Calar Alto, Spain Camera
December 26, 2009
The Calar Alto Observatory is an astronomical observatory located in Almería province in Spain on Calar Alto, a 2,168 meter high mountain.
The mountain is near the city of Almaria on the Spanish coast. The city was founded by caliph Abd ar-Rahman III of Cordoba, in 955, as a principal harbour in his extensive domain to strengthen his Mediterranean defenses. Its Moorish castle, Alcazaba, is the second largest among the Muslim fortresses of Andalusia after the Alhambra.
One of Almería’s most famous natural spots is the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park. This park is of volcanic origin, and is the largest, most ecologically significant marine-terrestrial space in the Mediterranean. It is one of Spain’s natural jewels.
In 2000, a team of geologists found a cave filled with giant gypsum crystals in an abandoned silver mine near Almería. The cavity, which measures 1.8×1.7 meters, would be the largest geode ever found. The cave was formed during the Messinian salinity crisis 6 million years ago, when the Mediterranean sea evaporated and left thick layers of salt sediments.
San Vito Lo Capo, Sicily Webcam
December 11, 2009
San Vito Lo Capo is a town and comune in North-Western Sicily, Italy, administratively part of the province of Trapani. The small town is located in a valley between spectacular mountains, and is home to a public beach.
The small town is located in a valley between spectacular mountains, and is home to a public beach popular with local vacationers. The mountain is also home to numerous caves, most of which are inaccessible without professional climbing gear.
San Vito Lo Capo is located near the famous city of Erice with its two castles Pepoli Castle, which dates from Saracen times, and the Venus Castle, dating from the Norman period, built on top of the ancient Temple of Venus, where Venus Ericina was worshipped. According to legend, the temple was founded by Aeneas. It was well-known throughout the Mediterranean area in the ancient age, and an important cult was celebrated in it. In his book On the Nature of Animals, Aelian writes that animals chosen for sacrifice would voluntarily walk up to the altar to be killed.
Aragonese Castle, Ischia Camera
December 7, 2009
Ischia is a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples. It is almost entirely mountainous, with the highest peak being Mount Epomeo.
The roughly trapezoidal island is formed by a complex volcano. The eruption of the trachytic Green Tuff ignimbrite about 56,000 years ago was followed by caldera formation. Volcanism during the Holocene produced a series of pumiceous tephras, tuff rings, lava domes, and lava flows.
An acropolis site of the Monte Vico area was inhabited from the Bronze Age. Euboean Greeks from Eretria and Chalcis arrived in the 8th century BC to establish an emporium for trade with the Etruscans of the mainland. The Aragonese Castle was built on a rock near the island in 474 BC, by Hiero I of Syracuse.
Today the castle is accessed through a tunnel along which there is a small chapel consecrated to Saint John Joseph of the Cross, the patron saint of the island. The Ferrandino Family, who still live on Ischia, are the rightful owners of the Castello Aragonese.
Tauranga, New Zealand Webcam
November 29, 2009
Tauranga is the most populous city in the Bay of Plenty region, in the North Island of New Zealand. Due to its sheltered position, Tauranga enjoys a warm, dry climate.
The Port of Tauranga is New Zealand’s largest export port, with brisk but seasonal shipping traffic. It is a regular stop for both container ships and luxury cruise liners.
The coastal suburb Papamoa and neighbouring town Mount Maunganui are some of the more affluent areas around Tauranga. The region’s beaches attract swimmers, surfers, kayakers and kitesurfers.
Tauranga has many outlying islands and reefs that make it a notable tourist destination point for traveling scuba divers and marine enthusiasts. Extensive marine life diversity is available to scuba divers all year round.
Greater Tauranga is a very popular retirement and tourism destination. It features many natural attractions and scenery. Cultural attractions include the Tauranga Art Gallery which opened in October 2007.
Ōma, Aomori Japan Webcam
November 28, 2009
The Shimokita Peninsula is the remote northeastern cape of the Japanese island of Honshū. Shaped like an axe pointing west, the peninsula has a thin “axe handle” connecting the mountainous “axe blade” to the mainland.
Shimokita is best known as the site of Mount Osore, the mythical Japanese location of the entrance to Hell. The lush Yagen Valley, known for its hot springs, is also located in Shimokita, as is Hotokegaura, wind-carved cliffs said to resemble Buddhas, and the village of Rokkasho, home to a range of nuclear facilities.
Ōma occupies the northwestern coastline of Shimokita Peninsula, facing the Tsugaru Strait. The town has a cold maritime climate characterized by cool short summers and long cold winters with heavy snowfall. The area around Ōma was inhabited by the Emishi people until the historical period.
The economy of Ōma was traditionally heavily dependent on commercial fishing. The town was famous for its tuna sold under the “Ōma” registered trademark. Other seafood products include sea urchin roe, konbu and squid.
Santa Cruz, Tenerife Cameras
October 15, 2009
Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the capital (jointly with Las Palmas) of the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. Santa Cruz is located in northeast of the Spanish island of Tenerife off the northwestern coast of Africa.
Santa Cruz de Tenerife has been occupied by humans for the last 2000 years as evidenced by numerous archaeological sites. The area was known to the Guanches, the first inhabitants of the island, as Añazo. Later, it became one of the most important ports of the Atlantic and the Canary Islands, a status it retains to this day.
Santa Cruz, being the center of the Tenerife Metropolitan Area, is the logical hub for the island’s motorway network. The 85 km. long TF1 Motorway links the south of the island including Playa de las Américas and other southern resorts and towns with its capital.
TF5 Motorway links Santa Cruz with the Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava and the northern side of the island, passing right through La Laguna before entering Santa Cruz. Tenerife North Airport lies on the TF5 Motorway on the outskirts of the city. The Santa Cruz harbor is one of the busiest in Spain. More traffic cameras here.
Budapest, Hungary Webcam
October 13, 2009
Budapest is the capital of Hungary, and is considered an important hub in Central Europe. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with a unification on 17 November 1873 of right-bank Buda and Óbuda with left-bank Pest.
Aquincum, originally a Celtic settlement, was the direct ancestor of Budapest, becoming the Roman capital of Lower Pannonia. Magyars arrived in the territory in the 9th century. Their first settlement was pillaged by the Mongols in 1241-42. The re-established town became one of the centers of Renaissance humanist culture in the 15th century.
The city ranked as the most livable Central/Eastern European city on EIU’s quality of life index (2009). The headquarters of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the first foreign office of the CIPA will be in Budapest.
Among sights to see are the neo-Gothic Parliament, containing amongst other things the Hungarian Crown Jewels, and Saint Stephen’s Basilica, where the Holy Right Hand of the founder of Hungary, King Saint Stephen is on display.
Fethiye, Turkey Webcam
July 16, 2009
Fethiye is a city and district of Muğla Province in the Aegean region of Turkey. Modern day Fethiye is located on the ruins ot the ancient city of Telmessos.
Fethiye Museum, very rich in ancient and more recent artifacts, displays and testifies to the successive chain of civilizations which existed in the area, starting with ancient Lycia.
The combination of a favorable climate, warm sea, more than a thousand kilometers of shoreline along the Aegean and Mediterranean waters, and abundant natural and archeological points of interest makes this stretch of Turkey’s coastline a popular national and international tourist destination.
Among the archeological points of interest are two of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World – the ruins of the Mausoleum of Maussollos in Halicarnassus and the remains of the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, which can still be seen today.
