June 15, 2007
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weekly photo challenge – heart of the country
This week’s subject is suggested by Timages
His subject is Heart of the Country.
My “country,”– my milieu, stomping grounds, territory– is Alaska. The name comes from the Russian corruption of an Aleut word, “alaxsxaq”, literally meaning “object toward which the action of the sea is directed” or more simply “the mainland”. (The Aleut people populated the Aleutian Island chain, and were the first ones the Russians met on their way here.) The typically chauvinistic Alaskan interpretation is, “The Great Land.”
It is great, as in large, outstanding, impressive–from the fjords and glaciers of Southeast, to the tundra and ice floes of the North. The “heart” of this great land surely must be Denali, the highest mountain on the North American continent, sacred forever to the Athabaskan tribes who live here within sight of it. In the language of the Tanaina, Denali means “The Great One.”
You can see one of my photos of Denali in my page background. It was shot this year, during breakup. Here are two more:
Fall, 2002:
Summer, 2001:
Comments (13)
I love the sound of the word. It’s almost as if mountains have their own language. Denali sounds like it could be sitting at table next to Kilimanjaro or Fuji.
Not to sound like Eugene O’ Neil, but “Ahh, wilderness”. There’s something to be said about the beauty of something of which man has not touched, huh?
And The Protector totally RAWKED! It just kept upping the ante in the action, and that was a nice (seemingly) uncut scene when Tony Jaa came into the hotel/restaurant.
Awesome! I would love to visit Alaska someday.
Gorgeous photos.
Those are incredible pictures, they are so beautiful!
By the way, that was really interesting about the origins on the word Alaska. I never knew that, but it is good to know how the name came about.
Alisha
Great photos .. I would love to visit Alaska some time!
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Very beautiful. Alaska is on my wish list of places to visit. When we traveled, we had three pets and we were advised that it wasn’t a good idea to take pets to Alaska if you wanted to really see the beauty …I hope I get there before I’m too old.
anywhere the eye can see beyond forever, is a beautiful place too me….
so beautiful
Wonderful space, i can “feel ” the fresh air in your photos, and thanks for the background/history
i miss alaska, i wemt there for 2 weeks when i was 9 and loved it… can’t wait to take my hubby there! great pics
Great post. The background information is interesting – thanks.
Enjoyed!!!