Tag Archives: Water

Niagara Falls

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Niagara Falls

Pretty but dangerous.

  • The Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls: the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls and sits on the border of the US state of New York, and Ontario, Canada.
  • The Niagara Falls are very wide and at their highest point are 51 meters (167 feet) in height.  They are most significant due to the enormous volume of water that falls over the edge, on average approximately 110,000 m3 (4 million cubic feet) per minute.
  • The Niagara Falls produces large amounts of  hydroelectricity power for the surrounding cities.
  • The Niagara Falls erodes easily, and is estimated in 50,000 years there will be no falls at all.
  • The name ‘Niagara Falls’ is from the American-Indian tribe the Mohawks.

Niagara Falls, America, Ten Random Facts, Free Digital Photos, Ontario, Canada, waterfall,

Niagara Falls
Image courtesy of George Stojkovic/ Free Digital Photos
  • Fifteen people have intentionally gone over the falls; some jumped, some were protected by barrels; some died, some survived with injuries.
  • The first person to go over the Niagara Falls was a 63 year old school teacher from Michigan, Annie Edison Taylor, in October, 24, 1901, in a barrel.
  • A number of people have tight-roped over Niagara Falls, the first was Jean François ‘Blondin’ Gravelet.  Tight-roping and going over the falls is now banned and is illegal.
  • Niagara Falls as been featured in many movies, including ‘Superman II’.
  • In 2009, it was estimated 28 million people visited the Niagara Falls that year.
Bibliography:
Niagara Falls 31 December 2012 , Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_Falls>

Hail

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Hail

Falling, covering and destroying.

  • Hail is frozen, solid water droplets that fall from the sky.  A hailstone is one lump of ice.
  • Normally, the heavier and bigger the hailstone is, the higher in the sky the hailstone falls from.
  • Hailstones have a diameter from at least 5 mm (0.2 inches) and can be as big as 20 cm (7.9 inches) when they reach the ground and can weigh more than 500 grams (1.1 lbs).
  • Hailstones can join together and can be found in weird and interesting shapes.
  • Hail forms at the top of cumulonimbus clouds (thunderclouds), due to the freezing air temperature, as a result of a strong updraught.

Hail, White, Coin, Medium, Small, Ten Random Facts, Wheather, Rain

  • It is much more likely to hail along mountain ranges.
  • Many names are given to sizes of hailstones. These names range from a pea to a bowling ball to a cent coin or a penny size.
  • Hailstones can damage vehicles, street lights, rooves of buildings, crops, and can hurt or potentially kill, both people and animals.
  • In Europe during the Middle Ages, people attempted to prevent hail and its damaging effects by shooting cannons and ringing loud church bells, though these methods were not effective.
  • Although people have tried, nothing has been invented that can stop hail from falling, although the use of hail cannons, specifically designed for the purpose, are said to help prevent it.
Bibliography:
Hail 27 December 2012, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hail>

Canoeing

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Canoeing

Canoeing is fun if you love the outdoors!

  • Canoeing is the sport of propelling an open canoe, using a paddle.
  • Canoeing was originally a form of long distance transportation in North America, the Amazon basin and Polynesia, as well as many other countries.
  • Scottish explorer, John MacGregor, after experiencing canoeing in Canada and the US in 1858, started constructing his own canoes on his return to the United Kingdom.
  • The main competitive canoeing sport is racing, although canoe polo, playboating, extreme racing and surf skiing are also conducted.
  • Different boats are used and made for different types of canoeing sports such as whitewater and playboating canoes.
Canoe, Canoeing, Boy, Paddling, long canoe, Ten Random Facts, Free Digital Photos
Canoeing
Image courtesy of The Photo Holic/ Free Digital Photos
  • Experienced canoeists typically steer from the stern and beginner canoeists typically steer from the bow, with the paddles.
  • Experienced canoeists, that canoe in shallow river, use a setting pole to propel the canoe forwards.
  • The sport of canoeing first appeared in the Olympic games at Paris, 1924.
  • Canoeists have to keep their centre of mass low, so they don’t capsize the canoe.
  • Canoes were traditionally made from wood and bark, then wood and canvas, and from there progressed to aluminium.  Most canoes today are made from moulded plastic or a composite like fibreglass.
Bibliography:
Canoeing 24 November 2012, Wikipedia, <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canoeing>

Floods

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Floods

Floods are real bad!

  • Floods are the world’s deadliest natural disaster and happens when water overflows its usual gathering place.
  • The deadliest known flood in history was the China flood in 1931, which killed 2.5 – 3.7 million people.
  •  Flash floods are floods that appear quickly and are short and destructive and normally take place on slopes and mountains.
  • Flooding brings diseases and chemicals to towns which can kill many people.
  • The most common ways people die due to floods, are when people try to cross flood waters, or are trapped in their house.

2010 -2011 December - January Warwick Floods, Queensland Australia floods, Condamine river, Ten Random Facts, Broken road, bridge

  • Sometimes the government purposely floods other areas to avoid mass destruction of  high populated areas.
  • Sloped flood barriers, normally steel or plastic, sand bags, walls and bridges are used to help defend flood waters.
  • When evacuating from floods, boats are typically used, although sometimes people are air lifted via helicopter.
  • People should not enter flood waters due to the dangers of diseases, underground hazards or sea animals, including sharks.
  • People use computers and 3D maps to help predict where floods will appear and there extent, as well as flood likeliness in a particular area.
Bibliography:
Mason, P 2011, Floods, Macmillian Library, Australia
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