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Elephants are the largest living land animals. Three living species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), the African forest elephant (L. cyclotis), and the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). They are the only surviving members of the family Elephantidae and the order Proboscidea; extinct relatives include mammoths and mastodons. Distinctive features of elephants include a long proboscis called a trunk, tusks, large ear flaps, pillar-like legs, and tough but sensitive grey skin. The trunk is prehensile, bringing food and water to the mouth and grasping objects. Tusks, which are derived from the incisor teeth, serve both as weapons and as tools for moving objects and digging. The large ear flaps assist in maintaining a constant body temperature as well as in communication. African elephants have larger ears and concave backs, whereas Asian elephants have smaller ears and convex or level backs.
It is the largest member of the water lily family. The lily pads are up to 8 feet across and the large white to pink blooms are very fragrant, having a sweet pineapple-like scent on the first day of is two day lifecycle. Only blooming for a few days, the flowers will open at night on the first day being white, then turn pink after being fertilized.
Giant Waterlily is one of two species in this genus and is not viviparous, meaning that the seeds do not develop before they detach from the parent plant. It is the largest member of the water lily family. The lily pads are up to 8 feet across and the large white to pink blooms are very fragrant, having a sweet pineapple-like scent on the first day of is two day lifecycle. Only blooming for a few days, the flowers will open at nighttime on the first day being white. When they open on the second night, they will be purple-red color and will have lost their scent.
Its leaves are rounded and upturned. It is supported by a ribbed underside and anchored to a submerged stalk, with the leaf floating on the water surface. The stalks can be up to 26 feet long and in nature will embed themselves in the lake or river bottom. This rapid growing plant can expand by up to 20 inches per day. While the upper surface has water repellent properties, the underside is protected from herbivorous fish by its sharp spines. Air becomes trapped between the ribs on the underside, which keeps it afloat.
Fascinating tidbit ... Beetles attracted by the scent of the white flower the first night are trapped the next day when it closes. Then the plant changes from female to male and produces pollen. Opening the next night as an unscented, red-purple flower, the beetle which is now coated in pollen, is released and flies to the next white flower and repeats the pollination process there.
It is suitable for large water gardens only and grown as an annual without winter protection. It grows best in quiet water as the backwaters of large rivers. In tropical zones, it can be grown as a perennial, where it will grow best when anchored in an organically rich loam. The water temperatures must remain above 75 degrees for the plant to remain as a perennial.
1' to 3' of quiet, still waters are the best growing conditions. In locations that have currents running through, or are subject to heavy winds should be avoided. Seed can be started indoors in containers that are placed in water that has constant temperatures above 80 degrees. Outdoor planting can be done in late spring, when the water temperatures have reached a minimum of 70 degrees. The plants that are grown in containers are placed into the still waters in their containers. In areas that experience cooler winters, the containers can be removed and stored in a greenhouse in anticipation of the next outdoor season.
plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/victoria-amazonica/
Victoria Pool, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami FL
is the largest of all pelicans, with dimensions greater than the common white pelican. It has a wingspan of about 10 feet, making it one of the largest and heaviest flying birds.
Zürich or Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zürich. It is located at the northwestern tip of Lake Zürich. The municipality has approximately 400,000 inhabitants, the urban agglomeration 1.315 million, and the Zurich metropolitan area 1.83 million. Zürich is a hub for railways, roads, and air traffic. Zürich is a leading global city and among the world's largest financial centres despite having a relatively low population. The city is home to a large number of financial institutions and banking giants. Most of Switzerland's research and development centres are concentrated in Zürich and the low tax rates attract overseas companies to set up their headquarters there (see Wikipedia)
Red Deer - Cervus elaphus
In Rut!
The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is one of the largest deer species. The red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, Iran, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being the only species of deer to inhabit Africa. Red deer have been introduced to other areas, including Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Peru, Uruguay, Chile and Argentina. In many parts of the world, the meat (venison) from red deer is used as a food source.
The red deer is the fourth-largest deer species behind moose, elk and sambar deer. It is a ruminant, eating its food in two stages and having an even number of toes on each hoof, like camels, goats and cattle. European red deer have a relatively long tail compared to their Asian and North American relatives. Subtle differences in appearance are noted between the various subspecies of red deer, primarily in size and antlers, with the smallest being the Corsican red deer found on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia and the largest being the Caspian red deer (or maral) of Asia Minor and the Caucasus Region to the west of the Caspian Sea. The deer of central and western Europe vary greatly in size, with some of the largest deer found in the Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe.Western European red deer, historically, grew to large size given ample food supply (including people's crops), and descendants of introduced populations living in New Zealand and Argentina have grown quite large in both body and antler size. Large red deer stags, like the Caspian red deer or those of the Carpathian Mountains, may rival the wapiti in size. Female red deer are much smaller than their male counterparts.
The European red deer is found in southwestern Asia (Asia Minor and Caucasus regions), North Africa and Europe. The red deer is the largest non-domesticated land mammal still existing in Ireland. The Barbary stag (which resembles the western European red deer) is the only member of the deer family represented in Africa, with the population centred in the northwestern region of the continent in the Atlas Mountains. As of the mid-1990s, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria were the only African countries known to have red deer.
In the Netherlands, a large herd (ca. 3000 animals counted in late 2012) lives in the Oostvaarders Plassen, a nature reserve. Ireland has its own unique subspecies. In France the population is thriving, having multiplied fivefold in the last half-century, increasing from 30,000 in 1970 to approximately 160,000 in 2014. The deer has particularly expanded its footprint into forests at higher altitudes than before. In the UK, indigenous populations occur in Scotland, the Lake District, and the South West of England (principally on Exmoor). Not all of these are of entirely pure bloodlines, as some of these populations have been supplemented with deliberate releases of deer from parks, such as Warnham or Woburn Abbey, in an attempt to increase antler sizes and body weights. The University of Edinburgh found that, in Scotland, there has been extensive hybridisation with the closely related sika deer.
