Freshwater Vacations - Variety is the Spice of Life!
Wherever you decide to travel, freshwater is usually not hard to find. If you find yourself swimming in a lake, fly fishing in a stream, exploring nature in a freshwater marsh - you have found your dream vacation! Every continent on the globe offers a rich diversity of freshwater vacations!
Pick Your Pleasure!
The still or moving water allow for a variety of your favorite past times!
You can enjoy them all thanks to fresh water! |
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Famous Freshwater Fun-lands!
The Great Lakes: Enjoy the beauty of the midwest by exploring the Great Lakes. Lakes Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Eerie and Superior offer a lot of fun things to do. You can kayak, go river rafting, boating, water skiing, swimming and jet skiing. There are also a lot of fishing opportunities in the summertime and ice fishing in the winter.
Grand Canyon/Colorado River: The Grand Canyon is carved out by the Colorado River and is one of the seven natural wonders of the world! It is an amazing place to see with an awesome national park. There is rafting on the Colorado river, donkey tours in the depths of the canyon, or just spectacular views from the rim. The Amazon River in South America is a beautiful example of a freshwater habitat. It starts high in the Andes Mountains (Peru) and goes through South America for almost 4,000 miles! There are many exotic animals, birds, and fish to see on a tour of this coast -- and also many beautiful beaches and jungles. | There are many famous freshwater points of interest -- each with their own set of wonders to discover! You might consider any one of these amazing vacation spots for your next getaway.
The Florida Everglades are the biggest freshwater marsh in the United States and one of the biggest freshwater biomes in the world! You can adventure on airboat rides through the swampy area to view wildlife like snakes, alligators, and exotic birds. It is the natural habitat for many beautiful plants and animals. The Nile River in Northern Africa is the longest river in the world! If you visit this beautiful and historic countryside, you can cruise down the Nile on a historic cruise visiting famous Egyptian landmarks. You can also sail on a faluka and enjoy the local culture. |
Weather Report!
What's the temperature? There is not just one type of weather in the freshwater biome, because they are located all over the world. The average temperature is greatly varied from a tropical to low temperature (average 72°F) in the summer and winters average about 39.2°F.
If you think about the different kinds of freshwater, there are also differences in temperature. Temperatures in lakes and ponds depend on the depth of the water and the season of the year. At the deepest point, the water temperature can be as low as 39°F, regardless of the season. At the top of the water the temperature can be as high as 72°F in the summer and 32°F in the winter.
Streams and rivers are different from ponds and lakes because they are flowing water. The characteristics of streams and rivers change from the source to the end, and the temperature at the source is usually much cooler than at the end of the stream or river.
In all freshwater, temperatures vary with depth, and aquatic habitats of any depth generally have a thermocline. A thermocline is a narrow band of water where temperature suddenly changes.
Average Precipitation: There is also a lot of variation in rainfall in the freshwater biome. The average rainfall per year can be anywhere from 10 to 80 inches!
If you think about the different kinds of freshwater, there are also differences in temperature. Temperatures in lakes and ponds depend on the depth of the water and the season of the year. At the deepest point, the water temperature can be as low as 39°F, regardless of the season. At the top of the water the temperature can be as high as 72°F in the summer and 32°F in the winter.
Streams and rivers are different from ponds and lakes because they are flowing water. The characteristics of streams and rivers change from the source to the end, and the temperature at the source is usually much cooler than at the end of the stream or river.
In all freshwater, temperatures vary with depth, and aquatic habitats of any depth generally have a thermocline. A thermocline is a narrow band of water where temperature suddenly changes.
Average Precipitation: There is also a lot of variation in rainfall in the freshwater biome. The average rainfall per year can be anywhere from 10 to 80 inches!
What Should I Pack?
Traveling to your freshwater destination could take you to a variety of different places -- so check the weather report before you go! Thing to bring might range from a parka to a swimsuit, from swim goggles to snow goggles, from sled to water skis! Be sure to consider supplies like the following:
Snow Mobile
Swimsuit
Scuba Gear
Sled
Hip Waders
Sun Glasses
Fishing Pole
Sun Hat
Jet Ski
Bait
Life Jacket
Raft/Canoe/Kayak/Boat
Water Skis
Sunscreen
Ice Skates
Warm Clothes
Snow Mobile
Swimsuit
Scuba Gear
Sled
Hip Waders
Sun Glasses
Fishing Pole
Sun Hat
Jet Ski
Bait
Life Jacket
Raft/Canoe/Kayak/Boat
Water Skis
Sunscreen
Ice Skates
Warm Clothes
Hop, Skip & a Jump Away...What's Nearby?
Since freshwater biomes are located all over the world, nearby biomes could be very diverse. Examples might be:
Marine Biome: This is a common nearby biome to freshwater. In fact there is often shared space when a freshwater body of water flows into a salt water body of water. This area is called an estuary. The main difference between marine and freshwater is the salt concentration in the water. As a result, different kinds of animals and plants have adapted to live in the salt water. A side trip to a marine biome might include fishing for big fish, surfing, and enjoying the waves of the ocean while searching for shells on the beach.
Tundra Biome: Given that a large amount of freshwater is frozen, a trip to the nearby tundra would not be too difficult. The tundra biome has cold temperatures and strong winds. There are short summers that are not very long which results in a very short growing season. The plants are shorter and smaller than in other areas because the top soil in this area freezes and thaws several times throughout the year.The soil is not very good for growing things here.
Tropical Rain Forest: This nearby biome is full of tall leafy trees and many species of exotic animals. It is found for instance off of the coast of the Amazon River and in many parts of South America.
Temperate Forest: This nearby biome is filled with many different trees. There are coniferous trees (ones that produce cones and have leaves shaped like needles), and deciduous trees (ones that lose their leaves when the season changes). These forests have cold winders and springs that bring blossoms to trees and flowers. The soil here is very rich and good for growing things.
Marine Biome: This is a common nearby biome to freshwater. In fact there is often shared space when a freshwater body of water flows into a salt water body of water. This area is called an estuary. The main difference between marine and freshwater is the salt concentration in the water. As a result, different kinds of animals and plants have adapted to live in the salt water. A side trip to a marine biome might include fishing for big fish, surfing, and enjoying the waves of the ocean while searching for shells on the beach.
Tundra Biome: Given that a large amount of freshwater is frozen, a trip to the nearby tundra would not be too difficult. The tundra biome has cold temperatures and strong winds. There are short summers that are not very long which results in a very short growing season. The plants are shorter and smaller than in other areas because the top soil in this area freezes and thaws several times throughout the year.The soil is not very good for growing things here.
Tropical Rain Forest: This nearby biome is full of tall leafy trees and many species of exotic animals. It is found for instance off of the coast of the Amazon River and in many parts of South America.
Temperate Forest: This nearby biome is filled with many different trees. There are coniferous trees (ones that produce cones and have leaves shaped like needles), and deciduous trees (ones that lose their leaves when the season changes). These forests have cold winders and springs that bring blossoms to trees and flowers. The soil here is very rich and good for growing things.