[ By Steve in Geography & Travel & History & Trivia & Nature & Ecosystems. ]
Volcanoes have caused incalculable destruction throughout history but even the most massive lava blaster has a heart. Volcanic plugs (the eroded cores of extinct volcanoes) are all that remain of some of the Earth’s most fearsome, fiery fumaroles after many millions of years of wind, water and weathering.
Devils Tower, Wyoming, USA
(images via: Richpix, VirtualTourist/Toonsarah and Ranger Doug’s Enterprises)
One of the most famous volcanic plugs and the first declared United States National Monument, Devils Tower rises 1,267 feet (386 m) from the rough terrain of northeastern Wyoming state. Most geologists estimate Devils Tower to have formed at least 50 million years ago, but a firmer fix on the time and even the method of formation remain problematic as most of the associated rock formations have eroded away.
(image via: Louis J. Maher, Jr.)
The polygonal porphyry columns that help define the sides of Devils Tower are confirmation of its volcanic origin, while providing the approximately 4,000 hikers who complete the near-vertical ascent to its summit each year with an unforgettable rock-climbing experience.
The Pitons, Saint Lucia
(images via: Travel4America, St. Lucia Wedding Guru and Up To Date St. Lucia)
Looking like stand-in scenery for Lord Of The Rings, the Pitons rear up from the coast of St. Lucia like the two last teeth of a VERY large shark. Gros Piton stands 2,530 ft (771 m) tall while its neighbor Petit Piton is just slightly smaller at 2,438 ft (743 m) tall. St. Lucia must have been the ultimate anti-tourism “hotspot” back in prehistory when the worn-away volcanoes that produced the Pitons were at their fire-breathing best.
(image via: Banana Pancake)
The Pitons don’t just dominate St. Lucia’s scenery, they’re a part of the Caribbean island’s culture as well. Be sure to enjoy a Piton beer next time you visit… in fact, make it two!
Ailsa Craig, Scotland
(images via: Amazing Nature Blogspot and Hoyus)
Rising 1,110 feet (340 m) above the breathtakingly chill waters of the outer Firth of Clyde, the now-uninhabited island of Ailsa Craig is a volcanic plug marking the location of an ancient volcano last active around 500 million years ago. The ruggedly pyramidal isle’s oft-precipitous slopes feature exposed columnar basalt formed when magma in the core of the volcano cooled and crystallized.
(images via: Ayrshire History, Flores Azores and Garrique Cottage)
Ailsa Craig’s cold, hard heart doesn’t just keep this ancient volcanic plug extant when everything around it has long eroded away. Curling’s top skips & sweepers know the best “rocks” are those ground from fine-grained Ailsa Craig Common Green and Blue/Red Hone granite by Kays of Scotland.
Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Sri Lanka
(images via: Localyte, Boston.com and Travelpod)
Spectacular Sigiriya (Lion’s Rock) in central Sri Lanka may have been inhabited since prehistoric times. The rock formation and the surrounding area underwent lush landscaping and extensive building in the 5th century. Formed from a very ancient volcanic plug of indeterminate age, Sigiriya soars 1,214 ft (370 m) above sea level and can be seen from quite a distance as there’s nothing like it on Sri Lanka’s central plains.
(image via: WHL Travel)
Erosion has undercut Sigiriya’s base in some areas, giving it a mushroom shape from some vantage points. The enormous igneous rock formation made an ideal, easily defended fortress and hosted a Buddhist monastery up until 14th century.
The Nut, Tasmania
(images via: Victor Augusteo, Killynaught Spa Cottages and SMH)
The Nut is a steep-sided volcanic plug that anchors one end of the bay fronting Stanley, Tasmania. Though The Nut’s official name is Circular Head, bestowed upon it in 1798 by explorers Bass & Flinders, most just call it The Nut and nobody really complains. Only 469 ft (143 m) tall, The Nut still affords a picture postcard perfect view of Stanley and the surrounding area as it’s the only high point around.
(image via: Carldashjonesdotcom)
Steep sides notwithstanding, a well-worn footpath leads to the flat-topped summit of The Nut and, of course, back down again. If that’s too much trouble, a ski-resort style chair lift offers those with no fear of heights one of the most scenic trips around.
Taung Kalat, Myanmar
(images via: Oddity Central and Asia Explorers)
Taung Kalat is a 2,417 ft (737 m) tall volcanic plug located in central Burma. The steep-sided pedestal rock is topped by a centuries-old Buddhist monastery that can be reached by climbing 777 steps.
(image via: Wikipedia)
The monastery crowning Taung Kalat occupies almost every bit of available space on the summit. Visitors are advised not to bring meat with them as doing so could offend the “nats” – disaffected spirits who occupy the site. There’s also a practical reason: dozens of macaque monkeys who mob exhausted tourists who manage to reach the summit.
