The flag of Sudan is composed of three colors of equal size: the red, white and black stripes embraced by a green-colored isosceles triangle at the far left portion. Previously, before the military revolution led by Gaafar Nimeiry in 1969, a tri-color of blue, yellow and green was used. The present make-up of the Sudanese flag has strong bond with other Arab nations. It bears a striking similarity to that of the Flag of the Arab Revolt.

The colors imprinted on the Sudanese flag such as the red, white, black and green are mostly adaptations from the Pan-African colors. These colors, which stand for union and independence, had long been linked historically to the peoples of Sudan and the Islamic faith. The red band represents the struggle of Sudanese people for freedom and the blood of its past heroes and forefathers.

White stands for optimism, peace, and light. It is also believed to represent a nationalist group called the White Flag League, a potent force that was instrumental in overthrowing foreign domination in 1924; and the black stripe signifies Sudan itself. Sudan is the Arabic word for “black.” Black has a strong connection with the nationalists’ black flag that struggled during the Mahdist Revolution against the imperial power in the later part of the 19th century. As always, green symbolizes prosperity and agriculture.

The Sudanese flag was first lifted up to the skies on May 20, 1970, almost 16 years after Sudan obtained freedom from Great Britain and Egypt on January 1, 1956. The change in the colors took place after a military coup d’état in 1969.

The current flag of Sudan was the product of a national competition for flag design and has a remarkable influence from the Arab Liberation Flag of Egypt.

Glacier Garden thriving plants.
Photo by: wlcutler, Creative Commons

One of the best places to go when visiting Alaska during the summer months is the Juneau Glacier Gardens. This is definitely one of the places that you would not want to miss. The Glacier Gardens is located inside a rainforest on Thunder Mountain. One of the main attractions is the Flower Towers that were created from uprooted trees.

The story of the gardens started in 1984 when a landslide destroyed most of the face of Thunder Mountain. The gardens were created due to the diligence of landscaper Steve Bowhay in reclaiming the area damaged by the landslide. A streambed was first created so that the heavy volume of rainwater could be safely guided down the mountain. It was during this process that some of the trees that were uprooted during the landslide were discovered. These trees were uprooted and had surprisingly landed with their roots facing straight up in the air. The idea of Steve to plant flowers on the roots of these trees became the highlight of Glacier Gardens and is now known today as the Flower Towers.

The landscaping of the Glacier Gardens is simply magnificent. A walk around the garden paths treats any visitor to a wide variety of flowers and plant life such as Sitka Spruce, Devil’s Club and the Elderberry. More adventurous travelers can take a trip up to the top of the 580ft mountain to get a glimpse of the scenic Mendenhall Valley. It is recommended to take an umbrella or a hat along since summer in Juneau also has a lot of rainy days.

This is indeed living proof that a paradise can still be created from places that have experienced devastation. Determination, ingenuity and perseverance were the key to the creation of this small paradise on Thunder Mountain.

The official flag of Tunisia is red in color. The flag is composed of a center circle colored with white where a crescent and five-pointed star, both in red, are placed. The flag of Tunisia was officially adopted in either 1831 or 1835 after the end of the Battle of Navarino on October 20, 1827. The adoption of the flag was made possible through the Bey of Tunis Al-Husayn II ibn Mahmud. Even as Tunisia became a French Protectorate, the flag was used continuously as the official flag. The flag was later validated as the official flag of the Republic of Tunisia right after the ratification of its Constitution.

The flag of Tunisia has a prominent similarity with that of Turkey. This is because the Beys, who once ruled Tunisia, were once the vassals of the Ottoman Empire. It must be known also that the Ottoman flag used crescent and star invariably in its flags. Essentially, both Turkish and Tunisian flags differ only in the position of the circle and the star, and the color of the crescent.

For Tunisia, the colors of its flag present an intense representation of its history. The red background on the flag symbolizes the struggles of Tunisian heroes during the Turkish attacks in 1574. Another explanation has it that the red flag casts light upon the Muslim world. The white color represents peace and the five-pointed star and crescent indicate union and harmony among the Muslims. It also symbolizes the Five Pillars of Islam. Another interpretation made by Ludvík Mucha tells that the center circle stands for the sun. The star and crescent are notable holy symbols of Islam and which are consistently adopted throughout the Muslim countries. He opined that the crescent symbolizes good luck and that the red color is a lasting icon against the domination of Turkey.

The flag of Tunisia, including its designs, were finally specified by law during the 1ate 1990s and has not been changed since then.

