Hirmentaz is a mountain culminating at 1,607 metres in the Chablais massif (France), which offers a panorama from Mont Billiat (1,894 m) to the Roc d'Enfer (2,244 m) and then on to the whole Mont-Blanc massif (4,809 m), a real pleasure !

Hirmentaz est une montagne culminant à 1 607 mètres d'altitude dans le massif du Chablais (France), qui offre un panorama du Mont Billiat (1 894 m) jusqu'au Roc d'Enfer (2 244 m) puis sur tout le massif du Mont-Blanc (4 809 m) un réel bonheur !!

Office tower built in 1974 by architect Albert De Doncker, culminating at 107 meters high with 33 floors.

Address: avenue de l'Astronomie 14, 1210 Saint-Josse-ten-Noode (Brussels)

FR : Tour Astro

Adresse : avenue de l'Astronomie 14, 1210 Saint-Josse-ten-Noode (Brussels)

NL: Astrotoren

Kantoortoren gebouwd in 1974 door architect Albert De Doncker, met een hoogte van 107 meter en 33 verdiepingen.

De Astrotoren, die in 2016 volledig werd hertekend en geoptimaliseerd, is het op vier na hoogste gebouw in Brussel en het hoogste passiefgebouw in België.

Foto genomen in 2012 vanaf de top van de Brusilia Residentie.

Azimut 205.5°, 1.71 km ver, 107 m hoog.

Adres: avenue de l'Astronomie 14, 1210 Saint-Josse-ten-Noode (Brussels)

Copyright © Jacques de Selliers 2022 – All rights reserved.

Reproduction prohibited without my written consent.

Reproduction interdite sans mon accord écrit.

Reproductie verboden zonder mijn schriftelijke toestemming.

Ref.: 120515-m1

ET 2307 p15 1470

St James’ Court has a historical provenance dating back to Tudor England and the court of Queen Elizabeth I. It is during this tumultuous period that a prestigious landowner and treasurer to the Queen, Lord Dacre, drew up a scheme to build almshouses on the “Tothill Fields” of Westminster.

The small cottages known as the Emmanuel Almshouses were built on the current site of the hotel, to house and educate 20 underprivileged children. This charitable endeavor prospered over the years, culminating in five schools, identifiable by their distinct blazers as Bluecoat, Greencoat, Greycoat and Browncoat schools. In 1701 the cottages were replaced by ‘the most picturesque Almshouses in London’.

Then in 1897, a retired military man, Major Pawley, who learned his architectural trade in the Royal Engineers, acquired the site. The proposed construction of eight redbrick prestigious townhouses was drawn up, at great cost, and to the highest of architectural standards. These are the buildings that make up the two Taj hotels today, Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences, and St. James’ Court A Taj Hotel.

Due to its outstanding location right in the heart of London’s royal, cultural, political and social elite, Major Pawley’s vision was to create an oasis of calm and sophistication for the aristocratic and political establishment, who would not only pay to stay but who would also relish in its exclusivity. Thus began the most sought after and fashionable London address for prominent guests to enjoy a home away from home experience, in walking distance of all the most significant locations: Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, Downing Street, St James Palace, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral.

Each townhouse was named (the Almoners, Dukes, Regents, Queens and Priors) in keeping with its fascinating historical legacy; names that they hold to this day. All maintain the patina of their yesteryears, but in distinctly individual and contemporary style.

Text Ref: www.stjamescourthotel.co.uk/about/historyandheritage/

Harbour Authority vessels, fishing boats, sailboats, yachts and various other water craft, including Kayaks, canoes and paddleboards share the waterway that runs along the banks of the Fraser River in Ladner, BC.

This small section of the River is lined with colourful float homes.

Ladner is a part of the City of Delta, British Columbia, Canada, and a suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia. It was created as a fishing village on the banks of the Fraser River.

Named for Thomas and William Ladner, who came to the area in 1868 and began large farming and fishing operations, it developed as a centre for these operations. A series of ferries, culminating in the Ladner Ferry, allowed for access across the river to Richmond. The George Massey Tunnel provided a permanent connection in 1959.History

Like many areas around the Fraser River on what is now Greater Vancouver the area on the south side of the south arm of the Fraser was named for the original Europeans to settle there. First called Ladner's Landing, the area was settled by Thomas Ellis Ladner (1837–1922) and William Henry Ladner (1826–1907).[1] They had travelled from their home in Cornwall, UK to pursue the gold rush in California and later on the Fraser River. Settling on the area of the Fraser River Delta either side of the Chilukthan Slough in 1868, both turned to farming and fishing.

Wikipedia

Thank-you for all the overwhelming support and many friendships.

Stay Healthy

Happy Clicks,

~Christie (happiest) by the River

*Best experienced in full screen

Though this episode begins in a more traditional non fiction way, with many facts about how many mushrooms perish when the snow falls and temperatures plummet, the episode evolves further with a more empathetic feel. Even a mushroom documentary film maker must show the human side to the mushrooms and how they can suffer. Thus, there is a definite arc to the episode with a thrilling culmination of the collective voices of the mushroom community as they proclaim the following poem:

For days, we witnessed the ominous

“Winter is Coming!"

Well, winter is here, with it’s equal

wonder and terror

We cling to each other

like words in a sentence

without as many spaces.

We are withered, weathered,

and struggling to survive.

Lost souls shivering below flying doves

Past selves and Future selves

Culminating in a grim present moment

How much longer must we suffer and

Yearn for each sliver of daylight?

Oh, won’t some sweet soul

Come gallantly along

Crunching on the oppressive white

Pick us up out of our misery

Tear us from the dark tree bark

With all the dirt that hides under fingernails

And eat us alive?

**All photos are copyrighted**

New northern lights, they have now been visible in southern Finland in March as well, and according to the forecasts, I may see them even more soon. Northern lights are caused by the increase and eruption of sunspots, this happens in cycles of about 11 years. We are now going through an active phase that will culminate in 2024-2025.

Finland, on the frozen snowy lake.

youtu.be/PDhiUh82dOo

Depuis l' Alp de Siusi ( Seiser Alm) Vue sur les sommets de

Sassolungo, ou Saslonch en ladin, Langkofel en allemand . C' est un sommet du groupe montagneux homonyme dans le massif des Dolomites, dans les Alpes italiennes, culminant à 3 181 m dans le Trentin-Haut-Adige. Il domine le val di Fassa au sud et le val Gardena au nord.

🇩🇪 Von der Seiser Alm aus Blick auf die Gipfel von

Langkofel, oder Saslonch auf Ladinisch, Langkofel auf Deutsch. Er ist ein Gipfel der gleichnamigen Berggruppe in den Dolomiten in den italienischen Alpen und erreicht eine Höhe von 3.181 m in Trentino-Südtirol. Der Dolomitengipfel ist der höchste Berg der Dolomiten und dominiert das Fassatal im Süden und das Grödnertal im Norden.

🇮🇹 Dall'Alp de Siusi (Alpe di Siusi) vista sulle cime di

Sassolungo, o Saslonch in ladino, Langkofel in tedesco. È una cima dell'omonimo gruppo montuoso del massiccio delle Dolomiti, nelle Alpi italiane, che culmina a 3 181 m in Trentino-Alto Adige. Domina la Val di Fassa a sud e la Val Gardena a nord.

🇬🇧 From the Alp de Siusi ( Seiser Alm) view of the peaks of

Sassolungo, or Saslonch in Ladin, Langkofel in German. It is a summit of the homonymous mountain group in the Dolomite massif, in the Italian Alps, culminating at 3,181 m in Trentino-Alto Adige. It dominates the Val di Fassa to the south and the Val Gardena to the north.

.... or how to get ready for the weekend.

