Tag: Nature

• How Australia’s Lake Hillier gets its pink color

  

  Lake Hillier located off the south coast of Western Australia (Middle Island) is an iconic lake known for its vivid pink color.

  Scientists postulate that the lake’s solid bubblegum color results from the intermixing of Halobacteria and a salt-tolerant algae species called Dunaliella Salina.

  View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by Mitchell ~ Western Australia (@mkz.imagery)

  When mixed with salt-tolerant microalgae, the bacteria produce red pigments that create a stunning strawberry milkshake color. The chemical reactions between the salt and the microorganisms also make the lake ten times saltier than the ocean nearby. But the lake is still safe to swim in.

  There are 29 other pink lakes in the world. But unlike other pink lakes that morph into different colors, Lake Hillier — 2,000 feet long and 660 feet wide — retains its pink hue all year round. The contrast between the bright pink and dark blue ocean water is stunning.

  

  

  

  Lake Hillier located off the south coast of Western Australia (Middle Island) is an iconic lake known for its vivid pink color. Scientists postulate that the lake’s solid bubblegum color results from the intermixing of Halobacteria and a salt-tolerant algae species called Dunaliella Salina. When mixed with salt-tolerant microalgae, the bacteria produce red pigments that […]

  Wells Baum

  January 2, 2022

  Nature, Science, Travel

  australia, Lake Hillier, Nature, science, Travel, water

• The African Dung Beetle navigates Earth using the stars

  

  Not sure what’s more amazing about the African dung beetle, one that it rolls immaculate balls out of other animals’ dung or that it navigates from home to manure piles and back via celestial cues.

  “These clever insects use the polarized light of the moon to navigate in a straight line,” writes Popular Mechanics. “Their eyes cannot see individual stars but a group of stars together, like the Milky Way, is dense enough to create a luminous line for them to follow.”

  

  No stars, no problem! When the sun gets blocked or is directly overhead, the beetle uses its antennae to perceive wind signals. This way it can roll across the desert without getting lost.

  But entomologist and photographer Piotr (Peter) Naskrecki of the Wilson Biodiversity Laboratory at Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique believes the Kheper subaeneus beetles are more interesting for what they do for mother Earth. 

  Few animals are as important to the African savanna ecosystem as the dung beetles and without their thankless toil the entire ecosystem would soon collapse, covered in a thick layer of waste. 

  Piotr Naskrecki

  Keep in mind that the gathered feces, which the palm-sized creature rolls into big balls, often weigh more than the beetle itself.

  

  

  Not sure what’s more amazing about the African dung beetle, one that it rolls immaculate balls out of other animals’ dung or that it navigates from home to manure piles and back via celestial cues. “These clever insects use the polarized light of the moon to navigate in a straight line,” writes Popular Mechanics. “Their […]

  Wells Baum

  January 1, 2022

  Animals, Nature

  africa, African Dung Beetle, animals, Nature, Peter Naskrecki

• The beauty of Slovenia’s Bled Island

  

  Bred Island is a small tear-shaped island floating in the middle of Lake Bled in northwestern Slovenia.

  On the island sits Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary, a Baroque church established in 1534.

  The mountains and forests surrounding the lake add to the picturesque view of the church. During the winter, the frost over the island looks like a scene from a Disney movie. Tourists enjoy hiking around the lake and rowing in its peaceful waters during the summer.

  Bred island is the only natural island in Slovenia. It’s also the country’s most popular destination. Straight out of a fairy-tale, we can all see why this little island is a real treasure.

  

  

  

  Bred Island is a small tear-shaped island floating in the middle of Lake Bled in northwestern Slovenia. On the island sits Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Mary, a Baroque church established in 1534. The mountains and forests surrounding the lake add to the picturesque view of the church. During the winter, the frost over […]

  Wells Baum

  December 30, 2021

  Nature, Travel

  Nature, Slovenia, Travel

• Attenborough’s fan-throated lizard

  

  Attenborough’s fan-throated lizard (Sitana attenboroughii) is a species of fan-throated lizards endemic to India, primarily found in the state of Tamil Nadu.

  The males flaunt their colorful dewlaps — loose skin on their necks — to woo potential mates during mating season. The males also flash their fan-structured throats to ward off rivals in their territory. Females, meanwhile, have smaller white-colored dewlaps.

  This superb lizard lives mainly in open ground patches and takes its name after natural historian David Attenborough.

  

  

  

  Attenborough’s fan-throated lizard (Sitana attenboroughii) is a species of fan-throated lizards endemic to India, primarily found in the state of Tamil Nadu. The males flaunt their colorful dewlaps — loose skin on their necks — to woo potential mates during mating season. The males also flash their fan-structured throats to ward off rivals in their […]

  Wells Baum

  December 28, 2021

  Animals, Nature

  animal, India, lizard, Nature

• Extreme close-up of a Wolf Spider

  

  Let’s hope this animal doesn’t upset your sleep tonight. Below is a close-up facial expression of the Wolf Spider (Lycosidae).

