The Sultan Ahmad Mosque, Istanbul Turkey

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is a historic mosque located in Istanbul, Turkey. The mosque is a popular tourist site, continues to serve purpose of mosque nowadays. Muslims men’s offers prayer on the lush red carpet once the prayer call offer.  It is also called Sultan Ahmet Mosque or Sultan Ahmet Camii in Turkish is popularly known was constructed between 1609 and 1616 during the rule of Ahmed I. Sultan Ahmed Mosque was constructed by Husna bint Mayram on the orders of the son of "Hāndān Vālida Sultânā,"Sultan Ahmed I. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque design is the culmination of two centuries of Ottoman mosque development with traditional Islamic architecture and is considered to be the last great mosque of the classical period. The mosque is known as the Blue Mosque because of blue tiles surrounding the walls of interior design.  

Its Külliye contains Ahmed's tomb, a madrasah and a hospice. Hand-painted blue tiles adorn the mosque’s interior walls, and at night the mosque is radiant in blue lights frame the mosque’s five main domes, six minarets and eight secondary domes. The mosque was built on the site of the palace of the Byzantine emperors, in front of the basilica Hagia Sophia and the hippodrome, a site of noteworthy symbolic meaning as it dominated the city skyline from the south. After crushing loss in the 1603–1618 war with Persia, Sultan Ahmet I, decided to build a large mosque in Istanbul to reassert Ottoman power. It would be the first imperial mosque for more than forty years. While his predecessors had paid for their mosques with the spoils of war, Ahmet I procured funds from the Treasury, because he had not gained extraordinary victories.

The Sultan Ahmed Mosque interior is lined with over 20,000 handmade İznik style ceramic tiles, made at Iznik in more than 50 different tulip designs becomes colorful with representations of flowers, fruit and cypresses. The upper levels of the interior are dominated by blue paint more than 200 stained glass windows with intricate designs admit natural light, nowadays assisted by chandeliers. The decorations include verses from the Qur'an, many of them made by Seyyid Kasim Gubari, regarded as the greatest calligrapher of his time. The floors are covered with carpets, and many spacious windows confer a large impression. The Sultan Ahmed Mosque is one of the three mosques in Turkey that has six minarets the other two being the modern Sabancı Mosque in Adana and the Hz. Mikdat Mosque in Mersin. Four minarets stand at the corners of the Blue Mosque, pencil-shaped minarets has three balconies with stalactite corbels, while the two others at the end of the forecourt only have two balconies. Besides being tourist attraction, it's also an active mosque, so it's closed to non-worshippers for a half hour or so during the five daily prayers.

The mosque is surrounded by a continuous vaulted arcade and having ablution facilities on both sides. The central hexagonal fountain is small but narrow gateway to the courtyard stands out architecturally from the arcade. A heavy iron chain hangs in the upper part of the court entrance on the western side. Only the sultan was allowed to enter the court of the mosque on horseback. The chain was put there, so that the sultan had to lower his head every single time he entered the court to avoid being hit. This was a symbolic gesture, to ensure the humility of the ruler in the face of the divine.

The Eisriesenwelt "World of the Ice Giants"

The Eisriesenwelt is a natural limestone and ice cave located in Werfen, Austria, about 40 km south of Salzburg. The inside of cave the Hochkogel mountain in the Tennengebirge section of the Alps, formed during the later Tertiary period during the Würm glaciation period of the Pleistocene. The Tennengebirge Mountains were formed during the late Tertiary period; during the mountain range is one of largest karst plateau in the Salzburger Alps, and the Eisriesenwelt. The cave is visited by approximately 200,000 tourists every year; it is the largest ice cave in the world, stretching over 42 kilometers. Only very little area is permissible to view, however the rest of cave is not allowed which is formed of limestone. Eisriesenwelt Cave is flowed through the mountain eroding passageways nearly 100 million years ago, cracks and crevices in the limestone became more developed as water eroded the rocks away.

Actually, Salzach River formed Eisriesenwelt, eroded passageways into the mountain. The ice formations in the cave were formed by thawing snow which drained into the cave and froze during winter. The cave is open round the year, makes the chilly winter blow into the cave and freezes the snow inside. However, in summer season, a cold wind blows towards the entrance and prevents the formation from melting. In spring the water from melting snow seeps through the cracks in the rock and when it reaches the colder lower areas of the caves it freezes and turns slowly into the wonderful ice formations visible inside the caves.

