The Shadow of Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier is a massive volcanic peak located 87 km southeast of Seattle in the state of Washington, United States, that climbs to a height of 4,392 meters. There are no other mountains anywhere near that height in the surroundings, so it is topographically the most prominent mountain in the entire United States. On clear days the peak dominates the southeastern horizon and can be seen from as far away as Portland, Oregon and Victoria, British Columbia. But on a cloudy morning, when the cloud heights are just right, the rising sun can catch the peak from below and cast a long shadow on the underside of the cloud.

This only happens during the fall and winter when the sun rises farther to the south, and is in the exact position where Mount Rainier blocks the first rays of morning light.

Source: amusingplanet.com

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Grand Canyon completely flooded by clouds in "once-in-a-lifetime" event

You're looking at the Grand Canyon completely flooded by clouds, "a once in a lifetime event," according to park ranger Erin Whittaker. It didn't only happen once, she says, but two times in only three days:

The canyon gave us a second rare inversion in three days. Freezing fog dominated yesterday ... by the end of the day the sun was able to burn it all away no doubt making many first time visitors very happy. Word spread like wildfire and most ran to the rim to photograph it. What a fantastic treat for all!

In reality, the event happens about once every decade but not with this intensity, she said. The fact that it happened twice is extremely rare. The phenomenon is called inversion: warm air on the upper parts of the cannon trap cold air and fog on the lower parts.

Source: gizmodo.com

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37 Reasons Why You Need To Visit Iceland

Iceland, a country rich with roaring volcanoes, monolithic glaciers, icy mountains and deep fjords, has become a mecca for photographers looking to capture the raw, mystical power of its natural northern beauty.

The ruggedness of and stark contrasts present in Iceland’s landscapes makes them irresistible to photographers. Glacial floodplains, waterfalls, towering mountains, fjords and even deserts of volcanic ash can all be found in relative proximity to each other. Its small population (of roughly 325,000) also means that the majority of its natural wonder remains nearly or completely untouched, giving photographers the opportunity to capture a world that seems empty and almost alien in nature. And because of its northern location, enterprising night photographers can capture images of the mystical and stunningly beautiful aurora borealis as it dances over an Icelandic volcano or glacier.

Iceland is, in both geological and historical aspects, a relatively young country. Its violent geological upheaval is all due to its position at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which marks the separation point of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. It is believed that Iceland formed only 16 to 18 million years ago.

The eruptions of Icelandic volcanoes have impacted the course of human events throughout history. In 1783, the eruption of Laki caused widespread devastation throughout Europe, and even caused a famine in Egypt and interrupted monsoon patterns in Northern Africa and India. In 2010, the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull sent up clouds of ash across Europe, grounding thousands of flights.

 

Source: http://www.boredpanda.com/stunning-landscape-photography-iceland/

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