In the early days of Atlantic City in NJ, what was constructed to keep tourists from tracking beach sand all over town?

Official Website for the City of You are here Dear Friends: Welcome and thank you for visiting the City of     Atlantic City's website! We're proud to present     the City's new total access website. We hope     that you'll find our City's newly enhanced     public information tool to be uniquely     informative and extremely helpful. Our goal is     to provide assistance, superior quality of life     opportunities and total citywide access to our     City for taxpayers and visitors 24/7. Please explore the site and discover our diverse community that features  a state-of-the art Convention Center, historic Gardner's Basin, five star  hotel casinos and a cornucopia of gourmet restaurants and retail shops. There is lots to.........     In addition to providing unparalleled excitement and entertainment our  City site contains valuable information and documentation regarding each  City department for everyone's benefit. Once again thank you for choosing Atlantic City and please visit us  again! History of Atlantic City Written By Barbara Kozek Atlantic City has a long and varied history. Though much has been written  about the post 1977 casino years, and the heyday years of the 30's and 40's  when the Atlantic City Boardwalk was the in place to be seen, there is a  wealth of rich history which dates back over two hundred years before the  first dice were thrown or the first jitney hit the pavement. Let's take a  look back into history and discover all the people who helped make Atlantic  City, not only what it is today, but what it will be in the future. The original inhabitants of Absecon Island, on which Atlantic City rests,  were the Lenni-Lenape Indians. The Lenni-Lenapes would travel over the Old  Indian Trail from the Mainland to the island to spend the summer months. The  trail, which was located approximately where Florida Ave. is today, was five  miles long over the marshland. The Indians would partake of the abundance  the ocean and bay had to offer, along with the varieties of wildlife and  flora of the island. The first recorded owner of Absecon Island was Thomas Budd, an  Englishman, who arrived in Atlantic County in late 1670's. Budd was given  the island and other acreage as settlement of a claim he had against the  holders of the royal grant. His mainland property was then valued at $ 0.40  an acre, while the beach land a mere $ 0.04 an acre. That same piece of  beach front property today would be worth millions of dollars per acre. For the next hundred years, the island would be visited by not only the  Indians, but also hunters and some of the early mainland settlers. Among  these brave soles, was Jeremiah Leeds. Leeds, born in Leeds Point in 1754, was the first white man to build a  permanent structure on the island in 1785 at what is now Arctic and Arkansas  Ave. His grandfather had built a cedar log cabin on Baltic Ave. at the site  of the recently demolished bus terminal as early as 1783. Jeremiah and his family were the first official residents of Atlantic  City. Their home and farm was called Leeds Plantation, and Leeds grew corn  and rye and raised cattle. A year after Leeds death in 1838, his second wife  Millicent got a license to operate a tavern called Aunt Millie's Boarding  House, located at Baltic and Massachusetts Ave. Thus, the first business in  Atlantic City was born. Several of Jeremiah and Millicent's children were important in their own  right. Robert B. Leeds, born in Atlantic City on May 2, 1828, was the city's  first postmaster. Another son Chalkey S. Leeds, born in Atlantic City in  1824, became the city's first mayor in 1854. By the year 1850, there were seven permanent dwellings on the island, all  but one which were owned by descendants of Jeremiah Leeds. Dr. Jonathan  Pitney, a prominent physician who lived in Absecon, felt that the island had  much to offer, and even had ideas of making the island a health resort but  access to the island had to be improved. Pitney, along with a civil engineer  fro


If a list is made of people who have the most area of earth named for them, Amerigo Vesupucci wins hands down as he has two continents in his name. Which person after whom two states in a country, two islands, a desert, a strait, and a lake have been named takes the next place?

Do I Know This ? Do I Know This ? Updated May 17, 2013, 12:23 AM Have you ever wondered who's got the most number of top singles in U.K ? Have you ever wondered which company is the world's top Global Brand ? Have you ever wondered which country has got the most or the highest number of Netizens ? Use template Amazing Facts 100 amazing & unknown facts! # Our eyes remain the same size from birth onward, but our nose and ears never stop growing. # The Barbie doll’s full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. # The Mona Lisa has no eyebrows. # Ants never sleep! # When the moon is directly overhead, you will weigh slightly less. # Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, never called his wife or mother because they were both deaf. # An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain. # “I Am” is the shortest complete sentence in the English language. # Babies are born without knee caps – actually, they’re made of cartilage and the bone hardens between the ages of 2 and 6 years. # Happy Birthday (the song) is copyrighted. # Butterflies taste with their feet. # A “jiffy” is an actual unit of time for 1/100th of a second. # It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open. # Leonardo Da Vinci invented the scissors. # Minus 40 degrees Celsius is exactly the same as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit. # No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver or purple. # Shakespeare invented the words “assassination” and “bump.” # Stewardesses is the longest word typed with only the left hand. # Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump. # The names of all the continents end with the same letter that they start with. # The sentence, “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” uses every letter in the English language. # The shortest war in history was between Zanzibar and England in 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes. # The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue. # The word “lethologica” describes the state of not being able to remember the word you want. # Camels have three eyelids to protect themselves from the blowing desert sand. # TYPEWRITER is the longest word that can be made using the letters on only one row of the keyboard. # You can’t kill yourself by holding your breath. # Money isn’t made out of paper. It’s made out of cotton. # Your stomach has to produce a new layer of mucus every two weeks or it will digest itself. # The dot over the letter “i” is called a tittle. # A duck’s quack doesn’t echo. No one knows why! # The “spot” on the 7-Up comes from its inventor who had red eyes – he was an albino. ’7′ was because the original containers were 7 ounces and ‘UP’ indicated the direction of the bubbles. # Chocolate can kill dogs, as it contains theobromine, which affects their heart and nervous system. # Because metal was scarce, the Oscars given out during World War II were made of plaster. # There are only two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: “abstemious” and “facetious.” # If one places a tiny amount of liquor on a scorpion, it will instantly go mad and sting itself to death. # Bruce Lee was so fast that they actually had to slow film down so you could see his moves. # The original name for butterfly was flutterby. # By raising your legs slowly and laying on your back, you cannot sink into quicksand. # Dogs and cats, like humans, are either right or left handed. # Charlie Chaplin once won the third prize in a Charlie Chaplin look-alike contest. # Sherlock Holmes NEVER said “Elementary, my dear Watson”. # The Guinness Book of Records holds the record for being the book most often stolen from Public Libraries. # Bats always turn left when exiting a cave. # The shortest English word that contains the letters A, B, C, D, E, and F is “feedback.” # All Polar bears are left-handed. # In England, the Speaker of the House is not allowed to speak. # “Dreamt” is the only English word that ends in the letters “mt.” # Almonds are a member of the peach family, and apples belong to the rose family. # Peanuts are one of the ingredients of dynamite. # The only 15 letter word


What country has the most time zones, with 12? Surprisingly, its not Russia or the US. Think of a country with far-flung territories and dependencies.

Russia travel guide - Wikitravel History[ edit ] An imperial power[ edit ] Russian identity can be traced to the Middle Ages, with first eastern Slavic state known as Kievan Rus and its religion rooted in Byzantine Christianity adopted from Constantinople . Majority of Russians are Orthodox Christians. Peter The Great established the Russian Empire in 1721, although the Romanov dynasty had been in power since 1613. One of Russia's most charismatic and forceful leaders, Peter built the foundations of empire on a centralized political culture and promoted "westernization" of the nation. As part of this effort he moved the capital from the history rich city of Moscow to Saint Petersburg, a city built at a great expense and by a great effort of the Russian people. Best architects from France and Italy were involved designing the city. Saint Petersburg became known as Russia's "Window on the West" and adopted the manners and style of the royal courts of western Europe, even to the point of adopting French as its preferred language. The Russian Empire reached its peak during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, producing many colourful and enlightened figures such as Catherine the Great, Dostoevsky, Pushkin and Tolstoy. By the late 19th century political crises followed in rapid succession, with rebellion and its repression. The occasional attempts by the Romanovs and the privileged classes to reform society and ameliorate the condition of the underclasses invariably ended in failure. Russia entered World War 1 in the union of the Triple Entente; like other European Empires with catastrophic results for itself. Tsar Nicholas II and his wife, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, proved to be feckless, weak, and distracted by personal tragedies and the burdens of the war. The government proved unable to hold back the Russian Revolutions of 1917. Deposed and held under house arrest, Nicholas, Alexandra, and their children -- and with them the Romanov dynasty -- were exterminated by gunfire in the basement of a Yekaterinburg manor house and buried in unmarked graves which were found later and reburied in the Saint Paul and Peter Cathedral in Saint Petersburg . Utopia of Communism[ edit ] World War I strained Imperial Russia's governmental and social institutions to the breaking point of Revolution in 1917. Following a brief interim government headed by social democrat Alexander Kerensky, the Bolshevik faction of the Communist Party under Marxist Vladimir Lenin seized power, with the money provided by the German establishement, withdrew Russia from the war, and launched a purge of clerics, political dissidents, aristocrats, the bourgeoise, and the wealthy independent farmers. A brutal civil war between the "Red Army" of the communist leadership and the "White Army" largely consisting of foreign interventionists back by Britain, Germany and France lasted until late 1920. In his years in power, Lenin used the Red Army, the internal security apparatus, and the Communist Party leadership to arrest and execute many opponents of the nascent regime, and redistribute land that have long been owned by the large land owners to peasants who work in it (Collectivisation of agriculture would not take place until 1928). After the Civil War, Lenin adopted a New Economic Policy, which allowed certain sectors to be denationalized, as well as cancelling the practice of grain requisitioning that was widely used in wartime, as well as a loosening of political and cultural controls. The revolutionary state was not directly ruled by the officials in titular control of the government, which was established in the name of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The government in the commonly understood sense was largely irrelevant both in fact and in Communist theory throughout the years of Communist control. In a manner akin to the Tsarist regime, the real power lay in the leadership of the Communist Party, the Red Army, and the internal security apparatus (secret police). Following Lenin's death in 1924, a power struggle among the Bolshev


The BAM railway (...-Amur Mainline) in remote Russia is named for the Amur river and what other geographic feature?

