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Sahara dust is dust from the Sahara that ends up on earth with the rain. During dust and sand storms, which occur in the desert area, the dust can reach up to kilometers in the atmosphere. When the air current is directed from south to north over an enormous distance, the Sahara dust can even reach above the Netherlands and Belgium or even further north.
Thanks for all the nice comments, it is much appreciated
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Regards, Bram van Broekhoven (BraCom)
An der Bunthäuser Spitze teilt sich die Elbe für etwa 15 Kilometer in die Norder- und die Süderelbe auf und bildet ein Binnendelta. Die beiden Elbarme umschließen die Elbinseln mit den heutigen Hamburger Stadtteilen Wilhelmsburg, Veddel, Kleiner Grasbrook und Steinwerder.
Auf der Bunthäuser Spitze selbst wurde 1914 das Leuchtfeuer Bunthaus, ein nur knapp sieben Meter hoher Leuchtturm aus Holz errichtet. Es markierte mit einem Rundumfeuer (Gürtellinse) die Fahrwassertrennung und wurde 1977 außer Dienst gestellt. Heute kümmert sich ein eingetragener Verein auf Initiative des letzten Hamburger Stackmeisters um den Erhalt dieses Kleinods, das anlässlich des 800. Hamburger Hafengeburtstages 1989 restauriert wurde.
Beacon Bunthaus
At the Bunthauserspitze, the Elbe divides for about 15 kilometers into the North and South Elbe and forms an inland delta. The two Elbarme enclose the Elbe islands with today's Hamburg districts Wilhelmsburg, Veddel, Kleiner Grasbrook and Steinwerder.
In 1914, the Bunthaus lighthouse, a wooden lighthouse just under seven meters high, was built on the top of Bunthausen itself. It marked the separation of the fairway with an all-round fire (belt lens) and was decommissioned in 1977. Today, on the initiative of the last Hamburg stackmaster, a registered association takes care of the preservation of this gem, which was restored on the occasion of the 800th Hamburg port birthday in 1989.
A tea plantation in Malabar, a few kilometers north of Bandung in West Java. It is on the hilly north side of the city. I took this picture from a hill called Bukit Nini. Woke up at 04.00 am, went up the hill for one hour walked and waited for the sun to rise. Really worth waiting to see the sun peak from behind the mountain and spread the rays.
It doesn't always have to be Tuscany. A few kilometers south of Tuscany, there is the similarly charming region of Umbria. Here we were in the pitoresque village of Passignano sul Trasimeno and watched the beautiful sunset over Lago Trasimeno above the rooftops.
Passignano sul Trasimeno, Umbria. Italy.
Santorini caldera is a large, mostly submerged caldera, located in the southern Aegean Sea, 120 kilometers north of Crete in Greece. Visible above water is the circular Santorini island group, consisting of Santorini (classic Greek Thera), the main island, Therasia and Aspronisi at the periphery, and the Kameni islands at the center. It has been designated a Decade Volcano.
The wall and the territory of the New Jerusalem Monastery..The Resurrection New Jerusalem Monastery is a historically Stavropegic male monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church in the city of Istra, Moscow region. The monastery was founded in 1656 by Patriarch Nikon, according to which the complex of holy places of Palestine was to be recreated near Moscow..In 1690-1677 a stone wall was erected instead of the old wooden one. The total length of the monastery walls, built in compliance with the requirements of the serf architecture of the era, is about one kilometer, height - nine meters, thickness - up to three meters. The upper part of the walls is a combat move, equipped with two rows of loopholes. Seven towers were erected on the wall breaks, the eighth (Elizavetinskaya) is located above the western gate, and the Gate of Entry Jerusalem Church was built above the eastern (Holy) gate.
240 kilometers (150 miles) southeast from the capital city Nairobi, Amboseli National Park is the second most popular national park in Kenya after Maasai Mara National Reserve.
The park is famous for being the best place in the world to get close to free-ranging elephants.
SÜDAFRIKA (South-Africa), Blyde-Canyon - am Trauer-Freudenfluss, Bourkes Luck Potholes.
Der Blyde River Canyon ist ein 26 Kilometer langer, bis zu 800 Meter tiefer und hauptsächlich aus rotem Sandstein bestehender Canyon. Er befindet sich an der Panorama Route nordöstlich von Johannesburg und gilt als eines der großen Naturwunder Afrikas.
Durch den Blyde River Canyon, der an den Bourke’s Luck Potholes genannten Strudellöchern beginnt, fließt der Fluss Blyde River, der bei dem Thaba Chweu entspringt und in den Olifantsriver fließt.
The Blyde River Canyon is a 26km long Canyon located in Mpumalanga, South Africa. It is the one of the larger canyons on Earth but much smaller than those of Asia, the Grand Canyon and the Fish River Canyon. Unlike the Grand and Fish River Canyon, the Blyde River Canyon is a "green canyon" which is dominated by subtropical vegetation. The canyon forms part of the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve.
• We do not see the detail of the falling flakes, but on that day it was snowing very hard on L'Assomption, a municipality located 50 kilometers northeast of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
• On ne voit pas le détail des flocons qui tombent, mais ce jour-là il neigeait très fort sur L'Assomption, une municipalité située à 50 km au nord-est de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
• No vemos los detalles de los copos que caen, pero ese día estaba nevando muy fuerte en L'Assomption, un municipio ubicado a 50 kilómetros al noreste de Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Sarrail Ridge is a 11.3-kilometer trail located near Kananaskis, Alberta. It is rated as difficult. The trail starts from the Upper Kananaskis Lake parking lot. The first part of the hike is steep so take your breaks but the views at Rawson Lake are very much worth the elevated heart rate! Once you get to the lake and see the tree and mountain reflection on the lake, you’ll have forgotten all about the incline on the way up. Rawson Lake is stunning and totally worth the uphill battle. The photo was taken at Rawson Lake, before climbing Sarrail Ridge.
Appreciate being supported by Flickr friends here, you all make me smile. 😊 Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate! Our Thanksgiving was earlier (Oct.11, 2021)
Drittgrösste Stadt Grönlands mit 4500 Einwohnern am Ilulissat Eisfjord (grönl.: Kangia) - 250 Kilometer nördlich des Polarkreises an der grönländischen Westküste.
(27.07.2017)
Im kurzen arktischen Sommer eine unglaubliche Blütenpracht von Wildblumen an der vom Golfstrom erwärmten Südwestküste !!!
**Small city in Greenland with 4500 inhabitants at the Ilulissat Icefjord (Kangia) - 250 km north of the Polar circle on the Greenland West coast.
