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Oberottmarshausen

Oberottmarshausen is a municipality in the district of Augsburg in Bavaria in Germany. Transport The municipality has a railway station, Oberottmarshausen, on the Bobingen–Landsberg am Lech line. == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberottmarshausen

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Wuppenau

Wuppenau is a municipality in the district of Weinfelden in the canton of Thurgau in Switzerland. Geography Wuppenau has an area, as of 2009, of 12.15 square kilometers (4.69 sq mi). Of this area, 9.07 km2 (3.50 sq mi) or 74.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while 2.26 km2 (0.87 sq mi) or 18.6% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.8 km2 (0.31 sq mi) or 6.6% is settled (buildings or roads).Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 3.5% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 0.1% and transportation infrastructure made up 0.3%. while parks, green belts and sports fields made up 2.6%. Out of the forested land, 16.0% of the total land area is heavily forested and 2.6% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 66.0% is used for growing crops, while 8.6% is used for orchards or vine crops.In 1971 Hosenruck merged with Wuppenau. Demographics Wuppenau has a population (as of December 2020) of 1,135. As of 2008, 4.9% of the population are foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (1997–2007) the population has changed at a rate of -3.1%. Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks German (97.0%), with Serbo-Croatian being second most common ( 0.9%) and Romansh being third ( 0.5%).As of 2008, the gender distribution of the population was 50.3% male and 49.7% female. The population was made up of 479 Swiss men (47.5% of the population), and 28 (2.8%) non-Swiss men. There were 480 Swiss women (47.6%), and 21 (2.1%) non-Swiss women.In 2008 there were 11 live births to Swiss citizens and births to non-Swiss citizens, and in same time span there were 8 deaths of Swiss citizens. Ignoring immigration and emigration, the population of Swiss citizens increased by 3 while the foreign population remained the same. There was 1 Swiss man, 1 Swiss woman who emigrated from Switzerland to another country, 4 non-Swiss men who emigrated from Switzerland to another country and 1 non-Swiss woman who emigrated from Switzerland to another country. The total Swiss population change in 2008 (from all sources) was a decrease of 14 and the non-Swiss population change was an increase of 11 people. This represents a population growth rate of -0.3%.The age distribution, as of 2009, in Wuppenau is; 117 children or 11.5% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 157 teenagers or 15.4% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 97 people or 9.5% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 143 people or 14.0% are between 30 and 39, 164 people or 16.1% are between 40 and 49, and 142 people or 13.9% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 104 people or 10.2% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 69 people or 6.8% are between 70 and 79, there are 26 people or 2.5% who are between 80 and 89, and there are 2 people or 0.2% who are 90 and older.As of 2000, there were 278 private households in the municipality, and an average of 2.7 persons per household. In 2000 there were 168 single family homes (or 90.3% of the total) out of a total of 186 inhabited buildings. There were 14 two family buildings (7.5%), 1 three family buildings (.5%) and 3 multi-family buildings (or 1.6%). There were 122 (or 12.2%) persons who were part of a couple without children, and 463 (or 46.3%) who were part of a couple with children. There were 80 (or 8.0%) people who lived in single parent home, while there are 9 persons who were adult children living with one or both parents, 4 persons who lived in a household made up of relatives, 2 who lived in a household made up of unrelated persons, and 248 who are either institutionalized or live in another type of collective housing.The vacancy rate for the municipality, in 2008, was 0.8%. As of 2007, the construction rate of new housing units was 3 new units per 1000 residents. In 2000 there were 351 apartments in the municipality. The most common apartment size was the 6 room apartment of which there were 140. There were 5 single room apartments and 140 apartments with six or more rooms. As of 2000 the average price to rent an average apartment in Wuppenau was 1089.24 Swiss francs (CHF) per month (US$870, £490, €700 approx. exchange rate from 2000). The average rate for a one-room apartment was 400.00 CHF (US$320, £180, €260), a two-room apartment was about 805.00 CHF (US$640, £360, €520), a three-room apartment was about 740.00 CHF (US$590, £330, €470) and a six or more room apartment cost an average of 1377.35 CHF (US$1100, £620, €880). The average apartment price in Wuppenau was 97.6% of the national average of 1116 CHF.In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SVP which received 47.71% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the CVP (20.47%), the Green Party (9.73%) and the SP (6.56%). In the federal election, a total of 383 votes were cast, and the voter turnout was 51.3%.The historical population is given in the following table: Sights The entire hamlet of Heiligkreuz is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. Economy As of 2007, Wuppenau had an unemployment rate of 1.06%. As of 2005, there were 154 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 62 businesses involved in this sector. 64 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 17 businesses in this sector. 88 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 27 businesses in this sector.In 2000 there were 709 workers who lived in the municipality. Of these, 322 or about 45.4% of the residents worked outside Wuppenau while 69 people commuted into the municipality for work. There were a total of 456 jobs (of at least 6 hours per week) in the municipality. Of the working population, 8.4% used public transportation to get to work, and 47.2% used a private car. Religion From the 2000 census, 583 or 58.2% were Roman Catholic, while 302 or 30.2% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Of the rest of the population, there are 5 individuals (or about 0.50% of the population) who belong to the Orthodox Church, and there are 24 individuals (or about 2.40% of the population) who belong to another Christian church. There were 4 (or about 0.40% of the population) who are Islamic. There are 6 individuals (or about 0.60% of the population) who belong to another church (not listed on the census), 51 (or about 5.09% of the population) belong to no church, are agnostic or atheist, and 26 individuals (or about 2.60% of the population) did not answer the question. Education In Wuppenau about 73.2% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule). == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuppenau

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Turrivalignani

Turrivalignani is a comune and town in the Province of Pescara in the Abruzzo region of Italy. == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turrivalignani

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Liebsdorf

Liebsdorf (French pronunciation: ​[lipsdɔʁf]) is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. See also Communes of the Haut-Rhin département == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebsdorf

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Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune ( luh-ZHERN or luh-ZHOON) is a 246-square-mile (640-square-kilometer) United States military training facility in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Its 14 miles (23 kilometers) of beaches make the base a major area for amphibious assault training, and its location between two deep-water ports (Wilmington and Morehead City) allows for fast deployments. The main base is supplemented by six satellite facilities: Marine Corps Air Station New River, Camp Geiger, Stone Bay, Courthouse Bay, Camp Johnson, and the Greater Sandy Run Training Area. The Marine Corps port facility is in Beaufort, at the southern tip of Radio Island (between the NC State Port in Morehead City, and the marine science laboratories on Pivers Island in Beaufort). It is occupied only during military port operations. Facilities Camp Lejeune encompasses 156,000 acres, with 18 kilometers of beach capable of supporting amphibious operations, 32 gun positions, 48 tactical landing zones, three state-of-the-art training facilities for Military Operations in Urban Terrain and 80 live fire ranges to include the Greater Sandy Run Training Area. Military forces from around the world come to Camp Lejeune on a regular basis for bilateral and NATO-sponsored exercises. Resident commands at Camp Lejeune include: Recreation & Fitness: Auto Skills Center, Bowling, Community Centers, Golf Course, Inline Hockey, Marinas, Paintball, Movie Theater, Onslow Beach Facilities, Outdoor Adventures Center, Pools, Fishing, Hunting, Beach Camping, Recreational Shooting, E-sports Center, Recreational Equipment Checkout & Rentals, Skate Park, and a large number of Sports and Gym facilities. History In April 1941, construction was approved on an 11,000-acre (45 km2) tract in Onslow County, North Carolina. On May 1 of that year, Lieutenant Colonel William P. T. Hill began construction on Marine Barracks New River. The first base headquarters was in a summer cottage on Montford Point and then moved to Hadnot Point in 1942. Later that year it was renamed in honor of the 13th Commandant of the Marine Corps, John A. Lejeune, upon his death. One of the satellite facilities of Camp Lejeune served for a while as a third boot camp for the Marines, in addition to Parris Island and San Diego. That facility, Montford Point, was established after Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 8802. Between 1942 and 1949, a brief era of segregated training for black Marines, the camp at Montford Point trained 20,000 African-Americans. After the military was ordered to fully integrate, Montford Point was renamed Camp Gilbert H. Johnson and became the home of the Marine Corps Combat Service Support Schools. On May 10, 1996, two helicopters performing a joint United-States/British training exercise collided and crashed into a swampy wooded area, killing fourteen and injuring two. In mid-September 2018, Hurricane Florence damaged IT systems and over 900 buildings in the camp, leading to a $3.6 billion repair cost. 70 percent of base housing was damaged and 84,000 gallons of sewage were released. Drinking water contamination From at least 1953 through 1987, Marines and their families at Lejeune drank and bathed in water contaminated with toxicants at concentrations 240 to 3,400 times permitted by safety standards. A 1974 base order required safe disposal of solvents and warned that improper handling could cause drinking water contamination, yet solvents were dumped or buried near base wells for years. The base's wells were shut off in the mid-1980s but were placed back online in violation of the law. In 1982, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were found in Camp Lejeune's drinking water supply. VOC contamination of groundwater can cause birth defects and other ill health effects in pregnant and nursing mothers. This information was not made public for nearly two decades when the government attempted to identify those who may have been exposed. An advocacy group called The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten was created to inform possible victims of the contamination at Lejeune. The group's website includes an introduction with some basic information about the contamination at Lejeune, including that many health problems such as various types of cancer, leukemia, miscarriages and birth defects, have been noted in people who drank the contaminated water. According to the site, numerous base housing areas were affected by the contamination, including Tarawa Terrace, Midway Park, Berkeley Manor, Paradise Point, Hadnot Point, Hospital Point, and Watkins Village. As many as 2,000,000 people may have been exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune over a period of 30 years. Camp LeJeune Justice Act of 2022 Efforts to create a Camp LeJeune Justice Act in 2021 failed, but the effort was renewed in 2022 when Camp LeJeune Justice Act became Section 706 of the SFC Heath Robinson Honoring Our PACT Act, H.R. 3967. The U.S. House passed H.R. 3967 on March 3, 2022, by a vote of 256–174. The U.S. Senate passed H.R. 3967 with some minor amendments on June 16, 2022, by a vote of 84–14. Following the bill’s passage in the U.S. Senate, President Biden's White House made a celebratory statement that included mention of Camp LeJeune victims. There were constitutional taxation problems with the amended version and a "blue slip" was issued causing the matter to return to the U.S. House. The U.S. House made the changes necessary to avoid the constitutional issue and passed the PACT Act on July 13, 2022, by a vote of 342–88. This new PACT Act was repackaged as S. 3373 with the Camp LeJeune Justice Act set as Section 804. Some Republican senators changed their votes and refused cloture on July 27, 2022, by a vote of 55-42. After several days of veterans protesting at the Capitol, there was another vote on S. 3373 and this time it passed by a vote of 86-11 on August 2, 2022. The bill was signed into law by President Biden on August 10, 2022.The language of Section 804 provides for monetary relief for those injured by exposure to the Camp Lejeune base and its toxic water. Thirty days of "living" or "working" or "otherwise" being exposed between 1953 and 1987 is the prerequisite for compensation. This includes in-utero exposure. Harms must be demonstrated and they must be associated with some condition caused by the base toxicants. Some of the possible conditions may include those listed for the Janey Ensminger Act of 2012. 38 C.F.R. 17.400(b). Litigation At least 850 former residents filed claims for nearly $4 billion from the military. The multi-district litigation, MDL-2218, was dismissed on North Carolina statute of repose grounds on December 5, 2016, and the appeal to the 11th Circuit failed (Straw, et. al. v. United States, 16-17573). The U.S. Supreme Court refused certiorari. A U.S. Supreme Court ruling in June 2014 potentially curbs groundwater contamination lawsuits by families at Camp Lejeune. Federal law, which imposes a two-year statute of limitations after the harm is discovered, preempts North Carolina's 10-year statute of repose law. State lawmakers are trying to eliminate the state prohibition on lawsuits being filed 10 years after the last pollution occurred or from the time a polluted property was sold. The Camp LeJeune Justice Act of 2022, Section 804(b) of the PACT Act, S. 3373, completely reverses this failure to provide justice to the victims. Public Law 117-168, SEC. 804(b), 136 Stat. 1802-1804. Disability activist, lawyer, columnist, and politician, Andrew U. D. Straw, has appealed this case unsuccessfully. He has also pursued claims at the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, stating that the U.S. Marine Corps' UCMJ responsibilities imply a contract to protect U.S. Marine Corps family members (Straw v. United States, 1:17-cv-00560, U.S. COFC). This case was dismissed and denied on appeal. Straw has advocated for legislative reform to avoid the legal arguments of the Department of Justice. The main chemicals involved were trichloroethylene (TCE, a degreaser), perchloroethylene (PCE, a dry cleaning solvent), and benzene; however, more than 70 chemicals have been identified as contaminants at Lejeune. Andrew Straw has hired a mass tort national law firm for his own infant brain injury and for the wrongful death of his mother from a Camp LeJeune cancer.Straw has sought not only compensation, but he also has sought health care under the Janey Ensminger Act of 2012. He litigated for that benefit for seven years. He was rejected at the VA, the BVA, the U.S. Court of Veterans Claims, and finally in 2021 at the Federal Circuit. Despite Straw being born at Camp LeJeune in 1969, his having 19 months of base access while his father worked there as a U.S. Marine, the language of the Janey Ensminger Act was interpreted narrowly so as to deny Straw this benefit. Straw's parents had a home off base and this is where they slept, even while using and working at the base during the day from 1968–1970. The fact that Straw's mother died from one of the cancers listed in the Act and Straw having neurobehavioral effects listed in the Act was irrelevant to the Federal Circuit. The Federal Circuit also refused to consider the misapplication of the North Carolina Statute of Repose as being a taking of private property. Straw v. Wilkie, 843 F. App’x 263 (Fed. Cir. 1/15/2021); Straw v. United States, 4 F.4th 1358 (Fed. Cir. 2021). The narrow construction of the Janey Ensminger Act of 2012 in Straw's case led to the Camp LeJeune Justice Act of 2022 having no such on-base limitation. The new 2022 law provides a catch-all "otherwise exposed" inclusive provision so such exclusion for sleeping off base cannot be used to deny the relief. On March 8, 2010, Paul Buckley of Hanover, Massachusetts, received a 100 percent, service connected disability from the Department of Veterans Affairs for cancer (multiple myeloma), which was linked to toxic water exposure on Camp Lejeune. This is believed to be the first time the government has admitted the link between the contamination and illnesses.In 2007, Jerry Ensminger, a retired Marine master sergeant, found a document dated 1981 that described a radioactive dump site near a rifle range at the camp. According to the report, the waste was laced with strontium-90, an isotope known to cause cancer and leukemia. According to Camp Lejeune's installation restoration program manager, base officials learned about the document in 2004. Ensminger served in the Marine Corps for 24 and a half years and lived for part of that time at Camp Lejeune. In 1985, his nine-year-old daughter, Janey, died of cancer. Straw's mother died in 1997 from breast cancer. On July 6, 2009, Laura Jones filed suit against the U.S. government over the contaminated water at the base. Jones previously lived at the base where her husband, a Marine, was stationed, and she has since been diagnosed with lymphoma. Twenty former residents of Camp Lejeune—all men who lived there during the 1960s and the 1980s—have been diagnosed with breast cancer. In April 2009, the United States Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry withdrew a 1997 public health assessment at Camp Lejeune that denied any connection between the toxicants and illness.President Biden signed the Camp Lejeune Justice Act of 2022, allowing victims to sue for sicknesses related to water contamination at Camp Lejeune. This law passed in its final form in both houses of Congress with a higher percentage of the vote than the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution when it passed. Straw has renewed his claims for compensation. Straw v. United States, 7:23-cv-162-BO-BM (E.D.N.C.) (Camp LeJeune Justice Act lawsuit, docketed 2/21/2023). The Estate of Straw's mother also has a claim pending at U.S. Navy JAG Code 15 for her wrongful death from breast cancer. One of the DOJ lawyers involved in denial of relief under FTCA in MDL-2218, Adam Bain, has appeared again in a CLJA case filing. Estate of Jane Ensminger v. United States, 7:23-cv-161 (E.D.N.C.) Janey Ensminger Act In July 2012, the U.S. Senate passed a bill, called the Janey Ensminger Act in honor of retired Marine Master Sergeant Jerry Ensminger's daughter Janey who died of cancer at age 9, authorizing medical care to military and family members who had resided at the base between 1957 and 1987 and developed conditions linked to the water contamination. The measure applies to up to 750,000 people. The bill applies to 15 specific ailments believed to be linked to the contamination, including cancer of the esophagus, lung, breast, bladder or kidney; leukemia; multiple myeloma; myleodysplasic syndromes; renal toxicity; hepatic steatosis; female infertility; miscarriage; scleroderma; and/or neurobehavioral effects or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The Department of Veterans Affairs is assigned to provide the medical care. To fund the medical care, the bill extended higher fees for VA home loan guarantees through 2017. This health coverage was worded to require the victim to have lived on the base and anyone who slept off base was excluded regardless of getting the illnesses on the list. Straw v. Wilkie, 843 F. App’x 263 (Fed. Cir. 1/15/2021).A 2023 cohort study of 172,128 American veterans who were stationed in Lejeune and 168,361 who were stationed in Pendelton found that the rates of Parkinson's disease were 70% higher in Lejeune as compared to Pendelton, suggesting that exposure to trichloroethylene in the water may increase risk of Parkinson's disease. Education Residents are zoned to schools of the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). Different housing areas are zoned to the following: Heroes Elementary School: Heroes Manor and parts of Berkeley Manor and Paradise Point Johnson Primary School and Bitz Intermediate School: Courthouse Bay, Hospital Point, Watkins Grove, Watkins Village, and parts of Berkeley Manor and Paradise Point Tarawa Terrace Elementary School: Knox Cove, Knox Landing, Midway Park, and Tarawa TerraceAll residents of Camp Lejeune and of Marine Corps Air Station New River (which has Delalio Elementary) are zoned to Brewster Middle School and Lejeune High School. See also Camp Lejeune Cell, an Atomwaffen Division cell found on the camp Camp Lejeune Incident Lejeune High School, located on base, serving military dependents List of United States Marine Corps installations Marine Corps Air Station New River Museum of the Marine Murder of Maria Lauterbach, a lance corporal stationed at Camp Lejeune who was murdered in December 2007 References This article incorporates text in the public domain from the United States Marine Corps. External links The Official Website of Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune An Insider's Guide to USMC Bases Video summary of findings at Camp Lejeune Study The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten Camp Lejeune Vets/Personnel - search through Camp Lejeune vets and personnel at GIsearch Camp Lejeune official website, including a history of Camp Lejeune Camp Lejeune Globe, military-authorized newspaper Montford Point Marines Honored at DoD Observance, a February 2006 AFIS press release Onslow Beach - an introduction - article with image gallery of military training exercises, at Citizendium Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry - Camp Lejeune, North Carolina: Water Modeling An inside look at the base brig at www.lejeune.usmc.mil "Camp Lejeune MCIEAST Regional Brig." Moseley Architects. USMC Camp Lejeune Base Overview & PCS Information (MarineCorpsUSA.org) Camp Lejeune Directory Camp Lejeune Satellite Images and Directory

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Corps_Base_Camp_Lejeune

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Leonard

Leonard or Leo is a common English masculine given name and a surname. The given name and surname originate from the Old High German Leonhard containing the prefix levon ("lion") from the Greek Λέων ("lion") through the Latin Leo, and the suffix hardu ("brave" or "hardy"). The name has come to mean "lion strength", "lion-strong", or "lion-hearted". Leonard was the name of a Saint in the Middle Ages period, known as the patron saint of prisoners.Leonard is also an Irish origin surname, from the Gaelic O'Leannain also found as O'Leonard, but often was anglicised to just Leonard, consisting of the prefix O ("descendant of") and the suffix Leannan ("lover"). The oldest public records of the surname appear in 1272 in Huntingdonshire, England, and in 1479 in Ulm, Germany. Variations The name has variants in other languages: Anard (Maltese) Leen, Leendert, Lenard (Dutch) Lehnertz, Lehnert (Luxembourgish) Len (English) hu:Lénárd (Hungarian) Lenart (disambiguation) (Slovene) Linhart (Czech) Lennard, diminutive forms Lenny Lennart (Swedish, Estonian, Dutch) Lennert (German, Dutch) Lev (Ukrainian) Lenni (Finnish) Lenno (Groningen) Lenny (English) Leo (many languages) Leon (English, German, Dutch, Russian) Léon (French), León (Spanish) Léonard ([leɔnaʁ]; French) Leonard = "Renata" in Māori, Waitaha Leonardo (Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese) Leonhard, Leonhardt (German) Leontxo (Basque) O'Leannáin O'Lionaird Leòmhannard (Scottish Gaelic) Lionard (Scottish Gaelic) In other languages Armenian: Լեոնարդ (Leonard) Croatian: Leonard Czech: Leonard French: Léonard Georgian: ლეონარდ (Leonard) German: Leonard, Leonhard, Leonhardt, Lennart Greek: Λεονάρδος (Leonárdos) Hebrew: לֵב־אֲרִי (Lév-Ari) Hungarian: Lénárd, Leonárd Italian: Leonardo Latvian: Linards Lithuanian: Leonardas Māori: Renātā Maltese: Nardu Polish: Leonard Portuguese: Leonardo Romanian: Leonard Russian: Леонард (Leonard) Serbian: Леонард (Leonard) Spanish: Leonardo Swedish: Lennart Yiddish: לעאָנאַרד (Leonard) Ukrainian: Лев Given name Leonard Adleman (born 1945), American computer scientist Léonard Autié (1751–1820), French hairdresser Leonard Baskin (1922–2000), American artist Leonard Bernstein (1918–1990), American conductor and composer Leonard Burton (born 1964), American football player Leonard of Chios (died 1458), Catholic archbishop Leonard Cohen (1934–2016), Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cheshire (1917–1992), British philanthropist Leonard Doroftei (born 1970), Romanian boxer Leonhard Euler (1707–1783), Swiss mathematician Leonardo Fibonacci (c. 1170 – after 1240), Italian mathematician Leonard Fairley (born 1951), American football player Leonard Fournette (born 1995), American football player Leonhard Fuchs (1501–1566), German physician and natural historian Leonard Hackney (1855–1938), Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court Leonard Hoffmann, Baron Hoffmann (born 1934), British judge Leonard Humphries (born 1970), American football player Leonard Labatt (1838–1897), Swedish tenor Leonard Lance (born 1952), American politician Leonard Lansink (born 1956), German actor Leonard "Lenny" Kravitz (born 1964), American singer and songwriter Leonard M. Kravitz (1931–1951), American soldier and Medal of Honor recipient Leonard Francis Lindoy (born 1937), Australian chemist Leonard Livingston (1920–1998), Australian cricketer Leonard Maltin (born 1950), American film critic and film historian Leonard Mlodinow (born 1954), American physicist and writer Leonard Nimoy (1931–2015), American actor and film director Leonard of Noblac (died 559), Frankish nobleman Leonard Peikoff (born 1933), Canadian philosopher Leonard Peltier(born 1944), American Activist Leonard Pitts (born 1957), American journalist Leonard of Port Maurice (1676–1751), Italian saint Abeyratne Cudah Leonard Ratwatte (1909-1971), Sri Lankan Sinhala politician and diplomat Leonard Roberts (born 1972), American actor Leonard "Lennie" Rosenbluth (1933–2022), American basketball player Leonard Rosenman (1924–2008), American composer Leonard Rossiter (1926–1984), English actor Leonard Alfred Schneider (1925–1966), AKA Lenny Bruce, American stand-up comedian, social critic, & satirist Leonard Silverman (1930–2015), New York politician and judge Leonard Slatkin (born 1944), American conductor Leonard Steinberg, Baron Steinberg (1936–2009), British businessman Leonard Stone (1923–2011), American actor Leonard Sumner, indigenous Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Susskind (born 1940), American theoretical physicist Leonard Thompson (footballer) (1901–1968), British football player Leonard Merlyn Wickramasuriya (1916-2002), Sri Lankan Sinhala army brigadier Leonard Woolley (1880–1960), British archaeologist Leonard Wong, American military writer Leonard Wu, American actor, writer and producer Surname A–F Ada Leonard (1915–1997), American bandleader Adam Leonard (singer-songwriter), English singer-songwriter Adna Wright Leonard, Methodist Bishop of Buffalo NY André-Joseph Léonard, Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels Andrew Leonard, American technology journalist Andy Leonard, baseball Benny Leonard (born Benjamin Leiner; "The Ghetto Wizard", 1896–1947), American world champion Hall of Fame lightweight boxer Bill Leonard (politician), American politician Bobby Leonard (1932–2021), American basketball coach Brendon Leonard, rugby union Brian Leonard, American football Buck Leonard, baseball Cecil Leonard, American football Chuck Leonard (1937–2004), radio Conrad Leonard (1898–2003), pianist Cynthia Leonard, suffragist Deane Leonard (born 1999), American football player Dennis Leonard, baseball Dick Leonard, British politician Dutch Leonard (left-handed pitcher) (Hubert Benjamin Leonard), baseball Dutch Leonard (right-handed pitcher) (Emil John Leonard), baseball Edwin Leonard, American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient Ego Leonard, anonymous Dutch sculptor, painter, guerrilla artist Elijah Leonard, Canadian politician Elizabeth Weeks Leonard, American professor Elmore Leonard (1925–2013), American novelist Emery Clarence Leonard, American botanist Fred Churchill Leonard, American politician Frederick C. Leonard, American astronomer G–L Gary Leonard, basketball George Leonard (1923–2010), American author Glenn Leonard (born 1947), American musician Gloria Leonard (1940–2014), actress Graham Leonard, Anglican Bishop converted to Catholicism Gustav Leonhardt (1928–2012), Dutch musician, conductor, musicologist Harlan Leonard (1905–1983), American jazz musician Harry Ward Leonard, inventor Herman Leonard, photographer Hookey Leonard, Scottish professional footballer Hubert Léonard (1819–1890), Belgian violinist Hugh Leonard (1926–2009), Irish playwright Isabel Leonard (born 1982), American operatic mezzo-soprano J. Paul Leonard (1901–1995), American university president, educator J. Rich Leonard, American judge Jack E. Leonard, comedian Jacqueline Leonard, Scottish actress James Leonard (disambiguation), several people Jason Leonard (born 1968), English rugby union player Jeffrey Leonard (born 1955), American baseball player Jerris Leonard, American politician Jim Leonard (disambiguation), several people Jimmy Leonard, Irish politician Joe Leonard, motorsports John J. Leonard, mayor of Bolingbrook, Illinois John Leonard (critic) (1939–2008), American critic, pen name Cyclops John Leonard (Gaelic footballer) (born 1976), Gaelic football goalkeeper John Leonard (poet) (born 1965), Australian poet Johnny Leonard, Australian rules football Joseph John Henry Leonard (1863–1929), Australian illustrator Joshua Leonard (born 1975), actor Justin Leonard (born 1972), American golfer Kawhi Leonard (born 1991), American basketball player Larry Leonard, American politician Lee Leonard (1929–2018), US TV personality Louise Wareham Leonard, American author M–Z Marion Leonard (1881–1956), actress Mark Leonard (footballer), association football Marshall Leonard, soccer player Matthew Leonard (1929–1967), Medal of Honor recipient Meyers Leonard (born 1992), American basketball player Michael Leonard (disambiguation), several people Miriam Leonard, British professor of Greek literature Patricia Leonard (1936–2010), English opera singer Patrick James Leonard, Medal of Honor recipient Patrick Leonard (born 1956), American songwriter Patrick Thomas Leonard, Indian Wars Medal of Honor recipient Paul Leonard (politician), American politician Paul Leonard (writer), UK author Philippe Léonard, soccer Priscilla Leonard, pen name for Emily Perkins Bissell, an American social worker and activist Rick Leonard, American football Robert A. Leonard, American linguist known for his forensic work and former singer for Sha Na Na Robert Maynard Leonard (1869–1941), English journalist and editor Robert Sean Leonard (born 1969), actor Robert Z. Leonard (1889–1968), director Ronald Leonard, cellist Ryan Leonard (ice hockey) (born 2005), American ice hockey player Sarah Leonard (archer), archery Scott Leonard (born 1965), American musician Shaquille Leonard, American football Sheldon Leonard (1907–1997), American film and TV producer Silvio Leonard (born 1955), Cuban sprinter Sonny Leonard (1943–2021), American businessman Stan Leonard (1915–2005), Canadian golfer Stephen B. Leonard, American politician Steve Leonard (born 1972), English TV personality Sugar Ray Leonard (born 1956), American boxer Thomas Arthur Leonard, English pioneer of outdoor holidays Tom Leonard (Irish politician) Tom Leonard (poet) (1944–2018), Scottish poet Tony Leonard (born 1947), Australian radio presenter Turney W. Leonard, Medal of Honor recipient Vincent Leonard, Bishop of Pittsburgh William E. Leonard, American Civil War Medal of Honor recipient William Ellery Leonard (1876–1944), American poet William J. Leonard, American football William Leonard (Scottish politician) Wrexie Leonard, American astronomer Leonard (baseball), first name unknown, played in one Major League Baseball game in 1892 Fictional characters Anatole Leonard, in the Robotech series Leonard (demon), in the Dictionnaire Infernal Léonard, title character in the Belgian comic of the same name Leonard, a character from Total Drama: Pahkitew Island and The Ridonculous Race Leonard W. "Lennie" Briscoe, a detective in Law & Order Private Leonard Church, from Red vs. Blue Leonard Hofstadter, in The Big Bang Theory Leonard von Lahnstein, character from German soap opera Forbidden Love Lenny Leonard, in The Simpsons Lockie Leonard, in children's novels by Tim Winton Leonard McCoy, in the Star Trek series King Leonard Mudbeard, a ruler of Piggy Island and antagonist of The Angry Birds Movie Leonard Rollins, a character in Silver Spoons Lennie Small, in the novel Of Mice and Men Leonard Smith, a character in the American sitcom It's Garry Shandling's Show Leonard Snart, Captain Cold from The Flash comics and TV series Lenny Summers, a character from Red Dead Redemption 2 See also Lenard, surname Saint Leonard (disambiguation) St Leonards (disambiguation) == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard

