January 21, 2019- National Geographic Venture
Last night we found ourselves staring up in awe at Earth’s satellite. This was a special occurrence as the shadow of our planet eclipsed the moon and produced a reddish light. This coincided with a supermoon and the Full Wolf Moon, thus creating a "Super Blood Wolf Moon". This rare event happens only once every couple of years. Entranced by this sight, some of us awoke less rested than others.
The next morning, we were underway to Isla Magdalena and taking in scenes of desert and sea combining in perfect synchrony. Activities began with a hike across the sandy isthmus of Isla Magdalena for a peak at the open Pacific Ocean. We discovered all kinds of marine life, skeletons, hardy plants, and discussed the science behind the sandy beauty of barchan dunes. Brilliantly colored ghost crabs danced the line between sand and surf, and coyote prints trotted off into desert landscapes. A variety of shells and sand dollars washed up in droves, leaving ephemeral patterns in the sand and surf.
Another exciting discovery was that of multiple shell middens scattered across Isla Magdalena. A midden is a trash heap. In this case, the middens were created by humans piling up the remains of edible marine snails, including the black murex. There were many signs of human consumption, including rock tools and large holes bashed into thick shells.
After lunch, we exited via La Entrada and were joined by humpback whales lobbing their flukes and breaching in the Pacific. The sun warmed our skin and the wind whipped through our hair. What a fantastic day to be had in Baja California.
Text and photos by Emily Newton, Undersea Specialist
Link to full article on Lindblad-National Geographic website:
https://www.expeditions.com/daily-expedition-reports/187447/
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