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I continue my winter wonderland season of festivities with some things I got last year during this season.
[Hair] Phoenix Kalea
[Top] erratic Kim Top (Last year)
[Pants] Ascend Amaya Jeans
[Shoes] Blueberry Pia
BoM Stuff:
- Izzie's EvoX Eyeshadow base
- Izzie's EvoX Sultry Smokey Red
- Izzie's EvoX Freckles
- Izzie's Bikini Lines
- Izzie's Body Veins and Freckles
- Devine Tatoos Sakura Beauty
9x12"
acrylic/graphite/charcoal on panel
I made this painting for "Get Lucky" at Soo Visual Arts Center in Minneapolis, MN.
Saturday, January 29, 2011 - 7pm - 11pm
Advance Tickets $40 Members: $35
Tickets at the Door: $45
Aviation Memories
Continuing Year 2020 with a dip into the written archives :)
Another page from one of my school note books - what a useful way of utilising what we called our 'Rough Books' - I was an early adopter of Recycling :)
I had just turned 14 years of age, and I was looking to expand my portfolio of hobbies! I had already been indoctrinated into the world of bus spotting and train spotting by my older brother, but he never had an interest in aviation. It was my school mates at senior school who encouraged me to visit Heathrow - a mere 4 miles from where I lived in Southall! I was quickly hooked, and the interest never really went away, although it waned by the early 1990s when all the best aircraft had disappeared :(
Some comments on the sightings
Sat 10th Dec 1977 - A visit to Heathrow
One of many Saturdays that I spent at London Heathrow as a teenager - such variety we had in the 1970s!
Star player - 5-8541 Imperial Iranian Air Force Lockheed C-130H Hercules :)
A pair of Aeroflot Tu-154s was unusual CCCP-85088 was a regular, CCCP-85182 was a rarer machine
OH-LSD Finnair Caravelle was also a visitor, operating a Kar Air charter flight (KR3657)
Malev brought in one of their superb looking Ilyushin Il-18s HA-MOE instead of the usual Tupolev
Looking at the rest, it's possible that we had some Gatwick diversions (hence the pair of Aeroflots) as we had G-BFBZ Laker / Caribbean Boeing 707 and G-APYD Dan Air Comet (a real rarity for Heathrow :)
On top of that lot, we had a load of nice light & biz:
EC-CTV (TM.11-4) Mystere 20 Spanish AF
OH-PNT Pa-31 Cheyenne
+ HB-VEX, D-IANY,
Finally, we had some RAF Wessex helicopters visiting:
XV723 AQ, XT670 AU as well as BA and BB.
You can see a random selection of my aviation memories here: www.flickriver.com/photos/heathrowjunkie/random/
'Aircraft spotting or plane spotting is a hobby of tracking the movement of aircraft, which is often accomplished by photography. Besides monitoring aircraft, aircraft spotting enthusiasts (who are usually called plane spotters) also record information regarding airports, air traffic control communications and airline routes.'
See more here! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aircraft_spotting
I was wondering what was different about this image, i looked back to last years and realised that a lot of young pines were amongst the heather on the other side of the wall last year. They have all been cut out.
I remember thinking they were making the composition messy, NT must be landscape photographers :)
Everest Basecamp – mount everest, who does not know this mountain. The highest mountain in the world with a height of 8.848 meters (29,028 ft). who always wanted conguered mountain climbers climbers reliable. This mountain is deadly for novice climbers, so for those of you who are still a beginner, do not try to try to conguered this mountain. not necessarily because of his conguered climbers can reliably especially novice climbers.
The following is the Everest base camp
At Everest Base Camp, climbers will Often spend 4-8 weeks, acclimatizing to the altitude. During that time, the “Icefall Doctors” will set up ropes and ladders in the notoriously unstable Khumbu Icefall. Seracs, crevasses and shifting blocks of ice of make the icefall one of the most dangerous sections of the route. Many climbers and Sherpas have been killed in this section. To reduce the risk, climbers will usually begin Reviews their ascent well before sunrise when the freezing Temperatures glue ice blocks in place.Camp I
Above the icefall is Camp I at 6.065 m (19,900 ft) Camp 1 is mostly a temporary camp with most climbers just spending one night at this camp.Camp II
Base Camp II, Advanced Base Camp (ABC) is established at 6,400 m (21,300 ft). The Western Cwm is a are relatively flat, Gently rising glacial valley, marked by huge lateral crevasses in the center roomates Prevent direct access to the Upper Reaches of the Cwm. Climbers are forced to cross on the far right near the base of Nuptse to a small passageway known as the “Nuptse corner”. The Western Cwm as the topography of the area geneally cuts off wind from the climbing route. The high altitude and a clear, windless day can the make the Western Cwm unbearably hot for climbers.Camp III
From ABC, climbers ascend the Lhotse face on set of ropes up to Camp III, on small ledges situated at Approximately 7,200 m to 7,400 m. From there, it is another 500 meters to Camp IV on the South Col at 7.920 m (26,000 ft). From Camp III to Camp IV, mountaineers are faced with two additional obstacles: The “Geneva Spur” and the “Yellow Band”. The Geneva Spur is an anvil shaped rib of black rock named by a 1952 Swiss expedition. Fixed ropes help climbers in scrambling over this snow covered rock band. The Yellow Band is a section of sedimentary sandstone. The route from the base of the Lhotse face to the Summit is almost always completely fixed with static line.Camp IV
On the South Col, climbers are very close to 8,000 m and can only spend limited time at those altitudes even with supplemental oxygen. Climbers typically only have a maximum of two or three days they can tolerate at this altitude for making peak bids. Clear weather and low winds are important factors when Deciding on a summit attempt. If weather does not cooperate within Reviews These short few days, climbers are forced to move down, many all the way back down to Base Camp.
From Camp IV, mountaineers Reviews their summit push will start from 8 pm to 2 am with the hope of reaching the summit (still another 1,000 meters above) within 10 to 12 hours. Climbers will first reach “The Balcony” at 8,400 m (27,700 ft), a small platform where they can rest and gaze at peaks to the south and east in the early dawn light. Continuing up the ridge, climbers are then faced with a series of impressive rock steps the which usually forces them to the east into waist deep snow, a large amount of sudden grave hazard. At 8,750 m (28,700 ft), a small table-sized arena of ice and snow marks the South Summit.
From the South Peak, mountaineers go after the knife-edge along the Southeast Ridge the which is known as the “Cornice traverse” where snow griping to irregular rock. This is the most bare part of the climb as a misstep to the left would send one 2,400 m (8,000 ft) down the southwest face while to the immediate right is the 3,050 m (10,000 ft) Kangshung face. At the end of this traverse is an imposing 12 m (40 ft) rock wall called the “Hillary Step” at 8.760 m (28.750 ft).
Tenzing and Hillary were the first mountaineers to rise this step and they did it with prehistoric ice climbing equipment and without fixed ropes. Now, climbers will ascend this step using fixed ropes Previously set up by Sherpas. Once above the step, it is a comparatively easy climb to the top on fairly angled snow slopes – though the exposure on the ridge is extreme especially while traversing very large cornices of snow. After the Hillary Step, climbers must traverse Also a very loose and rocky section that has a very large entanglement of fixed ropes that can be troublesome in bad weather. Climbers will typically spend less than a half-hour on “top of the world” as they Realize the need to descend to Camp IV before darkness sets in, afternoon weather Becomes a serious problem, or supplemental oxygen tanks run out.
That Everest base camp you will visit when you are mountain climbing Everest. if you are big enough guts, you should climb this mountain. but if you are in doubt it is better not try to climb this mountain.
by New Hotel Travel in ift.tt/1q2Vh1i
To continue my garden bird visitor theme, I had to wait quite a while for this male chaffinch to perch on this section of hawthorn, so I could include the colourful background, being a good bird, he obeyed my request........Best viewed large!
Thanking you for your visit, and do appreciate any comments, have a great weekend my friends................Tom.
Another Lego store visit at Freehold Raceway Mall to promote the event and brought one of the hangar bays as a preview to the store staff.
Continuing with studio botanical studies... the cap from an acorn.
Pentax K-1, D FA 50mm macro reverse mounted on extension, 100 images focused stacked in Zerene Stacker (2 combined stacks.). Just over 1x lifesized.
I realized that the version of Adobe Camera Raw that I use does not seem to support pixel shift resolution in Pentax K-1 files. (I'm using ACR v 9.1.1 in Photoshop CS6, K-1 raw support was added to ACR v9.5.1). So I used in camera JPG;s for this image. The level of detail is pretty good but I could probably be upped a bit more working with RAW files as the source.
