What island is situated between Ireland and Great Britain?

GREAT BRITAIN THE BRITISH ISLES THE UNITED KINGDOM BRITISH ISLANDS GREAT BRITAIN, THE UNITED KINGDOM, THE BRITISH ISLES, BRITISH ISLANDS Many are not aware of the precise meaning of the term "Great Britain". Even many British are unaware of the precise reality that the term expresses. Try asking a person living in the United Kingdom the exact meaning of the expression they have on their passports: "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". Many will not be able to provide an adequate answer. No wonder, therefore, that confusion also exists outside the United Kingdom and that in other European countries people erroneously group together the English, Scottish and Welsh under the word in their own language meaning "English". Hence, for example, the French commonly group them together in the term "anglais" and the Italians "inglesi"). This can be a cause of offence for the Scottish and the Welsh. Here we shall try to explain the meaning of the terms "Great Britain", "United Kingdom", "British Islands" and "British Isles" as wells as the political and geographical realities that they express.   Great Britain Great Britain is the largest island in Europe. "Great Britain" is the collective name for the three countries of England, Scotland and Wales. It also includes the small adjacent islands but it does not include the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. The term "Great Britain" came into being when England and Scotland became a single kingdom under King James VI of Scotland who also became King James I of England, after the death of Queen Elizabeth I in 1603. It must be remembered, however, that this was not a political union but merely the union of the crowns of the two countries. Politically they were still two   states, each with its own Parliament. 1 Political union came about only during the reign of Queen Anne, in 1707. It was in this year that the Scottish Parliament assembled for the last time and the formal union of Parliaments was effected. It was on 1 May of that same year that the "United Kingdom of Great Britain" came into existence. Under Edward I the conquest of Wales was completed and Wales was united to England under Henry VIII, the second monarch descended from the Welsh House of Tudor. 2 This union was ratified by two Acts of Parliament in 1536 and again in 1543.   The adjective "British" The adjective "British" is, of course, used in relation to Great Britain but there is also a common tendency to use it when referring to issues relating to both Great Britain and the United Kingdom. This is inaccurate and from a legal point of view erroneous. Sometimes, however, in legislation the term "British" is used to refer to the United Kingdom as a whole, especially in matters relating to the question of nationality. 3 The United Kingdom The United Kingdom is made up of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The official name "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" came into use in 1922 after the constitution of the Irish Free State (1922-1937), the former name of the Republic of Ireland. The whole of Ireland had been united to Great Britain by an Act of Parliament in 1800 and which took effect in January 1801. 4 However, this union had never been popular in Ireland and became the target of Irish Nationalist leaders ever since. The union of the whole of Ireland with Great Britain lasted until the constitution of the Irish Free State. The Treaty that sanctioned the separation laid down that the six counties in the north should remain united to Great Britain hence constituting Northern Ireland, part of the United Kingdom but not part of Great Britain. Therefore, the United Kingdom of Great Britain, used to indicate the political union of England, Scotland and Wales, was expanded, in the 20th century, to include Northern Ireland: the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" as it now appears on passports. When speaking of the United Kingdom and its constituent parts it is important to use the correct terminology. In 1969 the Royal Commission on the Constitution was set up


What is the smallest country in the world? - Ask History Ask History July 17, 2013 By Mariel Synan Share Did you know the Vatican is the smallest nation-state in the world? Get all the facts and figures. Share this: What is the smallest country in the world? Author What is the smallest country in the world? URL Google It may be difficult to imagine, but there is a country in the world smaller than New York City’s Central Park and one with a population smaller than a typical high-school class. Based on landmass, Vatican City is the smallest country in the world, measuring just 0.2 square miles, almost 120 times smaller than the island of Manhattan. Situated on the western bank of the Tiber River, Vatican City’s 2-mile border is landlocked by Italy. The official seat of the pope of the Catholic Church since 1377, Vatican City was not declared an independent state until the Lateran Treaty of 1929. After years of power struggles between popes and the political leaders of Italy over who could claim supreme authority in the region, Benito Mussolini and Pope Pius XI agreed to the Lateran Pacts on February 11, 1929, which created the independent state of Vatican City for the Catholic Church in exchange for the pope’s recognition of the Kingdom of Italy. Today, nearly 75 percent of the Vatican’s citizens are members of the clergy. In comparing countries by population, however, Vatican City loses out to the Pitcairn Islands for the title of smallest country. Compared to the 800-850 residents who live in Vatican City, the population of the Pitcairn Islands has fluctuated between 40 and 60 inhabitants over recent years. This British territory, located in the Pacific Ocean halfway between Peru and New Zealand, is composed of four islands, but Pitcairn is the only one that is inhabited. Pitcairn’s tiny population is also noteworthy due to its peoples’ heritage: They are descended from Tahitians and the mutineers on the Bounty. Fletcher Christian and eight other mutineers fled to Tahiti after their revolt at sea, but when hostilities arose with their new neighbors and they began to fear arrest, they escaped to the deserted island of Pitcairn to hide from British authorities, bringing a handful of Tahitians with them. The British rediscovered the islands in 1791 during a search for the mutineers, and they were named a British colony in 1838. Though the population has swelled since then to a whopping 223 just before World War II, the current population stands at about 50. Considering the 50 smallest countries by landmass are each less than one-quarter of the size of Rhode Island and the 50 smallest countries by population are each about one-sixth the size of Washington, D.C., it really is a small world after all. Tags


What city did Brigham Young found in 1847?

Mormons settle Salt Lake Valley - Jul 24, 1847 - HISTORY.com Mormons settle Salt Lake Valley Share this: Mormons settle Salt Lake Valley Author Mormons settle Salt Lake Valley URL Publisher A+E Networks After 17 months and many miles of travel, Brigham Young leads 148 Mormon pioneers into Utah’s Valley of the Great Salt Lake. Gazing over the parched earth of the remote location, Young declared, “This is the place,” and the pioneers began preparations for the thousands of Mormon migrants who would follow. Seeking religious and political freedom, the Mormons began planning their great migration from the east after the murder of Joseph Smith, the Christian sect’s founder and first leader. Joseph Smith was born in Sharon, Vermont, in 1805. In 1827, he declared that he had been visited by a Christian angel named Moroni, who showed him an ancient Hebrew text that had been lost for 1,500 years. The holy text, supposedly engraved on gold plates by a Native American prophet named Mormon in the fifth century A.D., told the story of Israelite peoples who had lived in America in ancient times. During the next few years, Smith dictated an English translation of this text to his wife and other scribes, and in 1830 The Book of Mormon was published. In the same year, Smith founded the Church of Christ–later known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints–in Fayette, New York. The religion rapidly gained converts, and Smith set up Mormon communities in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois. However, the Christian sect was also heavily criticized for its unorthodox practices, which included polygamy. In 1844, the threat of mob violence prompted Smith to call out a militia in the Mormon town of Nauvoo, Illinois. He was charged with treason by Illinois authorities and imprisoned with his brother Hyrum in the Carthage city jail. On June 27, 1844, an anti-Mormon mob with blackened faces stormed in and murdered the brothers. Two years later, Smith’s successor, Brigham Young, led an exodus of persecuted Mormons from Nauvoo along the western wagon trails in search of a sanctuary in “a place on this earth that nobody else wants.” The expedition, more than 10,000 pioneers strong, set up camp in present-day western Iowa while Young led a vanguard company across the Rocky Mountains to investigate Utah’s Great Salt Lake Valley, an arid and isolated spot devoid of human presence. On July 22, 1847, most of the party reached the Great Salt Lake, but Young, delayed by illness, did not arrive until July 24. Upon viewing the land, he immediately confirmed the valley to be the new homeland of the Latter-day Saints. Within days, Young and his companions began building the future Salt Lake City at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains. Later that year, Young rejoined the main body of pioneers in Iowa, who named him president and prophet of the church. Having formally inherited the authority of Joseph Smith, he led thousands of more Mormons to the Great Salt Lake in 1848. Other large waves of Mormon pioneers followed. By 1852, 16,000 Mormons had come to the valley, some in wagons and some dragging handcarts. After early difficulties, Salt Lake City began to flourish. By 1869, 80,000 Mormons had made the trek to their promised land. In 1850, President Millard Fillmore named Brigham Young the first governor of the U.S. territory of Utah, and the territory enjoyed relative autonomy for several years. Relations became strained, however, when reports reached Washington that Mormon leaders were disregarding federal law and had publicly sanctioned the practice of polygamy. In 1857, President James Buchanan removed Young, who had 20 wives, from his position as governor and sent U.S. Army troops to Utah to establish federal authority. Young died in Salt Lake City in 1877 and was succeeded by John Taylor as president of the church. Tensions between the territory of Utah and the federal government continued until Wilford Woodruff, the new president of the Mormon church, issued his Manifesto in 1890, renouncing the traditional practice of polygamy and reducing the domination


Barcelona is the capital of what Spanish autonomous region?

"Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain, the capital of the Autonomous region of Catalonia and of the province.The view from montjuïc." Stock photo and royalty-free images on Fotolia.com - Pic 113939319 See all keywords Search The image "Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain, the capital of the Autonomous region of Catalonia and of the province.The view from montjuïc." from b201735 is available on Fotolia under a royalty-free license from 1 credit (Credit from $0.74). Available in JPEG format, this image may be downloaded for all kinds of professional uses and in different resolutions (up to 3,000 x 2,037 pixels in 300 DPI) To download this image, you can buy Fotolia credits , a monthly pack or purchase a subscription plan and benefit from the amazing price of $0.19 per image. Licenses Standard license With the Standard License, images can be used for any illustrative purpose in any type of media. Examples: websites, web banners, newsletters, PDF documents, blogs, emails, slide shows, TV and video presentations, cell phones, splash screens, movies, magazine articles, books, advertising, brochures, document illustrations, booklets, billboards, business cards, packaging, etc. Extended license The Extended License gives you all the rights granted by the Standard License, but also the ability to print our creative files more than 500,000 times and allows you to use them on your own products. An Extended License lets you create derivative products or services intended for resale or distribution. Examples: postcards, calendars, posters, t-shirts, print & presentations templates, video clips intended for resale, video applications, and any project where the Fotolia file lends primary value to the product intended for resale or distribution. Standard license


What country is completely surrounded by South Africa?

