Badab-e Surt Iran

Badab-e Surt (translated gassed water) is located in Mazandaran Province in northern Iran, is considered one of the most incredible sights of its region approximately 95 KM’s south of the city of Sari and 7 KM’s west of Orost village. Badab-e-Surt comprises a range of stepped travertine terrace & rock formations that have been generated more than thousands of years as flowing water from two mineral hot springs cooled and deposited carbonate minerals on the mountainside. The red color of travertine terraces are due to iron carbonate minerals dissolved in water flowing from mineral hot springs. It is thought that the spring pool was created during the Paleocene Era and at the same time as the latest folds in the Alborz mountain range. Badab-e-Surt terraces are natural wonder made with two distinct mineral springs with different natural characteristics.

Badab-e-Surt is located 1,840 meters above sea level just west of the village or Orost. The first spring contains very salty water that gathers in a small natural pool; its water is considered to have medicinal properties, especially as a cure for rheumatism and some types of skin diseases and skin conditions. The second spring has a sour taste and is predominately orange mainly due to the large iron oxide sediments at its outlet. In one part of a floor of the pond, there is a deep hole is called the Bermuda Erost.

Moreover, stepped travertine terraces are so popular on planet earth. Such famous examples includes Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, The White Water Terraces and Huanglong Scenic in China, Italy’s Bagni San Filippo, Mexico’s Hierve el Agua and most famous of them all Pamukkale in Turkey. The travertine terraces of Badab-e-Surt are bright orange, yellow and red as compare to others shades of white and blue, due to large amount of iron oxide sediments. Therefore, the water from two springs emanating from the mountain range have combined and resulted pools shaped as a naturally formed staircase. However, the surrounding vegetation to the north contains of pine forests while to the east it mainly comprises of short trees and shrubs; and rock quarries can be seen to the west of the site. Indeed, Badab-e-Surt is fantastic place to see, widespread due to usage of water treatment for many disease.

The site has been registered as 2^nd natural heritage of Iran in UNESCO’s list. Therefore, the Orost village and Badab-e-Surt Spring are easily accessible via Semnan as most of way is being paved and vehicles are leaving dirt in the air leading up to the spring. It is suggested to visit the place during either sunrise or sunset when the sun’s light offers the orange reflection blends in perfectly colored spring. Although Badab-e-Surt is beautiful in all seasons, But the best time to visit is early April. The Badab-e-Surt is in danger of gradul erosion and eventual demise same like other natural landmarks in Iran however, the environmentalists and nature lovers have repeatedly expressed concern regarding protection of this natural wonder, citing that despite being registered as a natural site. So, it’s a must visit destination for all natural lovers.

Cave of Uhud

Medina has several important places in Islam, in which “Mount Uhud” is one of great site for Muslims. It is also known as “Battle of Uhud”. It is located 5km from Masjid-al-Nabawi an important place in the battle of early history of Islam. Mount Uhud comprises of group of mountains has rich history in Islam. Although there is still possible to climb the small hill and see the surrounding area as well as the graveyard of the martyrs. 

The Uhud Mountain is on short drive from Outskirts of Medina and very interesting story to share the knowledge. Well, related to the Battle of Uhud is “Cave of Uhud” which is quite far from the battle site. The cave located on the side of Mount Uhud is the place where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) took refuge after being wounded in the battle to receive treatment. The site is not encourage by Saudi government, as you’ve to be physically very fit to climb up and tried to get in. However, not many could do that, but those who’re fit tried to follow the path that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) climbed. From Cave, you can have rare stunning view of another part of Madinah. 

In the cave, a sweet smelling scent all round, and some say’s it is the smell of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) still here. While sceptics would say, it could be perfumes the peoples use as a sign of respect for the place.  Therefore, the fragrance, along with the awe of lying here bursts the heart, intoxicates the mind, releasing floods of blissful tears.

