A straight road going straight up a mountain would be far too steep for cars, trucks, or bicycles to climb. Zigzagging and curving lengthens the distance, making the overall slope (or gradient) much gentler and safer to handle. Furthermore, when driving downwards, driving straight down a very steep mountain causes vehicles to pick up too much speed, so the curves and switchbacks in the road oblige drivers to slow down and give brakes time to cool. And that is why we have such bendy roads in the Swiss Alps as pictured here!

Gadisar Lake (previously mentioned in this Zafoid group here: zafoid.com/post/view/12156), in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, India, features numerous shrines, temples, and carved stone ghats (stepped embankments) around its banks. It also has two very prominet, ornate, yellow sandstone domes that stand directly in the waters of this fabulous lake, intended to serve as pleasure pavilions, artistic vantage points, and resting spots, that greatly enhance the aesthetic layout of this man-made reservoir. Whilst the water-bound cenotaphs are not religious structures, Gadisar Lake remains heavily associated with religous devotion, with distinct Hindu temples and shrines, dedicated to specific deities, having been built along its banks and embankments.

Cloud forests are evergreen, moist forests that are typically located in mountain valleys, where moisture introduced by settling clouds is more effectively retained. They are characterised by a persistent, frequent, or seasonal low-level cloud cover, usually at the canopy level. Such ecosystems are quite rare globally.



The images in this set of cloud forest examplars hail from (starting clockwise from upper left) Chile, the Canary Islands, Sri Lanka, and Costa Rica.

The Hobbiton Movie Set was built in 1999 for "The Lord of the Rings", in Matamata, New Zealand. The original set featured 39 temporary Hobbit Holes across a 4.9-hectare site. After filming ended, the set was dismantled, but it returned in 2009 for "The Hobbit" films, and was rebuilt as a permanent tourist attraction.



In particular, there are the Hobbit Holes of Proudfoots (Proudfeet!) and Twofoots, right by the home of Samwise Gamgee at 3 Bagshot Row, which are the first fully-themed, fully-furnished Hobbit Holes that visitors can explore and interact with. The richly detailed, beautifully designed interiors of these authentic Hobbit Holes, have been based on the original concept designs by renowned artists Alan Lee and John Howe, whilst the furnishings and props were curated by designers Ra Vincent and Katherine Lim.

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Strolling through Sant'Anton Gardens at Ħal Balzan, in Malta.

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Traditional Bajau stilt water villages in the Tun Sakaran Marine Park are located off the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia, where the indigenous Bajau Laut ("Sea Gypsies") build wooden homes directly over shallow coral reefs.



(Click on image to view full size.)

Wayag islets within the Raja Ampat archipelago, in Indonesia.

This post demonstrates three distinct types of fishing. Starting from the top, and moving in a clockwise direction, we have ice fishing on Gull Lake in Brainerd, Minnesota; stilt fishing in Koggala, Sri Lanka; and fly fishing on the San Miguel river of Colorado.





(Click on image to view full size.)

The Kagami-ike (Mirror Pond) is situated in the mountainous Togakushi area of Nagano Prefecture, at a high altitude of 1,200 meters. It is seen here during different times of the year, namely autumn, and the green season (also known as the monsoon or rainy season, which occurs in Asia between May to September-October).



As its name suggests — "Kagami" meaning mirror in Japanese, whilst "ike" means pond — this pond is particularly renowned for its crystal clear reflection, particularly that of the surrounding Togakushi Mountain Range. Additionally, the area features well-maintained walking paths that enable visitors to stroll peacefully whilst listening to the sounds of the forest.



The Kagami-ike Pond is actually an artificial, man-made lake. The Togakushi area, located in a high-altitude, cold climate, was susceptible to the challenges of heavy frost and similar agricultural difficulties. However, the clever use of this artificial reservoir helped manage water resources, enabling the cultivation of high-quality rice whilst maintaining the lush, beautiful pastoral landscapes seen today. Today, this area is a protected natural environment, serving as a vital habitat for various wildlife, including migratory birds and kingfishers.



For other posts in this group about artificial, man-made lakes, please visit:



zafoid.com/post/view/12156

zafoid.com/post/view/9118

Every year, from mid-July to late August, the Perseids light up the night sky, peaking around August 12–13. Under dark skies, they frequently discharge dozens of meteors within the space of an hour, and are visible over most of the planet. Each streak typically lasts less than a second.



These meteor showers are called Perseids because they appear to be coming from the constellation of Perseus. However it was discovered in 1866 that these meteor showers actually originate from the debris shed by the Comet Swift-Tuttle, and occur when the Earth passes through its lingering dust trail.



PS. In case that you're wondering, the dinosaur in one of these images is from the Dinosaur Museum of Erenhot, in Inner Mongolia, China.