AG Real Estate

AG Real Estate (former Fortis Real Estate) is a wholly owned subsidiary of AG Insurance (Ageas) and the largest real estate group in Belgium, headquartered in Brussels. AG Real Estate has a portfolio under management of over €6 billion that incorporates office buildings, shopping malls, logistics properties, residential properties and shares in real estate investment funds, both listed and unlisted.
Its core activities include real estate development, asset management, property management, real estate financing and public car park management. AG Real Estate is a parent company of Interparking, one of Europe's best known premier car parking facility operators. AG Real Estate is one of the principal shareholders of the Sicafis (fixed capital real estate investment trusts) Befimmo, a former BEL20-company, and Ascencio. The multinational has approximately 2,600 employees in over ten countries.
History.
To diversify its holdings and support its actuarial reserves Fortis has continuously invested in real estate. Since its creation in 1824 these investments have always been managed by a department specialised in real estate.
In 2000, AG ("Assurances Générales") changed its name to become Fortis AG. The Fortis AG real estate team was reinforced by bringing together all of its in-house real estate skills. A new entity was constituted: Fortis Real Estate.
On 12 July 2002, Fortis Real Estate acquired the Bernheim-Comofi group, active in the fields of Public Car Park Management (through an 85% stake in Interparking), Asset Management, Real Estate Development, and Property Management.
In May 2006, Fortis Real Estate and Groupe Mestdagh joined forces to create Ascencio, a REIT specialised in commercial real estate in city outskirts in Belgium and France.
On 1 July 2006, Fortis AG and Fortis Banque Assurances merged to form Fortis Insurance Belgium, the parent company of Fortis Real Estate.
After the demise and dismantlement of the Fortis group, Fortis Insurance Belgium changed its name to AG Insurance as of 22 June 2009.
On 21 September 2010, Fortis Real Estate followed suit to become AG Real Estate.
Activities.
Development.
The group has completed developments of more than 2 million m² of office, residential and retail space in Europe. Several high-rise buildings in the Northern Quarter, the central business district of Brussels, were developed by AG Real Estate. The Northern Quarter is characterized by high-rise buildings, most around 100 meters tall, including The Botanic Tower, AG Real Estates' former headquarters building. Over half of the twenty tallest buildings in Belgium are located in the Northern Quarter.
Their activities are focused on different areas: Urban Renewal, Sustainable communities, Turnkey Projects and Public-Private Partnerships.
Since 2008, AG Real Estate is involved in several PPP projects, including a leading role in the fast-track (Schools of Tomorrow) initiative. ‘Schools of Tomorrow’ is a public-private partnership (PPP) in charge of the design, build and finance of 182 school infrastructure projects (comprising 250 buildings) in the Flanders, the Northern Region of Belgium. With construction of most projects scheduled for completion by the end of 2016, the program also includes the maintenance of all constructions and technical installations during the first 30 years of use, after which the ownership is transferred to the individual schools at no cost. The 1.5 billion EUR program encompasses 710,000 m² total gross building area, mostly new build and some renovation, and an additional 600,000 m² of landscaping.
AG Real Estate France develops a 113,000 m2 logistics platform for Castorama on a site in Saint-Martin-de-Crau. It will be the largest logistics platform ever built in France on a turnkey lease basis.
In September 2013, AG Real Estate France started the development of an office building in Montrouge, in the Hauts-de-Seine district west of Paris, which is scheduled for completion at the end of 2015.
Investment & Property Management.
AG Real Estate's portfolio contains direct and indirect real estate holdings, primarily but not exclusively in Europe, as well as investments across all asset classes.
The company is the originator of around ten real estate certificates with a total value of €500 million and two real estate investment funds (REITs) with fixed capital, Befimmo and Ascensio.
Befimmo is a Sicafi specialising in investing in office buildings located mainly in city centres, notably in Brussels. Its portfolio currently consists of around a hundred office buildings, with a total area of around 850,000 m². The fair value of its portfolio amounts to €2.04 billion as at 30 June 2013. Befimmo's market capitalization equals about 944 million euros.
Ascensio is also a Sicafi specialising in investing in commercial properties. Its portfolio contains around 100 sites and is valued at €260 million.
Through its wholly owned subsidiary, Devimo Consult, AG Real Estate offers proactive operational management for shopping centres besides the day-to-day management of its own assets. Devimo Consult is a multi-disciplinary company that specializes in the professional management, running and development counselling of shopping centers and retail parks.
In June 2009, AG Real Estate acquired 50% of Trade Mart Brussels, a permanent business-to-business center for Fashion and Interior professionals.
In April 2013, AG Real Estate has bought a 20% stake in the French retail centre group Frey, listed at Euronext Paris.
Real Estate Financing.
AG Real Estate is active both as an equity investor as well as a debt investor across the entire risk spectrum. The company provides financing solutions for mature real estate holdings as well as development projects. The assets it finances are primarily office buildings and retail space located in France and the Benelux. AG Real Estate especially focuses on providing long-term financing solutions, particularly during the operational phase of its projects, in the form of public-private partnerships (PPP).
In 2011, AG Real Estate and its parent company AG Insurance provided a $117,5 million mezzanine loan in connection with the $210 million acquisition of 70 Pine Street, the fifth tallest building in New York City, by Eastbridge Group (originally co-founded by the late Ronny Bruckner, a former member of the Board of Directors of Ageas).
In April 2013, the company acquired a stake of 33% of Downtown Holding (DTH), a company which is focused exclusively on multifamily residential property conversion projects in the Financial Districts in the Manhattan borough of New York City. Downtown Holding currently works on development of a former AIG Building, a Downtown Manhattan landmark.
Public Car Park Management (by Interparking).
AG Real Estate provides under the Interparking brand also Public Car Park Management. Interparking's portfolio includes car parks in city centres, airports, train stations, hospitals, commercial and business centres, and tourist attractions. With more than 290,000 parking spaces in 350 cities across 9 different countries, Interparking is one of Europe's most successful car parking facility operators, serving 85 million customers a year with a staff of nearly 2,100. Through its subsidiaries of the Contipark Group, Interparking is now number one on the German market.


San Bernardo Byway


Gulf of Carpentaria Marine Park

The Gulf of Carpentaria Marine Park (formerly known as the Gulf of Carpentaria Commonwealth Marine Reserve) is an Australian marine park in the Gulf of Carpentaria, offshore of Queensland and north of Mornington Island. The marine park covers an area of and is assigned IUCN category VI. It is one of 8 parks managed under the North Marine Parks Network.
History.
The marine park was proclaimed under the EPBC Act on 14 December 2013 and renamed Gulf of Carpentaria Marine Park on 9 October 2017. The management plan and protection measures of the marine park came into effect for the first time on 1 July 2018.
Summary of protection zones.
The Gulf of Carpentaria Marine Park has been assigned IUCN protected area category VI. However, within the marine park there are two protection zones, each zone has an IUCN category and related rules for managing activities to ensure the protection of marine habitats and species.
The following table is a summary of the zoning rules within the Gulf of Carpentaria Marine Park:


Voronina Nature Reserve

Voronina (Voroninsky) Nature Reserve () is a strict ecological reserve (a "zapovednik") located in the valley of the Vorona River (the right tributary of the Khopyor River), in the forest-steppe zone of southwest Russia. The Voroninsky Reserve protects riverine wetlands in the southeast of the Oka–Don Plain. The reserve is situated in Kirsanovsky and Inzhavinsky districts of Tambov Oblast, about 100 km southeast of the city of Tambov. It was created in 1994, and covers an area of .
Topography.
The Voronina Reserve has a terrain that is relatively flat river valley plain, with some spurs of the Central Uplands. The river valley, of glacial alluvial origin, is 2–6 km wide, and at the most 60–70 meters below the adjacent plateau. The average altitude is about 160 meters above sea level. About 78% of the reserve is wooded, and the remainder is wetlands and open field. The reserve consists of two large protected areas along the river, and 10 smaller sectors spread around the center. The main central feature is the Vorona River, which flows at this point southeast to the Khopyor River and then to the Don. The ground cover is "black soil", with the richest soil in the lowest levels.
The two main sectors are (Official Map):
Ecoregion and climate.
Voronina is located in the "East European forest steppe" ecoregion, a transition zone between the broadleaf forests of the north and the grasslands to the south.. This ecoregion is characterized by a mosaic of forests, steppe, and riverine wetlands.
The climate of Voronina is "Humid continental climate, warm summer" (Köppen climate classification (Dfb)). This climate is characterized by large swings in temperature, both diurnally and seasonally, with mild summers and cold, snowy winters. In the Voronina Reserve, the average temperature in January is , and is in July. The growing season is 182–185 days. Average precipitation is from 470 to 560 mm/year.
Flora and fauna.
The floodplain forests are dominated by 100–150 year old oak. In these areas, under-story oak is almost non-existent now as the Norway maple and elm take their place. The slope forests (on the right side of the Vorona) are generally narrow (under 1 km) and contain old-growth forests of oak, linden, maple and elm. The meadow steppe areas of the floodplain are grasslands with extensive nettles at the top tier, and with scattered alder communities. The alder forests have been historically affected by logging and agricultural use, but have been protected since 1964, and were the subject of reforestation around that time. There are poplar and birch floral communities along the old riverbeds.
The animal life of the reserve is representative of the southern forest-steppe.
Ecoeducation and access.
As a strict nature reserve, the Voronina Reserve is mostly closed to the general public, although scientists and those with 'environmental education' purposes can make arrangements with park management for visits. There are 8 'ecotourist' routes in the reserve, however, that are open to the public; these require permits to be obtained in advance. The main office is in the city of Inzhavino.


