Author: Ms. R.

Despite lying less than 15 kilometers (10 miles) north of Jelenia Góra, Poland‘s tallest stone and arch dam at Pilchowice gives the impression of being located in the middle of nowhere. Perhaps it’s the narrow, winding forest roads that occasionally abandon pavement for cobblestones, or the abandoned train tracks that crisscross the road and the river with rusty bridges and stone tunnels. Although the reservoir is a popular recreation spot for locals, it’s never truly busy. The massive stone dam and……

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Cijin Island in Kaohsiung is popular among daytrippers in Kaohsiung for its black sand beaches and the 19th-century lighthouse on its northern tip, which has become a minor tourist attraction. The island also boasts Taiwan’s largest collection of shells at the Cijin Shell Gallery, a museum on the second floor of the island’s tourist center overlooking the beach. The more than 3,000 shells were donated to the city by local collector Huang Ko-Liang and the local tourism bureau built……

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The earliest version of Crawford Castle consisted of a motte and bailey, with a surrounding ditch. On the remains of the motte stand the ruins of a square enclosure surrounded by a curtain wall. Researchers believe there may have been round towers at each corner of the enclosure dating back to the 16th or early 17th centuries. A range of buildings on the southwest were also constructed around the 16th or 17th century. This tower-like range was three stories……

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The François Vase is one of the most notable pieces in the National Archaeological Museum of Florence’s collection. Dated to circa 570-560 B.C., this Attic black-figure krater, the oldest of its kind known today, was discovered in an Etruscan necropolis in Chiusi in 1844 and sent to Florence for restoration. The pottery bears two inscriptions: “Ergotimos made me” and “Kleitias painted me.” Both are fairly well-known artists in antiquity, with several of their works exhibited at museums around the……

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You’re kicked back in a camp chair, daydreaming about flapjacks and watching the breeze blow through the leaves, when you catch movement in your peripheral vision. You cautiously turn your head to see the prowler. It has feathers, and it’s looking right at you. Quick, what do you do? Start by resisting the urge to reach for your cell phone, says naturalist David Mizejewski, with the National Wildlife Federation. “You’re only going to see this animal for just a……

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Nestled in the suburbs, you can find the dam and spillway constraining Lake Lenexa, and the life that flourishes around it. Completed in 2006 as part of the city’s Vision 2020 Project, the outfitted dam serves as a functional piece of art. Embellished with fountains, sculptures, and flowing reservoirs of water, the dam’s adornments each symbolize a different part of the water cycle. They also serve as commentary on the role humans play in the ecosystem. The spillway from……

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For many, the ambient sound of the woods—birds chirping, streams gurgling, and leaves rustling in the trees—is one of the main draws of spending a weekend camping. The natural symphony of the forest floor is not just a delightful combination of sounds; it’s been scientifically linked to improved focus and relaxation. Often replicated on white noise machines, the low-decibel hum of nature can quieten the human mind better than artificial noise, further proving the link between calm, well-being, and……

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A pharmacist by profession, Phillip Brown moved to Jacksonville in the 1970s and, while operating a pharmacy, began collecting art in his spare time. Eventually, this art collection superseded the pharmacy, and he began focusing on buying, selling and, sometimes, making art full-time. The focus of his gallery has evolved over time. It began as a more traditional collection of pieces he enjoyed, with an emphasis on the “spirit” or spiritualism of a piece. As time went on, he……

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In October of 2022, the local government of Chattanooga began removing public benches from bus stops and parks because business owners complained that Chattanoogans experiencing homelessness were utilizing them. A group called the Chattanooga Urbanist Society was formed and began building their own benches to replace what the city had taken away. They continued pushing forward with the help of other community organizations like ChattaTransit in placing multiple benches every month throughout 2023. In May 2024, both organizations collaborated……

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Many cultures celebrate the New Year twice: once on January 1, and once on a culturally-specific date. Persians have Nowruz, Thais have Songkran, and some Russians celebrate New Year on January 13 or 14, following the old Orthodox Christian calendar. But for the Sakha (or Yakut) people of Russia’s far north, New Year falls on June 21, the summer solstice, resulting in a unique dual holiday known as Yhyakh (pronounced like “uh-hukh”). “When I was growing up, it was……

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