My Science School

The Konark Sun Temple, located on the shores of the Bay of Bengal is one of the few Sun temples in India. Dedicated to the Sun God, Surya, this temple is 35 kms north-east of Puri, Odisha. Renowned for the humongous 12-wheeled stone chariot, Konark temple was built by King Narasimhadeva I. He was a ruler belonging to the Eastern Ganga Dynasty.

The word ‘Konark’ is a combination of the Sanskrit words ‘kona’, meaning corner or angle and ‘arka’ meaning Sun. The name indicates that the main deity was Sun.

The temple was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984. However, European sailors have referred to this temple in their records as early as 1676. They called it the ‘Black Pagoda’ as it looked like a large black tower. The temple draws numerous tourists every year.

Picture Credit : Google

Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay was designated a World Heritage Site in 1994. Ha Long Bay is a group of nearly 1600 islands and islets in the Gulf of Tonkin. ‘Ha Long’ means ‘descending dragon’ in Vietnamese. There is no human habitation in most of these islands.

Apart from the beautiful seascapes offered by the site, it is also of considerable geographical interest. Karsts or land made up of limestone is a unique feature of Ha Long Bay. Different environments and climatic conditions over the past 500 million years have brought innumerable changes to the limestone in the bay.

Ha Long Bay is one of the most captivating seascapes across the globe and the top tourist spot in northern Vietnam. The grottoes formed by the waves and wind give it an otherworldly beauty. The bay is a hub of activities: marine transport, fisheries, tourism and the everyday life of the islanders. In order to reduce the ecological impact of these activities on the islands, strict regulations have been put in place.

Picture Credit : Google

The Silk Road is a series of trade routes established around 130 BC which remained in use till 1453 AD. It connected China and the Far East with the Middle East and Europe. The Silk Road was opened when the Han Dynasty officially began trade with the West and was only closed by the Ottoman Empire when they boycotted trade with China. The name ‘Silk Road’ indicates the thriving silk trade of the time.

The Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor is a section of the Silk Road which was about 5000 km long and links important places in China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. China had supplied silk to the Romans, West Asia and the Mediterranean. Raw materials, food items and luxury products also made their way through these routes. Pack animals, river craft and a series of merchants would carry these products over long distances.

The influence of these routes was not limited to trade. The Silk Road connected different countries and enabled the exchange of science, technology, culture and arts.

Picture Credit : Google

The Taj Mahal was built between 1631 and 1648 by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz. It is a crown jewel of India’s rich history. Rabindranath Tagore called the Taj Mahal a ‘teardrop on the cheek of time’. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1983.

This masterpiece in white marble combines elements of Persian and Mughal architecture. The 42-acre complex with the tomb at its centre includes a mosque, a guest house, a formal garden and boundary walls on three sides. Although the mausoleum was constructed by 1643, work on the overall structure lasted another 10 years. The chief architect of the Taj Mahal was Ustad Ahmad Lahori. Shah Jahan had masons, stonecutters, carvers, painters, and other artisans brought in from all parts of his empire as well as from central Asia and Iran.

Some legends even claim that Shah Jahan had plans to build a Black Taj across the Taj Mahal as his own mausoleum. However, fights and conflicts within the empire probably ended the chances of building a Black Taj.

Both Mumtaz Mahal and Shah Jahan are buried beneath the dome of the Taj Mahal.

Picture Credit : Google

Itsukushima Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the Itsukushima or Miyajima island in Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Itsukushima island in the Seto inland sea is a holy place of Shintoism. The shrine is an official national treasure of Japan and was designated as a World Heritage Site in 1996.

Itsukushima Shrine was originally founded in the 6th century but the current buildings are from the 12th century. The shrine is a perfect example of the Japanese concept of beauty, a harmonic blend of nature and human artistry. The buildings have mountains as their backdrop with the sea in front, and are considered masterpieces of Japanese architecture.

The technical and artistic skills visible in the Itsukushima Shrine stand out among the various shrines across Japan. The shrine complex contains 2 main buildings and 17 other structures. The two main buildings are the Honsha shrine and the Sessha Marodo-jinja.

The grand gate or torii of the shrine, the sacred peaks of Mount Misen, the forest, and the view of the ocean make it a popular tourist destination.

Picture Credit : Google

The Great Wall of China is one of the largest construction projects ever taken up. The extensive barricade was built along the northern border of the country to protect it from nomadic invaders. Rulers of each successive Chinese dynasty continued the construction of the Great Wall from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD. At the end, the total length of the wall was more than 20,000 km. Out of this, the 8850 km length of the wall that runs east to west-from Mount Hu to Jiayu Pass- is the most extensive and best-preserved. This portion of the wall dates from the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).

