World Top Ten Things

Top 10 War Animals of All Time

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Humans have enlisted animals to help fight their battles since the dawn 
of war, and today’s militaries use an even wider range of creatures for 
everything from bomb sniffing to coastline patrolling. Here we count 
down some of the creatures that have become unwitting recruits in both 
ancient and modern warfare.</div>
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<b>1. Bat Bombs</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3SRkJIj4H7rcG4CNa16xawY99-2Cr3z5TPMNrnj43DfkiujDq19oMoacqaNNRpefzo7Y8qxUOnQM8xWZ_kGS3eIraSf2mCUtNWf-a5qm8YX_wnZKG5upuuA7D0I1-HBc33jUUBBDYjGN/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bat Bombs" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL3SRkJIj4H7rcG4CNa16xawY99-2Cr3z5TPMNrnj43DfkiujDq19oMoacqaNNRpefzo7Y8qxUOnQM8xWZ_kGS3eIraSf2mCUtNWf-a5qm8YX_wnZKG5upuuA7D0I1-HBc33jUUBBDYjGN/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals.jpg" title="Bat Bombs" /></a></div>
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These nocturnal flying mammals became part of a bizarre animal 
experiment during World War II. A dental surgeon upset by the Japanese 
attack on the U.S. Navy base at Pearl Harbor proposed attaching tiny 
incendiary bombs to bats. The creatures were meant to set thousands of 
small blazes across Japan’s cities as they flew to roost beneath 
building roofs. But the idea floundered after receiving the green light 
from President Roosevelt. Many uncooperative bats simply dropped like 
rocks or flew away, despite the U.S. Army using as many as 6,000 of the 
mammals in their experiments. The U.S. Navy spent $2 million after 
taking over the effort, before finally giving up. Still, the bat bombs 
did manage to set fire to a simulated Japanese village, a U.S. Army 
hangar and a general’s car. Nowadays, Pentagon scientists study how bat 
flight mechanics could inspire future aircraft designs and spy robots.</div>
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<b>2. Camel Cavalry</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHexSkP0CQeUkb-i6LXvtHxWfxIcnIEJ3hh99ZO5Z41wc9qMDt7Y0gcpKaEmFKTNv2g9Kpkq1vIqgfIaafJyft70iivtWN-njfGC5cJlj1KFWYFzYM6cUhnkQCT12GodyAcMYeMr1xgGze/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25281%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Camel Cavalry" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHexSkP0CQeUkb-i6LXvtHxWfxIcnIEJ3hh99ZO5Z41wc9qMDt7Y0gcpKaEmFKTNv2g9Kpkq1vIqgfIaafJyft70iivtWN-njfGC5cJlj1KFWYFzYM6cUhnkQCT12GodyAcMYeMr1xgGze/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25281%2529.jpg" title="Camel Cavalry" /></a></div>
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Camels only provide a few modern militaries with patrol mounts, but 
camel cavalry once flourished in certain regions of the world. Camels 
found much use in the arid or desert regions of North Africa and the 
Middle East during ancient times, given their ability to survive harsh 
and often waterless conditions. The smell of camels reportedly 
frightened enemy horse cavalry, even if the camels did not provide as 
much of a shock to enemy troops during charges. The Parthian and 
Sassanid Persians sometimes armored their camels as heavy cataphract 
cavalry (picture camels equipped with armor, artillery and carrying 
cavalrymen), and Arab warriors often rode camels during raids against 
other tribes or during the Muslim conquests of North Africa and the 
Middle East. Camels fared less well outside their natural ranges, where 
horses became the preferred battle mount. The combat role of camels 
rapidly declined with the development of guns throughout the 1700s and 
1800s, but they still saw some action with British general Lawrence of 
Arabia and Arab forces during World War I.</div>
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<b>3. Angry Bees</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hg3jnJCwIWqEKhRMi4uRfg6_bPNA_GZU6EvyRBDHbFJibdVyDQ811BcztaSsgYKu002qxmVwK1tk9E0cIpbthn63fLeCapvebUarpPL9WJ6wQIKpqp37FTw5-oFsXZnXQ7kA29L94jTO/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Angry Bees" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5hg3jnJCwIWqEKhRMi4uRfg6_bPNA_GZU6EvyRBDHbFJibdVyDQ811BcztaSsgYKu002qxmVwK1tk9E0cIpbthn63fLeCapvebUarpPL9WJ6wQIKpqp37FTw5-oFsXZnXQ7kA29L94jTO/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25282%2529.jpg" title="Angry Bees" /></a></div>
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Stinger-equipped bees could become effective weapons when provoked. The 
ancient Greeks, Romans and other civilizations occasionally used the 
insects as tiny weapons of war to deter enemy troops. Besiegers would 
sometimes catapult beehives over the walls, and Greek defenders of 
Themiscyra supposedly returned the favor by barraging Roman attackers 
with hives. The Heptakometes of the Trebizond region in Turkey even 
tricked Roman soldiers under the command of Pompey with a tribute of 
toxic honey, which led to the defeat of the subsequently vomiting, 
intoxicated Romans. A more direct use of angry bees continued during 
castle sieges of the Middle Ages, as well as during World War I and the 
Vietnam War. These days, U.S. scientists have found more peaceful uses 
for bees by training the insects to detect land mines.</div>
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<b>4. Sea Lion Patrol</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAycjvNtdFD4X8CYX3_pPKDf6EY1vP1G0WdzhF4BTgx8UDvo4m3L0B6iOlbLgHSv0XoxR5WX-9gXmn4jV1mrjsCfPidgn9UcmkAB0tuGdQmQDM0PSfG1nVTiVGjKp31r4s86XrziywzoO2/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25283%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sea Lion Patrol" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAycjvNtdFD4X8CYX3_pPKDf6EY1vP1G0WdzhF4BTgx8UDvo4m3L0B6iOlbLgHSv0XoxR5WX-9gXmn4jV1mrjsCfPidgn9UcmkAB0tuGdQmQDM0PSfG1nVTiVGjKp31r4s86XrziywzoO2/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25283%2529.jpg" title="Sea Lion Patrol" /></a></div>
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California sea lions have gained odd fame in the service of the U.S. 
Navy’s marine mammal program, alongside dolphins and a beluga whale or 
two. The marine mammals have excellent low-light vision and underwater 
hearing, can swim 25 mph (40 km/h), and do repeated dives of up to 1,000
 feet (300 m). The U.S. Navy has accordingly trained sea lions as 
minesweepers that can locate and mark mines. The animals can even attach
 a special leg cuff to human divers or saboteurs, which allows sailors 
to haul the suspects to the surface. A special sea lion harness also 
carries cameras that provide live underwater video. Just one sea lion, 
two human handlers, and a rubber boat can replace a full-sized naval 
vessel, its crew and a group of human divers in searching for objects on
 the ocean floor.</div>
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<b>5. Messenger Pigeons</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42Y8nEivV-2JIVfgxgjVp1WJiy-3-3gVmP42KXK1N-CZaIG-YSLY3jNA0WfuUV_ejg1WNJucw16TGl6lO2CjbvqdxGdfxRvk3DhxysLWzdrJSHbpha0FcwO9TMg1maoUVY2qvJCW2bqS1/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25284%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Messenger Pigeons" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42Y8nEivV-2JIVfgxgjVp1WJiy-3-3gVmP42KXK1N-CZaIG-YSLY3jNA0WfuUV_ejg1WNJucw16TGl6lO2CjbvqdxGdfxRvk3DhxysLWzdrJSHbpha0FcwO9TMg1maoUVY2qvJCW2bqS1/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25284%2529.jpg" title="Messenger Pigeons" /></a></div>
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Carrier pigeons carried messages for conquerors and generals throughout 
much of human history, based on their homing ability and navigational 
skills that enable them to return home across hundreds of miles. But the
 pigeons gained much of the military fame during World War I, where 
Allied forces used as many as 200,000 of them. One pigeon named Cher Ami
 even earned the French “Croix de Guerre” for delivering 12 messages 
between forts in the Verdun, France region. He made his last message 
delivery despite suffering serious bullet injuries, and is credited with
 saving the “Lost Battalion” of the U.S. 77th Infantry Division, which 
had become cut off by German forces. Another group of 32 pigeons earned 
the British Dickin medal for animal valor during the D-Day invasion of 
World War II, when Allied soldiers kept radio silence and relied upon 
the pigeons to relay messages. The birds have since retired from 
military service because of advances in communications technology.</div>
