All cities in the world from kaku

World's Largest Libraries

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:07:00 -0800

Reading habit is the most natural habit to inculcate. A good book or reading an informative piece makes the ideal companion; it’s interesting, builds on your patience and allows you to grow in the pool of knowledge without you realizing it. So for that we find libraries build by people in order to enhance and mobilize such healthy activities.

Here I have compiled some of the largest libraries of the world. I hope you will like it.

Library of Congress

Library of congress is in Washington DC, USA. It was founded in 1800. This library stocks over 30 million books. Library of congress was featured in a film National Treasure 2.

National Library of China

National Library of China is in Beijing, China. It was founded in 1909. This library stocks over 22 million books.

Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Library of the Russian Academy of Sciences is in St. Petersburg, Russia. It was founded in 1714. This library stocks over 20 million books.

National Library of Canada

National Library of Canada is in Ottawa, Canada. It was founded in 1953. This library stocks over 18.8 million books.

German National Library

German National Library is in Frankfurt, Germany. It was founded in 1990. This library stocks over 18.5 million books.

British Library

British Library is in London, England. It was founded in 1753. This library stocks over 16 million books.

Institute for Scientific Information Russian Academy of Sciences

Institute for Scientific Information Russian Academy of Sciences is in Moscow, Russia. It was founded in 1969. This library stocks over 13.5 million books.

Harvard University Library

Harvard University Library is in Cambridge, MA, USA. It was founded in 1638. This library stocks over 13.1 million books.

Vernadsky National Scientific Library of Ukraine

Vernadsky National Scientific Library of Ukraine is in Kiev, Ukraine. It was founded in 1919. This library stocks over 13 million books.

New York Public Library

New York Public Library is in New York City, NY, USA. It was founded in 1895. This library stocks over 11 million books.

World's busiest airports

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:05:00 -0800

Travelling has always fascinated people all over the world and flying has been the fastest in order to do so. Airports are mostly packed with people but here are some busiest airports by passenger traffic. Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta has been the world’s busiest airport every year since 2000.

Here are some of the busiest airports of the world. I hope you will like it.

Atlanta International Airport

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is situated seven miles from central district of Atlanta, Georgia, United States. This airport accommodates 90.0 million passengers and 978,824 flights.
O’Hare International Airport

O’Hare International Airport is situated in the north western corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States. In 2008, the airport had 881,566 aircraft operation with 69,353,654 passengers passing through the airport.
Heathrow Airport

Heathrow Airport is located in the London Borough of Hillingdon, United Kingdom. This airport handles nearly 67,056,228 passengers annually.
Haneda Airport

Haneda Airport is located in Ota, Tokyo, Japan. Haneda handled 66,735,587 passengers in 2008.
Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport

Charles de Gaulle Airport is located in city of Paris, France. This airport in 2008 handled 60,851,998 passengers and 559,812 aircraft movements.
Los Angeles International Airport

Los Angeles International Airport also known as LAX is located in southwestern Los Angeles in the neighborhood of Westchester, United States. In 2009 this airport handled 59,542,151 passengers.
Dallas International Airport

Dallas/Fort worth International Airport is located between the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. In 2008 this airport handled 685,491 aircrafts and 59,784,876 passengers.
Beijing Capital International Airport

Beijing Capital International Airport is located northeast of Beijing city center, China. In 2008 the airport registered 431,670 aircraft movements and 55.94 million passengers.
Frankfurt Airport

Frankfurt Airport is located Frankfurt am Main, Germany. This airport handled 53,467,450 passengers in 2008.
Dubai International Airport

Dubai International Airport is located southeast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In 2008 this airport handled 260,530 aircrafts and 37,000,000 passengers.

10 Most Unique Elevators in the World

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 21:10:00 -0800

It is hard to describe or to explain the fascination exerted by a fast elevator. I am sure that, for a jungle or countryside raise child, the elevators are by far the most interesting and fascinating thing in a big city.Many different reasons can make a certain elevator be interesting, amazing or fascinating.

The fastest elevators are for sure fascinating; they ensure accelerations bigger than a plane. Outdoor elevators are also amazing through dimensions, but many of them are causing serious environment issues. The elevators linking the parts of the city from different heights are very useful, and became iconic landmarks of that city.

Here I have compiled some of the world’s most unique elevators. I hope you will like it.

The Gateway Arch

The Gateway Arch of St. Louis, Missouri is a must see. To go to the top of the Arch, passengers in groups of five enter an egg-shaped compartment. The trip to the top of the Arch takes four minutes.
Santa Justa Lift

The Santa Justa Lift is in the city of Lisbon at Santa Justa Street. The Santa Justa Lift was made in 1902 and is powered by steam.

Hammetschwand Elevator

Europe’s highest exterior elevator is the Hammetschwand Lift located in Switzerland. It whisks passengers 153 meters up to the summit in less than one minute.

Lacerda Elevator

Connecting the old and the new part of Salvador, and allowing access to more than 30,000 people a day at a cost of $0.05 per 38 second ride, this elevator reaches a height of 72 meters.

Taipei 101

The world’s fastest elevator is installed at Taipei 101. The Taipei 101 is 101-storey building and has 67 elevator units. These rockets skyward at a peak speed of 3,314 ft. per minute.

Bailong Elevator

This 326 meter high elevator takes you up the side of one of the many enormous cliffs in Zhangjiajie, China. It is claimed to be the highest and heaviest outdoor elevator in the world.

Louvre Elevator

At the push of a button, the elevator inside the Louvre, Paris, rises to the occasion. A slide-out walkway appears once the circular platform comes to a rest for guests to board/disembark.

Eiffel Tower

Due to the shape of the Eiffel Tower’s curved legs duo-lift elevators are running up and down each of the four legs.

Luxor Inclinator Elevator

In Las Vegas, Nevada, at the Luxor Hotel, is the Inclinator. The shape of this casino is a pyramid. Therefore, the elevator travels up the side of the pyramid at a 39 degree angle.

Oregon City Municipal Elevator

This one is unique because it’s the only outdoor municipal elevator in the United States. The first elevator was made in 1915. The new elevator was dedicated in 1955.

7 Utterly "Lost" Cities of America

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:57:00 -0800

Photo:
While many might believe the term “lost” might only refer to misplaced items and confusing TV dramas, the cities in this article stretch the definition far beyond what Merriam-Webster ever considered. Some are lost to politics, others to education, and still other cities are just plain lost.
7. Roanoke Colony, NC

Photo:
Why is it lost?

Between 1585 and 1587, Sir Walter Raleigh attempted to establish the first English colony in the New World and failed miserably. War with Spain prevented resupply from England for three years. When people finally got the brilliant idea to go check on them, everyone had vanished. Thank you government!
Can it be found?

Many theories about the fate of the people of Roanoke exist. Some believe that they were massacred by natives, others believe they joined other colonies. Currently, DNA tests are being done on local residents to find possible descendants.
Should you care?

Not really, unless you trust your government to ensure your safety.
6. Provo, Utah
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Why is it lost?

The Bay Area Center for Voting Research ranked Provo as the most Conservative City in America. Seeing as how conservatives can be blamed for the widespread denial of global warming (read: the biggest threat to human beings second only to bears) I believe the lost title is prudent. For additional proof of lost status the Osmond family was born, bred and still inhabit and terrify this fantastic little town.
Can it be found?

Perhaps, but not likely. Donny Osmond is a lost cause.
Should you care?

Most definitely. Conservative parties only deny the existence of a global catastrophe because it threatens fiscal bottom lines. Someone needs to explain to them the negative effects of not having actual people around to buy their products and services.
Photo:
5. Clearwater, Florida
Why is it lost?

One word, many connotations: Scientology. The town of Clearwater is host to Scientology headquarters and the future home of the “Super Power Building,” a whacked out $45 million dollar, 170,000 square foot building that is the terrestrial equivalent to the Death Star.
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Can it be found?

There are those in Clearwater who oppose the Scientology Empire as demonstrated by a 1997 protest. However, with the recent news that the beloved Will Smith might be joining the ranks of the previously beloved John Travolta and the bat-shit crazy Tom Cruise, the dark side will quickly become undeniable to Clearwater citizens.
Should you care?

Only if they begin to employ storm troopers and/or they take away my antidepressants.
4. Sin City
Photo:
Someone borrowed my DVD and I forgot who.
3. Fort Wayne, Indiana
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Why is it lost?

Men's Health Magazine rated Fort Wayne as the dumbest city in the United States. While I am unsure of the criteria used by Men's Health, I assume that it has something to do with the name of their hockey team, the Fort Wayne “Komets.” Yes, that's comets with a K.
Can it be found?

While the phrase “US intelligence” is quite the international oxymoron, I do believe that Fort Wayne and similar cities can one day become significantly less dumb and perhaps even reach the sub par standards of the rest of the country.
Should you care?

Probably not. At the end of the day, Fort Wayne residents can still claim that they are all smarter than their president... whom they voted for in 2000 and 2004.
2. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Why is it lost?

Congratulations are in order. In three short years, Pittsburgh went from the number four most polluted city in America to the number one spot, replacing Los I-don't-trust-air-I-can't-see Angeles. Wow Pittsburgh, you really outdid yourself.
Photo:
Can it be found?

Let's hope so.
Should you care?

Yes. One-hundred percent yes. With the United States' refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol, the rest of the world and the other Kyoto signers feel no obligation to adhere to the protocol standards. Who can blame them? The US and China are by far the most polluting countries, so there really is no motivation for the rest of the world to follow suit. Until the United States government acknowledges the problems facing the planet and does something about it, it is up to individuals and city officials to make what small contributions they can. Pittsburgh, being the worst offender, has a unique opportunity to set an example and clean up their act. They could perhaps inspire other cities to do the same and make a real difference.
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1. Washington DC

I'm really not even going to touch this one. Editors, please fill the following space with expletives and the names of random politicians.
Photo:
Sources 1, 2

Around the World in 30 Colors

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 23:32:00 -0800

Photo:
lapidim
All day, every day we are surrounded by color, and even though we should be thanking the gods for being so lucky we’re too often numb to it. But when we have one of those lucid moments on viewing something special, seeing an awesome image and really taking notice of our world, it’s then we stop and say, "Wow!"
Here are some of those "Wow!" moments, captured forever so that we never loose sight of the color in our lives.

Colors of America and Australia

1. The contrast and colors in this image are mind blowing; enough to make anyone stop in their tracks. Taken in Pelourinho, Salvador City, Brazil the vibrant sarongs, towel and t-shirts contrast really well with the brightly colored painted walls and doors of the houses. Pelourinho, in Salvador city, once had a dark past – Pelourinho means ‘place to lash the slavors’ – but now the area is better known as an arts and culture center.
Photo:
lapidim
2. This awesome image was captured high on the plains of Cañon del Colca, Peru. The photographer was surprised to see locals going about their everyday business in the relatively remote area, but they sounded as if they knew just where to go to get business. These children, posing with lambs, were demanding one Peruvian sol per photo (about 30 cents) from tourists there to view the canyon. Cañon del Colca is one of the deepest in the world, said to be almost twice as deep as the Grand Canyon.
Photo:
Phillie Casablanca
3. The convention center in Montreal is an eye-catching piece of architecture and has recently become one of the most photographed buildings in the city. Inside, when the sun shines, light floods the lobby in glorious Technicolor, creating an ephemeral gallery, and a pretty nice place to work. Although, after a few days of looking at that all day it’s a wonder the receptionist don’t go blind!
Photo:
caribb
4. As much as we moan about it, isn’t decay a wonderful thing sometimes? This old boat was found rusting away in a parking lot – yep, you read it right, a parking lot. It was being transferred to dry dock but was just at the right height for the photographer to capture this great textured image. The colors and composition are totally amazing. A worthy find.
Photo:
ecstaticist

