McArthur-Burney Falls- California

McArthur-Burney Falls State Park in northern California is one of the most beautiful waterfalls even though it is certainly not one of the tallest. The 129-foot Burney Falls of Burney Creek is located in the Cascade Mountain Range . More like a river than a creek, the water crashes on the rocks below creating an eerie mist that is absolutely haunting. The water below the falls is the most amazing shade of blue. You can find this stunning waterfall near Redding California. I have been there and I will never forget the beauty of the surrounding landscape as well as the falls themselves. There is a hiking trail that follows the river a short distance before crossing and takes you back up the other side to the top of the waterfall so you can view it from every angle. I must remind you however to bring your camera, you won't want to miss the opportunity to photograph this place.

Little River Falls- Alabama

Located in northeast Alabama the Little River flows for most of its length atop Lookout Mountain. The Little River is over 100 feet wide here which makes the 45 foot drop of Little River Falls impressive to eyes and ears. Little River Falls is just upstream from the head of Little River Canyon, one of the deepest - and most beautiful - canyons east of the Mississippi. Little River is the only river in the United States that flows its entire length on top of a mountain and has formed the deepest canyon east of the Rocky Mountains. In vivid contrast to America's western canyons, Little River Canyon has a maximum depth of 600 feet and a maximum width of over 3,800 feet. This canyon is a beautiful green from Spring into Autumn when it becomes a riot of color. The Little River Canyon is classified as an Alabama Wild and Scenic River as a "preserve" under the protection of the National Park Service.

North Falls- Oregon

North Falls at Silver Falls State Park, southeast of Silverton Oregon, is one of the best waterfalls for walking behind. It is a good flowing stream about 15 feet wide that drops 136 feet over a promontory. The resulting "cave" is 70 to 80 feet deep and the sound... ah, that's part of the thrill. There is also a good viewing point from your car about a mile beyond the parking area. There is also an Upper North Falls. It is twice as wide, only 65 feet tall, and is completely different from its brother. To see this fall you have to take a short trail under the road and up the other side of the mountain, but it is very easy going.

Bridalveil Fall- Yosemite National Park- California

If you've ever been to Yosemite, you will know that there are many stunning waterfalls through-out the park. One of my favorites is Bridalviel Fall. It is one of the first waterfalls seen by people entering the park. During the spring, as the snow melts and flow is at its peak, it thunders. The rest of the year, look for its characteristic light, swaying flow. I have seen this fall both times of the year and it is absolutely gorgeous at peak flow. If you go in the spring, you should take an umbrella or rain coat on the short hike to the falls, you will get wet.

Natural Bridge Falls - Montana

Natural Bridge Falls is located at Natural Bridge State Park in Montana. Natural Bridge is named for the stone arch that used to cross over the river. The "Natural Bridge" is long gone - it fell into Boulder River in 1988 - but the waterfall that got its name from the bridge is still as great a sight as ever: just different. The 105 foot Natural Bridge Falls changes its appearance with the water flow. When the Boulder River is carrying the snow melt - or after a heavy rainstorm upstream - you'll see three separate waterfalls. The river cuts through the limestone river bed each year forming caverns which the river flows through. If you look closely in the rock you can see fossilized seashells from millions of years past. Natural Bridge offers spectacular viewing all year long but is best viewed May through July when waters are at their highest. Paved paths lead from the parking lot to the Boulder River allowing leisurely strolls up and down stream to take in the beauty of this unusual river. The several viewing points are wheelchair accessible (with signs bearing little blurbs about the area) and give excellent views of the Boulder River, the Natural Bridge and its waterfall. You'll probably see some of the wildlife, too. There is also handicap access to the viewing points.

Raven Cliff Falls- South Carolina

Raven Cliff Falls has been called both king and queen of South Carolina's waterfalls depending on who you talk to. It is 420 feet of non-stop tumbling, roaring water. It is a spellbinding waterfall located in the Mountain Bridge Wilderness area in South Carolina. Mathews Creek plunges off Raven Cliff Mountain at the Blue Ridge Escarpment near Caesars Head. The escarpment is where the Blue Ridge Mountains drop abruptly 2,00 feet to the Piedmont below. To see this stunning waterfall you will need to take the popular 4.4 mile roundtrip hike leading to an overlook across the gorge to the falls . This trail is moderately difficult with a few steep descents. As you know, if you go down, that means you have to go back up when you return!

Second of all, Rhode Island's flag has 13 stars, an anchor, and a symbol of hope. The stars stand for the 13 colonies. It became the state flag on 1897.

Third of all, the anchor has been used for hundreds of years. The word hope was put in1644 and still remains. The seal became the state seal on 1897.

Fourth of all, do you know Rhode Island's state bird? It is the red hen. Did you know it is a chicken?

Fifth of all, Voilot is a flower. It is also the state flower. Voilot is the most popular choice.

