Wonders of the World

Namakwa

2012-10-12T03:19:00.000-07:00

region in the north-western part of Northern Cape Province in South Africa near the town of Springbok is called Upland Nama, or colloquially Namakwa. Kamiesberg located between mountains and sea, with nothing seemingly privileged position for most of the year, is known for its beautiful wild flowers, most bulbs blooming during the coming spring.

Floral carpets attract in August and September of tourists from all over the world. Namakwa daisies with one of the greatest natural attractions of South Africa. The town of Springbok (10.4 thousand.) Was established with the discovery of rich deposits of copper, and something that is very rare, sources of drinking water. Today is an important center serving the nearby copper mines and diamonds. In the 20 Springbok twentieth century there were many Jews, the synagogue where the rest turned out in a small but interesting museum. A few years ago, has become a major attraction Goegap nature reserve, located about 15 km east of Sprigbok. Areas where alluvial diamonds mined are closed and the sale of the precious stones only deal with licensed agents.

In the season of blooming flowers view is breathtaking. Crowds of tourists come here to admire about 4000 species of plants. Most of the flowers are protected for their risk of breaking a heavy fine. The best time to admire the plants is between 10 and 16 hours Most flowers open only in the sunshine and the sun rotates. Therefore, it is best to visit the plateau with the sun on the back to be able to fully enjoy the beauty of plants.

I would recommend going Spektakel ride, here at the highest point extends to the majestic views of the river Buffels and all the way to the village Kleinzee. Now you can go down a new asphalt road into the valley, turn left on Komaggas, left on Soebatsfontein and left again at the crossroads in the middle of green meadows sapphire, which is part of the Namaqua National Park.

Other areas around the Namaqua National Park is very sparsely populated. The largest group of whites (Afrikaners) involved in the production of sheep and a strain belonging to the Namaqua Hottentots.

Mesa Verde

2012-03-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

Mesa Verde plateau length of 32 kilometers and 24 kilometers wide. It stands 2300 meters above sea level and 600 meters above the plain. Millions of years ago the wallwas a deep fissure, and many caves and grottoes, which then were hidden city - CliffPalace.

In the sixth century, the Anasazi (the name of the tribe was given by the Indians, and means those who came before us) have built their headquarters here. The houses weremade of clay, and the only entrance was on the roof. Near the dwellings were circularbuildings called Kivas, which were used for religious purposes.

People Anasazi had probably 50 thousand people, and lived the area of the current state of New Mexico and Arizona in the USA. They were involved in growing corn, beans,pumpkins, and breeding turkeys. They manufactured cotton materials and thecharacteristic black and white decorated pottery, they also built the canals and reservoirsthat provide water settlements.

Anasazi left the city at the end of the thirteenth century and probably went to the south andgave birth to the Hopi people, who now lives a similar area of the United States. The reason for the change of location was probably prolonged drought.

Cliff dwelling in Mesa Verde discovered in 1888 by two farmers: Charlie Mason and his son Richard Wetherhill. Currently the settlement is located in the Mesa Verde National Park.

Lake Asphalt

2011-10-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

When the English explorer Sir Walter Raleigh landed in Trinidad in the West Indies in 1595, was the first European who heard about the Tierra de Brea or Pitch, where there are large deposits of tar (bitumen or asphalt). It's strange, but fascinating place, probablywith the largest deposits of tar in the world, is now known as Trinidad Lake Asphalt.

Lake covers an area of 44 hectares and is 82 m deep. Created 50 million years ago from the decaying remains of sea creatures.As a result of this process produced the hydrocarbons that pass through permeable rocks. Later, the movement of rocks, was elevated to the surface, and the sun burnt them on it so hard crust that you can walk on it.

Asphalt on the surface of the lake creates a dark platinum, and in the hollows between them is collected rain water. The lake is in constant motion, because the asphalt moves from the center outwards. As a result of gas evolution, from time to time hear a strangegurgle.

Caves Frasassi

2011-10-19T09:05:00.000-07:00

Frasassi Gorge in Ancona (Italy), with a length of 3.2 km, was carved by rapidly flowing from the Apennines to the sea the riverSentino. The gorge is surrounded by steep limestone walls, dotted with the entrances to the caves.

