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#262 in interestingness (Explore, 10 February 2009).
Wild Pride
Olympus E-3
ZD 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 ED SWD
Aperture Priority Mode
f/8
ISO 100
97mm
1/320
Metering: Matrix
White Balance: Shade
No Photoshop
No HDR
Le Cap Taillat
Area naturale protetta dal Conservatoire du Littoral, Ramatuelle, France.
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Protected area by the Conservatoire du Littoral, Ramatuelle, France.
Spessart, Bayern - Alter Buchen-Eichenwald im Naturwaldreservat Rohrberg in der Dämmerung. Auch die Reservate Metzger und Eichenhall beherbergen sehr naturnahe Wälder. Umweltschützer fordern die Einrichtung eines Nationalparks im Hochspessart, um sämtliche Altwälder zu erhalten und die bestehenden Schutzgebiete besser zu vernetzen. Doppelbelichtung. (c) Matthias Schickhofer
Captured in the heart of Valmasque Valley within Mercantour National Park, this solitary Alpine ibex stands proudly on the rugged terrain. Surrounded by boulders and dry alpine grass, it gazes toward the lens with quiet strength. The scene reflects the raw beauty and resilience of wildlife thriving in high-altitude environments. A perfect glimpse into the untamed soul of the French Alps.
Great Falls is a natural set of waterfalls on the Potomac River. This photograph was taken from the Virginia side of the falls, facing Maryland. The falls are accessible from Virginia via Great Falls Park, part of the George Washington Memorial Parkway, administered by the National Park Service.
The falls are part of a greater geological phenomenon known as the "fall line," which divides the Appalachian piedmont from the Atlantic coastal plain. The fall line runs south from New York, closely paralleling Interstate 95, for hundreds of miles. Where the line crosses a river, there are invariably waterfalls present, as a result of the abrupt change in rock composition and elevation. An example of another such waterfall is Great Falls on the Passaic River in Paterson, New Jersey.
It is not a coincidence that Interstate 95 runs along the fall line. A number of the major cities that the highway connects have developed along the line, as the line typically marks the point beyond which the rivers are no longer navigable from the Ocean. Cities that developed along the fall line include Trenton (NJ), Philadelphia (PA), Washington (DC), Fredericksburg (VA), Richmond (VA), Petersburg (VA), Roanoke Rapids (NC), Raleigh (NC), Fayetteville (NC), Columbia (SC), Augusta (GA), Macon (GA), Columbus (GA), Montgomery (AL) and Tuscaloosa (AL).
Photo and graphics by Kevin Borland.
A pair of adult Aleutian Terns on Glacier Bay, Alaska on 19 July 2016. This species has a limited range in North America, being seen only along the central coast of Alaska.
Kittlitz's Murrelet, Glacier Bay, Alaska. 19 July 2016.
Yumi Arimitsu identified the prey as a lantern fish (aka the uber fatty Myctophid!); and notes that this mesopelagic fish is typically much deeper in the water column (200-600 m) during the day but near the glaciers it occurs near the surface because there's no light in the turbid waters. The vast majority of Myctophids in Glacier Bay are Northern Lampfish.
Kittlitz's Murrelet is one of the World's rarest seabirds -- with the total population numbering just 30-50,000. It is also a species at risk, as glaciers rapidly melt and their critical habitat is lost.
Glacier Bay, Alaska is the best place in the world to view numbers of Kittliz's Murrelets, and late July generally sees the highest numbers.
In the pristine heights of Valmasque Valley, a chamois stands poised on a grassy ledge, overlooking the rocky slopes and shimmering alpine lake below. With its curved horns and agile frame, this mountain dweller embodies the grace and resilience of alpine wildlife. The clear blue sky and rugged terrain frame a moment of quiet majesty in Mercantour National Park—a place where nature reigns and solitude speaks.
In the dramatic heights of Valmasque Valley, Mercantour National Park reveals its wild soul. A lone Alpine ibex climbs confidently across the rocky slope, framed by a deep blue alpine lake and towering cliffs. This image captures the essence of mountain life—resilient, untamed, and breathtakingly beautiful. The clear sky and rugged terrain highlight the harmony between wildlife and the raw alpine landscape. A tribute to nature’s quiet strength in the heart of the French Alps.
