Estimated to have been built around 340 BCE and has a long history with many uses from ship tax collection, quarantine hospital, radio station, and lighthouse.

Was also featured in the 1999 James Bond "The world is not enough," where the terrorists placed a nuclear submarine underneath the tower.

Today its a restaurant and a great setting for photographers :-)

This baby, estimated to be two months old, was rescued from the rubble after 128 hours.

It is as if the pain of this great disaster is hidden in the eyes of this baby...

Note -1 : Ethically, apart from this photo, I will not share any photos related to the earthquake that may adversely affect human psychology.

Note -2 : This photo is an excerpt.

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İki aylık olduğu tahmin edilen bu bebek, 128 saat sonra enkazdan kurtarıldı.

Bu büyük felaketin acısı sanki bu bebeğin gözlerinde saklı.

Not -1 : Etik olarak bu fotoğraf dışında deprem ile ilgili insan psikolojisini olumsuz etkileyebilecek herhangi bir fotoğraf paylaşmayacağım.

Not -2 : Bu fotoğraf alıntıdır.

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Explore #9

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de/from Wikipedia:

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Oporto es la segunda ciudad más poblada de Portugal, después de Lisboa.

Tenía 297 559 habitantes en el año 2011. Su densidad de población es de 5560 habitantes/km2.​ Contornan el núcleo central de la ciudad de Oporto la subregión de Gran Oporto y, de manera más amplia, el Área Metropolitana de Oporto, que forma su área metropolitana de 2.959.045 habitantes. Se encuentra en el norte del país, en la ribera derecha del Duero en su desembocadura en el océano Atlántico. Es sede del distrito homónimo, en la Región Norte de Portugal.

El municipio de Oporto tiene 15 freguesias (equivalentes a parroquias o barrios). Limita al norte con Matosinhos y Maia, al este con Gondomar, al sur con el río Duero y Vila Nova de Gaia, y al oeste con el océano Atlántico.

Como muchas ciudades europeas, Oporto es una ciudad antigua que cuenta con un amplio patrimonio histórico, aunque durante las últimas décadas ha sido sometida a una amplia modernización. Cuenta con el metro más largo de Portugal, que cubre no solo el centro, sino también zonas de su área metropolitana como Senhora da Hora o Maia. Asimismo, el Aeropuerto Internacional Sá Carneiro ha sido recientemente ampliado para permitir una capacidad de 16 millones de pasajeros anuales.

Desde muy antiguo hay una rivalidad entre Lisboa y Oporto. Dicen que esta ciudad tiene un cierto aire británico, desde que se asentaron allí comerciantes de vino ingleses. Un refrán popular reza: «Lisboa se divierte, Coímbra estudia, Braga reza y Oporto trabaja».​

Su centro histórico fue declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la Unesco en 1996.​ Otros atractivos turístico-culturales son la torre de los Clérigos, realizada por Nicolau Nasoni, la Casa da Música y la Fundación Serralves, dedicada al arte contemporáneo, y que es el museo más visitado de Portugal. En el margen sur del río Duero se encuentran las famosas bodegas de vinos, aunque este sector ya no pertenece al término municipal de Oporto sino a Vila Nova de Gaia. Dista de la frontera española con Galicia unos 140 km, que pueden recorrerse por autopista.

Tanto el país como el vino de Oporto deben sus nombres a la ciudad, que a su vez significa «el puerto». Por su pujanza cultural, demográfica e industrial es considerada como la «Capital del Norte» de Portugal.

En 2014 y 2017 fue elegida como el mejor destino turístico por la Agencia Europea de Destinos Turísticos y forma parte de la Ruta Portuguesa del Camino de Santiago. También es sede de uno de los mejores equipos de fútbol de Portugal: el FC Porto.

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Porto or Oporto is the second-largest city in Portugal and one of the Iberian Peninsula's major urban areas. Porto city proper, which is the entire municipality of Porto, is small compared to its metropolitan area, with an estimated population of just 215,945 people in a municipality with only 41.42 km2. Porto's metropolitan area has around 1.7 million people (2019) in an area of 2,395 km2 (925 sq mi), making it the second-largest urban area in Portugal. It is recognized as a global city with a Gamma + rating from the Globalization and World Cities Research Network.

Located along the Douro River estuary in northern Portugal, Porto is one of the oldest European centres, and its core was proclaimed a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996, as "Historic Centre of Porto, Luiz I Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar". The historic area is also a National Monument of Portugal. The western part of its urban area extends to the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean. Its settlement dates back many centuries, when it was an outpost of the Roman Empire. Its combined Celtic-Latin name, Portus Cale, has been referred to as the origin of the name Portugal, based on transliteration and oral evolution from Latin. In Portuguese, the name of the city includes a definite article: o Porto ("the port" or "the harbor"), which is where its English name "Oporto" comes from.

Port wine, one of Portugal's most famous exports, is named after Porto, since the metropolitan area, and in particular the cellars of Vila Nova de Gaia, were responsible for the packaging, transport, and export of fortified wine. In 2014 and 2017, Porto was elected The Best European Destination by the Best European Destinations Agency. Porto is on the Portuguese Way path of the Camino de Santiago. Porto is also the home of one of the country's most successful football clubs, FC Porto.

