BULS

The Gardens have recently been fully restored at a cost of approximately £6.69 million and they are the only Botanical Gardens in the country to have undertaken such a complete restoration. In order to access the generous Heritage Lottery Fund Award of £5.06 million, an additional 25% in matched funding was raised. The Gardens are the only public open space in the country where the voluntary sector has raised more than £1 million in matched funding. The Gardens staff and FOBS volunteers continue to develop the plantings throughout the Gardens and are planning a small animal ara where children can handle chickens (housed in small chicken arks), rabbits and guinea pigs and learn more about caring and feeding them. In the future, additional projects will be undertaken to further enhance the Gardens as a centre of horticultural excellence.

Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England. It is so named because of its origins in a field on the River Sheaf that runs through the city.

The city has grown from its largely industrial roots to encompass a wide economic base. Sheffield obtained world-wide recognition during the 19th century for its production of steel. Many innovations in the industry were developed locally, including crucible and stainless steel. This fuelled an almost tenfold increase in the population during the Industrial Revolution. It gained its city charter in 1893 and became officially titled the City of Sheffield. International competition caused a decline in local industry during the 1970s and 1980s, and at the same time the nearby national coal industry collapsed, affecting Sheffield’s population.

In 1801, at the time of the first census Sheffield had a population of over 31,000. By the standards of the time it was a large town. By 1851 it had grown to over 135,000. Like all Victorian towns Sheffield was dirty and unsanitary. However even for the time Sheffield had a reputation as a grimy and dirty town (not surprising considering its heavy industries). In 1832 there was an outbreak of cholera which killed 402 people.

However not all the houses were slums. In the early 19th century a middle class suburb was built west of the town around Glossop Road.

In the working class areas the worst houses were back-to-backs. These houses were literally joined back to back without even an alley between them. In 1864 the authorities forbade the building of many more such houses. However those that had already been built remained.

There were, nevertheless some improvements during the 19th century. In 1818 an Act of Parliament formed a body of men called the Improvement Commissioners with powers to pave and clean the streets. They also formed a police force. From 1818 the street of Sheffield were lit by gas.

The Botanical Gardens were laid out in 1833. The first cemetery opened in 1836. In 1830 a corn exchange where grain could be bought and sold was opened (it was later rebuilt).

In 1832 a dispensary opened where the poor could obtain free medicines. The present Cutlers Hall was built in 1832. In 1836 the botanical gardens opened. At first they were privately owned but the council purchased them in 1898.

In 1843 Sheffield was given a charter (a document giving the townspeople certain rights). From then on Sheffield had an elected town council, which gradually took over the powers of the old Improvement Commissioners. Sheffield was made a city in 1893. The Town Hall was built in 1897.

Ruskin Gallery was founded in 1875. Mappin Art Gallery opened in 1887.

In the early 19th century a private company provided piped water. In 1859 they built a dam across Dale Dike. On March 11 1864 this dam burst. As a result 240 people drowned. The council took over the water supply in 1887. In the 1870s the council built sewers and drains. At first raw sewage was pumped into rivers but in 1886 a sewage treatment plant was built.

The first public library was built in 1856. From 1873 horse drawn trams ran in the streets. In 1899 the first electric trams ran in the streets of Sheffield. Mappin Art Gallery was built in 1887.

During the 19th century the old industries like iron continued to boom. In 1856 Thomas Bessemer invented a way of producing better quality steel. In 1858 he began producing steel in Sheffield. Button making flourished. However in 1840 a way was found to make silver plate by electroplating replacing the old Sheffield plate. Cutlery continued to be the dominant industry in Sheffield.

By 1900 the population of Sheffield was over 400,000. This was partly due to boundary changes. In 1921 the boundaries were extended to include Handsworth and Wadsley. In 1935 they were altered to include Totley, Dore, Beauchief and Greenhill.

As one of the UK’s top leisure destinations, attracting millions of visitors every year, Meadowhall offers a truly unique opportunity to be involved with one of the most exciting retail spaces in the country. The Centre provides an excellent platform for all marketing campaigns, with multi media opportunities in place to promote to a captive audience of over 400,000 visitors per week.

Braeg Heneffe
http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/sheffield-botanical-gardens-restored-376228.html

Technorati Tags: chicken arks, chickens, rabbits, sheffield, urban regeneration

Inner city gardens can do great things for community pride and spirit, and fortunately can be set up for little or no cost to the community. Indeed thay can be productive in terms of growing produce or keeping a few hens in a portable chicken ark. Inner city garden take away from unused plots and decrepit landscapes that are visually depressing and dangerously collecting trash, including needles.

