The June Solstice

An example of what happens during the June solstice. Illustration is not to scale

June Solstice in San Francisco, California, U.S.A. was on
Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 3:51 AM PDT (Change city)

June Solstice in Universal Coordinated Time was on
Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 10:51 UTC

• Local times for June Solstice 2014 worldwide
• Sunrise, sunset and daylength around June Solstice 2014
• Day and Night map for June Solstice 2014
• Equinoxes and solstices from 2000–2049

The June solstice is known as the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere and the winter solstice the southern hemisphere. The date varies between June 20 and June 22, depending on the year.

Varying dates

In the Gregorian calendar the June solstice dates vary. For example, it occurs on June 21 in 2014 and 2015 but on June 20 in 2016. A June 22 solstice will not occur until June 22, 2203. The last time there was a June 22 solstice was in 1971.

The varying dates of the solstice are mainly due to the calendar system – most western countries use the Gregorian calendar, which has 365 days in a year, or 366 days in a leap year. As for the tropical year, it is approximately 365.242199 days, but varies from year to year because of the influence of other planets. A tropical year is the length of time that the sun takes to return to the same position in the cycle of seasons, as seen from Earth. The exact orbital and daily rotational motion of the Earth, such as the “wobble” in the Earth's axis (precession), also contributes to the changing solstice dates.

Seasons, Equinoxes and Solstices

• Seasons Calculator – When seasons start
• March Equinox Explained
• –traditions around March Equinox
• June Solstice Explained
• –traditions around June Solstice
• September Equinox Explained
• –traditions around September Equinox
• December Solstice Explained
• –traditions around December Solstice
• Equinox day is not exactly 12 hours long

The June solstice explained

A solstice occurs when the sun's zenith is at its furthest point from the equator. During the June solstice it reaches its northernmost point and the Earth’s North Pole tilts directly towards the sun, at about 23.5 degrees. It is also known as the northern solstice because it occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere. If the Earth's rotation was at right angles to the plane of its orbit around the sun, there would be no solstice days and no seasons.

The June solstice day has the longest hours of daylight for those living north of the equator. Those living or travelling to the north of the Arctic Circle are able to see the “midnight sun”, where the sun remains visible throughout the night, while those living or travelling south of the Antarctic Circle will not see sun during this time of the year. For those living near the equator, the sun does not shift up and down in the sky as much compared with other geographical locations away from the equator during this time of the year. This means that the length of day temperature does not vary as much.

The June solstice marks the first day of the summer season in the northern hemisphere. The word solstice is from the Latin word “solstitium”, meaning “sun-stopping”, because the point at which the sun appears to rise and set stops and reverses direction after this day. On this day, the sun does not rise precisely in the east, but rises to the north of east and sets to the north of west allowing it to be in the sky for a longer period of time. In the southern hemisphere, the June solstice is known as the shortest day of the year. It is when the sun has reached its furthest point from the equator and marks the first day of winter.

Moving to other seasons

©iStockphoto.com/Bojan Tezak

After the June solstice, the sun follows a lower and lower path through the sky each day in the northern hemisphere until it reaches the point where the length of daylight is about 12 hours and eight to nine minutes in areas that are about 30 degrees north or south of the equator, while areas that are 60 degrees north or south of the equator observe daylight for about 12 hours and 16 minutes. This is called the September equinox, which is also known as the autumnal equinox in the northern hemisphere. Many regions around the equator have a daylight length about 12 hours and six-and-a-half minutes during the equinox.

It is important to note that Earth does not move at a constant speed in its elliptical orbit. Therefore the seasons are not of equal length: the times taken for the sun to move from theMarch equinox to the June solstice, to the September equinox, to the December solstice, and back to the March equinox are roughly 92.8, 93.6, 89.8 and 89.0 days respectively. The consolation in the northern hemisphere is that spring and summer last longer than autumn and winter.

Useful Tools

To calculate the approximate time and date (according to Coordinated Universal Time) of the March equinox, as well as the June and December solstices and theSeptember equinox, click on the Seasons Calculator. These dates mark the beginning of the four seasons of the year, which are spring, summer, autumn (or fall) and winter. It is important to note that the seasons in the northern hemisphere are opposite to those in the southern hemisphere. Find out more about the Seasons Calculatorand links to useful tools, such as the Day and Night World Map, Moon Calculator, Moon Phase Calculator, and Sunrise Calculator.

