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00007228
Highland farms and terraces at Charca Huaylla Pass (4,935m)


00007227
A family shrine to their ancestors in a house in the old part of Ollantaytambo combines Christian and traditional animistic beliefs


00007226
A family shrine to their ancestors in a house in the old part of Ollantaytambo combines Christian and traditional animistic beliefs


00007225
With bells jingling and llama foetus bouncing along behind, a dancer in the costume of Qapaq Colla leads his son from the base of the glacier to the church shrine below.


00007224
Pre-Inca chullpas (burial towers) at Nimarca near Paucartambo are aligned between two large snow peaks, showing that mountain worship took place 1,000 years before the emergence of the Inca state. Each one stands about 9 feet (2.7m) high and would have contained a family group. Looters have left nothing within them.


00007223
The province of Chumbivilcas is famous for the harshness of its terrain and the formidable nature of its inhabitants, particularly the highland cowboys. The massive dry-stone walls are almost a symbol of their attempt to tame the land. The biggest change to the landscape since the conuest occured in 1968 when a left wing military government led by General Velasco forced through the agrarian reform, whereby all the estates were confiscated from the landed families and distributed among the peasants,


00007222
Ukuku pilgrims await the first rays of sun on a sacred glacier. Ukukus (imortal bear-men, representing fertility) defy the Kukuchi (invisible cannibalistic souls condemned to roam the ice fields) as first light strikes the glacier, the Ukukus kneel and murmur prayers to the rising sun, the Apus (mountain gods) and the senor de Qollur Rit'i


00007221
Their triumphant return with crosses and huge chunks of sacred ice brings the ritual chaos of the pilgrimage to a harmonious end, guaranteeing fertility and rebirth for the coming year, which began for the Incas on the June 21st winter solstice.


00007220
The festival of Qollur Rit'i or Snow Star takes place at just over 15,000 feet (4,700m) in the Vilcanota range. Originally relating to the annual reappearance of the Pleiades constellation around June 9th, the festival was christianized in 1780 when Mariano Mayta, a lonely shepherd boy, had a miraculous vision of a white Christ child with whom he played. When men came to grab the apparition, he turned into a crucifix, at which Mariano dropped dead with grief. The church built around the rock where Mariano died becamr the focus of the pilgrimage, whose date became tied to Corpus Christi; a portrait of christ on the rock within the church is the venerated Senor de Qollur Rit'i. Tens of thousands of pilgrims walk for up to five days to reach the shrine, where they leave offerings and requests; they dance in a frenzy of sleep deprivation, fireworks and bitter cold for three days and nights. During the day, some of the pilgrims climb up to the glacier base to say prayers.


00007219
Fresh snow covers the grazing grounds of llama and alpaca on the approach to the Arapa pass beneath the northwestern flank of Mount Ausangate.


00007218
Pumasillo in the last light of day


00007217
The Pucara civilization is considered to be the oldest major Andean culture of the region. Their figurative sculptures include representations of malevolent gods wielding severed heads as well as human figures with wings and claws.


00007216
A male puma guards the door to the burial chamber. Sacred in virtually all American cultures, pumas sit astride the top of all food chains in both continents. They range from the snows of Alaska to the jungles and deserts of South America. Also known as cougar and mountain lion, "puma" is one of the few Quechua words to have entered the English language.


00007215
Within the church at Lampa stands a mausoleum to Enrique Torres Bellon, a local politician and benefactor who, having remodelled the main square and church, created this black marble crypt for his everlasting memory. Below the dome are some 400 skulls and skeletons in a gruesome memento mori spectacle. The skeletons are those of members of the Spanish colonial nobility, giving the display a further salutary twist on death's supremacy.


00007214
Within the church at Lampa, on top of the dome stands the world's only life-sized replica of Michelangelo's La Pieta. The loan of a mould from the Vatican enabled this aluminium version to be cast. When the original sculpture in Rome was vandalized in the 1980's, representatives from Italy came to this tiny Andean town to measure up its twin.


00007213
Two entire hillsides at Pisaq have been hewn into vast swathes of terraces, each with its own irrigation canal. On their own, they are extremely impresive, but with the high quality stonework of temples and fortified buildings including an Intihuatana and a tomb encrusted cliff, this is one of the most varied and satisfying sites to visit.


00007212
The sacred watercourse at Tambo Machay is a fine example of engineering, with an underground duct bringing water from the next hill. There were over 300 temple shrines around Cuzco, the vast majority of which were pulled down or buried. This and several other surviving temples at least provide examples of how things were, though it is likely that trees and plants once enclosed the site and its baths. The trapezoidal niches seen at the top are characteristic of Inca design.


00007211
The cave and altar at Q'enqo stand at the heart of an intricately carved rock shrine. Q'enqo means "zigzag" in Quechua, and, on the top surface, heavily eroded rock has indeed been carved into zigzagging channels thought to have been used for divination purposes. There are many similar carved channels throughout the region. A liquid, probably a local maize beer called chicha, would have been poured down the channels, and the direction taken by the liquid would have been significant. At times blood may have been used, though more likely llama than human. The cave itself is thought to have housed mummies of minor royalty; the mummies of the Incas themselves remained in their palaces, with their retinue of servants and relatives attending them as if they still lived


00007210
At Urco, between Calca and Yucay, stands a rock shrine with a carved offertory canal wrapped more than 20 feet (6m) around it. At its end is this snake's head, which under the right conditions spits water in a tongue-like fork.


00007209
As in Inca times, ancestors are included in all festivals. In Ollantaytambo, heirloom skulls are sprinkled with the same yellow confetti of New Year celebrations as the living members of the family. A portrait of Christ and a gift-bearing ekeko, for luck, also live in the same Inca niche


00007208
The carved cliff throne in Ollantaytambo reflects the profound satisfaction to be found in purity of texture and form.


00007207
The festival of Carnival in February includes the day of the Compadres. A man who is godfather to your child is your compadre. Traditionally, all the young men of the region would gather and run from house to house around the communities of their valleys, in a ritual that rekindled bonds and drew a line around their territory like the ancient beating of boundaries in Europe, They wore long white sheets on their arms and conch shells were blown as they danced the Huallata, representing the Andean goose. This photograph taken in 1989 shows 43 young men receiving tea and soup, the reciprocity of gifts, favours and friendship being at the core of their culture.


00007206
Bay of Taormina Mare with Giardini Naxos and Mount Etna smoking in the background


00007205
Rocky coastline at Taormina Mare


00007204
Piazza IX Aprile and the Torre dell'Orologio


00007203
Piazza IX Aprile and the Torre dell'Orologio


00007202
Piazza IX Aprile and the Torre dell'Orologio


00007201
In an earlier age murals of hell were painted on the walls of Huaro church


00007200
Massive walls of Sacsayhuaman


00007199
Exhibit in the pre-Hispanic display of the Museum of Anthropology.


00007198
Exhibit in the pre-Hispanic display of the Museum of Anthropology.


00007197
Exhibit in the pre-Hispanic display of the Museum of Anthropology.


00007196
Archaeologists conserving stone carvings on the Ciudadela and the Temple of Quetzlalcoatl in the pre-Hispanic civilisation of Teotihuacan.


00007195
Stone circle & chullpas mark ceremonial Inca burial grounds


00007194
Massive walls of Sacsayhuaman a fortress just above the Inca capital


00007193
Inca stonework with classic Trapezoidal niche stairway


00007192
The Sun Gate


00007191
Salcantay on a clear evening from the Mollepata trail


00007190
Within the walls of the Inca Roca's palace, the knobs left jutting from the surface are believed to have been used to attach woven grass ropes when dragging the stones along on gravel or stone rollers. They were left for some long-forgotten aesthetic effect, possibly incorporating the movement of their shadows


00007189
The Chunchos with magnificent headdress and palm spears represent the jungle tribes never conquered by Inca or Spaniard. They form the Virgin's personal bodyguard, seen kneeling before her.