If you know of a plot that could be transformed into an inner city garden the first place to stop is the local courthouse. Depending on the plot of land, inner city gardens either have to be approved by the city or the actual land owner, if there is one. Checking with the local courthouse can guide you as to whether a plot of land is accessible for an inner city garden. You could also check the city ordnances on keeping chickens to find out whether it may be possible to keep a few chickens in a chicken ark.

If you receive approval, which really isn’t that hard to get since you aren’t asking for any money, scraping together an inner city garden can be done at the most in a couple of weekends. Gathering volunteers from the neighborhood can make the job easier and the inner city garden more of a community project.

Clearing out a plot of land for an inner city garden is an adult job. Plots that have been left to waste away are filled with who knows what, and it is not uncommon to find old drug paraphernalia laying about where you are interested in putting your inner city garden. Once the plot is cleared, then children can help in assembling the inner city garden, although it is still prudent to warn them about anything you may have missed, such as the dangers of picking up a needle.

When putting together an inner city garden, it’s not really all that difficult to gather ample donations. Hardware stores and large chain stores are typically willing to donate a few shovels, rakes, or plants when a community is willing to let the public know that the inner city garden was made possible by their donations. A simple hand painted sign is usually enough to cover this promise.

When planting an inner city garden it is best to plant hearty plants, small bushes, and flowering trees if at all possible. These tend to be harder to destroy through mild neglect than other plants. The inner city garden is occasionally the target for vandalism. Unfortunately there are those who don’t appreciate the hard work and the potential for a rise in spirit that goes hand in hand with an inner city garden. Don’t give up on your inner city garden. Prove to the kids of the neighborhood that this project is important and that an inner city garden benefits everyone.

Lanny Hintz
http://www.articlesbase.com/internet-articles/inner-city-gardens-106670.html

Technorati Tags: chicken arks, gardens, inner city gardens, keeping chickens

Hundreds of people fed up of being stuck in the city at weekends are taking part in a new sporting challenge, known as the Rat Race.

The idea is to make use of all the nooks and crannies of a city to participate in various outdoor adventure sports. It’s catching on in the London and other cities round the UK - giving residents a new appreciation of their urban environment.

Technorati Tags: adventure sports, Urban Leisure

Barack Obama has recently announced that £52.7 billion will be donated as part of a rescued package for households in the US in danger of repossession, the President said “Our housing crisis was born of eroding home values, but also of the erosion of common values.

According to the American President, “Solving this enormous crisis will require more than resources, it will require all of us to take some responsibility”. This acknowledgment that the government must set some rules and the bank lending policy is very distorted is a breath of fresh air. The total amount of money dedicated to at least stabilising the US economy could reach as much as $275 billion which is just a staggering figure to try and comprehend. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are to rewrite mortgages which will hopefully kick start the rest of the country into actually paying back the money that they have owed on their properties.

Additionally, the US have announced that they will be putting many resources and money into building new developments around North America where some of the most poverished areas of the US are. This housing development is long overdue and there is a great need for some new houses and developments and new life into states such as Dakota and Detroit. The houses themselves will be just a basic dwelling to serve the purpose of housing homeless people around America.

Critics have argued that the new administration for the Barack Obama presidency has failed to live within its means, by putting together a $787 billion stimulus bill. The housing rescue plan was forecast to be in the region of $50 billion, but Democrats, including Barney Frank, the influencial chairman of the local finance committee in the house of representatives, thought $100 billion was he amount needed.

Technorati Tags: homeless, housing, Regeneration

There are many organizations that are against animal cruelty and fight for the rights animals deserve. One cannot turn on their favorite television program without being shown haunting images of starving or abused animals. The reason that one sees these images is because of the groups that focus solely on saving the animals of the world from cruelty and neglect. If one is really disturbed by these horrific scenes, then they should get involved in the effort to help the animals that are abused by human hands. It is a fantastic cause.

One organization that is known all over the world for its fight against animal cruelty is PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). They have helped bring the plight of defenseless animals to the forefront more than almost any other group. They improve the life of animals by taking on long term projects that most would consider pointless. However, they are the ones that brought the inhumane treatment of monkeys in labs to the forefront, and they continue to keep fighting to keep animals safe from human harm.