In 1971, a team of speleologists exploring the area discovered a unique, 13 km system of caves and passageways. This system, known as the Grotta Grande del Vento (Great Cave of Wind) extends into the Apennines.

The explorers were surprised by the magnificent view of the transparent pools, stationary water and muddy banks of limestonecaves with sculptures, reminiscent of the frozen crystals. Some forms of dripstone look like lace curtains, delicate flowers or candles.Some are almost transparent, others sparkle with all the colors of the rainbow.

Lofoty

2011-10-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

Lofoten is an archipelago in the Norwegian Sea in the north-west coast of Norway, separated from the mainland by the Strait ofVestfjorden. He is known for its exceptional beauty, and also one of the world's largest thermal anomalies.

The largest islands of Lofoten are Austvågøy, Gimsøy, Vestvagoy, Flakstadøya and Moskenesøya, and the overall land area of the archipelago is 1227 km ².

While lying in the Lofoten area is the Arctic Circle where temperatures are much higher than in other places of similar latitude. The main reason for this anomaly is a warm sea current flowing from the west of Europe - the Gulf Stream (Gulf Stream) and itsextension - North Atlantic Current.

Mausoleum of Agostinho Neto

2011-10-16T12:01:00.000-07:00

Africa is not just deserts and the poor, but also developing the town with interesting buildings. One such structure is the Mausoleum of Agostinho Neto in Luanda, Angola.

This gigantic monument was built to honor the father of independent Angola - Agostinho Neto. Agostinho Neto in the years 1975-1979 he served as first president of independent Angola. It is also the most famous poet derived from this African country.

In his reign Angola close relations with the Soviet Union and other Communist states. In these countries, a common practice was themummification of bodies of deceased leaders. Following the example of those countries also embalmed the body of Agostinho Neto.

Fasil Ghebbi

2011-10-16T11:55:00.000-07:00

At the foot of the mountain chain of Semien, in the center of Gondar, there is a complex of castles called Fasil Ghebbi.

In this city-fortress surrounded by a wall with a length of 900 meters and an area of nearly 70,000 sq ft located up to 6 locks. Each of them served as the seat of the then ruler, and was specially built for him. This practice stemmed from the tradition prevailing inEthiopia - just not proper to live in a mansion predecessor. In addition to the castles, the walls are the ruins of three churches and theremains of numerous public and private buildings.

The most famous castle complex is Fasil Ghebbi Fasilidasa castle, built in the seventeenth century. Noteworthy is also the archivebear his name. Aside from the Fasilidasa their residences have here also: Yohannes, Iyasu, Dawit, Bekafa and Mintiwab.

Its original appearance is due to the influence of Hindu monuments and Arabic. Later, with the arrival of Jesuit missionaries, thearchitecture of the buildings were gradually adapted to the style of the Baroque.

As a result of wars, earthquakes Fasil Ghebbi repeatedly underwent more or less damage. It is now restored and opened to the public. Since 1979, the complex is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Abu Simbel

2011-10-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

The temple was discovered in May 1813 year by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. He found her Nubian travelingthrough the desert along the Nile about 250 miles south-east of Aswan.

The temples were built in the thirteenth century BC, during the reign of Ramses II in the years 1279 -1213 BC The interior is carvedinto the rock and has a length of 50 meters. On the walls appear reliefs depicting images of Ramses II. Among them is the reliefcommemorating the victory of Ramses II in the Battle of Kadesh. On the back wall are statues, which twice a year - 20 February and 20 October the rising sun shines. The temple dedicated to Amon-Re, Re and Ptah-Horakhte.

Next to the church is smaller, which is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and the royal wife Nefertari. Outside the stand four statues ofsitting on the throne of Ramses II and his mother, a wife and a few of the numerous descendants.

Due to the construction of High Aswan High Dam in the years 1960-1971 and the creation of Lake Nasser temple was threatenedflooding. To protect against destruction of Abu Simbel Egyptian government and UNESCO decided to move the structureapproximately 65 meters above.