The republic of Cameroon is a country central-west Africa, bordered west by Nigeria, northeast from Chad and to the east by the Central African Republic. The country is called as “Africa in miniature” because of its geological and cultural features. The natural features include beaches, deserts, rainforests, savannas and mountains. The country has over 200 different linguistic groups. Cameroon is also known for its native music particularly the makossa and bikutsi. In addition, the successful national football team is a feat of Cameroon.

The national flag of Cameroon has been in use since May 20, 1975 after Cameroon became a unified state. The design is a vertical tricolor of green and red alongside yellow with a defaced five-pointed star in the center. There are many varieties regarding the star’s size though the frequently used size is a star contained with the inside stripes.

The color combination uses the traditional Pan-African colors. In addition, Cameroon is the second state to use the combination. The three-color combination is adapted from the flag of France. The center stripe represents unity, the color red represents unity and the star is known as “the star of unity”. The yellow stands for the sun and the northern part of the country, the savannas. The color green represents the southern forest parts of Cameroon. The old flag of Cameroon, used from 1961 to 1975, had a similar color scheme however; it uses two gold stars in the upper half of the green which is darker than the third stripe if compared.

The flag was adopted after the British South Cameroon’s joining of the state of Cameroon. The original flag was made to law by Law 46 of October 26, 1957. It was the simple tricolor. The new constitution on the other hand confirmed it on February 21, 1960.

Barren ground caribou atop Eagle Summit
Photo by: bottomdollar99730, Creative Commons

A visit to a place where nature and the environment is well preserved is a welcome breath of fresh air. One place which will be a good place to go if you want to relax and get intimate with nature is the Eagle Summit in Alaska. It is located a little more than 100 miles from Fairbanks and boasts of a 3,624 foott high peak. If you enjoy the mountains, you will surely enjoy a trip at Eagle Summit.

The things you can do when you visit the summit are very easy and relaxing. You can just go driving and enjoy the scenic views. You will not believe your eyes because of the beauty that surrounds you. Make sure to get your cameras ready because the place is just too pretty not to a picture of. After a long drive, the best way to end the visit is to just watch the sunset. One of the most beautiful sunsets that you can witness is at the summit. The sunrise is as beautiful as the sunset as well.

Before going for a drive or for a hike to the summit, make sure to coordinate with the authorities. It is considered as one of the hardest summits to climb because of the unpredictable weather. Make sure to check the weather forecast for a more enjoyable trip and to ensure your safety most especially. If you are planning to stay there for a longer time, make sure you bring enough food for you and the family. And of course, remember to respect nature, do lot litter or destroy anything when touring the summit.

Kenai Fjords
Photo by: kimberlykv, Creative Commons

Alaska has numerous destinations, one of which is the Kenai Fjords National Park. Established as a United States National Park in 1980, it is home to an ice field where at least 38 glaciers can be seen. Numerous fjords are carved by the ice as it moves from the ice field which gave the name to this national park.

Visitors can get to the park either by road or from a small harbor in Seward. The park’s visitor’s center can be found at the boat harbor in Seward and tours are arranged by the Cruise operators there. Seward can be reached from Anchorage by train, air or road. Driving to Seward will take about 3 hours, the train is about 5 hours and it will only take 35 minutes via aircraft. Seward is also one of the destinations of Cruise Ships.

The cruise operators in Seward offer boat tours that are often guided by the National Park Rangers. Tidewater glaciers and fjords are main attractions but so are the various land and marine wildlife in the area. Kenai Fjords National Park is a home to a wide assortment of marine wildlife such as puffins, porpoises, sea lions and orca whales. Mountain goats and the American black bear can be spotted as well.

Summer is not the only good time to visit the national park. There are interesting activities in winter as well. The Polar Bear Plunge is the main event of this weekend festival that is held in January. Skiing, dog sledding and snowmobile rides are other events as well.

The scenery of the Kenai Fjords also boasts of waterfalls, tidewater glaciers and the rocky coastlines of the islands. A variety of marine wildlife can be found on the islands including kittiwakes, cormorants, sea otters whales and puffins. A wide variety of seabirds and gulls can be found as well.

The republic of Botswana in located in southern Africa. People call the citizens in Botswana the Batswana. A former British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after its independence within the commonwealth on September 30, 1966. Since Botswana’s independence, it has held free and fair democratic elections.

The country Botswana has an impressive record of accomplishment of good governance and economic stability aided by prudent macroeconomic along with fiscal management contradicts the rapid famine and poverty amongst the people in Botswana. The country is trying to diversify the economy. Benin is dependent on diamonds and beef. Minerals like soda ash, copper and nickel matte along with gold and coal are also their redeeming feature.

