WARRIORS

Warriors, originalmente cargada por sarihuella.

Protecting themselves from the swine influenza,
without losing their style.

WARRIORS

CAVE OF THE MARBLES

Cave Pearls from Gruta De Las Canicas,
Tabasco, Mexico

Cave pearls are relatively common in caves, but are typically present in very low abundance. Gruta de las Canicas, a cave system developed in Cretaceous carbonates in Tabasco, Mexico, is highly unusual in that it contains a tremendous quantity of pearls (estimated 200 million pearls found on the cave floor to a depth of a meter or more). The mechanism for the formation of this vast quantity of pearls has not been determined. Here we provide the first report of the mineralogy, texture and chemistry of the Canicas pearls. The pearls were studied using standard optical petrographic and geochemical methods (electron microprobe and stable isotopes). The pearls can be subdivided into three distinct zones based upon cement texture, presence of impurities, and porosity. Clay-rich zones are enriched in clay-sized non-carbonate material, and typically contain little to no porosity. Cement-rich, non-porous zones contain mainly radially oriented spar, with lesser amounts of microspar, and also have little to no porosity. Cement-rich porous zones are similar to the non-porous zones, but contain up to 50% porosity, with the pores elongated in a radial manner parallel to the radial spar crystals. The three zone types alternate concentrically in an apparently random manner. Electron microprobe analysis indicates that the carbonate is extremely pure low-Mg calcite (99.4 – 99.8 % CaCO3), with only minor substitution of Mg, and to a lesser extend Mn, Fe, and Sr for Ca in the calcite structure. A microprobe traverse detected no statistically significant variation in elemental composition from pearl center to edge. Microprobe analysis of the non-carbonate clay sized material in the pearls shows that a variety of minerals are present, including quartz and apatite. The abundance and distribution of porosity suggests that a more soluble phase (e.g., aragonite, organic matter) was removed by dissolution.

http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2008AM/finalprogram/abstract_150967.htm

"Las Canicas" Cave

Spectacular caverns full of little and rounded stones like spheres. They are made of calcite.
To visit you need to have a special equipment and to contact a specialized guide.

http://www.tourbymexico.com/tabasco/route/route.htm

CAVE OF THE MARBLES

ORGULLO DE MÉXICO

Dr. Jesús Estudillo López

Jesús Estudillo López is Professor Emeritus of ornithology at the Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM). A renowned expert on avian conservation, he is credited with the discovery of an exceptionally rare species of cracids, which are now known as Crax estudilloi in his honor. Dr. Estudillo López is the only person who has successfully bred resplendent quetzals in captivity.

The Quetzal, a bird native to the cloud forests of Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama, undoubtedly possesses a profound symbolic significance: the Maya considered it a sacred bird, kings wore headdresses made from tail feathers, such as the one used by Moctezuma.

Until a few years ago it was believed that by its nature, Pharamachrus mocinno-the quetzal’s scientific name, which means "large throat" - could not survive in captivity; however, a Mexican ornithologist, specializing in the diseases and physiology of birds and currently director of Programa de Conservación de especies de la Universidad Nacional de México (Program for the Conservation of Species of the Universidad Nacional de Mexico) has proven otherwise. After a long time of investigating the metabolism and behavior of these birds, Jesus Estudillo Lopez was able to hatch and rear several individuals in captivity, with this perhaps preventing the extinction of the species.

The first step was to break with a series of speculations about the impossibility of their survival outside their natural habitat. This was assumed because their relationship to their natural habitat was unknown. Because of their extreme fragility no mistakes could be allowed. Since they become stressed very easily, they require an extensive site where they can fly and feel protected.

In a greenhouse 50x40m and 8m high, Estudillo, created a replica of the Chimalapas a forest located between the Mexican states of Oaxaca and Chiapas, where a few individuals still live. Some plants were introduced from the region such as bromeliads, orchids, tree ferns and lichens. Here the quetzals share space with other species that live in areas with the same natural conditions such as pavón, a native of Chiapas, and the imperial dove from New Geneva, among others.