Ozark Caverns

Ozark Caverns is an unlit cave located within the south side of Lake of the Ozarks State Park. It is part of a large group of "wild" caves in Missouri. Ozark Caverns is one of three "tamed" caves that is accessible to tourists (the other two being Bridal Cave and Jacob's Cave). It is part of the Osage River Cave region. The cave is walk-through and wheelchair accessible.
History.
The cave was first explored in the late 1880s. Commercial development of the cave began in the 1930s with the creation of Lake of the Ozarks by President Truman. The developers added concrete walking paths, wooden bridges and lighting. Ozarks Caverns was commercially owned until it was bought by the Missouri state park system in 1979. After the state purchased the cave, the cave's lighting system was removed. The bat population was eliminated due to white-nose syndrome.
Formation.
A stream flows through much of the cave and flows out the cave opening. Ozark Caverns is famous for the unusual "shower-head and bathtub" formation called Angel Showers which appears as multiple streams of water coming from the cavern ceiling and landing in a calcite "tub" formation. Only fourteen of these formations are known to exist. There are preserved claw marks in one of the cave walls.
Tours.
The cave is open to the public and tours are held daily. It is closed from September - May. Because the lighting has been removed, small, handheld lanterns provide light for the 0.5 mile round-trip tour. Due to white-nose syndrome, all personal belongings must be placed in bags or left behind.


South Core, Toronto

South Core is a neighbourhood located in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The South Core occupies the eastern portions of the Railway Lands. The remodeling and restoration of Union Station and the construction of a new wave of business and condominium towers is central to this area's forecast growth.
"Forecasters expect the downtown population to grow 80 per cent to 130,000 by 2031. With the financial district just to the north and the new high-rise South Core on the other side, Union is right at the centre."
The area has grown rapidly in the last several years. Toronto's Gardiner Expressway is currently being rebuilt to provide a new one-acre park in the area. Two ramps to the expressway at York and Bay streets are being removed to make room for the park.
History.
The South Core was once part Toronto Harbour and now lies on land fill done from the 1850s to 1920s to accommodate railway lines. From the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s, the Gardiner Expressway was erected, cutting off much of the city from the Toronto waterfront as rings of highways were built around many North American cities as was the trend at the time.
In previous decades, much of the land was unusable due to its designation as rail lands. Today, that stigma is gone as multiple business and condominium towers have risen and more continue to be built. The name South Core derives from "south" of the downtown (or financial) "core" of the city. The name of the area mimics the district names Soho in New York City and Soho in West End of London.
Location.
The district is bounded on its western side by Lower Simcoe Street, its eastern side by Lower Jarvis Street, its northern side by the railway tracks and southern side by Lake Ontario. Union Station lies within the district as well.
The area is a re-imagining of portions of the Railway Lands and is connected to the city through the extensive PATH network of underground walkways connecting Union Station, Air Canada Centre and other notable landmarks.
"But in the past few years, something remarkable and unexpected has happened. The barrier effect, once considered permanent, has faded away. Development has jumped over the railway tracks to create a teeming new district becoming known as the South Core. Office and condominium towers are nudging right up to the Gardiner, clustering both north and south of Fred Gardiner’s elevated behemoth."
Amenities and notable buildings.
In October 2013, Delta Hotels announced a new flagship hotel central to South Core.
Maple Leaf Square, a multi-use complex and public square next to Scotiabank Arena, sometimes plays host to live broadcasts of sporting events on the video screen facing Bremner Boulevard. Real Sports Bar & Grill, one of North America's largest sports bars, is located inside Maple Leaf Square.
The Telus Tower, PwC Tower and CIBC Square are prominent office towers in the district.
Harbour Plaza is a new condominium project being built at York Street and was supposed to have Target Canada as the major tenant, but Target has pulled out of the Canadian market, leaving the space without a tenant.
Sugar Wharf is a mixed use development under construction.
Other notable buildings in the area include:
Travel and transit.
The PATH network connects to the Toronto Waterfront Trail through 85 Harbour Street (also known as Waterpark Place III)
Union Station is one of the busiest commuter hubs in Canada and sees tens of thousands of commuters pass through every day.
The Metrolinx Union Pearson Express provides transportation between Toronto Pearson airport and Union Station by rail.
Union Station Bus Terminal is also located within the South Core and provides transit connections from the area to the rest of the Greater Toronto Area.


Cajun Corridor


Marais de Lavours National Nature Reserve

Le Marais de Lavours is a French nature reserve of , it spans the communes of Culoz, Béon, Ceyzérieu, Flaxieu and Pollieu; in Ain, southeastern France. The reserve was created on 22 March 1984.


Washington State Route 542

State Route 542 (SR 542) is a state highway in the U.S. state of Washington, serving Mount Baker in Whatcom County. SR 542 travels east as the Mount Baker Highway from an interchange with Interstate 5 (I-5) in Bellingham through the Nooksack River valley to the Mt. Baker Ski Area at Austin Pass. It serves as the main highway to Mount Baker and the communities of Deming, Kendall, and Maple Falls along the Nooksack River. The highway was constructed in 1893 by Whatcom County as a wagon road between Bellingham and Maple Falls and was added to the state highway system as a branch of State Road 1 in 1925. The branch was transferred to Primary State Highway 1 (PSH 1) during its creation in 1937 and became SR 542 during the 1964 highway renumbering.
Route description.
SR 542 begins as Sunset Drive and the Mount Baker Highway at a partial cloverleaf interchange with I-5 to the northeast of downtown Bellingham. The highway travels northeast through suburban neighborhoods along Squalicum Creek and passes Squalicum High School as it leaves the city of Bellingham. SR 542 continues northeast through rural Whatcom County, crossing the Nooksack River and intersecting SR 9 at a roundabout. The concurrent SR 9 and SR 542 travel southeast through the community of Deming along a BNSF rail line and passes Mount Baker Senior High School. SR 542 leaves SR 9 east of Deming and turns north along the North Fork of the Nooksack River and the eastern slope of Sumas Mountain to Kendall, where it serves as the southern terminus of SR 547. The Mount Baker Highway turns east and continues along the Nooksack River North Fork into the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest at Glacier in the foothills of Mount Baker. SR 542 turns south and serves the Mt. Baker Ski Area on the northeast side of the mountain before splitting into a one-way pair around Picture Lake. The Mount Baker Highway continues through Austin Pass and ends at Artist Point, located at above sea level on Kulshan Ridge.
Every year, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) conducts a series of surveys on its highways in the state to measure traffic volume. This is expressed in terms of average annual daily traffic (AADT), which is a measure of traffic volume for any average day of the year. In 2011, WSDOT calculated that the busiest section of SR 542 was the I-5 interchange in Bellingham, serving 38,000 vehicles, while the least busy section of SR 542 was the one-way pair around Picture Lake in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, serving 230 vehicles. The Mount Baker Highway is designated as a National Forest Scenic Byway and serves as the eastern section of the Ski to Sea Race between Mount Baker and Maple Falls, a Memorial Day race with seven legs hosting seven events. The eastern terminus of SR 542, at Artist Point on Kulshan Ridge, is only open in the summer between July and October due to extreme weather conditions.
History.
The Mount Baker Highway was constructed by Whatcom County in 1893 as a wagon road traveling northeast from Bellingham along the Nooksack River through Deming and Kendall to Maple Falls. The wagon road was extended from Maple Falls through Glacier to the Mt. Baker Ski Area at Heather Meadows began 1921 and ended in 1926. The Mount Baker Highway was added to the state highway system in 1925 as the Austin Pass branch of State Road 1 and was extended to its current terminus at Artist Point in 1931. The highway was closed seasonally between Glacier and Artist Point until the filming of "The Call of the Wild" in 1934 and 1935 prompted interest in the Mount Baker area. The Department of Highways began clearing the highway of snow during the winter of 1934 for the film and continued annually between Glacier and Heather Meadows; however, the highway was not cleared during World War II due to gasoline shortages. The highway was designated as the Austin Pass branch of PSH 1 during the creation of the primary and secondary state highways in 1937 and renumbered to SR 542 in 1964. The entire route, between Bellingham and Austin Pass, was designated as part of the Washington State Scenic and Recreational Highways program in 1987 and a National Forest Scenic Byway on November 1, 1988.


List of public art on the Victoria Embankment

This is a list of public art on the Victoria Embankment in London.
The embankment is a road and river-walk on the north bank of the River Thames, formed from land reclaimed during the construction of Joseph Bazalgette's sewerage system in the late 19th century. From 1864 a sequence of public gardens called the Victoria Embankment Gardens was created from this land. Running from north-east to south-west, these are called Temple Gardens, the Main Garden, the Whitehall Garden and finally the Ministry of Defence section; the last of these was laid out in 1939–1959. All four gardens contain works of commemorative sculpture and further memorials are located on the river-walk or road itself, making the Embankment one of the main sites for commemoration in London.


