#Glacial Aurora

[everythingdice]

Glacial Aurora | Uninked test design, 2020.

[fotos-art]

Aerial view of glacial rivers in Iceland

© rybarmarekk

Shutterstock

Did you know that Iceland, the “land of fire and ice,” has rivers formed by the melting of glaciers that have shaped its landscape for thousands of years? The largest glaciers, such as Vatnajökull, Langjökull, and Hofsjökull, feed these unique rivers. Vatnajökull, the largest, covers 7,700 km², or 10% of the island. When the ice melts, the water carries sediment with it, giving the rivers a milky appearance that contrasts with the volcanic terrain. In spring and summer, the melting ice increases its flow, continually shaping the landscape. From the air, they look like authentic works of art that flow towards the North Atlantic. These rivers are not only impressive, they are also vital to Iceland, as their waters feed hydroelectric plants, positioning the country as a leader in clean energy.

[dirk-hardpec]

a single penny, laying in a wet gutter. a rat's foot is visible in the top-left corner of the image. grayscale.

[owl-bones]

👉👈 Could we get more info about Fae Dust? His wings are gorgeous, but we don't know too terribly much about him. I would love to draw my faesona interacting with him, but there's not a whole lot to go off of.

Dust is an elusive fae. he doesn't have much interest in humans or tricks, preferring to keep to himself. he's cold and doesn't talk much, and people aren't even sure if he's 'friends' with the little group of Nightmare's inner circle he almost exclusively is seen with. sightings of Dust alone are rare-- not because he's always in a group, but because when he's alone he just disappears. he goes off into the woods to do... nobody knows what. (he's off sitting on frozen waterfalls playing an ocarina, hunting, being a dramatic loner. anything to keep himself occupied where there's peace of mind and nobody around him to get hurt if he has an episode)

he's hard to get a read on and even harder to get close to. you're better off getting close to one of the others, then assimilating yourself into his inner circle that way. the pace at which he warms up to people is glacial so expect the slowest of burns even just for a mild friendship.

once you've worked your way into his closed-off heart, though, you'll find someone who is undyingly loyal and very afraid of losing the good things in his life. if he takes you on a 'walk' that turns into a long hike that ends in an aurora/star-gazing session atop an icy mountain (with a cute little hunting cabin with a fire conveniently already started in the hearth...) then that's basically a declaration of love (platonic and romantic).

[acronym-chaos]

Frost and Snow ID Pack

[PT: Frost and Snow ID Pack].

[ID: A purple thin line divider shaded at the bottom. End ID].

Names

[PT: Names].

Alina, Aurelian, Aurora, Bane, Bianca, Boreas, Caspian, Crystal, Eira, Elowen, Everest, Faye, Frost, Glace, Glacia, Gwen, Hail, Hala, Icy, Icario, Ivor, Iris, Jasper, Kalt, Loden, Lucien, Lumi, Mira, Neve, Noelle, North, Orin, Perla, Polar, Quinlan, Silvia, Snowe, Soren, Storm, Talia, Theron, Tundra, Vail, Wynter, Yvette, Zephyr, Zanna, Zarina

Pronouns

[PT: Pronouns].

Bli / Bliz / Blizzes [Blizzard]; Chi / Chill / Chills; Cri / Cryst / Crys [Crystal]; Cry / Crys / Crystal; Fla / Flake / Flakes; Flur / Flurry / Flurries; Fro / Fros / Frosts; Frost / Bite / Frostbites; Frig / Frigid / Frigids; Glae / Glace / Glaces; Hai / Hail / Hails; I / Ice / Ices; She / Shiver / Shivers; Sli / Slip / Slipperys; Sno / Snow / Snows; Tha / Thaw / Thaws; Wi / Wint / Wints [Winter]

Titles

[PT: Titles].

The Arctic Phantom, The Blizzard’s Whisper, The Frozen Fate, The Frostbitten Monarch, The Frostweaver, The Glacial Guardian, The Icemist Warden, The Icy Embrace, The Keeper of Cold, The Silent Blizzard, The Snowbound Wanderer, The Winter’s Chill, [Pronoun] Who Brings the Frost, [Pronoun] Who Commands the Storm, [Pronoun] Who Shivers the Earth, [Pronoun] Who Walks the Tundra

[ID: A purple thin line divider shaded at the bottom, end ID].

Requested by @luxdraconia!

Also tagging: @pronoun-arc @id-pack-archive

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Superflares once per century

More often than previously thought, sun-like stars hurl huge amounts of radiation into space. The Sun, too, is capable of such outbursts

There is no question that the Sun is a temperamental star, as alone this year’s unusually strong solar storms prove. Some of them led to remarkable auroras even at low latitudes. But can our star become even more furious? Evidence of the most violent solar “tantrums” can be found in prehistoric tree trunks and in samples of millennia-old glacial ice. However, from these indirect sources, the frequency of superflares cannot be determined. And direct measurements of the amount of radiation reaching the Earth from the Sun have only been available since the beginning of the space age.

