Within the 756,00-acre Sawtooth National Forest, Stanley Lake lies at the foot of the Sawtooth Mountains. The lake provides a fantastic view of the area's mountain peaks and pine tree forests.
Kentucky Lake is one of the largest artificial lakes in the eastern United States. It's a bustling vacation destination that attracts up to 17 million visitors yearly. Resorts, state parks, public access areas, camps, clubs, and wildlife preserves dot the shoreline.
The stunning natural landscape of Moosehead Lake is a haven for wildlife lovers. In the forested wilderness surrounding the lake, observers can spot moose, white-tailed deer, black bears, Ruffed Grouse, and the endangered Peregrine Falcon.
Redfish Lake is the largest lake in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. They named it for the bright red color of the sockeye salmon that was once abundant in it.
Wildlife lovers will have a swell time at Lake Texoma. The lake is a critical habitat for native fish species, especially the striped bass. Nearby are the Hagerman and Tishomingo National Wildlife refuges.
Some people call Lake Hartwell the Great Lake of the South. It is serene with a rustic beauty. The lake borders South Carolina and Georgia. Although well known, it is relatively quiet and is a perfect place for a personal retreat type of vacation.
The shallow Utah Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the Western U.S. The Lake and its surroundings–the Utah Lake State Park and several waterfowl and bird preserves are critical wildlife sanctuaries. It is home to 18 species of fish, including the endangered June Sucker.
The global oil palm industry started growing in the 16th century. At first, palm groves only served the residents of Nigeria and West Africa until Europeans started an export trade system in the 16th century. The export trade system grew more profitable in the 19th century.
The production of palm oil starts with oil palm plantations and the growth of palm fruits. To start an oil palm plantation, they plant a certain number of seedlings that grow into palm trees and begin bearing fruit in the third year, with the yield increasing as the years pass. However, palm trees produce fewer fruits when they reach 25 years of age and older.
The next step in producing palm oil from oil palms is sterilizing or cooking the fruits. At this stage of oil palm production, they use high-temperature wet-heat treatment on the fruits. Sterilization treatment uses pressurized heat, while the cooking method uses hot water. Smallholder oil palm plantations often use cooking because they cannot generate steam.
The high demand for palm oil increased the acres of palm oil plantations and other oil crops. Oil palm plantations grow on extensive areas of tropical forests with diverse species of trees.
Expansion of oil palm agriculture over intact forest landscapes can affect downstream biodiversity. When cultivators of major oil crops destroy tropical forests, they also destroy the homes and habitats of many plant and animal species.
Bornean orangutans thrive primarily in Southeast Asia's forest habitats. Found on the island of Borneo, they prefer living in swampy, hilly, and old-growth rainforests. Their environment varies significantly, from lowland swamps to dipterocarp forests.
Sumatran orangutans reside in lowland forests, swamps, and mangroves of Indonesia's Sumatran island. Heavy logging has isolated them in fragmented forests.
The Tapanuli orangutan holds residence in South Tapanuli on Sumatra, Indonesia's island. This group was recognized as a distinct species in 2017, thanks to a thorough phylogenetic study analyzing genetic samples and comparing the genomes of orangutans across Sumatra and Borneo2.
Bornean orangutans (Pongo pygmaeus) have a robust build and broad face, distinguishing them from their Sumatran and Tapanuli counterparts. These adaptations emerged to help them avoid predators and survive on different food sources. Bornean orangutans spend more time on the ground and have heavier bodies than other species.
Compared to other great apes like gorillas and chimps, orangutans prefer to live alone. For example, adult males mostly isolate themselves; they only interact with females during mating. Though they might cross paths with other orangutans from time to time, they don't last long. However, these apes, particularly mothers and their young, can still be social when needed.
Thanks to observation and imitation, orangutans learn to use sticks to extract insects from tree bark. They poke and prod at the bark to remove the insects while avoiding injury