In the short arctic summer an incredible blooming on the south-west coast heated by the Gulf Stream !!!**
Covering an area of 2 square kilometers, the Basòdino Glacier is the widest glacier in Ticino. The lower limit is currently at about 2500 m, while the upper limit settles on about 3120 m and thereby leaves the eponymous peak of stately 3273 m. The glacier is located at the end of the Bavona Valley and is easy to admire in the summer thanks to the easy access to the S. Carlo - Robiei cable car (source: www.ticino.ch/de/commons/details/Basòdino-Gletscher-/142... ).
Detail of a panorama made up of 7 vertical images a' 170 mm.
Mit einer Fläche von 2 Quadratkilometern ist der Basòdino-Gletscher der weitläufigste Gletscher des Tessins. Die untere Grenze liegt aktuell auf ca. 2500 m, während sich die obere Grenze auf ca. 3120 m ansiedelt und dabei den gleichnamigen Gipfel von stattlichen 3273 m frei lässt. Der Gletscher liegt am Ende des Bavonatals und ist dank des bequemen Anschlusses der Bergbahn S. Carlo – Robiei im Sommer auch sehr einfach zu bewundern (Quelle: www.ticino.ch/de/commons/details/Basòdino-Gletscher-/142... )
Ausschnitt von einem Panorama aus 7 vertikalen Bildern a' 170 mm.
Danke für deinen Besuch! Thanks for visiting!
bitte beachte/ please respect Copyright © All rights reserve.
Ostuni a city that can bee seen for kilometers in every direction originally built by Norman design in and about 900AD it had a fortress topping the city but now just a few ruins remain, the city completely covers the hill that it was built upon which makes it stand out all the more above the surrounding olive groves providing a uniquely Apulian landscape.
Though Ostuni lies about 8km from the Adriatic you can see the water from the town with its elevation and relatively flat surroundings which would have been handy due to the roving bands of pirates that plagued the area for hundreds of years giving the villagers plenty of time to prepare for any unwanted guests arrival.
In Italian Ostuni is called La Città Bianca the White City due to its predominantly white buildings that dampen the southern suns effect a little but it still has an invader problem just they are a lot more welcome as its winter population of 32, 000 swells to over 100,000 during the spring to fall as Europeans and British flock to the area.
I took this on Sept 22, 2016 with my D750 and Nikon 24-85 f3.5-4.5 Lens at 48mm 1/4000s f/4.5 ISO 220 processed in LR, PS +Lumenzia, Topaz , and DXO
Disclaimer: My style is a study of romantic realism as well as a work in progress
Located a few kilometers away from Thessaloniki, this lighthouse is situated at the end of a small triangular - shaped sand shore at Thermaikos Gulf in Potamos (meaning “river” in Greek) beach, Epanomi.
Busy by day in summer, a popular place for swimming filled with beach bars, this calm sunset was shot at the blue hour on July 1, 2019.
Details: Canon EOS 550D, Tokina AT-X 116 Pro DX II@ 14mm, f/2.8, ISO 100, 1/10 sec (bracketed)
Soft: Photomatix, ACR, Photoshop
The Møns Klint are the cliffs of the Danish island of Møn. Over a length of eight kilometers the forests of Møn end abruptly with chalk cliffs in the Baltic Sea. These chalk cliffs form Møns Klint.
Die kleine Kirche gehört sicher zu einem der fotografischen Highlights der Region bei Bled in Slowenien. Die Lage ist so außergewöhnlich exponiert, dass man sie im Tal schon aus vielen Kilometern sehen kann. Die Umgebung, das Tal und die Berge, machen dies zu einem außergewöhnlichen Ort. Bei meinem Besuch gab es leider keine Wolken, Nebel oder spektakuläre Farben zum Sonnenuntergang. Die Sonne verschwindet zu dieser Jahreszeit hinter einem Berg, bereits 1,5 Stunden vor Sonnenuntergang.
The small church is certainly one of the photographic highlights in Slovenia. The location is so extraordinarily exposed that you can see it from many kilometers down in the valley. The surroundings, the valley and the mountains, make this an exceptional place. Unfortunately, when I visited there were no clouds, fog or spectacular colors at sunset. The sun disappears behind a mountain at this time of year, 1.5 hours before sunset.
Wikipedia: Ko Phi Phi Don is the largest of the islands in the Ko Phi Phi archipelago, in Thailand. Phi Phi Don is 9.73 km2 (3.76 mi2): 8 kilometers (5.0 miles) in length and 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) wide. Part of the islands are administratively part of Ao Nang in Krabi Province. It is the only island in the group with permanent inhabitants, although most are temporary workers servicing the tourist trade.
Like the other islands in the archipelago, Phi Phi Don is a non-volcanic island largely made of limestone. It is almost separated into two islands, but a strand of flat land connects them. On this strand lies the largest settlement on the island, as well as most of the resorts.
More than 1,000 people died 26 December 2004 when a tsunami struck the island.
Lohdalum Bay was hit the hardest, with the majority of the bungalows and restaurants along the beach destroyed. There is a memorial for those killed in the tsunami on the beach facing Lohdalum Bay. Every year there is a small memorial service where family members and friends come to pay their respects and talk about those they lost. A moment of silence is observed at the time the tsunami hit.
There were three waves: the first one flooded Lohdalum Bay, the second destroyed all of the wooden buildings and the third and largest ruined stone buildings as if they were made of sand. The whole tsunami lasted for only three minutes (from 10:29–10:32) but it nearly destroyed the whole island.
Sarrail Ridge is a 11.3-kilometer trail located near Kananaskis, Alberta. It is rated as difficult. The trail starts from the Upper Kananaskis Lake parking lot. The first part of the hike is steep so take your breaks but the views at Rawson Lake are very much worth the elevated heart rate! Once you get to the lake and see the tree and mountain reflection on the lake, you’ll have forgotten all about the incline on the way up. The following photo was taken at Rawson Lake, before climbing Sarrail Ridge.
www.flickr.com/photos/runqing/51606781518/in/photosof-run...
Scramble to Sarrail Ridge was tough, lots of people returned back after enjoying the beauty of Rawson Lake from the bottom. From Rawson Lake to Sarrail Ridge, still quite people at the first 2/3 scrambling, reaching to the steepest part (75 degree), needed rope to climb, another portion of people gave up, returned… This final third is both physically and mentally challenging but entirely worth it for the view at the ridge! The view on top of the ridge was spectacular as shown in the photo! Total 7 hours hiking and climbing.
Happy 2022 to you and yours! 😊
Ninety kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama we found the Geiser del Tatio, a 10-square-kilometer geothermal field considered one of the most important on the planet and the highest in the world (4,200 m). There we found geysers of steam, water, mud, etc. that surpass the 15 meters of height, true boilers of water boiling at temperatures of 85 degrees. It is amazing to see the play of light that originates with the sunrise, magnificent colors and view.
