Smoo Cave, Durness, Scotland

Smoo Cave is a large combined sea cave and freshwater cave in Durness in Sutherland, Highland, Scotland. The cave was formed within Early Ordovician Dolostones of the Durness Limestone Group. Smoo Cave boundary formed between the light grey Sangomore Formation and dark grey, leopard Rock formation. The cave is unique that the first chamber has been formed by the action of the sea, whereas the inner chambers are freshwater passages, formed from rainwater dissolving the carbonate dolostones. The peaty waters of the Allt Smoo flow off the moors, tranquil until they vanish into the darkness of a gaping sinkhole. The Smoo cave estimated receives 40,000 visitors annually. 

The Smoo cave has formed a combination of erosion from the sea and an inland underground stream which has formed the innermost chambers. There are many superstitions associated with Smoo Cave, and for many centuries it was believed to be the residence of the Devil. This made it a convenient place for the local laird's henchman to dump the bodies of anyone who fell afoul of what passed for local justice at the time.

It is a dramatic location set into limestone cliffs, quite large 200 feet long, 130 feet wide, and 50 feet high at the entrance. Eroded pillars of rock which once supported these long-vanished earlier versions of Smoo Cave still remain. Moreover, the first chamber of the cave is more than 60m long and 40m wide. A wooden walkway leads from here into the second (scream provoking) chamber.

The cave boasts one of the largest entrances to any sea cave in Britain at 50 ft high and is floodlit inside. Smoo is a sea cave, but some part is karst formed inside limestones and dolomites. The karst features of Smoo cave are typical with impermeable and insoluble rocks surrounding it. Waters flowing on impermeable rock disappear in swallow holes as soon as they reach the border to the limestone. Then drain underground and reappear in karst springs and caves. Hence, a river is to be found inside, water from a burn which disappeared only a few meters away.

Legend has believed that the cave is a gateway to the Otherworld – or into the faery realm – and that it's guarded by spirits. Smoo Cave has seen a lot of activity over the course of human history, much of it is unpleasant. If you are daring enough then the ideal way to experience Smoo Cave would probably be alone at night, by the light of an oil lamp or flaming torch, and with an overactive imagination! CP

Huka Falls, New Zealand

Huka Falls Facts

Huka Falls is set of waterfalls on the Waikato River (New Zealand longest River) which feed Lake Taupo in New Zealand. In this beautiful place, one can see the natural phenomenon of hydropower often approaches 22,000 liters of water per se barreling over an 11-meter high waterfall. The flow rate is regulated by Mercury NZ Ltd., through the Taupo Control Gates. Further, flow rates can increase depending on power demands, which in turn can alter the height of the Huka Falls from 7 to 9.5 m. The volume of water flowing at the top of the falls is a set of small waterfalls dropping over about 8 meters. The final stage of the falls is over a 6-meter drop, raised to an effective 11m fall by the depth of the water.

The falls are a popular tourist attraction, being close to Taupo. The Waikato River upstream moves gracefully north from Lake Taupō between banks 100 meters apart. Then it enters a shallow ravine of hard volcanic rock. The canyon is carved into Lake Floor sediments laid down 26,500 years ago when the Oruanui eruption of Taupo Volcano took place. The effect is nature's large-scale equivalent of a fire hose feeding into a very fine nozzle. 

A pedestrian bridge at the top of the Huka Falls puts you in the best position to get up close and observe the potent display of water blasting. Also, if you want to like to see the real power and fury of the falls up close try a jet boat or cruise ride up to the crystal-blue pool. Anyone visiting here gets amazed with the beauty of Huka Falls. They are having the feelings of seeing one of the “natural wonders of the world.” The crystal clear water of Huka Falls combined the vibrant white and blue of the cascading falls and the surrounding terrain create a picture-perfect landscape for avid photographers.

Spa Park Walk

Along the Huka Falls, one can hike the Spa Park, an easy one-hour scenic walk that starts where the river is still tranquil and wide. During hike and passing through exotic and native forests, the track emerges alongside the river and the roar of the falls grows louder at each turn.

Also near the falls, many great vantage points are available where you can relish their full glory and capture selfies and photographs. This unbelievable sight is the most-visited natural attraction in New Zealand. It is extremely hard to tear your gaze away from the endless, mesmerizing torrent. Since you are in the Taupo area, so, a two-hour trail that will wind you through scenic surroundings until you arrive at the Aratiatia Dam, another awesome attraction worth visiting.

