It sank in the North Sea almost 700 years ago, ravaged by rough weather.

But scientists are searching for what’s left of Ravenser Odd, a short-lived medieval town on an island in the Humber estuary.

Described as ‘Yorkshire’s Atlantis’, the important coastal town – which is the subject of a new exhibition in Hull – flourished in the late 13th century.

It lay just west of Spurn Point, the very tip of the sinuous peninsula that separates the North Sea and the Humber Estuary.

Since 2021, two Hull academics have been conducting research into the city’s remains on the seabed using high-resolution seabed mapping equipment.

One of them is Dr Steve Simmons, a lecturer in energy and environment at the University of Hull, who said Ravenser Odd was once a ‘prosperous settlement’.

They hope to recover any remnants of the city, such as the foundations of the sea wall and the harbour, but so far they have had no success.

“Despite its relative importance in 1299, Ravenser Odd is largely forgotten today – because it disappeared, swallowed up by the North Sea,” said Dr. Simmons in an article for The conversation.

“Conditions in the estuary make it difficult to search for traces of the lost city.”

Both Ravenser Odd and its neighbor, Hull, received their charters from Edward I on the same day: April 1, 1299.

The charter made Ravenser Odd a recognized municipality and exempted merchants from certain taxes.

This allowed the city to build its own court, prison and chapel.

At its peak it had around 100 houses and a thriving market – and was an even more important port than Hull further up the Humber.

Within about half a century, the city’s fortunes faded.

‘By the mid-14th century, the storms and strong tidal currents of the North Sea began to take their toll on the settlement,’ said Dr Simmons.

‘A devastating blow was dealt in 1362 by the storm surge of the Sint-Marcellus flood, after which the city began to be abandoned.’

A historical map shows that other islands west of the Spurn Peninsula were also lost, with names such as Orwithfleet and Sunthorpe, but Ravenser Odd was the largest.

As a result of coastal erosion, it is not likely that entire islands will be weakened and lost over time, Dr. Simmons warns.

The Holderness coastline, north of the Spurn Peninsula, is the fastest eroding coastline in Europe.

The crumbling cliffs of soft boulder clay are retreating at an average rate of 2 meters per year.

Ravenser Odd is the subject of a new exhibition at the Hull History Center running until Thursday 30 May.

It contains important documents, including maps of medieval Hull and the original charters of Hull and Ravenser Odd, borrowed from the National Archives.

“Despite its proximity to Hull, the story of Ravenser Odd is relatively unknown,” says councilor Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for Leisure and Culture.

‘An understanding of the Ravenser story and its implications for the wider Humber will enable Hull people to reflect on their own 800 years of maritime history and the opportunities to explore themes around Hull’s own development.

‘This exhibition will tell the story in many different ways and capture the imagination of residents, children and young people.’

While there is little doubt based on contemporary evidence that Ravenser Odd existed, the same cannot be said about Atlantis to which it is being compared.

It is said that the so-called ancient city was destroyed and submerged under the Atlantic Ocean, but that is not the case it is generally believed to have been invented by the Greek philosopher Plato.

Last year, another research team revealed that they had found the German equivalent of Atlantis: the city of Rungholt, which was sunk by a storm in 1362.

Who knows what Jennifer Lopez made of the Quality Street bowl in her hotel room.

The star reportedly earned £3.9million for singing and staying at the grand opening of One&Only One Za’abeel last month.

But when I arrived four days later – one of the first paying guests to visit the new ultra-luxury resort in Dubai – I was surprised to find complimentary Orange Cremes, Green Triangles and Purple Ones among the champagnes and single malts in my minibar.

The West Yorkshire-made sweets aren’t the strangest extra on offer.

While its sister property, Atlantis The Royal, has gold-plated toothbrushes for guests, One&Only One Za’abeel goes one step further.

Some suites have soundproof walls and recording facilities; others give guests a ‘free Longevity Scan Index’ upon arrival (no, me neither); one, for £22,500 a night, even includes a ‘man cave’ for guests.

My favorite would probably be the one with a free cocktail party for eight people – if only I had remembered to bring seven friends.

As it is, I stay in just one ‘room’ – even though it’s still ridiculously luxurious, with a walk-through closet, a sofa with so many thick cushions I have to remove eight of them to sit, a toilet with seventeen buttons to to control the ‘intimate cleaning’ functions, and a bath large enough for three people.

It’s best not to speculate about which of these luxury items was the big draw for Naomi Campbell, Idris Elba, David Gandy or Emma Radacanu, who attended the hotel’s opening weekend with J-Lo.

That pool, overlooking Dubai’s glittering sci-fi skyline, is a 53-story pinnacle.

The hotel is housed in one of two 300-foot towers, meaning guests can look down on ant-sized cars speeding along the 12-lane highway below.

