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.

Exmouth is a town on the tip of the North West Cape, and is 1,270 km north of Perth and 3,300 km south-west of Darwin. Many kms before reaching and after leaving Exmouth along the Learmonth Minilya Road, numerous termite nests can be seen adorning the otherwise bleak landscape. This image was taken near the Exmouth Communications Towers. The two mounds here are about 5 foot tall.

Mound-building termites or just mound builders are a group of termite species that live in mounds. This group of termites live in Africa, Australia and South America. The mounds sometimes have a diameter of 30 metres. Most of the mounds are found in well drained areas. Termite mounds usually out live the colonies themselves. If the inner tunnels of the nest are exposed it is usually dead, however, sometimes other colonies occupy a mound after the death of the original builders. (Sourced from Wikipedia)

This image is included in a gallery "KHWD Highlights 9" curated by KeefH Hellinger.

Tokangawhā / Split Apple Rock is a geological rock formation in Tasman Bay off the northern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. It is made of granite and estimated to be around 120 million years old.

Made of granite, it is in the shape of an apple which has been cut into halves. It is a popular tourist attraction in the waters of the Tasman Sea approximately 50 metres off the coast between Kaiteriteri and Marahau.

The rock sits in shallow water at low tide and is accessible by wading. It is also a point of interest for the many tourist boats and pleasure craft which operate along the shores of the Abel Tasman National Park.

The formation was made by ice wedging. The cleft to produce two sides of the 'apple' was a natural occurrence. It is unknown when this happened and therefore the cleaving of the rock has attracted mythological explanations.

The name Split Apple Rock was made official in 1988, and was officially altered to Tokangawhā / Split Apple Rock in August 2014. (Sourced from Wikipedia)

This was taken off the beach in Towers Bay on an overcast day.

This image is included in a gallery "The beauty of the smallest --- #Butterflies #Vlinders #Caterpillar #Rups" curated by cirkel der natuur.

This image is included in a gallery "Du violet! / All purple!" curated byMarie-Noëlle GALY.

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 taken near the entrance.

This image is included in 2 galleries :- 1) "natura, solo natura!" curated by fabiofoni and 2) "GREAT LANDSCAPES AND SEA SCAPES" by Liampics58.

These two monoliths were captured next to The Whate Museum, Albany, Western Australia. In the late afternoon sun, they shone beautifully in Frenchman Bay. Michaelmas Island and Breaksea Island can be seen in the distance.

This image is included in a gallery "Exposición Siabala III. Austellung" curated by Luis Siabala Valer.

This was taken at the Rose Garden at the New Zealand Gardens, which is part of Botanic Gardens in Christchurch.

The Christchurch Botanic Gardens, located in the central city of Christchurch, New Zealand, were founded in 1863 when an English oak was planted to commemorate the solemnisation of the marriage of Prince Albert and Princess Alexandra of Denmark.

The rock dove, rock pigeon, or common pigeon is a member of the bird family Columbidae (doves and pigeons).  In common usage, it is often simply referred to as the "pigeon".

The domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica, which includes about 1,000 different breeds) descended from this species. Escaped domestic pigeons have increased the populations of feral pigeons around the world.

Wild rock doves are pale grey with two black bars on each wing, whereas domestic and feral pigeons vary in colour and pattern. Few differences are seen between males and females. The species is generally monogamous, with two squabs (young) per brood. Both parents care for the young for a time.

Took this one during my morning walk along Mullum Mullum Trail. In diffused lighting, the iridescent colours around the neck and chest of this handsome bird are well captured.

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 3 galleries :- 1) "Février 2021 #2" curated by Impatience_1, 2) "Bébés et jeunes animaux...#11" by Impatience_1 and 3) "A World of Wonder 40" by thanks 173rd Airborne.

This image of a beautiful juvenile bongo (striped forest antelopes) was captured at Werribee Open Range Zoo, about 32 kilometres (20 mi) south-west of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Horns were not developed at this stage.

The bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus) is a herbivorous, mostly nocturnal forest ungulate. Bongos are characterised by a striking reddish-brown coat, black and white markings, white-yellow stripes and long slightly spiralled horns. Bongos are the only tragelaphid in which both sexes have horns.

The scientific name of the bongo is Tragelaphus eurycerus, and it belongs to the genus Tragelaphus and family Bovidae. It was first described by Irish naturalist William Ogilby in 1837. The generic name Tragelaphus is composed of two Greek words: trag-, meaning a goat; and elaphos, meaning deer. The specific name eurycerus originated from the fusion of eurus (broad, widespread) and keras (an animal's horn). The common name "bongo" originated probably from the Kele language of Gabon. The first known use of the name "bongo" in English dates to 1861.