The Twin Sails Bridge

The Twin Sails Bridge is a double leaved bascule bridge that spans the Backwater Channel in Holes Bay linking the town center of Poole, in Dorset, England, to Hamworthy. In the closed position, the bridge lays flat over its supporting pillars, nonetheless when the two spans of the bridge are lifted to permit boats to pass, the two triangular lifting leaves look like the sails of a yacht. However, the triangular shape is caused by the fact that the bridge isn’t dissected perpendicularly across its width, but at an angle, making two long, opposing triangles that lie side by side. Therefore, when the bridge is opened, they rise skyward, like a pair of masts opening their sails.

The two triangular leaves measure 23 meters each, and when lifted, they provide a clear channel 19 meters wide for boats to pass through. The lift spans are powered by two hydraulic rams which operate up to 15 times per day, and take two minutes to fully open. The bridge was built and opened to traffic in April 2012, after nearly three decades of deliberation, approvals and cancellations. The plan for the construction of a new bridge was initiated in the 1980s. The current bridge, which was built in 1927, was facing heavy congestion due to increasing traffic levels. Thus, at first a fixed bridge crossing Holes Bay and linking with the A31 was proposed but it got cancelled in 1998. Moreover the idea of the second lifting bridge was put forward in 2004, and got approval in 2006, however instantly went into hold due to issues between the council and the land owners. So, when everything was cleared and parties had agreed, construction of the bridge commenced in 2010.

The bridge was designed by architect Wilkinson Eyre and constructed by Hochtief (United Kingdom) Construction, at an expense of £18.5 million. Furthermore, the project acknowledged the outstanding achievement award for exterior lighting at the Architecture Lighting Design Awards 2012. Moreover it was also nominated among the top four final bridges selected at International Institute of Structural Engineers Awards 2012, as well as being nominated under the commendation category for its structural authenticity.

Al Wahbah Crater Saudi Arabia

This massive crater is long thought to have been created by an ancient meteor strike or may have been found to volcanic activity after a massive underground steam explosion caused a mage flow ran into a subterranean source of water. In result of huge eruption a colossal amount of earth into the air leaving behind this crater. Al Wahbah Crater 1.2 miles across and more than 800 feet deep, located in the middle of flat, barren desert of Taif Saudi Arabia. The crater is natural anomaly that would have been a wondrous enough on its own and hides its own salt field in its giant bowl. Al Wahbah Crater is an impressive pock mart on the earth holding stunning salt flat in its depth. Therefore, white phosphate plain forms a pattern of beige psychedelia that creates the spot all the more attractive.

Moreover, the strange salt point is, the green vegetation grows on and around its rim, even though crater is arid and barren.  The Al Wahbah crater is home to beautiful palm trees and shrubs. With the passage of time, the crater importance is converting into big tourism place and Saudi Arabia government has set their sights on the crater, providing facilities like building roads and market to the site to make it easier for tourist. The crater is also getting popular site for camping and walking.  Moreover it’s not difficult to climb down from the rim to the bottom of the crater there from the North side on a prepared path, though maximum circumference has steep, unclimbable cliffs. However, at the top of the path is a stone hut which covers rubbish and debris, and some appropriate places for camping, although there are better places to camp to the South.

Therefore, if a person wants to get in the middle of crater, then he might go in 15 to 25 minutes, but be remember this crater is very slippery and hard for people to come up to the surface. Thus, to climb back up takes 20 to 40 minutes max. Hence there is only one paved route down into the crater and not recommended to climb down in groups of less than 3, as the path is quite loose in several places and the risk of accident is high, whilst not huge, is ever present. Also there is no mobile signal within the crater, and the site receives very few visitors without a doubt, even over weekends.

The Incredible illuminated Cave Pools in France

The incredible illuminated pools in France looks like something straight out of a fairytale but can be visited if you know where to find them. A hunter found the enchanting La Grotte de St Marcel d’Ardeche in 1836, actually lost his ferret into a cavity in the cave. The cave is located in the south of France near Saint-Remèze. The fascinating pool formation is known as gours and rimstone, made by accumulations of minerals and calcite. 

