Escape the Crowds in Barcelona (Spain)

Countless numbers of tourists flock to Barcelona each year to catch a glimpse of world famous sights and landmarks such as the Sagrada Familia, Las Ramblas and the Camp Nou. This often leads to swarms of tourists clogging up the city centre (especially during the summer months) and ignoring the many wonderful things there are to see and do that are just a stone’s throw away from the Catalan capital. So, if you’re planning a trip to Barcelona, or if you’re already there, then here are five worthwhile ways to escape the crowds.

Montserrat

This breathtaking mountain is situated just an hour so away from Barcelona and is a must see for all those travelling to the city. It proudly boasts UNESCO World Heritage Site status and rises majestically to 1235m above sea level boasting panoramic views of the surrounding terrain. However, the main attraction is the mysterious formation of rocks found here and the beautiful Royal Basilica. Tours to the mountain are available all year round.

Sitges

Sitges (top photo) is where locals go to unwind on their days off - a strong recommendation indeed. It is the perfect place to escape the tourist infested beaches of Barcelona. This charming little town is situated just 40km outside of the city and is easily accessible by train. It’s well known as an historic centre with beautiful beaches, a peaceful ambiance and a thriving gay community. It is a true jewel of the coast and is ideal for families and friends to spend a fun and relaxing afternoon.

Illa Fantasia

This water park is located just a 45min drive from Barcelona city centre and makes for a great way to cool down from the sweltering heat during the warmer months of the year. With lots of wet and windy slides, picnic areas and eateries, a trip here is ideal for families, couples and groups of friends looking for a fun day out. Julia Travel will get you entrance, as well as travel to and from the park, at a very reasonable price!

Hot Air Balloon

Tear yourself away from the sights of Barcelona for one day and treat yourself to something unusual by taking a ride in a hot air balloon. Take in unrivalled views of the city from above and enjoy an experience that is truly unforgettable.

Barcelona Cruises

Taking a cruise from Barcelona is the ultimate way to see the city before setting sail on to other stunning Mediterranean destinations. Another excellent option is catching a ferry to one of the nearby Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza), which offer one of either the perfect party or peaceful getaway from the city.

So there you have it - five fantastic ideas to escape the tourist crowds in Barcelona! All that’s left is organising accommodation for your stay in the city. It’s a good idea to base yourself centrally, where the fantastic transport system will allow you to reach all of these destinations with ease. Renting apartments in Barcelona is often a popular choice amongst visitors and will allow you to live close to these transport links, thus leaving you free to explore all of these wonderful places at your convenience.

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Dimetrodon

Dimetrodon - ancestor of the mammals belonged to the family called Pelycosaurs, which had both mammal and reptile characteristics. Dimetrodon preceded the earliest dinosaurs by more than 40 million years but physically it looked a lot like one. It is often referred to as mammal-like reptile, based on characteristics of the skull and dentition. Dimetrodon was a dominant carnivore, the largest one of the Permian period. It was a predacious reptile that was on the top of the food chain during the early Permian.
This pelycosaur possessed a spectacular sail on its back, supported by long, bony spines, each of which grew out of a separate spinal vertebra. The sail was probably an early experiment in controlling body temperature. It is believed that the sail absorbed the heat of the sun and warmed the blood and body. It warmed up early after sunrise and cooled off more efficiently during the heat of the day. It may have also been used for mating and dominance rituals and making it look much larger than it was to predators. Dimetrodon had a large skull with two types of teeth (sharp canines and shearing teeth). It was probably quite slow because it walked on four side-sprawling legs.
Dimetrodon is one of the more recognized of the early reptiles..
TIME - 280 - 260 MYA, Early Permian period.RANGE - Russia, E. Europe. USA Texas, Oklahoma.DIET - Smaller reptiles and other small vertebrates.SIZE - Up to 6ft (2m) long.

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The Thrill of Jetboating (Hanmer Springs, New Zealand)

Around 90 minutes drive from the major South Island city of Christchurch, Hanmer Springs has a European alpine feel, sitting in an amphitheatre of snow-capped mountains. The town, with less than 1000 people is a popular adventure capital of New Zealand while also offering a chance to relax and escape the rigours of normal life.. While a variety of adventures abound, one of the most quintessential New Zealand adventures is jetboating, a chance to experience Hanmer's Waiai River at high speed at close quarters.

