When Rivers Collide: 10 Incredible Confluences Around the World

In geography, a confluence is the meeting of two or more bodies of water. Known also as a conflux, it refers either to the point where a tributary joins a larger river, called the main stem, or where two streams meet to become the source of a river of a new name, such as the confluence of the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania creating the Ohio River.

The term is also used to describe the meeting of tidal or other non-riverine bodies of water, such as two canals or a canal and a lake. Below is a collection of 10 incredible confluences around the world. For more, there is a fascinating list of notable confluences on Wikipedia that I recommend you check out.

The confluences below were selected for their dramatic visual contrast. Thus, culturally significant confluences such as the Sangam near Allahabad, India, where the sacred rivers Ganges, Yamuna and Saraswati meet to create one of the holiest places in Hinduism, were not included for this reason. Please enjoy the list below and let us know of any other interesting confluences you are aware of. Perhaps we can do a follow-up post if there is interest!

1. Confluence of the Rhone and Arve Rivers in Geneva, Switzerland

In this incredible photograph we see the confluence of the Rhone and Arve rivers in Geneva, Switzerland. The river on the left is the Rhone, which is just exiting Lake Lehman. The river on the right is the Arve, which receives water from the many glaciers of the Chamonix valley (mainly the Mer de Glace) before flowing north-west into the Rhone on the west side of Geneva, where its much higher level of silt brings forth a striking contrast between the two rivers. 

Amazing Facts About Our Human Body

Our bodies are truly amazing things. But in these busy life, we sometimes forget just how amazing they are. However, the human body is a truly revolutionary machine of evolution and while we don’t have wings, armor, venom, or claws, but there are some truly cool things about our bodies that some people will hardly believe.

1. You Can Live Without Many of Your Internal Organs

Unique Moments Of Life

Life is amazing because every person has his unique moments and some of them have enough luck to have photos of it. Being ready to capture great pics takes a lot of patience but when you accomplish that, the results will be amazing. 

Interesting Facts

Team of the IPL 2012

1. Chris Gayle
Runs 733, strike rate 161, sixes 59
A no-brainer at the top of the order. Let's move on.

2. Gautam Gambhir (capt)
Runs 590, strike rate 144, 50s 6
Edged out Virender Sehwag, Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane for the other opener's slot because of his consistency and ability to score on difficult Eden Gardens pitches. Gambhir's passion trumped MS Dhoni's cool, so he's our captain. Also because of this legendary line, "We did it for Balaji."

3. Suresh Raina
Runs 441, strike rate 136, wickets 2, economy 7.50
Had an average season before a blitz in the final, during which he pulled bouncers and successfully attacked Sunil Narine. Made the cut because he can chip in with a couple of overs of spin if one of our bowlers has an off day. Raina was expectedly exceptional at cover.

Japanese Man cooks his own Genitals for Dinner – Serves them to Guests

This is without a doubt going to be the most bizarre/grotesque story you will ever read…probably.

Double dog warning…DO NOT PROCEED IF YOU ARE SQUEEMISH!

This is the tweet illustrator Mao Sugiyama sent out to his followers a day before a colossal disaster in good taste occurred.

माहेश्वरी जाति का उत्पति दिवस.....

महेश नवमी 30 मई, 2012 (बुधवार) को : माहेश्वरी जाति का उत्पति दिवस.....

मयाध्यछेन्न प्रकृति: सूयते सचराचरम l हेतुनानेन कौन्तेय जगद्विपरिवर्तते ll (गीता अ.६/१०).
(मुझ अधिष्ठाता संकास से प्रकृति चर-अचर सहित सर्वजगत को रचती है l हे कौन्तेय ! इस हेतु यह संसार आवागमन रूप चक्र में घूमता है l 

माहेश्वरी जाति का उत्पति-प्रकाश.....

सूर्यवंशी राजाओं में चौहान जाति के खड्गल सेन राजा खंडेला नगर में राज्य करते थे l वाह बड़े दयालु और न्यायप्रिय थे l उनके राज्य में प्रजा बड़े सुख से रहती थी l मृग और मृगराज एक घाट में पानी पीते थे l राजा को हमेशा एक ही चिन्ता रहती थी कि उनके एक भी पुत्र नहीं था l एक समय राजा ने बड़े आदर भाव से जगतगुरु ब्राह्मणों को अपने यहाँ बुलाकर बड़ा सत्कार किया l राजा की सेवा भक्ति से ब्राह्मण लोग बड़े संतुष्ट हुए l ब्राह्मणों ने राजा को वर मांगने को कहा l तब राजा ने कहा कि मेरे पुत्र नहीं है, कृपा करके मेरी इच्छा पूरी करायें l तब ब्राह्मणों ने राजा से कहा कि यदि आप भगवान् शिव की उपासना करोगे तो आपको एक होनहार, पराक्रमी और चक्रवर्ती पुत्र प्राप्त होगा, परन्तु उसे सोलह वर्ष तक उत्तर दिशा में मत जाने देना और जो उत्तर दिशा में 'सूर्य कुण्ड' है, उसमें स्नान मत करने देना l यदि वाह ब्राह्मणों से द्वेष नहीं करेगा तो चक्रवर्ती राज करेगा, अन्यथा इसी देह से पुनर्जन्म लेगा l इस प्रकार ब्राह्मणों का आशीर्वाद प्राप्त कर राजा बड़ा प्रसन्न हुवा l राजा ने उनको वस्त्र, आभूषण, गाय आदि देकर प्रसन्नचित विदा किया l राजा के चौबीस रानियाँ थी l कुछ समय बाद उनके एक रानी चम्पावती के पुत्र जन्म हुवा l राजा ने बड़ा आनन्द मनाया और नवजात शिशु का नाम सुजान कुँवर रखा l सात वर्ष का होते ही राजकुमार घोड़े पर चढ़ना, शस्त्र चलाना सीख गया l जब वह बारह वर्ष का हुवा तो शत्रु लोग उससे डरने लगे l वाह चौदह विद्या पढ़कर होशियार हो गया l राजा उसके काम को देखकर संतुष्ट हुए l राजा ने इस बात का ध्यान रखा कि सुजान कुँवर उत्तर दिशा में न जाने पाये l 

Hanging Monasteries

On a wing and a prayer: The extraordinary hanging monasteries that cling to the sides of cliffs 

• When you're trying to connect with your god, it helps to find some peace and quiet, if you can.

But that was, indeed, no such problem for the architects of these impossibly built monasteries.

Constructed at dizzying heights on the sides of mountains, they ensured only the most devoted - and vertigo-free - followers would join them for prayer.

Gripping: This gravity-defying hanging monastery clings to the side of Mt Huashan in China and is only accessible via steep and dangerous paths