Author Archives: Cris

Antelope Canyon

By | |
1 Comment
Antelope Canyon

Antelope Canyon is full of picturesque rock formations, but no antelopes.

  • Antelope Canyon is primarily a water eroded rock canyon located near the city of Page, in the northern part of the state of Arizona, in the United States.
  • Antelope Canyon is a slot canyon known for its smooth, wavy walls of sandstone, caused mainly by flash flooding and rain.
  • Antelope Canyon is a popular tourist location, particularly for photography and sightseeing, and is said to be the most photographed slot canyon in the world.
  • Antelope Canyon has two parts, an upper and a lower section, called ‘the Crack’ and ‘the Corkscrew’ respectively, and the Upper Canyon is easily accessible and relatively flat, whereas the Lower Canyon requires significant quantities of stairs to access the site.
  • The area surrounding Antelope Canyon has historically been used as a site for livestock grazing and the area is part of the Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park.

Antelope Canyon, Picturesque, Amazing, Light, Red, Sandstone, Ten Random Facts, Flickr, Arizona, USA, United States of America

Lower Antelope Canyon
Image courtesy of James Chang/Flickr
  • Some curved parts of Antelope Canyon beautifully reflect light, and light beams can be seen in other canyon locations, especially in the Upper Canyon during summer.
  • Before European discovery, Antelope Canyon was the home to numerous pronghorn antelopes, hence its name, and the native Navajo people call the Upper Canyon ‘Tsé bighánílíní’, meaning ‘the place where water runs through rocks’ and the Lower Canyon ‘Hasdestwazí’, which means ‘spiral rock arches’.
  • Antelope Canyon is only accessible via a guided tour, and it has been open to commercial tours since 1987.
  • Flash flooding in Antelope Canyon is still common, causing 11 fatalities in 1997, and death prevention measures are now in place, including radios and loud alarms.
  • The distance between Antelope Canyon’s walls range from 1-3 metres (3.2 to 9.8 feet) wide and run up to 50 metres (6.5 to 164 feet) deep, and the Upper Canyon sits 1219 metres (4000 feet) above sea level and the walls are 36.5 metres (120 feet) tall.
Bibliography:
Antelope Canyon, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antelope_Canyon
Leco M, Antelope Canyon, Arizona, n.d, USA Tourists, http://www.usatourist.com/english/destinations/arizona/antelopecanyon/antelope-canyon-main.html
Travel Navajo Nation, n.d, Navajo -Nation Parks and Recreation, http://www.navajonationparks.org/htm/antelopecanyon.htm

Amazon:       

Okapi

By | |
Leave a comment
Okapi

Okapis are weird and wonderful creatures.

  • Okapis are solitary mammals that are endemic to central Africa, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s rainforest habitats, and they are a prominent symbol of the country.
  • Okapis have fur coloured red to brown, and the legs are striped black and white like a zebra.
  • ‘Okapis’ are also known as ‘forest giraffes’ and ‘zebra giraffes’, and have the scientific name Okapia johnstoni.
  • Okapis are one of two living species from the family Giraffidae, the family of giraffes, and they have a longer neck than other similar shaped animals, and the males have short horns that look similar to those of a giraffe.
  • An okapi has a long tongue that can be up to 45 centimetre (18 inches) long, that is used for face cleaning and grabbing vegetation.
Okapi, Zoo, Mammal, Marwel, 2008, Ten Random Facts, Giraffe, Fossil, Unique, Endangered, Flickr
Okapi
Image courtesy of David/Flickr
  • Okapis range from 1.5 to 2 metres (4.9 to 6.6 feet) in height and 200 to 350 kilograms (440 to 770 pounds) in weight.
  • Okapis are shy creatures that live in remote areas, and are rarely seen in the wild by humans, and they have a lifespan of around 20 to 30 years.
  • Okapis eat only vegetation, including leaves, fruit, fungus and grass, although they also consume red coloured clay for its mineral and salt content.
  • Okapis are a protected species, and due to dwindling numbers by poaching and habitat loss, in 2013 they were classified as endangered.
  • Around 175 okapis can be found in captivity in zoos across the globe, some of which are involved in their conservation.
Bibliography:
Okapi, 2014, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/okapi/
Okapi, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okapi

Amazon:     

Sorbet

By | |
Leave a comment
Sorbet

Sorbet is a simple but exquisite dessert.

