Roussillon is considered one of the most beautiful villages of France. Thanks to the nearby ocher mines, which are a major tourist attraction, has the whole village a reddish colour. Also, the local soil has all the shades of red, ranging from beige to dark red. It used to be mined 17 different colors of ocher – purple, red, orange, yellow, and many others. The history of this site dates back to 230 million years ago, when all the area of Provence was under the sea. The sand at the bottom contained iron, which later oxidized, and such created the ocher.

Already the ancient Romans used it to produce glazes on pottery. In 18th century the local residents found out how to adjust the pigment to be resistant to water. With this discovery, a new industry of colors began. Such colors could be used not only for surface treatment of ceramic products, but also in painting houses. The production of colours decreased in 50′s of 20th century. Nowadays, the ocher is not mining any more and this pigment is produced artificially. The village, however, maintain the original color, and together with its surrounding it is a protected area.

In the village you can walk through the narrow and steep streets that are lined with houses with beautiful red-colored facades, houses the souvenir shops. The beautiful village of Roussillon is unfortunately flooded with crowds in the summer, so if you want to enjoy its unique atmosphere, it is good to visit in a spring or autumn.

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Cascate delle Marmore, Italy by Zumzum

Initially built as am means of reducing the threat of malaria back in 271 B.C., the Cascate delle Marmore was formed when a canal was created to drain the wetlands over the edge of the cliffs. The flood waters drained into the Nera River which can be found at the bottom of the cliffs. The falls are now a very popular tourist attraction in the area.

The Cascate delle Marmore can be found about 8 kilometers from the city of Terni. The falls are fed by the Velino River which also flows through the nearby hydroelectric power station. The flow of water through the Cascate delle Marmore is controlled based on a preset schedule. This is so that the tourists can still marvel at the falls, while not overly affecting the power generation of the plant. Most tourists to the area make their plans ahead of schedule to ensure they are there the moment the gates are opened and the water starts gushing down the Cascate delle Marmore.

Built back in 1929, the Galleto power plant is fed by Piediluco Lake and produces 530 megawatts of power for the cities around the area. During the slow times of the day, when power generation is not as important, the falls are turned on. This occurs daily between noon and 1 as well as between 4 and 5 in the afternoon.

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