Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

Finally, Europe has found a place on the map that pinpoints the areas where <keyword id="163713" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Early-humans">early humans</keyword> existed much before the current human species or <keyword id="602546" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Homo-sapiens">Homo sapiens</keyword> came into being. According to a recent report published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE, British scientists, on a routine geological survey, have discovered the <keyword id="214190" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Footprints">footprints</keyword> of ancient humans called <keyword id="2064704" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hominins">hominins</keyword> on the <keyword id="2064715" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Muddy-bank">muddy bank</keyword> of an <keyword id="2064717" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Estuary">estuary</keyword> at <keyword id="2064705" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Happisburgh">Happisburgh</keyword> in <keyword id="86049" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Norfolk">Norfolk</keyword>. These <keyword id="2064706" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Footmarks">footmarks</keyword> are about 800,000 years old and look like they belonged to a group of adults and children – probably that of a family. 
 However, these are not the oldest footmarks left by our ancient ancestors. You will find such footprints at <keyword id="2064707" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Laetoli">Laetoli</keyword> in <keyword id="89578" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Tanzania">Tanzania</keyword> dating back to 3.5 million years while those found at <keyword id="2064708" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Ileret">Ileret</keyword> and <keyword id="1179917" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Koobi-Fora">Koobi Fora</keyword> in <keyword id="6360004" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Kenya">Kenya</keyword> are about 1.5 million years old. But the hominin footprints found in the UK are the oldest outside <keyword id="12925" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="100" keywordseo="Africa">Africa</keyword>, clearly indicating that our ancestors evolved in <keyword id="686724" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Continental-Europe">continental Europe</keyword> as well. After all, <keyword id="6355981" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="England">England</keyword> was not much like an island in those days and was connected to the continental Europe. 
 Scientists analysed the shallow prints using multi-image <keyword id="2064709" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Photogrammetry">photogrammetry</keyword>, a technique that combines digital photographs to create a permanent record. The final output shows that the hollows are distinctly elongated and tally with the foot sizes of hominins from different age-groups. In many cases, one can distinctly identify the heel, the arch and even the toes. 
 
In case you are curious, let us tell you these foot sizes match the modern shoe sizes of 7 or 8 in UK/India. The US equivalent will be size 8 or 9 while the European equivalent will be 41 or 42. The biggest footprints could be that of a male while the smaller ones, varying in size, could be left by women and children. 
 
As for height, the hominins seem to resemble the Homo sapiens and their heights varied between 2'11" and 5'6" (depending on age). Another interesting point is that each walked on their two feet, which means these ancient people were fully bipedal. 
 “This is an extraordinarily rare discovery,” said <keyword id="1295177" type="PERSON" weightage="80" keywordseo="Nick-Ashton">Nick Ashton</keyword> of the <keyword id="173563" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="80" keywordseo="British-Museum">British Museum</keyword>, who led the research team, which also involved the National History Museum and Queen Mary University London. “At first we weren’t sure what we were seeing,” Dr Ashton told the media. “But as we removed any remaining beach sand and sponged off the seawater, it was clear that the hollows resembled prints and that we needed to record the surface as quickly as possible before the sea eroded it away,” he said. 
 But what is the real identity of the <keyword id="2064711" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Happisburgh-hominins">Happisburgh hominins</keyword> whose footmarks indicated that they were travelling south, treading the mud-flats along the river edge? Going by several points of similarity regarding body stature and the period in history when they existed, some experts believe that they might have belonged to the species called <keyword id="2064713" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Homo-antecessor">Homo antecessor</keyword> or <keyword id="2064703" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Pioneer-Man">Pioneer Man</keyword>, whose fossil remains have been found at <keyword id="1329916" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Atapuerca">Atapuerca</keyword> in <keyword id="6363645" type="COUNTRY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Spain">Spain</keyword>. 
 Homo antecessor might have become extinct from Europe some 600,000 years ago and next came <keyword id="1453378" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Homo-heidelbergensis">Homo heidelbergensis</keyword>, followed by the <keyword id="528865" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Neanderthals">Neanderthals</keyword> and finally, the modern humans or Homo sapiens, who came into existence some 40,000 years ago. 
 