What Country Is Completely Surrounded by Another Country? What Country Is Completely Surrounded by Another Country? 2008.12.27 2014.07.25 | Filed Under: The World The Sotho, or Basotho, people of southern Africa have given two names to the land they now inhabit. When this region was a British colony, it was called Basutoland after the Basotho. Now it is the independent nation of Lesotho, home to about 1.2 million people, most of them Basotho. The Basotho once ruled a large area in southern Africa, but they were steadily pushed back by the invading Zulu people. In 1818, a great Basotho chief named Moshesh united his people against the invaders. He ruled the Basotho for nearly 50 years. Conflicts with European settlers led the Basotho to ask for help from Britain, and Britain took over the region in 1868. Britain originally planned to make Basutoland part of the Republic of South Africa, but instead Britain granted independence to the nation in 1966. With an area of just 11,720 square miles, Lesotho is slightly larger than Maryland. It is completely surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. The mountainous country has little good farmland, and it often suffers from drought. About 40 percent of the male adults in Lesotho work in South Africa. This small nation has one of the highest literacy rates in all of Africa. Read More Also, any literature on baseball written in the 1800's does not credit Abner Doubleday with the invention either. But if my... 2016-12-28T23:28:08+00:00 I'm not saying that whoever wrote this did not research this at all but I am saying this explanation of the origins of baseball... 2016-12-28T23:19:30+00:00 IT TOOK ME OVER WINTER BREAK 12 DAYS 3 HOURS 5 MINUTES AND 36 SECONDS. 2016-12-28T02:49:36+00:00 The math here is false. The fundation of how this was worked out is how long it takes to count to 100 in seconds; which is fine... 2016-11-08T22:41:08+00:00


What island is the southernmost point of the Florida Keys?

Key West Guide | Hotels Restaurants Attractions Beaches And More Florida Keys Southern Most Island Right then..Key West is it?. You want to come to the Southernmost Island of the Florida Keys? What shall we tell you about it first? What is it about this tiny little place at the very end of Florida, that makes it unique. Well you could look at its location for a start. The Conchs (Natives who live here) are more than proud to claim the status of the  Southernmost Point  in the United States. It gives it its own special heartbeat. A laid back, tropical beach, sun worshipping haven. A place where everything is COOL. The breezes that blow off the Gulf of Mexico, to the women that swarm around the  beaches  like bees around the proverbial honeypot, all have a swagger that is pure Key West. And its not a surprise to find so many people strolling contentedly around the streets, when you know that  the weather here  is nothing more than perfect.....as long as you are dodging the  hurricane season. But hey, we can fill you in on the perfect time to visit. South Beach Is One Of Our Fav's photo courtesy of best-beaches.com But let's get down to the nitty gritty. First of all how do you get here? Travelling Down To Key West Well, the island does have its own  Keys airport  which for many years wasn't the type of airport to say "Go for it, fly straight into paradise." It hadn't quite caught up to the demand of the incoming travellers and provided the great  flights to the southernmost island  that everyone wanted, but that all changed in 2009 when the airport doubled in size. Now the facility down at South Roosevelt Boulevard is an extremely convenient entrance point to the Keys, although you may have to change and grab a small commuter plane from other locations such as  Miami Airport. Welcome To The Conch Republic AKA Helllooo Key West But flying all the way down is just one choice, as you can also of course  drive all the way down US1  which takes about three and half hours, if you hit no traffic at all. Which if that happens then you deserve to have your whole vacation paid for you! Lastly, make sure you check out the cool ferry service that runs from Marco Island, Ft Myers down to, as they say paradise. It takes about the same time as the car, and you definitely won't be hitting any traffic as you sit in the sunshine, sipping a nice cool beer. Fun During The Day And Night In Key West One thing for sure, this is not a place where you can get your rest. If you have had a hard time in the office and are looking for a place to recharge your batteries then perhaps America's southernmost island isn't for you. What you will find is more bars per capita than any other city in America. You will find an eclectic mix of  nightclubs, bars and pubs  and attractions that really never close down. If you have the energy you could be drinking with your mates and families until 5:00am, to then get a few hours shut eye before things start again at 11:00am. Get Ready To Dodge The Tourists At The Southernmost Marker! So if you like a place where the nighttime is for sleeping and quietness. If you like a place that believes that rules and regulations should be upheld. Then this is not the place for you. But if those things make you go "Yaaaaayy" then you have come to the right place and will HAVE to experience the world famous  Duval Street Crawl   so named as you will highly likely be on all fours if you manage to get to the end of this amazing and vibrant street. It will be a night to remember.....if you can remember it afterwards! But don't go to hard on the old booze, as you will miss out on some of the great attractions and things to do that make the place so popular. The #1 Guide To Bars And Pubs In Key West Attractions And Things To Do In Key West For such a small place there are a hell of lot of things to do in Key West. And unlike some of the major tourist destinations in America, many of them are free.   The best thing to do to plan your day, is look to do everything in blocks. The map of the island is like most cities in gridform, so inste


What is the world's first national park?

Yellowstone National Park - The Worlds First National Park Yellowstone National Park - The Worlds First National Park History Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, though it also extends into Montana and Idaho. Yellowstone was the first national park in the world, and is known for its wildlife and its many geothermal features, especially Old Faithful Geyser, one of the most popular features in the park. It has many types of ecosystems, but the subalpine forest is dominant. Land Yellowstone National Park spans an area of 3,468 square miles, comprising lakes, canyons, rivers and mountain ranges. Yellowstone Lake is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in North America and is centered over the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest supervolcano on the continent. The caldera is considered an active volcano; it has erupted with tremendous force several times in the last two million years. Half of the world's geothermal features are in Yellowstone, fueled by this ongoing volcanism Lava flows and rocks from volcanic eruptions cover most of the land area of Yellowstone. The park is the centerpiece of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, the largest remaining, nearly intact ecosystem in the Earth's northern temperate zone.   Wildlife Yellowstone is widely considered to be the finest megafauna wildlife habitat in the lower 48 states. There are almost 60 species of mammals in the park, including the gray wolf, the threatened lynx, and grizzly bears. Other large mammals include the bison, black bear, elk, moose, mule deer, white-tailed deer, mountain goat, pronghorn, bighorn sheep and mountain lion.


In what city is the Brandenburg Gate located?

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin Brandenburg Gate 5 312 votes The Brandenburg Gate, a monumental gate built in the eighteenth century as a symbol of peace, is Berlin's most famous landmark. During the Cold War, when the gate was located right near the border between East and West Berlin, it became a symbol of a divided city. Brandenburg Gate But when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, the Brandenburg Gate instantly became the symbol of a reunified Berlin. The Brandenburg Gate is situated at the end of Unter den Linden , a grand boulevard that cuts through the center of Berlin. The gate was originally part of a wall surrounding Berlin and was the main entrance to the city. It is the only gate that remains of this former city wall. Construction The monumental gate was commissioned by Emperor William II as the replacement of an older gate. Architect Carl Gotthard Langhans based his design of the new gate, which measuers 65.5 meters wide and 28 meters tall (213 x 92ft), on the Propylaea, the gateway to the Acropolis in Athens . The gate was named Friedenstor (Peace Gate) since it was meant to symbolize a period of peace after years of war during the reign of Frederick the Great. Construction of the Brandenburg Gate started in 1778 and it officially opened in 1791. The decorations, including bas-relief scenes depicting Greek mythology took another four years to complete. The gate has five passages. The central and widest one was reserved for the royals; the adjacent passages were for use of the aristocracy while ordinary citizens were only allowed to use the outer two. The Quadriga The Quadriga The bronze quadriga of victory crowning the gate was created in 1793 by Johann Gottfried Schadow. The four-horse chariot is driven by the winged goddess of peace. In 1806, when Berlin was occupied by French troops, Napoleon ordered the quadriga to be taken to Paris . After Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, the quadriga was triumphantly taken back to Berlin, and was turned into a symbol of victory: an iron cross and eagle were added to the laurel wreath. At the same time the square near the gate was renamed Pariser Platz and the statue on the quadriga was now called Victoria, after the Roman goddess of victory. After WWII The Brandenburg Gate, which had become a symbol of Prussian militarism, was badly damaged during World War II. After the division of Berlin between the allied powers it ended up in the Russian sector, right near the border with the British sector. The gate was repaired in 1956-1958 by East Berlin and West Berlin funded the reconstruction of the destroyed quadriga, which was created from the original mold. The iron cross and eagle, symbols of Prussia, were removed by the Communist regime but they were added again after reunification. Pariser Platz Berlin Wall On August 14, 1961, one day after the construction of the Berlin Wall , the Brandenburg Gate closed. Pariser Platz was now a desolate wasteland and the gate became to symbolize the division of Berlin and Germany. When the Wall finally fell in November 1989, people flocked to the Brandenburg Gate to celebrate. The gate, which reopened in December that year, was thoroughly renovated in 2000-2002 and now stands as a symbol of a reunited Germany. Meanwhile Pariser Platz has completely been redeveloped and regained much of its nineteenth-century grandeur.


In what country would you find the city of Limerick?

Limerick.ie | The Official Guide to Limerick, Ireland The Official Guide to Limerick, Ireland A great place to live, work and visit! Join Michelle and Seamus as they enjoy some of Limerick's best attractions over 48 Hours. Experience Limerick Exhibiting one of Ireland's greatest private collections of art and antiquities, dating from the Neolithic to the 20th Century, including works by... I am looking for... Select your start and end date Date What type of events are you looking for? Search What type of attractions are you looking for? Search What type of accomodation are you looking for? Search


What volcano exploded in 1883 with the force of 200 megatons of TNT?

