The Buchan Caves are a group of limestone caves that include the Royal Cave and the Fairy Cave, located south-west of Buchan, in the East Gippsland region of the Australian state of Victoria. They have a total length of between 3 and 4 Km, and six entrances.

The limestone rock at Buchan was laid down during the Devonian period about 300 – 400 million years ago. At the time, the sea covered this area of East Gippsland which was alive with shellfish and coral. Their remains were deposited in layers and over the years compacted to form limestone. The caves were formed by solution of the limestone.

The Buchan Caves are located approximately 360 Km from Melbourne, along the Princes Highway, north of Lakes Entrance. (Wikipedia)

Tours were conducted by candlelight and magnesium ribbon from 1907 until in the 1920s. During the 1920s and up until 1970, the caves were lit by power generated at the Buchan Caves Reserve. In 2008 both Royal and Fairy Caves were rewired with low heat and low voltage LEDs.

The magnificent Royal Cave is a through-tour with a separate entrance and exit. Connected by intimate passages, the cave features a number of large, heavily decorated chambers, including the Octopus Chamber, the massive Princess Royal Chamber, and the Skeleton Chamber. Noted decorations include the Crystal Portal, Niobe's Bower, Font of the Gods, Indian Rugs and the Temple of Peace (The Buchan Caves by Kent Henderson).

This is a handheld HDR image taken in the Royal Cave. No tripods or flashlights are allowed in the cave. The Royal Cave is famous for its beautiful calcite-rimmed pools.

Hanging Rock (also known as Mount Diogenes, Dryden's Rock, and to some of its traditional owners as Ngannelong) is a distinctive geological formation in central Victoria, Australia. A former volcano, it lies 718m above sea level (105m above plain level) on the plain between the two small townships of Newham and Hesket, approximately 70 km north-west of Melbourne and a few kilometres north of Mount Macedon.

Hanging Rock is a mamelon, created 6.25 million years ago by stiff magma pouring from a vent and congealing in place. Often thought to be a volcanic plug, it is not. Two other mamelons exist nearby, created in the same period: Camels Hump, to the south on Mount Macedon and, to the east, Crozier's Rocks. All three mamelons are composed of soda trachyte. As Hanging Rock's magma cooled and contracted it split into rough columns. These weathered over time into the many pinnacles that can be seen today.

The featured rock on the centre right is also called the "Rock 'n' Roll singer of Hanging Rock" in a book "The Silent Faces of Hanging Rock - Stories, Myths and Legends" written by Roger McAuliffe.

This image is included in 4 galleries :- 1) "World in Focus G39" curated by morgonsilkstone, 2) "Australia in Focus" by morgonsilkstone, 3) "LA MER" by Jacqueline Reynier (Mamie Sur) and 4) "LANDSCAPE VOL 18" by Jean-paul Vancoppenolle.

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The Bay of Fires (indigenous name: larapuna) is a bay on the north eastern coast of Tasmania, extending from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point. It is a 29 km long sweep of powder-white sand and crystal-clear seas, with a string of superb beaches, punctuated by lagoons and rocky headlands, backed by coastal heath and bush.

The bay was given its name in 1773 by Captain Tobias Furneaux in Adventure, who saw the fires of Aboriginal people on the beaches along the coast line. The Bay of Fires is characterized by white beaches, blue water and huge granite blocks that are coloured bright orange by lichens. Perhaps, Captain Tobias Furneaux named the bay after these fiery red rocks. The lichens responsible for the orange hue in the rocks of Bay of Fires belong to the family Hymeneliaceae.

The conservation area is divided into three sections, with Anson's Bay dividing the southern and northern ends. A scenic view of the bay can be glimpsed by driving along the coast to The Gardens.

This was taken near The Gardens.

The was taken on board a coach travelling along Zion Mount Carmel Highway after passing the East Entrance and Zion Tunnel. The white peaks on the left is called the Beehives, while the taller one in the middle right is the Sentinel, which stands at 7157 feet. The glass of the window gave the image a bluish-grey tint. Against a clear blue sky, these mountain peaks looked austere, surreal and beautiful.

Zion National Park is an American national park located in southwestern Utah near the town of Springdale. A prominent feature of the 229-square-mile park is Zion Canyon, which is 15 miles long and up to 2,640 ft deep. The canyon walls are reddish and tan-colored Navajo Sandstone eroded by the North Fork of the Virgin River. The lowest point in the park is 3,666 ft at Coalpits Wash and the highest peak is 8,726 ft at Horse Ranch Mountain. Located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin, and Mojave Desert regions, the park has a unique geography and a variety of life zones that allow for unusual plant and animal diversity. Numerous plant species as well as 289 species of birds, 75 mammals, and 32 reptiles inhabit the park's four life zones: desert, riparian, woodland, and coniferous forest. Zion National Park includes mountains, canyons, buttes, mesas, monoliths, rivers, slot canyons, and natural arches. (Wikipedia)

Heavenly Capital Peak is about 1829 metres high. Situated in the south east of the Huangshan, it is one of the 3 major peaks of the range.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is a jagged range of more than 70 knife-like peaks in eastern China’s Anhui province. The region's low-hanging clouds, distinctively shaped granite rocks and twisted pine trees have been subjects of numerous classical paintings and poems. Cable cars provide access to several peaks, and steep paved trails with thousands of stone steps snake past many of the range's famous viewpoints. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of China's major tourist destinations.

