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In 1579 the northern seven provinces signed the Union of Utrecht, in which they decided to join forces against Spanish rule. The Union of Utrecht is seen as the beginning of the Dutch Republic. In 1580 the new and predominantly Protestant state abolished the bishoprics, including the archbishopric of Utrecht. The stadtholders disapproved of the independent course of the Utrecht bourgeoisie and brought the city under much more direct control of the republic; which shifted the power towards its dominant province Holland. This was the start of a long period of stagnation of trade and development in Utrecht. Utrecht remained an atypical city in the new republic with about 40% Catholic in the mid-17th-century, and even more among the elite groups, who included many rural nobility and gentry with town houses there.
The fortified city temporarily fell to the French invasion in 1672 (the Disaster Year); where the French invasion was only stopped west of Utrecht at the Old Hollandic Waterline. In 1674, only two years after the French left, the centre of Utrecht was struck by a tornado. The halt to building before construction of flying buttresses in the 15th century now proved to be the undoing of the central section of the cathedral of St Martin church which collapsed; creating the current Dom square between the tower and choir. In 1713, Utrecht hosted one of the first international peace negotiations when the Treaty of Utrecht settled the War of the Spanish Succession. Since 1723 Utrecht became the centre of the non-Roman Old Catholic Churches in the world.
One of the provinces closest to Panama City is Coclé, characterized by its varied landscapes offering both mountains and sea. The province is distinguished by a mixture of coastal plains, rolling hills, and mountainous regions, including parts of the Central Mountain Range.
This collection of photographs offers a look at this province from atop its valleys. The images feature marvelous clouds of grey tones, heralding the arrival of winter, better known as the rainy season. In addition, there's an abundance of lush vegetation and pleasant weather; the altitude provides coolness, but if desired, the beach is just minutes away. Water in the sky and on the earth is welcome; in its rawest forms, it always looks beautiful.
Italien / Trentino - Gardasee
seen from Monte Altissimo di Nago
gesehen vom Monte Altissimo di Nago
Lake Garda (Italian: Lago di Garda [ˈlaːɡo di ˈɡarda] or (Lago) Benaco [beˈnaːko]; Eastern Lombard: Lach de Garda; Venetian: Ƚago de Garda; Latin: Benacus; Ancient Greek: Βήνακος) is the largest lake in Italy. It is a popular holiday location in northern Italy, about halfway between Brescia and Verona, and between Venice and Milan on the edge of the Dolomites. Glaciers formed this alpine region at the end of the last Ice Age. The lake and its shoreline are divided between the provinces of Verona (to the south-east), Brescia (south-west), and Trentino (north). The name Garda, which the lake has been referred to in documents dating to the 8th century, comes from the town of the same name. It is evolved from the Germanic word warda, meaning "place of guard", "place of observation" or "place of safety".
Geography
The northern part of the lake is narrower, surrounded by mountains, the majority of which belong to the Gruppo del Baldo. The shape is typical of a moraine valley, probably having been formed under the action of a Paleolithic glacier. Although traces of the glacier's actions are evident today, in more recent years it has been hypothesised that the glacier occupied a previously existing depression, created by stream erosion 5 to 6 million years ago.
The lake has numerous small islands and five main ones, the largest being Isola del Garda, where, in 1220 St. Francis of Assisi founded a monastery. In its place now stands a 19th-century building in the Venetian Gothic style. Nearby to the south is Isola San Biagio, also known as the Isola dei Conigli ("Island of the Rabbits"). Both are offshore of San Felice del Benaco, on the lake's western side. The three other main islands are Isola dell'Olivo, Isola di Sogno, and Isola di Trimelone, all farther north near the eastern side. The main tributary is the Sarca River, others include the Ponale River (fed by Lago di Ledro), the Varone/Magnone River (via the Cascate del Varone) and various streams from both mountainsides, while the only outlet is the Mincio River (79 metres (259 ft), at Peschiera). The subdivision is created by the presence of a fault submerged between Sirmione and Punta San Vigilio which is almost a natural barrier that hampers the homogenization between the water of the two zones.
If the water level of the Adige river is excessive, water is diverted to the lake through the Mori-Torbole tunnel.
History
Battle of Lake Benacus, in which Roman forces defeated the Alamanni on the shores of Lake Garda, in the year 268.
Battle between Milan and Venetian Republic in 1438 following the military engineering feat of galeas per montes.
Battle of Rivoli, in 1797 during the French campaign of Napoleon I in Italy against Austria.
Battle of Solferino in 1859, during the Italian Risorgimento. The terrible aftermath of this battle led to the Geneva Convention and the formation of the Red Cross.
The lake was the site of naval battles in 1866 between Italy and Austria.
As persuaded by the Nazis, Benito Mussolini established the capital of his Italian Social Republic in late 1943 in a villa in the town of Salò on its shores. It served as a nexus for military operations and communications for German troops who occupied northern Italy in late 1943 during World War II.
Mythology
According to the Greco-Roman mythology, the River Mincius was the child of the Lake Benacus.
(Wikipedia)
Monte Altissimo di Nago is one of the highest summits of the Monte Baldo mountain range and thereby part of the Garda Mountains in northern Italy.
Morphology
The Altissimo is the highest peak in the northern part of the Monte-Baldo range, which stretches roughly from north to south. Other important peaks in the range are Punta Telegrafo to the south and the highest peak of the range Cima Valdritta. The saddle Bocca di Navene separates the southern part from the northern part.
Alpinism
On top of the Altissimo there is a mountain hut, the Rifugio Damiano Chiesa. The easiest way to reach the top is a hike over a dirt road from Strada Provinciale del Monte Baldo, also a prominent mountain-biking route. The important alpine long-distance hiking Peace Trail (Sentiero della Pace) also leads over the top of the Altissimo.
History
Besides the mountain hut, there are also leftover military installations from World War I and a chapel for remembrance to the wars victims.
(Wikipedia)
Der Gardasee (italienisch Lago di Garda oder Bènaco), einer der oberitalienischen Seen, ist der größte See Italiens, benannt nach der Gemeinde Garda am Ostufer. Sein antiker Name lautete von etwa 200 v. Chr. bis 800 n. Chr. Lacus benacus. Der Name soll von einer alten Gottheit namens Benacus abstammen. Der Gardasee wurde in der vergangenen Eiszeit durch einen Seitenast des Etschgletschers geformt, dessen Spuren man noch heute verfolgen kann, insbesondere durch die Endmoränen um das Südufer z. B. bei Lonato del Garda, Solferino, Valeggio sul Mincio und Custoza. Erste Besiedlungen des Seeufers datieren um das Jahr 2000 v. Chr.
Geographie
Lage
Der Gardasee liegt zwischen den Alpen im Norden und der Po-Ebene im Süden und ist daher ein Alpenrandsee. Der Norden des Sees gehört zur Region Trentino-Südtirol, der Westen zur Lombardei und der Osten zu Venetien. Damit teilen sich die drei Provinzen Trient (Norden), Verona (Osten) und Brescia (Westen) die Verwaltung.
Das nördliche Ufer des Sees ist von Zweitausendern der Gardaseeberge wie dem Monte Baldo umsäumt; das südliche Ufer liegt bereits in der norditalienischen Tiefebene.
In der Nähe des Sees befinden sich bekannte Weinbaugebiete:
Südlich von Desenzano del Garda liegt das Lugana-Gebiet
Östlich vom Gardasee finden sich die Gebiete des Bardolino- und des Soave-Weins
Ebenfalls östlich (zwischen dem Gardasee und Verona) liegt das Valpolicella-Gebiet
Zu- und Abflüsse
Der Gardasee wird hauptsächlich durch den Fluss Sarca gespeist. Dieser fließt am Nordende bei Torbole in den See. Als Mincio verlässt der Fluss bei Peschiera del Garda den Gardasee und fließt später in den Po. Neben den insgesamt 25 Zuflüssen gibt es noch einen künstlichen Zufluss in Form des 1959 fertiggestellten Etsch-Gardasee-Tunnels, dessen Tunnelausgang am südlichen Ortsausgang von Torbole liegt und der im Falle einer stark Hochwasser führenden Etsch geöffnet wird.
Pegel
Der Pegelnullpunkt liegt bei Peschiera del Garda bei 64,027 m s.l.m. Er unterliegt zum Teil starken saisonalen Schwankungen, da das Wasser des Gardasees über seinen Abfluss Mincio zur Bewässerung der intensiv landwirtschaftlich genutzten Flächen zwischen Verona und Mantua genutzt wird. Zum anderen sind die Schwankungen auch durch die Wasserentnahme für die Stromerzeugung im Oberlauf der Sarca bedingt.
Der Pegeltiefstand wurde in den Jahren 2003 und 2007 mit jeweils 8 cm unter Pegelnull erreicht, der Höchststand lag am 2. Juli 1879 bei 216 cm über Pegelnull. 1960 stand der Pegel bei 212 cm aufgrund der Öffnung des Etsch-Gardasee-Tunnels. Nicht festlegen lässt sich der Pegel von 1673 und 1746, als der Ort Desenzano del Garda überschwemmt wurde. Außer in Peschiera wird der Pegelstand auch in Riva del Garda und Torri del Benaco gemessen.
Inseln
Im See befinden sich fünf Inseln, die größte, Isola del Garda mit der Villa Borghese, liegt in der Nähe von Salò. Etwa zwei Kilometer südlich davon, ebenfalls in der Bucht von Manerba und San Felice, liegt die Isola San Biagio auch als „i Conigli“ (deutsch: die Kaninchen) bezeichnet. San Biagio ist ein beliebtes Ausflugsziel, das mit dem Boot oder zu Fuß vom Festland (je nach Wasserstand hüfttief oder trockenen Fußes) erreicht werden kann. Vor Assenza (zwischen Porto di Brenzone und Malcesine) liegt die Isola di Trimelone, diese ist allerdings militärisches Sperrgebiet. Etwas weiter nördlich von Trimelone liegt bei Malcesine im Val di Sogno die Isola del Sogno und nördlich davon die Isola dell’Olivo.
Geschichte
Aus der Bronzezeit stammen zahlreiche Pfahlbautensiedlungen, die direkt am Seeufer oder im unmittelbaren Hinterland des Gardasees errichtet wurden und seit 2011 zum UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe zählen.
Die Schlacht am Lacus Benacus (lateinisch für Gardasee) wurde im November des Jahres 268 an den Ufern des Gardasees in Norditalien zwischen Alamannen und Römern unter Kaiser Claudius Gothicus ausgetragen.
Unter den Signorie fiel der Gardasee zwischen dem 13. und 14. Jahrhundert unter den Einflussbereich der Scaliger, die zahlreiche Burgen insbesondere an den östlichen und südlichen Uferorten (Malcesine, Torri del Benaco, Lazise und Sirmione) errichteten. Im 15. Jahrhundert wurde der See und seine Uferorte zum Schauplatz im Kampf um die Vorherrschaft in Oberitalien zwischen dem Herzogtum Mailand unter den Viscontis und der Republik Venedig. Als militärische Glanzleistung zählte hierbei der Transport einer venezianischen Flotte vom Etschtal über die Berge nach Torbole im Jahr 1439, ein von der Republik Venedig als Galeas per montes bezeichnetes Unternehmen. Mit der im Frieden von Lodi 1454 festgelegten Grenze am Fluss Adda fiel der Gardasee endgültig unter den Einflussbereich der Dogenrepublik. Letztere baute insbesondere Peschiera am strategisch wichtigen Abfluss des Mincio zur Festung aus, die 2017 von der UNESCO zum Weltkulturerbe erklärt wurde.
Während des Spanischen Erbfolgekrieges zu Beginn des 18. Jahrhunderts versuchte General Vendôme mit seinen Truppen über das Nordufer in Richtung Norden vorzustoßen und hinterließ eine Spur der Verwüstung. Dabei wurden zahlreiche Burgen von den Franzosen zerstört, wie Castel Penede in Nago, die Burg von Arco oder Castel Drena, die als Ruinen erhalten sind. Am 19. April 1706 schlug Vendôme in der Schlacht bei Calcinato am Südufer des Sees die kaiserlichen Truppen unter dem Oberbefehl von Christian Detlev von Reventlow.
Die Schlacht bei Rivoli, die im Ersten Koalitionskrieg im Januar 1797 in der Nähe des Ortes Rivoli (südöstlich von Garda) stattfand, war ein Schlüsselerfolg der französischen Armee unter Napoleon Bonaparte im Italienfeldzug über ein zahlenmäßig überlegenes habsburgisches Heer unter Feldmarschall Alvinczy. Aufgrund des Vertrages von Pressburg vom 26. Dezember 1805, mit dem die Grafschaft Tirol zu Bayern fiel, gehörte die Nordspitze des Gardasees von Anfang 1806 bis Anfang 1810 als sogenannter Etschkreis zum Königreich Bayern und anschließend, wie der übrige See auch, zum Königreich Italien. Nach dem Wiener Kongress 1815 fiel der gesamte See dem Kaisertum Österreich zu und war Bestandteil des Königreichs Lombardo-Venetien.
Die Schlacht von Solferino am Südufer war die Entscheidungsschlacht im Sardinischen Krieg zwischen dem Kaisertum Österreich und dem Königreich Sardinien und dessen Verbündetem Frankreich unter Napoléon III. Durch die Niederlage der Österreicher bei Solferino am 24. Juni 1859 wurde der Weg zur Einigung Italiens frei gemacht. Die Grausamkeit der Schlacht und die Hilflosigkeit der verwundeten Soldaten veranlassten Henry Dunant (1828–1910) zur Gründung des Roten Kreuzes und führten zur Vereinbarung der Genfer Konvention von 1864.
Nach dem Verlust der Lombardei und dem dazugehörigen Westufer des Gardasees 1859, verlor Österreich 1866 nach dem Dritten Italienischen Unabhängigkeitskrieg mit Venetien auch das Ostufer, nur die Nordspitze, mit Riva del Garda, verblieb bis 1918 bei Österreich-Ungarn. Der See wurde in dieser Zeit auch „Gartsee“ genannt. Während des Ersten Weltkrieges verlief die Front direkt am Nordufer des Sees entlang, an dem zahlreiche Festungsanlagen errichtet worden waren.
Nach dem Sturz Mussolinis 1943 wurde auf Forderung der deutschen, nationalsozialistischen Regierung in Nord- und Mittelitalien die Marionettenregierung der faschistischen Italienischen Sozialrepublik (Repubblica Sociale Italiana, auch: Republik von Salò) unter Mussolinis Führung als Gegenregierung installiert, die im gleichnamigen Ort am Westufer des Gardasees ihren Regierungssitz hatte. Der Staat bestand zwischen dem 23. September 1943 und dem 25. April 1945. Am 30. April 1945 endete mit der Befreiung von Torbole und Riva durch die 10. US-Gebirgsdivision der Zweite Weltkrieg am Gardasee.
Tourismus
Der Gardasee ist ein beliebtes Reiseziel. Rund um den See gibt es Hotels, Pensionen, Ferienwohnungen und Campingplätze. Ein Großteil der Ferienunterkünfte ist von Ende März bis Anfang Oktober geöffnet. Die Hauptsaison ist Juli und speziell der August. In den Wintermonaten sind die meisten Hotels, Cafés und Restaurants geschlossen. 2018 gab es am Ufer 24 Millionen Übernachtungen.
Am Südufer des Sees befinden sich zahlreiche Freizeitparks wie das Gardaland oder das Canevaworld. Das Nordufer ist vor allem bei Kletterern, Mountainbikern und Surfern beliebt.
(Wikipedia)
Der Monte Altissimo di Nago (2078 m s.l.m.) ist einer der höchsten Gipfel des Monte-Baldo-Bergrückens und gehört damit zu den Gardaseebergen in Norditalien.
Topographie
Der Monte Altissimo di Nago ist der höchste Gipfel im nördlichen Teil des langgestreckten Monte-Baldo-Bergrückens, der sich grob von Norden nach Süden erstreckt. Weitere wichtige Gipfel in dieser Kette sind Punta Telegrafo im Süden und Cima delle Pozzette im Norden. Von der weiter im Süden gelegenen Kette ist der Altissimo di Nago durch den Pass Bocca di Navene (1420 m s.l.m.) getrennt.
Zur Untergruppe des Altissimo gehören des Weiteren die Gipfel Corna Piana (1736 m), Monte Campo (1667 m) und Monte Varagna (1778 m). Vom Monte Varagna fällt der Berg über einen langgestreckten Rücken im Nordwesten bis nach Nago-Torbole ab. Dort befindet sich noch das Klettergebiet des Nebengipfels Segrom. Den nordöstlichen Ausläufer bildet dagegen der im Gemeindegebiet zwischen Brentonico und Mori gelegene Monte Giovo, der in der Vergangenheit als Marmorabbaugebiet bekannt war.
Alpinismus
Auf dem Gipfel des Altissimo di Nago befindet sich das bewirtschaftete Rifugio Altissimo Damiano Chiesa. Der Gipfel ist am einfachsten über die Schotterpiste von der Strada Provinciale del Monte Baldo von Süden aus zu erreichen, ein auch bei Mountain-Bikern beliebter Weg. Alternativ bieten sich der Friedensweg Sentiero della Pace (601) oder die Alta Via del Monte Baldo als Bergwanderung an.
