Есть такой онлайн-сервис SunCalc. Он использует астрономические формулы, чтобы показывать положение солнца в заданных координатах и заданное время. Я его применяю, например, чтобы выбрать время и место съёмки.
Так вот, там в сервисе взяты Google-карты, и уже несколько лет на каждом тайле отображается ватермарка "For development purposes only", а при старте сервиса выскакивает ошибка о некорректной загрузке карт. Это произошло из-за того, что Гугл в какой-то момент поменял карты, не сохранив обратную совместимость, и сделал платной ту квоту, которая прежде была бесплатной, увеличив стоимость использования в 14 раз!
В SunCalc, как и во множестве подобных проектов на базе API крупных компаний, нет рекламы и монетизации. А код сервиса доступен в Open Source. Это просто удобная онлайн-тулза от энтузиаста. Он на ней не зарабатывает, даже наоборот: тратит собственные деньги на оплату серверов, просто чтобы привнести в мир некоторое универсальное общественное благо. Формально, конечно, Гугл, как владелец своих карт, имеет полное право раздавать доступы к этим картам на любых условиях. Но фактически нет никакой хорошей и рациональной причины, по которой бесплатный некоммерческий общественно-полезный сервис не должен иметь возможность применять эти карты.
Платить автор сервиса точно не будет: нет никакого смысла выкидывать сотни долларов в месяц просто так ради жадности Гугла. Получается, что пользователи на ровном месте испытывают неудобства. Хоть и небольшие, но всё-таки — работать с чистой картой без надписей и затемнения гораздо приятнее.
Вот вам ещё про вред капитализма и монополий. Не то, чтоб я видел какую-то другую более работающую экономическую систему (социализм с его плановой экономикой во много раз хуже и нежизнеспособнее, разумеется). Но просто каждый раз раздражают такие ситуации, когда на них наталкиваюсь. Какого хера вообще?
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#Rivers
SyrDarya and AmuDarya on the brink: water scarcity is reshaping regional policy
The water-energy crisis in Central Asia is becoming one of the key challenges for the region, including Uzbekistan. According to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, water availability per capita in the region has decreased by nearly 30% over the past 20 years. Climate change is intensifying the pressure: glaciers in the Pamir and Tien Shan mountains, which feed the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, are rapidly melting. An additional source of concern is the construction of the Qosh Tepa Canal in Afghanistan, which could significantly reduce the flow of the Amu Darya and affect water supply in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
The situation is further complicated by an outdated water management system inherited from the Soviet era. Previously, a “water-for-energy” mechanism functioned in the region: Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan stored water in summer for irrigation needs in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, receiving energy resources in winter in return. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, this system largely broke down. Today the situation is further complicated by large hydropower projects such as Rogun Dam and Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant. While these projects strengthen the energy independence of upstream countries, they also raise concerns among downstream states, including Uzbekistan.
Experts say the region now faces a choice: escalating water conflicts or strengthening cooperation. For Uzbekistan, water is directly linked to food security, agriculture, and environmental stability. One proposed solution is the creation of a new regional mechanism for managing transboundary water resources and the joint implementation of water-saving technologies. Without such cooperation, water scarcity could become a major challenge for the sustainable development of the entire Central Asian region. 💧🌍
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Amazon's Meeting of Waters
Dual-Toned Rivers of Amazon
Experience the mesmerizing natural phenomenon at
the 'Meeting of Waters’ near Manaus. Here, the dark
Rio Negro and the lighter Amazon River flow in
parallel, refusing to mix for miles, creating a stunning
dual-toned effect. The surrounding landscape
features a prominent plateau and mesa, adding to
the dramatic beauty of this unique confluence. The
vibrant sunset enhances the contrasting colors of
the rivers, making it a truly unforgettable sight. This
natural wonder showcases the power and beauty of
the Amazon rainforest.
🌍 The world’s shortest river, the Roe River in Montana, flows only about 61 meters from its source to its mouth. Despite its tiny length, it’s officially recognized as a river. ✨
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🌎 Deep in the Brazilian rainforest, the Encontro das Águas marks where the dark Rio Negro meets the sandy Amazon River. The two rivers flow side by side for 6 kilometers without mixing due to differences in temperature, speed, and density. ✨
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🌍 The Amazon River’s water travels over 6,400 kilometers from Andes glaciers to the Atlantic, but some of its rain comes from clouds recycled multiple times through plant evaporation along the journey. ✨
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🌍 Rivers in the Amazon basin recycle rainwater so efficiently that a single water droplet may fall as rain and evaporate back into the sky up to seven times before leaving the forest. ✨
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🌍 Water trapped as snow and ice in the Himalayas slowly melts each spring, feeding rivers that bring life to billions across Asia. This seasonal meltwater is key to the region’s water cycle. ✨
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🌍 The Lena River in Siberia creates the largest natural river delta in the Arctic, spreading into thousands of channels and wetlands that provide vital nesting grounds for millions of migratory birds. ✨
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🌍 The Okavango Delta in Botswana is one of the few major river deltas that forms entirely inland, creating a lush wetland oasis in the middle of the Kalahari Desert. ✨
#rivers⚡#wetlands⚡#delta⚡#geography⚡#nature⚡#earth
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🌍 Germany’s Upper Middle Rhine Valley is a UNESCO heritage site where castles, vineyards, and medieval villages line steep riverbanks. Its landscape tells centuries of human and natural interaction. ✨
#heritage⚡#landscape⚡#rivers⚡#geography⚡#nature⚡#earth
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🌍 Africa’s Lake Victoria is the largest tropical lake in the world. Its outflow forms the start of the Nile River, which journeys over 6,600 kilometers north to the Mediterranean Sea. ✨
#lakes⚡#rivers⚡#Africa⚡#geography⚡#nature⚡#earth
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