AMAZON RIVER - 600 MILE LONG CORAL REEF - 60 SPECIES OF SPONGES and MORE!

DAILY MAIL - MASSIVE CORAL REEF AT THE AMAZON!  link to full article!


EXCERPT:

Researchers say the find was not suspected because many of the world's great rivers produce major gaps in reef systems, where no corals grow. 

The Amazon plume, an area where freshwater from the river mixes with the salty Atlantic Ocean, affects a broad area of the tropical North Atlantic Ocean in terms of salinity, pH, light penetration and sedimentation, conditions that usually correlate to a major gap in Western Atlantic reefs. 

The researchers say the reef appears to be thriving below the freshwater 'plume', or outflow, of the Amazon. 

Compared to many other reefs, the scientists say in a paper in Science Advances on Friday, it is is relatively 'impoverished'.

Despite this, they found over 60 species of sponges, 73 species of fish, spiny lobsters, stars and much other reef life.

PRETENDING TO BE A DEEP SEA DIVER IN THE SWIMMING POOL

When I was a girl we sometimes went to a huge public swimming pool that had a big shallow section - maybe only a couple feet deep.  They provided a locker key on a band that went around your wrist or could be tied to your swim suit strap.  I preferred to have mine around my wrist because I liked to pretend that it was a watch (or some other gizmo) that I had to pay attention to so that I wouldn't run out of air as I swam down- deep sea diving.

Never mind that all it took to get air was to stand up.

The best thing about it was the imagination it took.

Never mind that mostly what I saw down in the bottom of the pool was other people swimming around, or the sometimes gooey turquoise paint.

In my mind I was looking for sunken treasure, and I don't mean some coins that fell out of a parent's pockets or a pair of lost sun glasses!

A BEAUTIFUL MERMAID"S TREASURE CHEST OF PEARLS

A BEAUTIFUL MERMAID WAITS ON HER SHELL

IT'S TIME TO DONATE YOUR OLD SWIM SUITS TO A POOL THAT PROVIDES SUITS TO LOW INCOME MERMAIDS

Last year I made use of a large public swimming pool throughout the summer.  I love this pool because it's not crowded and it doesn't do lanes, so I can freestyle all over the pool without much worry that I'll clash in a lane or accidently hit someone else while I do my thing.

Mid-season I was there when a number of children who had the money to get in but did not have proper swimming suits got turned away.  Considering how underutilized this pool is, I asked what the problem was.   I mean WHAT A SHAME that they wanted to exercise and cool off in the water on a terribly hot day. These kids wanted to swim in shorts, or maybe shorts, bra, and a T- Shirt.  These kids might actually show up showered and in clean clothes, but an official swimsuit this is not.  Frankly, much of the underwear that is sold for women these days is almost as good if not better than what is sold for swim wear.

I've bought suits at thrift stores that appeared new myself.  One season when I was swimming indoors a few times a week I experienced how fast the chlorine in the water could destroy the fabric and elastic quickly, even if I rinsed it out there and soaked it in soapy water as soon as I got home.

I brought some information on some thrift shops that seem to have swim suits for sale that appear previously unused, such as having the sanitary panel intact, to the pool.  The management there thanked me for that and said she would pass it on  I also located a nearby charity that gave clothes away for free to people once a week and brought some fliers.

Yes swim suits are INTIMATE clothing...

But if you bought a suit that you cannot wear because it no longer fits that is in very good condition, consider donating it.