Tagged: nature

Pretty Pink Lakes Across the Globe [54 PICS]

March 24th, 2015 Permalink

We are more than ready for Spring, which made us think of pink spring colors, which led to the phenomenon of pink lakes. It’s not a Photoshop trick, but a phenomenon; the water is actually pink. In fact there are several pink lakes scattered across the globe, but they are comparatively rare. While it may depend upon where you live, most of us don’t see lakes filled with pink water on a daily basis. If that’s true for you, then here you go. [54 Photos, 1 Video)

Sunset on salty Pink Lake

There are several pretty pink lakes scattered across the globe. The reason for the color, usually algae, may seem less romantic. While it may depend upon where you live, most of us don’t see lakes filled with pink water on a daily basis. Photo #1 by hqwallbase

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Stunning Colors of Remote Red Land: Slice of Photography Heaven in China [36 PICS]

March 17th, 2015 Permalink

Have you ever run across a photo and thought, Wow, that’s beautiful! Where is that? Well this is ‘Red Land,’ sometimes ‘Red Earth,’ and it’s an unusual and very remote area in China. Photographers love it, so it’s no longer a secret, but it’s definitely off the beaten track and amazingly picturesque. [36 Photos]

Dongchuan Red Land in Yunnan China

Dongchuan Red Earth, a rural area in Yunnan, China, that has captured the hearts of some photographers. Photo #1 by absolutechinatours

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Bizarre but Beautiful Pancake Rocks & Blowholes in New Zealand National Park

July 18th, 2014 Permalink

On the edge of the New Zealand’s Paparoa National Park, you can walk among bizarre rock formations, many that resemble stacks of pancakes. The Tasman Sea surges into undercut cavities, booms, and then seawater geysers shoot through blowholes, making the spectacular natural attraction of blowholes in Pancake Rocks a “must see” at high tide and/or storms. [45 Photos]

Pancake Rocks at Punakaiki

The west coast of New Zealand is famous for its unique natural attractions of “Pancake Rocks” and blowholes, making Dolomite Point in Punakaiki “a must see” when visiting the southern island’s coastal region. Photo #1 by Christian Mehlführer

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Terrific Tea Plantations [35 PICS]

May 14th, 2014 Permalink

If you drink tea, it’s probably not grown in America. If you live in the USA, then it’s a pretty safe bet that you don’t have a terrific view of a tea plantation. In fact, you probably have no view of a tea plantation — or “estate” — and that’s a pity cause it’s pretty. Grab yourself some tea, if you are so inclined, while you view these terrific tea plantations mixed with tea quotes and fact tidbits. [35 Photos]

BOH Tea Plantation, largest tea plantation in Malaysia and largest black tea manufacturer in Malaysia

BOH Tea Plantation located at Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia is also the largest tea plantation in Malaysia and the largest black tea manufacturer in Malaysia. Catherine Douzel said, “Each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage.” Yet Arthur Gray believed, “The spirit of the tea beverage is one of peace, comfort and refinement.” Photo #1 by Zaqqy J.

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Into the Caves: ‘The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek’ [35 PICS]

April 24th, 2014 Permalink

Amazing caves are located all over the globe, different types in a wide variety of sizes are waiting to be explored. Some folks call it caving, spelunking, or even potholing, but it’s all an adventure…at least until something goes wrong and then cavers are called in to rescue spelunkers. It’s been said that “the cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” While in the mood to go caving, we cruised 500px for creative captures of caves with creative common licenses. Here are the cave photo treasures we found. [35 Photos]

Birds, sunlight and a temple inside Batu Caves in Malaysia

We searched for a “cave” and found a “Light of Hope.” Birds, sunlight and a temple inside Batu Caves in Malaysia. Batu Caves, a series of caves and cave temples, is a popular Hindu shrine and tourist attraction near Kuala Lumpur. “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek,” ~ quote by Joseph Campbell. Photo #1 by Danny Xeero

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Incredible Rocky Rainbow Vista Carved into the Valley of Fire [38 PICS]

