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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 20, 2006 9:28:57 GMT -5
Tunnels act as highways for migrantsThe subterranean smuggling routes breed chaos along U.S.-Mexico border.By Richard Marosi, Times Staff Writer November 19, 2006 Photo GalleryNOGALES, MEXICO — One mile deep into the drafty tunnel under this hilly frontier city, a flashlight beam cuts through the pitch-black darkness and illuminates a yellow line painted on the concrete wall: the U.S.-Mexico border. Just beyond the boundary a graffiti-message believed to have been scrawled by U.S. law enforcement warns intruders: "USA Tunnel Rats. Este lugar es de nosotros" — This place is ours. Not exactly. Inside the largest known tunnels on the border — two passages that make up an enormous drainage system linking Nogales, Mexico, with Nogales, Ariz. — migrants stumble blindly through toxic puddles and duck low-flying bats. Methamphetamine-addicted assailants lurk. And young men working as drug mules lug burlap sacks filled with contraband. There are shootouts and rapes. Rising floodwaters sweep people to their deaths. U.S. Border Patrol agents pursue smugglers in frenzied chases, insults and threats echoing as they go. And tangles of rebar metal — points sharpened by smugglers — gouge people who get too close to some walls. "It's another world down there," said Pat Thompson, a police detective in Nogales, Ariz. "You don't know what to expect." As the United States prepares to fence much of the border above ground, the situation below ground could grow increasingly chaotic. Authorities have discovered dozens of illegal tunnels in recent years, including a nearly half-mile passage connecting Tijuana with San Diego. Illegal immigrants have breached drainage systems all the way along the border, from El Paso to San Diego. Most of them are of the claustrophobic crawl-through variety that prevents large-scale incursions. The Nogales tunnels, by comparison, are superhighways. Once open waterways, today they stretch for miles under the traffic-clogged downtown streets of both cities, zigzagging roughly parallel to each other. In the smaller one, called the Morley Tunnel, an ankle-high stream of raw sewage and chemical runoff from factories in Mexico usually flows. The neighboring Grand Tunnel is up to 15 feet high and wide enough to fit a Humvee. Dozens of illegal immigrants can travel through it at one time. Above ground, fences, sensors and stadium lighting clearly separate the two cities. Underground, they remain linked of necessity by the system built decades ago to channel monsoon rains. The tunnels doubled as smuggling routes from the beginning. For many years, gangs of children took control of the passages. Nogales police once encountered Mexican soldiers on the U.S. side, prompting a brief but tense standoff. In recent years, the U.S. Border Patrol has had some success stemming the underground flow of illegal immigrants and drugs by installing heavy steel doors, surveillance cameras and sensors. But when heavy monsoon rains this summer triggered floodwaters that tore down the gates, smugglers ripped down the cameras and shattered the lights and siren used to discourage incursions — and the chaotic human flow resumed. From July through October, agents apprehended 1,704 illegal immigrants in the tunnels, a nearly five-fold increase from the previous six months. Agents seized more than a ton of marijuana from tunnel arrests during the same period. In July, bandits raped two women from Oaxaca, Mexico, in the tunnels on the Mexican side. This summer, five people are believed to have drowned after being caught in floodwater. Two others fell into a sewage drain branching off one tunnel and were carried nine miles before being found alive in a shaft near a sewage treatment plant. Imelda Guevara Lopez, 17, said she survived by never letting go of her friend's hand as she struggled to keep her head above the flow of raw sewage. Lopez, whose backside was shredded by the concrete walls, told workers at a migrant shelter in Mexico that she would never again enter the underground. "I prefer working in the fields and being poor but alive," said Lopez, who went home to Hidalgo, according to an account in a Mexican newspaper. Patrolling the tunnels is a tactical nightmare for law enforcement on both sides of the border, mainly U.S. Border Patrol agents and Grupo Beta, Mexico's migrant safety force. U.S. agents often can't go into the Morley Tunnel because overpowering ammonia and chlorine smells leave them nauseated and dizzy. On the Mexican side, some stretches of the tunnel are so low that Grupo Beta agents ride their all-terrain vehicles lying on their stomachs. Teams of U.S. agents enter the Grand Tunnel daily, sometimes toting M-4 assault rifles. But their high-tech night vision goggles are rendered almost useless in the tunnel's black hole-like reaches. "It's so dark, you feel vertigo — like the walls are coming in on you," Agent Scott Wencel said. A distant flicker of flashlights — sometimes half a mile away — usually signals an approaching group. They could be drug traffickers or bandits or illegal immigrants. Some have walked one mile already after descending from Avenida Reforma in Nogales, Mexico, taking advantage of the cracked grate in front of Elvira's Bar. "They climb down every day … people from all over Mexico," said 62-year-old Sebastian Flores, an auxiliary traffic police officer in Nogales, Mexico. The groups cross the yellow line in complete silence — the only sounds the distant hum of traffic, the chirping of crickets, the scurrying of rats. Sometimes the tunnel itself seems to be alive, producing from the humming and air flows a pulsing, low groan. The darkness is so thick that migrants sometimes cross within an arm's length of U.S. agents without noticing. That's the agents' preferred tactic: lying in wait, pressed against the walls, letting groups pass before pouncing and cutting off any escape back to Mexico. Some illegal immigrants are so startled that they run smack into the walls, agents say. During one sweep last December, when smugglers heard them coming, agents yelled out: "Somos migra!" — Border Patrol. They ordered the group to stop. "Migra go home!" came the shouted reply as the people ran back into Mexico. If the migrants manage to evade agents in the tunnels, another huge challenge remains: getting out. People pop up from manholes into the middle of busy streets, sometimes stopping traffic. Curb storm drains are often too small, so smugglers use hydraulic jacks to pry them open so people can squeeze through. Some grates have been opened so often that Nogales city workers have placed huge boulders and concrete blocks on top of them. At a park, one manhole was covered with a steel plate and a bench to prevent breaches. One curb storm drain downtown was pried open so often that the sidewalk buckled, leaving a telephone pole listing over parked cars near a furniture store. Now many migrants walk a mile past where the border is marked underground to reach the open end of the drainage tunnels. Outside again, they climb an embankment to waiting cars. Border Patrol agents hope to regain control of the tunnels after the rains stop and they are able to repair the gates and cameras at the border. But Mexican authorities doubt that it will make much of a long-term difference. The migrants, they say, are willing to brave anything to get through. Every day, they see the evidence of the risks the illegal immigrants take: the scattered clothing, letters and family pictures left behind by bandits rummaging through migrants' stolen backpacks; the prayer books and offerings left behind by illegal immigrants in a tunnel nook fashioned into a shrine to the Virgin of Guadalupe. Enrique Palafox, the Nogales director of Grupo Beta, was shot in the chest by bandits years ago in a tunnel battle. He still patrols the passages every day. "I like it down here. It's so quiet, and I know that when I'm here, the migrants are safe," he said. But Palafox's force can't patrol the tunnels 24 hours a day. A message for migrants has been spray-painted on the wall just before the yellow line marking the frontier. Believed to have been written by Beta agents, it reads: Cuidense — Be careful. Article
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 17, 2006 22:11:10 GMT -5
The story of Brackloon wood Wednesday, 15 November 2006 The Mayo News LIAMY MACNALLY Full Article
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 17, 2006 21:46:11 GMT -5
