Thursday, October 8, 2009

The Spell of the Yukon

"There's a land -- oh, it beckons and beckons,
And I want to go back -- and I will."...Robert Service

Not only the gold beckons! Emerald Lake is one of the most photographed spots in the Yukon. The beautiful blue-green colour of the lake is created by sunlight reflecting off a white layer of “marl” on the lake bed. Marl is a white calcium carbonate clay that forms in the water and then settles, often unevenly, onto the lake bottom. It forms when enough carbonate, from dissolving limestone, reacts with calcium in the water.





And just down the road...Spirit Lake




Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Friday, May 15, 2009

Hey! You with the Camera!

It was reasonably warm and sunny today so I spent part of the afternoon in Hawrelak park. It seemed a very sensible thing to do as the forecast for next Tuesday is for possible flurries. However I ran into a Lesser Scaup duck who wasn't pleased to see me and didn't appreciate me taking her picture. I can just hear her calling..."Hey! You with the Camera!"




Monday, April 6, 2009

Perth from the Park

One of the most isolated cities in the world, Perth is the capital of Western Australia and home to 1.5 million people. With it's Mediterranean climate and more sunshine than any other large Australian city...maybe that is why everyone here seems so friendly! This photo was taken from Kings Park, a remarkable 400 hectare mix of botanic garden, quiet parkland and the unique bushland common to Western Australia.




Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Spring Breakup on the Fortymile River, Yukon Territory






"First paddle of the year." Rae Brown, Spring Breakup 1973





The following day...after an ice jam let go upriver.
"We were younger then, not smarter!" Rae Brown, 2009

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Up Close and Personal with Madam Pele

Madam Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire, treated us to quite the reception as we cruised about 1 mile off shore of the big island of Hawaii. In the first photo hot lava enters the Pacific ocean at Waikupanaha, Hawaii, creating spectacular steam explosions (also called littoral explosions, because they occur at the shoreline, or littoral zone). Huge plumes of steam, gas and debris rise above the boiling water.


Kilauea Lava Flow


Further east along the coast, at Waha'ula, another lava flow drips like candle wax over the sea cliff.


Kilauea Lava Flow


The welcome we received from Madam Pele was indeed very, very warm.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Balga - Keeper of the Trail

When we came across this figure beside a trail in Western Australia we thought that, perhaps, we should have brushed up on our Aboriginal legends before venturing out. Actually, despite the authoritative stance, it's a grass tree (Xanthorrhoea preissii). Because it's trunk is frequently blackened by bush fires it was commonly called 'Black Boy' (in less politically correct times).