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altertonative · 5 years

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ALTERNATIVELY THROUGH POLAND: MILICZ PONDS

MILICZ - WHERE’S THAT?

Milicz is not a well-known, nor very popular city in Poland. Not many Polish people even heard of it, not to mention visiting it. It’s not actually about the city itself, but rather about tits surroundings. Until I went to see the complex of the Milicz Ponds, I had too no idea what to identify this small town with, located in the north of the Lower Silesia Voivodship. The fact is that it is laying on the route of the Barycz Valley landscape park, which is appreciated by fans of hiking or canoeing. However, it is the ponds that constitute the most recognizable object of Milicz, even though they do not directly adjoin it, because they are bordering with nearby small villages such as: Stawno, Grabówka, Ruda Milicka or Ruda Sułowska.

MILICZ PONDS - WHAT’S THAT?

Milicz Ponds are the largest pond complex in Europe. The first of them were created in the twelfth century by Cistercians, medieval Catholic monks. The pond complex is also the largest ornithological area in Poland: almost 300 species of birds can be found here. The surrounding areas are very clean, as evidenced by the lichen of the Icelandic lung. Milicz ponds are the only ones in Poland that belong to Living Lakes, an international network of lakes and other water reservoirs protected due to the unique natural values (the Black Sea, Titicaca and Lake Victoria also belong to this agreement). Carp breeding, the process of creation and the infrastructure of the ponds have not changed here for nine centuries. Cessation of breeding activities, and on the other hand, too much human interference could have a negative impact on the fauna and flora of this region, which is why it is protected by opening to the visitors only some of its parts, isolating mainly the areas of carp fishing.

There are five separate pond complexes in the reserve area: Stawno, Potasznia, Radziądz, Jamnik and worth recommending Ruda Sułowska. Specially prepared and marked tourist and didactic paths allow you to enjoy beautiful landscapes at any time of the year. The most interesting time to observe birds is certainly the beginning of spring, because it is the breeding season, and also in the autumn, when the water level decreases in the ponds, and numerous flocks of geese rest at the shore. It is worth taking a walk on the ponds also during warmer spring evenings, where from the tower on the Grabownica pond you can see less common specimens of white-tailed eagles or black kites. The least interesting time for ornithologists is summer, because the ponds are overgrown with grasses and reeds, and it is increasingly difficult to see birds that during this period deal mainly with the young. On the other hand, July and August is a great time for kayaking, offering rather quiet but very picturesque routes.

RUDA SUŁOWSKA - WHERE THE ADVENTURE WITH THE PONDS BEGINS

This small village surrounded on each side by ponds, located west of Milicz, is famous for the area with the largest number of stork nests. Visiting the ponds is worth starting in the south of Ruda Sułowska, where you can park your car at the top of the gables that say, "I want to stay here" (marked Unnamed Road on the map next). It is not a proper parking, but there is enough space for a few cars, and next to it there are roofed wooden benches and tables, perfect for a picnic in the open air. Entrance to the pond area is free, however, it is necessary to comply with the prohibitions that quite often appear on the trail. A big plus of the reserve is a small number of tourists, so if you are looking for a place for uninterrupted contact with nature, you've come to the right place. The hardened nature trails leading along the dikes between the ponds are also suitable for a cycling trip. The route at Ruda Sułowska is marked by eight stops with information boards, and the whole creates a loop of about six kilometers, which can be overcome with a quiet, walking pace in less than two hours.

HOW TO BOOK ACCOMMODATION?

The NATURUM hotel offers great accommodation in comfortable rooms, harmonizing modernity with naturalness. The spacious and bright interiors were made of natural materials. Combined with dominant, warm colors, they create a cozy atmosphere with a high standard. The facility has a restaurant and an intimate wellness area. On the hotel website you can also buy occasional packages and vouchers.

IS IT WORTH VISITING MILICZ PONDS?

Milicz Ponds is an ideal area for those seeking peace, fresh air and breathing in nature, away from the city. Time has come to a halt here, because it is birds that determine the different times of the day and the year, not the hands of the clock. The reserve enjoys the eye all year long and if you want to spend the weekend on relaxing walks, landscaped bike trips or bird watching, it is worth coming here.

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ultralifehackerguru-blog · 6 years

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New Post has been published on http://www.lifehacker.guru/33-incredible-award-winning-photos-will-make-fall-love-world/

33 incredible, award-winning photos that will make you fall in love with the world

These pictures are worth more than a thousand words.Based in Siena, Italy, the Siena International Photo Awards garner submissions from photographers in over 100 countries around the world. The winner receives €1,500 (about $1,666 USD) as well as the coveted Pangea Prize.The subject matters range from landscapes to subtle portraits to dramatic encounters in the animal kingdom, with categories such as nature, sport, travel, architecture, and a student division for up-and-coming photographers under the age of 20.

Here are the first, second, and third place winners across 11 categories.

