"In the spring, Tipasa is inhabited by gods, and they speak in the sunshine and the smell of wormwood, in the sea covered with silver armor, in the deep blue sky, and in the ruins covered with flowers.
, in the light boiling among the rocks."
"Camus's "The Marriage of Tipasa" depicts this ancient Roman city by the sea in a way that is full of reverie."
Bi Fang was riding on the back of a camel, his body swaying slightly to the left and right with the ups and downs.
From Burkina Faso to Mali and now Algeria, in less than a month, Bifang has traveled across three countries.
"This country in northern Africa is very mysterious. It is insulated from the Internet. Except for business and project visitors, the number of tourists who visit every year is only a few thousand."
"Unlike its neighboring internet celebrities Morocco and Egypt, Algeria keeps a low profile to the outside world. Photography is not even allowed in many areas, and even fewer outsiders have seen its true appearance."
"This is mainly due to cultural reasons. This is a very conservative country, especially in the south, and men can only be photographed with their consent."
"As for women, it's even more impossible, because women are considered private property locally and can only be photographed with the consent of their husband or father."
"If you are caught photographing, the police will ask to examine a photo and spend an hour revisiting the castles, ancient monasteries and Ottoman palaces you photographed, as well as the fourth-century Carthage trading post."
"Suppose you have a group of residential buildings in your photo, with flying clothes hanging on the flowered balconies between the roofs, colorful porcelain decorations on the exterior walls, faint gardens and fountains in the streets, and store entrances on low steps.
It’s filled with felts, tea sets, jewelry and other trinkets.”
"The examination must be very detailed, for fear that you may have photographed the face of a married woman without her consent."
"Perhaps only in front of the uninhabited ancient Roman ruins in Tipasa can tourists take photos as much as they want."
Among the ruins, in front of the blue sea in the background, with the smell of sun-dried sweat, this is the most common tourist photo in Algeria.
【Hiss, are you so serious? 】
[Is it okay for Fang Shen to live broadcast like this? 】
[As long as no one is photographed, it will be fine. Fang Shen always goes wherever no one goes (dog head)]
"Indeed, Algeria spans the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean cultural circle, and faces France across the sea. It is known as the sunset place in North Africa and the back garden of Europe. But I'm sorry, there is a high probability that we will not be able to see it this time.
Such a beautiful side.”
Bi Fang said with a smile.
Algeria is actually bigger than its online presence.
As the largest country in Africa, Algeria is also the tenth largest country in the world, ten times the size of China. It will also be an important step for Bi Fang on his way through.
"However, although we are not close to cities and rural areas, we can also try to go to some junctions with dense vegetation. The resources there are more abundant, and we may encounter some large animals."
Bi Fang used both legs to push Alpha to speed up.
In the evening, the sand dunes have completely disappeared, and the ground underfoot has returned to solidity. Although there is still gravel, it is completely different from its previous appearance.
Bi Fang got off Alpha's back and stood on a hillside looking into the distance. Under the setting sun, he was surprised to find that there were animals looking at him in the distance.
It was a small animal, about the size of a forearm, with extremely large ears. It was quietly watching Bifang, a strange visitor, from a hundred meters away, seemingly very curious.
The audience also noticed this scene of looking at each other and found it particularly interesting.
【What is that, a fox? 】
【so cute】
[It’s staring at Fang Shen]
"It's a fennec fox."
Since it was facing the sun, the animal had almost only a black outline, but Bi Fang could identify what animal it was just by looking at the outline.
"The fennec fox is the national animal of Algeria. Excluding its tail, its body length is only 30 to 40 centimeters, which is about the same size as a dog. It is one of the smallest canids in the world, but its ears are very long, with average ears
At 15 centimeters long, this is probably its most recognizable feature."
"Scorching hot days and freezing temperatures at night are not uncommon in the North African desert, and the small fennec fox is well adapted to the harsh environment of the North African desert."
"Their soles are covered with soft long fine hairs to keep them warm, which makes it easier to walk on loose sand. Their two large open ears are like radiators that constantly dissipate heat and help detect prey."