It has been a very busy week which culminated today in a particularly hectic work schedule plus a vet visit with Fynn. The Dragon didn't mind to stay at home when Fynn and I left the house at about 7 am to drive to the vet. It turned out to be a good idea to choose an early hour for our vet appointment as it's an awfully hot day again. We returned home about 1.5 hours later and I immediately started to work. When I took a quick coffee break a while later I found the Dragon hiding under the table cloth on the kitchen table. I had tried to remove that table cloth yesterday because I had bought a new one but the Dragon hadn't allowed me to do that. It looks as if the new table cloth will still have to wait a day or two.... After a this rather chaotic week I almost feel ready to hide under the table cloth myself for the weekend.

Many people in Turkey commemorate the first gathering of the Grand National Assembly (the Turkish Parliament), which took place on April 23, 1920, by attending local ceremonies or laying wreaths at monuments of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the Turkish Republic. The biggest ceremony takes place at the Ataturk Mausoleum in Ankara.

Because Ataturk reportedly dedicated the Turkish Republic to children, Turkish schoolchildren take seats in the Parliament for the day and symbolically govern the country. They elect a president who then addresses the country on national television. Children’s festivals take place throughout the country. The state-run Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) brings children, aged eight to 14, from different countries around the world to Turkey. These children stay with Turkish families for a week and participate in children’s festivals, which culminate is a gala-performance on April 23.

The territorial expansion towards Chinchaysuyo (now Ecuador) took place towards the middle of the 15th century and culminated in the first decades of the 16th. It was initiated by the Inca Tupac Yupanqui, son of Pachacuti Inca, the "renovator of the universe" and true builder of the Tahuantinsuyo or Empire of the Incas. The example of the great Tupac Yupanqui was followed by his son Huayna Cápac, until he submitted under his power the entire "universe" then known, with more than 6,000 kilometers of North-South extension and fundamentally affecting the people of the Sierra, since they felt no interest in the low plains of the West Coast and in the endless Amazon rainforests of the East. This empire included on the one hand the widest diversity of peoples, cultures, languages, cults and technologies, and on the other an extraordinary variety of ecological resources; factors with which thanks to an administrative, economic and theocratic system imposed by the Cuzqueños, the largest civilization that has existed in Andean History was structured.

The Incas had no major difficulty in dominating the Cañaris and Puruháes (in Ecuador) with whom they applied a very common strategy in them: the friendly system of reciprocity with the heads of the groups until they achieved their subordination; This method had given them rapid and successful results in Bolivia and Peru; while in the northern villages they had to apply the severe military conquest due to the stubborn resistance they encountered. Testimony of those fierce battles was precisely that of Yahuarcocha (lake of blood) whose waters were dyed red with the blood of the brave Caranquis who succumbed to Huayna Cápac himself.

The invaders captured from the conquered the long tradition and knowledge they had about agriculture, metallurgy, production of luxury products, extraction of the Spondylus shell, salt, coca, etc. Here they found a prodigal nature, with humid rainforest, mangroves and coastline on the coast; wide valleys, grasslands and fertile mountains in the Sierra. This geography counteracted with the ecological systems of the puna, reduced fertile spaces, or the extensive coastal deserts that predominate in the Central and Southern Andes, characteristic of present-day Peru.

La Piramide, known as the Temple of Kukulcan, is a Mesoamerican step-pyramid that dominates the center of the Chichen Itza archaeological site in the Mexican state of Yucatan. Built by the pre-Columbian Maya civilization sometime between the 8th and 12th centuries AD, the pyramid served as a temple to the deity Kukulcan. The pyramid consists of a series of square terraces with stairways up each of the four sides to the temple on top. Sculptures of plumed serpents run down the sides of the northern balustrade.

Human sacrifice, a feature of all Meso-American and Andean religions, has often given rise to the portrayal of the American civilizations as particularly cruel and backward, and it has to be admitted that the practice is so alien to our way of thinking that an objective assessment is very difficult. Blood was viewed as a potent source of nourishment for the Maya deities, and the sacrifice of a living creature was a powerful blood offering. By extension, the sacrifice of human life was the ultimate offering of blood to the gods, and the most important Maya rituals culminated in human sacrifice. Heart extractions and sacrifice have been viewed as a supreme religious expression among the ancient Maya". The removal of the still-beating heart, or sometimes self-immolation was considered a great offering and meal for the gods.

Mexico, Chichen Itza

Please don't use my images without my permission. All images © Aivar Mikko.

A project by Ildefons Cerdà and another by Josep Amargós in 1894 proposed to convert Montjuïc into a residential area. Another idea for the celebration of the exhibition in Montjuïc was proposed in 1909 when Manuel Vega i March suggested that the culminating point of the development should be ‘a great Temple of Art, a summary and compendium of our most prodigious knowledge’. Finally, in 1913, it was decided that Montjuïc would be the definite location for the Exhibition of Electric Industries, promoted by the industry and the city council of Barcelona.

A long day of frustration finally culminated in a shot I didn't think I would get on this trip. I was up at 0230, on the road shortly after 3, and arrived in Holly around 0530 prepared for the normal morning northbound. Instead, storms the previous night had the signal system screwed up, along with no delivery from CSX, so the 127 crew cabbed to Flint and spent most of the day building this train. They made it to Holly and after getting a crew change the train is back on the move splitting the searchlights at South Holly just over 12 hours after I first arrived.

Great happy success, it is now sleep time.

around Säntis, Alpstein (CH)

At 2,501.9 metres above sea level, Säntis is the highest mountain in the Alpstein massif of northeastern Switzerland. It is also the culminating point of the whole Appenzell Alps, between Lake Walen and Lake Constance. Shared by three cantons, the mountain is a highly visible landmark thanks to its exposed northerly position within the Alpstein massif. As a consequence, houses called Säntisblick (English: Säntis view) can be found in regions as far away as the Black Forest in Germany. Säntis is among the most prominent summits in the Alps and the most prominent summit in Europe with an observation deck on the top. The panorama from the summit is spectacular. Six countries can be seen if the weather allows: Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, France, and Italy.

source: Wikipedia

History of Karlštejn Castle

Karlštejn Castle was founded in 1348 by the Charles IV, King of Bohemia and Holy Roman Emperor as his private residence and a place of safekeeping royal treasures, especially his collections of holy relics and the Imperial Crown Jewels. In 1355 Charles IV stayed here for the first time, overseeing the construction and decoration work, especially in chapels. The construction was completed in 1365 when the Chapel of the Holy Cross in the Great Tower was consecrated.

The Chapel of the Holy Cross was the place of safekeeping the imperial crown jewels until 1420 when the Hussite wars (religious civil war) began, and they had not ever returned to Karlštejn Castle. After the wars in 1436, the Bohemian crown jewels were taken to the Chapel of the Holy Cross where they remained till 1619.

The castle was a representative residence of Charles IV and his son Wenceslas IV only, i.e. till 1419. As a fortress, Karlštejn Castle protected the crown jewels, holy relics, and royal archives till the 17th century.

Over the centuries the castle has always been in hands of the king or a state institution, never in private hands. Nowadays it is owned by the state.

After 1480 the castle was rebuilt in the late Gothic style, in the last quarter of the 16th century in the Renaissance style. During the last reconstruction that took place at the end of the 19th century (by architect Josef Mocker) in the spirit of purism, the castle gained its present appearance.

Very impressive is the preserved original stair-arrangement of individual castle buildings. The lower section with a small courtyard by the Well Tower and the Burgrave´s House continue through the majestic five-storey Imperial Palace and the Marian Tower. At the highest point, the construction of the castle culminates in a monumental, 60-meter-high Great Tower and its massive fortifications.

Castle Attractions

A unique original 14th-century wall decoration, a set of 129 paintings created by Master Theodoric in the Chapel of the Holy Cross (the largest in the world), the largest portrait gallery of kings of Bohemia in the Czech Republic, a replica of the royal Crown of Bohemia, a unique castle well. The castle is also famous as a set to a comedy play Night at Karlštejn Castle by Czech poet Jaroslav Vrchlický.

