Tag: Italy

In photos: Venice “Acqua Alta” Flood (2019)

[CNN}- The Italian city of Venice is seeing its worst flooding in decades, prompting local authorities to submit a request for a state of emergency to the country’s central government, after an unusually high tide inundated the city on Tuesday.

Tides of 140 centimeters (55 inches) or more are known as “acqua alta” in Italian, and generally take place in winter time, according to Venice’s municipality website. The high tide on Tuesday peaked at 187 centimeters (74 inches), according to a statement from Venice’s government Wednesday morning.

It is the worst flooding in Venice since 1966, when the city was hit by tides up to 194 centimeters (76 inches), according to government statistics.

On Tuesday, the Tide Forecasting and Reporting Center of Civil Protection said that 45% of the city was flooded.

A seagull in a flooded St Mark’s Square, in Venice on Tuesday. The high tide or ‘acqua alta’ peaked at 187cm (6.1 inches). [Luca Bruno/AP Photo]
A person photographs a flooded St. Mark’s Square on November 12.Luca Bruno/AP
The entrance to St. Mark’s Basilica is flooded on November 12.Luca Bruno/AP
The high tide is seen near the Rialto Bridge in Venice.Luca Bruno/AP
People walk through flood waters in St. Mark’s Square on Tuesday.Luca Bruno/AP
Police officers patrol a flooded St. Mark’s Square during the high tide on November 12.Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images

Amazing Bridges from All Across the World

Completed in 2003, the Seri Wawasan Bridge was designed by the Kuala Lumpur-based firm, PJSI Consultants, and is located in Putrajaya, Malaysia.

Architecture is a form of art that had no limits nor boundaries and can be found just anywhere across the world, from houses to skyscrapers, buildings to bridges.

Here are 8 of one of the most beautiful bridges in the world, designed by world-renowned architects such as Zaha Hadid and Santiago Calatrava.

(Images credit to Yahoo! News)

Today, the iconic Tower Bridge in London is a must-see tourist attraction. Opened in 1894, the bridge allows automobiles and pedestrians to cross the River Thames, while also allowing river traffic to pass, as the bascules can be raised to an angle of 86 degrees.
Designed by starchitect Santiago Calatrava, Puente de la Mujer, which was completed in 2001, is located in the commercial district of Buenos Aires.
Built in 1650, Isfahan’s Khaju Bridge was built at the height of the Safavid dynasty (1501–1736) in modern day Iran. The structure, which is 436 feet long and 40 feet wide, contains 23 arches. Beautiful in the daylight and at night, the Khaju Bridge is a popular public meeting spot.
Completed in 2001, Amsterdam’s High Bridge (which also goes by the name Python Bridge) was designed by the New York–based firm West 8.
Designed by the late Zaha Hadid, Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Bridge was completed in 2010 for a total of $300 million.
Running through the valley of the River Tarn near Millau in southern France, the Millau Viaduct is the world’s tallest bridge, with a summit that rises some 1,125 feet above the base of the structure. Designed by architect Sir Norman Foster and structural engineer Michel Virlogeux, the bridge opened in 2004.
Completed in 2003, the Seri Wawasan Bridge was designed by the Kuala Lumpur-based firm, PJSI Consultants, and is located in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Venice’s Rialto Bridge, which was built in the 16th century, is the oldest bridge still standing over the city’s Grand Canal.

Photos: Hidden Gems Of Europe

Lisse, Netherlands
Lisse, Netherlands

Here are photos of some of the less known beautiful places in Europe.

Cappadocia, Turkey
Cappadocia, Turkey
Lecce, Italy
Lecce, Italy
Sintra, Portugal
Sintra, Portugal
Dijon, France
Dijon, France
Delphi, Greece
Delphi, Greece

Photos: Breathtaking World Heritage Sites

Iguacu Falls

Iguacu Falls. (Photo Credit: Dmitry V. Petrenko/Shutterstock)
Iguacu Falls. (Photo Credit: Dmitry V. Petrenko/Shutterstock)

At 490 feet wide and nearly 3000 feet long, Iguaçu Falls is filled with falls of every size and intensity, most notably Devil’s Throat, where water drops from a height of 270 feet. With the highest flow of water on record, Iguaçu easily topples its equally famous sisters, Victoria and Niagara Falls. Ample viewing opportunities are available: Argentina offers close-up action shots with walkways that lead visitors into the action—feeling the power of the water is unforgettable. Brazil features all-encompassing panoramas and sweeping vistas of the falls’ network, allowing you to appreciate their sheer size.

Galapagos Islands

Galapagos Islands. (Photo credit: sunsinger/Shutterstock)
Galapagos Islands,off the coast of Ecuador.  (Photo credit: sunsinger/Shutterstock)

A utopian universe of 19 volcanic islands comprises the Galápagos archipelago, roughly 1,000 kilometers off the coast of Ecuador, in the Pacific Ocean. Watch your step on islands Isabela and Fernandina, where endemic marine iguanas are protected and thriving, each reaching up to five and a half feet long. Swim with sea lions, sharks, and giant turtles—all playful and curious, having never faced threats from humans. 

