Beautiful Bio-Bay

In Fajardo Puerto Rico, there is one of the most interesting places in the world. Although, in the light of day, all a person can see is a beautiful blue bay, but, in the dark, visitors experience something which is totally unique. In Mosquito Bay, when you reach your hand out and touch the water, the water glows green and blue. Its bio-luminescent.

Bio-luminescence is techinically defined as the production and emission of light by a living organism in which a chemical reaction occurs which turns chemical energy into light energy. It is the way that a firefly shines in the dark and a jellyfish lights up in the bottom of the ocean.

There are millions of little, bio-luminescent micro-organisms in the water of the bay, and when you reach your hand into the water, they all emit light and it seems to glow around you. One visitor even said that when she put her hand into the water it was like a bunch of little gold specs floating around in the water.

Many have said that Bio-Bay (as it is affectionately called) is one of the most beautiful things that they have ever seen. Many have put it on their bucket list and it one of nature's most extremely beautiful places.

Lexi Kierstead



Sources:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/fajardo-bioluminescent-bay-laguna-grande
http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/b/bioluminescence.htm
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g612474-d1634272-Reviews-Bioluminescent_Bay-Fajardo_Puerto_Rico.html
http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.1126775!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_635/travelpr22f-7-web.jpg
http://www.rinconvacations.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/bioluminescent_bay.gif
http://www.eager-beaver.com/static/userfiles/med/1354153936_tumblr_mcfxsuWRDn1rjcapzo1_500.jpg
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3656/3527455641_da0152ab49.jpg

The Grand Canyon: From Pink Snakes to See-Through Sidewalks

In northern central Arizona there is a place where the Colorado River has carved out a true wonder in the red rock.The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and can be up to 18 feet wide and 1 mile deep. It is truly one of nature's extremes in addition to being one of nature's true beauties.

The Grand Canyon is a place to explore some of nature's weirder phenomena. One interesting fact is that scientists have found fossil footprints from over twenty species of reptiles and amphibians, but no one has ever found a preserved and fossilized skeleton. The Colorado River has been carving away at the canyon for anywhere from three to six million years, and no skeletons have ever been found.
Within the large variety of animals which inhabit the canyon today, one in particular sticks out. In the Grand Canyon, one of the most popular species of rattlesnakes is actually a pink rattlesnake. It startles those who pass by it with its pinky hue, which was an adaptation to match the color of pink of the rocks in the canyon.

One of the most famous and terrifying aspects of the Grand Canyon is the skywalk. The skywalk is a horseshoe shaped platform that juts out from the lip of the canyon. Although this description of it makes it appear seemingly harmless, here's the twist: the bottom of the skywalk is made of glass. Even though there is no real threat of danger in walking on this architectural masterpiece, even if you don't have a fear of heights, looking down to tie your shoelace can be one of the most terrifying experiences of your life on this skydeck.

The Grand Canyon is a true pride of America and and undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and extreme places on Earth.

By: Lexi Kierstead


Sources:
http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/index.htm
http://www.havasupaifalls.net/facts.html
http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/4289-amazing-grand-canyon-facts.html
http://hikearizona.com/dexcoder.php?PID=629
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon_Skywalk
http://www.grandcanyon-nationalpark.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/grandcanyonskywalk-2.jpg
http://www.oocities.org/~echophx/snake15.jpg
http://www.travelwest.net/files/large/the-grand-canyon.jpg