According to one definition, a liquid is a sample of matter that conforms to the shape of its container, and which acquires a defined surface in the presence of gravity. Another calls it a substance that exhibits a characteristic readiness to flow, little or no tendency to disperse, and relatively high incompressibility. In other words, you would be hard pressed to compress it. Ever tried compressing water? I haven’t, but I feel sure it would be impossible. Squeeze it one way and it squirts out another.
But I digress. A liquid could be many things, but I choose my favorite liquid—water. How much of the human body is water? A Google search supplies conflicting answers, but I rather like this breakdown: the body is more than 60% water, blood is 92% water, the brain and muscles are 75% water, and bones—yes, even bones—are about 22% water. Now I’m definitely getting off track, so to get back on, I’ll take a pictorial look at water as found on the Garden Isle of Kauai. In addition to keeping our bodies hydrated at an optimum level, water can do all the following and more.
- add sun and make a rainbow
- allow adventurers to strap on a parachute and go surfing
- grow trees and plants, and let us kayak on its surface
- give us a place to play
- dazzle us with the golden reflection of a sunset
- carve out an island (looking at Na Pali from the Kalalau Trail)
- create a beach (looking down from Na Pali’s Kalalau Trail onto Ke’e Beach)
- inspire us with its designs
Entry to a great photo challenge by Where’s My Backpack?