The building was cut into several thousands of stone blocks weighing about 20 tons each and were transported to the designated place. Move completed in 1966, and a place where there were temples had long been flooded. All work supervised by Professor Kazimierz Michalowski, a reconstructed building retained its original orientation, so that there is still two times a year, the sunilluminates the statues.

Victoria Falls

2011-10-13T11:52:00.000-07:00

One of the most magnificent waterfalls in the world, Victoria Falls, lies on the Zambezi River, which forms the border betweenZambia and Zimbabwe. In the upper reaches of the river flows slowly through a wide, shallow valley. Already at a distance of about 50 km from the waterfall can be seen floating in the air at the height of 300 meters of water a cloud of dust. From afar is heard theroar of water sweeping. The natives call wodspad Mosi-oa-Tunja which means the smoke that thunders.

Zambezi River squeezes through barring her way deep rock crevice, forming the Victoria Falls. Rift was caused by movements ofthe earth about 150 million years ago. At its widest point measures 1690 meters waterfall.

Opposite the cliff where the water falls down, just grow another 75 m cliff. Between them is a narrow gorge at the bottom of whichwater forms a surf, called boiling Cauldron. In the further course of the river, over 72 km, there are numerous breakthroughs.

Angel Falls

2011-10-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

In 1935, American pilot Jimmy Angel was flying over the mountains of Venezuela, in search of gold. When he found himself on theDevil's Mountain, saw some waterfalls. After two years he returned to look at them more closely. However, the plane which was flying, crashed and got stuck in a swamp. Angel and his companion for eleven days struggling through the jungle to reach thewaterfalls. Jimmy Angel did not find gold, he discovered the world's highest waterfall, which was later called his name.

Water Angel Falls, eighteen times higher than Niagara, falls from a height of 1054 m.

The first drop from the edge of the cliff to the rocky shelf, is 807 m, the second - from the rocky protrusion into the pool with a width of 152 foot of him - a further 172 m.

Tropical forest around the waterfall is so dense that the area is virtually inaccessible. During the rainy season when water levels in rivers rises significantly, you can get there by boat. During the rest of the year, the waterfall can be seen only from the ground.

Devil's Island, called by the Indians Auyan Tepui, a massive table top or plateau, were probably 65 million years ago as a result ofvertical crustal movements. Under the influence of climatic factors has eroded edge of the massif, and a visible trace of thenumerous cracks and fissures, which during the rainy season water flows.

Iguaçu Falls

2011-10-12T11:30:00.000-07:00

Iguaçu Falls (Iguassu) is the most powerful waterfall on earth, although not the largest or highest. Nothing else has so manyseparate cascades. There are approximately 275th Between cascades there are many rocky islands.

Ocean-like, wide at 4 km of water falling from the Iguaçu semicircular edge of the plateau of Parana 72 m down. Water flows intoa narrow gorge, called La Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat), and later split into numerous cascades.

Fully rainy season, from November to March to Devil's Gorge is poured in one second approximately 13.6 million gallons of water.is the amount sufficient to fill six Olympic swimming pools. The deafening roar of the waterfall can be heard at a distance of 24 km.

Cathedral in Brasilia

2011-10-12T07:39:00.000-07:00

In 1956 the city began construction of Brasilia, where the urban and architectural plan developed by two Brazilian architects LucioCosta and Oscar Niemeyer. The first of them was responsible for the spatial plan, while the second was to design public buildings, including the building of the cathedral.

On 12 September 1958 he was a cornerstone for the construction of the cathedral. Two years later, construction was completed, and 31 May 1970 the church was dedicated.

Construction of the cathedral consists of 16 concrete columns that are arranged in a circle with a diameter of 70 meters. The columns in the shape of a parabola and a weight of 90 tons symbolize the hands facing upward toward the sky. Between the columns were fitted with stained glass fibers. They have the shape of a triangle with base 10 m and a height of 30 m. stained in blue, white and brown were painted in 1990 by Marianne Peretti.

