Fort Jefferson, built on Garden Key of the Dry Tortugas, was constructed in the mid-19th century to protect the shipping lanes accessing the Gulf Coast of the United States. The deep-water anchorage nearby was critical for resupply and refit of vessels and shelter from seasonal Caribbean storms.

Although never actually completed, Fort Jefferson was the largest and most sophisticated in a chain of coastal forts situated along the U.S. coast from Maine to California, becoming a critical enabler to the Union Navy successfully blockading Confederate shipping during the Civil War. In addition to protecting the harbor, it became a prison for Union Army deserters and, for a time, Dr. Samuel Mudd - the physician who was convicted of aiding and abetting John Wilkes Booth.

A remote location, even today, it's hard to fathom the amount of labor and logistics involved in building and provisioning such a formidable structure with the level of precision and durability that allow us to continue to visit it in exceptional condition 175 years after the first bricks were emplaced.

Recognition:

Accepted for Display - MAR 2021 Darkroomers Photographic Club (Affiliate of Southern California Association of Camera Clubs {SCACC} and Photographic Society of America {PSA}).

Kanga just looks like her mother. It's incredible. She climbed on this dead branch to use it like an outlook post (Squirrels-2020-9761.jpg)

Ibises are a group of long-legged wading birds in the family Threskiornithidae, that inhabit wetlands, forests and plains. Ibises usually feed as a group, probing mud for food items, usually crustaceans. It is widespread across much of Australia. It has a predominantly white plumage with a bare, black head, long down curved bill and black legs. They are monogamous and highly territorial while nesting and feeding. Most nest in trees, often with spoonbills or herons. Due to its increasing presence in the urban environment and its habit of rummaging in garbage, the species has acquired a variety of colloquial names such as tip turkey; and bin chicken, and in recent years has become an icon of popular culture, being regarded with passion, wit, and, in equal measure, affection and disgust. 28543

For PG level photography

Ribbons by Air-Shizuka

Pose by Bauhaus Movement-Full metal panic 11

Italia, Toscana, Nozzano Castello, Estate 2021

Il Castello di Nozzano è un castello medievale che costituiva un avamposto del sistema difensivo lucchese. Una posizione di grande importanza strategica, a cavallo del conteso confine tra Lucca e Pisa. In origine la struttura era in legno e fu prima distrutta da Pisa due volte. Fu ricostruita per l'ultima volta nel 1395. L'attuale edificio risale a questa ricostruzione. Il castello fu utilizzato fino alla fine del 1500 per il controllo delle imbarcazioni lungo il fiume Serchio, poi la sua importanza strategica e militare decadde.

The Castle of Nozzano is a medieval castle that was an outpost of the Lucca defensive system. A position of great strategic importance, straddling the heatedly contested border between Lucca and Pisa. Originally, the structure was in wood and it was first destroyed by Pisa twice. It was rebuilt for the last time in 1395. The current building dates back to this reconstruction. The castle was used until the late 1500s to control the boats along the Serchio river, then its strategic and military importance declined.

Scene from my favorite movie of all time.

An uninhabited South Atlantic island dry and empty except for fauna, Ascension Island and little interest to the world until Napoleon was exiled to the island of Santa Helena. The British fearing that the French would try to liberate Napoleon, established a naval presence aimed at blocking any such attempt.

The strategic importance of the island became apparent and has continued to be the case until today. In WW II, it served to counter Germany's actions in the South Atlantic. Subsequently, it has played an important role in NASA's Apollo and subsequent space programs and also plays an important role as a communications station today.

Cawsand and its neighbouring village of Kingsand are on the Rame Peninsula in the far south-east of Cornwall, where they overlook Plymouth Sound. In 1596, local militia prevented an attack by Spanish forces and defences were built soon after.

The village occupies a strategic position in relation to Plymouth and is overlooked by a mid-19th century large former fort. This was built on the site of a 1779 battery to mount about 10 guns to cover the western entrance to Plymouth Sound. It is now residential accommodation.

Many of the buildings in Cawsand and the adjacent village of Kingsand date from the Georgian era (or before) and are listed as being of historical importance. Cawsand has a small sandy beach and a ferry service from Plymouth drops its passengers here.

Ergänzungen ...

was bedürfen sie

was bedürfen sie offensichtlich nicht

was bewirken sie

was macht der Zwischenraum

???? ;-) ...

