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WHERE IN THE WORLD – FEBRUARY 2020

US Extreme Weather Review Weather is an important part of life for people all around the globe. When people talk about weather they mean the temperature and precipitation that changes daily. Precipitation is the water that falls from the sky, like rain or snow. Weather is determined by changes in temperature, air pressure and moisture in the air. Even small changes in these things can turn a beautiful sunny day into a dark and powerful rain storm. The United States has some of the most extreme weather in the entire world, including things like hurricanes and tornadoes. Weather can be dangerous, but you don’t have to be afraid of it. Instead, be prepared. Learn how to stay safe in the extreme weather that happens near you. The U.S. has many different warning systems to help citizens prepare if there are dangerous conditions. There are also guidelines about how to build special kits full of supplies if there are weather-related emergencies. Some examples of important equipment are flashlights, batteries, clean water and nonperishable food. Hurricanes are created by the warm and moist air in the ocean near the equator. These storms bring strong winds and a lot of rain to the east coast of the U.S. The storms are circular and revolve around the calm center called an “eye.” The winds can reach up to 320 miles per hour. Tornadoes, or twisters, are created by storms in the center of the U.S. in an area called tornado alley. Tornadoes are extremely strong rotating columns of air. The winds can reach up to 480 kilometers per hour. The winds can pick up heavy objects like cars and destroy anything that they come across. The path of a tornado is extremely unpredictable. If a tornado happens over water it is called a water spout. Because tornadoes are so dangerous, they are hard to study and a lot of things about them are still mysterious. Regular storms can also be very dangerous because they bring strong winds and a lot of water. Flooding and loss of power are common problems during storms, hurricanes and tornadoes. For more information visit the following sites: What Is Weather National Geographic Kids

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WHERE IN THE WORLD | MARCH 2018

Washington D.C.NASA HEADQUARTERS The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, headquarters is in Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States of America. As Washington, D.C., is the capital, it is the center of many of the nation’s most important departments. Most of the scientists and engineers that work for NASA do not work in D.C. Instead, there are field centers and installations all over the United States where most of NASA’s experiments and construction take place. The headquarters plays a unique part in making NASA work. The headquarters provides the overall guidance and direction to the agency. Without this guidance, all the engineers and scientists across the nation wouldn’t know what projects to work on. Additionally, being close to Congress means that NASA directors can work closely with the government leaders who set the budget every year NASA was created in 1958. The population of Washington, D.C., is 672, 228. D.C. stands for District of Columbia, which is named after Christopher Columbus. The city is a federal district, which means it is not part of any state. It is made of land taken from Virginia and Maryland. The federal district is 68 square miles. D.C. has many important government buildings like the U.S. Capitol (where Congress meets), the White House, the Supreme Court Building and the Smithsonian Museums. D.C. was not the first capital of the United States. Philadelphia and New York City were once capitals. Washington, D.C., was formed in 1790 and is named after George Washington. The first president to live in the White House was John Adams. NASA stands for National Aeronautics and Space Administration. It was created by President Eisenhower. Space travel and technology were a symbol of power during the Cold War. America wanted to keep up with the Soviets, who were the first to launch a satellite into space. The D.C. flower is the American Beauty rose. The D.C. bird is the wood thrush. To learn more visit these sites kids.nationalgeographic.com www.nasa.gov www.nasa.gov/kidsclub

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Where In The World | February 2018

The foggiest place in the world. Grand Banks, Newfoundland, Canada Newfoundland and Labrador comprise a province in Canada. Labrador is the larger mainland section in the northeast of Canada. Newfoundland is a large island off the coast. The sea and its currents play a huge role in daily life for the people who live in these areas. One of the major industries in the area is fishing. The mixing cold Labrador Current, warm Gulf Stream and shape of the sea floor in the area stir up a lot of nutrients in the waters, and so marine life is plentiful. These same currents also make Grand Banks the foggiest place in the world, especially in the spring when the weather gets warm. This fog is a spectacular and eerie sight, but it also makes fishing and driving dangerous. Newfoundland was given its name when it was discovered by explorers in the 15th century. The official discovery of Newfoundland is credited to John Cabot in 1947. French, Basque and English fishermen were all drawn to the area for the plentiful fishing. This area became a Canadian province in 1949, making it the youngest of the 10 provinces. Labrador is in the most northeasterly part of the North American continent. A narrow band of sea called the Strait of Belle Isle separates the two pieces of land Newfoundland and Labrador. For many years, this area was known for being the richest fishing area in the world. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was the most important international fishing area in the world. The majority of the fishing was focused on cod. Fishing in the harsh cold waters was dangerous, but the fishermen made a lot of money. Unfortunately, the fishing industry in Newfoundland turned into a warning about overfishing. The cod populations were overfished, and the fish almost disappeared in the 1970s and 1980s. The northern cod was declared endangered, and for a few years, all fishing was banned. Fisheries were forced to close, and thousands of people lost their jobs. It turned into an economic crisis. The Grand Banks reopened some fisheries in the late 1990s, but the cod, the towns in the area and the fishermen are still trying to recover.