  

  If you don’t think the energy the creature gives off is weird enough, look more closely at the additional four more little eyes near the mouth.

  The Wolf Spider has a total of 8 eyes — four on the bottom, two in the middle, and two more medium-sized eyes on top.

  

  Despite looking like a large angry muppet, the wolf spider is harmless to humans. An unexpected bite from its venom-injecting fangs may cause the slightest fever, comparable to a wasp sting.

  These creatures also take their parenting role seriously. The mothers carry the kids on their backs until the Spiderlings are old enough to hunt independently.

  When spotted at night, the baby spiders look like little sparkly eyes.

  Babies on board. A wolf spider mum with the weight of the world on her back pic.twitter.com/vCzw6lXxlV

  — The Lorax (@JWhiteWildlife) December 12, 2020

  This is a wolf spider carrying its babies.
  
  The sparkles are their eyes, many creatures that need to see well in dim light have a tapetum lucidum which is a retroreflective tissue found in eyes.
  
  Unsettling or exciting? pic.twitter.com/lltzGfliG6

  — Science girl (@gunsnrosesgirl3) November 4, 2020

  Here are some other more zoomed-out images of the Wolf Spider so you can identify it just in case you cross paths.

  

  

  

  Let’s hope this animal doesn’t upset your sleep tonight. Below is a close-up facial expression of the Wolf Spider (Lycosidae). If you don’t think the energy the creature gives off is weird enough, look more closely at the additional four more little eyes near the mouth. The Wolf Spider has a total of 8 eyes […]

  Wells Baum

  December 25, 2021

  Animals, Nature

  animals, Nature, spider, wolf spider

• Colombia is home to the tallest palm tree in the world, the palma de cera

  

  The tallest palm tree in the world resides in the Colombian Andes in Los Nevados National Park, amid the Cocora Valley.

  Colombia’s national tree, the palma de cera or wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense), stands nearly 200 feet tall.

  Colombia is home to the tallest palm tree in the world, the palma de cera 🌴 https://t.co/RENpMlzwRY
  
  🎥: TW/Jacob Mullins pic.twitter.com/m2xOs1I1op

  — Discvr.blog (@DiscvrB) December 20, 2021

  But seeing it is no easy trek — hikers have to walk through a cloud forest that extends six miles long. All the while, the wax palms shrouded in fog appear to be reaching high into the sky.

  Cocora Valley hosts some of the planet’s most diverse wildlife and surreal mountain landscapes — it’s no wonder that it reminds people of a scene out of Jurassic Park.

  

  

  

  The tallest palm tree in the world resides in the Colombian Andes in Los Nevados National Park, amid the Cocora Valley. Colombia’s national tree, the palma de cera or wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense), stands nearly 200 feet tall. But seeing it is no easy trek — hikers have to walk through a cloud forest that […]

  Wells Baum

  December 17, 2021

  Nature, Travel

  colombia, Nature, Travel, trees

• Daisugi: Ancient Japanese technique for growing trees out of trees

  

  The Japanese forestry technique for harvesting wood, daisugi (meaning “cedar table”), goes as far back as the 14th century to solve a seedline shortage in Kyoto.

  The 700-year-old technique involves pruning a tree’s branches as if they were giant bonsai trees. In doing so, the mother tree provides a stable platform that supports the birth of new uniform saplings growing perfectly upward and knotless on top.

  Therefore, the ancient method creates fresh timber — more than a dozen trunks — while preserving the original tree itself.

  However, the ingenious forestry technique is no longer in use as it takes several years of active care and maintenance.

  

  

  

  The Japanese forestry technique for harvesting wood, daisugi (meaning “cedar table”), goes as far back as the 14th century to solve a seedline shortage in Kyoto. The 700-year-old technique involves pruning a tree’s branches as if they were giant bonsai trees. In doing so, the mother tree provides a stable platform that supports the birth […]

  Wells Baum

  December 1, 2021

  Architecture & Design, Nature, Travel

  design, japan, Nature, trees

• Deadly scorpions invade southern Egypt after freak thunderstorm

  

  If you thought the plagues were over, think again.

  Thunderstorms in southern Egypt forced hordes of scorpions out of the desert into Aswan, killing 3 and sending more than 500 people to hospitals with stings.

  Sources say the black scorpions entered everywhere from people’s homes, cars, and buildings to inject them with deadly venom.

  The deathstalker creatures also uprooted trees and disrupted electricity across the area, causing schools to close down.

  Unfortunately, these freak storms are just one of the many causes of climate change.

