Malta 29 The Blue Grotto

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Malta
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Mediterranean gem
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The Blue Grotto is the most famous cave in Malta,
with its deep waters displaying magnificent
dazzling colours, ranging from turquoise to deep
blue. Situated in southwestern Malta famous for
its rocky coastline, near the village of Zurrieq,
the waters around the limestone caves and
archways are said to be at their most impressive
in the early morning when the sun's rays glimmer
through the opening to the grotto
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Zurrieq is one of the oldest towns in Malta
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Wied Babu promenade in Zurrieq
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Wied Babu promenade in Zurrieq
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Agave plants are perennial, but each rosette
flowers once and then dies
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The Blue Grotto, sea caverns on the south coast
of Malta
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The cave, which is known as Il-Hnejja, meaning
'The Arch', in Maltese, was given its English
name by British soldiers who thought that its
blue waters resembled the Grotta Azzurra (Blue
Grotto) in Capri
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Wardija Tower, originally known as Torre della
Guardia di Giorno and also known as Bubaqra Tower
The Maltese Falcon
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To get to the grotto, visitors travel by boat,
passing under a massive arch, deep into the
43-metre (140-ft) high cave which is hollowed out
of the cliff rock face
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The system consists of six caves carved by years
of relentless pounding by the sea, of which the
Blue Grotto is the largest and most impressive
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The water seems an impossible cobalt colour as
the sky reflects off the white sand bottom
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The caves sparkle both with blue reflections of
the sea and orange, purple and green of the
various minerals present in the rocks
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Id-Dikkina at Wied Iz-Zurrieq
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The need for a small landing and berthing place
at the inner part of the valley saw the
excavation of small steps allowing easier and
independent access down to the waters edge. The
bench like steps adopted the name of
Id-Dikkina, possibly derived from an old Arabic
word, Dokkana meaning benches, offers the ideal
place to families wanting some peace and away
from the boats coming and going out of the valley
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Opuntia ficus indica  Barbary fig, cactus pear,
spineless cactus, or prickly pear
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Text Internet Pictures Sanda Foisoreanu
Gabriela Cristescu Internet
(slide2, 42) All copyrights belong to their
respective owners Presentation Sanda Foisoreanu
2017
Sound Mango - Bella d'estate Mare
calmissimo