Cape Cod National Seashore

The Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS), created on August 7, 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, encompasses on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts. It includes ponds, woods and beachfront of the Atlantic coastal pine barrens ecoregion. The CCNS includes nearly of seashore along the Atlantic-facing eastern shore of Cape Cod, in the towns of Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, Eastham, Orleans and Chatham. It is administered by the National Park Service.
Places of interest.
Notable sites encompassed by the CCNS include Marconi Station (site of the first two-way transatlantic radio transmission), the Highlands Center for the Arts (formerly the North Truro Air Force Station), the Dune Shacks of Peaked Hill Bars Historic District (a 1,950-acre historic district containing dune shacks and the dune environment), and the glacial erratic known as Doane Rock.
A former United States Coast Guard station on the ocean in Truro is now operated as a 42-bed youth hostel by Hostelling International USA.
There are several paved bike trails:
There are several excellent beaches along the coastline with public facilities available seasonally. These include Race Point Beach in Provincetown and Coast Guard Beach in Eastham. Both of these have made "top beaches in the US" lists over the years.
Restoration and conservation efforts.
As part of the NPS Centennial Initiative, the Herring River estuary will be restored to its natural state through removal of dikes and drains that date back to 1909.
In 2010, the North of Highland Campground was protected with a conservation easement. The Trust for Public Land, the Association to Preserve Cape Cod, the Truro Conservation Trust, and other groups led a grassroots campaign to support the funding for the purchase price of the conservation easement from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), secured by U.S. Senator John Kerry, U.S. Representative Bill Delahunt, and former Senator Ted Kennedy.
The Biddle Property, home of the late Francis Biddle, who was the U.S. attorney general during WWII and served as the primary American judge during the post-war Nuremberg trials, was added to the Cape Cod National Seashore in 2011. Using funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the Trust for Public Land purchased the property and conveyed it to the National Park Service.


Prince Hypermart

Prince Hypermart is a Cebu-based retail store chain in the Philippines with branches in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It is owned by Robert L. Go, the President of the Philippine Retailers Association.
History.
Prince Warehouse Club Incorporated started in April 1990 with Robert L. Go as its chairman. Their first branch is at North Reclamation Area (today's Prince Wholesale Center NRA) when they converted a plain warehouse into a store with a single cash register. Initially they sold glassware, kitchenware, plastic ware and other household items.
It expanded in 1993 with their second branch in A.C. Cortes, Mandaue City as Prince Hypermart Mandaue. Currently, Prince Hypermart Mandaue is managed by Prince Mandaue Chain of Stores (Prince Warehouse Club Mandaue Inc.) and separated from the Prince Warehouse Club Inc.
Robert's brother is Prince Mandaue's managing supervisor.
Prince later initiated programs to help the sari-sari store owners with their Prince Warehouse Club's Sari-Sari Store Society (SSS). The program became a tool for Prince to help sari-sari store owners to grow their business and can buy goods at Prince Hypermart with discounts and perks.
Their operations in Cebu soon expanded to nearby towns and provinces within Visayas Region. Like their giant rival Gaisano, they expanded outside Cebu when they knew that Cebu is becoming "saturated" with a lot of their stores in the province.
In 2013, Prince expanded their operations in Mindanao with its first branch in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental. Their operations in Mindanao soon expanded in Zamboanga del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Misamis Occidental. At that same year, they had 24 stores with 500,000 customers served every day. They also introduce ECPay, an electronic payment to their branches nationwide.
The company continued to expand in more provinces, even reaching Luzon. In addition to the expansion, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte branch was opened on October 7, 2018.
Their expansion over Visayas and Mindanao as of 2019 took PhP 1B+ investment. They closed the year with a total of 58 branches nationwide.


Serra das Almas Private Natural Heritage Reserve

Serra das Almas Private Natural Heritage Reserve () is a private natural heritage reserve in the states of Ceará and Piauí, Brazil.
Origins.
The reserve has its origins in a trip made by Herbert Fisk Johnson Jr. of S. C. Johnson & Son in September 1935.
He flew from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Fortaleza, Ceará, in an amphibious twin-engine Sikorsky S-38.
His aim was to learn more about the carnauba palm tree (Copernicia prunifera) of north eastern Brazil which produced wax, one of the main products of his company, and to determine whether groves of these trees could produce enough to meet future demand.
By 1937 the company had a carnauba processing factory in Fortaleza, and in 1938 had a research farm, later donated to the school of agronomy of the University of Ceara.
In 1960 the company created a Bazilian subsidiary in 1960, and in 1990 launched the environmental project that led to creation of the Serra das Almas Natural Reserve.
Location.
The reserve was created on 8 September 2000 with an area of of the municipality of Crateús in the state of Ceará.
Almost half of the reserve's original Caatinga vegetation had been devastated.
It is the property of the Caatinga Association (Associação Caatinga).
The reserve was gradually expanded through acquisition of adjacent lands.
In November 2015 the reserve reached through the purchase of the Fazenda Gameleira, with of preserved Caatinga.
The reserve now covers parts of the municipalities of Crateús, Ceará and Buriti dos Montes, Piauí.
Conservation.
The reserve is supported by the Samuel Johnson Fund for Conservation of the Caatinga and the S. C. Johnson company. Through the Caatinga Association it has also received support from partners such as The Nature Conservancy, Petrobras, Fundação O Boticário, Fundo Nacional do Meio Ambiente and FUNBIO.
The November 2015 purchase was achieved through the support of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The expansion, with monitoring, will help protect the reserve against indiscriminate hunting and fires.
The reserve planned to expand biodiversity monitoring, surveillance and scientific research, and also to expand environmental education and ecotourism.
The main threat is illegal hunting of the rich fauna of the reserve.
The deer, peccary, armadillo, agouti and rock cavy are under constant threat from hunters.
The Saffron finch is much sought after by live bird traffickers.
Other birds on the endangered list are the Blue-fronted amazon and the guan.


Daedalus Reef

Daedalus Reef (also known as Abu Kizan) is a 400-meter-long and 100-meter-wide () standalone reef in the Egyptian Red Sea situated about 90 kilometers from Marsa Alam. There is a small artificial island in the center of the reef, which hosts a lighthouse constructed in 1863 and rebuilt in 1931. Daedalus reef is a well-known place for diving because of good chances to see pelagic fish, such as hammerhead sharks, and an abundance of corals. In the high season one can find many dive safari boats staying overnight, anchored to the reef.
The 30 m (98 ft) lighthouse and the station is still active with 3 white flashes in a 2+1 pattern flashes every 30 seconds and only accessible by boats.
The lighthouse consists of a 30 m stone tower painted in black and white horizontal bands, and a 2-story quarter building for the Egyptian coast guard and Navy.


Manimahesh Kailash Peak

The Manimahesh Kailash Peak, , also known as Chamba Kailash, which stands towering high over the Manimahesh Lake, is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva, the (Hindu deity). It is located in the Bharmour subdivision of the Chamba district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The peak is from Bharmour in the Budhil valley. It is one of the major pilgrimage sites as well as a popular trekking destination in Himachal Pradesh. The Manimahesh Lake is at the base of the Kailash peak at and is also held in deep veneration by people of Himachal Pradesh, particularly the Gaddi tribe of the region. In the month of Bhadon, on the eighth day of the new moon period a fair is held in the precincts of the lake that attracts thousands of pilgrims.
Manimahesh Kailash has not been successfully summitted by mountaineers and is thus remains a virgin peak. An attempt to climb the peak in 1968 by an Indo–Japanese team led by Nandini Patel was aborted. This failure is attributed to the divine prowess of the peak since it is revered as the holy mountain of Chamba according to the staunch devotees of the Manimahesh Lake and the peak.
The peak in the photo is as seen from near the Manimahesh Lake. There are two trekking routes to the lake. One is from Hadsar village that is mostly frequented by pilgrims and trekkers. This route is easier and have adequate arrangement for basic food and accommodation during the pilgrimage season. The other one is from village Holi, which is for the more adventurous ones. This route climbs up further and then descends to the lake, providing a beautiful view. There is no other habitation, except for a small village on this route.
Legends.
There are several mythical legends narrated on the sanctity of this peak and the lake at its base.
In one popular legend, it is believed that Lord Shiva created Manimahesh after he married Goddess Parvati, who is worshipped as Mata Girja. There are many other legends narrated linking Lord Shiva and his show of displeasure through avalanches and blizzards that occur in the region.
According to a local myth, Lord Shiva is believed to reside in Manimahesh Kailash. A rock formation in the form of a Shivling on this mountain is considered as the manifestation of Lord Shiva. The snow field at the base of the mountain is called by the local people as Shiva's Chaugan (play field).
It is also believed that Manimahesh Kailash is invincible as no one has so far scaled it, in spite of claims to the contrary and the fact that much taller peaks have been scaled, including Mount Everest. According to one legend, a local tribe, a Gaddi, tried to climb along with a herd of sheep and is believed to have been turned into stone along with his sheep. The series of minor peaks around the principal peak are believed to be the remnants of the shepherd and his sheep.
Another legend narrated is that a snake also attempted to climb the mountain but failed and was converted into stone. Devotees believe that they can view the peak only if the Lord wishes so. Bad weather covering the peak with clouds is also explained as a displeasure of the Lord.
Geography.
Manimahesh Kailash or Mountain Kailash is in the watershed of the Budhil valley, which forms part the mid-Himalayan range of hills near Kugti pass and at Harsar. The perpetually snow-covered glacial peak, at the head of its own range, is the source of the sacred lake of Manimahesh situated beneath it. Manimahesh Ganga River originates in a cascade from the lake and joins the Budhil River on its left bank. This hill range is a contiguous spur that conjoins the main range near the Bara Banghal pass of the Pir Panjal range. After the Budhal River rises from the slopes of the Kukti (Kugati) pass and Bada Bangal pass, the watershed formed by the Budhil and Ravi rivers takes the form of an inverted triangle with its base at Khadamukh. Budhil itself is formed by several streams which rise from different faces of the Manimahesh Kailas peak. The streams which rise from the peak are: the 'Bhujla' (derived from Bhuja meaning the arm) from the left flank of the peak, which meets Bhudil (also spelt Budhal) below Kukti village; the Dhancho nala, rising from the snowy ranges of the southern flank of the peak, flows in northward direction; Androl stream carrying holy waters of the Manimahesh Lake flowing to the north of the peak and through the Barachundi Meadow, the Siv Karotar stream rises from the foot of the peak and joins Androl; and the Gauri stream from the Gauri Kund joins Androl. All these streams constitute the Dhancho nala that confluences with Budhil at Hadsar. In view of so many streams originating from the Manimhesah Peak and the Manimhaesh Lake, and all of which are also linked to legends and the annual yatra pilgrimage, the Budhal or Budhil River is also highly venerated by the Gaddi elders and is nicknamed as 'Bhujl'. Pir Pinjal lies in the lesser Himalayan Zone, which forms the central part of the state of Himachal Pradesh. The peak lies along the water shed between the Chenab River on the one side and Ravi and Beas on the other side.
A research study has been carried out on the glacial status of this peak and its range by the Geological Survey of India. It indicated that the Manimahesh Kailash peak is part of the range, which is long. The average elevation of the studied peaks is . The glacial melt from this range flows towards the north and extends over an area of . The ice content of the glacier has been assessed as 0.137 cubic km. The composition of this proglacial region is reported to be a mixture of ground/recessional moraines with linear country outcrops protruding out. The glaciation must have extended up to a little downstream of Dhanchu as revealed by the terminal moraine hump. During the last 37 years, the glacier receded by with an average retreat of /year. The area vacated is estimated at .
Climb.
It is said that no one could climb this pure peak because it is said to be abode by Lord Shiva. Once a Gaddi tried to climb the peak it was believed that he dreamt of Lord Shiva calling him on the peak and Lord Shiva asked him to cut the sheep on every step he takes but asked not to look back. He started to climb the peak steps after steps he kept cutting the lambs he was carrying with him but few steps before reaching the peak he got confused that he was not carrying many sheep he killed and turned back. As soon as he looked back he turned into stone and couldn't climb. Since then, no one has ever tried to climb this peak and thus it is a virgin peak.


