Report warns of man-made threats to Grand Canyon National Park
American to double bin space on its 737 jets
Yellowstone National Park sets record for July visitors
A Day at the Montreal Market
The best places to see a movie in Paris
The Origins of Chocolate
Beyond theme parks in Central Florida
Music in Vienna
The Island of Corfu
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
France to drain lake under Mont Blanc glacier
French engineers are set to drain a lake that has formed under a glacier on Mont Blanc, and threatens to flood the St Gervais valley.
The lake, which is said to contain 65,000 cubic metres (2.3m cubic ft) of water, was discovered last month during routine checks.
The engineers plan to dig a hole into the ice and pump the water away.
In 1892, water from an underground lake flooded the same valley, killing 175 people.
The valley is a popular tourist area and is home to some 3,000 people.
The hidden lake, trapped beneath the Tete-Rousse glacier, holds enough water to form a torrent with mud, rocks and trees that would flood the valley in 15 minutes, potentially affecting 900 families.
A system of alarms was put in place in July.
Nicolas Karr from France's National Forests Office told the BBC's World Today that draining the lake was a delicate operation.
"They have to drill between 40m-50m (130ft-165ft) of ice before reaching the water cavity. We are about at 3,200m high, there's no road, only helicopter access, and it's also an area prone to avalanches," he said.
Map of France showing location of Mont Blanc
"We don't have much time to operate because after mid-October, we don't know if the weather will be OK to go on with our works."
Warmer temperatures may have played a role in creating the lake, melting the surface snow, but it was a cold snap that was thought to have frozen the natural drainage routes.
The engineers will drill a 22cm diameter hole in the ice to begin pumping a third of the water from a pocket 200m below the surface.
They say they are not quite sure what will happen once the water is removed, but ahead of the operation local authorities closed the final section of the Mont Blanc tramway, which passes close to the glacier.
Locals have also been briefed on an evacuation plan.
The lake, which is said to contain 65,000 cubic metres (2.3m cubic ft) of water, was discovered last month during routine checks.
The engineers plan to dig a hole into the ice and pump the water away.
In 1892, water from an underground lake flooded the same valley, killing 175 people.
The valley is a popular tourist area and is home to some 3,000 people.
The hidden lake, trapped beneath the Tete-Rousse glacier, holds enough water to form a torrent with mud, rocks and trees that would flood the valley in 15 minutes, potentially affecting 900 families.
A system of alarms was put in place in July.
Nicolas Karr from France's National Forests Office told the BBC's World Today that draining the lake was a delicate operation.
"They have to drill between 40m-50m (130ft-165ft) of ice before reaching the water cavity. We are about at 3,200m high, there's no road, only helicopter access, and it's also an area prone to avalanches," he said.
Map of France showing location of Mont Blanc
"We don't have much time to operate because after mid-October, we don't know if the weather will be OK to go on with our works."
Warmer temperatures may have played a role in creating the lake, melting the surface snow, but it was a cold snap that was thought to have frozen the natural drainage routes.
The engineers will drill a 22cm diameter hole in the ice to begin pumping a third of the water from a pocket 200m below the surface.
They say they are not quite sure what will happen once the water is removed, but ahead of the operation local authorities closed the final section of the Mont Blanc tramway, which passes close to the glacier.
Locals have also been briefed on an evacuation plan.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Musical Instrument Museum
The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix is well worth a visit!! Lots of fun instruments to look at and explore!! I love it....
Cool post about artist Danny Sillada
Museums are big business....UK museums make £1bn from tourists
Cool post about artist Danny Sillada
Museums are big business....UK museums make £1bn from tourists
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Places I'm Published
Here are a few of the article sites where you can find my work:
BJ Adams profile on Article Alley
Article Rich-profile for BJ Adams
Ezine Articles - Expert Author BJ Adams
Go Articles by BJ Adams
IdeaMarketers-articles and press releases by BJ Adams
There are more. I'll try to post them as I remember -- or as I publish individual articles.
BJ Adams profile on Article Alley
Article Rich-profile for BJ Adams
Ezine Articles - Expert Author BJ Adams
Go Articles by BJ Adams
IdeaMarketers-articles and press releases by BJ Adams
There are more. I'll try to post them as I remember -- or as I publish individual articles.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Travel Tip #2 -- Performing Arts Centers
Whether you're interested in dance, theater, music, or opera, a great place to start when planning a vacation is to contact the city's performing arts center. Depending on the time of year, you may be able to sample opera, ballet, symphony, or a variety of theater productions to say nothing of one-time appearances by big name stars, troupes, or bands. From the Kennedy Center to Lincoln Center to community-run organizations in smaller markets, pretty much every city will have a performing arts center -- or a college or university campus that serves the same function.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Travel Tip #1 -- Historic Tours
When visiting a new city there are always so many attractions to choose from that most tourists don't know where to start. One suggestion is to check out any historic tours available through guides or museums. Getting an idea of the history of a place can only enrich your appreciation -- and with any luck make your visit all the more enjoyable and memorable.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Recent Reads on Travel
Here's a few interesting places I landed in the last week or so:
Free Things to Do in DC
The World's Most Expensive Cities
US Passport Fees to Rise
Maui Hawaii: A Perfect Vacation Spot
Self Tours and Guided Trolley Tours of Boston
Jet Lag Tips from Pro Travellers
Free Things to Do in DC
The World's Most Expensive Cities
US Passport Fees to Rise
Maui Hawaii: A Perfect Vacation Spot
Self Tours and Guided Trolley Tours of Boston
Jet Lag Tips from Pro Travellers
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