In addition to the walls, the main body of the Great Wall also has watch towers, fortresses, passes and horse tracks. The wall was used not just for defence; it was also useful to manage commercial activities. Imposition of duty on goods transported through the Silk Route and regulation of trade, immigration and emigration were made possible by the Great Wall.

UNESCO added the Great Wall of China to the list of World Heritage Sites in 1987. This impressive structure is still one of the greatest architectural achievements in history.

Picture Credit : Google

The Jordanian city of Petra was the capital of the Nabataean Empire between 400 BC and AD 106. It is situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, at the crossroad between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia.

Due to its strategic location, Petra used to be a busy trading centre for Arabian incense, Chinese silk and Indian spices. The city itself is carved on to colourful red, white, pink and sandstone cliff faces. It is located in the desert canyons and mountains in the south-western corner of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Widespread settlements were made possible in this arid region during the Nabataean, Roman and Byzantine periods through a special water management system.

Petra remained inaccessible to the western world until the early 1800s. A European traveller finally entered this region by disguising himself by wearing the costume of the Bedouins, the indigenous people. UNESCO declared Petra Archaeological Park as a World Heritage Site in 1985. It was also declared as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. Petra was already facing threats of flood and natural calamities but increased tourism has also added to the damage of the monument.

Picture Credit : Google

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) adopted the World Heritage Convention Treaty in November 1972. The purpose of the treaty was to call attention to places of cultural and natural importance across the globe. The list of World Heritage Sites was aimed at bringing in international efforts in the protection and preservation of these places.

World Heritage Sites include three categories: cultural, natural, and mixed. Historic buildings and towns, archaeological sites and certain sculptures and paintings make up the cultural heritage sites. Natural areas that give examples of Earth’s record of life, geological or evolutionary processes and exceptional marvels of nature are natural sites. Habitats of rare or endangered animals or plants or places with exceptional biodiversity are also included in this category. Mixed sites have both natural and cultural relevance.

There were 1,121 sites in the list as of June 2020. Countries with the largest number of sites in the list are China and Italy.

Let us visit some of the famous sites in each continent.

Picture Credit : Google

The Angkor Archaeological Park located in Cambodia was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992. The park contains remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire which ruled from the 9th to the 15th centuries.

The 400 square kilometre area of the park includes hundreds of temples and buildings including the temples of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, and the Bayon Temple. The Bayon temple has been splendidly decorated with numerous sculptures. Angkor Wat is perhaps the most famous temple in Cambodia. This 12th century temple is the world’s largest monument for a single religion. It was built as a spiritual home for Lord Vishnu. One of the main attractions of the temple is the bas-relief galleries on many of the walls.

Angkor Wat is a treasure trove of artistic and architectural marvels. In 1992, along with being named a World Heritage Site, it was also included in the List of World Heritage in Danger. The next year, UNESCO began a campaign to restore and protect Angkor Wat. It was restored through international cooperation and removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2004.

Picture Credit : Google

Shared between two countries

The Sundarbans is spread across West Bengal, India, and Khulna Division, Bangladesh. Covering an estimated10,00,000 hectares, about 64 per cent of the entire mangrove area of the forest is said to be in Bangladesh, with the remaining 36 per cent in India. The Sundarbans is listed as 'Sundarbans National Park, as a World Heritage Site from India, and as The Sundarbans World Heritage Site from Bangladesh.

The largest Mangrove forest

The Sundarbans is home to the largest mangrove forest in the world, and is also the only mangrove forest to be inhabited by the tiger. Nearly 78 species of mangroves have been recorded at the Sundarbans, making it one of the richest mangrove forests, as well as one among the most biologically productive of all natural ecosystems.

The largest population of tigers

Apart from being the only mangrove forest inhabited by the tiger, the Sundarbans is also home to the largest number of Bengal Tigers in the world A part of the Sundarbans is designated as the Sundarbans Tiger Reserve to protect the species. The tigers here have adapted to the environment and have become amphibious, swimming long stretches in search of food.

A unique tidal system

The Sundarbans experiences a unique tidal phenomenon, witnessing high and low tides several times within a day. During the high tides, you can witness the water levels rising by six to ten feet. And during low tides, you can see huge areas of flat mud lands.

There is a great natural depression called "Swatch of No Ground in the Sundarbans area. This depression leads to a sudden change in the depth of the water from 20 m to 500 m.

What's in a name?

Did you know the Sundarbans got its name from the Sundari tree? It is a special kind of mangrove tree found in this area. It has aerial roots (roots which are above the ground) to help with respiration. This is especially useful for the tree during the rainy season when the entire mangrove area is waterlogged.

 

Picture Credit : Google

Follow the rules

Visiting a heritage monument might seem exciting. But many monuments have rules laid out by the organisation in charge of its conservation. These rules could include having to maintain silence at a sacred place, or not touching articles on display. Remember, these rules are made keeping preservation in min So do your best to follow the rules listed and ensure your family and peers follow them as well.

Do not litter

One of the major problems seen many monuments is littering. As the tourist inflow increases, it gets difficult for officials to monitor each and everyone. Many tourists carry food or drinks along and throw away empty packets and bottles around the site. This creates a negative impression about the monument in the eyes of the public. As a responsible citizen, do not litter and discourage your family and friends from doing so. Many monuments have trash cans placed around them. Throw rubbish only into the trash can. And if the dustbin is found to be full or if there isn't one, take the waste back with you and discard it at the nearest dustbin.

Say no to vandalism

Another common problem witnessed at most monuments is vandalism. Vandalism is the action of deliberately damaging public or private property. When you at the walls of some heritage monuments you can find scribbles left by people. In some places, you might even see artefacts broken. Vandalism is a threat to heritage monuments. Refrain from it and talk to others about it as well. Next time you spot someone indulging in the act, inform your parents or the authorities and let them take action.

Volunteer

Many organisations encourage youngsters to volunteer and do their bit for physical heritage. You can volunteer individually or encourage your school to take students to different monuments as an activity and help in their preservation Volunteering can mean serving as a guide, helping people navigate the heritage site, or even helping researchers take notes during their routine checks of the site.

Take photographs and spread the word

One of the best ways to draw attention towards preservation of a heritage site is by spreading the worst. Take photographs of heritage monuments and post them on social media. You could also create brochures and pamphlets and share them with people and make them aware about the rich history of monuments Use technology and social media to your advantage and reach and encourage as many people as you can to volunteer and visit heritage monuments.

 

Picture Credit : Google

How old is it?

No one really knows how old the Grand Canyon is. While it was earlier thought to be six million years old, around the time the Colorado river cut through the landscape, many believe the Canyon could date back as far as 70 million years. This thought came to the fore after a study released in the early 2010s suggested some of the rocks in the Canyon may have been eroded and exposed at the surface millions of years ago. However, the debate, on how old the Grand Canyon actually is, goes on.

Not the deepest canyon

Though it is one of the most popular gorges, and a natural wonder of the world, the Grand Canyon is not the deepest or the longest gorge. The average depth of the Canyon is 1.6 km and it stretches nearly 446 km. However, the Guinness Book of World Records states that the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon in the Himalayas is the world's longest and deepest canyon with its maximum depth reaching about 5,382 m and the canyon stretching nearly 496.3 km.

Experience different weather conditions

With an elevation spanning 2000 feet to 8000 feet, one can experience a variety of weather conditions at the Grand Canyon. With every 1000-feet loss in elevation at the Canyon, the temperature increases by 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit.

Hidden Caves

It is estimated that there are nearly 1,000 caves spread across the Grand Canyon. However, only 335 of them have been recorded and explored so far. Of the 335, only one cave, the Cave of the Domes on Horseshoe Mesa, is open to the public.

Beware the rock squirrel

The Grand Canyon is home to a large array of wildlife from the bighorn sheep and the Gila monster, to the California condor and Ridgway's rail. But the most dangerous animal at the Canyon is the rock squirrel! Every year dozens of visitors to the Canyon are bitten by these animals when they try to feed them. Hence, one can find signs around the park asking people not to feed animals.

 

Picture Credit : Google

1. Took nearly two centuries to build

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was designed to be a bell tower for the Pisa Cathedral. Construction of the tower started in 1173. Workers had almost completed the third storey of the tower by 1178, when war broke out between Italian states. The war halted the construction for nearly a century, and work resumed in 1272. Again after 12 years, another war halted construction. Finally, the third stage of the construction began in the early 14th Century and concluded with the installation of the bell chamber in 1372.

2. The lean is accidental

The Leaning Tower of Pisa was never supposed to lean. It happened accidentally. The reason the tower began to lean is attributed to its weak foundation and the inexperience of the engineers. The tower began to sink when the second floor was being constructed. This was due to a three-metre foundation set in weak, unstable subsoil. The tower would have toppled over as construction progressed, however, the gap of nearly a century owing to the war helped the underlying soil to settle. To compensate for the tilt, engineers built the upper floors with one side taller than the other. Because of this, the tower is curved.

3. Status: Currently stable

The tower continued to tilt nearly 0.05 inches per year, placing the monument in danger of an imminent collapse. By 1990s, the tilt of the tower was almost 5.5 degrees (15 feet) from the perpendicular. This led the government to take urgent measures to protect the monument. The tower was closed to the public and a team of engineers levelled the soil underneath the tower. Engineers also used anchoring mechanisms to rectify its lean. While this helped the monument stabilise, it did not prevent its continued lean. In 2008, engineers again tried to balance the foundational soil and for the first time since it was constructed, the continued tilt of the tower halted. Engineers stated that the tower would be stable for at least the next 200 years.

4. No bells tolling

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has seven giant bells at the top, one for each musical note from the major scale. While the bells are still around, they haven't tolled since the 20th century. This is because restorers and engineers were worried that their movements might make the tower lean more.

5. Not the only leaning tower in Pisa

As a result of Pisa's soft soil, the Leaning Tower of Pisa isn't the only building in the city that leans. The most popular building after the Leaning Tower of Pisa is the Bell Tower of the San Nicola church. Built around the same time as the Leaning Tower, this octangular bell tower also has a slight, but unmistakable tilt. Another popular building is the San Michele degli Scalzi, a 11th Century church, which tilts even more than the Leaning Tower of Pisa!

 

Picture Credit : Google

The Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve - spanning more than 3,500 sq.km. and the two States of Kerala and Tamil Nadu - comprises tropical forests, and houses more than 2,000 species of vascular plants, including about 400 that are endemic. It also hosts a variety of spices, including cardamom, nutmeg, and pepper. The Reserve nurtures more than 300 species of birds, 70 species of mammals, over 80 species of reptiles, 45 species of amphibians, and more than 45 species of fishes. Importantly, many these species are endemic to the region. The Reserve also includes three wildlife sanctuaries - Shendurney, Peppara and Nayar, in addition to the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. It is also an important biogeographical hotspot within the Western Ghats, where it is located.

Wildlife

Francolins, ducks, piculets, barbets, trogons, malkohas, coucals, swiftlets, needletails, frogmouths, nightjars, crakes, waterhens, swamphens, coots, snipes, sandpipers, thickknees, plovers, stilts, lapwings, terns, buzzards, kestrels, grebes, darters, cormorants, bitterns, ibises, spoonbills, pelicans, leafbirds, shrikes, treepies, minivets, flycatchers, woodshrikes, thrushes, robins, starlings, bushchats, nuthatches, tits, martins, prinias, munias, robins, warblers, larks, flowerpeckers, spiderhunters, wagtails and weavers can be spotted here. Among the animals found here are the Bengal tiger, leopard, sloth bear, the Asian elephant gaur, sambar, Nilgiri tahr, spotted deer, mouse deer, Nilgiri langur, slender loris, bonnet macaque, lion-tailed macaque, brown mongoose, Malabar giant squirrel, Nilgiri marten, Indian pangolin, king cobra, python, monitor lizard, and pit viper.

A treasure trove of new species

• In 2014, as many as six species of golden backed frogs found in the Western Ghats were declared new - till then they were wrongly grouped as Hylarana temporalis, usually found in Sri Lanka. One of them - the large golden-backed frog (Hylarana magna) - was found in Agasthyamala Meanwhile, it seems Hylarana temporalis never really existed in India and it was a case of mistaken identity!


• In 2017, another new frog species would be found in Agasthyamala Vijayan's night frog (Nyctibatrachus pulivijayani) is extremely tiny - only 13.6 mm that it barely covers a thumbnail and sits effortlessly on a coin, with lots of space to spare. This was one of the four thumbnail-sized frog species discovered in the Western Ghats back then.


• In 2018, a new plant species got its name from the place it was discovered in - Fimbristylis agasthyamalai is. This grass-like plant is said to have a range of only "about two square km with less than 50 known individuals", and "highly threatened by grazing".

 

Picture Credit : Google

The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being “the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”. Described by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore as “the tear-drop on the cheek of time”, it is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India’s rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts 7–8 million visitors a year.

It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan (reigned 1628–1658), to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The tomb is the centrepiece of a 42-acre complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated wall.

Construction of the mausoleum was essentially completed in 1643 but work continued on other phases of the project for another 10 years. The Taj Mahal complex is believed to have been completed in its entirety in 1653 at a cost estimated at the time to be around 32 million rupees, which in 2015 would be approximately 52.8 billion rupees (US$827 million). The construction project employed some 20,000 artisans under the guidance of a board of architects led by the court architect to the emperor, Ustad Ahmad Lahauri.

 

Picture Credit : Google