Skimming the Surface
November 08, 2023
Photographer: Juan Manuel Perez Rayego
Summary Authors: Juan Manuel Perez Rayego: Jim Foster
I had been photographing insects for a while along a stream entering the Guadian River in Spain and couldn’t help but notice how these water striders controlled their movement atop the water. Long legs, for their body size, and micro hairs enable water striders or pond skaters to walk over the water's surface. Surface tension is the key. Water molecules have a greater attraction to one another than to the molecules of the air, giving the water an elastic membrane upon which the striders travel. Photos taken on September 24, 2023.
Merida, Badajoz, Spain Coordinates: 38.931383, -6.396951
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