00007188
The early Christians tried to crush native beliefs. They destroyed shrines, smashed stone effigies, buried sacred baths and oversaw the melting of the gold from all the temples. The Christians' actions are symbolized in a small detail from an oil painting in Chinchero church, two angels cutting an Apu (mountain god) in half.


00007187
Inca style masonry shown in the retaining walls of the Temple Platform of Tarahuasi at Limatambo include flower shapes.


00007186
A detail of the Temple of Viracocha, at Raqchi, to the south of Cuzco. It is the only known temple dedicated to the Creator-God of the Incas, and also the only example of stone pillared roof supports. The enormous scale of it alone warrants a visit.


00007185
Another view of the Tarahuasi temple Platform, before the lichen was removed in the mid-1990s


00007184
The principal entrance to Machu Picchu, classically trapezoid, with Huayna Picchu beyond. The latter stands some 679 feet (207m) above the main ruins.


00007183
On the moonlit glaciers of Mount Qolquepunku, Ukukus defy theKukuchi by retrieving crosses left there at the start of the festivities. As first light strikes the glacier, the Ukukus kneel and murmur prayers to the rising sun, the Apus and the Senor de Qollur Rit'i


00007182
Cutimbo is a tall mesa (table mountain) standing high above the plains southwest of Puno, its cliffs littered with caves containing many hundreds of skeletons and cave paintings. The burial chullpas of the Lupaca culture here are some of the finest examples in existence


00007181
Zoomorphic figures carved into the chullpas are a clear indicator of strong links with the jungle provinces to the east. Whether this pair of animals are bears from the cloud forest or monkeys from the rainforest is debatable.


00007180
A defensive Inca drawbridge leading away down into the valley on the far side of the city. The vegetation below is deceptive, the cliffs are near vertical for another few hundred feet. A new Inca trail down to the river was discovered on the back of Huayna Picchu in the forest fires of 1997.


00007179
The tiny grotto dubbed the Royal Mausoleum by Hiram Bingham lies between dramatically carved bedrock and the huge boulder on which stand the curved wall and carved altar of the Temple of the Sun. The position, seclusion and wonderfully intricate masonry all indicate a room of enormous spiritual importance, and the large trapezoidal niches within may well have housed royal mummies


00007178
Mountain biker, Drakensburg


00007177
Q'eshwachaka, meaning "grass-rope bridge", spanning the Apurimac canyon, is the last example of an Inca-style hanging bridge.


00007176
Cutimbo is a tall mesa (table mountain) standing high above the plains southwest of Puno, its cliffs littered with caves containing many hundreds of skeletons and cave paintings. A large monkey with prehensile tail, probably represnting the red howler, Amozonia's noisiest resident. It is not known whether this block was part of a fallen chullpa, or stood apart.


00007175
Built as a bridge, dam, road and canal, this structure above the ruins of Tipon continues up the mountainside until the canal mysteriously ends without a source.


00007174
Religious statues and bells at Cusco cathedral.


00007173
Detail of Saviour's Church of Spilled Blood.


00007172
Children at Khwai Village.


00007171
The Duc de Bourgogne Hotel and Restaurant in the former palace gatehouse overlooks a canal in the heart of Bruges.


00007170
The Stadhuis, or town hall, in the Burg at Bruges. Dating originally from the 14th century, this is the oldest (but much restored) town hall in Belgium.


00007169
Aerial view of the outskirts of Maun, showing tin-roofed huts.


00007168
Rondavels at Khwai Village.


00007167
Sheep graze near the long colonnaded street of the ruined Roman city of Jerash which reached its peak in the 3rd century.


00007166
The Khazneh, or Treasury, appears at the end of the Siq, a narrow defile that provides the main access to the Nabataean ruins of Petra.


00007165
Tourists stroll down the Siq, the celebrated defile and main access route to the Nabataean ruins of Petra.


00007164
The caves guardian sports a traditional cotton kaffiyeh worn by many Arab men.


00007163
The caves guardian rests in the shade.


00007162
The 8th century castle of al-Kharaneh may also have been a caravanserai for traders; today it is one of the sights of the so called 'Desert Castles'.


00007161
The pre-Christ era castle of al-Abd, or Castle of the Slave, was largely reconstructed this century and is distinguished by large but slender masonry blocks.


00007160
En route to the Monastery, the Lion Tomb set in a small gully, takes its name from the carved lions flanking its entrance.


00007159
A lone visitor stands in the doorway of the Monastery dwarfed by its impressive facade.


00007158
A lone visitor stands in the doorway of the Monastery dwarfed by its impressive facade.


00007157
The final stages of the long and winding path to Aaron's tomb atop Mt Hor.


00007156
The pre-Christ era castle of al-Abd, or Castle of the Slave, was largely reconstructed this century and is distinguished by large but slender masonry blocks.


00007155
Masai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi).


00007154
A disused well stands beside the 8th century castle of 'Amra, among the best preserved of the so-called 'Desert Castles'.


00007153
Shoppers at a down-town market with one of Amman's numerous hills rising in the background.


00007152
Helmeted guinea fowl (Numida meleagris).


00007151
Pair of lions after mating.


00007150
The cardo maximus, or colonnaded avenue, at Amapea [aka qalaat Al-Mudiq] is, at nearly 2km long, one of its most stirring sights. Much of the remains are of Roman origin, and the site was later occupied by Arab and Crusader armies.


00007149
wild fig tree (Ficus thoningii).


00007148
wild fig tree (Ficus thoningii).


00007147
Roque de la bonanza is a free-standing rock arch in the Bay of Las Playas. The parador can be seen on the shore behind.


00007146
Joggers run along the beach at Playa Matagorda in the early morning


00007145
Freshly baked loaves of bread, baguettes and croissantes in a bakery


00007144
Lava boulders cover vast tracts of infertile land on the eastern side of Lake Turkana. Often referred to as the Jade Sea due to its distinctive colour, Lake Turkana is a true desert lake, receiving 95% of its inflow from the Omo River, which rises in the highlands of Ethiopia.


00007143
Gabbra women sing and dance to celebrate a wedding. The traditional metal ornamentation on their heads is called malmal.


00007142
Gabbra women sing and dance to celebrate a wedding. The traditional metal ornamentation on their heads is called malmal.


00007141
. View down the Colorado River from Nankoweap Mesa.


00007140
. View over Grand Canyon from summit of Nankoweap Mesa.


00007139
. Trekking in back country.


00007138
An old woman warms herself in the early morning sun at the foothills of the Karisia Hills, east of the administrative centre of Maralal.


00007137
Gabbra women sing and dance to celebrate a wedding. The traditional metal ornamentation on their heads is called malmal.


00007136
Gabbra women sing and dance to celebrate a wedding. The traditional metal ornamentation on their heads is called malmal.


00007135
Gabbra women sing and dance to celebrate a wedding. The traditional metal ornamentation on their heads is called malmal.


00007134
A prominent rock outcrop stands at the northern end of Mount Nyiru, a holy mountain of the pastoral Samburu. Doum palms (foreground) and Euphorbia trees grow on the mountain slopes.


00007133
Vegetation on the northern slopes of Mount Nyiru, a holy mountain of the pastoral Samburu people. Nyiru rises from semi-arid country to over 9,000 feet and is forested on top. A yellow flowering Euphorbia tree can be seen at the left of the picture.