Several other populations have originated either with "carted" deer kept for stag hunts being left out at the end of the hunt, escapes from deer farms, or deliberate releases. Carted deer were kept by stag hunts with no wild red deer in the locality and were normally recaptured after the hunt and used again; although the hunts are called "stag hunts", the Norwich Staghounds only hunted hinds (female red deer), and in 1950, at least eight hinds (some of which may have been pregnant) were known to be at large near Kimberley and West Harling; they formed the basis of a new population based in Thetford Forest in Norfolk. Further substantial red deer herds originated from escapes or deliberate releases in the New Forest, the Peak District, Suffolk, Lancashire, Brecon Beacons, and North Yorkshire, as well as many other smaller populations scattered throughout England and Wales, and they are all generally increasing in numbers and range. A census of deer populations in 2007 and again in 2011 coordinated by the British Deer Society records the red deer as having continued to expand their range in England and Wales since 2000, with expansion most notable in the Midlands and East Anglia.
The largest of the terns, about the size of a gull, but a bit more streamlined. They fish by either plunge diving or flying parallel with the water and snatching fish from the surface. You can see part of the nictitating membrane which protects the eye from debris or prey. Its like a clear eyelid which can be drawn across the eyeball.
The Louvre or the Louvre Museum (French: Musée du Louvre, pronounced: [myze dy luvʁ]) (French About this sound (help·info)) is the world's largest museum and a historic monument in Paris, France. A central landmark of the city, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement (district or ward). Approximately 38,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century are exhibited over an area of 72,735 square metres (782,910 square feet).[3] The Louvre is the world's second most visited museum after the Palace Museum in China, receiving more than 9.26 million visitors in 2014.
The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built as a fortress in the late 12th century under Philip II. Remnants of the fortress are visible in the basement of the museum. Due to the urban expansion of the city, the fortress eventually lost its defensive function and, in 1546, was converted by Francis I into the main residence of the French Kings
This is probably the largest specimens of these I've seen, but see the moss for scale - they're still quite tiny. Saw lots of this while we visited Glencoe. Took many photos with 550D, but not happy with any of them, hence Pentax shots here! I fear my trusty wee Optio W10 might be starting to fail. Picture quality is still good, but it keeps re-setting itself to 2006 and is now terribly slow in all aspects. Can't complain, it's nearly 10 years old. (but I do have a spare!)
Unesco site Malbork Castle in northern Poland was built in the 13th century, and is the largest brick castle in the world by land area.
At 2,528 pounds ("the weight of two grizzly bears") this is the largest pumpkin in the world for 2018, and the largest ever grown in North America, Grown by Steve Geddes and Laurel Buccino of Boscawen, New Hampshire. Displayed at the New York Botanical Garden, the Bronx, NYC -- October 26, 2018.
The largest lake of the Teberda National Park (in the past - the reserve) is located in the dormant zone in the upper reaches of the Gonachir Gorge near the famous Klukhor Pass (2781 m), through which the highest mountain section of the Military Sukhumi Road passes.
Lake Kluhor is located at an altitude of 2676 m, in a huge square, among snow and mountain peaks. Dimensions 500 by 400 m, maximum depth about 38 m.
The lake is surrounded on all sides by rocks. It is freed from ice only by mid-summer.
The lake used to be called Kelhara (Black Lake) because of the gloomy, ominous appearance around it.
The waters of the lake are greenish-turquoise with a milky tint.
Самое большое озеро Тебердинского национального парка (в прошлом - заповедник) расположено в зоне покоя в верховьях Гоначхирского ущелья у знаменитого Клухорского перевала (2781 м), через который проходит самый высокогорный участок Военно-Сухумской дороги.
Озеро Клухор находится на высоте 2676 м, в огромном каре, среди снегов и горных вершин. Размеры 500 на 400 м, максимальная глубина около 38 м.
Озеро со всех сторон окружено скалами. Оно освобождается от льда только к середине лета.
Раньше озеро называлось Кельхара (Черное озеро) из-за мрачного, зловещего вида вокруг него.
Воды озера имеют зеленовато-бирюзовый цвет с молочным оттенком.
Britain’s largest social wasp, the European Hornet is native to the UK and Europe, as well as being established in both North and South America - it’s latinate name is Vespa Crabro. A subfamily of the Vespinae, these members are characterised by habits that include chewing up their food to feed to their young, and chewing up materials to create paper-like nests.
Due to their colouring, European hornets are often mistaken for the Asian Giant Hornet - which are a more dangerous species that is not native to the UK. Though we do not know when the first hornet was sighted in the UK, it is believed that the
Due to the unwarranted fear surrounding European hornets, many of their nests in the past have been destroyed - leading to them becoming critically endangered. It is no secret that we need to do more to protect the natural ecosystems and biodiversity that is in place. That is why in some countries like Germany, it is illegal to kill or harm a European wasp nest. Though we don’t have this law in the UK - it signals to us how important it is to protect the decline of these species.
The largest fireworks display in the Midwest blasted off in Columbus during the blue hour. That cast a nice soft light over a lone island on the river which turned into a party of kayakers.
This is the Quire at York Minster, England, the second-largest Gothic cathedral of Northern Europe. The present building was begun in about 1230 and completed in 1472.
The Quire was built between 1361 and the 1420s, although much of the original structure was destroyed in a fire started deliberately on the night of 1 February 1829. The blaze had been started by Jonathan Martin, a frequent visitor to the cathedral at the time, who had attended a service that afternoon and then hidden inside until the building was locked for the night. Martin reportedly used a rope taken from the bell tower to climb into the Quire, before setting the area alight and making his escape through a window. The fire wasn't detected until the following morning, but despite the best efforts of firefighters, the blaze completely destroyed the Quire including its medieval panelling, stalls, roof and the Grand Organ. The instrument is believed to have dated in part from 1632.
It is unclear why Martin started the fire – some suggest he disliked the style of worship at the Minster and others have reported that he claimed to dislike the noise the organ made. He is quoted as saying: "I'll have thee down tonight, thou shalt buzz no more." He was arrested shortly after the fire, declared insane at trial and sent to Bedlam Hospital in London where he spent the rest of his life.
As part of the rebuilding work at the Minster after the fire, a new Grand Organ was commissioned in 1829, and parts of this instrument still exist today. A donation of £3,000 paid for most of the cost of the new organ and its "gingerbread gothic" style case which sits above the Quire Screen.
In 2018 a major 3-year, £2m refurbishment began on the organ, the first on this scale since 1903. The instrument was removed in October 2018 – including nearly all of its 5,403 pipes – and taken to Durham for repair and refurbishment by organ specialists Harrison and Harrison. The majority of the 100 display pipes in the main organ casing will be brought back into use for the first time in more than 100 years. The organ has now been returned to the cathedral and work is underway to rebuild it, ready for completion in spring 2021.
