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The Perfect Sailboat-- Live-aboard Comfort, Offshore Durability,
Speed To Win Bermuda or Fastnet
J/44 was inspired by an analysis of the 1988 Newport to Bermuda Race which determined that dual-purpose racer/cruisers between 41 and 45 feet were the most popular offshore type and size. Since introduction, J/44 has become the most successful large, offshore American yacht design ever, with a total of 67 boats launched. Owners in 14 countries have amassed an enviable record of ocean passages, regatta wins and logged numerous cruising adventures. They get together for owner-steered, one design events on both coasts in the and on the Great Lakes.
The J/44 Class Association is an active group of dedicated and outstanding sailors who add greatly to the satisfaction of sailing the perfect boat. One example of this innovation is shown in the image above. Each J/44 races with sails that are owned by the class association. These are rotated from boat to boat throughout each designated class event insuring fair one-design racing. This allows owners added value through volume bidding from sailmakers, while at the same time keeping the lid on replacement costs and/or 'sky-is-the-limit' budgets. Most owners have a set of PHRF sails that are used for non-class regattas.
Among her many honors and accolades, the J/44 is the first class to be given a separate start at the Newport-Bermuda Race for the past several races. J/44 class racing today is competitive Corinthian yacht racing at its best with first class social gatherings. For more on future class events and news please visit the J44 Class Site.
Performance & Handling- Superior design and construction mean better performance in the most demanding offshore conditions. J/44s won the 1991 Fastnet Race (IMS Overall) and the 1992 Sydney-Hobart (IMS-1). Five J/44s beat all Swan 48' -61' upwind in a rough race to Bermuda in 1990.
J/44s slide through waves with little pitch and roll, responding effortlessly to your touch on the wheel. These superb sailing and handling qualities are different from traditional cruising and IOR / IMS "rule" boats in two very important ways:
J/44s have a balanced hull design with a long waterline relative to beam (L/B) providing directional stability in large waves - not compromised by need for a better rating or the added wetted surface of long keels and skegs, and J/44s have a low center of gravity and low moments of inertia - achieved with a deep lead keel, hand-laid Baltek-cored hull & deck construction and a beautifully engineered Hall rig. J/44s sail well in the extremes: downwind in light air and upwind in a blow. This means more sailing, less motoring and safe passages.
An ABS bronze plaque certifies each J/44 to be built under independent survey to +A1 classification, the highest possible for offshore yacht service.
Classic Interior- Sailing World's 1990 'Overall Boat of the Year' revived the look of classic American cruising yacht interiors. Styling is light and open, clean and functional. The security and layout of her J/Galley has also become the standard for offshore cruising design. Visibility and ventilation are exceptional at anchor and at sea, making it possible to live-aboard for long periods without the sense of confinement usually experienced on cruising designs under 50 feet in length.
J/44 Galley- The interior layout includes an owner cabin forward with private head entrance, main cabin with two standard pilot berths and settee berths with large drawer storage outboard amidships, a large nav station opposite the galley, an aft starboard quarter-cabin and an aft 'walk-through' port head.
Introduced: 1989 Built to: Hull #68 Last Model Year: 1993


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We have been having a bit of a lively discussion on the ELT Professionals around the World - LinkIn group. About why schools around the world are fascinated with "native speakers".
Anil puts the question like this:
What's your take? Why the continued fascination and hiring when students can now get a lot of "input", authentic video etc... online and on TV?
Cecilia's blog also has a great post about this.... worth reading slowly. (she's a NNEST in Brazil).
Downloads: 622
Parents often prefer a certain accent, instead of teaching ability. Where this argument falls down is that any good English teacher - no matter where they are from - can minimize a strong accent if they have one - to teach more effectively. After that, good teaching skills will do the job. Beyond that, native speakers who end up teaching abroad represent a fairly narrow demongraphic, which so this only reinforces stereotypes of what a native speaker is. If it were me, the person has to have good skill.
If you are talking about English, what do you mean by native speaker? It is someone from North America, Australia, the UK, the Carribean, etc. Even within the United States there are variations in pronunciation. A person from the deep south will speak much differently than a person from the northeast. Most of our teachers are non-native speakers and our students are doing very well. There is also an awful lot of stuff on the internet that can help with pronunciation and we use Rosetta from 1st grade up. That program has helped immensely.
Good point, exactly the point, IMHO - what is a native speaker? There is a wide birth and so many differences. But at bottom, the argument is one of equal pay for equal work. read Prof. Baker's blog postwhich was prompted by the above linkedIn discussion - I give a good example there of what I'm talking about (qualified Korean teacher made 18,000 won / hour and did all the work/prep. native speaker in the same classroom as her - 50,000 won/hour. )
Dogpile - true about parents and the supply side. But don't you think we should try to educate parents more about the discrimination that goes on. Also about the "myth" of a native speaker. That with the internet students can still get good native speaker input without paying a premium or having overt discrimination in the workplace. Shouldn't we educate them, the consumer? Or are there hidden agendas and interests at stake?
I just was looking at a job ad. Noticed - like so many ads, "Native Speaker" in the description. Can it be any more overt discrimation and why can sites get away with this. Here's the ad .
The Department of English Language Education at Pusan National University(PNU) is seeking an excellent candidate for a full time Professor. The Department has about 120 undergraduate students, 80 graduate students, 10 professors and 2 native English instructors. PNU is one of the most reputable universities in South Korea with a student enrollment of over 35,000 (http://english.pusan.ac.kr/).
1. Qualifications:
- Doctorate in TESOL, ESL or English Language Education is required.
- Teaching experience in English education theories at college level
for more than five years is preferred.
- Knowledge of teaching advanced academic writing, reading, listening
and speaking methodology is preferred.
- Only native English speakers are encouraged to apply.
3. Starting Date: Sept. 1, 2011
4. Job Title: Tenure-track/Assistant/Associate Professor
In korea they(pepople/parents) prefer native speakers not because of accent but for publicity purpose.
They want to attract parents and to show people that a certain school or private institute
has (expat/foreigner/caucasian male/female) native speakers/teachers. It's just a publicity stunt.
Some schools or institutes prefer native speakers because non native or Korean teachers
may lose their positions. Welcome to the Korean bureaucracy. It's not the perfect answer but
I hope it helps. IT'S NOT YOU........ JUST REMEMBER THAT!!!!
I agree, Orthan. Some languages are very similar, and thereby compatible, in the speech production muscles that are developed as we are learning to speak our first language as children, and some are not very compatible.
One example that comes to mind of compatible muscle development is between English and Romanian. The Romanians I have spoken with in English have such lovely, easily understandable accents! It is prettier than an American English speaker. And Romanian is the only language I have heard and thought, Hey, I might be able to do that!
An example of not so compatible muscle development (sorry, I know there must be a better, more professional phrase for this) is between Vietnamese and English- awful, both ways!!
Sometimes its easier initially for a beginning second language student to understand another non-native speaker, because the non-native speaker speaks more slowly. But once the student gets over that first hurdle of utter confusion, she is going to want to learn from someone who can speak the language most accurately and fluently, and that is far more likely to be the case with a native speaker.
Of course, there are always exceptions, people with a gift for learning languages that can develop oral fluency no matter what the language. But with a native speaker, you are almost guaranteed oral fluency. Worth an extra dollar or two, whatever new language you are trying to learn.
I agree , a native speaker CAN model fluency better but at what cost? Can't the students / don't the students get lots of authentic input through CDs, tv, the internet now? And what is the cost? It keeps the price of local, well trained teachers, down. They suffer and aren't compensated as a result.
I agree, there will always be a role for a native speaking teacher but I don't think it should be allowed to specifically advertise for one. For many reasons related to discrimination. What of the person who speaks well, has been and lived in an English speaking country but who will suffer from this very standard practice of advertising for a "native speaker only". That's my beef and if we care about our profession, we shouldn't keep our heads in the sand....
This is a very controversial topic... Let me comment it from a student's point of view, because I have been one for many years (and met many different teachers:-). Don't stone me please, it is only my opinion.
Important is what a student expects from the language/the subject. Many just long to pass easily, some need only a segment of the language (for their job, for fun with the computer games, reading manuals or books, to understand music...) reasons vary. Many don't give a damn at all.
But there are also people, who really want to know the language in its complexity. Maybe they want to go further and study it, maybe they just want to reveal a new dimension, new culture for themselves through the language.
Me, I really like English. And I have always preferred native speaking teacher whether it was Scottish or Aussie or....
Now why. No CD, no internet can supply the experience with a living environment or a person (and it was already mentioned somewhere here). You can watch the news from your country everyday, speak with your people via Skype every evening, but does it mean your thirst is quenched by all this big "via"? Not for me.
IMO, NET represents the foreign culture I want to puzzle out, taste. That person brings different behviour, different approach. I was always watching carefuly what he or she was doing irrelevant how good they were as teachers. I was fascinated.
The best way how to acquire a language is to go to that country, but it is not attainable for everybody. Could you then take it ill of somebody when they want to get in touch with "at least" a foreign teacher? The native teacher becomes a substitute or better a mediator with that distant world.
I would compare the roles of the two groups of teachers to: practicing x doing.
I also wanted to note - I had a teacher who spent years in England, studied there (university/teaching), lived there for years, got married with a British and I can still hear the difference although she is fluent.
I am not sure there is any discrimination when they want to hire a native... ? The problem could be the money, but for example Korea absorbes so many English teachers because a) it decided to do so (thinks it is the best way for its studens) b) they offer generous conditions. Would so many NET go there otherwise?? Nobody is surprised when imported wine is more expensive then maybe more delicious inland wine; unfortunately the same rules govern for people. It is the market, which has no social feeling.
I can imagine how the NNET can feel:-( But I am not sure there is any easy solution to it, because the groups interact (students, NNET, NET).
Hi George! I have been thinking about this, and then there you are, making my commenting easier : ).
First, of course it is wrong to discriminate in hiring against a non-native speaker simply because they did not learn English as their first language. What's important is if the teacher is orally fluent in the language they are going to teach. When I speak of oral fluency, I mean can they converse freely and be easily understood by a native speaker? It's always difficult and unfair when someone is judged by "the package" and not the skill.
I think we are heavily influenced by our life experiences we bring to this discussion. For me, I have lived for 30 years with someone who continually has suffered social and financial (employment) discrimination because of his pronunciation woes. So expertise in pronunciation would be the first thing I would look for in an English teacher.The easiest way to insure this is for the teacher to be a native speaker.
If my loved one was a non-native speaker who had spent years studying and practicing English with the goal of becoming an EFL teacher, I would be having quite a different response! How dare you discriminate against my loved one. She is fully qualified to teach English. She has an accent, but it does not interfere with her ability to communicate and be understood. And I think this is the morally defensible ground. Add in the fact that she has probably been much more highly trained to teach than the NET, and that she has the added skill of being truly bi-lingual, which many NETs are not, and it is offensive to put right in the ad, non-native speakers needn't apply.
And then the other point that George makes- that the student has the right to his preferences too. For myself, I would want to learn Spanish from a teacher from Mexico. That dialect of Spanish is what would be most useful to me in my life (living and teaching in the Pacific NW, where most of the Spanish speakers are from Mexico), and I also like the softness of the sounds. It is a dialect that is easily understandable by other native Spanish speakers, and yet, to my ears, is prettier.
But there is an important distinction between my personal preferences and institutional hiring practices. Because we are dealing with people, not things, personal preferences should not be allowed to dicate institutional hiring decisions. Like any form of discrimination, it will damage the profession as a whole, as you so eloquently stated, David! Translated into common American dialect, let's get our heads out of our asses! (Sorry, couldn't help it :D )
Then there is the whole issue of teacher availability, and discrimination against some native speakers because of race and class. Spanish speakers in the US, South African teachers in Asia, you get the idea.
I think strong anti-discrimination employment laws would offer some protection/ solution to the problem NNET and native English teachers from countries other than Canada, England, Australia and the US face in the hiring process.
Fluency, patience, and being proficient in proven educational practices are so much more crucial in a language teacher than where he or she is from.
BUT... non-native teachers must take accurate pronunciation much more seriously, and work on themselves until they attain it. They, as the professionals, need to work with those computer pronunciation programs until they nail it, and not pass off that responsibility onto their students. When pronunciation standards get loose, effective communication falls apart, and the educational system along with it. As Chuck told me many years ago, if I was to drop in on an English class in Vietnam, I probably wouldn't even recognize what was being spoken as my own language! And that is a terrible disservice to students, especially if their futures are going to be dependent on spoken English in any way.
I'm not saying it's good - I'm just saying it is. Once students experience a good teacher then the parents usually follow suit. The system in Korea - where I teach - doesn't really have a way to assess teaching skill, which would allow anyone with teaching ability to get a job. As it stands now, it's done by country of birth.
Just one small point - perhaps off topic - I never think of students as consumers - I think of them as people. Education has become very much commodified here in Korea and the result is parents spending everything on mediocre instruction - because they think education is a product they can buy.

