The largest impact over land in Earth's recent history, how is the explosion that occurred in 1908 near the namesake river in Siberia commonly known?

Comets and their Origins - Secrets of the Comet: Are Comets the Building-stones of Life? - Paranormal Zone X Comets and their Origins - Secrets of the Comet: Are Comets the Building-stones of Life? Comets and their Origins - Secrets of the Comet: Are Comets the Building-stones of Life? Comets and their Origins Secrets of the Comet: Are Comets the Building-stones of Life?   Comets and their Origins Secrets of the Comet: Are Comets the Building-stones of Life? A comet is an icy small Solar System body that, when close enough to the Sun, displays a visible coma (a thin, fuzzy, temporary atmosphere) and sometimes also a tail. These phenomena are both due to the effects of solar radiation and the solar wind upon the nucleus of the comet. Comet nuclei are themselves loose collections of ice, dust, and small rocky particles, ranging from a few hundred meters to tens of kilometers across. Comets have been observed since ancient times and have historically been considered bad omens.Comets have a wide range of orbital periods, ranging from a few years to hundreds of thousands of years. Short-period comets originate in the Kuiper Belt, or its associated scattered disc, which lie beyond the orbit of Neptune. Longer-period comets are thought to originate in the Oort Cloud, a spherical cloud of icy bodies in the outer Solar System. Long-period comets plunge towards the Sun from the Oort Cloud because of gravitational perturbations caused by either the massive outer planets of the Solar System (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune), or passing stars. Rare hyperbolic comets pass once through the inner Solar System before being thrown out into interstellar space along hyperbolic trajectories. Comets are distinguished from asteroids by the presence of a coma or a tail. However, extinct comets that have passed close to the Sun many times have lost nearly all of their volatile ices and dust and may come to resemble small asteroids. Asteroids are thought to have a different origin from comets, having formed inside the orbit of Jupiter rather than in the outer Solar System. These have somewhat blurred the distinction between asteroids and comets (see centaurs and asteroid terminology). As of May 2010 there are a reported 3,976 known comets of which about 1,500 are Kreutz Sungrazers and about 484 are short-period. This number is steadily increasing. However, this represents only a tiny fraction of the total potential comet population: the reservoir of comet-like bodies in the outer solar system may number one trillion. The number visible to the naked eye averages roughly one per year, though many of these are faint and unspectacular. Particularly bright or notable examples are called "Great Comets". Comet nuclei are known to range from about 100 meters to more than 40 kilometres across. They are composed of rock, dust, water ice, and frozen gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia. Because of their low mass, comet nuclei do not become spherical under their own gravity, and thus have irregular shapes. Officially, according to NASA guidelines, a comet has to be at least 85% ice in order to be considered an actual comet. They are often popularly described as "dirty snowballs", though recent observations have revealed dry dusty or rocky surfaces, suggesting that the ices are hidden beneath the crust. Comets also contain a variety of organic compounds; in addition to the gases already mentioned, these may include methanol, hydrogen cyanide, formaldehyde, ethanol and ethane, and perhaps more complex molecules such as long-chain hydrocarbons and amino acids. In 2009, it was confirmed that the amino acid glycine had been found in the comet dust recovered by NASA's Stardust mission. Surprisingly, cometary nuclei are among the least reflective objects found in our solar system. The Giotto space probe found that the nucleus of Halley's Comet reflects about four percent of the light that falls on it, and Deep Space 1 discovered that Comet Borrelly's surface reflects just 2.4% to 3.0% of


Located in northeast Caribbean, what is the smallest inhabited sea island that is divided between two nations?

Saint Martin beaches | The Best Caribbean Beaches The Best Caribbean Beaches great bay sea palace resort orient bay french st martin beach at st martin s beach in half moon bay st martin beach Language English Saint Martin is a tropical island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 300 km (186 miles) east of Puerto Rico. The 87 kmВІ island is divided roughly in half between France and the Netherlands Antilles; it is the smallest inhabited sea island divided between two nations. * The southern Dutch half comprises the Eilandgebied Sint Maarten (Island area of St. Martin) and is part of the Netherlands Antilles. * The northern French half comprises the Collectivity de Saint-Martin (Collectivity of St. Martin) and is an overseas collectivity of France. Collectively, the two territories are known as “St-Martin/St. Maarten”. Sometimes SXM, the IATA identifier for Princess Juliana International Airport (the island’s main airport), is used to refer to the island. The main towns are Philipsburg (Dutch side) and Marigot (French side). The island has approximately a total resident population of 85,000. The official population on the Dutch side is 50,000 while on the French side this is 35,000. Human density is 3 times that of the Netherlands. In addition there is an average of 1,000,000 tourist visitors per year. There are some Caribbean beaches at St. Martin - Great Bay, Martin’s Beach in Half Moon Bay, Orient Beach. The highest hilltop is the Pic Paradis (424 m) on center of a hill chain. There is no river on the island, but many dry guts. Hiking trails give access to the dry forest covering tops and slopes. The average yearly air temperature is 27 В°C (min 17 В°C, max 35 В°C) and sea surface temperature 26.4 В°C. The total average yearly rainfall is 995 mm, with 22 days of thunder. Neither of the two halves of St. Martin had separate FIPS PUB 10-4 territory codes or ISO 3166-1 codes prior to 2007; they were coded as GP (Guadeloupe) and NA/AN (Netherlands Antilles). The status of the French side changed to an overseas collectivity in February 2007, and it received the ISO 3166-1 code MF in October 2007. The status of the Dutch side is due to change to a country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in December 2008, and it is expected that Dutch part will also get an ISO 3166-1 code of its own shortly thereafter. Capital - Marigot


Located on the Atlantic coast, what is the largest city of the Maghreb (the 5 countries constituting North Africa)?

Places in Africa (EASY) Quiz - By bitex3 Notes Ascension Once a dependency of Saint Helena, it's a British Overseas Territory in the equatorial waters of the South Atlantic Ocean. Port-Gentil It is the 2nd largest city of Gabon and a leading seaport. Bissau It's the capital city of Guinea-Bissau. Monrovia Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it's the capital city of Liberia. Ilha do Príncipe It's the smaller of the two major islands of São Tomé and Príncipe. It was the site where Einstein's Theory of Relativity was experimentally proved successful in 1919. Dakar Located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula, on the country's Atlantic coast, it's the capital city of Senegal. Lake Victoria It's Africa’s largest lake by area and is divided among three countries: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Addis Ababa It's the capital and the largest city of Ethiopia. Réunion Located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, it's a French island and overseas department. Moroni It's the largest city of the Comoros islands and since 1958 has served as its capital. N'Djamena It's the capital city of Chad and the largest city in the country. Abu Simbel Temples Abu Simbel temples are two massive rock temples in southern Egypt, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the 'Nubian Monuments'. Bamako It's the capital and largest city of Mali. Alexandria It's the 2nd largest city in Egypt. Mombasa Lying next to the Indian Ocean, it's the 2nd largest city in Kenya. Nouakchott It's the capital and by far the largest city of Mauritania. Lubumbashi Lying near the Zambian border, it's the 2nd largest city in the DRC. Great Pyramid of Giza It's the oldest of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World and has been the tallest structure for 4,000 years until the completion of Lincoln Cathedral in England around the year 1300. Conakry It's the capital and largest city of Guinea. Meknes It was the capital of Morocco under the reign of Moulay Ismail, who constructed numerous edifices, gates and mosques (whence the nickname of 'City of the Hundred Minarets'). Djerba Located in the Gulf of Gabes, off the coast of Tunisia, it's the largest island of North Africa and a popular tourist destination. Johannesburg It's the largest city in South Africa and is also the world's largest city not situated on a river, lake or coastline. Algiers It's the capital and largest city of Algeria. Dar es Salaam Former capital and largest city, it's seat of the government.and main economic centre in Tanzania. Mozambique Channel The Mozambique Channel is a portion of the Indian Ocean located between the island of Madagascar and southeast Africa. Abidjan Largest city in the country, it's the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire. White Nile It is one of the two main tributaries of the Nile. Mbabane It's the aministrative capital and largest city of Swaziland. Porto-Novo Also known as Hogbonou and Adjacé, it's the official capital of Benin. Abuja Since the end of 1991, it's the capital city of Nigeria. Dodoma It's the official capital city of Tanzania since 1974. Pretoria It's one of the three capital cities of South Africa, serving as the executive (administrative) and de facto national capital. Bo It's the 2nd largest city in Sierra Leone. Cape Town It's the 2nd-most populous city and the legislative capital of South Africa. Suez Canal The Suez Canal is an artificial sea-level waterway in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Libreville It's the capital and largest city of Gabon. Bulawayo It's the 2nd largest city in Zimbabwe, after the capital city. Zanzibar It's an archipelago in the Indian Ocean, few kilometers off the coast, and is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania. Lusaka It's the capital and largest city of Zambia. Kinshasa It's the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cotonou It's the economic capital of Benin, as well as its largest city and the seat of the government. Maseru Located on the Caledon River, it's the capital of Lesotho. Bujumbura It's the capital city and main port of Burundi. Pointe-Noire Situated o


Though it was the dream of many historical rulers including Nero, the Corinth Canal was completed only in 1893. It separates the Greek mainland from which other landmass?