5. The glass sculptures of leading US designer Dale Chihuly have been exhibited in numerous museums worldwide. His colorful pieces are often inspired by the natural world and created with the help of a huge team of blowers, sculptors and assistants at his studio in Seattle. Dale also helped start a glass program at Rhode Island School of Design, which continues to be very successful.
Photo:
loja
6. A lick of paint always brightens up dreary downtown buildings. This street is in South Hill, Virginia makes a small town look welcoming and cheerful, or a bit too in touch with their Disney side, depending on what way you look at it.
Photo:
eric st john
7. Could a lake be any more colorful? It's an excellent shot but unfortunately, after much searching and toiling to find the original photographer, or any info on the image, we can't tell you much. So, if any of you lovely people know of where this is or could lead us on the path to the talented snapper, we'd love to hear from you.
Photo:
photographer unknown (for now)
8. Protected by a small barrier from the public, this view of a Japanese maple tree in the Japanese Gardens, Portland OR, has been replicated many times, and each time it still looks amazing, especially if taken during fall. Photography in the gardens is so popular that the quick-thinking owners charge $2 for those entering with a tripod!
Photo:
ahp_ibanez
9. Australians are a patriotic bunch, but this is going a bit far. Someone has painted the country’s flag on their beach hut in Brighton beach, Melbourne. Or it could be to advertise the Commonwealth Games when they were there. Either way it certainly adds an oomph to the watery pastel shades in the background.
Photo:
pyjama

Colors of Asia

1. India is often associated with vibrant colors. Their market stalls are always teeming with brightly colored powders for use in food and clothing, and once a year they celebrate their love of color during the spring Festival of Color, known as Holi. The festivities take place around March 21, beginning with the burning of an effigy of the demoness Holika. On the second day everyone across the country dresses in white before throwing colored powder and water on each other, a tradition that was once medicinal as the powders were made from certain herbs, but now it seems to be just one massive powder fight.
Photo:
marco bellucci
2. The photographer hasn’t said exactly what these pots of color are being used for but it could very well be to paint a Tibetan masterpiece. Tibetan art is very colorful and includes lots of bright primary colors as well as pastel shades.
Photo:
PePandora
3. India is very often a mix of decadence and decay. Colored building and boats line the polluted Ganges, rubbish lies all around, yet still there is beauty everywhere. This image captures all that is incredible about India in one shutter snap.
Photo:
utpal
4. Pottery in India is big business, especially terracotta pots. Here dozens are seen haphazardly piled on a market stall in Jaipur. Handling clay is innate to many Indians, for centuries they have been creating deities from clay and now have pottery making down to a fine art.
Photo:
mckaysavage

5. The early morning sun highlights the colors of these worshipper’s robes during a visit to one of India’s most famous mausoleums, the Taj Mahal.
Photo:
superamit
6. Teapots sit steaming on the coals in front in a tea shop in Bahrain. Tea houses line the streets of Bahrain and are important meeting places and social hotspots, mainly for men though. Tea drinking is one of the leading ‘things to do’ in the Persian countries, with Iran boasting the highest tea consumption rates per capita.
Photo:
Hussain Isa
7. Bangles, dozens of them, are synonymous with India. They have great social, cultural and religious significance in the country, and are seen as the epitome of feminine grace. In Hinduism particularly, bangles are considered essential as it’s regarded as improper for women to be bare armed.
Photo:
mckaysavage
8. Some photographers have the knack of getting the right image at the right time, and this is a perfect example. Women going about their daily business seem none too pleased to have been caught unawares, though.
Photo:
Joe Panchasarp
9. All we know about these madly colored buildings is that they are in China somewhere, possibly. High rises are commonplace all over the country so it’s a nice change to see a splash of color in the built-up areas. Although, not sure they’d be the prettiest things to wake up to every day.
Photo:
colin quek

Colors of Europe and Africa

1. Stretching from Italy to France is the small Italian region of Liguria. Like much of the rest of Italian costal towns village balance precariously on the hillsides by the side of the sea. The Italian Riviera is a continuous long line of sandy beaches and coves running for 340 km across the Ligurian Sea. The image shown here is one of the suburbs of the capital Genoa.
Photo:
tearsandrain
2. The decorative hand painted pottery of Morocco is often influenced by Islamic culture, which is evident in the detailed design. The patterns are dependent on where the wares are produced, as the geometric designs are often passed down through the generations. Some Berber tribes in the north of the country have been painting the same patterns for over 200 years.
Photo:
-sel-
3. Visitors to these leather dyeing vats in Fez, Morocco often report a very distinct smell, that of animal flesh and ammonia. Nice. That’s the only thing with photographs; you can’t always get the full experience of a place. Maybe one day someone will invent the scratch ’n’ sniff photo. But then again, maybe it’s a good thing we can’t always smell what we see in an image.
Photo:
jonkeegan
4. Not your usual iconic image of Africa, that’s for sure. These beach huts at St James, Cape Town were snapped just after sunrise; their colors all the more vibrant with the blue sky behind.
Photo:
Steve Crane

5. An Egyptian market in Aswan sells spices by the bucket load. Vibrant earthy tones line the stalls, filling the air with hungry aromas, making it difficult to walk through without thinking of where the next meal is coming from. The lively market town of Aswan is located not far from the mouth of the Nile and is one of the driest inhabited places on Earth. It is also a busy tourist center as most the of Nile cruises start or finish here, and is the main stop-off point for those wanting to visit one of the most impressive temples in the country – Abu Simbel.
Photo:
Aesum
6. It seems the Italians never seem to take a break from their seductive duties. This wonderful image was taken on one of the beaches. The writing in the love heart on the wall tells everyone the seat is a ‘bench of love’.
Photo:
fede
7. These bright yellow buildings are in Uppsala, the four largest city in Sweden. Many of the buildings are brightly painted to stand out against an often grey sky with the most dominant feature on the skyline being the Domkyrka (Uppsala Cathedral), which is the largest Cathedral in the whole of Scandinavia, standing at 118.70 m high.
Photo:
Georgios Karamanis
8. Markets the world over are awash with color, mostly from food grown on this good earth. This image of Mercat de Sant Josep de la Boqueria, or simply La Boqueria, in Barcelona is always stacked with colorful sumptuous fruit and veg. It sits just off the famous Rambla and dates back to at least 1217. It’s been a bustling market place ever since, and highly recommended for excellent traditional tapas.
Photo:
vgm8383
9. Colorful washing hangs outside a traditional painted house in Porto, Portugal’s second largest city. An ancient network of passages and cobbled, winding streets lend to the old charm of the city and make it very popular for short breaks within Europe. Often referred to as the capital of the north, Porto has a long-standing but good-natured rivalry with the country’s capital, Lisbon.
Photo:
Fr Antunes
10. “When it’s spring again, I’ll bring again, tulips from Amsterdam, when a heart that’s true, I’ll give to you, tulips from Amsterdam.” Only that old crooner Max Bygraves could say it with flowers. Holland is well known for fields of tulips, so it’s not surprising that market stalls are lined with them, and wooden ones are sold so they can last forever.
Photo:
marcel germain
11. Residents of this colourful apartment block in Bilbao can choose what color they would like their apartment to be, although we’re only going by what we’ve been able to find on the net, so if anyone lives there, let us know more about it. It would certainly brighten up a dull day.
Photo:
esti
12. If there’s one thing that is associated with British seaside resorts, it’s candied rock. It’s almost compulsory to buy a stick and see how long you manage to keep your teeth, that and trying out one of the rides at the inevitable amusement park teetering on the brink of a decaying pier. What fun!
Photo:
robnwatkins

Milano Santa Monica: An Eco-City Within a City

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 23:28:00 -0800

Photo:
All images via Home Design Find
Long famed for its legendary fashion houses, Milan soon hopes to be known as a cutting-edge leader in yet another area of design: green communities. Come 2013, the bustling metropolitan area will be home to Milano Santa Monica, a two million square metre green space that will feature 2,000 apartments alongside schools, shops and sporting facilities.

The project will be located seven kilometres outside the Milanese city centre in the town of Segrate, currently home to about 33,000 inhabitants. The ‘park’, as it is known, will take up about 10 percent of this small city’s total area.
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Milano Santa Monica uses principles of bio-architecture, also known as organic architecture. This type of design is heavily informed by the location and climate of the building site and strives to unify, or harmonize, the natural world with the human world.
Indeed, residents within the high-rise buildings are imagined to have calming views of nature and ample physical access in this green space as well. The plants will also help with insulation while providing clean, fresh air.
Energy conservation will be another hallmark of the project, with plans to generate both electricity and warm water using strategically placed solar panels.
Photo:
With no cars in sight, denizens of this town-within-a-town are shown in pictures strolling beside waterways under the cool shade of trees, or enjoying the sunshine in small groups.
Photo:
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4

Giant Sinkhole Devours Cologne's Past

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 23:26:00 -0800

Photo:
Image: Robert Brands
More than a week back, on Tuesday, 3rd March, the archive of the city of Cologne in Germany collapsed. The building at Severinstrasse 222-228 housed more than 18 km (!) of shelves, which held more than 65,000 documents, 500,000 photographs of the city and 100,000 architectural drawings and plans. While some are blaming the ongoing subway construction, we’re wondering – could it be another case of a giant sinkhole devouring everything around it?

The collapse of Cologne's city archive also damaged many neighbouring buildings:
Photo:
Image: Raimond Spekking
The archive wasn’t only one of the largest north of the Alps; it was also one of the oldest – first mentioned in the year 1322. Apart from documenting the history of the city of Cologne for many centuries, the archive was additionally home to the personal documents of almost 800 prominent German writers, politicians and composers, like Nobel prize winner Heinrich Boell, West Germany’s first post-war chancellor Konrad Adenauer, and the fathers of communism, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels.
The archive's ugly, concrete facade may have controlled the building's temperature but did not protect it from collapse:
Photo:
Image: Arnd Dewald
While officials believe that the archive’s collapse may be related to subway construction in the same street that required digging 28 m deep and previously shook other buildings, the possibility of a giant sinkhole cannot be disregarded. Sinkholes form when the bedrock or soil below subsides, causing the collapse of the topsoil and anything in its way, like concrete.
Read EG’s report in May about five giant sinkholes around the world and see more pictures of Cologne’s archive collapse or watch a commentary:

Source: 1, 2

Everyday Life At The Russian Antarctic Station

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 8 Feb 2012 03:54:00 -0800

Photo:
Image: Xavier M. Jubier
Dark days and long nights, temperatures up to minus 128 Fahrenheit, cramped living conditions and the same old jokes and people. Welcome to Antarctica, the place where you’ll find big eyes and bolos, new species of the human kind. Inspired by Anton Chekalin’s stunning pictures of Novolazarevskaya Antarctic Station featured last month, we got thinking about everyday life at a Russian Antarctic station.
When planning a stay in the Antarctic, getting there might be the first hurdle, but not the last. In psychospeak, ICE stands for isolated, confined environment and is very fitting when talking about Antarctic living conditions. There’s also everyday life on a base to reckon with, getting around and surviving out in the field, and killing time when nothing is going on…

Getting There

Novolazarevskaya has its own airstrip but landing is a challenge for any pilot as the runway is made of pure ice, and there is no snow on top to minimize skidding. One wrong move can have dire consequences. Still, a difficult runway is better than none, and Novolazarevskaya is an important hub from where other Antarctic stations receive their supplies.
The Ilyushin IL-76TD used for scientific and commercial flights from Cape Town to Novolazarevskaya:
Photo:
Image: Xavier M. Jubier
In olden times, the only way to the Arctic or Antarctic was through the ice, so the invention of the first ice breaker was a big event. Here’s more about it from a New York Times article on April 12th, 1899, titled “Russia’s Ice Breaker: Trial of the Vessel Designed to Facilitate Commerce in Frozen Harbors”, about the maiden voyage of the Ermak from Newcastle to Cronstadt:

“She is of steel, is 305 feet long, of 8,000 tons burden, and 6,000 horse power. The ship is very strongly built, and besides provision for carrying passengers and cargo is also adapted for towing. But the chief feature is a specially arranged screw under the bows. Admiral Makaroff came to the conclusion that if a volume of water could be forced beneath the ice it would have the effect of raising the huge mass which … could be broken by the prow of the ship being propelled against it.”

