Tag Archives: Africa

African Baobab

By | |
Leave a comment
African Baobab

African baobabs leave multiple lasting impressions.

  • African baobabs are very large trees native to Africa’s savannah habitats, in areas where there are high temperatures.
  • ‘African baobabs’ are also known as ‘upside-down trees’, ‘baobabs’, ‘monkey-bread trees’, ‘cream of tartar trees’ and ‘dead-rat trees’.
  • The scientific name of an African baobab is Adansonia digitata, and it is from the family Malvaceae, the family of mallows.
  • African baobabs can grow up to 14 metres (46 feet) in diameter and more than 20 metres (66 feet) in height.
  • Oval-shaped, fruit with crumbly or powdery white flesh, is produced by African baobab trees, that are 12 to 20 centimetres (4 to 8 inches) in length, and the flesh is commonly eaten in Africa.
African Baobab, Leaves, Trunk, Africa, Tree, Vegetation, Scene, Flickr, Ten Random Facts
African Baobab
Image courtesy of Michael Janson/Flickr
  • African baobab fruit is considered highly nutritious, being extraordinarily high in calcium, vitamin C and antioxidants.
  • The leaves of the African baobab are used in cooking, and in 2008 and 2009, the fruit was accepted as a legal ingredient in commercial food products in Europe and the United States respectively.
  • African baobabs bloom white-coloured, short-lived flowers that grow 12 to 20 centimetres (4 to 8 inches) in diameter and have five petals and numerous stamens.
  • The roots of an African baobab spread wider than the tree’s height, although they are relatively shallow, and the roots are capable of collecting large quantities of water.
  • An African baobab grows 5 to 10 centimetre (2 to 4 inch) thick bark, that is generally coloured grey or brown, and due to its fibrous nature it is used to make fishing nets, mats, bags, rope and other items.
Bibliography:
Adansonia digitata, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia_digitata
Baobab, n.d, Encyclopaedia of Life, http://eol.org/pages/584789/overview
Hankey A, Adansonia digitata, 2004, Plantz Africa, http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/adansondigit.htm

Amazon:       

Impala

By | |
Leave a comment
Impala

I’m impala’d by the many different types of antelopes in the world.

  • Impalas are a species of antelope native to southern areas of Africa, while in some areas they have been introduced.
  • An impala has the scientific name Aepyceros melampus, and it is from the family Bovidae, the family of ruminant cloven-hoofed mammals, and a number of subspecies exist.
  • Typically, the body of impalas grow to be 68 to 99 centimetres (27 to 39 inches) in height and the animal usually weighs between 37 to 76 kilograms (82 to 168 pounds).
  • Impalas live in herds, in habitats of warmer temperatures and a sustainable amount of vegetation, such as savannahs, woodlands and grasslands.
  • Impalas are generally brown and tan in colour, with undersides that are white; and their diet consists primarily of vegetation, including grass, plants, seeds, fruits and flowers.
Imapala, Africa, Animal, Mammals, Ten Random Facts, Male, Antelope
Imapala
Image courtesy of Tambako the Jaguar/Flickr
  • Impala spiral shaped horns, that are unique to the males, can grow to be larger than the animal itself, as lengths can be 45 to 97 centimetres (18 to 38 inches).s
  • Impalas are preyed on by hyenas, lions, leopards, cheetahs and crocodiles, and have an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
  • An impala has the ability to leap up to 3 metres (10 feet) in the air and as far as 10 metres (33 feet), and can run at a speed of up to 48 km per hour (30 miles per hour).
  • Impala females generally give birth to one young at a time, and the mother will attempt to protect the fawn by hiding it for a number of days or weeks.
  • Although these antelopes are classified as Least Concerned, the black-faced impala subspecies are threatened by human hunting and hybridisation with the common species.
Bibliography:
Impala, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/impala/
Impala, 2015, National Geographic, http://animals.nationalgeographic.com.au/animals/mammals/impala/
Impala, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impala

Amazon:       

Lighthouse of Alexandria

By | |
Leave a comment
Lighthouse of Alexandria

The Lighthouse of Alexandria was certainly more than your typical lighthouse.