subset: commoncrawl


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Thomas Sawin Homestead in Natick, 1692-?
The oldest part of the house was reportedly built in 1696 by Thomas Sawin, who made a deal with the Christian Native community of Natick to set up a sawmill and gristmill for them. He legally lived in Sherborn for another two decades. The Sawins were among the first families of full British descent to settle among the Natick community. By 1745, however, the area had so many white inhabitants that they took over the government, and Natick became much like other Massachusetts towns.
During the alarm of 19 Apr 1775, the Sawin family and their Bacon in-laws were active in the Natick militia. According to traditions recorded by local historian Horace Mann (not that Horace Mann):
Thomas [Sawin], 3d, born in 1751, was called Ensign and Captain, and built the house near the brook about 1770. He married Abigail Bacon, of Dedham, in 1771, and was the father of Thomas and Martha, the founders of the Sawin Academy at Sherborn. He was a minute man in 1775 and a soldier in the Canada expedition of 1776. It was to this house that Abigail Bacon and her neice, Abigail Smith, came on the night of the 18th of April, 1775, to warn the Sawins of the marching of the British from Boston; and this house was a rendezvous of a portion of the Natick minute men.Actually, while a local young woman named Abigail Bacon might have been involved in spreading the alarm on 18-19 April, Abigail Smith could not have been. In January, Boston 1775 reader John Russell showed me a document indicating that Smith was still only an infant then. Which makes two dramatic stories of the Revolution her descendants retold in the late 1800s that have proven untrue.
The surviving Sawin house, greatly expanded in 1791, sits on property now managed by the Massachusetts Audubon Society as part of the Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary. The society can't keep up the building and plans to demolish it.
On 14 April at 11:00 A.M., I've been told, there will be "A Call for a Prayer of Thanksgiving" at the house as described on this Facebook page. The organizers hope to save the structure from demolition, but whether it's practical to preserve or move it is uncertain. This may be the house's last Patriots' Day.


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Obama's plan might hit more IRAs than you think
- Proposed budget would cap retirement savings plans at %243 million
- Higher interest rates could lower the cap
- The bigger worry for most people is not having enough retirement savings
The president's proposed budget would cap IRAs and other retirement plans at $3 million, but it could fall below that in future years.
It's not easy to get more than $3 million in a retirement account, which includes IRAs, 401(k) and 403(b) plans. Currently, the cap would affect just 0.03% of retirement accounts, says the Employee Benefit Research Institute.
But there's a catch. The cap is based on the amount you could get from your retirement account if it were converted to an annuity — a stream of guaranteed lifetime payments. The annuity payment in the budget is $205,000 a year.
TAX Q&A:Tax implications of IRA contributions
The annual payments you can get in an annuity fluctuate according to several factors, chief among which is current interest rates, which are near record lows. When interest rates increase, a lump sum generates much higher payments. Put another way, higher rates would cause the $3 million threshold to fall.
STORY:Obama budget helps car industry, EV buyers
Based on interest rates back to 2006, the IRA cap could fall as low as $2.2 million, EBRI says. At that level, the cap could hit nearly 3% of all retirement accounts.
For the vast majority of savers, however, the biggest worry isn't having enough retirement savings, but not enough. Half of all Americans have $25,000 or less in savings, according to Fidelity Investments, and 35% of all working Americans don't have an employee-based retirement plan, such as a pension or a 401(k) plan.
Capping IRA could deter savings without helping reduce the deficit, Ronald O'Hanley, president of Asset Management and Corporate Services at Fidelity Investments, argued at a speech to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Wednesday. Most retirement programs are tax deferrals, not tax breaks, he argues: Savers pay taxes when they withdraw. "Not only will such a proposal further challenge retirement savings, it will not generate additional revenue," he says.


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Spring 2020 classes have resumed online.Please visit
dcccd.edu/coronavirus for additional information and to
learn how to prepare for online classes.
Based on a review of textbook costs in 2014, a full-time student at one of the seven colleges of DCCCD who took 15 credit hours per semester, over four semesters, paid about $1,965 for books. The contract will save $536 to $670, or a cost reduction of more than 33%. Savings will vary, based on whether you buy new or used textbooks as well as how many semesters and credit hours you are enrolled.
Students who want to
rent textbooks can keep doing that. Since the textbook rental program began in the district in 2014, more than 106,000 students have participated, saving an estimated $2.6 million.
Saving you money — just one more way DCCCD is helping you to succeed.


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- Smart Home Products and Services
- Broadband and Entertainment Services
- Residential Security
- CE Devices and Mobility
- Smart Energy Management
- Entertainment Content
- Wellness and Independent Living
- Support Services
Consumer Research
Related Market Focus
Popular Searches
Consumer Analytics Online Search
Satisfaction with Communication with Healthcare Professional Using Website/App by Chronic Conditions (Q2/16)
360 View Update – Market Focus
Wellness and Independent Living : On-Demand Care: The Patient Wants to See You Now
This research presents an overview of consumer trends in on-demand virtual care, including visiting physician services and remote care. It examines the types of services consumers are most interested in, the demographics reporting the greatest interest in said services, and self-reported consumer satisfaction rates. The research pays special attention to consumer interaction preferences and usage of digital communication technologies for on-demand care.
View all slides for this report
Research files
Parks Assoc 360 View Update - DH1Q17 -- On-Demand Care.pdf
Related Slides


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Grade A Australian opals set in 24k gold overlay. Opal is the stone of love, loyalty, peace, and consciousness. It is an emotional stone and reflects the mood of the wearer. All ZADA pieces are handmade and one of a kind. Made with love in Los Angeles, California.♥
The jewelry is absolutely stunning in person. I thought it was impressive online but after receiving it, I am extremely happy!
My boyfriend ordered a ring for me. I liked it so much that I had to put a review!! Thank you!
It started out with one necklace that caught my eye. I had to have it. Now I'm eyeing other items to add to my collection. I love them all!


