Dead Sea

The Dead Sea is located Israel and the West Bank and Jordan. It is a hypersaline or salt lake that contains more than 8 times the salt present in the ocean waters. Because of this it is often referred to as “Sea of Salt.”

The Dead Sea also represents the lowest place on the surface of the earth. The lowest part of the area reaches down 1,378 feet (420 m) below sea level. The lake itself is 1,247 feet (380 m) making it the deepest hypersaline lake in the world.

The Dead Sea measures 42 miles (67 km) long and 11 miles (18 km) across. The Dead Sea gets water from various sources but the Jordan River is the primary tributary.

The Dead Sea, which shimmers like a bluemirror under all-day sunshine, is one of the most unusual bodies of water in the world.

It is set in the lowest dry land on earth, so it has no outlet. It is so loaded with minerals that no fish can live in it. It is so dense that bathers can lie back on its surface and read a newspaper.

The Dead Sea is located about 25km east ofJerusalem, along the border between Israel and Jordan. About half of it is actually in Jordanian territory.

The ancient Hebrews called this body of water the Sea of Salt. Other ancient names include the Sea of Solitude, the Sea of Arabah and the Asphalt Sea. TheCrusaders called it the Sea of Satan.

The Dead Sea’s therapeutic qualities attracted Herod the Great. Its minerals and sticky black mud provided balms for Egyptian mummies and cosmetics for Cleopatra.

Now its health resorts treat psoriasis and arthritis, its skin-care products are marketed worldwide, and its industrial evaporation pans harvest potash and other minerals.

Evaporation concentrates the minerals

The Dead Sea is 67km long, 18km across at its widest point, and 420 metres below sea level.

Because it has no exit, water is lost only through evaporation, which leaves behind the minerals. The Dead Sea is nearly 10 times assalty as the open seas. The high concentration of minerals (predominantly magnesium chloride) provides the buoyancy that keeps bathers suspended — as well as a bitter taste.

A low promontory of land called el-Lisan (“the tongue”) projects across the sea from the east, dividing the southern third from the northern section.

At one time the Dead Sea covered four times as much land as it did in 2006, when its surface was falling by up to a metre a year.

Much of the water that once flowed into the Dead Sea is being diverted for drinking water and agriculture purposes, so there is not enough to offset the high evaporation rate.

Rescue proposals to prevent the sea drying up have included canals to bring water from the Mediterranean Sea or the Red Sea.

If the Dead Sea becomes rejuvenated with fresh water, this could fulfil a prophecyin Ezekiel 47:8-10, that it will “become fresh . . . and there will be very many fish”.

Antelope Canyon , usa

Antelope Canyon

With its graceful curves in the rock and glowing orange and purple colors, the Antelope Canyon is one the most-photographed sandstone slot canyons in the world. It includes two separate photogenic canyons – Upper and Lower Antelope. Both canyons are so narrow in places that one can stretch out his or her arms and touch both sides. Although the canyons are beautiful, they can sometimes be dangerous. In 1997 a flash flood swept into Lower Antelope and killed 11 tourists.

Antelope Canyon is the most-visited and most-photographed slot canyon in the American Southwest.^[1] It is located on Navajo land near Page, Arizona. Antelope Canyon includes two separate, photogenic slot canyon sections, referred to individually as Upper Antelope Canyon or The Crack; and Lower Antelope Canyon or The Corkscrew.^[2]

The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tsé bighánílíní, which means "the place where water runs through rocks." Lower Antelope Canyon is Hazdistazí (advertised as "Hasdestwazi" by the Navajo Parks and Recreation Department), or "spiral rock arches." Both are located within the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation.^[3]

Upper Antelope Canyon

Upper Antelope Canyon is called Tsé bighánílíní, "the place where water runs through rocks" by the Navajo. It is the most frequently visited by tourists, due to two considerations. First, its entrance and entire length are at ground level, requiring no climbing. Second, beams (shafts of direct sunlight radiating down from openings in the top of the canyon) are much more common in Upper than in Lower. Beams occur most often in the summer months, as they require the sun to be high in the sky. Winter colors are a little more muted like the photo displayed here. Summer months provide two types of lighting. Light beams start to peek into the canyon March 15 and disappear October 7 each year.

[edit]Lower Antelope Canyon

Entrance of Lower Antelope Canyon

Stairs leading out of Lower Antelope Canyon

Lower Antelope Canyon, called Hazdistazí, or "spiral rock arches" by the Navajo, is located a few kilometers away. Prior to the installation of metal stairways, visiting the canyon required climbing along pre-installed ladders in certain areas. Even following the installation of stairways, it is a more difficult hike than Upper Antelope—it is longer, narrower in spots, and even footing is not available in all areas. At the end, the climb out requires several flights of stairs.