Shiprock, New Mexico, USA
(images via: Terragalleria/QTLuong, SUNY Orange and Blood Orange Review)
Shiprock is a jagged remnant of an ancient volcano’s throat located in extreme northeastern New Mexico. The formation looms 1,583 feet (482.5 m) over an eerie desert landscape that has been steadily eroding away since the magma that formed Shiprock began to cool about 27 million years ago.
(image via: Alex Maclean)
Shiprock got its name in the mid-nineteenth century when travelers noted its resemblance to a huge clipper ship, and it was first successfully climbed in 1939. The rock formation is sacred to the Navajo Nation and figures strongly in their most cherished origin myths and legends. Out of respect for the Navajo people, climbing Shiprock has been expressly forbidden since 1970.
Kapsiki Peak, Cameroon
(images via: Cameroon Discovery, Science Photo Library and Corbis)
Located in an otherworldly landscape near Rhumsiki village in Cameroon’s Far Northern Region, Kapsiki Peak is perhaps the most striking of several sharply eroded volcanic plugs. It’s also one of the tallest volcanic plugs on Earth, measuring a nosebleed-inducing 4,016 ft (1,224 m) in height.
(image via: My World Travelguides)
Kapsiki Peak has a noticeably phallic appearance, a fact noted by the native tribes in the region. This distinctive characteristic has attracted barren women to the formation for many centuries, and continues to attract tourists in the modern day.
Trosky Castle, Czech Republic
(images via: Rich Pick and Kurositas)
If you were a medieval warlord looking to build a castle, the pair of basalt volcanic plugs in the Czech Republic’s Český Ráj (Bohemian Paradise) would be a great choice – and so it was, between the 14th and 17th centuries when Trosky Castle was built, rebuilt, and rebuilt yet again.
(image via: Kurositas)
Though not especially tall, the 154 ft (47 m) tall Baba (Old Woman) and 187 ft (57 m) tall Panna (Young Maiden) provide excellent vantage points for keeping an eye on tenant farmers and invading armies.
(image via: All Empires)
Legend has it that there’s buried treasure hidden inside Trosky Castle; the fruits of a raid on the nearby Opatovice monastery. Supposedly the treasure was secreted in an underground chamber sealed by a huge boulder, subsequently buried in rubble and scree. Sounds like the plot of the next Indiana Jones movie – the producers will at least have a spectacular location to work with!
Morro Rock, California, USA
(images via: Visit USA, City of Morro Bay and Morro-Bay.com)
The knobby, rounded volcanic plug known as Morro Rock has been a familiar landmark for many generations of Californians. Rising to a height of 581 feet (177 m), the formation was named in 1542 by the Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo. Though quarried for stone used to build the Morro Bay Breakwater, efforts by environmentalists to protect and preserve the rock came to fruition in 1968 when the state government created the Morro Rock State Preserve.
(image via: Solis-Family)
Unlike many famous volcanic plugs, Morro Rock doesn’t stand alone though it does claim seniority by virtue of being the tallest of the so-called Nine Sisters of San Luis Obispo County. It’s a reminder that the California coast has always been a geologically active region though these days residents need not fear any new volcanic eruptions.
(image via: Sahara Overland)
Like most of us, volcanic plugs were wild & restless in their youth but with the passage of age, settled down and mellowed out – and that’s a good thing. When it comes to volcanoes, it’s best to let sleeping dogs lie and don’t EVER think of… pulling the plug.
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Stunning St. Petersburg Zoo Inspired by Pangaea
[ By Steph in Animals & Habitats & Art & Design & Nature & Ecosystems. ]
Imagine experiencing the richly varied ecology of every major continent in the world – all in a single zoo. A new proposal by architecture firms TN Plus and Beckmann N’Thépé aims to recreate Pangaea, the supercontinent that existed on Earth 250 million years ago, in a sprawling man-made development outside urban St. Petersburg, Russia.
With St. Petersburg’s current zoo, the historic Leningrad, beginning to show its age and grow outside its limited space, the city has set its sights on developing a 1.15-square-mile parcel of land where the animals will have much more room to live in a more natural setting. Relocating the zoo will also open up much-needed space in the city for residents and businesses.
Designed as an archipelago on land with plentiful water sources, the new zoo will place each continent on an island, connected to the others with walkways and, in the case of North America and Eurasia, a recreation of Arctic ice. Each island will feature animal exhibits and preserves native to the continent it represents. The designers are aiming for a balance between artifice and nature, prioritizing the needs of the animals but also offering an enriching experience for visitors. The designers have not, however, revealed any plans for sustainably maintaining these artificial environments so far outside their natural climactic range.
“The zoo as sphere is seen as a metaphor for the history of humanity, the deep connection between man and his environment and the link between self and other. It makes this coexistence possible by demonstrating the idea that it is possible to produce an ideal world that can easily translate to the real world. The spheres determine the variable boundaries of our living space, whether it has the intimacy of a bubble or the cosmopolitan immensity of a globe.”
