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14/06/2024

They may have arrived on rafts of vegetation from the mainland.

It is unknown how the Galapagos giant tortoise arrived on the Galapagos Islands, but one theory is that a pregnant female accidentally washed up from the mainland!

Discover the history of the most famous Galapagos species of all: tinyurl.com/HistoryofGiantTortoise

📷 @ GTMEP

14/06/2024

Wildlife camera traps have recorded footage of a giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) wandering through scrubland in Espinilho State Park in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

A giant anteater has been spotted in the south-west of the state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil for the first time in 130 years. Scientists believe the species dispersed from a growing population reintroduced by Rewilding Argentina in Iberá.

13/06/2024

Their legacy lives on.

12/06/2024

Some (good) news from the Ecuadorian Cloudforest.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/jun/01/more-profitable-than-farming-how-ecuadors-birding-boom-is-benefiting-wildlife

With hundreds of highly prized species, bird tourism is thriving in the country – and farmers are increasingly turning their land into nature reserves

07/06/2024

The Atacama Giant in northern Chile near Iquique. The desert is one huge canvas.

The most well-known geoglyphs in the world are undoubtedly the Nazca Lines of coastal Peru. Yet, in the Atacama Desert of Chile, there is another group of geoglyphs that are equally as impressive. Although the geoglyphs of the Atacama Desert are less familiar to most, they are far more numerous in number, more varied in style, and cover a much larger area. One of the most intriguing and controversial Atacaman geoglyphs is the so-called "Atacama Giant" (Gigante de Atacama), which continues to stir debate regarding its true meaning and interpretation.

19/05/2024

Magical realism hits Netflix.

Locals hope TV adaptation of One Hundred Years of Solitude will bring new life to Aracataca, birthplace of author’s magical realism

19/05/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/T4Nt1sFJf64ErgQQ/?mibextid=WC7FNe

Have you ever heard of a Mexican truffle, or corn s**t? It’s not your typical truffle, but a unique delicacy known as huitlacoche.

This is a fungus that grows on corn when the weather is hot and humid. The result? The corn kernels swell up into large, blue-black growths.

Now, you might be thinking, “Who would want to eat that?” But when cooked, huitlacoche tastes like a mix of mushrooms, fresh corn, and black truffles. It’s a flavor that’s hard to describe but absolutely delicious. Some farmers even intentionally infect their cornfields to grow this delicacy.

The history of huitlacoche goes back to the indigenous cultures of Mexico. So next time you’re feeling adventurous, why not give huitlacoche a try? It’s a taste of history and a culinary experience you won’t forget.

Image credit: Organically Roland (Facebook)
Earth Unreal: Earth Unreal

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15/05/2024

Peruvian maize is certainly chunky.

🔸It took me years to realize that Inca and pre-Columbian architecture is directly related to the structure of the corn kernels. In a western model of thought, one might judge the shapes as irregular, but in a universal thought, everything is a correlation between the cosmos, science, art and humanity." (Fractal Nature)

As you can see, the organic growth forms are represented in a logarithmic way, and the fact that these pentagonal, hexagonal and heptagonal blocks coincide with the corn forms.

- Juan Casco

The lack of symmetry in the walls helps dissipate the energy of the earthquakes. They were incredible engineers. Japanese researchers studied Machu Picchu after the Kobe earthquake and realised that these Inca structures had not been damaged by an earthquake.

Details for you:
https://shorturl.at/ASpUi

Do support us here;
https://buymeacoffee.com/archeologyaesthetic

10/05/2024

Snorkel with the friendly sharks in Galápagos.

The whitetip reef shark is the most common shark species in Galapagos!

During the day, many sharks crowd into caves, usually stacking themselves on top of each other. Whitetips normally return to the same cave or crevice every day, sometimes for years.

Discover more: tinyurl.com/WhitetipReefShark

📷 ©️ RLS

09/05/2024

Know your South American camelids.