Another organization that has come into its own is the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals). This is one group that has a nation wide advertising campaign that focuses on the abuse and neglect of companion animals. The neat thing about this organization is that it was founded in 1866 as the first humane organization in the Western Hemisphere. Since then, this wonderful group has been helping animals in America get away from cruel owners and live a better life. Their mission is the same as it was in 1866; to alleviate the injustices that animals face everyday.

Companion animals are in desperate need of help in the fight against animal cruelty. With organizations such as PETA and the ASPCA, the fight is a little easier. However, they cannot make it without contributions from concerned citizens. Everyday, millions of animals are tortured, neglected, abandoned and abused for absolutely no reason whatsoever. In order to stop this cruelty, people have to get up off the couch and do something. A donation of five dollars can go a long way in helping an animal recover from human neglect and abuse. They are counting on us to do the right thing.

Technorati Tags: against animal cruelty, animals and, animals and zoo animals, companion animals, domestic animals, for animals, laboratory animals, prevention of cruelty to animals, rights animals, the animals

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal and the country’s largest city. Its population is more than 2,5 million and it’s the most western of all the European capitals: the city is located on the Atlantic coast, by the Tagus river. This Portuguese pearl will enchant you with its churches, castles, medieval streets and museums. It’s an extraordinary mixture, with sophisticated restaurants and smart shops - then only a few streets away, tiny courtyards filled with flowers, ancient buildings and chickens scratching under handsome chicken arks.

Its coastal line stretches from the river Tagus to the beaches of Alentejo region, from modern urban constructions to picturesque fishing settlements. Located on the south-western coast of the Pyrenean Peninsula, Costa de Lisboa is rich in natural landmarks and attracts tourists with its mild climate.

Those who come to Lisbon for the first time will see much more than they expected. None of books can give a complete description of the country, where diverse traditions and cultural peculiarities stand side by side.

In the course of 15 centuries not only local people, but also merchants and travelers from India, Japan and Africa brought their customs to Lisbon.

The city’s historic centre stands on seven hills, that is why Lisbon is rich in steep slopes, which make it difficult for cars and buses to move along some streets. But the city is provided with funiculars and lifts and quite a spectacular view. No wonder this area has long been attracting romantic people and merchants. A lot has changed since the times when first settlers appeared on this territory, but the city is still stunning. All this plus the relaxed and unconstrained atmosphere of Lisbon and the mixture of different architectural styles  and you will find yourself in one of the most pleasant cities in the world. What is no less important, a stay in Lisbon won’t cost you a fortune âs the city is really economical.

The heart of Lisbon is filled with wide avenues, green trees, modernist-style buildings, mosaic decorations and numerous cafes. Lisbon is like an impressionist painting which depicts small pastel-painted houses, the domes and towers of local churches. One local attraction is the Monsanto Forest Park 10 square kilometers;  this is one of the largest European parks.

The city is now being reborn and renovated. After many years of standstill and passiveness, nowadays its modern, lively, energetic and cosmopolitan atmosphere reminds of the times when Lisbon was the trade centre and the starting point for many sea expeditions.

Renovation of the city started in the 1990s. During the period there were a number of new constructions erected here. Those are Vasco da Gama Bridge connecting the city airport with the country’s highways and Gare do Oriente transport hub (built by the project of an award-winning Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava) that connects Lisbon with the rest of Europe.

But those are not only new projects that enchant tourists. The city will attract you with its old charm and a sort of provincial feeling. The Castle of Sao Jorge at the magnificent medieval district, old wooden trams riding up and down the streets, art-deco cafes and roadways decorated with mosaics will help you feel the city atmosphere. Many historic attractions were destroyed during the great 1755 Lisbon Earthquake, but many were left and are now no less popular with tourists than such modern constructions as the Lisbon Oceanarium.

A small distance away from the city tourists can enjoy several sandy beaches: Costa da Caparica, Estoril and Cascais, forests of Sintra and a wonderful Mafra Monastery. Lisbon is filled with light, vivid, self-assured, fresh and modern spirit.

Technorati Tags: chicken arks, Lisbon, Urban Leisure

It’s been a pretty amazing summer so far. The weather has been pretty good since as far back as April. Occasionally, we’ve had rain showers and thunderstorms, but much of the rain has actually fallen over night. The weather on the weekends has been great for the most part, perfect conditions to enjoy all the activities and festivals that the city has to offer and to explore in my trusty vw campervan. I decided earlier this year that I would be spending this summer in Toronto without any major travel assignments overseas. So this is my chance to focus on local explorations on foot, by bike and in my trusty vw campervan.

