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The Metro began operating in Moscow in 1935 with a single 11 km line connecting just thirteen stations, but it has since grown into the world’s fourth busiest transit system, spanning more than 300 kilometers and offering 188 stops along the way.
The Moscow Metro was one of the USSR’s most extravagant architectural projects, with stations constructed as luxurious “palaces for the people”. Built under the command of Stalin, the iron-fisted leader ordered the metro’s artists and architects to design a structure that embodied svet (radiance or brilliance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future). He directed his architects to design structures which would encourage citizens to look up, admiring the station’s art, as if they were looking up to admire the sun and—by extension—him as a god. With their reflective marble walls, high ceilings and grandiose chandeliers, many Moscow Metro stations have been likened to an “artificial underground sun”. Continue reading Art and Decor of Moscow Metro Stations
In the Azerbaijan city of Naftalan, 320 kilometers north-west of the capital Baku, crude oil is found in such abundance that people literally bath in it. During the Soviet era, Naftalan’s famous crude oil baths used to draw tourists from all over the Soviet Union. It is believed that Naftalan crude oil has medicinal properties and is good for treating skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis, easing joint pains and generally calming the nerves. At their peak in the 1980s, Naftalan spas had 75,000 visitors a year. This reduced to a trickle when war broke out between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenians in nearby Nagorno-Karabakh in 1988, and many resorts were converted into camps for housing refugees. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, petroleum baths closed down entirely. Now nearly two decades later, crude oil spas have started opening up again. Continue reading Lives bathed in oil: Crude Oil Spas of Naftalan, Azerbaijan
After much anticipation, the all-new Legoland Hotel opened on Friday, April 5, 2013. Located right next to the theme park in Carlsbad, California, the three-story 250-room hotel does not disappoint, especially for those that can’t get enough of those colorful plastic bricks. We visited the hotel just two days after it opened to scope out some of the 3,500 Lego models scattered throughout the hotel. Made from more than three million Lego bricks, these sculptures were like individual artworks in and of themselves, starting with the huge dragon in the tower, guarding the hotel’s entrance. The green, smoke-breathing dragon, alone, was made out of 400,000 Lego bricks and took roughly 4,000 man hours to construct Continue reading Inside the Incredible Legoland Hotel
From leaping killer whales performing for cheering crowds, to twisted water slides and dramatic studio backdrops – these stunning aerial shots give a taste of the attractions on offer at Orlando’s most famous theme parks.
Photographer Jason Hawkes snapped the pictures as part of project to capture the vivid colors on show at SeaWorld, Universal Studios and Disney Land.
The shots show the fun being had by holidaymakers as they try out various rides, waterslides and other attractions. Continue reading Photographer Jason Hawkes captures vivid colors on show at SeaWorld
Dog is a man’s best friend, period. But imagine the help and support service dogs give to disabled people, it is even better than the best friend, since almost every human would, at certain point, say “Ok, I had enough, can’t do it…” But the dogs seem to be happy keep on doing stuff – laundry, going shopping, it’s hard to believe all the things they can do, amazing! Continue reading Amazing Capabilities of Service Dogs
By Kaushik Thursday, April 18, 2013
Sigiriya or Lion Rock, in Sinhalese, is located in the central Matale District of the Central Province, Sri Lanka in an area dominated by a massive column of rock nearly 200 meters high. At the summit of the rock is the fortified palace built by King Kasyapa (477 – 495 AD), son of Dhatusena, who came to power after he engineered the assassination of his father and seized the throne which rightfully belonged to his brother Mogallana. Fearing the vengeance of the brother, Kasyapa had a fortified palace built on the rock of Sigiriya which was reputed to be impregnable. The rock is surrounded by two wide moats, where crocodiles were introduced. During the eleven years that Kasyapa resided in Sigiriya, he created a residence of exceptional splendor and founded his capital there, impressive vestiges of which are still visible today. Mogallana finally arrived and declared war on the King. After a short but cruel battle in 495, Kasyapa committed suicide by cutting his own throat. Moggallana returned the capital to its original location Anuradapura, and converted Sigiriya into a monastery complex. Continue reading Sigiriya Rock Fortress, Sri Lanka
What if different species could mate? Redditor gyyp imagines just what that would look like and shares his Photoshopped creations for the world to look on in disbelief and wonder. The photo manipulator’s Weird Animals collection pairs ducks with elephants, pugs with gorillas, guinea pigs with eagles, sharks with horses, killer whales with penguins, and the list goes on.
- Weird animals
Gyyp’s mastery in photo manipulation allows the mind to realistically visualize and process the monsters this digital Dr. Frankenstein has created. The head of one creature blends seamlessly into the other, regardless of actual size or whether they are land or sea dwelling animals. Some of the amalgamated beasts are frightening while others make you wish they actually existed (why isn’t there a cuddly guinea pig lion?), but mostly they’re just very, very weird. Continue reading Animals Morphed Together to Create Hilarious New Species
Hydroelectric power stations are typically located near water sources, or on the source itself, such as dams on rivers. But Taum Sauk Hydroelectric Power Station is located more than 80 kilometers from the nearest water source – the Mississippi river. Built on top of the mountainous St. Francois region of the Missouri Ozarks, approximately 140 km south of St. Louis near Lesterville, Missouri, the Taum Sauk Hydroelectric Power Station is a pure pumped-storage hydroelectric plant, designed to help meet peak power demands during the day. During periods of high electrical demand, water stored in a kidney-shaped reservoir on top of Proffit Mountain is released through turbines into a lower reservoir, two kilometers away, on the East Fork of the Black River. At night, when electrical demand is low, the excess electricity available on the power grid is used to pump water back to the mountaintop. In essence, the power plant functions like a huge battery, storing excess power until it is needed. Continue reading Taum Sauk Hydroelectric Power Station
In the grasslands of southern Africa, there are thousands of circular barren patches of land called ‘fairy circles’. They grow between 2 meters to 15 meters in diameter, and occur amidst grassy vegetation, specifically in Namibia. But they are also present in Angola and South Africa.
The circles are found in a band about 160 km inland, stretching south from Angola for about 2,400 km. Located in a remote and inhospitable stretch of land that is over a hundred miles from the nearest village. The circles have been studied since they were reported on in 1971, but no conclusive evidence of their cause has been found. Continue reading Mysterious Fairy Circles of Namibia
There’s a wonderfully picturesque spot in Vöcklabruck, Austria where visitors are able to sit in the middle of a pond without getting wet. The scenic landscape includes a path leading down to a hollowed out circular area where people can take a seat and relax amongst nature. It’s a surreal journey along the gradual ramp to the observational platform as the water level gains height either side. Once in the resting area, depending on perspective, visitors seem like they’re wading in the lake without a drop of water on them. Continue reading Surreal Sunken Platform in the Middle of a Lake
A space history project led by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos has exciting news out today: Apollo mission F-1 engines have been recovered from deep beneath the surface of the Atlantic ocean, as the “F-1 Recovery Project” years in the making reaches a successful conclusion. Continue reading Apollo F-1 engines recovered from Atlantic ocean floor
Pure horsemeat was sold as’diced beef’ to shoppers on market stallMeat imported by Hungarian Food Ltd and sold on market stall in LancashireHorse flesh was also being sold a shop in Liverpool called Taste of HungaryAll remaining unsold meat has been withdrawn …
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Suggest Ideas- Existenz