Rajim Kumbh

Rajim Kumbh (Devanagari: राजिम कुम्भ or राजिम कुंभ) is an annual Hindu pilgrimage held in Rajim, located in Gariyaband district, Chhattisgarh, India. The pilgrimage is similar to the traditional pilgrim fairs like those held in Haridwar and Allahabad. Like them, it's a kumbh, where devotees flock in to bathe en masse in sacred rivers to wash off their sins and attain redemption.
Rajim has long been a hotspot for the Vaishnavites. It is also a known Shaiva dharma centre. It was also a camping station on the pilgrimage route to other pilgrim centres in the vicinity. The ritual of Kalpwas is performed at Rajim just like it is at Allahabad. The religious congregation at Rajim performs a ceremony known as the 'fifth Kumbh' similar to the traditional 'Punni mela' observed every year at the famous Rajiv Lochan temple located near the holy confluence of the Mahanadi, Pairi and Sondur rivers in Rajim.
The Rajim kumbh is celebrated every year during February-March for about 15 days. The kumbh is attended by thousands of devotees and saints from various parts of India and abroad.
The Kumbh was brought to much spotlight with significant investment by the local government and especially by the efforts of the present state minister for Agriculture Shri Brijmohan Agrawal who have raised the stature of the kumbh in the country by personally investing in the fair and its infrastructure giving it a modern template without losing its Vedic spirit.
History.
Rajim Kumbh is been celebrated as a proper kumbh since being brought forth into the limelight by the efforts of both the state and central government. Though significantly it is a huge kumbh and regarded as the ‘5’th kumbh, the Rajim Kumbh missed the coverage and the limelight the major kumbh festivals have received.
Patrons of Rajim Kumbh.
Shri Brijmohan Agrawal is the minister for religious trust and endowments with varied portfolio in the government of Chhattisgarh. He has been influential in bringing the Rajim Kumbh to the fore investing in the spiritual and financial aspects of the Kumbh. He is highly regarded as the guardian and whole soul of the Rajim Kumbh by the locals as he with his fleet is a regular at the Kumbh and manages the daily affairs and management of the Kumbh. Shri Brijmohan personally takes care of the arrangements of sheltering, lodging and food for thousands of devotees that throng to one of the largest religious congregation in India. He has been prompt in divesting the state government as well the centre to invest in the infrastructural development and sustenance of the Kumbh that it accommodate more pilgrims with better conveniences.
Mythology.
There are many folklores associated with the Rajim kumbh with slight variations they all essentially points to a Vaishnavite significance of the place.
In some oral traditions, it is told that Lord Vishnu asked Lord Vishwakarma, the chief architect of the universe, to build for him a temple cum earthly abode at such a place upon the land where it has not been defiled by dead or burnt carcasses or incremation to a periphery of about 10 miles. Lord Vishwakarma scoured the planet in vain and returned vaikuntha empty-handed to which Lord Vishnu hurled a Lotus towards Earth and asked Lord Vishwakarma to erect a temple at the site where the flower kisses the ground. Thus a temple was built upon the nectars of the heavenly lotus known today as the Rajim Lochan temple, and the 5 petals eventuated the Panchkoshi Dhaam viz. Kuleshwarnath (Rajim), Champeshwarnath (Chamaranya), Bramhkeshwarnaath (Bramhani), Pandeshwarnath (Fingeshwar) and Kopeshwarnaath (Kopra).
Another legend is that King Ratnakar a very religious person who was a very pious person once, while performing a Yagya, was attacked by demons. They obstructed his ritual. Helpless and depressed King Ratnakar wailed and beckoned the gods. Meanwhile his royal elephant Gajendra was battling for life being caught by a croc named Grah. The elephant in grave pain, requested Lord Vishnu to help save him and it was then that Lord Vishnu came barefoot in rescue. After salvaging the helpless elephant, Lord Vishnu heard the plea of the king and appeared before him. He also blessed King Ratnakar and promised to stay in the earth as ‘Rajim Lochan’, where the pitcher fest started for being another abode of lord Venkateswara or Vishnu.
Rituals.
Thousands of Naga Sadhus, Sants, Mahatmas, Rishis, Munis and Margdarshak Gurus come to Rajim Kumbh each year for the festival. People start flocking to Rajim a day ahead of the festival, and take part in the special puja performed at midnight. Two temples that are prominently visited by the pilgrims during the kumbh are the Shri Kuleshwar Mahadev and Shri Rajiv Lochan.
Shahi snan in shahi kund.
In the ghats of the Mahanadi that streams Rajim, the sadhus and other pilgrims take holy dips.
Holy bath in the Triveni Sangam.
Devotees also take a holy bath in the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the three rivers.
Shobha Yatra (rally).
Sobha yatras are daily carried out through the festival ground and the town, with devotees and sadhus carrying images of Lord Vishnu and occasionally of lord Shiva.
Archana.
Daily archanas are conducted in various parts of the ghats and makeshift temples erected at the festival site, attended by thousands of locals and tourists.
In ‘Brahma Puranas’, 14 kinds of acts have been advised as unholy during ‘Kumbha-Parva’ such as having bath in river using soap, washing clothes, utensils in river water, throwing trash and excretion, etc. Those doing such things have been described as sinners; their sin considered to be as grave as slaughtering of cow. The state management erects notice bearing the same in various parts of the kumbh site.
Location information.
Rajim is in Gariaband district, about 45 kilometres from the Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur.
Besides the Rajim Lochan Mandir there are other temples and ashrams, in the area.
Rajim is also known as the Prayagraj of Chhattisgarh for an abundance of temples in the area. Some of the renowned sacred temples at Rajim are Rajiv Lochan, Mama Bhanja, Kuleshwar Mahadev, etc. The Kuleshwar Mahadev temple is situated in the midst of the confluence of three river streams Pairi, Sondur and Mahanadi.
Local Chhattisgarhi food and Indian cuisine is available in the area.
There is a ban on liquor and non-veg food in the town during the festival. Although the restriction is only in the vicinity of the kumbh festival.
Some of the prominent temples in Rajim are:
2017 Rajim Kumbh.
In the year 2017, the Kumbh was organized from February 10th to 24th.
Rajim Kumbh 2017 was significant and very auspicious as it had taken the form of a Maha Kumbh upon its completion of 12 years. The Rajim Maha Kumbh was attended by about a million pilgrims mostly sadhus and mahants. The fest embarked a plethora of religious ceremonies, functions and celebration across Rajim and the state.
2020 Rajim Kumbh.
In the year 2020, the Kumbh will be organized from February 9th to 21st.
How to Reach Rajim.
By Air:- Swami Vivekananda Airport at Raipur is the nearest airport to Rajim, 43.6 km away. Raipur is connected to major cities in India by air. It has direct air connectivity with New Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal, Pune, Hyderabad, Nagpur, and Indore. Taxi services are available to reach Rajim from Raipur airport.
By Train:- Raipur railway station is a major junction of south east central railway zone. It has many long-distance and direct trains to almost all parts of India.
By Road:- Rajim is well connected by road. Regular bus services are available from Raipur (46 km).


Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park

Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park is a unit in the state park system of California, preserving a small sandstone cave adorned with rock art attributed to the Chumash people. Adjoining the small community of Painted Cave, the site is located about north of California State Route 154 and northwest of Santa Barbara. The park was established in 1976.
The smooth and irregularly shaped shallow sandstone cave contains numerous drawings apparently depicting the Chumash cosmology and other subjects created in mineral pigments and other media over a long period ranging from about 200 up to possibly 1000 years or more. There is also evidence of graffiti beginning with early white settlers, which eventually led to creation of a protective physical barrier and State Historic Park status. In 1972 it was added as Site #72000256 on the National Register of Historical Places.
Access is from State Route 154 about north of U.S. Route 101 in the San Marcos Pass in the Santa Ynez Mountains, on Painted Cave Road. The cave is adjacent to the left side of this narrow one-lane mountain road, with a slightly widened shoulder that provides parking for one or two vehicles. The drive is not appropriate for trailers and RVs, due to some very tight turns and steep sections. This park is one of the few providing open access for viewing original rock art of the Chumash people in person. Flash photographs are prohibited since they can harm the artwork; some people use flashlights to help view the art, and some take photographs with long exposures with the camera braced on the metal gate or using a tripod.


Fakir Khana

Fakir Khana () is a private museum and house located in Lahore, Pakistan, owned by the Fakir family. Fakhir Khana contains over 20,000 objects, and is the largest privately owned museum in South Asia.
Location.
The museum is located within Lahore's Walled City, along the "Hakimaan" Bazaar, near the Bhati Gate.
Background.
The Fakir family settled in Lahore around 1730, and established a publishing house. Their status in Lahore society derived from its connections to the Sikh Empire - three of the family's ancestors, Fakir Nooruddin, Fakir Azizuddin, and Fakir Imamuddin, served as emissaries to Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The family amassed a collection of objects, including many bestowed to the family by Ranjit Singh. The family opened their house as a museum open to the public in 1901, and the site receives some government funds for its maintenance.
Collection.
The museum's collection consists of approximately 20,000 pieces of art and artifacts mostly from the 18th to 20th centuries, including a small collection of Gandharan artifacts. The collection also contains numerous gifts bestowed to the Fakir family by Ranjit Singh, as well as 10,000 manuscripts, 180 displayed miniature paintings, Sikh era textiles, statuary, pottery, and carved ivory pieces. The collection also includes a 12 by 6 inch painting of Nawab Mumtaz Ali, that was painted with a single hair and required 15 years to be completed.
House.
The house in which the museum is located offers insight into the lifestyles of upper class Lahori families during the Sikh and British eras. It was originally owned by "Raja Todar Mal", finance minister to the Mughal Emperor Akbar.