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Celle

Celle (German pronunciation: [ˈtsɛlə]) is a town and capital of the district of Celle in Lower Saxony, Germany. The town is situated on the banks of the river Aller, a tributary of the Weser, and has a population of about 71,000. Celle is the southern gateway to the Lüneburg Heath, has a castle (Schloss Celle) built in the Renaissance and Baroque styles and a picturesque old town centre (the Altstadt) with more than 400 timber-framed houses, making Celle one of the most remarkable members of the German Timber-Frame Road. From 1378 to 1705 Celle was the official residence of the Lüneburg branch of the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg (House of Welf), who had been banished from their original ducal seat by its townsfolk. Geography The town of Celle lies in the glacial valley of the Aller, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) northeast of Hanover, 60 kilometres (37 mi) northwest of Brunswick and 120 kilometres (75 mi) south of Hamburg. With 71,000 inhabitants it is, next to Lüneburg, the largest Lower Saxon town between Hanover and Hamburg. Expansion The town covers an area of 176.05 square kilometres (67.97 sq mi). Flowing from the northeast, the Lachte discharges into the Aller within the town, as does the Fuhse flowing from the southeast. The Aller heads westwards towards Verden an der Aller, where it joins the Weser. Climate Celle's annual precipitation is 692 millimetres (27.2 in), which puts it in the middle third of locations in Germany. 39% of the Deutscher Wetterdienst's weather stations record lower values. The wettest month is August, which has 1.5 times the amount of precipitation as February, the driest month. Monthly precipitation varies only slightly and is very evenly spread throughout the year. Only 1% of German weather stations show a lower annual variation. Subdivisions The town of Celle has the following 17 boroughs or Stadtteile, some of which were previously independent villages (population as at 1 January 2005): Altencelle (4,998), Altenhagen (922), Blumlage/Altstadt (8,526), Bostel (455), Boye (832), Garßen (2,978), Groß Hehlen (2,773), Hehlentor (7,974), Hustedt (736), Klein Hehlen (5,782), Lachtehausen (639), Neuenhäusen (8,082), Neustadt/Heese (10,887), Scheuen (1,165), Vorwerk (2,842), Westercelle (7,183) and Wietzenbruch (4,805). History Middle Ages Celle was first mentioned in a document of A.D. 985 as Kiellu (which means Fischbucht or fishing bay). It was granted the right to mint and circulate its own coins under the Münzrecht (minting privileges) during the 11th century and several coins were found in the Sandur hoard in the Faroes. In 1292 Duke Otto II the Strict (1277–1330), a Welf who ruled the Principality of Lüneburg from 1277 to 1330, left Altencelle, where there had been defences in the form of a circular rampart (the Ringwall von Burg) since the 10th century, and founded a rectangular settlement by the existing castle (Burg) 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the northwest. In 1301 he granted Celle its town privileges and in 1308 started construction on the town church. In 1378 Celle became the Residenz of the dukes of Saxe-Wittenberg and in 1433 the princes of Lüneburg took up residence in the castle (Schloss). The ducal palace was situated on a triangle between the Aller and its tributary, the Fuhse. A moat connecting the rivers was built in 1433, turning the town centre into an island. In 1452 Duke Frederick the Pious of Lüneburg founded a Franciscan monastery. In 1464 the grain shipping monopoly generated an economic upturn for the town. Early modern period In 1524 the Reformation was introduced into Celle. In 1570 Duke William the Younger built the castle chapel, which was consecrated in 1585. In 1660 Celle had 3,750 inhabitants. From 1665 to 1705 Celle experienced a cultural boom as a Residenz under Duke George William. This has been put down in particular to his French wife, Eleonore d'Olbreuse, who brought fellow Huguenot Christians and Italian architects to Celle. During this time the French and Italian Gardens were laid out and the baroque castle theatre built. Because of the persecution of Huguenots under Louis XIV many French Huguenots sought refuge in Germany, especially in Berlin and in the towns of Celle, Neuwied and Hanau. About 300 Huguenots settled in Celle, where a new residential area was laid out for them in the southwest of the centre. Its main street, Hugenottenstrasse, is still a sightworthy historical street with well-preserved wooden houses built at the beginning of the 18th century. Many French refugees worked in the castle as cooks and servants, but some of them opened shops in Celle as tailors, carpenters, joiners, confectioners, wig makers and glovers, thus introducing some French cuisine, fashion and lifestyle into the town. Some years later protestant refugees from Austria sought refuge in Celle as well. Emigrantenstraße is another historical street, which was laid out for the Austrians. In 1705 the last duke of the Brunswick–Lüneburg line died and Celle, along with the Principality of Lüneburg, passed back to the Hanover line of the Welfs. By way of compensation for the loss of its status as a Residenz town numerous administrative institutions were established in Celle, such as the Higher Court of Appeal (Oberappellationsgericht), the prison and the State Stud Farm. That began its development into an administrative and judicial centre. Even today the Lower Saxony-Bremen State Social Security Tribunal and the High Court responsible for most of Lower Saxony are based in Celle, amongst others. Celle is also still home to a prison (the Justizvollzugsanstalt Celle or JVA Celle), which was built in a baroque style in the west of the city centre between 1710 and 1731. Sometimes tourists mistake it for a castle because of its typical baroque architecture. That the citizens of Celle once − in a vote − chose to have a prison in Celle rather than a university in order to protect the virtue of their daughters is not verifiable but it has remained a persistent anecdote in popular folklore. In August 1714 George Elector of Hanover, Duke of Brunswick–Lüneburg (King George I) ascended to the British throne. Between then and 1866, when the town became Prussian during the Austro-Prussian War as part of the province of Hanover, Celle was a possession of the British Hanoverian line. In 1786 Albrecht Thaer founded the first German Agricultural Testing Institute in the meadows in the Dammasch (dam marsh) (today Thaer's Garden). The Albrecht-Thaer School is nowadays part of a vocational centre in the Celle sub-district of Altenhagen. Modern period In 1842 the Cambridge Dragoons Barracks (Cambridge-Dragoner-Kaserne) for the homonymous regiment named after the Hanoveran Viceroy Duke Prince Adolphus, Duke of Cambridge, was built in Celle. After being extended in 1913 and partially rebuilt after a fire in 1936, it was renamed Goodwood Barracks in 1945 and from 1976 to 1996 was the headquarters of Panzerbrigade 33 in the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr. In 1989 it was renamed again to Cambridge-Dragoner-Kaserne. Since 1996 the area has mainly been used to house one of the largest youth centres in Lower Saxony. From 1869 to 1872 an infantry barracks was built for the 77th Infantry Regiment which also gave the main street (running the length of the front of the barracks) its name of 77er Strasse. In 1938 it was renamed the Heidekaserne ("Heath Barracks"). After the Second World War the barracks was used by British troops until 1993 during which time 94 Locating Regiment Royal Artillery held residency for over 25 years, followed briefly by 14 Signal Regiment, which relocated from Scheuen until the barracks were handed back to the local authorities. Today the New Town Hall (Neue Rathaus) and Celle Council Offices are housed in the restored brick building. Residential buildings and a town park have been established on the rest of the terrain. In 1892 − with the help of numerous citizens' donations − the present-day Bomann Museum with its important folklore and town-history collections was founded. In 1913 the 74 metre high clock tower was built on the town church and its clockwork underwent a major restoration in 2008. In the 1920s the silk mill was built. It was merged in 1932 with the one in Peine to become the Seidenwerk Spinnhütte AG. This concern expanded during the Nazi era into an armaments centre under the name of Seidenwerk Spinnhütte AG. A subsidiary founded in 1936, the Mitteldeutsche Spinnhütte AG, led war preparations through its branches in the central German towns of Apolda, Plauen, Osterode, Pirna and Wanfried. Its only product was the parachute silk needed for the paratroopers of the Wehrmacht.In September 1929 Rudolph Karstadt opened a Karstadt department store in Celle town centre, the façade of which was identical to that of the Karstadt store on Berlin's Hermannplatz. The Celle branch was demolished in the 1960s and replaced by a controversial new building, the aluminium-braced facade of which was meant to represent Celle's timber-framed houses. Nazi era During Kristallnacht, the anti-Jewish pogrom in Nazi Germany on 9/10 November 1938, the synagogue in Celle was saved from complete destruction only because it was in a very narrow lane and there would have been a risk to the adjacent leather factory and other parts of the historical city centre with its old wooden houses. On 1 April 1939 Altenhäusen, Klein Hehlen, Neuenhäusen, Vorwerk and Wietzenbruch were incorporated into Celle. The only serious allied bombing attack on the city during World War II occurred on 8 April 1945, when 2.2% of the town was destroyed, especially the industrial areas and railway freight terminal. A train in which about 4,000 prisoners were being transported to the nearby Bergen-Belsen concentration camp was hit. The attack claimed hundreds of casualties, but some of the prisoners managed to escape into the nearby woods. SS guards and Celle citizens participated in the so-called 'Celle hare hunt' (Celler Hasenjagd). The 'hunt' claimed several hundred dead and went on until 10 April 1945 and represented the darkest chapter in Celle's history. The exact number of victims has not been determined. Several of the perpetrators were later tried and convicted of this war crime. A memorial with an information board and a copper-beech tree was inaugurated in Triftanlagen park on 8 April 1992. The German word for copper-beech is Blutbuche, meaning blood beech. About 2.2% of Celle (67 houses) was destroyed in the Second World War. 550 houses were heavily damaged and 614 were slightly damaged. Celle was spared from further destruction by surrendering without a fight to advancing allied troops on 12 April 1945, so that the historical city centre and the castle survived the war completely unscathed. Military In Nazi Germany, Celle was an important garrison location. Elements of the 17th and 73rd Infantry Regiments and the 19th Artillery Regiment were garrisoned in the town. Celle was also the headquarters of a military district command and a military records office. The different German Army barracks (including the Freiherr von Fritsch Barracks in Scheuen and the Cambridge Dragoons Barracks in the city) were used as sites for the German 33rd Armoured Brigade until the 1990s. The Celle Air Base (Immelmann Barracks) in the District of Wietzenbruch is now the site of the Training Centre of the Army Aviation School and the Cambridge Dragoons Barracks has now become a youth cultural centre (CD-Kaserne). The British Army barracks, which as Celle Station formed part of Bergen-Hohne Garrison, were handed over to the German authorities on 5 November 2012. Since German reunification, Celle has largely lost its role as a major garrison town. Post-war era After the war Celle applied, along with Bonn and Frankfurt, to become the seat for the Parliamentary Council (Parlamentarischer Rat), the immediate post-war governmental body in Germany, later superseded by the West German Bundestag. In the end the privilege went to Bonn. Trenchard Barracks in Celle was the most modern barracks in Germany during the war, with blackout blinds between the double-glazed windows and other features which became commonplace afterwards. The cellar doors were trial rooms for the number of inmates from Belsen who could be gassed. When Belsen concentration camp was liberated Trenchard Barracks was used as a hospital for surviving inmates who needed treatment. Later it became the Barracks for the 1st Battalion of the Rifle Brigade. On 1 January 1973 Celle lost its status as an independent town (Kreisfreie Stadt) and became the largest municipality in the new district (Kreis) of Celle. It also became the largest town in the new region (Regierungsbezirk) of Lüneburg. At the same time the localities of Ummern, Pollhöfen and Hahnenhorn were incorporated into Gifhorn district. Since then the parish of Hohne has looked after six villages (Hohne, Helmerkamp, Spechtshorn, Ummern, Pollhöfen and Hahnenhorn) in two rural districts. The town of Celle has also incorporated a number of villages from the surrounding area. On 25 July 1978 a staged bomb attack was made on the outer wall of the prison. This was initially blamed on the Red Army Faction, but was later revealed to have been perpetrated by Lower Saxony's intelligence service, the Verfassungsschutz. The incident became known as the Celle Hole. In 2004 the region of Lüneburg was dissolved along with the rest of Lower Saxony's administrative districts. Celle is currently the twelfth largest town in Lower Saxony. Incorporation of municipalities 1 April 1939: Altenhäusen, Klein Hehlen, Neuenhäusen, Vorwerk und Wietzenbruch 1 January 1973: Altencelle, Altenhagen, Alvern, Bostel, Boye, Burg, Garßen, Groß Hehlen, Hustedt, Lachtehausen, Scheuen and Westercelle. Growth in population In the Middle Ages and early modern period Celle only had a few thousand inhabitants. The population grew only slowly and dropped frequently as a result of many wars, epidemics and periods of famine. Not until the beginnings of industrialisation in the 19th century did population growth accelerate. It reached a total of 8,800 in 1818 but by 1900 this had more than doubled to 20,000. The incorporation of the surrounding villages on 1 April 1939 saw a further (artificial) rise in numbers to 38,000. Shortly after the Second World War the many refugees and displaced persons from the German areas of Eastern Europe led to a steep rise in the number of inhabitants within just a few months from around 17,000 to 55,000 by December 1945. The addition of new municipalities on 1 January 1973 saw an additional 18,691 people being included within the borough of Celle and bringing the total population to 75,178 − its historical high point. On 30 June 2005 the official number of inhabitants within Celle borough, according to an update by the Lower Saxony State Department of Statistics, was 71,402 (only main residences, and after adjustments with the other state departments). The following overview shows the population numbers based on the 'catchment area' at the time. The 1818 figure is an estimate, the rest are based on census results(¹) or official updates by the Department of Statistics. From 1871 the returns show the population actually present, from 1925 the resident population and since 1987 the population residing at their main residence. Before 1871 the numbers are based on various, different census-gathering processes. ¹ Census results Government For the purposes of Bundestag elections the town of Celle belongs to the constituency of Celle-Uelzen. In 1983, 1987, 1990 and 1994 Klaus-Jürgen Hedrich (CDU) won the direct vote. In 1998, 2002 and 2005 Peter Struck (SPD) won the majority of votes. In 2009 Henning Otte (CDU) received the direct mandate. For Lower Saxony State Parliament (Landtag) elections Celle forms the constituency of Celle-Stadt with its surrounding area. In 2003 the CDU won the majority of votes. Town council The town council has 42 elected members as well as the directly elected mayor (Oberbürgermeister). Since the local elections of 11 September 2016, it has consisted of ten parties or voting groups: CDU − 16 seats SPD − 9 seats AfD - 4 seats Bündnis 90/Die Grünen − 3 seats Zukunft Celle − 3 seats FDP − 2 seats Die Linke/Alliance for Social Justice (Bündnis Soziale Gerechtigkeit) – Celle (BSG-CE) − 2 seats Die Unabhängigen - 2 seats Die Partei - 1 seat WG (Wählergemeinschaft) − 1 seat Mayors (Oberbürgermeister) 1877–1895: Otto Hattendorf (1822–1905) 1895–1924: Wilhelm Denicke 1924–1945: Ernst Meyer (1887–1948) 1945: Max Vogel 1945–1946: Walther Hörstmann (1898–1977) 1946–1948: Richard Schäfer 1948–1952: Franz-Georg Guizetti 1952–1964: Wilhelm Heinichen (1883–1967) 1964–1973: Kurt Blanke (1900–1997) 1973–1985: Helmuth Hörstmann (1909–1993) 1986–2001: Herbert Severin 2001–2008: Martin Biermann (CDU) 2009–2017: Dirk-Ulrich Mende (SPD) since 2017: Jörg Nigge (CDU) Coat of arms Blazoning: Azure, a castle, triple-towered, embattled above the port, all argent, masoned sable, the port sable, the towers roofed gules. The port charged with a lion rampant azure surrounded by seven hearts gules on an inescutcheon bendwise or.The helmet on the full coat of arms is described as follows: On the shield is a blue and white wreathed helmet with a mantling, blue on the outside and white on the inside. The crest consists of two sickles leaning outwards with red handles. The sickles have their points upwards, blades inward-facing and are decorated with peacock's eyes on the outside edges. Flag The town flag is divided into two equal stripes in the town colours of blue and white. It may also contain the town coat of arms. Official seal The town of Celle has an official seal whose design is based on the oldest town seal of 1288 with the circumscription Stadt Celle. It depicts a gatehouse between two castle towers. In the open gateway under a decorative helmet there is a shield tilting to the left charged with the lion of the Dukes of Lüneburg. Twin towns – sister cities Celle is twinned with: Main sights The buildings in Celle's old town centre date back to the 16th century, among them numerous (and some 480 restored) half-timber houses with wood carvings, making Celle an important city for tourism in the southern Lüneburg Heath region. One of the most famous houses is Hoppenerhaus dating from 1532. The Old Latin School was built in 1602. The most impressive building in Celle is the ducal palace, Schloss Celle, which was built in 1530 in a well-kept park at the site of the former castle. It was enlarged in a baroque style in the 17th century, and a renaissance chapel and a special theatre which is the oldest theatre in Germany were added in 1674. The Old City Hall which is famous for its sandstone carvings was built 1561-1579 in a Renaissance style. Another major attraction is the Stadtkirche (town church) with its white tower, from where the town trumpeter blows a fanfare twice a day (an old tradition that was revived as a tourist attraction). Originally it was a small gothic chapel built in 1380, but it was enlarged from 1675 to 1698 and transformed into a baroque church with impressive stucco ornaments. Hugenottenstrasse is a historical street with well-preserved wooden houses built at the beginning of the 18th century. It was the main street of a residential area specially laid out for French Huguenots who sought refuge in Celle because of the Persecution of Huguenots under Louis XV in the 17th century. The oldest house dates from 1693. On the corner of Emigrantenstraße, another historical street which was laid out for Austrian refugees at the beginning of the 18th century, Neuhäuser Kirche, a Lutheran church was founded in 1710. It was enlarged from 1852 to 1866. Its steeple dates from the same period. Even a large prison (Justizvollzugsanstalt, JVA) was built in a baroque style in the west of the city centre from 1710 to 1731. It was the only historical building of Celle which was damaged during the air raid on 8 April 1945. It was repaired after the war. Sometimes tourists walking from the railway station to the centre mistake it for a castle because of its typical baroque architecture. Celle has a synagogue built in 1740, one of the few that survived the Nazi pogrom night of 1938, thanks to its location in a narrow street of wooden half-timber houses next to an important leather factory that would have been collaterally damaged. The Albrecht Thaer School, a school in Celle, was founded by Albrecht Daniel Thaer in 1796. Museums The Bomann Museum opposite the castle has works by the artist Eberhard Schlotter and has exhibitions of local folklore and town history. It houses the Tansey Collection, a collection of portrait miniatures. The Celle Art Museum (Kunstmuseum Celle) with its Robert Simon collection is affiliated with the Bomann Museum. In the castle itself is the Residenz Museum, which makes use of its premises and an exhibition to document the princely House of Welf. The Garrison Museum deals with the history of Celle Garrison from 1866 to the present day, whilst the Shooting Museum (Schützenmuseum) in Haus der Stadtmauer is devoted to Celle's shooting club history. The work of Celle's Neues Bauen architect, Otto Haesler, is charted by the Haesler Museum. And in the old storage barn (Treppenspeicher) built in 1607, as well as the orangery, built in 1677 for the Institute of Apiculture, an exhibition of beekeeping may be viewed. Theatre The Schlosstheater Celle was founded in 1674 and is the oldest, still working theatre in Germany and the oldest baroque theatre in Europe. It has a main auditorium and two smaller stages (Malersaal and Turmbühne) as well as an additional external venue (Halle 19). Located at the edge of the old town (Altstadt) is the performing arts theatre Kunst & Bühne which is supported by the town and whose repertoire ranges from comedy to songs, jazz, cabaret and films. Parks The picturesque French Garden lies immediately south of the Altstadt and is where the Lower Saxon Institute of Apiculture may be found. The Castle Park, with its moats, is on the site of the former defensive fortifications of the ducal castle. Along Bahnhofstraße there is an area of common pasture used as a public park and play area (Triftanlagen). On the right bank of the Aller are the Dammasch Meadows, a popular destination for trips and recreation, and immediately next to them is the garden of medicinal plants and the Thaers Garden with its little manor house. By the New Town Hall (Neues Rathaus) is the recently laid-out town park. Other important open areas include the various town cemeteries, such as the picturesque forest cemetery, the Waldfriedhof, with its nature garden. Image gallery Events The Congress Union Celle is an event centre for conferences and exhibitions as well as stage, music and festive events. The CD-Kaserne ("Cambridge Dragoons (CD) Barracks") is a municipal youth and cultural centre with exhibition rooms covering the subject areas of music, film, art and society. Also located there is the Bunte Haus which is a charitable cultural centre. It focuses on projects and events dealing with social questions covering aspects of culture, social work and civic education. Its workers are volunteers. Celle also hosts a Christmas market every year in the old town centre. Sports The Celler Oilers are an ice hockey team that play in the Regionalliga or regional league. From 1968 to the mid-1970s Celle's football club, TuS Celle, played in the German second division (then called the Regionalliga or "regional league"). After two bankruptcies and relegation, it was promoted to the Lower Saxony league for the 2004–2005 season and, since 2005 has played in the Northeast Lower Saxony league (Oberliga Niedersachsen Nordost), which is fifth tier of the German football league system. The handball club, SV Garßen-Celle, has fielded a women's team that had played in the women's Second Division North since the mid-1990s. In 2009 it came first and was promoted to the First Division. Since 1983 the Celle Wasa Run (Celler Wasa-Lauf) has taken place every year on the second Sunday of March in Celle's town centre. This has become one of the biggest running events in Germany for distances less than a marathon and is divided into runs of several distances: a children's run of 2.5 km (1.6 mi) and runs of 5, 10, 15 and 20 km (12.4 mi) distance. For several years there has also been a hiking (Wandern) event over 11 km (7 mi) along the Aller as well as Walking and Nordic Walking events. 2004 saw a record number of participants with 11,232 men and women taking part. Celle is one of five centres for the Lower Saxony Rowing Club. The Celle Sprint Regatta takes place annually in October on the Upper Aller at the Ziegeninsel and is hosted by the Hermann Billung Celle, Celler Ruderverein and Ruderclub Ernestinum-Hölty Celle rowing clubs. The Celle Triathlon always takes place in August. This was originally organised by the Celle branch of the German Alpine Club (Deutscher Alpenverein), but for several years has been run by SV Altencelle. Since 2001 Celle has played host to the In-Line Skating and Handbike Marathon from Hanover to Celle. This is one of the biggest races of its kind in Germany. In 2007 the European Masters speed skating championship took place as part of this event. Celle also hosted Angola's national football team during the 2006 Football World Cup. Economy and Infrastructure Economy Tourism is a large contributor to Celle's economy, especially in the summer months during jazz, wine, and other festivals, which attract thousands of visitors. The town is not really known for heavy industry, but many businesses which have started up in Celle and some, such as Rosa Graf Cosmetics, have reached the world market. Celle does have some links to the oil industry, though, particularly firms engineering parts for drilling; notably Baker Hughes (INTEQ and Hughes Christensen divisions; oil and gas industry service companies specialising in MWD, Wireline, Drill-bits, Drilling Applications Engineering, etc.), Cameron (global provider of pressure control, processing, flow control and compression systems as well as project management and aftermarket services for the oil and gas and process industries), and ITAG (drilling contractors and manufacturing plant). Halliburton, founded in 1919, is one of the world's largest providers of products and services to the energy industry and has an office in Celle. There is also a school for advance drilling techniques. Other light industries include electronics, food manufacture, and metal, wood and plastic processing. In addition there an ink manufacturer (formerly Hostmann-Steinberg now hubergroup), paper factory (Werner Achilles Glanzfolien-Kaschieranstalt) and musical instruments makers (including Moeck). Celle is also home to Germany's Bee institute which carries out scientific studies on the bee species as well as keeping its own bee hives. Celle is also known as a town of civil servants, due to the large number of government officials and lawyers who work there providing important administrative and judicial services to the region. Agriculture and forestry also play a role. Foodstuffs Celle is the base for a crispbread factory, Barilla Wasa Deutschland. Regional and to some extent national suppliers are the high-alcohol drink manufactures of the Ratzeputz and Alter Provisor brands. Originally made in Celle's Altstadt, the herb-based spirit Ratzeputz is now distilled on the Westercelle industrial estate, Alter Provisor is still produced and sold in the Altstadt. Celler Bier is also established here with its six varieties of beer. Another Celle speciality is Rohe Roulade, which initially gained fame in the Gasthaus Krohne (now Dackel's Krohne) in the district of Blumlage and is now offered in many of Celle's restaurants and pubs. Transport and logistics The East Hanoverian Railways (Osthannoversche Eisenbahnen or OHE) is a goods and passenger transport company covering the north German area with its headquarters in Celle. Also based in Celle are the postal distribution centre for Deutsche Post's post code district 29 and the transport company DTLS – Drilling Tools Logistic & Service. Transport Rail Celle lies on the Hanover – Celle – Uelzen – Lüneburg – Hamburg line. Intercity (IC) trains to Hanover and Hamburg stop hourly at the station as do individual ICE trains during the rush hour. metronom trains link Celle to Uelzen, Hanover and Göttingen as part of the regional transport network. Celle is the terminus for routes S 6 and S 7 of the Hanover S-Bahn. The section between Celle and Großburgwedel was built in the 1920s as a high-speed line for testing and record journeys across the heath-like, so-called Wietzenbruch. It was nicknamed the Hare Railway (Hasenbahn) due to its environment which was devoid of habitation and the numerous hares killed on the line in its early days. In 1965 this section via Langenhagen was electrified for the TEE and IC services from Hamburg to Hanover, in order to save routing them via Lehrte and having to change direction in Hanover. Later it was upgraded for traffic operating regularly at 200 km/h (124 mph). Formerly there were railway links from Celle via Schwarmstedt to Bremen (Aller Valley Railway) and via Plockhorst to Brunswick; these were closed in the 1970s and have largely been dismantled. In 2004 the last remaining branch line from Gifhorn to Celle via Wienhausen, that was still used in places for goods traffic, was finally closed and work on lifting the line in the area of the town has begun. The East Hanoverian Railways run goods trains on several branch lines in the Celle area, including those to Wittingen, Soltau and Munster. Occasionally heritage trains and specials also run on these lines. The Lehrte–Celle railway is an important route for goods trains and was converted in 1998 into a modern S-Bahn line. A tramway network of 2 lines had been operated since 1907 by the Celler Straßenbahn but this was closed and dismantled between 1954 and 1956. Road Important links are: North-south: the B 3 running north to Soltau/Hamburg and south to Hanover Southeast-west: the B 214 running southeast to Brunswick and west to Nienburg Northeast: the B 191 to Uelzen/Lüneburg/Ludwigslust Landesstraße 310 via Fuhrberg southwest to the junction at Mellendorf on the A 7 motorway Landesstraße 282 east-northeast via Beedenbostel, Eldingen and Steinhorst to Wittingen Landesstraße 180 via Winsen (Aller) west-northwest to the motorway services of Raststätte Allertal, on the A 7 Air Hanover-Langenhagen airport with international flight connections is about 35 kilometres (22 miles) away. The Army airfield at Celle is 4.5 kilometres southwest of the town centre on the edge of the district of Wietzenbruch. Operated as RAF Celle after the Second World War, it was from here in 1948–49 that supply flights to Berlin took off as part of the Berlin Airlift. Today the airfield is mainly used by the Army Aviation School (Heeresfliegerwaffenschule) as a training airfield for helicopter pilots. Celle-Arloh airfield near the district of Scheuen is a recreational airfield. It also offers round trips over the town of Celle and the Lüneburg Heath. There is also a glider airfield at Scheuen. Water Celle harbour is only used by tourists today. From Celle the Aller is classified downstream as a federal shipping lane; upstream a weir prevents ships passing. In former centuries Celle was an important transhipment station for ships between Brunswick and the ports in Bremen via Oker, Aller and the (Lower) Weser. Bremen and Brunswick merchants had specific tasks from the Dukes of Celle and later the town of Celle in order to ensure the safety of transport, because the speed of the Aller in the area of Celle made loading and unloading in the port necessary. From 1900 the quantity of trade through Celle Harbour steadily decreased and switched to road and rail. Until 1970 the transport of grain to the Celle Rathsmühle and the transport of potash salts were still significant. Town public transport services The firm of CeBus runs eight bus lines around the town. There are 15 bus lines for regional services, with which the villages in the district of Celle can be reached. Sometimes town and region bus services are combined. Media The Cellesche Zeitung is the local daily newspaper with a circulation of 34,977 (as at: 2nd quarter 2005). In addition there is the bi-weekly Celler Kurier and weekly Celler Blitz as well as a monthly town magazine, the Celler Scene. Another monthly is the Celler Blickpunkt. The revista appears roughly every 2 months with a left-wing perspective of politics and culture. Education Schools The grammar schools (Gymnasien) in Celle are the Hermann Billung Gymnasium which majors in mathematics, the sciences, Spanish and bilingual education (history to level 7 in English), the Kaiserin Auguste Viktoria Gymnasium with a focus on music and European studies, the Gymnasium Ernestinum with Latin and ancient Greek, which was founded in 1328 as the Latin school, and the Hölty Gymnasium with courses in Russian and which has a mathematics and science branch. The other general schools are the three secondary schools (Realschulen) (Westercelle, Auf der Heese, Burgstraße), six combined primary (Grundschulen) and secondary modern (Hauptschulen) schools (Altstadt, Blumlage, Groß Hehlen, Heese-Süd, Neustadt, Wietzenbruch) as well as nine primary schools. In addition there are also the Catholic primary school (Katholische Schule) and the Montessori primary and secondary school, Freie Aktive Schule Celle. Vocational schools Celle has four vocational establishments (Berufsbildende Schulen or BBS): BBS I − Economics and Administration, BBS II (Axel Bruns Schule) − Technology, Design and IT, BBS III − Health and Social Studies − and BBS IV (Albrecht Thaer Schule) − Agriculture, Domestic Science and Nutrition. Other educational establishments Since 2003 Celle has been the location for the private College of Economics (Fachhochschule der Wirtschaft or FHDW), which offers courses of studies in mechatronics and the Bachelor of Business Administration. Another important educational establishment in Celle is the Bohrmeisterschule which is a technical college for drilling, extraction and pipeline technology. Celle is home to one of the two Lower Saxony State Firefighting Schools. It was also the location for the Celler Schule, one of the GEMA foundation institutions for up and coming songwriters, from 1996 to 2008, before it moved to Springe. In addition there is an adult education centre in Celle, which has numerous branches in the surrounding districts. Around Celle Celle is known for being an entry point for tourists to the Lüneburg Heath. Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, where Anne Frank died in 1945, is located in the district of Celle; today, a memorial and exhibition centre mark the camp site. Notable people Born in Celle before 1850 George, Duke of Brunswick-Luneburg (1582–1670), ruled as Prince of Calenberg from 1635. Sophia Dorothea of Celle (1666–1726), wife of George I of Great Britain and mother of George II of Great Britain Johann Ernst Galliard (1687–1749), German composer Anton Wilhelm von L'Estocq (1738–1815), Prussian cavalry general, commanded Prussian troops at the Battle of Eylau Albrecht Thaer (1752–1828), founder of agricultural science Ernst von Gemmingen (1759–1813), a German composer and aristocrat Ernst Schulze (1789–1817), Romantic poet Ludwig Aaron Gans (1794–1871), a German industrialist and owner of the company Cassella Georg Seyler (1800–1866), theologian, priest and the adoptive father of Felix Hoppe-Seyler Friedrich Wieseler (1811–1892), German classical archaeologist and philologist Karl Goedeke (1814–1887), literary historian Georg Bergmann (1821–70), a German painter of historical subjects and portraits Wilhelm Hauers (1836–1905), architect in Hamburg Born in Celle 1850 to 1950 Admiral Eduard von Capelle (1855–1931), a German Imperial Navy officer Friedrich Pfotenhauer (1859–1939), fifth president of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Ernst Emil Herzfeld (1879–1948), German Near Eastern archaeologist, orientalist and epigraphists; Co-founder of the Near Eastern and Islamic archaeology, architecture and art history and founder of Iranian archeology Robert Lehr (1883–1956), politician (DNVP, CDU) Theodor Krüger (1891–1966), composer and musician Roland Freisler (1893–1945), lawyer, judge and politician (Nazi Party) August Schirmer (1905–1948), architect, civil engineer, main branch manager of Amt Rosenberg and member of parliament (Nazi Party) Hermann Schridde (1937–1985), show jumper and manager of the German show jumping team Heiko Harborth (born 1938), Professor of Mathematics at Braunschweig University of Technology Volker Ullrich (born 1943), historian, journalist and author Hans Mueh (born 1944), emigrated to USA 1951, director of athletics at the United States Air Force Academy Wolfgang Kubin (born 1945), a German poet, essayist, sinologist and translator of literary works Bettina Hohls (born 1947), a German artist and designer Claude Gewerc (born 1947), a retired French politician, President of the regional council of Picardy Gustav Humbert (born 1950), German manager (Airbus) Born in Celle since 1950 Kersten Meier (1954–2001), a German swimmer who competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics Ernie Reinhardt (born 1955), actor (pseudonym Lilo Wanders) Karl-Henning Rehren (born 1956), a German physicist who focuses on algebraic quantum field theory Gabi Bauer (born 1962), journalist television presenter Ante Zelck (born 1963), entrepreneur and hostel pioneer Michael Renkel (born 1965), German concert guitarist Matthias Blazek (born 1966), German free journalist, historian and publicist Frauke Eickhoff (born 1967), German Olympic judoka Silke Schatz (born 1967), an artist who makes drawings, sculptures and installations Robert Hermes DVM, PhD (born 1969), a veterinarian researcher at The Leibniz-Institute of Zoo and Wildlife Research in Berlin Christian Oliver (born 1972), actor Feleknas Uca (born 1976), politician (The Left) Alex Boyd (born 1984), Scottish photographer Dustin Brown (born 1984), Jamaican-German tennis player Merle Frohms (born 1995), German football player Residents of Celle Urbanus Rhegius, (or Urban Rieger) (1489–1541), reformer Johann Arndt (1555–1621), post-Reformation theologian George William, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1624–1705), ruled from 1665 to this death from Celle Castle as the last "Heath Duke" of the House of Welf Samuel Chappuzeau (1625-1701), playwright and author. Head of Pages for Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg from 1682 to 1701 Christoph Chappuzeau, (German Wiki) (1656-1734), (Son of Samuel) private secretary of Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg from 1676 Louise von Plessen (1725–1799), a Danish lady-in-waiting and memoir writer Caroline Mathilde (1751–1775), Queen of Denmark and Norway in exile Johann Anton Leisewitz (1752–1806), writer and lawyer Hermann Löns (1866–1914), editor and heath poet, lived in the years 1903–1912 in Celle Otto Haesler (1880–1962), architect, along with Walter Gropius and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe an important representative of the New Architecture outside the Bauhaus Heinrich-Hermann von Hülsen (1895–1982), Wehrmacht generalmajor Siegfried Westphal (1902–1982), Wehrmacht officer, general of cavalry Ernst Zierke (1905–1972), Unterscharführer, SS member involved in the "T4" euthanasia program and "Aktion Reinhardt" Heinrich Schmidt (1912–2000), Hauptsturmführer and camp doctor in concentration camps Fritz Darges (1913–2009), Obersturmbannführer and personal aide of Adolf Hitler Fritz Grasshoff (1913–1997), artist, painter, writer and hit songwriter, lived in Celle 1946 to 1967 Heinrich Albertz (1915–1993), Protestant theologian, after the Second World War pastor in Celle, head of the municipal refugee office, politician (SPD) and mayor of (West) Berlin (1966–1967) Yisroel Moshe Olewski (1916-1966), Rabbi of Celle Harald Range (1948–2018), lawyer, 2011–2015 Attorney General at the Federal Court Honorary citizen Otto Telschow (1876–1945), Nazi Party official, Member of Reichstag 1930–1945. Honorary citizenship granted 1936 and revoked in 2007 See also Celle massacre Metropolitan region Hannover-Braunschweig-Göttingen-Wolfsburg References External links Official municipal website (in German and English) Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Celle" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 5 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 604.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celle

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Durchhausen

Durchhausen is a town in the district of Tuttlingen in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. The design and development center of Allegion Security Technologies with its brand Interflex is in Durchhausen. == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durchhausen

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Universal City

Universal City may refer to: Cities Universal City, California Universal City, Texas Entertainment industry the original promotional name for the Universal Studios Lot that replaced Universal’s “Old Ranch” Universal City Studios, an alternate name of Universal Studios Universal City Records Train stations Universal City/Studio City (Los Angeles Metro station), for Universal Studios Hollywood in California Universal City Station, for Universal Studios Japan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_City

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Kostrzyn

Kostrzyn may refer to: Kostrzyn, Greater Poland Voivodeship, a town in Poland, seat of Gmina Kostrzyn Kostrzyn, Masovian Voivodeship, a village in east-central Poland Kostrzyn nad Odrą, a town in western Poland See also Gmina Kostrzyn

