Tuesday, July 13, 2010

The Most Awesome Settings

...are right here on Earth. Check this out:

Pamukkale, Turkey

Calcium carbonate spills coming from thermal springs under the mountain have formed a series of spectacular and beautiful pools.

Most science fiction and fantasy writers can't come up with anything anywhere near as awesome or creative as this for their settings. I know I never have, and I can't think of anything I've read that came even close, leaving out the spectacular-engineering type SF books, such as Ringworld. For natural wonders, though, whether set here on Earth or on an alien planet or in a magic-filled fantasy world, nothing can match mundane Nature.

Which isn't to say we shouldn't be trying. :)

Angie

7 comments:

Charles Gramlich said...

Yeah, these are amazing.

Travis Erwin said...

I can't get them to load.

Angie said...

Charles -- aren't they? I want to use it on an alien planet or something. :D

Travis -- that's really weird. :/ It's still working for me, so I can't guess why it doesn't like you.

Okay, I found a YouTube video; the visuals aren't as spectacular, but you can get a general idea.

Here's a good photo on a Turkey guide site. And here are a bunch of pics on Flickr.

Angie

Suzan Harden said...

Oh, wow!

Angie said...

Suzan -- exactly, wow. :D Wonderful visuals there.

Angie

Bernita said...

Can't load it either, Angie, but I'll take your word for it. And you're absolutely right, there's lots here on earth to rival the most creative imagination.

Angie said...

Bernita -- check out the links I posted above for Travis. It's definitely worth looking at. :)

Angie