#a tidal island in Mount's Bay

[dlyarchitecture]

[hopefulkidshark]

St Michael's Mount, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom: St Michael's Mount is a tidal island in Mount's Bay, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The island is a civil parish and is linked to the town of Marazion by a causeway of granite setts, passable between mid-tide and low water. Wikipedia

[bm2ab]

Man's Impact on the Environment . 03 November 2024 . Mont-Saint-Michel

Mont-Saint-Michel (French pronunciation: [lə mɔ̃ sɛ̃ miʃɛl]; Norman: Mont Saint Miché; English: Saint Michael's Mount) is a tidal island and mainland commune in Normandy, France.

The island lies approximately one kilometre (one-half nautical mile) off France's north-western coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches and is 7 hectares (17 acres) in area. The mainland part of the commune is 393 hectares (971 acres) in area so that the total surface of the commune is 400 hectares (990 acres). As of 2019, the island had a population of 29.

The commune's position—on an island just a few hundred metres (yards) from land—made it accessible at low tide to the many pilgrims to its abbey, and defensible as the incoming tide stranded, drove off, or drowned would-be assailants. The island remained unconquered during the Hundred Years' War. A small garrison fended off a full attack by the English in 1433. Louis XI recognised the benefits of its natural defence and turned it into a prison. The abbey was used regularly as a prison during the Ancien Régime.

Mont-Saint-Michel and its surrounding bay were inscribed on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1979 for its unique aesthetic and importance as a Catholic site. It is visited by more than three million people each year, and is the most-visited tourist attraction outside of Paris. Over 60 buildings within the commune are protected in France as historical monuments.

In 2023, President Macron marked 1,000 years of the abbey, and the success of the hydraulic dam project and the elevated pedestrian bridge in restoring water flow in the bay, making the mount an island again.

[gokitetour]

The top 5 destinations in New Zealand for travel

Greetings from New Zealand, a country renowned for its stunning scenery, energetic towns, and extensive cultural legacy. As you prepare to embark on a journey to explore the top destinations in New Zealand for travel, get ready to be enchanted by the diverse beauty and endless adventures that await you. From the snow-capped peaks of the Southern Alps to the pristine beaches of the Bay of Islands, New Zealand offers a wealth of travel destinations that cater to every interest and preference. Whether you're seeking outdoor adventures, cultural experiences, or simply relaxation in stunning natural surroundings, New Zealand has something for everyone to enjoy. Join us as we delve into the heart of New Zealand's most iconic destinations, each with its own unique charm and allure. From the geothermal wonders of Rotorua to the scenic beauty of Fiordland National Park, each destination promises unforgettable experiences and cherished memories. So, pack your bags and get ready to embark on an adventure of a lifetime as you discover the top destinations in New Zealand for travel. Whether you're exploring bustling city streets, hiking through pristine wilderness, or immersing yourself in Maori culture, New Zealand offers a journey filled with wonder, excitement, and endless possibilities for exploration.

 Here are some destinations in New Zealand for travel.

1. Forestland National Park: Fiordland National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the southwest corner of New Zealand's South Island. It is known for its breathtaking fjords, Rocky Mountains, and unspoiled nature. Milford Sound, one of the park's most well-known features, provides stunning vistas of towering cliffs, gushing waterfalls, and crystal-clear seas. Visitors may explore the park's stunning landscapes on scenic cruises, hiking paths, and kayak trips, where they will encounter numerous species and marvel at nature's grandeur.

2.Queenstown: Queenstown is a scenic tourist town in New Zealand's South Island, located along the shores of Lake Wakatipu. Queenstown, known as the world's adventure capital, provides a variety of thrilling sports such as bungee jumping, skydiving, jet boating, and skiing. Visitors may also stroll around the town's picturesque streets, packed with boutique boutiques, art galleries, and restaurants, or take in panoramic views of the surrounding mountains from the Skyline Gondola.

 3.Rotorua: Rotorua is a geothermal wonderland on New Zealand's North Island, known for its bubbling mud pools, boiling geysers, and natural hot springs. Visitors may enjoy the region's distinct geothermal features at Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland and Te Puia, where they can see the erupting Pohutu Geyser and learn about Maori culture and customs. Rotorua also has a variety of outdoor activities, including mountain biking, hiking, and zip-lining, making it a must-see destination for nature lovers and adventurers alike.

4. Aoraki/ Mount Cook National Park: Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park is home to Mount Cook, New Zealand's highest mountain, and has some of the country's most stunning alpine landscapes. Visitors may explore the park's hiking paths, which provide breathtaking vistas of glaciers, snow-capped hills, and turquoise lakes. The park is also a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering chances for trekking, skiing, and stargazing. A visit to the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Center gives insight into the region's climbing heritage while also honoring the great explorer.

5. Abel Tasman National Park: Abel Tasman National Park is a seaside paradise on the northern point of New Zealand's South Island. The park is known for its golden beaches, blue seas, and lush woods, and it provides a variety of outdoor activities such as kayaking, hiking, and animal viewing. The Abel Tasman Coast Track, one of New Zealand's Great Walks, follows the coastline, passing quiet coves, tidal estuaries, and panoramic views. Visitors may also explore the park's marine reserve, which is home to a wide variety of marine species, including seals, dolphins, and penguins.

Conclusion

New Zealand's diverse travel destinations offer a wealth of experiences for visitors from around the world. From the rugged beauty of Fiordland National Park to the geothermal wonders of Rotorua, each destination showcases the country's natural splendor and cultural richness. For travelers from India or Kerala planning to visit these destinations, obtaining a New Zealand visa is essential. The New Zealand visa application process ensures a smooth and hassle-free journey, allowing visitors to explore these iconic destinations without any travel constraints. As visitors bid farewell to New Zealand's top travel destinations, they carry with them cherished memories of stunning landscapes, thrilling adventures, and cultural encounters. Whether it's hiking in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park or cruising through Milford Sound, each destination leaves a lasting impression on the hearts of all who visit. So, whether you're exploring the vibrant city life of Auckland or discovering the tranquility of Abel Tasman National Park, don't miss the opportunity to explore New Zealand's diverse travel destinations with a New Zealand visa from India or a New Zealand visa from Kerala. It's a journey that promises to inspire, captivate, and create memories to last a lifetime.

Read More-: Australia visa from India

[southkoreaandjapan]

Miyajima

July 8, 2023

Well, today was our last full day in Japan and tomorrow will be all about making our way home.

This AM we headed out early to Itsukushima, also known as Miyajima, a small island in Hiroshima Bay, western Japan. It is known for its forests and ancient temples. Just offshore, the giant, orange Great Torii Gate is partially submerged at high tide. It marks the entrance to the Itsukushima Shrine, which was first built in the 12th century.

Miyajima is a very sacred place filled with Shinto Shrines. The Great Torii Gate built in the water is 60 feet tall and weighs 60 tons. It is made from camphor wood - and it is impressive.

We took a cab, then a train, then a ferry. All weather prediction indicated it would be torrential rain all day - but we avoided the rain until we headed home.

Miyajima Island has a long history as a holy site of Shinto. The island's highest peak, Mount Misen, was worshiped by local people as early as the 6th century. In 1168, Taira no Kiyomori, the most powerful man in Japan during the end of the Heian Period, selected the island as the site of his clan's family shrine and built Itsukushima Shrine.

The shrine is located in a small inlet, while the torii gate is set out in the Seto Inland Sea. Paths lead around the inlet, and visitors enjoy walking along them while looking out onto the sea. There is a significant tide and we were there close to "mid tide" which is a word I made up to mean that 3 hours before we got there was high tide and 3 hours later would be low tide. Here are some pics I took from the net demonstrating the tidal differences.

While we did not see maximum high or low tides - we did see a wedding party - which was awesome. Ken-san confirmed that having a wedding here would be pricey, so these people were very well-off. It felt very intrusive to be taking pictures - but then they were in a very public place - so I'm guessing they expected it.

Ken told us a story about the bride's headdress. The bride - once she is a wife - may get very angry over something and her horns will come out. Everyone knows this - but it is best to keep those "horn sprouts" (my word) covered for the wedding. Makes sense to me....

It was originally built in 593 by Saeki no Kuramoto. Later, Taira no Kiyomori became heavily involved with the shrine. It is said he erected this shrine on top of the water after becoming the first samurai to assume the role of the Daijō-Daijin (the head of the imperial government).

This shrine has a stage for Noh Theater and also a stage for Bugaku Dance. Bugaku was the art that we saw at Gion Center that we didn't love. At the shrine we saw a statue dedicated to this art. Also I found this about this art: "This dance is accompanied by slow drums and high-pitched, almost discordant woodwind instruments." Hmmmmm....

This shrine covers a lot of territory and deities. But I was happy to read..."This Main Shrine is dedicated to three female deities, Ichikishima-hime-no-mikoto, Tagori-hime-no-mikoto and Tagitsu-hime-no-mikoto. The three female deities have long been dutifully worshipped as they are the gods of the sea, transport, fortune, and the arts."

This shrine is protect by a mythical creature referred to as "lion-dogs"

Always two - signifying life. One has an open mouth like the baby crying at birth. The other with month closed in death.

In this location - like in Nara, the deer are everywhere. BUT these guys are NOT messengers of the gods - they are simply potential venison steaks.

Soon it was time to head back to Hiroshima - but not until we had lunch at this sweet little place. Anson had pork, Mark and Ken-san had Oysters and I had sardines. Life is good.

I can't forget to talk about the regional speciality:

Mark and Anson declared them delicious!!

We took the city tram home. It was a little bit longer but completely local. We loved the experience. On the way from the tram to our hotel we saw this....

We loved it because it is our youngest granddaughter's name and seeing just put a smile on our face - like the smile below on her face...

Grampa & Freya finding Goldbug!

We all "chilled" during the afternoon while the rain pounded the city and then it was time for the farewell dinner.

Our last official dinner in Japan was Wagyu beef - cooked perfectly, rice, clam soup, salad and some pickled items. WONDERFUL!

It was topped off with melon and melon ice cream Mark was treated to some very fancy saki and the presentation was sweet!