But it also means I spend a lot of time in elevators. (Safety measures mean you’ll have to change elevators to get from your room to restaurants and bars.)

And while One &Only One Za’abeel is more convenient to Dubai’s business district than the beach, don’t leave your swimwear at home.

On the 4th floor is a palm-lined swimming pool with hot and cold running waiters. It’s a beautiful place – and the private area is where Campbell/Gandy types can relax, hidden by thick palm fronds and a fence for about a hundred pounds extra.

Better yet is the spectacular infinity pool on the hotel’s 27th floor, 200 meters long and 100 meters high in the air, atop the longest cantilever bridge in the world. It has cabanas, swim-up bars and a clubby Japanese-Peruvian bar/restaurant.

There are 11 restaurants. Granted, there is some silliness: Thai-style fortune telling at DuangDy; waiters in straitjackets at avant-garde StreetXO; and a late-night ‘snacks’ menu at Sphere, with a £2,500 portion of caviar.

After a few days I’m half a stone heavier, 100 percent happier, and my hand luggage consists mostly of stolen Quality Street.

I bet if you checked J-Lo’s, hers would be too.

The world’s best value for money destinations for Brits have been revealed, with Vietnam topping the list for the first time.

Second in the Post Office Travel Holiday Money Report rankings is South Africa, another long-haul hotspot, with Kenya in third.

The most expensive destination in the world is Tamarindo in Costa Rica, which languishes in 40th place. Next is New York, which ranks second from the bottom. There, beer costs an average of £5.82 per bottle.

The findings are from the 18th Post Office Travel Money Worldwide Holiday Cost Barometerand are based on the costs of eight ‘tourist items’ in forty resorts and towns, making comparisons between the costs of a beer, a three-course meal, insect repellent and sunscreen.

In Vietnam’s Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this basket of goods totals £51.18. Meanwhile, at the other end of the scale, holidaymakers planning a trip to Tamarindo won’t get change on £158.04 if they buy the same items.

Second-place Cape Town has been knocked off the top spot for 2023 thanks to a five percent price increase, taking the basket to £54.35.

Kenya, loved for its combination of safaris and beach holidays, comes in at number three thanks to a basket total of £54.93.

Many of the destinations have seen local price increases, but once prices are converted to sterling, holidaymakers at 19 long-haul destinations, including six in Europe, will still pay less than a year ago.

Tokyo has risen in the rankings to move into fourth place after costs fell by 16.2 per cent to £59.05.

The Algarve in Portugal, where prices fell by 1.2 per cent, came in at number five (£59.69), overtaking Turkey (ninth, £66.07) and Bulgaria (seventh, £62.49). Traditionally Bulgaria offers great value for money, but prices have risen by 6.4 percent, resulting in a sharp increase to £62.49.

Sunny Cyprus is the fourth European destination in the top 10, while Paphos sneaks into 10th place at £73.32.

Tropical Bali is eighth overall, while Sharm el-Sheikh is sixth at £61.37, thanks to the devaluation of the Egyptian pound.

Cancun, Mexico, has seen a dramatic decline, topping itself from a place in the top 10 to 33rd, as a result of a 16.7 percent price increase. The goods now stand at £127.10 thanks to the strong Mexican peso.

Holiday concerns and intentions

Two-thirds of Britons planning a trip abroad admit that the strength or weakness of the pound will be a factor in their decision-making.

Another concern is prices. Eighty-four percent of people, rising to 89 percent of family travelers, are concerned about the cost of meals and drinks.

Budgeting is also a top priority, with 90 percent worried about crushing their budgets and the cost of flights and ferries.

The holiday pay will largely come from savings, with 40 percent admitting that the money will come from existing income. Many are thinking about how they can save even more: 32 percent of holidaymakers choose to travel during the cheaper intermediate periods, when costs are lower.

Currencies

In other results, the Post Office Travel Holiday Money Report shows that the euro is by far the best-selling currency, with an eight percent increase in sales and a strong indicator of where people will travel in 2024.

This is followed by the US dollar and in third place the Australian dollar.

When it comes to the fastest growing currencies, the Egyptian pound has shown the biggest growth this year at 656 percent. Closely followed by the Chinese yuan with 589 percent, followed by the Japanese yen with 266 percent.

The best deal will be found in Turkey due to the collapse of the Turkish lira. In 2024, visitors can expect to receive 81 percent more liras than a year ago. However, prices in restaurants and bars in Marmaris have more than doubled in the last twelve months, so if you’ve been there before, expect a big increase.

Egypt is also a good choice for 2024. With a drop of over 71 percent, visitors can now earn an extra £208 on a £500 purchase.

If you consider Japan or Kenya, the pound sterling has appreciated by more than 16 percent against both the Japanese yen and the Kenyan shilling over the past twelve months.