What captivated the early explorers were the guided tours, guests can wander through a series of lovely halls and water-basins which nestle within a 1,968-ft-long network. Therefore, diverse colored lit pools look like they're part of a movie set, so it comes as no amazement that they have been featured in two French films, Les Deux Mondes and L'âge de Raison. The entry is just 10€ for adults, and 7€ for kids and more information can be found on the website. 

The cave offers to walk along a botanical poth called “le chemin de la grosse pierre“  or discover the fauna and flora of the “Gorges de l’Ardèche” and a menhir and a dolmen. Indeed the cave is very impressive as lots of different forms of stalactites, stalagmites and delicate translucent limestone veils, and crystals like snowflakes The French definitely know how to make their natural landscape most attractive, as lighting and sound & light show makes the most impressive features of limestone cave. The cave of Saint Marcel d’Ardèche will leave you an unforgettable memory.

The Mysterious Fortress Por-Bazhyn, Serbia

Por-Bazhyn is Russia’s most mysterious archaeological site located in the center of a remote lake (Tere-Khol) of Southern Siberia. The Por-Bazhyn rectangular area of 162 meters and outer walls are 40 feet high enclosing an area of seven acres criss-crossed with the labyrinthine remains of over 30 buildings. It is thought, that Por-Bazhyn built by the Uighurs, a Turkic who once ruled an empire that spanned from Mongolia till Southern Siberia. Uighurs might have been built the building for defense purpose. Archaeologists are in trying to find the purpose of building a complex and why it was abandoned? However, few evidence of great fire at Por-Bazhyn or may be other reason the Uighurs eventually left. The Po-Bazhyn is first explored in 1891 by a Russian archeologist who has noticed similarity of layout to Karac Balgasum, (the former capital of Uighur Empire). Therefore, dendrochronology and radiocarbon dating point to that the “fortress” was built between AD 770 and 790.

Por-Bazhyn location is eight kilometer west of the village of Kungurtuk in the southwest of the Republic of Tuva close to the Russian border with Mongolia. The unique layout of Por-Bazhyn is more intricate as compared to other Uighur fortresses of that period. Vladimir Putin, president of the Russian Federation, even impressed him greatly with both the scale of the excavations and the site itself and these ruins suggest it would have been nearly impregnable. Moreover during excavation, some wood samples extracted supporting the compacted clay fabrics of the wall, an old Chinese building technique. This shows, Chinese architects and builders were directly involved in the construction of this fortress. Moreover, in 2007 a large-scale fieldwork was taken by the Russian Academy of Sciences, the State Oriental Museum, and Moscow State University. And they found clay tablets of human feet, faded colored drawings on the plaster of the walls, giant gates and fragments of burnt wood, but nothing substantial that could be responsible for a conclusive answer as to why the structure was built.

The future of Por-Bazhyn’s is doubtful, as structure sits on a bed of permafrost slowly melting and warmer temperature causing the water level is rising. The above reason may cause to collapse the structure into the lake, possibly in next 70 years or so. Moreover, the structure has also been badly hurt due to major earthquake happened in past centuries. The first excavations of the site wasn’t carried out until almost 60 years later by another Russian archeologist who saw construction characteristics typical of Chinese architecture from the T’ang Dynasty. Based on anecdotal evidence, the so-called Selenginsk inscription, the lead archeologist of the excavation S.I. Vainshtein offered that Por-Bazhyn was a defense fortress built by the second Uighur ruler, Boyan-Chur in 750CE. Vainshtein's hypothesis soon became the most widely accepted and disseminated by other investigators, even though it was based solely on speculation.

In 2007, large-scale fieldwork was undertaken by the Russian Academy of Sciences, the State Oriental Museum, and Moscow State University. Archaeologists found clay tablets of human feet, faded coloured drawings on the plaster of the walls, giant gates and fragments of burnt wood, but nothing substantial that could provide a definitive answer as to why the structure was built.