Tonight we pack and tomorrow we leave for our long trek home. What a trip!! I have one more post and then I'm calling it quits. During our trek home, I will write about all the things that Japan does right. Get ready for some toilet talk.

Stay tuned!

[europeposts]

St Michael's Mount

Castle

Island home to a medieval castle, reached by causeway, with Norman church and sub-tropical gardens.

Address: Harbour View, Marazion TR17 0HS, United Kingdom

Aerial st michaels mount england 2017

South east side of the castle, facing offshore

St Michael's Mount (meaning "hoar rock in woodland") is a tidal island in Mount's Bay, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The island is a civil parish and is linked to the town of Marazion by a causeway of granite setts, passable (as is the beach) between mid-tide and low water. It is managed by the National Trust, and the castle and chapel have been the home of the St Aubyn family since around 1650.

St Michael's Mount - Wikipedia

Castles of Cornwall – St Michael's Mount (stmichaelsmount.co.uk)

St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall: The monastery that became a castle that became a home

Few spots on the coast of Britain are as romantic and storied as St Michael's Mount in Cornwall.

A castle clings to the top of a granite rock just off the coast of Cornwall: obviously, a good defensive position and the sort of place that would appeal to holy men. A church was first built here in 495AD, and a monastery followed a few hundred years later, both dedicated to St Michael the Archangel, the patron saint of fishermen. It is England’s answer to Mont Saint Michel, just off the Normandy coast of France; it has also been suggested that it was the island of Ictis mentioned by the Greek traveller Posidonius in the 1st century BC.

More prosaically, the Mount, as locals call it, seems to have entered history for straightforwardly commercial reasons, before either Christianity or castles reached Britain: it was a pre-historic trading centre to which skilfully worked tin was brought from Cornish mines to be sold to foreign merchants.

St Michael’s Mount was an important trading post for hundreds of years. (Photo by: Hedelin F/Andia/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

In the 19th century, Sir John St Aubyn — whose family had owned the island for two centuries — turned a Gothic summer house into a dwelling fit for a Wagnerian hero, amplifying the natural romance of the castle’s situation.

The family gave most of the island to the National Trust last century, but have a 999-year lease to live in the castle and run the visitor business: as well as the castle, there is a harbour, gardens, shops and cafés.

The latest incumbents are James and Mary St Aubyn, aka Lord and Lady St Levan, who live on the island with their children. That 999-year lease must have sounded all-but-endless when it was signed in 1954; yet the 1,500-year history of this island suggests that St Michael’s Mount will see us all out.

The castle and some of the other buildings at St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall.

How to visit St Michael’s Mount The mount is a tidal island — in other words, accessible via land at low tide — just off the coast at Marazion, on the south coast of Cornwall, a ten-minute drive east from Penzance. If you’re driving from there, Marazion and St Michael’s Mount have a long-stay car park at Folly Field, just as you enter the town. You can also catch a bus or walk the coast path from Penzance.

Once on the beach in Marazion, it’s a 15-minute walk across the causeway — but you’ll have to time it with the tides. The website at www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk/getting-here has opening-and-closing times listed for the causeway. From April to October there are also boats across.

There is no charge to visit St Michael’s Mount during the off-season, though you’ll need to pay to visit the castle (National Trust members are free). You will have to pay to visit the island from May to September, however: a charge was introduced during Covid to ease visitor numbers, and it’s been retained. There have been some changes to the charges (particularly for Cornwall residents) so it’s worth checking the latest on the website before you travel.

St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall: The monastery that became a castle that became a home - Country Life

📍Castle of St. Michael, England, United Kingdom

[bluesman56]

Marazion island by Tony

[dlyarchitecture]

[bingwallpaper]

Penzance, UK

This bustling coastal town is Penzance in Cornwall, on England’s south-west coast, which attracts visitors with its sandy beaches, rocky cliffs and hidden coves. Jutting out from the seafront in our homepage photo is the UK’s largest seawater lido, the Jubilee Pool, which has been welcoming bathers since 1935. This triangular Art Deco pool offers a chilly swim for the brave, but for those who like it warmer, a separate saltwater pool is heated to a balmy 35 degrees Celsius by pumping heat from a geothermal well 410 metres below ground level.

Penzance is located just across from St Michael’s Mount, a small tidal island in Mount’s Bay, linked to the mainland by a causeway which disappears at high tide. If you want a break from the beach, there’s plenty of history to explore here. The town’s name comes from “Pen Sans” in Cornish, meaning holy headland – early Christians established a chapel here over 1,000 years ago. It has been a commercial centre since the 1600s thanks to the maritime trade of the 18th and 19th centuries and, since the 1860s, the Great Western Railway link to London. Ruins of old tin and copper mines dot the coastline, part of a wider Unesco World Heritage site celebrating the mining landscape across Cornwall and neighbouring West Devon.

But if you’ve eaten enough Cornish pasties in this tourist hotspot, you can always take a ferry from Penzance to explore the Isles of Scilly, the remote archipelago 45 kilometres off Cornwall’s coast.

[bright-eyes-strawberry-lies]

The Weather In PJO (brought to you by gods and demigods)

*alternating colors for ease of reading

**page numbers look weird because they're copied/pasted from ebooks

“Overhead, a huge storm was brewing, with clouds blacker than I’d ever seen over the city. I figured maybe it was global warming or something, because the weather all across New York state had been weird since Christmas. We’d had massive snow storms, flooding, wildfires from lightning strikes. I wouldn’t have been surprised if this was a hurricane blowing in.” - TLT pg 33

“One night, a thunderstorm blew out the windows in my dorm room. A few days later, the biggest tornado ever spotted in the Hudson Valley touched down only fifty miles from Yancy Academy. One of the current events we studied in social studies class was the unusual number of small planes that had gone down in sudden squalls in the Atlantic that year.” - TLT pg 65

“Outside, it really was storming, the kind of storm that cracks trees and blows down houses. There was no horse or eagle on the beach, just lightning making false daylight, and twenty-foot waves pounding the dunes like artillery. [...] Long Island never sees hurricanes this early in the summer. But the ocean seemed to have forgotten.” - TLT pg 156

“There was a blinding flash, a jaw-rattling boom!, and our car exploded.” - TLT pg 176

“I was still in bed in cabin three. My body told me it was morning, but it was dark outside, and thunder rolled across the hills. A storm was brewing. I hadn’t dreamed that.” - TLT pg 491

“It started to rain. Volleyball players stopped their game and stared in stunned silence at the sky.

I had brought this storm to Half-Blood Hill. Zeus was punishing the whole camp because of me.” - TLT pg 520

“BOOOOOM!

The windows of the bus exploded as the passengers ran for cover. Lightning shredded a huge crater in the roof, but an angry wail from inside told me Mrs. Dodds was not yet dead.” - TLT pg 629

“The weather had completely changed. It was stormy, with heat lightning flashing out in the desert.” - TLT pg 988

“In the distance, Los Angeles was on fire, plumes of smoke rising from neighborhoods all over the city. There had been an earthquake, all right, and it was Hades’s fault.” - TLT pg 1191

“I was standing on a deserted street in some little beach town. It was the middle of the night. A storm was blowing. Wind and rain ripped at the palm trees along the sidewalk. Pink and yellow stucco buildings lined the street, their windows boarded up. A block away, past a line of hibiscus bushes, the ocean churned.” - SOM pg 10

“After a few more minutes, the dark splotches ahead of us came into focus. To the north, a huge mass of rock rose out of the sea-an island with cliffs at least a hundred feet tall. About half a mile south of that, the other patch of darkness was a storm brewing. The sky and sea boiled together in a roaring mass.” - SOM pg 598

“A storm raged that night, but it parted around Camp Half-Blood as storms usually did. Lightning flashed against the horizon, waves pounded the shore, but not a drop fell in our valley. We were protected again, thanks to the Fleece, sealed inside our magical borders.” - SOM pg 1045

“Sleet and snow pounded the highway. Annabeth, Thalia, and I hadn’t seen each other in months, but between the blizzard and the thought of what we were about to do, we were too nervous to talk much.” - TTC pg 11

“Old spirits are protecting the bad boat.”

“The Princess Andromeda?” I said. “Luke’s boat?”

“Yes. They make it hard to find. Protect it from Daddy’s storms. Otherwise he would smash it.” - TTC pg 210

“Clouds seemed to be swirling around its peak, as though the mountain was drawing them in, spinning them like a top. “What’s going on up there? A storm?”

Zoë didn’t answer. I got the feeling she knew exactly what the clouds meant, and she didn’t like it.” - TTC pg 751

“I will do my best to destroy his boat with storms, but he is making alliances with my enemies, the older spirits of the ocean. They will fight to protect him.” - TTC pg 886

“We were standing at the dining pavilion, just where we’d last spoken before I went on the quest. The wind was bitter cold, even with the camp’s magical weather protection. Snow fell lightly against the marble steps. I figured outside the camp borders, there must be a blizzard happening.”- TTC pg 915

“The wind whipped cold off the bay. In the south, San Francisco gleamed all white and beautiful, but in the north, over Mount Tamalpais, huge storm clouds swirled. The whole sky seemed like a black top spinning from the mountain where Atlas was imprisoned, and where the Titan palace of Mount Othrys was rising anew. It was hard to believe the tourists couldn’t see the supernatural storm brewing, but they didn’t give any hint that anything was wrong.

“It’s even worse,” Annabeth said, gazing to the north. “The storms have been bad all year, but that—” - BOTL pg 359

“I had no choice. I called to the sea. I reached inside myself and remembered the waves and the currents, the endless power of the ocean. And I let it loose in one horrible scream.

