FLYING SNAKE
FLYING SNAKE
In Southeast Asia there’ s a type of snake that doesn’ t just slither about, oh no, the Chrysopelea moves upwards by pushing its scales against tree bark, then hurls itself off, appearing to fly, as it lands on its next tree of choice. They’ re capable of‘ flying’ up to 100 metres in a single movement!
STAGGERING SINKHOLE
Xiaozhai Tiankeng, in Fengjie County in China, is both the deepest and largest sinkhole in the world. It measures 660 metres deep, has a volume of 130 million cubic metres, and is home to an ecosystem of 1,285 species of animals and plants. Whoa!
Planet Earth is an amazing place, packed with all kinds of weird and wonderful stuff. Let’ s take a look at some of our favourite oddities!
FLAMINGOS ONLY
Lake Natron is a deadly body of water in northern Tanzania. The water is high in an algae, which releases a chemical that destroys cells, livers and nervous systems if consumed. As a result, many animals and birds that drink from it die, become calcified and turn into statues. Bizarrely, flamingos, who gather in huge numbers around the lake, aren’ t affected by this!
BLOOD FALLS
In East Antarctica, a plume of red saltwater pours from a glacier, giving the appearance of blood flowing from the ice. This unnerving sight is caused by the iron oxide in the water!
OUT OF THE FRYING PAN …
Located in Waimangu Volcanic Rift Valley, New Zealand, Frying Pan Lake is the world’ s largest hot spring by surface area, reaching temperatures of 50 to 60 ° C( 122 – 140 ° F). Sizzling!
IT’ S LIT
In the ancient Waitomo Caves in New Zealand, stunning limestone formations and glow-worms illuminate the cave’ s ceilings to look like stars in the night sky.
Words: Jennifer Newton-Brown. Photos: Frying Pan Lake, Famelor, CC BY-SA 3.0, Paradise flying snake, Dr. Jake Socha, www. thesochalab. org Blood Falls, Hassan Basagic, Fallstreak, H. Raab, CC BY _ SA 3.0
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