Vietnam, Prague and Thailand are also showing strong share price gains and if you go Down Under to visit relatives, the British will earn seven percent more to spend on their holiday allowance.

Top rated holiday destinations

When it comes to the highest-rated holiday destinations, perennial British favorite Spain still takes top spot with 86 percent, despite falling to 14th on the Barometer after recording a price increase of 9.3, with goods came in at £81.45.

It is closely followed by Portugal and Greece, both of which receive an 82 percent rating from holidaymakers.

Not far behind are the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, as well as Cyprus, Croatia, Malta and Turkey, all of which have impressive viewing figures of between 75 and 79 percent.

Bulgaria, in tenth place, has a 73 percent good value rating, while Croatia is only three points lower.

Thailand tops the list for the highest approval ratings of the 16 long-haul hotspots, with 71 percent considering it good value, ahead of Mexico, Egypt, the US and the Caribbean.

Commenting on this year’s results, Laura Plunkett, head of Post Office Travel Money, said: ‘The barometer results highlight how important it will be this year to consider how the strength of the pound has affected individual destinations.

‘Holidaymakers looking to travel long distances can expect to get better value for their money as the pound has gained ground in most destinations.

‘By comparison, sterling’s gains against the euro have been more modest, so it’s worth comparing destinations across the eurozone to see which offer the cheapest prices. Portugal and Cyprus seem to be the best choices for bargain hunters.’

• Alicia Gilby regularly shows off her daily life as a size 4X influencer online
• The Canadian content creator has detailed the reality of plus-size travel
• She said she had to “swing” down the aisle and couldn’t use her tray

By Kelsi Karruli for Dailymail.Com

Published: 4:31 PM EDT, March 21, 2024 | Updated: 4:54 PM EDT, March 21, 2024

In the middle of a Canadian city lies an abandoned shopping center that serves as a time capsule for the ’90s, as a fascinating documentary reveals.

Filmmaker Jake Williams was granted access to the City Center Mall in Hamilton, Ontario, and he took a thorough walk around to examine its innards.

He was shocked to discover that the mall – which opened in 1990 after a CA$150 million investment and closed in 2022 – appeared frozen in time, with the interior “completely preserved and completely unchanged.”

In one scene, he enters a former office, where he finds clothes in a closet, photos lying around and a retro computer on the desk. As he turns the camera around, he says, “Oh my God, has anyone been here since 1990?”

“There are pictures of them building this room… and painting it. I think I accidentally entered the 1994 office. This is bizarre…the clothes are scattered everywhere,” he added.

In another scene, Jake ventures to the mall’s food court, where he finds the remains of several eateries, including a Persian restaurant and an Italian that sells a plate of pasta for CA$3.99.

Other items on the menu include 12 wings for CA$10.99 and a hot chicken sub for CA$5.49.

While looking around the dining room, Jakes tells viewers that “the whole place stinks like hell.”

Of the food court design, he says the aqua green “chairs and tables bring back so much nostalgia” and “even the hip cans are straight out of the 90s.”

As Jake walks through the mall, viewers get a sense of its scale, with the main atrium having a grand vaulted ceiling and a glass elevator providing access to two balcony levels.

When it was open, the City Center Mall offered more than 50,000 square feet of commercial space, and hundreds of people worked in the sprawling building.

Jake reveals that the mall was originally called the Hamilton Eaton Center and has faced several hurdles over the years as footfall declined. After the name change and sale to a new owner, it finally closed its doors on December 26, 2022.

In Jake’s film, it appears that after closing most of the contents are left behind.

A Dollar Store in the mall still has “closing sale” stickers taped to the outside, along with other signs informing shoppers that a 70 percent discount applies to all merchandise.

At the discount store, Jake discovers that many unsold items have been thrown away, while he also notices a ‘wall of shame’ behind the cash registers with photos of unruly customers still taped up.

In another part of the building, Jake discovers an office space that was used as a call center, with cubicles still intact and decorated with headsets.

Meanwhile, another corner of the mall was converted into a gym to attract customers. However, no machine was left behind.

Regarding the condition of the building, Jake says that the “disrepair doesn’t look that bad, but when you look in certain corners it starts to show that this building has only just been here.”

He notes that there is water damage in some parts of the structure, with the “paint starting to peel.”

His images also show that some interiors, such as the elevator doors, have been vandalized with graffiti.

After the shopping center closed, there were ambitions to demolish it to make way for a $1 billion mixed-use residential and retail development, but plans are currently on hold.

The developer who bought the abandoned mall, IN8 Developments, said CBC in December 2023 that it had “halted the project and demolition until the real estate market improves.”

Company Chairman Darryl Firsten offered hope to the city’s residents, adding, “In the meantime, we will continue to refine and improve our design.” It will be a great project.’

In the mood and market for a holiday romance?

Then pay close attention to the insights travel experts reveal here about how flirting differs around the world.

