-Glory Hole , Monticello Dam, CA
This is the 'Glory Hole' at Monticello dam,and it's the largest in the world of this type of spillway, its size enabling it to consume 14,400 cubic feet of water every second. A glory hole is used when a dam is at full capacity and water needs to be drained from the reservoir.
Located at the Monticello Dam at Lake Berryessa in Northern California, this gigantic drain acts as the lake's spillway.
Technically known as the Morning Glory Spillway it is locally, somewhat more colorfully, known as "The Glory Hole". When the dam reaches capacity, the spillway swallows water at a rate of 48,800 cubic feet per second, emptying about 700 feet away through an enormous concrete pipe.
The dam and spillway were constructed between 1953 and 1957, choking off Putah Creek and drowning the remains of the town of Monticello. At very low water levels, the foundations of the town can be seen in parts of the lake. The outside diameter s 72 feet, slowly narrowing to 28 feet at the exit. While this is the largest drain of its kind, there are other Glory Hole spillways around the world, including one at Whiskeytown Lake, near Redding also in Northern California.
Daring skateboarders have been known to use the exit of the spillway as a ramp in the dry season.
You can see the Glory Hole from the lake, but it is cordoned off from boaters and swimmers for safety reasons.
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World's Lazy Animals – The Sloth
The living sloths (bicho-perguiça in Portuguese, meaning lazy animal) comprise six species of medium-sized mammals that live in Central and South America. Most scientists call the sloth suborder Folivora, while some call it Phyllophaga. Both names mean “leaf-eaters”; the first is derived from Latin, the second from ancient Greek.
Tribal names include Ritto, Rit and Ridette, mostly forms of the word “sleep”, “eat” and “dirty” from Tagaeri tribe of Huaorani (Ecuador). ,
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Bishop Rock holds the Guinness Book of World Records title of smallest island in the world. An amazing lighthouse, built in 1858, is the only thing stands on this tiny island off the coast of Britain. The first lighthouse erected on the island was washed away before it could be completed. The current lighthouse has managed to survive currents and winds for well over a century. In historical times, convicted criminals were left with bread and water on the island to die.
The largest island in the world is Greenland. Australia is considered a continent because it has unique plant and animal life. Antarctica also is a continent – larger than Europe and Australia. Greenland, although quite big, shares the habitat features of Northern America.
The smallest island in the world – according to the Guinness Book of Records – is Bishop Rock. It lies at the most south-westerly part of the United Kingdom. It is one of 1040 islands around Britain and only has a lighthouse on it. In 1861, the British government set out the parameters for classifying an island. It was decided that if it was inhabited, the size was immaterial. However, if it was uninhabited, it had to be “the summer’s pasturage of at least one sheep” – which is about two acres.
Going by the above parameters, most of the 179 584 “islands” around Finland and the almost 200 000 around Canada would not match Indonesia as the country with the most islands. In fact, Indonesia consists only of islands – 13 667 of them, 6000 of which are inhabited.
The remotest uninhabited island is Bouvet Island in the South Atlantic. The remotest inhabited island in the world is Tristan da Cunha. It is in the South Atlantic, 2575 km (1600 miles) south of St Helena, which is an island a few hundred kilometres (miles) off the coast of South Africa. Tristan da Cunha has no TV but it has one radio station. The population totals 242 and they only have 7 surnames (last names) between them, so they are all related. Tristan da Cunha does have a capital, called Edinburgh of the South Seas.
The smallest independent island country is the Pacific island of Nauru. It measures 21,28 sq km (8.2 sq mi). (Only the Vatican City and Monaco are smaller countries.)
Of the 6 billion+ people in the world, one out of ten lives on an island (600 million). Which is not so hard to imagine when you consider that more than 200 million people live in Indonesia alone – and some 60 million live in Britain, the only island connected to a continent (through the Chunnel).
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There is definitely a buzz going around about two monster bull elk. Some rumors say there is a legit world record bull scoring over 500 inches taken with a bow. Some saying it is from idaho, others saying possibly from Arizona. Then there are photos of another huge bull, likely taken the same year…by the same guy? A lot of questions, but what are some of the correct answers?