黃山位於中國安徽省南部黃山市境內。黃山古稱黟山，南北長約40千米，東西寬約30千米。黃山素以「奇松、怪石、雲海、溫泉」四絕聞名天下。那72峰、24溪、2湖、3瀑，峰峰奇特，溪溪曲折、極盡天下山水之美，更聚名山大川之勝。黃山最高峰是蓮花峰，海拔1860米 ，位 於黃山中部、站在玉屏樓向前望去, 猶如一朵含苞初放的蓮花, 峻峭高聳, 仰天怒放。晴天從蓮花峰頂可遙見江西的廬山和似帶的長江。黃山三大主峰之一的天都峰，與蓮花峰爭雄對峙。它位於黃山東南部，人稱無上之都會, 海拔1829米、從玉屏樓至天都峰約15千米，其間有黃山最險峻的峰嶺，峰上的石樓，坡度都在70度以上；尤以中途的鯽魚背最險。

This image is included in 8 galleries 1) "Favourite Landscapes" curated by MK Hardy, 2) "Force of Nature" by Northern_Nights, 3) "my gallery" by Christopher Robert Hudson, 4) "beauty in nature" by Elizabeth Underwood, 5) "Beach" by cristian salvadori, 6) "Gallery One" by Jeff Carter, 7) "LANDSCAPE VOL 18" by Jean-paul Vancoppenolle and 8) "La Planète des oiseaux (133)" by Laval Roy.

The Twelve Apostles is a collection of limestone stacks off the shore of Port Campbell National Park. Their proximity to one another has made the site a popular tourist attraction. Currently there are eight apostles left but the name remains significant and spectacular especially in the Australian tourism industry. The apostles were formed by erosion: the harsh and extreme weather conditions from the South Ocean gradually eroded the soft limestone to form caves in the cliffs, which then became arches, which in turn collapsed; leaving rock stacks up to 45metres high. The site was known as the Sow and Piglets until 1922 (Muttonbird Island, near Loch Ard Gorge, was the Sow, and the smaller rock stacks were the Piglets); after which it was renamed to The Apostles for tourism purposes. The formation eventually became known as the Twelve Apostles.

There were never 12 rock stacks here, and they were not always called the Apostles - Sow and Piglets did not remain as a name for long. There were nine rock stacks at the beginning of the 21st century. Then at 9:18am on 3 July 2005, one of them collapsed. Another collapsed in 2009.

From this angle we can only see 5 stacks.

(explored May 21, 2021 #49)

This image is included in a gallery "LANDSCAPE VOL 18" curated by Jean-paul Vancoppenolle

This was taken on board a tourist coach while travelling along the Zion-Mount Carmel Highway, shortly after visiting Lake Powell, leaving Arizona and into Utah, on our way to Zion National Park.

This image is included in 4 galleries 1) "Quality Lunar" curated by ☜✿☞ Bo ☜✿☞, 2) "Mes coups de coeurs N°17. My favourites N°17." by cpenotgiraudeau, 3) "Sorts of Starry Skies" by Demeter Orsolya and 4) "moon" by fotoris web.

This was the second blood moon observable in Melbourne in 2018. 3 background stars are also included here. This was taken when the moon was relatively low in the sky and was quite dim because of the mist in the atmosphere. It actually was the third last images of the session. It was a wonderful experience to have witnessed such a beautiful phenomenon. A very high ISO (5000) was used. Apart from brightness, contrast and curves adjustments, the colour has not been enhanced.

The longest total lunar eclipse of the 21st century took place on Saturday, July 28, Australia Standard Eastern Time.

The total phase of the "blood moon" eclipse of July 28 lasted 1 hour and 43 minutes, during which Earth's natural satellite would turn a spectacular red or ruddy-brown color. From start to finish, the entire celestial event lasted nearly 4 hours. A few background stars are visible.

The eclipse was not visible to viewers in North America, except via webcasts. But observers in much of Africa, the Middle East, southern Asia and the Indian Ocean region would get an eyeful, given cooperative weather, according to lunar scientist Noah Petro, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

This image is included in 5 galleries :- 1) "birds in flight" curated by Sylvia Okkerse, 2) "Mother Nature's emotions" by Alicja, 3) "Beautiful Bird photos" by yuji morita, 4) "En plein vol (12)...... y compris les atterrissages, décollages, en stationnaire etc" by Miss-Louly, and 5) "Mes "WOW" (04)☺♥ !" by Miss-Louly.

This bird is taking-off from the shallow of the fresh water lake at Westgate Park, Victoria, Australia.

This image is included in 3 galleries :- 1) "Ici...on butine...ou on picore..." curated by Impatience_1, 2) "Butterflies" by frode_oen and 3) "PAPILLONS 2" by Jean-paul Vancoppenolle..

The pockmarked face of Uluru is Australia’s best-known natural landmark. This was taken on my way to see rock arts and the Mutitjulu Waterhole, near the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre.

Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock and officially gazetted as Uluru / Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation. Uluru is just the expsed tip of a huge vertical body of rock. This rock probably extends far below the surrounding plain, probably for several kilometres. It lies 335 km (208 mi) south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs. It has been listed as Dual UNESCO heritage site.