A natural scientist Anton Posselt from Salzburg discovers the Eisriesenwelt in 1879. The stunning cave was famous only to locals, who have faith in that it was an entrance to Hell, refused to explore it. Today the Eisriesenwelt cave is owned by the National Austrian Forest Commission (de), which has leased it to the Salzburg Association of Cave Exploration since 1928. Moreover, in 1955 a cable car was built, shortening the 90-minute climb to 3 minutes. The cave is open from May 1 to October 26 every year. Temperatures inside the cave are usually below freezing, and warm clothing is recommended; however be in mind that photography is not allowable once visitors are inside the cave. The World of the Ice Giants is one of Salzburg’s top attractions.

Cuquenan Falls, Venezuela

The mesmerizingly awe-inspiring waterfall, draws collective attention and admiration? Why do travelers cross the world in search of them? May be aesthetic beauty invokes a sense of calm, or the sheer power and magnitude awakens inquisitive nature, however, humans associate waterfalls with clean, fresh water and, as such, with life.

Well, Cuquenan Falls is also called, Salto Kukenan, Kukenaam, is the second tallest major waterfall in Venezuela after Angel Falls. It is also the second tallest free-leaping waterfall in the world. The waterfall usually cited as the 11th highest waterfall in the world. The Cuquenan Falls drop in a single leap of around 2,211 feet and the final portion of the falls trickles down towards the base of the Kukenan Tepui. The Kukenan Tepui is located nearby Mount Roraima, serves as the geographical marker of the border between Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana. Cuquenan Falls, which similar to Yumbilla, is known for being tall, but not powerful, however can be difficult to access due to its isolation, but is best viewed from a distance.

Mount Roraima also hosts its own waterfall, usually referred to as Roraima Falls, leaps off the tepui in four tiered leaps. The height is estimated at approximately 2,000 feet. There has been some disagreement over the years about the overall ranking of “Cuquenan Falls” among the world's tallest waterfalls. Therefore, the falls has been listed anywhere from 2nd to 20th in various publications and Internet sites. Thus, these discrepancies perhaps arise because most official measurements of the falls take into consideration only the free-leaping portion, omitting the bottom part that cascades along the tepui. Moreover, some published listings incorporate the free-falling measurements only when arguing that its height is not ample for the top 10 tallest waterfalls.

 

 

 

 

Tianzi Mountains, Which Formation Inspired the Fictional World of Pandora

The mountains inspired the Pandora mountainscape in James Cameron’s film Avatar is Tianzi Mountain. It is located in Zhangjiajie in the Hunan Province of China, nearby to the Suoxi Valley. The movie theme park has been created there. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is a popular tourist destination, home to striking sandstone and quartz cliffs and famously known for renaming a peak after the mountain formations that inspired the fictional world of Pandora. The several high steep stone peaks erecting on the ground with precipitous four walls and appearances is nothing short of the secret workings of nature.

It is named after the Tujia ethnic group farmer “Xiang Dakun”, who led a successful revolution and called himself "tianzi", means son of Heaven, traditional epithet of the Chinese emperor. Therefore, it is said that he fought a brave battle in the Tianzi Mountain until his death when he jumped off a cliff. The Tianzi Mountain offers different scenes during different seasons, all of which are equally striking and magical even: the Sea of Clouds, the Radiance of the Moonlight, Rays of Sunshine and the Snow in winter. A massive varied country like China dominates in landscape, just takes your breath away. Huge sandstone pillars view in every direction, thick layer of mist creates a fairytale appearance. The pillars and valleys are covered in a dense, moist tropical-like forest, which makes the amazing setting of this Chinese National Park complete.

The Tianzi Mountains are deemed sacred by several Sulamitos who used to inhabit the outer regions of Hunan. It was unearthed in Sep 2014 that Mal Oghlum people had left traces of their burial rituals beneath the Tianzi Mountains, which led to "Yalan Group", led by Eybi Sulam and Karadeniz asking for a permit from the Chinese government, which as of 2015, had been unanswered. Though, it is a popular tourist place in China, but due to security issues, it is extremely difficult to climb, however, some groups still trying all the year to climb it.

