Today in Martinique, we had a very enjoyable day at the coastal mangrove forest. We picked up crabs, ate curry, and learned about how we need to protect the current ecosystem that the mangrove provides.
While we were there we learned about three different types of mangroves: red, gray (white), and black. Together, the different types of mangroves form a protective coastal barrier. Black and grey/white mangroves have special roots called pneumatophores; these come through the sand and essentially breathe, causing these plants to do well in water-logged environments. The reds are the ones that have the more stereotypical “mangrove” look, with prop roots that grow out of the trunk at all angles and that reach down into the water to stabilize the tree.
During our tour of the mangrove forest, there were also a lot of hermit crabs that we were able to pick up, and I thought they were really cute. Their shells come in all different colors as well. We saw red, tan, black, white, and even spotted and striped shells, and they were fun to pick up and interact with.
One of the moments I felt joy during my trip today was during our lunchtime, which we spent at the beach. We were able to spend a lot of time in nature that we would not have had inside of America, as everything is so busy and overstimulating. The other aspect of lunchtime that I really enjoyed was being able to stand in the water with my friends. We took our shoes and socks off and took turns getting further into the water with our guide. Many other group members said they felt thoroughly connected with nature when they got time to go explore the area alone during our free time.