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<b>6. Navy Dolphins</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WgAl-Hkzrh5JxHZ-Y1O8wRq_yo0kZ3TKi9ZgmXTcSZfVfa8oezmcXGV7jQ1ojY6arYLnZ7nuTYmfvgKTK0UmJ4BGrKI_alfXYFXwO8cEwVG3kNdkZKl9Sh2ZiY9_J0sbHdjpKK1j0Uhc/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25285%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Navy Dolphins" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WgAl-Hkzrh5JxHZ-Y1O8wRq_yo0kZ3TKi9ZgmXTcSZfVfa8oezmcXGV7jQ1ojY6arYLnZ7nuTYmfvgKTK0UmJ4BGrKI_alfXYFXwO8cEwVG3kNdkZKl9Sh2ZiY9_J0sbHdjpKK1j0Uhc/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25285%2529.jpg" title="Navy Dolphins" /></a></div>
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Bottlenose dolphins have served alongside sea lions in helping the U.S. 
Navy patrol the seas since the 1960s. The brethren of Flipper use their 
sophisticated biological sonar to search for mines based on the concept 
of echolocation. A dolphin will send out a series of clicks that bounce 
off objects and return to the dolphin. That allows the marine mammal to 
get a mental image of the object, and it can then report to its human 
handler using certain yes or no responses. The handler can also follow 
up on a yes response by sending the dolphin to mark the object’s 
location with a weighted buoy line. Those mine-marking abilities came in
 handy during both the Persian Gulf War and the Iraq War, with Navy 
dolphins helping to clear the port of Umm Qasr in southern Iraq during 
the latter. Dolphins can also tag enemy swimmers, but the U.S. Navy 
denies rumors about training dolphins to use weapons against humans.</div>
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<b>7. War Elephants</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJhXg_rVqUhzm6GH8gDIytL0jVCNhFeePS64QDVu-Us_z0zUiEr5azTuPhQ8Q6thoWmBOLR1s1FmPTjyO9PoW9ddCSVU5aGoi7FirZJNNhdIJ-xh3ZDIj-fTGP92yIZT6ZNZa-vk0I9Ce/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25286%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="War Elephants" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKJhXg_rVqUhzm6GH8gDIytL0jVCNhFeePS64QDVu-Us_z0zUiEr5azTuPhQ8Q6thoWmBOLR1s1FmPTjyO9PoW9ddCSVU5aGoi7FirZJNNhdIJ-xh3ZDIj-fTGP92yIZT6ZNZa-vk0I9Ce/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25286%2529.jpg" title="War Elephants" /></a></div>
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The largest living land mammals on Earth left their mark in warfare as 
creatures capable of devastating packed formations of enemy troops. 
Elephants could trample, pierce soldiers with their tusks and even throw
 hapless humans with their trunks. They sometimes wore armor or carried 
archers and javelin throwers. Ancient kingdoms of India may have been 
first to tame elephants as living tanks, but the practice soon spread to
 the Persians in the Middle East. Alexander the Great encountered enemy 
elephants during his conquests of the ancient world, and eventually the 
Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans made use of war elephants at certain 
times. Horses feared the sight and smell of elephants, and human 
soldiers also had to deal with the psychological terror of facing down 
the huge animals. Still, elephants could go mad with fear or pain after 
taking too much punishment, and the advent of cannons on the battlefield
 essentially ended their combat role.</div>
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<b>8. Military Mules</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4EwMpHBL4sfREpVGFPUS0gprw9SNRg7pDPvKa3vb6oBypmR_zIHuDqdjq74XSgxabYtm9f_4jSHYGWjHlExKZ1kzmLuIOcU93-B0_nBV1rUGviCw6UqhPkm96qjV7PBC3M_GvLZO1v1W/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25287%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Military Mules" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4EwMpHBL4sfREpVGFPUS0gprw9SNRg7pDPvKa3vb6oBypmR_zIHuDqdjq74XSgxabYtm9f_4jSHYGWjHlExKZ1kzmLuIOcU93-B0_nBV1rUGviCw6UqhPkm96qjV7PBC3M_GvLZO1v1W/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25287%2529.jpg" title="Military Mules" /></a></div>
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Mules have played an unsung but crucial role throughout the history of 
warfare by carrying or pulling along much of the food, weapons and other
 supplies needed by armies. Born from a male donkey and a female horse, 
they became preferred over horses for carrying loads because of their 
greater endurance. They also displayed more intelligence and 
unwillingness to push to the point of injury, which led to the 
stereotype of being stubborn. Still, the ancient Roman legions marched 
with about one mule for every 10 Roman legionaries. Napoleon Bonaparte 
himself rode a mule across the Alps, in addition to using the animals in
 his baggage trains. The U.S. Army alone used about 571,000 horses and 
mules in Europe during World War I, and lost about 68,000 killed in 
action. Mules have continued to find use even today, as U.S. Special 
Forces, marines and soldiers rely upon the animals to keep supply lines 
open for remote outposts in the mountains of Afghanistan.</div>
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<b>9. Dogs of War</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipFSZz1y5blPtxfUsZxWbdntWRVKE5fwTXRnMqjXl10-piDO_-6Q24Qui3Am4IRiMn8yHsQUjRv7NL86Yi-ASnzmrs0gHV_tly1YccCZpUtYGSRfb25d1MY0NVRQqpO5unGUpva1iSujX/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25288%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Dogs of War" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgipFSZz1y5blPtxfUsZxWbdntWRVKE5fwTXRnMqjXl10-piDO_-6Q24Qui3Am4IRiMn8yHsQUjRv7NL86Yi-ASnzmrs0gHV_tly1YccCZpUtYGSRfb25d1MY0NVRQqpO5unGUpva1iSujX/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25288%2529.jpg" title="Dogs of War" /></a></div>
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Most people may look upon man’s best friend as a cuddly creature, but 
humans have let slip the dogs of war for thousands of years. Large 
breeds served as war dogs on the battlefield and as defensive sentries 
for everyone from the Egyptians to Native Americans. The Romans equipped
 some of their dogs with spiked collars and armor, and the Spanish 
conquistadors also used armored attack dogs during their invasion of 
South America in the 1500s. Many European factions and nations used war 
dogs in ancient conflicts and throughout the Middle Ages, but more 
modern warfare reduced the battlefield role to that of messengers, 
trackers, scouts and sentries. The U.S. military and others have more 
recently trained dogs as bomb-sniffing detectors to work in Iraq and 
Afghanistan, where the four-footed companions get their own bulletproof 
vests.</div>
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<b>10. Horses</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_bu7Q5CP_4NTu3YTOWbBku4Oyb_goYdDEavRcvdvDjuW7MUT_RuD47PREpgTyobIL_Dn7VQj0wbIEI5WCfpS2iHeRqUaDahW5O__2G1xzG3x9vGnA_p_9X-M7wDc5KxEu3aii_kGJMKs/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25289%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Horses" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_bu7Q5CP_4NTu3YTOWbBku4Oyb_goYdDEavRcvdvDjuW7MUT_RuD47PREpgTyobIL_Dn7VQj0wbIEI5WCfpS2iHeRqUaDahW5O__2G1xzG3x9vGnA_p_9X-M7wDc5KxEu3aii_kGJMKs/s1600/Top+10+War+Animals+%25289%2529.jpg" title="Horses" /></a></div>
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Perhaps no other animal has played so great a role in the history of 
warfare as the horse. Humans domesticated horses as early as 5,500 years
 ago in modern-day Kazakhstan, and the spread of horses across Eurasia 
soon gave rise to their use in large-scale warfare. The ancient 
Egyptians and the Chinese used horse-pulled chariots as stable platforms
 to fight from, before the invention of an effective saddle and stirrup 
gave mounted warriors a decisive edge. Armored knights on horseback 
could deliver devastating charges against all but the most steadfast 
foot-soldier formations. The stability provided by the 
saddle-and-stirrup combo allowed the Mongols to fight and shoot arrows 
effectively from horseback, and gave them the mobility to conquer much 
of the known world. A thunderous appearance of horses on battlefields 
often signaled the beginning of the end for civilizations that lacked 
similar warrior mounts. Major combat use of horses did not waver until 
the modern era of warfare, when tanks and machine guns entered the fray.</div>
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Source :- http://worldtoptenthings.blogspot.in/2011/12/top-10-war-animals-of-all-time.html </div>
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Top 10 War Animals of All Time