Before entering the cathedral, there are four bronze sculptures with a height of 3 m, which represent the Evangelists. They weremade by the sculptor Dante Croce in 1968.

Inside the cathedral there are three statues of angels, which were suspended on steel ropes. They were made in 1970 by AlfredoCeschiatti Croce and Dante. The smallest angel is 2.22 m tall and weighs 100 kg, the average is 3.40 m tall and weighs 200 kg,while the largest is 4.25 m tall and weighs 300 pounds.

Mayon

2011-10-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

Without a doubt the most beautiful volcano in the world. The perfect cone rising above the coastal plain. Nay, even from spacelooks like an almost perfect circle. And that one of the most active, almost always with its top rises to smoke.

Mayon is not high, only 2463 meters above sea level. But his relative height is 2447 m above ground level. Volcano is doing soreally big impression. It lies on the coastal plain fact, near the sinuses Lagonoy and Albay, but also not far from the Sibuyan Sea.Because at this point in Luzon pulls out a narrow and long Bicol peninsula. Mayon is in the southern tip of Luzon, the northern end of 200-thousand city of Legaspi, Albay province's capital. Not far is the San Bernardino Strait, which separates the island ofLuzon from Samar.

Mayon, that little showy, it is still very active. Over the last 400 years recorded 49 explosions. At fifty it looked in December 2009.At that time, authorities evacuated more than 50 thousand. inhabitants within a radius of 8 kilometers from the volcano. Farmershad to take up to three times the strength, because in spite of the danger they returned to their homes, where they remained after all the inventory. At a safe distance from the volcano greedily gather thrill tourists. A Mayon rarely fails in this situation ...

Mayon is a stratovolcano. Alternately throws magma and pyroclastic material (heated to temperatures up to over a thousanddegrees of dust, gases and volcanic bombs of various sizes) and is shaped more or less similar to the cone. Mayon has allstratovolcanos most regular shape. Slope, depending on the height varies from 35 to 40 degrees. Lines do not interfere with anyso-called side. Parasitic cones or other inequalities. Why, despite frequent outbreaks still maintains impeccable appearance?Because what the explosion will throw in the air, falls and rebuilding strained eruption cone. The current creates a lava andpyroclastic materials from 2006. Then broke out last time.

And where such activity? Well, the fact that it is part of the surrounding Pacific Ring of Fire, stretching from New Zealand forTonga, Melanesia, the Philippines, Japan, the Kurile, Aleutian, after trailing by two American Cordillera. In this region there is 81 percent of earthquakes and there smokes and spits fire 90 percent of active volcanoes. It is on this site connect to many of the lithosphere plates. It's basically still clash. Pushing at each other, move away, etc., and any movement causes reactions in the form of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Mayon eruption was the most tragic February 1, 1814 year. Initially it seemed that the eruption will be a weak, much smaller than the previous one from 1766, so residents ignored the eruption. But when they saw the gray clouds rushing down pyroclastic runoff, it was too late. 2.2 thousand were killed. people. Cagsawa town disappeared under a layer of ashes. Only the church bell towerjutting above the new level ground. The layer of ashes was 9 meters. During the outbreak of the 23-30 June 1897 year at the15-meter-thick layer of stones and ashes disappeared Bacacay town. San Roque, Misericordia and Santo Niño burned. Killed more than 400 people.

As the Philippines is a densely populated even minimal losses. During the tambora explosion in 1815 killed 117 thousand.people. The eruption of Krakatoa in 1883 consumed 36 thousand. people and the Colombian Nevado de Ruiz in 1995 - 23thousand. people. Why? We do not know. Often lower volcanoes that mention only Vesuvius, lakes, or even lying in the middle ofMount Pinatubo Luzon, exploded much stronger. Pinatubo in 1991 had lost one-tenth of his height (he was 1745, and now has a1486 meters high). Volcanology is still young and aspiring science, and that everything has a beginning in the liquid magma within the Earth, it must be based on unreliable models.