The hand of the Mexican ornithologist Jesus Estudillo feeding one of the quetzals in captivity, taken on "La Siberia", a 25 acre farm which has the largest private aviary in the world, home to approximately 600 bird species.

The research carried out by the scientist concluded with the following observation: the quetzals drink water that accumulates in bromeliads and orchids; they never leave the jungle and almost never drink water from the ground- only in times of drought when it accumulates in the hollows of the leaf covered ground when the water contains tannin, also known as tannic acid, that acts as an iron neutralizer.

It was decided to suppress the iron from their diet, occasionally adding a few drops of tannic acid to the water and to compensate the necessary proteins by the consumption of grasshoppers, crickets, beetles, infant mice and seasonal fruits such as guava, mango , papaya, etc.

The fundamental causes threatening the quetzal with extinction are attributed to its low rate of reproduction, and to the fact that they are very fragile. The chicks have a short period of incubation-between 18 to 19 days- thus, they are born in a precarious condition, without feathers and their eyes taking from 8 to 10 days to open. During this time they are fed by their parents and are very exposed to natural enemies such as the toucan and magpie. The adult quetzal has neither a strong beak nor claws to defend their young.

With the increase of predators and the changes that man has brought upon their environment in recent years, the quetzal population has notably diminished.

However, Jesus Estudillo, is optimistic: although the challenges are great, the results obtained so far are positive.

It is worth the effort, for their great beauty and for all that they represent. And remember that among the Maya and the Aztec quetzal feathers were used as an emblem of royalty and majesty. He who dared to kill a quetzal was punished by death. The tail of the male quetzal was more valuable than gold. It definitely possesses an incalculable cultural value.

http://mati.eas.asu.edu/Quetzal/Breakthr/BJesEstLo.html

http://www.gattostock.com/FVIAJE/reportaje/quetzales/quetzal1.html


Translation by G. S. Hinton H.

ORGULLO DE MÉXICO

PANORÁMICA DE TEOTIHUACAN

Panorámica de Teotihuacan, originalmente cargada por bdebaca.

The name teōtīhuacān was given by the Nahuatl-speaking Aztec centuries after the fall of the city. The term has been glossed as 'birthplace of the gods,' reflecting Nahua creation myths that took place in Teotihuacán. Another translation was offered by Thelma Sullivan, who interprets the name as "place of those who have the road of the gods." The name is pronounced [teotiˈwakan] in Nahuatl, with the accent on the syllable wa, and by normal Nahuatl orthographic conventions a written accent would not appear in that position. Both this pronunciation and [teotiwaˈkan] are used, and both spellings appear in this article.

The original name of the city is unknown, but it appears in hieroglyphic texts from the Maya region as 'puh', or "Place of Reeds". This suggests that the Maya of the Classic period understood Teotihuacan as a 'Place of Reeds' similar to other Postclassic Central Mexican settlements that took the name 'Tollan,' such as Tula-Hidalgo and Cholula. This naming convention led to much confusion in the early 20th century as scholars debated whether Teotihuacan or Tula-Hidalgo was the Tollan described by 16th–century chronicles. It now seems clear that 'Tollan' may be understood as a generic term applied to any large settlement. In the Mesoamerican concept of urbanism, Tollan and other language equivalents serve as a metaphor, linking the bundles of reeds and rushes that formed part of the lacustrine environment of the Valley of Mexico and the large gathering of people in a city.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teotihuacan

PANORÁMICA DE TEOTIHUACAN

NAHUALES

Nahuales, originalmente cargada por Valentina Gori.

NAHUALES

EL TEMPLO DE KUKULKAN

El Templo de Kukulkan, originalmente cargada por Aleksu.

Also referred to as "El Castillo" (The Castle), the Templo de Kukulkan (Kukulkan's Temple) is the main structure at the Mayan ceremonial center of Chichen Itza.

Recently named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, this amazing building is in fact a computer made of stone, for the Mayan scientists, mathematicians and astronomers applied all their vast knowledge in its structure.

This angle I present on this picture is the one where the Equinox phenomenon known as "The Descent of Kukulkan" takes place both for the spring and the fall.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Castillo%2C_Chichen_Itza

EL TEMPLO DE KUKULKAN