  • Sorbet is a culinary dish often made and eaten as a dessert, and it is commonly used as a palate cleanser between courses, particularly in France.
  • Sorbet is typically made of sugar, ice and a flavouring, such as juice or puréed fruit or vegetables, or alcohol.
  • ‘Sorbet’ is also known as ‘sherbet’, although the two are notably different desserts, with the latter usually containing dairy.
  • The origin of sorbet is uncertain, however it likely originated from a cold dessert made from snow that Ancient Romans consumed in the first century, or a similar dessert from Asia.
  • Sorbet is often used as a low-fat and dairy-free replacement to ice-cream.

Sorbet, Mango, Weis, Gourmet, Tub, White, orange, Ten Random Facts, Frozen Dessert, Australia, Culinary

  • ‘Sorbet’ is possibly influenced by the term ‘sorbire’ or ‘sorbere’, meaning to ‘eat and drink simultaneously’ in either Italian or Latin respectively, and likely comes from the Turkish word ‘serbet’.
  • Sorbet, although often sweet, can be piquant, and flavours like tomato, celery, beetroot, pea, and capsicum are not uncommon.
  • Sorbet has a fairly smooth, icy texture, that easily melts in your mouth.
  • Sorbet comes in a variety of colours, that usually reflects the flavouring ingredient that has been used.
  • Depending on the main flavouring ingredients, sorbet can contain significant to low quantities of carbohydrates, and very few or many vitamins and minerals.

 

Bibliography:
Sorbet History, 2009, Sorbet.com, http://www.sorbet.com/sorbethistory.html
Sorbet, 2010, ifood.tv, http://www.ifood.tv/network/sorbet
Sorbet, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorbet

Amazon:     

Mousetrap

By | |
Leave a comment
Mousetrap

Snap goes the mousetrap.

  • Mousetraps, also known as ‘mouse traps’, are devices typically used to catch, and sometimes kill mice.
  • Mousetraps are generally placed inside human shelters to remove mice that cause a nuisance, often by eating human food supplies.
  • The classic mousetrap is typically rectangular, and catches mice by using a weight trigger and spring mechanism to set off a crushing bar.
  • The first deadly mousetrap said to be patented, was invented by New York resident American James Keep in 1879, although previous traps for mice existed, and earlier patents included traps that were not fatal.
  • The traditional spring triggered mousetraps were first patented by American William Hooker in 1894, and later in Britain in 1898 by James Atkinson, and John Mast from the United States improved Hooker’s invention in 1899, by making the trap safer to set.

Mousetrap, Classic, Modern, Snap, Bait, Set, Tunnel, Alive, Ten Random Facts, invention, Flickr

  • Mousetrap bait options include cheese, peanut butter, bread, chocolate, oats or meat.
  • In addition to spring loaded traps, other mousetraps include devices that electrocute, drown or glue, although the latter generally are illegal under the animal cruelty act in some areas due to the slow death of the mouse.
  • There are a number of mousetraps that do not kill the mouse, often in the form of a cage, and simple ones can be made from household supplies.
  • Mousetraps are typically made of plastic, metal and/or wood, depending on the style of trap, and some are designed for single use, so that they can be easily disposed of with the mouse.
  • Disposal of a mouse caught in a non-fatal mousetrap can be tricky, especially if there is a desire to keep the mouse alive, as they have a natural instinct to return to their original dwelling, and are easily preyed upon in natural environments.
Bibliography:
Mouse Trap, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mousetrap
Mouse Trap Exhibition, n.d, Dorking Museum and Heritage Centre, http://www.dorkingmuseum.org.uk/mousetrap-exhibition/

Amazon:      

Monument Valley

By | |
2 Comments
Monument Valley

Monument Valley is a symbol of the American Wild West.