A project by Ildefons Cerdà and another by Josep Amargós in 1894 proposed to convert Montjuïc into a residential area. Another idea for the celebration of the exhibition in Montjuïc was proposed in 1909 when Manuel Vega i March suggested that the culminating point of the development should be ‘a great Temple of Art, a summary and compendium of our most prodigious knowledge’. Finally, in 1913, it was decided that Montjuïc would be the definite location for the Exhibition of Electric Industries, promoted by the industry and the city council of Barcelona.

Making landfall in the town of Louisiana, Missouri, KCS train MVNKC 09 negotiates the crossing of the Mississippi from Illinois by means of the 2,050 feet of steel members arranged in 8 various Pratt and Warren truss designs culminating in a 446' swing span, the Chicago and Alton's 19th Century solution to the barrier known as Old Man River. The year etched on the face of the westernmost span reads the bridge's original build date, 1897, though the 5 spans on the eastern half were all rebuilt after the original construction. A bridge tender still mans the aluminum shack located halfway across the swing span, locking the rails in place for the passage of only a couple of daily train movements on the far northern reaches of the KCS system linking Kansas City and East St. Louis.

A young guy playing a Diapason piano in free access at Kyoto station, in front of Kyoto tower. We spent there a wonderful moment listening to him and some other talented pianists, male and female, some of them really very young.

Kyōto Station

The current Kyoto Station was designed by architect Hiroshi Hara, and it opened in 1997 which commemorated Kyoto's 1,200th anniversary. It is 70 meters high and 470 meters from east to west, with a total floor area of 238,000 square meters. Architecturally, it exhibits many characteristics of futurism, with a slightly irregular cubic façade of plate glass over a steel frame. During the mid-1990s, Kyoto was one of the least modern cities in Japan by virtue of its many cultural heritage sites, so locals were largely reluctant to accept such an ambitious structure. However, the station's completion began a wave of new high-rise developments in Kyoto that culminated in the 20-story Kyocera Building.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ky%C5%8Dto_Station

Gare de Kyoto

fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gare_de_Kyoto

京都駅

ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%BA%AC%E9%83%BD%E9%A7%85

_DM23579 81

Massif du Queyras

Hautes-Alpes

Les pics de la Font Sancte sont deux sommets entre la haute vallée de l'Ubaye, le val d'Escreins et la vallée de Ceillac, à la lisière du Parc naturel régional du Queyras. Il s'agit d'un ensemble de deux sommets, le pic Nord culminant à 3 385 m et le pic Sud à 3 371 mètres.

The Font Sancte peaks are two peaks between the upper Ubaye valley, the Val d'Escreins and the Ceillac valley, on the edge of the Queyras Regional Natural Park. It is a set of two peaks, the North peak culminating at 3,385 m and the South peak at 3,371 meters.

These are the last of the Michael McWilliams paintings I will show, and it culminates on the same day the exhibition at the QVMAG in Launceston ends.

I hope you have enjoyed the work by this significant Australian painter, and will continue to support his work. You can even purchase his paintings via links on his personal web site. There are three major galleries that represent his work:

michaelmcwilliams.squarespace.com/contact

Rainforest dancer, 2015

Acrylic on linen

120 x 150 cm

This painting is my personal favourite. Rough night out, 2012 is a more dramatic and arguably better painting, but look closely at this forest scene. In this primordial setting a lone Pademelon (Thylogale) dances on the forest floor (where the little nothofagus leaves look like confetti) with no seeming threat for this little creature. It's like the Garden of Eden (without Adam and Eve). But that's not to say that people don't belong here, for thousands of years the indigenous Palawa people lived in relative harmony with the native fauna. Apart from hunting for food, the few thousand indigenous people who populated Tasmania at any one time, meant the animals were never hunted to extinction.

When the colonisers arrived at the turn of the 19th century the numbers of Palawa people were estimated to be no more than 4000 to 5000. As these people were literally driven off their land and the surviving few harboured on Flinders Island, the human population in the colony rose substantially. And with it came the land clearances, the forest felling, the introduction of exotic species, and the destruction of a whole host of native flora and fauna. Life in the forest was never to be the same again.

So dance on little Pademelon, for you remind us of how things once were. And if we are to take proper stewardship of this land, then perhaps we can restore a little of the natural harmony that once was in this sacred place.

I read an article today that said that people experience their highest stress levels of the year during the Christmas season.

This starts with the Christmas decorations, goes through the procurement of gifts, various Christmas parties at the company, school or kindergarten through to the planning and organization of the Christmas dinner. Then there are the family obligations during the holidays (who is with whom and when?). Finally, in the post-Christmas period, it culminates in redeeming vouchers, exchanging gifts and clearing up the domestic chaos that the holidays have left behind (both organizationally and emotionally).

When I read this coherently, only one question comes to mind: "Why are we doing this to ourselves?"

Especially in view of the Christian history (very simple circumstances and only three visitors) and what Christmas actually stands for, much of the above is hardly comprehensible to me.

This effort is the complete opposite of what would actually be appropriate at this time of year and takes away so much of the meaning of the Christmas season.

And so I wish you that this week you have the opportunity to clear your head of all these “I have to, because that is what is expected of me” and to replace them with as many “I want to, because that makes me happy” as possible replace.

Ich habe heute einen Artikel gelesen, der besagt, dass die Menschen in der Weihnachtszeit das höchste Stresslevel im Jahr empfinden.

Das beginnt schon bei der Weihnachtsdekoration, geht über die Beschaffung von Geschenken, diverse Weihnachtsfeiern von der Firma, der Schule oder dem Kindergarten bis hin zur Planung und Organisation des Weihnachtsessens. Hinzu kommen dann noch die familiären Verpflichtungen während der Feiertage (wer ist wann bei wem?). Schlußendlich gipfelt es dann in der Nach-Weihnachtszeit in dem Einlösen von Gutscheinen, dem Umtauschen von Geschenken und dem Beseitigen des häuslichen Chaos, welches die Feiertage hinterlassen haben (sowohl organsatorisch als auch emotional).

Wenn ich das so zusammenhängend lese, dann kommt mir nur eine Frage in den Sinn: "Warum tun wir uns das an?"

Vor allem im Hinblick auf die christliche Geschichte (sehr einfache Verhältnisse und nur drei Besucher) und dem, wofür Weihnachten eigentlich steht, ist für mich vieles von dem oben genannten kaum nachvollziehbar.

Dieser Aufwand ist das komplette Gegenteil von dem, was in dieser Zeit des Jashres eigentlich angebracht wäre und nimmt der Weihnachtszeit so viel von Ihrer eigentlichen Bedeutung.

Und so wünsche ich Euch, dass Ihr diese Woche die Gelegenheit habt den Kopf frei zu bekommen von all diesen "Ich muss, denn das wird von mir erwartet" und diese durch so viele "ich möchte, denn das macht mich glücklich" wie möglich zu erstetzen.

more of this on my website at: www.shoot-to-catch.de

Millau Viaduct

Millau Viaduct holds the world record for the tallest bridge, culminating at 343 metres (higher than the Eiffel tower), 2460 metres long and touching the bottom of the Tarn valley in only 9 places.

Conceived by the French engineer Michel Virlogeux and designed by the English architect Lord Norman Foster, it fits perfectly into the naturally intact and grandiose landscape: a very thin slightly curved steel roadway supported by stays gives it the appearance of a huge yacht and the ensemble rests on 7 very slender pillars.

The architectural theme in these three photographs today culminates in this impressive University of Tasmania apartment block. It sits right alongside the community gardens I have mentioned in my previous photographs. The university describes the unique process of construction employed by local architect and building firms:

"The Inveresk apartments are Tasmania's first prefabricated timber-framed multi-storey residential development, combining prefabricated, lightweight timber framing with structural cross-laminated timber (CLT) in favour of traditional concrete and steel. The building was designed by local firms Morrison and Breytenbach and Circa Morris-Nunn Architects, with technical expertise from the University's Centre for Sustainable Architecture with Wood and the team's structural engineers."

www.utas.edu.au/infrastructure-services-development/build...

Ben Nevis culminates at 1,345 metres above sea level (4,413 ft) and is part of the Grampian Mountains in the Highlands.

