Tag Archives: Europe

Mount Etna

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Mount Etna

Mount Etna is explosive tonight!

  • Mount Etna is a volcanic mountain found near Sicily’s coast, in Italy, Europe, that actively erupts in a stratovolcanic way.
  • Mount Etna reaches approximately 3,330 metres (10,925 feet) in height, taking the position of being Europe’s most elevated active volcano.
  • Mount Etna became a national park area in 1987, and in mid 2013, the main part of the volcano was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
  • Mount Etna spreads 1,190 square kilometres (459 square miles) in area, and is 140 kilometres (87 miles) in circumference.
  • ‘Mount Etna’ is also known as ‘Mongibello’ or ‘Montebello’ and ‘Mungibeddu’ in Italian and Sicilian respectively, as well as ‘Muntagna’.
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Mount Etna
Image courtesy of Dennis Jarvis/Flickr
  • In 2008, Mount Etna had five primary craters and at least 300 side vents that have been used in the past to eject eruptions; while parts of the mountain have collapsed on a number of occasions.
  • The name ‘Mount Etna’ probably originates from either ‘attuna’ or ‘aithō’, meaning ‘furnace’ in Phoenician or ‘I burn’ in Greek respectively, and the volcano features prominently in Greek mythology and literature.
  • Records of Mount Etna eruptions date back thousands of years, and there have been numerous significant eruptions, including many in the last hundred years.
  • Mount Etna is the one of the most popular tourist areas in Sicily, and it can be either hiked or driven up using suitable vehicles, and it is also a leading site of volcanic research.
  • Mount Etna is surrounded by numerous communities, that, in the event of an eruption, are generally protected from lava flow using diversion tactics that include deposits, explosives and holes.
Bibliography:
Mount Etna, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Etna
Mount Etna, 2015, BBC, http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/collections/mount_etna
Mount Etna, 2015, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1427

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Verbena

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Make your garden a bloom of delight with verbena.

  • Verbenas are a group of 250 species of plants that flower, and are either grown as annuals or perennials depending on the location and species.
  • Verbenas are from the family Verbenaceae, the family of vervains, that are mostly flowering plants found in tropical areas.
  • A ‘verbena’ plant is also known by the common name ‘vervain’.
  • Verbenas originate mostly from North and South America, as well as from Europe, and they tend to be mainly found in tropical and subtropical habitats.
  • Verbenas have flowers coloured pink, red, blue, purple or white that consist of five petals, that generally grow in clusters on spikes.

Verbena, Pink, White, Flowers, Plant, Vegetation, Ten Random Facts, Cluster

  • Verbenas are mainly grown for decorative purposes, and they grow best in complete sunlight.
  • Verbenas have been used historically as an ingredient for medicinal purposes, such as herbal tea; while oil can also be extracted from the plant.
  • Verbenas generally have long flowering periods, and they can be found flowering in all months, with the exception of winter.
  • Verbenas grow to be roughly 0.3 to 0.9 metres (1 to 3 feet) in height, and they usually have a spreading habit, making them suitable for hanging baskets.
  • The leaves of verbenas often have a light to heavy covering of hair, while the fruit splits into four parts, each containing one seed.
Bibliography:
Genus Verbena, PlantNET, n.d, http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=gn&name=Verbena
Plant Profile: Verbena, 2014, Gardening Australia, http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/stories/s1866736.htm
Verbena, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbena
Verbena, 2015, Better Homes & Gardens, http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/annual/verbena/

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Pika

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Pika

Meet another cute animal, the pika!

  • Pikas are mammals of small size, that originate from North America, Asia and eastern areas of Europe, and inhabit mostly mountainous regions where the temperatures are cooler.
  • ‘Pikas’ are also known as ‘whistling hares’ and ‘picas’, although the latter term is used to refer to a number of other species of animals.
  • Pikas are a family that have the scientific name Ochotonidae, of which there is one genus, Ochotona, and the family is from the order Lagomorpha, the order to which rabbits and hares belong.
  • The length of pikas range from 15 to 23 centimetres (5.9 to 9.1 inches) and they typically range from 75 to 350 grams (2.6 to 12.3 ounces) in weight.
  • The diet of pikas consists of vegetation including grass, shrubs, bushes, leaves, seeds, berries and moss.
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A Pika
Image courtesy of Glacier NPS/Flickr
  • Pikas generally live by themselves in burrows or crevices found among rocks and soil, and they come out during the day, or dawn and dusk, to gather food.
  • Pikas typically gather vegetation during warmer months and place it in a pile, known as a ‘haypile’, that they often store in their burrow, and they use the dried vegetation as food during the cooler months.
  • A pika has a fur coat that is typically a combination of brown, tan, grey, white and black colours, and the mammal has no tail.
  • A whistling sound can be made by pikas, used when entering a burrow and for communication purposes; and they are preyed on by weasels, dogs, eagles, and foxes.
  • Female pikas give birth to one to five young, a maximum of twice a year, and they have an average lifespan of 3 to 6 years.
Bibliography:
Pika, 2013 A-Z Animals, http://a-z-animals.com/animals/pika/
Pika, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pika

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Bourges Cathedral

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Bourges Cathedral

The architecture of Bourges Cathedral is quite amazing!

