Author Archives: Cris

Goanna

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Goanna

Go Anna!!

  • There are 30 known species of goanna, 25 which are found in Australia.
  • Goannas are Australian monitor lizards from the species group ‘Varanus’ which also includes some lizards from South East Asia.
  • Goannas are carnivores, and generally have large, sharp teeth and claws, and range from 20 cm (7.9 inches) to over 2 metres (65 feet, 7 inchs) in length.
  • Although many lizards can regrow their broken tail or limbs, a goanna can’t.
  • Goannas are generally good swimmers but generally don’t spend much time near water (with exceptions of water goannas).
Lace Monitar, Goanna, Lizard, Queensland, Australia, Ten Random Facts, Janowen Hills 4WD Park
  • Goannas typically eat insects, small lizards, mammals, birds and eggs.
  • Recent studies on monitor lizards suggest goannas are venomous.
  • Goannas are generally shy and timid, and are generally afraid of humans.  They have long been a source of food for indigenous Australians.
  • Goannas usually lay 5-6 eggs in a nest.
  • Goannas can rear up on their hind legs, run fast and are good tree climbers.
Bibliography:
Goanna 31 October 2012, Wikipedia, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goanna>

Almond

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Almond

Versatile almonds!

  • The almond nut grows on a deciduous almond tree which fruits in Autumn.
  • The fruit of an almond tree is called a drupe, which contains the seed – the edible almond nut.
  • The almond nut is native to Mediterranean areas of the Middle East.
  • The USA produced 1.41 billion kg (1.41 million tonnes) of almonds in 2010, followed by Spain with 0.22 billion kg ( 0.22 million tonnes).
  • An average almond nut measures 3.5-6 cm (1-2 inches) in length.

Almonds, Brown, Nuts, Ten Random Facts

  • Normally, one almond nut is found in an almond drupe, but sometimes there can be two.
  • Almond nuts are usually eaten roasted or raw or can be ground and used for baking purposes, often as an alternative to wheat flour.  Almond butter, almond milk  and almond oil or other products produced from almonds.
  • Almond nuts are a high source of vitamin E.
  • Almond nuts absorb smell easily.
  • Almond nuts contains 28 nutrients.

Bibliography:
Almond 10 December 2012, Wikipedia,  <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Almond>

Monopoly

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Monopoly

The Parker Brothers Real Estate Trading Game

  • Monopoly is the best selling, most popular game today, and was first produced in America.
  • Monopoly was invented by Charles B Darrow and was accepted by the Parker Brothers in 1935, 31 August.
  • At first, the Parker Brothers didn’t accept the game of Monopoly, because it took too long to play and was too complicated.
  • According to a computer probability analysis, the square that is most landed on in Monopoly is ‘Trafalgar Square’, and the square ‘Go!’ is second most likely.
  • There are more than 2000 versions of Monopoly, the original being the classic American game, and the classic British game produced soon after.
Monopoly, Parker Brother,s Box, Dice, Original, Ten Random Facts
  • The world’s most expensive Monopoly game set is worth 2 million Australian dollars.
  • Monopoly has been sold in 111 different countries and in 43 languages.
  • The longest Monopoly game took 70 days to complete.
  • Monopoly was used by the British Secret Service in World War II for smuggling purposes.
  • In 1978, an entirely edible edition made of chocolate was made and sold, and retailed for $600.
Bibliography:
About Monopoly 2012, Hasbro Gaming, <http://www.hasbro.com/monopoly/en_AU/discover/about.cfm>
Harrison, I 2004, The Book of Inventions, Cassell Illustrated, Great Britian

Grand Canyon

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Grand Canyon

Big, large and rocky!

  • The Grand Canyon is located in the state of Arizona, in the United States of America and has some of the cleanest air in the US.
  • The Grand Canyon is one of the natural wonders of the world and has been most notably carved by the flow of the Colorado River.
  • The Grand Canyon is 466 km (277 miles) in length, up to 1,800 meters (6,000 feet) deep, and in places up to 29 km (18 miles) in width.
  • The Grand Canyon was first discovered by Europeans in September, 1540.
  • The former United States president, Theodore Roosevelt, started the Grand Canyon National Park, which protects the wonder.

Grand Canyon, Top Side view, rocks, Free Digital Photos, Ten Random Facts

Grand Canyon
Image courtesy of Paul Martin Eldridge/Free Digital Photos
  • In the periods of 2003-2011, mining in the Grand Canyon was requested due to the large amount of uranium underground.
  • Temperatures at the Grand Canyon can reach up to 38°C (100°F) and can go as low as -18°C (0°F).
  • 1,737 species of plants and 34 mammals have been spotted or seen at the Grand Canyon.
  • On average, 5 million visitors visit the Grand Canyon every year.
  • Since the 1870s, 600 deaths have occurred at the Grand Canyon.  242 of those deaths were results of plane and helicopter crashes.
Bibliography:
Grand Canyon 8 December 2012, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Canyon>

Bushfire

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Bushfire

Hot, burning and destructive.

  • A bushfire is an out of control fire, which may have been deliberately lit, accidentally lit, or started by a natural cause.
  • Other names for  bushfires are wildfires, brush fires, forest fires, desert fires, grass fires, hill fires, vegetation fires and veldfires.
  • Bushfires occur on every continent except Antarctica.
  • In the United States of America, 60,000 – 80,000 bushfires typically occur every year.
  • The major natural bushfire starters are lightning, volcanic eruptions, rockfall sparks or, plainly, self heating.

Bushfire, Wildfire, Forest Fire, Fire, No leaves, trees, Ten Random Facts, Free Stock Photos

Bushfire
Image courtesy of Free Stock Photos
  • Bushfires are fuelled from vegetation which could be above or below the surface.
  • People help prevent bushfires spreading by clearing debris and vegetation.  A common form of clearing is back burning, where a controlled fire is burnt towards the fire threat to reduce the fuel load.
  • The smoke from bushfires normally contain carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and formaldehyde.
  • According to the Inquirer News, bushfires kill 339,000 people every year.
  • The worst bushfire recorded in the last 150 years was the Peshtigo fire in Wisconsin and Michigan in the US, killing at least 1200 people.
Bibliography:
Wildfire 6 December 2012, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildfire>

Parking Meter

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Parking Meter

A meter for parking. Well not really…

  • The parking meter was designed to prevent early workers parking on public streets, which stopped shoppers finding parking spaces.
  • The first parking meter was installed in Oklahoma City on the 16th of July, 1935.
  • The first parking meter fine was given out on August, 1935.
  • The parking meter was invented by Carlton C. Magee in 1932.
  • Some mordern parking meters use solar power.

Parking Meter, Australia, Gray, 0:00, Ten Random Facts

  • On 19 of September, 1960, 344 parking meter fines were handed out in London.
  • In 1992, the Park-O-Meter inc. invented an entirely electronic parking meter, called the Advanced Parking Meter.
  • Church leader, Reverend North, was the first person to get a parking meter fine.
  • The first parking meter looked like a pole with a box on top of it.
  • Before electrical parking meters were invented, people, called traffic wardens or meter maids would stand by a parking meter for assistance.
Bibliography:
Harrison, I 2004, The Book of Inventions, Cassell Illustrated, Great Britian
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