The Mountains that Connect us Together

My Scholarship entry - From Red Flames to Green Grass: Life on a Volcano

NEW ZEALAND | Tuesday, 18 November 2014 | Views [317] | View Larger Image

As I walked down to the base of the island, where it meets the sea. I was fascinated by the contrast between the black rock and blue water. I looked down and saw a periwinkle snail clutched to the base of a rock. I took this photograph to show the movement of life to the volcano island. Between the water and black lava rock, it looks like an oil spill has just happened, trapping the snail. It goes to show that even in extreme and destructive events, life can recover. Among all the darkness and destruction, given enough time, beauty can arise once again.

Crouched in a cave, carved by the steady stream of lava, I looked through a crack on the ceiling. Above me shined the sun, illuminating the growing spuds of moss and the thin cobwebs of spiders. As the time has passed, beautiful things have come to colonize this large volcano. It is beautiful to see this steady progression of life moving into the tiniest pieces of lava.

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At the end of the day, as I made my way back to the ferry, I stopped to get some water. Crawling towards me on a rock was a beautiful, yet delicate beetle, decorated in orange, blue and green colors. This marching insect pushed its way forward without looking back, without any knowledge of the place he calls home. From out of the sea, rose a mountain of hot lava, still warm to this day. Yet, the seeds of nearby trees and mosses took their chance and started to grow. Through time, just like the marching beetle, organisms began to set up their homes on Mt. Ragnitoto. Now full of life, this island is the perfect balance between new and old, and shows how even in the darkest of times, beautiful things can happen.

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The Mountains that Connect us Together

My Scholarship entry - From Red Flames to Green Grass: Life on a Volcano

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