In recent years, thanks to advances in science, volcanologists can warn in time before the eruption. When seismographs recordlow-frequency earthquakes, shock, followed every minute, and even more frequently (about two thousand a day), and land on the ground level is raised (even a few millimeters), a sign that deep inside the cone builds up more and more magma, which may at any time of the hellish roar skyrocket.

In 1984, evacuated more than 73 thousand people and no one was killed. But in 1993, some ignored the warning. I killed 77farmers in their fields and farms. Also, the last eruption, in 2006, fortunately without casualties was held.

But volcanoes are unpredictable. Sometimes everything seems to indicate that the eruption about to happen, but everythingspreads the bones. In 2006, Mayon scare in June, and broke out in August. Similarly, in 2009. Symptoms of impending outbreakreported since June, 11 November eruption occurred, but small. And there was peace, until mid-December, when he woke upagain Mayon. December 14 began evacuating tens of thousands of people. 16 December the volcano ejected plume of smokeand dust, and then began to belch lava. And so, until December 20.

Locals are proud of their volcano. Once it looks really nice, two, that they earn on it. Due to the high activity come here not onlyscientists, but also many tourists.

Mayon was prepared by the Philippines as their candidate for the title of the Seven Wonders of Nature, but had to give way to the underground river of Puerto Princesa.

Googleplex

2011-10-10T07:47:00.000-07:00

Googleplex is the headquarters of Google in Mountain View, California. Located in Silicon Valley, which is considered to be the center of American industry, new technologies, directly adjacent to the headquarters of companies such as Alza, the Mozilla Foundation and Microsoft.

Work on the complex was launched in 1994, and completed it in 1997. Worked on the project Silion Graphics Inc. company. (SGI)architecture firms in San Francisco and the city of Mountain View.

The project aimed to develop a complex of buildings designated for corporate headquarters, which harmonized with public parks.Built for this purpose underground parking for over 2,000 vehicles, thus enabling the creation of open space.

The complex consists of four major and several smaller buildings with a total area of 47,000 square meters. They were originallybuilt for Silicon Graphics Inc.. However, in 2003 Google began to rent space in it, and three years later purchased the entirecorporation for $ 319 million.

Google tries to ensure maximum comfort and convenience, which is why the interior of the building are the giant rubber ball, in the lobby is a piano, and on the wall displays the current Google search queries. The complex has a gym, free laundry, 2 smallswimming pools, beach volleyball and eleven cafes with different menus. Google also has a replica of SpaceShipOne, the firstprivate manned spaceship and the skeleton of a dinosaur.

About 30 percent of the demand for electricity Googleplexu covered with solar panels, which are capable of generating 1.6megawatts of electricity. Their installation began in late 2006. One third of the panels are mounted on poles in the form of solartrees, and the other was placed on the roofs.

Old Faithful Geyser

2011-10-10T07:32:00.000-07:00

Yellowstone is the first national park in the world (established in 1872), and also the largest U.S. national park. The overwhelmingpart of it lies on the territory of the state of Wyoming. It is a volcanic plateau in the Rocky Mountains, full of mountains, lakes and forests. Other attractions of this area are the cliffs made of black obsidian and thousands of geysers and hot springs.

The term comes from the Icelandic geyser geysa words that mean burst or gush. Deep below the earth surface structure are very hot rocks. They heat the filling hole or channel water to the boil, then boiling water and steam will be thrown to a considerableheight.

After emptying the geyser channel gradually fills with water again in August and the process repeated. Old Faithful geyser is activecontinuously for at least 200 years. Every hour 45 thousand. liters of boiling water is thrown away for 5 minutes at the height of 30-45 meters.

The king of kings

2011-10-10T07:22:00.000-07:00

Near the town of Monroe's largest statue of Christ in the United States. He has been sculpted from the chest and shoulders andhis head tilted toward the sky.

The sculpture, erected in September 2004, has almost 19 meters high and weighs over 7 tons. It was designed by Brad Corieland sculpted James Lynch.

The statue is made of wood and Styrofoam, which were mounted on a steel structure. The whole is covered with fiberglass andresin.

