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Photo of The Day - National Geographic
March 28, 2013 Three Sisters Springs, Florida Photograph by Paul Nicklen, National GeographicThis Month in Photo of the Day: National Geographic Magazine Features Kayaks crowd Three Sisters Springs, where people and manatees maintain a controversial coexistence. To reach the warm water they need to survive winter, manatees often must run a gantlet of kayakers and snorkelers eager to interact with the marine mammals. 카약들이 Three Sisters Springs에 꽉 들어차 있다. 이곳은 사람과 海牛(Manatee)들이 논쟁 속에 공존을 유지하고 있는 곳이다. 해우들이 겨울을 나기위해 따뜻한 이 연못에 이르기 위해서는 해우들과 만나고 싶어 안달하는 줄선 카약커들과 스노클잠수부들 사이를 비집고 헤엄쳐야 한다. ...translated by 순둥이.
동영상을 보시려면 상단 중앙의 배경음악은 잠시 꺼주세요.
Swimming with Florida manatees Endangered Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) are present in Kings Bay's warm, spring-fed waters year-round; in winter, though, their numbers swell substantially as they seek refuge from the Gulf of Mexico's chilly waters. Crystal River operators offer swimming/snorkelling tours to sites such as Three Sisters Springs, where clear waters provide a magnificent opportunity to view these aquatic mammals in their natural habitat. In March 2012, the US Fish and Wildlife Service established a manatee refuge in the waters of Kings Bay, including its tributaries and connected waters. Prohibited activities include: (i) Chasing or pursuing manatees (ii) Disturbing or touching a resting or feeding manatee(s). (iii) Diving from the surface onto a resting or feeding manatee(s). (iv) Cornering or surrounding or attempting to corner or surround a manatee(s). (v) Riding, holding, grabbing, or pinching or attempting to ride, hold, grab, or pinch a manatee(s). (vi) Poking, prodding, or stabbing or attempting to poke, prod, or stab a manatee(s) with anything, including your hands and feet. (vii) Standing on or attempting to stand on a manatee(s). (viii) Separating a mother and calf or attempting to separate a mother and calf. (ix) Separating a manatee(s) from a group or attempting to separate a manatee(s) from a group. (x) Giving a manatee(s) anything to eat or drink or attempting to give a manatee(s) anything to eat or drink. (xi) Actively initiating contact with a belted and/or tagged manatee(s) and associated gear, including any belts, harnesses, tracking devices, or antennae. (xii) Interfering with rescue and research activities.
Three Sisters Springs (Florida) Three Sisters Springs are located on the Crystal River, in Florida, USA. They are in a natural inlet on the east side of Kings Bay. They contain three spring areas that contain many sand boils and vents. The land surrounding the springs is privately owned property and there is no landfall or boat tie up permitted, the only access to the springs is blocked by concrete posts to stop the boats from entering. only kayaks, canoes, and swimmers are permitted in the area. Three Sisters Springs is also home to many of the local manatees and is one of the Crystal Rivers group of sanctuaries. Three Sisters springs is also accessible by land. The land around Three Sisters was acquired in 2010 and is currently open to the public only on certain dates. In adherence to the mission of protecting and preserving the manatee and its habitat, the areas around the springs have been designated Manatee Sanctuaries and are closed to all humans from November 15 through March 31. Visitors can still visit and view the manatees in their natural setting, however, from boats or in the water outside of those sanctuary boundaries. Many dive shops and marinas in the Town of Crystal River offer manatee tours and cater to the needs of divers and snorkelers. - from Wikipedia 海牛-매너티(Manatee)
▲카리브해매너티(Trichechus manatus)
뚱뚱한 몸은 점차 가늘어져 둥근 지느러미(flipper)로 끝난다. 앞다리는 머리에 근접한 지느러미이고, 뒷다리는 없다. 머리는 다소 작고 주둥이는 4각형이며 강모(剛毛)가 나 있다. 성체는 몸길이가 2.5~4.5m이고, 몸무게는 거의 700㎏에 달한다. 매너티는 천천히 움직이는 동물로 얕은 연안가, 강어귀, 흐름이 느린 강에서 수중식물들을 먹는다. 단독으로 또는 작은 가족단위로 생활하는데 때로는 15~20마리가 무리를 짓기도 한다. 한 무리 내 개체들은 주둥이를 비벼 빈번하게 의사를 소통하고, 위급할 때는 날카로운 소리를 낸다. 시력은 상당히 약하다. 현재는 3종 모두 수가 감소하고 있다. 카리브해 매너티(T. manatus)는 플로리다에 서식하는데, 미국 북서쪽의 대서양 연안과 멕시코 만 인근, 카리브 해 연안에서 남아메리카 북부에 이르는 지역에도 드물게 살고 있다. 남아메리카매너티(T. inunguis)는 아마존 강과 오리노코 강 유역에 분포하는데, 〈적색자료목록 Red Data Book〉에 따르면 멸종위기 종에 해당된다. 아프리카매너티(T. senegalensis)는 서아프리카 열대지역의 강에서 살고 있다. 성체일 경우 매너티는 천적이 없다. 그러나 어떤 지역에서는 가죽·고기·기름을 얻으려는 인간에게 사냥되고 있다. 보트(boat)의 교통량이 많을 때는 때로 보트의 프로펠러 때문에 상처를 입거나 죽기도 한다. 수계에 자라는 수중식물을 제거하기 위해서 이들을 법으로 보호하기도 한다. 매너티는 근연(近緣)인 듀공과 더불어 인어(人魚)의 전설을 탄생시킨 동물이다. -출처: 브리태니커 |