Another way to learn about our Sun’s long-term behavior is to turn to the stars, as is the approach of the new study. Modern space telescopes observe thousands and thousands of stars and record their brightness fluctuations in visible light. Superflares, which release amounts of energy of more than one octillion joules within a short period of time, show themselves in the observational data as short, pronounced peaks in brightness. “We cannot observe the Sun over thousands of years,” Prof. Dr. Sami Solanki, Director at the MPS and coauthor, explained the basic idea behind the investigation. “Instead, however, we can monitor the behavior of thousands of stars very similar to the Sun over short periods of time. This helps us to estimate how frequently superflares occur,” he adds.

Looking for close relatives of the Sun

In the current study, the team including researchers from the University of Graz (Austria), the University of Oulu (Finland), the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, the University of Colorado Boulder (USA) and the Commissariat of Atomic and Alternative Energies of Paris-Saclay and the University of Paris-Cité, analyzed the data from 56450 sun-like stars as seen by NASA’s space telescope Kepler between 2009 and 2013. “In their entirety, the Kepler data provide us with evidence of 220000 years of stellar activity,” said Prof. Dr. Alexander Shapiro from the University of Graz.

Crucial for the study was the careful selection of the stars to be taken into account. After all, the chosen stars should be particularly close “relatives” of the Sun. The scientists therefore only admitted stars whose surface temperature and brightness were similar to the Sun’s. The researchers also ruled out numerous sources of error, such as cosmic radiation, passing asteroids or comets, as well as non-sun-like stars that in Kepler images may by chance flare up in the vicinity of a sun-like star. To do this, the team carefully analyzed the images of each potential superflare - only a few pixels in size - and only counted those events that could reliably be assigned to one of the selected stars.

In this way, the researchers identified 2889 superflares on 2527 of the 56450 observed stars. This means that on average, one sun-like star produces a superflare approximately once per century.

“High performance dynamo computations of these solar-type stars easily explain the magnetic origins of the intense release of energy during such superflares”, said coauthor Dr. Allan Sacha Brun of the Commissariat of Atomic and Alternative Energies of Paris-Saclay and the University of Paris-Cité.

Surprisingly frequent

“We were very surprised that sun-like stars are prone to such frequent superflares”, said first author Dr. Valeriy Vasilyev from the MPS. Earlier surveys by other research groups had found average intervals of a thousand or even ten thousand years. However, earlier studies were unable to determine the exact source of the observed flare and therefore had to limit themselves to stars that did not have any too close neighbors in the telescope images. The current study is the most precise and sensitive to date.

Longer average time intervals between extreme solar events have also been suggested by studies looking for evidence of violent solar storms impacting Earth. When a particularly high flux of energetic particles from the Sun reaches the Earth's atmosphere, they produce a detectable amount of radioactive atoms such as the radioactive carbon isotope 14C. These atoms are then deposited in natural archives such as tree rings and glacial ice. Even thousands of years later, the sudden influx of high-energy solar particles can thus be deduced by measuring the amount of 14C using modern technologies. 

In this way, researchers were able to identify five extreme solar particle events and three candidates within the past twelve thousand years of the Holocene, leading to an average occurrence rate of once per 1500 years. The most violent is believed to have occurred in the year 775 AD. However, it is quite possible that more such violent particle events and also more superflares occurred on the Sun in the past. “It is unclear whether gigantic flares are always accompanied by coronal mass ejections and what is the relationship between superflares and extreme solar particle events. This requires further investigation”, co-author Prof. Dr. Ilya Usoskin from the University of Oulu in Finland pointed out. Looking at the terrestrial evidence of past extreme solar events could therefore underestimate the frequency of superflares.

Forecasting dangerous space weather

The new study does not reveal when the Sun will throw its next fit. However, the results urge caution. “The new data are a stark reminder that even the most extreme solar events are part of the Sun's natural repertoire,” said coauthor Dr. Natalie Krivova from the MPS. During the Carrington event of 1859, one of the most violent solar storms of the past 200 years, the telegraph network collapsed in large parts of northern Europe and North America. According to estimates, the associated flare released only a hundredth of the energy of a superflare. Today, in addition to the infrastructure on the Earth's surface, especially satellites would be at risk.

The most important preparation for strong solar storms is therefore reliable and timely forecasting. As a precaution, satellites, for example, could be switched off. From 2031, ESA’s space probe Vigil will help in the endeavor of forecasting. From its observation position in space, it will look at the Sun from the side and notice sooner than Earth-bound probes when processes that might drive dangerous space weather are brewing up on our star. The MPS is currently developing the Polarimetric and Magnetic Imager for this mission.

IMAGE: Artist's impression of a Sun-like star exhibiting a superflare as seen in visible light Credit MPS/Alexey Chizhik

[sitting-on-me-bum]

In Iceland, it’s possible to view an aurora borealis display above the Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon.

