Gatbawi (Mokpo) – South Korea

In South Korea, Gatbawi is a natural sandstone and Tafoni formation found near the mouth of Yeongsan River. Gatbawi means “hat rock” because it is a rock shaped like a hat. Also, there is a traditional Korean costume item worn like a hat resembling a Satgat, or a traditional Korean conical bamboo rain hat. The two individual formations are named Jeongbawi and Satgatbawi. The larger rock is called the "father" and the smaller is called the "son". Gatbawi is one of the "8 famous spots of Mokpo" and was designated Natural Monument Number 500 in April 2009.

Gatbawi is a natural tafoni small cave-live feature found in granular rock such as sandstone, with rounded entrances and smooth concave walls formation between 6 to 8 meters in size. There are two folk legends surrounding the origins of the rock formations that compose Gatbawi. There is a story associated when a long time ago, a young man lived with his sick father and sold salt. However, he was a poor but kind man who would do anything to help his sick father.

The young man worked as a farm hand for a rich house to save money to cure his father's illness. He did his job in an excellent manner but, in the end, his master didn't pay him. Unfortunately, when he returned home after one month, he found his father’s body was already cold. Then, he was repenting his decision that he had been foolish to not caring for his father for one month.

The least he could do was to try to make him comfortable in the afterlife. Unluckily, as he was moving his father’s body, he slipped and dropped the coffin into the sea. He felt awful about his father’s underwater burial. To make amends, he remained in that spot, wearing a bamboo hat until his death so that he too could not see the sky. Sometime after his death, two rocks rose up at Gatbawi.

Another interesting story attached with the rocks tells, when Buddha and a disciple traveled across the Yeongsan River, they took a rest in this place. After that, they kept on their journey leaving behind their hats. Thus, it is said that their hats became the rocks making them be identified as the monk rocks.

The Bridge of Gatbawi

A pedestrian bridge called “Boyaenggyo Bridge” leads out over the sea surrounding Gatbawi. Earlier to the bridge being built in 2008, Gatbawi was only accessible by ferry. Since the addition of the bridge, visitors can visit Gatbawi on foot. Source: - CP

Great Dune of Pilat, France

Most of you heard about Asian or African deserts. But have you ever heard about the Desert in France? There is a little piece of natural phenomena found on the soul of Europe. The Great Dune of Pyla is a rare geological phenomenon and a very popular tourist attraction, being the tallest sand dune in France. Europe's tallest sand dune nestled between the Atlantic Ocean, an enormous pine forest, the Arcachon Bay, a sandbank and a peninsula!

The Great Dune of Pilat, located in the municipality of La Teste-de-Buch 60 km from Bordeaux in the Arcachon Bay area, is the tallest sand dune in Europe. Great Dune of Pyla is also called “Great Dune of Pilat”. The sand dune is huge about 500 meters in width, 3 km in length and rising to a height of 107 meters above sea level.

The dune is considered a foredune, meaning a dune that runs parallel to a shoreline, behind the high tide line of a beach. Every year, more than one million visitors come to see this unexpected beauty. The interesting part of the dune is relentlessly moving inwards, gradually pushing the forest back to cover houses, roads and Atlantic Wall.

At some times, it was moving back 10 meters in a year, but after that rate of movement is discontinuous. In the last 60 years, the great dunes have moved around 280 meters giving an annual displacement of 4.9 meters per year. The endless dune landscapes you find in desert Arab countries, the contrast between the sand and forest makes this European sand dune an even more striking sight.

So, moving Great Dune covered about 22 private properties. Even a road of North East part was overlapped in 1987 after an avalanche of sand, the buried in 1991. A house was buried over the dune is referenced in a newspaper on September 19, 1936. The South East of the dune, a Bordeaux family had decided to build a villa in 1928.

However, after 20 years, the sands started to invade the house had completely disappeared over the sands. This Desert in France is famed for the exceptional scenery it offers from its peak. You can see on one side the huge pine forest and on the other the Atlantic, the headland.

This slope is really a challenge for everyone. The only athletic person can be climbing up in an efficient way. For the others, a staircase makes the ascent a little easier. The Man-made stairs protrude to top view which majestic. The seacoast and vast pine forest of Les Landes is more enjoyable when the weather is clear, the Pyrennees range.

Due to its exposed location along the sea and steep angle, the Dune of Pilat is a famous paragliding spot with great soaring conditions. These special ingredients make it a unique landscape probably throughout the world. It is sometimes described as a "menacing sand wall" or even called a "sand monster" swallowing up "parts of France".

The Desert in France is a magical place; one can climb it, jump in it, run up and down, take photos, stay and wait for the sunset for astonishing. If someone feels energetic than you can scramble up the dune freestyle! Source: CP

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Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada

Valley of Fire State Park is a public recreation and nature preservation area. The park is covering approximately 46,000 acres located 26 km south of Overton, Nevada and 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas. The park name derives from red sandstone formations, the Aztec Sandstone. These are formed from shifting sand dunes 150 million years ago. On a sunny day, these rock formations look like they are on fire, giving the park its name, the Valley of Fire. This is Nevada's oldest park, was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1968.