The Baikal-Amur Mainline | Henry Joseph Shelonzek, Jr. - Academia.edu H. Shelonzek, Jr. THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO THE BAIKAI..AMUR MAINLINE: AN III{PORTANT FAcToR IN A SOVIET STRATEGY FOR S]BERIAN DEVELOPMENT THE FACULTY OF THE DTVISTON OP THE SOCIAL IN CANDIDACY FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS A PAPER SUBMTTTED TO SCTENCES COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL,RELATIONS BY HENRY JOSEPH SHELONZEK JR. CHICAGO, TLLINOIS APRIL 7987 't \I j  ii  ACKNOLWLEDGEMENTS To complete'the work to prepare and finish this paper r want to thank two individ.uars, both- for their cooperatj_on and their patience. My wife Barbara, who worked two jobs foi two years in ord.er that r could attend evening classes at th.e university of Southern California School of, Internatiorial ReIa-. tions in lrlunich, Federal Republic of Gerrnany, and in so doing bring myself back up to the revel of competence reguired before receiving the lvlaster of Arts d.egree in rnternational Relations. My sincere gratitud.e also goes to professor Nortbn s. set aside much of his valuable time to share with me his incj-sive insight and extensive background and knowled.ge in Pacific geopolitical-related matters. G5-nsburg, who  LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS  TABLE OF CONTENTS TNTRODUCTION. Chapter .-..Physical-geographic influences upon the region The impact of permafrost on siberian developrnent Significance of geographic perspectj_ve in studying the region rr- Role of siberia east of the urals in Russian and Soviet economic development significance of Terri-toriar production comprex Significance of the Raitroad rrr. construction of the Baikal-Amur lvlainrine rairway and its significance for Soviet development of internal and external goals.... Original objectives behind the railway Development of the raitway project Adjacent industrj-at sites Attracting and retaining manpower on the BAIII rv. The Role of BAl,t in soviet strategy for siberia east of the Urats Military significance of BA,ry Northern pacific as the center of worrd power CONCTUSTON I. Geographic description of Siberia east of the Ural lvlountains... 24 37 52 60 BIBLIOGRAPHY 51  INTRODUCTION .in Eastern regional development within the ussR. Arthough its construction and purpose are tied to the existi-ng Trans-siberian Railroad, the Baikal-Amur Mainrine railway, or BAII{, is intimatery bound to the future. rts successfur operation will play a large role in the sustained economic and social development of Eastern Siberia, based upon industriat centers (called territoriar Production compte><es) tocated arong the BAiy's path. rt also will help provide the western industri-al and agricultural heart of the ussR with the mineral resources it requj-res, which are steadily being depleted within that region. This paper will discuss the goals which the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline railway is intended to achieve, restricting itserf to the imptications of the railway,s.compreti-on for the Soviet leadershj-p in planning and conducting domestic regionar economic policy. rt wilr also bring up aspects of soviet foreign pori-cy, with the BA[,I in mind, as directed toward contiguous The Baikal-Amur Mainline is a railway viewed by soviet economic planners as a major element East siberian and Far states. rn this sense, then, the constructi_on of the Baikar-Amur Mainline railway is but one tactic in a soviet grand strategy for the future of Siberia east of the ural Mountains, as well as for externar rerations. conducted with i_ts neighbors in the East. The goals behind construction of the BAtvI can be' broken into those "internar"- and "externar"-oriented. rnternal goals aim at the baranced deveropment of economic regions in order to reduce  2 costly interregional exchange and to have reasonably equj-table living standards throughout the USSR. Externat goals are those set for maximizing exports to earn the hard currency necessary for paying for imports of technology, and to some extent, of grain- The success of the Baikal-Amur I'tainline railway will deits ability to meet the denands of these internal


What is the largest religious denomination for any religion in the world?

Major Religions Ranked by Size Scientology : 500 thousand Introduction The adherent counts presented in the list above are current estimates of the number of people who have at least a minimal level of self-identification as adherents of the religion. Levels of participation vary within all groups. These numbers tend toward the high end of reasonable worldwide estimates. Valid arguments can be made for different figures, but if the same criteria are used for all groups, the relative order should be the same. Further details and sources are available below and in the Adherents.com main database. A major source for these estimates is the detailed country-by-country analysis done by David B. Barrett's religious statistics organization, whose data are published in the Encyclopedia Britannica (including annual updates and yearbooks) and also in the World Christian Encyclopedia (the latest edition of which - published in 2001 - has been consulted). Hundreds of additional sources providing more thorough and detailed research about individual religious groups have also been consulted. This listing is not a comprehensive list of all religions, only the "major" ones (as defined below). There are distinct religions other than the ones listed above. But this list accounts for the religions of over 98% of the world's population. Below are listed some religions which are not in this listing (Mandeans, PL Kyodan, Ch'ondogyo, Vodoun, New Age, Seicho-No-Ie, Falun Dafa/Falun Gong, Taoism, Roma), along with explanations for why they do not qualify as "major world religions" on this list. This world religions listing is derived from the statistics data in the Adherents.com database. The list was created by the same people who collected and organized this database, in consultation with university professors of comparative religions and scholars from different religions. We invite additional input. The Adherents.com collection of religious adherent statistics now has over 43,000 adherent statistic citations, for over 4,300 different faith groups, covering all countries of the world. This is not an absolutely exhaustive compilation of all such data, but it is by far the largest compilation available on the Internet. Various academic researchers and religious representatives regularly share documented adherent statistics with Adherents.com so that their information can be available in a centralized database. Statistics and geography citations for religions not on this list, as well as subgroups within these religions (such as Catholics, Protestants, Karaites, Wiccans, Shiites, etc.) can be found in the main Adherents.com database. This document is divided into the following sections: Main list of major religions of the world Encyclopedia Britannica's Adherents of All Religions by Six Continents Tigerx.com's Top 10 Religions - A casual but insightful attempt divided along the lines of functional religious cultures rather than classical categorization Minnesota State University's "Religions of the World" website lists the "world's six major religions" as: Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Animism, Christianity and Hinduism. Read the site's introduction (from: http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/ religion/) here The Classical World Religions List There are twelve classical world religions. This is the list of religions described most often in surveys of the subject, and studied in World Religion classes (some of them more for historical rather than contemporary reasons): Baha'i Shinto Taoism In modern Western thought, the first writers to divide the world into "world religions" were Christians. Originally, three religions were recognized: Christians, Jews and pagans (i.e., everybody else). After many centuries, with the increased Western awareness of Eastern history and philosophy, and the development of Islam, other religions were added to the list. Many Far Eastern ways of thought, in fact, were given the status of "world religion" while equally advanced religious cultures in technologically less developed or pre-literate societies (such as in Australi


What are Herengracht, Prinsengracht, and Keizersgracht that are of significance to a certain European city?

Conozco Pablo: Amsterdam, Netherlands: Amalgamation of the Past and Present - Day 1 Click here for the second day of my adventure in Amsterdam. 1.    Vondelpark This 45-hectare land piece is Amsterdam’s largest park and is within the vicinity of other tourist attractions, which somehow paved the surge of millions of tourists to this park built by architects inspired by Paris and Rome. 2.    Concertgebrow After the lowest point of the Dutch history when France occupied Netherlands, the second Dutch Golden Age ushered during the 19th century, which is characterized by the establishment of several museums and art buildings, including the Concertgebrow. 3.    Museumplein Christmas Village The Christmas Village somehow showcases the influence of traditions outside what the Dutch could claim entirely as their own. This is the same in the architecture of buildings that reflects French Empire, which occupied Holland for several decades after the Napoleonic Wars. 4.    Van Gogh Museum Located within the Museum Square, this art museum dedicated for the works of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries. 5.    Rijksmuseum Patterned after Paris’ The Louvre, Rijksmuseum has been established first by the Batavian Republic in the Dutch administrative city of The Hague before moving it to Amsterdam due to orders from French conqueror Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, who headed the puppet kingdom of Holland under the French Empire. 6.    Lijnbaansgracht Notably, Amsterdam boasts for its canal networks, which somehow reflects the origin of the city’s name that literally means the dam or bridge created to protect from recurring floods the people along the Amstel River. There are many canals that still exist today and some were covered such as Lijnbaansgracht, which is on the northern side of the Rijksmuseum. 7.    Spielgelgracht Designated as one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites, Spielgelgracht is near the Prince Canal or Prinsengracht. 8.    Kerkstraat It is a street in the center of Amsterdam. The street runs from the canal eastwards across the river Amstel. In the sixties, Kerkstraat or Church Street is where gay clubs and bars are most found. 9.    Singel This is the innermost circle of Amsterdam, which dates back from the Middle Ages. This is also the site of the city’s flower market, where market stalls are actually boats floating in the canal. 10. De Krijtberg This Neo-Gothic Catholic Church is dedicated to the Jesuit saint Francis Xavier. Due to space limitations, the church architects have decided to construct a tall and monumental façade. 11. Spui Amsterdam’ courtyard for booklovers is the Spui, a square where many tram lines meet. 12. Magna Plaza A Neo-Renaissance style monumental shopping building was a former post office of Amsterdam.  13. De Nieuwe Kerk  In the 13th century, Amsterdam has embraced the Protestant faith, also during the time Amsterdam gained the city rights. This new religious adherence became a symbol of rebellion against the Spanish empire, which revers the Catholic faith of the Holy Roman Empire. During these time, churches have been used for Calvinism including the Old Church in De Wallen. As the city population grew, there was a need to construct a new church on Dam Square today. 14. Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam & Dam The Royal Palace is one of the three palaces in Netherlands for the use of the monarch of the Kingdom of Netherlands. This was the old city hall before the puppet French kingdom of King Louis Napoleon used as an official palace. 15. Herengrancht One of the three main canals circling the city center is Herengracht, along with Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht. 16. Homomonument & Keizersgracht The widest of the inner canals of Amsterdam, Keizergracht is named after the Emperor Maximillian of Austria. During the winter, a sprintrace is conducted as one of the activities in this historic canal, which was initially planned to be a simple boulevard. 17. Westerkerk Along the banks of Prinsengracht is the Westerkerk, which differs from the Old Church in the Red Light District and the New Church in Dam Square b


Which country has 12% of the world's Muslim population but has not been allowed to join the Organisation of Islamic Conference, mainly due to the efforts of another country?