Stonehenge

2011-10-09T10:54:00.000-07:00

Stonehenge is in the English county of Wiltshire, about 8 miles (13 km) north of Salisbury. It is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones and is one of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world. Archaeologists think that the standing stones were erected around 3200 BC and the surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC.

Golden Gate Bridge

2011-10-09T09:12:00.000-07:00

The bridge connects the two peninsulas on the two banks of the San Francisco Bay. It was built by Joseph Strauss Baermanna. It has a length of 2800 meters and the distance between the pylons is 1280 meters. Pylon height is 227 meters, and can flow under the bridge even ocean-going vessels, since bridge is located at an altitude of 66-72 meters above the water surface.

The construction of the bridge began in 1933 and lasted until 1937. Work on design was extremely dangerous. Strong currents, fog or storms hampered the work of the workers effectively. Particularly dangerous was the stage of the hanging ropes, each of which was 91 cm in diameter and consisted of 27,000 steel wires.

Golden Gate Bridge and quickly began earning to 1971 turned to construction costs, which totaled $ 75 million. In the first year he traveled more than 4 million vehicles. Currently, the bridge each day passes 120,000 cars.

In the seventy years of existence, the Golden Gate Bridge has survived many earthquakes, hurricanes, and the passage of time. In 1989, he survived one of the worst earthquakes of a magnitude 7.1 on the Richter scale.

Bridge, except that communication is an excellent route, also attracts tourists and, unfortunately, suicide. Since the inception of a bridge over a thousand people took their own lives by jumping the barriers.

Brooklyn Bridge

2011-10-09T05:41:00.000-07:00

Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the world and ranked among the completion of the largest steel suspension bridges. The construction is located on the East River and connects New York districts Brooklyn and Manhattan.

Brooklyn Bridge construction started in 1869, and May 24, 1883, there was his opening. The structure is made of steel, stone and granite, and cost about 15.1 million dollars. A bridge designed and built an American Architects: John Augustus Roebling and his son Washington Augustus Roebling.

Length of the Brooklyn Bridge is 1,834 meters. The main span is above the water is 486 meters and it spans two pylons with a height of 84 meters. Side spans, which connect the pylons of the banks have 284.5 feet long. The bridge is located 41 meters above the water, it is about 26 meters wide, and its total weight is 14 680 tonnes.

Most support the nearly 1,100-meter four cables that are 40 centimeters in diameter and consist of a bundle of 19 cables, each containing 278 wires. Depth of foundations under water on the side of Brooklyn is 13.5 meters, while the side Manhattan'u - 24 meters.

At the beginning of the bridge served only horse and tram traffic, now has six lanes for cars and sidewalks for pedestrians and cyclists.

Andros Blue Holes

2011-10-09T02:44:00.000-07:00

Andros is the largest island of the Bahamas. At its eastern coast is a belt of deep water, called the tongue of the Ocean. Along this stretch belt shoals and coral reefs, and with them spread out the dark depths. These are the inputs to some of the most amazing underwater caves and corridors in the world.

Flowing water quite easily washes away the limestone rock, carving caves and tunnels. Layers of limestone on the islands of The Bahamas is known the world thickest layers of this mineral. They form under the water layer with a thickness of 8 km. On the coral reefs are formed and while the limestone sinks (on average 1 cm per 100 years), weight increased very coral. It is known thatsome of them are located at a depth of more than 3050 m, and their length exceeds 2300 m.

Residents Bahamas blue hole called churning, or blowing holes, due to the rapid movements of water that flows out of the cavesor affect them. When the flow increases, the holes leading to the formation of dangerous caves, strong eddies. When the watersubsides, the dome umbrella holes spit out water. Exploring caves can be very dangerous. The water flow is so strong that divers can reach them only lasting 20 minutes during a quiet period called the dead waters. Several people have drowned here, whenthey ended up oxygen.

Aqueduct in Segovia

2011-10-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

One of the most famous, most important and best preserved structures created by the Romans on the Iberian Peninsula. It is the symbol of Segovia, with Alcazar and the cathedral are the main attraction of the city.
According to legend, the aqueduct is the work of the devil, who made a pact with a girl working as a water carrier. She had to givesoul to the devil if the devil will provide water to the door before the rooster crows. At night the city was a great storm, and theaqueduct before the cock crew was almost finished, lacking only the position of a single stone. But it was enough to defeat the devil. Residents learned of the incident have spent building and then placed there, images of the Virgin Mary and St. Stephen.

