[ By Delana in Art & Design, History & Trivia, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
Light is, of course, an essential element of photography. But when photographers get creative with the quality of light in their images, it becomes clear just how big a difference it can make in the overall mood. In fact, in certain conditions the light can almost become a character itself, lending a distinct personality to every photo. With its many personalities and endlessly changing appearance, natural light can turn a ho-hum image into a stunning one. These beautiful nature photographs illustrate just a small sampling of the natural light conditions that occur on our planet every day.
Nature’s Palette
(images via: Hartwig HKD, Jean Goff, popejon2, cobalt123, Christian Guthier, Trey Ratcliff)
Painting with artificial light is an art form most of us know well, but sometimes natural light paints its own pictures. These studies in natural light capture the quiet intensity of the sun’s rays and the warm gentle touch of shadows.
Sunlight Through Clouds
(images via: dubbs, Paulo Brandao, popejon2, l1mey)
When the sun casts long fingers of light down through the clouds, it is special enough to make even the most experienced nature lover stop and take notice. Called Jacob’s Ladders or God’s Fingers by many, the technical term is Crepuscular rays. No matter what you call them, they are beautiful examples of nature’s own art.
Northern Lights
(images via: localsurfer, Nick Russill, Beverly, Petur Valgeirsson)
The Aurora Borealis (also known as the Northern Lights) is a seemingly magical light display that turns a normal Northern sky into a light show like no other. The amazing colored lights are caused by natural reactions in the Earth’s upper atmosphere, but they were once believed to be caused by reflections from the armor of charging Valkyries.
The Interplay of Light and Water
(images via: Prabhu, Brian Auer, popejon2, Raymond Bosma, Forest Gilbakian, Vestman, Robert Wallace)
Light and water complement each other so well: reflections become whole other worlds and the horizon melts into the sea. Soft light touches the water to paint in a wholly soothing palette, while bright light bounces energetically off of every surface in sight.
Light Shining Through Trees
(images via: Mike, Ginny, Frank Wuestefeld, ViaMoi)
Light is one of the most ever-changing parts of nature, while trees are much more stable and semi-permanent. The combination of strong, rigid trees and ephemeral beams of light makes for unforgettable photographs. These are fine examples of a breathtaking moment captured by a photographer with perfect timing.
Sunrise and Sunset
(images via: dj@oxherder arts, Andre Theriault, Kipp Baker, ericdege)
Sunrise and sunset are two of the most perfect times of day to catch a breathtaking nature photograph. For a few short minutes at the beginning and end of every day, the world is bathed in splendid transitional sunlight unlike the light at any other time of day. The warm light transforms nearly any scene into one of serenity or energy, depending on which daily transition is being caught on camera.
Rainbows
(images via: Harald Hoyer, Tym, Marc Crumpler, Sarah Macmillan)
The elusive rainbow is one of nature’s loveliest little surprises. Atmospheric conditions and the viewer’s position have to be just right for the optical phenomenon to form…and when rainbows do appear, it’s like natural fireworks. These mystical colors in the sky have long been part of the mythology of nearly every culture on the planet.
Light Pollution
(images via: Jose Angel, Brian, Robert Snache)
As stunning as natural light is in photography, unnatural light can be impressive as well. These images all refer to light from nearby towns and cities as light pollution, which is a term used to describe artificial light that obscures the view of the natural world. Light pollution is a big problem for those who live in or near cities and long to look at the stars. But for all of its negative connotations, even light pollution can be beautiful in its own way.
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Hard Woods: 10 Amazing Petrified Forests
[ By Steve in 7 Wonders Series, Geography & Travel, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
Here’s something that’ll stump your chainsaw: wood from petrified forests! The mineralized branch you hold today just might have been nibbled on by a dinosaur in some long-ago Jurassic brunch. These beautifully colored remnants of long-vanished landscapes are important links to the world as it was many millions of years ago.
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, USA
(images via: Arizona Leisure and Virtual Tourist)
Perhaps the most famous of the world’s petrified forests can be found in the Petrified Forest National Park, located in northeastern Arizona state. The park features a number of distinct concentrations of petrified wood which have been given names such as the Black Forest, the Crystal Forest, the Rainbow Forest and so on.
(images via: Park Vision)
Most of the trees in the park are Araucaria-like conifers that grew about 225 million years ago in the Triassic Period, an era in which the first dinosaurs were emerging and the planet’s land masses were clumped together in the supercontinent of Pangaea.
(images via: NPS, Terra Galleria and Ellen Simper)
The area now encompassed by Petrified Forest National Park was occupied by various Native American tribes in pre-Columbian times. Around the year 900 AD, an eight-room pueblo was built from petrified wood cemented with clay mortar – a log cabin that was fireproof, to say the least! Called the Agate House and situated in the Rainbow Forest, the pueblo was partially reconstructed in the mid-1930s as a make-work project during the Great Depression.
(images via: Arizona Highways Magazine and ScienceViews)
One of the most striking features of Arizona’s Petrified Forest is the Agate Bridge, a 110-foot (34 meter) long petrified tree trunk that spans an arroyo dug out gradually over many centuries. In 1911, concern about safety issues and the propensity of park visitors to sit on or walk across the log compelled authorities to set up masonry pillars to support the log. Six years later, the pillars were replaced with a more aesthetically pleasing span of concrete.
Here’s a video showcasing the best sights of Petrified Forest National Park:
Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, via jjwanser
Ginkgo Petrified Forest, Washington, USA
(images via: Posters Guide, Ice Age Floods and Reisen/USA)
A lush forest of Gingko, Sequoia and up to 20 other tree species flourished 15 million years ago in central Washington state. Many of these trees found their way to the bottom of Lake Vantage, which was buried by a series of volcanic eruptions. The ash and lava protected the dead trees from decomposition by insects and bacteria while water percolating down through the cooled lava brought minerals and chemical salts that gradually replaced the organic matter, petrifying the wood.
(images via: Celebrate Big and Trip Advisor)
Catastrophic floods at the end of the last ice age stripped away millions of tons of topsoil, exposing the petrified forest where it fell. The remains of this ancient ecosystem is now preserved at Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park. The park has had ongoing problems with theft and to prevent it, some of the more outstanding specimens of petrified wood have been “caged” in concrete and steel mesh enclosures.
Petrified Forest of Lesbos, Greece
(images via: Petr Kraumann, Lachlan Hunter and Global Geopark)
The Greek island of Lesbos (or Lesvos) is home to the Lesvos Petrified Forest, perhaps the largest such accumulation of petrified wood in Europe. Dating from 15 to 20 million years of age, the trees were preserved and fossilized by a series of volcanic eruptions that buried entire swathes of forest in thick blankets of ash. In 1995 the Natural History Museum of the Lesvos Petrified Forest was founded to showcase and study this unique record of the past, as well as protect it from damaging exploitation.