Rickwood Caverns State Park

Rickwood Caverns State Park is a publicly owned recreation area and natural history preserve located north of Warrior, Alabama. The state park offers tours of caverns with illuminated limestone formations estimated to be 260 million years old, blind cave fish, and an underground pool.
History.
The caverns were brought to public attention by Eddie Rickles and Sonny Arwood who combined their own names to create the name "Rickwood." Rickles had come across the caves in the early 1950s as the leader of a Boy Scout troop exploring the area. Rickwood Caverns operated as a commercial entity from 1954 to 1974, when the property was acquired by the state and reopened as a state park. The funding crisis of 2015, which saw the closing or reassignment to local authorities of five Alabama state parks, resulted in the seasonal closing of Rickwood Caverns, which had been a seasonal operation until that time. The park had been threatened with closure since as early as 2009. As of April 2016, the park reopened and is hoping to operate on a year-round basis.
Awards.
In September 2020, Rickwood Caverns State Park was one of eleven Alabama State Parks awarded Tripadvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award, which recognizes businesses and attractions that earn consistently high user reviews.
Activities and amenities.
The park surrounding the caverns features 380 acres of wilderness, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, picnic area with shelters, hiking trails, playground, campground, panning for gemstones and gift shop. Described as "mysterious and beautiful", the caverns feature guided tours of the so-called "miracle mile" of active "living" formations, 300 million year old fossils which are clearly visible in the soft limestone walls, spring-fed pools, and other curiosities.


Echo Point (lookout)

Echo Point is a lookout about south of Katoomba, New South Wales, Australia. It attracts an estimated 1.5–2 million visitors each year. The lookout offers a view to Three Sisters, Mount Solitary and the rock formation known as the Ruined Castle. A short walk from Echo Point leads to The Giant Stairway which provides access to a number of nature walks through Jamison Valley.


Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve

Bao Bolong (also "Baobolong", "Bao Bolon" or "Baobolon") Wetland Reserve is a national park in The Gambia. Established in 1996 it covers 220 square kilometres.
The Wetland Reserve is located on the north bank of the River Gambia, approximately 100 km (52 nautical miles) from the river mouth. The name is derived from the Bao Bolon tributary that rises in Senegal and enters the River Gambia. It extends from the River Gambia north to the Senegalese border along the Baobolon tributary.
History.
On 1 January 1993, an area of 35 km² was first declared as "Bao Bolong National Reserve". From 16 September 1996 on, it has covered an extended area of 220 km² (200 km² according to other sources). It was the first reserve in the Gambia to be acknowledged as a wetland area worthy of protection according to the Ramsar Convention. Since 1975, this convention, whose draft had been initiated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), protects the habitat of water birds and Charadriiformes. For other nature reserves in the country, such as Tanbi Wetland Complex or Niumi National Park (NNP), a Ramsar acknowledgement is also being aimed at by the Gambian authorities. As with NNP, it is intended to extend Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve across the border and to jointly administrate the area with Senegalese authorities.
Geography.
The reserve features a length of 22 kilometres and an approximate width of nine km. The western part is located in the "Central Baddibu" district while the eastern part adheres to "Upper Baddibu", both of which belonging to the North Bank Division.
Chiefly, the reserve is made up of the river Bao Bolong's estuary, one of the bigger tributaries of the river Gambia. It is located about 100 km away from the Gambia's mouth into Atlantic Ocean. The roughly 100 km long Bao Bolong river's spring is situated in Senegal. Furthermore, BBWR includes the rivers "Salokini Bolong", "Mandon Bolong", "Duntu Malang Bolong", "Tanku Bolong" and "Katchang Bolong".
The Gambia river thereby formes the southern boundary of the protected area. Approximately two kilometres away on the opposite bank of the river, the roughly 115 km² large Kiang West National Park is located. A some two and a half kilometres wide zone of dense mangrove forest adjoines to the river. To the west lies the town of Salikenne (population about 4,000), which is also located near the Dobo Forest Park of 7.32 km². At the western border, the Jalabiro Forest Park of 0.59 km² can moreover be found.
The northern edge is bordered by the north bank road, Gambia's secondmost important highway. Along this road and the fork to Salikenne, several smaller towns like "Nja Kunda", "Minti Kunda", "Kekuta Kunda", "No Kunda", "Konti Kunda Sukoto", "Konti Kunda Nji" and "Illiassa" are situated. In the east, following a fork of nine km length from the north bank road, the town of "Katchang" of 1,700 residents can be reached. Farafenni, with a population of more than 30,000 being the division's largest city, lies roughly 18 km outside the outer limits of BBWR to the east. Summed up, there are 25 small towns which are situated at the wetland reserve's boundaries, one among them being inside the park limits proper. The inhabitants of these towns conduct fishery for personal requirements and their stock graze inside BBWR. Furthermore, they collect timber and fire wood there.
The terrain is flat, the highest elevation is cited with 12 metres above mean sea level.
Flora and fauna.
Ecosystems.
Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve includes a rich fauna and flora within multiple ecosystems. Important, protected tree species are pointed out by the "Ramsar Information Sheet", such as "Pterocarpus erinaceus", "Parinari macrophylla", the ana tree, wild mango trees ("Cordyla africana") and Néré ("Parkia biglobosa").
Mangroves.
Only in the mangrove forest of Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve the mangrove trees of the Senegambia region reach a height of 20 metres. The species "Rhizophora racemosa", red mangrove ("Rhizophora mangle") and black mangrove ("Avicennia germinans") are widespread among them.
Salt marshes.
In the salt marshes, e.g. the succulent "Sesuvium portulacastrum" and grasses like"Sporobolus spicatus", "Paspalum vaginatum" as well as "Diplachne fusca" can be found. In the savanna, which at times is flooded, "Phragmites karka", "Echinochloa pyramidalis" and paper reed are very common.
Savannah.
In the savannah, trees like "Daniellia oliveri", "Terminalia albida", "Bombax costatum and others are to be found. Among the shrubs one will encounter several species of figs, "Physostigma thonningii", "Terminalia avicennoides", "Anthostema senegalense" and "Nauclea latifolia". As of grasses, "Andropogon tectorum" and Gamba grass ("Andropogon gayanus"), "Beckeropsis uniseta" and "Pennisetum subangustum" are common.
Avifauna.
The Gambia is frequently visited by ornithologists as more than 540 species of birds have been described there in topic literature. Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve is one of the major targets for tourists and scientists who intend to explore the Gambia's manifold avifauna. Among the birds of BBWR, which include 268 species of 62 families, the "Ramsar Information Sheet" exemplarily lists the following:
Typical for a wetland, BBWR is the habitat of many water birds, which also include geese. Among them comb duck ("Sarkidiornis melanotos", spur-winged goose ("Plectropterus gambensis"), white-faced whistling duck ("Dendrocygna viduata"), garganey ("Anas querquedula"), northern pintail ("Anas acuta"), African pygmy goose ("Nettapus auritus") and the northern shoveler ("Anas clypeata").
The order of Ciconiiformes is represented by birds like western reef heron ("Egretta gularis"), little egret ("Egretta garzetta"), woolly-necked stork ("Ciconia episcopus"), hammerkop ("Scopus umbretta"), squacco heron ("Ardeola ralloides"), little bittern ("Ixobrychus minutus"), Goliath heron ("Ardea goliath"), great egret ("Egretta alba", marabou ("Leptoptilos crumeniferus"), night heron ("Nycticorax nycticorax"), grey heron ("Ardea cinerea"), cattle egret ("Bubulcus ibis") and the sacred ibis ("Threskiornis aethiopicus"). With their long legs, this division of birds searches the river banks for food.
The brackish water areas feature Charadriidae. Spur-winged lapwing ("Hoplopterus spinosus"), little stint ("Calidris minuta") and common sandpiper ("Actitis hypoleucos") can be found.
Among the colourful family of kingfishers, which preferably occur near open water, the woodland kingfisher, pied kingfisher ("Ceryle rudis"), swallow-tailed bee-eater ("Merops hirundineus"), giant kingfisher ("Ceryle maxima"), malachite kingfisher ("Alcedo cristata") and the blue-breasted kingfisher ("Halcyon malimbica") are notable.
Equally colourful are the west African examples of starlings. Among them, the violet-backed starling ("Cinnyricinclus leucogaster") and the long-tailed glossy-starling ("Lamprotornis caudatus") can be found inside the Bao Bolong Wetland Reserve.
The Coraciiformes include the Abyssinian ground-hornbill ("Bucorvus abyssinicus") and the European roller ("Coracias garrulus").
Also species of parrots can be found in west Africa, among them are the Senegal parrot ("Poicephalus senegalus") and the rose-ringed parakeet ("Psittacula krameri").
Inevitably linked to water are also pelicans and darters. The pink-backed pelican ("Pelecanus rufescens") and the African darter ("Anhinga rufa") live within the BBWR.
The birds of prey include species like African fish eagle ("Haliaeetus vocifer"), red-necked buzzard ("Buteo auguralis") and black kite ("Milvus migrans") as well as the bateleur ("Terathopius ecaudatus").
Moreover, African mourning doves ("Streptopelia decipiens") of the genus "Streptopelia" and the little swift ("Apus affinis") from the swift family have been spotted.
Fish and other water animals.
Among BBWR's ichthyofauna, some fish are noted in the "Ramsar Information Sheet": "Ethmalosa fimbriata", barracudas ("Sphyraena sp."), "Polydactylus quadrifilis", "Arius latiscutatus", "Pseudotolithus elongatus", "Pomadasys perotaei" and "Pseudotolithus bracygnathus". Also tilapia ("Tilapia") and mullets ("Mugilidae") occur in these waters.
Furthermore, a type of oyster, "Crassostrea gasar" and blue crab ("Callinectes sapidus") can be found.
The West African manatee ("Trichechus senegalensis"), a mammal, lives in the water between the mangroves and is categorized as an endangered species.
Moreover, the West African Crocodile ("Crocodylus suchus") is a common species of reptile.
Mammals.
Thirty-two species of mammals are known, the "Ramsar Information Sheet" lists the African clawless otter ("Aonyx capensis"), which is common to the area. Several species of antelopes like sitatunga ("Tragelaphus spekeii"), bushbuck ("Tragelaphus scriptus") and the duiker ("Cephalophinae") as well as warthogs ("Phacochoerus africanus").
Among the predators, the spotted hyena ("Crocuta crocuta") is common. Also leopards ("Panthera pardus") are attributed to the BBWR.
The primates, according to the "Ramsar Information Sheet", include the red colobus ("Piliocolobus"), the patas monkey ("Erythrocebus patas") and green monkeys ("Chlorocebus"). But also the Guinea baboon ("Papio papio") and the Senegal bushbaby ("Galago senegalensis") can be found.
Tourism.
The area is only moderately used for tourism. Ecotourism, including bird watching and common observations of nature, shall be further developed though. Next to this, boat tours through the mangroves are conducted.


