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But in 1894, President Paul Kruger made the park off limits to hunters and set the boundaries so that the animals would be protected as they are today. FEATURES The park was established in 1889 to protect the highly diverse South African lowveld, an area of open plains and indigenous forests. Each year, thousands of people visit Kruger to go on safari. [Extracted from the article]

Official Name: Italian Republic Location: Located in southern Europe, Italy's peninsula extends into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia Area: 116,000 square miles Population: 58,057,477 (2004 estimate) Government: Republic [...]

Board games are a great way to engage in friendly competition while developing strategic and problem-solving skills. One of the most popular board games in the world is chess. No [...]

Vatnajskull National Park, Iceland Vatnajskull (VAT-na-yer-kull) Glacier in Iceland, the largest glacier in Europe, sits atop an upland plateau, a high area with a flat top. The eastern part of [...]

One massive chamber ceiling is painted with a herd of bison, horses, human figures, goats, and what looks like a wild boar galloping across the sky. The red deer, bison, boars, and horses seem to be alive with movement. Animals such as bison, horses, and goats are depicted in the cave artwork. [Extracted from the article]

ROLLING OUT OF BED IS HARD ON A CHILLY MORNING. Your bed is warm and the air is not. Sometimes it feels like the floor beneath your feet must be [...]

The ground begins to rumble. A thunderous boom fills the air. Is it an earthquake? A tornado? No. it's the famous Fundy tides, the highest and largest tides in the [...]

Is there a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow? Well, if you go hunting for it, bring your umbrella because on this island about 38 feet of [...]

With costs estimated at $20 billion to $100 billion, the building of the Three Gorges Dam in China is one of the largest construction projects on Earth. In an effort […]

What is green; covers cars, homes, roadways, power lines, and bridges; others shrubs and native plants; and topples hundred-foot-tail trees with its massive weight? The answer--kudzu! Nicknamed 'the plant that […]

More than 1,500 health organizations across the globe provide critical services, such as training healthcare workers, doctors, and nurses; educating people about disease; feeding people; providing sanitary drinking water; vaccinating; [...]

Marina, an 11-year-old living in the republic of Georgia, finishes her gymnastics practice and reaches for a cool drink of bottled water. Chances are, Marina's water came from Borjomi Springs. [...]

As Maria was playing in the forest near her home in northern Spain, she made a fantastic discovery. She stumbled upon a cave and climbed inside to explore. What she [...]

When people think of Canada, they probably think of ice hockey. Many Canadians love to be involved with he sport--either playing or watching. Families all over the country gather together [...]

Juanita 'Speedster' Lopez, sitting in her room in Spain, grabs her gearshift and shifts into high gear as she races her futuristic car furiously alongside her arch competitor Antonio 'Fast-T' [...]

The sound of humming fills the air as you beat your wings in flight. From your mosquito's-eye view you a vast, green canopy, 40 miles wide and 200 miles long, [...]

Do you want fries with that? Just what is 'that'? It depends on where you are in the world. Some of the most successful global businesses on the planet are [...]

What does it take to control the world's largest river? A dam the size of 17 Great Pyramids of Giza! Egypt's massive Aswan High Dam, located in the middle of [...]

Where can you find Mars on Earth? Picture a vast, high plain (more than 12,000 feet in elevation) that stretches as far as your eye can see and is surrounded [...]

Denmark has more than 600 castles. For centuries, only the royal family and their guests occupied Denmark's castles. In the last century, about 200 of these castles have been turned [...]

It is a warm August night. You look up at the vast swath of stars in the Milky Way. Suddenly, a huge, bright ball of green and blue flames streaks [...]

Early in 2002, scientists from all over the world began to notice that something strange was happening with the Earth's climate. They plotted an equatorial band--more than 6,000 miles wide--of [...]

When Julius Caesar invaded the Egyptian city of Alexandria in 42 B.C., the Library of Alexandria (Bibliotheca Alexandrina) was among the many battle victims. Thousands of precious manuscripts, making up […]

No one chooses to be a refugee. War or natural disaster can strike anywhere in the world, forcing large numbers of people to seek help in refugee camps. Life in [...]