Humans have enlisted animals to help fight their battles since the dawn of war, and today’s militaries use an even wider range of creatu...

World Top 10 Geological Wonders

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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Chocolate Hills (Philippines)</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcDqNO5-Uuj7iGLnKwcaBsgyD-2XtfPjpKzOpiJjAs_O_pfLrO_D-Lol3pv7yg8h2hTZvxzQ4o8JQ7mOy6-wiU6RGFTOFv9HLv8lSJnUGBGWU191Oftsq1n4RTuZB8o5PZIvXx37I7OFX/s1600/1+Chocolate+Hills+%28Philippines%29.jpg"><img alt="Chocolate Hills (Philippines)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507888183610928434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcDqNO5-Uuj7iGLnKwcaBsgyD-2XtfPjpKzOpiJjAs_O_pfLrO_D-Lol3pv7yg8h2hTZvxzQ4o8JQ7mOy6-wiU6RGFTOFv9HLv8lSJnUGBGWU191Oftsq1n4RTuZB8o5PZIvXx37I7OFX/s1600/1+Chocolate+Hills+%28Philippines%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" title="Chocolate Hills (Philippines)" /></a>Composed
  of around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills of about the same size  
spread over an area of more than 50 square kilometres (20 sq mi), this  
highly unusual geological formation, called Chocolate Hills, is located 
 in Bohol, Philippines. There are a number of hypotheses regarding the  
formation of the hills. These include simple limestone weathering,  
sub-oceanic volcanism, the uplift of the seafloor and a more recent  
theory which maintains that as an ancient active volcano  
self-destructed, it spewed huge blocks of stone which were then covered 
 with limestone and later thrust forth from the ocean bed.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Wave Rock (Australia)</span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtD9ezYo8cKshTfDzTMhYqPzVkwAkTPje6SnMUDT8vYD1MONBdO5BgAEAAN4q41t3WGMN3nLeSqsA4UO7_s6w_GewLzNzyZLTAalKhMPnG9b8Tt46irfNGEhUxp5mFTyuqCowwGk7tzOt9/s1600/2+Wave+Rock+%28Australia%29.jpg"><img alt="Wave Rock (Australia)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507888167783919634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtD9ezYo8cKshTfDzTMhYqPzVkwAkTPje6SnMUDT8vYD1MONBdO5BgAEAAN4q41t3WGMN3nLeSqsA4UO7_s6w_GewLzNzyZLTAalKhMPnG9b8Tt46irfNGEhUxp5mFTyuqCowwGk7tzOt9/s1600/2+Wave+Rock+%28Australia%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" title="Wave Rock (Australia)" /></a>The
  Wave Rock is a natural rock formation located in western Australia. It
  derives its name from the fact that it is shaped like a tall breaking 
 ocean wave. The total outcrop covers several hectares; the "wave" part 
 of the rock is about 15 meters high and approximately 110 meters long. 
 One aspect of Wave Rock rarely shown on photographs is the retaining  
wall about halfway up the rock. This follows the contours and allows  
rainwater to be collected in a dam. It was constructed in 1951 by the  
Public Works Department, and such walls are common on many similar rocks
  in the wheatbelt.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Hell Gate (Uzbekistan)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPCO-wUoTyjstjImawvbJL8O6eFwQqqBQoAoyrj3vWu4UMkrKaTxHhkLZW5HK3gbWzZYh_b7ElnPGZCSMPglzEJEHvDPM77qe0xMBORWx3o99OT-b6fLnQ9pPct97WpH_HXNaYhp50QBj/s1600/3+Hell+Gate+%28Uzbekistan%29.jpg"><img alt="Hell Gate (Uzbekistan)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507888160583258610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPCO-wUoTyjstjImawvbJL8O6eFwQqqBQoAoyrj3vWu4UMkrKaTxHhkLZW5HK3gbWzZYh_b7ElnPGZCSMPglzEJEHvDPM77qe0xMBORWx3o99OT-b6fLnQ9pPct97WpH_HXNaYhp50QBj/s1600/3+Hell+Gate+%28Uzbekistan%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" title="Hell Gate (Uzbekistan)" /></a>Called
  by locals The Door to Hell, this place in Uzbekistan is situated near 
 the small town of Darvaz. When geologists were drilling for gas, 35  
years ago, they suddenly found an underground cavern that was so big,  
all the drilling site with all the equipment and camps got deep deep  
under the ground. None dared to go down there because the cavern was  
filled with gas, so they ignited it so that no poisonous gas could come 
 out of the hole, and since then, it has been burning. Nobody knows how 
 many tons of excellent gas has been burned for all those years but it  
just seems to be infinite.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Giants Causeway (Ireland)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKi1_m05ske53j8kaFsMwSAoGlQCE9ospouPVxhcgtRCIXMbNTtnk1ZzJpJEVeng97B-Q9iw_EAcnpKgCW0ourOy5ipuY7v6HQ2E0HZAe2hCAGrpavmZ5voa5O_SR2pysh9RYwEAaC5HIS/s1600/4+Giants+Causeway+%28Ireland%29.jpg"><img alt="Giants Causeway (Ireland)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507888147247439906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKi1_m05ske53j8kaFsMwSAoGlQCE9ospouPVxhcgtRCIXMbNTtnk1ZzJpJEVeng97B-Q9iw_EAcnpKgCW0ourOy5ipuY7v6HQ2E0HZAe2hCAGrpavmZ5voa5O_SR2pysh9RYwEAaC5HIS/s400/4+Giants+Causeway+%28Ireland%29.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 342px;" title="Giants Causeway (Ireland)" /></a>An
  area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the Giants Causeway 
 is a result of an ancient volcanic eruption. Located on the north-east 
 coast of Northern Ireland, most of its columns are hexagonal, although 
 there are also some with four, five, seven and eight sides. The tallest
  are about 12 meters (36 ft) high, and the solidified lava in the 
cliffs  is 28 meters thick in places. In a 2005 poll of Radio Times 
readers, the  causeway was named as the fourth greatest natural wonder 
in the United  Kingdom.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Blue Lake Cave (Brazil)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgb1eWtB8Ppz0aBCpvOIqliEDvkPuthmB_NZPNHX4mcOip_YZUwTAm_NJa3UyWVsLhdoPGuhlCAzkTqNSEThbKb6b-EngIYN-afsLKMUGiusfK-8_AHJ6G6g_i-cWCdNVNus3DSKB0Js9/s1600/5+Blue+Lake+Cave+%28Brazil%29.jpg"><img alt="Blue Lake Cave (Brazil)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507888136881820322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgb1eWtB8Ppz0aBCpvOIqliEDvkPuthmB_NZPNHX4mcOip_YZUwTAm_NJa3UyWVsLhdoPGuhlCAzkTqNSEThbKb6b-EngIYN-afsLKMUGiusfK-8_AHJ6G6g_i-cWCdNVNus3DSKB0Js9/s400/5+Blue+Lake+Cave+%28Brazil%29.jpg" style="display: block; height: 266px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" title="Blue Lake Cave (Brazil)" /></a>Mato
  Grosso do Sul region in Brazil (and especially the quiet town of  
Bonito) boasts many marvelous underground lakes: Gruta do Lago Azul,  
Gruta do Mimoso, Aquário Natural. The world famous "Gruta do Lago Azul” 
 (Blue Lake Cave) is a natural monument whose interior is formed by  
stalactites, stalagmites and a huge and wonderful blue lake. The beauty 
 of the lake is something impressive. The Blue Lake Cave has a big  
variety of geological formation but impresses mainly for the deep blue  
colored water of its inside lake.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Eye of the Sahara (Mauritania)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ-7BHV9rctfM4dK5Ve9ywFKbGHtfaIUhb7D_QP-tz-kRtPqqweTFl-7Bcty7xPEFfvsTPy8nXIycj2m5MxdggH0PDs9WtsM_SXkol0OONG5_jMyPI0SDDUAXfd3Pxvf1uRImd165zzAz/s1600/6+Eye+of+the+Sahara+%28Mauritania%29.jpg"><img alt="Eye of the Sahara (Mauritania)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507888006732118258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ-7BHV9rctfM4dK5Ve9ywFKbGHtfaIUhb7D_QP-tz-kRtPqqweTFl-7Bcty7xPEFfvsTPy8nXIycj2m5MxdggH0PDs9WtsM_SXkol0OONG5_jMyPI0SDDUAXfd3Pxvf1uRImd165zzAz/s400/6+Eye+of+the+Sahara+%28Mauritania%29.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 350px;" title="Eye of the Sahara (Mauritania)" /></a>This
  spectacular landform in Mauritania in the southwestern part of the  
Sahara desert is so huge with a diameter of 30 miles that it is visible 
 from space. Called Richat Structure --or the Eye of the Sahara-- the 
The  formation was originally thought to be caused by a meteorite impact
 but  now geologists believe it is a product of uplift and erosion. The 
cause  of its circular shape is still a mystery.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Crystal Cave of the Giants (Mexico)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRU3PtKhn9LTsgDQF6eS8-Kr9eAu9IZrd-WR-3RZ1GOkjJWAZkH3ceL78k7RIDTSnO7H6o0s33ejNGVmSw_FxULKi8jVTYAHHOGkDsZCiYSibxdWlcTInoCVY75tBGNHoIyrQ1EIfTFXy/s1600/7+Crystal+Cave+of+the+Giants+%28Mexico%29.jpg"><img alt="Crystal Cave of the Giants (Mexico)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507887996604161458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRU3PtKhn9LTsgDQF6eS8-Kr9eAu9IZrd-WR-3RZ1GOkjJWAZkH3ceL78k7RIDTSnO7H6o0s33ejNGVmSw_FxULKi8jVTYAHHOGkDsZCiYSibxdWlcTInoCVY75tBGNHoIyrQ1EIfTFXy/s400/7+Crystal+Cave+of+the+Giants+%28Mexico%29.jpg" style="display: block; height: 186px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" title="Crystal Cave of the Giants (Mexico)" /></a>Found
  deep inside a mine in southern Chihuahua Mexico, these crystals were  
formed in a natural cave totally enclosed in bedrock. A geode full of  
spectacular crystals as tall as pine trees, and in some cases greater in
  circumference, they are a translucent gold and silver in color and 
come  in many incredible forms and shapes. The Crystal Cave of the 
Giants was  discovered within the same limestone body that hosts the 
silver-zinc-  lead ore bodies exploited by the mine and it was probably 
dissolved by  the same hydrothermal fluids that deposited the metals 
with the gypsum  being crystallized during the waning stages of 
mineralization.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Great Blue Hole (Belize)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJS4e9fsTLTDr9UkBW-jy9GwGXYgXsCAG9iKP1MdOXxoKN1TTc-98HMlw9oJYTr2DYCE_ymZ4pttsUiBE-re1lricvmijhkeFI3jOyI8LqYDJZmMUt6-DUxu59Fh55FEjJkMbb2n4CLxO/s1600/8+Great+Blue+Hole+%28Belize%29.jpg"><img alt="Great Blue Hole (Belize)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507887990462650834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJJS4e9fsTLTDr9UkBW-jy9GwGXYgXsCAG9iKP1MdOXxoKN1TTc-98HMlw9oJYTr2DYCE_ymZ4pttsUiBE-re1lricvmijhkeFI3jOyI8LqYDJZmMUt6-DUxu59Fh55FEjJkMbb2n4CLxO/s400/8+Great+Blue+Hole+%28Belize%29.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" title="Great Blue Hole (Belize)" /></a>Part
  of the Lighthouse Reef System, The Great Blue Hole lies approximately 
 60 miles off the mainland out of Belize City. A large, almost perfectly
  circular hole approximately one quarter of a mile (0.4 km) across, 
it’s  one of the most astounding dive sites to be found anywhere on 
earth.  Inside this hole, the water is 480 feet (145 m) deep and it is 
the depth  of water which gives the deep blue color that causes such 
structures  throughout the world to be known as "blue holes."<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Antelope Canyon (Arizona - USA)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHkrLaTv6hLdz9aCUllG4ba6g2A8ff9YF5ijPyY8Im5ARy3U91l5JORYWVLepUBmjTfw2k1qVGN0f6OWk7L9o_sCSEJPLqR-6RcRMfgzsRWOQuais6xbd6i7dPtf8VzXt9lzlwuFkwiKo/s1600/9+Antelope+Canyon+%28Arizona+-+USA%29.jpg"><img alt="Antelope Canyon (Arizona - USA)" border="0" height="640" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507887980115634946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHkrLaTv6hLdz9aCUllG4ba6g2A8ff9YF5ijPyY8Im5ARy3U91l5JORYWVLepUBmjTfw2k1qVGN0f6OWk7L9o_sCSEJPLqR-6RcRMfgzsRWOQuais6xbd6i7dPtf8VzXt9lzlwuFkwiKo/s640/9+Antelope+Canyon+%28Arizona+-+USA%29.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" title="Antelope Canyon (Arizona - USA)" width="459" /></a>The
  most visited and photographed slot canyon in the American Southwest,  
the Antelope Canyon is located on Navajo land near Page, Arizona. It  
includes two separate, photogenic slot canyon sections, referred to  
individually as Upper Antelope Canyon --or “The Crack”-- and Lower  
Antelope Canyon --or “The Corkscrew.”<br />
<br />
The Navajo name for Upper  Antelope Canyon is Tse' bighanilini, which 
means "the place where water  runs through rocks." Lower Antelope Canyon
 is Hasdestwazi, or "spiral  rock arches." Both are located within the 
LeChee Chapter of the Navajo  Nation.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Wave (between Arizona and Utah - USA)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEy0IBjSPjxoeTiJM_M_kgSBz6q1mLvCxuF1x2A7A-NVZ7NUidMQ2iRKa__1D2PlPEfshusTZnqZdvFGge7QFtauI3R6tR1v3ZkBcNuigqZlVpv0rEMN4eIBoTrIaUgNkSKT3oOmLx4ew/s1600/10+The+Wave+%28between+Arizona+and+Utah+-+USA%29.jpg"><img alt="The Wave (between Arizona and Utah - USA)" border="0" height="320" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507887976372339042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEy0IBjSPjxoeTiJM_M_kgSBz6q1mLvCxuF1x2A7A-NVZ7NUidMQ2iRKa__1D2PlPEfshusTZnqZdvFGge7QFtauI3R6tR1v3ZkBcNuigqZlVpv0rEMN4eIBoTrIaUgNkSKT3oOmLx4ew/s320/10+The+Wave+%28between+Arizona+and+Utah+-+USA%29.jpg" style="display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" title="The Wave (between Arizona and Utah - USA)" width="240" /></a>A
  red-rock stunner on the border of Arizona and Utah, The Wave is made 
of  190-million- year-old sand dunes that have turned to rock. This  
little-known formation is accessible only on foot via a three-mile hike 
 and highly regulated.<br />
<br />
Source :- http://worldtoptenthings.blogspot.in/2011/07/world-top-10-geological-wonders.html </div>

World Top 10 Geological Wonders

Chocolate Hills (Philippines) Composed of around 1,268 perfectly cone-shaped hills of about the same size spread over an area of more...

