On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
ema
Hudson Canyon’s Edge is a posh New York neighborhood teeming with life. Unfortunately for you, even if you had tons of money and impeccable references, you wouldn’t be able to move in. Mostly because you would need gills to live there, but still, it’s an exclusive place.
I found out about this lovely area when I visited the New York Aquarium (NYA link) during my summer Coney Island mermaid adventure (OTR post).
The NY Aquarium opened in 1896 and is the oldest continuously operating aquarium in the country. It’s not very big. It has three main pavilions (fishy fishes, sharks, and invertebrates), several outdoors enclosures for penguins, sea lions, etc., and a performance area.
I didn’t spend any time outside because of the heat*, but indoors, the place is otherworldly. I almost didn’t mind all the people with their kids running rampant. Almost. (Go during the week, and go early in the day to avoid the crowds.)
Let’s take an enchanted stroll.
*I don’t want the aquarium to feel left out, so here’s some unsolicited advice on how it should be run. A continuous supply of big ice chunks should be provided to all the outdoor pools. Sure, it would melt in a few minutes, but the poor penguins (32s) and company would really appreciate it. They all looked as heat stroke-y as I felt.
For most of my visit I was so taken with these mesmerizing creatures (20s),I forgot to check on their names. Next time.
Look at that cute face (23s) !
If you’re an ichthyologist do let us know, but I don’t think fish exhibit this type of behavior in the wild: They would sit perfectly still (29s), facing the visitors, observing us. Sure, maybe they’re looking to see if we pose any danger, but I just cannot see using up all that energy in the wild just to hold still. For what purpose, a staring contest?
This little sea worm (28s) was my second absolute favorite. So small, so timid, and yet so cute.
Hudson Canyon (40s) is about 100 miles SE of NYC, and is the largest submarine canyon along the US Atlantic Coast. It was formed more than 10,000 years ago during the last ice age, and its deepest point is 10,500 feet below sea level – more than 7 Empire State Buildings stacked end-to-end from the sea floor to the surface.
Hudson Canyon is habitat for hundreds of wildlife species, from giant and threatened whales and dolphins, sharks, and sea turtles, to soaring seabirds and deep-sea corals*.
I don’t care how spectacular a fish you are. Once a toothy stingray (40s) prima ballerinas in your vicinity, you automatically pale in comparison.
My outright favorite pavilion was the Invertebrates. It’s a marvelous world, with the jelly fish, the cuttlefish, and the crabs.
I really liked these Australian jelly fish (10s), watching them float by and, occasionally, bump into each other, still pretty gracefully. When that happens, do they know they bumped into a member of their species, or do they sense the encounter as just some random object?
Full version. (55s)
I love the way the long, delicate tentacles (16s) look but they seem very impractical. As you can notice they’re all tangled up. That cannot be good for them. Maybe in the wild they’re solitary animals and don’t run the risk of getting entangled with each other all that often.
I am certain that the Japanese giant crabs (28s) strived to come across as serious and dignified, but, for some reason, I found them quite funny.
Behold, the gorgeous cuttlefish (2:10 min), my number one favorite! An interesting and beautiful creature, one that manages to stay cute even when caught pooping on camera.
Full Invertebrates version. (10:18 min)
War for Ukraine Day 1,007: Russia Throws 188 Drones & 4 Iskanders at Ukraine!
WaterGirl
This post from ema originally published on Nov 6, but ema asked me to pull it since “light and airy with easy-breezy commentary” didn’t feel suitable for that terrible day.
We’re going to need to take our joy where we can find it, so I am putting this up again today. There is one more light and fun post from ema from the before times, and we decided to post that too. Joy can only help give us strength for the fight.
Baud
I’m going to need you to convert that into football fields for me.
Gorgeous fish photos.
Jay
@Baud:
35 fields
Layer8Problem
Thank you ema and WaterGirl.
ema
I apologize for the light tone of my OTR commentary. As WaterGirl mentioned, this was submitted in the before time.
I have one more set from that time, The India Day Parade, and after that, going forward, we have three options:
1) I make no changes if my pics and commentary bring you a bit of stress relief.
2) I cut out the commentary and only submit pics, because levity ist verboten in these new times.
3) I stop submitting altogether because the world is ending and what’s the point.
Please let me know, thank you.
ema
@Baud: Thank you, and according to Google AI 1 ESB ~ 11.5 FF, so 80.5.
ema
@Layer8Problem:
Thank you!
Baud
@ema:
You don’t need to change what you submit.
BretH
I’ll take door #1! I loved this post and the vids. Looking forward to your next one.
WaterGirl
Sack cloth and ashes isn’t going to change a thing the new administration does and it’s not going to help anyone.
we all need joy even in the depths of despair. Maybe especially then.
Elizabelle
@ema: I vote for your light and breezy commentary. Heavy world, and we need some joy where we find it.
Moar underwater life, please. They are captivating.
Elizabelle
@WaterGirl: Absolutely. If it is not already a Timothy Snyder rule, it should be. Enjoy the beauty and simple pleasures. They are still there, and important.
oldster
“2) I cut out the commentary and only submit pics, because levity ist verboten in these new times.”
Nah, levity is good. We’re going to survive the next four years and trounce these scum at the midterms and in 2028. And we’re going to laugh at them everyday in between.
And when we’re not laughing at the incompetent maroons accidentally installed in positions of power, we’re going to laugh at fish or fowl or any damn thing we want. They can’t take that away from us, and I won’t give it away.
So, thanks for the pics, and thanks for the commentary!
ema
Thank you for the feedback, will do.
stinger
Don’t let them change us. Or your commentary. Don’t give them that kind of power.
Plus, I am loving these pics and descriptions!
Layer8Problem
@ema: You’re welcome! I’ve been interested in the Hudson Canyon for years, with its being big, canyony, and mysterious out there hidden under the water southeast of me.
And put me down in the Number 1 camp. I can gloom myself with the best of them but you and WaterGirl will never hear from me that you’re not dooming enough or how dare you try to brighten our days. Things like this do help and are truly appreciated.
Timill
I’m going to take Noel Coward’s advice
Trivia Man
Choice one, please. Your good eye and running commentary are a full package. I personally enjoy the outline – why you chose the subject, how you got there, what is the historical context of this thing… i like a back story. I don’t necessarily pore over the back story for all OTR submissions because some are just not of interest to me. But SOMEONE will be itching to know MORE about every OTT.
bonus: when we descend into chaos and anarchy and misery, the documentation of the Before Times will be important. I am only half kidding when i suggest that documentaries like these will help future humans rebuild what can be. Look at how interesting we find those rare movies of 100 years ago that just walk down the street. Clothes, cars, buildings, hairstyles, body shapes… a slice of life frozen in time.
Thank you.
AM in NC
@ema: I vote photos AND amusing commentary. We need all the uplift we can get!
I wasn’t ready immediately after the election, but now I crave sustenance like this. Thank you!!!!!!!!
PBK
@ema: A picture is worth a thousand words but your commentary is just as valuable. Please don’t change a thing!
munira
@ema: Keep posting and keep the commentary – stress relief is essential. Love the photos.
BigJimSlade
Very nice (and cuttlefish rule)!
StringOnAStick
Definitely #1. We have to seek joy and light to preserve our hearts.
ema
Thank you all, and I’m relieved you don’t find my commentary off-putting for these times. Onward with the submissions!