Islam 101 Islam 101 Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts Islam 101 producer/director, Islam: What the West Needs to Know — An Examination of Islam, Violence, and the Fate of the Non-Muslim World Avaliable as a PDF document here  http://www.jihadwatch.org/islam101.pdf Islam 101 is meant to help people become better educated about the fundamentals of Islam and to help the more knowledgeable better convey the facts to others. Similarly, my book and documentary are meant to serve as concise explanations of the major moving parts of Islam and their implications for Western society. Islam 101 is a condensation of the book and documentary with the aim of lending clarity to the public understanding of Islam and of exposing the inadequacy of prevailing views. All should feel free to distribute and/or reproduce it. Table of Contents a) The Five Pillars of Islam b) The Quran — the Book of Allah c) The Sunnah — the “Way” of the Prophet Muhammad Battle of Badr Muslim Scholar Hasan Al-Banna on jihad Dar al-Islam and dar al-harb: the House of Islam and the House of War i) Taqiyya — Religious Deception i) The First Major Wave of Jihad: the Arabs, 622-750 AD ii) The Second Major Wave of Jihad: the Turks, 1071-1683 AD The Dhimma Jihad in the Modern Era 3) Conclusion If Islam is violent, why are so many Muslims peaceful? What about the violent passages in the Bible? Could an Islamic “Reformation” pacify Islam? What about the history of Western colonialism in the Islamic world? How can a violent political ideology be the second-largest and fastest-growing religion on earth? Is it fair to paint all Islamic schools of thought as violent? What about the great achievements of Islamic civilization? 5) Glossary of Terms a. The Five Pillars of Islam The five pillars of Islam constitute the most basic tenets of the religion. They are: Faith (iman) in the oneness of Allah and the finality of the prophethood of Muhammad (indicated by the declaration [the Shahadah] that, “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah”). Keeping of the five scheduled daily prayers (salah). Almsgiving (zakat). Fasting (sawm). Pilgrimage (hajj) to Mecca for those who are able. The five pillars in and of themselves do not tell us a lot about the faith or what a Muslim is supposed to believe or how he should act. The second through fifth pillars — prayer, almsgiving, fasting, pilgrimage — are aspects shared by many religions. The finality of the prophethood of Muhammad, however, is unique to Islam. To understand Islam and what it means to be a Muslim, we must come to understand Muhammad as well as the revelations given through him by Allah, which make up the Quran. b. The Quran — the Book of Allah According to Islamic teaching, the Quran came down as a series of revelations from Allah through the Archangel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad, who then dictated it to his followers. Muhammad’s companions memorized fragments of the Quran and wrote them down on whatever was at hand, which were later compiled into book form under the rule of the third Caliph, Uthman, some years after Muhammad’s death. The Quran is about as long as the Christian New Testament. It comprises 114 suras (not to be confused with the Sira, which refers to the life of the Prophet) of varying lengths, which may be considered chapters. According to Islamic doctrine, it was around 610 AD in a cave near the city of Mecca (now in southwest Saudi Arabia) that Muhammad received the first revelation from Allah by way of the Archangel Gabriel. The revelation merely commanded Muhammad to “recite” or “read” (Sura 96); the words he was instructed to utter were not his own but Allah’s. Over the next twelve or so years in Mecca, other revelations came to Muhammad that constituted a message to the inhabitants of the city to forsake their pagan ways and turn in worship to the one Allah. While in Mecca, though he condemned paganism (for the most part), Muhammad showed great respect for the monotheism of the Christian and Jewish inhabitants. Indeed


In April 2014, which tiny nation became the first East Asian country to adopt Islamic sharia law?

Brunei country profile - BBC News BBC News Read more about sharing. Close share panel The tiny state of Brunei has one of the world's highest standards of living thanks to its bountiful oil and gas reserves. Its ruling royals, led by the head of state Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, possess a huge private fortune and its largely ethnic-Malay population enjoy generous state handouts and pay no taxes. A British protectorate since 1888, Brunei was the only Malay state in 1963 which chose to remain so rather than join the federation that became Malaysia. Full independence came relatively late in 1984. Despite a significant non-Muslim minority presence in the country and strong condemnation from international rights group, in 2014 Brunei became the first East Asian country to adopt strict Islamic sharia law which allows punishment such as stoning for adultery and amputation for theft. Area 5,765 sq km (2,226 sq miles) Major languages Malay, English, Chinese Ethnicity 65% ethnic Malay, 10% Chinese Religious make-up 78% Muslim, 8% Christian, 7% Buddhist Life expectancy 76 years (men), 81 years (women) UN, World Bank, CIA World Factbook GETTY IMAGES LEADER Image copyright Getty Images The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is one of the world's longest-reigning and few remaining absolute monarchs. He was crowned in August 1968 following the abdication of his father, Sir Haji Omar Ali Saifuddin. Upon Brunei's independence in 1984, he appointed himself prime minister and in 1991, introduced an ideology called Malay Muslim Monarchy, which presented the monarch as the defender of the faith. He is one of the world's richest individuals and in a country where the standard of living is high, appears to enjoy genuine popularity amongst his subjects. More recently however, he has faced criticism over the introduction of Islamic Sharia law in the country. Image copyright Kfm Image caption KRISTALfm is a private music station Brunei's media are neither diverse nor free. The private press is either owned or controlled by the royal family. Media are subject to self-censorship on political and religious matters and a press law provides prison terms of up to three years for reporting "false news". Access to the internet is said to be unrestricted. TIMELINE Some key dates in Brunei's history: 15th century - Islamic sultanate of Brunei nominally in control of Borneo, including Sabah and Sarawak state of Malaysia, and some parts of the Sulu islands in the Philippines. 1888 - Brunei becomes a British protectorate. 1963 - Brunei chooses to remain a British dependency rather than join the Federation of Malaysia. 1967 - Hassanal Bolkiah becomes sultan following the abdication of his father, Sultan Omar. 1984 - Brunei becomes independent. 2014 - Brunei becomes the first East Asian country to adopt Islamic sharia law despite widespread international condemnation.


The town of Shibam in the Middle-East is known for its tower brick homes all of which have a minimum height. What country is it located in?

1000+ images about 5 Yemen (Middle East) on Pinterest | Islands, Deserts and Old city Forward "Shibam, a town in Hadramawt, Yemen, is considered to have the world’s oldest skyscrapers. All of the town’s houses are made out of mud bricks. While Shibam has existed for around 2,000 years, most of the city’s houses come mainly from the 16th century." Photograph by Pascal and Maria Marechaux. See More


Rarotonga is the most-populated of the group of Pacific Islands named for which explorer?

Lonely Planet Travel Guides and Travel Information Recent history Polynesian settlement Cook Islanders are Polynesians: people of the poly (many) islands of the South Pacific. They are closely related to the Maoris of New Zealand and Tahiti (Cook Islanders can happily converse with their Maori cousins from overseas, despite differences in vocabulary and dialect). The Cook Islands were first settled around 1500 years ago by travellers from the Society and Marquesas Islands (now known as French Polynesia). Polynesians had been trekking across much of the South Pacific in huge ocean-going canoes for a couple of millennia before they arrived in the Cooks. The first settlers arrived in Melanesia from Southeast Asia around 2500 BC, before heading on to Fiji , Samoa and Tonga ; French Polynesia was then settled somewhere between 200 BC and AD 200. From there, canoes travelled thousands of kilometres in all directions, reaching Rapa Nui (Easter Island) , Hawaii , South America , and finally Rarotonga and the Cook Islands in around AD 500. ^ Back to top Early cook islands society Although written records only began with the arrival of the Europeans, oral history on Rarotonga traces its ancestry back about 1400 years. One of the oldest legends tells the tale of To'i, the great chief who built the Ara Metua (the ancient inland road) on Rarotonga somewhere around the 11th century, suggesting that there was already a sizable population living on the island (probably settlers from present-day French Polynesia). Traditional history, however, begins in the 13th century with the arrival of Tangi'ia and Karika, great chiefs from Tahiti and Samoa , who arrived aboard mighty ocean-going vaka (canoes), conquered the resident population, and founded Rarotonga 's six main tribes. Every island in the Cooks was ruled by several ariki (high chiefs). Beneath the ariki were mataiapo (chiefs) and rangatira (sub-chiefs). Land was divided into sections called tapere, each governed by one or more mataiapo, and home to a large extended family who used the land to build houses, farm crops and raise livestock. Each tribe had its own marae (sacred meeting places) and worshipped specific gods. The koutu was the most important meeting place of all - it was the official seat of a ruling ariki, and the place where the main sacrifices, offerings and annual feasts were made. A chief's authority depended on his mana - a complex term signifying not just physical or hereditary power, but also confidence, victory, prestige, knowledge, spirituality and all-round star quality. Mana ariki was the hereditary power of a chief; mana atua was the divine authority of the priest; and mana tutara was the ruling power of a mataiapo. Mana could be gained as well as lost; great deeds in battle and cowardly acts could all affect a person's mana, and the way he was regarded by the tribe. Ta'unga (literally 'experts') were also important figures. There were ta'unga in many fields, including woodcarving, agriculture, medicine, canoe-making and navigation. The tumu korero (speaker) was responsible for memorising tribal history and genealogy, but the most powerful ta'unga was the high priest, who was seen as the main bridge between the people and the spirits of the gods and ancestors. The high priest could declare certain acts or places tapu (forbidden), either by order of the gods or the ariki; the chief would decide when tapu had been violated and what the punishment would be (generally it was likely to be fairly unpleasant). Like their modern-day descendants, early Cook Islanders never passed up the opportunity for a party. There were elaborate ceremonies for all kinds of occasions - coming-of-age ceremonies, marriages, deaths, harvest festivals and victories in battle - so the islanders had plenty of opportunity to perfect their song and dance routines. ^ Back to top European explorers The Cook Islands had over a thousand years to develop its distinctive culture and customs before any Europeans finally pitched up. The first Europeans to sight the islands were both Spanish explorer


Not surprisingly, the name for what feature of geography means 'almost an island' in Latin?