Krakatoa Volcano: Facts About Deadly Eruption An 1888 lithograph of the 1883 eruption of Krakatoa. Credit: Public domain The eruption of Krakatoa in August 1883 was one of the most deadly volcanic eruptions of modern history. It is estimated that more than 36,000 people died. Many died as a result of thermal injury from the blasts and many more were victims of the tsunamis that followed the collapse of the volcano into the caldera below sea level. The island of Krakatau (Krakatoa) is in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. It is part of the Indonesian Island Arc. Volcanic activity is due to subduction of the Indo-Australian tectonic plate as it moves northward towards mainland Asia. The island is about 3 miles wide and 5.5 miles long (9 by 5 kilometers).  Before the historic eruption, it had three linked volcanic peaks: Perboewatan, the northernmost and most active; Danan in the middle; and the largest, Rakata, forming the southern end of the island. Krakatau and the two nearby islands, Lang and Verlatan, are remnants of a previous large eruption that left an undersea caldera between them. In May 1883, the captain of the Elizabeth, a German warship, reported seeing clouds of ash above Krakatau. He estimated them to be more than 6 miles (9.6 km) high. For the next two months, commercial vessels and chartered sightseeing boats frequented the strait and reported thundering noises and incandescent clouds. People on nearby islands held festivals celebrating the natural fireworks that lit the night sky. Celebration would come to a tragic halt on Aug. 27. Krakatau (Krakatoa) in the Sunda Strait between Java and Sumatra. Credit: CIA World Factbook At 12:53 p.m. on Sunday the 26th, the initial blast of the eruption sent a cloud of gas and debris an estimated 15 miles (24 km) into the air above Perboewatan. It is thought that debris from the earlier eruptive activity must have plugged the neck of the cone, allowing pressure to build in the magma chamber. On the morning of the 27th, four tremendous explosions, heard as far away as Perth, Australia, some 2,800 miles (4,500 km) distant, plunged both Perboewatan and Danan into the caldera below the sea. The initial explosion ruptured the magma chamber and allowed sea water to contact the hot lava. The result is known as a phreatomagmatic event. The water flash-boiled, creating a cushion of superheated steam that carried the pyroclastic flows up to 25 miles (40 km) at speeds in excess of 62 mph (100 kph). The eruption has been assigned a rating of 6 on the Volcanic Explosion Index and is estimated to have had the explosive force of 200 megatons of TNT. (For purposes of comparison, the bomb that devastated Hiroshima had a force of 20 kilotons. The Mount St. Helens explosion of 1980 had a VEI of 5.) Tephra and hot volcanic gases overcame many of the victims in western Java and Sumatra, but thousands more were killed by the devastating tsunami . The wall of water, nearly 120 feet tall, was created by the volcanoes’ collapse into the sea. It completely overwhelmed small nearby islands. Inhabitants of the coastal towns on Java and Sumatra fled toward higher ground, fighting their neighbors for toeholds on the cliffs.  The steamship Berouw was carried nearly a mile inland on Sumatra; all 28 crewmembers were killed. Another ship, the Loudon, had been anchored nearby. The ship's captain Lindemann succeeded in turning its bow to face the wave and the ship was able to ride over the crest. Looking back, the crew and passengers saw that nothing was left of the pretty town where they had been anchored. The explosions hurled an estimated 11 cubic miles (45 cubic km) of debris into the atmosphere darkening skies up to 275 miles (442 km) from the volcano . In the immediate vicinity, the dawn did not return for three days. Barographs around the globe documented that the shock waves in the atmosphere circled the planet at least seven times. Within 13 days, a layer of sulfur dioxide and other gases began to filter the amount of sunlight able to reach Earth. The atmospheric effects made for spectacu


What is the world's least densely populated country?

Top 10 Least Densely Populated Nations - Listverse Top 10 Least Densely Populated Nations astraya November 11, 2008 Some time ago the List Universe published a list of the 10 most densely population countries or territories of the world . By way of comparison, here are the 10 least densely populated countries or territories. (note: different sources give different figures, so there may be some discrepancies) 10 Mauritania population 3,068,742; area 1,025,520 km2; density 3.0 people/km2 The Islamic Republic of Mauritania is a country in northwest Africa, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, Senegal on the southwest, Mali on the southeast and east, Algeria on the northeast, and the Morocco-controlled Western Sahara (about which more later) on the northwest. In an area roughly the size of Ontario or Egypt there are 3 million people and not much else. 9 Iceland population 309,672; area 103,000 km2; density 3.0 people/km2 The Republic of Iceland is an island country in Northern Europe, located in the North Atlantic Ocean between mainland Europe and Greenland (about which more later). In an area roughly the size of Kentucky or the former East Germany there are 300,000 people and a lot of geezers (or maybe geysers). 8 Suriname population 449,238; area 163,820 km2; density 2.7 people/km2 The Republic of Suriname is a country in northern South America, bordered by Guyana to the west, Brazil to the south, French Guiana (about which more later) to the east and the Atlantic ocean to the north. In an area roughly the size of Wisconsin or Tunisia there are 450,000 people and possibly more languages spoken than in any comparable country. 7 Australia population 21,050,000; area 7,682,300; density 2.6 people/km2 The Commonwealth of Australia is a continent island country located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In an area roughly the size of the contiguous 48 states of the USA or almost twice the area of the European Union, there are 21 million people and the world’s most venomous snakes. Two-thirds of the people live in 5 major cities, all located on the coast. Very few of the snakes do. 6 Namibia population 2,031,252; area 824,292 km2; density 2.5 people/km2 The Republic of Namibia is a country in south-west Africa, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the west, South Africa to the south, Botswana to the east and Angola to the north. In an area roughly the size of Ontario or Pakistan there are 2 million people and massive problem with HIV/AIDS. 5 France population 187,056; area 90,000 km2; density 2.1 people/km2 La Region Guyane is an overseas department of France, located on the northern coast of South America, bordered by Suriname (see number 8) to the west, Brazil to the south-west and the Atlantic ocean to the north. Like the other overseas departments, French Guiana is also an overseas region of France, one of the 26 regions of France, and is an integral part of the French Republic. In an area roughly the size of Maine or Portugal, there are 187,000 people and the spaceport used by the European space agency. 4 Mongolia population 2,646,487; area 1,564,116 km2; density 1.7 people/km2 Mongol Uls is a landlocked country between Russia and China in Central/East Asia. It is the world’s second largest landlocked country (after Kazakhstan) and the least densely populated independent country. In an area roughly the size of Quebec or Iran, there are 2.6 million people and the world’s smallest stock exchange. 3 Morocco population 440,000; area 266,000 km2; density 1.3 people/km2 as-?a?r?’ al-Gharb?yah is a territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria in the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The Kingdom of Morocco and the Polisario Front independence movement (and government of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic) dispute control of the territory. In an area roughly the size of Colorado or New Zealand there are 440,000 people, a lot of sand and not much water. 2 United Kingdom population 3,060; area 12,173 km2; density 0.25 people/km2 The Falkland Islands are a


Old Trafford stadium is located near what major city?

Old Trafford - Manchester - The Stadium Guide The Stadium Guide Club: Manchester United FC | Opening: 1910 | Capacity: 75,811 seats History and description In the first decade of the 20th century, Manchester United played their home matches at a 50,000-stadium at Bank Street, when then president Davies began planning for a new stadium with double that capacity. A site was chosen near Trafford Park industrial estate, and architect Archibald Leitch was appointed to design the stadium. Old Trafford officially opened on the 19th of February 1910 with a match between Manchester and Liverpool (3-4). The stadium at that time consisted of one covered seating stand and open terraces on the other three sides. Capacity was slightly over 80,000. Few changes were made to the stadium until the construction of a roof over the United Road terrace in 1934. In 1939, Old Trafford recorded its highest attendance of 76,962 during an FA Cup semi-final match between Wolves and Grimsby Town. Due to its proximity to Trafford Park industrial estate, Old Trafford got heavily damaged by German air raids during World War 2. It took eight years to rebuilt the stadium, the delays being caused by limited post-war resources, and during that time United played at Maine Road , the ground of rivals Manchester City. In 1949, Man United moved back to a reconstructed, though smaller, Old Trafford. Incremental improvements and expansions were made in the following decades, which culminated in the complete renovation of the United Road (North) Stand in the 1960s. This stand also held the first private boxes to be constructed at a British ground. Old Trafford was one of the playing venues of the 1966 World Cup, during which it hosted three group matches. In those years, the capacity of the stadium fluctuated around 60,000. Old Trafford got gradually further improved in the 1970s and 1980s, including new and better cover, increased seating areas, and improved executive facilities. At the same time, however, the rise of hooliganism also resulted in the installation of security fences separating the stands from the pitch. In the early 1990s, plans were made to convert the stadium into an all-seater. This involved the demolition and replacement of the famous Stretford End terraces and the placement of seats in the lower-tiers of the other stands. Old Trafford got selected to be one of the playing venues of the 1996 European Championships, and as a result a new North Stand opened in 1995. By the start of Euro 1996 the stadium could hold about 56,000 fans. During the Euro 1996 tournament, Old Trafford hosted three group matches, a quarter-final, and the semi-final between the Czech Republic and France (0-0). In the years following, second tiers were added to the East and West Stand, raising capacity to 68,000 seats. In 2006, the stadium reached its current capacity when stands got built in the upper-tier corners on both sides of the North Stand. Old Trafford hosted its only European final in 2003, when the Champions League final between Milan and Juventus (0-0) was played at the stadium. In 2011, the stadium’s North Stand got renamed Sir Alex Ferguson Stand in honour of the club’s long-time manager. Old Trafford’s South Stand remains the only two-tiered stand of the stadium, but expansion possibilities are limited due to the railway line that runs behind the stand. While Man United has indicated that a further expansion to 95,000 seats remains a possibility, no concrete plans exist at the moment. (photos of the present Old Trafford below) How to get to Old Trafford Old Trafford is located just over 2 miles south-west from Manchester’s city centre and just under 3 miles from Manchester Piccadilly Station. If arriving by car from the M60, take junction 7&8 and turn onto Chester Road (A56) northbound. Follow Chester Road for about 2 miles and turn left onto Sir Matt Busby Way (access closed on matchdays). If using public transport, the stadium is best reached by Metrolink overground metro. From Piccadilly Station it is a 15-minute journey to Old Trafford station, which l


Toronto is located on the shores of what lake?

