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。

This image is included in 3 galleries :- 1) "2020 05 20 Mittwoch" curated by BAKAWI, 2) "2020 05 21 Himmelfahrt" also by BAKAWI and 3) Bird II/2020" by khoi tranduc.

This images is included in a gallery "Mountains" curated by Radoslav Besenyi.

Cradle Mountain is a mountain in the Central Highlands region of the Australian state of Tasmania. The mountain is situated in the Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park (UNESCO World Heritage listed). Cradle Mountain was named in 1827 by the explorer Joseph Fossey who thought it bore a remarkable similarity to a gold prospector's cradle.

The mountain rises above the glacially formed Dove Lake, Lake Wilks and Crater Lake.

The mountain has four named summits. In order of height they are Cradle Mountain (1,545 m), Smithies Peak (1,527 m), Weindorfers Tower (1,459 m) and Little Horn (1,355 m).

We arrived at the Cradle Mountain Hotel on November 6 at about 4:45pm. Snow started to fall. I ventured around the outside of the hotel at 5:30 am the following morning, there was about 2 inches of snow covering our hired Subaru. At that time there was a glimmer of hope of seeing nice snow scenes. When we arrived at the Dove Lake Stop using the shuttle transport, it was close to 9 am. Wind and snow were picking up pace and hard pellets welcomed me. Visibility was low. Across Dove Lake, most of the time only Little Horn was readily visible. Wiendorfers Tower, Smithies Peak and Cradle Mountain were at best partially recognisable. All in all, it was quite a surreal experience.

Hanging Rock contains numerous distinctive rock formations, including the "Hanging Rock" itself (a boulder suspended between other boulders, under which is the main entrance path), the Colonnade, the Eagle and the UFO. The highest point on Hanging Rock is 718 metres above sea level and 105 metres above the plain below.

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.

(Explored : Apr 19, 2022 #317)

Victoria has experienced a once in 50 years flood for the last few weeks. Banksia Park Cherry Grove, essentially a stone's throw distance from Yarra River, has been inundated by flood water. Access has been blocked off for 3 days.

The blossoming trees are Shirufugen. This was taken after the first flood. Another major flood recurred 2 weeks after this. Fingers crossed that the cherry trees can survive this severe test.

The weather was quite unstable, this was one the few moments when shifting clouds produced dramatic effects on this collection of 7 or 8 original 40 year old trees.

Huangshan 黄山 (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。

This is a hand-held HDR.

This image is included in 3 galleries :- 1) "2020 03 30 Fahrradbote" curated by BAKAWI, 2) "LANDSCAPE VOL 18" by Jean-paul Vancoppenolle and 3) "Paesaggi 15" by Stefano Bacci.

Upper Antelope Canyon, about 200m long, is a slot canyon in the American Southwest. It is on Navajo land east of Page, Arizona. Antelope Canyon includes two separate, scenic slot canyon sections, referred to individually as "Upper Antelope Canyon" or "The Crack" Antelope Canyon "or" The Corkscrew ". The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tsé bighánílíní, which means 'the place where water runs through rocks'. Lower Antelope Canyon is Hazdistazí (called "Hasdestwazi" by the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department), or 'spiral rock arches'. Both are in the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation.

Antelope Canyon's winding walls were carved by fast flowing flash flood waters. The floods carried abrasive sand, rocks logs and other debris picked up by the sudden torrents. Over millenia, these floods sculpted natural corridors through the soft sandstone. (sourced from internet)

This is a hand-held HDR.

This image is included in 2 galleries:- 1) "FIORI" curated by maurosnaier and 2) "Flowers 2" by artiste24 artiste24 .

Osteospermum ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’, also known as Veldt Daisies, has butter-yellow blooms with a strong central eye. This puts a modern twist on a garden classic. The purple tinged, sky reflected blue in the central blotches, create a luminous and truly stunning appearance. Osteospermum ‘Blue Eyed Beauty’ will grow in any climate, is strong and very weather-tolerant.