Geschichte
Am Gipfel befinden sich neben dem Rifugio Altissimo Damiano Chiesa noch Schützengräben aus dem Ersten Weltkrieg, sowie eine Kapelle und eine Gedenkstätte an dessen Opfer.
(Wikipedia)
Dubrovnik historically known as Ragusa is a city in southern Dalmatia, Croatia, by the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, a seaport and the centre of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Its total population is 41,562 (2021 census). In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in recognition of its outstanding medieval architecture and fortified old town.
The history of the city probably dates back to the 7th century, when the town known as Ragusa was founded by refugees from Epidaurum (Ragusa Vecchia). It was under the protection of the Byzantine Empire and later under the sovereignty of the Republic of Venice. Between the 14th and 19th centuries, Dubrovnik ruled itself as a free state. The prosperity of the city was historically based on maritime trade; as the capital of the maritime Republic of Ragusa, it achieved a high level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries, as it became notable for its wealth and skilled diplomacy. At the same time, Dubrovnik became a cradle of Croatian literature.
The entire city was almost destroyed when a devastating earthquake hit in 1667. During the Napoleonic Wars, Dubrovnik was occupied by the French Empire forces, and then the Republic of Ragusa was abolished and incorporated into the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy and later into the Illyrian Provinces. Later on, in the early 19th to early 20th century, Dubrovnik was part of the Kingdom of Dalmatia within the Austrian Empire. Dubrovnik became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia immediately upon its creation, and it was incorporated into its Zeta Banovina in 1929, before becoming part of the Banovina of Croatia upon its creation in 1939. During World War II, it was part of the Axis puppet state Independent State of Croatia, before being reincorporated into SR Croatia in SFR Yugoslavia.
In 1991, during the Croatian War of Independence, Dubrovnik was besieged by the Yugoslav People's Army for seven months and suffered significant damage from shelling. After undergoing repair and restoration works in the 1990s and early 2000s, it re-emerged as one of the Mediterranean's top tourist destinations, as well as a popular filming location. According to Statista, Dubrovnik is the most 'over-touristed' destination in Europe, with 36 tourists on one local resident.
African bush elephant
Afrikanischer Elefant
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of 19,485 km2 (7,523 sq mi) in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends 360 km (220 mi) from north to south and 65 km (40 mi) from east to west. The administrative headquarters are in Skukuza. Areas of the park were first protected by the government of the South African Republic in 1898, and it became South Africa's first national park in 1926.
To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is Mozambique. It is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Kruger National Park with the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, and with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique.
The park is part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere an area designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve (the "Biosphere").
The park has nine main gates allowing entrance to the different camps.
(Wikipedia)
Name
African Elephant or African Bush Elephant [Loxodonta africana]
Introduction
The Elephant is the world's largest land mammal, and weighs up to 7 tonnes and reaches heights of 3.3 m at the shoulder. Elephants can live to a potential age of 70 years. The massive tusks of older bulls can weigh up to 50 or 60 kilograms, but tusks weighing up to 90 kilograms have been recorded.
Appearance
What is the trunk and what is it used for?
The Elephant's trunk is a modified nose which is very sensitive and can even detect water under ground. There are as many as 50 000 muscles in an Elephant trunk. The sensitive finger-like appendages at the tip of the trunk enables them to pick the smallest twig or flower, pull the toughest reed of grass or even pick out a thorn from their feet.
Do elephants have knees or elbows?
The joints that are perceived as 'knees', are in fact wrists. This is a common misunderstanding due to the belief that a leg joint that bends between the foot and the body must be a knee. The main difference between us and the elephants is that our foot bones and hand bones are separate, whereas those of the elephant are one in the same, and have evolved to suit this four-legged mammal.
Why do elephants have tusks?
The tusks are used for obtaining food, fighting (amongst males) and for self defence. They are actually their upper incisors, and grow continuously until they die at around 60 years old. Although their skin is up to 3cm (1 inch) thick, it is quite sensitive.
Diet
Elephants are voracious feeders which in a day consume up to 272 kg (600 pounds) of grass, tender shoots and bark from trees. An adult Elephant can drink up to 200 litres of water in a single session. A single Elephant deposits up to 150kg (330 pounds) of dung every day - about one dollop every 15 minutes!
Breeding
African Elephant are not seasonal breeders. Generally they produce one calf every 3 to 4 years. The gestation period is about 22 months. At birth calves weigh about 100 kg (220 pounds) and are fully weaned between 18-24 months. An orphaned calf will usually be adopted by one of the family's lactating females or suckled by various females. Elephants are very attentive mothers, and because most Elephant behavior has to be learned, they keep their offspring with them for many years. Tusks erupt at 16 months but do not show externally until 30 months. Once weaned, usually at age 4 or 5, the calf still remains in the maternal group. Females mature at about 11 years and stay in the group, while the males, which mature between 12 and 15, are usually expelled from the maternal herd. Even though these young males are sexually mature, they do not breed until they are in their mid, or late 20s or even older and have moved up in the social hierarchy.
Behaviour
Mature males form bachelor groups and become solitary bulls. Elephant form strong family units of cows, calves and young offspring. Such herds are always led by an old female. Apart from drinking large quantities of water they also love wading or swimming in it. Elephants clearly relish mud baths.
It was once thought that family groups were led by old bull elephants, but these males are most often solitary. The female family groups are often visited by mature males checking for females in oestrus. Several interrelated family groups may inhabit an area and know each other well.
How do you tell an elephant's mock charge from a serious one?
It is imperative to keep in mind that Elephant are extremely intelligent, and each individual has a distinct character. Although there will be exceptions to the rules, the common signs of a mock charge are bush-bashing, dust-throwing, trumpeting and other vocalizations, open ears and an intimidating presence, can be considered a mock-display. Aggressive or startled elephants usually make sudden headshakes and flap their large ears against their head. Serious charges usually occur after all attempts to intimidate have failed, and the Elephant feels threatened. The ears are pinned back and head and trunk are lowered. Ultimately, the key lies in the intelligence of the animal and how they will react to the 'target' and unfamiliar actions, and a conscious decision is made.
Why do elephants rhythmically flap their ears?
Contrary to common belief, it is not an expression of anger. Being an animal of such a large size, with no sweat glands and a dark body colour, elephants flap their ears to cool the body and rid themselves of irritating insects.
Where are they found?
Once ranging across most of Africa the Elephant population has declined dramatically across the continent. In South Africa the Addo Elephant and Kruger National Park protect large herds. Due to rigorous conservation measures the Elephant population in South Africa has grown from a estimated 120 in 1920 in 4 locations, to 10 000 at 40 locations to date.
Notes
The African Elephant has recently been classified into two separate species, the more common African Bush Elephant [Loxodonta Africana] and the smaller African Forest Elephant [Loxodonta cyclotis] of the rainforest of Central Africa.
(krugerpark.co.za)
Der Kruger-Nationalpark (deutsch häufig falsch Krüger-Nationalpark) ist das größte Wildschutzgebiet Südafrikas. Er liegt im Nordosten des Landes in der Landschaft des Lowveld auf dem Gebiet der Provinz Limpopo sowie des östlichen Abschnitts von Mpumalanga. Seine Fläche erstreckt sich vom Crocodile-River im Süden bis zum Limpopo, dem Grenzfluss zu Simbabwe, im Norden. Die Nord-Süd-Ausdehnung beträgt etwa 350 km, in Ost-West-Richtung ist der Park durchschnittlich 54 km breit und umfasst eine Fläche von rund 20.000 Quadratkilometern. Damit gehört er zu den größten Nationalparks in Afrika.
Das Schutzgebiet wurde am 26. März 1898 unter dem Präsidenten Paul Kruger als Sabie Game Reserve zum Schutz der Wildnis gegründet. 1926 erhielt das Gebiet den Status Nationalpark und wurde in seinen heutigen Namen umbenannt. Im Park leben 147 Säugetierarten inklusive der „Big Five“, außerdem etwa 507 Vogelarten und 114 Reptilienarten, 49 Fischarten und 34 Amphibienarten.
(Wikipedia)
Der Afrikanische Elefant (Loxodonta africana), auch Afrikanischer Steppenelefant oder Afrikanischer Buschelefant, ist eine Art aus der Familie der Elefanten. Er ist das größte gegenwärtig lebende Landsäugetier und gleichzeitig das größte rezente landbewohnende Tier der Erde. Herausragende Kennzeichen sind neben den Stoßzähnen und dem markanten Rüssel die großen Ohren und die säulenförmigen Beine. In zahlreichen morphologischen und anatomischen Merkmalen unterscheidet sich der Afrikanische Elefant von seinen etwas kleineren Verwandten, dem Waldelefanten und dem Asiatischen Elefanten. Das Verbreitungsgebiet umfasst heute große Teile von Afrika südlich der Sahara. Die Tiere haben sich dort an zahlreiche unterschiedliche Lebensräume angepasst, die von geschlossenen Wäldern über offene Savannenlandschaften bis hin zu Sumpfgebieten und wüstenartigen Regionen reichen. Insgesamt ist das Vorkommen aber stark fragmentiert.
Die Lebensweise des Afrikanischen Elefanten ist durch intensive Studien gut erforscht. Sie wird durch einen stark sozialen Charakter geprägt. Weibliche Tiere und ihr Nachwuchs leben in Familienverbänden (Herden). Diese formieren sich wiederum zu einem enger verwandten Clan. Die einzelnen Herden treffen sich zu bestimmten Gelegenheiten und trennen sich danach wieder. Die männlichen Tiere bilden Junggesellengruppen. Die verschiedenen Verbände nutzen Aktionsräume, in denen sie teils im Jahreszyklus herumwandern. Für die Kommunikation untereinander nutzen die Tiere verschiedene Töne im niedrigen Frequenzbereich. Anhand der Lautgebung, aber auch durch bestimmte chemische Signale können sich die einzelnen Individuen untereinander erkennen. Darüber hinaus besteht ein umfangreiches Repertoire an Gesten. Hervorzuheben sind auch die kognitiven Fähigkeiten des Afrikanischen Elefanten.
Die Nahrung besteht sowohl aus weicher wie auch harter Pflanzenkost. Die genaue Zusammensetzung variiert dabei regional und jahreszeitlich. Generell verbringt der Afrikanische Elefant einen großen Teil seiner Tagesaktivitäten mit der Nahrungsaufnahme. Die Fortpflanzung erfolgt ganzjährig, regional gibt es Tendenzen zu einer stärkeren Saisonalisierung. Bullen kommen einmal jährlich in die Musth, während deren sie auf Wanderung zur Suche nach fortpflanzungswilligen Kühen gehen. Während der Musth ist die Aggressivität gesteigert, es finden dann auch Rivalenkämpfe statt. Der Sexualzyklus der Kühe dauert vergleichsweise lange und weist einen für Säugetiere untypischen Verlauf auf. Nach erfolgter Geburt setzt er in der Regel mehrere Jahre aus. Zumeist wird nach fast zweijähriger Tragzeit ein Jungtier geboren, das in der mütterlichen Herde aufwächst. Junge weibliche Tiere verbleiben später in der Herde, die jungen männlichen verlassen diese.
Die wissenschaftliche Erstbeschreibung des Afrikanischen Elefanten erfolgte im Jahr 1797 mit einer formalen artlichen Trennung des Afrikanischen vom Asiatischen Elefanten. Der heute gebräuchliche Gattungsname Loxodonta wurde offiziell erst dreißig Jahre später eingeführt. Die Bezeichnung bezieht sich auf markante Zahnunterschiede zwischen den asiatischen und den afrikanischen Elefanten. Im Verlauf des 20. Jahrhunderts wurden mehrere Unterarten unterschieden, darunter auch der Waldelefant des zentralen Afrikas. Letzterer gilt heute genetischen Untersuchungen zufolge als eigenständige Art, die weiteren Unterarten sind nicht anerkannt. Stammesgeschichtlich lässt sich der Afrikanische Elefant erstmals im beginnenden Mittleren Pleistozän belegen. Der Gesamtbestand gilt als gefährdet. Ursachen hierfür sind hauptsächlich die Jagd nach Elfenbein und Lebensraumverlust durch die zunehmend wachsende menschliche Bevölkerung. Der Afrikanische Elefant zählt zu den sogenannten „Big Five“ von Großwildjagd und Safari.
(Wikipedia)
Dubrovnik historically known as Ragusa is a city in southern Dalmatia, Croatia, by the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, a seaport and the centre of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Its total population is 41,562 (2021 census). In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in recognition of its outstanding medieval architecture and fortified old town.
The history of the city probably dates back to the 7th century, when the town known as Ragusa was founded by refugees from Epidaurum (Ragusa Vecchia). It was under the protection of the Byzantine Empire and later under the sovereignty of the Republic of Venice. Between the 14th and 19th centuries, Dubrovnik ruled itself as a free state. The prosperity of the city was historically based on maritime trade; as the capital of the maritime Republic of Ragusa, it achieved a high level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries, as it became notable for its wealth and skilled diplomacy. At the same time, Dubrovnik became a cradle of Croatian literature.
The entire city was almost destroyed when a devastating earthquake hit in 1667. During the Napoleonic Wars, Dubrovnik was occupied by the French Empire forces, and then the Republic of Ragusa was abolished and incorporated into the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy and later into the Illyrian Provinces. Later on, in the early 19th to early 20th century, Dubrovnik was part of the Kingdom of Dalmatia within the Austrian Empire. Dubrovnik became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia immediately upon its creation, and it was incorporated into its Zeta Banovina in 1929, before becoming part of the Banovina of Croatia upon its creation in 1939. During World War II, it was part of the Axis puppet state Independent State of Croatia, before being reincorporated into SR Croatia in SFR Yugoslavia.
In 1991, during the Croatian War of Independence, Dubrovnik was besieged by the Yugoslav People's Army for seven months and suffered significant damage from shelling. After undergoing repair and restoration works in the 1990s and early 2000s, it re-emerged as one of the Mediterranean's top tourist destinations, as well as a popular filming location. According to Statista, Dubrovnik is the most 'over-touristed' destination in Europe, with 36 tourists on one local resident.
© photo rights reserved by B℮n
Andalusia is located in southern Spain and covers an area of 8 provinces. Andalusia is the second largest autonomous region in Spain. Beautiful Andalucía, the land of olives, oranges, sunflowers, beautiful mountain ranges and valleys, nice white mountain villages with beautiful squares, is a bridge between two continents, Africa and Europe, and is the point where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea meet. There is something for everyone in Andalusia, from culture to beautiful terraces, sights, long beaches, beautiful inland areas with beautiful reservoirs, mountains and nice villages to visit. The capital of Andalusia is Seville. Another beautiful city of Andalusia is Granada. The crown jewel of Granada is undoubtedly the palace and fortress of Alhambra and is the most visited tourist attraction in Spain. It's an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stunning hilltop palace overlooks Granada and is visible from all over the city. It is both a palace and a fortress surrounded by walls and was the residence of Moorish rulers between the 13th and 15th centuries. The Cathedral of Granada was built on the site of the former Great Mosque. The first stone of the Cathedral of Granada was placed in 1523, but it was not finished until 1704, 181 years later. During your trip to Granada, you should definitely go on a stroll in the Albaicín neighborhood. It’s located on top of a hill, right across the Alhambra. Rising up on a hill facing the Alhambra, the Albaicín neighbourhood is made up of a network of winding streets and small squares which open up suddenly to wonderful views of the famous palace fortress - with the Sierra Nevada beyond.
Granada is a city in southern Spain’s Andalusia region, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It sits at an average elevation of 738 m. There are a number of miradores, or lookout points, dotted on the hills throughout Albaycin. The most popular of these is the Mirador de San Nicolas, once described by Bill Clinton as ‘the most beautiful sunset in the world’. From Mirador de San Nicolas we follow the winding road to the top of Sacromonte. The walk up the hill is worth it! You can walk straight from the city centre into the hills. The view is really beautiful. You get a great corner of the Alhambra, 14th century wall, Granada and the mountains. It is also very quiet, far from the roads. It is absolutely worth the effort to walk.