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Take the First Step Toward Your Electrical Career Now!
Find Oklahoma City area trade schools and technical colleges with electrician certificate training, diploma, and associate's degree programs. Take college classes and learn to read blueprints, assure electrical codes and specifications are being met, operate machinery, inspect for defective parts, and more. Financial aid is available to students who qualify. Use the program search application to find an accredited electrical training program near Oklahoma City, OK.
Read more: How Long Is Electrician Training? - Electrician Training Cost


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Select your preferred time of day. We'll call you to confirm the exact time.
During your personal visit, a Five Star team member will learn more about your senior living interests and needs and show you the aspects of our community that are most important to you.
What Should I Bring?
Just yourself and whatever curiosities or concerns you have (if you'll be dining with us, bring your appetite along, too)!
How Long Will It Take?
Please allow at least 45 minutes for your visit, 90 minutes if you'll be staying for lunch or dinner. We look forward to having you!
150 Chatuga Drive WestLoudon, TN 37774
10914 Kingston PikeKnoxville, TN 37934
3020 Heatherton WayKnoxville, TN 37920
Meet the people who make Five Star great.
Watch The Videos
Website By Boston Interactive


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Bangkok, August 2, 2013--A photographer was fatally shot in his home in southern General Santos City on Thursday, the third journalist to be killed in the Philippines in less than a week. The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities to thoroughly investigate the murder of Mario Sy, identify the motive in the attack, and bring the perpetrators to justice.
An unidentified gunman entered Sy's home and shot him twice in front of his wife and daughter, according to news reports. The accounts said the assailant fled on foot and that Sy died at a local hospital. Police Director Froilan Quidilla said investigators recovered two shell casings from a .45-caliber handgun, the reports said.
Sy, a freelance photographer, regularly contributed to the local Sapol News Bulletin newspaper. John Paul Jubelag, publisher of the paper, said Sy's murder could have been related to his contribution to a photo report on local drug trafficking earlier this year, according to a statement by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, a Manila-based press freedom advocacy group.
"Time and again, Philippine journalists are killed, circumstances remain a mystery, and the killers go unpunished. The investigation into Mario Sy's murder needs to be different," said CPJ senior Southeast Asia representative Shawn Crispin. "Until President Benigno Aquino's government takes serious action to address his country's impunity problem, the killings of journalists will continue."
At least three other journalists have been killed in the Philippines this year, two in the past week. On July 30, gunmen on a motorcycle shot newspaper columnists Richard Kho and Bonifacio Loreto in the Quezon City section of Manila. On April 22, radio journalist Mario Vendiola Bayliss was killed by two unidentified gunmen in the town of Kabasalan in the southern province of Zamboanga Sibugay. CPJ is investigating whether the journalists' murders were related to their journalism. No one has been convicted.
At least 73 Philippine journalists have been killed in direct connection to their work since 1992, making the Philippines the second deadliest country in the world for the press, according to CPJ research. At least 55 journalist murders in the past decade have been unresolved, according to CPJ research. Philippines ranks third on CPJ's Impunity Index, which calculates unsolved journalist murders as a percentage of each country's population.
- For more data and analysis, visit CPJ's Philippines page.


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Detail ProductHome » Anaayah Printed Jubah - Offwhite
How to care your jubah :
Measurement :
Note:Please bear in mind that photo might be slightly different from actual items in terms of color due to lighting during the photoshoot, fabrics nature or monitor's display.
Return Policy
Items to be return (wrong items and defect) should be in original condition - unworn, unwashed and unaltered. Any returns request can be proceed via whatsapp within 7days from the day reception parcel.


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City of Wilmington, NCHome Menu
Due to concerns about the Coronavirus (COVID-19) all programs and events at Halyburton Park have been cancelled thru March 30. The Event Center is closed until further notice. Also note that all bathrooms are closed. Note: the situation is evolving and additional cancellations may take place. Please visit website for city operation updates.
Please note: the men's restroom near the picnic shelter is currently not working. Please use the restroom at the Events Center. Thank you for your patience as our buildings staff works to address this issue. Questions? call 341.0076.
About the park:
Pre-registration is required for all programs. Call 341.0075 for more information. REGISTER ONLINE
- Winter 2020 Classes
- Winter 2020 Preschool Nature
- Fitness Classes - Note due to coronavirus concerns, fitness classes are cancelled until future notice.
- Summer Camps
- School Field Trips
- Dragonfly Curriculum
- Dragonfly Guide
Halyburton Park is the perfect location for weddings, birthday parties, business meetings and other special events.
Event Center Information including pricing. Event Center Application & Policies
Picnic Shelters Reserve Picnic Shelters Online
Hours to reserve: 9 am - 1 pm or 2 pm - 6 pm
$30 for 4 hours city tax payer
$35 for 4 hours non city taxpayer
Non-profit groups (with 501c3 designation)*
Cost: City taxpayer: $20 for 4 hours
Non-city taxpayer: $25 for 4 hours
Who are you? - Little Explorers
- Date: 01/24/2020 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
- Location: Halyburton Park
4099 S 17th St
Wilmington, North Carolina 28412
Bring your "Little Explorers" out to the park and discover nature through stories, songs, hands-on activities, hikes and crafts. Your children will delight in the many nature themes we explore each month. Space is limited and pre-registration is required for these popular programs. $3/participant. http://www.halyburtonpark.com/
Ages: 2-5
Location: Event Center


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Difference between revisions of "Case study:Pearls in Peril LIFE+ GB Project - River Spey"
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|Contact organisation url=www.snh.gov.uk/
|Contact organisation url=www.snh.gov.uk/
|Partner organisations=RAFTS, Forestry Commission,
|Partner organisations=RAFTS, Forestry Commission,
|Name of parent multi-site project=Case_study:Pearls in Peril LIFE
|Name of parent multi-site project=Case_study:Pearls in Peril LIFE
|Project picture=Piplogo.png
|Project picture=Piplogo.png
Revision as of 11:46, 9 February 2017
To discuss or comment on this case study, please use the discussion page.
- 1 Project overview
- 2 Image gallery
- 3 Catchment and subcatchment
- 4 Site
- 5 Project background
- 6 Reasons for river restoration
- 7 Measures
- 8 Monitoring
- 9 Additional documents and videos
- 10 Additional links and references
- 11 Supplementary Information
Project overview
|In progress
|Project web site
|Environmental flows and water resources, Fisheries, Habitat and biodiversity, Hydromorphology, Land use management - agriculture, Land use management - forestry, Monitoring, Water quality
|Main contact forename
|Main contact surname
|Main contact user ID
|Contact organisation
|Contact organisation web site
|Partner organisations
|RAFTS, Forestry Commission
| This is a parent project
encompassing the following
Project summary
What's important about PIP?
Great Britain contains a significant quantity of the known breeding populations of freshwater pearl mussel in Europe. The PIP Project has crucial implications for the whole of the EU. Without this project, it is likely that mussel populations in Britain will continue to decline with possible extinction in many rivers. Given the importance of the British populations in a European and global context, their loss would have a catastrophic impact on the overall survival of the freshwater pearl mussel in Europe.
It is essential that we work together to improve our water courses to give this amazing animal a chance of survival. This ancient and internationally protected species cleans our rivers and can live for over 100 years. Improving watercourses not only helps freshwater pearl mussel, it also benefits the whole river ecosystem. PIP will raise awareness of the issues and work with local communities, landowners and managers to make changes that will safeguard the future of the freshwater pearl mussel.
Who we are……
'Pearls in Peril' (PIP) is a UK wide LIFE nature project with 22 partners working together to restore river habitats benefiting freshwater pearl mussel and salmonids (salmon and trout). The project was approved by LIFE in September 2012 and will run until September 2016. A total of 48 actions will be delivered across 21 rivers designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for freshwater pearl mussel.
What are our aims.....
The freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is declining dramatically throughout its range and is under grave threat within Great Britain. Mussel populations have been affected by multiple issues, including wildlife crime, habitat degradation and declining water quality. This project will help to safeguard the future of the most important pearl mussel populations in Great Britain by tackling these threats and implementing best practice conservation methods. The project has the following aims:
1. To RESTORE the habitat of freshwater pearl mussels and salmonids in selected river catchments within Great Britain.
2. To SECURE the long term survival of existing freshwater pearl mussel populations and prevent their further degradation.
3. To COMMUNICATE with local, national and international audiences to raise awareness of freshwater pearl mussel conservation issues.
What are we doing to RESTORE habitat......
We are promoting and facilitating the use of suitable agri-environment schemes by land managers and are using these schemes to implement riparian tree planting and the fencing of river banks to improve bank stability and reduce silt input to the water course.
Sites have been identified for in stream restoration that will most benefit pearl mussels and salmonids (Atlantic salmon and trout). This involves seeding river beds with gravel and removing artificial river structures such as croys and weirs to reinstate river bed habitat for juvenile mussels and fish.
In areas where commercial forestry takes place, and which was planted prior to the use of current good practice guidance, silt run-off can cause significant damage to potential freshwater pearl mussel and salmonid habitat. Riparian tree planting using native broadleaves will occur and man-made drainage ditches will be blocked to reduce silt and nutrient run-off and improve water quality.
Some catchments have high levels of silt and nutrient enriched water draining off the slopes into the river. A series of strategically positioned ponds and wetlands will be created to intercept enriched run-off before it reaches the river to improve water quality.
How do we SECURE the long term survival of freshwater pearl mussel.......
A seasonal Riverwatcher is employed to develop a 'riverwatcher' scheme in selected catchments within Scotland where illegal pearl fishing and unauthorised river works are still a threat. The scheme will raise awareness of the threats to the freshwater pearl mussel and will undertake coordinated action to prevent and report illegal activity.
In some rivers pearl mussel populations are too small for natural recovery to be guaranteed. The PIP project is collecting mussel larvae (glochidia) and introducing the larvae onto the gills of young salmon and trout (encystment) to mimic the natural lifecycle of the mussel and increase the juvenile freshwater pearl mussel population.
What tools are being used to COMMUNICATE........
To promote awareness of the freshwater pearl mussel amongst the younger generation an educational programme 'Pearls in the Classroom' is being delivered across selected catchments. This will also help to deliver the objective of securing populations by encouraging local families to recognise the damage that illegal activities can cause.
A range of dissemination events will take place throughout the project. These will focus on different audiences and will raise awareness of the actions taken during the project and how they can be applied more widely.
It will include the delivery of presentations, seminars and interpretation material and the organising of a final project conference.
Monitoring work is being implemented to ensure the project delivers its expected results as well as adequately monitors the project impacts. Monitoring will include: •water quality; •habitat; •freshwater pearl mussels; •host salmonids; and •levels of uptake and implementation of habitat restoration measures.
LIFE Administrative data:
Project reference LIFE11 NAT/UK/000383
Duration 03-SEP-2012 to 02-SEP -2016 Total budget 4,617,398.00 €
EU contribution 2,293,990.00 €
- Facilitate and implement improved riparian habitat in the River Spey.
- Work with land managers to develop Scottish Rural Development Programme (SRDP) riparian planting schemes on the River Spey.
- Monitor changes in pearl mussel and salmonid populations. Pearl mussels are very slow-growing. It is not expected that statistically significant increases in pearl mussel populations will be seen during the short life-time of this project. However, a number of 'proxy' measures will be used to ascertain whether conditions have improved for pearl mussels. Some baseline monitoring of mussel populations will take place, to ensure that meaningful comparisons can be made with data gathered in the future and to ensure that actions are properly targeted. Salmonids are much shorter-lived and their numbers can be expected to respond much more quickly to improvements in habitat conditions. Monitoring of freshwater pearl mussel and salmonid populations will take place prior to the implementation of the conservation actions. Repeat monitoring of salmonid populations will take place after the conservation actions to establish the extent of improvement.
Monitoring surveys and results
Lessons learnt
Image gallery
Catchment and subcatchment
Project background
Cost for project phases
Reasons for river restoration
Hydromorphological quality elements
Biological quality elements
Physico-chemical quality elements
Monitoring documents
Additional documents and videos
Additional links and references
Supplementary Information
Edit Supplementary Information


