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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

An alvar is a biological environment based on a limestone plain with thin or no soil and, as a result, sparse vegetation. It is also known as a pavement barren although this term is also used for similar landforms based on sandstone. In the United Kingdom the exposed landform is called a limestone pavement and thinly covered limestone is known as calcareous grassland. This challenging habitat supports a community of rare plants and animals, including species more commonly found on prairie grasslands. Lichen and mosses are common species. Trees and bushes are absent or severely stunted. Alvars can be found in southern Sweden, northwest Estonia and around the Great Lakes in Michigan, New York and Ohio in the United States and in Ontario and Quebec in Canada. Alvars comprise a small percentage of the Earth’s ecosystems by land extent; although some 120 exist in the Great Lakes region, they comprise only 0.2% of the land area there.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/9 1/125 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

In North America, alvars provide habitat for birds such as Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlarks, Upland Sandpipers, Eastern Towhees, Brown Thrashers and Loggerhead Shrikes whose habitat is declining elsewhere. Rare plants include northern bog violet, balsam squaw-weed, Kalm’s lobelia, Pringle’s aster, Juniper sedge (Carex juniperorum), Lakeside daisy (Hymenoxys acaulis), Ram’s-head Lady’s-slipper (Cypripedium arietinum) and Dwarf Lake Iris (Iris lacustris). Also associated with alvars are rare butterflies and snails.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/10 1/200 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

The use of the word “alvar” to refer to this type of environment originated in Scandinavia. The largest alvar in Europe is located on the Swedish island of Öland. Here the thin soil mantle is only .5 to 2.0 centimeters thick in most places and in many extents consists of exposed limestone slabs. The landscape there has been designated a UNESCO World heritage site.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

Stora Alvaret, Öland – Largest alvar extent in Europe.

source: In English Alvar In Swedish Alvar

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EXIF: Sigma 13 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-180 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 20 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-110 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 13 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-180 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 20 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-125 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

Oscarsborg Fortress (Norwegian: Oscarsborg festning) is a coastal fortress in the Oslofjord, close to the small town of Drøbak. The fortress is situated on two small islets, and on the mainland to the west and east, in the fjord and was military territory until 2003 when it was made a publicly available resort island. The fortress is best known for its sinking on 9 April 1940 of the German heavy cruiser Blücher.

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EXIF: Sigma 14 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-110 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

I wish you all a sunny day!

source: In English Oscarsborg Fortress In Norwegian Oscarsborg festning In Swedish Oscarsborg In Danish Oscarsborg

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EXIF: Sigma 20 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-110 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 10 mm f/9 1/160 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 20 mm f/10 1/320 ISO-100 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 20 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-180 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 20 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-160 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 20 mm f/11 1/320 ISO-100 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

Before the sun disappeared.

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EXIF: Sigma 18 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-110 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

Today I brought my camera when walking the dog and it is a cold, but beautiful winter day today.

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EXIF: Sigma 18 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-140 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 18 mm f/9 1/125 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

I haven’t had the time to visit you all, but I will make time to all that comment on this blog.

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EXIF: Sigma 20 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-160 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

Yet another busy week is soon gone. We wish you all a sunny weekend. This picture is from October.

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EXIF: Sigma 12 mm f/9 1/80 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

As always the first week in a new year is very busy and it is first today I have been able to touch my camera. There has come a lot of snow the last days and these pictures are taken from our garden.

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EXIF: Sigma 10 mm f/9 1/80 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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The sun is shining today and me and our dog is having fun in the garden. I guess there will be some picture of the dog tomorrow.

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EXIF: Sima 20 mm f/9 1/160 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

This is from Braastad in Sweden near Lysekil on our way to Fyn, Denmark for the holiday.

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/5 1/400 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

The spring is a lovely time isn’t it?

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EXIF: Sigma 20 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-140 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

There is no need for words in this post, just enjoy!

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EXIF: Sigma 20 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-140 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 20 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-140 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 18 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-100 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 10 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-125 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 12 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 17 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-160 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 19 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-140 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 20 mm f/5,6 1/500 ISO-100 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 20 mm f/5,6 1/500 ISO-100 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 20 mm f/5,6 1/1000 ISO-100 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Sigma 10 mm f/10 1/250 ISO-140 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

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EXIF: Nikkor 40 mm f/9 1/160 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

Tomorrow we are leaving for Skagen, Denmark for our Ester holiday. We wish you all a happy weekend and a lovely Easter.

View Larger Map

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EXIF: Nikkor 105 mm f/4 1/125 ISO-200 (Click on the picture to see it in full size.)

There once was a king, who called for the spring,
For his world was still covered with snow,
But the spring had not been, for he was wicked and mean,
In his winter fields nothing would grow;
And when a traveller called, seeking help at the door,
Only food and a bed for a night,
He ordered his slave to turn her away,
The girl with april in her eyes…