These highly manoeuvrable power boats pack in around a dozen people, shooting down narrow rapids at speeds nearing 100 kilometres per hour (similar to a car on an open highway) while skimming within inches of sharp rocky walls or stony river banks. The boats are capable of turning around within a car length and often perform 360 degree spins (called a Hamilton Spin after the inventor) sending up large sprays of water in all directions, the bracing spray sending a reminder that these are alpine waters.

Invented in New Zealand in the 1950s by Sir William Hamilton, the jetboat is purpose-designed for the fast powerful-running shallow Kiwi rivers where deluging water from large tracts of land are forced through the narrow steep-sided gorges to escape to sea. Immense engines suck water in from under the boat and expel it out the back. This design enables good speed against the rushing waters and only requires a few inches (less than 10 centimetres) of depth to operate – typical of the New Zealand rivers with their rocky bottoms and snaking paths.

On the day our group travelled, the river was running at in impressive 100 tonnes of water per second, though in flood it can reach ten times that amount. Deer and goats stand uninterested on the harsh slopes while birdlife watch on not understanding the commotion.

If still requiring further adrenalin lifts, bungy jumping (35 metres off an historic bridge), quad-biking and white-water rafting adventures also appear on the menu but for me, a relaxing hour in the natural thermal pool more fits the bill.

Wonderfully set with a mountain backdrop, fifteen open-air pools with naturally warmed and mineral waters greet visitors, as they have since 1875.

Located halfway between Christchurch and the whale-watching centre of Kaikoura, Hanmer Springs is a chance to embrace both the most adventurous and the most relaxing of Kiwi experiences.

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Tears at Don Rak War Cemetery (Kanchanaburi, Thailand)

Just a short stroll from the Bridge over the River Kwai is the most moving sight of Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. The Don Rak War Cemetery is the final resting place of around 5000 Commonwealth and 2,000 Dutch prisoners of war (the Americans repatriated their war dead), literally worked to death with their military colleagues under a brutal work regime. Their plaques sit on a beautifully manicured and lovingly tendered lawn, each small bronze plaque representing the loss of a father, son, husband and/or grandson. Tiny gardens and colourful blooms interlace the cemetery lovingly tendered by the Thai people.

A few people wander the cemetery in silence reading each plaque and soaking in the ultimate sacrifice made by so many brave men.

The ages of most are so young, men barely out of boyhood living their last months in such awful conditions – it is hardly imaginable. Many feature a short inscription from parents or family which adds an individual touch and character to the valiant soldier who gave his life so we can have a better and freer life today. Each phrase stirs the heart strings. Each epitaph tells a story.

A voice we love is still.
A place vacant that we can never fill.

For your tomorrow we gave our today.

He died that we might live. Ever remembered.

Some day “Tom” I will understand.

Greater Love hath no man than this. That he lay down his life.

It is estimated that one person died for each railway sleeper laid on the Death Railway.

The entrance contains a small altar with a variety of plaques and memorials. At the rear of the cemetery is a plot that carries the ashes of 300 cholera victims from an outbreak in 1943 in the Nieke camp. A large memorial cross stands like a beacon of hope in the centre of the cemetery.

Unlike the famed bridge, Don Rak captures the emotion and feeling of this area. My tears fell as I sat quietly under the tree trying to truly understand what this place means. I cried for the thousands of young men who gave up their lives so my life can be better and that our lives can be lived in freedom.

Every ANZAC Day (25 April) a small ceremony is conducted at Don Rak as it is in many cemeteries and memorials around the world and in towns, big and small, all over Australia and New Zealand. The Ode of Remembrance is read as we recall the brave people at places like Don Rak in their harrowing experiences in building this railway.

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Triggerfish - Clever Camouflage or Outlandish Outfit?

Despite it exotic appearance, the clown triggerfish is actually remarkably camouflaged. Photographed in an aquarium, this tropical fish is found in the reefs of coastal warm waters between east Africa, through Asia and the Pacific islands. Scientists consider the clown triggerfish to be a master of disguise. Despite its bold colouring, the clown triggerfish has a mottled yellow and black back to blend with the coral reef sea-floor, its eyes fade into a black stripe and its large uneven white spots blend with the reef as its swims among the corals and the surface of the water when viewed from underneath.

