Since all time zones converge at the South Pole, there is no reason for placing it in any particular time zone. But as a practical convenience, the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station keeps the time of which country?

South Pole South Pole 90°S 0°W The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole or Terrestrial South Pole, is one of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects the surface. It is the southernmost point on the surface of the Earth and lies on the opposite side of the Earth from the North Pole . Situated on the continent of Antarctica , it is the site of the United States Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, which was established in 1956 and has been permanently staffed since that year. The Geographic South Pole should not be confused with the South Magnetic Pole. Geography For most purposes, the Geographic South Pole is defined as the southern point of the two points where the Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface (the other being the Geographic North Pole). However, the Earth's axis of rotation is actually subject to very small 'wobbles', so this definition is not adequate for very precise work; see Geographic North Pole for further information. The geographic coordinates of the South Pole are usually given simply as 90°S, since its longitude is geometrically undefined and irrelevant. When a longitude is desired, it may be given as 0°W. At the South Pole all directions face north. For this reason, directions at the Pole are given relative to "grid north", which points northwards along the prime meridian . The Geographic South Pole is located on the continent of Antarctica (although this has not been the case for all of Earth's history because of continental drift ). It sits atop a featureless, windswept, icy plateau at an altitude of 2,835 meters (9,306 ft), about 1,300 km (800 mi) from the nearest sea at McMurdo Sound. The ice is estimated to be about 2,700 meters (9,000 ft) thick at the Pole, so the land surface under the ice sheet is actually near sea level. The polar ice sheet is moving at a rate of roughly 10 meters per year in a direction between 37° and 40° west of grid north, down towards the Weddell Sea . Therefore, the position of the station and other artificial features relative to the geographic pole gradually shifts over time. The Geographic South Pole is marked by a small sign and a stake in the ice pack, which are repositioned each year on New Year's Day to compensate for the movement of the ice. The sign records the respective dates that Roald Amundsen and Robert F. Scott reached the Pole followed by a short quotation from each man and gives the elevation as 2,835 m (9,301 ft). Ceremonial South Pole The Ceremonial South Pole is an area set aside for photo opportunities at the South Pole Station. It is located a short distance from the Geographic South Pole, and consists of a metallic sphere on a plinth , surrounded by the flags of the Antarctic Treaty signatory states. Pole of Inaccessibility Another so-called "South Pole" is the South Pole of Inaccessibility, the location in the Antarctic continent that is furthest from the ocean, and therefore more difficult to reach than the Geographic South Pole itself.  This location is approximately 878 km from the true South Pole. Exploration See also: History of Antarctica, List of Antarctic expeditions, Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration and Farthest South. Pre-1900 The basic geography of the Antarctic coastline was not understood until the mid-to-late 19th century. American naval officer Charles Wilkes claimed (correctly) that Antarctica was a new continent based on his exploration in 1839–40, while James Clark Ross , in his expedition of 1839–43, hoped that he might be able to sail all the way to the South Pole (he was, of course, unsuccessful). 1900–1950 The first attempt to find a route from the Antarctic coastline to the South Pole was made by British explorer Robert Falcon Scott on the Discovery Expedition of 1901–04. Scott, accompanied by Ernest Shackleton and Edward Wilson, set out with the aim of travelling as far south as possible, and on 31 December 1902, reached 82°16′ S. Shackleton later returned to Antarctica as leader of the Nimrod Expedition in a bid to reach the Pole. On 9 January 1909, with three compani


From the Greek for 'going downhill' and most commonly found in Antarctica and Greenland, what is the name of the wind that carries high density air from a higher elevation down a slope under the force of gravity?

Katabatic wind K Katabatic wind A katabatic wind, from the Greek word katabatikos meaning "going downhill", is the technical name for a drainage wind , a wind that carries high density air from a higher elevation down a slope under the force of gravity. Such winds are sometimes also called fall winds. Not all downslope winds are katabatic. For instance, winds such as the Foehn, Chinook or Bergwind, are rain shadow winds where air driven upslope on the windward side of a mountain range drops its moisture and descends leeward drier and warmer. Katabatic winds can rush down elevated slopes at hurricane speeds, but most are not that intense and many are on the order of 10 knots or less. Examples of true katabatic winds include the Mistral in the Mediterranean , the Bora (or Bura) in the Adriatic , the Santa Ana in southern California, and the Oroshi in Japan . Another example is "The Barber," an enhanced katabatic wind that blows over the town of Greymouth in New Zealand when there is a southeast flow over the South Island. It is a wind that is known in the area for its coldness. A katabatic wind originates from the cooling by radiation of air atop a plateau, a mountain, glacier, or even a hill. Since the density of air increases with lower temperature , the air will flow downwards, warming adiabatically as it descends. The temperature of the wind depends on the temperature in the source region and the amount of descent. In the case of the Santa Ana, for example, the wind can (but does not always) become hot by the time it reaches sea level. In the case of Antarctica, by contrast, the wind is still intensely cold. Katabatic winds are most commonly found blowing out from the large and elevated ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland . The buildup of high density cold air over the ice sheets and the elevation of the ice sheets brings into play enormous gravitational energy, propelling the winds well over hurricane force. In Greenland these winds are called Piteraq and are most intense whenever a low pressure area approaches the coast. In the Fuegian Archipelago (or Tierra del Fuego ) in South America as well as in Alaska, a wind known as a williwaw is a particular danger to harbouring vessels. It originates in the snow and ice fields of the coastal mountains. Williwaws commonly blow as high as 100 knots, and 200 knot williwaws have been reported. (Wikipedia)


What is the exclave of Russia that is surrounded by Lithuania and Poland on the Baltic Sea?

Here's what it is like in Russia's exclave on the Baltic - Business Insider print The Russian exclave of Kaliningrad is a political and geographic  anomaly. Separated from Russia and situated on the Baltic Sea,  the region is surrounded by NATO-member states Poland and  Lithuania. It's closer to Berlin and Prague than it is to Moscow  and St Petersburg. Until 1945, Kaliningrad was known as Königsberg, the former  capital of East Prussia. But after its World War II victory over  Nazi Germany, the Soviet Union annexed the city and the surrounding area, which served as a  strategically vital warm-water port on the Baltic. The Soviets  mounted a policy of Russification, and what was once an  overwhelmingly German quickly took on its current, Russian  character.  Throughout the Cold War, Kaliningrad was as a dagger pointed at  Scandinavia and Central Europe. That part of the Baltic coast was  one of the most heavily militarized regions in the USSR. The exclave  still has great military and strategic value for Moscow,  especially given Russian president Vladimir Putin's appetite for stirring up trouble with his neighbors. Russia's new military doctrine named Kaliningrad as one of three fronts for militarization and Moscow sent nuclear capable missiles to the region as part of war  games last week.  Annexed in 1945, Königsberg's primarily German population either  fled or was deported after World War II in a policy of Russification . Kaliningrad is a seaport  city and the administrative center of Kaliningrad Oblast, the  Russian exclave between Poland and Lithuania on the Baltic  Sea. Google Maps/Amanda  Macias/Business Insider The city was soon renamed Kaliningrad in honor of Mikhail  Ivanovich Kalinin, who was one of Stalin's top lieutenants. His  statue still stands in the city. Kaliningrad's ultimate strategic value to Russia is that it  functions as a warm-water port ... REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin ... As well as a staging area for military exercises. REUTERS/Alexei Druzhinin/RIA  Novosti/Kremlin Russia has held frequent exercises in the region and Moscow has often  threatened to place nuclear weapons in Kaliningrad, which borders multiple NATO  states.  REUTERS/Alexei Druzhinin/RIA  Novosti/Kremlin Immediately after the collapse of the USSR, Kaliningrad became  one of the most economically depressed regions of Russia.  Organized crime, drug use, and the prevalence of AIDS skyrocketed .  A man arrives at a hostel  for immigrants from the former Soviet Union at a former Luftwaffe  airbase in Kaliningrad February 19, 2008. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin In response, Russia made Kaliningrad a free-trade zone. In  return, citizens in the region were given easier access to  neighboring Lithuania and Poland. By 2007, the economy was in a  full recovery.  Victory Day celebrations in  Kaliningrad. Zaytsev  Artem Today, European influence is steadily growing in Kaliningrad as  its approximately 1 million citizens can freely visit and shop in the surrounding NATO states. But the  standoff between Russia and NATO-allied Europe has only  heightened its strategic value to Moscow.


What is the longest river in the world that flows entirely in one country?

Longest Rivers in the World – Top 10 List South America Longest Rivers in the World – Top 10 List When asked, “What is the longest river in the world?” One cannot give you the exact answer because there is no perfect measure of the length of a river. Rivers are not constant and there have always been disputes about where the sources of certain rivers are. In fact there are still arguments about whether or not the Nile is actually the longest river in the world as opposed to the Amazon. Because of this, compiling a list of which rivers are recognized as the longest in the world is difficult. Below is a list of what are generally considered the ten longest rivers in the world. The Nile has long been considered the longest river in the world. It is about 4,135 miles (6,650 km) in length and flows in a northward direction to where it finally drains into the Mediterranean Sea. It passes through ten countries on the continent of Africa, where it has been a main source of water and life since ancient times. The Nile has two main contributories, the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The White Nile is the longer of the two, but the Blue Nile feeds the river more water. The Amazon is approximately 3,980 miles (6,400km) in length and is known as the second longest river in the world. It passes through seven countries in South America and is actually the largest river in terms of volume and flow. In fact, it accounts for one-fifth of the world’s river flow. For these reasons scientists dispute that it should be considered the longest river in the world as well, but this title is not yet theirs. The Yangtze River (also called the Chang Jiang) is about 3,915 miles (6,380 km) in length and is considered the third longest river in the world. It is located in the People’s Republic of China and it flows from its source in the Qinghai Province, to the East China Sea at Shanghai. Because it is the largest river in this region it is important economically, historically and culturally. It also id the home of the world’s largest hydro-electric power system, the Three Gorges Dam. The Missouri-Mississippi River system at about 3,900 miles (6,300 km) in length, it is the fourth longest river in the world. Its average discharge of water makes it the tenth largest river in the world. It is the only river located in North America that made the top ten longest rivers list. Also, its name comes from an Ojibwe word meaning “Great River”. About 98.5 percent of this river is located within the United States, the rest resides in Canada. The Yenisei is thought of as the greatest river system that flows in the Arctic Ocean and at 3,445 miles (5,539 km), is the fifth longest river in the world. It is in Russia and is mainly in the Siberian region. This river includes several hydro-electric dams that fuel a significant part of Russia’s primary industry. The Yellow River (also called the Huang He) is the second longest river in the People’s Republic of China and is the sixth longest in the world being about 3,010 miles (4,845 km) in length. In china it is known by both positive and negative nicknames. The positive one being “the cradle of China” because it is the birthplace of northern Chinese civilization and the negative one being “China’s sorrow” because of the flooding that occurs that causes a large amount of damage. The Ob-Irtysh river system makes up the seventh largest river in the world. The Irtysh is a tributary of the Ob and is actually longer than the Ob. These rivers are located in Siberia and together are about 3,364 miles (5,410 km) in length. They form a major basin in Asia, encompassing most of Western Siberia and the Altay Mountains. The Congo River (also called the Zaire River) is the second largest river in Africa and the eight largest in the world. It is about 2,922 miles (4,700 km) long. It has both the second largest flow and the second larges draining basin in the world, only following the Amazon. The Congo has its name because of the Kingdom of Kongo that inhabited the area at the mouth of the river in ancient times. It is known as the Zai