Andalusië ligt in zuid Spanje en beslaat een gebied van 8 provincies. Andalusië de op één na grootste autonome regio in Spanje en meer dan twee keer zo groot als Nederland. Het mooie Andalusië, het land van de olijven, sinaasappels, zonnebloemen, mooie bergketens en valleien, leuke witte bergdorpen met mooie pleintjes, is een brug tussen twee continenten, Afrika en Europa, en is het punt waar de Atlantische Oceaan en de Middellandse Zee elkaar ontmoeten. Er is voor elk wat wils in Andalusië, van cultuur tot mooie terrasjes, bezienswaardigheden, lange stranden, prachtige binnenlanden met mooie stuwmeren, bergen en leuke dorpen om te bezoeken. De hoofdstad van Andalusië is Sevilla. Een andere mooie stad van Andalusië is Granada. Deze stad ligt op een hoogte van 738 m. Het kroonjuweel van Granada is ongetwijfeld het paleis en fort van Alhambra en is de meest bezochte toeristische attractie in Spanje. Het is een UNESCO-werelderfgoed. Het prachtige paleis op een heuveltop kijkt uit over Granada en is zichtbaar vanuit de hele stad. Het is zowel een paleis als een fort omgeven door muren en was de residentie van de Nasrid-sultans tussen de 13e en 15e eeuw. De kathedraal van Granada werd gebouwd op de plaats van de voormalige Grote Moskee. De eerste steen van de kathedraal van Granada werd in 1523 geplaatst, maar deze werd pas in 1704, 181 jaar later, voltooid. Tijdens je reis naar Granada moet u zeker een wandeling maken in de wijk Albaicin. Het bevindt zich op de top van een heuvel, recht tegenover het Alhambra. De wijk Albaicín bestaat uit een netwerk van kronkelende straatjes en kleine pleintjes. Vanaf Mirador de San Nicolas volgen we de bochtige weg naar de top van Sacromonte. De wandeling de heuvel op is de moeite waard! Je wandelt zo de stad uit de heuvels in. Het uitzicht is werkelijk prachtig. Je krijgt een geweldige hoek van het Alhambra, Granada en de bergen. Het is ook erg stil, ver van de wegen. Het is absoluut de moeite waard om te wandelen. Wat een rust, de vlakte rondom, 14e eeuwse muur, Alhambra en de bergen aan de horizon.
In 1579 the northern seven provinces signed the Union of Utrecht, in which they decided to join forces against Spanish rule. The Union of Utrecht is seen as the beginning of the Dutch Republic. In 1580 the new and predominantly Protestant state abolished the bishoprics, including the archbishopric of Utrecht. The stadtholders disapproved of the independent course of the Utrecht bourgeoisie and brought the city under much more direct control of the republic; which shifted the power towards its dominant province Holland. This was the start of a long period of stagnation of trade and development in Utrecht. Utrecht remained an atypical city in the new republic with about 40% Catholic in the mid-17th-century, and even more among the elite groups, who included many rural nobility and gentry with town houses there.
Lepelle / Olifants river
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of 19,485 km2 (7,523 sq mi) in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends 360 km (220 mi) from north to south and 65 km (40 mi) from east to west. The administrative headquarters are in Skukuza. Areas of the park were first protected by the government of the South African Republic in 1898, and it became South Africa's first national park in 1926.
To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is Mozambique. It is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Kruger National Park with the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, and with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique.
The park is part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere an area designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve (the "Biosphere").
The park has nine main gates allowing entrance to the different camps.
(Wikipedia)
The Olifants River, Lepelle or Obalule (Afrikaans: Olifantsrivier; Portuguese: Rio dos Elefantes) is a river in South Africa and Mozambique, a tributary of the Limpopo River. It falls into the Drainage Area B of the Drainage basins of South Africa. The historical area of the Pedi people, Sekhukhuneland, is located between the Olifants River and one of its largest tributaries, the Steelpoort River.
The Olifants River has its origin between Breyten and Bethal, Mpumalanga Province. It flows north towards Limpopo Province through Witbank Dam and then the Loskop Dam and is forced east by the Transvaal Drakensberg, cutting through at the Abel Erasmus Pass and then flowing east further across the Lowveld to join with the Letaba River. It crosses into Gaza Province, Mozambique, after cutting through the Lebombo Mountains by way of the Olifants Gorge, becoming the Rio dos Elefantes, and finally joining the Limpopo River after 40 km before it enters the Indian Ocean at Xai-Xai north of Maputo.
Overgrazing in sections of its middle course result in the river carrying away eroded soil after heavy rains. The Olifants river has become one of the most heavily polluted rivers in South Africa, not by human or industrial waste, but by thriving green algae.
The Olifants River's largest tributaries are the Letaba River and the Steelpoort River known as Tubatse River. Other tributaries are the Tongwane, Blyde, Moses, Spekboom, Timbavati, Nkumpi, Ga-Selati, Klaserie, Makhutswi, Mohlapitse River, Lepellane River, Mohwetse River and Ngwaritsi River. Some tributaries, notably the Klein Olifants River (origin near Hendrina, joins the Olifants River downstream of the Middelburg Dam), the Elands, Wilge and the Bronkhorstspruit, rise in the Highveld grasslands. The Shingwedzi River flows close to the northeastern side of the Massingir Dam reservoir and joins the left bank of the Olifants about 12 km downstream from the dam wall.
Thirty large dams in the Olifants River Catchment include the following:
South Africa
Witbank Dam
Rhenosterkop Dam, on the Elands River
Rust de Winter Dam
Blyderivierpoort Dam
Loskop Dam
Middelburg Dam, on the Klein Olifants River
Ohrigstad Dam
De Hoop Dam
Flag Boshielo Dam
Phalaborwa Barrage
Mozambique
Massingir Dam
(Wikipedia)
Der Kruger-Nationalpark (deutsch häufig falsch Krüger-Nationalpark) ist das größte Wildschutzgebiet Südafrikas. Er liegt im Nordosten des Landes in der Landschaft des Lowveld auf dem Gebiet der Provinz Limpopo sowie des östlichen Abschnitts von Mpumalanga. Seine Fläche erstreckt sich vom Crocodile-River im Süden bis zum Limpopo, dem Grenzfluss zu Simbabwe, im Norden. Die Nord-Süd-Ausdehnung beträgt etwa 350 km, in Ost-West-Richtung ist der Park durchschnittlich 54 km breit und umfasst eine Fläche von rund 20.000 Quadratkilometern. Damit gehört er zu den größten Nationalparks in Afrika.
Das Schutzgebiet wurde am 26. März 1898 unter dem Präsidenten Paul Kruger als Sabie Game Reserve zum Schutz der Wildnis gegründet. 1926 erhielt das Gebiet den Status Nationalpark und wurde in seinen heutigen Namen umbenannt. Im Park leben 147 Säugetierarten inklusive der „Big Five“, außerdem etwa 507 Vogelarten und 114 Reptilienarten, 49 Fischarten und 34 Amphibienarten.
(Wikipedia)
Der Lepelle (bis 2005 Olifants River oder Olifantsrivier) ist ein Fluss, der in der südafrikanischen Provinz Mpumalanga entspringt.
Er fließt nördlich durch den Witbank Dam und den Loskop Dam. In Transvaal zwingen ihn die Transvaal-Drakensberge Richtung Osten; er durchschneidet den Abel-Erasmus-Pass, fließt ostwärts und vereinigt sich mit dem Letaba. Beim Überschreiten der Grenze nach Mosambik ändert er seinen Namen in Rio dos Elefantes und mündet in den Limpopo, welcher noch den Rio Changane aufnimmt, bevor er bei Xai-Xai nördlich von Maputo in den Indischen Ozean mündet.
(Wikipedia)
photo rights reserved by B℮n
The province of Nan is located in the north of Thailand and borders Laos. It is one of the lesser known provinces of Thailand, but is known for its natural beauty, rich culture and ancient history. It's a great place to visit if you're looking for adventure and relaxation in nature. Road 1256 passes through the mountains of Nan and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding nature. Almost the most beautiful road in Thailand, the view on the side of the road is very beautiful, if you go during the rainy season, the atmosphere will be very good. You can see the green along the two sides of the road on the ridge. In some parts you can see the beautiful view of rice fields over the hills. It may be overgrown on some parts of the road. There are several interesting sights and activities to enjoy along the way. It's great for bird watching, camping, and hiking, and you're unlikely to meet many other people while exploring. You can also visit the Doi Phu Kha National Park, which is known for its beautiful waterfalls, lush forests and spectacular views. Wonderfully cool weather all year round. In addition, there are also several hill tribe villages along the way, where you have the chance to experience the local culture and traditions.
1. centre Samantha Relaxes at the Sapan waterfall surrounded by beauty, 2. top left Ficus albipila is better known as The Giant Bee Tree by the locals, 3. Tradition hut on the mountain in Nan province in Baan Ko Kuang, 4. Enchanting hill tribe rice terraces next to Doi Phu Kha National Park, 5. Mae Chanya keeps an eye on the protected Tor Soro fishes, 6. Crossing the suspension bridge is an adventure in itself, 7. Exploring the green trails around impressive limestone pillars of Ban Sala, 8. Bird's nest fern grows on moist tree stumps at Sapan waterfall, 9. Attractive Blue Crested Lizard spotted in the wilderness of Doi Phu Kha National Park, 10. The Sapan waterfall meanders deep through the lush jungle, 11. Enchanting encounters: witnessing Tor Soro fish at Tat Luang waterfall, 12. A Mahout's adventure with his Elephant in Nan Elephant Camp, 13. Breathtaking view of the surrounding lush jungle and the Nam Wa-river below..
De provincie Nan is gelegen in het noorden van Thailand en grenst aan Laos. Het is één van de minder bekende provincies van Thailand, maar staat bekend om zijn natuurlijke schoonheid, rijke cultuur en oude geschiedenis. Het is een geweldige plek om te bezoeken als je op zoek bent naar avontuur en ontspanning in de natuur. De weg 1256 loopt door de bergen van Nan en biedt een adembenemend uitzicht op de omliggende natuur. Bijna de mooiste weg in Thailand, het uitzicht aan de kant van de weg is erg mooi, als je tijdens het regenseizoen gaat, zal de sfeer erg goed zijn. Je ziet het groen langs de twee kanten van de weg op de bergkam. Op sommige delen zie je het prachtige uitzicht op rijstvelden over de heuvels. Het kan op sommige delen van de weg overwoekerd zijn. Onderweg zijn er verschillende interessante bezienswaardigheden en activiteiten om van te genieten. Het is geweldig om vogels te spotten, te kamperen en te wandelen, en het is onwaarschijnlijk dat je veel andere mensen tegenkomt tijdens het verkennen. Je kunt ook een bezoek brengen aan de Doi Phu Kha National Park, dat bekend staat om zijn prachtige watervallen, weelderige bossen en spectaculaire uitzichten. Heerlijk koel weer het hele jaar door. Daarnaast zijn er ook verschillende bergstammen-dorpen langs de weg, waar je de kans hebt om de lokale cultuur en tradities te ervaren. Het Nationaal Park is ook de thuisbasis van, de hoogste bergtop in de provincie. Het hoogste punt wordt ook wel Doi Phu Kha genoemd op een hoogte van 1.920 meter. Als je vanuit Nan naar Doi Phu Kha National Park reist, zal ik je zeker aanraden om hier een nacht te blijven. Het grootste deel van het jaar is het mooi weer en het uitzicht is verbluffend vroeg in de ochtend. Een natuurpad van matige intensiteit met een grote kaart met de details van de route begint achter het bezoekerscentrum van het Nationaal park en gaat 2 km lang door en eindigt bij een klein dorp. Het mooiste is het uitkijkpunt met een zeer grote 1715 cijfers die de hoogte van het punt weergeeft. Er is ook een camping in de buurt van het gebied. Maar je moet je eigen tent meenemen. Het duurt ongeveer 2 uur om te voltooien. Er is echter zeker wat te klimmen. Draag trekking schoenen voor de wandeling. De moesson is niet de beste tijd om dit te doen, aangezien er veel bloedzuigers en andere reptielen zijn die je misschien niet op prijs stelt.
Created with fd's Flickr Toys. ....don't forget to zoom in photo!!
The provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga (where the Kruger National Park is situated) are depressingly drought-stricken. This photograph is my attempt to express the arid conditions presently prevailing.
Dubrovnik historically known as Ragusa is a city in southern Dalmatia, Croatia, by the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean, a seaport and the centre of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County. Its total population is 41,562 (2021 census). In 1979, the city of Dubrovnik was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in recognition of its outstanding medieval architecture and fortified old town.
The history of the city probably dates back to the 7th century, when the town known as Ragusa was founded by refugees from Epidaurum (Ragusa Vecchia). It was under the protection of the Byzantine Empire and later under the sovereignty of the Republic of Venice. Between the 14th and 19th centuries, Dubrovnik ruled itself as a free state. The prosperity of the city was historically based on maritime trade; as the capital of the maritime Republic of Ragusa, it achieved a high level of development, particularly during the 15th and 16th centuries, as it became notable for its wealth and skilled diplomacy. At the same time, Dubrovnik became a cradle of Croatian literature.
The entire city was almost destroyed when a devastating earthquake hit in 1667. During the Napoleonic Wars, Dubrovnik was occupied by the French Empire forces, and then the Republic of Ragusa was abolished and incorporated into the Napoleonic Kingdom of Italy and later into the Illyrian Provinces. Later on, in the early 19th to early 20th century, Dubrovnik was part of the Kingdom of Dalmatia within the Austrian Empire. Dubrovnik became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia immediately upon its creation, and it was incorporated into its Zeta Banovina in 1929, before becoming part of the Banovina of Croatia upon its creation in 1939. During World War II, it was part of the Axis puppet state Independent State of Croatia, before being reincorporated into SR Croatia in SFR Yugoslavia.
In 1991, during the Croatian War of Independence, Dubrovnik was besieged by the Yugoslav People's Army for seven months and suffered significant damage from shelling. After undergoing repair and restoration works in the 1990s and early 2000s, it re-emerged as one of the Mediterranean's top tourist destinations, as well as a popular filming location. According to Statista, Dubrovnik is the most 'over-touristed' destination in Europe, with 36 tourists on one local resident.
17 September 2020: The Dutch provinces North-Holland (which includes Amsterdam) and South-Holland (which includes Rotterdam and The Hague) will become red zones for travellers from Belgium according the latest news.This means that Belgium will no longer allow non-essential travel to these cities/areas, and being tested and quarantined upon return will be mandatory. The province of Groningen colors orange on the Belgian corona map, meaning that a moderately high risk of infection has been identified. Hence, there is no travel ban to Groningen but people returning from the most northern province of The Netherlands will be asked to undergo testing and go into quarantine. I’ve said it before, there is an urgent need for uniform rules during the coronavirus pandemic. Uncoordinated national measures have a devasting impact on freedom of movement, one of the core EU principals, with significant knock-on effects for business and the economy in general – Groningen, The Netherlands
I drove from Bangkok midnight to Phetchabun is one of the northern provinces of Thailand distance 450 km. for take photo the sunrise at Tung Salang Luang
Thung Salaeng Luang National Park is a national park located in the Phitsanulok and Phetchabun Provinces of Thailand. It encompasses substantial portions of Amphoe Wang Thong and Amphoe Lom Sak.
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Italien / Südtirol - Dürrenstein (2.839 m)
seen from Monte Piana
gesehen vom Monte Piana
Monte Piana is a 2,324-metre (7,625 ft) tall mountain in the Sexten Dolomites and located on the border between the provinces of South Tyrol and Belluno. The smaller Northern summit of the mountain is named Monte Piano (2,305m).
During the so-called "White War" in World War I the mountain was hotly contested between the Austrian and Italian Armies. The Austrians had occupied the Northern summit Monte Piano, while the Southern summit Monte Piana was in Italian hands. Today many remnants of the fierce fighting can still be found on both summits.
History
When Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary on 24 May 1915, seven / eight battalions of the thirty-five stationed between San Candido and the Stelvio were sent to Monte Piana and its valleys. Monte Piana was part of the operational sector of the IV Army commanded by Lieutenant General Luigi Nava, whose units were divided into two sectors, Cordevole and Cadore, the first belonging to the IX Corps and the second, of which part of the sector of Monte Piana, under the jurisdiction of the 1st Army Corps commanded by Lieutenant General Ottavio Ragni. On 24 May the Piana was occupied by two platoons of Alpine troops of the 96th company, Pieve di Cadore battalion, of the 7th regiment. Other Alpini of the 67th company around 08:30 were hit by an artillery shell fired from Monte Rudo while they were working on the road from Misurina to Monte Piana; they were the first Italians to fall on a mountain that in less than two years made about 14,000 victims from both sides. Here, on 7 June 1915, second lieutenant Antonio De Toni (7th regiment, 268th company, batt. Val Piave) was fatally wounded, the first to be killed in the Padua university community.
At the end of the day, the two years of war on Mount Piana essentially led to nothing, the two contenders fought for two long years on a patch of land, without ever being able to subvert the enemy forces, and on 3 November 1917 the positions on the plain were abandoned by the Italian units to retreat and take sides on the Grappa line in an attempt to resist the Austro-Hungarian offensive in Caporetto
Between 1977 and 1981, on the initiative of the Austrian Colonel Walther Schaumann, the "Open-air Historical Museum of Monte Piana" was established and can be visited by all, free of charge. The works for the rearrangement of the trenches were carried out by the group "Friends of the Dolomites" (Dolomitenfreunde) with the reconstruction of the walkways, trenches, tunnels and stairways of the time. Every year since 1983, the restoration work of the trenches has been carried out during the first fifteen days of August, by the "Monte Piana Foundation" and the "Friends of the Dolomites" (who for the occasion formed the "Gruppo Volontari Amici del Piana" ")
In 1981, during the usual meeting on the first Sunday of September, dedicated to the commemoration of the fallen of Monte Piana, the "Friends of the Dolomites" handed over the open-air Historical Museum to the "Monte Piana Foundation", which then work area. In 1983, the newly established "Gruppo Volontari Amici del Piana" began its patient work of intervention on those elements that are damaged every year by bad weather and thaw.
