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Jeita Grotto

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Jeita Grotto

Do not get lost in the Jeita Grotto!

  • The Jeita Grotto is two different but connected caverns of limestone, known as the ‘Lower Grotto’ and the ‘Upper Grotto’.
  • The Jeita Grotto complex is 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) in length.
  • The Jeita Grotto is located in the mountainous area of Lebanon, just north of Beirut, where it is the longest cave in the Middle East, and a popular tourist attraction.
  • The UpperCave of the Jeita Grotto contains many amazing formations, including the longest stalactite known to humans, with a length of 8.2 metres (27 feet).
  • The Jeita Grotto was first discovered by the modern world in 1836, by William Thomson, a missionary from America.

Jeita Grotto, Way, Walk, Path, Rail, Ten Random Facts,Cave, Upper, Complex, Ten Random Facts, Flickr

Upper Cave
Image courtesy of Anders Lofgen/Flickr
  • During 1873 and 1874, two expeditions were carried out by engineers, W Maxwell and H Huxley who worked for a local water company, and friend Daniel Bliss, who placed a ‘time capsule’ (a bottle with a written note) in one of the caves, which has since been welded into a stalagmite.
  • During the Lebanese civil war in 1978, the Jeita Grotto was publicly closed and used mainly as storage facility for equipment needed for the war, and it was reopened in 1995.
  • The Lower Grotto of the Jeita Grotto contains an important water source with rapids, and quiet, peaceful areas, and during winter, the lower sections is sometimes closed due to high water levels.
  • The Jeita Grotto was one of the finalists in the bid to be one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature in 2011.
  • During its history, the Jeita Grotto has been known as ‘Grottoes of Nahr-al-Kalb’, ‘Djaita Grottoes’ and ‘Jehita Grottoes’.
Bibliography:
Jeita Grotto, 2013, Beautiful World, http://www.beautifulworld.com/asia/lebanon/jeita-grotto
Jeita Grotto, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeita_Grotto

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Jacaranda

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Jacaranda

The flowers continuously flutter down from the jacaranda tree.

  • Jacarandas are from the family Bignoniaceae, which is the family of bignonias, and are a group of 49 flowering shrubs and trees.
  • Jacaranda mimosifolia, a tree with purplish blue flowers, is the most popular and common species, that is sometimes called ‘Black Poui’, ‘Blue Jacaranda’, or ‘the fern tree’, although it is usually just called ‘Jacaranda’.
  • Jacarandas are native to Central and South America as well as some of the islands in that region, and can now be found in many tropical areas around the world.
  • ‘Jacaranda’ is said to mean ‘fragrant’ in a native South American dialect and have blue to purple or white coloured flowers, depending on the species.
  • Depending on the species, Jacarandas can grow up to 20 to 30 metres (66 to 98 feet) in height.

Jacaranda, Purple, Blue, Flowers, Carpet, Fall, Tree, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Jacaranda mimosifolia are popular trees used in landscaping, and they line streets in a number of towns and cities around the world.
  • Jacarandas have leaves that are used by the Chinese to make purple dye and the timber of some species is used in woodwork.
  • Jacaranda festivals are held in Pretoria, South Africa, and in a number of cities in Australia, during the peak blooming period.
  • Jacarandas generally flower in spring and summer, and the flowers commonly drop, making a carpet of purple or blue.
  • Jacarandas have hard, flattened, round seed pods that contain a number of seeds.
Bibliography:
Jacaranda, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacaranda
Jacarandas, 2007, Burke’s Backyard, http://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/factsheets/Flowering-Plants-and-Shrubs/Jacarandas/3083

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Hippopotamus

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Hippopotamus

Yawn like a hippopotamus.

  • A hippopotamus is also known as a ‘hippo’, and is from the family Hippopotamidae, the family of hippotamuses.
  • The term ‘hippopotamus’ comes from the words for ‘river horse’ in Ancient Greek, and its scientific name is Hippopotamus amphibius.
  • Hippopotamuses are large cylindrical-shaped mammals, with a big round body, large teeth and short legs.
  • Hippopotamuses are native to the rivers and other aquatic areas of Africa, and live for 40 to 50 years in the wild, on average.
  • In the water hippopotamuses are territorial, and are said to be the most dangerous large animal in Africa, where hundreds of people are killed by them annually.
Nile Hippopotamus, wallows, mud, many, multiple, water, Mara River, Africa, Ten Random Facts, National Geographic
Hippos
Image courtesy of National Geographic
  • Hippopotamuses are generally found in groups of 10-30, mainly consisting of females and children with one dominant male, but they can live in herds of up to a hundred.
  • Hippopotamuses can grow to 3.3 to 5.5 metres (11 to 17 feet) in length and weigh, on average, 1,300 to 1,800 kilograms (2,900 to 4,000 pounds), although one was recorded weighing 4,500 kilograms (9,900 pounds).
  • Hippopotamuses can run at speeds of 30 km per hour (19 mph) on land, and swim at speeds of 8 km per hour (5 mph).
  • Hippopotamuses can stretch their mouth up to 180° and they sharpen their teeth by grinding them together.
  • Hippopotamuses are generally a mix of purple, brown and black in colour, and they excrete a thick, red-pink coloured liquid through their skin to protect them from the sun.
Bibliography:
Hippo, 2013, San Diego Zoo, http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/hippo
Hippopotamus, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippopotamus

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Alfalfa Sprouts

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Alfalfa Sprouts

Sprout the facts like alfalfa sprouts.