References:
Red Deer - Cervus elaphus
The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is one of the largest deer species. The red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, Iran, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being the only species of deer to inhabit Africa. Red deer have been introduced to other areas, including Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Peru, Uruguay, Chile and Argentina. In many parts of the world, the meat (venison) from red deer is used as a food source.
The red deer is the fourth-largest deer species behind moose, elk and sambar deer. It is a ruminant, eating its food in two stages and having an even number of toes on each hoof, like camels, goats and cattle. European red deer have a relatively long tail compared to their Asian and North American relatives. Subtle differences in appearance are noted between the various subspecies of red deer, primarily in size and antlers, with the smallest being the Corsican red deer found on the islands of Corsica and Sardinia and the largest being the Caspian red deer (or maral) of Asia Minor and the Caucasus Region to the west of the Caspian Sea. The deer of central and western Europe vary greatly in size, with some of the largest deer found in the Carpathian Mountains in Central Europe.Western European red deer, historically, grew to large size given ample food supply (including people's crops), and descendants of introduced populations living in New Zealand and Argentina have grown quite large in both body and antler size. Large red deer stags, like the Caspian red deer or those of the Carpathian Mountains, may rival the wapiti in size. Female red deer are much smaller than their male counterparts.
The European red deer is found in southwestern Asia (Asia Minor and Caucasus regions), North Africa and Europe. The red deer is the largest non-domesticated land mammal still existing in Ireland. The Barbary stag (which resembles the western European red deer) is the only member of the deer family represented in Africa, with the population centred in the northwestern region of the continent in the Atlas Mountains. As of the mid-1990s, Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria were the only African countries known to have red deer.
In the Netherlands, a large herd (ca. 3000 animals counted in late 2012) lives in the Oostvaarders Plassen, a nature reserve. Ireland has its own unique subspecies. In France the population is thriving, having multiplied fivefold in the last half-century, increasing from 30,000 in 1970 to approximately 160,000 in 2014. The deer has particularly expanded its footprint into forests at higher altitudes than before. In the UK, indigenous populations occur in Scotland, the Lake District, and the South West of England (principally on Exmoor). Not all of these are of entirely pure bloodlines, as some of these populations have been supplemented with deliberate releases of deer from parks, such as Warnham or Woburn Abbey, in an attempt to increase antler sizes and body weights. The University of Edinburgh found that, in Scotland, there has been extensive hybridisation with the closely related sika deer.
Several other populations have originated either with "carted" deer kept for stag hunts being left out at the end of the hunt, escapes from deer farms, or deliberate releases. Carted deer were kept by stag hunts with no wild red deer in the locality and were normally recaptured after the hunt and used again; although the hunts are called "stag hunts", the Norwich Staghounds only hunted hinds (female red deer), and in 1950, at least eight hinds (some of which may have been pregnant) were known to be at large near Kimberley and West Harling; they formed the basis of a new population based in Thetford Forest in Norfolk. Further substantial red deer herds originated from escapes or deliberate releases in the New Forest, the Peak District, Suffolk, Lancashire, Brecon Beacons, and North Yorkshire, as well as many other smaller populations scattered throughout England and Wales, and they are all generally increasing in numbers and range. A census of deer populations in 2007 and again in 2011 coordinated by the British Deer Society records the red deer as having continued to expand their range in England and Wales since 2000, with expansion most notable in the Midlands and East Anglia.
Øyer is a municipality in Innlandet county, Norway.
It is located in the traditional district of Gudbrandsdal.
The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Tingberg. The two largest villages in the municipality are Granrudmoen and Tretten.
Here we see the Gudbrandsdalslågen River (or simply Lågen). This river flows through the Gudbrandsdal valley in Innlandet county, Norway.
The North American Beaver is the world’s second largest rodent, weighing up to 32kg (70lbs), and can reach a length of 1 to 1.2 meters (3 to 4ft) including their tail. Their tail, which is flat and paddle-like, can be up to 30 cm (12 inches) long.
They have stout bodies with large heads, long chisel-like incisors, brown or gray fur, hand-like front feet, webbed back feet, and tails that are flat and scaly. Beavers can be found in a number of freshwater habitats, such as rivers, streams, lakes and ponds. They are herbivorous, consuming tree bark, aquatic plants, grasses and sedges.
Beavers can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes underwater. They also have a transparent third eyelid which protects their eyes when swimming underwater. They have ears, although they are relatively small. They are adapted for underwater life, allowing them to hear effectively both in air and water. In fact, their hearing is better underwater, as water is a better conductor of sound than air.
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Le castor d'Amérique du Nord est le deuxième plus grand rongeur au monde, pesant jusqu'à 32 kg (70 lb), et peut atteindre une longueur de 1 à 1,2 mètre (3 à 4 pieds), queue comprise. Sa queue, plate et en forme de pagaie, peut atteindre 30 cm (12 pouces) de long.
Il a un corps trapu avec une grosse tête, de longues incisives en forme de ciseau, une fourrure brune ou grise, des pattes avant en forme de main, des pattes arrière palmées et une queue plate et écailleuse. On trouve le castor dans de nombreux habitats d'eau douce, tels que les rivières, les ruisseaux, les lacs et les étangs. C'est un herbivore qui se nourrit d'écorce d'arbre, de plantes aquatiques, d'herbes et de carex.
Le castor peut retenir sa respiration jusqu'à 15 minutes sous l'eau. Il possède également une troisième paupière transparente qui protège ses yeux lorsqu'il nage sous l'eau. Il possède des oreilles, bien que relativement petites. Ils sont adaptés à la vie sous-marine, ce qui leur permet d'entendre efficacement aussi bien dans l'air que dans l'eau. De fait, leur ouïe est meilleure sous l'eau, car l'eau est un meilleur conducteur du son que l'air.
Minister's Treehouse
Unofficially called the "world's largest treehouse". Built by Horace Burgess.
These photos are from my visit in 2012. The treehouse was closed to the public later that year. Last week the treehouse fell victim to fire and was completely destroyed. The circumstances behind the fire are not currently known.
