The Next Central American Hotspot?
In the past, two Central American countries dominated the claim to picturesque beaches, peaceful vacations and tropical getaways. Mexico and Costa Rica has claimed a vast majority of the tourism pie for the past decade. Today, however, Nicaragua aims to get their own slice of that market. An image of violence and political unrest has hung over Nicaragua in the past, keeping potential tourists from exploring what the country has to offer, but this perception of the country has changed as more and more adventurous souls have wandered across the Nicaraguan border. The changes in perception are...
Read MoreNicaragua is Ahead of the Curve: a Hydropower Destination
A whopping 33.8% of Nicaragua’s energy came from renewable resources in 2008. That is more than twice as much as China (17.8%) and well over three times as much as the United States (10%). What is Nicaragua doing that allows it to be so reliant on renewable energy? Investing in hydroelectric power. Nearly 46% of Nicaragua’s renewable energy comes from a hydroelectric turbine. Turbines like the one found on Lago Apanás are responsible for powering the small country. source Lago Apanás, or Lake Apanas, is a quick 10-minute drive from the municipal of Jinotega. The 51-square...
Read MoreThe Caribbean Goes Wild
The more we prepare for Honduras, the more delighted we become about running this trip. Check out this video clip that originally came from the BBC’s Wild Caribbean special: (source: BBCWorldWide) You can see that we’ll be staying in the perfect place for visiting the Mesoamerican reef. (The Roatán islands are above the northern Honduran...
Read MoreIn The Press: Achieving beyond your comfort zone
LJ, a Globetrotter participant was featured in a semiannual publication by Severn School. From building a baseball backstop to picking beans, LJ stepped out of his comfort zone and found that helping less fortunate communities gave him a sense of achievement, and a lasting desire to serve. (By clicking on the image below, you can view the full-size...
Read MoreGoing Solar: What You Probably Didn’t Know
Solar energy- you’ve heard about it. You may have even been stopped by an environmentalist saying you should support it. If you’re really cool, maybe your own house uses it. But how much do you really know about solar energy? Plants make the process of turning light into energy look easy, but producing a solar cell is far from simple. Here’s what you need to know about solar energy. The beginning: A french physicist, Antoine-César Becquerel, first observed the effects of solar power while experimenting with an electrode in an electrolyte solution. As light graced through...
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