#there was one with a massive volcano that was streaming pink water

[thatwitchrevan]

Help I saw a tiktok about the Bermuda Sands motel in Myrtle Beach which is a little place RIGHT where we always used to park to go to the beach. It's apparently a two star 'resort' with absolutely disgusting accomodations and a cute little lazy river that I can only assume is filled with disease!

I used to pass this place and look longingly at the lazy river several times each summer as a kid. God I miss Myrtle Beach in all its tacky tourist trap glory.

[aisla229]

Finished the first arc of the tabletop rpg game I’m GMing, I can finally post all the art! More about the worldbuilding under the cut:

Sauris is a white moon who’s visible surface is mostly composed of clouds. It orbeting around a gas giant, Caelophy. Millenias ago one of the pieces of the crust rolled over in the sea, exposing its side to the sunlight above, past the violent chemically active (and colorful) clouds inbetween. Life boomed on the continent, giving birth to complexe lifeforms such as plants and animals. Currently, civilisation is on the verge of an industrialisation, with a wide and diverse range of trades, for the first time spanning the massive and entire continent.

The active Inner Cloud layer, in an event called the Cloud’s Shift, can burst outwards. When it touches the continent it is believed to be the cause of creation of magic, causing all kinds of odds events as well, like making felines walk on two legs, plants change color, or give mysterious abilities to hidden creatures.

Any magic needs to be cast with a magic circle, each categorised by naturally occuring sigils at the centers. There is 13 known sigils, each named and tide to the planets and moons of Sauro. However tides are about to move, with a few wary travellers coming across a 14th unknown sigil, with the only proof of it being a reserved kid and a suspicious necklace.

Dinosaurs are the prominent life form on Sauris, with only a few mammals (mostly rodents and our beloved humanoids), fish in the rivers, and giant insects in the bogs. Here is a world where dinosaurs are found as locomotion, pets, food, and terrifying predators. It being very cold on Sauris, all year round, they also all rock some fluffy feather/proto-feathers coats.

The seasons no Sauris, are divided into two summers and two winters, spending a large portion of the year partially obscured of Sauro by Caelophy. The highest temperature is around 10°C , and the lowest -30°C

Here on the continent:

- The Tower of Almonious: A distant land discovered by a great sorcerer who has constructed a massive tower on top. Not much is known to the common people of Sauris, and stays inaccessible even today.

- Pol Malleo: An Active volcano, that unlike the ones on Earth does not eject lava, but a hot water-like liquid. Said liquid, named Azura, has a bright blue-turquoise color that glows a powerful green when it comes in contact with certain gases. The jets can go as high as 50 km high in the sky, forming a long colorful trail as it floats away.When an eruption occurs during Altieme, the droplets of liquid tend to freeze instantly in contact with the cold air, forming icicles that drop on the land below, often causing great problems as they bullet the surface.

- Tiacus Mire: It is currently the land in which resides the biggest city of Sauris; Aegyp. It also has the biggest lake: Great Ophora. During Primaestas, the majority of its land gets flooded, creating humid bogs, prospice to massive creatures, such as insects, Spinosaurus, and water dwellers like the massive mosasaurus.

- The Isles of Breviq: It probably has the most unique land shapes of the entire Continent. Long, relatively thin pillars of land have slowly come apart from the main land mass over many centuries, resulting in its numerous islands appearing to float between the clouds. The people of Breviq are known for having tamed the difficult beasts of the sky; riding pterosaurs.

- Pol Incus: The tallest mountain of Sauris, and so the tallest point of the entire moon. Its difficult climb has challenged many minds to reach its freezing top where the air grows thin. Temples and even old artefacts lie across the peaks or hidden under it’s rocks, proving the curiosity this mountain has always inspired.

- Thyreophor: The biggest land of Sauris. Thyreophor is most defined by its lush forests with massive trees and year-long colorful plants capable of holding under massive amounts of snow. It still holds the title of largest population in total.

- The Sdomorphia Wild Plains: Long stretches of grass and brush-like plants extend for as far as the eye can see. Sdomorphia is the land of nomads and the biggest of the animal kingdom: the Sauropods. It might not contain many streams or lakes, but it’s vast stretches borrow perfectly for herd hunting.

- The Austro Tundra: Unlike the other more South lands of Sauris, the Austro Tundra’s soil never melts away. Its rock-solid earth and ice makes it difficult to build houses on, but it has not stopped villages from sprouting even on the coldest land.The Austro Tundra is the land of Theropods, having the biggest number of raptors alike, many of which have prized feather coats.

- The Coelorus Coast: It has some of the biggest rate of precipitation of Sauris, standing on the right side of Pol Malleo against the strong air currents brushing the clouds below. Perhaps from the warmth created by Pol Malleo, the snow in Coelorus tends to melt a lot quicker than the other lands, and with the high amount of rivers and streams lining the soils, it also is one of the most fertile places. The steep sides of the volcano create perfect ranges for step agriculture, and primarily corn and rice.

- Cephalia: It currently has the title of the land with the biggest number of farm-land. Cephalia is often defined as the most friendly populace. With its loudest voices being farmers and workers, it has a particular streak of freedom and carelessness attached to its name.

- The Shantung Sway: A land carrying its own ecosphere, the people of Shantung have remained centuries without connection to the rest of Sauris. The current path to its land is extremely recent and trades have yet to be initiated. Apart from a very few explorers that have left Shantung to see the lands, and all described as fairly eccentric, interactions have been minimal so far.Shantung has been described as odd and fairy tale-like. With plants that glow in the dark, upside-down trees that prevent snow from reaching the ground, and weird spiky structured rocks. With bizarre animals, dinosaurs naked without feathers, small floating octopus creatures, and long leg-less organisms that slithered like tree branches.

- The Tenonto Canyon: The great divider between Malleo and Incus, the canyon expands down as far as can see, battered with wild winds and dangerous looking tornadoes beneath the clouds. A single bridge has been built on the closest edges, where the trade route quickly bustled with life, and ultimately created Mer, an unique city split in two across each side, one in the Tiacus Mire and the other in Thyreophor.

I’d like to say a big thank you to the players for being so patient and being so invested in this world i created, I love you guys. And thanks to anyone who actually read this!

