Most of the waterways we paddled through on Caddo Lake were clear with beautiful reflections of the cypress trees in the dark waters. There were places however, that were full of a multitude of green hues. Some of this is normal and some is not.
One of the thing we learned while on this visit was how invasive non-native plants are clogging the waters and choking out native plants and fish. A major problem plant here is one called Giant Salvinia. This stuff is like kudzu on the water. It grows like crazy and because there are no native species that feed on it, it goes unchecked.
While checking out the nearby area, we found a wildlife refuge area (formerly a military ordinance storage facility) where research was underway to eradicate the salvinia. They are experimenting with use of a natural biological control method – the salvinia weevil. Assuming this is an approach that can control the plants without causing other adverse effects, maybe the can get a handle on it.
There are a number of species, including the salvinia, which have been introduced either intentionally or by accident into the environment here. Ecosystems like this are often quite delicate and can be devastated by non-native species. I’m glad there are people working to reverse this issue. I only wish we were all more respectful of the amazing gift we have in natural places like this. It’s something that can be easily lost if we’re not careful.
Nikon D7100
Tamron SP 16-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di II VC
62mm @ f/8 – 1/60 sec – ISO 400
Tags: Caddo Lake Duckworth Texas cypress swamp Karnack nature landscape autumn
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It is somewhat of a miracle that Caddo Lake remains as the amazing natural refuge that it is. This is actually the world's largest bald cypress swamp which attracts scientists and researchers from many places across the globe. There are other spots in surrounding areas that have similar environment but not nearly as large.
Cypress trees have been harvested in huge numbers over the years to support the oil industry and other construction. In some areas where this happened, the cypress have been totally destroyed and will likely never return. It is a shame that greed and neglect have wasted such natural treasure. I hope that we have learned our lessosns but I'm not sure that is true.
Nikon D800
Nikon 105mm f/2.8 AF Micro-Nikkor
105mm @ ƒ/4.0 1/125 ISO800
Tags: CaddoLake Karnack Texas CypressSwamp nature landscape autumn
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This column is believed to represent the four seasons of the year – one on each side. The images on the closest side show a representation of the rain god – Chac shown with the nose of an elephant. Chac is one of the most frequent images that we saw throughout Chichen Itza.
Obviously, rain was extremely important to the Maya culture. I assume this was primarily because the Yucatan peninsula is very hot and they would have been highly dependent on rain for drinking water and agricultural irrigation. On our visit, we have been more concerned with the over-abundance of rain related to hurricane Irma. Either way, it is obvious that predicting the weather has been a chief concern of people for a very long time and we still don’t quite have it figured out.
Nikon D7100
Tamron SP 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II
10mm @ f/10 – 1/800 sec – ISO 400
Tags: Chichen Itza Mayan Mexico Oasis of the Seas Royal Caribbean Yucatan cruise ruins
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In Mayan culture, the number 13 was considered to be of special significance and many of the structures at Chichen Itza feature repetitions of images in this number. This building, the largest of the Classical Period (600 – 950 AD) architecture is known as “The Nunnery”. The early Spanish explorers gave it this name (Las Monjas) because the building has many doorways that reminded them of monastery cells.
This structure is actually not believed to be a temple but a royal palace. The face of the building is covered with intricate carvings with a focus on the Rain God “Chac”. The side entrance shown in this image includes 13 images of Chac, 8 on the bottom level, 4 on the top and the whole side is a huge face with the door representing the mouth.
Las Monjas (The Nunnery)
Chichen Itza
Yucatan, Mexico
Nikon D7100
Tamron SP 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II
11mm @ f/16 – 1/500 sec – ISO 200
Tags: Chichen Itza Mayan Mexico Oasis of the Seas Royal Caribbean Yucatan cruise ruins
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It is amazing to realize how advanced the science of the Maya culture was centuries before our modern calendar even started. One of the chief areas of scientific study was astronomy, which linked into their most famous creation – the Mayan calendar.
In order to study the stars, there was a need for a place that would be elevated above the canopy of the forest that covers the Yucatan plain where Chichen Itza is located. The observatory is built on a multi-level plateau with a cylindrical tower atop it. The building is known as “El Caracol” (the Snail – in Spanish) which is a reference to the circular stairs that lead from the lower tower to the upper observation tower. The upper tower has slit windows that are specially aligned to observe the planet Venus and the summer and winter solstice of the Sun.
Looking at the partially ruined tower with its domed roof, makes you think of a modern observatory with a high-powered telescope poking out. Though the Maya did not have telescopes, they had a fantastic knowledge of the movements within the heavens and were able to calculate astronomical events with great accuracy. Seeing these sites and thinking back on what this civilization was capable of is truly awe inspiring!
El Caracol (The Observatory)
Chichen Itza
Yucatan, Mexico
Nikon D7100
Tamron SP 10-24mm F/3.5-4.5 Di II
10mm @ f/10 – 1/2000 sec – ISO 400
Tags: 2017 Chichen Itza Maya Mexico Steve Grundy USA Yucatan ancient architecture historic history ruins stgrundy
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