March 28th, 2014 Permalink

Back when the dinosaurs walked the Earth, the Valley of Fire was forming. Time and the elements carved the fossilized sand into greats mazes of canyons, arches, ridges, domes, and valleys. Today, the Valley of Fire is a National Natural Landmark and the oldest state park in Nevada. This amazing and colorful wilderness in the Mojave Desert is only about an hour away from the bright city lights of Las Vegas; it comes highly recommended to experience. Sunlight striking the bright red rocks make the valley look like it’s on fire, but there are also layers of multicolored rocks in a “rainbow” of colors that stretch for many miles. Rainbow Vista is a breathtaking site to behold in the Valley of Fire. [38 Photos]

Amazing Rainbow Vista, rainbow of colored rocks at Valley of Fire during sunset

Amazing Rainbow Vista, rainbow of colored rocks at Valley of Fire during sunset. The Nevada State Park sign states, “Rainbow Vista: You are looking across 150 million years of time. The great maze of canyons, domes, towers, ridges and valleys before you are carved from sand deposited during the time when dinosaurs walked the earth. This is wild, virtually untouched wilderness. It is an ‘Adventure in Color’ for you to experience by car and on foot.” Photo #1 by LDELD

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6 National Parks of Ireland: Castles, Cliffs, Green Mossy Landscapes [38 PICS]

March 16th, 2014 Permalink

We’ve looked at Ireland Now and Then (100 years ago), but to celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day, here’s a look the six national parks of the Republic of Ireland. Killarney National Park was first, and Ballycroy was the last to be established. The Burren National Park is the smallest and Wicklow Mountains National Park is the largest in Ireland. There are also Connemara and Glenveagh as well as landscapes with castles, karst, cliffs, waterfalls and green mossy forests. [38 Photos]

Kylemore Abbey in Connemara is about 5km from Connemara National Park

Kylemore Abbey in Connemara is about 6km (10 minutes) from Connemara National Park. For St. Patrick’s Day, let’s look upon the green beauty of Ireland and scenic landscapes found in the 6 National Parks of Ireland: Ballycroy, Connemara, Glenveagh, Killarney, The Burren and Wicklow Mountains National Park. Photo #1 by Dennis Wilkinson

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Cares Gorge Trail Adventure: 1 of the Most Beautiful Hikes in Spain [38 PICS]

March 14th, 2014 Permalink

At the heart of Picos de Europa National Park in northern Spain, an adventure awaits hikers. The trail consists of 9 miles along the Cares River and the Cares Gorge, aka “divine gorge.” Steep cliffs stretch up over 6,500 ft (2,000 m) on one side and the Cares River is as far as 650 feet (200 m) below in the deep gorge. The Cares Gorge trail is extremely popular because it is considered one of the most beautiful walks in all of Spain. The footpath was improved about 60 years ago when tunnels were carved into the mountain to serve as a maintenance trail to a hydroelectric power station. Long ago, some sections of the path were used by shepherds, sheep and even goats; the route provided the only communication between 2 villages when it was snowy. The national park was also named a biosphere reserve by UNESCO. If you visit Spain, you might want to reserve a day to trek this beautiful trail. [38 Photos]

Canal del Cares

Look beyond the water, Cares Chanel or Canal del Cares, and then up at the narrow pathways carved into stone to see one of the most beautiful hiking adventures in Spain. This trek is along the Cares River and through the Cares Gorge in Picos de Europa National Park. The Cares Gorge has many names like “Divine Gorge” or Garganta del Cares, but everyone agrees on its rugged beauty. Photo #1 by David Valije

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Spring in Japan: Wonderful Wisteria & Billions of Exquisite Blooms [34 PICS]

March 10th, 2014 Permalink

If you’ve just been through the mother of all winters, then hang in there. Eventually, all the long hard winters give way to spring. We’ve looked at Europe, where gorgeous bluebells carpet the woods, but winter in Japan gives way to a cheerful springtime bonanza of cherry blossoms. There are also pathways among millions upon millions of exquisite blooms, wonderful hanging wisteria and wisteria tunnels that are like something out of a dream. We hope you like these photos of springtime in Japan. [34 Photos]