Since that year, the volunteers are committed to faithfully reconstructing the sections of dry stone wall that collapsed during the winter; they recover what remains of the old shelters, restore the wooden structure and carry out a radical cleaning of the mountain from waste, in respect of the fact that this site has become a protected area. In addition, the access paths from the surrounding valleys are maintained and the relative signs are taken care of, currently assisted by retired colonel Elio Scarpa.
In 1986 the Group dedicated its name to the recently deceased vice president of the "Monte Piana Foundation", Elio Scarpa, who was thus given the credit for having made possible the launch of this initiative. But support for the work also came from the Italian army at the hands of the Alpine Troops Command, so the group of volunteers can use, during the work, an off-road vehicle, tents and various materials, in addition to valid help. of the military personnel placed at its disposal, for a collaboration that continues today.
(Wikipedia)
The Dürrenstein (Italian: Picco di Vallandro; German: Dürrenstein) is a mountain in the Dolomites in South Tyrol, Italy.
(Wikipedia)
Der Monte Piana ist ein 2.324 Meter hoher Berg in den Sextner Dolomiten an der Grenze zwischen den italienischen Provinzen Südtirol und Belluno, Italien, nördlich des Misurinasees. Der Plateauberg trägt noch den Monte Piano genannten Nordgipfel (2305 m). Der allein stehende Berg ist umgeben von den Drei Zinnen im Osten, der Cristallogruppe, der Cadini-Gruppe und dem Dürrenstein. Die Südtiroler Anteile des Bergs sind im Naturpark Drei Zinnen unter Schutz gestellt.
Im Ersten Weltkrieg war der Berg zwischen Österreichern und Italienern heftig umkämpft (siehe dazu auch den Artikel Gebirgskrieg 1915–1918). Der Nordgipfel Monte Piano war von den Österreichern, der südliche Hauptgipfel von den Italienern besetzt. Auf dem hochplateauartigen Gipfelbereich zeugen die Stellungsanlagen, Schützengräben und Stollen beider Seiten, die sich teilweise nur wenige Meter gegenüberlagen, davon noch heute. Auf einem 1977 bis 1982 vom Verein der Dolomitenfreunde angelegten Historischen Rundweg können diese besichtigt werden.
Ein leichter Anstieg auf den Berg erfolgt vom Süden her zum Rifugio Angelo Bosi (2.205 m), bis zur Hütte als asphaltierte Fahrstraße. Die übrigen Auf- und Abstiege über den Touristensteig und den Pionierweg erfordern Trittsicherheit. Der Dolomiten-Höhenweg 3 überquert den Berg.
Zum Gedenken an die Rolle des Monte Piano als Kriegsschauplatz 1915–1917 wählte der Ausmusterungsjahrgang 2000 der Theresianischen Militärakademie in Wiener Neustadt den Namen „Jahrgang Monte Piano“.
(Wikipedia)
Der Dürrenstein (italienisch Picco di Vallandro) ist ein 2839 m hoher Berg in den Pragser Dolomiten in Südtirol (Italien). Er erhebt sich im Bergkamm zwischen dem Pragser Tal und dem Höhlensteintal und ist Teil des Naturparks Fanes-Sennes-Prags.
Der Dürrenstein ist in einer unschwierigen Bergtour, die allerdings Trittsicherheit erfordert, über das Almgebiet der Plätzwiese (rund 2000 m) mit der Dürrensteinhütte zu erreichen. Alternativ erfolgt der Aufstieg von der Passhöhe Im Gemärk auf einer Höhe von 1530 m. Der Dürrenstein ist vor allem auch im Winter ein sehr beliebtes Ziel für viele Skitourengeher oder Schneeschuhwanderer, welche entweder direkt von Brückele in Prags aus aufsteigen, oder von der Plätzwiese aus. Östlich vom Dürrenstein befindet sich der Gipfel der Helltaler Schlechten, auch diese sehr beliebt für Wintertouren.
(Wikipedia)
The Afsluitdijk provides a road link between the provinces of Friesland and North Holland. Since North Holland was part of Vesting Holland ("Fortress Holland"), the national redoubt of the Netherlands at the time, and control of the sluices in the Afsluitdijk was necessary for planned defensive inundations in case of a military invasion, Kornwerderzand was considered strategically important by the Dutch government. From 1931 onwards, fortifications consisting of seventeen casemates and three bunkers were constructed. The position was manned with approximately 220 troops in 1939.
During the German invasion of the Netherlands in World War II, the Kornwerderzand position was defended by Dutch troops. On May 13 and May 14, 1940, the fortifications were attacked by the German first Cavalry Division, while the Luftwaffe attacked supporting Dutch naval units. The German troops, initially lacking support by heavy artillery, were unable to take the position. The fortifications also withstood attacks by dive bombers. The next day the Dutch military in the Netherlands (except for the province of Zealand) surrendered, and the battle ended with the surrender of the position.
In 1943, the occupying German military improved the defenses by building three additional bunkers.
Nowadays, some of the fortifications can be visited as part of the Kazemattenmuseum ("casemate museum").
The Ottawa River (French: Rivière des Outaouais, Algonquin: Kitchissippi), is a river in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. For most of its length, it defines the border between these two provinces.
The Eastern Seaboard from North Carolina through the Maritime Provinces of Canada are being smashed by a huge winter storm. In response to that calamity, here’s an image that might make things a little more tolerable. View large!
Not all snowflakes are this symmetrical and beautiful, especially when you have high winds and heavy snowfall. Those people in New York will likely be seeing fragments of crystals and heavily “rimed” snowflakes due the transition of rain over the ocean to snow when the storm hits land. Radar shows me the coast being hit with freezing rain and ice – be careful out there! Not all snow is beautiful and harmless, some can be ugly and even deadly.
Heavily rimed snow happens when water droplets cool to below the freezing point but are still liquid until they come in contact with something. You can do this experiment with beer, too: www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0fURJg-K0A – until agitated and forced to begin freezing, it’ll remain a liquid below its normal freezing point. These water droplets collide with a snowflake and freeze on impact, resulting in a tiny “wart” appearing on the crystal. Add a thousand collisions and you have a lumpy blob of ice falling to the ground. This type of snow usually packs pretty densely together, and that’s a problem.
If you then have the “light and fluffy” snow, like the kind seen in this image, the intricate branches often interlock with other falling crystals and don’t pack together tightly at all. The overall snowfall is much less dense, and the disparity in density is what causes slab avalanches, among other things. We won’t see much of that on the East Coast right now, but the structure of snow on a microscopic level can play a huge role on a drastically larger scale.
This particular snowflake has some very interesting features, including a very noticeable “branch split”. If you look at the broadest part of the main branches, you’ll realize that the side-branches and continued growth are actually starting from a layer underneath. This happens when a cavity starts to form on the growing edge of a snowflake (this is how bubbles form in the ice) that grows so large that it encompasses all three outward-growing corners, effectively splitting the branch into two parallel planes of growth. The bottom plane was growing faster, possibly due to being thinner (the “knife edge instability”) but the top was still able to grow in some direction as well – backward.
Just as a snowflake can grow outward, it can grow in any direction where there is available water vapour. Sometimes this means that branches will start to grow backward to fill in a void in the crystal where water vapour was still in relative abundance. These branches are usually broad and chiseled due to their slower growth… and it all adds up to the beautiful science of snow.
When you’re digging out from this horrible storm, just remember: some of those near-infinite number of snowflakes might just look like this, especially at the tail end of the storm or if you’re further inland.
If you’d like to know more about the science of snowflakes with an exhaustive and comprehensive tutorial on how to photograph and edit these little gems, check out my book Sky Crystals:
Hardcover: www.skycrystals.ca/book/
eBook: www.skycrystals.ca/ebook/
Other things you might be interested in:
2018 Ice Crystals Coin from the Royal Canadian Mint featuring my snowflakes: www.mint.ca/store/coins/coin-prod3040427
“The Snowflake” print, taking 2500 hours to create: skycrystals.ca/product/poster-proof/
Photo Geek Weekly, my new podcast: www.photogeekweekly.com/
Italien / Südtirol - Hohe Gaisl
seen from Monte Piana
gesehen vom Monte Piana
Monte Piana is a 2,324-metre (7,625 ft) tall mountain in the Sexten Dolomites and located on the border between the provinces of South Tyrol and Belluno. The smaller Northern summit of the mountain is named Monte Piano (2,305m).
During the so-called "White War" in World War I the mountain was hotly contested between the Austrian and Italian Armies. The Austrians had occupied the Northern summit Monte Piano, while the Southern summit Monte Piana was in Italian hands. Today many remnants of the fierce fighting can still be found on both summits.
History
When Italy declared war on Austria-Hungary on 24 May 1915, seven / eight battalions of the thirty-five stationed between San Candido and the Stelvio were sent to Monte Piana and its valleys. Monte Piana was part of the operational sector of the IV Army commanded by Lieutenant General Luigi Nava, whose units were divided into two sectors, Cordevole and Cadore, the first belonging to the IX Corps and the second, of which part of the sector of Monte Piana, under the jurisdiction of the 1st Army Corps commanded by Lieutenant General Ottavio Ragni. On 24 May the Piana was occupied by two platoons of Alpine troops of the 96th company, Pieve di Cadore battalion, of the 7th regiment. Other Alpini of the 67th company around 08:30 were hit by an artillery shell fired from Monte Rudo while they were working on the road from Misurina to Monte Piana; they were the first Italians to fall on a mountain that in less than two years made about 14,000 victims from both sides. Here, on 7 June 1915, second lieutenant Antonio De Toni (7th regiment, 268th company, batt. Val Piave) was fatally wounded, the first to be killed in the Padua university community.
At the end of the day, the two years of war on Mount Piana essentially led to nothing, the two contenders fought for two long years on a patch of land, without ever being able to subvert the enemy forces, and on 3 November 1917 the positions on the plain were abandoned by the Italian units to retreat and take sides on the Grappa line in an attempt to resist the Austro-Hungarian offensive in Caporetto
Between 1977 and 1981, on the initiative of the Austrian Colonel Walther Schaumann, the "Open-air Historical Museum of Monte Piana" was established and can be visited by all, free of charge. The works for the rearrangement of the trenches were carried out by the group "Friends of the Dolomites" (Dolomitenfreunde) with the reconstruction of the walkways, trenches, tunnels and stairways of the time. Every year since 1983, the restoration work of the trenches has been carried out during the first fifteen days of August, by the "Monte Piana Foundation" and the "Friends of the Dolomites" (who for the occasion formed the "Gruppo Volontari Amici del Piana" ")
In 1981, during the usual meeting on the first Sunday of September, dedicated to the commemoration of the fallen of Monte Piana, the "Friends of the Dolomites" handed over the open-air Historical Museum to the "Monte Piana Foundation", which then work area. In 1983, the newly established "Gruppo Volontari Amici del Piana" began its patient work of intervention on those elements that are damaged every year by bad weather and thaw.
Since that year, the volunteers are committed to faithfully reconstructing the sections of dry stone wall that collapsed during the winter; they recover what remains of the old shelters, restore the wooden structure and carry out a radical cleaning of the mountain from waste, in respect of the fact that this site has become a protected area. In addition, the access paths from the surrounding valleys are maintained and the relative signs are taken care of, currently assisted by retired colonel Elio Scarpa.
In 1986 the Group dedicated its name to the recently deceased vice president of the "Monte Piana Foundation", Elio Scarpa, who was thus given the credit for having made possible the launch of this initiative. But support for the work also came from the Italian army at the hands of the Alpine Troops Command, so the group of volunteers can use, during the work, an off-road vehicle, tents and various materials, in addition to valid help. of the military personnel placed at its disposal, for a collaboration that continues today.
(Wikipedia)
Hohe Gaisl (Croda Rossa d'Ampezzo in Italian), (3,146m) is a mountain in the northern Dolomites, on the border of South Tyrol and Veneto, in northern Italy, located between the Braies Valley and the Val di Landro.
It lies as an imposing and prominent mountain, dominating the valleys underneath it. Its summit has a pyramid shape, and the mountain's slopes glow a deep red colour, a feature it has in common with many Dolomite peaks. The mountain is rarely climbed as it is particularly prone to rockfall. It is more appreciated for its beauty.
(Wikipedia)
Der Monte Piana ist ein 2.324 Meter hoher Berg in den Sextner Dolomiten an der Grenze zwischen den italienischen Provinzen Südtirol und Belluno, Italien, nördlich des Misurinasees. Der Plateauberg trägt noch den Monte Piano genannten Nordgipfel (2305 m). Der allein stehende Berg ist umgeben von den Drei Zinnen im Osten, der Cristallogruppe, der Cadini-Gruppe und dem Dürrenstein. Die Südtiroler Anteile des Bergs sind im Naturpark Drei Zinnen unter Schutz gestellt.
Im Ersten Weltkrieg war der Berg zwischen Österreichern und Italienern heftig umkämpft (siehe dazu auch den Artikel Gebirgskrieg 1915–1918). Der Nordgipfel Monte Piano war von den Österreichern, der südliche Hauptgipfel von den Italienern besetzt. Auf dem hochplateauartigen Gipfelbereich zeugen die Stellungsanlagen, Schützengräben und Stollen beider Seiten, die sich teilweise nur wenige Meter gegenüberlagen, davon noch heute. Auf einem 1977 bis 1982 vom Verein der Dolomitenfreunde angelegten Historischen Rundweg können diese besichtigt werden.
Ein leichter Anstieg auf den Berg erfolgt vom Süden her zum Rifugio Angelo Bosi (2.205 m), bis zur Hütte als asphaltierte Fahrstraße. Die übrigen Auf- und Abstiege über den Touristensteig und den Pionierweg erfordern Trittsicherheit. Der Dolomiten-Höhenweg 3 überquert den Berg.
Zum Gedenken an die Rolle des Monte Piano als Kriegsschauplatz 1915–1917 wählte der Ausmusterungsjahrgang 2000 der Theresianischen Militärakademie in Wiener Neustadt den Namen „Jahrgang Monte Piano“.
(Wikipedia)
Die Hohe Gaisl (auch Geisel geschrieben, italienisch Croda Rossa d’Ampezzo) ist ein 3146 m hoher Berg in den Dolomiten.
Die Hohe Gaisl ist der höchste Gipfel der Pragser Dolomiten, sowie eines Gebirgsstocks, der den Grenzkamm zwischen Südtirol und der Provinz Belluno bildet. Im Norden fällt das Massiv zum Pragser Tal ab, im Süden und Westen zum Valle del Boite, im Osten zum Höhlensteintal. Administrativ ist der Berg zwischen den Gemeinden Prags, Cortina d’Ampezzo und Toblach aufgeteilt. Die zur Südtiroler Seite abfallenden Flanken sind im Naturpark Fanes-Sennes-Prags unter Schutz gestellt.
Der Gipfel der Hohen Gaisl ist der südöstliche Eckpfeiler eines grob von Nordwest nach Südost ziehenden und stetig höher werdenden Gebirgsstocks. Die nächstgelegenen Gipfel nordwestlich sind die Hohe Schlechtgaisl (2967 m) und die Kleine Gaisl (2860 m). Am einfachsten zugänglich ist er von Osten, vom Übergang des Gemärkpasses und vom Hochplateau der Plätzwiese aus.
Die Hohe Gaisl gilt wegen ihrer Einsamkeit und der Brüchigkeit des Gesteins bereits auf ihrem Normalweg als anspruchsvollster Dreitausender der Dolomiten. Ihre Erstbesteigung erfolgte 1865 durch Paul Grohmann, Angelo Pizzo und Fulgentio Dimai, die allerdings lediglich einen Vorgipfel erreichten. Der Hauptgipfel wurde erst fünf Jahre später durch Santo Siorpaes mit Begleitern erstiegen.
(Wikipedia)
Italien / Toskana - Chianti
Gaiole in Chianti
Chianti (Italian pronunciation: [ˈkjanti]), in Italy also referred to as Monti del Chianti ("Chianti Mountains") or Colline del Chianti ("Chianti Hills"), is a mountainous area of Tuscany in the provinces of Florence, Siena and Arezzo, composed mainly of hills and mountains. It is known for the wine produced in and named for the region, Chianti.
History
The territory of Chianti was initially limited, in the thirteenth century, by the municipalities of Gaiole in Chianti, Radda in Chianti and Castellina in Chianti and thus defined the "Chianti League" (Lega di Chianti).
Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, even decided in 1716 to issue an edict in which he officially recognized the boundaries of the Chianti district, which was the first legal document in the world to define a wine production area.
The villages of Chianti are often characterized by Romanesque churches and fortified medieval castles, signs of the ancient wars between Siena and Florence or as Monteriggioni, a fortified village north of Siena, on the ancient Via Cassia that leads to Florence.
In 1932, the wine designation specified the production limits for Chianti Classico, which is a DOCG (in Italian "Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita", governed by Italian regulations).
Geography
In addition to the cities already mentioned at the origin of this region, the city of Greve in Chianti radically expresses its connection directly in its name or as Impruneta which claims the name Impruneta in Chianti although it is not an official designation.
Agriculture
Like all rural regions of Tuscany, there is no monoculture and there are vineyards, olive trees, cereals and potatoes.