Bongos are further classified into two subspecies: T. e. eurycerus, the lowland or western bongo, and the far rarer T. e. isaaci, the mountain or eastern bongo, restricted to the mountains of Kenya only. The eastern bongo is larger and heavier than the western bongo. Two other subspecies are described from West and Central Africa, but taxonomic clarification is required. They have been observed to live up to 19 years.

(explored Jan 6, 2021 #80)

(explored: Apr 28, 2012 #417)

This image is included in a gallery "Macro" by cristian salvadori.

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

Rusty Geyser is probably the easiest geyser to see in Yellowstone National Park. Not only is it frequent, erupting as little as every one to four minutes or less, but it is also located right next to the entrance road to the Biscuit Basin parking lot, so you can watch it from your car. Rusty is a small cone-type geyser. Intervals are frequently in the one to four minute range but at times have been seen to extend to as much as 13 minutes. Duration range from 10 to 45 seconds. The maximum height is about 6 feet, though 10 feet has occasionally been seen.

Rusty was reportedly named for the rust coloured sinter around its vent.

You can easily watch the typical geyser eruption cycle at Rusty. Prior to the eruption, the water rises in the vent begins to overflow and splash a little. The splashing builds into an eruption. After the eruption, the water drains away leaving the vent empty. (Source: GOSA)

This image is included in 4 galleries 1) " 2018 SPECIAL AUTHORS *INTERPHOTO*" curated by Gianfranco Marzetti, 2) "natural rock formations" by Yousaf Ejaz, 3) "Wonderful Landscapes and seascapes 2" by Glass Angel and 4) "LANDSCAPE VOL 18" by Jean-paul Vancoppenolle.

Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of hot springs on a hill of travertine adjacent to Fort Yellowstone and the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District. It was created over thousands of years as hot water from the spring cooled and deposited calcium carbonate (over two tons flow into Mammoth each day in a solution). Because of the huge amount of geothermal vents, travertine flourishes. Although these springs lie outside the caldera boundary, their energy has been attributed to the same magmatic system that fuels other Yellowstone geothermal areas.

The hot water that feeds Mammoth comes from Norris Geyser Basin after traveling underground via a fault line that runs through limestone and roughly parallel to the Norris-to-Mammoth road. The limestone from rock formations along the fault is the source of the calcium carbonate. Shallow circulation along this corridor allows Norris' superheated water to slightly cool before surfacing at Mammoth, generally at about 170 °F (80 °C). Algae living in the warm pools have tinted the travertine shades of brown, orange, red, and green.

Thermal activity here is extensive both over time and distance. The thermal flows show much variability with some variations taking place over periods ranging from decades to days. Terrace Mountain at Mammoth Hot Springs is the largest known carbonate-depositing spring in the world. The most famous feature at the springs is the Minerva Terrace, a series of travertine terraces. The terraces have been deposited by the spring over many years but, due to recent minor earthquake activity, the spring vent has shifted, rendering the terraces dry.

This image is included in a gallery "Ici...on butine...ou on picore..." curated by Impatience_1.

Catopsilia pomona, the common emigrant or lemon emigrant, is a medium-sized pierid butterfly found in Asia and parts of Australia. The species gets its name from its habit of migration. Some early authors considered them as two distinct species Catopsilia crocale and Catopsilia pomona. Their wingspan is about 60 mm.

This image is included in a gallery "in aller Welt 2" curated by Evi Otto.

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 of the exit.

This is a beautiful blue hot spring in the Upper Geyser Basin, situated between the Grand Prismatic Pool and Morning Glory Pool, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA.

The Pink Cliffs Reserve is about 140km from Melbourne CBD. It was originally man made but is now considered one of Victoria's natural wonders. The multi-coloured soft granite exposed as a moonscape surface in the central portion of the reserve is the best known feature hence its name, Pink Cliffs.

The colourful phenomenon was created by early gold-mining activities: sluicing work in the 1880s revealed the 'pink' hills near the historic town of Heathcote.

