International Geographic

2022-06-07 03:05:02 Norway , Nærøyfjord

TheNærøyfjord is the narrowest fjord in the world. It is located in Norway, in the municipality of Aurlandom, Sogn-og-Fjordane province. Its width is only 250 m., length is 18 km, and the depth reaches 500 m. Mighty mountains, 1,700 m high, waterfalls, green valleys – all these wonders of nature surround the Nærøyfjord. 
This is one of the most popular destinations among tourists. In 2005, the fjord was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Numerous farmhouses are located on the banks of the Nærøyfjord, and the area itself was inhabited 10 thousand years ago. Agriculture plays an important role in this region, the land has been cultivated for more than 3k years.

The bay owes its beauty to steep slopes, waterfalls, glaciers, coniferous forests, blue lakes, winding rivers and mighty mountains. And in the warm waters of the bay there are seals that can be observed in good weather when they swim out to bask in the sun.
https://earth.google.com/web/search/N%C3%A6r%C3%B8yfjord Open / Comment

2022-06-06 19:50:18 US aid to Ukraine looks like a money laundering scheme — Marjorie Taylor Green

Newsweek: Representative Marjorie Taylor Green compared the billions of dollars that Congress is rushing to send to Ukraine with a "money laundering scheme," saying that nonprofit organizations are funded by "friends and families" of elected U.S. officials. Open / Comment

2022-06-06 15:09:50 Panama , Guna Yala

Gliding on a sailboat through the calm waters of the Caribbean Sea, there is a feeling that you are arriving in paradise. Tiny islands of sparkling white sand, covered with palm trees and green coconuts scattered across turquoise coastal waters, look too perfect to be real.

This is Guna Yala, also known as San Blas, an archipelago off the east coast of Panama containing more than 300 islands, 49 of which are inhabited by indigenous people known as kuna. There are more than 50,000 of them. The Koons still live the way their ancestors lived, living in small wooden huts covered with palm leaves, with smoldering logs in fireplaces and hammocks representing the only furniture.

The main entertainment here will be: scuba diving at the reef, relaxing on numerous beaches, local seafood dishes, as well as acquaintance with the local culture.
https://earth.google.com/web/search/Guna+Yala Open / Comment

2022-06-06 15:09:28 Carlowrie Castle #Scotland

Carlowrie Castle is a huge family residence near Edinburgh. The castle was built in 1852 and later restored by architect David Rind. It has always belonged to only two families: the Hutchison family, who built it, and the Marshall family, who acquired it 130 years later.
https://earth.google.com/web/search/Carlowrie+castle Open / Comment

2022-06-05 15:07:44 Charyn Canyon #Kazakhstan

Charyn Canyon is a gorge in Kazakhstan, stretching for 154 km along the valley of the Charyn River, near the border with China and Kyrgyzstan. This is one of the places on Earth, the beauty and grandeur of which is breathtaking. 

Considering the size and geological features of the Charyn Canyon, it is often referred to as the "younger brother" of one of the largest gorges on the planet – the American Grand Canyon. 

Reddish rocks and precipices with a depth of 150 to 300 m, similar to fortress towers, impress everyone who has been here.
https://earth.google.com/web/search/Charyn+Canyon Open / Comment

2022-06-05 03:13:53 Norway , The City of Alesund

Alesund is the most beautiful city in the west of Norway, located between Geiranger Fjord and Heurond Fjord, which are included in the UNESCO list. It is spread over seven islands. Due to the proximity of the Gulf Stream, the climate in Alesund is mild.

The city is unique in its landscape and architectural appearance: the city streets, repeating the relief, descend and rise in waves; most of the buildings in the center are built in a romantic, extraordinary and slightly fabulous Art Nouveau or Norwegian Art Nouveau style. The center of Alesund is located on the islands connected by the Hellebroa Bridge. The Old Town is cozy and peaceful, and there is always a lively atmosphere on the embankment and in the port.

Alesund is the center of the fishing industry, its fishing fleet is one of the most modern in Europe.

https://earth.google.com/web/search/Alesund Open / Comment

2022-06-04 15:12:41 Kaindy Lake #Kazakhstan

Kaindy is a fairly young lake in Kazakhstan with turquoise water and fir trees that seem to have grown into it.

The lake was formed during a limestone landslide and subsidence of the soil that occurred as a result of the Kemin earthquake in 1911.

It is located at an altitude of 1667 meters above sea level in the mountains, so the temperature there is low all year round.

The length is 400 meters. The average depth is 20 meters, in some places it reaches 30 meters. Around it are rocky mountains overgrown with fir trees. 

The landscape is simply extraordinary, and it is for this beauty that people come not only from Kazakhstan, but also from Russia and other CIS countries.

The reservoir has a blue or turquoise color, which varies depending on the weather. After the rains, it changes to brown. This is due to calcareous sediment and mineral impurities.
https://earth.google.com/web/search/Kaindy+Lake Open / Comment

2022-06-04 03:03:51 Iceland , Hallgrimskirkja Temple

Hallgrimskirkja is a Lutheran church in the center of Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. 

Gudjohn Samuelson, the architect of the above—mentioned church (his "pen" also belongs to the churches of Akureyri and Aubayarkirkya), prepared the project in 1937, the temple was built for 38 years — construction was started in 1945 and completed in 1986.

This unique church is clearly visible from anywhere in the city and serves as a reliable landmark on the terrain, since it is the tallest building in Reykjavik: the distance to the top of the bell tower is 75 meters. The temple is named after Hallgrimur Pietursson, a famous Icelandic artist, spiritual leader, poet, who wrote the book "Hymns of Passion" in his homeland

In front of the entrance to the temple there is a sculpture of Leif Erikson, also known as Leif the Happy. It is believed that this brave Viking from Iceland discovered America long before Columbus.
https://earth.google.com/web/search/Hallgrimskirkja Open / Comment

2022-06-03 15:14:39 Rothenburg on Tauber #Germany

Rothenburg an der Tauber is one of those cute old towns that at first glance don't seem quite real. Tourists are delighted with literally everything they see here! 

The city is still surrounded by a defensive wall, including more than 40 towers, which remain the same as they were 400 years ago, when Rothenburg was the residence of the King of Sweden and Count Tilly. 

These walls and towers guard the idyllic city, its chic patrician mansions and half-timbered houses with turrets, wooden bay windows, red tiles and flower boxes outside the windows.
https://earth.google.com/web/search/Rothenburg+on+Tauber Open / Comment

2022-06-03 03:06:28 Finland  , Olofsborg Fortress

Olofsborg (another name is Olavinlinna) is a 15th—century fortress on a tiny island in the Finnish city of Savonlinna. This is the northernmost medieval fortress that has survived to this day. The island is connected to the mainland by a pontoon bridge.

Initially it belonged to Sweden, then it became part of the Grand Duchy of Finland as part of the Russian Empire, and then became part of independent Finland.

The fortress was founded in 1475 by the Danish knight, royal governor Eric Axelsson Tott. Then it was called Nyslott (then Saknt-Olofsborg) and served to protect the eastern borders of the Danish-Swedish kingdom.

Over time, a settlement was formed around the impregnable fortress, which in 1639 acquired the official status of a city and became known as Savonlinna.

Several historical expositions have been opened in the walls of the fortress, as well as a small collection of Orthodox icons.
https://earth.google.com/web/search/Olofsborg Open / Comment