(images via: Lachlan Hunter)
The Lesvos Petrified Forest contains the largest plant fossils ever found anywhere in the world, a prime example being the massive tree trunk above that measures an astounding 28 feet (8.58 meters) in circumference and stands 23 feet (7 meters) high, though it originally stood much, much taller. The longest fallen tree trunk yet found in the Lesvos Petrified Forest measures 72 feet (22 meters) in length. Many of the upright trees bear a striking similarity to the ionic marble columns used by architects of Classical Greece… perhaps the likeness is no coincidence?
Mississippi Petrified Forest, USA
(images via: TravelPod and Fossils Rocks Minerals)
Around 35 million years near what is today the town of Flora, Mississippi, a raging river in flood created a mighty logjam of ancient Fir and Maple trees swept from a thousand-year-old primeval forest. Shortly after this event, the trees were buried in mineral-rich Mississippi mud and the process of petrification began. Today the rock-like trunks and branches of trees that once stood 100 feet (30.5 meters) tall once again see the light of day after having been exposed by erosion. One of the most outstanding examples of petrified wood at this location is “The Frog”, a battered portion of a once-mighty tree trunk that is estimated to weight 14,940 pounds or 6,776 kg.
(image via: Fossils Rocks Minerals)
Since 1976, petrified wood from the Mississippi Petrified Forest has served as the state’s official stone. The Mississippi Petrified Forest was registered as a National Natural Landmark in 1966. It is the only officially designated petrified forest in the eastern United States, though petrified wood has been found in other eastern and northeastern states.
Blue Forest of Eden Valley, Wyoming, USA
(images via: Susan Kay Jewelry and eBay)
The petrified Blue Forest in Eden Valley, Wyoming, was formed from fallen trees that lived about 50 million years ago in a swampy area. When the trees died and fell into the swamp, they were rapidly covered with algae – this was a good thing. The algae formed casts that preserved the original bark surfaces of the trees and kept them from decaying. The wood shrunk and eventually it, the algae casts and the spaces between them were filled in by minerals, often in exquisite, crystalline form.
(image via: Sticks In Stones)
Blue agate is one of the beautiful minerals displayed by petrified trees from the Blue Forest, and it’s even more appealing when complemented by white quartz crystals and golden Calcite inclusions as seen in the specimen above.
Monumento Natural Bosque Petrificado, Argentina
(images via: Photographers Direct and Imagenes de Argentina)
About 140 million years ago, the Andes had yet to rise and what are today the arid steppes of Argentine Patagonia were moist and misty, shaded by old growth forests of gigantic Araucatis Mirabilis trees reaching up to 330 feet into the sky.
(image via: Bikes On Tour)
This idyllic scenario was not to last – the Andes were born in a burst of volcanic eruptions that drowned the majestic forests in successive waves of ash and lava. Erosion has worked to remove the layers of volcanic rock, revealing Monumento Natural Bosque Petrificado, one of the most spectacular petrified forests in South America.
(images via: Stones & Bones)
The fineness of the volcanic ash often served to cushion the more fragile parts of the trees against the heat and violence of the volcanic eruptions, resulting in the astonishingly detailed petrified pine cones shown above.
Yellow Cat Flat, Utah, USA
(images via: Tom Wolfe Minerals and Rockhounding Videos)
The western United States is best known archaeology-wise as a hotbed of dinosaur fossils but scattered among the bones are copious remains of the trees dinosaurs roamed among, nibbled upon and trampled underfoot. Some of the most noteworthy specimens of petrified wood come from Yellow Cat Flat, just north of Moab, Utah. Much of the petrified wood found here has eroded out from the Morrison Formation; rocks laid down around 150 million years ago in the Jurassic period.
(image via: Jay Bates)
Yellow Cat petrified wood is famous for its rich red color and orange to yellow highlights that result from the presence of iron and other metal compounds. Known as Carnelian, this deep reddish petrified wood has been worked into jewelry and arrowheads for many centuries. Visitors to the area should be advised that Yellow Cat Flat and the surrounding area is extremely desolate and dry (the ground water is contaminated with uranium and arsenic). There’s no food, bathrooms, accommodation or cell phone service… much like it was back in the Jurassic.
Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota
(images via: Terra Galleria, NDGS and Photographers Direct)
The badlands of western North Dakota have a lot of good to show you, if you’re interested in petrified wood. Dating from the Paleocene Era (about 55 million years ago, after the dinosaurs went extinct), petrified wood can be found in scattered chunks, eroded logs and truncated trunks that still stand upright.
(image via: NDGS)
One of the best places in North Dakota to find an ancient frozen forest is in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, located off Interstate 94 near Medora, about 130 miles west of Bismarck, ND. The petrified trees belong to many species but the largest stumps (up to 12 feet or 3.65m in diameter) belong to the genus Metasequoia – the Dawn Redwood. Those who happen to be in Bismarck can check out a 120-foot (36.5 meter) long, 6-ft (1.82m) wide petrified Metasequoia log that’s been installed on the grounds of the state capital building.
Prehistoric Kauri Forest, New Zealand
(images via: Unearthed, Arroyo Hardwoods and The Woodturner’s Studio)
Not all petrified wood is stone, and the process of petrification is anything but instant. Take New Zealand’s Prehistoric Kauri Forest as an example. Kauri trees – many of them huge, exceptionally wide specimens – grew in a swampy part of New Zealand’s North Island tens of thousands of years ago, and most of those designated as “Ancient Kauri” have been buried for up to 45,000 years. They’re partially petrified, and considered to be “the oldest workable wood in the world.”
(image via: TDPRI)
The largest Ancient Kauri log extracted from the ground measured 75 feet (23 meters) long, 37 feet (11.3 meters) wide and weighed in at a staggering 140 tons. Examination of the tree’s growth rings determined that it was 1,087 years old when it died. Part of the log was turned into a unique spiral staircase that can be seen at the showroom and retail outlet of Ancient Kauri Kingdom in Awanui, New Zealand.
Mummified Forest, Axel Heiberg Island, Canada
(images via: White Rose Paleobiology Group and Science News for Kids)
How do you make a Mummified Forest? Take one lush, old growth forest of Dawn Redwood trees and situate it 700 miles from the North Pole. Oh, you’ll also have to go back in time about 45 million years, to an era when global warming wasn’t a threat, but the norm.
(image via: Geological Survey of Canada)
Today on Canada’s otherwise desolate Axel Heiberg Island, a mummified forest grips the permafrost with gnarled roots. Not living but not petrified either, this exceptionally ancient wood can be sawed and burned if need be – and if you’re a paleobotanist thirsty for a cup of hot tea, one plays the hand they’re dealt.
(images via: DVD Beaver and Wikimedia)
Visiting a petrified forest (or watching the classic 1936 film of the same name) is a great way to interact with the past, and because these stone forests often contain so much petrified wood its easy to get up close and personal. As the great sage and eminent chicken roaster Kenny Rogers once said, “It’s the wood that makes it good”… even when the wood in question has turned to stone.