Πτυχιακή του Βασιλάκη by Nikolas Airmills - issuu issuu ΑΚΑ∆ΗΜΙΑ ΕΜΠΟΡΙΚΟΥ ΝΑΥΤΙΚΟΥ ΗΠΕΙΡΟΥ ΘΕΜΑ ΠΤΥΧΙΑΚΗΣ ΕΡΓΑΣΙΑΣ : MAJOR WORLD CANALS ΟΝΟΜΑ ΣΠΟΥ∆ΑΣΤΗ: ΧΡΙΣΤΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΟΣ Α.Μ.Σ: 1542 ΕΠΙΒΛΕΠΩΝ ΚΑΘΗΓΗΤΗΣ: Κ. ΚΑΡΑΚΑΤΣΑΝΗ, Μ. Ed. ΗΜΕΡΟΜΗΝΙΑ ΑΝΑΘΕΣΗΣ: 2/6/2009 ΗΜΕΡΟΜΗΝΙΑ ΚΑΤΑΘΕΣΗΣ: 26/5/2011 Α.Ε.Ν/ ΗΠΕΙΡΟΥ ΣΧΟΛΗ ΠΛΟΙΑΡΧΩΝ ΠΡΕΒΕΖΑΣ ΘΕΜΑ ΠΤΥΧΙΑΚΗΣ ΕΡΓΑΣΙΑΣ: MAJOR WORLD CANALS ΟΝΟΜΑ ΣΠΟΥ∆ΑΣΤH : ΧΡΙΣΤΟΠΟΥΛΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΙΟΣ Α.Μ.Σ: 1542 ΕΠΙΒΛΕΠΩΝ ΚΑΘΗΓΗΤΗΣ: Κ. ΚΑΡΑΚΑΤΣΑΝΗ, Μ.Ed. ΗΜΕΡΟΜΗΝΙΑ ΑΝΑΘΕΣΗΣ: 2/6/2009 ΗΜΕΡΟΜΗΝΙΑ ΚΑΤΑΘΕΣΗΣ:26/5/2011 SUMMARY This paper is about major canals, artificial waterways which create a floating bridge between two seas, between a sea and a lake, or carry water from one place to another one, serving in this way many purposes and uses. The major world canals discussed are the Suez Canal and Panama Canal which are long passages connecting the Mediterranean and Red seas, and the Atlantic and Pacific oceans respectively. The Kiel canal which links the North and Baltic seas is analyzed showing its importance in saving time and providing safety from dangerous storm-prone areas. In addition, the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System is presented in detail including locks, canals, channels and lakes which permit travelling all the way from the Atlantic Ocean to North Great Lakes. Erie Canal, Welland Canal and New York State Barge Canal are also examined along with Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Ontario, and Lake Huron. Finally the paper refers to the Corinth Canal and its importance in minimizing the distance from the Aegean to Ionian and Adriatic seas. Major World Canals CONTENTS Introduction..........................................................................................................................3 Suez Canal...........................................................................................................................5 History..................................................................................................................................5 Panama Canal.....................................................................................................................17 History................................................................................................................................18 Kiel Canal..........................................................................................................................37 History................................................................................................................................37 Operation............................................................................................................................38 Great Lakes - St.Lawrence Seaway System .....................................................................39 History................................................................................................................................39 Erie Canal...........................................................................................................................44 Welland Canal....................................................................................................................53 History................................................................................................................................53 New York State Barge Canal.............................................................................................59 History................................................................................................................................59 Great Lake Michigan ........................................................................................................61 Great Lake Ontario............................................................................................................63 Great Lake Superior ..........................................................................................................65 Great Lake Huron..................................................................


During the apartheid era, what was the name for the territory set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) of which ten were established?

History of South Africa in the apartheid era History of South Africa in the apartheid era 2007 Schools Wikipedia Selection . Related subjects: Recent History "Petty apartheid": sign on Durban beach in English, Afrikaans and Zulu (1989) Apartheid (literally "apartness" in Afrikaans and Dutch ) was a system of racial segregation that was enforced in South Africa from 1948 to 1994. South Africa had long since been ruled by whites and apartheid was designed to form a legal framework for continued economic and political dominance by people of European descent. Under apartheid, people were legally classified into a racial group - the main ones being White, Black, Indian and Coloured - and were geographically, and forcibly, separated from each other on the basis of the legal classification. The Black majority, in particular, legally became citizens of particular "homelands" that were nominally sovereign nations but operated more akin to United States Indian Reservations and Australian/Canadian Aboriginal Reserves. In reality, a majority of Black South Africans had never resided in these "homelands." In practice, this prevented non-white people — even if actually resident in white South Africa — from having a vote or influence, restricting their rights to faraway homelands that they may never have visited. Education, medical care, and other public services were sometimes claimed to be separate but equal, but those available to non-white people were generally regarded as inferior. Creation of apartheid The first recorded use of the word "apartheid" ( International Phonetic Alphabet [ə.ˈpɑː(ɹ).teɪt] or [-taid̥]) was in 1917 during a speech by Jan Christiaan Smuts, who later became Prime Minister of South Africa in 1919. Although the creation of apartheid is usually attributed to the Afrikaner-dominated government of 1948-1994, it is partially a legacy of British colonialism which introduced a system of pass laws in the Cape Colony and Natal during the 19th century. This resulted in regulating the movement of blacks from the tribal regions to the areas occupied by whites and coloureds, and which were ruled by the British. Pass laws not only restricted the movement of blacks into these areas but also prohibited their movement from one district to another without a signed pass. Blacks were not allowed onto streets of towns in the Cape Colony and Natal after dark and they had to carry a pass at all times. The practice of apartheid can thus be viewed as a continuation, magnification and extension of the segregationist policies of previous White colonial administrations in what is now South Africa. Examples include the 1913 Land Act and the various workplace "colour bars". These laws flowed from the peace treaty signed between the Boer Republics and the British Empire at the end of the Second Boer War of 1899-1902. However, it is claimed that the original idea behind the concept of apartheid was more one of political separation (later called "grand apartheid") than segregation (later called "petty apartheid"). For instance, during the Second World War , Smuts' United Party government began to move away from the rigid enforcement of segregationist laws. In the run-up to the 1948 elections, the National Party (NP) campaigned on its policy of apartheid. The NP narrowly defeated Smuts' United Party, and formed a coalition government with the Afrikaner Party (AP), under Protestant cleric Daniel Francois Malan's leadership. It immediately began implementing apartheid: legislation was passed prohibiting miscegenation (mixed-race marriage), individuals were classified by race, and a classification board was created to rule in questionable cases. The Group Areas Act of 1950 became the heart of the apartheid system designed to geographically separate the racial groups. The Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya which lasted from 1952 to 1960 may have influenced both thinking and policies in South Africa. The Separate Amenities Act of 1953 created, among other things, separate beaches , buses, hospitals, schools and universities . The existing pass laws were t


Which prominent mountain has three volcanic cones called Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira?

Kilimanjaro | Volcano World | Oregon State University OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY stratovolcano reaching an elevation of 19,335.6 ft. (5,895 m). Other names for this volcano are: Kilima Dscharo, Oldoinyo Oibor (white mountain in Masai), and Kilima Njaro meaning shining mountain in Swahili. This volcano's highest and youngest cone is named Kibo. Shira to the west and Mawenzi in the east are older cones that make up Kilimanjaro. Kibo has not been active in modern times, but steam and sulfur are still emitted. At the top of Kibo's summit is a 1 1/2 mile (2 1/4 Km) wide .   Kilimanjaro is the largest of an E-W belt of about 20 volcanoes near the southern end of the East African Rift Valley. Also prominent in this belt are Ngorongoro caldera - a superb wildlife refuge, Ol Donyo Lengi - a carbonitite volcano, and Meru. Kilimanjaro is a triple volcano with the youngest and central peak of Kibo being 7.5-8.7 miles (12-14 km) from Shira to the west and Mawenza to the east. As all of Kilimanjaro's climbers know the gentle lower slopes steepen to 30 degrees about 13,000 ft.(4 km) elevation.   Shira is topped by a broad plateau, perhaps a filled caldera, and erosion has cut deeply into a remnant rim. In contrast, Mawenzi's summit is a steep rocky peak surrounded by cliffs 1,600 ft.(0.5 km) to 4,900 ft.(1.5 km) high. Erosion has removed the original crater, and a great horseshoe shaped ridge opens to the northeast. Mile-deep gullies with 30-45 degree gradients make many places practically inaccessible. Massive series of radial and concentric dyke swarm make up more than 30-40 percent of the summit area of Mawenzi. Kibo's glacier-clad summit, the highest spot in Africa, is a 1.2 x 1.7 mile (1.9 x 2.7 km) caldera, with an inner crater nearly a mile (1.3 km) wide, and inside that a deep, 1,148 ft. (350 m) wide central pit. Original volcanic forms are preserved at the summit and on many of the flanks, except on the south side where glaciers have cut deeply into the cone. Nearly 250 satellitic cones occur on Kilimanjaro, most following SE and NW trends. Estimates suggest that of a total volume of about 1,150 cu. miles, Mawenzi and Shira each contribute roughly 120 cu. mi. of andesites and basalts, Kibo has the same volume of similar but unexposed rocks, plus an additional 107 cu. miles. Interestingly, more than half of Kilimanjaro's volume is represented by older, basal basalts (672 cu. mi.), so once again- as in Cascade stratovolcanoes - a basaltic shield is the most important, but least conspicuous element of a chemically complex volcano. Kilimanjaro- Africa's largest volcano and among the largest on the Earth is indeed a beautiful and fascinating volcano of the world.   Sources of information: Richard, J.J., Neumann van Padang M., 1957, Africa and the Red Sea. Catalog of Active Volcanoes of the World, Rome: IAVCEI 4, p.75-78. Dr. Charles A. Wood, Volcano World The Geology of Kilimanjaro 1972; by C. Downie & P. Wilkinson Contact Info VW is a higher education, k-12, and public outreach project of the Oregon Space Grant Consortium administered through the Department of Geosciences at Oregon State University.


The 19th century civic planner Baron Haussman is associated with the rebuilding of which city?