MCCP0937-MCCP1038_PDPs_v2_tu6
Continuing my Southern Arizona Adventure 2024 with a stop in Sonoita. This is stage 5 of 9. I have left Patagonia and I am heading to Ramsey Canyon and Bisbee.
This Sonoita Mercantile sits at a crossroads and seems to be a central hub and element of Sonoita life.
Arizona Highways can describe this better than me.
www.arizonahighways.com/business/sonoita-mercantile
By Bruce Itule
There are many reasons to visit Sonoita Mercantile in Southern Arizona, but don’t go there thinking you’ll figure out Toni Enriquez’s secret fried chicken recipe.
“There is no secret,” says Enriquez, who grew up in Patagonia and is the weekday cook at the mercantile. “It’s actually a frozen product. All I do is put it in the fryer.”
Ouch.
Even though she has no secret to tell, Enriquez fries about 60 pieces of chicken a day, and sells every piece.
The country store and deli offers other foods, too, but the chicken is nibble-on-the-bones-after-eating good, always moist and juicy, not too spicy and slightly breaded.
There are only three tables inside the mercantile for deli diners, but plenty of others grab something to go for a front- or back-seat snack on their trips east toward wine country or Bisbee, or southwest to Patagonia or Nogales.
By the way, not all of her food comes from a freezer bag. “We make the pizza from scratch,” she says. “Some days I also make [from scratch] biscuits and gravy, pulled-pork sandwiches, macaroni and cheese, and Mexican food, but people come in all the time looking for the chicken.”
Locals like the mercantile a lot, and some of them stop and talk awhile. Around lunchtime, there’s a constant stream of regulars sitting at the wooden tables, which are covered in clear plastic tablecloths.
Most people are in the store for only a few minutes, usually to pay for their gasoline — there are pumps out front — or grab a snack or a cold soft drink. Enriquez knows many of the customers and greets them by name.
“Hi, Granny. Whatcha doing
After dropping their helpers at MO, 21V gets underway again on a warm August evening. Quite a crowd had gathered at the pumphouse for the afternoon and were rewarded with 8 trains in a short period of time, including Amtrak 07T.
Continuing a series of experimental photos with a No. 2 Folding Pocket Brownie, Model B (circa 1912). All settings are mentioned as they appear on the camera. If you are lost, I suggest starting with the first photo in the corresponding album.
I wanted to really give the Pocket Brownie a good spin, so a close friend of mine and I toured Chicago with a hand-full of cameras. Since the Pocket Brownie has a slow shutter, it worried me because all the exposures ran the risk of being too bright, which they almost are. Honestly, I'm shocked at how well these images came out! I cracked the F/stop all the way to the right, hence "3+" and hoped for the best.
They really do, in some capacity, seem very timeless.
Shutter: I
Focus: 100ft
Aperture: 3+
Ilford 124
Schweiz / Nidwalden - Vierwaldstättersee
seen from Stanserhorn
gesehen vom Stanserhorn
Lake Lucerne (German: Vierwaldstättersee, literally "Lake of the four forested settlements" (in English usually translated as forest cantons), French: lac des Quatre-Cantons, Italian: lago dei Quattro Cantoni) is a lake in central Switzerland and the fourth largest in the country.
Geography
The lake has a complicated shape, with several sharp bends and four arms. It starts in the south–north bound Reuss Valley between steep cliffs above the Urnersee from Flüelen towards Brunnen to the north before it makes a sharp bend to the west where it continues into the Gersauer Becken. Here is also the deepest point of the lake with 214 m (702 ft). Even further west of it is the Buochser Bucht, but the lake sharply turns north again through the narrow opening between the Unter Nas (lower nose) of the Bürgenstock to the west and the Ober Nas (upper nose) of the Rigi to the east to reach the Vitznauer Bucht. In front of Vitznau below the Rigi the lake turns sharply west again to reach the center of a four-arm cross, called the Chrütztrichter (Cross Funnel). Here converge the Vitznauer Bucht with the Küssnachtersee from the north, the Luzernersee from the west, and the Horwer Bucht and the Stanser Trichter to the south, which is to be found right below the northeast side of the Pilatus and the west side of the Bürgenstock. At the very narrow pass between the east dropper of the Pilatus (called Lopper) and Stansstad the lake reaches its southwestern arm at Alpnachstad on the steep southern foothills of the Pilatus, the Alpnachersee. The lake drains its water into the Reuss in Lucerne from its arm called Luzernersee (which literally translates as Lake of Lucerne).
The entire lake has a total area of 114 km² (44 sq mi) at an elevation of 434 m (1,424 ft) a.s.l., and a maximum depth of 214 m (702 ft). Its volume is 11.8 km³. Much of the shoreline rises steeply into mountains up to 1,500 m above the lake, resulting in many picturesque views including those of the mountains Rigi and Pilatus.
The Reuss enters the lake at Flüelen, in the part called Urnersee (Lake of Uri, in the canton of Uri) and exits at Lucerne. The lake also receives the Muota at Brunnen, the Engelberger Aa at Buochs, and the Sarner Aa at Alpnachstad.
It is possible to circumnavigate the lake by train and road, though the railway route circumvents the lake even on the north side of the Rigi via Arth-Goldau. Since 1980, the A2 motorway leads through the Seelisberg Tunnel in order to reach the route to the Gotthard Pass in just half an hour in Altdorf, Uri right south of the beginning of the lake in Flüelen.
Steamers and other passenger boats ply between the different villages and towns on the lake. It is a popular tourist destination, both for native Swiss and foreigners, and there are many hotels and resorts along the shores. In addition, the meadow of the Rütli, traditional site of the founding of the Swiss Confederation, is on the Urnersee shore. A 35 km commemorative walkway, the Swiss Path, was built around the Lake of Uri to celebrate the country's 700th anniversary in 1991.
Archaeologists surveying the lake-bed (during the construction of a pipeline) from 2019 to 2021 found the remains of a Bronze Age village with artifacts dating to around 1000 BC. Later, the new findings indicated that the area was settled 2,000 years earlier than historians previously thought.
Lake Lucerne borders on the three original Swiss cantons of Uri, Schwyz, and Unterwalden (which today is divided into the cantons of Obwalden and Nidwalden), as well as the canton of Lucerne, thus the name Vierwaldstättersee (lit.: Lake of the Four Forested Settlements). Many of the oldest communities of Switzerland are along the shore, including Küssnacht, Weggis, Vitznau, Gersau, Brunnen, Altdorf, Buochs, and Treib.
Lake Lucerne is singularly irregular and appears to lie in four different valleys, all related to the conformation of the adjoining mountains. The central portion of the lake lies in two parallel valleys whose direction is from west to east, the one lying north, the other south of the ridge of the Bürgenstock. These are connected through a narrow strait, scarcely one kilometre wide, between the two rocky promontories called respectively Unter Nas and Ober Nas (Lower and Upper Nose). It is not unlikely that the southern of these two divisions of the lake—called Buochser Bucht—formerly extended to the west over the isthmus whereon stands the town of Stans, thus forming an island of the Bürgenstock. The west end of the main branch of the lake, whence a comparatively shallow bay extends to the town of Lucerne, is intersected obliquely by a deep trench whose south-west end is occupied by the branch called Alpnachersee, while the north-east branch forms the long arm of Küssnacht, Küssnachtersee. These both lie in the direct line of a valley that stretches with scarcely a break in between the Uri Alps and the Emmental Alps. At the eastern end of the Gersauer Becken, where the containing walls of the lake-valley are directed from east to west, it is joined at an acute angle by the arm of Uri, or the Urnersee, lying in the northern prolongation of the deep cleft that gives a passage to the Reuss, between the Uri Alps and the Glarus Alps.
The Urnersee occupies the northernmost and deep portion of the great cleft of the Reuss Valley, which has cut through the Alpine ranges from the St Gotthard Pass to the neighbourhood of Schwyz. From its eastern shore the mountains rise in almost bare walls of rock to a height of from 3,000 to 4,000 ft (910 to 1,220 m) above the water. The two highest summits are the Fronalpstock and the Rophaien (2078 m). Between them the steep glen or ravine of the Riemenstaldener Tal descends to Sisikon, the only village with Flüelen right on the shore on that side of the Urnersee. On the opposite or western shore, the mountains attain still greater dimensions. The Niederbauen Chulm is succeeded by the Oberbauenstock, and farther south, above the ridge of the Scharti, appear the snowy peaks of the Gitschen and the Uri Rotstock (2,928 m). In the centre opens the Reuss Valley, backed by the rugged summits of the Urner and Glarner Alps.