Photo by John A. Davis/Shutterstock

[hersurvival]

I am from a land of naught, barren wastes of sharp peaks, valleys so deep you can't escape, a bitter cold you'll never shake

Mount Susitna in her slumber watches me, Lady Aurora dances overhead, the Matanuska flows through my veins, the silt blowing from her feet into my lungs

Glacial streams have carved me out, water so cold and blue, it's unreal, soaking my bones, look beneath my skin, dive into my heart, feel its chill, it's threat

Eyes green as moss, as mold, as the lichen the caribou search for in the tundra, in the woods, as the dead grass on the side of the road as the snow begins to run-off

Excuse me, for I was raised by moose standing among the trees, black bears crossing highways in the night, eagles screeching, salmon spawning, one of the world's fastest tides

Beware the Keelut, malevolent dog tracks that vanish in the snow, the Tornit and his foul smell, The People-Stealers who sing a poor birdsong to lure, and whatever you do, don't wander into "the triangle"

This is where I belong, descended from government contracted potato farmers and immigrants who fought and lived through war, birthed in the cradle of mountains, hovered upon even when I'm gone, always returning home to their hold, captured by my mind, my soul

I've made it out, been dragged back in, I was born of this, raised in this, driven by survival insticts not thought, the cold has set in and I found every where else unfit to live

[lyss-butterscotch]

Hey Hi Hello I absolutely LOVE your gijinka designs and your style and I would be honored if you would gijinka-fy my beloved my oinglydoople messed up sad wet cat Tangled Threads!!! do what feels right... in your heart... go wild... i absolutely love your designs...

more info! more more info!

sorry for botherin ya but i had to ask! have a wonderful day/night! ^^

Okay i swear im not biased when it comes to the doodles but she's just so jfjdjdjdjksk aesthetically pleasing to draw im so biased to space and stars patterned anything

Also i decided to change brushes for the main image from here on out i hope thats okay

Okay lastly you put her in a glacial winter themed area you fackin bet she deserves to see the aurora its so pretty jdjdkdks. I also gave her houseki no kuni shiny hair because shiny hehe

Ps. Sorry for the shit image quality so far my tab is dying of space and i can only screenshot images jfjdkkddk

Pps. I think i fixed it sobs idk

[rraaaarrl]

✨With Her Eyes Made of Stars✨ 

Doom finally caught up to that foolish, stubborn Richards. He had to put a stop to this. He understood grief all too well. He thought Richards was finally past the denial phase. "Sue is alive, I feel it in my heart. She is still out there!" he would mutter, bent over the latest series of profane calculations.

Was this really the same Richards whose disdain for sorcery was no secret, simply because it was not logical to him, beyond his comprehension? No, this was not the Richards he knew, this was. Like looking into the past. The same focus on the impossible, singular goal of bringing her back. And like now, the tragic consequences. Naive Richards, back then, warning him, his calculations were off! Or so he claimed.

Doom should have returned the favor, told Richards that it's not too late! Until it was. Richards had flipped the last switch, the line, it had been crossed.

Glacial winds whipped Doom's cloak into a frenzy, as he narrowed his focus and zoomed in. Yes, that was definitely Richards, seemingly not affected by the merciless elements. No doubt something to do with his unique molecular structure. Richards, his face turned towards the night sky filled by the aurora borealis, looking up.

Victor followed the direction of Richards's gaze, and looked at the star-filled sky. The curiously star-filled–

A petty flash of anger, the audacity! How dare Richards be right! It quickly evaporated, because... well. "Alive" she appeared to be.

If you could call it that. If it was even her.

[18shadesofmay]

A Dog, a Doubt, and a Deity

“What is God?”

You shift in your seat, eyes heavy and knees sore, wondering how much body moisture one needs to sweat out before turning into a raisin. Plastic chairs are hard to sit on (in both interpretations of the word) for any more than about twenty seconds when the speaker talks like she lives in a shell on her back.

“You are not alone, friends. God's love is boundless, Her forgiveness infinite. With Her, we find a path to purpose, a connection to something greater than ourselves, and a promise of eternal life,” she slugs on. This particular lecture has been grinding on for a half hour now, and the stout little woman giving it seems dead set on converting every person, chair and housefly in the room to religion, and at a glacial pace of ten words per minute. Another half hour of boundless love and infinite forgiveness would definitely send you to something greater than yourself.

Ceiling fans murmur above you. They’re about as comprehensible to you as the speaker herself. What is the whole idea? A sense of community? Contentment? Salvation? You recall communal religiousness being a concept you once understood, but got lost as you grew older and your perceptions turned more decided. A two-sided coin you would’ve wanted to flip over, but never had the courage to read the print on the other side of. You know you’re right about this one thing, if not about every other thing. And it’s not like you need God to cook your breakfast and do your laundry anyway.

With a damp white shirt and gushing forehead, you pretend to take a call and excuse yourself from the hall. You scoff out of the building and bump into a fellow attendee, sharing quick, knowing smiles, as if to say “escaping too?”, and walk away. You’re not alone.

You decide you want a stroll in the park across the compound. Summer means more people, and more people means more faces to make stories about. You find yourself a rusty bench under a towering oak to observe from and let your thoughts brew themselves. A girl is playing with her dog, and you wonder if the dog thinks a higher power sent the rubber toy he’s so delightfully chewing on in his little toothy mouth. Or if the fluttering leaves and rustling trees are whispers from the Creator.

