Plankton is a tiny organism found in the sea. A group of plankton named ‘coccolithophores’ comprises the chalk forming organisms. These organisms are microscopic and have shells made of lime. About 100 million years ago, during the Cretaceous period, these planktons settled down on the sea bed after death and formed lime mud. Subsequent layers…
The Angel Falls is located in the Venezuela. It is named after Jimmie Angel, a US aviator who was the first to fly over the falls in a plane. The waterfall has a height of 979 m, which is almost a kilometre. It is estimated that each drop of water takes 14 seconds to fall…
The electric eel is found in the rivers of South America, mostly the Amazon. It is actually a fish that does not have either a spine or teeth. It grows to about 2.5 m in length and its vital organs are located near its head. The rest of the body comprises muscles that generate electricity,…
The Magdeburg Water Bridge is a navigable aqueduct that has been built in Germany. It connects the Elbe-Havel Canal to the Mittellandkanal, crossing over the Elbe River. It is the longest aqueduct measuring 3,012 feet.
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest and the largest pyramid in Egypt. It was built for the Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops in Greek) and took 20 years to complete. The length of each side at the base averages 755.75 feet (230 metres). Its original height was 481.4 feet (147 metres) and present height is…
‘Triskaidekaphobia’ is a word that arises from the greek tris meaning three, and deka meaning ten, i.e. thirteen, and phobia meaning fear. Triskaidekaphobia thus means the fear of the ‘number thirteen’. In western culture, the number thirteen is often associated with ill luck. Many hotels in the western countries have no thirteenth floor, and many streets are avoided being…