[papabear85artist]

Good Old Pa Bear formerly Lachlan Ormerod

Papa Bear formerly Lachlan Andrew Ormerod was once an ambitious, intelligent but misunderstood autistic human being until he was killed by a bolt of lightning while looking for shelter during a storm. His troubled soul was lured into a mystic portal beyond The Solar System just outside The Milky Way under unknown circumstances before being warped into a massive far-off distant galaxy known only as Galaxceus that is home to many planets, planetoids and asteroids each with their own unique climates, differently-coloured glowing more pulsating energy fields and representing certain mystical key elements like Fire, Ice, Air, Water, Desert, Earth, Snow, Electricity, Night, Sun, Cloud, Sky, Moon, Star, Love, Electricity, Magic, Psychic, Rainbow, Enchantment, Frost, Volcano, Jungle, Turbo, Cosmic, Twilight, Swamp, Rock, Flower, Aqua, Mystic, Dream, Imaginative (aka Imaginary), Dynamic, Techno, Spectacular, Charm, Heaven, Illumination, Elasticity, Battle, Metro, Ancient, Inflatable, Prehistoric, Super, Ultra, Mega, Light, Gem, Illusion, Special, Lava, Guardian, Wish, Strange, Galactic, Power, Astro, Cave, Master, Infinity, Beauty, Major, Terrific, Incredible, Fantastic, Invincible, Amazing, Magnificent, Indestructible, Mighty, Ultimate, Eternal, Immortality and the hostile ones such as Darkness, Shadow, Nightmare, Haunted, Chaos, War and Terror. Before long Lachlan Ormerod found himself in a lush, heavenly paradise full of sentient Singing Flowers and Fruit Trees. He went over to a nearby stream and saw a furry reflection of himself as a largely chubby teddy-like Bear with reddish-brown short thick fur, sun yellow fat belly, a bright red nose and wearing a light blue t-shirt with white singlet underneath although still somehow has the same mullet hairstyle. Before he could question his slightly obese anthropomorphic form an oinking sound made him turn around. A large more hugely obese Native Brown Boar in jungle shaman attire complete with a gold crown encrusted with multi-coloured feathers and a pendant resembling The Yin and Yang Symbol. The wise Brown Boar silently motioned the astounded fat teddy-like Bear to follow him. After a short walk through the jungle they come into a small hut covered with vines and leaves with a large Pig Statue encrusted with jewels. Sitting in the garden is a huge thirty five-foot tall Pink Whippet in a retro-style areobics purple spandex complete with large tennis shoes, greenish armbands, blueish headband and pinkish legwarmers. After a brief silence the Brown Boar introduces himself as Porko aka The Hogfather an all-mighty Jungle Boar Shaman who wants to teach the unlikely duo the strongest magic on the planet known as ''Pigasus''. When the teddy-like Bear asks why are they here Porko responds by casting an Illusionary Spell to show he is Lachlan Ormerod aka their true creator who made everything. He also explains that The Giant Pink Whippet is in fact the Bear's guardian angel Jodie the Heavenly Whippet. As the Teddy-like Bear stares in astonishment a swarm of over fifty or so malicious Dragons come swooping down and attack the unsuspecting heroes. After a brief but intense battle Porko tells their leader Spyra aka the Ruthless Purple Dragon he will not return the remaining Dragons Treasure and that Pigs are better than Dragons. Before Spyra can kill the Jungle Boar Shaman Jodie angrily punches him out while the Teddy-like Bear joins in on the fight. As The Dragon Soldiers flee with an unconscious Spyra in two Jodie questions Porko who was that. The Jungle Boar Shaman replies they were MediEvil Dragons from the dreaded planetoid Medievilonia who constantly terrorise the heavenly planet Pleasure Paradise. He also states he severely hates most Dragons because he lost he love of his life, a Pig to a Dragoness (presumably Kariah the Dragoness Empress) who magically transformed her into pork roast. Porko provides both of his apprentices Animal Wands a Horse and Pig Wand. Because of his bravery Porko decides to name the teddy-like Furrie Papa Bear.

[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

[larissaloki]

pleasure to meet you 5: Home

here it is, the final chapter of pleasure to meet you. @fangirlfannning i hope you have enjoyed this and so sorry it took so long to write out! 

any new readers you can find the other chapters on my blog under the pleasure to met you tag or on ao3 :) come scream at me you favourite parts! 

Home

Themyscira is a beautiful place. An island in the middle of a ring of smaller rocks with clear blue crystalline waters lapping at soft white sandy beaches, and rocky cliffs that make up the edges of the island. From the view at the prow, Tony can see a massive town like settlement that goes up the side of one mountain like hill, with white buildings built into the rocks, and roads that wind down to the pier at the bottom. Around the town and even more in the outskirts, Tony can see that the island is covered in trees and greenery. He spots the occasional house peeking out of areas that look like gardens and orchards. Tony cannot wait to explore the entire island. 

 As the boat draws closer, Tony can see how bustling this place is; beautiful, tall women everywhere. All dressed in elegant and beautiful linen clothes as they go about their days; hauling fish from nets and moving carts of apples and other items about the city. The steep, winding hill seeming to not hinder them in the least. Horses are led to a water trough to rest and eat while their owners go about their business. 

 As they pull up to the pier, the crew began throwing ropes down to those waiting on the gangway to anchor the boat in place, where many of the citizens seem to pause in their work to come and greet the arrivals. Tony can hear the happy calls and shouted welcome backs before he even exits the boat, safely tucked in between Rhodey and Pepper. Diana and her mother are just in-front, waving and calling out to friends as they go. As they walk Tony notices just how friendly everyone is as food and water are exchanged for gifts that those on the boat had brought back for their friends. 

 “Amazing…Pep look at this place…” 

 Murmuring to his friends, Tony can’t help it as he looks this way and that as their lead to a group of awaiting horses, his eyes trying to take in everything that’s around them. 

 “It’s certainly beautiful Tony, oh my god look at that fountain!” 

 Excitedly, Pepper looks at a large circular fountain that she spots further back, the marble fountain had been sculpted to look like massive mythical creatures surrounding the bottom, with a mermaid like centrepiece  holding a vase which water flows from. 

 “Anthony, please allow me to help you up?” 

 Turning around confused, Tony notices that they are besides the horses, Diana is standing near him looking amused at his wandering gaze and thoughts. In front of them is a beautiful chestnut brown horse with black stocking like markings on its legs and a small black blob on its nose. 

 Gulping, Tony looks up at the tall creature, his head barely skimming the horse’s shoulder. 

 “Er, I’ve never actually ridden a horse before…”  

 Smiling warmly, though her eyes glint with a bit of mischievousness, Diana offers Tony her hand. 

 “Would you like to ride with me? I promise to not let you fall Pretty Omega,” 

 Flashing her fangs at him when she grins at him as his face pinks at the nickname, her words coming out in a low soothing purr that has Tony wanting to cling to her, a bolt of arousal shooting through him when he sees her alpha fangs. Lately, as he has gotten to know Diana, he has had many dreams of those fangs biting into his neck, forming a permanent bonding mark. 