The message boards and emails are going crazy with this topic and the photos that continue to circulate about these big bulls. Some are posted with truths, some totally made up falsehoods, and others with a little bit of both.
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18.} Nareepol Tree : Thailand
Nareepol Tree is an amazing tree that grows fruit in the shape of women show the tree in Thailand.This is a fruit in human shape.Unbelievable just have a look.This is amazing tree named "Nareepol" in Thai. Naree means "girl/woman" and pol means plant/tree or "buah" in Malay. It means women tree. It is amazing what God create the World in many forms that amused human beings….
You can see the real tree at Petchaboon province about almost 500 kms away from Bangkok.
I was fortunate to have the opportunity to talk with the hunter of both of these bulls. Kevin Reid was the lucky hunter to take down not one of these huge bulls, but both of them. Contrary to what many may think, these two bulls were not taken the same year. One was taken last year during the 2004 season and the other this year. Now the big question…Are these fair chase bulls?
Kevin Reid was hunting a private high fenced ranch in Idaho in 2004 and came across two monster bulls running together. Kevin ended up taken one of the bulls with his bow at just over 30 yards. The bull is an incredible bull scoring 447 SCI. After the season, the ranch owner called Kevin and told him he thought the other bull that was running with the bull Kevin shot was even bigger. Sure enough, Kevin went back for the 2005 season. After three weeks of hunting, he finally got within bow range of this bull. This bull has been scored by SCI (Safari Club International) scorers at an incredible 502 2/8 SCI. This bull will become the new SCI world record bull (taken with any weapon).
So will these bulls be eligable for Pope & Young or Boone & Crockett? No, they will not. They were taken in a high fence arrangement, and therefore will not be eligable. They will be entered in SCI and be not only one of, but two of the biggest bulls recorded. Even in high fence, there has never been a 500 inch bull taken before. The only bull ever taken by a hunter that scored over 500 inches (gross score) is the Mike Shipsey Bull. Mike Shipsey shot this bull in 1997 on the San Carlos Reservation. This 11×10 point bull scores 502 6/8 gross, 487 net non-typical B&C. However, the Shipsey bull has not been entered (or accepted) into the B&C Club. The San Carlos Fish and Game in Arizona has a replica of this elk in their office – so if you are down that way you can check it out.
Kevin was nice enough to give me permission to post these photos of his elk. Kevin is an accomplished hunter and has hunted all over the world, which includes entries in Pope & Young. However, one thing he is a little frustrated with is the rumors about these bulls going around on the Internet. He has never tried to pass these bulls off as fair chase bulls, and has been up front about them from the start. Unfortunately, people have been passing these photos around and included their own information which has been incorrect. Kevin knows what they are, but is not trying to trick anyone, and has been getting emails daily about his bulls himself. Hopefully this will help clear up some of the confusion.
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most amazing structures of the world : Regatta hotel, Jakarta
Taking the form of ten apartment towers, a five-star hotel and an Aqua Park in a complex spawning over 11 hectares of reclaimed land, the Regatta project is certainly one of the best structures you will come across. Regatta’s development follows a nautical theme, the centrepiece of which being an aerodynamically shaped hotel bound to be one of the most striking landscape features overlooking the Java Sea. I would kill to live in some place like the Regatta, with sea as your backyard an a spellbinding view.
Continuing what we have talked about the top unique structure mentioned by Syed Mobin Architects, now lets see the fourth structure, Regatta Hotel, Jakarta. Taking on a nautical theme, the developers say the 10 smaller towers represent sailing boats whilst the larger building is ‘The Lighthouse’. It’s the lighthouse that steals the show for us, possibly the most incredible looking structure we’ve seen for a long time. If it ends up looking anything close to these pictures we’ll be impressed.