_NYC4125_28_pa2

""Museum MORE is the largest museum for MOdern REalism in Europa, from 20th century masters to contemporary realists and upcoming talent. It has two locations, one of them is in Gorssel, the Netherlands.

The MORE building in Gorssel was designed by the well-known museum architect Hans van Heeswijk. He was also responsible for the renovation and adaptation of the Hermitage Amsterdam, the Mauritshuis in The Hague and the new entrance to the Van Gogh Museum.

The former town hall of Gorssel served as the starting point for Van Heeswijk's design. The monumental part of the building dating from 1914 remained intact. The parts added later have been replaced by new construction. The museum is a two-storey pavilion-like building with strategic views into the park-like environment in which it stands.''''

I visit this lovely museum in Gorssel recently. The building itself is also impressive. Here you see the main entrance to the exhibitions.

I used to play the mill's game with my grand-father, as I was a kid. Kept a fond and vivid memory of both, him and the game!

The rules are simple but it makes you think and stay focused, otherwise you quickly end up with all your pieces pounded by your smarter opponent, and then it's game over!

Several coyotes having a late morning hunting spree. The female was doing the hunting and the male would supervise.

Strategically favorable landing site ... good visibility in all directions.

( Format reduced and Image section )

Zoom in: Click on the picture

photo rights reserved by Ben

Sno Castle is a historic fortress located in the village of Sno, near Stepantsminda in the Kazbegi region of Georgia. Nestled in the impressive Caucasus Mountains, the castle is a symbol of the medieval architecture and history of the region. Sno Castle is estimated to have been built between the 16th and 17th centuries. It served as a defensive stronghold for the local nobility and was strategically positioned to guard the Sno Valley from raids by northern tribes and other threats. The architectural style reflects typical Georgian fortifications, with stone towers and thick defensive walls. The castle consists of a central tower also called koshki, surrounded by the remains of additional defensive structures. These towers were essential in the Caucasus and often served as residences, watchtowers and shelters during conflicts. From the castle, you have a panoramic view of the surrounding mountains and valleys, which further emphasizes its strategic location. In addition to its military role, Sno Castle also has cultural and spiritual value. Nearby is the famous Stone Head of Sno, a large stone carving believed to represent a local deity or historical figure. This mysterious carving attracts both tourists and historians.

Sno Castle is a historical fortress located in the village of Sno, near Stepantsminda in the Kazbegi region of Georgia. Today, Sno Castle is a popular destination for tourists exploring the Kazbegi region. Its proximity to Mount Kazbek and the Gergeti Trinity Church makes it an ideal stopover for lovers of Georgian history and breathtaking landscapes.

Sno Kasteel is een historisch fort gelegen in het dorp Sno, vlakbij Stepantsminda in de regio Kazbegi, Georgië. Genesteld in de indrukwekkende Kaukasus, staat het kasteel symbool voor de middeleeuwse architectuur en geschiedenis van de regio. Het kasteel van Sno wordt geschat te zijn gebouwd tussen de 16e en 17e eeuw. Het diende als een verdedigingsbolwerk voor de lokale adel en was strategisch gepositioneerd om de Sno-vallei te bewaken tegen invallen van noordelijke stammen en andere dreigingen. De bouwstijl weerspiegelt typische Georgische fortificaties, met stenen torens en dikke verdedigingsmuren. Het kasteel bestaat uit een centrale toren ook wel koshki genoemd, omgeven door overblijfselen van extra verdedigingswerken. Deze torens waren essentieel in de Kaukasus en dienden vaak als woningen, uitkijktorens en schuilplaatsen tijdens conflicten. Vanaf het kasteel heb je een panoramisch uitzicht over de omliggende bergen en valleien, wat de strategische ligging nog eens benadrukt. Naast zijn militaire rol heeft Sno Kasteel ook culturele en spirituele waarde. In de nabijheid bevindt zich het beroemde Steenhoofd van Sno, een groot stenen beeldhouwwerk waarvan wordt aangenomen dat het een lokale godheid of historische figuur voorstelt. Deze mysterieuze gravure trekt zowel toeristen als historici aan.

66192 (?) with 4 empty bogie hoppers in tow, makes its way past Tunstead, the largest limestone quarrying operation in the UK, extracting between five and six million tonnes of limestone per annum. Owned by Tarmac, it is the largest supplier of lime and lime-based products in the UK and as such is acknowledged to be of national strategic importance. The train is on its way to Dowlow, another quarrying operation south of Buxton, originating from Peak Forest.

