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The Dallas World Aquarium is actually much more than an aquarium though it’s name suggests differently. It houses a variety of animals-mostly those from tropical areas of the world- in their natural habitat in a series of specially designed eco-systems. This makes the visitors feel as if they are walking around the world as they experience the different plant life and climate of various locations from all over the globe.
Visitors can usually choose their own path around the complex allowing them to spend more time on the animals that intrigue them the most. There are four main sections of the zoo each one representing a different eco-system. One represents the ocean and is a huge salt water aquarium, a rainforest, the South American Rainforest, a series of South African Biomes and the centerpiece is no doubt the Mundo Maya exhibit which shows the gradual progression of biomes from the Highland Rainforest to the sea of the Yucatan Gulf in Central America.
The two most interesting exhibits are the aquarium and the Mundo Maya complex though the other two are breathtaking as well. The aquarium represents the waters of four continents, three oceans and various seas; the aquarium gives a glimpse of the underwater world. The exhibit has more than 85,000 gallons (321,800 l) of saltwater with marine life from around the world. Tourists can walk through the 22,000-gallon (83,280 l) tunnel to experience a panoramic view of reef life. Many animals found at the top of the food chain can be seen in the Predators exhibit. Ten 2,000-gallon (7,571 l) displays present marine life from around the world - Palau, Southern Australia, Lord Howe Island, Solomon Islands, Fiji, Bahamas, British Columbia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Japan.
Mundo Maya is an eight-story, immersion exhibit that takes visitors from the waters of the Yucatan’s gulf coast to the highland rainforests. This great culture believed that nature did not need to be conquered or subdued. Many plants and animals were given important roles in their daily lives. The land of the ancient Maya included the countries of modern day Belize and Guatemala, the western parts of Honduras and El Salvador, and five Mexican states (Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Campeche and Chiapas).
There are of course many Dallas hotels that offer access to sights and sounds of the city and are conveniently located. The decision making factor for a tourist when staying at a hotel in Dallas would be the price, cheaper accommodation is available at a number of motels and lodges while, some star class hotels offer guests and especially business travelers with many facilities.
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Everything in life seems to be a trade-off. When trying to design a little ecologically smart beach hotel in Tulum, it gets challenging fast. Firstly there is no electricity provided along the Tulum beach. So we needed to generate and store enough power to supply our cabanas and guests, as well as the restaurant and bar.
We wanted our guests to have 24 hr electricity so they could have fans and lights and their laptops whenever they wanted. And of course we wanted refrigeration in the restaurant and bar to keep everything fresh and healthy. So we invested heaps of money in a 6kw wind turbine, with back up generator and a huge bank of batteries to store all the power we make.
Secondly we have no sewerage services along the beach. We were not prepared to just drill holes into the ground and dispose of our waste in the way that the big all-inclusive hotels do (gross!). So we invested in 2 US made bio-treatment systems that produce 99% clean water that can be used on the gardens (and yes, we tested the water to see if the claims of 99% were true…yes!). But we didn’t count on the systems needing 8 amps of power…so back to the electrical system which now needed an upgrade.
Thirdly, there is no water supply along the beach. We had to find low salt content water from a well, and then build a cistern to hold it and mix with fresh water that gets trucked in every day…what a pain.
Then we invested in putting in solar hot water heating on the roof of each cabana, but found that the water corroded all the tubing really fast. And of course the installation wasn’t done properly…so back to the drawing board on cabana solar hot water. Attempt 2 is scheduled for the fall this year. We will keep you posted.
We have just built some new gardens over in the jungle and will be growing our own organic vegetables, herbs and fruits, which is leading us into composting all the kitchen waste. And they say that recycling is just around the corner…so with a little luck we will just get more and more eco-real as time goes by. So in a nutshell it is really difficult to design a little ecologically smart beach Tulum Hotel.
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When most people think of Gran Canaria, they picture white sand beaches and azure waters. Indeed, the Canary Islands draw millions of tourists annually looking for sun and surf. However, there is more to Gran Canaria than beaches.
The island is rich in natural resources and its vast terrain tantalizes eco-adventurers of all types. The island has been designated as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO for this reason. Thanks to this special status, Gran Canaria will remain an ecological preserve for the rest of its days. It also ensures harmonious balance between nature and the interests of man.
Gran Canaria is the third largest of the Canary Islands archipelago. Located 130 miles off the African coast, it has been a Spanish territory since the 15th century. The island bears a rich history dating back to 500 B.C. This is when it was first inhabited by the Canarios. Traces of their culture still remain throughout the Canary Islands.
The island has a year-round population of about 800,000. However, tourism boosts the number closer to a million or more at any given time. Close to one half of the island’s regular residents live in the capital city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The rest of its residents are scattered throughout the island’s 21 municipalities and 1552 square kilometers.
While its beaches may be its top tourist draw, Gran Canaria is also known for its breathtaking volcanoes. In fact, the island itself is of volcanic origin. Its numerous fissure vents make this fact evident to visitors and residents alike.
An aerial view reveals that volcanic craters or calderas dot the surface of the island. One of these is the Caldera de Bandama, dating back to 20 B.C. Though it is one of the island’s smaller ones, the caldera covers a staggering one kilometer and a depth of 200 meters. Originally a double cinder cone, the caldera formed later on. Caldera de los Marteles is another of the island’s astounding sites. This crater formed over 100,000 years ago and now appears as a lush, green circular field.
Additional ecological gems include the island’s 290 caves located in the Cenobio de Valeron. This preserve is actually a massive basaltic arch. Inside, early setters known as the Guanche excavated caves and cubicles. These excavations still stand after centuries of time.
The caves, once a storage area for the Guanche, are now a major piece of Gran Canaria’s history. Cueva Pintada is another of the island’s famous caves. It may be the most important seat of Guanche history.
Located in the town of Galdar, it was once the center for ancient rulers. Its spectacular paintings gave the cave its name. Because of erosion the cave was closed to the public several years ago. However, tourists can visit the cave virtually at the Cueva Pintada museum. They can also view artifacts recovered from inside the caves’ many rooms.
Gran Canaria is a treasure trove of mountains, sand dunes and ancient monoliths. The terrain is diverse and offers opportunities for sightseeing by automobile, bicycle and foot.
Its dozens of species of protected flora and fauna beckon nature-lovers of all types. Holidaymakers looking for a unique eco-tourism experience won’t be disappointed with a Gran Canaria holiday.