World 10 Most Fascinating Castles and Palaces

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<b>1. The Potala Palace: Tibet's greatest monumental structure</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Ym26Tfuz4w/TvtlYRWJ6cI/AAAAAAAAhLA/brYso7LX4iY/s1600/1.+The+Potala+Palace.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Potala Palace: Tibet's greatest monumental structure" border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Ym26Tfuz4w/TvtlYRWJ6cI/AAAAAAAAhLA/brYso7LX4iY/s1600/1.+The+Potala+Palace.jpg" title="The Potala Palace: Tibet's greatest monumental structure" /></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">Originally built by King Songtsen 
Gampo in the seventh century, Potala Palace is located on the Red Hill 
of Lhasa, Tibet. Destroyed by lightning and war, Potala Palace had been 
rebuilt by the Fifth Dalai Lama in 1645. Since then, Potala Palace has 
become the seat of Dalai Lamas and also the political center of Tibet. 
The thirteenth Dalai Lama extended it to the present size, 117 meters 
(384 ft) in height and 360 meters (1,180 ft) in width, covering an area 
of more than 130, 000 sq meters (about 32 acres). Mainly comprised by 
the White Palace (administerial building) and the Red Palace (religious 
building), Potala Palace is famous for its grand buildings, complicated 
constructions, devotional atmosphere and splendid artworks.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Perched upon Marpo Ri hill, 130 meters above the Lhasa valley, the 
Potala Palace rises a further 170 meters and is the greatest monumental 
structure in all of Tibet. Early legends concerning the rocky hill tell 
of a sacred cave, considered to be the dwelling place of the Bodhisattva
 Chenresi (Avilokiteshvara), that was used as a meditation retreat by 
Emperor Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century AD. In 637 Songtsen Gampo 
built a palace on the hill. This structure stood until the seventeenth 
century, when it was incorporated into the foundations of the greater 
buildings still standing today. Construction of the present palace began
 in 1645 during the reign of the fifth Dalai Lama and by 1648 the 
Potrang Karpo, or White Palace, was completed. The Potrang Marpo, or Red
 Palace, was added between 1690 and 1694; its construction required the 
labors of more than 7000 workers and 1500 artists and craftsman. In 1922
 the 13th Dalai Lama renovated many chapels and assembly halls in the 
White Palace and added two stories to the Red Palace. The Potala Palace 
was only slightly damaged during the Tibetan uprising against the 
invading Chinese in 1959. Unlike most other Tibetan religious 
structures, it was not sacked by the Red Guards during the 1960s and 
1970s, apparently through the personal intervention of Chou En Lai. As a
 result, all the chapels and their artifacts are very well preserved.</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>2. Mont Saint-Michel: a Medieval Castle on a Small Island</b></div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HRxBV22g52s/TvtlZajT4bI/AAAAAAAAhLI/Ra18lCPuiDQ/s1600/2.+Mont+Saint-Michel.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mont Saint-Michel: a Medieval Castle on a Small Island" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HRxBV22g52s/TvtlZajT4bI/AAAAAAAAhLI/Ra18lCPuiDQ/s1600/2.+Mont+Saint-Michel.JPG" title="Mont Saint-Michel: a Medieval Castle on a Small Island" /></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">Le Mont-Saint-Michel (English: Saint 
Michael's Mount) is a rocky tidal island and a commune in Normandy, 
France. It is located approximately one kilometre off the country's 
north coast, at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches. The 
population of the island is 41.</span><br />
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>Formation</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In prehistoric times the bay was land. As sea levels rose erosion shaped
 the coastal landscape over millions of years. Several blocks of granite
 or granulite emerged in the bay, having resisted the wear and tear of 
the ocean better than the surrounding rocks. These included Lillemer, 
the Mont-Dol, Tombelaine and Mont Tombe, later called Mont-Saint-Michel.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>Tidal island</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mont-Saint-Michel seen from Spot Satellite</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Mont-Saint-Michel was previously connected to the mainland via a thin 
natural land bridge, which before modernization was covered at high tide
 and revealed at low tide. This has been compromised by several 
developments. Over the centuries, the coastal flats have been polderised
 to create pasture. Thus the distance between the shore and the south 
coast of Mont-Saint-Michel has decreased. The Couesnon River has been 
canalised, reducing the flow of water and thereby encouraging a 
silting-up of the bay. In 1879, the land bridge was fortified into a 
true causeway. This prevented the tide from scouring the silt round the 
mount.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
At low tide surrounded by mud flats - seen from the airOn 16 June 2006, the French prime minister and regional authorities 
announced a €164 million project (Projet Mont-Saint-Michel) to build a 
hydraulic dam using the waters of the river Couesnon and of tides that 
will help remove the accumulated silt deposited by the uprising tides, 
and to make Mont-Saint-Michel an island again. It is expected to be 
completed by 2012.</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The construction of the dam is now complete (it was inaugurated in 
2009), but the project also includes the destruction of the causeway 
that was built on top of the small land bridge and enlarged, to join the
 island to the continent, but also used as a parking for visitors. It 
will be replaced by an elevated light bridge, under which the waters 
will flow more freely, and that will improve the efficiency of the now 
operational dam, and the construction of another parking on the 
continent. Visitors will have to use small shuttles to cross the future 
bridge which will be still open to walking people and unmotorized 
cycles.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>3 Predjamski Castle: Integrated in a Cave</b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DKG9XdPYcu8/TvtlaOFj5-I/AAAAAAAAhLQ/x7XVRIE3d-M/s1600/3+Predjamski+Castle.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Predjamski Castle: Integrated in a Cave" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DKG9XdPYcu8/TvtlaOFj5-I/AAAAAAAAhLQ/x7XVRIE3d-M/s1600/3+Predjamski+Castle.JPG" title="Predjamski Castle: Integrated in a Cave" /></a></div>
</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">llama Castle' (Slovene: Predjamski 
grad or Grad Predjama, German: Höhlenburg Lueg, Italian: Castel Lueghi) 
is a Renaissance castle built within a cave mouth in southwestern 
Slovenia. It is located approximately 11 kilometres from Postojna.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>History of the castle</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The castle was first mentioned in the year 1274 with the German name 
Luegg, when the Patriarch of Aquileia built the castle in Gothic style. 
The castle was built under a natural rocky arch high in the stone wall 
to make access to it difficult. It was later acquired and expanded by 
the Luegg noble family, also known as the Knights of Adelsberg (the 
German name of Postojna).</div>
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</div>
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<br />
<b>The legend of Erazem of Predjama</b></div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The castle became known as the seat of Knight Erazem Lueger (or 
Luegger), owner of the castle in 15th century, and a renowned robber 
baron. He was the son of the Imperial Governor of Trieste, Nikolaj 
Lueger. According to legend, Erazem came into conflict with the Habsburg
 establishment, when he killed the commander of the Imperial army 
Marshall Pappencheim, who had offended the honour of Erazem's deceased 
friend, Andrej Baumkircher of Vipava. Fleeing from the revenge of the 
Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III, Erazem settled in the family fortress 
of Predjama. He allied himself with the Hungarian king Matthias 
Corvinus, and started to attack Habsburg estates and towns in Carniola, 
turning into some kind of local Robin Hood.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
The Imperial forces sent the Governor of Trieste, Andrej Ravbar, to 
siege the castle. After a long siege, Erazem was betrayed by one of his 
men and killed. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>4. Neuschwanstein Castle: the Classic Fairytale's Castle</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mLQnSUw8chs/Tvtlbq2GtJI/AAAAAAAAhLY/rqEj9RB2Ta8/s1600/4.+Neuschwanstein+Castle.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Neuschwanstein Castle: the Classic Fairytale's Castle" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mLQnSUw8chs/Tvtlbq2GtJI/AAAAAAAAhLY/rqEj9RB2Ta8/s1600/4.+Neuschwanstein+Castle.JPG" title="Neuschwanstein Castle: the Classic Fairytale's Castle" /></a></div>
</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">Neuschwanstein Castle (German: 
Schloss Neuschwanstein, lit. New Swan Stone palace, pronounced 
[n??'?va?n?ta??n]) is a 19th-century Bavarian palace on a rugged hill 
near Hohenschwangau and Füssen in southwest Bavaria, Germany. The palace
 was commissioned by Ludwig II of Bavaria as a retreat and as an homage 
to Richard Wagner, the King's inspiring muse. Although public 
photography of the interior is not permitted, it is the most 
photographed building in Germany and is one of the country's most 
popular tourist destinations. Ludwig himself named it Neue 
Hohenschwangau; the name Neuschwanstein was coined after his death.</span><br />
<br />
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The reclusive Ludwig did not allow visitors to his castles, which he 
intended as personal refuges, but after his death in 1886 the castle was
 opened to the public (in part due to the need to pay off the debts 
Ludwig incurred financing its construction).[citation needed] Since that
 time over 50 million people have visited the Neuschwanstein Castle. 
About 1.3 million people visit annually, with up to 6,000 per day in the
 summer. The palace has appeared in several movies, and was the 
inspiration for Sleeping Beauty Castle (1955) at both Disneyland Park 
and Hong Kong Disneyland.</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
In 1923 Crown Prince Rupprecht gave the palace to the state of Bavaria, 
unlike nearby Hohenschwangau Castle which was transferred to the private
 Wittelsbach Trust (Wittelsbacher Ausgleichfonds), which is administered
 on behalf of the head of the house of Wittelsbach, currently Franz, 
Duke of Bavaria. The Free State of Bavaria has spent more than €14.5 
million on Neuschwanstein's maintenance, renovation and visitor services
 since 1990.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>5 Matsumoto Castle: Japan's most fascinating castle</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWrfXCFh-gg/TvtldHRXJSI/AAAAAAAAhLg/Pp58yR7lKN4/s1600/5+Matsumoto+Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Matsumoto Castle: Japan's most fascinating castle" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FWrfXCFh-gg/TvtldHRXJSI/AAAAAAAAhLg/Pp58yR7lKN4/s1600/5+Matsumoto+Castle.jpg" title="Matsumoto Castle: Japan's most fascinating castle" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: justify;">Matsumoto Castle is one of Japan's 
finest historic castles. It is located in the city of Matsumoto, in 
Nagano Prefecture and is within easy reach of Tokyo by road or rail. The
 keep (tenshukaku), which was completed in the late 16th century, 
maintains its original wooden interiors and external stonework. It is 
listed as a National Treasure of Japan.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Matsumoto Castle is a flatland castle (hirajiro) because it is not built
 on a hilltop or amid rivers, but on a plain. Its complete defences 
would have included an extensive system of inter-connecting walls, moats
 and gatehouses. In 1872, following the Meiji Restoration, the site, 
like many former daimyos' castles, was sold at auction for 
redevelopment. However, when news broke that the keep was going to be 
demolished, an influential figure from Matsumoto, Ichikawa Ryozo, along 
with residents from Matsumoto started a campaign to save the building. 
Their efforts were rewarded when the tower was acquired by the city 
government. In the late Meiji period the keep started to lean to one 
side due to neglect coupled with a structural defect. ( But rumour said 
that it was because of the curse Tada Kasuke had put on more than two 
hundred years before with his last breath on the execution pole.) A 
local high school principal, Kobayashi Unari, decided to renovate the 
castle and appealed for funds. The castle underwent "the great Meiji 
renovation"(1903-1913) thanks to Kobayashi and others. Half a century 
later, it underwent another renovation "the great Showa 
renovation"(1950-1955). In 1990, the Kuromon-Ninomon (second gate of the
 Black Gate) and sodebei (side wall) were reconstructed. The square drum
 gate was reconstructed in 1999. There is a plan for restoring the 