The Climate and Weather of Toronto, Ontario The Climate and Weather of Toronto, Ontario Average Daily Maximum Temperature – Minimum – Sunshine – Raindays – Snowdays – Snowdepth – Windspeed Toronto has a semi-continental climate, with a warm, humid summer and a cold winter. Toronto’s climate is modified by its location on the shores of Lake Ontario. The water in the lake ensures Toronto is warmer in winter and cooler in summer than it would otherwise be. The Great Lakes location is also the source of Toronto’s summer humidity, which many people find uncomfortable. Although Toronto is one of Canada’s warmer cities in winter, winters are still severe, with snow on the ground most days between mid-December and mid-March. Snow deeper than 1 cm is seen on 65 days a year on average. Ottawa , which is farther north than Toronto, and does not sit lakeside, has snow depths of greater than 1 cm on about 120 days each year. Many factories and industrial plants in both Canada and the USA are located on the Great Lakes and smog has become something of a problem in Southern Ontario. About half of the smog is wind-borne from the USA. Toronto’s smog is very much a summer phenomenon. Air quality can be classed as very good, good, moderate, poor or very poor. In 2012, Toronto had 59 days of moderate air quality and 2 days of poor air quality. The rest were good or very good. Toronto enjoys a fairly sunny climate. Toronto summers usually have an abundance of warm or hot sunny days. Winters are rather less sunny than in the prairie cities of Calgary and Winnipeg. Toronto’s day-to-day weather can be changeable throughout the year.


Mt. Everest Climbing Sherpas- Legends of the Tall- Everest Veterans   WHAT IS A SHERPA? The ethnic group inhabiting the Everest region. They moved to this region from Tibet over 500 years ago. Sherpas are Buddhists and believe the mountain is the home of an enlightened deity. The name "sherpa" literally means "people from the east" and not a person who carries your luggage for you as many people think.  WHAT IS A PORTER? A porter can be a sherpa living in the Everest region or a Nepalese living elsewhere in the Himalayas. A porter is the term used for the work they do carrying your luggage and other goods up and down the valley's to stock the villages or work for you on a trek. Some speak English but most do not.  Everyone is a porter at one time in their  life in the Himalayas. The ones that learn English and work with foreigners eventually start working in the tourism industry as guides. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE OF A CLIMBING SHERPA GUIDE and A TREKKING SHERPA GUIDE?  All sherpa guides and other Nepalese guides working in the tourism and mountaineering industry follow rank. They start by learning a second language working as a porter be it Japanese, French, English, German and so on. They would learn these languages by working with international expeditions usually on Everest. Then they earn the time to learn in a cook tent on expedition, learn about food and get acquainted with foreigners. Some become such good friends during an expedition that members take them to their country where many find a part-time job working in the food industry before returning to Nepal with their newly acquired skills. After time they start working on the mountain and learning from their western mountain guides and eventually get certified by the Manang Mountaineering School establish in 1979. This enables them to work on the mountains a climbing guides. All sherpa guides must have their NMA card to work in the mountains. Trekking sherpa guides or Nepalese trekking guides speak good English and have a good understanding of the area they work in.  They are sometimes sherpa climbing guides who for an example in the autumn are not on a climbing expedition so take up other work in the guiding industry. And some are guides that have no desire to work on the mountains because of the cost of the mountain school or are afraid from the haunts of lost family members in the mountains.   HOW TO HIRE A TREKKING GUIDE Be careful! Some arrive in Kathmandu and take a guide from one of the local trekking shops. Later they may learn this guide has not been to the trekking region they are taking you to. They will never tell you this but it becomes evident quite quickly that they are out of their comfort zone. Also be very careful doing it this way because sometime some of these guides have never been to altitude or have proper clothing for the cold nights and days on the trek. If you go this route make sure you ask questions and check their gear to see that they have proper boots, a sleeping bag, coat and rain protection. Another way people sometimes do it is to arrive at the gateway of your trek like Lukla or Pokhara and select a trekking guide at the airstrip. Also be careful here! Worker's will walk for miles to try to catch a job in the industry. Some come for the lowlands where altitude will be a problem for them and access to adequate clothing will be even more difficult for the to acquire in theses regions.  HOW TO HIRE A SHERPA CLIMBING GUIDE  Hiring a professional climbing guide is like most countries where they are governed by rules and regulations in this capacity. They are complex requirements of proper permits, liaisons and applications and is best to work through a credible mountaineering organization when hiring a Sherpa climbing guide. They do freelance and are connected to some Nepalese mountaineering organizations.  WHAT DOES A SHERPA GUIDE COST? Trekking guides work on a day rate. Some includes meals and some do not. This is open to negotiations and vary considerably. WHAT DOES A CLIMBING SHERPA GUIDE COST? Climbing sherpa guides depending o


Ceylon is the former name of what country?

Sri Lanka:   Maps, History, Geography, Government, Culture, Facts, Guide & Travel/Holidays/Cities Chief Justice Dismissed Geography An island in the Indian Ocean off the southeast tip of India, Sri Lanka   is about half the size of Alabama. Most of the land is flat and rolling;   mountains in the south-central region rise to over 8,000 ft (2,438 m). Government Republic. History Indo-Aryan emigration from India in the 5th century B.C. came to form the largest ethnic group on Sri   Lanka today, the Sinhalese. Tamils, the second-largest ethnic group on the   island, were originally from the Tamil region of India and emigrated   between the 3rd century B.C. and A.D. 1200. Until colonial powers controlled Ceylon   (the country's name until 1972), Sinhalese and Tamil rulers fought for   dominance over the island. The Tamils, primarily Hindus, claimed the   northern section of the island and the Sinhalese, who are predominantly   Buddhist, controlled the south. In 1505 the Portuguese took possession of   Ceylon until the Dutch India Company usurped control (1658–1796).   The British took over in 1796, and Ceylon became an English Crown colony   in 1802. The British developed coffee, tea, and rubber plantations. On   Feb. 4, 1948, after pressure from Ceylonese nationalist leaders (which   briefly unified the Tamil and Sinhalese), Ceylon became a self-governing   dominion of the Commonwealth of Nations. S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike became prime minister in 1956 and championed   Sinhalese nationalism, making Sinhala the country's only official language   and including state support of Buddhism, further marginalizing the Tamil   minority. He was assassinated in 1959 by a Buddhist monk. His widow,   Sirimavo Bandaranaike, became the world's first female prime minister in   1960. The name Ceylon was changed to Sri Lanka (“resplendent island”) on May 22, 1972. The Tamil minority's mounting resentment toward the Sinhalese   majority's monopoly on political and economic power, exacerbated by   cultural and religious differences, erupted in bloody violence in 1983.   Tamil rebel groups, the strongest of which were the Liberation Tigers of   Tamil Eelam, or Tamil Tigers, began a civil war to fight for separate   nation. President Ranasinghe Premadasa was assassinated at a May Day political   rally in 1993, when a Tamil rebel detonated explosives strapped to   himself. Tamil extremists have frequently resorted to terrorist attacks   against civilians. The next president, Chandrika Kumaratunga, vowed to   restore peace to the country. In Dec. 1999, she was herself wounded in a   terrorist attack. By early 2000, 18 years of war had claimed the lives of   more than 64,000, mostly civilians.


The Longest Rivers in the World   Rivers                       Seen From                       Space Did you know that the longest river in the world is the Nile? Egypt's greatest river is 4,135 miles long! In fact, Africa has two of the ten longest rivers. The Congo, which flows through central Africa, is Number 8 at 2,914 miles long. What's the second longest river? Why, the Amazon, of course! It is about 4,000 miles (3,980, really) from start to finish, winding its way through most of South America. China lays claim to Numbers 3 and 6: The Yangtze River is 3,917 miles long, and the Huang He is 3,395. North America's longest river, the Mississippi and Missouri combination, comes in at 3,870 miles long. How do we measure these rivers? Geographers calculate the     distance from the source of the river to its mouth. For instance, the Ob-Irtysh River, which is Number 7 on the list, is 3,354 miles long from its source in southern Russia to its mouth in the Ob Bay, in the very cold waters off northern Russia. Russia has three more rivers in the Top Ten. Number 5 is the Yenisie River, which flows through Siberia and is 3,440 miles long. The Amur River runs through northeast Asia and totals 2,744 miles in length. The Lena River, at Number 10, flows north through central Russia and is 2,728 miles long. Graphics     courtesy of ArtToday


What city did Rome defeat in the Punic Wars?