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Bark At The Moon: A History Of Soviet Space Dogs
[ By Steve in Animals & Habitats & History & Trivia & Science & Research. ]
Among the many noteworthy achievements of the Soviet Union’s space program was the first launch of an animal – a dog named Laika – into earth orbit on the world’s second successful satellite. “Muttnik” wasn’t the only dog star: over 50 canine cosmonauts helped set the stage for the USSR‘s side of the great Space Race. This is their story.
Cold War, Hot Dogs
(image via: Telstar Logistics)
World War II had ended and the Cold War had just begun – and both the United States and the Soviet Union worked feverishly to establish viable ballistic missile and manned space programs with the help of captured German rocket scientists. While the Americans used captured V2 rockets to launch fruit flies, a monkey and a mouse into suborbital space between 1947 and the summer of 1950, the USSR decided dogs would be the ideal space-pioneering animals.
(images via: Spacebooks, Wikipedia, All Experts and Want It All)
Dogs could be trained to deal with long periods of inactivity required in preparation for a launch and would also tolerate wearing a cumbersome space suit in a small confined space. As well, stray dogs were chosen for their perceived hardiness and females were preferred due to simpler sanitation solutions.
(images via: Alaxanda Hulme and Russian Wikipedia)
In early 1951, two dogs named Tsygan (above, top) and Dezik rode a Soviet-built copy of the V2 rocket 110 km (68.35 miles) into space. The pressurized capsule containing the dogs parachuted back to Earth and both Dezik and Tsygan were none the worse for wear. At least, for the moment: Dezik did not survive his next mission later that year. Both dogs can be seen today, stuffed and mounted, at the Cosmonaut Memorial Museum in Moscow.
Giant Leaps For Mankind
(images via: Aerospace Medical Association and Cali1Socal)
The officially recognized border between the Earth’s atmosphere and outer space is 100 km, or about 62 miles, and between 1951 and 1956 the Soviet Union conducted 15 launches with 9 different dogs to at least that altitude. Another 11 launches to 200 km (124 miles) took place between 1957 and 1960. In 1958, three intrepid dog-monauts soared to 450 km (280 miles). Not all the canine crewmen survived these suborbital flights but the vast majority did, paving the way for the manned missions of the 1960s.
(images via: TIME, JWZ and Soviet Space Dogs)
Not only did Soviet space dogs succeed superbly in pushing the envelope of early space exploration by making suborbital space flights in the 1950s, many of them ascended in pairs such as Lisa and Ryzhik, Smelaya and Malyshka, and Bolik and ZIB. That odd last name is an acronym for “Zamena ischeznuvshemu Boliku” or “Substitute for Missing Bolik.” It seems the real Bolik ran away just days before his scheduled flight and a local stray was drafted as an instant replacement.
(image via: Realmagick)
Nearly 30 missions over a 10-year period may seem a lot for the Soviets, whose reputation for risk-taking and less than thorough testing is perhaps overstated. Consider that the United States launched a chimpanzee named Ham into space on January 31, 1961. Ham’s mission was followed a mere 3 months later by the first launch of an American astronaut, Alan Shepard, and both missions were suborbital.
Laika Rock(et)
(images via: NLM, Novareinna and The Siren Sound)
The October 1957 launch into orbit of Sputnik 1 shocked the world in general and the United States in particular – the Space Race was on! It wouldn’t be until January 31 of 1958 that the USA was able to place their first satellite, Explorer 1, into Earth orbit. The success of Explorer 1 was somewhat overshadowed by the startling success of the Soviet Union’s Sputnik 2 which launched on November 3, 1957. Not only did the rather large satellite achieve orbit, it carried a passenger: Laika (Russian for “Barker”), a 6 kg (13 lb) female stray with distinctive floppy ears.
(images via: Niki McCretton Presents, Niqqi’s Blog, First Second Books and Libraridan)
The American press had a field day with Laika’s successful launch, dubbing both the dog and capsule “Muttnik”. The embarrassing first attempt by the USA to launch a satellite – the televised launch pad explosion of Vanguard TV3 in December of 1957 – was ridiculed as Flopnik, Oopsnik and Kaputnik to name a few.
(images via: Aaron George Bailey and The Student Room)
Laika’s mission was intended to last 10 days but unfortunately, the heat shielding on Sputnik 2′s exterior was damaged during the launch phase and temperatures inside the capsule soared to 40 °C (104 °F). Though telemetry received at mission control indicated that Laika had calmed down somewhat from the stress of the launch and was eating food, by 5 to 7 hours into the flight life signs were no longer being received.
(images via: Tedstrong, Manoakua and ICA)
Laika’s fate was not fully disclosed until October of 2002, almost 45 years after the mission and over a decade after the USSR itself ceased to exist. At the time, fledgling animal rights groups protested the concept of sending a dog into space with no thought of retrieval. It seems even the scientists who planned Laika’s mission had qualms over it. In 1998 one of these scientists, Oleg Gazenko, expressed his regret by stating “Work with animals is a source of suffering to all of us. We treat them like babies who cannot speak. The more time passes, the more I’m sorry about it. We shouldn’t have done it… We did not learn enough from this mission to justify the death of the dog.” Today, Laika’s heroic yet tragic life has made her both a symbol of courage and a figure of sadness.