The breadth of these various sections of the lake is very variable, but is usually between one and two miles (3 km). The lake's surface, whose mean height above the sea is 434 metres, is the lowest point of the cantons of Uri, Obwalden and Nidwalden. Originally the lake was susceptible to variations in level and flooding along its shoreline. Between 1859 and 1860, the introduction of a needle dam in the Reuss in the city of Lucerne, just upstream from the Spreuerbrücke, allowed the lake level to be stabilised.
The culminating point of the lake's drainage basin, as well as Central Switzerland, is the Dammastock at 3,630 metres above sea level.
Name
The name of Vierwaldstättersee is first used in the 16th century. Before the 16th century, the entire lake was known as Luzerner See "Lake Lucerne", as remains the English (and partly Italian, as Lago di Lucerna) usage. The (three) "Waldstätte(n)" (lit.: "forested sites/settlements", in English usually translated as forest cantons[6]) since the 14th century were the confederate allies of Uri, Schwyz and Unterwalden. The notion of "Four Waldstätten" (Vier Waldstätten), with the addition of the canton of Lucerne, is first recorded in the 1450s, in an addition to the "Silver Book" of Egloff Etterlin of Lucerne.
The nine different parts of the lake have individual designations:
Urnersee ("Lake of Uri"): The first part of the lake, at the mouth of the Reuss between Flüelen and Brunnen.
Gersauer Becken ("Basin of Gersau") next to Gersau below the Rigi massif is the deepest part of the lake.
Buochser Bucht ("Bay of Buochs"): The bay of Bouchs, where the Engelberger Aa enters the lake.
Vitznauer Bucht ("Bay of Vitznau"): The part between the Bürgenstock and Rigi.
Alpnachersee ("Lake of Alpnach"): the almost separate, southern arm below the southern mountainside of Pilatus near Alpnach.
Stanser Trichter ("Funnel of Stans"): The part north of the Pilatus, west of Bürgenstock, and in front of Hergiswil and Stansstad.
Küssnachtersee ("Lake of Küssnacht"): The most northern arm, west of the Rigi with Küssnacht SZ at its northern end.
Chrütztrichter ("Cross Funnel"): The meeting point of Stanser Trichter, Luzernersee, Küssnachtersee, and Vitznauer Bucht.
Luzernersee ("Lake of Lucerne"): in German usage now limited to the bay at Lucerne as far as Meggenhorn, with its effluence of the Reuss.
Navigation
The lake is navigable, and has formed an important part of Switzerland's transport system for many centuries, and at least since the opening of the first track across the Gotthard Pass in 1230. This trade grew with the opening of a new mail coach road across the pass in 1830. This road had its northern terminus at Flüelen at the extreme eastern end of the lake, and the lake provided the only practical onward link to Lucerne, and hence the cities of northern Switzerland and beyond.
Whilst the development of Switzerland's road and rail networks has relieved the lake of much of its through traffic, it continues to be used by a considerable number of vessels, both private and public. Much of this usage is tourist or leisure oriented, but the lake continues to provide practical public and cargo transport links between the smaller lakeside communities.
Passenger boats of the Schifffahrtsgesellschaft des Vierwaldstättersees (SGV) provide services on the lake, including many run by historic paddle steamers. The SGV serves 32 places along the shore of the lake, with interchange to both main line and mountain railways at various points. Under separate management, the Autofähre Beckenried-Gersau provides a car ferry service between Beckenried, on the south bank of the lake, and Gersau on the north.
Cargo barges, to a local design known as Nauen, are still used on the lake. Some have been converted for use as party boats. Other barges are used by the gravel dredging industry that operates on the lake, using large dredgers to obtain sand and gravel for use in the construction industry.
Cultural references
Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata derives its name from an 1832 description of the first movement by poet and music critic Ludwig Rellstab, who compared it to moonlight shining upon Lake Lucerne.
Gioacchino Rossini uses this in his William Tell Overture Section A: Sunrise over the Alps.
Rowing
Lake Lucerne has twice been used as a venue for the European Rowing Championships: in 1908 and then in 1926. The nearby Rotsee has since 1933 been used for rowing regattas instead.
Tourism
On the way south, the English discovered the mountains of central Switzerland. Several spa and bathing resorts such as Weggis or Gersau were created. In 1871, the very first rack railway in Europe, the Vitznau-Rigi Railway, was opened. In 1889 the steepest cog railway in the world was built from Alpnachstad to Mount Pilatus. Mark Twain described an ascent to the Rigi, which led to the blossoming of Swiss tourism in the United States in the 19th century. One of the largest steamship fleets in Europe operates with five steamships on Lake Lucerne.
In the area surrounding the lake and on terraces at medium height (for example Morschach and Seelisberg) there are numerous places for tourists. The Rigi, Pilatus, the Bürgenstock, the Stanserhorn, the Buochserhorn, and the two legends, the Urirotstock and the Fronalpstock are attractive panoramic mountains near Lake Lucerne. Most of them can be reached by mountain railways, some of which have their valley station near boat stations on the lake.
There are numerous locations on the lake that are important in Swiss cultural and tourism history: Rütli, Tellsplatte, Tell Chapel, Carving Tower of Stansstad, Neu-Habsburg, Schillerstein, Treib, Astrid Chapel (Küssnacht) and Meggenhorn Castle.
Watersports
Different sports are possible in some separate areas due to the water and wind conditions. The lake is accessible from boat and yacht harbors, to lake resorts and pools (e.g. the Lido pool in Lucerne, built in 1929 by Arnold Berger). Therefore, the lake can be easily accessible from both shores. The See-Club Luzern was founded in 1881, which is now Switzerland's largest rowing club, as well as the Reuss Luzern rowing club (Ruderclub Reuss Luzern) in 1904. The Lucerne Yacht Club (Yachtclub Luzern) has existed since 1941 and has been running since 1966 a boathouse and buoy field on Churchill-Quai in Lucerne.
The Brunnen water sports club (Wassersportclub Brunnen), founded in 1958, held on Lake Lucerne in the first years of its existence international motorboat races and water ski championships. In 1965 the association chose a new name for the club: Lake Lucerne Water Sports Club (Wassersport-Club Vierwaldstättersee). The Central Switzerland Motorboat Club (Motorbootclub Zentralschweiz) was established in 1980 and the Hergiswil Water Sports Club (Wassersportclub Hergiswil) in 1986. SchweizMobil has created a canoe tour across Lake Lucerne between Brunnen and Gersau. Due to the wind in the Reuss Valley, the southern part of Lake Uri between the campground at Gruonbachstrand in Flüelen and Isleten is a center of windsurfing.
Diving
There are about ten places where you can dive without a boat in Lake Lucerne. The water is rather chilly all year round and therefore mostly very clear. In Lake Uri, at Sisikon, one can dive to a fragmented steep vertical wall, at the northern portal of the Schieferneggtunnel. The Lediwrack Bruno lies in front of Brunnen at a depth of 15 meters. Other well-known diving spots are in front of Vitznau, Weggis, Gersau and Hergiswil.
(Wikipedia)
The Stanserhorn is a mountain in Switzerland, located in the canton of Nidwalden near to the border with Obwalden, with the peak at 1,898 metres (6,227 ft) above sea level.
It is a popular tourist destination, which can be reached from the adjacent town of Stans by a funicular railway and cable car, or via walking routes from Stans or Dallenwil.
History
The first public transport route to the peak was started in 1891 and completed in 1893, a three section funicular railway. The builders were the business partners Franz Josef Bucher-Durrer and Josef Durrer-Gasser.
The first section started from Stans town, through the low pastures above the town and over three level crossings, to an intermediate station at Kälti (also sometimes spelt Chälti). The second section continued through forest to another intermediate station at Bluematt (also sometimes spelt Blumatt), then the third section crossed the high pastures and the exposed slope leading up to the summit station and hotel. This third section included a 160 metres (520 ft) long tunnel and a number of avalanche protection walls; the final section of it was carried on a stone embankment. Each section was electrically powered (making it one of the world's first electrically powered mountain railways), with the complete trip to the summit taking 45 minutes.
