The Protected Places Person

London / minor / they/them

[theprotectedplaceperson]

Welcome to the protected places of the world!

Hello! I am a complete nature and protected places nerd who just wants to share that with the world. This blog will talk about all thing protected places like wildlife, botany, history of protected places, geology, and some cool places to go if visiting any of them.

Some things about me:

My name is London (they/them)

I am from SW Michigan

I have been to 3 countries, 18 states (plus D.C.), 1 Canadian province, and 1 constituent country of the U.K.

I have not visited many protected places, I have been to 2 USNPs, 2 CNPs*, so many state parks, a national recreation area, and 3 national monuments.

I want to study zoology

I just want to have some fun here! Keep things related to protected places an don't be a jerk and have fun and maybe learn something!

[theprotectedplaceperson]

Everlasting Lightning Storm

A picture of Catumbo Lightning over Lake Maracaibo

In Ciénagas del Catatumbo National Park, Zuila, Venezuela, there is a storm that seems everlasting. It lasts roughly 300 days of the year and is what gained the region its name meaning "house of thunder" in the Barí language. These storms are caused by the air from the Andes and the air from the Caribbean Sea mixing causing the perfect storm for massive thunder storms. This thunder has been very culturally important in Zuila as you can see on their flag where a prominent lightning bolt is found. This lightning has also brought tourism to the area and to the park. Many want to see the fabulous lightning display and Ciéngas del Catumbo National Park is where many people go to be up close to the fabulous electrical display.

[theprotectedplaceperson]

El Yunque, America's Only Tropical Rainforest

A view of El Yunque National Forest

El Yunque is a beautiful but strange place in the United States. Near Río Grande, Puerto Rico, U.S.A. this is America's only tropical rainforest. While America has many temperate forests in states like Alaska and Washington, no other place in the U.S. has a true tropical rainforest, but why is El Yunque a rainforest at all? El Yunque get a LOT of rain, 6.1 meters a year of rain a lot. Precipitation from trade winds falling on the eastern side of Puerto Rico causes this bastion of rainforest in the U.S. El Yunque has 16 endemic species of trees and plants and 200 over all. This rainforest also has the rare Puerto Rican Parrot only found in this strange rainforest

[theprotectedplaceperson]

The Weird Botany of Socotra Island

Dragon's Blood Tree on Socotra Island Protected Areas, Socotra, Yemen (picture by Rod Waddington on Wikimedia)

Socotra Island is an island in the Arabian Sea with some famously weird plants. It is a part of the Socotra Island Protected Areas and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Socotra has many endemic birds, reptiles, and a bat specie, but is by far most known for its alien-like plants. Why are these plants so unique? Just like many islands, it is isolated and the plants who are on this island have been on it for a long time. These plants and animals are also a part of a unique ecosystem, the Socotra Island xeric shrublands, so they have unique environmental conditions that require adaptations. The island is stunning and very sadly at risk due to over development, over tourism, and climate change.

[theprotectedplaceperson]

The Hexagonal Rocks of Giant's Causeway/Clochán an Aifir, Northern Ireland, U.K.

Giant's Causeway/Clochán an Aifir (picture by Jal74 on Wikimedia)

Giant's Causeway (Clochán an Aifir in Irish) is a UNESCO Heritage Cite and National Nature Reserve in Northern Ireland. It contains many hexagonal basalt structures, but why are they there? 60 million years ago a volcanic eruption happened in Northern Ireland. That lava quickly cooled and contracted causing the hexagonal (a very structurally sound shape) cracks to form. These basalt columns can be 12 meters tall and 30 centimeters wide.

[theprotectedplaceperson]

Birds of Point Pelee National Park, Ontario, Canada

Barn Swallows in the Marsh Tower, Point Pelee NP, Ontario, Canada

Point Pelee is a national park in Ontario, Canada known for its unique collection of bird species. Over 390 bird species have been observed in Point Pelee, but why? Point Pelee is a peninsula jutting off into Lake Erie and so is one of the first pieces of land that migratory birds flying across Lake Erie will see flying north. Point Pelee serves as a rest point for these birds who are crossing the Great Lakes. Every May birdwatchers from all across Canada come to Point Pelee to see birds from 2 major migration flyways all descend onto Point Pelee.