Image: Wikipedia

Footprints
In The Mud Of Time Indicate Early Humans Treaded European Shores

Nestled in the southern delta region of <keyword id="6357783" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="West-bengal" source="Orion">West Bengal</keyword>, India, the <keyword id="1364814" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Sundarbans-National-Park" source="Orion">Sundarbans National Park</keyword> stands as a unique and enigmatic treasure. Home to the largest mangrove forest in the world, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place where the wilderness meets the <keyword id="62793" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="mangroves" source="Orion">mangroves</keyword>, where the land dissolves into water, and where an astonishing diversity of life flourishes. In this article, we embark on a journey to explore the mysteries, ecological significance, and captivating beauty of the <keyword id="63330" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sundarbans" source="Orion">Sundarbans</keyword> National Park. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Geographical Marvel:" comment="subhead" text="Geographical Marvel:">Geographical Marvel:</cmsannotation> The Sundarbans cover an expansive area of approximately 10,000 square kilometers, straddling the southernmost reaches of West Bengal and Bangladesh. It's a deltaic wonderland where the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers converge and flow into the Bay of Bengal. This convergence results in a network of estuaries, tidal waterways, and islands blanketed by dense mangrove forests. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Mangrove Majesty:" comment="subhead" text="Mangrove Majesty:">Mangrove Majesty:</cmsannotation> The Sundarbans are synonymous with mangroves, a unique ecosystem where land and water merge to create an environment that supports an extraordinary range of biodiversity. The mangroves act as a natural buffer, protecting the region from the ravages of coastal erosion and flooding. The dense tangle of roots provides vital nursery grounds for various marine species, making it a critical habitat for the health of the Bay of Bengal. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Wildlife Wonders:" comment="subhead" text="Wildlife Wonders:">Wildlife Wonders:</cmsannotation> One of the most captivating aspects of Sundarbans National Park is its astonishing wildlife. It is the last stronghold of the Bengal tiger, a subspecies of the <keyword id="114797" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Royal-Bengal-Tiger" source="Orion">Royal Bengal tiger</keyword>, and is home to a significant population of these majestic creatures. The park's mysterious tidal waterways and dense mangroves serve as an ideal hideout for these big cats, making tiger spotting an awe-inspiring experience for visitors. Apart from tigers, the Sundarbans host a myriad of other wildlife species. Crocodiles, including the estuarine crocodile and the saltwater crocodile, silently patrol the brackish waters. The Indian python, numerous species of turtles, and the elusive fishing cat also call this unique ecosystem home. For bird enthusiasts, the Sundarbans offer a treat. Over 250 species of birds, including the white-bellied sea eagle, osprey, and the masked finfoot, can be spotted here. The mudflats and wetlands teem with waders and waterfowl, making it a bird-watcher's paradise. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="A Biological Treasure Trove:" comment="subhead" text="A Biological Treasure Trove:">A Biological Treasure Trove:</cmsannotation> The Sundarbans National Park isn't just about its megafauna; it's also a biological treasure trove for botanists and ecologists. The mangrove forests themselves are home to a rich variety of plant species, and their dense roots and leaves provide a habitat for an array of aquatic and terrestrial life. The park's ecosystem relies heavily on the mangroves to survive and thrive. The sundari tree (Heritiera fomes) is one of the dominant tree species in the region and gives the Sundarbans its name. Other species like the gewa (Excoecaria agallocha) and the dhundul (Xylocarpus mekongensis) play essential roles in creating a habitat for a wide range of species, from insects to fish. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Culture and Communities:" comment="subhead" text="Culture and Communities:">Culture and Communities:</cmsannotation> The Sundarbans are not only a natural wonder but also a cultural and human treasure. Several indigenous communities, such as the Munda, Lodha, and Toto tribes, have lived in and around the mangroves for centuries. Their traditional knowledge of the land and its inhabitants is invaluable, and their lifestyles are intricately linked with the mangroves. Visitors to the Sundarbans can engage with these communities and learn about their customs, fishing techniques, and unique ways of life. This interaction adds a layer of cultural enrichment to the natural beauty of the region. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Eco-Tourism and Conservation:" comment="subhead" text="Eco-Tourism and Conservation:">Eco-Tourism and Conservation:</cmsannotation> Preserving the Sundarbans is an international priority due to its ecological significance and the ever-present challenges of climate change, pollution, and habitat destruction. Conservation efforts and eco-tourism initiatives have played a crucial role in raising awareness about the importance of safeguarding this fragile ecosystem. Eco-tourism in the Sundarbans typically involves boat safaris through the intricate network of rivers and estuaries, allowing visitors to observe the diverse wildlife and serene landscapes. It is essential to practice responsible tourism to minimize the environmental impact on this sensitive area and support the livelihoods of local communities. The Sundarbans National Park is more than a mere travel destination; it's a place of natural wonders and ecological significance. It's a testament to the incredible resilience of life in the face of adversity and a reminder of the importance of preserving our planet's diverse ecosystems. When you venture into the Sundarbans, you'll witness the silent strength of the mangroves, the enigmatic eyes of the Bengal tiger, and the intricate relationships that bind every creature in this deltaic world. It's a journey into the heart of nature, where wilderness and the mangroves create a harmonious symphony of life. The Sundarbans are not just a place; they are a legacy that we must protect for future generations. It's a call to action to safeguard the planet's fragile ecosystems and recognize the ecological importance of these mangroves as a symbol of resilience in the face of adversity. Note: The article is based on content generated by AI models like Bard and Chatgpt. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/travel/india/these-are-6-most-famous-and-historic-sweets-shops-in-kolkata/slidelist/101382986.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Kolkata's historic sweet shops that leave you craving for more</a>

Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal: Where wilderness meets the mangroves

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The legend says that the city of Rungholt was destroyed as revenge for its inhabitants' sins.</li><li>The remains of the "northern Atlantis" have now been charted off the coast of Germany.</li></ul>Archaeologists have mapped out the lost city of Rungholt for the first time.Legend has it that the once thriving city, which now sits off the coast of northern Germany, was swallowed by the North Sea in a single night following <a href="https://www.schleswig-holstein.de/DE/landesportal/land-und-leute/typisch-sh/sagen-und-legenden-aus-dem-norden/_documents/rungholt.html#:~:text=Die%20%22grote%20Mandr%C3%A4nke%22,-%C2%A9%20Museumsverbund%20Nordfriesland&amp;text=Als%20sicher%20gilt%20auch%2C%20dass,f%C3%BCr%20die%20Gottesl%C3%A4sterlichkeit%20der%20Stadt.">a heavy storm</a> as punishment for its inhabitants' sins.According to folklore, these sins included things such as drunkenness, impiety, and the flaunting of wealth, according to <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/remains-of-lost-city-of-rungholt-charted-for-first-time-x3p6ww8m2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Times.</a>So the stories go, the life of abundance led to an immoral life, and the end came around Christmas when a gang of young drunkards tried to force a priest to give a pig the last sacrament at a local inn.The cleric went to the church and prayed and asked God to punish the young men. He left town the next day, and shortly after, the great storm hit that wiped Rungholt off the face of the Earth.In medieval legends, the sound of its bell tower could be heard from the depths of the North Sea.While some historians questioned whether the town ever existed outside myth, new research has uncovered the remains of this "northern Atlantis" in the Wadden Sea, per the report.<div type="image" title="Aerial photo over the North Frisian Wadden Sea, remains of Rungholt in the middle of the picture" height="935" width="1246" msid="100748451" hostid="261" sizebytes="50636"></div>Archaeologists from Christian-Albrecht University in Kiel found approximately 1.2 miles series of medieval mounds around an island now known as Südfall after mapping the site with a geophysical survey."Settlement remains hidden under the mudflats are first localized and mapped over a wide area using various geophysical methods such as magnetic gradiometry, electromagnetic induction, and seismics," Dennis Wilken, a geophysicist at Kiel University, said of the research in a <a href="https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/990320" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>.The new findings included a harbor, the foundations of a large church, and drainage systems, according to new <a href="https://press.uni-mainz.de/lost-since-1362-researchers-discover-the-church-of-a-sunken-medieval-trading-place/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research</a>.The press release says that investigations into the tidal flats continued to "bring to light significant new finds" and provided unparalleled insights into the lives of the North Frisian people.But the researchers are working against the clock, as the conditions continually eat away at the remains."The medieval settlement remains are already heavily eroded and often only detectable as negative imprints," Hanna Hadler, who works at the Institute of Geography at Mainz University, said."So we urgently need to intensify research," she added.

A lost medieval city that legend says was swallowed by the sea as punishment for its carnal sins mapped for the first time

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A missing dog in England was lured to safety by a rescue team using sausages tethered to drones. </li><li>Millie, a Jack Russell Terrier, was missing for days after slipping off of her lead last week. </li></ul>Rescuers searching for a lost dog in England lured the missing pet to safety using sausages attached to drones. Millie, a 3-year-old Jack Russell Terrier, went missing last week after slipping out of her lead. To help find her pup, Millie's owner, Emma Oakes, contacted nonprofit group Denmead Drone Search &amp; Rescue."With Millie in danger, we had to think outside the box, and fast. Attaching the sausage to the drone was a think- outside-the-box moment," Denmead Drone Search &amp; Rescue told Insider. "We didn't know if it was going to work or not. We are over the moon that it did."The nonprofit <a href="https://www.facebook.com/denmeaddronesar/posts/462076972109242">chronicled the days-long rescue mission on its Facebook page</a>. Days of possible sightings came and went, but volunteers couldn't reach the lost dog. It wasn't until a possible sighting in Langstone that the rescuers were able to locate Millie on the mudflats.It took two days to locate her within the marshlands and reeds, according to a Facebook post. Even though they spotted her using a pair of drones, Denmead Drone Search &amp; Rescue said Millie was more than 2,000 feet away from land and in an area of sinking mud.They tried to reach her on kayaks, but the tide was quickly coming in. The rescue team was told that if they could not get Millie to solid ground within a few hours, the pup would likely drown, according to Denmead Drone Search &amp; Rescue's Facebook post. One of the drone pilots came up with the idea to lure Millie to safety using food attached to the drones. So they secured pieces of two-ounce cooked sausage to the drone using a piece of string. Denmead Drone Search &amp; Rescue said some bacon was also tried to get Millie's attention.Sure enough, the team was able to lure Millie into a safe zone, preventing her from drowning, the Facebook post said. Millie then slipped past the rescue team and ended up on the roads again, according to Denmead Drone Search &amp; Rescue's Facebook, sparking another cat-and-mouse chase to secure her. On the last day of searching, Oakes' dad joined the party."After 15 minutes of walking around Millie came charging up to the owner's father and his dog, tail wagging happy. Millie was quickly secured in the car," Denmead Drone Search &amp; Rescue wrote on Facebook. Millie then went to the vet for a checkup following her big adventure and was prescribed lots of TLC and rest. "Millie has been an amazing rescue for us," Denmead Drone Search &amp; Rescue told Insider. "Millie's adventure was an incredible one, for both Millie and us. The team, did an amazing job, getting Millie home safe."