Located in Israel, what is the second-lowest lake in the world (after the Dead Sea) on whose shores much of the ministry of Jesus occurred?

NephiCode: The Sea of Galilee is Not a Sea Thursday, December 16, 2010 The Sea of Galilee is Not a Sea While we refer today to the lake Galilee in the biblical lands as a “sea,” it was not called that by those who lived in Palestine in B.C. times. This lake was known as Kinneret (which is the Old Testament and modern name), Lake of Gennesaret, and Lake Tiberias. It is referred to as the largest freshwater land-locked lake in Israel, and it is approximately 33 miles in circumference, about 13 miles long, and 8 miles wide. The lake has a total area of 64-square miles, and a maximum depth of approximately 141 feet, with an average depth of 84 feet. At 685 feet below sea level, it is the lowest freshwater lake on Earth and the second-lowest lake in the world after the Dead Sea, which is misnamed since it is a saltwater lake. Galilee is partly fed by underground springs although its main source is the Jordan River, which flows through it from north to south. For those scholars and theorists who like to point out the naming of the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea as lakes referred to as seas in Hebrew—they were never called Seas in the Hebrew language, or among the Hebrews that lived in Palestine during the time of Lehi or the time of the Bible. The word “sea” in Sea of Galilee is a mis-translation in the Greek of the Hebrew. The Hebrew word for “sea” is “yam,” but the Hebrew word for “lake” is “yamah”—a simple but critical mistake in the Greek translation, which makes up our King James version of the Bible. It is interesting that “yamah” in Luke 5:1 is correctly translated as “lake,” but in Matthew 4:18 incorrectly translated as “sea.” Mark (1:16) for some reason uses the word “thalassa” that most Greek writers reserve for the much larger Mediterranean, which translates as “sea” while Luke (8:23-24, 33) uses the more proper term for lake, “limne” which translates as “lake.” A note on Mark’s usage of “sea” in “And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39), suggests the word lake would not fit in this sentence structure, for it was the water in general being addressed, not the entire lake itself. Christian religious texts call Galilee Lake of Gennesaret, “And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret” (Luke 5:1). The Arabic name for the lake is Buhairet Tabariyya, meaning Lake Tiberias. Other names were Lake Ginnosar, Lake of Gennesar, Lake Chinneroth, and Lake Tiberias, though the Romans called it the Sea of Tiberius. Flavius Josephus reported “a thriving fishing industry at this time, with 230 boats regularly working in the lake” and both historians and religious recorders refer to “Much of the ministry of Jesus occurred on the shores of Lake Galilee” and “one of Jesus' famous teaching episodes, the Sermon on the Mount, is supposed to have been given on a hill overlooking the lake.” In the case of the Dead Sea, a different understanding is needed. First of all, it is never referred to as the Dead Sea in the Bible. Secondly, the word “sea” is used as an adjective, or description, of the lake in “Yam ha Melah,” which means “Sea of Salt” (Genesis 14:3). It is the deepest hypersaline lake in the world, being 8.6 times more salty than the ocean, which leads to its nickname of “Yam ha-Mavet” which means “sea of Death.” It is “al-Bahr al-Mayyit” in Arabic, sometimes called Bahr lut, “sea of Lot.” In Greek it is Lake Asphaltites, and in ancient times was called Lake Sodom, Lake Lisan, and Lake Gomorrah. Consequently, those who try to claim the word “sea” was used to describe a lake in ancient Israel simply misunderstand the usage of the word and that the Greek translates the word inaccurately at times. The Israelites knew the difference between a lake “yamha” and a sea “yam” and did not call streams, rivers, small bodies of water, or even lakes by the term “sea” but by their appropriate designation. In the Land of Promise of the Book of Mormon, the word “sea” has reference


Meaning 'place of sunset' or 'western' in Arabic, which word is generally applied to the geographic area of Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia together?

Culture and Tradition in the Arab Countries Board member Alanna Nelson models a henna application. Henna: An Enduring Tradition By Marilyn Cvitanic Ph.D. For over five thousand years henna has been a symbol of good luck, health and sensuality in the Arab world. The plant has been associated with positive magic and provides us with a link to an ancient age full of good and bad spirits, baraka and jnoun. Generations of women have used a paste made primarily of dried ground henna leaves to cover their hands and feet with designs ranging from simple blobs to intricate geometric patterns designed to ward off evil, promote fertility and attract good energy. While there is some controversy over the origins of the use of henna as a dying agent, the earliest clear evidence of henna application on the body appears in Egyptian mummies whose hair and nails were stained with the reddish brown tones of henna. Botanists believe the henna plant, Lawsonia inermis, originated in Persia. It grew extensively in Egypt and was carried to India where it was used since at least 700 AD for decorating hands and feet. Historically henna has also been used for medicinal purposes, to dye cloth and leather as well as hair, to color the manes of horses and other fur of other animals. Brides throughout the Arab world still participate in the traditional henna party or ceremony. Henna is not only decorative but also carries good luck and fertility; it has baraka and protects against jnoun. In some areas women attend a party shortly before the wedding during which the brides hand's and feet are painted with intricate designs. The henna paste is carefully applied and must remain undisturbed on the skin for several hours to create a strong dark stain. During this time the bride is waited on by her friends and family and has a final opportunity to socialize without the responsibilities of a husband and, ultimately, a family. In other areas henna application can be part of the actual wedding ceremony or is applied immediately before the ceremony. The henna plant has significant baraka attached to it. Legend has it that Mohammed used henna to dye his beard and that the henna flower was the Prophet's favorite. As a result, henna occupies a unique place in the Moslem world. It is used for both decorative and magical purposes and has religious sanction. While the present generation of Arab women may apply henna for fun, some still turn to it for its magical properties. Henna is used to protect against witchcraft or the evil eye and many of the motifs used in henna design are designed to ward off the eye's power. The unique geometry of Moroccan Berber design (pictured) is a result of ancient animistic beliefs and Islam's prohibition of artistic depictions of animals or humans. While the Berbers converted to Islam, many still secretly clung to their traditional beliefs. They developed simple geometric representations of animals, which they used without overtly violating Islamic codes. We see these geometric motifs in rugs, ceramics, and jewelry and in henna design. Each artist has her own recipe and preferred technique of henna application. Until recently most artists applied henna using small sticks and only the most experienced artist could successfully execute a detailed design. Today some artists still use sticks or toothpicks, though many prefer homemade plastic cones or large syringes. Both tools make application easier and faster. In the U.S., artists can also use plastic applicator squeeze bottles (Jacquard bottles) fitted with small metal tips. These were originally designed for fabric paint and are available in art supply stores. Many artists carefully guard their henna recipes, only passing them on to a chosen relative or friend. Most recipes contain some combination of sifted ground henna leaves, strong black tea, lemon juice and a few drops of eucalyptus oil. The thickness of the paste determines the ease of application. Too watery paste means the design will run, and overly thick paste is difficult apply. Factors which influence the intensity of t


The summit of which mountain in Ecuador is generally regarded as the spot that is farthest from the center of the Earth?

Chimborazo Summit Climb - Ecuador 2011 - justcarpedm.com - YouTube Chimborazo Summit Climb - Ecuador 2011 - justcarpedm.com Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Mar 7, 2011 The inactive stratovolcano Chimborazo is Ecuador's highest summit. Its summit is generally regarded as the spot on the surface farthest from the centre of the Earth, at a distance of 6,384.4 kilometres (3,967.1 mi). Until the beginning of the nineteenth century it was thought that Chimborazo was the highest mountain on Earth (measured from sea level), and such reputation led to many attempts on its summit during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. In 1802 during his expedition to South America, Baron Alexander von Humboldt, accompanied by Aimé Bonpland and the Ecuadorian Carlos Montúfar attempted to reach the summit. From his description of the mountain it seems that before he and his companions had to return suffering from altitude sickness they reached a point at 5,875 m, higher than previously attained by any European in recorded history.[note 5] In 1831 Jean Baptiste Boussingault and Colonel Hall reached a new "highest point", computed to be 6,006 m.[13][14] In 1880 Chimborazo's summit was first climbed by Edward Whymper and the brothers Louis and Jean-Antoine Carrel. If the summit is measured from the center of the Earth its altitude is higher than Mount Everest. For this same reason, the summit of Chimborazo is also the point on the surface of the Earth nearest to the sun. Years later, Alexander Von Humboldt made another attempt. He failed too, but he went higher than any man had ever been. He wrote at the end of his life: "All my life I thought that, of all mortals, it was me who had reached the higher point on Earth". The summit of Mount Everest reaches a higher elevation above sea level, but the summit of Chimborazo is widely reported to be the farthest point on the surface from Earth's center. Join Carpedm Adventures as we take you through the journey from Quito to the top of Chimborazo. Hope you enjoy this film as much as we enjoyed making it. Visit us online at: http://www.carpedm.travel http://www.carpedm.ca for more info.