Uluru is an inselberg, meaning "island mountain". An inselberg is a prominent isolated residual knob or hill that rises abruptly from and is surrounded by extensive and relatively flat erosion lowlands in a hot, dry region.

Uluru means Meeting Place. It is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the area. The area around the formation is home to an abundance of springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings. Uluru and Kata Tjuta, also known as the Olgas, are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Uluru, the world's most famous monolith, is an evocative and powerful icon of the Australian landscape. Uluru appears in many guises and poses a unique photographic challenge.

Elevation: 863 m (2,831 ft)

Prominence: 348 m (1,142 ft)

Circumference: 9.4 km

(Sourced from internet)

"The Brain" is a prominent landmark on the east side of Uluru. This close-up look was taken on a touring coach using a telephoto lens.

Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock and officially gazetted as Uluru / Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation. Uluru is just the expsed tip of a huge vertical body of rock. This rock probably extends far below the surrounding plain, probably for several kilometres. It lies 335 km (208 mi) south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs. It has been listed as Dual UNESCO heritage site.

Uluru is an inselberg, meaning "island mountain". An inselberg is a prominent isolated residual knob or hill that rises abruptly from and is surrounded by extensive and relatively flat erosion lowlands in a hot, dry region.

Uluru means Meeting Place. It is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the area. The area around the formation is home to an abundance of springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings. Uluru and Kata Tjuta, also known as the Olgas, are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Uluru, the world's most famous monolith, is an evocative and powerful icon of the Australian landscape. Uluru appears in many guises and poses a unique photographic challenge.

This image is included in 2 galleries :- 1) "Stones & Pebbles & Rocks !!!" curated by Linnea Sw and 2) "Brilliant Photos !!" by Linnea Sw.

Hanging Rock (also known as Mount Diogenes, Dryden's Rock, and to some of its traditional owners as Ngannelong) is a distinctive geological formation in central Victoria, Australia. A former volcano, it lies 718m above sea level (105m above plain level) on the plain between the two small townships of Newham and Hesket, approximately 70 km north-west of Melbourne and a few kilometres north of Mount Macedon.

Hanging Rock is a mamelon, created 6.25 million years ago by stiff magma pouring from a vent and congealing in place. Often thought to be a volcanic plug, it is not. Two other mamelons exist nearby, created in the same period: Camels Hump, to the south on Mount Macedon and, to the east, Crozier's Rocks. All three mamelons are composed of soda trachyte. As Hanging Rock's magma cooled and contracted it split into rough columns. These weathered over time into the many pinnacles that can be seen today.

This was taken on a fine winter evening. It was close to the end od visiting hours. The slanting light looked warm despite winter was really here. This couple have been here harmoniously for many a millennium.

This image is included in a gallery "Favourite Landscapes" curated by MK Hardy.

The Red Canyon is a shallow, partly wooded canyon along UT 12 about 9 miles west of Bryce Canyon, Utah, USA. It is located on the Colorado Plateau on the southeast edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. It comprises of similar eroded red rocks and hoodoos, on a smaller scale than that of the Bryce Canyon. It is viewable from roadside overlooks and along short trails. It is part of Dixie National Forest.

The rocks looked glaringly red in the morning sun, against a cloudless blue sky dramatically darkened by a CPL filter.

This image is included in a gallery "Variety." curated by Andrzej Skałuba.

This was taken during my first visit to the Park. It was overcast the whole morning. There were glimpses of blue sky for very brief moments. The sidelit light makes the reflections of the columns on the Jacksons Creek interestingly beautiful.

The hexagonal basalt columns known as the "Organ Pipes" which sit in the bed of the creek is of the order of 70 metres (230 ft) high.

The Organ Pipes National Park, abbreviated as OPNP, is a national park located in the Central region of Victoria, Australia. The 121-hectare (300-acre) protected area was established with the focus on conservation of the native flora and fauna, and preservation of the geological features in the Jacksons Creek, a part of the Maribyrnong valley, north-west of Melbourne. It is situated in a deep gorge in the grassy, basalt Keilor plains.

Within Organ Pipes National Park, the valley walls of Jacksons Creek expose Pleistocene volcanic rocks of the New Volcanic Group. These 2.5 to 2.8 million year-old basalt lavas, commonly known as "trap rock," fractured during cooling into vertically standing, hexagonal basalt columns. These columns are locally known as the "organ pipes" for which this park is named. Over the last one to two million years, the slow cutting by Jackson Creek of its valley down into the basaltic plains and through the underlying trap rock exposed these geological structures. The bottom of the valley of Jackson Creek also exposes a prehistoric buried creek valley, which is cut into 400 million year-old (Silurian) mudstones and sandstones. The bottom of this buried valley contains ancient creek gravel. Both the ancient river valley and the Silurian sedimentary rock lies buried beneath the basaltic volcanic rocks of the New Volcanic Group. Marine fossils that are found in the Silurian sedimentary rocks demonstrate that they accumulated beneath a prehistoric ocean.