Ben Nevis culminant à 1.345 mètres d'altitude (4,413 ft) fait partie des monts Grampians dans les Highlands.

Scotland. UK.

The Western Flyer is a fishing boat, most known for its use by John Steinbeck and Ed Ricketts in their 1940 expedition to the Gulf of California, the notes from which culminated in their 1941 book Sea of Cortez, later reworked by Steinbeck into The Log from the Sea of Cortez. (Source: Wipedia) Also see: The Western Flyer Foundation at westernflyer.org

Culminating at 1545 meters above sea level, the Crêt de Chalam takes the form of a pointed summit, visible from many viewpoints of the Jura Mountains. At its summit a splendid 360° view awaits you.

Nikon D7100 + Tokina 11-16 mm: 4 images, handheld.

Stitched with Microsoft Image Composite Editor.

Christ is described at Chora as "Land of the Living"

[Χώρα των ζώντων]

music:

youtu.be/-NtMCPmwtYI

The famous byzantine Lamentations of the Tomb of Christ, sung during the Matins of Holy and Great Saturday (Holy Friday evening). The official name of the hymns is "Εγκώμια", which is greek and means "Praises". The Praises (although considered being hymns of lament) are chanted in Plagal 1st and 3rd Tones, which are actually used for chants intended for triumphant occasions. On this performance parts of all three Staseis of the Praise are chanted. Note that in the beginning of each part, the second verse is chanted in arabic.

Title: "Εγκώμια - Α' Στάσις / Β' Στάσις / Γ' Στάσις" (Praises - 1st / 2nd / 3rd Stasis)

Service: Holy and Great Saturday Matins

Performers: Greek Byzantine Choir

.

.

.

photo:

Parekklesion [funerary chapel] of the

Church of the Holy Saviour in Chora, Istanbul

www.columbia.edu/cu/wallach/exhibitions/Byzantium/html/bu...

Chora Museum, Chora Monastery (Contantinople)

Μονή της Χώρας, Μουσείο Χώρας, Κωνσταντινούπολη

Ἐκκλησία του Ἅγιου Σωτῆρος ἐν τῃ Χώρᾳ

The Church of the Holy Redeemer in the Fields

Church of the Holy Saviour in the Country

Kariye Müzesi, Kariye Camii, Kariye Kilisesi, Istanbul, Turkey

"The funerary chapel contains prefigurations of the Virgin and Themes of Resurrection and Judgment. Like the narthexes, the program of the parekklesion is divided between the Virgin and Christ. Here, however, the overriding theme is Salvation, befitting a funeral chapel. The western domed bay is devoted to the Virgin; the upper walls represent Old Testament prefigurations of the Virgin, emphasizing her role in Salvation. The eastern bay is devoted to the Last Judgment. The complex program of the chapel culminates in the conch of the apse, where the Anastasis (Harrowing of Hell) is represented, flanked by scenes of resurrection. Unlike the narthexes and the naos, the parekkelsion is decorated with frescoes."

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chora_Church

www.columbia.edu/cu/wallach/exhibitions/Byzantium/

www.byzantium1200.com/chora.html

www.sacred-destinations.com/turkey/istanbul-st-savior-in-...

www.doaks.org/library-archives/icfa/moving-image-collecti...

www.thebyzantinelegacy.com/chora

In the middle of these views you can see the Matterhorn or Mount Cervino. An amazing mountain for mountain climbers around the world.

The Alphubel (4,206 m) is a mountain of the Swiss Pennine Alps, located between the valleys of Zermatt and Saas in the canton of Valais. It is part of the Mischabel range, which culminates at the Dom (4,545 m). The summit of the Alphubel consists of a large ice-covered plateau, part of the Fee Glacier on its east side. The west side of the mountain is more rocky and much steeper. It overlooks the Weingartensee.

Zermatt, Switzerland. July 2016

500px

facebook

Instagram

"Devotion complete culminates in knowledge supreme." - RM

Seven is an important. and recurring number in the Bible, culminating in the book of Revelation and its seven letters to seven churches. These seven fuel tanks at the Viva petroleum depot at Pinkenba in Brisbane reminded me of those seven bright shining churches. Odd what occasionally gives one a tap on the shoulder.

This one is for Sliders on Sunday and very appropriate at that!

At sunset, after a very hot day, which culminated with a heavy thunderstorm, SM30-801 of JSW Logistics is waiting for a white signal to proceed shunting back towards the signal box at the Budryk coal mine located in Ornontowice.

The title is very unimaginative, perhaps even clickbaity but I really have to emphasise how unique this picture is.

Most locomotives in Poland are photographed very regularly and have tens or hundreds of pictures taken of them each year. Some however, are mostly unused or hidden deep inside industrial facilities, or military bases. A simmilar case is with this locomotive, as from the basic research I did on the internet, I could only find... 3 publushed pictures of the locomotive, ever to be taken.

The history of the SM30-801 is not very clear, however from the pictures on the internet I could find out that it had been most likely brought to the Budryk coal mine in 2017.

From what the locals told me, the locomotive is usually unused and is stood at the signal box of the Budryk mine. Occasionally it does shunting work with empty wagons or loads up carts with mining waste headed to the spoil tip. It is most likely the only locomotive in the JSW fleet to posess their paint scheme, maybe even the only SM30 there.

Photo by Piotrek/Toprus

Most people who turn 18 years old wish for minor or ridiculous things to receive as a present. Me? Well this was not something I ever dreamed would occur on my first day as an adult but I rolled with the punches. I live along the ex Western Maryland and was born too late to even see the shattered glass shards that lay among the ground that remain of that once glorious railroad. The so called "dark ages" of the WM from roughly the 90s-2010 where not much if anything changed in the form of preservation of the railroad is what I was born into. As my life progressed so did the rebound in interest in this fine railroad, culminating in various special occurrences over the past 2ish years with both original and new WM equipment appearing. If we ignore the CSX motor, this could easily be an alternate timelines in the late 80s as a freshly delivered GE B32-8 comes into Cumberland with a tired old GP30 waiting to grab the rear to shove the train up the mountain. BT-1 would call over to the 501 and communicate how the move would work. The two would combine and move on down the railroad. A dream had by me often, a dream I always wanted to see either in it's original early 70s form or in a fictional timeline form. Well at 7:45PM on September 13 2025 my dreams came true, and you could have killed me then and I would have died happy. Welcome to the Circus family 561.

Der Karneval der Kulturen ist ein multikulturelles Fest in Berlin, das seit 1996 alljährlich um das Pfingstwochenende herum im Stadtteil Kreuzberg gefeiert wird.

Carnival of Cultures

Berlin celebrates its cultural diversity at the Carnival of Cultures. The festival culminates in a colourful street parade with music and dance on Pentecost Sunday.

Combination of faffing and arts and crafts. Culminating in a single lens capped long exposure.

This is number 237 of my 366.

Obra de D. Luis Álvarez Duarte (1949-2019), maestro escultor e imaginero de Sevilla.

Está realizado en madera de cedro real, y su cruz arbórea de caoba de Brasil. De tamaño natural, mide 1.80 m. y representa a nuestro Señor crucificado y muerto. Para su autor, su aspecto es sereno y dulce pero al mismo tiempo, nos representa la buena muerte de nuestro Redentor que nos invita a la oración y al recogimiento.

Es proporcionado y recogido, realizándose su talla en directo sin modelado previo alguno. Su estilo es barroco, recordando las grandes obras de los maestros de la escuela sevillana y andaluza de los siglos XVII y XVIII, con la impronta del maestro escultor.

No se utilizó material sintético alguno en su ejecución. Así, la policromía se desarrolló siguiendo los métodos tradicionales a base de óleos y puliéndolo con "tripilla" de borrego. Se patinó con tierras naturales y ceras, bañándolo antes y después de la terminación de la talla en colas animales o "totín", y sulfatos cálcicos para la base de la policromía.