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Where In The World Is – Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is made up of a series of tropical islands in the Caribbean Sea. Being tropical means that the island is warm, usually between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, all year. e island is famous for its beautiful beaches, friendly people, large caves and wonderful food. e territory is one of the most unique parts of the United States. The official name is the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. It is three times the size of Rhode Island. The capital is San Juan. San Juan is also the city with the highest population on the islands. The official languages are Spanish and English. The official money is the U.S. Dollar. The island was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493. The largest telescope in the world is in Puerto Rico. The widest part of the island is 65 km. It has 270 miles of beaches. Puerto Rico means “Rich Port City.” is was originally the name the Spanish settlers gave to San Juan before it became the name of the islands. El Yunque, which is in Puerto Rico, is the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest system. U.S. bought Puerto Rico, Guam and the Philippines under the Treaty of Paris during the Spanish-American War for $20,000,000. Barceloneta is called “the pineapple city.” Five million people visit San Juan every year. Puerto Rico is officially a territory of the United States; this is kind of like being a state but a little different. Like a state, U.S. citizens don’t need a passport to travel there. Also, people born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens. However, there are some differences. Citizens of Puerto Rico can vote in the primaries but cannot vote in the general presidential elections. They also do not have any representation in Congress. is is a complicated relationship because Puerto Ricans have all the benefits of being an American, but very little say in making the rules. is is because the Constitution says that only states can participate in the presidential election, and Puerto Rico is a territory, not a state. Other U.S. territories are American Samoa, Guam, Swains Island and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information visit the following sites: www.timeforkids.com The Presidential Election

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Where In The World Is – Puerto Rico

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Where In The World Is – The United Nations

Located in New York City, the United Nations, or the U.N. for short, was officially created in October 1945. This was right after World War II. All the countries were still struggling with the horror and expense of the war. e goal of creating the U.N. was to prevent any war like this from ever happening again. The idea was that the U.N. would create a space where nations could peacefully talk to each other about the problems they had instead of being violent. It also created international laws that were meant to force nations to try and peacefully solve their problems. e founders of the U.N. wanted to create a place where leaders could work together to protect citizens everywhere. Since 1945, the U.N. has changed some. It has grown and set some new goals. One of these goals is maintaining international peace and security, which means keeping nations from fighting each other. e U.N. also has set a goal to promote sustainable development. is means helping developing nations to grow in ways that are good for the people, the nation and the environment. e U.N. also protects human rights. is means that the leaders at the U.N. want to make sure that people all over the world are treated well and have basic rights — even if that means protecting them from their own government. These are just a few of the things that the United Nations does around the globe.

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Where In The World Is Arlington National Cemetary

Arlington National Cemetery was once a plantation owned by Robert E. Lee. He fled the plantation at the start of the Civil War. The federal government bought the property in 1882. As casualties during the Civil War grew, there eventually wasn’t enough room in the Washington D.C. cemeteries. To bury all the war dead, the military needed more land, so 200 acres of the Arlington plantation were set-aside as a military cemetery. The first soldier to be buried there was Private William Christmas on May 13, 1864. Now the cemetery is run by the Department of the Army, and thousands of the nation’s bravest service men and women are buried there. One of the most important and most visited parts of Arlington National Cemetery is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. This commemorates all of the soldiers whose remains were recovered but are unidentified. The single tomb is guarded 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by the most qualified members of the Old Guard — regardless of weather. It is considered one of the highest honors to guard this tomb. There is also an hourly ceremony called the Changing of the Guard that the public can witness when the cemetery is open. The ceremony is full of symbolism that honors the fallen. Interesting Facts About Arlington National Cemetary • Between 27 and 30 funeral services are conducted every day. • The cemetery covers 624 acres of land. • It is one of the oldest national cemeteries. • The cemetery is the only national cemetery to hold service members from every war in U.S. history. • Three million tourists visit every year. • Active duty military, retirees, reservists, recipients of the military’s highest honors and former prisoners of war are eligible to be buried at Arlington. • Presidents John F. Kennedy and William Howard Taft are buried at Arlington National Cemetery. • Members of the Old Guard, or the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, take care of funerals and guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. • The Old Guard is the oldest active-duty infantry unit; it was formed in 1784. For more information visit the following sites: http://www.history.com/news/arlington-national-cemetery-8-surprising-facts, http://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/Explore http://www.weta.org/press/facts-arlington-national-cemetery

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Where In the World Is Philadelphia?