Botswana’s national flag was adopted on September 30, 1966. Blue with a black horizontal band across the center with white fimbriation is the flag’s design. The stripes are in a ratio of 9:1:4:1:9. The blue color represents water specifically the rain. It came from the motto on the Botswana coat-of-arms, which is Pula, the Setswana word for “let there be rain”. The black and white bands represent racial harmony and it refers to zebras that support the nation’s coat of arms.

The flag can be distinguished along with other’s countries flag because of its simple yet unique design. If you see a flag with a blue base color and a white strip, surrounding a thicker black strip, the only thing that can come up to a person that has just seen a bunch of flags is that it is the flag of the country Botswana. Another thing that makes the flag of Botswana unique is because of the fact that it has no ensigns and logos to it. Most of the flags in the world have such, ergo giving the Botswana flag an upper hand when a person sees it.

Yuma Crossing State Historic Park, now known as Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park, is one of the most historically relevant state parks in the city of Yuma in Arizona. The park is part of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, which emphasizes not only the rich military history of the area, but also the city’s relevance as a crossroad for Anglo-American, Hispanic-Latino, and Native American cultures. During the 1870s, the park was a vital quartermaster depot, serving as a storage and distribution center of the U.S. Army for supplies and goods to be delivered to desert frontier posts in Southwestern United States Territories.

History

The quartermaster depot was established by the U.S. Army in 1864. The depot ensured that military forts in Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona would have a six-month supply of important goods such as food, clothing, and ammunition. Goods and supplies from California were shipped to the city of Yuma, and were distributed through river boats and mule freight wagons. The quartermaster depot was closed in 1877, when the Southern Pacific Railroad reached Yuma. Several government agencies then used the depot’s facilities, until it was identified as a state park candidate in the 1960s.

Yuma Crossing State Historic Park Today

Tourists interested in centers of military history in Arizona should definitely visit Yuma Quartermaster Depot State Historic Park. It has five remaining buildings from the quartermaster depot days, with some properties added prior to its completion in 1980. The park was renamed in 2007 to emphasize its original purpose and historic focus as a quartermaster depot. Aside from being a state park, it also houses the City of Yuma Visitor Center, where a display showcases the area’s military history in the late 19th century. Both the park and the visitor center are open daily. Picnic areas, hiking areas, and a transportation museum also serve as additional places of interest for park visitors.

White Pass Railroad
Photo by: Rennett Stowe, Creative Commons

The White Pass and Yukon Route is a majestic sight to behold and a must-visit place while in Alaska. Most people enjoy the adrenaline rush brought about by the thousand feet distance from the ground which exposes them to breathtaking views of the state. If you are afraid of heights, you should not fret because during a trip to the site, you will not even notice that you already went as high as 3,000 feet because it is just a mere 25 kilometer ride that you have to endure. However, you should brace yourself for exciting cliff turns and underground tunnel passages. Indeed, its one heck of a ride you should not miss out on.

Originally established by the 1900’s, the White Pass and Yukon Route was built at the time of the gold rush of Klondike. It also passed up and recognized as another international landmark just like other renowned infrastructures including the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower in Europe. That recognition in itself proves just how exquisite the place and structure is.

Aside from the breathtaking ride and exciting adventure that comes along with it, you can also experience a whole new sight-seeing venture; you will be embraced by magnificent views of picturesque glaciers, snow-topped mountains, and tunnels. There are also occasional views of waterfalls and tunnels as you pass along the route.

Going on a full area tour takes about three to four hours while riding a train. Also, no government IDs or proofs of identifications are required when riding aboard. Hence, you need not worry about bringing all those paper documents and IDs with you. The government of Alaska has opened up its doors to enthusiasts and travelers who like to be caught in awe of the beauty of the White Pass and Yukon Route

The flag of Singapore has two equal horizontal bands: the one on top is red and the other is white. On the observer’s upper left side, at the red band, is a crescent. Beside the crescent, on its right, are five five-pointed stars placed in a way that a pentagram is formed.

The flag of Singapore was first flown in 1959 when the country became self-governing, although still within the British Empire. The same flag was adopted as the official national flag of Singapore when it gained its independence in August 9, 1965.

In 1959, soon after Singapore was declared as self-governing, the process for making a flag started. The project was assigned to the then Deputy Prime Minister Toh Chin Chye. Toh and his committee finished the work in two months.

Toh’s original idea for the flag’s design is a pure red background, but the Cabinet opposed the idea to avoid association with the communist; the color red, at that time, is considered a rallying point for communism. The crescent was originally included to assure the Malays that Singapore is not a Chinese state. Another initial plan is to include only three stars, but leaders such as Toh himself, expressed concern that the country might be associated with the Malayan Communist Party whose flag bears three stars.

