Friday, June 4, 2010

Cataviña and the Water-collecting Cacti: rainwater harvesting



Near the town of Cataviña, central Baja, in one of the most ecologically diverse deserts in the whole world, the Valle de los Cirios.  Dark silhouettes of 40-foot-tall cardon cacti lay in front of the bright setting sun.


The blooming desert was buzzing earlier with bees and hummingbirds, but they are now asleep.  A lush desert flora surrounds me. Although the word “lush” is usually reserved for green jungles — not dry, bleak deserts — this is no ordinary desert. Despite being water-starved, it is vibrant and colorful, and offers an impressive and natural lesson in water management.


[This post is from the Voyage of Kiri, an educational trip about sustainable development and climate adaptation in Mexico's coastline. For more information see www.voyageofkiri.com]