00007132
Fishermen set out at daybreak in their traditional wooden craft, called in Ki-Swahili mashua, to fish beyond the coral reef, which lies less than half a mile offshore. The reef gives them protection from the high seas of the Indian Ocean during the monsoon winds. 


00007131
Fishermen set out at daybreak in their traditional wooden craft, called in Ki-Swahili mashua, to fish beyond the coral reef, which lies less than half a mile offshore. The reef gives them protection from the high seas of the Indian Ocean during the monsoon winds.


00007130
Fishermen set out at daybreak in their traditional wooden craft, called in Ki-Swahili mashua, to fish beyond the coral reef, which lies less than half a mile offshore. The reef gives them protection from the high seas of the Indian Ocean during the monsoon winds. 


00007129
Fishermen set out at daybreak in their traditional wooden craft, called in Ki-Swahili mashua, to fish beyond the coral reef, which lies less than half a mile offshore. The reef gives them protection from the high seas of the Indian Ocean during the monsoon winds. 


00007128
Fishermen set out at daybreak in their traditional wooden craft, called in Ki-Swahili mashua, to fish beyond the coral reef, which lies less than half a mile offshore. The reef gives them protection from the high seas of the Indian Ocean during the monsoon winds. 


00007127
Fishermen set out at daybreak in their traditional wooden craft, called in Ki-Swahili mashua, to fish beyond the coral reef, which lies less than half a mile offshore. The reef gives them protection from the high seas of the Indian Ocean during the monsoon winds. 


00007126
Fishermen set out at daybreak in their traditional wooden craft, called in Ki-Swahili mashua, to fish beyond the coral reef, which lies less than half a mile offshore. The reef gives them protection from the high seas of the Indian Ocean during the monsoon winds. 


00007125
Sheer rock faces of the impressive Ndoto Mountains near Ngurunit in Samburuland.The region is home to the Samburu people of Northern Kenya who are a semi-nomadic pastoral community related to their more famous cousins, the �maa speaking Maasai. 


00007124
A narrow street in Lamu's historic island old town. Most of the buildings standing today were built in the nineteenth century when the island entered its most prosperous period. However, the arrival of Arabs from Oman took place several hundred years earlier and resulted in the development of thriving island states off the East African Coast. Lamu's architectural style, known as Swahili, is an Afro-Arab blend. The inhabitants are Muslim with women dressing in black. 


00007123
A Samburu warrior carries home a small calf to his family's manyatta (homestead) situated in the foothills of the rugged Ndoto Mountains. The Samburu of Northern Kenya are a semi-nomadic pastoral community related to their more famous cousins, the �maa speaking Maasai. 


00007122
A Samburu warrior plays a homemade flute overlooking Poi, a prominent rock feature in the Ndoto Mountains of Samburuland.The Samburu of Northern Kenya are a semi-nomadic pastoral community related to their more famous cousins, the �maa speaking Maasai. 


00007121
Two Samburu warriors relax on a rock outcrop near the foothills of the Ndoto Mountains in Samburuland. This northern region of semi-arid thorn scrub country barely supports sufficient livestock for the semi-nomadic pastoralists living there.The Samburu of Northern Kenya are related to their more famous cousins, the �maa speaking Maasai. 


00007120
Last light over Poi, a prominent rock feature in the Ndoto Mountains of Northern Samburuland. 


00007119
Semi-arid thorn scrub best describes the vegetation of northern Samburuland where semi-nomadic pastoralists eke out a living from an unforgiving land. The region is characterised by grand vistas, poor soil and an unreliable rainfall. The Ndoto Mountains rise in the far distance.This communal ranch land belongs to the Samburu who are related to the �maa speaking Maasai.  


00007118
Poi, a prominent rock feature of the Ndoto Mountains in northern Samburuland. The small river rising at the top of the 8650-foot-high range provides permanent water at Ngurunit for people and their livestock.The Samburu of Northern Kenya are a semi-nomadic pastoral community related to their more famous cousins, the �maa speaking Maasai. 


00007117
Semi-arid thorn scrub best describes the vegetation of northern Samburuland where semi-nomadic pastoralists eke out a living from an unforgiving land. The region is characterised by grand vistas, poor soil and an unreliable rainfall. The Ndoto Mountains can be seen in the far distance.  


00007116
Semi-arid thorn scrub best describes the vegetation of northern Samburuland where semi-nomadic pastoralists eke out a living from an unforgiving land. The region is characterised by grand vistas, poor soil and an unreliable rainfall. The mountain in the distance is Baio, which rises to a height of 5,746 feet.This land is shared by the cattle-owning Samburu (related to the �maa speaking Maasai) and their camel-owning Rendille neighbours. The languages, customs and origins of the two peoples are quite different.  


00007115
Semi-arid thorn scrub best describes the vegetation of northern Samburuland where semi-nomadic pastoralists eke out a living from an unforgiving land. The region is characterised by grand vistas, poor soil and an unreliable rainfall. The Ndoto Mountains can be seen in the far distance.This communal ranch land belongs to the Samburu who are related to the �maa speaking Maasai.  


00007114
Semi-arid thorn scrub best describes the vegetation of northern Samburuland where semi-nomadic pastoralists eke out a living from an unforgiving land. The region is characterised by grand vistas, poor soil and an unreliable rainfall. Rain is falling on the Ndoto Mountains in the far distance.This communal ranch land belongs to the Samburu who are related to the �maa speaking Maasai.  


00007113
A Samburu boy herds his family's goats in the semi-arid terrain of northern Samburuland, a region characterised by grand vistas, poor soil and an unreliable rainfall. The palms are doum palms (Hyphaene compressa), which grow widely in Kenya.  


00007112
Semi-arid thorn scrub best describes the vegetation of northern Samburuland where semi-nomadic pastoralists eke out a living from an unforgiving land. The region is characterised by grand vistas, poor soil and an unreliable rainfall. The Ndoto Mountains are visible in the far distance.This communal ranch land belongs to the Samburu who are related to the �maa speaking Maasai.  


00007111
Semi-arid thorn scrub best describes the vegetation of northern Samburuland where semi-nomadic pastoralists eke out a living from an unforgiving land. The region is characterised by grand vistas, poor soil and an unreliable rainfall. The clump of green spiky leaves in the foreground is sansevieria or wild sisal from which rope and mats to cover temporary homes are made.This communal ranch land belongs to the Samburu who are related to the �maa speaking Maasai.  


00007110
A huge jumble of rocks in the northern foothills of the Ndoto Mountains.  


00007109
Semi-arid thorn scrub best describes the vegetation of northern Samburuland where semi-nomadic pastoralists eke out a living from an unforgiving land. The region is characterised by grand vistas, poor soil and an unreliable rainfall. However, the 8,650-foot-high Ndoto Mountains (in the distance) help to precipitate rain.This communal ranch land belongs to the Samburu who are related to the �maa speaking Maasai.  


00007108
Having fished all night in the shallow waters of Lake Victoria near Kisumu, fishermen return to Dunga Beach soon after sunrise where men and women jostle to buy their catch of tilapia, Nile perch and the small Engraulicypris species.The style of wooden boat they use is called a Sese canoe after Uganda's Sese island archipelago where the inhabitants built boats of that design. Most boat owners have two crews to enable their craft to work a 24-hour cycle. Those fishing at night attract fish to their boats using paraffin pressure lamps.   


00007107
Sunrise over the Ndoto Mountains of northern Samburu District.  


00007106
At daybreak, fishermen leave Dunga Beach to fish the shallow waters of Lake Victoria's Kavirondo Gulf near Kisumu. The style of wooden boat they use is called a Sese canoe after Uganda's Sese island archipelago where the inhabitants built boats of that design.Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater lake in the world.  


