Just as coastlines are vulnerable to erosion by water, so are river beds, hillsides and cliffs, and the fast-flowing nature of waterfalls means that over time, even the hardest rock is worn away and reshaped by the water. Two areas in particular are sure to have gradually evolved over the years - the area near the edge of the waterfall, where the water is at its fastest, and the "plunge pool" at the base of the waterfall, so-called because the riverbed has usually been worn away by the impact of the water to form an abnormally deep area.
Waterfalls are perennial tourist attractions, and many people are willing to travel considerable distances to see some of the world's most famous waterfalls in action. While aficionados and tourist authorities might like to debate the relative merits and heights of different waterfalls, the reality is that all big waterfalls have their own unique character and setting, and any large waterfall presents a truly spectacular and dramatic sight.
Click HERE to access this article.
The Gravity Fed Fountains of Chatsworth House, England ** The ‘Palace of the Peak’ is a family home which was built to be shared with visitors. You are invited to walk at your own pace through the house, absorbing the atmosphere of its beautiful rooms and the story that they tell of the family's history over the last 450 years. Our new audio tour for children and adults and our friendly room guides help bring the house to life, Also new this year, introductory tours, available on many days throughout the season.
Chatsworth's gardens are well-known for their waterworks, but what is perhaps less well-known is that they are completely gravity-fed from a number of man-made lakes high on the hillside, 400 feet above the house. These lakes are fed by the myriad of streams that run through the Derbyshire moors.
Not only are all the water features gravity-fed, but the water feed from the lakes is also used to power a turbine that generates much of the electricity required by Chatsworth House, making this old house a thoroughly modern example of sustainable development.
Be sure to Click on the link to see the rest of this great resource.
***
Kansas City is thought to have more fountains than any city in the world except Rome, arguably the birthplace of the city fountain. At the last count, it was thought that there were over two hundred public fountains in Kansas City, with many more private fountains.
So what's behind Kansas City's love affair with water fountains?
Perhaps one of the reasons is that Kansas City owes its stature to water - it sits at the junction between the Missouri River and the Kansas River, and as a result was a trading and departure point for several of the great trading routes - the Santa Fe, Oregon and California trails.
Fountains of Life
Perhaps as well it is a fortuitous coincidence - a number of underground springs run underneath the centre of Kansas City, and in the early 1800s, the Humane Society of Kansas started to build fountains on top of these springs, taking advantage of the natural water pressure to provide fresh, clean drinking water for people and animals to quench their thirsts.
While these fountains were functional and provided an important public amenity, the fountains of Kansas City today are more decorative, and came a little later in the city's development.
Be sure to read the rest of this article. Click on this link, NOW!
No comments:
Post a Comment