What is the largest country located entirely in Europe?

What is the largest country located entirely within Europe? What is the largest country located entirely within Europe? (Scroll down for the answer!)       Russia, located on over 6.3 million square miles of land, is the largest country by land mass in Europe (and in the world) BUT it extends across northern Asia as well as northern Europe. If you counted overseas regions, the largest European country would be France, comprising over 247 thousand square miles. The largest country located entirely within Europe is c) Ukraine, situated on over 223 thousand square miles. Once part of the Soviet Union, the Ukraine became independent when the USSR dissolved in 1991. What is your favorite European country and why? Let us know in the comments! Photo of European post cards by clarita (Creative Commons) Share this post: Filed Under: BLOG , TRAVEL TRIVIA Tagged With: europe , Travel Trivia About Colleen Lanin, The Travel Mama Colleen Lanin is the founder/editor-in-chief of TravelMamas.com. As the author of her book, "The Travel Mamas' Guide," she teaches parents not only how to survive a trip with children, but also how to love exploring the world with their offspring. Her stories have appeared online and in print for such outlets as the "Today" show, NBCNews.com, Parenting Magazine, Orlando Sentinel, Chicago Tribune, Expedia, San Diego Family Magazine, and more. Colleen gives tips on television, radio, and as a public speaker. She has a master’s degree in business administration with a background in marketing. She lives in Arizona with her husband and two kids. Speak Your Mind


The name of which vast and arid area north of the Great Australian Bight is derived from the Latin for 'no trees' and the crossing of which is a seminal experience of the Australian Outback?

Australia Close Australia , island continent located between the Indian and South Pacific oceans south-east of Asia and forming, with the nearby island of Tasmania, the Commonwealth of Australia, a self-governing member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The continent is bounded on the north by the Timor Sea, the Arafura Sea, and the Torres Strait; on the east by the Coral Sea and the Tasman Sea; on the south by the Bass Strait and the Indian Ocean; and on the west by the Indian Ocean. The Commonwealth of Australia extends about 4,000 km (2,485 mi) from Cape Byrne in the east to Western Australia, and about 3,700 km (2,300 mi) from Cape York in the north to Tasmania in the south. Its coastline measures some 36,735 km (22,826 mi). The area of Australia, including Tasmania, is 7,682,300 sq km (2,966,151 sq mi). The area of the continent alone is 7,614,500 sq km (2,939,974 sq mi), making Australia the smallest continent and one of the largest countries in the world. The Commonwealth of Australia is made up of six statesï¿½New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australiaï¿½and two territoriesï¿½the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. Australia's external dependencies are the Australian Antarctic Territory, Christmas Island, the Cocos Islands, the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Norfolk Island, the Ashmore and Cartier Islands, and the Coral Sea Islands Territory. Canberra is the capital of Australia. Land and Resources The remotest of the settled continents, Australia is also the flattest and, except for Antarctica, the driest. The average elevation is about 300 m (987 ft) and only 6 per cent of its area is above 610 m (2,000 ft). The vast interior of Australia, known to white Australians as the Outback, is made up of plains and low plateaux, which are generally higher in the north-east. Low-lying coastal plains, averaging about 65 km (40 mi) in width, fringe the continent. The coastal plains in the east, south-east, and south-west are the most densely populated areas of Australia. In the east the coastal plains are separated from the interior by the Great Dividing Range, or Eastern Highlands. This mountainous region averages approximately 1,220 m (4,000 ft) in height and runs parallel to the eastern coast from the Cape York Peninsula in the north to Victoria State in the south-east. Subdivisions of the range have many names, including, from north to south, the New England Range, the Blue Mountains, and the Australian Alps, including the Snowy Mountains. In Victoria, where the range extends westward, it is known as the Grampians, or by the name given by the indigenous Aborigines, Gariwerd. The highest peak in the Australian Alps, and the loftiest in Australia, is Mount Kosciusko (2,228 m/7,310 ft), in the Snowy Mountains of New South Wales. The Great Dividing Range continues into Tasmania, which was separated from the south-eastern tip of the continent by the shallow Bass Strait between 13,500 and 8,000 years ago when sea levels rose. The Western Australian Shield occupies more than half of the continent, west of a line running north-south roughly from the eastern shore of Arnhem Land on the Bay or Gulf of Carpentaria to the Eyre Peninsula in state of South Australia, and skirting to the west of the Simpson Desert in the interior. A huge plateau with an average elevation of between 305 and 460 m (1,000 and 1,500 ft), the shield is fractured into a number of distinct blocks. Some of the blocks have been raised to form uplands; others have been depressed, forming lowlands and basins. The lowlands include the Great Sandy Desert, the Gibson Desert, the Great Victoria Desert, and the Nullarbor Plain, which are located in the north-western, central, and southern shield area respectively. The Nullarbor is an arid (its name means "no trees"), virtually uninhabited limestone plateau. It is characterized by remarkable cave and tunnel systems which contain valuable geological information about ancient Australia. The uplands include, in Western Australia State, the


With 34.8 percent salinity, Lake Assal is considered the most saline body of water outside Antarctica. In which tiny nation in the Horn of Africa is it located?

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 size(px) Description Text THE UNIVERSE The universe is the largest possible world consisting of all the astronomical bodies from the galactic superclusters to the tiniest of subatomic particles. It has millions of galaxies. It has always been a matter of interest for astronomers that how did such a huge universe originated. Some of the important modern theories of the evolution of the universe are following: 1. Expanding Universe : According to this theory the primordial universe first compressed and heated up. A point reached when it started expanding because of excessive heating. And the process is still going on. 2. Big Bang Theory : It is the most famous theory of the origin of the universe. It was propounded by the Belgian astromer-priest Abbe Georges Lemaitre. According to him an explosion occurred in an extremely compressed matter. The stars and other astronomical bodies formed from the fragments. According to this theory the matters will never revert back to the original position. 3. Steady State Theory : It was propounded by Hermann Boudi and Thomas Gold. According to this theory from the central part old galaxies move apart and new galaxies are formed there. So there is constant formation of new galaxies. 4. Pulsating /Oscillating Universe : It was propounded by Dr. Alan Sandage. According to this theory the universe expands and contracts alternatively. The explosion occurred some 12 billion years ago. Since then the universe is expanding, which will continue to expand for another 29 billion years. And then it will start contrasting for 41 billion years, which will ultimately lead to implosion. THE GALAXY Galaxies are huge congregations of stars held together by the force of gravity. Optical and radioactive studies indicate that there may be around 100 billions galaxies in the visible universe. Galaxies tend to be grouped into superclusters. When the universe started expanding, it was broken into billions of islands of gaseous matter. These changed into proto-galaxies and finally into differently shaped galaxies. Galaxies occur is three structural forms : (1) Spiral Galaxies : They have central nucleus with great spiralling arms trailing around them. The Milky Way and Andromeda are such galaxies. (2) Elliptical Galaxies : They show purely elliptical shape without any spiral arm. (3) Irregular Galaxies : These do not have any proper shape. It is conjectured that the irregular, spiral and elliptical galaxies represent youth, middle and old ages, respectively. Our galaxy the Milky Way is a part of the ‘Local Group’, which has some 24 galaxies. It looks like a river of light in the night . It is a spiral galaxy. It has over a hundred billion stars. THE STARS Stars account for about 98% matters in a galaxy. Stars are self illuminated bodies. They are rich in hydrogen and helium. The nuclear fusion is the source of energy in which hydrogen is converted into heavier matters like helium. So the life of a star depends upon the availability of hydrogen as a fuel. Stars tend to form groups called constellation. Lone stars are a rarity. The stars which seem isolated and single are mostly binary stars, revolving around a common centre. The Sun is the nearest star to the earth, then comes the Proxima Centauri. Stars have to pass through a definite life sequence. After their birth they enter the main sequence stage. This stage has a helium core, becoming heavier, along with expanding outer layers. At this stage they are referred as adult stars. The process continues till they become red giant. After the de


What is the largest desert in the North and South Americas?