Desertas Islands

The Desertas Islands (, , "Deserted Islands") are a small archipelago, in the Macaronesia region of the Atlantic Ocean. They are within the Portuguese Autonomous Region of Madeira, and part of the larger Madeira Archipelago.
The archipelago is located off the coast of Morocco. Deserta Grande Island is located about southeast of the eastern tip of Madeira Island, Ponta de São Lourenço.
Geography.
The archipelago of the Desertas Islands is a chain of three long and narrow islands that stretch over a north/south distance of . The Desertas Islands, from north to south with approximate area figures, are:
Administration.
Administratively, the islands are part of the Municipality of Santa Cruz in Madeira, and in the Santa Cruz civil parish.
The islands are a designated Portuguese nature reserve. A licence is needed to land there.
Natural history.
Though close to the main island of Madeira, where the islands can often be seen on the horizon, the geology of the Ilhas Desertas is starkly different. The high, long, and rocky islands of the group are barren of topsoil, and the only wildlife consists of about sixteen species of birds, including eight species of seabirds, and a scarce population of feral goats, rabbits, and rodents, brought from Portugal by the mariners who first touched the rocky shores. The Deserta Grande wolf spider and Madeiran wall lizard also exist in the fragile and arid ecosystem.
The only inhabitable island, with its own water source, is Deserta Grande. This water is however murky and scarce, and all historical attempts to colonise the island failed due to the impracticability of communal agriculture.
A tiny colony of Mediterranean monk seals inhabit the beaches, and since 1990 the islands have been constituted as a nature reserve for their protection. Although in 1998 the colony numbered only eight, now, the population numbers approximately forty seals. The only human presence is the permanent wardens, geologists, occasional boaters, and the few research stations on the islands.
Important Bird Area.
The Desertas archipelago has been recognised as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because of its seabird colonies. These include Fea's and Bulwer's petrels, Cory's and Barolo shearwaters, band-rumped storm petrels, common terns and Caspian gulls.


Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway

The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway is a New Mexico Scenic Byway and National Forest Scenic Byway located in Northern New Mexico. It begins and ends in Taos, New Mexico.
Route description.
The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway makes a loop through Taos following four main highways:
The byway encircles Wheeler Peak () of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It is the tallest mountain in New Mexico. The scenic byway passes through historic towns, alongside lakes and streams, and near ski resorts and recreational parks.
Taos.
In Taos is its historic district of old adobe buildings. Within the town are the Taos Plaza, homes of historic figures, galleries, shops and the ancient Taos Pueblo. Recreational opportunities include rafting on the Rio Grande.
North of Taos.
North of Taos NM 522 meets NM 38 at Questa, where Red River recreational opportunities include picnic facilities, fishing, and self-guided tours. The town of Questa is known for its artisans whose works are found at the Artesanos de Questa and historic santos and retablos are at the St. Anthony's Church.
Northeast of Questa, the Rio Grande and Red Rivers intersect in the Wild Rivers Recreation Area. East of Qesta is the Red River Valley—where there had been copper, lead, silver and gold mining. The town of Red River offers staged gunfights, shopping, a ski resort, and a mining museum. Traveling east on New Mexico State Road 38 (NM 38) is Bobcat Pass () which leads into the Moreno Valley and a view of the north side of Mount Wheeler.
Eastern end.
At the eastern edge of the scenic byway is Moreno Valley, which lies between Eagle Nest and Angel Fire. At the southernmost point of the valley is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial State Park. A ski resort and golf course are located south of the park on NM 434 in the village of Angel Fire. The ski resort's chairlift is used during the summer by hikers, sightseers and mountain bikers. From Angel Fire, west on US 64 is the Palo Flechado Pass () with a distant view of San Juan. Campsites, canyon trails, picnic areas, and artist's studios are located in the Canyon of the Rio Fernando de Taos.
History.
Early trails.
The earliest trails used by Plains Indians and Puebloan peoples were those created by buffalo and were followed for hunting. The buffalo were considered "the best civil engineers in the world" for their ability to find the easiest, lowest paths through the mountains. The Old Kiowa Trail, still used today by Native Americans on horseback, is at the base of the Rocky Mountains. An old Navajo Trail criss-crossed the Rio Grande before heading west at Warmsley Crossing (John Dunn Bridge at Arroyo Hondo) There were additional trails that radiated out of Taos from Taos Plaza.
Trails of the 19th century.
A key trail into Taos was "The Old Taos Trail", which began at the Bent's Fort on the Arkansas River in Colorado, west of the Spanish Peaks, through Sangre de Cristo Pass (west of Walsenburg, Colorado), Old La Veta Pass and into Questa area (NM 522/NM38 area).
It came into Taos at either Taos Pueblo road or half a mile west on Couse Hill. Another route into Taos was along the Cimarron Route. It was this route that most wagon trains entered into the Rio de Fernando canyon valley. The two routes are the "mountain route" and the "Cimarron Route" of the Santa Fe Trail. One of the Cimarron Mountain Routes paralleled the present U.S. Route 64 from I-25 to Cimarron. Trails branched off of the Cimarron Route into several communities. A branch of the route from Bent's Fort went into Taos in or after the founding of the Santa Fe Trail in 1821. The first wagon train was led by Charles Bent in 1831. Bent, the brother of William Bent of Bent's Fort, became the most successful merchant in Taos before being made governor of New Mexico.
Highways from the 20th century.
History of individual highways:
Scenic byway designation.
The Enchanted Circle Scenic Byway was made one of the New Mexico Scenic Byways on July 31, 1998.
It was designated a National Forest Scenic Byway by the U.S. Forest Service on December 14, 1989.
Popular culture.
The movies "Easy Rider" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" were filmed in the area.


Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge

The Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife refuge in the southwestern part of Klamath County, Oregon, near the California border. It was established in 1978 to protect the nesting areas of bald eagles. The refuge is part of the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex and has an area of It is administered along with the other refuges in the complex from offices in Tulelake, California.


Annan River National Park

Annan River National Park (also known as Yuku Baja-Mulika) is a national park on Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, Australia. The Annan River from which the park gets its name, marks the northern and western extent of the park. To the east of the park is Walker Bay in the Coral Sea. The park was gazetted in 2006.
It was created to preserve the diversity of lowland vegetation types in the area. These include marine wetlands, eucalypt woodlands and the semi-evergreen vine thickets of the Dowling Range. It also protects places and species of cultural significance to the tradition owners.
Geography.
The park includes several peaks such as Mount Ellen, Mount Mcintosh, Dowlings Hills and Camp Hill. It is bisected by the Mulligan Highway. Annan River National Park lies within the Cape York Peninsula and Wet Tropics of Queensland bioregions.
Management.
The park is jointly managed by the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service and the Yuku Baja-Muliku Land Trust.
Environment.
There are three wetland areas in the park, covering a or 6.5% of the park's area.
The park provides habitat for the Bennett's tree-kangaroo. The red-tailed Burdekin plum is a fruit-bearing tree of cultural significance.
Facilities.
The park has no facilities.


Sulyukta Botanical Reserve

Sulyukta Botanical Reserve is a reserve located in Leilek District of Batken Province of Kyrgyzstan. It was established in 1975 to protect endemics tulips (Tulipa rosea Vved. and Tulipa kolpakowskiana Regel). The reserve occupies 30 hectares.


Yushan Island

Yushan Island () is in Xiangshan County in northeast Zhejiang province, Eastern China. It is the most southeastern island in Xiangshan, located 27 miles from Shipu Town (), near Ningbo City. It is situated in the north and south ocean current intersection belt, and is the line basis points of China’s territorial waters. The island's north section is the largest, with a total land area of 2.3 square kilometers.
There are three sub-islands called North Yushan (), South Yushan (), and the Five Tiger Reef ().
Yushan Island is known as "the first fishing area in Asia". The island contains unique reefs with crystal-clear seawater, in addition to being rich with fish, shellfish and algae resources — in total more than 300 types.
Nature.
In 2008, Yushan Island was registered as a national marine sanctuary to contain rich local marine ecosystem, and was also designated as agricultural grounds to promote natural resources including by artificial reefs. The seawater is so clear that the visibility can exceed 10 meters.
Today, 300 to 400 people reside on Yushan Island due in large part to the number of freshwater resources.


Biserujka

Biserujka is a cave located 6 km northeast of Dobrinj, in the village of Rudine, above Slivanjska Bay, in the island of Krk, Croatia.
An undistinguished stone house in the middle of a bare karst landscape hides the entrance to a cave 12 m under the surface. Although it is not very long if compared to other caves, only 110 m deep, the Biserujka cave has everything that is characteristic of karst phenomena. It has typical features such as stalactites and stalagmites, and also a gallery or hall, which is suitable for the holding of concerts. However, because of the low temperature, about 13 °C, people cannot stand being there for long periods of time, so only short musical pieces are performed. Since 1998, the cave has been arranged for sightseeing and the hosts can take groups of 25 at a time.