Though the stars and crescent are considered Muslim symbolisms, the government assures and explains to its citizens that the symbols are not meant to symbolize Islam. The government has always emphasized that the moon is a symbol of a progressing country, a country “on the ascent” – remember, that the design was made shortly after becoming a self-governing state – and the five stars are symbolic of Singapore’s ideals: democracy, equality, justice, peace, and progress.
Red represents brotherhood and unity and white for purity and virtue.

Pakistan is a nation in South Asia and is formally called the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The flag of Pakistan comprises of a green field and in the center is a symbol of a white crescent moon and a five pointed star. There are vertical white bands positioned at the hoist side of the flag.

The color green used in the flag is called a Pakistan green which is a darker shade of green. The flag’s designer is Amiruddin Kidwai and the source of the flag can be found in the All-India Muslim League flag. The flag is officially referred in Pakistan’s national anthem as the Parcham-e-Sitāra-o-Hilāl in Persian meaning “flag of the crescent and star”. The design of the flag was accepted on August 11, 1947 and the Pakistan government invited the people to raise and display the flag during certain important days.

The flag is raised in various nationally significant days of the year like the Independence Day and the Republic Day. It is also raised in the date of March 23 every year marking the implementation of the Lahore Resolution. The Independence Day of Pakistan is celebrated on August 14 every year and the flag is always displayed throughout the country on this date.

The colors and symbols in the Pakistan flag have meanings. The color green symbolizes the Muslim Majority in the country while the white stripes stand for the religious minorities. The white crescent and the star represent progress and light. The flag bears the country’s religious faith to Islam, to the Islamic community and the rights of the religious minorities as well. The flag’s design being grounded on the flag of the Muslim League also bears some resemblance and insight from the banner of the Sultanate of Delhi and emblem used by the Mughal Empire.

The Estuarium
Photo by: Abductive, Creative Commons

Aside from protected forests and other land habitats, marine wildlife is also being taken care of since they are also part of the world’s ecosystem and part of the Earth’s evolution. The Estuarium (Public Aquarium) at Dauphin Island Sea Lab houses some of the ocean’s marine wildlife and help others be aware of what these creatures do for the planet.

Certain exhibits feature a number of marine wildlife species that live underwater and help educate those who visit the key information about these creatures and/or plants. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab also aims to help others be aware of the four key habitats of marine life in the coasts of Alabama. These places are habitats to a great number of marine wildlife and should be protected from human marine activities to help preserve not only the natural marine life of the coasts of Alabama but a small part of the vast ocean of the Earth.

The Mobile Tensaw River Delta is a vital habitat for a lot of plants and animals and functions as some sort of filtering device by removing impurities of 20% of the fresh water of the whole nation. The Mobile Bay on the other hand serves as a transition between salt water from the Gulf of Mexico and fresh water from Mobile Tensaw River Delta and by being so it serves as a nursing ground for a great number of both invertebrates and vertebrates.

The Barrier Islands just as their names suggests serves as some form of barrier protecting the mainland from winds and wave energy related with storms. The Gulf of Mexico being the ninth largest body of water is home to 75% of migratory waterfowls of the nation in addition to sea turtles and a seemingly endless number of sea creatures.

By visiting the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Estuarium, through their exhibits one can not only see these magnificent animals and plants but also be informed about them and be aware of them that they are vital to the Earth for every single thing on Earth is interrelated.

Nepal is formally called the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal. It is a land locked nation in South Asia. It is situated in the Himalayan region and at its northern flank is the People’s Republic of China, and at its southern, eastern, and western borders is India. Its capital city is Kathmandu. The most prominent geographical aspect of the country is its mountain regions in the northern part including the eight highest peaks in the world, Mount Everest which is 20,000 feet above sea level and comprises of 240 peaks.

The form of government practiced in the nation for nearly all of its history is a monarchy reigned by the Shah dynasty. Recently, in the year 2006 because of a decade long civil war with the Communist party of Nepal and the mass rallies of various political organizations, the monarchy was eradicated ending with its last ruler Gyanedra Shah and a new system of governance was favored. The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal was inaugurated in 2008 with its first president.

The flag of Nepal is known as the only flag in the world that is not quadrilateral in shape. The flag is a blend of two single flags or pennons. It is like two triangles combined, the upper triangle is a ninety degree triangle with its longer side at the bottom while the other triangular shape is placed at the lower portion with the shorter side at its bottom.

The color of the fag is crimson red similar to the color of the national flower, the rhododendron. Red also stands for conquest in war. The blue in the borders stands for peace. The upper part has a star and crescent moon combined while at its lower portion is a symbol of the sun. Before the year 1962, the sun and moon emblems have human faces but the flag was revised when it was modernized. The flag has elements with Hindu origins in the design.