Despite these limitations, Lower Antelope Canyon draws a considerable number of photographers, though casual sightseers are much less common there than in Upper.

Flash flood danger

Inside Lower Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is visited exclusively through guided tours, in part because rains during monsoon season can quickly flood the canyon. Rain does not have to fall on or near the Antelope Canyon slots for flash floods to whip through, as rain falling dozens of miles away 'upstream' of the canyons can funnel into them with little prior notice. On August 12, 1997, eleven tourists, including seven from France, one from the United Kingdom, one from Sweden and two from the United States, were killed in Lower Antelope Canyon by a flash flood.^[5][6] Very little rain fell at the site that day, but an earlier thunderstorm had dumped a large amount of water into the canyon basin, seven miles upstream. The lone survivor of the flood was tour guide Francisco "Poncho" Quintana, who had prior swift-water training. At the time, the ladder system consisted of amateur-built wood ladders that were swept away by the flash flood. 

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Orlando

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Orlando

Annual Visitors: 16,972,000

The Most Magical Place on Earth is high on virtually every family’s to-do list and remains the most-visited theme park on the earth. The Kingdom’s most notable feature, naturally, is Cinderella’s castle—complete with a moat and built at special angles to appear even grander than its actual height of 189 feet. Paths branch out to classic rides (Dumbo, the Mad Tea Party) and newer additions like the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor Comedy Club.

The first of the 4 theme parks to open at Walt Disney World Resort, Magic Kingdom park captures the enchantment of fairy tales with exciting entertainment, classic attractions, beloved Disney Characters and so much more.

The iconic Cinderella Castle is in the middle of all the action—with pathways across the 107 acres of Magic Kingdom theme park that lead to these 6 whimsical lands:

• Main Street, U.S.A.
• Adventureland
• Frontierland
• Liberty Square
• New Fantasyland
• Tomorrowland

As you travel through each land, you'll watch fantasy become reality. From swashbuckling pirate encounters and silly moments with monsters to thrilling parades and spellbinding fireworks shows, dreams come to life at Magic Kingdom park. 

Union Station, Washington, D.C.

Union Station,Washington, D.C.

Annual Visitors: 37,000,000

Opened in 1907, this busy station shuttles some 12,500 passengers daily in and out of the city. But it also handles serious tourist traffic: 37 million who pass through to take in the impeccably mixed architectural styles throughout the colossal building: from Classical to Beaux-Arts to Baroque. More than 70 retail outlets make Union Station a shopping destination, and it’s also a jumping-off point for many D.C. tours. 

Times Square, New York City

 Times Square, New York City

Annual Visitors: 39,200,000

Tourists flock to New York’s neon heart for the flashing lights, Broadway shows, megastores, and sheer spectacle. Pedestrian-only areas with café tables introduced in 2009 have only made it easier and more appealing to hang out here. Times Square can even be a convenient, if chaotic, base, thanks to hotels at every price point and easy access to public transportation: subways, rails, buses, and more yellow taxis than you can count.

Unfortunately, there are no international airlines taking advantage of the 10,500 foot main runway of the the Niagara Falls International Airport. The airport is a low cost alternative to the airports located Toronto Canada and Buffalo-Rochester USA. Currently 3 Low Cost domestic airlines service NFIA. I personally have asked Air Berlin to look into serving NFIA out of Dusseldorf, Germany. This facility has definite international travel potential as does the whole area encompassing Western New York State and the Niagara Peninsula of Ontario. I am not affiliated with the airport. I am simply at 63 year old life long resident who just cannot understand why with all the tourist traffic coming into the city French tourists are flying into Montreal and then traveling by bus for 8 hrs to get here. Or. Indian tourists flying into Toronto, then traveling 2 additional hours by bus to get here.

National Mall & Memorial Parks, Washington, D.C., USA

National Mall & Memorial Parks 

This is the Official National Park Service app for the National Mall and Memorial Parks sites. On your next visit to Washington, D.C., use it to explore many of the most cherished cultural and historical sites in the United States—from the Lincoln Memorial to the White House

Overview - National Mall and Memorial Parks App Overview Page. From which you can access all the various App Features.

Events and News – Get up-to-date information from the National Park Service about what is happening at the National Mall and Memorial Parks sites.

Map – Official National Park Service map of the central tourist area in Washington, D.C. Easy to use while outdoors, the map features large font sizes, walkways that are easily distinguishable from roads, and three zoom levels. By tapping the “Locate me” icon you will always know where you are.

Walking directions – Get from one place to another by following a line on the map or a list of directions. Estimated walking times are given.

Park Lens – Find out what is around you with augmented reality. Just hold up your device and look through the activated camera view. Labels will appear identifying all sites on the National Mall.