Miami Heat

Star Island Miami Florida

Daring daughter is talking about Star Island in Miami, so I have to go look it up on the map. Okay, another island full of rich people and big houses. Big whoopee. But what are all these ponds along the Western border of the city? It looks like it could be a massive aquaculture operation. Wikipedia doesn't say anything about them, but I did find this quick summary of recent geological history:

Beginning some 130,000 years ago the Sangamonian Stage raised sea levels to approximately 25 feet (7.6 m) above the current level. All of southern Florida was covered by a shallow sea. . . . By 15,000 years ago, the sea level had dropped to 300 to 350 feet (110 m) below the contemporary level. The sea level rose quickly after that, stabilizing at the current level about 4000 years ago, leaving the mainland of South Florida just above sea level.

Kind of a fluke that South Florida is just above sea level right now. Puts global warming in perspective.