Diorama of the Klondike Gold Rush at the park
Photo by: SteFou., Creative Commons

The Klondike Gold Rush plays a major role in the history of the Yukon. Essentially, the gold rush took place in 1896 and gave birth to the discovery of gold nuggets along Canada particularly in the Klondike Rivers. After the discovery, a gold rush trail has been put up to cater to the wealth seekers and gold finders aiming to accumulate gold from the area. Such surge of visitors brought large population and later on caused migration of communities from nearby areas. Since then, the territory of the area has been defined. All these stories and its remnants have been captured and preserved in the vicinity of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park.

Since Yukon has been established, the Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park has been one of the most prominent places to visit. This is because it portrays a vivid visual interpretation of the culture and the history which dates back to centuries. Near the park area is a town where familiar walkways and boardwalks adorn the street and gambling casinos are put up which instantly brings the mood back to when gold was first discovered along the Klondike River.

Being topographically diverse and ultimately beautiful, the mere sight of the area brings forth the memories of its glory days. Its lush green forests, copious wildlife, and breathtakingly striking waterfalls mirror what paradise on earth possibly looks like. One can just wish of having longer days just to enjoy the view of the historic park before the sky turns dark. Thanks to its high latitudinal location, all these views can be enjoyed for a longer period of time during summer. This is because the daylight is abundant for almost 20 hours during summer, but otherwise happens during winter. Hence, it is best to drop by the area during summertime.

View of Lake Clark National Park in Alaska
Photo by: Wikipedia, Creative Commons

For backpackers, hikers, and travelers alike, a trip to the state of Alaska can never be complete without a day filled with adventure at the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve. With the wide variety of natural entities and breathtaking views in the area, it is impossible for a nature enthusiast to not include this in his or her list of dream destinations.

Whatever you imagine springing out from the beautiful state of Alaska is well-represented in this natural park. From mountains, glaciers, and volcanoes up to lakes and rivers, everything can be seen in the preserve. Hence, the Lake Clark National Park and Preserve represents the real Alaskan outdoor adventure. Its vibrant colors and rich ecosystem is sure to entice every passerby. Up until this day, not a single park equates to the beauty of this long-time favorite destination.

Since its launching during the 1980’s, the protection and preservation of the area has been taken as the highest priority. Hence, there is no wonder why lush rainforests and diverse wildlife still exists even after couples of decades have passed by.

Exploring the natural elements found in the area is just one way of enjoying the park. There are also other fun activities which are equally satisfying and relaxing. You can opt to observe the traditional lifestyle in the area and be in awe at how each resident managed to preserve not just the environment, but the entire culture as well.

The park is also very expansive as its total size is roughly bigger than the entire Connecticut state. With millions of acres of natural wonders and diverse life forms, the park is truly a paradise. So for adventure-seekers and nature lovers, a visit to the Lake Clark National Park and Preserves can be the perfect opportunity to be exposed to the wonders of the wilderness and the serenity of the nature.

Myanmar is also known as Burma, although it is officially referred to as the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. It is a country in the Southeast Asia bounded on the northeast side by China, on the southeast flank by Thailand, on the east side by Laos, on the west edge by Bangladesh, on the northwest border by India, and on the southwest bank by the bay of Bengal. Its southern limit is demarcated by the Andaman Sea. Geographically Burma is a coastal nation as almost one-third of the land is bounded by the sea.

The flag of Myanmar was recently adopted on October 21, 2010 in order to replace the socialist flag. The changes were made because of the constitution amended in 2008 including the name of the country. The design of the new flag comprises of three stripes of yellow, green, and red horizontally positioned to feel the area of the flag. In the center is a large white five pointed star. The meanings behind the colors are the virtues of solidarity, peace, and tranquility. The design of the new flag of Myanmar underwent changes.

In the 2006 constitutional convention, the design of the flag featured three evenly spaced horizontal stripes of green, yellow, and red respectively. On the top left corner, at the hoist side of the green stripe is a five pointed white star. Later in 2007 this proposal was changed and the white star was moved to the center and became larger. The order of the colors was changed too into yellow, green, and red.

This order of the colors is reflected in the flag of the State of Burma that was used at the time of the Japanese Occupation and has a green peacock at the middle. The new design of the flag can be regarded as a combination of this old flag with the white star and removing the green peacock. The white star represents the Union of Burma.

Painted Desert at the Petrified National Forest
Photo by: Petrified Forest Ranger, Creative Commons

Ever heard about a ‘petrified forest’? It’s not straight out of a fairy tale, but a real natural wonder in the United States, most of it designated as wilderness. The Petrified Forest National Park, named after the abundant concentrations of fossilized wood in the area, is perhaps one of the most intriguing tourist attractions in the arid lands of Arizona.

