Non-astronomical photographs from Zimbabwe
ZIMBABWE TRIP, JUNE 2001
THIS PAGE INCLUDES NON-ASTRONOMICAL PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN DURING OUR TRIP

ASTRONOMICAL PHOTOGRAPHS AND IMAGES CAN ALSO BE VIEWED

(All photographs by Alan Hale unless otherwise specified)

   

VICTORIA FALLS
Unquestionably, one of the most impressive sights in Zimbabwe -- indeed, our entire planet -- is Victoria Falls, on the Zambezi River straddling the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. The falls aren't all that large a drop -- averaging about 100 meters -- but are over 1700 meters (i.e., over one mile) wide, and thus the volume of water that cascades over the falls is the largest of any on Earth.
None of the photographs we took do justice to the falls. We weren't there at the right time of the year to get the best photos, and furthermore the falling water produces a significant amount of mist that often obscures the view. When the mist does clear, however, the sight is nothing less than mesmorizing. At one point I found myself just staring at the falls for several minutes, completely absorbed in what I was seeing; when I finally looked away, I noticed that other people nearby were just as absorbed as I had been.
These two photographs are the best I was able to get, but the reality is much better.
BALANCING ROCKS
Literally translated, "Zimbabwe" means "houses of stone," and the name itself refers to the ruins of an ancient stone city in the southern part of the country. There are also numerous rock outcroppings throughout the country, rendtions of which are incuded on some of the national currency. Among these outcroppings are the Balancing Rocks formations, located a fairly short drive from Harare.
Here are two of the photos I took from the Balancing Rocks site. The second of these also shows a village that nestles up against the outcroppings themselves.
SCENES AT ST. ALBERTS
We viewed the June 21 eclipse from the village of St. Alberts, located in northern Zimbabwe along the Zambezi Escarpment. These two photographs show some of the scenery and inhabitants of the St. Alberts area.

The upper photo shows Peter Morris of the Zimbabwe Astronomical Society (in white hat, right background) giving a presentation on the eclipse to some school children near St. Alberts. Photo by Eva Hale.

This lower photograph shows one of the young girls of St. Alberts, among the many residents of the area who enjoyed the spectacle of the solar eclipse. Photo by Eva Hale.

     

ASTRONOMICAL PHOTOGRAPHS

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