The World Clock can also be used to find sunrise and sunset times, as well as the current position of the sun in major cities around the world. Simply select any location that is available from the World Clock and the calculator will adjust the local time in that particular city.

Solstice’s influence on cultures

In ancient times, solstices and equinoxes were important in guiding people to develop and maintain calendars, as well as helping them to grow crops. It was important for many people, especially those who spent a considerable amount of time outdoors, to understand the seasons and weather, which played a key role in their lives. Over the centuries, the June solstice was a time when festivals, celebrations and other festivities were celebrated.

Astronomy calculators

• Seasons Calculator
• Moon Calculator – Find times for moonrise, moonset and more
• Moon Phase Calculator – Calculate moon phases for any year
• Sunrise Calculator – Find times for sunrise, sunset and more
• Day and Night World Map – See which parts of the Earth are currently illuminated by the Sun

More information

• June Solstice Customs and Traditions
• September Equinox
• September Equinox Customs and Holidays
• December Solstice
• December Solstice Customs and Traditions
• The March Equinox Explained
• Customs and holidays around the March Equinox

Calendar tools

• Calendar for 2014
• Calendar Generator – Create a calendar for any year
• Duration between two dates – Calculates number of days
• Weekday Calculator – What Day is this Date? – Find the weekday for any date.

Related time zone tools

• The World Clock – Current times around the world
• Time Zone Converter – If it is 3 pm in New York, what time is it in Sydney?
• Event Time Announcer/Fixed Time – Show local times worldwide for your event.

6 Ways to Perfect Your Quesadilla Posted: 06/20/2014 5:50 pm EDT Updated: 06/20/2014 8:59 pm EDT

6 Ways to Perfect Your Quesadilla

The quesadilla burst onto America's culinary landscape in the 1990s. It was love at first bite. We loved the earthy-flavored, chewy-crisp tortillas, the gooey filling of melted cheese, the sting of the jalapeños. In true American fashion, we made Mexico's "grilled cheese sandwich" our own, piling on chicken, duck, shrimp, even lobster. Makes you wonder if some of the more extravagant versions still contain cheese.

To experience the Mexican quesadilla at its most basic, head to the central food market in the village of Tlacolula, a 45-minute drive from downtown Oaxaca. Like most Oaxacan markets, this one has a "barbecue alley." It's a place where you buy meats, vegetables, tortillas, and other ingredients for grilling and where charcoal-burning grills blaze between the stalls for customers to use free of charge to cook these ingredients for lunch.

That's where I experienced the most primal quesadilla of all—one of the large, round bluish corn tortillas for which Oaxaca is famous, softened over the charcoal, then strewn with a few strands of Oaxacan string cheese, and folded in half to make a turnover. The grilling time took seconds, not minutes—just long enough to brown the tortilla and partially melt the cheese. Serve with salsa verde and you're in business (and very likely in heaven).

At the other end of the spectrum stands the tlayuda that accompanies grilled steak at the restaurant Casa Oaxaca in the historic colonial center of Oaxaca city.Tlayuda originated as a street snack—a pan-fried tortilla topped with beans, cheese, tomato, avocado, and salsa—eaten open face, like an Oaxacan pizza. But here chef-owner Alexandro Ruiz folds it in half and grills it over a charcoal fire, adding a smoky dimension and fire-crisped crust you simply won't find in the street food. Next time you visit Oaxaca, be sure to reserve a table on the rooftop terrace—Ruiz serves some of the most sophisticated twists on traditional Oaxacan food in Mexico.

Make the tlayuda, an Oaxacan grilled quesadilla.