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World's Biggest Biceps: Greg Valentino
Introducing the biggest biceps in the world! The guy's name is Greg Valentino. Building the world's biggest biceps is not an easy task! Greg has been working his huge biceps for over 20 years. Obviously to get the world's biggest biceps Greg has been using alot of steriods. Greg has the world's biggest biceps and biggest arms at over 28 inches! (71cm!)
Greg Valentino has the world's biggest biceps! Greg Valentino has been bodybuilding since the age of 14. One day Greg Valentino said to himself "Well I'm not going to get any taller so I'm going to get wider". That's when Greg started out his quest for the biggest bicep muscles in the world. Greg Valentino has been working his huge bicep muscle for over 30 years now! So how much can Greg bicep curl? A whopping 300 pounds!
The last measurement of Greg Valentino's arms put them at over 28 inches...and still growing! Greg trains heavy. Not only does he focus on his biceps and triceps but he can bench 550lbs on a decline. Greg Valentino is certainly a strong man all over. Obviously Greg has been taking steriods for quite some time. He admits this in his regular column in the Muscle development magazine. His column is called "Ramblin Freak, the biggest bicep muscles in the world".
You can read all about how to build big biceps on this site. We have loads of bicep building articles written by experienced trainers and bodybuilders. We also have bicep workouts that have been designed by our team and (if followed strictly) will help you build bigger and stronger biceps.
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Huang Chuncai, with a giant facial tumor : China
A Chinese male, Huang Chuncai, with a giant facial tumor used to be recognized as a tumor man. At a very young age at four, he suffered from a noticeable rare genetic disorder called Neurofibromatosis, obscuring his external appearance and warping his backbone. These unusual growths on his face caused him to have a trouble to hear, to speak and even to eat. The growths grew bigger and rapidly as he aged, knocking out his teeth, crushing his left ear to hang down his shoulder level, blocking his left eye and deforming his bone as well. In July 2007, Chinese surgeons successfully removed a massive 33-pound (or about 15kg) tumor hanging down on his face. He also had another 25-pound tumor removed successfully.
Arm size: 28+ inches (COLD)
Chest Size: 58 inches
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 250lbs (off season)
D.O.B: August, 1960
Lives: New York
Favorite Food: Steak & Italian
Marital Status: Single
Kids: Two
Life Motto: Live for today..!!!
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Prithviraj Patil, a hairy boy in Sangalwadi!
A 11-year-old boy has hair growing all over his face and body. And doctors say that laser treatment or plastic surgery is the only way out.
Prithviraj Patil, son of a well-to-do farmer in Sangalwadi near Sangli, suffers from a rare medical anomaly though he is otherwise like any normal child.
The boy has no problem with his hair that is up to three-inches long except that it looks awful - there is no itch or rash on the skin or any bad odour accompanying the dermatological problem.
Prithviraj became an object of curiosity at a health detection camp here Sunday as he waited his turn in a long queue of people for a medical check up.
The visit to the health camp was just another effort on the part of Dilip Patil, Prithviraj's father, in his quest to diagnose and possibly find a cure for his Class 5 son.
Skin specialist Dayanand Naik, who found that hormonal and pathological tests conducted on Prithviraj were normal, said that laser treatment or plastic surgery could be attempted after a few years.
Despite his unusual problem, Prithviraj has been doing consistently well in his studies.
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Liger : Half Lion and Half Tiger
When two of the fiercest big cats in the world get together you might expect the result to be fireworks. If love is in the air, however, the result is a liger. Half lion, half tiger, a liger is what happens when a male lion is bred with a female tiger.
A male liger was pictured in his enclosure at the private zoo "Arche Noah" in the village of Groemitz on the Baltic Sea coast. Bahier was born in the 31-year old private zoo in 1990.
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The worlds biggest and heaviest Snake (anaconda)
The biggest snake that ever lived (that we know about) was a massive anaconda-like beast that slithered through steamy tropical rainforests about 60 million years ago feasting on primitive crocodiles, National Geographic News reported today.
"Fossils discovered in northeastern Colombia's Cerrejon coal mine indicate the reptile was at least 42 feet (13 meters) long and weighed 2,500 pounds (1,135 kilograms)," contributor John Roach reported.