TimeRime.com - France in the 19th Century Linea de tiempo "The blend of Bonapartism and Orleanism, this faith in administration, is Haussmann's family heritage..." (Jordan)   Haussmann's father was Orleanist who supported centralization of government.  He was opposed to local elites or "notables" making decisions without some central "buraucratic" restraint (Jordan).     French artist Gustave Caillebotte expresses the isolation of the individual in the midst of Haussmann's changes in Young Man at His Window:   Even if the window is a means by which the young man can escape the boredom of domestic life, the view outside became increasingly less personable once Haussmann decided to tear up the capital’s crooked streets.   The rationality of Haussmann’s boulevards imposed a new logic onto the inhabitants of Paris.  By centralizing the imperial state, the modern industrial city shaped the way people, such as Caillebotte’s young man, experienced the urban landscape.   With the coming of modernity, there is a sense of melancholy at losing what was once familiar.  Faced with the growth of the city, the man contemplates his position from the security of his private domain and surveys the changes of the public arena through his apartment window.  While opening out onto the expansive world beyond, the window also displays a contracted view of the city.  The angle from which the viewer observes the man causes the space to appear crowded and illegible.  The position of the man and the viewer outside the painting do not line up and thus, we experience a distorted view of the scene.  Caillebotte’s deliberate choice to manipulate with the painting’s perspective signifies his response to Haussmann’s reconfiguration of the city during the mid 1870s.  Acting as an invitation for the viewer to enter the painted reality of Haussmann’s Paris, the window ironically does not rescind the indecipherability of the urban environment.  Gould, 1995, 80.      The view outside the young man’s window could be characterized as one of Haussmann’s revitalized neighborhoods.  Sweeping the streets and building new homes, Haussmann conceived of his city as one large human vessel with lungs, bowels and arteries.   Slums and other working class residential areas were pushed to the periphery of the city and replaced by bourgeois living quarters.  In Young Man broad, expansive streets flanked by tall, rectangular apartment buildings represent the essence of Haussmann’s prerogatives.  Our view from the balcony causes us to envision the landscape below as a series of enclaves dominated by foot traffic and punctuated by wide, tree-lined roads with monumental vistas instead of a confusing citywide web of intersecting streets.   In the painting, horse drawn carriages move alongside the tree bordered sidewalk while strollers pass freely between the street and the walkways below.  A female figure stands at the curved corner of the footpath possibly waiting for someone or watching some kind of event that is obstructed from our view by the balcony to the left.  The sensuous fabric of her pink dress calls attention to her bourgeois status.  Acting as components of a larger urban machine, the figures in the neighborhood become a part the city’s motion.  Although Caillebotte appears to conceive the new Haussmanised French neighborhood with the mathematical precision of its creator, a careful look at the painting’s composition reveals that the artist has manipulated traditional perspective to produce an unusual yet convincing view of the changes affecting the aesthetic and practical use of the city.          David P. Jordan, “Organs of the Large City,” in Transforming Paris: The Life and Labors of Baron Haussmann (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1995) 295.  Roger V. Gould, “Urban Transformations, 1852-70” in Insurgent Identities: Class, Community, and Protest in Paris From 1848 to the Commune (Chicago:The University of Chicago Press, 1995) 95.       After Paris's debt due to Haussmann's renovations reached a whopping 2.5 billion francs and the imperial regime becam


The Lake Mungo remains consisting of two fossils known as Mungo Lady and Mungo Man are located in the World Heritage listed Willandra Lakes Region of which country?

Lake Mungo remains Facts for Kids | KidzSearch.com New South Wales The Lake Mungo remains are three sets of human fossils . They are Lake Mungo 1 (LM1, or Mungo Lady), Lake Mungo 2 (LM2), and Lake Mungo 3 (LM3, or Mungo Man). The sites are located near Lake Mungo , in New South Wales , Australia , in the World Heritage-listed Willandra Lakes Region . [1] Pieces of skeletons have been found in this region. These pieces have been attributed to over forty human skeletons. The Lake Mungo remains are the most significant of these. [2] LM1 was found in 1969, and is widely considered the oldest known cremation in the world. LM3, found in 1974, are the remains of an early human inhabitant of the Australian continent. His remains are the oldest human remains that have been found in Australia. The exact age of these two fossils has been debated since they were found, with studies giving estimates between 20,000 and 62,000 years. Both of them are now generally considered to have lived around 40,000 years ago, during the Pleistocene epoch . Contents 5 More reading Mungo Lady (LM1) LM1 are the fossilised , cremated remains of a young woman. They were found in 1969 by James Bowler with the University of Melbourne . [3] Radiocarbon dating of pieces of bone from the burial put LM1 between 24,700 and 19,030 years old. Charcoal from a hearth 15 cm above the burial was dated at 26,250 years old (plus or minus 1,120 years). Reconstruction and study of the remains was mainly done by Alan Thorne at the Australian National University . The patterns of burn marks on the bones suggest that the body was first burned, then smashed, then burned a second time, before being buried. [4] Research published by Bowler in 2003 rejected previous estimates for all of remains at the site. Optical dating concluded that both LM1 and LM3 were buried around 40,000 years ago (plus or minus 2,000 years). [5] [6] This makes it the earliest evidence of human cremation that has been found. [7] [8] It suggests that ancient indigenous Australians in this region had their own complicated burial rituals. [5] The bones were returned in 1992 to the area's traditional owners: the Paakantji (Barkindji), the Mathi Mathi and the Ngiyampaa . LM1 is now in a locked vault at the Mungo National Park visitor centre. [4] Mungo Man (LM3) LM3 was found by James Bowler on 26 February 1974, when shifting sand dunes exposed the remains. [9] It is located 500 m east of the LM1 site. The body was covered with red ochre , in the earliest known example of such a complicated and artistic burial practice. Like the cremation of LM1, this indicates that certain cultural traditions have existed on the Australian continent for much longer than previously thought. [5] [10] Description Mungo Man (Lake Mungo 3) The skeleton was of a slender individual, quite different to the build of modern indigenous Australians. [11] The skeleton was badly preserved : large pieces of the skull were missing, and most of the bones in the limbs were damaged. Usually, the gender of a skeleton is determined using the bones in the skull and the pelvis. The problem is that these bones are in a very bad state in LM3, or they are missing altogether; in other words, the "normal" method of gender determination cannot be used with LM3. Since LM3 was discovered, other features were studied; most of these studies agree that LM3 was probably a male. [12] [13] [14] LM3 was buried lying on his back, with his hands joined together covering the groin. Some of the bones show evidence of osteoarthritis and eburnation , and the teeth are well worn. Based on this, it is likely that LM3 was quite old (around 50 years old) when he died. [15] New studies show that, using the length of his limb bones, it is possible to estimate LM3's height at 196 centimetres (77 inches or 6 ft 5 in), unusually tall for an Aboriginal. [10] Age The first estimate of LM3's age was made in 1976 by the team of scientists from the Australian National University (ANU) who excavated LM3. They estimated that LM3 was between 28,000 and 32,000 years old. [9] They did


With a total drop of 948 meters (3,110 feet) in five free-leaping falls, Tugela Falls is the world's second highest waterfall. They are located in the Drakensberg (Dragon's Mountains) range in which country?

1000+ images about Drakensberg Mountains on Pinterest | Natal, Kwazulu natal and In south africa Tugela Falls, Royal Natal National Park, South Africa. Second highest waterfall in the world. BelAfrique - your personal travel planner - www.BelAfrique.com See More


Which Spanish city, now home to a great mosque was probably the most populated city in Europe and perhaps in the world in the later half of the 10th century?

Islamic Civilization | Middle East Institute TUNBAR = TAMBOURINE (French) ZIRAFAH = GIRAFFE The enormous intellectual energy unleashed by the Abbasid dynasty left no field of knowledge and speculation untouched. In addition to mathematics and geometry, Abbasid scholars in the House of Wisdom made important and lasting contributions in astronomy, ethics, mechanics, music, medicine, physics, and philosophy to name a few. In the process men of enormous intellect and productivity rose to prominence. One of these was Thabit ibn Qurra. Recruited from the provinces—where he had worked in obscurity as a money changer—he came to the Bait al-Hikmah to work as a translator. There his exemplary grasp of Syriac, Creek, and Arabic made him invaluable. In addition to his translations of key works, such as Archimedes' Measurement of the Circle (later translated into Latin by Gerard of Cremona in the 12th century), he also wrote over 70 original works on a wide range of subjects. His sons, too, were to found a dynasty of scholars that lasted until the 10th century. But it wasn't only the pure or abstract sciences that received emphasis in these early years. The practical and technical arts made advances as well, medicine the first among them. Here several great scholars deserve mention. Hunain ibn lshaq not only translated the entire canon of Greek medical works into Arabic—including the Hippocratic oath, obligatory for doctors then as now—but wrote 29 works by his own pen, the most important a collection of ten essays on ophthalmology. The greatest of the 9th century physician-philosophers was perhaps Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Zakariya al-Razi, known to the west as Rhazes. He wrote over 184 books and was an early advocate of experiment and observation in science. Simultaneously, in far off Spain (al-Andalus), the social and natural sciences were being advanced by men such as Ibn Khaldun, the first historian to explicate the laws governing the rise and fall of civilizations. The brilliant flowering of Islamic science in Andalusia was directly stimulated by the renaissance in Baghdad. Scholars regularly traveled the length of the known world to sit and learn at the feet of a renowned teacher. With the death of the philosopher al-Farabi in 950 the first and most brilliant period of Islamic scientific thought drew to a close. As the political empire fragmented over the next 300 years, leadership would pass to the provinces, principally Khorasan and Andalusia. Indeed, Spain was to serve as a conduit through which the learning of the ancient world, augmented and transformed by the Islamic experience, was to pass to medieval Europe and the modern world. At the very time that Baghdad fell to the Mongols in 1258, and the Abbasid caliphate came to an end, scribes in Europe were preserving the Muslim scientific tradition. This is why, just as many Greek texts now survive only in Arabic dress, many Arabic scientific works only survive in Latin. The death of al-Farabi is perhaps a fitting event to mark the end of the golden age of Muslim science. His masterwork, The Perfect City, exemplifies the extent to which Greek culture and science had been successfully and productively assimilated and then impressed with the indelible stamp of Islam. The perfect city, in al-Farabi's view, is founded on moral and ethical principles; from these flow its perfect shape and physical infrastructure. Undoubtedly he had in mind the round city of Baghdad, The City of Peace. Trade and Commerce as a Cultural Vehicle Because Arabs historically had a tradition of trade and commerce, the Muslims continued that tradition. It was due to their superiority in navigation, shipbuilding, astronomy, and scientific measuring devices that Arab and Muslim commerce and trade developed and reached so many peoples throughout the world. The Arabs were at the crossroads of the ancient trade routes from the Mediterranean, the Arabian Gulf, East Africa, and the Indian subcontinent, all the way to China. One of the interesting results of these trading relations occurred during the caliphate of Ha


Taking its name from a Manchu word meaning 'the boundary between two countries', the Yalu river forms the border between what two countries?