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Wood Carving: Trees as a Medium
[ By Marc in Art & Design, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
Unless you’ve been to a logging competition, you probably haven’t seen someone with a large chainsaw creating a beautiful piece of art out of a dead tree, but you may have stumbled upon their handiwork in the woods or sitting outside a boutique. When a tree dies (or sometimes, while it’s alive), these tree carvers are able to take the remains and turn it into something beautiful. Here are some of the most gorgeous examples of tree carving:
(Images via treefellers, ronaldhanko, cimba7200, bruce aleksander and dennis milam)
Those who take up tree carving are typically nature lovers, and spend a lot of their time in the outdoors enjoying nature, and practicing their art. It’s unsurprising, then that animals feature heavily in tree carving subject matter. The most common tree carving tends to be a giant bear, rough hewn out of a large tree and left in the lobby of a ski lodge. Large hawks and Pelicans, and even fish leaping out of imaginary water, are just a few of the more intricate animals also chosen.
(Images via ajft, fields of view, gary and kathy, neilio, lndshlf72, treefellers)
Human faces are difficult to carve because everyone is a well attuned critic, since we’ve all been studying faces since we first opened our eyes. Despite the difficulty, the idea of an old wise tree man, or beautiful and intelligent tree woman, is incredibly common, and by far the most intriguing tree carving subject matter.
(Images via ksgirl, chigmaroff, linda, jafproject)
People are difficult to carve because they’re tall, bipedal, and typically have some sort of tool or implement lying around; not to mention the fact that we’re evolutionarily geared to be able to tell what is right or wrong about a person’s face, making everyone much more critical. The difficulty doesn’t stop tree carvers, however, and many create monuments to famous individuals from trees that have been around since they still walked the Earth.
(Images via gizmodo, coasttocoastam)
It’s surprising when a tree carver’s subject matter is something besides a jumping salmon or wise-eyed old man, but that can make it even more enjoyable. Above are two such examples; an arcade machine and an alien, defying you to pass by without studying them even more intently than you would a depiction of a large bear.
(Images via halle0909, the eggplant, trying to keep still, jaana-mari, simon lawrence, lwh1970)
A tree carver has to work with the shape and size of the tree he’s working with, and this can spur creativity in a direction maybe the tree carver didn’t even expect. They may reveal symbolic elements, or even the secret door to a dwarve’s underground abode, or even create an area meant for meditation on nature. Whatever the tree carver decides, if they have the skills, it will become awe inspiring.
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Backwards Vending: Machine Pays For Recyclables
[ By Delana in Art & Design, Nature & Ecosystems, Technology & Gadgets. ]
Most of us are familiar with the concept of vending machines: after you put money in, the machine gives you something in return. But this new vending machine, called The Dream Machine, works in exactly the opposite way. When you put in a can or bottle to recycle, it gives you points and prizes in return.
(image via: KingDesmond)
The idea behind the Dream Machine is to encourage people to recycle even when they’re away from home. Containers from drinks consumed away from home are typically the least likely to be recycled because of the lack of public recycling facilities. It’s estimated that we throw away, rather than recycle, around 100 billion recyclable cans and bottles every year. Even where there are facilities for recycling away from home, most people lack the motivation to seek them out. This system gives the public a reason to hang onto their cans and bottles until they spot a Dream Machine.
The machines are the work of Pepsi, Waste Management and Keep America Beautiful. Manufactured by GreenOps, the machines provide points which can be redeemed at Greenopolis.com or in the store where the machine is located. Users simply scan the bar code on the can or bottle, then feed it into the machine. Each machine can hold around 300 containers before it needs to be emptied.
While not many of the machines are currently in use out in the world, thousands more will be installed over the summer and throughout the year. Ultimately, the program is expected to bring in approximately 400 million containers annually. The Dream Machines won’t interfere with state bottle recycling programs, which offer a refund of a few cents per bottle recycled, since the machines will only be installed in places where traditional recycling options aren’t available.
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Eerie Underwater Graves & Diving For Submerged Skeletons
[ By Angie in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems, Science & Research. ]
With Memorial Day coming up, a special day of remembrance for those who have died before us, many people will be making trips to cemeteries to show their respect and to decorate graves. But what about those graves at the bottom of the ocean or other bodies of water which are nearly impossible to visit? We thought to pay tribute to those who perished and remain underwater. Here we dive for eerie underwater graves to view submerged skeletons.
Cremated Human Remains – Neptune Society
(image credit: jacksonville)
There are people who make the decision to have an underwater grave. In fact, cremation companies like the Neptune Society offer their customers such an option. People can choose to have their ashes entombed in the largest artificial reef off the coast of Miami. That way, a person helps reduce their body’s impact on the earth while also promoting sea life after death.
Underwater Bones Decades of Dinner
(image credits:phschool,walkerunderwater)
Studies on whale carcasses on the seafloor have proven that each skeleton supports a biological abundance, a deep-sea ecosystem. Whale cadavers have been sunk in the name of research. Science News Online summed up oceanographer Craig Smith’s findings. “Instead of grass giving way to shrubs that yield to the trees of forests, whale falls first nourish such scavengers as hagfish, then bone-eating zombie worms, and eventually the clams” which live near a deep-ocean vent. Left to nature, skeletons simply return to the earth and seem to “disappear.”
On the bottom right, photographer Bill Reals captured the image of a 10,500 year old human skeleton in a underwater Yucatan cave. Since people and animals used to live in caves, and now some of those caves are hidden underwater, that is where some human skeletal remains have been discovered. Finding human skeletons underwater is far from common. In fact, considering how much water covers the globe, finding human remains is a bit like finding a needle in a haystack.
Sperm Whale
(image credit: gue)
Photographer Uli Kunz shot this 2009 winner for Global Underwater Explorers picture of year. It features diver Henning May at Germany’s largest aquarium, Ozeaneum. The skeleton is of a sperm whale which had become stranded in the North Sea and perished. Ozeaneum holds 2.6 million liters of seawater and a variety of fish from the Atlantic Ocean.
Skeletal Remains
(image credits: underwater,divebums,divebums)
We would expect to see skeletal remains from creatures that live in the water. The “Skinny Turtle,” on the left, is described as Turtle Skeleton in the Turtle Tomb and was found near Sipadan, Malaysia. On the top right is the skeletal remains of a wolf eel. The bottom right is an “unidentified skeletal piece” found near the Marine Room of the shipwrecked La Jolla.
Atlantis Found & Giant Skeleton Hoax?
(image credits: barracuadz,tutuz)
Although it was a hoax, it was widely reported that the National Geographic Society had unearthed skeletons of ancient giant humans. It spread like wildfire across the web because people wanted to believe in it. People also believe in Atlantis and some spend their lives trying to find it. American Atlantologist Dan Clark believed he had discovered Atlantis and the top image is supposedly of Atlantis. Part of his conclusion relied on the underwater discovery of a “skeleton of human height 3.5 meters.” With so many hoaxes, the facts can escape us; the ocean is a giant graveyard where rarely anyone pays tribute on Memorial Day.