 Hearing a few giggles and coos from the nearby crowd, Tony nods at Diana as he takes her hand to accept her help to get up onto the horse. Once he’s comfortably seated, Diana gracefully swings up her own leg to settle behind him; her strong arms coming around either side of him to gently take the reigns as she urges the horse to move. 

 Glancing over his shoulder, Tony sees Rhodey on a white and grey mottled horse looking a little nervous but manages to direct the docile creature. Pepper on the other hand seems perfectly at ease atop her sandy red/yellow horse, clicking her tongue as she trots along and following the others. 

 Soon their group started their long walk up the hill, allowing Tony to see all the amazing architecture that’s spread across the island, how the people have used the natural rock beds to make arches and bridges overflowing streams and waterfalls here and there. He notices many species of plants along the walk that he does not know and is pretty sure only exist here, in Themyscira. In his new home.

 “This is amazing, how many species of plants do you have here? What animals are native to here? Does this island have an active or dormant volcano or not?” 

 Questions just spill from Tony’s tongue, the small genius unable to stop the flow of his thoughts as they trot along the path. Behind him, Tony can feel Diana laugh lightly at his curiosity at the island around him. Delighted by it in-fact. 

 “Patience sweet one, I shall show you the entire island and what she has to offer soon enough, now please sit still omega”

 Pausing, Tony listens to that last bit that was purred quietly into his ear, Diana’s breath tickling his ear and the hairs on the back of his neck. His face heating a little bit at how intimately the words were spoken. 

 Shivering as a curl of heat coils in his belly, trying not to squirm as he feels slick start to form a bit, now more aware of how much of their bodies are pressed together, Tony tries to stay still for the rest of the journey to the top. At the top of the hill, is Diana’s home which she shares with her family. Where Tony could possibly be living full time in the future but is staying for now as a guest. 

 ~ ~ ~

 Tony adored life in Themyscira, he was quick to somehow win the hearts of the locals of the island, many spoiling him when he ventures through town. Many people stop him just to chat or to tell him many hilarious stories of his alpha’s youth; stories which he greatly enjoys and listens to with rapt attention. 

 Over the course of the weeks Tony has spent there, Diana spent every waking moment she could, showing Tony around the island. Showing him all her secret hideaways, the natural pools within the cliffs, teaching him the many plant types and animals that live on and around the island. Tony’s favourite part of the island is the artifact tower, that houses all the powerful relics on the island. Where Diana’s own outfit, lasso and the god killer sword had come from. 

The scientist within Tony had wanted to work out how each and every item worked, the lasso of truth had deeply intrigued him. Was it some scent rubbed into the lasso that made the person held within it become truthful? How could it discern what was truth and what was lies? 

 So many questions and yet most of answers was, magic or science yet still beyond Tony’s realm of understanding. 

 Of course, that only made the Omega more determined to learn more. 

 One of Tony’s favourite lessons though, was when the warriors started to teach the new trio their ways of fighting. The first day, Tony, Pepper and Rhodey had watched instead of taking part, letting them get a feel of how the training sessions would go. 

 Safe to say the trio had been deeply impressed. 

 “Tones…”

 “y-yeah Honey Bear?” 

 “They shot that arrow…from what should have been an impossible distance…”

 “yup” 

 Dumbly, Tony and Rhodey stared with their mouths falling open just a bit. So many were moving at the same time it was hard for them to keep track who was where. The moves were fast, without hesitation, and yet done with so much grace that they shouldn’t be possible. These warriors made fighting seem like art. 

 “Did you two see that horse manoeuvre?” 

 Meanwhile, Pepper had her attention caught by an Alpha atop a horse, the alpha has dark brown skin, dark hair done in long dreadlocks and pulled back into a ponytail to keep it out of the way. A long bow rests in her hands that she aims with deadly accuracy, no matter how fast the horse is going,

 As she watches, Pepper could feel her heart begin to race and her palms become clammy. The alpha notices Pepper watching and winks at her without breaking her stride or concentration, her aim still true despite her momentary distraction. 

 Pepper felt her face heat up as she swallows thickly, unable to look away as her eyes lock with the alpha’s. Even when the alpha finally looks away, Pepper’s gaze is still locked on her. Besides her, Tony and Rhodey are watching her with bemused looks.

 “You ok there Pep?” Tony grins at her, eyes glancing between Pepper and the Alpha she is watching.

 Rhodey takes a more direct approach. “Why don’t you go and say hello?”  

 Head snapping around to face him, Pepper’s face gets a little bit redder as she fidgets. Something Tony has rarely (if ever), seen her do.

 “What if she doesn’t like me? I mean, she could already have a mate…”

 “Come on Pep,” Tony cajoles her, his tone soft and quiet as he tries to soothe her, “she may be single and free. Where’s my fearless and chance taking friend who would not hesitate to ask? Hmm?”

 Biting her lip gently, Pepper glances back out at the Women training, her gaze practically zeroing in on the alpha she has been watching. The alpha appears to now be done with training and is leading her horse away from the others and towards a trough. Pepper catches the alpha glancing over at her a few times, a daring smile curling her lips when their eyes connect.

 There can be no doubt that this alpha has interest in Pepper.

 “Ok. I’m going over,” nodding to herself as if it will install some confidence in herself, Pepper pulls herself up, quickly patting of any grass before making her way over. Ignoring the shouts of encouragement from Rhodey and Tony.

 Sighing in contentment, Tony leans back on his elbows as he continues to watch the others, trying to commit some of the moves to memory. Besides him, Rhodey is doing the same, he even seems to be taking some notes in a leather-bound notebook Tony gave him last Christmas.

 “Say Rhodes, think you’ll find someone here?”

 Looking up from his notes, Rhodey scoffs lightly at that.

 “Possibly? I mean, I’m not exactly looking actively but I’m not against the idea?” he chuckles lightly to himself, “I’m just glad that you seem to really like this place Tones. And that the locals seem to like you in return”

 Going back to his notebook, Rhodey pauses for a second as he deliberates on something.

 “That is until you make something blow up that is, or they could surprise us and love you all the more for it. Seems like the type of place to find joy in experimental explosions” Rhodey grins at Tony teasingly as he resumes writing.

 Laughing lightly at the friendly jab, Tony sees Diana come away from the others, smiling warmly in his direction as she walks over.