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kostrzyn

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Laporte

Laporte, LaPorte, or La Porte may refer to: Places Canada Laporte, Saskatchewan, a hamlet Laporte (electoral district), a provincial electoral district in Quebec Haiti La Porte, Les Cayes, Haiti, a village in the Les Cayes commune of Haiti United States La Porte, California Laporte, Colorado, part of the greater Fort Collins area La Porte, Indiana, in of Northwest Indiana LaPorte County, Indiana LaPorte High School (Indiana) LaPorte Community School Corporation La Porte Civic Auditorium La Porte Municipal Airport La Porte City, Iowa Laporte, Michigan Laporte, Minnesota Laporte, Pennsylvania Laporte Township, Sullivan County, Pennsylvania La Porte, Texas, part of the greater Houston area La Porte Municipal Airport (Texas) La Porte High School (Texas) La Porte Independent School District People André Laporte (b. 1931), Belgian composer Aymeric Laporte (b. 1994), Spanish footballer Bernard Laporte (b. 1964), French rugby union coach and politician Éric Laporte (b. 1976), Canadian politician François-Louis Laporte, comte de Castelnau (1802–1880), French naturalist Frank LaPorte, American athlete Frankie LaPorte, American mobster Leo Laporte, radio and television host Leon J. LaPorte, United States Army General Otto Laporte (1902-1971), German-born American physicist Laporte rule, a selection rule in spectroscopy, named after Otto Laporte Pierre Laporte, Canadian politician, assassinated in 1970. Stéphane Laporte (b. 1966), French javelin thrower Steve La Porte, American make-up artist. Businesses Laporte plc, a British chemicals business LaPorte CPAs and Business Advisors Science Laporte rule, a spectroscopic selection rule See also De la Porte Delaporte Osvaldo Laport, Uruguayan-Argentine actor

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laporte

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Kemecse

Kemecse is a town in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg county, in the Northern Great Plain region of eastern Hungary. Geography It covers an area of 60.42 km2 (23 sq mi) and has a population of 4815 people (2015). International relations Twin towns – Sister cities Kemecse is twinned with: Lăzarea, Romania References External links Official website in Hungarian

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kemecse

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Reykjavík

Reykjavík ( RAYK-yə-vik, -⁠veek; Icelandic: [ˈreiːcaˌviːk] (listen)) is the capital and largest city of Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói bay. Its latitude is 64°08' N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. Reykjavík has a population of around 140,000 as of 2023 (up from 121,822 in 2015). The Capital Region has a population of around 248,000. Reykjavík is believed to be the location of the first permanent settlement in Iceland, which, according to Landnámabók, was established by Ingólfr Arnarson in 874 CE. Until the 18th century, there was no urban development in the city location. The city was officially founded in 1786 as a trading town and grew steadily over the following decades, as it transformed into a regional and later national centre of commerce, population, and governmental activities. Reykjavík is the centre of Iceland's cultural, economic, and governmental activity, and is a popular tourist destination among foreigners. It is among the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities in the world. History According to legend, the first permanent Norse settlement in Iceland was established at Reykjavík by Ingólfr Arnarson around the year AD 870, as described in the Book of Settlement. Ingólfr is said to have decided the location of his settlement using a traditional Norse method: when land was in sight, he cast his high seat pillars overboard and promised to settle where the gods decided to bring them ashore. Two of his slaves then searched the coasts for three years before finding the pillars in the bay which eventually became the site of Reykjavík. Etymology The name is of Old Norse origin, derived from the roots reykr ('smoke') and vík ('bay'). The name is said to be inspired by steam rising from hot springs in the region. The original name was Reykjar-vík, with an "r" suffix for the genitive singular of reykr; the modern version reykja- uses the genitive plural. The name's meaning is still transparent in modern Icelandic, and in modern Norwegian (røyk + vik). The name originally referred to both the bay on the northern shore of the modern city centre, between Örfirisey and Laugarnes, as well as the estate and farm of Ingólfr Arnarson. This form of the name fell out of use shortly after settlement, and the estate was referred to as Vík á Seltjarnarnesi until the name Reykjavík was revived when urban development began centuries later.The name has been translated as Bay of Smoke in English language travel guides, or variations thereof, such as Smoky Bay, Smoke Cove, Steam Bay, etc. Urban development The site of the modern city centre was farmland until the 18th century. In 1752, King Frederik V of Denmark donated the estate of Reykjavík to the Innréttingar corporation. The leader of this movement was Skúli Magnússon. In the 1750s, several houses were built to house the wool industry, which was Reykjavík's most important employer for a few decades and the original reason for its existence. Other industries were undertaken by the Innréttingar, such as fisheries, sulphur mining, agriculture, and shipbuilding.The Danish Crown abolished monopoly trading in 1786 and granted six communities around the country an exclusive trading charter. Reykjavík was one of them and the only one to hold on to the charter permanently. 1786 is thus regarded as the date of the city's founding. Trading rights were limited to subjects of the Danish Crown, and Danish traders continued to dominate trade in Iceland. Over the following decades, their business in Iceland expanded. After 1880, free trade was expanded to all nationalities, and the influence of Icelandic merchants started to grow. Rise of nationalism Icelandic nationalist sentiment gained influence in the 19th century, and the idea of Icelandic independence became widespread. Reykjavík, as Iceland's only city, was central to such ideas. Advocates of an independent Iceland realized that a strong Reykjavík was fundamental to that objective. All the important events in the history of the independence struggle were important to Reykjavík as well. In 1845 Alþingi, the general assembly formed in 930 AD, was re-established in Reykjavík; it had been suspended a few decades earlier when it was located at Þingvellir. At the time it functioned only as an advisory assembly, advising the king about Icelandic affairs. The location of Alþingi in Reykjavík effectively established the city as the capital of Iceland. In 1874, Iceland was given a constitution; with it, Alþingi gained some limited legislative powers and in essence became the institution that it is today. The next step was to move most of the executive power to Iceland: Home Rule was granted in 1904 when the office of Minister for Iceland was established in Reykjavík. The biggest step towards an independent Iceland was taken on 1 December 1918 when Iceland became a sovereign country under the Crown of Denmark, the Kingdom of Iceland. By the 1920s and 1930s, most of the growing Icelandic fishing trawler fleet sailed from Reykjavík; cod production was its main industry, but the Great Depression hit Reykjavík hard with unemployment, and labour union struggles sometimes became violent. World War II On the morning of 10 May 1940, following the German occupation of Denmark and Norway on 9 April 1940, four British warships approached Reykjavík and anchored in the harbour. In a few hours, the allied occupation of Reykjavík was complete. There was no armed resistance, and taxi and truck drivers even assisted the invasion force, which initially had no motor vehicles. The Icelandic government had received many requests from the British government to consent to the occupation, but it always declined on the basis of the Neutrality Policy. For the remaining years of World War II, British and later American soldiers occupied camps in Reykjavík, and the number of foreign soldiers in Reykjavík became about the same as the local population of the city. The Royal Regiment of Canada formed part of the garrison in Iceland during the early part of the war. The economic effects of the occupation were positive for Reykjavík: the unemployment of the Depression years vanished, and construction work began. The British built Reykjavík Airport, which remains in service today, mostly for short haul flights (to domestic destinations and Greenland). The Americans, meanwhile, built Keflavík Airport, situated 50 km (31 mi) west of Reykjavík, which became Iceland's primary international airport. In 1944, the Republic of Iceland was founded and a president, elected by the people, replaced the king; the office of the president was placed in Reykjavík. Post-war development In the post-war years, the growth of Reykjavík accelerated. An exodus from the rural countryside began, largely because improved technology in agriculture reduced the need for manpower, and because of a population boom resulting from better living conditions in the country. A once-primitive village was rapidly transformed into a modern city. Private cars became common, and modern apartment complexes rose in the expanding suburbs. In 1972, Reykjavík hosted the famous world chess championship between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky. The 1986 Reykjavík Summit between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev underlined Reykjavík's international status. Deregulation in the financial sector and the computer revolution of the 1990s again transformed Reykjavík. The financial and IT sectors are now significant employers in the city. The city has fostered some world-famous musicians and artists in recent years, including musicians Björk; Múm and Sigur Rós; writer Sjón; and visual artist Ragnar Kjartansson. Geography Reykjavík is located in the southwest of Iceland. The Reykjavík area coastline is characterized by peninsulas, coves, straits, and islands. During the Ice Age (up to 10,000 years ago) a large glacier covered parts of the city area, reaching as far out as Álftanes. Other parts of the city area were covered by sea water. In the warm periods and at the end of the Ice Age, some hills like Öskjuhlíð were islands. The former sea level is indicated by sediments (with clams) reaching (at Öskjuhlíð, for example) as far as 43 m (141 ft) above the current sea level. The hills of Öskjuhlíð and Skólavörðuholt appear to be the remains of former shield volcanoes which were active during the warm periods of the Ice Age. After the Ice Age, the land rose as the heavy load of the glaciers fell away, and began to look as it does today. The capital city area continued to be shaped by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, like the one 4,500 years ago in the mountain range Bláfjöll, when the lava coming down the Elliðaá valley reached the sea at the bay of Elliðavogur. The largest river to run through Reykjavík is the Elliðaá River, which is non-navigable. It offers salmon fishing within the city limits. Mount Esja, at 914 m (2,999 ft), is the highest mountain in the vicinity of Reykjavík. The city of Reykjavík is mostly located on the Seltjarnarnes peninsula, but the suburbs reach far out to the south and east. Reykjavík is a spread-out city: most of its urban area consists of low-density suburbs, and houses are usually widely spaced. The outer residential neighbourhoods are also widely spaced from each other; in between them are the main traffic arteries and a lot of empty space. The city's latitude is 64°08' N, making it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state (Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, is slightly further north at 64°10' (about 4 km) but Greenland is a constituent country, not an independent state). Climate Reykjavík has a subpolar oceanic climate (Köppen: Cfc) closely bordering on a continental subarctic climate (Köppen: Dfc) in the 0 °C isoterm. The city has had its present climate classification since the beginning of the 20th century.At 64° north, Reykjavík is characterized by extremes of day and night length over the course of the year. From 20 May to 24 July, daylight is essentially permanent as the sun never gets more than 5° below the horizon. Day length drops to less than five hours between 2 December and 10 January. The sun climbs just 3° above the horizon during this time. However, day length begins increasing rapidly during January and by month's end there are seven hours of daylight. Despite its northern latitude, temperatures very rarely drop below −15 °C (5 °F) in the winter. The proximity to the Arctic Circle and the strong moderation of the Atlantic Ocean in the Icelandic coast (influence of North Atlantic Current, an extension of the Gulf Stream) shape a relatively mild winter and cool summer. The city's coastal location does make it prone to wind, however, and gales are common in winter (influence of the Icelandic Low). Summers are cool, with temperatures fluctuating between 10 and 15 °C (50 and 59 °F), rarely exceeding 20 °C (68 °F). This is a result of exposure to the maritime winds in its exposed west coast location that causes it to be much cooler in summer than similar latitudes in mainland Scandinavia. Contrasting this, winter days are milder than anywhere in far southern Sweden and the vast majority of Denmark. Reykjavík averages 147 days of rain (more than 1 mm) per year. Droughts are uncommon, although they occur in some summers. July and August are the warmest months of the year on average and January and February the coldest. In the summer of 2007, no rain was measured for one month. Summer tends to be the sunniest season, although May averages the most sunshine of any individual month. Overall, the city receives around 1,300 annual hours of sunshine, which is comparable with other places in northern and north-western Europe such as Ireland and Scotland, but substantially less than equally northern regions with a more continental climate, including the Bothnian Bay basin in Scandinavia. Nonetheless, Reykjavík is one of the cloudiest and coolest capitals of any nation in the world. The highest temperature recorded in Reykjavík was 25.7 °C (78 °F), reported on 30 July 2008, while the lowest-ever recorded temperature was −24.5 °C (−12 °F), recorded on 21 January 1918. The coldest month on record is January 1918, with a mean temperature of −7.2 °C (19 °F). The warmest is July 2019, with a mean temperature of 13.4 °C (56 °F). Cityscape City administration The Reykjavík City Council governs the city of Reykjavík and is directly elected by those aged over 18 domiciled in the city. The council has 23 members who are elected using the open list method for four-year terms. The council selects members of boards, and each board controls a different field under the city council's authority. The most important board is the City Board that wields the executive rights along with the City Mayor. The City Mayor is the senior public official and also the director of city operations. Other public officials control city institutions under the mayor's authority. Thus, the administration consists of two different parts: The political power of City Council cascading down to other boards Public officials under the authority of the city mayor who administer and manage implementation of policy. Political control The Independence Party was historically the city's ruling party; it had an overall majority from its establishment in 1929 until 1978, when it narrowly lost. From 1978 until 1982, there was a three-party coalition composed of the People's Alliance, the Social Democratic Party, and the Progressive Party. In 1982, the Independence Party regained an overall majority, which it held for three consecutive terms. The 1994 election was won by Reykjavíkurlistinn (the R-list), an alliance of Icelandic socialist parties, led by Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir. This alliance won a majority in three consecutive elections, but was dissolved for the 2006 election when five different parties were on the ballot. The Independence Party won seven seats, and together with the one Progressive Party they were able to form a new majority in the council which took over in June 2006. In October 2007 a new majority was formed on the council, consisting of members of the Progressive Party, the Social Democratic Alliance, the Left-Greens and the F-list (liberals and independents), after controversy regarding REI, a subsidiary of OR, the city's energy company. However, three months later the F-list formed a new majority together with the Independence Party. Ólafur F. Magnússon, the leader of the F-list, was elected mayor on 24 January 2008, and in March 2009 the Independence Party was due to appoint a new mayor. This changed once again on 14 August 2008 when the fourth coalition of the term was formed, by the Independence Party and the Social Democratic Alliance, with Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir becoming mayor. The City Council election in May 2010 saw a new political party, The Best Party, win six of 15 seats, and they formed a coalition with the Social Democratic Alliance; comedian Jón Gnarr became mayor. At the 2014 election, the Social Democratic Alliance had its best showing yet, gaining five seats in the council, while Bright Future (successor to the Best Party) received two seats and the two parties formed a coalition with the Left-Green movement and the Pirate Party, which won one seat each. The Independence Party had its worst election ever, with only four seats. Mayor The mayor is appointed by the city council; usually one of the council members is chosen, but they may also appoint a mayor who is not a member of the council. The post was created in 1907 and advertised in 1908. Two applications were received, from Páll Einarsson, sheriff and town mayor of Hafnarfjörður and from Knud Zimsen, town councillor in Reykjavík. Páll was appointed on 7 May and was mayor for six years. At that time the city mayor received a salary of 4,500 ISK per year and 1,500 ISK for office expenses. The current mayor is Dagur B. Eggertsson. Demographics Reykjavík is by far the largest and most populous settlement in Iceland. The municipality of Reykjavík had a population of 131,136 on 1 January 2020; that is 36% of the country's population. The Capital Region, which includes the capital and six municipalities around it, was home to 233,034 people; that is about 64% of the country's population.On 1 January 2019, of the city's population of 128,793, immigrants of the first and second generation numbered 23,995 (18.6%), increasing from 12,352 (10.4%) in 2008 and 3,106 (2.9%) in 1998. The most common foreign citizens are Poles, Lithuanians, and Latvians. About 80% of the city's foreign residents originate in European Union and EFTA member states, and over 58% are from the new member states of the EU, mainly former Eastern Bloc countries, which joined in 2004, 2007 and 2013.Children of foreign origin form a more considerable minority in the city's schools: as many as a third in places. The city is also visited by thousands of tourists, students, and other temporary residents, at times outnumbering natives in the city centre. Districts Reykjavík is divided into 10 districts: Vesturbær (District 1) Miðborg (District 2, city centre) Hlíðar (District 3) Laugardalur (District 4) Háaleiti og Bústaðir (District 5) Breiðholt (District 6) Árbær (District 7) Grafarvogur (District 8) Kjalarnes (District 9) (in the north) Grafarholt og Úlfarsárdalur (District 10)In addition there are hinterland areas (lightly shaded on the map) which are not assigned to any district. Economy Borgartún is the financial centre of Reykjavík, hosting a large number of companies and three investment banks. Reykjavík has been at the centre of Iceland's economic growth and subsequent economic contraction over the 2000s, a period referred to in foreign media as the "Nordic Tiger" years, or "Iceland's Boom Years". The economic boom led to a sharp increase in construction, with large redevelopment projects such as Harpa concert hall and conference centre and others. Many of these projects came to a halt in the following economic crash of 2008. Infrastructure Roads Per capita car ownership in Iceland is among the highest in the world at roughly 522 vehicles per 1,000 residents, though Reykjavík is not severely affected by congestion. Several multi-lane highways (mainly dual carriageways) run between the most heavily populated areas and most frequently driven routes. Parking spaces are also plentiful in most areas. Public transportation consists of a bus system called Strætó bs. Route 1 (the Ring Road) runs through the city outskirts and connects the city to the rest of Iceland. Airports and seaports Reykjavík Airport, the second largest airport in the country (after Keflavík International Airport), is positioned inside the city, just south of the city centre. It is mainly used for domestic flights, as well as flights to Greenland and the Faroe Islands. Since 1962, there has been some controversy regarding the location of the airport, since it takes up a lot of valuable space in central Reykjavík. Reykjavík has two seaports, the old harbour near the city centre which is mainly used by fishermen and cruise ships, and Sundahöfn in the east city which is the largest cargo port in the country. Railways There are no public railways in Iceland, because of its sparse population, but the locomotives used to build the docks are on display. Proposals have been made for a high-speed rail link between the city and Keflavík. District heating Volcanic activity provides Reykjavík with geothermal heating systems for both residential and industrial districts. In 2008, natural hot water was used to heat roughly 90% of all buildings in Iceland. Of total annual use of geothermal energy of 39 PJ, space heating accounted for 48%. Most of the district heating in Iceland comes from three main geothermal power plants: Svartsengi combined heat and power plant (CHP) Nesjavellir CHP plant Hellisheiði CHP plant Cultural heritage Safnahúsið (the Culture House) was opened in 1909 and has a number of important exhibits. Originally built to house the National Library and National Archives and also previously the location of the National Museum and Natural History Museum, in 2000 it was re-modeled to promote the Icelandic national heritage. Many of Iceland's national treasures are on display, such as the Poetic Edda, and the Sagas in their original manuscripts. There are also changing exhibitions of various topics. Literary heritage Reykjavík is the capital, and in fact Iceland's only city, and as such, it plays a vital role in all cultural life in the country. The city is home to Iceland's main cultural institutions, boasts a flourishing arts scene and is renowned as a creative city with a diverse range of cultural happenings and dynamic grassroots activities. Most of the country's writers live in the city, and it also provides the setting for the majority of contemporary Icelandic literature – a development that has gone hand in hand with the rapid expansion of the city in the past 100 years or so. Reykjavík is home to Icelandic medieval literature, including the Sagas of the Icelanders and the Poetic Edda, landmarks of world literature still widely read and translated today. This literary heritage is the core of the nation's identity and narrative art is the single most important part of its cultural history. The Árni Magnússon Institute for Icelandic Studies in Reykjavík is the centre of this heritage. It preserves manuscripts, conducts research on them and publishes texts for the public, in addition to offering research facilities and tutoring to foreign scholars and students. The Arnamagnæan Manuscript Collection was added to the UNESCO Memory of the World Register on 31 July 2009. Reykjavík city was designated as a UNESCO City of Literature in 2011 and joined then the UNESCO Creatives Cities network. Iceland is one of the smallest linguistic areas in the world, with only around 330,000 inhabitants and very few speakers outside the country. The language has not changed much since the time of settlement in the 9th century and modern Icelanders can still read the original medieval texts with relative ease. Literature plays a vital role in cherishing and cultivating the language, both original Icelandic literature and translations. Language undergoes constant renewal and development in fiction, and translation of foreign work has also been instrumental in conserving this thousand-year-old literary language. Award-winning authors Several Reykjavík writers have received international and Nordic awards. Halldór Laxness was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1955 for "vivid epic power which has renewed the great narrative art of Iceland". The House of Halldór Laxness, Gljúfrasteinn, in the capital area can be visited year-round. A number of writers have won the Nordic Council's Literature Prize, among them are Thor Vilhjálmsson, Einar Már Guðmundsson and Sjón, and authors such as Guðrún Helgadóttir, Kristín Steinsdóttir and Ragnheiður Gestsdóttir are winners of The Nordic Children's Literature Prize. Crime writer Arnaldur Indriðason has won prizes abroad, including The Golden Dagger Award. Among other prizes awarded to writers from Reykjavík are the Kairos Preis (Andri Snaer Magnason), the Swedish Academy's Nordic Literature Prize (Guðbergur Bergsson) and the Prix de Page (Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir). Contemporary Icelandic writers are published in an increased number in translations throughout the world. Lifestyle Nightlife Alcohol is expensive at bars. People tend to drink at home before going out. Beer was banned in Iceland until 1 March 1989 but has since become popular among many Icelanders as their alcoholic drink of choice. Live music The Iceland Airwaves music festival is staged annually in November. This festival takes place all over the city, and the concert venue Harpa is one of the main locations. Other venues that frequently organise live music events are Kex, Húrra, Gaukurinn (grunge, metal, punk), Mengi (centre for contemporary music, avant-garde music and experimental music), the Icelandic Opera and the National Theatre of Iceland for classical music. New Year's Eve The arrival of the new year is a particular cause for celebration to the people of Reykjavík. Icelandic law states that anyone may purchase and use fireworks during a certain period around New Year's Eve. As a result, every New Year's Eve the city is lit up with fireworks displays. Main sights Alþingishúsið – the Icelandic parliament building Austurvöllur – a park in central Reykjavík surrounded by restaurants and bars Árbæjarsafn (Reykjavík Open Air Museum) – Reykjavík's Municipal Museum CIA.IS – Center for Icelandic Art – general information on Icelandic visual art Hallgrímskirkja – the largest church in Iceland Harpa Reykjavík – Reykjavík Concert & Conference Center Heiðmörk – the largest forest and nature reserve in the area Höfði – the house in which Gorbachev and Reagan met in 1986 for the Iceland Summit Kringlan – the second-largest shopping mall in Iceland Laugardalslaug – swimming pool Laugavegur – main shopping street National and University Library of Iceland (Þjóðarbókhlaðan) National Museum of Iceland (Þjóðminjasafnið) Nauthólsvík – a geothermally-heated beach Perlan – a glass dome resting on six water tanks Reykjavík Town Hall – city hall Rauðhólar – a cluster of red pseudo- craters Reykjavík 871±2 – exhibition of an archaeological excavation of a Viking-age longhouse, from about AD 930 Reykjavík Art Museum – the largest visual art institution in Iceland Reykjavík Botanic Garden Reykjavík Maritime Museum – a maritime museum located by the old harbour Safnahúsið, culture house, National Centre for Cultural Heritage (Þjóðmenningarhúsið) Tjörnin – a small lake in central Reykjavík University of Iceland Recreation Reykjavík Golf Club was established in 1934. It is the oldest and largest golf club in Iceland. It consists of two 18-hole courses—one at Grafarholt and the other at Korpa. The Grafarholt golf course opened in 1963, which makes it the oldest 18-hole golf course in Iceland. The Korpa golf course opened in 1997. Education Secondary schools Borgarholtsskóli (Borgó) Fjölbrautaskólinn í Breiðholti (FB) Fjölbrautaskólinn við Ármúla (FÁ) Kvennaskólinn í Reykjavík (Kvennó) Menntaskólinn Hraðbraut Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík (MR) Menntaskólinn við Hamrahlíð (MH) Menntaskólinn við Sund (MS) Tækniskólinn Verzlunarskóli Íslands (Verzló) Universities Iceland Academy of the Arts Reykjavík University University of Iceland International schools International School of Iceland International Department at Landakotsskóli Sports teams Football Úrvalsdeild Fram (Grafarholt og Úlfarsárdalur youth club) KR (Vesturbær youth club) Leiknir (Breiðholt youth club (Efra-Breiðholt)) Valur (Hlíðar/Miðborg youth club) Víkingur (Háaleiti og Bústaðir youth club) 1. deild karla Fjölnir (Grafarvogur youth club) Fylkir (Árbær youth club) Kórdrengir KV Other youth clubs Clubs classified as youth clubs offer youth teams where anyone can train with the team, though each club is based in a certain area of Reykjavík and mainly serves that area. ÍR (Breiðholt youth club (Neðra-Breiðholt/Seljahverfi)) Þróttur (Laugardalur youth club) Other Twin towns – sister cities Reykjavík is twinned with: Lviv, Ukraine (2023) Seattle, United States (1986) Vilnius, Lithuania (2006) Winnipeg, Canada (1971) Wrocław, Poland (2017)In July 2013, mayor Jón Gnarr filed a motion before the city council to terminate the city's relationship with Moscow, in response to a trend of anti-gay legislation in Russia. Lviv in Ukraine replaced Moscow in 2023. Notable people See also Althing, national parliament Beer Day (Iceland) Icelandic Phallological Museum Kringlan, a shopping mall Menningarnótt, an annual music festival Rail transport in Iceland Reykjavík Green Days, an environment-related annual event Reykjavik Open, an annual chess tournament Notes References Sources External links Official website (in Icelandic)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reykjav%C3%ADk

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Horcajo de los Montes

Horcajo de los Montes is a municipality in Ciudad Real, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It has a population of 1,030.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horcajo_de_los_Montes

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Tagliacozzo

Tagliacozzo (Marsicano: Tajacózzo) is a town and comune in the province of L'Aquila, Abruzzo, central Italy. It is a member of the I Borghi più belli d'Italia ("The most beautiful villages of Italy") association. History Tagliacozzo lies in an area inhabited in early historic times by the Aequi and the Marsi, although the first mentions of the town dates from the 11th century AD. Later it was a possession on the Orsini, who established a mint here. They were succeeded by the Colonna (local lords including Prospero and Marcantonio Colonna), who held the Duchy of Tagliacozzo until 1806. Near the modern city (more precisely, near Scurcola Marsicana) was fought the Battle of Tagliacozzo (1268) between Conradin of Hohenstaufen and Charles I of Anjou, which resulted in Conradin's defeat and eventual execution. Main sights The Palazzo Ducale (Ducal Palace), built at the end of the 14th century by Roberto Orsini. The Convent of St. Francis, housing the tomb of Tommaso da Celano. Museo Orientale, with collections of Egyptian, Ethiopian and Eastern findings. 13th century fountain in Piazza dell'Obelisco, a national monument. Sanctuary of Maria Santissima dell'Oriente, on a hill 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from town. It is cited as early as the 14th century. People Andrea Argoli (1570–1657) Notes and references External links Page on Tagliacozzo in the Borghi più belli d'Italia website Images of Tagliacozzo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagliacozzo

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Benagues

Benagues (French pronunciation: ​[bənaɡ]; Occitan: Benagas) is a commune in the Ariège department of southwestern France. Population The Inhabitants of the Commune are known as Bénaguais. See also Communes of the Ariège department == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benagues

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Dubna

Dubna (Russian: Дубна́, IPA: [dʊbˈna]) is a town in Moscow Oblast, Russia. It has a status of naukograd (i.e. town of science), being home to the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, an international nuclear physics research center and one of the largest scientific foundations in the country. It is also home to MKB Raduga, a defense aerospace company specializing in design and production of missile systems, as well as to the Russia's largest satellite communications center owned by Russian Satellite Communications Company. The modern town was developed in the middle of the 20th century and town status was granted to it in 1956. Population: 70,663 (2010 Census); 60,951 (2002 Census); 65,805 (1989 Census). Geography The town is 120 meters (390 ft) above sea level, situated approximately 125 kilometers (78 mi) north of Moscow, on the Volga River, just downstream from the Ivankovo Reservoir. The reservoir is formed by a hydroelectric dam across the Volga situated within the town borders. The town lies on both banks of the Volga. The western boundary of the town is defined by the Moscow Canal joining the Volga, while the eastern boundary is defined by the Dubna River joining the Volga.Dubna is the northernmost town of Moscow Oblast. History Pre-World War II Fortress Dubna (Russian: Дубна) belonging to Rostov-Suzdal Principality was built in the area in 1132 by the order of Yuri Dolgoruki and existed until 1216. The fortress was destroyed during the feudal war between the sons of Vsevolod the Big Nest. The village of Gorodishche (Городище) was located on the right bank of the Volga River and was a part of the Kashin Principality. Dubna customs post (Дубненское мыто) was located in the area and was a part of the Principality of Tver. Before the October Revolution, few villages were in the area: Podberezye was on the left bank of the Volga, and Gorodishche, Alexandrovka, Ivankovo, Yurkino, and Kozlaki (Russian: Козлаки) were on the right bank. Right after the Revolution one of the first collective farms was organized in Dubna area. In 1931, the Orgburo of the Communist Party made a decision to build the Volga-Moscow Canal. Genrikh Yagoda, then the leader of the State Political Directorate, was put in charge of construction. The Canal was completed in 1937. Ivankovo Reservoir and Ivankovo hydroelectrical plant were also created as a part of the project. Many villages and the town Korcheva were submerged under water. Dubna is mentioned in Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's book The Gulag Archipelago as the town built by Gulag prisoners. Science The decision to build a proton accelerator for nuclear research was taken by the Soviet government in 1946. An impractical place where the current town is situated was chosen due to remoteness from Moscow and the presence of the Ivankovo power plant nearby. The scientific leader was Igor Kurchatov. The general supervisor of the project including construction of a settlement, a road and a railway connecting it to Moscow (largely involving penal labour of Gulag inmates) was the NKVD chief Lavrentiy Beria. After three years of intensive work, the accelerator was commissioned on 13 December 1949. The town of Dubna was officially inaugurated in 1956, together with the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (JINR), which has developed into a large international research laboratory involved mainly in particle physics, heavy ion physics, synthesis of transuranium elements, and radiobiology. In 1960, a town of Ivankovo situated on the opposite (left) bank of the Volga was merged into Dubna. In 1964, Dubna hosted the prestigious International Conference on High Energy Physics. Currently, a construction of NICA particle collider, a megascience project is underway in Dubna. Outstanding physicists of the 20th century including Nikolay Bogolyubov, Georgy Flyorov, Vladimir Veksler, and Bruno Pontecorvo used to work at the institute. A number of elementary particles and nuclei of transuranium elements (most recently, element 117) have been discovered and investigated there, leading to the honorary naming of chemical element 105 dubnium (Db) for the town. Administrative and municipal status Within the framework of administrative divisions, it is incorporated as Dubna Town Under Oblast Jurisdiction—an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts. As a municipal division, Dubna Town Under Oblast Jurisdiction is incorporated as Dubna Urban Okrug. Demographics Economics Before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, JINR and MKB Raduga were the main employers in the town. Since then their role has decreased significantly. Several small industrial enterprises have emerged, however the town still experiences some employment difficulties. Proximity to Moscow allows many to commute and work there. Plans by AFK Sistema and other investors including government structures have been announced to build a Russian analogue of Silicon Valley in Dubna. As of the beginning of 2007, nothing has commenced. Transport Dubna is starting point of the Moscow Canal. In addition to canal, Dubna is connected to moscow with А104 highway.Savyolovsky suburban railway line provide access to Moscow The public transport connections to Moscow include express trains, suburban trains and bus shuttles which depart from the Savyolovsky Rail Terminal. Culture Since 2007 Dubna is a headquarters and primary location of international jazz festival MuzEnergo with free for public one-day open air festival in summer and one-week events in local venues in spring and autumn. There are several museums in Dubna, including: Museum of Archeology and Local History of Dubna The JINR Museum of the History of Science and Technology Museum of Natural History at Dubna International University Museum of Locks Sports Dubna located on the Moscow Canal and Ivankovo Reservoir and hence it is a good destination for water transport such as windsurfing, kitesurfing, and water-skiing.. In 2004 Dubna hosted for the first time the stage of the World Cup in water skiing.In 2011,Water Ski World Championships was held in Dubna Dubna's sports facilities include two stadiums, a waterski stadium on the Volga River, three swimming pools, tennis courts, and five sports complexes. Trivia One of the world's tallest statues of Vladimir Lenin, 25 meters (82 ft) high, built in 1937, is located at Dubna at the confluence of the Volga River and the Moscow Canal. The accompanying statue of Joseph Stalin of similar size was demolished in 1961 during the period of de-stalinization. Gallery Twin towns and sister cities Dubna is twinned with: Giv'at Shmuel, Israel La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States Alushta, Ukraine Kurchatov, Kazakhstan Lincang, China Nová Dubnica, Slovakia References Notes Sources Московская областная Дума. Закон №11/2013-ОЗ от 31 января 2013 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Московской области», в ред. Закона №249/2019-ОЗ от 29 ноября 2019 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон Московской области "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Московской области"». Вступил в силу на следующий день после официального опубликования (13 января 2013 г.). Опубликован: "Ежедневные Новости. Подмосковье", №24, 12 февраля 2013 г. (Moscow Oblast Duma. Law #11/2013-OZ of January 31, 2013 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Moscow Oblast, as amended by the Law #249/2019-OZ of November 29, 2019 On amending the Law of Moscow Oblast "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Moscow Oblast". Effective as of the day following the day of the official publication (January 13, 2013).).Московская областная Дума. Закон №84/2005-ОЗ от 28 февраля 2005 г. «О статусе и границе городского округа Дубна», в ред. Закона №52/2009-ОЗ от 22 мая 2009 г «О внесении изменений в Закон Московской области "О статусе и границе городского округа Дубна"». Вступил в силу со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Ежедневные Новости. Подмосковье", №44, 12 марта 2005 г. (Moscow Oblast Duma. Law #84/2005-OZ of February 28, 2005 On the Status and the Border of Dubna Urban Okrug, as amended by the Law #52/2009-OZ of May 22, 2009 On Amending the Law of Moscow Oblast "On the Status and the Border of Dubna Urban Okrug". Effective as of the day of the official publication.). External links Media related to Dubna at Wikimedia Commons Official website of Dubna (in Russian) Dubna Business Directory (in Russian) News of Dubna Archived 5 October 2006 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubna

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Savignone

Savignone (Ligurian: Savignon) is a comune (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Genoa in the Italian region Liguria, located about 15 kilometres (9 mi) north of Genoa. Savignone borders the following municipalities: Busalla, Casella, Crocefieschi, Mignanego, Serra Riccò, Valbrevenna. History The area of Savignone was settled probably in the Iron Age. In the Middle Ages it was a fief of Tortona, and in 1242 it was acquired by the Republic of Genoa which entrusted it to the Spinola family. Later it was under the Fieschi, who sold it back to Genoa in 1636. From 1815 it was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia, belonging to Italy from 1861. Main sights Fieschi castle (13th century) Palazzo Fieschi (16th century) Parish church of St. Bartholomew, housing two canvasses by Luca Cambiaso. Demographic evolution References See also Parco naturale regionale dell'Antola

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savignone

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Villette

Villette or Villettes may refer to: People Arthur Villettes, (fl. 1746–1765), British diplomat Francois Villette (1621-1698), engineer, optician and fireworks expert at the court of Louis XIV of France Pierre Villette (1926–1998), French composer Rétaux de Villette (1759–1797), French forger Places France Ernemont-la-Villette, in the Seine-Maritime département La Villette, Calvados Muille-Villette, in the Somme département Les Villettes, in the Haute-Loire département Villette-d'Anthon, in the Isère département Villette-de-Vienne, in the Isère département Villette-lès-Arbois, in the Jura département Villette-lès-Dole, in the Jura département Villette, Meurthe-et-Moselle Villette-sur-Ain, in the Ain département Villette-sur-Aube, in the Aube département Villettes, in the Eure département Villette, Yvelines Villette (Savoy) Paris Barrière de la Villette, on the Place de Stalingrad Bassin de la Villette, the largest artificial lake in Paris Château Villette, a manor La Villette, Seine, a French commune annexed by Paris in 1860 Parc de la Villette, a.k.a. La Villette, an area in Paris, known for the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie science museum Grande halle de la Villette, a cultural center within the Parc de la Villette Porte de la Villette (Paris Métro) Other Villette (Charleroi Metro), Belgium Villette, Piedmont, in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, Italy Villette, Vaud, a commune in the canton of Vaud, Switzerland Other uses La Villette Charleroi, a Belgian table tennis club Villette (novel), by Charlotte Brontë, published in 1853

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Villette

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Okagaki, Fukuoka

Okagaki (岡垣町, Okagaki-machi) is a town located in Onga District, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. As of 30 April 2017, the town has an estimated population of 32,109 and a density of 660 persons per km². The total area is 48.51 km². The town is known within the region for its production of the loquat fruit. Its town mascots are two loquat characters named Biwarin and Biwasuke. Notable sights in the town include Budo No Ki, a venue featuring several restaurants and popular for weddings, as well as the Ashiya cycling road on Hatsu beach. A popular, well-established sushi restaurant called Sushi Yatai operates from a refurbished train car located along the main beach area. References External links Media related to Okagaki, Fukuoka at Wikimedia Commons Okagaki official website (in Japanese)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okagaki,_Fukuoka

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Dully

Dully is a municipality in the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. History Dully is first mentioned in 1238 as Delui. It is, as of 2023, governed by the great, overweight Kobi Dullagham. In June 2023, Kobi injured his foot in what can only be described as a terrorist incidence. Geography Dully has an area, as of 2009, of 1.7 square kilometers (0.66 sq mi). Of this area, 0.88 km2 (0.34 sq mi) or 53.0% is used for agricultural purposes, while 0.25 km2 (0.097 sq mi) or 15.1% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.48 km2 (0.19 sq mi) or 28.9% is settled (buildings or roads).Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 20.5% and transportation infrastructure made up 7.2%. Out of the forested land, 13.3% of the total land area is heavily forested and 1.8% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 31.3% is used for growing crops and 6.0% is pastures, while 15.7% is used for orchards or vine crops.The municipality was part of the Rolle District until it was dissolved on 31 August 2006, and Dully became part of the new district of Nyon.The municipality is located in the hills north of Lake Geneva. It consists of the village of Dully in the west and the hamlet of Saint-Bonnet in the east. Coat of arms The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Sable semee of Billets Or, a Lion rampant crowned Or langued Gules. Demographics Dully has a population (as of December 2020) of 624. As of 2008, 38.8% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (1999–2009 ) the population has changed at a rate of 29.4%. It has changed at a rate of 18% due to migration and at a rate of 8.9% due to births and deaths.Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks French (274 or 66.2%), with English being second most common (64 or 15.5%) and German being third (43 or 10.4%). There are 6 people who speak Italian.The age distribution, as of 2009, in Dully is; 79 children or 14.1% of the population are between 0 and 9 years old and 74 teenagers or 13.2% are between 10 and 19. Of the adult population, 51 people or 9.1% of the population are between 20 and 29 years old. 78 people or 14.0% are between 30 and 39, 94 people or 16.8% are between 40 and 49, and 70 people or 12.5% are between 50 and 59. The senior population distribution is 57 people or 10.2% of the population are between 60 and 69 years old, 33 people or 5.9% are between 70 and 79, there are 19 people or 3.4% who are between 80 and 89, and there are 4 people or 0.7% who are 90 and older.As of 2000, there were 162 people who were single and never married in the municipality. There were 223 married individuals, 10 widows or widowers and 19 individuals who are divorced.As of 2000, there were 161 private households in the municipality, and an average of 2.5 persons per household. There were 42 households that consist of only one person and 18 households with five or more people. Out of a total of 165 households that answered this question, 25.5% were households made up of just one person and there was 1 adult who lived with their parents. Of the rest of the households, there are 49 married couples without children, 59 married couples with children There were 7 single parents with a child or children. There were 3 households that were made up of unrelated people and 4 households that were made up of some sort of institution or another collective housing.In 2000 there were 116 single family homes (or 81.7% of the total) out of a total of 142 inhabited buildings. There were 14 multi-family buildings (9.9%), along with 7 multi-purpose buildings that were mostly used for housing (4.9%) and 5 other use buildings (commercial or industrial) that also had some housing (3.5%).In 2000, a total of 151 apartments (86.8% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 21 apartments (12.1%) were seasonally occupied and 2 apartments (1.1%) were empty. As of 2009, the construction rate of new housing units was 1.7 new units per 1000 residents. The vacancy rate for the municipality, in 2010, was 6.67%.The historical population is given in the following chart: Heritage sites of national significance Dully Castle is listed as a Swiss heritage site of national significance. Politics In the 2007 federal election the most popular party was the SVP which received 32.52% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the LPS Party (13.63%), the Green Party (11.85%) and the SP (10.84%). In the federal election, a total of 112 votes were cast, and the voter turnout was 44.4%. Economy As of 2010, Dully had an unemployment rate of 4%. As of 2008, there were 20 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 4 businesses involved in this sector. 6 people were employed in the secondary sector and there were 2 businesses in this sector. 39 people were employed in the tertiary sector, with 9 businesses in this sector. There were 204 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 39.2% of the workforce. In 2008 the total number of full-time equivalent jobs was 50. The number of jobs in the primary sector was 12, all of which were in agriculture. The number of jobs in the secondary sector was 6 of which 5 or (83.3%) were in manufacturing and 1 was in construction. The number of jobs in the tertiary sector was 32. In the tertiary sector; 12 or 37.5% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 10 or 31.3% were in a hotel or restaurant, 1 was in the information industry, 1 was a technical professional or scientist, 4 or 12.5% were in education.In 2000, there were 31 workers who commuted into the municipality and 161 workers who commuted away. The municipality is a net exporter of workers, with about 5.2 workers leaving the municipality for every one entering. Of the working population, 10.3% used public transportation to get to work, and 71.6% used a private car. Religion From the 2000 census, 127 or 30.7% were Roman Catholic, while 151 or 36.5% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church. Of the rest of the population, there was 1 member of an Orthodox church, and there were 49 individuals (or about 11.84% of the population) who belonged to another Christian church. There were 4 individuals (or about 0.97% of the population) who were Jewish, and 13 (or about 3.14% of the population) who were Islamic. 80 (or about 19.32% of the population) belonged to no church, are agnostic or atheist, and 6 individuals (or about 1.45% of the population) did not answer the question. Education In Dully about 124 or (30.0%) of the population have completed non-mandatory upper secondary education, and 142 or (34.3%) have completed additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule). Of the 142 who completed tertiary schooling, 37.3% were Swiss men, 19.0% were Swiss women, 25.4% were non-Swiss men and 18.3% were non-Swiss women.In the 2009/2010 school year there were a total of 50 students in the Dully school district. In the Vaud cantonal school system, two years of non-obligatory pre-school are provided by the political districts. During the school year, the political district provided pre-school care for a total of 1,249 children of which 563 children (45.1%) received subsidized pre-school care. The canton's primary school program requires students to attend for four years. There were 31 students in the municipal primary school program. The obligatory lower secondary school program lasts for six years and there were 19 students in those schools.As of 2000, there were 11 students in Dully who came from another municipality, while 68 residents attended schools outside the municipality. == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dully

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Les Moutiers-en-Cinglais

Les Moutiers-en-Cinglais (French pronunciation: [le mutje ɑ̃ sɛ̃ɡlɛ] (listen)) is a commune in the department of Calvados in the Normandy region in northwestern France. The commune is part of the area known as Suisse Normande. Population See also Communes of the Calvados department == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Moutiers-en-Cinglais

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Rémeling

Rémeling (German: Reimelingen) is a commune in the Moselle department in Grand Est in north-eastern France. See also Communes of the Moselle department References External links Media related to Rémeling at Wikimedia Commons

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%A9meling

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Greater Poland Voivodeship

Greater Poland Voivodeship (Polish: Województwo wielkopolskie [vɔjɛˈvut͡stfɔ vjɛlkɔˈpɔlskʲɛ]), also known as Wielkopolska Voivodeship, Wielkopolska Province, or Greater Poland Province, is a voivodeship, or province, in west-central Poland. It was created on 1 January 1999 out of the former Poznań, Kalisz, Konin, Piła and Leszno Voivodeships, pursuant to the Polish local government reforms adopted in 1998. The province is named after the region called Greater Poland or Wielkopolska [vjɛlkɔˈpɔlska] (listen). The modern province includes most of this historic region, except for some western parts. Greater Poland Voivodeship is second in area and third in population among Poland's sixteen voivodeships, with an area of 29,826 square kilometres (11,516 sq mi) and a population of close to 3.5 million. Its capital city is Poznań; other important cities include Kalisz, Konin, Piła, Ostrów Wielkopolski, Gniezno (an early capital of Poland) and Leszno. It is bordered by seven other voivodeships: West Pomeranian to the northwest, Pomeranian to the north, Kuyavian-Pomeranian to the north-east, Łódź to the south-east, Opole to the south, Lower Silesian to the southwest and Lubusz to the west. The city of Poznań has international twinning arrangements with the English county of Nottinghamshire. History Greater Poland, sometimes called the "cradle of Poland," formed the heart of the 10th-century early Polish state. Poznań and Gniezno were early centers of royal power, but following the region's devastation by pagan rebellion in the 1030s, and an invasion by Bretislaus I of Bohemia in 1038, the capital was moved by Casimir the Restorer from Gniezno to Kraków. In the testament of Bolesław III Wrymouth, which initiated the period of fragmentation of Poland (1138–1320), the western part of Greater Poland (including Poznań) was granted to Mieszko III the Old. The eastern part, with Gniezno and Kalisz, was part of the Duchy of Kraków, granted to Władysław II the Exile. However, for most of the period the two parts were under a single ruler, and were known as the Duchy of Greater Poland (although at times there were separately ruled duchies of Poznań, Gniezno, Kalisz and Ujście). The region came under the control of Władysław I the Elbow-High in 1314, and thus became part of the reunited Poland of which Władysław was crowned king in 1320. In the reunited kingdom, and later in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, the country came to be divided into administrative units called voivodeships. In the case of the Greater Poland region these were Poznań Voivodeship and Kalisz Voivodeship. The Commonwealth also had larger subdivisions known as prowincja, one of which was named Greater Poland. However, this prowincja covered a larger area than the Greater Poland region itself, also taking in Masovia and Royal Prussia. (This division of Crown Poland into two entities called Greater and Lesser Poland had its roots in the Statutes of Casimir the Great of 1346–1362, where the laws of "Greater Poland" – the northern part of the country – were codified in the Piotrków statute, with those of "Lesser Poland" in the separate Wiślica statute.) In 1768, a new Gniezno Voivodeship was formed out of the northern part of Kalisz Voivodeship. However more far-reaching changes would come with the Partitions of Poland. In the first partition (1772), northern parts of Greater Poland along the Noteć (German Netze) were taken over by Prussia, becoming the Netze District. In the second partition (1793) the whole of Greater Poland was absorbed by Prussia, becoming part of the province of South Prussia. It remained so in spite of the first Greater Poland Uprising (1794), part of the unsuccessful Kościuszko Uprising directed chiefly against the Russian Empire. More successful was the Greater Poland Uprising of 1806, which led to the region's becoming part of the Napoleonic Duchy of Warsaw (forming the Poznań Department and parts of the Kalisz and Bydgoszcz Departments). However, following the Congress of Vienna in 1815, Greater Poland was again partitioned, with the western part (including Poznań) going to Prussia. The eastern part joined the Russian-controlled Kingdom of Poland, where it formed the Kalisz Voivodeship until 1837, then the Kalisz Governorate (merged into the Warsaw Governorate between 1844 and 1867). Within the Prussian empire, western Greater Poland became the Grand Duchy of Posen (Poznań), which theoretically held some autonomy. Following an unrealized uprising in 1846, and the more substantial but still unsuccessful uprising of 1848 (during the Spring of Nations), the Grand Duchy was replaced by the Province of Posen. The authorities made efforts to Germanize the region, particularly after the founding of Germany in 1871, and from 1886 onwards the Prussian Settlement Commission was active in increasing German land ownership in formerly Polish areas. Following the end of World War I, the Greater Poland Uprising (1918–1919) ensured that most of the region became part of the newly independent Polish state, forming most of Poznań Voivodeship (1921–1939). Northern and some western parts of Greater Poland remained in Germany, where they formed much of the province of Posen-West Prussia (1922–1938), whose capital was Schneidemühl (Piła). Following the German invasion of 1939, Greater Poland was incorporated into Nazi Germany, becoming the province called Reichsgau Posen, later Reichsgau Wartheland (Warthe being the German name for the Warta river). The Polish population was oppressed, with many former officials and others considered potential enemies by the Nazis being imprisoned or executed, including at the notorious Fort VII concentration camp in Poznań. Poznań was declared a stronghold city (Festung) in the closing stages of the war, being taken by the Red Army in the Battle of Poznań, which ended on 22 February 1945. After the war, Greater Poland was fully within the Polish People's Republic, as Poznań Voivodeship. With the reforms of 1975 this was divided into smaller provinces (the voivodeships of Kalisz, Konin, Leszno and Piła, and a smaller Poznań Voivodeship). The present-day Greater Poland Voivodeship, again with Poznań as its capital, was created in 1999. Cities and towns The voivodeship contains 7 cities and 106 towns. These are listed below in descending order of population (according to official figures for 2019 ): . Geography Topography The relief of Greater Poland, geological conditions and soil have been shaped by two glaciations: The Baltic glaciation in the lowlands of northern and central Europe where there are now numerous lakes of the Pomeranian Lake District, a feature especially common in and around Poznań and Gniezno. The Mid-glaciation in the southern part of the province, where there is less terrain diversity and a lack of major lakes.The highest elevation is Greater Kobyla Mountain (284 m) in the Ostrzeszowski Hills, the lowest area is located in the valley of the Warta River at the mouth of its tributary the Noteć (21 m) in the north-western part of the region. Agriculturally fertile soils account for around 60% of the province's area, while 20%, the rest of the non-forested or urban areas, is mostly wetland soil (muck-peat and alluvial soils). An area of approximately 800,000 hectares (2,000,000 acres) is covered by forests, this represents around 25.8% of the total surface area of the region. In the lake districts of the northern and central parts of the province there are about 800 lakes; 58% of which cover an area of at least 10 hectares (25 acres) and 8%, with an area exceeding 100 hectares (250 acres). The largest reservoir is the natural Greater Powidzkie Lake (1,036 ha (2,560 acres)) in the Gniezno Lake District. Wielkopolska Region lies within the basin of the Oder River, 88% of the province's surface water drains into the Warta river basin, and the remaining 12% is drained by a multitude of other river systems, including the Barycz, Ladislaus Trench and Obrzycy waterways. The quality of river waters is generally poor, but their condition is gradually improving and should soon be classed as 'clean'. Geology The main mineral energy resources in Greater Poland are lignite, natural gas, oil and peat. Brown coal deposits are currently mined in the Konin area, and form the basis for the province's power industry (the Pątnów-Adams-Konin coal-fired power stations account for more than 10% of the national electricity production). The region also has significant quantities of peat deposits; it is calculated that there are ca. 886,000 hectares (2,190,000 acres) of land covered with an average thickness of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) of peat. An abundance of raw materials used in the production of numerous medicines was recently discovered in the muds of Błażejewo, Oderbank and Mechnacz. In addition, very large deposits of brown coal have been discovered in the vicinity of Kościan, these however are not currently being extracted and probably never will be extracted, due to the expense that would be incurred in adapting the site to build a coal mine and the need to resettle thousands of people. Rock salt is mined intensively at a salt mine in Kłodawa (this mine alone accounts for about 20% of domestic production). Throughout the province there are significant deposits of aggregates, gypsum, ceramic materials, and lacustrine chalk. In Kościan the largest and most modern, a natural gas production site is in operation. It supplies raw material for Kościańska Zieme, and Zielona Gora CHP. It is estimated that at the rate local gas reserves are being exploited, the reserves in Kościan will be enough for about 20 years of operation, thus practically allowing for local independence against the effects of gas crises. Climate Wielkopolska is influenced by oceanic air masses that affect the mildness of the climate. The farther east one travels the more distinctly continental the climate becomes. The area is situated in the Silesian Greater Poland agro-climatic region where the average annual temperature is about 8.2 °C, and in the north drops to around 7.6 °C. It is slightly warmer in the south and west where the average temperature is usually about 8.5 °C. The number of days with snow can reach up to 57 days in and around the Kalisz district. The growing season is one of the longest in Poland. On the province's southern plains this season constitutes around 228 days, while north of Gniezno and Szamotuły this gradually declines to 216 days. Precipitation ranges from 500 to 550 mm. Despite this the region is still faced with a deficit in rainfall, particularly in the eastern part of the province (around Słupcy, Kazimierz Biskupi, Kleczew) where sometimes experience only 450 mm of rainfall per year, this threatens steppization of the region. Throughout the province there is typically a prevailing westerly wind. Transportation Greater Poland is a major transport hub within Poland; a great deal of traffic from Russia and other states of the former Soviet Union passes through Poznań and Konin to reach Germany and other EU member states. To the south runs the international route from Gdańsk via Poznań and Leszno to Prague and then to the south of Europe. There is also a major highway in the province, the A2 motorway, which when completed will run from the western border of Poland with Germany, through Poznań to Warsaw and then via Belarus to Moscow. The main railway hubs located in Greater Poland are Poznań, Piła and Ostrów Wielkopolski. PKP Intercity operate a number of trains a day between Warsaw and Berlin which provide a fast connection for the two cities also to Poznań. This route was the first in Poland, adapted for use by the European high-speed transportation system. In the near future the government expects to construct a high-speed rail line in the shape of a Y connecting Kalisz and Poznań from Łódź, Warsaw and Wrocław. Poznań is the port of arrival for most international travellers as it plays host to Ławica International Airport, which has recently seen the second-highest passenger growth rate in the country. Economy The Gross domestic product (GDP) of the province was 40.4 billion € in 2018, accounting for 8.1% of Polish economic output. GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power was 19,700 € or 65% of the EU27 average in the same year. The GDP per employee was 72% of the EU average. Politics The Greater Poland voivodeship's government is headed by the province's voivode (governor) who is appointed by the Polish Prime Minister. The voivode is then assisted in performing his duties by the voivodeship's marshal, who is the appointed speaker for the voivodeship's executive and is elected by the sejmik (provincial assembly). The current voivode of Greater Poland is Łukasz Mikołajczyk, whilst the present marshal is Marek Woźniak. The Sejmik of Greater Poland consists of 39 members. 2018 local elections Governors Administrative division Greater Poland Voivodeship is divided into 35 counties (powiats): 4 city counties and 31 land counties. These are further divided into 226 gminas. The counties are listed in the following table (ordering within categories is by decreasing population). Protected areas Protected areas in Greater Poland Voivodeship include two National Parks and 12 Landscape Parks. These are listed below. Drawno National Park (partly in Lubusz and West Pomeranian Voivodeships) Greater Poland National Park Barycz Valley Landscape Park (partly in Lower Silesian Voivodeship) Chłapowski Landscape Park Lednica Landscape Park Powidz Landscape Park Promno Landscape Park Przemęt Landscape Park (partly in Lubusz Voivodeship) Pszczew Landscape Park (partly in Lubusz Voivodeship) Puszcza Zielonka Landscape Park Rogalin Landscape Park Sieraków Landscape Park Warta Landscape Park Żerków-Czeszewo Landscape Park See also Prussia's Province of Posen (1818–1919) Second Polish Republic's Poznań Voivodeship (1921–1939) References Further reading Zygmunt Boras, Książęta Piastowscy Wielkopolski (Piast Princes of Wielkopolska), Poznań, Wydawnictwo Poznańskie, 1983. External links wielkopolska-region.pl Information about Great Poland; Multilingual. greatpoland.eu Archived 23 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine Data base about: Business, Culture, Sport, Motorization, Tourism, Agrotourism, Medicine, Health by CyberWielkopolska Greater Poland Local Government Office ChefMoz Dining Guide Greater Poland Wielkopolska at Curlie

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greater_Poland_Voivodeship

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SkySat

SkySat is a constellation of sub-meter resolution Earth observation satellites owned by Planet Labs, providing imagery, high-definition video and analytics services. Planet acquired the satellites with their purchase of Terra Bella (formerly Skybox Imaging), a Mountain View, California-based company founded in 2009 by Dan Berkenstock, Julian Mann, John Fenwick, and Ching-Yu Hu, from Google in 2017. Overview The resolution of the SkySat satellite imagery and videos is high enough to observe objects that impact the global economy such as terrain, cars and shipping containers. The satellites can capture video clips lasting up to 90 seconds at 30 frames per second. The high-definition satellite video from SkySat satellites "could help us understand our world better by analyzing movement of goods and people, providing visual data about supply chains, shipping, industrial plant activity, and even humanitarian relief efforts".The constellation's goal is to be able to provide high-resolution satellite imagery of any place on Earth multiple times a day. When Skybox originally developed the satellites, they planned to "change the nature" of the satellite industry by building satellites with "off-the-shelf" electronics that cost under US$50 million. History By April 2012, Skybox Imaging had raised a total of $91 million (equivalent to about $116M in 2022) of private capital from Khosla Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Canaan Partners and Norwest Venture Partners to develop the SkySat constellation.On 21 November 2013, the first satellite, SkySat-1, was launched on a Dnepr rocket from Dombarovsky Air Base, Russia. Less than a month later, on 11 December 2013, the first images captured by the SkySat-1 satellite, of Perth, Abu Dhabi, and the coast of Somalia, were released. The second satellite, SkySat-2, launched on a Soyuz-2/Fregat rocket from Baikonur, Kazakhstan on 8 July 2014. The company plans to eventually launch a fleet of 24 satellites. and released its first images within 48 hours of launch.On 10 February 2014, SSL announced that Skybox had awarded it a contract to build 13 more satellites based on a revised "SkySat C" design. The first of these, Skysat-3, also referred to as SkySat-C1, was launched on 22 June 2016 by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C34.On 10 June 2014, Skybox Imaging announced that it had entered into an agreement to be acquired by Google for $500 million (equivalent to about $618M in 2022). The acquisition was completed on 1 August 2014. Skybox Imaging changed its name to "Terra Bella" on 8 March 2016, to indicate its focus on image analytics. The new name was partially based on the Terra Bella Avenue in Mountain View, California, where the company's headquarters are located. Terra bella is Italian for "beautiful Earth". The name change was also partially due to perceived trademark infringement that came to light in the Google acquisition. Four more SkySat units were launched on 16 September 2016, by the Vega rocket's seventh flight from Kourou.In 2017, Google sold Terra Bella and its SkySat satellite constellation to Planet Labs, adding to their existing fleet of around 50 satellites, for an undisclosed price and entered into a multi-year agreement to purchase SkySat imaging data. Planet Labs launched six more SkySat satellites, along with four Dove CubeSats, on a Minotaur-C rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base on 31 October 2017. An additional two SkySat satellites and three Dove CubeSats were launched on a Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg on 3 December 2018. Satellite constellation The SkySat satellites are based on the CubeSat concept, using inexpensive automotive grade electronics and fast commercially available processors, but scaled up to approximately the size of a minifridge. The satellites are approximately 80 centimetres (31 in) long, compared to approximately 30 centimetres (12 in) for a 3U CubeSat, and weigh 220 pounds (100 kg).The first three prototype satellites (SkySat-1, 2 and 3) were produced by Skybox Imaging in-house. SkySats 1 & 2 did not have a propulsion system, SkySat 3 had a propulsion system built by ECAPS in Sweden.The other 13 satellites are manufactured by SSL, the optical payloads are built by L3 Technologies, and the satellite thrusters are provided by ECAPS. The 13 SkySat-C satellites are slightly larger and heavier (with mass about 120 kg or 264 lbs) than the prototypes. They have a planned operational life of 6 years.The SkySat-C satellites were put on a 500-kilometre (310 mi) sun-synchronous orbit.Three of Planet's commercial SkySat (SkySat-16, -17 and -18) Earth-imaging spacecraft launched on top of a stack of 58 SpaceX Starlink-8 satellites on 13 June 2020 aboard a Falcon 9 rocket, and three more (SkySat-19, -20 and -21) hitched a ride on another SpaceX mission on August 18, 2020. Built by Maxar Technologies, each of the SkySat satellites weighs around 110 kilograms (240 lb) at launch. The SkySats are about the size of a mini-refrigerator, and their optical instruments produce images of Earth with a resolution of 50 cm, according to Planet. List of satellites There have been 21 satellites launched. References External links Official website

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SkySat

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Ayn, Savoie

Ayn (French pronunciation: ​[ajɛ̃]; Arpitan: Ayin) is a commune in the Savoie department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. See also Communes of the Savoie department == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayn,_Savoie

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Lacour

Lacour (Languedocien: La Cort) is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Occitanie region in southern France. See also Communes of the Tarn-et-Garonne department == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lacour

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Mustvee

Mustvee is a town in Mustvee Parish, Estonia. It lies on the shore of Lake Peipus in Jõgeva County. Its population of 1,600 is approximately half Estonian and half Russian. The name of Mustvee was first recorded in 1343 at the time of reign of Livonian order. It became a haven for Russian Old Believers after the Russian government declared them outlaws in 1658. Mustvee has held fairs for the past two centuries. Due to its position at the broadest part of the lake, this traditional fishing town is increasingly popular as a tourist centre. The new Harbour of Mustvee was opened 18 December 2014. Demographics Climate List of mayors of Mustvee Gallery References == External links ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mustvee

