Steve Backshall's interview with whale expert Doris Welch is cut short when, against all odds, the team spot a Blue Whale live on air.
Showing posts with label Amazing footage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amazing footage. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 02, 2015
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Dozens killed in Tianjin port blasts
Tianjin: a beautiful modern city, tending to be an eco city
China explosion: 'I woke in a panic and the sky was red'
Massive explosions have hit China's northern city of Tianjin, killing at least 50 and injuring 500 people.
An eyewitness has described the moment a huge explosion hit a major port and industrial area in China's northern city of Tianjin.
Monica Andrews says she woke up in a panic and initially thought it was an earthquake.
Her friend Cara Carnello caught the explosion on her mobile phone, it shows a huge fireball and a billowing cloud of smoke.
Footage filmed by a drone shows the devastation caused by the explosions at a warehouse in Tianjin in northern China.
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Guide: How to watch the Perseid meteor shower
Stargazers are getting ready to enjoy the spectacular Perseid meteor shower.
Time exposure photograph of polar stars during a meteor shower
Up to 100 shooting meteors an hour will streak across the sky in the beautiful natural firework show, visible around the world.
Those hoping to catch a glimpse of the shower shouldn't be disappointed this year.
Astronomers say they're expecting extra-dark skies which will create perfect stargazing conditions.
Up to 100 shooting meteors per hour will streak across the sky
What causes the Perseid meteor shower?
The Perseids are actually tiny pieces of the Swift-Tuttle comet that can be seen every year when the Earth passes through a cloud of the comet's debris.
They're bits of ice and dust, which can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a pea.
The fragments were left behind when Swift-Tuttle passed close to Earth in 1992.
The meteors appear to come from a point in the constellation of Perseus, hence the name Perseid.
They hit the Earth's atmosphere at a whopping speed of 134,000 mph, but don't pose any danger to us on Earth.
It's best to find a wide open space away from tall buildings, trees and artificial light
When and how can I see it?
The celestial show is expected to hit its peak overnight on Wednesday.
Unlike some other cosmic events, spectators don't need special technology to watch the Perseids unfold.
It's best to find a wide open space away from tall buildings or trees, and with as little light as possible. The more of the sky you can see, the better.
This year the Moon's glow will not interfere with meteor-watching, as it will be approaching its darkest or "new" phase, experts say.
From CBBC newsround
Sunday, August 09, 2015
Panama Canal to limit ship draft due to drought
The Panama Canal Authority says it will temporarily cut the draft of ships allowed through because of drought caused by El Nino.
The Panama Canal is a key route in global shipping
From 8 September, the maximum draft - or depth in the water - will be cut to 39ft (11.89m), which may affect up to 20% of traffic.
A similar restriction was imposed for the same reason in 1998.
The authorities say a further cut could be imposed on 16 September if the situation does not improve.
The authority has taken the action because water levels in the Gatun and Alhajuela lakes has reduced as a result of the El Nino weather phenomenon.
The current draft limit is 39.5ft, which will be cut to 39ft on 8 September and then potentially to 38.5ft on 16 September.
Shipping companies had been warned the cuts could be coming.
The Panama Canal celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, having seen more than a million ships pass through.
Panama took control of the canal from the US in 2000, and has since been widely praised with the way it has handled the operation.
Transit fees now bring in about $1bn (£645m) a year for the government.
From BBC News
Watch this video and you'll find out the great importance of this canal
Monday, August 03, 2015
New York's Empire State Building hosts wildlife display
New York's famous Empire State Building had images of endangered animals flashed across its walls this weekend.
The aim was to raise awareness about these animals and risks of extinction.
Pictures of snow leopards, tigers and various animals were shown on the 381m high skyscraper.
An image of Cecil the lion, who died last month in Zimbabwe, Africa, was also displayed.
