Climbing trip to Jungfrau and Eiger mountains in Switzerland

One of the most famous mountains in the world, Eiger has a height of 3970 meters and it is situated at the Jungfrau Region in Berner Oberland, Switzerland. The popularity of Eiger can be credited to its north face which has captured the interest of many climbing enthusiasts. Eiger offers a significant challenge to those who wish to reach its summit.It has several routes in varying levels of difficulty. The easiest route to the top of Eiger is West Flank and West Ridge. Other routes include Mittellegi Ridge, North Face, Northeast Face, and South Ridge.

Here is aerial video from Eiger mountains

Google Earth Placemark – Jungfrau and Eiger mountains in Switzerland

Awesome Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard

The Pont du Gard aqueduct is one really amazing masterpice of Roman Architecture and was built shortly before the Christian era to allow the aqueduct of Nimes (which is almost 50 km long) to cross the Gard river. The Roman architects and hydraulic engineers who designed this bridge, which stands almost 50 m high and is on three levels, the longest measuring 275 m, created a technical as well as an artistic masterpiece.

Pont du Gard means literally bridge of the Gard river. The Gard river, which has given its name to the Gard departement, does not actually exist under this name. The river, formed by many tributaries, several of which are called Gardon, is itself called Gardon until its end.

Its construction is attributed to Augustus, son-in-law and aide, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa. Designed to carry the water across the small Gardon river valley, it was part of a nearly 50 km (31 mi) aqueduct that brought water from springs near Uzes to the Roman city of Nemausus (Nimes). The full aqueduct had a gradient of 34 cm/km (1/3000), descending only 17 m vertically in its entire length and delivering 20,000 cubic meters (44 million gallons) of water daily.

It was constructed entirely without the use of mortar. The aqueduct’s stones, some of which weigh up to 6 tons, are held together with iron clamps. The masonry was lifted into place by block and tackle with a massive human-powered treadmill providing the power for the winch. A complex scaffold was erected to support the aqueduct as it was being built. The face of the aqueduct still bears the mark of its construction, in the form of protruding scaffolding supports and ridges on the piers which supported the semicircular wooden frames on which the arches were constructed. It is believed to have taken about three years to build, employing between 800 and 1,000 workers.

From the 4th century onwards, its maintenance was neglected, and deposits filled up to two thirds of the conduit space. By the 9th century, it became unusable, and the people of the area started using its stones for their own purposes. However, the majority of the Pont du Gard remains remarkably intact. From the Middle Ages to the 18th century, the aqueduct was used as a conventional bridge to facilitate foot traffic across the river. The pillars of the second level were reduced in width to make more room for the traffic, but this jeopardized the stability of the structure. In 1702 the pillars were restored to their original width in order to safeguard the aqueduct. In 1743, a new bridge was built next to the arches of the lower level, so that the road traffic could cross on a purpose-built bridge. The aqueduct was restored in the 18th century, by which time it had become a major tourist sight, and was restored again in the reign of Napoleon III in the mid-19th century.The outstanding quality of the bridge’s masonry led to it becoming an obligatory stop for French journeymen masons on their traditional tour around the country, many of whom have left their names on the stonework. Markings left by the original builders can also be seen, indicating the positions in which the dressed stones were to be placed: for instance, FRS II (standing for frons sinistra II, or “front left 2″).

Admirably integrated into a natural site that has preserved its wild charm, The Pont du Gard fascinates each of its visitors with its elegance and majesty. Two thousand years after its construction, this ancient edifice is still a veritable masterpiece, as much for the technical prowess involved as for its simple beauty. This monument is registered as a World Heritage of Man since 1985. It attracts more than a million tourists each year and is the 2nd most visited provincial monument after Mont-Saint-Michel.Below is a aerial video of Pont du Gard aqueduct ruins

Google Earth Placemark – The Pont du Gard aqeuduct

Are you ready for some surfing at Teahupoo

Teahupoo (pronounced Cho-poo) is a world-renowned surfing location off the south-east of Tahiti, located in Papeete Island, French Polynesia, southern Pacific Ocean. It is known for its heavy, glassy waves, often reaching 2-3m (7-10ft) and higher. It is the site of the annual Billabong Pro Tahiti surf competition, part of the World Championship Tour (WCT) of the ASP World Tour professional surfing circuit and used to be one stop in the World Tour of the International Bodyboarding Association.

Tahiti’s Teahupoo is essentially a glorified closeout – a hideous, deadly barrel promising a heap of trouble for even the most capable of surfers. No other surf spot extracts a higher toll than Teahupoo, the heaviest wave in the world.

The quiet town of Teahupoo rests along the southwest corner of the smaller of Tahiti’s two dormant volcanoes, Tahiti Iti, separated from the larger by the Isthmus of Taravao. Literally translated as “the hot head,” King Teahupoo’s son once avenged his father’s death by feasting on the fresh brain of the son of his murderer. The town of Teahupoo has vehemently retained its native culture, despite the influx of tourists, who are confronted with an array of local crafts but not a single McDonald’s (which is goood:) ). Recognized as a surf destination since the ’60s, the island is ringed with coral atolls receiving abundant swell via the roaring 40s. No land stands in its way, so Tahiti enjoys Hawaiian power during our summer months, providing an off-season challenge comparable to the North Shore. Finding a suitable reef pass is the only job you need to do if you want to surf.

Ages ago, freshwater from the mountains flowed into the ocean, eroding the reef and creating what is known today as Passe Havae. The pass is located where the town’s paved road ends, thus its early name, “The End of the Road.” The channel at Teahupoo isn’t actually a channel at all, as the wave bends and races along into a below sea level dry reef closeout. A 15-minute paddle from land, Teahupoo’s severe shape results from a drastic change in gradient as powerful swells leave a gently sloping bottom and are hurled forward by the reef. The lip, as thick as it is tall, pitches with such velocity that one must take off under it to avoid being launched. Guts alone may cut it at some big-wave venues, but here they’ll get you killed. An iron sack must be accompanied by finesse in negotiating a wave that has relegated Pipeline to mere warm-up status.

Tahitian Thierry Vernaudon claims he was the first to ride Teahupoo in 1985 with a few other locals, but the small waves they surfed were hardly the beasts we’ve come to know. Bodyboarders Mike Stewart and Ben Severson stumbled upon the End of the Road the following year, and it soon became something of an underground spot for psychotic bodyboarders.

I suggest you to watch to video below and think again is Teahupoo is your location for next excursion or not…

BILLABONG BIG WAVES TEAHUPOO TAHITI

… and remember that there are mermaids there…

Cool Reno Balloon Racing Timelapse Video

One hundred six balloons in a mass ascension at the Reno Balloon Race. Can you see where the cow jumped over the moon? This was shot with a Canon S3 using GBTimelapse and a Canon Pro1 running in continuous mode. The master copy of this video is in 1920×1080 HD mode – if only there were a way for you to see it in hi-def…

Reno Balloon Race 2006