Curvy Alexis Texas: Nature

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Selasa, 09 Juli 2013

The Wall of Tears — Mount Waialeale, Hawaii

Mount Waialeale (or Wai'ale'ale) is a volcanic crater and the second highest point on the island of Kauai in the Hawaiian Islands. In the Hawaiian language, Wai'ale'ale means “rippling water” or “overflowing water.” Averaging more than 452 inches (11,500 mm) of rain a year since 1912, with a record 683 inches (17,300 mm) in 1982, its summit is one of the wettest spots on earth. As this rainwater makes its way down the 5,148-feet tall peak, they form innumerable streams. One spot on Mt. Waialeale is called the “Wall of Tears” because there are so many waterfalls plummeting down the deep, tropical green sides of the mountain that it looks as if it is crying.

Mount Waialeale isn’t easily accessible on foot. The sides are near vertical and ground is covered with trees and plants with a thick undergrowth of ferns. There are a few hiking trails in the area. The only way to really see the Wall of Tears is by helicopter, and even then you have to get lucky since the area is usually shrouded with clouds.

Photo — Link

There are several reasons why Wai'ale'ale receives so much rain. First, Kauai is the northernmost of the main Hawaiian Islands, so it has more exposure to frontal systems that bring rain in the winter. Second, Wai'ale'ale has a round and conical shape, which exposes all sides of its summit to moisture-laden winds. Third, its summit lies just below the trade wind inversion layer of 6,000 feet (1,829 m), above which trade-wind-generated clouds cannot rise. And finally, the mountain's steep cliffs cause the humid air to rise quickly over 3,000 feet (910 m) in less than a half mile (800 m) and drop a large portion of its rain on one spot.

The summit itself is rather barren, despite all the water it receives. One of the reasons for that is that few plants and trees can handle that much rain. Also, since the summit is shrouded in clouds on most days of the year, little sunshine reaches the ground to foster plant growth. However, fungi and lichen flourish here.

Photo — Link

Rabu, 28 November 2012

World’s Biggest Flower Blooms in Switzerland

Visitors look at the Arum Titan "Amorphophallus titanum", the largest flower in the world, as it blossoms for a second time on late November 19, 2012.

The world’s largest flower has blossomed in Basel. The monster stinky plant, which boasts the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world, is 2.27 meters tall and blooms for just a couple of days once every few years. Titan Arum, which originates in the jungles of Sumatra, is not just the biggest flower in the world – it is also one of the stinkiest. Its flowers release an odor reminiscent of decomposing flesh. Luckily, it rarely blooms outside its natural environment. The Swiss botanical garden was lucky enough to have two of the flowers bloom in just 18 months. The last time Titan Arum blossomed there was in April 2011. Before that, the plant blossomed in Switzerland only in 1936. The blossoming flower was constantly under the eye of online cameras, so that everyone keen to see the remarkable botanic event could take a glimpse. Others who are not turned away by the horrible smell of rotting meat visited the botanic garden in Basel to see the monster flower with their own eyes. The last floral appearance of the Titan Arum in Basel attracted some 25,000 visitors.

(Image from titanwurz.unibas.ch)

Visitors look at the Arum Titan "Amorphophallus titanum", the largest flower in the world, as it blossoms for a second time on late November 19, 2012.(AFP Photo / Sebastien Bozon)