El primer golpe de gubia se da el 25 de octubre de 1998, con el que comienza la ejecución de la talla que culmina con su bendición, el sábado 8 de abril de 2000, en la Iglesia Parroquial de la Virgen del Rosario de Roquetas de Mar (Almería), donde se puede contemplar.

***

Work of D. Luis Álvarez Duarte (1949-2019), master sculptor and image maker from Seville.

It is made of real cedar wood, and its tree cross is made of Brazilian mahogany. Natural size, he measures 1.80 m. and represents our Lord crucified and dead. For its author, its appearance is serene and sweet but at the same time, it represents the good death of our Redeemer who invites us to pray and recollection.

It is proportioned and collected, performing its live carving without any prior modelling. Its style is baroque, recalling the great works of the masters of the Sevillian and Andalusian school of the 17th and 18th centuries, with the imprint of the master sculptor.

No synthetic material was used in its execution. Thus, the polychromy was developed following the traditional methods based on oil paints and polishing it with "tripilla" of sheep. It was patinated with natural earths and wax, bathing it before and after finishing the carving with animal glues or "totín", and calcium sulphates for the base of the polychromy.

The first gouge blow was given on October 25, 1998, with which the execution of the carving began, culminating with its blessing, on Saturday, April 8, 2000, in the Parish Church of the Virgen del Rosario in Roquetas de Mar. (Almería), where it can be seen.

Sefton Park Palm House is a Grade II* three-tier dome conservatory palm house designed and built by MacKenzie and Moncur of Edinburgh which opened in 1896.

Liverpool millionaire Henry Yates Thompson (the great nephew of the founder of Princes Park) gifted £10,000 to the city to fund the construction.[ It was designed in the tradition of Joseph Paxton's glass houses and was stocked originally with a rich collection of exotic plants.

During the Liverpool Blitz of May 1941 a bomb fell nearby and shattered the glass. It was reglazed in 1950 at a cost of £6,163 with costs covered by War Restoration funds. A period of decline and deterioration culminated in its closure in the 1980s on grounds of safety.

In June 1992, a public meeting was held highlighting the dereliction and calling for restoration. A petition was presented to the City Council by what had become the "Save the Palm House" campaign. A public fund raising campaign was established, with a "sponsor a pane" programme generating over £35,000.

This led directly to the conversion of Save the Palm House into a registered charity (Friends of Sefton Park Palm House). The Palm House was partially repaired and reopened in 1993. It was fully restored at a cost of £3.5 million with Heritage Lottery and European funding and reopened in September 2001.

Click here for more photographs of Sefton Park, Liverpool - www.jhluxton.com/England/Merseyside/Liverpool/Sefton-Park

I accompanied my daughter to a fundraising event last night that culminated with a local musician singing original music in front of a small crowd beside a smaller campfire. Before playing this song, he told his audience that he was going to perform a piece written by a recently deceased friend, playing the same instrument that his friend last played before his death. He collected himself and performed admirably. It was dark, he was laser-focused, and he never knew I was there.

Shortly after capturing the images, we were talking and (seeing the camera on my hip) remarked that the most interesting thing about photography (to him) is learning what it was that compelled someone to take the picture, what it was that they saw that someone else didn't. I replied with these pictures as an example of story and light and the potential to create something meaningful. I obtained his email so that I could send him the pictures the next day. This morning, I received this in reply:

"Opened my e-mail this morning to a wonderful surprise. Glad our paths crossed on top of Wolf Mountain. Nothing worse than, “people writing songs that voices never share, and no one dare disturb the sound of silence”. If, I should say WHEN, my music gets recorded I believe I have found the cover picture. The clarity of black and white reminds me of Ansel Adams. I didn’t get my $1 tip* but from you received a priceless gift. THANK YOU!"

* inside joke ... he was performing for free as a favor for the event organizer

Museums - The British Museum

The British Museum was founded as a ‘Universal Museum’. Its beginnings are bequeathed from the will of Sir John Sloane. He amassed 71,000 items, manuscripts, books and many natural history items. He has a statue in the London Physic Garden, Chelsea.

In 1753 King George II gave his Royal Assent to build the Museum, the body of trustees chose Montagu House for its location. This was purchased from the family for £20,000. Ironically Buckingham Palace was rejected as being too expensive and the location, unsuitable.

The first exhibition for scholars was opened in January 1759. In those early days, the Library took up the whole of the ground floor, the first floor a large part was taken up by the Natural History collection.

In 1763 the Natural History collection was reclassified using the Linnaean System, after Carl Linnaeus, famous Swedish botanist. This made the Museum a centre of learning for European natural history scholars.

In the oncoming years there were many new additions particularly in the Library, David Garrick plays (approx. 1000) were one example but it wasn’t until 1772 when the first real quantities of antiques were purchased. This was the collection of Greek vases from Sir William Hamilton. More items came into the Museum. In 1778 objects from Capt. Cooks round-the-world voyages were brought back and donated. By the early 1800’s it was clear that further growth was not possible, furthermore there were signs of decrepitude and overcrowding.

In 1802 a building committee was set up. The upshot was that the Old Montague House was demolished and work began on the new building in 1823. It’s original intention was for a Library and Picture Gallery but this was changed because another new gallery was commissioned in 1824 (The National Gallery). So this building now housed the Natural History collection, the building work was completed in 1831.

Whilst this building work was going on items still came into the museum. In 1802 King George presented the Museum with the Rosetta Stone, (this was the key that opened the lock to deciphering hieroglyphs). In this period from 1802 – 1820 there were many gifts and purchases of Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Assyrian and Babylonian sculpture.

Because of the overwhelming number of objects coming into the museum, it was decided to move the whole of the natural history collection to The Natural History Museum in Kensington. In 1847 over 20,000 books were bequeathed by Sir Thomas Grenville (former trustee). These arrived in horse-draws carts, all 20 of them.

From 1840 – 1900 there were many new sources of objects coming into the Museum. Partial Tombs from ancient Lycia, more Assyrian artefacts from excavations, a valuable collection of antiquities belonging to the Duke of Blacas, (this collection the French government at the time refused to buy so instead it was sold to the Museum for FFr1.2m in 1867). In 1881 came a collection of armour, from William Burges and in 1897 another bequest, this time of Finger rings, drinking vessels, porcelain, Japanese inro and netsuke from A. W. Franks, curator and collector.

More pressure for room for the ever expanding collection culminated in the purchase of 69 surrounding houses. The first stage of construction began in 1906.

Over the years there have been many changes to the internal rooms in the museum itself. The Classical and Near East, The Duveen Gallery which was destroyed during WWII, now bought back to its best.

Notable additions to the museum include in 1939 ‘The Sutton Hoo’ treasures from the Anglo Saxon burial ship. In 1972 The Tutankhamun Treasures exhibition attracted over 1.6 million people. Also in that year Parliament passed a resolution to establish a British Library. This was a real necessity as 1.25 miles of new shelving was needed to house the books coming into the Museum on a yearly basis. However it wasn’t until 1997 that the books actually left. Redevelopment of the space took place and was opened in 2000 as the ‘Queen Elizabeth II Great Court’.

From those original days of 1753, the British Museum has 13 million items, The natural History Museum 70 million and the British Library has 150 million. An impressive collection of items. I have merely scratched the surface. Definitely worth the visit and don’t forget, it’s F R E E.

PEARL HARBORi (Aug. 12, 2020) A vintage Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat takes flight from the waters of Pearl Harbor in preparation for the 75th Commemoration of the End of WWII. “Salute Their Service, Honor Their Hope” is the theme of the commemoration in Hawaii in recognition of the WWII veterans and civilians who contributed to the end of the war. The commemoration will include three Legacy of Peace Aerial Parades and will culminate with the official ceremony on USS Missouri (BB 63) on Sept. 2. Flyovers of the warbirds will include: Around Oahu (August 29), Connecting the Military Bases (Aug. 30) and Fly Over the Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pearl Harbor to Waikiki (Sept. 2). To learn more about upcoming events please see www.75thwwiicommemoration.org/victory-in-the-pacific/hawa.... (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Charles Oki/Released)

On January 25, 1554, was held in front of the hut covered with palm leaves of about ninety square meters - or, as described by Anchieta, ten by fourteen steps carnation (Portuguese carnation step was a linear measure) - Mass who officiated at the birth of the Jesuit college.

