The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-12-18

Is [ ,2O0 feet high. The largest ship IN the
world is the Great Eastern. She is $50
feet long. SO feet broad and 60 feet deep,
being %, 1854 tons burden, 1915 gross and
1884 net register.
The greatest fortress from strategical
point of view, is the famous stronghold OF
Gibralter 1t occupies rocky peninsula
iutting out into the sea, about three miles
long and three-quarters of a mile wide.
One central rock rises to height of ,435
feet above the sea level Its northern face
is almost perpendicular, while the east side
is full of tremendous precipices. On the
south it terminates in what is called Europa
Point The west side is less steep than the
east and between its base and the sea is
narrow, almost level span on which the
town of Gibralter is built. The fortress is
considered impregnable to military assault.
The regular garrison in time Of peace num-
beers about seven thousand.
The biggest cavern is the Mammoth
Cave in Edmondson county, Kentucky. 1t
is near Green river, about 6 miles from
Cave City and SO miles from Bowling
Green. The cave consists Of succession
of irregular chambers, some OF which are
large, situated on different levels. Some
of these are traversed by navigable branches
of the subterranean Echo river. Blind
fish are found in its waters.
The longest tunnel in the world is that
of St. Gothard, on the line of railroad be-
tween Lucerne and Milan. The summit of
the tunnel is 900 feet below the surface at
Andermatt, and $500 feet beneath the
neake of Kastelhorn of the st. Gothard
group. The tunnel is 269 feet wide, and
Is Is feet 10 inches from the floor to the
crown Of the arched roof. 1t is 80 miles
long, IL miles longer than the Mount Gems
tunnel.
The biggest trees of the world are the
mammoth trees of California. One of a
grove in Tularne county, according to meas
urements made by members of the State
Geological survey, was shown to be 276
feet in height, 109 feet in circumference at
base and 76 feet at point II feet above
ground. Some of the trees are 376 feet
high and 81 feet in diameter. Some of
the largest ths. have been felled indicate
an ace of from 1000 to $500 years
The largest library is the Bibliotheque
National in Paris, founded by Louis XIV.
It contains ], 100000 volumes; BOO, 900
PAMPHLETS, 175, 900 manuscripts, 100000
maps and charts and 100000 coins and
medals. The collection of engrayings ex-
ceeds l 800, 900 contained in some 10000
volumes. The portraits number about
100000.
The largest desert is that of Sahara, a
vast region of northen Africa, extending
from the Atlantic ocean on the west to the
valley of the Nile on the cast. The length
from east to west is about 5000 miles, its
average breadth about 900 miles, its area
about z, OO0, 900 square miles. Rain falls
in torrents in the Sahara at intervals OF
five, ten and twenty years. In summer
the heat during the day is excessive, but
tfe,n nights are often cold. In winter the
temperature is sometimes below freezing
point. The greatest pyramid is that OF
Cheops, one Of three pyramids forming the
Memphis group, situated on aplateau about
1877 feet above the level Of the highest rise
in the Nile. Its dimensions have been re-
anced by the removal of the outer portions
to furnish stone for the city of Cairo. Its
masonry consisted originally of 9,O28, 900
cubic feet, and still amounts of 81, Ill 900
feet. The present vertical height is 400
feet against 479 feet originally. The total
weight of the stone is estimated at $685.
600 tons. The largest bell in the world is
the great bell of Moscow, at the foot of the
Kremlin. Its circumference at the bottom
is nearly 6s feet and its height more than
q feet. In its stoutest part it is % inches
thick and its weight has been computed to
be 443, 722 pounds. 1t has never been
hung.