The railway ran a tourist service until 1970, when on the night of the 2/3 October the funicular cable was struck by lightning. This started a fire which destroyed the summit hotel and the driving engine for the third section in its basement. As a result of this, and also the imminent expiry of the concession, the second funicular section stopped operating in 1974. Part of the driving engine of this section can be seen today outside the summit buildings, while parts of two cars can still be seen at the former Bluematt station.
A new cable car was built to replace the two upper funicular sections, which started operation in May 1975. The first funicular section continued in operation, as it does to this day.
In 2001 a revolving restaurant was built at the summit station, and in 2003 an outside observation deck was added.
In 2010 construction work started on a new cable car to replace the 1975 installation. This was to be a new design, the world's first "CabriO" double deck open top cable car, built by Garaventa. Carrying 60 passengers per cabin with room for 30 on the open deck, passengers are able to observe the mountain scenery as well as the cable and engineering installations during the six-minute journey. While this new cable car was being built, the first funicular section and its original wooden cars were renovated. The final run of the former cable car was on 23 October 2011;[8] the renovated funicular and new "CabriO" were opened on 29 June 2012.
Visiting
he funicular railway and cable car normally run daily from mid-April to mid-November.
The journey to the top starts in Stans town at the original 1893 bottom station (450 metres (1,480 ft) elevation), close to Stans railway station on the Luzern-Engelberg line. The journey, on the original wooden funicular wagons, takes 9 minutes to the Kälti intermediate station (714 metres (2,343 ft) altitude). From here the "CabriO" cable car takes 61⁄4 minutes to the summit station (1,850 metres (6,070 ft) altitude). The cable car closely follows the route of the original second and third stage funiculars, and the remains of the track and the Bluematt station can still be seen.
The summit buildings include a self-service restaurant, three meeting/dining rooms, a souvenir shop, and a sun terrace and observation deck.
From the summit buildings, a round trip walk is available around the summit (30 minutes), or to the peak at 1,898 metres (6,227 ft) altitude. From the peak, on a clear day, as well as the mountains around there are views as far as Alsace and the Black Forest in Germany. Ten lakes in total are visible: the Zugersee, Wichelsee, Vierwaldstättersee, Sempachersee, Sarnersee, Hallwilersee, Gerzensee, Bannalpsee, Baldeggersee and Alpnachersee.
A variety of hiking trail routes are available down to Bluematt-Kälti-Stans, Ahornhütte-Büren, Wiesenberg-Dallenwil, or Wirzweli-Wolfenschiessen. The routes to/from the summit are closed in winter or in bad weather.
(Wikipedia)
Der Vierwaldstättersee (französisch Lac des Quatre-Cantons; italienisch Lago dei Quattro Cantoni, Lago di Lucerna; rätoromanisch Lai dals Quatter Chantuns) ist ein von Bergen der Voralpen umgebener Alpenrandsee in der Zentralschweiz. Er liegt auf dem Gebiet der Kantone Uri, Schwyz, Unterwalden (d. h. Nid- und Obwalden) und Luzern. Die grössten Orte am Ufer sind Luzern, Küssnacht, Horw und Brunnen. Der See ist 114 km² gross, liegt auf einer Höhe von 433 m ü. M. und ist 214 m tief. Da es sich um einen charakteristischen Zungenbeckensee mit mehreren Zweigbecken handelt, ist die Uferlänge im Bezug zur Seefläche mit etwa 150 km relativ gross.
Name
Seinen Namen hat der Vierwaldstättersee von den vier an ihn angrenzenden Waldstätten (heutige Kantone). Bis ins 16. Jahrhundert wurde die Bezeichnung Luzerner See verwendet.
Entstehung
Der Vierwaldstättersee entstand in den Eiszeiten, u. a. der letzten Eiszeit, durch Erosion des Reussgletschers. Der See bildete sich als Gletscherrandsee am Ende der Eiszeit vor rund 12'000 Jahren. Im Gletschergarten Luzern zeigt eine Dokumentation die Geschichte der Alpen, der Eiszeiten und der Gletscher in den Zentralalpen.
Geographie
Zufluss
Die Hauptzuflüsse des Vierwaldstättersees sind die Reuss mit der Einmündung bei Flüelen und Seedorf, die Engelberger Aa bei Buochs, die Sarner Aa bei Alpnachstad und die Muota bei Brunnen. Die Reuss fliesst mit einem starken Gefälle aus dem Gotthardmassiv und führt grosse Mengen Geschiebe mit sich, so dass sich das Reussdelta im Laufe der Zeit um 10 km nach Norden in den Urnersee hinein erweitert hat.
Im Urnersee im Bereich des Reussdeltas zwischen Flüelen und Seedorf wurde von 2001 bis 2005 mit dem Ausbruchmaterial des Umfahrungstunnels Flüelen und des Gotthard-Basistunnels der Seegrund teilweise wieder aufgeschüttet. Es entstanden Flachwasserzonen, die durch den Kiesabbau verschwunden waren, und einige neue Inseln: die Neptuninseln und die Inselgruppe Lorelei. Einige der Inseln sind Vogelschutzgebiet. Im Naturschutzgebiet erlaubt der Reussdeltaturm die Beobachtung der Fauna.
Kleinere in den Vierwaldstättersee einmündende Gewässer sind der Gruonbach, der Isitaler Bach, der Riemenstaldnerbach, der Cholbach von Emmetten, der Lielibach bei Beckenried, der Teuffibach, der Melbach, die Kleine Schliere bei Alpnachstad, zehn Bäche am Ostabhang des Pilatus (darunter Mülibach, Steinibach bei Horw, Widenbach, Fridbach, Feldbach und Steinibach bei Hergiswil) und der Würzenbach in Luzern.
Gliederung
Der Vierwaldstättersee besteht aus mehreren Seebecken und Buchten:
Der Urnersee erstreckt sich von der Einmündung der Reuss bei Seedorf 11 km in nördlicher Richtung bis nach Brunnen
Der Gersauer See (auch Gersauer Becken oder Gersauerbecken) führt 14 km von Ost nach West von Brunnen nach Ennetbürgen, wo die Engelberger Aa in den See mündet. In der Mitte zwischen Beckenried und Gersau erreicht der See mit 214 m Tiefe seine tiefste Stelle.
Der Chrüztrichter (Kreuztrichter) bildet im Westen des Weggiser Beckens das eigentliche Zentrum des nördlichen Seeteils. Von ihm zweigen vier Hauptarme (Trichter) ab:
Das Weggiserbecken (östlicher Arm des Kreuztrichters) liegt südlich von Weggis und verläuft von Ost nach West. Es führt zwischen Hertenstein im Norden und dem Bürgenstock im Süden hin zur Seemitte. Es wird auch Vitznauerbecken genannt.
Der Stanser Trichter (südwestlicher Arm des Kreuztrichters). Im Südwesten davon liegen
die Horwerbucht und
der Alpnachersee, der zwischen Acheregg und Stansstad durch eine nur 100 Meter breite Engstelle, über die eine Brücke führt, vom restlichen See abgetrennt wird und am Südfuss des Pilatus liegt.
der Küssnachtersee (nordöstlicher Arm aus dem Kreuztrichter) zweigt zwischen Hertenstein und Meggenhorn in nordöstlicher Richtung nach Küssnacht, am Nordrand des Rigimassivs gelegen, ab.
der relativ kurze Luzernersee (auch Luzerner Bucht) ist zugleich nordwestlicher Arm des Kreuztrichters und Schlussteil des Sees. Er verläuft nach Nordwesten nach Luzern.
Abfluss
In Luzern verlässt die Reuss den See, kontrolliert mit einem Regulierwehr, und fliesst durch das Mittelland zur Aare.
Strömungen
Durch das verhältnismässig warme Wasser der Reuss und den Föhn, der das Wasser ständig umschichtet, ist der Urnersee am Grund wärmer und leichter als das Wasser im Gersauer Becken. Durch diesen Temperaturunterschied strömen jeden Frühling gewaltige Wassermassen vom Gersauer Becken in die Tiefen des Urnersees. Ähnliche Tiefenwasserströmungen bestehen auch vom Alpnachersee in das Gersauer Becken.
Wasserqualität und Temperaturen
Das Wasser bleibt durchschnittlich dreieinhalb Jahre im Seebecken und hat Trinkwasserqualität. Die Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Limnologie der Eawag überwacht die Wasserqualität. Im Sommer erreicht der See eine Temperatur von 22 °C. 1929 und 1963 froren der Alpnachersee und die Luzerner Bucht zu. Aus dem 17. und 19. Jahrhundert sind Vereisungen des ganzen Vierwaldstättersees dokumentiert. 1684 und 1685 konnte das Gersauer Becken auf dem Eis überquert werden.