The Naming of America Am�rica, no invoco tu nombre en vano [America, I don't invoke your name in vain]   Pablo Neruda, Canto General     AMERICA, we learn as schoolchildren, was named in honor of Amerigo Vespucci, for his discovery of the mainland of the New World. We tend not to question this lesson about the naming of America. By the time we are adults it lingers vaguely in most of us, along with images of wave-tossed caravels and forests peopled with naked cannibals. Not surprisingly, the notion that America was named for Vespucci has long been universally accepted, so much so that a lineal descendant, America Vespucci, came to New Orleans in 1839 and asked for a land grant "in recognition of her name and parentage." Since the late 19th century, however, conflicting ideas about the truth of the derivation have been set forth with profound cultural and political implications. To question the origin of America's name is to question the nature of not only our history lessons but our very identity as Americans. Traditional history lessons about the discovery of America also raise questions about the meaning of discovery itself. It is now universally recognized that neither Vespucci nor Columbus "discovered" America. They were of course preceded by the pre-historic Asian forebears of Native Americans, who migrated across some ice-bridge in the Bering Straits or over the stepping stones of the Aleutian Islands. A black African discovery of America, it has been argued, took place around 3,000 years ago, and influenced the development of Mayan, Aztec, and Inca civilizations. The records of Scandinavian expeditions to America are found in sagas � their historic cores encrusted with additions made by every storyteller who had ever repeated them. The Icelandic Saga of Eric the Red, the settler of Greenland, which tells how Eric's son Leif came to Vinland, was first written down in the second half of the 13th century, 250 years after Leif found a western land full of "wheatfields and vines"; from this history emerged a fanciful theory in 1930 that the origin of "America" is Scandinavian: Amt meaning "district" plus Eric, to form Amteric, or the Land of (Leif) Eric. Other Norsemen went out to the land Leif had discovered; in fact, contemporary advocates of the Norse connection claim that from around the beginning of the 11th century, North Atlantic sailors called this place Ommerike (oh-MEH-ric-eh), an Old Norse word meaning "farthest outland." (This theory is currently being promoted by white supremacists of the so-called Christian Party , who are intent on preserving the nation's Nordic character, and who argue that the Norse Ommerike derives from the Gothic Amalric, which, according to them, means "Kingdom of Heaven.") But most non-Scandinavians were ignorant of these sailors' bold exploits until the 17th century, and what they actually found was not seriously discussed by European geographers until the 18th century. Further, other discoveries of America have been credited to the Irish who had sailed to a land they called Iargalon, the land beyond the sunset, and to the Phoenicians who purportedly came here before the Norse.  The 1497 voyage by John Cabot to the Labrador coast of Newfoundland constitutes yet another discovery of the American mainland, which led to an early 20th-century account of the naming of America, recently revived, that claims the New World was named after an Englishman (Welshman, actually) called Richard Amerike. And yet, despite the issue of who discovered America, we are still confronted with the awesome fact that it was the voyages of Columbus, and not earlier ones, that changed the course of world history. Indeed, as Tzvetan Todorov, author of The Conquest of America (1984; tr. Richard Howard), has argued, "The conquest of America  heralds and establishes our present identity; even if every date that permits us to separate any two periods is arbitrary, none is more suitable, in order to mark the beginning of the modern era, than the year 1492, the year Columbus crosses the Atlantic Oc


Name of 2 of the 3 countries that are overlapped by the Afar triangle that has several important sites for those interested in early human studies.

Ethiopia Ethiopia 9. Contacts 1. INTRODUCTION The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) is a landlocked country     in the horn of Africa, bounded to the north by Eritrea, to the west by     Sudan, to the south by Kenya and to the east by Somalia and Djibouti;     it lies within the tropics between 3°24` and 14°53` North; and     32°42` and 48°12` East (see figure 1). It covers 1,120,000 square     kilometres in nine regional states, one City Council and one City Administration.     Smallholder peasants farm eight percent (about 10,000,000 ha) of the national     land area and about 3,100,000 hectares are fallow. The total area of grazing     and browse is estimated to be 61,000,000 –65,000,000 hectares, of     which 12 percent is in mixed farming and the rest in pastoral areas (Alemayehu,     1998a; MoA, 2000). The population was estimated at about 63,000,000, making     it the third most populous country in Africa, after Egypt and Nigeria,     but according to the World     Factbook the July 2006 estimate was 74,777,981 with a growth rate     of 2.31%. The male-female ratio is almost one to one. 85.3 percent of     the population lives in rural areas and the rest is urban (CSA, 1999). Figure 1. Location map of Ethiopia. Source MoA, 2000 Ethiopia is culturally and biologically diverse, among the     four most diverse countries in Africa for endemic vertebrates; fifteen     percent of the estimated 7,000 vascular plants are thought to be endemic.     Ethiopia has a diverse mix of ethnic and linguistic backgrounds; in fact     among the top 25 countries in the world in endemic linguistic diversity.     It is has more than 80 ethnic groups, each with its own language, and     about 200 dialects, culture and traditions. The four main language groups     are: Semitic, Cushitic, Omotic, and Nilo-Saharan. One of the most significant     areas of Ethiopian culture is its literature which is represented predominantly     by translations from ancient Greek and Hebrew religious texts into the     ancient language Ge'ez, modern Amharic and Tigrigna. Ge'ez, one of the     most ancient languages in the world, is still used by the Ethiopian Orthodox     Church, which has its own unique customs and traditions and which have     been influenced by Judaism. The agricultural sector plays a central role in the economic and social     life of the nation and is a cornerstone of the economy. About 80-85 percent     of the people are employed in agriculture, especially farming. The sector     contributes about 40 percent of total GDP; livestock and their products     account for about 20 percent of agricultural GDP. Smallholders, the backbone     of the sector, cultivate 95 per cent of the cropped area and produce 90-95     percent of cereals, pulses and oilseeds. Subsistence agriculture is almost     entirely rainfed and yields are generally low. Within agriculture, some 60 percent of the output is from crops, with     livestock and forestry producing 30 percent and 7 percent, respectively.     Crop production by area is predominantly cereals (84.55 percent) followed     by pulses (11.13 percent) and others (4.32 percent). Five crops account     for almost all cereal production: maize (15.75 percent), teff (Eragrostis     tef) (25.78 percent), barley (12.29 percent), sorghum (12.39 percent)     and wheat (10.76 percent) [CSA, 1995-1999]. However crops such as pulses     e.g. Chick pea, Beans, Peas; oil crops e.g. sunflower, safflower, rape,     neug (Guizotia abyssinica), groundnut; and root and plantation     crops e.g. potato, sweet potato, yam, cassava, `enset` (Ensete ventricosum),     and sugar-cane have great food and industrial value. Subsistence crop production is traditional and rainfed, with very limited     areas of irrigation. Of around 166,000 hectares under irrigation some     64,000 hecta


UNESCO's World Heritage List originated in the effort to preserve historic sites that were being affected by the construction of what structure in the 1950s?

70th anniversary | UNESCO UNESCO: Building peace in the minds of men and women Just 50 years ago, in April 1965, the Pacific Tsunami Warning System came into being under the auspices of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). To mark this anniversary, and celebrate the system’s numerous accomplishments, an international symposium was held in Honolulu, Hawaii (USA) on 20 and 21 April. 7.11 pm, 22 May, 1960. An earthquake measuring 9.5 on the Richter scale – the most powerful on record – occurred south of Chile, generating a tsunami that battered the South American coastline for over 4,000 kilometres. Waves up to 25 metres high crashed onto the shores of Chile, between Concepcion and the Chiloe Islands, closest to the epicenter. Fifteen hours later the tsunami, which by then had travelled 10,000 kilometres, struck Hawaii, then Japan and the Philippines. The final death toll was over 2000. Damages were estimated at around 24 million dollars (almost 200 million dollars at today’s values). © ITIC - One of the early posters prepared by the International Tsunami Information Centre (ITIC). The scale of the disaster highlighted the need for an alert system for the Pacific, where 75% of the world’s deadliest tsunamis occur. In 1965, the Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System* came into being under leadership of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, the system’s operational nerve centre, was also established. Based in Hawaii, it is run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA, U.S.A) and cooperates with the North-West Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Japan. It evaluates threats when earthquakes occur and warns countries that lay in the path of any resulting tsunami. Organised by NOAA, the IOC and the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) the international conference in Honolulu will trace the history of this exemplary scientific programme.     Fifty years after its creation, the Intergovernmental Coordination Group counts 46 member states * and the system has evolved beyond issuing warnings to include work on loss prevention, preparing populations to respond to tsunami threats, and technology transfer. © DIPECHO-ACSUR - Tsunami Education and awareness activities, Nicaragua. The Pacific tsunami Warning System has direct access to more than 150 seismic stations around the world which provide information on all earthquakes of 5.5 magnitudes or more. It also receives data from tide gauges and tsunami-metres throughout the Pacific that verify whether a tsunami has been generated and estimate its size. These tsunami-metres allow for greater precision in calculating tsunami risks, and mean that warnings can be issued within five or ten minutes of an earthquake occurring. The Pacific model has been used as a model for three other systems, launched after the deadly tsunami of December 2004, to protect most exposed regions, including the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, the North-East Atlantic and Mediterranean. While undeniably successful, the system still has gaps. “Going the last mile” remains a challenge, because even if the system can alert national authorities quickly, the message must then be relayed to vulnerable coastal populations that risk could be hit minutes after an earthquake happens. Financing is also an issue. Maintaining the warning system has a cost – estimated between 50 and 80 million dollars a year. But to save lives and limit the damage wreaked by tsunamis, it’s a price that must be paid. ____________________ *Originally known as the International Coordination Group for the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific. **Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Canada, Chili, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Japan, Kiribati, Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Palau,  Panama, Papua new Guinea, Peru, Philippines,  Russian Federation, Solom


The fictional Radiator Springs in Pixar's hit Cars is said to be based on several places the crew visited along what iconic American road?