A Friends’ group, (the first in Australia) the "Friends of Organ Pipes" (FOOPS), comprising conservation activists to support the efforts of rehabilitation of the OPNP’s indigenous flora and fauna, supplemented the work of the Victoria Park system under which the OPNP was declared a National Park. The park's importance to the whole region as a "center for education about the geology, flora and fauna of the Keilor Plains, and the restoration of degraded land" is important. With its inclusion in the IUCN Category III (Natural Monuments) of the United Nations’ list of National Parks and Protected Areas, there is a greater recognition of the need to protect or preserve outstanding natural features. (Sourced from Internet)

Captured this image at Waiwhakahehe Lookout prior to visiting the Royal Albatross Centre in Dunedin, New Zealand. These long strands of seaweek swayed rhythmically to the gentle onshore waves amidst turquoise water, as if sea fairies were rinsing their long locks of auburn hair. A seal or two would come and frolic among them every now and then. Morning light was soft, sea breeze was gentle: the scene was serene and sublime.

Dunedin is situated at the head of Otago Harbour, a narrow inlet extending south-westward for some 15 miles. The harbour is a recent creation formed by the flooding of two river valleys. From the time of its foundation in 1848, the city has spread slowly over the low-lying flats and nearby hills and across the isthmus to the slopes of the Otago Peninsula.

This image is included in 3 galleries :- 1) "Stunning Heron" curated by Rita Rojas, 2) "Birds" by dmilokt and 3) "Birds 5" by FinnCamera.

Zhangjiajie 張家界, also known in Tujia language as Zhangx, is a prefecture-level city in the northwestern part of Hunan Province, China. It comprises the district of Yongding, Wulingyuan and counties of Cili and Sangzhi. It contains the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, part of the Wulingyuan Scenic Area which was as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992 as well as an AAAAA scenic area by the China National Tourism Administration.

This was taken on board a coach climbing up a winding road to see the scenic spots. The autumn mist makes this vista atmospheric, like a Chinese water colour painting.

This image is included in 2 galleries:- 1) " YELLOW " - 3 JUNE > 25 JULY, 2021" curated by Gianfranco Marzetti and 2) "Flowers 2" by artiste24 artiste24.

This was taken using my Sony mobile phone while waiting for my take-away coffee, halfway through my morning walk. Small pots of flowering plants were on display outside of Beasley's Nursery & Teahouse. Melbourne is in the midst of Stage 4 Covid-19 lockdown for the 4th time. Exercise is allowed within a 5 km radius. Let's keep our fingers crossed : better days will come!

Osteospermum ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’, also known as Veldt Daisies, has butter-yellow blooms with a strong central eye. The purple tinged, sky reflected blue in the central blotches, create a luminous and truly stunning appearance. ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’ grows in any climate, is strong and very weather-tolerant. It may bloom repeatedly most of the year in a sunny position.

Osteospermum, is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Calenduleae, one of the smaller tribes of the sunflower/daisy family Asteraceae. They are known as the daisybushes or African daisies.

The scientific name is derived from the Greek osteon (bone) and Latin spermum (seed).

This image is included in 5 galleries :- 1) "Wildlife, An Expertise" curated by Steve Gillies, 2) "Birds" by Ginger H Robinson, 3) "Natura 22" by Stefano Bacci, 4) "With Wings..." by Lena Dezaneka and 5) "Amazing Photos" by Daren Rose.

This was taken outside of Stonehouse Restaurant, Warrandyte, Victoria.

Capture this sunrise at Exmouth Town Beach at low tide.

Exmouth is a town on the tip of the North West Cape, Western Australia, and is 1,270 km north of Perth and 3,300 km south-west of Darwin.

This image is included in 3 galleries :- 1) "OISEAUX - BIRDS - PAJAROS (5)" curated by Robert Combes, 2) "Bird II/2020" by khoi tranduc and 3) "Perroquets ou autres 16" by Yvonne Yvonne..

This was taken near Wave Rock Motel, Hyden, Western Australia. Female galah (on the right) has red iris.

This image is included in 2 galleries:- 1) "Favorite Landscapes" curated by MK Hardy and 2) "Banff National Park of Canada" by Rita Rojas.

Peyto Lake (/ˈpiːtoʊ/ PEE-toh) is a glacier-fed lake in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies. The lake itself is easily accessible from the Icefields Parkway. It was named for Bill Peyto, an early trail guide and trapper in the Banff area.

The lake is formed in a valley of the Waputik Range, between Caldron Peak, Peyto Peak and Mount Jimmy Simpson, at an elevation of 1,860 m (6,100 ft).

During the summer, significant amounts of glacial rock flour flow into the lake from a nearby glacier, and these suspended rock particles are what give the lake a unique bright, turquoise colour. Because of its bright colour, photos of the lake often appear in illustrated books, and the area around the lake is a popular sightseeing spot for tourists. The lake is best seen from Bow Summit, the highest point on the Icefields Parkway.

The lake is fed by Peyto Creek, which drains water from Caldron Lake and Peyto Glacier (part of the Wapta Icefield). Peyto Lake is the origin of the Mistaya River, which heads northwest from the lake's outflow. (Wikipedia)

This image is included in 5 galleries 1) "World in Focus G35", 2) "Australia in Focus" both curated by morgonsilkstone, 3) "LANDSCAPE VOL 18" by Jean-paul Vancoppenolle, 4) "Wonderful Landscapes and Seascapes 3" by Glass Angel and 5) "Fels und Gestein, XXIV." by Götz Wiedenroth.

