Taj Mahal, Agra, India

The Taj Mahal is a white marble mausoleum located on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–1658) to house the tomb of his favorite wife of three, Mumtaz Mahal.Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643 but work continued on other phases of the project for an additional ten years. The Taj Mahal is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and is widely recognized as "the jewel of Muslim art in India". It is one of the world’s most celebrated structures and a symbol of India’s rich history. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, the Taj Mahal attracts some 3 million visitors a year.

Inspiration
In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire's period of greatest prosperity, was grief-stricken when his favorite of three wives and beloved companion, Mumtaz Mahal, a Persian princess, died during the birth of their 14th child, Gauhara Begum. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632. The court chronicles of Shah Jahan's grief illustrate the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal. The principal mausoleum was completed in 1643 and the surrounding buildings and garden were finished about five years later.

The tomb
is the central focus of the entire complex of the Taj Mahal. It is a large, white marble structure standing on a square plinth and consists of a symmetrical building with an iwan (an arch-shaped doorway) topped by a large dome and finial. Like most Mughal tombs, the basic elements are Persian in origin.

Beauty Frozen Canyon Lower Falls

Bridal Veil Fall is a waterfall in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. It originates in the Huntington Glacier on the slopes of Cirrus Mountain. Its waters drain into Nigel Creek, then into the North Saskatchewan River at the Big Bend of the Icefield Parkway. It is a class 4 waterfall, with a drop of 1,200 ft (370 m) and a width of 20 ft (6.1 m). The tallest single drop is 400 ft (120 m).

Greenwood

In the woods of upstate New York, an Oak tree is turned into a traditional post and rung stool.

With Tom Bonamici and Derek Lasher
Directed, Photographed, and Edited by Adam Newport-Berra
Location Sound: JR Skola
Camera Assistant: Ezra Ewen
Sound Design and Music: Mark Henry Phillips
Colorist: Mikey Rossiter
Produced by Ghost Robot
Made in Partnership with Beaver Brook
ghostrobot.com
beaverbrook.com
adamnewportberra.com

Greenwood from Adam Newport-Berra on Vimeo.

The Spotted Color Pattern Knabstrupper

Well, we’re sure; you haven’t seen this type of horse in your life before. So, we’d like to tell you, that this is a “Knabstrupper”. This horse breed is habitually about 15.2 to 16 hands (62 to 64 inches, 157 to 163 cm), but there’re also pony sized ones under 14.2 hands (58 inches, 147 cm). The majestically beautiful coat patterns range from solid to a full leopard spotted coat, with several variants in between. 

Therefore, the spotted color patterns common in the Knabstrupper are seen in other breeds, such as the Appaloosa horse, however the two breeds grown independently of one another. But few “Knabstrupper” are born with solid colors, like in as bay or chestnut. The “Knabstrupper” breed was first established in 1812 in Denmark. A chestnut mare with leopard complex blanket markings was bred to a solid-colored stallion, bring into being a colt with dramatic spotting. Therefore, the mare and her son were each bred to several other horses, creating numerous offspring with spotting and establishing the “Knabstrupper” as a breed. 

Indeed, this breed was once very popular, but later on, it was crossbred with other horses and it is not sure if any purebreds from this breed remain. They do well in dressage and show jumping, and are used in general riding, as carriage horses and as circus horses. Moreover, in 1971, three Appaloosa stallions were imported to Denmark to enlarge new blood to the “Knabstrupper breed”. Thus “Knabstruppers” these days are bred in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, USA, and, most lately, Czech Republic, Australia and New Zealand.

Moraine Lake is a glacially fed lake in Banff National Park

Moraine Lake is a glacially fed lake in Banff National Park 14 kilometres outside the village of Lake Louise Alberta Canada. It is situated in the Valley of Ten Peaks at an elevation of approximately 1885 metres. The Lake has a surface area of 0.5 square kilometres. The Lake being glacially fed does not reach is crest until mid of late June when it is full lt reflects a distinct shade of blue . The colour is due to the reflection of light off. The Rock flour deposited in the Lake on a continual basis.