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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) The Tampa Bay Rays have added their second pitcher with a new name.
The Rays agreed Tuesday on a minor league contract with right-hander Juan Carlos Oviedo, who played under the fake name Leo Nunez before an eight-week suspension by Major League Baseball last year for age and identity fraud.
Last month the Rays agreed to a $3.25 million, one-year deal with right-hander Roberto Hernandez, who previously drew a three-week suspension from MLB for playing under the name Fausto Carmona.
Tampa Bay also agreed to minor league deals with right-handers Jamey Wright and Juan Sandoval, and outfielder Shelley Duncan.


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WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 (UPI) -- There is good reason for Washington to be wary of military action in Syria, through the crisis may eventually crack regime forces, a policy analyst said.
Ongoing crisis in Syria has intensified near Aleppo, the largest city in the country. Rebel forces gained control over parts of the area, though the situation on the ground remains fluid.
Martin Indyk, director of the foreign policy program at the Brookings Institution, testified before a U.S. Senate committee that the regime in Damascus is facing a "kill or be killed" scenario.
U.N. officials and humanitarian groups allege Syrian forces, with the blessing of government officials, likely committed war crimes during the conflict. It's "impossible to imagine" that the regime can withstand growing opposition, said Indyk.
"The Syrian army will likely crack under the strain of prolonged conflict with its own citizens," he added.
Some members of the U.N. Security Council expressed opposition to a formal resolution condemning Damascus for fear of further militarization of the conflict.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon announced Thursday that former Secretary-General Kofi Annan has resigned as the special peace envoy to Syria. He said the hand that was extended for peace has been turned away.
"Both the government and the opposition forces continue to demonstrate their determination to rely on ever-increasing violence," he said in a statement.


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I was real excited to hear about this release
until I read further and realised they go on strike up to 3 times a month, most weekends there is a go slow and every public holiday, forget it, so our sim fun is limited.
I jest, just glad I don't live there anymore. Suckers!


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Story highlights
- Mothers say label prevents sex offenders from being productive members of society
- Support of family, community reduces chances of re-offending, clinicians say
- Only most serious offenders subjected to most rigorous requirements, group says
- Murder victim's mother says she's tired of sex offenders getting second chances
Christine Smith will never forget the moment she watched her 21-year-old son being led out of a Florida courtroom in handcuffs.
"This is not happening, this is not happening, this is not happening," she recalls thinking at the time. "Take me instead."
She sobbed because there was nothing she could do. Matthew, the second of her three children, was going to prison after pleading guilty to 10 counts of possession of child pornography. A judge in Duval County sentenced him in April 2010 to 18 months in state prison and one year of probation, with the requirement that he register as a sex offender.
She told herself that they were lucky, that he could have received a longer prison sentence. But her worries extended far beyond prison. Under Florida law, he would likely remain on the registry for life, with the opportunity to appeal for good conduct. Where would he live after being released? How would he find a job? What about harassment? Would he ever date again? Who would want to marry a sex offender?
Smith is one of many mothers preoccupied with these questions on a daily basis. These women embody the notion that a mother's love is unconditional as they're often forced to look beyond horrific crimes that have left their children branded for life as sex offenders.
What's a mom to do?
"Mothers want to deal with everything, no matter what happens," Smith said. "It doesn't matter how old they are or if they do something stupid. You're there to pick them up and help them get through."
That devotion comes at a high price, as parents often assume some of the responsibility and burden of the sex offender designation. They mortgage their homes so they can buy a new place for their child beyond residency restrictions. It has ended marriages and friendships and divided families.
Like Smith, many fear that their sons will forever be lumped in the same category as child molesters and rapists, and channel their grief through activism.
Dozens of parents of sex offenders declined to discuss their experience for this article, fearing that doing so would bring harm to their families.
"My son and I have just started to experience some level of peace and stability. ... It's not worth digging up the harassment again," one woman said in an e-mail calling off an interview with CNN. "No one understands the threats, harassment, loss of income and dignity. I hope you find someone that can better take the risk. [We] have suffered enough humiliation."
Fighting depression with support
There's no way to tell how many of the country's 747,408 registered sex offenders have the support of families, friends or otherwise. But research shows that a strong support system greatly improves their chances of rehabilitation and decreases the likelihood of re-offending, sex offender treatment professional Nancy Irwin said.
"Isolation can be a breeding ground for depression and deviancy," said Irwin, a psychotherapist who works with court-mandated parolees and probationers in California.
"If we're alone and feel isolated or alienated by those we are closest to, then we start feeling like we're unlovable and worthless and life doesn't matter," she said. "It's healthy to have a strong support system and it also helps to have meaningful work, healthy spiritual pursuit, or a hobby or two to enjoy. These are the cornerstones of a healthy lifestyle for anyone, really. But they're especially important for sex offenders."
Lora Morgan of Arkansas took that notion to heart when her 20-year-old son went to prison in April 2011 on 10 counts of possession of child pornography. She visited Rusty whenever she could during his prison stint. At least in prison, she could sit with him at a table for a few hours instead of having to settle for a few minutes of conversation behind a thick glass partition at the county jail, she said.
"There is no way to describe seeing your son behind a window so thick that it has barbed wire in it and you can't give him a hug," Morgan, a stay-at-home mom with a strong Southern accent, said in a phone interview.
"I don't care how old he is. It just breaks your heart."
Morgan asked to change her name out of fear of reprisals against her family. Within the online support groups that help her get through each day, members share stories of offenders on the public registry being targets of community efforts to force them to move. Because of his crime, Morgan's son has to register with law enforcement but his name does not appear on the public register, a blessing for which she is thankful.
He also was "darn lucky" to parole out of prison after 10 months in January, she said, but then the real struggle to integrate into society as a sex offender began. The conditions of his 15-year probation prevent him from living in a home with Internet access; for the sake of her family, including her 19-year-old daughter, Morgan refused to get rid of their computer. Instead, the family spent $12,000 on an RV for him to live in on his grandparents' property.
She worries about him, but tries to maintain an encouraging outlook, she said. He is fortunate that he doesn't have to appear on a public registry, but his sex offender status limits his options, as does being unable to use a computer, she said.
She makes no excuses for the fact that he downloaded images of child pornography in his college dorm. But she doesn't believe that the shy, introverted young man should carry the sex offender label for the next 15 years.
"Yes, what my son did was bad. Yes, he should be punished," she said. "But he doesn't need to be punished for the rest of his life."
The horrific crimes that make national headlines often create activists out of parents of like Mark Lunsford and Mark Klaas, leading to laws named for their children. But the cycle of outrage works both ways.
Morgan's desire to help create the best possible quality of life for her son has sparked an activist streak in this 46-year-old housewife, who struggled with dyslexia in high school and never aspired to be anything other than a PTA and band booster mom.
Now, she says she is not afraid to write letters to congressmen or call them to give voice to the other side of this issue. Her husband teases her for always managing to work the topic into conversations with strangers.
"This whole experience has given me lots of courage and strength. It has opened my eyes to so many things that I never thought of as far as our laws," she said.
"People can't understand why I keep fighting for my son. But what kind of parent would I be if I didn't stand up for my child's rights? I run into that quite a bit. Am I supposed to leave my son at the doorstep?"
Linda Walker is the mother of Dru Sjodin, who was killed in 2003 by a sex offender and for whom the Department of Justice's National Sex Offender Public Website is named. Too often, sex offenders are portrayed sympathetically while the victims are forgotten, she said.
"What are we telling the victims that are still out there and alive when we keep giving [sex offenders] second and third chances?" Walker wondered.
She said she sympathized with some mothers, but not when they refuse to acknowledge what their child has done.
"As long as a parent feels horrible about the actions of their child, yes, I'm sympathetic toward them," Walker said. "But not toward the ones that continuously keep their heads in the sand."
Not all sex offenders are subject to the same requirements. The federal Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act was passed in 2006 with the goal of creating a national set of standards for dealing with sex offenders and predators. Among its provisions was the creation of a three-tiered system that designates varying levels of requirements for registration and public notification. To date, 15 states, two territories, and 27 tribes have implemented those provisions of the Adam Walsh Act, known as the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act, according to the Justice Department.
"We are very sensitive to the burdens that these kinds of restrictions place on offenders and their families. However, sex offender registry requirements are not imposed because of who somebody is, but because of what they've done," said Ernie Allen, president of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which pushed for the Adam Walsh Act.
It's a balancing act between the rights of convicted felons and the responsibility of the government to ensure public safety, he said, emphasizing that the restrictions are determined by risk assessment.
"Congress and virtually every state have taken very careful steps to ensure that all sex offenders are not treated alike," he said. "There is a determination of level of risk and only the most serious offenders -- based upon what they have been convicted of and the nature of their crimes and number of offenses and likelihood to re-offend -- are subject to the most rigorous requirements."
The blame game
With parents often the targets of blame for the sins of their children, parents of sex offenders can experience just as much fear, shame and paranoia as their children, social worker David Prescott said.
"Moms often feel terrible that they didn't recognize the signs sooner or weren't able to provide a better environment for their kids to prevent whatever offense occurred," said Prescott, former president of the Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers and current clinical director of the Becket Programs of Maine, which provide treatment for troubled youth in Maine and New Hampshire.
"The whole rest of society only sees the flashbulb moment of the sex crime and mug shot and very few people understand the person who does the crime as a person," he said. "Even after someone is arrested and convicted, everyone else distances themselves from the sex offender, there's often the mom trying to figure out what's going to be right for their boy."
When it comes to violent sexual offenses, or offenses that involve physical contact, there is often a history of abuse or neglect in the offender's background. Often, the mother was a victim of abuse that was witnessed by her children, he said.
"The vast majority of people who are sexually abused do not go on to become sex offenders or repeat sex offenders," he said, "but those who do get arrested for sex crimes very often have been abused in some form."
Mothers, if they're around and up to the task, tend to be more involved in the process of reintegrating their sex offender offspring back into society than fathers, Illinois-based family therapist Becky Palmer said.
Especially when prisoners are released after years or even decades of incarceration, there's often a desire to heal the relationship, she said. The trick is not to minimize what happened or brush aside the offense, especially when other relatives are uncomfortable having a sex offender around their children.
"Everyone has to be willing to be honest about what happened and talk about it and not minimize it and be in denial," she said. "Sometimes, that means recognizing that some of the past family dynamics might have been contributing factors to the offense and those have to change."
Letting go
Morgan, the mother in Arkansas, and Smith, the mother in Florida, said their children did not experience sexual or physical abuse. Like many mothers, they both said they stepped up because they felt they had no choice.
Smith left her husband and daughter in Delaware and moved back to Florida to help her son before his release in May 2011, three months early for good behavior. They lived near the expressway, where he could live beyond residency restrictions preventing him from being near a school, playground or daycare center.
The more details she learned about her son's release, the more outraged she became. She took up the activist banner, writing letters to politicians and visiting the state capitol to speak out against bills that would tighten restrictions for sex offenders or create harsher penalties.
Meanwhile, at home, she began to clash with her son as he struggled to adjust to some of the conditions of his probation. He hasn't used a computer in three years and still can't use one. He can't leave the county without permission and has to keep a driving log wherever he goes. Every six months, he pays $25 to register as a sex offender with the county.
His electronic monitoring is a constant source of anxiety, she said. He wears an ankle bracelet 24 hours a day and keeps a GPS tracker close by at all times. He wears pants every day, regardless of the weather, to cover up the bracelet. He worries constantly about being somewhere where children are known to "regularly congregate," in violation of his probation.
After his release, he holed up in his room for hours at a time and emerged in a depressed state. If he went out, she'd call or text him constantly to keep track of his whereabouts and remind him to come home in time for his 10 p.m. curfew.
"I'd smother him because I did not want him to go back to prison for something stupid like being 5 minutes late for curfew or leaving his (ankle) monitor at home -- stupid things that could violate him," she said. "It was a constant battle of me mothering him too much and I started to realize it."
After a little soul-searching and some advice from her son's probation officer, she decided it was time to leave him to live on his own in Florida. In January, less than a year after his release, she returned to Delaware, where her husband had taken a job two years before.
She still worries about him, of course, just as she worries about her other children. But there's an inner peace that comes with learning to let him be his own person, she said.
"I was always a mom that dotes and protects. It's not that I'm not there for them now, but I'm going to let them make their own mistake," she said. "I trust them and they know I still love them."