First reported as Holloway
(image credit: stephww)
During a diving trip in Aruba, a Pennsylvania couple snapped what they thought might be the remains of missing American teen Natalee Holloway. If it was not her skeletal remains, then whose? It could be a rock formation, but there is no doubt that the sea holds many secrets and many skeletons.
Shipwreck
(image credits: portal.unesco,wetpixel)
Throughout time, ships have sailed, been shipwrecked and have sunk. Countless human lives have been lost and the sea is their underwater grave. Organizations like UNESCO work to protect the underwater cultural heritage. Professional scuba divers, those people who dive for fun, treasure hunters, and underwater archeologists bring us magnificent photos from the ocean depths. Tim Digger captured the bottom image of the SS Carnatic which ran aground on an island in the Red Sea. 31 people drowned.
Human Remains
(image credits: advanced diver magazine,utexas,national geographic)
Underwater archaeologists discovered the screaming skull, at top left, along with 18 human skeletal remains of a Mayan sacrifice near Mexico. The discovery was called The Well of Time. On the top right, the discovery was called the Well of Sacred Waters. It revealed multiple human remains. At the bottom left, the nearly complete human skeleton was found atop the anchor line in the bow. The skeleton was part of the shipwrecked La Belle, which sunk off the coast of Texas in 1686. On the bottom right, the female skeleton was found deep inside an underwater cave in Mexico. Her remains were called Eve of Naharon and were dated at 13,600 years old, making her the oldest human skeleton ever found in the Americas.
Underwater: Neolithic Woman & Infant
(image credits: LiveScience)
The above images show the 9,000 year old excavated skeletons of a Neolithic woman and an infant buried with her. Researchers discovered tuberculosis on the bones. That makes this woman and her infant the oldest known and confirmed TB cases. Their remains were found submerged in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Israel, where the ancient Atlit-Yam village once existed.
Yamagiri Maru
(image credits: petemesley,petemesley)
Diver and photographer Pete Mesley reported that Truk Lagoon was one of the best diving experiences in his life. Along the remains of one shipwreck, they found much more than skeleton shipwreck bones. They found human skeletal remains at Yamagiri Maru. “Probably one of the most shocking sights of the dive was the human skull in the engine room which was embedded into one of the machine mountings. Other human remains lay on ledges. Another grim reminder of the terror of death.”
Underwater Archaeology in Submerged Wells & Caves
This is the entrance UNESCO divers used for a submerged carst cave in Mexico. UNESCO heritage includes underwater artifacts and traces of ancient human life preserved in flooded caves. The caves have either always been submerged or have been flooded by the rise of the sea.
These divers are in a submerged cave, a cenote, in Mexico.
This is the ‘Tux kapaxa cave’ in Mexico, where ancient traces of human presence and ancient fauna were discovered underwater. 
On the left, a diver holds a human skull which was found underwater in a Mexican cave. Pictured on the right, a diver swims near human remains in a cenote. 
(image credits: unesco)
On the bottom is the skull of the “woman of Muknal,” dated 10,000 BC. It was also discovered by an archeologist in a Mexican cenote.
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26 Captivating Landscape & Nature Photography Wallpapers
[ By Angie in Geography & Travel, Nature & Ecosystems, Science & Research. ]
The beauty of nature helps inspire us to take care of our planet. If you don’t have the funds or time to travel, then here are 26 stunning landscape and nature photography wallpapers to give you lovely choices to gaze upon from your desktop.
Pamukkale
(image credit:Desktop Nexus)
These terraced hot springs are in south-western Turkey. The site is named in Turkish as “Pamukkale,” meaning “cotton castle.” The remains of the ancient Hierapolis are situated on back of the thrilling white terraces. People have bathed in these hot pools for thousands of years. Many people believe these hot springs can cure disease and illness, so Pamukkale attracts tourists. The terraces suffered damage from tourists climbing all over them before Pamukkale was recognized as a World Heritage Site.
Shades of Purple
(image credit:Desktop Nexus)
Nature is always stunning to behold. Some photographers take shots in infrared, ultraviolet, thermographic and full spectrum. The location is unknown, but the photographed wallpaper is entitled Evening Light.
Pink Bubble Gum Tree
(image credit:Desktop Nexus)
Trees around a lake are gorgeous at anytime, but in springtime there is something magical in the air. This nature photograph is called Bubblegum Tree. It does look like pink bubblegum has overrun the trees.
Tufa Towers & Moonrise over Mono Lake, California
(image credit:Wallpaper HD,El Buskador,Desktop Nexus)
Mono Lake in California covers about 65 square miles. It is an ancient lake, over 1 million years old, and one of the oldest lakes in North America. These unusual rock formations were once submerged in Mono Lake. Tufa towers grow exclusively underwater. They can reach heights of over 30 feet. Tufa is visible around Mono Lake because the lake level dropped dramatically after water diversions which started in 1941. They make the view seem almost like a alien landscape. The lake itself offers something not found anywhere else on earth, an estimated 4-6 trillion brine shrimp inhabit the lake during warm summer months. Migratory shorebirds feast on these shrimp and alkali flies. Whether during the quieter winter months or for a summer moonrise, everyone should see the tufa towers and Mono Lake in person at least once in their life.
Cold White & Blue
(image credit:Desktop Nexus)
Shades of cold white and blue tweak this natural scenery. Be it landscape photography or photoshopped, there is a serene and silent peace to this picture.
Iceland Landscape I Blue Lagoon HDR
(image credit:Desktop Nexus)
The Blue Lagoon in Iceland is a geothermal spa. The volcanic rock formations are among the bathing and swimming areas where the water temperature remains about 104°F or 40°C. If you go to Iceland’s Blue Lagoon, you should know that there is a strict code of hygiene. All guests are required to shower without clothing in the communal shower area before and after bathing in the geothermal spa.
Winter Infrared
(image credit:Desktop Nexus)
This photo is called Infrared World. The landscape garden is in Sheffield Park in East Sussex, England. It was originally created in the 18th century, passing through different owners and different tweaks to the land. It now has both exotic and native trees.
Moraine Lake, Canada
(image credits: Desktop Nexus, interfacelift)
There are as many ways to capture the shot as there are photographers practicing their craft. Both of these pictures are of Moraine Lake in Alberta, Canada. This lake in Banff National Park is glacially-fed. Moraine Lake is located within the Valley of Ten Peaks with an elevation of about 6,183 feet. Depending on the time of year, the lake appears different colors due to refraction of light off the rocks. In the summer when the lake is full, it appears very blue. The bottom image was taken before the glacier lake had peaked, but two days later that rock was underwater.
Sunrise Canadian Landscape
(image credit:Desktop Nexus)
This sunrise landscape was taken somewhere within the vast land mass of Canada. Canada is the second largest country in the world, full of beautiful landscapes which vary from arid ranchlands to arctic ecosystems.