  • Monument Valley is an area that contains a group of tall cliff like individual formations, known as ‘buttes’ and ‘towers’, made of sandstone, found in the Colorado Plateau, in the south western area of the United States of America, on the border of Arizona and Utah.
  • Monument Valley includes the valley’s Navajo Tribal Park that covers an area of approximately 37,110 hectares (91,700 acres), and is part of the Navajo Nation territory.
  • Monument Valley has been home to the native American Navajo people for hundreds of years, and rock engravings, as well as other cultural points of interest, can be seen with a tourist guide.
  • Monument Valley’s buttes reach heights of up to 300 metres (1000 feet) and are coloured red or blue-grey due to the different oxides they contain.
  • The Najavo name for Monument Valley is ‘Tsé Biiʼ Ndzisgaii’ and means ‘valley of the rocks’.

Monument Valley, America, Arizona, Utah, Rocks, Sandstone, Road, Ten Random Facts, Flickr, Formation, Landscape

Part of Monument Valley
Image courtesy of Wolfgang Staudt/Flickr
  • Parts of Monument Valley were mined from 1948 to 1967, mainly for large quantities of uranium, and it has caused significant controversy due to the radiation and contamination hazard it has left in some areas.
  • Monument Valley temperatures range from -18°C to 38°C (0°F to 100°F) with desert like conditions, and sometimes it snows.
  • Monument Valley is popularly used in media due to its prominent symbol of the Wild West, and numerous films have featured the valley and monuments, as well as artwork, music media, television, video games, advertising and print media.
  • Monument Valley’s buttes were most likely formed by large rock erosions and volcanic activity.
  • Monument Valley is a popular tourist destination and is easily accessible via car, accessed by the US Highway 163, and guided tours are available for a fee.
Bibliography:
Phillips C & C, History/Geology/Culture, Monument Valley, http://www.monumentvalley.com/Pages/english_infopage.html
Monument Valley, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monument_Valley

Amazon:     

Nonpareils

By | |
Leave a comment
Nonpareils

Nonpareils are not just decorative, but fun too!

  • Nonpareils are edible, ornamental items used typically on confectionery and sweet food items, and are popular on desserts and children’s party foods, such as buttered bread or cupcakes.
  • ‘Nonpareils’ are also known as ‘sprinkles’, ‘hundreds and thousands’ and ‘100s & 1000s’, particularly in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
  • Nonpareils are very small, spherical in shape, and coloured brightly in numerous colours.
  • ‘Nonpareils’ sometimes describes confectionery items, like chocolate discs, or ‘freckles’, that are covered with hundreds and thousands.
  • Nonpareils originated as early as the 1690s, and are used in a recipe from the United States in the early 1700s, for the purpose of decorating a wedding cake.

Nonpareils, Hundreds and Thousands, 100s & 1000s, Sprinkles, Gluten Free, Colourful, Color, Assortment, Many, Reflection, Ten Random Facts, Food, Confectionery, Decoration

  • Nonpareils are generally made from sugar, starch and colour, and are difficult to replicate in household kitchens, requiring much skill and equipment.
  • Nonpareils were originally a neutral white in colour and coloured ones were available in the early 1800s in the United States.
  • Nonpareils became less popular in the mid 1900s, due to the introduction of the softer, rounded rectangular prism replacements called ‘sprinkles’ or ‘jimmies’.
  • The word ‘nonpareils’ originates from the French word meaning ‘having no equal’ and the confectionery has its origins in sugar coated seeds and nuts known as ‘comfits’.
  • Nonpareils are commonly available in supermarkets and grocery stores, though they have been available commercially as early as the 1840s.

 

Bibliography:
Nonpareils, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonpareils
What are nonpareils?, 2014, WiseGEEK, http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-nonpareil.htm
I. Day, Sugar-Plums and Comfits, 2003, Historic Food, http://www.historicfood.com/Comfits.htm

Amazon:       

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...