Klima und Vegetation
Das Klima rund um den föhnbegünstigten und von Bergen geschützten Vierwaldstättersee ist im Vergleich zu anderen Regionen der deutschsprachigen Schweiz relativ mild; die Vegetation gleicht zum Teil derjenigen des Kantons Tessin. Die mittlere Tageshöchst-/-tiefsttemperatur beträgt in Luzern 2,6 °C (Januar) und 23,5 °C (Juli). In Altdorf südlich des Sees liegen die Werte bei 3,9 °C (Januar) und 23,0 °C im Juli (Klimamittel der Jahre 1961–1990). An den Seeufern wachsen Hanfpalmen, Feigen, Yuccas, Zypressen, Opuntien, Edelkastanien und andere südländische Pflanzenarten.
Die Edelkastanien wurden bis ins 19. Jahrhundert wirtschaftlich als Nahrungsmittel genutzt. Mit der Verbreitung der Kartoffel nahm die Bedeutung der Kastanie jedoch ab. Noch heute findet in Greppen regelmässig ein Kastanienmarkt, die sogenannte Chestene-Chilbi statt. An den Marktständen werden Kastanienprodukte und regionale Spezialitäten angeboten.
Naturgefahren
Hochwasser in Luzern August 2005
Nach dem Erdbeben vom 18. September 1601 entstanden Tsunamis im Vierwaldstättersee mit vermutlich bis zu 4 Meter hohen Flutwellen. Ein weiteres solches Ereignis soll im Jahr 1687 stattgefunden haben. Auch vom Genfersee ist ein Binnentsunami-Ereignis aus dem Jahr 563 bekannt, und vom Lauerzersee aus dem Jahr 1806.
Die Folgen der allgemeinen Erderwärmung in den Alpen werden auch für den Vierwaldstättersee und seine Umgebung diskutiert. Das Hochwasser 2005 mit diversen Muren und Erdrutschen könnte als Warnsymptom verstanden werden.
Seit 1861 wird der Wasserspiegel des Vierwaldstättersees durch die Reusswehranlage in Luzern etwa zwei bis drei Meter über dem natürlichen mittleren Wasserstand gehalten.
Verkehr
Schifffahrt
Auf dem See verkehren die Schiffe der Schifffahrtsgesellschaft des Vierwaldstättersees (SGV) zu den zahlreichen Schiffstationen. Bis zum Bau der Axenstrasse in den Jahren 1863 bis 1865 war der Wasserweg die einzige aus dem Norden mögliche Verbindung zum Kanton Uri, zum Gotthardpass und damit auch der einzige Weg von den Städten im Nordwesten Europas nach Mailand und zu den italienischen Häfen am Mittelmeer. Das gilt auch für die Pilgerwege des Mittelalters nach Rom. Noch heute verkehren auf dieser Strecke die grossen Raddampfer der SGV Stadt Luzern (das Flaggschiff der SGV) Uri, Unterwalden, Gallia und Schiller.
Autofähre Beckenried–Gersau
Zwischen Beckenried und Gersau verkehrt die Autofähre Beckenried–Gersau. Auf dem See fahren ausserdem Lastschiffe privater Transportunternehmen.
Beim Zusammenstoss des Nauens Schwalmis mit dem Motorschiff Schwalbe vor Horw starben am 12. Oktober 1944 zwanzig Gäste einer 33-köpfigen Hochzeitsgesellschaft aus der Region Entlebuch. Die Unfallursache konnte nicht restlos geklärt werden. Es war das bislang grösste Unglück der Schweiz mit einem motorisierten Schiff.
Strasse und Schiene
Seit dem Bau der Gotthardstrasse, der Gotthardbahn (Eröffnung 1882), der Gotthardautobahn (1982) und der Eisenbahnschnellfahrstrecken von AlpTransit (NEAT) zum Gotthard-Basistunnel (2016) tangieren grosse internationale Verkehrswege die Gegend um den Vierwaldstättersee. In Flüelen wechselten vor dem Bau der Eisenbahn die Reisenden von den Bergpässen vom Maultier oder der Postkutsche auf das Schiff. Am östlichen Ufer führt die Axenstrasse mit vielen Tunnels und Galerien von Flüelen über Sisikon nach Brunnen. Sie ist Bestandteil der A4. Die Bahnlinie führt mehrheitlich unterirdisch von Flüelen nach Brunnen. Auf dem Weg nach Küssnacht erinnern alte, restaurierte Hotelbauten an die Zeit des frühen Tourismus im 19. Jahrhundert.
Zwischen Hergiswil und Stansstad führen Strassenbrücken (Kantonsstrasse und Autobahn A2) und eine Eisenbahnbrücke der Luzern-Stans-Engelberg-Bahn bei der Lopper-Halbinsel über eine Landenge im See.
Der 1991 auf alten Verkehrswegen angelegte Wanderweg mit der Bezeichnung Weg der Schweiz führt rund um den südlichsten Teil des Sees, den Urnersee.
Luftverkehr
Zwischen Buochs und Ennetbürgen bei Stans liegt der Flugplatz Buochs, der früher fast nur von der Schweizer Armee und den Pilatus-Flugzeugwerken benutzt wurde. Heute steht der Flugplatz dem zivilen Flugverkehr offen. Der Militärflugplatz Alpnach wird von der Schweizer Armee als Helikopterbasis genutzt.
Hängegleiter und Gleitschirme nutzen bei geeignetem Wetter die Thermik der Felswände über den steilen Ufern des Sees. Die beliebtesten Fluggebiete für Gleitschirme um den Vierwaldstättersee sind der Pilatus, die Rigi, das Gebiet von Emmetten, das Stanserhorn und das ganze Engelbergertal. Beim Fliegen sind die Kontrollzonen der Flugplätze Alpnach, Buochs und Emmen zu beachten.
Geschichte
Zu den frühesten menschlichen Spuren am See gehörten die neolithischen Seeufersiedlungen aus dem 5. bis 4. Jahrtausend v. Chr. bei Stansstad-Kehrsiten. Zahlreiche Ortsnamen weisen auf eine keltische, später gallorömische Besiedlung hin. In Alpnach fand sich eine römische Villa. Spätestens im 7. Jahrhundert liessen sich Alemannen nieder.
Am Ausfluss der Reuss entstand im 12. und 13. Jahrhundert die Stadt Luzern, rund um den See die Länderorte Uri, Schwyz und Unterwalden. Diese erlangten die Hoheit über das sie verbindende Gewässer bis hin zur Seemitte, sieht man von der Fläche in der Verlängerung des Bürgenbergs bis vor Hertenstein ab. Diese gelangte 1378 zusammen mit dessen Nordflanke an Luzern. Dennoch kam es bis 1967 – zwischen Nidwalden und Luzern – zu Auseinandersetzungen um Fischereirechte und Grenzstreitigkeiten. Da es extrem schwierig war, Strassen um den See zu bauen, war das Gewässer zugleich eine Hauptverkehrsader.
Kirchlich bildete der Raum vom Hochmittelalter bis 1821 das Dekanat Luzern bzw. das Vierwaldstätterkapitel im Bistum Konstanz. Danach wurde der Raum auf die Bistümer Chur und Basel aufgeteilt. Über den See oder an ihm entlang führten früher Pilgerwege nach Rom. Auch der westwärts nach Santiago de Compostela führende Jakobsweg führt von Einsiedeln nach Brunnen. Von hier führt er weiter westlich mit dem Schiff nach Luzern oder über den Alpnachersee nach Süden zum Brünigpass.
Im Gegensatz zum offenen See, auf dem frei gefischt werden durfte, gehörten die Uferstreifen zur Gemeinmarch der Siedlungsgenossen. Nur ihre Fischer durften dort ausfahren. Daneben bestanden herrschaftliche Rechte wie die Fischämter von St. Leodegar in Luzern. Aus derlei Organisationsformen gingen etwa 1465 die Luzerner Rohrgesellen oder 1607 die St.-Niklausen-Bruderschaft von Stansstad hervor. Auch hier konnten Fischereirechte zu heftigen Auseinandersetzungen führen, wie 1655 zwischen Luzern und Nidwalden. Statuten für den Fischmarkt finden sich in Luzern schon im ältesten Ratsbüchlein (um 1318).