Their teeth grow for life so a diet of hard-shelled sea creatures is essential to keep their teeth ground down. Water is squirted at the seabed to unmask shelled clams, molluscs and snails hiding under the sandy bottom. The clown triggerfish's eyes move independently allowing them to patrol for food and predators without the need to travel in groups. And finally, to continue in their celebration of vivid colour, these fine fish lay green eggs.

Sadly the clown triggerfish are endangered but are a joy to see with its wild circus outfit and vibrant approach to life.

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Swimming with Whale Sharks (Western Australia)

guest post by fly.com

If asked whether or not you fancy swimming alongside a 10 metre long shark with little else to protect you other than a wetsuit and a snorkel, it would be no surprise if there were very few takers. In reality, thousands of people book their long distance flight all the way to Western Australia’s Ningaloo Reef every year between March and July to do just that.

Whale Sharks are the ocean's largest fish and they come complete with 3,000 tiny teeth and a fin that’s taller than most adults. Terrifying as that may sound, these gentle creatures have very little interest in dining on us and their diet consists of plankton and little else – thanks goodness!

Although similar experiences can be enjoyed around the world in places like Honduras and Cuba, Western Australia is unique in the fact that the whale sharks venture so close to the shore. The sharks feed just beyond the reef, which at its closest is just 300ft offshore meaning there is no need for long boat rides in order to get to where these giants roam.

A typical trip will involve heading out to sea, being told to get your wetsuits on and be ready at any time for the call from the spotter plane. Whale sharks can dive down to 2000 feet (600 metres) but come to the surface to feed, therefore it is important that when they are spotted you jump in straight away so that you can swim with them for as long as they allow before they dive back down to the depths.

Although the crew are quick to remind you that these sharks feed on nothing but plankton, the word shark still sends shivers up the spine. You have little time to think about it as no sooner have you been told that a shark has been spotted than you are rushing towards the back of the boat to hop in and see for yourself.

As you go under, you will be disorientated by the waves lapping at your snorkel and the bright sunshine darting through the surface and momentarily blinding you. Hang in there because as the water clears you will be greeted by one of the most spectacular sights any nature lover can hope for. These calm ocean giants, covered in spots and stripes like to take their time, they glide along with their impossibly large mouths agape in an attempt to make the most of the plankton rich water so prevalent in Western Australia during this time of year.

Although encounters with whale sharks can be brief, it is something that simply must be experienced. Very little is known about the whale shark, no-one knows how many exist or how long they live which makes them all the more fascinating to us. One thing is for certain, they have no interest in you. All they are doing is having their lunch so get over those fears and hop on in. It’s an experience of a lifetime and not to be missed.

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The American Goldfinch

General Description

The American Goldfinch is the state bird of Washington. It is common throughout the lowlands of Washington, often coming to bird feeders. The male in breeding plumage is bright yellow with a black forehead, wings, and tail. He has one white wing-bar on each wing and white on his tail. Outside of the breeding season, the male is drab brown with hints of yellow and white wing-bars. In both breeding and non-breeding plumage, he has white undertail coverts contrasting with the yellow undertail coverts of the Lesser Goldfinch. The female in breeding plumage is yellowish-gray-brown on top and varies in color from bright yellow to dull yellow underneath. She has two light wing-bars on each wing and a light-colored bill. Her tail is black with white outer tips. Outside of the breeding season, she is gray above and below, and has less distinct wing-bars and a darker bill.

Habitat

American Goldfinches can generally be found in brushy and weedy habitats at the edges of fields, rivers, and hedgerows, especially when thistle is present. Suburban gardens, poplar plantations, orchards, and other brushy areas with scattered deciduous trees are commonly used.

Behavior

Flocks are common outside of the breeding season, and American Goldfinches often flock with redpolls and Pine Siskins. They are active foragers, and climb about nimbly when foraging, often hanging from seed-heads and other objects. Like many finches, American Goldfinches have an undulating flight. They often give call notes on the upward strokes

Diet

Small seeds, especially thistle, make up the majority of the American Goldfinch's diet. In the summer, they eat some insects, especially aphids, but seeds dominate their diet. They feed regurgitated seeds to their young.