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Obama, Putin to meet at G-20 summit in Mexico
WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin will use their meeting Monday, the first since Putin returned to Russia's top job, to claim leverage in a mutually dependent but volatile relationship.
Obama needs Russia to help, or at least not hurt, U.S. foreign policy aims in the Mideast and Afghanistan. Putin needs the United States as a foil for his argument that Russia doesn't get its due as a great power.
Obama and Putin are set to meet on the sidelines of the Group of 20 economic gathering in Mexico that will otherwise focus largely on the European economic crisis. Greece's fate as part of the eurozone may be sealed as Obama and other world leaders meet, and the gathering is a natural forum for sideline discussions of the urgent crisis in Syria as well as diplomatic efforts to head off a confrontation with Iran.
Russia is a linchpin in several U.S. foreign policy goals. Chief among them are the international effort to deny Iran a nuclear weapon and a smooth shutdown of the Afghanistan war. Brutal attacks on anti-government protesters in Syria and the threat of civil war in the Mideast nation pose the most immediate crisis. In the longer term, Obama wants Russia's continued cooperation in nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation.
Russia's membership in numerous world bodies and its veto power at the U.N. Security Council give it leverage beyond its economic or military power.
Obama holds far greater power and both leaders know it. But Putin can be a spoiler and irritant to the administration.
Things got off to a rocky start this spring, when Obama pointedly withheld a customary congratulatory phone call to Putin until days after his election. Putin appeared to snub Obama by skipping the smaller and weightier Group of Eight meeting that Obama hosted last month at Camp David.
"Putin is in a petulant sort of mood," said Russia scholar Mark N. Katz of George Mason University. "He's got all these grievances about American foreign policy and he's looking for us to satisfy him, and I don't think we're going to do that. No amount of bonhomie or talking nicely is going to fix that."
Obama made a special project of Russia in his first term and arguably needs Moscow's help even more if he wins a second one. He is trying to avoid a distracting public spat with Russia during this election year, as suggested by an overheard remark to outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in March. Obama told Medvedev he would have more flexibility to answer Russian complaints about a U.S.-built missile defense shield in Europe after the November election.
For all Obama's talk of resetting the relationship with Russia, it remains a wary standoff. That's apparently just the way Putin prefers it.
Putin's campaign included some of the strongest anti-American rhetoric from Moscow in a decade and he openly accused Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton of inciting protests against him. The Obama administration mostly tried to shrug it off, but Putin's return to the presidency makes it more likely that any help Russia provides in Syria, Iran or other matters will come at a cost.
U.S. strategy has favored flattery that may overstate Russia's influence, especially on Syria, and efforts to highlight areas where U.S. and Russian goals align.
"The reset with Russia was based on the belief that we could cooperate with them on areas of common interest, understanding that we saw some differences," White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes said Friday.
Syria is at the top of the list of differences, especially on the question of whether the crisis can be resolved without deposing President Bashar Assad. Diplomatic hopes have rested on Washington and Moscow agreeing on a transition plan that would end the four-decade Assad family rule. Russia, as Syria's longtime ally and trading partner, is seen as the best broker for a deal that could give Assad political refuge.
So far, Moscow has said no.
There is no formal meeting on Syria scheduled at the G-20, but U.S. and other diplomats have said they expect Syria to be a main topic in other settings.
The White House tried to soften the blow of Clinton's accusation days before the G-20 meeting that Russia was equipping the Syrian government with attack helicopters that could bused against civilians. She later acknowledged they were only helicopters already owned by Syria that had been sent back to Russia for repairs, but Russia was already annoyed.
Russia insists that any arms it supplies to Syria are not being used to quell anti-government dissent that began more than a year ago, and has rebuffed efforts to impose an international arms embargo. Russia and Syria have a longstanding military relationship and Syria hosts Russia's only naval base on the Mediterranean Sea.
The United States has refused to arm anti-Assad rebels in part to avoid a proxy fight in which Iran and Russia and others arm one side and the U.S. and Sunni Arab states arm the other. Opposition groups estimate 13,000 people have died in violence that the U.S. fears is sliding into civil war.
Carney brushed aside questions about whether the U.S. might yank support for Russia's membership in World Trade Organization if Russia refuses to help on Syria. He underscored that the U.S. supports that core Russian goal, which will be a centerpiece of the talks.
The Obama-Putin meeting also comes the same day as Moscow hosts an international negotiating session with Iran. Russia has gone along with U.N. Security Council efforts to tighten some penalties against Iran because of questions about its nuclear weapons ambitions, but has blocked the harshest punishments. Still, the United States needs Russia's participation to lend legitimacy to the argument that Iran faces broad international condemnation. Iran usually paints the dispute over its nuclear program as a confrontation with the U.S. and its ally Israel.
The Pew Research Center's newly released global public opinion survey gives Putin job approval ratings Obama can only dream of. About 72 percent of Russians have a favorable opinion of Putin, and a majority put more faith in a strong leader than in a democratic form of government. Nearly three-quarters of those polled said Russia deserves greater respect from other countries.
Despite that footing, tens of thousands of protesters thronged Moscow streets this past week in the first mass protest against Putin since he returned to the presidency in May. His tactics in cracking down on political opponents will make it difficult for Obama to play down longstanding U.S. complaints about human rights abuses that infuriate Russian leaders. The Kremlin ordered the detention and interrogation of at least one activist and searches of others' homes last week.
Putin's own return to the presidency was far more certain than Obama's re-election chances. Despite their differences, Putin probably would prefer a second Obama term to a Mitt Romney presidency, Katz said, not least because the Republican challenger has called Russia the chief strategic enemy of the United States.