Rock Islands Southern Lagoon

Rock Islands Southern Lagoon. (Photo Credit: howamo/Shutterstock)
Rock Islands Southern Lagoon, Republic of Palau. (Photo Credit: howamo/Shutterstock)

The term “picturesque” must have been coined with Palau in mind. The 200-kilometer chain of islands forms the archipelago, geographically part of Micronesia. Out of eight islands and 250 islets, Palau’s limestone Rock Islands jut out as if positioned on pedestals. Erosion has transformed them into towering umbrella shapes, bases fringed by fronds, reefs, coral walls, caves, and planes and ships—remnants of World War II. With pristine waters, visibility reaches almost 200 feet below the surface. Inhabited for over 4,000 years, the islands are home to ancient burial grounds and drawings.

Halong Bay

Halong Bay. (Photo Credit: John Bill/Shutterstock)
Halong Bay, Vietnam. (Photo Credit: John Bill/Shutterstock)

This iconic group of evolving stone islands casts different shapes and colors, depending on the light and time of day, onto the emerald waters of the Gulf of Tonkin. The oldest is 280 million years old. Around half of the 2,000-odd limestone and schist islands are named after the shapes they project, such as Hon Rong (“Dragon Islet”). Halong Bay comprises the southwest islands, where eagles soar around forested peaks. Natural grottoes and caves punctuate the intricate and elaborate mesh of islands.

Meteora

Meteora. (Photo Credit: Gabriela Insuratelu/Shutterstock)
Meteora, Greece.  (Photo Credit: Gabriela Insuratelu/Shutterstock)

Precariously perched atop pinnacles of sandstone, 1300 feet high, Meteora’s six Greek Orthodox monasteries tower over the city of Kalambaka in central Greece. They’re centuries old—dating to the 9th century—from a time when Byzantine hermit monks, who lived in Meteora’s caves, were forced to move to safety at these heights.

Borobudur Temple Compounds

Borobudur Temple Compounds. (Photo Credit: Luciano Mortula/Shutterstock).
Borobudur Temple Compounds, East Java, Indonesia. (Photo Credit: Luciano Mortula/Shutterstock).

Mysticism shrouds dawn in Borobudur. Giant faded pink bell structures cap a giant stupa, representing the micro cosmos, and shimmer through a misty golden sunrise. It’s an ethereal scene that radiates ancient spirituality. The world’s largest Buddhist monument, dated to the 9th century, can be found here. One million tourists pour into Borobudur’s grounds annually to marvel at the balustrades, relief panels, and Buddha statues. The stonework features an interlocking design—an architectural feat for its time.

Cinque Terre

Cinque Terre. (Photo Credit: Dudarev Mikhail/Shutterstock).
Cinque Terre,  Italy. (Photo Credit: Dudarev Mikhail/Shutterstock).

Serrated mountains host olive groves and lush terraced vineyards, nestling five vivid villages that are carved into the coastline. Each is crammed with a distinctive ambiance, connected by wildflowers and butterflies, steeples, and a confectionary of colorful buildings. The cliffs of Cinque Terre seemingly slip into the sea—a protected marine area. Villages are reached solely by train, through a series of tunnels along sheer cliffs.

New Stonehenge 

New Stonehenge visitor centre set to open.
New Stonehenge visitor centre set to open.

The English Heritage chief executive, Simon Thurley, says Stonehenge has now got “the exhibition and the museum that it deserves”, as part of the ongoing £27m project to improve facilities at the site.

Cyclone Cleopatra: Massive Rainstorm Killed 18 In Sardinia (Photos)

Two tankers are battered by gale winds while at the roadstead in the rough waters of the Gulf of Cagliari, Sardinia, Monday, Nov. 18, 2013. A violent rainstorm that flooded entire parts of the Mediterranean island of Sardinia has led to the deaths of at least nine people. Bridges were felled by swollen rivers and water levels reached 3 metres (yards) in some places. (AP Photo/Max Solinas)

Massive rainstorm by Cyclone Cleopatra caused bad flash floods in Sardinia, Italy on Tuesday.

Bridges collapsed and cars were swept away by the gushing flood water.

Sardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean and is one of Italy’s autonomous regions.

At least eighteen people were killed by the disaster while some others are still missing.

Italy’s civil protection chief, Franco Gabrielli, said the death toll may rise as crews reach isolated areas in the countryside where homes are submerged.

The northeastern city of Olbia was worst hit and Olbia Mayor, Gianni Giovannelli said that the water level raised up to 3 meters high (10 feet) in some part of the city.

Please click the photos for larger images:

Gay Right Group Call For Boycott On Barilla

Barilla
Where there’s Barilla, there’s home

Aurelio Mancuso, head of gay rights group Equality Italia called for a boycott of Barilla’s pastas, sauces and snacks.

He made the call after Guido Barilla, chairman of the world’s leading pasta manufacturer, told Italian Radio 24 on Wednesday that his company would never use a gay family in its advertising.