Afterward, I could never describe what happened. An explosion, a tidal wave, a whirlwind of power simultaneously catching me up and blasting me downward into the lava. Fire and water collided, superheated steam, and I shot upward from the heart of the volcano in a huge explosion, just one piece of flotsam thrown free by a million pounds of pressure. The last thing I remember before losing consciousness was flying, flying so high Zeus would never have forgiven me, and then beginning to fall, smoke and fire and water streaming from me. I was a comet hurtling toward the earth.” - BOTL pg 618/619

“Mrs. O’Leary howled. I patted her head, trying to comfort her as best I could. The earth rumbled—an earthquake that could probably be felt in every major city across the country—as the ancient Labyrinth collapsed. Somewhere, I hoped, the remains of the Titan’s strike force had been buried.” - BOTL pg 1005

“I remembered what Tyson had told me at the beginning of the summer. “The old sea gods?”

“Indeed. The battle came first to me, Percy. In fact, I cannot stay long. Even now the ocean is at war with itself. It is all I can do to keep hurricanes and typhoons from destroying your surface world, the fighting is so intense.” - BOTL pg 1066

“Then the entire sea grew dark in front of us, like an inky storm was rolling in. Thunder crackled, which should've been impossible underwater. A huge icy presence was approaching. I sensed a wave of fear roll through the armies below us.” - TLO pg 153

“I saw a bank of storm clouds rolling across the Midwest plains. Lightning flickered. Lines of tornadoes destroyed everything in their path— ripping up houses and trailers, tossing cars around like Matchbox toys. “Monumental floods," an announcer was saying. "Five states declared disaster areas as the freak storm system sweeps east, continuing its path of destruction." The cameras zoomed in on a column of storm bearing down on some Midwest city. I couldn't tell which one. Inside the storm I could see the giant—just small glimpses of his true form: a smoky arm, a dark clawed hand the size of a city block. His angry roar rolled across the plains like a nuclear blast.” - TLO pg 216-218

“Over the city, a thunderstorm boiled—a wall of absolute black with lightning streaking across the sky. A few blocks away, swarms of emergency vehicles gathered with their lights flashing. A column of dust rose from a mound of rubble, which I realized was a collapsed skyscraper. [...] Wind whipped her hair. The temperature was dropping rapidly, like ten degrees just since I'd been standing there.” - TLO pg 468-470

“She faltered as a mighty groan cut through the sky. A blast of lightning hit the center of the darkness. The entire city shook. The air glowed, and every hair on my body stood up. The blast was so powerful I knew it could only be one thing: Zeus's master bolt. It should have vaporized its target, but the dark cloud only staggered backward. A smoky fist appeared out of the clouds. It smashed another tower, and the whole thing collapsed like children's blocks.

The reporter screamed. People ran through the streets. Emergency lights flashed.” - TLO pg 470-471

“Listen to me!" I said. "Kronos's army is invading Manhattan.'"

"Don't you think we know that?" East asked. "I can feel his boats right now. They're almost across."

"Yep," Hudson agreed. "I got some filthy monsters crossing my waters too."

"So stop them," I said. "Drown them. Sink their boats."

"Why should we?" Hudson grumbled. "So they invade Olympus. What do we care?"

"Because I can pay you.” - TLO pg 654

“Water sprayed his face, stinging his eyes. The wind picked up, and Hyperion staggered backward.

"Percy!" Grover called in amazement. "How are you doing that?"

Doing what? I thought.

Then I looked down, and I realized I was standing in the middle of my own personal hurricane. Clouds of water vapor swirled around me, winds so powerful they buffeted Hyperion and flattened the grass in a twenty-yard radius. Enemy warriors threw javelins at me, but the storm knocked them aside.

"Sweet," I muttered. "But a little more!"

Lightning flickered around me. The clouds darkened and the rain swirled faster. I closed in on Hyperion and blew him off his feet.” - TLO pg 903-904

[qqueenofhades]

man i was super confused when i saw that post about le mont-saint-michel. i was like i've been there too! and then i saw the pictures further down and i was like...hang on a second, no i haven't. turns out where i've actually been is st michael's mount in cornwall, which a) has the same name but in english and b) is also a tidal island. talk about confusing. and i've been to normandy enough times that it was perfectly conceivable that i might have been to le mont-saint-michel, but no.

Aha, yes. The monastery on the English St Michael's Mount has been around since... the 8th century? I think? But it got its name when Edward the Confessor gave it to the Benedictine monks of the Norman Mont-Saint-Michel in the 11th century. The original-flavor Mont-Saint-Michel was one of the most important and influential religious houses in Normandy, and then of course the duke of Normandy became the king of England a few years later, so that worked out well. St Michael's Mount was then a priory house of its Norman counterpart for several hundred years, and the name stuck ever since. There is a slightly amusing story about it from the late twelfth century, when it had been held in Prince John's name after he rebelled against his brother Richard I. Richard therefore arrived with his knights to recapture it sometime in March 1194, and supposedly the commander of St Michael's Mount looked out the window, saw Richard (who John had been busily assuring everyone was never getting released from his captivity by the Holy Roman Emperor) and immediately had a heart attack and keeled over on the spot out of sheer terror. Which, hey, might be a smart response to getting caught doing treason against Richard the Lionheart, you never know.

Anyway, I was at the Norman Mont-Saint-Michel in 2009 (I never did get to Cornwall while I lived in the UK, ALAS). It was almost the summer solstice and super beautiful. My mom and I went to the French Mass in the cathedral at the top of the island, sat on the rocks in the bay and watched the sun set for hours, wandered around those narrow windy streets when all the tourists were gone, and had dinner at one of the little restaurants. It was lovely. 10/10 do recommend.

[mellifera38]

Mel’s Big Fantasy Place-Name Reference

So I’ve been doing lots of D&D world-building lately and I’ve kind of been putting together lists of words to help inspire new fantasy place names. I figured I’d share. These are helpful for naming towns, regions, landforms, roads, shops, and they’re also probably useful for coming up with surnames. This is LONG. There’s plenty more under the cut including a huge list of “fantasy sounding” word-parts. Enjoy!

Towns & Kingdoms

town, borough, city, hamlet, parish, township, village, villa, domain

kingdom, empire, nation, country, county, city-state, state, province, dominion

Town Name End Words (English flavored)

-ton, -ston, -caster, -dale, -den, -field, -gate, -glen, -ham, -holm, -hurst, -bar, -boro, -by, -cross, -kirk, -meade, -moore, -ville, -wich, -bee, -burg, -cester, -don, -lea, -mer, -rose, -wall, -worth, -berg, -burgh, -chase, -ly, -lin, -mor, -mere, -pool. -port, -stead, -stow, -strath, -side, -way, -berry, -bury, -chester, -haven, -mar, -mont, -ton, -wick, -meet, -heim, -hold, -hall, -point

Buildings & Places

castle, fort, palace, fortress, garrison, lodge, estate, hold, stronghold, tower, watchtower, palace, spire, citadel, bastion, court, manor, house

altar, chapel, abbey, shrine, temple, monastery, cathedral, sanctum, crypt, catacomb, tomb

orchard, arbor, vineyard, farm, farmstead, shire, garden, ranch

plaza, district, quarter, market, courtyard, inn, stables, tavern, blacksmith, forge, mine, mill, quarry, gallows, apothecary, college, bakery, clothier, library, guild house, bath house, pleasure house, brothel, jail, prison, dungeon, cellar, basement, attic, sewer, cistern

lookout, post, tradepost, camp, outpost, hovel, hideaway, lair, nook, watch, roost, respite, retreat, hostel, holdout, redoubt, perch, refuge, haven, alcove, haunt, knell, enclave, station, caravan, exchange, conclave

port, bridge, ferry, harbor, landing, jetty, wharf, berth, footbridge, dam, beacon, lighthouse, marina, dockyard, shipyard

road, street, way, row, lane, trail, corner, crossing, gate, junction, waygate, end, wall, crossroads,  barrier, bulwark, blockade, pavilion, avenue, promenade, alley, fork, route

Time & Direction

North, South, East, West, up, down, side, rise, fall, over, under

Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn, solstice, equanox, vernal, ever, never

dusk, dawn, dawnrise, morning, night, nightfall, evening, sundown, sunbreak, sunset

lunar, solar, sun, moon, star, eclipse

Geographical Terms

Cave, cavern, cenote, precipice, crevasse, crater, maar, chasm, ravine, trench, rift, pit

Cliff, bluff, crag, scarp, outcrop, stack, tor, falls, run, eyrie, aerie

Hill, mountain, volcano, knoll, hillock, downs, barrow, plateau, mesa, butte, pike, peak, mount, summit, horn, knob, pass, ridge, terrace, gap, point, rise, rim, range, view, vista, canyon, hogback, ledge, stair, descent

Valley, gulch, gully, vale, dale, dell, glen, hollow, grotto, gorge, bottoms, basin, knoll, combe

Meadow, grassland, field, pasture, steppe, veld, sward, lea, mead, fell, moor, moorland, heath, croft, paddock, boondock, prairie, acre, strath, heights, mount, belt

Woodlands, woods, forest, bush, bower, arbor, grove, weald, timberland, thicket, bosk, copse, coppice, underbrush, hinterland, park, jungle, rainforest, wilds, frontier, outskirts

Desert, dunes, playa, arroyo, chaparral, karst, salt flats, salt pan, oasis, spring, seep, tar pit, hot springs, fissure, steam vent, geyser, waste, wasteland, badland, brushland, dustbowl, scrubland

Ocean, sea, lake, pond, spring, tarn, mere, sluice, pool, coast, gulf, bay

Lagoon, cay, key, reef, atoll, shoal, tideland, tide flat, swale, cove, sandspit, strand, beach

Snowdrift, snowbank, permafrost, floe, hoar, rime, tundra, fjord, glacier, iceberg

River, stream, creek, brook, tributary, watersmeet, headwater, ford, levee, delta, estuary, firth, strait, narrows, channel, eddy, inlet, rapids, mouth, falls

Wetland, marsh, bog, fen, moor, bayou, glade, swamp, banks, span, wash, march, shallows, mire, morass, quag, quagmire, everglade, slough, lowland, sump, reach

Island, isle, peninsula, isthmus, bight, headland, promontory, cape, pointe, cape

More under the cut including: Color words, Animal/Monster related words, Rocks/Metals/Gems list, Foliage, People groups/types, Weather/Environment/ Elemental words, Man-made Items, Body Parts, Mechanical sounding words, a huge list of both pleasant and unpleasant Atmospheric Descriptors, and a huge list of Fantasy Word-parts.

