Most viewed in August 2012

The top 3 of the most viewed posts in August of 2012 are:


1 - Braga's Municipal Stadium - Portugal, posted in 2011-12-29

2 - Church of the Holy Family in Barcelona - Spain, posted in 2012-05-24

3 - Map of Discoveries - Portugal, posted in 2011-07-01

Salt pond in Rio Maior - Portugal

© Oficina e Casa de Artesanato "O Poço"

sent by "leninha", a salt evaporation pond in Rio Maior

"Salt evaporation ponds, also called salterns or salt pans, are shallow artificial ponds designed to produce salts from sea water or other brines. The seawater or brine is fed into large ponds and water is drawn out through natural evaporation which allows the salt to be subsequently harvested. The ponds also provide a productive resting and feeding ground for many species of waterbirds, which may include endangered species. The ponds are commonly separated by levees." In: Wikipedia

RU-758742 - Snowy forest at Arkhangelsk region

© ?

RU-758742 sent by "Olya117", a snowy forest at Arkhangelsk region

"Arkhangelsk, formerly known in English as Archangel, is a city and the administrative center of Arkhangelsk Oblast, Russia. It lies on both banks of the Northern Dvina River near its exit into the White Sea, in the north of European Russia. The city spreads for over 40 kilometers (25 mi) along the banks of the river and numerous islands of its delta. Arkhangelsk was the chief seaport of medieval Russia, until 1703. It is served by the Talagi Airport and a smaller Vaskovo Airport. The city is located at the northern end of a 1,133-kilometer (704 mi) long railway, connecting it to Moscow via Vologda and Yaroslavl. Population: 348,783 (2010 Census)." In: Wikipedia

Bryggen in Bergen - Norway (UNESCO)

© Photo: Aune Forlag / Ole P. Rorvik

sent by "dollart"

"Bryggen, the old wharf of Bergen, is a reminder of the town’s importance as part of the Hanseatic League’s trading empire from the 14th to the mid-16th century. Many fires, the last in 1955, have ravaged the characteristic wooden houses of Bryggen. Its rebuilding has traditionally followed old patterns and methods, thus leaving its main structure preserved, which is a relic of an ancient wooden urban structure once common in Northern Europe. Today, some 62 buildings remain of this former townscape." In: UNESCO

FI-1497597 - "A Greek Drama" by Kaj Stenvall

© Kaj Stenvall / Putinki

FI-1497597 sent by "evagot"

Another great work from Kaj Stenvall, called "A Greek Drama" (2010).

HR-29886 - National Park Kornati

© ?

HR-29886 sent by "biancaneve"

"In the central part of the Croatian Adriatic, on the meeting point of Šibenik and Zadar islands, a separate and by many a specific group of islands, called Kornati, is situated.

Because of its exceptional landscape beauty, interesting geomorphology, diversity of the coastline and especially because of the rich biocoenoses of the marine ecosystem, greater part of the Kornati maritime zone has been declared a national park in 1980.

Today NP “Kornati” occupies an area of about 220 km2 and it includes 89 islands, islets and cliffs, alltogether with a coastline about 238 km long. Despite this relatively large number of islands the continental part of the park forms only 1 of the total area, while everything else belongs to the marine ecosystem." In: Kornati

US-1502037 - "Birds" by Charley Harper

© Estate of Charkey Harper / Pomegranate

US-1502037 sent by"The_Flutist" 

"Charley Harper (August 4, 1922 - June 10, 2007) was a Cincinnati-based American Modernist artist. He was best known for his highly stylized wildlife prints, posters and book illustrations.

Born in Frenchton, West Virginia in 1922, Harper's upbringing on his family farm influenced his work to his last days. He left his farm home to study art at the Art Academy of Cincinnati, and won the academy’s first Stephen H. Wilder Traveling Scholarship. While at the Academy, and supposedly on the first day, Charley met fellow artist Edie Mckee, whom he would marry shortly after graduation in 1947." In: Wikipedia

The Freedom Monument in Riga - Latvia (UNESCO)

© Valts Kleins Fotostudija

Sent by Sanita

"The Freedom Monument (Latvian: Brīvības piemineklis) is a memorial located in Riga, Latvia honouring soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence (1918–1920). It is considered an important symbol of the freedom, independence, and sovereignty of Latvia. Unveiled in 1935, the 42-metre (138 ft) high monument of granite, travertine, and copper often serves as the focal point of public gatherings and official ceremonies in Riga." In: Wikipedia

It's located at the Historic Center of Riga (UNESCO)

PL-210858 - Mariacka Street in Gdansk

© Witold Wegrzyn

PL-210858 sent by "ewa2706"

"Gdańsk is a Polish city on the Baltic coast, at the center of the country's fourth-largest metropolitan area.

The city lies on the southern edge of Gdańsk Bay (of the Baltic Sea), in a conurbation with the city of Gdynia, spa town of Sopot, and suburban communities, which together form a metropolitan area called the Tricity (Trójmiasto), with a population near 740,000. Gdańsk itself has a population of 455,830 (June 2010), making it the largest city in the Pomerania region of Northern Poland.

Gdańsk is Poland's principal seaport as well as the capital of the Pomeranian Voivodeship. It is also historically the largest city of the Kashubian region. The city is close to the former late medieval/modern boundary between West Slavic and Germanic lands and it has a complex political history with periods of Polish rule, periods of German rule, and extensive self-rule, with two spells as a free city. It has been part of modern Poland since 1945." In: Wikipedia

Eilean Donan Castle in Scotland - United Kingdom

© Roman Michnowicz

Sent by joana122, a fantastic view of this castle!

"As one of the most iconic images of Scotland, Eilean Donan is recognised all around the world. Situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and surrounded by some majestic scenery, it is little wonder that the castle is now one of the most visited and important attractions in the Scottish highlands.

Although first inhabited around the 6th century, the first fortified castle was built in the mid 13th century and stood guard over the lands of Kintail. Since then, at least four different versions of the castle have been built and re-built as the feudal history of Scotland unfolded through the centuries.

Partially destroyed in a Jacobite uprising in 1719, Eilean Donan lay in ruins for the best part of 200 years until Lieutenant Colonel John MacRae-Gilstrap bought the island in 1911 and proceeded to restore the castle to its former glory. After 20 years of toil and labour the castle was re-opened in 1932. " In: Eilean Donan Castle