The Ermak, the first ice breaker, in 1899:
Photo:
Image via Prometeus
And the modern Russian ice breaker Yamal:
Photo:
Image via Gcaptain

Life on the Base

Already in 1959, the Soviet Union had built the Antarctic research station Lazarev, named after admiral Michael Lazarev, close to Schirmacher Oasis in Queen Maud Land in Eastern Antarctica. Though the continent’s smallest oasis, its proximity to the coast and a 100 m-high plateau shielding it from inland ice flowing north contribute to the milder climate than in surrounding areas. Perfect then as protection from the harsh winds and snowbanks, which is why in 1961, the research station was moved directly into the oasis and renamed Novolazarevskaya (New-Lazarev).
Today, Novolazarevskaya consists of five buildings and has a maximum capacity of 70 people in the summer:
Photo:
Image: Axarches
Vostok research station is at the center of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet, about 1,300 km from the Geographic South Pole. It is also the place where the lowest reliably measured temperature ever was recorded on July 21, 1983: ?89.2 °C (?128.6 °F). Brrr!
Located 3,488 meters above sea level and near a point called the Southern Pole of Inaccessibility, it is the most isolated established research station on the Antarctic continent. No wonder then that the usual capacity of 25 people drops to 13 in the winter.
Could you last here throughout the winter? Vostok research station:
Photo:
Image via Newzeal
A sign welcoming “visitors:”
Photo:
Image via Newzeal
But life on an Antarctic base is not all drab: payphones are provided for long-distance calls, if one has enough change!
Here’s a shot of two payphones at New Zealand’s Scott Base:
Photo:
Image via Coyoteblog
Electricity brightens up the dark days; here some Soviet-era switches at “Novo.” Check out the wall paper:
Photo:
Image: Chris Bowman
Or how about digging an ice tunnel for times when the wind chill really gets too much? This one was snapped at Novolazarevskaya:
Photo:
Image: Chris Bowman

Getting Around

Nobody can or would want to stay at the base camp the whole time, so transport vehicles are crucial in these extreme conditions.
Tank plus turbine engines equals Antarctic vehicle:
Photo:
Image: Xavier M. Jubier
This truck has been abandoned a while ago, apparently since the Soviet era of Antarctic exploration:
Photo:
Image: Anton Chekalin

Surviving

Supplies are crucial for Antarctic survival but with quite a few stations close to each other, even in times of emergency the bare necessities can be procured. Water might be a bigger problem, even in a country where so much ice is available. During extreme winter temperatures and snow storms, any trip outside becomes a challenge.
Pictured here is the water well at Novolazarevskaya, a 5-m (16 ft) deep hole in the thick ice to get fresh water and some sunlight from:
Photo:
Image: Anton Chekalin
Then, of course, there are the Antarctic storms where making it depends on the survival kit one carries: tent, food, stove, signal mirror, extra cold-weather clothing and some entertainment in the form of a book, crossword or a game in case the storm lasts a couple of days….
Antarctic survival kit for two:
Photo:
Image via Exploratorium

Killing Time

And speaking of survival, there’s the question of killing time. But given that Antarctica is a desert with a lot of ice around, that problem is quickly solved as drinking becomes a favorite pastime.
Photo:
Image via Hotgates
Says Nicholas Johnson, author of the book Big Dead Place , about the phenomenon:

"Barometrically, we are at an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet and temperately Antarctica is classified as a desert. It’s very high and very dry, so while one’s terrible thirst drives one to the conclusion that half of each beer is being lost to evaporation before it can be consumed, this is not really the case, thus two beers are conscripted where one might suffice. In addition, after one drinks two times as much as necessary to feel pleasant and warm in one’s otherwise empty bed, the dry air suddenly attacks in the night and robs one of all moisture whatsoever."

The choice of entertainment can be fairly eclectic:

"Your basic Antarctic party either includes meat and beer and standing around, or meat and beer and dancing to the Greatest Hits of the ‘80s while wearing disco clothes. For some reason, people can’t get enough of disco clothes here. They are a source of infinite delight."

Surely that’s not the image the Soviet government had in mind when sending researchers on Arctic and Antarctic missions. “The Great Stalin Plan for the Transformation of Nature” of the late 1940s was devised to bring water to the semi-arid Soviet hinterland. The plan called for channeling fresh water from the Russian Arctic all the way to the USSR’s central plains – ambitious ecological manipulation efforts that thankfully never saw fruition.
“We Will Defeat the Drought!” propaganda poster:
Photo:
Image via Cartographia

Antarctic Lingo

Speaking of linguistic manipulation, any close-knit group will devise terminology of its own; so too Antarctic explorers and support staff. So for those still wondering about the bolos and the big eyes, here’s a glossary of popular Antarctic slang:
For more terminology, check out this excellent Antarctic slang and jargon dictionary.
Source: 1, 2, 3, 4

11 Most Bizarre Border Crossings Around The World

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 6 Feb 2012 23:37:00 -0800

Photo:
Image: Frontex
For many, crossing a border conjures images of border personnel with stern expressions and gun belts, paperwork, questions, long lines and maybe sweaty palms. But borders can also be green, beautiful, informative and friendly – unusual, to say the least. It is also truly amazing where one can find border crossings, so follow us on a tour of astounding checkpoints around the mountains, deserts, seas and cities of the world.

Tunnel border crossings

Surely in the informative category is the underground border crossing between Austria and Germany. Housed at the Salzbergwerk in Hallein, a salt mine operating since 1517, one can learn about the salt mine that gave Salzburg its name before crossing the border. Actually, people taking the tour have to cross the border into Germany and then back again into Austria because the salt mine area is so large. And that’s not to be taken with a pinch of salt.
The underground border between Austria and Germany at the salt mine in Bad Dürrnberg:
Photo:
Image via Curious Expeditions
How could any tour of borders and borders crossings be complete without talking about illegal border crossing attempts?
One of the most incredible stories must be the one of a tunnel dug by West Berlin students in 1964 who wanted to get their girlfriends and other friends and acquaintances out of East Berlin, after their street, Bernauer Strasse, was divided right through the middle by the border demarcation, later to become the Berlin Wall. So they started digging a 145-m long tunnel from East to West. The image below shows the tunnel entrance (Eingang) under a defunct East German bakery at Bernauer Strasse, and the exit (Tunnelausgang) just a few blocks away in the basement of a private house in West Berlin. Postenstand marks the location of East German watchmen who had orders to shoot anyone trying to flee into West Berlin.
The location of the tunnel entrance and exit (left) and digging the tunnel (below):
Photo:
Photo:
Images via Berlin Street
The tunnel was ultimately found out and destroyed but only after helping dozens escape to their friends and relatives in the West. The area today is a historical site and many guided tours take place that explain the dramatic history of the street.
The Casa del Tunel Art Center in Tijuana, Mexico went even further: It used the site of an illegal tunnel that started from the basement of a private house – and is now a museum – and ended across the U.S.-Mexican border in a San Ysidro parking lot. The museum is also an international community centre that promotes and facilitates borderless art.
The Casa del Tunel Art Center in Tijuana, Mexico at sunset:
Photo:
Image via One's Own Art Show
The illegal drug tunnel between Tijuana and San Diego from which the museum originates:
Photo:
Image: Don Bartletti

Sea and lighthouse border crossings

Despite sharing a long water border through the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain and Morocco also share a coastal land border around the autonomous Spanish cities of Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa. The border consists of two parallel 3m-high (10 ft) fences topped with barbed wire, constructed by Spain to stop illegal immigration and smuggling. However, Morocco does not recognize Spanish sovereignty in North Africa.
Here’s the lit-up Spanish-Moroccon border in Ceuta on the North African coast:
Photo:
Image: Frontex
This scenic lighthouse is actually a border crossing between Denmark and Sweden:
Photo:
Image: John de Silva

Desert border crossings

This easy-to-miss heap of stones is a border post at the border between Morocco-controlled Western Sahara and Mauritania:
Photo:
Image: Remo Nemitz
The gates to the Western Saharan city of Tan Tan in Morocco cannot be called an international border, but surely are a gateway to the desert:
Photo:
Image: Remo Nemitz

Intra-city borders

How about standing with one leg in the Netherlands and one in Belgium while sipping a cappuccino? No problem in this Belgian, er, Dutch border café in Baarle-Nassau.
Netherlands to the left, Belgium to the right at this Dutch cafe:
Photo:
Image: Jerome

Mountain border crossings

This gate at the beginning of the 3900-m-high Torugart Pass, marking the border between Kyrgyzstan and China, surely falls into the beautiful category. Don't miss the line of waiting trucks on the left.
Doesn’t the Torugart Pass gate look straight out of Lord of the Rings?
Photo:
Image: reurinkjan
A U.S. soldier standing watch at Torkham Gate at the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan:
Photo:
Image: Daniel M. Rangel
Lesotho is not only completely landlocked by South Africa, like an island state settled within another country, it is also the world’s highest state at 1,400 m (4,593 ft) to 1,800 m (5,900 ft) in elevation.
A Lesotho border hut at the border to South Africa:
Photo:
Image: Bill Shields
This scenic spot in the Swiss and Italian Alps is the Margherita hut on the summit of Signalkuppe, a 4,559m-tall (14,954 ft) mountain marking the border between Switzerland and Italy:
Photo:
Image: Cosley Houston
We love the idea of scenic borders and more spaces dedicated to borderless art around the world. What's your story? Which unusual border crossing have you been to? We're sure there must be many more!
Source: 1, 2, 3, 4

The Rainbow Coloured Skies of India

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 6 Feb 2012 23:35:00 -0800

Photo:
Image: Naveen Gujje
India is for many a country of contrasts, extremes and in recent years, upswing. In fact, India Shining was the political slogan with which India started the first decade of the new millennium. Without doubt, it has always been a country of colours so, inspired by last week’s article on rainbows, we’ve arranged stunning pictures of Indian moodscapes according to the rainbow spectrum. Put on some A.R. Rahman, Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam or even Lucky Ali and follow us on an Indian tour de rang…

Many see red when they think of Mumbai’s prestigious but costly Bandra-Worli sealink project:
Photo:
Image: IM Swaminathan
A tree outlined in front of a dark orange sky on National Highway 47 near Trivandrum:
Photo:
Image: Shamih
One of Mumbai’s most recognizable landmarks is the Haji Ali mosque and tomb between Worli and the southern part of town. Built in 1431, the days of this mosque may be numbered as its structure has been eroded beyond repair by the force of Arabian Sea over the centuries. Plans exist to tear it down and rebuild it with the same marble that has served the Taj Mahal in Agra so well. Currently, up to 40,000 people of all faiths visit the mosque on Thursdays and Fridays. According to legend, Haji Ali, a wealthy merchant, drowned at this spot while on a pilgrimage to Mecca. In any case, it is a place of inspiration for many that has hardly been captured as beautifully as in the following picture.
Mumbai’s famous Haji Ali mosque in the Arabian Sea tinted yellow in front of a bright orange sky:
Photo:
Image: Humayunn N A Peerzaada
From light orange to yellow - palm trees in the setting sun in Kerala:
Photo:
Image: Hannah & Noah
Teen Minar (three towers) at the Elgandal Fort, 10 km from Karimnagar in Andhra Pradesh, bathed in green light:
Photo:
Image: Naveen Gujje
Painted green – pigeons, those universal creatures, gather near the Taj Mahal hotel in South Mumbai:
Photo:
Image: IM Swaminathan
Perfect blues – sunrise in Goa:
Photo:
Image: Salvatore Barbera
The next picture is not taken at a temple but at a private house in Cochin. The person sitting on the right is therefore not a statue but the photographer’s brother meditating.
From dark blue to violet – sunset in Cochin, Kerala:
Photo:
Image: spisharam
The Gateway of India is another one of Mumbai’s recognizable sites and one with historical significance too. Construction of the 26m-high (85 ft) basalt arch started in 1911 and was completed in 1924. Built on reclaimed land at the southern tip of the island that is Mumbai, it used to be the first sight that hopeful visitors arriving by boat would spot.
Perfect indigo – pigeons flying over Mumbai’s Gateway of India monument:
Photo:
Image: IM Swaminathan
Hyderabad’s NTR gardens bathed in a violet sunset:
Photo:
Image: Pranav
A powerful display of colours - sunset over Leh in Jammu and Kashmir:
Photo:
Image: Karunakar Rayker
Mix all colours and you will get grey, even in a colourful melting pot like Mumbai...
Grey skies over Mumbai before the onset of the monsoon:Photo:
Image: Elroy Serrao
A corner shop in Chennai bathed in a mysterious light:
Photo:
Image: Etienne Cazin
The Qutb Minar (“axis minaret”) in New Delhi is the world’s tallest free-standing brick minaret at 72 m (238 ft). Built between 1193 and 1386, Qutb Minar is one of the earliest examples of Indo-Islamic architecture. The whole Qutb complex is a UNESCO world heritage site.
A touch of the divine – the Qutb Minar in New Delhi:
Photo:
Image: bbjee
India Shining, a slogan popularised by the then ruling Baratya Janata Party (BJP) for the 2004 general elections in India, referred to an overall feeling of economic optimism after a good monsoon in 2003 and the Indian IT boom in 2004. Satirised as India Shining – Bharat Drowning (Bharat being the Hindi name for India), we hope that in view of the nearing monsoon and the ongoing elections, this will not be the case…
Source: 1, 2, 3