Punic Wars - Ancient History - HISTORY.com Google Background and First Punic War (264-241 B.C.) Tradition holds that Phoenician settlers from the Mediterranean port of Tyre (in what is now Lebanon) founded the city-state of Carthage on the northern coast of Africa, just north of modern-day Tunis, around 814 B.C. (The word “Punic,” later the name for the series of wars between Carthage and Rome, was derived from the Latin word for Phoenician.) By 265 B.C., Carthage was the wealthiest and most advanced city in the region, as well as its leading naval power. Though Carthage had clashed violently with several other powers in the region, notably Greece, its relations with Rome were historically friendly, and the cities had signed several treaties defining trading rights over the years. Did You Know? The Greek historian Polybius, one of the main sources of information about the Punic Wars, was born around 200 B.C. A friend of and mentor to Scipio Aemilianus, he was an eyewitness to the siege and destruction of Carthage in 146 B.C. In 264 B.C., Rome decided to intervene in a dispute on the western coast of the island of Sicily (then a Carthaginian province) involving an attack by soldiers from the city of Syracuse against the city of Messina. While Carthage supported Syracuse, Rome supported Messina, and the struggle soon exploded into a direct conflict between the two powers, with control of Sicily at stake. Over the course of nearly 20 years, Rome rebuilt its entire fleet in order to confront Carthage’s powerful navy, scoring its first sea victory at Mylae in 260 B.C. and a major victory in the Battle of Ecnomus in 256 B.C. Though its invasion of North Africa that same year ended in defeat, Rome refused to give up, and in 241 B.C. the Roman fleet was able to win a decisive victory against the Carthaginians at sea, breaking their legendary naval superiority. At the end of the First Punic War, Sicily became Rome’s first overseas province. Second Punic War (218-201 B.C.) Over the next decades, Rome took over control of both Corsica and Sardinia as well, but Carthage was able to establish a new base of influence in Spain beginning in 237 B.C., under the leadership of the powerful general Hamilcar Barca and, later, his son-in-law Hasdrubal. According to Polybius and Livy in their histories of Rome, Hamilcar Barca, who died in 229 B.C., made his younger son Hannibal swear a blood oath against Rome when he was just a young boy. Upon Hasdrubal’s death in 221 B.C., Hannibal took command of Carthaginian forces in Spain. Two years later, he marched his army across the Ebro River into Saguntum, an Iberian city under Roman protection, effectively declaring war on Rome. The Second Punic War saw Hannibal and his troops–including as many as 90,000 infantry, 12,000 cavalry and a number of elephants–march from Spain across the Alps and into Italy, where they scored a string of victories over Roman troops at Ticinus, Trebia and Trasimene. Hannibal’s daring invasion of Rome reached its height at Cannae in 216 B.C., where he used his superior cavalry to surround a Roman army twice the size of his own and inflict massive casualties. After this disastrous defeat, however, the Romans managed to rebound, and the Carthaginians lost hold in Italy as Rome won victories in Spain and North Africa under the rising young general Publius Cornelius Scipio (later known as Scipio Africanus). In 203 B.C., Hannibal’s forces were forced to abandon the struggle in Italy in order to defend North Africa, and the following year Scipio’s army routed the Carthaginians at Zama. Hannibal’s losses in the Second Punic War effectively put an end to Carthage’s empire in the western Mediterranean, leaving Rome in control of Spain and allowing Carthage to retain only its territory in North Africa. Carthage was also forced to give up its fleet and pay a large indemnity to Rome in silver. Third Punic War (149-146 B.C.) The Third Punic War, by far the most controversial of the three conflicts between Rome and Carthage, was the result of efforts by Cato the Elder and other hawkish


What national capital is also known as Krung Thep?

Bangkok | national capital, Thailand | Britannica.com national capital, Thailand Bangkok, Thai Krung Thep, city, capital, and chief port of Thailand . It is the only cosmopolitan city in a country of small towns and villages and is Thailand’s cultural and commercial centre. The Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand. © Telegraph Colour Library—FPG International Bangkok is located on the delta of the Chao Phraya River , about 25 miles (40 km) from the Gulf of Thailand . It was formerly divided into two municipalities—Krung Thep on the east bank and Thon Buri on the west—connected by several bridges. In 1971 the two were united as a city-province with a single municipal government. In 1972 the city and the two surrounding provinces were merged into one province, called Krung Thep Maha Nakhon ( Bangkok Metropolis ). The metropolis is a bustling, crowded city, with temples, factories, shops, and homes juxtaposed along its roads and canals. It is also a major tourist destination, noted for bountiful cultural attractions and a nightlife that includes a flourishing sex trade. The name Bangkok, used commonly by foreigners, is, according to one interpretation, derived from a name that dates to the time before the city was built—the village or district (bang) of wild plums (makok). The Thai call their capital Krung Thep, which is the first part of its mellifluous and lengthy official name meaning “the City of Gods, the Great City, the Residence of the Emerald Buddha , the Impregnable City (of Ayutthaya) of God Indra , the Grand Capital of the World Endowed with Nine Precious Gems, the Happy City Abounding in Enormous Royal Palaces Which Resemble the Heavenly Abode Wherein Dwell the Reincarnated Gods, a City Given by Indra and Built by Vishnukarm.” The abbreviated name Krung Thep is often translated as “City of Angels.” Area Bangkok Metropolis, 604 square miles (1,565 square km). Pop. (2000) 6,355,144. Physical and human geography Scipio Africanus the Elder Most of the city’s water supply comes from purification plants; it is drawn from the Chao Phraya and from deep wells. The pumping of water from wells has caused subsidence in parts of the city, which has increased flooding. Many people obtain water from polluted waterways. Sanitation facilities include sewers, storm drains, and the canals; some large buildings are equipped with septic tanks. Bangkok consumes more than half of the country’s electric power. Health Bangkok has most of the country’s hospitals and clinics. Special services are offered for patients with tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases, and there are government homes for the indigent , handicapped, and aged. The Pasteur Institute and WHO supply vaccines. Family-planning clinics have proliferated in recent years. In the 1990s cases of AIDS increased among Bangkok’s prostitutes and drug users. The government has established special wards in hospitals to treat patients afflicted with the disease and has taken other measures to prevent the spread of HIV infection. Education Because of its high proportion of school-age citizens, Bangkok’s educational facilities are overburdened. There are too few schools, and the standard of instruction varies. Literacy is extremely high, however. Many of the government-built preprimary and primary schools are located on monastery grounds. Private primary and secondary schools run by foreign religious missions train the children of the elite. There are many private Chinese primary schools and night schools. The city has several universities. Wat Pho , long a traditional centre of learning, has often been considered the city’s first university; it is one of the oldest and largest temples in Bangkok. Cultural life The most important cultural feature of Bangkok is the wat . There are more than 300 such temples, representing classic examples of Thai architecture. Most are enclosed by walls. Many wats have leased a portion of their grounds for residential or commercial use. The National Museum houses prehistoric and Bronze Age art relics, as well as royal objects dating to the 6th centu


What French city is closest to Great Britain?

United Kingdom travel guide - Wikitravel UTC +1 during "British Summer Time" (BST) Emergencies dial 999 The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the United Kingdom or the UK) is a constitutional monarchy comprising much of the British Isles . This Union is more than 300 years old and comprises four constituent nations: England , Scotland , Wales , and Northern Ireland . It occupies all of the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern portion of the island of Ireland and most of the remaining British Isles. The UK is an island nation, but shares a open land border with Ireland . It neighbours several countries by sea, including France , Belgium , the Netherlands , Germany , Portugal , Spain , Denmark , Norway , Sweden , the Faroe Islands and Iceland . The UK today is a diverse patchwork of native and immigrant cultures, possessing a fascinating history and dynamic modern culture, both of which remain hugely influential in the wider world. Although Britannia no longer rules the waves, the UK is still an overwhelmingly popular destination for many travellers. Its capital and largest city of London is, along with New York , often reckoned to be one of only two cities of truly global importance but many come to see quaint villages and the beautiful and quickly changing countryside. Understand[ edit ] It's important to remember that the Republic of Ireland is a completely separate state from the United Kingdom, that seceded from the Union in 1922 and gained full independence in 1937. Home nations[ edit ] The 'Great' in Great Britain (Britannia Major in Roman times; Grande-Bretagne in French) is to distinguish it from the other, smaller "Britain": Brittany (Britannia Minor; Bretagne) in northwestern France . However, for a geographer "Great Britain" ("GB") refers just to the single largest island in the British Isles that has most of the land area of Scotland, England and Wales. In normal usage it is a collective term for all those three nations together. Great Britain became part of the United Kingdom when the Irish and British parliaments merged in 1801 to form the "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland". This was changed to "... and Northern Ireland" when all but the six Northern Irish counties seceded from the Union in 1922 after a treaty granting Irish home rule. "Britain" is simply another name for the United Kingdom, and does include Northern Ireland, despite common misconceptions otherwise. The flag of the United Kingdom is popularly known as the Union Jack or, more properly, Union Flag. It comprises the flags of St. George of England, St. Andrew of Scotland and the St. Patrick's Cross of Ireland superimposed on each other. Within England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, the flags of each nation are commonly used. The St. Patrick's Cross flag is often seen on St. Patrick's Day in Northern Ireland. Since the Republic of Ireland split from the UK though, St. Patrick's Saltire is not used for Northern Ireland, as it represented the whole of the island of Ireland. A flag (known as the "Ulster Banner") was designed for Northern Ireland in the 1920s, which was based on the flag of Ulster (similar in appearance to the Saint George's Cross flag of England) and includes a Red Hand of Ulster and a crown. Although the flag's official status ended with the dissolving of the province's devolved government in the early 1970s, it can still be seen in Northern Ireland, particularly among the Loyalist community and on sporting occasions. As Wales was politically integrated into the English kingdom hundreds of years ago, its flag was not incorporated into the Union Jack. The Welsh flag features the Red Dragon of Cadwaladr, King of Gwynedd, superimposed on the Tudor colours of green and white. Crown Dependencies[ edit ] Map showing how far away many Overseas territories are from the UK (click image to see enlargements) You don't have to be British to vote in the UK! British, Irish, EU and qualifying Commonwealth citizens aged 18 or over qualify to register to vote in UK elections in the borough where they


What was the biggest land empire of all time?