  

  

  

  If you thought the plagues were over, think again. Thunderstorms in southern Egypt forced hordes of scorpions out of the desert into Aswan, killing 3 and sending more than 500 people to hospitals with stings. Sources say the black scorpions entered everywhere from people’s homes, cars, and buildings to inject them with deadly venom. The […]

  Wells Baum

  November 15, 2021

  Animals, Nature, Travel

  animals, Egypt, Nature, news, Scorpions, Travel

• Olms, the eyeless baby dragons of Europe

  

  Olms are underwater cave-dwelling salamanders found in Europe.

  The neatest part about these unique, entirely aquatic amphibians is that they have long bodies, heads, and no eyes, unlike their relatives of axolotls.

  They also can live up to a century and go a decade without food due to their low metabolism.

  In Slovenian folklore, the olm is considered a baby cave dragon, as they would wash up from the underground after a heavy downpour.

  

  

  

  Olms are underwater cave-dwelling salamanders found in Europe. The neatest part about these unique, entirely aquatic amphibians is that they have long bodies, heads, and no eyes, unlike their relatives of axolotls. They also can live up to a century and go a decade without food due to their low metabolism. In Slovenian folklore, the olm […]

  Wells Baum

  November 13, 2021

  Animals, Nature

  animals, Europe, Nature, olms, salamander, Slovenia

• The giant crowned flying fox is a human-size bat from the Philippines

  

  Here’s a creature from the Philippines that will stop you in your tracks. The giant golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus) grows as large as 3 feet with a 5-6 feet wingspan. For the record, that’s also wider than Danny DeVito is tall.

  It is quite simply one of the largest bats in the world.

  

  You’d think that the megabat the hulking size of a 6-year-old kid would be a threat, but it’s harmless — the animal is vegetarian and primarily munches on fruit. For that reason, it is also known as the golden-capped fruit bat. The bats even help spread seeds as pollinators. 

  Unfortunately, the species is endangered and facing extinction due to poaching in the forest.

  

  

  

  Here’s a creature from the Philippines that will stop you in your tracks. The giant golden-crowned flying fox (Acerodon jubatus) grows as large as 3 feet with a 5-6 feet wingspan. For the record, that’s also wider than Danny DeVito is tall. It is quite simply one of the largest bats in the world. You’d think that […]

  Wells Baum

  November 12, 2021

  Animals, Nature

  animals, bats, Nature, Philippines

• Discover the wonder of Onekotan Island

  

  Onekotan is a deserted volcanic island in the northwest Pacific Ocean near the northern end of Russia’s Kuril Islands chain in the Sea of Okhotsk.

  The archipelago consists of two stratovolcanos at each end, Krenitsyn and Nemo, connected by a flat strip of land. Crater lakes surround both volcanoes.

  The 4344-foot Krenitsyn volcano on the island’s northern tip sits amid the wide Tao-Rusyr Caldera in Lake Koltsevoye, which formed following a volcanic eruption 10,000 years ago.

  Nemo’s peak rests at 3,343 ft, flanked by the curved shape of Lake Chernoye.

  

  View this post on Instagram

  A post shared by Игорь Ожерельев (@ozherelev)

  Thankfully, landscape photographer Daniel Kordan in partnership with conservationist Vladimir Burkanov trekked Onekotan to give everyone a rare glimpse at the beautiful miracle of the Kuril Islands. Check it out in the aware-winning documentary From Kurils with Love.

  Onekotan is a deserted volcanic island in the northwest Pacific Ocean near the northern end of Russia’s Kuril Islands chain in the Sea of Okhotsk. The archipelago consists of two stratovolcanos at each end, Krenitsyn and Nemo, connected by a flat strip of land. Crater lakes surround both volcanoes. The 4344-foot Krenitsyn volcano on the […]

  Wells Baum

  November 11, 2021

  Nature, Travel

  Lakes, Nature, Onekotan Island, russia, Travel

• Valais Blacknose sheep from Switzerland

  

  Strange-looking but cute — if you can even see their faces — the Valais Blacknose sheep is a type of mountain-breed sheep from the Valais region of Switzerland.

  These fancy-looking lambs are called ‘luxury sheep’ for their magical faceless features, shaggy coats, and spiral horns.

  Although they’re used for their wool and meat in Switzerland, the sheep are growing in demand in the UK as pets with a value of up to £10,000 each for newborns.

  

  

  

  

  Strange-looking but cute — if you can even see their faces — the Valais Blacknose sheep is a type of mountain-breed sheep from the Valais region of Switzerland. These fancy-looking lambs are called ‘luxury sheep’ for their magical faceless features, shaggy coats, and spiral horns. Although they’re used for their wool and meat in Switzerland, the […]

  Wells Baum

  October 28, 2021

  Animals, Nature

  animals, Nature, Sheep, Switzerland