Nature Highrise for termites

Highrise for termites · 03:32 AM

A massive termite mound in Litchfield National Park. I'm not a great fan of putting myself in the picture, but without me there for scale, it's hard to see just how huge this structure is. I know, it's your typical tourist photo, but I just thought the termite mound was interesting.

KarenH · 11-16-2010, 04:01 AM

That looks huge, unless you've used a semi tilt-shift technique

Your tittle could have been: Honey, I shrunk myself.
Nice comparison

RobG · 11-16-2010, 04:15 AM

Originally posted by KarenH

That looks huge, unless you've used a semi tilt-shift technique

Your tittle could have been: Honey, I shrunk myself.
Nice comparison

I'd forgotten about that movie! I assure you I haven't done anything tricky with a photo editor. The termite mound really is about 6 metres high!

goddo31 · 11-16-2010, 07:35 AM

That thing is friggen huge! Impressive natural structure, thanks for sharing.

jolepp · 11-16-2010, 07:41 AM

These guys are quite the construction engineers :-)

RobG · 11-16-2010, 02:53 PM

Originally posted by goddo31

That thing is friggen huge! Impressive natural structure, thanks for sharing.

Thanks! I do have other photos without me in them.

Actually, I must track down the photos I took of the magnetic termite mounds.

Originally posted by jolepp

These guys are quite the construction engineers :-)

They only put the scaffolding on at night!

One thing I was curious about was whether anyone has estimated the age of a mound like that. It must have taken years to build.

**Heinrich Lohmann** · 11-16-2010, 08:13 PM

Thats downright amazing, thanks for dhowing us.

RobG · 11-17-2010, 02:47 AM

Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann

Thats downright amazing, thanks for showing us.

Thanks! The huge termite mounds are in the same area of Litchfield National Park in the Northern Territory as the "magnetic" termite mounds. The first time I went to see them, I couldn't see what the fuss was about;

April was the end of the wet season, the grass was high, and the summer fires hadn't cleared it away. In October however, at the end of the dry season, it's a different picture altogether!

The termite mounds are aligned so that the narrow edge is exposed to the hottest sun in summer, while the flat side gets light when warmth is needed. So the design is in effect an air-conditioning system.

jolepp · 11-17-2010, 02:53 AM

The chief architect must be different here :-) Why "magnetic", though?

RobG · 11-17-2010, 03:09 AM

Originally posted by jolepp

The chief architect must be different here :-) Why "magnetic", though?

I'm not sure if they're actually aligned north-south but you can see that they're all aligned in the same direction, like compasses. So, magnetic.

http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s721104.htm

Apparently yes, they are aligned north-south. And yes, it's a temperature regulation method.

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11-17-2010, 02:47 AM	#8
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,891 Original Poster	Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann Thats downright amazing, thanks for showing us. Thanks! The huge termite mounds are in the same area of Litchfield National Park in the Northern Territory as the "magnetic" termite mounds. The first time I went to see them, I couldn't see what the fuss was about; April was the end of the wet season, the grass was high, and the summer fires hadn't cleared it away. In October however, at the end of the dry season, it's a different picture altogether! The termite mounds are aligned so that the narrow edge is exposed to the hottest sun in summer, while the flat side gets light when warmth is needed. So the design is in effect an air-conditioning system. Last edited by RobG; 11-17-2010 at 02:53 AM.

11-17-2010, 03:09 AM	#10
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,891 Original Poster	Originally posted by jolepp The chief architect must be different here :-) Why "magnetic", though? I'm not sure if they're actually aligned north-south but you can see that they're all aligned in the same direction, like compasses. So, magnetic. http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/s721104.htm Apparently yes, they are aligned north-south. And yes, it's a temperature regulation method. Last edited by RobG; 11-17-2010 at 03:15 AM.

11-16-2010, 04:01 AM	#2
KarenH Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Berkel en Rodenrijs Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 828	That looks huge, unless you've used a semi tilt-shift technique Your tittle could have been: Honey, I shrunk myself. Nice comparison

11-16-2010, 04:15 AM	#3
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,891 Original Poster	Originally posted by KarenH That looks huge, unless you've used a semi tilt-shift technique Your tittle could have been: Honey, I shrunk myself. Nice comparison I'd forgotten about that movie! I assure you I haven't done anything tricky with a photo editor. The termite mound really is about 6 metres high!

11-16-2010, 07:35 AM	#4
goddo31 Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Perth, Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,576	That thing is friggen huge! Impressive natural structure, thanks for sharing.

11-16-2010, 07:41 AM	#5
jolepp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Finland Photos: Albums Posts: 3,196	These guys are quite the construction engineers :-)

11-16-2010, 02:53 PM	#6
RobG Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Canberra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 8,891 Original Poster	Originally posted by goddo31 That thing is friggen huge! Impressive natural structure, thanks for sharing. Thanks! I do have other photos without me in them. Actually, I must track down the photos I took of the magnetic termite mounds. Originally posted by jolepp These guys are quite the construction engineers :-) They only put the scaffolding on at night! One thing I was curious about was whether anyone has estimated the age of a mound like that. It must have taken years to build.

11-16-2010, 08:13 PM	#7
Heinrich Lohmann Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Airdrie, Alberta Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,097	Thats downright amazing, thanks for dhowing us.

11-17-2010, 02:53 AM	#9
jolepp Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Finland Photos: Albums Posts: 3,196	The chief architect must be different here :-) Why "magnetic", though?