XH558 the last flying survivor of the Avro Vulcan bomber family performing at RAF Waddington Air show 2014.

The Avro Vulcan is a jet-powered tailless delta wing high-altitude strategic bomber, which was operated by the Royal Air Force from 1956 until 1984. Aircraft manufacturer A.V. Roe and Company designed the Vulcan and XH558 is one of the 136 airframes that were built (including prototypes).

Once more at Hollowtree

A strategically placed patch of heather on the Roaches. The heather bloom has been very patchy this year, with some good patches and some not so good.

Last Saturday I had to collect my wife from Crewe station late in the evening. My plans evolved all day as the cloud stubbornly refused to clear, so a late clearance gave me a small window of light on the Roaches, a slight detour off my route from Ashbourne to Crewe. I had been here 2 days earlier and suffered badly from the midges, so I was prepared for chemical warfare with some industrial-grade repellant, which wasn't in the end needed as the strong winds kept the nibbley things at bay.

18th February 2018 - Bulk Carrier 'Strategic Equity' fresh into the Seaforth Grain Terminal after her month long run from Argentina. Its quite intimidating to see what the Atlantic can do to a 4 year old ship...

The mating display of the male Little Bustard involves a combination of vocalizations, wing movements, and jumping. They perform "snort calls," stamp their feet, and whistle while flapping their wings, creating a "wing-flash" display, particularly when females are present. A distinct "jump display" is also used, involving sudden, rapid leaps to catch a female's attention.

Little Bustard (Tetrax tetrax) male Extremadura Spring Spain_7257_

As I was standing on top of this Indian grinding rock all by myself, I pondered whether it was chosen for its strategic location. In the distance, I could see Mission Peak and San Jose downtown. To my right, I could see the South Bay. The Bay Miwoks must have built a observation station here. Those outcroppings in front look just like a man made wall for defense, and this grinding rock must be the kitchen. However, the location is too windy and has no shade. I doubt the Miwoks were actually living here. My theory is that this could be an outpost set up by them to watch out for invaders.

Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker

N572MA

CGN 2025

One from the archives.

So iconic sitting up high above the surrounding land.

According to the National Trust website "Lindisfarne Castle’s origins go back to the old borderlands, and a time of religious and political upheaval.

From the 1550s up until 1893 the castle was garrisoned by the government, at one point mounting 21 cannons.

The castle was strategically vital during the Scottish Wars of the mid-1500s and later saw action in the Civil Wars and the Jacobite Rebellion of 1715."

Now the seagull may have thought this was a wily squirrel out to pillage the supply of Wonder Bread but I found him to be quite friendly and almost tame. Living in the park by the beach I imagine this little guy had become accustomed to the rewards of cute behaviour. Jack Darling Park is often filled with people packing picnic lunches who are more than willing to share bits with squirrels and seagulls--it's half the fun of going there and a smart squirrel learns how to work the crowd.

This was taken as he was apparently contemplating how to gain access to the bread-filled bag I'd brought with me and was just waiting until I'd turned my back in order to plunder the goods.

It's all about strategy when you're a squirrel surrounded by greedy gulls.

:-)

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My portfolio: www.hollycawfieldphotography.net/

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Nikon F100 Nikon AF Nikkor 28-105mm 1:3.5-4.5D Delta 100@200 LegacyPro Eco Pro 1:1 06/08/2025

photo rights reserved by Ben

The Jvari Monastery (Georgian: ჯვარი, meaning cross) is one of the most iconic and historic sites in Georgia. Located near Mtskheta, the monastery is one of the most important religious and cultural sites in the country. Built in the 6th century, the monastery is known as one of the earliest examples of Georgian Christian architecture. It was built on the site where, according to tradition, Saint Nino, who brought Christianity to Georgia, erected a large wooden cross. Together with other historical monuments in Mtskheta, the Jvari Monastery has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1994. The monastery is located on a hilltop with a beautiful view of the confluence of the Aragvi and Mtkvari Kura rivers and the historic town of Mtskheta. The building is an example of a tetraconch central dome structure with four apses. Despite its simple design, it is considered a masterpiece of medieval architecture. The Jvari Pass begins at the monastery. The pass is located at an altitude of approximately 2,379 meters above sea level and offers spectacular views of the Caucasus. It is an important passage through the Caucasus Mountains to Russia. The area is particularly known for its rugged roads, and in winter the pass can be difficult to navigate due to heavy snowfall. The route offers breathtaking views of mountain peaks, valleys and rivers. The Georgian Military Road was originally used as a trade and military route. Today it is a busy road for freight transport to Russia.