A guide to the real-life Cars movie characters and places Updated Nov. 9, 2011 If you just saw the “Cars” movie and want to find more information about Route 66, welcome. First, the Radiator Springs shown in “Cars” is a fictional town. Historic Route 66 exists. On the real Route 66, there is a Baxter Springs in Kansas and a Peach Springs in Arizona. But Radiator Springs does not exist, except in the imaginations of Pixar’s artists and writers. However, many of the characters and places shown are based on real characters and locations on Route 66, the Mother Road. Let’s introduce them, shall we? For instance, Sally the Porsche, portrayed in the film by Bonnie Hunt, is based primarily on Dawn Welch, owner of the historic Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla. Welch’s restaurant is one of the road’s most acclaimed, as Michael and Jane Stern of Roadfood.com will attest . If you plan to visit the Rock Cafe for a meal, it is advised that you be there during off-peak hours. The restaurant tends to get very crowded during the lunch and dinner rush on weekends. The Sheriff is portrayed by the distinctive baritone voice of Michael Wallis , who also served as a Route 66 consultant for the film. Wallis has written 14 books, including the bestselling “Route 66: The Mother Road” , which catapulted him to national prominence in 1990. Wallis also guided the Pixar crew on two Route 66 tours for its research for “Cars,” and he and his wife, Suzanne, wrote “The Art of Cars,” a behind-the-scenes look at the film. They reside in Tulsa. Fillmore, the VW microbus voiced by George Carlin in the film, was unofficially inspired by Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire . I say “unofficially” because Waldmire refused to lend his name for the film. He’s a strict vegetarian, and he was bothered by “Cars” toys with his name on them would be in McDonald’s Happy Meals. Waldmire lives a hippie lifestyle, driving up and down Route 66 in his own VW microbus (complete with a solar panel for supplemental power), and selling his intricate artwork.  Waldmire died of cancer on Dec. 16, 2009. His microbus is currently displayed at the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac. By the way, Fillmore’s geodesic dome home in the film looks a lot like the dome at Meteor City in Arizona. Waldmire has a connection to Meteor City; he painted the massive mural of Route 66 there. Tow Mater the tow truck, voiced by Larry the Cable Guy in the film, is a composite of NASCAR superfan and non-Route 66er Douglas “Mater” Keever of North Carolina, Dean Walker (lower left), a mover and shaker at the Kansas Historic Route 66 Association; and Harley Russell, co-owner of the Sandhills Curiousity Shop in Erick, Okla. Walker can turn his feet backwards and frequently can be found at the Baxter Springs Heritage Center and Museum in Baxter Springs, Kan. Russell, who for many years was a professional musician, and his wife, Annabelle, performed music and offbeat comedy as the Mediocre Music Makers at their shop in Erick, which he describes as the “Redneck Capital of the World.” Harley and Annabelle have taken time off because of her recent bout with cancer, but they plan to eventually resume their tourism music gig. Harley Russell’s speaking voice, by the way, sounds very much like Mater’s. Ramone’s body-art shop in the film is directly inspired by the U-Drop Inn , a recently restored Art Deco gasoline station and restaurant complex in Shamrock, Texas. The U-Drop Inn now serves as a tourism and chamber of commerce office. Sally’s Cozy Cone Motel in the film is a composite of the historic Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., and the teepee-shaped Wigwam Motels, with one in Holbrook, Ariz. , and the other in San Bernardino, Calif. All of these motels are restored, well-maintained, and worth seeking out for a night’s sleep. Also, the name of Cozy Cone Motel is probably a nod to the Cozy Dog Drive-In restaurant on Route 66 in Springfield, Ill. The mountain shaped like a radiator cap that overlooks Radiator Springs is inspired by Tucumcari Mountain in Tucumcari. The mountain is the dominant feature in


The volcanic island of Surtsey that started forming in the 1960s attracting worldwide scientific attention is nearest to what country?

Volcanic Natural Resources and Volcanic Landscape Protection: An Overview | InTechOpen Earth and Planetary Sciences  »  "Updates in Volcanology - New Advances in Understanding Volcanic Systems" , book edited by Karoly Nemeth, ISBN 978-953-51-0915-0, Published: September 27, 2012 under CC BY 3.0 license . © The Author(s). Chapter 5 Volcanic Natural Resources and Volcanic Landscape Protection: An Overview By Jiaqi Liu, Jiali Liu, Xiaoyu Chen and Wenfeng Guo DOI: 10.5772/54586 Figure 1. Locations of the volcanic islands referred to in the article Figure 2. Location of volcanic islands in China Figure 3. Penghu Island Figure 4. A natural geothermal system [11] Figure 5. EGS Cutaway Diagram [14] Figure 6. Location of Pacific-Australian plate boundary and Taupo Volcanic Zone[22] Figure 7. Location of the Wairakei Geothermal Power Station in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand Figure 8. Steam pipelines towards the Wairakei Geothermal Power Station [24] Figure 10. Sand steam hot spring in Ibusuki, Kagoshima [30] Figure 11. Landscape of Tengchong, China Figure 13. Kimberlite pipe [47] Figure 14. Diamonds can be formed by subduction [50] Figure 15. Location of the world nature heritage sites and geoparks which are related to volcanic activities Figure 16. Landscape of Wudalianchi, China Figure 17. Landscape of Changbai Mountain, China Volcanic Natural Resources and Volcanic Landscape Protection: An Overview Jiaqi Liu1, Xiaoyu Chen1 and Wenfeng Guo1 [1] Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China 1. Introduction Many land resources are formed by volcanoes. In the vast oceans, there are numerous sporadic islands, big and small. Take Kosrae and Azores Archipelago for example. Kosrae (5°9′N, 163°00′E), Federated States of Micronesia, is a small (112 km2) volcanic island in the west-central Pacific Ocean [ 1 ]. Compared with Kosrae, Azores Archipelago (36°55′~39°43′N, 25°01′~31°07′W) is a much larger volcanic island. It consists of nine volcanic islands and covers 2,247 km2 [ 2 ]. These volcanic islands not only offer space for humans to live on, they have also become courier stations for shipping and communication. They were particularly more important in ancient times when seamanship was not well developed. Some typical lands which have been created by volcanic activities will be introduced below. Figure 1. Locations of the volcanic islands referred to in the article The Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean are a typical example of islands constructed by volcanoes. With continuous oceanic volcano eruptions and magma pouring into the ocean constructing islands, the young Hawaiian Islands keep growing. This situation also happens in Iceland and Reunion. Indonesia is the biggest archipelagic state in the world and also a “volcano country”, most of the islands there have been constructed by volcanoes, for example, Anak Krakatau is called Krakatoa’s son. It was formed both by volcanic activity and wave-cut erosion. Eventually the growth speed of the volcano exceeded the wave-cut erosion and emerged in 1930, piled up from an ocean floor of over 100 m depth, forming islands of cinder and lava covering more than 2 km2 in area [ 3 ]. This new island, with an elevation of 9 m in 1930, grew relatively quickly in the first decade of its existence, to 67 m in 1933, and 132 m by 1941 and subsequently to 170 m by 1966. Changes in height were accompanied by enlargement of the island’s area. By 1981 the diameter of Anak Krakatau was reported to be about 2,000 m, with the highest elevation at about 200 m above sea level [ 4 ]. Falcon Island (Australia) is a small, uninhabited, rocky island, bounded by a fringing reef, at the south of the Palm Islands, formed under the joint action of submarine volcanic eruptions and waves. It is approximately 35 km offshore, 40 km from the nearest city and river estuary, and 8 km from an aboriginal settlement on Great Palm Island [ 5 ]. It is in the Pacific Ocean about 1600 km from the eastern coast of Australia. In 1915, Falcon Island disappeared suddenly due to the dominant rol


Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia is adjacent with what other park that is also named for a famed attraction?

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park · National parks and Sanctuaries · The Best of Zambia Read more Enquire The park and its history Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park covers 66 square kilometres from the Songwe Gorge below the Victoria Falls in a north-west arc along about 20 kilometres of the Zambezi River bank. It forms the south-western boundary of the city of Livingstone and has two main sections, each with separate entrances – the forest and cliff tops surrounding Victoria Falls, and the wildlife park. The Zambezi River forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, so the Victoria Falls are shared by the two countries, and this Zambian National Park is ‘twin’ to the Victoria Falls National Park on the Zimbabwean side. ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ which means ‘the smoke that thunders’ comes from the Kololo or Lozi language and the name is now used throughout Zambia, and in parts of Zimbabwe. In November 2005 a new statue of explorer David Livingstone, the world famous explorer was erected in the park. The original and more famous Livingstone statue is on the Zimbabwean side. A plaque was also unveiled on the nearby Livingstone Island to mark the spot from where David Livingstone became the first European to see the Victoria Falls, who he named after Queen Victoria. Today, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is considered for inclusion in the five nation Kavango-Zambezi Trans frontier Conservation Area. The Victoria Falls section of the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park The Victoria Falls section of the national park includes the rainforest on the cliff opposite the Eastern Cataract which is sustained by spray from the falls. It contains plants that are rare for the area such as pod mahogany, ebony, ivory palm, wild date palm and various creepers and lianas. Despite the many visitors that come here small antelopes and warthogs inhabit this area and are sometimes seen on the winding footpaths through the dripping riverine forest leading to the falls. The aptly named Knife Edge Bridge was built in the 1960s to provide access on foot to the cliffs looking over the Rainbow Falls and the first gorge’s exit to what is known as the boiling pot in the second gorge. During the high season from February to May, prepare to get drenched from clouds of spray thrown up by the thundering falls. A steep footpath leads down to the boiling pot. Look up and there are views of the second gorge and the Victoria Falls Bridge. Just before the Zambezi River plunges over the Victoria Falls, there is a small undeveloped stretch of the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park which is currently the only river front location that can be accessed without paying a fee. This is also known to be an important location for elephants to cross the Zambezi River. As you would expect the amount of water falling over the Victoria Falls varies with the seasons. Come to Victoria Falls during or just after the rainy season to see the world’s largest curtain of falling water. Be ready to hire rain coats or get soaked to the skin for this experience. Come to Victoria Falls in the drier seasons for a view of the sheer drops of rock, craggy nooks and crannies which offer an altogether different experience. It is when the water calms a little that you can take a guided trip across the rocky lip of the Zambezi River above the Victoria Falls to Livingstone Island for a heart-stopping peek into the thundering chasm below, or take a dip in the Devil’s Pool – your friends will never believe your photos! Below the Victoria Falls Downstream from the Victoria Falls the Zambezi River plunges into the Batoka Gorge a sheer cut through the landscape that hacks a deep zigzag groove through the plateau as it heads off eastward towards the distant Indian Ocean. Sandy tracks wind through the forest, passing through the occasional thatched village, various points where rafters climb up out of the gorge and on towards two remote lodges perched high above the chasm. The tops of these deep gorges below the Victoria Falls can be reached by road and walkable tracks through the game park. These are excellent places to see klipspringers, cl


Going-to-the-Sun Road is a prominent pathway in an American national park named for what geographical feature?

