Department of Geography- Earth Science 2015 Faculty/Staff/Alum

Department of GeographyEarth Science
2015
Faculty/Staff/Alum Photo
Contest Entries
Submit votes on-line at:
http://www.ship.edu/Geo-ESS/PhotoContest/
Voting closes on Friday November 27!
Photo 1
Mendenhall Glacier is located within the Tongass National Forest of Southeast Alaska, near
the city of Juneau. Mendenhall Glacier Recreational Area provides opportunities for
camping, fishing, hiking, and more. This photo was taken in February of 2015 on the icedover Mendenhall Lake, which is a product of the retreating glacier. Since the lake was
created in 1958, Mendenhall Glacier has retreated 1.75 miles. Glaciers all over the world tell
the tale of modern day climate change effects.
Photo 2
The Tongass National Forest, which encompasses most of Southeast Alaska, is the largest
national forest in the United States. Harbor Mountain Recreation Area is one of the crown
jewels of the Tongass, located in Sitka. This photo was taken in December of 2014 on top of
Harbor Mountain overlooking the town of Sitka as well as the surrounding ocean, islands,
and other mountain peaks. The base of Harbor Mountain begins at sea level in a temperate
rainforest and rises 1900 feet to sub-alpine meadows. The mountain summit is accessible via
hiking trail or vehicle, which allows people of different skill levels to enjoy this incredible
view.
Photo 3
Denali National Park and Preserve, located in Interior Alaska, encompasses over 6 million
acres of land. The Savage Alpine Trail was the location for this stunning view in June of 2015.
Take note of the only road within the park, which runs for 92 miles. The park offers diverse
wildlife opportunities. In a single afternoon one can see moose, ptarmigans, caribou, arctic
ground squirrels, and bears. Denali National Park and Preserve allows people of different
comfort levels to connect with nature while hiking, driving, camping, or animal viewing.
After establishing personal relationships with wild places, people are more likely to become
future advocates for those places.
Photo 4
Considered to be the stoutest tree in the world, Arbol del Tule is located east of the capital
city of Oaxaca, in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. It is approximately 2,000 years old,
100 feet tall, and has a circumference of 140 feet. This rural area is urbanizing rapidly and the
extensive excavating has caused the loss of large portions of the tree root system. Further
stressed by drought it is unknown how much longer this tree will live.
Photo 5
Located two hours east of the capital city of Oaxaca, in the southern Mexican state of
Oaxaca, Hierve el Agua is sits within an arid landscape that is topographically rugged. On this
site a natural springs emerge through cracks in the sedimentary rocks. As the water flows it
leaves behind deposits of calcium-carbonate. The area has become a major tourist
attraction, but the majority of the ticket fees do not reach the people of the local villages.
Photo 6
This pre-Columbian archeological site sits atop the mountain ridge that overlooks the capital
city of Oaxaca, in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca. From 100 BCE to 200 CE Monte
Alban was the apex of this Zapotec urban center with a population of 17,000. By 1,000 CE the
site was largely abandoned due to rival cities within the Zapotec region. As the city of
Oaxaca continues to sprawl up the mountain slopes from the valley, this ancient site is under
threat.
Photo 7
This is a picture of a Barred Owl perched on a dead tree in Clarks Valley near Clarks Creek in
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. This photo was taken in July 2015 on a late summer
afternoon. This area borders the Pennsylvania State game lands, verifying that protection of
the land is allowing native species to thrive in their natural habitat and promote and support
biodiversity.
Photo 8
This picture shows stunning waves breaking along the coast of Curaçao during the
Shippensburg University Curaçao Trip in January 2015. This photo was taken at Shete Boka
Park, which is located on the windward side of Curaçao and is the cause of the large waves.
Photo 9
This photograph shows a beautiful fall sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean in Dewey Beach,
Delaware. A seagull flying in the sky adds to the peaceful morning. This picture was taken in
late October 2015 at sunrise.
