El Estor: pictures from the Guatemalan hinterland. El Estor: pictures from the Guatemalan hinterland Who is most influenced by the Sun
The sun is the source of life on the planet. Its rays provide the necessary light and warmth. At the same time, ultraviolet radiation from the Sun is destructive to all living things. To find a compromise between the beneficial and harmful properties of the Sun, meteorologists calculate the ultraviolet radiation index, which characterizes the degree of its danger.
What kind of UV radiation from the sun is there?
Ultraviolet radiation from the Sun has a wide range and is divided into three regions, two of which reach the Earth.
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UVA. Long-wave radiation range
315–400 nmThe rays pass almost freely through all atmospheric “barriers” and reach the Earth.
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UV-B. Medium wave range radiation
280–315 nmThe rays are 90% absorbed by the ozone layer, carbon dioxide and water vapor.
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UV-C. Shortwave range radiation
100–280 nmThe most dangerous area. They are completely absorbed by stratospheric ozone without reaching the Earth.
The more ozone, clouds and aerosols in the atmosphere, the less the harmful effects of the Sun. However, these life-saving factors have a high natural variability. The annual maximum of stratospheric ozone occurs in spring, and the minimum in autumn. Cloudiness is one of the most variable characteristics of weather. The carbon dioxide content also changes all the time.
At what UV index values is there a danger?
The UV index provides an estimate of the amount of UV radiation from the Sun at the Earth's surface. UV index values range from a safe 0 to an extreme 11+.
- 0–2 Low
- 3–5 Moderate
- 6–7 High
- 8–10 Very high
- 11+ Extreme
In mid-latitudes, the UV index approaches unsafe values (6–7) only at the maximum height of the Sun above the horizon (occurs in late June - early July). At the equator, the UV index reaches 9...11+ points throughout the year.
What are the benefits of the sun?
In small doses, UV radiation from the Sun is simply necessary. The sun's rays synthesize melanin, serotonin, and vitamin D, which are necessary for our health, and prevent rickets.
Melanin creates a kind of protective barrier for skin cells from the harmful effects of the Sun. Because of it, our skin darkens and becomes more elastic.
The hormone of happiness serotonin affects our well-being: it improves mood and increases overall vitality.
Vitamin D strengthens the immune system, stabilizes blood pressure and performs anti-rickets functions.
Why is the sun dangerous?
When sunbathing, it is important to understand that the line between the beneficial and harmful Sun is very thin. Excessive tanning always borders on a burn. Ultraviolet radiation damages DNA in skin cells.
The body's defense system cannot cope with such aggressive influence. It lowers immunity, damages the retina, causes skin aging and can lead to cancer.
Ultraviolet light destroys the DNA chain
How the Sun affects people
Sensitivity to UV radiation depends on skin type. People of the European race are the most sensitive to the Sun - for them, protection is required already at index 3, and 6 is considered dangerous.
At the same time, for Indonesians and African Americans this threshold is 6 and 8, respectively.
Who is most influenced by the Sun?
People with fair hair
skin tone
People with many moles
Residents of mid-latitudes during a holiday in the south
Winter lovers
fishing
Skiers and climbers
People with a family history of skin cancer
In what weather is the sun more dangerous?
It is a common misconception that the sun is dangerous only in hot and clear weather. You can also get sunburned in cool, cloudy weather.
Cloudiness, no matter how dense it may be, does not reduce the amount of ultraviolet radiation to zero. In mid-latitudes, cloudiness significantly reduces the risk of getting sunburned, which cannot be said about traditional beach holiday destinations. For example, in the tropics, if in sunny weather you can get sunburned in 30 minutes, then in cloudy weather - in a couple of hours.
How to protect yourself from the sun
To protect yourself from harmful rays, follow simple rules:
Spend less time in the sun during midday hours
Wear light-colored clothing, including wide-brimmed hats
Use protective creams
Wear sunglasses
Stay in the shade more on the beach
Which sunscreen to choose
Sunscreens vary in degree of sun protection and are labeled from 2 to 50+. The numbers indicate the proportion of solar radiation that overcomes the protection of the cream and reaches the skin.
For example, when applying a cream labeled 15, only 1/15 (or 7 %) of the ultraviolet rays will penetrate protective film. In the case of cream 50, only 1/50, or 2 %, affects the skin.
Sunscreen creates a reflective layer on the body. However, it is important to understand that no cream can reflect 100% of ultraviolet radiation.
For everyday use, when the time spent under the Sun does not exceed half an hour, a cream with protection 15 is quite suitable. For tanning on the beach, it is better to take 30 or higher. However, for fair-skinned people it is recommended to use a cream labeled 50+.
How to Apply Sunscreen
The cream should be applied evenly to all exposed skin, including the face, ears and neck. If you plan to sunbathe for a long time, then the cream should be applied twice: 30 minutes before going out and, additionally, before going to the beach.
Please check the cream instructions for the required volume for application.