The Jvari Monastery is located in Georgia, on a hilltop near the town of Mtskheta, about 20 kilometers north of the capital, Tbilisi. The ruins next to the Jvari Monastery are part of an old defensive structure and watchtower. The Jvari Monastery is located at a strategic point above Mtskheta, where the Aragvi and Mtkvari rivers meet. In many cases, these ruins are remnants from the same or slightly later period, when they supplemented the religious sites with military protection against potential invaders. This location offers breathtaking panoramic views and holds deep historical and religious significance. Mtskheta, one of Georgia's oldest cities, was once the capital of the ancient kingdom of Iberia. The monastery is part of the UNESCO World Heritage List due to its cultural and architectural importance.

Het Jvari-klooster (Georgisch: ჯვარი, wat kruis betekent) is een van de meest iconische en historische locaties in Georgië. Het klooster, gelegen bij Mtskheta, is één van de belangrijkste religieuze en culturele bezienswaardigheden van het land. Het klooster werd gebouwd in de 6e eeuw en staat bekend als een van de vroegste voorbeelden van Georgische christelijke architectuur. Het werd gebouwd op de plek waar volgens de overlevering de heilige Nino, die het christendom naar Georgië bracht, een groot houten kruis oprichtte. Samen met andere historische monumenten in Mtskheta staat het Jvari-klooster sinds 1994 op de UNESCO Werelderfgoedlijst. De ruïne naast het Jvari-klooster is een deel van een oude verdedigingsstructuur en wachttoren. Het Jvari-klooster bevindt zich op een strategisch punt boven Mtskheta, waar de rivieren Aragvi en Mtkvari samenkomen. In veel gevallen zijn deze ruïnes overblijfselen uit dezelfde tijdsperiode of iets later, waarbij ze de religieuze locaties aanvulden met militaire bescherming tegen mogelijke indringers. Het klooster is een voorbeeld van een tetraconch centrale koepelstructuur met vier apsissen. Ondanks zijn eenvoudige ontwerp wordt het beschouwd als een meesterwerk van middeleeuwse architectuur. Bij het klooster begint de Jvari-pas. De pas ligt op ongeveer 2.379 meter boven zeeniveau en biedt spectaculaire uitzichten op de Kaukasus. Het is een belangrijke doorgang door het Kaukasusgebergte naar Rusland. Het gebied is met name bekend om zijn ruige wegen, en in de winter kan de pas moeilijk begaanbaar zijn vanwege zware sneeuwval. De route biedt adembenemende uitzichten op bergtoppen, valleien en rivieren. De Georgische Militaire Weg werd oorspronkelijk gebruikt als een handels- en militaire route. Tegenwoordig is het een drukke weg voor vrachtvervoer richting Rusland.

Dilmun is associated with ancient sites on the islands of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, the Cradle of Civilization.

Dilmun (sometimes transliterated Telmun) is associated with ancient sites on the islands of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. Because of its location along the sea trade routes linking Mesopotamia with the Indus Valley Civilization, Dilmun developed in the Bronze Age, from ca. 3000 BC, into one of the greatest entrepots of trade of the ancient world.

There is both literary and archaeological evidence for the trade between Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley (probably correctly identified with the land called Meluhha in Akkadian). Impressions of clay seals from the Indus Valley city of Harappa were evidently used to seal bundles of merchandise, as clay seal impressions with cord or sack marks on the reverse side testify.

A number of these Indus Valley seals have turned up at Ur and other Mesopotamian sites. "Persian Gulf" types of circular stamped rather than rolled seals, known from Dilmun, that appear at Lothal in Gujarat, India, and Faylahkah, as well as in Mesopotamia, are convincing corroboration of the long-distance sea trade. What the commerce consisted of is less sure: timber and precious woods, ivory, lapis lazuli, gold, and luxury goods such as carnelian and glazed stone beads, pearls from the Persian Gulf, shell and bone inlays, were among the goods sent to Mesopotamia in exchange for silver, tin, woolen textiles, olive oil and grains. Copper ingots, certainly, bitumen, which occurred naturally in Mesopotamia, may have been exchanged for cotton textiles and domestic fowl, major products of the Indus region that are not native to Mesopotamia - all these have been instanced.