Sixth of all, do you know the song “Rhode Island It's For Me?”

I’ve been to every state we have
and I think I’m inclined to say
that Rhody stole my heart:
You can keep the forty-nine.

Herring gulls that dot the sky,
blue waves that paint the rocks,
waters rich with Neptune’s life,
the boats that line the docks,
I see the lighthouse flickering
to help sailors see.

Rhode Island, oh, Rhode Island
surrounded by sea.
Some people roam the earth for home.
Rhode Island it’s for me.

In conclusion, I hope you know more of Rhode Island.

Main Attractions

Musical Waters

This is a synchronized display of water and lights set to music. It is located on Dewey hill and can be watched from the waterfront stadium. It is supposed to be the biggest in the world. You can learn more about it at the performance. They tell a little history about it over the speakers before the show. There are nightly performances that start Memorial Day weekend and run until Labor Day. Performances are held on Friday and Saturday evenings only from Labor Day through September. Starting times vary from 8:30 p.m. to 10:10 p.m. To find out exact times visit grandhaven.org or call (616) 842-2550.

Beaches/Pier/Lighthouse

I love walking the beach on the Grand Haven state park area. You also have access to the pier with a lighthouse on it. It is beautiful to walk it. You can walk it from the beach or all the way from the downtown area. On windy days the waves really come up on the pier so be careful! Of course it is fun to get splashed but it is slippery. Usually the best place to get the high waves is at the end of the pier. I usually hold on to one of the cement structures sticking up at the end of the pier. Of course again be careful; some have been swept off during high waves. Remember to catch the sunset on the water, it is gorgeous.

Trolley

A fun thing to do is ride the trolley. It goes around Grand Haven and you can even tour Spring Lake and Ferrysburg. The drivers are college students who talk about various landmarks and add some humor!

Festivals

There are several festivals throughout the summer and fall but the highlight is the Coast Guard Festival. I have been to it several times. It is always packed in town so book your hotel rooms ahead of time. It is around the end of July through the first part of August. For 2008 it is July 25 to August 3. There is so much going on during this time. Some of the highlights are a Coast guard cutter ship, the Mackinaw, and the Biscane Bay ships. There is also a National Memorial service, a downtown carnival and parade, as well there are many music events going on at the waterfront. But there is always something to do at the festival for everyone’s budget.

Fireworks

The fireworks are spectacular. I have gone several times on the 4th of July. They shoot them off across the black river going into Lake Michigan , and you can sit in the Waterfront grandstands. And if feels like the fireworks are falling on you. It is wonderful!! Of course there are some other events leading up to the big fireworks night. When I went they put on a beautiful patriotic show in the waterfront stadium. There is usually a 5 k run that weekend as well. Then there is a fourth of July parade in Ferrysburg also. To find all the 4th events visit this page. 

Where to Stay

We have always stayed at Days INN, it is located off US 31. It is close to the downtown and the lake. It has an expanded continental breakfast included. There is also the Holiday Inn which is in Spring Lake, across the bridge, overlooking the spring Lake Marina, but still quite close. I have never stayed here but have eaten at the restaurant inside and know it is a nice hotel. Of course if you are more budget conscious there are other hotels and motels offering lesser rates. And there are several bed and breakfasts. One of the nice ones is Harbor House. I also have never stayed but have checked into it. There are also houses/cabins to rent, and even places to camp your trailers or tents. For a list of other places to stay visit this page.

Eating

• Dee-lite restaurant downtown is good, especially for breakfast. I have never eaten there for other meals.
• Jack’s Restaurant. For breakfast lunch or dinner–the fish is wonderful , and everything I’ve had has been good. Lunches run $6 and up, with dinners 10 and up. This overlooks the Spring lake Marina area. Beautiful view.
• Kirby house is wonderful! My mom and I love the hamburgers. And be sure to order the onion rings they come on a wooden peg stacked high. Also try the onion soup, it is the best! And the Wood fired pizzas are great there too I have heard!! This is casual/fine dining and runs from $4-20.
• Porto Bello is in one of the shopping centers downtown right across from Black River. This is wonderful Italian food. I would recommend everything. I have had the pizzas, and the lasagna. If you sit by the windows you can catch a glimpse looking at the Black river across the way. This is a casual dining as well. There is also outdoor seating. This runs $5-$9 for lunch and $10-$18 for dinner.

I hope this information will be helpful in your trip to Grand Haven Michigan. I hope to see you there this summer!

For further information on Grand Haven visit MyHaven.

Tired of walking? Check out this futuristic way to tour Austin called the Austin Segway tour where you tour Austin by riding a Segway HT; a perched on two wheels that you can ride for a reasonable fee. You will probably want to catch a bite at one of Texas best steakhouse so go to Ruth's Chris steak house located in Austin, Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio. They have a wide variety of gourmet steaks but if you're in the mood for something else they also have seafood available. You have to go to Texas to get this great experience with your friends and family.