In 1556, Father Afonso Brás, precursor of Brazilian architecture, was responsible for the construction of rammed earth and a school attaches church. Quarrels between the settlers and the religious who defended the Indians, culminating in the expulsion of the Jesuits in place in 1640, where he would return only thirteen years later. In the second half of the seventeenth century, was erected the third building of rammed earth and stone.

The Courtyard of the College hosted the state government between the years 1765 and 1912, after allocation of the local state, serving as Palace of the Governors, due to the expulsion of the Jesuits from Portuguese lands, determined by the Marquis of Pombal in 1759 The former colonial house was completely disfigured by deep reforms during that period, especially in the last quarter of the nineteenth century.

There are fragments of a wall of 1585, remnant of the old Jesuit College in the current building, which has inspired the original seventeenth century, since the church was demolished in 1896 and the Palace of the Governors in 1953, with the opening set in the current format 1979 houses the museum Anchieta.

Source: Wikipedia

Thanks for visiting and comments on my photo.

[ENG] The Mosque-Cathedral of Cordova is one of the most unique monuments in the world. The Islamic architecture, with Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine echoes, merges with the Christian one of the most beautiful expressions. The greatness of its history begins in the 6th century with a Visigoth basilica, overflowing in the Caliphate splendor, and culminates with Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque art. It was declared a National Monument in 1882, a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984, and an Exceptional Universal Value Well in 2014. More photos in the album Mosque-Cathedral of Cordova

[ESP] El crucero, un alarde de ingeniería, se presenta como un perfecto diálogo entre el arte del gótico, del renacimiento y del manierismo. Se constituye como un inmenso lucernario que inunda de luz el conjunto y añade una bella complejidad al extraordinario edificio.

La Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba es uno de los monumentos más singulares del mundo. La arquitectura islámica , con ecos helenísticos, romanos y bizantinos, se funde con la cristiana en una de las expresiones más bellas. La grandeza de su historia se inicia en el siglo VI con una basílica visigoda, se desborda en el esplendor califal, y culmina con el arte gótico, renacentista y barroco. Declarado Monumento Nacional en 1882, Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO en 1984, y Bien de Valor Universal Excepcional en 2014. Más fotografías en el álbum Mezquita-Catedral de Córdoba

177406

Schweiz / Berner Oberland - Niesen und Thunersee

seen on the way to Morgenberghorn

gesehen auf dem Weg zum Morgenberghorn

The Niesen is a mountain peak of the Bernese Alps in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland. The summit of the mountain is 2,362 metres (7,749 ft) in elevation.

It overlooks Lake Thun, in the Bernese Oberland region, and forms the northern end of a ridge that stretches north from the Albristhorn and Mannliflue, separating the Simmental and Kandertal valleys.

Geography

Administratively, the summit is shared between the municipalities of Reichenbach im Kandertal to the southeast, and Wimmis to the west and north. Both municipalities are in the canton of Bern.

The summit can be reached easily by using the Niesenbahn funicular from Mülenen (near Reichenbach). The construction of the funicular was completed in 1910.

Alongside the funicular is the longest stairway in the world, with 11,674 steps. It is only open to the public once a year for a stair run event.

Originally the mountains name was Yesen. «An Yesen» transformed to Niesen. Yesen is yellow gentian and still flowers on the Niesen to this day. Because of its shape, the Niesen is often called the Swiss Pyramid.[citation needed] The Niesen may have influenced some modernist paintings by Paul Klee, in which an abstracted pyramidal form is seen.

(Wikipedia)

Lake Thun (German: Thunersee) is an Alpine lake in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland named after the city of Thun, on its northern shore. At 48.3 km2 (18.6 sq mi) in surface area, it is the largest Swiss lake entirely within a single canton.

The lake was created after the last glacial period. After the 10th century, it split from Lake Brienz, before which the two lakes were combined, as Wendelsee ("Lake Wendel"). The culminating point of the lake's drainage basin is the Finsteraarhorn at 4,274 metres (14,022 ft) above sea level.

Lake Thun's approximate 2,500 square kilometres (970 sq mi) catchment area frequently causes local flooding after heavy rainfalls. This occurs because the river Aare (German: Aare), which drains Lake Thun, has only limited capacity to handle the excess runoff. The lake is fed by water from Lake Brienz to the southeast, which is 6 metres (20 ft) higher than Lake Thun, and various streams in the Oberland, including the Kander.

In 1835, passenger steamships began operating regularly on the lake. Ten passenger ships, operated by the local railway company BLS AG like Blümlisalp, serve the towns of Interlaken and Thun; the Interlaken ship canal and Thun ship canal connect the lake to Interlaken West railway station and Thun railway station respectively.

Following World War II and up until 1964, the Swiss Government disposed of unused munitions into Lake Thun. The quantity of munitions dumped is reported to be from 3,000 to more than 9,020 tons.

(Wikipedia)

The Morgenberghorn is a mountain of the Bernese Alps, overlooking Lake Thun in the Bernese Oberland. It lies at the northern end of the chain between the valleys of Frutigen and Lauterbrunnen, north of the Schwalmere.

(Wikipedia)

Der Niesen ist ein 2362 m ü. M. hoher Berg im Berner Oberland, südlich des Thunersees. Er wird gelegentlich als Wimmiser oder auch als Thuner Hausberg betrachtet.

Der Niesen fällt durch seine markante kegel- oder pyramidenartige Form auf. Ursprünglich hiess dieser Berg «Yesen», eine Bezeichnung für den Gelben Enzian (Gentiana lutea), der heute noch am Berg blüht. 1906 wurde mit dem Bau der Niesenbahn begonnen. Am 15. Juli 1910 wurde die Niesenbahn eröffnet und Niesen Kulm damit erschlossen.

Tourismus

Der Niesengipfel ist bekannt für sein Panorama und ist ein beliebtes Ausflugsziel für Bergwanderer. 1856 wurde ein erstes Gasthaus auf Niesen Kulm erbaut. Die Gäste bestiegen den Niesen zu Fuss. Wohlhabende liessen sich von Pferden und Maultieren oder auf Sesseln, die von vier Männern getragen wurden, auf den Niesen bringen. Für die 1700 m Höhendifferenz, von Wimmis auf den Niesen, verdiente ein Träger 8 Franken am Tag. Ein Mietpferd kostete 15–20 Franken. Der Berg ist auch Motiv eines bekannten Aquarells von Paul Klee aus dem Jahr 1915.

Niesen-Treppenlauf

Neben der Niesenbahn führt mit 11.674 Stufen die längste Treppe der Welt auf den Gipfel. Diese Treppe wird lediglich für den jährlich stattfindenden Niesen-Treppenlauf geöffnet. Der Start ist auf 693 m ü. M., der Höhenunterschied 1669 m und die Distanz 3404 m. Die Steigung in der 1. Sektion ist maximal 66 %, in der 2. Sektion 68 %. Die Zahl der Läufer ist auf 220 beschränkt.

Streckenrekord:

Damen: Agnes Zellweger, Bern, 1:07:07 (2005)

Herren: Emmanuel Vaudan, Evionnaz, 0:55:58 (2011)

Wetterregel

Im Zusammenhang mit dem Niesen wird eine allerdings auch für unter anderem den Luzerner Hausberg Pilatus beanspruchte Wetterregel zitiert:

Hat der Niesen einen Hut, wird das Wetter gut.

Hat der Niesen einen Kragen, darfst du es noch wagen.

Hat der Niesen einen Degen, gibt es sicher Regen.

