A cave pearl, limestone caves, Tabasco, Mexico,

A cave pearl is a small, usually spherical, speleothem (cave formation) found in limestone caves. In Tabasco, Mexico, the Gruta de las Canicas (Cave of the Marbles) is highly unusual in that it contains a tremendous quantity of pearls: an estimated 200 million pearls were discovered on the cave floor, in some areas to a depth of a meter or more. The mechanism for the formation of this vast quantity of pearls has not been determined.

 

Cave pearls are formed by a concretion of calcium salts that form concentric layers around a nucleus. Exposure to moving water polishes the surface of cave pearls, making them glossy; if exposed to the air, cave pearls can degrade and appear rough. A cave pearl is composed primarily of calcite. Cave pearls are generally not considered to be a type of oolite. Other minerals found in small quantities in cave pearls include quartz, apatite, iron, aluminum, and magnesium. A cave pearl is a type of speleothem, a concretion of calcium salts which forms in limestone caves. They may be any shape but are formed of concentric layers, reaching up to 15 centimeters (6 in) in diameter. Most are smaller than 1 centimeter (0 in) wide. They can be found singly or grouped. A cave pearl forms as calcite crystallizes on a nucleus such as a grain of sand, in much the same way that a biological pearl forms within a mollusc. A cave pearl is formed when a current of water provides a rotation to the nucleus in such a way that it is coated evenly. In this manner it may form a sphere or a cylinder or any of several other shapes. The cave pearl then sinks and is buffed to a high gloss by the motion of the water. It sinks to the bottom of the pool, and while the motion of the water often keeps it from adhering, several cave pearls may stick together to form stone which looks like a bunch of grapes. Cave pearls often degrade when allowed to dry. There may be microbial action involved in the formation of cave pearls.

Cave pearls form when water dripping into a cave loses carbon dioxide and precipitates calcite. A cave pearl forms when the water is moving too vigorously to form a stalagmite. A nucleus of matter (such as a grain of sand) becomes coated with calcite, and the current then provides a rotation to the nucleus in such a way that it is coated evenly. In this manner, concentric layers build up over time, in much the same way that a biological pearl forms within a mollusc. There may be microbial action involved in the formation of cave pearls.

The existence of an actual pool may not be necessary for cave pearls to form, as long as the deposit is kept wet and agitated by water dripping or trickling through. If the cave pearl sinks to the bottom of a pool or is otherwise in direct contact with moving water, the motion of the water buffs it to a high gloss. Although the motion of the water often keeps cave pearls from adhering, sometimes cave pearls will stick to one another or to the bottom of a pool.

A cave pearl forms around a nucleus of matter. The nucleus of a cave pearl is typically very small, such as a grain of sand, but can be larger. Some nuclei are made of foreign matter (such as quartz sand, wood, bone, or even plastic), whereas others are made of calcified clay or limestone. 

 

 
Cave pearls are usually spherical but can also have other shapes. The reason cave pearls tend to be round is not their rotation, but rather that their growth is steady and uniform. Because a spherical shape allows the greatest amount of deposition for the smallest surface area, a cave pearl tends to end up spherical even if its nucleus is highly irregular. Sometimes several cave pearls stick together to form a shape that resembles a bunch of grapes. In addition to the typical spherical shape, cave pearls can be cylindrical, elliptical, cubical, hexagonal, discoid, or irregular.

Most cave pearls are smaller than 1 cm (0.39 in) wide. Large cave pearls grow as big as 20 cm (7.9 in) in diameter. The world's largest cave, Son Doong Cave in Vietnam, has cave pearls "the size of baseballs

Cave pearls are relatively common in caves but are typically present in low abundance. The Rookery, in Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico, has so many cave pearls that they were at one time handed out to visitors as souvenirs.

Hitachi Seaside Park, Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan

Hitachi Seaside Park is a public park in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki, Japan. The park is situated on sand dunes formed  through a combination of silt from the Kuji River and north-easterly winds. Warm and cold  currents mingle in the Pacific Ocean off the Ibaraki Coast, allowing both northern and  southern climate plants to flourish within in the park. As well as stunning seasonal flowers  throughout the year, Hitachi Seaside Park is also home to the Pleasure Garden amusement  park, 8 hectares of grassland, a forest adventure playground and BBQ area. Convenient  access from Tokyo helps make Hitachi Seaside Park a popular tourist destination.

