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How Cities Heal After Disasters

February 10th 2010 01:44

Haiti Earthquake 2010

With the earthquake in Haiti still fresh in our minds we may ask the question how do cities come back from natural disasters?
Some cities never recover from the destruction or return to their former selves, while others emerge from the rubble to continue with life as normal. There are a few cities however, that use the obliteration of the old to start new, fresh and improved.

As seen in this NewsWeek article, here are how various cities have dealt with catastrophe.

The Great Fire of London, 1666

The still-largely wooden English capital was devastated by fire for three days in September 1666. As a long, dry summer came to a close, a blaze ripped through the city's narrow streets, leaving 100,000 homeless--about a sixth of the population--and destroying the 600-year-old St. Paul's Cathedral. In a turbulent political climate and with fears of a Dutch invasion running high, the conflagration could have been a death blow. Instead, the city rebuilt, widening its streets and improving conditions; some historians believe this also helped to end a string of disease epidemics that had ravaged London. Perhaps most enduringly, the architect Sir Christopher Wren was commissioned to build some 50 churches, many of which remain landmarks, especially his monumental domed baroque replacement for the incinerated Old St. Paul's.

San Francisco Earthquake, 1906

One of the mighty San Andreas fault's most destructive moments destroyed much of San Francisco and forever shifted the centre of California commerce southward. Early on the morning of April 18, an earthquake estimated at a magnitude of 7.8 shook the city. It was followed by widespread fires, which broke out because gas mains had been ruptured by the quake and which are blamed for most of the damage (the use of dynamite in an attempt to stop the blaze's spread likely didn't help). All told, some 3,000 people were killed, more than half of the city's 400,000 residents were left homeless, and the damage cost more than $400 million in 1906 dollars, or about $9.5 billion today. While the city, which for many years was the cultural and economic capital of the west, rebuilt, industry and commerce moved 350 miles south to Los Angeles, which overtook Frisco as a commercial capital.

Chernobyl, 1986

Though hardly a thriving metropolis, the then Soviet town of Pripyat boasted some 50,000 residents on April 26, 1986. That day, in the worst nuclear power accident ever, a reactor at the nearby nuclear power plant named for the neighboring town of Chernobyl exploded. A series of subsequent explosions emitted 400 times the radiation of the Hiroshima bomb. Although only 56 direct deaths were recorded, thousands of cancer cases are blamed on the episode.
Roughly 336,000 people were evacuated from contaminated areas, and unlike a fire, earthquake or, flood, it's no simple matter of rebuilding. Because many areas remain poisonous, they are chilling ghost towns today, falling into disrepair and with former residents' personal effects left as they were when the hurried evacuation began.

Indian Ocean Tsunami, 2004

an earthquake caused an enormous tsunami that swept across the Indian Ocean, flattening entire towns and villages thousands of miles from the quake's epicentre and killing an estimated 230,000 people, making it the fifth most deadly quake ever. Based on its magnitude of 9.0, it was the second largest ever. Because of the wide swath the wave cut and the remoteness of some hard-hit areas, it's hard to draw general conclusions about the recovery effort. In the case of the Indonesian province of Aceh, however, the World Bank has declared work a success.

The international community pledged nearly $8 billion to reconstruct Aceh. There have been some difficulties, but a long-running and violent battle with separatists seems to have ended, while poverty, which unsurprisingly skyrocketed in the wake of the tsunami, is now below pre-quake levels. The vast international effort, coordinated by transnational organizations, could be the template for a successful recovery in Haiti.

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Fire and Ice

February 3rd 2010 01:42

Ice is the natural state of things, cold, still and lifeless. Fire on the other hand breathes life into our world, but can be powerfully destructive if uncontrolled. This article on boston.com has many pictures dealing with both. Below is a sample.

Members of the public enjoy a late afternoon walk on the frozen Lake of Menteith, on January 4, 2010 in Scotland

Small fires burn on the hillsides above the in the southern German town of Pottenstein on January 6, 2010, part of an annual festival traditionally held to ward off evil spirits from the past year.