Niesenschatten

Zwischen dem 20. November und dem 20. Januar wirft der Niesen bei klaren Wetterbedingungen einen riesigen dreieckigen Schatten auf die Gemeinde Spiez. Die Sonne verschwindet ab 14 Uhr hinter dem Niesen-Gipfel. Später erscheint sie wieder auf der westlichen Bergseite. Es scheint dann so, als ob die Sonne den Berg herunterrollen würde. Das Phänomen ist am 21. Dezember, wenn die Sonne ihren tiefsten Stand hat, am grössten.

(Wikipedia)

Der Thunersee ist ein Fjordsee im Berner Oberland am nördlichen Alpenrand. Der See ist 17,5 km lang und max. 3,5 km breit. Seine Fläche beträgt 47,85 km²; damit ist er der grösste nur in einem Kanton liegende See der Schweiz. Die maximale Tiefe beträgt 217 m.

Geschichte und Geographie

Nach der letzten Eiszeit bildete sich dort, wo heute zwei Seen liegen, der so genannte Wendelsee. Durch Ablagerungen von Geschiebe der verschiedenen Bergbäche (vor allem durch den Lombach und die Lütschine) entstand ungefähr in der Mitte des Sees eine Ebene, das Bödeli. Diese Schwemmebene, auf der heute die Gemeinden Interlaken, Matten und Unterseen liegen, teilte den See in den Thuner- und den Brienzersee. Seit der frühen Bronzezeit befanden sich im nördlichen Becken des Thunersees Pfahlbauersiedlungen, die sich über ein Areal von mindestens 15'000 m² verteilten.

Der Inhalt des Thunersees beträgt rund 6,5 km³. An der den See durchfliessenden Aare, die an seiner Nordspitze den Thunersee verlässt, liegt die namengebende Stadt Thun.

Bei Normalwasserstand liegt der Seespiegel auf 557,8 m ü. M. Der Thunersee hat ein Einzugsgebiet von 2500 km². Bei längeren, starken Niederschlägen trat der See über die Ufer, da die Abflusskapazität der Aare beschränkt war. Seit 2009 ist ein Hochwasserentlastungsstollen in Betrieb, der eine zusätzliche Abflusskapazität von 100 m³/s aufweist. Die vorausschauende Regulierung des Abflusses aus dem Thunersee und die Staufunktion des Thunersees ersparen der tiefergelegenen Stadt Bern einige Überschwemmungen.

Der maximale Abfluss ohne Stollen beträgt 345 m³ pro Sekunde, der mittlere Abfluss liegt bei 110 m³/s. Sein Hauptzufluss, die Aare, wird im Südosten vom 6 Meter höhergelegenen Brienzersee gespeist.

Wie in anderen Schweizer Seen wurde auch im Thunersee zwischen 1945 und 1964 Munition versenkt, Schätzungen gehen von 4500 Tonnen aus.

Die Fischart Kropfer ist im Thunersee endemisch.

Wirtschaft und Tourismus

Von der Fischerei im Thunersee leben mehrere Berufsfischer. Im Jahr 2001 betrug ihr Gesamtertrag 53'048 Kilogramm. In Faulensee betreibt die Fischereiaufsicht des Kantons eine Fischaufzuchtanlage. Mit dem Einsetzen von Fischen werden sowohl Artenförderung betrieben als auch menschliche Eingriffe kompensiert.

1835 betrieben Johannes Knechtenhofer und seine Brüder das erste Dampfschiff, die Bellevue, auf dem See. Heute betreibt die BLS Schifffahrt eine Flotte von zehn Schiffen, darunter den historischen Schaufelraddampfer Blümlisalp sowie von 2001 bis 2003 das weit über die Region hinaus bekannte Drachenschiff (umgebautes Motorschiff Stadt Thun).

An den Ufern des Thunersees wird in den Gemeinden Thun, Spiez, Oberhofen und Hilterfingen Weinbau betrieben. Weisse Sorten sind Müller-Thurgau und Chardonnay, rote Sorten sind Garanoir und Pinot Noir. Das Rebbaugebiet Thunersee besitzt seit dem 1. Januar 2008 den gesetzlichen Status einer AOC.

Seit 2011 wird rund um den Thunersee ein 56 Kilometer langer Panorama-Wanderweg angelegt, mit mehreren grossen Hängebrücken.

Kulturelle Rezeption

Felix Draeseke komponierte 1902/03 Der Thuner See. Landschaftliches Tongemälde für großes Orchester.

(Wikipedia)

Das Morgenberghorn ist ein 2249 m ü. M. hoher Berg am Südufer des Thunersees im Berner Oberland in der Schweiz. Es liegt im Westen des Saxettals.

Der Gipfel des Morgenberghorns ist nur zu Fuss erreichbar. Der Aufstieg erfordert keine Bergsteigerkenntnisse, jedoch Trittsicherheit. Aufstiegsmöglichkeiten bestehen ab Leissigen und Aeschi über den Nordwestgrat und von Saxeten aus über den Rengglipass und den Südgrat. Der Nordostgrat von Interlaken aus weist sehr schmale und ausgesetzte Stellen auf und ist keine offizielle Aufstiegsroute.

Südlich des Morgenbergs erhebt sich die Schwalmere (2777 m ü. M.), durch den Rengglipass (1879 m ü. M.) getrennt.

(Wikipedia)

Alresford, Hampshire

Having visited Stonehenge and Salisbury on the Friday, early Saturday morning we headed across country to Four Marks to visit friends who live there. It's always a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere whenever we meet up and the order of the weekend is always take things as they come, which we all adhere to as a gospel rule!

So the afternoon activity was nothing more than taking Todd the dog for a walk culminating at a pub in Alresford... a much supported plan.

I did take my camera but photography was not the order of the day, as friendship is higher on my scale of priorities. However, I did take a few and these are somewhat different from my usual photostream, but change is good. The barley shots are more of an opportunistic moment as I don't live in an area with such vistas. There aren't too many thou as Todd the dog thought the game was to photo bomb my efforts or at the very least run amongst the barley ruining the carpet effect I was trying to capture. Much to his owner's dismay, a "Fenton the dog You Tube" moment if ever there was one!

The name Eilean Donan, or island of Donan, is most probably called after the 6th century Irish Saint, Bishop Donan who came to Scotland around 580 AD. There are several churches dedicated to Donan in the area and it is likely that he formed a small cell or community on the island during the late 7th century.

Eilean Donan ruin

The first fortified structure was not built on the island until the early 13th century as a defensive measure, protecting the lands of Kintail against the Vikings who raided, settled and controlled much of the North of Scotland and the Western Isles between 800 and 1266. From the mid 13th century, this area was the quite seperate “Sea Kingdom” of the Lord of the Isles where the sea was the main highway and the power of feuding clan chiefs was counted by the number of men and galleys or “birlinns” at their disposal. Eilean Donan offered the perfect defensive position.

Over the centuries, the castle itself has expanded and contracted in size. The medieval castle was probably the largest, with towers and a curtain wall that encompassed nearly the entire island. The main keep stood on the island’s highest point. Around the end of the 14th century the area of the castle was reduced to about a fifth of its original size and, although the reason is unclear, it probably relates to the number of men required to defend the structure. By the 16th century a hornwork was added to the east wall to offer a firing platform for the newly introduced cannons.Eilean Donan - cannon balls

Eilean Donan also played a role in the Jacobite risings of the 17th and 18th centuries, which ultimately culminated in the castle’s destruction…

In 1719 the castle was garrisoned by 46 Spanish soldiers who were supporting the Jacobites. They had established a magazine of gunpowder, and were awaiting the delivery of weapons and cannon from Spain. The English Government caught wind of the intended uprising and sent three heavily armed frigates The Flamborough, The Worcester, and The Enterprise to quell matters. The bombardment of the castle lasted three days, though met with limited success due to the enormity of the castle walls, which in some places are up to 14 feet thick. Finally, Captain Herdman of The Enterprise sent his men ashore and over-whelmed the Spanish defenders. Following the surrender, the government troops discovered the magazine of 343 barrels of gunpowder which was then used to blow up what had remained from the bombardment…

For the best part of 200 years, the stark ruins of Eilean Donan lay neglected, abandoned and open to the elements, until Lt Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap bought the island in 1911. Along with his Clerk of Works, Farquar Macrae, he dedicated the next 20 years of his life to the reconstruction of Eilean Donan, restoring her to her former glory. The castle was rebuilt according to the surviving ground plan of earlier phases and was formally completed in the July of 1932.

