n["agadez"][0]="Agadez|Niger|ng|Africa";
n["agadez"][1]="In medieval times Agadez was a wealthy town, as it was one of the major places, where caravans of slave traders passed through. By the 1850's the trade had vanished and Agadez' future didn't look bright. After uranium was discovered in the area in the 20th century the city grew rapidly and after devastating droughts hit the Sahel in the 1970's the inflow of migrants skyrocketed. Agadez is one of the most interesting places in Niger. The city's streets are sandy and many of its buildings in the old town are constructed in Sudanese mud-brick style.|The Vieux Quartier (old quarter) possesses a maze of narrow, winding streets lined with numerous tiny shops. Many of the houses have beautifully painted or carved façades. Agadez is a market town where peoples from all over Niger come to trade their goods. The bustling Grand Marché, immediately north of the old town, is the center of this trade.|One of the most striking examples of Sudanese architecture is the Grande Mosquée. It was rebuilt in 1844 and you can climb to the top of the pyramid like minarets for marveloius views over the town and the Aïr Mountains in the background. These nearby mountains are excellent for trekking. Camel treks through the mountains can be arranged in town. The camel market on the northwestern edge of town is best visited during the morning. Apart from camels, traders also sell and buy goats and donkeys. Another market is the Tuareg Marché just outside town.|There is a whole score of accommodation in Agadez, including camp sites, hotels, hostels and dormitories. Restaurants are scattered alll over town, but you can also get nice foods from the markets. The Gare RoutiÚre is in the northeast of Agadez, while the airport is to the southwest. Agadez is 750 km northeast of Niamey.";
n["agadir"][0]="Agadir|Morocco|mo|Africa";
n["agadir"][1]="Agadir is a modern city 480 km south of Rabat on the Atlantic coast. The city was completely destroyed by an earthquake in 1960, so there is little to see of any interest. Agadir is more expensive than most other places in the country, but it is a good place to stay if you want to explore the semi-desert areas to the east and south.|There are several good beaches in town, but they tend to get very crowded. You can find more quite beaches some 25 km north of the city. There are several interesting villages along the route, including Tamrhakht, Tarhazoute and Ameznas.|Most hotels and restaurants are situated around the bus terminal and along Rue Allal ben Abdallah.";
n["agaete"][0]="Agaete|Spain|sp|Europe";
n["agaete"][1]="Agaete is on the western coast of Gran Canaria. Nearby is an impressive canyon with plantations of papayas, avocados, coffee and bananas. Also in the area is the Balneario de los Berrazales, which features thermal springs.|There are several hotels and restaurants in Agaete. The town is 1650 km southwest of Madrid.";
n["aglona"][0]="Aglona|Latvia|lg|Europe";
n["aglona"][1]="About 8 km (5 miles) north of Aglona stands Aglona Basilica, Latvia's premier pilgrimage site. The basilica is the country's most important Roman Catholic shrine. it was built in 1699 and after the visit of Pope John Paul II in 1993, a huge courtyard was created around it.|There are several hotels and restaurants in Aglona. The town is in the western part of Latvia's Latgale Upland. The best way to get around in the area is by car or bicycle. There are numerous lakes and rivers in the area, which can be explored by canoe. Aglona is 200 km southeast of Riga, on the main Daugavpils-Rezekne road. There are several buses between Daugavpils and Aglona every day.";
n["agra"][0]="Agra|India|in|Asia";
n["agra"][1]="Agra is the place where the world-famous Taj Mahal is located and it is for that reason thousands of tourists visit the city every year. There are several other interesting monuments in Agra, but otherwise it's like any other northern Indian city, with a large cantonment, busy bazaars and unbelievable traffic chaos.|The Taj Mahal was built by Emperor Shah Jahan to serve as a mausoleum for his second wife Mumtaz Mahal. She died in 1631 when in labor and it is said the emperor was so heartbroken that his hair turned gray overnight. Construction of the Taj started not long after Mumtaz' death, but it was not completed until 1653, despite the fact that some 20,000 people worked on the building. The main architect is thought to have been Isa Khan from Iran. The Taj Mahal was built from white marble and decorated with precious stones and beautiful carvings, which become even more astonishing when you look at them from close distance. A process known as pietra dura was used to make the patterns in the marble. It stands on a marble platform on the southern bank of the Yamuna River, several kilometers east of Agra's city center. Two red sandstone buildings stand on each side of the Taj. The one on the western side is a mosque; the one on the eastern side cannot be used as such, because it faces the wrong direction. It is only there for symmetry purposes. The Taj is regarded the most beautiful building in the world by many and it can be visited every day of the week, except for Mondays. It has four tall decorative white marble minarets on each corner. The central structure consists of a large dome, surrounded by four smaller ones. The tombs of Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are in a basement, while false tombs stand in a chamber above that. False tombs were always constructed in mausoleums like the Taj Mahal. |Apart from the Taj, there is another good reason to come to Agra and that is Agra Fort. Just like the Taj, the impressive red sandstone fort sits on the banks of the Yamuna River. Its walls measure some 2.5 km (1.5 miles) in circumference and are up to 20 m (65 feet) high. Emperor Akbar began its construction in 1565, but it was enlarged several times up to the rule of his grandson Shah Jahan. There is a fetid moat around the fort and within its walls are numerous halls, chambers, gardens and mosques, including the Pearl Mosque. This mosque is made completely out of white marble and considered by many as India's most beautiful mosque. Many of the buildings inside the fort are open to the public.|The Itimad-ud-daulah is another interesting monument in Agra and in the town of Sikandra, 10 km (6 miles) to the northwest is Akbar's Mausoleum. The mausoleum is decorated with a mixture of Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Christian motifs.|There are numerous hotels and restaurants in Agra. Daytrips to the Taj Mahal are available in Delhi. Agra is 170 km south of Delhi and has bus, train and plane connections with many places throughout India.";
n["aguasdulces"][0]="Aguas Dulces|Uruguay|uy|South America";
n["aguasdulces"][1]="Aguas Dulces in Uruguay's Rocha department is a quiet fishing village on the Atlantic coast. There are several hotels, as well restaurants, where good seafood is available. Once you're there you should also try the local specialty, fruit from the butía palm.";