Philadelphia is a large city in Pennsylvania. It is also a very old city. Originally, the area was inhabited by Lenape Indians. It was colonized in 1609 by the Dutch. The city of Philadelphia was officially founded in 1682 by William Penn, an Englishman. Like any settlement, it started small, but it grew quickly. By 1701, the population was 2,500. The city continued to grow because it was a major trading station and port. Eventually, Philadelphia became one of the largest and most important cities in the colonies. It is also one of the most historic cities. See the list below to see why. • The city’s nicknames include Philly, The City of Brotherly Love, The Birthplace of America, The Quaker City and The Cradle of Liberty. • It is home to the first American zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo, which opened in 1874. • Many of the city’s buildings are covered in murals. It is called the mural capital of the United States. • It was the capital of the United States until Washington, D.C. was built. • The city is famous for a sandwich called the Philly Cheesesteak. • The Liberty Bell is in Philadelphia. • Founded in 1784, the first newspaper in the U.S. was printed in Philadelphia: The Philadelphia Packet and Daily Advertiser. • The first library in the United States was founded in Philadelphia by Benjamin Franklin. • The city’s motto means, “Let brotherly love endure.” • The Philadelphia Stock Exchange was the first in America. It was founded in 1790. Philadelphia was an important city for many reasons, but historically perhaps the most important role it played was that in the founding of the United States of America. It was in this major port city that the Founding Fathers met to discuss what they would do about the taxes that the British imposed. Here, they held the Continental Congress and signed the Declaration of Independence. The Constitution was also written in this incredible city. It can be argued that Philadelphia is the birthplace of the United States of America. For more information, visit the following sites: http://www.ushistory.org/philadelphia/, http://mentalfloss.com/article/55036/25-things-you-didnt-know-about-philadelphia & http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Philadelphia.aspx

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African Sahara

The Sahara Desert is the largest desert in the world and it is in the northern part of Africa. It covers sections of multiple countries in Africa such as Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Niger, Sudan and Tunisia. The harsh desert is mostly uninhabited. Instead of people, it is full of dunes, or large “seas of sand,” several mountain ranges and even some volcanoes. • The lowest point in the Sahara Desert is the Qattara Depression in Egypt. It is 436 feet below sea level. • The highest peak is Emi Koussi, a shield volcano 11,204 feet high. It is in northern Chad and is part of the Tibesti range. • The temperature can reach 122 degrees. • The highest recorded temperature was 136 degrees in Libya. • It is around 3,000 miles from east to west. • The total area is around 3,320,000 square miles. • The name Sahara comes from the Arabic word for desert. • Sand dunes cover approximately 25 percent of the desert’s surface. • Some of these dunes can reach 590 feet high. • Most of the Sahara is made of barren rocky earth. • About 4 million people live in the Sahara. Even though the Sahara Desert is an exceedingly harsh environment it is still full of life. The people who live in the desert are nomads. People have been living in the desert since 6000 BCE. In addition to people, there are animals and plants that call the Sahara home. There are rodents, reptiles and even larger mammals such as the screw horn antelope and jackals. Life in the desert is difficult, but it is not impossible. There are strong people, animals and plants that adapt to the difficult environment. For example, the screw horn antelope doesn’t need to drink water. Instead, they suck water from the vegetation that they find.

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Guatemala

Guatemala is a small nation in Central America, a small strip of several nations that connects North and South America. On one side is the Pacific Ocean and on the other side is the Caribbean. Though Guatemala is a relatively small nation, it is full of volcanoes — 30 are still active. The most active is Pacaya, and it is located near the capital city. Volcanoes have been shaping the nation for thousands of years. Eighty-four thousand years ago, a volcano exploded and then collapsed creating Lake Atitlan. The lake is the deepest in Central America at 900 feet deep and covering 48 square miles. The high mountains are covered in forests and misty clouds that act as water for the trees. The lowlands are much warmer and lack the cloudy mists. • The country’s official name is the Republic of Guatemala. • The capital is Guatemala City. • The official language is Spanish, which 60 percent of the population speaks. • The currency is called the Quetzal. • Guatemala is a little smaller than Tennessee. • The highest point in the country is Volcan Tajumulco. • The country’s name comes from the word Cuauhtemallan. It means “place of many trees.” • The bordering nations are Belize, Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras. • The most popular religions are Roman Catholic, Protestant and indigenous Mayan beliefs. • Guatemala is known for its coffee exports. • It is the most populous nation in Central America. • The Mayan Temple Tikal was built 1,300 years ago. This temple is a tomb and was discovered in 1695. • In the 16th century, the country of Spain conquered the nation. • Guatemala became independent from Spain in 1821. For tourists and archeologists, one of the most amazing parts of Guatemala is the ancient Mayan ruins tucked away in the forests. The Maya civilization began in 2000 BC. It started small with farmers and villages but eventually grew into huge stone cities that are located all over the country. Many of the modern citizens can trace their ancestry back to these original Mayans. The Mayans are known for their advanced knowledge of math, astronomy and building. http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/guatemala/#guatemala-volcano.jpg http://www.ducksters.com/geography/country.php?country=Guatemala http://www.infoplease.com/country/guatemala.html

Category - Where in the World

WHERE IN THE WORLD – FEBRUARY 2020

WHERE IN THE WORLD | MARCH 2018

Where In The World | February 2018

Where In The World Is – Puerto Rico

Where In The World Is – Puerto Rico

Where In The World Is – The United Nations

Where In The World Is Arlington National Cemetary

Where In the World Is Philadelphia?

African Sahara

Guatemala

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