In fact, the creation of the aqueduct dates back to the half-century or early second century during the reign of Emperor Vespasianand Nerva. It was used to transport water from a distance of about 17 km Fuenfría source.

On the way to the city water is collected in a reservoir called El Caseron, and then in the tower of Casa de Aguas. There occursprecipitation of sand and the water stays on the hill 728 meters with a slope of 1 percent, called Postigo on which the Alcázar.

The highest point of the aqueduct reaches a height of 28.5 meters. The whole structure consists of 167 medicines, of which 79are single and 44 double. It is built of granite blocks.

Higher tier are drugs with a width of 5.10 m clearance, supported on columns narrower and lower than those of the lower floors. In the upper part of the structure is U-shaped channel with dimensions of 55 cm to 46 cm. Lower tier, cassing uneven ground, are drugs with a width of 4.50 m clearance columns supported on tapering.

The top three curves located in Roman times was a plate of bronze letters with information about the builder and the date ofconstruction. In the upper part of the aqueduct can be seen also two niches on each side of the structure. It is known that one of them could see past the image of the Egyptian Hercules, who according to legend was the founder of the city. Currently in the niches are images of the city patron saint of the Virgin Mary and St. Stephen.

In the fifteenth century, when Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile was the first major reconstruction of the aqueduct. Don Pedro has a rebuilt Mesa consisting of 36 anxiety episode destroyed by the Moors in 1072. The work was performed with great care so as not to make any changes to the original draft and keep the original style.

Piped water is the most important architectural monument of Segovia. On the spaces of the century aqueduct was operated andmaintained in perfect condition. However, due to pollution and erosion of the aqueduct ruin. In order to guarantee the survival of the pipeline began in 1997, maintenance work, which are overseen by the architect Francisco Jurado. Since 1985, the aqueductis a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Erebus Volcano

2011-10-08T05:56:00.000-07:00

Erebus volcano is the southernmost active volcano on earth. It is situated on the Isle of Ross in the Antarctic Ross Sea. It has aheight of about 3795 m above sea level, and up to 2000 m above sea level slopes are covered with snow.

Mount Erebus was discovered January 27, 1841 year by the Scottish polar explorer Sir James Clark Ross, who gave him the name of one of its ships. The name of the second vessel was located in the eastern part of Ross Island volcano Mount Terror.Erebus in Greek mythology was the son of Chaos, the god of darkness.

Erebus was first conquered in 1908 by the participants of the expedition of Sir Ernest Shackleton'a. However the first knownsingle entrance on Mount Erebus took place on 19-20 January 1991. This was achieved by Charles J. Blackmer, who was an employee of many years of polar McMurdo station located on the southern tip of Ross Island. The whole trip lasted 24 hours and the same approach it took approximately 17 hours.

Erebus volcano is part of the Pacific Ring of Fire that includes over 160 active volcanoes. Pacific Ring of Fire is a zone offrequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions that surrounds the Pacific Ocean. It covers almost continuous belt of ocean trenchesand volcanic mountain chains. It is estimated that in his area there is 81% larger earthquakes and is 90% of all active volcanoes.

Erebus is currently the most active volcano in Antarctica. Inside the crater with a diameter of approximately 250 meters there is a lake of lava, which is one of the few permanent lava lakes on Earth.

November 28, 1979 plane crash took place. During the very poor visibility of the volcano crashed plane carrying tourists from New Zealand. Killed 257 people on board the aircraft, which belonged to the airline Air New Zealand. Flight 901 was a regularpassenger connection from the airport in Auckland in New Zealand to Antarctica, the crash stopped further flight.

Sydney Opera House

2011-10-08T05:41:00.000-07:00

In the 50 Nineteenth century in Sydney was not the building where concerts could be held or opera. Architectural competition was announced on the Opera House, which received 222 projects from 32 countries worldwide. Winner was in 1957, Danish architectJorn Utzon.

