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Showing posts with label Places. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Places. Show all posts

Tuesday, 4 February 2014

The Chapel of Skulls | Kaplica Czaszek, Poland

The Kaplica Czaszek (Chapel of the Skulls)  is located between St. Bartholomew's church of the Polish village Czermna. The walls and ceiling of the church are decorated with thousands of  human skulls and bones. The chapel was built in 1776, when America was declaring its independence form England. Polish people of Czernma are surviving with  acute intestinal infection caused by ingestion of contaminated water or food and hunger. They are victim of war or the Plague. Most likely it is the mass grave of people who died during the thirty years war "1618-1648". The plague that broke out during the war and the Three Silesian Wars "1740-63 and other military conflicts.

The urbane looking Kaplica Czaszek is garnished with 21,000 human skeletons and thousands of Skulls. Today the skulls are installed and include a Tartar warriors skull, the Czermana mayor and his wife, skull with bullet holes, and skull swiss-cheesed by syphilis, and even the skull of giant. Beside these special skulls are those of the priest and the grave digger themselves, presiding proudly over the chapel of Skulls they created and now call their final resting place.

The Chapel of Skulls | Kaplica Czaszek, Poland
Image by Flickr user Mplankton

Monday, 3 February 2014

Bunker 599

Bunker 599, one of the small sproket in the New Dutch Waterline, it was originally built in 1940, to defense up to 13 soldiers during bombing raids of second world war and the intervention by Dutch Studios RAAAF and Atelier de Lyon Reveals. The small, dark space inside, which are normally hidden from view. The Defense used between 1815 and 1940 to protect the cities of Muiden, Utrecht, Vreeswijk and Gorinchem by flooding the area with water. In 700 bunkers the Bunker 599 is slice through the solid concrete bunker in 40 days along the New Dutch Waterline, a part of the series of water-based defenses. The building has been rupture down from the middle and create a unique and competent war memories. Now days it is a part of tourist attraction. Ronad Rietveld of RAAAF said " Our aim with the project was to question the policies on monuments by doing this intervention." The set of stairs is also connect the near by road to path that leads through the center of the bunker onto a wooden boardwalk raised above the flooded area. 

Bunker 599
Image by Flickr User Bart van Damme

Dune of Pyla | The Largest Sand Dune in Europe

Natural phenomena - phenomena of nature, which is difficult to find a reasonable explanation. Looking for tons of sand on the French coast, it seems that this is a joke of some wizard: take a piece of the Sahara and move it here, in the waters of the Bay of Biscay near the Bay of Arcachon, neatly stacked on the border of coniferous forests sixty kilometers from Bordeaux.

In fact, the appearance of his biggest dune in Europe is obliged to natural processes. Namely river Lehr, which diligently for centuries carried sand in the ocean and leave them on the shelf, located directly opposite the current dunes. And the wind, in turn, also diligently include sand on the beach, a place where every year grew dune.

150 years ago, its height was small - only about 35 meters. However, stop the advance of failed sand - dune now adds an average of 4 meters per year, while some moves from side to side, and its height, depending on the wind changing from 80 to 107 meters.

In general, the Large dune stretches almost 3 km along the coast and another 500 meters deep pine forests, which, incidentally, came here at the behest of the individual - was planted in the mid-19th century as a measure of local drainage of wetlands. 

Dune of Pyla | The Largest Sand Dune in Europe
The Great Dune of PYLA, or PILAT (both spellings are corrects, oddly enough), the tallest sand dune in Europe. Image by Flickr User Linselys

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

Grundtvig's Church | Copenhagen, Denmark

Grundtvig's Church or Grundtvigs Kirke is located in the Bispebjerg district of Copenhagen, Denmark. It is a rare example of expressionist church architecture. Due to its unusual appearance, it is one of the best known churches in the city. The commission for the construction of a church to be named after the Danish philosopher and hymn writer N. F. S. Grundtvig was decided through a competition, won by Peder Vilhelm Jensen-Klint in 1913. The foundation of the new church was only laid after World War I, on 8 September 1921, Grundtvig's birthday. Building took place mainly from 1921 to 1926 when the tower section was completed, leading to the initial inauguration of the so-called Tower Church in 1927. Further work on the interior and on adjacent buildings continued until 1940 and was completed by Klint's son Kaare Klint after his father's death in 1930. The church stands at the centre of a residential development (1924–36), also in yellow brick, designed by Jensen-Klint in harmony with the church.