The Bay of Fires (indigenous name: larapuna) is a bay on the north eastern coast of Tasmania, extending from Binalong Bay to Eddystone Point. It is a 29 km long sweep of powder-white sand and crystal-clear seas, with a string of superb beaches, punctuated by lagoons and rocky headlands, backed by coastal heath and bush.

The bay was given its name in 1773 by Captain Tobias Furneaux in Adventure, who saw the fires of Aboriginal people on the beaches along the coast line. The Bay of Fires is characterized by white beaches, blue water and huge granite blocks that are coloured bright orange by lichens. Perhaps, Captain Tobias Furneaux named the bay after these fiery red rocks. The lichens responsible for the orange hue in the rocks of Bay of Fires belong to the family Hymeneliaceae.

The conservation area is divided into three sections, with Anson's Bay dividing the southern and northern ends. A scenic view of the bay can be glimpsed by driving along the coast to The Gardens.

This was taken near The Gardens.

This image is included in a gallery "LANDSCAPE VOL 18" curated by Jean-paul Vancoppenolle

This was viewed from the left side of the viewing platform. The Devil's Kitchen is located on Tasman Peninsula, about 75 km from Hobart, after driving past Eaglehawk Neck.

Created by the sheer power of wind and waves, Devil's Kitchen is a rugged 60 metres (197 ft) fissure. This very aptly named feature gets its name from the cauldron of foaming fury, normally seen at water level from the viewing platform several hundred feet above, where the swells of the Great Southern Ocean crash into the base of the tall cliffs. This foaming cleft can be viewed from several different lookouts, all perched upon tall cliffs high above the ocean.

This image is included in a gallery "Landscapes" curated by Anna Azarova.

This was captured at Echo Point, a few minutes before noon, with the sun coming from the rear left, on an overcast day.

The Three Sisters is the Blue Mountains’ most spectacular landmark. Located at Echo Point Katoomba, around 2.5 kilometres from the Great Western Highway, this iconic visitor attraction is experienced by millions of people each year.

The Three Sisters is essentially an unusual rock formation representing three sisters who according to Aboriginal legend were turned to stone. The character of the Three Sisters changes throughout the day and throughout the seasons as the sunlight brings out the magnificent colours. The Three Sisters is also floodlit until around 11pm each evening looking simply spectacular set against the black background of the night sky. Each of the Three Sisters stand at 922, 918 & 906 metres tall, respectively. They are actually over 3000 feet above sea level! The Wall of Kings is in the far left while Mount Solitary is just not far beyond to the right.

The Legend is that " The Aboriginal dream-time legend has it that three sisters, 'Meehni', 'Wimlah' and 'Gunnedoo' lived in the Jamison Valley as members of the Katoomba tribe.

These beautiful young ladies had fallen in love with three brothers from the Nepean tribe, yet tribal law forbade them to marry.The brothers were not happy to accept this law and so decided to use force to capture the three sisters causing a major tribal battle.As the lives of the three sisters were seriously in danger, a witchdoctor from the Katoomba tribe took it upon himself to turn the three sisters into stone to protect them from any harm. While he had intended to reverse the spell when the battle was over, the witchdoctor himself was killed. As only he could reverse the spell to return the ladies to their former beauty, the sisters remain in their magnificent rock formation as a reminder of this battle for generations to come.

(Sourced from BluemountainsAustralia.com.au)

This image is included in 5 galleries :- 1) "MAGNIFICENT LANDSCAPES OF SEA AND LAND IV." curated by MIGUEL ANGEL IGLESIAS DIEGO, 2) "Paysages sauvages et désertiques" by Jean-Marc Bilquez, 3) "2021 02 14 So Valentinstag" by BAKAWI, 4) "Nature" by Yanira Velazquez and 5) "Traumziele" by Evi Otto.

Uluru / Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation. Uluru is just the expsed tip of a huge vertical body of rock. This rock probably extends far below the surrounding plain, probably for several kilometres. It lies 335 km (208 mi) south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs. It has been listed as Dual UNESCO heritage site.

Uluru means Meeting Place. It is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the area. The area around the formation is home to an abundance of springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings. Uluru and Kata Tjuta, also known as the Olgas, are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Uluru, the world's most famous monolith, is an evocative and powerful icon of the Australian landscape. Uluru appears in many guises and poses a unique photographic challenge.

Elevation: 863 m (2,831 ft)

Prominence: 348 m (1,142 ft)

Circumference: 9.4 km

This was taken while travelling on a coach. This is the east side of Uluru, a prominent landmark known as The Brain is clearly featured.

(Explored Feb 13, 2021 #41)

Located northeast of Hobart on Tasmania's Freycinet Peninsula, Wineglass Bay is one of the famous beautiful beaches of the world. It is often assumed to be called 'wineglass' due to the circular shape of a glass and the clear water contained within, but it has also been suggested the name came from the colour of blood and guts resulting from previous whaling activities.

For about 20 years in the early 1800’s, the southern corner of Wineglass Bay housed a thriving whaling station. Whalers predominantly hunted the Southern Right, Humpback and Sperm Whales as well as the Australian Fur Seal. When the whaling stations operated here, the water in the bay would turn red with the slaughtered creatures' blood. A gruesome tale, the water in the bay is said to have been crimson with the blood of the slaughtered whales, such that it appeared as a glass of full bodied red wine. While the whaling lasted less than 2 decades, the name has endured.

