Down here, once upon a time, there were people who had never seen the ocean in this 100 x 35 isle . By di guay, there was a meaningless debate recently, as to the exact geographical measures, as if that would change our Hellenic or Roman obscure destiny, if you keep up financial updates.
Guanica and its country side have been my favorite for 35 years, long before endemismotrasnochado was spanning the globe. It is dry, with sparse, rare vegetation, even for those into the practice.
But the most important aspect, is the small population, no people/children/crowds, my idea of joy, something that may soon become water and salt.
In Puerto Rico, there is a motor vehicle for every 2 people. Finding quiet and peace is cliche like needle in the haystack. To live here is to surrender to noise, a bubble of noise, growing by the minute, without escape.
That being written,
get acquainted.
THE DRY FOREST OF GUANICA
The Dry Forest of Guanica has been distinguished as probably being the xerophytic subtropical forest best preserved and less altered by man. It was designated by the United Nations, as the Second Biosphere Reserve of Puerto Rico. The area is the most dry, arid and the one with greater solar radiation, with annual rain precipitation of 35 inches and temperatures of 80F in the shade and 100F or more in exposed areas.
The high mountains of the Central Mountains block rain clouds coursing in on the tropical trade winds blowing from the northeast. Much of the rain evaporates before reaching the southern coast, other portion is lost to the hot
tropical sun or percolates readily through the thin porous soil, often flowing into uderground streams. During the driest season, usually from December to April, almost half the trees drop their leaves, only to bloom and leaf out during the most humid season from August to November.
The topography is mostly wavy, with the western segment shallower than the eastern one. There are differences in the terrain level, varying from high cliffs and steep rocky terrains like the ones bordering Guanica bay, which separates the forest in two segments. The soils in the region vary from sandy to calcareous with the following combinations:
Superficial limestone soils and fine granulations with an adapted vegetation of xerophyte succulent plants, and spiny shrubs
Fine and soft limestone soils with small areas of sand and clay, with plentiful spiny shrubs and deciduous trees.
Sand and clay soils, with an abundant evergreen vegetation.
INFORMATION FROM
FLOWERS AND EXOTICS FROM
PUERTO RICO
Edwin Miner Sola*
page 90
To travel there, feels like going from Berth to Camberra, even though is only 3 hours, mostly in highway. I hate to be trapped in a car more than 45 minutes.
But is still worth it...Some of the most important plants in my collection grow there, or were collected* on the premises.
Guaicum officinale
Plumeria
Mesquite*
Merremia aegyptia*
Stigmaphyllon floribundum*
*The writer is a weird old timer
with no formal training in the field.
Nor you could find his name in the
www. I had a not so pleasant chance to
chat with this misanthropist. Unlike
yours truly, mr. congeniality.
that is that.
Maybe we'll evolve to become a deaf folk to survive this noise storm. Or we'll get ears that can be closed shut at will. Ear plugs can help meanwhile. Our soon to crash pseudo-economy based on drug trafficking and fast food franchises will take care of our car disease. Emigration will do the rest. We'll be like the Irish, I suppose.
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