As you study the history and geography of each region, you might ask yourself these questions:

• How do the physical features of the land affect agriculture, industry, transportation, and living patterns?
• What effect does the climate have on agriculture, industry, transportation, and living patterns?
• What are the natural resources of the region, and how are they used?
• How were the important historical events affected by the geography of the region?

Deciduous: Trees that lose their leaves in the fall.

Fishing banks: A shallow place in the ocean where fish feed.

Growing season: The time between the last killing frost in the spring and the first killing frost in the fall.

Textile: Cloth.

Wood pulp: Wood that is ground into a thick liquid and used to make paper and paper products.

The Northeast was one of the first areas of the United States to be explored by Europeans. The Vikings explored parts of this region over one thousand years ago. Later, Cabot sailed along the eastern coast and claimed the area around New York for the Dutch and named it New Netherlands. New Netherlands remained a Dutch colony until 1664. At that time, it became an English colony under the direction of the Duke of York.

New Netherlands angered the English because it was a center of illegal trade. American colonists could avoid English regulations and taxes by shipping goods through New Netherlands. King Charles of England offered New Netherlands to his brother James, the Duke of York, if James could conquer it. The people of New Netherlands were not willing to fight because they could see little difference between Dutch rule and English rule. James was able to conquer the colony without a fight. He then named it for himself, the Duke of York.

The states in the Northeast region are Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The Northeast region is divided into two smaller sections, the New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) and the Mid Atlantic states (Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland). Washington, D.C., our nation's capital, is also considered a part of the Northeast.

Geography of the Northeast. The natural landforms in the Northeast are the Atlantic Coastal Plain, the Appalachian Highlands, and other lowlands. There is evidence that glaciers once covered the northeastern United States. The glaciers moved southward carrying tons of rock and scraping away the soil in some places. They rounded the tops of mountains and dug holes into the rocky ground. When the glaciers retreated, the big holes retained water and became lakes. In New England, the glaciers scoured the land and left the soil rough, rocky, and thin.

The largest lakes in this area are Lake Champlain between Vermont and New York, Moosehead Lake in Maine, and Winnepesaukee Lake in New Hampshire. Two of the Great Lakes, Erie and Ontario, are also in this region.

Important rivers in the region are the Connecticut, Hudson, Mohawk, Susquehanna, and Paucatuck. The coastline in this region is rough and rocky and has many small bays and inlets. Three large bays are the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, the Delaware Bay, and the New York Bay. Islands and peninsulas are also found along this coastline. Long Island in New York is one of the best-known islands. Cape Cod in Massachusetts and Mount Desert Island in Maine are peninsulas.

Much of the land area in the Northeast is highlands. The mountain ranges include the Adirondack, the Allegheny, the Catskill, the Green, and the White mountain ranges. Between these ranges lie valleys where many farms are located. Other farms are on the inland plain area in western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. The Erie-Ontario Lowland lies to the south of these two Great Lakes. The famous Niagara Falls is between the lakes.

Climate. The climate in the Northeast varies from place to place. The climate in any area is affected primarily by (1) the distance from the equator, (2) the distance from a large body of water, and (3) the altitude.

Through most of the Northeast the weather is cool in the fall. The cool weather triggers a reaction in the trees that makes the leaves of deciduous trees turn bright colors before they fall to the ground. The Northeast is famous for the beauty of the trees in autumn. In the winter, heavy snow falls in the highlands and on the interior plain. The weather can be very cold, and the snow may stay on the ground all winter. People come to the mountains to ski and snowmobile.

Fall in the Northeast

In other parts of the Northeast, the winters are not so severe. On the coastal plain, the weather is milder. Large bodies of water do not lose heat as rapidly as the land. In the winter, the temperature of the Atlantic Ocean is warmer than the temperature of the land. The coastland is also warmed by the wind that blows across the Atlantic.

Spring comes to the southern part of the Northeast first. Around Washington D.C. the trees begin to blossom in April. Spring is the beginning of the growing season for farmers. The growing season starts after the last killing frost and it is not over until the first killing frost of the winter. Around Washington D.C., the growing season is six to seven months long. In some places in the highlands and in Maine, the growing season is less than three months long.

Natural resources. Wood pulp (for paper and cardboard) and Christmas trees are important products of Northeastern forests. Clay, sand, gravel, limestone, granite, marble, zinc, iron ore, and coal are mined in the Northeast. The coast has an important fishing industry. Clams, lobsters, and oysters are abundant. Further out on the fishing banks, fishermen catch whiting, ocean perch, flounder, scallops, cod, haddock, and menhaden (a kind of herring).