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

This was taken with my Sony mobile phone.

This image is included in a gallery "INTERPHOTO: NATURE / LANDSCAPES / WILDLIFE" curated by Marzetti Gianfranco.

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)

This was taken on board a AAT Kings coach while sightseeing around the base of Uluru. This is an uncropped image.

(Explored Mar 26, 2021 #103)

Took this one somewhere in Ravensthorpe, after leaving Esperance, in the direction of Albany. These are haystacks of wheat. Ravensthorpe is a wheat producing area. Windmills like this one here, are commonly used in pumping water for irrigation in farming areas throughout Australia.

Mount Conner, also known as Attila and Artilla, is a mountain located in the southwest corner of the Northern Territory of Australia, 75 km southeast of Lake Amadeus and 90 km east southeast of Uluru. Mount Conner reaches 859 metres above sea level and to 300 metres above ground level. Mt Conner is situated on a vast, fully operational, privately owned cattle station called Curtin Springs Station.

Mount Conner is a flat-topped and horseshoe-shaped inselberg, part of the same vast rocky substrate thought to be beneath Uluru/Ayers Rock and Kata Tjuta/Olgas.

It can easily be confused with Uluru, since it can be seen from the road to Uluru and Kata Tjuta, when approaching from Alice Springs.

It was named Mount Conner by William Gosse in 1873 after South Australian politician M. L. Conner. (sourced form en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Conner)

The conglomerate and quartzite formation measures 2 miles (3 km) by 0.75 mile (1.2 km), with sandstone and limestone ridges extending for 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from the base. The region’s Aborigines, who call the mountain Artilla, believe it to be the home of icemen who create cold weather. (Encyclopaedia Britannica)

This was captured on board a AAT Kings coach while travelling at 100 km/hr. The sun happened to be above and just behind me, so the reflections on the window was minimal.

This image is included in a gallery "Misty Intrigue" curated by Janine (JApplequist).

Wa-io-tapu is an active geothermal area at the southern end of the Okataina Volcanic Centre, just north of the Reporoa caldera, in New Zealand's Taupo Volcanic Zone. It is 27 kilometres south of Rotorua. Due to dramatic geothermal conditions beneath the earth, the area has many hot springs noted for their colourful appearance, in addition to the Lady Knox Geyser, Champagne Pool, Artist's Palette, Primrose Terrace and boiling mud pools. These can mostly be viewed through access by foot, and in addition to a paid and curated experience, naturally forming hot springs appear around the area. The geothermal area covers 18 square kilometres. Prior to European occupation the area was the homeland of the Ngati Whaoa tribe who descended from those on the Arawa waka.

Covering some 18 sq.km, with the volcanic dome of Mungakakaramea (Rainbow Mountain) at its northern boundary, the area is literally covered with collapsed craters, cold and boiling pools of mud, water and streaming fumaroles. The general public sees only a very small portion. The area is associated with volcanic activity dating back about 160,000 years and is located right on the edge of the largest volcanic caldera (depression) within the active Taupo Volcanic Zone.

The wide range of colours in the area are all natural and are due to different mineral elements, the predominant colours being :- Green (colloidal sulphur / ferrous salts), Orange (Antimony), Purple (Manganese oxide), White (Silica), Yellow-primrose (Sulphur), Red-brown (Iron oxide) and Black (Sulphur and carbon). (Sourced from offical wedsite)

Argyranthemum is a mound forming tender perennial, perfect for growing in bedding displays, containers and the cuttings patch. Plants bear masses of fragrant, chrysanthemum-like flowers over a long season, attracting a wide range of insects. Members of this genus are sometimes also placed in the genus Chrysanthemum.

Argyranthemum ‘Meteor Red’ has pretty red-pink flowers in contrast with silver-green leaves. It’s perfect for growing as a focal point on its own in a container or as part of a bedding display. A tender perennial, take summer cuttings or move pots indoors to overwinter, or treat as an annual.