This tour included breakfast. We began this tour accompanied by a hearty breakfast, admiring all this majestic geothermal activity and the more daring could enter the pool of thermal waters to finally lower and appreciated what nature has reserved for this place.
The area surprised us with vizcachas, llamas, vicunas and birds such as flamingos, tawa, puna duck, Andean goose among others, and the different flora that offered us the Chilean plateau, with a small stop to taste some local gastronomy, in the little village of Machuca, very famous for its skewers of llam.
Aperi is a mountain town located eight kilometers north of the capital, and dates back to the Middle Ages, which was a time of pirate attacks. Aperi is at a height of 350 meters, is built behind the mountains and is not visible from the sea. It is at the foot of Mount Hamali, on which are the ruins of a Venetian castle.
A stream of water flows under a stone bridge, and in the village there are many plane trees, cypresses, lemon trees, and abundant flowers.
Between 1700 and 1892, Aperi was the capital of the island. It is still the seat of the Archbishop of Karpathos and the nearby island of Kasos.
The population had declined in the hard years after World War II, leaving some homes in ruins. Now the trends are slightly increasing, and there are several mansions quite large and well maintained like the one in the photo.
The locals try to keep the local customs alive, as some of them are unique. "Gilles", a celebration dedicated to the newborns and the couples who got married in the village last year, and "Klidonas", an ancient custom and divination tool for girls who are looking for a man to get married.
Aperi, Karpathos island, Greece.
Coarse gypsum powder covers some 715 square kilometers (275 square miles) of desert at White Sands National Park. Gypsum is a mineral that normally dissolves in water, but the climate is so dry there that the grains have been preserved.
The gypsum dunes were formed after the evaporation of an ancient sea.
Between the dunes in the interdunal areas of the park, grasses thrive. For plants like Alkali Sacaton, Little Bluestem, and Indian Rice Grass, survival depends on rapid growth, pollination, and reseeding at the far side of the interdunal space. Although an individual plant might perish, its offspring continue to succeed and colonize these areas. *
Seen here is Alkali Sacaton, a widespread grass that can be found in alkaline soils from Canada to Mexico, flourishing in poorly drained depressions where few other grasses can grow. Highly adaptive, it can withstand flooding and partial burial by the shifting sand. It has an important place in the ecosystem of the dune field, where its seeds provide food for birds, rodents, and insects. *
Here's the link on the geology of White Sand if you're interested: www.nps.gov/whsa/learn/geology-of-white-sands.htm
Thank you for your visit; I wish you a pleasant day, be safe and healthy!
Becán ist eine archäologische Stätte und vormaliges Zentrum der Maya der präklassischen Periode. Sie befindet sich im mexikanischen Bundesstaat Campeche, im Zentrum der Yucatán-Halbinsel, 150 Kilometer nördlich von Tikal.
Der Name Becán bedeutet in Mayathan „Schlucht, von Wasser geformt“ und bezieht sich auf den umgebenden Graben, der einzigartig für eine Maya-Stätte ist. Becán, das im Rio-Bec-Stil erbaut ist, war ein regionales religiöses und politisches Zentrum der Maya. Die ersten Nachweise menschlicher Besiedelung gehen ins Jahr 600 v. Chr. zurück. Die Blütezeit der Stadt war jedoch in den Jahren 600–1000, bewohnt war die Stadt bis etwa 1250.
Die Stadt ist von einem Graben umgeben, der an sieben Stellen unterbrochen war. Er war damit kein wirksames militärisches Hindernis, oder wurde nicht als solches fertiggestellt.
Becan is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Becan is located near the center of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the present-day Mexican state of Campeche,Archaeological evidence shows that Becan was occupied in the middle Preclassic Maya period, about 550 BCE, and grew to a major population and ceremonial center a few hundred years later in the late Preclassic.
Area: Ennea Pyrgoi, Kalyvia Thorikou
Type: Single - Aisled Basilica
Date: End of the 12th century
Description:
One kilometer west of Kalyvia (Thorikou), in the area known as Ennea Pyrgoi (Nine Towers), and close to the Byzantine church of Hagios Petros, lies the church of Panagia Mesosporitissa or the Presentation of the Virgin Mary. The church celebrates on this day, on the 21st of November. Therefore, the Virgin Mary is called Mesosporitissa, since she protected the sowing that took place during that month. The church is a single-aisled basilica. A barrel-vaulted narthex and a chapel were later added to it in the western and northern side respectively. Orlandos has dated it to the 11th or the 12th century, while Professor Bouras to the end of the 12th century. The dome is Athenian and the rubble masonry is combined with the cloisonné one in the conch of the altar and the dome. The church has a low entrance and a stone arched shrine encountered in many other churches in Attica such as the neighboring and more recent church of Hagios Petros, the chapel of Hagios Nikolaos in Pentelis Cave and others. It is customary that the honored saint is depicted in these shrines. However, in the case of the Mesosporitissa the wall paintings have been destroyed. No painted decoration has been preserved. The wall paintings of the main church are more recent and of no significant artistic value. According to the inscriptions on the built screen, they were created in the beginning of the 20th century by the painter Lymperius and have most probably covered an older layer of wall paintings. Only a few of the wall paintings preserved in the chapel present interest and can be dated to the middle of the 18th century. Some of these wall paintings are the Virgin Mary and Christ in the built screen, the Apostles Peter and Paul in the northern and southern wall respectively, the décor with the floral circles in the Royal Doors and Hagios Athanasios in the intrados of the arch of the northern cross arm of the main church. Unfortunately, the inscription on the screen which could have indicated the exact date is ruined. The church is not historically documented. The church is preserved in excellent condition in a nice environment.
Ennea Pyrgoi (Nine Towers): The name of the area located around 2 kilometers in the west of Kalyvia, where a medieval settlement used to be. It constitutes a significant core of Byzantine monuments, standing and deserted. As far as the standing monuments are concerned, besides the church of Panagia Mesosporitissa, the more recent church of Hagios Petros lies closely.
Περιοχή: θέση Εννέα Πύργοι, Καλύβια Θορικού
Τύπος: Μονόκλιτη Βασιλική
Χρονολογία: Τέλη 12ου αιώνα
Περιγραφή:
Σε απόσταση ενός χιλιομέτρου δυτικά των Καλυβίων, στην περιοχή που είναι γνωστή με την ονομασία Εννέα Πύργοι, και πολύ κοντά στον επίσης βυζαντινό ναό του Αγίου Πέτρου, βρίσκεται ο κομψός ναός της Παναγίας Μεσοσπορίτισσας ή τα Εισόδια (αφού ο ναός εορτάζει την ημέρα των Εισοδίων της Θεοτόκου, στις 21 Νοεμβρίου, εξ ου και η ονομασία Μεσοσπορίτισσα που αποδίδεται στην Παναγία ως προστάτιδας της σποράς που γίνεται αυτόν το μήνα).