Agriculture. Farmers tap the maple trees in spring for sap to make the famous Vermont maple syrup. Cranberries and potatoes grow in the lowlands, and blueberries grow on the northern hills. Apples, grapes, peaches, and vegetables are grown along the Erie-Ontario Plain, the Atlantic Coastal Plain, and the valleys of the highlands. The Atlantic Coastal Plain supports many truck farms that grow tomatoes, corn, onions, spinach, cabbage, and lettuce. Large poultry farms are located in Delaware, Maryland, and New York. Dairies are located throughout the region.

Industry. Manufactured products of the Northeast include metal objects such as propellers, hard hats, needles, silverware, and brassware. Leather products manufactured are shoes and gloves. Wood pulp is used to make paper, much of which is used locally. This region has one of the biggest publishing industries in the world. Textile factories produce thread and cotton and woolen fabrics that are used in the clothing factories.

Many of the rivers in the Northeast have one or more waterfalls. Early industries used the numerous waterfalls in the area to help produce energy to run their machines. As a result, many large manufacturing cities are located close to the rivers and the falls in the region.

The Industrial Revolution in the United States began in the Northeast where the first factories were started. The very first factory was started by Samuel Slater in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in the year 1789. Slater brought the technology to use water power to spin thread from his native England. American inventor Eli Whitney furthered the American industrial advance when he designed a machine that made individual gun parts. This machine made all the parts in each gun exactly alike so that they could be interchanged. This invention was the beginning of mass production and led to an industrial boom in the Northeast. Because factories need many workers, the industrial cities of the Northeast are some of the largest cities in our country.

Important Historical Events

The first European settlers in this region were people who came to the New World seeking religious freedom. The Pilgrims were actually Separatists seeking to leave what they considered to be the spiritually corrupt Church of England. They were imprisoned and driven out of England. They sailed from England across the Atlantic in the Mayflower and landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts, in December of 1620. During their first winter in the New World, many of the Pilgrims died. Eventually, however, they learned how to plant and hunt in their new home with help from some of the local Native American people. By fall the Pilgrims had plenty of food in Plymouth. The grateful Pilgrims invited the Indians to a feast lasting several days to thank God for His bounty. We remember that feast as Thanksgiving Day.

In the following years, other colonists traveled to the northeastern area of the United States. Groups of Puritans, people who wanted to remain in the Church of England and purify it, settled and formed many communities as they also were driven out of England. The Massachusetts Bay Colony near Boston was one of the most famous of the Puritan communities.

The Revolutionary War, the War for Independence, was fought on the coast and in the highlands of the Northeast. The Boston Tea Party, the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere's ride, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, and the battles of Valley Forge, Lexington, and Concord all occurred in the Northeast.

Excluding a tropical wet climate, North America experiences every major type of climate/weather. Most of the continent experiences a temperate climate, excluding Hawaii (tropical), Florida (tropical), and Alaska (arctic), with generally low winter temperatures in the northwestern United States. This climate is subject to change however, with the threat of many natural hazards such as tsunamis, flooding, volcanoes, earthquakes, forest fires, and hurricanes. The terrain is sporadic and includes a large central plain with mountains in the west, hills and low mountains in the east, rugged mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska, and rocky, volcanic topography in Hawaii. There are many natural resources including coal, copper, lead, gold, and petroleum.

The languages found most often in North America are English, Spanish, and French, and the United States experiences a net migration rate of about 3.05 migrants per 1,000 people. Due to the religious freedom generally accepted throughout the continent, the North American population practices many different religions including, but not limited to, Christianity, Catholicism, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Unitarianism. Nearly 80% of the North American population lives in metropolitan areas, the largest of which are Mexico City, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami. The United States has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the entire world, with a per capita GDP of $46,000 in 2007.

North America depends heavily on agricultural success and produces wheat, corn, grains, fruit, vegetables, and cotton. Furthermore, North America provides a steady supply of beef, pork, poultry, dairy products, fish, and forest products. Following the trend of extreme consumption, the North American population is also the world's largest consumer of cocaine as well as many other illicit drugs.

Tourism is the biggest part of the state economy because of the beaches and tropical climates. It is also home to many amusement parks including Walt Disney World. Oranges are the major crop of the states. Agriculture is the also a major part of the economy.

Florida is home to three NFL teams, which are the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Miami Dolphins, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They also have two NBA teams, which include the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic. Florida also has two NHL teams that are the Florida Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. There are two MLB teams in Florida that are the Florida Marlins and the Tampa Bay Rays. Sports also make up a major part of the economy.

It is specifically involved with traveling to natural destinations, building awareness on the conservation of the environment, providing perks for conservation practices as well as financial benefits for the local people.

Ecotourism is different from nature-based tourism. Nature tourism uses natural destinations to lure tourists and includes such activities as kayaking, mountain biking, fishing, camping, hiking and others. The biggest difference between ecotourism and nature tourism lies in the fact that the former contains educational elements and efforts are geared towards environment conservation.