Top 10 Greatest Empires In History - Listverse Top 10 Greatest Empires In History freikorptrasher June 22, 2010 The definition of an empire is: when a single entity has supreme rule and power over a vast area of territory, which consists of peoples of different ethnicity and nationality. This list is based on the influence, longevity and power of the various empires, and, as you will see, it contains at least one or two entries that may strike some as controversial. My one requirement for this list is that the empire must have been ruled – for at least a majority of the time – by an emperor or king. This excludes modern so-called empires such as the United States and Soviet Union. The entries here are listed roughly by influence and size. 10 Ottoman Empire At the height of its power (16th–17th century), the Ottoman Empire spanned three continents, controlling much of Southeastern Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. It contained 29 provinces and numerous vassal states, some of which were later absorbed into the empire, while others were granted various types of autonomy during the course of centuries. The empire was at the center of interactions between the Eastern and Western worlds for six centuries. With Constantinople as its capital city, and vast control of lands around the eastern Mediterranean during the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent (ruled 1520 to 1566), the Ottoman Empire was, in many respects, an Islamic successor to the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire. Become part of the empire of the future! Buy Orson Scott Card’s Empire at Amazon.com! 9 Umayyad Caliphate The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the four Islamic caliphates (systems of governance), established after the death of Mohammed. It was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty, whose name derives from Umayya ibn Abd Shams, the great-grandfather of the first Umayyad caliph. Although the Umayyad family originally came from the city of Mecca, Damascus was the capital of their Caliphate. Eventually, it would cover more than five million square miles, making it the largest empire the world had yet seen, and the fifth largest contiguous empire ever to exist. The Umayyads established the largest Arab-Muslim state in history. From the time of Mohammed until 1924, successive and contemporary caliphates were held by various dynasties – the last being the Ottoman Empire (above). 8 Persian Empire or Achaemenid Empire Babylonian, Akkadians, Assyrians, Sumerians, Hitites, Bactrians, Scythians, Parthians, Medes, Elamites, Egyptians, Ethiopians… Before the Romans, there were the Persians. They basically unified the whole of Central Asia which consisted of a lot of different cultures, kingdoms, empires and tribes. It was the largest empire in ancient history. At the height of its power, the empire encompassed approximately 8 million km2. The empire was forged by Cyrus the Great, and spanned three continents: Asia, Africa and Europe. 7 Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, or Eastern Roman Empire, was the Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered on the capital of Constantinople, and ruled by emperors in direct succession to the ancient Roman emperors. It was called the Roman Empire, and also Romania. During its existence, of over a thousand years, the Empire remained one of the most powerful economic, cultural and military forces in Europe, despite setbacks and territorial losses, especially during the Roman–Persian and Byzantine–Arab Wars. The Empire received a mortal blow in 1204 by the Fourth Crusade , when it was dissolved and divided into competing Byzantine Greek and Latin realms. Despite the eventual recovery of Constantinople and re-establishment of the Empire in 1261, under the Palaiologan emperors, successive civil wars in the fourteenth century further sapped the Empire’s strength. 6 Han Dynasty During the Chinese period of warring states, the whole of China was embroiled in a civil war as the different kingdoms within it battled it out with each other in the quest for supremacy. In the end, the Qin State won, and gobbled up the whole of China, with 40 milli


According to legend, what mountain was the home of the Greek gods?

Ancient Greece-Mount Olympus, Greece-Archaeological Sites of Mount Olympus Facts on Mount Olympus Mount Olympus, a divine place to be! Mount Olympus was the lightest and most worshipped mountain of Greece. A magnificent place with numerous forests and gorges and summits of different heights, blessed with mild climate, and surrounded by Uranus , the heaven. It never rained on Mount Olympus nor was it ever windy, only some clouds were appearing from time to time to isolate the god's kingdom from the outside world and bless the world with water. The Life of the Gods on Mount Olympus Mount Olympus was the divine kingdom of the Olympian gods .It was in the summits of Mount Olympus where the Olympian Gods once overthrew the Titans during the legendary Battle of the Titans("Titanomachy") and then placed their divine kingdom there. Every Olympian God had his own palace, which was mostly used as a dormitory. The gods were living their lives with a similar rhythm to the mortals, obeying to rules, abiding to customs and gathering from time to time in the main palace, the palace of Zeus, for small conferences. The Olympian Gods used to socialize during dining time, where they were taking decisions on the fate of the world and the mortals while eating ambrosia and drinking nectar. The Olympians had a whole staff at their service, like doctors, servants, preachers and doorkeepers, the Horae , who had the mission to open and close the gates of Mount Olympus to the outside world. However, should a god break an oath, he would be cursed to live nine years away from Mount Olympus and not be able to take part in any of the gods' gatherings. [2] Facts on Mount Olympus Mount Olympus is the highest mountain of Greece and the second highest in the Balkans. - It is raised close to the village of Litochoron in Northern Thessaly, in the borders of the prefectures of Pieria and Larissa. -Its tallest point is called "Mytika" or "Pantheon" (2.917 m.) Search


What is the Southern Hemisphere's equivalent to the Tropic of Cancer?

The Equator, Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn By Matt Rosenberg Updated August 31, 2016. Three of the most significant imaginary lines running across the surface of the Earth are the equator, the Tropic of Cancer, and the Tropic of Capricorn. While the equator is the longest line of latitude on the Earth (the line where the Earth is widest in an east-west direction), the tropics are based on the sun's position in relation to the Earth at two points of the year. All three lines of latitude are significant in their relationship between the Earth and the sun. The Equator The equator is located at zero degrees latitude . The equator runs through Indonesia, Ecuador, northern Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , and Kenya, among other countries . It is 24,901.55 miles (40,075.16 kilometers) long. On the equator, the sun is directly overhead at noon on the two equinoxes - near March and September 21. The equator divides the planet into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. On the equator, the length of day and night are equal every day of the year - day is always twelve hours long and night is always twelve hours long. continue reading below our video Overview of the Four Seasons The Tropic of Cancer and The Tropic of Capricorn The Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn each lie at 23.5 degrees latitude. The Tropic of Cancer is located at 23.5° North of the equator and runs through Mexico, the Bahamas, Egypt, Saudi Arabia , India, and southern China. The Tropic of Capricorn lies at 23.5° South of the equator and runs through Australia, Chile, southern Brazil (Brazil is the only country that passes through both the equator and a tropic), and northern South Africa . The tropics are the two lines where the sun is directly overhead at noon on the two solstices - near June and December 21. The sun is directly overhead at noon on the Tropic of Cancer on June 21 (the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of winter in the Southern Hemisphere) and the sun is directly overhead at noon on the Tropic of Capricorn on December 21 (the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of summer in the Southern Hemisphere). The reason for the location of the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.5° north and south respectively is due to the axial tilt of the Earth. The Earth is titled 23.5 degrees from the plane of the Earth's revolution around the sun each year. The area bounded by the Tropic of Cancer on the north and Tropic of Capricorn on the south is known as the "tropics." This area does not experience seasons because the sun is always high in the sky. Only higher latitudes, north of the Tropic of Cancer and south of the Tropic of Capricorn, experience significant seasonal variation in climate. Realize, however, that areas in the tropics can be cold. The peak of Mauna Kea on the big island of Hawaii stands nearly 14,000 feet above sea level, and snow is not unusual. If you live north of the Tropic of Cancer or south of the Tropic of Capricorn, the sun will never be directly overhead. In the United States, for example, Hawaii is the only location in the country that is south of the Tropic of Cancer, and it is thus the only location in the United States where the sun will be directly overhead in the summer.. Prime Meridian While the equator divides the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres , it is the Prime Meridian at zero degrees longitude and the line of longitude opposite the Prime Meridian (near the International Date Line ) at 180 degrees longitude that divides the Earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres . The Eastern Hemisphere consists of Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia while the Western Hemisphere includes North and South America . Some geographers place the boundaries between the hemispheres at 20° West and 160° East so as to not run through Europe and Africa. Unlike the equator and the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, the Prime Meridian and all lines of longitude are completely imaginary lines and have no significance w


What volcano in Washinton state erupted in 1980, killing 57 people?

Mount St. Helens 1980 eruption Brian Zylstra (Photo courtesy of Washington State Library) Days after documents related to the unforgettable 1980 Mount St. Helens eruption topped this month’s Archives Treasures online poll, we’re kicking off the May edition of State Library Jewels with a collection of aerial photos of the world-famous mountain during and after it literally blew its top and knocked down or buried 230 square miles of forest beneath volcanic deposits. The eruption killed 57 people. The aerial and satellite shots of the mountain were taken by the state Department of Transportation and U.S. Department of Interior/Geological Survey. The collection features about 40 slides of the eruption. The photos are in affiliation with the National Cartographic Information Center, which is part of the U.S. Department of Interior . Archives Treasure #3: Mount St. Helens eruption docs ?> Brian Zylstra Monday marks the 35th anniversary of a tragic “where-were-you-when-it-happened” moment for many Washingtonians: the eruption of Mount St. Helens . On the morning of May 18, 1980, the cone-shaped volcano erupted violently, killing 57 people and thousands of animals, unleashing devastating mudslides, damaging or destroying more than 4 billion board feet of timber and sending an ash plume 12 miles into the sky and covering much of Eastern Washington with the gritty ash. The 1980 event was the deadliest and most destructive volcanic eruption in the history of the continental U.S. Four days after the eruption, President Jimmy Carter flew west to meet with officials and inspect the destruction with Gov. Dixy Lee Ray. A day later, Carter wrote this letter (above) to Ray, letting the governor know that “My administration will continue to do everything possible to provide assistance in repairing the damage caused by the volcanic eruption.” Carter also wrote: “As President, I am extremely proud of the courage of the people of the northwest region of our country. The cooperation of efforts in dealing with this devastating phenomenon has surely been one of the most important single factors in minimizing damage which was potentially catastrophic. It is gratifying to see such a tremendous spirit of determination.” Here is President Carter’s Daily Diary for May 22, 1980, which shows him starting his day in Portland, flying in Marine One up to Kelso for a brief visit, helicoptering back to Portland, flying to Spokane on Air Force One for a short visit, and then flying back to Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. In the weeks leading to the Cascades volcano blowing up, Harry Truman, the owner and caretaker of the Mount St. Helens Lodge at Spirit Lake, refused to leave his home despite evacuation orders. He is presumed to have been killed in the eruption. This letter sent by a Portland couple to Gov. Ray asks her to take steps to remove Truman from the mountain’s danger zone. The letters and diary are part of our State Archives . They make up the third Archives Treasure for May. Remembering Mount St. Helens & May 18 eruption ?>


What city was once known as Tenochtitlan?

