Much of the land in Netherlands is below sea level. To prevent flooding, barriers called bykes have been built. The water is then pumped from the enclosed areas, which are known as polders. Windmills were once used to power the pump that drained the land.

The Turtle Island, located about 10 kms off the coast of Toucheng in Yilan County (Taiwan), has a volcanic terrain that, from certain angles, looks like a turtle floating in the sea. Hence, it is known as Turtle Island. Among the features of the island are high cliffs, steaming fumaroles (an opening in a volcano), welling underwater hot springs, mountain …

Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) is a defined area of 10,400 sq km around the Taj Mahal to protect the monument from pollution. The Supreme Court of India delivered a ruling on December 30, 1996 regarding industries covered under the TTZ, in response to a PIL seeking to protect the Taj Mahal from environmental pollution. It banned the use of coal/ …

The ancient town of Hama in Syria is well known for its Spring Festival celebrated every year for two weeks in April. This festival had its origins in the 2nd millennium BC when it would be celebrated to offer prayers and sacrifices to Adonis, the god of fertility. However, the tradition disappeared gradually over the centuries and reappeared briefly in …

Often misleadingly called an antelope (antelopes come from Africa and Asia), the North America Pronghorn derives its popular name from the forward-pointing branch of its horns. The Pronghorn’s horns are extremely interesting. They are composed of two parts: a bony central cone which is permanent like those of the true antelopes, and a sheath of fused hairs supplying the horny …

The manchineel tree is dangerous because its sap and fruit contain poison. Its other name is Hippomane, which comes from the Greek and means causing horses to run mad. The tree is a number of the Euphorbiaceae family and grows in tropical America, producing a crop of acrid, bitter apple-like fruits, which drop spontaneously and carpet the ground beneath it. …

The International Date Line (IDL) passes through the Pacific Ocean. It is an imaginary line, like longitudes and latitudes. The time difference on either side of this line is 24 hours. So, the date changes as soon as one crosses this line. To avoid any confusion of date, this line is drawn through where the sea lies and not land. …

The ichneumon fly is known as the farmer’s friend because it controls a great many plant pests. Species have even been transported by man to colonize areas where artificial pest controls have not been successful. Ichneumon flies, of which there are thousands of species spread throughout the world, are parasitic and their larvae feed on caterpillars, pupae and larvae of …

The Forbidden City, also known as Palace Museum, is a walled section of Beijing located right at its centre, enclosing the Imperial Palace, formerly the residence of the emperor of China. The ‘Forbidden City’ is the English equivalent of the Chinese name ‘Zijin Cheng’ – Jin meaning forbidden, with reference to the fact that no one could enter or leave …

In 1486, Bartholomew Diaz, a Portuguese nobleman set sail from Lisbon, determined to follow the African coast further than anyone had before. After he had passed the mouth of the Congo (now Zaire) River, a fierce storm sent his ship reeling out to sea. When the gales had blown themselves out, he tacked back to the coast and found to …