Ο ναός είναι μονόκλιτη βασιλική, στην οποία, μεταγενέστερα, προστέθηκε καμαροσκέπαστος νάρθηκας και παρεκκλήσιο στη δυτική και βόρεια πλευρά αντίστοιχα. Ο Ορλάνδος τη χρονολόγησε στον 11ο ή 12ο αιώνα. Ο καθηγητής Μπούρας την τοποθετεί στα τέλη του 12ου αιώνα. Ο τρούλος του ναού είναι αθηναϊκός και η τοιχοδομία του συνδυάζει την απλή αργολιθοδομή με την καλή πλινθοπερίκλειστη τεχνική στην κόγχη του Ιερού και του τρούλου (φωτό). Η είσοδος του ναού είναι χαμηλή κι έχει υπέρθυρο πλίνθινο τοξωτό προσκυνητάρι που απαντά και σε αρκετούς άλλους αττικούς ναούς, όπως στον γειτονικό-και κάπως νεώτερο- Άγιο Πέτρο αλλά και στο παρεκκλήσι του Αγίου Νικολάου στη Σπηλιά Πεντέλης κ.ά. Στα προσκυνητάρια αυτά είθισται να εικονίζεται ο τιμώμενος άγιος. Στην περίπτωση της Μεσοσπορίτισσας όμως, η τοιχογράφηση έχει καταστραφεί. Δε διασώζεται ο ζωγραφικός διάκοσμος.
Οι τοιχογραφίες του κυρίως ναού είναι νεώτερες και ιδιαίτερα κακότεχνες. Έγιναν στις αρχές του 20ου αιώνα από κάποιον ζωγράφο Λυμπέριο, σύμφωνα με επιγραφές στο κτιστό τέμπλο, και πιθανότατα έχουν επικαλύψει παλαιότερο στρώμα τοιχογραφιών. Ελάχιστες τοιχογραφίες που έχουν σωθεί στο παρεκκλήσιο είναι αρκετά ενδιαφέρουσες και μπορούν να χρονολογηθούν στα μέσα του 18ου αιώνα. Οι νεώτερες αυτές τοιχογραφίες του παρεκκλησίου, όπως η Παναγία και ο Χριστός στο κτιστό τέμπλο, οι απόστολοι Πέτρος και Παύλος στο βόρειο και νότιο τοίχο αντίστοιχα, το διακοσμητικό με τους άνθινους κύκλους στο εσωράχιο της Ωραίας Πύλης καθώς και ο Άγιος Αθανάσιος στο εσωράχιο του τόξου της βόρειας κεραίας του κυρίως ναού, είναι αρκετά ενδιαφέρουσες. Δυστυχώς, η επιγραφή που σώζεται στο τέμπλο και θα μπορούσε να μας δώσει την ακριβή χρονολόγηση είναι σχεδόν ολοκληρωτικά φθαρμένη.
Δεν υπάρχουν μαρτυρίες για το ναό στις ιστορικές πηγές.
Ο ναός διατηρείται σε άριστη κατάσταση και σε ωραίο περιβάλλοντα χώρο.
ΕΝΝΕΑ ΠΥΡΓΟΙ: Κοινή ονομασία της περιοχής που βρίσκεται 2 περίπου χιλιόμετρα δυτικά των Καλυβίων, στη θέση μεσαιωνικού οικισμού. Αποτελεί σημαντικό πυρήνα βυζαντινών μνημείων, ιστάμενων και ερειπωμένων. Όσον αφορά στα ιστάμενα μνημεία, εκτός του προαναφερθέντος ναού της Παναγίας Μεσοσπορίτισσας, σε πολύ κοντινή απόσταση, βρίσκεται και ο κάπως νεώτερος ναός του Αγίου Πέτρου.
Grottole as the sign says, a small little village tens of kilometers from Matera but almost another world away in prosperity the grungy threadbare place still has some breath left in its lungs but you can hear the death rattle. The small village while idyllically tranquil and homely is slowly dying, every year brings it closer to its last gasp as it bleeds its young searching for opportunity and ongoing continuity of community.
This town like many rural villages in the Italian south really for that matter just rural villages in general are fast disappearing from Europe as people continue to migrate to the urban areas for better economic prospects. Grottole is just 2100 residents now with over 600 houses standing empty so in desperation they have in conjunction with Airbnb created a contest where you can live free like a local for 90 days in order to promote tourism for the village.
The contest for an Italian Sabbatical received just over 280,000 entries with the objective for the five selected winners to spend 90 days living in the community with a small stipend and learn to be a useful part of the community for the first month. The second two months would be spent being ambassadors to the tourist visiting the village with winners acting as guides explaining village life and giving people an insight into this simple yet connected way of life.
I took this on Oct 11th, 2018 with my D750 and Nikon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6 Lens at 78mm 1/50s f`11 ISO 100 processed in LR, PS +Lumenzia, Topaz , and DXO
Disclaimer: My style is a study of romantic realism as well as a work in progress
Becán ist eine archäologische Stätte und vormaliges Zentrum der Maya der präklassischen Periode. Sie befindet sich im mexikanischen Bundesstaat Campeche, im Zentrum der Yucatán-Halbinsel, 150 Kilometer nördlich von Tikal.
Der Name Becán bedeutet in Mayathan „Schlucht, von Wasser geformt“ und bezieht sich auf den umgebenden Graben, der einzigartig für eine Maya-Stätte ist. Becán, das im Rio-Bec-Stil erbaut ist, war ein regionales religiöses und politisches Zentrum der Maya. Die ersten Nachweise menschlicher Besiedelung gehen ins Jahr 600 v. Chr. zurück. Die Blütezeit der Stadt war jedoch in den Jahren 600–1000, bewohnt war die Stadt bis etwa 1250.
Die Stadt ist von einem Graben umgeben, der an sieben Stellen unterbrochen war. Er war damit kein wirksames militärisches Hindernis, oder wurde nicht als solches fertiggestellt.
Becan is an archaeological site of the Maya civilization in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Becan is located near the center of the Yucatán Peninsula, in the present-day Mexican state of Campeche,Archaeological evidence shows that Becan was occupied in the middle Preclassic Maya period, about 550 BCE, and grew to a major population and ceremonial center a few hundred years later in the late Preclassic.