A peek at a buried train, via scientific tunnel visionRichmond Times Dispatch MARK HOLMBERG TIMES-DISPATCH COLUMNIST Much of the Church Hill tunnel has been blocked off, but some of it remains intact. This view is from inside the eastern end.1998, P. KEVIN MORLEY/TIMES-DISPATCH Engine 231 doing what she was built for: pulling a few passenger cars. Will we ever see her again?C&O HISTORICAL SOCIETY There she is, ol' 231, the locomotive buried in one of Richmond's best-known tombs -- the infamous Church Hill Tunnel. The 4,000-foot-long tunnel has been a menace since digging began 134 years ago. Cave-ins during construction consumed workers and a house. It spectacularly collapsed on Engine 231 and its work crew in 1925. Afterward, smaller cave-ins shifted homes and even gobbled part of a park. And just last month, the venomous tunnel nipped again when a history-sniffing team tried to bore into the water- and muck-filled tunnel for a video-camera peek. "We didn't see anything," contractor Wesley Blankenship said. But they heard plenty. Curiosity seekers and even relatives of the long-ago tunnel workers gathered on the North 20th Street site below Jefferson Park. Several Church Hill neighbors kicked up a fuss, saying the drilling of the spy holes could cause a shift in the water table and perhaps cause more damaging cave-ins. Once the bore penetrated the tunnel, water started gushing out of the concrete-plugged western portal. The city shut down the probe because of a lack of permits. Full ArticleChurch Hill rail tunnel wasn't city's only one Richmond Times Dispatch TIME CAPSULES LARRY HALL Oct 25, 2006 Richmond's Church Hill tunnel continues to fascinate 81 years after its partial collapse trapped a locomotive. Though a recent plan to recover the entombed engine has been delayed for further study, the effort has generated renewed interest in the rail tunnel's saga. Meanwhile, the less sensational stories of Richmond's two other subterranean railroad passages remain little more than footnotes in the city's history. Necessity gave birth to Richmond's three rail tunnels. The city had become an important railway center before the Civil War, but the hilly terrain hampered seamless connections. After the war, tunnels were tried as a means for connecting rail lines serving the city. Richmond's first tunnel also was its shortest. Built in 1866, the Byrd Street tunnel burrowed beneath Gamble's Hill from South Second Street to South Fifth Street. It only was wide enough for a single track, and its length was 900 feet, about 3,000 feet less than Church Hill's mammoth underground passage. Full Article'Slideshow'
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 17, 2006 21:09:31 GMT -5
What lies beneathThe Baltic Times Nov 15, 2006 By Joel Alas Boris DubovikTALLINN - Boris Dubovik possesses a most interesting set of keys. They open the door to a network of centuries-old tunnels that run under the escarpments of Tallinn’s Old Town. Dubovik, the head of Tallinn City Council’s Heritage Protection Department, is the man charged with preserving the town’s postcard-perfect skyline. Most of his work involves battling to save the visible elements of the city’s history – the church towers and steep red-roofed townhouses. But lately, Dubovik has developed a passion for the tangible history that lies below the surface of the earth. “They are very interesting, these tunnels,” Dubovik says. “So many people want to know about them and see them for themselves.” For the past three years he has run a project to unearth the tunnels and open them to the public. The task is nearing completion. “So many people ask to come and see.” I could understand their curiosity. Lately I had become a member of the cult of urban exploration – the study of abandoned buildings and other areas generally off-limits to the public. In a city like Tallinn, where derelict factories seem more common than active ones, urban exploration is an irresistible hobby. Together with a group of friends, I had begun taking weekend trips to fascinating forgotten locations – old water towers, deserted fair grounds, forsaken railyards, rotting power plants. We even acquired a home-published handbook from the internet with useful tips on how to avoid detection, escape arrest and avert injury. Carrying a clipboard, the book suggested, was the most effective way to avoid being questioned by security guards. Take a flashlight, even in daylight hours. Don’t vandalize anything, for urban areas are there to be enjoyed not destroyed, the handbook said. While we sated our appetite with all things abandoned above the ground, our true curiosity lay below the city. There were rumors of a series of tunnels and bunkers. We even discovered what looked like an entrance to a tunnel, but found it blocked by a heavy door and a surprisingly modern alarm system. Enter Dubovik, holder of the keys. A sprightly mustachioed man with lively eyes, Dubovik scurries about his office with bundles of intriguing blueprints and maps of the city. His division of the Cultural Heritage Department occupies an enviable address in a pretty townhouse on Raekoja Plats, the Town Hall Square. It’s a bustling office, and the workers seem full of zeal about their job, protecting one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe. “We want to open the tunnels as a museum so people can walk through,” Dubovik said, swiveling in his chair to talk. “I will take a group of city council officers for a look tomorrow. Perhaps you might like to come along?” How could I refuse? ExplorationWe assembled on Toompea Hill under the onion domes of the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on a cold and cloudy November morning. Dubovik led us to the nearby Hirve Park and produced a set of blueprints explaining where we were about to venture. The entire city of Tallinn, he explained, was once meant to be surrounded by a mighty bastion to protect it from invading forces. Only several points of the bastion were ever completed, and the rest of the city was guarded only by the town wall. Two of those bastions remain, the Swedish Bastion and the Ingeri Bastion, built between the 16th and 17th century and linked underground by the tunnels. “Until we started cleaning them, the tunnels were full of dirt and rubbish. Many homeless people lived in them. We have removed over 800 tons of dirt and rock so far,” he said. He led us down a small flight of stairs to a large metal door, which was pulled open in preparation for our visit. We ventured single-file through the door and into the realm of the unseen. The stone roof was slick with condensation at first, but the deeper we went the drier it became. It was surprisingly moderately cool inside, considering that outside it had been foot-stampingly cold and about to snow. But most surprising of all was the condition of the tunnel. It was brightly lit and starkly clean. A modern fire alarm system extended its length, with several fire escape signs positioned near ladders that led to manholes. Our journey along the tunnel was observed by motion sensors placed every few meters, presumably to detect unwanted visitors. At several points we passed through doorways guarded by retractable gates – the kind that an intrepid explorer might have to roll underneath to make their escape, Indiana Jones-style. Dubovik explained: “We have to make sure everything is safe if we want to have people come through. Everything has to be done according to European safety standards.” The tunnel took several turns, then stretched out into a very long and sloped corridor. We moved at a sharp angle from the Swedish Bastion and entered the Ingeri Bastion, and the differently aged brickwork became obvious. Dubovik led us up a curling flight of stairs that led to a blocked-off passage. We were, he explained, underneath the coatroom of Kiek in de Koik, one of Tallinn’s tall stone guard towers that has now been turned into a museum. Plans were afoot to open the passage and allow visitors to see the city from its highest and lowest points. Further along, the tunnel became lower with doorways that required ducking. Old rusting ventilation systems sat along the hallway, relics from the days when the tunnels were used as bomb shelters. Down another set of stairs, the floor of the tunnel was covered by a metal grate. Underneath, the ground was spongy with water. Our progress was blocked by a gate. Dubovik explained that this was as far as we could venture. Further along, the floor of the tunnel