I got to the Lookout area on a fine morning, but thick clouds were casting much shadow on the bay. Waited for half an hour for the right light. Hazards Lagoon is to the right of the Wineglass Beach, and further right is a glimpse of Promise Bay. In good daylight, Wineglass Bay looks like a perfect arc of talc-white sand fringed with turquoise blue water.

This image is included in 3 galleries :- 1) "Galerie #8" curated by Thomas Erdmann, 2) "wonderful nature III" by Brigitte Bäck and 3) "Canyons" by Radoslav Besenyi (besenyi.rado).

The Grand Canyon (Hopi: Ongtupqa; Yavapai: Wi:kaʼi:la, Navajo: Tsékooh Hatsoh, Spanish: Gran Cañón) is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in Arizona, United States. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles (446 km) long, up to 18 miles (29 km) wide and attains a depth of over a mile (6,093 feet or 1,857 meters). The canyon and adjacent rim are contained within Grand Canyon National Park, the Kaibab National Forest, Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, the Hualapai Indian Reservation, the Havasupai Indian Reservation and the Navajo Nation. President Theodore Roosevelt was a major proponent of preservation of the Grand Canyon area, and visited it on numerous occasions to hunt and enjoy the scenery.

Nearly two billion years of Earth's geological history have been exposed as the Colorado River and its tributaries cut their channels through layer after layer of rock while the Colorado Plateau was uplifted. While some aspects about the history of incision of the canyon are debated by geologists, several recent studies support the hypothesis that the Colorado River established its course through the area about 5 to 6 million years ago. Since that time, the Colorado River has driven the down-cutting of the tributaries and retreat of the cliffs, simultaneously deepening and widening the canyon. (Wikipedia)

This was viewed from Mather Point, which is on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

This image is included in 3 galleries :- 1) "Juillet 2020 suite" curated by Impatience_1, 2) "Oiseaux en vol...# 3" also by Impatience_1 and 3) "Perroquets ou autres 16" by Yvonne Yvonne.

Australian ringneck, the broad-tailed parrot species Barnardius zonarius, is a bird native to Australia. Except for extreme tropical and highland areas, the species has adapted to all conditions. Treatments of genus Barnardius have previously recognised two species, the Port Lincoln parrot and the mallee ringneck, but due to these readily interbreeding at the contact zone they are usually regarded as a single species B. zonarius with subspecific descriptions. Currently, four subspecies are recognised, each with a distinct range. The subspecies in Western Australia is often referred to as the ‘Twenty-eight Parrot’ because its contact call is usually rendered as twenty-eight, with the call (and the name) is unknown in other parts of Australia.

Took this one at Wave Rock Motel, Hyden, before visiting Wave Rock. Before the sun is up, parrots and other birds are twittering and chatting away...

Located northeast of Hobart on Tasmania's Freycinet Peninsula, Wineglass Bay is one of the famous beautiful beaches of the world. It is often assumed to be called 'wineglass' due to the circular shape of a glass and the clear water contained within, but it has also been suggested the name came from the colour of blood and guts resulting from previous whaling activities.

For about 20 years in the early 1800’s, the southern corner of Wineglass Bay housed a thriving whaling station. Whalers predominantly hunted the Southern Right, Humpback and Sperm Whales as well as the Australian Fur Seal. When the whaling stations operated here, the water in the bay would turn red with the slaughtered creatures' blood. A gruesome tale, the water in the bay is said to have been crimson with the blood of the slaughtered whales, such that it appeared as a glass of full bodied red wine. While the whaling lasted less than 2 decades, the name has endured.

I got to the Wineglass Bay Viewing Platform at about 6:30 pm on November 5, 2019. The clouds were thick and the sky looked greying and dull. By around 7:40 pm, the clouds started to lift and streaks of light shone through from the west. In a very short time the whole atmosphere appeared to be invigorated. Reflections on the water surface were intoxicatingly beautiful - like a fine red wine. I was all by myself.

As in a dream state scenery: a pine tree has grown from the top of a quartz stone pillar.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is a jagged range of more than 70 knifelike peaks in eastern China’s Anhui province. The region's low-hanging clouds, distinctively shaped granite rocks and twisted pine trees have been subjects of numerous classical paintings and poems. Cable cars provide access to several peaks, and steep paved trails with thousands of stone steps snake past many of the range's famous viewpoints. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and one of China's major tourist destinations.

