THE UNIQUE TURTLE ANT

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These rare species of ants, Cephalotes varians, better known as the turtle ant has tank-like workers with heavily sclerotized head shields. They inhabit pre-existing cavities in trees and branches, a limiting resource that spurs intense competition among colonies of various tree-dwelling species. Turtle ants aren't fighters. Rather, they're all about defense. If a colony gets hold of an old beetle burrow, the heavily armored majors will plug the entrance with their head shield and sit tight, budging only to let their nest mates pass. They are literally living doors.


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AN UNBELIEVABLE AUSTRALIAN CATTLE FARM

These pictures shows one of Austalia’s biggest meat producers, S Kidman & Co Ltd, loading cattle at the Helen Springs Station, one of the company’s 13 farms. The trucks are known as ‘Road Trains’ because some of them have up to three carriages. The farms are situated in three different states and stretch over a area of 124 000 square kilometers. Kidman has up to 200 000 cattle and exports meat to Japan, America and Asia.

LEXIAGUO: AN AMAZING PLACE IN CHINA

Lexiaguo is located in the southwestern part of Kunming, 2600 f above sea level in a remote area. Because of its lack of infrastructure and inadequate transportation and lodging, most travel agencies would not think of going there. But for those who have seen the pictures of the Red land, no one can resist being attracted to its beautiful scenery. In order to promote tourism it was named Lexiaguo, meaning ‘the place where beautiful colors set.’

This extraordinary reddish brown soil is a result of oxidized iron (and various other oxidized metallic minerals). In these mountains and hills every inch of land is cultivated to the maximum causing unwanted damage to the place through erosion. That's why returning to forestry is being advocated. Different seasons, different time, different sunlight, produce different colors. The most dazzling color is just before the sun sets.

Each family owns different sizes and shapes of land and each plants its own preference of crops, creating this beautiful tableau is produced. During harvest time, the soil is turned over and exposes this unusually red color. Early in the morning, donkey-ridden carts full of harvest is transported to the town, while children are walking in the opposite direction to school.