City of
the little.
What you see in
these images are magnetic termite mounds.
They look like grand ca
thedrals, but
the whole structure is squashed into thin plates.
They have such peculiar shapes because
the curious creatures who built
these edifices have learned to regulate
their building's temperature using architecture. During morning and dawn,
the large area facing east and west receives a lot of sunlight, keeping
the mounds warm. During noon,
the slim shape minimises exposure to
the scorching sun overhead, keeping
them cool.
The termites always put
their 'solar panels' facing East-West.
They are positioned so accurately that humans use
them to tell directions; that's why
the termites are sometimes called 'compass termites'.
If you ever walk into
their territory, you'll be surprised by
the scale on which
they change
the landscape.
They and o
ther termites build thousands of skyscrapers covering a vast land area.
The termites are like little farmers, working with
the trees and shrubs to sustain
the local communities. Just like our buildings are home to pigeons and parrots,
the termite mounds provide shelter for o
ther animals. Birds and rats regularly nest in
them. When bushfires break out during
the dry season, lizards and quolls become refugees, and
the mounds become
their safehouses. It's fascinating
these termite hills can withstand fire while keeping
the residents safe. Most of our buildings crumble and collapse in
the presence of fire, and we will be toasted.
Visiting
their habitats is like travelling to a different world, where
they are indigenous, and we are
the aliens.
Full story of
the amazing creature who built
the structure:
https://www.onebackpacker.com/behind-the-lens/city-of-the-little
Comments