An observation deck in Malalayang Beach at Malalayang Dua Sub-district, Malalayang District, Manado, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. To take this photo I had to go down from the main road via the stairs. You have to be careful walking because there are lots of big slippery rocks

#sofiaflorina #ソフィアフロリナ #beach #beaches #beachphotography #seashores #seashore #indonesianbeach #indonesianbeaches #pantai #pantaiindonesia #manado #manadocity #kotamanado #manadokota #sulawesiutara #northsulawesi #indonesia

#Intertidalzones at #seashores and the temporary exposure of #marineorganisms to air vary in intensity depending on the strength of the #tidalcycle,. Ricardo A. Scrosati (2022) studied the effects of #wintercold in intertidal areas on the #Atlantic Coast in #NovaScotia (#Canada) and found a #coldtolerance of organisms as long as the usual cold level is not much exceeded.

© #StefanFWirth Berlin 2025

Ref
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.811545

Pictures
© S.F. Wirth, AI assisted artistic #illustrations

Manado Tua Island at noon. It is a volcanic island in the Celebes Sea off the northeast coast of Sulawesi Island. The island is located in Bunaken National Park, a marine park. You can see a small fishing boat near the horizon in this photo.

#manado #celebes #islands #island #indonesia #wonderfulindonesia #pesonaindonesia #pulau #beaches #beach #seashore #seashores #photography #sea #seas #celebessea #pacificocean #pacific #sulawesiutara #northsulawesi #sofiaflorina #ソフィアフロリナ

For the enduring love of America’s natural treasures

The recent broad dismissals of National Park Service rangers and U.S. Forest Service rangers has caused all of us who hold America’s natural treasures near and dear to their heart to fiercely object to these misguided actions by the Executive branch. What is so dumbfounding is the apparent lack of understanding and appreciation of these gems.

“How in the world can certain people not understand or appreciate the stunning beauty and wonder of America’s natural treasures?”

It’s this lack of appreciation that makes this author wonder if an early introduction to our national parks and forests while kids are in elementary and secondary school should become a standard practice. In the past, this may have been a difficult proposition for some since the geographical distribution of national park sites tended to be weighted heavily in the Western United States. Thankfully, groups such as the scouts have helped introduce young people to our diverse ecosystems across much of the country.

More recently, additional national park sites (lakeshores, seashores, historical parks, trails, battlefields, recreation areas, preserves, monuments, and parks themselves) have been designated in the eastern half of the nation. Believe me, it’s not just the “national parks” specifically that are beautiful. Anyone who has visited Antietam, Saratoga, or Chickamauga will attest to the surprising beauty of those solemn battle settings. The same can be said of Sleeping Bear Dunes, Cape Hatteras, or Apostle Islands shorelines.

A similar idea would be to require each and every member of Congress (the United States Senate and the House of Representatives) to visit at least one national park system site or national forest every year they are in office. Such a policy could be established under their internal rules and would help better acquaint members with the importance and stunning aura of these varied natural features. Then, instead of excessive overseas junkets and lobbyist paid retreats, an annual trip to our nation’s treasures would help open their eyes to the majestic landscapes and vistas that might be lost forever, if not cared for properly.

There are many national forests and grasslands across the nation that could be easily visited by school groups and elected officials. While some of these features may not be as physically dramatic as the parks themselves, they remain excellent tools for educating and endearing our citizenry of the importance of our nation’s natural treasures. And there are certainly many locations within our national forest system that could qualify for national park status, as well.

A truly special feature within some of our national forests are wilderness areas that have been left pristine and largely untouched over time. With so few places across the Lower 48 states remaining undisturbed, unfenced, or undeveloped, these wilderness areas (brainchild of the great Aldo Leopold 100 years ago) are the last remaining vestiges of the original American landscape. An endearing landscape that was once home to our many indigenous peoples and which first greeted intrepid explorers, trappers, pioneers, and settlers.

“We abuse land because we see it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” 
― Aldo Leopold

The point is…if everyone in this country were to become better acquainted with the national park system and national forest network, hopefully they would better appreciate our nation’s vast and varied natural treasures. Then, maybe just maybe, the chance of broad staff dismissals, reduced funding, and inappropriate land use proposals within or near these gems would become a thing of the past.

Peace!

#battlefields #deserts #dunes #environment #fun #geography #history #lakes #lakeshores #landUse #love #monuments #mountains #NationalForests #NationalParks #nature #parks #planning #preserves #recreation #river #scenic #seashores #trails #travel #water

Man sinkt schnell wieder in die andere Realität. Fast zu schnell. Vieles hat sich verändert, manches ist abgegriffen und im Wetter verblasst. Aber genug blieb vertraut. Grau treiben Wolkenwelten über die schäumende See, der Wind streicht Gischt und Sand auf die Haut, und irgendwann fliegen viele Gedanken davon, während man den Geschichten lauscht, die zurückweichende Wellen in den Steinen flüstern. (Und keine Erwiderung weiß, nichts zu berichten vermag, was hier draußen Bedeutung hätte.)

#outerworld #the baltic self #seashores #where we are we are