The researchers believed that Tianzi Mountains were formed from quartz sandstone of 400 million years ago through the intermittent rising of the crust for 2 million years. Hence, the geological formation belongs to the "New Cathaysian" tectonic system. More than three billion ago, the place was a large patch of ocean. After a series of geological modifications including Himalayan and Neotectonic movements, the bottom of ocean rose out of the surface, and the quartzite sandstone pillars and peaks took mind-blowing shape after the gradual cutting, eroding and crumbling of Nature for millions of years. Moreover, they were once sedimentary rocks rising beneath the waters of an ancient ocean, which eventually became quartz sandstones. Thus, running water eroded the near level quartz sandstone along the vertical net joints.

Tianzi Mountains are 16,550 acres big and highest peak of the mountain is at 4,140 feet above sea level. Visitors can take a 2,084-meter cable car ride to the peak and enjoy beautiful scenery during the climb, via cable car takes approximately 6 minutes and 44 seconds in temperatures averaging at 12 degrees Celsius. In spite of the cold weather, you can’t afford to miss the fantasy-like scenery that you will see as you move towards the peak. Well, the best time to visit the place is spring and fall, especially in April and Octorber. Major attractions in Tianzi Mountain Nature Reserve include, Shentang Gulf, Imperial Brush Peak, Fairy Offering Flowers, Helong Park and Fields in the Air. All that and more awaits tourists to explore.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sterling Hill Mining Museum in New Jersey

In New Jersey, The Sterling Hill Mining Museum is famous for its variety of immersive and educational exhibits, and massive collection of fluorescent minerals. The fluorescent exhibits are displayed along the walls of Rainbow tunnel that was excavated in 1990, are lined with rare minerals that glow bright green and red under ultraviolet light. The museum was originally an old zinc mine, having opened in 1739. It is one of oldest mine in the country, when it was closed in 1986. However, it was bought by Richard and Robert Hauck and unveiled as a museum in 1990. The ore that was mined here was wonderfully rich in content, averaging more than 20 % zinc, and occurred in thick seams that went to a depth of over 2,550 feet below the surface through tunnels totaling more than 35 miles in length.

Moreover, Sterling Hill is the treasure chest of minerals; more than 350 different mineral species have been found here a world record for such a small area. Though, over two dozen of these have been found nowhere else on Earth.  The Sterling Hill is close to Franklin Mine, 2.5 miles to the north, equally famous for its fluorescent minerals. Almost 90 different mineral species have been documented as fluorescent. The Sterling Hill Mine, is also known as Sterling Hill Mine Tour & Museum of Fluorescence, is a former iron and zinc mine was added to the National Register of Historic Places on 1991. Well, it took almost 30 minutes inside the Exhibit hall, containing a wide variety of mining memorabilia, mineralogical samples, fossils, and meteorites. The mine is also home to the Ellis Astronomical Observatory, the Thomas S. Warren Museum of Fluorescence, and a collection of mining equipment.

Here questions come in mind, what causes fluorescence in minerals. All minerals have the ability to reflect light, makes them visible to the human eye. However, few minerals have an exciting physical property recognized as "fluorescence". Therefore, these minerals have the ability to provisionally absorb a small amount of light and an instant later release a small amount of light of a different wavelength. This change in wavelength causes a temporary color change of the mineral in the eye of a human observer. The fluorescent mineral color change is most remarkable when they are illuminated in darkness by ultraviolet light not visible to humans and they release visible light, and about 15 percent of minerals are fluorescent. The museum periodically arranges public mineral collecting sessions as well as more private and behind the scene events for local geology clubs.

Galesnjak, The Lovers Island, Croatia

There is a tiny island in Croatia which is causing a sensation between all lovebirds on the planet earth. It is small and uninhabited island doesn’t have any natural attractions.  Galešnjak is also called “Island of Love”, “Lover's Island”, and “Isle of Love”, is located in the Pašman channel of the Adriatic, between the islands of Pašman and the town of Turanj on mainland Croatia. The island is famous due to its naturally occurring heart-shaped objects such as the Heart Reef in the Whitsundays. The lover’s island has a surface area of 0.132 km2, with its beach measuring 1.55 km in length. It seems many lovers from around the world consider it the ideal spot for a romantic Day break. The beautiful heart shaped island features two peaks, the highest of which is 36 m high above sea level.

