Category Geography

Where is the Gulf Stream?

          The Gulf Stream is in the Atlantic. It is a warm ocean current which flows steadily from the Gulf of Mexico north-eastwards. One branch reaches the Canary Islands, turns southwards and moves back across the south Atlantic. The other branch flows past the western coasts of northern Europe.

           This current, which is like a river in the sea, is 50 miles wide at its narrowest and nearly 2,000 feet deep. It sweeps along with it many forms of warm water life from the tropics, but these die before they reach the European coasts where the warm water mixes with cold water moving down from the Arctic.

      The Gulf Stream has a great effect on the weather of Britain and Norway. The prevailing south-westerly winds are warmed by it and collect moisture which turns into rain. In winter the warm water keeps open the cold northern ports, such as Hammerfest, in Norway, and Murmansk, in the Soviet Union, while harbours in the Baltic, many miles farther south, are blocked with ice. In summer it causes bright flowers to bloom on the West coast of Spitzbergen 500 miles north of Norway. In contrast, the east coast, cooled by arctic water, is bleak and colorless.

       In 1912 the United States congress was asked for money to build a jetty which, it was thought, would divert the Gulf Stream and make it flow up the east coast of the United States. Although this scheme was unlikely to be successful, it was just as well for Britain and Norway that it was never tried. Without the Gulf Stream, Britain’s winters would be very much longer and colder, and Norway’s harbours, which are vital to the country, would be frozen over for many months.

Where was the first Zoo?

 

 

The first zoo was formed in China in the 12th century B.C. But it was not called a zoo. When, the ancient Chinese king who started it, wanted to collect different types of animals from all over his empire. He kept them in what he called a “garden of intelligence”, near his palace.

      Some of the largest zoos are in North America. There are big ones in the Bronx, New York City, and in Washington and San Diego.

When do birds migrate?

Million of birds of many different varieties migrate at the end of summer. With unfailing regularity they leave the regions where they were born to fly to warmer climates for the winter. The following springs they return to their breeding grounds.

       Each year these migratory birds travel as much as 20,000 miles, finding their day back on time with extraordinary precision. Some travel as individuals.

     Migration is triggered off by the length of daylight, which apparently affects the birds’ nervous systems. When the days get shorter the birds receive the signal to leave for their warmer winter grounds, and, when the daylight increases to a certain level, they receive another signal to return home.

Where was Valhalla?

 

In ancient legends about the Norsemen, Valhalla was the place where all the brave warriors went when they died.

     The kind of man they most admired was one who had great courage and a spirit of adventure. The warriors who went to Valhalla were supposed to lead a very happy life, eating boar’s meat daily and amusing themselves by fighting each other. They were supposed to live in Valhalla till Doomsday, led by Odin, father of the gods, they would march out of the 640 doors of the palace to fight against the giants.

Where is Guatemala situated?

               Guatemala is a largely mountainous country is located in Central America, south east of Mexico. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean in south, and it has a narrow coastline on the Caribbean Sea.

               Guatemala is the most populated state in Central America. Guatemala is a representative democracy; its capital and largest city is Nueva Guatemala de la Asuncion, also known as Guatemala City. The spoken languages are Spanish and about twenty Mayan languages, especially in rural areas. The Maya civilization was very advanced in math and astronomy.

               The country is home to more than 30 volcanoes, many of them still active. Most of the country was conquered by the Spanish in the 16th century, becoming part of the viceroyalty of New Spain. Guatemala attained independence in 1821.

               The president of Guatemala is both head of state and head of government, and of a multi-party system.

Picture credit: google

What are the specialities of Iceland?

               Iceland is an island nation in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Europe and North America. The country is situated on a strategic location between North America and Europe, about 840 km North West of the United Kingdom and about 460 km south east of Greenland’s coast.

               Iceland’s extraordinary landscape offers hot springs and geysers, ice fields and volcanoes, glaciers and wild waterfalls. Iceland has 30 active volcanic systems, of which 13 have erupted since the settlement of the island in AD 874; only about 20 per cent of the country is habitable.

               The affluence enjoyed by Icelanders before 2008 initially rested on the fishing industry, but with the gradual contraction of this sector, the Icelandic economy diversified into new areas. Icelandic culture is founded upon the nation’s Scandinavian heritage. Most Icelanders are descendants of Norse and Gaelic settlers. The official language is Icelandic. The currency is the Icelandic krona.

Picture credit: google