Dog Stars
(images via: EnglishRussia and Nuclear_Art)
Belka (“Squirrel”) and Strelka (“Arrow”) have also made the leap to pop culture, though their tail, er, tale lacks the tragic component of Laika’s short but vivid life. Belka and Strelka’s adventure began on August 19, 1960, securely seated inside Sputnik 5) along with 1 rabbit, 2 rats, 42 mice, an unknown number of flies, plus some plants and fungi.
(image via: Blog Serius)
The launch was uneventful and the capsule orbited the Earth for one day before safely parachuting down to the welcoming steppes of Soviet Central Asia. Belka, Strelka, and their fellow biota were the first creatures to orbit the Earth and return alive. Preserved for prosperity in Russia are the taxidermised Belka and Strelka along with their dented but undaunted space capsule.
(images via: Foxunk, WN.com and The Beet Goes On)
Belka and Strelka star in not one, but TWO animated feature films. One is titled “The Real Adventures of Belka and Strelka”, a portion of which can be seen here:
The Real Adventures of Belka and Strelka, part1, via Belkaistrelkacom
The other boasts a higher caliber of animation (think Rango) and the wonders of 3D. Touted as “an epic space adventure across the third dimension”, Space Dogs 3D was released in 2010. You can check out the trailer here:
Space Dogs 3D – Movie Trailer, via Epicpicturesgroup
The Ruff Stuff
(images via: KenhSinh Vien and Visualrian)
Though Laika may be the best known of the nearly 60 Soviet space dogs and Belka & Strelka have been immortalized in film, others have also achieved a measure of fame. Last (literally) but certainly not least, are Veterok and Ugolyok. Launched on February 22, 1966, the pair spent 22 days orbiting the Earth orbit before landing safely on March 16: their endurance record would not be surpassed until June of 1973, by human astronauts aboard Skylab 2. Veterok and Ugolyok would be the last of a long line of Soviet space dogs going back over 16 years.
(image via: SFF Audio)
The USSR may have lost the Space Race but it was the fault of their hardware, not their “software”: loyal, hardworking cosmonauts both canine and human. Through their – dare I say it – dogged determination, the Soviet space dogs helped make the airless void above a safer place for their best friends… us.
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Nature + Technology Combine to Relax Stressed Urbanites
[ By Delana in Food & Health, Nature & Ecosystems, Technology & Gadgets. ]
The sounds of nature are among the most soothing known to humankind, but with more and more of us living in an urban environment it is not always easy to listen to the comforting music of the natural world. This web tool offers a uniquely high-tech way to get back to nature no matter where you live.
NatureSoundsFor.Me is a website that lets users compose their own unique nature symphonies using pre-loaded sounds. Users move sliders up and down to decide how large a role each sound will play in their overall composition. It is even possible to create stereo effects by changing the right/left channel balance of the sounds.
The available sounds are divided into two groups: animals and natural phenomena such as weather. NatureSoundsFor.Me lets you put your favorite sounds together in a combination that appeals to you. When you compose something particularly beautiful or relaxing, the website gives you the ability to save your composition as a link so that you can come back to it whenever you want to unwind with some sounds of nature.
(all images via: Per Ola Wiberg)
This valuable tool is not only good for relaxation: studies have shown that nature sounds can help soothe medical conditions such as insomnia, depression, high blood pressure and even diabetes. Those of us who live in a city setting may not ever hear nature sounds on a regular basis unless one can count the constant cooing of pigeons. Maybe listening to the music of the Earth is the key to reducing the daily stress that so many of us struggle with in our fast-paced lives.
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Libya’s Landlocked Lakes: Wet Spots In A Sea Of Sand
[ By Steve in Animals & Habitats, Geography & Travel, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
Libya is one of the hottest, driest countries on Earth, but even in the midst of the Sahara’s windswept desert dunes one can find an oasis or two… or more! The Ubari Lakes offer intrepid travelers a refreshing splash of unexpected beauty that’s more than just a mirage.
Libya: So Hot Right Now
(images via: New York Times)
Libya today is about 90 percent desert with most of the fertile areas being on the northern coastline bordering the Mediterranean Sea. Starting from the coastal plains where most of Libya’s population live, the farther south one goes the hotter and drier it gets… with a few rare and wonderful exceptions. These would be the Ubari Lakes, a dozen and a half shimmering mirrors of water surrounded by some of the most hostile terrain on the planet.
(image via: Climate Sanity)
The Ubari Lakes are the poster kids for natural climate change and owe their existence and perseverance to a variety of chronic geological and meteorological factors. The lakes, found in the southwestern Libyan province of Fezzan, were once one big lake (we’re talking Lake Superior size or larger) known as Lake Megafezzan.
(images via: Temehu and Climate Sanity)
Though the Sahara region has been steadily drying out for tens of thousands of years, Lake Megafezzan managed to hold out against desertification until finally giving up the ghost approximately 3,000 years ago.