Mesopotamian trade documents, lists of goods, and official inscriptions mentioning Meluhha supplement Harappan seals and archaeological finds. Literary references to Meluhhan trade date from the Akkadian, the Third Dynasty of Ur, and Isin - Larsa Periods (ca. 2350 - 1800 BC), but the trade probably started in the Early Dynastic Period (ca. 2600 BC). Some Meluhhan vessels may have sailed directly to Mesopotamian ports, but by the Isin - Larsa Period, Dilmun monopolized the trade. By the subsequent Old Babylonian period, trade between the two cultures evidently had ceased entirely.

The Bahrain National Museum assesses that its "Golden Age" lasted ca. 2200 - 1600 BC. Its decline dates from the time the Indus Valley civilization suddenly and mysteriously collapsed, in the middle of the 2nd millennium BC. This would of course have stripped Dilmun of its importance as a trading center between Mesopotamia and India. The decay of the great sea trade with the east may have affected the power shift northwards observed in Mesopotamia itself.

Evidence about Neolithic human cultures in Dilmun comes from flint tools and weapons. From later periods, cuneiform tablets, cylinder seals, pottery and even correspondence between rulers throw light on Dilmun. Written records mentioning the archipelago exist in Sumerian, Akkadian, Persian, Greek, and Latin sources.

Dilmun, sometimes described as "the place where the sun rises" and "the Land of the Living" is the scene of a Sumerian creation myth and the place where the deified Sumerian hero of the flood, Ziusudra (Utnapishtim), was taken by the gods to live for ever.

There is mention of Dilmun as a vassal of Assyria in the 8th century BC and by about 600 BC, it had been fully incorporated into the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Dilmun then falls into deep eclipse marked by the decline of the copper trade, so long controlled by Dilmun, and the switch to a less important role in the new trade of frankincense and spices. The discovery of an impressive palace at the Ras al Qalah site in Bahrain is promising to increase knowledge of this late period.

Otherwise, there is virtually no information until the passage of Nearchus, the admiral in charge of Alexander the Great's fleet on the return from the Indus Valley. Nearchus kept to the Iranian coast of the Gulf, however, and cannot have stopped at Dilmun. Nearchus established a colony on the island of Falaika off the coast of Kuwait in the late 4th century BC, and explored the Gulf perhaps least as far south as Dilmun/Bahrain.

From the time of Nearchus until the coming of Islam in the 7th century AD Dilmun/Bahrain was known by its Greek name of Tylos. The political history for this period is little known, but Tylos was at one point part of the Seleucid Empire, and of Characene and perhaps part of the Parthian Empire. Shapur II annexed it, together with eastern Arabia, into the Persian Sassanian empire in the 4th century.

Unlike Egyptian and Mesopotamian tablets and cylinders, the Dilmun legacy has been discovered on circular seals. The primitive forms of images carved on the seal indicate they were used as charms or talisman. Carved on wood, soapstone shells or metal, these images clearly define a complex society. Temples in the center of the agrarian village, towns, city-states, religious, and economic cultural life. All facets of the emergence of an evolutionary society are reflected in the inscriptions about the seals.

Impressions found on pottery and property is a probable usage of the seals. Burying them with the dead was probably to avoid misuse. Tiny fragments found impressed, suggest identifying property. Clearly there was an intrinsic value; each seal tells a story, has an identity.

Seals depict Enki, God of wisdom and sweet water. Gilgamesh as a massive and heroic figure, the 'Bull of heaven' hat. Ladies of the mountains 'Inanas' servants wearing her triangle signs depicting space for her power. 'Nana' is the moon god who was also named 'sin'. Symbol was the bull of heaven head. Inana, goddess of immortality.

From the dreams of Gilgamesh, to the philosophy of life. Seals depicting a harmonious life with nature and god are painted here in the colors and form I hope you enjoy. The colors naturally excite and stimulate, often sexually. Indisputably the ancient myths of immortality and resurrection influenced Dilmun beliefs and are abundantly supported in the seal designs, represented by gods of the sun and moon.

The Mesopotamian texts described Tilmun as situated at the 'mouth' of two bodies of water. The Sinai peninsula, shaped as an inverted triangle indeed begins where the Red Sea separates into two arms - the gulf of Suez on the west, and the Gulf of Elat (Gulf of Aqaba) on the east.