Nach der Helvetik wurde die Fischerei in allen Orten zu einem Hoheitsrecht der Kantone. 1890 schlossen sich die Kantone zum Fischereikonkordat Vierwaldstättersee zusammen. Noch Ende des 20. Jahrhunderts beschäftigten 27 Betriebe rund 40 Vollzeitarbeitskräfte.
Der regionale Markt mit Luzern als Mittelpunkt und der Verkehr über den Gotthard führten zum Aufbau eines Transportwesens. In Flüelen wurde 1313 ein Reichszoll erwähnt, Anfang des 14. Jahrhunderts sind in Luzern Lagerhäuser bezeugt, ähnlich wie in anderen Orten.
Im 17. Jahrhundert bestanden in Alpnach fünf Fahrrechte, in Brunnen arbeiteten 60 Schiffsleute. 1687 kam es zum Abschluss eines Schifffahrtsvertrags, der bis ins 19. Jahrhundert Bestand hatte. 1837 begann die Dampfschifffahrt, 1870 entstand die Schifffahrtsgesellschaft des Vierwaldstättersees. Sie verdrängte die lokalen Schifffahrtsgenossenschaften. Ab 1859 entstand im Einzugsgebiet des Sees ein Eisenbahn-, Bergbahn- und Strassennetz, was den Tourismus stark anwachsen liess und eine entsprechende Infrastruktur hervorbrachte. Ab Ende des 19. Jahrhunderts wurde die Sand- und Kiesgewinnung zu einem expandierenden Industriezweig.
1859–1860 wurde mit dem Bau des Luzerner Nadelwehrs die Basis für eine Regulierung des Wasserpegels gelegt. Zugleich belasteten Kiesabbau, das Wachstum der Orte und der unkontrollierte Häuserbau, dazu Gewässerverschmutzung und Wassersport den See. Daher entstand 1916 das Hydrobiologische Laboratorium (1960 in die ETH Zürich integriert), das im Bereich des Gewässerschutzes tätig wurde und bis heute die Kantone berät. 1953 wurde der Gewässerschutz in der Bundesverfassung verankert, aber erst das revidierte Gewässerschutzgesetz von 1971 ermöglichte es schliesslich die Sanierung des Sees bis 1987 voranzutreiben. Bereits ab 1980 versorgten sich Luzern, Bürgenstock sowie Küssnacht, Horw und Weggis mit Trinkwasser aus dem See. 1973 setzten die Uferkantone einen Landschaftsschutzplan in Kraft, dessen Umsetzung der 1984 gegründete Landschaftsschutzverband Vierwaldstättersee vorantreibt.
Kulturelle und historische Eigenheiten des Seegebietes sind der Kommunalismus, die eigenständige Rezeption der italienischen Renaissance und des Barock oder der Einfluss der Gegenreformation, aber auch die Kleinräumigkeit des lokalen Brauchtums und der Mundarten.
Tourismus
Fremdenverkehr
Auf dem Weg in den Süden entdeckten Engländer die Bergwelt der Innerschweiz. Es entstanden mehrere Kur- und Badeorte wie Weggis oder Gersau. 1871 eröffnete man die allererste Zahnradbahn Europas, die Vitznau-Rigi-Bahn. 1889 baute man von Alpnachstad auf den Pilatus die heute immer noch steilste Zahnradbahn der Welt. Einen Aufstieg auf die Rigi beschrieb Mark Twain, was in den USA des 19. Jahrhunderts zum Aufblühen des Schweizer Tourismus führte. Auf dem Vierwaldstättersee verkehrt mit fünf Dampfschiffen eine der grössten Dampfschiffflotten Europas.
In der Umgebung des Sees und auf Terrassen in mittlerer Höhe (wie z. B. Morschach und Seelisberg) liegen zahlreiche Tourismusorte. Attraktive Aussichtsberge nahe am Vierwaldstättersee sind die Rigi, der Pilatus, der Bürgenstock, das Stanserhorn, das Buochserhorn, die beiden Mythen, der Uri Rotstock und der Fronalpstock. Die meisten davon sind mit Bergbahnen erreichbar, die teilweise ihre Talstation in der Nähe von Schiffstationen am See haben.
Am See befinden sich zahlreiche Örtlichkeiten mit Bedeutung in der Schweizer Kultur- und Tourismusgeschichte: Rütli, Tellsplatte, Tellskapelle, Schnitzturm von Stansstad, Neu-Habsburg, Schillerstein, Treib, Astrid-Kapelle (Küssnacht) und Schloss Meggenhorn.
Wassersport
In den einzelnen Seebereichen sind wegen den Wasser- und den Windverhältnissen verschiedene Sportarten möglich.Von Boots- und Yachthäfen, See- und Strandbädern (z. B. das 1929 von Arnold Berger gebaute Strandbad Lido in Luzern) und von andern Uferabschnitten aus ist der See zugänglich. 1881 wurde der See-Club Luzern gegründet, der heute der grösste Ruderclub der Schweiz ist, 1904 der Ruderclub Reuss Luzern. Seit 1941 besteht der Yachtclub Luzern, der am Churchill-Quai in Luzern seit 1966 ein Bootshaus und ein Bojenfeld betreibt. Der im Jahr 1958 gebildete Wassersportclub Brunnen führte in den ersten Jahren seines Bestehens auf dem Vierwaldstättersee internationale Motorbootrennen und Wasserskimeisterschaften durch. 1965 wählte der Verein den neuen Namen Wassersport-Club Vierwaldstättersee. 1980 entstand der Motorbootclub Zentralschweiz, 1986 der Wassersportclub Hergiswil. SchweizMobil hat eine Kanutour über den Vierwaldstättersee zwischen Brunnen und Gersau beschrieben. Der südliche Teil des Urnersees zwischen dem Campingplatz am Gruonbachstrand in Flüelen und Isleten ist wegen des Windes im Reusstal ein Zentrum des Windsurfens.
Tauchsport
Es gibt etwa zehn Plätze, an denen man ohne Boot im Vierwaldstättersee tauchen kann. Das Wasser ist ganzjährig eher kühl und deshalb meist sehr klar. Die zerklüftete Steilwand bei Sisikon, am nördlichen Portal des Schieferneggtunnels, kann man seit einem Erdrutsch und dem Verschütten eines Parkplatzes, der auch als Einstieg genutzt wurde, nicht mehr von Land aus betauchen. Vor Brunnen liegt das Lediwrack Bruno auf 15 Meter Tiefe. Weiter bekannte Tauchplätze liegen vor Vitznau, Weggis, Gersau und Hergiswil.
Wirtschaft
In mehreren Gemeinden am Vierwaldstättersee befinden sich an den leicht zugänglichen Bergflanken im Uferbereich seit Jahrhunderten Steinbrüche, die teilweise noch heute genutzt werden. Das Gestein gelangt auf dem Seeweg kostengünstig zu Verbrauchern oder Bahnhöfen. Die auffälligen Eingriffe in die Naturlandschaft stiessen schon früh auf Kritik seitens der Landschaftschutzorganisationen. 1930 wies ein Bericht auf die Zunahme der Grossanlagen hin: «Zwei Steinbrüche [liegen] im Urner See zwischen Seedorf und Isleten, vier zwischen Beckenried und Treib, einer in der Matt unter dem Bürgenstock, einer zwischen Kehrsiten und Stansstad, fünf im Alpnachersee, einer am Lopperberg zwischen Stansstad und Hergiswil, einer bei Greppen, einer zwischen Vitznau und Gersau, zwei zwischen Gersau und Brunnen». Bei Kehrsiten am Bürgenstock baut die Holcim in einem Schotterwerk harten Kieselkalk ab, der auch in den Brüchen Schwibogen und Rotzloch gewonnen wird, während vier andere Nidwaldner Steinbrüche im Uferbereich aufgelassen sind. Der Landschaftschutzverband Vierwaldstättersee begleitet die Entwicklung einzelner Steinbruchprojekte.
Seit 1891 baut das Unternehmen Arnold & Co. Sand- und Kieswerk AG bei Flüelen mit Schwimmbaggern Kies aus dem Schwemmfächer vor dem Delta der Reuss ab, wofür sie dem Kanton Uri Konzessionsgebühren entrichtet. Heute sind nur noch der vierte und fünfte Schwimmbagger aus den 1950er und 1960er Jahren in umgebautem Zustand im Einsatz. Die Flotte der Arnold + Co. AG umfasst etwa fünfzehn Nauen. Zwischen 2001 und 2005 legte das Unternehmen im Urnersee mit Schutt aus dem NEAT-Stollen Amsteg und der Umfahrung Flüelen sechs Inseln an.