Nesting

American Goldfinches breed later in the summer than most songbirds. Their breeding is timed to coincide with the peak abundance of thistle seed. They often nest in loose colonies. The nest is located in an upright fork of a shrub, tree, or occasionally a dense weed. The female builds a tightly woven, compact cup of plant fibers and spider webs and lines it with thistle-down. The female incubates 4 to 6 eggs for 12 to 14 days. The male brings her food while she incubates, and while she broods the young for the first few days after they hatch. After that, both parents bring food to the young. The young leave the nest after 12 to 17 days, but the parents continue to feed the young for a few weeks. American Goldfinches generally raise one or two broods each year.

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Japanese Macaque

The troop consists of seven monkeys. One adult male, Flash, and six females including Isabelle, Yuki, Hana, Ynez, Iris and Erin. Their ages range from 25 years to the newborn. You are born into your social class. If you have a higher standing it is likely that you will get the most grooming and will eat before the others.Rankings are not stable, and can change depending on the whims of the adult male, Flash. He has the final say as the dominant male and changes may occur after the breeding season.
  
Found in the wild: Japanese macaques are the northernmost of all non-human primates and can live up to elevations of 9,600 feet above sea level. They are found in Honshu, Japan.

See Them at the Central Park Zoo: This troop of primates lives on an island in the center of the Temperate Zone, just across from the Red panda exhibit.

Description: They are Old World monkeys. Individuals have brown-gray fur, a red face, hands and bottom, and a short tail. 

Baby Zeppy, at seven months old

Zoo Snow Monkey Habitat: A large island surrounded by water. The habitat includes winter hot tubs, that reach the same temperature as the Japanese Macaques body temperature - 104 degrees, for their bathing pleasure. You will also see two black necked swans and will find freeloading Mallard Ducks, raising their ducklings seasonally. 

What do they eat:  In the wild, they will feed on seeds, roots, buds, fruit, invertebrates, berries, leaves, birds eggs, fungi, bark and cereals. Japanese macaques are omnivorous, which means they will eat just about anything- meat or vegetation. At the Central Park Zoo, the troop is fed yams, oranges, apples, green beans, mixed greens, peanuts, and monkey chow.

Life span: 30 years

Threats: Not threatened.

Fun Facts: They live in parts of Japan where it snows. They are the only animal other than humans and raccoons,  who wash their food before they eat it. These are the monkeys you may have seen that find hot springs and spend a lot of time in the winter sitting in the warm water. These monkeys are thought to be the inspiration behind the saying 'see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil'.

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Giant Isopods

Giant Isopods are just like some kind of little insects (see picture below), but only in a bigger format. These creatures are crustaceans (a mix between a crab and a shrimp). The Giant Isopod also called Bathynomus giganteus is one of the nine species of the genus Bathynomus. That live in the deep and cold waters of the Atlantic ocean. The Giant Isopod isn't a very lucrative business for fishing industries, because they are hard to catch and when they're brought to the surface they have already been scavenged by other fishes. However in Taiwan where they live much closer in shallow waters they're served in restaurants.

The Giant Isopod can reach a length between 19 cm and 37 cm with a maximum weight of 1.7 kg which isn't so great to be called gigantic, but if we compare these with other normal Isopods, then they are just enormous. The Giant Ispod has a kind of shield on his back with two antennas close to its head. It has 7 pair of legs also called (pereiopods) and one pair of these legs has as function to bring food to its jaws.

You see the resembles between the Giant Isopod?

Giant Isopods are deep sea creatures that scavenge at depths of 170m to depths or even 2200 meters. However they prefer to stay at middle depths of 300m to 700m. They love to scavenge dead whales, fish and even squids. It isn't only a scavenger, if its spots a sea cucumber, spunge or another little creature, then he won't hesitate and eat this creature. Living on these depths isn't a paradise. Therefore they could stay for more then eight weeks without any food. The deeper we go the bigger that these Giant Isopods are. Giant Isopods are living fossils, they haven't evolved for over 130 million years.

Giant Isopods lay eggs, the mature female develops a marsupium (brood punch) when she becomes  sexually active. The eggs that have been fertilized by the male Isopod will be stored in the marsupium for an unknown time and when the eggs hatch, then the miniature Isopods emerge from the marsupium as little clones.

Did you know that the eggs of the giant Isopod are the biggest ones of all the invertebrates?

