|
Structure
Interesting Questions, Facts and Information
- There are a total of 60 general entries. We are selecting 30 for display.
Special Topics
|
Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information
North America
Godthab . Modern Nuuk (Godthab) dates from 1721, when the Norwegian missionary Hans Egede founded a colony near the site of Vesterbygden, a 10th-century Norse settlement. About 13,000 people live in Nuuk (Godthab).
In the Bering Sea. Between Russia and Alaska.
Baffin Island is the fourth largest island in the world, after Greenland, New Guinea and Borneo. True or false? | Northern America
|
f. It's fifth. The ten largest being: Greenland, New Guinea, Borneo, Madagascar, Baffin , Sumatra, Honshu, Great Britain, Victoria and Ellesmere.
Alaska. Spread across northern Alaska, beyond the Arctic Circle, is the 600 mile long Brooks Range. In the heart of the mountain range is Gates of the Arctic National Park. The southern slopes are covered with taiga (forest). In contrast, north of the range is the Arctic tundra (treeless).
Between Greenland and Iceland.
North of Alaska and Canada.
Iqaluit. Nunavut is a vast territory of northern Canada that stretches across most of the Canadian Arctic. Created in 1999 out of the eastern portion of the Northwest Territories, Nunavut encompasses the traditional lands of the Inuit, the indigenous peoples of Arctic {Canada;} its name means 'Our Land' in Inuktitut, the language of the Inuit. The capital is Iqaluit, at the head of Frobisher Bay on southern Baffin Island.
Yukon. August 17, 1896: Discovery of Gold in the Yukon . On Rabbit Creek, three men searched for gold. They were the Yukon natives, Skookum Jim and Tagish Charlie, and their American friend, George Carmack. They discovered gleaming gold, quickly staked their claims, and renamed the creek 'Bonanza'. By today's standards, gold from the area would be worth over a billion dollars. Word of The Bonanza Discovery spread fast, and soon thousands descended on Dawson, hastily constructed at the meeting point between the Yukon and Klondike Rivers. One hundred thousand adventurers, from all over the globe, set out for the Frozen North. Steamships were swamped with requests. Outfitters ran out of supplies. History's greatest gold rush was under way.
Rockies. The Rockies start around Alaska and go to Mexico.
Quebec. New York also borders part of Ontario.
Vicksburg, an important Confederate stronghold during the Civil War, occupies a strategic location overlooking which river? | North American Geography Bee
|
Mississippi. The Mississippi River empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
Montana. This park is joined to Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, Canada, to form the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park.
Trans-Canada Highway & Trans Canada Highway. I-40 and the Blue Ridge Parkway ran the North Carolina.
In 1907, the land that had been set aside as Indian Territory for the so-called Five Civilized Tribes became which south-central state? | North American Geography Bee
|
Cuba. St. Thomas is the largest of the US Virgin Islands.
As a result of the Seven Years War, Great Britain gained control of almost all of what other country’s territory in North America? | North American Geography Bee
|
4. The states are: Washington, Montana, Alaska, and Idaho.
Rio Grande. The Mississippi River doesn't run across Mexico. It empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
My first planetarium visit ever was to the HR McMillan Planetarium in Vancouver. Love the giant crab sculpture. Which other tourist destination can I visit in this city? | Around North America in a Planetarium Seat
|
All of them (Gas Town, Lions' Gate Bridge, Stanley Park). Vancouver - on Canada's west coast - is often called "Lotusland" by other Canadians. Situated at the mouth of the Fraser River, it has a wealth of tourist attractions. I see Pink Floyd's "The Wall" and am most impressed.
Next stop - Seattle. I discover the Willard Smith Planetarium is part of the Pacific Science Centre and is situated underneath one of Seattle's most recognisable structures. What is it? | Around North America in a Planetarium Seat
|
The Space Needle. The Space Needle was built for the 1962 World's Fair. Conceived by Edward E Carlson, it is still the number one tourist attraction in Seattle. It has been a long trip, the seats are comfortable and I sleep through most of the Solar System tour.
