The Costa Rica Dome

The Costa Rica Dome

Famous as the home to the marvelous blue whales, the Costa Rica Dome is a biologically diverse offing site on the southern portion of the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. The shelf like area is located at the 9°N and 90°W with a diameter ranging between 100 and 900 km. Apart from blue whales, the open oceanic site has plentiful of marine animals due to the highly nutritive water.

Blue Whale Tail

A Blue Whale in the Pacific Ocean

The Dome of Costa Rica is of high significance as it is the one of the preferable breeding and feeding points of blue whales. Furthermore, it also acts a habitat for sharks, dolphins, eels, tuna fish, sea turtles, rays, octopuses, colonies of marine birds and other species of whales as well. The Dome of Costa Rica is known for its phenomenal winds and tides. Due to continuous high currents, the frigid cold water tends to ascend while the warmer water goes down. The water on the surface has high amounts of nutrients and immense plankton blooms that lure a large number of marine wildlife. The Costa Rica Dome is connected to the underwater tectonic valley of Cocos which triggers many earthquake and subaquatic cyclonic currents. As the currents change constantly keep changing their directions, the dome of Costa Rica similarly changes its position.

The high sea area here spans over a thousand square kilometers. The warmer tropical water changes its place with the colder water due to the strong winds and tides. The cold water that has ascended to the surface appears to be an impeccable habitat for animals of the ocean. The dome has the rich biomass of phytoplanktons, unicellular algae, tiny crustaceans and krills that are more than enough for the enormous appetites of the blue whales. Apart from copious supply of food material, the Costa Rica Dome’s tropical water is a perfect environment for the younglings of the fish.

The Dome of Costa Rica is beneficial for certain economical reasons. Travelers from all over the world visit the Dome areas for whale-watching tours. The fabulous acrobatic displays of the majestic blue whales are quite a sight which is highly admired by the tourists. Hence, increased rates of tourism to the Dome has benefited the country financially. Annually, whale watching tours can make about 20 million dollars! The Dome is also advantageous for the fishing communities. Moreover, the oceanic floor of the Dome is rich with a byproduct of the biomass namely methane chlathrate, also known as ‘fire ice’. It is considered as the one of the most powerful elements for producing energy.

Map of the Dome

Map of The Costa Rica Dome

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