Silent Day at Mystic Tarn, Mount Rainier, Washington
(image credit:Desktop Nexus)
The 14,411 feet tall Mount Rainier reflects in the glacier lake. To see this view for yourself, take a hike on Mystic Lake Trail. Round-trip is 15.8 miles with a elevation gain of 3,900 feet. Hiking time for this round-trip is about nine hours. Permits are required for backpackers turned campers. “In a effort to preserve the shoreline of Mystic Lake, the camp is located along the Wonderland Trail in a forested area .3 mile downhill from the east end of the lake.”
Hvítserkur at Hunafloi Bay, Iceland
(image credit:Desktop Nexus)
The sea arch, Hvítserkur, and black sand above are located at Hunafloi Bay, Iceland. The sea arch is last remains of a volcano and local legend has it that Hvítserkur is a troll. Wildlife is abundant in the area around Hunafloi Bay, so if you visit the area in person you could see seals, whales, birds, and arctic foxes to name but a few.
Turtle Island in Ilan, Taiwan
(image credit:hires wallpapers1)
Turtle Island is another name for Guishan Island, but its shape is said to resemble a turtle. It is the largest island of Yilan County, the only one with residents, as well as the only active volcano in Taiwan. The number of tourists are controlled to help preserve the natural environment.
Summer Island Village
(image credit:r3novatio)
Summer Island Village is in the Maldives. 22 natural atolls, small islands and isolated reefs form a long and narrow country called The Maldive Islands. The spectacular place is located in the Indian Ocean. The Maldive Islands is the smallest Asian country as well as the lowest country on the planet at average 4 feet 11 inches above sea level.
Glacier Lake Tibet, China
(image credit:Desktop Nexus)
This glacier Lake in Tibet, China, is in one of the highest elevated regions in the world. The area itself is sometimes called the “roof of the world.” There have been many disastrous floods in this area, mostly a result of mountainous floodwater which caused intensive erosion and destruction.
Lithia Park in Ashland, Oregon
(image credit:Desktop Nexus)
Lithia Park is 93 acres of wooded canyonland along Ashland Creek and is the largest park in Ashland, Oregon. Twice in history, the area has been severely flood-damaged. After structural work to bridges, the park is now a well-cared-for centerpiece of the town.
Crater Lake – National Park Oregon
(image credits: Desktop Nexus,Desktop Nexus,Desktop Nexus)
All three photo wallpapers above are of the same location. On top, the breathtakingly clear blue water is Crater Lake, Oregon. It is the deepest crater lake in the world when comparing depths among world’s lakes whose basins are entirely above sea level. At it’s longest, it’s 5 by 6 miles across with a maximum depth of 1,949 feet. Throughout history, this lake has been called Blue Lake, Lake Majesty, and lastly Crater Lake. In the middle is Sunrise over Crater Lake, at Crater Lake National Park. Depending upon the angle, Wizard Island is visible within the lake.
Ilica, Turkey
(image credit:Desktop Nexus)
Does this look like a little piece of paradise? It should. Ilıca is a large resort area near Cesme, Turkey. This area is renowned for hot springs and spas, but this is the Ilıca Waterfall in Kure Mountains National Park.
Cook Islands & Aitutaki Lagoon at Sunrise
(image credits:Desktop Nexus,Desktop Nexus)
These delightful captures are of the Cook Islands. It is one of 15 islands in the heart of the South Pacific. Perfect choices, if you want to get away to the South Seas and visit an area basically unspoiled by tourism. Need another nudge? Suwarrow Atoll is part of the Cook Islands and rather famous for being a Treasure Island. Throughout the centuries, many chests of gold coins have been discovered at Suwarrow. Pictured on the bottom is sunrise at Aitutaki Lagoon. Aitutaki is another of the Cook Islands. Population is a whopping 2,000 people.
Lake Wanaka, New Zealand
(image credit:Interface Lift)
The lush green and mountainous landscape is in New Zealand. Lake Wanaka is the the fourth largest lake on New Zealand with a depth of about 980 feet. It is also the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park.
Rushing Water
(image credit:Interface Lift)
This Rushing Wave was shot at Ballintoy, Ireland, which is a small fishing town. Other than Ballintoy Harbour, the closest place that draws tourists is Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge.
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12 New Extra-Large Sustainable Building Designs
[ By Steph in Uncategorized. ]
As the need for cooperative sustainability becomes ever clearer, can we learn from the mistakes of our past and fundamentally change the way we live? Adapting to the new needs of our world requires much more than a sprinkling of eco homes and businesses. These 12 gigantic green building products take on the challenge in a much bigger way – with concepts for new cities, new societies and buildings that solve the world’s most pressing problems, like access to fresh water.
Spain’s Bubble-Shaped Freshwater Factory
(images via: inhabitat)
They look like nothing so much as a cluster of biospheres stacked on top of each other – or perhaps just soapy bubbles. But the glass domes of this strange tower serve a vital purpose: filtering seawater into freshwater through mangrove trees, which draw in saltwater and perspire freshwater. Once the mangroves release this precious substance, it evaporates and condenses into dew which collects in freshwater tanks.
One & Ortakoy, Istanbul
(images via: gad architecture)
Just like the beautiful hills they’re set in, the buildings that will make up the “One & Ortakoy” mixed-use complex in Istanbul have curving, organic forms and rolling roofs covered in greenery and flowers. Under construction in the neighborhood of Ortakoy, the project will consist of two buildings with natural stone facades – one a residential complex, the other commercial.
Green-Roofed High School, France
(images via: world architecture news)
Situated next to a public park, the Marcel Sembat high school in Sotteville-les-Rouen, France will almost disappear into the trees and grass of its surroundings. Additions to the existing structure – which will include a restaurant, student housing, staff housing and workshops – will be topped with a wavy green roof that will offer natural insulation.
Watertower Skyscraper Brings Freshwater to Sudan
(images via: h3ar)
In the vast desert landscape of Sudan, freshwater can be incredibly difficult to come by – yet deep under the surface is the largest underground lake in the world, which would change residents’ lives dramatically if it were tapped. Polish architecture firm H3AR imagines a solution: buildings inspired by both water towers and the native baobab tree, which would access the water through underground pumps. These towers would contain a water treatment plant, a hospital, a school and a food storage center.
Massive Rain-Catching Skyscraper
(images via: h3ar)
How could a building capture as much rain as possible? Through a web of gutters covering the entire exterior, which would then direct the water to a processing plant for use in toilets, washing machines, cleaning and plant watering. H3AR combines this ‘skin’ with a huge, bowl-shaped rainwater collector on the roof for maximum rainwater catchment capabilities.
Mixed-Use EcoDistrict in Dijon
(images via: exp architects)
Imagine living in a diverse neighborhood packed with green features galore, from vertical gardens and green roofs to bicycle paths and eco-friendly playgrounds – all adjacent to the city center. Such ‘ecodistricts’ are in planning around the world, including this concept for Dijon, France by EXP Architects in cooperation with Studiomustard Architecture, Sempervirens Landscape Designers and Even Conseil. The design will serve as a model for similar future developments in the same city.
