Showing posts with label Places. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Places. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Faisal Mosque


The Faisal Mosque in Islamabad is the largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and one of the largest mosques in the world. It was the largest mosque in the world from 1986 to 1993 when overtaken in size by the completion of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca, Morocco. Subsequent expansions of the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) of Mecca and the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) in Medina, Saudi Arabia during the 1990s relegated Faisal Mosque to fourth place in terms of size.
Faisal Mosque is conceived as the National Mosque of Pakistan. It has a covered area of 5,000 m2 (54,000 sq ft) and has a capacity to accommodate approximately 300,000 worshippers (100,000 in its main prayer hall, courtyard and porticoes and another 200,000 in its adjoining grounds). Although its covered main prayer hall is smaller than that of the Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca (the world's third largest mosque), Faisal Mosque has the third largest capacity of accommodating worshippers in its adjoining grounds after the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) of Mecca, the Al-Masjid al-Nabawi (Prophet's Mosque) in Medina Each of the Mosque's four minarets are 80 m (260 ft) high (the tallest minarets in South Asia) and measure 10 x 10 m in circumference.
The Faisal Mosque is named after the late King Faisal bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, who supported and financed the project.

Dubai


Dubai is the most populous and second largest emirate of the United Arab Emirates after Abu Dhabi. The city of Dubai dates back to 1095 AD, when it was first mentioned in a historic record. In 1833 the Al Maktoum dynasty took over the city, thereby creating a new indepent emirate. The dynasty has been ruling over the Dubai emirate since then. In 1971 Dubai, together with Abu Dhabi and five other emirates, formed the United Arab Emirates after Britain left the Persian Gulf. 
The population in Dubai consists by 85% of foreigners who work in the Emirate. The economy of Dubai depends on oil only for 6% of its GDP, the remainder being generated mainly by services (international trade) and tourism. Dubai is currently undergoing through a rapid development phase with a large number of ongoing construction projects, the most well known being the creation of artificial islands off Dubai's coast for residential purposes and the construction of the world's tallest skyscraper, the Al Burj. From a tourist perspective Dubai offers great beaches (best time for visiting is November to April, after it becomes too hot) and lots of shopping opportunities in Dubai's countless malls
and shopping complexes. 

America


America is an American folk rock band, composed originally of members Gerry Beckley,Dewey Bunnell, and Dan Peek. The three members were barely past their teenage years when they became a musical sensation during 1972, scoring  1 hits and winning a Grammy for best new musical artist. Their recording success was almost entirely throughout the 1970s; some of the band's best known songs are "A Horse with No Name", "Sister Golden Hair" (both of which reached #1), "Ventura Highway", "Tin Man", "Daisy Jane", and "Lonely People".
Some of the band's singles and albums were successful commercially, and they attracted the services of The Beatles' producer, George Martin, for a series of seven albums.
The band suffered a heavy blow when Dan Peek quit the group in 1977, right at its apex, but Beckley and Bunnell returned America to the top 10 as a duo with "You Can Do Magic" in 1982. Continuing to tour, America maintains a loyal fan base and performs over 100 shows per year.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Malaysia

The Petronas Twin Towers (also known as the Petronas Towers or KLCC) are skyscrapers and twin towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004 until surpassed by Taipei 101, but remain the tallest twin buildings in the world.

The Petronas Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in the world for six years, until Taipei 101 was completed in 2004. The height of the towers are measured to the top of their structural components such as spires, but do not include antennas. Spires are considered actual integral parts of the architectural design of buildings, to which changes would substantially change the appearance and design of the building, whereas antennas may be added or removed without such consequences. The Petronas Twin Towers still remain the tallest twin buildings in the world.

The Petronas's height compared to some other well-known tall structures
Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) and the World Trade Center towers were each constructed with 110 occupied floors – 22 more than the Petronas Twin Towers’ 88 floors. Willis Tower and the World Trade Center’s roofs and highest occupied floors substantially exceeded the height of the roof and highest floors of the Petronas Twin Towers. Willis Tower’s tallest antenna is 247.4 ft taller than the Petronas Twin Towers’ spires. However, in accordance to CTBUH regulations and guidelines, the antennas of Willis Tower were not counted as part of its architectural features. The spires on the Petronas Towers are included in the height since they are not antenna masts. Therefore, the Petronas Twin Towers exceed the official height of Willis Tower by 10 m, but Willis Tower has more floors and much higher square footage.