DeadVlei or Dead Vlei (dead marsh) is an otherworldly landscape which is a sun-blackened dead forest in a dried oasis surrounded by rust-orange giant sand dunes. The claypan was formed when the Tsauchab River flooded and the abundance of water allowed camel thorn trees to grow. However, the climate changed and the sand dunes encroached…
The gold rush in the Yukon late 19th century drew thousands of adventurers in the northern United States and Canada. The rough terrain required the construction of a railroad – a narrow gauge railway with a 914mm gauge. Between 1898 and 1900, the railway line was driven through the mountains under the most difficult conditions,…
Edward Leedskalnin (1886 – 1951), a modest official, Latvian immigrant, 5 feet tall and weighing only 40 pounds, suffering from tuberculosis, once said “I have discovered the secrets of the pyramids. I discovered how the ancient Egyptians and builders in Peru, Yucatan and Asia, with simple tools, have lifted stones weighing tons “… and his…
Built in 18th-century, the tiny artificial island called Wilhelmstein is located on Lake Steinhude, the largest lake in northwestern Germany. The island is based on piles of stones, that had to be carried there by the local fishermen in their boats. Between 1765 and 1767 it was turned into a military fortress by William, Count…
The Merry Cemetery of Sapanta project was initiated by Stan Ioan Pastras and it was included in the top unique cemeteries in the world. In this place death is mocked and everything is cheerful. Any other resting place in the world is usually sad and dignified, but here the epitaphs on the crosses stir laughter.
While wandering around Lavenham, the first thing you notice are the weird houses. Not only are they half-timbered, but many are painted in rich colors and noticeably crooked, literally.
Located near Olduvai Gorge lies the spectacular, yet mysterious, ash dunes of Shifting Sands. Formed from volcanic ash, these crescent-shaped dunes are a rare phenomenon, and are technically referred to as barkan. These dunes are formed when there’s ample dust on the ground and a unidirectional wind to create the moving effect. The volcanic ash…
Located in Willow, Alaska, this peculiar structure is referred to by locals as the “Dr. Suess House.” It’s one of America’s architectural wonders. And you can see why… The original owner worked on it extensively for 10 years before he died. Then it sat abandoned for 10 years until a new owner purchased it and…