The snake would have killed its prey by slow suffocation -- wrapping around it and squeezing, just like a modern python or boa. Only this snake was twice the size of today's largest constrictors.
Humans would stand no chance against one of these giant snakes, said Hans-Dieter Sues, paleontologist and associate director for research and collections at the National Museum of Natural History of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. "Given the sheer size, the sheer cross section of that snake, it would be probably like one of those devices they use to crush old cars in a junkyard."
Rhino Calf Needs Five Gallons of Milk a Day -- By Bottle
Ramir, a 6-week-old Indian rhinoceros, is bottle-fed more than a gallon of milk five times per day. He is the 58th Indian rhinoceros born at San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park since 1978, making the Park the foremost breeding facility in the world for this endangered species, according to a news statement by the zoo.
The calf is seen in this picture in the process of downing three bottles of milk, handed to him by Wild Park keeper Marcia Diehl.
The rhino weighs 350 pounds, up from 150 pounds at birth.
"Ramir was born December 23 to a first-time mother that was not producing enough milk and was not attentive to the newborn," San Diego Zoo said in the statement. "A cold spell during his first few days led to hypothermia. Veterinarians and keepers intervened and have been caring for him since."
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Bingham Canyon Mine, Utah : WORLD'S MOST AMAZING HOLES
This is supposedly the largest man-made excavation on earth. Extraction began in 1863 and still continues today, the pit is increasing in size constantly. In its current state the hole is 75 miles deep and 2.5 miles wide.
The Kennecott Copper Mine is an open-pit mine located in Salt Lake County, Utah, just southwest of West Jordan, at (40°31?N 112°09?W). It is located 28 miles southwest of Salt Lake City. It is easily visible as a large layered multi-color, barren protrusion on the side of the Oquirrh Mountains, which lie on the west side of the Salt Lake Valley. It is currently the largest open-pit mine in the world, and the world's largest man-made excavation. The mine is 2½ miles across, and ¾ mile deep.
Kennecott is the second largest copper producer in the United States - providing approximately 15% of the country's copper needs.
Minerals were first discovered in Bingham Canyon in 1850, but exploitation did not begin until 1863. At first, mining was difficult, but a railroad reached the canyon in 1873, prompting massive settlement and extraction of the minerals. By the 1920s, 15,000 people of widely-varying ethnicity had settled in the canyon. Large residential communities were constructed on the steep canyon walls. Natural disasters were a common occurrence in the heavily-settled canyon. The population declined rapidly as mining techniques improved, and several of the mining camps began to be swallowed up by the mine. By 1980, when Lark was dismantled, only Copperton, at the mouth of Bingham Canyon and with a population of 800, remained. Today, mining operations continue at full-swing in the mine, and it is now the largest open-pit mine in the world. Work to expand the mine 600 feet east began in 2005, continuing to increase its size, growth, and capabilities.
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Kimberley Big Hole , South Africa : The Kimberley Mine - Kimberley Mine Museum
Location: Kimberley. (28°44'18.78"S, 24°45'17.87"E)
Classification: Diamond mine
Dimension: Big Hole: ar=17ha, L=463m, VR=175m visible.
1866 : first diamond discovered by the 15 year old shepherd Erasmus Jacobs near the Orange River.
1871 : Johannes Nicolaas and Diederik Arnoldus de Beer, two brothers, purchased farmland in South Africa.
16-JUL-1871 : Esau Damoense discovered a whole handful of diamonds in Colesberg Kopje.
18-JUL-1871 : Diamond rush starts.
1884 : diamond mines opened.
1888 : De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited formed by Cecil John Rhodes and Charles Rudd.
14-AUG-1914 : Big Hole closed.
2005 : underground mine closed.
2006 : complete redesign of tourist facilities.
25-NOV-2006 : opening of new museum and viewing platform.
Kimberley is famous for the Big Hole, which is often called the worlds deepest man made hole. Kimberley is the place where diamonds are found. And the Big Hole is a huge pit, almost circular and 215m deep, right in the middle of the town. Just for completeness's sake: Kimberley Big Hole is not the biggest hand dug hole, that is Jagersfontein Mine. And a few modern mines, created with enormous machines, are even bigger.
