I went to Duncan Reef during the darkness of the predawn morning to photograph the winter solstice sunrise at Duncan Reef. The winter solstice is shared this year between December 21 and December 22 so I will try again tomorrow at Crystal Crescent Beach Provincial Park. A troop of Purple Sandpipers flew back and forth to celebrate the event with me. At home in Portuguese Cove a Yellow-breasted Chat added to the festivities.

Macho Picchu is one one of the most celebrated sites of Inca culture. Visiting this place is on my bucket list.

Courtesty of Wikepedia

Inti Watana stone

 

 

The Inti Watana stone is one of many ritual stones in South America. These stones are arranged to point directly at the sun during the winter solstice. The name of the stone (perhaps coined by Bingham) derives from Quechua language: inti means "sun", and wata-, "to tie, hitch (up)". The suffix -na derives nouns for tools or places. Hence inti watana is literally an instrument or place to "tie up the sun", often expressed in English as "The Hitching Post of the Sun". The Inca believed the stone held the sun in its place along its annual path in the sky. The stone is situated at 13°9'48" S. At midday on 11 November and 30 January, the sun stands almost exactly above the pillar, casting no shadow. On 21 June, the stone casts the longest shadow on its southern side, and on 21 December a much shorter shadow on its northern side.

Winter Solstice Sunrise December 21, 2015, Duncan Reef, Nova Scotia

A large black cloud leading today's depression rolled in just as I was taking the photos.

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