Author: Ms. R.

Nowhere is cherished by Austinites more than this masterpiece of mother nature, with its unique traditions, features, and history. Barton Springs, a set of natural water springs in Austin‘s Zilker Park, is an important space for humans and animals alike. The springs have a long, rich history. The water from Barton Springs comes from the Edwards Aquifer, which is about 100 million years old and made up of limestone from the Cretaceous period. The history of human activity dates back……

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In the coffee belt of Colombia‘s Antioquia province, the tidy town of Jardín is located alongside a steep ravine. There are a couple of ways to cross it, including an impressive suspension bridge completed just a few years ago. But possibly the most direct method, and certainly the most fun, is in a wooden basket known as La Garrucha. At first, the scene appears ridiculously hazardous: Travelers ride in a box made of haphazard wooden slats strung on a……

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In the middle of the Sahara lie the Hoggar Mountains, a brutal landscape of basalt buttes erupting from the barren landscape. In the heart of the Hoggar is a dramatic cluster of eroded volcanic cores overlooked by the 9,000-foot high Assekrem Pass. Part of the Ahaggar National Park, Assekrem is one of the many wonders of southern Algeria. It is located some 50 miles from the city of Tamanrasset, which is located at an oasis. In 1911 Charles de Foucauld, a……

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High above the southern French village of Duilhac, Patrice Potier and his son Simon are standing in the ruins of the Peyrepertuse castle, narrating a feast for the eyes. As 2,000 spectators watch, nearly a dozen birds of prey are swooping up and down the cliffside, disappearing from view only to return and land on an outstretched arm. This 13th-century castle, built more than 2,500 feet above the ground below, is perfectly positioned for such a spectacle. Two winds……

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High above the southern French village of Duilhac, Patrice Potier and his son Simon are standing in the ruins of the Peyrepertuse castle, narrating a feast for the eyes. As 2,000 spectators watch, nearly a dozen birds of prey are swooping up and down the cliffside, disappearing from view only to return and land on an outstretched arm. This 13th-century castle, built more than 2,500 feet above the ground below, is perfectly positioned for such a spectacle. Two winds……

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On Thursday, June 11, 2020, after rain spattered down on Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., curators from the Smithsonian went to check on things. The area, which is close to the White House, has been a flashpoint in recent weeks. At the end of May, the park was full of people protesting the death of George Floyd, killed by a Minneapolis police officer, who has since been charged with murder and manslaughter. It’s the place where U.S. Park Police……

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The intricate geologic formation known as Chudnite Skali, or Wonderful Rocks, is located on a shore of a Tsonevo dam in Bulgaria. The formation is made up of a 10 stone spires that rise up to heights of 40-50 meters (130-160 feet). These unusual structures are the result of wind and water erosion from the river Luda Kamchia, which over time has carved the soft limestone rock. Some of the major peaks have received own names, like Wolf’s Head,……

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Built at the behest of local philanthropist Agustín Moreno Benítez, this large golden sculpture of a man carrying an oar is dedicated to fishermen. The town of Catemaco, built on the shores of the eponymous lake, has a long history of fishing, though nowadays, the town’s main economic activity is tourism. Catemaco is the heart of the tropical Mexican Gulf destination known as Los Tuxtlas. The most common way to appreciate the lake’s islands and landscapes is through guided……

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