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Pelican Eel

It is almost the end of the week and so far we have talked about birds, mammals and reptiles. I figured this would be a good time to head to the sea and look at an unusual animal that is hardly ever seen by humans. So grab your diving gear and a little bit of courage because we are going to the deep, dark depths of the ocean!

The Pelican Eel is related to the true eels (the ones that we probably familiar with), however, these deep sea eels have some major differences. Most notably has to be the size of this particular eels mouth. The pelican eel has a very large, hinged mouth that is capable of consuming fish much larger than itself. You can see the size of the mouth in the picture above. Actually, this eel received the “Pelican” portion of its name since the lower job resembles the pouch-like beak of a pelican. The most bizarre thing about their mouth is the fact that the pelican eel mostly feeds on small crustaceans. As a matter of fact, they have tiny teeth which are not consistent with animals which feed primarily on fish.

The other interesting feature of this eel is located at the other end of their body. The very tip of their tail happens to be a very complex organ with several tentacles. The cool thing about this organ is the fact that it will glow pink. Scientists presume this feature is to attract fish into the area so it can chomp away at them with their extremely over-sized mouth. Again, this is an odd behaviour for an animal that is suppose to feed on small crustaceans. I am starting to think there is something “fishy” about our understanding of this eel. It just doesn’t make sense to me why they have evolved a large mouth, an attractive tail yet have small teeth and are known to feed on small creatures. Maybe they are in the process of changing for whatever reason? Whatever their story is at least it is an interesting one for all of us to read about.

That just about does it for today’s deep sea adventure. I am glad everyone made the trip and had a safe adventure. See all of you tomorrow!

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The Beauty and Terror of Loch Ard Gorge (Australia)

In sunshine, the Victorian coastline known as the Great Ocean Road offers panoramas of glistening blue ocean, natural beauty and a sense of serenity. The area is dotted with unusual and striking rock formations (several with evocative names like the Twelve Apostles, London Bridge and The Grotto) gradually being warn by the savage seas. When the weather is nasty, the ocean turns to a inky swirling maelstrom and the wind whistles in evil howls. For mariners, such weather must be hellish.

As such, the area is also known as Shipwreck Coast with over 700 ships recorded as lost through Australia's short history (less than a third have been located).

Days of thick fogs, grey skies, blustery winds and rough seas prevented the captain of the Loch Ard, an iron-hulled clipper sailing from England from completing his journey. Trying to navigate the brutal strait (threading the needle) between King Island and the mainland in the early winter of 1878, the Loch Ard plunged into a tiny rocky island just off the mainland called Muttonbird Island. Within fifteen short minutes, the ship sunk taking the lives of 52 of its passengers.

Miraculously, Tom Pearce, a young man of 18 clung to a lifeboat and was fortuitously swept through the narrow opening of Loch Ard Gorge onto a tiny peaceful beach. Hearing screams and spotting a young woman struggling in the waves clinging desperately to flotsam, Tom swam and rescued the only other survivor, the by-then unconscious Eva Carmichael. Revived by brandy from a washed up crate, both rested in a cave protected by a tiny strip of beach and surrounded by the suffocating cliffs of the gorge. After some rest, Tom climbed the steep cliffs (now a set of wooden stairs) to seek help and both were rescued. Neither saw each other ever after the rescue period, Eva returning to Ireland (Tom became a ship's captain!).

Today, visitors can quietly stroll the beach, visit the small cave, gaze at the vertical walls of the cliff and walk the pleasant trails around Loch Ard Gorge highlighting the peaceful triangle of water and the hidden gate to the Antarctic Ocean and open seas.

Nearby, people can see a living reminder of the unrelenting seas chipping away at the fragile limestone coast. Island Arch stood guard near Loch Ard Gorge for many centuries until in July, 2009 it collapsed leaving two pillars. These have been named Tom and Eva in memory of the two brave survivors of the area's most well-known shipwreck.

Similarly recent collapses lays witness to the continuing weathering and change in the area. Another of the Twelve Apostles toppled some years ago and London Bridge became London Arch in 1990.

For parts of this beautiful area, the road hugs the water as vistas of the rugged coastline open around each sweeping bend. Many rate it Australia's finest drive. Numerous stops and sidepaths highlight various rock formations and panoramic lookouts. Loch Ard Gorge is a highlight stop giving a glimpse into the feeling of desperation that young Tom and Eva, along with the passengers and crew of the Loch Ard must have felt as brutal weather, poor visibility and the savage coastline played in taking the lives of 52 people and how luck played such a part in saving two souls.