Penny the Hawksbill Sea Turtle is released in front of a large crowd of tourists and locals near Flat Rock in Ballina

After eight months of rehabilitation, Ballina Seabird Rescue volunteers couldn't have picked a more perfect day to release Penny, the critically endangered Hawksbill sea turtle, back into the ocean. Seabird Rescue general manager Kathrina Southwell said Penny had been severally underweight and suffering from float syndrome when she was brought in. She was in a terrible condition, a really poor condition. Although she only weighed just under 4kg. She was way way skinny and really sunken underneath, and she wasn't eating for quite a while, while she was in care. Penny was found in February by a local lady and her son who saw the turtle floating in the surf. In addition to being underweight and suffering float syndrome, Penny was also covered in barnacles and algae.The rehabilitation process consisted of giving her different types of medications and looking at her poo under a slide in the microscope and we actually found lots of micro plastic within her.

Blood Moon Over the Gate

While in San Francisco I just had to “do the bridges”. By that I mean, drive over and take pictures, just like everybody else. I went through the motions but I didn’t have my heart into it. I mean, it’s only been done one million and four hundred and sixty two thousand and seven hundred and ninty two times. Not like it’s popular or anything. Even when I showed up at 5AM on a MONDAY MORNING there were three other photographers there. I mean, don’t these people have anything better to do than get up early on a MONDAY (28 Sep, 2015 )morning and take yet another picture of the bridge? Good grief, some people. Anyway, I stuck around looking for a unique angle that hadn’t been done before, how hard could that be? Those other pesky photographers finally left and I was about also when I looked back and noticed that the Blood moon had popped up over the bridge. How lucky is that? I quickly took my shot and I think I may be the only person in the world to have a shot of the Blood Moon over the Golden Gate. I’m currently in negotiations with Hogwarts to have this hung in the grand hall, but I wanted you all to be the first to see it.

Photo Credit :

Rick Schwartz

 Rick @ Google Plus

See the photographer page.
https://justenoughfocus.smugmug.com/Portfolio/Favorites/
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Archaeologists found that the condition of some bones from digs in Britain

Archaeologists found that the condition of some bones from digs in Britain matched those of mummies discovered in graves all over the world. And they even found evidence that our Bronze Age ancestors then left the bodies above ground for years, sometimes even centuries, in a bid to maintain their claims on ancestral land.

The Rare Pictures of Titanic

More than 100 years before has sailed by since the luxury steamship RMS Titanic met its catastrophic end in the North Atlantic, plunging two miles to the ocean floor after sideswiping an iceberg during its first ever voyage.  Therefore, the intended Port of New York, a deep-sea grave became the pride of the White Star Line’s concluding destination in the early hours of April 15, 1912. It is believed that over 1,500 people lost their lives in this disaster. In the decades since her demise, Titanic has inspired countless books and several notable films and pictures while continuing to make headlines, mainly since the 1985 discovery of her resting place off the coast of Newfoundland. Here you’ve a chance to look into some of unique pictures of Titanic, which is very rare indeed. 

Kilauea, Hawaii

Kilauea is a currently active shield volcano in the Hawaiian Islands, and the most active of the five volcanoes that together form the island of Hawaii. Located along the southern shore of the island, the volcano is between 300,000 and 600,000 years old and emerged above sea level about 100,000 years ago. It is the second youngest product of the Hawaiian hotspot and the current eruptive center of the Hawaiian–Emperor seamount chain. It's name means "spewing" or "much spreading" in the Hawaiian language, referring to its frequent outpouring of lava.

Norway’s most beautiful waterfall Vøringsfossen

Vøringsfossen dazzles tourists with its multiple waterfalls all converging at the head of Måbødalen in Hardanger. Although there are numerous ways to experience the waterfall and the vertical-walled valley, most people will view the falls from the upper and lower lookouts.A path from the scenic national tourist route through Hardanger (Rv 7) leads to the foot of the waterfall. The old road, constructed between 1887 and 1924, winds up the mountain side in 125 hairpin bends - an impressive piece of road engineering.There are several possibilities for photo stops, picnics and activities in the near surroundings.
The Hardangervidda Nature Centre in Eidfjord is situated at the bottom of the Måbødalen Valley. The centre has exhibitions from the vast mountain plateau of Hardangervidda, as well as hands-on activities and a cinema.