Coral reefs are often called 'the rain forest of the oceans' because so many fish--about 25 percent of the world's population--live in and depend on their rare ecosystems. Coral reefs [...]

Niagara Falls is one of the wonders of the natural world. It is not the tallest falls in the world. That honor goes to Angel Falls in Venezuela at 3,212 [...]

Vatnajokull (VAT-na-yer-kull) Glacier in Iceland, the largest glacier in Europe, sits atop an upland plateau, a high area with a flat top. The eastern part of Iceland, known as Oraefasveit [...]

The article discusses how plant protect themselves from predators. Lots of animals eat leaves, but leaves are vital to a plant's survival. Many plants protect their leaves with a sort of barbed-wire fence. A plant's pointy parts can be squat and thick, like rosebush thorns; long and narrow, like a cactus's spines; or filled with poison, like a nettle's hairs. Tiny hairs deter insects that are small enough to eat their way around big thorns. The tough bark of trees protects the soft wood underneath and seals in sap, which carries food and water. Even flowers have armor. The green leafy part at the base of the petals, called the calyx, protects a bud while it develops.

The article profiles former president and freedom fighter of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was born on July 18, 1918, in a region called Umtata, South Africa. He was the son of chief Henry Mphakanyiswa of the Tembu, and is thereby a member of a royal family from a long line of royalty. When Mandela was nine, his father died, and David Dalindyebo, acting chief of the Tembu, became his guardian. At the age of 16, he underwent a painful physical rite of passage to signify the end of his childhood and the beginning of manhood.

Explores British Columbia. Geographical location of the country; Description of the terrains; Suitability of the months May and October for whale-watching.

Features the Bahamas Island. Geographical features; Abundance of flamingos in the island; Prominent religion in the country; Major industry.

Features the Arenal, one of the seven active volcanoes in Costa Rica.

Features Kurdish rugs and carpets. Types of rugs and carpets products by Kurds from various Middle East countries; Rug design; Color selection; Skills of Kurds in weaving; Materials in weaving.

Presents information on fabric making and clothing design in Serbia. Indication that clothing in Serbia could reveal a person's social standing and cultural beliefs; Information on village women; Types of fabrics and decorative patterns used in villages; Detailed information on the coastal religions in Serbia; Brief information on the use of threads and real gold and silver in sewing fabrics. INSET: A stitch in time.

Features the experience of spelunker Michael Steward while exploring the underwater caves in Volcano, Hawaii.

Features the rock formations and the organisms found in the Waitomo Cave in New Zealand. INSET: LET IT GLOW, LET IT GLOW, LET IT GLOW.

Features Tibetan singer Yungchen Lhamo. Keeping of spiritual bond with Tibet through singing; Fleeting of Tibet at age 15 when China infiltrated Tibet; Recording of album `Tibetan Prayer' in Australia.

A review is offered for Vatnajškull National Park located in Vatnajškull Glaciers, Iceland

The article focuses on the Three Gorges Dam project in China. According to the author, this is one of the largest construction projects on earth. It is stated that it will help reduce the impact of recurrent floods of Yangtze River, China. It is opined that environmentalists, human rights groups, and tour operators, are against this project because it will damage the Three Great Gorges region's scenic beauty and many places of historical and religious significance.

This article discusses various reasons behind the success of the fast food companies, with specific reference to different flavors of fast foods across the world. People around the world do not have similar preferences in foods. They have very different food preferences which are influenced by their geography, customs and religious beliefs. Some of the most successful global businesses conduct extensive research to draft their menus to suit different tastes and cultures.

The article presents information on Mount Waialeale, Kauai, Hawaii, which is the rainiest place on Earth. It is located in the center of the island of Kauai, Hawaii. This place receives as much as 460 to 600 inches of rain per year. All this rain on Mount Waialeale has created dense, impenetrable swamps that are home to rare plants and birds. In fact, Kauai has the most species of endangered forest birds in Hawaii. Among the harvested plants grown and exported on Kauai are taro, tamarind, sugarcane, pineapple, papaya, bananas, guava, mango, passion fruit, avacado, and macadamia nuts.