And the offerings are amazing: I already wrote detailed articles from my explorations at Toronto’s Doors Open architectural festival, my exciting day at the Dragonboat Festival on Toronto’s Islands, the Taste of Little Italy, Summerlicious - Toronto’s restaurant festival, the Celebrate Toronto Street Festival and Afrofest. There are simply not enough hours in the week to cover all my explorations since I have decided to head out and discover as many places and activities as possible right here in Toronto. Here is a little summary of some of the other activities I have participated in that I haven’t had a chance yet to talk about in detail.

On June 25, 2006 I headed out to Toronto’s Pride Parade, one of the biggest parades in Toronto, and one of the largest of its kind in the world. This year’s parade theme was “Fearless!” to indicate how far Toronto’s queer community has come and how far they still have to go. From its original roots as a protest event, Toronto’s Pride Parade today has become a real family affair with special events for families and children. The city has embraced this event and it has great support from the mayor, the police, various corporate sponsors and politicians from all political parties. The big events of Pride Week included the Flag Raising Ceremony at City Hall, Pride Awards and a Gala Dinner, the Dyke March as well as the dazzling Pride Parade. Seven entertainment stages provided entertainment with about 650 artists, the Community Fair included participants from a large variety of community groups, and the Marketplace enticed the crowd with merchandise, clothing, and various accessories and treats.

In between these special events I have also had a chance to explore the city by bike and on inline skates. A couple of weeks ago I cycled out to the Scarborough Bluffs and spent some time in one of my favourite Toronto spots: the Rosetta McClain Gardens. This is a beautiful public garden with gorgeous flower beds and serene sitting areas, perched high above Lake Ontario with great vistas of this peaceful expanse of water.

From there I drove east in my vw campervan through a variety of parks abutting the Scarborough Bluffs which are essentially cliffs formed from eroded packed clay soil. They stretch for about 14 km along Lake Ontario in the east end of Toronto, and at their highest point they rise 65 meters above the water. The most interesting formations can be found around Bluffer’s Park, a large waterfront park featuring a sandy beach, picnic areas, walks, lookouts, and berths for over 500 boats.

Toronto, with its location right on Lake Ontario, is a haven for cyclists and water sports enthusiasts, and the waterfront has numerous extensive parks right on the shoreline that are ideal for picnics, sunbathing and relaxing by the water. The Martin Goodman Trail is a multi-purpose recreational trail with a length of about 22 km along Toronto’s Waterfront and gives inline skaters and bicyclists a chance to exercise and soak up the sun right next to the water. Last weekend I strapped on my rollerblades and explored the Waterfront Trail along Toronto’s West end in Etobicoke, and the nicely paved trail continues into Toronto’s neighbouring cities Mississauga, Oakville and Burlington.

But serene nature experiences not only await at the waterfront, the City has several other spots that allow you to get away from the hustle and bustle of urban life. Last week I spent a couple of hours exploring Riverdale Farm, Toronto’s Necropolis and the surrounding Cabbagetown Neighbourhood. Riverdale Farm is actually an early 20th century farm that has been turned into a learning opportunity for urban dwellers that exposes them to farm animals and a rural environment. The peaceful park outside Riverdale Farm is a favourite destination for school groups and adults who relax under the shady trees and cool off in the public fountains.

Right next to Riverdale Farm is the Toronto Necropolis, one of Toronto’s oldest and most historic cemeteries. Dating back to the 1850s, it houses a collection of Victorian buildings and sculptures and is one of the most picturesque locations in the city. The recently restored cemetery entrance, chapel and office are fine examples of High Victorian Gothic architecture and the Necropolis is a favourite destination for photographers year-round.

Both Riverdale Farm and the Toronto Necropolis are surrounded by Cabbagetown, a historic neighbourhood with a very interesting history. The name “Cabbagetown” dates back to the mid 19th century, when Irish immigrants decided to plant unusually large cabbage patches on their front lawn. Cabbagetown has one of the largest and most impressive concentrations of Victorian architecture in all of North America. Local residents take great pride in their properties and embellish their homes with well-tended front and back gardens and the area is a magnificent location for a relaxing stroll.

