The Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District of San Francisco, California, is a monumental structure originally constructed for the 1915 Panama-Pacific Exposition in order to exhibit works of art presented there. One of only a few surviving structures from the Exposition, it is still situated on its original site. It was rebuilt in 1965, and renovation of the lagoon, walkways, and a seismic retrofit were completed in early 2009. In addition to hosting art exhibitions, it remains a popular attraction for tourists and locals and is a favorite location for weddings and wedding party photographs for couples throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Model Credit: Amanda Brown (@amandabrrownn)
Everybody knows about the Amazon, the world's largest tropical rain forest. However there are several lesser-known temperate rain forests, such as the Hoh Rain Forest on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. The Hoh Rain Forest is characterized by extremely high densities of of plants and other vegetation. Per unit area the rain forest is most productive place on earth--the biomass in these forest is 500 tons/acre, while the tropical rain forest supports a biomass of 300 tons/acre. Additionally, there is more diversity of species in the temperate rain forest here than in the tropical forest. The rain forest serves to store a remarkable genetic diversity.
The Embarcadero, along San Francisco's eastern shoreline, is home to several waterfront attractions. With its iconic clock tower, the 1898 Ferry Building is a major food lover's draw, featuring restaurants such as the acclaimed Slanted Door, plus gourmet shops and a popular farmers' market. A series of piers offers ferries to Alcatraz Island, science exhibits at the Exploratorium, restaurants and Bay Bridge views. Model Credit: Amanda Brown (@amandabrrownn)
