Friday 8 May 2015

The Baffling Lakes of Badain Jaran Desert



The Badain Jaran Desert mainly occupies parts of China and Inner Mongolia covering an area of 49,000 sq. kilometers. The desert is 3rd largest desert in China, even though a lot of people are not familiar with this desert, outside China. It is well recognized for having the tallest stationary dunes on earth. However, some of these dunes have been measured to reach heights of above 500 meters. Moreover, Badain Jaran has an exceptionally arid climate with an annual precipitation between 50 to 60mm, as nearly 40 to 80 times of the precipitation gets evaporated away before it falls as rainfall.
Despite these arid conditions; one of the most amazing features of Badain Jaran is the existence of approximately 140 everlasting lakes that lie between the dunes. It’s these lakes that give the desert its name which in Mongolian means "mysterious lakes". These mysterious lakes are thought to be fed by underground water springs that flow under the gravel deposits and appear between the dunes where the deposits become fine-grained and the water flow is blocked. The main source of this water is precipitation and snowmelt in the mountains nearby the desert hundreds of kilometers away. There’re numerous oases in the basins because the snow and ice cover on the surrounding mountains provides lots of water. Moreover, Runoff from these mountains flows through the fractured rocks and gravel deposits beneath the desert, and then emerges at scattered places giving rise to several lakes. Though the springs carry fresh water, and most of the lakes are saline, which can be easily explained by their high rate of evaporation.
Therefore, some of the lakes changes color due to the presence of a large populations of algae, brine shrimp and minerals. Hence, evaporation has also led some hypersaline lakes to form salt crust around the rim of the lakes. Thus, the fresh water lakes offer the life sustenance in the desert supporting animals, i.e, camels, goats and horses which are herded by nomads that travel through the desert. Many lakes also provide support a green ring of vegetation that populates the close vicinity around the lakes. In the recent decades, a number of these lakes have shrunk or even disappeared, as a consequence of reduction in groundwater brought about by urbanization, irrigation, water diversion, and an increase in population. Sub saline and fresh water lets the development of fixed dunes. Which are replaced by semi-fixed and migrating dunes as the distance to the lake increases? In numerous saline lakes, small travertine islands, with fresh spring water, are found. The areas of the inter-dune lakes or basins are controlled by the scale of the mega dunes. The base area of the mega dunes and those of the inter-dune basins are linearly related. Whatsoever the cause of this collection of lakes, tourists can be sure to be uncertain about whether what they witness makes sense. After all, it's not often that sand and saltwater intermingle.



Monday 4 May 2015

Nabiyotum Crater, in Lake Turkana, Kenya,



This is the Nabuyatom Crater, a geological marvel of that Lake Turkana. It's a caldera the remnants of a collapsed volcano. You can found Crater in the middle of Lake Turkana in Kenya. Without any doubt, it is an impressive landform, described in a Telegraph photo the world's largest desert lake and the world's largest alkaline lake in the Great Rift Valley. Traveling to this region is not for the meek, but the rewards are wonderful; home to numerous active volcanoes, the Rift Valley has more than 150 bird species, giraffes, zebras and buffalo. Moreover Kenyan Lake Turkana by volume is the world's 4th-largest salt lake after the Caspian Sea, Issyk-Kul, and Lake Van. Be sure, Nile crocodiles are found in great abundance on the flats. Further the rocky shores are home to scorpions and carpet vipers, so not precisely a destination one would want to be nomadic around unawares. The Rift Valley area of Africa is acknowledged as "the cradle of mankind. We wonder how very few people in the world over all time have seen or explored inside the crater, perhaps very few given its dangerous isolation and striving of access. It’s a place to visit if you have already been everywhere and done most things. Moreover one of picture of Nabiyotum Crater Lake Turkana was taken by the photographer Christian Strebel on 22 April 2009 and published over Panoramio.

