Japan Uses Electric Eel to Light Christmas Tree
With Christmas approaching, families around the world have begun decorating their homes with all manner of twinkling bulbs and flashing lights to appease Krampus, the evil European anti-Claus. Or because it looks pretty. But I digress. While electric bills are known to rise in the winter, an aquarium in Japan has seemingly nipped this problem in the bud by powering a Christmas tree with…an electric eel?
Situated south of Tokyo, the Enoshima Aquarium in Kamakura has taken to utilizing the eels ability to generate electricity when moving to power a two meter Christmas tree. While the power generated isn’t enough to provide consistent light, it is strong enough to allow intermittent flashing.
To further add to its eco-friendliness, Kazuhiko Minawa, who works on the public relations team at the aquarium, says they have added a robotic Santa Claus powered by human muscle. When visitors to the aquarium step on a pad, it generates electricity.
The eel has been around for five years, used in part not just to freak out small children but to promote eco-awareness. While the idea is certainly a good one, you should probably stick with something like solar power over an electric eel to be a little more green.
(Link)
Lycurgus
@BradMcHargue
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