Silviculture
In the lower hills, there is the exploitation of oak woods, on the higher hills those of chestnut and holm oaks. Everywhere there are cypresses.
Viticulture
The name of Chianti wine refers to a region strictly located in the provinces of Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Pistoia, Pisa and Prato.
Cities in the region with explicit reference in their names:
Greve in Chianti and its hamlets: Panzano in Chianti, San Polo in Chianti
Radda in Chianti
Gaiole in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
(Wikipedia)
Das Chianti-Gebiet [ˈkjantigəˌbiːt], auch Colline del Chianti (Chianti-Hügel) oder Monti del Chianti (Chianti-Berge) genannt, ist eine Hügelkette (Gebirgskette) im Zentrum der Toskana, in der schon seit Jahrhunderten Chianti-Wein produziert wird. Das Weinbaugebiet macht ca. ein Drittel der gesamten Toskana aus.
Geografie
Das Kerngebiet der Hügelkette teilt sich in die Gebiete Chianti fiorentino und Chianti senese auf. Hierbei liegt der fiorentinische Teil am südöstlichen Rand der Metropolitanstadt Florenz und umfasst die Gemeinden Barberino Val d’Elsa, Greve in Chianti, San Casciano in Val di Pesa und Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. Der senesische Teil liegt im Nordosten der Provinz Siena und umfasst Castellina in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Gaiole in Chianti, Poggibonsi und Radda in Chianti. Der sogenannte Chianti aretino ist der westliche Teil der Provinz Arezzo zwischen Arno und Chianti und gehört nicht zum Kerngebiet. Ihm gehören die Gemeinden Cavriglia, Bucine, Pergine Valdarno, Montevarchi und San Giovanni Valdarno an. Diese liegen geografisch gesehen im westlichen Valdarno[ (Arnotal).
Das Chianti-Gebiet umfasst im Westen Teile des Elsatals (Val d’Elsa) und des Pesatals (Val di Pesa), im Norden das Grevetal (Val di Greve), im Osten Teile des Arnotals (Valdarno) und des Ambratals (Val d’Ambra bzw. Valdambra). Im Südosten grenzt der Chianti an die Crete Senesi, im Südwesten an die Montagnola Senese.
In den Hügeln des Chianti entspringen die Flüsse bzw. Torrenti Ambra, Arbia, Bozzone, Greve, Ombrone, Pesa und Staggia. Zudem durchfließt im Westen der Elsa aus Süden und der Montagnola Senese kommend das Gebiet, das im Norden und Nordosten teilweise an den Arno grenzt.
Höchste Erhebung im Chianti-Gebiet ist der Berg Monte San Michele, der im Gemeindegebiet von Greve in Chianti liegt. Er erreicht eine Höhe von 893 Metern.
Geschichte
Das Gebiet wurde zuerst von den Etruskern und danach von den Römern besiedelt. Beide Kulturen hinterließen viele Spuren – auch, was den Weinbau angeht. Erstmals dokumentiert wurde das Gebiet als Clanti im 8. Jahrhundert. Im Mittelalter kämpften Florenz und Siena um die Vorherrschaft in diesem Gebiet. Der Name "Chianti" (Lega del Chianti) stand ursprünglich für einen Militärbund der Städte Radda, Castellina und Gaiole, der im 13. Jahrhundert entstand. Später wurde der Name auf immer größere Gebiete ausgeweitet. Dörfer und Klöster, Burgen und Festungen wurden in dieser Zeit errichtet, die dann später, als es wieder friedlicher wurde, in Landgüter und Villen umgewandelt wurden. In dieser Zeit fanden umfangreiche Waldrodungen statt, um Olivenhaine und Weinberge anzulegen. Diese Veränderungen brachten wirtschaftliche Erfolge und internationalen Ruhm für die Region.
Gesamtes Chianti-Gebiet (Weinbau)
Das gesamte Chianti-Gebiet erstreckt sich von Pisa (im Nordwesten) bis Montalcino (im Südosten) und ist offiziell in neun Untergebiete geteilt:
Chianti Classico (siehe unten)
Chianti Rufina (um Pontassieve)
Chianti Colline Pisane (um Pisa)
Chianti Montalbano (um Carmignano)
Chianti Colli Fiorentini (um Florenz)
Chianti Colli Senesi (um Siena)
Chianti Aretini (um Arezzo)
Chianti Montespertoli
Weinbau im Chianti-Classico-Gebiet
Es ist im Norden begrenzt von den Vororten von Florenz, im Osten von den Chianti-Bergen, im Süden von Siena und im Westen von den Tälern der Flüsse Pesa und Elsa. Es ist das Kernland des Chianti-Gebietes. Eine 70 km lange Weinstraße (die „Via Chiantigiana“, SS 222) verbindet die beiden großen Städte und führt durch eine großartige Kulturlandschaft. An der Straße liegen viele bekannte Weinorte aufgereiht wie an einer Perlenkette. Nur ein Zehntel des sehr waldigen Gebiets (insgesamt ca. 70.000 Hektar) wird für Weinbau verwendet. Der Gallo Nero (= „Schwarzer Hahn“) ist das Kennzeichen der Chianti-Classico-Weine. Das Consorzio del Marchio Storico Chianti Classico wacht über die Einhaltung der Regeln für guten Chianti.
(Wikipedia)
The Chianti area extends over the provinces of Florence and Siena, covering all of the area between the two cities and extending to the east toward the Valdarno and to the west to the Val d'Elsa.
The area of Chianti is one of the production areas most renowned for its tradition and quality of its wines.
The area is very picturesque in autumn, when the leaves and the vineyards are changing their color.
Chianti is a red Italian wine produced in Tuscany. The first definition of a wine-area called Chianti was made in 1716. The earliest documentation of a Chianti wine dates back to the thirteenth century when viticulture was known to flourish in the Chianti Mountains around Florence. Discover the most celebrated region of Tuscany. The vineyards of this area produce one of the best wines in the world: Chianti Classico. This Wine represents a major source of wealth for the Chianti area, no wonder then that this product has been particularly looked after and protected, in order to distinguish its quality from other wine productions. This is why a rigid legislation has been introduced to regulate the production of Classic Chianti. The first limit obviously regards the geographical area where the grape must grow. But not only the vineyards must be cultivated in the prescribed area: the whole process of wine-making, storage and bottling must take place inside the protected zone. The grape variety from which Chianti is produced is Sangiovese. The alcoholic strength must not exceed 12 %. In addition to this, there are other requirements that must be followed, regarding the average amount of dry product (24 g/l); the acidity rate (4,5 g/l), the colour (intense ruby red), the smell (fruity, with nuances of wildflowers, berries, cherries or plums) and taste (harmonious, dry, strong and with respectable tannin).
As a child, I grew up in the southern part of my country - scenes like these are abundant, and whenever I get the opportunity to see one, I get tears in my eyes - the innocence of childhood, the beauty of our provinces - freedom unparalleled – all bring back memories of a wonderful past.
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EXPLORE 75
Province of Quebec is one of the tenth provinces of Canada. Quebec is located at the East of Canada. Its neighbors are New Brunswich at the South East; Newfoundland at the East; Ontario at the West; United States at the South (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and New York State) and finally Nunavut Territory at the North. Population is around 8 millions. The capital is Quebec City and the Metroplole is Montreal with its 3.5 millions people. The territory of Quebec is very large, many thousands of square kilometers. Totality of France territory could enter three times in the province of Quebec. This province is the only one in Canada who has a majority of French speaking persons (more than 80% of the Quebec population speaks French). Quebec celebrates its national day on June 24th each year. Welcome in Quebec where American, English and French cultures are always at the rendez-vous. :)
La province de Québec est une des 10 provinces qui forment le Canada. Le Québec est situé à l'est du pays. Ses voisins limitrophes sont au sud-est le Nouveau Brunswich; à l'est Terre Neuve; à l'ouest l'Ontario; au sud les États-Unis (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont et l'état de New York); et enfin au nord par le territoire du Nunavut. Le Québec est habité par environ 8 millions de personnes. Sa capitale est la ville de Québec et sa métropole est Montréal qui compte près de 3.5 millions d'habitants. Le territoire du Québec peut inclure trois fois le territoire complet de la France. Cette province est la seule du Canada dont la majorité de la population parle le français comme langue d'usage (80% de la population parle français). Le Québec célèbre sa fête nationale le 24 juin de chaque année. Bienvenue au Québec, là où les cultures américaine, anglaise et française sont toujours au rendez-vous. :)
photo rights reserved by B℮n
The province of Nan is located in the north of Thailand and borders Laos. It is one of the lesser known provinces of Thailand, but is known for its natural beauty, rich culture and ancient history. It's a great place to visit if you're looking for adventure and relaxation in nature. Road 1256 passes through the mountains of Nan and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding nature. Almost the most beautiful road in Thailand, the view on the side of the road is very beautiful, if you go during the rainy season, the atmosphere will be very good. You can see the green along the two sides of the road on the ridge. In some parts you can see the beautiful view of rice fields over the hills. It may be overgrown on some parts of the road. There are several interesting sights and activities to enjoy along the way. It's great for bird watching, camping, and hiking, and you're unlikely to meet many other people while exploring. You can also visit the Doi Phu Kha National Park, which is known for its beautiful waterfalls, lush forests and spectacular views. Wonderfully cool weather all year round. In addition, there are also several hill tribe villages along the way, where you have the chance to experience the local culture and traditions.
Thailand is home to several beautiful national parks that showcase the country's diverse natural beauty. The Doi Phu Kha National Park is located near the border between Thailand and Laos. The National Park is also home to the highest mountain peak and beautiful waterfalls. Sapan Waterfall, also known as Mae Charim Waterfall, is a beautiful waterfall surrounded by lush green mountains and lush natural landscapes. The waterfall is located deep in the mountains and is surrounded by lush tropical jungle, making for an enchanting landscape. The waterfall consists of several levels, with water flowing down large rock formations. Each tier of the waterfall offers great views and swimming opportunities. The sound of running water and the fresh mountain air create a serene and tranquil environment where you can relax and enjoy the natural beauty. To reach the waterfall, you must follow a path that winds through the lush jungle. It can be an adventurous journey, but the reward of reaching the waterfall is totally worth it. Along the way, enjoy the region's abundant flora and fauna, including exotic birds and wildlife. If you want to experience the beauty of nature and take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Sapan Waterfall in Nan Province, Thailand is a great destination to visit.
De provincie Nan is gelegen in het noorden van Thailand en grenst aan Laos. Het is één van de minder bekende provincies van Thailand, maar staat bekend om zijn natuurlijke schoonheid, rijke cultuur en oude geschiedenis. De weg 1256 loopt door de bergen van Nan en biedt een adembenemend uitzicht op de omliggende natuur. Bijna de mooiste weg in Thailand, het uitzicht aan de kant van de weg is erg mooi, als je tijdens het regenseizoen gaat, zal de sfeer erg goed zijn. Je ziet het groen langs de twee kanten van de weg op de bergkam. Het is geweldig om vogels te spotten, te kamperen en te wandelen, en het is onwaarschijnlijk dat je veel andere mensen tegenkomt tijdens het verkennen. Je kunt ook een bezoek brengen aan de Doi Phu Kha National Park, dat bekend staat om zijn prachtige watervallen, weelderige bossen en spectaculaire uitzichten. Heerlijk koel weer het hele jaar door. Het Nationaal Park is ook de thuisbasis van, de hoogste bergtop in de provincie en prachtige watervallen. De Sapan-waterval, ook bekend als de Mae Charim-waterval, is een prachtige waterval gelegen omringd door weelderige groene bergen en weelderige natuurlijke landschappen. De waterval ligt diep in de bergen en wordt omgeven door weelderige tropische jungle, wat zorgt voor een betoverend landschap. De waterval bestaat uit verschillende niveaus, met water dat langs grote rotsformaties naar beneden stroomt. Elke laag van de waterval biedt een prachtig uitzicht en zwemgelegenheid. Het geluid van stromend water en de frisse berglucht creëren een serene en rustige omgeving waarin 'je kunt ontspannen en genieten van de natuurlijke schoonheid. Om de waterval te bereiken, moet je een pad volgen dat door de weelderige jungle slingert. Het kan een avontuurlijke tocht zijn, maar de beloning van het bereiken van de waterval is absoluut de moeite waard. Onderweg kun je genieten van de overvloedige flora en fauna van de regio, inclusief exotische vogels en wilde dieren. Als je de schoonheid van de natuur wilt ervaren en even wilt ontsnappen aan de drukte van het dagelijks leven, is de Sapan-waterval in de provincie Nan, Thailand, een geweldige bestemming om te bezoeken.
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Please take your time... and enjoy it large on black
Buddhism in Laos is largely of the Theravada school. Nearly 60% of the Lao population is Buddhist of the Theravada school, though Buddhism in this country has become integrated with folk beliefs such as ancestor worship. Buddhism was based on the religious movement founded in the sixth century B.C. by Siddhartha , later known as the Buddha, who urged the world to relinquish the extremes of sensuality and self-mortification and follow the enlightened Middle Way...... The focus of this religion is on man, not gods; the assumption is that life is pain or suffering, which is a consequence of craving, and that suffering can end only if desire ceases. The end of suffering is the achievement of nirvana often defined as the absence of craving and therefore of suffering, sometimes as enlightenment. Like in most other Theravada nations, Buddhism in Laos is represented primarily by the presence of Buddhist monks, who serve as officiants on ceremonial occasions, as well as being responsible for preserving and conveying the teachings of the Buddha.
A recent monk workshop was held by Mlup Baitong to increase awareness of the local provincial authorities and people regarding dolphin and fish conservation because most Laotians and Cambodians have unlimitedly belief on Buddhist religion. There are only 64 or 65 irrawaddy dolphins left in the Mekong river in Southeast Asia and is classified as a critically endangered species. A number of monks here at the border of Laos and Cambodia are already available for raising awareness as well as teaching materials. The monks encourage a dialogue here in Kratie and Stung Treng Provinces to elicit their support for the dolphin conservation and to extend the general public support. Above photo shows Saffron-cloaked monks on a slow boat at the Mekong River near the border of Laos - Cambodia. There are only 12 dolphins left in this area and a few more further down stream in Kratie - Cambodia. Many temples are build next to the river since transport in Laos via the river is faster than by road. Laos is truly a Mekong country, the river runs its full length. We had a friendly chat with the local people and monks. Lao monks are very friendly and approachable. We donated some money to this Buddhist community. We hope the monk workshop will help the Irrawaddy dophins to survive. Most people donate food to the monks to gain merit and improve their karma. The temples of Laos were once seen as "Universities" for monks. Lao monks are highly respected and revered in Lao communities. Many of the novice monks come from poor villages throughout Laos and live and study.
Een groot deel van de Laostiaase bevolking, zo’n 60% is boeddhist. Men hangt het zogenaamde Teravada-boeddhisme. In het Theravada wordt meditatie benadrukt als een essentieel onderdeel van het pad naar verlichting, samen met moreel gedrag en wijsheid. Het brengen van een einde aan het lijden is het hoofddoel van het Theravada boeddhisme. De Boeddha legde verder een zeer gedetailleerde gedragscode voor de Monniken neer: de Vinaya. Over het algemeen worden monniken door de Boeddha aangemoedigd om wereldse aangelegenheden en passies achter zich te laten, zodat zij gemakkelijker in staat zijn een staat van vrede en wijsheid te bereiken, en sterke ongezonde emoties zoals haat, verlangen en lust te overwinnen. Een Monnik zoals hierboven in z'n oranje gewaad, kaalgeschoren en met sandalen aan de voeten is niet meer weg te denken uit het straatbeeld van Laos.
I really enjoy photographing in foggy, murky, misty weather because of the soft lighting and lack of harsh sunlight. Beautiful color saturation and the lack of strong shadows can really have you come away with great images, especially if you enjoy photographic "beach-combing". On this occasion the conditions were ideal, until the murk became mist, which turned into a downpour of cold rain that continued off and on for several days.
Here's a camera club friend getting ready to return to our vehicle after heavy rain became a bit too much to put up with. On this occasion there wasn't a breath of wind, the torrential rain coming straight down, making it just barely possible to work with an umbrella. Eventually, we got soaked anyway from moving through wet grass and bushes.
As I'm typing this in my computer room, I can smell the pungent aroma of wildfire smoke from huge fires in Nova Scotia. The largest, in Shelburne County, is about 300miles northeast of my location here just north of Boston. The smell isn't the burning leaves odor you get when folks do yard work in the fall, or the campfire scent familiar to folks who camp and cook outdoors. This acrid scent is what you get when multiple structures have been destroyed, an almost sickening mix of odors from the burning of all sorts of man-made materials, familiar to almost any firefighter who has been called out to a structure fire. Both the fire west of Halifax and the larger one in the southern area of the province are still out of control, and will be for some time, The maritime provinces are in desperate need of an extended period of soaking rain. Several days of the kind shown in my pic would be a blessing.
Taken years ago with my old Kodak DX6490 point & shoot camera.
100-5960
Panorama 14,044x4,593 Pixels : Savanna of Thailand : I drove from Bangkok midnight to Phetchabun is one of the northern provinces of Thailand distance 450 km. for take photo the sunrise at Tung Salang Luang
Thung Salaeng Luang National Park is a national park located in the Phitsanulok and Phetchabun Provinces of Thailand. It encompasses substantial portions of Amphoe Wang Thong and Amphoe Lom Sak.
