Tierra Unica is a destination blogsite focusing on world travel, entertainment, cuisine, news, popular culture, sports, business, technology, humor, and events from around the world with an emphasis on the USA and South America (Peru, Argentina, Brazil, etc).
We all know how smart, playful, and inventive dolphins can be — but it isn’t often that we get to see one of their actual inventions. That’s what makes this video footage of the dolphins at Sea World, in Orlando, so remarkable.
These dolphins tip their heads and expel brief bursts of CO2 through their blowholes; internal forces break the bubbles’ centers open to create tightly structured, spinning rings. The dolphins then flip the rings around, poke their noses through them, twirl them into different shapes — they even bite them in half. It’s one of the best shows in Orlando today, and these aquatic impresarios thought it all up on their own.
Dolphin Bubbles!
Dolphin play bubble rings
From England -Readabout dolphins blowing bubble rings.
Here is a stunningly beautiful picture-video done by a vlogger from Argentina named Marcos (aka: IBruit).
He has put spectacular images of many of the famous mountains from around the world on this video. There are many pictures of the great mountains of the United States, Asia, and Africa. Also, if you have traveled to South America, you will see the unbelievable images of the great mountains of the "Cordillera Blanca", the Andes Mountain range, and the "Patagonia"!
But what is the most stunning and beautiful thing about this video is that IBruit used the music of one of the greatest classical piano artist of all-time as a background setting - the Russian Rachmaninov! It is called Rachmaninov Piano Concerto #2.
If you look at this video and listen to the music, you will come to the conclusion that the Earth is Unique. Like the name of this blogsite -"La Tierra es unica......Tierra Unica"
IBruit calls his video - The Glory Of Mountains - La Gloria De Las Montañas!!!
Glorious Mountains to the music of Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto # 2 Pictures of the following mountains from around the world are in the video:
Above the Clouds, Mt. Shasta, California - Aerial View, Mount McKinley, Alaska - Alpenglow on the Slopes of Mount Hood, Oregon - Alpine Tarn and Mount Belleview, Paradise Divide Annapurna II (7937m) from Ghyaru Marsyangdi Valley Autumn at Matterhorn Peak, Sawtooth Range, California Bachsee, Wetterhorn, Schreckhorn, Switzerland - Baltoro Trek, Pakistan - Banner Peak and Thousand Island Lake, Banner Peak and Thousand Island Lake, Inyo National Park Beauty Beyond Borders, Outside Aspen, Colorado - Brand New Day, Grinnell Point, Summer Glacier National Park Carson Peak, Sierra Nevada, California - Chief Mountain Glacier, Montana - Cirque of the Unclimbables, Nahanni National Park Clouds over Mount Chiquita, Ypsilon Mountain - Crimson Light, Patagonia, Argentina - Crimson Rise, Zion, Utah - Cuernos Del Paine, Andes Mountains, Chile - Dusy Basin, Kings Canyon, California - Eagle Cap Wilderness, Oregon - Everest, Lhotse, Himalayan Peaks, Nepal - Fall Spectrum in the Tatoosh Range, Mount Rainier Fitzroy Peak, Andes Mountains, Argentina - Full Bloom, San Juan Mountains, Colorado - Golden Peaks of Rundle Mountain, Banff National Park Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming - Great Sand Dunes National Monument - Hallett Peak and Lake Haiyaha at Sunrise, Rocky Mountains Haut Atlas Mountains, Morocco - Herbert Lake and Bow Range, Canadian Rockies, Hidden Lake in Mount Rainier National Park, Washington Hovering Above, Mount Elbert, Colorado - Image Lake Glacier, Peak Wilderness, Washington Kenai Mountains, Canyon Creek, Alaska - Mammoth Peak, Yosemite National Park, California Maroon Bells at Sunrise, Aspen, Colorado - Maroon Bells, White River National Park Masherbrum Peak, Baltoro Trek, Pakistan - Matterhorn, Valais, Switzerland - Mirror Lake, Mount Rainier, Washington - Misty Peaks, Alps, Austria - - Mount Adams, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon and Washington Mount Assiniboine, Provincial Park, British Columbia Mount Athabasca, Jasper National Park, Alberta - Mount Baker Snoqualmie, National Forest, Washington Mount Everest, 1983 - Mount Fitz Roy, Patagonia, Argentina - Mount Fuji, Japan - - Mount Hood at Sunset, Oregon - Mount Mayon, Legazpi City, Luzon Islands, Philipines Mount McKinley, Denali National Park, Alaska - Mount Moran in Autumn, Wyoming - Mount Nuptse, Himalaya Mountains, Nepal - Mount Nuptse, Nepal - Mount Rainier National Park, Washington - Mount Rainier, Washington - 1600x1200 - Mount Shuksan, North Cascades National Park, Washington Mount Sneffels, Uncompahgre National Forest, Colorado
Here is a super cool video from a vlogger in Romania (Eastern Europe) called "ATB's Night Watch - The Blue Planet". The music genre is electronica/trance from a German DJ artist named Andre Tanneberger (ATB).