Cotahuasi Subbasin Landscape Reserve

The Cotahuasi Subbasin Landscape Reserve () is a protected area in Peru located in the Arequipa Region, La Unión Province. It protects part of the Central Andean puna and Sechura Desert ecoregions.


German Clock Road

The German Clock Road () or German Clock Route is a holiday route that runs from the Central Black Forest through the Southern Black Forest to the Baar region and thus links the centres of Black Forest clock manufacturing. Its is about 320 kilometres long.
Towns, villages and counties.
The towns and villages along the route (in alphabetic order) are Deißlingen, Eisenbach, Furtwangen, Gütenbach, Hornberg, Königsfeld, Lauterbach, Lenzkirch, Niedereschach, Rottweil, Schönwald, Schonach, Schramberg, Simonswald, St. Georgen, St. Märgen, St. Peter, Titisee-Neustadt, Triberg, Trossingen, Villingen-Schwenningen, Vöhrenbach, Waldkirch.
The counties through which the German Clock Road runs are Schwarzwald-Baar, Breisgau-Hochschwarzwald, Rottweil, Tuttlingen, Emmendingen and Ortenau.


Precision Group

Precision Group is an Australian private property investment and management company based in Sydney. Founded in the 1990s by Shaun Bonétt, it owns property in Australia and New Zealand.
History.
Precision Group was founded in 1994 by Shaun Bonett. Bonett originally worked closely with Ross Makris, who owned a separate company of a similar name. It made its first major acquisition in 1998 with Port Canal Shopping Centre along with the adjacent Customs House office building in Port Adelaide, South Australia from a syndicate managed by Babcock & Brown. In 1999, Precision then acquired Adelaide Central Plaza as a development project for $85 million from David Jones Limited, which was completed in 2000.
In 2006 Precision acquired MacArthur Central in Brisbane via a property swap transaction with Investa Property Group. The total value of the swap transaction was $186 million. Following the Global Financial Crisis in 2009, Precision refinanced over $250 million of its loan facilities with the Bank of China.
In January 2014, Precision developed Apple Inc.'s largest retail flagship store in Australia in Precision Group's MacArthur Central in Brisbane. Roger joined precision group around the same time. In 2015 Precision purchased the Chevron Renaissance Shopping Centre in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast of Queensland for $74 million from Arena Investment Management. In May 2016, Precision Group purchased Shore City Shopping Centre in Auckland, New Zealand for NZ$90 million. In November 2017, Precision acquired a 9 percent share in the data analytics technology startup SkyFii. In June 2018, the group began a $45 million redevelopment of the Port Adelaide Plaza mall. In May 2017, it announced it would sell two stakes worth $800 million from two of its properties in search of a joint venture partner.
The company is also an investor for Prezzee, a gift card startup.


Ettrick Conservation Park

Ettrick Conservation Park is a protected area located in the Australian state of South Australia in the locality of Ettrick about east of the state capital of Adelaide and about north-east of the city of Murray Bridge.
The conservation park consists of crown land described as “Allotment 99 in Deposited Plan 26809” in the cadastral unit of the Hundred of Ettrick. It came into existence on 31 October 2013 by proclamation under the "National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972". It is named after the Hundred of Ettrick. A separate proclamation on 31 October 2013 ensured the continuation of “existing rights of entry, prospecting, exploration or mining” regarding the land under the "Mining Act 1971" and the "Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000". As of 2016, it covered an area of .
In 2013, it was described by Ian Hunter, then Minister of Sustainability, Environment and Conservation to "The Murray Valley Standard" as follows:… the park would be an important refuge for species such as malleefowl and regent parrot. "Most of the park is open mallee, which is made up of several species of eucalypt, but it is also home to one of the few remaining examples of tussock grassland in this part of the Murray-Darling Basin," … "This area is listed as critically endangered, so it's vital we do everything we can to protect it." It is also home to birds including the shy heathwren, hooded robin, white-winged chough, jacky winter, restless flycatcher and painted buttonquail.
The conservation park is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area.


Blanchard Springs Caverns

Blanchard Springs Caverns is a cave system located in the Ozark–St. Francis National Forest in Stone County in northern Arkansas, 2 miles off Highway 14 a short distance north of Mountain View. It is the only tourist cave owned by the United States Forest Service and the only one owned by the Federal government outside the National Park System. Blanchard Springs Caverns is a three-level cave system, all of which can be viewed on guided tours.
The Dripstone Trail runs through the uppermost level of caverns for about a half-mile and opened in 1973. The Discovery Trail opened in 1977 and loops through a 1.2-mile section of the cavern, descending to the lower level of the cave, 366 feet underground, as well as to the Natural Entrance, about 100 feet below ground at that point, following the stream bed of the springs that created the cavern. This trail includes the Rimstone Dams, which create pools along the stream bed, and the Ghost Room, a small but very well decorated room in the uppermost level, with its huge white flowstone. Also offered is a "Wild Cave" tour which allows access to undeveloped parts of the cave to more adventurous visitors. It follows the upstream section of the cave, allowing visitors to see all three levels as the original explorers did, continuing beyond where the Discovery Trail ends.
History.
Residents knew about the cave by the 1930s and called it Half-Mile Cave. Systematic explorations began in the 1950s and continued sporadically through the 1960s. Explorers discovered a skeleton in the cave in 1955 which were incomplete; a cause of death could not be ascertained. The caverns were opened to the public in 1973 after 10 years of development on the Dripstone Trail.
Geology.
With 8.1 miles of surveyed passage, Blanchard is the second longest cave in Arkansas and the largest in volume. The limestone rock from which the caves and their formations developed was laid down in an ancient sea more than 350 million years ago. The cave is in middle Ordovician to lower Mississippian rocks and extends through six stratigraphic formations. The cave has shown over 5 levels of passage development but the upper two levels have eroded away as deepening valleys on the surface cut into them. The cave's formation was largely phreatic in nature (formed below the water table) and passages have elliptical cross-sections typical of these formations. During the cave's development, active streams have been pirated from one level down to another without much vadose erosion occurring. The present stream currently rises from the cave at Blanchard Springs itself, at the same temperature as the cave, a constant, year-round 58 °F (14 °C).
Most of the lower-level Discovery Route is in the approximately 100-foot thick Plattin limestone whereas the Dripstone tour route in the uppermost level of the cave spans 3 units, the Boone Chert, Cason Shale, and the Fernvale Limestone.
Blanchard remains a "living" cave in part because of the care given by visitors and the United States Forest Service. Thus the formations inside continue to grow as calcite is actively deposited by seeping and dripping water. One of the outstanding examples of formation growth is the Giant Flowstone, one of the largest in the U.S., at 164 feet long, 33 feet wide, and 30 feet thick.


Sokhondo Nature Reserve

Sokhondo Nature Reserve () (also Sokhondinskiy) is a Russian 'zapovednik' (strict nature reserve) in the south of Eastern Siberia, 25 km north of the border with Mongolia. It is the farthest source of the Amur River, and is centered on the Sokhondo mountain massif (), in the highest sector of the Khentei-Chikoy Highlands in the Sokhondo mountain range. Sokhondo has two peaks (Big Sokhondo and Little Sokhondo), and is an ancient volcano. Also within the borders are many lakes of glacial origin. In 1985, Sokhondo was named a UNESCO MAB (Man and Biosphere) Biosphere Reserve. The reserve is situated in the Chita district of Chita Oblast.
Topography.
The Sokhondo Reserve is in a mountainous area of the trans-Baikal region (east of Lake Baikal). The two main peaks (Big Sokhondo and Little Sokhondo) are within 100 meters of each other in height, but are separated by rivers and valleys. To the southeast of the Sokhondo massif is the Altan-Kyra Depression, an area of Mongolian steppe character. The mountains of Sokhondo are on the continental divide between the Pacific and Arctic drainages, with some rivers flowing into the Yenisei River and north, while others flow to the Onon River which is one of the main tributaries of the Amur River to the east. Sokhondo is across the border from Onon-Balj National Park in Mongolia.
Climate and Ecoregion.
Sokhondo is located in the "Trans-Baikal conifer forests" ecoregion, a region of extensive conifer forests, primarily of Dahurian larch, in the mountains and hills east and southeast of Lake Baikal.
The climate of Sokhondo is "Subarctic climate, dry winter" (Köppen climate classification Subartic climate(Dwc)). This climate is characterized by mild summers (only 1-3 months above ) and cold winters having monthly precipitation less than one-tenth of the wettest summer month.
Flora and fauna.
Sokhondo is in the transition zone where two biogeographic zones meet: the East Siberian Taiga and Mongolian-Manchurian Steppe. The former dominates, with 85% of the reserve being forested. The light coniferous taiga is of larch (Larix gmelinii) and pine (Pinus sylvestris). The dark taiga (1,600 - 1,800 meters) is of cedar (Pinus sibirica), spruce (Picea obovata) and fir (Abies sibirica). In the upper forest belt up to 85% of the soil is covered with mosses. At the higher elevations the plant life is that of mountain tundra, with elfin cedar (Pinus pumila). In between are alpine meadows. Among the brush species, Dahurian rhododendron is common. Scientists on the reserve have recorded over 1,000 species of vascular plants.
By far the most common predator in the territory is the sable, which lives at much higher density in the reserve boundaries than in the surrounding area. It is followed by the weasel, stoat, wolf and a dozen other predators. The territory supports significant numbers of ungulates - red deer, moose, musk deer, and Siberian roe deer. Scientists on the reserve have recorded 276 species of birds, of which 168 are breeding.
Eco-education and access.
As a strict nature reserve, the Sokhondo 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 nine '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 village of Kyra, Russia.


