CANBERRA

Canberra, Australia's Federal Capital is a beautiful city, set within extensive parks and gardens and enjoys four distinct seasons. It is located in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), surrounded by New South Wales (NSW). The city is 150 kilometres inland and 571 metres above the Pacific Ocean, 281 kilometres from Sydney and 660 kilometres from Melbourne. Located on the ancient lands of the Indigenous Ngunnawal people, Canberra’s name is thought to mean ‘meeting place’, derived from the Aboriginal word Kamberra.

Left to right: A view of Canberra from Mount Ainslie; Parliament House, with its distinctive flagpole, opened in 1988; Commonwealth Park during springtime's Floriade 

Parliament House is one of the world's most architecturally acclaimed buildings features an 81-metre flagpole with an Australian flag bigger than a double-decker bus.
Commonwealth Park is beautifully landscaped park in the city centre with interesting sculptures, hidden walks and tranquil ponds. In spring, Commonwealth Park welcomes Floriade, Australia's largest spring festival. The park also hosts many colourful outdoor concerts and events throught the year.

Received from PC user Chris in Canberra
 

LAKE TAHOE

Lake Tahoe is located along the border of California and Nevada. About one-third of the basin is in Nevada and two-thirds is in California. Lake Tahoe is the second deepest lake in the United States and the tenth deepest in the world, with a maximum depth measured at 501 m. It is about 35 km long and 19 km wide and has 116 km of shoreline and a surface area of 495 km2. The deep, emerald waters of this beautiful lake are set within an alpine valley at the highest point of the High Sierras.

Emerald bay lit in muted colors of winter

Lake Tahoe is admired for its great depth and clarity and beautiful alpine surroundings. It is a true jewel. Lake Tahoe attractions go beyond just the water. The area’s rich environment influences the majority of Lake Tahoe’s attractions: hiking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, sunbathing, paddleboarding and more. The surrounding peaks are also famous for their ski resorts. The world-class Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley are well-known because the Winter Olympics were held here in 1960.
 

ROAD TRAINS

The Australian Road Trains are the longest trucks in the world.  They have 3 or more trailers and are 53 metres long,  hauling 115 metric tonnes and can have up to 60 wheels. They travel at a top speed of 85 kilometres an hour. The longest road train in Australia is 1474.3 metres. Road trains are an integral part of the Australian Outback, just like kangaroos, red dust and endless horizons. Unlike most other states, the Northern Territory relies heavily on triple road trains in excess of 115 tonnes as a major form of transport. 

Road trains are used extensively between southern capital cities, Darwin and other parts of the Territory. Road trains shrunk the Australian continent to a more manageable size. The long road trains are banned on the majority of populated roads since they would bring a lot of inconvenience and traffic when driven in the large cities.

Private swap with Gloria from Northern Territory

 

CAPE MAY POINT LIGHTHOUSE

 Cape May is a city at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. The Cape May Lighthouse is located in Cape May Point State Park, Lower Township, on the Jersey Shore.  Built in 1859, nearly 100,000 visitors a year climb the 199 stairs to the top and enjoy a panoramic view of the ocean and bay. There are also moonlight climbs throughout the year, along with a visitor center and museum shop that makes the experience educational as well as entertaining.

It stands on the southern tip of New Jersey

The Cape May Lighthouse is also still active today.  The United States Coast Guard continues to operate the light to aid ships in navigation around the Cape May Area.  The light of the current lighthouse is visible for 24 nautical mils and flashes at an interval of every 15 seconds.