Complex uplifting and faulting of the region, followed by extensive erosion, have created the present landscape. The rough floor and jagged walls of the park contain brilliant formations of eroded sandstone and sand dunes more than 150 million years old. Other important rock formations include limestones, shales, and conglomerates.

History of Valley of Fire State Park

Valley of Fire included the Ancient Pueblo Peoples “Anasazi”, who were farmers from the nearby fertile Moapa Valley. They were mostly involved in hunting, food gathering, and religious ceremonies, although scarcity of water would have limited their stay. A perfect example of rock art (petroglyphs) left by these ancient peoples can be found at several sites within the park.

In 1931, the Valley of Fire State started to create initiated by Civilian Conservation Corps in 1933. The work lasted into the early 1940’s. They built campgrounds, trails, stone, visitor cabins, ramadas, and roads.  However, the Valley of Fire Park was opened in 1934.

Climate of Valley of Fire State Park

The Valley of Fire State Park has a dry and warm climate typical of the Mojave Desert which means it comes with all the weather extremes associated with a desert climate. Winters are mild with daytime temperatures ranging from 12 °C to 24 °C. The overnight lows in the mid 3-8°C. Storms moving east from the Pacific Ocean occasionally bring rain during winter months. Daily summer highs usually range from 46 °C may reach near 49 °C. Thunderstorms from the Southwestern Monsoon can produce heavy showers during summer. The best times to visit are spring and fall. 

Valley of Fire State Park Road

The Valley of Fire State Park can last just an hour or two, only stopping at scenic overlooks and hiking one or two short trails or all day. If you choose to explore every nook and cranny of this place. The main road which is leads to Valley of Fire Road and traversing through the park. The 16.9 km section of the road is Nevada Scenic Byway on June 30, 1995. Mouse’s Tank Road is probably one of the most scenic and photographed spots in the park.

Things to do in Park

Driving through the Valley you can enjoy majestic view of Pink, red, and orange sandstone rocks create amazing vistas that you can see from your car. Pink Canyon, also called Pastel Canyon, is a spot that many people don’t seem to know about. It’s an unmarked spot to visit but it’s one of the prettiest places we saw in the Valley of Fire.

The valley of fire has a visitor’s center plus facilities for picnicking, camping, and hiking.  Petroglyphs are seen throughout the park, with Mouse's Tank and Atlatl Rock two areas in particular with numerous petroglyphs that are relatively easily accessible. The park also preserves three stone cabins built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Towards to east entrance an arch rock formation look like an elephant, with a little bit of imagination. White and red zebra print sandstone creates a great photo opportunity. It’s a 1.5-mile round trip hike out to the Fire Wave. Also you climb the staircase at Atlatl Rock to see the best display of petroglyphs in the Valley of Fire. As you are in the desert, so bring plenty of water, sunglasses, hats, sun screen and comfortable shoes. Valley of Fire is a popular filming location for shooting automobile commercials and other commercial photography. It has provided automate setting to film making sites TV shows.

Valley of Fire Plants and Flowers

The valley of Fire is dominated by creosote bush, burro bush, and brittlebush.  Cactus species such as beaver tail and cholla are also abundant.  The springtime blooms with desert marigold, indigo bush, and desert mallow.  This makes the park look especially spectacular in the spring.

Valley of Fire Wildlife

Valley of Fire is teeming with wildlife, but most of the animals that reside in Valley of Fire are nocturnal.  There are many species of lizards, snakes, coyote, bobcat, kit fox, skunk, jackrabbit, and antelope ground squirrel.  It is always a nice treat to see desert big horn sheep and you are likely to see sheep in the middle of the day.  The desert tortoise is a rare species and is protected by state law. Source: CP

Tatacoa Desert - Colombia

Among all the landscapes in Colombia, Tatacoa Desert is most impressive, due to its greatness, its natural rarity, and its peculiarity.  A 330 Square Kilometers desert is a second largest arid zone in Colombia after the Guajira Peninsula. The desert is located north of Huila Department, 38 KM from City of Neiva and 15 KM from Natagaima in Tolima. This semiarid region is a rich deposit of fossils and has two distinctive colors, other in the area of Cuzco and gray in the Los Hoyos area. The Tatacoa Desert is one of the few places on the earth, where the sky always seems majestic. In the desert, you can expect blue skies during the day and endless constellations at night.

Tatacoa Desert Landscape

The Tatacoa Desert or the Valley of Sorrows is not just a desert, but a tropical dry forest. Tatacoa is a Spanish name, meaning rattlesnakes. During the Tertiary Period, it was much wetter, with thousands of rare flowers and trees, but as time passes, it has been gradually drying up to become a desert. The Tatacoa is heavily eroded and crossed by dry canyons that develop transiently in the winter months or during the rainy seasons.