  • Bourges Cathedral is a cathedral found in France’s Bourges, in Europe, that is used and was built by Roman Catholics.
  • ‘Bourges Cathedral’ is also known as ‘Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Bourges’ in French.
  • The construction of Bourges Cathedral began around 1195, although other churches had already inhabited the site from the 200s.
  • Bourges Cathedral was likely used from 1214 onwards, as significant parts had been built, and the main part was completed by 1230, however the building was not consecrated until 1324, as construction continued until the late 1400s.
  • Bourges Cathedral has been largely preserved throughout conflicts such as the World Wars and the French Revolution, although nearby related buildings were destroyed.
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A View of Bourges Cathedral
Image courtesy of James Mitchell/Flickr
  • The nave, the central meeting area, of Bourges Cathedral reaches a height of 37 metres, and the cathedral covers an area of 5,900 square metres (63,500 feet), while it sits on an area of 8,500 square metres (91,500 square feet).
  • Bourges Cathedral has numerous features such as stained-glass windows, carvings, and a crypt, and is a great example of Gothic architecture, and as such was declared a Historical Monument in 1837, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1992.
  • Bourges Cathedral is the base for the Archbishop of Bourges, who, from 2007, was Armand Maillard, while Henri de Sully, who died in 1200, was the archbishop who ordered the original construction of the cathedral.
  • Tourists may visit Bourges Cathedral on most days, except for Sunday morning when the cathedral holds services.
  • In 1506, soon after its completion, the northern tower of the Bourges Cathedral collapsed and had to be rebuilt, which was funded by donations and other means.
Bibliography:
Bourges Cathedral, 2012, French Monuments, http://www.frenchmoments.eu/bourges-cathedral/
Bourges Cathedral, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourges_Cathedral
Bourges Cathedral, 2014, UNESCO World Heritage Convention, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/635

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Meringue

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Meringue

Light and airy meringues.

  • Meringues are a light weight and traditionally white food made by whipping ingredients, and they are often eaten as a sweet dessert.
  • Meringues are made primarily of sugar and egg whites that have been whipped together, and sometimes binders, such as cornstarch; acids, such as cream of tartar; and flavouring, such as vanilla, are included.
  • Meringues are typically sweet flavoured and have a crisp outer surface, with either a light chewy or crisp textured interior, and food colouring can be added for decorative effects.
  • The earliest known record of the word ‘meringue’, is found in the 1692 cookbook written by the chef François Massialot of France, in Europe, although it is believed that the food has its origins in the 1500s.
  • One of the first documented meringue recipes was from an early 1600s recipe book written by Lady Elinor Fettiplace, from England’s now Oxfordshire in Europe, and the recipe was named ‘white biskit bread’.

Meringues, Small, Factory, White, Pink, Green , Coloured, Three, Group, Culinary, French, Ten Random Facts

  • The shape of meringues is generally achieved by using spoons or a piping bag, and once formed to the desired shape, they are generally cooked in an oven on a low temperature.
  • The primary reason for beating the whites of eggs is to break certain bonds, which causes the mixture to stiffen, and if the sugar is not well incorporated into the mixture by significant beating, it will cause small droplets of moisture to appear on the exterior once cooked, which is known as ‘sweating’.
  • There are three main types of meringue: Italian; Swiss; and French; each made using different procedures, and the latter is the most common.
  • Meringues can be used as an ingredient in many other desserts, notably tarts, pavlovas, puddings and cakes.
  • Meringue never contains fat, as its inclusion would cause the mixture to cave in, although it does contain a significant portion of sugar and protein.

 

Bibliography:
Meringue, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meringue
Muster D, The Origins and History of the Meringue, n.d., In Mamas Kitchen, http://www.inmamaskitchen.com/FOOD_IS_ART/meringue2.html

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Pizza

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Pizza

Would you like a slice of pizza facts?

  • A pizza is a cooked bread based meal, that is often topped with a tomato paste or sauce, cheese and other items such as meat or vegetables.
  • An early style of pizza was eaten by both Greeks and Romans in ancient times, and it was primarily topped with herbs, cheese and oil.
  • The more modern pizza probably originated from Italy’s Naples, in Europe, from the 1700s to 1800s, that were topped with herbs, garlic and cheese, and eventually tomato.
  • According to legend, pizzas were cooked for Queen Margherita of the Kingdom of Italy, who was visiting Italy’s Palace of Capodimonte in Naples, and she took a liking to the one topped with mozzarella, tomato and basil, and this combination became famously known as a ‘Magherita’.
  • Pizzas were introduced to the United States by immigrants from Italy in the late 1800s, and while 1905 marked the opening of the first pizzeria in the US, they became popular after World War II, and now during October the food is particularly celebrated in parts of America.

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  • Studies in 2010 suggest that pizza is eaten by approximately 13% of the United States population every day, and they can be bought frozen or ready to cook from supermarkets, or straight out of the oven at retail outlets including prominent pizzerias like Pizza Hut, Domino’s and Papa John’s.
  • The traditional way of cooking pizza is on a flat stone surface in a brick oven near an open flame, known as ‘wood-fired’, although they are often cooked in contemporary style ovens, in trays or pans.
  • Pizzas typically come in a circular shape, although other shapes are sometimes produced, while the crust is either thin, medium or thick,
  • The most expensive commercially available pizza listed in the Guinness World Records, was available in England’s London, that could be bought for £100 or 156 USD, although more expensive ones have been available from time to time, and as of 2014, South Africa had produced the largest, spreading 37.4 metres (122.7 feet) in length, in 1990.
  • Pizzas are high in selenium, riboflavin, folate and protein, and can contain many other vitamins and minerals, however they are known to have unhealthy amounts of salt and fat.
Bibliography:
Pizza, 2014, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizza
Turim G, A Slice of History: Pizza throughout the Ages, 2012, History, http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/a-slice-of-history-pizza-through-the-ages

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