"The colour kaleidoscope you can see today is the remaining granite sliced through with reddish brown cracks filled with quartz. The surface fine granite was washed by percolating ground water containing sodium, chlorides and carbonates, which helped to dissolve the iron ore minerals and weather the granite. In the process, the granite became stained with iron rich solutions, the colour intensity being directly related to the amounts of iron ore minerals within the cracks. Erosion has proceeded at such a rate that the present surface still resembles a moonscape. ." (Heathcote information Center Website)

This geological reserve offers hills of fine clay with an almost talcum-powder texture. The pinkness is more intense when the area is moist, i.e, shortly after a rain or shower.

The shadows in the foreground from nearby gum trees add additional interest.

Artemisia Geyser is part of the Cascade Group which includes the Atomizer Geyser. It erupts for a duration of 15 to 25 minutes once or twice per day. The fountain reaches a height of 30 feet (9.1 m). Artemisia's pool overflows quietly for many hours before an eruption, but gives no visible warning of an impending eruption until the sudden increase in overflow that marks the eruption's onset. Eruptions are accompanied by a strong underground thumping caused by steam bubbles collapsing in the geyser's channels.

Artemisia also experiences minor eruptions lasting about 5 minutes. These minor eruptions are followed by major eruptions within six hours. Minor eruptions are rare. Years may pass between episodes of minor eruptions. In 2009, intervals between eruptions ranged from 9 to 36 hours, averaging 18 hours, 43 minutes. (sourced from Wikipedia)

It is a few hundred metres from the Morning Glory Pool. The yellow-white frothy deposits/bacterial growth is a beautiful feature of this geyser.

This image is included in 4 galleries:- 1) "Australia in Focus" curated by morgonsilkstone and 2) "World in Focus G20" also by morgonsilkstone, 3) "Landschaften 2020 0202" by BAKAWI and 4) "Paesaggi 24" by Stefano Bacci.

Kata Tjuṯa (means many heads), also known as the Olgas, is a group of large, dome shaped rock formations or bornhardts located about 32 km west of Uluru and 360 km (220 mi) southwest of Alice Springs. Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, located 25 km to the east, and Kata Tjuṯa form the two major landmarks within the Uluru-Kata Tjuṯa National Park. The 36 domes that make up Kata Tjuṯa cover an area of 21.68 km2 (8.37 sq mi), are composed of conglomerate, a sedimentary rock consisting of cobbles and boulders of varying rock types including granite and basalt, cemented by a matrix of sandstone. The highest dome, Mount Olga, is 1,066 m (3,497 ft) above sea level, or approximately 546 m (1,791 ft) above the surrounding plain (198 m (650 ft) higher than Uluru. They are thought to have been one huge piece of rock, much like Uluru, that has weathered over millions of years to become an intriguing series of individual formations. Kata Tjuta has been listed as Dual UNESCO heritage site.

This image was taken on a fine evening. Mt Olga and Walpa Gorge are on the right. The reddish-brown colour is due to the iron oxide and clay covering the conglomerate rock surface. On the left dome, many small caves have pock-marked the surface.

This image is included in 3 galleries :- 1) "Stoned and Rocked" curated by Sandra Mahle, 2) "Earth" by stephenhjcole and 3) "Images Invoking Receptive Energy" by Janine (JApplequist).

Mutitjulu is an Aboriginal Australian community in the Northern Territory of Australia located at the eastern end of Uluru. It is named after a knee-shaped water-filled rock hole at the base of Uluru, and is located in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. Its people are traditional owners and joint managers of the park with Parks Australia. At the 2011 census, Mutitjulu had a population of 296, of which 218 were Aboriginal. (326 in 2016).

This image is included in a gallery "Beautiful Nature Shots, Vol. 4" curated by John Russell.

Flinders Blowhole is on the left whereas Little Bird Rock is on the right. Little Bird Rock (basalt) is the home to many water birds.

The Flinders Blowhole lies hidden amongst the cliffs bounded by Cape Schanck and Flinders. Just off Boneo Road and at the bottom of the Blowhole Track lies an elephant shaped rock that projects out into the Bass Strait. A measured combination of the tide, wind direction and swell, gives meaning to the name “blowhole”. Waves can be seen smashing into the exposed rock and spraying metres in to the air if the conditions align.

Cape Schanck is a locality in the Australian state of Victoria. It is the southernmost tip of the Mornington Peninsula and separates the wild ocean waters of Bass Strait from the slightly calmer waters of Western Port.

This image was taken using my SONY mobile phone XZ XPERIA PREMIUM.