¡ , tierra de camélidos! 🦙🇵🇪
En las regiones altoandinas del país es común encontrarte con estos increíbles y hermosos seres vivos, que son parte importante de ecosistemas naturales, culturales y económicos del país, donde se albergan y protegen extensas poblaciones de estas especies, que hoy te invitamos a conocer en detalle. En el Año Internacional de los Camélidos, ¡ya tienes una razón más para recorrer !

09/05/2024

Ecuador is a bird watchers dream location. Let us plan your vacation to the cloud forest, Amazon and Andes.

Slow motion clip of a Violet tailed sylph (Aglaiocercus coelestis) hummingbird drinking nectar from a Cavendishia flower, near Mindo, Ecuador.© Morley Read /...

27/04/2024

Peru’s equivalent of Tutankhamun.

En 1987, el arqueólogo Walter Alva llevó a cabo una excavación que condujo al descubrimiento del sepulcro sin perturbaciones del Señor de Sipán, un influyente líder de la cultura mochica en la región de Lambayeque, Perú. Este descubrimiento, realizado por un equipo de arqueólogos peruanos liderados por Alva y Luis Chero Zurita, marcó un hito en la arqueología del continente americano. Por primera vez, se encontró un entierro real sin rastros de saqueo, proporcionando una visión sin precedentes de una civilización peruana anterior a los Incas. El ataúd de madera en el que fue enterrado el Señor de Sipán fue el primero de su tipo descubierto en América, revelando la magnificencia y majestuosidad de este gobernante y guerrero del antiguo Perú, cuya vida transcurrió alrededor del año 250 de nuestra era.
Esta fascinante revelación arqueológica fue documentada por National Geographic.

22/04/2024

Chavin is one of the most enigmatic sites in Peru.

LAS MISTERIOSAS CABEZAS CLAVAS DE CHAVÍN.
(Rostros humanos convertidos felinos)

Si pensaste que las "cabezas clavas" sólo cumplían una función decorativa, te equivocas, ya que reflejaban también, la naturaleza sagrada de la cultura Chavín de hace más de 3000 años de antigüedad.

La cultura Chavín se desarrolló entre el 1200 y el 550 a. C., y las cabezas clavas tienen una antigüedad de entre 1200 y 500 a. C.

En la década de 1920 el arqueólogo Julio C. Tello encontró un gran número de cabezas clavas en Chavín de Huántar, esculturas que originalmente se hallaban empotradas en las fachadas de los templos.

En cada una de las cabezas se observa, que los rasgos humanos se van transformando a un ser mítico con características de felino.

21/04/2024

This megalithic monument is walking distance from the Inca city of Cusco. It should be on everyone’s must visit list for Peru.

📍Sacsayhuaman 🇵🇪

Del quechua saqsay (lleno o satisfecho) y waman(halcón ) es decir halcón satisfecho.
Sacsayhuaman es un recinto arqueológico inca que está ubicado a solo 2km de la ciudad del Cusco y a 3,700 msnm según el cronista peruano Garcilaso de la Vega , el sitio es "la mayor obra arquitectónica que realizaron los incas durante su apogeo" , según los cronistas su edificación la comenzó el inca Pachacuteq en el siglo XV y fue concluida por Huayna Capac en el siglo XVI . En 1536 , Manco Inca líder de la resistencia Inca de Vilcabamba combatió a los españoles en este recinto . Debido a la destrucción causada por los españoles actualmente solo se aprecia el 20% del complejo arquitectónico.

¿Cómo colocaron esas enormes piedras megalíticas ? Sigue siendo un gran misterio.
Cusco (1940)

19/04/2024

A huge task to remove all the invasive species without harming the endemic ones.

17/04/2024

A truly majestic flowering plant.