What Are the Geological Features in Glacier National Park? | Trails.com What Are the Geological Features in Glacier National Park? Tweet Glacier National Park is home to many geologic formations. The park is named after the remnants of 10,000-year-old glaciers and anywhere you look, you see a different example of how nature carved these massifs. Whether you're traveling on the Going-to-the-Sun Road or hiking the 700 miles of trails in the park, different types of formations can be seen everywhere. Cirque Imagine a massive piece of ice grinding away at a layer of bedrock. This is what a glacier does to form a cirque. When it has finished working, a semi-circular bowl is left that resembles an amphitheatre. This is a cirque. Arete If you've ever seen a sharp-edged ridge, you've seen an arete. An arete forms when a glacier wears away its sides, sculpting a knife-edged ridge. The summit of Mount Oberlin is a perfect example of a prominent arete in Glacier National Park. Hanging Valley Below the arete on Mount Oberlin's summit is a hanging valley that overlooks the actual valley floor below. A hanging valley is created when a small glacier erodes a mountain. The one on Mount Oberlin resembles a large bowl, perched high above the park. Paternoster Lakes Lakes formed by glaciers form in U-shaped valleys and form in chains called paternoster lakes. Glacier National Park has great examples of these formations. A popular example is the chain formed by Grinnell, Josephine and Swiftcurrent Lakes. Moraine Boulders, rocks, silts and other residues left behind by a glacier are called a moraine. Moraines are sub-categorized as end, ground, lateral, and medial moraines. These categories refer to the location where the residue is deposited; for example, a lateral moraine has residue deposited on the sides of the glacier. Article Written By Rob Holzman Based in the Pacific Northwest, Rob Holzman has been writing outdoor articles since 1997. He recently published the first comprehensive rock climbing guidebook for Pennsylvania and has fiction work published in the "Pacific Northwest Inlander". Holzman has also appeared on FOX television and has been an outdoor consultant for the Discovery Channel.


Tafilalt in Morocco, Chebika in Tunisia and Huacachina in Peru are some of what? You are sure to quench your thirst at these locales!

14 most beautiful desert oases in the world You are using an older browser version. Please use a supported version for the best MSN experience. 14 most beautiful desert oases in the world < PREVIOUS SLIDE SLIDE 1 of 15 NEXT SLIDE > Oases - areas of lush vegetation surrounded by desert - have an almost mystical hold on our imagination, conjuring up visions of the "Arabian Nights." But they're also a vital part of the desert economy, offering crucial stops for traders and supporting communities.  Let’s take a look at some of the most beautiful examples from across the globe. © RAZVAN CIUCA/Getty Images


Aokigahara forest in Japan is noted as a place where many people go for what purpose?

Aokigahara Suicide Forest – Koshu, Japan | Atlas Obscura Please separate multiple addresses with commas. We won't share addresses with third parties. Subscribe me to the Atlas Obscura Newsletter Called “the perfect place to die,” the Aokigahara forest in Japan has the unfortunate distinction of the world’s second most popular place to take one’s life. (The first is the Golden Gate Bridge.) Since the 1950s, Japanese businessmen have wandered in, and at least 500 of them haven’t wandered out, at an increasing rate of between 10 and 30 per year. Recently these numbers have increased even more, with a record 78 suicides in 2002.  In 2003, that record was beat with a number of 105 bodies discovered. See more things to do in Japan » Japanese spiritualists believe that the suicides committed in the forest have permeated Aokigahara’s trees, generating paranormal activity and preventing many who enter from escaping the forest’s depths. Complicating matters further is the common experience of compasses being rendered useless by the rich deposits of magnetic iron in the area’s volcanic soil. Due to the vastness of the forest, desperate visitors are unlikely to encounter anyone once inside the so-called “Sea of Trees,” so the police have mounted signs reading “Your life is a precious gift from your parents,” and “Please consult the police before you decide to die!” on trees throughout. This does not deter determined people from committing suicide in this dense forest. Annually about 70 corpses are found by volunteers who clean the woods, but many are forever lost in the very thick woods. Japanese authorities discontinued publishing exact suicide numbers in order to avoid making the place even more popular. Contemporary news outlets noted the recent spike in suicides in the forest, blamed more on Japan’s economic downturn than on the romantic ending of Seicho Matsumoto’s novel Kuroi Jukai, which revitalized the so-called suicide forest’s popularity among those determined to take their final walk. (The novel culminates in Aokigahara as the characters are driven to joint-suicide.) Locals say they can easily spot the three types of visitors to the forest: trekkers interested in scenic vistas of Mount Fuji, the curious hoping for a glimpse of the macabre, and those souls who don’t plan on leaving. What those hoping to take their lives may not consider is the impact the suicides have on the locals and forest workers. In the words of one local man, “It bugs the hell out of me that the area’s famous for being a suicide spot.” And a local police officer said, “I’ve seen plenty of bodies that have been really badly decomposed, or been picked at by wild animals… There’s nothing beautiful about dying in there.” The forest workers have it even worse than the police. The workers must carry the bodies down from the forest to the local station, where the bodies are put in a special room used specifically to house suicide corpses. The forest workers then play jan-ken-pon—rock, paper, scissors—to see who has to sleep in the room with the corpse. It is believed that if the corpse is left alone, it is very bad luck for the yurei (ghost) of the suicide victims. Their spirits are said to scream through the night, and that their bodies will move on their own.


A custom known as the kula exchange or kula ring where great risks are taken to exchange gifts is prevalent in what part of the world?

Cultural Anthropology/Production, Inequality and Development - Wikibooks, open books for an open world Cultural Anthropology/Production, Inequality and Development From Wikibooks, open books for an open world Adaptive Strategies[ edit ] People all over the world rely on modes of production, distribution, and consumption in order to provide food and other commodities necessary in life. These modes differ based on culture in the ways that humans relate to and make use of the natural environment, how humans relate to each other, how the institutions of society and federal states cause change, and how ideas impact the ways in which these relationships are conveyed. This section discusses specific aspects of the different modes of production that have been used over time and that continue to be used in different cultures worldwide. Production[ edit ] Production is the transformation of nature's raw materials into a form more suitable for human use. An example of a mode of production is processing wheat grown in a field into flour to make bread. What makes it so is the conversion of the wheat into a form that humans can use for sustenance (i.e., flour for bread). All of the factors involved in the conversion of the plant into a form useful to humans, including the entire agricultural process, are considered to be factors of production. Distribution[ edit ] Distribution is the transport of produced goods whether that be by land, air, or sea to the consumer. Examples include the shipping of a package around the globe or even simply taking food to the market to sell. Forms of distribution vary depending on level of development and technological means but it is a universal and is required to get a product to the potential consumer. One way in which goods are distributed is through Physical Distribution Management and Efficient Consumer Response systems. These methods of transporting products have been increasingly important since the Industrial Revolution and are increasingly so due to the rapid rate of globalization and technological advance. This is because as industry makes the production of certain specific goods more efficient, the transportation of those goods becomes more vital because the distance to the places that need them is greater. Without the important aspect of distribution, industrialization would not be effective or even possible to sustain. Consumption[ edit ] Consumption is the buying or use of a good or service that has been previously distributed and produced. Examples of consumption include buying goods from store or purchasing items from another person. Consumption is an important part of the trade process as well as the final step in the process. For each of these systems there are many different forms and many different processes by which they function. Production can span all areas of the globe, but in many different fashions. Although it is agreed that "production shapes the context in which exchange can occur, determining which parties have what amount of goods to distribute", the extent to which this applies varies drastically from one geographic location to another and can often uncover inequalities between the different levels. A good example of this is the Global Coffee Trade. Full Example: A complete example of the whole process is documented in the 2006 film entitled "Black Gold," which follows the coffee trade in a region of Ethiopia known as Oromia. This area is known as the birthplace of coffee. The film follows Tadesse Meskela, the Manager of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union, as he travels to the United Kingdom and the United States trying to promote the coffee grown by the local farmers of Oromia. His goal is to sell the coffee on the international market without few or no middle men so that the Ethiopian coffee farmers will earn higher profits from their products. There is an astounding disparity between what distributors pay the farmers for their coffee and the amount that the consumers ultimately pays. There are efforts to help combat exploitation of the farmers, one of the mos


A mine in the town of Wieliczka in southern Poland that attracts millions of visitors is known for having produced what for centuries?

Wieliczka Salt Mine, Krakow, Poland, 1815 insider tips, photos, reviews & tickets - Page 2 Things to Do in Krakow Wieliczka Salt Mine   Wieliczka Salt Mine Tour from Krakow with an English-Speaking Guide "Tour the UNESCO's Cultural and Natural Heritage Site Wieliczka - continuously functioning mining site since the middle ages located approximately 16 km from Cracow.The “Wieliczka” Salt Mine is one of the most valuable monuments of material and spiritual culture in Poland. Each year it is visited by more than one million tourists from all over the world.Magnificent majestic timber constructions and unique statues sculpted in salt. Almost 3 kilometers of meandering corridors 800 steps to climb of which 350 have to be descended to reach the depth of 135 meters underground. Thus it is no surprise that till now the Tourist Route the main visiting route of the mine has been visited by 40000   Private Tour: Wieliczka Salt Mine Trip from Krakow "Meet your private guide at your central Krakow hotel at your preferred time and then leave the city by luxury minibus traveling to Wieliczka a small city roughly half an hour southeast of Krakow. Your destination here is the UNESCO-listed Wieliczka Salt Mine and on arrival you’ll head straight inside to explore the underground public areas with your guide.A staggering 1072 feet (327 meters) deep the working salt mine is a vast network of underground pits   Salt Mine Guides Tour in Wieliczka - Krakow "Your trip to the Wieliczka Salt Mine will begin in the city centre or at your hotel in Krakow. Wieliczka is only a short distance 10km away from Kraków.After a 30 minutes’ drive you will be there to begin your 2.5-hour wonder through the network of underground tunnels and labyrinths.You’ll have to take approximately 360 steps down to the mine. Down in the mine there is legends and many interesting facts about the mine.""""The salt mine in Wieliczka is famous for being Europe’s oldest salt mine which has been operating for at least 700 years. Wieliczka’s salt mine is a unique tourist attraction and is on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List (listed among the twelve top sites). Get lost with wonder as you make your way through the labyrinth of tunnels


The Semperoper is the opera house of what European city? (hint: Slaughterhouse-Five)