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Aurillac

Aurillac (French pronunciation: [oʁijak] (listen); Occitan: Orlhac [uɾˈʎak]) is the prefecture of the Cantal department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as Aurillacois or Aurillacoises. Geography Aurillac is at 600 m (2,000 ft) above sea level and located at the foot of the Cantal mountains in a small sedimentary basin. The city is built on the banks of the Jordanne, a tributary of the Cère. It is 558 km (347 mi) south of Paris and 223 km (139 mi) north of Toulouse. Aurillac was part of a former Auvergne province called Haute-Auvergne and is only 20 km (12 mi) away from the heart of the Auvergne Volcano Park. Access to the commune is by numerous roads including the D922 from Naucelles in the north, the D17 from Saint-Simon in the north-east, Route nationale N122 from Polminhac in the east which continues to Sansac-de-Marmiesse in the south-west, the D920 to Arpajon-sur-Cère in the south-east, and the D18 to Ytrac in the west. Aurillac station, in the centre of town, lies on the Figeac-Arvant railway. It has rail connections to Clermont-Ferrand, Brive-la-Gaillarde and Toulouse. About 50% of the commune is urbanised with farmland to the east and west of the urban area. Aurillac – Tronquières Airport is located in the south of the commune with its runway extending beyond the commune boundary. It is connected to Paris by two daily flights by the Air France subsidiary HOP!. The commune was awarded three flowers by the National Council of Towns and Villages in Bloom in the Competition of cities and villages in Bloom.The Jordanne river flows through the heart of the commune from north to south where it joins the Cère just south of the commune. Localities and districts Boudieu on the N122, which is called the Route de Sansac-de-Marmiesse or de Toulouse, is a farm with a farm house from the 1900s and three farm buildings. Boudieu-Bas on the N122 is a set of houses built in the 1960s with some buildings used commercially or for crafts. Gueret on the N122 is a farm with two houses and two agricultural buildings. This hamlet is traversed by an old country road from a place formerly called Julien from which name for the SNCF Julien Bridge comes. The former Julien is towards the Chateau of Tronquières in the urban area on Avenue Charles de Gaulle opposite the Medico-Surgical Centre (CMC). This farm with its house and barn were absorbed by the city on the creation of a district in the 1970s until the mid 1980s. The agricultural buildings were demolished to make room for a shop. La Sablère on the RN122 is a set of dwellings mostly from the 1980s. Originally there was a farm. This place spreads over two communes: Aurillac and Arpajon-sur-Cere with the majority of the buildings in Arpajon-sur-Cere. Le Barra near the avenue Aristide Briand, also called the Ancienne route de Vic or the old N120. This is a farm and houses. Les Quatre Chemins at the intersection of the D120 and the D922 on the borders of Aurillac, Naucelles, and Ytrac. It is a complex of commercial buildings and residences on the crossroads of the two former National highways. Tronquières on an avenue. Originally it was a farm with a chateau but the chateau and outbuildings were demolished in 2011. Today it is a grouping of housing units specializing in housing assistance for the integration of disabled people (ADAPEI) and the airport. It is the reception area for travellers to the city and a former landfill and rubbish centre. Before the construction of the airport the meadows were areas for summer grazing for nearby farms such as the Boudieu farm. Climate Influenced by its altitude, Aurillac features an oceanic climate (Cfb), closely bordering on a warm-summer humid continental climate (Dfb) under the Köppen system. In spite of this, the city enjoys more than 2,100 hours of sunshine per year on average, but also a high amount of precipitations per year on average. The record low temperature was −24.5 °C (−12 °F) on 9 January 1985 and the record high was 38.0 °C (100 °F) on 30 July 1983. Toponymy The origin of the name Aurillac is from Aureliacum meaning "Villa of Aurelius" and dates back to the Gallo-Roman era. It is attested in the polygonal Fanum d'Aron which was built in the 1st century and discovered in 1977 at Lescudillier. History It is thought that in the Gallic era the original site of the city was on the heights overlooking the current city at Saint-Jean-de-Dône ("Dône" from dunum) and, like most oppida, it was abandoned after the Roman conquest in favour of a new city established on the plain. With the return of instability in the Lower Roman Empire there was a movement towards Encastellation and a new fortified site was established in mid-slope between the former oppidum and the old Gallo-Roman city where the Chateau of Saint-Étienne is today. The history of the city is really only known from 856, the year of the birth of Count Gerald of Aurillac at the castle where his father, also named Gerald, was lord. In 885 he founded a Benedictine monastery which later bore his name. It was in this monastery that Gerbert, the first French pope under the name of Sylvester II, studied.The city was made in a Sauveté area which was located between four crosses and was founded in 898 by Gerald shortly after the abbey. The first urban area was circular and built close to the Abbey of Aurillac. Gerald died around 910 but his influence was such that over the centuries Gerald was always a baptismal name prevalent in the population of Aurillac and the surrounding area. It was in the 13th century that municipal conflict began between consuls and abbots. After taking the Chateau of Saint-Étienne in 1255 and two negotiated agreements called the Peace of Aurillac, relations were normalised. In the 13th and 14th centuries Aurillac withstood several sieges by the English and in the 16th century continued to suffer from civil and religious wars. The influence of the abbey declined with its secularization and its implementation of orders. In 1569 the city was delivered by treason to the Protestants: people were tortured and held to ransom and the Abbey was sacked. The library and archives were all burned. Before the French Revolution Aurillac had a Présidial and carried the title of capital of the Haute-Auvergne. In 1790 on the creation of departments, after a period of alternating with Saint-Flour, Aurillac definitively became the capital of Cantal. The arrival of the railway in 1866 accelerated the development of the city. At the first census in 1759 there were 6,268 people in Aurillac, it now has about 28,000. Heraldry Government Cantons Aurillac is the capital of the department of Cantal (seat of the prefecture) and of the Arrondissement of Aurillac as well as for three cantons (INSEE names): Aurillac-1: Ytrac and part of Aurillac Aurillac-2: part of Aurillac Aurillac-3: part of Aurillac Administration List of Successive Mayors Mayors from 1941 Twinning Aurillac has twinning associations with: Bocholt (Germany) since 1972. Bassetlaw (United Kingdom) since 1980. Bougouni (Mali) since 1985. Altea (Spain) since 1992. Vorona (Romania) since 2000. Demography In 2017 the commune had 25,499 inhabitants. Economy Aurillac is the seat of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Cantal which manages commercial villages (including that of Tronquières in Aurillac). Aurillac Airport is managed by the CABA (Urban Community of the Aurillac Basin Agglomeration). Shops Aurillac has hundreds of boutiques, shops, and artisans. Industry Processing of agricultural products, particularly milk and meat. Manufacturing and packaging of Cantal cheese. Historic French capital of umbrellas with half of French production - 250,000 units in 1999 - and provides 100 jobs. After declining for several decades at the end of the 20th century, Aurillac umbrella producers decided to join their forces and created the Economic Interest Group, or GIE in 1997. They then launched their products under a single label, L'aurillac Parapluie (The Aurillac Umbrella). Aurillac is also the seat of what was the European leader in healthcare duvets and pillows: Abeil and the plasturgist Auriplast specializes in injection and electroplating.Also found in Aurillac are different players in various food fields (e.g. the Couderc distillery with its famous gentian liqueur and famous establishments such as the Leroux and Bonal cheese factories, the Morin refinery, MAS charcuteries, Teil cured by the Altitude group, refrigerated transport operator Olano Ladoux etc.). Aurillac is best known for its Cheese centre based on the heights of Aurillac close to the Chateau Saint-Étienne. It was established in 1993, the structure consists of an association bringing together many organisations to develop scientific programs. It develops scientific programs relating to the cheese sector. Data processing Aurillac hosts several websites: video games with Jeuxvideo.com trucks with Net-truck aeronautical accessories with AerodiscountAurillac has also been the headquarters of the ERP vendor Qualiac since 1979. Culture and heritage The commune has a very large number of buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments. There are also a very large number of items which are registered as historical objects in various locations. Civil heritage Some of the most interesting sites are: The Chateau of Saint-Etienne (9th century) which overlooks the city. The Aurillac National Stud The Musée des volcans (Museum of Volcanos), at the château Saint-Étienne The Musée d'art et d'archéologie d'Aurillac (Museum of Art and Archaeology), 37 rue des Carmes The former Consul's House. The former Présidial The former Jesuit College The Palace of Justice (1872) The Prison (1855) The Police Station (1872) The Town Hall (17th century) The Prefecture (19th century) Religious heritage The commune has several religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments: The Abbey Saint-Géraud (11th century). The Abbey has several items that are registered as historical objects: The Organ (1760) The Instrumental part of the Organ (1760) A Reliquary of Saint Blaise (17th century) A Reliquary of Saint Benoît (17th century) A Reliquary of Saint Odon (17th century) The Church of Notre-Dame-aux-Neiges (1332). The chapel contains a large number of items which are registered as historical objects. The Church of Sacré Coeur (1937). The chapel has one group of items that is registered as an historical object: Interior Decor, Stained glass, Reliefs, paintings, and mosaics (20th century) The Chapel of Aurinques (1616). The chapel has a number of items that are registered as historical objects: A Bronze Bell (1554) An Ex-voto Painting: Procession of Acts of Grace (1701) An Ex-voto Painting: Deliverance of the Town (18th century) An Ex-voto Painting: Attack on the Town (1701) A Glass wall: Virgin and Child (163) The Church of Saint-Joseph-Ouvrier (20th century) Facilities Cultural facilities Aurillac has several dance centres: Folk dancing: dancers and singers from the Auvergne School Conservatory: National School of Music and Dance of Aurillac Arabesque; Katy Bardy Dance School Modern jazz and classical Chorège Dance School; La Manufacture: a higher centre of dance, movement, and images created by Vendetta Mathea. Society of Upper Auvergne: a Society of letters, sciences and arts "La Haute-Auvergne" Theatre 4: rue de la Coste next to the Consul's House Le Prisme: conference rooms and entertainment Cultural events and festivities The International festival of street theatre of Aurillac has been held every year since 1986 at the end of August for a period of four days. Since 2004 this festival has been preceded by "Les préalables" (Preliminaries) of variable duration (often starting in early August) with street performances throughout Cantal (and sometimes even in Corrèze) with the support of the association éclat. 2008 who inaugurated the first "University of Street Art". The European gourmet taste for three days in June is a gastronomic and cultural festival during which various prizes are awarded (Les Goudots gourmands)) and where there are cooking classes with different themes each year (e.g. 2008: Slow Food) provided by prominent chefs. In 2007 there was the first edition of '36 Hours of Aurillac with Solos and small dance pieces. Sports The Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne: the Rugby Team had its 100th anniversary in 2004 and has played in Rugby Pro D2 since 2001, except for 2006-2007 where the "purgatory" in Fédérale 1 ended with the title of champion of France. Since the Second World War the club has always played either in the elite until 1986 (except 1949 and 1955) then later in group A, B, or Pro D2. Aurillac is rugby country as it is one of the few cities where there are more spectators at rugby matches than football matches. Matches take place at the Stade Jean Alric. The Athlétic Club Vélocipédique Aurillacois (Cycling Athletic Club): a cycling team founded in 1977 by Pierre Labro and led, since 1983, by André Valadou. In 2011 and 2012 it was the largest cycling club in Auvergne by number of members. In 2013 three riders from the club ranked at the highest level with Christophe Laborie among the professionals and François Bidard and Pierre Bonnet first in the amateur division. With a focus on training, the club sees at least one of its representatives each year wear Auvergne colours during a championship of France. The Aurillac FCA: a soccer team playing in CFA2 although the Aurillac reserve team plays in DH Auvergne and is Team C in the Regional Honour Division. Its training centre allows it to have 3 youth teams playing in the national championships (14 years, 16 years, and 18 years - the highest level for these categories). Aurillac Handball Cantal Auvergne: a professional Handball team who played in the first division for the 2008–2009 season for the first time in its history Basket club Aurillac Arpajon Géraldienne (BAAG): This is the Aurillac Basketball Club. Girls Team 1 plays at the highest regional level. This is the biggest club in the city in terms of members and results. There is also the Cantalienne Club. The Jean-Alric Stadium: the Municipal Stadium for the city of Aurillac and its rugby club - the Stade Aurillacois Cantal Auvergne. It owes its name to Jean Alric, a former player of the club, shot in Aurillac by the Germans during the Second World War. Volleyball Club (AVB): Aurillac has a volleyball club. The senior male and female teams play in Regional 1. The club has UFOLEP teams and youth teams. The club organises three tournaments open to everyone: A tournament starting in September; A night of volleyball in December (the largest in Auvergne); A Summer tournament in June.In 2011 Aurillac hosted the start of the Tour de France in the 10th stage. Places of worship Saint Joseph Catholic Church Reformed Church of France, 10 rue des Frères-Delmas (Protestant) Evangelical Pentecostal Church - 6 Avenue des Pupilles de la Nation (ADD) (National Evangelical Council of France (CNEF)) Military Two military units are garrisoned in Aurillac: the 139th Infantry Regiment, 1906 the 2/16 Squadron of riot police which became the 33/5 in 1991 after the creation of legions of riot police then finally the 18/5 in 2011 after the dissolution of the GM group of Clermont-Ferrand.Aurillac has long been a garrison town with the 139th Infantry Regiment, who are noted for their feats during the Battle of the Somme. They have a remarkable chronology and a cabinet of trophies were displayed in the Hall of Honour of the Departmental Military Delegation who have since moved, forgetting to preserve and safeguard this part of history. The military square is wide and airy and a feature of military architecture of the time. It is now known as the Zone of Peace and is now converted into a parking lot leaving a clear view of the 3 buildings that surround it. The entrance to the barracks was destroyed and replaced by a modern building. It houses administrative services, treasury, CABA, Mortgages, Cadastre etc. In the 1950s the old military buildings became the "Cité Administrative". The clock building is called so because of the great clock that adorns this building. It is also commonly called the House of unions and associations. Originally these buildings were the former Convent of the Visitation, built in 1682. The Convent was converted into a barracks for infantry in 1792 and occupied half of the buildings until 1922, hence the transformation of buildings to equestrian use. Today the Pierre-Mendès-France Cultural Centre occupies the premises including the Museum of Art and Archaeology, the County Conservatory of Music and Dance, the youth service activities of the town of Aurillac, and a crèche for children. The Stables were then used by the national stud established by Napoleon in 1806; a depot of stallions was created in Aurillac. At the Battle of Austerlitz Napoleon rode Cantal, a speckled gray horse which is visible in a painting in the Art and Archaeology Museum. When the National Stud moved the stables were transformed into an exhibition hall / gallery and a range of exhibitions is held every year including the Salon des Métiers d'Art d'Aurillac. Notable people linked to the commune Aurillac was the birthplace of Saint Gerald of Aurillac (855-909), politician. Gerbert of Aurillac (938-1003), Mathematician, tutor to Hugues Capet, Pope under the name Sylvester II. William of Auvergne (1190-1249), Theologian, Bishop of Paris, Chaplain and minister for Saint Louis. Jean Cinquarbres (1514-1587, Orientalist, Principal of Fortet College the Professor of Hebrew and Syriac at the Royal College. Jean-Aymar Piganiol de La Force (1673-1753), Geographer. Antoine Delzons (1743-1816), MP Louis Furcy Grognier (1774-1837), Director of the Veterinary school of Lyon Jean-Baptiste Carrier (1756-1794), bloodthirsty republican revolutionary Édouard Jean-Baptiste Milhaud (1766-1833), cousin of Carrier, revolutionary, Commissioner of the Army, General of the Army of the Republic and the Empire, also known for his bloodthirsty actions Alexis Joseph Delzons (1775-1812), General of the Empire Charles Antoine Manhès (1777-1854), General of the Army of the Republic and the Empire Arsène Lacarrière-Latour (1778-1837), Engineer, architect, urban planner in Louisiana Eloy Chapsal (1811-1882), Painter and director of the Museum of Aurillac. Claude Sosthène Grasset d'Orcet (1828-1900), Archaeologist, historian Émile Duclaux (1840-1904), Physician, Chemist and biologist Jean-Baptiste Rames (1832–1894), Geologist Jules Rengade (1841-1915), Doctor, médecin, novelist for children, scientific journalist Francis Charmes (1849-1916), Journalist, Academic Géraud Réveilhac (1851-1937), General Paul Doumer (1857-1932), President of the Third Republic Jean de Bonnefon (1866-1928), Journalist, polygrapher Pierre de Vaissière (1867-1942), paleographic archivist, historian Marie Marvingt (1875–1963), an athlete, mountaineer, Pioneer medical evacuation pilot, and the most decorated woman in the history of France. Georges Monnet (1898-1980), agronomist, politician Elie Calvet (1904-1929), Comedian, 1st Prize in Comedy from the Conservatory, died on stage receiving his award, nephew of the famous singer Rosa Emma Calvé (1858-1942) Bernard Tricot (1920-2000), Secretary-General of the Élysée from 1967 to 1969, one of the negotiators of the Évian Accords with the Algerian FLN to abandon French Algeria Jean-Benoît Puech (1947-), writer, author of La Bibliothèque d'un amateur (1980), Louis-René des Forêts, novel (2000), Une biographie autorisée (2010) Marc Mézard (1957-), theoretical physicist, director of the École normale supérieure (Paris) David Nègre (1973-), former professional footballer Roland Chassain, MP for Bouches-du-Rhône Jean-Yves Hugon, former MP for Indre Alain Delcamp, Secretary-General for the Senate Olivier Magne, international rugby player Jacques Maziol, Minister of Construction under de Gaulle, President-director general of Radio Monte-Carlo. Jean-Philippe Sol, international volley-ball player Sébastien Pissavy, founder of the jeuxvideo.com website Léo Pons, filmmakerLinked to AurillacFrançois Maynard (Toulouse 1582-Aurillac 1646), poet, one of the first members of the Académie française. Abel Beaufrère Alfred Durand (-1947), Professor of Geography at the Aurillac school, author of La vie rurale dans les massifs volcaniques des Dores, du Cézallier, du Cantal et de l'Aubrac, thesis, 1946, Clermont-Ferrand, 530 p. (reprint Créér), Aurillac, géographie urbaine, 1948, 254 pp. Marcel Grosdidier de Matons (1885-1945), Professor of Geography at the Aurillac school, author of Études de géographie urbaine (RHA), La Chataigneraie cantalienne Maxime Real del Sarte and Jean de Barrau did their military service at Aurillac Pierre Wirth (1921-2003), Professor at Aurillac school, author of Aurillac, 1973, Voyage à travers la Haute-Auvergne, 1973, Le Guide du Cantal, 1994 Joseph Malègue (1876-1940), Much of his novel of 900 pages, Augustin ou le Maître est là, takes place mainly in Aurillac: Under the table of Augustin is life in a prefecture of the province, which is actually Aurillac. See also Communes of the Cantal department Notes References Bibliography Alfred Durand, Aurillac, Urban Geography, 1948, 254 pp. (in French) External links Aurillac Official website Archived 3 March 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in French) 36 Hours Festival (in French) Aurillac on the 1750 Cassini Map "Aurillac" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911. "Aurillac" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurillac

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Mantoche

Mantoche (French pronunciation: ​[mɑ̃tɔʃ]) is a commune in the Haute-Saône department in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France. See also Communes of the Haute-Saône department == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantoche

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Bucey-lès-Gy

Bucey-lès-Gy (French pronunciation: ​[bysɛ lɛ ʒi], literally Bucey near Gy) is a commune in the Haute-Saône department in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France. See also Communes of the Haute-Saône department == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucey-l%C3%A8s-Gy