Hundreds of people holding lit flares aloft gather to submit a petition outside the residence of Iceland's President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson in Reykjavik January 2, 2010. Iceland's president said on Thursday December 31, 2009 that he would delay signing an amended bill to repay more than $5 billion lost by savers in Britain and the Netherlands when the island's banks collapsed.

Torchbearer and Hall of Fame hockey great Gordie Howe carries the Olympic flame in LaSalle, Ontario, on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009, during the 2010 Vancouver Olympics torch relay.

A member of the fire brigade removes icicles from a building to prevent them from falling on people in the eastern German city of Leipzig on January 13, 2010.

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Most Magnificent Trees in the World

January 11th 2010 01:19

There are about 100,000 different species of trees on our planet, making up a large percentage of all living things. However, there are some trees which either by luck or design become very sepcial to us. Here is a list of such trees, sourced from neatorama.com. Read the full article here.

Lone Cypress in Monterey

Buffeted by the cold Pacific Ocean wind, the scraggly Lone Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) in Pebble Beach, Monterey Peninsula, California, isn’t a particularly large tree. It makes up for its small size, however, with its iconic status as a stunningly beautiful tree in splendid isolation, framed by an even more beautiful background of the Pacific Ocean.

Giant Sequoias: General Sherman

Giant Sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum), which only grow in Sierra Nevada, California, are the world’s biggest trees (in terms of volume). The biggest is General Sherman in the Sequoia National Park – one behemoth of a tree at 275 feet (83.8 m), over 52,500 cubic feet of volume (1,486 m³), and over 6000 tons in weight.

General Sherman is approximately 2,200 years old – and each year, the tree adds enough wood to make a regular 60-foot tall tree. It’s no wonder that naturalist John Muir said "The Big Tree is Nature’s forest masterpiece, and so far as I know, the greatest of living things."

For over a century there was a fierce competition for the title of the largest tree: besides General Sherman, there is General Grant at King’s Canyon National Park, which actually has a larger circumference (107.5 feet / 32.77 m vs. Sherman’s 102.6 feet / 31.27 m).

In 1921, a team of surveyors carefully measured the two giants – with their data, and according to the complex American Forestry Association system of judging a tree, General Grant should have been award the title of largest tree – however, to simplify the matter, it was later determined that in this case, volume, not point system, should be the determining factor.

Chapel-Oak of Allouville-Bellefosse

The Chêne-Chapelle (Chapel-Oak) of Allouville-Bellefosse is the most famous tree in France – actually, it’s more than just a tree: it’s a building and a religious monument all in one.

In 1669, l’Abbe du Detroit and du Cerceau decided to build a chapel in (at that time) a 500 years old or so oak (Quercus robur) tree made hollow by a lightning bolt. The priests built a small altar to the Virgin Mary. Later on, a second chapel and a staircase were added.

Now, parts of the tree are dead, the crown keeps becoming smaller and smaller every year, and parts of the tree’s bark, which fell off due to old age, are covered by protective oak shingles. Poles and cables support the aging tree, which in fact, may not live much longer. As a symbol, however, it seems that the Chapel-Oak of Allouville-Bellefosse may live on forever.

Montezuma Cypress: The Tule Tree

El Árbol del Tule ("The Tule Tree") is an especially large Montezuma cypress (Taxodium mucronatum) near the city of Oaxaca, Mexico. This tree has the largest trunk girth at 190 feet (58 m) and trunk diameter at 37 feet (11.3 m). The Tule tree is so thick that people say you don’t hug this tree, it hugs you instead!

For a while, detractors argued that it was actually three trees masquerading as one – however, careful DNA analysis confirmed that it is indeed one magnificent tree.

In 1994, the tree (and Mexican pride) were in jeopardy: the leaves were sickly yellow and there were dead branches everywhere- the tree appeared to be dying. When tree "doctors" were called in, they diagnosed the problem as dying of thirst. The prescription? Give it water. Sure enough, the tree soon recovered after a careful watering program was followed.