tumen river : definition of tumen river and synonyms of tumen river (English) Mongolian name Mongolian Түмэн гол, Tümen gol Manchu name Manchu (Tumen ula) Russian name Russian Туманная река, Tumannaya Reka The Tumen River is a 521 km-long river that serves as part of the boundary between China , North Korea , and Russia , rising in Mount Baekdu and flowing into the Sea of Japan . The river flows in northeast Asia , on the border between China and North Korea in its upper reaches, and between North Korea and Russia in its last 17 kilometers (11 mi) before entering the Sea of Japan. The river forms much of the southern border of Jilin Province in Northeast China and the northern borders of North Korea's North Hamgyong and Yanggang provinces. Baekdu Mountain on the Chinese-North Korean border is the source of the river, [1] as well as of the Yalu River (which forms the western portion of the border of North Korea and China). The name of the river comes from the Mongolian word tümen , meaning "ten thousand" or a myriad . This river is badly polluted by the nearby factories of North Korea and China; however, it still remains a major tourist attraction in the area. In Tumen, Jilin , China, a riverfront promenade has restaurants where patrons can gaze across the river into North Korea. [1] Russian name of the river is Tumannaya, literally meaning foggy . In 1995, the People's Republic of China, Mongolia , Russia, and South Korea , signed three agreements to create the Tumen River Economic Development Area. [2] Important cities on the river are Hoeryong , Namyang and Onsong in North Korea, Tumen and Nanping in China.   Refugee crossing The Tumen has been used for years by North Korean refugees defecting across the Chinese border. Most refugees from North Korea during the 1990s famine crossed over the Tumen River, and most recent refugees have also used it. Although the Tumen is heavily patrolled by armed guards of North Korea, the river is considered the preferred way to cross into China because, unlike the swift, deep and broad Yalu River which runs along most of the border between the two countries, the Tumen is shallow and narrow. [1] "It is easily crossed in spots on foot or by swimming," according to a 2006 article in The New York Times . [1] Defectors who wish to cross the Tumen often ignore its pollutants and dangerous border patrol, and spend weeks if not months or years waiting for the perfect opportunity to cross. "Long, desolate stretches of the Chinese-North Korean border are not patrolled at all," according to a New York Times article. [1] Refugees seldom cross the Tumen into Russia as its government patrols its short stretch of the river more actively than China does its, and the refugees have no large ethnic Korean community in which to hide (see also North Koreans in Russia ). [1] The humanitarian crisis along the Tumen River was dramatized in the award-winning 2009 dramatic feature-length film, Dooman River . Bridge of Tumen River, built in 1941 North Korea is on the other side of the Tumen River   Notes ^ a b c d e f [1] Onishi, Norimitsu, "Tension, Desperation: The China-North Korean Border", October 22, 2006. Much of the information cited in this footnote comes from the captions to the large illustrated map published with the newspaper article and available online with it.


When combined with its headstreams the 'Peace' and the 'Finlay', what becomes the second longest river in North America at 4,241 kilometres (2,635 mi)?

Mackenzie River | Geology Page Mackenzie River tweet Map of the Mackenzie River, second greatest river in North America, that drains to the Arctic Ocean The Mackenzie River (Slavey language: Deh-Cho, big river or Inuvialuktun: Kuukpak, great river) is the largest and longest river system in Canada, and is exceeded only by the Mississippi River system in North America. It flows through a vast, isolated region of forest and tundra entirely within the country’s Northwest Territories, although its many tributaries reach into four other Canadian provinces and territories. The river’s mainstem runs 1,738 kilometres (1,080 mi) in a northerly direction to the Arctic Ocean, draining a vast area nearly the size of Indonesia. It is the largest river flowing into the Arctic from North America, and with its tributaries is one of the longest rivers in the world. Course Rising out of the marshy western end of Great Slave Lake, the Mackenzie River flows generally west-northwest for about 300 km (190 mi), passing the hamlets of Fort Providence and Brownings Landing. At Fort Simpson it is joined by the Liard River, its largest tributary, then swings towards the Arctic, paralleling the Franklin Mountains as it receives the North Nahanni River. The Keele River enters from the left about 100 km (62 mi) above Tulita, where the Great Bear River joins the Mackenzie. Just before crossing the Arctic Circle, the river passes Norman Wells, then continues northwest to merge with the Arctic Red and Peel rivers. It finally empties into the Beaufort Sea, part of the Arctic Ocean, through the vast Mackenzie Delta. Most of the Mackenzie River is a broad, slow-moving waterway; its elevation drops just 156 metres (512 ft) from source to mouth. It is a braided river for much of its length, characterized by numerous sandbars and side channels. The river ranges from 2 to 5 km (1.2 to 3.1 mi) wide and 8 to 9 m (26 to 30 ft) deep in most parts, and is thus easily navigable except when it freezes over in the winter. However, there are several spots where the river narrows to less than half a kilometre (0.3 mi) and flows quickly, such as at the Sans Sault Rapids at the confluence of the Mountain River and “The Ramparts”, a 40 m (130 ft) deep canyon south of Fort Good Hope. Watershed At 1,805,200 square kilometres (697,000 sq mi), the Mackenzie River’s watershed or drainage basin is the largest in Canada, encompassing nearly 20% of the country. From its farthest headwaters at Thutade Lake in the Omineca Mountains to its mouth, the Mackenzie stretches for 4,241 km (2,635 mi) across western Canada, making it the longest river system in the nation and the thirteenth longest in the world. The river discharges more than 325 cubic kilometres (78 cu mi) of water each year, accounting for roughly 11% of the total river flow into the Arctic Ocean. The Mackenzie’s outflow holds a major role in the local climate above the Arctic Ocean with large amounts of warmer fresh water mixing with the cold seawater. Satellite view of the lower Mackenzie River Many major watersheds of North America border on the drainage of the Mackenzie River. Much of the western edge of the Mackenzie basin runs along the Continental Divide. The divide separates the Mackenzie watershed from that of the Yukon River and its headstreams the Pelly and Stewart rivers, which flow to the Bering Strait; and the Fraser River and Columbia River systems, both of which run to the Pacific Ocean. Lowland divides in the north distinguish the Mackenzie basin from those of the Anderson, Horton, Coppermine and Back Rivers – all of which empty into the Arctic. Eastern watersheds bordering on that of the Mackenzie include those of the Thelon and Churchill Rivers, both of which flow into Hudson Bay. On the south, the Mackenzie watershed borders that of the North Saskatchewan River, part of the Nelson River system, which empties into Hudson Bay after draining much of south-central Canada. Through its many tributaries, the Mackenzie River basin covers portions of five Canadian provinces and territories – British Columbia (BC


The Sigsbee Deep, named for the captain of the USS Maine which exploded in the harbor of Havana in 1898 is the deepest part of which body of water?

Map of Sigsbee Deep - The Full Wiki The Full Wiki Map showing all locations mentioned on Wikipedia article: The Sigsbee Deep is the deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico . The actual maximum depth is disputed and estimates range between . The average depth of the Gulf is roughly . The Sigsbee Deep is a trough that extends more than and is often called the " Grand Canyon under the sea." It is located in the southwestern quadrant of the Gulf, with its closest point to the U.S.


Which Chilean city whose name comes from the Spanish for 'sandy point' is sometimes considered the southernmost city in the world?

Chile | Article about Chile by The Free Dictionary Chile | Article about Chile by The Free Dictionary http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Chile Also found in: Dictionary , Thesaurus , Acronyms , Wikipedia . Chile (chĭl`ē, Span. chē`lā), officially Republic of Chile, republic (2005 est. pop. 15,981,000), 292,256 sq mi (756,945 sq km), S South America, west of the continental divide of the Andes Mts. Chile is bordered by Peru on the north, Bolivia on the northeast, Argentina on the east, and the Pacific Ocean on the west and south. Santiago Santiago , city (1990 est. pop. 4,395,000), central Chile, capital of Chile and of Metropolitana de Santiago region, on the Mapocho River. It is the political, commercial, and financial heart of the nation, although Valparaiso has been the seat of the Chilean congress since 1990. ..... Click the link for more information.  is the capital and the largest city. Land A long narrow strip of land (no more than c.265 mi/430 km wide) between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, Chile stretches c.2,880 mi (4,630 km) from near lat. 18°S to Cape Horn (lat. 56°S), including at its southern end the Strait of Magellan and Tierra del Fuego Tierra del Fuego , [Span.,=land of fire], archipelago, 28,476 sq mi (73,753 sq km), off S South America, separated from the mainland by the Strait of Magellan. It consists of one large island (sometimes called simply Tierra del Fuego), five medium-sized islands, and numerous ..... Click the link for more information. , an island shared with Argentina. In the Pacific Ocean are Chile's several island possessions, including Easter Island Easter Island, Span. Isla de Pascua, Polynesian Rapa Nui, remote island (1992 pop. 2,770), 66 sq mi (171 sq km), in the South Pacific, c.2,200 mi (3,540 km) W of Chile, to which it belongs. ..... Click the link for more information. , the Juan Fernández Juan Fernández , group of small islands, S Pacific, c.400 mi (640 km) W of Valparaiso, Chile. They belong to Chile and are constitutionally a special territory; they are administered as a part of Valparaiso prov. ..... Click the link for more information.  islands, and the Diego Ramírez islands. Chile also claims a sector of Antarctica. The country is composed of three distinct and parallel natural regions—from east to west, the Andes, the central lowlands, and the Coast Ranges. The Chilean Andes contain many high peaks and volcanoes; Ojos del Salado (22,539 ft/6,870 m high) is the second highest point in South America. Chile is located along an active zone in the earth's crust and experiences numerous earthquakes, some of great magnitude. The rivers of Chile are generally short and swift-flowing, rising in the well-watered Andean highlands and flowing generally west to the Pacific Ocean; the Loa and Baker rivers are the longest, but those in the central portion of the country are much more important because of their use for irrigation and power production. The climate, which varies from hot desert in the north through Mediterranean-type in the central portion to the cool and humid marine west coast type in the south, is influenced by the cold Peruvian (or Humboldt) Current along the coast of N Chile and by the Andes. Precipitation increases southward; the desert in the north is practically rainless, while S Chile receives abundant precipitation throughout the year. However, along the coast of N Chile high humidity and dense fogs modify the desert climate. The Andes are an orographic barrier, and the western slopes and the peaks receive much precipitation; permanently snowcapped mountains are found along Chile's length. In N Chile is the southern portion of the extensive desert zone of W South America. It is occupied mainly by the sun-baked Desert of Atacama Atacama Desert , arid region, c.600 mi (970 km) long, N Chile, extending south from the border of Peru. The desert itself, c.2,000 ft (610 m) above sea level, is a series of dry salt basins flanked on the W by the Pacific coastal range, averaging c. ..... Click the link for more information. , which, toward the south, gradually


Which South Pacific territory named for its shores' similarities to the Scottish coastline will hold a referendum on independence from France between 2014 and 2019?