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Bali really is as alluring as everyone says. This island, slightly bigger than Delaware, has it all: beaches, volcanoes, terraced rice fields, forests, renowned resorts, surfing, golf, and world-class dive sites. But what sets Bali apart from other nearby tropical destinations is Balinese tradition, and villagers dedicated to celebrating it. The hundreds of temples, dances, rituals, and crafts linked to their ancient Hindu faith aren't a show for tourists, but a living, breathing culture in which visitors are warmly received by the Balinese, who cherish their own identities. Snakes in the garden, including commercialism and traffic, diminish but don't destroy Bali's charm.
Bali's interior is mountainous and lush. At its edges, it is framed by thick mangrove swamps, sweeping white and black (volcanic) sand beaches, and lively coral reefs. The island also has a variety of ecosystems for wildlife such as mouse deer, monkeys, dolphins, giant turtles, and more than 300 bird species. Benoa Harbor, Bali's primary southern port, is within easy striking distance of southern Bali and is across the bay from Tanjung Benoa, a slender peninsula heading up from the exclusive Nusa Dua resort area.
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One of the most important pilgrim centers for the Hindus in the district is Narada-Gadde, which is about 15 miles from Raichur. It is surrounded by the Krishna river and the place is held sacred. The annual fair held in the month of Phalguna, i.e., about March, attracts thousands of pilgrims.
Kurugadde Sripada Srivallabha
Kurugadde near Devarsugur is well known festival center for the Smartas. The place is an island in the Krishna river course where a temple is built. The presiding deity is Sripada Srivallabha. Pilgrims visit the place all the year round.
Jitamitragadde Holy Bath
Jitamitragadde, another island in the river course of the Krishna, is a sacred place for the Hindus who visit the place all the year round for a holy bath.
Manvi Karemma, Yellamma, Mahamalleshappa, Sanjeevaraya
Manvi is a place of pilgrimage for Hindus where several fairs and festivals are held, the chief of which are Karemma Jatra held about January for two days, the Yellamma Jatra held about February for seven days, the Mahamalleshappa Jatra held usually about January and the Sanjeevaraya Jatra held about December. Manvi is also the birth-place of Jagannatha Dasa who spread the bhakti cult.
Devarbhupur Amareshwara
The Amareshwara Jatra in Lingsugur taluk, which is held for three days about the month of March, attracts a large numbers of persons. This fair is held at Devarbhupur and is highly popular with the Veerashaivas of the district.
Kadlur Kadlurayya Fair
The Kadlurayya fair at Kadlur held in the month of Margashira about December attracts a good number of people.
Balaganur Hanumanji
Hanumanji Jatra at Balaganur, Sindhanur taluk, held in Vaishakha about May, lasts for three days. A cattle show is also held as an adjunct to the religious fair.
Raichur District Syed Shams Alam Hussainali
The Syed Shams Alam Hussainali Urus held about August is a great Muslim festival. Muslims from all over the district and also from outside, congregate at Raichur on this occasion to offer prayers.
Deodurg is the headquarters town of the taluk of the same name and is about 34 miles west of Raichur. It was formerly a stronghold of Bidar chieftains and has an old fort. Nearby, there is a hill, which contains talc.
Amareshwara temple and jaggery trade - Devarbhupur, in Lingsugur taluk
Devarbhupur, in Lingsugur taluk, about 11 miles from Lingsugur, is noted for its Amareshwara temple and jaggery trade. The temple is beautifully situated amidst hillocks, which have green foliage. Under the auspices of this temple, annually a big jatra takes place in the month of Phalguna when a cattle fair is also held.
Sugureshwara or Veerabhadra temple - Devarsugur, in Raichur taluk
Devarsugur, in Raichur taluk, situated on the right bank of the Krishna river, is noted for its Sugureshwara or Veerabhadra temple. The annual jatra of this temple, held in the month of Margashira, attracts a large number of people.
Temples of Male-Shankara, Venkateshwara, Ishwara, Bangara Basappa and Hanuman- Gabbur, in Deodurg taluk
Gabbur, in Deodurg taluk, has several old temples and inscriptions. In the old days, it was a center of education and was also known as Gopuragrama. The most important of the temples are those of Male-Shankara, Venkateshwara, Ishwara, Bangara Basappa and Hanuman. In addition to these, there are several ruined temples, two or three mathas, a few cisterns and a gateway called the Chandi-gage with a temple on either side of it. The Male-Shankara temple is built of rough grey stone and has a high plinth. The carving in the temple is plain on account of the roughness of the stone. There are two inscriptional tablets at the northern and western entrances and there is a large cistern in front of the temple. The temple of Venkateshwara consists of three shrines, two of them containing the images of Vishnu and the third a linga. The carving on the outer walls of this temple, representing figures of various deities and animals, are elegent, the figures of elephants being particularly striking. On the eastern side of the temple, there is a large cistern, with beautifully carved masonry steps all round, called Sat baoli or seven cisterns. One of the mathas here is called Ganni Gudi Matha. It has a beautifully carved door. There is a tank, which is now in ruins. The Bangara Basappa temple has a shrine with an image of Ganesha, two Nandis (one is of fairly large in size and the other is a small one) and an inscriptional tablet. Gabbur has enclosure walls round it, which are of different periods and in different states of decay. The square form of their bastions is considered to be Muslim in design. According to inscription dated 1109 A.D., belonging to the reign of Vikramaditya VI of the Chalukyas of Kalyana, now placed in the Hyderabad Archaelogical Museum but originally belonging to a Jaina Temple at Gabbur, the place (then called Gobbur or Hiriya Gobbur) was an agrahara town in the 12th century A.D. The same record states that it had also a Jaina temple called Brahma-Jinalaya or Nagara-Jinalaya.
Panchamukhi Prana Devaru - Gandhal, in Raichur taluk
Gandhal, in Raichur taluk, which is situated about 20 miles south of Raichur, has a well known temple of Panchamukhi Prana Devaru (Hanuman with five faces) on a hillock. Visitors to Mantralaya (now in Andhra Pradesh) make it a point to visit this temple also.
Gurugunta samsthana - Gurugunta, in Lingsugur taluk
Gurugunta, in Lingsugur taluk, was the chief town of a small principality (samsthana) of Naiks related to the chiefs of Kankgiri and Shorapur. In the old days, these chiefs owed allegiance to Viajayanagara kings or Adil Shahs of Bijapur. The Gurugunta samsthana had survived under the Nizams and was merged in the district in 1949.
Gold mines
Hutti, in Lingsugur taluk, about 11 miles from Lingsugur, is well known for its gold mines
Central State Farm -Jawalgera, in Sindhanur taluk
Jawalgera, in Sindhanur taluk, is about 54 miles from Raichur. A Central State Farm has been started near this place, with an area of 7.569 acres.
fort of the Adil Shahs - Jaladurga, in Lingsugur taluk
Jaladurga, in Lingsugur taluk, is an island fort situated picturesquely in the Krishna river, about eight miles from Lingsugur. It was an important fort of the Adil Shahs of Bijapur, and Meadows Taylor has given a fine description of it in his book, Noble Queen (1874). Jawalgera
Sacred place- Kadlur, in Raichur taluk
Kadlur, in Raichur taluk, is looked upon as a sacred place. To the north of this village, the Bhima joins the Krishna. According to an inscription found at Chikalparvi, the Vijayanagara king Krishnadevaraya visited this pilgrim center with his family and offered worship.
Large and well-built wells- Kallur, in Manvi taluk
JKallur, in Manvi taluk, is a large village, about 13 miles from Raichur. The village is surrounded on all sides by granite hills except the east and derives its name from the abundance of the boulders on these hills. The village and the hills around are full of antiquities. The present village, which is a modern growth, is surrounded by an old wall, which appears to be a work of the 13th or 14th century A.D. But the five gates appear to be of Muslim period. Two of them, which are not in much use, have no names. The other three are called after the towns to which they lead, Manvi Darwaza, Kalmala Darwaza and Raichur Darwaza. The gates are more or less in a ruined condition. The superstructure of the Raichur Darwaza, which has been pulled down to construct the chavadi in the village, contained a wooden inscription in Kannada. According to this inscription, which now forms part of the ceiling of the chavadi building, the gateway was constructed by Agha Khusru, a well known Adil Shahi dignitary. There are six temples in and around the village. Out of these, only the Markandeshwara temple deserves some notice. This seems to be the oldest temple in the village and its hall has some pillars of black polished stone with beautiful carvings on them. A number of inscriptions have been found in this village, most of them belonging to the period of the Chalukyas of Kalyana. Another interesting feature of Kallur is that there are many large and well-built wells. Five of these wells are very spacious, which have been built of solid masonry and have flights of steps leading to their base. It is not known when and by whom they were constructed. The largest well is 50 feet X 50 feet on the surface and about 120 feet deep and contains sweet water Kalmala Kalmala, in Raichur taluk, about 9 miles from Raichur, has the samadhi of a noted saint, Kariappa Tata.
Naradagadde- Korva, in Raichur taluk
Korva, in Raichur taluk, is a beautiful island surrounded by the Krishna river, about 18 miles north-east of Raichur. It is looked upon as a holy place and is popularly known as Naradagadde, where sage Narada is said to have performed penance. A fine road has been laid from Raichur to this place, which has been also electrified. It has a temple dedicated to Narada, a famous Veerashaiva Matha, the samadhi of Vairagya Channabasavaswami who lived about four centuries ago and was well known for his mystic wisdom, a Shivayoga Peetha and a Basavanna temple. The annual jatra at this place attracts a large number of people and a cattle fair is also held at the time, when there is a brisk trade especially in blankets, brass vessels, bullocks and carts. Just near Naradagadde, there is Koormagadde (Kurumakshetra or Kuravakala) which has a Dattatreya Peetha and the samadhi of Sripadavallabha Swami. It is said to be the original place of Dattatreya. It has a temple dedicated to him, which is visited by devotees from far and near.
Mudgal is the fort- Mudgal, in Lingsugur taluk
Mudgal Mudgal, in Lingsugur taluk, a town about 10 miles south-west of Lingsugur, is one of the most important places of historical interest in the district, next in importance only to Raichur. Mudgal or Mudugal has a history dating back to the Yadava dynasty, several inscriptions of which have been discovered in and around the town. In the beginning of the 14th century, it was an important outpost of the Kakatiya kingdom. Malik Naib, after seizing Devagiri, captured Mudgal along with Raichur. After the establishment of the Bahmani dynasty and the Bijapur kings took possession of the western and southern parts of the territory of the Bahmani kingdom including the forts of Raichur and Mudgal. The most important object of interest at Mudgal is the fort. In the construction of the fort at Mudgal, advantage was taken of a hillock on the top of which were built houses of royalty and a wall with bastions. The outer fortifications of Mudgal cover an area of half a square mile. The outer fort has a wide moat, which is filled with water. The width of the moat varies, being as much as 50 yards at several places. Behind the moat, there is a scarp with a row of bastions and after that, a narrow covered passage and adjoining it the counter scarp with very massive bastions. From the arrangement of the existing fort, it is apparent that the fort was rebuilt after the inventions of guns. The courses of masonry at several places are of Hindu style, but the arch-shaped parapet is of Muslim design. The moat and the row of bastions together offer a pleasing view. In front of the Fateh Darwaza, which faces north, there is a very massive bastion, with a curtain on each side, thus making a barbican for the defence of the fort. Near this barbican is a guard's room with three arched openings towards the north. The barbican has a narrow court with entrances towards the west and north-east, the gates of which are built in the pillar-and-lintel style. In the covered passage of this gateway, there are guards' rooms on both sides. The massive bastion above referred to has a gun with a Kannada inscription near the muzzle. The gun has long iron pieces in its interior, which have been bound outwardly by hoops. There is another gateway on the western side, behind the narrow passage of which there is a second gateway with an arch. The walls at this point are cyclopean in construction. There are guards' rooms on either side of the passage of this gateway also. There is a third gateway to the left of the second, also arched, but the apex, as in the case of the previous one, is filled up with masonry. This gateway is more massive in construction than the other two, the guard's room attached to its passage also being more commodious. There is a mosque near this gateway, which consists of a double-pillared hall, the pillars being of Hindu design. On the opposite side of the road are the remains of the Naubat Khana. On the way to the Bala Hisar is the gun-powder magazine, where, at one end, two compartments have been built for the storage of gun-powder.
The Bala Hisar or citadel -
Citadel The Bala Hisar or citadel is built at the top of the hillock and commands a good view of the interior of the fort as well as of the surround country. The view gives a good idea of the extent of the fort and of the large garrison, which could be accommodated therein. There are several natural depressions in the rock above, which were utilized for storing water. Bastions and walls are built at different points for the defence of the buildings of the Bala Hisar. In the middle also, there is a large bastion, round in form. The hill near this bastion rises in the form of a spur and is detached from the lower parts of the hill by a ravine. There are some natural caverns below the Nauras Burj. The fort is defended towards the south-west by a range of hills. In the western part of the fort is a large cistern called the Hikrani Baoli – about 140 yards in length and 40 to 50 yards in breadth. When coming out from the fort, we see that the first (innermost) gateway is arch-shaped, lofty and massive. The second gateway is built in rather a hybrid style – the openings of the main entrance being in the pillar-and-lintel style and those of the guards' rooms being arch-shaped. The plinth, the columns and ceiling of the guards' rooms are lavishly decorated with sculpture. The outermost gate is built in the pillar-and-lintel style and the door is studded with iron spikes. It is called Kati Darwaza on account of the thorny appearance of the spikes. The panels of this door are decorated with figures of animals and gods carved in relief. A figure of a god holding a serpent is carved on the outer wall of the fort. There is another sculpture representing Hanuman. A bridge is built on the moat; but the approach is rather narrow. There are, in this fort, at least seven inscriptions belonging to the Adil Shahi dynasty of Bijapur, 15 old Kannada inscriptions and two later inscriptions in Devanagari script. There is an old Roman Catholic Church at this place. It is said that it stands on the foundation of one, which had been built by Jesuits before 1557 during the reign of Ibrahim Adil Shah who had granted inam land for its support. The original very old church was pulled down and another was built in its place later.