Background

Sitting between the Apache County and Navajo County in northeastern Arizona, the Petrified Forest National Park is about 30 miles long and its width varies from around 12 miles in the northern section, about 1 mile in a portion between the north and south, then expands to about 4 to 5 miles after this area. The fallen fossilized trees found in the park are said to have lived some 225 million years ago, during the Late Triassic period. Although it rests on the arid side of the country, the park’s ecosystem is not classified as a desert. Rather, it’s grassland, with different kinds of grass, lichens, and wildflowers to support the animals that call the park home.

Touring the Petrified Forest National Park

The park’s names alone instantly draws attention, but forget about those fairy tale visions; let the real, natural wonders of the park amaze you. Aside from colorful petrified wood, the park is also home to another equally impressive landmark, the Painted Desert. There is also a wide collection of fossilized animals in the park, leading many scientists to interestingly call the place a “living laboratory.”

If you have an interest for natural wonders, the Petrified Forest National Park is not to be missed. The park can be reached by car from any of the nearest major airports in Arizona, Phoenix, and Albuquerque in New Mexico. Although there are no overnight lodgings or campgrounds in the park, there are some spots for visitors and tourists, such as the Rainbow Forest Museum, the Painted Desert Visitor Center, and the Painted Desert Inn (now a bookstore and historic museum).

Bisbee Mining and Historical Museum
Photo by: jlahorn, Creative Commons

There are a variety of museums around the world, more often than not they all have artifacts of all sorts that date back to nearly hundreds or some even thousands of years old. But if there is a museum that lets its visitors see its priceless artifacts but let them touch theml like they are transported back in time once they enter the museum itself, then the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum is one of those museums out there.

During its prime as a mining capital, the town of Bisbee is one of the largest mining towns which include New Orleans and San Francisco. The immigrant citizens of this town were the world’s citizens, where each and every one of them having their own dream. And many of these people found it and lived it in this town. The population of this town peaked at twenty thousand people, all intrepid pioneers and all confronted great odds, infernal gods and Mother Nature herself.

There were no wristwatches at that time so men wore pocket watches instead and spend their leisure time at saloons. And on the other hand, women were accounted for most of the above-ground businesses of the town like a simple store and such. It was during this time where it is considered as the dawn of the Age of Electricity. This time may also be considered a wireless world, since there were no wires or cables to start with. Also, this is the time when tons of nonstop innovations started.

A trip to the Bisbee Mining & Historical Museum is like trip back in time when there is no dependence from fluorescent lights and for miners during that time or flashlights or safety headlights to aid them in navigating inside the. Taking your time to visit this museum with either friends or family or even as a field-trip is always a great idea.

Holgate Glaciers

Holgate Glacier flowing into Aialik Bay
Photo by: Mark F. Levisay, Creative Commons

Any visit to Alaska should include going out on a glacier cruise, especially to the Holgate Glacier. Such cruise involves landing to a beautifully located lodge especially designed for cruise guests. The glacial formations and sightings in the area are simply breath-taking. Just like what travelers usually speak of the area, first-time and frequent visitors never leave the area without being impressed by the display of glaciers.

Although the location and condition of the area makes it impossible to just drop by the area and lurk around, this does not cause adventure-seekers to just give up on exploring the wonders of the Holgate Glacier. Such issue has been addressed by expert kayakers who assist guests for year-round cruise in the Seward. Most trips to this glacier come in a package of sea kayak gear rentals, and limited-time instructions offered especially for first-timers. By simply booking into such package, you can enjoy kayak tours to the most famous glacier regions in the area.

However, if you want to enjoy your trip to the Holgate Glacier, you must keep in mind some safety reminders:

– Avoid landing on the beach when winds are blowing strongly because it can be challenging to step on especially for first time visitors.

-It is advised that local guides or package tours assisted by experts be availed instead of embarking on a personal itinerary.

-When kayaking around the area, make sure that you keep a safe distance from the glacial formations.

-Bring your own medications and supplies as item availability can be limited in the area. Also, keeping a stock of potable water is recommended as there are days when the surrounding area cannot produce water suitable for drinking.

-Keep insect repellant sprays and lotions at hand as several areas in the Seward are known for being habitats of insects.

The flag of Sri Lanka’s distinguishing mark is the golden lion with its right fore paw holding a sword, thereby making the flag also known as the Lion Flag. The lion is set on a crimson background with one golden bo (sacred fig) leaf at every corner. To its left are two vertical stripes of the same width and length in green and saffron, the green stripe closer to the hoist. Between the stripes and the lion, and around them are borders in yellow.