00007105
Young boys paddle a brightly painted Sese canoe off Dunga Beach, situated on the shores of Lake Victoria near Kisumu. This style of wooden boat they use is called a Sese canoe after Uganda's Sese island archipelago where the inhabitants built boats of that design.Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater lake in the world. The sails of numerous fishing boats can be seen on the horizon.The water birds in the foreground include hamerkops (Scopus umbretta), little egrets (Egretta garzetta) and a long-tailed cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus).  


00007104
At daybreak, fishermen leave Dunga Beach to fish the shallow waters of Lake Victoria's Kavirondo Gulf near Kisumu. The style of wooden boat they use is called a Sese canoe after the Sese islanders who originally made it in Uganda's portion of the lake.Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater lake in the world.  


00007103
Fishermen return to Dunga Beach soon after sunrise having fished all night in the shallow waters of Lake Victoria's Kavirondo Gulf near Kisumu. The style of wooden boat they use is called a Sese canoe after Uganda's Sese island archipelago where the inhabitants built boats of that design. The fishermen attract fish to their boats using paraffin pressure lamps. Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater lake in the world.  


00007102
Having fished all night in the shallow waters of Lake Victoria's Kavirondo Gulf near Kisumu, fishermen return to Dunga Beach soon after sunrise where men and women jostle to buy their catch of tilapia, Nile perch and the small Engraulicypris species.Most boat owners have two crews to enable their craft to work a 24-hour cycle.  


00007101
In the early morning, Maasai men lead a camel caravan laden with equipment for a 'fly camp' (a small temporary camp) along the shores of Lake Magadi.   


00007100
Having fished all night in the shallow waters of Lake Victoria near Kisumu, fishermen return to Dunga Beach soon after sunrise where men and women jostle to buy their catch of tilapia, Nile perch and the small Engraulicypris species.The style of wooden boat they use is called a Sese canoe after Uganda's Sese island archipelago where the inhabitants built boats of that design. Most boat owners have two crews to enable their craft to work a 24-hour cycle. Those fishing at night attract fish to their boats using paraffin pressure lamps.Little egrets (Egretta garzetta) surround the canoe while a long-tailed cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus) swims offshore.  


00007099
Maasai men lead a camel caravan laden with equipment for a 'fly camp' (a small temporary camp) close to Lake Magadi in beautiful late afternoon sunlight.  


00007098
Maasai men lead a camel caravan laden with equipment for a 'fly camp' (a small temporary camp) close to Lake Magadi in beautiful late afternoon sunlight.  


00007097
Maasai men lead a camel caravan laden with equipment for a 'fly camp' (a small temporary camp) past Lake Magadi. Clouds hang low over the Nguruman Escarpment (a western wall of the Great Rift Valley) in the distance.  


00007096
A fine view from the cultivated slopes of the Tugen Hills looking across the Kerio Valley to the Keiyo Escarpment rising in the distance. This escarpment forms the western wall of the Gregory Rift � one of the most spectacular stretches of Africa's remarkable Great Rift Valley.  


00007095
Two Maasai men ride camels near Lake Magadi in Kenya's Rift Valley Province. Although the Maasai do not customarily keep camels, much of the semi-arid land of southern Maasailand is more suited to camels than cattle.  


00007094
A Maasai warrior speaks on his mobile phone from the 'saddle' of his camel near Lake Magadi in Kenya's Rift Valley Province. Mobile phones are a popular method of communicating with family and friends in remote areas of Kenya. Although the Maasai do not customarily keep camels, much of the semi-arid land of southern Maasailand is more suited to camels than cattle.  


00007093
Maasai men ride camels in the dry bush country at Olorgasailie, situated between Nairobi and Lake Magadi.  


00007092
Maasai men ride camels in the dry bush country at Olorgasailie, situated between Nairobi and Lake Magadi.  


00007091
Maasai men ride camels in the dry bush country at Olorgasailie, situated between Nairobi and Lake Magadi.  


00007090
Ethiopian Orthodox priests celebrate Timkat (Epiphany), the church's most important Holy Day. Ethiopia is Africa's oldest Christian nation where more than half the population follows the Ethiopian Orthodox faith. Priests wear colourful vestments and carry large silver and bronze crosses. Silk brocade umbrellas shade them from the sun. During this ancient celebration, they lead their flock in a long procession to a river or lake symbolising the River Jordan, where baptism of young children takes place. Central to the religious beliefs of this 1,000-year-old religion is a special veneration of Saints Michael and George. They admit seven sacraments, pay homage to the Virgin Mary and other saints, and respect the resurrection, the last judgement and other features of the Roman church. 


00007089
Ethiopian Orthodox priests lead a procession of faithful to celebrate Timkat (Epiphany), the church's most important Holy Day. Ethiopia is Africa's oldest Christian nation where more than half the population follows the Ethiopian Orthodox faith. Priests carry shrouded replicas of the Ark of the Covenant on their heads and wear colourful vestments. Silk brocade umbrellas shade them from the sun.


00007088
Ethiopian Orthodox priests perform the Dance of the Priests to celebrate Timkat (Epiphany), the church's most important Holy Day. Ethiopia is Africa's oldest Christian nation where more than half the population follows the Ethiopian Orthodox faith. During Timkat, priests stand in two rows, facing one another and sway gently as they chant. In addition to the staffs on their shoulders, they carry sistras, musical instruments, possibly of Egyptian origin, which have been used in religious ceremonies since Old Testament times. Attendants hold silk brocade umbrellas to shade them from the sun.


00007087
Ethiopian Orthodox priests celebrate Timkat (Epiphany), the church's most important Holy Day. Ethiopia is Africa's oldest Christian nation where more than half the population follows the Ethiopian Orthodox faith. Priests wear colourful vestments and carry large silver and bronze crosses. Silk brocade umbrellas shade them from the sun. During this ancient celebration, they lead their flock in a long procession to a river or lake symbolising the River Jordan, where baptism of young children takes place. Central to the religious beliefs of this 1,000-year-old religion is a special veneration of Saints Michael and George. They admit seven sacraments, pay homage to the Virgin Mary and other saints, and respect the resurrection, the last judgement and other features of the Roman church. 


00007086
A fine view from the cultivated slopes of the Tugen Hills looking across the Kerio Valley to the Keiyo Escarpment rising in the distance. This escarpment forms the western wall of the Gregory Rift � one of the most spectacular stretches of Africa's remarkable Great Rift Valley. The top of the escarpment rises to over 8,00 feet.  


00007085
Tree ferns (Cyathea manniana) in the Gatamaiyo Forest near the southern slopes of the Aberdare Mountains.  


00007084
A Tigray homestead overlooks the spectacular Gheralta Mountains in Northern Ethiopia. Flat-roofed stone houses, which are common throughout Tigray Province, may have been introduced into Ethiopia from Arabia as early as 700 BC.  


00007083
Ethiopian Orthodox priests lead a procession of faithful into Abraha Atsheba Church to celebrate Timkat (Epiphany), the church's most important Holy Day. Ethiopia is Africa's oldest Christian nation where more than half the population follows the Ethiopian Orthodox faith. Priests wear colourful vestments while silk brocade umbrellas shade them from the sun.Abraha Atsbeha is a rectangular rock-hewn church built between the 4th and 10th centuries AD. It is decorated with splendid post-17th century murals and paintings depicting Biblical scenes and Saints. It is one of the most highly revered churches in Ethiopia.


00007082
A priest stands outside the rock-hewn church of Abune Yemata in the Gheralta Mountains near Guh.Carved into a cliff face with a sheer drop of 800 to 1,000 feet, the church is reached only by a hazardous ascent with tiny footholds and irregular hand grips. It is renowned for its truly remarkable murals.