Captured this one at Beasley's Nursery using my Sony mobile phone on a cold, overcast, autumn morning. The petals were still wet with morning dew. In the midst of COVID-19 pandemic self isolation and social distancing, hope that this image can bring some joy / relief to Flickr friends.

About 310 km from Scarborough, Algonquin Provincial Park is located between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River in Central Ontario, mostly within the Unorganized South Part of Nipissing District. Established in 1893, it is the oldest provincial park in Canada. The park is considered part of the "border" between Northern Ontario and Southern Ontario. The park is in an area of transition between coniferous forest and deciduous forest. This unique mixture of forest types, and the wide variety of environments in the park, allows the park to support an uncommon diversity of plant and animal species.

This was a quiet part of the Oxtongue River, taken on an overcast morning, a few hundred metres from the Oxtongue River rapid falls. The river bed comprises predominantly of gravels and stones.

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

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.

This was taken on one overcast early spring evening. There was still some snow on the ground. Had to wait for a long while for the soft sunlight to correctly illuminate the peak.

石筍峰位於北海景區之上升峰和散花塢東面始信峰中間。該峰為柱狀石峰，屬黃山36小峰之列，海拔1683米。峰形酷似竹筍，故得名。峰上怪石林立，遊人若在始信峰對面獅子峰腰部海拔1700餘米的清涼台（原名法台）或在峰背尾部的曙光亭（原名文光亭）旁觀賞石景，即可見其中一排怪石形如幾位身穿道袍、頭挽髮髻的道士。當中兩尊相向而坐，中間有一樹冠平如棋枰的古松。此景即為著名的移步換景怪石“二仙對弈”，又稱“仙人下棋”；在它的右邊，另有一尊酷似身穿丞相冠服，頭頂烏紗，背手斜立而視的人形石，這就是被稱作“宰相觀棋”的怪石了。由於兩個石景相隔不遠，又互相聯繫，故實際上屬於一道組合怪石景觀。

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.

Upper Antelope Canyon, about 200m long, is a slot canyon in the American Southwest. It is on Navajo land east of Page, Arizona. Antelope Canyon includes two separate, scenic slot canyon sections, referred to individually as "Upper Antelope Canyon" or "The Crack" Antelope Canyon "or" The Corkscrew ". The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tsé bighánílíní, which means 'the place where water runs through rocks'. Lower Antelope Canyon is Hazdistazí (called "Hasdestwazi" by the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department), or 'spiral rock arches'. Both are in the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation.

Antelope Canyon's winding walls were carved by fast flowing flash flood waters. The floods carried abrasive sand, rocks logs and other debris picked up by the sudden torrents. Over millenia, these floods sculpted natural corridors through the soft sandstone. (sourced from internet)

This is a hand-held HDR.

Facing Bass Strait, Sorrento Back Beach is one of the most photogenic parts of the Mornington Peninsula. It is 62 km south of Melbourne and 8 km from Point Nepean at the end of the peninsula. The Sphinx Rock can be seen from a small rotunda called Coppin's Lookout.

This image is included in a gallery "finest floral & fauna" curated by mark doyle.

Japanese windflowers (Anemone x hybrida) are hardy perennials which grow to about 1m tall. The flowers come as singles or doubles in a wide range of colours including white, pink and rosy red with golden centres. They die down in winter, when they can be divided up and spread throughout the garden. (Burke's Backyard)

This beautiful Autumn flowering perennial heralds the end of summer with tall and graceful flower stems gently waving in the breeze. In the center of the flower, there are more than 100 pistils each 1.5 mm long, surrounded by prominent yellow stamens approximately 5 mm long.