Countries Compared by Background > Overview. International Statistics at NationMaster.com Landlocked and mountainous, Afghanistan has suffered from such chronic instability and conflict during its modern history that its economy and infrastructure are in ruins, and many of its people are refugees. Since the fall of the Taliban administration in 2001, adherents of the hard-line Islamic movement have re-grouped. It is now a resurgent force, particularly in the south and east, and the government has struggled to extend its authority beyond the capital and to forge national unity. Albania Albania is a small, mountainous country in the Balkan peninsula, with a long Adriatic and Ionian coastline. Along with neighbouring and mainly Albanian-inhabited Kosovo, it has a Muslim majority - a legacy of its centuries of Ottoman rule. Approaching twenty per cent of the population are Christians, divided mainly between the Orthodox and smaller Catholic denominations. After World War II, Albania became a Stalinist state under Enver Hoxha, and remained staunchly isolationist until its transition to democracy after 1990. Algeria Algeria, a gateway between Africa and Europe, has been battered by violence over the past half-century. More than a million Algerians were killed in the fight for independence from France in 1962, and the country has recently emerged from a brutal internal conflict that followed scrapped elections in 1992. The Sahara desert covers more than four-fifths of the land. Oil and gas reserves were discovered there in the 1950s, but most Algerians live along the northern coast. The country supplies large amounts of natural gas to Europe and energy exports are the backbone of the economy. Andorra The tiny principality of Andorra is located in the high mountains of the Pyrenees between France and Spain. The mainstay of the highly-prosperous economy is tourism, accounting for about 80% of GDP. An estimated 10 million people visit each year, drawn by winter sports, a warm summer climate and duty-free goods. The country's banking sector enjoys partial tax-haven status. Angola One of Africa's major oil producers, Angola is nonetheless one of the world's poorest countries. It is striving to tackle the physical, social and political legacy of a 27-year civil war that ravaged the country after independence. The governing Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the rebel group Unita were bitter rivals even before the country gained independence from Portugal in 1975. Antigua and Barbuda Antigua and Barbuda is one of the Caribbean's most prosperous nations, thanks to its tourism industry and offshore financial services. The country's strength lies in its tropical climate and good beaches, which have made it popular as a stop-off point for US cruise ships and have attracted large investments in infrastructure. Antigua is the main population centre and the focus for business and tourism. Relatively-undeveloped Barbuda is home to smaller, exclusive resorts and a sanctuary for frigate birds. Argentina Argentina stretches 4,000 km from its sub-tropical north to the sub-antarctic south. Its terrain includes part of the Andes mountain range, swamps, the plains of the Pampas and a long coastline. Its people have had to struggle with military dictatorship, a lost war over the Falkland Islands, and severe economic difficulties. Argentina is rich in resources, has a well-educated workforce and is one of South America's largest economies. But it has also fallen prey to a boom and bust cycle. Armenia A landlocked country with Turkey to the west and Georgia to the north, Armenia boasts a history longer than most other European countries. Situated along the route of the Great Silk Road, it has fallen within the orbit of a number of cultural influences and empires. After independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Armenia quickly became drawn into a bloody conflict with Azerbaijan over the mostly Armenian-speaking region of Nagorno-Karabakh. Australia Australia ranks as one of the best places to live in the world by all indices of i


Based on a 1995 realignment of the International Date Line, which Oceanic country with it's capital at South Tarawa is now the easternmost country in the world?

Kiribati Kiribati Motto: Te Mauri, Te Raoi ao Te Tabomoa ( English : Health, Peace and Prosperity) Anthem: Teirake Kaini Kiribati Capital (and largest city) South Tarawa 1°28′N 173°2′E Official languages English Government Republic  - President Anote Tong Independence    - from UK 12 July 1979  Area  - Total 726 km² ( 186th) 280 sq mi   - Water (%) 0 Population  - July 2005 estimate 99,350 ( 197th)  - 2000 census 84,494  - Density 137/km² ( 73rd) 355/sq mi GDP ( PPP) 2005 estimate  - Total $221 million1 ( 179th)  - Per capita $2,358 ( 136th) HDI  (2006) n/a (unranked) ( n/a) Currency Australian dollar ( AUD) Time zone ( UTC+12, +13, +14) Internet TLD .ki Calling code +686 1 Supplemented by a nearly equal amount from external sources. Kiribati, officially the Republic of Kiribati, is an island nation located in the central tropical Pacific Ocean . The country's 33 atolls are scattered over 1,351 square miles (3,500 km²) near the equator. Its name is pronounced ['kiribas] and is a Kiribati language rendering of "Gilberts", the English name for the main group of islands: the former Gilbert Islands. In Gilbertese there is no letter 's', the sound being represented by 'ti'. That is why the Pacific Island known as Christmas Island is known in the language of Kiribati as Kiritimati Island. This island should not be confused with the Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean, which is administered by Australia . History Kiribati was inhabited by a single Micronesian ethnic group that spoke the same Oceanic language for 2,000 years before coming into contact with Europeans. The islands were first sighted by British and American ships in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The islands were named the Gilbert Islands in 1820 by a Russian admiral, Adam von Krusenstern, and French captain Louis Duperrey, after a British captain, Thomas Gilbert, who crossed the archipelago in 1788 ('Kiribati' is the islanders' pronunciation of plural 'Gilberts'). The first British settlers arrived in 1837. In 1892, the Gilbert Islands became a British protectorate together with the nearby Ellice Islands. The Gilbert and Ellice Islands became a Crown colony in 1916. Kiritimati (Christmas Island) became a part of the colony in 1919 and the Phoenix Islands were added in 1937. Tarawa Atoll and others of the Gilbert group were occupied by Japan during World War II. Tarawa was the site of one of the bloodiest battles in U.S. Marine Corps history when Marines landed in Nov. 1943, the Battle of Tarawa was fought at Kiribati's former capital Betio on Tarawa Atoll. The Gilbert Islands and Ellice Islands gained self-rule in 1971, and were separated in 1975 and granted internal self-government by Britain. In 1978, the Ellice Islands became the independent nation of Tuvalu , and Kiribati's independence followed on July 12, 1979. In a treaty signed shortly after independence and ratified in 1983, the United States relinquished all claims (previously asserted under the Guano Act) to the sparsely inhabited Phoenix Islands and those of the Line Islands that are part of Kiribati territory. Overcrowding has been a problem, and in 1988 it was announced that 4,700 residents of the main island group would be resettled onto less populated islands. In 1994, Teburoro Tito was elected president. Kiribati's 1995 act of moving the international date line far to the east to encompass Kiribati's Line Islands group, so that it would no longer be divided by the date line, courted controversy. The move, which fulfilled one of President Tito's campaign promises, was intended to enable Kiribati to become the first country to see the dawn on January 1, 2000, and welcome the date popularly, but incorrectly, taken to be the start of the third millennium AD — an event of significance for tourism. Tito was reelected in 1998. In 1999, Kiribati gained UN membership. In 2002, Kiribati passed a controversial law enabling the government to shut down newspapers. The legislation followed the launching of Kiribati's first successful nongovernment-run newspaper. President Tito was reelected in 2003, b


If you love resorts, you must have been to the Côte d'Azur. How do we know it better in English?

Skiing with a sea view, another Riviera secret - The Lou Messugo Blog Skiing with a sea view, another Riviera secret Skiing on the French Riviera?  Well not quite, but very nearly. It’s not exactly a secret but it’s certainly one of the lesser known things about the Côte d’Azur...what am I talking about?  Its proximity to the mountains.  And by mountains I mean real mountains, with peaks above 1500m rising to around 3000m.  There’s a clue in the name of the département (county):  les Alpes-Maritimes…yes this is where the Alps meet the sea in spectacular and dramatic fashion.  And the good news is that this means skiing (along with plenty of other adventurous activities of course) nearby. I thought I knew a fair bit about the south of France when I moved here in 2007 having spent many holidays in the area since childhood but I had no idea at all about the mountains.  I was surprised and delighted to discover just how close we are to the nearest ski resort – under one hour’s drive (usually about 50 minutes).  Gréolières les Neiges is only 22 km as the crow flies from the coast which makes it the closest resort to the famous Riviera, (possibly the closest ski resort to a coast in the world), and the closest to the only slightly less famous Lou Messugo !  We still pinch ourselves on spring weekends when we ski in the morning and paddle in the sea in the afternoon, barely believing our luck that we live in such an amazing location.  Gréolières les Neiges is a small resort, very family oriented, perfect for day trips with children.  It lies at 1400-1800m altitude with 30 kms of mainly red pistes.  It also has cross-country tracks, sledging areas and snow-shoe (raquettes) trekking trails.  You’ll find all the necessary hire shops for equipment, ski school and a handful of cafés and restaurants.  Some years there’s a tiny skating rink and the possibility to take a ride on a dog-pulled sleigh.  But what is so unique about skiing at Gréolières is the view from the highest piste (Mount Cheiron) over the sea.  There can’t be many places in the world where you can ski and see the sea, particularly a warm sea such as the Mediterranean rather than somewhere icy cold in the north.  On a clear day you can see from Italy, over Monaco, across to the Estérel, over the Alps and even Corsica, 180 kms away!  It’s pretty special.  The other thing I love about going to Gréolières les Neiges is the drive.  It’s not an exaggeration to say it’s stunning!  Unlike many roads to ski resorts there aren’t too many wiggles on hairpin bends, but those that there are are truly worth it.  The road passes the cliff-top village of Gourdon , (see bottom photo), continues along the Gorges du Loup and through the old medieval town of Gréolières with its ruined castle picturesquely placed on the edge of the mountainside (not to be confused with Gréolières les Neiges).  It then comes out on a perilous mountain ridge, going through rock bridges and amazing cliff formations.  Having survived this section (where several notorious car chase scenes have been filmed, including in the James bond film Goldeneye ) the temperature plunges as you head through a magical snowy forest always several degrees colder than elsewhere.  And then you come out on a large snowy plain before turning up to the resort itself.  It’s such a varied and beautiful route, especially atmospheric early in the morning as the sun rises.  I recommend the drive itself even if you don’t want to ski. If you’ve never skied before and not sure you’re going to like it or you want to introduce your children to this fabulous sport but don’t want to spend a whole week in a ski resort, staying at Lou Messugo  could be just for you.  Gréolières les Neiges isn’t the only local place to ski, it’s just the nearest.  For more variety there are another 5 around 90 minutes away (Auron, Valberg, Isola 2000, Roubion and La Colmiane) and even more within 2 hours. You can combine a spot of skiing with warmer activities on the coast and make the most of the glorious winter weather we have here.  Don’t forget we have an av


Which major German seaport on the Baltic sea was for several centuries the capital of the Hanseatic League and was also known as 'Queen of the Hanse'?