San Francisco From Above

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 6 Feb 2012 23:32:00 -0800

Photo:
Image: Jitze Couperus
Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge, Coit Tower, downtown, Fisherman’s Wharf… the sights of San Francisco are numerous. All the more fun is spotting them from above because they tend to look oh-so-different from a bird’s eye perspective. But see for youself and join us on our musical tour of “I Spy….” San Francisco.
San Francisco is the fourth most populous city in California, and the whole of the San Francisco Bay Area is home to more than seven million people. During the gold rush of the 19th century, the city was literally a “Golden Gate” for many adventurous fortune seekers. Though its old name Yerba Buena (from the Spanish hierba buena, the “good herb”) was changed in 1847 after the Mexican-American war, the term still has a valid (yet different) meaning for many today.

San Francisco is located at the tip of the San Francisco Peninsula and is framed by the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay. Characteristics of the cityscape are the grid-like structure of the city blocks, the many parks and green areas, bridges and islands belonging to the city.
The northern tip of San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background and the Bay Bridge in the foreground.
Hello, San Francisco
Photo:
Image: Roy Tennant
Here's a view of the southwestern end of San Francisco with Lake Merced in the foreground and the city skyline in the background.
California Dreamin’
Photo:
Image: Phil Whitehouse
Moving further north, here’s the Pacific Ocean and Lake Merced in the foreground and the Golden Gate Park and the Presidio on the horizon.
San Francisco on the Water
Photo:
Image: Roy Tennant
A beautiful panoramic shot of the city with the Sutro Tower on the left, the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin County in the distance.
Welcome 2 Da Bay
Photo:
Image: Roy Tennant
The Golden Gate Park stretching from east (top) to west (bottom). The symmetry of the city grid is mind-boggling, making the photograph look like an abstract piece of art. Absolut San Francisco, anyone?
My Side of the City
Photo:
Image: Roy Tennant
A close-up of Golden Gate Park with the De Young Museum (on the left) and the California Academy of the Sciences (above, right).
Beautiful Day
Photo:
Image: Roy Tennant
The Golden Gate Bridge and the Presidio park clearly visible and the city grid shining through thin layers of clouds.
Hazy SF
Photo:
Image: Carol Schaffer
The Golden Gate Bridge with golden sunset rays.
Golden Gate Bridge
Photo:
Image: Unknown photographer via Pixdaus
The northeastern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula and Marin County in the background.
California Sun
Photo:
Image: Roy Tennant
Pier 41 and Fisherman’s Wharf in front of the city skyline and the Bay Bridge faint in the background (top left).
San Francisco on the Water
Photo:
Image: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Alcatraz Island, the Bay Bridge, downtown and Fisherman’s Wharf on a clear day.
San Francisco
Photo:
Image: Gunther Hagleitner
Alcatraz Island was first discovered and named by the Spanish in 1775. “La Isla de los Alcatraces” means “Island of the Pelicans.” Today, the island is mainly home to cormorants, Western Gulls and egrets. After being a lighthouse, a military fort and prison and a federal prison until 1963, Alcatraz today is a national recreational area that features popularly in movies and on TV.
Holiday on Alcatraz Island
Photo:
Image: druchoy
Here's a view of the Bay Bridge on the left and the city skyline and the typical street grid, making it look a bit like downtown New York.
Frisco Town
Photo:
Image: Roy Tennant
The Bay Bridge and Yerba Buena Island in the middle of the San Francisco Bay between San Francisco and Oakland. A small piece of Treasure Island can be seen at the very top of the picture.
Journey to the End of the East Bay
Photo:
Image: moppet65535
A shot of the Financial District in the foreground and the peninsula stretching from east (bottom) to west (top) with the Golden Gate Park, Lincoln Park and the Presidion in the background (left to right).
The Chapter in Your Life Entitled San Francisco
Photo:
Image: Roy Tennant
The eastern part of San Francisco with Pacific Bell Park in the foreground stretching to the Sutro Tower and everything west of it disappearing under a thick layer of clouds.
Clouds over California
Photo:
Image: Roy Tennant
An almost surreal picture of San Francisco’s financial district emerging from the clouds and the Bay Bridge connecting to Yerba Buena Island, with Treasure Island on the right.
California Sun
Photo:
Image: Jitze Couperus
The corner of Columbus and Grant Avenue with North Beach, Alcatraz and Marin County straight ahead and the Coit Tower on the right.
San Francisco, Here I Come
Photo:
Image: Khaosaming
San Francisco International Airport, located 13 miles south of downtown, is a major gateway to Asia, Australasia and Europe.
San Francisco, Here I Go
Photo:
Image: Roy Tennant
Source: 1, 2, 3

10 Beautiful Yet Deadly Mega Metropolises

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 5 Feb 2012 02:14:00 -0800

Photo:
Image via UCAR
Any city with a few million inhabitants is bound to have problems: population, pollution, transportation, water quality, sanitation, crime, natural disasters – you name it. A mega metropolis with a population of 10 or even 20 million will have massive ones especially if it is disadvantaged due to geographic location. Seriously, would you want to be the mayor of one of the world’s biggest cities? Let’s take a look at ten of these mega metros around the world and see what’s bothering them most.
Many institutes and non-profit organisations such as the Blacksmith Institute, Mercer Human Resource Consulting and the World Health Organization keep track of pollution and “dirtiest cities” around the world. We have taken their lists and results into account and cities like Bogota, Karachi, Manila, Mumbai and Sao Paulo and even London, Paris, Athens, New York, Los Angeles and others were strong contenders. However, our focus was on global cities and one major problem that overshadowed others. So, without further ado, our list of Ten Deadliest Mega Metros in alphabetical order.

Beijing's old town, bathed in smog:
Photo:
Image: Boris von Hoytema

1. Beijing, China

Beijing’s main environmental problem can be clearly seen even by visitors who have just arrived in the city: a thick layer of smog that is constantly covering the city like a blanket. The city’s rapid development, like much of the rest of the country’s, and an increased population and resultant energy consumption saturated mainly by coal power plants have produced this polluted environment.
13 million people live in the urban area that is Beijing and 17 million in the whole Beijing municipality. Air pollution levels are five times over the WHO’s safety standards. Dust storms also plague the city when winds blow sand from the Gobi desert southward. Water is not only scarce but also contaminated: Almost 90% of the city’s underground water is affected by pollution, leaving millions without access to clean drinking water.
Many people have taken to wearing face masks in public:
Photo:
Image: Rob Loftis
Clean-up efforts by the Chinese government have included car-free days in the city, the introduction of electric bicycles, a great “green wall” to stop sand storms from the encroaching Gobi desert, a ban on plastic bags and other measures that were often put in place years ago. Still, the effects of the pollution can be felt even internationally with acid rains in Tokyo and Seoul and even as far as Los Angeles.
Rio de la Plata with Buenos Aires on the left as seen from space:
Photo:
Image: Jasques Descloitres, NASA

2. Buenos Aires, Argentina

Buenos Aires is a city that has everything going for itself: a rich history and culture, a pleasant climate and a good metro to shuttle around the 13 million inhabitants of this financial and commercial hub. If only it weren’t located in a flood plain with more than one third of the city's land at risk of floods.
Though many of the city’s lagoons and creeks were channelled and rectified to evade the city’s infrastructure, increased urbanisation, a building boom and shrinking green spaces have led to problems even with heavy rains: With no place for water to go, even heavy showers can cause flooding of some areas in Buenos Aires, bringing with it water pollution and resulting health risks for the population.
A flooded store in Buenos Aires:
Photo:
Image via dipnote
Some critics of the current urban planning and official “disaster management” measures disapprove of treating floods as an emergency in a city where they have occurred so regularly for decades, namely in 1905, 1966, 1977, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002 and 2008.
Not a fata morgana but the pyramids at Gizeh taken from Cairo Tower at sunset:
Photo:
Image via wunderground

3. Cairo, Egypt

With air pollution levels 10 to 100 times higher than the WHO safety standards, living in Cairo is like smoking a packet of cigarettes a day. Dangerous levels of lead, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and other gases form a deadly mix that affects all of Cairo’s citizens, while causing environmental damage, economic loss and last but not least, the destruction of ancient monuments. What has caused this alarming level of air pollution?
The view on a better day:
Photo:
Image: Linda Garrison
Urban industries, decades of unregulated car emissions and chaff and trash burning are the culprits. Plus, the city’s dry and hot desert climate and desert dust exacerbate the harmful effects of the pollutants. What’s being done? The Egyptian government started imposing air quality standards for industries and is trying to instile a sense of accountability in its citizens – all 17 million of them that make up the urban area that is Cairo.
Favelas in Caracas:
Photo:
Image via luminousether

4. Caracas, Venezuela

Caracas is known for its rich culture and history and its population including suburbs is estimated at 6 million. It is also the capital of Hugo Chavez country and since Chavez took over in 1998, Venezuela’s official homicide rate has climbed by 67%. At 130 murders per 100,000 residents, Caracas is the murder capital of the world, having overtaken even once notorious Bogota.
Protests in Caracas:
Photo:
Image via sky news
Some speculate that the actual figure is closer to 160 per 100,000 because the state omits prison-related murders, uncategorised deaths and those resulting from resistance to arrest by the Caracas police.
The urban sprawl that is Dar es Salaam:
Photo:
Image: Brian J. McMorrow

5. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Dar es Salaam, Arabic for “House of Peace,” is Tanzania’s vibrant economic and cultural center. The lack of a mass transit system in this city of 3 million assures that it is far from peaceful and overcrowding is putting a strain on the city’s sanitation programs. Solid waste, entering the Msimbazi River, contributes to widely spread infectious diseases among the city's population and other problems like carcinogenic effects, reproductive system damage, respiratory problems and damage to the central nervous system. Data on waste generation is inadequate or not available and therefore an efficient solid waste system cannot even be planned.
Urban waste at Msasani Bay beach, Dar es Salaam:
Photo:
Image: Loranchet
But the problem is not only the removal and recycling of “regular” garbage; there is also the problem of hazardous waste such as industrial and medical waste. There is no system in place in Dar es Salaam and no checks for hospital owners and industrialists who simply dump their hazardous waste at the Vingunguti dumping site without warning.
What’s being done? Programs promoting public awareness about the importance of proper sanitation and the establishment of a sanitary landfill are considered some of the most important measures to improve living and environmental conditions.
Dhaka from above:
Photo:
Image via dhakanawabfamily

6. Dhaka, Bangladesh

As Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka is no doubt the country’s economic, cultural and political hub. Environmental problems such as air and especially water pollution and congestion have contributed to the fact that Dhaka, a city of 12 million, is consistently ranked among the world’s least liveable cities.
Dhaka’s water situation especially is dire as river, canal and wetland pollution by different industries still goes largely unchecked, even though the city’s water has turned black in certain areas. In addition, 70% of Dhaka’s households are not connected to a waste water system so that human waste goes directly into one of the city’s rivers – Buriganga, Shitalakhya or Balu.
Even the river banks have become dumping grounds:
Photo:
Image via fojailnohel
No wonder that that the authorities can do little to purify this stinking brew. Currently, the water is “purified” for drinking by simply adding chlorine ammonia sulfate, therefore leaving millions without safe drinking water.
Urban sprawl, affectionately called Jo'burg:
Photo:
Image: Andres Annman