Open Ocean

Blue.Planet.03.Acik.Deniz by bysever

BBC Planet Earth Series

Planet.earth.ep04.caves.2006.720p.hddvd.x264yify by sachu-gaikwad

Planet Earth Episode 2 Mountains - BBC Documentary

Planet Earth Episode 2 Mountains - BBC Documentary by big-smil3

“Brine Pools” An Under Water Lake in Ocean Basin

A brine pool is a big area of brine on the ocean basin, and their pools are bodies of water that have salinity 3 to 5 times greater than the surrounding ocean. For deep-sea brine pools, the source of the salt is the dissolution of large salt deposits through salt tectonics. The brine pool is quite often contains high concentrations of methane, furnishing energy to chemosynthetic animals that’re mostly live near the pool, and these creatures are habitually extremophiles. Brine pools can be found around the world, and are well-documented in the Gulf of Mexico.

Moreover, Brine pools are also recognized to exist on the Antarctic Shelf where the source of brine is salt excluded during formation of sea ice. Therefore, deep-sea and Antarctic brine pools can be very toxic to marine animals. Brine pools are sometimes called seafloor "lakes" because the thick brine does not easily mix with overlying seawater. However, the brine density is increase due to high salinity, which produced a distinctive surface and shoreline for the pool. Hence, when submarines dive into brine pools, they float on the brine surface due to the high salinity density.

Though, the motion of a submarine can form waves across the brine-seawater interface that wash over the surrounding "shoreline". Moreover, deep sea brine pools every so often coincide with cold seep activity and methane released by the seep is processed by bacteria, which have a symbiotic connection with seep mussels living at the edge of the pool. This ecosystem is mainly dependent on chemical energy, and unlike almost all other life on Earth, has slight dependence on energy from the Sun. So, finally It requires a submersible to down thrust to actually penetrate one of these pools, thus equipment, such as a submersible, can actually float on its surface.

Karijini National Park Australia

Karijini National Park is a National Park centred in the Hamersley Ranges of the Pilbara region in northwestern Western Australia (Australia). It is just north of the Tropic of Capricorn, approximately 1,055 kilometres (656 mi) from the State's capital city, Perth. Formerly known as Hamersley National Park, it was renamed in 1991. Well, at 627,442 hectares (1,550,440 acres), it is the second largest national park in Western Australia (Karlamilyi National Park is larger). The park is physically split into a northern and a southern half by a corridor containing the Hamersley & Robe River railway and the Marandoo iron ore mine. The park is served by the Solomon Airport, located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) westwards.

Worlds Most Beautiful Roads You Should Drive In Your Lifetime

The scenic roads around the world that is absolutely sure to drive you to distraction, but these unbelievable photographs show that when it comes to scenic drives, there's a lot on offer. From glittering glaciers to African reserves, here are we’d like to share with you some of the most spectacular drives that should be high on any road trip list. The route winds through the heart of Rocky Mountains, parks, glaciers, lakes, cliffs, fields, offers spellbinding natural views. There’re number of routes in world, if you’re looking for animals who call the World Heritage site. We know, driving Highway one is an experience that lives long in the memory treated to intriguing sights caused by the micro-climates. There are a number of shorter scenic drives that loop off from the main journey providing an ever changing tapestry of colors and landscape. This majestic planet is home to a range of vast road expanse combined with dramatic scenery, making for an incredible road trip, from shining lakes and caves, to alpine highways and rocky formations, magical island has natural phenomena as far as the eye can see, from enchanting fjords, geothermal pools, black-sand beaches to volcanoes and pastel-colored villages. There is lots of invigorating than exploring a new road alongside a beautiful landscape. Our world has many roads to travel on, but below mentioned roads that rank among the most amazing in terms of beauty, navigation and pure experience.

US Highway 1 snakes along the dramatic coast through a wild wilderness. This picture was taken 100 miles from San Francisco

Trollstigen is a serpentine mountain road in Rauma, Norway, part of Norwegian National Road 63 connecting Åndalsnes in Rauma and Valldal in Norddal.

Transfagarasan also known as Ceausescu’s Folly is the second highest and most dramatic paved road in Romania and connects the Wallachia and Transylvania and the cities of Pitesti and Sibiu.

Tianmen Mountain Road, China – Located within Tianmen Mountain National Park, in Hunan Province. This 11 km (6.8 mi) road takes you to the top of the Tianmen mountain and to Tianmen cave.

The Valley of Fire Road in Nevada passes through beautiful red sandstone formations that look like they are on fire when reflecting the sun.