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Dip into Some Delicious Spanish Delicacies!

Spain's popularity as a holiday destination means there are many attractive Spain holiday deals to choose from, whether you’re looking to indulge in some scintillating time in the sun or view the architecture that has made it such a fascinating tourist attraction.

But despite the diverse range of activities across the country, there is one thing holiday-makers universally appreciate about Spanish culture... its cuisine!
There are so many different dishes to indulge in – most are relative to their region – offering different depths and dimensions to their respective areas. Here are some favourites, and where they can be found.

Cocido

A dish totally in tune with both Spanish and Portuguese culture, cocido is a classic regional stew made from meats, vegetables, sausages and either chickpeas or garbanzo beans. The most famous cocido lies in Madrid, and is called the cocido madrilène. Translated as ‘Madrid stew’, it’s heavy on the meat and typically contains salt pork, beef, ham, chorizo, a stewing chicken, morcilla and a vegetable and potato mix.

Gazpacho

A very popular dish consumed widely across Spain, gazpacho is a raw tomato and vegetable-based soup. Originating from Andalusia in the south of Spain, gazpacho is the perfect way to cool down on a hot summer’s day. Served cold, gazpacho soup is distinct because of its bright red colour, though replacing the tomatoes with other ingredients such as watermelon, avocados or seafood can make a difference and offer real variety, both in colour and flavour.

Paella

You’d be forgiven for thinking that paella is Spain’s national dish, such is the delicacy’s reach across the globe. But, in Spain, paella is regional to Valencia and regarded as something of a local speciality. There are three different types of paella to sample when visiting Spain: Valencian paella, mixed paella and seafood paella. No matter which paella you try though, watching its preparation is mastery itself. According to tradition, paella is supposed to be cooked over an open fire by men, which has to be kindled with oranges, pine cones and pine branches for aroma before being eaten directly from the pan.

The Spanish Mediterranean diet also consists of a lot of seafood - fish such as hake, squid, shellfish, traditional fried fish dishes and more besides. The Spanish culture and available cuisine across its many regions is a delight to explore and discover day after day, and something that has to be truly experienced first-hand.

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Holidays in Algarve (Portugal)

Often overlooked in favour of Spain, its larger neighbour, Portugal is bursting with sites and attractions that escape the scope of many tourists and remain national secrets. As a rule The Algarve sees more foreign visitors than the rest of Portugal but thousands of visitors still fail to visit some of the most amazing parts of the area. Holidays in Algarve can incorporate anything from national parks to deserted beaches and geographical phenomena. Anyone staying in Algarve who does not take the time to see at least one of the wonders of the area has to be a fool. Here is a short list of the most recommended places to visit during holidays in Algarve.

1. Sagres – A rocky outpost of coastline with imposing cliffs and the Atlantic Ocean to three sides. Sacres is the base where Prince Henry the Navigator based his Navigation Academy which led to Portugal’s Age of Navigation and allowed Spain’s little sister to discover and colonise across the globe. Christopher Columbus is one famous Alumni. Although the area was well protected by a sturdy fortress, Sir Francis Drake managed to break through all defences back in 1587.

2. Pera - A typical Portuguese coastal town that booms during summertime and turns itself into a coastal wonder. From May to September Pera hosts the quite unique Sand Sculpture Festival. Artists from around the world flock to the resort and compete to create the most spectacular sculpture from the ample sand. The festival has a different theme each year and a dazzling display awaits visitors at night when each of the sculpture is lit up coloured lights.

3. Castro Marim – Although the town of Castro Marim is pretty unassuming, the wonder of its surroundings is not to be missed. On the out skirts of the town, silver pyramids of salt scatter the landscape of 2000 hectares of salt pans. Unlike the famous salt flats of Bolivia, visitors are encouraged to explore the Castro Marim salt pans and can take a tour which covers centuries old methods of salt extraction.

4. Olhao – The Algarve’s prime spot for nature lovers. A rarely seen natural phenomenon happens along this stretch of the Algarve’s coastline which has led to the forming of inland lagoons and islands along the cliff tops which rise above the sea. The fertile land of woodland and marshes around the area has been colonised by native wildlife species and allowed indigenous flora and fauna to flourish.

