Fiesa 2010- the International Sand Sculptures Festival will be held in Pera from May until October 2010.
It is the only event of its kind in the Iberian peninsula and given its dimensions is the largest in the world.
Each year the festival is dedicated to a different theme. It occupies an area of 15,000 square metres and showcases the skilful and intricate work of artists of various nationalities. In preparation for the festival the artists shape over 35,000 tons of sand during a one month period!
During the day the sculptures can be admired in all their infinite detail and at night there is a varied programme of live music, theatre and dance.
Photography by Maria João Fragateito | United Photo Press
Capture a source or moment of inspiration expressing emotion or passion.
The Nikon Photo Contest International has been held by Nikon Corporation since 1969 to provide an opportunity for photographers around the world to communicate and to enrich photographic culture for professionals and amateurs alike.
Entries for the 33rd contest will be invited into two categories, free subject (category A) and "Energy” (category B). The second category, “Energy,” invites applicants to submit images that capture the energy of sights and subjects that inspire, motivate or excite them or viewers. An exhibition of the winning photographs is planned after all winners are selected (details concerning the specific date and location will be announced in the future). With these categories, we look forward to receiving expressive images from around the world that are true to people’s emotions.
Please acknowledge that we only accept submissions via the Internet.
The term of the application for Nikon Photo Contest International 2010－2011 is from Wednesday, September 1st till Tuesday, November 30th, 2010.
The world is full of secret and exclusive places that we either don’t know about, or simply couldn’t visit if we wanted to. This list takes a look at ten of the most significant places around the world that are closed to the general public or are virtually impossible for the general public to visit.
So here, UPP compiled a list of some of the most secretive places on earth. These are the places which you definitely can’t visit easily.
Mezhgorye
Russia’s massive secret underground facility at Yamantau Mountain and the city of Mezhgorye is rumored that the Yamantau Mountain project was associated with the so-called ‘Dead Hand’ nuclear retaliatory command and control system for strategic missiles.
Vatican Secret Archives
Vatican Secret Archives, which are as vast as they are old. Headed by a cardinal like the Vatican Library, another rumored storehouse of secrets, they partially open today to a few approved scholars who are let in only with specific purposes and with permission of the Pope.
Club 33
Since 1967 Disney’s Exclusive Club 33, Walt Disney felt that he needed a special private place where he could entertain sponsors and other guests. After he had died Disney Land decided to make Club 33 open only to special members. As of June 2007, the membership waiting list was 14 years.
Moscow Metro-2
Metro-2 in Moscow, Russia has a secret underground metro system which parallels the public Moscow Metro. It is said to connect the Kremlin with the FSB headquarters, the government airport at Vnukovo-2. In the late 1940s Stalin had created the tunnels in the event of a nuclear war.
White’s Gentlemen’s Club
It was established in 1693 to sell hot chocolate, a rare and expensive commodity at the time. Now its membership is reserved for the wealthiest and most influential members of society.
Area 51 Area 51 which is known for its secretive nature and undoubted connection to classified aircraft research, together with reports of unusual phenomena, have led Area 51 to become a focus of modern UFO and conspiracy theories. Located at Groom Lake, it is a large secretive military base.
Room 39
Room 39 is one of the most secret organizations in arguably the world’s most secretive state. Its mission is to obtain foreign currency for Supreme Leader of North Korea. The powerful entity, which has existed for decades, is believed to raise funds through business ventures, some legitimate and some not. Room 39 is believed to be located inside a ruling Workers’ Party building in Pyongyang.
Ise Grand Shrine
The Ise Grand Shrinewhich is located in Japan is considered arguably one of the most sacred, holiest and important places in Japan. Shrine is demolished and Rebuilt once every twenty years. The only people who are able to access the shrine are the Japanese imperial family and the high priestesses and priests.
Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center
Just 46 miles from Washington DC, a mysterious and secretive underground military base exists, located deep inside a mountain near the rural town of Bluemont, Virginia. Said to be equipped with all amenities of life. In the event of nuclear war, declaration of martial law, or other national emergency, the President, his cabinet and the rest of the Executive Branch would be “relocated” to Mount Weather.
RAF Menwith Hill
Known for its connection with Echelon spy network. The Menwith Hill spy base near Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England, is the largest electronic monitoring station in the world. It has been the key link in a worldwide eavesdropping network.
Belchite: ruins of the old village. After failed attempts to capture Brunete, the Republican military leadership decided to try a new series of offensives to slow down the Nationalist advance in the north. A new campaign was therefore planned for Aragon. The decision wasn't based on political as well as military considerations, as the government saw it as a way to decrease anarchist and POUM influence in the region by bringing in communist troops and incorporating three anarchist divisions into the newly designated Army of the East under command of general Sebastian Pozas.
Another objective of the planned offensive was to take Zaragoza, the capital of Aragon, which was only a few kilometers behind enemy lines. Capturing the regional capital offered more than symbolic significance because it was also the communication center of whole Aragon front. The first year of the war in this part of Spain had emphasized that the possession of key town was of far greater importance than the control of wide areas of open countryside.
The Nationalists had only three divisions, the 51st, 52nd and 105th, spread across the 300 kilometers of front, with the majority of their troops concentrated in towns. General Pozas and his chief-of-staff Antonio Cordon set up their headquarters in Bujaraloz. Their plan was to break through at seven different points on the central 100-kilometre stretch between Zuera and Belchite. The object of splitting their attacking forces was to divide any Nationalist counter-attack and to offer fewer targets for bombing and strafing than at Brunete.
Republican offensive
Republican Army of East together with XI and XV international brigade started its offensive with 80,000 men, three squadrons of republican aviation with Polikarpov I-16 (moscas), Polikarpov I-15 (chatos) (90 planes in total) and 105 T-26 tanks in three main and 5 secondary directions on 100 kilometre stretch between Zuera and Belchite.
On first two fronts (north and center) republican managed to take only vacant territories. On southern portion of the front republican army took village of Mediana immediately and Quinto was taken on fourth day of offensive. In village of Codo there were three Carlist companies that tied two republican brigades. Most fierce resistance was encountered in Belchite where 7,000 nationalist defenders resisted till September 7 in surrounded town when it was taken by republicans. These delays gave time to nationalist to bring reinforcements and full scale offensive to Zaragoza failed.
Nationalist counteroffensive
With five nationalist divisions of which two were retreated from Madrid front, artillery and 65 Fiat CR.32, Heinkel He 46, Savoia Sm-49 and Messerschmitt Bf-109 nationalist counter offensive started on August 30 and ended on September 6. The only major Nationalist success was the shooting down 5 I-15, but they were not able to break Republican lines.
Aftermath
Although the republicans gained some initial success and managed to push the front line 10km deeper into enemy territory, both of the main objectives of the offensive failed. The Nationalists didn't postpone their big offensive in the north, as they did before the Battle of Brunete, and the attempt to capture Saragossa failed.
Ruins as National Monument
The whole town was (and is) destroyed. Franco ordered that the ruins be left untouched as a "live" monument of war. A new town was constructed near the former. The monument is frequented by film-makers.
Hugh Thomas (2001). The Spanish Civil War. Modern Library. ISBN 0-375-75515-2.