Commercial, Industrial and Educational Center-Raichur
CRaichur, the headquarters town of the district, is an important commercial, industrial and educational center. The place is of considerable antiquity. Malik Kafur captured it in 1312 and subsequently it was in the hands of Vijayanagara, Bahmani, Bijapur, Mughal and Asaf Jahi kings. The hill fort of Raichur, which was of great importance in the past, is surrounded on three sides by a double row of massive but low circuit walls. The inner wall, which is constructed of huge blocks of well-dressed and nicely fitted stones without the aid of any cementing material, is the work of the Hindus, according to a long Kannada inscription dated A.D. 1294 on a slab in the western inner wall. The outer wall, which is built of comparatively rough stone masonry, is, on the other hand, the work of the Muslims. The outer fortifications contain five gateways : the Mecca Darwaza on the west, the Naurangi Darwaza on the north, the Kati Darwaza on the east, the Khandak Darwaza on the south and the Doddi Darwaza on the south-east. The inner wall has two gateways : the Sailani Darwaza on the west and the Sikandari Darwaza on the east. The area inside the fort-walls abounds in the remains of ancient objects, of which a few important ones have been described here. The Mecca Darwaza and the adjoining walls were, according to the Persian inscriptions on the arches of the gateway, built by the command of one Mallu Khan in 1470 during the reign of the Bahmani king Muhammad Shah III. The modern road starting from the railway station and leading into the town passes through this way. The road proceeding from this entrance passes through a gap in the inner wall, just by the side of the long Kannada inscription referred to above. At a little distance to the right of this epigraph, there are some marvelous drawings. Some distance to the south of these drawings, near the ancient quarry, is a large depression locally known as Banda Baoli. Further to the south, near the fort of the hill, is the Doddi Darwaza, a double-arched entrance, in the Muslim wall. Near this gateway is a beautiful circular well constructed of fine stone masonry with a long staircase leading right to the bottom; but the well is now dry.
The gap in the inner wall mentioned above was made recently to give access to the road. Adjoining the Hindu wall, there is a tomb of a Muslim saint, Pir Sailani Shah. This is a handsome and fascinating structure built in Bijapur style, comprising a small rectangular hall, with an one-arched opening in each face – the arches resting on small stone pillars carved in Chalukyan fashion – and surmounted by a beautiful narrow-necked dome set on a circular row of lotus petals and ornamented with four small slim turrets at the corners. The big gateway situated here derives its name from the name of the saint and is called Sailani Darwaza. The road issuing from the gap proceeds eastwards. Some distance beyond the Hindu wall and to the south of the road, there is a large square cistern built of solid stone masonry. Further to the south and at the foot of the hillock, is a small mosque called the Kali Masjid, in the construction of which Hindu material has been freely used, as is evident from the beautifully polished Chalykyan pillars of black basalt and the fragments of Kannada inscriptions found on the slabs in its walls.
Fort Jami Masjid
The road next passes by the side of the Fort Jami Masjid situated to the north of the road. It is a handsome structure having two entrances, one in the south and the other in the east. The southern entrance, which is supported on six massive stone pillars of the Chalukyan style with square bases, cruciform capitals and circular and decorated middle portions, seems to have originally been the mantapa of some temple. Just opposite the entrance in the courtyard of the mosque is a cemetery, which is said to contain the graves of some members of the Adil Shahi dynasty. The eastern entrance of the mosque is crowned with three small domes, the middle one of which is circular and the other two pyramidal. To the left of this entrance, outside the mosque proper, is a deep well of considerable dimensions with masonry walls of stone all around. Opposite the Jami Masjid are the remains of an ancient Hindu palace. Of the original palace, there is very little remaining now, except the old walled enclosure and the big entrance by the side of the present jail. The jail also is said to have originally formed part of this building. But the alterations and modifications of the present day, suiting the requirements of the jail, have completely deprived the building of all its antiquarian grandeur and interest. Opposite the ruins of the palace and near the Sikandari Darwaza is a small mosque called Daftarki-Masjid. The material used for the construction of this also has been taken from some ruined Hindu temples. The mosque is entered through a domed structure, the lintel and brackets of which are supported on the pillars of that temple. The pillars in the prayer-hall are also of typically of Chalukyan workmanship. The mosque has in front a deep, oblong well, built with stone masonry. At this point, the road gets into the Sikandari Darwaza, which formed the eastern entrance of the Hindu fortifications. The gateway has two arched entrances, one facing the west and the other south. The former, which is crowned with a battlemented parapet, is in a ruined condition. On the faces of the two walls immediately adjoining are traces of old Kannada inscriptions, which are almost completely obliterated by the conquerors, as is clear from the various geometrical designs purposely made to chisel out the original writings.
Ek-Minar-ki-Masjid and Jami Masjid
A little further, to the left of the road, is an interesting mosque known as the Ek-Minar-ki_Masjid. One Amber constructed this mosque, according to the Persian inscription on its threshold. In this mosque also, the pillars supporting the roof of the entrance area all Chalukyan pillars. It has only one minaret, as its name itself suggests. The minaret, about 65 ft. high and 13 ft. in diameter, is built in Persian style and is identical in form with the Chand Minar at Daulatabad erected in 1445 by Ala-ud-din Bahmani and the minaret of the famous college of Mahmud Gawan at Bidar built during 1472. The minaret, which consists two storeys, each furnished with windows and surrounded by projecting galleries girded with stone balustrades, gradually tapers from bottom to top and has, at the top, a round dome in the Bahmani style. A winding staircase leads up to the top-storey, from which an excellent view of the town can be had. Apart from its architectural peculiarities, this mosque, as the inscriptions in the building show, is the oldest place of Muslim worship in the town.
Another Jami Masjid The road next leads to the Kati Darwaza, which marks the eastern limit of the Muslim fortifications. Outside the fort-walls in the same direction, is another Jami Masjid, which forms the biggest place of Muslim worship in the town. Entered through an arched entrance facing the south, the mosque has a vast rectangular courtyard in front and oblong water cistern in the south-east corner. The prayer hall is fairly large, being 101' 6" X 24' 5" internally, with eleven arched openings facing the east. On either side is a tall stone minaret in beautiful Bijapur style and the top is decorated with small turrets and a battlemented parapet. The flat ceiling of the mosque is supported on two rows of 10 pillars each in plan Chalukyan style. There is another road, which starts from the old tank in the south and leads right up to the Naurangi Darwaza in the north. It first enters through the Khandak Darwaza, a ruined gateway. A little distance along the road, to the west is an extensive rectangular well, called Khas Baoli, which is built of solid stone masonry and approached by means of big staircases in the corners. In the center of the well is a high platform approached through a causeway from the west. The well is said to have supplied water to the entire fort area. A little further, in the opposite direction, is another, comparatively smaller and well known as Andheri Baoli; a staircase from the north reaches it. From here, up to the Naurangi Darwaza, there are a number of old small mosques and other minor structures. The Naurangi Darwaza was so designated because of the lavishly painted and sculptured decorations which once adorned the gateway. The material used for its construction, from its mythological and artistic peculiarities, appears to have belonged originally to Hindu structures. The first gate of this entrance, facing the south, is flanked by a bastion on either end, one of them being square and the other circular. On a square stone slab in the former bastion, is a well carved figure of a Naga king, seated cross-legged in meditation on a fish, with a crown of five serpent-hoods on his head. Here, on other slabs, are carved various scenes from Hindu mythology.
Others Places
JKalmala Kalmala, in Raichur taluk, about 9 miles from Raichur, has the samadhi of a noted saint, Kariappa Tata. Kotekal Kotekal, in Manvi taluk, is situated on the Raichur-Lingsugur road, about 11 miles from Lingsugur. The village has two hillocks, each having a fort at its top. Along the slopes of these hillocks have been found artifacts, iron-slag and gold-crushers, belonging to the prehistoric period. Lingsugur Lingsugur is the headquarters of the taluk and the sub-division of the same name and is a commercial center. Till 1905, it was the headquarters of the Lingsugur district. Neolithic implements like stone axes, hammers, flakes and cores and plain pottery were discovered here. Manvi Manvi is the headquarters town of the taluk of the same name and a centre of developmental activities under the Tungabhadra Project. It has a well-known temple of Jagannathaswami and an old fort now in ruined condition Matmari Matmari, in Raichur taluk, is looked upon as a holy place. It has a temple dedicated to Veerabhadra and the well-known Matha of Sri Saviradevaru Channaveera Shivacharya Swami is nearby.
Maski, in Lingsugur taluk, situated 17 miles south-east of Lingsugur and 72 miles south-west of Raichur, on the right bank of a river of the same name, which is a tributary of the Tungabhadra, is highly interesting from the points of view of prehistory and protohistory. It must have been a town of considerable size and importance in the remote past, as is evident from the traces of its iron and gold workings covering a large area, and from the references made to it in a number of inscriptions ranging from the 10th to the 16th century A.D. Maski has proved to be one of the most important prehistoric sites in the district. As early as 1888, Bruce Foote, who collected various kinds of Neolithic implements and artifacts, which are now exhibited in the prehistoric section of the Madras museum, visited the place. Later, when Mr.G.Yazdani, the then Director of Archaeology of the erstwhile Hyderabad state, visited the place in 1935-36, he was struck by the abundance of artifacts, which he noticed on the surface of some sites. Among these sites, the so called fields of Sultan Muhammad were found to be particularly rich in antiquities. According to Yazdani, these fields constitute the site of the old town of Maski, access to which from the river-side was through a gorge amidst a ring of hills which surround the site. The hills have several spurs, the highest of which has Shaivite temple which, from its architecture, appears to be of the 13th century A.D. On two other spurs near the gorge, are two other temples – one goldsmiths' and the other weavers'. Weaving and gold-smelting are still the principal industries of the place.
Mudval, in Lingsugur taluk, is situated at about 12 miles from Lingsugur. The village has a stone-wall which shows that it was of considerable importance at some time. This is one of the important pre-historic sites of the district. Artifacts were found on the slopes of the hill about a mile and a half to the west of the village. Gold crushers and iron slags were found in abundance near this place.
Mukkunda, in Sindhanur taluk, is situated on the bank of the Tungabhadra, nearby a hill, about 20 miles from Sindhanur. There is an old and large fort on the top of the hill. At the entrance to the village, there is an old temple of Murari, built of stone. An island in the river has the dargah of Gaddikhader Wali, where an annual urs is held, which attracts a large number of people.
Ramagadde, in Raichur taluk, about 14 miles north of Raichur, is a beautiful island in the Krishna. It is looked upon as a holy place. According to a legend, Sri Ramachandra stayed here for a year and consecrated and worshipped a Shivalinga. It has a Veerashaiva Matha.
Roudkunda, in Sindhanur taluk, is situated about 6 miles to the east of Gorebal, the latter being on the Sindhanur-Gangavati road. The place seems to be an ancient one, since it is one of the important Neolithic sites in the district. To the west of the village, there are two hillocks, one of them having a small fort on it belonging to the 16th or 17th century A.D. Artifacts were found in abundance both in the valley between the two hillocks and on the slopes of the hillock having the fort.
Sindhanur is the headquarters of the taluk of the same name and is a commercial center for cotton. It occupies a central place in the Tungabhadra ayacut area in the district and is an important center of developmental activities under the Tungabhadra Project.
Somalpur, in Sindhanur taluk, about 14 miles from Sindhanur, is well known for its Ambadevi temple, situated at the foot of a hill, where annually a fair takes place in the month of Pushya, which is largely attended.
Venkatapur, in Lingsugur taluk, is about 3 miles due north of Maski. To the south of this village are two hills, along the skirts of which 45 cairns were found in a good condition of preservation. Some of them are in pairs. On the western side of these hills, there is another group of cairns with double rings, the outer ring in some cases having a diameter of about 50 feet. On the northern side of the hills, there are a few traces of square constructions, which appear to be old.
Kavital, in Manvi taluk, is a large village, situated on the Raichur-Lingsugur road, about 40 miles from Raichur and 18 miles from Lingsugur. There is a hillock to the south-west of the village which has several natural caverns. Along the slopes of the hill, artifacts, iron slag and pieces of ancient pottery were found. To the west of the village is an ash-mound on the top of which, in later times, a temple has been built. The ash-mound marks the site of an old smelting factory. There is an interesting medieval temple in the village, called Tryambakeshwara temple, which has three shrines, two of which contain lingas. There are two Kannada inscriptions in the temple and a beautiful image of Mahishasuramardini in one of the two niches in its western wall. All the three shrines are of a uniform size, each being 9 feet deep and 8 feet broad, and each one has an ante-chamber. Also of a uniform size of 7 feet X 8 feet, connected with the main hall. The exterior of the temple is plain, but the masonry work is very impressive. The shikharas of the shrines, which are of the Dravidian style, have been built up to about two-thirds of their height in dressed stone, while the remaining portion had been completed in brick and lime. The walls of the temple are built of huge blocks of pink granite, some of which are as big as 15 feet in length, 3 feet in breadth and about 2 feet in thickness. The plinth is covered with earth; but on the northern and western sides, some portion of it, are exposed and these show a frieze representing elephant-fights and other scenes.