Photo of the Year: “Sardine Run” by Greg Lecoeur

Courtesy SIPA

Location : South Africa

“During the sardines’ migration along the coast of South Africa, all marine predators are looking for sardines! I was lucky to be at the right place at the right time to photograph their capture.”

First place in Travel: “Strawberry Greenhouses” by Leyla Emektar

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Nazilli (Aydin), Turkey

“To take this shot, I had to climb a relief, which allowed me to include interesting, colored greenhouses located near Nazilli. To make the picture more interesting, I waited for the moment when a Turkish peasant who was working with the strawberries entered the frame.”

Second place in Travel: “Boys Trainers” by Matjaz Krivic

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Diafarabe, Mali

“When we met, the boy was carrying his shoes in his hands as he couldn’t use them anymore. Traveling prepared makes a difference, and with my sewing needle and dental floss, we patched them up, so that he could follow his herd.”

Third place in Travel: “Floating Market” by Antonius Andre Tjiu

Courtesy SIPA

Location : South Borneo

“A floating market is a market where goods are displayed and sold from boats. Floating markets are developed in places where water transportation plays an important role in everyday life.”

First place in Architecture: “Warp Speed” by Mike Hollman

Courtesy SIPA

Location: Tokyo, Japan

“I took this shot while traveling to Tokyo on the Yurikamome Line, which takes its name from the common black-headed gull that populates the bay of said Japanese capital.”

Second place in Architecture: “Women Reflection” by Ali Al Hajri

Courtesy SIPA

Location: United Arab Emirates

“Two women walking reflect their images on the water and give birth to the exaltation of the geometry and architecture of Sheikh Zayed’s Grand Mosque.”

Third place in Architecture: “Windows” by Roberto Tagliani

Courtesy SIPA

Location: Miami, Florida

“In this photo we can see very vividly the unusual textures of a Miami skyscraper, highlight the geometry of the building, which dominates the magical American city.”

First place in Open Monochrome: “A Man Feeding Swans In The Snow” by Marcin Ryczek

Courtesy SIPA

Location: Poland

“This photograph was taken in Krakow, from the Grunwald bridge. The nature-created contrast of white snow and dark water, separated by the straight line of the waterfront, serves as a reflection of the Yin-Yang symbol which represents opposing yet complementary forces.”

Second place in Open Monochrome: “Cock Fighting” by Pimpin Nagawan

Courtesy SIPA

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

“This photo was taken in Jakarta and shows two men who proudly watch their roosters fighting. Cockfighting is one of the most common traditions among several Indonesian cultures.”

Third place in Open Monochrome: “Il Gondoliere” by Giuseppe Antonio Valletta

Courtesy SIPA

Location: Venice, Italy

“This photo is taken on Malvasia Vecchia Bridge, in Venice, in one of the most photographed places in the world, where you can still find unique moments at a glance. The author has photographed this gondolier, towards the end of a hard day’s work, while he was returning home with his dog.”

Tied for third place: “Secret Sisters” by Arief Siswandhono

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Banyuwangi, Indonesia

“Fina is our second child and now her mother is pregnant with her third child. I created this photograph to show her that the sex of any new baby is a secret of God and they are like fabric-covered models.”

First place in Nature: “Sensazioni, Etna In Eruzione” by Giuseppe Mario Famiani

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Cesarò, Italy

“This image shows the magnificence of erupting magma, ash and gas, during the first days of December 2015, which rose to a height of several kilometers above the summit of Mount Etna.”

Second place in Nature: “Decisive Throw” by Mike Korostelev

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Kuril Lake, Kamchatka, Russia

“The bear fishes in the river, he sits down, puts his head under the water and pauses looking for fish. Once the fish begin to ignore him and come closer, he makes a crucial lunge and catches them with his paws or teeth.”

Third place in Nature: “Galaxy Dolomites” by Ivan Pedretti

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Tre cime di Lavaredo, Italy

“Panoramic view with the moonset at The Three Peaks of Lavaredo (Italy), also called Drei Zinnen, on a night in July at 2450m, during a photographic weekend with some landscaper friends.”

First place in Open Color: “Phan Rang Fishing Net Making” by Danny Yen Sin Wong

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Vietnam

“In a small village in southern Vietnam near Phan Rang, a woman wearing a typical cone hat is creating a fishing net in their traditional manner. The manufacturing of handmade nets is still a typical Vietnamese activity for women, which they carry on while their husbands are out fishing.”

Second place in Open Color: “Makkah3” by Majid Alamri

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Saudi Arabia

“A multitude of observant Muslims hold the traditional circumambulation ritual around the Kaaba, an ancient building located in the center of Mecca, which is the holiest place for the Islam community.”

Third place in Open Color: “Central Black” by Isa Ebrahim

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Bahrain

“A Bahraini Muslim woman carrying her son while taking part in the funeral of Isa Radhi, the Bahraini protester who was allegedly killed during Martial Law in Sitra Village, South Manama on March 22, 2011.”

