Oceanum
Zero degrees. The midpoint of the planet. The equator.
A natural trade route of the oceans rich in nourishment, abundant in ocean life.
While there are other islands situated in these latitudes, none others are as isolated. The Galapagos lay in the middle of a massive ocean river, the convergence of the California and Peru currents. Currents that are cold water conveyors of Arctic and Antarctic waters. Waters that travel deep along the edge of the South and North American continents. To turn westward along the meridian line directly towards the islands. Meeting the subaqueous volcanic flanks of the archipelago, the ocean river flows over and around the topography, bringing the nutrient rich water from the journey. The nutrients feed the marine plankton and krill, the building blocks that nourish the ocean life, making the Galapagos an ideal feeding ground. From the smallest forms of life to the giant whales. (Whales that attracted humans to base their fleets of vessels, nearly upsetting the fragile experiment of evolution.)
Some of this water is warmed by the tropical sun giving rise to corals, sea stars, surgeonfish, parrot fish and puffers. Other area remains cold chilled by the deep cold waters brought from the colder climes of the poles – providing a nesting ground for the furthest most northern colonies of penguins.
All of this provides abundant nourishment for the creatures that ply the area, be it the hammerhead sharks, sea lions, or aerial predators that feed on the fish. An ocean rest stop on this natural trade route, the highway of equatorial river currents where migrating sea life come and go. Still other creatures carried by the converging currents to this rest stop have settled there.
Those less mobile, dependent on local food sources or not being suited to long distant travel, remain close to the edge, living their lives adapted to the nuances of the region. They must be adapted to live within the constraints of their environment to survive. Swimming among these underwater creatures, their flash of color, their near perfect camouflage, there was a sense of abundance. Not unlike the towns located on the great human trade routes, it is a bustling center of marine life. Some swim solo, some in massive schools. Floating or adhering to the rocks. In close to the shore or paddling in the deep blue.
It was harder to get a sense of the specialization the ocean creatures have. The evolution of a species for a specific purpose. But one such observation did come to light. Upon my return, caught by a causal photograph of a sea star, I noticed what appeared to be small pebbles of scoriaceous basalt embedded on the back of the armored sea star. (See photo in collection) Running this by my geologist/paleontologist friend it was pointed out that these were in fact, not pebbles of basalt, but calcareous fragments, part of the sea star. The hardened armor colored to look like the surrounding rock, down to the gas bubbles in the surrounding lava, a perfect example of evolution. Curiously, I was able to watch a flounder on a rock, colored to match its background, swim off to the sandy bottom. Its color changed immediately to match the sand. I have no idea if the sea star possesses this ability, although I doubt it, as the photographs were taken against a sandy bottom.
Zero degrees and isolated. Fed by currents from both the northern and southern reaches if the planet. The Galapagos islands ocean waters, Oceanum, is part of an ecosystem unique to its location. Along the meridian of the planet, in the middle of the northern and southern gyres, it has a richness only the oceans can provide.
Read MoreA natural trade route of the oceans rich in nourishment, abundant in ocean life.
While there are other islands situated in these latitudes, none others are as isolated. The Galapagos lay in the middle of a massive ocean river, the convergence of the California and Peru currents. Currents that are cold water conveyors of Arctic and Antarctic waters. Waters that travel deep along the edge of the South and North American continents. To turn westward along the meridian line directly towards the islands. Meeting the subaqueous volcanic flanks of the archipelago, the ocean river flows over and around the topography, bringing the nutrient rich water from the journey. The nutrients feed the marine plankton and krill, the building blocks that nourish the ocean life, making the Galapagos an ideal feeding ground. From the smallest forms of life to the giant whales. (Whales that attracted humans to base their fleets of vessels, nearly upsetting the fragile experiment of evolution.)
Some of this water is warmed by the tropical sun giving rise to corals, sea stars, surgeonfish, parrot fish and puffers. Other area remains cold chilled by the deep cold waters brought from the colder climes of the poles – providing a nesting ground for the furthest most northern colonies of penguins.
All of this provides abundant nourishment for the creatures that ply the area, be it the hammerhead sharks, sea lions, or aerial predators that feed on the fish. An ocean rest stop on this natural trade route, the highway of equatorial river currents where migrating sea life come and go. Still other creatures carried by the converging currents to this rest stop have settled there.
Those less mobile, dependent on local food sources or not being suited to long distant travel, remain close to the edge, living their lives adapted to the nuances of the region. They must be adapted to live within the constraints of their environment to survive. Swimming among these underwater creatures, their flash of color, their near perfect camouflage, there was a sense of abundance. Not unlike the towns located on the great human trade routes, it is a bustling center of marine life. Some swim solo, some in massive schools. Floating or adhering to the rocks. In close to the shore or paddling in the deep blue.
It was harder to get a sense of the specialization the ocean creatures have. The evolution of a species for a specific purpose. But one such observation did come to light. Upon my return, caught by a causal photograph of a sea star, I noticed what appeared to be small pebbles of scoriaceous basalt embedded on the back of the armored sea star. (See photo in collection) Running this by my geologist/paleontologist friend it was pointed out that these were in fact, not pebbles of basalt, but calcareous fragments, part of the sea star. The hardened armor colored to look like the surrounding rock, down to the gas bubbles in the surrounding lava, a perfect example of evolution. Curiously, I was able to watch a flounder on a rock, colored to match its background, swim off to the sandy bottom. Its color changed immediately to match the sand. I have no idea if the sea star possesses this ability, although I doubt it, as the photographs were taken against a sandy bottom.
Zero degrees and isolated. Fed by currents from both the northern and southern reaches if the planet. The Galapagos islands ocean waters, Oceanum, is part of an ecosystem unique to its location. Along the meridian of the planet, in the middle of the northern and southern gyres, it has a richness only the oceans can provide.