5. Estoi – Home the Algarve’s most spectacular Palace. The splendid Palace at Estoi earns its status as a wonder due to its remarkable design and as a symbol of defiance. In contrast the conservative architecture of the time, wealthy landowner ordered that a palace be built on neo-roco and neo-baroque style. Even the gardens of the Palace challenged design protocol and were packed with erotic statues. The outbuilding of the palace houses a nativity scene which lies in stark contrast to the flamboyant style of the rest of the complex.

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Antarctic Krill

Krill is a general term used to describe about 85 species of free-swimming, open-ocean crustaceans known as euphausiids.

Scientific name

Euphausia superba

Physical description

With their large black eyes, krill are mostly transparent, although their shells have a bright red tinge from small pigment spots. Their digestive system is usually visible and this is often a vivid green from the pigment of microscopic plants they have eaten. Adult Antarctic krill are approximately six centimetres in length and weigh over a gram.

Distribution and Abundance

Antarctic krill are one of the most abundant and successful animal species on Earth. Scientists estimate there are about 500 million tonnes of Antarctic krill in the Southern Ocean. The biomass of this one species may be the largest of any multi-cellular animal species on the planet.

As krill come to resemble adults they begin to aggregate into huge schools or swarms, sometimes stretching for kilometres in every direction, with many thousands of krill packed into each cubic metre of water, turning the water red or orange.

Most of the time the schools stay deep in the water during daylight hours and only rise to the surface at night. It is not known why swarms are occasionally seen at the surface during broad daylight.

Fishery

Commercial krill fishing began in the early 1970s and the prospect of a free-for-all fishery for Antarctic krill led to the signing of a unique fishing treaty in 1981. The Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources is designed to protect the Antarctic ecosystem from the consequences of rapidly expanding fisheries, and to aid recovery of the great whales and some of the overexploited species of fish.

The fishery is managed through an international body (CCAMLR) which sets limits on the krill catch taking into account the needs of other elements of the ecosystem.

Scientists at the Australian Antarctic Division study krill to provide a better understanding of krill life cycles so that the fishery can be better managed.

Breeding

Female Antarctic krill lay up to 10,000 eggs at a time, sometimes several times a season.

Diet and Feeding

Antarctic krill are mainly herbivorous, feeding mostly on the phytoplankton (microscopic suspended plants) of the Southern Ocean and, to a lesser extent, planktonic animals (zooplankton).

In winter, they have to use other food sources such as the algae which grows on the underside of the pack ice, detritus on the sea-floor or the other animals in the water. Krill can survive for long periods (up to 200 days) without food and can shrink in length as they starve.

Most of the larger Antarctic animals, the seals, whales, seabirds, fish and squid, depend directly or indirectly on Antarctic krill.

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Atlantic Bluefin Tuna

Description & Behavior

Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758), aka blue fin tunas, blue-fin tunny, bluefin tunas, horse mackerels, northern bluefin tunas, and squid hounds, are regarded as one of the most highly evolved fish species and one of the most prized fish in danger of overfishing. Tuna, originating from the Greek word meaning "to rush," usually swim at speeds of 1.5-4  knots, can maintain 8 knots for some time, and can break 20  knots for short periods. These are one of the most magnificent fishes in the sea. One fish can sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars. A 342  kg tuna sold at Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market for 32.49 million yen ($396,700 US dollars), the highest price for a single fish since record-keeping began in 1999, that's 95,000 yen ($1,157) per kg!

The Atlantic bluefin tuna is the largest member of the Scombridae Family (albacores, bonitos, mackerels, tunas). It is one of the largest bony fishes and can reach lengths of up to 3  m, although they are more commonly found from 0.5-2  m in length. Adult weights range from 136-680  kg, although the upper weight range is rare, especially now. They can dive as deep as 914  m, and are known to swim long distances as they are a highly migratory species.

Atlantic bluefins are dark blue to black on their dorsal (upper) surface and silvery ventrally (underneath). The bluefin is known for their finlets that run down their dorsal and ventral sides toward their anal fin. There are 12-14 spines in their first dorsal fin and 13-15 rays in their second dorsal fin. Their anal fin has 11-15 rays. The average lifespan of bluefin tunas is 15-30 years.