  • The Lighthouse of Alexandria was a lighthouse originally located next to the city of Alexandria, on the island of Pharos, in Egypt, Africa.
  • ‘Lighthouse of Alexandria’ is also known as ‘Pharos of Alexandria’, ‘Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria’ and ‘Pharos Lighthouse’, and it is known as one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
  • Around 280 BC, the Lighthouse of Alexandria was built, taking over a decade to complete; and the construction period was during the reign of Ptolemy I and Ptolemy II.
  • The height of the Lighthouse of Alexandria is believed to have been between 117 to 137 metres (383 to 450 feet), making it one of the tallest built structures in the world for hundreds of years.
  • The Lighthouse of Alexandria was among the first lighthouses to be built, and is believed to have had one or more mirrors and a place for fire, that was used to signal, position and detect ships up to a 160 kilometres (100 miles) away.
Lighthouse of Alexandria, Drawing, Picture, Depiction, Old, Primary Source, Ten Random Facts
A depiction of the Lighthouse of Alexandria
Image courtesy of Ashley van Haeften/Flickr
  • The Lighthouse of Alexandria was destroyed by the end of 1323, due to at least three major earthquakes over a period of 400 years.
  • The Lighthouse of Alexandria had three primary parts, a rectangular prism erected on the foundation; an octagonal prism built above that; and a cylinder sitting on top.
  • After the Lighthouse of Alexandria disintegrated, the Citadel of Qaitbay was built in its spot in the late 1400s, and it is believed that some of the lighthouse stones were used to create this fort that still sits on the site.
  • Some of the remains of the Lighthouse of Alexandria were discovered underwater in the Port of Alexandria during 1994, by Frenchman Jean-Yves Empereur, an archaeologist, and his team.
  • The top section of the Lighthouse of Alexandria is said to have featured the statue of one of two Greek gods – Zeus, god of the sky, or Poseidon, god of the sea.
Bibliography:
Dunn J, Pharos Lighthouse of Alexandria, 2013, Tour Egypt, http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/pharoslighthouse.htm
The Great Lighthouse of Alexandria, 2011, The Museum of Unnatural Mystery, http://unmuseum.mus.pa.us/pharos.htm
Lighthouse of Alexandria, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lighthouse_of_Alexandria

 

Amazon:       

Baby’s Breath

By | |
Leave a comment
Baby’s Breath

Baby’s breath are innocent little flowers, aren’t they?

  • Baby’s breath is a group of perennial and annual plants that produces flowers, and the genus contains approximately 35 species.
  • Areas of Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Pacific are the native locations of baby’s breath.
  • Baby’s breath has the scientific name Gypsophila and it is from the family Caryophyllaceae, the family of carnations.
  • ‘Baby’s breath’ is also known as ‘soap root’, ‘chalk plant’ and ‘gyp’, and the plants are generally grown from seed.
  • The scientific name of Baby’s breath – ‘Gypsophila’ – comes from the words ‘gypsos’ and ‘philos’, meaning ‘gypsum’ and ‘loving’ respectively in Greek.

Baby's Breath, Plant, Vegetation, White, Ten Random Facts, Australia

  • Baby’s breath generally grows to heights of 15 to 90 centimetres (6 to 35.5 inches), depending on the species, and in most cases they grow best in full sun.
  • The five-petalled flowers of baby’s breath can be white, pink, or violet and they bloom during spring and summer months.
  • The baby’s breath plant often grown for decorative purposes has the scientific name Gypsophila paniculata, and it is commonly used as a cut flower to give a delicate look in arrangements and bouquets.
  • Some baby’s breath species have edible roots, and the plants and roots are also grown for and used as a medical ingredient.
  • Although baby’s breath plants are commonly grown for commercial purposes, some areas have designated some species of the plant as an invasive weed.
Bibliography:
Gypsophila, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gypsophila
How to Grow Gypsophila, 2015, Gardeners HQ, http://www.gardenershq.com/Gypsophilia-baby-breath.php

 

Amazon:        

Suez Canal

By | |
Leave a comment
Suez Canal

Suez Canal has become a worldwide benefit.