was submerged by artesian water. We were now under the Mayeri Steps, the staircase that connects Freedom Square with Toompea. Plans were afoot to dig a new parking lot underneath Freedom Square, Dubovik said, and it was hoped that this would allow the water blocking the tunnel to drain away. That same development should allow for the building of a proper museum entranceway to allow visitors to tour through the tunnels. Dubovik said he hoped regular tunnel tours would be operating within a year. “We get calls from tourist operators all the time asking when it will be ready. They always want something new for people to see,” he said. On the way out the group was delighted to spot a solitary bat clinging to the roof. Then we were back out in the November cold, the passage beneath our feet. So how did I rate my tunneling exploration? In truth, I found myself a little disappointed that there wasn’t much to see. In hindsight, it seems obvious that a tunnel would offer fairly limited viewing options. The well-kept state of the tunnels also detracted from the adventure of it all. At the same time it was a thrill to walk under the city through passages inaccessible to the general public. With the tunnels of Tallinn conquered, I’ve set my exploration compass toward a new target. I’ve heard there are some amazing submerged submarine tunnels beneath the port town of Paldiski, but I fear they might not be quite so easy to stroll through. Article
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 16, 2006 9:06:42 GMT -5
Kayakers spend chilly night in a caveCampbell River Mirror Nov 15 2006 Two river kayakers were found safe and sound Monday morning after spending a night huddled in a cave. According to RCMP, the kayakers had gone up to the Oyster River, near Cranberry Lane, on Saturday. When the failed to return at 6 p.m., a call went out to authorities who initiated a search. Members of Campbell River Search and Rescue, along with a Cormorant helicopter from CFB Comox, searched the river that night but, due to darkness, had no luck finding the missing people. The next day, volunteer searchers went up in a police helicopter and spotted the kayakers who had spent the night "hunkered down in a cave," according to RCMP Sgt. Mike Tresoor. "They got them out, safe and sound," he said. Article
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 15, 2006 20:36:12 GMT -5
Natural Cave of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine thrown open for pilgrimsFaisul Yaseen HindustanTimes November 15, 2006 The natural cave of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra would soon be thrown open for the pilgrims as this marks the lean season of the pilgrimage in the otherwise busiest year so far. More than 61.75 lakh (1 Lakh = 100,000) people have already visited the shrine during this year and it is expected that the figures may cross the last year's record total of 62.5 lakh. The Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra, 56 km from Jammu, every year gets pilgrims in lakhs and due to the huge rush, the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (MVDSB) authorities allow the passage of the pilgrims through a man made cave constructed parallel to the natural cave, which is taller in height and broader as well. The passage of the pilgrims through the natural cave, which is narrower and shorter in height, is stopped to evade stampedes as the shrine during the peak season everyday gets pilgrims in abundance. The pilgrims have to kneel down to pass through the natural cave through which water from a natural spring in the mountains, considered holy, passes. Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine is an abode of three goddesses – Durga (the goddess of power), Saraswati (the goddess of Knowledge) and Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth). At the face of the cave are two idols of two tigers, which are plated with gold. As tigers are called 'Shers' in local parlance, the goddess Durga is also known as 'Sheren Wali Matta' (the mother of tigers). Additional Chief Executive Officer Puneet Kumar told Hindustan Times that the MVDSB would soon open the natural cave for the pilgrims, as this remains the lean season of the pilgrimage to the shrine. Kumar said that the Shrine Board was confident that the last year's record of the highest number of pilgrims visiting the shrine would be bettered this year as the total number of pilgrims visiting last year were just 75,000 more than what have already arrived this year, this too despite a number of terrorist attacks on the tourists and pilgrims and the rough weather in the area. The pilgrims from all over the country visit the shrine every year and trek a distance of 13 km mountainous area from Katra en route the shrine. Midway from Katra to the Vaishno Devi shrine is another natural cave Garb Joon at Ada Kunwari, where, according to beliefs, the goddess Durga had stayed for nine months. The pilgrims here also to pass the cave have to kneel down, as this cave also is narrow and short. Article
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 14, 2006 10:16:05 GMT -5
Ancient caves still used as homes in Matera, ItalyTown was used as backdrop for ‘The Passion of the Christ’By Sandra Jontz, Stars and Stripes European edition, Tuesday, November 14, 2006 Peter Jaegar/Stars and Stripes Time forgot Matera. Tiny homes, some of which are carved into the Italian mountainside, pepper the town perched 1,315-feet above sea level on the edge of the Gravina ravine. It looks ancient. Feels ancient. Is ancient. So ancient that Matera’s modern-day residents can claim their homes are the same ones in which others lived some 10,000 years ago. The town’s main tourist draws are the “stones of Matera,” or Sassi Matera, the landscape made famous as the backdrop of Mel Gibson’s 2004 film “The Passion of the Christ,” and the 1945 book by Italian author and journalist Carlo Levi titled “Christ Stopped at Eboli.” The region in southeastern Italy was once covered by the sea. When the mountain emerged, water had eroded some of the rock, leaving behind naturally formed caves that the people exploited and dug into shelters to serve as their homes, tour guide Savario Di Mauro explained. Single-room dwellings were carved into the soft tufo rocks and limestone. Up until the 1950s, a colony of about 8,000 troglodytes, with no running water, no electricity and no modern sewage system, lived there, Di Mauro said as he led an hourlong walking tour of the Sasso Caveoso district. In addition to the homes, he pointed out several churches, one dating to the 10th century, cut into the stone. He also explained how man and animal lived together in the one-room homes. Full Article w/Photos
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 15, 2006 20:18:22 GMT -5
Brian, Out here in the Southwest "beaner" is a perjorative towards the demographic featured in The Milagro Beanfield War.
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 13, 2006 17:44:51 GMT -5
Murfreesboro Post November 13 PERSONALIZED TAG OF THE WEEK---I love personalized license plates although I don’t have one. No doubt, one huge benefit they offer is entertainment while one is waiting in traffic. While sitting on a side street waiting for some deluded knucklehead to make a left-hand turn onto Broad Street, an intriguing personalized plate can provide some road-rage relief. My latest chuckle came from one spotted while trying to get past the construction work on Middle Tennessee Boulevard. The plate said, “KARST 1.” A karst is in very generalized terms a sinkhole system, and obviously something fairly prevalent around here due to the large amount of limestone, one of the kinds of rock susceptible to water erosion. I found it startling someone would get a personalized plate with such an arcane reference. Since I was near MTSU I figured it must be a science professor. But, still… Was there competition for the plate? Is there a “KARST 2”? If KARST 1 calls in next week and identifies him/herself, a free, one-year subscription to The Murfreesboro Post will be presented to the caller.Call or email me with your favorite personalized tags. Full Article
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 9, 2006 16:25:41 GMT -5
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 7, 2006 20:52:25 GMT -5
Here's another good site: articleAnd another: articleHere's a good photo: photoHere's another from the dark place at the bottom of the drop in the photo above called the Event Horizon: photoDeep sucker, huh?