Use these tips to take your quesadillas over the top:

1. Flour has become the default tortilla in the U.S., but in Mexico, most quesadillas are made with corn tortillas. Extra points (and flavor) if you can buy freshly made corn tortillas from a bakery or shop in a Mexican neighborhood in your area.
2. Warm the tortilla on the grill to soften it. When working with large tortillas, fill one side and fold in half, like a turnover. When working with small tortillas, pile one atop the other, placing the filling in the center like a sandwich.
3. Coarsely grated or shredded cheese melts faster and more evenly than sliced cheese. Added advantage—when using grated cheese, you can mix several cheeses, like mild Jack and sharp cheddar.
4. Other great quesadilla fillings include sliced fresh jalapeños, thinly sliced scallions, diced tomatoes, sautéed squash blossoms, etc.
5. Quesadillas are normally grilled dry, but a light brushing with melted butter or olive oil adds extra flavor and helps crisp the tortilla without burning. Better yet, use pork drippings or bacon fat.
6. Tortillas burn like paper. Work over a moderate fire and establish a fire-free safety zone on your grill where you can move the quesadilla if it starts to burn.

SIGN UP for Steven Raichlen's UP IN SMOKE newsletter to learn more about barbecue!

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Steven Raichlen is the author of the Barbecue! Bible cookbook series and the host of Primal Grill on PBS. His web site is BarbecueBible.com.

Follow Steven Raichlen on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sraichlen

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Catch waves: the best surfing beaches in the world CLOUD 9 , SIARGAO , PHILIPPINES Jun 18, 2014

swCatch waves: the best surfing beaches in the world,Entertainment,surfing, tourism,travel and leisureNo comments

Create an account. You are here: Home Siargao Forum. The 

official Website of Siargao Island Philippines.

FORUM, DESCRIPTION, POSTS, LAST ACTIVITY …Siargao is a tear-drop shaped island in the Philippine Sea situated 800 kilometers southeast of Manila in the province of Surigao del Norte. It has a land area of approximately 437 square kilometers. The east coast is relatively straight with one deep inlet, Port Pilar. The coastline is marked by a succession of reefs, small points and white, sandy beaches. The neighboring islands and islets have similar landforms.One of the best known surfing waves on Siargao and the Philippines, with a worldwide reputation for thick, hollow tubes is “Cloud 9″. This right-breaking reef wave is the site of the annual Siargao Cup, a domestic and international surfing competition sponsored by the provincial government of Surigao del Norte.The wave was discovered by travelling surfers in the late 1980s. It was named after a chocolate bar of same name, and was featured by American photographer John S. Callahan in the United States- based Surfer magazine in March 1993. Cloud 9 also has a reputation for being a relatively cheap destination for surfers with many cheap accommodations and restaurants and bars to choose from.There are several other quality waves on Siargao and nearby islands, but Cloud 9 has received more publicity than any other surf spot in the Philippines. It is the only wave easily accessible without a boat, leading to overcrowding and the nickname of “Crowd 9″ among surfers. Eager foreign and locally owned accommodation and tourist facilities have profited from the magazine publicity and the influx of visitors drawn by the annual Siargao Cup competition in September.Siargao is well known as “The Surfing Capital of the Philippines” with a reputation among surfers within the Philippines and the International scene.

Eddie Florano has also written a song called “Surfin’ in Siargao” from the 2006 Ukulele World: Acoustic & Power Ukulele compilation album.

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Catch waves: the best surfing beaches in the world PUERTO ESCONDIDO , OAXACA , MEXICO Jun 18, 2014

Catch waves: the best surfing beaches in the world PUERTO ESCONDIDO , OAXACA , MEXICO

Jun 18, 2014

swCatch waves: the best surfing beaches in the world,Entertainment,surfing, tourism,travel and leisureNo comments

