Not Exactly Pocket Money

In Caroline (or Yap) Islands, people use carved stone discs as money. The largest “coins” are over two times wider than a person’s height. Their owners-either individuals or villages-use them to buy land. Or they use them to pay victors in battle, priests or witchdoctors. There is no need for a bank though. The discs are so heavy that they are rarely move.

“Seeing Things in Sahara”

Thirsty travelers in the Sahara often see a mirage of an oasis. What looks like cool water turns out to be nothing but sand. Why do people see mirages? Hot air lying near the earth’s surface acts as prism. It bends the light waves from the sky to the traveler’s eye. Thus, the hot air actually reflects an image of the sky or part of a cloud. But the eye mistakes the reflection for a pool of water. The different layers of air can even create a ripple effect that looks like water.

World’s Longest Placename

LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLLGOGERYCHWYRNOROBWLLLLANTISILIOGOGOCH is the longest placename in Wales. It means the church of St. Mary by the white pool of the hazel trees near the fierce whirlpool of the church of St. Tysiliog by the red cave. Locals, when asked where they live, usually answer “Llanfair P.G.” But, there is a hill in New Zealand, the TAUMATAWAHAKATANGIHANGAKOAUAUOTAMATEAPOKIWHENUAKITANATAHU, means, the place where Tamatea, the man with big knees who slid, climbed and swallowed mountains, known as landeater, played his flute to his loved one.

A Brazilian Ghost Town

In 1900, Amazonia was the center of a booming rubber empire. The prince for rubber was high, and Amazonia had most of the rubber trees. Cities such as Manaus thrived. An opera house was even built there to entertain rich plantation owners. Eventually rubber plants were smuggled out to Southeast Asia. The Asians began to sell rubber more cheaply than the Brazilians. Then Amazonia’s rubber plantation became a rain forest once more.

When Camels Roamed the Range

In 1865, 75 seasick camels from Middle East arrived in Indianola, Texas. The U.S army hoped to use them as pack animals in the western desert. But their hooves, so well adapted to the Sahara, were unsuited to rocky terrain. Their appearance caused horses and cattle to stampede. In the end, most of them were sold to circuses. A few were shipped to British Columbia to work on Cariboo Wagon Road. The rest were left to roam the desert.

History’s Biggest Bargain

The United States bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7,200.000. This was less than a penny for each hectare. At that time, Alaska was called “Seward’s Folly,” because Secretary of State William Henry Seward arranged the sale. Parts of Alaska today are worth up to $100,000,000,000 per hectare.

How Much is a Billion?

You are offered one billion dollars – but one condition. Before the money is yours, you must first count it at rate of one dollar a second for eight hours a day. Will you accept the offer?

Figure it out. It will take 95 years to count it at this rate. You will be over a hundred years old before the one billion dollars is yours!

The Last Passenger Pigeon

One hundred years ago large numbers of passenger pigeons lived the in North America. Hunters killed the pigeons and shipped them to the markets in big cities. There the birds were sold for food at one an two cents each. In 1914, the last known passenger pigeon died in the Cincinnati zoo.

How Deep is the Ocean?

The deepest place on earth is the Mariana Trench. It is located on the Pacific Ocean floor east of the Philippine Islands. Its depth of 11,036 meters makes it deeper than Everest is high.

A Peak Experience

The world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest, is part of the vast Himalayan range. It stands 8,848 meters above sea level between Nepal and Tibet. Eleven people lost their lives in the attempt to climb it before an Englishman, Sir Edmund Hillary, and a Norgay, reached its summit at 11:30 A.M on May 29, 1953.