La Garita, Colorado

These magnificent ash formations are the legacy of perhaps the largest explosive eruption in the earth’s history. Some 28 million years ago the Colorado eruption disgorged more that 1,200 cubic miles of lava – enough to fill the basin of Lake Michigan. The resultant, oblong-shaped caldera, located in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains, measures around 22 by 47 miles.

Katmai, Alaska

In 1912, the Novarupta Volcano in Katmai erupted for more than 60 hours, forming what is known as the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes. The blast expelled 13 to 15 cubic kilometres of magma, resulting in the collapse of Mount Katmai, but the advent of a beautiful national park. Thanks to its remote location, no deaths were caused.

Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland

This year eruptions at Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland caused unprecedented disruption to flights across the UK and Europe. A series of eruptions began March 20, 2010, but it was the dense plume of ash emitted from an eruption that began April 14 that caused the almost complete closure of European airspace. The plume rose to about 9 kilometres in the air, which made for some dramatic skies as the dust particles scattered light from the setting sun.

Pinatubo, Philippines

The eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991 was the 20th century’s second most powerful volcanic explosion after Katmai, though its effects were more devastating. The colossal explosion sent around 10 cubic kilometres of debris into the air, a hazard that was exacerbated by the simultaneous arrival of a tropical storm. Around 800 people were killed, many as their homes collapsed under the weight of raining wet ash. However, the eruption had been predicted in the days preceding it, and thousands of lives were saved by an evacuation effort.

Mount Vesuvius, Bay of Naples

Though Mount Vesuvius has erupted many times, it is most famous for its eruption in AD 79 that covered the Roman cities, Pompeii and Herculaneum. Then, it killed up 25,000 people; and with 3 million people living near it today, it is regarded as one of the most dangerous volcanoes on the planet. Although its last eruption was in 1944, a few landslides in the crater have raised false alarms since.

Tambora, Indonesia

J.M.W Turner, the English Romantic landscape painter known as the ’painter of light’, may owe some of his fame to the Tambora eruption in 1815. The Indonesian explosion affected the global climate, robbing North America and Europe of a summer in 1816, but creating some stunning sunsets. The outburst, which rated 7 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI), killed at least 71,000 people, including those affected by the resulting famine.

Krakatoa, Indonesia

The volcanic island of Krakatoa, located between Java and Sumatra, experienced its most violent eruption in 1883. With a VEI of 6, its nuclear yield was around 13,000 times greater than the bomb dropped on Hiroshima. In its wake, some 165 villages and towns were devastated, and more than 36,000 people killed – many, from the resulting tsunamis. The ash ejected from the volcano tinted the skies of Europe and America red, and is thought to have inspired Edvard Munch’s painting, The Scream. Pictured is a lithograph of the explosion.

Mount Pelee, Martinique

The eruption in 1902 of Mount Pelee is dubbed the worst volcanic disaster of the 20th century. Situated on the northern tip of Martinique, its explosion all but wiped out the city of Saint-Pierre. Around 30,000 people were killed, with only two residents surviving the hot gas and rock that flowed through the city, making it one of the deadliest volcanoes on earth.

Mount St Helens, Washington

In 1980, Mount St Helens erupted, producing a 12-mile high column of ash in less than 10 minutes. The ash was deposited in 11 US states; 57 people and thousands of animals were killed; hundreds of square miles were reduced to wasteland; and over a billion dollars of damage was caused.

Kilauea, Hawaii

The island of Hawaii is formed of five volcanoes, and one of them, Kilauea, is active today. It began erupting in 1983 and frequently outpours lava – the name Kilauea means ‘spewing’ or ‘spreading’. Though in the past the eruptions have destroyed buildings, they are non-explosive, allowing tourists to visit the site and witness lava flowing into the Pacific Ocean

$3.5 Million Piaget Emperador Temple Diamonds Watch

The famous watch maker, Piaget, topped other watch makers by creating the most expensive watch ever with $3.5 million price tag.

Such exuberant price of Piaget Emperador Temple Diamonds accounts for the use of hundreds of diamonds for the watch’s design.

With the dazzle of diamonds, Piaget Emperador Temple Diamonds look more like jewelry rather than time measuring device. A total of 1211 diamonds of different cuts are used to embellish the watch. White pearl dial is encrusted with 173 diamonds, then additional 320 stones adorn luxurious bracelet while 690 diamonds decorate the case. Dazzling case of Piaget Emperador Temple Diamonds contains an intricate watch mechanism, a tourbillion to produce the highest precision.

Antonio Gaudi Masterpieces

Antoni Gaudí i Cornet was born in Reus, not far from Barcelona on the 25th of June 1852. This Spanish architect from Catalonia created true masterpieces, which are still admired of all over the world. He had his own style, which is certes unique. Geniusbeauty would like to share with you some beautiful pictures showing his modernist individualistic architectual designs and to tell you some interesting facts about this genius.

Antonio Gaudí was the youngest of five children, but could not play with friends of his age because of the pain caused by rheumatism. He was able to walk on foot, but rarely. Because he had to stay at home for long periods of time, he learned his two greatest qualities, which allowed him to perform such architectual miracles – observation ability and analysis of nature.

Antonio Gaudí’s life lasted only 48 years, but this time was enough to create the architectural image of one of the most beautiful cities of the world– Barcelona. Exactly here, in the Catalan capital, Antonio Gaudí realized almost all his architectural concepts. I have never been to Spain, but I hope, I will visit this beautiful country some day. And Antonio Gaudí’s masterpieces are the reason for this wish. Look below, why.

Beautiful Pictures of Winter

Winter is coming to an end. Let’s enjoy the last days of February. There are people who have never seen snow even in winter. The pictures below show the real winter with frost, snow and low temperatures. It’s not only white, dull and boring, like some think. It has many colors and is very beautiful. Just look here.

Beautiful Pictures of Autumn

It is December now. Somewhere the ground is covered with deep snow, like it is in Siberia. In other places, like Egypt, it is unbearably hot. Sometimes we do not notice the beauty, which the nature gives us. Though autumn is over, I would like to remind you of those nice autumn days, which are gone. I have collected some pictures, which show how beautiful autumn is and want to share them with you. Please, enjoy.