Sunday 3 May 2015

Reflections from Uyuni



Reflections from Uyuni are a Time-lapse short film that shows the majestic beauty of the sea salt of Uyuni and the province of Potosí in Bolivia. The splendid reflections created by the water flooding in the rainy season, are the main protagonist Enrique Pacheco´s camera, who really invites us to dream with impossible pictures from another world, where the sky meets the earth forming an infinite mirage. Moreover, the sea salt of Uyuni with more than 10,000km2 is the largest in the world. It is located in the province of Potosi, Bolivia, near the Andes, at an altitude of 3.656m. Therefore, the Salar of Uyuni serves as a transport route through the Altiplano of Bolivia, but tourism has a gradually more important role in the area. Moreover, if you really like this short movie, then you have a chance of film and its footage are also available for license in HD and 4K UHD. Therefore, for professional enquiries, you can contact me: media@enriquepacheco.com
Enrique Pacheco: enriquepacheco.com
Music composed by Syd Szydelko: sidszydelko.co.uk
Shot with Sony A7 and A7s cameras + Zeiss FE 16-35 f4 and A 70-200 f2.8

Motorized slider by Kietacam

Reflections from Uyuni from Enrique Pacheco on Vimeo.

Saturday 2 May 2015

Prachov Rock Formations



The majestically beautiful “Prachov Rock Formation” is one of the best-known rock cities in the Czech Republic, which is actually located in northwestern Bohemia between the towns of Jicin and Sobotka. The “Prachov Rock” ranks among the most popular destinations in the Czech Paradise.  The Rock has provides several inspiring sandstone formations set in a romantically varied landscape with several deep gorges and high rock towers providing round-about views. The rock is enormously attracting hikers as well as rock-climbers.

The tourists of the “Prachov Rock Formations” have a choice between two routes with the shorter one taking about 45 minutes though the other one is bit longer and more physically demanding one can take up to 2.5 hours and measures about 3.5 km. The Prachov Rock formations, like other sandstone rock formations of the Czech Paradise, date back to the Mesozoic era during which the entire area used to be the sea bottom. It is heavily segmented plateau was created of sandstones sediments, marlites and arenaceous marls during this era However historically, the “Prachov Rock Formations” belong to the Velis dominion once conquered by the now non-existent Velis Castle, built by the Czech king Premysl Otakar I.

Once the battle of “Bila Hora” ended, the dominion became property of the Schlick family which has taken the ownership of Prachov Rock Formations until 1948 and to whom the area was returned in 1993. The compact plateau that comprises mostly of Cretaceous had been intersected by little volcanic bodies. This actually caused the fracture of former compact plateau. These days’ formations such as rock blocks, towers and pillars have been formed by the water and wind activity, and these Rock formations are almost 40 meters high. The entire area is crisscrossed by marked walking trails that follow gullies and ridges through the thick forest to all the outstanding rock formations of the area. As in all protected landscape areas, it's not permitted to wander off the designated trails. Therefore you need a permit from the Czech Rockclimbing Association or a valid pass from another club affiliated with the International Association of Rockclimbing clubs.

The entry to the “Prachov Rock formations” is paid (however, appropriate discounts offer for students, children and seniors) as is parking at one of the two nearby parking lots. The “Prachov Rock Formations” are open to the public from April to October every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Therefore we suggest combine the trip to the “Prachov Rock Formations” with a visit to the elegant historical centers of the Jicin and Sobotka towns or other natural attractions or historical sights of the Czech Paradise. 

The Magical Island House That can only be reached by a 90ft-high Suspension Bridge costs £3,000 a week to rent



It is the ultimate Cornwall’s Robin Crusoe retreat, a lonely magical house on its own island just off the coast of Cornwall. The house can only be reached by a 90ft high suspension bridge. The house in the sea sits right on the beach in Newquay and surrounded by water and isolated from the town, the small island is far from basic. Thus the interiors are extremely expensive mix of sleek neutrals and modern design, with majestic panoramic sea views offered at every turn. The house outside terrace has a barbecue view of the sea and the snug lounge has same views, with plenteously of cozy seating, sheepskin rugs and a window seat. 
The pad has a beautiful master suite bedroom, which is linked by a private staircase, and comes complete with a sprawling four poster bed. However, on the ground floor there is another double room with a day bed and a king-size bedroom with en suite shower room and family bathroom with a lovely bath and overhead shower. Therefore for those wanting to use the island for celebrating events, can take advantage of the bar area, with 40" TV, bar billiards table and much more. Well, the most importantly, the handy location means that whatever your impulse, be it fish and chips or Michelin star dining, you can find somewhat to please at the foodie haven of Padstow or in the city of Truro. Moreover; there’s even WiFi available for sending idyllic photos of the island to friends & family stuck at home.
Well, if you want to be there, then house can be booked in advance, with prices reaching £3,000 per couple for a week's stay at the peak of summer. To ask about renting the private island, more information can be found on Unique Home Stays.