This video is a fantastic music journey that starts at the source of the Amazon, the Peruvian Andes, goes through the Peruvian Amazon River, then the Brazilian Amazon River, and finally ends at the mouth of the mighty river in the Atlantic Ocean!
For those that have traveled to the South American Amazon, you can see that the video starts at Nevado Mismi in the Peruvian Andes, the certified and actual source of the Amazon River & Rainforest, and travels with the water flow from the glacial stream on the Mismi into the Quebradas Carhasanta and Apacheta, which flow into the Rio Apurimac which is a tributary of the Ucayali which later joins the Maranon to form the Amazon proper.
For observant eyes, you can see the Peruvian animals and birds: the Guanaco grazing near the Nevado Mismi, the mighty Condor (largest flying bird in the world) soaring over the Andes, and the tropical Macaws of Claw Lick, Peru.
From there the video goes through Iquitos, Peru and heads eastward just outside the big Brazilian river city of Manaus. The video follows the river and heads toward the Atlantic Sea and finally ends at the mouth of the might river, the Amazon estuary between Cabo do Norte and Punto Patijoca, Brazil.
This video is a quick time lapse journey of the #1 natural wonder of the world: The Amazon Rainforest & River - lung & main artery of the Earth! The Amazon River has more volume of water than the next 10 biggest rivers in the world combined!!!. 23% of the world's fresh flowing water. It is by far the biggest and now officially the longest river in the world.
In South America, the Amazon River is also called the River Sea (El Rio Mar).
Electronica Artist ATB's Night Watch - The Blue Planet: Amazon River Journey - From the Peruvian Andes, through the Amazon River, through Brazil, and finally to the Atlantic Ocean!!!
Picture of a Peruvian Guanaco in the Andes (Guanaco is a smaller cousin of the Llama):
The mighty Andean Condor, the world's largest flying bird with a wingspan of over 13 feet:
The Synchronized flight of the Macaw flock at Claw Lick, Peru:
The Peruvian Amazon River, outside of Iquitos:
Outside of Manaus - Amazonia, Brazil:
Two riverboats on the Amazon River near Manaus, Brazil:
A picture called "Indio Fortunato" (Now, I don't need to translate that! Do I?). This image was taken near Manaus, Brazil in the Amazon Rainforest. It was presented by Discovery Channel Photos. Huh, he looks intrigued and amused:
From a satellite shot of over a 1000 miles above the Amazon estuary in Brazil - Beautiful colors at the mouth of the world's greatest river & rainforest:
Today is the 39th anniversary of man's greatest achievement ever. On July 20, 1969 - Man first walked on the Moon!!!'
NASA archive - Picture (foto) of Neil Armstrong (1st man on the Moon), Michael Collins, and Edwin Aldrin (2nd man on the Moon) on July 15, 1969:
Picture (foto) of Apollo 11 lift-off on July 16, 1969:
In July, 1969, America sent the first humans to the moon. Astronauts Neil Armstrong, Edwin Aldrin, and Michael Collins were aboard the mission named Apollo 11. The launch vehicle they rode, the Saturn 5 rocket, is still the most powerful machine ever built. It generated almost 8 million pounds of thrust and even after nearly 40 years, it is the only vehicle that has carried men beyond earth's gravity. It is also produced the second loudest noise ever, second only to a nuclear bomb explosion.
