Woa2 » Nature

Flintstones House in Portugal

admin1 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:34:21 +0000

Inspired by the Flintstones cartoons, this stunning house was constructed between two giant stones on the hillside of Fafe mountains in Portugal.

Because of its unusual design, the house attracts many tourists from all over the world.

[photos by Feliciano Guimaraes]

Mont Saint-Michel

admin1 — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:11:24 +0000

Mont Saint-Michel’s Early History

The Abby dates to c.709, when legend has the Archangel Michael appearing before, and directing bishop Aubert of Avranches to build a shrine on an islet called ‘Mount Tombe’. This islet lies at the southern most point off the Normandy coastline, just before Brittany to the west. This is the base of a Bay of Mont Saint-Michel that opens into La Manche [channel waterway between England and Northern France]. The islet consists of a nearly 80 meters high rock with a circumference of about .8 km. It is connected to the mainland by a very narrow and long causeway.
Bishop Aubert had an oratory constructed on the top of the rock. A monastery was started in 1017, with stones hauled at low tide from the mainland in Brittany. Blanche of Castile, regent of France, ordered the gothic cloister in 1211 added to the earlier Carolingian abbey. A town developed at the base. Both the abby and the town had fortified defenses. The Mont is half surrounded by water, except twice a day it is besieged by swift moving tides that leave only the causeway route for access. Defenders of this fortress abbey have the advantage of its Saint Aubert’s spring. Nearby is a smaller islet, called ‘Tombelaine Island’, which is very baren and was used to discpline individuals.
In 966, monks of the Benedictine order under abbot Maynard replaced the previous monks. They encouraged the cult of Saint Michael and received pilgrams. By the time of William the Conqueror, the abbey benefited from many noble protectors. The abbot Robert de Thorigny administered the abbey at its peak of fortune. The shrine has seen is number of miracles and fostered many legends. Site of early medieval religious feasts and ceremonies.
Mont Saint-Michel was besieged and taken as part of Philippe Auguste’s conquest of Normandy from the Plantangenets in 1214. The site continued to have an increased role in medieval European pilgrimages. Sometimes it was the destination, and at others it was only a stop for those traveling to sites further south. Lower class pilgrims were quartered in the town, but nobles were received by the abbot in the grand abbey.

The Story of Mont Saint-Michel in the Hundred Years’ War

Traditional Cormorant Fishing

admin1 — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 16:38:54 +0000

Cormorant fishing has been practiced in China for more than a thousand years (Hoh 2000). Although cormorants are also used to fish in Japan.

The birds are trained to search for fish at their master’s signals, typically a sharp whistle, shout, or stamping of feet. Once a cormorant catches its prey, the fish is lodged in the bird’s elastic esophagus. Usually, a cord is tied around the bird’s neck to prevent it from swallowing the fish. When the cormorant’s neck is full it returns to the boat and delivers the prey to its master. To maintain the cormorants’ motivation to fish, they are kept on a reduced diet and are rewarded with food after each catch.

Credits

Astonishing Infrared City Photos

admin1 — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 21:04:36 +0000

Infrared photography is a photography technique that uses a film or image sensor that is sensitive to infrared light. The images produced by this technique often appear to be surreal and most people are amazed by the final output.

Novi Sad

Pindurmi Road, Kamphaeng Phet

Liman

Sukhothai Historical Park, Thailand

Giardini Reali

San Rocco Church in Rodello

Sonoma County

Sirijit Park, Kamphaeng Phet

Wat Sa Si

Conservation Culture Field

Wat Chang Rob

Sukthothai Historical Park

Mysterious Sculptures of William Ricketts Sanctuary

admin1 — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:43:50 +0000

Hidden deep in an Australian rainforest, the clay sculptures of William Ricketts express the Aborigines’ deep connection with Mother Nature.

Born in 1898, William Ricketts was an Australian sculptor and potter who developed a spiritual bond with the Aboriginal people of Central Australia. The time he spent with them, between 1949 and 1960 inspired his works in Potter’s Sanctuary (now known as William Ricketts Sanctuary).

The 92 intricate ceramic sculptures placed along the passageways seem as they are merging with the surrounding plant-life, thus expressing the strong bond Aborigines have always had with nature. Designed as a place where man’s spirit becomes one with nature, William Ricketts Sanctuary inspires us all to protect Mother Nature instead of constantly exploiting her.

William Ricketts spent most of his life in this sanctuary, located on Mount Dandenong, near Olinda, and died here, in 1993, at the age of 94.

[Photo Credits]

Stunnin pictures of a Rainbow at Elam Bend

admin1 — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:47:41 +0000

The name “Elam Bend” is a descriptive place name that describes a sharp bend in the Grand River that occurs here. The river has changed its course in this area several times including a major shift as a result of the flooding in 1993. This area is also listed in the book Geologic Wonders and Curiosities of Missouri as a “shut-in” where the river valley narrows considerably with bluffs very near the river.

Note: No pot of gold was found at this event.