We on underway on our travels to Costa Rica! Yesterday, we visited the Isla Iguana Wildlife Refuge, which is a 58-hectare island off the coast of the Azuero Peninsula in Panama. It is a beautiful isle with white beaches and plenty of wildlife. As soon as we stepped foot on the beach, the sand seemed to move away from us; I was surprised to find out that it was not the sand, but hundreds of hermit crabs, crawling away into the wooded area to escape these humanoid invaders. In addition to the crabs, there was a giant flock of red throated frigate birds constantly hovering over the island. We also interrupted an iguana's sun-tanning schedule while on a hike...lo siento, Señor Iguana!
Another interesting fact about this island was that, back in World War II, the U.S. military used the refuge as a bombing range. In order to clear the area in the 90s, they ended up detonated the bombs, demolishing roughly 8,000 square feet of precious coral, which takes 8 to 10 years to grow back. War!...huh!...yeah!...what it is good for?!?......destroying coral, apparently. In fact, they even have one of the craters left from one of the bombs on the island!
Today, the guests went ashore on this tiny island in Parque Nacional Coiba during the morning, but during the afternoon, I managed to make it ashore on Isla Canal de Afuera. The sand on this beach was whiter than the others, and it was so fine and soft...definitely the opposite of the Washington shores. :D
I met a bunch of hermit crabs again. I had to stash my backpack on the beach; luckily, I didn't return to find it overtaken by said hermits. Return from what, you ask? Well, I went snorkeling out to the coral just offshore. There, I saw various schools of multi-colored fish...reds, blues, greens, yellows...absolutely incredible. Apparently, I didn't swim out far enough, because everyone else swam further out, only to get stung by hydroids (a term I have not heard until this point). However, I am not complaining, haha.
ONWARD!!...to bed...again.
PICS COMING SOON!! (I promise; I have a day off on Thursday)
I could Google it, but what's a hydroid? I would love to see those crabs moving.
ReplyDeleteIt is related to a jellyfish, so you can get stung in a very similar fashion. I will see if I can get some video of those lil' hermits a'crawlin'! Haha
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