Top Ten Largest Deserts in the World | The Wondrous Top Ten Largest Deserts in the World Nature, Top Ten Pinterest0 10. Kara-Kum Desert, Uzbekistan / Turkmenistan In our list of largest deserts in the world at #10 is  The Karakum Desert, also spelled Kara-Kum and Gara Gum is a desert  in Central Asia. It occupies about 70 percent, or 350,000 km², of the area of Turkmenistan. Covering much of present day Turkmenistan, the Karakum Desert lies east of the Caspian Sea, with the Aral Sea to the north and the Amu Darya river and the Kyzyl Kum desert to the northeast. In modern times, with the shrinking of the Aral Sea, the extended “Aral Karakum” has appeared on the former seabed, with an estimated area of 15,440 sq. The sands of the Aral Karakum are made up of a salt-marsh consisting of finely-dispersed evaporites and remnants of alkaline mineral deposits, washed into the basin from irrigated fields. The dusts blown on a powerful east-west airstream carry pesticide residues that have been found in the blood of penguins in Antarctica. Lets read about top ten largest deserts in the world. 9. Great Sandy Desert, Australia The Great Sandy Desert is a 360,000 km2 (140,000 sq mi) expanse in northwestern Australia. Roughly the same size as Japan, it forms part of a larger desert area known as the Western Desert. The vast region of Western Australia is sparsely populated, without significant settlements. The Great Sandy Desert is a flat area between the rocky ranges of the Pilbara  and the Kimberley. To the southeast is the Gibson Desert and to the east is the Tanami Desert. The Rudall River National Park and Lake Dora are located in the southwest while Lake Mackay is located in the southeast. Image credit: yaruman5 8. Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border in the central and northern portions of the Mexican Plateau, bordered on the west by the extensive Sierra Madre Occidental range, and overlaying northern portions of the east range, the Sierra Madre Oriental. On the U.S.  side it occupies the valleys and basins of central and southern New Mexico, Texas  west of the Pecos River and southeastern Arizona; south of the border, it covers the northern half of the Mexican state of Chihuahua, most of Coahuila, north-east portion of Durango, extreme northern portion of Zacatecas  and small western portions of Nuevo León. It has an area of about 140,000 square miles. It is the third largest desert of the Western Hemisphere and is second largest in North America, after the Great Basin Desert. Via: wikipedia 7. Great Basin Desert, USA The Great Basin is the largest watershed of North America which does not drain to an ocean. Water within the Great Basin evaporates since outward flow is blocked. The basin extends into Mexico and covers most of Nevada and over half of Utah, as well as parts of California, Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming. The majority of the watershed is in the North American Desert ecoregion, but includes areas of the Forested Mountain and Mediterranean California ecoregions. The Great Basin includes several metropolitan areas and Shoshone  Great Basin tribes. A wide variety of animals can be found in great basin desert. Look to the rocky slopes around the desert mountain ranges, you may spot a very rare desert bighorn sheep. Other mammals of the desert include kit fox, coyote, skunk, black-tailed jackrabbit, ground squirrels, kangaroo rat and many species of mice. Bird species are very diverse in desert oases. Via: wikipedia 6. Great Victoria Desert, Australia The Great Victoria Desert is a barren, arid, and sparsely populated desert  ecoregion  in southern Australia. It falls inside the states of South Australia and Western Australia and consists of many small sandhills, grasslands  and salt lakes. It is over 700 kilometres (430 mi) wide (from west to east) and covers an area of 424,400 square kilometres (163,900 sq mi). The Western Australia Mallee shrub ecoregion lies to the west, the Little Sandy Desert to the northwest, the Gibson Desert and the Central Ranges xeric shr


Easter Island in the South Pacific is well-known for its numerous moai, the stone statues located along its coastline. Which country does the island belong to?

History of Rapa Nui History of Rapa Nui From Genocide to Ecocide, The Rape of Rapa Nui Benny Peiser, Liverpool John Moores University, Faculty of Science The 'decline and fall' of Easter Island and its alleged self-destruction has become the poster child of a new environmentalist historiography, a school of thought that goes hand-in-hand with predictions of environmental disaster. Why did this exceptional civilisation crumble? What drove its population to extinction? These are some of the key questions Jared Diamond endeavours to answer in his new book 'Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive.' According to Diamond, the people of Easter Island destroyed their forest, degraded the island's topsoil, wiped out their plants and drove their animals to extinction. As a result of this self-inflicted environmental devastation, its complex society collapsed, descending into civil war, cannibalism and self-destruction. While his theory of ecocide has become almost paradigmatic in environmental circles, a dark and gory secret hangs over the premise of Easter Island's self-destruction: an actual genocide terminated Rapa Nui's indigenous populace and its culture. Diamond, however, ignores and fails to address the true reasons behind Rapa Nui's collapse. Why has he turned the victims of cultural and physical extermination into the perpetrators of their own demise? This paper is a first attempt to address this disquieting quandary. It describes the foundation of Diamond's environmental revisionism and explains why it does not hold up to scientific scrutiny. INTRODUCTION Of all the vanished civilisations, no other has evoked as much bafflement, incredulity and conjecture as the Pacific island of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). This tiny patch of land was discovered by European explorers more than three hundred years ago amidst the vast space that is the South Pacific Ocean. Its civilisation attained a level of social complexity that gave rise to one of the most advanced cultures and technological feats of Neolithic societies anywhere in the world. Easter Island's stone-working skills and proficiency were far superior to any other Polynesian culture, as was its unique writing system. This most extraordinary society developed, flourished and persisted for perhaps more than one thousand years - before it collapsed and became all but extinct. Why did this exceptional civilisation crumble? What drove its population to extinction? These are some of the key questions Jared Diamond endeavours to answer in his new book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Survive (Diamond, 2005) in a chapter which focuses on Easter Island. Diamond's saga of the decline and fall of Easter Island is straightforward and can be summarised in a few words: Within a few centuries after the island was settled, the people of Easter Island destroyed their forest, degraded the island's topsoil, wiped out their plants and drove their animals to extinction. As a result of this self-inflicted environmental devastation, its complex society collapsed, descending into civil war, cannibalism and self-destruction. When Europeans discovered the island in the 18th century, they found a crashed society and a deprived population of survivors who subsisted among the ruins of a once vibrant civilisation. Diamond's key line of reasoning is not difficult to grasp: Easter Island's cultural decline and collapse occurred before Europeans set foot on its shores. He spells out in no uncertain terms that the island's downfall was entirely self-inflicted: "It was the islanders themselves who had destroyed their own ancestor's work" (Diamond, 2005). Lord May, the President of Britain's Royal Society, recently condensed Diamond's theory of environmental suicide in this way: "In a lecture at the Royal Society last week, Jared Diamond drew attention to populations, such as those on Easter Island, who denied they were having a catastrophic impact on the environment and were eventually wiped out, a phenomenon he called 'ecocide'" (May, 2005). Diamond's theory has been around since the early 1


As of April 2010, apart from Western Sahara, Tokelau is the only other non-self governing territory in the world that is not administered by the UK, US or France. Which country administers it?

List of sovereign states | Familypedia | Fandom powered by Wikia List of sovereign states Share Ad blocker interference detected! Wikia is a free-to-use site that makes money from advertising. We have a modified experience for viewers using ad blockers Wikia is not accessible if you’ve made further modifications. Remove the custom ad blocker rule(s) and the page will load as expected. “List of nations” redirects here. For other country lists, see Lists of countries and territories . This is a list of sovereign states, giving an overview of states around the world with information on the status and recognition of their sovereignty . The list is divided into two parts. It is arranged alphabetically, and contains 203 entries, as of 2010: The internationally recognized sovereign states section lists all 193 widely recognised sovereign states, including all member states of the United Nations , [1] plus Vatican City . [2] The other states section lists ten states which have de facto sovereignty or independence , but are not widely recognised diplomatically by other states. Compiling a list such as this can be a difficult and controversial process, as there is no definition that is binding on all the members of the community of nations concerning the criteria for statehood . For more information on the criteria used to determine the contents of this list, please see the " criteria for inclusion " section below. Contents: Name in English, and the official, national, and other important languages of the state [3] Information on status and recognition of sovereignty [4] A   Afghanistan  – Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Persian : افغانستان – جمهوری اسلامی افغانستان Afgānestān – Jomhūrī-ye Eslāmī-ye Afgānestān Pashto : افغانستان – د افغانستان اسلامي جمهوریت Afghānistān – Afghānistān Islāmī Jumhūrīyat Widely recognized member of the UN .   Albania  – Republic of Albania Albanian : Shqipëria – Republika e Shqipërisë Widely recognized member of the UN .   Algeria  – People's Democratic Republic of Algeria Arabic : الجزائر – الجمهورية الجزائرية الديمقراطية الشعبية Al Jazā'ir – Al Jumhūrīyah al Jazā'irīyah ad Dīmuqrāţīyah ash Sha‘bīyah Widely recognized member of the UN .   Andorra  – Principality of Andorra Catalan : Andorra – Principat d’Andorra Widely recognized member of the UN . The role of monarch is exercised jointly by the two co-princes, the President of the French Republic and the Bishop of Urgell . [5]   Angola  – Republic of Angola Portuguese : Angola – República de Angola Widely recognized member of the UN .   Antigua and Barbuda English : Antigua and Barbuda Widely recognized member of the UN . Antigua and Barbuda is a Commonwealth realm [6] and has a division (dependency), Barbuda , with an autonomous status. [7]   Argentina  – Argentine Republic [8] Spanish : Argentina – República Argentina Widely recognized member of the UN . Argentina is a federation [9] of twenty-three provinces and one autonomous city . Argentina claims sovereignty over the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands , which are administered by the United Kingdom . [10] Argentina claims Argentine Antarctica as part of its national territory, officially a department of the province of Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica, and South Atlantic Islands . It overlaps with the claims of the UK and Chile. [11]   Armenia  – Republic of Armenia Widely recognized member of the UN . Armenia is not recognised by one UN member: Pakistan .   Australia  – Commonwealth of Australia English : Australia – Commonwealth of Australia   Austria  – Republic of Austria German : Österreich – Republik Österreich Widely recognized member of the UN and the EU . [12] Austria is a federation [9] composed of 9 federated states (Bundesländer).   Azerbaijan  – Republic of Azerbaijan Azerbaijani : Azərbaycan – Azərbaycan Respublikası Widely recognized member of the UN . Azerbaijan has one autonomous republic, Nakhchivan and the autonomous region of Nagorno-Karabakh (Dağlıq Qarabağ). [7] In Nagorno-Karabakh, a de facto state has been established (see Other states ). B


A trans-boundary river is a river that crosses at least one political border (either a border within a nation or an international boundary). Which country has the greatest number of such rivers, including 58 that enter from India or Burma?