Cactus in my neighbors front yard I estimate to be about 18' tall, Florence AZ

I’m estimating that these baby Alligators are a few weeks old. Saw them as I was hiking towards an area known for perching Bald Eagles. Not an eagle in sight, but found these babies, as consolation.

Young alligators remain in the area where they are hatched and where their mother protects them. After two to three years, they leave that area in search of food or when driven out by larger alligators.

Alligators measure 6-8” when they hatch, then juveniles grow about a foot in length each year.

Sandhill Cranes seen in Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area near McNeal, Arizona. It is estimated that 20,000 Sandhill Cranes make this area their home each winter.

The Little Owl was introduced to the UK in the 19th century. It can be seen in the daylight, usually perching on a tree branch, telegraph pole or rock. It will bob its head up and down when alarmed. In flight it has long, rounded wings, rapid wingbeats and flies with a slight undulation.

Breeding Bird Survey data suggest that Little owl numbers are declining, with the UK population estimated to be down by 24 per cent between 1995 and 2008.

Also known as Rüppell's Griffon Vulture, this species was given an IUCN status of critically endangered in 2015. Only eight years prior, in 2007, its IUCN status was "near threatened", and it was subsequently degraded down through "vulnerable" and "endangered" to its current status. The BirdLife International Fact Sheet for this species estimates that there are only 22,000 individuals left in the world. The biggests threats are poisoning (a technique used to kill predators of livestock, this species and other carrion feeders are also impacted), medicinal purposes, and habitat loss. This species is also considered the highest flying bird in the world. There is documented collision with a commercial airliner at 37,000 feet (the bird was sucked into the engine, killing the bird; the engine was shut down and the plane landed safely).

Eta Estimated time of arrival 9pm Sunday

Taken at the Queen Victoria Gardens on a rainy day.

Best viewed enlarged for more details.

Some facts on flies...

Flies form one of the five most diverse insect orders, including about 150,000 described species in 150 families.

It's estimated that there are 30,000 species of fly in Australia, of which only 6400 have been described.

Flies can be distinguished from other insects because they have only one pair of functional wings. Almost all flies have mouthparts that are adapted for lapping or piercing and sucking.

A large component of the world's fly fauna is unique to Australia. Flies are ubiquitous and often abundant in Australian terrestrial ecosystems.

They perform important ecological functions such as nutrient recycling, predation and pollination, and their larvae are often parasitoids of other insects.

Many species of fly are regarded as a nuisance, including the bush fly (Musca vetustissima), mosquitoes, sandflies and blackflies.

Flies are responsible for the transmission of a wide variety of disease-causing micro-organisms in humans and animals.

Most of these diseases are absent from Australia, with exceptions such as dengue fever and some types of encephalitis.

Many thanks for your visit, comments, invites and faves...it is always appreciated..

Happy Sunday

There are an estimated 2000 arches in Arches National Park, but this one is quite unique. Unlike many of the others that are in wide open space, and even some of them being free standing, this one was tucked away in one of Utah's many beautiful slot canyons. It is not what you would expect to see in a place like this. However, the unexpected can be incredibly beautiful! Many times life takes unexpected turns and we have no idea what the end outcome will be. We feel as if we have lost control. Thank goodness that the all powerful and supreme Creator of the universe steers the ship and at the end there is a beauty beyond words with no comparison!

- Pose - R.Bento ::R.B:: -Charlie's Angel- 5 Bento static stands

- Pants - Key Style - Katya Pant Black @ SWANK Event

- Top - Key Style - Katya Shirt Top Black @ SWANK Event

Eye on Fashion

Plan Maison, Valtournenche, Val d'Aosta, Italia.

Valtournenche es un municipio situado en Valle de Aosta, Italia. Tiene una población estimada, en agosto de 2023, de 2171 habitantes.

El principal recurso económico de la localidad es el turismo, especialmente el turismo de invierno vinculado al esquí alpino.

La pista de esquí alpino Breuil-Cervinia, buque insignia del municipio de Valtournenche, está situada a una altitud de 2050 metros sobre el nivel del mar.

Vinculado al turismo, el sector de la hostelería es muy importante. Existen numerosas instalaciones de alojamiento repartidas por todo el término municipal.

Vinculado históricamente al sector agrícola, Valtournenche es uno de los municipios del Valle de Aosta con mayor cantidad de pasturas de la región. La producción de quesos de calidad es también una de las principales fuentes de ingresos de la localidad.

Valtournenche is a municipality located in the Aosta Valley, Italy. It has an estimated population, as of August 2023, of 2,171 inhabitants.

The main economic resource of the town is tourism, especially winter tourism linked to alpine skiing.

The Breuil-Cervinia alpine ski slope, the flagship of the municipality of Valtournenche, is located at an altitude of 2,050 metres above sea level.

Linked to tourism, the hospitality sector is very important. There are numerous accommodation facilities spread throughout the municipality.

Historically linked to the agricultural sector, Valtournenche is one of the municipalities in the Aosta Valley with the largest amount of pastures in the region. The production of quality cheeses is also one of the main sources of income for the town.

NOTE: Any provided GPS is usually only a rough estimate, and not intended to be the exact point where the photo was taken.

