Page 80 - The Miracle of Termites
P. 80

Harun Yahya

              construction ended, 10 million bricks were used; 112,000 meters (367,
              454 feet) of water pipes and 5,181,000 meters (5,181,000 feet) of tele-
              phone cable were installed. These are the materials that went into the
                                          33
              construction of a skyscraper. Now, let's return to the termite's nest.
                   Termites are only 1 to 2 cm (0.3 to 0.7 of an inch) long, but they
              make giant nests 7 meters (22 feet) high. If compared to buildings

              made by human beings, their nests would be twice the present height
              of the Empire State building. The magnificence of the termite's work is
              obvious. But when we examine the details of a nest's construction, we
              see more clearly the perfection of its structure.


                   The Stages in Construction of a Termite Nest
                   Termites live for years under the ground and, as the colony reach-

              es a certain population, the nests expand towards the surface.
              Normally, between 1 and 2 million termites live in a single nest, work-
              ing and breathing together. They have a great need for oxygen; so, if
              the nests were not ventilated and the humidity level stable, they could
              not survive. Therefore, they must construct their nest to supply these
              needs.
                   Termites live comfortably in earthen structures without windows

              or openings for air to pass through. So, let's examine the amazing sta-
              ges of the construction of a termite nest.
                   Immediately after heavy rains especially, small mounds of soil
              will suddenly appear in areas where there had been no termite
              mounds before. A nest starts as a small mound, but can rise to a height
              of 5 to 6 meters (15 to 19 feet) in the course of months or even years.
                   Random piles of earth are brought into the nest and used to ex-
              pand it. These piles of earth become the central columns that will sup-
              port the nest. When these piles reach a certain height, construction

              stops. When these earth columns are brought sufficiently close togeth-
              er, they are bound together at the top by a circular band.

              78                     THE MIRACLE OF TERMITES
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