Alhambra

Chateau les Carrasses

In the pristine Languedoc area of south-western France, considered by many to be more desirable and less touristy than Provence, midway between the towns of Montpelier and Perpignan lies a beautiful wine-growing estate. Nestled amidst nature, the Ch�teau Les Les Carrasses welcomes you into a holiday home where modernity meets tradition.

Steeped in history, the Ch�teau was built in 1886 by well Bordelaisarchitect Louis Garros on the foundations of a rest stop on the pilgrimage route of Saint-Jacques de Compostela.

The properties has it�s authentic character, contemporary design
centred around a series of courtyards connected by an avenue lined with shady trees. The chateau, winery and cellars, houses farm workers, forge, stables, the granary, the mansion and the gardener's cottage.

Each of these buildings have been transformed into individual private residences in keeping with their original design, proportions and textures, most with private gardens and many with swimming pools as well.

8 acres of gardens, woods and �garrigue� await discovery - a treasure trove that includes enormous palms and other thriving specimen trees and shrubs, a gorgeous basin that is home to sleepy koi, an orchard, vegetable garden and olive grove. Dotted throughout the estate are surprising features � a loveseat hanging from a tree, a flash of contemporary art, nesting boxes and the Ch�teau�s �secret gardens�.

Images: lescarrasses.com

Golden Gate opening in 1937

Trollheimen

Trollheimen (home of Trolls) was the first mountainous area in Norway to be released from the grip of the last Ice Age, and archaeological finds from as long as 9,000 years ago indicate that this is where early Norwegians found their reindeer hunting-grounds.

Trollheimen lies south-west of Trondheim and east of Kristiansund

Over the last 2 million years glacial activity has shaped the landscape, resulting in a marked division between Trollheimen�s mountains. Glacial arms and melt water torrents have created open U-shaped valleys in the east, and narrower V-shaped valleys in the west. Giant boulders broken loose by frost have crashed down into the chasms to form a harshly beautiful landscape. The western gneiss peaks are high and craggy; their eastern counterparts are composed of softer slate and limestone, more easily broken down to provide a rich, fertile soil. One of the remarkable relicts from this period is Litjhelvetet (Little Hell), beneath the peak of Trollhetta (Troll�s hat), where a glacier has gouged a deep hollow. The little lake, now filled with clear water, is called Troll�yet (the Troll�s Eye).

Sheep and cows find rich summer pasture on the hills but walkers may also spot less familiar beasts such as wolverine, lynx, arctic fox and otter.

Unfortunately trolls appear to be extinct.

Source: Google

Yellowstone

Yellowstone's name is historically credited to the Native Americans who lived in and around the park area. The name is basically derived from the Yellowstone River. The Yellowstone River has high yellow rock cliffs along its banks in the northern area of the present day park.

In 1872 Yellowstone National Park was established making it the world's first national park. It�s location is in Wyoming, USA, exactly halfway between the Equator and the North Pole.
The Continental Divide of North America runs diagonally through the south-western part of the park. The divide is a topographic feature that separates Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean water drainages.


The park sits on the Yellowstone Plateau, at an average elevation of 2400 m above sea level and at the plateau you also find Mount Washburn at 3122 m.

The park has one active volcano, 300 active geysers, 290 waterfalls, one of the worlds largest volcanic explosion craters and approximately 2000 earthquakes a year.
The highest waterfall is the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River at 94 m.


Yellowstone has the largest concentration of free-roaming wildlife in the global temperate zone, for example Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Coyote, Swift Fox, Red Fox, Wolf, Lynx, Bald Eagle, Moose, Bison, Canada Goose and White Pelican.

Old Faithful Geyser is one of the most popular features in the park and erupts every 65 minutes, which lasts from 1,5 minutes up to 5 minutes. It has been measured to 22m deep and a 129 degrees Celsius. When it erupts it expels 14 000 to 35 000 litres of water and reaches heights from 30m to 55m.

There are three canyons located in the park, cut through the Yellowstone Plateau by rivers over the last 640,000 years. For example, the Yellowstone River has carved two colourful canyons, one of them being the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone.

The Beauty Pool is one of many colourful thermal pools in Yellowstone.

The Grand Prismatic Spring is the largest hot spring in the United States, and the third largest in the world.

Mammoth Hot Springs features unique hot spring pools, called terraces, where geologic formations have come about from the heat, flowing water and limestone.

Although there is a lot of mud at Yellowstone, Mud Volcano is actually labled wrong. It is not a mud volcano, but rather a mud pot. And a mud pot is a hot spring formed in high-temperature geothermal areas where water is in short supply.

Yellowstone is included on the United Nations World Heritage List.

A few fast facts:
*Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park area is roughly half the size of New Zealand.
*In 2006, the Federal Government budget for maintaining the park was over $30 million.
*5% of Yellowstone Park is covered by water. 80% of the park is mountain forest and approximately 15% grasslands.
*Yellowstone Park is home to two endangered species; the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) and the Whooping Crane (Grus Americana).
*There are estimated to be over 10,000 thermal features/attractions in Yellowstone National Park.
*Lodge Pole Pines make up 80% of the forest in Yellowstone.


Happy Tuesday!