All these people and you sit with yourself. It isn’t lonely by any means, just a peaceful disconnect from the outside. You feel your breath slowing. Leaflets rain in an airy column, and a cloud curtains the sunlight once again. It’s almost like your heart just burst open. The dog trots over to say hello, and you ruffle his mane. His tail thumps against the ground and it feels like a symphony in a world full of clamour. There is perhaps a tinge of a form of hushed godliness in all this. Divine or not, this is…not bad.

All the noise you’ve always heard, about acts of the supreme being and gifts from above, feels somehow misdirected. In this very moment, you find yourself drowned in the calmness the priests always talk of. Even with your disagreeability, you relate with them in some kind of inexplicable soundlessness. Is this God getting to you, finally? What if She isn’t a booming voice or a vengeful hand? Just the voiceless hum of existence, the interconnectedness of all things? It may not be the God the lady preached about, but it’s enough for now. She wasn’t entirely wrong.

We simply don’t know. If it’s really Her making things move, we’d probably never find out in our fragile brevity on this weird rock. And if it isn’t, hey, you were right all along, and congratulations, it doesn’t matter one bit. There are ghost towns in the ocean and mountains in the clouds, and crowds on Shanghai streets and auroras in the north, and they’re all real regardless of the presence or absence of God. You will love and die or hate and live, and the only higher power you’ll ever need to worry about is your own self. There’s no Wikipedia page that holds the answer, but why not stop trying to write one? Right now, your God is a mere quietness that is present and full. Outside the gates of this park, maybe there exists a different one.

Maybe it’s the stout little lady back in the boring building. She definitely looked the age, didn’t she?

[stcnecoldd]

ALYCIA DEBNAM-CAREY ? Não! É apenas AURORA ELYSIUS, ela é filha de QUIONE do chalé TRINTA E UM e tem VINTE E SETE ANOS. A TV Hefesto informa no guia de programação que ela está no NÍVEL III por estar no Acampamento há QUINZE ANOS, sabia? E se lá estiver certo, RORY é bastante PRESTATIVA mas também dizem que ela é APÁTICA. Mas você sabe como Hefesto é, sempre inventando fake news pra atrair audiência.

PODER: Criocinese - O dom gélido, entrelaçado com o toque dos deuses, concede a ela a habilidade de manipular o frio e produzir gelo, assim tornando-se uma verdadeira mestre do inverno capaz de moldar qualquer ambiente com a frieza imponente. Seus poderes vão além de criar superfícies geladas; podendo moldar o gelo de maneira complexa e utilizá-lo de várias formas, incluindo armas afiadas e pontiagudas. Dotada desse poder extraordinário, personifica a majestade e a beleza implacável do inverno. Seus dons são uma fusão de arte e força, refletindo a dualidade de sua herança divina. PODER PASSIVO: Armadura de cristal ártico - Permite que transforme sua pele em uma camada de gelo cristalino e reluzente, proporcionando defesa aumentada contra ataques físicos e mágicos. Essa pele de gelo a torna invisível em ambientes nevados, imune ao frio extremo. HABILIDADES: Reflexos e vigor sobre-humanos. ARMA: 1. Cetro de Cristal Glacial - Consiste em um cetro esculpido a partir de um cristal mágico de gelo, que amplifica seus poderes, permitindo-lhe controlar o gelo com maior precisão e intensidade. Além disso, pode gerar rajadas de vento cortante. 2. Adaga Infernal (recompensa adiquirida): Por ser uma arma não muito popular nos dias atuais, essa lâmina de ferro estígio vem com o bônus de ter chamas de fogo infernal a tornando mais letal para adversários dos semideuses. Monstros ou outros semideuses são sensíveis ao fogo infernal, então deve ser manuseada com cuidado. MALDIÇÃO: Um deslize inocente atribuiu a ela uma maldição, denominada como "lágrimas cristalizadas", um castigo rogado pela própria mãe. Sempre que Aurora chora, suas lágrimas transformam-se em pequenos cristais de gelo cortantes, trazendo dor física e ferimentos à semideusa e quem ousar tocar nelas. Cada lágrima derramada torna-se uma lembrança dolorosa de sua maldição, invocada após desafiar diretamente a vontade de Quione ao buscar poder além do que lhe foi concedido. A maldição é uma resposta à sua arrogância e à tentativa de ultrapassar os limites estabelecidos pelos deuses. ATIVIDADES: Co-líder da equipe azul da parede de escalada, faz parte da equipe azul de esgrima e pratica corrida de pégasos.

DENVOLVIMENTO DA PERSONAGEM!

SOBRE : 𝐔 𝐧 𝐰 𝐚 𝐯 𝐞 𝐫 𝐢 𝐧 𝐠 𝐋 𝐞 𝐠 𝐢 𝐨 𝐧 !

HER STORY :

─    Foi durante uma noite gélida no inverno da Finlândia que Aurora foi concebida, em meio a uma tempestade de neve que assolava a região mais remota do país. O mortal de coração puro foi abençoado pela divindade, com quem tivera um caso intenso e fugaz, depois de Quione ter vislumbrado em sua descendência a promessa de um destino extraordinário. Assim, a garota de írises tingidas por um azul pálido, etéreos como a luz do alvorecer, veio ao mundo com a herança divina da deusa da neve fluindo em suas veias.