Subject: Geography , Science | Topics: Report Definitions of geomorphology according to scientific nature :- * Geomorphology is the study of landforms , and in particular their nature, origin, processes of development and material composition . * Geomorphology is the study of the surface of the Earth. Classically, geomorphologists have studied land forms, which are shapes that have been categorized or named by geomorphologists or other Earth scientists. * Geomorphology is the scientific study of the geometric features of the earth’s surface. Although the term is commonly restricted to those landforms that have been developed at or above sea level, geomorphology includes all aspects of the interface between the solid earth, the hydrosphere and the atmosphere. Therefore, not only are the landforms of the continents and their margins of concern, but also the morphology of the sea floor. * Geomorphology is best and most simply defined as the study of landforms. Like most simplistic definitions, the actual meaning is somewhat vague and open to interpretation River engineering and morphology For river managers and designers of hydraulic structures, WL | Delft Hydraulics can provide state-of-the-art technology for regulation and canalisation of rivers, river morphology and sediment-transport, hydraulics and hydrodynamics in rivers and canals, hydraulics of structures, inland waterway transport, and closures and protections. We can help solve problems regarding maintenance, management and sustainable development, and initiate new and cost-saving techniques through integration of various skills. A number of experimental facilities and numerical models are at our disposal. Extensive basic and applied research programs are continuously being conducted in order to maintain a high level of technical expertise. Natural water systems are adapted by man to make a more profitable use of the water or to limit hindrance related to excessive natural fluctuations. Storing, guiding or sluicing water and retaining water levels are measures which can enhance irrigation, drainage, navigation, energy production, drinking water supply, fishery, flood control, recreation, ecology and environmental control. To achieve these goals tailored river engineering works are designed and constructed. A wide range of measures to control water have been developed, while new measures are concieved to reconcile the often conflicting demands on water systems. WL | Delft Hydraulics’ approach is to apply in-depth knowledge of hydraulic and morphologic processes to assist the governmental or corporate client in carefully tuning the type, location and sizes of the river engineering works to the demands put on it. Both the proper functioning of a measure itself and as part of the overall system are important points of attention. Hydraulics, hydrodynamics, river morphology, and mechanical engineering are the core knowledge areas, augmented by experience with related phenomena, knowledge of navigation, operational aspects, etc. List of rivers in Bangladesh Bangladesh is a riverine country. Most of the country’s land is formed through silt brought by the many hundreds of rivers that flow through it. Following is a list of some of the major rivers of Bangladesh: • Brahmaputra River BASIN: SOME ASPECTS OF REGIONAL CO-OPERATION The River Basin Scenario The three river basins are briefly described as under: The Ganga: The main Ganga River is the flow combination of the two rivers, namely, the Alakananda and the Bhagirathi, which meet at Deva Prayag in Garwal district of Uttaranchal State (earlier Northern Uttar Pradesh) of India within the mountain range of the Himalayas. The original course of the river is on South- ward direction, then it flows through easterly direction and finally in its last lap, it flows again southward and debouches into the sea. During its middle course on easterly direction, a number of big and small tributaries have joined on the northern side (left bank) from the Himalayan sub-basin, namely, Ramaganga, Gomati, Ghagra, Gandak and Kosi, all of which


Which borough of New York City is the only one of the city's five boroughs to be situated primarily on the US mainland rather than on an island?

Relocating to New York | Relocation Resources for Moving to New York   Beyond the City The New York Metropolitan Area, formally known as the New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), continually ranks as the most populous MSA in the United States—not to mention that it’s one of the densest in the world. Furthermore, the New York Metro Area is subdivided into four distinct divisions. Of the subsets, the New York-White Plains-Wayne Metropolitan Division encompasses 11 counties, five of which coincide with the five boroughs of New York City (NYC)—New York County (Manhattan), Kings County (Brooklyn), Bronx County (The Bronx), Richmond County (Staten Island) and Queens County (Queens). The New York-White Plains-Wayne division’s population grew from 11,298,122 in 2000 to 11,680,000 by late 2011—an increase of 3.3 percent. NYC’s five boroughs account for 8.1 million of the division’s populace and about 40 percent of New York’s inhabitants. As the United States’ largest regional economy, Greater New York obtained an estimated gross metropolitan product of $815.4 billion in 2012. According to IHS Global Insight, NYC alone is a larger producer than every U.S. state except California. In fact the city’s gross metropolitan product is bigger than the combined products of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Industries, such as education and health services, continue to lead the area’s economic output with large profits in the areas of trade, transportation and utilities. Other industry supersectors driving the economy are professional and business services along with the government industry. When considering the Tri-State area, newcomers should expect somewhere around 20 days above of 90°F weather and 87 days in which temperatures dip below 32°F. Altitudes range from sea level to a maximum height of 410 feet above sea level throughout the boroughs. The metro division’s high school attainment sits at 81.2 percent although only 35.3 percent of students attain a college education. NEW YORK COUNTY—OVERVIEW New York County, also known as Manhattan, is the most densely populated county in the United States with a population of 1,601,948. The county covers 22.8 square miles of land, on which 21 neighborhoods have been developed. Composed primarily of Manhattan Island, the county is bounded by the Hudson River on the west, New York Bay on the south, the East River on the east and the Harlem River on the northeast and north. Manhattan is loosely divided into downtown, midtown and uptown, with 5th Avenue separating the Big Apple’s East and West Sides. New York County is the cultural and commercial heart of the city, with many famous landmarks, tourist attractions, museums and universities scattered throughout the area. It is also home to the seat of city government. Temperatures range from an average high of 84°F in July to an average low of 27°F in January. Precipitation in the area averages 50.1 inches annually. Major Neighborhoods: Battery Park City, Carnegie Hill, Central Park, Chelsea, East Harlem, East Village, Financial District, Gramercy Park, Inwood, Little Italy, Lower East Side, Midtown, NoHo, Roosevelt Island, SoHo, TriBeCa, Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Washington Heights, West Harlem, West Village Demographics Mean Travel Time to Work...........................................30.1 minutes Median Family Income.................................................$67,204 School Districts: Districts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 Educational Attainment (Adult Population 2011) High school diploma......................................85% College degrees.............................................57.7% KINGS COUNTY—OVERVIEW Brooklyn is New York City’s most populous borough, with nearly 2.5 million residents. It overlaps with Kings County, which is the second most densely populated county in the United States after Manhattan. The county is located on the westernmost point of Long Island and shares its only land boundary with Queens to the northeast. Several different bodies of water surround Kings County. Northern Brook


As of 2010, the ten highest active volcanoes are located in which continent?

Which is the world's highest volcano? Answers Which is the world's highest volcano? Answer 1 - highest volcano with historic activity: The highest historically active volcano in the world is Llullaillaco at 6739 m (22,109 feet). Llullaillaco is on the border between Chile and Argentina in the Atacama Desert, one of the world's driest places. Answer 2 - highest active volcano: The highest active volcano in the world is Ojos del Salado on the Chile-Argentina border in the Central Andes. It rises to 6887 m / 22,595 ft. It has not erupted in historic times, but is an active volcano. A major explosive eruption occurred ca. 1000-1500 years ago, and future eruptions are very likely. 10 highest volcanoes in the world All the 10 highest active volcanoes in the world are all located on South America in the Central Andes of Northern Chile, Argentina, and Peru, with the exception of Chimborazo volcano in Ecuador, which belongs to the Northern Volcanic Zone: 1) Ojos del Salado 6887 m / 22,595 ft, Chile / Argentina, no historic eruptions 2) Llullaillaco 6739 m / 22,109 ft, Chile / Argentina, last eruption 1877 3) Cerro Tipas 6660 m / 21,850 ft, Argentinia, no historic eruptions 4) Cerro El Condor 6532 m / 21,430 ft, Argentinia, no historic eruptions 5) Coropuna 6377 m / 20,922 ft, Peru, no historic eruptions 6) Parinacota 6348 m / 20,827 ft, Chile, ca. 2000 years ago 7) Chimborazo 6310 m / 20,702 ft, Ecuador, ca. 1500 years ago 8) Pular 6233 m / 20,449 ft, Chile, 1990 (?) 9) Aucanquilcha 6176 m / 20,262 ft, Chile, no historic eruptions 10) San Pedro 6145 m / 20,161 ft, Chile, 1960 (?)


Which famous bay in Sydney, Australia was the site of a landing by Captain James Cook and sparked Britian's interest in Australia?

History of Australia - Nations Online Project History of Australia HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Aborigines from Bathurst Island (1939), one of the Tiwi Islands in the Northern Territory. Australian Prehistory: Humans are thought to have arrived in Australia about 30,000 years ago. The original inhabitants, who have descendants to this day, are known as aborigines. In the eighteenth century, the aboriginal population was about 300,000. The aborigines, who have been described alternately as nomadic hunter-gatherers and fire-stick farmers (known for using fire to clear the brush and attract grass-eating animals instead of cultivating the land), settled primarily in the well-watered coastal areas. Some observers believe that poor treatment of the environment by aborigines over many centuries may have led to the barren nature of much of the Australian interior. Higher forms of mammals never reached Australia because the land bridge from Asia ceased to exist about 50 million years ago. Captain James Cook (1728 – 14 February 1779) James Cook     was a British explorer, navigator and cartographer, he reached the south-eastern coast of Australia on 19 April 1770, his expedition became the first recorded Europeans to have encountered Australia's eastern coastline. European Discovery and Settlement to 1850: The period of European discovery and settlement began on August 23, 1770, when Captain James Cook of the British Royal Navy took possession of the eastern coast of Australia in the name of George III. His party had spent four months in exploration along eastern Australia, from south to north. Unlike Dutch explorers, who deemed the land of doubtful value and preferred to focus on the rich Indies to the north, Cook and Joseph Banks of the Royal Society, who accompanied Cook for scientific observations, reported that the land was more fertile. Cook’s fame in Britain helped to fix the attention of the British government on the area, which had some strategic significance in the European wars of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. In 1779 Joseph Banks recommended Botany Bay, named after the profusion of new plants found there, as a site for a penal settlement. A new outlet was needed for convicts to be transported overseas in continuance of British penal policy after the loss of the 13 North American colonies. In 1786 the British government decided to adopt Bank’s recommendation. Considerations other than the pressing need to reduce the convict population may have influenced Lord Sydney, the home minister, in his action. There was, for example, some expression of interest in supplies for the Royal Navy and in the prospects for trade in the future. The first fleet in the series that transported convicts arrived in January 1788, bringing 1,500 people, nearly half of them convicts. On January 26, Captain Arthur Phillip of the Royal Navy raised the British flag at Sydney Cove, which he decided was preferable to Botany Bay, slightly to the south, as a settlement site. The colony of New South Wales was formally proclaimed on February 7, 1788. Transportation of convicts eventually brought a total of about 160,000 prisoners to Australia. The initial character of a penal colony lasted for about 60 years in the areas of major original settlement. It ended in 1840 in New South Wales and in 1852 in Van Diemen’s Land (modern Tasmania), which became a colony in 1825. Western Australia, which was founded in 1830 by free immigrants, added convicts to its population by its own choice from 1850 to 1868. Convicts were not sent to South Australia, which became a colony in 1836. The major continuing problems of the colonies arose from efforts to carry out British policy designed for a penitentiary when other interests—fishing, sealing, farming, and trade—were developing. The economic development begun in the convict phase of settlement included the expansion of agriculture where conditions were favorable, as in Van Diemen’s Land, which started in 1815 to export grain to New South Wales. Roads, bridges, and other transportation facilities nec


Which feature that is 6380 kms long has traditionally been considered a dividing line between North and South China?