Color Descriptions

Warm: red, scarlet, crimson, rusty, cerise, carmine, cinnabar, orange, vermillion, ochre, peach, salmon, saffron, yellow, gold, lemon, amber, pink, magenta, maroon, brown, sepia, burgundy, beige, tan, fuchsia, taupe

Cool: green, beryl, jade, evergreen, chartreuse, olive, viridian, celadon, blue, azure, navy, cerulean, turquoise, teal, cyan, cobalt, periwinkle, beryl, purple, violet, indigo, mauve, plum

Neutral: gray, silver, ashy, charcoal, slate, white, pearly, alabaster, ivory, black, ebony, jet

dark, dusky, pale, bleached, blotchy, bold, dappled, lustrous, faded, drab, milky, mottled, opaque, pastel, stained, subtle, ruddy, waxen, tinted, tinged, painted

Animal / Monster-Related Words

Bear, eagle, wolf, serpent, hawk, horse, goat, sheep, bull, raven, crow, dog, stag, rat, boar, lion, hare, owl, crane, goose, swan, otter, frog, toad, moth, bee, wasp, beetle, spider, slug, snail, leech, dragonfly, fish, trout, salmon, bass, crab, shell, dolphin, whale, eel, cod, haddock

Dragon, goblin, giant, wyvern, ghast, siren, lich, hag, ogre, wyrm, kraken

Talon, scale, tusk, hoof, mane, horn, fur, feather, fang, wing, whisker, bristle, paw, tail, beak, claw, web, quill, paw, maw, pelt, haunch, gill, fin,

Hive, honey, nest, burrow, den, hole, wallow

Rocks / Metals / Minerals

Gold, silver, brass, bronze, copper, platinum, iron, steel, tin, mithril, electrum, adamantite, quicksilver, fool’s gold, titanium

Diamond, ruby, emerald, sapphire, topaz, opal, pearl, jade, jasper, onyx, citrine, aquamarine, turquoise, lapiz lazuli, amethyst, quartz, crystal, amber, jewel

Granite, shale, marble, limestone, sandstone, slate, diorite, basalt, rhyolite, obsidian, glass

Earth, stone, clay, sand, silt, salt, mote, lode, vein, ore, ingot, coal, boulder, bedrock, crust, rubble, pebble, gravel, cobble, dust, clod, peat, muck mud, slip, loam, dirt, grit, scree, shard, flint, stalactite/mite

Trees / Plants / Flowers

Tree, ash, aspen, pine, birch, alder, willow, dogwood, oak, maple, walnut,  chestnut, cedar, mahogany, palm, beech, hickory, hemlock, cottonwood, hawthorn, sycamore, poplar, cypress, mangrove, elm, fir, spruce, yew

Branch, bough, bramble, gnarl, burr, tangle, thistle, briar, thorn, moss, bark, shrub, undergrowth, overgrowth, root, vine, bracken, reed, driftwood, coral, fern, berry, bamboo, nectar, petal, leaf, seed, clover, grass, grain, trunk, twig, canopy, cactus, weed, mushroom, fungus

Apple, olive, apricot, elderberry, coconut, sugar, rice, wheat, cotton, flax, barley, hops, onion, carrot, turnip, cabbage, squash, pumpkin, pepper

Flower, rose, lavender, lilac, jasmine, jonquil, marigold, carnelian, carnation, goldenrod, sage, wisteria, dahlia, nightshade, lily, daisy, daffodil, columbine, amaranth, crocus, buttercup, foxglove, iris, holly, hydrangea, orchid, snowdrop, hyacinth, tulip, yarrow, magnolia, honeysuckle, belladonna, lily pad, magnolia

People

Settler, Pilgrim, Pioneer, Merchant, Prospector, Maker, Surveyor, Mason, Overseer, Apprentice, Widow, Sailor, Miner, Blacksmith, Butcher, Baker, Brewer, Barkeep, Ferryman, Hangman, Gambler, Fisherman, Adventurer, Hero, Seeker, Hiker, Traveler, Crone

Mage, Magician, Summoner, Sorcerer, Wizard, Conjurer, Necromancer, 

King, Queen, Lord, Count, Baron, Guard, Soldier, Knight, Vindicator, Merchant, Crusader, Imperator, Syndicate, Vanguard, Champion, Warden, Victor, Legionnaire, Master, Archer, Footman, Gladiator, Barbarian, Captain, Commodore, 

Beggar, Hunter, Ranger, Deadman, Smuggler, Robber, Swindler, Rebel, Bootlegger, Outlaw, Pirate, Brigand, Ruffian, Highwayman, Cutpurse, Thief, Assassin

God, Goddess, Exarch, Angel, Devil, Demon, Cultist, Prophet, Hermit, Seer

council, clergy, guild, militia, choir 

Climate, Environment, & The Elements

Cold, cool, brisk, frosty, chilly, icy, freezing, frozen, frigid, glacial, bitter, biting, bleak, arctic, polar, boreal, wintry, snowy, snow, blizzarding, blizzard, sleeting, sleet, chill, frost, ice, icebound, ice cap, floe, snowblind, frostbite, coldsnap, avalanche, snowflake

Hot, sunny, humid, sweltering, steaming, boiling, sizzling, blistering, scalding, smoking, caldescent, dry, parched, arid, fallow, thirsty, melting, molten, fiery, blazing, burning, charring, glowing, searing, scorching, blasted, sun, fire, heat, flame, wildfire, bonfire, inferno, coal, ash, cinder, ember, flare, pyre, tinder, kindling, aflame, alight, ablaze, lava, magma, slag,

Wet, damp, dank, soggy, sodden, soaked, drenched, dripping, sopping, briny, murky, rain, storm, hail, drizzle, sprinkle, downpour, deluge, squall, water, cloud, fog, mist, dew, puddle, pool, current, whirlpool, deep, depths, tide, waves, whitewater, waterfall, tidal wave, flow, flood, leak, drain

Wind, breeze, gust, billow, gail, draft, waft, zephyr, still, airy, clear, smokey, tempest, tempestuous, windswept, aerial, lofty, torrid, turbulent, nebulous, tradewind, thunder, lightning, spark, cyclone, tornado, whirlwind, hurricane, typhoon

Man-made Item Words

Furnace, forge, anvil, vault, strap, strip, whetstone, brick, sword, blade, axe, dagger, shield, buckler, morningstar, bow, quiver, arrow, polearm, flail, staff, stave, sheath, hilt, hammer, knife, helm, mantle, banner, pauldron, chainmail, mace, dart, cutlass, canon, needle, cowl, belt,  buckle, bandana, goggles, hood, boot, heel, spindle, spool, thread, sweater, skirt, bonnet, apron, leather, hide, plate, tunic, vest, satin, silk, wool, velvet, lace, corset, stocking, binding

Plow, scythe, (wheel) barrow, saddle, harrow, brand, collar, whip, leash, lead, bridle, stirrup, wheel, straw, stall, barn, hay, bale, pitchfork, well, log, saw, lumber, sod, thatch, mortar, brick, cement, concrete, pitch, pillar, window, fountain, door, cage, spoke, pole, table, bench, plank, board

Candle, torch, cradle, broom, lamp, lantern, clock, bell, lock, hook, trunk, looking glass, spyglass, bottle, vase, locket, locker, key, handle, rope, knot, sack, pocket, pouch, manacle, chain, stake, coffin, fan. cauldron, kettle, pot, bowl, pestle, oven, ladle, spoon, font, wand, potion, elixir, draught, portal, book, tome, scroll, word, manuscript, letter, message, grimoire, map, ink, quill, pen, cards, dice

Coin, coronet, crown, circlet, scepter, treasure, riches, scales, pie, tart, loaf, biscuit, custard, caramel, pudding, porridge, stew, bread, tea, gravy, gristle, spice, lute, lyre, harp, drum, rouge, powder, perfume, brush

bilge, stern, pier, sail, anchor, mast, dock, deck, flag, ship, boat, canoe, barge, wagon, sled, carriage, buggy, cart

Wine, brandy, whiskey, ale, moonshine, gin, cider, rum, grog, beer, brew, goblet, flagon, flask, cask, tankard, stein, mug, barrel, stock, wort, malt

Body Parts

Head, throat, finger, foot, hand, neck, shoulder, rib, jaw, eye, lips, bosom

Skull, spine, bone, tooth, heart, blood, tears, gut, beard

Mechanical-Sounding Words

cog, fuse, sprocket, wrench, screw, nail, bolt, lever, pulley, spanner, gear, spring, shaft, switch, button, cast, pipe, plug, dial, meter, nozzle, cord, brake, gauge, coil, oil, signal, wire, fluke, staple, clamp, bolt, nut, bulb, patch, pump, cable, socket

torque, force, sonic, spark, fizzle, thermal, beam, laser, steam, buzz, mega, mecha, electro, telsa, power, flicker, charge, current, flow, tinker

Atmospheric Words

Unpleasant, Dangerous, Threatening

(nouns) death, fury, battle, scar, shadow, razor, nightmare, wrath, bone, splinter, peril, war, riptide, strife, reckoning, sorrow, terror, deadwood, nether, venom, grime, rage, void, conquest, pain, folly, revenge, horrid, mirk, shear, fathom, frenzy, corpselight/marshlight, reaper, gloom, doom, torment, torture, spite, grizzled, sludge, refuse, spore, carrion, fear, pyre, funeral, shade, beast, witch, grip, legion, downfall, ruin, plague, woe, bane, horde, acid, fell, grief, corpse, mildew, mold, miter, dirge

