Kamis, 24 Februari 2011

Let's go to Egypt....

Nile River Valley






The 5th century B.C. Greek historian Herodotus declared that Egypt is the “gift of the Nile.” He simply stated what all have always known to be true: without the Nile, there is no Egypt. Where the Nile overflows its banks, the land is green, and where the water’s influence stops, the desert begins. The rainfall south of Cairo averages 1 1/2 inches per year, and often there is no rain at all during the year. Apart from a few western oases, Egypt is a desert, and only 3% of the land (that which is along the Nile River) can be cultivated.  99% of the population of Egypt today lives in the Nile River Valley.

The Nile begins in the area of Urundi and flows through Uganda into Sudan. The river has two branches (White and Blue), and its total length is about 4,000 miles (6670 km). Only 900 miles (1530 km) of the river is in the modern country of Egypt. The two branches join just north of the modern city of Khartoum, Sudan.  

The Nile River was a united system in Egypt. Perhaps for this reason, the ancient Egyptians did not have a name for this river. The Egyptians simply called the Nile “al-taru,” which is the Egyptian word for river. In their world, there was only one river. It is still uncertain where the ancient Greeks got the word “Nilus,” from which we get the word "Nile."

My Country, Indonesia

 Bunaken Island



The Bunaken National Marine Park was formally established in 1991 and is among the first of Indonesia's growing system of marine parks. The park covers a total surface area of 890.65 km², 97% of which is overlain by sparkling clear, warm tropical water. The remaining 3% of the park is terrestrial, including the five islands of Bunaken, Manado Tua, Mantehage, Nain and Siladen. Although each of these islands has a special character, it is the aquatic system that attracts most naturalists.
The waters of Bunaken National Marine Park are extremely deep (1566 m in Manado Bay), clear (up to 35-40 m visibility), refreshing in temperature (27 to 29 °C) Pick any of group of interest - corals, fish, echinoderms or sponges - and the number of families, genera or species is bound to be astonishingly high. For example, 7 of the 8 species of giant clams that occur in the world, occur in Bunaken. The park has around 70 genera of corals; compare this to a mere 10 in Hawaii. Although the exact number of fish species is unknown, it may be slightly higher than in the Philippines, where 2,500 species, or nearly 70% of all fish species known to the Indo-western Pasific, are found.

Jumat, 04 Februari 2011

........Niagara Waterfall....






Niagara Waterfall

Located between New York and member of Ontario, Niagara Falls is one of the most spectacular natural miracles of the North American continent. It is located on the Niagara river, which flows between the United States and Canada from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario.
Niagara Falls was formed 12,000 years ago, when glaciers retreated to the north, allowing water from Lake Erie to flow over Niagara slopes. Since then, erosion has pushed slightly waterfall about 11 km upstream, forming the Niagara Gorge. 
In 1954, a considerable portion of the U.S. broke away, creating a huge slope in the waterfall.
It is divided into two parts of Goat Island. The greater part of the left (Canadian) is called Horseshue Falls and has a height of 56 feet and the ridge length is approximately 670 meters. The other side, American Falls, from the right half has a height of 58 meters, but  the ridge length is just of 320 meters.
Because of the strong drop of water it forms a mist which, together with sunlight, gives rise to a large number of rainbows.
The huge flow of Niagara Falls is about five and a half million liters per second.
Niagara Falls is a major tourist attraction, bringing millions of visitors each year. Falls can be seen in parks located on both sides of the river, from observation towers, from boats, from Goat Island and Rainbow Bridge, located a short distance downstream. Also, visitors can enter the Cave of Winds, located behind a curtain of water near the waterfall. At night, the waterfall is lit by powerful spotlights, colored, offering tourists a unique spectacle of lights and music.