5 Geological Wonders you didn’t know

1.The Wave (between Arizona and Utah - USA)




A red-rock stunner on the border of Arizona and Utah, The Wave is made of 190-million-year-old sand dunes that have turned to rock. This little-known formation is accessible only on foot via a three-mile hike and highly regulated.


2.Antelope Canyon (Arizona - USA)



The most visited and photographed slot canyon in the American Southwest, the Antelope Canyon is located on Navajo land near Page, Arizona. It includes two separate, photogenic slot canyon sections, referred to individually as Upper Antelope Canyon --or “The Crack”-- and Lower Antelope Canyon --or “The Corkscrew.”

The Navajo name for Upper Antelope Canyon is Tse' bighanilini, which means "the place where water runs through rocks." Lower Antelope Canyon is Hasdestwazi, or "spiral rock arches." Both are located within the LeChee Chapter of the Navajo Nation.

3.Great Blue Hole (Belize)



Part of the Lighthouse Reef System, The Great Blue Hole lies approximately 60 miles off the mainland out of Belize City. A large, almost perfectly circular hole approximately one quarter of a mile (0.4 km) across, it’s one of the most astounding dive sites to be found anywhere on earth. Inside this hole, the water is 480 feet (145 m) deep and it is the depth of water which gives the deep blue color that causes such structures throughout the world to be known as "blue holes."

4.Crystal Cave of the Giants (Mexico)



Found deep inside a mine in southern Chihuahua Mexico, these crystals were formed in a natural cave totally enclosed in bedrock. A geode full of spectacular crystals as tall as pine trees, and in some cases greater in circumference, they are a translucent gold and silver in color and come in many incredible forms and shapes. The Crystal Cave of the Giants was discovered within the same limestone body that hosts the silver-zinc-lead ore bodies exploited by the mine and it was probably dissolved by the same hydrothermal fluids that deposited the metals with the gypsum being crystallized during the waning stages of mineralization.


5.Eye of the Sahara (Mauritania)



This spectacular landform in Mauritania in the southwestern part of the Sahara desert is so huge with a diameter of 30 miles that it is visible from space. Called Richat Structure --or the Eye of the Sahara-- the The formation was originally thought to be caused by a meteorite impact but now geologists believe it is a product of uplift and erosion. The cause of its circular shape is still a mystery.

Source :http://www.oddee.com

Published - by Gracie Murano

Alternative Energy Sources

Source :www.affordablesolarpanels.com

Alternative energy is no longer a secret. Most of the world’s energy needs are fulfilled by fossil fuels including gasoline and coal. It cannot be denied, however, that their supply is no longer in a stable state, their prices have gone up and they have been found to cause damage to the environment.


The negative effects of the use of fossil fuels are taking its toll on Mother Earth and mankind. Pollution mainly from the burning of fuels has long been pointed as a major cause of the earth’s deterioration and man’s health problems notably those related to respiratory illnesses. Additionally, world prices of fuel don’t show signs of going down to its original level forcing man to search for alternative sources of energy.

Alternative energy basically pertains to sources of energy other than those that involve the burning of fossil fuels or splitting of atoms. The earth has actually a huge supply of it which can be used free of charge and what’s great about this is that they’re environment friendly and renewable.


Today, there are a number of alternative energy forms that are clean to use and causes very little or no harmful effects to nature at all. These are solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, hydroelectric energy, tidal energy, nuclear energy and biofuel.

1.Solar energy

Every year, the earth gets more than enough energy from the sun as much as 35,000 times the total energy needs of man. One-third of this solar energy is either absorbed by the outer atmosphere or reflected back into space. Today, this form of energy is used in furnaces for homes and for heating swimming pools. Its major applications are in power plants, space ships and in running cars.

2.Wind energy

The power of the wind is never harmful to people and the environment. It is one of the oldest and cleanest forms of energy. While it is dependent on the weather and location, wind energy is very helpful in a lot of ways specifically in generating electricity through the use of windmills. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, the worldwide wind market will grow by more than 155 percent by 2012. The total capacity is expected to reach 240 GW.