The island's unusual shape was first recorded in the early 19th century by Napoleon's cartographer Charles-François Beautemps-Beaupré. The island was highlighted on Google Earth in February 2009, which brought the island to worldwide attention. Therefore, in the recent times, the activity on the island has created two large scars across the heart, one spanning the island from a pier on the north to the south, and the other to the west of it. It has been incredible, and the most perfect heart-shaped island in the world. Nobody lives there so if lovers really do want to spend time alone it's the perfect desert island. It looked a bit like a heart but since it's been on Google Earth everyone else has seen it too and the whole world seems to want to stay here.

Therefore, couples on honeymoons, marrieds celebrating anniversaries and young men wanting to propose find Galešnjak the ideal destination. The island has an aura, a charm which is almost magical. Galešnjak is privately owned and contains only wild plants and trees. Human activity recorded on this island is three known Illyrian burial mounds and remains of an ancient building's foundations. It was included in an atlas of the Dalmatian coast which was created in 1806. But it was through Google Earth that Galesnjak first became a global sensation. Galešnjak does not have any tourist facilities or any sort of man-made structures. All it has are shrubs upon its rather rocky terrain, wild untamed atmosphere appeals to most lovers. The island is isolated, quiet and private.

It is the perfect place to relish a romantic moment uninterrupted. The heart shaped island has some pebble beaches, the best kept beaches on the planet, but they are good enough for a romantic swim. Galešnjak is surrounded by the emerald-blue waters of the Pašman channel; give it an idyllic, paradise-like feel. Hence, due to its beautiful atmosphere which makes all who visit Galešnjak not wish to leave? However, most people who travel to Galešnjak cannot stay overnight because of no amenities on the island. Therefore, the only available option of staying overnight here is camping. However, many people visit the island set up base in the adjacent island of Pašman or in the major tourist hub of Zadar. They rent a boat and ride to the island or take up one of the cruises which make stopovers on the island.  Therefore, Galešnjak is a must-visit island in Croatia for anyone who desires to share an unforgettable moment with their soul mate, flawless place to chill out, camp, picnic, swim and share sentimental moments. As mentioned above, the island is privately owned hence, permission has to be sought in order to access it.

The US Military Air Planes Graveyard

World's largest plane graveyard of US military fighters in desert can now is explored online in incredible interactive map. The worlds largest “plane graveyard” where more than 4,400 aircraft are dumbed in dust in the Arizona desert can now be explored in intricate detail. This is the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, commonly known as The Boneyard, where the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) take care of disused fighter jets and warplanes. AMARG arranges its aircraft over almost 2,600 acres of desert in the city of Tucson, surrounded by houses and criss-crossed by roads. AMARG was established at Davis-Monthan to store planes in 1946 after the end of the Second World War, chosen for Tucson’s low humidity, infrequent rainfall, high altitude and hard alkaline soil.

The place has been inquisitiveness for eagle-eyed Google Earth users since the satellite imagery software was launched in 2005, but now for the first time it is available to view in high resolution. The $35billion worth of outdated planes is kept as spare parts for current models at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. The US military planes of all shapes and sizes lined up in meticulous rows on the reddish earth with decommissioned fighters coated in protective sheeting and well covered in white to protect them from the scorching sun. So, it is home of everything from massive cargo planes to bombers, Hercules freighters, A10 Thunderbolts and the F-14 Tomcat fighters made famed in Top Gun. Thus, they were stored with their wings detached and placed on the ground to prove to Soviet satellites they had been taken out of service.

However, many planes are of Cold War in Vietnam including retired B-52 bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Moreover, as long as aircraft flying, military and commercial aircraft boneyards required keeping other planes in the air usually performs a variety of functions from storing aircraft. These are for the time being out of service but likely to return to the fleet, to recouping useable parts which are checked, repaired, and then held until needed by active aircraft, to dismantling of the aircraft carcasses. Besides, some of the planes have noses or wings missing, surrounded by indifferent parts being salvaged by labors to be sent out to air bases across the world as spares. So, others are wrapped up almost ready to go, being kept as close to working order as possible in case they are required in a new operation. When they arrive, they must be washed, their fuel tanks drained and cleaned, ammunition and ejector seats removed and ducts sealed before they’re covered back up. It has been the atmospheric backdrop for numerous films, television series and videos.