Crossville, TN
Photographed in Serengeti National Park, Mara Region, Tanzania
=> Please click on the image to see the largest size. <=
Seeing these four very young cheetahs with their mom was the highlight of our several game drives in Serengeti National Park and we felt *extremely* fortunate to see and photograph them.
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From Wikipedia: The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) is a large cat of the subfamily Felinae that occurs in Southern, North and East Africa and and a few localities in Iran. The species is IUCN Red Listed as vulnerable, as it suffered a substantial decline in its historic range in the 20th century due to habitat loss, poaching, illegal pet trade, and conflict with humans. By 2016, the global cheetah population has been estimated at approximately 7,100 individuals in the wild. Several African countries have taken steps to improve cheetah conservation measures.
It is the fastest land animal. The only extant member of the genus Acinonyx, the cheetah was formally described by Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in 1775. The cheetah is characterised by a slender body, deep chest, spotted coat, small rounded head, black tear-like streaks on the face, long thin legs and long spotted tail. Its lightly built, slender form is in sharp contrast with the robust build of the big cats, making it more similar to the cougar. The cheetah reaches nearly 70 to 90 cm (28 to 35 in) at the shoulder, and weighs 21–72 kg (46–159 lb). Though taller than the leopard, it is notably smaller than the lion. Typically yellowish tan or rufous to greyish white, the coat is uniformly covered with nearly 2,000 solid black spots.
Cheetahs are active mainly during the day, with hunting their major activity. Adult males are sociable despite their territoriality, forming groups called coalitions. Females are not territorial; they may be solitary or live with their offspring in home ranges. Carnivores, cheetah mainly prey upon antelopes and gazelles. They will stalk their prey to within 100–300 m (330–980 ft), charge towards it and kill it by tripping it during the chase and biting its throat to suffocate it to death. Cheetahs can reach speeds of 112 km/h (70 mph) in short bursts, but this is disputed by more recent measurements. The average speed of cheetahs is about 64 km/h (40 mph). Cheetahs are induced ovulators, breeding throughout the year. Gestation is nearly three months long, resulting in a litter of typically three to five cubs (the number can vary from one to eight). Weaning occurs at six months; siblings tend to stay together for some time. Cheetah cubs face higher mortality than most other mammals, especially in the Serengeti region. Cheetahs inhabit a variety of habitats – dry forests, scrub forests and savannahs.
Because of its prowess at hunting, the cheetah was tamed and used to kill game at hunts in the past. The animal has been widely depicted in art, literature, advertising and animation.
The cheetah's closest relatives are the cougar (Puma concolor) and the jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi).[These three species together form the Puma lineage, one of the eight lineages of Felidae. The sister group of the Puma lineage is a clade of smaller Old World cats that includes the genera Felis, Otocolobus and Prionailurus.
Although the cheetah is an African cat, molecular evidence indicates that the three species of the Puma lineage evolved in North America two to three million years ago, where they possibly had a common ancestor during the Miocene. They possibly diverged from this ancestor 8.25 million years ago. The cheetah diverged from the puma and the jaguarundi around 6.7 million years ago. A genome study suggests that cheetahs experienced two genetic bottlenecks in their history, the first about 100,000 years ago and the second about 12,000 years ago, greatly lowering their genetic variability. These bottlenecks may have been associated with migrations across Asia and into Africa (with the current African population founded about 12,000 years ago), and/or with a depletion of prey species at the end of the Pleistocene.
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Behind the entrance is a small part of the largest wind energy farms in the world. I like their Rock.
Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in the State of Maine. The southern end is in Greenville. It sits at the southern side of a very large forest which was largely owned by paper companies act one time. This is a sunset taken in mid-July. (image M1A1427) Please also visit: acadiamagic.com.
NOTE: All images are Copyrighted by Greg A. Hartford. No rights to use are given or implied to the viewer. All rights of ownership and use remain with the copyright owner.
The interior of the largest room in the Fleece Inn, Bretforton, Worcestershire, taken from the doorway into it.
The medieval Fleece Inn has one of the best and most authentic pub interiors in the country, little changed since it became a pub in the middle 19th century.
From its original stone floors, and furniture that has warped over time to fit it, grandfather clocks, settles and collections of old serving trays and items of museum quality, the interior of this small pub has remained unchanged, and thankfully, unextended, thanks no doubt to being owned by the National Trust who came into possession of it in 1977 when Lola Taplin, the landlady and last surviving member of the family who had built it 700 years earlier bequeathed it to them on her death.
She requested it should stay the same, even to the upkeep of the medieval 'witches marks' by the fireplace, the circular rings on the floor to scare witches from coming down the chimney. They don't seem to have deterred Lola herself who is reputed to haunt the inn, throwing food and drink over unwelcome customers.
Sestra is a river in the European part of Russia, in the Moscow and Tver regions, the left tributary of the river. Dubna (Volga basin).
It originates among the hills of the Klinsko-Dmitrovskaya ridge not far from the sources of the Klyazma River. It flows into the Dubna River 11 km from its mouth. The length of the river is 138 km, the basin area is 2680 km2 - the largest tributary of the Dubna in terms of basin area and length . All tributaries of the Sestra belong to small rivers and streams, the largest of which are: the right ones - Yakhroma (54 km, 988 km2) and Lutosnya (55 km, 364 km2); the left ones are Krutets (23 km, 166 km2), Yamuga (24 km, 283 km2) and Berezovka (25 km, 86.5 km2). Several ponds and reservoirs have been built on the river - Lake Senezh, ponds of the Senezh fishery, the Klin reservoir and others. In the lower reaches, the Sestra crosses the Moscow Canal; a 40-meter concrete tunnel has been built to pass water, passing under the canal perpendicular to it.
In 1850, the Catherine Canal was opened, connecting the Moscow and Volga rivers, partly the canal passed along the Sestra River (32 km), and partly along the derivation canal along the Sestra River (66.7 km). Part of the Sestra's channel was straightened, 20 wooden and stone sluices were built on it. Unable to withstand competition with the Nikolaev railway from St. Petersburg to Moscow, which opened in 1851, the canal was closed in 1860, the locks were dismantled.
The sister is a flat river with a winding channel, there are straightened sections. Large stones, small rifts, remnants of destroyed dams and piles of destroyed bridges are found in the riverbed. The current speed reaches 0.4 m / s. The channel width in the upper reaches is 10–15 m, the depth is up to 1 m, below the dam of the Klin reservoir, the width is 20–30 m, the depth is up to 1.5 m. In the lower reaches, the width reaches 50 m, the depth is up to 3 m.