(image via: National Geographic)
Though most of Lake Megafezzan’s bed is now scoured by rolling waves of sand dunes, isolated micro-lakes persist in the face of relentless evaporation because the valleys they’re situated in dip into the Sahara’s extensive underground water table.
South Of Tripoli, East Of Eden
(images via: Zora Aster, Traveldudes, Let’s Buy It and Crack Two)
Archeologists have discovered abundant evidence that what is today the horrifically hot Sahara Desert was once a fertile, temperate region well-watered by meandering rivers and freshwater “palaeolakes”. Rock carvings and paintings left by the region’s ancient human inhabitants as much as 12,000 years ago depict giraffes, hippos, crocodiles and other wetland creatures, leading some pundits to speculate the idyllic region was the inspiration for the biblical Garden of Eden.
(images via: Tanarout, Crack Two and Temehu)
The Ubari Lakes are not filled with fresh water – a fact that parched travelers must have found annoying to say the least. Dissolved minerals in the lakes become concentrated by evaporation and with no rivers to replenish them, water is drawn out of the aquifer.
(images via: Crack Two, Travel Webshots, Rediscover and Beautiful Zone)
The water is so super-saturated with salts and carbonates, some lakes take on a blood-red hue from the presence of salt-tolerant algae. In other lakes, swimmers find their buoyancy is exaggerated much like what occurs in the Dead Sea.
Save The Dates
(images via: PSP 88000 and The Contaminated)
Incongruously green vegetation surrounds the shores of the Ubari Lakes, either sprouted from wind-blown seeds or survivors from the Sahara’s ancient wetter era. The salty state of the lake water doesn’t faze the plant life on the shores, however, as most of the larger trees, shrubs and date palms send their roots downward into the easy-to-access aquifer.
(images via: Beautiful Zone and Getty Images)
As for those weary caravans of yesteryear and the scattered settlements of today, they source their water in a similar way: by sinking wells deep enough to reach the water table. It’s an awe-inspiring to consider the water that fills both the Ubari Lakes and the buckets lifted from area wells once fell as rain in what was, by comparison at least, a real Garden of Eden!
Lakes In The Sea
(images via: Temehu and Borut)
The Ubari Sand Sea, that is. One wonders how these smallish lakes keep their heads above water, as it were, after centuries of constant infill from windblown sand? Even though the Ubari Lakes are not exactly shallow, ranging from 7 to 32 meters (23 to 105 ft) in depth, their specific ecology has managed to find a rough balance that allows them to remain relatively constant in size and depth over the long span of recorded history.
(images via: Corbis and Temehu)
Mother Nature may indeed be resilient but the Ubari Lakes are still considered to be threatened and ongoing, natural climate change cannot take all of the blame. Though vast by most any standards, the Sahara’s underground aquifer is no longer being replenished by temperate rains. Some areas of southern Libya have not seen a drop of rain fall in over a decade. Combine this with the increasing use of aquifer water by growing human populations and you have the recipe for a lakeless future.
(images via: Getty Images, Wideview and Wilderness Travel)
Though things are kind of “hot” in Libya right now – and not just the weather – once the political situation settles down the Ubari Lakes should definitely be added to anyone’s exotic travel itinerary. Let’s hope the chance comes soon… should environmental trends continue along current lines, these exquisite lakes may some day be only seen as mirages.
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A Striking Beauty: 7 Shocking Scenes Of Volcano Lightning
[ By Steve in 7 Wonders Series, Nature & Ecosystems, Science & Research. ]
Red-hot lava, suffocating ash clouds and ear-splitting explosions: volcanoes assault the senses in a BIG way. Now you can add lightning to nature’s igneous arsenal, as advances in modern high-speed photography have enabled scientists to document the beauty and wonder of volcanic lightning in all its ex-static glory.
Chaitén Volcano, Chile
(images via: Daily Mail UK and Snopes)
When Chile’s Chaitén volcano awoke from a 9,500 year long slumber on May 2, 2008, it did so in a big way. Within days, the volcano that stands 1,122 meters (3,681 ft) above sea level had expelled a 30,000 meters (98,000 ft) tall ash cloud into the formerly clear Andean air. Easily visible from space, the cloud was blown south-east by upper level winds across the entire width of neighboring Argentina, to finally dissipate over the South Atlantic ocean.
(image via: Quality Junkyard)
Chaitén isn’t especially tall as volcanoes go, but it made up for its stature with one of the most electrifying displays of volcanic lightning ever seen. Volcanologists aren’t exactly sure what causes volcanic lightning due to the difficulty of installing sensors in such a hostile environment, but it’s thought that static charges in the swirling clouds of ash build up to immense levels until they’re released as visible lightning.
Eyjafjallajökull Volcano, Iceland
(images via: National Geographic and Left Coast Rebel)
On March 20, 2010, Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano roared into action for the first time since 1823, it did more than disrupt air travel across a good portion of Europe: it provided photographers with an excellent opportunity to record some spectacular scenes of volcanic lightning.