Thank you so much for faves and any comments! I really appreciate it!

The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), also known as the lammergeier or ossifrage, is a bird of prey.

The acid concentration of the bearded vulture stomach has been estimated to be of pH about 1 and large bones will be digested in about 24 hours, aided by slow mixing/churning of the stomach content. The high fat content of bone marrow makes the net energy value of bone almost as good as that of muscle, even if bone is less completely digested. A skeleton left on a mountain will dehydrate and become protected from bacterial degradation and the bearded vulture can return to consume the remainder of a carcass even months after the soft parts have been consumed by other animals, larvae and bacteria.

Like other vultures it is a scavenger, feeding mostly on the remains of dead animals. It usually disdains the actual meat, however, and lives on a diet that is typically 85–90% bone marrow. This is the only living bird species that specializes in feeding on marrow. The bearded vulture can swallow whole or bite through brittle bones up to the size of a lamb's femur and its powerful digestive system quickly dissolves even large pieces. The bearded vulture has learned to crack bones too large to be swallowed by carrying them in flight to a height of 50–150 m (160–490 ft) above the ground and then dropping them onto rocks below, which smashes them into smaller pieces and exposes the nutritious marrow. They can fly with bones up to 10 cm (3.9 in) in diameter and weighing over 4 kg (8.8 lb), or nearly equal to their own weight. After dropping the large bones, the bearded vulture spirals or glides down to inspect them and may repeat the act if the bone is not sufficiently cracked. This learned skill requires extensive practice by immature birds and takes up to seven years to master. Its old name of ossifrage ("bone breaker") relates to this habit. More seldom, these birds have been observed to try to break bones (usually of a medium size) by hammering them with their bill directly into rocks while perched. During the breeding season they feed mainly on carrion. They prefer limbs of sheep and other small mammals and they carry the food to the nest unlike other vultures which feed their young by regurgitation.

Live prey is sometimes attacked by the bearded vulture, with perhaps greater regularity than any other vulture. Among these, tortoises seem to be especially favored depending on their local abundance. Tortoises preyed on may be nearly as heavy as the preying vulture. When killing tortoise, bearded vultures also fly to some height and drop them to crack open the bulky reptiles' hard shells. Golden eagles have been observed to kill tortoises in the same way. Other live animals, up to nearly their own size, have been observed to be predaciously seized and dropped in flight. Among these are rock hyraxes, hares, marmots and, in one case, a 62 cm (24 in) long monitor lizard. Larger animals have been known to be attacked by bearded vultures, including ibex, Capra goats, Chamois and Steenbok. These animals have been killed by being surprised by the large birds and battered with wings until they fall off precipitous rocky edges to their deaths; although in some cases these may be accidental killings when both the vulture and the mammal surprise each other. Many large animals killed by bearded vultures are unsteady young, or have appeared sickly or obviously injured. Humans have been anecdotally reported to have been killed in the same way. However, this is unconfirmed and, if it does happen, most biologists who have studied the birds generally agreed it would be accidental on the part of the vulture. Occasionally smaller ground-dwelling birds, such as partridges and pigeons, have been reported eaten, possibly either as fresh carrion (which is usually ignored by these birds) or killed with beating wings by the vulture. While foraging for bones or live prey while in flight, bearded vultures fly fairly low over the rocky ground, staying around 2 to 4 m (6.6 to 13.1 ft) high. Occasionally, breeding pairs may forage and hunt together. In the Ethiopian Highlands, bearded vultures have adapted to living largely off human refuse.

Central Kalahari Game Reserve

Okavango Delta

Botswana

With an estimated population of 250,000 warthogs calling various regions of sub-Saharan Africa home, these animals are not considered a threatened species. Still, they are often killed due to their habit of eating human-grown crops and their ability to carry a form of devastating African swine flu. Their numbers remain strong largely due to the animals' amazing intelligence and adaptability.

Warthogs are often on their feet as soon as they open their eyes. This is due, in part, to the fact that warthogs have a tendency to take over and move into other animals' burrows, some of whom might not be ready to give up the space. Warthogs that awake to a sense of being threatened find it best to charge from their hideouts at top speed in an effort to surprise any predators that might be lying in wait.

Warthogs are built with relatively long legs that allow them to reach speeds of more than 30 miles per hour. A number of powerful warthog predators, including lions, hyenas, and eagles, make escape somewhat challenging. When cornered, warthogs are willing to put up a fight, making use of sharp lower canine teeth that resemble tall, piercing tusks as weapons.

Warthog snouts are sensitive instruments that allow their owners to smell for food that lies beneath the surface of the earth. A warthog will commonly kneel and shuffle along the ground, nosing the dirt in its search for a meal. Once a warthog has found something of interest, it will use the strength of its snout to dig out whatever food it finds appealing.

Sows and their piglets live in groups of up to 40 warthogs, communicating by way of squeals, growls and snorts. In turn, males are known for the own rhythmic constellation of grunts that make up their mating calls. – Wikipedia

Male African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) emerging from the reeds. The Okavango Delta is the core area for Botswana's massive elephant population, estimated at over 130,000 animals. This makes up a significant portion of Africa's total elephant population.

Conservation status: Endangered

Thank you for your views and comments. They are all greatly appreciated.

