Famous+Places

Chernobyl Zone Shows Decline in Biodiversity Everest Fun Facts About the Statue of Liberty Hoover Dam: Hydroelectric Plant Make the Dirt Fly! Niagara Falls Sydney Opera House Taj Mahal The Curious Case of the Eiffel Tower The Great Wall The Leaning Tower of Pisa Walk the Sky
 * A recent wildlife study was conducted in Chernobyl in order to determine the impact on wildlife of contamination in the zone. One of the largest censuses of its kind, this study revealed that mammals are declining in the exclusion zone surrounding the nuclear power plant. This article provides you with the details of the study including the time period, the types of wildlife that were studied, and how data has changed over time. Criticisms of the conclusions are also presented in the article as well.
 * URL: http://www.bbc.co.uk
 * Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Everest here. Experience the mountain through a virtual climb, and then enjoy a 360-degree view from the summit. Meet the climbers and read the account of the first ascent in 1963, and learn some of the physical challenges and dangers climbers of this mountain face. Use the map machine to locate this famous mountain. Learn about the friendly Sherpas, whose livelihood is guiding climbers up Everest. You can find out about the culture of these people who live on this mountain. Current news articles about Everest are available.
 * URL: http://www.nationalgeographic.com
 * Moving a statue from France to New York would be quite a task, but imagine moving a statue that weighs 450,000 pounds! Although you probably know that the Statue of Liberty is enormous, you might not know all the fun facts about Lady Liberty. Readers will learn neat facts about the statue's size and design on this web site. There are also links to information about the history of the Statue of Liberty, a picture gallery, and information about the exhibits on Liberty Island.
 * URL: http://www.statueofliberty.org
 * Hoover Dam is located in the America, in the state of Nevada. It is 726 feet high and the base is 660 feet wide. The dam produces electric power for three states: Nevada, Arizona, and California! Hydroelectric power is a renewable energy resource because the water can be used over and over again. Also, there are no chemicals or pollutants released into the atmosphere. Take a tour of Hoover Dam with "Energy Ant" to learn more about the pros of hydroelectric power
 * URL: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov
 * Travel between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean was not always possible or easy. Make the Dirt Fly is an online exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution Libraries about the building of the Panama Canal which began in the late 1800s. Captioned photographs tell the story from the steam shovels that dug the dirt to the number of years it took to build. Learn why a canal was needed, how the route was chosen and why the mosquitoes were always a burden. You can also learn about civil engineering.
 * URL: http://www.sil.si.edu
 * Niagara Falls is the topic of discussion in this environmental history article. The article's introduction describes the falls including the location, water, and cliffs. An in-depth discussion on the development of Niagara Falls takes you back in history when the rushing water was first recognized as a source of power. You will discover the significant role that Niagara Falls had in the development of the earliest power companies. Information on Niagara Falls in the present provides information on the Canadian facilities as well as the United States facilities.
 * URL: http://www.eoearth.org
 * One of the most photographed and recognized landmarks in the world, the Sydney Opera House looks a bit like a ship at full sail. Designed by a Danish architect, it is located right on the harbor. After winning a design competition sponsored by the New South Wales government, Jorn Utzon had to rework his design to figure out how to actually build the roof with the engineering capabilities available in 1960. With 1,000 rooms inside, the Sydney Opera House hosts 3,000 events each year. Discover more fascinating facts about this major Australian landmark.
 * URL: http://australia.gov.au
 * Improve your understanding of the significance of the Taj Mahal from the online Dictionary of Islamic Architecture. Read the beautiful and tragic story of the inspiration for the Taj Mahal. While the Taj Mahal is unique in size and beauty, it forms part of a series of imperial Mughal tombs. Find out how it is similar to other memorial tombs from this era and how it is different. Discover how the building itself is organized inside and how it is surrounded outside by gardens and canals. This site includes an architectural drawing of the Taj Mahal.
 * URL: http://archnet.org
 * For decades, engineers looking at the Eiffel Tower wondered why in the world it was designed that way. Finally a professor of mathematical sciences from Michigan Tech has figured out why Gustave Eiffel designed the Eiffel Tower the way he did. Learn about two different, competing mathematical theories that attempt to explain the tower's design. Find out how the correct theory was confirmed by reading a historical letter written by Eiffel. A photograph of the Eiffel tower is shared.
 * URL: http://www.mtu.edu
 * A brief description of the Great Wall of China tells you about the wall's history that dates back to 220 B.C. This overview introduces you to a more detailed description that explains the purposes of particular sections of the wall, who built these sections, and the conflicts that took place throughout history while the sections were being constructed. The cultural and historical significance of the Great Wall is explained and a photo gallery and video are available for you to view Topic: Famous Places
 * URL: http://whc.unesco.org
 * Tons of tourists make the Leaning Tower of Pisa a travel destination. The How Stuff Works web site tells when construction began on the white marble tower and explains the reasons why the building began to lean soon after it was built. Find out exactly how much the tower was leaning when it was completed in 1350 and how much it was leaning by the late 20th century. There are links to numerous other world-famous landmarks.
 * URL: http://adventure.howstuffworks.com
 * Choose your language and then start your walk in the sky. The Glass Bridge at the Grand Canyon was built to allow visitors to become surrounded by the Grand Canyon. The official web site provides all the details necessary for a visit and also tells when the bridge was constructed, how much weight it can hold and how high it is suspended. Be sure to flip though the photo gallery to see awesome pictures of the bridge and the magnificent canyon.
 * URL: http://www.grandcanyonskywalk.com