The exclusive secretive shapes are created on clay surfaces, creating labyrinthine gullies in the landscape that can reach 20 meters deep. The Tatacoa Desert is one of the amazing landscapes, geographical wonders, and a magic sky. The desert average temperature is 28° C; yet on sunny days, it can go up to 40° C. For these reasons, the Tatacoa Desert receives many visits of paleontologists and geologists for whom it is a research paradise.

Fauna and Flora in Tatacoa Desert

In the low humidity and high temperatures, there is relatively little runoff, and animal and plant life is adapted to the conditions. The plants in this area are adapted to climatic conditions through the development of horizontal roots. The wildlife includes rodents, turtles, spider, snakes, spiders, scorpions, eagles, alligators and wildcats, and cacti reaching between four and five meters high.

Great Tourist Destination 

          

Tatacoa Desert atmospheric conditions are good for astronomy and many extraordinary natural destinations of Colombia. The area has little pollution or noise, attracting tourists who stay there to enjoy the silence, scenery and tranquility or the stressful city noises. Although it is not necessary to go into the observatory for stargazing, as the desert is a place with a privileged and clear view of the sky, as there is no light pollution.

The most important thing is your health in a desert environment. So bring plentiful water as you could get lost, get sunstroke or dehydrate. So, to make your experience safer it is the main key. Tatacoa Desert is one of the most iconic places in Colombia. Despite the particular geographical conditions, a cavernous desert, difficult climatic conditions has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. A good reason to be here, The National Bambuco Pageant is the Tatacoa Star Party 2009, which will take place in the desert between June 17 and 20, 2009. Source: CP

Things to Do in Tatacoa Desert

Here are some of the interesting activities that may entice you whilst at Desierto de la Tatacoa.

·         Observatorium

·         Rent a Bike

·         Horse Riding

·         Fauna and Flora

·         Hiking with a local guide

·         Swimming

Mount Judi - Turkey

In recent years, there have been several attempts to find the Prophet Noah (PBUH), Ark. These attempts will possibly continue until we have the precise answers we wish to have.  Mount Judi refers to a Place of Descent the location where the Prophet Noah (PBUH) Ark came to rest after the Great Flood by the command of Allah. Mount Judi is also called, Cudi, Guti, and Kutu have significant history in Islam and Christian. The Mount is situated in south-east Turkey, nearby Syrian and Iraq Borders. This mountain is more than 7,000 feet high and near the edge of the Ararat mountain region.

Hazrat Noah (A.S) has a big life span of 950 years. His longevity was a miracle bestowed by Allah. The geologist said: At Mount Judi, there are many water sedimentary rock which formations formed by water flooding. Hence the made of sedimentary cretaceous water laid rock, which means it was formed by the flood waters and is not a post-flood formation”. The Qu’ranic and Bible agree with a few variations of the final resting place of the Ark. The Holy Qu’ran says: Prophet Noah (PBUH) built a massive Ark and asked his companions to join him. The people who joined him were saved.  

The water started gushing out from all side, followed by a large number of other springs as well as a heavy downpour from the sky. Since probably they're descendants afterward dispersed to and settled down in, different parts of the world, they transmitted and preserved the traditions of this great Flood. The 9th-century Arab geographer ‘Alī al-Mas’ūdī spot where it came to rest could be seen in his time. Masudi also said that the Ark began its a journey at Kufa in central Iraq, and sailed to Mecca, where it circled the Kaaba, before finally traveling to Judi.

However, as per Genesis, the massive ark stayed at Mountains of Ararat. But according to Qur’an Surah Hud 11:44, the final resting place of the vessel was called Mount Judi.

Qur’an Quote

“Than the word went forth: “O earth! Swallow up thy water, and O sky! Withhold (thy rain)!” and the water abated, and the matter was ended. The Ark rested on Mount Judi, and the word went forth: “Away with those who do wrong!” [11:44]

The Mount Judi became popular when German Geologist Dr. Friedrich Bender discovered bits of Wood and asphalts on Judi’s in 1953. Therefore, a continuous debate among true believers as to where Prophet Noah (PBUH) Ark? Is it Mount Ararat, or Mount Judi? One picture is very famous online and thought to be the current remains of the Ark on Mount Judi.

The Prophet Noah (A.S) Ark was considered a myth for a long time. It seems impossible that a Great Flood can’t have happened. However, Qur’an says

“It was a Global Flood destroyed Noah’s Nation as they were Rebellious”.

However, the Bible says the Ark landed on Mount Ararat, but this is a volcanic mount that came into existence after the flood. There are countless efforts made to find the Ark on Mount Ararat but all proved wrong.

One should think of the magnificence and splendor of the divine sultanate that commands and rules the earth and the sky like that. Who can oppose such power? The water was drained and the command was fulfilled. That is, the command and judgment of torture were carried out. Those who were destined to drown drowned; those who were destined to be saved were saved.

The task was fulfilled. The Ark settled on Mount Judi. Moreover, no such evidence for a universal flood. Also, traditions about a great flood have been popular among all communities of the world down the ages. Read More – Lanzarote Vineyards – The Magical Black Gardens