soto-bori(outer moat) which was reclaimed for a residential zone. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>6. Hunyad Castle: were Dracula was held prisoner</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CgNXSdCwD38/Tvtld_tXN4I/AAAAAAAAhLk/AvSfU6ZqsfM/s1600/6.+Hunyad+Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hunyad Castle: were Dracula was held prisoner" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CgNXSdCwD38/Tvtld_tXN4I/AAAAAAAAhLk/AvSfU6ZqsfM/s1600/6.+Hunyad+Castle.jpg" title="Hunyad Castle: were Dracula was held prisoner" /></a></div>
</div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">The Hunyad Castle (Romanian: Castelul
 Huniazilor or Castelul Corvinestilor, Hungarian: Vajdahunyad vára) is a
 castle in Transylvanian Hunedoara, present-day Romania. Until 1541 it 
was part of the Kingdom of Hungary, and after the Principality of 
Transylvania.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is believed to be the place where Vlad III of Wallachia (commonly 
known as Vlad the Impaler) was held prisoner for 7 years after he was 
deposed in 1462.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The castle is a relic of the Hunyadi dynasty. In the 14th century, the 
castle was given to John Hunyadi Serb, or Sorb by Sigismund king of 
Hungary as severance. The castle was restored between 1446 and 1453 by 
his grandson John Hunyadi. It was built mainly in Gothic style, but has 
Renaissance architectural elements. It features tall and strong defense 
towers, an interior yard and a drawbridge. Built over the site of an 
older fortification and on a rock above the small river Zlasti, the 
castle is a large and imposing building with tall and diversely colored 
roofs, towers and myriad windows and balconies adorned with stone 
carvings.</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
As one of the most important properties of John Hunyadi, the castle was 
transformed during his reign. It became a sumptuous home, not only a 
strategically enforced point. With the passing of the years, the masters
 of the castle had modified its look, adding towers, halls and guest 
rooms. The gallery and the keep - the last defense tower (called "Ne 
boisa" = Do not be afraid), which remained unchanged from Iancu de 
Hunedoara's time, and the Capistrano Tower (named after the Franciscan 
monk from the castle court) are some of the most significant parts of 
the construction. Other significant parts of the building are the 
Knights' Hall (a great reception hall), the Club Tower, the White 
bastion, which served as a food storage room, and the Diet Hall, on 
whose walls medallions are painted (among them there are the portraits 
of Matei Basarab, ruler from Wallachia, and Vasile Lupu, ruler of 
Moldavia). In the wing of the castle called the Mantle, a painting can 
be seen which portrays the legend of the raven from which the name of 
the descendants of John Hunyadi, Corvinus came.</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
In the castle yard, near the chapel built also during Vlad The Third's 
ruling, is a well 30 meters deep. The legend says that this fountain was
 dug by twelve Turkish prisoners to whom liberty was promised if they 
reached water. After 15 years they completed the well, but their captors
 did not keep their promise. It is said that the inscription on a wall 
of the well means "you have water, but not soul". Specialists, however, 
have translated the inscription as "he who wrote this inscription is 
Hasan, who lives as slave of the giaours, in the fortress near the 
church".</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
In February 2007, Hunyad Castle played host to the British paranormal 
television program Most Haunted Live! for a three-night live 
investigation into the spirits reported to be haunting the castle.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>7. Malbork Castle: World's Largest Brick Gothic Castle</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cJwpwwp0Aj4/Tvtleyx6I4I/AAAAAAAAhLs/M-HKTahjkdo/s1600/7.+Malbork+Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Malbork Castle: World's Largest Brick Gothic Castle" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cJwpwwp0Aj4/Tvtleyx6I4I/AAAAAAAAhLs/M-HKTahjkdo/s1600/7.+Malbork+Castle.jpg" title="Malbork Castle: World's Largest Brick Gothic Castle" /></a></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">The Castle in Malbork (German: Die 
Marienburg, Polish: Zamek w Malborku) was built in Prussia by the 
Teutonic Order as an Ordensburg. The Order named it Marienburg, 
literally "Mary's Castle". The town which grew around it was also named 
Marienburg, but since 1945 it is again, after 173 years, part of Poland 
and known as Malbork.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The castle is a classic example of a medieval fortress, and is the 
world’s largest brick gothic castle. UNESCO listed the castle and its 
museum as World Heritage Sites in December 1997 as Castle of the 
Teutonic Order in Malbork. It is one of two World Heritage Sites in the 
region with origins in the Teutonic Order. The other is the Medieval 
Town of Torun, founded in 1231 as the site of the castle Thorn (Torun).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The castle was founded in 1274 by the Teutonic Order during their 
government of Prussia and is located on the Southeastern bank of the 
river Nogat. It was named Marienburg after the Virgin Mary, patron saint
 of the Order.</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
The Order had been based in Acre, but when this last stronghold of the 
Crusades fell, the Order had to move its headquarters to Venice. In 
1309, in the wake of both the papal persecution of the Knights Templar 
as well as the Teutonic takeover of Danzig, the Order under Siegfried 
von Feuchtwangen moved its headquarters into the Prussian part of their 
monastic state. They chose the Marienburg, conveniently located on the 
Nogat, in the Vistula Delta, which allows access by ship.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
The castle was expanded several time to host the growing number of 
Knights, and became the largest fortified Gothic building in Europe, 
featuring several sections and walls. It consists of three separate 
sections - the High, Middle and Lower Castles, separated by multiple dry
 moats and towers. The castle once housed approximately 3,000 "brothers 
in arms", and the outermost castle walls enclose 52 acres (210,000 m²), 
four times larger than the enclosed space of Windsor Castle.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br />
The favourable position of the castle on the river Nogat and its 
relatively flat surrounding allowed for easy access by barges and 
trading ships, from the Vistula and the Baltic Sea. During their 
governance, the Teutonic Knights collected river tolls on passing ships,
 as did other castles along the rivers, imposing a monopoly on the trade
 of amber. When the city became a member of the Hanseatic League, many 
Hanseatic meetings were held at Marienburg castle.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>8. Palacio da Pena: Oldest Palace inspired by European Romanticism</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fCLYrGi8uIc/TvtlfU0ESAI/AAAAAAAAhL0/c2ozopT6zBs/s1600/8.+Palacio+da+Pena.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Palacio da Pena: Oldest Palace inspired by European Romanticism" border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fCLYrGi8uIc/TvtlfU0ESAI/AAAAAAAAhL0/c2ozopT6zBs/s1600/8.+Palacio+da+Pena.JPG" title="Palacio da Pena: Oldest Palace inspired by European Romanticism" /></a></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">The Pena National Palace (Portuguese:
 Palácio Nacional da Pena) is the oldest palace inspired by European 
Romanticism. It is located in the civil parish of São Pedro de 
Penaferrim, municipality of Sintra, Portugal. The palace stands on the 
top of a hill above the town of Sintra, and on a clear day it can be 
easily seen from Lisbon and much of its metropolitan area. It is a 
national monument and constitutes one of the major expressions of 19th 
century Romanticism in the world. The palace is a UNESCO World Heritage 
Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal. It is also used for state
 occasions by the President of the Portuguese Republic and other 
government officials. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>9. Lowenburg Castle: The Disneyland of the 18th century</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S8EJxa1C2I4/TvtlheBAr3I/AAAAAAAAhMA/dNvqFQPbzxk/s1600/9.+Lowenburg+Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lowenburg Castle: The Disneyland of the 18th century" border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S8EJxa1C2I4/TvtlheBAr3I/AAAAAAAAhMA/dNvqFQPbzxk/s1600/9.+Lowenburg+Castle.jpg" title="Lowenburg Castle: The Disneyland of the 18th century" /></a></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">Within the Wilhelmshöhe Hill Park 
which sits on one end of the city of Kassel, there stands what appears 
to be a medieval castle. However, the Löwenburg or “Lion’s Castle” was 
ordered to be built by the Landgrave Wilhelm IX from Hessen Kassel (1743
 -1821) (later he gained the higher title of Elector Wilhelm I - 
Kurfürst Wilhelm I), the Walt Disney of his era, over a period of eight 
years between 1793 and 1801 as a romantic ruin. It was carfelully 
designed by his royal court building inspector Heinrich Christoph Jussow
 (1754 – 1825) who had been trained as an architect and construction 
project manager in France, Italy, and England, and who had gone to 
England specifically to study romantic English ruins and draw up a plan 
for the Landgrave’s garden folly. Today scholars regard Löwenburg Castle
 ruins as one of the most significant buildings of its genre, in 
addition to being one of the first major neo-Gothic buildings in 
Germany.</span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What the Landgrave did here was the eighteenth century equivalent of 
Disney World Tokyo. It is a central element of the Wilhlemshöhe castle 
park which, starting in 1785, the Landgrave transformed into a 
landscaped garden modeled on the English pattern, and filled with themed
 areas – fake Roman aquaducts, fake English Castle Ruins, fake Grecian 
temples, and even a fake Chinese Village. In terms of sheer monumental 
size, however, the fake monumental castle ruin of the Löwenburg stands 
apart from the numerous antiquated and pseudo-medieval constructions 
that served as decorative motifs for landscaped parks in other parts of 
Europe. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>10. Prague Castle: World's Largest Ancient Castle</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-23fbKeTtNTM/Tvtlh2FOoiI/AAAAAAAAhMI/yv70faH3FdY/s1600/10.+Prague+Castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Prague Castle: World's Largest Ancient Castle" border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-23fbKeTtNTM/Tvtlh2FOoiI/AAAAAAAAhMI/yv70faH3FdY/s1600/10.+Prague+Castle.jpg" title="Prague Castle: World's Largest Ancient Castle" /></a></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="text-align: justify;">Prague Castle (Czech: Pražský hrad) 
is a castle in Prague where the Czech kings, Holy Roman Emperors and 
presidents of Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic have had their 
offices. The Czech Crown Jewels are kept here. Prague Castle is one of 
the biggest castles in the world (according to Guinness Book of Records 
the biggest ancient castle [1]) at about 570 meters in length and an 
average of about 130 meters wide.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<b>History</b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The history of the castle stretches back to the 9th century (870). The 
first walled building was the church of Our Lady[2]. The Basilica of 
Saint George and the Basilica of St. Vitus were founded in the first 
half of the 10th century. The first convent in Bohemia was founded in 
the castle, next to the church of St. George. A Romanesque palace was 
erected here during the 12th century. In the 14th century, under the 
reign of Charles IV the royal palace was rebuilt in Gothic style and the
 castle fortifications were strengthened. In place of rotunda and 
basilica of St. Vitus began building of a vast Gothic church, that have 
been completed almost six centuries later. During the Hussite Wars and 
the following decades the Castle was not inhabited. In 1485, King 
Ladislaus II Jagello began to rebuild the castle. The massive Vladislav 
Hall (built by Benedikt Rejt) was added to the Royal Palace. There were 
also built new defence towers on the northern side of the castle. A 
large fire in 1541 destroyed large parts of the castle. Under the 
Habsburgs some new buildings in renaissance style appeared here. 
Ferdinand I built Belvedere, summer palace for his wife Anne. Rudolph II
 used Prague Castle as his main residence. He founded the northern wing 
of the palace, with the Spanish Hall, where his precious artistic 
collections were exhibited. The Second Prague defenestration in 1618 
began the Bohemian Revolt. During the subsequent wars the Castle was 
damaged and dilapidated. Many works from the collection of Rudolph II 
were looted by Swedes in 1648, in the course of the Thirty Years' War. 
The last major rebuilding of the castle was carried out by Queen Maria 
Theresa in the second half of the 18th century. Ferdinand V, after 
abdication in 1848, chose Prague Castle as his home.</div>
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<br />
Source :- http://worldtoptenthings.blogspot.in/2011/12/world-10-most-fascinating-castles-and.html </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>

