Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Ellipsis..Monday Photo Shoot #58: Bridges & Walkways

Myakka River State Park in Sarasota, FL and a little history of the Canopy Walkway....



The Myakka Canopy Walkway was the inspiration of tropical rain forest canopy biologist Dr. Margaret Lowman (http://www.canopymeg.com/) .... world expert in canopy ecology using these walkways to study insect-plant interactions. This suspension bridge is 85' long and 25' high....it connects 2 towers, one of which is 35' high (you climb this one to get to the bridge) and the other is 74' high which you can climb to get a great view of the park. The trees along this walkway are live oaks, laurel oaks and cabbage palms.


Though her experience was with tropical ecosystems, she realized that Florida's forests were as imperiled as many of the legendary rainforests.


She began studying Myakka's treetops with traditional methods that included ropes, ladders, and pulleys. Then she devised a plan to build a walkway through the treetops, as had been done at several of her previous research stations

7 comments:

Martha said...

Very cool Vicky - another been there done that moment :-)

Jama said...

Cool walk! I would love to walk around there!

wenn said...

that's interesting..

Carly said...

Hi Vicki :)

WOW... what a cool bridge, that's somewhere I would like to visit one day. I love all bridges, and this one just seems to draw me in.

-Carly

penny said...

I have never been to Myakka Park but I have heard a lot about how wonderful is.
Great photos, Vicki.

Maya said...

Me too, I would absolutely love to go on a walk like that!

Ricepatty said...

Thank you for the bit of history. I love that swing bridge in the trees.