How to Apply Sunscreen When Swimming
Sunscreen should be applied every time after swimming. Water washes away the protective film and, by reflecting the sun's rays, increases the dose of ultraviolet radiation received. Thus, when swimming, the risk of sunburn increases. However, due to the cooling effect, you may not feel the burn.
Excessive sweating and wiping with a towel are also reasons to re-protect the skin.
It should be remembered that on the beach, even under an umbrella, the shade does not provide complete protection. Sand, water and even grass reflect up to 20% of ultraviolet rays, increasing their impact on the skin.
How to protect your eyes
Sunlight reflected from water, snow or sand can cause painful burns to the retina. To protect your eyes, wear sunglasses with a UV filter.
Danger for skiers and climbers
In the mountains, the atmospheric “filter” is thinner. For every 100 meters of height, the UV index increases by 5 %.
Snow reflects up to 85 % of ultraviolet rays. In addition, up to 80 % of the ultraviolet reflected by the snow cover is reflected again by clouds.
Thus, in the mountains the Sun is most dangerous. It is necessary to protect your face, lower chin and ears even in cloudy weather.
How to deal with sunburn if you get sunburned
Use a damp sponge to moisten the burn.
Apply anti-burn cream to the burned areas
If your temperature rises, consult your doctor; you may be advised to take an antipyretic
If the burn is severe (the skin swells and blisters greatly), seek medical attention
After I explored the Colony and at the same time had a good night's sleep, it was time to go beyond the fence. About a 10-15 minute walk from the colonial entrance is the town of El Estor. This is something like the center of the municipality, the population is only 15 thousand people. It was founded in 1886.
I don't even know how to begin to describe it. This is a distant outback. At the entrance to the town you see something like this
There will be presidential and local elections in Guatemala in September. For this occasion, every pillar is hung with candidate campaigns. Even on the way from the capital, I was confused about how many people are actively running for president. They all hang side by side on poles.
Note the crossed out party logo. When I was driving from the capital, on every second poster I saw a cross over the party logo. I also thought about the cheap methods of election campaign - to spoil the opponent’s poster. But then I realized that this was not vandalism at all, but part of the idea, because above each such logo it says “Vote like this” or “This is how you should vote.” That is, this is an imitation of a tick in a ballot box.
The first thing I needed to do was change some dollars into local currency. Otherwise I have nothing to buy food with. I had to be patient and stand in line at the bank for half an hour (one of the 4 windows was open), and then wait another five minutes until they processed the exchange for me. You see, you need to have a bank account to make everything faster.
I felt awkward in line because I was head and shoulders above everyone else and looked like a real black sheep. Exactly white.
In this region, the local population is almost entirely Indians, descendants of the Mayans. They are dark and very short. They also often speak the ancient language “Kiche”, it’s so interesting. It was in the company of short, dark Quiché speakers that I found myself in the bank.
And the local people, although low, are strong. Women carry large bales on their heads without using their hands, but one carries a table on herself, and a child helps with a stool
The town is entirely one-story buildings. The roadway is not separated from the sidewalk by anything at all. This is the main street, the shops are curtained from the bright sun
The central streets are nothing but large shopping arcades, a kind of market. And at the beginning of the town there is a municipal park. Although this is at most a square, in fact. A couple of trees, all sorts of ladders and a small summer (consider it a year-round stage) with rows for spectators, which are visible at the bottom of the photo. There are also basketball hoops set at a ridiculous height.
Among the run-down (you can’t even imagine how run-down, I’m afraid to even take them off in case someone doesn’t like it) shacks there are small banana gardens behind the fence
But the best thing about this town is the lake.
El Estor is located on the shores of the country's largest lake, Lake Izabal. And this is really beautiful.
There is even some kind of embankment here, as well as piers, from which boats and small vessels depart, I think that for the money you can go sailing here
On the opposite bank there are mountains, it is a very beautiful sight.
And on this shore there are wonderful gazebos so that you can enjoy the view of the lake in the shade. They are made from excellent materials - tires. And the roof supports are made using beer cans.
At such a “table” I took a break, having previously bought myself a delightful thing called licuado. It's essentially a milkshake. Pieces of fruit (papaya, strawberry or banana mainly) are ground with ice and sugar, milk is added as desired. Makes a delicious refreshing drink. It's very natural and tasty. If you take it “with you,” then simply pour it into a regular plastic bag and put a straw in it. So go ahead. Everything would be fine, but you can’t put it anywhere, hold it in your hand all the time
Right next to the gazebo there was the only supermarket in the town (green, on the left). By our standards, it’s the size of Pyaterochka. But what to do? The best thing is fruit at bargain prices. A whole pineapple costs less than two apples. Moreover, the pineapple is local, grown almost around the corner. It takes 20 minutes from the store door to my door at a brisk pace. This is a test of dehydration for the body, but you have to hurry, because all frozen foods, for example, it seems to me, can spoil and melt in this heat. It is simply called Despensa Familiar, that is, a family store. Despensa is the local name for the store in principle
There are many other small observations and details I could say about El Estor, but I won’t bog it down now. I will mention them again at some point.