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 6, 2006 6:21:26 GMT -5
Biggest UK cave discovered in Peak DistrictSheffield Today 06 November 2006 POTHOLERS have discovered the UK's biggest cave beneath a hillside in the Peak District. Titan is estimated to be about 459ft - 140m - from floor to ceiling, as high as the London Eye. Dave Nixon, a local potholer and leading underground explorer, discovered the cave after finding an account by an obscure 18th century academic in a university library. In a paper written in 1793, James Plumtree described a network of caves which went beyond Leviathan, a well-known cave system near Castleton. Mr Nixon and a group of Peak cavers realised the entrance must have been blocked by a rockfall, and, after removing rocks, they discovered a long system leading the group to Titan. Cavers spent three years removing another fall of boulders before finally gaining entry to the bottom of the cavern. Mr Nixon said: "It wasn't a matter of stumbling, it was a lot of research and a lot of hard work." His team has now completed a man-made shaft which allows cavers to abseil into the cave, saving them a challenging five-hour underground journey. The cave was carved out over millions of years by water eroding limestone and contains a massive waterfall which plunges deep below ground level. Titan is nearly 197ft - 60m - higher than the previous record holder, Gaping Gyhll in the Yorkshire Dales. Inside Out will show the first film of the cavern tonight at 7.30pm on BBC1. article
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 5, 2006 23:58:21 GMT -5
Naturally formed limestone arch attracts tourists by thousands to Virginia site. Complex includes hotel, restaurantsThis bridge rocksBy Bob Downing Beacon Journal staff writer Posted on Sun, Nov. 05, 2006 NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. - It's big and more than a little touristy. The Natural Bridge is just that: an impressive giant rock bridge that towers above pretty Cedar Creek. The limestone arch is 90 feet long, 40 feet thick and 50 to 150 feet wide, and it stands 215 feet above the stream. It weighs an estimated 36,000 tons. A highway, U.S. 11, actually runs across the geological formation, but the road is out of sight from below. The big attraction gets more than 200,000 visitors a year. The privately owned Natural Bridge of Virginia complex is in Rockbridge County in western Virginia's Shenandoah Valley, about 16 miles from Lexington. It is close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and Interstate 81 and Interstate 64. Signs advertising the Natural Bridge blanket the western half of Virginia. The bridge -- it is a National Historic Landmark and a Virginia Historic Landmark -- is part of a complex that includes a hotel, caverns, an American Indian village, a nature trail, a toy museum, a wax museum, a monster museum, restaurants and concession stands. There is also a 45-minute multimedia show depicting the seven days of creation, complete with religious hymns. It is shown daily at dusk under the Natural Bridge. The complex, owned by Natural Bridge of Virginia LLC, is more than a little kitschy and overdone. There is a 1950s or 1960s feel to the complex, which is a combination corporate conference center and family vacation spot. It is trying to be a one-stop tourist destination with something for everyone. The complex not so modestly calls the Natural Bridge ``one of the seven natural wonders of the world.'' The bridge itself is the remains of the roof of a cave or a tunnel where the creek once flowed. The limestone, dolomite and shale originated at the bottom of the sea 300 million to 500 million years ago. About 200 million years ago, the layers of rock were lifted up. Then about 3 million years ago, underground creeks began flowing through the porous rock, carving out caverns and hollows. The weak rock eventually collapsed, leaving the stone bridge over Cedar Creek. The Natural Bridge was once part of an American Indian trail called the Great Path. It later became part of the Great Wagon Road as settlers moved west. The Monacan Indians say the bridge is sacred ground because it was used as an escape route for the tribe as it fled from Shawnee and Powhaten Indians before European settlement. The bridge was first reported in 1742 in the journals of John Peter Sellings. The bridge was surveyed by George Washington in 1750 and was once owned by Thomas Jefferson. Washington reputedly carved his initials in the rock under the bridge. Jefferson bought the bridge and 157 acres in 1774 for 20 shillings from King George III to protect it and built a two-room log cabin for his guests. In the early days of the United States, Virginia's Natural Bridge was considered a wonder, along with New York's Niagara Falls. It became a tourist attraction and inspired writers and painters through the 19th century. You can hike down to the Natural Bridge. It's about a quarter-mile walk with 137 steps each way along Cascade Creek, or you can take a shuttle bus. You can hike one mile from the Natural Bridge along the Cedar Creek Nature Trail. It stretches to 50-foot-high Lace Falls, Saltpeter Cave, the restored Monacan Indian Village with demonstrations of American Indian crafts and a butterfly garden. Hours: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. daily. The caverns will take you 347 feet below ground and may be haunted by ghosts. The caverns are part of a 45-minute guided walking tour. The temperature is a steady 54 degrees. The caverns are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. March through November. The lodge can accommodate conferences and up to 180 guests. There are a dining room, snack bar, gift shop, tennis courts and an indoor swimming pool. Admission to four attractions is $28 for adults and $14 for children 5 to 12. There are discounts for those staying at the hotel. For three attractions, admission is $23 for adults and $12 for children; two attractions: $18 for adults and $9 for children. For the Natural Bridge only, it's $12 for adults and $6 for children. For the caverns, the price is $10 for adults and $6 for children. For information, contact the Natural Bridge, P.O. Box 57, Natural Bridge, VA 24578; 800-533-1410 or 540-291-2121; or www.naturalbridgeva.com. For nearby activities, check out George Washington & Jefferson National Forests at www.fs.fed.us/r8/gw/gp. You can also contact the Lexington and Rockbridge Area Toconference center and family vacation spot. It is trying to be a one-stop tourist destination with something for everyone. The complex not so modestly calls the Natural Bridge ``one of the seven natural wonders of the world.'' The bridge itself is the remains of the roof of a cave or a tunnel where the creek once flowed. The limestone, dolomite and shale originated at the bottom of the sea 300 million to 500 million years ago. About 200 million years ago, the layers of rock were lifted up. Then about 3 million years ago, underground creeks began flowing through the porous rock, carving out caverns and hollows. The weak rock eventually collapsed, leaving the stone bridge over Cedar Creek. The Natural Bridge was once part of an American Indian trail called the Great Path. It later became part of the Great Wagon Road as settlers moved west. The Monacan Indians say the bridge is sacred ground because it was used as an escape route for the tribe as it fled from Shawnee and Powhaten Indians before European settlement. The bridge was first reported in 1742 in the journals of John Peter Sellings. The bridge was surveyed by George Washington in 1750 and was once owned by Thomas Jefferson. Washington reputedly carved his initials in the rock under the bridge. Jefferson bought the bridge and 157 acres in 1774 for 20 shillings from King George III to protect it and built a two-room log cabin for his guests. In the early days of the United States, Virginia's Natural Bridge was considered a wonder, along with New York's Niagara Falls. It became a tourist attraction and inspired writers and painters through the 19th century. You can hike down to the Natural Bridge. It's about a quarter-mile walk with 137 steps each way along Cascade Creek, or you can take a shuttle bus. You can hike one mile from the Natural Bridge along the Cedar Creek Nature Trail. It stretches to 50-foot-high Lace Falls, Saltpeter Cave, the restored Monacan Indian Village with demonstrations of American Indian crafts and a butterfly garden.urism Development Office, 106 E. Washington St., Lexington, VA 24450; or 877-453-9822 or 540-463-3777. The Internet site is www.lexingtonvirginia.com. Ohio towers The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has reopened two historic fire lookout towers to the public. The 73-foot Brush Ridge Tower at Tar Hollow State Forest and the 60-foot tower at Scioto Trail State Forest, both in Ross County, have been restored. The state in late 2005 restored the 80-foot tower at Mohican State Forest in Ashland County. Natural Resources has plans to restore towers at four additional sites in the coming years: Shawnee, Hocking, Zaleski