World 10 Most Fascinating Castles and Palaces

1. The Potala Palace: Tibet's greatest monumental structure Originally built by King Songtsen Gampo in the seventh century, ...

World Top 10 Greatest Living Rocks

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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Great Sphinx of Giza (Egypt)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAP155fJKIxYpsUjdwnk5T_enjSZIjLQzN_yE-lPRS7X0LyY96M27M5cT1MR32RJamEre-PwqcbWJmNOnAc2BcdBfbyzyL0vmCf5vWoyly4xxrSR0I1ZWkGLhYNJEWrlyBo21yaI58wNq/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+1.jpg"><img alt="Great Sphinx of Giza (Egypt)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526039405224560626" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAP155fJKIxYpsUjdwnk5T_enjSZIjLQzN_yE-lPRS7X0LyY96M27M5cT1MR32RJamEre-PwqcbWJmNOnAc2BcdBfbyzyL0vmCf5vWoyly4xxrSR0I1ZWkGLhYNJEWrlyBo21yaI58wNq/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+1.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" title="Great Sphinx of Giza (Egypt)" /></a>A
  reclining lion with a human head that stands on the Giza Plateau on 
the  west bank of the Nile, near modern-day Cairo, is the largest 
monolith  statue in the world. Standing 73.5 m (241 ft) long, 6 m (20 
ft) wide,  and 20 m (65 ft) high, the Great Sphinx of Giza is also the 
oldest known  monumental sculpture, and is commonly believed to have 
been built by  ancient Egyptians in the third millennium BCE. The Great 
Sphinx faces  due east and houses a small temple between its paws.</div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Petra (Jordan)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GvpOUpD7SY37AoJmWi4p66-XPqwGLpaHAgycRgr0TsJMaiEzV-eztlOPDNlqTx43nuiXz8mvNyTdNLMDbCQgWaP-ihCo79uJS0mMLycwV9e8CQmG8aWRCSQHU3ioekLx4rCVbJSUSIuD/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+2.jpg"><img alt="Petra (Jordan)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526039401461489362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GvpOUpD7SY37AoJmWi4p66-XPqwGLpaHAgycRgr0TsJMaiEzV-eztlOPDNlqTx43nuiXz8mvNyTdNLMDbCQgWaP-ihCo79uJS0mMLycwV9e8CQmG8aWRCSQHU3ioekLx4rCVbJSUSIuD/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+2.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" title="Petra (Jordan)" /></a>Famously
  described as "a rose-red city half as old as time" by John William  
Burgon, UNESCO has described Petra as one of the most precious cultural 
 properties of man's cultural heritage. In 1985, Petra was designated a 
 World Heritage Site, and recently designated as one of the “new 
wonders”  of the world.<br />
<br />
Located in Arabah, Ma'an Governorate, Jordan,  lying on the slope of 
Mount Hor in a basin among the mountains, the  large valley running from
 the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba is renowned  for its rock-cut 
architecture. The Nabateans constructed it as their  capital city around
 100 BCE, after their decline, the site remained  unknown to the Western
 world until 1812, when it was introduced to the  West by Swiss explorer
 Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.<br />
<br />
The picturesque  site was featured in various films such as Indiana 
Jones and the Last  Crusade, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation and Sinbad and 
the Eye of the  Tiger.</div>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Mount Rushmore (USA)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yIrGBiBcVOuJTk9ftioaYNtZxDL50ZDXhtUCKtbNo3ubiqINrfPYpxO07o1mA3tsJKfeJLAlFe2sdWKOyTX1COAMssv0WV8ow2yjiHwQjLRrgNik_fAD-_usjoAntpYYDDue3y7UTawz/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+3.jpg"><img alt="Mount Rushmore (USA)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526039398730239026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-yIrGBiBcVOuJTk9ftioaYNtZxDL50ZDXhtUCKtbNo3ubiqINrfPYpxO07o1mA3tsJKfeJLAlFe2sdWKOyTX1COAMssv0WV8ow2yjiHwQjLRrgNik_fAD-_usjoAntpYYDDue3y7UTawz/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+3.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" title="Mount Rushmore (USA)" /></a>A
  famous monumental granite sculpture created by Gutzon Borglum, Mount  
Rushmore is located within the United States Presidential Memorial that 
 represents the first 150 years of the history of the United States of  
America with 60-foot (18 m) sculptures of the heads of former United  
States presidents (left to right): George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, 
 Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The entire memorial covers  
1,278.45 acres (5.17 km2) and is 5,725 feet (1,745 m) above sea level.  
The memorial attracts approximately two million people annually.</div>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">4. Leshan Giant Buddha (China)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iJihsaXLCGDPvRJaHgvC9W_2LU4EZyie1l7r-ny7bLxI4CN2pKd6CoHJvPEyMC2RwG93H7-cNmQn2rTa1pflDWkyN6B1BvoTqPQwKjGtvmFJ4Vj6ZTzP_on3qUNTI6e7IhGANI__5LwV/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+4.jpg"><img alt="Leshan Giant Buddha (China)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526039390102774786" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_iJihsaXLCGDPvRJaHgvC9W_2LU4EZyie1l7r-ny7bLxI4CN2pKd6CoHJvPEyMC2RwG93H7-cNmQn2rTa1pflDWkyN6B1BvoTqPQwKjGtvmFJ4Vj6ZTzP_on3qUNTI6e7IhGANI__5LwV/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+4.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" title="Leshan Giant Buddha (China)" /></a>Built
  during the Tang Dynasty, the Leshan Giant Buddha is carved out of a  
cliff face that lies at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi 
 rivers in the southern part of Sichuan province in China, near the city
  of Leshan. The sculpture, which is seventy one meters (about 230 
hundred  feet) tall dwarfs the tourists that flock to see it. It is 
positioned  so that it faces Mount Emei and stands at the meeting place 
of three  rivers. Although the Government of China has promised a 
restoration  program, the statue has suffered from the effects of 
pollution,  particularly over the last twenty years. Fortunately, the 
statue was not  damaged in the Sichuan earthquake of 2008.</div>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">5. Mahabalipuram Shore Temple (India)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNNwx6mKALiWydhNJqjH9PngxYV_VNk_NV9lTKkCngsM2hvdBmyc8vAFWuADxRDYzJEN2jNaYvm_7zM-iWkq8zWNWxTRND-fGR989UlA63Xom2UC5koGZUYEWRYCpCB_EBOO2yS2Rth2m/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+5.jpg"><img alt="Mahabalipuram Shore Temple (India)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526039390901832514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikNNwx6mKALiWydhNJqjH9PngxYV_VNk_NV9lTKkCngsM2hvdBmyc8vAFWuADxRDYzJEN2jNaYvm_7zM-iWkq8zWNWxTRND-fGR989UlA63Xom2UC5koGZUYEWRYCpCB_EBOO2yS2Rth2m/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+5.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" title="Mahabalipuram Shore Temple (India)" /></a>Built
  on the shores of the Bay of Bengal in Mahabalipuram (India) in the  
early 8th century by the Pallava King Rajasimha. The shore temple  
actually consists of 2 back to back shrines, one facing the east (the  
Bay), and the smaller one facing west.<br />
<br />
It stands on the edge of  the Bay of Bengal. At high tide, the waves 
sweep into its compounds. The  walls and their sculptures have been 
battered and eroded by the winds  and waves for thirteen hundred years. 
Yet they stand intact.<br />
<br />
Mahabalipuram  was a flourishing sea port in the times of Periplus and 
Ptolemy (140  AD). There is an old legend here that originally there 
were seven  temples; of these, six have been swallowed by the sea and 
only one  temple -the Shore Temple- remained. There are evidences of 
submerged  structures under the waves and sporadic excavations are going
 on, but it  is too early to say whether there really was a glorious 
city and six  more temples which now lie submerged under the waves off 
the coast off  Mahabalipuram.</div>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">6. Abu Simbel (Egypt)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocOurZ2B_H42Kqk1ZCoL5N0uBrQjitaiImKmk8zgR2D7TN7NkfqU6pjYbFSKHkPqojAeAhUl8t2Ol_0KPOAawpFW_8Ik0-wmj9VO4ZNY96UG4-Xwlh7r67M3WhGj38tu-aCYCo6HywoS8/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+6.jpg"><img alt="Abu Simbel (Egypt)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526039089025192194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjocOurZ2B_H42Kqk1ZCoL5N0uBrQjitaiImKmk8zgR2D7TN7NkfqU6pjYbFSKHkPqojAeAhUl8t2Ol_0KPOAawpFW_8Ik0-wmj9VO4ZNY96UG4-Xwlh7r67M3WhGj38tu-aCYCo6HywoS8/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+6.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" title="Abu Simbel (Egypt)" /></a>A
  set of two temples near the border of Egypt with Sudan, Abu Simbel was
  constructed for the pharaoh Ramesses II who reigned for 67 years 
during  the 13th century BC (19th Dynasty). The temples were cut from 
the rock  and shifted to higher ground in the 1960s as the waters of 
Lake Nasser  began to rise following completion of the Aswan High Dam.<br />
<br />
The  Great Temple is dedicated to Ramesses II and a statue of him is 
seated  with three other gods within the innermost part of the rock-cut 
temple  (the sanctuary). The temple's facade is dominated by four 
enormous  seated statues of the Pharaoh (each over 20 metres or 67 feet 
high),  although one has been damaged since ancient times. The Small 
Temple was  probably completed ahead of the Great Temple and is 
dedicated to  Ramesses' favorite wife, Nefertari. At the entrance stand 
six  10-metre-high (33 feet) rock-cut statues - two of Ramesses and one 
of  Nefertari on either side of the doorway.</div>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">7. Dazu Rock Carvings (China)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoYmHgSCnuOzgO-kS164FaX8Wv9FXjVIiuvlvqhnEb3YEjiVwPeUQUe_IDhSH3cwajdKIOsuAZe3BcCzaKhw4qShexHlyYL8GkMk6yQ69iLnVqU7XuhXIdWSiZVa9KukZw_ipG_Rx9HI4/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+7.jpg"><img alt="Dazu Rock Carvings (China)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526039077595553394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCoYmHgSCnuOzgO-kS164FaX8Wv9FXjVIiuvlvqhnEb3YEjiVwPeUQUe_IDhSH3cwajdKIOsuAZe3BcCzaKhw4qShexHlyYL8GkMk6yQ69iLnVqU7XuhXIdWSiZVa9KukZw_ipG_Rx9HI4/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+7.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" title="Dazu Rock Carvings (China)" /></a>The
  Dazu rock carvings in Chongqing, China are hewn from the cliffside,  
featuring more than 5,000 statues and over 100,000 Chinese characters of
  inscriptions or epigraphs. It is reputed as 'the county of rock  
carving' and it’s located at the southeast of Sichuan province. The Dazu
  Rock Carvings was built from 650 in the Tang Dynasty and continued to 
 the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and the Qing Dynasty (1616-1911). Among 
the  rock carvings, there are more than 5,000 statues and over 100,000  
Chinese characters of inscriptions and epigraphs.</div>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">8. Church of St. George (Ethiopia)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHXakB2rpGQPiVNhaRb40qH15QhFdAq9VO8tCcpInaaAzBbdTADgYStP7YBm-b0nJ6D6TLmI9mKPtcoHap2bL0aglB3Slzw2dADop-EMb51fA1uaw8qGQLwAs_ezjPiKtjXQdDW5HLhFk/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+8.jpg"><img alt="Church of St. George (Ethiopia)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526039078205458146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHXakB2rpGQPiVNhaRb40qH15QhFdAq9VO8tCcpInaaAzBbdTADgYStP7YBm-b0nJ6D6TLmI9mKPtcoHap2bL0aglB3Slzw2dADop-EMb51fA1uaw8qGQLwAs_ezjPiKtjXQdDW5HLhFk/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+8.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" title="Church of St. George (Ethiopia)" /></a>The
  Church of St. George is a monolithic church in Lalibela, Amhara 
Region,  Ethiopia. It is the most well known and last built (early 
thirteenth  century) of the eleven churches in the Lalibela area, and 
has been  referred to as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The 
dimensions of the  complex are 25 meters by 25 meters by 30 meters, and 
there is a small  baptismal pool outside the church, which stands in an 
artificial trench.  According to Ethiopian cultural history, Bete 
Giyorgis was built after  King Gebre Mesqel Lalibela of the Zagwe 
dynasty had a vision in which he  was instructed to construct the 
church; Saint George and God have both  been referred to as the one who 
gave him the instructions.<br />
<br />
As of  2006, Lalibela is still a pilgrimage site for members of the 
Ethiopian  Orthodox Tewahedo Church; the church itself is part of the 
UNESCO World  Heritage Site "Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela".</div>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">9. Borobudor (Indonesia)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlB7zEKohG_YwPgz0tKN8v6TJE1nKAqbwiCQcZ49G-VKhulIMR1mycXZah7hm9gJR4Gl7qIEEfffllOIxWItd5Bs8KA1h2c7rk6qEXFOlVmFnkGQvWLoPRp5qy4RLzeQoIRAZGqGI-BYq/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+9.jpg"><img alt="Borobudor (Indonesia)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526039075740735746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlB7zEKohG_YwPgz0tKN8v6TJE1nKAqbwiCQcZ49G-VKhulIMR1mycXZah7hm9gJR4Gl7qIEEfffllOIxWItd5Bs8KA1h2c7rk6qEXFOlVmFnkGQvWLoPRp5qy4RLzeQoIRAZGqGI-BYq/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+9.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" title="Borobudor (Indonesia)" /></a>Officially,
  Borobudur is a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist monument in Magelang,  
Central Java, Indonesia. Actually, it is much older than that. The  
monument complex comprises six square platforms topped by three circular
  platforms, and is decorated with 2,672 relief panels and 504 statues 
of  Rama citizens. Each wall has a story that relates to the stories of 
the  birth of Buddha and other Buddha figures. A main dome, located at 
the  center of the top platform, is surrounded by 72 Rama citizens 
seated  inside perforated stupa.</div>
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">10. Cappadocia (Turkey)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0oKmIBqVEeaHfs-oOsejq2jKdeE8KzOroMmysdiy9o6s9ZcQo-Py2YclNzKyCkhlNpt_JV8IayK165TFCJmuzFWUhZrimXPeTk2pBJyEDQLJjFYib_ZzDLuhcXDltn41OTEInr-kvtvU/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+10.jpg"><img alt="Cappadocia (Turkey)" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526039070449700850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0oKmIBqVEeaHfs-oOsejq2jKdeE8KzOroMmysdiy9o6s9ZcQo-Py2YclNzKyCkhlNpt_JV8IayK165TFCJmuzFWUhZrimXPeTk2pBJyEDQLJjFYib_ZzDLuhcXDltn41OTEInr-kvtvU/s1600/World's+Greatest+Living+Rocks+10.jpg" style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" title="Cappadocia (Turkey)" /></a>Cappadocia
  lies in the mid-western part of Turkey. An extraordinary landscape  
formed millions of years ago by the combined work of lava spitting  
volcanoes, wind and water, there is culture too: the inhabitants of the 
 area hew rooms, chapels, even whole villages out of the rocks. 
Religious  Byzantine paintings can be found on the walls of the churches
 and  monasteries.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Source :- http://worldtoptenthings.blogspot.in/2011/07/world-top-10-greatest-living-rocks.html </div>
</div>
</div>