  • The man-made Suez Canal is the lengthiest canal without locks in the world, and it is located in Africa’s Egypt, and links the Red and Mediterranean Seas together.
  • As of 2010, Suez Canal had a length of 193.3 kilometres (120 miles), a maximum width of 345 metres (377 yards) at the water level, and reached 24 metres (78.7 feet) in depth, and the canal crossings included two bridges and one tunnel.
  • The Suez Canal Authority owns the canal, and any ship is legally allowed to travel the canal for any purpose as long as they abide by the stated rules; and the number of ships that used the canal in 2008 numbered 21,415, equaling approximately eight percent of the world shipping trade.
  • A canal that connected the Mediterranean and Red Seas via the Nile River, is said to have been first built in 1874 BC by Senausert III, an Egyptian pharaoh, while other pharaohs reopened the waterway throughout history, until the Suez Canal was constructed in the 19th century.
  • The legal authorisation for the construction of Suez Canal was granted to Frenchmen Ferdinand de Lesseps, a diplomat, in 1854 although it wasn’t until 1859 that construction began.
Suez Canal, Water, Africa, Red Sea, Mediterranean, Aerial, Ten Random Facts
Suez Canal
Image courtesy of Wilhelm Joys Andersen/Flickr
  • The Suez Canal was opened on 17 November 1869 by the French, while the original estimated cost of the canal was less than half of the actual cost.
  • Although under-used in the first couple of years, the Suez Canal quickly became a staple part of world trade and movement, allowing for much shorter trips around the Earth, and a time saving of as much as 88% on some routes.
  • Suez Canal cannot support two watercraft abreast, and therefore the ships move in a scheduled convoy that takes 12 to 16 hours to travel the length of the canal, while a bypass area is used to pass oncoming boats.
  • Due to the Red Sea’s unique environment, the connection of the seas by the Suez Canal has caused much environmental damage to the Mediterranean Sea.
  • In 2014, at an estimated cost of $8.4 billion, construction began on a second canal of 72 km (44.7 miles) in length, to be connected and run parallel to the Suez Canal, to expand its capacity, and to be completed by the end of 2015.
Bibliography:
Canal History, 2008, Suez Canal Authority, http://www.suezcanal.gov.eg/sc.aspx?show=8
Canal Characteristics, 2008, Suez Canal Authority, http://www.suezcanal.gov.eg/sc.aspx?show=12
Suez Canal, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal

Amazon:      

Old World Vultures

By | |
Leave a comment
Old World Vultures

Old World vultures are necessary parts of many ecosystems.

  • Old World vultures are large birds native to Africa, Europe and Asia, classified by two subfamilies, Gypaetinae and Aegypiinae.
  • Old World vultures are from the family Accipitridae, the family of hooked-beak birds, while New World vultures belong to a different family.
  • The diet of Old World vultures consists primarily of meat that they extract from the bodies of dead animals and people.
  • The heads of many of the Old World vultures are generally featherless, which is said to help prevent overheating.
  • Livestock may be treated with chemicals, that can render meat for Old World vultures poisonous, and has caused the destruction of many populations of the birds, although the birds are generally not affected by animal diseases and bacteria.
Old World Vulture, Cape Griffon Vulture (Gyps coprotheres), Ten Random Facts, Bird, White, Perch, Feather, Black
Old World Vulture
Image courtesy of Heather Paul/Flickr
  • Old World vultures range from 60 to 150 centimetres (2 to 5 feet) in height, generally weigh between 0.85 to 2.2 kilograms (2 to 5 pounds), and typically have a wingspan that spreads 130 to 183 centimetres (51 to 72 inches) wide.
  • Old World vultures have feathers that are typically coloured black, brown, white, grey or tan, or a combination of these colours.
  • Old World vultures have superb eyesight, and they can turn red in the head when they are not happy about something.
  • Snakes, hawks and wild cats prey on Old World vultures, and the birds commonly play dead when they feel vulnerable.
  • People from Old World vulture’s native countries benefit from the bird, as they clean up rotting carcasses, that would otherwise spread disease and cause other health problems.
Bibliography:
Old World Vultures, 2015, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_World_vulture
Vulture, 2013, A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/vulture/
Vulture, 2015, San Diego Zoo, http://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/vulture

Amazon:     

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...