and Blue Rock state forests. Ohio once had 45 fire lookout towers, but only the seven remain. The state is working with the national Forest Fire Lookout Association to restore the towers. For information, call 614-265-6694 or see www.ohiodnr.com or www.firelookout.org. Ash Cave Ohio's Hocking Hills State Park will host Christmas in Ash Cave on Dec. 9. The popular event will run from 5 to 7 p.m. Bundle up for a lighted stroll to Ash Cave in the Hocking County park. There will be a bonfire, caroling, refreshments, visits with Santa and holiday trees decorated for wildlife. Call 740-385-6841. Ohio honors Two Ohio waterways are included on a national list of recommended water trails. The Muskingum River Water Trail from Coshocton to Marietta and a portion of the Ohio River at Markland pool were included in the American Canoe Association's list of 12 recommended water trails. Other streams include Pennsylvania's Middle Allegheny River Water Trail and Conodoguinet Creek; Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge in Maryland; the Potomac River Water Trail in West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia; the Tilghman Island Water Trail in Maryland; and the Milwaukee Urban Water Trail in Wisconsin. For information, see www.americancanoe.org or www.ohiodnr.com. Star party Ohio's Malabar Farm State Park in Richland County will host a star party from dusk to 11 p.m. Nov. 18. Telescopes and star guides will be available or you can bring your own. Call 419-892-2784. Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com. article
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 3, 2006 7:55:37 GMT -5
Pozalagua´s cave: Where stalactites are eccentricBasque News and Information Channel 11/03/2006 At the east of Biscay, in the edge of the Encartaciones area, the Carranza Valley opens up as a rural space protected by the mountains, where you can discover nature marvels such as Pozalagua’s enchanted cavern.Carranza is Bizkaia’s biggest municipality, with more than 137 square kilometres divided into fifteen municipalities or parishes. You can enter in Carranza from Bilbao by the BI-630. Still going down the Escrita port through which you enter the Valley, it is suitable taking a small detour in order to go up to the hermitage of the Virgin of Buen Suceso, to render homage to a Virgin that, it is said, appeared to a villager. The cosy hermitage is placed in an amazing environment. A couple of hamlets, a small bullring and some open fields with a good perspective of the valley where you can picnic conform a charming whole. Returning to the BI-630, another detour on the right will take us to the El Carpín, near Ambasaguas. The Ecological Park Bizkaia “El Carpín” has been developing for years a work of animal recovery. Wolves, bears and wild boars are some of the species that can be seen in their natural environment in the Park. El Carpín has just enlarged with the Dinosures Park. El Carpín allows discovering, along with the autochthonous species, the animals of past times. The new Biscay’s Dinosaur Park shows twelve real size copies in movement and plenty of information about dinosaurs. Another intense experience is awaiting in the Ranero neighbourhood. Pozolagua’s cave would have been just one beautiful natural cavern more, if it did not have a peculiarity: in this cave the biggest concentration of eccentric stalactites in the world can be found. Instead of the vertical formations, Pozolagua’s stalactites defy the gravity force and they behave as if they were branches with capricious forms. Experts keep searching a final explanation for this phenomenon. A great hall with a size of 125 X 70 metres forms Pozolagua’s Cave, that is considered by some, as a enchanted cavern. The area is known as the “geologic Versailles. The cavern was discovered in 1957 as a result of the explosion of a bore of a near quarry. Today, this marvel of the karst can be admired with guided visits. The visit to Carranza Valley can be completed with walks through its mountains or searching the numerous dolmens that can be seen in the area of Presa. Near Presa, at the shepherds station Haitzko, there is an accumulation of numerous dolmens and tumulus from the fourth millennium before Christ. These funeral structures transport you to prehistory. ArticleMore
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 2, 2006 23:44:05 GMT -5
Underground treasure: Education is major focus of Lincoln Caverns as it celebrates 75 years of public toursAltoona Mirror Thursday, November 02, 2006 — Time: 11:32:00 PM EST By Walt Frank, wfrank@altoonamirror.com Mirror photos by Gary M. Baranec
Guide Tyler Davis (far right) gives a guided tour in Lincoln Caverns. The caverns, which are owned by the Dunlavy family, have been open for public tours for 75 years.Ann Dunlavy never dreamed she would one day own Lincoln Caverns, a tourist attraction which has been owned by her family since 1932. “I thought it was fun when I was achild. I liked caves but I had other interests. I didn’t like this area; I thought it was in the sticks,” said Dunlavy, 52, president and general manager of Lincoln Caverns Inc. “My parents had to drag me here. I was afraid my parents would move to Huntingdon. I thought what would I do, I never had any interest in being in this area at all. Running the cave never entered my mind.” The popular tourist attraction on Route 22 in Huntingdon is celebrating its 75th year of providing tours to the public. Lincoln Caverns was discovered in May 1930 during the construction of Route 22. It opened to the public on June 25, 1931, by the Harry B. Stewart family, who operated it for one year. In 1932, Dunlavy’s grandfather, Myron Dunlavy Sr., took over the business — first known as Hi-Way-May Caverns, when he entered into a five-year lease/purchase agreement with the Stewarts. From 1932 to 1937, the caverns were known as William Penn Caverns. “That was the most appropriate name the cave has ever had, but it became confused with Penn’s Cave and the name was changed to Lincoln Caverns in honor of Abraham Lincoln,” Ann Dunlavy said. Dunlavy’s father, Myron “Mike” Dunlavy Jr., took over and ran the business as an absentee owner from 1940 until 1955. In September 1941, he discovered Whisper Rocks, a second but separate cave at the site. Whisper Rocks was not developed into a tourist attraction until the 1960s. “There are big differences geologically. They are separate but part of the same tour. There could be a passageway to connect the two, but it has never been found,” Ann Dunlavy said. “Whisper Rocks has been very well protected. Dad said what you see today is what it was like when he discovered it. It is more pristine and closer to its natural condition than any cave I have ever toured.” The Dunlavy family employed various managers until 1977 when Ann, who was working in a law office in Harrisburg, decided to return to the area. “I told my parents running that cave was what I wanted to do,” she said. “It took leaving for me to realize what I wanted to do.” Under her leadership, Lincoln Caverns’ focus has changed. “Years ago caves were seen as entertainment venues. The focus has changed to a focus more on the importance of cave environment and cave conservation,” she said. “It is a very fragile environment. What we do above ground affects what goes on underground. We have an important job to educate the public about this unique environment.” She turned her attention to providing educational tours to school groups and scouts. Approximately 60 percent of Lincoln Caverns’ visitors are school students, scouts and youth groups. During last year’s field trip season, the staff hosted more than 5,000 students and traveled to more than 75 schools in 15 counties. “We do a wider variety of programs than any other cave in the country. We are proud of that,” Ann Dunlavy said. “The education program for kids is our niche in the tourism business. We document tours to state educational standards. We take extra steps to make the field trips valuable to the schools.” Her efforts have caught the attention of local tourism officials. “She offers many programs, like the Haunted Cave (Annual Ghosts and Goblins Tour). There is always something going on,” said Sean Waddle, assistant director of the Raystown Lake Region Visitor’s Bureau. “Ann keeps it fresh and has done a great job. Seventy-five years is a testimony to her running the business and managing the cave system. You can’t leave the cave without learning something about the formations.” Nearby Raystown Lake has had a positive impact on Lincoln Caverns. As the area became a vacation destination rather than just a stopover, Lincoln Caverns saw a steady increase in visitors. Approximately 50 percent of the summer visitors to the caverns list Raystown Lake as their main destination, Ann Dunlavy said. She doesn’t take all of the credit for Lincoln Caverns’ success. She credits other family members who remain active in the business and her 10 employees. Her father died Dec. 15 but her mother, Marion, 79, serves as secretary/treasurer. Her brother Bruce serves as vice president. Operations manager and second vice president, Timothy Hawn, has worked with the Dunlavy family for more than 25 years. “To provide quality programs you need quality people who are really dedicated,” Ann Dunlavy said. She said she will continue to add new programs and activities and hopes to increase the “tourist segment” of the business. “I will continue to look for new programs to develop but they will focus on the cave. I made a personal commitment to stay focused on the cave,” she said. “It is a labor of love, I still love coming to work every day. I will do it as long as I can do it. “I can’t imagine doing anything else.” Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 946-7467. If you go Where: Lincoln Caverns is at 7703 William Penn Highway, Huntingdon. Hours: Opens daily at 9 a.m. Last tour leaves at 4 p.m. in November. Open weekends only in December, and open in January and February by appointment only. Admission: $9.95 for ages 13 and up, $5.95 for children ages 4-12 and free for children ages 3 and under. For more information: Call 643-0268 or visit www.lincolncaverns.com. article
