| |
|
|
| |
Miles
traveled by horse today
8
Temperature in Libera
(8:00 PM)
70 F
Waterfalls
seen
3
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
Lesson
Plans
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Daily
Dilemma
|
|
|
Since arriving in Costa Rica, we have met
some amazing people. All of them have helped
us in some way. We would like to show our
thanks to them, but we're not sure how to.
How do you think we should thank the people
who have helped us in our travels throughout
Costa Rica?
|
|
 |
|
Visiting
Costa Rica's Other Forests
|
|
This
weekend, we were able to visit two of Costa Rica's different
types of forests: the cloud forests of Monteverde and
the dry tropical forests of Libera. It's amazing how many
different ecosystems Costa Rica is home to, and getting
the chance to visit all of them is great experience. |
| When
first entering the cloud forest, you are blown away by
how green it is. It's also perpetually wet and misty.
Elevation, rainfall, and evaporation are the things that
make cloud forests different than tropical rainforests.
Cloud forests tend to be higher and cooler, even though
there are exceptions. Cloud forests are also really great
habitats for all sorts of animals. Quetzals, hummingbirds,
butterflies, monkeys, and coatis are just a few of the
animals that make their home in the cloud forest. |
Click Photo To Enlarge
Frosty embarks on an aquatic biology experiment at
this natural waterslide we came across! Don't worry,
he was fine. |
Click Photo To Enlarge
The Lizard Tree developed these thorns to keep ancient
giant sloths from eating their leaves. Now that giant
sloths are extinct, the lizard tree does not have any
use for the thorns. |
We had the chance to go on an all-day hike
through the Santa Elena Reserve, which is a community
supported biological reserve. It's really neat, because
the whole community gets involved in protecting the area,
but it's mostly the high school students who do everything.
They guide tour groups, maintain the trails, work the
park entrance, and conduct scientific studies with other
scientists. |
| Yesterday we drove toward the Pacific Ocean,
and the climate changed drastically. We entered into the
dry tropical forest. This area of Costa Rica is the driest
in the country. Libera, part of the Guanacaste province,
receives only 3 feet of water per year. In contrast, Monteverde
receives about 10 feet, and Tortuguero receives about
15 feet of rain each year! |
Click Photo To Enlarge
Frosty crosses a suspension bridge nearly 50 feet
above a river in the dry tropical forest. |
Click Photo To Enlarge
We found this really interesting insect on a leaf
in the cloud forest. It's hard shell led us to think
that it was a type of beetle. Do you think we're right?
Post your answer on the Q
and A section. |
However, we are here at the tail end of Guancaste's
rainy season. Pika assures us that it is usually brown,
dry, and dusty. However, it poured down rain this afternoon,
and all of the trees are green. Yet, we've noticed that
the trees are smaller and more spread apart indicating
that the area is very dry. There is still an overwhelming
amount of biodiversity in the area, making it really
fun to study.
Happy Trails,
Frosty
|
Please join us for our final chat
on Thursday November 20th from 1 PM to 2 PM Central Standard
Time.
Notes
from the Trail Index
|