Rescuers who used drones dangling sausages to save a lost dog from drowning said they are 'over the moon' that their daring plan worked

<ul class="summary-list"><li>In September 1950, three months after the North Korean invasion, South Korean troops and their allies held just a corner of the peninsula.</li><li>Gen. Douglas MacArthur, commander of UN forces in Korea, knew the pressure needed to be relieved.</li><li>MacArthur devised a bold plan to land thousands of troops at <keyword id="12206285" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="incheon" source="Orion">Incheon</keyword> - 150 miles behind enemy lines.</li></ul>On the morning of September 15, 1950, as US and Royal Navy warships fired at targets ashore, US Marines boarded landing craft and assaulted Wolmido, a small fortified island at the mouth of Incheon harbor.The North Korean invasion three months earlier had devastated the <keyword id="11944254" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="south-korea" source="Orion">South Korea</keyword> army, pushing it into a last bastion in the southeastern corner of the peninsula.The Marines landing at the port of Incheon were part of a 40,000-strong <a href="https://www.koreanwar2.org/kwp2/usmckorea/PDF_Monographs/KoreanWar.Over-Seawall.pdf" target="_top">landing force</a> with a critical objective: liberate the city and open a second front.It was the largest amphibious invasion since D-Day, and like that operation, it would turn the tide of the war. Nothing less than the fate of South Korea was at stake.<h2>Pusan Perimeter</h2><div type="image" title="US soldiers fighting on Pusan Perimeter during Korean War" height="625" width="800" msid="86631643" hostid="261"></div>The situation in South Korea in September 1950 was perilous. The North Korean offensive launched on June 25 was too strong for South Korea's military to fight off alone, and Seoul was captured in just three days.On June 27, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 83, which condemned the North Korean action as a "breach of the peace" and called for the world to assist South Korea. Resolution 84, passed on July 7, designated the US as the leader of military operations to save South Korea.Ultimately, 21 countries contributed to the US-led effort. It was the Cold War's first hot conflict.The first American soldiers arrived in early July, but due to equipment and supply shortages as a result of the downsizing of the US military after World War II, they were unable to reverse <keyword id="11935793" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="north-korea" source="Orion">North Korea</keyword>'s gains.By August, communist forces held all but a 100-mile by 50-mile area around the port city of <keyword id="12206288" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="busan" source="Orion">Busan</keyword> that was known as the "<a href="https://www.historynet.com/stand-or-die-1950-defense-of-koreas-pusan-perimeter.htm" target="_top">Pusan Perimeter</a>," where UN and South Korean forces desperately held off repeated KPA attacks.<h2>'I shall crush them'</h2><div type="image" title="Gen. Douglas MacArthur at Incheon invasion" height="1643" width="2000" msid="86631644" hostid="261"></div>Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the famed American general in charge of UN forces in Korea, knew the pressure needed to be taken off the Pusan Perimeter.He devised a bold plan for an amphibious operation to land thousands of troops at Incheon - 150 miles behind enemy lines.Incheon was on the opposite side of the peninsula and only 20 miles from Seoul, which meant UN forces could land, liberate the capital, and launch a pincer attack that would surround the KPA on two sides.It would not be easy. Incheon's tide fell as much as 36 feet twice a day, exposing completely impassable mudflats for 12 hours. Moreover, the city had seawalls as high as 12 feet in some places, and the KPA had turned Wolmido into a fortress.Troops assaulting in the morning waves would have to wait 12 hours for reinforcements, and those arriving in the evening would have only 30 minutes of daylight to secure their objectives."We drew up a list of every natural and geographic handicap - and <keyword id="12206286" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="inchon" source="Orion">Inchon</keyword> had 