─    O período de sua infância foi marcado por eventos misteriosos e fenômenos naturais incomuns. Desde jovem, a garota manifestava um controle inato sobre a neve, sendo capaz de moldar e manipular elementos frios com um simples pensamento. Seu pai, percebendo que a filha era diferente, mas sem entender completamente a extensão de seus poderes, decidiu mantê-la afastada dos olhares curiosos, temendo a incompreensão e a possível perseguição por parte da sociedade.

─    Aurora viu sua vida mudar drasticamente quando, durante uma expedição pela montanha Galdhøpiggen, seu pai foi vítima de um monstro enviado por forças desconhecidas para eliminar qualquer vestígio da linhagem de Quione. Corajoso e inconsciente dos perigos que cercavam sua família, deu a vida para proteger a filha, escondendo a localização da mais jovem. Foi nesse momento trágico que Aurora descobriu a verdade sobre sua origem e a ameaça que pairava sobre ela.

─    Após a dilacerante morte, a semideusa foi encontrada por um sátiro enviado por Quíron, então encontrando refúgio no acampamento meio-sangue. A criatura explicou tudo sobre a natureza divina de Aurora, sua ligação com Quione e a necessidade de treinamento para enfrentar os perigos que aguardavam jovens como ela. Apesar da dor da perda, ela aceitou a oportunidade de honrar a memória de seu pai e descobrir o propósito de seus extraordinários poderes, sem alternativa para onde ir.

─    No acampamento, treinou diligentemente sob a orientação de instrutores e semideuses mais experientes, aprimorando suas habilidades com o gelo. Rapidamente, se destacou como uma das campistas mais promissoras. Mas, apenas depois de completar quatro anos de treinamento e enfrentar uma criatura que ameaçava desencadear um inverno eterno sobre o mundo dos mortais, foi reclamada pela deusa Quione, surpreendendo a poucos. 

─    Aurora Elysius, agora abraça seu destino. Sua jornada continua, mas ela caminha confiante, sabendo que a neve que controla é tanto uma bênção quanto uma responsabilidade, e que seu pai, onde quer que esteja, olha com orgulho para a semideusa que se tornou. O que desconhece, porém, é o ressentimento que Quione nutre por ela, a enxergando como um lembrete constante da falha fatal em proteger o mortal por quem um dia havia se apaixonado.

TRIVIA :

Seu sotaque ainda é extremamente carregado.

É uma exímia guerreira, excedendo-se no confronto físico.

Devido a maldição que carrega, tem dificuldade em lidar com os próprios sentimentos e expressá-los, uma limitação que conferiu a ela a reputação como fria e insensível.

É tutora de um cão infernal, carinhosamente apelidado como Blizzard. A criatura segue livre, mas realiza visitas constantes à semideusa, com quem mantém um relacionamento amistoso e próximo.

[runwayrunway]

No. 24 - Icelandair's Special Liveries

Congratulations to Icelandair's Hekla Aurora livery for being my first multi-request. And for a special livery, no less!

So, as a quick supplement to my main Icelandair post, I'm going to discuss the airline's three special liveries (excluding those which are crossovers with other brands). They've even been kind enough to provide a page for each, describing their various inspirations and how they relate to Icelandic identity.

Þingvellir

I'm starting with Þingvellir. Painted on a Boeing 757-300 registered TF-ISX, this livery was released in 2018 to celebrate 100 years of Icelandic independence and also something involving football, which in a very classic moment are treated as being equivalent in weight. I think Iceland may have won at the football? If you are aware of the context of the football, please don't tell me. I don't care about football.

Her colors are drawn from the Icelandic flag. It's really incredible how many flags out there manage to be red, white, and blue. It's honestly a kindness on Icelandair's part to not have those colors dominate their livery to begin with because it's incredibly saturated with flag carriers. (Red, white, and green are another similarly done-to-death scheme.)

Although I think the actual cross-shape of the flag could have been used to some decent effect, I have no real problem with where we ended up. I think this is recognizable as the Icelandic flag and visually pleasing. The first time I saw this I thought it was a heritage livery, because I didn't know off the top of my head what Icelandair's old liveries actually looked like. I think if they'd done this back in the day they would have been the talk of the tarmac.

Looking at it from the right angle, though, I can't deny that when you add in the glossy modern look of the Icelandair logo and the yellow nacelles it does sort of look like a football jersey somehow. Unsure if this is intentional, but all in all I just think this looks nice and I genuinely think if you did something about the yellow this would be a better standard livery for Icelandair than most airlines have. It's quite unique, as far as what's flying today.

Grade: C+

A few notes to close out: first, 'Þingvellir' is the name of the aircraft. Icelandair names all their planes after features of Icelandic nature, and Þingvellir is a national park known for being the site of parliamentary sessions. 'Þ' is pronounced roughly like 'th' in English.

Second, you may notice a distinct...how do I put this? Longness about her. This is because

('normal girl' here means 'narrow-body airliner'). image by @lobstersinmyhouse.

and I really like that.

Vatnajökull

Vatnajökull is a slightly less long but still delightful normal girl, a Boeing 757-200 with the registration TF-FIR. Icelandair bills her as the world's first flying glacier. I don't think there was much of a risk of anyone else getting that record, but she...sure is!