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Lebanon

Lebanon ( LEB-ə-non, -⁠nən; Arabic: لُبْنَان, romanized: lubnān, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: [lɪbˈneːn]; French: Liban), officially the Republic of Lebanon (Arabic: الجمهورية اللبنانية) is a Mediterranean country in the Levant Region in West Asia, located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south. Cyprus lies to its west across the Mediterranean Sea; its location at the crossroads of the Mediterranean Basin and the Arabian hinterland has contributed to its rich history and shaped a cultural identity of religious diversity. It is part of the Levant region of the Near East. Lebanon is home to more than five million people and covers an area of 10,452 square kilometres (4,036 sq mi), making it the second-smallest country in continental Asia. The capital and largest city is Beirut, followed by Tripoli and Jounieh. The official language of the state is Arabic, while French is also formally recognized; Lebanese Arabic is the country's vernacular with French and English being significantly present with Modern Standard Arabic being limited to news and government matters. The earliest evidence of civilization in Lebanon dates back to 5,000 BCE. From c. 3200–539 BC, it was home to the flourishing Phoenician civilization before being annexed by various Near Eastern empires. In 64 BC, the Roman Empire conquered the region, and the region became a major center for Christianity under the Byzantine Empire. In the 7th century, the Muslim conquest of the Levant established caliphal rule. The 11th century saw the start of the Crusades and the establishment of Crusader states in the region only for it to be later reclaimed by the Ayyubids and Mamluks before being ceded to the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century. Under Sultan Abdulmejid I, the first Lebanese protostate took form in the 19th century as the Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate, created as a home for the Maronite Christians under the Tanzimat reforms. Following the Ottoman Empire's collapse after World War I, the five Ottoman provinces constituting modern-day Lebanon came under the French Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon, under which its French-ruled predecessor state of Greater Lebanon was established. Following the invasion and occupation of the French Third Republic by Nazi Germany during World War II, French rule over the region weakened. Upon gaining its independence from Free France in 1943, Lebanon established a unique confessionalist form of government, with the state's major religious sects being apportioned specific political powers. Lebanon initially was relatively stable. This stability was short-lived and was ultimately shattered by the outbreak of large-scale fighting in the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) between various political and sectarian factions. During this period, Lebanon was also subjected to overlapping foreign military occupations by Syria from 1976 to 2005 and by Israel from 1985 to 2000. Since the end of the war, there have been extensive efforts to revive the economy and rebuild national infrastructure.Lebanon is a developing country, ranking 112th on the Human Development Index. It has been classified as an upper middle income state. However, the Lebanese liquidity crisis, corruption as well as recent events have precipitated the collapse of currency, political instability, widespread shortages, high unemployment and poverty. The World Bank defined the economic crisis in Lebanon as one of the worst in the world since the 19th century. Despite the country's small size, Lebanese culture is renowned both in the Arab world and globally, primarily powered by its extensive diaspora. Lebanon is a founding member of the United Nations and the Arab League, and a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie. Etymology The name of Mount Lebanon originates from the Phoenician root lbn (𐤋𐤁𐤍) meaning "white", apparently from its snow-capped peaks.Occurrences of the name have been found in different Middle Bronze Age texts from the library of Ebla, and three of the twelve tablets of the Epic of Gilgamesh. The name is recorded in Ancient Egyptian as Rmnn (𓂋𓏠𓈖𓈖𓈉), where R stood for Canaanite L. The name occurs nearly 70 times in the Hebrew Bible, as לְבָנוֹן.Lebanon as the name of an administrative unit (as opposed to the mountain range) that was introduced with the Ottoman reforms of 1861, as the Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate (Arabic: متصرفية جبل لبنان; Turkish: Cebel-i Lübnan Mutasarrıflığı), continued in the name of the State of Greater Lebanon (Arabic: دولة لبنان الكبير Dawlat Lubnān al-Kabīr; French: État du Grand Liban) in 1920, and eventually in the name of the sovereign Republic of Lebanon (Arabic: الجمهورية اللبنانية al-Jumhūrīyah al-Lubnānīyah) upon its independence in 1943. History The borders of contemporary Lebanon are a product of the Treaty of Sèvres of 1920. Its territory was in the core of the Bronze Age Canaanite (Phoenician) city-states. As part of the Levant, it was part of numerous succeeding empires throughout ancient history, including the Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Achaemenid Persian, Hellenistic, Roman and Sasanian Persian empires. After the 7th-century Muslim conquest of the Levant, it was part of the Rashidun, Umayyad, Abbasid Seljuk and Fatimid empires. The crusader state of the County of Tripoli, founded by Raymond IV of Toulouse in 1102, encompassed most of present-day Lebanon, falling to the Mamluk Sultanate in 1289 and finally to the Ottoman Empire in 1516. With the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, Greater Lebanon fell under French mandate in 1920, and gained independence under president Bechara El Khoury in 1943. Lebanon's history since independence has been marked by alternating periods of relative political stability and prosperity based on Beirut's position as a regional center for finance and trade, interspersed with political turmoil and armed conflict (1948 Arab–Israeli War, Lebanese Civil War 1975–1990, 2005 Cedar Revolution, 2006 Lebanon War, 2007 Lebanon conflict, 2006–08 Lebanese protests, 2008 conflict in Lebanon, 2011 Syrian Civil War spillover, and 2019–20 Lebanese protests). Ancient Lebanon Evidence dating back to an early settlement in Lebanon was found in Byblos, considered among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The evidence dates back to earlier than 5000 BC. Archaeologists discovered remnants of prehistoric huts with crushed limestone floors, primitive weapons, and burial jars left by the Neolithic and Chalcolithic fishing communities who lived on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea over 7,000 years ago.Lebanon was part of northern Canaan, and consequently became the homeland of Canaanite descendants, the Phoenicians, a seafaring people who spread across the Mediterranean in the first millennium BC. The most prominent Phoenician cities were Byblos, Sidon and Tyre, while their most famous colonies were Carthage in present-day Tunisia and Cádiz in present-day Spain. The Phoenicians are credited with the invention of the oldest verified alphabet, which subsequently inspired the Greek alphabet and the Latin one thereafter. The cities of Phoenicia were incorporated into the Persian Achaemenid Empire by Cyrus the Great in 539 BCE. The Phoenician city-states were later incorporated into the empire of Alexander the Great following the siege of Tyre in 332 BC.In 64 BC, the Roman general Pompey the Great had the region of Syria annexed into the Roman Republic. The region was then split into two Imperial Provinces under the Roman Empire, Coele Syria and Phoenice, the latter which the land of present-day Lebanon was a part of. Medieval Lebanon The region that is now Lebanon, as with the rest of Syria and much of Anatolia, became a major center of Christianity in the Roman Empire during the early spread of the faith. During the late 4th and early 5th century, a hermit named Maron established a monastic tradition focused on the importance of monotheism and asceticism, near the Mediterranean mountain range known as Mount Lebanon. The monks who followed Maron spread his teachings among Lebanese in the region. These Christians came to be known as Maronites and moved into the mountains to avoid religious persecution by Roman authorities. During the frequent Roman–Persian Wars that lasted for many centuries, the Sassanid Persians occupied what is now Lebanon from 619 till 629.During the 7th century, the Muslim Arabs conquered Syria establishing a new regime to replace the Byzantines. Though Islam and the Arabic language were officially dominant under this new regime, the general populace nonetheless only gradually converted from Christianity and the Syriac language. The Maronite community, in particular, managed to maintain a large degree of autonomy despite the succession of rulers over Lebanon and Syria. The relative (but not complete) isolation of the Lebanese mountains meant the mountains served as a refuge in the times of religious and political crises in the Levant. As such, the mountains displayed religious diversity and the existence of several well-established sects and religions, notably, Maronites, Druze, Shiite Muslims, Ismailis, Alawites and Jacobites.During the 11th century, the Druze religion emerged from a branch of Shia Islam. The new religion gained followers in the southern portion of Mount Lebanon. The southern portion of Mount Lebanon was ruled by Druze feudal families till the early 14th century. The Maronite population increased gradually in Northern Mount Lebanon and the Druze have remained in Southern Mount Lebanon until the modern era. Keserwan, Jabal Amel and the Beqaa Valley was ruled by Shia feudal families under the Mamluks and the Ottoman Empire. Major cities on the coast, Sidon, Tyre, Acre, Tripoli, Beirut, and others, were directly administered by the Muslim Caliphs and the people became more fully absorbed by the Arab culture. Following the fall of Roman Anatolia to the Muslim Turks, the Byzantines put out a call to the Pope in Rome for assistance in the 11th century. The result was a series of wars known as the Crusades launched by the Franks from Western Europe to reclaim the former Byzantine Christian territories in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially Syria and Palestine (the Levant). The First Crusade succeeded in temporarily establishing the Kingdom of Jerusalem and the County of Tripoli as Roman Catholic Christian states along the coast. These crusader states made a lasting impact on the region, though their control was limited, and the region returned to full Muslim control after two centuries following the conquest by the Mamluks. Among the most lasting effects of the Crusades in this region was the contact between the Franks (i.e., the French) and the Maronites. Unlike most other Christian communities in the Eastern Mediterranean, who swore allegiance to Constantinople or other local patriarchs, the Maronites proclaimed allegiance to the Pope in Rome. As such the Franks saw them as Roman Catholic brethren. These initial contacts led to centuries of support for the Maronites from France and Italy, even after the fall of the Crusader states in the region. Ottoman Lebanon During this period, Lebanon was divided into several provinces: Northern and Southern Mount Lebanon, Tripoli, Baalbek and Beqaa Valley, and Jabal Amil.In southern Mount Lebanon in 1590, Fakhr al-Din II became the successor to Korkmaz. He soon established his authority as paramount prince of the Druze in the Shouf area of Mount Lebanon. Eventually, Fakhr-al-Din II was appointed Sanjakbey (Governor) of several Ottoman sub-provinces, with responsibility for tax-gathering. He extended his control over a substantial part of Mount Lebanon and its coastal area, even building a fort as far inland as Palmyra. This over-reaching eventually became too much for Ottoman Sultan Murad IV, who sent a punitive expedition to capture him in 1633. He was taken to Istanbul, kept in prison for two years and then executed along with one of his sons in April 1635. Surviving members of Fakhr al-Din's family ruled a reduced area under closer Ottoman control until the end of the 17th century.On the death of the last Maan emir, various members of the Shihab clan ruled Mount Lebanon until 1830. The relationship between the Druze and Christians in Lebanon has been characterized by harmony and peaceful coexistence, with amicable relations between the two groups prevailing throughout history, exept for some periods, including 1860 Mount Lebanon civil war; Approximately 10,000 Christians were killed by the Druzes during inter-communal violence in 1860. Shortly afterwards, the Emirate of Mount Lebanon, which lasted about 400 years, was replaced by the Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate, as a result of a European-Ottoman treaty called the Règlement Organique. The Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate (1861–1918, Arabic: متصرفية جبل لبنان; Turkish: Cebel-i Lübnan Mutasarrıflığı) was one of the Ottoman Empire's subdivisions following the Tanzimat reform. After 1861 there existed an autonomous Mount Lebanon with a Christian mutasarrıf, which had been created as a homeland for the Maronites under European diplomatic pressure following the 1860 massacres. The Maronite Catholics and the Druze founded modern Lebanon in the early eighteenth century, through the ruling and social system known as the "Maronite-Druze dualism" in Mount Lebanon Mutasarrifate. The Baalbek and Beqaa Valley and Jabal Amel was ruled intermittently by various Shia feudal families, especially the Al Ali Alsagheer in Jabal Amel that remained in power until 1865 when Ottomans took direct ruling of the region. Youssef Bey Karam, a Lebanese nationalist played an influential role in Lebanon's independence during this era. Around 100,000 people in Beirut and Mount Lebanon died of starvation during World War I. French Mandate In 1920, following World War I, the area of the Mutasarrifate, plus some surrounding areas which were predominantly Shia and Sunni, became a part of the state of Greater Lebanon under the Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon. In the first half of 1920, Lebanese territory was claimed as part of the Arab Kingdom of Syria, but shortly the Franco-Syrian War resulted in Arab defeat and capitulation of the Hashemites. On 1 September 1920, France reestablished Greater Lebanon after the Moutasarrifiya rule removed several regions belonging to the Principality of Lebanon and gave them to Syria. Lebanon was a largely Christian country (mainly Maronite territory with some Greek Orthodox enclaves), but it also included areas containing many Muslims and Druze. On 1 September 1926, France formed the Lebanese Republic. A constitution was adopted on 25 May 1926 establishing a democratic republic with a parliamentary system of government. Steps towards independence Lebanon gained a measure of independence while France was occupied by Germany. General Henri Dentz, the Vichy High commissioner for Syria and Lebanon, played a major role in the independence of the nation. The Vichy authorities in 1941 allowed Germany to move aircraft and supplies through Syria to Iraq where they were used against British forces. The United Kingdom, fearing that Nazi Germany would gain full control of Lebanon and Syria by pressure on the weak Vichy government, sent its army into Syria and Lebanon.After the fighting ended in Lebanon, General Charles de Gaulle visited the area. Under political pressure from both inside and outside Lebanon, de Gaulle recognized the independence of Lebanon. On 26 November 1941, General Georges Catroux announced that Lebanon would become independent under the authority of the Free French government. Elections were held in 1943 and on 8 November 1943 the new Lebanese government unilaterally abolished the mandate. The French reacted by imprisoning the new government. In the face of international pressure, the French released the government officials on 22 November 1943. The Allies occupied the region until the end of World War II. Independence from France Following the end of World War II in Europe the French mandate may be said to have been terminated without any formal action on the part of the League of Nations or its successor the United Nations. The mandate was ended by the declaration of the mandatory power, and of the new states themselves, of their independence, followed by a process of piecemeal unconditional recognition by other powers, culminating in formal admission to the United Nations. Article 78 of the UN Charter ended the status of tutelage for any member state: "The trusteeship system shall not apply to territories which have become Members of the United Nations, relationship among which shall be based on respect for the principle of sovereign equality." So when the UN officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, after ratification of the United Nations Charter by the five permanent members, as both Syria and Lebanon were founding member states, the French mandate for both was legally terminated on that date and full independence attained. The last French troops withdrew in December 1946. Lebanon's unwritten National Pact of 1943 required that its president be Maronite Christian, its speaker of the parliament to be a Shia Muslim, its prime minister be Sunni Muslim, and the Deputy Speaker of Parliament and the Deputy Prime Minister be Greek Orthodox.Lebanon's history since independence has been marked by alternating periods of political stability and turmoil interspersed with prosperity built on Beirut's position as a regional center for finance and trade.In May 1948, Lebanon supported neighboring Arab countries in a war against Israel. While some irregular forces crossed the border and carried out minor skirmishes against Israel, it was without the support of the Lebanese government, and Lebanese troops did not officially invade. Lebanon agreed to support the forces with covering artillery fire, armored cars, volunteers and logistical support. On 5–6 June 1948, the Lebanese army – led by the then Minister of National Defense, Emir Majid Arslan – captured Al-Malkiyya. This was Lebanon's only success in the war.100,000 Palestinians fled to Lebanon because of the war. Israel did not permit their return after the cease-fire. As of 2017 between 174,000 and 450,000 Palestinian refugees live in Lebanon with about half in refugee camps (although these are often decades old and resemble neighborhoods). Palestinians often cannot obtain Lebanese citizenship or even Lebanese identity cards and are legally barred from owning property or performing certain occupations (including law, medicine, and engineering). According to Human Rights Watch, Palestinian refugees in Lebanon live in "appalling social and economic conditions." In 1958, during the last months of President Camille Chamoun's term, an insurrection broke out, instigated by Lebanese Muslims who wanted to make Lebanon a member of the United Arab Republic. Chamoun requested assistance, and 5,000 United States Marines were briefly dispatched to Beirut on 15 July. After the crisis, a new government was formed, led by the popular former general Fouad Chehab. Until the early 1970's, Lebanon was dubbed "the Switzerland of the Middle East" for its unique status as both a snow-capped holiday destination and secure banking hub for Gulf Arabs.With the 1970 defeat of the PLO in Jordan, many Palestinian militants relocated to Lebanon, increasing their armed campaign against Israel. The relocation of Palestinian bases also led to increasing sectarian tensions between Palestinians versus the Maronites and other Lebanese factions. Civil war (1975–1990) and occupation (1976–2005) In 1975, following increasing sectarian tensions, largely boosted by Palestinian militant relocation into South Lebanon, a full-scale civil war broke out in Lebanon. The Lebanese Civil War pitted a coalition of Christian groups against the joint forces of the PLO, left-wing Druze and Muslim militias. In June 1976, Lebanese President Élias Sarkis asked for the Syrian Army to intervene on the side of the Christians and help restore peace. In October 1976 the Arab League agreed to establish a predominantly Syrian Arab Deterrent Force, which was charged with restoring calm. PLO attacks from Lebanon into Israel in 1977 and 1978 escalated tensions between the countries. On 11 March 1978, eleven Fatah fighters landed on a beach in northern Israel and hijacked two buses full of passengers on the Haifa – Tel-Aviv road, shooting at passing vehicles in what became known as the Coastal Road massacre. They killed 37 and wounded 76 Israelis before being killed in a firefight with Israeli forces. Israel invaded Lebanon four days later in Operation Litani. The Israeli Army occupied most of the area south of the Litani River. The UN Security Council passed Resolution 425 calling for immediate Israeli withdrawal and creating the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), charged with attempting to establish peace.Israeli forces withdrew later in 1978, but retained control of the southern region by managing a 19-kilometre-wide (12 mi) security zone along the border. These positions were held by the South Lebanon Army (SLA), a Christian militia under the leadership of Major Saad Haddad backed by Israel. The Israeli Prime Minister, Likud's Menachem Begin, compared the plight of the Christian minority in southern Lebanon (then about 5% of the population in SLA territory) to that of European Jews during World War II. The PLO routinely attacked Israel during the period of the cease-fire, with over 270 documented attacks. People in Galilee regularly had to leave their homes during these shellings. Documents captured in PLO headquarters after the invasion showed they had come from Lebanon. Arafat refused to condemn these attacks on the grounds that the cease-fire was only relevant to Lebanon. In April 1980 the presence of UNIFIL soldiers in the buffer zone led to the At Tiri incident. On 17 July 1981, Israeli aircraft bombed multi-story apartment buildings in Beirut that contained offices of PLO associated groups. The Lebanese delegate to the United Nations Security Council claimed that 300 civilians had been killed and 800 wounded. The bombing led to worldwide condemnation, and a temporary embargo on the export of U.S. aircraft to Israel. In August 1981, defense minister Ariel Sharon began to draw up plans to attack PLO military infrastructure in West Beirut, where PLO headquarters and command bunkers were located.In 1982, the PLO attacks from Lebanon on Israel led to an Israeli invasion, aiming to support Lebanese forces in driving out the PLO. A multinational force of American, French and Italian contingents (joined in 1983 by a British contingent) were deployed in Beirut after the Israeli siege of the city, to supervise the evacuation of the PLO. The civil war re-emerged in September 1982 after the assassination of Lebanese President Bachir Gemayel, an Israeli ally, and subsequent fighting. During this time a number of sectarian massacres occurred, such as in Sabra and Shatila, and in several refugee camps. The multinational force was withdrawn in the spring of 1984, following a devastating bombing attack during the previous year. In the late 1980s, as Amine Gemayel’s second term as president drew to an end, the Lebanese pound collapsed. At the end of 1987 US$1 was worth £L500. This meant the legal minimum wage was worth just $17 a month. Most goods in shops were priced in dollars and a Save the Children director estimated that 2–300,000 children were need of assistance and were living almost entirely on bread which was subsidized by the government. Those that could depended on foreign assistance. Hizbullah was receiving about $3–5 million a month from Iran.In September 1988, the Parliament failed to elect a successor to President Gemayel as a result of differences between the Christians, Muslims, and Syrians. The Arab League Summit of May 1989 led to the formation of a Saudi–Moroccan–Algerian committee to solve the crisis. On 16 September 1989 the committee issued a peace plan which was accepted by all. A ceasefire was established, the ports and airports were re-opened and refugees began to return.In the same month, the Lebanese Parliament agreed to the Taif Agreement, which included an outline timetable for Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon and a formula for the de-confessionalization of the Lebanese political system. The civil war ended at the end of 1990 after sixteen years; it had caused massive loss of human life and property, and devastated the country's economy. It is estimated that 150,000 people were killed and another 200,000 wounded. Nearly a million civilians were displaced by the war, and some never returned. Parts of Lebanon were left in ruins. The Taif Agreement has still not been implemented in full and Lebanon's political system continues to be divided along sectarian lines. Conflict between Israel and Lebanese militants continued, leading to a series of violent events and clashes including the Qana massacre. In May 2000, Israeli forces fully withdrew from Lebanon. Since then, 25 May is regarded by the Lebanese as the Liberation Day. Lebanon (2005–present) The internal political situation in Lebanon significantly changed in the early 2000s. After the Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon and the death of former president Hafez al-Assad in 2000, the Syrian military presence faced criticism and resistance from the Lebanese population.On 14 February 2005, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri was assassinated in a car bomb explosion. Leaders of the March 14 Alliance accused Syria of the attack, while Syria and the March 8 Alliance claimed that Israel was behind the assassination. The Hariri assassination marked the beginning of a series of assassinations that resulted in the death of many prominent Lebanese figures.The assassination triggered the Cedar Revolution, a series of demonstrations which demanded the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon and the establishment of an international commission to investigate the assassination. Under pressure from the West, Syria began withdrawing, and by 26 April 2005 all Syrian soldiers had returned to Syria.UNSC Resolution 1595 called for an investigation into the assassination. The United Nations International Independent Investigation Commission published preliminary findings on 20 October 2005 in the Mehlis report, which cited indications that the assassination was organized by Syrian and Lebanese intelligence services.On 12 July 2006, Hezbollah launched a series of rocket attacks and raids into Israeli territory, where they killed three Israeli soldiers and captured two others. Israel responded with airstrikes and artillery fire on targets in Lebanon, and a ground invasion of southern Lebanon, resulting in the 2006 Lebanon War. The conflict was officially ended by the UNSC Resolution 1701 on 14 August 2006, which ordered a ceasefire. Some 1,191 Lebanese and 160 Israelis were killed in the conflict. Beirut's southern suburb was heavily damaged by Israeli airstrikes. Instability and Syrian War spillover In 2007, the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp became the center of the 2007 Lebanon conflict between the Lebanese Army and Fatah al-Islam. At least 169 soldiers, 287 insurgents and 47 civilians were killed in the battle. Funds for the reconstruction of the area have been slow to materialize.Between 2006 and 2008, a series of protests led by groups opposed to the pro-Western Prime Minister Fouad Siniora demanded the creation of a national unity government, over which the mostly Shia opposition groups would have veto power. When Émile Lahoud's presidential term ended in October 2007, the opposition refused to vote for a successor unless a power-sharing deal was reached, leaving Lebanon without a president. On 9 May 2008, Hezbollah and Amal forces, sparked by a government declaration that Hezbollah's communications network was illegal, seized western Beirut, leading to the 2008 conflict in Lebanon. The Lebanese government denounced the violence as a coup attempt. At least 62 people died in the resulting clashes between pro-government and opposition militias. On 21 May 2008, the signing of the Doha Agreement ended the fighting. As part of the accord, which ended 18 months of political paralysis, Michel Suleiman became president and a national unity government was established, granting a veto to the opposition. The agreement was a victory for opposition forces, as the government caved in to all their main demands. In early January 2011, the national unity government collapsed due to growing tensions stemming from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which was expected to indict Hezbollah members for the Hariri assassination. The parliament elected Najib Mikati, the candidate for the Hezbollah-led March 8 Alliance, Prime Minister of Lebanon, making him responsible for forming a new government. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah insists that Israel was responsible for the assassination of Hariri. A report leaked by the Al-Akhbar newspaper in November 2010 stated that Hezbollah has drafted plans for a takeover of the country in case the Special Tribunal for Lebanon issues an indictment against its members.In 2012, the Syrian civil war threatened to spill over in Lebanon, causing more incidents of sectarian violence and armed clashes between Sunnis and Alawites in Tripoli. According to UNHCR, the number of Syrian refugees in Lebanon increased from around 250,000 in early 2013 to 1,000,000 in late 2014. In 2013, The Lebanese Forces Party, the Kataeb Party and the Free Patriotic Movement voiced concerns that the country's sectarian based political system is being undermined by the influx of Syrian refugees. On 6 May 2015, UNHCR suspended registration of Syrian refugees at the request of the Lebanese government. In February 2016, the Lebanese government signed the Lebanon Compact, granting a minimum of €400 million of support for refugees and vulnerable Lebanese citizens. As of October 2016, the government estimates that the country hosts 1.5 million Syrians. 2019–present crisis On 17 October 2019, the first of a series of mass civil demonstrations erupted; they were initially triggered by planned taxes on gasoline, tobacco and online phone calls such as through WhatsApp, but quickly expanded into a country-wide condemnation of sectarian rule, a stagnant economy and liquidity crisis, unemployment, endemic corruption in the public sector, legislation (such as banking secrecy) that is perceived to shield the ruling class from accountability and failures from the government to provide basic services such as electricity, water and sanitation. As a result of the protests, Lebanon entered a political crisis, with Prime Minister Saad Hariri tendering his resignation and echoing protestors' demands for a government of independent specialists. Other politicians targeted by the protests have remained in power. On 19 December 2019, former Minister of Education Hassan Diab was designated the next prime minister and tasked with forming a new cabinet. Protests and acts of civil disobedience have since continued, with protesters denouncing and condemning the designation of Diab as prime minister. Lebanon is suffering the worst economic crisis in decades. Lebanon is the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to see its inflation rate exceed 50% for 30 consecutive days, according to Steve H. Hanke, professor of applied economics at the Johns Hopkins University.On 4 August 2020, an explosion at the port of Beirut, Lebanon's main port, destroyed the surrounding areas, killing over 200 people, and injuring thousands more. The cause of the explosion was later determined to be 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate that had been unsafely stored, and accidentally set on fire that Tuesday afternoon. Protests resumed within days following the explosion, which resulted in the resignation of Prime Minister Hassan Diab and his cabinet on 10 August 2020, nonetheless continuing to stay in office in a caretaker capacity. Demonstrations continued into 2021 with Lebanese blocking the roads with burned tires protesting against the poverty and the economic crisis. On 11 March 2021 the caretaker minister of energy Raymond Ghajar warned that Lebanon was threatened with "total darkness" at the end of March if no money was secured to buy fuel for power stations. In August 2021, a large fuel explosion in northern Lebanon killed 28 people. September saw the formation of a new cabinet led by former prime minister Najib Mikati. On 9 October 2021, the entire nation lost power for 24 hours after its two main power stations ran out of power due to the currency and fuel shortage. Days later, sectarian violence in Beirut killed a number of people in the deadliest clashes in the country since 2008. By January 2022, BBC News reported that the crisis in Lebanon had deepened further, with the value of the Lebanese pound plummeting and a scheduled general election expected to be delayed indefinitely. The postponement of parliamentary elections was said to prolong the political deadlock in the country. The European Parliament called Lebanon's present situation a 'man-made disaster caused by a handful of men across the political class'.In May 2022, Lebanon held its first election since a painful economic crisis dragged it to the brink of becoming a failed state. Lebanon's crisis has been so severe that more than 80 percent of the population is now considered poor by the United Nations. In the election the Shia Muslim Hezbollah movement (and its allies) lost their parliamentary majority. Hezbollah did not lose any of its seats, but its allies lost seats. Hezbollah's ally, President Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement, was no longer the biggest Christian party after the election. A rival Christian party, the Lebanese Forces led by Samir Geagea, became the largest Christian-based party in parliament. The Sunni Future Movement, led by former prime minister Saad Hariri, did not participate the election, leaving a political vacuum to other Sunni politicians to fill.The Lebanese crisis became so severe that multiple boats left the coast holding migrants in a desperate run from the country. Many proved unsuccessful and fatal. On April 2022, 6 people died and around 50 people are rescued after an overloaded boat sinks in Tripoli, Lebanon. And on September 22, at least 94 people were killed when a boat carrying migrants from Lebanon capsizes off Syria's coast. 9 people survived. Many were declared missing and some were found either dead or injured. Dead bodies were sent to nearby hospitals. 40 people are still missing as of 24 September.On 1 February 2023, the central bank of Lebanon devalued the Lebanese pound by 90% amid the ongoing financial crisis. This was the first time Lebanon had devalued its official exchange rate in 25 years.On 28 March 2023, the Lebanese government reversed a decision to delay the shift to daylight savings time by a month. The decision was reportedly to allow Muslim citizens to break their fasts earlier during the holy month of Ramadan. Geography Lebanon is located in West Asia between latitudes 33° and 35° N and longitudes 35° and 37° E. Its land straddles the "northwest of the Arabian Plate".The country's surface area is 10,452 square kilometres (4,036 sq mi) of which 10,230 square kilometres (3,950 sq mi) is land. Lebanon has a coastline and border of 225 kilometres (140 mi) on the Mediterranean Sea to the west, a 375 kilometres (233 mi) border shared with Syria to the north and east and a 79 kilometres (49 mi) long border with Israel to the south. The border with the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights is disputed by Lebanon in a small area called Shebaa Farms. Lebanon is divided into four distinct physiographic regions: the coastal plain, the Lebanon mountain range, the Beqaa Valley and the Anti-Lebanon Mountains. The narrow and discontinuous coastal plain stretches from the Syrian border in the north where it widens to form the Akkar plain to Ras al-Naqoura at the border with Israel in the south. The fertile coastal plain is formed of marine sediments and river deposited alluvium alternating with sandy bays and rocky beaches. Lebanon's mountains rise steeply parallel to the Mediterranean coast and form a ridge of limestone and sandstone that runs for most of the country's length. The mountain range varies in width between 10 km (6 mi) and 56 km (35 mi); it is carved by narrow and deep gorges. The Lebanon mountains peak at 3,088 metres (10,131 ft) above sea level in Qurnat as Sawda' in North Lebanon and gradually slope to the south before rising again to a height of 2,695 metres (8,842 ft) in Mount Sannine. The Beqaa valley sits between the Lebanon mountains in the west and the Anti-Lebanon range in the east; it is a part of the Great Rift Valley system. The valley is 180 km (112 mi) long and 10 to 26 km (6 to 16 mi) wide, its fertile soil is formed by alluvial deposits. The Anti-Lebanon range runs parallel to the Lebanon mountains, its highest peak is in Mount Hermon at 2,814 metres (9,232 ft).The mountains of Lebanon are drained by seasonal torrents and rivers foremost of which is the 145 kilometres (90 mi) long Leontes that rises in the Beqaa Valley to the west of Baalbek and empties into the Mediterranean Sea north of Tyre. Lebanon has 16 rivers all of which are non-navigable; 13 rivers originate from Mount Lebanon and run through the steep gorges and into the Mediterranean Sea, the other three arise in the Beqaa Valley. Climate Lebanon has a moderate Mediterranean climate. In coastal areas, winters are generally cool and rainy whilst summers are hot and humid. In more elevated areas, temperatures usually drop below freezing during the winter with heavy snow cover that remains until early summer on the higher mountaintops. Although most of Lebanon receives a relatively large amount of rainfall, when measured annually in comparison to its arid surroundings, certain areas in north-eastern Lebanon receives only little because of the rain shadow created by the high peaks of the western mountain range. Environment In ancient times, Lebanon was covered by large forests of cedar trees, the national emblem of the country. Millennia of deforestation have altered the hydrology in Mount Lebanon and changed the regional climate adversely. As of 2012, forests covered 13.4% of the Lebanese land area; they are under constant threat from wildfires caused by the long dry summer season.As a result of longstanding exploitation, few old cedar trees remain in pockets of forests in Lebanon, but there is an active program to conserve and regenerate the forests. The Lebanese approach has emphasized natural regeneration over planting by creating the right conditions for germination and growth. The Lebanese state has created several nature reserves that contain cedars, including the Shouf Biosphere Reserve, the Jaj Cedar Reserve, the Tannourine Reserve, the Ammouaa and Karm Shbat Reserves in the Akkar district, and the Forest of the Cedars of God near Bsharri. Lebanon had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 3.76/10, ranking it 141st globally out of 172 countries.In 2010, the Environment Ministry set a 10-year plan to increase the national forest coverage by 20%, which is equivalent to the planting of two million new trees each year. The plan, which was funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and implemented by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), through the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI), was inaugurated in 2011 by planting cedar, pine, wild almond, juniper, fir, oak and other seedlings, in ten regions around Lebanon. As of 2016, forests covered 13.6% of Lebanon, and other wooded lands represented a further 11%. Since 2011, over 600,000 trees, including cedars and other native species, have been planted throughout the country as part of the Lebanon Reforestation Initiative (LRI).Lebanon contains two terrestrial ecoregions: Eastern Mediterranean conifer–sclerophyllous–broadleaf forests and Southern Anatolian montane conifer and deciduous forests. Beirut and Mount Lebanon have been facing a severe garbage crisis. After the closure of the Bourj Hammoud dump in 1997, the al-Naameh dumpsite was opened by the government in 1998. The al-Naameh dumpsite was planned to contain 2 million tons of waste for a limited period of six years at the most. It was designed to be a temporary solution, while the government would have devised a long-term plan. Sixteen years later al-Naameh was still open and exceeded its capacity by 13 million tons. In July 2015 the residents of the area, already protesting in the recent years, forced the closure of the dumpsite. The inefficiency of the government, as well as the corruption inside of the waste management company Sukleen in charge of managing the garbage in Lebanon, have resulted in piles of garbage blocking streets in Mount Lebanon and Beirut.In December 2015, the Lebanese government signed an agreement with Chinook Industrial Mining, part owned by Chinook Sciences, to export over 100,000 tons of untreated waste from Beirut and the surrounding area. The waste had accumulated in temporary locations following the government closure of the county's largest land fill site five months earlier. The contract was jointly signed with Howa International which has offices in the Netherlands and Germany. The contract is reported to cost $212 per ton. The waste, which is compacted and infectious, would have to be sorted and was estimated to be enough to fill 2,000 containers. Initial reports that the waste was to be exported to Sierra Leone have been denied by diplomats.In February 2016, the government withdrew from negotiations after it was revealed that documents relating to the export of the trash to Russia were forgeries. On 19 March 2016, the Cabinet reopened the Naameh landfill for 60 days in line with a plan it passed few days earlier to end the trash crisis. The plan also stipulates the establishment of landfills in Bourj Hammoud and Costa Brava, east and south of Beirut respectively. Sukleen trucks began removing piled garbage from Karantina and heading to Naameh. Environment Minister Mohammad Machnouk announced during a chat with activists that over 8,000 tons of garbage had been collected up to that point in only 24 hours as part of the government's trash plan. The plan's execution was ongoing at last report. In 2017, Human Rights Watch found that Lebanon's garbage crisis, and open burning of waste in particular, was posing a health risk to residents and violating the state's obligations under international law.In September 2018, Lebanon's parliament passed a law that banned open dumping and burning of waste. Despite penalties set in case of violations, Lebanese municipalities have been openly burning the waste, putting the lives of people in danger. In October 2018, Human Rights Watch researchers witnessed the open burning of dumps in al-Qantara and Qabrikha.On Sunday 13 October 2019 at night, a series of about 100 forest fires according to Lebanese Civil Defense, broke out and spread over large areas of Lebanon's forests. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri confirmed his contact with a number of countries to send assistance via helicopters and firefighting planes, Cyprus, Jordan, Turkey and Greece participated in firefighting. According to press reports on Tuesday (15 October), fire has decreased in different places due to the rains. Government and politics Lebanon is a parliamentary democracy that includes confessionalism, in which high-ranking offices are reserved for members of specific religious groups. The President, for example, has to be a Maronite Christian, the Prime Minister a Sunni Muslim, the Speaker of the Parliament a Shi’a Muslim, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Eastern Orthodox. This system is intended to deter sectarian conflict and to represent fairly the demographic distribution of the 18 recognized religious groups in government.Until 1975, Freedom House considered Lebanon to be among only two (together with Israel) politically free countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. The country lost this status with the outbreak of the Civil War, and has not regained it since. Lebanon was rated "Partly Free" in 2013. Even so, Freedom House still ranks Lebanon as among the most democratic nations in the Arab world.Until 2005, Palestinians were forbidden to work in over 70 jobs because they did not have Lebanese citizenship. After liberalization laws were passed in 2007, the number of banned jobs dropped to around 20. In 2010, Palestinians were granted the same rights to work as other foreigners in the country. Lebanon's national legislature is the unicameral Parliament of Lebanon. Its 128 seats are divided equally between Christians and Muslims, proportionately between the 18 different denominations and proportionately between its 26 regions. Prior to 1990, the ratio stood at 6:5 in favor of Christians, but the Taif Agreement, which put an end to the 1975–1990 civil war, adjusted the ratio to grant equal representation to followers of the two religions.The Parliament is elected for a four-year term by popular vote on the basis of sectarian proportional representation.The executive branch consists of the President, the head of state, and the Prime Minister, the head of government. The parliament elects the president for a non-renewable six-year term by a two-thirds majority. The president appoints the Prime Minister, following consultations with the parliament. The president and the prime minister form a cabinet, which must also adhere to the sectarian distribution set out by confessionalism. In an unprecedented move, the Lebanese parliament has extended its own term twice amid protests, the last being on 5 November 2014, an act which comes in direct contradiction with democracy and article #42 of the Lebanese constitution as no elections have taken place.Lebanon was without a President between May 2014 and October 2016.Nationwide elections were finally scheduled for May 2018.As of August 2019, the Lebanese cabinet included two ministers directly affiliated with Hezbollah, in addition to a close but officially non-member minister.The most recent parliamentary elections were held on 15 May 2022. Law There are 18 officially recognized religious groups in Lebanon, each with its own family law legislation and set of religious courts. The Lebanese legal system is based on the French system, and is a civil law country, with the exception for matters related to personal status (succession, marriage, divorce, adoption, etc.), which are governed by a separate set of laws designed for each sectarian community. For instance, the Islamic personal status laws are inspired by the Sharia law. For Muslims, these tribunals deal with questions of marriage, divorce, custody, and inheritance and wills. For non-Muslims, personal status jurisdiction is split: the law of inheritance and wills falls under national civil jurisdiction, while Christian and Jewish religious courts are competent for marriage, divorce, and custody. Catholics can additionally appeal before the Vatican Rota court.The most notable set of codified laws is the Code des Obligations et des Contrats promulgated in 1932 and equivalent to the French Civil Code. Capital punishment is still de facto used to sanction certain crimes, but no longer enforced.The Lebanese court system consists of three levels: courts of first instance, courts of appeal, and the court of cassation. The Constitutional Council rules on constitutionality of laws and electoral frauds. There also is a system of religious courts having jurisdiction over personal status matters within their own communities, with rules on matters such as marriage and inheritance.In 1990 article 95 was amended to provide that the parliament shall take necessary measures to abolish political structure based on religious affiliation, but that until such time only the highest positions in public civil service, including the judiciary, military, security forces, public and mixed institutions, shall be divided equally between Christians and Muslims without regard to the denominational affiliation within each community. Foreign relations Lebanon concluded negotiations on an association agreement with the European Union in late 2001, and both sides initialed the accord in January 2002. It is included in the European Union's European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP), which aims at bringing the EU and its neighbours closer. Lebanon also has bilateral trade agreements with several Arab states and is working toward accession to the World Trade Organization. Lebanon enjoys good relations with virtually all of the other Arab countries (despite historic tensions with Libya and Syria), and hosted an Arab League Summit in March 2002 for the first time in over 35 years. Lebanon is a member of the Francophonie countries and hosted the Francophonie Summit in October 2002 as well as the Jeux de la Francophonie in 2009. Military The Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) has 72,000 active personnel, including 1,100 in the air force, and 1,000 in the navy.The Lebanese Armed Forces' primary missions include defending Lebanon and its citizens against external aggression, maintaining internal stability and security, confronting threats against the country's vital interests, engaging in social development activities, and undertaking relief operations in coordination with public and humanitarian institutions.Lebanon is a major recipient of foreign military aid. With over $400 million since 2005, it is the second largest per capita recipient of American military aid behind Israel. LGBT rights Male homosexuality is illegal in Lebanon. Discrimination against LGBT people in Lebanon is widespread. According to 2019 survey by the Pew Research Center, 85% of Lebanese respondents believe that homosexuality should not be accepted by society.A gender and sexuality conference, held annually in Lebanon, since 2013, was moved abroad in 2019 after a religious group on Facebook called for the organizers’ arrest and the cancellation of the conference for "inciting immorality." General Security Forces shut down the 2018 conference and indefinitely denied non-Lebanese LGBT activists who attended the conference permission to re-enter the country. Administrative divisions Lebanon is divided into nine governorates (muḥāfaẓāt, Arabic: محافظات; singular muḥāfaẓah, Arabic: محافظة) which are further subdivided into twenty-five districts (aqdyah, Arabic: أقضية; singular: qadāʾ Arabic: قضاء). The districts themselves are also divided into several municipalities, each enclosing a group of cities or villages. The governorates and their respective districts are listed below: Beirut Governorate Beirut Governorate comprises the city of Beirut and is not divided into districts. Akkar Governorate Akkar Baalbek-Hermel Governorate Baalbek Hermel Beqaa Governorate Rashaya Western Beqaa (al-Beqaa al-Gharbi) Zahle Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate Byblos (Jbeil) Keserwan Mount Lebanon Governorate (Jabal Lubnan/Jabal Lebnen) Aley Baabda Chouf Matn Nabatieh Governorate (Jabal Amel) Bint Jbeil Hasbaya Marjeyoun Nabatieh North Governorate (ash-Shamal/shmel) Batroun Bsharri Koura Miniyeh-Danniyeh Tripoli Zgharta South Governorate (al-Janoub/Jnub) Jezzine Sidon (Saida) Tyre (Sur) Economy Lebanon's constitution states that 'the economic system is free and ensures private initiative and the right to private property'. Lebanon's economy follows a laissez-faire model. Most of the economy is dollarized, and the country has no restrictions on the movement of capital across its borders. The Lebanese government's intervention in foreign trade is minimal.The Lebanese economy went through a significant expansion after the war of 2006, with growth averaging 9.1% between 2007 and 2010. After 2011 the local economy was affected by the Syrian civil war, growing by a yearly average of 1.7% on the 2011–2016 period and by 1.5% in 2017. In 2018, the size of the GDP was estimated to be $54.1 billion. Between 2019 and 2021, the economy shrank by 53.4%, the highest contraction in a list of 193 countries. Since 2020 the International Monetary Fund no longer publish data on the Lebanese economy. Lebanon has a very high level of public debt and large external financing needs. The 2010 public debt exceeded 150.7% of GDP, ranking fourth highest in the world as a percentage of GDP, though down from 154.8% in 2009. At the end 2008, finance minister Mohamad Chatah stated that the debt was going to reach $47 billion in that year and would increase to $49 billion if privatization of two telecoms companies did not occur. The Daily Star wrote that exorbitant debt levels have "slowed down the economy and reduced the government's spending on essential development projects".The urban population in Lebanon is noted for its commercial enterprise. Emigration has yielded Lebanese "commercial networks" throughout the world. Remittances from Lebanese abroad total $8.2 billion and account for one-fifth of the country's economy. Lebanon has the largest proportion of skilled labor among Arab States. The Investment Development Authority of Lebanon was established with the aim of promoting investment in Lebanon. In 2001, Investment Law No.360 was enacted to reinforce the organisation's mission.The agricultural sector employs 12% of the total workforce. Agriculture contributed to 5.9% of the country's GDP in 2011. Lebanon's proportion of cultivable land is the highest in the Arab world. Major produce includes apples, peaches, oranges, and lemons.The commodities market in Lebanon includes substantial gold coin production, however according to International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards, they must be declared upon exportation to any foreign country.Oil has recently been discovered inland and in the seabed between Lebanon, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt and talks are underway between Cyprus and Egypt to reach an agreement regarding the exploration of these resources. The seabed separating Lebanon and Cyprus is believed to hold significant quantities of crude oil and natural gas.Industry in Lebanon is mainly limited to small businesses that reassemble and package imported parts. In 2004, industry ranked second in workforce, with 26% of the Lebanese working population, and second in GDP contribution, with 21% of Lebanon's GDP.Nearly 65% of the Lebanese workforce attain employment in the services sector. The GDP contribution, accordingly, amounts to roughly 67.3% of the annual Lebanese GDP. However, dependence on the tourism and banking sectors leaves the economy vulnerable to political instability.Lebanese banks are high on liquidity and reputed for their security. Lebanon was among only seven countries in the world where the value of the stock markets increased in 2008.On 10 May 2013, the Lebanese minister of energy and water clarified that seismic images of the Lebanese sea bed are undergoing detailed explanation of their contents and that up till now, approximately 10% have been covered. Preliminary inspection of the results showed, with over 50% probability, that 10% of Lebanon's exclusive economic zone held up to 660 million barrels of oil and up to 30×1012 cu ft of gas.The Syrian crisis has significantly affected Lebanese economic and financial situation. The demographic pressure imposed by the Syrian refugees now living in Lebanon has led to competition in the labour market. As a direct consequence unemployment has doubled in three years, reaching 20% in 2014. A loss of 14% of wages regarding the salary of less-skilled workers has also been registered. The financial constraints were also felt: the poverty rate increased with 170,000 Lebanese falling under the poverty threshold. In the period between 2012 and 2014, the public spending increased by $1 billion and losses amounted to $7.5 billion. Expenditures related only to the Syrian refugees were estimated by the Central Bank of Lebanon as $4.5 billion every year. History In the 1950s, GDP growth was the second highest in the world. Despite having no oil reserves, Lebanon, as the Arab world's banking center and among its trading center, had a high national income. The 1975–1990 civil war heavily damaged Lebanon's economic infrastructure, cut national output by half, and all but ended Lebanon's position as a West Asian entrepôt and banking hub. The subsequent period of relative peace enabled the central government to restore control in Beirut, begin collecting taxes, and regain access to key port and government facilities. Economic recovery has been helped by a financially sound banking system and resilient small- and medium-scale manufacturers, with family remittances, banking services, manufactured and farm exports, and international aid as the main sources of foreign exchange.Until July 2006, Lebanon enjoyed considerable stability, Beirut's reconstruction was almost complete, and increasing numbers of tourists poured into the nation's resorts. The economy witnessed growth, with bank assets reaching over 75 billion US dollars, Market capitalization was also at an all-time high, estimated at $10.9 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2006. The month-long 2006 war severely damaged Lebanon's fragile economy, especially the tourism sector. According to a preliminary report published by the Lebanese Ministry of Finance on 30 August 2006, a major economic decline was expected as a result of the fighting.Over the course of 2008 Lebanon rebuilt its infrastructure mainly in the real estate and tourism sectors, resulting in a comparatively robust post war economy. Major contributors to the reconstruction of Lebanon include Saudi Arabia (with US$1.5 billion pledged), the European Union (with about $1 billion) and a few other Persian Gulf countries with contributions of up to $800 million. Tourism The tourism industry accounts for about 10% of GDP. Lebanon attracted around 1,333,000 tourists in 2008, thus placing it as 79th out of 191 countries. In 2009, The New York Times ranked Beirut the No. 1 travel destination worldwide due to its nightlife and hospitality. In January 2010, the Ministry of Tourism announced that 1,851,081 tourists had visited Lebanon in 2009, a 39% increase from 2008. In 2009, Lebanon hosted the largest number of tourists to date, eclipsing the previous record set before the Lebanese Civil War. Tourist arrivals reached two million in 2010, but fell by 37% for the first 10 months of 2012, a decline caused by the war in neighbouring Syria.Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Japan are the three most popular origin countries of foreign tourists to Lebanon. The recent influx of Japanese tourists has caused the recent rise in popularity of Japanese cuisine in Lebanon. Infrastructure Education According to surveys from the World Economic Forum's 2013 Global Information Technology Report, Lebanon has been ranked globally as the fourth best country for math and science education, and as the tenth best overall for quality of education. In quality of management schools, the country was ranked 13th worldwide.The United Nations assigned Lebanon an education index of 0.871 in 2008. The index, which is determined by the adult literacy rate and the combined primary, secondary, and tertiary gross enrollment ratio, ranked the country 88th out of the 177 countries participating.All Lebanese schools are required to follow a prescribed curriculum designed by the Ministry of Education. Some of the 1400 private schools offer IB programs, and may also add more courses to their curriculum with approval from the Ministry of Education. The first eight years of education are, by law, compulsory. Lebanon has forty-one nationally accredited universities, several of which are internationally recognized. The American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Saint Joseph University of Beirut (USJ) were the first Anglophone and the first Francophone universities to open in Lebanon, respectively. Universities in Lebanon, both public and private, largely operate in French or English.The top-ranking universities in the country are the American University of Beirut (#2 in the Middle East as of 2022), University of Balamand (#17 in the region), Lebanese American University (#17 in the region), Université Saint Joseph de Beyrouth (#2 in Lebanon), Université Libanaise (#3,826 worldwide) and Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (#600s worldwide as of 2020). Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU) (#701 as of 2021). Health In 2010, spending on healthcare accounted for 7.03% of the country's GDP. In 2009, there were 31.29 physicians and 19.71 nurses per 10,000 inhabitants. The life expectancy at birth was 72.59 years in 2011, or 70.48 years for males and 74.80 years for females.By the end of the civil war, only one-third of the country's public hospitals were operational, each with an average of 20 beds. By 2009 the country had 28 public hospitals, with a total of 2,550 beds, while the country had approximately 25 public hospitals. At public hospitals, hospitalized uninsured patients pay 5% of the bill, in comparison with 15% in private hospitals, with the Ministry of Public Health Archived 26 May 2021 at the Wayback Machine reimbursing the remainder. The Ministry of Public Health contracts with 138 private hospitals and 25 public hospitals.In 2011, there were 236,643 subsidized admissions to hospitals; 164,244 in private hospitals, and 72,399 in public hospitals. More patients visit private hospitals than public hospitals, because the private beds supply is higher.According to the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon, the top 10 leading causes of reported hospital deaths in 2017 were: malignant neoplasm of bronchus or lung (4.6%), Acute myocardial infarction (3%), pneumonia (2.2%), exposure to unspecified factor, unspecified place (2.1%), acute kidney injury (1.4%), intra-cerebral hemorrhage (1.2%), malignant neoplasm of colon (1.2%), malignant neoplasm of pancreas (1.1%), malignant neoplasm of prostate (1.1%), malignant neoplasm of bladder (0.8%).Recently, there has been an increase in foodborne illnesses in Lebanon. This has raised public awareness on the importance of food safety, including in the realms of food storage, preservation, and preparation. More restaurants are seeking information and compliance with International Organization for Standardization. Demographics The population of Lebanon was estimated to be 5,592,631 in 2021, with the number of Lebanese nationals estimated to be 4,680,212 (July 2018 est.); however, no official census has been conducted since 1932 due to the sensitive confessional political balance between Lebanon's various religious groups. Identifying all Lebanese as ethnically Arab is a widely employed example of panethnicity since in reality, the Lebanese "are descended from many different peoples who are either indigenous, or have occupied, invaded, or settled this corner of the world", making Lebanon, "a mosaic of closely interrelated cultures".The fertility rate fell from 5.00 in 1971 to 1.75 in 2004. Fertility rates vary considerably among the different religious groups: in 2004, it was 2.10 for Shiites, 1.76 for Sunnis and 1.61 for Maronites. Lebanon has witnessed a series of migration waves: over 1,800,000 people emigrated from the country in the 1975–2011 period. Millions of people of Lebanese descent are spread throughout the world, especially in Latin America. Brazil and Argentina have large expatriate population. (See Lebanese people). Large numbers of Lebanese migrated to West Africa, particularly to the Ivory Coast (home to over 100,000 Lebanese) and Senegal (roughly 30,000 Lebanese). Australia is home to over 270,000 Lebanese (1999 est.). In Canada, there is also a large Lebanese diaspora of approximately 250,000–700,000 people having Lebanese descent. (see Lebanese Canadians). United States also has one the largest Lebanese population, at around 2,000,000. Another region with a significant diaspora are Gulf Countries, where the countries of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar (around 25,000 people), Saudi Arabia and UAE act as host countries to many Lebanese. 269,000 Lebanese citizens currently reside in Saudi Arabia. Around a third of the Lebanese workforce, about 350,000, live in Gulf countries according to some sources. Over 50% of the Lebanese diaspora are Christian, partly due to the large period of Christian emigration before 1943.As of 2012, Lebanon was host to over 1,600,000 refugees and asylum seekers: 449,957 from Palestine, 100,000 from Iraq, over 1,100,000 from Syria, and at least 4,000 from Sudan. According to the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia of the United Nations, among the Syrian refugees, 71% live in poverty. A 2013 estimate by the United Nations put the number of Syrian refugees at over 1,250,000.In the last three decades, lengthy and destructive armed conflicts have ravaged the country. The majority of Lebanese have been affected by armed conflict; those with direct personal experience include 75% of the population, and most others report suffering a range of hardships. In total, almost the entire population (96%) has been affected in some way – either personally or because of the wider consequences of armed conflict. Religion Lebanon is the most religiously diverse country in West Asia and the Mediterranean. Because the relative sizes of different religions and religious sects remains a sensitive issue, a national census has not been conducted since 1932. There are 18 state-recognized religious sects – four Muslim, 12 Christian, one Druze, and one Jewish. The Lebanese government counts its Druze citizens as part of its Muslim population, although most Druze today do not identify as Muslims, and they do not accept the five pillars of Islam.It is believed that there has been a decline in the ratio of Christians to Muslims over the past 60 years, due to higher emigration rates of Christians, and a higher birth rate in the Muslim population. When the last census was held in 1932, Christians made up 53% of Lebanon's population. In 1956, it was estimated that the population was 54% Christian and 44% Muslim.A demographic study conducted by the research firm Statistics Lebanon found that approximately 27% of the population was Sunni, 27% Shia, 21% Maronite, 8% Greek Orthodox, 5% Druze, 5% Melkite, and 1% Protestant, with the remaining 6% mostly belonging to smaller non-native to Lebanon Christian denominations. The CIA World Factbook estimates (2020) the following (data does not include Lebanon's sizable Syrian and Palestinian refugee populations): Muslim 67.8% (31.9% Sunni, 31.2% Shia, smaller percentages of Alawites and Ismailis), Christian 32.4% (Maronite Catholics are the largest Christian group), Druze 4.5%, and very small numbers of Jews, Baha'is, Buddhists, and Hindus. Other sources like Euronews or the Madrid-based diary La Razón estimate the percentage of Christians to be around 53%. A study conducted by the Lebanese Information Center and based on voter registration numbers shows that by 2011 the Christian population was stable compared to that of previous years, making up 34.35% of the population; Muslims, the Druze included, were 65.47% of the population. The World Values Survey of 2014 put the percentage of atheists in Lebanon at 3.3%.The Sunni residents primarily live in Tripoli, Western Beirut, the Southern coast of Lebanon, and Northern Lebanon. The Shi'a residents primarily live in Southern Beirut, the Beqaa Valley, and Southern Lebanon. The Maronite Catholic residents primarily live in Eastern Beirut and the mountains of Lebanon. They are the largest Christian community in Lebanon. The Greek Orthodox, the second largest Christian community in Lebanon, primarily live in Koura, Beirut, Rachaya, Matn, Aley, Akkar, in the countryside around Tripoli, Hasbaya and Marjeyoun. They are a minority of 10% in Zahle. The Greek Catholics live mainly in Beirut, on the eastern slopes of the Lebanon mountains and in Zahle which is predominantly Greek Catholic.In the Christian village of Hadat, there has been a municipal ban on Muslims from buying or renting property. It has been claimed that it is due to an underlying fear of mixing with one another's salvation since for three decades, the village of Hadat has been predominantly Christian. Language Article 11 of Lebanon's Constitution states that "Arabic is the official national language. A law determines the cases in which the French language is to be used". The majority of Lebanese people speak Lebanese Arabic, which is grouped in a larger category called Levantine Arabic, while Modern Standard Arabic is mostly used in magazines, newspapers, and formal broadcast media. Lebanese Sign Language is the language of the Deaf community. There is also significant presence of French, and of English. Almost 40% of Lebanese are considered francophone, and another 15% "partial francophone", and 70% of Lebanon's secondary schools use French as a second language of instruction. By comparison, English is used as a secondary language in 30% of Lebanon's secondary schools. The use of French is a legacy of France's historic ties to the region, including its League of Nations mandate over Lebanon following World War I; as of 2005, some 20% of the population used French on a daily basis. The use of Arabic by Lebanon's educated youth is declining, as they usually prefer to speak in French and, to a lesser extent, English, which are seen as more fashionable.English is increasingly used in science and business interactions. Lebanese citizens of Armenian, Greek, or Assyrian descent often speak their ancestral languages with varying degrees of fluency. As of 2009, there were around 150,000 Armenians in Lebanon, or around 5% of the population. Culture The culture of Lebanon reflects the legacy of various civilizations spanning thousands of years. Originally home to the Canaanite-Phoenicians, and then subsequently conquered and occupied by the Assyrians, the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs, the Fatimids, the Crusaders, the Ottoman Turks and most recently the French, Lebanese culture has over the millennia evolved by borrowing from all of these groups. Lebanon's diverse population, composed of different ethnic and religious groups, has further contributed to the country's festivals, musical styles and literature as well as cuisine. Despite the ethnic, linguistic, religious and denominational diversity of the Lebanese, they "share an almost common culture". Lebanese Arabic is universally spoken while food, music, and literature are deep-rooted "in wider Mediterranean and Levantine norms". Arts In visual arts, Moustafa Farroukh was among Lebanon's most prominent painters of the 20th century. Formally trained in Rome and Paris, he exhibited in venues from Paris to New York to Beirut over his career. Many more contemporary artists are active, such as Walid Raad, a contemporary media artist residing in New York. In the field of photography, the Arab Image Foundation has a collection of over 400,000 photographs from Lebanon and the Middle East. The photographs can be viewed in a research center and various events and publications have been produced in Lebanon and worldwide to promote the collection. Literature In literature, Kahlil Gibran is the third best-selling poet of all time, behind Shakespeare and Laozi. He is particularly known for his book The Prophet (1923), which has been translated into over twenty different languages. Ameen Rihani was a major figure in the mahjar literary movement developed by Arab emigrants in North America, and an early theorist of Arab nationalism. Mikhail Naimy is widely recognized as among the most important figures in modern Arabic letters and among the most important spiritual writers of the 20th century. Several contemporary Lebanese writers have also achieved international success; including Elias Khoury, Amin Maalouf, Hanan al-Shaykh, and Georges Schéhadé. Music While traditional folk music remains popular in Lebanon, modern music reconciling Western and traditional Arabic styles, pop, and fusion are rapidly advancing in popularity. Lebanese artists like Fairuz, Majida El Roumi, Wadih El Safi, Sabah, Julia Boutros or Najwa Karam are widely known and appreciated in Lebanon and in the Arab world. Radio stations feature a variety of music, including traditional Lebanese, classical Arabic, Armenian and modern French, English, American, and Latin tunes. Media and cinema The cinema of Lebanon, according to film critic and historian, Roy Armes, was the only cinema in the Arabic-speaking region, besides the dominant Egyptian cinema, that could amount to a national cinema. Cinema in Lebanon has been in existence since the 1920s, and the country has produced over 500 films with many films including Egyptian filmmakers and film stars. The media of Lebanon is not only a regional center of production but also the most liberal and free in the Arab world. According to Press freedom's Reporters Without Borders, "the media have more freedom in Lebanon than in any other Arab country". Despite its small population and geographic size, Lebanon plays an influential role in the production of information in the Arab world and is "at the core of a regional media network with global implications". Holidays and festivals Lebanon celebrates national and both Christian and Muslim holidays. Christian holidays are celebrated following both the Gregorian calendar and Julian calendar. Greek Orthodox (with the exception of Easter), Catholics, Protestants, and Melkite Christians follow the Gregorian Calendar and thus celebrate Christmas on 25 December. Armenian Apostolic Christians celebrate Christmas on 6 January, as they follow the Julian Calendar. Muslim holidays are followed based on the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslim holidays that are celebrated include Eid al-Fitr (the three-day feast at the end of the Ramadan month), Eid al-Adha (The Feast of the Sacrifice) which is celebrated during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca and also celebrates Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to God, the Birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and Ashura (the Shiite Day of Mourning). Lebanon's National Holidays include Workers Day, Independence day, and Martyrs Day. Music festivals, often hosted at historical sites, are a customary element of Lebanese culture. Among the most famous are Baalbeck International Festival, Byblos International Festival, Beiteddine International Festival, Jounieh International Festival Archived 11 April 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Broumana Festival, Batroun International Festival, Ehmej Festival, Dhour Chwer Festival and Tyr Festival. These festivals are promoted by Lebanon's Ministry of Tourism. Lebanon hosts about 15 concerts from international performers each year, ranking 1st for nightlife in the Middle East, and 6th worldwide. Cuisine Lebanese cuisine is similar to those of many countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, such as Syria, Turkey, Greece, and Cyprus. The Lebanese national dishes are the kibbe, a meat pie made from finely minced lamb and burghul (cracked wheat), and the tabbouleh, a salad made from parsley, tomatoes, and burghul wheat. Lebanese restaurant meals begin with a wide array of mezze - small savoury dishes, such as dips, salads, and pastries. The mezze are typically followed by a selection of grilled meat or fish. In general, meals are finished with Arabic coffee and fresh fruit, though sometimes a selection of traditional sweets will be offered as well. Sports Lebanon has six ski resorts. Because of Lebanon's unique geography, it is possible to go skiing in the morning and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea in the afternoon. At the competitive level, basketball and football are among Lebanon's most popular sports. Canoeing, cycling, rafting, climbing, swimming, sailing and caving are among the other common leisure sports in Lebanon. The Beirut Marathon is held every fall, drawing top runners from Lebanon and abroad. Rugby league is a relatively new but growing sport in Lebanon. The Lebanon national rugby league team participated in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup, and narrowly missed qualification for the 2008 and 2013 tournaments. Lebanon also took part in the 2009 European Cup where, after narrowly failing to qualify for the final, the team defeated Ireland to finish 3rd in the tournament. Hazem El Masri, who was born in Tripoli, is considered to be the greatest Lebanese to ever play the game. He immigrated to Sydney, Australia from Lebanon in 1988. He became the greatest point-scorer in National Rugby League history in 2009 by scoring himself 2418 points while playing for Australian club, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs where he also holds the record for most first grade appearances for the club with 317 games and most tries for the club with 159 tries. At international level, He also hold the records as top-try scorer with 12 tries and top-point scorer with 136 points for the Lebanese national team.Lebanon participates in basketball. The Lebanese National Team qualified for the FIBA World Championship 3 times in a row. Dominant basketball teams in Lebanon are Sporting Al Riyadi Beirut, who are the Arab and Asian champions, Club Sagesse who were able to earn the Asian and Arab championships before. Fadi El Khatib is the most decorated player in the Lebanese National Basketball League. Football is also among the more popular sports in the country. The top football league is the Lebanese Premier League, whose most successful clubs are Al Ansar FC and Nejmeh SC. Lebanon's most notable players include Roda Antar, Youssef Mohamad, and Hassan Maatouk. In recent years, Lebanon has hosted the AFC Asian Cup and the Pan Arab Games. Lebanon hosted the 2009 Jeux de la Francophonie, and have participated in every Olympic Games since its independence, winning a total of four medals.Prominent Lebanese bodybuilders include Samir Bannout, Mohammad Bannout and Ahmad Haidar. Water sports have also shown to be very active in the past years, in Lebanon. Since 2012 and with the emergence of the Lebanon Water Festival NGO, more emphasis has been placed on those sports, and Lebanon has been pushed forward as a water sport destination internationally. They host different contests and water show sports that encourage their fans to participate and win big. Science and technology Lebanon was ranked 92nd in the Global Innovation Index in 2021, down from 88th in 2019. Notable scientists from Lebanon include Hassan Kamel Al-Sabbah, Rammal Rammal, and Edgar Choueiri.In 1960, a science club from a university in Beirut started a Lebanese space program called "the Lebanese Rocket Society". They achieved great success until 1966 where the program was stopped because of both war and external pressure. See also Outline of Lebanon Notes References Citations Works cited Morris, Benny (April 2008). 1948: A History of the First Arab-Israeli War. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-12696-9. General references Arkadiusz, Plonka. L’idée de langue libanaise d’après Sa‘īd ‘Aql, Paris, Geuthner, 2004 (French) ISBN 2-7053-3739-3 Firzli, Nicola Y. Al-Baath wa-Lubnân [Arabic only] ("The Baath and Lebanon"). Beirut: Dar-al-Tali'a Books, 1973 Fisk, Robert. Pity the Nation: The Abduction of Lebanon. New York: Nation Books, 2002. Glass, Charles, "Tribes with Flags: A Dangerous Passage Through the Chaos of the Middle East", Atlantic Monthly Press (New York) and Picador (London), 1990 ISBN 0-436-18130-4 Gorton, TJ and Feghali Gorton, AG. Lebanon: through Writers' Eyes. London: Eland Books, 2009. Hitti Philip K. History of Syria Including Lebanon and Palestine, Vol. 2 (2002) (ISBN 1-931956-61-8) Norton, Augustus R. Amal and the Shi'a: Struggle for the Soul of Lebanon. Austin and London: University of Texas Press, 1987. Sobelman, Daniel. New Rules of the Game: Israel and Hizbollah After the Withdrawal From Lebanon, Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies, Tel-Aviv University, 2004. Riley-Smith, Jonathan. The Oxford Illustrated History of the Crusades. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. Salibi, Kamal. A House of Many Mansions: The History of Lebanon Reconsidered. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1990. Schlicht, Alfred. The role of Foreign Powers in the History of Syria and Lebanon 1799–1861 in: Journal of Asian History 14 (1982) Georges Corm, Le Liban contemporain. Histoire et société (La découverte, 2003 et 2005) External links Official Government of Lebanon information site Lebanon. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Lebanon web resources provided by GovPubs at the University of Colorado Boulder Libraries Lebanon profiles of people and institutions provided by the Arab Decision projectLebanon at Curlie Wikimedia Atlas of Lebanon