The ‘Herbstlabyrinth’, the largest cave system discovered to date in Hesse, has been open to the public since 2009. In total, the halls and corridors of the stalactite cave that have been explored so far are over 13 kilometres long at a depth of around 90 metres. The entrance to the cave is located between the villages of Breitscheid and Erdbach in the Lahn-Dill district.
Hesse, Germany 23.06.2024
www.schauhoehle-breitscheid.de/showcave-in-a-nutshell/
Herbstlabyrinth
Für die Öffentlichkeit zugänglich ist das "Herbstlabyrinth", das größte bislang entdeckten Höhlensystem in Hessen seit 2009. Insgesamt haben die bislang erforschten Hallen und Gänge der Tropfsteinhöhle eine Länge von über 13 Kilometern in einer Tiefe von ca. 90 Metern. Der Eingang zur Höhle befindet sich zwischen den Dörfern Breitscheid und Erdbach im Lahn-Dill-Kreis.
Hessen, Deutschland 23.06.2024
Muscat, Oman.
The Interior of this grand mosque features the world's second largest hand-woven carpet and chandelier.
The reflections were from the shiny floor.
♥ Thank you very much for your visits, faves, and kind comments ♥
Before exploring Lüderitz and Kolmanskop, we drove all the way south to the second largest canyon in the world: Fishriver Canyon. I didn't even know about this canyon before this trip, and since we still had a few days left after our initial rough planning, we both agreed to go there. We looked at the possible accommodations and found a government-run campground on the south side and a lodge on the north rim. As we hadn't read the best things about government-run campsites and were planning to camp most of the time anyway, we opted for the lodge and didn't regret it.
The drive there changed from paved roads to gravel roads, which had some sandy sections the further we got. At one point, we had to drive up a small hill and back down a steeper section that led to a narrow gravel road that crossed a dried up river a few times. We drove on and on, wondering if we were still on the right 'road', but a glance at the offline GPS map showed that we were heading in the right direction. After driving through some really impressive wide open landscapes, we crossed an “airfield” (which was basically a flat gravel field) before finally reaching the parking lot of Fishriver Lodge after a little over 3 hours of driving. As we entered the main building, we noticed the really beautiful glass façade which gave a breathtaking view of the canyon as the lodge is situated right on the canyon rim. We were then asked onto the terrace where we were given a welcome drink, enjoyed the view and thought about using the pool, but we both felt it wasn't quite warm enough (as it was winter there, the temperatures were moderate).
We then checked in, got the keys to our cabin right next to the rim and carried all our stuff from the car to our room (which was quite funny as we had all our stuff in cardboard boxes covered with plastic bags to protect it a bit from the sand that got into the back of our car during the drive, unlike all the other guests who arrived in fancy clothes and with normal suitcases). We then made ourselves a coffee and enjoyed it on our terrace while taking in the stunning views. I then wandered around the area a bit looking for possible sunset compositions, but as the sun got lower, I realized that its angle was far from optimal as the sidelight left most of the canyon in shadow and only illuminated a small upper portion.
At a certain point, I noticed that the colors on the side facing away from the canyon began to explode. I quickly ran to our cabin and told my girlfriend to get her camera. In the rush, we even forgot our tripods, ran around like headless chickens (as Mads Peter Iversen would put it) looking for compositions and found this lone quiver tree. The colors became more and more intense, and I can tell you: I have never seen colors like these before. Apart from one cloud that I cloned out as it was right behind the tree, I didn't edit this image at all (which is quite rare as raw files are usually very flat and require some contrast adjustments). The show went on for quite a long time as there were no mountains in the distance that could block the sunlight, but eventually we went to dinner and enjoyed one of the best meals we had on this trip. After dinner, we went back to our room and realized that the curtains were different than when we left. We thought that someone might have broken into our room, but when we went to bed we realized that the staff had brought warm water bottles as it can get chilly at night (which they hadn't told us). With that, we ended our day and couldn't be happier as we stood right on the edge of the second largest canyon in the world and witnessed one of the most colorful sunsets we had ever seen. I hope you like it!
The Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus) is the largest of the eight pelican species, averaging 10-15 kg in weight, 160-190 cm in length, and over 3m in wingspan. The Dalmatian Pelican differs from the Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) in that it has curly nape feathers, grey legs and greyish-white (rather than pure white) plumage. It has a red lower mandible in the breeding season.
It breeds from southeastern Europe to Central Asia in swamps and shallow lakes.
There are around 1,000 breeding pairs in Europe, most of them in Ukraine, Russia, Greece, Romania (Danube Delta), Bulgaria and Albania (Karavasta Lagoon).
This pelican migrates short distances. In flight, it is an elegant soaring bird, with the flock moving in synchrony. The neck is then held back like a heron. As is well known, pelicans catch fish and small birds in their huge bill pouches.
Like the White Pelican, this species has declined greatly through habitat loss and persecution.
Kroeskoppelikaan in de dierentuin van Antwerpen, België
De kroeskoppelikaan (Pelcanus crispus) is de grootste van de acht pelikaansoort, gemiddeld 10 à 15 kg in gewicht, 160 à 190 cm in lengte, en meer dan 3 meter vleugelspanwijdte. Deze pelikaan verschilt van de roze pelikaan (Pelecanus onocrotalus) door de krullende nekveren, de grijze poten en het grijs-witte verenkleed (in plaats van wit-roze). In het broedseizoen is de ondersnavel rood.
De kroeskoppelikaan broedt in zuidoost Europa tot in centraal Azië in moerassen en bij ondiepe meren. Er zijn ongeveer 1.000 broedparen in Europa, de meeste van hen in Oekraïne, Rusland, Griekenland, Roemenië (Donaudelta), Bulgarije en Albanië (Karavasta Lagoon).
Het is een elegant stijgende vogel, en vliegt vaak synchroon in grote zwermen op zoek naar vissen. De hals wordt als een reiger ingetrokken. Als de pelikanen een school vissen hebben gevonden, steken ze de snavel in het water. De vissen kunnen aan de wand van de opengesperde snavels lastig ontsnappen en zitten zo in de val. Met de grote keelzak, met een inhoud van twaalf liter, scheppen ze zo vis uit het water. Met de haakvormige punt aan de snavel wordt de vis vastgehouden, die daarna in de lucht wordt gegooid, in de keelzak weer wordt opgevangen en vervolgens ingeslikt. Ook eten pelikanen kleine vogels.