They reveal the best icebreaker in the US, the land where flirting is tangible and filled with winks and the place where lingering eye contact and buttery compliments are the order of the day on the courtship front.

Our love gurus also mention the countries where women can expect men to be openly persistent – and a place where men literally bark like dogs at the opposite sex.

Read on for some helpful global lessons in love…

UK – sharp humor hides simmering passion

Hannah Dorling, cruise travel expert and founder of I like cruise shipsis a Brit who has traveled the world and witnessed many a love affair on board.

She claims that humor is leading the way for chatting in Britain.

She tells MailOnline Travel: ‘British flirting succeeds more through banter and intellectual sparring than through overt displays… sharing private laughter helps intimacy grow.

‘For me the intrigue lies in the subtleties of British flirting. Mastering repartee, inside jokes and sensing the possibilities beneath… It may look subdued, but passions can still simmer beneath the surface.’

United States – direct and sincere

Noël Wolf is a culture expert and Babbel Live teacher for the language site Babble. He says: ‘Americans are known for being more to the point and sincere in their flirting than their compatriots in Britain.’

He notes that asking about someone’s career is the traditional American icebreaker, adding, “Americans tend to be less sarcastic than British people!”

South China – chopstick codes in rice balls

Clarissa Bloom is a relationship expert for ‘hen party experts’ www.thestagcompany.com. She notes a fun flirting tradition in southern China: ‘They celebrate the Sisters Meal Festival, their version of Valentine’s Day.

‘The women cook some glutinous rice in different colors, and when a man “takes the step” they hand him some rice in a handkerchief. If they unpack it and find two chopsticks, it means it worked.

“Only one chopstick means the girl isn’t interested, but since only the guy can see how many chopsticks are in it, it’s relatively subtle and less embarrassing if it’s a no.”

Spain – direct eye contact and lots of touching

Michele Massa is a Spanish travel expert and CEO of Ibiza summer villas. She talks about how Spaniards like to keep things tangible: ‘Spaniards are very expressive people and when flirting we tend to show this through direct eye contact and physical touch.’

Sara Rodriguez, founder of Madrid Travelagrees: ‘You don’t have to be shy with the ‘me gustas’ (I like you) – we strive to leave no uncertainty about romantic interest.

‘Women in particular are bold and lead with a smile and a wink… we think clarity is sexy – why dance around the chemistry when you can feel the fire?’

Canada – a subtle dance

Michael Donovan is a travel expert and co-founder of StayNewEngland.com.

He says: ‘Flirting in Canada tends to be quieter than in many parts of the world. Canadians have a reputation for being polite and respectful, and this translates into romantic pursuits.

‘Overtly sexual comments may be considered rude.

‘Although Canadian flirting has little impact, it runs deep. Canadians seek life partners, not conquests. It is a subtle dance, in which communication and egalitarian values ​​stimulate attraction.’

France – lingering eye contact and buttery compliments

Picking someone up is called ‘draguer’ in French, literally dredging.

Yet Fiona Spinks, travel expert and publisher of Fiona followedbelieves that the French have turned flirting into a high art: ‘AYou’ll have persistent eye contact, suggestive body language, and buttery compliments about your intelligence or irresistible je ne sais quoi.

“Leave it to the land of romance to take the simple chat-up line to a poetic level with romantic gestures like handwritten notes and intimate invitations.”

India – tradition runs deep

Travel expert Anjali Chawla, founder of Travel melodiesnotes that Indian romantic cues are subtle, with suitors relying on gestures, “gentle” compliments, and finding excuses to interact in social situations.

She says, “Being too direct or overt with advances is generally not appreciated.”

Tradition is the key. Anjali continues: ‘Since parental involvement often plays an important role in the matchmaking process, openly dating multiple potential partners is usually not an initially accepted option. Flirting occurs most often during family gatherings and other controlled environments in the early stages.

‘Long-standing power dynamics also favor lighter-skinned people over darker skin tones, although this is slowly becoming more prevalent in modern urban areas.’

Italy – persistent

Emily Mendez, psychotherapist and writer for Tom’s blog, notes: ‘Italy has a reputation for amorous, persistent men who ruthlessly pursue the objects of their desire. Serenades and poetic overtures are more common flirting tactics [there] than in many other countries.’

Brazil, Mexico and Costa Rica – fast and aggressive

In Mexico and South America, flirting can become quite aggressive, according to Clarissa Bloom.

She says that in Brazil they are “much faster at dating and flirting,” adding, “It’s common to be close, dance together and kiss on a first date in Brazil.”

In Mexico, on the other hand, “it is common to hear wolves whistling or shouting comments out loud,” and in Costa Rica “you may hear men making dogs bark at you, which is a strange way to show your attraction.”