(adjectives) dead, jagged, decrepit, fallen, darkened, blackened, dire, grim, feral, wild, broken, desolate, mad, lost, under, stagnant, blistered, derelict, forlorn, unbound, sunken, fallow, shriveled, wayward, bleak, low, weathered, fungal, last, brittle, sleepy, -strewn, dusky, deserted, empty, barren, vacant, forsaken, bare, bereft, stranded, solitary, abandoned, discarded, forgotten, deep, abysmal, bottomless, buried, fathomless,unfathomable, diseased, plagued, virulent, noxious, venomous, toxic, fetid, revolting, putrid, rancid, foul, squalid, sullied, vile, blighted, vicious, ferocious, dangerous, savage, cavernous, vast, yawning, chasmal, echoing, dim, dingy, gloomy, inky, lurid, shaded, shadowy, somber, sunless, tenebrous, unlit, veiled, hellish, accursed, sulfurous, damned, infernal, condemned, doomed, wicked, sinister, dread, unending, spectral, ghostly, haunted, eldritch, unknown, weary, silent, hungry, cloven, acidic

(verb/adverbs): wither (withering / withered), skulk (skulking), whisper, skitter, chitter, sting, slither, writhe, gape, screech, scream, howl, lurk, roil, twist, shift, swarm, spawn, fester, bleed, howl, shudder, shrivel, devour, swirl, maul, trip, smother, weep, shatter, ruin, curse, ravage, hush, rot, drown, sunder, blister, warp, fracture, die, shroud, fall, surge, shiver, roar, thunder, smolder, break, silt, slide, lash, mourn, crush, wail, decay, crumble, erode, decline, reek, lament, taint, corrupt, defile, poison, infect, shun, sigh, sever, crawl, starve, grind, cut, wound, bruise, maim, stab, bludgeon, rust, mutilate, tremble, stumble, fumble, clank, clang

Pleasant, Safe, Neutral

(nouns) spirit, luck, soul, oracle, song, sky, smile, rune, obelisk, cloud, timber, valor, triumph, rest, dream, thrall, might, valiance, glory, mirror, life, hope, oath, serenity, sojourn, god, hearth, crown, throne, crest, guard, rise, ascent, circle, ring, twin, vigil, breath, new, whistle, grasp, snap, fringe, threshold, arch, cleft, bend, home, fruit, wilds, echo, moonlight, sunlight, starlight, splendor, vigilance, honor, memory, fortune, aurora, paradise, caress

(adjectives) gentle, pleasant, prosperous, peaceful, sweet, good, great, mild, grand, topic, lush, wild, abundant, verdant, sylvan, vital, florid, bosky, callow, verdurous, lucious, fertile, spellbound, captivating, mystical, hidden, arcane, clandestine, esoteric, covert, cryptic, runic, otherworldly, touched, still, fair, deep, quiet, bright, sheer, tranquil, ancient, light, far, -wrought, tidal, royal, shaded, swift, true, free, high, vibrant, pure, argent, hibernal, ascendant, halcyon, silken, bountiful, gilded, colossal, massive, stout, elder, -bourne, furrowed, happy, merry, -bound, loud, lit, silk, quiet, bright, luminous, shining, burnished, glossy, brilliant, lambent, lucent, lustrous, radiant, resplendent, vivid, vibrant, illuminated, silvery, limpid, sunlit, divine, sacred, holy, eternal, celestial, spiritual, almighty, anointed, consecrated, exalted, hallowed, sanctified, ambrosial, beatific, blissful, demure, naked, bare, ample, coy,  deific, godly, omnipotent, omnipresent, rapturous, sacramental, sacrosanct, blessed, majestic, iridescent, glowing, overgrown, dense, hard, timeless, sly, scatter, everlasting, full, half, first, last

(verb/adverbs) arch (arching / arched), wink (winking), sing, nestle, graze, stroll, roll, flourish, bloom, bud, burgeon, live, dawn, hide, dawn, run, pray, wake, laugh, wake, glimmer, glitter, drift, sleep, tumble, bind, arch, blush, grin, glister, beam, meander, wind, widen, charm, bewitch, enthrall, entrance, enchant, allure, beguile, glitter, shimmer, sparkle twinkle, crest, quiver, slumber, herald, shelter, leap, click, climb, scuttle, dig, barter, chant, hum, chime, kiss, flirt, tempt, tease, play, seduce

Generic “Fantasy-Sounding” Word Parts

A - D

aaz, ada, adaer, adal, adar, adbar, adir, ae, ael, aer, aern, aeron, aeryeon, agar, agis, aglar, agron, ahar, akan, akyl, al, alam, alan, alaor, ald, alea, ali, alir, allyn, alm, alon, alor, altar, altum, aluar, alys, amar, amaz, ame, ammen, amir, amol, amn, amus, anar, andor, ang, ankh, ar, ara, aram, arc, arg, arian, arkh, arla, arlith, arn, arond, arthus, arum, arvien, ary, asha, ashyr, ask, assur, aster, astra, ath, athor, athra, athryn, atol, au, auga, aum, auroch, aven, az, azar, baal, bae, bael, bak, bal, balor, ban, bar, bara, barr, batol, batar, basir, basha, batyr, bel, belph, belu, ben, beo, bere, berren, berun, besil, bezan, bhaer, bhal, blask, blis, blod, bor, boraz, bos, bran, brath, braun, breon, bri, bry, bul, bur, byl, caer, cal, calan, cara, cassa, cath, cela, cen, cenar, cerul, chalar, cham, chion, cimar, clo, coram, corel, corman, crim, crom, daar, dach, dae, dago, dagol, dahar, dala, dalar, dalin, dam, danas, daneth, dannar, dar, darian,  darath, darm, darma, darro, das, dasa, dasha, dath, del, delia, delimm, dellyn, delmar, delo, den, dess, dever, dhaer, dhas, dhaz, dhed, dhin, din, dine, diar, dien, div, djer, dlyn, dol, dolan, doon, dora, doril, doun, dral, dranor, drasil, dren, drian, drien, drin, drov, druar, drud, duald, duatha, duir, dul, dulth, dun, durth, dyra, dyver,

E - H

ea, eber, eden, edluk, egan, eiel, eilean, ejen, elath, eld, eldor, eldra, elith emar, ellesar, eltar, eltaran, elth, eltur, elyth, emen, empra, emril, emvor, ena, endra, enthor, erad, erai, ere, eriel, erith, erl, eron, erre, eryn, esk, esmel, espar, estria, eta, ethel, eval, ezro, ezan, ezune, ezil, fael, faelar, faern, falk, falak, farak, faril, farla, fel, fen, fenris, fer, fet, fin, finar, forel, folgun, ful, fulk, fur, fyra, fallon, gael, gach, gabir, gadath, gal, galar, gana, gar, garth, garon, garok, garne, gath, geir, gelden, geren,  geron, ghal, ghallar, ghast, ghel, ghom, ghon, gith, glae, glander, glar, glym, gol, goll, gollo, goloth, gorot, gost, goth, graeve, gran, grimm, grist, grom, grosh, grun, grym, gual, guil, guir, gulth, gulur, gur, gurnth, gwaer, haa, hael, haer, hadar, hadel, hakla, hala, hald, halana, halid, hallar, halon, halrua, halus, halvan, hamar, hanar, hanyl, haor, hara, haren, haresk, harmun, harrokh, harrow, haspur, haza, hazuth, heber,  hela, helve, hem, hen, herath, hesper, heth, hethar, hind, hisari, hjaa, hlath, hlond, hluth, hoarth, holtar, horo, hotun, hrag, hrakh, hroth, hull, hyak, hyrza

I - M

iibra, ilth, ilus, ilira, iman, imar, imas, imb, imir, immer, immil, imne, impil, ingdal, innar, ir, iriae, iril, irith, irk, irul, isha, istis, isil, itala, ith, ithal, itka, jada, jae, jaeda, jahaka, jala, jarra, jaro, jath, jenda, jhaamm, jhothm, jinn, jinth, jyn, kado, kah, kal, kalif, kam, kana, kara, karg, kars, karth, kasp, katla, kaul, kazar, kazr, kela, kelem, kerym, keth, keva, kez, kezan, khaer, khal, khama, khaz, khara, khed, khel, khol, khur, kil, kor, korvan, koll, kos, kir, kra, kul, kulda, kund, kyne, lae, laen, lag, lan, lann, lanar, lantar, lapal, lar, laran, lareth, lark, lath, lauth, lav, lavur, lazar, leih, leshyr, leth, lhaza, lhuven, liad, liam, liard, lim, lin, lirn, lisk, listra, lith, liya, llair, llor, lok, lolth, loran, lorkh, lorn, loth, lothen, luen, luir, luk, lund, lur, luth, lyndus, lyra, lyth, maal, madrasm maera, maer, maerim, maes, mag, magra, mahand, mal, malar, mald, maldo, mar, mara, mark, marl, maru, maruk, meir, melish, memnon, mer, metar, methi, mhil, mina, mir, miram, mirk, mista, mith, moander, mok, modir, modan, mon, monn, mor, more, morel, moril, morn, moro, morrow, morth, mort, morum, morven, muar, mul, mydra, myr, myra, myst

N - S

naar, nadyra, naedyr, naga, najar, nal, naal, nalir, nar, naruk, narbond, narlith, narzul, nasaq, nashkel, natar, nath, natha, neir, neth, nether, nhall, nikh, nil, nilith, noan, nolvurm nonthal, norda, noro, novul, nul, nur, nus, nyan, nyth, ober, odra, oghr, okoth, olleth, olodel, omgar, ondath, onthril, ordul, orish, oroch, orgra, orlim, ormath, ornar, orntath, oroch, orth, orva, oryn, orzo, ostel, ostor, ostrav, othea, ovar, ozod, ozul, palan, palad, pae, peldan, pern, perris, perim, pele, pen, phail, phanda, phara, phen, phendra, pila, pinn, pora, puril, pur, pyra, qadim, quar, quel, ques, quil, raah, rael, ran, ranna, rassil, rak, rald, rassa, reddan, reith, relur, ren, rendril, resil, reska, reth, reven, revar, rhy, rhynn, ria, rian, rin, ris, rissian, rona, roch, rorn, rora, rotha, rual, ruar, ruhal, ruil, ruk, runn, rusk, ryn, saa, saar, saal, sabal, samar, samrin, sankh, sar, sarg, sarguth, sarin, sarlan, sel, seld, sember, semkh, sen, sendrin, septa, senta, seros, shaar, shad, shadra, shae, shaen, shaera, shak, shalan, sham, shamath, shan, shana, sharan, shayl, shemar, shere, shor, shul, shyll, shyr, sidur, sil, silvan, sim, sintar, sirem, skar, skell, skur, skyr, sokol, solan, sola, somra, sor, ssin, stel, strill, suldan, sulk, sunda, sur, surkh, suth, syl, sylph, sylune, syndra, syth

