The Dolerite Columns of Coastal Tasmania

The coastline of the southern Tasmania is composed of spectacular rock columns that stick out up to 300 meters from the sea level. The geologists call these rocks are “dolerites”, due to its distinctive elongated shape and hexagonal columns. The Mother Nature majestic dolerite columns are probably formed in the Jurassic period, somewhere 185 million years ago during a massive volcanic event that covered up to a third of Tasmania. The doleritic clifts surpass 100 m in topography above the sea along much of the southern and eastern coast of Tasmania, and some singular columns occur as giant “totem poles” standing in the sea.

Dolerites are created when molten rocks pushed up from the deep underbelly of the earth cools rapidly and crystallize to form trifling visible crystals in the rock. However, when the rate of cooling is just right, the rocks trends to shrink in volume, because of creation of cracks. Thus, these cracks let the rocks in the interior to cool, resulting in additional cracks. Though at the end, you get a big block of rock with long vertical and symmetrical cracks creating 5 to 6 sided columns, can be just a few centimeters to over quite a lot of meters in diameter. The columns are actually a part of a continuous formation over 4,000 km long extending from Australia through Tasmania and into Antarctica.

The beautiful columnar rocks are not uncommon, as hundreds of recognized localities throughout the world where you can find them. Moreover, some of these locations are very famous such as The Giant’s Causeway in Ireland, The Devil’s Tower in Wyoming, Los Organos in Spain, and Fingal’s Cave in Scotland. The spectacular formations that, like these in Tasmania make him glorious tourist destinations.

The Crystal Mosque, Malaysia

The Crystal Mosque is located at Islamic Heritage Park on the island of Wan Man in Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia. The mosque is also called Masjid Kristal is very popular with its uniqueness. Crystal Mosque is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Malaysia was built between the years 2006 to 2008 and was officially opened on 8 February 2008 by 13th in Pertuan Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu.

The Crystal Mosque grand structure is lightly coat the steel, glass and crystal that are used as the main ingredient in the development of three and form a look that is truly remarkable and astonishing. The masjid has a capacity to accommodate over 1,500 worshippers at one time. The visitors get excited and enjoy the beauty of mosque, actually wonderful place, where different countries tourist come to see the beauty of the mosque is a very solid foundation of all. The Crystal Mosque is regarded one of most beautiful mosques in the world. This unique structure adopts a contemporary style injected with Moorish and Gothic elements.

A large crystal chandelier forms the main prayer hall’s centerpiece. At night, the mosque comes alive with a mesmerizing display of lights, which changes the color of its domes and minarets to pink, green, yellow and blue. Masjid Kristal is the country’s first ‘intelligent’ mosque with a built-in IT infrastructure and WiFi connection, providing visitors with internet access with which to read the electronic Quran seemingly a point of pride for the architects.

Its sleek and modern look design reflects off the water and often illuminated from the inside, which makes its glass domes shine. The Islam Heritage Park also features replicas of many of the world’s most famous mosques from around the world. Oddly enough, in this theme park embracing Islamic culture across the globe, the Crystal Mosque contains elements of Chinese architecture and design, much to the irritation of many Malaysians.

The Forever Bent Trees of Slope Point, New Zealand

Slope Point is the southern point of New Zealand’s South Island, famous due to consistently lashed with fierce and cold southwesterly winds that blow up from Antarctica. In this region the wind is so strong and persistent, that caused the trees twisted, warped and constantly bent along the direction the wind blows. The Slope Point is mainly used for sheep farming, and aside from a few sheep, no humans or other animals live on this part of the island.

However, there’re some derelict shacks built under the protection of the windswept trees, but even those are abandoned. The marvelously steep cliffs drop down to the sea below. Here, the scenes are truly astonishing over the rocky coastline and surrounding cliffs. Although, there is a slight signpost that shows the distance to the Equator and the South Pole, and a small solar-powered lighthouse stands on the farmland. Yet like virtually everywhere else in New Zealand you will find hardy creatures need some shelter from the elements and so, many decades ago, local farmers planted saplings which they hoped would meet the expense of their animals some respite from the often savagely inclement weather.

Please keep in mind that there are no proper roads to Slope Point, but it can be reached by a 20-minute walk following dilapidated yellow markers. It is maybe hard to believe this challenging micro-climate is only a few hours’ drive from the fiords and rain forests of Milford Sound.  As such Slope Point contributes to the excellent and idiosyncratic beauty of New Zealand - the broad diversity of landscapes in the vicinity each other. There is no public access during the lambing season starting September to November.

Terraces of the Bahá’í Faith, Isarel

The Terraces of the Bahá'í Faith, are garden terraces around the Shrine of the Báb on Mount Carmel in Haifa, Israel. It is also known as the Hanging Gardens of Haifa, rest in the neighborhoods of Wadi Nisnas and Hadar HaCarmel. This is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Israel, along with the Baha'i Holy Places in Western Galilee. In July 2008, the Bahá’í Gardens in Haifa and ‘Akko were inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, in recognition of their “outstanding universal value” as holy places and places of pilgrimage for the followers of the Bahá’í Faith.

The architect was Fariborz Sahba of Iran and the structural engineers were Karban and Co. of Haifa. Fariborz started work in 1987 designing the gardens and oversaw construction; initially the gardens extend almost one kilometer up the side of Mount Carmel, covering some 200,000 square metres of land. The different parts of the gardens offer a variety of experiences, the graveled paths, hedges and flower beds groomed and nurtured by dedicated gardeners frame panoramic views of the city, the Galilee Hills and the Mediterranean Sea.

The terraces represent the first 18 disciples of the Báb, who were designated "Letters of the Living", though no individual terraces are associated with individual Letters. Moreover, 9 concentric circles provide the main geometry of the 18 terraces, as the identification of a circle pre-supposes a center, so the terraces have been conceived as generated from the Shrine of the Báb. The 18 terraces plus the one terrace of the Shrine of the Báb make 19 terraces total. However, 19 is a significant number within both the Bahá'í and Bábí religions. The terraces were opened to the public in June 2001. The gardens are linked by a set of stairs flanked by twin streams of running water cascading down the mountainside through the steps and terrace bridges. As the Bahá’í religion and temples all around the world are open for every single person, no matter the religion and skin color that person has, this attractive site is one of the most peaceful ones in the world.

In addition, the irrigation system based on a computer which meteorologic data receives controls hundreds of valves to allocate water throughout the gardens by sprinkling and dripping. Hence, this process is completed at night and in the early morning, to avoid wasting water by evaporation. The water that flows alongside the stairs is flowing in a closed system within each terrace; to avoid little water is wasted. Furthermore, the gardens have elements of the Persian paradise gardens, separating the site from the noise of the surroundings and linking the different Bahá'í buildings on Mount Carmel together.