This was taken on Peace Bridge in Calgary, near the town centre. Peace Bridge is a bridge that accommodates people walking and cycling across the Bow River in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

This image is included in 5 galleries:- 1) "Animal Kingdom G3" curated by morgonsilkstone, 2) "Great, fascinating and lovely animal shots" by frankie veldhoen, 3) "Nature" by Demeter Orsolya, 4) "Ville dyr 1" by Ellen Karine Andersen and 5) "Ville dyr 3" also by Ellen Karine Andersen.

The meerkat or suricate (Suricata suricatta) is a small carnivoran belonging to the mongoose family (Herpestidae). It is the only member of the genus Suricata. Meerkats live in all parts of the Kalahari Desert in Botswana, in much of the Namib Desert in Namibia and southwestern Angola, and in South Africa. A group of meerkats is called a "mob", "gang" or "clan". A meerkat clan often contains about 20 meerkats, but some super-families have 50 or more members. In captivity, meerkats have an average life span of 12–14 years, and about half this in the wild.

There are three subspecies of meerkat: red, grey and slender-tailed, the subspecies at Werribee Open Range Zoo. They are small: 26–28cm (with a 22cm tail).

Primarily, meerkats are insectivores, which means most of their diet is made up of insects. However, they won't turn down a meal of small mammals, snakes and snake eggs, birds and bird eggs, grubs (an insect's wormlike larva) and even poisonous scorpions (they've perfected the scorpion hunt to avoid the venom).Meerkats spend a significant part of the day foraging for their food with their sensitive noses. When they find it, they eat on the spot. Their diet consists of roughly 82 percent insects, 7 percent spiders, 3 percent centipedes, 3 percent millipedes, 2 percent reptiles and 2 percent birds [source: University of Michigan]. Depending on what part of the Kalahari Desert meerkats call home, water can be scarce; but at the very least, it can be found in tubers and roots. (from a site hosted by Maria Trimarchi)

The pockmarked face of Uluru is Australia’s best-known natural landmark. This is an uncropped image taken on board a coach during a round the base tour.

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)

( Explored : Nov 26, 2022 #39 )

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

The Hopewell Rocks are located in New Brunswick, Canada, within one hour of the nearest airport in Moncton, N.B.

An UNESCO site, the Hopewell Rocks, also called the Flower Pot Rocks or simply The Rocks, are rock formations caused by tidal erosion in The Hopewell Rocks Ocean Tidal Exploration Site in New Brunswick. Carved by melting glaciers, then sculpted by the world's highest and most artistic tides, these stacks stand 40–70 feet tall. They are located on the shores of the upper reaches of the Bay of Fundy at Hopewell Cape near Moncton.

Due to the extreme tidal range of the Bay of Fundy, the base of the formations are covered in water twice a day. The formations consist of dark sedimentary conglomerate and sandstone rock. The large volume of water flowing in to and out of the Bay of Fundy modifies the landscape surrounding it. Each day 160 billion tonnes of seawater flows in and out of the Bay of Fundy during one tide cycle, more than the combined flow of the world’s freshwater rivers! After the retreat of the glaciers in the region following the last ice age, surface water filtering through cracks in the cliff has eroded and separated the formations from the rest of the cliff face. Meanwhile, advancing and retreating tides and the associated waves have eroded the base of the rocks at a faster rate than the tops, resulting in their unusual shapes.

Because the Fundy Bay is funnel-shaped - wide and deep at one end and shallow at the other, tides are pushed increasingly higher as they move up the Bay. By the time they reach "The Rocks" they are over four stories high! Although the tides vary from day to day, the high tide can be as high as 16 metres (52ft) and an average of 10.7 metres (35ft), giving the Hopewell Rocks one of the highest average tides in the world.

We only had barely over an hour's time there because the tide was coming in very fast. Luckily the light was reasonably good.

Because of the extreme tidal actions, the water appears to be muddy, brick red in colour. Plants grow on top of the rock stacks - hence they are called Flowerpots Rocks.

The yellow-tufted honeyeater (Lichenostomus melanops) is a passerine bird found in the south-east ranges of Australia from south-east Queensland through eastern New South Wales and across Victoria into the tip of Southeastern South Australia. A predominantly black and yellow honeyeater, it is split into three subspecies:- 1) L. m. gippslandicus, Gippsland yellow-tufted honeyeater, 2) L. m. melanops, Sydney yellow-tufted honeyeater and 3) L. m. meltoni, inland yellow-tufted honeyeater, smaller and duller in plumage with a smaller tuft.

It is 17–23 cm long, with females usually smaller, and has a bright yellow forehead, crown and throat, a black mask and a yellow ear and forehead tuft. The back is olive-green and underparts more olive-yellow.

