Amazing Facts: January 2009

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Mysterious Monsters

The most mysterious things that we always are these ferocious and mysterious monster. Many people have claimed that they have seen these monsters and some even produced photographs. Many of them were hoaxed but they are still remaining a mystery. Many experts disagree these belief and many are only in legends

Yeti
A legendary creature, the Abominable Snowman or yeti is said to inhabit the Himalayas. It is very similar to the big foot, another legendary creature that is said to live in North America. These monstrous creatures are said to be ape-like, heavily built, hairy. Although several attempts have been made to sight it, the Abominable Snowman has so far proved elusive. They communicate only with grunts, cries, or whistles.

Loch Ness

The Loch Ness Monster is said to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. several sightings in the water of a large, hump-backed animal with a long neck have been recorded, the oldest one being in the 6th century. The scientific community regards the Loch Ness Monster as a modern-day myth, and explains sightings as a mix of hoaxes and wishful thinking. Since the first newspaper report thousands of sightings have been reported on the loch and on land, many report the long neck and head emerging from the loch, others see moving shapes and objects on the loch surface or a large beast crossing the road in front of the

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Stinking Corpse Lily

Rafflesia arnoldii was discovered in the Indonesian Rain Forest by an Indonesian guide, working for Joseph Arnold in 1818, thus, deriving it's name from Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the leader of the expedition.

The flower of Rafflesia or Corpse Lily is the largest and smelliest flower in the flower. It measures almost 1 m across and weighs approximately one kg. It's a flower with an odour like rotting flesh. the smell attracts flies which helps in the pollination of the flower.

Bud of Rafflesia Flower

Centre View of a Rafflesia Flower

The flowers are found in south-east Asia and has no leaves, stems or roots. Its is a parasite. It steals readily made nutrition by growing thin threads into another plant, such as a jungle vine.

The Rafflesia flower is the state flower of Sabah in Malaysia, as well as for the Surat Thani Province of Thailand.

Amazon Animals

The Amazon rivers has thousand of tributaries that flow through the Rain-forest. These water bodies teems with variety of fish, birds and animals. The river channels also provide a rich source of food and water for land dwelling animals. During the rainy season, vast area of the forest floor, flood, and fish among the tree trunks. Amazon Rain-Forest is the largest in the world.

Piranha is a blood thirst, sharp-toothed fish that lives in rivers of Amazon.

Piranha

Animals such as anteaters take to the tree during floods.

Anteaters

Macaws are long-tailed, strong-billed birds belonging to the parrot family. The hyacinth macaws are the largest in the world and lives in Brazil and Bolivia.

Hyacinth Macaw

Pirarucu is one of the largest fresh water fish in the world.

Pirarucu

Jaguars are one of the most powerful animal of the cat family. They live in the dense forest of Brazil and Central America. They live upto 22 years in captivity.

Jaguar

The Amazon kingfisher sits on a over hanging branch. In a flash it dives into the water emerging back with the fish it its beak.

Kingfisher

Manatee sometimes called sea cow is a large water mammal. The Amazon manatee is found only in fresh water. It dwells in Amazon and Orinoco river systems.

Manatee

The morpho butterfly are one of the natural highlights of South-American Rain Forest. They have large wings of metallic blue as they wave gracefully through the leaves.

Blue Morpho Butterfly

Howlers live in trees in groups of 2 to 45 individuals. They feed mainly on leaves and fruit, but will also eat insects, seeds, and flower parts. These howler monkey are known for the characteristic roars which can be heard upto 3 km away.

Howler Monkey

Horned Frog

Harpy Eagle which lives in Northern Argentina is being critically endangered due to loss of its habitat.

Harpy Eagle

A vampire bat lands near a sleeping victim at night, walks up to it quietly, scrapes open a small wound with its sharp teeth, and drinks the seeping blood.

Vampire Bat

Toucans usually live in pairs or small flocks. They feed chiefly on fruit, and can manipulate small berries at the tip of the bill with great dexterity. They also eat small birds and lizards.

Toucan

Tapir s are mammal with bulky body, short legs and short tail. They feed on leaves, fruits and other vegetation.

Tapir

Ancient Wonders of the World

Early Greek writers wrote up list of the most important buildings in the world they knew. Of these, only the Great Pyramid have survived, but we know about the other wonders from the writer's account and the work of archaeologists.

The Great Pyramid of Giza

The Great Pyramid Of Giza was made as a tomb for king Khufu who ruled Egypt from about 2551 to 2528 B.C. It is the oldest and the only one of the seven wonders to survive. The Greek and the Romans marvelled at the size of the pyramids. This pyramids stands about 135 high. Its base occupies and area of about 5 hectares.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon

It was built by king Nebuchadnezzar II who ruled Babylon from 605 to 562 B.C. They say that the legendary gardens may not have existed. Babylon was located near, modern Baghdad in Iraq. "Hanging" suggest that they were series of terraces made of bricks, which are brightly coloured.

The Temple of Artemis

The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Turkey was one of the largest and most complicated temples built in ancient times. The Temple was completed in 550 B.C. It was dedicated to Greek goddess, Artemis and was designed by the architect Chersiphron and his son, Metagenes. The archaeologists have found the foundations and some columns of the second temple which was built when the first temple was ruined.

The Statue of Zeus at Olympia

This structure was dedicated to Zeus, the king of the Gods. It was perhaps the most famous statue in the ancient world. This enormous statue was carved by the sculptor Phidias. Archaeologists have found little remains of the temple and nothing of the statue.

The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus

This white-marbled tomb is located in south-western Turkey. This was the tomb of Persian ruler Mausolus. It was carved by four famous greek sculptors. After the death of the ruler, his widow built this marvellous tomb which measures 105 by 242 metre and was 43 mt high. It was damaged by an earthquake.

The Colossus of Rhodes

The huge statue of sun god Helios stood in Rhodes an island in the Aegean sea. It was made up of bronze and stood about 37 mts tall. The Greek sculptor Chares, worked 12 years on it in the early 200 B.C. But in 226 B.C., it was destroyed by an earthquake.

The Light House Of Alexandria

This was a light house off the coast of the city, Alexandria on the island of Pharos, Egypt. It was designed by the Greek architect, Sostratos. The fire burning at the top of the light house provided light. It was over 123 mts high and stood for about 1500 years. It was destroyed by an earthquake sometime in the A.D. 1300.

Artistic Glass Works

Glass is usually described as a hard, usually transparent substance that shatters easily.Glass plays an indispensable role in various scientific fields and in industry. It is used throughout the home, at work, and often in play. For centuries glass work has been attractive form of art. Below are some pieces of glass art.