The Miharashi no Oka Hill area of Hitachi Seaside Park must be seen to be believed during the Spring, when blue nemophila flowers cover the  park’s hills, and again in Autumn when kochia bushes form a fluffy red carpet. However, this  was not always the case. The area was formerly home to a military airport known as Higashi-Mito Airport, and then to a US Air Force firing and bombing range after the war. Due to the  presence of residential buildings close to the practice areas, there were repeated  incidents involving mis-firings and accidental bombings, including some which resulted  in deaths. This resulted in a movement by local people requesting the return of the land, and  in March 1973 the area was returned to the Japanese government. Local people wished  to turn the area into a park as a symbol of peace, and thus Hitachi Seaside Park was born. The  hills that had been the target for countless bullets and bombs were transformed into a  paradise of flowers.

Covering an area of 350 hectares, the park features blooming flowers around the year. The park has become known for its baby blue-eyes flowers, with the blooming of 4.5 million of the translucent-petaled blue flowers in the spring drawing tourists. In addition to the annual "Nemophila Harmony", the park features a million daffodils, 170 varieties of tulips, and many other flowers. The park includes cycling trails and a small amusement park with a Ferris wheel.

As a state-run park, Hitachi Seaside Park strives to work alongside local people and provide opportunities for lifelong learning. The ‘Park Partners’ scheme was founded in 1999 and currently includes around 450 volunteers from accross 14 local organisations.

Hitachi Seaside Park also features a small amusement park with over 25 rides and attractions, including a 100 meter tall Ferris wheel, putter golf, a BMX course and a roller coaster among others. Most of the rides and activities require extra fees. Restaurants and rest areas are scattered throughout the park, and a BBQ area is available for picnics.

Due to the size of the park, there are two other methods of getting around besides walking. Rental bicycles are available starting from 450 yen for three hours of use, and almost eleven kilometers of cycling paths - separate from pedestrian paths - allow easy access to the different areas of the park. A small train (on tires) also travels the perimeter of the park with stops at numerous locations. The train costs 600 yen for a 1-day pass.

 

The park's iconic flower is the blue nemophila, which covers Miharashi Hill in the spring and mimics the color of the sky. The flowers are usually at their peak from late April to mid May. Paths crisscross the hill providing views over the Pacific Ocean and the rest of the park. In fall, the hill is covered by green kokia bushes which slowly turn red as the weather turns cooler. These autumnal colors are usually best from early to mid October.

Hitachi Seaside Park also hosts the Rock in Japan Festival in August every year. The nearest railway station is Ajigaura Station on the Minato Line of the Hitachinaka Seaside Railway and Hitachi Seaside Park is about two hours from Tokyo by public transportation.

For more information - Hitachi Seaside Park

The Haʻikū Stairs, Island of Oʻahu, Hawaii

The Haʻikū Stairs, also known as the Stairway to Heaven or Haʻikū Ladder, is a steep hiking trail on the island of Oʻahu, Hawaii. The total 3,922 steps span along Oahu's Ko'olau mountain range. "Haiku" does not refer to the Japanese poetry genre. The area is named "Haʻikū" after the Kahili flower.

In 1942, contractors for the U.S. Navy began construction of the Haʻikū Radio Station, a top secret facility that was to be used to transmit radio signals to Navy ships that were then operating throughout the Pacific. In order to obtain the necessary height for the antennae, the Navy stretched them across Haʻikū Valley, a natural amphitheater. Some remnant parts of the wooden ladder may still be seen beside the metal steps.

The radio station was commissioned in 1943. To transmit such a powerful signal, the Navy needed a transmitter of greater capability than possible with vacuum tube technology at the time. They therefore decided upon an Alexanderson alternator, a huge device capable of generating powerful low-frequency radio signals, and requiring an antenna of heroic proportions.

When the Naval base was decommissioned in the 1950s, the U.S. Coast  Guard used  the site for an Omega Navigation System station. In the mid-1950s, the  wooden stairs were replaced by sections of metal steps and ramps by one count, 3,922 steps. The  station and trail were closed to the public in 1987. Some hikers ignored the "no trespassing" signs  and continued to climb, contributing to the local community's misgivings about reopening  the structure. In 2003, the stairs were repaired, costing the  city $875,000.

 

In August 2012, Don Tiki show singer and comedian Fritz Hasenpusch died of a heart attack during his Haʻikū Stair climb.

In 2014, six people were arrested and 135 were cited for climbing the stairs. The City Prosecutors Office said that criminal trespass in the second degree carries a $1000 fine. One local resident have installed "booby traps" to stop hikers from passing through their property to reach the stairs. As of early 2018, City and County of Honolulu had stated that there was no plan to open the stairs for public use, citing liability concerns.

