Most Wonderful Landscapes in Pictures

Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards 2010, which were held in association with Network Rail and Natural England, showcased 175 of the best entries. These pictures then could be seen at the National Theatre exhibition from 22nd November until 16th January.
On this occasion, Antony Spencer won the prestigious title “Landscape Photographer of the Year” as well as £10,000 for his art work called “Corfe Castle, Dorset” and Taliesin Coombes became “Young Landscape Photographer of the Year” with an image of a steam train leaving Cardiff Station. Now, let\’s take a look at the winning photos and you can enjoy relaxing moments.

Corfe Castle, Dorset is photographed by Antony Spencer

Sand patterns on the Isle of Eigg in Scotland is photographed by Dudley Williams

Breakfast view, Cardiff is photographed by Taliesin Coombes

Grindleford Station, Derbyshire is photographed by Chris Howe

South Downs near Kingston is photographed by Slawek Staszczuk

Falkirk Wheel at night is photographed by David Stanton

Fairfield, Romney Marsh is photographed by Marshall Pinsent

Pew Tor, Dartmoor, Devon is photographed by Alex Nail

Valley of Light, Newlands Valley, Cumbria is photographed by Adam Burton

Lavender field at dawn, Somerset is photographed by Antony Spencer

Neist Point Lighthouse at sunset, Isle of Skye is photographed by Fortunato Gatto
Source

Posted by Admin on 2:12 AM in Betifull Places

Top 5 Most Beautiful Oases

5. Ubari Oasis (Libya)

Ubari is an oasis city in South-Western Libya, in the Targa valley. It lies between the Messak Sattafat plateau and Idhan Ubari sand dunes and lakes. The oasis is the second centre after Ghat for Kel Ajjer Tuareg. Neighbouring villages include Germa, and In Garran. The water is salted like the dead sea, but swimming into it is rather not a good idea as it is very dirty.
4. Huacachina (Peru)

Shimmering beneath the scorching sun of the Peruvian desert is an extraordinary sight – a tiny settlement, complete with lagoon, lush palm groves, carob trees, cafes, neatly clipped lawns, 100-strong population and even the odd swimming pool.
For thousands of years, Huacachina, otherwise known as the ‘oasis of Americas’ – there is only one – has been a beacon of green, hidden deep amid hundreds of miles of barren desert.
Huacachina serves as a resort for local families from the nearby city of Ica, and increasingly as an attraction for tourists drawn by the sport of sandboarding on sand dunes that stretch several hundred feet high.
3. Ein Gedi (Israel)

En Gedi is the largest oasis along the western shore of the Dead Sea. The springs here have allowed nearly continuous inhabitation of the site since the Chalcolithic period. The area was allotted to the tribe of Judah, and was famous in the time of Solomon (Josh 15:62). Today the Israeli kibbutz of En Gedi sits along the southern bank of the Nahal Arugot.
2. Chebika Oasis (Tunisia)

Chebika belongs to the collection of unlikely desert oases of the mountains north of the great Tunisian chotts. Least famous, Chebika offers perhaps the most effective and dramatic experience among them. Where the mountains rise, Chebika lies. Most of the year it is so exposed to the sun that it once was known as Qasr el-Shams, Castle of the Sun.
1. Timia Oasis (Niger)

Timia Oasis, located on the Aïr Mountains (northern Niger), is billed as the most beautiful oasis in the country for a reason. It is not quite the image of a pool of water amidst the sand-dunes with a couple of palm-trees on either side. Instead it is a rich network of lush gardens in the middle of some of the most hostile terrain on earth- as true an oasis as you’ll ever find. Oranges and pomegranates hang from branches and can be plucked (for a fee) and eaten on the spot. Date palms and citrus trees, and beneath the cool of the spreading leaves, any number of herbs, cereals and garden vegetables are grown. The Tuareg who tend the gardens export their produce all over the Aïr region- indeed in some cases all over Niger. After the searing heat of the Sahara, the Timia Oasis is the perfect rest-stop for a group of travellers, and time is well spent exploring the refreshing shade of the carefully-groomed orchards.

Posted by Admin on 5:19 AM in Betifull Places

Top Ten Best Places To Live In 2011

2011 has just begun with many New Year resolutions and plans as we all are hoping for a brighter & better future. If you plan to shift to some better place, this list is your guide. This list ranks 10 cities out of 221 as the Top Ten Best Places To Live In 2011. The cities were evaluated on 39 factors including economic, political, environmental, health, personal safety, education, transportation and other public service factors. Cities were compared to New York City which was given a base score of 100. Vienna tops the list of top 10 with an index of 108.6. You can also see top ten places to live in the World for all time.

1. Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria

Vienna, Austria tops the list and stands at #1 as the best place in the world to live with a Mercer score of 108.6. Vienna is Austria’s Capital. It is its cultural, economic, and political center with a population of about 1.7 million. The city has it’s own unique colors. Vienna experiences 4 season in an year with a mild summer season and a rather windy and rainy winter season. GDP of Austria is $361.791 billion. Vienna has an extensive transportation system and a very reliable health system. The country’s political stability also makes it a place worth living. Life expectancy in Vienna is 79.5 years.

2. Zurich, Switzerland

Zurich, Switzerland

The largest city of Switzerland, Zurich is the 2nd best city with a Mercer score of 108.0. The cities total population is 365,098. The city has a life expectancy of 80.74 years. GDP of Switzerland is$491.4 billion. Zurich is the financial center of Switzerland and houses the stock exchange and the headquarters of a large number of national and international companies. The city is known as ”Portal to the Alps” due to it’s close distance to tourist resorts in the Swiss Alps and its mountainous scenery. The city is also famous for it’s famous watchmakers. It is a beautiful city with an elegant infrastructure, a warm and cozy environment offering a unique mix of discovery, pleasure, nature and culture.

3. Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva, Switzerland

Geneva, Switzerland is the second most populous city of Switzerland with a  population of185,958. The city is catching the attention of more and more people due to it’s wonderful quality of life. It has gained a Mercer score of 107.9. Geneva is a city of prime importance being a major center of international diplomacy. The city has excellent health care and education system. It is stable politically and economically as the GDP of Switzerland is $491.4 billion.

4. Auckland, New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand

Standing at #4 is Auckland. There is a tie between Vancouver and Auckland as both the cities have a Mercer score of 107.4. New Zealand’s most beautiful and biggest city, Auckland has breathtaking scenery, beautiful beaches, idyllic holiday islands, outstanding food and wine, great shopping and exciting nightlife. Auckland has a warm-temperate climate, with warm, humid summers and mild, damp winters. The city has a population of 1.18 million and an average life expectancy at birth of80.24 years. GDP of New Zealand is $119.549 billion.

5. Vancouver, Canada

Vancouver, Canada

The amazing city of Vancouver is a coastal city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is a perfect place to live with a well developed and well established infrastructure, brilliant tourism spots, high educational standards and great health care system. The Mercer score of the city is 107.4. It is the largest metropolitan area in Western Canada. The city has a population of 578,041 and an average life expectancy at birth of 81.16 years. The GDP of Canada is $1.522 trillion.

6. Dusseldorf, Germany

Duesseldorf, Germany

Again from Germany is Duesseldorf with a Mercer score of 107.2. Today’s Duesseldorf is quite different from the Duesseldorf of the past. Modern day Dusseldorf is an important international business and financial center, renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. The GDP of Germany is$3.673 trillion. The city has a population of 586,217. It has brilliant health care system and a stable political situation.

7. Munich, Germany

Munich, Germany

Munich is the capital city of Bavaria (Bayern), Germany. It is located on the River Isar, north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich has a Mercer score of 107.0. The GDP of Germany is $3.673 trillion. Munich is a financial and publishing hub, and a frequently top-ranked destination for migration and expatriate location. Munich has a continental climate, with a strong impact due to the proximity of the Alps. City’s architecture is a mix of ethnic and cultural architecture and modern architecture. The average life expectancy of Munich at birth is 79.1 years.

8. Frankfurt, Germany

Frankfurt, Germany

Standing at #8 is Frankfurt am Main also known as Frankfurt, the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a  population of 672,000. There is a tie between Frankfurt and Munich as both have a Mercer score of 107.0.  It is the business and financial center of Germany. Frankfurt is a city of contrasts with wealthy bankers, students and granola drop-outs coexisting in a city. The sky scrapers of the city give the city a beautiful modern look on a cultural background. The GDP of Germany is $3.673 trillion making Frankfurt an ideal place to move to. Life expectancy of Frankfurt at birth is 79.26 years.

9. Bern, Switzerland

Bern, Switzerland

The city at #9 is Bern from Switzerland. Bern is the fourth most populous city of Switzerland with a population of 123,466. Bern is a beautiful city with a rich culture and creative infrastructure. The city has a well established transportation system. The life expectancy in Bern at birth is 80.3 years. Switzerland has a stable economy with a GDP of $491.4 billion making Bern an ideal place to live.

10. Sydney, Australia

Sydney, Australia

Sydney makes it to # 10 in our list of 10 Best Places To Live In 2011 with a Mercer score of 106.3. The city has an average life expectancy of 80.73 years. It has a population of 4,504,469. The city is known for tourism, entertainment and outdoor sports. Sydney has grown to become a wealthy and prosperous city, ranking as the second wealthiest city in the world in terms of per Capita purchasing power. The GDP of Switzerland is $494.6 billion. Sydney has a temperate climate with mild winters and warm winters.

Posted by Admin on 2:10 AM in Betifull Places