T - Z

taak, taar, taer, tah, tak, tala, talag, talar, talas, talath, tammar, tanar, tanil, tar, tara, taran, tarl, tarn, tasha, tath, tavil, telar, teld, telf, telos, tempe, tethy, tezir, thaar, thaer, thal, thalag, thalas, thalan, thalar, thamor, thander, thangol, thar, thay, thazal, theer, theim, thelon, thera, thendi, theril, thiir, thil, thild, thimir, thommar, thon, thoon, thor, thran, thrann, threl, thril, thrul, thryn, thuk, thultan, thume, thun, thy, thyn, thyr, tir, tiras, tirum, tohre, tol, tolar, tolir,  tolzrin, tor, tormel, tormir, traal, triel, trith, tsath, tsur, tul, tur, turiver, turth, tymor, tyr, uder, udar, ugoth, uhr, ukh, ukir, uker, usten, ulgarth, ulgoth, ultir, ulur, umar, umath, umber, unara, undro, undu, untha, upir, ur, ursa, ursol, uron, uth, uthen, uz, van, vaar, vaelan, vaer, vaern, val valan, valash, vali, valt, vandan, vanede, vanrak, var, varyth, vassa, vastar, vaunt, vay, vel, velar, velen, velius, vell, velta, ven, veren, vern, vesper, vilar, vilhon, vintor, vir, vira, virdin, volo, volun, von, voon, vor, voro, vos, vosir, vosal, vund, war, wara, whel, wol, wynn, wyr, wyrm, xer, xul, xen, xian, yad, yag, yal, yar, yath, yeon, yhal, yir, yirar, yuir, yul, yur, zail, zala, zalhar, zan, zanda, zar, zalar, zarach, zaru, zash, zashu, zemur, zhent, zim, ziram, zindala, zindar, zoun, zul, zurr, zuth, zuu, zym

A lot of places are named after historical events, battles, and people, so keep that in mind. God/Goddess names tied to your world also work well. Places are also often named after things that the area is known for, like Georgia being known for its peaches.

My brain was fried by the end of this so feel free to add more!

I hope you find this reference helpful and good luck world-building!

-Mel

[niftyandinterestingstuff]

Saint Michael's Mount... A tidal island in Mount's Bay Cornwall, England. A civil parish it is linked to the town of Marazion by a causeway of granite setts passable between mid-tide and low-water.

[xhxhxhx]

Herman Khan, The Emerging Japanese Superstate (1970):

[The] Japanese are something between the West, with its general Faustian attitudes and concept of "dominion over land and animal," and China, India, and many primitive cultures, which usually try to fit man into the environment in a natural, noncoercive, and nondisturbing manner. The Japanese are somewhat willing to make changes in the environment and to assert their will and fulfill their objectives, but they tend to do so less grossly, less starkly, and with greater moderation, care, and even love for the environment than is characteristic of the root-and- branch restructuring common in Western tradition.

Alex Kerr, Dogs and Demons (2001):

Writers on Japan today mostly concern themselves with its banks and export manufacturing. But in the greater scheme of things, for a wealthy nation does it really matter so much if its GNP drops a few percentage points or the banks falter for a few years? The Tang dynasty poet Du Fu wrote, “Though the nation perishes, the mountains and rivers remain.” Long before Japan had banks, there existed a green archipelago of a thousand islands, where clear mountain springs tumbled over mossy stones and waves crashed along coves and peninsulas lined with fantastic rocks. Such were the themes treasured in haiku, bonsai and flower arrangements, screen paintings, tea ceremony, and Zen – that is, everything that defined Japan's traditional culture. Reverence for the land lies at the very core of Shintoism, the native religion, which holds that Japan's mountains, rivers, and trees are sacred, the dwelling place of gods. So in taking stock of where Japan is today, it is good to set economics aside for a moment and take a look at the land itself.

When we do, we see this: Japan has become arguably the world's ugliest country. To readers who know Japan from tourist brochures that feature Kyoto's temples and Mount Fuji, that may seem a surprising, even preposterous assertion. But those who live or travel here see the reality: the native forest cover has been clear-cut and replaced by industrial cedar, rivers are dammed and the seashore lined with cement, hills have been leveled to provide gravel fill for bays and harbors, mountains are honeycombed with destructive and useless roads, and rural villages have been submerged in a sea of industrial waste.

Similar observations can be made about many other modern nations, of course. But what is happening in Japan far surpasses anything attempted in the rest of the world. We are seeing something genuinely different here. The nation prospers, but the mountains and rivers are in mortal danger, and in their fate lies a story-one that heretofore has been almost entirely passed over by the foreign media.

H. P. Lovecraft, describing a creepy New England hamlet doomed to be the setting for one of his horror stories, would say, “On viewing such a scene, who can resist an unutterable thrill of ghastliness?” For a modern traveler seeking something of that Lovecraftian thrill, nothing would do better than a trip to Japan's countryside.

During the past fifty-five years of its great economic growth, Japan has drastically altered its natural environment in ways that are almost unimaginable to someone who has not traveled here. In the spring of 1996, the Japan Society invited Robert MacNeil, the retired co-anchor of The MacNeil/Lehrer News-Hour, for a month's stay in Japan. Later, in a speech presented at the Japan Society in New York, MacNeil said that he was “confused” about what he saw, “dismayed by the unrelieved banality of the [800-kilometer] stretch from Hiroshima to Tokyo, the formless, brutal, utilitarian jumble, unplanned, with tunnels easier on the eyes.”

Across the nation, men and women are at work reshaping the landscape. Work crews transform tiny streams just a meter across into deep chutes slicing through slabs of concrete ten meters wide and more. Builders of small mountain roads dynamite entire hillsides. Civil engineers channel rivers into U-shaped concrete casings that do away not only with the rivers' banks but with their beds. The River Bureau has dammed or diverted all but three of Japan's 113 major rivers. The contrast with other advanced industrial nations is stark. Aware of the high environmental cost, the United States has decided in principle not to build any more dams, and has even started removing many that the Army Corps of Engineers constructed years ago. Since 1990 more than 70 major dams have fallen across America, and dozens more are scheduled to be dismantled. Meanwhile, Japan's Construction Ministry plans to add 500 new dams to the more than 2,800 that have already been built.

To see at close hand how the construction frenzy affects one small mountain village, let us take a short journey to Iya Valley, a picturesque fastness of canyons and peaks in the center of the southern island of Shikoku. When I bought an old thatch-roofed farmhouse in Iya in 1971, people considered this region so remote that they called it the Tibet of Japan. Villagers subsisted on crops such as buckwheat and tobacco, as well as forestry.

Over the next twenty-five years, young people fled Iya for the prosperous cities, and local agriculture collapsed. With its dramatic landscape and a romantic history going back to the civil wars of the twelfth century, Iya had a golden opportunity to revive its local economy with tourism and resorts in the 1980s. Yet in a pattern that repeats itself in countless regions across Japan, Iya failed to develop this potential. The reason was that the village suddenly found itself awash with cash: money that flowed from building dams and roads, paid for by a national policy to prop up rural economies by subsidizing civil-engineering works. Beginning in the 1960s, a tidal wave of construction money crashed over Iya, sweeping away every other industry. By 1997, my neighbors had all become construction workers.

Most foreigners and even many Japanese harbor a pleasing fantasy of life in the Japanese village. While driving past quaint farmhouses or perusing lovely photographs of rice paddies, it's tempting to imagine what bucolic country life must be: oneness with the seasons, the yearly round of planting and harvesting, and so forth. However, when you actually live in the countryside you soon learn that the uniform of the Japanese farmer is no longer a straw raincoat and a hoe but a hard hat and a cement shovel. In 1972, for example, my neighbor Mrs. Оto farmed tea, potatoes, corn, cucumbers, and mulberry for silkworms. In 2000, her fields lie fallow as she dons her hard hat every day to commute by van to construction sites, where her job is to scrape aluminum molds for concrete used to build retaining walls. In Iya Valley, it makes no sense to ask someone, “What line of work are you in?” Everyone lives off doboku, “construction.”

More than 90 percent of all the money flowing into Iya now comes from road- and dam-building projects funded by the Construction, Transport, and Agriculture ministries. This means that no environmental initiative can possibly make headway, for Iya has become addicted to dams and roads. Stop building them, and Mrs. Оtо and most of the other villagers are out of work. Without the daily pouring of concrete, the village dies.

The most remarkable paradox is that Iya doesn't need these roads and dams; it builds them only because it must spend the construction subsidies or lose the money. After decades of building to no particular purpose, the legacy is visible everywhere, with hardly a single hillside standing free of giant slabs of cement built to prevent “landslide damage,” even though many of these are located miles from any human habitation. Forestry roads honeycomb the mountains, though the forestry industry collapsed thirty years ago. Concrete embankments line Iya River and most of its tributaries, whose beds run dry a large part of the year because of the numerous dams siphoning water to electric power plants. The future? Although traffic is so sparse in Iya that in some places spiderwebs grow across the roads, the prefectural government devoted the 1990s to blasting a highway right through the cliffs lining the upper half of the valley, concreting over the few scenic corners that are left.

If this is what happened to the “Tibet of Japan,” one can well imagine the fate that has befallen more accessible rural areas. To support the construction industry, the government annually pours hundreds of billions of dollars into civil-engineering projects-dams, seashore- and river-erosion control, flood control, road building, and the like. Dozens of government agencies owe their existence solely to thinking up new ways of sculpting the earth. Planned spending on public works for the decade 1995-2005 will come to an astronomical ¥630 trillion (about $6.2 trillion), three to four times more than what the United States, with twenty times the land area and more than double the population, will spend on public construction in the same period. In this respect, Japan has become a huge social-welfare state, channeling hundreds of billions of dollars through public works to low-skilled workers every year.

