Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Geographical Facts ... Extraordinaire!


Did You Know???

Alaska: More than 1/2 the coastline of the entire United States is in Alaska.

Amazon: The Amazon rain forest produces more than 20% of the world's 
oxygen supply. The Amazon River pushes so much water into the Atlantic 
Ocean that more than 100 miles at sea off the mouth of the river, one can 
dip fresh water out of the Ocean. The volume of the Amazon River is greater 
than the next 8 largest rivers in the world combined and 3 times the flow 
of all the rivers in the United States.

Antarctica: is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country.
90% of the world's ice covers Antarctica. The ice also represents 70% of 
all the fresh water in the world. As strange as it sounds, however, Antarctica 
is essentially a desert! The average yearly precipitation is about 2 inches, 
although covered with ice (all but 0.4% of it, ice). Antarctica is the driest place
 on the planet with an absolute humidity lower than the Gobi Desert.

Brazil: gets its name from the nut....not the other way around.

Canada: has more lakes than the rest of the world combined.
Canada is an Indian name for “Big Village”.

Chicago: Next to Warsaw, Chicago has the largest Polish population 
in the world.

Detroit: Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan carries the designation 
M-1 , so named because it was the first paved road anywhere.

Damascus, Syria: was flourishing a couple of thousand years before Rome 
was founded in 753 BC, making it the oldest continuously inhabited city in existence.

Istanbul, Turkey: is the only city in the world located on 2 continents 
(Europe and Asia).

Los Angeles: The full name is “El Pueblo de Nuestra Sanora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula...and can be abbreviated to 3.63 % of its size: L.A.

New York City: The term “Big Apple” was coined by touring jazz musicians in the 1930's who used the slang expression “apple” for any town or city. 
Therefore, to play New York City is to play the “big time”...and thus 
The Big Apple! There are more Irish in New York City than in Dublin, Ireland.
There are more Italians in New York City than in Rome, Italy.
There are more Jews in New York City than in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Ohio: There are no natural lakes in the state of Ohio; every one is man made.

Pitcairn Island: The smallest island with country status is Pitcairn in Polynesia
at just 1.75 square miles/4.53 square meters.

Rome: The first city to reach a population of 1 million people was Rome, Italy in 133 BC. There is a city or town called Rome on every continent.

Siberia: (north of Russia) contains more than 25% of the world's forests.

S.M.O.M. The actual smallest sovereign entity is the Sovereign Military 
Order of Malta. It is located in the city of Rome, Italy...has an area of two
tennis courts and as of 2001, has a population of 80...20 less than the 
Vatican. It is a sovereign entity under internationallaw, just as the Vatican is.

Sahara Desert: In the Sahara Desert, there is a town called Tidikelt, 
Algeria, which did not receive a drop of rain for 10 years. Technically, 
though, the driest place on Earth is the valleys of Antarctica near Ross Island. There has been no rainfall there for 2 million years!

Spain: literally means, “the land of rabbits”.

St. Paul, Minnesota: This city was originally called, “Pig's Eye” after a man named Pierre 'Pig's Eye' Parrant who set up the first business there.

Roads: showing a picture of narrow winding dirt road with sign,
                                                   “Rough Road next 165 km.
                                                     Maximum speed 70 km/h.”
Chances that a road is unpaved: in United States = 1%
                                                     in Canada = .75%

Russia: The deepest hole ever drilled by man is the Kola Superdeep Borehole 
in Russia. It reached a depth of 12,261 meters (about 40,226 feet or 7.62 miles).
It was drilled for scientific research and gave up some unexpected discoveries...
one of which was a huge deposit of hydrogen ~ so massive that the mud 
coming from the hole was boiling with it.

United States: The Eisenhower Interstate system requires that 1 mile in every 
5 must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in time of war
or other emergencies.

Waterfalls: The water of Angel Falls (the world's highest) in Venezuela drops
3,212 feet (979 meters). They are 15 times higher than Niagara Falls.
Angel Falls is best seen by charter plane from a city along the Orinoco River.
 For those seeking adventure, an 8-day/7-night hiking trek through jungles, grasslands and hidden canyons is available.

Closing Statement ... by Author of this Article:

I have always said, “You should learn something new every day.
Unfortunately, many of us are at that age...
where what we learn today ... we forget tomorrow.
But, give it a shot, anyway!

(I am grateful to an ardent reader for sending these Extraordinary Facts to me)

Pearl of Wisdom”
The secret of genius
is to carry the spirit of the child
into old age
which means...never lose your enthusiasm!
(Aldous Huxley)

Merle Baird-Kerr . . . written February 10, 2012
Comments welcome...scroll down (may sign in as “anonymous”)
or e-mail ... inezkate@gmail.com

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