Drought is a condition that arises due to lack or insufficiency of rain for a long duration. The main causes of drought are: water shortage, stream flow reduction or depletion of groundwater and soil moisture. It is an indirect but gradual hazard occurring in Nature that affects agriculture. It can be categorised into four basic […]
Denali is a vast area comprising wilderness in the Denali National Park and preserve in the United States. With 6 million acres of parkland, Denali has a wonderful mix of landscapes that include forests at the lowest elevations, tundra in the middle elevations and glaciers, rock and snow in the highest elevations. The park sees
The Arctic Circle is the northernmost area of the 5 major latitudinal circles marking the World Map. The term ‘Arctic’ was coined from the Greek word that meant ‘Near the bear’. With no fixed position, the Arctic Circle’s latitude depends on the axial tilt of the Earth and tidal forces that are caused by the
The Grand Canyon National Park is situated in the northwestern part of Arizona, the United States. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Grand Canyon National Park, which was given its official designation in 1919, is the 15th oldest National Park in the United States. Covering 4,926.08 sq.km the Grand Canyon is an aweinspiring site because
Landslide is the movement of huge mass of rocks, soil and debris down a slope. This movement is driven by gravitational force or a force that causes two or more parts or layers of the Earth’s surface to slide upon in opposite directions. Landslide can occur in two ways: Rapid landslide: This event takes only
The Serengeti National Park is a vast area of grassland plains, savanna, riverine forests and woodlands, located in Tanzania.Spread over 14,750 sq.km, the Serengeti National Park is world-famous for its abundant wildlife, including the ‘Big five’ that were the most prized trophies shot by hunters. The plentiful wildlife includes the Masai lion, African leopard, African
The Grand Prismatic Spring is a hot spring located in the Yellowstone National Park, in Wyoming, the United States. Noted by geologists in 1871, this beautiful hot spring was rightly named so based on its incredible colouration, which matches the dispersion of white light by a prism creating a rainbow of colours. With a rich
Flood is a condition when overflow of water from a natural water source takes place. For example, overflow of a river in an adjacent plain region during heavy rainfall. When the flood is of high intensity, it causes severe damage. However, at times when the intensity of the flood is low, it can be useful
The Okavango Delta is a large swampy inland delta located in Botswana. The Okavango Delta is a result of seasonal flooding; however, most of the water evaporates or is transpired by plants. As a result, no water ever flows into the sea or ocean. With more than 11 cubic km of water spreading across the
Tsunami means ‘harbour wave’ in Japanese language. This is caused by an underwater earthquake occurring less than 50 km below the seafloor. Tsunami occurs when one tectonic plate slips under another plate. This slip of plates leads to earthquake (Intensity: at least 5.5 on Richter scale). It can also occur due to coastal or underwater
Bryce Canyon is less of a Canon and more of a collection of giant natural amphitheatres situated in Utah, the United States. The Bryce the Canyon is a distinctive natural formation where huge geological structures, known as hoodoos, were formed due to frost, weathering and stream erosion of the river and lakebed. Dawning colours of
Situated in Abu Dhabi, UAE, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the principal place of worship in the country. The Mosque has been beautifully constructed with an attempt to send a message of ‘Uniting the world’. The artisans and materials have been taken from various countries including Iran, China, Morocco, India, Italy, the UK, Malaysia
Volcanoes can be classified according to the type of eruptions they exhibit. There are three main types of volcanoes on this basis: explosive, quiet and intermediate. Explosive or Stratocone: The structure of this volcano is steep-sided. It gives out lots of gas, ash, pumice but less amount of lava. The lava which is released is
The Kolukkumalai Tea Estate is a sprawling tea estate situated in Munnar, India. Situated 8,000 feet above the sea level, the sprawling tea estate was built on a ridge overlooking the plains of Tamil Nadu. The estate attracts tourists from far and near both for sampling the exquisite teas available here and for admiring the
Milford Sound is a fjord of breathtaking beauty situated within the Fjordland National Park, in the south-west of New Zealand’s South Island. Considered one of New Zealand’s most famous tourist destinations, Milford Sound is named after Milford Haven in Wales. A picturesque landscape, towering cliffs, beautiful cobalt waters with distinctive marine environment and splendid waterfalls