Posts tagged Water Temperatures
10 Best Mexico Vacations
Sep 28th
1)Mexico Beach Vacation – no where in the world are the beaches better than they are in Mexico. The best known beach destinations – Cancun, Playa del Carmen, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Mazatlan – conjure up visions of sun-drenched strips of sand sparkling under a blue Mexico sky dappled with white, fluffy clouds and happy people frolicking in the surf. Come to Mexico for a beach vacation, and that happy person in the surf could be you.
2)Colonial Cities Vacation – the Spanish came to Mexico in the early 16th century and ruled for the next 300 years. The Colonial cities they built exhibit wonderful examples of baroque architecture, mission churches and porfirian mansions. Visiting these historic communities – Guanajuato, San Miguel de Allende and Queretaro are just a few – gives modern tourists a glimpse into a majestic era now long gone.
3)Copper Canyon Vacation – the State of Chihuahua is home to a region known as the Sierra Tarahunara, and here the Copper Canyon, 1,000 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon, makes for a must-see Mexico vacation. A train carries passengers from sea level to 7,200 feet and then on into the capital city, passing through 86 tunnels and traversing 39 bridges, some of which are a mile above the Canyon floor.
4)All-Inclusive Resort Vacation – it is very possible to come to Mexico, book into an all-inclusive resort, never leave the property and have a wonderful time. For one price, guests enjoy usually elegant accommodations, delicious meals, personal service and a plethora of activities, everything from tennis to kids’ parties.
5)SCUBA Diving Vacation – Mexico is home to some outstanding diving destinations, two of which are Cozumel and Cabo San Lucas. Cozumel offers water visibility up to 200 feet, more than 200 species of tropical fish and water temperatures up to 80 degrees while Cabo has water visibility up to 120 feet and mysterious shipwrecks and delightful underwater canyons to explore. Diving in either locale is a real treat.
6) Archeological Ruins Vacation – with its rich cultural heritage, Mexico is a top destination for the exploration of archeological ruins. Once home to thriving Maya and Aztec civilizations (and others), today remnants of these ancient cultures are scattered throughout the country. Some ruins are well-tended and on the well-worn tourist map; others are in states of disrepair and buried deep within the jungle. Exploring them makes for an adventurous vacation.
7)Sportfishing Vacation – fishermen and fisherwomen come from all over the world to partake in Mexico’s world class fishing waters. Top destinations include Cabo (sailfish and marlin) and Mazatlan (dorado and tuna), and fishing charter boats are available for part-day or all-day trips.
8)Mexico City Vacation – as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the Western Hemisphere, Mexico City has much to offer. This grand, diverse and cosmopolitan metropolis sits atop the ancient Aztec city of Tenochtitlan and is home to 130 museums, 64 theaters, 5 stadiums, 11 ecological parks and 7 archeological sites, not to mention hotels of all sorts and sizes, every shopping opportunity imaginable and an expansive assortment of restaurants.
9)Spa Vacation – nothing relaxes like a spa, and Mexico has its fair share of these delightful, soothing oasises designed to rejuvenate even the most stressed-out traveler. Spas can be found in hotels or as luxurious destinations in and of their own, offering everything from simple massages to seaweed wraps, manicures and yoga.
10) Whale Watching Vacation – one of nature’s truly extraordinary events takes place off the Pacific coast of Mexico each January through March when 11,000 of the world’s approximately 21,000 gray whales migrate from the Arctic to just north of Cabo to bear their young. This inspiring and touching spectacle makes for a great Mexico vacation.
Cost Ricas Coral Reefs
Feb 11th
Reefs are of great physical as well as biological importance as they play a fundamental role in protecting the coastlines from erosion and contribute to the formation of white sandy beaches.
These complex, fragile ecosystems are deteriorating at an alarming rate worldwide due to peoples negligence.
Coral reefs are actually communities of hundreds of thousands of tiny animals called coral polyps, which grow in sunlit shallows of warm, clear marine waters. The reefs are built up as new corals attach atop the skeletons of dead animals.
About 30 sq km of coral reefs are situated along the southern portion of Costa Rica’s Caribbean coastline. They are situated where hardrock promontories interrupt the high energy shoreline in three distinct zones, between Moin and Limon, Cahuita and between Puerto Viejo and Punta Mona.