© Ben Heine || Facebook || Twitter || www.benheine.com
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This is a photo I took in one of the Forests of the "Mont Saint-Hilaire" in Canada. Mont Saint-Hilaire is a steep-sided circular formation rising some 250 meters above the Saint Lawrence plain. It comprises one of the last remnants of old growth deciduous forest in Quebec and hosts many rare and endangered species. It is located about 32 km east of Montreal. The biosphere reserve is located near a major urban region of some 3.5 million people. Increasing urban development around Mont Saint-Hilaire and a growing number of visitors has led to the multiplication of human disturbances and fragmentation of the forest which once covered the entire Richelieu Valley. The protection of the greenbelt and forest corridors which surround Mount Saint-Hilaire is one of the main goals of the biosphere reserve. (Text's source: www.unesco.org)
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For more information about my art: info@benheine.com
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Tronco viejo por las hachas hendido.
Todos te creían ya podrido.
Hoy te encuentro renacido.
Irrigado por el mayo de las lluvias.
Incubado por un sol de exuberancias.
Y gestando nuevos hijos...
Camino del Valle del Tetero, provincia de La Vega.
Olympus E-3
ZD 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 ED SWD
Aperture Priority Mode
f/4
ISO 100
20mm
1/400
Metering: Matrix
White Balance: Shade
No Photoshop
No HDR
The U.S. National World War II Memorial is a National Memorial dedicated to Americans who served in the armed forces and as civilians during World War II. Consisting of 56 pillars and a pair of arches surrounding a plaza and fountain, it is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on the former site of the Rainbow Pool at the eastern end of the Reflecting Pool, between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.
Pictured is the fountain at the center of the Memorial, as seen from the Atlantic archway entrance.
Photo by Kevin Borland. Portions of text derived from Wikipedia.
The Pitt Polder Ecological Reserve is a protected 88‑hectare site near the south end of Pitt Lake in Pitt Meadows, established in 1980 to preserve a rare fragment of Fraser Valley bogland. It safeguards unique wetland plants, granite outcrops, and wildlife, and is open for low‑impact activities like hiking, birdwatching, and photography.
Grant Narrows Regional Park is the southern gateway to Pitt Lake and the Pitt‑Addington Marsh Wildlife Management Area, offering boat access, birdwatching, and scenic dyke trails. Located in north Pitt Meadows, it’s a key launch point for exploring one of BC’s richest wetland ecosystems
Thank you kindly for visiting—faves and comments are always deeply appreciated. ~Sonja
A "Senda de la Laguna Grande" é um percurso pedestre sinalizado na Serra de Gredos, na província de Ávila, Espanha, que faz parte da rede de Pequenos Percursos homologados. Este trilho é a principal via de acesso ao circo glaciar modelado durante o Quaternário, onde se encontra a Lagoa Grande e o pico Almanzor, o ponto mais alto do Sistema Central. Apesar de ser maio, a altitude e a orientação das encostas mantêm neve compacta, refletindo as rigorosas condições climáticas da alta montanha. A vegetação predominante, composta por piornos (Cytisus oromediterraneus), é adaptada ao frio e ao vento, sendo essencial para a estabilização do solo granítico. A sinalética em madeira, importante para a segurança dos caminhantes, orienta-os através de uma paisagem que pode mudar repentinamente. Além da beleza natural, a Serra de Gredos destaca-se pela biodiversidade, com espécies endémicas como a cabra-montesa, e oferece aos visitantes oportunidades para explorar a riquíssima história natural da região.
The "Senda de la Laguna Grande" is a marked hiking trail in the Sierra de Gredos, in the province of Ávila, Spain, that is part of the approved network of Small Trails. This trail is the main access route to the glacial cirque shaped during the Quaternary, where the Laguna Grande and the Almanzor peak, the highest point of the Central System, are located. Despite being May, the altitude and orientation of the slopes maintain compact snow, reflecting the rigorous climatic conditions of high mountains. The predominant vegetation, composed of gorse (Cytisus oromediterraneus), is adapted to cold and wind, playing a crucial role in stabilizing the granitic soil. The wooden signage, important for the safety of hikers, guides them through a landscape that can change suddenly. In addition to its natural beauty, the Sierra de Gredos is known for its biodiversity, featuring endemic species such as the Spanish ibex, and provides visitors with opportunities to explore the rich natural history of the region.