water quality, promote local food production and to increase recycling processes in the city.
Nowadays the city government rapidly expanding the cycling infrastructure in the city. The number of electric vehicles and charging stations in the city also increases year by year.

3

 Stockholm, Sweden

The picturesque Stockholm city is committed to green living and cleanliness. Stockholm covers an area of 6519 square kilometers and one of third of its land area is green space. The city has 12 large parks in total. The inhabitants will get support from the city government to set up green space in their land. Stockholm was also the first city that awarded with European Green Capital back in 2010.
This Scandinavian city is also known for waste recycling. They transform the wastes into biogas. The government focused to increase the production of biogas in upcoming years so that they can reduce the dependency on fossil fuels. The Stockholm city also has a vision to make the city fossil fuel free by 2050.
The Stockholm city also has record of cut down the greenhouse gas emission by 25% since 1990. There are a number of fuel cell bus services in the city that offers clean urban transportation. Stockholm city also has well maintained cycling infrastructure. You can hire a city bike to get around the city. There are hundreds of bicycle stations around the Stockholm city.

2

 Amsterdam, Netherlands

Biking is an integral part of Amsterdam city for many decades. It is the most common mode of transportation in the city. This beautiful city has an infrastructure that mainly includes networks of canals and narrow streets. So the biking is the best mode of transportation to get around this city.
You can also see an extensive network of bicycle and pedestrian paths in Amsterdam. In fact the city has more bicycles than its population. You can also find electric cars on the streets of Amsterdam city. There are more than 300 recharge stations around the city.
The Amsterdam city government also started a special project called Amsterdam Smart City back in 2009. The main goal of this project is to reduce the carbon dioxide emission and save energy. For reaching this goal the authorities encourage recycling of wasters, solar panel installation, electrical car and bus services, more cycling routes and charging stations in ship ports.
The majority of residents in Amsterdam produce energy from solar panels and small-scale wind turbines. The most of households are also installed with energy efficient system to cut down the usage and save electrical energy.

1

 Copenhagen, Denmark

With miles of cycling routes the Danish capital Copenhagen is one of the best bike-friendly cities in the world. This city has a population of 569557. The 50 percentage of inhabitants choose bicycles over the cars. It is the common mode of transportation in Copenhagen. As a result of Danes love for cycling the city has very low level of carbon dioxide emission.
There are more than 100 bike hiring centers across Copenhagen. The city also offers free bike-share scheme. The cycling or walking is the best way to explore this beautiful city. There are also environmental-friendly electric powered and solar-powered boat services in Copenhagen. The city is attempting to become a carbon-neutral country by 2025.
The Danes are also known for recycling and composting. It reduces energy consumption and pollution. Copenhagen also focused on increasing the number of offshore wind turbines. It is to cut down the usage of oil and gas.
The Danes also believed that the energy efficient buildings are must for developing a complete environmental-friendly city. Because buildings causes the energy loss in the form of heating and lighting. So the Danes promotes the installation of the more enhanced heating system, windows, solar panel and insulation in the buildings.
Copenhagen also aims to build more biogas plants in upcoming years. The introduction of more renewable energy plants will help the city to stay away from the usage of fossil fuels. Unsurprisingly the visitors can also find a number of green hotels in Copenhagen. More than 71 percentage of hotel rooms across the city are certified as eco-friendly.