3.Geothermal energy

This type of energy comes from the earth’s core where temperatures are high and constant all year round. This is ideally used in home heating systems because of its benefits. It can also be used to generate steam to operate a steam turbine.

4.Hydroelectric energy

This form of energy is also very old and a well developed one. It utilizes the potential energy existing in the water. Basically, this comes from the damming of rivers which helps in generating cheaper electricity. However, it still has a limited capacity for expansion.


5.Tidal energy

This is also useful in electricity generation and works in the same manner as that of the conventional hydroelectric dams. The natural motion of tides is used to fill water reservoirs which are then slowly released via turbines that produce electricity.

6.Nuclear energy

This used to be known as the “jewel in the crown” among the alternative sources of energy. However, due to the Chernobyl accident and the “Three Mile Island” incident, it has received negative feedback. While nuclear fission can be a good source of energy, many people are objecting to its use due to safety reasons. The only hope is nuclear fusion which poses no safety and waste issues. Unfortunately, no solution has been created to develop its potential.

7.Biofuel

This can be made from organic matters such as plants, wood and animals. Its main ingredients are ethanol from plant materials and methane from animal wastes. Today, its main use is in the transportation industry as an alternative gasoline to run land vehicles. While it is commonly used in developed nations, many developing countries are also now using biofuels.

Source:http://www.alternativeenergysecret.com

The Top 10 Green Cars Coming in 2009

The Top 10 Green Cars in 2009


Thinking of buying a new green car? Before you place that order, take a look at this. These are the top ten green cars in 2009 that you need to know about.



Honda Insight hybrid

Price from £15,490 for SE
On sale April 2009
The Insight is an ‘affordable’ hybrid family saloon with five doors and five seats and an evolved version of the current ‘IMA’ hybrid system current in the 1.4 litre petrol Civic, with nickel metal hydride batteries. The aim is to be significantly cheaper than the Prius in order to get more people into low CO2 cars, although the CO2 levels won’t be as low as the next Prius – expect around 100g/km CO2 and 65mpg. Honda has focused on making the hybrid system cheaper to manufacture, in order to pass the cost saving on to the customer. The image is of a US spec car, however the UK version will be very similar. It’s a shame that the production car isn’t as bold as the original concept.



Toyota Prius

Price £18-£20,000 (estimated)
On sale June 2009
Toyota is developing its hybrid system to the new level, with CO2 emissions expected to be around the 90g/km mark – if so, this almost matches the CO2 of the Smart diesel, so this is very impressive for a family saloon. Both Toyota and Honda have decided to stick with nickel-metal hydride batteries rather than the mobile phone style lithium-ion batteries as they don’t have sufficient faith in them. Other body versions based on the hybrid powerplant such as people carriers are to follow this time round, along with a plug-in Prius in due course, which will dramatically improve its green credentials. Note from this official, but leaked, photograph that the Honda Insight and the new Prius have ended up with very similar aerodynamically-driven shapes.



Toyota iQ

Price from £9,495
On sale January 2009
Innovative interior packaging design means that you can fit three adults and one child (a ‘3 plus 1’ seating layout) into a car that is less than 3 metres long. This makes the iQ the world’s smallest four seater. The main engine on offer will be the 998cc 3 cylinder unit from the Aygo, with resulting emissions of 99g/km CO2, and 65.7mpg. The iQ comes with a manual or a CVT transmission, the manual being recommended, and the more economical choice. The iQ is relatively expensive for a car of this size, and although described by Toyota as a premium car, the interior is hardly the lap of luxury.




Ford Ka ECOnetic

Price £8500 (estimated)
On sale January
Eco version of Ford’s already economical Fiat 500-based city car. We’re still waiting for details of emissions and economy for the ECOnetic version, but if the Fiesta ECOnetic with a 1.6 litre engine is emitting just 98g/km CO2, we’re hoping that the smaller Ka with its 1.3 diesel as used in the Fiat 500 will surprise us with even more impressive figures.



VW Golf BlueMotion

Price £16,000
On sale September 2009
The new Mk6 Golf BlueMotion is promising CO2 emissions that match the current Polo, at 99g/km CO2, with 74mpg. It has a smaller engine, at 1.6 litres rather than the current 1.9 unit. The current Golf BlueMotion emits 119g/km, so a drop of 20g/km CO2 is huge news. Expect the solidity of the current Golf.



