The photo challenge this week brought to mind the thrill I felt when I first saw the majestic beauty of this man-made masterpiece carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore. I just couldn’t imagine how someone could conceive of such a fantastic project. The sculptures are 60 feet high, and the entire memorial covers 5.17 km². The construction of this masterpiece commenced in 1927, and was completed in October 1941 at a cost of $989,992.
Just imagine how David Livingstone must have felt when in November 1855, he suddenly found himself face to face with this masterpiece of nature, which he named Victoria Falls, in honour of Queen Victoria. The indigenous name ‘Mosi-oa-Tuny’, meaning ‘the smoke that thunders’, continues in common usage as well, and in this photo you can see why it was so named. This colossal waterfall is the world’s largest sheet of falling water, being twice the height of Niagara falls, and twice the width of Horseshoe Falls.
To see more interpretations of this week’s challenge, just click here.
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Both great shots.. I did some white water river rafting below the falls once!!!!
Thanks, Lisa. Chris and our son and friends went white water rafting, but I opted for a helicopter ride instead. 🙂
Beautiful photos, both of them !! And i really appreciate your informative text . I wish that i sometime could travel to the US, its so much there that i want to see .. // Maria 🙂
Thanks, Maria. Yes, the US is a wonderful place to travel around. There is so much to see. 🙂
both superbly grand monuments AD!!
Thanks so much. 🙂
Smoke that thunders. I like that. I can close my eyes and picture it even before I saw this masterpiece. Two fabulous choices, ad. 🙂
Thanks, Gemma. It’s very aptly named. 🙂
What a coincidence…I just saw documentaries about both of these sights.
Yes, that is a coincidence, Karen. 🙂
One day I will see Victoria Falls AD 🙂
You will not be disappointed, Tandy. 🙂
How goes the travelling, Ad? Shame we couldn’t have met up but the timing doesn’t always work out. Are you back to the States this weekend? The weather’s about to change. 🙂
We go down to Cornwall tomorrow for five days. we were supposed to leave on Tuesday, but hubby got a horrid stomach virus. We are going with MiL on a Rhine cruise on the 17th, and only go back to Florida at the end of the month. 🙂
Confused 😦 I thought Liverpool was mentioned?
Yes, but we won’t have time now. We were going to do both. My relatives in Liverpool aren’t around to meet up with us next week.
This is a great a totally awesome addition to the photo challenge. Mt. Rushmore very cool pic!
Thanks so much, TG. 🙂
These are wonderful choices for the challenge. Victoria Falls is a place I’ve always wanted to see 😀
Thanks so much, Dianne. Glad you enjoyed. 🙂
Great response to the challenge. I could not believe the size of Mt Rushmore. It’s huge!
Thanks so much. Yes, it’s absolutely humongous. 🙂
I wonder how much more it would cost to sculpt in today’s economic climate but there again Health & Safety legislation would probably prevent anyone from attempting something like that again
I think you’re right about that, Dallas. 🙂
Gosh the cost of Rushmore was an absolute fortune! I have a short story on my blog that is partly set at Vic Falls.
Yes, and just imagine how much it would cost today. I read that originally the presidents were to have been sculpted down to their waists, but because of the cost, they had to behead them. 😀
Um probably for the best 😉
Please can I have the link to your short story?
I didn’t say it was worth reading! http://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2011/09/20/tafadswa/
Two grand masterpieces that I have yet to see.
My son has been to Mt. Rushmore on a road trip with his grandfather & two uncles!
Thanks, RoSy. I’m sure your son was as awestruck as I was. 🙂
Excellent choices of great locations!
Thanks, Phil. 🙂
Ooh great choices!
Thank you. 🙂
I agree, having been to the Vic falls I can just imagine how Livingstone must have felt.
Thanks, Hopestar. Once you’ve seen it, you never forget the majesty of the sight. 🙂
Wonderful..
Thanks so much. 🙂
Great images for this challenge…I forgot just how many years it did take to create Mount Rushmore…how many people would have that tenacity?
Thanks, Laurie. It was a great feat indeed. 🙂
Stunning selection AD! Thanks for sharing hon. 😀 *hugs*
Thanks so much, Sonel. Glad you enjoyed. 🙂 Hugs to you too.
Excellent choices for masterpieces. I’ve been to the falls and have Mount Rushmore
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Thanks so much, Francine. 🙂
They are great, Thanks and Love, nia
Thanks so much, Nia. 🙂
Indeed two wonders. Not long ago I watch a show about the making of Mt. Rushmore. Very interesting!
Thanks, Frank. I’m sure it must have been fascinating to see how it was created. 🙂
Two great masterpieces, Sylvia, on opposite sides of the world! 🙂
Thanks so much, Cathy. 🙂
two beautiful shares of huge master pieces… love it..
Thanks, bulldog. I’m sure I know which of the two you like the best. 🙂
A mind bogging art and engineering put together way back when.
Thanks so much,,. Yes, totally mind boggling. 🙂
Two great examples Sylvia! The Victoria Falls are on the agenda for next year if all goes as planned 🙂
Thanks, Madhu. I hope you get to Zim next year, or are you going to the Zambia side?
Not quite decided Sylvia. Still working out the logistics. Any advantages to doing one or the other?
The view from the Zim side is better, and there’s more to do. It’s best to stay at one of the hotels in the town of Vic Falls, and it has its own airport. Use Trip Advisor to check out the hotels. xx
Will do. Thanks Sylvia.
Now some punkin wants to do a Mandella head on Table Mountain
Daft idea, but as long as they don’t put Zooma’s and Malema’s heads…….. 😯
True wonders, indeed.
For some odd reason I have in memory the name of that sculptor – Gutzon de la Mothe Borglum. Perhaps because it is such a strange one!
Thanks, Col. His mom just called him John. 🙂 Yes it’s quite a mouthful of a name isn’t it?