Steamboat Geyser, in Yellowstone National Park's Norris Geyser Basin, is the world's tallest currently-active geyser. Steamboat Geyser has two vents, a northern and a southern, approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) apart. Steamboat's major eruptions generally last from 3 to 40 minutes (a couple of durations surpassing an hour were observed during the 2018 active phase), and are followed by powerful jets of steam. During these eruptions, water may be thrown more than 300 feet (91 m) into the air. Steamboat does not erupt on a predictable schedule, with recorded intervals between major eruptions ranging from four days to fifty years. The geyser was dormant from 1911 to 1961.

Minor eruptions of 10 to 15 feet (3.0 to 4.6 m) are much more frequent. After an eruption, the geyser often vents large amounts of steam for up to 48 hours. Sometimes during this part of an eruption, water may return to Steamboat, causing it to jet water once again, though to lesser heights. Cistern Spring, located nearby, will drain completely during a major eruption of the geyser; the spring refills within a few days.

The most recent eruption of Steamboat Geyser occurred on April 14, 2025. This was the 171st eruption since it re-activated in early 2018.

This beautiful brownish-red cliff face is located next to the Forrest Caves, along the Woolamai Surf Beach, Phillip Island.

Phillip Island, also known as Corriong or Millowl in the Boonwurrung language, is an Australian island about 140 km south-southeast of Melbourne, Victoria. The island is named after Governor Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of New South Wales, by explorer and seaman George Bass, who sailed in an open whale boat, arriving from Sydney on 5 January 1798.

(Explored: Jan 6, 2022 #322)

This image is included in 2 galleries:- 1) "2021 08 29 Sonntag" curated by BAKAWI and 2) "Natura 08" by Stefano Bacci.

Argyranthemum frutescens, known as Paris daisy, Boston Daisy, Cobbity Daisy, Dill Daisy, Federation Daisy, Marguerite, Paris Marguerite, Summer Daisy, Teneriffe Daisymarguerite or marguerite daisy. It is a perennial plant known for its flowers. It is native to the Canary Islands. Hybrids derived from this species are widely cultivated as ornamental plants in private gardens and public parks in many countries, and have naturalized in Australia, New Zealand, East Europe, and Ukraine, Italy and southern California. Genus name comes from Greek meaning silvery flower. (sourced from internet)

Traditional uses and benefits of Marguerite Daisy : 1) Treatment of whooping cough, asthma and nervous excitability, 2) Sticky leaves have been used in wound dressing and 3) An eye lotion for conjunctivitis made from the flowers. HealthBenefitstimes.com.)

This was captured using my SONY G8141 mobile phone, while waiting for take-away coffee at the Beasley's Nursery near home, during the state-wide Stage 4 Covid-19 isolation lockdown for the 6th time.

This image is included in a gallery "Mother Nature's emotions" curated by Alicja.

Lady Barron Falls is relatively small with a height of approximately 8 metres, with multiple tiers and cascades near the base. It was named after Lady Clara Barron, the wife of Sir Harry Barron who was Governor of Tasmania from 1909 to 1913.

Together with Russell Falls and Horseshoe Falls, Lady Barron Falls are collectively known as the 3 waterfalls.

A 6km Grade 3 Walk from the visitor centre of Mount Field National Park covers the three waterfalls. The loop walk contains information and education boards at various intervals about the flora and fauna of the region. From the information centre to Russell Falls, glow worms can be seen at night. Between Horseshoe Falls and Lady Barron Falls, there are plenty of swamp gums (Eucalyptus regnans). These trees are the second tallest tree species in the world.

At the time I was taking this photo, a shower was pelting down amidst patches of sunshine.

This image is included in a gallery "85" curated by Fairy Duff.