黃山位於中國安徽省南部黃山市境內。黃山古稱黟山，南北長約40千米，東西寬約30千米。黃山素以「奇松、怪石、雲海、溫泉」四絕聞名天下。那72峰、24溪、2湖、3瀑，峰峰奇特，溪溪曲折、極盡天下山水之美，更聚名山大川之勝。黃山最高峰是蓮花峰，海拔1860米 ，位 於黃山中部、站在玉屏樓向前望去, 猶如一朵含苞初放的蓮花, 峻峭高聳, 仰天怒放。晴天從蓮花峰頂可遙見江西的廬山和似帶的長江。黃山三大主峰之一的天都峰，與蓮花峰爭雄對峙。它位於黃山東南部，人稱無上之「都會, 海拔1829米、從玉屏樓至天都峰約15千米，其間有黃山最險峻的峰嶺，峰上的石樓，坡度都在70度以上；尤以中途的鯽魚背最險。

夢筆生花在黃山東北部、北海賓館前散花塢內，與筆架峰相近。海拔1640米。一石挺出，平空聳立，下圓上尖，像一枝書法家的鬥筆。峰尖石縫中，長有一株奇巧古松，盤旋曲折，綠蔭一團，宛如盛開的鮮花。峰下有一巧石，形如人臥睡，故遊人稱此景為“夢筆生花”，為黃山勝景。

This image is included in 3 galleries :- 1) "INTERPHOTO * TOP FLICKR 2021" curated by Gianfranco Marzetti, 2) "|124| BIRD'S |3|" by Calvin Virginia and 3 "Des oiseaux de plus. More birds." by rosedenovembre.

This was taken near the Skyhigh Cafe, Mt Dandenong, Victoria, Australia.

This image is included in a gallery 'INTERPHOTO * TOP FLICKR 2022' curated by Gianfranco Marzetti.

The Brown Thornbill is a small bird, but is one of the medium-sized and more common of the thornbills. It has olive-brown to grey upperparts, with a warm reddish-brown forehead scalloped with paler markings. The rump has a reddish-brown patch, the tail is grey-brown with a black band and a pale tip, and the underparts are off-white, streaked blackish on the chin, throat and chest. The eye is dark red. The sexes are similar and young birds are only slightly different to adults, with a duller eye.

The Brown Thornbill is found only in eastern and south-eastern Australia, including Tasmania.

The Brown Thornbill feeds mainly on insects, but may sometimes eat seeds, nectar or fruit. They feed, mainly in pairs, at all levels from the ground up, but mostly in understorey shrubs and low trees. Will feed in mixed flocks with other thornbills out of breeding season.

The Brown Thornbill may lack the flamboyance of a rosella or the melodious song of a butcherbird, but for many people in eastern and south-eastern Australia, they are a familiar and friendly face in the garden or the bush alike. With a cheeky demeanour, bold attitude and frenetic buzzing calls, these diminutive birds have the ability to brighten the day of anyone nearby. (Birdlife Australia)

Brown thornbill (Acanthiza pusilla) sometimes mimics the hawk warning call of a variety of birds to scare off predators threatening its nest. (Professor Robert Magrath of ANU)

海蝕洞是由海浪長期侵蝕而形成的天然洞穴, 此處從前為一狹窄水道，貫通糧船灣洲和西貢半島，後來因興建水壩而被分隔。

Utetheisa pulchelloides, the heliotrope moth, is a moth of the family Erebidae. It is found in the Indo-Australian region including Borneo, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Papua, Seychelles, most of Australia and Tenerife. The species was first described by George Hampson in 1907.

This was captured at Exmouth Town Beach, shortly after sunrise. Mr Pelican was flapping his wings to dry them.

Exmouth is a town on the tip of the North West Cape, Western Australia, and is 1,270 km north of Perth and 3,300 km south-west of Darwin.

This image is included in 4 galleries:- 1) "Australia in Focus", 2) "World in Focus Gallery 19", both curated by morgonsilkstone, 3) "Landschaften 2020 0202" by BAKAWI and 4) "Paesaggi 24" by Stefano Bacci.

Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock and officially gazetted as Uluru / Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation. Uluru is just the expsed tip of a huge vertical body of rock. This rock probably extends far below the surrounding plain, probably for several kilometres. It lies 335 km (208 mi) south west of the nearest large town, Alice Springs. It has been listed as Dual UNESCO heritage site.

Uluru means Meeting Place. It is sacred to the Pitjantjatjara Anangu, the Aboriginal people of the area. The area around the formation is home to an abundance of springs, waterholes, rock caves and ancient paintings. Uluru and Kata Tjuta, also known as the Olgas, are the two major features of the Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. Uluru, the world's most famous monolith, is an evocative and powerful icon of the Australian landscape. Uluru appears in many guises and poses a unique photographic challenge.

Elevation: 863 m (2,831 ft)

Prominence: 348 m (1,142 ft)

Circumference: 9.4 km

(Sourced from internet)

This image is included in 2 galleries :- 1) "Favourite Landscapes" curated by MK Hardy and 2) "INTERPHOTO: NATURE / LANDSCAPES / WILDLIFE" by Marzetti Gianfranco.

This was taken next to London Bridge (right hand corner) in Sorrento, Mornington Peninsula. The narrow sand beaches are awash at high tide, but fronted by exposed rock flats at low tide. It is located approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) south of the Melbourne CBD, on the opposite side of Port Phillip Bay.

This image is included in 4 galleries : - 1) "Geology worldwide" curated by Pete Tillman, 2) "Beautiful Nature Shots, Vol. 12" by John Russell, 3) "Interesting Rocks" by Sally Rose Dolak and 4) "2023 01 09" by Ehrlich Franz.

These beautiful hexagonal basalt rock columns are located next to the eastern dam of High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung, Hong Kong. There is an interesting “S” shaped pattern in the middle, which is quite unique. The "S" shaped section has been featured in the 2014 HK$ 1.7 postage stamp. The diameters of these columns range from 1.2 m to 3 m. The location is accessible from Man Yee Road.