Vatnajökull is a fairly self-explanatory livery. It's an incredibly detailed glacier scene, representative of the very landmass for which the airplane is named. From Icelandair's website:

Even if you have lived in Iceland your whole life, the wonders of Vatnajökull never cease to amaze and enthrall. The largest glacier in Europe tumbles down the highest mountain ridge in Iceland, creating tremendous icefalls just above the southeast part of Route 1. The ice giant covers 8% of Iceland and is up to 1000 meters (3280 feet) thick. That equals 30 meters of ice evenly spread over all of Iceland – but we are in fact quite happy to keep it where it is. The Icelandic climate can be challenging enough without adding dozens of meters of ice on top of us.

It's actually somewhat difficult to find much more to say about her. This is just a very pretty glacial landscape drawn onto an airplane, and I think it looks very very nice.

This paint job is undeniably both pretty and impressive. I do sort of wish the tail and engines had been integrated as well, but what we got is more than alright.

Vatnajökull also features a glacier-themed interior, including glacier-themed headrests and drinks carts and, of course, some lovely blue mood lighting. The whole package makes me want to go potholing in a glacier very badly. They've definitely put a lot of effort into making the world's first flying glacier, and they've succeeded in that.

Grade: B

Hekla Aurora

It was very hard to choose pictures of this plane to include in this post. Hekla Aurora is stunning. She looks dramatically different depending on the lighting, but no matter which angle she's seen from she looks gorgeous and vivid.

Hekla Aurora is named for the active volcano Hekla and the aurora borealis, two noteworthy features of Iceland's unique natural environment. Obviously, though, she leans a bit towards the latter part of the name. The plane even comes with special interior mood lighting like Vatnajökull.

This looks so nice. It's even more striking than the simple blue Vatnajökull has. I want to fall asleep on this plane more than anything else in the world.

This plane is basically Icelandair's flagship. I swear this is one of the best-known planes flying right now. And she deserves every bit of it. This is a uniquely beautiful paint job and I am severely envious of anyone who has ever been able to fly on her.

I do, again, wish more had been done with the engines and the tail, but it's really hard to say anything about Hekla Aurora because this is just as much of an art piece as it is an airplane livery.

I have it as an active goal of mine to see her in person, even if from a distance, while she's still in service.

Grade: A

Unfortunately, this request was timely in the worst possible way. On the 7th of July, Icelandair announced their intention to acquire between 13 and 25 Airbus A321XLR airplanes. This is an interesting move from an airline which has up until now exclusively operated Boeing aircraft, but Boeing's refusal to actually build a 757 successor is a separate conversation. What's important to note is that Icelandair's special 757s are getting on in years. Hekla Aurora is nearly 30 years old. While far from derelict, that's definitely around the point most major airlines will begin to retire their planes. The confirmation of Icelandair's intentions to acquire a replacement model just makes it even clearer.

There is time to talk about what Icelandair will do going forward, what new special liveries they'll make. It's clear that all their existing ones are born from an appreciation for Iceland, and I'm sure they won't stop just because their planes are going to look a little different ten years from now. But It feels like an important time to voice my appreciation for TF-FIU, who has been bringing the northern lights everywhere Icelandair flies for nearly 10 years, even as those years finally begin to wind down.

[atomicachronicles]

Author's single explanation:

What is Atomica Chronicles? Well, it's a work-in-progress tale set in a retro sci-fi fantasy world, somewhere between 1910 and 1940, give or take a few improbable inventions/ takes of mine. I do my best to keep things simple, well, simple-ish, enough for people to maybe follow along, I'm still quite new to this Tumblr thing :))

Long Explanation:

In this alternate fantasy-sci-fi Earth, the sun has dimmed, its once-warm embrace now a feeble flicker. The planet is a frozen shell of its former self, a wasteland where humanity still thrives to survive amid a landscape both alien and familiar. The geography has transformed under the relentless siege of cold weather and war, blending the unimaginable with the bizarre.

Life on Earth has adapted in strange and sinister ways. Gigantic, crystalline trees of ice-metal hybrid material sprout from the ground, their branches chiming eerily in the winds. These “Cryoboros” trees harvest what little sunlight remains, storing energy to warm the thin atmosphere around them. Meanwhile, the fauna has evolved a similar resilience: phosphorescent wolves with coats of metallic fibers hunt prey beneath the aurora, and herds of six-legged, fur-clad “Polar Crawlers” migrate across the tundra. The Rockies, the Himalayas, and the Andes are no longer majestic peaks they're colossal glaciers, their jagged ridges softened by centuries of snowfall. Crevasses glow faintly from the trapped bioluminescent algae beneath, a cruel irony of light in the cold void. Vast ice fields stretch to every horizon, interspersed with frozen remnants of lakes and rivers. The once-vital Mississippi is now a glacial highway, its flow stilled forever.