The diamonds found at Kimberly were formed in a vertical volcanic pipe. Huge layers of rocks eroded, and so it is cut through by todays earth's surface. The almost circular pipe reaches the surface right on the farm, two Dutch settlers bought in 1871. The two brothers called Johannes Nicolaas and Diederik Arnoldus de Beer bought it for farming, and they did not participate in the diamond hunt. In this year, 1871, there had already happend various diamond finds in the area. But it was still unclear if diamonds originated from this area, or were just transported to this place by erosional forces.
The farm had a shallow hill, later called Colesberg Kopje. This was the erosional surface remains of the kimberlite pipe. The so called Red Cap Party lead by Fleetwood Rawstorne was searching the area in 1871. The cook of the party, named Esau Damoense, is said to have found the very first diamonds here. This lead to a diamond rush, which made it impossible for the de Beers to keep their land. The flood of fortune hunters from America, England, Australia, Germany, Russia, Eastern Europe, and from the Southern African hinterland, became soon unmanageable. They were not able to protect the place from the growing tide of intruders, so they sold it.
And although the brothers did not become the owners of the mines, one of the mines inherited their name and until today the diamond trade is connected with their names. First two big mines formed, the De Beers and Kimberley mines. Cecil John Rhodes and Charles Rudd gained control of both mines and merged them, forming De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited in 1888. De Beers is the company which today dominates the market, producing about 40% of all diamonds on earth by value, and owning about 70% of the South African diamond mines. And they have a marketing subsidiary named Diamond Trading Company (DTC) which sells almost half of the world's rough diamonds by value.
But back to history. In the first time the diamonds were mined in an open cast mine, following the pipe. Colesberg Kopje soon disappeared and turned into a pit. The result was the Big Hole, a vast crater dug entirely with picks and shovels. In this open cast 2,722kg of diamonds were mined until it closed in 1914. Approximately 22,5 million tons of earth were moved.
Today the Big Hole is about 215m deep, but 40m of ground water leave only 175m visible. Originally the hole was 240m deep, but after it was abandoned it was used to throw debris in. The underground Kimberly Mine was mined to a depth of 1097m.
The Big Hole is a rather new diamond theme park located at the rim of this hole, and owned by De Beers. It was developed from the former Kimberley Mine Museum, but in 2006 De Beers invested R50 million (about USD 7.7 million) for the renovation and extension of the site. It includes an open air museum, a small village showing the history of diamond mining at Kimberley. A complete little diamond rush town with shops and houses, a church, diggers' tavern, Barney Barnato's Boxing Academy, and the De Beers directors' private railway coach. An exhibition at the Diamond vault in the pulsator shed houses over 3500 real diamonds including the Eureka and the 616. The Eureka is the first diamond discovered in South Africa in 1866, on the banks of the Orange River by Erasmus Jacobs. It had over 21.10 carats uncut and is now 10.73 carats cut. The 616 is the largest uncut diamond in the world, its name is its weight: 616 carats.
The most spectacular addition of the recent renovation is a cantilevered platform above the rim of the Big Hole which was completed in November 2006. The Platform is 30 by 30 Cape feet, which was the size of a 19th Century mining claim. It allows the visitors a vertical view down into the hole, as it protrudes across the rim like a half suspension bridge. But although it is 90m long, it does not protrude over the central pit with the lake.
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Diavik Mine , Canada
The mine is so huge and the area so remote that it has its own airport with a runway large enough to accommodate a Boeing 737.It looks equally cool when the surrounding water is frozen.
The Diavik Diamond Mine, located 300 kilometres northeast of Yellowknife, the capital of Canada's Northwest Territories, is an unincorporated joint venture between Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. (60 per cent) and Aber Diamond Mines Ltd. (40 per cent). Both are Canadian companies headquartered in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Diavik Diamond Mines Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rio Tinto plc of London, England, and Aber Diamond Mines Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Aber Diamond Corporation of Toronto, Canada.