00007081
The rock-hewn church of Abune Yemata in the Gheralta Mountains near Guh is renowned for its truly remarkable murals. The fifteenth-century mural on its domed ceiling depicts nine of the twelve apostles who came to Ethiopia from the Mediterranean towards the end of the fifth century ADCarved into a cliff face with a sheer drop of 800 to 1,000 feet, Abune Yemata church is reached only by a hazardous ascent with tiny footholds and irregular hand grips. 


00007080
The rock-hewn church of Abune Yemata in the Gheralta Mountains near Guh is renowned for its truly remarkable murals depicting Old and New Testament scenes and Saints. The interior of the church has four free-standing and six non-free standing columns, all of which are colourfully decorated.Carved into a cliff face with a sheer drop of 800 to 1,000 feet, Abune Yemata church is reached only by a hazardous ascent with tiny footholds and irregular hand grips. 


00007079
Deep in thought, an old man with Orthodox cross in hand rests outside the rock-hewn church of Abune Yemata in the Gheralta Mountains near Guh. The church is renowned for its truly remarkable murals depicting Old and New Testament scenes and Saints. Carved into a cliff face with a sheer drop of 800 to 1,000 feet, Abune Yemata is reached only by a hazardous ascent with tiny footholds and irregular handgrips. 


00007078
Fine murals decorate the interior of the rock-hewn church of Yohannes Maequddi, a two-hour walk from Degum on a plateau of the Gheralta Mountains east of Debretsion. The access to the church is along a narrow cleft between glaring sandstone. There are two entrance doors, both in the Axumite-style of construction. The main entrance is for men while the secondary entrance to its right is for women. The spacious rectangular interior is best known for its ancient, well-preserved murals and paintings. Their style is quaintly primitive and is unique to this region.In the fastness of the Gheralta Mountains about thirty rock-hewn churches were built in early Christian times. In all, Tigray � Ethiopia's northern-most region � has more than 120 rock-hewn churches. 


00007077
In the golden light of early morning, the spectacular Gheralta Mountains of Northern Ethiopia dwarf Tigray homesteads built on the Hawzien Plain hundreds of feet below. Flat-roofed stone houses, which are common throughout Tigray Province, may have been introduced into Ethiopia from Arabia as early as 700 BC. In the fastness of the Gheralta Mountains, thirty rock-hewn churches were built in early Christian times. In all, Tigray � Ethiopia's northern-most region � has more than 120 rock-hewn churches. 


00007076
Close to Degum, the rock-hewn church of Debretsion stands on top of a massif, which forms part of the spectacular Gheralta Mountains of Northern Ethiopia. A Tigray homestead stands on the arid Hawzien Plain hundreds of feet below. Flat-roofed stone houses, which are common throughout Tigray Province, may have been introduced into Ethiopia from Arabia as early as 700 BC. In the fastness of the Gheralta Mountains about thirty rock-hewn churches were built in early Christian times. In all, Tigray � Ethiopia's northern-most region � has more than 120 rock-hewn churches. 


00007075
A layman of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church walks close to the rock-hewn church of Debretsion, which stands on top of a massif with the spectacular Gheralta Mountains of Northern Ethiopia rising 8,000 feet in the distance. In the fastness of the Gheralta Mountains about thirty rock-hewn churches were built in early Christian times. In all, Tigray � Ethiopia's northern-most region � has more than 120 rock-hewn churches. 


00007074
Priests of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church pause at the entrance to the rock-hewn church of Yohannes Maequddi, a two-hour walk from Degum on a plateau of the Gheralta Mountains east of Debretsion. The access to the church is along a narrow cleft between glaring sandstone. There are two entrance doors, both in the Axumite-style of construction. The main entrance is for men while the secondary entrance to its right is for women. The spacious interior is best known for its well-preserved paintings.In the fastness of the Gheralta Mountains about thirty rock-hewn churches were built in early Christian times. In all, Tigray � Ethiopia's northern-most region � has more than 120 rock-hewn churches. 


00007073
A Priest of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church reads a very old, beautifully illustrated bible beside the entrance to the rock-hewn church of Yohannes Maequddi. The bible's script is Ge'ez, the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, which is comparable to Latin in the Roman Church. Yohannes Maequddi is renowned for its well-preserved paintings and is a two-hour walk from Degum on a plateau of the Gheralta Mountains east of Debretsion. Its access is along a narrow cleft between glaring sandstone. There are two entrance doors, both in the Axumite-style of construction. The main entrance is for men while the secondary entrance to its right is for women. In the fastness of the Gheralta Mountains about thirty rock-hewn churches were built in early Christian times. In all, Tigray � Ethiopia's northern-most region � has more than 120 rock-hewn churches. 


00007072
Aloes add a splash of colour to the parched landscape close to Debre Selam Church, near Atsbi in Ethiopia's most northerly region of Tigray.Flat-roofed stone houses, which are common throughout Tigray Province, may have been introduced into Ethiopia from Arabia as early as 700 BC.  


00007071
Fine murals decorate the interior of the rock-hewn church of Yohannes Maequddi, a two-hour walk from Degum on a plateau of the Gheralta Mountains east of Debretsion. The access to the church is along a narrow cleft between glaring sandstone. There are two entrance doors, both in the Axumite-style of construction. The main entrance is for men while the secondary entrance to its right is for women. The spacious rectangular interior is best known for its ancient, well-preserved murals and paintings. Their style is quaintly primitive and is unique to this region.In the fastness of the Gheralta Mountains about thirty rock-hewn churches were built in early Christian times. In all, Tigray � Ethiopia's northern-most region � has more than 120 rock-hewn churches. 


00007070
Fine murals decorate the interior of the rock-hewn church of Yohannes Maequddi, a two-hour walk from Degum on a plateau of the Gheralta Mountains east of Debretsion. The access to the church is along a narrow cleft between glaring sandstone. There are two entrance doors, both in the Axumite-style of construction. The main entrance is for men while the secondary entrance to its right is for women. The spacious rectangular interior is best known for its ancient, well-preserved murals and paintings. Their style is quaintly primitive and is unique to this region.In the fastness of the Gheralta Mountains about thirty rock-hewn churches were built in early Christian times. In all, Tigray � Ethiopia's northern-most region � has more than 120 rock-hewn churches. 


00007069
Fine murals decorate the interior of the rock-hewn church of Yohannes Maequddi, a two-hour walk from Degum on a plateau of the Gheralta Mountains east of Debretsion. The access to the church is along a narrow cleft between glaring sandstone. There are two entrance doors, both in the Axumite-style of construction. The main entrance is for men while the secondary entrance to its right is for women. The spacious rectangular interior is best known for its ancient, well-preserved murals and paintings. Their style is quaintly primitive and is unique to this region.In the fastness of the Gheralta Mountains about thirty rock-hewn churches were built in early Christian times. In all, Tigray � Ethiopia's northern-most region � has more than 120 rock-hewn churches. 


00007068
Ethiopia is a land of vast horizons and dramatic scenery. The weathered mountains in the Ethiopian Highlands exhibit layer upon layer of volcanic material, which built the plateau into Africa's most extensive upland region. In places, basaltic lavas lie 6,500 feet deep.The crop growing in the foreground is Teff, a small-grained cereal, which is used to make injera, a fermented, bread-type pancake � the national dish of Ethiopia. Teff stands as an example of Ethiopia's early success as a centre for plant domestication.. 


00007067
A view of the vast, rock-strewn landscape close to Mikael Imba Church, near Atsbi in Ethiopia's most northerly region of Tigray. 


