These caves, apart from providing opportunities for scientific research, are popular tourist destinations. The Manjanggul Lava Tube represents the largest cave in this system. It stretches for 8,928 meters and its passages are up to 30 meters high and 23 meters wide. This intimidating column stands 7.6 meters high and is the largest known in the world. Entrance to the cave.Photo credit The world’s largest lava column in Manjanggul cave.Photo credit...
Civita di Bagnoregio is a small Italian hill town in the province of Viterbo, in central Italy. Civita di Bagnoregio is actually two towns. Once, Civita was the larger community and Bagnoregio the satellite town. Today, Civita has only about 6 year-round residents determined to keep this little fragment of rock alive. Photo credit Civita di Bagnoregio was founded by the Etruscans about 2.500 years ago. The continuous seismic activities that followed in the course of the centuries, brought a long series of landslides....
In those unruly middle ages, granaries were often fortified to stop raids on a village’s food supply. Photo credit Ksar Ouled Soltane was originally built in the 15th century and had hundreds ofghorfasfor storage of grains. The two courtyards are connected by a passage made of palm wood. Eachghorfaswas assigned to and used by a single family. For five centuries the nomadic tribes used them to store grain and olives....
From the center, the land slopes down all around towards the water. Around the shore are a cluster of tightly packed houses. The islands population now consists entirely of tourism dependent Tarascan Indians. Jose Maria Morelos statue is an impressive monument, erected in 1933. Visitors can climb to the top of the statue by way of a staircase that spirals up the inside. Photo credit View from the top of the monument....
The village of Kinderdijk is located in the Netherlands, about 15 km east of Rotterdam. Kinderdijk is situated in a region called the Alblasserwaard that lies below sea-level. To drain the polder, a system of 19 windmills was built between 1738 and 1740. They have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. Photo credit In Alblasserwaard, problems with water became more and more apparent in the 13th century. After a few centuries, an additional way to keep the polders dry was required....
The houses are mostly made from volcanic rock. At the end of the cliff lies the Josep Pla viewpoint-square from which one can see a spectacular panorama. The town’s strategic location, and its naturally advantageous position for defence can be fully appreciated. Also see:The Cliffside Town of Tropea Sources:www.castellfollitdelaroca.org/Spain.info
On a disused runway at Arlanda Airport near Stockholm, in Sweden stands a decommissioned 747-200 jetliner. The plane wasnt refueled and no ground staff checked the tire pressure. Jumbo Hostel can be reached by a 15-minute walk from the main terminal or via a five-minute shuttle bus. All the seats were removed and the plane was sanitized completely. All rooms have a flat screen television where guests can watch the times of departure for all flights....
Bhimdev I was the son of Mularaja, the founder of the Solanki dynasty ofAnahilwada Patan. When restored, the stepwells magnificent carvings were found in pristine condition. Rani-ki-Vav was built at a period when craftsmen were at the height of their stepwell construction ability. The Maru-Gurjara architectural style reflect mastery of this complex technique and great beauty of detail and proportions. The building itself measures 64 meters by 20 meters. The tunnel is now blocked by stones and mud....
As a result, the tent rocks cones have cores composed of soft pumice and tuff beneath harder caprocks. Some tents have lost their hard, resistant caprocks and are disintegrating. Photo credit The Kasha-Katuwe area was inhabited by humans for more than 7,000 years. The monuments name is derived from the Keresan language of the areas Pueblo people which means white cliffs. The area was designated a National Monument in 2001....
Azerbaijan, located within the South Caspian Sea basin, is among the world’s oldest oil producers. Numerous references to fire can also be found in Azerbaijans folklore and culture. There are at least three places where one can observe Azerbaijans famous fires. Flames jet out into the air 3 meters from a thin, porous sandstone layer. Around this open fireplace the atmosphere is filled with the smell of gas. Ateshgah means temple of fire....
Each sarcophagus is 2.5 meters tall. Originally, there were eight sarcophagi but two were destroyed by earthquakes and other natural elements. Their inaccessible location high above a river gorge has thankfully preserved them from destruction by looters. This structure was then covered up with a thick layer of clay and straw as a binding material. Afterwards, the head was sculpted and placed on top. The sarcophagus body was painted white, while the head and headpiece were decorated with delicately brushed ocher strokes....
The Blue Grotto is 60 meters long and 25 meters wide. The clear blue waters go down 150 meters until it reaches the sandy bottom. Since then the Blue Grotto has become the emblem of the island of Capri bringing tourists from far-off places. The entrance to the Blue Grotto is crowded with tourist boats.Photo credit Sources:Wikipedia/Amalfi Coast Italy/Wondermodo
According to legend, Torghatten was formed when Hestmannen, the troll, was chasing the beautiful girl Lekamya. The hat turned into the mountain with a hole in the middle. Photo credit Also see:The Heavens Gate of Tianmen Shan, China
