Tuesday 10 December 2013

Lake Sørvágsvatn is the Biggest Lake of Faroe Islands

Sørvágsvatn  is also called Leitisvatn is the biggest lake of the Faroe Islands, located on the island of Vágar. The lake covers an area of 3.4 square kilometer, more than three times the size of the 2nd biggest lake Fjallavatn, which also lies on the island of Vágar. The lake is actually an optical illusion, because it appears as if the lake is considerably higher than the ocean. In reality, the lake is only 30 meter above the sea level, and the cliff facing the camera is 100 meters high. The lake itself is nothing extravagant, other than being the biggest one on Faroe Islands. It’s over six kilometer long, and headlands on either side of the Lake drop precipitously from heights of 252 and 376 m. into the North Atlantic. The locals have fierce debate of name of lake. The inhabitants of Sørvágur take pride in the fact that the lake is named after their village. While the inhabitants of Miðvágur want to name the lake Leitisvatn, since, on their side of the lake, the land alongside the body of water is called Leiti. Today it may seem odd to call the lake Sørvágsvatn given the reality, that the village of Miðvágur is situated closer to the lake, than the village of Sørvágur. The explanation to this is that the village of Sørvágur was settled before Miðvágur. The locals inhabitants mostly refer to Sørvágsvatn/Leitisvatn simply by calling it 'the Lake' (Vatni). Among the inhabitants on the island everybody be familiar with what 'the Lake' is, and it is mostly when people from other parts of the Faroes refer to the lake  either by calling it Sørvágsvatn or Leitisvatn that the debate will occur.






















Sunday 8 December 2013

Butchart Garden Canada

The Butchart Gardens is easily called a group of floral display gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada, situated near Victoria on Vancouver Island. The beautiful floral gardens receive more than a million visitors each year. The gardens have been designated a National Historic Site of Canada due to their international renown. Several bronze statues are displayed in the gardens. Several bronze statues are displayed in the gardens.In 1977, Ian Ross's son Christopher introduced firework shows accompanied by show tunes on summer Saturday evenings. During the Winter, lights and seasonal decorations adorn the gardens along with an ice-skating rink in the Waterwheel Square.
The gardens are a must see whilst in Victoria and are tremendously accessible to travellers with disabilities. The map sets out the paths of travel that avoid steps for wheelchair users. Most of the Garden's paths are level, wide and smooth. The Sunken Gardens must be accessed via the far end near the Ross Fountain, though the lookout and rim path are accessible. The Japanese Garden is easy to get to from a path just to the left of its main entrance. The gardens are well laid out and affords the opportunity to spend two to three hours with family and friends. The Butchart Gardens is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Canada and the most visited on Vancouver Island. It is a eye-catching garden and one that is well worth putting a minimum of two hours aside to visit.