Latest news with #Dreamstime
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Toronto Star
Let's fix it: This intersection is one of Toronto's most important places — but it's ugly
This is the first in a series of columns in the Star that will highlight important places in Toronto that could do with fixing up — and suggest ways they could be improved, from quick fixes to pie-in-the-sky ideas to make them great. The lay of the land Pretend to be a tourist in Toronto. What would you do? I would head to legendary Yonge Street to see what all the fuss was about. Since Toronto is a city on a lake, I'd follow it to the water in anticipation of greatness. Lisbons's Praça do Comércio, featuring the Cais das Colunas, is beautiful and feels important. Dreamstime Perhaps something like the Praça do Comércio in Lisbon, the civic square the whole city seems to flow towards. There, a small pier called the Cais das Colunas has steps down to the Tagus River where two pillars rise from the water. It's beautiful, grand and feels important, as if the city and all its history can be discovered from here. Approaching Yonge and Queens Quay, you would never know the Island ferry docks and other great, new waterfront parks are steps away. Steve Russell Toronto Star In Toronto disappointment awaits. Yonge and Queens Quay is not a grand entrance to the city or a dramatic reveal of the harbour. Instead, it feels like two highways meeting where few would want to pass through outside of a motor vehicle. You would never know the Island ferry docks and other great, new waterfront parks are steps away — or that the city itself once had grand plans for such an ordinary-looking location. The marker nods to the claim of Yonge Street being the longest in the world, but the grate over the water feels precarious and inelegant. Steve Russell Toronto Star Right at the water's edge, names of Ontario cities and towns are laid into the concrete along with their distance from Toronto, a cool nod to the controversial claim that Yonge Street is, or once was, the longest street in the world. However, the short metal grate balcony there allowing people to stand and walk over the water feels precarious and inelegant, unfitting of the location's importance to the city. 'Between the Eyes' by Richard Deacon, which resembles an egg beater, marks one corner. Steve Russell Toronto Star Across the street are buildings boastfully named 'Residence at the World Trade Centre' where a recently renovated semipublic square out front, the one with the eye-catching egg beater sculpture called 'Between the Eyes ' by artist Richard Deacon, marks the corner well. New planting beds are already shabby and worn out, though the pub among ground floor shops has a nice big patio by an outdoor waterfall, so there's potential, and more space, to expand commercial and public life here. The place where Captain John's once floated is now home to water taxi slips, which seem temporary and inelegant. Steve Russell Toronto Star The other corners are more difficult. On the lake side, one of downtown Toronto's last remaining surface parking lots lingers as an anachronistic blight. Where Captain John's sometimes-sinking seafood ship restaurant once was are water taxi berths. They're a godsend that have helped make Toronto Island easier to get to as the city dithers on improving access, but the docks on either side of the Yonge slip feel temporary, also inelegant. Kitty corner from each other are the former Toronto Star building and the Westin Harbour Castle hotel. Both are fortress-like, but it's important to remember these two buildings were pioneers, built on a dirty, post-industrial waterfront in the early 1970s, so their standoffishness to the public realm is understandable. Both the Westin Harbour Castle, far left, and the old Toronto Star building, right, appear fortress-like. Steve Russell Toronto Star Much of Toronto's harbourfront has been a decades-long monumental effort to change from that earlier state to a welcoming people place. To continue that, improvements are needed in both the public and private realms at Yonge and Queens Quay. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The quick fixes Do basic maintenance and clean up the intersection. There is loose asphalt rubble in places, especially by the large bike-share station. The road markings are faded and need to be repainted. Doing so could give more space to the crowds of pedestrians and make the intersection seem less sprawling and hostile, especially if planters with trees and other elements are added to the dead space to add vegetation and even shade. The serious changes Implement plans languishing on the books. A decade ago the City of Toronto and Waterfront Toronto ran a high-profile design competition for the Toronto Island ferry docks. The winning design, by Toronto's KPMB and West 8 in Rotterdam, had an undulating wood structure and green roof, and was envisioned by the— architects to reimagine 'the site as a gateway, north to the city and south to the lake, as well as a destination in its own right.' Perfect. Do it. The city's Central Waterfront Secondary Plan mentions that the 'foot of Yonge Street should be treated as a special place on the waterfront' and should be a 'distinctive gateway to the city' with public amenities for culture, tourism and that a 'dramatic new pier should be built at the foot of Toronto's historic main street.' That would improve the Yonge Street Slip where the taxis dock as well. Let's go! The pie in the sky Why not create Toronto's own Praça do Comércio? If cities around the world can have vast pedestrian areas, why can't Toronto? Add kiosks, trees and patios. One day the planned Waterfront East streetcar line should pass through here too, on its way to the Port Lands. It will be a hub. To make Yonge-Queens Quay a welcoming people place, improvements are needed in both the public and private realms. Steve Russell Toronto Star Though private property, perhaps the owners of adjacent buildings would feel inspired to make their edges more human scaled, especially the Westin with its concrete maw hostile to people arriving or passing on foot. This kind of treatment would be fitting for one of Toronto's most important places.