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 2, 2006 7:39:16 GMT -5
Labor problems surface at cavernsBy Dennis Webb Glenwood Springs Post Independent Staff November 1, 2006 Challenged by the region's labor shortage, the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park considered a possible sale of the facility to the Hot Springs Lodge & Pool earlier this year. Those discussions broke off, but the labor problems remain, Glenwood Caverns owner Steve Beckley said Tuesday. He said other operations on the mountain such as cave tours and rides have been adequately staffed, but the restaurant has not. The restaurant had to close probably a half-dozen evenings during Glenwood Caverns' busy summer season due to short staffing, Beckley said. "When you have a thousand people coming by the door every day and the restaurant's closed, that's just not right. ... That's a lot of square footage and a lot of investment that's going out of the window," Beckley said. Glenwood Caverns discussed a possible sale to the pool earlier this year. Beckley said the idea arose as the two entities were discussing other matters. Beckley and pool assistant general manager John Bosco said the pool decided Glenwood Caverns wouldn't be a good fit. Beckley said that while he wouldn't rule out a sale to another party, he's not in discussions with anyone and now plans to hold on to Glenwood Caverns for the long term. "I enjoy being up there too much," he said. He said the labor challenge that was a big consideration in looking at selling the property remains. "It's terrible. It will be one of the major issues in the next five years," he said. Many area employers face the same challenge in filling openings. Two of the reasons include the creation of numerous new jobs at the Glenwood Meadows retail development, and the high wages being paid by the energy industry in western Garfield County. Beckley said his restaurant had to reduce menu offerings this summer due to lack of kitchen help. Glenwood Caverns also has begun closing at 5 p.m. for the winter season. The restaurant used to remain open in the evenings. It will open in the evenings for private functions such as holiday parties. Also for staffing reasons, all of Glenwood Caverns has begun operating only Thursdays through Sundays during the off-season, with some exceptions over the holidays. Even with a four-day schedule, the restaurant is still short of help, Beckley said. "I've been running the restaurant with managers right now, trying to keep it open," he said. Beckley said Glenwood Caverns is looking at adding some new attractions that fit with its adventure park concept. He added, "Whenever we look at something, we look at something that can be run by one or two people." He said he has thought about trying to have an outside entity run the restaurant portion of the business. Bosco said the pool had looked at the employment aspect of Glenwood Caverns when it was thinking of buying the facility. But negotiations didn't reach a level where that might have become a more serious consideration. The pool already faces employment challenges, he noted. "That's something we certainly look at now and think is going to be a challenge for everyone in the valley," he said. He said the pool can have difficulty filling food and beverage jobs. The pool looked at the possible acquisition of Glenwood Caverns for reasons such as the benefits of economies of scale and tourism packaging opportunities, Bosco said. He noted that the pool already offers some joint packages with Glenwood Caverns. Contact Dennis Webb: 945-8515, ext. 16609 dwebb@postindependent.com article
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Post by jonsdigs on Nov 2, 2006 7:31:47 GMT -5
The Chinhoyi Caves - "Pool of the Fallen" The Zimbabwian November 2, 2006 The spectacular Chinhoyi Caves, situated about 9 kilometres north-west of Chinhoyi town, are the focal point of a 365-acre Recreational Park. It is believed that Frederick Selous was the first European explorer to see the caves during one of his explorations in 1887. Prior to this it was believed the caves were being used as a stronghold by an outlaw called Nyamakwere who murdered many victims by throwing them into the 'Silent Pool'. The notorious Nyamakwere was eventually defeated and killed by a Headman called Chinhoyi who became a Mashona Chief, hence the name Chinhoyi given to the nearby town. Chief Chinhoyi and his followers used the caves as a refuge from raiding tribes such as the Matebele. Until a few years ago the remains of Chief Chinhoyi's grain bins could be seen in some of the underground passages. The traditional name for the caves is 'Chirorodziva' which means the "Pool of the Fallen". The name derived from an incident which took place in the 1830s when the Angoni Tribe, who were moving northwards surprised people living near the caves and flung them into the pool. The dark, electric blue water filling the pools in the caves is enhanced by the rays of the sun during the day. The sunlit "Sleeping Pool" and the artificially lit Dark Cave, consist of a system of tunnels and caverns. Several underwater passages have been found leading from the Sleeping Pool, but all those so far explored lead back into the Pool. Towards the end of the Dark Cave is a small cavern accessible only to divers, known as the "Blind Cave". There is a second tunnel which is connected to the Sleeping Pool 58 metres below the surface and the third tunnel is still yet to be fully explored. The sleeping pool is believed to be 172m deep with US Navy divers having only reached a depth of 135m. Viewing Chinhoyi Caves takes up to 2- 4 hours. The exit from the Dark Cave is demanding, as the steps climb steeply out from the Pool area to the surface. The Caves and the illuminated, turquoise waters of the Pool are an awesome sight and really worth the visit. info@venues4africa.com www.venues4africa.comVarden Safaris - Riding and Walking safaris In Zimbabwe, there is a secret kept from most locals and visitors, a Wilderness Horse riding Safari Lodge - a rugged blending of grey granite with the red serpentine soils of Zimbabwe's Great Dyke Complex. Balanced on the escarpment of the famous Zambezi Valley, it is situated 180 km north of Harare. A traveler is able to find a pristine wilderness, where deep river valleys bisect towering rock faces and grass covered mountains. There are 4 types of Safari's and accommodation venues offered here: - KOPJETOPS LODGEA magnificent stone and thatch structure sitting high amongst the trees. This 3 level lodge is where guests meet for meals and drinks. Accommodation is in 6 chalets scattered at the base of the Kopje Tops, sleeping up to 12 guests all with full ensuite rooms and hot showers. BAT CAVES CAMPA more rustic yet very comfortable bush camp situated a day's ride from Kopje Tops Lodge. The camp is set above the Tingwa River Bat Caves, it is a remote area deep in the Wilderness. All our supplies are brought in via porter or packhorse as there are no roads. THE TINGWA VALLEYThe Tingwa Valley safari is more a concept than a fixed itinerary. It means you stay at Kopje Tops Lodge or Bat Caves camp and do not camp out in the wilds of the bush. THE EXPLORER SAFARIIf you want to experience what it was like for the early explorers sleeping on a mountain top or on the sandy floor of a cave, this safari is a must for you. You will feel the wind on your face, the proximity of the bush and the calls of the wild all around. For more information on Varden Safaris and specials for readers please contact the Venues4africa.com team - venues@zol.co.zw or call +2634706109. article
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Post by jonsdigs on Oct 29, 2006 8:39:42 GMT -5