De-Centralized Sustainable Society
(images via: ctrlz architectures)
It’s not just a building, or even just a city – but rather, a re-imagining of an entire society. That’s what CTRLZ architectures are doing with their new concept, stating ““We believe that architecture is not anymore about form and/or/…function, but that it is about relations. The development of network systems shows us that the power resides in links and connections.” Commerce, food production, ornamental gardens, housing, social public spaces and energy collection come together in a way that emphasizes cooperation between inhabitants.
Subterranean Greenbelt Hotel
(images via: reardon smith)
The subterranean design of Hersham Golf Club in Surrey by ReardonSmith Architects contains five-star lodging as well as a spa and golf facilities, while still meeting urban growth restrictions – the site is contained within London’s green belt, a ring of countryside that aims to prevent urban sprawl. The design also addresses lowering the impact of traffic flow and positions above-ground buildings in existing woodland so that nearby local residents maintain an unobstructed view of untouched landscape.
Beijing’s ‘Creative Zone’ Greenbelt
(images via: arch daily)
If there’s any city in the world that desperately needs a greenbelt to provide residents with natural space and prevents further sprawl, it’s likely Beijing. This rapidly growing city – plagued by air pollution problems – could get a greenbelt of its own that would allow interaction with nature while maintaining proximity to local conveniences like shops, restaurants and public transportation. UNStudio won a competition to create this “creative zone”, which would become a showcase of experimental architecture.
Masdar Sustainable City
(images via: lava)
Could Masdar City be a vision of the future, a modern metropolis where sustainability is built into every sidewalk, store and streetlamp? Designed by LAVA and located in Abu Dhabi, Masdar City is a planned community built to be zero-waste and zero-carbon. With housing, commerce and recreation all situated around a vast plaza, this concept aims to be a model of sustainability for the rest of the world.
Dubai’s Solar-Powered Vertical Village
(images via: graft lab)
What does Dubai have in abundance, aside from sand and mind-boggling creativity? Sun, of course -–and Graft Lab’s Vertical Village takes advantage of that plentiful resource with a surface that is angled specifically with solar energy collection in mind. The cluster of mixed-use buildings includes solar collectors on the south end that automatically pivot for maximum exposure.
Giant Energy-Generating Waterfall for Rio Olympics
(images via: inhabitat)
It looks unreal: an enormous, towering waterfall seemingly originating from the sky. But the Solar City Tower, designed by RAFAA Architecture & Design for the 2016 Rio Olympics, is actually a building that uses solar energy to generate power during the day, and a pumped water storage system to create power after the sun goes down. The tower could provide plenty of electricity for the Olympic Games and for the city, with the waterfall – “a symbol for the forces of nature” - appearing only for special occasions.
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Signs of Life: 7 New Animals to Emerge This Spring
[ By Chris in Animals & Habitats, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
(Images via: Of Interest, Reptilix, Webspinners, Fried Mush, BBC, Neat-O-Rama, Flickr)
As the weather changes from cold to pleasantly warm, familiar animals reemerge from their winter retreats while new species are uncovered worldwide. From color-changing frogs and amphibious insects to big-toothed leeches and strangely endowed lizards, a week’s worth of new animals has been discovered in recent months, leading to much intrigue.
“Leeches!” of the Big-Toothed Variety
(Images via: Wired, Tree Hugger, National Geographic, PLos One)
Thank goodness the “Stand By Me” kids weren’t searching for a dead body in the Peruvian Amazon, where a new species of big-toothed leeches was recently discovered, specifically in the nose of a young girl. While only reaching 3 inches in length, Tyrannobdella rex (i.e. the “tyrant leech king”) is referred to as the T-rex of leeches because of its surprisingly large teeth, which are used to suck blood from the noses, eyes, urethras, rectums and other orifices of mammals. As detailed in a new study in the April 14th version of PLos One, researchers were surprised by not only Tyrannobdella rex’s teeth but the leech’s genitalia, which are relatively small when compared to other leech species that rapidly reproduce. In good news, the T. Rex leeches and their big teeth may be used for future medical purposes, specifically to develop anticoagulants that stop blood clotting.
Giant Monitor Lizards: Like and Unlike Komodo Dragons
(Image via: Joseph Brown on National Geographic)
Speaking of a recently discovered species with strange genitalia, there’s the Northern Sierra Madre Forest Monitor Lizard or Varanus bitatawa. As detailed in the journal Biology Letters, this giant, secretive lizard was captured in the Philippines, where it’s been hiding high up in the trees for years. Weighing as much as 22 pounds and matching many humans in length at 6 feet, the monitor lizard is also a vegetarian – but that’s not the biggest surprise at all. Apparently Varanus bitatawa has a split, doubled-edged penis, which is certainly unique to this form of lizard species. According to researchers, this giant lizard is closely related to the Komodo dragon, that is besides its genitalia and eating habits.
Blind Worm Snakes: Rich History, New Family
(Images via: Reptile Forums UK, Flickr, Field Photography, Utah Herps)
The giant monitor lizard is not the only new reptile to be recently discovered and examined in Biology Letters; scientists have recognized a new family of wormlike, blind snakes that have likely been around since the formation of the island of Madagascar, which occurred roughly 94 million years ago. Through analysis of different blind snake genes, scientists were able to determine that the “new” family of blind snakes arose shortly after Madagascar broke from what is now India. Amazingly, blind snakes exist on every continent except Antarctica, thanks to continental drifting. Reaching up to one foot in length, blind snakes look and act like worms. While both burrow under the surface, blind snakes are different from worms in that they have backbones and scales, and send more chills down the spine.
Giant Isopod: A Rarely Seen Deep-Sea Monster
(Images via: Driftline, Zoology FNS Uniba)
(Images via: Calle, Flickr, Flickr)
Speaking of terrifying, a rarely seen giant isopod called Bathynomus giganteus was recently pulled to shore during a deep-sea submarine expedition. Related to shrimps and crabs, this freakish-looking crustacean looks like it could have been cast as the oversized villain in a low-budget, horror movie from the fifties. Actually found in the deep, cold waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Bathynomus giganteus is known for scavenging the carcasses of dead whales, fish and squid. According to some researchers, these strange isopods may get their massive figures from colder water temperatures that promote larger cell sizes. Whatever the cause, keep this creature out of sight, that is unless it is on a dinner plate.
Oxygen-Free Animals: Similar to the Jellyfish
(Images via: Roberto Danovero on National Geographic)
What Bathynomus giganteus is to the deep waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, complex organisms that resemble tiny jellyfish and live without oxygen are to the Mediterranean Sea. Researchers recently discovered three new species of multicellular organisms that are less than a millimeter wide, microscopic and capable of surviving long-term without oxygen. As detailed in the journal BMC Biology, these animals apparently have modified mitochondria that allow it to convert nutrients into energy without the need of oxygen. Prior to this discovery, scientists previously thought that only viruses and single-cell microbes could live without oxygen. They now stand corrected.