This image is included in 4 galleries 1) "Scene Against the Sky" by bobtee178 and 2) "the light" by Matthias Huber, 3) "night on earth" by Matthias Huber and 4) "13/ CIRCLES" by PACO WEAVING.

This was taken on 21.8.2017 on a fine day at the football ground of Brigham Young University in Rexburg, Idaho, USA. For the beginning and partial eclipse, a Baader AstroSolar Safety Foil was used before the lens. This foil is CE-tested and reduces the intensity of sunlight by 99.999% (optical density 5.0). This image was taken without the foil.

A total solar eclipse occurs when the Moon completely covers the Sun's disk, as seen in this 2017 eclipse. Solar prominences (in red) can be seen along the limb as well as extensive coronal filaments.

It is safe to observe the total phase of a solar eclipse directly only when the Sun's photosphere is completely covered by the Moon, and not before or after totality. During this period, the Sun is too dim to be seen through filters. The Sun's faint corona will be visible, and the chromosphere, solar prominences, and possibly even a solar flare may be seen. At the end of totality, the same effects will occur in reverse order, and on the opposite side of the Moon.

These pinnacles are limestone formations within Nambung National Park, near the town Cervantes, Western Australia.

The area contains thousands of weathered limestone pillars. Some of the tallest pinnacles reach heights of up to 7.5m above the yellow sand base. The different types of formations include ones which are much taller than they are wide and resemble columns—suggesting the name of Pinnacles—while others are only a meter or so in height and width resembling short tombstones. A cross-bedding structure can be observed in many pinnacles where the angle of deposited sand changed suddenly due to changes in prevailing winds during formation of the limestone beds. Pinnacles with tops similar to mushrooms are created when the calcrete capping is harder than the limestone layer below it. The relatively softer lower layers weather and erode at a faster rate than the top layer leaving behind more material at the top of the pinnacle.

The is mage is included in 4 galleries:- 1) "Geology" curated by Ardan Dojan, 2) "Life on Earth" by Jeffrey Caldwell, 3) "PLACERES VISUALES-volumen 7" by byktor -f.d. and 4) "premio selecto de hacedor de imagenes" also by byktor -f.d.

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 a gallery "Birds IV" curated by Annette LeDuff.

This image is included in 2 galleries:- 1) "Birds" curated by hira_sail and 2) "POETRIES@poeticpacific" by Poetic Pacific.

This species is aggressive to other honeyeaters. Here this bird has just finished feeding on Grevillea 'Peaches and Cream" and moves on.

The little wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera), also known as the brush wattlebird, is a passerine bird in the honeyeater family Meliphagidae. It is found in coastal and sub-coastal south-eastern Australia. (Wikipedia)

As with other honeyeaters, Little Wattlebirds feed on nectar, which is obtained using a long, brush-tipped tongue, specially adapted to probing deep into flowers. Other food includes insects, flowers, berries and some seeds. Most feeding is done while perched, but some insects are caught in mid-air. Birds may feed alone or in small to large groups. (Birdlife Australia)

These little birds are hard to catch them in flight - one moment they are in good light the next they are in the shade .... This was taken in the shade. It has a dreamy effect. This image is the result of very heavy cropping.

This image is included in a gallery "BIRD SHOTS" curated by .M*A*K..

This image is included in a gallery "Memories of Travels" curated by RD Glamour Photography.

The Great White Throne is a mountain of white Navajo Sandstone in Zion National Park in Washington County in southwestern Utah, United States. The north face rises 2,350 feet (720 m) in 1,500 feet (460 m) from the floor of Zion Canyon near Angels Landing. It is often used as a symbol of Zion National Park. The Great White Throne can be seen from most locations along the scenic drive running through Zion Canyon.

The Great White Throne was named by the Methodist minister of Ogden, Utah, Frederick Vining Fisher, in 1916. On a trip up the canyon with Claud Hirschi, son of Rockville bishop David Hirschi, Fisher and Hirschi named many features in Zion Canyon. Later afternoon light gloriously lit up The Great White Throne, prompting Fischer to state: "Never have I seen such a sight before. It is by all odds America's masterpiece. Boys, I have looked for this mountain all my life but I never expected to find it in this world. This mountain is the Great White Throne".

This is a closer look of the previous posting. This sidelit HDR capture is a nice study of the texture and varying rich colours of the beautiful monolith. Here, wispy, thin clouds have cast mild shadows on the rock face, which further accentuate 3-D effects. On the left is part of The Organ.

