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ARTICLES ON ECOLOGY, NATURE,
AND TRAVEL
(Click on titles or photos to view articles.)
NEW ARTICLE
Where Have All the Fish Gone?
As early as the end of the last century, the experts felt that the fisheries were inexhaustible – and it would be useless to try and regulate them. It only goes to show you how wrong we can be.
Seafood consumption has never been at an all time high as it has been now, and Nature magazine published recently that a scientific assessment of our fisheries shows that if we don’t do something now to correct the problem of
overfishing, commercial seafood will be gone by the year 2050. read more
Diving with Mantas, Sharks, Dolphins and Whales
I recently had a chance to go to a place where we had the pleasure of diving with all of the above, often on the same dive!
I am talking of a remote place, 250 miles SW of the tip of Baja – the Revillegegedos - more commonly known as the Socorro Islands. These are largely uninhabited islands-
volcanic outcroppings in the Pacific. Only the largest island, Socorro, supports a Mexican Naval Base. It is what is underwater that
attracts the few hardy divers to these islands- accessible only by liveaboard dive boat.read more
Thoughts for the New Year 2006
Another year has flown by, and the speed at which this happening every year seems to accelerate exponentially. It makes me more aware of how little time is left to accomplish the goals I have set so many years ago….read more
The Return of Orange Lake, Lake Lochloosa and
Cross Creek - 2005
After so many years of drought with associated dropping aquifer levels that allowed sinkholes to open and reduce our lakes to dry mud
holes in a few short weeks, it is my great pleasure to inform you that the lakes are back!
I did not believe, in my lifetime, that I would see our waterways return to what they once were. However, in the late summer and early fall of 2004, Florida had four hurricanes sweep the state....read more
Myakka River State Park
Many times, after doing my eco and dive tours here in North Central Florida,
clients are excited about doing the same kind of thing in other areas of the state they will be visiting.
I am finding little (and big) treasures all over the state of Florida, and if you are ever on the west coast near Venice and Sarasota,
the Myakka River State Park is a must. A short hop from Tampa, near Sarasota, just 9 miles east of I75 on Rt 72
(exit 205) is one of the largest and most diverse state parks in the Florida Park system, developed by the CCC in
1934.
There are 2 shallow lakes, which makes kayaking, canoeing, fishing, birding,
and wildlife observation popular activities. Read about the "25 things to do" in the Myakka River State Park...read more
Orange Lake Revisited - August 2003
When I wrote about Orange Lake 2 years ago, we were in the midst
of a 5-year drought. This past year of 2002 –2003 has seen rainfall getting back to the more
normal levels of years past, with rain almost every day. This summer, we have even exceeded
our normal rainfall levels in many areas. For the past few months, we have watched Orange
Lake’s water level start to rise...read more
ARTICLE
A Day in the Life of the Silver River
Take a tour of the Silver River with Captain Peggy.
Beginning at the headwaters of the Silver Springs Attraction, this first magnitude spring
joins others to form the Silver River – winding about 6 miles through jungle, cypress and
forest to join with the Ocklawaha River. The pure clear water attracts wildlife –many
species of birds, alligators, turtles, raccoons, monkeys, otter, armadillos, bobcat, deer,
hog and even turkeys! Underwater, you will see bream, bass, mullet, gar, diving birds
(like the anhinga and cormorant), and if you are very, very lucky, maybe even an alligator!
A unique treasure that is in our backyard – a few hours on her waters will renew your soul. Find out
what we experienced on a day on the Silver River...read more
Steinhatchee - The Spirit of Old Florida
If you are not interested in animated mice and
neon lights, but prefer the smell of salt air, fantastic sunsets,
canoeing or kayaking on quiet rivers
and creeks, fishing, boating, diving, bird watching, biking and hiking,
then you need to check out this little jewel on the Gulf of Mexico. The little fishing
village of Steinhatchee not only offers these activities, but has great seafood for the
palate. One of the "must visits" is the Steinhatchee Landing Resort, dedicated to recapturing
the spirit of old Florida. Another is the Steinhatchee Outpost for the more adventurous camper,
canoer/kayaker and ecotourist.
Read about this exciting place of peace, beauty, quiet, and endless photographic opportunities
on the Nature Coast...read more
THOUGHTS FOR THE NEW MILLENIUM
A more cynical view of the
future as we go into the next 1000 years....read more
BIRDING TRAILS COULD HELP
LOCAL ECONOMIES
Birding trails are  worth a lot of money for communities.
Birders "flock" to local hotels, restaurants, and stores that sell
equipment for outdoor travel. See how you can set up birding trails
in your area...read more
Roseate
Spoonbill
ORANGE LAKE’S LAST GASP
 Cross Creek
connects Orange Lake with Lake Lochloossa - because of a 3 year
drought, and a sinkhole that reopened in Orange Lake, this beautiful
creek (of Marjorie Kinnans Rawlings fame) - no longer exists...read more
Canoers on Cross Creek
KAYAKING ON BLACKWATER CREEK
 The Blackwater Creek runs about 22 miles
into the Wekiva - meandering its dark, tea
colored water through the 22,000 acre Seminole Forest. It is
one of the most remote Kayakers on Blackwater Creek
areas in
Florida,
yet it is very near to one of the
most populated -Orlando!...read more
THE BEST OF FLORIDA IS
UNDERWATER
The treasures and jewels of our springs and rivers in North
Central Florida - Diving, canoeing, snorkeling...
How long some of these special places will be here for us to
enjoy remains to be seen. It is up to all of us to look to the
future and work to ensure that we don’t destroy all these precious
water sources. Cities like Tampa and Miami are already looking to
this area to extract our fresh water for their uses. Only when they
take all the fresh water for the masses of people moving in, will
they look to the reusable sources of water right at their
doorstep...but by then it will be too late...read more
Without water, we all die.....
Please feel free to respond to any of the
articles, and if you have news you wish to share, please email me at
pgoldberg@goldenimages-photo-scuba.com
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