Amphibious Caterpillars: Versatile on Land and Underwater
(Images via: Jet Lib, Science Mag, LA Times)
Just as the aforementioned multicellular organisms amaze with their abilities to live underwater without oxygen, so do 14 new caterpillar species. Distinct to the fast-moving streams of Hawaii, these caterpillars from the Hyposmocoma species are truly the first amphibious insects. Capable of living on both land and underwater, these amphibious caterpillars spend most of their time in cocoon-like, hardened silk cases that were originally believed to act like underwater oxygen tanks but actually do not serve in this manner. Some researchers propose that these amphibious caterpillars are able to breathe through their skin, which could explain why they are only found in fast-moving streams. Anyways, these caterpillars will seal themselves in their cases prior to becoming moths, and emerge as their new beings when their homes float to the top of the water.
Color-Changing Frogs: From Dangerous to Delicious?
(Images via: Maxi Sciences, Mongabay)
Speaking of amphibians, a new frog species called Oreophryne ezra has stunned researchers with its ability to change from a black and yellow polka-dotted youngster to a bright orange adult. Found in southeastern Papua New Guinea, this color-changing frog has researchers wondering why it would look like a poison-dart frog in its youth but lose this potential advantage against predators in adulthood. Apparently, there is much more to learn about frogs besides these compounding color changes. Researchers have recorded Argentine horned frog tadpoles screaming when in distress, marking what is believed to be the first instance of vertebrate larvae using sound to communicate underwater. It turns out that not all frogs are as simple as Kermit.
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Play Tarzan & Jane? 12 Exotic Treehouse Eco-Vacations
[ By Angie in Art & Design, Geography & Travel, Nature & Ecosystems. ]
Treehouses appeal to the kid in us. How would you like to combine that urge to play in the trees with a vacation? Some treehouse vacations are rustic while others are more like plush resorts. Most are labeled as an eco-vacation. Whether you want to take it easy on the environment or want to play Tarzan and Jane, step off the grid and climb a tree. These 12 treehouse eco-vacations are fun yet exotic, some of the best in the world.
Green Magic Nature Resort
(image credits: palmlandtours)
If you are interested in a remote “jungle” eco-vacation, where you stay in a treehouse, then Vythiri, India, might have what you want. Green Magic Nature Resort is a dedicated eco-lodge built in the trees and located on 500 acres of private secondary forest. The first treehouse is at 100 feet with its second double bedroom directly above it. Access to this treehouse is by wooden steps and hanging bridges. The second treehouse is 90 feet up, accessed by an indigenous crane lift that hoists you with a unique water counterweight. Food comes from an organic farm and energy is solar-powered. Great bio-diversity can been seen when trekking rainforest trails or cooling off in a natural swimming pool. The treehouses offer panoramic views and attached bathroom facilities.
Post Ranch Inn
(image credits: postranchinn)
Along the ruggedly beautiful Big Sur Coast, the Post Ranch Inn has triangular treehouses. They are single standing structures on stilts, built nine feet off the forest floor. Besides a big bed, each has a fireplace and windows which offer spectacular views on all sides. If this ritzy treehouse is too much roughing it for you, then the Post Ranch Inn has a luxurious spa.
River of Life Farm Treehouse
(image credits: riveroflifefarm)
The River of Life Farm is 350 acres located in the Missouri Ozarks. The secluded treehouse overlooks the North Fork River from a private deck. The Mark Twain National Forest is next door, making this a great getaway for hiking, trout fishing, canoeing, or escaping your busy life to commune with nature. The romantic treehouse cabin can sleep up to six, with a master bedroom and a loft bedroom, but is often rented out by honeymooners.
Out ‘n’ About
(image credits: treehouses)
Out ‘n’ About Treesort is located in Cave Junction, Oregon. This place is all about treehouses, claiming to have lots of activitrees, but requiring a treeposit to hold your treeservation. If there is no bathroom in your treehouse, you are welcome to use the main facilitrees. While you are out ‘n’ about, tree fairies clean your perch. They have a wide array of treehouses, varying in sizes, prices, and amenities. These include: The Suite, Swiss Family, Peacock Perch, Cavaltree Fort, Treeloon, Treepee Yurtree, Serendipitree, Treezebo, Forestree, Pleasantree, Elementree, and Majestree.
The Bamboo Treehouse
(image credits: tropical-treehouse)
The Bamboo Treehouse is located on 12 acres of bamboo and tropical hardwood forest in Rincon, Puerto Rico. It offers three types of treehouses, all having 12 volt power provided by solar panels. The Master bedroom Hooch is a separate bamboo treehouse with bridge access to a full bathroom. The Sunset Hooch has a kitchenette on the lower level and a separate hoochette serves as the bathroom. The Luna Hooch is a self-sufficient separate residence, bathroom included, located on a private ridge with spectacular views of the valley and the Caribbean beyond. The Bamboo Treehouse is a tremendous place to be one with nature.
Camp Twin Lakes Treehouse
(image credits: inhabitots)
This eco-friendly treehouse is located on a secluded part of Camp Twin Lakes in Rutledge, Georgia. It’s not for adults, but for special kids. It “provides places and paths for children with serious illnesses and life challenges to experience the joys of childhood and grow in their confidence and capabilities.” Inside this wheelchair accessible treehouse, kids can learn about green living and sustainability. It also has twisty slides, a zip line, trap doors, and climbing nets in a rustic nature setting.
Treehouse Village Resort
(image credits: treehouse)
The TreeHouse Village EcoResort in Papua New Guinea is suited to experienced island travelers, divers, environmentalists, and adventure sporting enthusiasts. The first floor of the Treehouse is 6 meters up, held securely within large knurled limbs of a 200 year old native hardwood tree. There is a large balcony, dining area and a bar. Sleeping accommodations, however, are in beach-front bungalows with private bathrooms. Activities include scuba diving, fishing, snorkeling, surfing, canoeing, jungle walks, rainforest treks, cycling, bird watching, culture tours, and exclusive expeditions.
Parrot Nest
(image credits: Parrot Nest Lodge)
Parrot Nest in San Ignacio, Belize, consists of two treehouses, four cabins, and two bathhouses. The thatched treehouses are on stilts under a 100 foot guanacaste tree. As its name suggests, there are plenty of pretty parrots which, thankfully, also eat the mosquitoes. Parrot Nest has many types of explorations: river, waterfalls, cascades, caves, archeological sites, jungle walks, medicine trails, butterfly farms, and more eco-adventures. Breakfast and dinner are served on the veranda of the main house.
Nahiku Treehouse
(image credits: nahiku)
Welcome to Maui and the Nahiku. The treehouse deck is 750 square feet, located 30 feet about the ground in a 75-foot Mango tree. However, the treehouse is for relaxing, staring at the ocean, or whatever appeals to you, but it is not where you sleep at night. Sleeping takes place in the Banana Cabana. The treehouse has a resident house cat to keep varmints at bay. The owners also advise, “Make no mistake, this is camping. Rainforest camping to be exact. Do not expect a ‘mint on your pillow’ at night.” Sounds fun to have a treehouse involved in camping.