Construction began in 1959. However, due to numerous misunderstandings work stretched. Also increased its costs. Finally, in 1966, Danish architect clashed with contractors and resigned. In his place hired four Australian architects.

The building originally was to cost $ 7 million, but the total cost amounted to 102 million dollars. It was built 16 years or 11 years longer than originally intended.
Plane of the roof are covered with a million white tiles ceramic tiles, which shine in the sun and do not require cleaning. The building has 5223 sq ft of windows, and walls are covered with green topaz.

The Opera House has five rooms, which are held theater, ballet and concerts, a cinema and two restaurants. The opera hall is1,550 seats, in concert 2700, 550 in theater and chamber music hall of the 420th

October 20, 1973 was held the official opening, which flew to Sydney Queen Elizabeth II. Played the ninth symphony of Beethovenand staged Prokofiev War and Peace.

Opera House is the hallmark of Sydney. It is a work of unforgettable for anyone who sees them.

Moai statues of Easter Island

2011-10-08T05:26:00.000-07:00

Easter Island lies on the Pacific Ocean 3,600 km west from the coast of Chile. From the nearest inhabited land, which is the island of Pitcairn, it is divided over 2000 kilometers of ocean. It is known primarily from the 887 stone statues called moai.
The first Europeans who saw the Rapa Nui (because this is the original name of the island) were Dutch sailors from a shipcommanded by Jacob Roggevereena. It was Easter Sunday 1722 years and hence the European name of the island. On the island they discovered many stone statues - moai that were placed around the island on stone platforms or altars, called ahu.

The statues were made from rocks of volcanic origin with tools from basalt. The figures are carved from one stone. Some weighover 20 tons, and their height exceeds 6 feet. The largest of the moai - Paro was about 10 feet tall and weighed 75 tons. The island is also unfinished statue 21 meters high and weighing 270 tons. Some of the figures has a huge stone on their heads hats -pukao, which are made of scorii - red volcanic rock.

Most of the moai were carved from the crater of Rano Raraku, and then transported to the distant coast up to more than 10kilometers. Statues were probably turned on the balls at their destination, and then placed into the vertical by means of ropes.Another theory suggests that their movement was used for rolling the lift into the overhead in a horizontal position and then moveda statue of steps.

There are many concepts talking about who carved the moai. The most popular of them said that they did Polynesian settlersaround 1000-1100 year. Another contends that the inhabitants of Easter Island arrived from South America and from therebrought the skills of stone. Work on the statues was interrupted suddenly, testifies to the many unfinished statues. The probablereason was overpopulation of the island, famine and the outbreak of intertribal fighting. Until now, we do not know the purpose for which the statues were made, many theories say about the conception of statues of deities, or ancestors.

In the mid-nineteenth century, most of the moai were overturned, it is believed that this was due to fighting between the clans on the island. Currently, about 50 moai have been deposited back to their old places, and on the island was Rapa Nui National Park, which encompasses nearly half of its surface. In 1996, the moai statues were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Great Barrier Reef

2011-10-08T05:01:00.000-07:00

Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Queensland is the largest, most diverse and beautiful coral reef in the world. It is also one of the youngest reefs - some of its sections now account for only 500 thousand. years. Stretches for more than two thousand. km from the city of Brisbane to the Gulf of Papau.

Building blocks of coral skeletons of dead corals are. On the Great Barrier Reef is composed of about 3 thousand. coral reefsand small islands with very diverse areas - from just a few meters to 50 km ². Great Barrier Reef stretches 330 km into the Pacific.Its total area is 259 thousand. km ².

Great Barrier Reef is famous for its corals, although they constitute only 1 / 10 surviving organisms here. On the reef there are at least 350 species of various shapes, sizes and colors. They require the right environment. Reefs are formed only in the saline andwarm waters (temperature maintaining not less than 22 ° C). The water must contain enough oxygen, so it can not be waterstanding and must be sufficiently clear that the sludge did not block the digestive system of coral.