Auch bei Beckenried und anderen Stellen wird vor den Flussmündungen Kies abgebaut.
Mitte April 1957 wurde ein Telefonkabel von Spissenegg nach Stansstad im See verlegt. Die Teilverkabelung des Vierwaldstättersees hatte zwei Gründe: Die damalige Bezirkskabelanlage war durch den Bau des neuen Autobahnabschnittes Horw-Stans erheblich gefährdet. Der Schutz der Kabel hätte aber zu kostspieligen Sicherungsmassnahmen geführt. Da die Seekabellegung in diesem Fall preiswerter und der Bedarf an zusätzlichen Leitungen gross war, bewilligte die Telefondirektion in Bern das Projekt.
100 Jahre zuvor, 1854, wurde exakt auf dieser Strecke das erste, in den Telegrafenwerkstätten in Bern eigens hergestellte Seetelefonkabel verlegt. Es diente zur Verbindung der anschliessenden oberirdischen Telegrafenlinien Luzern-Brünig-Interlaken.
Belastung mit Munition
Zwischen 1918 und 1967 entsorgten Schweizer Munitionsfabriken ihre Produktionsabfälle im Vierwaldstätter-, Brienzer- sowie Thunersee. Die Gesamtmenge, welche in bis zu 200 Metern Tiefe im Vierwaldstättersee versenkt wurde, wird auf 3'300 Tonnen geschätzt, 2'800 Tonnen im Urnersee sowie 500 Tonnen im Gersauer Becken.
Namensverwandtschaften
Der Jacobiweiher im Stadtwald von Frankfurt am Main wird im Volksmund seiner Form wegen Vierwaldstättersee genannt.
Auch ein künstlicher See im Zoo Berlin wird aus dem gleichen Grund Vierwaldstättersee genannt.
(Wikipedia)
Das Stanserhorn ist ein 1897 m ü. M. hoher Berg im Schweizer Kanton Nidwalden, der Hausberg von Stans und liegt in den Urner Alpen an der Grenze zum Kanton Obwalden.
Geographie
Das Stanserhorn liegt zwischen den Ortschaften Stans, Ennetmoos, Kerns, Dallenwil und Oberdorf, südlich des Vierwaldstättersees und somit (gemäss SOIUSA) in den Unterwaldner Voralpen. An der Südostflanke des Stanserhorns liegt auf einer Höhe von 1226 m ü. M. der kleine Ferienort Wirzweli.
Die Rundsicht reicht von den nahen Alpengipfeln bis hin zu den Vogesen im Elsass (Frankreich) und zum Feldberg im Schwarzwald (Deutschland). Dazwischen sind zehn grössere Seen auszumachen: Zugersee, Wichelsee, Vierwaldstättersee, Sempachersee, Sarnersee, Hallwilersee, Gerzensee, Bannalpsee, Baldeggersee und Alpnachersee.
Erschliessung
Die beiden Bergbahnpioniere Franz Josef Bucher-Durrer und Josef Durrer-Gasser begannen im Juni 1891 mit dem Bau der Stanserhorn-Bahn, die wegen der grossen Streckenlänge von knapp 4 km in drei getrennten Standseilbahn-Sektionen von Stans über Kälti und Alp Blumatt auf den Gipfel führte. Die Bahn wurde am 23. August 1893 eröffnet, gleichzeitig mit dem ebenfalls neu errichteten Hotel Stanserhorn Kulm. 1895 wurde auf dem Gipfel ein elektrischer Scheinwerfer mit der «Kraft von 22'000 Normalkerzen» installiert, um damit auf das Stanserhorn als Attraktion aufmerksam zu machen. Durch einen Kurzschluss in der Station Blumatt wurde am 2. Oktober 1970 ein Brand ausgelöst, wodurch der Antrieb der 3. Sektion, das Hotel und das Scheinwerferaggregat zerstört wurden. Anstatt des Hotels wird seitdem ein Restaurant auf dem Gipfel betrieben.
Nachdem 1974 der Betrieb der Standseilbahn eingestellt worden war, wurde 1975 die Luftseilbahn Kälti–Stanserhorn eröffnet, die nun zusammen mit der ursprünglichen 1. Sektion den Berg erschloss. Seit 2012 kann man mit der doppelstöckigen «CabriO-Bahn» auf das Stanserhorn fahren. Das offene Oberdeck der Seilbahnkabine kann während der Fahrt über eine Wendeltreppe erreicht werden, die Kabine fasst 60 Personen, das Oberdeck davon 30.
Als Touristenattraktion wurde 2001 das Drehrestaurant Rondorama eröffnet. Von der sich im Innern des Gebäudes drehenden Plattform hat man eine Rundsicht auf die umliegenden Berge und Seen. Ein Murmeltiergehege und ein ausgeschilderter Gipfelrundgang von rund 30 Minuten ergänzen das Angebot auf dem Stanserhorn, das auch als 5-Sterne-Berg und Faulenzer-Berg vermarktet wird. Auf der Route vom Stanserhorn zur Wirzweli befindet sich der Geo-Weg (Bergwanderung im Schwierigkeitsgrad T2 gemäss SAC-Wanderskala), der gemeinsam durch die Organisationen Nidwaldner Wanderwege, Pro Natura und WWF Unterwalden realisiert wurde.
Das Stanserhorn wird von Drachenfliegern und Gleitschirmpiloten benutzt, es gilt als Hausberg des grössten und ältesten noch aktiven Drachenfliegerclubs der Schweiz, des Deltaclubs Stans. An sonnigen Tagen – vor allem an den Wochenenden – finden von April bis Oktober jeweils um die Mittagszeit viele Starts statt.
(Wikipedia)
Progress continues on the East Side Access project as of February 12, 2013.
This photo shows work on the caverns underneath Grand Central Terminal that will house a future concourse for arriving and departing Long Island Rail Road trains.
Photo: Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin.
Continuing the theme of photos from Jupiter Artland, here's todays offering of another photographer who was composing shots of his child playing amongst the sculpted gardens.
After visiting Baltit Fort and a nice stay in Karimabad, its time for us to move further into the upper Hunza... The travel starts from The Ganesh Village, which is said to be older than Baltit. The twists and turns of Karakorum Highway will take you deeper into the heavenly places and one can witness the true essence of human spirit in struggle with the fury of nature.
the first small hamlet that comes across the road is Faizabad, Khoshi in local language. This area is very famous for its variety of people, from Directors to Drivers, from By Birth Artists to Till Death ignorants all belongs to this place. The people of this place are very Friendly and lives like one family.
Moving further would reveal Ahmadabad, the progress made by the people of this small isolated hamlet perching on a massive rock is example of its own. People living in villages around Ahmadabad can emulate the organizational skills adroitly adopted by the inhabitants. It has a good school, football & cricket ground, Stadium and its own power house.
The capture above is Ahmadabad, which is pure example of what human unity can do, situated at what was once and arid rock, has been turned into heaven. Fed by the melting snow water of Ahmadabad Glacier originating from Gurpi Peak which is just beside Famous Ultar Sar.
So, our journey has started from Central Hunza to deep into the upper Hunza valley. One of the most beautiful place on earth with most of the world highest Peaks.
Taken: Standing over the ridge beside KKH opposite to Ahmadabad, Hunza, Northern Areas of Pakistan.
NEW JERSEY’S BALD EAGLE POPULATION CONTINUES TO SOAR
January 14th, 2016
CONSERVE WILDLIFE FOUNDATION OF NEW JERSEY RELEASES RESULTS OF 2015 STATE BALD EAGLE REPORT
by Lindsay McNamara, Communications Manager
Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey today released the 2015 Bald Eagle Report, highlighting the number of nesting pairs, active nests and nest productivity for the raptors throughout New Jersey with data collected by New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Division of Fish and Wildlife biologists, CWF biologists and committed volunteers.
“With 161 pairs of bald eagles this past year — up from just a single nest in the early 1980’s — the dramatic ongoing recovery of bald eagles across the northeast continues to inspire so many of us,” said David Wheeler, Conserve Wildlife Foundation Executive Director. “The thrill of seeing a bald eagle fly across the sky is unparalleled. This report captures how these eagles are continuing their All-American return.”
The report notes that thirteen new eagle pairs were found this season, nine in the south, two in Central Jersey and two in Northern New Jersey.
