April 22nd is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, which was started by Gaylord Nelson in Philadelphia to raise awareness about the environmental crisis, after he saw the effects of an oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara. It is now celebrated on nearly every country on Earth.
Gaylord died in 2005, but his name lives on, especially at the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin, and also at the Gaylord Nelson Wilderness, although, great man as he was, I'm not sure I'd name my son after him.
The first photo is of one of my favourite wilderness camping areas on Earth: The Tuwaiq Escarpment, which runs through the centre of the Arabian Desert. The second is one of the few parts of the world still relatively unspoilt by man: the Rub' Al Khali, or Empty Quarter, which straddles Saudi Arabia and Oman, and which is equal in size to France, Belgium and the Netherlands combined.
Hmmm...is there a McDonald's nearby? No, really, those are amazing pictures, and I love your sense of humor! Happy Earth Day, Ian!
ReplyDeleteCool post Ian. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sandy wilderness!
ReplyDeletepsst the snail I posted is about 0.5 cm long - I know, I know, amazing photo:) - still it would make a juicy meal if you were, say, in the desert:)! Happy earth day!
wow! those places are so beautiful! thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for a WONDERFUL earth day post Ian, and reminding us of the origins of Earth Day. Mr. Nelson certainly deserves our remembrance and appreciation. As do your pics! Wonderful reminder of the scale and variety available to the intrepid amongst us, whether in fact or via cyberspace. My Mom and Dad were in S. Arabia for awhile and regularly camped in the desert next the sea with NOBODY around them but the stars. (!!!!!!!) Thanks for reminding me if you and they can do it, I can too.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures and thank you for the explanation. If not I would have thought the first picture was of the Grand Canyon. Happy Earth Day.
ReplyDeleteWhile the second picture is beautiful and all, I'm not sure I'd want to be a nomad there, nor make camp either in order to start a civilization.
ReplyDeleteI too would hate to have the name 'Gaylord' in this generation! :]P
Those pictures are amazing! I have never been to any place where a person could see so far, with so little variation in the color of the landscape.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the history lesson, as well. Although people keep talking about this being the 40 anniversary of Earth Day, I didn't know it was started by one man.
Lovely photos! Ian you should really think about putting together a coffee table book with all your stories and photographs.
ReplyDeletegreat photos. Although I imagine the second photo to be real hot it's looks quite nice.
ReplyDeleteHappy Earth Day.
Fascinating! Happy Earth Day, Ian!!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy some spots haven't been touched, just wish there were more spots like this one. Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteJust a perfect post to understand this day and celebrate the Earth !
ReplyDeletewhat amazing images, ian. just sitting here and soaking them up.
ReplyDeleteDessert oh!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this, Ian. Beautiful photos!