  • ‘Alfalfa sprouts’ are also known as ‘lucerne sprouts’ and their scientific name is Medicago sativa.
  • Alfalfa sprouts belong to the family Fabaceae, which is the family of legumes, beans and peas, and are thought to be native to Iran.
  • Alfalfa sprouts start as brown seeds that germinate, within 1-2 days after watering, and the shoots, white with tiny green leaves, are ready to eat after 3 to 5 days.
  • Alfalfa sprouts are sprouted alfalfa or lucerne seeds and are easily grown at home in a jar, or special sprout grower.
  • Alfalfa sprouts are high in vitamin K and also contain other beneficial nutrients.

Alfalfa Sprout, Green, Shout, Bundle, Handful, Plate, Focused, White, Green, Ten Random Facts, Legume, Australia

  • In 2006, the total world production of alfalfa was 395 million tonnes (436 million tons) in weight.
  • Traditionally, alfalfa was used medicinally, although no significant medical properties have been discovered, although consuming significant quantities of alfalfa sprouts may lead to autoimmune type disorders in some people.
  • Alfalfa is the most common legume grown in the world, mostly grown as stock feed.
  • Raw alfalfa sprouts can contain bad bacteria, particularly salmonella, although this can generally be avoided if they are kept in the fridge and thoroughly washed before eating.
  • Alfalfa spouts are commonly used as a sandwich filling or salad addition.

 

Bibliography:
Alfalfa, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfalfa
Smith M, Are Alfalfa Sprouts Safe to Eat?, 2010, Food Safety, http://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/sprouts.html

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Stuffed Toy

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Stuffed Toy

Cuddle up with your stuffed toy.

  • Stuffed toys are toys that are made of fabric and are stuffed with a type of stuffing material.
  • ‘Stuffed toys’ are also known as ‘stuffed animals’, ‘plushies’, ‘plush toys’, ‘soft toys’, ‘softies’ and ‘cuddle toys’.
  • Over the years, stuffed toys have been stuffed with fibre, wool, plastic pellets, beans, cotton, batting and straw.
  • Stuffed toys are often made into the shape of an animal or other objects.
  • Stuffed toys are commonly used for comfort, or given on special occasions, sometimes to express one’s feelings of love.

Stuffed Toy, Beige Monkey, Green Teddy Bear, Plushie, White bear, Brown kangaroo, mulitcoloured dolphin, seahorse, Ten Random Facts

  • In 1880, Steiff, a German company started by Margarete Steiff, was the first commercial company to produce stuffed toys.
  • The first patented stuffed toy was a rabbit from Beatrix Potter’s stories, Peter Rabbit.
  • Stuffed toys have their origins in stuffed dead animals and home made rag dolls from the 1830s, and once teddy bears were created in 1902, they became increasingly popular.
  • Some antique stuffed toys, notably, late 1800 and early 1900 Steiff toys, have been sold for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
  • Electronics and mechanics are sometimes placed inside stuffed toys to allow sound and movement.

 

Bibliography:
Learn about the History of Plush Toys and Stuffed Animals, Purr-fect gifts, http://www.purr-fectgifts.com/history/
Stuffed Toy, 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuffed_toy

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Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I have a dream…” – Martin Luther King.

  • Martin Luther King was an African-American humanitarian and activist, as well as the leader of the African-American civil rights movements.
  • Martin Luther King was born on 15 January, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and was the second child in a family of three children.
  • It was originally believed that Martin Luther King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, United States on 4 April, 1968, by a bullet shot by James Earl Ray, a criminal, however a jury, in 1999, gave the verdict that the government and others were involved in a conspiracy, that had King assassinated.
  • Martin Luther King had a strong belief in Jesus, particularly focusing on a verse from the Book of Matthew in the Bible: “love your neighbour as yourself”.
  • Martin Luther King married Coretta Scott on 18 June, 1953, and had four children, one of which was named Martin Luther King III.

Martin Luther King Jr, Black and White Photograph, Speaking, Speech, American Civil Rights, Ten Random Facts, Flickr

 

Martin L King
Image courtesy of Family MWR/Flickr
  • Martin Luther King’s speech “I have a dream” is a 17 minute speech, and the most famously known one of King’s, and one of the most significant in the history of America.
  • ‘Martin Luther King’ was also known as ‘MLK’, and was originally named Michael King on his birth certificate.
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was first celebrated in 1986, and the public holiday is recognised throughout the United States on the 3rd Monday in January.
  • Martin Luther King was awarded the Noble Peace Prize in October 1964 for his involvement in civil rights, and at the time, he was the youngest to have received the prize.
  • Martin Luther King has had his house bombed in 1956, was arrested for his rebellion against racial unfairness in buses, and after his assassination, there were riots among much of the United States.
Bibliography:
Martin Luther King, Jr., 2013, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr., 2013, Bio.com, http://www.biography.com/people/martin-luther-king-jr-9365086

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