The lion has played a significant role in Sri Lanka’s history. Vijaya, Sri Lanka’s first king, brought with him a banner with a lion when he first arrived at the island in 486 BCE.

The lion, in general, represents bravery, but there are distinctive meanings to every design within the golden lion.

The curly hair of the lion represents religious observance, meditation, and wisdom. Its beard represents purity of words; the nose, intelligence; the fore paws, purity in handling wealth. The sword that the lion holds represents the sovereignty of the nation. The handle of the sword stands for the elements: water, earth, air, and fire.

All together, the lion and the maroon background represent Sinhalese ethnicity as well as strength of the nation.

The bo leaves represents Buddhism and its bearing on the Sri Lankan nation. The leaves also represent the four Buddhist virtues meththa (friendliness), karuna (kindness), muditha (happiness), and uppekha (equanimity).

The green stripe represents the Muslim faith and the Sri Lankan Moors, while the saffron stripe represents the Sri Lankan Tamils. The crimson background also represents other minor religions and groups, including the European Burghers. It also alludes to the country’s rich colonial heritage. The yellow border represents other ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, the Sri Lankan Malays, for example.

Incorporating the minority groups with the majority race, the flag of Sri Lanka is indeed a rallying tool for all Sri Lankan groups and a great representation of the nation and its heritage.

Malaysia is a federal state ruled by a constitutional monarchy comprising of thirteen states and three federal regions. The capital city of Malaysia is Kuala Lumpur which was included in the federation in 1974. The country is divided geographically by the South China Sea into two sections, the Peninsular Malaysia and the Malaysian Borneo; these are also called West and East Malaysia.

The flag of Malaysia is named Jalur Gemilang meaning “Stripes of Excellence” in Malay. It was named in 1997 by the Prime Minister at that time, Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohammad, who declared the name as representing Malaysia’s goal to strive for progress and success.

The flag design consists of a blue rectangle on the top left corner having a yellow crescent and a yellow star with fourteen points and a field of red and white stripes. The stripes have identical widths. The fourteen pointed star signifies the unity of the 13 federal states and the federal government. The equal width in the red and white stripes symbolizes the equal status of the 13 federal states and the federal government. The golden crescent moon represents Islam because it is the national religion. The blue region means the harmony and unity of the Malaysian people. Yellow is considered the royal color associated with the Malay rulers.

The design of the Malayan flag was determined through a national contest organized by the Federation government in 1947. It was the flag that unified the states of Malaysia because before the implementation of the flag, each Malayan state has its own flag. The winning design was made by an architect employed in the Public Works Department, Mohamed Hamzah. It was one of the three finalists in the flag design competition.

The original design used eleven red and white stripes and a five pointed star. The design won through a public voting poll. This flag was accepted by King George VI on May 1950. In 1957, it was raised at Merdeka Square upon independence of Malaysia from the British Union. Later the star was changed to an eleven pointed star to symbolize the federal states. The flag was further modified to respect the new federal states included in the federation in the form of three additional stripes and three additional points in the star. The current Malayan flag was hoisted on September 16, 1963 for the first time. The flag was derived from the flag of the Federation of Malaya.

McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope at Kitt Peak Observatory
Photo by: John Owens, Creative Commons

Seeing the stars at night is fun, seeing it through a telescope is an even greater experience. You can see the beauty of space at Kitt Peak National Observatory which is home to the world’s biggest collection of optical telescopes and even learn some things about space with their informative guides.

You can choose what kind of tour to take when visiting Kitt Peak National Observatory. A guided tour is good for one hour and will of course, guide around the observatory giving various information about both the observatory and space itself. You can also have your own tour where you could get a self-guided walking tour map that is available in their Visitor Center and you may also get audio tours that you can use when going around on your own.

These audio tours may be downloaded at their website in an appropriate format for any of your media playing devices. The Kitt Peak National Observatory also offers a nightly observatory program for small groups to get a hands-on experience on anything that astronomy has to offer and even gain valuable knowledge about these things. In this program you can view almost anything in space from planets to distant galaxies with the use of one of their powerful optical telescopes.

Many kinds of tours are offered to give visitors a variety of choices on how they would like to spend their night at Kitt Peak National Observatory. You can enjoy it with a large group of people, a small group of friends, with your family or if you would like to get an in-depth learning about astronomy without the distractions that a crowd could give, you could have your own self-tour around the observatory. At Kitt Peak National Observatory you are always sure to have a great evening. (more…)

Sabino Canyon nestled in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains
Photo by: kretyen, Creative Commons

As time goes by, Earth continues to rotate around its axis and revolve around the sun numerous activities happen within it. Heavy rainstorms, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes shape the Earth the way it is today. Though it still continues to do so, now that the Earth has enough elements to provide life, its inhabitants can enjoy its beauty. One of the greatest creations of the Earth is Sabino Canyon. You can visit this place and see that it is not just destruction that the natural calamities of the Earth provide but also a room for even more life.

