Tuesday 1 August 2017

Dove Lake, Tasmania Australia


Dove Lake is a corrie lake lies in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park in Tasmania, Australia. Dove Lake is a very popular visitor place owing to its immense scenic beauty, encircled by well-maintained walking paths which also lead up onto Cradle Mountain. The lake was named by prominent local Gustav Weindorfer after an official of the Van Diemen's Land Company. Dove Lake is formed by glaciation like several other lakes in the region. The unique flora and fauna of Tasmania were created in extreme isolation from much of the rest of the world, allowing life forms to evolve without outside influence. The Dove Lake is surrounded by towering mountains as well as fresh green plantation; walking paths lead to the Cradle Mountain for a more adventurous expedition. However, visitors need to take precautions since the area houses tiger snakes. The surrounding region houses a diversity of plants and animal species. Populations of wombats, pademelons and echidnas are found in addition to tiger snakes. The habitat is exclusive and includes the Tasmanian deciduous beech (Nothofagus gunnii), tussock grasses, snow gums and pencil pines. Moreover, numerous wombats, echidnas, pademelons and tiger snakes wandering at the shores of Lake. Dove Lake max length is 2.1 km, width is 0.7km, and shore length is about 6.5km.

The walk at Dove Lake is one of the most glorious walks in Tasmania and indeed in the world. Braved the rain and snow with two little ones in the middle of winter, and worth every step is. However, the flat, gravel and duckboard track is very easy going, leaving you to focus completely on the jagged peak of Cradle Mountain, which looms above the track. Thus, mainly depending on the weather conditions, abruptly switches from snow to sleet to sunshine in seconds. Cradle Mountain can seem brooding or pastoral or inviting, and some days its twin dolerite spires are totally obscured. Furthermore, along the way, there is a greater mix of terrain than one might expect for a walk of this distance, including scrubby button grass, sandy beaches, cascading streams and at the mid-point of the walk, a very special rainforest known as the Ballroom Forest. This enchanted stand of moss-covered myrtle-beech trees is the stuff of folk stories, and it is easy to picture magical creatures playing. Dove Lake is the most accessible place to experience this exclusive and rare landscape. The local guest facilities and lodgings can provide much comfort and modern convenience whereas investigating Earth's most ancient natural habitat.












Carhenge, The Replica of Stonehenge in Nebraska, United State


Carhenge is a replica of England's Stonehenge located near the city of Alliance, Nebraska, in United States. Carhenge is built by American artist Jim Reinders as a tribute to his dad in 1987, Secret Marvels says, that it’s fast becoming a cult destination. It is made of 39 classic American cars in the exact formation of Stonehenge. Carhenge arranged in a circle measuring about 29 meters in diameter, held upright in pits 1.5 meters deep, trunk end down, and arches have been formed by welding automobiles atop the supporting models. As you know, that original Stonehenge is built with large standing stones, but Carhenge is built from vintage American automobile, but all covered with gray spray paint.
Carhenge replicates Stonehenge's current dilapidated state, rather than the original stone circle erected between 2500 BC and 2000 BC. Three cars were buried at Carhenge with a sign stating: "Here lie three bones of foreign car”s. They served our purpose while Detroit slept. Now Detroit is awake and America's great!" Moreover, the Carhenge site includes several other artworks created from autos covered with several colors of spray paint.
Jim Reinders lives in England, and during study, he studied the structure of Stonehenge, which helped him to copy the structure's shape, proportions, and size. Other automobile sculptures were subsequently added to the location of Carhenge, which is now known as the Car Art Reserve. Thus, Reinders donated the 10-acre site to the Friends of Carhenge. In 2011 the Friends of Carhenge listed the attraction for sale for $300,000. In 2013 the Friends of Carhenge donated the site to the Citizens of Alliance.
Carhenge is used often in popular culture, and makes appearances in film, popular music, television programs and commercials. Yet despite its latter-day popularity Carhenge remains a remote wonder, far from the nearest interstate. It's a place that you really have to dedicate time to drive to, and appreciate your vehicle when you get there.







Thursday 27 July 2017

Hammam Maskhoutine Springs in Algeria


Hamman Maskhoutine, is also called “bath of the damned" is a thermal complex and commune located in Hammam Debagh, of Guelma Province, Algeria. The dramatic, multicolored travertine walls of the spring have attracted thousands of visitors since the era of the Roman Empire. The bath facilities installed by the Romans at the spring can still be used today. Hammam Maskhoutine is also used to refer to the hot springs and the legend that named the town. Hammam Dbegh is the official name of the town itself, and Hammam Chellala is the name of the thermal complex and cascade. During the Roman occupation, the town was called Aquae Thiblitanae, due to its proximity to Thibilis.
The amazing Hammam Meskhoutine hot springs have formed numerous amazing travertine formations including approximately 30 m tall mound with beautiful rimstone pools and petrified waterfalls. Most impressive group of powerful springs mound flow Travertine for most part is bright white but there are several places where the iron compounds and microorganisms have colored the travertine in various shades of red, orange and brown. Interesting formations are also several travertine trenches surrounded by walls have been formed by lime-rich thermal water flowing towards the river and precipitating the lime along its way. Some smaller ones are still "active" - with thermal water flowing through them. Some are older and "abandoned" by water, dry and crumbling.
The water is saturated with minerals such as iron and calcium carbonate. These minerals, as well as the heat, have been regarded as therapeutic for sufferers of ailments such as rheumatism and arthritis. Hammam Maskhoutine is actually a group of 10 different hot springs in a single valley. The temperature of the water in the springs can be as hot as 98 °C even can boil eggs in the outflow channels. There are many springs around the world which have same and higher temperature. Water in the springs has rather low mineralisation, with low levels of lime, chlorine and some iron salts. The overall flow rate of the thermal complex is 1,650 liters per second: approximately 100,000 liters per minute. On the site there are also numerous formations of conoid shapes.
A sad story behind the Arabic names of this town when a loval legend in which a man married his sister. As the wedding procession, including the incestuous couple, moved up the valley, a curse caused the skies to darken, and the whole wedding party was struck with lightning and turned into stone. Thus, the billowing shapes of the Hammam Maskhoutine spring are believed to come from the still-frozen wedding party and their celebratory robes. In spite of this horrific story the area around Hammam Meskhoutine is peaceful, pastoral and green. These springs have been well known since the antiquity, thus around 6 km long distance along the right bank of Chédakha River are scattered numerous thermal springs.