(images via: National Geographic and Krunker)
Eyjafjallajökull’s eruption was primarily ash with relatively low amounts of flowing lava. Tick, massive ash clouds brought darkness to areas of southern Iceland only relieved by copious flickers and flashes of volcanic lightning.
(image via: NASA/APOD)
Though the most active phase of Eyjafjallajökull’s 2010 eruption only lasted about 2 months, volcanologists are waiting for the other show to fall. Historic records three major eruptions of the nearby Katla volcano which followed Eyjafjallajökull’s eruptions in 920, 1612, and 1821-23. Should Katla blow, it’ll make Eyjafjallajökull look small.
Mt. Vesuvius, Italy
(images via: Semjazza, John William Godward and Daniele Pollice)
Mount Vesuvius, located about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) east of Naples, Italy, is one of the world’s most famous – and most dangerous – volcanoes. The mountain has erupted dozens of times since the catastrophic destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum, most recently in the spring of 1944 when dozens of American bombers were damaged or destroyed by falling ash and red-hot rocks.
(image via: Muse On News)
Vesuvius has erupted with some regularity over the course of recorded history with 8 eruptions occurring in the 19th century and 3 more in the 20th. Ominously, longer periods of quiet have led to stronger, more explosive eruptions – and today several million people live within close proximity to the volcano’s crater and slopes.
Mt. Sakurajima, Japan
(images via: Photovolcanica, Daily Mail UK and The Volcanism Blog)
Sakurajima is a composite volcano with three peaks located in Kagoshima Bay, just south of the Japanese city of Kagoshima. Formerly an island, Sakurajima’s 1914 eruption produced lava flows over a period of months, eventually joining the island to the mainland. In 1955, Sakurajima entered a period of heightened activity and in 2010 it erupted spectacularly to the delight of volcano geeks the world over.
Check out the following video, taken on February 8, 2010, which shows Sakurajima shooting an incandescent spire of molten rock thousands of feet into the sky accompanied by brilliant flashes of lightning:
February 2010 eruption of Mount Sakurajima, via Xximomixx
(image via: The Matrix Data Bank)
Sakurajima draws from the same reservoir of magma that supplied a massive volcano that erupted explosively 22,000 years ago, forming the 17 by 23 km (10.5 by 14.3 mile) wide Aira caldera. An eruption on a similar scale today would cause the loss of lives and livelihoods at an unmeasurable scale.
Tavurvur, Papua New Guinea
(images via: Sneak Me, Epoch Times and Wikipedia)
Tavurvur is one of several active volcanoes occupying the Rabaul caldera on New Britain, a sickle-shaped island just east of Papua New Guinea. In 1994 Tavurvur and Vulcan erupted simultaneously – of the five people killed during the eruptions, one was struck by volcanic lightning.
(image via: Pictopia)
Tarvurvur may not be well known due to its relative isolation but its eruptions can be epic in scope. In 1937, a double eruption of Tarvurvur and Vulcan killed over 500 people while a 2006 eruption led off with an explosion that shattered windows up to 12 kilometers (7.45 miles) away. Tarvurvur’s most recent eruption was in January of 2009 but if history is any indication, another one won’t be long in coming.
Mt. Redoubt, Alaska, USA
(images via: Ground Truth Trekking, Ephemerata Weather Radar and Geology.com)
Mount Redoubt, located approximately 180 km (110 miles) southwest of Anchorage, Alaska, is a 9,000 ft (2,700 m) high stratovolcano prone to violent eruptions. Mount Redoubt has been active for thousands of years and has erupted no less than four times in the 20th century. It’s most recent eruption was in early 2009.
(image via: LiveScience)
An expedition dedicated to unlocking the mystery of volcanic lightning hit paydirt in March of 2009 when Mount Redoubt, obviously ready for its close-up, put on a spectacular sound and light show. “The lightning activity was as strong or stronger than we have seen in large Midwestern thunderstorms,” said physicist Paul Krehbiel of New Mexico Tech. “The radio frequency noise was so strong and continuous that people living in the area would not have been able to watch broadcast VHF television stations.”
Mt. Shinmoedake, Japan
(images via: MSNBC and NY Daily News)
Mount Shinmoedake, part of the Kirishima cluster of volcanoes in southwestern Japan, began erupting explosively in late January of 2011. The new eruption is the largest since 1959 and is the third major eruption this century. The volcano is currently expelling massive clouds of thick, roiling ash – at night these clouds are lit up by bright, blue-white lightning bolts.
Here’s a short video showcasing some of Mount Shinmoedake’s latest pyrotechnics:
Mount Shinmoedake, January 27, 2011, via Ebi3828
(image via: Reuters)
Mount Shinmoedake has another claim to fame: it was the location of SPECTRE’s headquarters in the 1967 James Bond film You Only Live Twice. One thing’s for certain: this is one volcano that’ll leave you shaken AND stirred!