"In a water-scarce environment, they can survive for a long time by looking for easy-to-eat plants near their habitat. Water-saving measures include staying in caves on hot days and only going out at night."
"Now that the sun is setting, it will be its active time soon. Maybe it has never seen anyone like this before, and it is very curious about me. Hey, look, it is still approaching."
Bi Fang stared at the fennec fox, stretched out his hand and touched the ground, and found a stone. No, it should be said to be a clod of soil. It began to break apart with a gentle squeeze.
Kneading the clod of soil into a shape of suitable size, Bi Fang quietly waited for the other party's arrival.
[Others see cute animals, go up and touch them, holding food in their hands. Lao Fang sees cute animals, go up and hit them, holding rocks in his hands (covering his face)]
[Features of Fang Shen]
【Is this thing also a protected animal? 】
"Yes and no." Bifang replied.
"Normally speaking, fennec foxes are only controlled, and their population is considered non-threatening in the world's protected species list. They can even be kept as pets, but well, we are in Algeria now..."
There is no need for Bifang to explain the next words clearly, the audience will understand.
Bifang also said just now that the fennec fox is the national animal of Algeria and is naturally protected within the country.
However, the situation seemed to be different from what Bi Fang had imagined. When the distance was about fifty meters away, he heard the fennec fox's scream, which was quite rapid and had a hint of fierceness in it.
Bi Fang rubbed his chin, a little unsure.
"Through frequent vocal changes to communicate, adult foxes and young foxes will make various sounds such as squeaking, whining or screaming. The low-pitched roars are usually short and loud, repeated many times, and are used to convey information between similar species."
While talking, several fennec foxes also appeared in other directions, rushing towards the original one, and then roared towards Bifang together, as if they were about to launch an attack next.
At this time, Bi Fang still didn't understand. He dropped the clod of soil, touched the back of his head and laughed.
"It seems that I am being sentimental. I have intruded into their territory, so I came out to drive them away. It seems that their cave is near me."
Bi Fang looked down and, as expected, saw a rather hidden cave more than ten meters away from him.
Through the cave, you can also see faintly alive animals moving inside.
"The fennec fox is a highly social species. Parents and offspring form family groups of no more than 10 animals. Each family unit demarcates its own territory through urine and feces."
"The most important thing is that they have a strong sense of protecting their territory and their young. When their young are in danger, they will not be afraid of any incoming enemies."
"Forget it, let's go."
[It’s over, Fang Shen is hated]
[Hahahaha, I’m laughing so hard, Fang Shen will also be disliked one day]
[This is the first time, worth celebrating]
Bi Fang had no interest in staying to entertain the fennec fox, so he rode on Alpha and continued on the road. By this time, the sun had completely set, and it was time to find a suitable shelter to rest.
Almost every night, Bi Fang builds sand pits.
Just to sleep for one night, there is no need to build a shelter as perfect as the better the shelter, the more investment is required. For Bifang, building a shelter that is too good is not worth it.
There is nothing better than a sandpit, which is convenient and fast, and you can sleep softly. This time is no exception. However, the digging tool does not seem to be as smooth as the previous month.
After throwing out the sand, Bifang suddenly felt a slight pain in his fingers, and then there was a slight tingling sensation in the tiger's mouth. When he raised his hand, he could clearly see what had bitten him.
They were two ants made of pure silver, about less than one centimeter long. One was at the tip of his index finger, and the other was at the tiger's mouth. They were firmly biting his flesh.
Bi Fang quickly jumped out of the pit, picked off two ants, and couldn't help but smile bitterly: "It seems that we are really unlucky today. Every time we stop, we are driven away by animals."
Under the moonlight, the ant's back shines with a dazzling silver light, truly like a mythical creature.
For a moment, everyone forgot about Bifang being bitten, and their attention was attracted by this little ant.
[Damn, silver ants!
!]
【So handsome】
[What kind of ant is this? It’s too big, right?]
"This is a Saharan silver ant."
Bi Fang looked regretfully at the deep pit underneath.