'em all," one staff officer <a href="https://bookshop.org/books/douglas-macarthur-warrior-as-wordsmith/9780313291487" target="_top">wrote later</a>."Make up a list of amphibious 'don'ts,' and you have an exact description of the Inchon operation" another officer recalled.MacArthur was undeterred. He knew such an operation would be "sort of helter-skelter" but believed it would be the kind of surprise that could win the war."We must act now or we will die," he <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Korean-War-Max-Hastings/dp/067166834X" target="_top">told</a> his staff at a planning conference. "We shall land at Inchon, and I shall crush them."<h2>Operation Chromite</h2><div type="image" title="US Marines land at Inchon" height="1499" width="1998" msid="86631645" hostid="261"></div>MacArthur's plan, dubbed "Operation Chromite," was approved and assigned a massive force of 40,000 men and 230 ships.UN aircraft and warships bombed and shelled cities, bridges, and railways across Korea in the weeks before the battle, hoping to distract the KPA from the true target.Air attacks on Incheon began on September 10. On September 13, two days of naval bombardment began, with particular attention to Wolmido, the first target for capture. Despite the intensity of the bombardment, three destroyers were damaged by return fire from coastal artillery.On September 15, the first landing craft arrived at Wolmido. With support from 10 tanks, the Marines were able to quickly take the island with only 17 wounded.They waited 12 hours before the second wave arrived, which landed Marines at beaches north and south of Incheon. As the Marines pushed into the city, they were constantly supported by fire from cruisers, destroyers, and aircraft carriers.The Marines were able to secure the harbor by September 16. There were a few pockets of heavy resistance during the initial landings but mostly light resistance in the city itself. US troops quickly moved to the surrounding hills, taking Kimpo Airfield on September 18 and turning it into an airbase.The KPA were completely surprised, and the diversionary tactics added to the confusion. The KPA sent tanks to slow down the Americans, but they were no match for UN forces. By September 19, Incheon was secure.<h2>Three more years</h2><div type="image" title="Marines fighting in Seoul during Korean War" height="979" width="1225" msid="86631646" hostid="261"></div>Operation Chromite was a massive success. With Incheon liberated, UN forces headed to Seoul. It was retaken within two weeks of the landings, despite desperate KPA resistance.The invasion of Incheon and liberation of Seoul resulted in about 3,500 casualties for UN forces. KPA casualties, meanwhile, were estimated to be roughly 14,000 dead and 7,000 captured.The KPA was outflanked and soon forced into complete retreat. On September 23, UN forces at Pusan began pushing north to link up with troops at Incheon and Seoul.Allied airpower, operating from Kimpo, other airfields in South Korea, and Japan, as well as from nearby carriers, continued to attack KPA positions virtually unchallenged.By the end of September, the remnants of the KPA had retreated back across the 38th Parallel. It was a stunning reversal, but the war was far from over.MacArthur, buoyed by his victory and determined to push the communists out of Korea, was allowed to advance north of the 38th Parallel.Worried about the loss of an ally, the Soviets and Chinese increased their support. The Chinese officially <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/korean-war-battle-chosin-reservoir-now-chinese-rallying-cry-2020-11" target="_top">join</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/korean-war-battle-chosin-reservoir-now-chinese-rallying-cry-2020-11" target="_top">ed</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/korean-war-battle-chosin-reservoir-now-chinese-rallying-cry-2020-11" target="_top"> the war</a> in October, and Soviet <a href="https://www.airforcemag.com/article/0291russians/" target="_top">fighter p</a><a href="https://www.airforcemag.com/article/0291russians/" target="_top">ilots</a> began engaging UN aircraft in November.There would be another three years of bloodshed before the war ended in a stalemate that persists to this day.