World Top 10 Greatest Living Rocks

1. Great Sphinx of Giza (Egypt) A reclining lion with a human head that stands on the Giza Plateau on the west bank of the Nil...

World Top 10 Fastest Bikes

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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1. MTT Turbine Superbike Y2K</b></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVBJ7pRyLEHYgDgROscEGaW0Bvyq7nUkxhyphenhyphenxytbuINgUmKfBmhITUwUorqgfClaHLcB9uP_hXrwwDHcudBskxdr9mgHnPWTxY8TmSik-X0WWS-sAGGJqs23nykn5SeHU6138JOe9jEAHq/s1600/01.+MTT+Turbine+Superbike+Y2K+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="MTT Turbine Superbike Y2K" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVBJ7pRyLEHYgDgROscEGaW0Bvyq7nUkxhyphenhyphenxytbuINgUmKfBmhITUwUorqgfClaHLcB9uP_hXrwwDHcudBskxdr9mgHnPWTxY8TmSik-X0WWS-sAGGJqs23nykn5SeHU6138JOe9jEAHq/s1600/01.+MTT+Turbine+Superbike+Y2K+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" title="MTT Turbine Superbike Y2K" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20 turbo shaft<br />
Top Speed: 227 miles per hour (365 km/h)<br />
Power: 320 horsepower (239 kW) @ 52,000 rpm<br />
Transmission: 2-speed automatic</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
MTT Turbine Superbike, also known as Y2K Turbine Superbike, is the 
world’s second wheel driven motorcycle powered by a turbine engine, 
created by Ted McIntyre of Marine Turbine Technologies Inc and it 
appears just below Suzuki GSX-R750. Powered by a Rolls Royce Allison 250
 series turboshaft engine, producing 238kW (320hp), this motorcycle has a
 recorded top speed of 227 mph (365 km/h), with a price tag of 
US$150,000. It is recognized by Guinness World Records as the “Most 
powerful production motorcycle” and the “Most expensive production 
motorcycle”. Unlike other contemporary motorcycles (such as the 
Hayabusa), 2001 and later models of MTT Turbine SUPERBIKE do not have 
the 300 km/h speed limit self-imposed by Japanese manufacturers. MTT has
 achieved the 1st rank among the top 10 fastest bikes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>2. Suzuki GSX-R1000</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b> </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg932QYGFNlKLEpmzB9iTHORmnC7YZ00x_t1STzzLqnQ3gDj3FEooerBAXMuY_L3C6vFRQbQ7Pk9GRnvWFIzcC84NW5U9Gt7Ny9QteJYyLU5U5Z0hurE6NQ8Ezm754NP6FyZX13y-EJOVV/s1600/02.+Suzuki+GSX-R1000+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Suzuki GSX-R1000" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg932QYGFNlKLEpmzB9iTHORmnC7YZ00x_t1STzzLqnQ3gDj3FEooerBAXMuY_L3C6vFRQbQ7Pk9GRnvWFIzcC84NW5U9Gt7Ny9QteJYyLU5U5Z0hurE6NQ8Ezm754NP6FyZX13y-EJOVV/s1600/02.+Suzuki+GSX-R1000+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" title="Suzuki GSX-R1000" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
 </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Engine: 999 cc four-cylinder 4-stroke, DOHC, 16-valve, TSCC<br />
Top speed: 185 miles per hour (299km/h)<br />
Power: 142 kW (191 hp) @ 12,000 rpm<br />
Transmission: 6-speed, constant mesh, Back-torque limiting clutch</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Introduced in 2001, the YZF R1 is powered by a liquid-cooled 999 cc 
inline four-cylinder 4-stroke engine. It too tops at 185 miles per hour.
 It features dual hydraulic disc brakes at the front and single ones at 
the rear.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>3. Suzuki Hayabusa</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTD5q76YkuySuo6mNVFq5p8zxoNu7SNbXgMohpTDVbUGO4La2ZLbyNevZxRMC5lTXD8och3Po5SHYBJiqHgokDNoYCFUYjscpWtqoXfgPTduMiJ6tga2K8EdA5MCC9hooLgQsz-GkzoMri/s1600/03.+Suzuki+Hayabusa+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Suzuki Hayabusa" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTD5q76YkuySuo6mNVFq5p8zxoNu7SNbXgMohpTDVbUGO4La2ZLbyNevZxRMC5lTXD8och3Po5SHYBJiqHgokDNoYCFUYjscpWtqoXfgPTduMiJ6tga2K8EdA5MCC9hooLgQsz-GkzoMri/s1600/03.+Suzuki+Hayabusa+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" title="Suzuki Hayabusa" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Engine: 1340 cc (82 cu in), 4-stroke, four-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 16-valve<br />
Top Speed: 188 miles per hour (303 km/h)<br />
Power: 197 horsepower (147 kW) @ 6750 rpm<br />
Transmission: 6-speed, constant mesh</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Standing 3rd in the list of top 10 fastest superbikes the name Hayabusa,
 translates directly from the Japanese as Pergerine Falcon, the bird 
commonly attributed of achieving speeds of over 180 mph (290 km/h) and 
predator of the common blackbird. The name Suzuki Hayabusa is a subtle 
reference to Honda’s competing Hawk models. When introduced in 1999, 
Suzuki Hayabusa overtook the Honda CBR1100XX Super Blackbird as the 
fastest production motorcycle. The first generation of the Hayabusa was 
called the GSX1300R and was powered by a 1299 cc (79.2 cu in) inline-4 
liquid-cooled engine. In the US, the 2008 suzuki hayabusa will boast a 
price tag of $11,999 and stands still in the list of top 10 fastest 
bikes.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>4. Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqTglqRiq81KAwGaAsCNuwruOH6znvDIxMUySvCAHZMPl3cWfijpzAsEwkn3lXlU5cw1NrLokFHX-UUglv-84nqYpIjWu5WkoQjbXn0SvjhOWQrC7kjpUGazz0ulqz28sM4qBxj9LlY1t/s1600/04.+Kawasaki+Ninja+ZX-10R+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqTglqRiq81KAwGaAsCNuwruOH6znvDIxMUySvCAHZMPl3cWfijpzAsEwkn3lXlU5cw1NrLokFHX-UUglv-84nqYpIjWu5WkoQjbXn0SvjhOWQrC7kjpUGazz0ulqz28sM4qBxj9LlY1t/s1600/04.+Kawasaki+Ninja+ZX-10R+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" title="Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Engine: 998 cc, 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, liquid-cooled, DOHC, 4-valve cylinder head<br />
Top speed: 186 miles per hour (300km/h)<br />
Power: 147 kW (197 hp) @ 12,500 rpm<br />
Transmission: 6-speed</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With the highest theft and damage loss claim rate of any registered 
motorcycle, the Ninja ZX-10R is at number four. It is a successor to the
 ZX-9R sport bike. It boasts ultra-narrow chassis, low weight, and 
radial brakes.</div>
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<b>5. Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 – Electronically limited to 299 km/h</b></div>
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<b> </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1E_BWe3aullWjv93Yx_-vT1X0PJoDESOF79EeD0XzXy6ZE5OdIvzwJ3xBRpLdmUYT9kyEWF-_suBviKReJN6zLNRbkQtGAEYpHJotBbeu6SKc_84u0VYqLDZY9tfdDLVJ_14gt_xERygE/s1600/05.+Kawasaki+Ninja+ZX-14+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 – Electronically limited to 299 km/h" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1E_BWe3aullWjv93Yx_-vT1X0PJoDESOF79EeD0XzXy6ZE5OdIvzwJ3xBRpLdmUYT9kyEWF-_suBviKReJN6zLNRbkQtGAEYpHJotBbeu6SKc_84u0VYqLDZY9tfdDLVJ_14gt_xERygE/s1600/05.+Kawasaki+Ninja+ZX-14+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" title="Kawasaki Ninja ZX-14 – Electronically limited to 299 km/h" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Engine: 1352 cc four-stroke, liquid-cooled,DOHC, four valve per cylinder,inline-four<br />
Top speed: 185 miles per hour (299km/h)<br />
Power: 142 kW (190 hp) @ 12,500 rpm<br />
Transmission: 6-speed</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is Kawasaki’s most powerful current bike. Introduced in Tokyo 2005 
show, the ZX-14 does 0–60 mph in 2.5 seconds. Also known as ZZR1400, it 
was also featured in Fifth Gear. It can cover one-fourth of a mile in 
9.783 seconds.</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>6. Ducati 1198R</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b> </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupH9aRsBoxuzO-wvLp0FVIiGmuIKn0egYOUBlY7YsTqHeCv01CqT4pW6m23bS9DqFqoiojArr3s2-W8tNQKl7D9-FK_n1zZxZ4kpVpEQP03IatQ-_suZmAhPBozqkMaQiPMNf6FfPI09d/s1600/06.+Ducati+1198R+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ducati 1198R" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupH9aRsBoxuzO-wvLp0FVIiGmuIKn0egYOUBlY7YsTqHeCv01CqT4pW6m23bS9DqFqoiojArr3s2-W8tNQKl7D9-FK_n1zZxZ4kpVpEQP03IatQ-_suZmAhPBozqkMaQiPMNf6FfPI09d/s1600/06.+Ducati+1198R+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" title="Ducati 1198R" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Engine: 90° V-twin cylinder, 4-valve per cylinder Desmodromic, liquid cooled<br />
Top speed: 185 miles per hour (299km/h)<br />
Power: 134 kW (180 hp) @ 9,750 rpm<br />
Transmission: 6-speed</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Introduced in 2009, the Ducati 1998 is a successor to the Ducati 1098. 
The 1198R from the Italian manufacturer is available in red, black and 
white.</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>7. Yamaha YZF R1</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoL3NshPlov-qCkoL7lQ75CUQaw-J6LjYVVB8tiOcRj10IdxbkO1MKGru3hJg1HF7bQSewSE3DHowAhSvbdtMFtne5aYpEeU5pZmslTgwKK49CSu4qxYr_nZ-MmZTUXBr4gAVc5lDf6V2o/s1600/07.+Yamaha+YZF+R1+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Yamaha YZF R1" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoL3NshPlov-qCkoL7lQ75CUQaw-J6LjYVVB8tiOcRj10IdxbkO1MKGru3hJg1HF7bQSewSE3DHowAhSvbdtMFtne5aYpEeU5pZmslTgwKK49CSu4qxYr_nZ-MmZTUXBr4gAVc5lDf6V2o/s1600/07.+Yamaha+YZF+R1+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" title="Yamaha YZF R1" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Engine: Forward Inclined Parallel 4-cylinder, 20 valves, DOHC, liquid-cooled<br />
Top Speed: 186miles per hour (297 km/h)<br />
Power: 128.2 horsepower (95.6 kW) at 10000 rpm<br />
Transmission: Constant mesh 6-speed</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Lets discuss 7th position in the list of top 10 current fastest bikes in
 the world. Yamaha launched the YZF-R1 after redesigning the Genesis 
engine to offset the crankshaft, gearbox input and output shafts and 
this “compacting” of the engine yielded a huge dividend in that the 
total engine length was now very short. The Yamaha YZF-R1 motorcycle, 
introduced in 1998, was the first significant motorcycle in the true 
liter class (1,000 cc) “handling arms race” between the Japanese Big 
Four motorcycle manufacturers (Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha). When
 introduced, it took the class closer to a true racing motorcycle, and 
increased the handling capabilities. May be some more improvements it 
might push it further to the top among the top 10 fastest bikes in the 
world.</div>
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<b>8. Suzuki GSX-R750</b></div>
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<b> </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_donje41LyfN5EJqavBE2e_82Ue0DUDV7iY4RdJOQOkKPlOQxVK5LNWhM5eH92DAfJ3vaA1ix5QNil2MHHQkEWMKbpV2cPNKfhfaYEDy5PQYEp4TH_d9ckPtPY4QXG2Yflp2K5xMCPru/s1600/08.+Suzuki+GSX-R750+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Suzuki GSX-R750" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr_donje41LyfN5EJqavBE2e_82Ue0DUDV7iY4RdJOQOkKPlOQxVK5LNWhM5eH92DAfJ3vaA1ix5QNil2MHHQkEWMKbpV2cPNKfhfaYEDy5PQYEp4TH_d9ckPtPY4QXG2Yflp2K5xMCPru/s1600/08.+Suzuki+GSX-R750+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" title="Suzuki GSX-R750" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Engine: 4-stroke, liquid-cooled, DOHC<br />
Top speed: 190 miles per hour (306km/h)<br />
Power: 110.3 kW (150 hp) @ 13,200 rpm<br />
Transmission: 6-speed constant mesh</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Introduced in 1985, the Suzuki GSX-R750 features a 750 CC 4-stroke 
engine and weighs 437 pounds. It easily goes to 300+ km/h and is priced 
at $12,000. It has an excellent body work and is the most powerful, 
efficient and cleanest running production engine Suzuki has ever 
produced.</div>
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<b>9. Aprilia RSV4</b></div>
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<b> </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZy1veLCe1diQIwEsG8KVpRDN77FwaquSfhE9zl_9NvzfD19m-gs7pEKr0GjxZYIHRnfU25Ulq3_1yc9OrJLmPIUo9gUPckwMdWSU-s1pteC2VZY5isiShjLGM06Mfva668x2dSYkHRdi-/s1600/09.+Aprilia+RSV4+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Aprilia RSV4" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZy1veLCe1diQIwEsG8KVpRDN77FwaquSfhE9zl_9NvzfD19m-gs7pEKr0GjxZYIHRnfU25Ulq3_1yc9OrJLmPIUo9gUPckwMdWSU-s1pteC2VZY5isiShjLGM06Mfva668x2dSYkHRdi-/s1600/09.+Aprilia+RSV4+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" title="Aprilia RSV4" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Engine: 999.6 cc V4<br />
Top speed: 175 miles per hour (281km/h)<br />
Power: 132 kW (178 hp) @ 12,500 rpm<br />
Transmission: 6-speed, wet clutch</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is the successor to the Aprilia RSV 1000 R motorcycle which began 
manufacturing in 2004. The RSV4 was unveiled at the International 
Piaggio Group Convention in Milan, Italy. During its first full season 
of World Superbike racing, Max Biaggi aboard the RSV4 reached the podium
 9 times, and won one race at the Brno Circuit.</div>
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<b>10. Ducati 848</b></div>
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<b> </b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtqnQhxCWo5Z3Fl1hh4FFCDxNn2z6XvoAdcXQgeWQFYqsrBFoV8-p3DHmFmxTAV7T8oqvxKcqucgJ5B0s84eaz9foV9865r2AsQL43QfX8QcEFHg4hnLHhTgFMiJwVdbcVP8JRw50JHj2/s1600/10.+Ducati+848+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ducati 848" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtqnQhxCWo5Z3Fl1hh4FFCDxNn2z6XvoAdcXQgeWQFYqsrBFoV8-p3DHmFmxTAV7T8oqvxKcqucgJ5B0s84eaz9foV9865r2AsQL43QfX8QcEFHg4hnLHhTgFMiJwVdbcVP8JRw50JHj2/s1600/10.+Ducati+848+World+Top+10+Fastest+Bikes.jpg" title="Ducati 848" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Engine: 849 cc (51.8 cu in), 4 valves per cylinder desmodromic liquid cooled L-twin<br />
Top speed: 159 miles per hour (256km/h)<br />
Power: 100 kW (134 hp) @ 10,000 rpm<br />
Transmission: 6-speed, wet clutch</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Replacing the Ducati 749, the 848 weighs 370 pounds and was announced in
 2007. The 2009 model was available in Red and Pearl White color. The 
848 shares more features with 1198 than its predecessor, the 749, like 
single-sided swingarm, same rake and trail and same valve angles among 
many </div>
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 </div>
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Source :- http://worldtoptenthings.blogspot.in/2011/09/world-top-10-fastest-bikes.html </div>
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World Top 10 Fastest Bikes