There is estimated to be more than a hundred billion stars in the Milky Way galaxy. Again, experts suggest that there are more than a hundred billion galaxies like the Milky Way in the universe.

No one really knows for sure quite how many stars there are; apart from the original designer, of course!

Psalm 147:4-5

He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

Strokkur is a fountain-type geyser located in a geothermal area beside the Hvítá River in Iceland in the southwest part of the country, east of Reykjavík. It typically erupts every 6–10 minutes. Its usual height is 15–20 metres, although it can sometimes erupt up to 40 metres high.

Strokkur belongs to the Haukadalur valley area, where various other geothermal feature such as mud pools, fumaroles and other geysers are located around it, such as the famous Geysir geyser, which lies only 160 feet to the north.

Strokkur was first mentioned in 1789, after an earthquake helped to unblock the conduit of the geyser. Its activity fluctuated throughout the 19th century; in 1815 its height was estimated to have been as much as 60 metres (200 ft). It continued to erupt until the turn of the 20th century, when another earthquake blocked the conduit again. In 1963, upon the advice of the Geysir Committee, locals cleaned out the blocked conduit through the bottom of the basin, and the geyser has been regularly erupting ever since.

Worldwide, it is estimated that there are about 650,000 Sandhill Cranes; 450,000-500,000 being Lessers. "The Merced NWR hosts the largest wintering concentration of Lesser Sandhill Cranes in the Pacific Flyway with as many as 20,000 cranes using the Refuge." Source: Merced NWR online brochure. "It takes a patient and sharp eye to discern the difference between Greater and Lesser Sandhill Cranes. They have a similar body shape, plumage and color. Lesser Sandhill Cranes stand four feet high, with a four-inch, dagger-like bill. The greater is five feet tall, with a five-inch bill. These sub-species both migrate northward. The lesser breeds in northern Canada and Alaska, and the greater breeds in northeastern California, the Northwest and Great Lakes states. Greater sandhill cranes are threatened due to the loss of wetlands." Source: cranefestival.com

Some give it two years; others say, half a year. The latest estimate is three months, at most ...

Elton John : Candle in the Wind

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdrRLTgavus

Heifetz plays Melodie by Gluck

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tenI_FyFeZ0

Rachmaninoff plays Melodie by Gluck

www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2O0mVzmftY

Heifetz plays Wieniawski Scherzo Tarantelle

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv5XZbgNWEo

Heifetz, Tchaikovsky's Melodi

www.youtube.com/watch?v=22YUP0zQ3sA

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Many music lovers find Horowitz and Martha Argerich spellbinding, yea, they are exciting but somehow I don't return to them often. Instead I would revisit Samuil Feinberg's Well-tempered Clavier from time to time. Needless to say, Mieczyslaw Horzowski and Maria Yudina's Bach are very inspiring too, particularly so for those who miss the chance of going to the Church:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=94XFV8X77U0

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAZJcpbDAxY

The French pianists of the older generation like Marguerite Long, Robert Casadesus, and Yves Nat or even Cortot are interesting too. Lesser known but equally amazing is

Lazare-Levy : Mozart Sonata in A Minor, K310

www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK0GEXiWBN8

Later on, we have :

Marcelle Meyer: Complete Inventions & Sinfonias, Partitas, Toccatas, Italian Concerto ..

www.youtube.com/watch?v=spHBTyagfZ4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=maAQ-FI5gGk&list=RDCMUC2zlRzq...

Scarlatti

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Iiyzo9vdYA

And,

Yvonne Lefébure (among her pupils were Dinu Lipatti, Samson François) Mozart Concerto, No 20 with Furtwangler

www.youtube.com/watch?v=idX9c58bdZE

Reine Gianoli

www.youtube.com/watch?v=hga9MGCpJXk

Then,

Nikita Magaloff in recital 4/4/1991 Tokyo

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CLrpIfatSg

Chopin Etudes Op.10 & 25

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQOK1MuTP8o

And then Samson Francois

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIw2mfcYpBM

Last but not the least, Brigitte Engerer who went the opposite direction of Magaloff who was first trained in Russia (by Siloti, Francis Lizst pupil, Rachmaninoff's cousin/mentor and assistant to Tchaikovsky ) ended up studying in France. Brigitte Engerer was first trained in France having won the first prize in Concours International Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud. She furthered her studies in Russia under Stanislav Heuhaus for 9 years:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU8_upVBnT4

There was also the Polish pianist with a little bit of French Veneer, Halina Czerny-Stefańska : Chopin complete Polonaises, Heroïque, Militaire, Brillante, Fantaisie

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wHiamaEen4&t=1639s

More French was Lithuania/Russia born Vlado Perlemuter who landed in France since he was three, who lost one eye and who actually spent quite sometime in an asylum:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zCli50F3xQ

86 Tokyo Recital

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-svcMlCIxJ0

Well, never say never, the finishing touch of the winner of 2015 Chopin Internation Piano competition, a Korean, was also done in Paris, even though the influence of the Russian School seems to be stronger than the French in his Chopin:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZYYoDDmg8M

