Niagara Falls is composed of two major sections separated by Goat Island: Horseshoe Falls, the majority of which lies on the Canadian side of the border, and American Falls on the American side. The smaller Bridal Veil Falls are also located on the American side, separated from the main falls by Luna Island.

Niagara Falls were formed when glaciers receded at the end of the Wisconsin glaciation (the last ice age), and water from the newly-formed Great Lakes carved a path through the Niagara Escarpment en route to the Atlantic Ocean. While not exceptionally high, the Niagara Falls are very wide. More than six million cubic feet (168,000 m³) of water falls over the crest line every minute in high flow,[1] and almost 4 million cubic feet (110,000 m³) on average. It is the most powerful waterfall in North America.[2]

The Niagara Falls are renowned both for their beauty and as a valuable source of hydroelectric power. Managing the balance between recreational, commercial, and industrial uses has been a challenge for the stewards of the falls since the 1800s.

The Niagara Falls are voluminous waterfalls on the Niagara River, straddling the international border between the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of New York. The falls are 17 miles (27 km) north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 75 miles (120 km) south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York. [Wikipedia ]

A collection of  beautiful Pictures, all taken by the very talented photographer, Yann Arthus Bertrand. Each and every one of these pictures are truly incredible, and the selection of pictures includes spectacular aerial views from various countries around the world. It’s hard to pick a stand out picture as there are so many great pictures, but if you have any comments please let us know.

Region of Kitaa, Groenland, Denmark

Factory on an island, east of Hiroshima Honshu Japan

Camels

Breeding near lake coleridge, New Zealand

Windmills of Banning Pass, Palm Springs, California, US

Storm over the Amazon Rainforest

Wollman rink in Central Park, New York City, United States

Northern gannet colony, Eldey island, Iceland

The Corcovado overlooking the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Unloading trucks in Lagos, Nigeria

Barringer Crater Near Flagstaff, Northern Arizona, United States

Charles de Gaulle Etoile square, Paris, France

Boat near Tagbilaran Island of Bohol, Philippines

Aligre market in the XII arrondissement, Paris, France

Financial District, Manhattan New York, United States

Grounded boat, Aral sea Aralsk region, Kazakhstan

Fishing nets on the Beach, Saham, Oman

Folgefonni Glacier on the high plateus of Norway

Meanders in the Amazon River near Manaus, Brazil

The Arecibo radio telescope, Puerto Rico

Town of Koh Pannyi Phand, Nga Nay, Thailand

Houses on stilts at Fisherman’s Point, Orinoco Delta, Venezuela

Deforestation in the national parc of Los Haitises, Dominican Republic

Islet and sea bed, Exuma Cays, Bahamas

Volcano of Rano Raraku national park of Rapa Nui, Easter Island, Chile

Masai cattle pan near Masaï Mara National Reserve, Kenya

Windmill amid fields, North Holland province, Netherlands

Tree plantation near Seix Pyrenees, France

Town of Ushuaia, Ground of Fire, Argentina

Ritual baths in Gange Uttar, Pradesh, India

Pedestrians in the streets of Tokyo, Japan

Oil platform on Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela

Mangroves in Everglades National Park, Florida, US

Highways over LA, California, US

Karymsky volcano erupting, Kamchatka, Russia

Nuclear Power Station at Saint Laurent Nouan on the Loire river, France

Philae’s temple dedicated to Isis, Egypt

Mar del Plata beach, Buenos Aires province, Argentina

Nosy Nato Island – it’s lagoon, south of Nosy Boraha, Toamasina region, Madagascar

Oryx in the dunes of Sossusvlei Swakopmund region, Namibia

Presidential palace in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

The medieval city, Dubrovnik, Croatia

Tulip fields near Lisse, Amsterdam Region, Netherlands

Tower Bridge, London, England, United Kingdom

Cotton fabrics drying in the sun in Sanganer, Rajasthan, India

Mongol bouriate horses in the wild on the shores of the Baïkal lake, Siberia, Russia

Shinjuku district of Tokyo, Japan

The Burj Dubai tower, Dubai, UAE

Talc quarry at Trimouns Ariège, France

Tree plantation near Christchurch South Island, New Zealand

The islets of Vabbinfaru, North Male, Atolls, Maldives

Village ravaged by Hurricane Mitch, onguanaja Islas de la Bahía, Honduras

Glacier flowing into the San Rafael lagoon, Chile

Maelifell, bordering the Myrdalsjökull glacier, Iceland

Yokohama, Honshu, Japan

Schoolboys With San Pedro, Bas Sassandra, Ivory Coast

The Jumeirah Palm island, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Punta Arena in the national park of Jaragua, Pedernales, Dominican Republic

Pyramid of king Snefrou, Egypt

Taj Mahal, Agra Uttar, Pradesh, India

Think you had the world’s greatest treehouse as a kid? Well this guy’s got you beat. Horace Burgess’s treehouse is located somewhere near Crossville, Tennessee and stands over 97-feet tall thanks to the 80-foot white oak tree it was built around which also happens to be about 12-feet in diameter at its base. It has 11 floors, somewhere in the neighborhood of 8,000 to 10,000 square feet, a miniature basketball court and is held together by roughly 258,000 nails.

Horace Burgess’s treehouse may be as close to heaven as a body can get in Cumberland County.

It rises 97 feet into the sky, the support provided by a live, 80-foot-tall white oak 12 feet in diameter at its base. Six other trees brace the tower-like fortress, but Burgess says its foundation is in God.