Information from the Eilean Donan Website.

Texture's and Effect's by William Walton & Topaz.

Isalo is one of Madagascar's most beautiful parks. It contains sculpted buttes, vertical rock walls and, best of all, deep canyon floors shot through with streams, lush vegetation and pools for swimming. All of this changes with the light, culminating in extraordinary sunsets beneath a big sky. Add all this to easy access off the RN7 and you understand why this is Madagascar’s most visited park.

At more than 800 sq km, it’s also a large park, so if you want to go off on your own there is plenty of room for exploration, with everything from two-hour to week-long hikes. There's also an excellent chance of spotting ring-tailed lemurs and Verreaux's sifaka around the Nemaza campsite.

www.lonelyplanet.com/madagascar/the-desert/attractions/pa...

Isalo es uno de los parques más bellos de Madagascar. Contiene colinas esculpidas, paredes de roca verticales y, lo mejor de todo, profundos fondos de cañones atravesados por arroyos, exuberante vegetación y piscinas para nadar. Todo esto cambia con la luz, culminando en extraordinarios atardeceres bajo un gran cielo. Agregue todo esto al fácil acceso desde la RN7 y comprenderá por qué este es el parque más visitado de Madagascar.

Con más de 800 kilómetros cuadrados, también es un parque grande, por lo que si quieres ir por tu cuenta, hay mucho espacio para explorar, con todo tipo de caminatas, desde dos horas hasta una semana de duración. También existe una gran posibilidad de observar lémures de cola anillada y sifaka de Verreaux en los alrededores del camping de Nemaza.

L'Isalo est l'un des plus beaux parcs de Madagascar. Il contient des buttes sculptées, des parois rocheuses verticales et, mieux encore, de profonds fonds de canyons traversés de ruisseaux, d'une végétation luxuriante et de bassins pour la baignade. Tout cela change au gré de la lumière, pour aboutir à des couchers de soleil extraordinaires sous un ciel immense. Ajoutez à tout cela un accès facile depuis la RN7 et vous comprenez pourquoi c'est le parc le plus visité de Madagascar.

Avec plus de 800 km², c'est aussi un grand parc, donc si vous souhaitez partir seul, il y a beaucoup de place pour l'exploration, avec des randonnées allant de deux heures à une semaine. Il y a également de fortes chances d'apercevoir des lémuriens catta et des propithèques de Verreaux autour du camping Nemaza.

Le Relais de la Reine

lerelaisdelareine.com/hotel-madagascar-isalo-spa/?lang=es

lerelaisdelareine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Relais-d...

Olympus OM4, Ektachrome EB100, original slide photographed on a light pad with a 12mm extension tube, tethered capture and digital development in Lightroom.

Foula is an outlying island of the Shetlands, in the Atlantic Ocean 30km or so west of the main group; it measures roughly 4km by 6km, and has magnificent seabird cliffs culminating in the Kame of Foula (376m).

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foula

Monte Rosa,(4634m) / a view from Gornergrat (3,130m).(No.861 )

"Monte Rosa is the highest mountain of Switzerland. Distinguished by the name Dufourspitze, its summit is 4,634 m (15,203 ft) high, making it the culminating point of the Pennine Alps as well as the second highest mountain of the Alps and western Europe.[1] Monte Rosa is also the second highest massif in Italy, although its main peak is located within Switzerland in the southeastern part of the canton of Valais. The Monte Rosa Massif consists of several peaks with an altitude superior to 4,500 metres.

While on the western side the Gorner Glacier descends from Monte Rosa in gentle slopes and flows towards Zermatt, the eastern side of the mountain forms a 2,400 metres high massive wall towering above the village of Macugnaga. The summit was first reached in 1855 from Zermatt by a party of eight men and composed by three guides. It followed a long series of attempts that started at the beginning of the nineteenth century.

Each summer a large number of climbers try to ascend the mountain from the west side, where the Monte Rosa Hut is the start of the normal route. Also many people come each year to the surrounding mountains of Zermatt to see the panorama that extends over the giants of the Swiss Alps from Monte Rosa to the Matterhorn."

This text was found in : Wikipedia

Nikon D200 Lens: 17.0-55.0 mm f/2.8 Aperturef/9.0 Exposure0.001 sec (1/1000) Focal Length17 mm ISO Speed200

Thank you my friends for your inspiration. ü!

Isalo is one of Madagascar's most beautiful parks. It contains sculpted buttes, vertical rock walls and, best of all, deep canyon floors shot through with streams, lush vegetation and pools for swimming. All of this changes with the light, culminating in extraordinary sunsets beneath a big sky. Add all this to easy access off the RN7 and you understand why this is Madagascar’s most visited park.

At more than 800 sq km, it’s also a large park, so if you want to go off on your own there is plenty of room for exploration, with everything from two-hour to week-long hikes. There's also an excellent chance of spotting ring-tailed lemurs and Verreaux's sifaka around the Nemaza campsite.

www.lonelyplanet.com/madagascar/the-desert/attractions/pa...

Isalo es uno de los parques más bellos de Madagascar. Contiene colinas esculpidas, paredes de roca verticales y, lo mejor de todo, profundos fondos de cañones atravesados por arroyos, exuberante vegetación y piscinas para nadar. Todo esto cambia con la luz, culminando en extraordinarios atardeceres bajo un gran cielo. Agregue todo esto al fácil acceso desde la RN7 y comprenderá por qué este es el parque más visitado de Madagascar.

Con más de 800 kilómetros cuadrados, también es un parque grande, por lo que si quieres ir por tu cuenta, hay mucho espacio para explorar, con todo tipo de caminatas, desde dos horas hasta una semana de duración. También existe una gran posibilidad de observar lémures de cola anillada y sifaka de Verreaux en los alrededores del camping de Nemaza.

L'Isalo est l'un des plus beaux parcs de Madagascar. Il contient des buttes sculptées, des parois rocheuses verticales et, mieux encore, de profonds fonds de canyons traversés de ruisseaux, d'une végétation luxuriante et de bassins pour la baignade. Tout cela change au gré de la lumière, pour aboutir à des couchers de soleil extraordinaires sous un ciel immense. Ajoutez à tout cela un accès facile depuis la RN7 et vous comprenez pourquoi c'est le parc le plus visité de Madagascar.

Avec plus de 800 km², c'est aussi un grand parc, donc si vous souhaitez partir seul, il y a beaucoup de place pour l'exploration, avec des randonnées allant de deux heures à une semaine. Il y a également de fortes chances d'apercevoir des lémuriens catta et des propithèques de Verreaux autour du camping Nemaza.

Le Relais de la Reine

lerelaisdelareine.com/hotel-madagascar-isalo-spa/?lang=es

lerelaisdelareine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Relais-d...

It is an adventure just to even witness the lava flow. But it is all the more intriguing and intimate to follow the lava from the crater to the ocean entry. They make the way thru lava tubes and eventually culminate at the ocean. The lava flow, when it happens, is mostly over multiple days. To get this shot, I planned for the morning twilight, when there is enough light to capture the surrounding and the sun is not yet out, so the lava can be captured in its beauty. Sleeping in the car at the parking lot, helped, but still had to plan for the time to actually get to the spot. Personally for me, it was such a intimate experience, shooting from the water and witnessing the raw beauty of earth being created.

For some reason this reminded me of Robert Frost. And also kindled me to scribble my own (in no way to be compared to that of Frost !!!)

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

- Robert Frost

Every end is a new beginning

Weather it is fire or ice,

it does not matter -

All that matters

Is finding that end, and beginning new

It is in realizing that you are far beyond

both the fire and the ice -

the beginning and the end.

- Sathya