*

I further stumbled into Edwin Fischer's WTC recorded in 1933-36 which I haven't gone through as yet. But Edwin Fischer, unlike his pupil Alfred Brendel, is almost always interesting despite his slips :

www.youtube.com/watch?v=JysTlgUXuXk

Later on, we have Samuil Feinberg whom most serious pianists view as the best recorded WTC ever. After Feinberg, we have Tatiana Nikolayeva whose WTC ( www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNpwAZf6thY&t=72s ) is so fascinating. And then we have Evelyne Crochet, a more modern French reading of WTC and before her Walter Gieseking also recorded WTC. In between, I find Horszowski's WTC celestial. Wilhelm Kempff's WTC is appealing albeit in a totally different way from Yudin. But I'm unable to find the whole book of WTC from the latter two in record. Instead we have one from Canada and another lady pianist from US who was musically educated in Russia. Personally, I don't spend much time on the latter two. Oh, yes, Richter and Gulda recorded WTC as well. But it seems Bach music is so interwoven with spirituality, and by nature it snubs any showmanship at all...

Good excuse to get super close in then you need to fill the frame! This is from the centre of a Gerbera flower that seems to have mistaken being indoors for spring!

Took loads of shots of it from the abstract to the super sharp, this sits somewhere between I think. Estimated 5mm section of the flower.

It is estimated that there are more than 120,000 Black Bears in British Columbia and over 7000 Black Bears on Vancouver Island making it one of the more dense places in the world for this bear population. The Vancouver Island black bear is slightly darker in colour and larger than the mainland bear and is considered one of 6 subspecies in British Columbia.

The 900 block of N. McClean Street, on the east side of Bloomington's Franklin Square, has an interesting history in terms of Illinois politics. Of the four stately residences on this block, three were home to late 19th and early 20th century gubernatorial candidates: Joseph W. Fifer, who served one term as Illinois Governor from 1889 to 1893; Adlai Stevenson I, who served as Vice President of the United States under Grover Cleveland from 1893 to 1897, but then lost a close race for governor in 1908; and Frank H. Funk, who ran and lost as the Progressive "Bull Moose" Party candidate for Illinois Governor in 1912.

This post looks at the Queen Anne style Bates-Funk House which was built about 1891 for T. M. Dates, the superintendent of transportation for the Chicago and Alton Railroad Company. Frank H. Funk (1869-19, grandson of McLean County pioneer Isaac Funk, lived in the house from 1897 to 1924.

Frank Funk was born in Bloomington in 1869. He was a Yale graduate, managed over 2,000 acres of farmland, and also had an extensive political career. He was elected state senator to the Illinois General Assembly in 1909, and held that position until 1913. As previously noted, Funk ran for Illinois governor on the Bull Moose ticket in 1912 making him the third person living in the 900 block of N. McClean St. to be a party-nominated candidate for the Illinois governorship between 1888 and 1912. Frank Funk finished his political career as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representative from 1921 to 1927. Funk died in Bloomington at the age of 71 in 1940.

The Bates-Funk House is a contributing property in Bloomington's Franklin Square Historic District, which is located northwest of downtown Bloomington. The Square is named in honor of Franklin Price, who was the mayor of Bloomington Mayor in 1856 when land for the Square was gifted to the city.

Franklin Square was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, and was designated a local historic district in 1979. The houses of Franklin Square were built in a variety of architectural styles from the mid 19th century through the early 20th century, including Georgian Revival, Italianate, Colonial, Queen Anne, and Richardsonian Romanesque.

Bloomington is the seat of McLean County. It is adjacent to Normal, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area. Bloomington is 135 miles (217 km) southwest of Chicago, and 162 miles (261 km) northeast of St. Louis. The estimated population of Bloomington in 2019 was 77,330, with a metro population of 191,067.

Auto body shop; Ottawa

Of the estimated 150 glaciers which existed in the park in the mid-19th century, only 25 active glaciers remained by 2010. Scientists studying the glaciers in the park have estimated that all the glaciers may disappear by 2030 if current climate patterns persist.

Estimated hight of the falls is 140 feet.

The Silver Y migrates to the UK in massive numbers each year - sometimes, an estimated 220 million can reach our shores in spring

(Xanthorrhoea) grass trees are often very long-lived; some are estimated to be 350 to 650 years old!

This one must be quite young. Sadly they are endangered in much of our forests.

Estimated at one million years old, Mono Lake is near the edge of the Eastern Sierra mountains in the Mojave Desert. It is continuously fed by mineral rich mountain streams that flow into but not out of the lake. Through evaporation, the lake increases in salinity. The algae in the lake supports tiny brine shrimp and trillions of alkali flies that carpet the shores. This, in turn, is a feast for over 80 species of birds who frequent the lake.

Bartolomé Island

Galapagos

Ecuador

South America

The Galápagos penguin (Spheniscus mendiculus) is a penguin endemic to the Galápagos Islands. It is the only penguin that lives north of the equator in the wild. It can survive due to the cool temperatures resulting from the Humboldt Current and cool waters from great depths brought up by the Cromwell Current.

While ninety percent of the Galápagos penguins live among the western islands of Fernandina and Isabela, they also occur on Santiago, Bartolomé, northern Santa Cruz, and Floriana. The northern tip of Isabela crosses the equator, meaning that some Galápagos penguins live the northern hemisphere, the only penguins to do so.