Still further south in San Francisco, I find Morrison Planetarium closed and its 'one of a kind' projector retired forever. I won't be here when the new facility opens, so instead I take a walk in the park outside the old building. Which park am I in? | Around North America in a Planetarium Seat
|
Golden Gate Park. Morrison Planetarium was built as part of the California Academy of Sciences. The complex was designed to house the Steinhart Aquarium, the Natural History Museum and the planetarium. The Academy opened its doors in 1853. I am disappointed - not a star or planet in sight - I don't even get a chance to nap.
Next stop Chicago and the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum - "the first planetarium built in the Western Hemisphere". There are two planetarium theatres and an observatory as well. I enjoy my visit very much and am inspired to find even more educational stimulation - where else can I go to discover and learn in the "Windy City"? | Around North America in a Planetarium Seat
|
All of these destinations (Lincoln Park Zoo, Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum). The Lincoln Park Zoo is busy and I smile when I see Australia's native koalas are a huge favourite with the visitors. The Field Museum - as well as being home to T-rex Sue - has an interesting Egyptian area too. The high point of my trip to this city however is standing in front of "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte - 1884" by Georges Seurat in the Art Institute of Chicago.
On to Buffalo and the Whitworth Ferguson Planetarium. It is a school day so my visit is noisy but enjoyable. When I am finished I treat myself to one of the most important tourist destinations in this region. Niagara Falls. I discover the American Falls were stopped completely in 1969 for several months. Why? | Around North America in a Planetarium Seat
|
To see if loose rock could be removed from the base. The falls were stopped to assess the feasibility of removing loose rock at the base of the American Falls to enhance appearances. It proved an uneconomical idea. I sneak across the border to Niagara-on-the-Lake for some of the best retail therapy ever.
Rochester is my next port of call. Strasenburgh Planetarium is part of the Rochester Museum and Science Centre. After a morning of playing with all the hands on exhibits, I opt for yet another Pink Floyd laser show. When I venture out, I discover an amazing house on East Avenue that belonged to a pioneer in which industry? | Around North America in a Planetarium Seat
|
Photography. George Eastman pioneered photography for the masses. "You press the button we do the rest" was one of the company's mottos. He created the word Kodak for a film camera he was developing - claiming he liked the letter K and wanted a strong name for his product. Of course I take lots of pictures.
With my trip nearly over I head for Boston and the Charles Hayden Planetarium. I simply can't sleep in this theatre as there is an Audience Response System which lets me interact with the planetarium program. Amazing. I have also promised relatives that when in Boston I would take time to buy them merchandise at the Coop. Who established the Coop? | Around North America in a Planetarium Seat
|
A group of students. The Harvard/MIT Cooperative Society was founded in 1882 by a group of students. Quickly dubbed the Coop - it was intended to provide competitive prices and offer dividends its members - drawn from the academic and professional community. I decide logo T-shirts will be the coolest choice I can make. I also peep nostalgically around Harvard Yard, remembering my obsession with the movie "Love Story".
Philadelphia - the city of brotherly love. Fels Planetarium is absolutely my last port of call before heading home. It is part of a large Institute that is named after which great American? | Around North America in a Planetarium Seat
|
Benjamin Franklin. As well as its exhibition halls, the Franklin Institute houses the Fels Planetarium and an Imax Theatre. I decide to see what tonight's sky will look like just one more time before I fly home. I am a credit to myself. I do not fall asleep and I have even begun to recognise some of the strange Northern Hemisphere constellations.
Crater Lake. Crater Lake's deepest point is 1,949 feet. It's also the 7th deepest lake in the world. This question was created by borishanchovy from the United States.
In Saint John, New Brunswick, twice a day the St. John River, due to Ocean tides, is forced to flow upstream, in effect reversing its natural flow. What is this natural wonder called? | Anchovies' North American Geography 101
|
Reversing Falls. The Reversing Falls are created by a cluster of rapids and underwater ledges in the Saint John River, which is connected to the Bay of Fundy. The Ocean Tides enter through the Bay of Fundy with such force that when the tides reach a higher elevation than the river it causes the river to reverse its natural flow. When this happens the Reversing Falls are created. This question was created by jojanne1974 from Canada.
California. The Oregon/California border is where the Beaver State meets the Golden State. To the north, Oregon borders Washington State. This question was created by Adrift from the United States
|