There are four types of ecotourism: hard ecotourism, general or soft ecotourism, adventure ecotourism and educational ecotourism. Hard ecotourism focuses on activities that involve intense ecotourism such as non-hotel accommodations. Soft ecotourism is most common where tourists can observe nature and culture of the local people. Adventure ecotourism involves activities that are high risks such as bungee jumping. Educational tourism is one organized by educational organization complete with lectures and presentations.

There were two major factors that led to the creation of ecotourism. These are : the environmental movement in the 1970's and 1980's and a general dissatisfaction with mass tourism due to over development, pollution and insensitive foreigners (Honey, 1999; Orams, 1995). The combined effect of environmental awareness and great dissatisfaction of mass tourism led to ecotourism.

David Weaver noted that “interest in ecotourism, now widespread among tourism planners and marketers, is rationalized by a number of popular assumptions regarding the sector's potential economic, environment and socio-cultural benefits” (Weaver 1999, 795).

Proper planning and implementation of these ecotourism programs must go hand in hand in order to attain success. It is important to point out that a number of ecotourism projects have failed because of lack of planning and implementation guidelines. The consequences would be disastrous in such cases because economic gains cannot replace the social and environmental damages that ecotourism could contribute.

A number of experts are uncertain over the role of ecotourism in the context of international development. A number of literatures written on ecotourism express either skepticism or optimism.

The Need for Sustainable Development

In early 1987, the term “sustainable development” gained international recognition. The Bruntland Commission defined it as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” ( Our Common Future, 1987, p. 43). In terms of international development, it is taken in the context of social, economic and environmental impacts of development.

For ecotourism to meet the world's stamp of approval, it has to be sustainable. The main goal of ecotourism therefore is sustainable development. In order for the ecotourism strategy to be effective, it must help preserve the environment for the future generations which is the primary concern of the local sectors in Costa Rica now.

Costa Rica's Ecotourism

Costa Rica was a pioneer in ecotourism. Its ecotourism industry has reached a much higher level of maturity compared to other countries. That is why interest in the impact of ecotourism in Costa Rica is also very high. Costa Rica serves as a concrete example of the possible advantages and disadvantages ecotourism will bring. Proper planning and implementation of ecotourism are derived on the lessons learned in Costa Rica's first-hand experience.

According to Honey (1999) estimates showed that the demand for ecotourism is growing at a 10 to 30 percent annual rate. Due to its potential huge impact to the environment, socio-cultural and economic aspect of Costa Rica, it is important to assess its effectiveness and sustainability.

Costa Rica has the makings of a good ecotourism spot. It offers a biologically diverse place in the regions of South America. Its ecosystem is comprised of 12 different life zones. An estimated 4% of all living species thrive in Costa Rica despite its very limited .01% of global territory. Its cloud forests, active volcanoes and huge species of flora and fauna made it ideal for ecotourism.

Costa Rica has all the necessary attractions for ecotourism. It has national parks, a democratic government, a temperate climate and hospitable people. It boasts of the highest standards of living, the largest middle class base and the best public health care system, the best public education and highest literacy rate in all of Latin America (Honey, 1999). Not only that infrastructures are also very good with its paved roads, telephone and electricity access. Its airport facility met international standards and only a few hours flight from the United States.

Tourists from the United States flock to Costa Rica with 39% of them saying nature as the main reason. The government of Costa Rica, fortunately, quickly recognized the importance of ecotourism in their industry and took steps to protect their natural resources. As a matter of fact, a fourth of the country forms part of the 29 parks and protected areas, considered as one of the world's highest protection rates of the natural resources. As ecotourism grew, Costa Rica's economy also grew as best reflected in the country's gross domestic product. In 1995, tourism became the highest money-making venture in the country followed by banana, coffee and beef industry.

Costa Rica was able to meet to the expectations of the tourists by supplying an environmentally conscious tourism. The huge tract of land under the protected area preserved the natural beauty of the environment in Costa Rica. This, in turn, sustains the tourist influx into the country. A number of local and governmental programs have been established to further promote education and conservation of ecotourism. For instance, Monteverde region of Costa Rica which housed a number of notable and popular ecotourism spots such as Monteverde Cloud Forest Private Reserve, the Community Reserve of Santa Elena, the Butterfly Garden, the Orchid Farm, the Community Art Center, CASEM, the Cheese Factory, the Frog Farm and the famous Sky Walk-Sky Trek.

To preserve natural beauty, ecotourism sectors provide guides to accompany the tourists to educate the tourists or impart knowledge about the sites. The Sky Walk project was started by a local family and required the involvement of the entire community. This provides jobs to the locals which they could use to purchase things they need in turn helping the economy move forward. The local schools, churches and road projects also get much needed support from projects such as these.

