In the Mediterranean Sea, there is a wide variety of marine wildlife. However, one does not need to go deep within the depths of the sea to witness a stunning ecosystem. Some of it can be seen on Greece’s beaches. While swimming at the one of the many beaches in Afiartis, Karpathos, I came across one example of a beautifully unique marine creature, the sea urchin.
Sea urchins I found in Afiartis, Karpathos
While still vacationing in Karpathos, Greece, I frequently visit and swim at the beaches. There are many beautiful things to be found on these beaches, one of them being the geological landscape. The rock formations throughout the years have built incredible cliffs and caves. There are also several beaches in which seashells are embedded into rock. In addition to these special rock formations, another interesting geological find common to Greek beaches is pumice. During each one of my visits to Greece, I have managed to find this light-colored, porous rock at the beach. But exactly how is it made and where does it come from?
Pumice
For the past couple of weeks, I have been on the island of Karpathos, Greece, visiting family. In the cool mornings on the countryside of Afiartis, I like to go jogging. While I jog, I see bushes of purple plants lining the dirt roads and far up on the hills. These bushes contain the thyme herb that grows commonly in Greece, as well as in the rest of the Mediterranean. While bending down to pick up a couple of its flowers, I can smell its strong aromatic fragrance. This is a result of the many glandular hairs found throughout the plant. Whenever these hairs are broken, the aromatic smell is released. The thyme plant also produces essential oils, which are advantageous as the plant can lack water in its dry environment. When these essential oils evaporate, they surround the plant and create a saturated environment, which decreases water loss. Continue reading
My Kind of Science 
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