Baltic Sea States’ integration history: Hanseatic League :: The Baltic Course | Baltic States news & analytics Northern Europe in 1400 League of merchants The Hanseatic League was not so much a league of cities as it was a league of merchant associations within the cities of Northern Germany and the Baltic. Trade in the middle ages was a dangerous and risky business and the only way for merchants to protect themselves was by travelling together. This banding together of merchants on the road led to their alliances at home as well. In the case of the Hanseatic League the impetus for its formation was trade along the Kiel "salt road" which did not run between Kiel and Luebeck, but between Hamburg and Luebeck; it was named after the town where the salt was mined.   A large portion of the diet of Christian Europe was made of fish since there were many fast days and the church forbade the eating of meat on Friday. Luebeck was in a position to capitalize on a large commodities market in herring, but one thing held Luebeck back. With no refrigeration or canning the shipping of a highly perishable commodity like fish was problematic. Hamburg, on the other side of the Jutland peninsula, had easy access to the salt produced in the salt mines at Kiel, and salting and drying of meat and fish made transport and distribution possible. It was in the interest, then, for the merchants of these two towns to open trade along the "salt" road.   The trade between the merchant associations of Hamburg and Luebeck provided a model for the merchant associations of the other North German cities to follow. In 1201 Cologne, already wealthy, joined the league. Danzig, whose port was a gateway to the eastern Baltic also joined as did most of the important Baltic port cities. By the height of the Hansa's power merchants from over sixty cities had joined the association. While each city had its own merchant association the alliance formed a loose Diet, or parliament, to govern inter-city trade and common policies. In most respects the policy of the merchants was protectionist and aimed at producing a German monopoly in the markets they supplied.   Sailing in the middle ages was not very technologically advanced and aside from the crude compass and Jacob's ladder, or perhaps and astrolabe, there were no navigational tools. Because of this most sailing was done in view of the coastline following the guide in the Book of the Sea. This book gave directions based on the silhouette of the headlands and soundings of the depth. Aside from the difficulty of navigation the danger of piracy was very real.   Because of the dangers involved with shipping cargos, especially since there was no such thing as insurance, the common practice was to form partnerships and have each merchant buy a share of a cargo or a share of a ship. By spreading investment over several cargos and shipping them on several ships the risk of a catastrophic loss was reduced. The same was true of investing in shares of several ships, if one was sunk or taken by pirates, the others may come through with their cargos intact. The sailors who manned the ships often worked for a share of the profits from the voyage and the captain was often one of the shareholders of the ship. Ships rarely sailed alone but usually joined into large convoys for mutual protection. The convoys would sail following the seasonal winds and make the circuit in a year's time. Factories and counters On land the base of operations for a merchant was his "factory", which was usually a three storied structure containing on the lowest floor of the retail outlet where buying and selling took place, on the second floor a warehouse, and on the topmost floor offices and living quarters.   Abroad the Hansa had foreign "counters". These "counters" were basically trading posts, though the most important were more elaborate and may have been whole neighborhoods. The five major foreign "counters" were the "counter" in Wisby on the island of Gotland, the "counter" in Novgarod, the Norwegian "counter" in Bergen, the "counter" at Bruges,


McMurdo Station can support only 1258 residents but is still considered as the largest community in what part of the world?

Antarctica; 2007 - 2008 Season | Travel Blog Antarctica; 2007 - 2008 Season Traveling to Antarctica Outside Raytheon Polar Services headquarters. Boarding bus in Denver, Co for our flight to New Zealand. McMurdo Station sits with in the Ross Dependency, and is the largest community in Antarctica (capable of supporting up to 1,258 residents and a science research center operated by the United States through the United States Antarctic Program, a branch of the National Science Foundation. Located at 77°51′S, 166°40′E, McMurdo sits on the southern tip of Ross Island in Antarctica, on the shore of McMurdo Sound, 2,200 miles (3,500 km) due south of New Zealand. The station is America's largest, and serves both as their Antarctic research facility, and the logistics base for half the continent. All personnel and cargo going to or coming from Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station first pass through McMurdo. The station owes its designation to nearby McMurdo Sound, named for Lieutenant Archibald McMurdo of HMS Terror, which first charted the area in 1841 under the command of British explorer James Clark Ross. British explorer Robert Falcon Scott first established a base close to this spot in 1902 and built Discovery Hut, still standing adjacent to the harbor at Hut Point. The volcanic rock of the site is the southern-most bare ground accessible by ship in the Antarctic ("Facts About the United States Antarctic Program"). The United Travelling to Antarctica Information rack in Auckland, New Zealand. States officially opened its first station at McMurdo on February 16, 1956. Founders initially called the station Naval Air Facility McMurdo. McMurdo became the center of scientific and logistical operations during the International Geophysical Year, an international scientific effort that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958. The Antarctic Treaty, now signed by over 45 nations, regulates international relations with respect to Antarctica and governs the conduct of daily life at McMurdo for USAP participants. The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively called the Antarctic Treaty System or ATS, was opened for signature on December 1, 1959, and officially entered into force on June 23, 1961. Today, McMurdo Station is Antarctica's largest community and a functional, modern day science station, which includes a harbour, 3 airfields (2 seasonal), a heliport and over 100 buildings, including the Albert P. Crary Science and Engineering Center and a bowling alley with an antique Brunswick manual pinset machine. There is even a 9-hole disc golf course on site. The primary focus of the work done at McMurdo Station is science, but most of the residents (approximately 1,000 in the summer and fewer than 200 in the winter) are not scientists, but Post card rack in Auckland, New Zealand. station personnel who are there to provide support for operations, logistics, information technology, construction, and maintenance. Scientists and station personnel at McMurdo are participants in the United States Antarctic Program (USAP), which co-ordinates research and operational support in the region. Reports on the life and culture of McMurdo Station from the point of view of residents are rare. An annual sealift by cargo ships as part of Operation Deep Freeze delivers 8 million gallons of fuel and 11 million pounds of supplies and equipment for McMurdo residents. The ships are operated by the U.S. Military Sealift Command and are crewed by civilian mariners. Cargo may range from mail, construction materials, trucks, tractors, dry and frozen food, to scientific instruments. United States Coast Guard icebreakers break a ship channel through ice-clogged McMurdo Sound in order for supply ships to reach Winter Quarters Bay at McMurdo. Additional supplies and personnel are flown in to nearby Williams Field from Christchurch, New Zealand. A variety of fruits and vegetables are grown in a hydroponic green house at the station. McMurdo Station is about 5 km away from Scott Base, the New Zealand science station, and the entire island is located wit


What is the largest and most populous country in the world situated only on islands?

Indonesia Map, Map of Indonesia Rivers in Indonesia The Indonesian archipelago has been inhabited up to 1.5 million years ago by Homo erectus, and 45,000 years ago by Homo sapiens. Modern Indonesians arrived in the region from Taiwan in about 2000 BC, replacing the Melaneasians. With the strategic location of the Indonesian islands, they became important in the international trade with India. This trade brought cultural exchanges as well, namely the religions of Hinduism and Buddhism expanded to Indonesia in the 4th century. The archipelago was ruled by the Srivijaya kingdom beginning around the 7th century, which grew as a trade power with Buddhist and Hindu communities. Over the 13th century, the Hindu kingdom of Majapahit stretched across the islands. The Muslims arrived in the 13th century, and the islands had mostly adopted the religion by the 16th century. Europeans arrived, with the Portuguese, in 1512, in search of the spices of Indonesia. The Dutch East India Company became a major power in the region from about 1602 to 1800. The Dutch colonized parts of Indonesia, expanding to cover modern-day boundaries, which it held until World War II when the Japanese occupied the country. When Japan surrendered in 1945, Indonesia declared independence, though the Dutch attempted to regain control. After achieving independence, Indonesia became ruled by a Communist party, but democratic processes were later strengthened and Indonesia held its first elections in 2004. Neighboring Countries :  Though it is an island nation, Indonesia shares land borders with Papua New Guinea, East Timor, and Malaysia, and is close to Singapore, the Philippines, Australia, and Palau. Major Cities :  Jayapura Geography :  Indonesia is an archipelago located in Southeast Asia and Oceania, straddling the equator. Indonesia is made up of 17,508 islands and islets. Of the 6,000 inhabited islands, the largest include Java, Sumatra, Borneo, New Guinea, and Sulawesi. The island of Borneo is also shared with neighboring nations, Brunei and Malaysia, while New Guinea is also home to the country of Papua New Guinea. The island of Timor was once completely included within Indonesia's territory, but East Timor seceded from the country. Indonesia has a equatorial tropical climate, and 150 active volcanoes, including Krakatoa, Tambora, and Toba. As a region with volcanic activity, Indonesia has mountain ranges, with its highest peak on Papua, with Puncak Jaya, standing 4,884 meters (16,024 feet) above sea level. Major rivers in Indonesia include the Mahakam and Barito rivers, and the country's largest lake is Lake Toba in Sumatra. Points of Interest :  Indonesia is known for its culture, influenced by Hinduism and Buddhism, Islam, Chinese, and Dutch cultures, reflecting its varied historical influences. The markets of Indonesia are a great place to explore Indonesian culture, with handicrafts and local foods. The capital, Jakarta, is a bustling and crowded city with architectural wonders like its old town, the national monument, Monas, government buildings like the Presidential Palace, and several major theme parks, including the country's largest, Jungleland Sentul City. Jakarta has cultural sites like museums, mosques, churches, and open air markets. Natural sites in Indonesia include the second largest tropical forests in the world, including those on Sumatra, Borneo and Papua. The rainforests on Borneo are 130 million years old, and are some of the oldest in the world. The beaches of Bali are the most popular destination in Indonesia, with water recreation like surfing, and historical and architectural sites. Transportation :  Indonesia has three major airports: Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta, Ngurah Rai, and East Java's Juanda. These international airports offer service to major cities all around the world. Domestic flights are the best way to get around Indonesia, as they are fast and inexpensive, getting across the islands quickly for under $100. As an island nation, boat is an important way of getting around, and can be used to travel from Singapore or Mal


Due to its location in a time zone to the east of Europe, which French island in the Indian Ocean was the first region in the world where the euro became legal tender?