AMSTERDAM - Capital of the Netherlands, has more than one hundred kilometers of grachten, about 90 islands and 1,500 bridges. The three main canals, dug in the 17th century during the Dutch Golden Age, form concentric belts around the city, known as the Grachtengordel. Alongside the main canals are 1550 monumental buildings. The 17th-century canal ring area, including the Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht, Herengracht and Jordaan, were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010
48 kilometers away from Ioannina, at the foot of Mount Tymfi, is situated the village of Tsepelovo. It is the largest village in Zagori, with 500 inhabitants. Tsepelovo was created in today’s area in the 14th century when the old settlement of Tsepelovo and the existing small settlements of the area, merged into one united settlement.
Η παραδοσιακή πετρόκτιστη αρχιτεκτονική είναι παρούσα σε όλες τις κατοικίες, στα μονοπάτια και στις εκκλησίες του χωριού. Ξεχωρίζουν το πολιτιστικό κέντρο της «Εστίας», ο Ιερός Ναός του Αγίου Νικολάου που χτίστηκε το 18ο αιώνα σαν τρίκλιτη βασιλική με τρούλο και αγιογραφήθηκε το 1786 από τους δεξιοτέχνες αγιογράφους από το Καπέσοβο, οι Ναοί Κοιμήσεως της Θεοτόκου, Κάτω Παναγιάς και διάφορα αρχοντικά ιστορικών οικογενειών του χωριού. Στο Τσεπέλοβο διατηρείται η περισπούδαστη παλαιά "γέφυρα του Κοκκόρη" που αποτελεί χαρακτηριστικό δείγμα της ζαγορίτικης γεφυροποιίας.
Rauðasandur beach (Westfjords) 20200806
Rauðisandur (Red Beach) is a 10-kilometer stretch of a beach on the south coast of the West Fjords (Vestfirðir) in Iceland. And, yes, the sand is red, at least in certain conditions. On sunny days, it is quite a sight to see as it scintillates like a shoreline covered in diamonds. This amazing beach is like an instrument being played by high and low tides as well as lights and shadows. The sands are equally impressive on rainy days, constantly changing colors from red to yellow to white to red to black – with amazing hues ranging throughout this magnificent display.
But, take care. The gravel road leading to the beach is very steep and narrow, with 180° turns. No rails. Take your time to drive down the slope. You will find a café on the beach where the locals will tell you how best to enjoy this tranquil site and its amazing tales and stories.
Apart from tales of trolls and otherworldly figures, Rauðisandur is the area where Iceland's most legendary act of crime, The Murders at Sjöundá, happened. It is a true story of darkness, intrigue, and passion. The whole drama was described it one of the best novels by an Icelandic writer, Svartfugl, by Gunnar Gunnarsson. A novel that was first published in Denmark in 1929 and was quite successful in Europe in the thirties.
Source: Hit Iceland.
Covering an area of 2 square kilometers, the Basòdino Glacier is the widest glacier in Ticino. The lower limit is currently at about 2500 m, while the upper limit settles on about 3120 m and thereby leaves the eponymous peak of stately 3273 m. The glacier is located at the end of the Bavona Valley and is easy to admire in the summer thanks to the easy access to the S. Carlo - Robiei cable car (source: www.ticino.ch/de/commons/details/Basòdino-Gletscher-/142... ).
Mit einer Fläche von 2 Quadratkilometern ist der Basòdino-Gletscher der weitläufigste Gletscher des Tessins. Die untere Grenze liegt aktuell auf ca. 2500 m, während sich die obere Grenze auf ca. 3120 m ansiedelt und dabei den gleichnamigen Gipfel von stattlichen 3273 m frei lässt. Der Gletscher liegt am Ende des Bavonatals und ist dank des bequemen Anschlusses der Bergbahn S. Carlo – Robiei im Sommer auch sehr einfach zu bewundern (Quelle: www.ticino.ch/de/commons/details/Basòdino-Gletscher-/142... )
Danke für deinen Besuch! Thanks for visiting!
bitte beachte/ please respect Copyright © All rights reserve.
Tens of kilometers of beach, long waves, sun. I can understand why the place is called "Surfers Paradise".
Over time, dozens of skyscrapers were built on the coast, making it look like Miami.
Behind the skyscrapers the many canals remind me of small, tropical Venice.
Further back is the Lamington National Park.
South view from the SkyPoint (Q1 Tower), situated 230m above the ground.
Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast. Queensland, Australia. Stitched 50mm panorama
MEXICO, Yucatán, Chichén Itzá, Ballspielplatz
Chichén Itzá ist eine der bedeutendsten Ruinenstätten auf der mexikanischen Halbinsel Yucatán. Sie liegt etwa 120 Kilometer östlich von Mérida im Bundesstaat Yucatán. Ihre Ruinen stammen aus der späten Maya-Zeit. Mit einer Fläche von 1547 Hektar ist Chichén Itzá einer der ausgedehntesten Fundorte in Yucatán. Das Zentrum wird von zahlreichen monumentalen Repräsentationsbauten mit religiös-politischem Hintergrund eingenommen, aus denen eine große, weitestgehend erhaltene Stufenpyramide herausragt. Im direkten Umkreis befinden sich Ruinen von Häusern der Oberschicht.
Chichen Itza] was a large pre-Columbian city built by the Maya people of the Terminal Classic period. The archaeological site is located in Tinúm Municipality, Yucatán State, Mexico.
Chichen Itza was a major focal point in the Northern Maya Lowlands from the Late Classic (c. AD 600–900) through the Terminal Classic (c. AD 800–900) and into the early portion of the Postclassic period (c. AD 900–1200). The site exhibits a multitude of architectural styles, reminiscent of styles seen in central Mexico and of the Puuc and Chenes styles of the Northern Maya lowlands. The presence of central Mexican styles was once thought to have been representative of direct migration or even conquest from central Mexico, but most contemporary interpretations view the presence of these non-Maya styles more as the result of cultural diffusion.
Kristiansand Cannon Museum is a museum at Møvik, 8 kilometers west of the town centre of Kristiansand, Norway. The museum has collected authentic equipment from a former military installation.
The fort was constructed between 1941 and 1944 by the German navy. Together with four other coastal batteries, it formed a part of the Kristiansand Artillery Group. Together with its sister battery at Hanstholm in Denmark, Møvik Fort was built to obstruct Allied naval forces by blocking the Skagerrak strait and the seaways to Eastern Norway, the Kattegatt Bay, the Baltic Sea and the Baltic region for the allied naval forces.
Only a field, ten nautical miles wide, in the Skagerrak could not be covered by the guns of these facilities. This field was therefore mined.
Adolf Hitler worked personally for the barrier strategy and the decision about the fortress in Hanstholm was made in May 1940. In May 1941, two of the guns in Hanstholm were in place and on the Norwegian side preparatory work started.