For more info: www.conservewildlifenj.org/blog/2016/01/14/new-jerseys-ba...
"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."
Charles Dickens
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© Copyright Natalie Panga - All rights reserved. EXPLORED December 25, 2012.
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my dad is continuing to improve thanks to his time at the day center. he really enjoys all of the social contact. he's one of the leaders at the center. they depend on him to pass out the exercise equipment and to lead a few of the songs they sing. and according to the director of the center, dad is the best dancer... he still has his memory moments... forgetting how to make tea... "how does it come out of that bag?"... but he now consistently recognizes my family... which is a great improvement.
Today we continue our visit of one of the most iconic monuments of my November photo trip to the southern French provinces of Languedoc and Roussillon, and one of the most famous Benedictine abbeys of all times: Saint Michael of Cuxa.
The origins of the abbey go back to 840, when the monastery was created just after the Muslims were defeated and chased away. In its original locale near Eixelada, this first settlement endured a catastrophic flooding in 878. The 35 surviving monks moved to Cuxa, and under the protection of the earls of Cerdagne-Conflent, the abbey began to be built and prospered as early as the 900s. Cuxa fought for and obtained privileges of jurisdiction, thereby escaping religious authority, except that of the Pope, and secular authority, except that of the local King of Cerdagne.
Appointed abbot by King Sunifred II around 960, Garin (also referred to as Warinus), already head of five other monasteries, introduced a Cluniac reform and cut the last ties with the secular powers. He built a first church to replace the small initial chapel first mentioned in writing in 938. On his way back from a pilgrimage in Rome and Venice, Warinus convinced Doge Pietro Orseolo to abandon power, wife and children, and the pair fled Venice in the night of September 1, 978 —not leaving behind, however, a substantial part of the Doge’s riches, as well as two hermits, Marinus and Romuald. The presence of such illustrious guests at the abbey attracted large pilgrim crowds until the death of Doge Orseolo, in odor of sainthood, in 987. His companions returned to Italy where Romuald founded the order of the Camaldolese.
Warinus died around Year 1000 and was succeeded by the famous Oliba, elected abbot in 1008. He will go down in History as the great builder of Cuxa, as well as the one who considerably expanded the real estate domain owned by the abbey, which was already very substantial.
Decline began for Cuxa, like for so many other monasteries, with the end of the Middle Ages and the weakening and corruption of the faith brought about by the Renaissance. The monks stopped living communal life, the buildings fell into disrepair as the proceeds from the abbey’s domains were diverted and appropriated by the monks, and when it was sold to private owners in 1791, in the wake of the French Revolution, the abbey was in a sorry state. In 1907, an American managed to acquire a number of the capitals of the cloister and exported them to the USA where they formed the basis for The Cloisters museum in New York City.
Monks (Cistercians, indeed) returned to Cuxa after World War I, to be replaced by Benedictines from Montserrat in 1965. Extensive restoration campaigns began in 1940 and the monastery was finally listed as a Historic Landmark in 1958. It still functions as a working Benedictine abbey today.
The galleries of the cloister, built against the venerable Carolingian side wall of the abbey church. The apparel of the cloister and the stone used (marble) tell the story of how prosperous the monastery had become between the 10th century and the early 1100s.
Now, the good news is that I am FINALLY making a V2 for my half decent SM Zephrix. For those of you who didn't know, I lost him in my recent move, but I know where he is in the house, so I have to search.
Continuing the theme of children entranced by animal cuteness. An archive shot from March 2011 when we visited the excellent Loro Park Zoological Foundation in Puerto de la Cuz, Tenerife. If I remember correctly, this sequence ended by the dolphins towing one or more of the children out across the water in the dinghy! The boy is slightly older and has a life-jacket on, so I think it was him?
Banbury turn-back (continued).... It's almost 19.47 on a summer evening and having run round the train from Paddington, still made up with Mk.1 stock, in Platform 1, Neptune stands ready to head south again, destination Oxford, next stop King's Sutton. Being rather longer than that station can accommodate, the station announcer will be declaring every few minutes "Passengers for King's Sutton should board the leading three coaches in this train". The next picture will show arrival there. August 1984.
Southbound departures from this platform are more common now and the signalling has been revised with some fresh lower quadrant semaphores. Alas loco-hauled trains like this are no more, and an ugly fence cuts off the view.
Details. Olympus OM-2, 135mm lens, Kodachrome 64, slide scan.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) continues to identify and seize a large number of counterfeit, unapproved or otherwise substandard COVID-19 products that threaten the health and safety of American consumers. As of June 1, CBP had seized more than:
•107,300 FDA-prohibited COVID-19 test kits in 301 incidents;
•750,000 counterfeit face masks in 86 incidents;
•2,500 EPA-prohibited anti-virus lanyards in 89 incidents; and
•11,000 FDA-prohibited chloroquine tablets in 91 incidents. “Criminals and other bad actors are trying to profit from the coronavirus pandemic by introducing unauthorized, unproven and potentially unsafe goods into the United States,” said CBP Acting Commissioner Mark Morgan. “CBP continues to target these dangerous shipments while facilitating the entry of legitimate pharmaceuticals and medical supplies that are needed to protect Americans. ”Criminal organizations are attempting to exploit the limited supply of and increased demand for some pharmaceuticals, personal protective equipment and other medical goods required to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Among other products, these criminals are smuggling and selling counterfeit safety equipment, unapproved COVID-19 test kits, unproven medicines and substandard hygiene products through the online marketplace. To combat these criminal activities, CBP is targeting imports and exports that may contain counterfeit or illicit goods. The products in targeted shipments often include false or misleading claims, lack required warnings or lack proper approvals.
Photo provided by: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
I was headed toward the main waterfall at the park. I had to stop and get a photo of this tree. The picture jumped out at me.
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With the continuing situation with regards to Scotrail staff not working rest days etc. etc. It seems that this is good enough reason to not run a service on a Sunday on the far north line. That's all OK then!! 😡
158724 gets to stay at Wick until Monday morning, if they fancy providing a service obviously! Pictured at Wick on 11/8/2024.
Even into relatively recent times and control of the former Western National fleet falling to First, the trend of using buses well beyond their prime continued (continues?). maybe it was something regarding the remoteness of the operation from the Company's Aberdeen HQ, or more cynically that the operator was never likely to contribute much to the bank balance of the shareholders. However, from an enthusiasts point of view, it provided a stay of execution for large numbers of elderly Bristol VR double deckers ... a once (too?) common sight across England and Wales. I have to confess here again, that the VR left me cold many years ago as being the NBC standard 'decker, they wiped out many a more interesting and often more competent type IMHO. However, with the passage of time, diminishing numbers, 'the hunter becoming the hunted' scenario and the plastic-ness of what's succeeded them, they've now acquired a greater degree of interest to me. Little did I ever think back in the '70s I'd drive from Stoke on Trent to Cornwall for the day to ride and photograph them! Here a battle-scarred AFJ 697T, built in 1978 and still wearing post privatization colours rather than First's 'Barbie', is seen leaving WN's Long Rock garage, Penzance to take up service when approaching thirty years of age.
Continuing on with the old American road trip shots from 2006 - (pre-digital camera remember!) - we now have left Tombstone and headed north through the wonderful State of Arizona.
During the journey north we happened to stumble upon this place on highway 180 - America's only White Buffalo Ranch! It's geo-tagged about as perfect as I can get it & here's a link also:
www.sacredwhitebuffalo.org/index.html
It's basically a pretty big farm that's a sanctuary to the rare white buffalos - plus they had a donkey, goat and other animals. It's a great visit - sounds lame ass I know - but it was a great place to see during the journey.
This image was taken from their car park, just along the highway and next to their gift shop. Basically, I got out the car and was blown away by the vast open views and their mountains! Shame I didn't have a digital camera, eh :(
Okay breaking news --> this image was NOT done on the iPhone!!! Yup, you hear me right - I know everything lately has been made on this tiny little device that's making up for my lack of a modern computer!! But this was done entirely on my old Mac.
I made it using layers in Photoshop Elements v4 with a free lowres texture i found whilst googling (and yes, version 4 is the newest release I could get for my PPC Mac!). I've never used layers or textures before ......but....... I'm pretty happy with the results! Of course, comments and advice welcome. I must also say a huge thank you to Patty for her help and video tutorials. Cheers Patty :-) :-)
I've a couple more blurry images from this day coming up soon and then we're off to the meteor crater site as we continued on with the 2006 road trip! :-)
Thanks everyone.