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Andalusia is located in southern Spain and covers an area of 8 provinces. Andalusia is the second largest autonomous region in Spain. Beautiful Andalucía, the land of olives, oranges, sunflowers, beautiful mountain ranges and valleys, nice white mountain villages with beautiful squares, is a bridge between two continents, Africa and Europe, and is the point where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea meet. There is something for everyone in Andalusia, from culture to beautiful terraces, sights, long beaches, beautiful inland areas with beautiful reservoirs, mountains and nice villages to visit. The capital of Andalusia is Seville. Another beautiful city of Andalusia is Granada. The crown jewel of Granada is undoubtedly the palace and fortress of Alhambra and is the most visited tourist attraction in Spain. It's an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stunning hilltop palace overlooks Granada and is visible from all over the city. It is both a palace and a fortress surrounded by walls and was the residence of Moorish rulers between the 13th and 15th centuries. The Cathedral of Granada was built on the site of the former Great Mosque. The first stone of the Cathedral of Granada was placed in 1523, but it was not finished until 1704, 181 years later. During your trip to Granada, you should definitely go on a stroll in the Albaicín neighborhood. It’s located on top of a hill, right across the Alhambra. Rising up on a hill facing the Alhambra, the Albaicín neighbourhood is made up of a network of winding streets and small squares which open up suddenly to wonderful views of the famous palace fortress - with the Sierra Nevada beyond.
The Cathedral of Granada was built upon the site of the Great Mosque with a clear message that after 600 years of Muslim dominance. Like all cathedrals it took many years to be constructed. The construction started in 1523 with the foundation and finished in 1704. It took in total 181 years to be built. The cupola is the most important part of the cathedral. It´s stained-glass windows gives a great amount of light. The stained-glass of the cathedral are full of complexity. They are like paintings on glass instead of a canvas. The iconography subjects of the main chapel represent the life, passion and death of Jesus Christ. The light entering through the windows seems to convey the message “Let there be light”. Below the stained-glass windows hangs a series of canvases painted by Alonso Cano. These are unique in the history of Spanish painting. These paintings celebrate the life of the Virgin Mary.
Andalusië ligt in zuid Spanje en beslaat een gebied van 8 provincies. Andalusië de op één na grootste autonome regio in Spanje en meer dan twee keer zo groot als Nederland. Het mooie Andalusië, het land van de olijven, sinaasappels, zonnebloemen, mooie bergketens en valleien, leuke witte bergdorpen met mooie pleintjes, is een brug tussen twee continenten, Afrika en Europa, en is het punt waar de Atlantische Oceaan en de Middellandse Zee elkaar ontmoeten. Er is voor elk wat wils in Andalusië, van cultuur tot mooie terrasjes, bezienswaardigheden, lange stranden, prachtige binnenlanden met mooie stuwmeren, bergen en leuke dorpen om te bezoeken. De hoofdstad van Andalusië is Sevilla. Een andere mooie stad van Andalusië is Granada. Deze stad ligt op een hoogte van 738 m. Het kroonjuweel van Granada is ongetwijfeld het paleis en fort van Alhambra en is de meest bezochte toeristische attractie in Spanje. Het is een UNESCO-werelderfgoed. Het prachtige paleis op een heuveltop kijkt uit over Granada en is zichtbaar vanuit de hele stad. Het is zowel een paleis als een fort omgeven door muren en was de residentie van de Nasrid-sultans tussen de 13e en 15e eeuw. De kathedraal van Granada werd gebouwd op de plaats van de voormalige Grote Moskee. De eerste steen van de kathedraal van Granada werd in 1523 geplaatst, maar deze werd pas in 1704, 181 jaar later, voltooid. De koepel is het belangrijkste deel van de kathedraal. De glas-in-loodramen geven veel licht. Het glas-in-lood van de kathedraal zit vol complexiteit. Het lijkt op een schilderij. De onderwerpen van de hoofdkapel vertegenwoordigen het leven, de passie en de dood van Jezus Christus. Het licht dat door de ramen binnenkomt lijkt de boodschap over te brengen: Laat er licht zijn. Onder de glas-in-loodramen hangen een reeks doeken geschilderd door Alonso Cano. Deze zijn uniek in de geschiedenis van de Spaanse schilderkunst. Deze schilderijen vieren het leven van de Maagd Maria.
...but soon you won't !
As seen at Kelliher, Saskatchewan from Via Rail's 'The Canadian' cross-country train we took from Vancouver, British Columbia to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in June 2023.
When I took this same train in 1970 there were these classic picturesque grain elevators, all with a rail siding connection, in every small farming community throughout the Prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Nowadays these elevator buildings are few and far between; reportedly fast disappearing. We noted every farm seems to have its own smaller, round steel sheds for storing its produce, presumably emptied into road transport trucks after harvest time.
On my photo can be seen the rail connection still in place, though badly overgrown, just in front of the 'Dry-Mor' drying equipment
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Andalusia is located in southern Spain and covers an area of 8 provinces. Andalusia is the second largest autonomous region in Spain. Beautiful Andalucía, the land of olives, oranges, sunflowers, beautiful mountain ranges and valleys, nice white mountain villages with beautiful squares, is a bridge between two continents, Africa and Europe, and is the point where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea meet. There is something for everyone in Andalusia, from culture to beautiful terraces, sights, long beaches, beautiful inland areas with beautiful reservoirs, mountains and nice villages to visit. The capital of Andalusia is Seville. Another beautiful city of Andalusia is Granada. The crown jewel of Granada is undoubtedly the palace and fortress of Alhambra and is the most visited tourist attraction in Spain. It's an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stunning hilltop palace overlooks Granada and is visible from all over the city. It is both a palace and a fortress surrounded by walls and was the residence of Moorish rulers between the 13th and 15th centuries. The Cathedral of Granada was built on the site of the former Great Mosque. The first stone of the Cathedral of Granada was placed in 1523, but it was not finished until 1704, 181 years later. During your trip to Granada, you should definitely go on a stroll in the Albaicín neighborhood. It’s located on top of a hill, right across the Alhambra. Rising up on a hill facing the Alhambra, the Albaicín neighbourhood is made up of a network of winding streets and small squares which open up suddenly to wonderful views of the famous palace fortress - with the Sierra Nevada beyond. I hope you like my collection of Granada. Thanks for all comments and faves. More photo's in my album: Andalusia - Spain
1. centre Admire the Gothic style of the Royal Chapel of Granada Cathedral, 2. top left The 14th century wall leads to Alhambra, 3. Panoramic zoom photo of Albaycin neighbourhoud, 4. The beautiful Albaicín neighborhood in Granada, 5. Youngsters at Mirador de San Miguel, 6. A stroll in Albaicín with a view on Granada Cathedral, 7. Plaza de las Pasiegas, 8. Mirador San Nicolás in Granada, 9. RETABLO DE SANTIAGO MATAMOROS, 10. Mezquita Mayor de Granada, 11. Facade of the Granada Cathedral, 12. Enjoying breakfast with coffee and Spanish newspaper in Albaicín, 13. Parroquia del Salvador on top of Albaicín neighbourhoud
Andalusië ligt in zuid Spanje en beslaat een gebied van 8 provincies. Andalusië de op één na grootste autonome regio in Spanje en meer dan twee keer zo groot als Nederland. Het mooie Andalusië, het land van de olijven, sinaasappels, zonnebloemen, mooie bergketens en valleien, leuke witte bergdorpen met mooie pleintjes, is een brug tussen twee continenten, Afrika en Europa, en is het punt waar de Atlantische Oceaan en de Middellandse Zee elkaar ontmoeten. Er is voor elk wat wils in Andalusië, van cultuur tot mooie terrasjes, bezienswaardigheden, lange stranden, prachtige binnenlanden met mooie stuwmeren, bergen en leuke dorpen om te bezoeken. De hoofdstad van Andalusië is Sevilla. Een andere mooie stad van Andalusië is Granada. Deze stad ligt op een hoogte van 738 m. Het kroonjuweel van Granada is ongetwijfeld het paleis en fort van Alhambra en is de meest bezochte toeristische attractie in Spanje. Het is een UNESCO-werelderfgoed. Het prachtige paleis op een heuveltop kijkt uit over Granada en is zichtbaar vanuit de hele stad. Het is zowel een paleis als een fort omgeven door muren en was de residentie van de Nasrid-sultans tussen de 13e en 15e eeuw. De kathedraal van Granada werd gebouwd op de plaats van de voormalige Grote Moskee. De eerste steen van de kathedraal van Granada werd in 1523 geplaatst, maar deze werd pas in 1704, 181 jaar later, voltooid. De koepel is het belangrijkste deel van de kathedraal. De glas-in-loodramen geven veel licht. Het glas-in-lood van de kathedraal zit vol complexiteit. Het lijkt op een schilderij. De onderwerpen van de hoofdkapel vertegenwoordigen het leven, de passie en de dood van Jezus Christus. Het licht dat door de ramen binnenkomt lijkt de boodschap over te brengen: Ik ben het licht van de wereld. Onder de glas-in-loodramen hangen een reeks doeken geschilderd door Alonso Cano. Deze zijn uniek in de geschiedenis van de Spaanse schilderkunst. Deze schilderijen vieren het leven van de Maagd Maria. Bedankt voor al je bezoekjes, comments en faves. Meer foto's te zien in mijn album: Andalusia - Spain
Created with fd's Flickr Toys
There are 82 provinces or govermental units. But the expression "in the provinces" means outside the city where it is small towns, farms and undeveloped natural areas.
Original Photo
I drove from Bangkok midnight to Phetchabun is one of the northern provinces of Thailand distance 450 km. for take photo the sunrise at Tung Salang Luang
Thung Salaeng Luang National Park is a national park located in the Phitsanulok and Phetchabun Provinces of Thailand. It encompasses substantial portions of Amphoe Wang Thong and Amphoe Lom Sak.
Available for licensing on Getty Images :
If you interested another photo please checking from my name : Nanut Bovorn >> My Getty Images
Please visit my >> Facebook Page
Join me on >> 500PX | My Facebook | Channel YouTube | Channel Vimeo | Google+ | Instagram
© photo rights reserved by B℮n
Andalusia is located in southern Spain and covers an area of 8 provinces. Andalusia is the second largest autonomous region in Spain. Beautiful Andalucía, the land of olives, oranges, sunflowers, beautiful mountain ranges and valleys, nice white mountain villages with beautiful squares, is a bridge between two continents, Africa and Europe, and is the point where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea meet. There is something for everyone in Andalusia, from culture to beautiful terraces, sights, long beaches, beautiful inland areas with beautiful reservoirs, mountains and nice villages to visit. The capital of Andalusia is Seville. La Alcaidesa is located in province of Cádiz. The natural topography allows the town to enjoy an enviable location overlooking the Mediterranean with easy access to Gibraltar. The popular beach called Playa de La Alcaidesa. A lovely long beach with spectacular views to the sea, Gibraltar and Africa.
Alcaidesa Beach is located at the western end of the Costa del Sol. Alcaidesa Beach boasts a wonderful location, with views from the gently sloping terrain down towards the Mediterranean Sea. Alcaidesa Beach affords spectacular views to the Mediterranean Sea and clean, sandy beaches. The Rock of Gibraltar, also known as the Rock, is located in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, near the southwestern tip of Europe
Andalusië ligt in zuid Spanje en beslaat een gebied van 8 provincies. Andalusië de op één na grootste autonome regio in Spanje en meer dan twee keer zo groot als Nederland. Het mooie Andalusië, het land van de olijven, sinaasappels, zonnebloemen, mooie bergketens en valleien, leuke witte bergdorpen met mooie pleintjes, is een brug tussen twee continenten, Afrika en Europa, en is het punt waar de Atlantische Oceaan en de Middellandse Zee elkaar ontmoeten. Er is voor elk wat wils in Andalusië, van cultuur tot mooie terrasjes, bezienswaardigheden, lange stranden, prachtige binnenlanden met mooie stuwmeren, bergen en leuke dorpen om te bezoeken. De hoofdstad van Andalusië is Sevilla. La Alcaidesa ligt in de provincie Cádiz. Een heerlijk strand met een spectaculair uitzicht op de zee, Gibraltar en Afrika. Het populaire strand genaamd Playa de La Alcaidesa. Het strand ligt aan het westelijke uiteinde van de Costa del Sol. Alcaidesa strand heeft een prachtige locatie, met uitzicht vanaf het zacht glooiende terrein naar de Middellandse Zee. De Rots van Gibraltar, ook bekend als de Rots, is gelegen in het Britse overzeese gebied Gibraltar, vlakbij het zuidwestelijke punt van Europa.
Flags of the provinces hang in front of Canada House (Maison du Canada) at Trafalgar Square.
This Greek Revival building was built in 1824-1827 and houses the High Commission of Canada to the United Kingdom.
London; July 2005
In the 16th century, the Provinces of the Low Countries atergeuzens’ere embroiled in a bitter struggle with the Spanish king. However, it wasn’t until 1568 that it turned into war – the Dutch Revolt, also known as the Eighty Years’ War.
Loevestein Castle was also involved in this battle for independence. The Spanish realized the importance of Loevestein’s strategic location and stationed their troops there. However, on 07 December 1570, a small group of Dutch buccaneers, known as the Watergeuzen (‘Sea Beggars’), cunningly managed to infiltrate the castle.
The Watergeuzen’s story didn’t end here however. In 1572, the Watergeuzen succeeded in taking Loevestein for good, whereby the castle passed into state hands. William of Orange had Loevestein Castle fortified, placing ramparts around the castle and in turn a moat around the ramparts.
Soldiers lived inside the ramparts – initially in wooden barracks and later in stone houses. The castle stood bare and empty in the centre of the fort. It seemed perfect for use as a prison. Virtually every room was used as a cell and the large hall on the second floor was divided into yet more cells using wooden partitions. This hall is still called Staatsgevangenis (State Prison) to this day.
Its prisoners weren’t criminals, but state prisoners of the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands. These included political and religious dissidents, as well as prisoners of war. Its most famous prisoner was Hugo Grotius (Dutch: Hugo de Groot) who put Loevestein on the map with his spectacular escape in a book chest.
On Explore! August 13, 2007. #147
Thank you very much to all of you my dear Flickr friends for your so kind comments!
Since four years we’ve access to our public fishing club the “Malin Pêcheur” by a forest roads! But we’ve still a lot of fishermen who comes by hydroplane! We’ve a lot of fishermen who comes not only from Quebec, but also from other Canada provinces, USA and Europe!
Discover the new Wild River collection here:
www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?MID=76d45ced-2f62-42...
Italien / Toskana - Chianti
Gaiole in Chianti
Chianti (Italian pronunciation: [ˈkjanti]), in Italy also referred to as Monti del Chianti ("Chianti Mountains") or Colline del Chianti ("Chianti Hills"), is a mountainous area of Tuscany in the provinces of Florence, Siena and Arezzo, composed mainly of hills and mountains. It is known for the wine produced in and named for the region, Chianti.
History
The territory of Chianti was initially limited, in the thirteenth century, by the municipalities of Gaiole in Chianti, Radda in Chianti and Castellina in Chianti and thus defined the "Chianti League" (Lega di Chianti).
Cosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, even decided in 1716 to issue an edict in which he officially recognized the boundaries of the Chianti district, which was the first legal document in the world to define a wine production area.
The villages of Chianti are often characterized by Romanesque churches and fortified medieval castles, signs of the ancient wars between Siena and Florence or as Monteriggioni, a fortified village north of Siena, on the ancient Via Cassia that leads to Florence.
In 1932, the wine designation specified the production limits for Chianti Classico, which is a DOCG (in Italian "Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita", governed by Italian regulations).
Geography
In addition to the cities already mentioned at the origin of this region, the city of Greve in Chianti radically expresses its connection directly in its name or as Impruneta which claims the name Impruneta in Chianti although it is not an official designation.
Agriculture
Like all rural regions of Tuscany, there is no monoculture and there are vineyards, olive trees, cereals and potatoes.
Silviculture
In the lower hills, there is the exploitation of oak woods, on the higher hills those of chestnut and holm oaks. Everywhere there are cypresses.
Viticulture
The name of Chianti wine refers to a region strictly located in the provinces of Florence, Siena, Arezzo, Pistoia, Pisa and Prato.
Cities in the region with explicit reference in their names:
Greve in Chianti and its hamlets: Panzano in Chianti, San Polo in Chianti
Radda in Chianti
Gaiole in Chianti
Castellina in Chianti
(Wikipedia)
Das Chianti-Gebiet [ˈkjantigəˌbiːt], auch Colline del Chianti (Chianti-Hügel) oder Monti del Chianti (Chianti-Berge) genannt, ist eine Hügelkette (Gebirgskette) im Zentrum der Toskana, in der schon seit Jahrhunderten Chianti-Wein produziert wird. Das Weinbaugebiet macht ca. ein Drittel der gesamten Toskana aus.