The Diavik Diamond Mine is projected to produce approximately 107 million carats of diamonds over its mine life of 16 to 22 years.
Diavik's current ore reserves comprise three diamond ore bodies, called kimberlite pipes. These pipes are located in shallow waters of Lac de Gras. To safely access the pipes, Diavik will construct dikes allowing the overlying waters to be removed temporarily. Diavik completed the first dike encircling the A154 North and A154 South pipes, and virtually all of the physical plant in 2002. Construction of a second dike is to begin in summer 2005.
Diavik is providing significant training, employment, and business opportunities to the Northwest Territories and Nunavut's West Kitikmeot region. These commitments are formalized in the Diavik Socio-Economic Monitoring Agreement, signed in 1999 with the Government of the Northwest Territories and ratified by the five Aboriginal groups, and in individual Participation Agreements concluded with five Aboriginal groups, including the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council, Yellowknives Dene First Nation, the North Slave Metis Alliance, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association, and the Lutsel K'e Dene Band.
Diavik's commitment to training includes site-based and community-based training, and apprenticeships. In addition, the Diavik Workplace Learning Centre, supported by two adult educators, provides resources for workers to upgrade skills.
For operations, Diavik has committed to 66 per cent northern employment and 40 per cent Aboriginal employment and 70 per cent northern purchasing. At 2004 year end, northern and Aboriginal employment were 70 per cent and 38 per cent respectively with operations spending at 70 per cent northern.
A series of regulatory requirements as well as an Environmental Agreement between Diavik, Aboriginal groups, and federal and territorial governments, formalize Diavik's commitments to protecting the environment. Diavik formally involves communities in monitoring and in an advisory capacity through the Environmental Monitoring Advisory Board created under the Environmental Agreement, the Diavik Communities Advisory Board under the Socio- Economic Monitoring Agreement, and implementation committees under its Participation Agreements.
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Mirny Diamond Mine , Serbia
It's an absolute beast and holds the title of largest open diamond mines in the world. A t 525 meters deep, with a top diameter of 1200 meters, there's even a no-fly zone above the hole due to a few
helicopters having been sucked in.
The second largest man-made hole in the world (surpassed only by the Bingham Copper Mine in Utah) is a diamond mine located on the outskirts of Mirny, a small town in eastern Siberia. Begun in 1955, the pit is now 525 meters deep and 1.25 kilometers across. The massive 20-foot tall rock-hauling trucks that service the mine travel along a road that spirals down from the lip of the hole to its basin. Round-trip travel time: two hours. Airspace above the mine is off-limits to helicopters, after "a few accidents when they were 'sucked in' by downward air flow..."
Open pit mining has ceased in the MIR pit and mining is continuing by underground methods.
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Sinkhole in Guatemala
These photos are of a sinkhole that occurred early this year in Guatemala . The hole swallowed a dozen homes and killed at least 3 people.
GUATEMALA CITY - Torrential rains brought by the first tropical storm of the 2010 season pounded Central America and southern Mexico, triggering deadly landslides. The death toll stood at 15 Sunday but authorities said the number could rise.
Tropical Storm Agatha made landfall near the border of Guatemala and Mexico on Saturday with wind speeds of up to 45 mph (75 kph), then weakened into a tropical depression before dissipating over the mountains of western Guatemala.
Although no longer even a tropical depression, Agatha still posed trouble for the region: Remnants of the storm were expected to deliver 10 to 20 inches (25 to 50 centimeters) of rain over southeastern Mexico, Guatemala and parts of El Salvador, creating the possibility of "life-threatening flash floods and mudslides," the U.S. National Hurricane Center in Miami said in an advisory Sunday.
Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom said Saturday night that the rivers in the country's south were flooding or close to it.
Colom said 4.3 inches (10.8 centimeters) of rain had fallen in Guatemala City's valley in 12 hours, the most since 1949.
As of Saturday night, 4,300 people were in shelters and authorities said the number could rise as figures come in from around the country.
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