How a surprise invasion deep behind enemy lines turned the tide in the US's first Cold War conflict

<ul class="summary-list"><li>For aspiring <keyword id="359579" type="ENTERTAINMENT" weightage="60" keywordseo="Navy-Seals">Navy SEALs</keyword>, the selection process, known as Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (<keyword id="10627990" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bud/s">BUD/S</keyword>), is a six-month series of challenges for their skills and endurance.</li><li>Maybe the most trying period is "<keyword id="10627989" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="hell-week">Hell Week</keyword>," a six-day gauntlet of constant exertion that shrinks their ranks and reveals what they're made of.</li></ul>Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training is a six-month selection process and the gateway into <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/navy-seals-rusty-after-scandals-middle-east-wars-insiders-say-2020-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Navy's SEAL Teams</a>.Broken into three phases (First Phase, Second Phase, Third Phase), BUD/S has an attrition rate of between 70% and 85%. The complete SEAL pipeline attrition rate - from the moment someone walks into the recruiter's office to the end of advanced qualification training - <a href="https://www.sandboxx.us/blog/navy-seal-officer-selection-everything-you-need-to-know/" target="_top">is over 90%</a>.First Phase is the basic conditioning part of BUD/S. Students learn to work as a team under increasingly difficult physical and mental conditions, with 4-mile timed runs, obstacle course timed runs, and 2-mile timed swims determining who stays and who goes. This phase is where most students' dream of becoming a SEAL ends. This is also where Hell Week takes place.Second Phase is the dive part of BUD/S, where students are <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/navy-seals-take-combat-diving-capability-to-another-level-2021-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduced to basic combat diver operations</a>. The pool competence test in this phase is arguably the second-hardest event during BUD/S, after Hell Week.Third Phase is the land warfare part of BUD/S. Students receive basic training in marksmanship, explosives, land navigation, and small-unit tactics. It mostly takes place on California's San Clemente Island.<h2>Hell Week</h2><div type="image" title="Navy SEALs Hell Week training" height="1080" width="1728" msid="80376487" hostid="261"></div>Hell Week takes place during the fourth week of First Phase. (The exact time in the training has shifted several times during BUD/S's history.)Hell Week lasts almost six days - Sunday evening to Friday morning - during which students run more than 200 miles, often with boats on their heads, swim, do hours of physical training with logs, and numerous other brutal evolutions. They are constantly wet, cold, and sandy and only get about four hours of sleep throughout the week.During Hell Week, students are fed regularly and consume over 8,000 calories a day but still lose weight.Some of Hell Week's events have been the same since its inception back in the days of the Underwater Demolition Teams (UDTs) of World War II."My class started with 150 students, and when we got to Hell Week, 50-something remained," a former SEAL officer told Insider. "At the end of Hell Week, only 24 were there, some of them pretty beat up."<h2>Breakout!</h2><div type="image" title="Navy SEAL Buds training" height="933" width="1400" msid="80376488" hostid="261"></div>On Sunday evening, the students move from their barracks to tents, bracing for the coming ordeal. Suddenly, thousands of machine-gun blanks and artillery simulators go off as "wolf packs" of instructors seek to shock and awe the students.The next minutes involve hundreds of push-ups, sit-ups, flutter kicks, all while being wet and sandy. There are regular but controlled visits to the soul-chilling Pacific for "surf torture," where students lock arms and lie on the surf for minutes at a time. Hell Week or not, the cold claims a lot of students.As the week progresses, the instructors put the students through a myriad of planned and impromptu events. Here are some of the staples:Around the World: A roughly 12-hour boat race that involves miles of paddling. The fact that students are already hallucinating due to sleep deprivation adds a level of difficulty and humor. The winning crew gets some sleep, for as they say in BUD/S, "it pays to be a winner." The crews, however, are alone during this event, and the break from the unforgiving gaze of the instructors is a welcome one.Mud Flats: About 15 hours of various events that take place in a mudflat close to the BUD/S compound. The mud invades every part of the students' bodies, encasing them in cold clay.Base Tour: A miles-long run around the BUD/S compound while carrying 300-pound rubber boats on their heads. Students often lose hair where the boats rub their scalp.<div type="image" title="Navy SEAL BUD/S Hell Week" height="1333" width="2000" msid="80376489" hostid="261"></div>After Wednesday night, instructors ease on the throttle - without telling the students, of course. Instructors often threaten classes with additional days of Hell Week because of poor performance. But at some point, both the instructors and students know that no one is quitting anymore.It usually falls to the BUD/S commanding officer, a SEAL captain, to secure Hell Week on Friday.In First Phase, students wear white shirts. But after completing Hell Week, they get the coveted brown shirt that distinguishes them from the those who haven't completed the hurdle."The intent behind Hell Week's craziness is to get down to a man's true stuff - his true identity. Only when you have barely slept for freaking five days plus, doing crazy evolutions throughout this whole time, while being wet and sandy, do you reveal your true colors," a former enlisted SEAL with time as an instructor told Insider.It is fairly common for students to finish Hell Week with serious injuries, such as dislocated shoulders and broken ankles, legs, and wrists. Extreme chaffing is another one.<div type="image" title="Navy SEAL BUD/S Hell Week" height="1125" width="2000" msid="80376490" hostid="261"></div>Rolling back in training isn't uncommon. Students often get rolled back because of medical or performance issues. It's considered a small point of pride - and luck - in the community for a student to finish with his original class. But it's possible to get roll backed even after finishing Hell Week.For example, if a student fails the four allotted attempts for the Pool Comp test in Second Phase, he can be rolled back to Day One of BUD/S and have to redo Hell Week. (Instructors have sometimes waived Hell Week for two- or three-time rollbacks.)"Hell Week boils down to essentially one thing - trust. Can I trust you to perform under the most extreme circumstances? Are you still a team player when everything around you is going up in flames? Hell Week does a pretty good job at revealing if a person falls into that box," added the former SEAL instructor. "It is a gut check, plain and simple. We break them down to see if it's worth building them up."After Hell Week, those who have survived go through what it's called the "Walk Week," essentially a low-intensity week with active recovery activities that offer students an opportunity to begin healing.After all, another 4-mile timed run is waiting just around the corner.Stavros Atlamazoglou is a defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (National Service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate.