Virginia State Route 47

State Route 47 (SR 47) is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs from U.S. Route 1 (US 1) and US 58 Business in South Hill north to US 460 Business in Pamplin City, Virginia. SR 47 passes through Southside Virginia, where the highway connects the towns of Chase City in Mecklenburg County and Drakes Branch and Charlotte Court House in Charlotte County.
The entire length of SR 47 is a Virginia Byway.
Route description.
SR 47 begins at the intersection of Mecklenburg Avenue and Atlantic Street in the center of South Hill. Mecklenburg Avenue heads north as US 1 and south as US 1 and US 58 Business. US 58 Business also heads east on Atlantic Street. SR 47 heads west as Atlantic Street to the western town limit of South Hill. The state highway passes through several small communities, including North View, Wightman, and Drapersville, as it traverses northern Mecklenburg County on top of the drainage divide between the Meherrin River to the north and the Roanoke River to the south. SR 47 enters the town of Chase City as Second Street. In the center of town, Second Street intersects Main Street. Second Street continues west as SR 49 and SR 92. SR 92 heads south on Main Street, while SR 47 turns north and runs concurrently with SR 49 to the north town limit. There, SR 49 continues north toward Victoria while SR 47 turns northwest, again closely following the drainage divide.
SR 47 continues into Charlotte County as Craftons Gate Highway, named for the hamlet where the state highway intersects US 15 and US 360 (Kings Highway). The highway continues north and serves as Main Street in the town of Drakes Branch, where the highway crosses Twittys Creek and meets the western end of SR 59 (Gethsemane Church Avenue). SR 47 leaves the town as Tollhouse Highway and crosses Roanoke Creek before reaching Charlotte Court House. The state highway enters the county seat as Lagrande Avenue and has a very short concurrency with SR 40, which follows David Bruce Avenue to the west and George Washington Highway to the east. SR 47 exits Charlotte Court House as Thomas Jefferson Highway. The highway crosses over Norfolk Southern Railway's Altavista District rail line at the hamlet of Cullen. At County Line Road, SR 47 begins to follow the boundary between Charlotte and Prince Edward counties. The state highway has brief stretches entirely within one of the counties before continuing to serve as the county line as the highway closely parallels Norfolk Southern's Blue Ridge District. SR 47's path along the county line ends when the highway enters Appomattox County just south of the town of Pamplin City, where the Blue Ridge District merges with the Farmville Belt Line coming from the east. The state highway passes under the two railroad tracks just before reaching its northern terminus at US 460 Business. US 460 Business connects with US 460, which heads east toward Farmville and west toward Appomattox.


Cave of the Winds (Colorado)

Cave of the Winds is a cave in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado. It is located just west of Colorado Springs on U.S. Highway 24, near the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Tours of the complex of caves are given daily.
Cave features.
By far the most famous section of the Cave of the Winds is the Silent Splendor room. Discovered in 1984, the room contains numerous rare crystalline speleothems including helectites which appear to defy the laws of gravity by growing in strange directions and not being forced down by gravity like many cave formations. Unfortunately, the room must be sealed off from the general public in order to maintain its delicate environment. Silent Splendor is sealed from public view by an "environmental gate" with a large tube that seals in moisture to maintain the atmosphere necessary for the delicate formations to continue to grow.
In the late 1980s a few new passages were opened inside the cavern. On May 8, 1988, Mother's Day, a chamber called the "Adventure Room" was opened. Left in a more natural state than most of the cave, the Adventure Room has dirt floors, lower numbers of lights (compared to other chambers inside the cave) and gives entry to the Manitou Grand Caverns where Lantern Tours are given.
In 1989, a new passage named "Old Curiosity Shop" was opened, billed as the most narrow passage in the Cave of the Winds. Traversing it gains a look at the "Colorado Rose", a beaded helectite, and "Spider Web Valley", a collection of delicate helectites. This passage was opened to make tour groups moving through "Tall Man's Headache, Fat Man's Misery" a little easier.
Other lesser known attractions include a "bottomless pit," often the scene of practical jokes by the guides. The site also features a free-fall amusement ride called the Terror-Dactyl.
History.
It is believed that both Apache and Ute Native Americans knew about the cave. The name, Cave of the Winds, relates to a legend involving the Apache, who were said to believe the cave was the home of a Great Spirit of the Wind. The first documented mention of the cave came in 1880 when two brothers, John and George Pickett, discovered the cave during a hike in Williams Canyon led by the Rev. Roselle T. Cross, pastor of the Congregational Church in Colorado Springs. The boys noticed that their candles flickered in a small shelter cave they had found and wind was seen to be blowing from a nearby crevice. Crawling through the opening they emerged into a large chamber. Within a few days Cross wrote about the discovery of the cave in his church newsletter and his story was immediately reprinted in the "Colorado Springs Gazette" of July 2, 1880. The "Colorado Encyclopedia" relates: "Although Cross exaggerated the heights and depths of vertical elements, as do most inexperienced cavers, his account is remarkably free of the florid Victorian hyperbole typical of most cave descriptions of that time. Cross and his Boys’ Exploring Association explored most of the horizontal passages accessible from the original entrance, a distance of about 200 feet—a respectable distance for schoolboys using candles."
Tourist attraction.
In 1880, the same year that the cave was discovered, George Washington Snider, a stonecutter from Ohio who had traveled to Colorado seeking his fortune visited the cave. Snider excavated passages from the Williams Canyon caves, as they were then called, and discovered "Canopy Hall" -- a large room nearly 200 feet long containing thousands of stalactites and stalagmites.. Snider wrote, “It was as though Aladdin with his wonderful lamp had effected the magic result." Unfortunately Snider spoke of his discovery in town and the next day the cave was mobbed by townspeople who
stripped the cavern of many of the stalactites.
Snider continued to excavate and began preparations for guided tours. The Cave of the Winds quickly became one of the established attractions of the young Manitou resort area. Cave of the Winds has been in continuous operation since 1881 – making it one of Colorado’s oldest visitor attractions. Electrical lights were added in 1907, and visitors began traveling to the cave in even greater numbers – first by carriage and railroad, and later by car.
Geology.
About 500 million years ago during the Ordovician period warm shallow seas covered the Pikes Peak region of Colorado. The seas were home to abundant shell creatures that accumulated on the sea floor when they died. The layers built up for millions of years and were eventually compacted and hardened into the rock known as limestone. The geological name for the limestone layer found in the cave is Manitou Limestone.
About 70 million years ago the shallow seas receded and the area was lifted forming the Rocky Mountain region. About 4 to 7 million years ago the limestone fell below the water table Rainwater mixed with carbon dioxide, forming a weak carbonic acid that slowly ate away at the limestone, forming pockets. The pockets slowly enlarged forming passageways and caverns.
In the short steep drive up Williams Canyon to the cave entrance one can view several different depositions of limestone. During the Devonian period the Williams Canyon Limestone was laid down and during the Mississippian period the Leadville Limestone layer was deposited.
Cave formations.
As the water table dropped within the cave system air began to fill the passageways and caverns. Stalactites formed on the cave's ceilings as calcium carbonate-rich water dripped leaving thin calcite rings that grew into icicle-like shapes over thousands of years. Through the same process stalagmites grew from the cave floors. A third type of structure is called flowstone. Flowstone formations are curtain-like formations that flow along the sides of caverns or passages. They are the most common formation found in "solution caves" in limestone, such as Cave of the Winds. Sometimes called draperies or curtains, they are formed over thousands of years as the mineral-rich water flows over surfaces leaving calcite behind.
The rarest and most delicate formations are called helictites. Helictite forms have been described in several shapes: "hands", ribbon helictites, saws, rods, butterflies, curly-fries, and "clumps of worms". They can be easily broken by the slightest touch and consequently are set away from tour groups. As helictites grow, they change their axis from the vertical at one or more stages of growth, hence the "clumps of worms" description for one type. Several theories as to how and why they defy gravity have been suggested but no theory has yet been proven to be correct.


Baca National Wildlife Refuge

The Baca National Wildlife Refuge is a United States National Wildlife Refuge located in southern Colorado. It is within the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area.
Fauna.
Many bird species such as the kestrel, great horned owl, northern flicker, robin, yellow warbler, and Bullock's oriole roam in the riparian areas of this refuge. Waterfowl that inhabit here include mallard, pintail, teal, Canada goose, avocet, killdeer, white-faced ibis, egret, and heron.
Geography.
The wildlife refuge is located on the lands of the Luis Maria Baca Grant No. 4 near Crestone, Colorado in the San Luis Valley in southern Saguache and northern Alamosa counties, about northeast of the town of Alamosa, on the west side of the Sangre de Cristo Range.
The site was authorized by the United States Congress in 2000 as part of legislation that also authorized the nearby Great Sand Dunes National Park. It was formally established in 2003 when administration began under the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. It is administered jointly with the nearby Alamosa and Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuges, as part of the Alamosa/Baca/Monte Verde Complex.
Description.
The Baca National Wildlife Refuge consists of rangeland and some riparian wetlands. The original ranch headquarters and other buildings are on the wildlife refuge. As is usual on federal wildlife refuges, grazing and hay production continue on a limited basis. It includes several thousand acres of irrigated hay meadows.
Several streams arising in the nearby Sangre de Cristos flow onto the Refuge. Crestone Creek in its lower reaches is a spring-fed perennial stream inhabited by four native fish species: Rio Grande sucker (Catostomus plebeius), Rio Grande chub (Gila pandora), fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), and longnose dace (Rhinichthys cataractae)
History.
The establishment of the refuge and national park was part of complex land transfers undertaken by the federal government in cooperation with the Nature Conservancy and the State of Colorado. Approximately of the land was previously under the management of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and was transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Approximately of the land for the refuge and park was part of the historic Baca Ranch and was purchased by the Nature Conservancy before its transfer to the federal government. The refuge forms part of complex of wetlands in the San Luis Valley consists of lands of nearby landowners, including the Colorado Board of Land Commissioners, the National Park Service, and the Nature Conservancy.
Oil and gas exploration.
The mineral rights to the lands of the Baca NWR are owned by a third party, Lexam Explorations (U.S.A.) Inc. (Lexam). There is believed to be a small chance that commercial quantities of natural gas may be discovered (An existing artesian well on the land, called "the gas well", produced enough gas to heat one home).
Draft environmental assessment.
Litigation by the San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council contesting the environmental assessment with respect to the drilling of two exploratory wells resulted in a settlement in September, 2010 requiring preparation of a new assessment by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Completion of a draft environmental assessment was announced by the Fish and Wildlife Service on January 7, 2011 and was made available for download or viewing at the refuge's website.
Proposed executive summary:
Implementation of the Preferred Alternative – the Service is requiring that specific protective measures and standards are followed during all phases of oil and gas exploration being proposed by Lexam, including the intended drilling of two exploratory gas wells on the Refuge, to ensure maximum protection of the surface estate (including all surface and subsurface natural resources not considered minerals) of the Refuge and associated cultural, socioeconomic, and aesthetic resources from unreasonable degradation or impacts. With these requirements incorporated into Lexam’s Plan of Operations, potential impacts are expected to be less than significant in regards to NEPA. Information gathered in this Draft EA indicates that the temporary nature of the proposed exploration (<180 days), along with implementation of the preferred alternative, will not unreasonably degrade or result in significant impacts to the surface estate (including all surface and subsurface natural resources not considered to be minerals) of the Refuge and associated cultural, socioeconomic, and aesthetic resources.
Public review.
A public meeting was held in January 2011 at the Colorado College Baca Campus Conference Center in Crestone, Colorado. It was an informational open house with a presentation by the Fish and Wildlife Service followed by a question-and-answer session. Written comments regarding the environmental assessment were accepted at this meeting.
"There’s no legal way to say ‘no’ for that mineral owner to access those minerals," [Mike Blenden, Project Leader, San Luis Valley NWR Complex] said.
Comments can also be sent via mail to David Lucas, Chief, Division of Refuge Planning, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Refuge Planning, P.O. Box 25484, Denver, CO 80225-0486 or via email to: BacaDraftEAComments at fws.gov and must be received no later than February 7, 2011.
The draft assessment includes consideration of the option of purchasing the mineral rights but rejects the $8.4 million demanded by Lexam as not a fair market price. By the terms of a Federal District Court settlement the final environmental assessment is due April 1, 2011.


