Philosophy
Jules Verne wrote a book called Mysterious Island complete with strange creatures and the wet dock for Captain Nemo's Nautilus. Today a new island has been formed with less than monstrous creatures and being invaded by the human species.
In January of 2009, a hellish storm packing 125-mile per hour winds raked the Gironde estuary in western France, whipped the sea into a frenzy, leveled trees on land, and killed 26 people.
And in its wake, a strange new island was born.
Storms often pile sand and sediment high enough to form small protrusions from the waves -- but they are usually swept away by tides or the next squall. But this island is something else; its 11 acres (250 at low tide) are still intact after weathering another fierce storm, cyclone Xynthia, earlier this year. Locals call it "l'ile mysterieuse" -- "the mysterious island," after the Jules Verne novel -- but it remains officially unnamed, and does not appear on any maps.
But scientists have ventured out to the island, watching fascinated as plants, birds, insects, and other life forms colonize its pristine shores. According to an article in The Guardian today:
"So far, we've recorded the appearance of 12 different plant species, and some 30 invertebrates, of which about a third have a sustainable existence on the island," said Jean-Marc Thirion, an environmental scientist who heads local conservation group OBIOS. "The resident invertebrates feed off the rejections of sea gulls and on tiny flies that themselves are finding food in the clumps of sea rocket," he added.
Thirion has even discovered spiders, which he deduces were wind-born, and ants, probably carried on flotsam.
"You would normally only get the chance to record all these developments with a volcanic creation, and I can't think of anywhere else in Europe where an opportunity like this has occurred in recent history."
There's just one problem: people are so transfixed by the island that tourists are flocking to it. A rave was even held there. Needless to say, this doesn't bode well for newly-established wildlife.
Local activists are struggling to get it protected. But the entire estuary is due to become a protected zone next year, which would include the still unnamed stretch of land.
Jules Verne's Mysterious Island [Audio Book]
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Philosophy
France's "Mysterious Island"...endangered
Jules Verne wrote a book called Mysterious Island complete with strange creatures and the wet dock for Captain Nemo's Nautilus. Today a new island has been formed with less than monstrous creatures and being invaded by the human species.
"France's 'Mysterious Island' Now Threatened by Ravers"
by
Michael Reilly
August 13th, 2010
Discovery News
by
Michael Reilly
August 13th, 2010
Discovery News
In January of 2009, a hellish storm packing 125-mile per hour winds raked the Gironde estuary in western France, whipped the sea into a frenzy, leveled trees on land, and killed 26 people.
And in its wake, a strange new island was born.
Storms often pile sand and sediment high enough to form small protrusions from the waves -- but they are usually swept away by tides or the next squall. But this island is something else; its 11 acres (250 at low tide) are still intact after weathering another fierce storm, cyclone Xynthia, earlier this year. Locals call it "l'ile mysterieuse" -- "the mysterious island," after the Jules Verne novel -- but it remains officially unnamed, and does not appear on any maps.
But scientists have ventured out to the island, watching fascinated as plants, birds, insects, and other life forms colonize its pristine shores. According to an article in The Guardian today:
"So far, we've recorded the appearance of 12 different plant species, and some 30 invertebrates, of which about a third have a sustainable existence on the island," said Jean-Marc Thirion, an environmental scientist who heads local conservation group OBIOS. "The resident invertebrates feed off the rejections of sea gulls and on tiny flies that themselves are finding food in the clumps of sea rocket," he added.
Thirion has even discovered spiders, which he deduces were wind-born, and ants, probably carried on flotsam.
"You would normally only get the chance to record all these developments with a volcanic creation, and I can't think of anywhere else in Europe where an opportunity like this has occurred in recent history."
There's just one problem: people are so transfixed by the island that tourists are flocking to it. A rave was even held there. Needless to say, this doesn't bode well for newly-established wildlife.
Local activists are struggling to get it protected. But the entire estuary is due to become a protected zone next year, which would include the still unnamed stretch of land.
Jules Verne's Mysterious Island [Audio Book]
- The Meaning Of The Statue Of Liberty
Today is the 125th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. Like the Colossus of Rhodes, the giant depiction of the Roman goddess of Liberty stands at the harbor entrance to send a message to those arriving. The proximity of Liberty Island to Ellis Island...
- Easter Island, Judgment, And Mechanical Tools
Gwydion asks, "Are there hotels on Easter Island? Can you travel there as a tourist and spend a night or two? How expensive is it?" Easter Island with its famous stone heads is one of the most remote places on Earth, requiring a 5 1/2 hour flight from...
- Impey Barbicane And Jules Verne
Impey Barbicane From the Earth to the Moon Jules Verne February 8th, 1828 to March 24th, 1905 Impey Barbicane? Yes, Impey Barbicane...the hero, who having determined that a projectile can be fired to the moon, moves to Florida and constructs the...
- Strange, Old Global Maps
"Strange Maps" California as an island, utopia in the shape of a skull, and other cartographic curiosities. by Frank Jacobs November. 30th, 2009 Slate "Strange Maps"...
- Verne...astronomy And Astronomers
Here is a short paper discussing Jules Verne's relationship with astronomy and astronomers. Abstract: Almost all the Voyages Extraordinaires written by Jules Verne refer to astronomy. In some of them, astronomy is even the leading theme. However,...