It is not only the rivers and valleys that have suffered. The seaside reveals the greatest tragedy: by 1993, 55 percent of the entire coast of Japan had been lined with cement slabs and giant concrete tetrapods. An article in a December 1994 issue of the popular weekly Shukan Post illustrated a ravaged coastline in Okinawa, commenting, “The seashore has hardened into concrete, and the scenery of unending gray tetrapods piled on top of one another is what you can see everywhere in Japan. It has changed into something irritating and ordinary. When you look at this seashore, you can't tell whether it is the coast of Shonan, the coast of Chiba, or the coast of Okinawa.”

Tetrapods may be an unfamiliar word to readers who have not visited Japan and seen them lined up by the hundreds along bays and beaches. They look like oversize jacks with four concrete legs, some weighing as much as fifty tons. Tetrapods, which are supposed to retard beach erosion, are big business. So profitable are they to bureaucrats that three different ministries – of Transport, of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, and of Construction – annually spend ¥500 billion each, sprinkling tetrapods along the coast, like three giants throwing jacks, with the shore as their playing board. These projects are mostly unnecessary or worse than unnecessary. It turns out that wave action on tetrapods wears the sand away faster and causes greater erosion than would be the case if the beaches had been left alone.

It took some decades for this lesson to sink in, but in the 1980s American states, beginning with Maine, began one by one to prohibit the hard stabilization of the shoreline; in 1988, South Carolina mandated not only a halt to new construction but removal of all existing armoring within forty years. In Japan, however, armoring of the seacoasts is increasing. It's a dynamic we shall observe in many different fields: destructive policies put in motion in the 1950s and 1960s are like unstoppable tanks, moving forward regardless of expense, damage, or need. By the end of the century, the 55 percent of shoreline that had been encased in concrete had risen to 60 percent or more. That means hundreds of miles more of shoreline destroyed. Nobody in their right mind can honestly believe that Japan's seacoasts began eroding so fast and so suddenly that the government needed to cement over 60 percent of them. Obviously, something has gone wrong.

[memoirsofratasum]

Aeromage Sanna: War Eternal

There has been a lot written about hope over the ages. That it doesn’t die, that there is always a sliver if know where to look and that’s enough to light an inferno. I’ve always been of the camp that hope is the product of hard work and determination, that it’s nothing passive you can just find like a pebble in a stream bed. You have to make it, even if it means doing the seemingly impossible. I wonder if Aurene and the commander would agree.

I had been tending to the wounded at Thunderhead Peak for what felt like years. There hadn’t been enough beds in the medical bay and we had to spread out into the larger cavern. We had lost some good soldiers, and others wouldn’t be the same. But it could have been worse. A lot worse. Kralkatorrik did not return for a round two and we were able to focus on those we could save in relative peace and quiet.

The mood in the mountain was somber. You could tell among the soldiers who had never faced bad odd before and those who knew that you can’t win every battle. But it was more than losing the battle that affected my patients. It was the loss of Aurene.

There had been so much riding on the young dragon that too many of the wounded claimed there was no point anymore and we should just give up. And untyrian attitude if I ever heard one! If you were still breathing that meant you could still do something! I did what I could to bolster their hope and had little time to myself to think about what had happened.

I never found that time either. After most of the wounded were healed up enough to be moved, the Pact had ordered a withdrawal from the fortress, leaving behind a skeleton crew and researchers. We may have lost but then mountain was still valuable. However we had only just returned to our own mountain at the Priory for a debriefing when new orders came.

Aurene was alive! And her and the commander were going after Kralkatorrik as we spoke! We all were ordered to board an airship immediately and follow the tracking signal within the crystal dragon. Gear was hastily packed back up and we were in the air within hours.

I don’t know much about this tracker but since I’m not an airship captain I don’t need too. It led us far from the Shiverpeaks, southwards towards the Clashing Ocean in all haste. I don’t think I’ve ever been on an airship flying this fast before. We knew we were nearing the right spot when we spotted airships from the other Pact orders coming in on the horizon. No one was sure what was going to happen and so we were told to be prepared for anything. I don’t think anyone could have prepared for what happened next.

The sky tore open from a massive rift and the gigantic glittering body of Kralkatorrik plummeted into the ocean followed by solid chunks of earth. Our airship had to pull up to avoid the sudden tidal surge. The sea must have been shallow at this spot or more landmass than we estimated fell from the rift since Kralatorrik’s body and earthen escort did not sink, but stayed fully visible on the surface. 

 All the airships stayed in position and we could see the blue form of Aurene and the commander circling above, waiting for something to happen. But nothing did. Asuran scanning devices were placed on deck and the results I wasn’t allowed to see were shared among the net of airships with the conclusion that the dragon was out cold and the newly formed landmass was safe to land on. As an elementalist I would have loved to use those scanning devices for myself. I wonder what else they can do?

One of the other airships dropped the boxes of popup tents and supplies on the smallest island of the new landmass, allowing for a rudimentary outpost to get started while the rest of us disembarked and the commander finally landed. 

To say that people were excited would be an understatement. Not only was this place, uncreatively deemed Dragonfall, a new place to explore, it was new to Tyria itself! It was pretty clear that the land had been dragged out of Mists, likely pulled from Kralkattorik’s wake. We could learn so much about the Mists from this place.

But it wasn’t all Priory-style thrills. There was still a not-actually-asleep elder dragon to worry about. The outpost itself was parked right next to his tail! Every so often the tail would stir, causing the ground to shake and the water to surge, drenching the edges of the camp. Kralkatorrik was at our mercy for now, but that would not last forever and we had to act quickly.

The first order of business was scouting and establishing outposts in the other sectors. It was decided that the fastest way to scout the area was for team to fly down from an orbiting airship and report back on the landscape. Anyone who had a griffon or, like in mine and Tarnn’s case, a jackal who could effectively take the form of a griffon was called aboard the Order of Whisper’s ship The Silent Treatment, a small and quick medical airship. It was nimble enough to maneuver out of trouble should the need arise and fast enough that we would be back in only a few hours, just in time for outpost teams to move out.

There were three areas of interest to scout in Dragonfall. First we jumped to the south, diving headlong into a canopy so reminiscent of the Maguuma Jungle I was expecting to hear the drums and cords of the Itzel. It was a beautiful sight to behold. I wove Cirrus through the thick branches, following a pathway below that looked like a promising trail. There was the expected branded minions infesting the place, but also other figures moving together in formation through the underbrush. I wasn’t able to get a good look at them but Tarnn radioed in that they were Mist Warden ghosts, likely allies that could help bolster our own forces. Looks like his study into spirits was paying off. A source of fresh water was located and another group also announced that they had found a nice clearing and I confirmed there was a trail leading to it. After that I and the other elementalist cast some updrafts so everyone could get back on board.

The land to the west of the jungle was immediately much more hostile, chock full of undead and not the friendly kind. The humans were saying that this had to have been part of Grenth’s realm just as surely as the previous was Melandru’s. I can believe that. The air carried a foul scent and the sky was green. It was hard to tell if all the roaming undead were warring with each other or if they were just particularly territorial towards our trespassing. I have no idea how an outpost could be established in such a place but I was told there was an opening that seemed to be mostly ignored by the inhabitants that could be easily guarded.

There was something else in this area as well. I and a few others turned our attentioned to the southern coast, mostly to check if there was a settlement opportunity by the sea and partially to get some fresh air. But we had barely arrived before our griffons were beak to snout with some flying reptilian creatures! Our mounts were so startled that they scattered out of formation, causing the newcomers to give chase. Thankfully Aurene(!) arrived and herded the flying reptiles back to the cliffs and we were able to get calm our frightened mounts. Aurene apologized for the scare and explained that the skyscales were new to Tyria and were probably a little too curious for their own good. She invited us to land to get a closer look. The skyscales were definitely curious and kept sniffing at us, causing a few ruffled feathers. But my Cirrus and Tarnn’s Arkose were equally as curious, their sandy feathers shifting to scales as if trying them on. Aurene further explained that these skyscales were prime candidates as proper mounts for the war effort. She even had summoned the commander in order to use one for their mission. I wish I could say we had more time to talk, but we all had our duties and so after well wishes we returned to The Silent Treatment.

It’s almost kinda funny. Aurene is a dragon but you can tell she had spent so much of her life among Pact members. She was as professional and humble as any I’ve served with and speaking to her was like speaking to any other officer. Maybe it’s just me though.

While I was sad to leave Aurene and the skyscales behind, I was glad to leave the area as we headed north. We passed over Kralatorrik’s brandstormed covered body in silence and then came upon a conflagration. An entire forest was on fire but not being destroyed!. At first I thought this was exciting. What can I say, I’m an elementalist, I like fire. But mutterings of Balthazar squashed that. Even in death he still managed to make himself relevant. We dove off the airship without the usual commentary, some of the humans looked a little uncomfortable. 

One of the first things I noted and radioed in was how breathable the air is. Sure it smelled like smoke but it didn’t choke or burn the lungs. Normally I would have expected the smoke and fumes to have killed us before we finished diving. But we were able to breath and see clearly. Balthazar must not have had time to make renovations before his demise. There were the expected beasts; salamander drakes and hydras and the like. There were also strange shadowy creatures I didn’t recognize. When I asked about them all I received over the radio was a human saying they would tell me later. Must be a god thing. But I digress. A pass by the western coast proved fruitful. We found an open clearing mostly devoid of fire with flat ground and places for fortifications. With confirmation from the airship and a particularly daring griffon that there was a trail back towards the main Pact outpost, we returned to the ship and made our way back to base.

Our reports had spread fast. We saw the Olmakhan just exiting the gate for the Grenth clearing and the jungle team was already long gone. We were told to rest up, the Pact wasn’t going to wait around for Kralkatorrik and so we needed to be in top shape when the order was given.

