Nature
Definition
Let’s define nature as everything around us not made by humanity. Or, as Google explains: The phenomena of the physical world collectively, including plants, animals, the landscape, and other features and products of the earth, as opposed to humans or human creations. Nature in Costa Rica can be overwhelming. Drive a few miles, and everything changes. So, let’s share our love for this country and especially this place, by showing you a little bit of what you can experience in Catarata Del Toro. But best will be to come over and explore it yourself :).
Soils
Rock formations
Trees
Flowers
Birds
Mammals
Snakes
Insects
Click on a link or scroll down.
Soils
We are living on volcanic soils, and the active crater Poás is only 6 kilometers away. Soils are fertile and covered with dense forest. At the base, you will find big plants, called the ‘poor men umbrella,’ with their leaves burned due to the acid water.
Rock formations
Just a few words about columnar jointing in basalt that you can observe right behind the waterfall: columnar jointing forms in lava flows in most cases, and is somewhat a rather rare feature. Columns are straight and regular (but sometimes curved) with 4 to 7 faces (check the steps along the steep track going down to the waterfall). It is commonly interpreted as resulting from rapid cooling from the top downward, most likely in water presence. Below, the columnar jointing unit is a different, more altered (orange color is due to the presence of clay minerals that forms during alteration) group with bombs and scoriae. Unlike columnar jointing, which results from the effusion of basaltic lava, such a feature results from a more explosive event before the columnar basalt eruption.
Trees
You will find magnificent trees all over the place, and do not forget to look up once and a while! It can be breathtaking.
Flowers
Most flowers we have planted are there to attract the hummingbirds, and the forest produces a wide range of wildflowers itself.
Birds
Birds are a significant part of the project. We want to show you one picture here but go for more information and photos to Birds and Garden.
Mammals
Not so easy to spot as birds, but we have a few mammals walking around, under which: howler monkeys, anteater, opossum, coati, ocelot, and also the jaguarundi. It is always exciting to encounter one.
Snakes
Probably 99% of our clients will never see one, but we can assure you that they are there. Once and a while, a snake visits our open-air restaurant in broad daylight! If you are so lucky to encounter one, we assure you that it is always a big surprise.
Insects
After living so many years in Costa Rica, we are surprised on a regular base by all the new insects we discover. Some have headlights or are silver- or gold-colored. Your imagination is too small to picture the diversity, and that only in our little place. Just one example:
Summary
It is understandable, impossible to show everything from every subject here. We wanted to get your attention and that if you have a particular interest in one or more issues shown here, please make sure you have enough time and do not forget your camera. Thank you for your time and attention; we appreciate it and hopefully see you soon.