Honda CR-Z

Price £16,000 (estimated)
On sale December 2009
The great looking CR-Z concept is now being built, with a hybrid version definitely on the cards. A sexy hybrid sports coupe will create a great image for Honda. Even a non-hybrid version of this front-wheel drive, 2 plus 2 sports coupe should still be efficient due to its small size and light weight.



Lexus RX450h

94% of Lexus RX models that are sold in the UK are hybrids, so it’s perhaps no surprise that the petrol-only version is disappearing and the new model is being sold as a hybrid only in the UK. The new model should improve on the current 35mpg, which is currently beaten by many diesel 4x4s. The exterior doesn’t look much different, although it has gained a slightly American bloated look, but the interior is much improved.



Mitsubishi iMIEV

Price £20,000+ (estimated)
Out of all the electric cars we’ve driven, the iMIEV, with its lithium-ion batteries, is the best to drive by a huge margin. It feels a like a real car, it’s very well put together, extremely smooth, with well weighted steering and good handling. However this pioneering car may come with a price that reflects this previously unseen quality in this segment.



Tesla Roadster

Price £92,000
On sale May 2009
The car that made electric cars sexy. Available in the US already, and in Europe in 2009. Based on a Lotus Elise, but full of mobile phone batteries instead of a petrol engine, giving the Tesla excellent acceleration of 0-60mph in 3.9 seconds, a top speed of 125 mph, and a potential range of 225 miles. Recharging time is around 8 hours. Best of all it can claim tailpipe emissions of just 0g/km CO2.



MINI E

It’s a MINI, but an electric one. The vital statistics of the MINI E include an electronically-limited top speed of 95 mph, 62 mph in 8.5 seconds, a 150 mile range and, crucially, a full recharge time of just two and a half hours. Based on the current MINI Hatch, the car will initially be available as a two-seater; a lithium-ion battery will go where the rear seats are on a standard MINI. Before you get too excited, the electric MINI will only be available in America in 2009, where 500 of them will be leased, and there’s no word on cost at the moment.

Source :http://www.green-car-guide.com

Green Building Concepts

Source : http://www.finehomebuilding.com

Green building takes sustainable development concepts which can then be applied to a vast array of practices tied to building construction. In doing so they increase the efficiency of resources—water, energy, materials and waste—while reducing the impact the construction project has on humans, health, and the environment.

There are many building life cycles that can be managed with green building concepts in mind, such as design, construction, operation, maintenance, and waste removal/disposal. Green building can reduce operating costs by increasing productivity and using less water and energy, improve health by improving indoor air quality, and reduce environmental impacts. We’ll break down each building concept below.

Design

The design process focuses on taking advantage of renewable resources right from the start. Some techniques include:

• Using sunlight through passive and active solar and photovoltaic options
• Using green roofs and rain gardens to reduce rainwater run-off
• Using packed gravel for parking lots instead of asphalt or concrete to enhance replenishment of ground water
• Use high-efficiency windows and insulation in walls, ceilings, and floors
• Use trees planted in front of windows to produce shade in the summer and maximize solar rays during winter
Green building design keeps a close check on the full life cycle impacts of the resources that make up the structure. Aesthetically, the design of the building doesn’t always take the surrounding environmental features into account.

Construction

Green building projects take building materials into account early in the process as well. Selecting what materials to use is usually part of the designing stage as well to ensure sustainability in the following years. Some materials used include:

• Rapidly renewable plant materials like bamboo and straw
• Lumber from forests certified to be sustainably managed
• Dimension stone, a natural stone or rock that has been selected and fabricated
• Recycled stone and metal and other products that are non-toxic, reusable, renewable, and/or recyclable
• Use building materials from local sources to minimize energy use due to their transportation.
Along with materials, sustainability in the construction process can also include acts such as employing local, so that opportunities and greater well-being are fostered in the local community.

Operation

The low operation costs of an efficiently constructed green building generate many long term benefits aside from sustainability. These include financial and health benefits, which can be incorporated in many ways.