Geografie
Das Kerngebiet der Hügelkette teilt sich in die Gebiete Chianti fiorentino und Chianti senese auf. Hierbei liegt der fiorentinische Teil am südöstlichen Rand der Metropolitanstadt Florenz und umfasst die Gemeinden Barberino Val d’Elsa, Greve in Chianti, San Casciano in Val di Pesa und Tavarnelle Val di Pesa. Der senesische Teil liegt im Nordosten der Provinz Siena und umfasst Castellina in Chianti, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Gaiole in Chianti, Poggibonsi und Radda in Chianti. Der sogenannte Chianti aretino ist der westliche Teil der Provinz Arezzo zwischen Arno und Chianti und gehört nicht zum Kerngebiet. Ihm gehören die Gemeinden Cavriglia, Bucine, Pergine Valdarno, Montevarchi und San Giovanni Valdarno an. Diese liegen geografisch gesehen im westlichen Valdarno[ (Arnotal).
Das Chianti-Gebiet umfasst im Westen Teile des Elsatals (Val d’Elsa) und des Pesatals (Val di Pesa), im Norden das Grevetal (Val di Greve), im Osten Teile des Arnotals (Valdarno) und des Ambratals (Val d’Ambra bzw. Valdambra). Im Südosten grenzt der Chianti an die Crete Senesi, im Südwesten an die Montagnola Senese.
In den Hügeln des Chianti entspringen die Flüsse bzw. Torrenti Ambra, Arbia, Bozzone, Greve, Ombrone, Pesa und Staggia. Zudem durchfließt im Westen der Elsa aus Süden und der Montagnola Senese kommend das Gebiet, das im Norden und Nordosten teilweise an den Arno grenzt.
Höchste Erhebung im Chianti-Gebiet ist der Berg Monte San Michele, der im Gemeindegebiet von Greve in Chianti liegt. Er erreicht eine Höhe von 893 Metern.
Geschichte
Das Gebiet wurde zuerst von den Etruskern und danach von den Römern besiedelt. Beide Kulturen hinterließen viele Spuren – auch, was den Weinbau angeht. Erstmals dokumentiert wurde das Gebiet als Clanti im 8. Jahrhundert. Im Mittelalter kämpften Florenz und Siena um die Vorherrschaft in diesem Gebiet. Der Name "Chianti" (Lega del Chianti) stand ursprünglich für einen Militärbund der Städte Radda, Castellina und Gaiole, der im 13. Jahrhundert entstand. Später wurde der Name auf immer größere Gebiete ausgeweitet. Dörfer und Klöster, Burgen und Festungen wurden in dieser Zeit errichtet, die dann später, als es wieder friedlicher wurde, in Landgüter und Villen umgewandelt wurden. In dieser Zeit fanden umfangreiche Waldrodungen statt, um Olivenhaine und Weinberge anzulegen. Diese Veränderungen brachten wirtschaftliche Erfolge und internationalen Ruhm für die Region.
Gesamtes Chianti-Gebiet (Weinbau)
Das gesamte Chianti-Gebiet erstreckt sich von Pisa (im Nordwesten) bis Montalcino (im Südosten) und ist offiziell in neun Untergebiete geteilt:
Chianti Classico (siehe unten)
Chianti Rufina (um Pontassieve)
Chianti Colline Pisane (um Pisa)
Chianti Montalbano (um Carmignano)
Chianti Colli Fiorentini (um Florenz)
Chianti Colli Senesi (um Siena)
Chianti Aretini (um Arezzo)
Chianti Montespertoli
Weinbau im Chianti-Classico-Gebiet
Es ist im Norden begrenzt von den Vororten von Florenz, im Osten von den Chianti-Bergen, im Süden von Siena und im Westen von den Tälern der Flüsse Pesa und Elsa. Es ist das Kernland des Chianti-Gebietes. Eine 70 km lange Weinstraße (die „Via Chiantigiana“, SS 222) verbindet die beiden großen Städte und führt durch eine großartige Kulturlandschaft. An der Straße liegen viele bekannte Weinorte aufgereiht wie an einer Perlenkette. Nur ein Zehntel des sehr waldigen Gebiets (insgesamt ca. 70.000 Hektar) wird für Weinbau verwendet. Der Gallo Nero (= „Schwarzer Hahn“) ist das Kennzeichen der Chianti-Classico-Weine. Das Consorzio del Marchio Storico Chianti Classico wacht über die Einhaltung der Regeln für guten Chianti.
(Wikipedia)
Living in the provinces...
A small village close to Cislago organize a feast every september, a tribute to the tripe. I joined...
.nothing new actually as Bruce Gilden used this technique long time ago.
I got an impulse to test this kind of shots reading the blog and looking the photos of dirtyHarry one of my favourite streeter.
Funny stuff.
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Festa della trippa, Massina frazione di Cislago.
Una serata di esperimenti.
Flash + posa Bulb.
Un genere molto gettonato e simpatico, purchè non usato per spaventare i soggetti traendone certamente vantaggi fotografici ma perdendo il vero spirito della fotografia basato sul rispetto.
Questa foto nasce da un dialogo e da una posa. E' poi il momento in cui si preme il tasto del flash che stabilisce o meno quanto la foto sia intrigante..
L'effetto è divertente direi anche coadiuvato dai bicchieri di vino in abbondanza bevuti dal fotografo e dal soggetto...
..PETRUK grandfather Mystery of Mount MERAPI.
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MERAPI MOUNTAIN on the border of the provinces of the Special Region of Yogyakarta with Central Java indeed holds many mysteries. Among the volcanic eruptions that cause this natural disaster, we will try to uncover the mystery of the Mount Merapi stored in the Mount Merapi.
In the midst of the anxiety of the people around Merapi with the wedhus trash on Mount Merapi, the refugees and jogja residents were shocked by the circulation of a photograph of clouds on the top of Mount Merapi taken by a resident. And strangely the clouds formed the face of Mbah Petruk who was one of the puppet figures with sharp nose. The mystery of Mount Merapi Mbah Petruk is inseparable from the myths of the people who live on the slopes of Mount Merapi. They believe that the mountain in the Central Java and Yogyakarta regions was controlled by a supernatural figure, namely Mbah Petruk.
Residents think mbah petruk is angry with the people, and vent his anger through natural disasters that volcano erupted and appeared from the soaring smoke coming from Mount Merapi.
Strangely, in response to this the residents held a ceremony to quell the anger of Mbah Petruk by sacrificing a cow and then carried to the slopes of Mount Merapi. after being carried to the slopes of the mountain, the head of the cow, and the legs of the cow are cut and planted in the land of the slopes of Mount Merapi while the meat is distributed to the people.
Mount Merapi is also believed to be the palace of spirits. Panembahan Senopati the founder of the Mataram kingdom gained victory in the war against the Pajang kingdom with the help of the Merapi ruler. Mount Merapi erupted to kill Pajang army, the rest ran helter-skelter in fear. Residents believe that Mount Merapi is not only inhabited by humans but also inhabited by other creatures which they call the nation of delicate creatures or spirits.
Residents in the Mount Merapi area have beliefs about the existence of haunted or sacred places. The haunted place is believed to be a place that has been guarded by spirits, where it cannot be disturbed and that place has supernatural powers that must be respected. Abstinence for activities such as cutting trees, grazing and taking or moving objects in the area. In addition to these restrictions there are also taboo not to talk dirty, urinate or defecate, because it will cause offense to the spirits who inhabit the area.
The most haunted places on Mount Merapi are the Merapi crater as a palace and the center of the palace of Mount Merapi's spirits. Below the peak of Mount Merapi there is an area of rock and sand called "Bubrah (broken) Market" which is believed by the community to be a very haunted place. The "Bubrah Market" is believed by the community to be a large market for the Merapi Palace and the large stones scattered around the area are considered to be stalls and tables for spirits.
Part of the palace of Merapi spirits that are considered haunted is Mount Wutoh which is used as the main gate of the Merapi Palace. Wutoh Mountain is guarded by spirits namely "Nyai Gadung Melati" whose job is to protect the environment in the mountain area including plants and animals.
In addition to places directly related to the Merapi Palace there are also other places that are considered haunted. The area around the tomb of Sjech Djumadil Qubro is a haunted place because his tomb is a tomb for the ancestors of the population and it must be respected.
Furthermore, other places such as in the forest, water sources, petilasan, rivers and ravines are also considered haunted. Some forests that are considered haunted are "Patuk Alap-alap Forest" where the place is used for grazing livestock belonging to the Merapi Palace, "Gamelan and Bingungan Forest" and "Pijen Dadn Blumbang Forest". Bukit Turgo, Plawangan, Telaga putri, Muncar, Goa Japan, Umbul Temanten, Bebeng, Ringin Putih and Watu Gajah.
Some types of sacred animals living in the forest around Mount Merapi are owned by Eyang Merapi. Forest animals, especially white tigers that live in the Blumbang forest, are never caught or killed. Furthermore, horses that live in the Patuk Alap-alap forest, around Mount Wutoh, and between Mount Selokopo Ngisor and Gunung Gajah Mungkur are considered / used by the people of the Merapi Fine Creatures Palace as mounts and towing trains.
At the peak of Merapi there is a palace similar to the Mataram palace, so here there is its own organization that regulates the government hierarchy with all its attributes and activities. The Merapi Palace according to the local community's belief was governed by brothers namely Empu (master craftsman) Rama and Empu Permadi.
Like the government as the Head of State (Empu Rama and Empu Permadi) delegated his power to Kyai Sapu Jagad in charge of regulating the natural conditions of Mount Merapi. Next there is also Nyai Gadung Melati, this figure is tasked with maintaining the greenness of the Merapi plant. There Kartadimeja in charge of maintaining palace animals and as commandos of spirits. He is the most famous and well-liked figure of the population because he often tells when Merapi will erupt and what residents must do to save themselves. The next figure is Kyai Petruk, known as one of Merapi's warriors.
Once the magnitude of the services that have been provided by the figures of the inhabitants of Mount Merapi, then as a form of their love and thanks to Mount Merapi, the community around Mount Merapi provides a tribute in the form of religious rituals. It has become a Javanese religious tradition that is by holding a salvation or wilujengan, by performing religious ceremonies and sacred acts.
The Labuhan salvation ceremony is held routinely every year on the date of Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X's birth which is on the 30th Rajab. The ceremony was centered in the Kinahrejo hamlet of Umbulharjo village. This is where the figure of Mbah Marijan lives as a caretaker of Mount Merapi, who often serves as the
leader of the harbor ceremony. Mount Merapi and Mbah Marijan are two things that are difficult to separate. The existence of old man Mbah Marijan and his friends is more human, willing to open their inner eyes and ears to see what is invisible around Mount Merapi.
In Selo every new year Java 1 Suro (Javanese calendar is calculated by combining two cycles, namely the solar calendar and the lunar calendar) is held a ceremony of Mount Alms, with the hope that the community will be safe, secure and prosperous, with an abundant harvest. The ceremony is accompanied by planting buffalo heads on the summit of Merapi or in Bubrah (broken) Market.
fr : balikpapan.prokal.co/read/news/83873-mbah-petruk-misteri-gunung-merapi
© photo rights reserved by B℮n
Andalusia is located in southern Spain and covers an area of 8 provinces. Andalusia is the second largest autonomous region in Spain. Beautiful Andalucía, the land of olives, oranges, sunflowers, beautiful mountain ranges and valleys, nice white mountain villages with beautiful squares, is a bridge between two continents, Africa and Europe, and is the point where the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea meet. There is something for everyone in Andalusia, from culture to beautiful terraces, sights, long beaches, beautiful inland areas with beautiful reservoirs, mountains and nice villages to visit. The capital of Andalusia is Seville. Another beautiful city of Andalusia is Granada. The crown jewel of Granada is undoubtedly the palace and fortress of Alhambra and is the most visited tourist attraction in Spain. It's an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The stunning hilltop palace overlooks Granada and is visible from all over the city. It is both a palace and a fortress surrounded by walls and was the residence of Moorish rulers between the 13th and 15th centuries. The Cathedral of Granada was built on the site of the former Great Mosque. The first stone of the Cathedral of Granada was placed in 1523, but it was not finished until 1704, 181 years later. During your trip to Granada, you should definitely go on a stroll in the Albaicín neighborhood. It’s located on top of a hill, right across the Alhambra. Rising up on a hill facing the Alhambra, the Albaicín neighbourhood is made up of a network of winding streets and small squares which open up suddenly to wonderful views of the famous palace fortress - with the Sierra Nevada beyond.
Granada is a city in southern Spain’s Andalusia region, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It sits at an average elevation of 738 m. There are a number of miradores, or lookout points, dotted on the hills throughout Albaycin. The most popular of these is the Mirador de San Nicolas, once described by Bill Clinton as ‘the most beautiful sunset in the world’, with its panoramic views of the Alhambra and the Sierra Nevada mountains. Photo of Kanitha strolling through Albaicín neighborhood, Fortress of Alhambra on the background.
Andalusië ligt in zuid Spanje en beslaat een gebied van 8 provincies. Andalusië de op één na grootste autonome regio in Spanje en meer dan twee keer zo groot als Nederland. Het mooie Andalusië, het land van de olijven, sinaasappels, zonnebloemen, mooie bergketens en valleien, leuke witte bergdorpen met mooie pleintjes, is een brug tussen twee continenten, Afrika en Europa, en is het punt waar de Atlantische Oceaan en de Middellandse Zee elkaar ontmoeten. Er is voor elk wat wils in Andalusië, van cultuur tot mooie terrasjes, bezienswaardigheden, lange stranden, prachtige binnenlanden met mooie stuwmeren, bergen en leuke dorpen om te bezoeken. De hoofdstad van Andalusië is Sevilla. Een andere mooie stad van Andalusië is Granada. Deze stad ligt op een hoogte van 738 m. Het kroonjuweel van Granada is ongetwijfeld het paleis en fort van Alhambra en is de meest bezochte toeristische attractie in Spanje. Het is een UNESCO-werelderfgoed. Het prachtige paleis op een heuveltop kijkt uit over Granada en is zichtbaar vanuit de hele stad. Het is zowel een paleis als een fort omgeven door muren en was de residentie van de Nasrid-sultans tussen de 13e en 15e eeuw. De kathedraal van Granada werd gebouwd op de plaats van de voormalige Grote Moskee. De eerste steen van de kathedraal van Granada werd in 1523 geplaatst, maar deze werd pas in 1704, 181 jaar later, voltooid. Tijdens je reis naar Granada moet u zeker een wandeling maken in de wijk Albaicin. Het bevindt zich op de top van een heuvel, recht tegenover het Alhambra. De wijk Albaicín bestaat uit een netwerk van kronkelende straatjes en kleine pleintjes.
Impalas in the Letaba River
Kruger National Park is one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It covers an area of 19,485 km2 (7,523 sq mi) in the provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga in northeastern South Africa, and extends 360 km (220 mi) from north to south and 65 km (40 mi) from east to west. The administrative headquarters are in Skukuza. Areas of the park were first protected by the government of the South African Republic in 1898, and it became South Africa's first national park in 1926.
To the west and south of the Kruger National Park are the two South African provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the north is Zimbabwe, and to the east is Mozambique. It is now part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Kruger National Park with the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, and with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique.
The park is part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere an area designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as an International Man and Biosphere Reserve (the "Biosphere").
The park has nine main gates allowing entrance to the different camps.
(Wikipedia)
The impala (/ɪmˈpɑːlə, -ˈpælə/, Aepyceros melampus) is a medium-sized antelope found in eastern and southern Africa. The sole member of the genus Aepyceros, it was first described to European audiences by German zoologist Hinrich Lichtenstein in 1812. Two subspecies are recognised—the common impala, and the larger and darker black-faced impala. The impala reaches 70–92 centimetres (28–36 inches) at the shoulder and weighs 40–76 kg (88–168 lb). It features a glossy, reddish brown coat. The male's slender, lyre-shaped horns are 45–92 centimetres (18–36 inches) long.
Active mainly during the day, the impala may be gregarious or territorial depending upon the climate and geography. Three distinct social groups can be observed: the territorial males, bachelor herds and female herds. The impala is known for two characteristic leaps that constitute an anti-predator strategy. Browsers as well as grazers, impala feed on monocots, dicots, forbs, fruits and acacia pods (whenever available). An annual, three-week-long rut takes place toward the end of the wet season, typically in May. Rutting males fight over dominance, and the victorious male courts female in oestrus. Gestation lasts six to seven months, following which a single calf is born and immediately concealed in cover. Calves are suckled for four to six months; young males—forced out of the all-female groups—join bachelor herds, while females may stay back.
The impala is found in woodlands and sometimes on the interface (ecotone) between woodlands and savannahs; it inhabits places close to water. While the black-faced impala is confined to southwestern Angola and Kaokoland in northwestern Namibia, the common impala is widespread across its range and has been reintroduced in Gabon and southern Africa. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the impala as a species of least concern; the black-faced subspecies has been classified as a vulnerable species, with less than 1,000 individuals remaining in the wild as of 2008.
The first attested English name, in 1802, was palla or pallah, from the Tswana phala 'red antelope'; the name impala, also spelled impalla or mpala, is first attested in 1875. Its Afrikaans name, rooibok 'red buck', is also sometimes used in English.