7. Johannesburg, South Africa

Finding crime statistics that do not focus on homicide alone is not easy but sadly, Johannesburg has stuck out for decades when it comes to crimes like theft, muggings, robbery and assault. Especially the city center has been a crime haven due to many businesses leaving for the suburbs, desertification of business areas after office hours, urban decay, slum development in the city center and high unemployment rates.
Depending on where one draws the boundary lines, Johannesburg has 4 million inhabitants (municipal city), more than 7 million (greater metropolitan area) or more than 10 million (including the Ekhuruleni, the West Rand, Soweto and Lenasia). In any case, Johannesburg is one of Africa’s two global cities, the other being Cape Town.
Johannesburg's crime centers mapped out:
Photo:
Image via ceroi
In recent years, the drastic measures that have been taken and growing economic stability have caused crimes rates drop. Closed-circuit TV systems at every street corner in Johannesburg's central area, installed since last December, have proven quite effective. However, the situation is still far from ideal and Johannesburg does want to put its best foot forward when hosting parts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, so the city has enlisted former mayor Rudy Giuliani’s help. For him, it’ll be a déjà-vu because he had to deal with very similar problems in New York City back in the ‘90s.
Did anyone say Megalopolis? - Mexico City:
Photo:
Image via Fairfield University

8. Mexico City, Mexico

Though the core city has “only” about 9 million inhabitants, the population of Greater Mexico City is estimated at 19 million, making it the third largest in the world. Its location in a valley has caused a thermal inversion where cool mountain air cannot reach the city but sits like a layer on the warm air below – like a steaming bowl of hot, polluted air.
While the traffic is certainly one cause, Mexico City’s more than 50,000 unregulated factories add more than their fair share to the 24,000 tons of pollutants that are emitted annually. For only about 31 days in a year is Mexico City’s air is actually considered safe to breathe and it is said that 100,000 children die because of pollution every year. Asthma and other chronic lung diseases are also prevalent.
Factories on the outskirts of the city:
Photo:
Image via marxsite
What has the city been doing? Trying to reduce traffic by permitting only cars with a certain number plate colour on certain days has not been working well because those who can afford their own cars simply alternate between their first, second or even third one. Busses, trucks and taxis still running on leaded petrol are not affected by the ban but at least an underground rail system is now taking some pressure off the streets. Plus, the city is monitoring air pollution so that on bad days, factories can be closed, school hours changed and travel restrictions implemented.
Industrial Moscow:
Photo:
Image: Alexander Petrenko

9. Moscow, Russia

When picturing Moscow, many think of the city’s cultural heritage with its many impressive structures, maybe the corruption, the city's high cost of living and industrial structures that riddle and pollute the city. However, few know that new radioactive waste sites are found in Moscow every year as the city expands. How did tons of low- to medium-level radioactive waste get to the banks of the Moscow River in the south of the city?
They were dumped by some 2,000 Cold-War-research institutes and industries in what were then the outskirts of the city. As the city expands, more and more of its radioactive secret is being discovered and now painstakingly shovelled away by nuclear workers and technicians who bury it in special tombs. But all these years, many of Moscow’s residential neighbourhoods were exposed to radiation levels several times higher than what is considered safe.
Power plant in Kapotnia, Moscow:
Photo:
Image: Sergey
Since 1996, routine radiation surveys are conducted for all new construction. But still, of Russia’s 65 nuclear plants, almost one third are located within the Moscow region, home of close to 17 million people. Among the most dangerous ones sitting on the biggest pile of radioactive waste are the Russian Research Centre Kurchatov Institute, the Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Physics, the All-Russian Research Institute of Chemical Technology, the Plant of Polymetals and the Molniya Machine Works.
And if all those years of contamination weren’t enough, the site is also precariously close to the Moscow River Bank, so that a contamination of the water would be possible if the work wasn’t carried out with outmost care – painstakingly with spades rather than bulldozers.
Rush hour in New Delhi:
Photo:
Image via oldstersview

10. New Delhi, India

As with many of the world’s biggest cities – and the Indian Capital is the eighth biggest with 16 million inhabitants – water is Delhi's main problem. Getting water in the first place and purifying it are the two biggest challenges. Many drains of the city’s industries of all sizes empty directly into the city’s water lifeline, the Yamuna River.
Toxic chemicals like arsenic, mercury and fluorides regularly seep into the city’s underground water system and pollutants like nitrates, potassium, phosphates and heavy metals like cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, nickel, lead and zinc are affecting people and the environment. Even those who do not get in contact with these chemicals through contaminated water will most likely do so later on through the fruits, vegetables, meat and grains they eat, the places they work, and the air they breathe.
Just round the bend from Delhi’s famous Juma Mosque, the Yamuna is full of garbage:
Photo:
Image via gangajal
After this tour de force of natural disasters, toxins, crime, murder, nuclear waste, air pollution, water pollution, industrial pollutants and lack of sanitation, one can clearly see how life in a metro can be deadly. What inspired us at Environmental Graffiti are the contradictions that these megacities show. They may be deadly, yes, especially in the long run, but then they offer something to millions of people that other parts of the world cannot: hope. Therefore one can say that megacities are the nerve centers of our world and that by looking at them, we can anticipate many of the issues that we will all have to deal with sooner or later.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21

Paris Evolving Under the Gaze of Notre Dame's Gargoyles

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 5 Feb 2012 02:10:00 -0800

Photo:
Photo: Florian Siebeck
They sit perched atop dizzying heights, often unnoticed by human eyes but ever watchful of our movements. They have outlived us by centuries and under their gaze the story of a city's sins and changing face can be told. The gargoyles of the famous Notre Dame Cathedral – half man, half beast – preside over Paris, and have done so since the medieval era. To them, whole generations pass in the blink of a stony eye.
Notre Dame gargoyle, date unknown

Photo:
Photo: Photographer Unknown via Horizon Research Institute
The Black Death, the Hundred Years War, the influence of The Renaissance, the French Revolution, the Rise of Napoleon, the Impressionists working on the banks of the Seine, the Industrial Revolution, Baron Haussman's rebuilding of Paris, the impact of two World Wars. All these events and many more have come to pass under the gargoyles' watch.
Notre Dame gargoyle, 1968
Photo:
Photo: FreiGurita
During a period of unprecedented civil unrest, May 1968 witnessed the outbreak of a series of student protests at various universities and lycées in Paris, following confrontations between students on one side and university administrators and police on the other. The de Gaulle government's attempts to quash the strikes with force only added fuel to the fire, leading to street battles in the Latin Quarter, where the students had barricaded themselves.
Notre Dame gargoyle, 2006
Photo:
Photo: Carlos Eduardo Seo
Arguably a less memorable year in the French capital's history, 2006 nevertheless witnessed significant events, and indeed its own share of activism, with the historical Place de la Bastille the site of youth protests against a government bill to deregulate labour. Less contentiously, since 2006 several skyscrapers have been approved in the business district of La Défense – visible on the horizon, far right – to try to boost the economic image of Paris by the time they are completed in 2010.
Le Stryge, Notre Dame, early 1900s
Photo:
Photo: Photographer Unknown via Vintage Postcards
This particular gargoyle, here photographed in the early 1900s, is probably the most famous – if not infamous – of Notre Dame's gothic gargoyles, and hence might also claim to be the world's most recognised grotesque stone-carved figure. Known as Le Stryge, or the vampire, this brooding figure also presents a somewhat comical visage with its tongue sticking out and hunched demeanour.
Le Stryge, Notre Dame, 1968
Photo:
Photo: FreiGurita
Le Stryge, Notre Dame, 1988
Photo:
Photo: Gordon Heaney
Le Stryge, Notre Dame, 2005
Photo:
Photo: Zerotreehill
The gap between these three photos is less than forty years, but the differences seem quite striking – maybe due to advances in photographic technology as much as any physical changes in the cityscape. The first two shots, from 1968 and 1988 respectively, focus on Le Stryge – which almost looks more bored than menacing – from tighter angles; the last, from 2005, shows Paris under sunny skies, with the famous Sacré Coeur just visible in the distance between the gargoyle's horns and wings.
One of Notre Dame's gargoyles overlooking Paris, 2005
Photo:
Photo: beggs
Like other medieval gargoyles, those decorating Notre Dame were intended as drainage spouts, with internal passages that carry rainwater from the roof and out through the gargoyles' mouths. The word gargoyle actually comes from the French gargouille, which originally meant "throat" or "gullet", and Latin words like gurgulio, from the root gar, "to swallow", representing the gurgling sound of water.
Notre Dame gargoyle, 2002
Photo:
Photo: Laertes
Of course the monstrous appearance of the gargoyles is no happy coincidence, and many believe they were designed to frighten away evil spirits. Da Vinci Code fanatics and conspiracy theorists will doubtless make some secret symbolic connection between these gargoyles and the minds of medieval masons, and of course such hybrid chimeras have made appearances in popular culture everywhere from The Hunchback of Notre Dame to Ghostbusters. Do they threaten damnation or worse to sinners? Judgement Day awaits in Paris.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

The Incredible Light Shows of Niagara Falls

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 4 Feb 2012 00:03:00 -0800

Photo:
Image by comic book guy.
What do you get when you illuminate one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls with nearly 5km of shimmering floodlights, over 125 animated displays and 3 million sparkling tree and ground lights? A dazzling extravaganza that will make you see the Niagara falls in a whole new light – and for those of you who can’t make it, we decided to take a closer look.

Photo:
Image by James Watkins.
For three months every winter the Niagara Festival of Lights brings enchantment to one of the world’s most famous natural landmarks. Most come to see the falls themselves, beautifully backlit by thousands of coloured floodlights, which take on a magical aura – appearing to the eye like great mists of coloured dust drifting through the night.
Photo:
Image by James Watkins.
And there is plenty to do other than gaze captivated at the falls: visitors can take a stroll along the riverbank, complete with dozens of animated light shows depicting local heritage, or they could head to the Great Canadian Outdoors display on Dufferin Island, where nearly a quarter of a million LEDs radiate into the darkness. You can even spend the night with your favourite Disney characters at the Enchantment of Disney display in Queen Victoria Park.
Photo:
Image by James Watkins.
The pièce de résistance, a dramatic firework display, sends streaks of colour exploding high over the mighty falls every Friday, and can be seen for miles around. But if the lights prove too much, you might find it hard to escape: head into town and you will find yet more sparkling light displays, put on by both city authorities and local residents.
Photo:
Image by James Watkins.
But who can really complain when such a fantastic festival is free (organisers do suggest a $10 donation)? After all, isn’t this a powerful and environmentally friendly model for future entertainment – using technology to illuminate (in both senses) the natural world around us, and to show nature in its best light?
Sources: 1, 2

Amsterdam From Above

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 23:59:00 -0800

Photo:
Image: harry.kontos
Amsterdam, ah Amsterdam. City of red lights, amber-hued beers, and green, green grass; a city much less in need of traffic lights than most owing to its winding bike paths and of course its famous historic canals – more reasons why green could be said to be this city’s colour of choice. With its rich history, vibrant culture and liberal attitude, the Dutch capital is well worth wondering through, and yet a city of such distinctive design is also brilliantly appreciated from above.
Downtown Amsterdam from the air