Every time he looks for shelter, he always pays attention to whether there are poisonous insects, snakes, or ants, but unfortunately this time there are some exceptions.
The reason is naturally that the slope where the fennec fox built its nest was originally chosen by Bi Fang, but was driven away. When he found a suitable place again, the sun had already set, and he could not see clearly whether there was any
The creature is here.
"It's so beautiful. It's the most beautiful ant I've ever seen."
Although he was bitten, Bi Fang was not angry at all. Instead, he held the ant in the palm of his hand and observed it carefully with the help of moonlight.
This is real pure silver, shining brightly under the moonlight. It is hard to imagine how brilliant it will be under the sunlight.
【This ant is really beautiful】
[I have never seen such a beautiful creature]
[Extremely noble]
"The year-round scorching sun and less than 80 millimeters of precipitation throughout the year make the Sahara Desert a forbidden area for life. If it weren't for the sound of wind, or only the deathly silence could describe the desolation here."
"But miracles always appear in unexpected ways. Even in the face of such a bad situation, there is still life blooming with unyielding attitude and extreme stubbornness."
"If the camel is the representative of the Mammalia class, then the Saharan silver ant is the pride of the Insecta class."
"One of the most lethal factors affecting survival in the Sahara Desert is undoubtedly high temperature. The unobstructed reality makes the temperature in the Sahara easily rise to a level during the day that is enough to make life on the ground disappear."
"After all, 50c is far beyond the scope of 'suitable'."
"However, in the eyes of Saharan silver ants, this is an excellent opportunity to go out. In their survival philosophy, the most dangerous times are often the safest. The concept of 'thinking that others dare not think and doing that others dare not do' has served them well."
Won a glimmer of hope."
"And it's not just 50 degrees. These little guys can even move in the desert with a temperature of 70 degrees. It's a miracle."
Surface temperature and air temperature are two completely different concepts.
Temperatures of fifty degrees are not uncommon in the Sahara, but they never reach seventy degrees.
The only thing that can reach seventy degrees is the surface.
There are heat-resistant bacteria in nature that can withstand temperatures of 100 degrees, but they are microorganisms with simple structures, not animals.
In an environment of 100 degrees, animals will only become a piece of cooked meat.
But for ants living on the ground, the surface temperature is their survival temperature.
"Silver ants are covered with fine hairs arranged in an orderly manner. These fine hairs are not cylindrical like hair, but more like prisms."
"This way each surface can effectively reflect visible and near-infrared light from different incident angles."
"In addition, this fine hair can also radiate mid-infrared light outward to dissipate heat and continuously cool down."
"In addition to reflecting and dissipating heat, they are also very fast. Up to 0.7 meters per second. If converted to a human body, it can reach a super high speed of 450 kilometers per hour."
"Such high speeds can help them fight quickly and reduce the risk of being sunburned to death."
[Diao]
[Weird knowledge has been added]
[Seeing the miracle of nature again]
[I watched Penguins of Madagascar two days ago, and there was a sentence in it that particularly touched me]
【Careless】
[There is a 95% chance that we are doomed.
What about the other 5%?
It is an unknown adventure and endless glory that no other penguin has.
Then I will choose this path.]
【handsome!】
[Fang Shen is five percent of penguins!]
[Although I don’t have much money, following Lao Fang really helps me gain experience, otherwise I might never see any silver ants in my life.]
【I really want to raise a litter】
"The eyes of deep-sea fish can help them hunt in the dark deep sea, bees can sense ultraviolet light, many beetles and butterflies can use changes in the microstructure of their wings to change color, and fireflies can communicate using the bioluminescence they produce...
…”
"There are always some creatures with abilities that are unexpected and surprising, making you have to admire the tenacity and strength of life."
Although there was nothing gained today, Bifang still felt happy to meet two kinds of creatures at close range that he had never interacted with before.
Bi Fang carefully placed the ant in his hand back on the ground and watched it quickly flee in a certain direction.
Following its route, Bifang saw more Saharan silver ants, which were like mercury exposed in the air, gathering together in a certain direction.