Puerto Escondido, in Oaxaca’s coast, offers relaxation and adventure, the tranquillity of its thermal waters and the magic of its folkloric traditions.Puerto Escondido (English: “Hidden Port”) is a small port and tourist center in the municipality of San Pedro Mixtepec Distrito 22 in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Prior to the 1930s, no real town existed. The bay had been used as a port intermittently to ship coffee, but there was no permanent settlement due to the lack of potable water. The name Puerto Escondido had roots in the legend of a woman who escaped her captors and hid here. The Nahuatl word for this area was Zicatela, meaning “place of large thorns.” Today, it refers to the area’s most famous beach.Puerto Escondido is one of the most important tourist attractions on the Oaxacan coast. It caters to a more downscale and eclectic clientele than neighboring Huatulco, mostly surfers, backpackers and Mexican families.The main attractions are the beaches, from Zicatela Beach, which hosts major surfing competitions, to beaches with gentle waves. West from the town is a large lagoon area popular for fishing and birdwatching.The main attractions of Puerto Escondido are its beaches, which have become internationally known. The area also is attractive to scuba divers because of the variety of fish to be found, as well as large oysters, lobsters and manta rays. Although the Pacific Coast of Mexico generally runs north-south, this section of the coast in Oaxaca runs east-west, Playa Zicatela is on the eastern end.Puerto Escondido became famous due to surfing competitions held at Zicatela Beach every year in November. The competition brings competitors from various countries. Nicknamed the “Mexican Pipeline” due to the similar power and shape of the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, the wave that breaks on Zicatela Beach draws an international crowd of surfers, bodyboarders and their entourages. Mid to late summer is low season for tourists, but a prime time for waves and international tournaments. A number of international competitions such as the ESPN X Games, and the MexPipe Challenge have taken place. This beach is separated from the other beaches by a rocky outcropping called “El Morro” (the nose). The beach is fifty to one hundred metres wide and four kilometres long with large waves that reach up to sixteen metres high. Lifeguards are stationed at this high-risk beach as well as on the other beaches. About half of these are professional and the other half volunteers. Zicatela is still a surfers beach, with the strong undertow making the area unsuitable for swimming. The Zicatela Beach tourist district caters to surfers, including specials on surfboard rentals. The beach now has a promenade, landscaped with flowers and shrubs along the restaurants, many recently established.West of Zicatela over the El Moro rocky outcrop is Playa Marinero, which is the best beach for swimming as the surf and undertow are much less. There is some surf, but gentle enough for beginning surfers and bodyboarding.West from Playa Marinero is Playa Principal, or main beach, fronting of the town proper. A main difference that distinguishes this beach from Marinero is that boats and water taxis are anchored close to shore. Here, fishermen arrive at dawn to sell their catch to local restaurants and families. It is 500 metres long with fine, gray sand and low to moderate surf. This is the primary place to hire boats which take tourists to otherwise-inaccessible beaches, to see porpoises and marine turtles or for deep-sea fishing. This beach is also popular with Mexican families to picnic on and play soccer.West of the Playa Principal is the lighthouse with a stone walkway, Andador Escénico, below it. From the end of the walkway, and a bit farther west, are the twin beaches of Puerto Angelito and Manzanillo, between which is a small rock outcropping. These are on a sheltered cove, making it safe for swimming, with Manzanillo having slightly more surf. Angelito beach is full of family-owned small restaurants located in palapas (open-air thatched structures). Both these beaches have water that varies in color from emerald green to turquoise blue. Puerto Angelito tends to be crowded and frequented by busloads of visitors. Playa Manzanillo is quieter as there is no road access.West from these beaches is Playa Carrizalillo, which has white sand and cobalt blue water edged in light green. This 300 metre wide beach is on a small bay. There are no vehicular roads to this beach, and the footpath descends a steep slope on a recently installed rock stairway. It takes about fifteen minutes to walk to here from the town. A water taxi ride from Playa Principal is another option for accessing Carrizalillo. Waves are normally gentle, except for a zone that opens directly onto the ocean where waves are big enough for surfing. The difficult access means that the beach is not as crowded with walking vendors as the Puerto Angelito Beach. There are few restaurants and the area is generally cleaner. On the east and west sides of the bay are rocky outcroppings that serve as habitat for a wide variety of fish and coral, making it popular for snorkeling. Near Carrizalillo is the Rinconada, a former landing strip that is now lined with restaurants, salons, and shops. It also contains a lending library run by a local charity run by expatriates.The westernmost beach is Playa Bacocho with upscale beach clubs. It has fine, soft sand, palm trees, warm, blue-green water and a moderate surf although the far west part of the beach can have a strong undertow. It faces southwest, offering good sunset views. West from Bacocho are still undeveloped beaches.

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«Catch waves: the best surfing beaches in the world CLOUD 9 , SIARGAO , PHILIPPINES»Catch waves: the best surfing beaches in the world SOORTS – HOSSEGOR , FRANCE

Human rights angle to pollution of beaches in Puerto By Li Valenzuela 4:45 pm, 17 June, 2014

Human rights angle to pollution of beaches in Puerto

By Li Valenzuela

4:45 pm, 17 June, 2014

LI VALENZUELA | EL SOL DE LA COSTA

Lic. Arturo Pembert Calvo, Oaxaca human rights ombudsman.