Tenochtitlán: History of Aztec Capital Tenochtitlán: History of Aztec Capital By Owen Jarus, Live Science Contributor | May 23, 2013 07:00pm ET MORE A model of reconstructed Tenochtitlán is featured at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. Credit: National Museum of Anthropology Tenochtitlán was an Aztec city that flourished between A.D. 1325 and 1521. Built on an island on Lake Texcoco, it had a system of canals and causeways that supplied the hundreds of thousands of people who lived there. It was largely destroyed by the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés after a siege in 1521, and modern-day Mexico City now lies over much of its remains. In a 1520 letter written to King Charles I of Spain, Cortés described the city that he would soon attack: “The city is as big as Seville or Cordoba. The main streets are very wide and very straight; some of these are on the land, but the rest and all the smaller ones are half on land, half canals where they paddle their canoes.” (From "An Age of Voyages: 1350-1600," by Mary Wiesner-Hanks, Oxford University Press, 2005) He noted the city’s richness, saying that it had a great marketplace where “sixty thousand people come each day to buy and sell...” Its merchandise included “ornaments of gold and silver, lead, brass, copper, tin, stones, shells, bones and feathers ...” Origins of Tenochtitlán According to legend, the Aztec people left their home city of Aztlan nearly 1,000 years ago. Scholars do not know where Aztlan was, but according to ancient accounts one of these Aztec groups, known as the Mexica, founded Tenochtitlán in 1325. The legend continues that Huitzilopochtli, the god of war, the sun and human sacrifice, is said to have directed the Mexica to settle on the island. He “ordered his priests to look for the prickly pear cactus and build a temple in his honor. They followed the order and found the place on an island in the middle of the lake ...” writes University of Madrid anthropologist Jose Luis de Rojas in his book "Tenochtitlán: Capital of the Aztec Empire" (University of Florida Press, 2012). De Rojas notes that the “early years were difficult.” People lived in huts, and the temple for Huitzilopochtli “was made of perishable material.” Also in the beginning, Tenochtitlán was under the sway of another city named Azcapotzalco, to which they had to pay tribute. Political instability at Azcapotzalco, combined with an alliance with the cities of Texcoco and Tlacopan, allowed the Tenochtitlán ruler Itzcoatl (reign 1428-1440) to break free from Azcapotzalco’s control and assert the city’s independence. A statue of Tlaloc, the Aztec god of rain, stands at the entrance of the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. Credit: Irafael Shutterstock Over the next 80 years, the territory controlled by Tenochtitlán and its allies grew, and the city became the center of a new empire. The tribute that flowed in made the inhabitants (at least the elite) wealthy. “The Mexica extracted tribute from the subjugated groups and distributed the conquered lands among the victors, and wealth began to flow to Tenochtitlán,” writes de Rojas, noting that this resulted in rapid immigration into the city. The city itself would come to boast an aqueduct that brought in potable water and a great temple dedicated to both Huitzilopochtli (the god who led the Mexica to the island) and Tlaloc, a god of rain and fertility. Aztec social organization The people of Tenochtitlán were divided into numerous clan groups called calpulli (which means “big house”), and these in turn consisted of smaller neighborhoods. “Usually, the calpulli was made up of a group of macehaultin (commoner) families led by pipiltin (nobles)” writes California State University professor Manuel Aguilar-Moreno in his book "Handbook to Life in the Aztec World" (Oxford University Press, 2006). Fray Diego Durán, a Spaniard who lived in Mexico a few decades after Cortés’ conquest, wrote that King Motecuhzoma (or Montezuma) I, who reigned from 1440 to 1469, created an education system where every neighborhood had to have a


In what country would you find a Gurkha soldier?

Who are the Gurkhas? - BBC News BBC News Close share panel Image caption Gurkhas are part of the British Army Gurkhas have been part of the British Army for almost 200 years, but who are these fearsome Nepalese fighters? "Better to die than be a coward" is the motto of the world-famous Nepalese Gurkha soldiers who are an integral part of the British Army. They still carry into battle their traditional weapon - an 18-inch long curved knife known as the kukri. In times past, it was said that once a kukri was drawn in battle, it had to "taste blood" - if not, its owner had to cut himself before returning it to its sheath. Now, the Gurkhas say, it is used mainly for cooking. The potential of these warriors was first realised by the British at the height of their empire-building in the last century. The Victorians identified them as a "martial race", perceiving in them particularly masculine qualities of toughness. Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had a country more faithful friends than you Sir Ralph Turner MC, 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles, 1931 After suffering heavy casualties in the invasion of Nepal, the British East India Company signed a hasty peace deal in 1815, which also allowed it to recruit from the ranks of the former enemy. Following the partition of India in 1947, an agreement between Nepal, India and Britain meant four Gurkha regiments from the Indian army were transferred to the British Army, eventually becoming the Gurkha Brigade. Since then, the Gurkhas have loyally fought for the British all over the world, receiving 13 Victoria Crosses between them. More than 200,000 fought in the two world wars, and in the past 50 years they have served in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Borneo, Cyprus, the Falklands, Kosovo and now in Iraq and Afghanistan. They serve in a variety of roles, mainly in the infantry but with significant numbers of engineers, logisticians and signals specialists. The name "Gurkha" comes from the hill town of Gorkha from which the Nepalese kingdom had expanded. The ranks have always been dominated by four ethnic groups, the Gurungs and Magars from central Nepal, the Rais and Limbus from the east, who live in villages of impoverished hill farmers. They keep to their Nepalese customs and beliefs, and the brigade follows religious festivals such as Dashain, in which - in Nepal, not the UK - goats and buffaloes are sacrificed. Image caption Actress Joanna Lumley has been the public face of the campaign on behalf of the Gurkhas But their numbers have been sharply reduced from a World War II peak of 112,000 men, and now stand at about 3,500. During the two world wars 43,000 men lost their lives. The Gurkhas are now based at Shorncliffe near Folkestone, Kent - but they do not become British citizens. The soldiers are still selected from young men living in the hills of Nepal - with about 28,000 youths tackling the selection procedure for just over 200 places each year. The selection process has been described as one of the toughest in the world and is fiercely contested. Young hopefuls have to run uphill for 40 minutes carrying a wicker basket on their back filled with rocks weighing 70lbs. They are tough, they are brave, they are durable, they are amenable to discipline. Tony Gould, Historian Prince Harry lived with a Gurkha battalion during his 10 weeks in Afghanistan. There is said to be a cultural affinity between Gurkhas and the Afghan people which is beneficial to the British Army effort there. Historian Tony Gould said Gurkhas have brought an excellent combination of qualities from a military point of view. He said: "They are tough, they are brave, they are durable, they are amenable to discipline. "They have another quality which you could say some British regiments had in the past, but it's doubtful that they have now, that is a strong family tradition. "So that within each battalion there were usually very, very close family links, so when they were fighting, they were not so much fighting for their officers or the cause but for their friends and family." Historica


What is the largest city in the Midlands region of England?

Midlands | region, England, United Kingdom | Britannica.com region, England, United Kingdom Middle East Midlands, region of central England , commonly subdivided into the East and the West Midlands . The East Midlands includes the historic and geographic counties of Lincolnshire , Northamptonshire , Derbyshire , Nottinghamshire , Leicestershire , and Rutland . The West Midlands comprises Staffordshire , Warwickshire , Shropshire , Herefordshire , and Worcestershire . Parts of the historic counties of Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and Staffordshire make up the metropolitan county of West Midlands . The West Midlands contains a heavy concentration of large industrial cities, including Birmingham , Coventry , Leicester , Dudley , Stoke-on-Trent , Walsall , and Wolverhampton . Parts of the region are rural, however, and agriculture remains economically important. Pop. (2001) 9,439,482; (2011) 10,135,069. Beacon Tower in Broadway, Worcestershire, Eng. Michael Reeve Learn More in these related articles: in England 1 Reference found in Britannica Articles Assorted Reference Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. MEDIA FOR: You have successfully emailed this. Error when sending the email. Try again later. Edit Mode Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience. You may find it helpful to search within the site to see how similar or related subjects are covered. Any text you add should be original, not copied from other sources. At the bottom of the article, feel free to list any sources that support your changes, so that we can fully understand their context. (Internet URLs are the best.) Your contribution may be further edited by our staff, and its publication is subject to our final approval. Unfortunately, our editorial approach may not be able to accommodate all contributions. Submit Thank You for Your Contribution! Our editors will review what you've submitted, and if it meets our criteria, we'll add it to the article. Please note that our editors may make some formatting changes or correct spelling or grammatical errors, and may also contact you if any clarifications are needed. Uh Oh There was a problem with your submission. Please try again later. Close Date Published: August 08, 2016 URL: https://www.britannica.com/place/Midlands Access Date: January 17, 2017 Share


The Adirondack and Blue Ridge ranges are part of what larger mountain range?