(image via: Volcano Discovery)
We’ll close this post with an electrifying image of Anak Krakatau, the steadily growing successor to Krakatoa (which exploded catastrophically, “East of Java”, in 1883). The “Child of Krakatoa” first appeared in 1927 and its eruptions have grown more powerful as time goes by. The above image, taken in November of 2010, may foreshadow the future… will the son follow in the footsteps of his father? The answer might be… en-lightning.
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Fall of the Century: Stunning Pics of Dry Niagara Falls
[ By Delana in History & Trivia, Nature & Ecosystems, Science & Research. ]
With almost 30 million visitors each year, Niagara Falls is a wildly popular tourist destination. People make their way to the Falls – both the American and the Canadian sides – to marvel at the spectacular natural beauty of the waterfalls. But there was a brief time – less than a lifetime ago – when the Falls were completely dry.
In 1965, it was discovered that the American side of Niagara Falls would eventually dry up unless a large amount of fallen rocks were cleared from the base. The job of fixing the massive landmark fell to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; in 1969, they built a 600-foot dam across the Niagara River and diverted the huge amount of water away from Niagara Falls and to the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.
Niagara Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America, with 4-6 million cubic feet of water falling over the crest every minute. The Falls had been flowing continuously for around 12,000 years, but on June 12, 1969 the flow came to a complete halt. The falls were entirely dry until November 25th of that year, when the dam was destroyed and the water was turned back on.
During the time that the water was stopped, the Corps of Engineers performed some geological maintenance on the American side of the Falls to delay the erosion of the landmark. In the six months that the water was being diverted, visitors flocked to the site to witness the once-in-a-lifetime view of the “dewatered” falls.
(all images via: R.B. Glasson)
These pictures of the dry American Falls were recently found in a garage in Connecticut. Russ Glasson discovered them in 2009, 40 years after his parents-in-law snapped them at Niagara Falls. Perhaps thanks to other events going on at the time of the de-watering (the Moon landing springs to mind), the even has largely faded from the public memory. Thanks to the photos unearthed by Mr. Glasson, we can all re-live the day the water ran dry.
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Fall of the Century: Stunning Pics of Dry Niagara Falls
[ By Delana in History & Trivia, Nature & Ecosystems, Science & Research. ]
With almost 30 million visitors each year, Niagara Falls is a wildly popular tourist destination. People make their way to the Falls – both the American and the Canadian sides – to marvel at the spectacular natural beauty of the waterfalls. But there was a brief time – less than a lifetime ago – when the Falls were completely dry.
In 1965, it was discovered that the American side of Niagara Falls would eventually dry up unless a large amount of fallen rocks were cleared from the base. The job of fixing the massive landmark fell to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; in 1969, they built a 600-foot dam across the Niagara River and diverted the huge amount of water away from Niagara Falls and to the Canadian Horseshoe Falls.
Niagara Falls is the most powerful waterfall in North America, with 4-6 million cubic feet of water falling over the crest every minute. The Falls had been flowing continuously for around 12,000 years, but on June 12, 1969 the flow came to a complete halt. The falls were entirely dry until November 25th of that year, when the dam was destroyed and the water was turned back on.
During the time that the water was stopped, the Corps of Engineers performed some geological maintenance on the American side of the Falls to delay the erosion of the landmark. In the six months that the water was being diverted, visitors flocked to the site to witness the once-in-a-lifetime view of the “dewatered” falls.
(all images via: R.B. Glasson)
These pictures of the dry American Falls were recently found in a garage in Connecticut. Russ Glasson discovered them in 2009, 40 years after his parents-in-law snapped them at Niagara Falls. Perhaps thanks to other events going on at the time of the de-watering (the Moon landing springs to mind), the even has largely faded from the public memory. Thanks to the photos unearthed by Mr. Glasson, we can all re-live the day the water ran dry.
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Snow Rollers: Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds Of Icy White Delight
[ By Steve in Geography & Travel, Nature & Ecosystems, Science & Research. ]
Snow Rollers… not your grandfather’s whitecaps, unless gramps is an Eskimo! This rare winter phenomenon can occur anywhere in the world if conditions are just right, and the eerie beauty of a meadow covered in frozen white waves is, for those lucky enough to witness them, a rare pleasure indeed!
Mother Nature’s Snowmen
(images via: Global Times and NOAA)
Most everyone has enjoyed the experience of making a snowman, and those who have done so know that the easiest way to make one is to start with a small snowball, then roll it in snow until it becomes a BIG snowball. Do this three times, pile the snowballs atop one another, and you’ve got your basic snowman. Of course, the weather outside has much to do with your success – because the weather determines the texture and consistency of the snow.
(images via: Telegraph UK)
Snow Rollers are somewhat similar to the snowballs used to make snowmen but they are much more dependent on not only the weather, but the condition of the snow on the ground.
See What Condition Your Condition Is In
(images via: Likers and Earth Science POD)
Meteorologists investigating Snow Rollers have turned up some common factors that seem to be prerequisites for their formation. The snow, for starters, needs to be sticky enough to hold together once the ball gets rolling, so to speak. Referring back to snowman-making, the ideal type of snow is loose in consistency while the “stickiness” derives from an air temperature slightly below freezing.