While we sat around a fire with hot food and drink we got the rundown of what the scouting team had missed while out in the field. Word was that the commander was figuring out how to fashion a real dragonsblood spear using blood from the torn off wing. No details other than it was looking promising. Once the outposts were prepared and the commander was ready we’d face Kralkatorrik again, ideally before he woke up. With the way that tail thrashed I’d say there wasn’t much time. 

We got the call to action a few days later. The outpost engineers had set up brandstorm disruptors and ley line reflectors which would disperse the brandstorm shielding Kralkatorrik. While we were attacking the body, the commander and Aurene were to make their way underground to where the crystal dragon’s head was submerged for a more direct assault. Reminded me a little of the final fight against Mordremoth.

We watched as the brandstorm was pulled away, revealing the stone and crystal body of Kralkatorrik. He knew he was big, I had seen him more than once, but embedded in the rock and earth I could see how he once was mistaken for a mountain range. There wasn’t a lot of time to admire the scenery though. The commander was making their way down below and we needed to move. Almorra roared her signal and hundreds of mounts in a riot of colors descended upon the dragon’s body.

There were crystal lesions on his scales, injuries from the Mists that were not healing. They might not seem like much but those weak points would cause a lot of pain and distraction for the commander to do the real damage. This task wouldn’t necessarily take the army to perform, but the dragon’s branded minions were not sitting this one out. Menders attempted to out heal our attacks and gigantic branded monsters came out of hiding to defend their master. And then we’d go back to attacking the lesions. Rise and repeat. It wasn’t a slick and clean fight, it was rough and chaotic and maybe more than a little desperate. There was supposed to be a sign of the commander’s success but who knew what that would be. In the meantime we kept fighting.

And then it happened. 

We were scrambling over scales and stone when a surge of magic reverberated below us, something unbelievably strong but deep enough that it only knocked us off our feet. It would have been cause for alarm if it wasn’t for the change that came over the branded minions. They were suddenly stumbling and shuffling as if the gravity that held them on Tyria had shifted planes. In a way it did.

Almorra blew the horn for retreat as streams of rainbow light started to pour out from between the cracks in the scales, brighter and more numerous with each passing second. We had to get off Kralkatorrik’s body. Raptor and jackal riders scooped up the stranglers while springers and griffons made for the cliffs. A stampede of people and mounts cleared the elder dragon corpse in a matter of moments, leaving behind dazed and confused branded. And not a moment too soon. Just as the last sylvari was hauled up to safety, the body of Kralkatorrik burst in a flash of nearly blinding rainbow light.

The light reached into the sky before turning back towards the earth and speeding just over our heads and then pulled up again, like a griffon filled with the joy of flight. I don’t know who first shouted her name, but once they did I was able to clearly make out Aurene’s draconian form and brilliant prismatic wings. The cheer was deafening. She had done it! She had become an Elder Dragon!

I don’t know how long we all stayed on that cliff watching Aurene. She flew around us on her brand new wings and bid farewell to the commander and all of us before streaming towards the horizon. And just like that the war was over. Kralkaotrrik’s remains were nothing more than lifeless crystal and his minions were staggered without their leader. There would still be some mopping up but the major threat was gone.

That night the Pact Outpost was transformed into a party that I’m sure the norn skaalds with sing about for ages. Music, that engine degreaser they call spirits, even the rations were dressed up a bit thanks to some foraging in the jungle. The next day we would return to the mainland, spreading the word of our victory while research teams were free to study Dragonfall and the fallen dragon to their heart’s content. But right now the Pact was letting its hair down and I don’t think anyone was letting it down more than Almorra who we discovered will start singing after getting a few mugs in her.

There was one person missing from the festivities though. The commander was nowhere to be seen in the crowd. Tarnn was the one who finally spotted them, standing high above on the top of a docked airship and barely discernible against the night sky. They clearly wanted a moment alone. They certainly earned it. 

But if you looked in the direct the commander was facing, far out towards the edge of the world and let your eyes adjust a little, you could almost make out the gleam of rainbow light.

[atlanticcanada]

Much of East Coast is one 'perfect storm' away from being cut off from Canada

AMHERST, N.S. -- John Atkinson stands atop an aging dike, with the rising tides of the Bay of Fundy before him and family farmland behind, imagining the storm that could turn Nova Scotia into a virtual island.

"The water can go over this whole flat marsh," said the 67-year-old landowner, gesturing to the grassy lands near Amherst.

"If there were to be one perfect storm ... it would be very bad."

This is a potential ground zero of a Canadian climate change disaster, where sea-level communities face rising oceans and await word on a detailed plan and the funding to keep the narrow land link between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick open.

The risk isn't decades away.

Rather, the event could occur at any time through a combination of stormy weather conditions, according to emergency officials and coastal geographers watching the area.

"The fact is that the right storm occurring at any spring tide at any time of year would be sufficient to put water over our dikes," explains Jeff Ollerhead, who teaches coastal geography at Mount Allison University in nearby Sackville, N.B.

Over the past 69 years, the sea level at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy has risen about 38 centimetres, even as the dikes and coastal land continue to subside.

The trend will accelerate under most international climate change scenarios, adding a third of a metre to water heights by 2050, according to studies.

Meanwhile, the frequency of hurricanes and tropical storms have tripled here over the past 25 years compared to the past century, according to a 2011 study.

Real Daigle, a meteorologist who provides estimates of sea level rise, said all it would take is a once-in-50-year storm at highest tides, with sustained winds gusting up to 80 kilometres per hour and low atmospheric pressure that adds 40 to 50 centimetres to the height of the water.

The one comfort is that the rapid pace of the Bay of Fundy tidal rise and retreat -- versus areas like the Northumberland Strait, where tide rises are more gradual and sustained -- would make the storm's arrival at the high tide in the basin an unlikely event, he adds.

Saint Mary's University geographer Danika van Proosdij's research unit prepared maps for The Canadian Press showing risk zones that extend into Amherst itself, floods of businesses and wind turbines on the marshes, and potential damage to 20 kilometres of rail, road and electrical infrastructure.

The waters could sweep over the Trans-Canada Highway in lower lying New Brunswick, reaching a waist-deep height for motorists, said Mike Johnson, emergency measures co-ordinator for Cumberland County, Nova Scotia's westernmost region.

He says he's planning to knock on doors and collect cell phone numbers of about 80 buildings where rapid evacuation may need to occur.

"We've had two tidal surge events in the past decade that would have been sufficient to overtop the dikes. They simply occurred on a neap (lower) tide and because of that factor the water didn't come high enough to overtop the dikes," he said in an interview at his office.

A photo he took in the fall of 2015 shows a CN rail train travelling on a dike that is about 8.5 metres above sea level during a tidal surge. The water was just 12 centimetres from the train's wheels.

Amherst Mayor David Kogon and John Higham, the mayor of Sackville, N.B., are pressing federal and provincial governments to quickly find solutions.

"Our job is to keep their foot to the pedal," says Kogon, sitting before a large poster depicting a partially submerged Sackville.

"If I were in charge of it, it would be underway now. But we're not, it's not our money," says Higham, who joined his New Brunswick counterpart for an interview at his city hall.

Higham's town is also protected by a network of about 26 kilometres of dikes created to protect farmlands, but which now shelter commercial areas and homes. His flood map depicts a provincial ambulance depot as stranded on an island after the inundation comes.

If the dikes are brought to new heights and repositioned to resist the rising seas, it wouldn't be the first time the marshlands were rescued by a combined political effort.

In the 1940s, Ottawa created a federal agency that helped fund the rehabilitation of the marshlands.

However, the responsibility shifted to provinces in the 1970s, and there have been times over the past 50 years when money has been scarce for needed upgrades, say local farmers.

Doug Bacon, a cattle farmer in Upper Nappan, says he spent years fighting for improved aboiteaux -- openings in the dikes with sluice gates that allow fresh waters to drain out back to the sea.

His home is full of photos of freshwater floods that came over nearby coastal roads and the grazing marshlands over the past two decades, as aging infrastructure was unable to cope with the flow of water.

He said Canadian governments should have led a plan for the dike rehabilitation at least a decade ago.

"The provincial and federal governments seem very slow to recognize the concerns that we as residents are trying to portray to them," he said during an interview.

The potential costs and next steps remain as murky to Bacon as the often muddy waters of the Bay of Fundy itself.

Hopes are now pinned on an engineering assessment that New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Ottawa say will "explore viable options to climate change impacts on the Chignecto Isthmus trade corridor" between the two provinces.

Kevin Bekkers, land protection manager at the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture, says a request for proposals to complete the $700,000 study will go out after April 1, with the goal of completion in 12 to 18 months.

"Fast is not the pace I want to go as an engineer. There's things we need to confirm and this engineering assessment is one of those steps along the journey that has to take place," he said in an interview.

The issues include comparisons of various climate change forecasts and what new technologies are available to increase the height of existing dikes, he said. Even the timeline for how long the solution should last remains uncertain, he said.

After options are presented, the governments must agree on the way forward and how much they will spend.

A 2016 federal study said possibilities ranged from $90 million to build up the existing dikes to $345 million to completely re-route the highways and railways. All of the options required at least five years.

Mike Pauley, the New Brunswick civil servant leading the engineering assessment, said he can't flatly state the study of the trade corridor will result in upgrades to the dikes.

"To say the dikes will never be improved -- I think over time, they will. But it may not be part of the outcome we get out of this study," he said.

Meanwhile, Bekkers notes that maintenance is ongoing and solutions for existing dikes continue.

For example, a damaged portion of the dike near where Atkinson stood was being re-routed to tie in with higher ground and create more shallow lands in front -- known as foreshore -- that will absorb the pounding tides.

However, Bekkers acknowledges the risk of a tidal surge remains.

"We are working with Emergency Measures Organizations and depending on the storm that comes in, there may have to be warnings that go out," he said.

Quite often, Atkinson walks to the shore and notices how the sea tosses up more driftwood than in the past, even as it undermines the giant slabs of rock put in place to protect the dikes.

To him, these are nature's signals that the day of reckoning is drawing a little closer.

"We're keeping our fingers crossed no storm comes. What else can you do?"

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/2JMY3Hh