Dresden: The city that rose again | Stuff.co.nz Dresden: The city that rose again MICHAEL RODDY Last updated 05:10 01/04/2014 Reuters Reuters Reuters Reuters Reuters Reuters People look at the swollen Elbe rive in front of the historic skyline of the east German city of Dresden. A general view shows a vintage steamboat sailing down the Elbe river, where the planned 'Waldschloesschenbruecke' bridge should cross the river, in front of the historic city centre of the eastern German city of Dresden. People walk past a statue of King Johann of Saxony (1801-73) in front of the Semperoper opera house. A general view shows the old city with the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) and the Hofkirche church beside the river Elbe. Zwinger Castle in Dresden. People await the re-consecration ceremony of the Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady) in the eastern German city of Dresden. 0 of 0 « Previous « Previous Next » Next » Relevant offers Things to do in Dresden, Germany: Three minute guide Avalon Waterways river cruising: 10 shore excursions to try on the River Rhine American novelist Kurt Vonnegut, a prisoner of war in Dresden during World War Two, has a scene in "Slaughterhouse Five" where time-travelling hero Billy Pilgrim sees the city's firebombing in reverse, with phosphorous bombs sucked back into warplanes. Visitors today to the German city that proudly, if a bit cheekily, calls itself "Florence on the Elbe", in a nod to its Italianate architecture, could almost think the scene was prescient of Dresden's resurrection since World War Two. Imprisoned at a slaughterhouse that inspired the novel's title, Vonnegut lived through the infamous bombing raid in February 1945 which destroyed the old part of the city three months before the war in Europe ended. It killed, according to widely varying estimates, 35,000 to 100,000 people, or more. Emerging from the relative safety of the slaughterhouse, Vonnegut wrote that the destroyed city looked like a moonscape. Today the moonscape can be seen only in photographs. Sited on land that slopes up gently from the scenic Elbe in the historic kingdom of Saxony, Dresden, formerly part of communist East  Germany, is one of the beneficiaries of German unification. Its booming semiconductor, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industries, including a glass-fronted factory that produces Volkswagen's luxury Phaeton model, and is a tourist attraction in its own right, mean the city is flush with cash to support a thriving restaurant, boutique and cultural and arts scene. One of Germany's most prestigious opera houses, the Semperoper, which saw the premieres of nine of Richard Strauss's operas and three of Richard Wagner's, dominates a vast square. Nearby, the Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery) has a spectacular collection including works by Rubens, Durer, Rembrandt and Canaletto, plus touchstones of art like Raphael's "Sistine Madonna" and Vermeer's "Girl Reading a Letter at an Open Window". Dresden is also the site of a modern miracle in the reconstruction of its historic old town, especially the rebuilding of the 18th-century Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady). The heart and soul of the old city collapsed into rubble two days after the bombing raid due to the intense heat generated by the firestorm. While the communist authorities who ran East  Germany until 1989 spent money to rebuild the destroyed Semperoper, they would not fork out money for the church. Townspeople cleared the site and stored the remaining original stones nearby, waiting for their time to come, which it did when communism collapsed and the Berlin Wall was torn down. With donations from throughout the world, including a substantial sum from a trust in Coventry, England, scene of another devastating church bombing in World War Two, the Frauenkirche was rebuilt from the rubble. Since it reopened in 2005 it has become one of the top five tourist attractions in Germany, partly for its meticulously restored, pale white baroque interior, partly because it has a reputation for being "the biggest puzzle in the world". Ad


The Semien Mountains whose highest peak is Ras Dashen lie in what African country?

Trekking Tour of Ethiopia Trekking Tour of Ethiopia offered by supplier M17566 (read about supplier) Key Information: Tour Duration: 10 - 21 day(s) Group Size: 3 - 20 people Minimum Per Person Price: 2000 US Dollar (USD) Maximum Per Person Price: 4000 US Dollar (USD) Our trek consists of going to Ras Dashen (4543 m), the highest peak in Ethiopia and visits to Historic Routes of Ethiopia Mountains such as Ras Dashen, one of the tallest mountains in Africa. After visiting The Monasteries over Lake Tana, the Blue Nile Falls and the medieval castles at Gondar, we continue into the Simien Mountains for a quite a tough trek. The Simien Mountains of Ethiopia offer superb wilderness trekking with camera snapping scenery, dramatic cliffs and steep drops and escarpments. You can see and the chance to spot endemic wildlife such as a troop of Gelada Baboon, Walia Ibex and Simien fox and Ethiopia’s many endemic birds and plant life unique to the mountains. Finally we visit the obelisk city of Axum and the famous rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. Axum is said to house the Ark of the Covenant. Tour Itinerary: Day 1: Arrive in Addis Ababa, city tour of Addis Ababa. On arrival in Addis Ababa our representatives will meet you at Bole International Airport and transfers to Classic hotel or guest house. An briefing of the program and itineraries will be given. The rest of the day visit historical sites in Addis Ababa including the National Archaeological Museum, where we will see the 3.6 million year old remains of “Lucy”, whose skeletal remains when discovered in 1974. You will also visit the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University, Holy Trinity Cathedrals and Mount Entoto which rises up to an altitude of 3200 m and offers the panoramic view of the metropolis. Day 2: Drive from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar stopping off at Debre Libanos. Overnight at Debre Markos. Drive to Bahir Dar through the beautiful scenery at after 103 kms drive, visit the 13th C monastery of Debre Libanos and the 17th C Portuguese Bridge. Debre Libanos is an important monastic center for Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. See Portugese Bridge with breathtaking views of Blue Nile Gorge. See Waterfalls. Day 3: Bahir Dar. After breakfast, we take a boat trip on Lake Tana to visit ancient monasteries and churches. See the Blue Nile Falls. Overnight: Tana Hotel. Day 4: Drive Gondar Tour of Gondar. We experience typically in an Ethiopian African landscape as we drive from Bahir Dar to Gondar- 180 kms over wide grazing land, hilly mountains with numerous farmlands. The rest of the day visit attractions in Gondar. The attractions that we visit in Gondar includes: Castles of Gondar- are included in the World Heritage List, the royal Fasiledes Bath and the Church of Debre Berhan Selassie with its unique murals. Overnight: Goha Hotel. Day 5: Gondar - Geech Camp Site. Morning 3 hours drive through countryside to Debark town (100 km from Gondar), where the head quarter of Semien Mountains National Park is found. Then we continue driving to Sankaber (31 km) the first campsite of the National Park. It is this day that we start to walk in the national park. We begin the trek along all the trekking staff: including mules and Muleteers for packing and transport of camping gears and all foodstuffs. We walk from Sankaber to Geech, which will take between 5-6 hours. After about 1 and half hours walk we see the Jinnbar River and falls, we will cross the river later in the day. After crossing the river, we ascend for about two hour to Geech, which is full of Giant Lobelias. Overnight Camping at Geech Campsite (3600 m). Day 6: Geech - Imetegogo – Geech. This day we will be waking to the best viewpoints in the National park. First we walk to Imetegogo, the view here enables one to look 3600 to all directions this one of the best view in the national park. After a short stay here continue walk to Seha, the other terrific viewpoint in the National park. We will have our picnic lunch and we continue to the last viewpoint, Quedadit. After some stay we walk back to Geech camp site. The walk this da


The Galata bridge spans what water body that is part of the Bosphorous strait and that has been a subject of numerous works of art?

Bosphorus – Turkish Forum English Wish You Were Here: A Ferry Boat on the Bosphorus New York has its Staten Island Ferry, Venice the Vaporetto and Bangkok the Chao Phraya River Bus, but no city ferry line seems quite as regal as that of Istanbul. Last night, we hopped a Vapur (the name for these old ferries) for the first time, traveling from the docks at Eminönü near the Spice Market to about 25 minutes up the Bosphorus to Ortaköy, a neighborhood just before the towering Bosphorus Bridge. Though a private water taxi charges 120 Lira ($67 USD) for a one-way ride between these points, sharing the ferry means a far budget friendlier cost of only 3 Lira ($1.67) each way. The ferries themselves are ridiculously impressive, with their white bows looking just as ready for a transatlantic crossing as a trip between two docks. The funnels spew black smoke under raw power, and the maneuvering skills of the captains are on full display during evening rush hour near the Galata Bridge. Vapur sizes vary, with maximum occupancy ranging from 600 to as high as 2100. Ferries like this have sailed the Bosphorus since 1837; they may have changed from steam power to fuel, but they remain an integral part of the population’s daily commute. And frankly we wouldn’t want it any other way. A ferry docked for the night nearby the Bosphorus Bridge between Europe and Asia [Photos: Cynthia Drescher/Jaunted] via Wish You Were Here: A Ferry Boat on the Bosphorus || Jaunted. Posted on Destination: East meets west in the Turkish city of Istanbul 27 Feb 2013 09:05 From Birmingham Airport it will take 3 hours 50mins and 2.657km to reach Ataturk Airport in Istanbul. Share on print Share on email The Blue Mosque, Sultanahmet, in the heart of Istanbul’s old city It is the city where two continents collide, their cultures and heritage blending in a unique atmosphere. Europe and Asia meet in Istanbul, and throughout this vibrant city you’ll find centuries-old mosques, churches and markets happily rubbing shoulders with modern restaurants, galleries and nightclubs. The cost of an overnight stay varies from £10 to £1,000 depending on your taste because Istanbul is also a city of contrasts. Whatever you do, plan on visiting a hamman – the traditional Turkish bath that the UK’s stylish spas try, but fail, to replicate. For about £12 your skin will be scrubbed clean, a fraction of the cost you’d pay back home. Kariye Museum Must Sees 1. Kariye Museum (The Chora Church), Kariye Cami Sokak, Edirnekapi This 11th century church looks unassuming from the outside, but step through the door and prepare to be amazed by remarkable mosaics illustrating scenes from the life of Christ and the Virgin Mary. Over the years, it has doubled as a museum and it remains a Byzantine treasure to this day. Take the tram to Topkapi and walk along the old city wall to make this a complete holiday experience. Bosphorus Strait, Old City, Sirkeci   2. Bosphorus Strait, Old City, Sirkeci Crossing the Bosphorus Strait is one of those holiday musts seasoned travellers like to tick off. To start with, you’ll find yourself between two continents while in the same city. Taking the boat, you’ll marvel at Istanbul’s iconic landmarks, many of which can only be enjoyed from close this way. The infinite blue and the company of seagulls all the way will make you wish this journey will never end. Basilica Cistern, Imran Oktem Cad, Sultanahmet   3. Basilica Cistern, Imran Oktem Cad, Sultanahmet Yes, it’s even worth a look at the plumbing! The Basilica Cistern (or Sunken Palace from the original Turkish) is a mysterious underground complex lit by candlelight. It is, in fact, a Roman building dating back to 532 AD. This beautiful, cathedral-like cavern of columns and arches reflected in the still water is quite unlike anywhere else. Ancient and quiet, it’s thought-provoking, too, a world away from the bustle overhead.   Posh Baran Residence Hotel Airport, Naci Kasim Cad. Bahcelievler Okay, so you’re happy to break the bank. Expect to pay in excess of £1,700 a night for a spacious, air-conditioned apartment i


What is the only U.S. state flag to feature the Union Jack?