The route runs from Jasper to Lake Louise and features over 100 ancient glaciers, cascading waterfalls and sweeping valleys. The Valley of the Ten Peaks and glacial Moraine Lake in Banff National Park

The roads around the Amalfi Coast are not the easiest of drives as they are typically narrow and fairly windy. But the spectacular views make it one of the best driving experiences

The Road Leading To The Mountain Of Fitz Roy

The Pacific Coast Highway One is mile upon mile of scenic, ocean-side enchantment, with drivers treated to memorable views for most of the journey

The North Yungas Road in Bolivia is beautiful but also known as the world's most dangerous road because of its single lanes, tight turns, and steep drop-offs.

The Interstate 70, which runs through Utah, is most beautiful in winter, especially when it winds its way through the snow-covered Spotted Wolf Canyon.

The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage listed 243-kilometre (151 mi) stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Warrnambool.

The Garden Route boasts some of the most beautiful stretches of coastline, jam-packed with exotic activities to enjoy along the way

The eroded coastline of the Twelve Apostles at dusk, Port Campbell National Park in Australia

The Col de Turini (el. 1607 m) is a high mountain pass in the Alps in the department of Alpes-Maritimes in France.

The Blue Ridge Parkway runs from North Carolina to Virginia and is known for its views of rugged mountains and the Appalachian Highlands.

Stelvio Pass, Italy – This mountain pass in northern Italy is the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps at an altitude of 2,757 m (9,045 ft).

Seven Mile Bridge, Florida, United States – This famous bridge is located in the Florida Keys and was constructed between 1909 and 1912.

See trains chug their way along the Outeniqua Choo Choo Garden Route as you drive

Scotland's NC500 has been named among the top six road coastal road trips in the world - after only being officially launched two months ago

Scenic Byway 163 stretches from the Arizona border through Monument Valley in Utah. During the 45-mile drive, you'll be able to admire the beautiful red rocks and desert.

Scenic Byway 12 also named as Highway 12 is a state highway that is located in Utah, USA. This highway is at an elevation of around 5,000 to over 9,000 feet above sea level

Perhaps one of the most famous road trips in the world, Route 66 has been the driving force behind many wanting to hit the road for their holidays

Norway’s picturesque Atlantic Ocean Road includes the iconic Storseisundet Bridge

Jebel Hafeet Mountain Road, United Arab Emirates

Iceland's Ring Road encapsulates some of the most stunning landscapes in the world. Pictured are the slopes of Iceland's highest mountain, Hvannadalshnukur - part of the Oraefajokull glacier

he North Coast 500 route in Scotland covers over 500 miles of spectacular Scottish scenery, including the stunning Kylesku Bridge

Going-to-the-Sun Road was completed in 1932 and is a spectacular 50 mile, paved two-lane highway that bisects Glacier National Park east and west.

Furka Pass, Switzerland – Another breathtaking mountain pass in the Alps, this time on the Swiss side. The pass is at an elevation of 2,429 meters (7,969 ft).

For those wishing to experience the spectacular Chilean Andes, why not get in the car and experience it on the road along the Trans-Andean Highway

Experience some of Canada's treasures along this 144-mile winding ribbon in the heart of two national parks. Pictured is the Icefields Parkway, Alberta

Drivers along the route are treated to breathtaking views of the valley as well as the river and nearby villages

Drive on a highway through snow-capped mountains, which is particularly captivating in autumn with the striking golden colours

Dadès Gorges, High Atlas, Morocco

Col de Turini, France

Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia is one of the most scenic drives in Canada, winding around the greater part of Cape Breton Island and offering views of both the woods and the ocean.

Be enchanted by the incredible blue Muncho Lake along Alaska Highway in British Columbia

Australia is home to a range of vast road expanse combined with dramatic scenery, making for an incredible road trip, especially along The Great Ocean Road, winding its way round the coastline

Atlantic Ocean Road is unsheltered from the North Atlantic Ocean, putting it at the mercy of the elements

Another point of interest for fans of the TV show is Ballintoy Harbour, used in the show for The Iron Islands

Along the way drivers can stop off at Antrim and see the regularly photographed natural phenomena, the Dark Hedges, which were used in Game of Thrones

A stunning new route opened in Hubei province, central China, on August 9 called Overwater Highway

A mix of tourists and transport use the Guoliang Tunnel, which is admired for its craftmanship