Watch it now, as you would have seen it on July 16, 1969, at 9:26 AM EDT. T-minus 00:5:59 and counting. The live U.S. broadcast via satellite of the lift-off of Apollo 11:
De-classified Original NASA video of Apollo 11 lift-off on July 16, 1969 (excellent quality video for the internet):
Incredible close up video from cameras mounted on the gantry, launch pad, and surrounding areas of Apollo 11 - Saturn V Launch on July 20, 1969 at exactly 9:32 AM (EST):
Launch of Apollo 11 from top of the gantry on July 16, 1969 at exactly 9:32AM (EST).
Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969: "The Eagle Has Landed". The video below is the official NASA release of the live world-wide broadcast of Neil Armstrong's first step on the Moon, and the words he said. This is what he wrote minutes before he set foot on the Moon - “That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind.” But the audio transmission to Earth was choppy, and it cut a single word (letter article) that made all the difference in it's meaning.
This is what was actually heard by everyone on Earth, the most famous quote in human history - "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind".
Pictures of Neil Armstrong on July 15, 1969 before the Apollo 11 launch. He is and will always be the first human being ever to walk on another world, the Moon!
Look at the people from around the world who saw these incredible images live on TV. They are all in disbelieve on what they say on TV that morning on July 20, 1969!
Truly spectacular images of Neil Armstrong walking on the Moon!!!
Picture of Neil Armstrong on the Moon saluting the American flag and the people on Earth!
1st picture of a man on the Moon, Neil Armstrong in his spacesuit on July 20, 1969. According to Life Magazine, this is the most famous picture of the 20th century in the world. For a generation of young children growing up in the United States in the 70s and early 80s, Neil Armstrong was the ultimate hero! Me included.
PS. There are certain dates, moments, and events in our lives you can never forget! No matter how old you get to be. July 20th is the anniversary of the first man on the Moon, and it is also the birthday of my father Ronald. I never say the Apollo 11 event on TV, but I always remember that it is a special day.......
Some of the latest photos and video clips of the new Miss Universe 2008 - "La Guapisima Venezuelana Dayanna Mendoza!"
Photos (fotos) of the stunning Amazonian beauty during the Miss Universe 2008 pageant in Vietnam on July 14, 2008:
22 year old Dayana Mendoza, Miss Venezuela 2008 from Caracas wins the title of Miss Universe 2008 at the conclusion of the 57th annual Miss Universe competition at the Crown Convention Center in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008 at 8 AM UCT (airing LIVE on NBC in the United States on July 13, 2008 at 9 PM (ET/delayed PT). Dayana is crowned with the new Miss Universe crown by CAO Fine Jewelry (a division of PNJ), designed in Vietnam by Rosalina Lydster and Kim Lien. HO/Miss Universe L.P., LLLP
Miss Venezuela's Dayana Mendoza Pre-pageant Interview - Don't you just love her response to the last question!
Miss Universe 2008 - Venezuela's Dayana Mendoza - Crowning Moment ( in internet HQ video)
Miss Universe 2008: Backstage - After Crowning Moments
As you can see and hear from the pre-event interview, Miss Mendoza is very Latina. Very South American! In the pre-event interview clip, she is very charismatic, playful, and fun loving. In fact, she is from the southern province of Venezuela. She is an Amazonian girl - a real Amazon! If you have traveled to the Amazonian region of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil, the girls from those regions are more "Cliente" and"Cariñosa" than other Latinas....