Tourists to take terror out of Tora BoraThe Sunday Times October 29, 2006 Christina Lamb, Tora Bora FANCY following in the footsteps of the world’s most wanted terrorist as he evades capture by the most powerful army on earth? Soon tourists will have their chance as the Tora Bora caves where Osama Bin Laden slipped through the grasp of American forces are to be turned into a holiday resort. “Tora Bora is already a world-famous name but we want it to be known for tourism, not terrorism,” said Gul Agha Sherzai, governor of the eastern Afghanistan province of Nangahar where the caves are situated. The black-bearded governor, a former warlord turned construction mogul, has drawn up plans for a £5.3m hotel development overlooking the caves. He intends to build restaurants and pave the dirt road leading to the mountains from Jalalabad, a bone-jarring three-hour drive. “I don’t just want one Tora Bora hotel,” he said, gnawing bones from mutton soup that he had prepared himself. “I want three or four. Long before anyone had heard of Osama, Tora Bora was known as a picnic spot and now it can be both.” An hour’s walk from where the road runs out, across scree-covered mountains and along the bed of a stream, is the hillside the Al-Qaeda leader had turned into his fortified bunker. Initially used as a hideout by mujaheddin fighting the Soviet Union in the 1980s, Tora Bora was taken over by Bin Laden who extended its caves and tunnels into the mountains dividing Afghanistan from Pakistan. In December 2001 he and his lieutenants fled here as American-led forces drove the Taliban out of Afghanistan, the last known sighting of the man behind the September 11 attacks. US planes bombed the area but attempts to trap him were bungled when the US command delegated responsibility for his capture to three warlords. At least one allegedly accepted bribes to let him and his henchmen flee into Pakistan. Anyone expecting the sort of high-tech redoubt that might feature as a villain’s lair in a James Bond movie is likely to be disappointed. In between the craters left by the US bombing are just the ruins of houses of baked mud bricks. Far from a labyrinth of tunnels, there are just three small entrances. One has been destroyed and the other two do not extend far. Any jihadi manuals or plans for nuclear or chemical weapons have disappeared: US forces checked the area carefully. By an old Soviet tank on a hill, a guard shows off the remains of a wall that he claims was Bin Laden’s swimming pool. “Actually it was his library,” said Haji Zaheer, one of the three local commanders charged with capturing him. “All we found were some old potatoes. It looked like they had been running short of supplies.” If the ruins are disappointing, the location is stunning. Smugglers with heavily laden donkeys wander the gorges through jagged mountains. The local administration is hoping to cash in on the area’s notoriety and a forthcoming Hollywood film by Oliver Stone, based on the book Jawbreaker by Gary Berntsen, a former CIA officer. “The name Afghanistan at the moment is associated with terrorism,” Sherzai said. “We want to remove that label and replace it with tourism.” The country which back in the 1960s and 1970s was a popular destination on the hippie trail may not yet be ready for tourism. An attempt to take British package tours to Afghanistan in 2004 was thwarted by the assassination of the minister for tourism in whose guesthouse in Herat they had been due to stay. This month two German journalists camping near the beauty spot of Bamian were shot dead. Although Sherzai insisted that Tora Bora is “100% safe”, he sent an escort of two pick-ups carrying 16 guards armed with Kalashnikovs to accompany me to the site of his proposed hotel. At several points the drivers went at such speed that the pick-ups rose from the ground. “Al-Qaeda country,” muttered the gunmen. Perhaps it was all part of the Tora Bora experience. article
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Post by jonsdigs on Oct 25, 2006 18:49:23 GMT -5
Lolling about in LaosBy Catherine Lawson New Zealand Courier-Maill FAR too frivolous for serious culture junkies, Vang Vieng has become a haven for budget travellers who like their Asian soul-searching served with a side of fun. Set against a remarkable backdrop of karst scenery, limestone cliffs, caves and caverns, Vang Vieng's groupies stretch out in the shade of bamboo shacks and dangle their toes and oversized bottles of Bia Lao in the Song River. Bob Marley's music invariably wails across the water and a procession of backpackers in boardshorts and bikinis sun themselves as they drift by on oversized inner tubes. Upriver, barmen use bamboo poles to pull tube riders out of the current and into their shacks for shots of fiery lao-lao whisky and a free flying-fox ride with every beer. Love it or leave it, this is Vang Vieng. In Laos, fun or "muan" is the national creed, and Vang Vieng is a town devoted to giving tourists their fill. Located about halfway between the Lao capital Vientiane and the ever-popular Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng is a stop-off point for budget bus travellers covering long distances by road. Pay the toll to cross the footbridges over the Song River, then bike or hike to the massive limestone cliffs surrounding the town. Tham Phu Kham lies a very pleasant 6km stroll or ride through local villages and rice paddies. At the base of the cave runs a clear, turquoise stream where you can swim or lounge in the shade and picnic on "tam maak hung" – hot and spicy green papaya salad and sip chilled pineapple shakes. After cooling off, it's a stiff 200m hike up and into Phu Kham cave, where a large bronze Buddha reclines, flanked by colourful offerings. Another favourite is nearby Lusi cave where guides charge $1.50 to lead travellers to a dark, frigid swimming hole found deep within the limestone. Virtuous travellers feeling tortured by too much fun can do their bit by volunteering at Vang Vieng's Phoudindaeng Organic Farm, famous for it's awesome mulberries. But ultimately, the most fun to be had in Vang Vieng is inside rubber. For $3.50 you can hire a huge tractor tyre inner tube and a jumbo taxi ride 3km upriver from the town to a pebbly beach on the Song River. From here, it's a scenic two-hour float downstream, passing beneath soaring limestone walls. Of course, you can delay your arrival back in town by joining the parties in the bamboo bars that dot the riverbank, or just buy a beer to keep you company as you float on by. As the sun sets, travellers stretch out by the river in cushioned bamboo shacks to drink cheap beer, and try authentic Laos favourites such as "laap", a mixture of finely minced fish or meat, lime, coriander, mint and up to 15 chillies per plate. Apart from being a fun and adventurous destination, Vang Vieng is also a very cheap town to spend a few nights. For about $5, you can rent a rustic bamboo bungalow with scenic views, or choose a room in town with more mod cons. For travellers who've spent too long on the road, Vang Vieng is as comforting as a TV dinner on a good friend's couch. A stay here might not put you on the path to cultural enlightenment, but if the Lao have their way, you might just discover the meaning of muan. Article
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Post by jonsdigs on Oct 25, 2006 7:41:47 GMT -5
Family Caving in Lost River Gorgeby Julie Brooks Cape Cod Today Oct 23, 2006 One attraction families on Cape Cod are not likely to find on their peninsula is a commercial cave. There are only two commercial caves in New England, both in New Hampshire's White Mountains. We recently experienced Lost River Gorge and Boulder Caves and our sandbar-bred kids were absolutely amazed at the huge rock structures. Located in North Woodstock, NewHampshire, in the White Mountain National Forest, Lost River is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from the mid-Cape area. It's a perfect addition to a summer or fall trip to this popular area. Lost River consists of about 16 small caves you can go through (by walking, crawling, or slithering), all connected by a walking platform which descends down into the Gorge and back up again. The whole thing takes about an hour to do. You begin your descent at the visitors center and after walking down through verdant, lush foliage, you begin at the cave called Sun Altar. These caves do not have stalactites and stalagmites; rather, the cave walls are solid Kinsman Quartz Monzonite. There are lanterns illuminating each cave, which are rated for difficulty. Some caves required more agility than others, and some were simply more foreboding-looking which caused some people to fear entering. I am proud to say that all members of our two-family party successfully went through all the caves in the park with one exception: The Lemon Squeeze. All four of the junior members of our party were under 12 and therefore not old enough to go in the Lemon Squeeze unaccompanied. The adult members of our party were not sufficiently lean to squeeze into the entrance without extreme pain. We have all since vowed to do the Lemon Squeeze on our next visit after crash dieting. I saw people of all ages enjoying the Gorge, even toddlers, who, while not able to go through the caves, were awestruck by the depth and magnitude of the rocks and waterfalls. The walk ends up back where you started, at the Visitor Center. There you can have lunch on a sunny deck overlooking the mountaintops, or shop in the gift store. There is also a new addition --the Lost River Mining Co., a very cool trough with running water in which kids can pan for gemstones. A geological display and Nature Garden with over 300 varieties of native flowers, ferns and shrubs add to Lost River's appeal. Lost River is open mid-May to mid-October. July and August 9 am - 6pm. May, June, September and October 9 am - 5 pm. Last ticket sold 60 minutes before closing.Article