Bryce Canyon National Park is located in south western Utah. The major feature of the park is Bryce Canyon, which despite its name, is not a canyon, but a collection of giant natural amphitheatres along the eastern side of the Paunsaugunt Plateau. Bryce is distinctive due to geological structures called hoodoos, formed by frost weathering and stream erosion of the river and lake bed sedimentary rocks. The red, orange, and white colours of the rocks provide spectacular views for park visitors. Bryce sits at a much higher elevation than nearby Zion National Park. The rim at Bryce varies from 8,000 to 9,000 feet (2,400 to 2,700 m). The Bryce Canyon area was settled by Mormon pioneers in the 1850s and was named after Ebenezer Bryce, who homesteaded in the area in 1874. The area around Bryce Canyon became a National Monument in 1923 and was designated as a National Park in 1928. The park covers 35,835 acres (55.992 sq mi; 14,502 ha; 145.02 km2) and receives substantially fewer visitors than Zion National Park (nearly 4.3 million in 2016) or Grand Canyon National Park (nearly 6 million in 2016), largely due to Bryce's more remote location. (Sourced from Internet)

This was taken at Bryce Point (8300 ft above sea level).

This was taken during the Rim Walk. Sandstone domes (mini-Purnululu) and gum tree cast interesting shadows on the sandstone ground in the warm early spring morning light.

Kings Canyon is a canyon in the Northern Territory of Australia located at the western end of the George Gill Range about 323 km southwest of Alice Springs and about 1,316 km south of Darwin within the Watarrka National Park. (Wikipedia)

This image is included in a gallery "THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF ANIMALS LXXXV." curated by Lagarto (miguelitoiglesias21).

A New Zealand icon, the tui is loved for its singing voice and unique plumage. At first glance the bird appears completely black except for a small tuft of white feathers at its neck and a small white wing patch, causing it to resemble a parson in clerical attire. On closer inspection it can be seen that tui have brown feathers on the back and flanks, a multicoloured iridescent sheen that varies with the angle from which the light strikes them, and a dusting of small, white-shafted feathers on the back and sides of the neck that produce a lacy collar. The name tui is from the Māori name tūī and is the species formal common name. It is only found in New Zealand.

This bird comes to feed on the nectar of the New Zealand flax outside the apartment we are staying, in Franz Josef, South Island. Looking closely a lot of orange pollen is collected at the forehead of the bird. A gentle wind helps spreading the pollen.

( Explored: Feb 9, 2024 #95 )

Happy birthday Flickr! Enjoy today’s Explore, curated to celebrate our iconic colors. Check out the Flickr blog to read more about our 20th birthday festivities!

This image is included in 3 galleries:- 1) "Arizona Wonder" curated by GSB and 2) "Grand Canyon" by Doug Lemons, 3) "Paesaggi 25" by Stefano Bacci.

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 near the Visitor Center, which is on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

The London Bridge area is the most northern beach in the Mornington Peninsula National Park and borders Point Nepean National Park. This famous landform is composed of sandstone and has been formed through weathering action of thousands of years of wind, rain and waves. Portsea is a town in the outer south-east of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is located approximately 60 kilometres south of the Melbourne CBD, on the opposite side of Port Phillip Bay.

This was taken at low tide from the side where the sea arch is not obvious.

The chestnut teal (Anas castanea) is a dabbling duck found in Australia. It is protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974. (Wikipedia)

Although the Chestnut Teal occurs at wetlands hundreds of kilometres inland, the species’ strongholds are usually near the coast. It is one of the few species of Australian ducks that can tolerate habitats with highly saline water. They regularly occur in estuaries, inlets, exposed mudflats, coastal lagoons, saltmarsh and evaporation ponds at saltworks. Nevertheless, they also occur at freshwater wetlands. They usually feed at the margins of wetlands, among aquatic vegetation in the shallows or upending in deeper water, or dabbling on recently covered mudflats or sand. (Birdlife Australia)

This image is included in a gallery "Scenes.. seens?" by Universal Art Factor.

Giverny is a commune in the northern French department of Eure. The village is located on the "right bank" of the river Seine at its confluence with the river Epte. It lies 80 km west-northwest of Paris, in the region of Normandy. It is best known as the location of Claude Monet's garden and home.