Wednesday 26 July 2017

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach Oregon


Haystack Rock is a 235-foot sea stack in Cannon Beach, Oregon. It is sometimes claimed locally to be the third-tallest such "intertidal" structure in the world, but there are no official references to support this. Haystack Rock is located about 1.5 miles south of downtown Cannon Beach in Clatsop County and about 80 miles west of Portland.  Haystack rock is a popular tourist destination is nearby to the beach and accessible by foot at low tide. The tallest and probably best known Haystack Rock stands 327 feet above the sea and is the fourth tallest sea stack or off-shore monolith in the world. The monolithic rock tide pools are home to many intertidal (meaning it can be reached by land) animals, including starfish, sea anemone, Chitons, crabs, limpets, and sea slugs. The rock is a favorite nesting site for many sea birds, including terns and puffins. Haystack Rock is one of the most identifiable geological formations of Oregon.  

There are 6 other geographic features in Oregon named Haystack Rock, including two others along the Oregon Coast and others throughout the U.S. Haystack Rock is accompanied by several smaller rocks known as The Needles. The other Oregon coastal Haystack Rock stands 105 feet above sea level in Coos County near Bandon. Haystack rock is composed of basalt, formed by lava flows emanating from the Blue Mountains and Columbia basin about 15 million years ago. The lava flows formed numerous Oregon coast's natural features, including Tillamook Head, Arch Cape, and Saddle Mountain. Haystack Rock was once joined to the coastline but passing of centuries the erosion has since separated the monolith from the coast. The Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP) is a stewardship and environmental educational program whose mission is to protect, through education, the intertidal and bird ecology of the Marine Garden and Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge at Haystack Rock. 

In 1990, Haystack Rock was granted Marine Garden status collecting plants or animals is strictly prohibited. The Haystack Rock Awareness Program is a volunteer association which conducts educational seminars at the rock during low tide between May and September. Climbing above the mean high tide level disturbs nesting birds and is not allowed. At Haystack Rock visitors can view several species of marine wildlife in their natural habitat during low tide. The thin strip of rock and sand that connects it to the beach features many tide pools. The area surrounding the rock is popular for picnicking, kite-flying, and bird-watching. Moreover, it is ideal place for photographers to capture the majestic beauty of Haystack Rock on canvas or on film. Many people each year become temporarily trapped on Haystack Rock when high tide engulfs the rock in water, necessitating rescue by the United States Coast Guard or local authorities. Oregon's beaches are congested with tourist in summer make the beautiful beachfront within walking distance of Haystack Rock. Source: CP




















Tuesday 25 July 2017

Ol Doinyo Lengai Volcano, Tanzania


Ol Doinyo Lengai, is located in the north of Tanzania nearby Lake Natron and is part of the volcanic system of the Great Rift Valley in East Africa. The mountain altitude is 2962 m, is a part of the fault zone, which is called Grid Sikes, where, the crust is predominantly thin. This is one of the rarest volcanoes in the world, one that spews natrocarbonatite lava.

The composition of the lava is such that permits the volcano explodes at adequately low temperatures. The melt temperature of 510-600 ° C is the coldest and molten lava in the world. It flows along the ground like water. Moreover, the hot lava color is black or dark brown, but after a few hours of exposure to air carbonate melt brightens, and some months later becomes almost white. So that it does not snow as it might seem at first sight. Moreover solidified lava carbonate is soft and brittle, effortlessly soluble in water, apparently, so geologists find no trace of similar eruptions in ancient times.

The sun lava crystal components (sodium carbonate) sparkle just like beautiful diamonds. In the fog, on the contrary, the lava becomes almost invisible gently flowing down the slopes, catches by surprise tourists, abruptly finds his shoes burning. This rare volcano is very active and frequently erupts, which is why all the nearby area within a radius of 100 kilometers frequently covered with ashes. In the neighborhood you can also see extinct volcanoes that are fellow “Ol Doina Lengai”, but I haven’t spew black lava. Moreover researchers believe that the eruption of the volcano can go to a height of about 1000 meters thick black flies column of ash.

Moreover, if you want to climb the volcano, then it is possible, but you’ll have to overcome the little trouble. Approximately half of the route passed, the promotion becomes much slower, since feet are slipping back and drowns, and walking at an altitude is much exhausting. The trail was our hardened lava on which to go hard and dangerous, and volcanic ash in which the legs are buried up to his ankles. Thus, place a layer of lava reaches half a meter deep, and it shows through thick grass, which a few years ago were covered slopes all the way to the top. Much closer to the top begins to be felt odor. When you reach the top, you’ll observe the blowing is strong and cold wind. A descent is even more dangerous than climbing the mountain.