History of Huka Falls

The word “Huka” is a Maori term which means “foam”? It’s quite appropriate that these set of falls are referred to as “Foam Falls” given the amount that is created every second the water flows over the edge. Huka Falls was created because of the narrowing of the Waikato River creating a powerful surge as the water scrambles to get through the narrow gap. Source: CP

The Painted Desert Arizona

The Painted Desert is a badlands in the Four Corners area running from near the southeast into Petrified Forest National Park and east of Grand Canyon National Park.  But it is easily accessed in the north side of Petrified Forest National Park. The brilliant and varied colors include more common red rock and shades of lavender. It took millions of years for nature to form this natural canvas of unbelievable design that some describe it as a multi-colored layered cake.

The Painted Desert was named by an expedition under Francisco Vázquez de Coronado on his 1540 quest to find the Seven Cities of Cibola.  Hence, passing through the wonderland of colors, they named the area El Desierto Pintado “The Painted Desert”. The Petrified Forest and Painted Desert is a living history book. The majestic colors, hues, and shades paint a tapestry of time. Visualize that once this was a tropical forest! Dinosaurs walked here.

The most part of Painted Desert is protected as Petrified Forest National Wilderness Area. Nonetheless, the area is easy and longer hikes into the colored hills. The magical Painted Desert continues north into the Navajo Nation, where off-road travel is allowed by permit. Wind and rain, the sedimentary composition of the rocks and the lack of protective vegetative, all subsidize to the rapid erosion of the Chinle Formation.

The Painted Desert is composed of stratified layers easily erodible siltstone, mudstone, and shale of the Triassic Chinle Formation. The fine-grained rock layers comprise plentiful iron and manganese compounds that offer the pigments for the various colors of the region. Thin resistant lacustrine limestone layers and volcanic flows cap the mesas. Further, several layers of silicic volcanic ash occur in the Chinle and provide the silica for the petrified logs of the area. The erosion of these layers has resulted in the formation of the badlands topography of the region.

In the southern portions of the desert, the remains of a Triassic period coniferous forest have fossilized over millions of years. Wind, water and soil erosion continue to change the face of the landscape by shifting sediment and exposing layers of the Chinle Formation. An assortment of fossilized prehistoric plants and animals are found in the region, as well as dinosaur tracks and the evidence of early human habitation.

Painted Desert Weather?

The Painted Desert has a cold desert climate with hot, dry summers and cold, though virtually snow-free winters. The annual precipitation is the lowest in northern Arizona. In several places is lower even than Phoenix. Most area of Painted Desert is accessible only by foot or unpaved road through major highways and paved roads.

Where is the Painted Desert?

The towns of Cameron and Tuba City are two major settlements roughly from Cameron - Tuba City southeast to past Holbrook and the Petrified Forest National Park. The Painted Desert is about 190 km long by about 97 km wide, making it roughly 19,425 km2 in area. Nowadays, the Painted Desert and Petrified Forest are well-protected lands? Which provides a rich history of various ancient peoples, a breathtaking assortment of views, and a picture of life as only the dinosaurs knew it. Source: CP

Chesil Beach – United Kingdom

The English Chesil Beach “Chesil Bank” lies in the county of Dorset. It is popular for its pebbles stretched 18 miles (28 kilometers) long and north-west from Portland to West Bay. Chesil Beach is also called Shingle Beach. The most of Chesil Beach length is separated from the mainland by saline water called the Fleet Lagoon, which is a shallow area. The 13 KM long Fleet Lagoon is having a width of approximately 900 meters at little sea down to just 65 meters in the Narrows with the deepest part is 4 to 5 meters. The size of pebbles varies from pea-sized to fist-sized. The average diameter of the stones is 2 inches (5 cm). It is the largest shingle tombolo in the UK.

There are different types of rocks can be found here including quartzite, granite, flint, magnetite, pumice, and others. Nevertheless, some stories related to smugglers landed on this beach in the midnight may judge exactly where they were by the size of shingles. On the eastern side of Chesil Beach, an area of Hamm Beach consists of shallow sand dunes overlaying shingle. Moreover, Fossils take place all along the landward shore of the Fleet and along the landward side of Chesil Beach from Abbotsbury to West Bay. Some evidence recommends that Chesil Beach is no longer being replenished by natural means.

The key site is at Burton Bradstock. There have been numerous shipwrecks on Chesil Beach, predominantly during the age of sail. Chesil Beach is a popular location for sea angling, with access at Chiswell, Ferry Bridge, Abbotsbury, Cogden, Burton Bradstock and West Bay. In the summer and spring season, Chesil Bank is an important breeding site for Little Terns Sterna albifrons. They feed in the shallow waters of the lagoon, as well as nearby waters outside the SPA. 

In the Second World War, the Chesil Beach and the Fleet were used as an experimental bombing range by the RAF before and during World War II. The small population and density of nearby areas are proximity to the naval base on Portland. Also, this area was also used for machine gun training and Highball bouncing bomb testing during the war. Chesil Beach shelters Weymouth from the prevailing wind and waves and prevents the area from being eroded by wave action. CP

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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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