The Pikeville Cut-Through Project, An Engineering Marvel in Kentucky

Without any doubt, The “Pikeville Cut-Through Project” is an amazing engineering wonder that has been easily called “the 8th wonder of the world”. It is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, in Kentucky, along the Levisa Fork a tributary of the Big Sandy River lies the flourishing city of Pikeville. However, it’s a small city of less than 7,000 inhabitants, but those 7,000 must be some of the most vital people on the planet earth. They were badly pissed that they had to wait at the railway crossing though the coal cars went by spew out dirty black dust upon the peoples. Moreover, they were also pissed at their river Levisa Fork for breaking banks every year and flooding their city, hence they undertook one of the largest earth-moving projects in the whole Western hemisphere, third behind the Big Dig and the Panama Canal. The mega project was led by former Mayor William C. Hambley, (a Pikeville native, was a medical doctor before he become involved in politics), the Pikeville Cut-Through Project officially started in November of 1973 with the motive of relieving the barrage of flooding that the City of Pikeville experienced every year. The project took 14 years to complete, during which a total of 18 million cubic yards of earth were moved which went into filling the empty riverbed. The Cut-Through Project also provided the City of Pikeville with more room for development, due to the moving of the Levisa Fork of the Big Sandy River away from downtown Pikeville, and released the City of congestion caused by the railroad and the three major highways that passed through it.

Therefore, they butchered a mountain and created a kilometer-long and 400-meters-wide channel, called the Pikeville Cut-Through. Through this cut they diverted a four-lane US Highway, some railroad tracks and a freaking river that originally looped around the city. The effort he had made, earned him the title of “the man who moved a mountain.” He felt that the railway tracks separated his town and the local college, making a "wrong side of the track" attitude and the substandard housing that came with it. He also loathed the dirty coal cars that ran through the middle of Pikeville. Indeed the Pikeville Cut-Through Project is a unique engineering feat that provides a shining example of cooperation among agencies on a federal, state and local level. Being the second largest earth removal project in the United States history, the Pikeville Cut-Through Project is a marvel that visitors cannot miss.

The monumental effort not only eradicated repeated flooding and relieved traffic congestion, but it also delivered the City of Pikeville with 400 acres of new land for expansion. Soon after, Pikeville underwent fast economic development. At the moment it’s a prosperous center for commerce and the leading financial and industrial center of the Appalachian region. The Pikeville Cut-Through project was a massive achievement meticulously oversaw each phase of the project, navigating this huge undertaking through numerous challenges and eventually bringing this vision to life, and won many hearts. Moreover, tourists can expect more than just an amazing view when visiting the Cut-Through Project overlook. The overlook sits atop a magnificent mountain surrounded by lovely scenery and the Bob Amos Park, which features a rubberized oval walking track, hiking trail, horseshoe arena area, tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer fields, baseball fields, and a YMCA. Hatfield and McCoy River Trails is also located near the overlook and on weekend’s features offers several relaxing activities like, canoeing, paddle boating, tubing, as well as a paintball field. So, for a day of fun, consider having a picnic at the Cut-Through and plan for a pleasant day of lush scenery and outdoor adventure as well.

Jabal Al-Noor, The Mountain of Light in Makkah

Jabal al-Noor is also called “Mountain of Light”, or “Hill of Illumination”, “Hill of Enlightenment” is a mountain near Makkah in Saudi Arabia Hejaz region. Jabel Al-Noor is popular place in Makkah due to famous Ghar-e-Hira situated on it. It is a small cave only four arm’s length long by 1.75 arm’s length wide and 640m tall. Almost five persons can sit in it.  Well, a physical fit man can take two hours to make it to cave. It is extremely strenuous on the individual; the mount and cave hold holiest significance for Muslims around the world. Well, one physical feature that differentiates Jabal al-Noor from other hills & mountains, that its strange-looking summit, which makes it look more like two mountains on top of each other The Cave (Ghar-e-Hira) is situated on mount Al-Noor on way to Mina near Makkah and its peak is visible from a great distance. Even one can see Kaa’ba straight and clear from this cave. The legendry Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) spent great deal of time in this cave. This is the place, a lot can write on this, if someone wants to write the imperativeness of Jabal Al-Nour. The top Jabal Al-Noor in the mountainous desert is one of the loneliest of places. However, the cave within, which faces the direction of the Kaaba, is even more isolated.

This is the site, choose by Allah for worshipping of his messenger in solitude to commence a new era of life on earth when ignorance eclipsed the human society for several centuries bid farewell to the light of knowledge and wisdom. Allah’s Messenger Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) used to spend their time for many months praying to Allah in loneliness away from all interventions of this world. It was the day the earth and skies and all in them were waiting anxiously for a long time. It was the day when Prophet Muhammed (صلى الله عليه و سلم) was assigned the duty of preaching Allah’s orders to the entire Mankind and Jinn. This “Cave of Hira”, the sanctum of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) a place of his great devotions and meditations, a sacred cave where the Holy Qur’an began to be revealed. Allah’s last Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had just stepped into the 40 years of his life, when during a night in the month of Ramadan the first 5 verses of the Surah Al-Alaq (96) were Revealed to him and mountain was given the title of “Jabal Al-Noor”. The precise date of the first revelation can be seen through investigation to fix the time to Monday the 21st of Ramadan at night, i.e. August, 10, 610 C.E. or exactly 40 lunar years, 6 months and 12 days of age i.e., 39 Gregorian years, 3 months and 22 days.