(image via: C.Atrox)
Ground temperature is important as well – it should also be slightly below freezing in order to provide a little bit of lubrication between the various layers of snow. The most critical of such layers is formed from ice, so that embryonic Snow Rollers can initially break free from their anchoring substrate. This is NOT good, however, if you’re in a mountainous area standing downslope. Can you say “avalanche?”
Winter Wind FTW
(images via: MPR News and Terre Haute)
Now let’s talk about wind. Too stiff a breeze will simply shift snow and blow it into drifts. For Snow Rollers to form on a relatively flat ground surface, the wind must be of a certain speed and it has to blow consistently – no gusts, as newly formed Snow Rollers are often delicate.
(image via: Ilmajaam.ee)
Wind can also come into play by shaking clumps of snow off of tree branches or overhanging rocks, cliffs or what have you. If the clump should fall on an unstable snow pack and the wind is blowing just right, Snow Rollers or natural snowballs can form.
A Step On A Slippery Slope
(images via: Crop Circle Science and NOAA)
Gravity will sometimes act to assist Snow Roller formation. An inclined surface often needs less of a shove from the wind to get Snow Rollers in motion. Falling snow clumps as mentioned above can also “hit the ground rolling”, and end up at the bottom of a valley greatly increased in size.
(image via: Wikipedia)
Now here’s something you don’t see every day – then again, who’d really expect to? Give nature a slippery surface, add snow, fine tune the temperature and you’ve got a recipe for twin Snow Rollers. Too cool for school… though not THIS school.
Field Of Dreams
(image via: KATU.com)
Classic Snow Rollers, however, are typically seen on clear, flat fields upon which gravity plays no part. Their creation, propagation and lateral motion is governed strictly by the wind – as well as the aforementioned snow and ground conditions. A newly discovered field of Snow Rollers can look like a meadow scattered with miniature white hay bales – so artificial, onlookers find themselves scouting for footprints of the makers.
Roll Out The White Carpet
(image via: Wikipedia)
There are physical limits to the size of Snow Rollers. You won’t see an entire field rolled up like a cheap carpet, for example, as weight and stress conspire to keep most Snow Rollers looking much like rolled-up sleeping bags. The very wide Snow Rollers shown above, photographed in the Giant Mountains of the Czech Republic, are as rare as they are ephemeral.
(images via: Crop Circle Science and NOAA)
Snow Rollers also gain weight as they roll, and sooner or later – often sooner – the weight of the Snow Roller combined with resistance from the fresh snow ahead of it counteracts the forces of wind and inertia. The biggest reported Snow Rollers were roughly 2 feet (60cm) in diameter.
The Hole Truth
(image via: Morning Earth)
One salient feature common to most Snow Rollers is the “donut hole” in the middle. One would think that it would be impossible to roll a blanket of something as fragile as snow around, well, nothing… and you would be correct.
(images via: Terre Haute, Enquirer and Burlington Free Press)
Snow Rollers do indeed have filled holes at their inception, however this initial layer of snow is usually thin due to the baby Snow Roller’s size, and soon crumbles under the stress and vibration incurred as the Snow Roller picks up speed and snow.
(image via: Enquirer)
Snow Rollers are as delightful as they are rare – the latter accentuating the former. Winter may seem to offer nothing but chills and spills, but rare and special natural phenomena like Snow Rollers provide those lucky enough to witness them an undoubtedly warm thrill. Let’s roll!
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Out on a Limb at the Morris Arboretum Tree Adventure
[ By Steph in Animals & Habitats, Art & Design, Geography & Travel. ]
Nestle into a human-sized bird’s nest or stretch out on a suspended web 50 feet above the forest floor at the Morris Arboretum Tree Adventure in Philadelphia, a journey through the treetops punctuated with lookouts, a swaying bridge and fun play areas for children. The ‘Out on a Limb’ portion of the Tree Adventure consists of a 450-foot walkway made of steel and cedar wood, and illuminated with LED lighting.
Designed by Metcalfe Architecture & Design and winner of a number of awards including the 2010 American Association of Museums Excellence in Exhibition Design Award, Out on a Limb is both fun and educational, employing a “play-to-learn” strategy that aims to foster respect for nature in children.
The structure, which was pre-fabricated offsite, is made from recyclable metal and sustainably harvested, 100-percent renewable Western Red Cedar. Naturally bug- and rot-resistant locust wood decking will ensure that the Boardwalk stays safe and beautiful for a long time. Very much a part of the woods in which it is located, the structure is nevertheless entirely free-standing. Placed on small foundations called “micro-piles”, the boardwalk was engineered to put the least amount of strain possible on the root systems of the trees.
“We spend our whole lives on the ground looking up,” said Paul Meyer, director of the Morris Arboretum. “But I think there is something instinctively attractive in the trees. Why else would we want to build tree houses as children? Something like this allows us to escape the bounds of the earth.”
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