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Post by jonsdigs on Oct 24, 2006 19:05:04 GMT -5
Thai cave has royal presenceBy Brad Crouch Subterranean sanctuary ... King Rama V's pavilion in the Tham PHraya Nakhon cave chamberIN a national park of 300 peaks, where spectacular limestone cliffs erupt abruptly from flat plains, one of the most incredible sights is underground. Thailand's Khao San Roi Yot National Park – or 300 Peaks National Park – is on the coast near the beach resort town of Hua Hin, three hours' drive south of Bangkok. The 98sqkm sanctuary is full of wildlife, mangrove swamps and its signature limestone mountain peaks soaring skywards in a series of jagged, sculptured ridges. The ride in a cheap cab 60km south from Hua Hin to get there was a pleasure. At a stop at Khao Ko Lok, a small traditional fishing village, colourful boats bobbed in the shelter of the bay while women sitting under shade trees picked crabs from nets. A temple and monastery were nearby, and the locals were quite happy to chat with us as they went about their daily business. From here, the peaks of the national park began shooting up from the flat paddocks like office blocks erupting from plazas. Winding our way through, we ended up a little further down the coast where another fishing village with thatched beachfront cafes was our stop-off point for a hike. A rough rock stairway led up a cliff, skirting a mountainous headland to reach Laem Sala beach on the other side. It was steep going up and steep going down but gave sensational views of the coast and nearby islands, including Young Lady Breast Island, responsible for a nearby resort being named Brassiere Resort. A walk through a shady grove of trees fronting the deserted beach on the other side led to signs saying 'Go To Cave' – which sounded like an order to be obeyed, so we did. The track through the rainforest led to another path 450m up a steep mountain, so steep that we met an older couple coming down who had given up. We pushed on, sweating in the tropical heat, past a squealing troop of monkey-like lingurs, staying ahead of a group of immaculately dressed Thai children on a school excursion who constantly giggled and called out "Hello, hello". A lookout revealed sweeping views over the hinterland, before we pressed on gamely towards the top. Here, the cliff wall suddenly opened to reveal odd sights: through a large tunnel were boulders at crazy angles, a suspended 'waterfall' of stalactites, eroded walls and what was once a huge cave chamber. A gaping hole in the roof 100m above now lets in light, allowing a hidden garden to grow in isolated silence. This Lost World was impressive, but more was to come. Following a tunnel called the Crocodile Back Walk – the 50m path is along craggy rocks just like a croc's back – another massive chamber known as Tham Phraya Nakhon came into view. This dome-like chamber, the size of a football field with walls rising several hundred metres, also has lost part of itsroof. As you enter, shafts of sunlight shine on an extraordinary sight. King Rama V was so impressed with the cave that in 1890 he ordered a royal pavilion be built. The sun shines down to illuminate this temple-like structure, adding an eerie sense of awe to the place. The chamber carries the silence of a holy place – so much so that even the boisterous schoolchildren who followed us had their chatter reduced to subdued tones as they took in the wonder of the place. You can wander around the chamber taking in sights such as the Crocodile Rock, the Love Tree, wild gardens, several small buddhas, rock columns and hundreds of sticks placed at 45 degrees against the walls by previous pilgrims. After placing our own sticks we made the trek back down the mountain and around the steep rocky headland before finally flopping for cold drinks at the waterside thatched huts. Several kings have made the journey to gaze at Tham Phraya Nakhon. For king or commoner, it is an unforgettable sight. Article
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Post by jonsdigs on Oct 24, 2006 17:02:52 GMT -5
Adventure beckons 'The challenge will be trying to get people not to love it to death' By Rob Faulkner The Hamilton Spectator (Oct 24, 2006) Photo By Barry Gray Bruce Duncan, HCA general manager, stands at the entrance to Pottruff Cave, one of five caves found within the Eramosa Karst that's large enough to enter."Wild turkey!" yells Chris Firth-Eagland, the bearded Hamilton Conservation Authority chair, walking the leaf-strewn paths lined by holes where water vanishes and reappears. He holds up the long, wet, coloured feather. Wet. That's a first impression of the karst. Everywhere, small creeks carve into rock and soil, exposing tree roots, swallowing earth, creating spectacular features like Pottruff Cave, a rock-walled pit with a rushing waterfall that disappears into its floor. There's one cave, Nexus Cave, where a geologist had to crawl hundreds of metres on his hands and knees through water to determine its length. Remnants of farming life, like wire fences, evoke a time when families like the McGills, the Stewarts and Olmsteads owned this land. Creeks have been named for them. McGill Creek, Kinney Creek, Phoenix Creek -- the streams that criss-cross this area and have drilled it full of holes. "The challenge will be trying to get people not to love it to death," Firth-Eagland says of HCA's challenge when it opens the restricted-access area to the public. The HCA offers group tours, though no general access yet. The holes, caves and rushing water are like a natural obstacle course, not yet safe for every visitor. The HCA will add trails, interpretive panels, a parking lot and more, in time for the authority's 50th birthday bash in 2008. They already have $25,000 donated from Multi-Area Developments, which has helped with the master plan. The 73-hectare parcel isn't the full karst area, nor is it all of the land owned here by the province. The HCA expects to acquire more land, for a trail network that would link the karst with the Bruce Trail, Chippewa Trail and Trans Canada Trail. rfaulkner@thespec.com 905-526-2468 Q&A WHAT IS A KARST? A geologic formation of underground drainage, caves and holes caused by dissolving rock, often in limestone formations like the Niagara Escarpment. In this case, when the glaciers receded 13,000 years ago, all the creeks in the area ran above ground. They ate away at the soil, opened holes in the ground, carved into the rock and vanished underground in parts of their run. WHERE'S THE ERAMOSA KARST? It is bounded by Highland Road in the north, Rymal Road in the south, Upper Mount Albion Road to the west and Second Road West to the east. HOW BIG IS IT? The title transfer is for 73 hectares (180.5 acres), although the whole karst is larger, and some of its has been developed south of Rymal Road. Development guidelines require water management maintain flow into the karst. WHAT ARE ITS FEATURES? The 335-metre Nexus Cave, the 10th longest in Ontario. A natural limestone bridge at the entrance of one of the karst's 153 sinkholes. It has 26 sinking streams, 276 soil pipes, 12 dry valleys, eight springs, five caves large enough to enter. It's also home to 94 plant species, three types of reptiles and amphibians, five types of mammals, and 14 types of butterflies. Because of its concentrated features in a small area, it's considered a perfect site for educational visits. HOW UNIQUE IS IT? Of 16 different karst features (caves, holes, etc.), seven are considered "provincially significant." Nexus Cave is the largest, most complex cave of its type in Ontario. This karst has Ontario's largest concentration of sinking streams, the best example of a dry valley in the province, and its karst windows aren't affected by tourism as at Bonnechere Caves near Ottawa. WHO OWNED IT? AND NOW? Until three years ago, its fields were leased by the province for farming. Obvious examples of farming include old fencing and garbage in some sinkholes and creek banks, which will be removed. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal gave title to the Hamilton Conservation Authority for $2. WHAT'S THE PLAN? The HCA plans to open a new conservation area here by 2008, with an entrance, driveway, bus and car parking, information kiosk and panels, washrooms, landscaping, fencing and trails both internal and linking outside. ArticleSee also Conservation Issues
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