Desert Camp Conservation Reserve

Desert Camp Conservation Reserve is a protected area in the Australian state of South Australia located in the state's Limestone Coast in the gazetted locality of Marcollat about south of the town centre in Keith. It is classified as an IUCN Category VI protected area.
The reserve occupies crown land in section 55 of the cadastral unit of the Hundred of Marcollat on the eastern side of the Riddoch Highway which runs from Keith in the north to Naracoorte in the south. It is also bounded to the north by Rowney Road which runs from Bordertown in the north-east to Kingston SE in the south-west and which stops at the Riddoch Highway and resumes about a to the south.
Background.
The crown land was dedicated as a conservation reserve on 11 November 1993 and placed ‘’under the care, control and management of the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources.” Its name is derived from the Desert Camp Conservation Park which is located to the immediate west on the western side of Rowney Road.
The area was reported in 1997 as being “the largest block of remnant vegetation in the Hundred of Marcollat” and which “accounts for over half of the remaining native vegetation in blocks greater than 25 hectares in that Hundred.” It was also reported that the following eight distinct vegetation associations have been identified within the conservation reserve with at least 248 recorded species of native plants including 17 listed as “rare or threatened in the south east”, 10 listed as “either threatened or rare in South Australia” and the Metallic sun-orchid ("Thelymitra epipactoides") which was “considered endangered nationally:”
Fauna observed in the conservation reserve as of 1997 include “sixteen bird species of high conservation significance” including the black-chinned honeyeater which was reported as being “rare” and the following two species which were reported as being “vulnerable in South Australia” - the eastern yellow robin and the malleefowl. The conservation reserve was reported in 1997 as being “rarely used by park visitors” and that “most common visitors are field naturalists and bird watchers...”


Grutas de Bustamante

Grutas de Bustamante (Bustamante Caves), also known as Palmito Caves, are a group of natural caves located in the municipality of Bustamante, Nuevo Leon. The caves are located in an entrance of the mountains known as Sierra de Gomas, the Bustamente caves are located 107 kilometers northwest outside Monterrey and 7 kilometers southwest Bustamante municipal seat.
History.
The geologic formation that the caves formed in is thought to have formed between 50 and 60 million years ago. During the prehistoric era, the caves were submerged in sea water that is the reason marine fossils like sea shells and snail shells can be seen on the cave walls. Bustamante caves like the García caves which were discovered a few years earlier, remained hidden for thousands of years until 1906.
The discovery of the Bustamante caves was in 1906 when a local peasant was looking for palmito plant in the Gomas mountains, when he realized there was a small hole in the top of the mountain, so he decided to dig until he could go into a cave and to his surprise he found a wide variety of stalactites and stalagmites inside.


San Juan Preservation Trust

The San Juan Preservation Trust is a private, non-profit and membership-based land trust dedicated to helping people and communities conserve land on the San Juan Islands in Washington state. Noted for its $6.4 million purchase of Vendovi Island in 2010 and its $18.5 million acquisition of Turtleback Mountain on Orcas Island in 2006, the Preservation Trust has permanently protected 270 properties, 38 miles of shoreline and 16,000 acres on 20 islands, including land now managed as public parks, nature preserves, wildlife habitat, and working farms and forests. The organization was founded in 1979. The first transaction of the trust was made by Ernest K. Gann and Dodie Post Gann in 1980, when they donated 38 acres of their farm as a working agriculture preserve.


Ling Cave


Badshahi Mosque

The Badshahi Mosque (Punjabi: "The Imperial Mosque") is a Mughal era mosque in Lahore, capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab, Pakistan. The mosque is located west of Lahore Fort along the outskirts of the Walled City of Lahore, and is widely considered to be one of Lahore's most iconic landmarks.
The Badshahi Mosque was constructed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb between 1671 and 1673. The mosque is an important example of Mughal architecture, with an exterior that is decorated with carved red sandstone with marble inlay. It remains the largest mosque of the Mughal-era, and is the second-largest mosque in Pakistan. After the fall of the Mughal Empire, the mosque was used as a garrison by the Sikh Empire and the British Empire, and is now one of Pakistan's most iconic sights.
Location.
The mosque is located adjacent to the Walled City of Lahore, Pakistan. The entrance to the mosque lies on the western side of the rectangular Hazuri Bagh, and faces the famous Alamgiri Gate of the Lahore Fort, which is located on the eastern side of the Hazuri Bagh. The mosque is also located next to the Roshnai Gate, one of the original thirteen gates of Lahore, which is located to the southern side of the Hazuri Bagh.
Near the entrance of the mosque lies the Tomb of Muhammad Iqbal, a poet widely revered in Pakistan as the founder of the Pakistan Movement which led to the creation of Pakistan as a homeland for the Muslims of British India. Also located near the mosque's entrance is the tomb of Sir Sikandar Hayat Khan, who is credited for playing a major role in preservation and restoration of the mosque.
Background.
The sixth Mughal emperor, Aurangzeb, chose Lahore as the site for his new imperial mosque. Aurangzeb, unlike the previous emperors, was not a major patron of art and architecture and instead focused, during much of his reign, on various military conquests which added over 3 million square kilometres to the Mughal realm.
The mosque was built to commemorate Aurangzeb's military campaigns in southern India, in particular against the Maratha king Shivaji. As a symbol of the mosque's importance, it was built directly across from the Lahore Fort and its Alamgiri Gate, which was concurrently built by Aurangzeb during construction of the mosque.
History.
Construction.
The mosque was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1671, with construction overseen by the Emperor's foster brother, and Governor of Lahore, Muzaffar Hussein - also known by the name Fidai Khan Koka. Aurangzeb had the mosque built in order to commemorate his military campaigns against the Maratha king Chhatrapati Shivaji. After only two years of construction, the mosque was opened in 1673.
Sikh era.
On 7 July 1799, the Sikh army of Ranjit Singh took control of Lahore. After the capture of the city, Maharaja Ranjit Singh used its vast courtyard as a stable for his army horses, and its 80 "Hujras" (small study rooms surrounding the courtyard) as quarters for his soldiers and as magazines for military stores. In 1818, he built a marble edifice in the Hazuri Bagh facing the mosque, known as the Hazuri Bagh Baradari, which he used as his official royal court of audience. Marble slabs for the baradari may have been plundered by the Sikhs from other monuments in Lahore.
During the First Anglo-Sikh War in 1841, Ranjit Singh's son, Sher Singh, used the mosque's large minarets for placement of "zamburahs" or light guns which were used to bombard the supporters of Chand Kaur, who had taken refuge in the besieged Lahore Fort. In one of these bombardments, the fort's Diwan-e-Aam (Hall of Public Audience) was destroyed, but was subsequently rebuilt in the British era. During this time, Henri de La Rouche, a French cavalry officer employed in the army of Sher Singh, also used a tunnel connecting the Badshahi mosque to the Lahore fort to temporarily store gunpowder.
In 1848, the Samadhi of Ranjit Singh was built for the Sikh ruler Ranjit Singh at a site immediately adjacent to the mosque after his death.
British Rule.
In 1849 the British seized control of Lahore from the Sikh Empire. During the British Raj, the mosque and the adjoining fort continued to be used as a military garrison. The 80 cells built into the walls surrounding its vast courtyard were demolished by the British after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, so as to prevent them from being used for anti-British activities. The cells were replaced by open arcades known as "dalans".
Because of increasing Muslim resentment against the use of the mosque as a military garrison, the British set up the Badshahi Mosque Authority in 1852 to oversee the restoration and to re-establish it as a place of religious worship. From then onwards, piecemeal repairs were carried out under the supervision of the Badshahi Mosque Authority. The building was officially handed back to the Muslim community by John Lawrence, who was the Viceroy of India. The building was then re-established as a mosque.
In April 1919, after the Amritsar Massacre, a mixed Sikh, Hindu and Muslim crowd of an estimated 25,000-35,000 gathered in the mosque's courtyard in protest. A speech by Gandhi was read at the event by Khalifa Shuja-ud-Din, who would later become Speaker of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.
Extensive repairs commenced from 1939 onwards, when Sikandar Hayat Khan began raising funds for this purpose. Renovation was supervised by the architect Nawab Alam Yar Jung Bahadur. As Khan was largely credited for extensive restorations to the mosque, he was buried adjacent to the mosque in the Hazuri Bagh.
Post-independence.
Restoration works begun in 1939 continued after the Independence of Pakistan, and were completed in 1960 at a total cost of 4.8 million Rupees.
On the occasion of the 2nd Islamic Summit held at Lahore on 22 February 1974, thirty-nine heads of Muslim states offered their Friday prayers in the Badshahi Mosque, including, among others, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto of Pakistan, Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Muammar Gaddafi, Yasser Arafat, and Sabah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah of Kuwait. The prayers were led by Mawlānā Abdul Qadir Azad, the then "khatib" of the mosque.
In 1993, the Badshahi Mosque in a tentative list as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 2000, the marble inlay in the main prayer hall was repaired. In 2008, replacement work on the red sandstone tiles on the mosque's large courtyard was begun using red sandstone imported from the original Mughal source near Jaipur, in the Indian state of Rajasthan.
Architecture.
As a gateway to the west, and Persia in particular, Lahore had a strong regional style which was heavily influenced by Persian architectural styles. Earlier mosques, such as the Wazir Khan Mosque, were adorned in intricate "kashi kari", or Kashan style tile work, from which the Badshahi Mosque would depart. Aurangzeb chose an architectural plan similar to that of Shah Jehan's choice for the Jama Masjid in Delhi, though built the Badshahi mosque on a much larger scale. Both mosques feature red sandstone with white marble inlay, which is a departure from typical mosque design in Lahore, in which decoration is done by means of intricate tile work.
Entryway of the complex.
Entrance to the mosque complex is via a two-storey edifice built of red sandstone which is elaborately decorated with framed and carved paneling on each of its facades. The edifice features a muqarna, an architectural feature from the Middle East that was first introduced into Mughal architecture with construction of the nearby and ornate Wazir Khan Mosque.
The mosque's full name "Masjid Abul Zafar Muhy-ud-Din Mohammad Alamgir Badshah Ghazi" is written in inlaid marble above the vaulted entrance. The mosque's gateway faces east towards the Alamgiri Gate of the Lahore Fort, which was also commissioned by Aurangzeb. The massive entrance and mosque are situated on a plinth, which is ascended by a flight of 22 steps at the mosque's main gate which. The gateway itself contains several chambers which are not accessible to the public. One of the rooms is said to contain hairs from the Prophet Muhammad's, and that of his son-in-law Ali.
Courtyard.
After passing through the massive gate, an expansive sandstone paved courtyard spreads over an area of 276,000 square feet, and which can accommodate 100,000 worshipers when functioning as an "Idgah". The courtyard is enclosed by single-aisled arcades.
Prayer hall.
The main edifice at the site was also built from red sandstone, and is decorated with white marble inlay. The prayer chamber has a central arched niche with five niches flanking it which are about one third the size of the central niche. The mosque has three marble domes, the largest of which is located in the centre of the mosque, and which is flanked by two smaller domes.
Both the interior and exterior of the mosque are decorated with elaborate white marble carved with a floral design common to Mughal art. The carvings at Badshahi mosque are considered to be uniquely fine and unsurpassed works of Mughal architecture. The chambers on each side of the main chamber contains rooms which were used for religious instruction. The mosque can accommodate 10,000 worshippers in the prayer hall.
Minarets.
At each of the four corners of the mosque, there are octagonal, three-storey minarets made of red sandstone that are tall, with an outer circumference of 67 feet and the inner circumference is eight and half feet. Each minaret is topped by a marble canopy. The main building of the mosque also features an additional four smaller minarets at each corner of the building.