Photo 10
Accessed by motorbike via an old, rickety suspension bridge, the Blue Lagoon is located on
the remote island of Nusa Ceningan, Indonesia. Warning signs indicate waves can reach the
40 foot eroding cliffs above. The pictured conditions make for the perfect thrill-seekers
dream. Good luck climbing out if you make the plunge!
-August 23, 2015
Photo 11
Known for its reputation as being the slower version of Bali, the island of Nusa Lembongan
offers postcard beaches and tropical turquoise waters. Adventurous SCUBA divers can
make the trek to explore the world renowned diving sites, including Mangrove Point,
located off the north shore of Mangrove Beach. A variety of magnificent aquatic life and
stunning corals can be seen in this mid-morning underwater shot.
-August 22, 2015
Photo 12
Nestled amongst the expansive rolling hills on the North Island of New Zealand, MiddleEarth, or “The Shire” from Sir Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings is home to Frodo
Baggins and fellow Hobbits alike. Hobbiton, as it is known to locals, was originally designed
to be returned to its natural habitat; however, after the set was revisited for the film The
Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, permanent materials were used to construct the set seen
here.
- September 18, 2015
Photo 13
Sloth at Centro de Rescate Jaguar, Costa Rica
This three-toed sloth was rescued and is being rehabilitated for release into the wild. The
Jaguar Center is located in Puerto Viejo de Talamanca on the east coast of Costa Rica. Sloths
are ubiquitous in Costa Rica and consequently often come into contact with humans and are
injured or abandoned by their mothers.
Photo 14
Snow Hiking in Red Rock State Park, Sedona, AZ.
The landscape and red rocks of Sedona are comprised of a variety of sandstones. The town
of Sedona sits at 4500 feet above sea level with some of the surrounding rock features
towering hundreds to thousands of feet above this. The contrast of fresh white snow and
sunlit red rocks makes for a particularly spectacular landscape.
Photo 15
"Bubble Bob" Aberrant Saguaro Cactus, Scottsdale, AZ
This picture was taken at a ranch in Scottsdale while on horseback. Aberrant cacti are very
rare and are formed by abnormal cell growth similar to cancer but not deadly.
Photo 16
M-185 (84°36'33"W, 45°51'44"N, WGS84; looking north)
M-185 is a state highway in Michigan that is the perimeter route around Mackinac Island.
The locals claim that it is the only state highway in the nation that prohibits motor vehicles
and allows only bicycles and horses. Pictured here is a view taken from M-185, looking
northward across Lake Huron, and capturing distant storms.
Photo 17
Cabot Head Bay I (81°17'53"W, 45°14'36"N, WGS84; looking north)
Cabot Head Bay is a small and the northernmost natural harbor on Ontario's Bruce
Peninsula. It is the last safe harbor for vessels sailing northward across the great Georgian
Bay. Pictured here are nine small boats that found safety during stormy weather the night
before but were then waiting for a wind to carry them across the bay.
Photo 18
Cabot Head Bay II (81°17'53"W, 45°14'36"N, WGS84; looking west) Cabot Head Bay is a small
and the northernmost natural harbor on Ontario's Bruce Peninsula. It is the last safe harbor
for vessels sailing from northward across the great Georgian Bay. Pictured here are two of
nine small boats that found safety during stormy weather the night before but were waiting
for a wind to carry them across the bay.
Photo 19
Salt Marsh, Corolla, North Carolina
The Currituck Banks is a relatively natural area of the Outer Banks barrier islands that
includes a very peaceful low-salinity estuary. The natural area is large enough to get away
from the typical Outer Banks crowds and experience waterfowl, shorebirds, and upland
wildlife interacting in this beautiful coastal setting.
Photo 20
Navarro River, California
The Navarro River empties into the Pacific Ocean in Mendocino County, northern California.