Bristlecone Pine: Methuselah and Prometheus, the Oldest Trees in the World.

The oldest living tree in the world is a White Mountains, California, bristlecone pine (Pinus longaeva) named Methuselah, after the Biblical figure who lived to 969 years old. The Methuselah tree, found at 11,000 feet above sea level, is 4,838 years old – it is not only the oldest tree but also the oldest living non-clonal organism in the world.

Before Methuselah was identified as the world’s oldest tree by Edmund Schulman in 1957, people thought that the Giant Sequoias were the world’s oldest trees at about 2,000 years old. Schulman used a borer to obtain a core sample to count the growth rings of various bristlecone pines, and found over a dozen trees over 4,000 years old.

The story of Prometheus is even more interesting: in 1964, Donald R. Currey, then a graduate student, was taking core samples from a tree named Prometheus. His boring tool broke inside the tree, so he asked for permission from the US Forest Service to cut it down and examine the full cross section of the wood. Surprisingly the Forest Service agreed! When they examined the tree, Prometheus turned out to be about 5,000 years old, which would have made it the world’s oldest tree when the scientist unwittingly killed it!

The Lonely Tree of Ténéré

The Tree of Ténéré or L’Abre du Ténéré was the world’s most isolated tree – the solitary acacia, which grew in the Sahara desert in Niger, Africa, was the only tree within more than 250 miles (400 km) around.

The tree was the last surviving member of a group of acacias that grew when the desert wasn’t as dry. When scientists dug a hole near the tree, they found its roots went down as deep as 120 feet (36 m) below to the water table!

Apparently, being the only tree in that part of the wide-open desert (remember: there wasn’t another tree for 250 miles around), wasn’t enough to stop a drunk Libyan truck driver from driving his truck into it, knocking it down and killing it!

Now, a metal sculpture was placed in its spot to commemorate the Lonely Tree of Ténéré:

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Iceberg Photography

November 27th 2009 07:12

David Burdeny is an architect and interior designer. He is also a skilled photographer.

His iceberg series shows that these frozen giants are far more than platforms for penguins: They are floating sculptures that are becoming increasingly endangered.

This information and images sourced from TreeHugger here.

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Extreme Lakes

September 21st 2009 08:39

What classifies as a lake? Any body of water that is not part of the ocean, fed by at least one river and large enough not to be called a pond. Lakes constitute some of the most beautiful natural landmarks on the earth, even man-made lakes are popular for walking, riding, picnics, living beside and much more.

Today let’s take a look at some lakes with a difference! As reported in this article with the Women's Day, here are a selection of the most extraordinary lakes in the world.

Kelimutu Crater Lakes in Indonesia

Atop a stratovolcano in Flores—one of the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia—sit three crater lakes: Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People), Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched or Enchanted Lake). Each lake is distinct in appearance, chemical makeup and historical sequence of color. Typically green, red, black or blue, each lake’s hue is controlled by changes in external conditions (though neighboring villages have their own myths revolving around immersed souls of the deceased). Their colors are most apparent in the morning, as the sun shines on them from above.

Boiling Lake in Dominica

Bubbling with grayish-blue water, the Boiling Lake—located in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park on the Caribbean island of Dominica—is the second largest hot spring in the world. Approximately 200 feet wide, the lake experiences dramatic fluctuations in activity and is only accessible by foot. Fun fact: In 2007, Canadian adventurer George Kourounis crossed the lake for Angry Planet, a Canadian reality-based television show.

Dead Sea in Jordan and Israel

This landlocked lake in Southwest Asia, which sits at the lowest dry-land elevation on the earth’s surface, is 8.6 times saltier than the ocean—making it one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water. Its closed drainage system, which allows no outflow (water levels are balanced by evaporation or seepage), creates conditions too harsh for animals to survive in, thus its name. However, the Dead Sea is believed to have powerful health benefits for humans due to the mineral content, lack of pollens and allergens, reduced solar radiation and higher atmospheric pressure.