The scientific generic name Aepyceros (lit. ‘high-horned’) comes from Ancient Greek αἰπύς (aipus, 'high, steep') + κέρας (keras, 'horn'); the specific name melampus (lit. ‘black-foot’) from μελάς (melas, 'black') + πούς (pous, 'foot').
The impala is a medium-sized, slender antelope similar to the kob or Grant's gazelle in build. The head-and-body length is around 130 centimetres (51 in). Males reach approximately 75–92 centimetres (30–36 in) at the shoulder, while females are 70–85 centimetres (28–33 in) tall. Males typically weigh 53–76 kilograms (117–168 lb) and females 40–53 kilograms (88–117 lb). Sexually dimorphic, females are hornless and smaller than males. Males grow slender, lyre-shaped horns 45–92 centimetres (18–36 in) long. The horns, strongly ridged and divergent, are circular in section and hollow at the base. Their arch-like structure allows interlocking of horns, which helps a male throw off his opponent during fights; horns also protect the skull from damage.
The glossy coat of the impala shows two-tone colouration – the reddish brown back and the tan flanks; these are in sharp contrast to the white underbelly. Facial features include white rings around the eyes and a light chin and snout. The ears, 17 centimetres (6.7 in) long, are tipped with black. Black streaks run from the buttocks to the upper hindlegs. The bushy white tail, 30 centimetres (12 in) long, features a solid black stripe along the midline. The impala's colouration bears a strong resemblance to the gerenuk, which has shorter horns and lacks the black thigh stripes of the impala. The impala has scent glands covered by a black tuft of hair on the hindlegs. Sebaceous glands concentrated on the forehead and dispersed on the torso of dominant males are most active during the mating season, while those of females are only partially developed and do not undergo seasonal changes. There are four nipples.
Of the subspecies, the black-faced impala is significantly larger and darker than the common impala; melanism is responsible for the black colouration. Distinctive of the black-faced impala is a dark stripe, on either side of the nose, that runs upward to the eyes and thins as it reaches the forehead. Other differences include the larger black tip on the ear, and a bushier and nearly 30% longer tail in the black-faced impala.
The impala has a special dental arrangement on the front lower jaw similar to the toothcomb seen in strepsirrhine primates, which is used during allogrooming to comb the fur on the head and the neck and remove ectoparasites.
The impala is diurnal (active mainly during the day), though activity tends to cease during the hot midday hours; they feed and rest at night. Three distinct social groups can be observed – the territorial males, bachelor herds and female herds. The territorial males hold territories where they may form harems of females; territories are demarcated with urine and faeces and defended against juvenile or male intruders. Bachelor herds tend to be small, with less than 30 members. Individuals maintain distances of 2.5–3 metres (8.2–9.8 ft) from one another; while young and old males may interact, middle-aged males generally avoid one another except to spar. Female herds vary in size from 6 to 100; herds occupy home ranges of 80–180 hectares (200–440 acres; 0.31–0.69 sq mi). The mother–calf bond is weak, and breaks soon after weaning; juveniles leave the herds of their mothers to join other herds. Female herds tend to be loose and have no obvious leadership. Allogrooming is an important means of social interaction in bachelor and female herds; in fact, the impala appears to be the only ungulate to display self-grooming as well as allogrooming. In allogrooming, females typically groom related impalas, while males associate with unrelated ones. Each partner grooms the other six to twelve times.
Social behaviour is influenced by the climate and geography; as such, the impala are territorial at certain times of the year and gregarious at other times, and the length of these periods can vary broadly among populations. For instance, populations in southern Africa display territorial behaviour only during the few months of the rut, whereas in eastern African populations, territoriality is relatively minimal despite a protracted mating season. Moreover, territorial males often tolerate bachelors, and may even alternate between bachelorhood and territoriality at different times of the year. A study of impala in the Serengeti National Park showed that in 94% of the males, territoriality was observed for less than four months.
The impala is an important prey species for several carnivores, such as cheetahs, leopards and lions. The antelope displays two characteristic leaps – it can jump up to 3 metres (9.8 ft), over vegetation and even other impala, covering distances of up to 10 metres (33 ft); the other type of leap involves a series of jumps in which the animal lands on its forelegs, moves its hindlegs mid-air in a kicking fashion, lands on all fours (stotting) and then rebounds. It leaps in either manner in different directions, probably to confuse predators. At times, the impala may also conceal itself in vegetation to escape the eye of the predator. The most prominent vocalisation is the loud roar, delivered through one to three loud snorts with the mouth closed, followed by two to ten deep grunts with the mouth open and the chin and tail raised; a typical roar can be heard up to 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) away. Scent gland secretions identify a territorial male. Impalas are sedentary; adult and middle-aged males, in particular, can hold their territories for years.
The impala inhabits woodlands due to its preference for shade; it can also occur on the interface (ecotone) between woodlands and savannahs. Places close to water sources are preferred. In southern Africa, populations tend to be associated with Colophospermum mopane and Acacia woodlands. Habitat choices differ seasonally – Acacia senegal woodlands are preferred in the wet season, and A. drepanolobium savannahs in the dry season. Another factor that could influence habitat choice is vulnerability to predators; impala tend to keep away from areas with tall grasses as predators could be concealed there. A study found that the reduction of woodland cover and creation of shrublands by the African bush elephants has favoured impala population by increasing the availability of more dry season browse. Earlier, the Baikiaea woodland, which has now declined due to elephants, provided minimum browsing for impala. The newly formed Capparis shrubland, on the other hand, could be a key browsing habitat. Impala are generally not associated with montane habitats; however, in KwaZulu-Natal, impala have been recorded at altitudes of up to 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) above sea level.
The historical range of the impala – spanning across southern and eastern Africa – has remained intact to a great extent, although it has disappeared from a few places, such as Burundi. The range extends from central and southern Kenya and northeastern Uganda in the east to northern KwaZulu-Natal in the south, and westward up to Namibia and southern Angola. The black-faced impala is confined to southwestern Angola and Kaokoland in northwestern Namibia; the status of this subspecies has not been monitored since the 2000s. The common impala has a wider distribution, and has been introduced in protected areas in Gabon and across southern Africa.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) classifies the impala as a species of least concern overall. The black-faced impala, however, is classified as a vulnerable species; as of 2008, fewer than 1,000 were estimated in the wild. Though there are no major threats to the survival of the common impala, poaching and natural calamities have significantly contributed to the decline of the black-faced impala. As of 2008, the population of the common impala has been estimated at around two million. According to some studies, translocation of the black-faced impala can be highly beneficial in its conservation.
Around a quarter of the common impala populations occur in protected areas, such as the Okavango Delta (Botswana); Masai Mara and Kajiado (Kenya); Kruger National Park (South Africa); the Ruaha and Serengeti National Parks and Selous Game Reserve (Tanzania); Luangwa Valley (Zambia); Hwange, Sebungwe and Zambezi Valley (Zimbabwe). The rare black-faced impala has been introduced into private farms in Namibia and the Etosha National Park. Population densities vary largely from place to place; from less than one impala per square kilometre in Mkomazi National Park (Tanzania) to as high as 135 per square kilometre near Lake Kariba (Zimbabwe).
(Wikipedia)
Der Kruger-Nationalpark (deutsch häufig falsch Krüger-Nationalpark) ist das größte Wildschutzgebiet Südafrikas. Er liegt im Nordosten des Landes in der Landschaft des Lowveld auf dem Gebiet der Provinz Limpopo sowie des östlichen Abschnitts von Mpumalanga. Seine Fläche erstreckt sich vom Crocodile-River im Süden bis zum Limpopo, dem Grenzfluss zu Simbabwe, im Norden. Die Nord-Süd-Ausdehnung beträgt etwa 350 km, in Ost-West-Richtung ist der Park durchschnittlich 54 km breit und umfasst eine Fläche von rund 20.000 Quadratkilometern. Damit gehört er zu den größten Nationalparks in Afrika.
Das Schutzgebiet wurde am 26. März 1898 unter dem Präsidenten Paul Kruger als Sabie Game Reserve zum Schutz der Wildnis gegründet. 1926 erhielt das Gebiet den Status Nationalpark und wurde in seinen heutigen Namen umbenannt. Im Park leben 147 Säugetierarten inklusive der „Big Five“, außerdem etwa 507 Vogelarten und 114 Reptilienarten, 49 Fischarten und 34 Amphibienarten.
(Wikipedia)
Die Impalas (Aepyceros) sind eine Gattung mittelgroßer afrikanischer Antilopen, die gleichzeitig die monotypische Tribus Aepycerotini bilden. Wegen der äußerlichen Ähnlichkeit wurden die Impalas früher oft in die Nähe der Gazellen gestellt, nach neuen Erkenntnissen sind sie aber enger mit den Kuhantilopen verwandt.
Impalas erreichen eine Schulterhöhe von 90 cm und ein Gewicht von 40 kg (Weibchen) bis 65 kg (Männchen). Sie sind oben rehbraun gefärbt, die Flanken haben dabei eine etwas hellere Farbe. Der Unterbauch, die Brust, die Kehle und das Kinn sind weißlich. Den Steiß ziert beidseitig ein senkrechter schwarzer Streifen. Tarsalgelenk und Metacarpus sind dagegen schwarzbraun, weshalb diese Art auch Schwarzfersenantilope (A. melampus) genannt wird. Oberhalb des Hufes wächst an jedem Hinterlauf ein schwarzes Haarbüschel. Der Kopf ist zierlich, die Augen groß und die Ohren schmal und spitz. Bei der Schwarznasenimpala (A. petersi) ist ein namensgebender dunkler Streifen auf der Nase ausgebildet, der bei der Schwarzfersenantilope deutlich diffuser erscheint. Die Männchen haben leierartige Hörner, die bis zu 90 cm lang werden können und nach hinten, seitwärts und oben ausschwingen.
Das Verbreitungsgebiet der Schwarzfersenantilope reicht von Kenia und Uganda über Tansania, Sambia, Mosambik und Simbabwe bis nach Botswana und ins nordöstliche Südafrika. Isoliert von diesem Gebiet lebt eine weitere Population im Grenzgebiet von Angola und Namibia; diese wird als eigene Art abgetrennt, die Schwarznasenimpala. Diese Art ist besonders häufig im östlichen Teil des Etosha-Nationalparks in Namibia anzutreffen. Sie hat sich von dort im Verlaufe der letzten Jahre zunehmend auch in den westlichen Teilen des Nationalparks verbreitet, so dass sie heute auch an den Wasserlöchern um Okaukuejo vorkommt. Alle anderen Impalas sind näher miteinander verwandt und werden zumeist als eine einzige Art aufgefasst, die Schwarzfersenimpala, was auch durch genetische Analysen gestützt wird.
Eine ungewöhnliche Ansiedlung von Impalas fand 1976 im Calauit Game Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary auf den Philippinen statt. Es ist die einzige frei lebende Population von Impalas außerhalb Afrikas.
Bevorzugtes Habitat der Impala ist die offene Savanne. Während der Fortpflanzungszeit bewacht ein Impalamännchen in der Regel eine Gruppe von Weibchen. Dabei geht er wie auf einer Parade hin und her, zeigt seine Hörner, legt die Ohren zurück und hebt seinen Schwanz. Der Kampf der Männchen um einen Harem lässt sich in drei Kampffolgen aufteilen. Im ersten Teil demonstriert der Herausforderer seine helle Bauchseite, gähnt und lässt die Zunge herausschnellen. Dann senkt das Männchen seinen Kopf als Herausforderung zum Kampf. In der zweiten Phase stehen sich die beiden Rivalen einander mit erhobenem Kopf gegenüber, rücken vor und ziehen sich wieder zurück. Gibt nach dieser Demonstrationsphase noch keines der Männchen auf, verkeilen die beiden Tiere die Hörner ineinander und schieben sich vor und zurück, trennen sich wieder und beginnen mit ihrem Schiebekampf wieder von vorne, bis eines der Tiere aufgibt. Blut fließt in der Regel nicht.
Weibliche Impalas leben mit ihren Jungen in Herden von zehn bis hundert Tieren. Von diesen getrennte Herden bilden junge und alte Männchen, die zu schwach sind, um ein Revier zu verteidigen. Männchen im mittleren Alter sind territoriale Einzelgänger und beanspruchen jedes Weibchen für sich, das ihr Revier durchwandert.
Auf der Flucht können Impalas hohe Geschwindigkeiten erreichen und bis zu 9 Meter weite Sprünge vollführen. Bei der Überquerung von z. B. Farmzäunen können sie außerdem bis zu 3 Meter hoch springen. Sie suchen allerdings meistens eine Deckung auf, anstatt allein auf ihre Geschwindigkeit zu vertrauen. Zu ihrer Verteidigungsstrategie gegenüber Hetzjägern wie dem Afrikanischen Wildhund zählen auch sogenannte Prellsprünge, bei denen die Antilopen steifbeinig in die Luft springen.
Die Tribus und die Gattung gliedern sich folgendermaßen:
Tribus Aepycerotini Gray, 1872
Gattung Aepyceros Sundevall, 1847
Schwarzfersenantilope oder Impala (Aepyceros melampus Lichtenstein, 1812)
Schwarznasenimpala (Aepyceros petersi Bocage, 1879)
Die IUCN stuft die Schwarzfersenantilope als „nicht gefährdet“ (least concern) ein. Die Schwarznasenimpala gilt als „gefährdet“ (vulnerable).
Der Name „Impala“ entstammt der Zulu-Sprache, die Betonung erfolgt auf das a in der Mitte (Impala). Chevrolet nannte sein 1957 erschienenes Full-Size Car Chevrolet Impala nach der Antilope.
(Wikpedia)
Garden of the Provinces & Territories
The Garden of the Provinces and Territories is a 4-acre (1.6 ha) site along Confederation Boulevard in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada's capital city. It is bounded by the Sparks Street escarpment on the south, Wellington Street on the west and north, and Bay Street to the east[1] between Christ Church Cathedral and the Library and Archives Canada. It was officially opened on September 25, 1962, as a western gateway to the Parliament Buildings.[1] The park was renamed from "Garden of the Provinces" on October 6, 2005 to recognize and include Canada's three territories.[1] Scott Brison, then the Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, officially renamed the park.
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Please take your time... and enjoy it large on black
Buddhism in Laos is largely of the Theravada school. Nearly 60% of the Lao population is Buddhist of the Theravada school, though Buddhism in this country has become integrated with folk beliefs such as ancestor worship. Buddhism was based on the religious movement founded in the sixth century B.C. by Siddhartha , later known as the Buddha, who urged the world to relinquish the extremes of sensuality and self-mortification and follow the enlightened Middle Way...... The focus of this religion is on man, not gods; the assumption is that life is pain or suffering, which is a consequence of craving, and that suffering can end only if desire ceases. The end of suffering is the achievement of nirvana often defined as the absence of craving and therefore of suffering, sometimes as enlightenment. Like in most other Theravada nations, Buddhism in Laos is represented primarily by the presence of Buddhist monks, who serve as officiants on ceremonial occasions, as well as being responsible for preserving and conveying the teachings of the Buddha.
A recent monk workshop was held by Mlup Baitong to increase awareness of the local provincial authorities and people regarding dolphin and fish conservation because most Laotians and Cambodians have unlimitedly belief on Buddhist religion. There are only 64 or 65 irrawaddy dolphins left in the Mekong river in Southeast Asia and is classified as a critically endangered species. A number of monks here at the border of Laos and Cambodia are already available for raising awareness as well as teaching materials. The monks encourage a dialogue here in Kratie and Stung Treng Provinces to elicit their support for the dolphin conservation and to extend the general public support. Above photo shows Saffron-cloaked monks on a slow boat at the Mekong River near the border of Laos - Cambodia. There are only 12 dolphins left in this area and a few more further down stream in Kratie - Cambodia. Many temples are build next to the river since transport in Laos via the river is faster than by road. Laos is truly a Mekong country, the river runs its full length. We had a friendly chat with the local people and monks. Lao monks are very friendly and approachable. We donated some money to this Buddhist community. We hope the monk workshop will help the Irrawaddy dophins to survive. Most people donate food to the monks to gain merit and improve their karma. The temples of Laos were once seen as "Universities" for monks. Lao monks are highly respected and revered in Lao communities. Many of the novice monks come from poor villages throughout Laos and live and study.
Een groot deel van de Laostiaase bevolking, zo’n 60% is boeddhist. Men hangt het zogenaamde Teravada-boeddhisme. In het Theravada wordt meditatie benadrukt als een essentieel onderdeel van het pad naar verlichting, samen met moreel gedrag en wijsheid. Het brengen van een einde aan het lijden is het hoofddoel van het Theravada boeddhisme. De Boeddha legde verder een zeer gedetailleerde gedragscode voor de Monniken neer: de Vinaya. Over het algemeen worden monniken door de Boeddha aangemoedigd om wereldse aangelegenheden en passies achter zich te laten, zodat zij gemakkelijker in staat zijn een staat van vrede en wijsheid te bereiken, en sterke ongezonde emoties zoals haat, verlangen en lust te overwinnen. Een Monnik zoals hierboven in z'n oranje gewaad, kaalgeschoren en met sandalen aan de voeten is niet meer weg te denken uit het straatbeeld van Laos.