Financial benefits:

Lower energy costs from some of the design processes–mentioned above, and including but not limited to:
• high efficiency windows and insulation
• passive solar building design
• Roofs that create high solar reflectance (thereby reducing heat transfer to the building) and high thermal emittance (when a large percentage of absorbed/non-reflected solar energy is able to be released). These are called “cool roofs”
• These designs/efficient materials reduce costs directly in maximizing natural light, heating and cooling, thereby requiring less electricity usage.
• capitalized natural ventilation from absorption chillers
• Heat recovery ventilation systems to recover heat from used air and transfer it to fresh air.
• Install fluorescent lighting to use 2/3 to 3/4 less energy than incandescent bulbs
• this lowers electricity use directly, as well as indirectly with cooling loads
Installing highly efficiency appliances-some interesting statistics* about appliances to note, from the National Institute of Building Sciences’ “Whole Building Design Guide“:
Older toilets use 3.7-7 gallons per flush
Dishwashers use 8-14 gallons per cycle
Top-loading washers use 45 gallons/load
A dripping faucet waste 15-21 gallons per day
Like fluorescent bulbs, high efficiency appliances will reduce energy use directly by their efficiency and also by producing less waste heat

Health Benefits:

Health benefits from green building are greater than just a better natural feeling. From the National Institute of Building Sciences’ “Whole Building Design Guide”, here are some health statistics to think about (* Notes in footer)
US EPA ranks indoor air pollution among top five environmental risks. Unhealthy air is found in up to 30% of new and renovated buildings
W.H.O. reports that indoor air pollution causes 14 times more deaths than outdoor air pollution (2.8 million lives)
Of hundreds of EPA-regulated chemicals, only ozone and sulfur dioxide are more prevalent outdoor than indoors
20 percent of all housing in the US has too much lead dust or chippings (causes kidney and red blood cell damage, impairs mental and physical development, may increase high blood pressure)
About a quarter of the nation’s largest industrial plants and water treatment facilities are in serious violation of pollution standards at any one time
An estimated 7 million Americans are made sick annually by contaminated tap water; in some rare cases this results in death
These risks can be reduced and conditions improved by following green building concepts in:
Regulating natural air ventilation and quality
Non-toxic, natural and renewable materials
Regulated water and efficient appliances



Source : http://www.archive.poly.edu


Maintenance

Maintaining a building is important to ensuring it remains sustainable and profitable. Like one would do with a car, as the building ages, it is important to check areas of the building to make sure they are still at an acceptable quality level. However, the nice thing about green building is that even though initial costs of implementation are higher, long-term maintenance is often much less of a hassle! Consider the idea of design concepts taking into account the increased usage of natural light and temperature control services–the more natural used, the less maintenance of and dependency on furnaces, air conditioners, and lighting systems you will have to worry about, as they will be used less.

Smaller scale maintenance, such as cleaning the building, can also be chosen and used to improve indoor air quality, reduce water pollution, and maintain environmentally sustainable concepts. Some notions to keep in mind when choosing cleaning products are:

• choose less hazardous products to minimize negative impacts on human health, air quality and reduce water pollution
• avoid products with corrosive, carcinogenic and other irritating or volatile organic chemicals
• this will reduce hazardous waste costs when the time comes to dispose or any leftover product in the appropriate manner
• buy cleaners with returnable or recyclable packaging to reduce waste, or buy them in bulk or concentrates–with refillable/reusable containers if available
• pay careful attention that excess product is disposed of appropriately. Contact the product company or a local institute for information if you are unsure
Reduce Waste
Waste can be reduced on several levels by taking a green approach to building. In terms of construction, using the materials listed above helps divert waste from landfills. With the appropriate green-building measures, waste reduction carries on to the operation of a building as well.
• on site waste management, such as separating garbage, recycling and compost
• centralized wastewater treatment systems reuse wastewater from dishwashing or washing machines
o however these are costly and use a lot of energy–there are many smaller steps to be taken as an alternative, such as low power showerheads, converting wastewater to fertilizer via a biogas plant, and more
• making it easy for occupants to reduce energy waste as a part of their daily routines, such as intelligent building design to allow them enough light that daytime lights are unnecessary, to mention one option
Ultimately, from diverting waste from landfills in the construction process, to designing efficiently to minimize waste during operation, to ensuring on-site maintenance chooses efficient products and processes, keeping green concepts in mind throughout all stages of building life cycle will contribute to waste reduction.