ONCE IN 80 YEARS
Puya raimondii, queen of the Andes, is the largest species of bromeliad, reaching up to 15 m (50 ft) in height and carry 20,000 flowers. It is native to the high Andes of Bolivia and Peru. It has been considered a Protocarnivorous plant (ensnaring birds).
Its reproductive cycle lasts approximately 80 years.
Read more: https://levelup-flow.com/steve-irwins-18-year-old-son-is-an-award-winning-photographer-and-here-are-50-photos-to-prove-it/

11/04/2024

A good Ceviche is truly sublime.

Ceviche peruano 😋
Locales: https://bit.ly/46zeBIY (delivery)
🌐 www.senorlimon.com

07/04/2024

Los Cardones (cactus) National Park, in Salta Province, northern Argentina. Picture Angela Delfino.
🇦🇷

05/04/2024

Hiking around this beautiful crater was one of the highlights of our group tour to Ecuador.

Cotacachi-Ciucocha, hermosa fotografía de Anhalzer

03/04/2024

Lobster Effigy Vessel. Geography: South Coast, Peru. Culture - Date: Nazca. c. 300-600 CE.

01/04/2024

Ecuador has one of the highest biodiversity rates in the world.

To honor Earth Day, we're dedicating the entire month of April to spotlighting Ecuador's exceptional nature and biodiversity, along with the conservation endeavors safeguarding its distinct habitats. Stay tuned for intriguing insights into Ecuador's natural diversity, features on the conservation organisations we support, and inspiring tales of progress in preservation and conservation efforts.

🇪🇨

30/03/2024

Ecuador’s colourful hummingbirds. They can be seen easily in the cloud forest or even in Quito’s gardens and squares.

Did you know Ecuador is a hummingbird paradise? 🌺 With over 130 species fluttering around, it's a haven for bird enthusiasts! From the vibrant Booted Racket-tail to the tiny Shining Sunbeam, each species adds to the country's natural splendour.

Interested in discovering the top hummingbird-spotting sites in Ecuador? Leave a comment below, and we'll feature it on our blog soon! 😄
🇪🇨

30/03/2024

The Maya built pyramids to note essential points in the calendar, such as the solstice and equinox. The pyramids also functioned as temples; only priests were allowed to climb to the top of the stairs, where they performed religious rituals, including sacrifices.

29/03/2024

Good Friday in Quito, Ecuador. The old town throngs with thousands of penitents, Cucuruchos mostly dressed in purple. Some re-enact the walk of Christ with a heavy cross.
🇪🇨♥️

23/03/2024

The plumed serpent of Kukulkán, appears every Equinox at Chichen Itza.

• El descenso de Kukulkán. 🐉

Como en cada equinoccio cuando el Sol se encuentra sobre el ecuador y el día dura lo mismo que la noche, la sombra de la serpiente emplumada aparece en la alfarda poniente de la escalinata norte, poco antes de la puesta de sol. Está formada por siete triángulos invertidos de luz que parecen descender y se unen en la base de la escalinata con la cabeza de piedra de la serpiente de Kukulkán.

23/03/2024

The culture known as Colima evolved around 2200 and 1500 years ago in the Central Pacific side of Mexico. They venerated dogs and other animals.

A dancer with a removable crocodile helmet from Mexico. Culture: Colima culture, 300 BCE-300 CE.

23/03/2024

Getting up close to a llama in the Atacama on our ‘Chile North to South’ itinerary.

17/03/2024

Kayaking on Reloncavi Fjord, Araucania or Lakes region, Chile.

15/03/2024

Re-wilding Floreana Island

Last October, the eradication of invasive rats and mice finally began on Floreana island. With initial signs suggesting that the eradication has been successful, five species of Darwin’s finches, which were held safely in captivity during the eradication, have now been released back into the wild.

Discover more about this exciting milestone in the Restoring Floreana project: tinyurl.com/FloreanaFinchRelease

📷 ©️ Professor W. G. Hale

15/03/2024

Frigates are clepto-parasites (steal food from other birds).