WORLD WONDERS - BELIZE: LIFE AQUATIC
Photograph by JTB Photo Communications, Alamy Inc.
Second in size only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the 237,962-acre Belize Barrier Reef System is a watery realm of mangrove cays, coastal lagoons, and coral shelves teeming with seabirds, 500-plus fish species, manatees, and American marine crocodiles. It also features a cobalt abyss called the Great Blue Hole. In 1971, Jacques Cousteau sailed the Calypso here on a mission to map its depths and unlock the mysteries of its formation. He determined that a series of geological shifts, starting 150,000 years ago, created a 412-foot-deep cave pierced by massive stalactites and submerged by the rising sea level. In the decades since, an uptick in scuba diving has taken a toll on its delicate coral reef. "Nothing compares with the sensation of swimming with whale sharks along this vibrant reef," says National Geographic Emerging Explorer Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter of the famed French voyager. "But poorly planned development and rapid human expansion threaten Belize's well-being."
Get Nidokidos Emails | Register at our forum | Facebook | Twitter | Daily Website Update
============================================
Coral Reef Adventure
Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems held together by calcium carbonate structures secreted by corals. Coral reefs are built by colonies of tiny animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps belong to a group of animals known as Cnidaria, which also includes sea anemones and jellyfish. Unlike sea anemones, corals secrete hard carbonate exoskeletons which support and protect the coral polyps. Reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated waters.
Click here to watch this video
http://www.nidokidos.org/threads/231612
Posted by: Abdullah Al-ShafiI <alshafi51@gmail.com>
| Reply via web post | • | Reply to sender | • | Reply to group | • | Start a New Topic | • | Messages in this topic (1) |
NidokidoS Group for best of forwarded mails
To join us , send an email to
nidokidos-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Be the part of Nidokidos , Join our Forum
http://www.nidokidos.org
to share your emails with us, send them at
nidokidos@yahoogroups.com
===================================================
No comments:
Post a Comment