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An atom is a particle of matter indivisible by chemical means [1] which form the building blocks of molecules. Although the word "atom" comes from the Greek term for indivisible, átomos, atoms are actually made up of three different kinds of subatomic particles; some of these are composed of yet smaller particles.
In the atomic nucleus there are positively charged protons and electrically neutral neutrons. Spinning around the nucleus are negatively charged electrons. Hydrogen, in its most common isotope, has only one proton and no neutrons.
Protons and neutrons are comprised of quarks and are contained closely together in the center of an atom, forming the nucleus. Electrons move in the space around the nucleus, and are arranged around it in a series of layers, known as shells or energy levels. Since protons and neutrons are approximately 2000 times as heavy as electrons, the vast majority of an atom's mass is found in the nucleus. Currently quarks and electrons are considered truly elementary particles. Atoms are mostly empty space, as the relative size of the nucleus compared to the area of the lowest electron shell is about that of a pea in a stadium. Another common analogy for the atom along the same lines is the "fly in the cathedral", where the cathedral is the whole atom and the fly is the nucleus.
Those who understand electrical theory might notice that positively charged particles packed closely together would repel one another. The nucleus stays together because of what is known as the strong nuclear force. The quantization of this force is a tiny particle called a "gluon".
===Atomic Number=== ----
Chemical elements are made up of atoms with certain properties. The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom (known as the atomic number) determine the properties of the atom, and the element it constitutes. For example, Hydrogen has one proton, and therefore an atomic number of 1. Oxygen has 8 protons in its nucleus and has an atomic number of 8. Under normal conditions, atoms contain an equal number of protons and electrons.
Atoms are normally electrically neutral; they have no charge. However, electrons in the valence shell can be gained or lost (depending on the element and the conditions) to form an ion. An atom that loses electrons becomes positively charged and is known as a cation. An atom that gains electrons electrons becomes negatively charged and is known as an anion. Anions of the common elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine are known as fluoride, chloride, bromide and iodide (replacing -ine with -ide), respectively.
Many common substances are made up of ions. For example, sodium chloride (NaCl), otherwise known as table salt, is made up of sodium cations (Na+) and chlorine anions (chloride, Cl-) in equal proportions. The negatively charged chloride ions are attracted to the positively charged sodium ions, forming an ionic bond. This results in a lattice structure, which is responsible for sodium chloride being crystalline in its solid state.
Atoms of the same element that have different numbers of neutrons are known as isotopes. Some isotopes are more stable than others, and occur more often in nature, but there is no "standard" number of neutrons in a given element. The atomic weight of an element is a weighted average of the number of neutrons and protons (number of protons remains constant in a given element) in all naturally occurring isotopes. Many isotopes are radioactive and decay over time.