Band 7+: The diagrams show the life cycle of a species of large fish called the salmon. Summarize the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant. Write at least 150 words. You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. To zoom in, click on the image.

The provided diagrams illustrate the life cycle of a salmon. The life cycle encompasses several stages, starting from the upper river where the salmon eggs are laid, to the migration of adult salmon back to the upper river to begin the cycle again.

The first stage of the life cycle begins in the upper river, where the slow-moving water provides an ideal environment for the development of salmon eggs. This stage lasts approximately 5-6 months and is characterized by the presence of reeds and small stones.

Then the salmon enters the fry stage. At this point, they measure between 3-8 cm in length. The fry then make their way towards the lower river, where the water flow is faster. After the fry stage, the salmon enter the smolt stage. At this point, they measure between 12-15 cm in length. The smolts then make their way to the open sea, where they spend approximately 5 years. Once the salmon reach adulthood, they return to the upper river. Adult salmon measure between 70-76 cm in length.

In summary, the diagrams depict the life cycle of salmon, starting from the upper river where the eggs are laid, to the migration of the fry to the lower river, the smolts moving to the open sea, and the eventual return of adult salmon to the upper river to spawn.