DW
5 days ago
- Science
- DW
What are the real impacts of melting glaciers? – DW – 05/30/2025
Glaciers are the planet's frozen water banks. They sustain water supply, ecosystems, and even cultural traditions. But many of these sprawling beds of ice are melting. Why does that matter? The collapse of a glacier in the Swiss Alps this week has underscored the impacts of a warming world on the ice-packed parts of planet Earth. When the melting Birch glacier on crumbled on Wednesday, it engulfed the picturesque village of Blattern in the country's southern Wallis region. Glaciers and ice sheets store about 70% of the world's freshwater reserves. High- altitude regions are often dubbed the world's "water towers" because they gradually release meltwater in the summer, sustaining towns and farms downstream. Two billion people globally rely on glacial melt for their day-to-day water needs, researchers say. Yet, as the world gets hotter, the ice is thawing. Glaciers around the world are now melting at twice the rate measured just two decades ago. Between 2000 and 2023, they lost an ice mass equivalent to 46,000 Great Pyramids of Giza. And this is impacting communities worldwide. Some regions are left with too little water while others struggle with too much. Melted ice from glaciers in the Andes contributes almost 20% of the annual water supply of Huaraz in Peru Image: Patricioh/Dreamstime/IMAGO Gl aciers as crucial freshwater resource The residents of the small western Peruvian town of Huaraz draw almost 20% of their annual water supply from melting ice. But Andean glaciers are thawing even faster than elsewhere. This poses a risk of flooding. In a decade-long lawsuit, one resident of Huaraz sued a German energy company over the potential risk to his home from a mountain lake that is filling with melt water at rapid rates. A bridge in Hassanabad village, Pakistan partly collapsed when a glacial lake burst and caused flash floods on May 7, 2022 Image: AFP Meltwater d amages infrastructure and makes mountains unstable It is not only in Peru that huge glacial lakes form when glaciers thaw. When they become too full, deadly floods can wash away buildings, bridges and wipe out fertile land, like in Pakistan, where a glacial lake burst in October 2023. The 2023 flood swept away part of the land, houses and a community hall in Hassanabad village, leaving behind steep and dangerous cliffs. Image: Akhtar Soomro/REUTERS That same month in neighboring India, a lake of melted ice overflowed and killed 179 people. Scientists estimate that globally, at least 15 million people are vulnerable to sudden flooding from thawing ice, most of them living in India and Pakistan. Since 1990, the volume of water in mountain lakes has increased by around 50%. The collapse of the Birch glacier in Switzerland caused a landslide of rock and ice that covered most of the 300-strong village of Blatten in mud. Though residents had been evacuated as a precaution, one man is missing in what scientists call the latest dramatic example of climate change's impact on the Alps. There are also now fears that a nearby river will be blocked causing flooding in the region. Swiss glacier collapse partially destroys village of Blatten To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Dwindling water supply for agriculture and electricity generation As glaciers shrink, they eventually reach a threshold — known as peak water — at which runoff declines. As a result, less melt water flows downstream with potentially far-reaching consequences. Reduced water supply has forced local farmers, who traditionally grew corn and wheat, to change both their crops and water management. Some communities in the Andes have now switched to growing a bitter potato variety that is more resilient to drought. Unstable water supply is also stalling electricity production. In Chile, 27% of power is generated by hydroelectric dams which critically depend on meltwater. In 2021, the Alto Maipo plant was shut down due to dwindling flow. Melting ice sheets increase sea levels Massive ice blocks like Thwaites Glacier in Antarctica are retreating at an alarming rate Image: Cover-Images/IMAGO It's not only glaciers in high altitudes that are melting — but also those in the ocean, like Thwaites Glacier in Western Antarctica. This frosty giant is the size of the US state of Florida and has