Bhutan travel guide - Wikitravel GMT +6 Bhutan is a small country in the Himalayas between the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and India . Besides the stunning natural scenery, the enduring image of the country for most visitors is the strong sense of culture and tradition that binds the kingdom and clearly distinguishes it from its larger neighbours. Bhutan is the only Vajrayana Buddhist nation in the world, and the profound teachings of this tradition remain well preserved and exert a strong influence in all aspects of life. Due to its pristine environment and harmonious society, the tiny Kingdom of Bhutan has been called "The Last Shangrila ." Understand[ edit ] Bhutan is a unique country both culturally and environmentally. Perched high in the Himalayas, it is the world’s last remaining Buddhist Kingdom. It has developed the philosophy of Gross National Happiness; where development is measured using a holistic approach of well-being, not just based on gross domestic product. It is still termed as a third world country with subsistence farming practised in much of Bhutan. In broad terms the land is fertile and the population small. In addition, the current generation receives free education, and all citizens have access to free, although rudimentary, medical care. The sale of tobacco products is banned and smoking in public areas is an offence punished with fines. Major sources of income for the kingdom are tourism, hydroelectric power and agriculture. While traditional culture has been very well preserved, the opening of the country to TV and internet in 1999 has had a major effect, and modern-day culture is mostly centred on bars and snooker halls. As a result, there is very little or no evidence of quality contemporary art, theatre or music. Culturally, Bhutan is predominantly Buddhist with Dzongkha as a national language (although there are regional variations - such as Sharchopkha , the predominant language in Eastern Bhutan ), and a common dress code and architectural style. Bhutanese people primarily consist of the Ngalops and Sharchops, called the Western Bhutanese and Eastern Bhutanese, and Lhotshamphas (Southern Bhutanese), a people of Nepalese Gurkha Origin, respectively. The Ngalops primarily consist of Bhutanese living in the western part of the country. Their culture is closely related to that of their neighbour to the north, Tibet. Because of the danger of their distinct culture being overwhelmed by Hindu Nepalese immigrants—as had happened in neighboring Sikkim , which ended up being annexed by India—some of whom had been in Bhutan for generations, many were expelled or fled as stateless persons to refugee camps in Nepal . Gross National Happiness[ edit ] This ideology was the brain child of King Jigme Singye Wangchuck who, having gained a modern education in India and the UK , realised that mere economic success did not necessarily translate into a content and happy society. Consequently, soon after his coronation in 1974, the young king began to float the idea of developing a new set of guidelines by which to govern the country. Slowly these ideas took shape, and in 1998 the GNH indicator was established. GNH stands for "Gross National Happiness" and is defined by the following four objectives: to increase economic growth and development, preserve and promote the cultural heritage, encourage sustainable use of the environment, and establish good governance. While the concept of GNH receives much international praise and is a major draw for tourists, potential visitors should be aware that the idea is very much in its incubation stage, and there is very little evidence of GNH in the country itself. On 19 July 2011, 68 countries joined the Kingdom of Bhutan in co-sponsoring a resolution titled “Happiness: Towards a holistic approach to development,” which was adopted by consensus by the 193-member UN General Assembly. In follow up to the resolution, the Royal Government of Bhutan convened a High Level Meeting on “Happiness and Well Being: Defining a New Economic Paradigm” on 2nd April 2012 at the Unit


Two monumental statues of standing Buddhas carved into a cliff and infamously destroyed by the Taliban in 2001 were located in which part of central Afghanistan?

1000+ images about Bamiyan 巴米掦 on Pinterest | Afghanistan, Buddha and Steve McCurry Forward Bamiyan valley is in the linking path of the markets of China and markets of Western Asia. It was part of the Gandhara kingdom till the invasion of Afghanistan. Bamiyan valley consists of a large number of Buddhist statues carved on the sides of the hill. The two most prominent of these statues were standing Buddhas, now known as the Buddhas of Bamyan, measuring several feet tall. They are the largest standing Buddha carvings in the world. In 2001 the Talibans dynamited and destroyed . See More


What are the only two South American countries that do not border Brazil?

A Study Of The Country Brazil EDUCATION Brazil The Federative Republic of Brazil is simultaneously South America’s largest country (by both population and geographical size) as well as one of its most diverse and fascinating. It is filled to the brim with intriguing people, plants and animals as well as liberal doses of history, religion, culture and sporting greatness. The most densely populated parts of Brazil are in the south-central regions, which include major urban conglomerates like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.   Because of the rapid growth experienced by this country in terms of urban development, industrialisation and population at the beginning of the 21st century, Brazil is facing a number of social, environmental and political challenges. Classic view of iconic sidewalk pattern, palm trees, and bright blue sky at Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. However, it is also because of this growth that it is doing so well in terms of its economy. In fact, it is one of the world’s largest and most significant economies. It is also the only Portuguese-speaking country in both North and South America. This Portuguese heritage dates back to the 1700’s, when Brazil was first colonised by this European nation. During its rich and complex history, slavery was a major part of the Brazilian heritage, although this was never formally recorded in the annals of history. Slaves were brought to the country across the Pacific Ocean from Africa. Therefore, there is also a large proportion of Brazilian inhabitants that have an African heritage. Others of European and Asian descent immigrated to Brazil in the 19th century. These ones were mainly from Japan, Poland, Spain, Italy and Germany. Therefore, this country is now a melting pot of ethnic and cultural diversity. Despite such diversity, Brazil maintains strong national pride and religious devotion. The vast majority, approximately 75%, of the population is Roman Catholic, while the rest are largely Christian or subscribe to the various African-based beliefs. Brazil enjoys an extensive coastline that measures almost 7 500 kilometres (or more than 4 600 miles). Its other borders are made up of Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. In fact, Ecuador and Chile are the only South American countries with which Brazil does not share its borders. Brazil enjoys an extensive coastline that measures almost 7 500 kilometres (or more than 4 600 miles). Its other borders are made up of Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, Colombia, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. In fact, Ecuador and Chile are the only South American countries with which Brazil does not share its borders There are various groups of islands that also belong to Brazil, such as Saint Peter, Trindade and Fernando de Noronha, amongst others. Its entire area measures exactly 8 514 876.599 square kilometres or 3 287 612 square miles. Apart from being geographically large, Brazil is also naturally diverse. It comprises dense rain forests and jungles, expanses of coastline, towering mountains, oceanic archipelagos (or clusters of islands), rivers, scrublands and rolling plains. Because of such a variation in habitats available to plants and animals, Brazil boasts a rich array of fauna and flora. Copon Building, "S" shape, a landmark in the center of São Paulo city, Brazil. In fact, scientists estimate that this South American country is home to about four million different species. Particularly extensive are this country’s populations of birds and amphibians. In terms of the local culture, Brazil continues to be influenced by the traditions and customs of the Portuguese. This is evident in the architecture, music, literature, cuisine, dance, religion and theatre of the country. Being home to the Amazon Rainforest, many other such natural wonders, cultural attractions and historical remnants makes Brazil a fascinating tourist destination and home. As the Host Country for the 2016 Summer Olympics, it is guaranteed an influx of travellers and footba


What is the largest landmass that lies entirely in the Pacific Ocean?

Interesting Facts About Pacific Ocean - Fun Facts About Pacific Ocean Fun and Interesting Facts About Pacific Ocean   Pacific Ocean is spread over an area of 165.2 million sq km, which includes Bali Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Coral Sea, East China Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Gulf of Tonkin, Philippine Sea, Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea, Tasman Sea, and other tributary water bodies. Pacific Ocean covers about 46% of the Earth's water surface and about 32% of its total surface area. Pacific Ocean is larger than all of the Earth's land area combined. Mariana Trench in the western North Pacific, at a depth of 10,911 m, is the deepest point in the Pacific Ocean as well as the world. Its depth is more than the height of Mt. Everest. Pacific Ocean reaches its greatest east-west width at about 5°N latitude, where it stretches for approximately 19,800 kilometers. The average depth of Pacific Ocean is 4,280 meters (14,000 ft). There are more than 25,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean, the number being more than count of islands in the rest four oceans. West Pacific (near Asia) is in the Eastern Hemisphere, while the East Pacific (near the Americas) is in the Western Hemisphere. The water temperatures in Pacific Ocean range from freezing in the pole-ward areas to about 30 °C (86 °F) near the equator. Pacific Ocean is almost triangular in shape, narrow in the Arctic north and broad in the Arctic south. Pacific Ocean is the largest, the deepest as well as the oldest ocean in the world. The island of New Guinea, the second largest island in the world, is the largest landmass entirely within the Pacific Ocean. Almost all the smaller islands of Pacific Ocean lie between 30°N and 30°S, extending from Southeast Asia to Easter Island. There are basically four types of islands in the Pacific Ocean - continental islands, high islands, coral reefs, and uplifted coral platforms. Pacific Ocean was first sighted by Europeans, in early 16th century. Even amongst them, Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa was the first. Pacific Ocean is connected with Arctic Ocean by the Bering Strait and with Atlantic Ocean by Drake Passage, Straits of Magellan and Panama Canal. Almost the entire rim of the Pacific basin is ringed with volcanoes and earthquake areas. The coral islands in Pacific Ocean, called atolls, are formed on the top of submerged volcanoes by coral polyps. Pacific Ocean is connected with Indian Ocean by passages in the Malay Archipelago and between Australia and Antarctica. The Great Barrier Reef in Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Australia, is the longest reef in the world. How to Cite


Located in Botswana, which is the world's largest inland delta?