For a few years after the war, Møvik fort was an operating Norwegian fortress. In 1953 it became part of Kristiansand fortress. On 20 April 1959 the fort was closed and two of the guns and the foundations of the fourth were scrapped.
Plans for a museum began in 1984
After extensive renovation work in the late 1980s and early 1990s by local armed forces and the Foundation Kristiansand Cannon Museum Møvik, a foundation was laid in 1991, and a part of the fort was opened to the public in 1993. Efforts to restore the 600 mm (1 ft 11 5⁄8 in) narrow gauge funicular railway who once transported the heavy shells are well underway.
The fortress had four gun positions, of which one of the guns is still intact. There are empty gun emplacements and an empty casemate.
The 38 cm calibre gun is one of the largest in the world; the barrel alone weighs 110 tons, measures almost 20 m in length and has a range of up to 55 km (34 miles). In the museum, this historic site can be experienced, by following the Fortress Trail - a walk to places and buildings which tell of everyday life in a fortress and national, military events.
The Kristiansand Cannon Museum is run today by the Foundation Kristiansand Cannon Museum Møvik (Stiftelsen Kristiansand Kannonmuseum Møvik) and administered by the Nasjonale Festningsverk (National Fortresses). The gun at the fort is one of the largest remaining land-based guns in the World.
La Palma
Die Caldera de Taburiente misst etwa neun Kilometer im Durchmesser und hat einen Umfang von rund 28 Kilometern. Ihre tiefste Stelle liegt bei etwa 430 Metern ü. Meeresspiegel. Den höchsten Punkt von 2.426 Metern ü. Meeresspiegel erreicht der Kraterrand im Norden mit dem gleichzeitig höchsten Punkt La Palmas, dem Roque de los Muchachos.
The Caldera de Taburiente measures about nine kilometers in diameter and has a circumference of about 28 kilometers. Its lowest point is about 430 meters above sea level. The highest point of 2,426 meters above sea level reaches the crater rim in the north with the highest point of La Palma, the Roque de los Muchachos.
Canon EOS 1, Kodak HIE Infrared
Lithprint auf Fomatone 131
SE5 1+10, +2,5 f-stops, 2:35 min
Catechol/NH4Cl (10+10+800) 30 sec
Goldtonung MT10, 4 min
Eagle Island, 2 Kilometers off the north end of the Mullet Peninsula in Erris, Co Mayo, was once home to the families of the island’s two lighthouse keepers. Between 1861 -1891 there was a population of 15-22 sustained on this tiny island. No one lives there now. The last lighthouse keeper left in 1988 when it was fully automated (see solar panels etc)
The two lighthouses on Eagle Island were switched on in September 1835. One of the lighthouses stopped functioning after it was damaged beyond repair by a storm in 1894, but the powerful beacon of the second lighthouse continues to this day to warn and guide ships navigating the waters off the treacherous North Mayo coastline.
The lighthouses were built by the Ballast Board, also known as the Corporation for Preserving and Improving the Port of Dublin, which was established in 1786 and was responsible for the construction of lighthouses around the coast of Ireland.
The Eagle Island Lighthouses were designed by George Halpin Senior, (1776-1854), Inspector of Works and Lighthouses, and built at a cost of £30,000. The stone used to build the lighthouses was brought from Dún Laoghaire (Kingstown) and partly quarried on the island.
Halpin’s design is described as a tapering tower with a lantern encircled by serpentine railings on a corbelled walkway.
The lighthouses were located in the east and in the west of Eagle Island (Oileán san Tuaidh) with 132 yards between them. The lights were aligned at a height of 220 feet above sea level and could be seen to the east as far as Broadhaven Bay and to the south as far as Blacksod Bay.
However, the small island which takes the full brunt of the North Atlantic winter gales was never well suited to human habitation.
The lighthouse keepers’ families lived on the island for decades before they were rehoused near to Corclough on the mainland at the end of the 19th century. The keepers’ families lived in the pretty dwellings in Corclough until the houses were sold in 1956.
U-Boat Activity
The lighthouse keepers were ferried to Eagle Island from Scotchport where the boats that also brought supplies to the lighthouse were kept in a lovely old boathouse that is still in use to this day.
Over the course of the 20th century’s two world wars, many Allied ships were sunk by German U-Boats within sight of Eagle Island.
World War 1 came close to Eagle Island in 1915 when the SS Cherbourg, a collier, out of Glasgow was attacked and sunk by gunfire from German U-Boat 13 miles off the island. The crew of 25 were saved and taken to Belmullet, according to a report published on May 4th 1915 in the Tralee-based newspaper, The Liberator.
The lighthouse keepers remained on the Eagle Island until the 31st March 1988 when Eagle Island lighthouse was made automatic and there has been no lighthouse keeper resident on the island since as is the case with Blackrock Lighthouse, at the southern end of the Mullet.
Eagle Island station is now in the care of an attendant and the aids to navigation are also monitored via a telemetry link from the Commissioners of Irish Lights (CIL) Lighthouse Depot in Dun Laoghaire.
Information from mayo.me/2014/12/26/eagle-island-was-once-home-to-lighthou...
The Wikimedia site en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Island_lighthouses also features some more information as well as another an image I took from the shore a few years ago.
For anyone who'd like to see the other images I took (8 in total) they are on my Instagram feed - link in bio
Mont Saint Michel is a small rocky islet, roughly one kilometer from the north coast of France at the mouth of the Couesnon River, near Avranches in Normandy, close to the border of Brittany. It is home to the unusual Benedictine Abbey Church (built between the 11th and 16th centuries) which occupies most of the one kilometer diameter clump of rocks jutting out of the ocean.
It is connected to the mainland via a thin natural land bridge, which before modernization was covered at high tide, and revealed at low tide. Thus, Mont Saint Michel gained a mystical quality, being an island half the time, and being attached to land the other : a tidal island.
In 708 the Archangel Michael appeared to Aubert, Bishop of Avranches, and commanded him to build a chapel on the top of Mont Tombe, a rocky island in the middle of an immense bay. Overawed by this apparition, Aubert obeyed and built a sanctuary to the glory of God and Archangel Michael.
Throughout its long history, Mont Saint Michel has had many roles. First a religious sanctuary with its monastic communities, it became a place of worship with its immense pilgrimages, a centre of intense academic activity with its production of manuscripts and illuminations, a symbol of national resistance with the glorious feats of arms of its knights and a formidable prison when the priests were ousted in the French Revolution of 1789, putting an end to the religious vocation of Mont Saint Michel.
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The Big Lagoon is a nearly kilometer-long lagoon enclosed by towering karst cliffs. It is one of the lagoons at Miniloc Island in Bacuit Bay, El Nido, Palawan in the Philippines.