Costa Rica has not always been a major tourist destination. As a matter of fact, its transformation to become a famous tourist hub was short of miraculous. Ecotourism has started in Costa Rica as early as the 1970's. It took off in 1980's when the government worked hand in hand with USAID, World Bank and IMF to further develop it.

Economic Impacts

The role of economics in ecotourism could not be understated. It was first and foremost the reason behind the creation of ecotourism. It is said that “years ago, the travel agents first dreamed up the idea of "ecotourism" were clearly looking for new markets, not ways to save the world” (Miller and Tangley, 1991, p. 153).

The greatest promise ecotourism holds is its ability to marry economic gains with environment conservation. The movement of travelers from developed to developing countries is essential to earn the much needed dollars to spur the economy. However, this is not the case observed by many in Costa Rica.

Revenue leakage seems to be the order of the day. Revenue leakage is defined as the money which escapes the local economy and went back to developed countries. “In Costa Rica, which by the early 1990's was the number one overseas ecotourism destination for the United States travelers, half of every tourist dollar never left the United States, and only 20 cents actually went into the local economy according to a USAID study” (Honey, 1999, p. 89).

In this scenario, it will be hard for Costa Rica to benefit from ecotourism. Money leaks are observed in the different aspects of the ecotourism business. For instance, paying money to tour operators made up mostly of foreigners, importing of products that attracts foreign tourists and the payment of plane fares to foreign owned airlines.

The economic boost derived from ecotourism is unquestionable. But in order for ecotourism to remain sustainable, the large amount of the profit must go the local communities. According to estimates, 90% of revenue leakage occurs in communities adjacent to natural attractions. In the Tortuguero National Park of Costa Rica, a mere 6% of the total income will go to the local communities.

In order to maximize the economic gains of ecotourism in Costa Rica, revenue leakages must be addressed effectively. Legislation properly in place would make enable the locals to generate a huge percentage of the profits. Also, the need to put up local businesses using indigenous materials and using local labor has to be emphasized to prevent revenue leakage.

Another negative result of ecotourism is it can cause an increase in the cost of living for the locals. A study conducted in the Osa peninsula showed that ecotourism made the inhabitants poorer not richer as thought. Converting the area to a tourist attraction would mean higher cost of living for the locals but the income remains the same because the profits generated often go to outsiders with more experience leaving the community to share the crumbs.

Also, local entrepreneurs do not receive the much-needed financial aid from the government in order to make them competitive. It would be hard for local entrepreneurs to continue without financial backing especially if foreign investments start pouring in. It is important therefore to encourage local initiatives to develop the ecotourism sector before turning to foreign investors.

Exploitation in the marketing of ecotourism poses another economic problem to Costa Rica. This is referred to as “green washing”. Some members of the travel industry want to capitalize with the growing ecotourism market by marketing products as ecotourism even though they have nothing to do with environmental responsibility, whatsoever. “These environmental opportunists package the same travel that was once considered exploitative in a green ribbon, and travelers return home with the illusion that their luxurious vacation was actually good for the environment” (Roberts and Thanos, 2003, p.84).

Another economic dilemma Costa Rica needs to face is the growing dependence on tourism to generate income. Tourism is the number one money-making ventures in Costa Rica totally eclipsing the performance of its former exports like bananas and coffee. What makes this total dependence risky is the fact that tourism is seasonal and is subject to change. One may experience tourism boom in one year and suffer tourism bust in another. In other words, it is not a stable source of income. Too much reliance on it could put a lot of people's jobs at risk.

Complete takeover of foreign investment could also lead to economic problems since it affects the sense of ownership of the locals. For instance, the prices of real estate have sky-rocketed to immense heights that even the locals cannot afford to buy their own lands. Inflation can cause increase of cost of living which could displace a lot of people.

Roberts and Thanos (2003) believe that “as long as ecotourism remains dependent on the international economy it appears it will be influenced and ultimately overpowered by the corporations that dominate the industry”.

A number of critics of ecotourism projects not just in Costa Rica but also in other developing countries have been very vocal about its supposed lack of economic benefits. Critics believed that developing countries the likes of Costa Rica would not likely benefit from international tourism because most major tourist expenditures such as plane fare are taken care of by businesses outside the country.

The reality though paints a different picture. Costa Rica enjoys a high 40% rent capture which is used by owners, managers, guides, meals and accommodation providers for operating expenses. The percentage is actually higher than what most people expect considering Costa Rica does not have local airlines that could compete with international carriers. In ecotourism industry, having privately-owned accommodations are preferable compared to large hotels and restaurants since they can provide better service to tourists. These privately-operated and smaller hotels in turn employ a number of locals and help the economy.

Environmental Impacts

The national park system in Costa Rica is the main attraction in ecotourism. The first strictly protected area came about in 1963. There are now 30 parks and more than 2230 different protected areas in Costa Rica.