US Geography: Mountain Ranges Mountain Ranges The three major mountain ranges of the US are the Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sierra Nevada. Appalachian Mountains The Appalachian Mountains run for 1,500 miles along the east coast of the United States from northern Alabama to Maine. The highest point of the Appalachians is 6,684 feet at Mount Mitchell in North Carolina . The Appalachians are part of a temperate forest biome and are mostly covered with a variety of trees including pine trees, spruce, birch, and maple trees. Animals that can be found in the Appalachians include squirrels, cottontail rabbits, white-tailed deer, wolves, beavers, black bears, and the red-tailed hawk . The Appalachians played an important role in the early history of the United States. They served as a barrier to expansion for the first colonies. At one point, Britain made a deal with the Native American tribes that colonists would not settle beyond the Appalachian Mountains. However, people soon found passes through the mountains and blazed trails beyond the mountains such as Daniel Boone's Wilderness Trail. Some of the smaller ranges within the Appalachians include the Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Mountains, Green Mountains, White Mountains, Longfellow Mountains, and the Berkshires. Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains form the longest mountain range in North America and the second longest range in the world. They stretch 3,000 miles north-to-south from New Mexico, across the United States to Montana, and well into Canada. The highest point of the Rockies is Mount Elbert in Colorado which rises 14,440 feet above sea level. The Continental Divide for North America is located along the Rocky Mountains. It is at this point that water flows either to the Atlantic Ocean in the east or to the Pacific Ocean in the west. The Rockies are known for their distinct seasons with warm, rainy summers and cold snowy winters. Much of the Rocky Mountains is covered with forests of spruces trees, pines, oaks, junipers, and firs. A wide variety of wildlife can be found in the Rockies including bighorn sheep, badgers, grizzly bears, black bears, coyotes, elk, bighorn sheep, and white-tailed deer. Rocky Mountains Within the Rocky Mountains are several smaller ranges including the Big Horn Mountains, the Front Range, the Wasatch Mountains, and the Bitterroot Range. There are several national parks protecting areas of the Rockies such as Yellowstone National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and Glacier National Park. The Rocky Mountains are considered fold mountains . This means that they were formed at a point where two of the Earth's tectonic plates meet. Sierra Nevada The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range runs north-to-south along the west coast of the United States mostly in the state of California and some in the state of Nevada. It is around 400 miles long and 70 miles wide. The highest point in the Sierra Nevada Mountains is Mount Whitney at 14,505 feet, which is also the tallest mountain in the lower 48 United States. The largest trees in the world, the giant sequoia trees, live in the Sierra Nevada. They can grow up to 270 feet tall and over 25 feet in diameter. Some of these trees are believed to be over 3,000 years old. The Sierra Nevada is also home to Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are fault-block mountains, meaning they were formed along a fault in the Earth's crust. Other Ranges Adirondacks - The Adirondacks is a mountain range in northeast New York. The highest point is Mount Marcy at 5,344 feet. The Adirondack Park is the largest state park in the United States at over 6 million acres. Brooks Range - The Brooks Range stretches over 700 miles across northern Alaska. Its highest point is Mount Chamberlin at 9,020 feet. Cascade Range - The Cascade Range runs for 700 miles along the northwest coast of the United States and into Canada. The highest point is Mount Rainier at 14,411 feet. It is considered part of the Ring of Fire which is a number of volcanic mountai


Kardashian and Sarkisian are examples of common surnames from what language?

Family Names and their origins VISIT OUR HOME PAGE - Family-crests.com family name A family name, surname, or last name is the part of a person's name that indicates to what family he or she belongs. The use of family names today is widespread in cultures around the world although each culture has its own rules as to how these names are applied and used. In practice, many modern societies no longer require that a family, or surname explicitly indicate family relationship allowing parents and individuals to select the surname according to personal taste, if desired. Nevertheless, it is still common for children to inherit their surname from their parents. Although in many cultures, notably most European and American nations (there are exceptions), the family name is the last part of a person's name, in many other cultures in Asia and Africa the family name is typically spoken or written first. This order is often erroneously called the Eastern order because Europeans are most familiar with the examples of China, Vietnam, Japan and Korea. Because the family name is today generally given last in English-speaking societies, the term last name is commonly used for family name. In countries that use family names, these are most often used to refer to a stranger in a formal setting, often with the use of a title such as Mr or Mrs (or equivalent). The first name, given name, or personal name is the one used by friends, family, and other intimates. It is notable that many Arab societies commonly do not have family names in the sense used in the English sense of the term (although increasingly many Muslims/Arabs are adopting so-called Western naming practices). Traditional Arab naming practices do indicate familial relationships but names indicating these relationships are not inherited in the manner of that the term family name normally implies. Overview The word surname is name prefixed by the French word sur (meaning "on"), which derives from Latin super ("over" or "above"), meaning "additional name." As early as the 14th century it was also found spelled as sirname or sirename (suggesting that it meant "man's name" or "father's name") due to folk etymology. The use of family names varies among cultures. In particular, Icelanders, Tibetans, Burmese, and Javanese often do not use a family name — well-known people lacking a family name include U Thant (Burmese), Suharto and Sukarno (see Indonesian names), and Dilber (Uyghur, a Turkic language). Also, many royal families do not use family names. In some cultures, a woman's family name traditionally changes upon marriage, although few countries mandate such a change. Other modern options include combining both family names, changing neither name, or creating a new name, e.g. combining letters of previous surnames or creating a pseudonym unrelated to the previous surnames. In the 19th century, Francis Galton published a statistical study of the extinction of family names. (See Galton-Watson process for an account of some of the mathematics.) In English-, Dutch-, German-, French- and Scandinavian-speaking countries, people often have two or more given names, and the family name goes at the end. (Occasionally a surname is called the "second name", which can be confused with a middle name.) In Spain and Hispanic areas, people have one or more given names and two family names, one from the father and one from the mother. In Italy, people may have one or more given names, no middle name, and a family name. In the Portuguese-speaking countries, people can have one or two given names and from one up to four family names taken from the father and/or from the mother. History The oldest use of family or surnames is unclear. Surnames have arisen in cultures with large, concentrated populations where a single names for individuals become insufficient to uniquely identify them. In many cultures the practice of using additional descriptive terms in identifying individuals arose. These descriptors might indicate personal attributes, location of origin, parentage, or clan affiliation. Often these d


What Egyptian city was once home to the world's greatest library?

Justine | Malden Public Library | BiblioCommons lukasevansherman Apr 12, 2015 "Does not everything depend on our interpretation of the silence around us?" I was reading Henry Miller's book about his time in Greece, "The Colossus of Maroussi," and the English novelist Lawrence Durrell, who lived in Greece, makes a number of appearances. His reputation rests on "The Alexandria Quartet," which came out between 1957 and 1960 and is ranked by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of the 20th century. The other reviewers clearly loved it, but I couldn't get into it and found it pretty dull. Followed by "Balthazar." I do like the cover, which was done by a tattoo artist. Like e exlibrarian Jan 24, 2011 I don't think that Balthasar is the second one in the series. Isn't it Clea?? It's vital that you read them in the correct order. It's a magnificent series. I'm about to read it again after a long time. I usually rate it as one of my all-time favourites when people ask. Like u unreg_69632563 Oct 22, 2009 This book blew me away. One of the most powerful experiences I have had with a novel. Totally unexpected and wonderful. Beautiful beautiful beautiful. Sadly, I was not as blown away by the next book in the series - Balthazar Like


In what mountain range is the Matterhorn located?

The Matterhorn: Facts About Switzerland's Famous Mountain Elevation: 14,692 feet (4,478 meters) Prominence: 3,412 feet (1,040 meters); parent peak is Weisshorn. Location: Valais Alps. Also called Pennine Alps. Border of Switzerland and Italy. Coordinates: 45.976389 N / 7.658333 E First Ascent: First ascent on July 14, 1865 by Edward Whymper, Charles Hudson, Lord Francis Douglas, Douglas Robert Hadow, guide Michel Croz, and the father and son guides Peter and Peter Taugwalder. Matterhorn Fast Facts The Matterhorn is the tenth highest mountain in Switzerland and one of 48 Swiss peaks that is above 4,000 meters in height. Matterhorn's Name Matterhorn, the German name, is from the words Matte meaning “meadow” and horn meaning “peak.” Cervino, the Italian name, and Cervin, the French name, derive from the Latin words cervus and -inus meaning “place of Cervus.” Cervus is a genus of deer that includes elk. Four Faces of the Matterhorn The four faces of the Matterhorn face the four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west. continue reading below our video 10 Best Teams in the History of Baseball 1865: Tragic First Ascent of the Matterhorn First ascent on July 14, 1865 by Edward Whymper , Charles Hudson, Lord Francis Douglas, Douglas Robert Hadow, guide Michel Croz, and the father and son guides Peter and Peter Taugwalder via the Hörnli Ridge, the most common route of ascent today. Just below the summit on the descent, Hadow slipped, knocking Croz off. The rope came tight and pulled Hudson and Douglas and the four climbers fell down the north face. The elder Taugwalder was belaying with the rope over a rock spike, but the impact broke the rope thereby saving the Taugwalders and Whymper from certain death. The ascent and accident is recounted in Whymper’s classic book Scrambles Among the Alps . Second Ascent of the Matterhorn The second ascent came three days after the first, on July 17, 1865, from the Italian side. The party was led by guides Jean-Antoine Carrel and Jean-Baptiste Bich. First Ascent of the North Face The dreaded North Face, one of the great north face climbs in the Alps, was first climbed on July 31 and August 1, 1931 by Franz and Toni Schmid. Hornli Ridge: Standard Climbing Route The usual climbing route is up the Hörnli Ridge on the northeast, which is the central ridge seen from Zermatt. The route, graded 5.4, involves 4,000 feet of climbing, mostly scrambling on rock (4th Class) but with some snow depending on conditions, and takes 10 hours round-trip. Some of the climbing is very exposed and climbers need to be skilled at climbing rock with crampons on their boots. The route, often guided, is difficult but not for adept alpinists. Fixed ropes are left on difficult sections. Routefinding is tricky in places, especially on the lower section which is usually climbed in the dark. The descent, when most accidents occur, takes as long as the ascent. Most climbers begin their ascent by 3:30 in the morning to avoid summer thunderstorms and lightning . 2007: Team Speed Ascent on Hornli Ridge On September 6, 2007 Zermatt guides Simon Anthamatten and Michael Lerjen ascended and descended the Hörnli Ridge in a record time of 2 hours 33 minutes. Their ascent time was 1 hour 40 minutes and the descent 53 minutes. Compare that to the usual seven to nine hours required by fit climbers. The previous record of three hours was set in 1953 by guide Alfons Lerjen and Hermann Biner, a 15-year-old Zermatt boy. 2013: Catalan Runner Sprints the Matterhorn Kilian Jornet, a 25-year-old Catalan mountain runner and climber, set a new speed climbing record on the Matterhorn on August, 21, 2013. He sprinted up and down the mountain in a mere 2 hours, 52 minutes, and 2 seconds, shaving 22 minutes off the previous round-trip speed record set by Italian Bruno Brunod in 1995. Jornet left the village church at 3 p.m. and reached the summit via the Lion Ridge (southwest ridge) in 1 hour, 56 minutes, and 15 seconds. Jornet told the Spanish climbing magazine Desnivel:  "I felt really good during the climb. At first I was very warm, but lit