Reunion Real Estate New selections, advertisements published after 2014-06-25 only Reunion Real Estate Country Reunion Réunion is an island located in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar, about 200 kilometres (120 mi) south west of Mauritius, the nearest island. Administratively, Réunion is one of the overseas départements of France. Like the other overseas departments, Réunion is also one of the twenty-six regions of France (being an overseas region) and an integral part of the Republic with the same status as those situated on the European mainland. <...br>Réunion is an outermost region of the European Union and, as an overseas department of France, is part of the Eurozone. Due to its location in a time zone to the east of Europe, Réunion was the first region in the world where the euro became legal tender.   Biggest cities Saint-Paul Saint-Paul is the second-largest commune in the French overseas département of Réunion. It is located on the extreme west side of the island of Réunion. In the 1999 census, Saint-Paul had a population of 87,712. It reached 100,000 in November 2006. The commune has a land area of 241.28 km² (93.159 sq mi). Until 1999, near Saint Paul there was the 428 metres tall mast OMEGA Chabrier transmitter. Saint-Denis Saint-Denis is a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 9.4 kilometres (5.8 miles) from the centre of Paris. Saint-Denis is a sous-préfecture of the Seine-Saint-Denis département, being the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Denis. Saint-Denis is home to the royal necropolis of Saint Denis Basilica and was also the location of the associated abbey. It is also home to France's national stadium, Stade de France, built for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. Saint-Denis is a formerly industrial suburb currently reconverting its economic base. Many of the residents are Muslim immigrants from former French colonies. Le Tampon Le Tampon is the fourth-largest commune in the French overseas département of Réunion. It is located on the south-central part of the island of Réunion, adjacent to Saint-Pierre. In the 1999 census, Le Tampon had a population of 60,323. The commune has a land area of 165.43 km² (63.873 sq mi). Saint-Pierre Saint-Pierre is the third-largest commune in the French overseas département of Réunion. It is located on the southwest side of the island of Réunion. In the 1999 census, Saint-Pierre had a population of 68,915. The commune has a land area of 95.99 km² (37.062 sq mi). The agglomeration of Saint-Pierre, including the neighbouring commune of Le Tampon, has a total population of 129,238 — the second-largest in Réunion. Currency


Which coast off the Atlantic Ocean of Namibia and Angola is named for the bleached whale and seal bones which covered the shore during the days of the whaling industry as well as for the shipwrecks caused by rocks?

Namibia - Jackson's African Safaris Namibia Namibia Jackson's African Safaris 2016-12-09T05:45:28+00:00 NAMIBIA SOUTHWEST AFRICA Unity, Liberty, Justice ‘A good traveller is one who does not know where he is going to, and a perfect traveller does not know where he came from.’ Lin Yutang Witness the Desert Lion, Desert Elephant, Brown Hyena, and Desert Rhino….a great diversity of habitat greets you in the deserts of Namibia, from the Great Game Parks of Etosha to the Great Sand Dunes of the Namib Naukluft National Park to the Fish River Canyon – Grand Canyon of Southern Africa. Experience the great sights of this fragile desert environment where colourful and uniquely adapted plants and animals make this harsh environment their home. The Jewels in the Desert can be learnt about in our highlights below; Loading... Not sure? Check out our types of safaris . When do you want to go? How can we contact you? * First How can we reach you? We keep your information completely confidential and do not share it. Comment What to visit and explore in Namibia The following features are found in this bountiful region: Kunene River & Kaokoland Unspoilt landscapes, wildlife and historic Himba culture abound in this wild, remote part of Africa. The Kunene River forms a natural boundary at Namibia’s northern extremity, and here we find one of the country’s adventure centres spoilt with Ruacana Falls, the spectacular Epupa Falls, and the area is an ideal gateway for those setting out to explore the rugged and beautiful Kaokoland region of Namibia to the north-west. Whether your looking for a Himba cultural experience, kayaking, raging white-water action, trekking, hiking or birding… Or, taking life a little easier with some river fishing, the Kunene River wilderness has much [...] Okonjima – home of the AfriCat Foundation Jackson’s African Safaris supports staying at Okonjima during a safari to Namibia, for learning and experiencing everything the Africat Foundation has to offer. Visit WWW(.)AFRICAT(.)ORG for more information. The AfriCat Foundation has specific objectives as found on their website: Objectives; – To create awareness and promote the tolerance of large carnivores among the farming community by assisting farmers in effective farm management techniques including targeting problem predators as opposed to indiscriminate removal. – To educate youth about large carnivores and environmental awareness. – To research large carnivores, particularly cheetahs and leopards, on farmland and in captivity. – To provide humane [...] Vingerklip – Finger Rock The 35m high pillar of sedimentary rock, the Vingerklip, (Finger Rock) is one of the most impressive rock formations in Namibia. It stands proudly above a valley, known as the Ugab terraces, mid-way between the Etosha National Park and Swakopmund in the heart of Damaraland. This is an excellent base to explore the many attractions of Damaraland, a vast beautiful wilderness in north-west Namibia. Vingerklip Lodge is the location where this picture was taken. Spitzkoppe – An Ancient Mystery Spitzkoppe rises abruptly above the arid and sparsely vegetated plains of the Namib. Also known as the “Matterhorn of Namibia”, the granite outcrop is a typical example of Namibia’s recognizable landmarks. It is located in the Namib Desert, between Swakopmund and Usakos, which is also the nearest town (approximately 50km away). The summit of this imposing granite rock formation is 1,728m and the shape of it reflects how it got it’s name, the Matterhorn of Africa. A minor peak – the Little Spitzkoppe – lies nearby. The Spitzkoppe is the country’s top rock climbing destination. Timothy Jackson, in his early [...] Twyfelfontein World Heritage Site – Bushman Engravings Twyfelfontein is situated in the Huab valley in the southern Kunene Region of Namibia, an area formerly known as Damaraland. The rocks containing the art work are situated in a valley flanked by the slopes of a sandstone table mountain. An underground aquifer on an impermeable layer of shale sustains a spring in this otherwise very dry area. The


Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America is on which archipelago that translates as 'land of fire' in Spanish?

Rounding Cape Horn Panama Canal - References Rounding Cape Horn No sooner had lands been discovered to the westward of Europe than the minds of cosmographers became fixed in the idea of short routes to India in that direction. This ambition would not be abandoned until long after both shores of the western continent had been explored from the Arctic sea to Cape Horn. The necessity of shorter communication between the two oceans becoming more evident from day to day, with, the increase of traffic with the western coast of America, with China, and with the numerous islands of the Pacific. Various projects were entertained to establish such communication either by canal or railway at Tehuantepec, Honduras, Nicaragua, and the isthmus of Panama. There are two routes around the southern tip of South America: the route through Magellan Strait (Estrecho de Magallanes) and the alternative route round Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos). The southern tip of South America tapers off into a collection of rugged islands known as Tierra del Fuego. The southernmost headland in this archipelago (group of islands) is Cape Horn. Magellan sailed between the Tierra del Fuego and the mainland in 1520 during his expedition around the world. Magellan named the region the 'Land of Fire' when he saw fires along the southern shore of the Strait of Magellan. On August 20, 1578, the ships of Sir Francis Drake began to traverse the Strait of Magellan, passing through in 16 days. Drake was driven to the south of Tierra del Fuego, and he came to the correct conclusion that the Terra Australis , a hypothetical southern continent, did not reach to that area, as had been supposed. A few contemporary maps were altered to remove the error, but most of them continued to show it until Cape Horn was rounded by Le Maire and Schouten a few years later. Cape Horn is the southernmost point of South America. It is located in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago and is itself an island belonging to Chile. The Cape was first rounded by a European in 1616 by the Dutch expedition of Willem Schouten and Jacob Le Maire. Cape Horn is notorious because of the poor weather conditions that made it difficult to round in sailing ships before the construction of the Panama Canal. The route around the Horn was an important path for trade and passenger ships taking goods and people from the East Coast of the US to the West Coast, and was an essential supply route for the Spanish Empire. Before the completion of the Panama Canal, ships had to "round the Horn" in order to move goods or people from the Atlantic side of North and South America to the Pacific. The area is notorious for its sailing hazards: strong winds, large waves, and icebergs drifting up from Antarctica. If weather conditions were unfavorable, this voyage could take as long as eight months. Due to great demand, the ships were often jammed with passengers, and unsanitary conditions prevailed. A number suffered from scurvy from a lack of sufficient variety in their diet. Worse yet, since the crews often took off in search of gold once arriving in San Francisco, many people were left behind waiting for ships in the east. Others failed to account for the reversal of the seasons in the Southern Hemisphere, and suffered from bitter wind and cold as the ships rounded Cape Horn in July or August. Several events occurred which turned the attention of the American people West: the settlement of the northwestern boundary, by which the US came into possession of Oregon, and the war with Mexico, which added California to the Union in 1848. While the accession of these territories was of the highest importance in a national point of view, their distance rendered them almost inaccessible to the class of emigrants who usually settle new domains, as well as inconvenient to the proper administration of law and government. John Sutter was a Swiss immigrant who came to California in 1839 with a dream of building an agricultural empire. When he needed lumber in early 1848, he assigned the task to one of his men, James Marshall. Marshall decided to


Completely bordered by France on three sides, what is the world's most densely populated sovereign country as well as the smallest French-speaking country?

