Aero: Kelsey Burbank – Costa Rica 2014 – Biodiversity
Aero: Kelsey Burbank – Costa Rica 2014 – Biodiversity
Aero: Kelsey Burbank – Costa Rica 2014 – Biodiversity
Kelsey Burbank
The beauty of Costa Rica is seen mostly through the biodiversity that Costa Rica has. There are so many different ecosystems wherever you go. While in Costa Rica I was able to see many of the different types of ecosystems and all the different plant and animal life that Costa Rica had to offer me. Two of those places that I was able to experience were the volcanos Poas and Irazu. Both volcanos had ecosystems different of that in the town in which we were staying at for the trip. Going to Poas and Irazu you had to, of course, go up a mountain to see the volcanos. As you went up the mountains the air got a lot colder and it was almost like New York on a nice spring day.
The plant life and animal life were very different from what you see as you go back down into town again. One plant that was very different and interesting to learn about were the hydrangeas which are a very popular flower in Costa Rica and it also grows wild in some areas. What I learned about the flowers is that is changes color depending on where it is growing. Unlike in New York where we only see one color of hydrangeas in Costa Rica they have many. The colors can be blue, pink, purple, white, and even a yellow. The color is dependent on the acidity of the ground where the flowers are growing. The different levels of acidity from the volcanos is what changes the color. We were also able to go and explore “Monteverde”. “Monteverde” is a cloud forest. When you are there you are literally in the clouds. The weather in “Monteverde” is cold and wet. The moisture comes from the clouds. As the clouds pass through it leaves a mist which makes all the moisture on the air and it’s cold because it is higher up in elevation. The plant life there is completely different from anything that I have seen. Most of the trees and other plants are covered in different green mosses.
Costa Rica 2014 Photo Gallery
The animals that you see there you would not always see in other places. While in Monteverde I was able to see a sloth and a pit-viper while on our trial tour with a guide. We also took a night tour of the same place where we were able to see many other new and interesting creatures. Most of what we saw were the insects. Most of the insect that we saw were different kinds of grass hoppers and crickets but we also saw a blue eyed anole and a tarantula. “Monteverde” was completely different from when we went to the rain forest. When we were at the rain forest we got a taste of why it is called that. One minute the sun would be shinning and beautiful and the next it would be completely raining. The weather was also more humid and hot than at the cloud forest. The plant life and animal life were also completely different. There was not as much moss as there was in the Cloud forest. The trees were different and many of the animals that you would normally see in the cloud forest you would not see in the rain forest.
The weather in town was also nothing like any other. The sun was always shining and there was always a wonderful breeze blowing. It was never extremely hot and the plant life was different. Many of the tress that grew in town were mango trees. We also saw many different parrots. Costa Rica is rich in life and beauty. It all comes from the many different ecosystems that you can see and experience. You will never see the same thing twice because everywhere you go there is always something new to see and learn about.
Learn More: Study abroad with Modern Languages @ FLCC: Costa Rica!
– Kelsey Burbank
The LEAF Project
www.leaflanguages.org
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