Several American Impressionist artists also settled in Giverny, drawn by the landscapes, the overall atmosphere, and the presence of Monet. Other attractions include the Museum of Impressionism Giverny, dedicated to the history of impressionism and the Giverny art colony, and the Hôtel Baudy, which was the center of artistic life in Giverny's heyday.

Claude Monet noticed the village of Giverny while looking out of a train window. He made up his mind to move there and rented a house and the area surrounding it. In 1890 he had enough money to buy the house and land outright and set out to create the magnificent gardens he wanted to paint.

Some of his most famous paintings were of his garden in Giverny, famous for its rectangular Clos Normand, with archways of climbing plants entwined around colored shrubs, and the water garden, formed by a tributary to the Epte, with the Japanese bridge, the pond with the water lilies, the wisterias and the azaleas.

The Busselton Jetty is the longest timbre-piled jetty in the southern hemisphere. In Busselton, Western Australia, the jetty is 1841 metres long, originally built in 1865, re-opened in 2011.

The blue-faced honeyeater (Entomyzon cyanotis), also colloquially known as the bananabird, is a passerine bird of the honeyeater family, Meliphagidae. It is the only member of its genus, and it is most closely related to honeyeaters of the genus Melithreptus. (Wikipedia)

The Blue-faced Honeyeater occurs in a wide range of habitats, though it is most usually found in eucalypt forests and woodlands, or often among pandanus palms, but it also often occurs in built-up habitats where it forages in both native and exotic plants. They take invertebrates from the trunks, branches and leaves of trees, and probe flowers for nectar. Like many honeyeaters, this species is often pugnacious, chasing competitors away from food sources, and mobbing, swooping or harassing potential predators to drive them away from the nest. (Birdlife Australia)

This was taken at Serendip Sanctuary. Serendip Sanctuary is part of an Aboriginal cultural landscape in the traditional Country of the Wadawurrung Peoples. It is a 250 hectare protected area in Victoria, Australia, near the You Yangs and the town of Lara, about 22 km north of Geelong and 60 km south-west of Melbourne.

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.

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 from "Journey Behind the Falls" observation deck upper level on the Canadian side : the sun is partially obscured by the mist from the forceful falls.

This image is included in 2 galleries :- 1) "Landscape" curated by Roberto Crucitti and 2) "2020 05 17 Sonnstag" by BAKAWI.

This was taken moments before sunrise. Kata Tjuta can be seen on the left, about 50 km away.

Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock and officially gazetted as Uluru / Ayers Rock, is a large sandstone rock formation. Uluru is just the exposed tip of a huge vertical body of rock. This rock probably extends far below the surrounding plain, probably for several km. 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 was taken just after dawn near Wave Rock Motel, Hyden, Western Australia. The early morning sun makes everything look warm. The feather was still wet from morning dew.

Guilin is a famous scenic area in the province Guanxi, China. It is famous for its myriad of mountains and waterscapes along Lijian River.

This was taken on board a cruise boat, on a typical misty autumn morning.

This image is included in 4 galleries 1) "Great Water Pics Captured" curated by Johnnyvaccc, 2) "Best pictures ever seen on Flickr" by Sam, 3) "New galerie" by Sam Photos and 4) "LANDSCAPE VOL 18" by Jean-paul Vancoppenolle.

Located in the Midway Geyser Basin, it is the largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world, after Frying Pan Lake in New Zealand and Boiling Lake in Dominica. Its colours match the rainbow dispersion of white light by an optical prism: red, orange, yellow, green, and blue. The spring is approximately 370 feet (110 m) in diameter and is 160 feet (50 m) deep. The spring discharges an estimated 560 US gallons (2,100 L) of 160 °F (70 °C) water per minute.

