The Mysterious Dancing Forest of Kaliningrad
Located on the thin Curonian Spit that splits the Curonian Lagoon from the Baltic Sea, lies one of the strangest natural phenomena on Earth. Known as the Dancing Forest by caretakers of Curonian Spit National Park and as the Drunken Forest, by locals, this unusual pine forest is made of trees of various shapes, most of them twisted in circles and spirals, along the ground. According to tourists, the Dancing Forest looks more like a site near Chernobyl, with 20-year-old pines tied into natural knots and loops, like lumpy contortionists. A few years ago, the park manager invited students from local universities to conduct studies, and get to the bottom of the mystery. Since then, several theories emerged, including one suggested by a psychic who said the forest is located on a spot where massive amounts of positive and negative energies collide. Others say the causes are geological, that it must have something to do with the unstable sandy soil. [Photo Credits] [Photo Credits] [Photo Credits]
Most Extreme Landscapes on Earth
Our globe is home to some truly breathtaking and extraordinary sights. Be it strangely-shaped rock formations, alien-looking sulfur springs or unique chocolate hills, the world is full of such beautiful phenomena that no words can describe it. Pictures may help... Sharply eroded buttes, pinnacles, and spires are the main features of Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA. The park is also the largest protected mixed grass prairie in the country. Beside the unique rock formations, this bizarre land of extreme temperatures (-40F to 116F), high winds and dramatic weather changes is also home to the bison, bighorn sheep, endangered black-footed ferrets, and the swift fox. Incredible basalt columns can be found on the northeast coast of the Northern Ireland and on Staffa, a small island in Scotland. Apparently, the Chocolate Hills are not covered in the cocoa trees, and their name derives from the grass turning brown during the dry season. Penitentes in Death Valley. Penitenes in Andes.
Our animated maps in free access - The map as history
The first Christian communities (1st century) This map is part of a series of 17 animated maps showing History of Christianity. 4 are currently available online Independence for India and Pakistan Clement Attlee, the Labour Prime Minister who replaced Winston Churchill in July 1945, soon realised that independence for India was inevitable, but disagreements among the Indian politicians made the negotiations very difficult. This map is part of a series of 14 animated maps showing Decolonization after 1945 The circumference of the Earth and the Route towards the West In the 3rd century BCE, Eratosthenes calculated the circumference of the Earth with remarkable precision. In later centuries, other Greek geographers, including the most famous of them all Ptolemy, suggested a much lower figure for the circumference for our planet. This under-estimation was adopted by 15th century map-makers. This map is part of a series of 16 animated maps showing The Age of Discovery (Part I) Europe Plunges into War
This free online encyclopedia has achieved what Wikipedia can only dream of
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy may be the most interesting website on the internet. Not because of the content—which includes fascinating entries on everything from ambiguity to zombies—but because of the site itself. Its creators have solved one of the internet’s fundamental problems: How to provide authoritative, rigorously accurate knowledge, at no cost to readers. It’s something the encyclopedia, or SEP, has managed to do for two decades. The internet is an information landfill. Somewhere in it—buried under piles of opinion, speculation, and misinformation—is virtually all of human knowledge. The story of how the SEP is run, and how it came to be, shows that it is possible to create a less trashy internet—or at least a less trashy corner of it. The impossible trinity of information The online SEP has humble beginnings. That makes it positively ancient in internet years. The SEP is neither pre-internet, nor is it ossified. Where other encyclopedias fall short Landfill no more
Japanese Folktales
selected and edited by D. L. Contents Return to D. The Two Frogs Once upon a time in the country of Japan there lived two frogs, one of whom made his home in a ditch near the town of Osaka, on the sea coast, while the other dwelt in a clear little stream which ran through the city of Kyoto. So one fine morning in the spring they both set out along the road that led from Kyoto to Osaka, one from one end and the other from the other. They looked at each other for a moment without speaking, and then fell into conversation, explaining the cause of their meeting so far from their homes. "What a pity we are not bigger," said the Osaka frog; "for then we could see both towns from here, and tell if it is worth our while going on." "Oh, that is easily managed," returned the Kyoto frog. This idea pleased the Osaka frog so much that he at once jumped up and put his front paws on the shoulder of his friend, who had risen also. "Dear me!" The Mirror of Matsuyama "What have you hidden in your sleeve?"
Everything Ages Fast (Facebook, Youtube, Twitter, and Skype) — Illusion 360 - The World's most amazing Art, Design, Technology and Video
These posters are part of an ad campaign entitled “Everything Ages Fast,” designed by Moma Propaganda and created for client Maximidia Seminars Link via Laughing Squid
10 Most Fascinating Holes on Earth
Great Blue Hole (Belize) Located in Belize's Barrier Reef Reserve System, the "Great Blue Hole" is about 60 miles away from Belize City and is believed to be the world's largest sea-hole. It's 125 meters deep and 300 meters wide. It was created as a cause of sea level increase about 65,000 years ago. Its almost perfect circular shape made it very popular among tourists who often visit this place, being the most attractive for scuba divers who are exploring its depths. Divers are also attracted with plenty of rare animal species and forms of life which can be found only in this place. Diavik Mine (Canada) The Diavik Diamond Mine is about 300 kilometers (186 miles) north of Yellowknife in Canada. The Burning Gates (Turkmenistan) In the heart of the Karakum desert of Turkmenistan, the Darvaza Gas Crater or The Burning Gates give off a glow that can be seen from miles away during the dark night. Glory Hole, Monticello Dam (California – US) Bingham Canyon Mine (Utah – US)
Ancient Sumer
with thanks to The History GuideWhat is good in a man's sight is evil for a god, What is evil to a man's mind is good for his god. Who can comprehend the counsel of the gods in heaven? The plan of a god is deep waters, who can fathom of it? The city-state was Sumer's most important political entity.