“I would never do (a commercial) with a homosexual family, not for lack of respect but because we don’t agree with them. Ours is a classic family where the woman plays a fundamental role.”

Barilla for many years has used the image of a happy family living in an idealized version of the Italian countryside, with the slogan, “Where there’s Barilla, there’s home.”

I support Barilla for supporting the classic family and not promoting gay family in his advertisement because homosexual family is against my religion.

It is funny when Mancuso called for the boycott as Barilla does not say anything against gay, what he said was that he does not want a gay family in his advertisements.

It is wrong and unfair for some people to force other people to accept homosexual family as normal because homosexual family is not accepted by lots of religions.

It seems that Mancuso cannot not respect Barilla’s freedom of speech and opinion.

Beautiful Sights On This Incredible Planet From CNN

A rainbow created by the moon -- definitely worth a look.
A rainbow created by the moon — definitely worth a look.

Our planet Earth is very beautiful.

There are so many beautiful places for us to visit and enjoy their beauty.

But these places will be gone if we do not take care of our planet and if there are wars around the world.

Let us take good care of our planet and please stop the wars.

Please click here for more images:

Photos: Rare Celestial Dance Of Jupiter, Venus And Mercury

This conjunction of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury was shot in Las Vegas with the Stratosphere in the foreground. (Photo by lybrand/ Credit to Yahoo News).
This conjunction of Jupiter, Venus and Mercury was shot in Las Vegas with the Stratosphere in the foreground. (Photo by lybrand/ Credit to Yahoo News).

At the end of May 2013,  Jupiter, Venus and Mercury form a celestial triangle in the night sky.

The three planets shine together in a triangle formation low in the western sky in a planetary meet-up known as a conjunction.

We can even see them with naked eyes if the sky is clear and the place is not too bright.

This cosmic show is so special spectacular because it includes the three brightest planets visible in the May night sky.

Venus is the brightest of the trio, with Jupiter a close second and Mercury coming in third.

Flickr photographers snapped awesome photos of this very rare and special event.

Please click the photos for larger images:

Photos: Venice’s Worst Flood In Two Years

People walk in a flooded street during a period of seasonal high water in Venice November 1, 2012. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri

On Thursday November 1, 2012 Venice was flooded again.

It was Venice’s worst flood in 2 years.

The median level of the Adriatic Sea swelled to about 1.4 meters (1.5 yards) above normal.

That caused water from the lagoon to flow into St. Mark’s Square and Venice’s many narrow alleyways.

It was very bad and dangerous because in some places, people cannot see where canals ended and sidewalks began.

A woman walks in high water ner the Rialto Bridge in Venice, Italy, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. High tides have flooded Venice, leading Venetians and tourists to don high boots and use wooden walkways to cross St. Mark’s Square and other areas under water. Flooding is common this time of year and Thursday’s level that reached a peak of 55 inches (140 centimeters) was below the 63 inches (160 centimeters) recorded four years ago in the worst flooding in decades. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini)

Tourists walk in a flooded street during a period of seasonal high water in Venice November 1, 2012. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri
A man rows a kayak in front of flooded St. Mark’s Square during a period of seasonal high water in Venice November 1, 2012. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri
A fruit stand at a local market is seen in a flooded street during a period of seasonal high water in Venice November 1, 2012. REUTERS/Manuel Silvestri
Children enjoy crossing flooded St. Mark’s Square in Venice, Italy, Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. High tides have flooded Venice, leading Venetians and tourists to don high boots and use wooden walkways to cross St. Mark’s Square and other areas under water. (AP Photo/Luigi Costantini)

Related Post:

  1. Photos: Venice Flooded Again (Nov 11, 2012)

UEFA EURO 2012 Review

UEFA EURO 2012 chart designed by Ahmad Ali Karim from Ahmad Ali JetPlane Pics, July 2, 2012.

The Golden Boot Award:

Fernando Torres (Spain)

The Castrol EDGE Index award:

Sergio Ramos (Spain)

Now lets review the UEFA EURO 2012 matches after the final match is over …

Cristiano Rolando heads the ball right into the goal (22/6/12)
Germany’s Philipp Lahm makes it 1-0 against Greece at The Municipal Stadium in Gdansk, Poland. Picture: Getty Images (23/6/12)
Spain celebrates their victory after winning the game 2-0 (24/6/12)
The Italy football players celebrate their victory. (25/6/12)
Cesc Fabregas celerates after his 4-2 victory (27/6/12)
Germany 1-2 Italy
Mario Balotelli struck twice as Italy once again proved Germany’s nemesis, Cesare Prandelli’s side holding on in Warsaw to set up a final against Spain. (28/6/12)

On July 1, 2012 … 

The UEFA EURO 2012 champion is ……..

SPAIN!!!

Please click for the animation. Designed by Ahmad Ali Karim from Ahmad Ali JetPlane Pics.

Casillas holding the trophy of UEFA EURO 2012 after their victory against Italy together with his teamates, July 1, 2012.

Please click here for: UEFA EURO 2012 Final: Spain Beats Italy – WHAT A GOAL!