The Miracle of Nature In the Dragon Cave, Majorca

            After traveling to the Mondrago Nature Park I decided to look at the Dragon Cave, which is located on the east coast of the Majorca island. Having early arriving I has got into the first group of visitors. I must say that is not allowed to go down into the cave by one and visitors were organized into groups.
The cave entrance was the deepening on the surface, then you go into a dark hole and see the steps leading down under the ground to a depth of 27 m. Along the walkway railings are installed, stages are lighted and tour guides were on descent turnings.

The first impression of the cave was: I've got into a magical land, with a magical forest, magical people and their king. 

 

In nature, water gets into the cave slowly with rare drops through the thickness of the earth. The drops wash out calcium of the rock and stalactites are growing from the top down.

Dripping on the cave floor the water brings calcium crystals those begin to emerge in the stalagmites those are rising from the bottom up. Stalagmites are thicker than stalactites, because the water sprayes and scatters crystals.

This miracle of nature grows very slowly, hundreds and thousands of years and if the cave is not very high, the stalagmites and stalactites grow together over time. In the Dragon cave stalactites and stalagmites are lit of different colors, from orange to cool white. 

 

When we descended down greatly, it became wet and a bit chilly. Then I remembered the advice to take a sweater or a jacket. There in depth on the right I could see small blue lakes with crystal clear water and stunning reflection of "a magic forest" in the water. I could not determine the depth of these small lakes, so the water was very clear.

On the left I saw "branches and trunks" sought to away, forming niches and arches where it was possible to see the other "plants along the road." The lighting in the cave emphasized the shapes and patterns of stalactites and stalagmites.

Going down lower and lower, I tried to take pictures of interesting colors and shapes combinations to show you the wonder of nature in this cave. Nature is generous to a surprising, not only on surface but also in depth.

Finally, a huge underground lake appeared at the bottom of the cave. The water color was turquoise, a lake was deep, with pure distilled water. I was told that its depth is 20 m.

All visitors were invited to the amphitheater at the lake and the show began. When lights had gone out, the sounds of music were heard in the darkness and silence. At first I could not see anything, but then the boat lit garland lights appeared from the far end of the lake. Music floated over the water, and I could see the musicians in a boat. It was an amazing musical concert under the ground at a depth of 27 meters!

After the concert, all interested visitors could ride on the lake in boats. The return climb up was not easy, but there were places to rest and take pictures, the exit up was in elsewhere. 

I came out to the surface a few meters from the entrance to the cave. A park with flowers, palm trees and cactus was around.

Here is my video about Dragon cave:

Natural Park In the Majorca Island

        My vacations in Majorca island have finished. I had pleasant days of the sun and the sea. In one of hot days I went to the Natural park of Mondrago, which is located to the south-east on the rocky shores of the Mediterranean. 

A lot of tourists come to the Mondrago park just to sunbathe and swim. There are two beautiful beaches in the park, with pure white sand and crystal clear water. To reach the beach from the parking they need to overcome a few tens meters of the narrow path along the rocky cliff. 

Although there is no fence along the walkway it does not scare the tourists. They boldly go with baby carriages, inflatable rafts, umbrellas and towels to enjoy the beach. I also passed with the others along the cliff to the beach, bathed in the warm emerald blue water and went to the park. The paths in the park are rocky, steeply rise up and come down. 

 

Everywhere you can see the impact of strong winds and sun on the trees. The soil is poor on the coast, limestone and fertile soil is very thin here. Environmental conditions, such as lack of rain water, the heavy sunshine, the salt in the air and strong winds determine the plant species that can survive. 

They are plants with small, stiff leaves to limit water loss due to evaporatation: rosemary (Rosemarinus officalis), mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus) and Savin (Juniperus phoenicea), pines (Pinus halepensis) and gatova or broom (Genista lucida). I liked the pine trees those lie along the shoreline, twisted by strong winds. I also found pine trees, growing as a natural bonsai, without effort of a man.

 

 

Despite the harsh conditions of survival, I saw herbs, shrubs with berries and I found amazing succulents on the dried swamp.Cones have grown on pines, berries reddened on cotoneasters, seeds matured on herbs.

 Young sprouts of pine trees were creeping along the sand beach. Life goes on! 

Here is my video about Natural park Mondrago:

The Gulf of Finland

        Yesterday I was walking along the shore of the Gulf of Finland and made some pictures. Though we are in early fall now, the sun was shining, it was warm +20 °C. On the other side of the bay new buildings were clearly visible. This is Vasilevsky Island, one of several islands in the Neva River delta.

 

An eastern part of the Baltic Sea is called the Gulf of Finland. The Neva River is very full flowing and connects the deep Ladoga lake and the Gulf of Finland. The huge mass of water gets there. 

 

There are some photos of the Gulf in my archive made ​​in winter and spring. In winter, I walked in the ice and photographed fishermen sitting and waiting for fish (here). It was very cold, but ice fishing enthusiasts were not afraid of frost.

Saint Petersburg is located on the banks of the Neva River and on the shores of the Gulf of Finland. In spring sun warmed hard and ice began to melt fast, the blocks of ice slowly swam into the Baltic Sea. 

The sand on the beach dried up and the water became clear and transparent. Buds appeared on the coastal willow trees. But the snow still stayed between the pine trees and on the sand.

On summer weekends many holiday makers come to the Gulf beaches to swim and sunbathe. Screams, laughter, music was constantly heard, they played with ball, children built castles in the sand. I love to relax on the yellow sandy shores too.  
Yesterday I met some people strolling along the beach, because the water has already cooled off for swimming.

Where do you drive to relax and bathe in a hot day? 
Is there any bay, lake, sea (not swimming pool!) near your home? 

Thank you!