Human rights angle to pollution of beaches in Puerto

By Li Valenzuela

4:45 pm, 17 June, 2014

Oaxaca’s human rights ombudsman has weighed in on the effects of pollution in Puerto Escondido, particularly at Playa Marinero.

Arturo Pembert Calvo said the most worrisome aspects are public health and environmental degradation.

¨Pollution is already affecting not only the locals’ health-related human rights, but also those of visiting tourists, who are the community’s first source of income. Puerto Escondido’s and San Pedro Mixtepec’s officials should be concerned, as should be the state and federal governments, because the human rights of the local population, and of foreigners, too, are being violated.”

All these issues carry with them the environmental degradation generated by any kind of pollution.

“We can build a human rights violation case because there are budgets that should have been spent on a series of environmental advances in pollutant waste management, like those produced by hotels and households. The fact that there is no drainage contravenes any developmental projects, at the local, municipal, or state levels. We find this worrying.”

Since high levels of pollution have already been detected on Puerto Escondido beaches, highlights Pembert, the first step consists in making the issue known to the public; people would then be able to provide information through a complaint or by approaching the ombudsman’s office. It would then be able to build a specific working group for the issue.

“This group would be composed of professionals with a specific profile, that should enable them to assist with these human rights violations caused by environmental issues.”

The ombudsman’s office has already stepped in on environmental issues in the region, such as the Cerro Hermoso case, in the municipality of Tututepec.

“A building being erected at Cerro Hermoso affected the environment: water flooded, a lagoon lost its oxygenation, and a beach was clogged with sand, killing life forms in this zone. We stepped in, issued the first ecological recommendation in the state of Oaxaca, and managed to get the authorities’ immediate involvement.

“The demolition of the built infrastructure is under process, which will allow the free flow of water, and the extra sand is being removed; this will allow a gradual healing for the lagoon, too. “This is why we are worried about what’s going on at Playa Marinero. There happen to be health effects that may not be yet perceived, which are related to these pollutant processes.”

The ombudsman insists that Puerto Escondido is in the midst of a contamination process, “its effects can’t be measured immediately but will affect public health.”

Regarding those liable, the ombudsman reckons that “regardless of those officials whose terms are over, who should also be investigated in order to know what exactly was their involvement, it is very important for those now in office to intervene right away, it is their business.

“If they are incapable of halting this pollution they could even be part of the complaint we’ll eventually file. They would then be evaluated, and we will find out who is going to be responsible of solving this situation.”

When a complaint process is enacted, Pembert explains, the result could be a recommendation where three points will be evaluated: the official’s responsibility, their proposal for no-repetition measures, and repairing all damages. All three conditions must be fulfilled, or the case is taken to the courts.

“There exists a constitutional court that assesses human rights violations, and if our recommendation in Oaxaca is ineffectual, the case might reach a human rights protection trial, that consists in putting an official’s and clerk’s responsibility in the hands of the courts. This may carry criminal or administrative sanctions.”

The most frequent complaints received by his office are those related with public security, the most serious ones involving arbitrary arrests, undignified and inhuman treatment, says Pembert.

The intent of the commission is to build a more robust complaint process, and heeding the necessities of the most isolated communities, providing them with translation services, a necessary aspect for an adequate defense.

He also mentions that an equally relevant issue are abuses committed by authorities, generally associated with municipal officials.

Over 100 people belonging to different groups attended a session of the Citizens Council for the Defense of Human Rights of the People of Oaxaca, which took place last Friday at Zicatela.

Vecinos de la costa en la reunión pública de Derechos Humanos.

Concurrida participación de los habitantes de la costa.

Héctor Lorenzo Estrada, María Cruz Mata García, Arturo Pembert Calvo, Sylvia Bustamante Arreola, José Rodríguez Alamilla, miembros del Consejo Ciudadano de la Defensoría de los Derechos Humanos del Pueblo de Oaxaca.

Integrantes de Piña Palmera en el intermedio de la sesión.

Las Abejas de Manzanillo participaron en el encuentro ciudadano.

Photos by Li Valenzuela