The delicate blossoms of Banksia Park’s cherry trees may be fleeting, but the history of this beautiful grove tells a story of resilience and lasting friendship.

In February 1980, the Japanese Government donated 100 flowering cherry trees to the people of Victoria to mark the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira. Having fought disease, drought and relocation in their 40-year life, the trees are now being maintained and cared for by a dedicated group of volunteers and Parks Victoria rangers.

They were originally planted at Jells Parks in Dandenong Valley Parklands but was relocated to Banksia park in 1988. In the month of October visitors flock to the park to participate in Hanami – a traditional Japanese custom of enjoying the transient beauty of Cherry Blossoms or Sakura.

The Cherry Friends started in 2015 when a group of Japanese-born residents began feeding and hand watering the trees, vastly improving the health of the grove.

Since 2018, the Cherry Friends has hosted a visiting arborist Mr Kazumi from Japan to conduct a pruning masterclass with Parks Victoria rangers and the volunteers. This labour of love is celebrated at an annual ‘Sakura’ (cherry blossom) Picnic Day. (Parks Victoria)

This was taken using my SONY mobile phone on an overcast morning. Only a few pink weeping cherry trees (3) are in full bloom early in the season. The blossoms are young and glisten beautifully in a background of freshly mown lawn.

This image is included in a gallery "Butterflies-II" curated by Anandamoy Chatterji.

They like to rest on Citrous tree trunks - they are beautiful but boring to watch ....

This image is included in a gallery "natural rock formations" curated by Yousaf Ejaz

Mammoth Hot Springs is a large complex of hot springs on a hill of travertine adjacent to Fort Yellowstone and the Mammoth Hot Springs Historic District. It was created over thousands of years as hot water from the spring cooled and deposited calcium carbonate (over two tons flow into Mammoth each day in a solution). Because of the huge amount of geothermal vents, travertine flourishes. Although these springs lie outside the caldera boundary, their energy has been attributed to the same magmatic system that fuels other Yellowstone geothermal areas.

The hot water that feeds Mammoth comes from Norris Geyser Basin after traveling underground via a fault line that runs through limestone and roughly parallel to the Norris-to-Mammoth road. The limestone from rock formations along the fault is the source of the calcium carbonate. Shallow circulation along this corridor allows Norris' superheated water to slightly cool before surfacing at Mammoth, generally at about 170 °F (80 °C). Algae living in the warm pools have tinted the travertine shades of brown, orange, red, and green.

Thermal activity here is extensive both over time and distance. The thermal flows show much variability with some variations taking place over periods ranging from decades to days. Terrace Mountain at Mammoth Hot Springs is the largest known carbonate-depositing spring in the world. The most famous feature at the springs is the Minerva Terrace, a series of travertine terraces. The terraces have been deposited by the spring over many years but, due to recent minor earthquake activity, the spring vent has shifted, rendering the terraces dry.

Exmouth is a town on the tip of the North West Cape, and is 1,270 km north of Perth and 3,300 km south-west of Darwin. Many kilometres before reaching and after leaving Exmouth along the Learmonth Minilya Road, numerous termite nests can be seen adorning the otherwise bleak landscape. This image was taken near the Exmouth Communications Towers. The two mounds here are about 5 foot tall.

Mound-building termites or just mound builders are a group of termite species that live in mounds. This group of termites live in Africa, Australia and South America. The mounds sometimes have a diameter of 30 metres. Most of the mounds are found in well drained areas. Termite mounds usually out live the colonies themselves. If the inner tunnels of the nest are exposed it is usually dead, however, sometimes other colonies occupy a mound after the death of the original builders. (Sourced from Wikipedia)

Pink Lake is a small, salty Lake west of Melbourne CBD, in Fisherman's Bend, near Westgate Bridge. Every year between summer and autumn, the salinity and warm weather encourage the proliferation of a pink algae.

This image is included in a gallery "2020 05 04 Montag" curated by BAKAWI.

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

This image is included in a gallery "Ultimate Fave - 82" curated by Sunsi.

This is a male foraging for food.

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 Desert View, South Rim. The steep cliffs "Palisades of the Desert" can be seen on the top left. Colorado River is running across.

Catopsilia pomona, the common emigrant or lemon emigrant, is a medium-sized pierid butterfly found in Asia and parts of Australia. The species gets its name from its habit of migration. Some early authors considered them as two distinct species Catopsilia crocale and Catopsilia pomona. Their wingspan is about 60 mm.