One of the environmental effects of ecotourism is overcrowding and impacts of using it. It can give undue pressure to environmentally sensitive areas. Overcrowding natural areas with visitors could result in environmental degradation. “A major environmental cost is the possibility that local carrying capacities, difficult to gauge as they are because of their complexity, will be inadvertently exceeded in the long term by activity associated with ecotourism, especially in those cases where the sector is growing at a rapid rate” (Weaver, 1999, p. 796).

Overcrowding or sudden influx of tourists could lead to excess in the local carrying capacities which will have negative impacts on the environment since the locals are left with the responsibilities of coping with solid waste generation, pollution, habitat destruction, forest degradation and trail erosion. It could also degrade the delicate balance of the ecosystems and threatens the environment from which it depends.

Since ecotourism is getting less seasonal which means Costa Rica can expect tourists all year-round, concerns for its environmental impact particularly from cause-oriented groups also abound. A year-round tourism could mean increasing the conservation efforts to further protect the environment. Take for instance, the local fauna. There is an open and close season for the fauna. During the close season, local fauna are given time to mate. A year-round travel could affect the mating routine. Also, ecotourism thrives on image. As ecotourism grows they might be some problems in the image the ecotourism conjures. A tourist might expect quiet, isolated and untouched beaches but when he comes to Costa Rica he might be disappointed to see the beach flooded with other ecotourists like him. This could pose a potential problem in marketing the place.

Of course, keeping the environment at a minimum is almost impossible with increased number of tourists flocking to the place. Increasing number of hotels constructed, more lights on the streets and on the houses and increased visitors coming in and out of the country are observed to affect the sea-turtle nesting and the sea-turtle itself by changing its pattern of nesting.

It is therefore imperative that ecotourism minimizes these adverse effects by focusing on low-impact construction, controlling the number of visitors in a certain area and using great care when interacting with the fauna and flora.

A concrete example of the problems from the environmental impacts of ecotourism is best exemplified by the Manuel Antonio National Park. The park often experienced overcrowding, lack of planning and over-development of the affected community. This resulted in improper waste disposal which caused a number of the resident monkeys in the area to feed on garbage. In this instance, it is important to point out that conservation measures should be put in place ahead of generating profit in order to protect the environment and to make it sustainable.

The deterioration of the environment will affect tourist visits in the long term. Therefore, to make the area not only sustainable but also income-generating for a long time, conservation measures must be firmly in place.

Social Impacts

To make ecotourism beneficial to the locals, the people should actively contribute to the planning and implementation phase of the project. This area leaves a lot to be desired of since communities did not form part of the decision-making process and private operators particularly foreigners did not consult the community about their plans for the place. Since the local communities have the biggest stake in the consequence of the ecotourism program, their voice should be heard or ideas should be solicited in establishing sustainable ecotourism.

The involvement of the local community to the project could spell its success or failure. The support of the local community is very important because they create the kind of environment that tourists want. Their participation is also essential in identifying the impacts, whether positive or negative, of ecotourism to the affected area. The involvement of the community could also lessen future conflicts.

Ecotourism could possibly lead to the collapse of social and cultural structures. Therefore, it is important that tourists be aware of the cultural dynamics at work in a particular community to make ecotourism work. By using the skills and knowledge of the local people, ecotourism could encourage the native culture. The good news is ecotourists are found to appreciate the local tradition, customs and cuisine compared to other offerings.

The dangers of associating isolated communities with rich foreigners could also be high. A situation called “commofication” could occur which is the erosion of the culture and community structure. Locals may change their practices to accommodate the foreigners.

Conclusion

The overall impact of ecotourism industry to Costa Rica has been very positive. It also helped that the local government and organizations worked hand in hand to promote the environment. Guidelines have been established and followed to be able to facilitate the growing need for ecotourism.

As ecotourism will grow - so will the need for accommodations. This, of course, will have a direct impact on the environment. They may need more places to develop, more space for the tourists. That is why strict implementation of environmental guidelines is essential to minimize the social impact on Costa Rica environment.

The local people should be at the center of the ecotourism development. This is to encourage them to devote their time and full support to ecotourism undertakings thus minimizing the likelihood of negative impacts of ecotourism.

The mystery of missing aircraft on earth that appeared suddenly in the space also raised public attention and discussion. Nevertheless, the American officials declined to comment. Scientist from Sweden, Dr. Weierhaimu Gelaideboshi remarked that the earth missing aircrafts that were seen in the Mars are closely linked to the missing aircrafts in the moon observed by the Soviet Union. The missing aircraft is perfectly matched with the missing of “the devil triangle.” This is an incredible mystery that scientists doubt about it. It is hard to understand why Bermuda disappeared mysteriously.

To understand how these five aircrafts disappeared from the earth, one must back to the history 50 years ago. That was on December 5, 1945, with the 19th 5 doors bomber aircraft of the World War II Navy Aviation Battalion, flying from Florida to the Atlantic Sea.