Lag Badana National Park

Lag Badana National Park (Bushbush National Park) is a national park of Somalia. It is located on the far southern coast.
Overview.
Lag Badana was the first national park to be established in the country. During the second half of the 1980s, the Ministry of Tourism under the Siad Barre administration sought to center the tourist industry in the vicinity of the park, with nearby coral reefs and offshore islands likewise envisioned as part of the development.
By 1989, newer legislation was drafted governing the establishment of national parks, game reserves and special reserves. The conservation of wildlife resources was at this time overseen by the Ministry of Livestock, Forestry and Range's National Range Agency. Its Department of Wildlife also operated an independent law-enforcement unit, which had been created through presidential decree.
Following the outbreak of the civil war in 1991, development of the national park came to a halt. In August 2014, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced a number of new development projects aimed at Somalia's youth. Among these was an initiative to assign leadership of the national park to young managers so as to strengthen environmental preservation and potential tourism opportunities.
Since 2005, the protected area is considered a Lion Conservation Unit.
Wildlife.
The Lag Badana area contains over 200 vascular plant species and is home to rare animals like the lesser kudu. Of the plants, around 20 are endemic.


Trossachs

The Trossachs (; ) generally refers to an area of wooded glens, braes, and lochs lying to the east of Ben Lomond in the Stirling council area of Scotland. The name is taken from that of a small woodland glen that lies at the centre of the area, but is now generally applied to the wider region.
The wooded hills and lochs of the area may be considered to represent a microcosm of a typical highland landscape, and the woodlands are an important habitat for many species. Much of the Trossachs area is protected by various different conservation designations, including the Great Trossachs Forest National Nature Reserve.
The Trossachs form part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, which was established in 2002. The area has long been visited by tourists due to the relative proximity of major population centres such as Glasgow and Stirling, and remains popular with walkers, cyclists and tourists. Scenic boat rides on Loch Katrine are popular with visitors: the steamer SS Sir Walter Scott, launched in 1899, remains in operation. The Great Trossachs Path, one of Scotland's Great Trails, is a 48 km route suitable for walkers, cyclists and horse riders. It runs between Callander in the east and Inversnaid on the banks of Loch Lomond in the west, passing along the northern shores of Loch Katrine and Loch Arklet.
Name and etymology.
The name "Trossachs" involves the Brittonic root "trōs" meaning "across" (c.f. Welsh "traws"), perhaps conserving the compound "trawsfynydd" meaning "cross-hill".
Also suggested is a derivation from a Gaelic word for "bristly".
Geography.
The Trossachs glen lies between Ben A'an to the north and Ben Venue to the south, with Loch Katrine to the west and Loch Achray to the east. It lies at the centre of the wider region, which is generally regarded as being bounded by Glen Gyle to the south, with the western boundary being the road between Stronachlachar and Aberfoyle. Loch Doine, Loch Voil, and Loch Lubnaig form the northern and eastern boundary of the area. The A821 road between Aberfoyle and Callander runs through this glen, and is the main access route into the Trossachs from the south and east. The section between Aberfoyle and the Trossachs glen runs through the Achray Forest, reaching a height of 238 m above sea level at the summit of the Duke's Pass. The main route to Callander continues east via the north shores of Loch Achray and Loch Venachar, whilst a branch of the A821 heads west to finish at the western end of Loch Katrine. No public road continues along the shore of Loch Katrine, although the Great Trossachs Path allows walkers and cyclists to follow the northern shore round to Stronachlachar on the western shore. From here a minor road heads west to Loch Lomond. Stronachlachar can also be reached by the B829 road from Aberfoyle, which passes north of Loch Choin and Loch Ard.
The small town of Callander and the village of Aberfoyle lie at the edge of the Trossachs, however Brig o' Turk is the only settlement of any size within the Trossachs. The Lake of Menteith, situated near Aberfoyle, lies about six miles (10 km) to the south east of the glen, on the edge of the Trossachs area. The lake is a fishing destination that features the ruins of Inchmahome Priory on one of its islands, Inchmahome, where Mary, Queen of Scots was taken as a child before being taken to France for her protection.
History.
There are several prehistoric sites in the area, including a cup and ring marked rock and burnt mounds in Glen Finglas. There are crannogs on Loch Ard and Loch Venachar, and an Iron Age hill fort at Dunmore.
The Trossachs were one of the first parts of Scotland to become a recognised tourist destination due to the area's position on the southern edge of the highlands and the quality of the scenery, which may be considered to represent a microcosm of a typical highland landscape. The poet William Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy visited the area, with Dorothy publishing an account of their visit in "Recollections of a Tour Made in Scotland" in 1803.
The scenic charms of the area came to popularity with Sir Walter Scott's 1810 poem "The Lady of the Lake", extending his romantic portrayal of Scotland's past from border ballads to poems of a medieval past rich in chivalry and symbolism. The poem gives a roll call of Trossachs place names, the lady herself being found on Loch Katrine. Scott followed up with his 1817 historical novel "Rob Roy" romanticising the outlaw cattle thief Raibert Ruadh, who was born by Loch Katrine and buried at nearby Balquhidder.
The leading Victorian art critic John Ruskin (1819–1900) and the Pre-Raphaelite painter John Everett Millais (1829–1896) spent the summer of 1853 together at Glenfinlas in the Trossachs. Millais started a painting of John Ruskin during the visit, which he finished the following year. The painting is held in a private collection, but was on show at an exhibition on the Pre-Raphaelites at Tate Britain in London during 2004. John Ruskin himself was especially interested in the rock formations in the area and undertook his own studies of these.
The Trossachs Hotel was built on the north bank of Loch Achray in response to the growing number of tourists visiting the region. The building now functions as the Tigh Mor Trossachs holiday apartments, owned by the Holiday Property Bond (HPB). In 1859, a dam was built at the eastern end of Loch Katrine and connecting aqueducts were added to as part of a new main water supply to Glasgow. At the expense of the Glasgow water company, Queen Victoria had a holiday house built overlooking the loch. The queen never stayed in the house, named "Royal Cottage", as the windows were broken by the 21-gun salute that welcomed her, and the cottage later became accommodation for the employees of Scottish Water.
Nature and conservation.
The forests of the Trossachs comprise both areas of ancient, semi-natural and traditionally managed woodland alongside commercial forestry plantations. The native woodland is largely deciduous, whilst the commercial forestry consists mostly of conifers. Birds found in the woods of the Trossachs include black grouse, capercaillie and goshawk; mammal species include red and roe deer, red squirrel and pine marten. Beavers are also now present in the area, with signs of beaver activity being observed on Loch Achray during a survey undertaken over the winter of 2017–18; the beavers are assumed to have spread there from the existing population on the River Tay. Species of fish found in the lochs of the Trossachs include brown trout, perch and pike, and the lochs are also a habitat for osprey and otter. Arctic char are known to have lived in Loch Venachar and Loch Achray, but as of 2006 it was believed that they were no longer present. The more farmed areas of the Trossachs provide areas of marshland that are habitat for wildfowl and waders, with both wintering and breeding species recorded. In 2011 the pearl-bordered fritillary butterfly - a species considered rare in Britain - was found to be living around Loch Katrine, the first time the species had been identified in the area for 25 years.
Much of the Trossachs area is protected via several different conservation designations.
Great Trossachs Forest National Nature Reserve.
The Great Trossachs Forest is a project that aims to deliver a 165 km2 forest in the heart of the Trossachs in order to develop a wide range of habitats for invertebrates, mammals, birds and other wildlife. Since 2015 the area, which covers much of the core area of the Trossachs around Loch Katrine and Loch Arklet (including the Trossachs glen), has been classified as national nature reserve with the title "Great Trossachs Forest National Nature Reserve". The reserve is considered to be a "forest in the making", and is managed jointly by Forestry and Land Scotland, RSPB Scotland and Woodland Trust Scotland. The reserve is classified as a Category II protected area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The project aims to deliver a varied landscape that provides habitats for species that are otherwise rare in Britain, including black grouse, golden eagle, osprey, wildcat, pine marten, red squirrel, water vole and otter.
Other conservation designations.
A smaller area (378 ha) of the Trossachs is protected as a Special Area of Conservation due to importance of the existing native forest. The Trossachs are also defined as a national scenic area, being one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development. Areas of forestry owned by Forestry and Land Scotland within the Trossachs form part of the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, and the entire area lies within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
Government and politics.
The Trossachs area forms part of the council area of Stirling; at the most local level there is a Trossachs Community Council. The area is part of the registration county of Perth, lying in the most westerly part of the county, close to the border with County of Stirling. The area is represented in the Scottish Parliament as part of the constituency of Stirling, which elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the plurality (first past the post) method of election. The area also forms part of the Mid Scotland and Fife electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to nine constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole. At Westminster the Trossachs area is represented as part of a constituency also entitled Stirling, however this constituency, which elects one Member of Parliament (MP) by the first past the post system of election, has different boundaries from the Scottish Parliament constituency.
Hills and lochs.
The chief hills of the Trossachs are:
The major lochs in the area are:
Additionally, the Lake of Menteith may be regarded as lying on the boundaries of the district.


