Characteristics of Big Ben, London

The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster, known as the Big Ben, is one of London's most famous landmarks. At the time the tower was built in 1858 its clock was the largest in the world.

The Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire in 1834. In 1844, it was decided the new buildings for the Houses of Parliament should include a tower and a clock. A massive bell was required and the first attempt (made by John Warner & Sons at Stockton-on-Tees) cracked irreparably. The metal was melted down and the bell recast in Whitechapel in 1858. Big Ben first rang across Westminster on 31 May 1859. A short time later, in September 1859, Big Ben cracked. A lighter hammer was fitted and the bell rotated to present an undamaged section to the hammer. This is the bell as we hear it today.          

The clock was designed by Edmund Beckett Denison (later Sir Edmund Beckett and Lord Grimthorpe) in association with Sir George Airy (then astronomer royal) and the clockmaker Edward Dent. Denison’s principal contribution was a novel gravity escapement that imparted unprecedented accuracy to the clock. In a pendulum clock an escape wheel is allowed to rotate through the pitch of one tooth for each double swing of the pendulum and to transmit an impulse to the pendulum to keep it swinging.

The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster took 13 years to build, and was completed in 1856. The tower is 316 feet high. The spire that rises above the belfry is built with an iron frame, and it is this frame which supports the weight of the bells. A staircase rises up inside the tower, and a climb is rewarded by excellent views from the belfry level. Several small rooms are built into the lower part of the tower, including a small prison cell.

Visiting Big Ben famous landmarks in London You can take a tour of the Houses of Parliament. The Elizabeth Tower is not open to the general public although UK residents can arrange a visit by writing to their MP. Applications should be made in writing, as far in advance as possible, to.

The clock was the largest in the world and is still the largest in Great-Britain. The clock faces have a diameter of almost 25ft (7.5m). The hour hand is 9ft or 2.7m long and the minute hand measures 14ft (4.25m) long.

The clock is known for its reliability, it has rarely failed during its long life span. Even after the nearby House of Commons was destroyed by bombing during World War II, the clock kept on chiming of Touring Guide. The clock's mechanism, designed by Edmund Beckett Denison, has a remarkable accuracy. The clock's rate is adjusted by simply adding small pennies on the shoulder of the pendulum.

The hour bell is said to have been named after Sir Benjamin Hall, Commissioner of Works, who was known for his bulk, as is the bell! The first Big Ben hour bell was complete before the tower, so the bell was hung in New Palace Yard. After repeated public ringing the bell cracked, and had to be replaced by the current bell.

Famous Zoological Parks in Devon, Uk

Dartmoor Zoological Park has a fascinating story that will mean it is destined to become the most famous zoo in the world. Set in 33 acres of beautiful woodland with some stunning views of the surrounding countryside, the Zoological Park is a unique, family owned zoo with a fantastic collection of animals and the widest variety of big cats in the south west of England.

When visiting Devon, you are sure to have a family holiday full of fun and adventure. Devon is packed full of great things to see and do with attractions that will appeal to people of any age.Perhaps the best known feature of Devon is the magnificent Dartmoor Zoological National Park. You can spend your entire holiday travel all that this beautiful and magical National Park has to offer. With so many things to see and do, from hiking, sightseeing and pony trekking to exploring ancient castles, Dartmoor is a must visit destination for any Devon visitor.    

Exmoor Zoo There is only one place you are guaranteed to see the elusive Exmoor Beast and that is in the grounds of Exmoor Zoo. It is a rather large pair of black leopards that are likely to spot you before you see them! Exmoor Zoo is an award winning zoo set in a delightful location and homes over 175 different

The New Forest Wildlife Park: Enjoy a wildlife adventure in this lovely park, set in 25 acres of unspoilt woodland in the lovely New Forest. Get up close to the Sika, fallow and roe deer that roam freely throughout the zoological park and watch the excitable otters squeaking and squealing at feeding time. There are many amazing animals to see, from several species of owls and otters to wolves, bison, wild boar, red deer, muntjac deer, Scottish wildcats, lynx, wallabies, water voles, adders, foxes, polecats, pine martens and ferrets.

Devon has not one National Park but two with Exmoor National Park located in the North of the county. Exmoor is not as big as Dartmoor, yet what it lacks in size it certainly makes up for in stunning scenery. The Zoological park is famous for its heather-strewn moors, lush woodland, towering cliffs and golden beaches where the park meets the sea. Exmoor certainly has what it takes to delight its visitors.

National Marine Aquarium Located in Plymouth, around 45 minutes drive from Torquay, is the National Marine Aquarium. One of Devon’s most popular attractions, the Aquarium includes several huge tanks featuring sharks, a turtle, sea horses, jelly fish and a wide range of other marine life.

Paignton Zoo With more animals than anyone else in the South West, you're in for a really wild time - A great day out for the kids and all the family. Looking for an exciting day out in Devon? Come in and get close to over two thousand creatures at one of the South Wests most exciting visitor attractions.

