Illustration - Loire Valley

Illustration - Loire Valley

FRANCE - LOIRE VALLEY - LOIR ET CHER (41) - CASTLE OF CHAMBORD : THE LARGE STAIRCASE WITH DOUBLE REVOLUTION (OR "DOUBLE HELIX"), WHICH ONE PROBABLY OWES TO LEONARDO DA VINCI, INCLUDES 2 RAMPS SUPERIMPOSED IN A HELIX ONE ABOVE THE OTHER ALLOWING, THANKS TO A HOLLOW CORE PIERCED WITH OPENINGS (PHOTO), TO A PERSON WHO DESCENDS NOT TO MEET THE ONE WHO GOES UP. PLACED IN THE CENTER OF THE DUNGEON, A REVOLUTIONARY DESIGN FOR THE TIME, IT SERVES THE TWO FLOORS, THE TERRACE, AND DISTRIBUTES THE ROOMS IN SYMMETRY. THIS PLAN IS INSPIRED BY THE TUSCAN VILLAS, NAMELY A CROSS VESTIBULE SERVED BY A CENTRAL STAIRCASE. NEARLY TWO HUNDRED CARVED CAPITALS ADORN THE PILASTERS OF THE STAIRCASE. Photo by Stephane Compoint/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Sinkhole at intersection near Tokyo

YASHIO, Japan, Jan. 30 Kyodo - Video taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 30, 2025, shows a large sinkhole at an intersection in Yashio in Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo. A sinkhole opened up on Jan. 28, swallowing a truck and a man believed to be its driver. Another sinkhole appeared during work to rescue him and the two holes later joined to become one large hole. (Kyodo)

Sinkhole at intersection near Tokyo

Sinkhole at intersection near Tokyo

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 30, 2025, shows a large sinkhole at an intersection in Yashio in Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo. A sinkhole opened up on Jan. 28, swallowing a truck and a man believed to be its driver. Another sinkhole appeared during work to rescue him and the two holes later joined to become one large hole.

Sinkhole at intersection near Tokyo

Sinkhole at intersection near Tokyo

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 30, 2025, shows a large sinkhole at an intersection in Yashio in Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo. A sinkhole opened up on Jan. 28, swallowing a truck and a man believed to be its driver. Another sinkhole appeared during work to rescue him and the two holes later joined to become one large hole.

Sinkhole at intersection near Tokyo

Sinkhole at intersection near Tokyo

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 30, 2025, shows a large sinkhole at an intersection in Yashio in Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo. A sinkhole opened up on Jan. 28, swallowing a truck and a man believed to be its driver. Another sinkhole appeared during work to rescue him and the two holes later joined to become one large hole.

Sinkhole at intersection near Tokyo

Sinkhole at intersection near Tokyo

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 30, 2025, shows a large sinkhole at an intersection in Yashio in Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo. A sinkhole opened up on Jan. 28, swallowing a truck and a man believed to be its driver. Another sinkhole appeared during work to rescue him and the two holes later joined to become one large hole.

Sinkhole at intersection in Yashio, near Tokyo

YASHIO, Japan, Jan. 28 Kyodo - video taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 28, 2025, shows a large sinkhole at an intersection in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo. A dump truck fell onto the hole that is 10 meters wide and six meters deep with fire authorities rescuing at least one person following the incident. (Kyodo)

Sinkhole at intersection in Yashio, near Tokyo

Sinkhole at intersection in Yashio, near Tokyo

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 28, 2025, shows a large sinkhole at an intersection in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo. A dump truck fell onto the hole that is 10 meters wide and six meters deep with fire authorities rescuing at least one person following the incident.

Sinkhole at intersection in Yashio, near Tokyo

Sinkhole at intersection in Yashio, near Tokyo

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 28, 2025, shows a large sinkhole at an intersection in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo. A dump truck fell onto the hole that is 10 meters wide and six meters deep with fire authorities rescuing at least one person following the incident.

Sinkhole at intersection in Yashio, near Tokyo

Sinkhole at intersection in Yashio, near Tokyo

Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on Jan. 28, 2025, shows a large sinkhole at an intersection in Yashio, Saitama Prefecture, near Tokyo. A dump truck fell onto the hole that is 10 meters wide and six meters deep with fire authorities rescuing at least one person following the incident.

Geyser eruption at geothermal plant in Miyagi Pref.

Geyser eruption at geothermal plant in Miyagi Pref.

SENDAI, Japan - An aerial photo shows a large hole on the surface at Onikobe geothermal power station in Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture, on Oct. 18, 2010, which was made by a geyser eruption the day before. One worker is missing while the other sustained serious injuries in the incident.

Geyser eruption at geothermal plant in Miyagi Pref.

Geyser eruption at geothermal plant in Miyagi Pref.

SENDAI, Japan - An aerial photo shows a large hole on the surface at Onikobe geothermal power station in Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture, on Oct. 18, 2010, which was made by a geyser eruption the day before. One worker is missing while the other sustained serious injuries in the incident.

Geyser eruption at geothermal plant in Miyagi Pref.

Geyser eruption at geothermal plant in Miyagi Pref.

SENDAI, Japan - An aerial photo shows a large hole on the surface at Onikobe geothermal power station in Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture, on Oct. 18, 2010, which was made by a geyser eruption the day before. One worker is missing while the other sustained serious injuries in the incident. (Kyodo)

Geyser eruption at geothermal plant in Miyagi Pref.

Geyser eruption at geothermal plant in Miyagi Pref.

SENDAI, Japan - An aerial photo shows a large hole on the surface at Onikobe geothermal power station in Osaki, Miyagi Prefecture, on Oct. 18, 2010, which was made by a geyser eruption the day before. One worker is missing while the other sustained serious injuries in the incident. (Kyodo)