been deemed "very unstable." Scientists say it is thawing on all sides. The melting of sea ice crucially contributes to rising sea levels. Thwaites Glacier has been dubbed "doomsday glacier" for its potential impact on what some researchers call 'abrupt' sea level rise. On the low-lying island of Fuvahmulah in the Maldives, workers are building a dyke to protect the land against sea level rise Image: Christophe Geyres/ABACA/picture alliance In the last 25 years alone, melting glaciers have caused global sea levels to rise almost 2cm (0.7 inches). This might not seem like much, but low-lying islands like Fiji and Vanuatu in the Pacific are at risk of disappearing under the waves. In addition more than 1 billion people in megacities like Jakarta, Mumbai, Lagos, Manila live within ten kilometers from the coast and protective dykes are only a temporary solution as sea levels continue to rise. Ice traditions under threat Pilgrims descend a rock face in Ocongate, Peru after a ceremony on the glacier during the annual Qoyllur Rit'i festival Image:Glaciers also hold spiritual and cultural significance. Every year, tens of thousands of pilgrims gather at one of Peru's most sacred glaciers, the Colquepunco, for a religious festival. In the past, ice blocks were carved from the glacier and carried down to local communities who believed in their healing properties. But as the glacier vanishes, this ancient tradition has come under threat. Less snowfall for Alpine ski resorts One in eight ski resorts could lose its natural snow cover by 2100, making tourists flock to higher altitudes like at Passo Tonale in Italy Image: Nikokvfrmoto/Pond5 Images/IMAGO The Presena glacier in Italy, a popular destination for skiers, has reportedly lost a third of its volume since 1990. And natural snow in the European Alps is expected to decline by 42% by the end of the century. Scientists estimate that many ski resorts worldwide won't be profitable anymore in the future. Warning systems and artificial glaciers can help Early warning systems like this weather station in the Karakoram mountain range in Pakistan can help adapt to the threats of melting glaciers Image: Akhtar Soomro/REUTERS Locals can adapt to some of these dangers. In the Pakistan village of Hassanabad, an early warning system has been installed to monitor activity at the nearby Shisper glacier. Should there be a need for a warning, it can be communicated through external speakers in the village. In the neighboring Ladakh region, researchers are experimenting with growing artificial glaciers that can mitigate water shortage in summer to meet this challenge. But these strategies can only work up to a point. Scientist say the best way to tackle receding glaciers is to slow the rising temperatures that are heating the Earth. Edited by: Anke Rasper
The Star
14-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Fries at mum's, burritos at dad's: How kids learn to cope through food
Kids may compartmentalise their eating habits according to where they are. — Boumenjapet/Dreamstime/TNS My 15-year-old son goes back and forth between his father's home and mine. When he's ready to return, I always go to the supermarket and stock up. Yesterday I was talking to his bonus mum (my co-parent's wife) and she mentioned his favourite food at their house. I was shocked. He never eats burritos at our house, and I told her so. I told her about his favourite food at my house – French fries from the air fryer – and she laughed. They don't have an air fryer and he never eats French fries there. I'm so afraid there is something psychologically wrong here and we have tried so hard to make it easy on him. What's good ex-etiquette? There may be some psychological issue, but I can't say that based on what you describe. It's more that he has compartmentalised his eating habits. Burritos at dads, French fries at mum's. Dad doesn't have an air fryer, so he found something he liked that didn't require one. You could look at the deep psychological reasons behind it, but short of getting him into counselling, it sounds like he's just learning to cope with what is before him. Living in two homes is not easy – I think we will all agree – and humans find different ways to cope with difficult situations. Since you were just chatting with his bonus mum, that tells me, as you say, that you have worked hard to rise