Nature___

Judean Desert

The Judean Desert is an array of hills and canyons, falling from the heights of around 1,000 meters in the Judean Mountains, to the Dead Sea.

Though hostile and arid, the Judean desert was settled since before recorded history. Jericho, which was founded over 12,000 years ago (around 9,000 BCE), is one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world, and it is the first city in the world that had walls built to protect it. Another notable place is Ein Gedi, a large oasis that had cities built around it for over 6,000 years. Inside the desert itself there are numerous isolated monasteries, many are still active to this day.

The Judean desert played an important role in the jewish kingdoms in Israel during the biblical times, and also during the greek and roman times.

Because of its’ rough terrain and climate, The Judean desert was known as a hiding place for refugees and rebels. King David fled to the Judean desert with his soldiers after king Saul ordered to have him killed. During the greek and roman times, the Hasmonean dynasty and the roman client king Herod the Great built and fortified many forts, strongholds and even palaces in the Judean desert, most famously, Masada. During the Roman-Jewish wars, the jewish rebels fled to the Judean desert and fortified in the strongholds there. The last free standing jewish stronghold in jewish history, prior to the establishment of the modern state of Israel, was Masada.

This real photos in picture gallery have been taken on 01 of October, 2011.

wikitravel.org

Nature___

Pamukkale and Hierapolis, Turkey

Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle” in Turkish, is a natural site in Denizli Province in southwestern Turkey, this is one of the most amazing places in Turkey, a natural phenomenon, which has no analogues in the world. There is a geological fault and the underground volcanic activity, rich thermal the springs geysers, whose vapors were associated with Pluto, god of the underworld. There are 17 hot water springs in which the temperature ranges from 35 °C to 100 °C, containing calcium oxide. Mineral water builds petrified white cascades formations shimmering in the sunlight. An amazing sight!

You can lie in small pools with mineral water, on terraces – you will surely feel the healing power of this place. You’ll get a great relaxation.

Hierapolis, whose name means “sacred city”, was believed by the ancients to have been founded by the god Apollo. Nearby is hot springs of Pamukkale.Today, Hierapolis is a World Heritage Site and popular tourist destination.

This are photos of travertine terrace formations at Pamukkale. Photos by Diana.

Nature___, Russia

Krypetsky Monastery middle of the forest and swamps, Russia.

The monastery was founded in 1485 by St. Savva Krypetsky, a Serbian monk from Mount Athos, in what was then described as an impracticable mire. Two years later, the Pskov veche supported his establishment by granting a large plot of land to the monks. Prince Obolensky had a road for pilgrims built through the mire to the monastery. St. Savva died on 28 August 1495 and was interred in the then timber cathedral, which was rebuilt in stone in 1547 and still stands.

Famous monks of the Krypetsky Monastery included Basil, who described the life of St. Savva in the 1540s; St. Nilus, who founded the Nilov Monastery on Stolbnyi Island; and the former chancellor Afanasy Ordin-Nashchokin, who had the monastery grounds greatly expanded and improved. In the 18th century, the abbey fell into disrepair, but was restored by Evgeny Bolkhovitinov, a bishop best known for his friendship with Gavriil Derzhavin and the latter’s poems dedicated to him.

In 1918, the monastery was disbanded by the Bolsheviks who plundered more than five poods (2,600 troy ounces) of gold in the monastery sacristy and had its Neoclassical belltower disfigured. The abbey was briefly revived during the German occupation of the area in World War II and was finally restituted to the Russian Orthodox Church in 1991. Monastery situated 23 km from Pskov.

In the monastery shrine attracts believers – relics of St. Savva Krypetsky, founder of the monastery, and also the recently acquired, the relics of St. Cornelius Krypetsky.
Pictures taken in 26 of May, 2013.

wikipedia.org

Nature___

The Basilica of Our Lady in Lichen Stary is largest catholic church in Poland

The Basilica of Our Lady of Licheń Stary is a Roman Catholic church located in the village of Licheń Stary near Konin in the Greater Poland Voivodeship in Poland. It was designed by Barbara Bielecka and built between 1994 and 2004. The construction was funded entirely by pilgrims’ donations.

With the central nave 98 meters tall, 120 meters long and 77 meters wide, and with a tower 141.5 metres tall, it is Poland’s largest church and one of the largest churches in the world. The church is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows whose icon, dating back to the 18th century, is displayed in the basilica’s main altar. It is one of Poland’s principal pilgrimage sites.

Pictures of Basilica of Our Lady in Lichen Stary photo gallery added 5 of October, 2010 and 18 of April, 2013.

Nature___

Caesarea aqueduct, Israel

The Judaean port of Caesarea on Israel’s Mediterranean coast had no reliable source of fresh water when construction on the city began around 22 B.C. So King Herod commissioned this raised Roman aqueduct to deliver water from the springs of Mount Carmel nearly 16 kilometers away.

A second “lower” aqueduct was built by the Legions of the Emperor Hadrian (2nd C AD). It brought water from Tanninim (Crocodiles) river, farther from Shummi. This section, with a tunnel of about 6km long, was tapped into the older aqueduct, and doubled its capacity. This new source of water was added to the right of the first canal, and the aqueduct was thus doubled in width. The builders used the same building materials and style, so it is hard to see that the pair of tunnels were built in different ages.

The aqueduct continued to supply water for 1200 years. During the ages it was repaired several times.
After that time the aqueduct was beyond repair. Therefore, in the Crusaders period (12th C aD), a third, smaller, canal was built that replaced the first two.
Another (forth) lower aqueduct was built from a new source of water: the springs at Maagan Michael, several kilometers north to Jiser-E-Zarka.

This pictures have been taken on 28 of September, 2011.

www.nationalgeographic.com