Wisteria tunnel in Japan

The USA’s long hard winter is about to give way to spring. While you wait, this wisteria tunnel is a gorgeous example of spring in Japan at Kawachi Fuji Gardens. Photo #1 by Binary cse

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Crimea Landscapes: Natural Wonders & Ancient Ruins [38 PICS]

March 6th, 2014 Permalink

The Swallow’s Nest castle high on the cliff above the beautiful Black Sea has become an icon for Crimea, Ukraine. But the Crimea you hear about now involves the Ukraine crisis. While we hope for a peaceful resolution, Crimea lawmakers voted in favor of leaving Ukraine for Russia, as Russia already has the Black Sea peninsula under its control. In 10 days, citizens of Crimea must choose: Stay in Ukraine or join Russia. The crisis in Ukraine made us remember Gagra, the resort paradise turned to ruins, aka the abandoned Russian Riviera. We became curious about what else does Crimea look like, besides a castle? Here are some of what we found; here are amazing natural wonders in Crimea, gorgeous landscapes and seascapes, places with so many caves that they are known as cave towns, as well an ancient ruins that go back to medieval times. [38 Photos]

Swallow's Nest castle high on the cliff above the beautiful Black Sea has become an icon for Crimea, Ukraine crisis, Russia

Although the Swallow’s Nest castle high on the cliff above the beautiful Black Sea has become an icon for Crimea, Crimea is so much more than a castle or resorts along the Black Sea. Here are some of Crimea’s amazing natural wonders and ancient ruins. Photo #1 by Fr Maxim Massalitin

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Fantastic Fall Season in the Great Smoky Mountains [38 PICS]

November 2nd, 2013 Permalink

Between North Carolina and Tennessee is a spectacular chain of mountains known as the Great Smoky Mountains, commonly called the Smoky Mountains or simply the Smokies. Although they are a subrange of the Appalachian Mountains, the Great Smokies encompass over 500,000 acres of beautiful scenery and are the home of America’s #1 most visited national park, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. People travel from all over globe to the Smokies during autumn to see ridge after ridge of forest bursting with fall foliage. There are 16 peaks that rise more than 6,000 feet, more than 270 miles of roads, and over 800 miles of maintained trails were visitors can see lush forests, breathtaking waterfalls, rushing streams, and abundant wildlife. Due to the different elevations, the fall leaf colors can last for weeks, meaning the Great Smoky Mountains are especially beautiful in autumn and extremely busy during the last three weeks of October. Here’s a look at the fantastic fall season in the Smokies, the Land of Blue Smoke. [38 Photos]

Mt. Cammerer Sunrise, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Mt. Cammerer sunrise showcases an amazing autumn as far as the eye can see. The photographer added, “Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Mt. Cammerer, looking north 10 minutes before sunrise.” Photo #1 by Michael Hicks

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Eerily Beautiful Underwater Sculptures: Art Transformed into Artificial Reefs [PICS]

October 12th, 2013 Permalink

Our coral reefs are dying, but forward-thinking eco-minded artists are helping nature by creating stunning life-sized sculptures . . . and then sinking them. Man has been creating artificial reefs for thousands of years, starting with the Ancient Persians who wanted a military advantage by blocking off an area of the sea. As mankind has evolved, so too have our artificial reefs. The most amazing consist not of our trash or out-dated ships, but of incredibly detailed sculptures created to be placed underwater and slowly but surely undergo a metamorphosis under the sea. While it may look like abandoned statues starting to decay, it is actually art being rebirthed into living, breathing reefs. If you haven’t had a chance to dive or snorkel such locations, then you are missing out. So here is a look at the eerily beautiful process of spectacular art, underwater sculptures, transforming into artificial reefs. [52 Photos]

August 2011 Silent Evolution

More than 400 life-sized sculptures, collectively as The Silent Evolution, form a massive artificial reef in the shallow waters off of Cancun, Mexico. Slowly but surely, in an eerily beautiful process, the art changes; nature transforms the underwater sculptures from concrete, to covered with algae, and then coral, creating new reefs and new homes filled with a wide variety of marine creatures. Photo #1 by © kozyndan

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