The river supports once-abundant and now-endangered runs of coho salmon and steelhead
trout. During summer low discharge, shown in this photo, there is insufficient flow to
breach the sand bar at the river’s mouth and migrating fish must wait for winter storms and
floods to erode the bar, opening the winter runs and spawning season.
Photo 21
Hall Quarry, Mount Desert Island, Maine
Hall Quarry produced granite building stone during the late 19th and early 20th centuries,
including to the US Mint in Philadelphia. Blocks of stone were moved by oxen to schooners
on Somes Sound (shown in the distance), a fjord that provides a deep-water port and access
to the Atlantic.
Photo 22
Arriving in Tirta Gangga (Water of the Ganges) – a small village on the east coast of Bali, it is
impossible to ignore the spectacular views of mountainous rice terracing. Not only
mesmerizing, this exquisite landscape is an important part of Indonesia’s national economy,
especially in Bali. In fact, Indonesia is the third-largest producer of rice in the world! These
terraces are also deeply rooted within cultural, traditional, and ecological practices of the
areas. A key ingredient to a successful rice terrace is water, the majority of it coming from
surface run-off and ground water aquifers. Over time, unique systems have been developed
to manage these water resources for rice cultivation, being carefully balanced by strategic
seepage, evaporation, and rainfall. The higher elevated paddies seep water to lower levels,
recycling, rejuvenating, and replenishing the lower paddies. Unfortunately, climate change is
expected to increase rainfall intensities, lengthening the dry seasons and ultimately resulting
in shortages of water supplies, landslide and erosion disasters, and terrace collapses. When
entire villages rely on this farming technique to provide for their families, it is imperative to
conserve these locations, while maintaining environmentally responsible practices.
August 7, 2015 - Tirta Gangga, Bali, Indonesia
Photo 23
Just outside Rotorua, New Zealand, nicknamed "The Sulphur City", lies a geothermal park
named Wai-O-Tapu, emitting a pungent "rotten egg smell". (After looking at the photo and
using your imagination, I bet you can guess why!) Although pungent, the smell is a constant
reminder of the geothermal activity below, shaping this magnificent region for thousands of
years. Various minerals have dissolved in the water while underground after being naturally
heated via geothermal heat. This particular photo highlights sulphur deposits at a bubbling
geothermal hotspring.
September 16, 2015 - Rotorua, New Zealand
Photo 24
Mount Agung (Gunung Agung), standing at 3,031 meters, is the highest point on the island
of Bali. Dominating the surrounding area and influencing the climate, it is no wonder that
the Balinese believe that it is a representation of the central axis of the universe. Although
active, this stratovolcano has not erupted since 1963, killing more than 1,000 people and
destroying several villages; however, it continues to bellow smoke and ash from time to
time. Normally covered by clouds, I was fortunate to capture this beautiful sunset with a
clear view of the mountain, while combing the black sandy beaches of northern Bali for sea
glass.
August 20, 2015 - Amed, Bali, Indonesia
Photo 25
This view across Llyn Peris near the village of Llanberis in northern Wales, UK highlights the
rugged landscape that is characteristic of this area. The lake itself is an example of a
moraine-dammed lake and now it is a component of a pumped-storage hydroelectric system
that serves the Llanberis region.
Photo 26
The Laxey Wheel, dubbed the Lady Isabella, has a diameter of over 72 feet and is the largest
working waterwheel in the world. Located on the Isle of Man, UK, the waterwheel was
constructed in 1854 to pump water from a part of the ‘Great Laxey Mines’ industrial
complex, known for its lead, copper, silver and zinc deposits.
Photo 27
This photo highlights two of the main economic activities in the Snowdon Mountain region
of northwest Wales, UK: tourism and agriculture. The Snowdon Mountain Railway is a
narrow gauge rack and pinion tourist railway that travels almost 5 miles from Llanberis to
the summit of Snowdon, the highest peak in England and Wales. Sheep farming is a major
economic activity in Wales, which is known for several unique species, such as this White
Welsh Mountain ewe, that were bred to produce milk, meat, and fleece.