The texts spoke of mountainous Tilmun. The Sinai peninsula is indeed made up of a high mountainous southern part, a mountainous central plateau, and a northern plain (surrounded by mountains), which levels off via sandy hills to the Mediterranean coastline. Sargon of Akkad claimed that he reached as 'washed his weapons' in the Mediterranean; 'the sea lands' - the lands along the Mediterranean coast - 'three times I encircled; Tilmun my hand captured'. Sargon II, king of Assyria in the eighth century BC, asserted that he had conquered the area stretching 'from Bit-Yahkin on the shore of the salt Sea as far as the border of Tilmun'. The name 'Salt Sea' has survived to this day as a Hebrew name for the Dead Sea - another confirmation that Tilmun lay in proximity to the Dead Sea.

The cradle of civilization is sometimes referenced by the name Dilmun, or Tilmun. Here, it was said, the god Ea and his wife were placed to institute 'a sinless age of complete happiness'.

Here too animals lived in peace and harmony, man had no rival and the god Enlil `in one tongue gave praise'. It is also described as a pure, clean and `bright' `abode of the immortals' where death, disease and sorrow are unknown and some mortals have been given `life like a god', words reminiscent of the Airyana Vaejah, the realm of the immortals in Iranian myth and legend, and the Eden of Hebraic tradition

Although Dilmun is equated by most scholars with the island of Bahrain in the Persian Gulf, there is evidence to suggest that a much earlier mythical Dilmun was located in a mountainous region beyond the plains of Sumer.

But where exactly was it located Mesopotamian inscriptions do not say; however, the Zoroastrian Bundahishn text and the Christian records of Arbela in Iraqi Kurdistan both refer to a location named Dilamƒn as having existed around the head waters of the Tigris, south-west of Lake Van - the very area in which the biblical Eden is said to have been located.

Furthermore, Ea (the Akkadian Enki) was said to have presided over the concourse of Mesopotamia's two greatest rivers - the Tigris and Euphrates - which are shown in depictions as flowing from each of his shoulders.

This would have undoubtedly have meant that the head-waters, or sources, of these rivers would have been looked upon as sacred to Ea by the cultures of Mesopotamia's Fertile Crescent.

- Zecharia Sitchin The Stairway to Heaven

Dilmun was allegedly a magical land, the birthplace of the gods and the place where the arts of civilization where said first to have been transmitted to men. It was the subject of many legends told by the Sumerians, the people of southern Iraq; it was famed as a land where death and disease were unknown and men and animals lived at peace together.

It was the home of the Sumerian king who was the origin of the myth of Noah, the immortal survivor of the Great Flood, a story retold in the Qu'ran and the Bible.

The first great hero of world literature, Gilgamesh the king of Uruk, journeyed to Dilmun in search of the secret of eternal youth.

He found it deep in the waters of the Persian Gulf, off Bahrain, but lost it when the flower which restored the youth of those who sought it, was stolen by a snake, lurking in a pool as Gilgamesh returned to his kingdom; this is the reason why the snake sloughs his skin.

Symbolism - All is Myth and Metaphor in our reality

* water: flow of consciousness - creation

* restore to youth: move out of the physical body and return to higher frequency forms of sound, light, and color

* snake: DNA - the human bio-genetic experiment in time and emotion

* kingdom - Leo - Lion - King - Omega - closure

Dilmun was also the center of the most important trade routes of the third and second millennia BC. The most important commodity was copper for which Dilmun was famous and the dates for which Bahrain was always celebrated, from ancient times until the present day.

Because Dilmun was so sacred a land, there were many temples built there, the impressive remains of which can be seen today. The largest and most splendid temple surviving in Western Asia is at Barbar on Bahrain's northern shore.

The most famous of all Bahrain's rich archaeological heritage are the 200,000 grave mounds which are a feature of the landscape in the northern half of the island and which, by their size and quality of construction, show how prosperous Bahrain must have been in ancient times.

Dilmun continued to be the most important center of trade in the Gulf region throughout its history.

After the Sumerians, the Babylonians, Assyrians, even the Greeks, settled on the islands, because of their strategic importance in the movement of merchandise, north and south, east and west, by sea and by the land routes to which the seas gave access.

The records of their diplomatic relations with the kings of Dilmun, some of whose names are known from the records, testify to the importance of the islands throughout antiquity.

All left evidence of their presence, preserved today in the Bahrain National Museum and in the immense archaeological sites in which Bahrain is particularly rich.

Bahrain is an open-air treasure house of the past, a unique heritage from the earliest times when men first began to keep records of their hopes, fears and achievements.

