2021-02-18
Stones in a river near the hamlet of Lavertezzo, in the Valle Verzasca of Switzerland (© Robert Seitz/Offset by Shutterstock)
拉韦尔泰佐附近一条河里的石头，瑞士塞斯卡山谷 (© Robert Seitz/Offset by Shutterstock)
In just a few months it'll be warm enough to perch for a while on this smooth river rock, dangle your feet into the water, and take in this gorgeous Swiss scenery. We're here in the Valle Verzasca, a valley in Ticino, Switzerland, close to the Italian border. There in the near distance is the tiny hamlet of Lavertezzo, where most everyone speaks Italian. Tourists normally flock to this area in warm summer months to swim and snorkel in the river's famous turquoise waters and to jump off the 17th century double-arched bridge known as the Ponte dei Salti (Bridge of Jumps). The very, very brave bungee jump off the nearby Contra dam, made famous in the 1995 James Bond film 'GoldenEye.'
Stones in a river near the hamlet of Lavertezzo, in the Valle Verzasca of Switzerland (© Robert Seitz/Offset by Shutterstock)
拉韦尔泰佐附近一条河里的石头，瑞士塞斯卡山谷 (© Robert Seitz/Offset by Shutterstock)
In just a few months it'll be warm enough to perch for a while on this smooth river rock, dangle your feet into the water, and take in this gorgeous Swiss scenery. We're here in the Valle Verzasca, a valley in Ticino, Switzerland, close to the Italian border. There in the near distance is the tiny hamlet of Lavertezzo, where most everyone speaks Italian. Tourists normally flock to this area in warm summer months to swim and snorkel in the river's famous turquoise waters and to jump off the 17th century double-arched bridge known as the Ponte dei Salti (Bridge of Jumps). The very, very brave bungee jump off the nearby Contra dam, made famous in the 1995 James Bond film 'GoldenEye.'
2021-02-19
Parrotfish off the coast of the Negros Oriental province in the Philippines (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)
东内格罗斯省沿海的鹦嘴鱼，菲律宾 (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)
These brightly colored parrotfish are swimming off the coast of the Negros Oriental province in the Philippines. Over 80 species of parrotfish live in abundant numbers in the world's tropical seas, with the most species diversity found in the Indo-Pacific region. These thick-bodied fish have large scales and a beak of fused teeth they use to diligently scrape off delicious algae from reefs and rocks. Some also eat coral, which they grind up with plate-like teeth in their throats. Researchers say parrotfish play a critical role in the health of coral reef by eating algae that can choke off coral growth. They also help replenish the white sandy beaches near these tropical reefs. How? After parrotfish digest the edible parts of coral, they excrete what's left as sand–a lot of sand. In some species, a single parrotfish can poop almost 1,000 pounds of pearly white sand each year. But never mind that–some trivia is best not to dwell on.
Parrotfish off the coast of the Negros Oriental province in the Philippines (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)
东内格罗斯省沿海的鹦嘴鱼，菲律宾 (© Tim Fitzharris/Minden Pictures)
These brightly colored parrotfish are swimming off the coast of the Negros Oriental province in the Philippines. Over 80 species of parrotfish live in abundant numbers in the world's tropical seas, with the most species diversity found in the Indo-Pacific region. These thick-bodied fish have large scales and a beak of fused teeth they use to diligently scrape off delicious algae from reefs and rocks. Some also eat coral, which they grind up with plate-like teeth in their throats. Researchers say parrotfish play a critical role in the health of coral reef by eating algae that can choke off coral growth. They also help replenish the white sandy beaches near these tropical reefs. How? After parrotfish digest the edible parts of coral, they excrete what's left as sand–a lot of sand. In some species, a single parrotfish can poop almost 1,000 pounds of pearly white sand each year. But never mind that–some trivia is best not to dwell on.