So many other neighbourhoods beckon to be explored: I have spent some time at Harbourfront and recently took a walk through Toronto’s main Chinatown and the adjoining Kensington Market where exotic fruits and unusual foods can be purchased at reasonable prices. The sheer variety of Toronto’s neighbourhoods is mind-boggling and it feels like you are doing a virtual trip around the world by just walking a few blocks or hopping on the subway. I have made several forays into the Victorian serenity of Riverdale and the adjoining hustle and bustle of the Danforth, one of my favourite neighbourhood hangouts.

These past few days have been busy too. On Friday, my entire crew at the office and I went to a local Pakistani restaurant in Toronto’s Thorncliffe Park Neighbourhood. The entire neighbourhood is perched on a hill overlooking the Don Valley and was developed with numerous high-rise buildings in the 1950s and 1960s. Today Thorncliffe Park is one of the most densely populated and most multicultural neighbourhoods of Toronto with a large proportion of recent immigrants from Muslim countries. We had an absolutely delicious dinner with a selection of Pakistani dishes at Iqbal Restaurant. Several of my co-workers are from Pakistan and we have had a great introduction to Muslim foods and traditions. Toronto offers so many great opportunities for cross-cultural connections. We shared six different delicacies including chicken, lamb, beef and chick pea dishes and had a wonderful time sampling this varied cuisine.

After our truly delicious dinner all of us headed down to Queen Street East where the Beaches International Jazz Festival was being held. This festival is now in its 18th year, and has become a crowd favourite since its 1989 inception. We started at Woodbine and right away ran into our favourite: Dr. Draw, a highly energetic Moscow-born electric violinist surrounded by a team of dedicated musicians. This band produced a highly eclectic, unusual type of music with a diverse mixture of beats with modern and classical elements thrown in. In addition, Dr. Draw has a highly physical performance style and it makes you wonder how he plays the violin so well while jumping up and down. We saw several other rock and reggae bands, and a 3-person group named Johannes Linstead entertained us with virtuoso flamenco rhythms. Incidentally, this group won the Best World Album in 2004 and has top ten charting albums. In total the Beaches Jazz Festival featured over 30 performers in its StreetFest and ten headliners on the Main Stage.

I dropped by at the Beaches Jazz Festival again with two friends yesterday, and at the north end of Kew Gardens we saw Toronto’s Mayor David Miller being photographed with members of the crowd. Mayor Miller makes appearances at many community events and is very approachable. So we decided that we too would get our picture taken with Toronto’s mayor.

We then strolled over to the Main Stage and checked out some of the ecclectic clothing, jewellery and art on sale in the various booths that were located throughout Kew Gardens. People were getting henna tattoos, others were getting readings by psychics, and the majority of people were relaxing on the grass, enjoying the music. Some folks were also getting their surprisingly accurate portraits done…

On the Boardwalk we enjoyed the hot Spanish rhythms of Puente del Diablo before we checked out the action at the beach volleyball courts. One of my friends is a visitor from Austria, so this was her first introduction to Toronto while my other friend is a fairly recent immigrant who doesn’t yet know the city very well either. I quite enjoy taking new arrivals around the city, introducing them to all my favourite spots. As a city on a lake that looks like an ocean, the waterfront is a great attraction, and it’s a really cool place to hang out.

To explore more we then hopped into the car and decided to pay a visit to the Distillery District, a former distillery dating back to 1832. This complex encompasses more than 40 historic buildings that make up the largest and best preserved collection of Victorian Industrial Architecture in all of North America. The Distillery District has been restored recently and has become one of Toronto’s hottest entertainment areas with its restaurants, cafes, galleries and artists’ studios, a brewery, theatres and retail outlets. Every Sunday the Distillery features a farmers market and numerous festivals draw huge crowds throughout the year.

Our “Introduction to Toronto” driving tour continued and I took my friends downtown on Front Street and showed them the Gooderham Building - Toronto’s own triangular Flatiron Building. Then we admired Old and New City Hall, the classical splendour of Osgoode Hall, the imposing Richardson Romanesque structure of Queens Park - seat of Ontario’s provincial government, and the Neo-Gothic splendour of the University of Toronto campus. After a brief tour through Chinatown we had a sneak peak at Little Italy and ended up for dinner in the picturesque Annex neighbourhood on Bloor Street West, just west of Spadina. Along the way we drove through Portuguese, Ethiopian and Korean neighbourhoods.