00007066
The entrance to the ancient rock-hewn church of Mikael Imba, near Atsbi in Ethiopia's most northerly region of Tigray. In all, Tigray has more than 120 rock-hewn churches.  


00007065
A nun of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church rests outside the entrance to the ancient rock-hewn church of Debre Selam Mikael near Atsbi in Ethiopia's most northerly region of Tigray. This church has a white-washed fa�ade and was built into a sandstone ridge at a height of 8,780 feet above sea level. A large church bell hangs from an old cedar tree � a rare tree in Ethiopia except in church precincts.In all, Tigray has more than 120 rock-hewn churches. 


00007064
A Tigray woman has a cross of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church tattooed on her forehead while two silver crosses hang round her neck. The people living in the highlands of Northern Ethiopia are deeply religious. They believe in the single divine nature of Christ; this is fundamentally different from Western religious beliefs, which regard Christ as both human and divine.Ethiopia is Africa's oldest Christian nation. Christianity was introduced there in the fourth century AD. 


00007063
A Tigray woman carries her child in a beautifully decorated leather carrier on her back. She has a cross of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church tattooed on her forehead. The people living in the highlands of Northern Ethiopia are deeply religious. They believe in the single divine nature of Christ; this is fundamentally different from Western religious beliefs, which regard Christ as both human and divine.Ethiopia is Africa's oldest Christian nation. Christianity was introduced there in the fourth century AD.. 


00007062
Salt traders check a camel load at Berahile, a half-way stop between the blistering heat of the Danakil Depression and the bracing air of the Ethiopian Highlands.Salt is hewn from deposits that are 1,600 feet thick. They owe their origin in the low-lying Danakil Depression to the separation of the Red Sea by a barrier of basaltic rock ten thousand years ago. The gradual evaporation of the trapped seawater ultimately produced a natural resource that man has mined for more than two thousand years.Before the introduction of the silver Maria Theresa dollar from Arabia to Ethiopia, salt blocks were the currency of the land.. 


00007061
Ethiopia is a land of vast horizons and dramatic scenery. The weathered mountains in the Ethiopian Highlands exhibit layer upon layer of volcanic material, which built the plateau into Africa's most extensive upland region. In places, basaltic lavas lie 6,500 feet deep.Abyssinian ponies are a hardy breed renowned for their stamina. They are ridden, they draw buggies and they are even used to thresh corn.. 


00007060
Ethiopia is a land of vast horizons and dramatic scenery. The weathered mountains in the Ethiopian Highlands exhibit layer upon layer of volcanic material, which built the plateau into Africa's most extensive upland region. In places, basaltic lavas lie 6,500 feet deep.Every inch of fertile land is cultivated to feed Ethiopia's population of over 60 million. Agriculture forms the background of the country's economy with 90 percent of its population earning a living from the land. Teff, a small-grained cereal, is grown extensively and is used to make injera, a fermented, bread-type pancake, which is the national dish of Ethiopia. Teff stands as an example of Ethiopia's early success as a centre for plant domestication.. 


00007059
Ethiopia is a land of vast horizons and dramatic scenery. The weathered mountains in the Ethiopian Highlands exhibit layer upon layer of volcanic material, which built the plateau into Africa's most extensive upland region. In places, basaltic lavas lie 6,500 feet deep.Every inch of fertile land is cultivated to feed Ethiopia's population of over 60 million. Agriculture forms the background of the country's economy with 90 percent of its population earning a living from the land. Teff, a small-grained cereal, is grown extensively and is used to make injera, a fermented, bread-type pancake, which is the national dish of Ethiopia. Teff stands as an example of Ethiopia's early success as a centre for plant domestication.. 


00007058
Ethiopia is a land of vast horizons and dramatic scenery. The weathered mountains in the Ethiopian Highlands exhibit layer upon layer of volcanic material, which built the plateau into Africa's most extensive upland region. In places, basaltic lavas lie 6,500 feet deep.Every inch of fertile land is cultivated to feed Ethiopia's population of over 60 million. Agriculture forms the background of the country's economy with 90 percent of its population earning a living from the land. Teff, a small-grained cereal, is grown extensively and is used to make injera, a fermented, bread-type pancake, which is the national dish of Ethiopia. Teff stands as an example of Ethiopia's early success as a centre for plant domestication.. 


00007057
The defeated forces of the former Ethiopian dictator, Mengistu Haile Mariam, left behind this wrecked Russian-made tank near Lake Ashange in northern Ethiopia.Africa's regional and ethnic wars divert scarce resources away from urgent development projects that could uplift the living standards of the people.. 


00007056
A Konso man ploughs his land with two yoked oxen. In the absence of modern farming methods, a wooden stave serves as his plough. Traditional agricultural methods are widely used in Ethiopia.. 


00007055
A Tigray man ploughs his land with two yoked oxen. In the absence of modern farming methods, a metal-tipped wooden plough serves his needs. Traditional agricultural methods are widely used in Ethiopia.. 


00007054
Stacks of unthreshed grain will keep a family and its livestock fed during the long dry season. The most popular crop grown in Ethiopia is Teff, a small-grained cereal, which is used to make injera, a fermented, bread-type pancake � the national dish. Teff stands as an example of Ethiopia's early success as a centre for plant domestication.Ethiopia is a land of vast horizons and dramatic scenery. The weathered mountains in the Ethiopian Highlands exhibit layer upon layer of volcanic material, which built the plateau into Africa's most extensive upland region. In places, basaltic lavas lie 6,500 feet deep.. 


00007053
Ethiopia is a land of vast horizons and dramatic scenery. The weathered mountains in the Ethiopian Highlands exhibit layer upon layer of volcanic material, which built the plateau into Africa's most extensive upland region. In places, basaltic lavas lie 6,500 feet deep.The most popular crop grown in Ethiopia is Teff, a small-grained cereal, which is used to make injera, a fermented, bread-type pancake � the national dish. Teff stands as an example of Ethiopia's early success as a centre for plant domestication.. 


00007052
Fertile farming land surrounds Lake Ashange in northern Ethiopia.Ethiopia is a land of vast horizons and dramatic scenery. The weathered mountains in the Ethiopian Highlands exhibit layer upon layer of volcanic material, which built the plateau into Africa's most extensive upland region. In places, basaltic lavas lie 6,500 feet deep.. 


00007051
A view of the spectacular mountain ranges between Senbete and Kombolcha with a seasonal lake in the foreground. Ethiopia is a land of vast horizons and dramatic scenery. The weathered mountains in the Ethiopian Highlands exhibit layer upon layer of volcanic material, which built the plateau into Africa's most extensive upland region. In places, basaltic lavas lie 6,500 feet deep. Every inch of fertile land is cultivated to feed a population of over 60 million people. Agriculture forms the background of the country's economy with 90 percent of its population earning a living from the land.. 


00007050
Scenery between Desse and Bati in the Welo Province of northern Ethiopia with an unfinished thatched house in the foreground. Upturned clay pots are often placed over the protruding centre poles of houses to prevent rain getting in. . 


00007049
Situated on top of the western scarp of the Abyssinian Rift, the weekly market at Bati is the largest open-air market in Ethiopia. Nomads and their camels trek long distances from the harsh low-lying deserts to barter with Amhara and Oromo farmers living in the fertile highlands. All manner of farm produce, livestock and household items are offered for sale.Markets are important commercial and social occasions for those people living in scattered rural communities.. 


00007048
Situated on top of the western scarp of the Abyssinian Rift, the weekly market at Bati is the largest open-air market in Ethiopia. Nomads and their camels trek long distances from the harsh low-lying deserts to barter with Amhara and Oromo farmers living in the fertile highlands. All manner of farm produce, livestock and household items are offered for sale.Markets are important commercial and social occasions for those people living in scattered rural communities.. 


