You know that one line in Toto’s famous song “I bless the rains down in Africa”, well, here on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, we’ve been singing our own version of that for the past several months.
It was a bit touch and go for a while. The most severe drought anyone in the D.R. can remember for the past 20 years started sometime in May 2015 and didn’t begin easing off until mid December 2015. This drought caused serious agricultural losses and prompted national water rationing measures. To our horror, we watched lush vegetation and many rivers dry up, canyon pools shrink by half and spectacular waterfalls diminish to a not much more than a trickle! We’ll admit we were worried!
The cause was none other than our sometimes friend and sometimes arch nemesis El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). A cyclical climate phenomenon that affects weather patterns around the world. While it was forecast to continue until early spring 2016, we’re happy to report… IT’S OVER (for this cycle anyway)!
The rains have returned to the island! Some days in tropical torrents, other days a steady drizzle but most days a blessed 20 minute downpour on hot sunny afternoons! The flora and fauna has sighed a deep breath of relief, the rivers are flowing, the waterfalls are crashing again and canyon pool waters have risen to normal levels! Phew!!
Suffice it to say, everyone at Iguana Mama has now taken advanced “raindance” courses from our local shaman and we hope never to come that close to having to offer desert dune tours again! Come on down… the water’s fine!
It was a bit touch and go for a while. The most severe drought anyone in the D.R. can remember for the past 20 years started sometime in May 2015 and didn’t begin easing off until mid December 2015. This drought caused serious agricultural losses and prompted national water rationing measures. To our horror, we watched lush vegetation and many rivers dry up, canyon pools shrink by half and spectacular waterfalls diminish to a not much more than a trickle! We’ll admit we were worried!
The cause was none other than our sometimes friend and sometimes arch nemesis El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). A cyclical climate phenomenon that affects weather patterns around the world. While it was forecast to continue until early spring 2016, we’re happy to report… IT’S OVER (for this cycle anyway)!
The rains have returned to the island! Some days in tropical torrents, other days a steady drizzle but most days a blessed 20 minute downpour on hot sunny afternoons! The flora and fauna has sighed a deep breath of relief, the rivers are flowing, the waterfalls are crashing again and canyon pool waters have risen to normal levels! Phew!!
Suffice it to say, everyone at Iguana Mama has now taken advanced “raindance” courses from our local shaman and we hope never to come that close to having to offer desert dune tours again! Come on down… the water’s fine!