 Since boarding the ship, Diana has done nothing but be friendly and kind towards Tony. Perhaps even seems to be subtly wooing him in round about way. Teaching him and expanding his freedom rather than restricting it. Not once has she assumed anything nor expected anything in return, she respects his space and boundaries and that more than anything, has won his heart and endeared her to him.

 Stopping just a few feet away from them, Diana holds out a hand to Tony, a cheeky smile growing on her face.

 “Want to learn a few wrestling moves?”

  Taking her hand eagerly, matching her grin with one of his own, eyes alight with mischievous delight, “Absolutely,”

[thevoltrongames]

Emergence - A Fanfic

Author: Genesister (aka papirini)

Discord: papirini#9423

tumblr: papirini.tumblr.com

--

“This…this is crazy.”

  Pidge was laughing, nevertheless. This world was so cool. The bloody water, completely tinted from the alkaline, bubbled all over the plain, the steam rising from it a light pink. Below the lake, a single fault fissure caused a waterfall to form on the south end of the plain, pink steam rising from where it slapped the mantle beneath. Above her, the sky was green, a result of all the heat-resistant algae that lived on the planet and thrived on the heat. They hopped en masse into the air for light, for reasons Pidge still hadn’t figured out, their glow covering the sky with verdant brightness. Then, when they floated back down, the sky would slowly seem to dissolve into a pink color like cotton candy.

  Pidge knew it would be a few hours before that happened, and that, sadly, she might not be on the planet to see the phenomenon. Even if she was, the ash from the north was threatening to cover that precious clear sky with its darkness, and her oxygen supplies could only last so long anyways.

  “Man, I wish you guys were down here to see it,” she mused as she adjusted her next camera, placing it on a rock near the steamed lake. This wasn’t even the only lake like it, just the largest. “Seriously. I know you can’t hear my words right now because of all the static in the atmosphere, but if you could? I mean, if you didn’t know the basics of this world you wouldn’t have believed me.”

  She used her jets to jump up to the top of the jutting hoodoo which overlooked the plain and the lake, where she put another camera. This time, she aimed it towards the massive volcano to the north, the origin of the ask. It was a dangerous place, one where she wished she could get closer to, but knew she couldn’t without possibly being killed by the element. There, the static met lava and created lightning that was so constant, especially around the crater, that she was unable to get too close without her suit being ripped apart.

  “God, even from this distance it’s clear the lava from this volcano is like thick soup. The amount of silica must be high. Even with the ash blocking the sun and lowering the temperature, my cameras might not survive long term with everything flying around in the air.” Pidge sighed beneath the glass of her helmet as she looked up towards the volcano. “I wonder if that thing could even eat the volcano with how hot is is…”

  ‘That thing’, of course, being the real reason she was investigating the planet. Beyond the volcano, even through the smoke, she could see the massive form of what even the Galra called the death worm shift, ever so slightly.

  “I’ve got to be looking at the oldest animal in the universe.” Even from space, everyone could see the giant hole that the death worm had made, as it made its slow emergence from the very core of the planet. It was so massive that its mouth could be seen on their initial pictures of the planet. “Seriously, how did you survive for so long? How did you survive getting trapped inside the core? You’ve got to be the most heat-resistant creature I’ve ever seen! And…what will you do after you’ve eaten yourself out of the planet?”

  Coran had noted that the death worm – a rare, fatal parasite for a planet to have indeed - had been eating its way out of the planet for thousands of years, once it had grown to a size where it could. Its actions had caused catastrophic effects – the volcanos, the high alkaline levels, the thinning atmosphere, inability for anything other than fungi to survive the planet’s increasing hostility, and massive earthquakes.

  Its reputation as impossible to survive wasn’t just on the Alteans’ side, either - before the war, the one Galra base that had attempted to establish itself some time ago to farm quintessence had been swallowed up by one of the faults, and its survivors were cooked by the lava that flowed at the bottom. It was pretty clear from Pidge’s brief time here that the empire never attempted to approach the planet again. (Pidge had somehow not experienced the earthquakes yet. She wasn’t sure she wanted to find out just how bad they were, given how deep many of the fault cracks she saw seemed to be.)

  In thousands more years, the worm’s journey would cause the atmosphere to give out, and the core would shatter entirely from the creature’s efforts. The gravitational field would collapse, and the world itself would end. The death worm would likely up either dead because, as far as anyone knew, it couldn’t last in the void of space, and its corpse would simply float among the remnants of the planet it had cannibalized.

  “Man, I bet you’ll survive.” Pidge looked at the massive beast’s silhouette with not a little wonder. Such rare creatures were so fascinating to her, in a way that she couldn’t describe. It was like working on a new invention, trying to figure out how to make it work, but in this case it was a real, organic thing, and it wasn’t something that would relent with just a few twists of a screw and some altered calculations. “I just wish I could live long enough to see you beat the odds. You’ve made it this long, after all. You survived inside the core of a planet! That’s tens of thousands of degrees hot! Space is only in the negative two hundreds Kelvin. I mean, yeah, it’s close to absolute zero, and you’d have to deal with the radiation that permeates the vacuum of space—”

  A deep rumbling began to shake the ground. Pidge tensed, expecting one of the violent earthquakes that ravaged the planet, but instead realized that the sound was coming from above. Quickly, she turned on her recorder.

  The death worm was talking. Well, more like squeaking very deeply, it didn’t talk. But it was making something nobody in the entire universe was aware of, probably – sound. Not even Coran could have known about it, right? Nothing Coran told her and nothing in their remaining databanks mentioned that the death worm made sounds. Quiznak, it could even have its own language, one that could be deciphered with time!

  Which…she didn’t have much of, as her helmet began to flash red, warning her of low oxygen levels in her suit. She sighed, reaching out to the Green Lion to come pick her up. She felt the pull in her bond, and soon enough, the Green Lion was flying down, scooping up Pidge right off the hoodoo with his mouth.

  “Hey, Green?” As Pidge sat herself down in her seat, and the greens of the air turned into the black of space, she let out a sigh. “What do you think? You think that death worm will survive in space once it’s finished its dinner?”

  The roar in the back of her mind seemed to amount to a maybe. With a chuckle, Pidge leaned back and let the Lion fly her to the rendezvous point she and the others had agreed upon. Her cameras were streaming pictures back to Coran, and she had the recording of the death worm’s voice. Hopefully, Coran’s head hadn’t exploded from all the awesome she was sending to him, by the time she’d gotten back.

