Sunset at the meadow lake

At last, an after tea walk to the lake! Nice to get out for a stroll after the meal and see the sun go down over the lake - the evenings are drawing out now. A low angle over the water to catch the light on the ripples. A reminder of one aspect of how special water is, so many unusual properties combining to make it vital for the sustaining of life, the factor of surface tension.

The surface tension is strong because the molecules are bound so tightly. Many creatures, small and large, rely on this property. Large surfaces of most other liquids would respond very differently to the effect of wind, and the interface between the liquid and the atmosphere would behave quite differently in the experience of any living creatures.