Images Dated 12th February 2011

Sacred Shiprock

The eroded sacred mountain, Shiprock, with one side illuminated by the sunlight stands on the arid field of New Mexico, USA. The color of the sky graduates from orange to blue above in sunset. Short grass covers all over the field and reflects a hint of warm and idyllic orange hue from the sunset

1089247932, Desert, Landscape, Nature, No People, Scenics Nature

HMS Cornwalls Lynx Helicopter Flies Over HMS Cumberland in the Indian Ocean

HMS Cumberland cuts through the Indian Ocean as sister ship HMS Cornwall's Lynx helicopetr flies across her bow.
The two Type 22 frigates met in the Indian Ocean before going their separate ways.
HMS Cornwall is currently the Command Platform for the Combined Task Force 151 (CTF151 being the counter-piracy mission of Combined Maritime Forces, a 25 nation coalition committed to maritime security throughout the Middle East). HMS Cumberland meanwhile is the Royal Navy's current Operation Telic vessel

© Crown Copyright

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People release sky lanterns to celebrate the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival in Pingxi, Taipei County February 12, 2011. Believers gathered to release sky lanterns as a form of prayer for good luck and blessings. The tradition of releasing lanterns began during the Ching Dynasty when bands of outlaws frequently raided villages, forcing local residents to seek refuge in the mountains. The lanterns were signals used by the village watchmen to inform the refugees that their houses were safe again. The Lantern Festival or Yuan Xiao Jie is a Chinese festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar year in the Chinese calendar. REUTERS/Nicky Loh (TAIWAN - Tags: SOCIETY RELIGION)