1. MTT Turbine Superbike Y2K Engine: Rolls-Royce 250-C20 turbo shaft Top Speed: 227 miles per hour (365 km/h) Power: 320 horsepowe...

furthest eyeball popper

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<strong>Furthest eyeball popper</strong></div>
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furthest eyeball popper</div>
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Kim Goodman (USA) can pop her eyeballs to a protrusion of 12 mm (0.47
 in) beyond her eye sockets. Her eyes were      measured in Istanbul, 
Turkey, on November 2, 2007.<br />

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She is the official furthest eyeball popper but i found another person who’s eye is slightly more disgusting<br />

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<a href="http://worldrecords.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/2413007991_aebdd6f655.jpg"><img alt="disgusting eyeball popper" class="size-medium wp-image-20" height="618" src="http://worldrecords.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/2413007991_aebdd6f655.jpg?w=300&h=290" title="2413007991_aebdd6f655" width="640" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="text-align: right;">
 disgusting eyeball popper</div>
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Source : -http://worldrecords.wordpress.com/ </div>
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furthest eyeball popper

Furthest eyeball popper furthest eyeball popper Kim Goodman (USA) can pop her eyeballs to a protrusion of 12 mm (0.47 in)...

Largest Bamboo Kite (Indian Fighter Kite)

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<a class="" href="http://www.worldrecordsindia.com/2014/03/largest-bamboo-kite/"><img alt="World_Biggest_Bamboo_Kite_World_Record" class="attachment-300x2000 wp-post-image" height="426" src="http://www.worldrecordsindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/World_Biggest_Bamboo_Kite_World_Record-300x200.jpg" title="World_Biggest_Bamboo_Kite_World_Record" width="640" /></a></div>
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On occasion of Mahashivratri  Festival 2014,  Prajapita Brahmakumari
  Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya,  Belgaum,  Karnataka has made Largest 
Bamboo  Kite measuring 203 feet in height, and  73 Feet in wide using  
bamboo, steel pipe connector  and plastic cloth material  and it was 
exhibited and Flying on 27th  February, 2014 at  CPED Collage Ground, 
Belgaum.  Kite Design, Making  and Flying  by Dipak Harke (ACC & S, 
 Ahmednagar), Paavan Solanki  ( <strong>Royal Kite Flyers Club</strong> )& Gulabchand Jangid together. Event  was organized by BK Ambica Director,  Brahmakumari Belgaum, Karnataka.<br />

<br />
About Royal Kite Flyers Club :<br />
<br />

<strong>Royal Kite Flyers Club
 is renowned International Kite Flying Club in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
 providing Kite Flying Activities in India and Across the World. Over 
100+ Domestic Kite Flyers & 500+ International Kite Affiliate with 
us. Our main activities are International Kite Festival Management,  
National Kite Flying Activities, Kite Workshops and Corporate Branding. 
Club Achieves 3 World Records in Kite Flying. We already done Kite 
Festivals in city like, Delhi,  Bhopal, Mumbai, Chandigrah, Nashik, 
Pune, Ahmedabad, Singapore, Indonesia,<br />
</strong><br />
<br />
Contact Mr. Paavan Solanki – 09825326777 or email me on <strong>info@ahmedabadkiteflyers.org – www.ahmedabadkiteflyers.org</strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Source :- http://www.worldrecordsindia.com/2014/03/largest-bamboo-kite/ </strong></div>

Largest Bamboo Kite (Indian Fighter Kite)

On occasion of Mahashivratri Festival 2014, Prajapita Brahmakumari Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya, Belgaum, Karnataka has made Largest ...

Highest Shivling Replica Structure

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 On occasion of 78th Trimurti Shivjayanti,  Prajapita Brahmakumari 
Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Chembur,  Mumbai-74 has made Highest 
Shivling Replica Structure measuring 41.8 Feet height, including the 
base was 24.8 Feet and that of the line portion was 10.2 Feet by virtue 
of the structure being temporary using material 900 Kgs of POP, 400 mtrs
 Bardan, 15 kgs of Binding Wires, 30 kgs of Colors and 2 tons of MS Pipe
 and it was exhibited on 26th to 27th  February, 2014 at Navjeevan 
Society Ground, Chembur Camp, Mumbai, Maharashtra. Event was organized 
by BK SARLA, Center Incharge, Brahmakumaris Chembur Branch & 
supported by BK Bahadur, BK Bharat, BK Jaganath, BK Suraj, BK Uday 
Prakash, BK Sushanta, BK Santosh, BK Sandeep Lalman, BK Deepak, BK 
Sandeep Sabbani, BK Sashikant, BK Raju, BK Rahul, BK Avdesh and  BK 
Shrinivasan.</div>
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Source :- http://www.worldrecordsindia.com/2014/03/highest-shivling-replica-structure/ </div>
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Highest Shivling Replica Structure

On occasion of 78th Trimurti Shivjayanti, Prajapita Brahmakumari Ishwariya Vishwa Vidyalaya, Chembur, Mumbai-74 has ma...