Cecil the lion projected on to Empire State building
Crowds of people came to watch and take photos
From CBBC Newsround
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Ria Formosa Natural Park- Algarve, Portugal
There are many wild and interesting places to visit in the Algarve, but this is my favourite nature reserve in the region.
Although Parque Natural da Ria Formosa Centre is not signed from any direction and is difficult and frustrating to find, this important wildlife site (it is designated under the RAMSAR convention as a wetlands reserve of worldwide signficance) is very well worth a visit. It took us four attempts on separate visits to the Algarve to finally find it, and as we were travelling from the mid-Algarve by car, our wandering cannot be described as an environmentally-friendly activity, but it was worth the effort.
The Ria Formosa lagoon, located in the Algarve, in southern Portugal, is a system of barrier islands that communicates with the sea through six inlets. Five of these inlets are natural and have mobility characteristics. The sixth is an artificial inlet that was opened with the purpose of allowing easier access to the port of Faro, the capital of the Algarve.
Presently the main inlet of the system is the Faro-Olhão inlet, which was artificially opened. The process started in 1927 but only in 1952 were the engineering works completed and it assumed the present configuration.
Within the Ria Formosa system, different and sometimes antagonistic uses may be found. Part of the system is a Natural Park but Ria Formosa also plays an important role in the region's economy. Beyond the tourist use the system also supports other economic activities like seafood farms (including grooved carpet shell harvesting) and the port of Faro.
The Ria Formosa is also a designated Natural Park of over 170 km² and a stopping place for hundreds of different birds during the spring and autumn migratory periods.
in birdwatching programmes
The most important cities near the Ria Formosa are Tavira, Faro and Olhão.
There are also some towns in this area, whose names are: Fuzeta (which belongs to the municipality of Olhão), Santa Luzia, Cabanas de Tavira (these last two belonging to Tavira) and Cacela Velha (which belongs to Vila Real de Santo António).
Several buses run from Tavira to Cabanas and back each weekday, but there are no buses on Saturday afternoons nor all day Sundays and Holidays, even in summer. The nearest train station is in nearby Conceição which is on the Tavira to Vila Real line. That's about 1 mile /1.6km and an easy walk.
Classified as a Natural Park in 1987, the Ria Formosa encompasses an area of about 18 000 hectares, and is protected from the sea by 5 barrier-islands and 2 peninsulas: the Peninsula of Ancão that the locals call island of Faro, the Barreta Island also known as Ilha Deserta, the Culatra Island (where the lighthouse of Santa Maria is located), the Island of Armona, the Island of Tavira, Cabanas Island and, finally, the Peninsula of Cacela. This awesome area extends along the leeward coast of the Algarve through the municipalities of Loulé, Faro, Olhão, Tavira and Vila Real de Santo António.
Shellfish of every kind are found in Ria Formosa and a festival is held in Faro every year in summer
Sources.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Fifty sharks spotted swimming in West Sussex, England
Up to fifty sharks have been spotted swimming in waters near Selsey in West Sussex.
In June, a few sharks had been spotted at Medmerry, and half a dozen were also spotted in nearby PSRB Pagnam Harbour, but the huge number was unprecedented.
Mr Hughes told the Chichester Observer: "We do not know if the spectacle is going to repeat itself.
“Those wanting to look for the sharks can view from the new footpaths around the perimeter of Medmerry.
“Anyone new to the area should pick up a trail map and get advice from the RSPB Pagham Harbour visitor centre at Sidlesham.” ( From The Mirror)
The sharks were identified as smooth hound sharks, which can grow to around 1.5 metres in length.
The RSPB's Peter Hughes, who filmed the event on Thursday, said: "It was astonishing. There were just these huge fish everywhere in knee-deep water.
"We knew in time that Medmerry was going to be a great place for wildlife, but I don’'t think anyone expected this. We assume they were coming in to feed on the crabs and other marine life that have made their home at Medmerry."
Footage courtesy of RSPB warden Peter Hughes
From CBBC Newsround
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