Which is this place? No question, almost all Muslims know it. Jabal Al-Noor with steep slope 200m tall and all Muslims devotees visiting Jabal al Noor from various part of the world walk a few steps in the plane and feel exhausted.  Every year countless people force their way up neglecting harsh desert climate conditions to see the place where their beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) got his first heavenly revelation by Hazrat Gabriel (A.S) “The Angel of Revelation”. Therefore, one would wonder how Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) climbed this mountain countless times and stayed atop of the mountain for many days in succession with these unfavorable conditions. One would really feel and shed some tears on the sacrifice shown by Hazrat Khadeeja-tul-Kubra (رضي الله عنها) at the age of 55 who climbed up taking provisions to her husband Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) at least once in a day.

The Noble Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) was living among extremely backward people who were devoid of any traces of civilization and humanity. He observed nothing in that society but the darkness of ignorance. He would go to the Ka'abah, but instead of witnessing the worship of God, he witnessed. He was pained by the ugly customs and false thoughts of his people. The pitiable condition of the poor and the destitute caused him great anguish. The disgraceful situation of women, who were treated worse than animals, as well as the prevalence of gambling, wine drinking and murder strenuous his blessed heart. These extremely tough conditions severely tormented his pure soul. Because when he dealt with people as a merchant, their depraved behavior gave so severe an emotional tremor to him that he had to go to a lonely place where he would not be tormented by people's inhuman behavior. For these reasons and to find peace of mind, he would go to Mount Hira and there think deeply about the amazing phenomena of nature and the vestiges of God's All-Embracing Compassion. Ghar-e-Hira is both without water or vegetation other than a few thorns and higher than Thabir. Source: Charismatic Planet

The Haunting Cliff face Appear to be Giant Skull When Reflected in Still Waters of Lake District

The frightening sight of a massive skull has been spotted in the rocks of a remote area of the Lake District which is believed to have claimed the lives of countless divers. The terrifying cliff face and its eerie reflection in the waters of the lake create mysterious illusion of a sinister skull on its side emerging from the darkness. Therefore, the hunting picture can be visible in the still water of disused Hodge Close slate quarry near Coniston in Cumbria. Thus, the abandoned quarry, which is 70 metres deep from the surface and has a 20 metres deep lake, is pierced with underwater tunnels. Hence, the quarry was an open pit from the 19th century to the early 1960s which has now flooded over time. Nowadays, this place is well known in divers and abseilers who’re keen to climb the rock face, though access to the water involves wading through a 120 metres flooded tunnel and down a scaffolding ladder. Several legends believe, that the lake has claimed the lives of quite a few divers over the years that have gotten lost in the tunnels.

A 45-year-old man had to be rescued after falling 20ft while abseiling in the quarry in 2012. He was rescued during a hardworking two-hour operation by a team of 20 members of Coniston Mountain Rescue Team. So, no one knows how many people have seen or noticed the skull. Therefore, it is only really becomes visible when the water is flat calm, and you look at the view sideways. You also need to be down next to the water, which isn't a trip everyone would want to make. Though, the quarry stopped working in the early-to-mid 20th Century, and is a prevalent climbing and diving venue. It is frequently used as an abseiling location by outdoor instructors. There’s stillness and a very eerie atmosphere around the place. The area is uses for training for various aspects of rope rescue and familiarization to allow us to respond effectively to incidents at the quarry and can't see the skull reflection from the top you have to scramble down to the pit of the quarry and walk to the water’s edge to see it. When you look at the reflection of the skull in the deep dark water, it's quite chilling. However, bearing in mind the status of the area, it is a very worrying moment when the skull appears out of nowhere with crystal clarity.

Vasquez Rocks, A Spectacular Rock Formations

The beautiful Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is a 932-acre park located in the Sierra Pelona Mountains, in northern Los Angeles County, California. This is an exclusive rock formation in the area, which are in result of rapid erosion and uplift about 25 million years ago and later exposed by activity along the San Andreas Fault. However, it is in Agua Dulce between the Antelope Valley and the Santa Clarita Valley north of Los Angeles and seen easily by motorists driving the Antelope Valley Freeway (CA 14). It is projected that more than 25 million years ago, the collision of the North American and Pacific tectonic plates uplifted the area along the Elkhorn Fault. Therefore, energetic erosion of the highland along with uplift and volcanism caused debris flow sediments to be distributed in alluvial fans into a speedily subsiding rift well-known as the Soledad Basin.

It is favorite location of commercial, movies, and television due to its mesmerizing landscape. Vasquez Rocks has been used repeatedly in motion pictures, television series, and in moving and still-image advertisements.  Many photographers like this rock place for photography purpose. It is also considered a heaven for hiking trails. In 1970’s the land and rock formations were acquired by the Los Angeles County government and added to the National Register of Historic places in 1972. His name has since been associated with this geologic feature. In 1873 and 1874, Tiburcio Vásquez, one of California's most disreputable bandits, used these rocks to elude capture by law enforcement. Because of its significance as a prehistoric site, the Vasquez Rocks comprise mainly of coarse-grained conglomerate and breccia sediments which were deposited nearby to active faults during rapid uplift and subsequent erosion of the San Gabriel Mountains.

The Vasquez Rocks preferred to call it Nature's Haven where the animals were trained and lived with them. Vasquez Rocks is an amazing and if you’re “Star Trek” fan then you will like it even more. The stunning rock formation has been nicknamed "Kirk's Rock" due to being featured in several Star Trek episodes, each time representing a different planet Hike is good too although a little tricky at places. There is no fee to enter the park, but make sure collecting rocks is strictly prohibited. Therefore, if you want to climb some of the rocks you should wear good quality shoes or climbing shoes. Moreover, you should bring adequate water in the summer as it gets very hot. The park activities include: campfire nature talks, equestrian programs, a junior ranger program, seasonal special events, hiking and horseback riding. Picnic areas are provided. Charismatic Planet