The species is endangered, with an estimated population size of around 1,500 individuals in 2004, according to a survey by the Charles Darwin Research Station. The population underwent an alarming decline of over 70% in the 1980s but is slowly recovering. It is therefore the rarest penguin species (a status which is often falsely attributed to the yellow-eyed penguin).

Population levels are influenced by the effects of the El Niño Southern Oscillation, which reduces the availability of shoaling fish, leading to low reproduction or starvation. However, anthropogenic factors (e.g. oil pollution, fishing by-catch and competition) may be adding to the ongoing demise of this species. On Isabela Island, cats, dogs, and rats attack penguins and destroy their nests. When in the water, they are preyed upon by sharks, fur seals, and sea lions. – Wikipedia

Wild South Africa

Kruger National Park

It is estimated that 10000 to 15000 elephants are killed each year. My grandchildren will not be as fortunate as I am to photograph them in the wild. Humans are the most stupid animals around.

The upper terraces at Canary Springs appear perched on the edge of a hill. The hot springs is one of the active terrace building springs at Mammath Hot springs in Yellowstone National Park. The terraces, composed of calcium carbonate cover a hillside. The chalky white colors show where there is no current hot springs flow or terrace building. Active terraces are colored by orange, yellows and cream colors caused by thermophilic organisms. The water for the hot springs comes from precipitation in the surrounding mountains that runs down into the subsurface. The water is heated at depth. As the water rises it dissolves limestone underneath Mammoth and the surrounding mountains. The hot carbonate rich water comes to the surface and forms the travertine terraces. Geologists estimate that at any given time about 10% of the water in Mammoth Hot Springs is on the surface. The other 90% remains underground.

Estimated Usage: Industry estimates and projections suggest that the number of mobility scooters in circulation in the UK is likely upwards of 500,000. Some broader analyses, when considering various types of powered mobility devices, have estimated even higher ranges.

Lack of Official Data: Because Class 2 mobility scooters (designed for pavement use) do not require registration with the DVLA, it is difficult to track exact numbers. While Class 3 scooters (which can be used on roads) are required to be registered.

Taunton, Somerset, UK.

It is estimated there are over 304 million lakes in the world. Lake Moraine, located in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada, is one of the true standouts. Even on an overcast and cloudy day, Lake Moraine is a sight to behold. The only comparable lakes I’ve seen are located in Patagonia, Chile, but traveling to those lakes can be challenging.

An estimated 45,000 people visited Morecambe for this year's Vintage by the Sea festival including record crowds on the first day.

The event on Morecambe Promenade, in its 11th year, celebrated the iconic music, fashion, film, art, design and dance of the 20th century on Saturday and Sunday.

The vintage festival, centred around the Midland, the Platform and the Promenade Gardens, was blessed with glorious sunny weather on Saturday and Sunday was mainly dry too, with rain only coming late in the afternoon.

People dressed in fashions from the 20s to the 90s to strut their stuff and the Vintage Marketplace at The Platform and the local and regional makers' market in The Midland were huge attractions.

Perfectly preserved classic cars outside the Midland and Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust’s vintage bus rides from Heysham to Bare also proved very popular.

Other events included the iconic Best In Show catwalk, vintage cycle bike rides, and the new Boogie Ballroom with popular classes including Bhangra with Sohan Kailey, the Charleston, Northern Soul and even breakdancing with the nationally acclaimed UC Crew Powered by Hip Hop.

"We were absolutely thrilled to see so many thousands and thousands of people in Morecambe this weekend, enjoying not only the joyful festival programme made possible by so many artists and performers, but also to see our audiences take in everything else Morecambe has to offer as so many local cafes, restaurants, bars and shops put on their own Fringe events, ensuring the Promenade has never felt so vibrant," said Elena Jackson from Deco Publique and the festival organising team.

"Vintage by the Sea really is a shared celebration of this place and we’d like to thank each and every person who had a role in making the event happen and who joined as a visitor over the weekend”.

An estimated 45,000 people visited Morecambe for this year's Vintage by the Sea festival including record crowds on the first day.

The event on Morecambe Promenade, in its 11th year, celebrated the iconic music, fashion, film, art, design and dance of the 20th century on Saturday and Sunday.

The vintage festival, centred around the Midland, the Platform and the Promenade Gardens, was blessed with glorious sunny weather on Saturday and Sunday was mainly dry too, with rain only coming late in the afternoon.

People dressed in fashions from the 20s to the 90s to strut their stuff and the Vintage Marketplace at The Platform and the local and regional makers' market in The Midland were huge attractions.

Perfectly preserved classic cars outside the Midland and Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust’s vintage bus rides from Heysham to Bare also proved very popular.

Other events included the iconic Best In Show catwalk, vintage cycle bike rides, and the new Boogie Ballroom with popular classes including Bhangra with Sohan Kailey, the Charleston, Northern Soul and even breakdancing with the nationally acclaimed UC Crew Powered by Hip Hop.

"We were absolutely thrilled to see so many thousands and thousands of people in Morecambe this weekend, enjoying not only the joyful festival programme made possible by so many artists and performers, but also to see our audiences take in everything else Morecambe has to offer as so many local cafes, restaurants, bars and shops put on their own Fringe events, ensuring the Promenade has never felt so vibrant," said Elena Jackson from Deco Publique and the festival organising team.