Southcore Financial Centre

The SouthCore Financial Centre is a new building located in downtown Toronto, Canada. The building is central to the redevelopment of the area in a new neighborhood known simply as South Core.
In October 2013, Delta Hotels announced a new flagship hotel central to South Core.


Marine Protected Areas of Canada

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) () are zones within Canadian waters where the marine environment enjoys a high level of environmental protection. Marine Protected Areas are governed by the "Oceans Act" of 1996 and administered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Scope of protection.
Designation as a Marine Protected Area does not automatically prohibit fishing and other activities. Activities within these areas are assessed on a case-by-case basis and will be allowed if they are consistent with the conservation objectives of the specific area.
On 25 April 2019, new standards were adopted for marine protected areas that prohibit four industrial activities: oil and gas activities, mining, dumping, and bottom trawling. These standards do not retroactively void existing oil and gas licenses, or void previously approved bottom trawling activities. Instead, the department will assess each issue of these now prohibited activities on a case-by-case basis to ensure they're in line with the conservation objectives of the specific area.
Adding to the system.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada collaborates with interested and affected parties to provide input into the establishment of a marine protected area. When an area is under consideration to become a marine protected area, it is identified as an "Area of Interest". If further study is required to develop an appropriate long-term conservation approach, it is identified as a "Study Area".
The department determines the viability of a proposal based upon the ecological, biophysical, social, cultural, and economic aspects of the area. Based on the overview and assessment reports, the conservation objectives of the proposed MPA are elaborated upon and the regulatory measures are developed. The proposal is then published in "Canada Gazette, Part I" for public comment, at which point regulations may be modified to reflect comments received. Once finalized, official MPA designation occurs when its regulations are published in "Canada Gazette, Part II".
List of Marine Protected Areas.
As of September 2020, there were 14 Marine Protected Areas covering an area of approximately , or about 6% of Canada’s marine and coastal areas.


Mochi Gate

The Mochi Gate locally known as Mochi Darwaza (موچی دروازہ) located in south of the Walled City of Lahore between Akbari and the Shah Alam Gates in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. It is one of the thirteen gates of the Walled City of Lahore which were built during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar and were connected with a thirty feet high fortified wall for guarding the city. The gates were demolished during the British rule but were again constructed in early 1900s but during the riots of 1947 some gates were burnt down and some were demolished, Mochi Gate was one of them. The structure of the gate does not exist now but the streets, mohallah and buildings of high architectural value can still be seen in its streets.
There are several traditions associated with the name of this very gate. According to some historians, it is named after Moti, a guard of the gate during the Mughal era, who guarded and looked after the gate all his life. On the other hand however most historians agree that “Mochi” is the marred form of Urdu word “Morchi” which means “Trench Soldier”. The Governor's "Piada" units used to be stationed here. This origin of its name is further supported by the fact that the different streets (mohallas) inside this gate still bear their old names like Mohalla Teer-garan (arrow craftsmen), Mohalla Kaman-garan (bow craftsmen).
The bazaar around the Mochi gate is renowned for its shops of Dried fruit, kites and fireworks. Mochi Gate is also known for ancient Mosque of Muhammad Saleh Kamboh, teacher of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Further inside is the Mohalla Shia, where the traditional Shia of Lahore still gather annually, at Moharram (first lunar month of the Islamic calendar) to carry out the Majaalis (Shia religious gatherings) and Maatum (self chest beating) to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. A number of Imaam Bargahs in the form of Haveli's are situated here. Apart from their religious significance, some are a masterpiece depicting the architecture of their times. Mubarak Haveli, Nisar Haveli and Laal Haveli are, but a few examples. A Kebab Shop (Saeein Kabab wala), a sweet mart (Fazal Sweets and Rafiq Sweets) and an Old Khoo (water well)(Lal Khoo) are some of the well known features of Mohalla Shia. In front of the Laal Haveli is the Mochi Baagh. This, until recently, was a lush green patch with shady trees, it is barren now due to its landscaping to become a "speaker's corner" in the light of its history of it having numerous renowned political leaders addressing the crowds at this place. Now this garden ("baagh") is used for wedding ceremonies by locals and for playing cricket by the local boys.
Mochi Baagh.
Mochi Baagh/Garden (موچی باغ) is Pakistan's most famous political rally spot. Mochi Baagh is located on the immediate right of Mochi Gate. Many renowned political leaders of Pakistan and the pre-independence era have delivered speeches here.
Until the late 1980s, it was commonly held that unless a politician could deliver a speech to a packed Mochi Baagh crowd s/he was not worth his/her political salt.
Currently, Mochi Baagh has been spoiled by the right half of it being encroached upon by heavy duty truck drivers using it as a parking stand in violation of public area laws.
In March 2007, the PHA (Parks and Horticultural Authority) announced that maintenance works would be carried out in Mochi Baagh. Works proposed include the construction of a 27x33 (feet) stage, maintenance of stairs around the park, setting up of fountains, jogging tracks, the installation of benches and lights and the planting of grass.


Thorne Head Preserve

Thorne Head Preserve is a 96 acre (39 hectare) property administered by Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT) located at the extreme end of High Street in north Bath, Maine which includes half a mile of shoreline alongside Whiskeag Creek and the Kennebec River. The land was purchased in 2000.
The wildlife and nature preserve forms one end of the Whiskeag Trail and as such provides a trailhead kiosk with maps and rules and parking for about a dozen vehicles although there are no toilet or picnic facilities. The Preserve is open to the public free of charge from dawn till dusk daily.
History.
There is evidence that Thorne Head has been occupied and utilized since the Abenaki traded along the river and gathered wild rice there and was known to European settlers as early as 1605, when George Waymouth entered the Kennebec River with "'some noblemen of England'" and "'traversed as far to the north as the Whizgig River"' (the name referring to a whirling stream now refers to the Whiskeag Creek, which itself is said to derive from a native name, "Kowasskik" or "Weskeag" meaning 'Grassy River').
In 1640, land was deeded to the first European settlers, and from here white pine logs were exported back to England to provide wood for shipbuilding the King's Navy. Thorne Head continued to be logged into the 20th century and then the cleared areas became grazing pasture. Stone wall boundaries marking these pastures can still be seen today.
In 1751 Michael Thornton was the first resident to locate to Thorne Head and in 1752 the post road that led from Boston via Portland and Brunswick and along what is now High Street was extended through onto the first Kennebec River ferry where it crossed the river at the Narrows. The area known as Thorne Head has also been known as "Thorn's Head" as recently as 1906.
In 1993, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife performed a critical habitat survey and noted Thorne Head as a high value habitat. In 1998, KELT began the process of purchasing the property and in April 2000 Thorne Head Preserve officially opened and became part of the Whiskeag Trail. In 2004 a gift of over 60 acres (24 hectares) - an area known as Sewall Woods, the woodlot adjacent to the Sewall family's dairy farm - was made to the trust by William D. Sewall. This in turn was enlarged in 2006 by the purchase of a further 26 acres (10.5 hectares) from Bath Housing Authority.
Flora and fauna.
On October 29, 2017, a large storm crossed Maine causing widespread damage. Thorne Head did not escape this storm and many trees were broken or felled as a result. Many trees had to be removed from the public trails in the following week. The damage caused large openings to appear in what was dense woodland meaning that many of the trails are far more exposed than they were previously.
The preserve contains mixed forest which includes specimens of white pine (Pinus strobus), red pine (Pinus resinosa); a stand of which can be found at the northern end of the preserve, and Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). It is possible to also find examples of oak and maple.
The preserve protects over half a mile (0.8 km) of shoreline on both the Kennebec River and Whiskeag Creek. Many fish species live in the waters here including striped bass and short-nosed sturgeon.
It is possible on the trails to see deer, fox, raccoons and mink as well as various wild birds such as owls, bald eagles and migrating warblers.
Walking Trails.
There are approximately 3.5 miles (5.6 km) of trails to explore. The trails are marked with colored paint blazes on the trees. There are usually paper maps available from the kiosk at the entrance to the Preserve. From the entrance it is possible to take either of two trails. Bath Gardening Club has placed signs throughout the preserve identifying various tree and plant species.
The terrain of the Preserve is varied. On most trails the elevation is gentle and the trails are easy to follow. Along the shoreline, the terrain drops off steeply.
Overlook Trail.
The Overlook Trail runs roughly north and ends at the 'Mushroom Cap', a stone sculpture approximately a 10-minute walk from the car-park. This trail also intersects with the Whiskeag Trail, The Narrows, The Ridge Runner Trail and the Mushroom Cap Trail. There is also a short connecting trail known as The Sunset Loop.
Whiskeag Trail.
The Whiskeag Trail is the longer of the two and ends up at Whiskeag Creek. Part of this trail is along the shoreline. It intersects with the Narrows Trail that loops around the tip of the peninsula. The Whiskeag Trail itself is a 5-mile (8 km) biking and hiking trail which connects Thorne Head Preserve to the Bath Area Family YMCA.


Regional Park of Decima-Malafede

The Nature Reserve of Decima-Malafede is a protected natural area of Lazio, Italy, entirely included in the territory of the Municipality of Rome. It has an area of approximately 6,145 hectares.
The Reserve was established in 1997.
The park is in the southwest zone of the city of Rome, bounded by the Grande Raccordo Anulare, the Via Pontina, the Via Laurentina and the territory of the Municipality of Pomezia.
The park is notable for its population of wild boars, while sedimentary rocks contain human prehistoric remains.


