The Guano Covered Island of Grassholm

Some island in the world is really awesome to see, just like remote offshore “Grassholm” which is a small uninhabited island, nearly 200 meters across, located 13 kilometers off the southwestern Pembrokeshire coast in Wales. This beautiful small island is home to one of the largest colonies of gannets. Therefore; during the breeding season starts from (April to September), approximately 39,000 pairs of birds, nearly 10% of the world’s population, nest on the northern side of the island. Therefore, this side of the island is well covered with a thick layer of bird droppings, mainly famous as guano, giving the island its characteristic off-white color.

From afar, the island looks extremely beautiful when bun sitting on the ocean with icing sugar on top.  So many visitors when approaches the island by boat, the stench becomes overbearing. The lovely white patch on the island that can be seen from above and off-shore, is neither snow nor limestone rock. These’re birds themselves and their shit. The tiny island is made up of basalt, an igneous rock of volcanic origin. It is well believed by researchers that the island was once a part of Skomer Island before it got loose during the last Ice Age. If you see the history you’ll came to know that during the late 16th century thousands of Puffins inhabited the island but now there are none.

Because the existing soil condition aren’t supported burrows that these birds normally make which is maybe why they’ve moved to the neighboring Skomer and Skokholm Islands. However; Gannets have increased their colonized in the island in massive numbers, perhaps arriving from Lundy Island where they were disturbed. Although Grassholm island covers only 22 acres and there’re more than 80,000 Gannets plus their chicks, colonies of Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Shags.

The gannets were first observed on the island in the mid of 18th of century roughly in between 1860 and in 1872, at that time only 12 pairs recorded as breeding there.  But at the late 18th century somewhere 1890's there were 200 or more birds breed. Therefore; in 1905 Cardiff Naturalists Society recorded 300 more breeding pairs. So Gannet population has been steadily increasing since then and now they’re in countless numbers. The birds live in very near proximity to each other and have evolved a series of vocal and postural messages. They’re always thousands of numbers in the air above the island, and would like to dive fishing from all angles at great heights.

The cacophony of sounds they make is deafening. Moreover; the guano had killed the dense mattress of grass in this island exposing archaeological remains of settlements from the Iron Age and early Medieval periods. So as you approach the island you’ll understand why it is white? And the noise and the smell of Grassholm is really a lifetime experience. The Gannets usually stay on Grassholm from February to October, and after that they’d like to travel as far south as Africa in the winter. The older birds will stay in European waters. Make sure there is no landing on the island but boat trips are run daily, subject to weather conditions.

Elephant Rock Iceland

If you want to see something really wonderful, then the Elephant rock is ideal place for you. This rock is truly one of the amazing natural sculptures on mother earth. The Elephant Rock is a natural rock formation found on the island of Heimaey (meaning Home Island) in Iceland's Vestmannaeyjar archipelago. Heimaey is most inhabited island in Iceland with 4,500 residents in an area of 5.2 square miles. The beautiful Heimaey is actually a home to Eldfell (Means “Mountain of Fire”). This 660 foot high volcano has spewed lava on numerous occasions, leading many to believe it is the cause of the Elephant Rock.

The Island having a scenario such as this could have been the cause of the huge rock that happened to be shaped just like an elephant. What a glorious mother sculpture. I guess, you won’t believe this wonder of nature, but this is real rock not Photoshop. Besides the amazing Elephant Rock, you might see Keiko, the whale from the Free Willy films as this was where he was actually set free, and also summer is when the island becomes populated by millions and millions of adorable puffins! If you’re planning to visit Icland, then Elephant Rock is a must place to see.

Grand Teton National Park USA

Grand Teton National Park is one of the most remarkable, breathtaking places in America. Inhabiting a majority of the Jackson Hole valley, the park is home to overwhelming, huge mountains, unspoiled lakes and rivers, and plentiful, teeming wildlife.  Grand Teton National Park is a United States National Park in northwestern Wyoming which is at approximately 310,000 acres and it's includes the major peaks of the 40 mile long Teton Range as well as most of the northern sections of the valley known as Jackson Hole. Most people visit the Grand Teton National Park in July and August, when the weather is quite sunny and warm and the snow has melted in the high country.  

The beautiful Grand Teton National Park was actually established two times, first in 1929 to protect mountain peaks and the lakes surrounding the mountain bases, and second time it is in 1950, when the neighboring valley floors as well as the Jackson Hole National Monument, created in 1943, were incorporated into the park visitor’s love today. Moreover; from 1972, the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway has connected Grand Teton to Yellowstone National Park, allowing visitors to experience both the slopes of the Tetons and the volcanic landscape of Yellowstone. You can view magnificent jagged snowcapped peaks, real natural beauty, dominated by the 13,770-foot Grand Teton. Before your eyes, mountain glaciers creep down 12,605-foot Mt. Moran. The Tetons are usual fault Block Mountains and around 13 million years ago, two blocks of Earth's crust started to shift along a fault line, one tilting down although the other lifted up. So far, movement has measured some 30,000 vertical feet, most of it from the subsidence of Jackson Hole.

Large and small lakes gleam along the range's base. Plentiful of the West's iconic animal’s elk, bears, bald eagles call this park home. Whereas the scenery is nice from the road, the park is best experienced on foot! Hundreds of miles of hiking trails wind around the lakes and through the mountains; the choices are almost limitless. From relaxed day hikes to multi-day backpacking trips, each trail has a distinctive, exceptionally dynamic character all its own. Unbelievable, often spectacular scenery and wildlife sightings elk, moose, black/grizzly bears, bison, deer, and more! are guaranteed animals. Beloveds, to name just a few, include Cascade Canyon, Granite Canyon, and Amphitheater Lake. 

Although the park has a attractive draw for photographers and wildlife fans, the Tetons also provides some of the most demanding and technical mountaineering experiences anywhere in the world, particularly during the winter. Climbers and mountaineers flock to the Tetons to improve their skills before moving on to the gigantic mountains of the world. Even so, during the summer the summits are reachable to almost anyone who's well properly equipped; the experience is unbelievable for those who take on the challenge!