PS. Observation: Look at the top 10 contestant photo (foto) below. All of them brunettes, no real blonds!?!? Of the top 10, six are Latin girls (4 Latinas from Latin America, 2 European Latins). Of the 4 Latinas, the top 2 are South Americans (Venezuela & Colombia), then one from the Caribbean (Dominican Republic), and the other from North America (Mexico). As predicted by the major bookmakers around the world, the Latinas did a "Trifecta" - Win, Show, and Place! The dominance of the Latinas at world beauty contest (Miss world, Miss Universe, Miss International, & Miss Earth) has been happening for over two decades now.
Interesting, for a world contest held in Asia, no Asian contestant made it in the top 10! Even with the help of a couple Asian judges. Has the standard of "global beauty" been changing over the years? What is considered beautiful now different than it was in the 50s, 60s, and 70s? Why are the Latinas so dominate? Especially the South Americans and Caribbean beauties?
Info about the photo (foto) below:
The Top 10 semi-finalists competing for the title of Miss Universe 2008 pose together in their evening gowns during the 57th annual Miss Universe competition at the Crown Convention Center in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008 at 8 AM UCT (airing LIVE on NBC in the United States on July 13, 2008 at 9 PM (ET/delayed PT). From left: Zana Krasniqi, Miss Kosovo 2008; Laura Dundovic, Miss Australia 2008; Claudia Moro, Miss Spain 2008; Elisa Najera, Miss Mexico 2008; Taliana Vargas, Miss Colombia 2008; Crystle Stewart, Miss USA 2008; Marianne Cruz Gonzalez, Miss Dominican Republic 2008; Vera Krasova, Miss Russia 2008; Claudia Ferraris, Miss Italy 2008, and Dayana Mendoza, Miss Venezuela 2008. HO/Miss Universe L.P., LLLP
All eyes were on Vietnam last night for the Miss Universe 2008 beauty pageant. But unfortunately most images we have of this country is the war of the 60s and 70s; and their long history of tragedies and conflicts with China and France. But here ar a few nice videos of this beautiful country.
Vietnam Is A Country, Not A War - The Hidden Charm That Is Vietnam:
Vietnam - The Hidden Charm
Vietnam - A Beautiful Country
Vietnam - Travel & Tourism
Vietnam is the economic miracle of Asia! Just like Turkey is in Europe (Eastern Europe) and Peru is in Latin America (South America), Vietnam is position to be one of the leading emerging countries and economies in the world. Within 20 years or less, Vietnam will be an "Asian Dragon" power in the region...
Knock yourself out with this post. Especially all you fellas out there!
Here in the United States, NBC will transmit live from Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa, Vietnam on Sunday, July 13, 2008 at 9 - 11PM (EST) - Miss Universe 2008!
According to the international press, the Miss Universe Pageant is the second most important beauty contest on Earth after the Miss World Pageant. For several years now, the Miss World contest has beaten out the Miss Universe contest in all the important categories - more TV viewership world-wide, more contestants, more prize money, and more winners with successful modeling, acting, or entertainment careers. In most parts of the world (outside of the US, Mexico, Venezuela, & the Caribbean), the Miss Universe contest is viewed as too "US centric". Donald Trump owns the Miss Universe franchise.
Here are the Miss Universe 2008 top contestants, preliminary winners, and betting favorites as of Friday July 11, 2008 - Best bikini (swimsuit), local Vietnamese dress, and national costume. According to all major bookmakers, the Latinas of Latin America are overwhelming favorite to Win. Again! They are predicting a possible outcome of Win, Show, and Place from the Latin America beauties. A trifecta so to speak. We'll see....
There are always upsets in these contests, but the Latinas are always favorite to win and fight for crown every year.
Top 15 To Win @ Miss Universe 2008 Vietnam Pageant:
Top 5 Miss Universe - The All Star Latinas of Latin America:
All Miss Universe 2008 Contestants - Preliminary Swimsuit Competition:
A Peruvian vlogger in Lima made this super photo-video called: Miss Universe 2008 - Top 15 Swimsuit Contestants:
Top six favorite to win by the bookmakers in the U.S. as of Friday, July 11, 2008:
Miss Venezuela - Danyana Mendoza
Miss Puerto Rico - Ingrid Maria Rivera
Miss Mexico - Elisa Najera
Miss Japan - Hiroko Mima
Miss France - Laura Tanguy
Miss Peru - Karol Cruz Castillo
Preliminary winner for best bikini (best body) - Elisa Najera of Mexico
A closer look at the Mexican beauty! Elisa Najera, at 6' 0"', is tied with a couple other European contestants as the 2nd tallest in this year's competition.