The article focuses on the efforts of Kailash Satyarthi, founder of Global March Against Child Labor movement, in saving the lives of enslaved children. He started the movement in 1998 for enhancing awareness regarding child labor and it encompasses organizations in more than 140 countries. In India, Satyarthi has founded the Rugmark Foundation, which oversees the making of carpets and ensures that no child labor has been involved in the creation of these products.

The article presents information about the relationship between the U.S. and Afghanistan. Since the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, Americans have been hearing more about the country, but the relationship between the United States and Afghanistan goes back many years. One of the first U.S. representatives to visit Afghanistan was General Patrick Hurley, who was sent to the country in 1944 by President Franklin Roosevelt. The relationship soured in 1979 when U.S. ambassador Adolph Dubs was kidnapped and then killed in Afghanistan by Muslim extremists.

The article presents information about Afghanistan's Hindu Kush Mountains. It is one of the tallest mountain ranges on Earth. In warmer months, glacial melt swells rivers, including the Kabul River, the Helmund River, and the Hari Rud, whose waters are used to irrigate crops, such as grapes, pomegranates, beans, and potatoes, in valley villages. The height and climate of the Hindu Kush mountain system makes it home to a rich, biologically diverse ecosystem, which supports more than 4,000 different plants and many animals. The historical Silk Road passes through Kabul and then northeast through the Hindu Kush range.

The article reports that former president and freedom fighter of South Africa, Nelson Mandela has seen much poverty, sickness, and pain endured by South Africa's children. According to him they deserve a better social and family environment to fulfill their dreams. So, in 1995 Mandela decided to personally help out by creating the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund (NMCF) to work exclusively on behalf of the children of South Africa. Since its founding, the NMCF has provided clothing, food, shelters, and work equipment to tens of thousands of children. Many children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic receive an education, a place to live, and employment, and this assistance results in undeniable and lasting changes in their lives.

The article focuses on Mount Fuji in Japan. Mount Fuji is the highest volcanic mountain in Japan. Mount Fuji is a dormant or resting stratovolcano that last erupted in 1708. It could burst to life again at any time. It is made mostly of basalt lava that contains 50 percent silicon. This combination makes Fuji's erupted lava flows fluid and runny. Dark, cooled, lava flows cover much of the volcano's slopes, and in winter they are topped with snow. The first recorded ascent of Mount Fuji was by a monk in A.D. 663.

The article presents information on Global Positioning Systems (GPS). GPS were originally developed by the U.S. military, which needed extreme precision when it came to location. During the 1980s, the U.S. military allowed GPS usage to civilians. If one has a personal GPS, one can use it anywhere and anytime to find out where one is within a few feet. GPS technologically is extremely accurate, portable, and affordable--so much so that GPS devices have become as common as computers. GPS uses three hardware components namely ground stations all over the Earth, space satellites, and personal GPS devices.

The article presents information on the U.S. submarines. The first nuclear submarine, called Nautilus, was built at the Electric Boat Shipyard in Groton, Connecticut, in 1951. In 1958, Nautilus did the seemingly impossible. The submarine departed from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the first underwater journey to the North Pole. The mission, called "Operation Sunshine," easily succeeded, and the world was stunned. The U.S. Submarine Force Museum, located on the Thames River, is the only submarine museum run by the United States Navy.

The article presents information about tourist interest in Australia. One of the largest monoliths on Earth, a single uniform block of red stone, sits in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park, Australia, which is owned and run by Aborigines. The rock is more than 900 feet tall and almost five miles around. The name Ayers was given to the rock by an explorer in 1873 in honor of Henry Ayers, then-governor of South Australia. The article also make mention of James Cook, the English explorer and navigator who claimed Australia for Great Britain and explored several Pacific islands. The article informs about Eucalyptus, tall trees native to Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania and nearby islands. It is known for their aromatic leaves.

The article reports that only 100 years ago, some Indian rhinoceros populations had dwindled to as little as 20 animals. Thanks to strict government protection in Chitwan National Park and other Nepalese sanctuaries, the Indian rhino, once at the brink of extinction, has come back tenfold. They are the second largest land animal on Earth. Only the elephant is larger. Because they are vegetarians, meaning that they eat no meat, they prefer to live in swampy grassy plains. Grass, reeds, fruit, branches, leaves and even farm crops make delicious meals. INSET: In the Know.