Net als bij de roze pelikaan is het leefgebied voor de kroeskoppelikaan sterk kleiner geworden door overbevissing en vervolging.
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All rights reserved . Copyright © Martien Uiterweerd. All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission.
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The Eurasian Eagle Owl or sometimes European Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo) is one of the largest owls in the world. This species has an extremely large range, one of the largest ranges of any eagle-owl, being found across much of Europe, through the Middle East, India, Russia and Asia, and as far east as China, Korea and Japan, as well as on the north of the African continent.
Eagle Owls occupy a variety of habitats, from coniferous forests to warm deserts. Rocky landscapes are often favoured.
The Eurasian eagle-owl is an impressive and majestic bird, with distinctive prominent ear-tufts, a barrel-shaped body, and vivid orange eyes. The plumage is brown-black , paler on the underparts, and heavily mottled and streaked with black. The bird has a wingspan of up to 138-200 cm and measures 58-75 cm long. Females weigh 1.75-4.2 kg and males weigh 1.5-3.2 kg.
The call of the Eagle Owl is a deep monotonous "oohu-oohu-oohu". The female's call is slightly higher than the male's. In Germany, the name of this bird is "Uhu", in the Netherlands “Oehoe”.
Eagle Owls have various hunting techniques, and will take prey on the ground or in full flight. Usually most active at dawn and dusk. They may hunt in forests, but prefer open spaces.
The eagle owl mainly feeds on small mammals in the 0.2-2.5 kg weight range, such as voles, rats, mice, rabbits, hares and fish, but birds of all kinds are also taken.
Eurasian Eagle Owls may live more than 60 years in captivity. In the wild, about 20 years may be the maximum. The leading causes of death for this species are man-made: electrocution, traffic accidents and shooting sometimes claim the eagle owl.
This picture of Svenja, the euarasian eagle owl, was taken during a raptor show in the butterfly house "Vlindervallei", part of the Orchideeënhoeve (Orchid Farm) in Luttelgeest, Netherlands.
De oehoe (Bubo bubo) is een van de grootste uilensoorten ter wereld. De naam van de vogel heeft deze te danken aan zijn roepgeluid. De roep van de Oehoe is een diepe monotone "oohu-oohu-oohu". Vooral in de late winter laat het mannetje zijn imposante "Oehoe"-roep horen.
De oehoe heeft een enorm groot verspreidingsgebied en wordt aangetroffen in grote del van Europa, bijna geheel Azië, en verder in het uiterste noorden van het Afrikaanse continent, waar de oehoe overgaat in Afrikaanse soorten.
In Nederland broeden oehoes in het wild in Limburg en de Achterhoek; in België in de Ardennen.
De oehoe is door zijn grootte, zijn massieve lichaam en dikke kop met geen andere uilensoort in Europa te verwarren.
Kenmerkend aan het gezicht van de oehoe zijn de grote ogen en de vaak lange oorpluimen. De oorpluimen zijn overwegend zwart van kleur en worden gevormd door een groepje veren die door een aparte spier op het hoofd worden bewogen. De ogen zijn fel oranje. De snavel is zwart en ligt verzonken in een keelplooi.
Het verenkleed is overwegend geel-bruin van kleur met zwarte accenten. De zwarte accenten treden op de rug en de bovenzijde van de vleugels het meest naar voren. Op de borst is het verenkleed kenmerkend okergeel gekleurd.
De vogel heeft een vleugelspanwijdte van maximaal 138 tot 200 cm en is 60 à 70 cm hoog. Vrouwtjes wegen 1,75 à 4,2 kg en mannetjes wegen 1,5 à 3,2 kg.
Oehoes hebben verschillende jachttechnieken, en zal jagen vanaf gedekte uitkijkplaatsen, op de grond of in volle vlucht. Meestal is de vogel actief bij zonsopgang en zonsondergang. Oehoes voeden zich met kleine zoogdieren van 0,2 à 2,5 kg, zoals veldmuizen, ratten, muizen, konijnen en hazen maar ook vissen en vogels die ze in volle vlucht of op hun slaapplaatsen overvallen.
Oehoes kunnen in gevangenschap meer dan 60 jaar leven. In het wild is circa 20 jaar het maximum.
Deze opname van oehoe Svenja is gemaakt tijdens een roofvogelshow in de overdekte vlindertuin, de 'Vlindervallei', deel van de Orchideeenhoeve in Luttelgeest (Flevoland).
De roofvogelshow werd verzorgd door valkerij de Valkenhof uit Aalten (Gld).
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All rights reserved. Copyright © Martien Uiterweerd (Foto Martien). All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission.
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Vatnajökull is the largest glacier in Iceland and also - outside the polar region - the largest in Europe. A plateau glacier in the south-east of the country.
Area around 7,700 km², about 8% of the area of Iceland. The volume of ice is estimated at over 3,000 km³.
Some of the island's most active volcanoes lie beneath the glacier and between them is a valley about 500 to 800 m deep.
The thickness of the ice layer is up to 1,000m.
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Der Vatnajökull ist der größte Gletscher Islands und - außerhalb der Polarregion - auch der größte in Europa. Ein Plateaugletscher im Südosten des Landes.
Seine Fläche beträgt rund 7 700 km², was etwa 8% der Fläche Islands entspricht. Das Volumen des Eises wird auf über 3.000 km³ geschätzt.
Unter dem Gletscher liegen einige der aktivsten Vulkane der Insel, zwischen denen sich ein etwa 500 - 800m tiefes Tal befindet.
Die Eisschicht beträgt bis zu 1.000 m.
Northern gannets are the largest seabirds in the North Atlantic, having a wingspan of up to 2 m (6.6 ft). The other two species occur in the temperate seas around southern Africa, southern Australia, and New Zealand.
Gannets hunt fish by diving into the sea from a height and pursuing their prey underwater, and have a number of adaptations:
They have no external nostrils; they are located inside the mouth, instead.
They have air sacs in the face and chest under the skin, which act like bubble wrap, cushioning the impact with the water.