The vivid colours in the spring are the result of microbial mats around the edges of the mineral-rich water. The mats produce colours ranging from green to red; the amount of colour in the microbial mats depends on the ratio of chlorophyll to carotenoids and on the temperature gradient in the runoff. In the summer, the mats tend to be orange and red, whereas in the winter the mats are usually dark green. The centre of the pool is sterile due to extreme heat. The deep blue colour of the water in the centre of the pool results from the scattering of blue light by particles suspended in the water. This effect is particularly visible in the centre of the spring due to the lack of archaea that live in the centre and to the depth of the water. The brilliant yellows and oranges are a result of the bacteria which grow in it. Each colour represents a different type of bacteria specialized to survive at a certain range of hot temperatures.

A new overlook trail and viewing point away from the carpark was recently (about 4 weeks prior to our visit) opened. Viewing was much better and semi-aerial shots were handily captured. It is interesting to note that the colours of steam over the spring varied from white to shades of blue and even yellowish and pinkish depending on the intensity of direct sunlight at the time.

Adjacent to it are the Excelsior Geyser and two small hot springs: Opal Pool and Turquoise Pool.

This image is included in 2 galleries :- 1) "MIX_01" curated by Willie Sturges and 2) "2020 03 30 Fahrradbote" by BAKAWI..

These interesting looking huge rocks measure about 7-8 metres tall. The orange-yellow colours are probably due to lichen growth. They looked beautiful in autumnal morning light.

At the southernmost tip of mainland Australia, Wilsons Promontory (The Prom) is one of Victoria’s most-loved places. It offers spectacular scenery of huge granite mountains, open forest, rainforest, sweeping beaches and coastlines.

Squeaky Beach is one of the Prom’s iconic locations, the rounded grains of quartz sand make a ’squeak’ when walked on.

This image is included in a gallery "Antelope Canyon" curated by Blacky.

Upper Antelope Canyon, about 200m in length, is a slot canyon in the American Southwest. It is on Navajo land east of Page, Arizona. Antelope Canyon includes two separate, scenic slot canyon sections, referred to individually as "Upper Antelope Canyon" or "The Crack" Antelope Canyon "or" The Corkscrew ". The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tsé bighánílíní, which means 'the place where water runs through rocks'. Lower Antelope Canyon is Hazdistazí (called "Hasdestwazi" by the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department), or 'spiral rock arches'. Both are in the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation.

Antelope Canyon's winding walls were carved by fast flowing flash flood waters. The floods carried abrasive sand, rocks logs and other debris picked up by the sudden torrents. Over millenia, these floods sculpted natural corridors through the soft sandstone. (sourced from internet)

This is a hand-held HDR.

Captured this scene near Warrnambool Breakwater on a fine winter afternoon. The scanty lazy clouds in the distance have soothing effects on the choppy waves and rugged rocks in the foreground.

Warrnambool is a city on the south-western coast of Victoria, Australia. Situated on the Princes Highway, Warrnambool marks the western end of the Great Ocean Road and the southern end of the Hopkins Highway.

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

Located in Black Rock, about 19 km from Melbourne, Red Bluff is a high (over 25 m), active cliff cut in poorly consolidated clayey sands, with harder sandstone beds forming a series of irregular ledges and benches at the base. The greater part of the cliff is an exposure of the Red Bluff Sand, this site being the type locality for that geological formation. (Sourced from Victorian Resources Online)

This image is included in a gallery "LA MER" curated by Jacqueline Reynier (Mamie Sur).

This was taken on an overcast summer morning, at the furthest left of the Nobbies boardwalk. The Nobbies is at the western tip of Phillip Island. The wave actions on the rocks are incessant and simply spectacular to look at.

The dark rock platform are basalt, formed when nearby volcanoes cooled about 50 million years ago. The Pyramid Rock is at the centre in the distant horizon, whereas the Blowhole is to right, outside of this frame.

Phillip Island, also known as Corriong or Millowl in the Boonwurrung language, is an Australian island about 140 km south-southeast of Melbourne, Victoria. The island is named after Governor Arthur Phillip, the first Governor of New South Wales, by explorer and seaman George Bass, who sailed in an open whale boat, arriving from Sydney on 5 January 1798.

These little birds are aggressive to other honeyeaters.