The oceans are frozen from shore to shore, their surfaces fractured into jagged, shifting ice plates. Below these frigid barriers, geothermal vents sustain strange and alien life bioluminescent creatures that thrive in the dark depths. Above, the sky is a pale, hazy gray, occasionally slashed with streaks of auroras. The heavens are punctuated by airships and megastructures that break through the barrier known as the clouds. The only real sunny beaches are lined across the equator, as it is the only part of the world that has a clear purplish-blue sky.

Across the remaining countries, skyscrapers and symbols of progress now serve as frigid obelisks, their Art Deco facades encased in layers of frost. Below them lie frozen streets, buried under snow, where neon signs flicker weakly, powered by forgotten technologies, and large megastructures litter the world. Other megastructures around forgotten regions remain unfinished due to the ongoing war.

[missedstations]

"After Rothko’s Green Blue Green (1969)" - Blu Mehari

At the airport baggage claim, my father and I Fundamentally disagree as to the nature of teal. I propose some fish fins and bird’s eggs, Cyanobacteria as well as sections of the ocean, But mostly it is a stunning lie to say The sea’s any color, but anemic and blue. Certain inks, peacocks in places Around the eye and plumage, auroras, apatites Damselflies, a shocking number of beetles Who are then pulverized for dye, Icebergs, as their layers separate light, And sometimes living green animals Tint glacial bodies before they melt Into puny water. Some markings on flags or maybe Exclusively the rectangle on Sri Lanka’s, I’m not sure. The alternate uniform of the Anaheim Ducks Because the word teal comes from a breed Of ducks. (Linnaeus remarks on the bright Patches on their wings.) They are unlikely To go extinct, but who knows? Medical scrubs, Indonesian passports, a few ocean paintings, And that Rothko I know you’d loathe To see it where it hangs somewhere in low light Bare paint while it goes on all ten Million dollars of it according to Sotheby’s And cut through with an ultramarine stripe anyway. He responds with the thin blankets that sometimes sheath The faces of corpses and a burlap shawl My grandmother wore, embroidered with gold leaves. I offer a kind of hornworm while hauling My suitcase (green) from the carousel And he gives the outline of a boyhood mountain On his Amharic copy of Robinson Crusoe. I say I never knew you paid so much attention. He says I named you for a color.

[newsandgamess]

5 Hidden Gem National Parks to Explore in the USA

5 hidden gem national parks to explore in USA. Uncover America’s best-kept natural wonders with scenic trails, breathtaking landscapes, & unique adventures.

Unveiling America’s Hidden Natural Treasures: 5 Must-Visit National Parks for 2024

Are you looking for unique outdoor adventures off the beaten path?

While America’s most famous national parks like Yosemite and the Grand Canyon are undoubtedly spectacular, there are lesser-known treasures waiting to be discovered.

In this article, we’ll explore five hidden gem national parks that offer breathtaking landscapes, diverse ecosystems, and unforgettable experiences.

These parks may not be as famous as their counterparts, but they’re equally captivating and often less crowded.

Let’s dive into these natural wonders and see why they deserve a spot on your 2024 travel itinerary.

#1 Yellowstone National Park Tour from Jackson Hole

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Yellowstone National Park: A Geothermal Wonder

Yellowstone National Park, America’s first national park, is a true hidden gem that often gets overshadowed by its more famous cousins.

Located primarily in Wyoming, with parts extending into Montana and Idaho, Yellowstone offers a unique blend of geothermal wonders, diverse wildlife, and stunning landscapes.

Why Yellowstone Should Be on Your 2024 Bucket List

Yellowstone is home to the world’s largest concentration of geysers, including the famous Old Faithful. But there’s so much more to explore:

Geothermal Features: Witness colorful hot springs, bubbling mud pots, and steaming fumaroles.

Wildlife Viewing: Spot bison, elk, wolves, and grizzly bears in their natural habitat.

Grand Canyon of Yellowstone: Marvel at the 308-foot Lower Falls cascading into a colorful canyon.

Yellowstone Lake: Enjoy fishing, boating, or simply relaxing by America’s largest high-elevation lake.

Historic Sites: Visit the Old Faithful Inn and other landmarks that tell the park’s rich history.

To truly appreciate Yellowstone’s wonders, consider booking the “Yellowstone National Park Tour from Jackson Hole” through Viator.

This full-day tour offers an expert guide to help you navigate the park’s vast 2.2 million acres.

You’ll witness Old Faithful’s eruption, admire the vibrant colors of the Fountain Paint Pot, and learn about the park’s unique geology and ecology.

Keep your camera ready for wildlife sightings and breathtaking landscapes that make Yellowstone one of the best national parks in America.

#2 Denali National Park: Alaska’s Crown Jewel

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3 Hour Naturalist Walking Tour in Denali National Park

Tucked away in the heart of Alaska, Denali National Park is a hidden gem that offers visitors a chance to experience true wilderness.

Home to North America’s tallest peak, Mount Denali (formerly known as Mount McKinley), this park is a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers alike.

Discovering the Wonders of Denali

Denali National Park showcases the raw beauty of Alaska’s interior:

Diverse Ecosystems: Explore tundra, taiga forests, and glacial valleys.

Wildlife Viewing: Spot the “Big Five” — moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves, and grizzly bears.

Mount Denali: Witness the awe-inspiring 20,310-foot peak (weather permitting).