Preliminary winner for best Ao Dai (traditional Vietnamese dress) - Dayana Mendoza of Venezuela
Video of favorite to win best national costume dress (video de la favorita para gana el mejor vestido nacional) - Karol Castillo Cruz of Peru
Picture (foto) of Peru's Karol Castillo Cruz - favorite to win best national costume
According to a major bookmaker the "Online Wire" as of Friday, July 11, 2008 - Favorites to win Miss Universe 2008 & Best Underdog.
A few more pictures (fotos) of Peru's Karol Castillo. At 6' 1/2" (184 cm) and 18 years old, Miss Peru is the tallest and youngest contestant this year! (Mas fotos de la guapisima y muy alta Miss Peru Universo 2008 - Karol Castillo):
The 2008 Miss Universe Contestants Group Photo on June 19, 2008
The 2008 Miss Universe Contestants take a photo with the staff of their "home away from home" in the lobby of the New World Hotel, in Ho Chi Minh City.
Enjoy & Chau - May the best beauty win!
PS. My favorite to win this contest is between these two girls below (mi favoritas para ganar este concurso de belleza):
I would just like say Happy Independence Day all my Argentine brother and sister peeps!
How appropriate that a massive natural phenomenon happened yesterday, Wednesday, July 9, 2008 - on your Independence Day from Spain. Perito Moreno located in the Los Glaciares National Park in the south west of Santa Cruz province in the Patagonia, Argentina broke and crashed into Lake Argentino this morning!
Here is the News Report from the International Herald Tribune, Americas.
There was enormous expectation world-wide since last Friday of this rare winter occurrence. Look at the spectacular videos of the rupture and the stunningly beautiful pictures of the world's most famous glacier, Perito Moreno!!! Argentina's Glaciers Park is home to more than 200 enormous glaciers and is the biggest continental ice extension in the world after Antarctica.
Here is the First Raw Images captured yesterday morning and broadcasted on Santa Cruz Province TV. The locals call Perito Moreno "El Gigante Blanco" which means The White Giant.
Here is the spectacular video that were shown world-wide from one of Argentina's national TV broadcasters yesterday afternoon:
Castellano/Espanol:
Increible imagenes de la ruptura de Perito Moreno en la Patagonia Argentina! La Caida Del Glaciar Perito Moreno!
Look at these absolutely stunning recent images of Perito Moreno, Santa Cruz Province, Patagonia, Argentina:
Look at the immense size of Perito Moreno in the above picture! It is more than 5-times the size of Manhattan, New York City!!!
It is one of the most important tourist attractions in the Argentine Patagonia. The 250 km sq. ice formation, of 30 km in length, is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field located in the Andes system shared with Chile. This icefield is the world's third largest reserve of fresh water after the polar ice caps, and the Amazon Rainforest.
PS. I've visited Argentina when I was a child. In fact, in my recent trip to Lima, Peru (Oct '07), I was told that I have family living in Buenos Aires (Argentina's Capital). I would definitely like to visit again!!!
Here is a reposting of an email I broadcasted to my Yahoo email peeps this past Spring. It has a very direct and humbling message about our home the Earth and the uniqueness of it in the Universe.
Here is a message for today April 22, 2008 - Earth Day.
Before everyone went "Green", our home the Earth was and still is a beautiful bright "Blue Marble". Please take a moment to view and listen to the late Dr. Carl Sagan's Earth Day message to all of us on the Pale Blue Dot!
Dr. Carl Sagan said - "....the Pale Blue Dot, the only home we every known....."
Castellano/Español: Las palabras de Doctor Carl Sagan escrito en Castellano/Español - La Tierra en el Cosmos!