This was taken close to noon on an overcast, rather dull day with my mobile phone set to panoramic mode.

這些美麗的六角柱石群處於西貢萬宜水庫東壩附近, ”S” 形玄武岩柱非常獨特, 展示了岩柱在尚未完全冷卻凝固時，受重力影響而向左右彎曲，形成現今的形態。 柱的平均直徑1.2 米至 3 米。

據資料介紹，東壩的六角石柱屬於早白堊世滘西洲火山岩群，火山爆發形成火山熔岩層，冷卻成岩時出現非常規則的收縮現象，形成罕見的六角石柱群。

( Explored : Mar 30, 2023 #44 )

This image is included in 7 galleries :_ 1) "waterfalls of our world; The big and the small ones." curated by enfin (verna R), 2) "Waterfalls/Wasserfälle" by *tom68*, 3) "Magical Dreamscapes" by Fadmaa, 4) "賞心悅目的博覽館" by ggx2ggx2@kimo.com, 5) "waterfalls" curated by Yousaf Ejaz, 6) "Nature Abounds..." by Kathy (kfocean01) and 7) "Waterfalls and Cascades" by Radoslav Besenyi.

Niagara Falls is the collective name for three waterfalls that straddle the international border between Canada and the United States; more specifically, between the province of Ontario and the state of New York.

Accordding to information from the Niagara Parks :-

• More than 168,000 cubic metres (6 million cubic ft.) of water go over the crestline of the Falls every minute during peak daytime tourist hours.

• The average fall from Lake Erie to the beginning of the upper Niagara Rapids is only 2.7 metres (9 ft.)

• The Canadian Horseshoe Falls drops an average of 57 metres (188 ft.) into the Lower Niagara River.

• The crest line of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls is approximately 670 metres (2,200 ft.) wide. The plunge pool beneath the Falls is 35 metres (100 ft.) deep.

This is seen on board a cruise boat "Hornblower" originated from the Canadian side. The left arm of the Horseshoe Falls is briefly highlighted by sunlight peeping through cracks of thick misty clouds.

This was taken near the Cameron Suspension Bridge in Cameron, Arizona, USA

Mt Tasman and Aoraki/Mt Cook and reflected in Lake Matheson, near Fox Glacier, Westland/Tai Poutini National Park, South Island, New Zealand. This was taken at View of Views Look-out.

This image is included in a gallery "Favourite Landscapes" curated by MK Hardy.

The Organ Pipes National Park, abbreviated as OPNP, is a national park located in the Central region of Victoria, Australia. The 121-hectare (300-acre) protected area was established with the focus on conservation of the native flora and fauna, and preservation of the geological features in the Jacksons Creek, a part of the Maribyrnong valley, north-west of Melbourne. It is situated in a deep gorge in the grassy, basalt Keilor plains.

The distance between Melbourne and Organ Pipes National Park is 23 km. The road distance is 34.8 km.

The main attractions to OPNP are The Organ Pipes, Rosette Rock and Tessellated Pavement. This interesting basalt rock formation is located below and next to the Tessellated Pavement. Some rocks look like short hexagonal pillars.

This image is included in 3 galleries 1) "Top 10% paysages" curated by 11diamonds, 2) "SiriuS" by SELCUK SOFULAR and "Natural phenomena" by Ben Mindall.

Bicheno is a town on the east coast of Tasmania, 185 km north-east of Hobart on the Tasman Highway, with a population of around 950. The town is primarily a fishing port and a beach resort. The town was named in honour of James Ebenezer Bicheno, the British Colonial Secretary for Van Diemen's Land from 1843 to 1851, with the name in use in 1851.

The Bicheno Blowhole is located right next to the water, along the sandy and granite coastline. It is a hole in the granite rocks which concentrates even small waves into powerful jets of water. With each surge of the ocean, the geyser bursts with changing force, and the water takes on new shapes. It blows regularly, even in relatively calm weather.

"Bicheno Blowhole is a spectacular natural phenomena that is powered by the waves of the Tasman Sea. Millennia of erosion has caused this coastal fountain to be moulded out of solid granite. The large, upright boulder that towers right beside the blowhole is a dramatic addition to this fascinating scene." - according to Expedia.com.au.

The boulder on the right is about 3 metres tall.

The male is leading the tandem.

This spectacular hexagonal basalt island is located next to the Eastern Dam of High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung, Hong Kong. The Reservoir is part of Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark. The location is accessible from Man Yee Road.

This small island measures about 200m long, 100m wide and 63m tall, and looks quite like a cut open melon. It was formed around the Jurassic period, about 100 million years ago. Looking beyond the horizon is South China Sea.

This was taken on an overcast spring morning.

破邊洲（英語：Po Pin Chau）是香港一個島嶼，位於西貢區萬宜水庫東壩對出，以六角石柱的奇觀而著名。1 億多年前的侏羅紀時期，香港發生多次火山爆發，噴出大量熔岩及火山灰。噴至火山口邊的火山灰冷卻後，該處成為切面是六邊形的石柱。結構長約200多米，闊約100米，高約63米。破邊洲原是由糧船灣花山伸延入海的一個海岬，但因長年受海浪侵蝕，結果與花山分離成為海蝕柱。