Egypt – keep it modest

‘[In Egypt] Islamic values ​​play an important role in shaping social interactions, including flirting,” said Mona Gomaa Flash Pack’s True Egypt tour.

She adds: ‘Modesty and respect are highly valued, and public displays of affection or provocative behavior are generally frowned upon in public.

‘Unmarried men and women generally do not interact freely and do not openly express their interest in each other. Instead, they may seek the help of intermediaries, such as family members or friends.”

Australia – friendly banter

Like their Commonwealth cousins, Australians prefer playful banter, fueled by humor and confidence, to pick-up lines, says Rosalind Cuthbertson, travel expert and co-owner of Frequent traveler.

She adds: ‘They tease with funny jokes, often about cultural touchpoints, demonstrating their ability to charm while gently poking fun.’

Germany – in advance and punctual

Noel Wolf from Babbel says: ‘Germans are known for being direct, and that can also apply in the dating world. Showing off or cheap lines don’t tend to be the preferred style.

‘Honest communication is appreciated, even though the truth can sometimes be a bit painful, so people tend not to beat around the bush.

‘One thing you should keep in mind is the importance of punctuality; Being fashionably late doesn’t make a good first impression!’

Denmark – talk honestly

According to Nicolai Lonne, travel expert and founder of Dive in, the Danish flirting style is similar to their German cousins: ‘We have a very direct approach to flirting and dating here in Denmark. For example, we Danes don’t really like playing hard-to-get or cryptic hints. We value honesty and openness about our intentions.‘

At first there is only a fleeting glimpse as someone breaks cover.

A little later it is a whole family. And suddenly, with cries of delight from our children, we are in the middle of the great migration.

Kenya is known for the annual migration of wildebeest and zebras from the Serengeti to the lush grasses of the Masai Mara, avoiding lions and crocodiles altogether.

But we don’t watch that show. We are near a Kenyan beach and see an equally spectacular migration of humpback whales that travel from Antarctica to the Indian Ocean every summer.

Along the way they skirt the Kenyan coastline at Watamu – and are just one of the attractions in this enchanting seaside town.

For many, Kenya is all about going on a safari. Yet the Kenyan coast is much more beautiful, accessible – and affordable – than I thought. It is also ideal for summer holidays, because it is a quiet season here with wonderful temperatures.

So first look further south before paying peak prices in a European hotspot.

The East African country is more of a trek than Spain, but many of the eight-hour direct flights to the capital Nairobi take place at night, there’s no jet lag and there are plenty of connections to the coast at Malindi or Mombasa.

We chose a week in Watamu, where the days were sultry and the evenings wonderfully cool.

From sunrise to sunset we had the full tropical sandy beach experience, jumping from glass bottom boats over a coral reef and laying on the sand eating freshly cut coconut.

While the coastal town of Watamu, just 13 miles from Malindi airport, was far from empty, it was also far from full.

My wife and I, plus our three children (aged 16, 14 and 11) stayed in Hemingways – a beautiful, low-rise apartment with a huge pool above the beach.

It’s five-star luxury at a European four-star price.

Our ocean view apartment had two spacious bedrooms and a huge living room, both with views of the Indian Ocean and access to a balcony that ran the length of our suite.

Two large bathrooms and a large kitchen are located inland. Not that we were cooking.

Hemingways’ restaurant serves a full brunch-style breakfast every morning. Every evening we had the choice of a buffet or an a la carte menu.

Outside, chefs were busy preparing curries or tossing steaks, snapper and stir-fries over fire pits.

Often at lunch we would grab a few tuk tuks and head to the bazaars and restaurants of central Watamu.

This place is steeped in Swahili history with its Gede ruins. There are also Indian, Arabic and Italian influences. Browse the stalls to find a famous kikoy sarong.

Just before sunset, head to Mida Creek, which flows into a huge inland lagoon.

There you can sit in a bar on stilts above the water with a cocktail and watch the sun set over the dhows and mangroves.

An unexpected highlight was Watamu Snake Farm, a sanctuary for some of the world’s deadliest specimens, including puff adders and spitting cobras.

Be there at 11am when the venom is ‘milked’ into serum to treat bites that kill up to 1,000 Kenyans every year.

Another popular spot is the Watamu Turtle Watch Marine Information Center. The area is a breeding ground for endangered sea turtles and when fishermen catch one in nets, they bring it here.

Because Watamu is located in a UNESCO-protected marine reserve, it is not teeming with pedal boats, jet skis and disco boats.

You need a day ticket to enter the reserve in a licensed glass-bottom tourist boat. It costs £12 for a day ticket (£10 for a child) plus the boat ticket.

A skipper takes you to a coral reef. All boats have free snorkel sets and life jackets. You can sunbathe on board or jump in to view the marine life.

My fate followed a stingray – at a distance.

The highlight was the afternoon on a Hemingways sports boat, following the great whale migration. It costs £80 each for a four-hour journey (including drinks and food).