Bible Land

Bible Land was a free roadside attraction, originally located in Temecula, California, and later moved to Yucaipa, California along Interstate 10. Built in Temecula during the late 1960s by sand sculptor Ted Conibear, the attraction featured sand sculptures of various scenes primarily of the New Testament, including a life-sized rendition of the Last Supper. The Last Supper scene was covered by a cavelike structure, likely to both protect the delicate sand sculpture from weather and also to recreate the indoor environment of the original painting.
Conibear, who traveled the American Southwest as an itinerant artist and sand sculptor, maintained the attraction until his death in 1994. His son, Don Conibear, attempted to keep the landmark intact but found it unfeasible for various reasons. The sculptures had been badly eroded by wind and insects, and Conibear felt that any type of restoration effort would in-authenticate the work of his father. Conibear also looked for someone new to maintain the sculptures and investors to keep the site running but did not find either. It was believed that Ted Conibear had told his son Don to destroy the sculptures so that they would not fall victim to vandalism, but the son reportedly debunked that rumor online in 2011.
The former site, a short distance east of the Live Oak Canyon Road exit along the northern shoulder of Interstate 10, remains empty and undeveloped.


Morvan Regional Natural Park

Morvan Regional Natural Park (French: "Parc naturel régional du Morvan") is a protected area of woodlands, lakes and traditional farmland in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of central France. It covers a total area of and extends through four different departments with the majority being in Nièvre. The area was officially designated as a regional natural park in 1970.
The "maison du parc" (main visitors center) is located in the small commune of Saint-Brisson. It maintains one of the park's six natural history museums ("Écomusée de Morvan").
Member communes.
The park includes 117 communes as well as five associated partner communes.


Allegheny Islands State Park

Allegheny Islands State Park is a Pennsylvania state park in Harmar Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The undeveloped park is composed of three alluvial islands located in the middle of the Allegheny River northeast of Pittsburgh. The islands are just north of the boroughs of Oakmont and Plum, and southwest of Cheswick. Bridges for the Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76) and the Bessemer and Lake Erie Railroad Branch of the Canadian National Railway cross the Allegheny River at the middle island.
Islands.
The park land on the islands has a total area of , with two islands downstream of the Allegheny River Lock and Dam Three (officially named the "C. W. Bill Young Lock and Dam"), and the other island upstream. Twelve Mile Island is the farthest downstream (west) and has a number of houses and buildings on the western four-fifths of the island (the park land is the eastern end). The remaining two islands are both uninhabited and have no structures on them. They were originally one island named Fourteen Mile Island, but were split into two parts by the construction of the dam. Today the name Fourteen Mile Island is given to the middle island, just downstream (west) of the dam, and it is the site of the highway and railroad bridges. According to the USGS GNIS, the last island (which was once part of Fourteen Mile Island) is unnamed (although it is still labeled "Fourteen Mile Island" on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers navigation maps of the Allegheny River.) This unnamed island is the easternmost and the only one upstream of the dam. There are also five to seven shoals near the islands, which are occasionally exposed.
Twelve Mile Island and Fourteen Mile Island are named for their distances, and , up the Allegheny River from the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers to form the Ohio River in downtown Pittsburgh. They are two of six alluvial islands in the Allegheny River near Pittsburgh (for comparison, near Pittsburgh the Ohio River has only three islands and the Monongahela River has none). "The large number of islands in the Allegheny is a reflection of the large amount of glacially-derived sediment that was moved by the river."
Facilities.
Allegheny Islands State Park was established on December 31, 1980. , it is undeveloped so that there are no facilities, and also no plans for future development. The park can only be accessed by boat. Camping is allowed on the islands and they are open for visits by groups such as the Boy Scouts and Venture Outdoors. Allegheny Islands State Park is administered from the Region 2 Office in Prospect, Pennsylvania.
Nearby state parks.
The following state parks are within of Allegheny Islands State Park:


List of national parks of Ivory Coast

The country of Côte d'Ivoire in Africa has the following national parks and other protected areas.


Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park

The Atlantic Islands of Galicia National Park (, ) is the only national park located in the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain. It comprises the archipelagos of Cíes, Ons, Sálvora and Cortegada. The park covers a land area of and a sea area of . It is the tenth most visited national park in Spain. It was the thirteenth national park to be established in Spain.
Flora and fauna.
This sea-land ecosystem has a laurel forest and over 200 species of seaweed. It also stands out for its shellfish, corals and anemones. As for wildlife, one can see seagulls, shags, razorbills, guillemots, whales, orcas, dolphins, basking sharks (rare).
History.
There are traces of human occupation in the islands since the Iron Age. Ceramics have also been found since Roman times. The islands were occupied by various monastic orders during the Middle Ages, were owned by the Church, gauged by nobles of the time and attacked by invaders who used them as a base for raids on the coast. More recently, the islands were inhabited until the eighteenth century, but by pirates' action, people had to abandon the islands. In 1980 the Cies Islands were declared a natural park. They are also a "Special Protection Area" for birds. On June 13, 2002 was declared a national park. However, 6 months later, the oil spill caused by the Prestige oil tanker came on its shores, except on the island of Cortegada. The islands of Loberiras and Sisargas could be added to the park in the future.


The Bund Finance Center

The Bund Finance Center is a building in The Bund, Shanghai, China. It is notable for its three, overlapping, moving layers of vertical stainless steel pipes. These layers, inspired by theatre curtains, slowly rotate around the building. Fosun Foundation (Shanghai), a non-profit organization is based in the building and was supported by Fosun Group and Fosun Foundation.
Description.
The total area is 4,000 square feet. It comprises four above-ground floors and three below.
Exterior.
The exterior is veiled with three moving layers, or "curtains", of vertical, gold/bronze-coloured, stainless steel pipes. These hang from the third floor and move along tracks powered by electric motors. Each day, for several hours, these layers slowly rotate around the building to music.
Inspired by traditional Chinese theatre curtains, these layers resemble not only curtains, but also a Western harp and an ancient Chinese crown.
The gold finish on the draped pipes and exterior is achieved through a process of Physical Vapour Deposition, or PVD, on stainless steel producing a vibrant gold colour.
Interior.
The first floor contains a lobby, atrium, and cafe. It has a ceiling height of 4 metres, is 24 metres long and 15.6 metres wide, for a total area of 360 square metres.
The second and third floors each have a ceiling height of 6.5 metres, is 31 metres long and 16.4 metres wide, for a combined area of 1,140 square metres.
The fourth floor has an area of 600 square metres.
There are 3 below-ground levels containing auditoriums and a number of hallways that will connect to the adjacent complex.
Creators.
The building was designed by Foster + Partners and creative director Thomas Heatherwick of Heatherwick Studio.
Purpose.
The Fosun Foundation will be used to host a various of events including fashion shows, art exhibitions, and conferences.


Chama River Canyon Wilderness

Congress created the Chama River Canyon Wilderness in New Mexico in February 1978. The wilderness area covers approximately on the Coyote Ranger District of the Santa Fe National Forest and the Carson National Forest.
The water in the Rio Chama brings the canyon area to life. Lush vegetation that supports abundant wildlife contrasts with the seemingly bare rocky slopes that lead to the mesa tops.
The wilderness area surrounds much private property along the waterways.
The wilderness area includes the site of the Cañon de Chama land grant. A large area of northern New Mexico was included in the original Mexican land grant, but the U.S. Government confirmed only a small area along the river. The village cemetery is in the wilderness area.
The Rio Chama is a Wild and Scenic River and is not part of the wilderness area. A Forest Service road parallels the river and in some places the wilderness area is only 100 yards from the road. The easy road access means that rafting is a popular activity when water levels are adequate. The Continental Divide Trail traverses the wilderness area and crosses the river on Scull Bridge. Hiking and horseback riding are other popular activities in the wilderness area.
The wilderness area is easily accessible from Santa Fe, New Mexico, along U.S. Highway 84.


Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve

Korgalzhyn State Nature Reserve (, "Qorǵaljyn memlekettik tabiǵi qoryǵy") is a nature reserve in Aqmola and Karaganda regions of Kazakhstan, located west of the city of Astana. It is part of the UNESCO heritage site Saryarka — Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan, Ramsar site and biosphere reserve. It protects about 5432 km2 of lakes, steppes and semi deserts. The biggest lake is Lake Tengiz.
Territory Korgalzhyn State nature reserve area of 543171 hectares is one integral portion located in the Steppe of central Kazakhstan region of the Indian and Siberian-East African migration routes of migratory birds and an important wetland of international importance, not only for Kazakhstan, but also for the whole of Asia. Extensive reserve waters provide the necessary living space in the largest Asian population of wetland birds.
History.
In 1976 Tengis - Korgalzhyn lakes have been included in the Ramsar list of wetlands of international importance. Vingue lake tengiz, as its shores, had never been exposed to anthropogenic impact, this lake in 2000a goal was included in the list of the international organization ”Living Lakes”, which includes the most unique lakes in the world in 2007, the area has also become part of worldwide network of places recognized as extremely valuable for the conservation of birds(IBA).
In 2008 Korgalzhyn State Nature as part of the nomination “Saryarka- Steppe and Lake of Northern Kazakhstan” is included in the list of World Natural Heritage UNESKO.
In 2012 Reserve UNESCO recognized as the first Biosphere Reserve in the Republic of Kazakhstan .
The plant.
In general, the biodiversity of the protected area includes more than 500 species of plant (a quarter of the entire Flora of Kazakh Upland) and more than 1400 species of aquatic and terrestrial animals, including 43 species of mammals,350 species of birds(including nesting species -12). Wetland birds in the Tengiz-Korgalzhyn lake consists of 112 species, representing 87% of the wetland avifauna Kazakhstan. Also found here 2 species of amphibian, 4 species of reptiles, 14 species of fish. Insects are currently over 700 known species, although their diversity can reach more than 3000 species.
The steppe area is also important as a place of preservation of unique reference sites of natural steppe ecosystems subjected to degradation in other parts of Kazakhstan in its various degrees. Steppe ecosystems are habitats of conventional, as well as endemic, rare and endangered species.
The animals.
On Reserve territory it marked more than 60vave species of animals and plants listed in the Red Book. For example,41 species in the list of international Conservation of nature(IVCN).On The Lakes is concentrated to 10% of the world population of Dalmatian pelican(IVCN Red List) and up to 10-20% of the world population of the territory of food during the summer and autumn moult migration in belayet huge number of birds, tens of thousands of geese, hundred of thousands of dabbling and diving ducks and waders.
Among the Red bred book species of steppe and around water areas should be nofel steppe sandpiper sociable lapwing, bustard, little bustard, booted eagle, steppe eagle, white tailed eagle, pallid harrier, steppe pustelku, Demoiselle crane and others.
8 Species of mammals included in the, including souga and marmot IVCN. The Red Book of Kazakhstan 5 listed plants species, including tulip schrenka, which is of great importance as a reserve fund of material selection. This species is the ancestor of some cultivated varieties of tulips bred in the Netherlands in the XVl Century.
Preserving the natural state sites on its territory and adjacent areas, the main objective of the Korgalzhyn Nature Reserve.
The wetlands are home to pelicans, cranes and the northernmost population of pink flamingos. Altogether there are more than 300 bird species in the reserve. The steppes of the reserve are home to wolves, saiga antelopes and bobak marmots.


Skyline Boulevard


Shivagange

Shivagange is a mountain peak with a height of 1300 metres and Hindu pilgrimage center located near Dobbaspet, in Bengaluru Rural district India. It is situated 19 km from the town of Tumakuru and 54 km from Bengaluru. The sacred mountain is shaped as a shivalinga and a spring flows near locally called "Ganga", thereby giving the place its name. It is also known as "Dakshina Kashi" (Kashi of the South) and has various temples such as Gangadhareshwara temple, Sri Honnammadevi Temple, Olakal Teertha, Nandi Statue, Patalagang Sharadambe temple and several theerthas such as Agasthya theertha, Kanva theertha, Kapila theertha, Pathala Gange
Sri Honnammadevi Temple is inside the cave. Sri Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple is also inside the cave. Gavi means Cave, Gangadhareshwara means Parameshwara having Gange on the top. Every January, on the day of Sankranthi festival, the marriage function of Sri Gangadhareshwara and Sri Honnammadevi (Parvathi) is conducted. At that time it is claimed Ganga holy water comes from the rock at the top of hill and that holy water is used to solemnise the dhare ritual of the marriage function.
History.
This location was originally under the control of Hoysala kings and the queen Shanthala, wife of Vishnuvardhana, who committed suicide as she did not give birth to a son. The hill was fortified during the 16th century by Shivappa Nayaka. These fortifications currently lie in ruins. The founder of Bengaluru, Magadi Kempegowda, also made improvements to the fortifications and kept a portion of his treasure within it.
A month-long cattle fair is held during "Sankranthi" month (around January) every year, which is a market place for bullocks.
Beliefs surrounding the Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple in Bengaluru.
Followers believe an interesting miracle happens when abhisheka is performed on Shivalinga with ghee, the ghee turning to butter.It is claimed that this ghee has medicinal powers and can cure many ailments. According to legend there exists a secret tunnel that extends from the sanctum sanctorum (Garba Griha) of this temple to the Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple in Bengaluru, around 50 kilometers away.
River Kumudvathi.
River Kumudvathi has its origin in the Shivagange hills and it is a tributary of river Arkavati. The Kumudvathi river flows across 278 villages covering 460 km2 encompassing major part of Nelamangala Taluk, Bengaluru Rural District and parts of Magadi Taluk, Ramanagra district. Due to various factors like deforestation, unsustainable extraction of ground water, soil erosion, encroachments and eucalyptus plantations the river has dwindled in size. This has resulting in serious water crisis for drinking and agriculture in all the villages under the river basin. However, projects and efforts are underway to revive the river.
Trekking.
The area is a popular site for rock climbing in the Karnataka state. The entire trail to the peak is well marked and the presence of man-made steps (often carved into the rocky landscape, but sometimes made from rocks) makes the trail suitable for beginners. There are frequent rest opportunities with stalls serving food and drinks. The trekking path to reach summit from foothills is of 2.3 km in a pre-defined path. The trail becomes steep and narrow near the summit of the mountain - safety rails are provided in such areas. Monkeys are the main fauna inhabiting the hill.
Protected Monument.
The temple shrine is a protected monument under the Karnataka Ancient and Historical Monuments and archaeological sites and remains act 1962.
Shivagange


The Shops at Fallen Timbers

The Shops at Fallen Timbers is a retail lifestyle center in Maumee, Ohio. The mall opened in October 2007 with three anchor stores: JCPenney, Dillard's and Barnes & Noble.
History.
General Growth Properties first conceived the idea of a mall in Maumee, Ohio in the mid-1990s. Initially, the mall was to have been an enclosed project, but in 2003, the company decided on building a lifestyle center. Stores that were proposed to open at the mall included Sears, Galyan's, Kaufmann's and Parisian.
In October 2007, the mall opened for business with Barnes & Noble, JCPenney and Dillard's, the latter of which moved from two stores at nearby Southwyck Mall, as its anchor stores. Two months later, Showcase Cinemas opened a multiplex theater complex at the mall. Upon opening, the mall included several tenants new to the Toledo market, such as P.F. Chang's and White House/Black Market.
In December 2017, the property was sold to Mason Asset Management & Namdar Realty Group for $21 million.


Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Biosphere Reserve

Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (; ) is a biosphere reserve encompassing the area of Lake Ohrid and Lake Prespa, on North Macedonia and Albania.
The reserve was declared in June 2014 and comprises a combination of water bodies and surrounding mountain reliefs, covering an area of .
Declaration.
The Ohrid-Prespa area was declared a biosphere reserve on 11 June 2014 at the UNESCO international commission session held in Jönköping, Sweden. The proposal was made by the Lake Ohrid Bilateral Secretariat, together with the UNESCO national commissions of Macedonia and Albania, as well as their respective environment ministries.
Ecology.
The Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Reserve includes various ecosystems, ranging from the mountainous areas around the lakes, to the temperate sub-tropical forests found at lower altitudes around the water basins. The Ohrid-Prespa lake system is one of the largest in Europe of its kind. Both lakes possess exceptional value on a national and international level because of their geological and biological uniqueness. Lake Ohrid is renowned for its endemic species (over 200), five of which are limited to microecosystems within the lake itself. Ten of the seventeen fish species are endemic, including the Ohrid trout ("Salmo letnica").
There are also endemic and unique forest areas such as that covered by the Macedonian pine ("Pinus peuce").
Mammals represent the second most important group of species in the Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Reserve, whose protection is crucial to the reserve. They include the Balkan mole ("Talpa stankovici"), Balkan lynx ("Lynx lynx martinoi"), gray wolf ("Canis lupus"), the brown bear ("Ursus arctos") and others. The Balkan lynx is an exceptionally rare species, holding especially high symbolic value. One bird species in the area of particular note is the Dalmatian pelican ("Pelecanus crispus"). The Prespa region is the home to about 260 bird species, representing more than half the bird species in Europe. About 140 species nest in this area.
Socioeconomic characteristics.
The Ohrid-Prespa Transboundary Reserve has an estimated population of 455,000, representing an area of cultural, ethnic and religious diversity. The settlements are situated only in the transitional areas and include demographically relatively stable settlements, whereas other populated areas (especially the cities of Ohrid and Struga on the shore of Lake Ohrid and Pogradec in Albania), receive many thousands of visitors during the tourist season.
In Albania, the main economic activity of the local populations is agriculture, still present in the transitional area and some parts of the buffer zone. More recently, the food processing industry has seen significant development (especially in Korçë), in parallel with traditional agriculture, giving rise to new settlements.
The most important sector of development in the area of the reserve is the primary sector. In many areas, individual smallholding family farms are replaced with a more intense type of production (such as the large orchards in the area of Resen). In some mountainous parts, forestry is also a significant economic activity. Stockbreeding is also important throughout the transboundary region.
Tourism is the key area of development of the entire transboundary biosphere reserve. The city of Ohrid alone receives a large number of visitors during the high season, six times that of its native population (42,000).
Fishing is another key activity with ecological and economic impacts on the lakes.