Source: http://www.thegreenrocket.com

Global Warming

Source: http://www.howstuffworks.com

The composition of air is vast. There is nitrogen, that occupies 78% and oxygen that occupies 21%. This in total occupies 99% of air. It is just that tiny 1% fraction that has everything else. Among that, carbon dioxide.

Carbon dioxide- a compound of carbon and oxygen ( CO2) and is talked about frequently. It is talked about in a bad way, that it pollutes the air. I have to say I disagree. Without carbon dioxide, there would be no photosynthesis in plants. If there was no photosynthesis, there would be no recycling of oxygen and we would never get food. So carbon dioxide in my point of view is helpful to the environment. Carbon dioxide is an insulator and traps heat. This keeps us warm during the night when the land continues to radiate heat but doesn’t receive heat. The carbon dioxide in the air traps the heat. Now lets rewind a bit. ‘Carbon dioxide is an insulator and traps heat.’

This is the sentence from which the term global warming can arise from. The definition of global warming- rise in the ambient temperature globally. Global warming comes from the greenhouse effect.

The greenhouse effect is the work of a greenhouse. It allows heat from the sun to pass through it, but the glass prevents it from escaping back into the atmosphere or space. Same for the greenhouse effect globally. The carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere allows heat from the sun to come to the Earth, but an amount of the heat that is radiated from the land is trapped by the carbon dioxide. This in turn causes global warming.

Since the carbon dioxide traps heat, and the content of it is increasing day by day, it will give a higher temperature to the Earth as a whole. Polar ice caps will melt, and the water in the oceans will expand. As a matter of fact, this had already started.

The content of carbon dioxide in the past was a mere 0.03% and now it is around 0.05%. This may not seem like major change, but it shows that the content is increasing. Who cares whether it is .02%?? It is still rising, is it not? This means we have to stop it, before it gets out of hand.

Solution- stop the excess of carbon dioxide. As simple as that. We can’t stop science, it is naturally occuring. Now how do we stop the continuous excess of carbon dioxide? I have two ways, and these are the methods that are trying to be used worldwide-

1. Stop overflow of carbon dioxide. Simple. The less carbon dioxide in the air, the less precaution taken towards global warming. This means less factory builds, more use of renewable energy sources as fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide and less use of a power plant.

2. Plant more… plants! This is talked about a lot. Autotrophs (green plants) use water, sunlight and carbon dioxide to make food and release oxygen. Notice the carbon dioxide part. More trees leads to more carbon dioxide used up, more oxygen content in the air and more food produced. A four in one offer that could change the world.


Source:http://scienceray.com

The Top 10 Most Endangered Species

According to the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) the top 10 most endangered species are:

1. Black Rhino The Black Rhino is native to southern and east Africa. Since 1970, the Black Rhino population has declined by 90% to less than 3,000. They are killed primarily for their horns. Trade of Black Rhinos has been banned for more than twenty years. Although having banned trading of the species, there still continues to be a great demand for Rhino parts.
2. Giant Panda The Giant Panda is native to China. Fewer than 1,000 remain in their native habitat of China. The main reason for their decline is due to loss of natural habitat and poaching.
3. Tiger Tigers are native to tropical zones in Southeast Asia and temperate regions like the Russian Far East. Less than 6,000 tigers remain in the wild. The most urgent threat to tigers is poaching for body parts and bones used in traditional Asian medicines.
4. Beluga Sturgeon Beluga sturgeons are ancient living fish fossils are found in the Caspian Sea. They are valued throughout the world by connoisseurs for their superior quality caviar. Poaching is out of control due to excessive demand and high prices paid for the Sturgeons' "pearl-like" caviar.
5. Goldenseal Goldenseal is a herb is favored by naturopathists for its perceived ability to heal numerous ailments from hemorrhoids to allergies. Goldenseal is native to the hardwood forests of North America. The demand for Goldenseal has recently leaped more than 30%.
6. Alligator Snapping Turtle The alligator snapping turtle is prized by turtle trappers and dealers for its rare meat. It is the largest freshwater turtle in North America. Alligator snapping turtles are quickly being depleted due to increased shipments to many international world markets including Asia.
7. Hawksbill Turtle the Hawksbill turtle is found mainly around tropical reefs. The three foot length Hawksbill Turtle species, named for its distinctive snout, is becoming extremely vulnerable due to their slow reproduction rates and high volume of illegal trade for the prized jewel-like "tortoise shell."
8. Big Leaf Mahogany Demand for the red colored wood goes unabated because of worldwide consumer demand for quality mahogany hardwood furniture. Mahogany trees are widely distributed in tropical forests from Mexico to the Amazon Basin. However, the species grows naturally only as individual trees rather than in groups of large forest stands. Wholesale stripping of Amazon forests has resulted in perhaps 70 per cent of the world's supply being depleted.
9. Green-Cheeked Parrot The Green-cheeked parrot is native to Mexico. It has the ability to mimic the human voice. The Green-cheeked parrot has been significantly reduced in numbers due to a huge demand for these lovely pet birds, especially from the United States. Even after prohibiting the sale of these green-cheeked birds, droves of the species are still being illegally traded across the Mexico/US border.
10. Mako Shark The Mako Shark is highly sought for its tender meat, and especially in Asian markets, for their shark fins which have even greater value for medicinal purposes. Some of the species are merely stripped of their prized fins by the international fishing fleets and then are thrown back into the depths, left to die.

Source : http://www.mamashealth.com

Sinharaja Forest-SriLanka

Sinharaja (11,250 ha), is the jewel of the last remaining virgin rainforest crown in country is located in the wet zone of the country. the primeval Sinharaja covers 8900 hectares of breathtakingly beautiful, continuous forest.

Beautiful Streams, springs, rivers, waterfalls, leopard, monkeys, butterflies and moths, rare trees, valuable shrubs and medicinal herbs are all found within its green canopy. A trek along the sinharaja paths would provide nature entusiast a never to be forgotten experience of sights and sounds and feelings.


Due to its high bio-diversity and ecological importance, it has been declared as a National Heritage Wilderness Area and it is the only natural World Heritage Site (declared by UNESCO) in the country.

Sinharaja is one of the few virgin forests left in the world, The forest has series of mountains and ridges rising abruptly from 90m to 1170m above mean sea level. Situated in Ratnapura, Galle and Matara districts in the interior wet zone of the south west of the island.

This is Sri Lanka's most important rainforest. The forest has tall trees growing in close proximity, but winding paths make it easy to walk along the forest floor. It is inhabited by water monitors, torque macaques, leopards, giant squirrels, purple-faced leaf monkeys and leeches. Bird life includes Ceylon Spurfowl, Ceylon Junglefowl, Ceylon Wood Pigeon, Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Layard's Parakeet, Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Coucal, Chestnut-backed Owlet, Ceylon Grey Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Barbet, Ceylon Small Barbet, Black-capped Bulbul, Spotted-winged Thrush, Brown-capped Babbler, Orange-billed Babbler, Ashy-headed Laughing-Thrush, Ceylon Blue Magpie, Ceylon White-headed Starling, Ceylon Hill Munia, Ceylon Hill Myna, Malabar Trogon, Black Bulbul, Indian Scimitar Babbler, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Green Imperial Pigeon, Velvet-fronted Nuthatch and Yellow-browned Bulbul.

Topographically Sri Lanka is divided into three morphological areas Topographically. and Sinharaja Rain Forest belongs to the middle range uplands by elevation range. It range of 270 to 1,060 meters in height
and a slopes range of 100 to 350. The Sinharaja forest is located on the Rakwana mountain range
which lies detached from the main central Mountain ranges of the island.

Most of the plants have a disjunct distribution and high species endemism. Over 60% of countries endemic plant species can be found within the boundaries of Sinharaja. The forest is multi layered which is a characteristic to the rainforest and Mesua – Shorea community and Dipteracarpus community, dominates the vegetation. The forest also sheltered the large varieties of wild orchids, epiphytes and lianas as well.