Before the Sabino Canyon was created, several earthquakes occurred and eventually the mountain range of Santa Catalina was formed and that was over twelve million years ago. After about seven million years these mountains stopped its formation which then set the stage for future ecological action. The first activity was the inhabitance of plants the first appeared around eight thousand years ago and the earliest human occupants of the canyon lived there and these people were called the Hohokam people.

Later in 1905, the Forest Service was created for the first time and overseeing the Sabino Canyon began. Bridges over the Sabino Creek and a dam called the Sabino Dam was created and then after some time, in the year 1978, trams were created and started operating. From then on cars were restricted so that visitors will be able to reach the canyon by tram, bicycle or foot. Then in the month of May in the year 1985 is when the tour of the canyon was founded and provides visitors both young and old the opportunity to experience the Sabino Canyon’s wonderful beauty.

Hiking trails enable visitors to witness the canyon’s beauty on foot either with family or with friends and might even come across with some of the many inhabitants of the canyon and those with sharp eyes may be able to see the various inhabitants of the canyon with amazing camouflaging abilities. Also, you can see the canyon from a different view during the night; it is during this time when animals roam around on the cool floor of the desert. Daylight hiking or an evening tour, whichever you choose you can enjoy your time visiting the Sabino Canyon.

Laos is a country located in Southeast Asia and is officially named as Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The boundary to the east is Vietnam, China and Burma to the northwest, Thailand to the west, and Cambodia to the south. The capital city of the country is Vientiane. The government system is a socialist republic.

The flag of Laos is made up of three horizontal stripes with the middle on twice the size of the bottom and top stripes. The middle part is colored blue and the top and bottom stripes are both red. In the middle of the flag is a white circle. It became the national flag in 1975, the same time that the republic government was established. There was a previous design of the national flag which is red with a centerpiece of a triple-headed elephant standing on a pedestal with a parasol at the top of its heads.

This design reflected the ancient name of the country as the “Land of a Million Elephants. This flag was used by the royal government before its collapse in 1975. The white elephant in the flag is a symbol of the god Erawan and is a popular royal symbol in Southeast Asia. The three headed elephant is depicted to be standing on top of a five stepped pedestal with a nine-folded parasol on the top. The three heads of the elephant stands for the three earlier kingdoms of Vientiene, Luangprabang, and Champasak. The umbrella is from a Buddhist tradition and the pedestal means the laws on which the nation is founded.

The history of the flag can be traced back to 1953 when the royal government and the Pathet Lao struggled for political power and the Pathet Lao succeeded by being an alliance of the royal government before taking over the rule. During this time the Pathet Lao used the flag design of blue with red stripes at the top and at the bottom and a white disk in the center. This became the national flag of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party wherein the red stripes signified blood shed by the people for their drive to achieve freedom and the color blue representing prosperity and wealth for the people.

Kyrgyzstan is a country located in the mountainous region of Central Asia and considered to be one of the six Turkic nations that is independent. The other Turkic states are Turkey, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The country is bounded to the east by China, to the north by Kazakhstan, and to the southwest by Tajikistan. The capital of Kyrgyzstan is Bishkek. It is also the largest city in the state. Kyrgyzstan is officially called the Kyrgyz Republic. The word “Kyrgyz” originated from the Turk word meaning “forty”. Another proper meaning of the word ‘Kyrgyz” is unconquerable.

The current flag of Kyrgyzstan was implemented on March 3 1992. It was the decision of the Supreme Council of Kyrgyzstan to adopt the post-communist flag for their country. The flag is made up of a red area with a yellow sun positioned at its center. The sun has forty regularly distanced rays. In the center of the sun is a ring crisscrossed with three lines. The symbol behind the red color of the flag is for bravery and valor while the signification of the sun means peace and wealth.

The circle of the sun is formalized depiction of the tündük. The tündük is the wooden crown or pinnacle of a yurt. The yurt is a traditional movable dwelling of the nomadic clans who occupied the steppes of Central Asia. The tündük in the flag of Kyrgyzstan represents the family home or in another sense, the universe for the Kyrgyz people. The tündük is has various and prominent depictions and representations in the architecture of Kyrgyzstan.

The forty rays of the sun signify the forty tribes who united against the Uyghers in 840 AD and succeeded in ending the Uigher Empire. The leader who united the forty tribes into a single state is Manas, a legendary hero in the Kyrgyz history who was believed to use the color red on his banner and which was later adopted into the national flag and the national color of Kyrgyzstan.