First place in People and Portrait: “Mother and Son” by Jiming Lv

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Baoji City, Shanxi Province, China

“In my work, I search for a bright and strong artistic effect, for a charming photographic language in shape, color and with the use of light. I pay great attention to the setting of the picture in an effort to combine the objectivity of the external world with my interiority, to obtain an image which represents both the ‘momentum’ and my ‘artistic conception.’ Following this general concept, I created my artwork ‘Mother and Son.'”

Second place in People and Portrait: “The Outsiders” by Justine Tjallinks

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Amsterdam, the Netherlands

“New generations will see boundaries fade and determine for themselves what is normal. There is beauty in the unusual. Celebrate difference!”

Third place in People and Portrait: “Wicklow Wolves” by Marek Biegalski

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Ireland

“This is my favourite image from a series of photos inspired from the American TV series ‘Sons of Anarchy.’ It took me two years to finally get a team together and be able to complete the first part of this project. The photographs were taken in the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland.”

First place in Sport: “Arctic Urban Skiing” by Audun Rikardsen

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Tromsø, Norway

“A friend skiing at night, descends a 10 meter high clifftop in Tromso, Norway. The challenge was quite demanding, because the night was much darker than it appears in the photo. So much so, that it was impossible to see where one might land. The image is the result of a long exposure and the use of a specific flash pointed to capture the subject during action.”

Second place in Sport: “Knock Out 05” by Eric Tkindt

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Ghent, Belgium

“This was the moment when the former world champion was defeated by the new world champion in his weight category. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right moment. This is called ‘photographer’s luck.'”

Third place in Sport: “Jump 2.0” by Ajuriaguerra Saiz Pedro Luis

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Palacio de Deportes Basauri, Málaga, Spain

“During the Para-Olympic meeting, celebrated in Basauri for the Spanish championship, one of the best long jumpers for the blind category, Xavi Porras, realized a masterful jump. The statuesque beauty of the jumper and his strong desire to exit the photo frame are immortalized.”

First place in Student: “Ofelia” by Krishna Vr

Courtesy SIPA

Location : México

“ Ofelia, Ofelia I feel something is missing since you went away. Now all my thoughts are drowning, my words are less than before. Everything became blue but you.”

Second place in Student: “Castle” by Spencer Cox

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Jökulsárlón Beach, Iceland

“One of the most dramatic sights in Iceland is the incredible Jökulsárlón beach, where icebergs routinely wash ashore. This particular piece of ice was the most interesting one that I saw. Although it melted into the sea soon after I took this photograph, its incredible beauty is unforgettable.”

Third place in Student: “Raised From The Water” by Mateusz Piesiak

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Barycz Valley, Poland

“When the ponds dry up, thousands of birds gather around them as it is a great occasion to eat fish. I hid in my hiding place before dawn. Gulls appeared first. I started to experiment with my camera settings to capture the birds in motion. Finally, I took a photo I liked.”

First place in Wine: “Joy Of A Farmer” by Gianluca De Bartolo

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Romania

“A Romanian farmer shows his happiness after the harvest in Maramures. The population of this region still maintains a strong connection to the land and still carries out many agricultural activities manually.”

Second place in Wine: “La Morra” by Valentina Galvagno

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Langhe, Italy

“An autumnal glimpse of Cuneo’s Langhe taken at La Morra, portrays a wine producing area near Alba in a moment in which the light increases the beauty of the vineyards’ colors.”

Third place in Wine: “Los Viñedos Del Volcán” by Francisco Mingorance

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Lanzarote, Canary Islands

“This project carried out by locals is for aging wine directly in the ground which is rich in minerals, and makes the already awesome landscape of Lanzarote even more interesting.”

First place in Wildlife: “Sharing Resources” by Audun Rikardsen

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Tromsø, Norway

“During winter in northern Norway, large biomasses of herring have overwintered in fjords during three to four dark winter months in recent years. This has attracted hundreds of whales and fishing vessels. The killer whales have learned the sound of the boats when they haul their herring bag nets and get attracted to the boats in hopes of an easy meal of leftover herring. A single exposure where Audun has used a self-made underwater housing.”

Second place in Wildlife: “Scream Of Death” by Antonius Andre Tjiu

Courtesy SIPA

Location : South Borneo

“The snake in this photograph is curled in defense, knowing that its best chance for survival lies in attacking the much larger Crested Serpent Eagle.”

Third place in Wildlife: “Lioness Hunt” by Pierluigi Rizzato

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

“In late afternoon, when the sun light is rapidly fading, a lioness is crawling in the grass while getting closer to a herd of Thomson Gazelles. Then, all of a sudden, it springs and attacks.”

Tied for third place: “Leap Of Faith (Jump Of The Wildebeest)” by Nicole Cambré

Courtesy SIPA

Location : Northern Serengeti, Mara river, Tanzania

“This wild beast did not wait for its turn to cross the Mara River and jumped over all of the others. The image was caught at the instant in which the wild beast fell.”

(C)

#Photography

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