Nootka lupins, introduced in the 1940s to repair damaged soil, are rampaging across the island, threatening its native speciesIt was only when huge areas of Iceland started turning purple that authorities realised they had made a mistake. By then, it was too late. The Nootka lupin, native to Alaska, had coated the sides of fjords, sent tendrils across mountain tops and covered lava fields, grasslands and protected areas.Since it arrived in the 1940s, it has become an accidental national symbol. Hordes of tourists and local people pose for photos in the ever-expanding fields in June and July, entranced by the delicate cones of flowers that cover the north Atlantic island. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/dec/04/invasive-species-flowers-iceland-nootka-lupins-lupines-aoe">Continue reading...</a>

أدت إدخال زهور اللوبين نوتكا إلى آيسلندا في الأربعينيات من القرن الماضي إلى إصلاح التربة التالفة، لكنها أدت منذ ذلك الحين إلى غزو يهدد الأنواع المحلية. انتشرت الأزهار الأرجوانية الزاهية على نطاق واسع في الجزيرة، مما حول المناظر الطبيعية وجذب السياح الذين ينجذبون إلى الحقول الخلابة خلال أشهر الصيف.

La introducción de los lupinos de Nootka en Islandia en la década de 1940 tenía como objetivo reparar suelos dañados, pero ha llevado a una invasión que amenaza las especies nativas. Las vibrantes flores moradas se han extendido por toda la isla, transformando paisajes y atrayendo a turistas, quienes se sienten atraídos por los campos pintorescos durante los meses de verano.

L'introduction des lupins de Nootka en Islande dans les années 1940 visait à réparer les sols endommagés, mais a conduit à une invasion menaçant les espèces indigènes. Les fleurs violettes vibrantes se sont répandues sur l'île, transformant les paysages et attirant les touristes, qui sont séduits par les champs pittoresques pendant les mois d'été.

The introduction of Nootka lupins to Iceland in the 1940s aimed to repair damaged soil, but has since led to an invasion that threatens native species. The vibrant purple flowers have spread extensively across the island, transforming landscapes and attracting tourists, who are drawn to the picturesque fields during the summer months.

How an invasion of purple flowers made Iceland an Instagram paradise – and caused a biodiversity crisis

Project on ‘very poorly understood’ terrain and likely to pass through Rocky Mountain trench, which researchers say poses immense geological hazard When an earthquake in 2002 struck in a remote pocket of Alaska, the shock was the strongest ever recorded in the interior of the state. But, miraculously, an oil pipeline that crossed directly over the fault line was unscathed.Engineers behind the design of the 800-mile system were prepared. Knowing the high likelihood of seismic activity along the route, which bisected the <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/denalis-fault/">Denali fault</a>, they constructed sections where <a href="https://alyeska-pipe.com/2002-the-denali-fault-earthquake/">the pipeline rested on rail girders, allowing it to sway and shear without snapping.</a> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/03/british-columbia-pipeline-expert-warning-risks">Continue reading...</a>

يحذر الخبراء من أن مشروع خط أنابيب جديد في كولومبيا البريطانية، الذي من المقرر أن يمر عبر خندق جبال الروكي، يمثل مخاطر جيولوجية كبيرة بسبب الفهم الضعيف للنشاط الزلزالي في المنطقة. تسلط سوابق تاريخية، مثل زلزال 2002 في ألاسكا، الضوء على المخاطر المحتملة التي تواجهها خطوط الأنابيب في المناطق الزلزالية.

Expertos advierten que un nuevo proyecto de oleoducto en Columbia Británica, que se prevé que atraviese la trinchera de las Montañas Rocosas, presenta riesgos geológicos significativos debido a la escasa comprensión de la actividad sísmica en la zona. Precedentes históricos, como el terremoto de 2002 en Alaska, destacan los peligros potenciales que enfrentan los oleoductos en zonas sísmicas.

Des experts mettent en garde contre un nouveau projet de pipeline en Colombie-Britannique, qui doit traverser le fossé des montagnes Rocheuses, posant des risques géologiques importants en raison de la mauvaise compréhension de l'activité sismique dans la région. Des précédents historiques, comme le tremblement de terre de 2002 en Alaska, soulignent les dangers potentiels auxquels les pipelines sont confrontés dans les zones sismiques.

Experts warn that a new pipeline project in British Columbia, which is set to traverse the Rocky Mountain trench, poses significant geological risks due to the area's poor understanding of seismic activity. Historical precedents, such as the 2002 earthquake in Alaska, highlight the potential dangers pipelines face in seismic zones.

How an invasion of purple flowers made Iceland an Instagram paradise – and caused a biodiversity crisis

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