Photo:
Image: Amsterdam Hotspots
A bird's eye view is the quick way to understand that the layout of downtown Amsterdam is like a half-finished web or wheel – and no, the inspiration for this analogy wasn't born of too many hours spent in one of the city's coffee shops. The city arcs out south from the Central Railway Station, with the various roads and canals that are its spokes intersected by four semicircular concentric canals.
A wider angle on Amsterdam from above
Photo:
Image: Amsterdam Hotel & Travel Information
The four canal rings were carefully planned and built during the 17th Century, with the outermost waterway designed for defence and the inner canals intended to help house the swelling population. Known as the Grachtengordel, the entire crescent-shape embraces the heart of the city – replete with head-turning gabled architecture – though the eastern part of the canal plan was never completed.
Wider focus still: Amsterdam as seen from SPOT satellite
Photo:
Image: Cnes - Spot Image
The "Venice of the North" is said to contain about 90 islands, linked by 400 or so bridges and interlaced by some 100 km of canals – even more than its Italian rival to the title of world's most watery city. During the 19th Century, many of the city's canals were filled in to make way for streets and squares more accessible to modern traffic, though thankfully similar plans in the 1950s were never fully realised.
Aerial view showing how Amsterdam's canals lead into the IJ
Photo:
Image: harry.kontos
The beautiful shot above reveals how Amsterdams’s network of canals terminate in the IJ, the river and former bay that affords the city its waterfront and ultimately feeds into the open waters of the North Sea.
River Amstel meandering through Amsterdam
Photo:
Image: GFDL
The River Amstel connects with the city's canals from the south before terminating in the city centre. The river was named after the beer, not the other way round – but Amsterdam is certainly proud of its alcoholic exports. The Heineken Experience, a fun-filled museum based in the original brewery that tells you all about the green-labelled lager and leaves you staggering out the door, is one of the city's attractions.
Amsterdam's oldest building: The Oude Kerk
Photo:
Image: André Bonacin
Debauchery of some sort is on the menu for many visitors to Amsterdam, and central to satiating this appetite is De Wallen, the famous red light district and home to legal sex trade galore as well as plenty of the city's cannabis-selling coffee shops. It seems ironic that smack in the heart of this alleyway-riddled area is the Oude Kerk, Amsterdam's oldest church and building, consecrated in 1306.
Amsterdam's Jordaan district as seen from the Westerkerk
Photo:
Image: Gabrio
Of course Amsterdam also has plenty to appeal to the more sober-minded. Another of its most iconic churches is the Westerkerk, designed by Dutch architect Hendrick de Keyser and completed in 1631. A landmark of Amsterdam's own Renaissance architecture, the Westerkerk borders the Jordaan district, whose buildings were also built in this style of the city's and are recognisable by their distinctive facades.
Post-war photo of Anne Frank House, secret annex in the back visible
Photo:
Image: Anne Frank House
Formerly staunchly working class, but now very much upscale, Jordaan is perhaps most famous for one of its former residents: Anne Frank. When the Nazi's occupied Holland during World War II, the world renowned diarist went into hiding in her father's office building on the edge of Jordaan, and there spent the remaining years of her life before she and others were betrayed and sent to concentration camps.
Aerial shot of Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum
Photo:
Image: Christchev
Other must stops for visitors to Amsterdam include the Van Gogh Museum and the impressive Rijksmuseum located on the Museumplein, or Museum Square. The Rijksmuseum boasts a huge collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age, the period roughly spanning the 17th century when Dutch trade, science and art were among the best in the world.
Photo:
Image: di the huntress
And finally, a picture taken from outside the city limits, away from the hussle and bussle of hubs like Dam Square – site of the dam in the Amstel that gave the city its name – and further proof that a green aura seems to pervade this great city.
Souces: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

La Tomatina 2009: Pictures from the World's Largest Tomato Fight!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 02:44:00 -0800

Photo:
Image: Tomatina2009
The official website of La Tomatina says it all: tomatofight.es. That what it’s all about, a tomato fight that involves many tourists and the whole city of Buñol in the province of Valencia in eastern Spain. Held every last Wednesday in August, it’s tremendous fun for young and old. But there are rules and it’s okay even from an environmental standpoint. Find out why.
Swimming in tomatoes:

Photo:
Image: Tomatina2009
This year’s Tomatina took place on Wednesday, August 26th and involved 45,000 ketchup-hungry participants and 125 tons of tomatoes. “What a waste!” we hear the environmentally conscious scream but be reassured that the town of Buñol is by now a pro at organising the festival. Only the worst tomatoes possible were used, specifically grown in Extremadura for this festival and never intended to be eaten or sold. Phew!
Here’s a video that captures the atmosphere minutes before the festival got started – a mixture of carnival and football game. Don’t miss the houses protected by huge plastic sheets!

But now, for the rules. Despite what the pictures make one believe, La Tomatina is not a day-long tomato-throwing orgy. At around 10 in the morning, the first task is for one of the participants to succeed in removing a piece of ham that sits atop a thoroughly greased pole. Not an easy feat as one can imagine but determination pays off. Only when someone has brought the house, er, ham down can the festival begin.
Thorough greasing of the pole:
Photo:
Image: Yongxinge
A clean tomato face, clearly before:
Photo:
Image via 2camels
Step aside for the tomato truck:
Photo:
Image: Tomatina2009
A shot is fired and then all hell breaks loose: participants throw tomatoes at each other and bystanders run for cover, not forgetting their cameras. Participants can throw tomatoes and tomatoes only at each other and need to squash them to make being hit messy but not painful. After exactly one hour, another shot is fired, signaling the end of the tomato fight.
A video during the fun – makes you see all red:

Then, the water cannons come into action to wash the streets clean again. Even here, water comes from a Roman aqueduct and not from the town’s drinking water supply. Visitors sticky with squashed tomatoes in their hair, faces, t-shirts, pants and er, everywhere are just as eager to be washed, so helpful residents will hose them down.
Professional Tomatina fighters don goggles, bathing caps and gloves:
Photo:
Image: James O’Brien II
No soap is needed – for the roads at least – as the acidity of the tomatoes works as a natural cleaner. What luck they’re not throwing eggs!
As for the beginnings of the festival, various theories exist. The only thing clear is that it started in the summer of 1945. Some say disgruntled townspeople threw tomatoes at councilmen during a celebration, some blame youngsters, and some a bad musician during a parade who got a volley of tomatoes instead of applause. Others believe an accidental lorry spill got a bit out of hand. Personally, we think that after the war years, people just needed to let go and have some messy fun.
Say Tomatiiiiina:
Photo:
Image: Aaron Corey
Fact is, whatever it was, it caught on so that the Tomatina got bigger and wilder year by year. Initially, people simply brought their own tomatoes and threw till their stock ran out, often to then participate in random acts of vandalism. After trying – unsuccessfully – to prohibit the festival in the ‘50s, the City of Buñol finally realised that if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em, and decided to make the festival official in 1957.
During the Franco period, it was forbidden again due to a lack of religious significance but was revived after Franco’s demise in 1975. Today, the festival is celebrated in honour of the town’s patron saint, St. Louis Bertrand, and the Mother of God of the Defenseless, another title of the Virgin Mary.
Since 1980, the City of Buñol has taken over the tomato supply and the organisation of the clean-up. Nothing like a good old organised food fight!
One reveler sums it up best:

“I would recommend the experience to anyone with a mischievous side. After an hour of watching by the sidelines, my friends and I tried to slide nearer to the action and were immediately accosted by a group of young Spanish lads covered in tomatoes. Seeing that we were completely clean, they relished hammering us with tomatoes but we held our own for the last few minutes of battle. Such a bizarre but immensely-fun tradition, it must be seen to be believed!”

Sources: 1, 2, 3

10 Best Architectural Cities of the World

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 1 Feb 2012 01:51:00 -0800

Every city has its architectural wonders, from historic monuments to soaring new skyscrapers. What works of architecture make your favorite city special? If you like to spend your vacation sightseeing, walking trough old town cores and admiring the architecture then this list will help you a lot.

Here I have compiled some of the best architecture cities of the world. When I was done with the list I remembered Damascus also has a very good architectural history. So please add cities in comment section which you think I missed.

Florence, Italy

Florence is architectural Renaissance capital of Europe. Things you must see are: Academy of fine arts Art museum the town hall. The churches are also admirable. One of the must see attractions is definitely a medieval bridge Ponte Vecchio.

Paris, France

Paris has it all the Eiffel tower, the Moulin Rouge. The city itself is like a giant museum. The Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre, Arc de Triomphe… Take a longer vacation to see it all!

Berlin, Germany

Berlin’s old home town is a nice way to start the tour. Some others are Sony Center, the Reichstag the Jewish museum and many others. Since the Wall fell, Berlin transformed many of its buildings. There are also the remains of the Wall to be seen.

Brasilia, Brazil

The city is laid out as a cross abuts when seen from the air it looks like a giant butterfly. It was declared a UNESCO world heritage site. Things worth seeing: Cathedral Basilica, Palacio de Alvarado, the Cultural complex of the Republic.

Shanghai, China

You will find some of the greatest modern work of arts. The tallest building the Jin Mao Tower is definitely worth seeing. In the Oriental Pearl Tower not only you will admire the design of the building but you can go shopping as it’s a mall and a hotel.

Athens, Greece

I’m sure Athens needs only a few words to be said about it: the Acropolis, the Parthenon, Academy of Athens and one of the newest – the Athens Olympic stadium.

Barcelona, Spain

Take a longer vacation for this one also: Park Guell, Palau de la musica Catalana, Hospital de Sant Pau, Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Familia, the Montjuic Communications Tower.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

No limits here! They really build whatever they imagine over there. The whole city is an architectural wonder so I won’t be mentioning any buildings in particular. But I must say that not so long ago, it was only a desert and nothing else.

Rome, Italy

You won’t be seeing modern architecture in Rome but seeing the Colosseum, the Roman Forum, the Sistine chapel, the Pantheon really does it! You must also visit the Vatican.

Chicago, Illinois

The word skyscraper was coined in this architecture wonder. Then you can assume why I recommend visiting it. The Sears Tower is the tallest building in the United States. Also worth seeing are Marina city, Millennium Park and Wrigley building.

source

10 Best Cities to Be Seen on Bicycle

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 1 Feb 2012 01:48:00 -0800

Not only it is more Eco-friendly, but you will explore the city much better than you would by car. No traffic jams, no endless searches for parking… Bicycle is a great way to scan your chosen destination. And most of the people of the cities which you will see in this list use bicycle as the mean of transportation.

Here I have compiled some of the best cities to be seen on bicycle. I hope you will like it.

Montreal, Canada

Montreal really is making an effort to make your bicycling as safe as possible. The city government invested more than $130 million in bike routes and to create a bicycle friendly atmosphere. There are more than 2400 miles of trails and the number is still rising.

Barcelona, Spain

Great thing about Barcelona is that it has a green ring surrounding the urban core of the city. The routes are great, with more than 100 bike stations where you can rent and drop off a vehicle.

Curitiba, Brazil

Curitiba’s city government really puts up lot of attention to the bikers. They really want for people to get used to using bikes rather than cars. So they invest quite a lot of money to make biking as safe as possible.

Trondheim, Norway

This one has gone so far that they have bicycle lifts – if pedaling uphill is to demanding for you, just take the lift! So don’t be surprised if you see a lot of people in their suites rushing to work – they won’t get sweaty. However, if you feel like exercising, just don’t use the lifts and go your own way.

Basel, Switzerland

Basel also has a terrific bike-rental program available both to residents and tourists of course. It also has special street lanes for biking only and adjusted to bikers! Great way to tour the city!

Amsterdam, Netherlands

More than 40% of all the commutes that take place here are done by bicycle. Wonder why? Go and check for yourself but trust me, you’ll feel foolish sitting in a car when you see all those people biking calmly and completely safe over there! Of course, even in Amsterdam, riding under the influence is a bad idea!

Portland, Oregon

Portland has created bicycle paths that connect the urban parts with the downtown. So unlike most of the U.S. cities, you don’t need a car to go to go to work. So why should you for exploring the city?

Bogota, Colombia

Bogota became bicycle-friendly for economic reasons. Most of the residents can not afford the car. The city government knows the problem and did it’s best to make biking safe and comfortable. They even close over 70 miles of streets and make them available only for bicycling, jogging or walking.

Beijing, China

If you have ever seen a documentary on China, I’m sure you saw how many bicycles there are on the roads. No wonder; China is so overpopulated! Therefore I cannot think of a better way to go sightseeing – go biking instead of using a car.