It was reported that the weather was good that day. There was no abnormal weather observed above the waves of the Atlantic Ocean that might impact the flight. However, when the aircraft entered a Bermuda, the multi-Lebanon Valley and a triangle zone of Miami or also known as “Devil Triangle”, where countless ships and aircrafts had been reported disappearing mysteriously, some unusual things took place. Before missing, the aircraft did not issue any rescue signals to headquarter and even after the missing, no rescue signals had been sent out. The disconnect communication with the base occurred at 1700. The Mariners-Martin (PBM), a rescue team that was sent to rescue the victims was not back thereafter. After the aircrafts missing for nearly 2 hours at the time of 1904, Finder Carbondale Air Force Base received an incredible weak voice from the distant and a series of repeated rescue radio signals-“FT…..FT….”As the rescue aircraft had run out of fuel and the position of the victims could not be identified properly, and thus they had to burry their missions to search for the loss of victims in the five aircrafts. The time passed very fast, and this incident had left us for over 50 years and people no longer want to deal with it. However, after 50 years, these missing aircrafts appeared in the distance planet that remains a mystery to the scientists until now.

An astronomer, Dr. Kefende Lutin claimed that he accidentally came across the scene of aircrafts flying about the Mars after 50 years ago from now. He observed 4 out of 5 World War II missing bomber aircrafts flying a few kilometers away from the surface of the Mars with his telescope. The flying speed of the aircrafts could reach as high as 40,000km. The aircrafts were seen in a good condition and it appeared to be controlled by somebody. It could be clearly seen a sign of the United States on the body of the aircraft. There is no doubt about it- the aircrafts seen flying about the Mars was in accordance with the missing aircrafts in the area of “the devil Triangle.”

The Dr. later excitedly commented on this matter, “This is a big discovery since the Soviet Union spotted the missing United State bomber aircrafts near the moon.”

Soviet Union captured satellite photography of the U.S. bomber aircrafts parked by the edge of the meteorites on the back of the moon on March 1987. When the Soviet Union desired to capture another picture on those missing U.S. aircrafts on July 22, 1988, the aircrafts was found disappeared mysteriously. They concluded that the aircrafts parking area is not static and somebody must have manipulated the aircraft.

Dr. Lutin emphasized that the event of the earth missing aircrafts appeared in the Mars as a fact as he had captured some computer graphic photographs to be evidence. He added that this event is an accidentally discovery and some of the scientist community may tease him for creating false illustration. The Dr. confidently stated that, “I would expect criticism and suspicious on my discovery, but it didn't even boggle me. I believe what I'd seen is not an illusion. Nevertheless, I'm regret to say that I don't know how the aircraft can disappear suddenly from our earth and then enter into the space, and what're the activities being held by these missing aircrafts over the Mars. “

The statement by the Dr. makes us wondering how the aircraft from the earth can enter into the Mars. Followed by the missing 5 bomber aircraft in Bermuda, one of the magazines in the United States published this incident with wide coverage and perspective. The editorial of the magazine received lots of letters from the readers, some of them pointed out that, “There's a "mystery gate" in the Bermuda Triangle Area.”

An American aerospace physicist, Dr. Laite seriously said, “Several hundred kilometers from here, there's always a UFO ship stopping to do surveillance over the sea. Whenever human successfully completed a flight in a space, or when these "aliens" need to access any information, they'll send a small flying spaceship to take samples from the earth. It's a sure bet that numerous mysterious disappearance of the aircrafts might be taken away by them. They took away human together with the aircrafts and thus did not leave any signs that scientists can trace for the missing.”

When mentioning about the discovery of the missing of the United States bomber aircrafts by the Soviet Union in 1987, a former Soviet aircraft pilot, Peter Glenn had remarked his personal experience in contact with a rare situation occurred during the winter time of 1948. He said, “At that moment, I was having a flying training practice over the Siberian coast. Suddenly, a bright flash, cylindrical flying object appeared in the right side of my plane. Its length was about 500m and its body was made of a dazzling metal substance. As the object was too dazzling, I couldn't see it directly, but I could feel a powerful suction coming towards my direction. I lost control of the aircraft, and I'd seen the object opened its two huge cabin doors. When my aircraft was being sucked by this object, I could see some moving shadows staring at me. Just at that moment, the shadows in the cabin changed their minds and released me from this capture. The suction power was reduced towards my aircraft, the cabin doors were closed immediately and in a high speed the object was soaring high in the sky and flew off. I was lucky to escape from this incident.”

The personal experience of Glenn coincides with the discovery of UFO over the Bermuda area that may have accounted for a mysterious disappearance of the aircrafts in the area of “devil Triangle.” It may have the possibility that the aircraft was being hijacked by some strange aliens from the outer space.