"Vintage by the Sea really is a shared celebration of this place and we’d like to thank each and every person who had a role in making the event happen and who joined as a visitor over the weekend”.

Jacks River below the Upper Falls roaring down towards the brink. In terms of scale, ... the perspective here is deceiving... ~what appears to be a stick in the lower left-hand corner is actually a tree! I would estimate the distance from where I am standing to the other side to be about 40 to 50 yards. The scale here is larger-than-life! So far, my experience here had been completely inspirational, with the added plus of not encountering any bears, wild boars or snakes, -or stinging insects such as Yellow Jackets, Wasps or Hornets ...Jacks River Falls, Cohutta Wilderness, Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest, Georgia

Of the estimated 150 glaciers which existed in the park in the mid-19th century, only 25 active glaciers remained by 2010. Scientists studying the glaciers in the park have estimated that all the glaciers may disappear by 2030 if current climate patterns persist.

An estimated 45,000 people visited Morecambe for this year's Vintage by the Sea festival including record crowds on the first day.

The event on Morecambe Promenade, in its 11th year, celebrated the iconic music, fashion, film, art, design and dance of the 20th century on Saturday and Sunday.

The vintage festival, centred around the Midland, the Platform and the Promenade Gardens, was blessed with glorious sunny weather on Saturday and Sunday was mainly dry too, with rain only coming late in the afternoon.

People dressed in fashions from the 20s to the 90s to strut their stuff and the Vintage Marketplace at The Platform and the local and regional makers' market in The Midland were huge attractions.

Perfectly preserved classic cars outside the Midland and Ribble Vehicle Preservation Trust’s vintage bus rides from Heysham to Bare also proved very popular.

Other events included the iconic Best In Show catwalk, vintage cycle bike rides, and the new Boogie Ballroom with popular classes including Bhangra with Sohan Kailey, the Charleston, Northern Soul and even breakdancing with the nationally acclaimed UC Crew Powered by Hip Hop.

"We were absolutely thrilled to see so many thousands and thousands of people in Morecambe this weekend, enjoying not only the joyful festival programme made possible by so many artists and performers, but also to see our audiences take in everything else Morecambe has to offer as so many local cafes, restaurants, bars and shops put on their own Fringe events, ensuring the Promenade has never felt so vibrant," said Elena Jackson from Deco Publique and the festival organising team.

"Vintage by the Sea really is a shared celebration of this place and we’d like to thank each and every person who had a role in making the event happen and who joined as a visitor over the weekend”.

New York City, a metropolis with an estimated population of over two million registered automobiles housed on its streets. That's more licensed vehicles than the entire human population of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! Much of these millions of cars crawl and slog their way across the city grid on a daily basis; all while emitting air and sound pollution like some form of rouge, unrestrained virus that has escaped from the laboratory, killing us by the hundreds everyday. Yet this is the stark reality of the death machine metal box we have invented. Curiously, even death machines die, and when they do, many find their way to the numerous automotive shops and surrounding streets at Willets Point, Queens, population approximately 10... people that is. However if you were to factor in the population of automobiles in Willets Point, it would no-doubt exceed well into the thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands on game days. That's largely because Willets Point exists merely as an asphalt sea of surface parking lots for Citi Field and the currently under construction Etihad Park stadiums. Within the industrial armpit formed by the intersection of Whitestone Expressway and Van Wyck Expressway in northern Willets Point, exists a flood prone, dirt road, sewer-less cesspool of car carnage better known as The Iron Triangle. Here, automotive shop shanty's line the streets, mimicking the density and grime of a city such as Delhi, India. Wrecked cars, used tires, oil slicks, and dismembered automotive parts litter the streets, all the while vehicles on their death bed navigate crater sized potholes before killing their engines for the last time. The Iron Triangle is a vehicle's utopia and a no-man's land all at the same time, a symbolic gesture to the car centric society we have created, existing even in a city where car ownership is only 45 percent.

The Sisak cathedral was severely damaged in series of earthquakes that hit the area since December 28th 2020, up to 6,2 Richter. Eight people died, thousands lost their homes. This tower has been severely damaged, so today the removal of upper part started. Estimated weight of the part that has to be removed is about 15000 kg. Not an easy task for fire brigades, engineers and construction workers.

Sisačka katedrala teško je oštećena nizom potresa koji su pogodili ovo područje od 28.prosinca 2020, jačine do 6,2 prema Richteru. Osmero ljudi je poginulo, tisuće su ostale bez doma. Ovaj je toranj teško oštećen, danas je započelo uklanjanje njegovog gornjeg dijela. Procjenjuje se da je težina dijela koji se mora ukloniti oko 15000 kg. Nije lak zadatak za vatrogasne postrojbe, inženjere i građevinske radnike.

Ham Wall and Shapwick are adjacent nature reserves on the Avalon Marshes of the Somerset Levels. Together they make a great birdwatching site at any time of year, but especially in winter when they are the setting for a spectacular Starling murmuration.

This winter an estimated half a million Starlings may be seen in the air at dawn and dusk, often swirling around in tight balls.