Copenhagen, Denmark

This one you will enjoy even more – you can rent a bike for free. Suppose this is the reason that more than 30% of inhabitants don’t even want to own a car. Explore this charming city in an Eco-friendly, safe and more relaxed way!

source

Beijing’s Forbidden City

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:44:00 -0800

Photo:
Image: d’n’c
Located exactly in the centre of the ancient city of Beijing, the Forbidden City is the world’s largest palace complex. YongLe (or YungLe), the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty, ordered its construction in 1406, which lasted until 1420. Not very long for such an impressive complex but then, about one million workers were employed, among them 100,000 artisans alone.

A temple in one of the Forbidden City’s many gardens:
Photo:
Image: Peter Fuchs
The Forbidden City housed 24 emperors, their imperial families and huge courts for almost 500 years – about 9,000 people at the end of the 18th century. After 14 emperors of the Ming Dynasty, 10 of the Qing Dynasty followed. The last Emperor of China was PuYi, with whose abdication in 1912 the Forbidden City ceased to be China’s political centre.
One of four watchtowers, here at the northwest corner of the 8-m-high wall:
Photo:
Image: kallgan
Guarding the Forbidden City for the last 500 years:
Photo:
Image via pixdaus
Bernardo Bertolucci’s movie The Last Emperor (1987) followed the life of PuYi, China’s last emperor, and was the first feature film that got authorisation by the Chinese government to be filmed in the Forbidden City. They even snubbed Queen Elizabeth II whose visit coincided with the filming of the movie’s large coronation scene. Tough luck for the queen; she couldn’t visit the palace complex. We wonder if she ever watched the award-winning movie.
A 1:25 scale model at Tobu World Square depicting a scene from The Last Emperor:
Photo:
Image: Fred Hsu
The Forbidden City is often referred to as the Palace Museum or GuGong in Chinese, meaning Old Palace. It covers 720,000 sq m (7,800,000 sq ft) with almost 1,000 buildings and about 9,000 rooms – the largest collection of preserved ancient wood structures in the world, which is why the Forbidden City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
A reflecting pool inside the Forbidden City:
Photo:
Image via pixdaus
The Forbidden City was also referred to as the Purple City because of the ample use of the colour. Purple was considered the colour of joy and happiness by Chinese cosmology, symbolising the North Star. The emperor therefore established himself as a Son of Heaven and only he was allowed to wear and use purple and to sign his name in purple ink.
Visitors often don’t know where all to look – here an elaborate ceiling design:
Photo:
Image: Pluke
Already by YongLe’s times, the palace complex had become known as the Forbidden City or Tzu Chin Ch’eng in Chinese, literally meaning “the purple city (Ch’eng) of the North Star (Tzu) that one cannot enter (Chin).” The city was called forbidden because no one could enter or leave without the emperor’s permission.
The Nine Dragon Wall – can you count them all?
Photo:
Image: Seebeer
Another interesting fact is that almost all the buildings in the Forbidden City face south – to keep out harsh northerly winds for sure but also because north was considered evil as all prior invasions had been from that direction. The few pavilions facing north were those for the emperor’s rejected concubines. Ouch!
Keeping such a large palace complex presentable is no small task and just recently, large parts have undergone major renovation, leaving visitors with fewer choices of places to stroll and wander around.
Restoring the old wooden structures takes time and effort:
Photo:
Image: kallgan
Though a considerable amount of many of the Forbidden City’s treasures gathered over the centuries were brought to Taiwan for “safekeeping” (some call it looting), visitors to the Palace Museum still have about one million artifacts to feast their eyes on. No wonder that instead of this tiring endeavour, many visitors opt for a stroll through one of the many gardens instead.
Watering the Forbidden City:
Photo:
Image: Thierry
Just as intricate as the many reliefs and other palace details are the facts about the Forbidden City. Those inspired to visit may want to watch Bertolucci’s movie first before booking their tickets.
Sources: 1, 2, 3

Former War Zones Too Dangerous to Enter

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:38:00 -0800

Photo:
United Nations Photo
When the smoke clears and the last shells have fallen, some war zones will retain painful reminders of former unpleasantries.

Photo:
Albert Augustin
During the bitter Yugoslav wars of the early-to-mid 1990's, national armies and irregular militias alike began to plant landmines throughout Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina as an alternative to posting soldiers to guard borders. These were desperate measures carried out during desperate times, and records of exactly where the mines were placed were kept in sketchy, hastily-prepared notes. These notes were written in the language of the units that prepared them, unintelligible to all others, and in any case were frequently lost or destroyed during the chaos of the war. The result is that certain areas within these countries, some of them close to major cities, are still no-go areas. The hills that rise above Sarajevo are beautiful but deadly, as uncleared minefields are present even this close to the Bosnian capital.
Photo:
Stephanie Yoder
The Croatian travel literature states that there have been no landmine incidents since 2006, but in regions such as Dalmatia even now there are 1,000 square kilometres of 'suspected' territory that still needs to be cleared, and the Croatian government are calling for EU aid to do so. Affected areas are far from the coastal areas popular with tourists, and those living in afflicted regions claim that since the war ended, money has been funneled into improving coastal resorts rather than the rural areas containing minefields. Today, the skull-and-crossbones looms over many parts of the otherwise beautiful Balkan landscape.
Photo:
Kyle Simourd
Landmines are cheap, but landmine-detection technology is expensive, and countries emerging from the fog of war seldom have the kind of economy that is necessary to deal with problems of this scale.
Sharing borders with South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, Mozambique lies in a particularly troubled part of Africa. In the 1950’s and 60’s, while the European powers were granting independence, with varying degrees of reluctance, to their African colonies, Portugal held on tightly to its Eastern African possession. The people of Mozambique had to wrest independence from Portugal through ten years of fighting. Decades more of civil war followed. But when hostilities finally ceased in 1992, Mozambique was left so mine-ridden that much of its farmable land had been rendered unusable. Mines were planted almost at random away from strategic areas in order to deliberately prevent peasants from being able to support themselves through farming. Power lines and roads were mined as part of deliberate attempts to disrupt the infrastructure of the country.
Photo:
Yutako Nagota (United Nations)
It's not in the news too frequently because tourists rarely go there, but the beautiful and stark Western Desert of Egypt also has a serious landmine problem. Conflicts dating back as far as 60 years have left this area potentially even more dangerous than those mentioned above. In this case, it's the extreme age of the devices that make them even more unpredictable.
Photo:
Philip Bailey
The 'Desert Fox' Rommel and his troops left thousands of landmines during his North Africa campaign during World War 2, and they left Egypt as one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. Some of these are linked to known battle grounds such as El-Alamein, but every year nomadic peoples still come across unexploded devices in unexpected places.
Wherever they have been used, mines continue to cause misery for developing and post civil-war countries long after the reasons they were placed there have passed into history.
source

Welcome to Deception Island

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:36:00 -0800

Photo:
Photo: The Cool Family
Deception Island. The name alone conjures intrigue, concealment and trickery. Upon approaching this remote, horseshoe-shaped Antarctic outcrop, a desolate and forbidding coastline looms – sheer, snow-capped rocky crags and barren volcanic slopes cloaked in a soup of swirling fog. Occupied sporadically for a century or more, ghost settlements are now all that remain of the island’s earlier human ventures. Several vicious volcanic eruptions have made sure of that.

Spectres of the dead: Graveyard in 1962 later buried by the 1969 eruption
Photo:
Photo: Rear Admiral Harley D. Nygren, NOAA Corps (ret.)
The sub-zero air above the glacier-covered landscape was cold enough to cause death in minutes, but beneath the trembling earth and frozen sea, the lava was beginning to boil. On 5 December 1967, the first of a series of fierce volcanic eruptions shook Deception Island. The men inhabiting the base posted so precariously on this landmass of ice and fire were forced to withdraw.
Vanquished: Derelict British base in Whalers Bay destroyed by volcanic eruption
Photo:
Photo: Lyubomir Ivanov
The base was tentatively used again from 4 December 1968, but operations lasted a matter of months. On 23 February 1969, the giant volcano the men effectively lived on grew angry again, forcing an emergency evacuation. The ensuing mudflows were powerful enough to tear out the middle of the scientific station house, Biscoe House. The facility has lain abandoned ever since.
Military remains: The derelict hangar and airplane on Deception Island
Photo:
Photo: Lyubomir Ivanov
Abandoned but not lost. “Despite the savage incursion of molten lava and scorching volcanic ash, some portions of the old base are still in relatively good shape,” observed photojournalist Roderick Eime. “Rations of scotch oats and canned pilchards remain intact, deep-frozen, in the old storehouse.” An aircraft hanger and bright orange decrepit airplane fuselage stood side-by side here until the latter was removed in 2004, remnants of Deception Island’s secret military past.
Salvaged: Old storage silos were reclaimed during Operation Tabarin
Photo:
Photo: wili hybrid
There is more than meets the eye to Deception Island – more than the ghost camp left behind can reveal. Up until the eruption of 1967, the island had been occupied as part of Britain’s Operation Tabarin, a covert wartime expedition allegedly aimed at securing control of southern regions, with an eye on the Falkland Islands, in the face of Argentine and German territorial claims. Deception Island provided a strategic location and denied access and opportunities to enemy ships and U-boats.
Sealer's hut: Buildings from the old whaling station were re-used by the British
Photo:
Photo: wili hybrid
On 3 February 1944, a team of 14 led by Lt James Marr established a would-be permanent base on Deception Island, proudly hoisting the Union Jack in place of the Argentine flag in the process. It seems the decision to launch Tabarin was not political, with Churchill apparently unaware it had taken place. When the War ended, the Operation Tabarin bases were subsequently handed over to the civilian British Antarctic Survey and the aims on Deception Island have since been scientific.
Rusting remains: As seen from sea during a Chilean Antarctic expedition
Photo:
Photo: Jorge Valdés Romo
The entire island is formed by a giant volcanic crater. Around 10,000 years ago, a massive, violently explosive eruption ejected 30 km³ of molten rock from Deception Island. Part of the volcanic summit imploded and seawater drowned the breached caldera, creating Port Foster, a huge natural harbour about 10 miles across.
Getting your bearings: Antarctic peninsula map
Photo:
Published by Zagier & Urruty Publications, Argentina via Air-and-Space
To anchor here, ships must steer through the treacherous channel of Neptunes Bellows, a narrow 230m cleft in the island’s encircling cliffs with a concealed rock in its midst. Navigate this and it’s straight on directly into the centre of a restless volcano – one of the few places on earth where vessels can sail such a passage.
Beginnings: Deception Island's Hektor whaling station under construction 1912
Photo:
Photo: Ansgar Theodor Larsen
Deception Island became a haven from the icebergs and storms of the Antarctic seas in the early 19th century with British and US sealers seeking shelter during the 1820s. In 1906, a Norwegian whaling company began using Whalers Bay as a base for a blubber-processing factory ship. By 1914, there were 14 such ships there, and a shore station had been established for servicing them and boiling down the whale carcasses to extract whale oil. The results were grossly wasteful: at one point some 6,000 partly butchered, decaying beasts are said to have floated in the bay.
Early workings: Whaling station with factory ship Hektoria in the background
Photo:
Photo: Ansgar Theodor Larsen
As the Great Depression set in, whale prices fell, and with the station unprofitable, in 1931 it was abandoned. Technological advances in factory ships soon made shore stations for processing carcasses a thing of the past and Deception Island’s was never reoccupied. A total of 45 men were entombed in the station’s cemetery, but this final resting place was itself buried in the 1969 eruption. Almost the only residual signs of the station are its rusting iron tanks and boilers.
Barely withstanding the weathers of time: Decrepit iron boilers and tanks
Photo:
Photo: Jerzy Strzelecki
Almost. The ruins of this station are the most complete remains of whaling history in the Antarctic and a constant reminder of immense volcanic power that still hangs over the island. As Robert Eime observed of the old Norwegian relics: “Against the backdrop of stark, yet delicately frosted peaks, bleached and busted barrels, orphaned metalwork and sundry detritus, mixed with randomly scattered whalebones, form an almost supernatural landscape.”
Skeletal landscape: Old storage tanks on Deception Island
Photo:
Photo: wili hybrid
Today, Deception Island is perhaps less of a ghost island than one might expect. This unique part of the Antarctic draws a slew of tourists eager to spot its colonies of chinstrap penguins or enjoy the novelty of soaking in a tub by turns scalding hot and freezing cold dug into sands heated by the still smouldering volcano beneath. There is, however, concern that unchecked, the increasing numbers of cruise ships and tour groups could impact negatively on this island and its wildlife.
Signs of life: Penguins on the black volcanic beach at Deception Island 1962
Photo:
Photo: Rear Admiral Harley D. Nygren, NOAA Corps (ret.)
For now at least, though, the steaming beaches and ash-layered glaciers are still serene, while the element-ravaged ruins of human activities are as haunting as ever.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Italy's Drowned Village

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 06:34:00 -0800

Photo:
Image: suedtirol.altoadige
Legend has it the bell can still be heard in the dead of winter, sounding out its knell despite the fact that it has long since been removed. The bell tower of the 14th century church that projects from Lake Reschen in the far north of Italy is all that is now visible of the once thriving village of Graun. In the middle of the last century, the town was drowned by the artificial lake that lies above it to this day – and all because of the business designs of a big electricity firm.