The Largest Inland Delta in the World The Largest Inland Delta in the World GO Sep 14, 2007 18:07 GMT  ·  By Stefan Anitei  ·  Share:  This is a geographic accident located in the desert sands of the Kalahari (Botswana) like the mouth of a large river: a lot of streams and small lakes forming a wet labyrinth where you can see herds of buffaloes and elephants and lions stalking their prey. But the peculiarity of the Okavango is the way it dies. The river springs from the central Angola and after running 1,400 km (880 mi), it literally evaporates in the Kalahari desert, its mouth turning into the world's largest inner delta (15,000 square km, about five times larger than Danube Delta, for instance) and an exceptional place for seeing the most representative species of the African fauna. To the south, Okavango Delta fuels Lake Ngami. During the rainy season, the volume of flow of its numerous arms and thousands of channels in which the river is divided while approaching its final increases significantly, receiving 11 cubic kilometers of water annually. The arrival of the water in a country representing the paradigm of the dryness is an event, that's why 'pula', Botswana's national currency means "water". 10,000 years ago, Okavango still flowed into the area of Makgadkgadi Pan, southern Botswana. The pan is an ancient lake turned today into vast plains of drought and gray land which only harbor water rarely, in years with extremely abundant rainfall. Together with the omnipresent desert, the pans have been gaining terrain and they have pushed most of the population towards the cities. Botswana has a surface almost as much as Texas and a little more than 1.5 million people, and it is surprisingly one of the countries with the greatest percentage of urban population in the world. Only the Bushmen still dare to defy the climate severity of the Kalahari. That's why, even if the territory occupied by the Okavango delta is relatively small, it harbors 90 % of Botswana's waters, a national treasure. Like a store depositing reserves for the times of scarcity, the delta presents its highest water levels during the dry season, between May and July, and empties gradually reaching the rainy season with the minimum lows. That's why when there's no water, the animals start a migration to the wetlands of the river. Your attention may be attracted by zebras or giraffes, but animals adapted to the Okavango delta are the Red Lechwe and Reedbucks, beautiful aquatic antelopes that cross the waters at a great speed. This is also one of the few places in Africa where the African Wild Dog can still be seen. The Okavango's lions are famous as the only ones in the world that do not avoid water and are adapted for hunting in the swamps. Numerous birds feed on the fish of the swamps, like spoonbillls, herons, ibises, and prey birds. Traditionally, both locals and tourists use mokoro, a narrow canoe pushed with a perch, allowing a silent movement. Even if it may look dangerous to travel in mokoro amongst elephants, hippopotamuses and crocodiles, incidents are extremely rare. The delta's vegetation is impressive. In many occasions, the water is covered by waterlilies, while the banks are covered by papyrus and palm trees. In the savanna around the delta, the dominant tree is the mopane, which in some places forms real forests. The oasis can be reached by air or water, and Maun City is its operational center. Chief's Island, in the Moremi reserve, is one of the richest areas in fauna. The difficult access, and the high prices for entry and staying in the natural reserves have turned Botswana and Okavango in one of the most expensive destinations in Africa. In change, you can enjoy one of the least altered areas in the continent.   CHECK OUT THE GALLERY  (3 Images)


Among US states with the highest number of national parks, California and Alaska come in first with 8 each. Which state comes next with 5 of them?

Seven of the Most Striking Ways States Have Loosened Gun Laws - ProPublica ProPublica Journalism in the Public Interest Receive our top stories daily optional We're probing the policy and politics of guns in America. Latest Stories in this Project Seven of the Most Striking Ways States Have Loosened Gun Laws It’s only Friends’ email(s) max 10, separated by commas Personal message Connect with Facebook to share articles you read on ProPublica. Learn more » Enable Social Reading Update (12/19): This post has been updated to reflect recent developments in Michigan. Correction (12/27): This post has been corrected . Friday’s deadly rampage at a Connecticut elementary school marked the 13th mass shooting in the United States this year . Among the 11 deadliest shootings in U.S. history, more than half took place in the last five years . During the same period, states have often relaxed their gun laws, making it easier for individuals to obtain guns, extending the places where concealed guns are permitted, or giving gun owners more robust protections. We take a closer look at some of the more striking measures: 1. Five states allow students to carry concealed guns on college campuses      A March 2012 Colorado Supreme Court decision held that the University of Colorado could not ban students and employees with state-issued concealed weapon permits from carrying guns on campus. The decision overturned the university’s long-standing gun ban . While school policy prohibits guns at ticketed athletic and cultural events, Boulder and Colorado Springs’ campuses now designate dorms for permit-carrying students. (Guns are still banned in other dorms). “Not a single student has asked to live where guns are allowed,” the Denver Post reported last month . In September 2011, the Oregon Court of Appeals issued a similar ruling , allowing guns on campuses throughout the Oregon University system. Wisconsin passed legislation in 2011 allowing college students in the University of Wisconsin school system to bring a concealed weapon on campus grounds, parking lots and “other spaces that aren’t enclosed,” according to the Wisconsin State Journal . The school can prohibit guns in buildings, but only if signs are posted at each entrance. A law passed by the Mississippi State Legislature in 2011 broadly extended the places where concealed weapons are allowed, including college campuses, secondary schools, courthouses, polling locations, churches, bars and passenger terminals of an airport – places previously off-limits. This year, the University of Mississippi , which previously required students to leave guns in their vehicles, began allowing students to bring concealed weapons on campus, provided they have a concealed weapons permit and take an 8-hour training course. Utah grants the least discretion : Since 2004, the state has prohibited any public college or university from banning concealed weapons, as campuses are considered state property. 2. Some states now allow you to bring guns into daycare centers, churches, and even “gun-free zones” Last week, the Michigan Legislature passed a law that would allow concealed weapons in current “gun-free” zones such as schools, day care centers, bars, churches, hospitals and stadiums. Gun owners are required to receive eight hours of extra training before bringing guns into these places. The bill, which has yet to be signed into law, gives private business owners discretion to ban firearms on their property. On Tuesday, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder vetoed the legislation since it lacked the same opt-out provision for non-private institutions like schools. While Michigan’s legislation has gained attention given its timing to Friday’s shooting, it’s far from the only law of its kind. As we’ve already noted, Mississippi has also expanded the list of permissible concealed carry locations. Elsewhere, loaded guns in bars are now allowed in Tennessee, Arizona, Georgia, Virginia and Ohio. Georgia lawmakers introduced legislation earlier this year that would expand the list of places where you can bring in a concealed


What is the beautiful onion-domed church situated in Red Square, Moscow that is often confused with the Kremlin?

Moscow and St Petersburg | Select Travel Holidays Select the Perfect Holiday Experience Moscow and St Petersburg Experience Russia's two greatest cities: from the cosmopolitan capital of Moscow, renowned for its fortified historic core, the Kremlin, the symbolic Red Square and the colourful onion-shaped domes of St Basil’s Cathedral, to the elegant boulevards and ornate palaces of St Petersburg, the former imperial capital founded by Peter the Great. Holiday highlights: Discover the Trinity Monastery of St Sergius City sightseeing in St Petersburg Visit the magnificent Peterhof Palace and Park Optional tours and excursions including a St Petersburg canal cruise and Catherine’s Palace (highly recommended) Holiday includes: Flights Overseas transfers and transportation Six nights’ hotel accommodation (one night in a berth on overnight train – single accommodation not available on train) Meals: seven breakfasts, two lunches and two dinners Porterage at hotels and railway stations (one bag per person) Tours and excursions: city sightseeing in Moscow and St Petersburg, excursion to Sergiyev Posad, visit to Kremlin, excursion to Peterhof Palace and Gardens and Hermitage Museum visit Individual Audio System during tour Services of a tour director All local and airport taxes/service charges Full itinerary below Itinerary Days One to Three – Moscow Your Russian adventure starts today as you fly to Moscow, where you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel. There’s some time to settle in and included dinner tonight before your tour kickstarts on day two with morning sightseeing. A local guide will accompany you and show you the city’s many highlights, including the dramatic red-brick towers, extravagant palaces and historic Cathedral Square, and the iconic Kremlin. Situated at the heart of the city, overlooking the Moskva River to the South, Saint Basil’s Cathedral and Red Square to the east and Alexander Garden to the west, the Kremlin, a fortified complex dating back to the 12th century, and is renowned for the gleaming gold domes and cupolas of the Dormition, Annunciation and Archangel Michael cathedrals. Tonight, there’s an optional ‘Moscow by night’ tour to see the city beautiful lit up and illuminated. On day three, you have a full day to explore this spellbinding city, with a number of optional tours and visits to choose from: perhaps the State Tretyakov Gallery, a national treasury housing Russian fine art and widely regarded as one of the world’s greatest museums, or perhaps the symbolic Cathedral of Christ our Saviour, destroyed by Stalin in 1931 but faithfully rebuilt in 1994. Day Four – Sergiyev Posad Leaving Moscow, today you’ll head to the Golden Ring city of Sergiyev Posad, enjoying a visit to the splendid Trinity Monastery of St Sergius in the morning. One of Russia’s most beloved architectural treasures, this vast fortified monastery is a favourite film location due to its beautiful five-tiered Bell Tower and attracts thousands of worshippers. Later you’ll return to Moscow for dinner before boarding an overnight train and travelling in a 2nd class couchette (4 berth, mixed gender) to St Petersburg (optional upgrade to a 1st class 2 berth sleeper is available at a supplement). Days Five to Seven – St Petersburg Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, St Petersburg was the imperial capital for 200 years – and today it remains the cultural centre of the country. Inspired by the great cosmopolitan cities of western Europe, St Petersburg is a grand city with wide boulevards, green parks, majestic monuments and elegant, ornate palaces. You’ll arrive in St Petersburg this morning, tucking into breakfast before enjoying the city’s main highlights on a sightseeing tour. Admire some wonderful highlights such as the impressive façade of the Winter Palace and Nevsky Prospect, with its ornate onion-domed Church of the Resurrection and St Isaac Cathedral. Later, you may wish to join the optional excursion to the Peter and Paul Fortress, ordered and planned by Peter the Great in 1703 it’s the historical core of St Petersburg as well


What is the only nation state of the Commonwealth of Nations on the mainland of South America?