The History of the American Flag: A Timeline The History of the American Flag: A Timeline The History of the American Flag:  A Timeline Every heart beats true for the red, white, and blue – but does every heart know the interesting history of the stars and stripes?  While the modern American flag has become a symbol around the world for freedom, justice, and prosperity, it has actually changed sixty three times over the past two hundred and thirty five years.  Some early designs of the flag would be unrecognizable to most modern Americans, and some even featured the British Union Jack. Brush up on the fascinating story of our beloved Star-Spangled Banner and how she became the shining beacon of hope that she is today with in the following timeline! 1775 – As revolutionary fever starts to swelter, several iterations of a flag representing the independence and discontent of the colonists begin to surface.  The Continental Navy starts to fly a flag with a red striped background featuring a snake, along with the inscription “Don’t Tread on Me.”  This sentiment and symbol will later be associated with the United States Marine Corps. In New England, the “Liberty Tree” symbol becomes increasingly popular and appears on several flags.  The green pine tree shape was used on board New England ships with the phrase “An Appeal to Heaven,” while the flag for New England featured the Liberty tree in the upper left corner set bordered by red, white and blue stripes. 1776 – On the first of January, The Grand Union Flag is flown on Prospect Hill and adopted as a symbol of the rebelling colonists.  The flag, originally designed in 1775, features the British Union Jack in the upper left corner surrounded by thirteen white and red stripes, symbolizing the thirteen colonies. Five months later, Betsy Ross, a Philadelphia seamstress, sews what is remembered as the first “American Flag,” featuring thirteen white stars laid in a circle on a blue background surrounded by thirteen red and white stripes.  Modern historians have called the validity of the Ross story into question; however, the story has become American folklore and is unlikely to be overruled in the public mind. 1777 – After myriad variations of Ross’s design are sewn and utilized around the colonies during early Revolutionary battles, the Continental Congress officially adopts Ross’s original design as the first official flag of the fledgling country on June 14th. 1778-1794 – Alternative versions of the American flag continue to be produced and used by various prominent military outfits and sailing vessels in spite of the official adoption of the Ross design.  All versions utilize the red, white, and blue theme.  Different designs were likely used due to slow and inconsistent communication as well as the gradual transition of the thirteen colonies into states.  The last of the thirteen colonies to officially join The United States was Rhode Island in 1790. 1795 – The official design is modified and updated to include two more states into the Union:  Kentucky and Vermont. The stars pattern has now shifted away from the circle to five staggered rows. 1814 – Inspired by the majesty of the flag and its visual impact during the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key pens a tune he titles “The Star-Spangled Banner.”  The song’s patriotic message earns it national recognition.  It is officially adopted in 1931 as the national anthem. 1818 – The official flag is modified and updated to showcase five additional stars on the blue field in honor of Tennessee, Ohio, Louisiana, Mississippi and Indiana receiving state status.  The stars are now arranged in four rows of five across. 1819 – The flag is updated at the end of the year when Illinois is added into the Union.  The 21 stars are now arranged with one row of four with one row of five on top and two rows of five below. 1820 – Two more stars are added with the inclusion of Alabama and Maine.  The 23 stars are now arranged with one row of five with one row of six on top and two rows of six below. 1822-1867 – Fourteen more stars are added to the fl


Name 2 of the 3 countries that had the most victims due to the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

BBC ON THIS DAY | 26 | 2004: Thousands die in Asian tsunami About This Site | Text Only 2004: Thousands die in Asian tsunami Massive sea surges triggered by an earthquake under the Indian Ocean have killed over 10,000 people in southern Asia, with many more feared dead. An 8.9 magnitude earthquake under the sea near Aceh, north Indonesia, at 0759 local time (0059 GMT) generated the biggest tsunami the world has seen for at least 40 years. The wall of water fanned out across the Indian Ocean at high speed and slammed into coastal areas with little or no warning. Officials in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India have all reported death tolls in the thousands and the figures are expected to rise sharply over the next few days. This may be the worst natural disaster in recent history UN Emergency Relief Co-ordinator Jan Egeland Indonesia is thought to be the worst-hit country in the region, with 4,185 confirmed dead. In Sri Lanka, over 3,500 people have died and one million more have been made homeless. President Chandrika Kumaratunga has declared a national emergency. Hundreds of fisherman are missing off the southern Indian coast and witnesses have reported scores of bodies being washed up on beaches. Other countries hit by the tsunami include Malaysia, Thailand, the Maldives, the Seychelles and the Indian-owned Andaman and Nicobar islands. Harrowing stories from the disaster zone are beginning to emerge. Jayanti Lakshmi, 70, lost her son and twin grandsons while out shopping with her daughter-in-law in Cuddalore, southern India. She said: "I wish I had died instead of the others, my daughter-in-law would have a life. I can't bear to watch her pain." And a father in Sri Lanka watched as his entire family was swept away by the sea. "It dragged my wife away, then my two-month-old twins," he said. "Then I watched my seven-year-old son drown." Large part of the affected area are popular holiday destinations and many resorts have been badly hit. In Thailand, hundreds of holiday bungalows have been destroyed on the popular Phi Phi Island. Tourists from all over the world are thought to be among the dead. Health experts now fear that many more could die as diseases like typhoid, cholera and malaria spread rapidly. United Nations Emergency Relief Co-ordinator Jan Egeland said many of the affected areas had dense populations living in sub-standard housing. "This may be the worst natural disaster in recent history," he added.


The Muslim observance of Arba'een attracts millions of visitors annually to what Iraqi city?

PressTV-New Zarih for son of Shia Imam's shrine unveiled in Karbala New Zarih for son of Shia Imam's shrine unveiled in Karbala Wed Mar 16, 2016 5:4PM An aerial view taken on December 1, 2015 shows Iraqi Shia pilgrims gathering at the shrines of Immam Abbas ibn Ali (front) and Imam Hussein (background-R) during the Arbaeen religious ceremony. AFP Altaf Ahmad Press TV, Karbala Hundreds of thousands have swept through the streets of Iraq's Holy city of Karbala to take part in the unveiling ceremony of a new "Zarih" for Aba al-Fazl Al-Abbas shrine. Aba al-Fazl is the son of the first Shia Imam, Imam Ali. He was martyred alongside his brother Imam Hussein in the epic battle of Karbala in 680 AD. His shrine attracts millions of visitors annually. Altaf Ahmad reports from the holy shrine in Karbala. Loading ...


Aguada, Varca, Vagator, Colva, Calangute, and Anjuna are some of the beaches in what state of India known for its Portuguese influence and for its spicy vindaloo?

Goa (state) hotels. Deals on hotels in Goa (state), India. Book on Hotels.com and save! Pool hotels (386 hotels) Make your trip to Goa (state) Goa HotelsMeet Goa’s wildest inhabitants in the safety of its dedicated nature reserves, find a private spot on the golden sands of its extensive beaches, or party ‘till dawn by the light of the moon at famous Baga Beach – Goa is small, compact, and wonderfully exciting. The narrow streets of its lively tourist towns are a melting pot of local culture and international influence. Modern cafés rub shoulders with traditional temples, street hawkers offload gaudy souvenirs just streets from glamorous Panjim malls, and fine-dining seafood restaurants showcase local produce as soon as it leaves the rickety fishing boats dragged up to shore.Things to seeAlong the fine sands of Baga Beach, which is patrolled by outlandish street vendors plying their trade of coconut milk drinks, and freshly cut fruits, is a long line of thatched roof bars and eateries that signal this tourist-favorite stretch of Goan coastline as one of the most happening spots for late-night entertainment. It’s not exactly a neon-lit destination, but don’t be fooled by its shack-like exterior, because when night falls the ‘strip’ comes alive with bustling bars, and an impressive yet gaudy market where a sea of cramped stalls are lit by thousands of lanterns. Mandrem Beach is infinitely quieter, the ideal spot for sunbathing in peace and quiet. Fringed by palm trees, this idyllic stretch of flat white sand is admittedly served by a handful of resorts, but there’s nothing like the chaos here of Baga. The Anjuna Flea Market is a sight to behold, and you haven’t haggled unless you’ve haggled here. Miles of makeshift stalls, many of them made from swathes of fabric, cluster together on flat, dusty ground. You can pick up hand sewn bags, real leather belts, and scoops of freshly-dried green tea leaves wrapped in squares of paper.Hotels in GoaGuest houses, bed and breakfasts, and luxury hotels in Goa are all on offer here, and at every beachside town and tourist resort, the number of places to stay grows. For a rich experience, choose one of the discount hotels that sit close to the lively pubs of Baga Beach. They enjoy an impressive location overlooking the tumbling surf of the Arabian Sea, and they’re close to the action as well. Watersports, hectic nightlife, and cheap cafes are a stone’s throw away. Some of the most opulent hotels are actually further inland, surrounded by tracts of rainforest canopy, and sitting on the banks of tributary rivers flowing gently to the sea. Spa bathrooms, satellite televisions, fine-dining restaurants, and massage therapies often form part of these upgraded packages.Where to stayThe windswept, palm tree-lined shore of Baga Beach sits at the core of Goan tourism. Its late-night beach parties are legendary across the country, and hotels in Baga Beach put you right at the heart of this pulsating, tourist-friendly district. A little further south, Palolem Beach is a haven for sun-worshippers, its curved bay dotted with upscale resorts, spa facilities, and decadent thatched bungalows. The streets that sit back from the coastline are filled with trendy cafés, and seafood restaurants, and there’s an emerging nightlife scene here.How to get to GoaDabolim Airport accepts international flights to Goa, and some resorts offer private transfers by shuttle bus, car, or boat, depending on the location. Car hire is available, although the crowded streets, and manic traffic can be off-putting for many. It’s best to pre-book a taxi to get you to your final destination.