It is the contemporary of ancient Egypt with Sumer and the peoples who succeeded them, of the great cities of the Indus Valley.

Source: www.crystalinks.com/dilmun.html

SAC 01 NATO Strategic Airlift Capability Boeing C-17A Globemaster III- F-207 landing @TRD/ENVA 22.10.18

Le Mont-Saint-Michel is an island and mainland commune in Normandy, France. The island is located about one kilometer off the country's northwestern coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches and is 7 hectares in area. The mainland part of the commune is 393 hectares in area so that the total surface of the commune is 400 hectares with a population of 50. The island has held strategic fortifications since ancient times and since the 8th century AD has been the seat of the monastery from which it draws its name. The structural composition of the town exemplifies the feudal society that constructed it: on top, God, the abbey and monastery; below, the great halls; then stores and housing; and at the bottom, outside the walls, houses for fishermen and farmers. The commune's position—on an island just a few hundred metres from land—made it accessible at low tide to the many pilgrims to its abbey, but defensible as an incoming tide stranded, drove off, or drowned would-be assailants. The island remained unconquered during the Hundred Years' War; a small garrison fended off a full attack by the English in 1433. Louis XI recognised the reverse benefits of its natural defence and turned it into a prison. The abbey was used regularly as a prison during the Ancien Régime.

The original site was founded by an Irish hermit, who gathered a following from the local community. Mont-Saint-Michel was used in the sixth and seventh centuries as an Armorican stronghold of Gallo-Roman culture and power until it was ransacked by the Franks, thus ending the trans-channel culture that had stood since the departure of the Romans in 460. From roughly the fifth to the eighth century, Mont Saint-Michel belonged to the territory of Neustria and, in the early ninth century, was an important place in the marches of Neustria. Before the construction of the first monastic establishment in the 8th century, the island was called Mont Tombe(Latin: tumba). According to a legend, the archangel Michael appeared in 708 to Aubert of Avranches, the bishop of Avranches, and instructed him to build a church on the rocky islet. Unable to defend his kingdom against the assaults of the Vikings, the king of the Franks agreed to grant the Cotentin peninsula and the Avranchin, including Mont Saint-Michel traditionally linked to the city of Avranches, to the Bretons in the Treaty of Compiègne (867). This marked the beginning of a brief period of Breton possession of the Mont. In fact, these lands and Mont Saint-Michel were never really included in the duchy of Brittany and remained independent bishoprics from the newly created Breton archbishopric of Dol. When Rollo confirmed Franco as archbishop of Rouen, these traditional dependences of the Rouen archbishopric were retained in it. The mount gained strategic significance again in 933 when William I Longsword annexed the Cotentin Peninsula from the weakened Duchy of Brittany. This made the mount definitively part of Normandy, and is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry, which commemorates the 1066 Norman conquest of England. Harold Godwinson is pictured on the tapestry rescuing two Norman knights from the quicksand in the tidal flats during a battle with Conan II, Duke of Brittany. Norman ducal patronage financed the spectacular Norman architecture of the abbey in subsequent centuries. In 1067 the monastery of Mont Saint-Michel gave its support to William the Conqueror in his claim to the throne of England. This he rewarded with properties and grounds on the English side of the Channel, including a small island off the southwestern coast of Cornwall which was modelled after the Mount and became a Norman priory named St Michael's Mount of Penzance. During the Hundred Years' War, the Kingdom of England made repeated assaults on the island but were unable to seize it due to the abbey's improved fortifications. The English initially besieged the Mont in 1423–24, and then again in 1433–34 with English forces under the command of Thomas de Scales, 7th Baron Scales. Two wrought-iron bombards that Scales abandoned when he gave up his siege are still on site. They are known as les Michelettes. Mont Saint-Michel's resolute resistance inspired the French, especially Joan of Arc. When Louis XI of France founded the Order of Saint Michael in 1469, he intended that the abbey church of Mont Saint-Michel become the chapel for the Order, but because of its great distance from Paris, his intention could never be realised. The wealth and influence of the abbey extended to many daughter foundations, including St. Michael's Mount in Cornwall. However, its popularity and prestige as a centre of pilgrimage waned with the Reformation, and by the time of the French Revolution there were scarcely any monks in residence. The abbey was closed and converted into a prison, initially to hold clerical opponents of the republican regime. High-profile political prisoners followed, but by 1836, influential figures—including Victor Hugo—had launched a campaign to restore what was seen as a national architectural treasure. The prison was finally closed in 1863, and the mount was declared a historic monument in 1874. Mont Saint-Michel and its bay were added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979, and it was listed with criteria such as cultural, historical, and architectural significance, as well as human-created and natural beauty. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont-Saint-Michel

a cedar waxwing finds a vantage point above the wetlands pond

Writing by a German prisoner of war, some of words read:

25.5 Prisoner of War

1945 Bis (or 31S) 2508205

Lt Mombarg

It appears that Lt. Mombarg carved this on May 25, 1945.