Betaab valley, It is situated at a distance of 15 kilometers from Pahalgam in Anantnag district in India's northernmost state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Tumon Bay is a bay in the United States territory of Guam, opening to the Philippine Sea. It is bounded to the north by Two Lovers Point and to the south by Ypao Point. The entirety of the bay falls within the Tumon Bay Marine Preserve, also known as the Tumon Bay Marine Preserve Area (MPA) and Tumon Preserve, one of five marine preserves on Guam. The Preserve measures 4.54 square kilometers and is roughly two miles long. The platform of the fringing reef that separates the open ocean from the lagoon is up to 1,450 feet (440 m) wide. and up to one mile from the shore. The bay is located off of the Tumon area, the tourist center of the island, in the village of Tamuning. The bay is extensively utilized for recreation and fishing.
(Wikipedia)
In the east of Georgia, a 100 kilometers from the capital Tbilisi and 10 from Gori, lies the ancient city of Uplistsikhe, which has become a tourist center since the fifties of the XX century. The name of one of the main attractions of the country translates as "Fortress of God".
The caves of the city, abandoned by people only in the 19th century, keep an 3000-year history full of secrets and mysterious facts. Now the object attracts thousands of visitors to plunge into the atmosphere of antiquity, to look into the depths of the "Fortress of the Lord", to get into a completely different world.
The historical monument, which has the status of a museum and is under the protection of UNESCO, is called Georgian Petra. Located on the banks of the Kura River, it is considered one of the first points that people inhabited in Georgia before our era.
Fredriksholm Fortress was located one kilometer north of the precursor, Christiansø Fortress on Gammeløya. Both fortresses were built to protect Flekkerøy port. The construction of Frederiksholm Fortress was begun in 1655. After the fort Christiansø was abandoned on 1 May 1658, the stones, building materials and other useful material were transferred to Fredriksholm. The new fortress was completed in 1662. It is named after Frederick III of Denmark.
The fortress was divided into a lower and an upper part. The lower part was a wall that followed the shoreline. The upper part had a tower with a cupola and 2 artillery batteryes. The tower was the residence of the commander, and this was also the royal chambers. Otherwise, there were a number of large and small houses in the Fort area. Fortress walls were of stone, covered outside with turf and palisadeverk.
The peat was taken from a cemetery wall in such large quantities that the coffins were almost uncovered. Within the wall there was a gallery. When the fortress was completed, consisted the luminaire of 14 cannons on the lower part and 10 guns on the upper.
The fortress was originally armed with 24 guns from 2-to 34 pounds. In 1700 the fortress was at its largest, armed with 50 cannons. Garrison was in 1658 on the 24 man. The strength of the fortress, however, varied depending on the threat of war and the season. It could be up to 110 men at the castle during the summer, while there were around 30 in winter. Fredriksholm was timed to be able to accommodate 300 men.
On the mainland in the north was in 1808–1809 built a defense battery which had the task to cover the land by Fredriksholm.
The area known as Batteriodden. Batteriodden was staffed with 96 infantry and 48 artillerymen. The battery was abandoned around 1850.
On 18 September 1807 during the Napoleonic Wars (see also the Gunboat War) the British Third-rate ship HMS Spencer along with two other ships arrived in Kristiansand.
The ships returned after it being fired on by Christiansholm.
The ship commander decided to adopt the abandoned fortress Fredriksholm in the fjord, and sprinkle it in the air.
The blast cost four Englishmen their lives because the explosion was long in coming. Four men were therefore ordered ashore to see if the fuses had gone out. They had not.
The fortress was partially set in order again in 1808 and then in 1874 to be closed down for good.
SÜDAFRIKA( South-Africa), Hermanus .
Hermanus (ursprünglich Hermanuspietersfontein) ist ein Ort im Distrikt Overberg der südafrikanischen Provinz Westkap. Er ist Verwaltungssitz der Lokalgemeinde Overstrand und liegt etwa 120 Kilometer südöstlich von Kapstadt an der Atlantikküste.
Hermanuspietersfontein wurde 1855 gegründet und erlangte 1904 den Stadtstatus. Aus diesem Anlass wurde der Name zu Hermanus verkürzt.
Von Hermanus können in den Monaten Juli bis Dezember Südkaper beobachtet werden, die die Bucht Walker Bay in großer Zahl aufsuchen. Am Höhepunkt der Saison, im Oktober, werden regelmäßig etwa 150 Wale vor Hermanus gezählt....
Und vor allem deshalb habe ich diese Rundreise unternommen.
Hermanus (originally Hermanuspietersfontein) is a town in the Overberg district of the South African province of Western Cape. It is the administrative seat of the local municipality of Overstrand and is located about 120 kilometers southeast of Cape Town on the Atlantic coast.
Hermanuspietersfontein was founded in 1855 and achieved city status in 1904. On this occasion, the name was shortened to Hermanus.
From Hermanus, southern right whales can be observed from July to December, visiting Walker Bay in large numbers. At the peak of the season, in October, around 150 whales are regularly counted off Hermanus....
And that is the main reason why I undertook this round trip.
Short route of just 8 kilometers round trip that takes us along the banks of the Guadalix River to the place known as the Charco del Hervidero where two surprise two waterfalls that form the aforementioned Guadalix River. During the tour of the wide dirt track we can observe various constructions belonging to the Canal de Isabel II. It is best to leave the car, once we leave the A1 direction Burgos by exit 36, next to the San Agustín industrial estate that is located north of the town. The path runs along the right of the river and after crossing a wooden bridge we pass to the left bank where a path ascends upstream to reach a wide track, at the beginning the path and track go parallel, but it is more interesting to walk along the path together to the river and observe the vegetation. As soon as you cross the bridge of the Guadalix River, you have to descend some stairs in the stone that descend with some verticality to the Charco del Hervidero where the waterfall with its two waterfalls, also called Cascada del Hervidero, is located. The place is of great beauty, being able to observe the two waterfalls that descend down the wall. Without a doubt it is a beautiful environment that we should not miss, because the total distance is very short and easy to travel, even with children, and the river with good shade here encourages us to sit and feel the noise of the water rushing while we eat A snack. For the return you have to go back up the stairs and return along the same itinerary. Only one tip, in summer it is usually quite hot and the water is low, so it is advisable to choose another station for the walk. (Source: Fox Fox)
Corta ruta de apenas 8 kilómetros ida y vuelta que nos lleva por la rivera del río Guadalix hasta el lugar conocido como el Charco del Hervidero donde dos sorprenden dos cascadas que forma el ya citado río Guadalix. Durante el recorrido por pista ancha de tierra podemos ir observando diversas construcciones pertenecientes al Canal de Isabel II. Lo mejor es dejar el coche, una vez que abandonamos las A1 dirección Burgos por la salida 36, junto al Polígono industrial de San Agustín que se encuentra al norte del pueblo. El sendero discurre por la derecha del río y tras cruzar un puente de madera pasamos a la margen izquierda donde un sendero asciende rivera arriba para llegar hasta una pista ancha, al principio sendero y pista van paralelos, pero es más interesante caminar por el sendero junto al río y observar la vegetación. Nada más masar el puente del río Guadalix hay que descender por unas escaleras en la piedra que descienden con cierta verticalidad hasta el Charco del Hervidero donde se encuentra la cascada con sus dos saltos de agua, también llamada Cascada del Hervidero. El lugar es de gran belleza, pudiendo observar las dos cascadas que descienden pared abajo. Sin lugar a duda es un bello entorno que no debemos dejar de visitar, pues la distancia total es muy corta y fácil de recorrer, incluso con niños, y el río con buenas sombra aquí incita a sentarse sentir el ruido del agua precipitándose mientras nos comemos un bocata. Para la vuelta hay que volver a subir las escaleras y regresar por el mismo itinerario. Sólo un consejo, en verano suele hacer bastante calor y el agua baja escasa, por lo que es recomendable elegir otra estación para el paseo. (Fuente : Zorro Coredero)
Los Kilómetros son más cortos que millas. Ahorre en gasolina, haga su próximo viaje en kilómetros....