Ngong Treehouses
(image credits: ngonghouse)
When you think of a treehouse vacation, you may not necessarily think it will be a posh place offering a cushy stay. Ngong House in Nairobi, Kenya, manages to offer luxury and a getaway treehouse vacation. Of the six very different styled treehouses, the rooms offer four poster beds, great comfort, and gourmet food. Some of the units have two levels with a bedroom upstairs. Living areas are raised 15 feet off the ground to offer unspoiled views of the Ngong Hills. At night there is a campfire, but during the day there is access to a swimming pool. A stay at Ngong House is an “experience in extreme comfort.”
Cedar Creek Treehouse
(image credits: Cedar Creek Treehouse)
Cedar Creek Treehouse in Ashford, Washington, is only ten miles from Mount Ranier National Park. Unlike most private bed and breakfast establishments, this cabin is 50 feet up in a giant cedar tree. From the treehouse, there are views of Mt. Rainier, the Rainbow Bridge, and the Treehouse Observatory which is 100 feet above the forest floor. The wild spiral “Stairway to Heaven” should be put on your to-do list. Inside the treehouse, there is a skylight for sun or stars as well as a mammoth tree trunk growing straight up through the kitchen floor and disappearing through the ceiling.
Ariau Amazon Towers
(image credits: ariautowers,ariautowers,ariauamazontowers,brazilnuts)
The Ariau Amazon Towers in Brazil are located in the heart of the Amazonian rainforest. It is the largest treetop hotel in the world and this eco-resort is considered a must-see before you die. The treetop accommodations are connected by over 5 miles of wooden catwalks, meandering through the thick Amazon rainforest canopy. Eco-adventures are widely varied, ranging from swimming with rare pink dolphins, walking on rope bridges, to relaxing at treetop swimming pools. Private balconies offer breathtaking natural wonders, from the Amazon River to the lush tropical forest. Be prepared for little monkeys to visit with you.
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10 Surprising Reclaimed & Recycled Building Materials
[ By Steph in Art & Design, Home & Garden, Tricks & Hacks. ]
Sheet rock and brand new lumber from the hardware store seem awfully boring – and incredibly wasteful – when you see the beautiful homes and other structures that can be built from recycled materials. An entire Buddhist temple made from glass bottles, modern modular shipping container homes, houseboats perched on land and resort lodging in a vintage ‘60s airplane are just a few of the awesome buildings that make use of unconventional and sometimes offbeat recycled junk.
Bottles
(images via: green upgrader)
Don’t throw those empty glass beer bottles in the recycling bin – use them to build a house! Or, perhaps, an absolutely amazing Buddhist temple in Thailand. It took one million beer bottles to create this temple, which stands not only as proof that recycled and reclaimed building materials can be truly beautiful, but as a reminder of the waste that we generate.
Because of their translucency and ability to hold thermal mass, glass bottles are also often used in cob building to enhance natural daylighting for a stained glass effect.
Silos
(images via: dornob)
Who would have thought that grain silos could be so luxurious? Ubiquitous sights in rural pastures, disused grain silos can often be purchased and moved to create unusual circular homes. Some people use them for quick, upcycled eco-friendly dwellings on the cheap, while others have given them a remarkably modern makeover. Grain silos even have potential for durable, inexpensive prefab housing.
Cans
(images via: beercanhouse.org)
When John Milkovisch retired, he got bored – but he didn’t turn to golf for entertainment. He began adding ‘aluminum siding’ to his Houston, Texas home in the form of flattened beer cans “for both practical and decorative reasons”, he says on his website. The house is now covered in 50,000 cans.
Of course, Milkovisch’s home isn’t the only building made from this rather random junk material. Aluminum cans are often used as ‘bricks’ in earthship building, stacked and mortared with lime or earth.
Shipping Containers
(images via: dornob)
When piled high on a barge, shipping containers aren’t exactly fertile inspiration for recycled architecture – but creative thinkers have managed to turn these boring rectangular boxes into surprisingly beautiful homes, offices, apartments and dorms. Like giant modular metal Legos, shipping containers can be stacked into all sorts of configurations with a crane – and of course, they’re really easy to transport.
Tires
(images via: global giving, making this home)
Millions upon millions of tires end up in landfills every year in the U.S. alone – but many are salvaged for creative uses like – drumroll please – building houses and other structures. Packed with rammed earth, tires make an incredibly solid building material that helps retain heat in winter and keep the building cool in the summertime. Off-gassing is said to be a non-issue, and tires work especially well when built into the earth as earthships often are.
Ships
(image via: sea-fever.org, MR38)
Boats aren’t just for the water – as proven by numerous ‘house boats’ seemingly stranded on land, which people actually use as a primary residence. And how better to recycle a ship that’s no longer seaworthy? Huge ships like the Great Lakes Shipping Boat (top) – now known as The Ship Residence on an island in Lake Erie at Put-in-Bay, Ohio – make incredible seaside mansions that are quite a sight when seen from the water.
Wood Pallets
(images via: dornob)
Wood pallets are plentiful, thrown out every day by companies that no longer trust them to keep merchandise safe during shipping. So how could they possibly be reused as a building material? Well, wood pallets are often still in great shape and can easily be nailed back together. And while they may not be a great load-bearing material for anything other than a shed, they do make a fantastic addition to building exteriors to filter sunlight.
Cardboard
(images via: inhabitat)
A cardboard building may sound like the most temporary of structures – something you expect to find in a shantytown, not a suburban neighborhood. That it is, but imagine how such a material could be put to use for inexpensive emergency shelters that set up ultra-fast. Architects Stutchbury and Pape developed a $35,000 flat-packed prefab cardboard house made from 100% recycled materials with a waterproof outer membrane made of HDPE plastic.
Scrap Metal
(images via: dwell)
Surrounded by industrial scrap metal every day for years, a former scrapyard owner saw a lot of potential for reuse – and put those ideas to work in his own home, a modern metal masterpiece 90 minutes northwest of Toronto. A rusted metal gate made from an old truck chassis, old galvanized steel siding and I-beams rescued from a demolition job are just a few elements of the mostly recycled home. And what will happen to this recycled home when it’s finally due to be demolished?
“With most houses, when they’re torn down, everything goes into a bin,” homeowner S. J. Sherbanuk told Dwell. “When this house gets pulled down 60 or 80 years from now, they won’t even need a bin. It’s all gonna get reused.”
Airplanes
They’re not exactly known for comfort when you’re flying the friendly skies, but take out all those seats and airplanes are really roomy. Just take a peek inside the 727 Fuselage Home at the Costa Verde resort in Costa Rica, a two-bedroom suite made from a refurbished vintage 1965 Boeing 727 airframe. Retired from its former hectic life as part of South Africa Air’s fleet, the salvaged airplane serves as a cozy and unique lodging perched atop a 50-foot pedestal for the feel of being in the air.
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