A Real Halfland Discovered!
photo by Carsten Peter for National Geographic
In case someone ever wonders, "Where is Halfland?" I always knew that the Halfland we see in the film series, with Rana's cottage on a little hill next to a stream, was on a large island, in a huge sea-like lake, that's in the middle of another island, that's in the middle of yet another huge lake, etc. (there is such a thing by the way, Goggle ette!)But just this week, folks, I heard about a brand new remarkable true life discovery that gave me a bit of wonderment shivers. Um, yeah, so I can't really imagine anything more fantasy storybook like than what actually apparently exists. I'm now thinking that the entire set of islands and lakes described above, is ultimately residing within AN ENORMOUS UNDERGROUND CAVERN! Can you deal with this?!
From the National Geographic article by Mark Jenkins:
...Hang Son Doong, or “mountain river cave,” in a remote part of central Vietnam. Hidden in rugged Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park near the border with Laos, the cave is part of a network of 150 or so caves, many still not surveyed, in the Annamite Mountains...
...There are actually wispy clouds up near the ceiling...
...swifts are diving and cutting in the brilliant column of sunshine. The tableau could have been created by an artist imagining how the world looked millions of years ago...
...The whole region was squeezed upward when the Indian subcontinent smashed into the Eurasian continent 40 to 50 million years ago,” he says. Hang Son Doong was formed two to five million years ago, when river water flowing across the limestone burrowed down along a fault, scouring out a giant tunnel beneath the mountains. In places where the limestone was weak, the ceiling collapsed into sinkholes, creating the gigantic skylights...
...Below the opening is another mountain of breakdown with a jungle of hundred-foot-tall trees, lianas, and burning nettles...
The mind boggles at this astounding world.
Yes - the older I get the more confused I become about what is "imagination" and what is "real." I worry a bit about my blurred lines and then answer myself with a big "Believe!!"
ReplyDeleteYour adventure through this project is a true delight to follow!
Best wishes for a happy new year!
Karima
Whoo, what a beautiful place!
ReplyDeleteAwesome!!! This is like the beginning of one of those 70's "lost enclave" movies, where a zeppelin wanders into the gigantic cave system and crashes, and they discover dinosaurs....
ReplyDeleteBut Halfland is real! At least to me, even though it is located far, far away – er, well, Los Angeles! ;)
ReplyDeleteMe too, Karima, me too. Not convinced the whole thing (The universe) isn't made up, by someone, somewhere.
ReplyDeleteDid you see all the amazing photos in that article, Nick?! They said an entire block with 12 story building would fit inside!
Totally, Mike! Right on. They found those cave pearls that are normally tiny like grapes to be giant like softballs inside this cave! Sci-fi is seeming more and more docu and far less drama.
Aww. I wonder if it is too, Jessica! Although, LA is like a figment of imagination generally anyway :)
Wow, that place is to mystical! I must build a cottage there.
ReplyDeleteTotally, Terry! It looks like a living fairy tale. It's not, but the look is amazing. That's why I build mine :)
ReplyDeleteWow.... that is just magical! (mouth hanging open)
ReplyDeleteTotally, isn't it?! Peggy if you haven't yet, please go see the other photos there. There were several with awesome volume of space underground that boggles the mind.
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