Finally we had a lovely dinner at the Country Style Hungarian Restaurant, a neighbourhood institution for decades, which impresses with its tasty authentic European meals, reasonable prices and huge portion sizes. All three of us enjoyed a Wiener Schnitzel and to top off a delicious meal we enjoyed “Palatschinken”, a mouth-watering dessert featuring a crepe filled with apricot jam.

Each one of these experiences deserves its own article, but there are just so many things to see and do in Toronto, I just can’t keep up with the stories. But I am hoping this little medley of stories will give you an idea of Toronto’s diverse neighbourhoods, culinary offerings, exciting festivals and things to do during a great long hot summer.

For the entire article including photos please visit
http://www.travelandtransitions.com/stories_photos/toronto_hot_summer.htm

Susanne Pacher
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/hello-from-toronto-part-7-summer-in-to-positively-rocks-99037.html

Technorati Tags: Toronto, Urban Leisure, VW Campervan

Residents at a Teddington care home are now able to listen to a new digital piano, after a grant from a Twickenham trust. The Kathryn Turner Trust – a Twickenham based charity which helps young and elderly people in hardship – donated cash towards the £600 piano to the Homemead home, run by housing charity Central & Cecil, after an application by Elizabeth Sen, whose mother Shelia Hughes is a resident. Kevin Bradley – the pianos tuner at the 30 bed Park Road care home – acquired the instrument and staff and family members have already put it to use.
It is kind gestures such as these which make us who we are. To put that much money toward a very un-heard of charity and buy a new piano is truly special. The local Twickenham charity has actually been around for over twenty years or so but they rarely make donations as they are such a small business. They run out of South London and occasionally put money back into the community in order to help more needy members of the public.
To buy a digital piano for this care home is truly a unique way of saying that people care about this home and it is special to the community. The Kathryn Turner Trust has regularly been known to help both the elderly and younger members of our generation in their search for a much better life. Yet it wasn’t until earlier in this year when the Kathryn Turner Trust announced that they will be closing their doors later this year due to a lack of funds and support from the Government. It is just typical that the council would put a stop to something genuine as the Kathryn Turner Trust. I don’t see the problem with giving support to smaller and more local businesses because this is fundamentally the backbone to our economy. We should be embracing much smaller businesses starting up in this country but unfortunately, due to the current state of the economy that is simply not possible.

Technorati Tags: charity, digital piano, pianos

The world economy depends a lot on oil drilling.  It’s been around for a long time.  Despite the wishes of many alternative energy proponents, it will likely be around for a long time in the future.

oil drilling

In 347 AD the Chinese became the first known people to begin oil drilling.  Drilling was accomplished with bits on long bamboo poles, and only went as deep as about 800 feet.  The oil was often utilized to boil salt water so pure salt could be harvested.  700 years later there were bamboo pipelines running from oil wells to salt springs.  Writings from the time discuss homes heated with piped in natural gas.

Oil drilling was prominent in Asia and the middle east.  The Japanese called petroleum burning water.  The streets of Baghdad were paved with tar in the 8th century.  The Persians lit their homes with kerosene lamps.  Already, many people depended on oil.

Marco Polo wrote about oil drilling in Azerbaijan.  He visited the area in 1264.  He related seeing oil being carried away by the ship load.  In fact, he said he saw hundreds of ships at a time, carrying away petroleum.  He described abundant fountains of oil.

Early oil drilling was percussive.  The tools were hammered into place.  Rotary drilling later could reach much deeper.  In fact a Russian bore hole, called the Kola Superdeep Borehole, sought to drill as deeply as possible with a rotary drill.  It reach 38,000 feet into the Earth.

oil well drilling

There’s a legend about the Kola oil drilling project.  The legend goes that when they reached a cavity 9 miles deep scientists investigated.  A microphone recorded the wailing of souls trapped in hell, suffering 2000 degree heat .  In reality the scientists had found temperatures around 360 degrees F, and some geographic anomalies.  But they hadn’t found hell.

This legend of finding hell while oil drilling has become famous.  Stories complete with pictures ran in all the tabloid newspapers.  Sound files appeared on the Internet.  A Christian network called TBN breathlessly described that hell had been proven .  It all stemmed from a deliberate mistranslation of a Norwegian article.  Even TBN knew it was fake, but they decided to run the story.

offshore oil drilling

Everyone knows about oil drilling in the modern world.  Offshore sites even drill in oceans, lakes and seas.  Maybe they should look for hell there.

http://drillingnow.com/

Technorati Tags: offshore oil drilling, oil drilling, oil well drilling