Crown American

Crown American is a privately held American company that manages and develops commercial real estate. The corporate headquarters is in downtown Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in a building designed by architect Michael Graves.
History.
The company was founded in 1950 as Crown Construction. Frank J. Pasquerilla, who joined less than a year later, became president in 1956 and sole owner in 1961. The company's name was changed to Crown American in 1972 and in 1979 it acquired the Hess's department store chain.
In 1993, the company split into two entities. The shopping mall portion of the company became a publicly held real estate investment trust, Crown American Realty Trust, and Crown American Hotels controlled the company's hospitality businesses. At its peak, Crown American operated 30 shopping malls, the Hess's department store chain (with 73 locations), and 20 hotels and motels.
In 2003 the shopping mall development and management unit, Crown American Realty Trust, was sold to Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust. The hospitality unit, Crown American Hotels, was retained. In 2005, 22 of the company's 26 hotels were acquired by W2001 Eastern Hotel Realty, an affiliate of the Archon Group, which assumed responsibility for their management.
Frank Pasquerilla died from a stroke in 1999. His son, Mark E. Pasquerilla, serves as chairman of Crown American Hotels. Mark Pasquerilla joined the company in 1981 and was named president in 1990. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, completed a master of science degree in international relations at the London School of Economics, and studied international affairs at the University of Cologne. Michael Barletta is president and chief executive officer.
List of former malls.
Crown American has owned a total of 30 shopping malls during its history. When they merged with PREIT in 2003, they owned 26 malls, and were partners in one other. Crown American also owned a ground lease for an anchor pad at the Westgate Mall in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, though they did not own the mall itself.
Companies who own Crown American malls as of September 2020


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Giske Wetlands System

The Giske Wetlands System () is a Ramsar site located in the municipality of Giske in Møre og Romsdal county, Norway. It consists of six separate protected areas: two nature reserves and four wildlife sanctuaries. One of the nature reserves lies on the island of Giske and the five other areas are located on the island of Vigra in the same municipality.
The areas have been protected as a Ramsar site since 1996 because of their importance for migratory birds. There are large shallow areas with mudflats exposed during low tide. A lot of seaweed (Fucales and kelp) accumulates there, providing good conditions for birds in search of food. There are also marshes, damp beach meadows, and swamps in the wetland system.
The six areas are:


Yulen

Yulen () is a nature reserve in Pirin National Park, located in the homonymous mountain range in south-western Bulgaria. It is situated in Bansko Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province. Yulen was declared on 26 August 1994 to monitor the growth of alpine plant species without human influence, as well as to protect rare plant and animal species. It spans a territory of 3156 ha or 31.56 km2.
Geographic overview.
Yulen is situated at an altitude between 1600 m and 2851 m. The rocks are predominantly granite and gneiss, but there are also carbonate rock. The reserve is rich in water resources and protects a number of glacial lakes, such as the Vasilashki Lakes, Tipitski Lakes, Gazeyski Lakes, Polezhanski Lakes and others which are the source of several rivers. The climate is alpine due to the high altitude. The soils are mainly brown forest and alpine meadow soils.
Flora.
The flora consists of over 700 species of vascular plants; of them 44 are included in the Red Book of Bulgaria. Some of the important species are globeflower ("Trollius europaeus"), narcissus anemone ("Anemone narcissiflora"), "Aquilegia aurea", lake quillwort ("Isoetes lacustris") – the only place where this plant is found in Bulgaria, "Rhynchocorys elephas", curly sedge ("Carex rupestris"), etc. There are glacial relicts such as black crowberry ("Empetrum nigrum") and creeping sibbaldia ("Sibbaldia procumbens").
There are old growth forests of Macedonian pine ("Pinus peuce"), Scots pine ("Pinus sylvestris"), Norway spruce ("Picea abies") and European silver fir ("Abies alba"), as well as isolated groups of Bosnian pine ("Pinus heldreichii").
Fauna.
The most typical mammals in Yulen are brown bear, gray wolf and chamois. Birds are of species conservation importance and include spotted nutcracker, jack snipe, western capercaillie, rock partridge, horned lark, golden eagle, northern goshawk, etc. In sunnier areas there are common European vipers. The rivers and some of the glacial lakes have abundant brown trout populations.
Landmarks.
On the territory of the Yulen Reserve there is fortress from the Antiquity. The fortress is located at about 12 km from the town of Bansko. The excavations and the archaeological finds date its foundation from before the rule of the Roman Empire. The fortress is almost 100 m in length and between 25 and 40 m wide. The only visible remains of fortification is a small section of the northern walls.


Doolin Cave

Pol an Ionain (or Poll-an-Ionain) is a limestone cave near Doolin in County Clare, Ireland, on the western edge of The Burren. The name is the anglicised version of the Irish name , which is said to translate into "Ivy Cliff Cave". The cave attracted some controversy due to its development and marketing as a show cave in the early 21st century. It is now open to the public as Doolin Cave.
Great Stalactite.
The cave's most notable feature is the Great Stalactite. This is one of the world's longest known free-hanging stalactites, reported to be in length. This figure is a matter of some confusion, however, as it is also variously described as being 11 m, 6.2 m and 6.54 m. It is the longest known free-hanging stalactite in Europe, the three largest in the world being located in two caves in Mexico, and one in Jeita Grotto, Lebanon.
History.
The cave was discovered in 1952 by J. M. Dickenson and Brian Varley of Craven Pothole Club, an English caving club based in the Yorkshire Dales. Entry was arduous, requiring a long, difficult crawl.
In 1990, the land on which the cave is located was purchased by John and Helen Browne. The couple undertook an effort to develop the cave as a show cave. This provoked a reaction from the Speleological Union of Ireland who feared the shaft that would have to be blasted to access the cave would damage the stalactite. They also objected to the fact that the caving trip would be lost to cavers and that the cave was a short artificial trip with only one feature. After an extended period of court proceedings, financing and development, the cave was opened to the public as a show cave in 2006, subject to the conditions of not having a visitor centre on site and restricting visitor numbers. No blasting was allowed to construct the entrance shaft. The developers instead used as system whereby a hole was drilled and an air expander placed in the hole to break the rock.
In 2010, a visitor centre and café opened on the site.
Criticism and recognition.
The development of Pol an Ionain has been criticised for being environmentally damaging and for being devoid of any features beside the Great Stalactite.
In spite of this, Doolin Cave has twice received Gold Standard from Ecotourism Ireland, in 2013 and 2015. Doolin Cave is also a member of the Burren Ecotourism Network (B.E.N.), which commits to the "promotion of responsible tourism that conserves the environment and improves the wellbeing of local people". Members of the Burren Ecotourism Network adhere to the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark Code of Practice.


Pacuare River Forest Reserve

Pacuare River Forest Reserve (), is a protected area in Costa Rica, managed under the Caribbean La Amistad Conservation Area, it was created in 1985 by law 7018.


Webers

Webers (also known as Webers Hamburgers) is a hamburger restaurant on Ontario Highway 11, located 15 kilometres north of Orillia, Ontario that opened in July 1963. Webers grills their burgers over charcoal, with a grill man said to be able to flip up to 800 patties an hour. Long line ups are a common sight at the restaurant, which made the restaurant build a footbridge over the highway to provide access for guests from the southbound side. The restaurant's hamburger patties are also sold at Loblaws outlets.
As of 2009, Webers is reported to sell approximately 8000 hamburgers on a typically busy Friday. The restaurant is open weekends from Thanksgiving until Christmas, but closed from January to March break.
History.
Webers was opened on July 11, 1963, by Paul Weber Sr., to cater to cottage goers. By the 1970s, it became so popular that patrons on the opposite side of the highway would often risk injury running across the street to the restaurant. In 1981, the province built a traffic barrier along the median of the highway in an effort to stop the jaywalking. Even so, travellers heading toward Toronto climbed over the waist-high wall to get their food. The following year, the province took further precaution by erecting a fence on top of the barrier. In 1983, Paul Weber Jr., the founder's son, bought a footbridge from a Toronto lawyer that was being used as part of the CN Tower's SkyWalk over Front Street to provide safe access to southbound travelers. This bridge has the distinction of being the first and only privately owned bridge spanning a public highway in Ontario. In 1987, Webers installed three CN train cars, retrofitted to house their own meat processing facility. They have since added five train cars, one of which is used as an eatery. The founder's sons eventually took over the business before their father's death in 1994. Webers opened up additional restaurants in Barrie in the late 1980s; one in Orillia, off the highway, in 1995; and two outlets in Toronto Pearson International Airport in the late 1990s. These restaurants have since closed, leaving only the original location on Highway 11. In 2005, Webers began selling frozen hamburgers through Loblaws.
Paul Weber Jr. sold the company in 2004 to Guelph businessman Tom Rennie, to spend more time with his family. This gave Rennie rights to the Webers name, and control of the Highway 11 flagship location as well as the outlets at Pearson. John Weber, the founder's other son, retained control of the locations in Orillia and Barrie. Since the additional restaurants closed their doors, Rennie became the sole owner of Webers.
On July 19, 2018, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited Webers after visiting the Tim Horton Memorial Camp.


Antola Natural Regional Park

The Antola Natural Regional Park (in Italian "Parco naturale regionale dell'Antola") is a natural park in Metropolitan City of Genoa (Liguria, Italy). It gets the name from the highest mountain of the area, Monte Antola.
History.
The natural park was established by the "l.r." (regional law, in Italian "legge regionale") nr. 16, April 9, 1985 as modified by the l.r. nr. 12, February 22, 1995. Since April 30, 2014 the Environmental Management System of the park is certified according to ISO 14001 standards.
Geography.
Situated in the inland of the Italian Riviera between Genova and Rapallo, the park protects a scenic portion of the Ligurian Apennines. The protected area is mainly located near the border with Piemonte and south of the Apenninic watershed dividing Pianura Padana (tributary of the Adriatic Sea) from the Ligurian Sea drainage basin. It covers over 48 square kilometres (that is ), plus 5,832 ha under a lesser form of environmental protection named "aree contigue" (contiguous areas).
The park encompasses the uppermost part of four short valleys:
Concerned municipalities.
The natural park is shared among twelve different municipalities:
Busalla, Crocefieschi, Fascia, Gorreto, Montebruno, Propata, Ronco Scrivia, Rondanina, Savignone, Torriglia, Valbrevenna, Vobbia.
Main summits of the park.
Among the highest summits located in the park can be cited Monte Antola (1597 m), Monte Buio (1,497 m) and Monte Prelà (1406 m). Also relevant for some aspects are Rocche del Reopasso (956 m), a rocky summit with interesting climbing routes and a via ferrata, or Monte Reale (902 m), bearing an old Catholic sanctuary on its top and a free mountain hut all-year open next to the church.
Wildlife.
The most renowned among the animal species living in the park are wolves, that became extinct in the area around 1850 because of the increased number of inhabitants of that period. They reappeared around 150 years later coming from the central Apennine at the end of the 20th century, and are now an habitual presence in the protected area. They mostly prey on roe and fallow deer, which have also reappeared in the park in the last decades. Birds of prey are well represented by Buteo buteo, Accipiter nisus, Falco tinnunculus and Pernis apivorus. Quite common is the European green woodpecker and, close to the streams, "Alcedo atthis" (common kingfisher), while the population of red-legged partridge is shrinking due to the decreasing amount of farmland.
Transport.
Antola park can be reached by car via motorway (Autostrada A7, exits of Busalla, Ronco Scrivia or Isola del Cantone) or trunk road (S.S. 35 dei Giovi, S.S. 226 di Valle Scrivia and S.S. 45 di Val Trebbia). It is also linked to Genova by the scenic Genova-Casella narrow-gauge railway.
Hiking.
Around 270 km of footpaths, mostly signposted, are available within the park. The "Rifugio Parco Antola", a mountain hut located at 1460 m near the summit of monte Antola, was built by the "Ente Parco" and is now managed by the Club Alpino Italiano. It can accommodate up to 32 hikers or alpinists.