Backcountry Adventures: Engage in hiking, backpacking, and mountaineering.

Northern Lights: In fall and winter, witness the mesmerizing aurora borealis.

For an intimate introduction to Denali’s natural wonders, book the “3-Hour Naturalist Walking Tour in Denali National Park” through Viator.

This guided walk allows you to immerse yourself in the park’s ecosystem, learning about its unique flora and fauna from an expert naturalist.

You’ll have the opportunity to taste edible berries, feel the spongy tundra beneath your feet, and gain a deeper understanding of this remarkable landscape.

It’s an excellent way to experience one of the most beautiful national parks in the US up close and personal.

#3 Touring and Hiking in Mt. Rainier National Park

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Mount Rainier National Park: A Cascade Range Gem

Often overlooked in favor of its more famous Mount Rainier National Park is a hidden gem that deserves recognition.

Centered around the iconic 14,410-foot stratovolcano, this park offers a diverse range of landscapes and activities that make it one of the best US national parks.

Exploring the Wonders of Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier National Park is a year-round destination with something for everyone:

Glaciers: Home to the most glaciated peak in the contiguous US.

Wildflower Meadows: In summer, witness stunning displays of colorful wildflowers.

Old-Growth Forests: Walk among ancient trees in the Grove of the Patriarchs.

Waterfalls: Discover numerous cascades, including the 168-foot Narada Falls.

Scenic Drives: Take in breathtaking views along the Sunrise and Paradise Valley roads.

To make the most of your visit, consider booking the “Touring and Hiking in Mt. Rainier National Park” experience through Viator.

This full-day tour from Seattle allows you to explore the park’s highlights, including a hike to a glacier, picturesque stops at Reflection Lake and Christine Falls, and the option to snowshoe in winter.

With an experienced guide, you’ll gain insights into the park’s geology, ecology, and cultural significance, making it an unforgettable adventure in one of America’s best national parks.

#4 Joshua Tree National Park Driving Tour

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Joshua Tree National Park: A Desert Oasis

Where the Mojave and Colorado deserts meet, you’ll find the otherworldly landscape of Joshua Tree National Park.

This hidden gem in Southern California offers a unique blend of desert ecosystems, distinctive rock formations, and the park’s namesake Joshua trees.

Unveiling the Magic of Joshua Tree

Joshua Tree National Park is a playground for nature lovers, rock climbers, and stargazers:

Unique Flora: Marvel at the iconic Joshua trees and diverse desert plants.

Rock Formations: Explore massive granite monoliths and boulder piles.

Stargazing: Experience some of the darkest night skies in Southern California.

Rock Climbing: Challenge yourself on world-class climbing routes.

Desert Wildlife: Spot bighorn sheep, coyotes, and various bird species.

To fully appreciate the park’s diverse landscapes and hidden treasures, book the “Joshua Tree National Park Driving Tour” through Viator.

This comfortable van tour allows you to cover more ground and see the park’s highlights, including Hidden Valley and Keys View.

With an experienced guide, you’ll learn about the park’s unique geology, diverse plant and animal life, and cultural history.

Whether you’re a first-time visitor or returning to explore more, this tour offers an excellent overview of one of the most beautiful national parks in the US.

#5 Private Tour: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Eco Tour

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Private Tour: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Eco Tour

Our final hidden gem takes us to the Big Island of Hawaii, where Hawaii Volcanoes National Park showcases the raw power of nature.

Home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, this park offers a unique opportunity to witness the Earth’s creative and destructive forces in action.

Discovering the Fiery Wonders of Hawaii Volcanoes

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a dynamic landscape that’s constantly changing:

Active Volcanoes: Witness ongoing volcanic activity (when conditions allow).

Lava Tubes: Explore underground tunnels formed by ancient lava flows.

Crater Rim Drive: Take a scenic drive around the Kilauea caldera.

Diverse Ecosystems: Experience rainforests, desert-like terrain, and coastal areas.

Cultural Sites: Learn about Native Hawaiian culture and its connection to the volcanoes.

For an in-depth exploration of this unique park, book the “Private Tour Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Eco Tour” through Viator.

This private, full-day tour focuses on the park’s ecology, geology, and cultural significance.

You’ll have the opportunity to hike along semi-active lava flows, learn about native flora and fauna, and potentially witness a spectacular sunset over the volcanic landscape.

With a knowledgeable guide and the flexibility of a private tour, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for this extraordinary national park.

Conclusion

These five hidden gem national parks offer unique experiences that rival those of their more famous counterparts.

From the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone to the fiery landscapes of Hawaii Volcanoes, each park showcases a different facet of America’s natural beauty.

By venturing off the beaten path and exploring these lesser-known treasures, you’ll not only avoid crowds but also discover some of the best national parks in America.

Remember to book your tours through Viator for expertly guided experiences that will enhance your understanding and appreciation of these remarkable landscapes.

Whether you’re a nature enthusiast, adventure seeker, or simply looking for a unique vacation destination, these hidden gem national parks are sure to leave you with unforgettable memories.

So pack your bags, grab your camera, and get ready to explore the undiscovered wonders of America’s national parks in 2024!