After that it was dismantled and packed into 1,265 crates, weighing 388 tonnes in total. Photo credit The lighthouse arrived in New Caledonia, in November 1864. The Amedee lighthouse towers 56 meters above the small island. A spiral cast iron staircase consisting of 247 steps lead to the top. The island is uninhabited, and the lighthouse unmanned except during the daytime when visitors are allowed access. Sources:Wikipedia/Lighthouse Digest/Amedee Island
The temple is located in a bowl-like depression surrounded by hills covered by azalea bushes. Paved paths suitable for strolling wind through the bushes. Azaleas also bloom at Nezu Shrine in Bunkyo-ku.
The sculpture celebrates 120 years of motorsport heritage by Mercedes-Benz. His monumental sculptures are always the central attraction of the annual event. The sculpture is 35 meters high. The road length is 150 meters, and the whole installation weighs 60 tonnes.
The German town of Bernkastel-Kues is located in the Moselle Valley, halfway between Cochem and Trier. The town is located on the very edge of the river tightly enclosed by some dramatic steep-slope vineyards. The villages are joined by a bridge. The towns major attraction is the medieval marketplace surrounded by well preserved gabled timber-frame houses from the 17th century. It now serves as the premises of an attractive wine tavern....
Photo credit Building the railroad was a stupendous labor and engineering challenge. The Florida Keys were periodically swept by storms that killed thousands of workers during the construction period. Also see:Seven Mile Bridge in Florida Sources:Wikipedia/Abandoned Florida
Cormorants are a family of sea birds whose diet consist mostly of fish. This is known as cormorant fishing or ukai in Japan. Photo by Chris McGrath Cormorant fishing takes place under darkness during the twilight hours. Each bird can hold up to six fish in its throat at a time. Cormorant fishing was once a profitable industry. Cormorant fishing still continues in the city of Gifu today and draws people from around the world....
Ajanta and Ellora are two monumental rock cut caves that define Indian art and architectural accomplishment. These caves are named after a nearby village called Ajanta. There were two types of caves-ViharaandChaitya griha. Viharas are monasteries used for living and prayer. These are square halls with small cells along the side walls. The other types of cave, Chaityagrihas, are halls used for prayers. These are long tunnel like caves with round pillars on both sides....
Biswa Ijtema is a spiritual gathering where religious sermons and prayers are preached by Islamic scholars. The devotees eat, sleep and pray on the premise. Medicals camps are setup and doctors on leave arerecalled for their services. It is believed to be possible because of the minimalist approach adopted by the devotees. Devotees have reduced their own requirements and developed a respect for others' requirements. Biswa Ijtema is organized by Tablighi Jamaat, a Bangladeshi non-political group whose goal is Islamic spiritual reformation....
Situated on the edge of the arctic circle, this park has no roads that lead to it. The only way to reach it is by foot or sled, or by chartered air taxis. No wonder, it is one of the least visited in the National Park System. The 25-square-km Great Kobuk Sand Dunes constitute the largest active sand dunes found in the Arctic. The rest of the park is wetlands formed by the Kobuk River that runs through the park....
Paper is brutal in its simplicity as a medium, says the artist. It is playful, light, colorless and colorful. It is minimal and intricate.
Photo credit The original Xian city wall was started in 194 BCE and took 4 years to finish. The first city wall was built of earth, quick lime, and glutinous rice extract, tamped together. Later, the wall was totally enclosed with bricks. Xian’s city wall, after its enlargement in the Ming Dynasty, stands 12 meters high. The distance between every two ramparts is just within the range of arrow shot from either side....
Only the first three, out of the original eight, exist today. During the Korean War, 540 vessels were broken out to move military forces. From 1955 through 1964, another 600 ships were used to store grain for the Department of Agriculture. During the Berlin crisis of 1961, 18 vessels were activated and remained in service until 1970. Another 172 vessels were activated for the Vietnam War. In August of 1990, 78 ships were deployed to support Operations Desert Storm during the Gulf War....
Every once in a while, you may find a face in a building facade or a tree bark, but French artistGilbert Legrandfinds them in places you wouldnt even imagine. Legrand takes everyday household objects and paints delightful characters onto them, using the objects natural contour to take the shape of the characters he creates. Hes been doing this for the past 10 years uncovering hidden people and animals in things like ping-pong paddles, water taps and door hinges....
