READING. MATCHING TASKS. Part I

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The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park protects a large part of Australia's Great Barrier Reef from damaging activities. It is a vast multiple-use Marine Park which supports a wide range of uses, including commercial marine tourism, fishing, ports and shipping, recreation, scientific research and Indigenous traditional use. Fishing and the removal of artefacts or wildlife (fish, coral, seashells, etc.) is strictly regulated, and commercial shipping traffic must stick to certain specific defined shipping routes that avoid the most sensitive areas of the park. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest and best known coral reef ecosystem in the world. Its reefs, almost 3000 in total, represent about 10 per cent of all the coral reef areas in the world. 

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Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, United States. Carved by the Colorado River, nearly 2 billion years of Earth's history are exposed in the layers of the Grand Canyon. While geologists continue to debate parts of the formation story of the canyon, recent studies suggest the river carved its path through the region about 5 to 6 million years ago. Since then, the river has been deepening and widening the canyon while sculpting its dramatic geographic features.

Today, the Grand Canyon is much more than just a massive chasm with exceptional views. It's home to some stunning geographic features, like Zoroaster Temple, featured in today's image. This towering over 2,100-metre summit is in Coconino County in Arizona, United States. 

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Ranthambore National Park is a vast wildlife reserve near the town of Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan, northern India. It is a former royal hunting ground and home to tigers, leopards and marsh crocodiles. Its landmarks include the imposing 10th-century Ranthambore Fort, on a hilltop, and the Ganesh Mandir temple. Also in the park, Padam Talao Lake is known for its abundance of water lilies.

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Kruger National Park, in northeastern South Africa, is one of Africa’s largest game reserves. Its high density of wild animals includes the Big 5: lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants and buffalos. Hundreds of other mammals make their home here, as do diverse bird species such as vultures, eagles and storks. Mountains, bush plains and tropical forests are all part of the landscape.

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Carpathian National Nature Park is the oldest Ukrainian national park, and also one of the largest national parks of the country. Its most valuable treasures are old-growth forests and primeval forests, numerous habitats of endemic and rare Carpathian species and the Hutsul ethno-cultural heritage.

Carpathian NNP is home to more than 50 rare plant communities and about 150 plant and animal species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine (2009). Due to its rich ethnic and cultural Hutsul heritage with its outstanding sacred artworks, customs and traditions, Carpathian NNP has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ukraine. It is even the most successful site regarding the development of “green tourism” in Ukraine.

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The Opera de Monte-Carlo or Grand Théâtre de Monte Carlo is an elegant theatre. Prince Charles III and the Société des Bains de Mer commissioned Charles Garnier to design and build the theatre, following the construction of the magnificent Opera House in Paris. The building, with its auditorium decorated in gold and red velvet, is in the same style as the Palais Garnier. It was inaugurated in 1879 with a performance by Sarah Bernhardt. Later, other great opera singers such as Enrico Caruso performed here and, in 1966, Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III organised a gala dinner in honour of the Principality's centenary. 

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Magyar Állami Operaház, Budapest, Hungary

This magnificent structure is definitely among the must-see sights in Budapest. The Hungarian people were so anxiously awaiting the opening of this theatre, which took place in 1884, that on the evening of the inauguration there was a veritable pressure of crowds, eager to admire the interior of the splendid building.

The theatre was designed by Hungarian architect Miklós Ybl, who placed two marble sphinxes guarding the entrance to the neo-Renaissance style building. Limestone statues of Liszt and Ferenc Erkel, the founders of Hungarian opera, greet visitors as they enter the theatre.

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The Royal Opera House, London, UK

The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden is the result of the combination of three buildings dedicated to opera that stood from 1732 on the same site where the theatre now stands. The present building was completed in 1858 and also served as a ballroom during the Second World War, only finally becoming a theatre at the end of the conflict.

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Staatsoper, Vienna, Austria

Vienna's magnificent theatre was opened in 1869 with the blessing of Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth. The theatre reached its peak during the time when Gustav Mahler was in charge of its direction. This building also suffered bombing during the war but was reopened in 1955 with a new auditorium and today is one of the city's main attractions.

The main atrium, central staircase, tea room, Schwind Foyer and adjoining veranda were spared by the bombs and are still as they were originally.

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Opéra Garnier, Paris, France

The Palais Garnier was an important part of Emperor Napoleon III and Baron Haussmann's plan for the new Paris. The palace dominates Place de l'Opéra with its bronze busts depicting great composers such as Rossini, Auber, Beethoven and Mozart. Sculptures personifying harmony, poetry and music also decorate the façade. Inside, a grand staircase leads to the spectacular auditorium, where Proust attended performances with the Parisian aristocracy. The ceiling painted by Chagall, representing 14 famous works, was added in 1964.