“I built it for everybody. It’s God’s treehouse. He keeps watch over it,” said Burgess, who received his inspiration in a vision that came to him in 1993. “I was praying one day, and the Lord said, ‘If you build me a treehouse, I’ll see you never run out of material.”‘

And thus far, as Burgess sees it, the Lord has provided. Most of his materials are recycled pieces of lumber from garages, storage sheds and barns. Now into his 14th year of construction, he is not finished.

The treehouse has 10 floors, averaging nine to 11 feet in height by Burgess’s reckoning. He has never measured its size but estimates it to be about 8,000 to 10,000 square feet. He did count the nails that he has hammered into the wood — 258,000, give or take a few hundred. And he guesses he has sunk about $12,000 into the project.

“God used my hands to put every piece in place, but I had a lot of help,” said the 56-year-old landscape architect. He’s a country boy but lives in town and compares himself to Job of the Old Testament. His pale blue Paul Newman-like eyes beam and he wears an easy smile on his tanned face.

“I’ve always proclaimed it to be the world’s largest treehouse, and no one has ever challenged it,” Burgess said.

All of story read here : usatoday, More photos: Author Micha Michelle Melancon

Be it exotic Caribbean landscapes, Alaska’s wilderness, the natural settings of Vancouver, or Arizona’s powerful vistas, the North American continent features the world’s most spectacular and beautiful sites. These several destinations presented below are only the tip of the iceberg. Mind you, 90% of this iceberg of beauty lies beneath the surface.

7. The Kalalau Valley. Hawaii

The Kalalau Valley is one of the most beautiful sites on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. The lush tropical valley is located in the Na Pali Coast and it is accessible only by kayak or along the Kalalau Trail.
The magnificent Kalalau is surrounded by high green cliffs of more than 2,000 feet (610m) and the azure waters of the Pacific Ocean. The glorious landscape, isolation and wild nature make the place an excellent getaway for hikers, kayakers, and other outdoor addicts.

6. Vancouver. Canada

Vancouver, the harbour city beautifully located on the Burrard Peninsula between Burrard Inlet and the Fraser River in British Colombia, Canada, is a mecca for virtually all enthusiasts of museums, excellent restaurants, cafes, clubs, and in general, for fans of vibrant urban life. A large number of various rankings and surveys have proved that Vancouver is the best city in the world to live in. Besides its cultural, architectural, and infrastructural advantages, the city’s natural beauty of nearby beaches, mountains, and forests makes it one of the world’s most stunning metropolises.

5. Tulum. Mexico

The Mayan ruins of Tulum. Mexico.

Tulum sits on the exotic Yucatan Peninsula surrounded by the dazzling waters of the Caribbean Sea. This Mexican city of heavenly tropical landscapes houses the Pre-Columbian Maya city. The vistas of dramatically located ruins mixed with the balmy surroundings create a one-of-a-kind destination. The Caribbean laid-back atmosphere, white sands, slender palm trees and the turquoise ocean combine with the Mayan site to give the city its exceptional beauty.

Tulum Beach. By mdanys

4. Yoho National Park. Canada

Yoho National Park, which lies in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, has an area of 1,313 sq km (507 sq mi), and it is the smallest of the four national parks in the Rockies, but its beauty is grand. The site of marvelous mountains, rivers, waterfalls, clear lakes and wide meadows was declared a World Heritage Site in 1984.

3. Greenland

What makes Greenland beautiful is a magic lunar landscape of striking uniqueness and charm that’s difficult to describe. The powerful vast Arctic and Atlantic oceans, massive glaciers and scenic displays of northern lights all come to one place to perform a majestic show in which the nature plays a key role.

From the geographical point of view, Greenland is part of the North American continent, but politically it belongs to Europe, as it is a constituent country of Denmark.

2. Arizona

The mind-blowing landscape of Arizona with amazing rock formations, spectacular canyons and mysterious wild deserts deserves to be a runner-up on the list of the most beautiful places in North America. With such jewels as the sites of Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Glen Canyon, or Lake Powell (shared with Utah) it can rival the world’s most amazing destinations. The only small crack in this glorious natural masterpiece is the crowd that can sometimes spoil the magnificent views.

1. Alaska

Wild, isolated, unconquered and beautiful…this is Alaska, the land of breathtaking landscapes, scenic mountains, enormous lakes and lush nature. Alaska is home to Mount McKinley located within awesome Denali National Park, the majestic glaciers of Kenai Fjords National Park, and abundant wildlife, from humpback whales to grizzly bears.

Alaska is the largest and the least densely populated state of the USA.Source

This 103-years-old mansion in Rhode Island is built on a small, rocky island far away from any nosy neighbors. Just like this house, built close to Oslofjord Island, Norway, it offers total privacy.

Clingstone mansion was built in 1905, for a cost of roughly $36,000, by J.S. Lovering Wharton, a distant cousin of 79-year-old Henry Wood, the present owner of the house. He and his ex-wife bought it in 1961, for $3,600 and managed to bring it back to life after it had been abandoned for two decades.

Mr. Wood and his family found an ingenious way of preserving this 23-room architectural wonder: the Clingstone work weekend. Every year, around Memorial Day, the Wood family and up to 70 friends gather at Clingstone to clean the mansion and fix any of its problems. Practically, any volunteer workers are welcome.

In winter time the boats and floating dock are stored at the nearby Jamestown Boatyard, in exchange for a week’s stay at Clingstone, during the summer.