Guess where this is?

[degrub]

looks like an old sink hole. Is this an uplifted reef ? Trees look like conifers

[Brian Ellis]

Sink hole ~ 1 km across is right. Conifers are right (althogh there are also beech in the region).

[degrub]

Adriatic or Aegean area ?

[Brian Ellis]

Right continent but you have to go a bit NW

[Brian Ellis]

OK, it is a 1 km across sink hole in Switzerland.

[degrub]

This one by chance ? It is interesting anyway

Piora Valley, Calderoni Sinkhole, is located precisely on the water divide where subsurface flow in the Piora Valley and surface water diverge and move in opposite directions

[Brian Ellis]

It is also a nature reserve with marmots, chamois and ibex as notable mammals. Last clue: it's in a canton whose name, if translated into English, would mean Newcastle.

[degrub]

okok got it i think.

If you spend your holiday in the Canton of Neuchâtel, on a walking tour in the nature reserve of the Creux-du-Van you will discover one of the most beautiful landscapes of Romandy and one of the most impressive geological sites of Switzerland – the natural rock cirque of Creux-du-Van.
The place-name probably of Creux-du-Van was derived from the Celtic word “vanno”, which means “slope”, or from Franco- Provençal „van“, meaning „rock“. The semicircular rock basin has a diameter of 1,400 meters (over 4,500 feet), and its steep cliffs rise almost 160 m (over 500 ft) from the ground, the highest point of the mountain ridge reaching 1,463 meters.

The geological origin of the spectacular formation goes back the glacial period, when a small glacier eroded a deep valley at this spot before uniting with the big Rhone glacier on the plain. At the bottom of the depression, the subsoil below the debris normally remains frozen during the whole year (permafrost).

Sounds like a good area to hike in - don't have to pack in food !

Tour Around the Creux-du-Van and Through the Areuse Gorge

This day tour begins at Neuchâtel train station, where you take the local train to Noiraigue (direction Buttes, hourly departure times 40 minutes past the hour / :40 h, e.g. at 9:40 am, see Open CFF/SBB). The train passes through the gorge of the Areuse River and you can already catch a glimpse of the Creux-du-Van. After twenty minutes you arrive at Noiraigue station from where you set off on foot (0:00).

The place-name Noiraigue is composed of the words “nigra” and “aqua”, which means “black water”. In fact, the village is named after its river whose waters are dark with peat (they originate from the Vallée des Ponts, i.e. the Bied river that disappears into a sinkhole near Ponts-de-Martel). Just follow the river through the village and you will arrive at the spring after five minutes. From there, follow trail markers (red triangles) in the direction of Creux-du-Van (Soliat). At first, the trail leads up a gently slope until the first rest at the farm inn “Les Oeillons” (00:50). These farms – called “métairie” – where simple, good meals are served are typical of the Jura Mountains. Sometimes they also offer rustic accommodation for hikers (gîte rural). Then, you continue on the well-known trail of the 14 bends (sentier des 14 contours) which is rather steep, as there is a level difference of 700 m (2,300 ft). As compensation, the path climbs up through a beautiful mixed and spruce forest, already part of the nature reserve, where with a bit of luck you can spot roe or ibex (other inhabitants such as lynx or capercaillies are harder to detect). Once you have reached the crest, take a good break to admire the breathtaking view of the rock amphitheater and have a sandwich – if you can’t wait until you reach the Métairie du Soliat” (01:50). The next span leads up to Soliat (02:15), the highest point of the tour (1,463 m/4,800 ft). From there, you have several options. We recommend to descend on the other side of the rock cirque and take the “Chemin du Single” trail until Ferme Robert (03:15). From there, you can either walk directly to the Noiraigue train station (20 minutes) to take the train back to Neuchâtel or else follow the trail markers in direction of Champ du Moulin that lies on the railway line to Neuchâtel. The second tour takes you through the most beautiful part of the gorge of river Areuse with its scenic stone bridge (photo).

The Canton of Neuchâtel is a real paradise for hikers, thanks to the rich variety of its landscape. So, you really should plan for a day of hiking right from the start. Recommendable tours, besides the one described above, lead to Chasseral summit, the mountain pass Vue des Alpes, the valley of river Doubs or to the Chaumont (see below).

[degrub]

[Brian Ellis]

The obvious answer is the so-called James Bond island at Phuket but I'm pretty sure it's not that: the shape is wrong. Could it be one of the thousands of islands in Ha Long Bay, Viet Nam?

[degrub]

no....there is a very visible clue though that should narrow the countries down.
A hint- it is in a national park.

[Jammrock]

The shrine looks Japanese. It kind of looks like Rikuchu-Kaigan National Park, but I can't find a matching picture.

[Brian Ellis]

Oh, sorry, I thought that was an electricity pylon!

[degrub]

Correct country.

You are warm, but wrong island.

[Brian Ellis]

Hashikui-iwa???