Japanese Garden at Devonian Botanical Garden in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Public Domain Photo: The central lake and bridge section of the Japanese Garden of the Devonian Botanical Garden located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Please do not misunderstand the name ‘Japanese Garden’ as it may give the impression that it is a Garden in Japan. In fact the name is internationally used to refer to any garden that is built and maintained in the traditional Japanese style in any part of the world. Such gardens can add beauty and the richness of Japanese culture and styling in developing and maintaining gardens, especially when they are developed as an expression of art and mostly linked to ink paintings and calligraphy. So, Japanese Gardens are very popular not only in Japan, but they are very popular in the West since the 19th century. An example is the above photo of the the Devonian Botanic Garden in Canada.

Established in 1959 by the University of Alberta, The Devonian Botanic Garden is near the town of Devon. This garden is spread over an expanse of sand dune shoreline of the pre-glacial Lake Edmonton, and it measures over 30 hectares (or, over 80 acres), to which about 110 acres of natural habitat areas was added in the year 1976. Renowned for its diverse variety of flora and fauna, including the alpine types of hardy plants found in the coldest of terrains, the University of Alberta conducts a variety research activities on plant conservation, microfungi, bryophyte ecology, horticultural plants, etc. with an emphasis on unfolding secrets of biodiversity.

Lake in the Jasper National Park, Canada

PD Photo: scenery from Jasper National Park, Canada, wallpaper image size 1024x768

Jasper, the commercial centre of Jasper National Park which is located in the Canadian Rockies, is in western Alberta, Canada. The park is in the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountain ranges. Located in in the Athabasca River valley, Jasper is 362 kilometers west of Edmonton and 290 kilometers north of Banff, Alberta.

Jasper National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the other national and provincial parks of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks. It is a cogglomeration of typical mountain landscapes consisting of mountain peaks, limestone caves, canyons, waterfalls, glaciers, lakes and other breathtaking toursit attractions.

One of the most visited tourist attractions in the Jasper National Park is Mount Edith Cavell in the Athabasca River and Astoria River valleys. The north face of Mt. Edith Cavell can be seen after a short hike to the Cavell Meadows.

The Tonquin Valley trails are located about one kilometer before the Mt. Edith Cavell road end. the north end of Cavell Lake is located at a short distance down the gravel path, and a small bridge across a stream that flows to the lake. Scenic views of the Cavell Lake in the foreground and the Mt. Edith Cavell massif in the background can be seen from here.

The CN Tower, Toronto

PD Photo: The CN Tower, the world's fourth tallest manmade structure, Toronto's most visible landmark and its most celebrated tourist destination

PD Photo: The CN Tower as seen from its base

The CN Tower, constructed in 1973-1976 for use as observation tower, telecommunications tower and a major tourist attraction, is in Downtown Toronto, Canada. The CN Tower, standing 553.33 meters (1,815.4 feet) tall, is now the fourth tallest in the list of tallest buildings and structures in the world. It attracts over two million international visitors annually.

In 1995, the CN Tower was declared one of the modern Seven Wonders of the World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The architects of the CN Tower are John Andrews Architects and WZMH Architects (formerly known as the Webb Zerafa Menkes Housden Partnership).

Buildings and structures in the world, taller than the CN Tower are:

1. Skyscraper (all categories): Burj Khalifa, United Arab Emirates, Dubai, 828 meters (2,717 feet) tall, officially opened on 4 January 2010.

2. Guyed Mast: The KVLY-TV mast (formerly the KTHI-TV mast), Blanchard, Traill County, North Dakota, United States, 628.8 meters ( 2,063 feet) tall, completed in 1963.

3. Concrete Tower (Topped out): Canton Tower (also known as Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing Tower), near Chigang Pagoda, Haizhu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China, 610 meters (2,001 feet) tall, topped-out in 2009 and became operational on September 29, 2010.

4. Concrete Tower: CN Tower, Toronto, Canada, 553.3 meters/ 1,815 feet tall, opened to the public on June 26, 1976.