How the Navy's 'Hell Week' reveals who has what it takes to be a SEAL

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/thejointstaff/14883299270/in/photolist-kjwf8z-oVDxzm-oXFsFB-oXpWFH-oFbNjy-oFbNm7-oFcfYc-oFc6Fq-oFcfZe-oFbN5L-oFbNbs-oFbxE2-oFcfQX-oFc75m-oFby7K-oVDxCs-abrzN8-abur4h-abuqTm">SSG Sean K. Harp for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff/Flickr</a>"If that one person could sing while neck deep in mud, then so could we," says retired US Navy Admiral William McRaven, shown here speaking at his retirement ceremony in 2014.Retired US Navy Admiral William McRaven had an esteemed 37-year military career - which included leading the assassination of Osama bin Laden - but it was a night from Navy SEAL training's Hell Week that taught him the power of a leader.In 2014, McRaven <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxBQLFLei70">gave the commencement address at the University of Texas at Austin</a>, breaking down the 10 biggest lessons he learned in the six months of Basic Underwater Demolition/SEALs (BUD/S) training in his early 20s, and how they were universally applicable.Now the chancellor of the University of Texas system, McRaven has released "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Make-Your-Bed-Little-Things/dp/1455570249?tag=bisafetynet-20">Make Your Own Bed</a>," a short book expanding upon these principles he spoke about a few years ago.In it, he recounts his night in the Tijuana mud flats, where he and his fellow SEAL candidates had virtually every inch of their bodies covered in mud, the experience made worse by a brutally cold night.Hell Week comes during week three of the six month-long BUD/S training, and is meant to weed out early the candidates who are not ready to become SEALs. <a href="http://navyseals.com/nsw/hell-week-0/">According to SOFREP</a>, only about 25% of candidates make it through the week's intense trials of physical and mental endurance.One of the trials involves various exercises in expanses of cold, neck-high, clay-like mud.As McRaven remembers, on this particular day, he and his fellow candidates had spent hours racing each other in boats, paddling through the mud. Now they were standing in it during a suddenly chilling night. To make it worse, it was only the halfway mark of Hell Week. Doubt was setting in among all the young men."Shaking uncontrollably, with hands and feet swollen from nonstop use and skin so tender that even the slightest movement brought discomfort, our hope for completing the training was fading fast," McRaven writes.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ljjPIb6MyE">Buds131/YouTube</a>Navy SEAL candidates endure exercises in cold, thick mud during a night of Hell Week.From the edge of the flats, an instructor with a bullhorn tried to lure the candidates to comfort. The instructors, he said, had a fire going and had plenty of hot soup and coffee to share. Furthermore, if just five of the candidates quit, the rest of the guys would be given a break. Taking this offer meant ending your SEAL training.A student next to McRaven started walking through the mud toward the instructor. McRaven remembers the instructor smiling. "He knew that once one man quit, others would follow," McRaven writes.Then one of the candidates started singing. It was raspy and out of tune. Even though it sounded terrible, other students soon joined him, including the one who was on the verge of quitting.The instructor began yelling at them, demanding that they stop. "With each threat from the instructor, the voices got louder, the class got stronger, and the will to continue on in the face of adversity became unbreakable," McRaven writes. He remembers that behind the facade of anger, he could see the instructor smiling at the turn of events.McRaven realized that all it took was one person to unite the entire group, when many of them were on the verge of abandoning their goal.Interestingly, former Navy SEAL platoon commander Leif Babin writes in his book "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250067057">Extreme Ownership</a>," that <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/former-seal-officer-shares-the-top-lesson-from-buds-training-2015-10">he learned a similar lesson when he was one of the Hell Week instructors</a>. When the instructors switched the leaders of the best and worst performing boat race teams, they were amazed to see that the formerly worst team rose to the top under new leadership, while the formerly best team suddenly dropped in the rankings under its new poor leader. It was proof to Babin that, "There are no bad teams - only bad leaders." One exceptional person can change the entire fate of a group.The night in the mudflats stuck with McRaven during his maturation as an exceptional leader, one who would rise to the highest rank in the Navy, lead all of America's special operations, and oversee the assassination of Osama bin Laden."If that one person could sing while neck deep in mud, then so could we," McRaven writes. "If that one person could endure the freezing cold, then so could we. If that one person could hold on, then so could we." <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/navy-seal-commander-explains-why-you-should-make-your-bed-2017-4">A Navy SEAL commander explains why you should make your bed every single day</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

A retired US Navy admiral shares the lesson from a muddy night during Hell Week that changed the way he saw leadership