Seven Wonders of The World

The Seven Wonders of the World has historically been a listing of seven sites known to the Ancient Greeks as the most notable locales in their known world.Since then, many have developed lists of the "modern" Seven Wonders of the World. The only list that really stands out and has stood the test of time for more than a decade is the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, developed by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Great Wall of China

China Built between the 5th century B.C. and the 16th century, the Great Wall of China most visited tourist attraction in china. a stone-and-earth fortification created to protect the borders of the Chinese Empire from invading Mongols. The Great Wall is actually a succession of multiple walls spanning approximately 4,000 miles, making it the world's longest manmade structure.              

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum of white marble built by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan, in the loving memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal; the Taj Mahal is one of the wonders of the world that continues to hold an attraction for all through the globe. Twenty-thousand men labored on its construction, which began in 1631 and took 22 years to complete. It is a symbol of eternal love and is worth a visit, especially on a full moon night. It is aptly called the seven wonder of the world.

Machu Picchu Peru

Machu Picchu, an Incan city of sparkling granite precariously perched between 2 towering Andean peaks, is thought by scholars to have been a sacred archaeological center for the nearby Incan capital of Cusco. Built at the peak of the Incan Empire in the mid-1400s, this mountain citadel was later abandoned by the Incas. The site remained unknown except to locals until 1911, when it was rediscovered by archaeologist Hiram Bingham. The site can only be reached by foot, train or helicopter; most visitors visit by train from nearby Cusco.

Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt

The Great Pyramids, located at Giza on the west bank of the Nile River north of Cairo, are the only wonder of the ancient world that has survived to the present day. The three pyramids–Khufu (Cheops), Khafra (Chephren) and Menkaura (Mycerimus)–were built between 2700 B.C. and 2500 B.C. as royal tombs. The largest and most impressive is Khufu, which covers 13 acres and is believed to contain more than 2 million stone blocks that weigh from two to 30 tons each. For more than 4,000 years, Khufu reigned as the tallest building in the world.

Colosseum, Rome, Italy

Built in the ancient Mediterranean world, the iconic Roman Colosseum evokes images of the blood-thirsty cries of Roman spectators and gladiators playing the games at the Colosseum's amphitheater. The elliptical Colosseum was originally known as the Flavian Amphitheater.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The Art Deco-style Christ the Redeemer statue has been looming over the Brazilians from upon Corcovado mountain in an awe-inspiring state of eternal blessing since 1931. The 130-foot reinforced concrete-and-soapstone statue was designed by Heitor da Silva Costa and cost approximately $250,000 to build - much of the money was raised through donations.

Petra, Ma'an Governorate, Jordan

The eye-catching half-built, half-carved 'Lost' city of Petra can be seen as a rock carving blended into the mountains between Red Sea and Dead Sea. Eastern as well as Hellenistic traditions can be seen as infused into the carvings. This famous archeological site of Petra is a part of the Ma'an Governorate, which is the largest among the 12 governorates of the Kingdom of Jordan.

Facts About African Tribes

The tribes of Africa are as varied as the lands they have roamed for millennia. Though the culture on the continent has evolved especially over the last two hundred years tribal influence remains a part of Africa. Though the separation between tribes has lessened in recent years, a person's tribal affiliation remains a powerful source of pride.

African Tribes is visual anthropology  for pics and vids of the various African tribes, such as the Afar (Danikil), Oromo, Himba, Hamer (Hamar), Mursi, Arbore, Surma, Zulu, Herero, Daasanach (Dassanech), Karo, Bana, Nyangatom, Suri, Aari, Watusi, Maasai, and Zulu tribes. African Tribes features many ancient African tribes like the exotic Afar people from Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Somalia.              

Tswana 

This is a group that is highly distinguished as a result of their legal system that includes a hierarchy of courts, mediations and harsh punishments for those found guilty. The Tswana are closely related to the Sotho due to their similar beliefs of family life, magic beliefs, social structure and political organization.

Hottentotts

The Hottentotts are much like the Bushmen. They nearly have the same culture, language and look. Hottentotts mostly call themselves khoi and Bushmen call themselves San. When they mix up, they are referred to as the Khoisanpeople, mostly because of their clicking sounds too. They also have much in common with other tribes in east Africa, for instance, wanderers and herders. They are not a big community, hence they have been mixed up with other people in South Africa.

Pedi

The Pedi known as the Northern Sotho speaking nation are a people who initiated boys at an early stage and girls were given initiation necklaces by their admirers to serve as a rite of passage. The teenage girls and women would wear their hair worked up in a circular matted cup and leave their breasts uncovered until the time of marriage to show respect.

Swati

The Swati also known as the Swazi is the only South African tribe that has maintained their unique identity to this date. They wear colorful traditional dresses and are known for its patriarchal nature. Selecting the king for them is like selecting the next queen mother who dominates the kingdom. These people have retained their traditional beliefs in sorcery, witchcraft and traditional healing but also believe in Christianity.

Zulu

Zulu is one of the top tribes of South Africa. Zulu legend traces their origin to patriarch Zulu, the child of an Nguni chief who lived in the Congo basin. They began to migrate south, in the 16th century, where they eventually settled. Their king, Shaka, formed a great kingdom and organised his nation in a very hard and military way. He also made a large army and armed them with shields and assegajs.