The Board of Water Supply voted unanimously on Monday, April 27, 2020 to transfer the Haiku Stairs over to the city since the stairs were a liability that did not align with the agency’s mission. The city plans to turn the trail into a paid attraction. The city had 18 months to take over or the stairs will be torn down. The city took possession on July 1, 2020

Honokohau Falls, Island of Maui, Hawaii.

Honokohau falls are probably the tallest falls in the waterfall on the island of Maui, Hawaii.  Honokohau Falls is a two-tiered natural beauty standing tall and proud at a height of 341 meters however some sources claim it to be at the height of 487 meters.. The best way to see this amazing cascade is by helicopter because it is located in an inaccessible valley in the West Maui Mountains.

The famed Honokohau Falls are named after the long Honohokau stream, a river that flows starting from the summit of Puu Kukui. With its magnificent view, Honokohau Falls is a must-see spot while you are in Hawaii however don’t be fooled by its beauty as getting there is not as convenient as you think. The waterfalls is two layered, the upper one is higher and falls into small pool, then falls at shorter distance. The height is mentioned as 341 m; however it is actually 487 m according to the people living there. It is difficult to access the waterfall by feet; however helicopter tour will make your trip amazing. The scene looks stunning as the waterfall starts from clouds and then flows into the emerald looking mountains.

The mesmerizing view of the falls will take your breath away; you will feel out of the world at one glance of the Honokohau falls. Hiking and access by car is also impossible here, therefore book the chopper in advance to prevent disappointment later on. There are various companies offering tours to visitors. Sightseeing also depends on the weather as this area receives frequent rains. There are times when sea of clouds shroud Honokohau Falls so it is best to check the weather before scheduling a helicopter trip to this natural landmark.

 

The Puu Kukui summit gets more than 9,000 mm of rain each year so this part of Maui is considered to be receiving the highest rainfalls in the world.

The waterfalls lovingly cascade and drop from the peak of the mountains and drop powerfully into a pool facing down the cliff. As Honokohau Falls is two-tiered, it can be seen that the water spills inward into a small pool and plunges deeper into several hundred feet to another pool at the bottom most part of the mountain.

The extraordinary waterfall was filmed in the movie ‘Jurassic Park’ to produce ‘out of the world’ and exotic beauty experience.

Kaan Luum Lagoon, Laguna Kaan Luum, Tulum, Mexico

Kaan Luum Lagoon is a  place of extraordinary nature decorated with turquoise and emerald waters. Kaan Luum is located about 12 kilometers from Tulum, close to Felipe Carrillo Puerto and Siaan Ka’an. The lagoon is located further inland from the Caribbean coast and just northeast of Sian Ka’an.  

The meaning of the lagoon name is “Yellow Earth” in Mayan language, this is because the entire floor of the lagoon is made of clay, which is perfect for a good skin exfoliation. In the lagoon of Kaan Luum you will witness the abundant birds that inhabit there, of course, that when carrying your camera, these memories will be shaped forever.

 

This unimaginable site has been surrounded by jungle and mangroves. To locate it is easy, it is two kilometers after having passed the cenote “Dos Osos”, on the left side is a sign indicating that you have arrived at your destination.Theiris a bridge is the way tho take you to a cenote with a little more than 82 meters deep and 25 meters in diameter. We are talking about the bridge of the Kaan Luum Lagoon. A place of extraordinary nature decorated with turquoise and emerald waters.

Laguna Kaan Luum is a massive pool, almost perfectly circular in shape, with a dark and deep center.  Although swimming in the center is prohibited, it’s amazing to see the drastic contrast in color where the depth drops off into the deep cenote in the middle.  The shades of the water vary from emerald green to the darkest blue.  One of the only structures is a narrow wooden pier, which is usually covered with visitors sitting on the edge and dangling their feet in the water.

This is one of the most affordable options in the area and it is also very easy to access. It is only 9 kilometers away from Tulum main town (towards Felipe Carrillo Puerto, opposite to Tulum beach). The access is $60 to 70 pesos per person as of today and it is payable in cash (US dollars accepted) upon arrival. The lagoon welcomes visitors every day of the week and from 9:00am to 5:00pm (low season) or from 9:00am to 6:00pm during high season. The place is managed by a local cooperative, they speak basic English and they are friendly. It is recommended to rent a car but if you don´t have one we can always arrange a cab driver to take you there and pick you up afterwards. There is no public transportation to the lagoon and the entrance is about 300 meters from the freeway.