The scenery along Lake Superior is some of the best on offer in Canada, the Lake is the world’s biggest in land area at 82,ooo+ square kilometers and third biggest in water volume it is roughly the size of Austria. The Ojibwe the Native people that lived here for millennia named the lake “Gichi-gam” meaning great sea and to most it would have appeared that way, the lake is fed by over 200 rivers and this is one of them called Sand River.
Around 150kms north of Sault Ste. Marie on hwy 17 lies the Pinguisibi river it is the Ojibwa name for the Sand River meaning fine white sand river, it is completely contained in the Lake Superior Provincial Park and offers a great hiking trail with some interesting canoeing if you don’t mind portages. Also located here is the Pinguisibi Trail it is a 6 kilometer hike along the Sand River following the rivers right bank to its source lake or you can just venture as far as I was interested in, the upper falls which you can just see in the distance at the center of the frame.
I took this on Sept 21, 2021 with my D850 and Tamron 24-70 f2.8 G2 Lens at 24mm, 1/50s, f11 ISO 64 processed in LR, PS +Topaz ,and DXO
Disclaimer: My style is a study of romantic realism as well as a work in progress
Just a few kilometers outside of Oranienburg – in the middle of the forest lie the ruins of what used to be one of Germanys most modern Lung clinics, the Lungenheilstätte Grabowsee, most commonly referred to as the Heilstätte Grabowsee. Having survived both the first and second world war and Soviet Occupation, 124 years later it is only a shadow of its former self.
In 2013 the movie 'Monuments Men' was filmed here.
A few kilometers from Tbilisi is the Martkopi monastery founded by St. Anton in the 6th century. Anton spent the last 15 years of his life in Martkopi. He lived as a hermit, what is implied by the "of Martkopi” designation in Georgian. From this designation came the name of the Georgian village Akriani, which initially was called Martodmkopeli and later Martkopi.
The monastery itself is situated on the most beautiful slope of Mount Ialno. The main building is the church of the Divine-Made Icon. The remains of an ancient foundation indicate that on the place of the contemporary cathedral there was an ancient cathedral of greater size, but for some reason in was destroyed. On the threshold of the XVII-XVIII centuries it was reconstructed and the belfry, which was constructed in 1629 by master Akhverd, belongs to this period. In the XVII century the ancient frescos were destroyed and in 1848-1855 under the leadership of Ivane Arjevanidze, the monastery was restored.
For a long time, a Divine-Made image brought by St Anton of Martkopi from Edessa was stored at the monastery. But in 1395 it was lost during the Tamerlane invasion.
The most sacred place of the monastery is the tomb of St Anton of Martkopi, which has been preserved to this day and is considered miraculous. East of the monastery there is a tower where evidently resided the saint.
Famous dates of renowned people of Georgia are associated with the monastery. In this cathedral was married Alexander Chavchavadze, father of Ekaterine Dadiani – the last Queen of Samegrelo, and Nina Chavchavadze-Griboedova.
De Betuweroute is de in 2007 geopende 160 kilometer lange spoorlijn van de Maasvlakte via de Kijfhoek naar de Duitse grens bij Zevenaar. Verreweg het grootste aandeel van het goederenvervoer tussen Nederland en Duitsland maakt gebruik van deze route en ontlast daarmee de routes via Venlo en Bentheim over het gemengde net.
De laatste jaren wordt het traject tussen Meteren en Valburg sporadisch gebruikt door NS International. Bij verstoringen of werkzaamheden tussen Utrecht en Arnhem rijden de ICE-treinen en tevens de Nightjet-treinen van de ÖBB vanaf Utrecht via Geldermalsen, de Betuweroute en Elst naar Arnhem. Het scheelt aanzienlijk in reistijd en kopmaken ten opzichte van de route via 's Hertogenbosch.
Van 6 tot 31 augustus 2022 werkt Prorail aan het spoor bij Ede-Wageningen en worden de internationale treinen via de Betuweroute omgeleid. Vooral de nachttrein vanuit Amsterdam naar Wenen en Innsbruck is dan ook een geliefd foto-object geweest om bij Elst vast te leggen. Dit was dan ook mijn plan voor donderdag 11 augustus, maar helaas bleek de trein 's ochtends in Keulen gestrand te zijn en werd daardoor opgeheven tot Amsterdam.
In eerste instantie werd de vertrekkende trein 's avonds ook opgeheven tussen Amsterdam en Keulen, maar in de middag werd dit ongedaan gemaakt. Het materieel stond daarentegen nog steeds in Keulen. Aan het eind van de middag kwam de melding dat het lege materieel bij Düsseldorf richting Emmerich was gezien. Omdat de vertrekkende Nightjet uit Amsterdam inmiddels een vertraging van +3u50 kreeg, werd verondersteld dat de trein toch eerst leeg naar Amsterdam zou gaan.
Met de auto was Valburg-west het snelst bereikbare fotopunt, maar aangezien de trein er tussen Oberhausen en Emmerich langer over deed dan verwacht werd naar Kesteren doorgereden. Maar goed ook, want de trein reed via Arnhem en zou daardoor bij Valburg op de achterste sporen rijden. Niet veel later kon bij Kesteren de 193 766 van NS met het lege materieel van NJ 420 op weg naar de Watergraafsmeer worden vastgelegd.