The highest faunal endemicity of the country is found in the Sinharaja. Out of 12 endemic mammal species of the country 8 are found here. Giant squirrel, dusky-stripped jungle squirrel and endemic purple-faced leaf monkey and torque macaque are frequently seen. Almost 95% of the countries endemic birds (about 19 species) are found here including rare Red-faced Malkoha, Green-billed Caucal, Blue Magpie and Sri Lanka Spur fowl. Diversity among the reptiles and Amphibians are remarkably high. The endemic green pit viper, endemic hump nosed lizard (Lyriocephalus scutatus) and horned lizard (Ceratophora aspera) are common here. Small tributaries and rivers of the forest support the fish such as striped rasbora, walking catfish and endemic comb tail.

Apart from its ecological and biodiversity value its scenic beauty is also invaluable. The largest known tree of the country is found in the Sinharaja, which is an endemic tree. Insect eating Pitcher plant is frequently seen here. This magnificent rainforest is also a home for large number of butterflies. In side the forest is dark even during the day time due to close canopy above and one can here the voice of cicadas and frogs throughout the time. Small streams found within the forest contain crystal-clear cool water and one can clearly see the fish, toads and crabs swimming in it. Another characteristic feature of Sinharaja is the mixed species flock formation of its birds. Number of species in the flock can be go up to about 40 species. If you are lucky enough you can experience the tropical monsoon inside the forest, which will be an unforgettable experience.

Source :http://www.info.lk,http://www.sinharaja.lk

Green Computing

This article is Intended to be a collection of ways to make your Computer more environmentally friendly.

Modern Computers are power hungry things. There are many things we can do to reduce the amount of power they use. As a General rule laptops use less than Desktops, and LCD (Flat screens) Screens use less than CRT (big fat screens).

Suggestions for your current PC:

* Switch your computer off when you're not using it, Especially over night and if you will be out for the day.
* If your going to be away from it for a short time then turn off the monitor. You can also adjust the power management using the control panel to turn off your hard drive and put your system into standby after a set amount of time.
* For more advanced users remove unnecessary fans and Drives. If you have a spare CD-ROM you use once in a blue moon unplug it. Also if your computer is only used for office work or checking your email unplug excess devices you do not use.
* Install Power management Programs like Local Cooling or Snap CO2 Saver. These programs basically just adjust your Power management settings though so are pointless if you know how to do this.
* Print wisely - Only print what you really need to have a paper copy of and resist the urge to print 'all pages' when you only need what is on one particular page. There is software available that can help with this, or simply use the "print preview" to see which pages you really need and only print those pages.
* Refill Ink-jet cartridges and laser toner; its cheaper and doesn't add to landfill
* Switch off Cable Modems, Routers and Wifi Access Points when not in use / overnight
* Replace your internal hard drive with a low energy solution such as Western Digital's Green Drive
* An exernal hard drive is also useful to backup your content, or to use as simple add-on storage capacity. Like the SimpleTech redrive, look for one that is energy efficient and Energy Star qualified, is made from sustainable materials such as bamboo and aluminum and is conscious about its packaging.
* Use a Google alternative, such as Smallest Google, saving energy, time, and bandwidth.


Suggestions for buying a new PC:

* Buy a Laptop! Laptops use less power than a desktop.
* Buy a computer according to your needs. If your only using it for simple tasks don't buy the most powerful available.
* Choose the latest Intel or VIA processors over AMD as they use less power. VIA is the best for the environment although not as powerful.
* If you are going to build your own PC pick the parts carefully. Instead of getting two 1gb chips, buy one 2gb one. Build the computer to your needs don't install unnecessary parts if you will never use them. Also consider certified 80 plus energy efficient power supplies 80 PLUS Program
* If you are concerned about hazards chemicals used in pc components consult Greenpeace's Green Electronics Ranking or The Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) in electrical and electronic equipment.
* Choose Corded Keyboard and Mouse over wireless.
* As a general rule ink-jet printers use much less energy than laser ones however the inks in inkjet printers spoil clean paper recycling processes.

Source :http://green.wikia.com