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon

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Nyngan

Nyngan () is a town in the centre of New South Wales, Australia, in the Bogan Shire local government area within the Orana Region of central New South Wales. At the 2016 census, Nyngan had a population of 1,988 people. Nyngan is situated on the Bogan River between Narromine and Bourke, on the junction of the Mitchell Highway and Barrier Highway, 656 km (408 mi) south of Charleville and 576 km (358 mi) north-west of Sydney by road. The Barrier Highway starts at Nyngan, and runs west to Cobar and on through Wilcannia and Broken Hill into South Australia. Nyngan Airport is a small airport just north of the town centre. Nyngan also lies on the Main Western railway line of New South Wales but is no longer served by passenger trains. The line remains open to freight traffic. About 70 km (43 mi) south of the town, a cairn was erected in 1988 marking the centre of NSW. History The district was originally inhabited by the Wangaibon Peoples. Thomas Mitchell explored the Bogan River in 1835, camping on the future townsite. He recorded the local Aboriginal word nyingan, said to mean 'long pond of water', though other meanings have been put forward, such as mussel or crayfish. Squatters had settled in Mitchell's wake before he had begun his return journey.The town flourished after completion of the railway line in 1883. The little town of Canonba, 25 kilometres to the north-east on Duck Creek, is part of the history of Nyngan. From the early 1840s until the middle 'eighties, it grew and flourished, servicing Canonba Station and other properties, and Cobb and Co. travellers. In the early 1880s there were about four hotels, three or four banks, various stores and tradesmen, a police station, a telegraph and money-order office, and representatives of churches. The Western Railway by-passed Canonba, and where it crossed the Bogan was Nyngan. The Canonba populace, goods and public institutions then all moved to Nyngan. By 1890 it was practically empty.The Municipality of Nyngan was proclaimed on 17 February 1891 with Nyngan having a population of 1355. The 1990 Nyngan flood In April 1990, unusually heavy rains (which had caused flooding in Charleville, Queensland with total damages of up to $300 million) caused major flooding in the town, despite a massive effort by local people to raise the levee walls using sandbags. With the town almost completely flooded, all the residents had to be evacuated by helicopter from the railway station, the highest point of the town, which was not flooded. Air Force helicopters, TV news helicopters and private helicopters all co-operated in the airlift. The total damage amounted to $50 million. The airlift is commemorated by an Army helicopter placed outside of the Nyngan Railway Station. The railway station now houses a museum which includes exhibits relating to the 1990 flood. (The station had not been regularly used for train passengers since about 1980; the railway line to Bourke has been out of use since 17 May 1989 but the Cobar line remains open to carry ore and wheat). Climate Nyngan experiences a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh, Trewartha: BShl), with very hot summers and mild winters. Heritage listings Nyngan has a number of heritage-listed sites, including: Cemetery Road: Chinese Graves and Burner at Nyngan Cemetery 77–79 Cobar Street: Nyngan Court House Solar power Approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) west of the town is one of Australia's largest photovoltaic power stations, with 1.36 million solar panels. It was the largest solar PV plant in Australia when launched in July 2016. It complements another plant at Broken Hill, which was expected to be fully operational by the end of 2015, for a combined capacity of 155 megawatts (208,000 hp). Media The town is serviced by Outback Radio 2WEB on 100.7 MHz. Gallery References External links Media related to Nyngan at Wikimedia Commons Nyngan travel guide from Wikivoyage

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyngan

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Roosna

Roosna is a village in Järva Parish, Järva County in northern-central Estonia. == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roosna

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Merindad de Cuesta Urria

Merindad de Cuesta-Urria is a municipality located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 500 inhabitants. Its seat is in Nofuentes. == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merindad_de_Cuesta_Urria

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Givraines

Givraines (French pronunciation: ​[ʒivʁɛn]) is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France. See also Communes of the Loiret department == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Givraines

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Kaisersbach

Kaisersbach is a municipality in the district of Rems-Murr in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. Demographics Population development: Points of interest Schwabenpark, an amusement park in Gmeinweiler village, which belongs to Kaiserbach. == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaisersbach

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Franklin

Franklin may refer to: People Franklin (given name) Franklin (surname) Franklin (class), a member of a historical English social class Places Franklin (crater), a lunar impact crater Franklin County (disambiguation), in a number of countries Mount Franklin (disambiguation), including Franklin Mountain Australia Franklin, Tasmania, a township Division of Franklin, federal electoral division in Tasmania Division of Franklin (state), state electoral division in Tasmania Franklin, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb in the Canberra district of Gungahlin Franklin River, river of Tasmania Franklin Sound, waterway of Tasmania Canada District of Franklin, a former district of the Northwest Territories Franklin, Quebec, a municipality in the Montérégie region Rural Municipality of Franklin, Manitoba Franklin, Manitoba, an unincorporated community in the Rural Municipality of Rosedale, Manitoba Franklin Glacier Complex, a volcano in southwestern British Columbia Franklin Range, a mountain range on Vancouver Island, British Columbia Franklin River (Vancouver Island), British Columbia Franklin Strait, Nunavut Cayman Islands Franklin's Forest, Grand Cayman New Zealand Franklin District, a former territorial authority area Franklin (local board area), a local government area Franklin (New Zealand electorate), a former parliamentary electorate Poland Franklin, Łódź Voivodeship (central Poland), a village United States State of Franklin (1784–1789), an unrecognized, autonomous territory that later became part of Tennessee Franklin, Alabama, Macon County Franklin, Monroe County, Alabama Franklin, Arkansas Franklin, California (disambiguation) Franklin, Connecticut Franklin, Georgia Franklin, Idaho Franklin, Illinois Franklin, Indiana, Johnson County Franklin, Wayne County, Indiana Franklin, Iowa Franklin, Kansas, Crawford County Franklin, Douglas County, Kansas, a ghost town Franklin, Kentucky Franklin, Louisiana Franklin, Maine Franklin, Massachusetts Franklin, Michigan Franklin, Minnesota Franklin, Missouri Franklin, Nebraska Franklin, New Hampshire Franklin, New Jersey Franklin, New York (disambiguation) Franklin, North Carolina Franklin, Ohio Franklin, Pennsylvania (disambiguation) Franklin, Tennessee Franklin, Texas Franklin, Vermont Franklin, Virginia Franklin, West Virginia Franklin, Wisconsin (disambiguation) Franklin Mountains (Alaska), a mountain range Mount Franklin (New Hampshire), in the White Mountains Franklin Falls (disambiguation) Franklin Township (disambiguation) Arts and entertainment Franklin (Peanuts), a character in the comic strip Peanuts Franklin (TV series), children's television series about a turtle named Franklin The title character of Franklin the Turtle (books), the book series on which the TV series was based Franklin Delano Bluth, a puppet from the TV show Arrested Development Roosevelt Franklin, a former character on Sesame Street Franklin Bordeau, a character in the manga series Hunter × Hunter The title character of Franklin & Bash, a TV series that began in 2011 Franklin, character in the comic book Monica and Friends Franklin, the mascot of the Philadelphia 76ers Businesses Franklin Electronic Publishers, an electronic reference company and former computer manufacturer Franklin Engine Company, a manufacturer of aircraft engines The Franklin Mint, a producer of collectibles Schools Franklin University Switzerland, an American university in Lugano, Switzerland Franklin College (disambiguation) Franklin High School (disambiguation) Ships USS Franklin HMAS Franklin, an Australian Navy steel screw steamer RV Franklin, an Australian marine research vessel 1985–2002 SS Foundation Franklin, a seagoing rescue tug Franklin (sidewheeler), an 1850s American steamboat French ship Franklin (1797), captured by the British and sailed as HMS Canopus Transportation Franklin (automobile), an American automobile Franklin station (disambiguation) Other uses Battle of Franklin (disambiguation) Franklin (tree), a giant sequoia in Sequoia National Park, California, US Franklin (unit), a unit of electrical charge Franklin Institute, a museum in Philadelphia See also The Franklin's Tale, one of the Canterbury Tales Franklyn (name) Franquelin (disambiguation) All pages with titles beginning with Franklin All pages with titles containing Franklin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin

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Mourenx

Mourenx (French pronunciation: ​[muʁɛ̃ks]; Occitan: Morencs) is a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. History A settlement of Mourengs existed in the eleventh century. A secular abbey existed, belonging to the Viscount of Béarn. In 1385 the village had 27 hearths.Natural gas deposits were discovered in nearby Lacq in 1951. A new town was constructed in 1958 to provide accommodation for the workers required at the gas processing plant. The town was designed by architects and urbanists Coulon, Douillet and Maneval. It consisted of three groups of collective housing, three groups of family housing, all around a central area of support facilities.The well-known French sociologist Henri Lefebvre carried out a study of Mourenx and its inhabitants at the time of its creation. Population See also Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourenx

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Screven County, Georgia

Screven County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Georgia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,067. The county seat is Sylvania. History The county was created on December 14, 1793, and was named for General James Screven, who died fighting in Georgia during the American Revolutionary War. Some wartime accounts used the alternate spelling of "Scriven" for the general, and the county's name was often spelled that way in its early history, as reflected on 19th-century Georgia maps. Sylvania became the county seat in 1847, moved from Jacksonborough, by an act of State legislation. Screven County TV The Screven County Courthouse, built in 1964, is the fourth courthouse to serve Screven County. Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 656 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 645 square miles (1,670 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (1.6%) is water. The Savannah River borders the eastern side of the county, and the Ogeechee River borders the southwest portion. Elevation varies to around 40 feet on the Savannah river to 320 feet at the Bay Branch community, located a few miles west of Sylvania. Pine, oak, dogwood, and other trees prevalent to the South can be found in Screven County. The very northern portion of Screven County, defined by a line running from Girard southeast and parallel to State Route 24 to the South Carolina border, is located in the Middle Savannah River sub-basin of the Savannah River basin. A north-central section of the county, from Sylvania north and centered on Hiltonia, is located in the Brier Creek sub-basin of the same Savannah River basin. The southern portion of Screven County, from Newington running northwest through Sylvania, is located in the Upper Ogeechee River sub-basin of the Ogeechee River basin. The remaining southeastern corner of the county is located in the Lower Savannah River sub-basin of the larger Savannah River basin. Major highways U.S. Route 301 U.S. Route 301 Business State Route 17 State Route 21 State Route 21 Business State Route 24 State Route 73 Adjacent counties Allendale County, South Carolina (north) Hampton County, South Carolina (east) Effingham County (southeast) Bulloch County (southwest) Jenkins County (west) Burke County (northwest) Demographics 2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 15,374 people, 5,797 households, and 4,104 families living in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). There were 6,853 housing units at an average density of 11 units per square mile (4.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 53.56% White, 45.29% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 5,797 households, out of which 33.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.00% were married couples living together, 18.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.60 and the average family size was 3.14. In the county, the population was spread out, with 27.90% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.80 males. The median income for a household in the county was $29,312, and the median income for a family was $34,753. Males had a median income of $30,228 versus $20,154 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,894. About 15.50% of families and 20.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.40% of those under age 18 and 25.50% of those age 65 or over. 2010 census As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 14,593 people, 5,596 households, and 3,854 families living in the county. The population density was 22.6 inhabitants per square mile (8.7/km2). There were 6,739 housing units at an average density of 10.4 units per square mile (4.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 54.6% white, 43.3% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 14.5% were American, 9.3% were Irish, 8.9% were English, and 7.6% were German.Of the 5,596 households, 34.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.1% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.07. The median age was 39.5 years.The median income for a household in the county was $32,155 and the median income for a family was $44,244. Males had a median income of $32,189 versus $25,480 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,189. About 14.0% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.4% of those under age 18 and 19.2% of those age 65 or over. 2020 census As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,067 people, 5,098 households, and 3,395 families residing in the county. Communities Cooperville Dover Halcyondale Hiltonia Millhaven Newington Oliver Rocky Ford Sylvania Notable people John Abbot, naturalist, entomologist, wrote The Natural History of the Rarer Lepidopterous Insects of Georgia Lee Rogers Berger, explorer, paleoanthropologist Edward Junius Black, member of the United States House of Representatives (1839–1841; 1842–1845) Bucky Dent, New York Yankees shortstop (born in Savannah) but spent his early years in Sylvania Francys Johnson, senior NAACP official Macay McBride, Major League Baseball pitcher John R. McKinney, Georgia's most decorated World War II hero Louie De Votie Newton, pastor and president of the Southern Baptist Convention Sam Sommers former NASCAR Driver, former Georgia Late Model Racing Champion, and Georgia Racing Hall of Fame member Politics See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Screven County, Georgia List of counties in Georgia References Dixon Hollingsworth, ed., The History of Screven County, Georgia (Dallas, Tex.: Curtis Media Corporation, 1989). http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/13/13251.html Archived June 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine External links Screven County Chamber of Commerce

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screven_County,_Georgia

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Monroe County

Monroe County may refer to seventeen counties in the United States, all named for James Monroe: Monroe County, Alabama Monroe County, Arkansas Monroe County, Florida Monroe County, Georgia Monroe County, Illinois Monroe County, Indiana Monroe County, Iowa Monroe County, Kentucky Monroe County, Michigan Monroe County, Mississippi Monroe County, Missouri Monroe County, New York Monroe County, Ohio Monroe County, Pennsylvania Monroe County, Tennessee Monroe County, West Virginia, originally Monroe County, Virginia (1799–1863) Monroe County, Wisconsin See also Monroe County Courthouse (disambiguation)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_County

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La Unión

La Union or La Unión (in Spanish for The Union) may refer to: Places Argentina La Unión, Buenos Aires La Unión, Salta Chile La Unión, Chile Colombia La Unión, Antioquia La Unión, Nariño La Unión, Sucre La Unión, Valle del Cauca Costa Rica La Unión Canton Cuba La Unión, Cienfuegos El Salvador La Unión Department La Unión, El Salvador Honduras La Unión, Copán La Unión, Olancho Mexico La Unión, Guerrero La Unión, Quintana Roo Peru La Unión Province, Peru La Unión District, Dos de Mayo, district of the Dos de Mayo province in Huánuco La Unión District, Piura, district of the Piura province in Piura La Unión District, Tarma, district of the Tarma province in Junín La Unión, Huánuco, capital of the Dos de Mayo province in Huánuco Philippines La Union province Spain La Unión, Murcia United States La Union, New Mexico Other uses La Unión (ship), a ship used to traffick enslaved Mayans from Mexico to Cuba from 1855 to 1861 La Unión (band), a Spanish pop/rock band See also Unión (disambiguation) Union (disambiguation)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Uni%C3%B3n

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Farlete

Farlete is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 442 inhabitants. The Sierra de Alcubierre rises east of the town. == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Farlete