<div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image">NASA Earth Observatory</div></div> The sea has protected <a href="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=7612">Venice</a> since the fifth century, when people moved to the fish-shaped islands of Rialto for safety from mainland invaders.
Over the next thirteen centuries, the seafaring city-state grew in power and strength. The art, architecture, and history amassed in the small "floating city" of Venice has earned it a place on the UNESCO list of <a href="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=4582">World Heritage Sites.</a>
But the tide has turned, and the sea that once protected Venice now threatens it. Nestled in the <a href="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=3827">Venetian Lagoon,</a>the 118 low-lying islands of modern-day Venice are separated from the Adriatic Sea by a 45-kilometer (28-mile) chain of barrier islands. The Adriatic connects to the lagoon via three inlets-the Lido, Malamocco, and Chioggia.
<div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image">NASA Earth Observatory</div></div> The sea now imperils Venice because of three conflated issues: groundwater pumping and offshore gas drilling have caused the city to subside; sea level has been rising; and natural tidal protections like mudflats and marshes have been disrupted over the past century. River courses have been made rigid, inlets have been widened, and the lagoon has been dredged to create shipping channels; adjustments to make boating and shipping safer have helped make the land more vulnerable.
The city now regularly experiences Acqua Alta, or high water, when the tide inundates the streets and squares, menaces the historic architecture, and forces citizens to don galoshes. In 1900, such events occurred ten times per year. Now Acqua Alta, happens more than 60 times per year.
<div class="KonaFilter image-container"><div class="image">NASA Earth Observatory</div></div> In November 1966, two days of heavy rain coincided with high tides, a static low-pressure system, and a severe <a href="http://www.weatheronline.co.uk/reports/wind/The-Sirocco.htm">Sirocco</a> wind that drove 2 meters (six feet) of water into Venice. The flood destroyed millions of dollars of artwork, wrecked businesses, and left thousands of people homeless. The event prompted many people to think that the city was doomed unless some sort of intervention was made.
After decades of debate, construction began in 2003 on a major engineering project called MOSE. The project acronym stands for MOdulo Sperimentale Elettromeccanico (Experimental Electromechanical Module) and alludes to the parting of the Red Sea by Moses. The concept behind MOSE is to temporarily separate the Venetian Lagoon from the Adriatic Sea when unusually high tides occur. This is done through a series of 78 gates that seal the lagoon's three inlets.
Each gate is approximately 30 meters high (98 feet), 20 meters wide (65 feet), 5 meters thick (16 feet), and weighs 300 tons. During normal tides, each of the massive gates lie on a concrete foundation on the seabed, with one end hinged to steel and concrete pilings.
When high tide exceeds 87 centimeters (34 inches) above mean sea level, compressed air is pumped into the gates until they slowly pivot upwards. Raising the gates takes about one hour. In a high-tide event, the gates will likely remain in place for four to five hours until the waters subside; then they will be filled with water and lowered back to their seabed berths.
The natural-color Landsat images above show some of the MOSE engineering efforts that are visible above the water line near the Lido Inlet. The top image was acquired on June 20, 2000, by the Enhanced Thematic Mapper+ on Landsat 7. The second image, from the Operational Land Imager on Landsat 8, was collected on September 4, 2013. Turn on the image comparison tool to make the changes easier to see. (Note that Landsat 8 has a greater <a href="http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=80998">dynamic range</a> than Landsat 7, so the Landsat 8 image is crisper the Landsat 7 image.)
In 2013, a curved breakwater stands just south of the inlet's south jetty. On the lagoon side of the Lido Inlet, a new manmade island appears; it houses the buildings and plants that operate the gates, which are underwater in two arrays on either side of the island. On the north side of the inlet, a manmade harbor for small vessels includes a small lock system that allows boats to pass from the lagoon to the sea when the gates are raised.
Since the beginning of MOSE construction, five million cubic meters of sediment have been excavated from areas adjacent to the lagoon's three inlets. The $8.8 billion dollar project has encountered some scientific, environmental, and political objections about disrupting the natural water exchange between the lagoon and Adriatic.
The Lido Inlet gates were successfully tested on October 12, 2013, and operators aim to have the MOSE system fully functional by 2016.

You Searched For "Mudflat" and got 8 results

Footprints In The Mud Of Time Indicate Early Humans Treaded European Shores

Sanghamitra Mandal

Sundarbans National Park, West Bengal: Where wilderness meets the mangroves

Ayush

Shagun

A lost medieval city that legend says was swallowed by the sea as punishment for its carnal sins mapped for the first time

Alia Shoaib

Rescuers who used drones dangling sausages to save a lost dog from drowning said they are 'over the moon' that their daring plan worked

Rebecca Cohen

How a surprise invasion deep behind enemy lines turned the tide in the US's first Cold War conflict

Benjamin Brimelow

How the Navy's 'Hell Week' reveals who has what it takes to be a SEAL

Stavros Atlamazoglou

A retired US Navy admiral shares the lesson from a muddy night during Hell Week that changed the way he saw leadership

Richard Feloni

Satellite Images Show The Complex Engineering Project Meant To Save Venice

NASA Earth Observatory

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides