Algodones Dunes

The Algodones Dunes are a large sand dune field (45 miles by 6 miles) in the southeastern portion of California, east of the present day Salton Sea (currently -236 ft below sea level). Typically, the Colorado River flows south to the Sea of Cortez (Gulf of California). But, once in a while, due to several reasons, the ancient Colorado River spilt into the present day Salton Sea area and a freshwater lake developed, called Lake Cahuilla. The last Lake Cahuilla covered much of the Imperial, Coachella, and Mexicali Valley, and occurred as late as 1450. The most popular theory suggests that the Algodones Dunes formed over thousands of years from the windblown beach sands of landlocked Lake Cahuilla, especially when it’s water slowly evaporated and the aeolian processes picked up the finer sediments in this forming arid environment.

Today, the Algodones Dunes is used by men and women who are in need of driving sand buggies around and around until all beer is spilt or the gasoline tank is empty. Luckily, some parts are closed off for sand buggies. The photo shown here is from the closed off area.

Tulpenzeit

Auch wenn es der typisch weiß/graue norddeutsche Himmel nicht vermuten lässt, so kommt doch genug Sonnenlicht durch, um die Tulpen im Wolfsburger Barockgarten zum leuchten zu bringen.

Even if the typical white/grey North German sky doesn’t suggest it, there is still enough sunlight coming through to make the tulips in Wolfsburg’s Baroque Garden shine.

Reflections

When I arrived in the Netherlands more than 30 years ago the concept of insulating double or even triple layer glass was basically unknown. A lot of the old mansions along the grachtengordel in Amsterdam still have windows with glass which is centuries old. These glass panes were not flat and had variations in thickness. Consequently the reflextions have bizarre distortions. In the last years heat insulation has become increasingly important and regardless the immense costs the old window panes are rapidly disappearing.