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PHOTO 1

The Spanish Steps in Rome were named after a local 17th century ambassador's residence. No ordinary staircase, the steps are a bewildering mix of curves, straight flights, vistas, and terraces, usually covered with huge pots of flowers and lounging sightseers. Although the views from the top are superb, most people cluster around the Piazza di Spagna at the foot of the steps.

PHOTO 2

The waterfall is in the Columbia River Gorge, U.S.A.. The main item of interest is the hexagonal basalt columns which hang below the falls. These were formed around 15 million years ago when huge fissures (cracks) several miles long opened up and lava poured across the landscape. As the lava cooled it formed a dark grey rock called basalt. Many of these lava flows cooled into columnar basalt. As the lava cooled, it cracked, forming six-sided columns.

PHOTO 3

Location: unknown. The photo shows a typical mountain stream flowing down a steep gradient with many small waterfalls. The shady woodland setting gives rise to moss-covered boulders in the stream.

PHOTO 4

Today, in Rome, the Coliseum is one of its most famous landmarks and tourist attractions. Although it survives only as a ruin, it still rates as one of the finest examples of Roman architecture and engineering. Over 160 ft high with eighty entrances, the Coliseum could hold upwards of 50,000 spectators. Public events such as gladiator fights, mock naval battles and wild animal hunts were held at the Coliseum. During the staged fights as many as 10,000 people were killed. Fighters were slaves, prisoners or volunteers. Spectators saw persecuted Christians killed by lions. After 404 AD gladiatorial battles were no longer held, but animals such as lions, elephants, snakes and panthers continued to be massacred in the name of sport until the 6th century.

PHOTO 5

Medellin, COLOMBIA - The Museum of Antioquia, which has the second most important art collection in Colombia, has just celebrated 120 years of existence. The institution that was founded with the name Zea Museum and Library, has over fifteen hundred pieces, including objects, historical documents and works of art. History tells that the Museum started in a rented house and amongst its first belongings were uniforms, weapons, a flag of the British Legion that took part in the Battle of Boayacá with Simon Bolivar. It was a museum and a library, but there were increasingly fewer readers and more visitors of the art collection. The War of the Thousand Days and the financial crisis caused its closing from 1905 to 1955. In 1977, the painter Fernando Botero made a considerable donation on the condition that the name of the museum be changed to Museum of Antioquia, in order to obtain a greater commitment from the inhabitants of the city.

PHOTO 6

Perranporth, North Cornwall - photo of an arch taken at Perranporth, North Cornwall - an ideal site for the study of coastal erosion and deposition.