Soon we saw a cloud of mist coming from a whale’s blowhole. Then the humpback whales appeared, slapping the water with their tails.

Suddenly a mother with a calf came up, followed by three relatives, so close that we could hear them snorting.

On the way back, our skipper Alfred set out fishing lines. I reeled in as many as a sailfish as long as I had a three-foot spike on its bill. It took three of us to reel it in, hold it for a photo, and then remove the hook. Then we threw it back.

What a day. What a week.

While most travelers hope to reach ancient sites or historical monuments, one British explorer tries to get as far away from them as possible.

Chris Brown hopes to reach Point Nemo – the most remote place on Earth and the graveyard for hundreds of pieces of space junk.

In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Point Nemo is so far from any land that the nearest humans are on the International Space Station 250 miles (408 km) above Earth.

If successful, the 62-year-old entrepreneur from Harrogate will become the first Briton to complete a specific expedition to the point.

‘I’m going to try to get in the water if at all possible. “I also expect to open a bottle of bubbly when I get there,” he said.

Mr Brown and his son Mika, 32, set sail aboard the chartered expedition yacht Hanse Explorer from Puerto Montt, Chile, on March 12.

The pair hope to reach Point Nemo on March 20 or 21 if all goes according to plan.

Although Mr Brown says he had considered using a racing yacht to get to the point as quickly as possible, he ultimately opted for the safer option of a more robust vessel.

The luxury yacht usually makes tourist expeditions to Antarctica and is said to pass quite close to Point Nemo.

Mr Brown said that ‘after some negotiation the owners agreed to our little detour.’

The crew’s destination is the so-called Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility, meaning it is the furthest point from land.

From Point Nemo, the nearest land is Ducie Island, part of the Pitcairn Islands, which is 2,688 kilometers away.

Besides a few small islands, the nearest major inhabited areas are Wellington, New Zealand and Concepción, Chile, both of which are over 2,500 miles away.

This part of the world is so remote that it has become the most popular place for international space agencies to drop falling space debris.

Since 1971, more than 260 pieces of space debris have found their final resting place in the waters around Point Nemo, including Russia’s Mir space station.

Within the next decade, this remote part of the Pacific Ocean will also be the site of the International Space Station’s downing.

When the ISS lands at Point Nemo, it will actually be seven times further from any human settlement than it is in orbit.

The point has been known since 1992, when a research engineer calculated the furthest point for landing, taking into account the Earth’s ellipsoid shape.

Since its discovery, several ships have approached the point, including Ocean Race participants traveling between Auckland, New Zealand and Itajaí, Brazil.

However, maritime experts have stated that ‘it is possible that no human ever passed through the specific coordinates’.

Nevertheless, Mr Brown appears undeterred by the extreme remoteness of the site.

Ultimately, he hopes to become the first person to reach all eight continental poles of inaccessibility on Earth.

These are the points on each continent that are furthest from any ocean, making them among the most remote places on Earth.

Mr Brown has already reached five of the eight, reaching the poles in Antarctica, Oceania, Africa, North America and South America.

“I don’t consider this as dangerous as my expeditions to Africa or Antarctica,” he said.

‘The obvious danger is that you are miles from anywhere at sea, and you are a long way from any of the shipping lanes, so if there was a problem with the boat help would take a long time to wait. ‘

During the expedition to the Antarctic Pole of Inaccessibility, Mr Brown and his son were briefly stranded in temperatures of -28°C after their plane broke down.

But while Mr. Brown may be adventurous, he also seems to have a keen sense of danger.

Last year he came to media attention after it was revealed that he had turned down a spot on the ill-fated submarine expedition to the Titanic.

Mr Brown said he even paid a deposit for a seat on the OceanGate ship.

However, he pulled out of the trip after discovering the submarine would be controlled with games console controllers saying it looked ‘sloppy’.

Mr Brown plans to collect water samples at Point Nemo to test the density of microplastics on their way to the world’s most remote oceans.

In addition to being a dumping ground for space debris, Point Nemo is located in a complex network of circular currents that trap large amounts of waste.

The South Pacific Gyre in which Point Nemo is located is a confluence of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, the Humboldt Current, and the West Wind Drift.

As a result, this region of the Pacific Ocean has become something of an oceanic garbage dump.

Fortunately, this area may also be one of the least biologically active regions of the world’s oceans.

In the 4,000 meter deep waters it is so devoid of nutrients that life can hardly exist.

Scientists have only discovered bacteria and small crabs living in the sea vents on the ocean floor near the point.

Climate change is ‘off the charts’ and presents a ‘defining challenge’ to humanity, a damning new report warns today.   

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) says several climate records were broken and in some cases ‘smashed’ last year.