What Is The Smallest Country In The World What Is The Smallest Country In The World What Is The Smallest Country In The World tweet Have you ever wondered what is the smallest country in the world? Here we have shared a list of the 7 smallest countries by overall land area. These are some of the most cozy islands, countries and places on earth. With more than 200 countries around the world, it’s natural to think that the word “country” is linked to a huge land area with large population of people. Few nations are so small that the cities inside other nations are gigantic when compared to them. Typically found in the Carribean, the Pacific and Europe there are several countries in the world with less than 400 square kilometers area. With their own culture and governments, these small countries are also few of the most secluded, most intriguing and richest, countries in the world. Let’s take a look at the list of “The 7 Smallest Countries in the World” to find out which is the smallest country in the world. 7Nevis and Saint Kitts – 261 km² The Mother Colony of West Indies, these two Caribbean islands are one of the first ones to be claimed by Europeans. Its financial system is reliant on agriculture, tourism and manufacturing industries. The islands also have extraordinary diving sites attributable to copious marine life. A foremost sugar exporter for past few centuries, the huge plantations are currently stunning estates that have been transformed into resorts and hotels. 6Liechtenstein – 160 km² A country with German language, it is the only nation on the planet to be fully sited in the Alps. Situated between Austria and Switzerland, Liechtenstein is by far the richest country on earth by GDP per capita, having the lowest unemployment rate of just 1.5%. Getting in this country is a little complicated without an airport. Visitors need go via Switzerland’s Zurich Airport to arrive at this Alpine country which is till date ruled by a prince. 5San Marino – 61 km² Completely enclosed by Italy, San Marino is also recognized as Most Serene Republic of San Marino. Asserting to be the most oldest existing sovereign state of the world, it is also found to be one of the wealthiest countries. It is the third smallest country of Europe, with a population of no more than 30,000, proudly boasting exceptionally low unemployment rates. 4Tuvalu – 26 km² Once famous as the Ellice Islands, Tuvalu is placed in the Pacific Ocean towards west of Australia. There are around 10,000 residents, with roads about 8kms, and just 1 hospital there on the core island. The country was a long time ago a British territory however in 1978 it became independent. A tricky place to reach to, tourism is not especially noteworthy. In the year 2010, less than 2,000 guests visited Tuvalu, with a large chunk i.e. 65% of the visitors coming there for business. 3Nauru – 21 km² Located East of Australia, Nauru is an island nation and it is also the smallest island country of the world. In 1980’s it was famous for thriving phosphate mining however now it is a silent and calm island and is totally off the radar of tourists. In the past identified as Pleasant Island, its phosphate assets have now exhausted, causing a 90% unemployment rate on national level, with remaining 10% government employees. Nauru is also well-known as the country with the majority of overweight people in the world, with 93% women and 97% men being overweight or obese. For this reason, Nauru is also gets the title of the country with highest level of type-2 diabetes in the world, with over 40% of the population suffering from this disease. 2Monaco – 2 km² Found on the French Riviera, Monaco is the home to the major number of billionaires and millionaires per capita around the world. Famous for its luxury goods industry and gambling, Monaco is a preferred recreational spot for the rich and the famous. Surrounded by France on three sides and the fourth side by Mediterranean Sea, the inhabitants of Monaco are typically French speaking. Monaco is one of the world’s most densely populated countries with


The name of which Central Asian mountain range where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan come together and where the mighty rivers Irtysh, Ob and Yenisei have their sources literally means 'mountains of gold' in Turkic?

Jats in Central Asia Jat History Jats in Central Asia If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. Not a member? Please register for the members area to access all features such as posting rights, memberlist, chat etc. Please note that the site is focussed on Hindu Jats only at this time. Existing member? You need to log in before you can access your account and post messages and read/send private messages. If you are having a problem with logging in, make sure you delete your browser's cookies and temporary internet files. If you have forgotten your username or password, click here . Login to view details. Jats in Central Asia Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. According to Prof. B.S. Dhillon [1], The original home of the Jats was in Central Asia. During the early part of the Christian era, most of the Jats were uprooted by the Mongol people from their homeland in Central Asia (after their ruling for over one thousand years, Chinese Authorities constructed the 1500 miles long the Great Wall of China at the cost of the lives of 400,000 workers. Today this wall is nicknamed as the longest cemetery in the world (all the workers who died were buried inside the wall), and the only man-made object visible from the outer space. In turn Jats invaded India to the South and the Roman Empire in the West. Thus, they established themselves as (Alans) in France, Spain, Portugal and so on, in the fifth century A.D. The Central Asia region Though various definitions of its exact composition exist, no one definition is universally accepted. Despite this uncertainty in defining borders, it does have some important overall characteristics. For one, Central Asia has historically been closely tied to its nomadic peoples and the Silk Road. As a result, it has acted as a crossroads for the movement of people, goods, and ideas between Europe, Western Asia, South Asia, and East Asia. It is also sometimes known as Middle Asia or Inner Asia, and is within the scope of the wider Eurasian continent. The nations of Central Asia are a conglomeration of people located in the "centralized" locale of the Asian hemisphere, landlocked on one side with the western-most Asian Turkic regions, demarcation in the Eastern/South-Eastern Indian mountainous regions, and finally the northern Russia. Majority of these nations have spheres of influence included from all of these borders, as they are mostly comprised of countries influenced by Soviet Russia. To a certain extent, it is largely coextensive with Turkestan. Roughly speaking, Central Asia consists of states like Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. Mongolia is also part. Major rivers of the region include the Amu Darya, the Syr Darya and the Hari River. Major bodies of water include the Aral Sea and Lake Balkhash, both of which are part of the huge west/central Asian endorheic basin that also includes the Caspian Sea. Both of these bodies of water have shrunk significantly in recent decades due to diversion of water from rivers that feed them for irrigation and industrial purposes. Water is an extremely valuable resource in arid Central Asia, and can lead to rather significant international disputes. History of Central Asia The history of Central Asia has been determined primarily by the area's climate and geography of Asia. The aridity of the region makes agriculture difficult, and its distance from the sea cut it off from much trade. Thus, few major cities developed in the region. Nomadic horse peoples of the steppe dominated the area for millennia. Relations between the steppe nomads and the settled people in and around Central Asia were marked by conflict. The nomadic lifestyle was well suited to warfare, and the steppe horse riders became some of the most militarily potent people in the world, due to the devastating techniques and ability of their horse archers.[2] Periodically, tribal leaders or changing conditions would organize several tribes into a single military force. Many of these tribal coalitions included th


Scania, Zealand and Jutland have historically been the three lands of which country/kingdom?

Jutland - 必应 Aalborg (Danish pronunciation: [ˈʌlb̥ɒːˀ] ( listen)) (recent modern Ålborg) is an industrial and university city in the North of Jutland, Denmark. As of 1 January 2014, it has a p… www.bing.com/knows/aalborg?mkt=zh-cn Silkeborg, one of Jutland's historic cities, sits at the mouth of the Gudden River. Long known as an upper-class address in Denmark, Silkeborg is home to some of the nat… www.bing.com/knows/Silkeborg?mkt=zh-cn Randers (Danish pronunciation: [ˈʁɑnɐs]) is a city in Randers Municipality, Central Denmark Region on the Jutland peninsula. It is Denmark's sixth-largest city, with a p… www.bing.com/knows/Randers?mkt=zh-cn Vejle (Danish pronunciation: [ˈʋɑɪ̯lə]) is a town in Denmark, in the southeast of the Jutland Peninsula at the head of Vejle Fjord, where the Vejle and Grejs Rivers and their valle… www.bing.com/knows/vejle?mkt=zh-cn 腓特烈港是一个丹麦小镇在腓特烈港市，北日德兰大区，在丹麦日德兰半岛北部的东北海岸。 它的名字翻译为"弗雷德里克海港"。 它原名弗拉德斯特兰。 这个镇有23156的人 … www.bing.com/knows/frederikshavn?mkt=zh-cn Weibull is a Swedish locational surname. The Weibull family originated from and were named after the village of Weiböl in Widstedts parish, Jutland, but settled in Skåne, … www.bing.com/knows/weibull?mkt=zh-cn 2015-9-16


Which island, the third largest in the world, is divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei?

About Sabah | Essentials | Sabah, Malaysian Borneo Sabah, Malaysian Borneo Getting Around Sabah, Best of Borneo Situated on the beautiful island of Borneo, Sabah is one of the thirteen states which Malaysia is made of. Sabah is the second largest state in Malaysia and shares the island of Borneo with Sarawak, Brunei, and Indonesian Kalimantan. Sabah is richly blessed with nature diversity, unique cultures, fun adventure, beautiful beaches, and fantastic cuisines for the adventurous taste buds. We have it all, from the world’s largest flower - the Rafflesia, one of the highest mountains in South East Asia - Mount Kinabalu, to one of the world’s top dive sites - Sipadan Island. Sabah is also known for her great natural treasures which include the world-renowned Danum Valley Conservation Area and Tabin which is Sabah’s largest wildlife reserve. Not only will you be amazed by the places to see and things to do here, you will also be treated with unique Sabahan hospitality. Explore the unique culture and tradition of Sabah and get ready to experience sweet memories to last a lifetime! Borneo Island Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located at the centre of the Maritime Southeast Asia. This island is divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Nevertheless, for people outside of Indonesia, “Kalimantan” refers to the area which is occupied by Indonesia on the island of Borneo. Malaysia’s region of Borneo is called East Malaysia or Malaysian Borneo. The independent nation of Brunei occupies the remainder of the island, being the wealthiest of the rest. Once known as North Borneo, Sabah was under the British colony during the late 19th century till the early 20th century. Sabah gained self-government on the 31st of August, 1963. Sabah, together with Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak formed the Federation of Malaysia on the 16th of September 1963.  At 76, 115 square kilometers large, Sabah is the second biggest state in Malaysia after Sarawak. People and Culture The people of Sabah are known as Sabahans. Sabah is the third most populous state in Malaysia after Selangor and Johor; it also has one of the highest population growth rates in the country. There are currently 32 officially recognized ethnic groups in Sabah with the largest non-indigenous ethnic group being the Chinese and the largest indigenous group being the Kadazan-Dusun people. Two other larger ethnic groups in Sabah are the Bajau and Murut, compared to other states in the country; Sabah has relatively very small population of Indians and South Asians. Apart from the Sabahans’ very own diverse mother tongues, Bahasa Malaysia (national language) and English is widely spoken; Mandarin and some Chinese dialects are also widely spoken. In Sabah, we greet people by saying “selamat datang” (welcome) and/or “terima kasih” (thank you) with a smile. Due to religious reasons, some may prefer not to have physical contact with others. However, a handshake is generally acceptable as a way of introducing oneself. It’s customary to remove shoes before entering a mosque as well as homes. In places of worship, visitors are required to dress modestly. Nude sunbathing is not allowed and is very frowned upon. Avoid pointing your index finger at others, as this is considered rude in the local custom. Traveler