Belize | The Commonwealth The Commonwealth Caribbean and Americas Did you know:  Of 13 Commonwealth member countries in the Americas, only Belize, Canada and Guyana lie on the mainland, three of the most sparsely populated countries in the association; all the others are islands or archipelagos. The country’s current Prime Minister, Dean Barrow, is the first of African descent. Key facts Population density (per sq. km):  14 Belize forms part of the Commonwealth Caribbean, and is located in central America, bordering Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south. Main towns:  Belmopan (capital, pop. 18,326 in 2014), Belize City (former capital and commercial centre, 60,184), San Ignacio (20,027), San Pedro (15,484), Orange Walk (13,692), Corozal (11,427), Dangriga (10,002), Benque Viejo (6,497) and Punta Gorda (5,795). Transport:  There is a road network of some 2,870 km, 17 per cent paved, with 1,420 km of all-weather roads. The four main highways are: Northern Highway (Belize City to Chetumal on the Mexican border); Western Highway (Belize City via Belmopan to the Guatemalan border); Hummingbird Highway (Belmopan to Dangriga); and Southern Highway (Dangriga to Punta Gorda). Belize City is the main port; the international airport, Philip S. W. Goldson, lies 16 km north-west of Belize City. International relations:  Belize is a member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Association of Caribbean States, Caribbean Community, Non-Aligned Movement, Organization of American States, United Nations and World Trade Organization. Belize is strengthening its links with its Central American neighbours through its membership of the Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana. Topography:  The long east coast is mostly flat with lagoons and mangrove swamps. For 16-32km out to sea the water is only about 5m deep and a barrier reef (second in size only to Australia’s) stretches nearly 297km, with many tiny islands known as cays or cayes inside. Three smaller reefs lie further out. Inland, the terrain rises with Victoria Peak (1,122m), the country’s highest point, in the Cockscomb range to the east, and the heavily forested Maya Mountains to the south-west. Continuing north, the Western (Cayo) District is also hilly, with the Mountain Pine Ridge. The northern districts have wide areas of tableland. There are 17 principal rivers, navigable at best only by vessels of shallow draught Climate:  The climate is subtropical, moderated by trade winds. The average temperature from November to January is 24°C and from May to September 27°C; inland there is a greater range. There are two dry seasons: March–May and August–September (the Maugre season). Annual rainfall ranges from 1,290 mm in the north to 4,450 mm in the south. The country is susceptible to hurricanes; Hurricane Iris in October 2001 – the fourth in three years – was the worst for 40 years. Several years later in August 2007 another hurricane, Hurricane Dean, hit Belize affecting the livelihoods of up to 2,500 families in the northern parts of the country. Environment:  The most significant environmental issues are deforestation; water pollution from sewage, industrial effluents and agricultural run-off; and solid waste disposal. Vegetation:  Forest covers 61 per cent of the land area and includes rainforest with mahoganies, cayune palms, and many orchids. Higher in the mountains, pine forest and cedar predominate. Arable land comprises three per cent of the land area. Wildlife:  There is a strong emphasis on conservation. By 1992, 18 national parks and reserves had been established, including the world’s only jaguar reserve. Other native species include ocelots, pumas, baboons, howler monkeys, toucans and many species of parrot.


Flemish Cap, an area of shallow waters in the north Atlantic east of Newfoundland and Labrador is featured in which 2000 film as the final fishing grounds for Billy Tyne (George Clooney) and his crew?

Flemish Cap : definition of Flemish Cap and synonyms of Flemish Cap (English)                       Map showing the Flemish Cap at far right The Flemish Cap is an area of shallow waters in the north Atlantic Ocean centered roughly at 47° north, 45° west or about 350 miles (560 km) east of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador . The shallow water is caused by a wide underwater plateau covering an extended area of 12,000 square miles (42,000 km²). Depths at the cap range from approximately 400 feet (122 m) to 2,300 feet (700 m). The Flemish Cap is located within an area of transition between the cold waters of the Labrador Current and warmer waters influenced by the North Atlantic Current . The mixing of the warmer and colder waters over the plateau produces the characteristic clockwise circulation current over the cap. The waters of the Flemish Cap are deeper and warmer than the Grand Banks . The 58,000-square-kilometre area may have served as an important refuge for marine species during the last ice age. [1] The waters of the Flemish Cap are noted as excellent fishing waters. Halibut , swordfish , shrimp , scallop , yellowtail and other marine species may be found in abundance there. The Flemish Cap lies outside Canada 's 200 nautical mile (370 km) Exclusive Economic Zone established in 1977, and is therefore in international fishing waters. Overfishing has become a serious issue in recent years. Cod and American plaice are particularly endangered here and the numbers of redfish have shown a significant decline. In recent years, Canada had made an effort to prevent overfishing in the region by use of provisions of the Coastal Fisheries Protection Act and the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement.   Film This area was also filmed by Wolfgang Petersen in his 2000 film The Perfect Storm as the final fishing grounds for Billy Tyne ( George Clooney ) and his crew. Swordfish were their primary catch.   References


The city of DeKalb, Illinois is credited as the first manufacturing site of what 'restraining' invention that revolutionized ranching in the US?

Barbed Wire History - Invention of Barbed Wire Invention: barbed wire       in 1873 Function: noun / wire with clusters of sharp spikes at intervals along it. Definition: Wire       fencing constructed with sharp edges or points arranged at intervals       along the strand(s). Barbed wire was the first wire technology       capable of restraining cattle. Patent: 157,124       (US) issued November 24, 1874 Inventor: Joseph Farwell Glidden Criteria: First practical. Modern       prototype. Entrepreneur. Birth: January 18, 1813 in Clarendon, New       York. Death: October 9, 1906 in       Dekalb, Illinois Nationality: American Milestones: 1865 Louis Jannin of     France.patents an unsuccessful pointed wire product. 1867 two inventors tried adding     points to smooth wire but failed. 1868 Michael Kelly invented a practical wire with points which was used     in quantity until 1874. 1872 Joseph Farwell Glidden files patent application for an improved wire fence 1873 Henry M. Rose exhibited a wooden rail with a series of sharp spikes     protruding 1873 Joseph Glidden, Jacob Haish, and Isaac Ellwood have idea to     improve upon Rose's fence 1874 Glidden sells Isaac Ellwood half interest in his barbed wire patent     for $265.00. 1874 Glidden awarded a patent for his barbed wire fence invention. 1874 Glidden and Ellwood formed a partnership called the Barb Fence     Company 1875 Glidden's invention set off a creative frenzy that produced over     570 barbed wire patents. 1876 Glidden sells the other half interest in his patent to Washburn and     Moen Manufacturing Co. . 1877 Courts declare Glidden the "Father of Barbed Wire" CAPs: Glidden, Joseph Farwell Glidden, Jacob Haish,     Isaac Ellwood, Michael Kelly, Henry M. Rose, Barb Fence Company, John "Bet a Million" Gates, Louis Jannin, American Steel & Wire Company, SIPs:  fence, barb wire, barbed wire,     invention, history, inventor of, history of, who invented, invention of,     fascinating facts. The Story: Barbed wire is composed of two zinc-coated steel strands twisted     together and having barbs spaced regularly along them. The need for     barbed wire arose in the 19th century as the American frontier moved     westward into the Great Plains and traditional fence materialsï¿½wooden     rails and stoneï¿½became scarce and expensive. Of the many early types of     barbed wire, the type invented in Illinois in 1873 by Joseph F. Glidden     proved most popular. Joesph   Glidden was born January 18, 1813 in Clarendon, New York. In 1843, he moved to   Illinois with his wife Clarissa Foster and set about farming the land..His   wife and their two sons died shortly after the   move. In 1851, Glidden married Lucinda Warne and acquired additional farming   land. During the years 1852 to 1872 Glidden held various city and county   government positions in addtion to his farming duties. Joseph Glidden attended a Dekalb, Illinois county fair where he   observed a demonstration of a wooden rail with sharp nails protruding along   its sides, hanging inside a smooth wire fence. The fence rail, patented   earlier that year on May 13, by Henry M. Rose was designed to be attached to an existing   fence to "prick" an animal when it came into contact with the rail and keep   livestock from breaking through. This inspired him to invent   and patent, in 1874, a successful barbed wire in the form we recognize today. Glidden   fashioned barbs on an improvised coffee bean grinder, placed them at   intervals along a smooth wire, and twisted another wire around the first to   hold the barbs in a fixed position. Legend states that Glidden's wife Lucinda encouraged him with his idea to   enclose her garden. Glidden experimented by bending a short wire around a   long strand of straight wire, by modifying a coffee mill. Two pins on one   side of the mill, one centered and the other just enough off


Which tiny landlocked European country, also the smallest German-speaking country in the world, has bordering countries that are also landlocked?

Liechtenstein  -  Travel Photos by Galen R Frysinger, Sheboygan, Wisconsin FL (Fï¿½rstentum Liechtenstein)   The Prince of Liechtenstein owns vineyards in Vaduz   Rathaus der Gemeinde Valduz in 1968     in 2007, after renovation in the 1980s The Principality of Liechtenstein (German: Fï¿½rstentum Liechtenstein) is a tiny, doubly landlocked alpine country in Western-Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to its west and by Austria to its east. Mountainous, it is a winter sports resort, although it is perhaps best known as a tax haven. Despite this, it is not heavily urbanized (in the way that the Principality of Monaco and Gibraltar are). Many cultivated fields and small farms characterize its landscape both in the north (Unterland) and in the south (Oberland). Not only is it the smallest German-speaking country in the world, but also the only European country whose bordering countries are also landlocked. Text from Wikipedia