Charyn Canyon: The Grand Canyon of Central Asia

Charyn Canyon: The Grand Canyon of Central Asia

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Tucked away between the Ketmen and Ulken-Bogut mountain ridges in the southeast corner of Kazakhstan, close to the border with China, lies the “Grand Canyon of Central Asia” —an impressive gorge about 90 kilometers long carved by the fast-flowing Charyn river (also spelled as Sharyn) during its northward journey from its headwaters in the Tian Shan Mountains across the arid semi-desert east of Almaty. Parts of the canyon are up to 300 meters deep.

Several millennia of weathering action has revealed multiple layers of colored sediment deposits on the walls of the canyon. Of particular interest is a dry side ravine, about kilometer or two in length, called the Valley of Castles, where one can see towering rock formations which resembles, with some imagination, pillars and castles. The fairy-tale sandstone formations through the canyon have also been given names such as Notre Dame, Penguin, Donald Duck and Winnie the Pooh. This part of the canyon is about 100 meters deep and there is a path running down the base. This is the spot tour operators usually take tourists to when they visit the Charyn Canyon.



Photo credit: Andrew/Panoramio

photofun4ucom Pada July 06, 2016 Komentar

Velká Amerika: The Czech Grand Canyon

Velká Amerika: The Czech Grand Canyon

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Velká Amerika, or the Great America, is an abandoned limestone quarry located near the village of Mořina, in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic, just a few kilometers from Prague. This partially flooded elongated trench is the country’s most photogenic “natural” attraction to be conceived by human activities. The Czechs affectionately call it the Grand Canyon of the Czech Republic.

Quarrying activities started in this region in the late 19th century in response to the great demand for the stone. Limestone was used mostly in industries, to refine sugar from sugar beet, in blast furnaces for producing iron and in manufacture of glass, among others. Mining activities increased again after the first World War, and the quarries at Mořina became deeper and longer, until Velká Amerika became an 800-meter long and 100-meter deep gash on the landscape. After mining operation ceased in 1963, rainwater flooded the hole forming a lake at the bottom.

photofun4ucom Pada June 19, 2016 Komentar

The Schwerbelastungskörper And Hitler’s Grand Plans For Berlin

The Schwerbelastungskörper And Hitler’s Grand Plans For Berlin

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On the corner of Dudenstrasse and General-Pape-Strasse in Berlin, between the S-Bahn tracks and a housing estate, stands a massive cylindrical block of concrete. Inside the structure are a few rooms with pieces of old, rusting equipment lying around. Built in 1941-42 during the Nazi period, it isn’t a terribly exciting landmark but a historic one nonetheless, because it was part of a much grander plan that Hitler had in store for Berlin.

After a victorious Second World War, which Hitler was pretty confident of, the Fuher planned to redesign Berlin as the new German World Capital or Welthauptstadt Germania— a megalomania metropolis with gargantuan structures that would reflect the spirit of the Third Reich and create fear in the hearts of his enemies as well as his subjects. Hitler appointed architect Albert Speer to oversee the project and together they drew up a fantastic plan for the city’s rebuilding.



A model of Welthauptstadt Germania. Photo credit: unknown/public domain

photofun4ucom Pada June 18, 2016 Komentar

Gorgeous And Grand Graphite Art That Will Leave You Gasping

Gorgeous And Grand Graphite Art That Will Leave You Gasping

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When it comes to art, there are so many mediums and types that they can encompass a huge array of work. In this article, we will take you through some points around graphite art. Graphite pencils as opposed to ordinary writing pencils has a graphite lead that makes it easier to draw. As you may be aware if you are into arts, that drawing is the most basic of the visual arts with many artists struggling to do it right. Drawing in art is not only about observing the object that you are trying to draw but also the way light and shadow that plays on it and understanding it from your perspective. You can always resort to easy step by step art drawings to practice before going on to more complicated stuff.

photofun4ucom Pada June 14, 2016 Komentar