In 1942, War Department needed to house POWs to learn strategic information on weaponry. Interrogation sites were set up at Ft. Hunt, VA and Byron Hot Springs, CA. Ft. Hunt could not handle the interrogation demands and the Camp Michaux was selected as a second site. Thousands of prisoners (possibly as many as 7,000) were interrogated here during the course of the war including Japanese prisoners toward the end of the war.

This writing is located on the side of small stone bridge on the Michaux Road.

Narvik is the third-largest municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Narvik.

Narvik is located on the shores of the Ofotfjorden.

The history of Narvik as a settlement began in the Bronze Age. Not very much is known about these people, but the Vikings lived in this area.

Narvik was developed as an all-year ice free port for the Swedish Kiruna and Gällivare iron mines. The history of modern Narvik begins in the 1870s, when the Swedish government began to understand the potential of the iron ore mines in Kiruna, Sweden. Obtaining iron ore from Kiruna had one significant problem in that there was no suitable Swedish port. The nearest Swedish port, Luleå, had limitations. It was covered with ice all winter, it is far from Kiruna, and it allows only medium-sized bulk freight vessels. Narvik offered a port which is ice-free thanks to the warm Gulf Stream, and is naturally large, allowing boats of virtually any size to anchor, up to 208 metres (682 ft) long and 27 metres (89 ft) deep. The Swedish company (Gällivarre Aktiebolag) built the Iron Ore Line (Malmbanan) to Riksgränsen on the Norway–Sweden border. The Norwegian Ofotbanen railway line connects Narvik to the Swedish border.

Swedish mining corporation LKAB still ships the majority of its ore from Narvik (a total 25 million tons a year). The corporation is still important in the area, both as an employer and landowner, although its influence is not as prominent now as it has been in previous years.

The port of Narvik proved to be strategically valuable in the early years of World War II and the town became a focal point of the Norwegian Campaign. In 1939, Germany's war industry depended upon iron ore mined in Kiruna and Malmberget in Sweden. During the summer season, this ore could be sent by cargo ship to Germany through the Baltic Sea via the Swedish port of Luleå on the Gulf of Bothnia. However, when the Gulf of Bothnia froze during the winter, more shipments of the ore needed to be transported through Narvik and, from there, down the west coast of Norway to Germany. The town of Narvik is linked by rail to Sweden, but not to any other towns in Norway. As a result, Narvik serves as a gateway to the ore fields of Sweden that cannot be easily reached from southern Norway via land. (Wikipedia)

"Strategic Savannah" is a Singaporean cargo ship, seen here from a ferry between Port Townsend and Coupeville, WA.

@ USAF - US Air Force

Convair B-36J Peacemaker 52-2827 (cn 383) Named "City of Fort Worth" after the production plant's location. This was the last B-36 to be built (14.AUG.1954) and the last one in service when retired (12.FEB.1959) with sporting markings from the 95th BW, Biggs AFB TX. On display and Preserved at Pima Air and Space Museum. The B-36 "Peacemaker" was the largest strategic bomber and the last piston engine powered aircraft at the time. Capable of delivering any of the nuclear weapons in the U.S. arsenal. The Convair B-36 was the only aircraft designed to carry the T-12 Cloudmaker, a gravity bomb weighing 43,600 lb (19,800 kg). With a length of 49,4 m and a wingspan of 70,1 m the B-36 was flew first in 1946. Driven by 6 Pratt & Whitney propeller engines behind the wings and 4 General Electric jet engines it had a range of approximately 13.000 km.

The Sustainability Consortium, where I am Chief Scientist, is ten years old! We created and are stewards of the Walmart Sustainability Index, and we engage in projects with retailers and brands to make consumer products and their supply chains more sustainable. Here are some of my colleagues in a strategic planning exercise in ASU's Skysong building in Scottsdale.