• The position of their eyes is far enough forward on the face for binocular vision, allowing them to judge distances accurately.
Gannets can dive from a height of 30 m (100 ft), achieving speeds of 100 km/h (60 mph) as they strike the water, enabling them to catch fish at a much greater depth than most airborne birds
The common ostrich (Struthio camelus), or simply ostrich, is a species of large flightless bird native to Africa.
One of the world’s most distinctive birds, the ostrich, is also the largest. Ostriches are found exclusively in Africa and are the planet’s heaviest birds. They are generally quiet animals, although they will make an echoing “booming” noise when their females or territories are imperiled.
The flightless ostrich has wings with flight feathers that no longer serve their original purpose. They have evolved powerful, elongated legs, which they use to run and fend off predators. Each foot contains two toes, and one kick packs enough force to kill a lion or human. Amazingly, an ostrich has a maximum top speed of 45 miles per hour, which it can maintain for up to 30 minutes. Their long necks enable them to sight enemies from a great distance, and they often serve as early warning systems for other plains animals. True to myth, they sometimes flatten their heads to the ground when approached, but do not actually bury their heads in the sand.
This very handsome female Ostrich was captured busy feeding during a game drive in Nairobi National Park, Kenya.
The Kiang is the largest of the wild asses, with an average shoulder height of 13.3 hands (55 inches, 140 cm). It has a large head, with a blunt muzzle and a convex nose. The mane is upright and relatively short. The coat is a rich chestnut colour, darker brown in winter and a sleek reddish brown in late summer, molting its woolly fur. The summer coat is 1.5 centimeters long and the winter coat is double the length. The legs, undersides and ventral part of the nape, end of the muzzle, and the inside of the pinnae are all white. A broad, dark chocolate-coloured dorsal stripe extends from the mane to the end of the tail, which ends in a tuft of blackish brown hairs. Kiang have very slight sexual dimorphism.
The only real predator other than humans is the wolf. Kiangs defend themselves by forming a circle and, with heads down kick out violently. As a result wolves usually attack single animals who have strayed from the group.
See my "About" page on Flickr for the link to support my efforts... just the price of a cup of coffee is appreciated. Thank you. www.flickr.com/people/jax_chile/
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Thanks for your visit, FAVs, and comments, I truly appreciate it!
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Rosas de Santa Gemita - 122721 - Enhanced-5
Our largest and most common bee-fly, the dark-edged bee-fly looks just like a bumblebee, and buzzes like one too! It feeds on flowers like primroses and violets in gardens, parks and woodlands.
The jaguar (Panthera onca) is the largest cat in tropical America and in the world the third largest cat after the tiger and lion.
The jaguar's present range extends from the U.S.-Mexico border across much of Central America and south to Paraguay and northern Argentina, particularly in the Amazon basin.
This spotted cat most closely resembles the leopard physically, although it is usually larger and of sturdier build and its behavioural and habitat characteristics are closer to those of the tiger.
The rosettes on a jaguar's coat are larger, fewer in number, usually darker, and have thicker lines and small spots in the middle that the leopard lacks.
While dense rainforest is its preferred habitat, the jaguar will range across a variety of forested and open terrains. It is strongly associated with the presence of water and is notable, along with the tiger, as a feline that enjoys swimming.
The jaguar is largely a solitary, opportunistic, stalk-and-ambush predator at the top of the food chain. Jaguars are powerfully built, with large, square jaws. Jaguars have lean bodies and muscular limbs. They are built for power, not speed, although they can run briefly. Height at the shoulder may be up to 75 cm. Body length is 130 to 190 cm long with a tail of 45 to 75 cm. Jaguars weigh between 65 and 125 kg. Base coat colors range from pale yellow to reddish brown, with black, rosette-shaped spots.
They may also be black (a melanistic form), but then, despite being the same species, are often called panthers. These jaguars have a base coat color of black with black spots that are usually dimly visible against the black background. Black jaguars are more common in forested habitats.
De grootste kat van het Amerikaanse continent is de jaguar (Panthera onca). Na de tijger en de leeuw is deze kat de derde grootste van de wereld.
De jaguar heeft een groot leefgebied dat zich uitstrekt van de Amerikaans-Mexicaanse grens via Midden-Amerika tot in Paraguay en Noord-Argentinië in Zuid-Amerika.
In het Amazonegebied komen de meeste jaguars voor.
De jaguar lijkt oppervlakkig sterk op de luipaard of panter, maar is meestal groter en zwaarder gebouwd. De vlekken (rozetten) op de vacht van een jaguar zijn ook groter, minder in aantal, meestal donkerder, en hebben dikkere lijnen en kleine vlekjes in het midden, die bij de luipaarden ontbreken.
Het gedrag en de leefgebieden van jaguars zijn dichter bij die van tijgers. Jaguars leven vooral in tropische bossen, maar ook in meer open terreinen, mits er genoeg dekking is van gras en rotsen tijdens het jagen. Ze hebben net als tijgers een voorkeur voor waterrijke gebieden. Ze zijn ook niet bang voor water en kunnen goed zwemmen. Vrijwel ieder dier dat in het leefgebied van de jaguar voorkomt, vormt een potentiële prooi voor dit roofdier. De solitair levende jaguar is vooral in de ochtend- en avondschemering actief.
Jaguars zijn krachtig gebouwd met grote sterke kaken. De poten zijn relatief kort, maar erg sterk. De staart zorgt voor evenwicht bij het springen. De vacht is lichtgeel tot roodbruin met zwarte rozetten, ronde of ovale vlekken met daarin één of twee donkere stippen. Midden op de rug verandert de rij zwarte vlekken soms in een doorlopende lijn. De hoogte bij de schouder kan oplopen tot 75 cm. De lichaamslengte is 130 à 190 cm met een staart van 50 à 75 cm. Jaguars wegen tussen de 65 en 125 kg.
Naast de hiervoor beschreven lichtgeel tot roodbruin kleur is er ook een melanistische (zwarte) variant, waarbij de vlekken wel te zien zijn in de zon. Ondanks dat het dezelfde soort betreft, worden de zwarte jaguars vaak onjuist panters genoemd. Zwarte jaguars komen wat meer voor in bosrijke gebieden.
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All rights reserved. Copyright © Martien Uiterweerd. All my images are protected under international authors copyright laws and may not be downloaded, reproduced, copied, transmitted or manipulated without my written explicit permission.