Cosmic Cavern

Cosmic Cavern is a limestone cave located in north Arkansas, near the town of Berryville, Arkansas. One brochure for the cave touts it as "Arkansas' Most Beautifully Decorated Cave." It is the "warmest" cave in the Ozarks, having a high humidity holding at a constant 64 °F year-round. Most caves in the area are between 55° and 60°.
The cave has an abundance of formations (speleothems), including stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone, cave popcorn, cave bacon, and a multitude of soda straws and helictites.
One section of the cave housing a particularly spectacular group of soda straws has been dubbed "Silent Splendor." One of the longest soda straw formations in the Ozarks, this large formation has straws hanging up to nine feet in length.
Lakes and life in the cave.
Cosmic Cavern has two cave lakes reported to be bottomless, since cave divers have never found the bottoms. They are among the largest underground lakes in the Ozarks. The south lake was artificially stocked with trout in 1957 where the tours could feed them from a platform above; however, the trout no longer reside in Cosmic Cavern's South Lake bringing it back to its natural state.
Rainfall is known to dramatically change the water level in the cave, which can fill and empty rapidly.
Other life in the cave includes the Ozark blind salamander. This salamander is endemic to the Ozarks, where it is found in several caves. It is related to the Olm ("Proteus anguinus"). Though there are also isopods and crawdads in the cave, these are not believed to be native. On occasion, you will also find tri-colored, pip, and brown bats just hanging out during the day while they sleep. In the “Twighlight Zone” of the cave (just inside the entrance) you'll sometimes find the grotto salamander with its beautiful colors of orange and black.
Discovery and history.
Cosmic Cavern was discovered in 1845 by a prospector named John Moore, who was searching for lead. The areas near the entrance to the cave were, upon its discovery, mined for much of its onyx. Soot from their torches can still be seen. Since these early visitors of the cave were afraid of bats, they originally dropped burning tires into the cave to smoke them out. After 70 years, the population is just now beginning to return.
The cave changed hands more than 14 times until its present owners, the Randy Langhover family, bought it in 1980.
Reportedly, the gangsters Bonnie and Clyde were in the neighborhood in the early 1930s. They used the road west of the cave as an escape from Missouri lawmen. They cruised by with a storekeeper they had kidnapped in Missouri in 1933, on their way to releasing him in the Berryville square.
Publicity and tours.
When the "Silent Splendor" room was discovered in 1993, it was featured nationally in newspapers and on CBS news. The cave has also appeared in an IMAX films, "Journey into Amazing Caves’’ & "Ozarks Legacy & Legends"
Cosmic cavern hosts a regular tourist tour as well as a "wild" cave tour. The "wild" cave tour takes visitors into the undeveloped parts of the cave where the most spectacular formations are found. The gift shop has a small museum on the second floor, highlighting some of the cave's history. One of the exhibits is a large sign that was found crumpled in a ditch, dating from when the cave was called "Mystery Cave."
The cave is part of the National Caves Association.


Cummeragh River Bog

Cummeragh River Bog is a national nature reserve of approximately in County Kerry.
Features.
Cummeragh River Bog was legally protected as a national nature reserve by the Irish government in 1994. The Bog was initially purchased by the Dutch Foundation for the Conservation of Irish Bogs in the 1990s with the Irish Peatland Conservation Council, along with Scragh Bog and Clochar na gCon. These three bogs were then later handed over to be managed by the Irish state.
The Bog is the most southerly intact Irish lowland blanket bog, and is deemed to be of international importance. The area is completely surrounded by the Cummeragh River and its tributary. The bog itself is in very good condition and is growing. It contains a network of hummocks and pools with an thick, established cover of vegetation. Among the fauna found on the reserve are curlews and the black slug as well as the rivers containing spawning areas for sea trout.


Nevada State Route 487

State Route 487 (SR 487) is a north–south state highway in White Pine County, Nevada. The route follows Baker Road from the Utah–Nevada state line southeast of Baker to U.S. Route 6 and U.S. Route 50 (US 6 and US 50). The route was previously known as State Route 73 prior to 1976. SR 487 is designated as a Nevada Scenic Byway.
Route description.
SR 487 begins as at the Utah state line northwest of Garrison, Utah as the continuation of Utah State Route 21, which serves the towns of Milford and Beaver. From there, the route heads northwesterly on Baker Road through the desert terrain. The highway comes upon the town of Baker, near which there are pockets of farmland. In Baker, the route intersects Lehman Caves Road (SR 488), which is the gateway to Great Basin National Park. Leaving the town, SR 487 continues northwesterly through more desert lands. The route ends at the intersection of US 6/US 50, approximately west of the Nevada–Utah state line.
History.
Baker Road first appears on official Nevada state highway maps as far back as 1937. Although the state's tourist maps did not show Baker Road carrying the State Route 73 designation until 1942, other state maps show the route number existing on the highway by 1937. The route was upgraded to a gravel road by 1948, and was fully paved by 1949.
SR 73 was eliminated from the state highway system as part of a mass renumbering of Nevada's state routes. The State Route 487 designation was assigned to the former alignment of SR 73 on July 1, 1976. The resulting change in the highway number was first seen on the 1978–79 edition of the official highway map. Since its re-designation as SR 487, there has not been any major changes to Baker Road.
The Nevada Department of Transportation designated State Route 487 as a Nevada Scenic Byway on March 27, 2000, simultaneously with SR 488 and the portion of US 6/US 50 near the highway's northern terminus.


Bacanga State Park

The Bacanga State Park () is a state park in the state of Maranhão, Brazil.
It protects the main water supply for the city of São Luís, the Batatã reservoir.
The park's environment has been badly degraded through illegal occupation, logging, removal of sand, and garbage dumping.
The water supply is threatened.
Location.
The Bacanga State Park is the São Luís municipality of Maranhão.
It has an area of .
It is just south of the city of São Luís, and north of the Região de Maracanã Environmental Protection Area, on the right bank of the Bacanga River.
It lies between residential zones with high demographic pressure and the industrial district.
The area surrounding the park had a population of 18,240 in 1991 and 60,564 in 2001.
There is no buffer zone to prevent environmental damage around the park.
The park contains the ruins of the Sítio do Físico industrial complex, about of ruined tanneries, furnaces, tanks and warehouses.
The Sítio do Físico was one of the main industrial complexes of Maranhão in the early 19th century.
The extensive mangrove forests nearby provided the tannin used to tan leather.
The Brazilian Institute of Cultural Heritage (IBPC) is involved in preserving the Sítio do Físico.
Eletronorte electrical transmission lines cross the park from north to south.
The Batatã water reservoir is in the east of the park, to the west of the Marechal Cunha Machado International Airport.
The reservoir provides the main water supply for the city of São Luís and for 30% of São Luís Island.
History.
For centuries the state of Maranhão has followed a policy of extracting resources to supply the metropolis.
In recent years living standards have fallen, in part due to uncontrolled use of natural resources.
The area occupied by the park suffered from the uncontrolled growth of the city of São Luís, with damage including fires, extraction of timber and sand, garbage accumulation and so on.
The Bacanga State Park was created by decree 7.545 of 7 March 1980 to conserve natural environments favorable to the development of scientific, educational and recreational activities, with an area of about .
The park was made the joint responsibility of the Secretariat of State for Natural Resources, Technology and Environment (SERNAT) and the water authority (CAEMA), who operates the reservoir.
Decree 7545 stated that the park's limits could be redefined to exclude areas that were irreversibly occupied or used, as long as this did not affect the characteristics of the park.
On 24 April 1984 the area of the park was redefined to cover about .
The reduction recognised that some areas had in fact been occupied and housing had been built.
The park management plan was prepared in 1998 and updated in 2001.
On 14 December 2001 another of occupied land was excluded.
Environment.
The park has poor laterite soil that is vulnerable to fires, deforestation, and erosion.
The climate is hot and humid.
It is in a flat, coastal area affected by tides, with mangroves.
There are small hills and valleys in the centre of the park.
The park preserves a remnant of Amazon rainforest whose natural springs feed the Batatã Dam.
The park also provides an essential environmental service in recharging the aquifers below the city.
Threats.
Maintenance activity on the electrical lines impacts the environment.
In 2001 there were small settlements with a total of 747 inhabitants within the park, felling trees, burning the vegetation and practising a primitive form of agriculture.
The responsible agencies, SEMA and CAEMA, were doing little to manage the situation, allowing informal occupation and construction in the park, deforestation, degradation of ravines and gullies and so on.
In 1995 satellite images showed that forest coverage was high forest 30.97%, low forest 25.90%, mangroves 17.37% and riparian forest 11.46%.
Forest covered more than 85% of the ground, while land used for agriculture, bare earth and buildings covered just over 9%.
In 2004 forest covered 80.61% of the area and disturbed land 16.1%.
Mangrove forest had been reduced from 17.37% to 10.82%, and high forest from 30.97% to 22.60%, while low forest had risen from 25.90% to 35.49%.
Deforestation had been caused by harvesting of timber for construction of houses and for firewood, and by removal of vegetation to allow stone and clay to be excavated for local sale.
Between 1995 and 2004 the area covered by surface water, mostly in the reservoir, decreased from 4.33% to 3.27%.
The reservoir was projected to continue shrinking, with the land around it used for construction.
In 2003 the reservoir was almost empty in dry periods.


Museum of the Albemarle

The Museum of the Albemarle is located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. It serves as the northeastern regional branch of the North Carolina Museum of History. This area of North Carolina is sometimes considered the birthplace of English North America, with close proximity to Roanoke Island and the "Lost Colony" of 1585.
Established in 1967 in a former NC Highway Patrol station south of Elizabeth City, the Museum has since expanded with a new three-story museum building in 2008 located on the Downtown Waterfront.
The core exhibit is "Our Story", a 6200 sq. ft. gallery featuring over 700 artifacts that interpret the rich history and culture of the 16-county Albemarle region of northeastern North Carolina.
Other branches of The North Carolina Museum of History include:
Junior docent program.
Museum of the Albemarle's Junior Docent program involves people between the ages of 13 and 18.