above any possible animosity between homes. But he still may need some soothing, and eating one's favourite foods is often the way we do that. Although looking to food to soothe our emotions is not recommended, he's still 15, and 15-year-old boys fill their bodies with just about anything they can get their hands on when they are hungry. I always tell my readers when I have gone through something similar to what they are facing, and this is one of those times. At about the same age as your son, my bonus son went through just about the same thing. At my house it was also burritos. At his mother's house, it was fruit cocktail. I found out and bought him all sorts of fruit cocktail and he looked at me like I was crazy when I suggested he eat some. 'I eat that at Mum's,' he said. 'Not here.' And when his mum and I both asked him about it, he told us we were making a big deal out of nothing and don't worry about it. I gave the fruit cocktail to his mother and never heard another thing. The thing that is important about this situation is that you have created an environment where you can talk about it. Your son can weigh in, you have discussed it with the other home, and if there was a problem, you have a way to solve it together. You can't get any better ex-etiquette than that. Keep up the good work. – Dr JANN BLACKSTONE/Tribune News Service Dr Jann Blackstone is a child custody mediator and the author of The Bonus Family Handbook: The Definitive Guide To Co-Parenting And Creating Stronger Families .
The Star
07-05-2025
- The Star
Top 10 must-visit spots in Italy, according to Lonely Planet
A view of the dome inside St Peter's Basilica in Vatican City near Rome. — Dreamstime/TNS When planning a trip to Italy, you can almost push a pin randomly in the map and leave it at that. There's such a wealth of delicious food, deep history and vibrant culture that no matter where you go you'll be happy – from the top of the boot to the bottom. In fact, there's so much to do in Italy that it can be a little overwhelming to decide. The travel gurus at Lonely Planet offer a ranking of 'The Top 15 Destinations In Italy'. These include cities, parks, beaches and even an active volcano. The travel guide has given reasons for each place's inclusion. The top billing goes to Rome for its incredible and age-old architecture, for instance, while the region of Tuscany gets second place for its Renaissance history and romantic landscape. Here are the first 10 picks on the list. – The Mercury News/Tribune News Service Lonely Planet's top 10 destinations in Italy 1. Rome: Best for history 2. Tuscany: Best for a Renaissance fix 3. The Dolomites: Best for dramatic mountains 4. Amalfi Coast: Best for classic beauty 5. Pompeii: Best for stepping back in time 6. Emilia-Romagna: Best for foodies 7. Lago di Como: Best for a slice of luxury 8. Sardinia: Best for beaches and coastline 9. Naples: Best for sheer 'Italianita' 10. Venice: Best for a fairytale city
South China Morning Post
20-03-2025
- South China Morning Post
Best 5 stargazing locations in the world sees a surprising entry in Hawaii's Mauna Kea
Astro-tourism is one of the fastest-growing travel trends of 2025, with an increasing number of travellers seeking out destinations where they can do things like take in the northern lights, experience solar eclipse events or immerse themselves in dark sky zones. Advertisement To help stargazers find the best locations around the globe, the booking platform Planet Cruise researched and ranked the top global destinations for astro-tourism. The Planet Cruise ranking involved key factors including a location's latitude, average elevation, light pollution levels and the number of Instagram posts mentioning astro-events like the northern lights. While many of the locations that topped the ranking are fairly predictable, such as Iceland, Switzerland and Canada, there is one unexpected US destination that landed among the top five astro-tourism locations globally: Mauna Kea, Hawaii. An increasing number of travellers are seeking out destinations where they can take in the northern lights and other night-sky sights. Photo: Dreamstime/TNS For those not familiar with Mauna Kea – a dormant volcano – it is the island's highest mountain, at 4,207 metres (13,802ft), and suffers from minimal light pollution – both of which help people view the night sky.