Both reserves were created from old peat workings. Ham Wall is now a mature and thriving wetland comprising of extensive

reedbeds and open water, grassland and woodland. Shapwick consists of open water fringed with reedbeds, wide ditches, fens, damp woodland and wildflower meadows.

Estimated to be between 800 and a 1,000 years old this beautiful Oak tree sits in Sherwood Forest near Edwinstowe in Nottinghamshire. Here what Wikipedia has to say about it:- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Major_Oak

I estimated 500-600 Avocet at this location. Incredible sight to see so many at once, on the shoreline as well as in the surf.

Manhattan Beach is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, United States, on the Pacific coast south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. As of the 2010 census, the population was 35,135,[10] and in 2019 the population was estimated to be 35,183.

Manhattan Beach is one of the three Beach Cities, along with Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach, that make up the South Bay region of Los Angeles County. The community is known for a long beach stretching approximately 2.1 miles (3.4 km) and roughly 450 feet (140 m) wide. The climate is unusually moderate because of Manhattan Beach's proximity to the Pacific Ocean, with an average year-round high temperature of 69.1 °F (20.6 °C) and an average year-round low of 56.4 °F (13.6 °C).

Its schools are run independently of Los Angeles Unified School District with a separate school board based in Manhattan Beach. Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach is ranked in the top 1% of high schools nationally and has students from both Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach.

According to a May 18, 2017 PropertyShark study, the City of Manhattan Beach's 90266 zip code ranked as the 32nd most expensive zip code in the United States. According to a December 2017 PropertyShark study, the City of Manhattan Beach had the highest median price per square foot for residential properties ($943 per square foot) of all 88 cities in L.A. County, ahead of Malibu and Beverly Hills. The residents have a median age of 44.2 years, an average household size of 2.5, and 55.6% are married. Manhattan Beach is known for having less traffic congestion than other parts of Los Angeles, along with many fine dining options, and a casual beach culture. According to a March 6, 2020 article in several newspapers (including the Orange County Register), the City of Manhattan Beach California was ranked as the "Best City" to live in the United States. The study ranking Manhattan Beach as the nation's top city was conducted by 24/7 Wall St., a news and survey organization.

The sandy coastal landscape of what is now Manhattan Beach was likely inhabited by the Tongva tribe of Native Americans. Archeological work in the nearby Chowigna excavation show evidence of inhabitants as far back as 7,100 years ago. The Tongva Village of Ongovanga was located near neighbouring Redondo Beach.[12] It has been mentioned at the Historical Society that the location of a portion of current day Manhattan Beach may have been used as a Native American burial grounds.

In the mid-18th century, the Portolá expedition was the first European land exploration of present-day California. It traveled north from San Diego to the San Gabriel Valley, Los Angeles Basin, San Fernando Valley, Monterey Bay, and San Francisco Bay. In 1784, the Spanish Crown deeded Rancho San Pedro, a tract of over 75,000 acres (300 km2), to soldier Juan José Domínguez. It included what is today the entire Port of Los Angeles; San Pedro, Los Angeles; Harbor City, Los Angeles; Wilmington, Los Angeles; Carson; Compton; the Dominguez Hills; Lomita; the Palos Verdes Peninsula; Redondo Beach; Hermosa Beach; Manhattan Beach; and Torrance.

In 1863, a Scottish immigrant, Sir Robert Burnett, purchased Rancho Sausal Redondo and Rancho Aguaje de la Centinela from Avila's heirs for $33,000. Ten years later in 1873, Burnett leased the ranch to a Canadian, Daniel Freeman (not the American of the same name, who was the first to file a claim under the Homestead Act of 1862). Burnett returned to Scotland. Freeman moved his wife and three children onto the ranch and started growing various crops. On May 4, 1885, Freeman bought the ranch from Burnett for $140,000. At some point after this the location was informally called "Shore Acres."

George H. Peck owned a lot of the land that became part of the north section of Manhattan Beach. A coin flip decided the town's name. Around 1902, the beach suburb was named "Manhattan" after developer Stewart Merrill's home, the New York City borough of Manhattan.

Upon the city's incorporation in 1912, Peck divided out a 2 block area for minority residents on the beachfront. The Bruce family bought some of the area and developed it into the first beach resort for black Americans in Los Angeles, Bruce’s Beach. In the 1920s, the Ku Klux Klan began violently harassing the resort’s visitors, the Bruce family, and four other black families that bought lots. In 1924, the city condemned the neighborhood and seized the land from the black property owners under the ostensible pretense of building a park.

"Beach" was appended to the city's name, in 1927, at the behest of the postmaster.

The land in Manhattan Beach was formerly sand dunes. During the 1920s and 1930s, Kuhn Brothers Construction Company leveled uneven sandy sites and some excess sand was sold and shipped to Waikiki, Hawaii, to convert their reef and rock beach into a sandy beach. The sand was also used to build the Los Angeles Coliseum and portions of the Pacific Coast Highway.

The McMartin preschool trials, allegedly an example of day care sex abuse hysteria, started with investigations of a Manhattan Beach preschool in 1983. The trials ran from 1987 to 1990 and resulted in no convictions.[15] HBO dramatized this case in the Emmy-winning Indictment: The McMartin Trial,[16] which was partially filmed in Manhattan Beach.