Photo:
Image: Petr Drápalík
The history of Graun, near the Austrian-Italian border, stretches back to Roman times, but this small village enjoyed the relative anonymity of most settlements of its size until the 1930s, when the story of why it was submerged begins.
Photo:
Image: Photographer unknown via Mental Floss
In 1939, the electric company Montecatini announced plans for a 70-foot deep lake that would unify two natural lakes, Reschensee and Mittersee. A huge dam should be built, said the bosses, harnessing nature’s power to generate a wealth of seasonal electricity. The catch? Several villages, including Graun and part of Reschen, would be flooded in the process.
Photo:
Image via schule.provinz
The building of the dam began in 1940 in the face of fierce local resistance, and this opposition together with the War slowed progress so that it was not completed until 1950. Nevertheless, built the dam was.
Photo:
Photo: Charles01
A total of 163 houses and 1,290 acres of cultivated land were sunk below the rising waters. The townsfolk were displaced, the sums of money they were offered doubtless scant consolation for the loss of their homes.
Photo:
Photo: Filippo
Buildings like the main part of the church were demolished before the flooding took place, and yet the town of Graun can still be imagined, sleeping beneath the water’s surface. In any event, it will not be forgotten while the bell tower still stands, an icon of the region, still reachable by foot when the lake freezes over.
To see more incredible drowned churches, click here.
Sources: 1, 2

Al Hajjara: The City That Hangs Over A Precipice

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:58:00 -0800

Photo:
View of Al Hajjara - Would you want to live on the top right?
Image: Franco Pecchio
The city of Al Hajjara in Yemen’s Haraz Mountains seems ancient yet modern at the same time: the taller of the brown, flat-roofed houses so precariously balanced on top of the mountain resemble early skyscrapers. Many are decorated with elaborate white friezes and patterns so typical for the region. The town’s remoteness and narrow streets suggest a close-knit community that might, in times of invasions, have allowed outsiders to enter yet not necessarily to leave…

The hilltop houses and narrow streets close-up:
Photo:
Image: pringle2004
… and the same scene further to the right, the edge of town:
Photo:
Image: Bellosta
Today though, Al Hajjara, also spelled Al Hajarah or Al Hajjerah, is a city that greets visitors who brave the trek from the capital Sana’a, about 25 miles northwest, with friendly smiles and insights into their culture. Dance is what the inhabitants of the Hazar Mountains are especially known for. And, not surprisingly, stone is what the city's all about - hajjar means stone in Arabic - it being built on top of a rock and out of stone.
Panoramic view of Al Hajjara with cactus:
Photo:
Image via girlsoloinarabia
The Haraz Mountains are perfect for hiking, an activity best undertaken with a local guide to translate in the many villages and explain Yemeni culture and history. Though Sana’a’s climate is moderate, the area around it is known for its high temperature ranges: peak temperatures can be 30 degrees Celsius during the day and fall to 0 degrees Celsius at night.
Unpainted, the houses would just blend into the landscape:
Photo:
Image: Franco Pecchio
The narrow streets of Al Hajjara:
Photo:
Image: pringle2004
The western highlands receive the highest rainfall in Arabia and this is where Yemen’s agriculture takes place; the landscape is therefore heavily terraced. Popular crops are sorghum, cotton and fruit trees – mangoes are the most sought after. Even if you have never been to Yemen, you might have tasted its most famous export – Mocha! Yemeni coffee is made from ancient variations of coffee arabica grown nowhere else and processed the way it has been for centuries.
Agricultural terraces just below Al Hajjara:
Photo:
Image via traveladventures
The central highlands are drier due to their elevation – the area is a wide plateau at 2,000 m (6,560 ft) – but still receive sufficient rain during most years to grow crops like wheat and barley. Stored rain water is used for irrigation as Yemen has no permanent rivers, only wadis or river valleys that are dry in the summer.
A typical Haraz Mountain village close to Manakha, an ancient stronghold:
Photo:
Image: Franco Pecchio
Depending on the region, houses in Yemen were predominantly built with clay (in the north and dry east) or stone (in the west and central highlands). Great pride is taken in building a house and once finished, it is often decorated with calligraphic writing chronicling the event. Windows are often the most decorative element with date palm motifs, dots, zigzag lines or floral designs. Though houses vary from region to region, their particular building style is unique to Yemen.
Small houses to the left, skyscrapers to the right:
Photo:
Image: Bruno Befreetv
Building on top of rocks seems a national sport in Yemen, here the Imam's Palace or Dar al-Hajar rock house in Whadi Dhahr:
Photo:
Image: Franco Pecchio
Traditional building style in Sana’a:
Photo:
Image: Tyabji
Sana'a is said to have been founded by Noah’s son Shem not far from the mountain where the ark washed ashore after the flood. At up to 10,000 years old, Yemenis thus proudly claim it to be the oldest living city in the world. Though never easy to reach, tucked away in the mountains, Sana’a soon earned the nickname "Hidden Jewel of Arabia" because of its beautiful buildings and well-stocked markets. Let's hope it'll remain tucked away a wee bit longer and its building style preserved unscathed by modern influences.
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

The Blue City From Above

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:29:00 -0800

Photo:
Tom Thai
In the arid north-west of the Indian subcontinent lies the state of Rajasthan. A land of lush forests as well as the mighty Thar Desert, Rajasthan contains one of the jewels of India – the Blue City of Jodhpur.

Photo:
Micho.nico
Today the word 'jodhpur' is known worldwide as a style of trousers word by horse-riders and the military in years past. It's one of the many words that, while Indian in origin, became embedded in the English language over the course of the two-hundred-year presence of the British in India. Jodhpur in Rajasthan is known as the Blue City.
Photo:
Knowledge Seeker
Locals say that when the city was built, only Brahmins, members of a respectable high caste, were allowed to paint their house blue. Over the years, this caste discrimination became more lax, especially when people discovered that the indigo and limestone mix used to paint the blue houses was in fact a useful mosquito repellent. After that, all kinds of people were entitled to what had once been an upper-class privilege, and certain neighbourhoods of Jodhpur became entirely iridescent blue.
Photo:
Paul Goyette
In the Old Town of Jodhpur, streets are narrow to minimize the glare of the sun – for Jodhpur lies on the cusp of the arid Thar desert. Dry desert winds whistle through these miniature man-made canyons. Shade is maximised between the blue houses.
Photo: Knowledge Seeker
Overlooking the Blue City is the impressive medieval Mehrangarh Fort. The aridity of its location, atop a peak known as the Mount of Birds, is attested to in a particular legend. A wise man known as the Lord of Birds once lived atop the Mount, and was forcibly removed during construction of the palace. He placed a curse upon the structure, claiming that it would ever be wanting for water – and to this day, the area suffers drought 2-3 times a year.
Photo: Christopher Walker
Today, Jodhpur still has a Maharaja – a nod to the days when Rajasthan was composed of proud independent states, each with its own ruler.
Photo:
Paul Goyette
Sources: 1, 2

Paris in the Snow

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:28:00 -0800

Photo:
Pont Alexandre III in the snow
Image: Jean-François Gornet
Ah, Paris! Not only a destination in summer when the days get longer and the skirts shorter; no, also popular in winter when all the famous places and monuments are covered by decorative layers of snow. We heard couples from near and far are already gathering in time for Valentine’s Day. Some cities just have it all, but see for yourself…
The Eiffel Tower, built in 1889 as the entrance arch (talk about splendour!) to the World’s Fair, was the world’s tallest building until 1930. Since then, it has seen it all and takes its six million annual visitors in its
stride.
The Eiffel Tower, unimpressed with any season:
Photo:
Image: Vincent Ducrey
With its three round domes towering over the city, Sacre Coeur is one of Paris’ most famous landmarks. Construction of this Roman Catholic Church, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, started in 1875 and was not completed until 1914, when it was interrupted by the war. Building it out of the travertine stone quarried close by was a smart choice given that the stone exudes calcite, giving the basilica its trademark white colour despite weathering and pollution.
Sacre Coeur always looks white and wintery but the barren tree is an indicator:
Photo:
Image: Logmy
Jardin du Luxembourg or Luxembourg Garden is a sprawling 25-hectare (225,000 sq m) park just south of the Palais du Luxembourg in the sixth arrondissement. As the largest public park in Paris, it is a popular destination for Parisians in all seasons, inviting for long strolls even in winter.
Take me to… Jardin du Luxembourg:
Photo:
Image: LPLT
Palais du Luxembourg on a day when the French Senate must’ve been off:
Photo:
Image: June Lemon
A stylish Parisian cyclist geared for the weather – don’t miss the cool socks!
Photo:
Image: Roman Bonnefoy
Visiting Paris and not taking the metro is just not possible. First of all, its Art Nouveau-inspired signs and stations are just too picturesque and prominent to miss. Second, with 16 lines, 300 stations, 384 stops and a length of 214 km (133 miles), it is the fastest and most efficient way to get around the city. No wonder Paris has, after Moscow, Europe’s second busiest metro system. Its load? Around 4.5 million passengers per day.
Le Métro – Paris’ lifeline:
Photo:
Image: Jean-Alexis Aufauvre
A wintery street with typical huge Parisian apartment houses:
Photo:
Image: Eric
The longer you look, the more you’ll see – picturesque Place de Levis:
Photo:
Image: Georges Seguin
Proposed in 1983 by then French president François Mitterand, it took five years for the now famous glass pyramid at the Louvre to be completed. It was designed by architect I. M. Pei and the second part, the Inverted Pyramid below, was completed in 1993. Since this large-scale overhaul of one of the world’s largest museums, attendance has doubled.
Louvre Museum with glass pyramid, the fountains still working in the cold:
Photo:
Image: linmtheu
The Ferris wheel from the previous pic? Don’t miss the square trees!
Photo:
Image: Michael Jastremski
The Gothic Notre Dame Cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement was built in 1163, and many different architects and styles later finally completed in 1345. The name Notre Dame, meaning "Our Lady," has inspired those of many Catholic church buildings in Francophone countries.
Notre Dame as seen from the left bank, after a bit of snow:
Photo:
Image: Kieran Lynam
An old Citroën on the banks of the Seine, not going anywhere:
Photo:
Image: Jean-François Gornet
Brrr - French pigeons fluffing up against the cold:
Photo:
Image: Jackson Laycock
The 2-km (1.25 miles) long Champs-Elysées or Avenue des Champs-Elysées is not only one of the most famous streets in the world, it is also the most expensive: Rents for a 92 sq m (1,000 sq ft) flat hover around – any guesses? - $1.5 million! Might be better to spend that kind of money in the avenue’s many shops…
The Champs-Elysées lit up for Christmas:
Photo:
Image: Benh Lieu Song
The lonely swan on the banks of the Seine completes our winter stroll through Paris. Time to get inside now with a hot cup of something good and some French pastries. Bon appétit!
A lonely swan on the banks of the Seine:
Photo:
Image: shellorz
Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7