Atlantic bluefin are homeothermic ("warm-blooded") and are therefore able to thermoregulate  keeping their body temperatures higher than the surrounding water, which is why they are so well adapted to colder waters.

World Range & Habitat

Atlantic bluefin live in subtropical and temperate waters of the North Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean, and Black Seas. Bluefin are highly migratory and limited numbers of individuals may cross the Atlantic in as little as 60 days and are widely distributed throughout the Atlantic and can be found from Newfoundland all the way to the coast of Brazil. They range in the eastern Atlantic as far north as Norway and down to northern West Africa. Bluefin tagged in the Bahamas have been captured in Norway as well as off the coast of Brazil. Bluefin in the South Atlantic belong to a distinct southern population, with known spawning areas south of Java, Indonesia. The bluefin is a pelagic , schooling fish. They tend to group together according to size.

Feeding Behavior (Ecology)

Atlantic bluefin tuna consume smaller fishes such as mackerel, herring, whiting, flying fish, and mullet as well as squid, eels, and crustaceans.

Life History

Although Atlantic bluefin are widely distributed and migrate thousands of kilometers, there are two confirmed spawning locations—the Gulf of Mexico in the western Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea in the eastern Atlantic. Although many ecological and environmental variables undoubtedly affect both the location and productivity of spawning in these two areas, relatively little is known concerning why bluefin spawn where they do.

Spawning in the Gulf of Mexico occurs between mid-April and mid-June when females, which mature around age 8, release approximately 30 million eggs each. The highest density of bluefin larvae, the primary indicator of spawning, occurs in the northern Gulf of Mexico with lesser larval concentrations appearing off the Texas coast and in the Straits of Florida.

In the eastern Atlantic, spawning occurs exclusively in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas from June through August, with the highest larvae concentrations appearing around southern Italy. Although some fishery biologists believe that eastern Atlantic bluefin reach sexual maturity several years earlier than western Atlantic bluefin (possibly as young as ages 4-5), this understanding has been criticized. Juvenile Bluefin Tuna Found To Dive To Depths Of More Than 1,000 Meters 

Conservation Status & Comments(in need of updating, is very likely threatened):

"A taxon is Data Deficient when there is inadequate information to make a direct, or indirect, assessment of its risk of extinction based on its distribution and/or population status. A taxon in this category may be well studied, and its biology well known, but appropriate data on abundance and/or distribution is lacking. Data Deficient is therefore not a category of threat or Lower Risk. Listing of taxa in this category indicates that more information is required and acknowledges the possibility that future research will show that threatened classification is appropriate. It is important to make positive use of whatever data are available. In many cases great care should be exercised in choosing between DD and threatened status. If the range of a taxon is suspected to be relatively circumscribed, if a considerable period of time has elapsed since the last record of the taxon, threatened status may well be justified."

International sport fishing for "giant" bluefin originated about 100 years ago, becoming popular domestically in the early 1900s. The Sharp Cup in Nova Scotia was a distinguished international bluefin tournament held from the early 1930s through the 1960s, with a peak landing of 1,760 fish in 1949. Many other tournaments existed throughout the Northeast United States until the mid-1960s, when giant bluefin abundance near tournament sites appeared to decline. Although studies have been inconclusive regarding these changes, suspected causes include changes in water temperature, oceanic currents, availability of food, and overfishing .

Prior to 1970, sport fishing was exclusively recreational, as giant bluefin tuna had a commercial value of only $.05 per pound. Giant trophy tuna that were not kept for personal display or consumption were sold to cat and dog food producers. With the development of the Japanese specialty market in the early 1970s, giant bluefin tuna suddenly represented big money to traditional sport fishermen. Perspectives on the fishery shifted, and the recreational character of the fishery was altered by economic opportunity. A giant 225 kg trophy fish was, by the late 1970s, a highly valued Japanese delicacy. Participation exploded and the giant bluefin fishery capitalized quickly.

Now many "recreational anglers" also obtain commercial permits, so that virtually all giant bluefin tuna currently caught are marketed commercially, except for a small scale catch-and-release sport fishery in the Bahamas. A substantial charter- or party-boat fishery for small bluefin tuna also exists from North Carolina to Massachusetts. Estimated at more than 15,000 recreational anglers annually, this is the only U.S. fishery allowed to catch bluefin smaller than the minimum commercial size (1.78  m from the tip of a fish's snout to the fork of its tail).

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