Capriconia
Here’s a short astronomical issue. The fundamental reason our planet has four distinct seasons is that the axis in which Earth rotates about itself is at some 27 degrees to the plan on which Earth circles the sun. This bizarre celestial fact (I once tried to find out its reason, but failed. Anybody has any suggestions?) also has the nice geometrical outcome, that the sun can be viewed directly above the head (at 90 degrees precisely, a location usually termed Zenith) only at a relatively narrow strip around our planet’s equator. Conservely, this strip is called the “tropical” zone, with it’s southernmost boundary called “the Tropics of Capricorn” (a short historical remark: the name capricorn originates in the roman mithology, where - if I recall correctly - the god Pan used a capricorn to escape some cruel Titan. You are welcomed to look for the whole story and add it as a comment to this post. This is also the source for the name of the Capricorn star-group, usually regarded as part of the celestial Zodiac).
I crossed the Tropics of Capricorn on my way north two days ago, at a city called Rockhampton. They make here a big fuss about this Tropics thing. The Tropics of Capricorn is drawn as a line on some place at the city (guess at which latitude?) with signs saying “moderate zone” and “tropical zone” at its south and north faces. Actually, the entire region which I passed (where Lady Musgrave Island is located, and until Airly-Beach, where I am right now) is called “the Capricorn Coast”. Rockhampton is Australia’s cattle-growing capital, and we celebrated this fact with a nice, big, steak (four out of four pigs agree: eat more beef!). We also spent there a lovely afternoon at the botanic gardens, which also host a small zoo, where I got to feed Lorikeets - they just flew all over me, eating apples from a plate I was holding.
Yesterday we went a bit inland, to Eungala national park. This is a subtropical rainforest, typical to central Queensland. The forest is a very nice place, all criss-crossed with small rivers and waterfalls that generate natural pools of amazingly clear, flowing, water. It is a place of great and unspoiled natural beauty, which is homeland to the Platypus. We camped there yesterday, trying to find the shy animals, but they his too well - we just couldn’t see them. Nontheless, the area itself is worth a visit just for the views and the tranquility.
Today we arrived at Airlie-Beach, which is a coastal town near the Whitsunday islands. Tomorrow we’re going on a four-day sail to the Islands, just to see what’s in them.
June 15th, 2005 at 11:14
Of course they are shy - if everyone would be laughing at you were ever you go, you’d be shy too.