00007047
A woman sells dried berries at Bati market. Situated on top of the western scarp of the Abyssinian Rift, Bati is the largest open-air market in Ethiopia. Nomads and their camels trek long distances every week from the harsh low-lying deserts to barter with Amhara and Oromo farmers living in the fertile highlands. All manner of farm produce, livestock and household items are offered for sale.Markets are important commercial and social occasions for those people living in scattered rural communities.. 


00007046
A view of spectacular mountain ranges between Senbete and Kombolcha.Ethiopia is a land of vast horizons and dramatic scenery. The weathered mountains in the Ethiopian Highlands exhibit layer upon layer of volcanic material, which built the plateau into Africa's most extensive upland region. In places, basaltic lavas lie 6,500 feet deep. Every inch of fertile land is cultivated to feed a population of over 60 million people. Agriculture forms the background of the country's economy with 90 percent of its population earning a living from the land.. 


00007045
A woman sells various fragrant woods and frankincense at Bati market. Situated on top of the western scarp of the Abyssinian Rift, Bati is the largest open-air market in Ethiopia. Nomads and their camels trek long distances every week from the harsh low-lying deserts to barter with Amhara and Oromo farmers living in the fertile highlands. All manner of farm produce, livestock and household items are offered for sale. Frankincense is an aromatic resinous gum obtained from a species of Boswellia tree, which thrives in the barren Horn of Africa.Markets are important commercial and social occasions for those people living in scattered rural communities.. 


00007044
An attractive woman at Bati market. Situated on top of the western scarp of the Abyssinian Rift, Bati is the largest open-air market in Ethiopia. Nomads and their camels trek long distances every week from the harsh low-lying deserts to barter with Amhara and Oromo farmers living in the fertile highlands. All manner of farm produce, livestock and household items are offered for sale. Markets are important commercial and social occasions for those people living in scattered rural communities.. 


00007043
A woman sells vegetables at Bati market. Situated on top of the western scarp of the Abyssinian Rift, Bati is the largest open-air market in Ethiopia. Nomads and their camels trek long distances every week from the harsh low-lying deserts to barter with Amhara and Oromo farmers living in the fertile highlands. All manner of farm produce, livestock and household items are offered for sale.Markets are important commercial and social occasions for those people living in scattered rural communities. . 


00007042
An attractive woman at Bati market. Situated on top of the western scarp of the Abyssinian Rift, Bati is the largest open-air market in Ethiopia. Nomads and their camels trek long distances every week from the harsh low-lying deserts to barter with Amhara and Oromo farmers living in the fertile highlands. All manner of farm produce, livestock and household items are offered for sale. Markets are important commercial and social occasions for those people living in scattered rural communities.. 


00007041
An old man sells eggs at Bati market. Situated on top of the western scarp of the Abyssinian Rift, Bati is the largest open-air market in Ethiopia. Nomads and their camels trek long distances every week from the harsh low-lying deserts to barter with Amhara and Oromo farmers living in the fertile highlands. All manner of farm produce, livestock and household items are offered for sale. Markets are important commercial and social occasions for those people living in scattered rural communities.. 


00007040
An attractive woman at Bati market. Situated on top of the western scarp of the Abyssinian Rift, Bati is the largest open-air market in Ethiopia. Nomads and their camels trek long distances every week from the harsh low-lying deserts to barter with Amhara and Oromo farmers living in the fertile highlands. All manner of farm produce, livestock and household items are offered for sale. Markets are important commercial and social occasions for those people living in scattered rural communities.. 


00007039
Detail from a fountain in central Bruges.


00007038
The Provinciaal Hof, or provincial government HQ, in the Markt, or market place, of Bruges. This Neo-Gothic building was completed in 1921.


00007037
A view of spectacular mountain scenery between Senbete and Kombolcha.Ethiopia is a land of vast horizons and dramatic scenery. The weathered mountains in the Ethiopian Highlands exhibit layer upon layer of volcanic material, which built the plateau into Africa's most extensive upland region. In places, basaltic lavas lie 6,500 feet deep. Every inch of fertile land is cultivated to feed a population of over 60 million people. Agriculture forms the background of the country's economy with 90 percent of its population earning a living from the land. The yellow flowers in the foreground are known by Ethiopians as Meskal daisies (Bidens sp.) because they flower in September at the time of the Festival of Meskal, or the Finding of the True Cross celebration.. 


00007036
Farmers drive livestock to Senbete market, which is an important weekly market close to the western scarp of the Abyssinian Rift.Agriculture forms the background of the country's economy with 90 percent of its population earning a living from the land. The yellow flowers on the right are known by Ethiopians as Meskal daisies (Bidens sp.) because they flower in September at the time of the Festival of Meskal, or the Finding of the True Cross celebration.. 


00007035
Three women walk to Senbete market, which is an important weekly market close to the western scarp of the Abyssinian Rift.Agriculture forms the background of the country's economy with 90 percent of its population earning a living from the land.The women's jewellery includes old Maria Theresa dollars hanging round their necks. This Austrian silver coin was once the most common currency of the region.. 


00007034
A large gathering of people at Senbete market, which is an important weekly market close to the western scarp of the Abyssinian Rift. Afar nomads from the low-lying arid regions of Eastern Ethiopia trek long distances there to barter with Amhara and Oromo farmers living in the fertile highlands.Agriculture forms the background of the country's economy with 90 percent of its population earning a living from the land. Markets are, therefore, important commercial and social occasions for those living in scattered rural communities.. 


00007033
A large gathering of people at Senbete's livestock market, which is an important weekly market close to the western scarp of the Abyssinian Rift. Afar nomads from the low-lying arid regions of Eastern Ethiopia trek long distances there to barter with Amhara and Oromo farmers living in the fertile highlands.Agriculture forms the background of the country's economy with 90 percent of its population earning a living from the land. Markets are, therefore, important commercial and social occasions for those living in scattered rural communities. They are also important venues for the disposal of surplus livestock to traders from outside the region.. 


00007032
The 8th century castle of al-Kharanah may also have been a caravanserai for traders; today it is one of the sights of the so-called 'Desert Castles'.


00007031
Set in a stone-walled compound, Ura Kidane Meret Church is among the largest of Lake Tana's twenty or so monasteries amd churches.


00007030
Shaped like a Greek cross and excavated below ground level in a sunken courtyard, 15m tall Bet Giorgis is the most celebrated of Lalibela's churches.


00007029
A priest holds one of the monastery's ancient illuminated texts.


00007028
The 8th century castle of 'Amra is among the best preserved of the so-called 'Desert Castles' and may primarily have served as a caravanserai.


00007027
Children playing on a derelict ship. Lake Baikal is 1637 metres (5371 feet) deep and is estimated to contain more than 20,000 cubic km of water, roughly 20% of the worlds fresh water supply. It is also the wolrd's oldest lake formed over 50 million years ago.


00007026
The Historical Museum was established by order of Alexander III and opened in 1894. It was designed by Vladimir Sherwood [Shervud in Russian - his father, an English engineer, worked in Russia] who won the competition for the facade together with the engineer A. Semyonov.


00007025
The Cathederal of the Annunciation, (Blagoveshchenskiy sobor), detail of the golden domes. This served as a private church if the Grand Dukes and Tsars. The existing structure was erected in 1448-49 but was badly damaged in 1547 and restored again in 1562-64. When Ivan the Terrible married for the fourth time, contrary to the rules of the Orthodox faith, which allowed onlt three marriages, a fourth covered porch was added in 1572 at the northeast corner. This is the smallest of the three cathederals in the Kremlin but the most ornate.