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The world’s largest limestone mine..In Mønsted Limestone Caves there are more than 60 kilometres of underground paths. Some are as large as cathedrals and others are so narrow that a grown man cannot walk through them upright...From late medieval times until the 1820´s no big changes took place in the caves. From a hole formed like a shaft you gained access to the limestone. A ”hewer” loosened the limestone and the ”carriers” transported the stone to the field above.
The ”hewer” used the loosened limestone as a platform and so the tunnel often reached a height of several meters. Only big limestones were removed. Limestone debris and flints were left as a growing heap on the floor of the tunnel. As time passed, the carriers had to stoop in a narrow tunnel surrounded by heaps of flints.
Largest private collection of steam locomotives in the world.
No.1293 was built in June 1948 and weighs 117 tons. The G-5 class of 4-6-2 Pacific type steam locomotives were constructed after World War II to pull passenger and freight trains on the Canadian Pacific Railway’s branch and secondary lines. The G-5’s basic dimensions were patterned after an earlier CP design, but these 102 upgraded 4-6-2s were equipped with the latest improvements, innovations and appliances then available.
The G-5’s were built by three different manufacturers into 1948, with G-5-d No.1293 being constructed in June of that year by Canadian Locomotive Company in Kingston, Ontario. However new and efficient these Pacifics were, all would be out of work within a decade as dieselization spread across the Dominion. Retired in 1959, No.1293 was placed in storage with numerous other locomotives waiting their turns to be cut up for scrap metal. (Age of Steam Roundhouse Museum)
What connects Earth’s largest, hottest desert to its largest tropical rain forest?
The Sahara, the largest hot desert in the world, is also the largest source of aeolian mineral dust in the world. The desert spans just over 9 million square kilometers, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, from the Mediterranean sea to the Niger River valley and the Sudan region in the south.
Marine bacteria and phytoplankton require small amounts of the micronutrient iron, which can be supplied by transport of Saharan dust. Half of all ocean dust comes from the Sahara.
Saharan dust has also been found to travel to the Amazon basin, as well as to glaciers on the poles. For the Amazon basin, the soil is limited in phosphorus. Saharan dust is a main source of phosphorus for the rainforests. This dust has also impacted ecosystems in the southeastern United States and the Caribbean by supplying limiting nutrients, and in some cases promoting soil development on land. Saharan dust has even been found on glaciers.
(It all reminds me very much of the "Dust" in the Phillip Pullman series. Our planet is simply miraculous!)
The largest colony of blue herons in Amsterdam you can find in the Amsterdam Zoo, Artis. During the breeding season, the colony counts about 400 birds, a true spectacle to watch.
Built in 1920s, this square building covers a whole city block with a large court yard within. It houses world's largest spice market.
Lewa Wildlife Conservancy
Kenya
East Africa
The Grévy's zebra (Equus grevyi), also known as the imperial zebra, is the largest living wild equid and the largest and most threatened of the three species of zebra, the other two being the plains zebra and the mountain zebra. Named after Jules Grévy, it is the sole extant member of the subgenus Dolichohippus. Grévy's zebra is found in Kenya and Ethiopia.
Compared with other zebras, it is tall, has large ears, and its stripes are narrower.
The Grévy's zebra lives in semi-arid grasslands where it feeds on grasses, legumes, and browse; it can survive up to five days without water. It differs from the other zebra species in that it does not live in harems and has few long-lasting social bonds. Male territoriality and mother–foal relationships form the basis of the social system of the Grévy's zebra.
This zebra is considered to be endangered. Its population has declined from 15,000 to 3,000 since the 1970s. However, as of 2008, the population is stable.- Wikipedia
The largest castle in Iran & largest mud brick castle in the world .
The real name of this caste had been Varna / From late of Parthian and early of Sassanian eras / This castle ruins is located to the north-east of Varamin and near Ja'far Abad village. This rectangular structure is made of mud and sun baked bricks. The height of walls 22m and width of walls max 17m. /length & width of castle 1440 m*1280 m /
About Iraj name : Iraj is a character in Persian epic Shahnameh. He is the youngest son of Fereydun and eventually inherits the throne of Iran when Fereydun breaks his kingdom among his three sons. The older brothers, Salm and Tur, become jealous of Iraj and eventually murder him. On base of Shahnameh's epic Iranian people are from Iraj's race.
قلعه ایرج بزرگترین قلعه ایرانزمین و بزرگترین قلعه خشت و گلی در دنیا میباشد.
این قلعه باستانی زمانی بزرگترین مرکز دفاعی منظقه البرز میانی بوده ...ما ایرانیان این قلعه رو به نام قلعه ایرج میشناسیم بر اساس داستانهای اسطوره ای ایرانزمین ایرانیان از نسل ایرج که فرزند کوچک فریدون بود هستند کسی که برادرانش سلم و تور (تورج) به خاطر حسادت و توجه پدر او را کشتند. نام اصلی این قلعه تو برخی نوشته ها "وارنا" بوده که "وندیداد" نیز میگفتند این اسامی در اوستا آمده و وندیداد به معنی "ضد دیو" میباشد.
ارتفاع این قلعه به 22 متر و پهنا دیوارها تا 17 متر است و ابعاد این قلعه 1440*1280 میباشد
گفته میشود تا 5000 سرباز میتوانستند در این قلعه اسکان داده شوند تا از یکی از مناطق مهم آن زمان یعنی ری و مناطق اطراف آن دفاع کنند.
خرابه های این قلعه در شرق شهر ورامین دیده میشود این قلعه در صورت توجه به یکی از جاذبه های ایران میتواند تبدیل شود ...هم اکنون داخل و اطرافش کشاورزان به کشاورزی مشغول هستند و متاسفانه برخی سودجویاد آثار فرهنگی ایران صدماتی به این قلعه وارد کرده اند که برخی قابل جبران نمیباشند
"""از چهار دروازه تنها دروازه اصلي که در شمال شرقي اين گنجينه عظيم واقع شده هنوز پس از گذشت قرنها پايدار باقي مانده است . در ونديداد آمده است : « اهورا مزدا گفت آفريدم قلعه اي چهار گوش با نام وارنا » .کارشناسان و متخصصان تاريخي اين قلعه را همان قلعه ايرج ورامين مي دانند"""".