Natural History Museum, London

 

The Natural History Museum in London is a natural history museum that exhibits a vast range of specimens from various segments of natural history. It is one of 3 major museums on Exhibition Road in South Kensington, the others being the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The Natural History Museum's main frontage, however, is on Cromwell Road.

The museum is home to life and earth science specimens comprising some 80 million items within 5 main collections: botany, entomology, mineralogy, palaeontology and zoology. The museum is a Centre of research specializing in taxonomy, identification and conservation. Given the age of the institution, many of the collections have great historical as well as scientific value, such as specimens collected by Charles Darwin. The museum is particularly famous for its exhibition of dinosaur skeletons and ornate architecture—sometimes dubbed a cathedral of nature—both exemplified by the large Diplodocus cast that dominated the vaulted central hall before it was replaced in 2017 with the skeleton of a blue whale hanging from the ceiling. 

The Natural History Museum Library contains extensive books, journals, manuscripts and artwork collections linked to the work and research of the scientific departments; access to the library is by appointment only. The museum is recognised as the pre-eminent Centre of natural history and research of related fields in the world.

Although commonly referred to as the Natural History Museum, it was officially known as British Museum (Natural History) until 1992, despite legal separation from the British Museum itself in 1963. Originating from collections within the British Museum, the landmark Alfred Waterhouse building was built and opened by 1881 and later incorporated the Geological Museum. The Darwin Centre is a more recent addition, partly designed as a modern facility for storing the valuable collections.

Like other publicly funded national museums in the United Kingdom, the Natural History Museum does not charge an admission fee. The museum is an exempt charity and a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is a patron of the museum. There are approximately 850 staff at the museum. The 2 largest strategic groups are the Public Engagement Group and Science Group.

Alhambra - The Wonderful "Red Fortress"

 The beautiful Alhambra Palace is located in Granada, Spain, on the hill of La Sabica on the southeast side of the City. It was built in the 14th century and is the best preserved Arab Palace. 

Its full name is "Qal'at-al-Hambra" which means "The Red Fortress" because of the shade of the Towers and Walls that surround the Whole Hill. 

Today the Alhambra is the most visited Tourist Attraction in Spain and not unjustly since the whole image of the palaces seems to have come out of a fairy tale.

10 Most Beautiful Lakes of the World

 1. Crater Lake – Oregon, U.S.A.

This lake is also the production of a massive volcanic eruption around 8,000 years ago. This lake is considered one of the deepest lakes in the world.

2. Lake Toba – Sumatra, Indonesia

Lake Toba is the phenomenal result of a super volcanic eruption that took place around 70,000 years before and put long lasting effects on the global weather. The lake is extremely pretty and home to countless species of under water world and plants. The lake also has an island made up of underground magma movement.

3. Lake Assal – Djibouti

Lake Assal of Djibouti is famous for having the most saline body of water in the world. The shores of the lake constitute the lowest point in Africa. There are hot water springs too that help pushing the profitable minerals in the lake water.

4. Taal Lake – Luzon, Philippines

This  is a highly sensational lake in Philippines in the province of Batangas. Many visitors come here and ride on horseback to go to the Volcano Island.

5. Plitvice Lakes – Croatia

This is a very breathtaking and scenic chain of sixteen lakes of Croatia, close to the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This area is a major national park and also included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is said that water of this lake changes its color whole year. There are waterfalls, caves, forests all around and natural dams that really adds more to the beauty of the place.

6. Lake Baikal – Siberia, Russia

Lake Baikal is the world’s oldest, deepest and largest store of freshwater. Another amazing fact is that this lake has world’s one-fifth of the freshwater on the whole planet. There are many species of plants and animals.

7. Heaven Lake – China and North Korea

This is another beautiful lake straddling the border between China and North Korea. An amazing fact about this lake is that locals have seen a strange lake monster for over a century. The place is so beautiful that it’s really like a heaven just like its name.

8. Lake Atitlan – Guatemala

This beautiful lake was formed 84,000 years ago as a result of severe volcanic eruption. Tourists also come here to visit in large number.

9. Lake Titicaca – Bolivia and Peru

This lake is considered to be one of the world’s most beautiful lakes. Lake Titicaca is located in the Andes, near border of Bolivia and Peru. This lake is 3.8 km above the sea level. The beauty of the lake is so breath taking and stupendous that it seems to be unreal. This is the most voluminous and navigable lake of South America. The lake has many shoreline villages and beautifully located islands.

10. Pitch Lake – La Brea, Trinidad

This is another beautiful lake in the town of south west Trinidad. This lake was discovered by Sir Walter Raleigh in 1595.The lake is a known tourist attraction now. This lake is famous for some bizarre facts related to it. It is believed that this lake is situated on the confluence of two fault lines as a result of which oil sediments comes on the water surface that after being evaporated, creates asphalt.

Mud Festival in South Korea

       Boryeong Mud Festival

With a Festival to Celebrate just about everything from Fireflies and Ice Fishing to Bullfighting and Bodypainting, there’s no shortage of Mass Festivities occurring at any given time in South Korea. 

But perhaps no other event rivals the country’s Boryeong Mud Festival in terms of international Attendance, Government spending and Good Clean (or should we say Dirty) Fun. 

Get ready to get Muddy, as Culture Trip fills you in on how to make the most of your Trip to the Country’s Muddiest Celebration.

Inside the Statue of Liberty

 French Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi designed the Statue of Liberty, which was a gift from France to the United States. 

The Statue of Liberty was completed on October 28, 1886. 

Towering over Liberty Island in New York, the Statue of Liberty was a finalist in the campaign to choose the New 7 Wonders of the World.