Greenhouse gas levels, surface temperatures, ocean heat and acidification, sea level rises, and Antarctic ice loss all escalating in 2023 due to fossil fuel emissions. 

‘Sirens are blaring across all major indicators,’ said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. 

‘Some records aren’t just chart-topping, they’re chart-busting – and changes are speeding-up.’ 

The WMO’s State of the Global Climate report, published today, confirms that the year 2023 broke ‘every single climate indicator’. 

TEMPERATURES  

WMO confirmd that 2023 was the warmest year on record, as already announced by the UN’s Copernicus climate change programme in January. 

The global average near-surface air temperature for the year was at 2.61°F (1.45°C) above the pre-industrial average (1850 to 1900).

Before 2023, the two previous warmest years were 2016 (2.32°F/1.29°C above the 1850–1900 average) and 2020 (2.28°F/1.27°F above the 1850–1900 average). 

What’s more, the past nine years – between 2015 and 2023 – were the nine warmest years on record.

But the experts admit that the shift to ‘El Niño’ conditions in the middle of 2023 contributed to a rapid rise in temperature from 2022 to 2023. 

El Niño is natural climate phenomenon where there’s warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean near the equator. 

GREENHOUSE GASES 

Temperatures are largely fueled by greenhouse gas emissions, and these continued to climb in 2023. 

WMO says data for concentrations of the three main greenhouse gases in the air (carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) are not yet available for the whole of 2023, but in 2022 they reached ‘new highs’. 

Globally averaged concentrations were 417.9 parts per million (ppm) for carbon dioxide (CO2), 1,923 parts per billion (ppb) for methane (CH4), and 335.8 ppb for nitrous oxide (N2O).

Respectively, this marks an alarming rise of 150 per cent, 264 per cent and 124 per cent compared with greenhouse gas concentrations levels in the year 1750. 

‘For more than 250 years, the burning of oil, gas and coal has filled the atmosphere with greenhouse gasses,’ said Dr Friederike Otto, climate lecturer at Imperial College London, who wasn’t involved in the report. 

‘The result is the dire situation we are in today – a rapidly heating climate with dangerous weather, suffering ecosystems and rising sea-levels, as outlined by the WMO report.

‘To stop things from getting worse, humans need to stop burning fossil fuels. It really is that simple.

‘If we do not stop burning fossil fuels, the climate will continue to warm, making life more dangerous, more unpredictable, and more expensive for billions of people on earth.’

OCEAN HEAT 

Although the main metric for measuring how hot the planet is getting is air temperatures, WMO also tracks how hot the world’s waters are getting. 

Numerous adverse effects result from ocean warming, including accelerated melting of Earth’s ice sheets and sea level rise due to thermal expansion. 

Ocean species are also threatened, including coral which become ‘bleached’ white due to the stress of higher temperatures.  

Meanwhile, CO2 dissolving in the ocean causes acidification of the waters, which makes it harder for marine life such as lobsters, shrimp and coral reefs to survive. 

WMO says the overall temperature of Earth’s oceans have risen since 1960 and ‘it is expected that warming will continue’. 

The Southern Ocean is the largest reservoir of heat, accounting for around 32 per cent of the ocean heat increase since 1958. 

The Atlantic Ocean accounts for around 31 per cent, while the Pacific Ocean makes up around 26 per cent. 

SEA LEVELS 

Rising sea levels can cause disastrous flooding, forcing authorities to spend millions on flood defences and even force people to flee their homes. 

This is largely being caused by the increased melting of land-based ice, such as glaciers and ice sheets.

Again, in 2023, global mean sea levels reached a record high since they first started to be tracked with satellites, in 1993. 

According to the WMO, average sea level rises went from 0.08-inch (2.13mm) per year between 1993 and 2002, to 0.13-inch (3.33mm) per year between 2003 to 2012, and finally 0.18-inch (4.77mm) per year between 2014 and 2023. 

Although this may not sound like much, Professor Jonathan Bamber, director of the Bristol Glaciology Centre at the University of Bristol, said this could lead to catastrophic long-term change. 

‘Our own research indicates that, if greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated, there is a small chance that we could experience up to a 2 metre rise by 2100,’ he said.

‘This would truly be catastrophic for civilisation with the potential to displace around a tenth of the population of the planet. 

‘We are looking at the disappearance of small island nation states in the not too distant future and inundation of heavily populated coastal zones.’

MELTING ICE 

Due to the higher surface and ocean temperatures, ice in the Antarctic reached a record low since records began in 1979. 

September’s annual maximum – when Antarctic ice is usually at its greatest extent due to colder temperatures – was 6.54 million sq miles (16.96 million sq km). 

This is roughly 5.7 million sq miles (1.5 million sq km) below the 1991-2020 average and 386,000 sq miles (1 million sq km2) below the previous record low maximum.