[karlosharrison-blog]

Iceland, a place of stark natural beauty, has been carved by the ice caps that surround and cover her and moulded by the fiery lava that flows through her veins. Her people proudly call her the Land of Ice and Fire. This is a place for the true adventurer, a place where you can dive between two continental plates, surf in the icy Atlantic under the midnight sun, hike through smouldering fields of lava, venture deep into the heart of one of Europe’s biggest glaciers and follow the course of ancient lava through underground tunnels.

Iceland just one of hundreds of pristine landscapes.

Iceland a Work in Progress

Iceland is literally a work in progress, slowly but surely growing in size. It lies on the North Atlantic Rift where the tectonic plates of Eurasia and North America are slowly tearing themselves apart. This is the only place on earth where you can see the edges of the two continents above water and take a walk between them.

Eleven percent of the interior of Iceland is capped by more than seven thousand two hundred square kilometres of glacial ice. It is in one of the world’s most active geothermal hotspots, containing lava deserts and geothermal pools and geysers. It boasts Europe’s largest glacier and the most voluminous waterfall, one of nearly ten thousand located in Iceland. Rivers and streams thread their way through black sand deserts and landscapes of almost impossibly green mosses, ferns and birches. Lakes have taken residence in the rents in the earth, sparkling with clear glacial water.

And yet, Iceland barely featured on the tourist map until the massive volcanic eruption of 2010 grounded planes in Europe in the biggest aviation shutdown since World War Two.

Journalists converged on Iceland and discovered the pristine natural beauty that is hers. The country has since become such a popular destination that the number of tourists that visit her shores each year numbers close to five times her population of 350 000 people.

When to Travel to Iceland

The shape of your Icelandic trip will be determined by the time of year that you choose to travel. Daylight hours, landscapes, temperatures and accessibility differ substantially during the various seasons of the year.

Powerful nature of Iceland.

Iceland is not as cold as you may have imagined. In winter the temperatures hover around freezing point, but in December there are no more than four hours of daylight. In winter the price of everything from airfare to hotels and entertainment drops by up to a third. This is also when you can get to see the Northern Lights in all their glory. During this time of year, the countryside will be draped in a beautiful thick layer of snow, but many areas will be inaccessible.

In the summer months, the sun sets for only a few hours each day and even then, the night is little more than a long sunset. For those who wish to make good use of the long daylight hours, this is the best time to visit.

Getting to Iceland

Iceland is part of Nordic Europe and Schengen visa rules apply.

There are regular flights into Iceland from Europe and North America and ferries run from Europe on a regular basis. Icelandair offers the option of a stopover for up to seven nights when flying between North America and Europe. For this, there is no additional cost.

Welcome to Iceland.

The airport is forty kilometres outside of the capital city Reykjavik and you can get a bus or cab to your accommodation in the capital.

The best way to see Iceland is by camper van, or you could consider to rent a car. The Ring Road does a full circle around Iceland and is 1332 kilometers long. A ten-day trip will afford you plenty time to enjoy all the sights that Iceland has to offer.

The road is single carriage most of the way and in some areas, it deteriorates to gravel so you should add gravel insurance to your rental. You can set your own pace if you self-drive. On the other hand, the guided tour offers some insight into the history and the geology of this enchanting land.

Where to Stay

Most towns and villages in Iceland have their own camping ground and this is one of the best ways to spend a night in Iceland. There are also places where you can camp in the wild without a permit if you have fewer than three tents. It is advisable to seek permission before camping on or around farmland. Campervans may only be used in a campsite.

Camping in Iceland.

There is a decent selection of hotels and guest houses in the towns. Try the family guesthouses, farmhouses and mountain cabins when travelling around the Ring Road for a genuine Icelandic experience.

Useful to Know

Food is very expensive. An average lunch could set you back by $30. All hostels, campsites and guest houses have kitchen facilities. Making your own food is the best way of ensuring that you have money for your other adventures. Tipping is not necessary. Alcohol is very expensive as it is heavily taxed.

The water is clean and drinkable so you do not need to purchase bottled water.

Take your own towels to the thermal pools. They are expensive to rent. Expect to take a shower before you enter communal baths. There is little chlorine in the water and the local people are fussy about personal hygiene.

All Icelanders speak good English as they are expected to pass the language before leaving elementary school.

The weather is changeable. You need to be prepared as conditions can change from warm to cold and wet very quickly. The wind can pick up quickly, bringing with it an icy edge.

Always be aware of the fragile environment. Driving off road is illegal. The crime rate in Iceland is one of the lowest in the world.

Reykjavik

Most holidays to Iceland start in the most northerly capital in the world, Reykjavik. The city has a lively café culture and a vibrant nightlife, one of the best in Northern Europe. Here you will find jazz sessions, comedy theatre, craft beer bars, drag shows, and cabarets. The city is small, pretty, cosmopolitan and expensive. The streets are lined with colorful, low-rise buildings. In the distance, the snow-capped mountains are always visible.

Reykjavik a view from the top.

The cuisine in the city is superb with a wide selection of restaurants serving local and international food. Icelandic food runs the gamut of lamb or fish and the more exotic sheep’s heads, whale meat or fermented shark.

It is best to explore Reykjavik on foot. Visit the music bars, the boutiques and the cafes, art galleries, museums, and public gardens. Get a view of Reykjavik from the tower of the Hallgrimskirkja Lutheran Church. It is 74 meters tall and is one of Iceland’s largest structures. It has a 360⁰viewing platform and from it, you can see the colorful streets of Reykjavik and the harbor bay. In the front of the church is a statue of Leif Erikson, the man who sailed to North America five hundred years before Columbus.

Learn all about local marine life at the Old Harbour. On the weekend there is a colourful flea market in the harbour, where you can purchase local crafts such as the splendid jerseys for which Iceland is famous. From the harbour, you can take a boat ride to one of the nearby islands. On Viðey you’ll find the Lennon Ono peace tower. The islands are full of birds that include puffins, arctic terns and cormorants.

Take a class at the Icelandic Elf School in Reykjavik. You’ll be taught by people who claim to have met an elf or two. Many Icelandic people believe in elves. In a 2007 survey, 37% of Icelandic people said that they believed that elves possibly existed.

If you’re in Reykjavik during the winter months hitch a ride to find the Northern Lights. In summer, take a boat out to the islands to see the puffins nesting.

The Blue Lagoon

Part way between the airport and Reykjavik, the Blue Lagoon is one of the most photographed areas in Iceland. Comprised of man-made thermal pools in shade of electric blue. The water temperature never drops below 38 degrees Celsius, winter or summer. Soaking in these warm outside pools whilst surrounded by snow and ice is surreal, and the surrounding countryside adds to this dreamlike fantasy as the black rock backdrops and surrounding steam create a whimsical setting.

West Iceland

Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Snæfellsjökull glacier is the volcano that took centre stage in Jules Verne’s Journey to the Centre of the Earth, and it looms over the landscapes on the peninsula. Dramatic scenes unfold as you make your way around the coast.

The sea cliffs at Snæfellsjökull are simply remarkable. The columned basalt cliffs feature evenly spaced block columns that tower up to fourteen metres into the heavens. They are trimmed by golden beaches so unlike the black beaches found elsewhere in Iceland. On a good day, you’ll find common or grey seals sunning themselves on the sands.

Here black lava fields flow down to soft pink sand beaches, and hills and rocks are covered with emerald green mosses and ferns. The area is full of mineral springs and thermal pools. The place names carry stories of human’s interaction with trolls and elves.

One of Iceland’s loveliest natural harbours can be found at Arnarstapi. Here you can walk the massive basalt cliffs, and view the harbour and the beaches from above, or hike along the beach and explore the arches and caves below.

Stykkishólmur, the largest town on the peninsula.

Fishing villages, lighthouses and splendid and unusual rock formations are dotted all along the coastline. In Stykkishólmur, the largest town on the peninsula, you can visit the unusual Library of Water. Here roof high glass tubes contain water from each of the glaciers in Iceland. It is a beautiful exhibit created by an artist. The library is located on a hill, so you can view the town and the harbour from above. One of the world’s largest eider farms is located here, and you can make the acquaintance of the ducks at the eider centre.  

Into the Heart of a Glacier

One thousand two hundred and sixty meters above sea level you can now enter the world of glacial ice. The world’s largest manmade glacier tunnel was launched last year. Located in Iceland’s second largest glacier Langjokull, it stretches five hundred meters into the ice. Inside the ice tunnel, you enter a world coloured in wondrous shades of blue. The deeper you go, the bluer it gets.

The trip to the tube is just as exciting as the tour of the tunnel as you are transported from the base camp to the tunnel in a monster truck with eight wheels built to traverse snow and ice. The truck was acquired from NATO, and by agreement, will never be used anywhere else. Whilst in the area spend the afternoon exploring the glacier on a snowmobile. It is an adventure all of its own.

Follow the Flow of Lava

A trip to Iceland would be incomplete without a tour through a lava cave. Vatnshellir tunnels thirty-five meters into the earth and is two hundred meters long. Located on the peninsula it is one of Iceland’s finest and most accessible lava tunnels.

Lava caves are formed when molten lava hardens, creating the roof. It then drains out, leaving behind a tunnel. Walking through the tunnel you can see the progress of the lava. The inner walls of the tunnels are a kaleidoscope of colours with rock sculptures and whorls and drips in various shades created by the mineral reaction with the lava. During winter the caves glitter with ice sculptures.

One of The Largest Lava Caves in the World

At 148 000 cubic meters Víðgelmir is one of the largest lava caves in the world. It has hundreds of lava stalactites and stalagmites, and in the winter, ice sculptures join them. Viking jewellery and bones were recently found here. In the cave, lights target the most spectacular sights, highlighting the splendid colours and formations in what is considered to be one of the most remarkable caves on earth. The cave is one thousand six hundred metres long and is accessible between April and December.

Latrabjarg – Bird Lover’s Paradise

Situated at the most westerly point of Iceland is a bird lover’s paradise. It is a cliff, fourteen kilometres long, and peaking at four hundred and forty metres high. This is considered one of the best seabird cliffs anywhere in the world. In the summer months, Iceland hosts nearly ten million puffins, many of them right here. Close by, the town of Breidavik Beach has a hotel, a restaurant and some lovely hiking trails

Húsafell – Iceland’s Summer Holiday Venue

Húsafell has always been a favourite summer holiday venue for Icelandic nationals. It is an ancient farm with a church on the lands. This is a forested area filled with sparkling glacial streams and crashing waterfalls. It is popular for hiking or cycling, but you may want to take the opportunity to get to know the delightful Icelandic horse, a breed all of its own.

The Icelandic Horse – a breed of its own.

The small horse traces its ancestry to the tenth century when Vikings brought ponies to Iceland. It is recognized as an individual breed of horse. The animal is loved by the Icelandic people for its sure-footedness and ability to find its way even in difficult weather conditions. Visitors to Iceland have also taken to the Icelandic horses and it is now exported to several countries around the world.

East Iceland

The east of Iceland is the least popular amongst tourists, and this may be part of its charm – fewer people. In this part of the island, the East Fjords are dotted with little fishing villages and surrounded by beautiful mountains. In a country with few trees, East Iceland is home to the biggest forest in the country. Thirty-five thousand wild reindeer live in the area. In season you can get easy access to puffins.

South Iceland

South Iceland contains some of the most popular tourist destinations. These include the Reykjanes Peninsula, the Golden Circle and Thorsmork, the best hiking destination in Iceland.

Thingvellir National Park

Thingvellir National Park is the first stop off on the famous Golden Circle, Iceland’s most popular tour. This park is at the heart of Iceland’s geological and historical foundations. It was here that the world’s oldest existing Parliament was first established by the Vikings in 930 AD. It continued there, in Nature’s amphitheatre, until 1798 when it was moved to Reykjavik. Relics of the time, the remains of ancient stone and turf homes, lie scattered throughout the park.

Thingvellir National Park a UNESCO heritage site.

The geology of the park has been carved by the fury of the earth as the continental plates of North America and Eurasia drift apart. Here you can walk between two continents or stand on each and collect your certificate.

Take a dive in Lake Silfra, deep inside the rift valley. The lake is fed from melt-off from the Langjökull glacier, and because it is filtered through rock, it is crystal clear, with visibility of up to eighty metres. The colours of the water are breathtaking, with greens and blues of every hue.

The park is surrounded on three sides by mountains. It boasts extraordinarily beautiful scenery with moss covered lava, scattered with lakes and dotted with small birch forests.

Geysir Geothermal Area

The second stop on the Golden Circle tour, Haukadalur Valley is an area of intense geothermal activity and you can see the steam rising above it from miles away. The area is full of steam vents, pools of boiling water and bubbling mud pools which give vent to the pungent smell of sulphur.

Strokkur – Every ten minutes she puts on a spectacular show.

This valley is the home of Geysir, the ancient natural wonder that gave its name to all other such phenomena. Geysir seldom vents anymore but Strokkur, alongside it, is very active and puts on a show several times every hour. Much to the delight of the onlookers, Strokkur catapults water and steam up to forty metres into the air.

Gullfoss

The last stop on the tour is the beautiful Gullfoss waterfall, one of Europe’s biggest, it drops down a thirty-two-meter two-tier fall.

Gullfoss one of Europe’s largest waterfalls.

On a sunny day, its sparkling waters are dressed with rainbows.

Skaftafell Nature Reserve

Skaftafell Nature Reserve covers four thousand eight hundred square kilometres of land and encompasses black lava deserts, birch forests and moss banked roaring rivers. Waterfalls also grace the park. Enjoying milder climates than many other areas on the island, many people enjoy the camping facilities in the shadow of the Öræfajökull glacier.

The area is mountainous and includes the mighty Vatnajökull Glacier. This is a perfect place to take a glacier tour. Glaciers beautiful as they are from a distance, have so much more to offer up-close. They are moulded by the elements so that they change day by day, as tunnels and ice sculptures wax and wane.

Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon

Just sixty kilometres east, you’ll find the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. This beautiful blue lagoon is sprinkled with giant icebergs that have calved from the glacier icecap. This lagoon has become Iceland’s deepest lake, continually growing as the ice cap retreats. It is home to countless seals.

Ice on water Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.

In the summer months, you can take a boat trip on the lagoon to view the seals and whales and to get close to the icebergs.  In winter, you’re in for a treat of a different kind when the underground ice caves are open to tourist groups. Vatnajökull Ice Caves are formed in the summer months when melt-off from the glacier flows beneath the ice, creating a fairytale world of sparkling ice caves.

In wintertime ice chunks lay upon the black beach, glistening like diamonds.

Thorsmork

Thorsmork or Thor’s Park is a favourite hiking spot in Iceland. It is a place of incredible natural beauty and is a valley surrounded by three major glaciers. The green-clad mountains are threaded with streams and rivers. Waterfalls add to the dramatic landscapes. There are multiple ways to explore this area from hiking to modified jeeps, horseback riding, cycling or all-terrain vehicles.

Thorsmork, a favourite hiking site.

Volcano huts and campgrounds are available for overnight stays and there is a full restaurant.

Landmannalaugar

The Landmannalaugar mountain range stands in colourful contrast to the pitch-black lava field right next to it. These Rhyolite mountains are a singular sight, in shades of pink, yellow, orange and green, colours that change as the sun crosses the sky. The valleys below the bare slopes of the mountain are clad in bright green mosses and grasses and in spring, they are filled with wildflowers. Here the rivers run warm as the area is geothermally active, and you can find a number of warm spas to soak in. Huts and camping facilities are available. There is also a small supply store.

Reynisfjara Beach

The most famous beach in Iceland and one of the most picturesque, these black sand and pebble beaches are walled in by basalt pillared cliffs. Sea stacks rise from the furious Atlantic waters, which are famous for tossing rogue waves onto the blackened shoreline.

Try surfing

If you’re an adventurous type, a surfing trip to the Reykjanes Peninsula is well worth the effort. The view of the land from the sea is spectacular, and unlike other top surfing sites, you won’t be sharing your wave with anyone. Make sure to go out with an Icelandic surf expert as the weather and currents are unpredictable.

LAVA – The Earthquake Museum

The recently opened, Lava Volcano and Earthquake Museum features viewing platforms that overlook Eyjafjallajökull, Katla and Hekla. Here you can experience simulated earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Interactive software explains the geology behind the phenomena.

North Iceland

Húsavík

Húsavík is one of the best places in the world to watch whales. The whales occupy the bay. The runoff from the surrounding mountains has endowed the lagoon with minerals that feed the plankton that the whales love. Boats of various types depart from the town into the lagoon so that visitors can get to see these animals close up, and in their natural environment. Humpback Minke and Blue Whale are frequently seen feeding and breaching in these waters.

Husavik.

On the banks, you’ll find a colourful fishing village where you can visit the whale museum or finish the day sampling Icelandic fish dishes.

Lake Myvatn

Lake Myvatn was formed about two thousand five hundred years ago by a volcanic eruption. The lake district is rich with bird and animal life. It is a large shallow lake famed for its wide variety of ducks. The area has many bubbling mud pots and thermal pools, and the air is redolent with the pungent smell of sulphur.

Westman Islands

Just seventy kilometres off Iceland’s southern coastline, the Westman Islands comprise a group of thirty islands that are home to the biggest puffin population on earth. The largest, Heimaey, is the only populated island. It was devastated by a volcanic eruption in 1973. Many of the homes destroyed in the eruption remain as they were at the time. This place is now known as the Pompei of the North. Take a ferry to tour the islands.

Stone and turf houses.

Apart from the ruined town, you’ll also find an ancient Danish fort, some lovely churches, and ancient stone and turf houses so characteristic of Iceland.

Iceland – a Place Like No Other

Iceland is an extraordinary place with unusual and often otherworldly natural features seen nowhere else on earth. Here you can dive between continents, climb multi-coloured mountains, ride super jeeps through lunar landscapes, inspect icebergs and snowmobile on some of Europe’s biggest glaciers. Camp under the stars. Seek the Northern Lights. Ride an Icelandic horse through unspoilt nature. This is a holiday you’ll never forget.

Which would you prefer winter or summer in Iceland?

The post Iceland – An Adventurer’s Dream Destination appeared first on Etramping Travel Blog.

[sciencespies]

You must see these 29 surreal landscapes from across our gorgeous planet

https://sciencespies.com/nature/you-must-see-these-29-surreal-landscapes-from-across-our-gorgeous-planet/

You must see these 29 surreal landscapes from across our gorgeous planet

Earth is full of bizarre landscapes. Some are land formations moulded over thousands of years, while others are human-made creations that have altered the planet in strange ways.

From the bubbling lava lakes of Ethiopia, to a lake that has been nestled in the desert for 2,000 years, here are 29 landscapes that are so incredible, it’s hard to believe they’re real. 

Near the city of Torrevieja in Spain lie two salty and very pink lakes called Las Salinas de Torrevieja. The colour is said to be caused by algae that releases a red pigment under certain conditions.

(David Herraez Calzada/Shutterstock.com)

The Door to Hell in Turkmenistan has been burning its flames since 1971. Somehow, the hole continues to burn since it was accidentally drilled into by geologists.

(Lockenes/Shutterstock.com)

In the province of Denizli in western Turkey, the naturally terraced thermal springs of Hierapolis-Pamukkale date as far back as the second century BC. Formed by calcite in the water, the hot springs look like stunning white clouds.

(muratart/Shutterstock.com)

The Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland in New Zealand has been sculpted from thousands of years of volcanic activity. Considered New Zealand’s most colourful and diverse geothermal attraction, the site features bubbling mud pools, mineral terraces, and geysers.

(Florian Bugiel/Flickr)

Tanzania’s Lake Natron is known for its deep red hue. Its rich colour comes from algae and salt-loving organisms, and it fascinatingly draws millions of flamingo visitors from June to November.

(NASA/Wikimedia)

In Geneva, travellers can witness the majestic sight of two rivers colliding with one another. The source of the Rhône river is the Rhône Glacier, while the Arve River is fed by glaciers in the Chamonix valley. When the two bleed into one another, it makes for a stunning sight.

(Elenarts/Shutterstock.com)

The Danakil Depression, in the northeastern corner of Ethiopia, is one of the hottest places on the planet, with temperatures reaching as high as 145 degrees Fahrenheit (62 degrees Celsius). With two active volcanoes, a bubbling lava lake, geysers, acid ponds, and several mineral deposits, the setting looks like something from another planet.

(Aleksandra H. Kossowska/Shutterstock.com)

The rice terraces of China’s Yunnan province are carved into the hillside. Different types of vegetation lend the landscape its alternating hues.

(asharkyu/Shutterstock)

Antelope Canyon, located near Page, Arizona, is the most photographed canyon in the American Southwest. Travellers flock here to capture its masterpiece of colours while admiring its smooth, wave-like texture.

(Manamana/Shutterstock.com)

Göreme National Park and the Rock Sites of Cappadocia are volcanic landscapes created entirely from erosion. This includes pinnacles nicknamed ‘fairy chimneys’, which can be seen across this region of Turkey. Meanwhile, the Cappadocia Valley is home to thousand-year-old cave dwellings you can still visit today.

(Mr Hicks46/Flickr)

The Crescent Lake (or “Yueyaquan” in Chinese) is a fresh water spring in the shape of a half moon that sits in the Gobi Desert. The oasis is believed to have existed for around 2,000 years (though it has seen its water levels decline), and attractions include activities like dune surfing and camel riding.

(Rat007/Shutterstock.com)

At first glance, the Lencois Maranhenses Sand Dunes of northeastern Brazil look like your average set of sand dunes, but the valleys are filled with water since the low-lying lands often flood during the wet season. Fish even live in the pools.

(vitormarigo/Shutterstock.com)

Marvel at Grand Prismatic Spring, located in Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park. As the largest natural hot spring in the US, it’s a favourite for its dazzling colours that shift from orange and reds in the summer to green hues in the winter.

(Yann Arthus-Bertrand/AP)

Whitehaven Beach, in Whitsunday Island, Australia, hosts a cove where the tide shifts the sand and waters together, creating a breathtaking combination. White sands and turquoise waters seem to blend seamlessly to make for a marvelous view.

(Roderick Eime/Flickr)

During the wet season, the Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia are covered in a thin layer of water, creating surreal reflections of the sky.

(Benedikt Juerges/Shutterstock.com)

Visit the Zao Onsen hot spring and ski resort, located in the mountains of Japan’s Yamagata Prefecture, and you’ll see ‘ice trees’ – trees that pack on heavy amounts of snow to take on fascinating shapes.

(KPG_Payless/Shutterstock.com)

Salinas Grandes is a massive salt desert in Argentina. The field stretches 2,300 square miles (3,700 square kilometres) and includes saltwater pools within its awe-inspiring expanse.

(Anibal Trejo/Shutterstock.com)

The Ta Prohm temple, located in Angkor, Cambodia, is an unbelievably fascinating sight, as huge tree roots dominate the ground and structure, growing sideways along its walls.

(Perfect Lazybones/Shutterstock)  The Namib Sand Sea, located in Namibia’s Namid-Naukluft Park, is a coastal desert. Dune fields often come into contact with fog, creating a unique environment for an array of wildlife.

(Anna Morgan/Shutterstock.com)

The Kelimutu volcano on Flores island, Indonesia, is home to three coloured lakes ranging from turquoise to a rich green. The lakes are incredibly dense, adding to the striking appearance of their colours, which are thought to be caused by dissolving minerals.

(almondd/Shutterstock.com)

The Wave is a sandstone rock formation located in the Paria Canyon-Vermillon Cliffs Wilderness near the border of Arizona and Utah. It’s known for its colourful and unique formations and the difficult hike required to reach it, and you’ll need to obtain a permit to visit.

(Greg Mote/Flickr)Colombia’s Caño Cristales is covered in an aquatic plant that takes on hues of red, blue, yellow, orange, and green under different weather conditions. Most of the year it looks like any other river, but from June to December, it is said to look like a breathtaking stream of rainbows.

(Eric Pheterson/Flickr)

Located in Utah, Bryce Canyon National Park is home to brightly coloured geological structures, which are formed from erosion and called hoodoos. The park hosts the largest collection of hoodoos in the world.

(Ekaterina Pokrovsky/Shutterstock)

The White Sands National Monument in New Mexico is home to the world’s largest gypsum dune field. With around 275 square miles (442 square kilometres) of white dunes, the area looks like it’s blanketed in snow.

(Miguel Vieira/Flickr)

The Richat Structure, also known as the Eye of the Sahara, stands as a large bullseye in the middle of the Sahara Desert. With a diameter that spans almost 30 miles (48 km), it is thought to be the result of erosion and stands as a marvel for scientists and travellers alike.

(Jim Trodel/Flickr)

Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes National Park is both one of southeast Europe’s oldest parks and Croatia’s largest, with 16 interlinked lakes between Mala Kapela Mountain and Plješivica Mountain. The lakes are surrounded by lush forests and waterfalls, whose waters have deposited travertine limestone barriers for years to create the natural dams.

 (149420482 Kelly Cheng Travel Photography/Getty Images)

Nevada’s Fly Geyser, located in Washoe County, was created through accidental well drilling in 1916. In the 1960s, the water began escaping from the drilled location, creating the geyser that is known for its stunning changing colours.

(Jeremy C. Munns/Wikimedia)

Ice caves that reside within Kamchatka, Russia, come complete with stunning formations and hues of purples, blues, greens, and yellows, which arise when sunlight streams through their glacial ice.

(Sergey Krasnoshchokov/Shutterstock.com)

Namibia’s Dead Vlei, or “dead marsh”, is surrounded by some of the highest sand dunes in the world and dotted with dead trees that are more than 900 years old.

(Anna Morgan/Shutterstock.com)

Megan Willett wrote an earlier verson of this story. It was originally published in 2016.

This article was originally published by Business Insider.

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