Lyngholman Nature Reserve

The Lyngholman Nature Reserve () is located on Finnøya island in the municipality of Ålesund in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway.
The area received protection in 1988 "to preserve an important wetland area with associated plant communities, bird life and other wildlife," according to the conservation regulations. The bay that the site encompasses has many beach meadows, shallow coves, small islands and large tidal areas. The landscape is undisturbed, and it is hilly with heather fields, marshes, and pastures around the beach meadows. The bay is a nesting ground for waders, and a grazing and overwintering site for other wetland species. It is also a botanical area meriting protection. The area is easily accessible for teaching and research, and there is much outdoor space and a swimming area for summer use.
The reserve is one of six natural areas that were included in the Harøya Wetlands System Ramsar site, which was established in 1996.


Grotta di Ispinigoli

The Grotta di Ispinigoli is a karst cave in the Supramonte range, near Dorgali, Sardinia, Italy.
Overview.
One of the largest caves on the island, it contains the tallest column, the tallest in Europe and one of the tallest in the world, measuring circa 38 m in total. The cave also includes the so-called "Abisso delle Vergini" ("Abyss of the Virgins"), a c. 60 m-deep hole leading to a 12 km series of caves connecting Ispingoli to San Giovanni su Anzu cave. Inside the cave were found traces of human bones and jewelry dating back the Bronze Age, the site was used as burial place by the Nuragic people.
At the bottom of the abyss, were found traces of the extinct giant otter "Megalenhydris". This animal is one of four species of extinct endemic otters on the island.


Carate Mixed Wildlife Refuge

Carate Mixed Wildlife Refuge (), is a protected area in Costa Rica, managed under the Osa Conservation Area, it was created in 1998 by decree 27471-MINAE.


Indoor swap meet

An indoor swap meet in the United States, especially Southern California and Nevada, is a type of bazaar, a permanent, indoor shopping center open during normal retail hours, with fixed booths or storefronts for the vendors.
Indoor swap meets house vendors that sell a wide variety of goods and services, especially clothing and electronics. For example, vendors in the Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet in Las Vegas sellclothing, furniture, handbags and toys,…but there’s a ton more: flowers and plants, pet supplies, leather goods, sporting equipment, perfume and cosmetics, luggage and electronics, to name just a few. There also are booths for services, including window tinting, palm reading, alterations, engraving and estate planning. The majority of items sold here are new, although antique alley does feature some vintage and second-hand goods.
It is different in format to an outdoor swap meet, the equivalent of a flea market, generally open on a limited number of days and often without fixed locations for its vendors.
Indoor swap meets are present in many working-class communities across Southern California, with a concentration in Central Los Angeles.
Indoor swap meets include the Anaheim Marketplace, Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet in Las Vegas, and the High Desert Indoor Swap Meet in Victorville. Longstanding indoor swap meets that are now defunct include the Pico Rivera Indoor Swap Meet and San Ysidro Indoor Swap Meet.
History.
Swap meets in the U.S. long consisted of U.S.-born vendors who sold mostly secondhand goods in outdoor spaces. In the 1970s, Latino immigrants started selling cultural goods and affordable services at swap meets in Southern California and some swap meets started resembling the tianguis, open-air markets, of Mexico. At the same time, drive-in movie theaters were becoming less popular, and their owners eagerly rented them out during the day to outdoor swap meets, which proliferated. Then, mostly Korean immigrants used their connections in the growing import/export trade with Asia to set up their own swap meet stalls and stock them with new, cheap goods from Asia instead of secondhand goods. In the 1980s and 1990s as properties South Los Angeles and parts of Central L.A. became abandoned and thus, cheap, Korean immigrants bought them and turned them into indoor swap meets.
Connection with gangsta rap.
A former Sears store in Compton turned into the Compton Fashion Fair indoor swap meet. Music stall operator Wan Joon Kim helped launch the career of various local gangsta rap artists, as did Steve Yano at the Roadium on Redondo Beach Boulevard in Torrance.


Sylvia Seegrist

Sylvia Wynanda Seegrist (born July 31, 1960) is an American woman who on October 30, 1985, opened fire at a shopping mall in Springfield, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. Seegrist killed three people and wounded seven others before being disarmed by a man who was shopping at the mall. The individuals killed included two men and a two-year-old boy.
Seegrist was 25 years old and had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia ten years earlier. Having been committed and discharged from mental care several times, her case stimulated discussion about the state's authority to commit at-risk people into mental care facilities versus individual rights.
Troubled past.
At Sylvia Seegrist's trial, her mother Ruth testified that her daughter's paternal grandfather fondled and exposed himself in front of Sylvia when she was 8 years old, and that Ruth had not learned about the sexual abuse until Sylvia was 13. When the two discussed the abuse, Seegrist reportedly told her mother that she didn't know "how intimate our relationship was."
Seegrist was first hospitalized at the age of sixteen, and was diagnosed with schizophrenia. She was hospitalized a dozen times and, upon each discharge, psychiatrists diagnosed that she no longer posed a risk to herself or others.
When she was of age, Seegrist attempted to enlist in the U.S. Army. As she was being inducted, she faced harassment from other members of her platoon, who assumed she was a lesbian; they set her up on a prank date and made her the butt of many jokes thereafter. Seegrist spent a good deal of time at the Springfield Mall, harassing customers and making statements about how "good" other spree killings were, such as the 1984 San Ysidro McDonald's massacre. She was discharged from the Army after two months because of her unusual behavior, which included sitting fully dressed in green fatigues at the spa and sauna of her fitness club. An instructor at the fitness club said "she hated everyone and would often talk about shooting and killing people".
Seegrist's behavior was so disconcerting that clerks at a local K-Mart told her they had no rifles in stock when she tried to purchase one from them. She eventually purchased a Ruger 10/22 at another store.
Shootings.
On the first of two trips to the Springfield Mall on the day of October 30, 1985 Seegrist shopped for Halloween items at a party store. She then worked out at a fitness club, before returning to the mall for the last time.
Seegrist alighted from her vehicle, a Datsun B-210, retrieved the weapon she had purchased, and then fired at a man approximately from where she stood. The man was not hit and having seen the vehicle she arrived in, flattened one of the Datsun's tires to prevent an escape in that vehicle. Meanwhile, Seegrist had approached the nearest entrance and fired at, but missed, a woman who was using a nearby ATM. Before entering the mall, she shot and killed two-year-old Recife Cosmen who was with his parents waiting to eat at a local restaurant.
Once inside, Seegrist fired into some stores and ignored others. Though many customers fled when they heard the gunfire, she came across (Ernest) Earl Trout, who either could not or did not hear it and was simply standing in front of a store where he became one of the three people killed that day. Augusto Ferrara was the last person killed in the rampage. John Laufer, a local graduate student, disarmed her as she walked up to him and tried to raise her gun to shoot him. Laufer forced her to a nearby store while he waited for the arrival of mall security. The first guard who responded asked her why she had just done what she did; her reply was "My family makes me nervous".
Trial.
Prior to the competency hearing Seegrist was transferred to Norristown State Hospital for evaluation. On March 6, 1986, Seegrist was deemed competent to stand trial for the killings. Found guilty, but insane, she was sentenced to three consecutive life sentences (one for each victim she killed) and seven consecutive 10-year terms (one for each victim she wounded). The judge had said that Seegrist "should spend the rest of her life in some form of incarceration". She was sent to the psychiatric specialty hospital Mayview State Hospital for evaluation and was eventually moved to the State Correctional Institution in Muncy, Pennsylvania.
Aftermath.
Seegrist's actions helped spur the state government to form a legislative task force, in order to address better ways to care for the mentally ill in the community. Seegrist's mother also urged legislators to make changes to the state mental health laws. The existence or nature of changes made by the task force is unknown.
In response to the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, Seegrist's mother Ruth told The Philly Post:
At the time of the shootings, gun buyers were required to sign a paper application declaring they had no record of being in a mental institution. Sylvia Seegrist lied on the application and purchased a .22 semi-automatic rifle for $107.00. In 1998, the state of Pennsylvania enacted the Pennsylvania Instant Check System or PICS, enabling licensed gun dealers to conduct a background check using a phone.
A reporter from "The New York Times" sent a letter to Seegrist, asking her to share her thoughts about what happened at the time of the shooting and about her life before she was arrested. Here is an extract from her response:
Sylvia Seegrist served her first years of imprisonment at Norristown State Hospital, and then transferred to Muncy State Prison for women. Ruth Seegrist and her ex-husband visited Sylvia regularly at Muncy and she seemed to welcome the visits. But about 1992, Sylvia Seegrist had severe difficulties with her antipsychotic medication. Her mother is not sure what medication she is taking now, but around 1997 Sylvia made a decision to stop any contact with her family members. Visits and phone calls ended, the last letter Ruth Seegrist sent to her daughter was on Nov. 30. Sylvia has not replied.
"It's her illness," said Ruth Seegrist, 67 (2002), "She's schizophrenic and psychotic and becomes extremely paranoid. She dwells on things in the past. Since I was her closest family member, I got blamed: She did what she did because of me!" Seegrist's Muncy Prison counselor meets her at least every two weeks. Her counselor notes that Sylvia takes her meds, spends time at the library, exercises a lot and takes steps to keep herself sharp.
Sylvia Seegrist's precursor to the shooting was due to her fear that her mother was trying hard to have her sent to a mental care facility again. She said that she would "rather die or go to prison than go to a mental hospital."
Ruth Seegrist said she had seen "A Beautiful Mind", a 2001 biographical drama film about John Nash, a Princeton math professor and Nobel laureate who also was schizophrenic. "I thought it was very well done," Seegrist said. "When a person is so delusional – at first he thought it all was real, but it really was in his mind."
Ruth Seegrist said "I really believe she belongs in the forensic unit of a hospital, not in prison," she also shared "They should be incarcerated in the forensic unit of a hospital ... until they get functional and stabilized.