00007024
Girls watching a military parade in the main square.


00007023
Girls watching a military parade in the main square.


00007022
Local Russian shop.


00007021
Originally built by the Romans, Bosra's 15,000 seat amphitheatre was gradually fortified from the 7th century on by successive Arab dynasties; it remains among the best preserved Roman theatres.


00007020
Giant head of Lenin. The Square of the Soviet Councils is dominated by the sinister bulk of Lenin's head, the largest in the world.


00007019
The Ivolginsky Datsan Buddhist monastery. This centre of Russian Buddhism stands on a wide plain 35km outside the city of Ulan Ude. Before the Revolution there were hundreds of similar monasteries in the area with the largest and most important at Selenginsk. Almost all were closed and the monks sent to the gulags in the 1930's but when Stain sanctioned greater religious tolerance in the 1940's, astrologers selected this site for a new monastery and it was built in 1946.


00007018
The Ivolginsky Datsan Buddhist monastery. This centre of Russian Buddhism stands on a wide plain 35km outside the city of Ulan Ude. Before the Revolution there were hundreds of similar monasteries in the area with the largest and most important at Selenginsk. Almost all were closed and the monks sent to the gulags in the 1930's but when Stain sanctioned greater religious tolerance in the 1940's, astrologers selected this site for a new monastery and it was built in 1946. The largest temple in the complex is a three storey building constructed in 1971.


00007017
Originally built by the Romans, Bosra's 15,000 seat amphitheatre was gradually fortified from the 7th century on by successive Arab dynasties; it remains among the best preserved Roman theatres.


00007016
Originally built by the Romans, Bosra's 15,000 seat amphitheatre was gradually fortified from the 7th century on by successive Arab dynasties; it remains among the best preserved Roman theatres.


00007015
The cardo maximus, or colonnaded avenue, at Apamea [aka qalaat Al-Mudiq] is, at nearly 2km long, one of its most stirring sights. Much of the remains are of Roman origin, and the site was later occupied by Arab and Crusader armies.


00007014
Originally built by the Romans, Bosra's 15,000 seat amphitheatre was gradually fortified from the 7th century on by successive Arab dynasties; it remains among the best preserved Roman theatres.


00007013
The cardo maximus, or colonnaded avenue, at Amapea [aka Qalaat Al-Mudiq] is, at nearly 2km long, one of its most stirring sights. Much of the remains are of Roman origin, and the site was later occupied by Arab and Crusader armies.


00007012
The cardo maximus, or colonnaded avenue, at Amapea [aka qalaat Al-Mudiq] is, at nearly 2km long, one of its most stirring sights. Much of the remains are of Roman origin, and the site was later occupied by Arab and Crusader armies.


00007011
The cardo maximus, or colonnaded avenue, at Amapea [aka qalaat Al-Mudiq] is, at nearly 2km long, one of its most stirring sights. Much of the remains are of Roman origin, and the site was later occupied by Arab and Crusader armies.


00007010
The cardo maximus, or colonnaded avenue, at Amapea [aka qalaat Al-Mudiq] is, at nearly 2km long, one of its most stirring sights. Much of the remains are of Roman origin, and the site was later occupied by Arab and Crusader armies.


00007009
Probably the most celebrated of Crusader castles, the 12th century fortress, Krak des Chevaliers [aka Qalaat al-Husn], was built by the Knights Hospitaller and occupied a prime strategic position.


00007008
The cardo maximus, or colonnaded avenue, at Apamea [aka qalaat Al-Mudiq] is, at nearly 2km long, one of its most stirring sights. Much of the remains are of Roman origin, and the site was later occupied by Arab and Crusader armies.


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Around 17 ancient norias, or wooden water wheels, remain in Hama.


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Around 17 ancient norias, or wooden water wheels, remain in Hama.


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Around 17 ancient norias, or wooden water wheels, remain in Hama.


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Ruined buildings poke above the undergrowth at Saone Castle [aka Qalaat Saladin], the largest of all Crusader castles.


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Probably the most celebrated of Crusader castles, the 12th century fortress, Krak des Chevaliers [aka Qalaat al-Husn], was built by the Knights Hospitaller and occupied a prime strategic position.


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Probably the most celebrated of Crusader castles, the 12th century fortress, Krak des Chevaliers [aka Qalaat al-Husn], was built by the Knights Hospitaller and occupied a prime strategic position.


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Probably the most celebrated of Crusader castles, the 12th century fortress, Krak des Chevaliers [aka Qalaat al-Husn], was built by the Knights Hospitaller and occupied a prime strategic position.


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In the hills above Musyaf stands the rebuilt tomb of Imam Ahmed, an Ismaeli associate of Sinan, the 'Old Man of the Mountain'.


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Originally cut by Byzantines and enlarged by the Franks, the celebrated gorge and drawbridge pillar of Saone remain among its most stirring remains. The Crusader castle [aka Qalaat Saladin] fell in 1188.


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Pillars of the 'Great Colonnade' stretch into the distance at Palmyra [aka Tadmor], a deserted city that despite Roman and Greek influences remained largely independent of Rome until its downfall in 273 AD.


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Dominating Apello and encircled by a large moat, the ancient citadel occupies a site that has been used since antiquity.


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The well-known Hamman Yalbougha al-Nasri was originally built in 1491 and restored in 1985; several sauna and bath rooms lead off its central, airy hall.


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The well-known Hamman Yalbougha al-Nasri was originally built in 1491 and restored in 1985; several sauna and bath rooms lead off its central, airy hall.


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Of questionable provinance, a modest boulder is all that remains of the 18m tall pillar upon which Simeon the Stylite stood for 38 years in the 5th century. The subsequent church that developed around it was later fortified in the 10th century.


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A man winnows Teff, a small-grained cereal, with a wooden hayfork.Teff is grown extensively in Ethiopia and is used to make injera, a fermented, bread-type pancake, which is the country's national dish. Teff stands as an example of Ethiopia's early success as a centre for plant domestication.


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A small village in the Ethiopian Highlands, northeast of Addis Ababa. The highland plateau rises to over 11,000 feet and is Africa's most extensive upland region. The Amhara people who till the land there are Ethiopia's largest ethnic group. Every inch of fertile land is cultivated to feed Ethiopia's population of over 60 million. Agriculture forms the background of the country's economy with 90 percent of its population earning a living from the land. Teff, a small-grained cereal, is grown extensively and is used to make injera, a fermented, bread-type pancake, which is the national dish of Ethiopia. Teff stands as an example of Ethiopia's early success as a centre for plant domestication.


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A man rides to market on his gaily-caprisoned pony. His saddlecloth is embroidered with Ethiopia's imperial lion. Lions are associated with Ethiopia's last monarch, the late Emperor Haile Selassie, who had the title Lion of Judah, and kept tame lions at his palace. Ethiopians are renowned for their equestrian skills and their ponies for their stamina.


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A woman sells yellow daisies by the side of the road in the outskirts of Addis Abeda, Ethiopia's capital city.These daisies (Bidens sp.) are known by Ethiopians as Meskal daisies because they flower in September at the time of the Orthodox Christian Festival of Meskal, or the Finding of the True Cross celebration.


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A 17th century Arab fortress looms betweeen the gap in the pillars of Palmyra's 'Great Colonnade', the desert city's main artery.


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Dawn at Lake Ziway, Central Ethiopia, with the silhouette of a horse-drawn buggy.Horse-drawn buggies are widely used as taxis in the Ethiopian Highlands and in the Rift Valley south of Addis Abeda. Abyssinian horses and ponies are renowned for their stamina. 


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A young Amhara lady weaves a traditional food