In the northern hemisphere meanwhile, the Greenland Ice Sheet – the world’s second-biggest ice sheet after Antarctic – continued to lose mass in 2023. 

Combining the two ice sheets, average rates of mass loss increased from 105 gigatonnes per year from 1992-1996 to 372 gigatonnes per year from 2016–2020. 

The world’s glaciers – which reflect sunlight back into space and help keep the planet cool – likely suffered ‘the largest loss of ice on record’ since 1950. 

In Switzerland, which relies on ice for the ski season, glaciers have lost around 10 per cent of their remaining volume in the past two years.

‘If that trend continues then we could see much of the Alps devoid of glaciers in a matter of decades,’ said Professor Bamber.

‘That is something that few, if any of us, would have expected see happen so rapidly.’  

Researchers also warn that extreme weather events including floods, tropical cyclones, drought, and wildfires, are linked with the warming of the planet and so will likely keep occurring. 

These will hit ‘vulnerable populations’ in countries without the ability to respond adequately already hit by food insecurity, such as Somalia, Sudan and Syria. 

‘Climate change can intensify existing inequalities and social and economic pressures, placing further pressure on the people and places who are already under stress and who have often done the least to cause climate change in the first place,’ said Dr Leslie Mabon, lecturer in environmental systems at The Open University. 

Professor Tina van de Flierdt, head of the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London, called the new report ‘alarming’. 

‘Generally, the data in the report reinforces that climate change is not a distant threat – it is here now, and it is already impacting lives worldwide,’ she said. 

‘However, it is important to note that we are not yet locked into this trajectory. 

‘The future is in our hands, and ongoing climate projects and greater use of clean energy sources offer hope for a just and resilient future.’ 

Millions of bizarre blob-like creatures have washed up on West Coast beaches in recent years due to warming waters caused by climate change.

The gelatinous, transparent mases are found along the coasts of Northern California and Oregon, and sometimes as far away as Alaska, but typically live in warm seas – and at great depths.

Now scientists from Oregon State University have discovered that these pyrosomes or ‘sea pickles’ are appearing en masse as a result of a major marine heat wave that began in 2013 – marking the first time the animals have been seen in 25 years.

Since the proliferation of pyrosomes in the Pacific Ocean, they have also consumed most of the energy in the sea, reducing the number of salmon and seabirds.

Pyrosomes feed on phytoplankton, which form the basis of marine food webs that provide food for a wide range of marine animals, but growing numbers of sea pickles mean there are not enough available.

These creatures can grow from just a few centimeters to up to 20 meters in length and resemble a pink tube with stiff bumps covering the body.

Pyrosomes are colonies of thousands of animals called zooids that form in a hollow tube that can grow large enough for a human to fit through.

The sea creatures have a gene called luciferase that produces light and when it reacts with a luminous chemical, it sends the light up and down the tube, allowing it to see several meters in front of it.

They can also reproduce through asexual reproduction – effectively cloning themselves – or they can reproduce with a sexual partner.

The researchers looked at data from 80 groups of creatures, three feeding pools, five waste pools and two fisheries collected since 2014.

“Pyrosomes consume animals at the base of the food web and conserve that energy,” said Lisa Crozier, research scientist at NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center and co-author of the paper.

“They take energy out of the system that predators need,” she added.

According to the study, pyrosomes have long been considered “trophic dead ends” because they cannot serve as an energy source for other species, and how nutritious they are for other creatures that have consumed them in recent years remains unclear.

“That has an impact on the entire ecosystem… the pyrosome consumes energy that would normally have passed through multiple prey before ultimately ending up in a salmon,” study co-author Dylan Gomes said. The Seattle Times.

Pyrosomes are not consumed as often as other creatures, such as jellyfish, and the study suggests that this “may be because they are harder to digest, offer lower energy content, or remain new to the food web so predators have not yet responded.”

The 2013 marine heat wave, known as ‘the Blob’, increased water temperatures, allowing pyrosomes to thrive, while some fisheries closed as salmon, cod and Dungeness crab populations declined.

Scientists have speculated whether rising temperatures could be to blame for animals’ metabolisms increasing in warmer water, causing them to use more energy.

“You can think of it as more being consumed for the same amount of seafood produced,” Gomes said NewScientist.

Gomes said the study does not take into account factors that could affect declining marine life, such as declining oxygen levels caused by warming waters.

However, he added: ‘It is a first attempt to understand how marine heat waves are changing the ecosystems of the northeast Pacific Ocean.’

The team also compared other marine animals to the pyrosomes and found that they benefited most from the ecosystem, while other species such as jellyfish, cod, sardines, sea snails and other creatures missed out, causing their populations to decline.

While other creatures such as salmon pass on their energy source to feed larger animals, the research suggests this is not the case for pyrosomes, where 98 percent of their waste and residue accumulate in the seabed – so-called waste pools.