Image By Flickr User Damla Toker

Monday, 27 January 2014

Combe Laval Road | France

Frequently recognized as the most magnificent road in the French Alps, this road through Combe Laval was constructed between 1861 and 1898 and originally served for the transportation of timber from the Forêt de Lente to St-Jean-en-Royans (France). 

Right now it mainly attracts cyclists eager to face the challenge of a steep climb and be rewarded with awe-inspiring views of the Vercors region. The most spectacular stretch of the road, between St. Jean-en-Royans and Col de la Machine, cuts into the cliff-like side of the gorge and runs via a series of short, narrow tunnels. Nearly 8 mi (13 km) of lush, alpine beauty and dizzying heights. To go through this road, at Saint Jean en Royans, take the D 76 at the end of the village, direction Col de la Machine.

Photo by Flickr User Gold Auraque

Friday, 17 January 2014

The Top 7 U.S. States for Animal Photography

Capturing wildlife photography is an exhilarating pastime with something new to experience during every outing. You never know what you’ll find when you head out with your camera to a secluded spot far from civilization and safely within the realm of nature. Check out these hot spots around the U.S. for diverse photography opportunities that'll give you a gentle glimpse of a different world.

California for Elephant Seals

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Magnetic Termite Mounds

In Australia's Northern Territory, inside the protected Litchfield National Park, near the township of Batchelor, about 100 kilometers southwest of Darwin, termites build peculiar mounds that are mysteriously aligned to the earth’s magnetic field. Wide swathe of empty ground are filled with hundreds of termite mounds that look like tombstones from a distance, but much larger. The magnetic termite mounds rise to as much as three meters in height, look relatively flat and they all face the same direction with their thinner edges facing the north and south like the needle of a compass.
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Lake Sørvágsvatn in Faroe Islands

Sørvágsvatn (or Leitisvatn) is the biggest lake of the Faroe Islands, situated on the island of Vágar. It covers an area of 3.4 square km, more than three times the size of the second biggest lake Fjallavatn, which also lies on the island of Vágar.
The picture you see below is actually an optical illusion. It appears as if the lake is significantly higher than the ocean. In real, the lake is only 30 meter above the sea level, but the cliff facing the camera is 100 meters high. The position of the camera and the angle of the shot makes it seem like the lake is about the same level as the cliff.
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You’d Really Have To Love Where You Live To Know It Could Kill You Any Day

Aogashima is under Japanese control, even though its located in the Philippine Sea, which is far from the country’s capital. That’s not the strangest thing about this island, though.

Sunday, 5 January 2014

The Museum of Islamic Art in Doha ─ Qatar

The Museum of Islamic Art is a museum located in the Qatar capital Doha and designed by architect I. M. Pei. The museum's interior gallery spaces were designed by a team lead by JM Wilmotte of Wilmotte Associes.

The Museum of Islamic Art is a museum located in the Qatar capital Doha and designed by architect I. M. Pei. The museum's interior gallery spaces were designed by a team lead by JM Wilmotte of Wilmotte Associes.
Photo — Link

Wednesday, 1 January 2014

Huashan - The Most Dangerous Mountain Route in China

Mount Hua, or Hua Shan is a mountain located near the city of Huayin in Shaanxi province, about 120 kilometres (75 mi) east of Xi'an. It is one of China's Five Great Mountains, and has a long history of religious significance. Originally classified as having three peaks, in modern times the mountain is classified as five main peaks, of which the highest is the South Peak at 2,154.9 metres (7,070 ft).

Mount Hua is located near the southeast corner of the Ordos Loop section of the Yellow River basin, south of the Wei River valley, at the eastern end of the Qin Mountains, in southern Shaanxi province. It is part of the Qin Ling Mountain Range that divides not only northern and southern Shaanxi, but also China.

Mount Hua Shan is located near the southeast corner of the Ordos Loop section of the Yellow River basin, south of the Wei River valley, at the eastern end of the Qin Mountains, in southern Shaanxi province. It is part of the Qin Ling Mountain Range that divides not only northern and southern Shaanxi, but also China.

Aqueduct of Segovia


The Aqueduct of Segovia is a Roman aqueduct and one of the most significant and best-preserved ancient monuments left on the Iberian Peninsula. It is located in Spain and is the foremost symbol of Segovia, as evidenced by its presence on the city's coat of arms.

History — As the aqueduct lacks a legible inscription (one was apparently located in the structure's attic, or top portion), the date of construction cannot be definitively determined. Researchers have placed it between the second half of the 1st Century AD and the early years of the 2nd Century—during the reign of either Emperor Vespasian or Nerva. The beginnings of Segovia itself are likewise not definitively known. The people called Vaccaei are known to have populated the place or area before the Romans conquered the city. Roman troops sent to control the area stayed behind to settle there. The area fell within the jurisdiction of the Roman provincial court (Latin conventus iuridici, Spanish convento jurídico) located in Clunia.

The Aqueduct of Segovia is a Roman aqueduct and one of the most significant and best-preserved ancient monuments left on the Iberian Peninsula. It is located in Spain and is the foremost symbol of Segovia, as evidenced by its presence on the city's coat of arms.
Photo — Link

Spectacular Day and Night Composite Shots of Major Cities


A day in the life of the city: Mesmerising photographs capture 24 hours in just one picture, Photographer takes 1,500 photos to create just one composite image, Stephen Wilkes spends up to 15 hours a day shooting sunrise and sunset.

Balad Sayt Village — Oman


Stone-and-Mud dwellings laid out like steps along the slope of a rocky hill, along with the lush rows of date palms and patch worked terraced fields make up the old-world appeal of Balad Sayt.  A remarkable sight of the impressive Jabal Shams range, surround this village. Deep within these mountains, crystal streams of water come forth and supply the village's two main falaj. Aside from this, honey produced by wild bees are also found in the mountain caves. The Balad Sayt enjoys moderate daytime temperature even during summer and a especially pleasant weather in winter. This is mainly due to its high location. The Balayad Sayt can easily be reached from the town of Al Rustaq. From the town centre, just drive towards Al Wabi and turn right in the direction of the Wadi Bani Auf.
Photo — Link

Kuldhara — Abandoned Village Near Jaisalmer


Kuldhara village near Jaisalmer has a very unique history! It is said that the residents of 84 neighboring villages including Kuldhara vacated the villages overnight around 170 years back!! No one is sure where they have gone, but they are believed to have migrated to a place somewhere near Jodhpur. The residents were Paliwal Brahmans — said to be very intelligent, and residing there for about 500 years. So what made them do such an act? Stories say that the ruler of these villages pounded the Paliwals with heavy taxes and treated them very inhumanly; the ruler was unethical and forceful to them. They had no alternative, but to vacate all the 84 villages overnight and just disappear from the vision and reach of the ruler.  When the Paliwals left the villages, they left a curse that nobody can inhabit the villages ever. Residents of Jaisalmer say that there have been some attempts by some families to stay there, but they did not succeed.
Photo — Link

Rua Goncalo de Carvalho — Most Green Street in the World


Rua Goncalo de Carvalho is a street located in Porto Alegre, the capital and largest city in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Flanked by trees on either side, the street became internationally known after a campaign for its preservation spread on the Internet leading it to be dubbed "the most beautiful street in the world".

Star Shaped Fort Bourtange in Netherlands


Star Shaped Fort Bourtange in Netherlands
Photo — Link