* Spawning Grounds: Freshwater eels are born in the open ocean, specifically in a specific area called the Sargasso Sea. This is a vast region in the North Atlantic where the conditions are ideal for eel larvae.
* Life Cycle: Eels have a complex life cycle. After hatching in the Sargasso Sea, they drift as tiny, transparent larvae (called leptocephali) for months, eventually transforming into glass eels and then elvers. They then migrate to freshwater rivers and streams, where they spend most of their lives.
* Return to the Sea: After several years in freshwater, the eels mature and develop a strong urge to return to their birthplace in the Sargasso Sea to reproduce. This is triggered by environmental cues like decreasing water temperature and day length.
* Reproduction and Death: In the ocean, eels spawn and then die. Their larvae then repeat the cycle, migrating to freshwater habitats.
In short, their migration is a journey back to their origins, where they can successfully reproduce and ensure the continuation of their species.