According to scientific studies, all of Costa Rica’s reefs are threatened by human activities. Both overfishing and sedimentation were rated as threatening all reefs, while coastal development was estimated to affect over 85 percent of reefs. Marine-based pollution was estimated to be a threat to nearly a quarter of all reefs.
The main cause of damage to Costa Rica’s reefs is the excess of sedimentation from logging, land clearing and agriculture, such as banana plantations.
Pressure from coastal populations also poses a threat to the reefs through sewage discharge and coastal development. The direct impact of swimmers and snorkellers, anchor damage from tourist boats, and in general the coastal development associated with uncontrolled tourist activity are all significant and growing problems.
Elevated water temperatures during the 1982/83 El Niño event caused bleaching and death of coral, from which recovery has been slow. Mild bleaching was associated with the events of 1992 and 1998, but with insignificant mortality.
The 1991 Limon Earthquake was partially responsible for the significant decline of corals along the Caribbean coast. Although the Limon reefs have largely recovered, Cahuita permanently lost 5 sq km of reef as a result of the physical changes brought about by the uplift of the coastal zone.
Two protected areas with coral reefs are located on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast. While collection of corals is not permitted, commercial and artisan fishing are allowed. This situation has resulted in overexploitation, particularly of the commercially valuable species.
Any initiatives to control the activities within the protected areas, though, are outweighed by the impact of sedimentation originating outside of the park boundaries.
At Isla Uvita, just offshore of Limon, are tropical fish, sea fans, and a coral reef, plus the wreck of the Fenix, a cargo ship that sank about a mile off the island years ago.
Cahuita National Park Reefs
Cahuita National Park is best known for the coral reefs close to shore. The coral reefs are the most studied marine ecosystems on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. Of these, the one at the Parque Nacional Cahuita has been studied longer and in greater detail.
Studies have suggested that the high levels of terrigenous sediments are responsible for the siltation and turbidity as well as being the main stressor on the reef.
The world of coral reefs is made up of over 35 species of coral, including elkhorn coral and smooth brain coral. This underwater habitat abounds with sea urchins, lobsters, turtles, moray eels, sharks and innumerable brightly colored fish of various sizes and shapes.
In the dry season, there is good snorkeling from the beach, and you are likely to see light yellow brain, elkhorn, and blue staghorn corals, sea fans, and gorgonians as a back drop to the more than 500 species of fish endemic to the reefs.
Gandoca – Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge
A recent addition to the Costa Rican system of parks and refuges and one of a growing number of protected areas that includes marine environments, this refuge consists of 5,013 ha in its terrestrial portion and 4,436 ha of marine habitat.
The five-kilometer stretch off the coast from the village of Manzanillo to the area known as Punta Mona (Monkey Point) is populated by more live coral than is found on the reef at Cahuita to the north, however, the Manzanillo corals have not yet developed formations as large as those at Cahuita. Coral reefs offshore create a natural harbor and there are usually a number of boats moored there.
Ballena National Marine Park
Ballena National Marine Park is the first marine park in Latin America. It was created in February of 1990 to protect the coral and rock reefs. The clear waters around its dramatic coastline of pristine sandy beaches and rocky shores are home to many tropical fish.
The park covers 13 kilometers of coastline from Uvita Point to Pinuela Beach and consists of 5,375 hectares of marine environment. Within the park is a system of reefs and islands called Las Tres Hermanas. This natural barrier, which includes several unique geological formations, not only protects the coastline but also creates some of the best diving and snorkelling in Costa Rica.
Isla del Caño
Isla del Caño is home to many ancient artifacts, including “bolas” or curious stone spheres. If you’re lucky, you may spot flying fish on the open ocean between Caño and the mainland. You can snorkel in the warm waters off the island or just sit back and enjoy the coral reefs and huge variety of aquatic life.
Colon Island
Inland, Colon Island has forests, rivers, creeks and the remaining of fauna and flora once very abundant. The coast can be appreciated for the coral reefs, mangrove forests, beautiful rocky formations and many sea birds.
Zapatillas Key
These beautiful islands are located on a coral platform that is defined, toward the open sea, by the breakers that are formed as the waves crash on the reef. Zapatillas Keys, lie inside the Bastimentos Island National Marine Park. They are famous for their beautiful beaches, crystal clear waters, and coral reefs and small but shady forests.