Five-Flower Lake in China

iuzhaigou Valley is a nature reserve in southwestern China known for its waterfalls and lakes. The preserve’s prized possession is the Five-Flower Lake—the most awe-inspiring of all of its bodies of water. Its vast color palette (azure blue, blackish green and light yellow) is caused by calcium carbonate as well as hydrophytes, which also leave the water crystal-clear. From above, visitors can see fallen tree trunks scattered across the bottom, laid out in a magnificent maze.

Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and Peru

Lake Titicaca boasts three major physical distinctions: It’s located on the border of Peru and Bolivia; it sits at the highest point above sea level of any lake in the world; and is, by volume, the largest lake in South America. Though it’s fed by rainfall, melted water from glaciers, five major rivers and 20 small streams, water doesn’t flow out as easily as it does in. Nearly a closed lake—with just one single outlet at the Rio Desaguadero—the majority of its water input is balanced out by evaporation.

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National Parks of the USA

September 9th 2009 11:25

Created in 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson, the National Park Service of the USA looks after a total of 58 parks. Thanks to the Chicago Tribune let's take a look at the biggest, oldest and brightest National Parks for the travelling adventurer!

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Environmental Photography Awards

August 24th 2009 02:45

The Prix Pictet is a photography prize with a sustainability theme. The contest is judged by an independent jury. The 2009 Prix Pictet Environmental Photography shortlist has been announced. This year's nominees focussed on the destruction of our environment through the exploitation of the world’s resources. Thanks to inhabitat.com here are some of the finalists. See the full list here.

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Alaska's Mount Redoubt

April 29th 2009 08:46

Mount Redoubt, or the Redoubt Volcano, is active and currently erupting in Alaska. Mount Redoubt has erupted five times since 1900: in 1902, 1922, 1966, 1989 and 2009. Beginning March 22nd this year, Mount Redoubt began a series of volcanic eruptions which have produced ash clouds up to 65,000 feet into the sky, disrupting air traffic, drifting across Cook Inlet, and depositing layers of gritty ash on Anchorage (180km to the northeast). Thanks to Boston.com, see some pictures of this year's eruptions. More can be found here.

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Surf and Waves

April 8th 2009 11:09

Some waves in the oceans can travel thousands of miles before reaching land. Clark Little is a passionate photographer who captures these waves as the hit the coast. See a selction from his port folio 'Shore Pounding Bliss' below. See the remainder of Clark's pictures here.

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Amazing Pictures of Nature

April 3rd 2009 09:44

What a beautiful planet we live on, and what skilled photographers we have to showcase its beauty!

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Desert Oases

October 29th 2008 01:50

An oasis (plural oases) is a rare isolated area of vegetation and/ or water in the desert. They are formed by underground rivers or aquifers where water reaches through to the surface. This can happen naturally or with help from man via the use of wells.
Throughout history oases have been vitally important, especially for the development of trade routes. Oases vary greatly in size, the larger ones can be used for farming and some have even become tourist destinations.
Here are some picturesque oases from around the world, these images sourced from EnvironmentalGraffiti.
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Autumn

October 13th 2008 02:20

The season of Autumn or Fall takes place from the autumn equinox to the winter solstice.
The word Autumn comes from the Latin autumnus/auctumnus. The use of fall to mean autumn in North America comes from the phrase "fall of the leaf".
Deciduous trees loose their leaves before winter, the colour change which takes place in the leaves before they fall is what defines the look of autumn. Here are some beautiful autumn pictures, more can be found here at autumn-pictures.com
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Underground Lakes & Rivers

September 26th 2008 02:48

Beneath the Earth's crust there can be found numerous subterranean or underground lakes & rivers. They are mostly related to caves, aquifers, or springs. The array of colours and shapes in their surroundings combined with a mirror like finish make these lakes a sight to behold. Thanks to Environmental Graffiti here are some of the more stunning waterways found beneath the earth. You can see more here.

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Rock Formations

September 8th 2008 02:09

Over time weathering and erosion wear away at rock surfaces to create a vast array of different and random shapes. Sometimes these formations are recognisable as shapes we know.

See if you can spot the shapes in these rock formations

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