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Serres

Sérres (Greek: Σέρρες [ˈseɾes] (listen)) is a city in Macedonia, Greece, capital of the Serres regional unit and second largest city in the region of Central Macedonia, after Thessaloniki. Serres is one of the administrative and economic centers of Northern Greece. The city is situated in a fertile plain at an elevation of about 70 metres (230 feet), some 24 kilometres (15 miles) northeast of the Strymon river and 69 km (43 mi) north-east of Thessaloniki, respectively. Serres' official municipal population was 76,817 in 2011 with the total number of people living in the city and its immediate surroundings estimated at around 100,000. The city is home to the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Greek: Τ.Ε.Φ.Α.Α. Σερρών) and the Serres Campus of the International Hellenic University (former "Technological Educational Institute of Central Macedonia"), composed of the Faculty of Engineering, the Faculty of Economics and Management, and the Department of Interior Architecture and Design. The head of the Faculty of Engineering of the International Hellenic University is located in Serres. Names The Ancient Greek historian Herodotus mentions the city as Siris (Σίρις) in the 5th century BC. Theopompus refers to the city as Sirra (Σίρρα). Later, it is mentioned as Sirae, in the plural, by the Roman historian Livy. Since then the name of the city has remained plural and by the 5th century AD it was already in the contemporary form as Serrae or Sérrai (Σέρραι) (plural), which remained the Katharevousa form for the name till modern times. In the local Greek dialect, the city is still known as "ta Serras" (τα Σέρρας), which is actually a corruption of the plural accusative "tas Serras" (τας Σέρρας) of the archaic form "Serrae". The oldest mention of this form is attested in a document of the Docheiariou Monastery in Mount Athos from 1383, while there are many other such references in documents from the 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. It was known as Serez or Siroz in Turkish. In the Slavic languages, the city is known as Ser (Сер) in Serbian, while in Bulgarian it is known as Syar (Сяр) or Ser (Сер). In Aromanian, Serres is known as Siar or Nsiar. History Antiquity Although the earliest mention of Serres (as Siris) is dating in the 5th century BC (Herodotus), the city was founded long before the Trojan War, probably at the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC. The ancient city was built on a high and steep hill (known as "Koulas") just north of Serres. It held a strategic position, since it controlled a land road that followed the valley of the river Strymon from the shores of Strymonian Gulf to the Danubian countries. The most ancient known inhabitants of the area were the Bryges (Phrygians) and Strymonians. Afterwards were the Paeonian tribes of the Siropaiones (since 1100 BC) and Odomantes (from the early 5th century BC until the end of antiquity). These populations mainly engaged in agriculture and cattle-raising especially worshiped the Sun, the deified river Strymon and later the "Thracian horseman".The ancient city of Serraepolis was founded in Cilicia by Siropaiones exiled from Serres. Roman era During the Roman period (168 BC – 315 AD) the city is mentioned in sources under the name Sirra (Σίρρα) and in inscriptions as Sirraion polis (Σιρραίων πόλις, lit. '"city of the Sirraians"'). It was an important city of the Roman province of Macedonia, with the status of a civitas stipendaria. It flourished especially during the imperial period thanks to the Pax Romana. Then, during the great crisis of the Roman Empire (235–284 AD), the city declined and only in the times of Diocletian, with its reforms (Tetrarchic system), returned to prosperity.As regards the urban structure it featured, like all Greek cities, a market (agora), parliament (bouleuterion), theater, gymnasium and temples. As we know from epigraphic evidence, the local government was also based on the known Greek institutions, which were the parliament (boule), the citizen body (demos) and the archons (politarchai, agoranomoi, gymnasiarchai, high priests etc.). It was also the seat of a federation of five cities ("Pentapolis") and actively participated in the provincial life and organization of the Macedonians; while many residents, mostly members of the local aristocracy, had received the right of Roman citizenship and were promoted to senior provincial dignities. As a city-state (polis), apart from the usual Greek institutions, Sirra also had its own territory (chora), which roughly coincided with the area of the modern province of Serres. The organization of its territory was based on villages (komai, sing. kome), whose many sites have been found in various places near modern villages, such as Lefkonas, Oreini, Ano Vrontou, Neo Souli, Agio Pnevma, Chryso, Paralimnio etc. Within the limits of its territory have also discovered traces of marble quarries and iron mines, which indicate systematic exploitation of the existing mineral wealth in the imperial period (1st to 3rd century AD).In terms of population, except the most numerous Greek element, are recognized some population substrates even from prehistoric times. Concerning the society, the main feature was its distinction in upper (rich) and lower (poor) social strata (honestiores and humiliores in Latin). Finally, concerning the cults of the residents, except the known panhellenic cults (Dionysus, Zeus, Dioscuri, Apollo, Asclepius, Artemis and Isis), are evidenced and some local and Thracian cults as the Thracian horseman (or "Hero").Many inscriptions of Roman (imperial) times have been found in the city (and to the early 1960s in the surrounding area). From these inscriptions (almost all written in Greek and only three in Latin), the eight are votive or honorific and all other on epitaph reliefs or steles. Middle Ages The first attested bishop of the city is recorded as participating in the Second Council of Ephesus in 449. In c. 803 Emperor Nikephoros I rebuilt the town and installed a strong garrison against the Slavic tribes of the Balkans. The city's history was uneventful until the 10th century, being in the heartland of the Byzantine Greek world, until it was pillaged and briefly occupied by the Bulgarians. In 1185, the environs of the city were pillaged by a Norman invasion, and in the Battle of Serres in 1195/6 the Byzantines were defeated by the rebellious Bulgarian ruler Ivan Asen I. After the Fourth Crusade, Boniface of Montferrat took over the city, but shortly after Kaloyan of Bulgaria defeated the Crusaders of the Latin Empire and captured the city, until it was retaken by the Crusaders in the early 1230s. According to George Akropolites, Kaloyan almost destroyed the city, reducing it from a sizeable urban centre to a small settlement clustered around the fortified citadel, while the lower town was protected by a weak stone wall.The city returned to Byzantine rule in 1246, when it was captured by the Nicaean Empire. By the 14th century, the city had regained its former size and prosperity, so that Nikephoros Gregoras called it a "large and marvelous" city. Taking advantage of the Byzantine civil war of 1341–47, the Serbs besieged and took the city on 25 September 1345. It became the capital of Stefan Dušan's Serbian Empire. Dušan rebuilt the citadel for the last time. After Dušan's death in 1355 his realm fell into feudal anarchy, and Serres became a separate principality, initially under Dushan's Empress-dowager Helena and after 1365 by the Despot Jovan Uglješa. Jovan Uglješa maintained close political and cultural ties to the Byzantine court in Constantinople, and the Greek element rose again to prominence: local Greeks played a major role in his administration, which was carried out in the Greek language. After the 1371 Battle of Maritsa, the Byzantines under Manuel II Palaiologos (then governor of Thessalonica) retook Serres. Ottoman period Serres fell to the Ottoman Empire for the first time briefly in 1371, and definitely on 19 September 1383—although the Ottoman sources give several earlier and contradictory dates, the date is securely established by multiple Greek sources.The city (Siroz in Turkish) and the surrounding region became a fief of Evrenos Beg, who brought in Yörük settlers from Sarukhan. Oral sources report that the terms of surrender guaranteed to the Greek population possession of its city quarters and churches, while the Turks were to settle outside the Byzantine walls, which were soon demolished to prevent any rebellion. The new Turkish quarters were established to the west and south of the walls, and named after their military leaders. The Grand Vizier Çandarlı Kara Halil Hayreddin Pasha built the town's first mosque, the Old Mosque (Eski Camii), now destroyed, in 1385, as well as the Old Baths (Eski Hammam). In the same year, Sultan Murad I used the city as a base for operations against the Serbs. During the Ottoman Interregnum, the rebel Sheikh Bedreddin was executed in the city in 1412. Although never rising to particular prominence within the Ottoman Empire, Serres became the site of a mint from 1413/14 on.In 1454/55, the city is estimated to have had some 6,200 inhabitants. The Muslim population grew steadily, and in the 15th century there were 25 Muslim to 45 Christian quarters. Towards the end of the 15th century, the first Sephardi Jews arrived from Sicily and Spain, and the Grand Vizier Koca Mustafa Pasha funded various public and charitable buildings in the city. In the early 16th century, Serres was visited by the French traveller Pierre Belon, who reported that the town was mainly inhabited by Greeks alongside German and Sephardi communities, while the people in the surrounding country spoke Greek and Bulgarian. In 1519 (Hijri 925) the town had 684 Muslim and 545 Non-Muslim households 54 of which being Jewish households; it was a has of the Sultan. In the aftermath of the Christian victory at the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, Turkish reprisals were directed at the Greek population, who had risen in revolt. The metropolitan cathedral of Serres was looted along with seven other churches, while land and land titles owned by the Monastery of St John the Baptist were confiscated.Much information on the town's history in the years 1598–1642 is given by the chronicle of the priest Synadinos, a former merchant who became a priest. The town is also described in some detail by the 17th-century Ottoman travellers Haji Khalifa and Evliya Çelebi, as well as the Capuchin friar Robert de Dreux. Evliya records a prosperous settlement, comprising the 10 Christian quarters of the old town, and 30 Muslim quarters in the new town, with about 2,000 and 4,000 houses respectively, 12 main mosques and 91 smaller ones, 26 madrasahs, two tekkes and five baths. It boasted a large market, among the most important in the region of Macedonia, with 2,000 shops and 17 khans. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, Serres was an autonomous lordship (beylik) under a succession of derebeys, within the Sanjak of Salonica. At the end of the 18th century, Serres was a cotton-producing area, exporting 50,000 balls of cotton to Germany, France, Venice and Livorno. The metropolitan bishop Gabriel founded in 1735 the Greek School of Serres, which he directed until 1745. The school was maintained by donations from wealthy Greek merchants, among them Ioannes Constas from Vienna with 10,800 florins and the banker and tragic leader of the Greek War of Independence in Macedonia Emmanouil Pappas, who donated 1,000 Turkish silver coins. Minas Minoides taught philosophy and grammar in 1815–19. The school operated also in the period of the Greek War of Independence under Argyrios Paparizou from Siatista.A great fire in 1849 destroyed most of the city's 31 surviving churches. Serres became a regular province c. 1846 as the Sanjak of Siroz of the Salonica Eyalet (later Salonica Vilayet). In the late 19th century, the kaza of Serres had a total population of 83.499, consisting of 31.210 Muslims, 31.148 Greeks, 19.494 Bulgarians, 995 Jews, 5 Armenians and 647 foreign citizens, and ranked, along with Monastir and Salonica, as one of the most important towns in Macedonia.The development of railways, highways and sea transport by steamship diminished the importance of the annual fairs for which the city was famous, and commercial activity declined in the late 19th century. In 1886, the Greek colonel N. Schinas described the city as having 28,000 inhabitants, 26 churches and 22 mosques, two Greek and six Turkish schools, 24 khans and an enclosed market. The city recovered some of its importance when it was connected via railway to Salonica and Constantinople in 1896. During the last decades of Ottoman rule, the once dominant cultivation of cotton was replaced by tobacco.In the early 20th century, the city became a focus of anti-Ottoman unrest, which resulted in the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising of 1903. The Ottoman census of 1905 registered 42,000 inhabitants. Modern period A Bulgarian army commanded by General Georgi Todorov captured Serres during the First Balkan War on November 6, 1912, but was forced to withdraw by Greek forces commanded by the King of Greece, Constantine I, during the Second Balkan War. The first officer of the Hellenic Army to enter Serres was infantry colonel Napoleon Sotilis, head of the 7th Infantry Regiment on July 11, 1913. Prior to abandoning the city, the Bulgarians set fire to it, which burned down much of the old Byzantine town, as well as many of the newer Muslim quarters. As the National Schism erupted in Greece during the First World War, Serres was temporarily occupied by the Central Powers after King Constantine ordered the local garrison not to resist to a token force of the Imperial German Army; eventually the city was liberated in 1917 by Greek-French Entente forces under the Venizelos government. During the Second World War, after the conquest of mainland Greece by Nazi Germany in April 1941 (which was followed by the conquest of Crete in June), Serres was assigned by the Nazis to their Bulgarian allies (along with the rest of East Macedonia and Thrace and the island of Thasos), who occupied the city until the Allied liberation of Greece in 1944. In 1943, Serres' Jewish population was deported by the Gestapo to the Treblinka death camp and exterminated. There was a significant resistance movement in the city during the occupation, led by the left-wing National Liberation Front (EAM).In the postwar years, the city's population grew substantially, and there was also a significant rise in the standard of living. The long-serving conservative Greek Prime Minister Constantine Karamanlis (in office from 1955 to 1963 and again from 1974 to 1980) was a native of Serres, and as a result its people could count on the support of the central Greek government in Athens. However, the villages in the plains around the city were not so lucky; the low prices of agricultural products led many people of these villages to emigrate, mostly to the United States and West Germany. As of 2015, the Mayor of Serres is Petros Angelidis (independent, formerly a member of PASOK). Municipality The present Serres municipality was formed at the 2011 local government reform by the merger of the following 6 former municipalities, that became municipal units of the new municipality: Ano Vrontou, Kapetan Mitrousi, Lefkonas, Oreini, Serres, and Skoutari.The municipality has an area of 600.479 km2, the municipal unit 252.973 km2. Climate Serres has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) bordering on a cold semi-arid climate (BSk). Serres has an irregular precipitation pattern throughout the year, with no pronounced dry season, although rainfall is fairly light year round. Summers are hot, whereas winters are cool but rarely very cold and snowy. Economy Serres is the capital of a primarily agricultural district and is an important trade centre for tobacco, grain, and livestock. Following the development of a government-sponsored manufacturing area in the late 20th century, it has also become a centre for the production of textiles and other manufactured items. Various products, meat and dairy, are also produced by breeding at Lake Kerkini. Places of interest Serres Public Regional Theatre Archaeological Museum of Serres (in the Ottoman bezesten) Serres Ecclesiastical Museum Sarakatsani Folklore Museum Lake Kerkini near the town Mehmet Bey Mosque Hadzilia Folklore and Ethnological Museum Serres Racing Circuit Saints Theodore Tyro and Theodore Stratelates Church, Serres Culture Late Ottoman author Omer Seyfeddin set his fictional work White Tulip (Beyaz Lale) describing events during the First Balkan War in the town. Cuisine Probably the most well-known food from Serres is bougatsa. Additionally, gyros and souvlaki are standard forms of Greek cuisine served in many restaurants and taverns. One delicacy that is truly unique to the region is Akanés, which is a type of gourmet candy delight prepared according to a secret recipe since the beginning of the 20th century by the Roumbos family. Allegedly, Aristeidis Roumbos, the confectioner who invented this candy, disclosed the recipe to one of his loyal trainees, who then proceeded to establish a rival akanes business. Nevertheless, the Roumbos family, to this day, continues to produce this delight in their quaint workshop, which is reminiscent of life in the 1950s. Another popular dessert of the area is Poniró, similar to sfogliatella. Neighborhoods Katakonozi is one of the most prosperous neighborhoods of the city, and it is currently experiencing a real estate growth. Kamenikia is one historic western neighborhood of the city. Taxiarches (Center) Kallithea Agios Panteleimon Agios Antonios Kiouplia Omonoia - Kalyvia Agios Nikitas Ionia (Sfageia) Saranta Martyres Profitis Ilias Siris (Sigis / Nea Kifisia) Agioi Anargyroi Timiou Stavrou Agios Athanasios Makedonomachon Vyzantio (Kalkani) Transport Road E79 passes near the city, connecting the city with Thessaloniki and the Greek-Bulgarian border of Promachonas. The Urban KTEL of Serres (has undertaken the transport within the city, while the Intercity KTEL of Serres connects the city with other cities of Macedonia and the rest of Greece. Rail Outside the city the railway station is located, on the Thessaloniki-Alexandroupoli Line, with local and regional services to Thessaloniki and Alexandroupolis. Population Notable residents Christos Aritzis (born 1984), footballer Gazi Husrev-beg (1480–1541), bey in the Ottoman Empire Halil Rifat Pasha, 19th-century Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire Hoca Ibrahim Pasha, Grand Vizier of the Ottoman Empire in 1713 Emmanouel Pappas, leader of the Greek War of Independence in Macedonia Konstantinos Karamanlis (8 March 1907 – 23 April 1998), founder and leader of ERE (Ethniki Rizospastike Enosis) and founder of New Democracy party, four times Prime Minister of Greece, the 3rd and 5th President of the Third Hellenic Republic, was born in Proti Serron, a village near Serres Efstathios Tavlaridis, football player Doukas Gaitatzis, chieftain of the Macedonian Struggle Demetrius Hondros, physicist Vicky Kalogera (1971), astrophysicist, Professor at Northwestern University and Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics (CIERA) Giorgos Kapoutzidis (1972), scriptwriter and actor Glykeria, singer Stratos Dionysiou (1935–1990), singer Angelos Charisteas, football player Maria Houkli, journalist Anna Spyridopoulou, basketball player Kostas Tsimikas, football player Christos Xenitopoulos, football player Dimitrios Psaltis (1970), astrophysicist, Professor of Astronomy and Physics at the University of Arizona Panos Ipeirotis, computer scientist, Professor of Information, Operations and Management Sciences at NYU Stern Motor Sports The City of Serres attracts high attention for motor sports. In the city is the Serres Circuit. It was built in 1998 in accordance with the construction requirements of up to Formula 3 races. The racetrack is the largest in Greece and meets the construction specifications of the International Automobile Federation and of the International Motorcycling Federation. It is a municipal corporation with majority shareholder the Municipality of Serres. Higher education In the city of Serres there is the Technological Educational Institution (TEI) of Central Macedonia. It has more than 14.000 bachelor and master students, also three faculties and even more departments. In autumn 2012 there operated (for first time) two master programmes in English (MBA, MSc) and in 2013 a third one was added (MSc). In 2019 the Technological Educational Institution (TEI) of Central Macedonia merged with the International Hellenic University. There is also a Department of Physical Education and Sport Science of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki that operates in the city of Serres, offering bachelor's and master's degrees. In addition, in the Vocational Training Institute (Greek: Ι.Ε.Κ.) of Serres, various specialisations are being taught in programmes that last for up to two years of study. Sporting teams Serres hosts the sport club Panserraikos, a football club that plays in second national division (football league 2), International relations Twin towns — sister cities Serres is twinned with: Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria Fosses, France Eilat, Israel Nilüfer, Turkey Larissa, Greece Gallery References "Sérrai." Encyclopædia Britannica, 2006. "Sérrai, Siris, or Serres." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2004. External links Information about Serres (in English and Greek) Information about Serres by the Municipality of Serres (in Greek) Awarded "EDEN – European Destinations of Excellence" non traditional tourist destination 2010 The deportation of the Jews of Serres to the Treblinka extermination camp during World War II, at Yad Vashem website.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serres

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Fushë-Krujë

Fushë-Krujë is a city in Durrës County, Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Krujë. The population at the 2011 census was 18,477. The city has gained wider fame due to President George W. Bush's visit on Sunday, 10 June 2007. A statue was erected in his honor in 2011. Fushë-Krujë was also the site of one of Skanderbeg's famous battles. Shote Galica, designated a Hero of the People, died in Fushë-Krujë in 1927.Fushë-Krujë has been designated as the future site of a cement factory to be operated by Antea Cement Sh.A., a subsidiary of Titan Cement of Greece. The Fushe Kruja Cement Factory is already operating in the town. It is a subsidiary of the Seament Group who are a leader in Sea Bulk Shipping and also own the Elbasan Cement Factory in Elbasan. Climate Fushë-Krujë has a mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csa). Honorary citizens George W. Bush == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fush%C3%AB-Kruj%C3%AB

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Arkport, New York

Arkport is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 844 at the 2010 census. The name comes from the barges used to ship products through the village. The postal code is 14807. The Village of Arkport is in the Town of Hornellsville and is north of the City of Hornell. Hornell Municipal Airport (HTF) is immediately south of the village. History Arkport was founded in 1797 by Christopher Hurlbut. The Canisteo River was used to ship crops, livestock, and timber to Baltimore using arks. The navigable portion of the river ended in Arkport; thus the name of ark-port. This practice of using arks as cargo vessels continued until 1825, when the Erie Canal was built and it became more cost-effective to ship crops via the canal. The existing Post Office was built in 1890. Geography Arkport is located at 42°23′36″N 77°41′46″W (42.393347, -77.696134).According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2), all land. The village is on the eastern bank of the Canisteo River. New York State Route 36 passes from north to south through the village. The Southern Tier Expressway lies between the village and Hornell. County Roads 48 and 67 lead into the village. Demographics At the 2000 census there were 832 people, 348 households, and 231 families in the village. The population density was 1,209.6 inhabitants per square mile (467.0/km2). There were 364 housing units at an average density of 529.2 per square mile (204.3/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 98.44% White, 0.60% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.36% Asian, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72%.Of the 348 households 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 29.9% of households were one person and 15.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.98. The age distribution was 25.7% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.9% 65 or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.1 males. The median household income was $36,250 and the median family income was $48,684. Males had a median income of $36,136 versus $21,806 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,170. About 1.4% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over. References External links Brief information about Arkport

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkport,_New_York

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San Vitero

San Vitero is a municipality located in the province of Zamora, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 677 inhabitants. Town hall San Vitero is home to the town hall of 5 villages: San Vitero (241 inhabitants, INE 2020). San Juan del Rebollar (157 inhabitants, INE 2020). El Poyo (57 inhabitants, INE 2020). San Cristóbal de Aliste (30 inhabitants, INE 2020). Villarino de Cebal (7 inhabitants, INE 2020). == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Vitero

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Sudong County

Sudong County is a county in South Hamgyŏng province, North Korea. It was formed from part of Kowŏn County in December 1990.Sudong is the site of a major coal seam first discovered in 1918. The P'yŏngra Line of the Korean State Railway passes through the district. Administrative divisions Sudong is divided into 6 tong (neighbourhoods) and 14 ri (villages): Transportation Sudong-gu has a trolleybus line opened in 1979 running within this district, linking residential areas to Kowon mine. The line opened in 1979, with a number of second hand Chollima 9.11 trolleybuses used to serve the line initially. The line appears to no longer have any trolleybuses. Kowon Tangwang Line runs to this district from Tunjon station, serving the colliery. See also Geography of North Korea Administrative divisions of North Korea South Hamgyong == Notes ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sudong_County

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Weehawken, New Jersey

Weehawken is a township in the northern part of Hudson County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is located on the Hudson Waterfront and Hudson Palisades overlooking the Hudson River. As of the 2020 United States census, the township's population was 17,197, an increase of 4,643 (+37.0%) from the 2010 census count of 12,554, which in turn reflected a decline of 947 (−7.0%) from the 13,501 counted in the 2000 census. History Name The name Weehawken is generally considered to have evolved from the Algonquian language Lenape spoken by the Hackensack and Tappan. It has variously been interpreted as "maize land", "place of gulls", "rocks that look like trees", which would refer to the Palisades, atop which most of the town sits, or "at the end", among other suggested translations.Three U.S. Navy ships have been named for the city. The USS Weehawken, launched on November 5, 1862, was a Passaic-class monitor, or ironclad ship, which sailed for the Union Navy during the American Civil War, encountered battles at the Charleston, South Carolina, coast, and sank in a moderate gale on December 6, 1863. The Weehawken was the last ferry to the West Shore Terminal on March 25, 1959, at 1:10 am, ending 259 years of continuous ferry service. Weehawken Street in Manhattan's Greenwich Village was the site of a colonial Hudson River ferry landing.The name and the place have inspired mention in multiple works of popular culture. Founding The township's written history began in 1609, when Henry Hudson, on his third voyage to the New World, sailed down what was later named the North River on the Half Moon and weighed anchor in Weehawken Cove. At the time it was the territory of the Hackensack and Tappan, of the Turtle Clan, or Unami, a branch of the Lenni Lenape. They were displaced by immigrants to the province of New Netherland, who had begun to settle the west bank of the Hudson at Pavonia in 1630. On May 11, 1647, Maryn Adriansen received a patent for a plantation (of 169 acres) at Awiehaken. In 1658, Director-General of New Netherland Peter Stuyvesant negotiated a deal with the Lenape to purchase all the land from "the great rock above Wiehacken", west to Sikakes (Secaucus) and south to Konstapels Hoeck (Constable Hook). In 1661, Weehawken became part of Bergen when it (and most of northeastern New Jersey) came under the jurisdiction of the court at Bergen Square. In 1674, New Netherland was ceded to the British, and the town became part of the Province of East Jersey. John Luby, in 1677, acquired several parcels comprising 35 acres (14 ha) along the Hudson. Most habitation was along the top of the cliffs since the low-lying areas were mostly marshland. Descriptions from the period speak of the dense foliage and forests and excellent land for growing vegetables and orchard fruits. As early as 1700 there was regular, if sporadic ferry service from Weehawken. In 1752, King George II made the first official grant for ferry service, the ferry house north of Hoboken primarily used for farm produce, and likely was sold at the Greenwich Village landing that became Weehawken Street.Weehawken was formed as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature, on March 15, 1859, from portions of Hoboken and North Bergen. A portion of the township was ceded to Hoboken in 1874. Additional territory was annexed in 1879 from West Hoboken. Revolutionary War During the American Revolutionary War, Weehawken was used as a lookout for the patriots to check on the British, who were situated in New York and controlled the surrounding waterways. In fact, in July 1778, Lord Stirling asked Aaron Burr, in a letter written on behalf of General George Washington, to employ several persons to "go to Bergen Heights, Weehawk, Hoebuck, or any other heights thereabout to observe the motions of the enemy's shipping" and to gather any other possible intelligence. Early documented inhabitants included a Captain James Deas, whose stately residence at Deas' Point was located atop a knoll along the river. Lafayette had used the mansion as his headquarters and later Washington Irving came to gaze at Manhattan. Not far from Deas' was a ledge 11 paces wide and 20 paces long, situated 20 feet (6.1 m) above the Hudson on the Palisades. This ledge, long gone, was the site of 18 documented duels and probably many unrecorded ones in the years 1798–1845. The most famous is the duel between Alexander Hamilton, first Secretary of the Treasury, and Aaron Burr, then Vice President of the United States, which took place on July 11, 1804; this duel was re-enacted on its 200th anniversary (July 11, 2004) by descendants of Hamilton and Burr. Three years earlier, a duel was held at this spot between Hamilton's son, Philip Hamilton, and George Eacker. (Another source, however, puts the duel in Paulus Hook in Jersey City.) Phillip, who had been defending his father's honor, suffered a fatal wound in his hip and his left arm and died two days later on November 24, 1801. 19th century In the mid-19th century, James G. King built his estate Highwood on the bluff that now bears his name, and entertained many political and artistic figures of the era, including Daniel Webster.With the ferry, the Hackensack Plank Road (a toll road that was a main artery from Weehawken to Hackensack), and later, the West Shore Railroad, built during the early 1870s, the waterfront became a transportation hub. The wealthy built homes along the top of the New Jersey Palisades, where they might flee from the sweltering heat of New York, and breathe the fresh air of the heights. Weehawken became the playground of the rich during the middle to late 19th century. A series of wagon lifts, stairs, and even a passenger elevator designed by the same engineer as those at the Eiffel Tower (which at the time was the world's largest) were put in place to accommodate the tourists and summer dwellers. The Eldorado Amusement Park, a pleasure garden which opened in 1891, drew massive crowds. 20th century The turn of the 20th century saw the end of the large estates, casinos, hotels, and theaters as tourism gave way to subdivisions (such as Highwood Park and Clifton Park) and the construction of many of the private homes in the township. This coincided with the influx of the Germans, Austrians, and Swiss, who built them and the breweries and embroidery factories in nearby Union City and West New York. While remaining essentially residential, Weehawken continued to grow as Hudson County became more industrial and more populated. Shortly after World War I, a significant contingent of Syrian immigrants from Homs (a major textile center in its own right) moved into Weehawken to take advantage of the burgeoning textile industry. Geography Weehawken is part of the New York metropolitan area. Situated on the western shore of the Hudson River, along the southern end of the New Jersey Palisades across from Midtown Manhattan, it is the western terminus of the Lincoln Tunnel. Weehawken is one of the towns that comprise North Hudson, sometimes called NoHu in the artistic community.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the township had a total area of 1.48 square miles (3.82 km2), including 0.78 square miles (2.03 km2) of land and 0.69 square miles (1.79 km2) of water (46.69%).The township borders the municipalities of Hoboken, Union City and West New York in Hudson County; and the New York City borough of Manhattan, across the Hudson River.While the Palisades defines Weehawken's natural topography, the Lincoln Tunnel Helix is prominent man-made and Lincoln Tunnel toll plaza are prominent man-made structures. Geographically, Weehawken has distinct neighborhoods: Downtown (known as "The Shades"), the Heights, Uptown (which includes Kingswood Bluff, known as "The Bluff"), and the Waterfront, which since the 1990s has been developed for transportation, commercial, recreational and residential uses. Though some are long abandoned (e.g., Grauert Causeway), there are still several outdoor public staircases (e.g., Shippen Steps) throughout the town, and more than 15 "dead-end" streets. At its southeastern corner is Weehawken Cove which, along with the rail tracks farther inland, defines Weehawken's border with Hoboken. Its northern boundary is shared with West New York. Traversing Weehawken is Boulevard East, a scenic thoroughfare offering a sweeping vista of the Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline. Local zoning laws prohibit the construction of high-rise buildings that would obstruct sight-lines from higher points in the township. In a 1999 decision that blocked the development of a pair of waterfront towers that would have stood 160 feet (49 m), a judge cited the panoramic vistas from Weehawken as "a world-class amenity that encourages people to live, work and locate businesses in the area". In 2021, the development company Roseland donated 14.5 acres of the Palisades cliff face to the town in order to preserve its beauty and its history. Demographics 2010 census The 2010 United States census counted 12,554 people, 5,712 households, and 2,913 families in the township. The population density was 15,764.6 per square mile (6,086.7/km2). There were 6,213 housing units at an average density of 7,801.9 per square mile (3,012.3/km2). The racial makeup was 71.85% (9,020) White, 4.83% (606) Black or African American, 0.49% (61) Native American, 8.16% (1,024) Asian, 0.01% (1) Pacific Islander, 10.76% (1,351) from other races, and 3.91% (491) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 40.27% (5,055) of the population.Of the 5,712 households, 20.4% had children under the age of 18; 34.9% were married couples living together; 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present and 49.0% were non-families. Of all households, 36.1% were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.93.16.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 39.1% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.2 years. For every 100 females, the population had 95.2 males. For every 100 females ages 18 and older there were 93.0 males.The Census Bureau's 2006–2010 American Community Survey showed that (in 2010 inflation-adjusted dollars) median household income was $62,435 (with a margin of error of +/− $6,887) and the median family income was $90,903 (+/− $17,797). Males had a median income of $53,912 (+/− $7,426) versus $50,129 (+/− $3,238) for females. The per capita income for the township was $45,206 (+/− $5,011). About 10.1% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 20.4% of those age 65 or over. 2000 census As of the 2000 census, there were 13,501 people, 5,975 households, and 3,059 families residing in the township. The population density was 15,891.3 inhabitants per square mile (6,135.7/km2). There were 6,159 housing units at an average density of 7,249.4 per square mile (2,799.0/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 73.05% White, 3.58% African American, 0.20% Native American, 4.67% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 13.94% from other races, and 4.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 40.64% of the population.There were 5,975 households, out of which 20.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.8% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 3.02.In the township, the population was spread out, with 16.6% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 42.4% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.The median income for a household in the township was $50,196, and the median income for a family was $52,613. Males had a median income of $41,307 versus $36,063 for females. The per capita income for the township was $29,269. About 9.3% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 11.3% of those age 65 or over.Weehawken, with a population density about equal to that of Jersey City, is among the most densely populated municipalities in the United States. Economy Weehawken has a retail district along Park Avenue, which represents its boundary with Union City, and large office and apartment/townhouse developments along the Hudson River. Weehawken is a mostly residential community, but has a business district at Lincoln Harbor between the Lincoln Tunnel and Weehawken Cove. UBS, Swatch Group USA, Hartz Mountain Telx Technologies (colocation center) are among the corporations which maintain offices in the neighborhood, which also hosts a Sheraton Hotels and Resorts-branded hotel. Sports Formula One announced plans in 2011 to host a street race on a circuit stretching 3.2 miles (5.1 km) in Weehawken and West New York called Grand Prix of America, that was planned to have its first event in June 2013. The three-day event was anticipated to attract 100,000 people and bring in approximately $100 million in economic activity. The 2013 race was dropped from the calendar, with Formula One President and CEO Bernie Ecclestone stating that the promoters were in breach of contract and that new proposals from other parties would be welcome. The race was repeatedly added then removed from future Formula One provisional calendars, and dropped completely from the provisional calendar by 2016. Points of interest Though the panoramic view (from the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to George Washington Bridge) may be its most famous attraction, Weehawken is also home to other sites of historic, aesthetic, and engineering importance: The city's main commercial thoroughfare is Park Avenue, which is populated mostly by locally owned stores, eateries and bars. Hamilton Park, on Boulevard East, is located at the site of the former Eldorado Amusement Resort. King's Bluff, a historic district at "the end of the Palisades", includes many of Weehawken's most expensive homes, in an eclectic array of architectural styles The Weehawken Water Tower on Park Avenue was built in 1883 as part of the Hackensack Water Company Complex, and inspired by Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy. The Tower is cited on the Federal Maritime Chart as the "Red Tower" and serves as a warning to ships traveling south along the Hudson that they are approaching New York Bay. The former North Hudson Hospital is located on Park Avenue. Hackensack Plank Road, an early colonial thoroughfare first laid out in 1718, climbs from Downtown to The Heights and further north, originally connecting Hoboken and Hackensack. The "Horseshoe" on Shippen Street is a cobbled double hairpin street leading to Hackensack Plank Road and Shippen Street Steps, at the bottom of which is located Weehawken's original town hall, and is the home of VFW Post 1923 and the Weehawken Historical Commission. Hackensack Number Two, a reservoir previously part of Hudson County's water system along with No. 1 (demolished), in the Gregory/Highpoint Historic District, is named for the river from which water was pumped into them. The Lincoln Tunnel Approach and Helix is the eight-lane circular viaduct that leads into the Art Deco style Lincoln Tunnel Toll Plaza. Nearby are the ventilation towers at Lincoln Harbor. The Weehawken Public Library, which was built in 1904 as the home the son of William Peter Sr., wealthy brewer/beer baron of the William Peter Brewing Company, is located at 49 Hauxhurst Avenue. It opened as a library in 1942, and underwent renovations from 1997 to 1999. The Atrium, which is home to Hudson River Performing Arts Center-sponsored events. NY Waterway's Weehawken Port Imperial Ferry Terminal, a state-of-the-art facility opened in 2006, is located at the site of the United Fruit Company, which was the largest banana import facility in the nation from the time of its opening in 1952. Reservoir Park, located at 20th to 22nd Streets on Palisade Avenue, opened on September 25, 2015, The passive park at the border of Union City and Weehawken, was created on the 14.4-acre (5.8 ha) site of a reservoir that had been owned by United Water but hadn't been used since 1996. The West Shore Railroad Tunnel, carved through the cliffs, is now used for the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. The Hudson Riverfront 9/11 Memorial on the Hudson River Walkway near the foot of Pershing Road consists of two trident-shaped beams that served as supports for the twin towers of the World Trade Center. Hamilton Monument The Alexander Hamilton Monument on Hamilton Avenue, next to Hamilton Park, is the site of the second memorial to the Burr–Hamilton duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. The first, on the original duel site, was constructed in 1806 by the Saint Andrew Society, of which Hamilton had been a member. A 14-foot (4.3-m) marble cenotaph, consisting of an obelisk, topped by a flaming urn and a plaque with a quote from Horace, surrounded by an iron fence, was raised about where Hamilton was believed to have fallen. Duels continued to be fought at the site, and the marble was slowly vandalized and removed for souvenirs, disappearing entirely by 1820. The tablet turned up in a junk store and found its way to the New-York Historical Society in Manhattan, where it still resides.From 1820 to 1857, the site was marked by two stones, with the names Hamilton and Burr, placed where they were thought to have stood during the duel. When a road from Hoboken to Fort Lee was built through the site in 1858, an inscription on a boulder where a mortally wounded Hamilton was thought to have rested—one of the many pieces of graffiti left by visitors—was all that remained. No primary accounts of the duel confirm the boulder anecdote. In 1870, railroad tracks were built directly through the site, and the boulder was hauled to the top of the Palisades, where it remains today, located just off the Boulevard East. In 1894, an iron fence was built around the boulder, supplemented by a bust of Hamilton and a plaque. The bust was thrown over the cliff on October 14, 1934, by vandals, and the head was never recovered; a new bust was unveiled on July 12, 1935.The plaque was stolen by vandals in the 1980s, and an abbreviated version of the text was inscribed on the indentation left in the boulder, which remained until the early 1990s, when a granite pedestal was added in front of the boulder, and the bust was moved to the top of the pedestal. New historical markers were added on July 11, 2004, the 200th anniversary of the duel. Government Local government Weehawken operates within the Faulkner Act, formally known as the Optional Municipal Charter Law, under the Council-Manager form of municipal government. The township is one of 42 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form of government. The governing body is a five-member Township Council, whose members are elected to serve four-year terms of office on a concurrent basis in non-partisan elections held in May. Two council members are elected from the township at-large and the remainder are chosen from each of three wards. The council selects a mayor from among its members in a reorganization meeting held in the first week of July after the election.As of 2023, the mayor of Weehawken is Richard F. Turner (at-large), whose term of office ends June 30, 2026. Turner has served in office since he first became mayor in 1990 after Stanley Iacono chose not to run for reelection. Other members of the Township Council are Deputy Mayor Rosemary J. Lavagnino (2nd Ward), David J. Curtis (3rd Ward), Carmela Silvestri-Ehret (1st Ward) and Robert Sosa (at large), all serving terms of office expiring on June 30, 2026.In October 2021, the Township Council appointed Robert Sosa to fill the Third Ward seat expiring in June 2022 that had been held by Raul I. Gonzalez until he resigned from office after announcing that he was moving out of Weehawken. Sosa had previously served on the council after initially having been elected to serve in 1978.Giovanni D. Ahmad is the township manager. Federal, state, and county representation Weehawken is located in the 8th Congressional District and is part of New Jersey's 33rd state legislative district. Prior to the 2010 Census, Weehawken had been part of the 13th Congressional District, a change made by the New Jersey Redistricting Commission that took effect in January 2013, based on the results of the November 2012 general elections.For the 118th United States Congress, New Jersey's Eighth Congressional District is represented by Rob Menendez (D, Jersey City). New Jersey is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Cory Booker (Newark, term ends 2027) and Bob Menendez (Englewood Cliffs, term ends 2025).For the 2022–2023 session, the 33rd Legislative District of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Brian P. Stack (D, Union City) and in the General Assembly by Annette Chaparro (D, Hoboken) and Raj Mukherji (D, Jersey City).The Hudson County Executive, elected at-large, is Thomas A. DeGise.Hudson County Board of County Commissioners District 7 comprises Weehawken, West New York, and Guttenberg and is represented by Caridad Rodriguez. Politics As of March 2011, there were a total of 7,335 registered voters in Weehawken, of which 3,717 (50.7%) were registered as Democrats, 850 (11.6%) were registered as Republicans and 2,753 (37.5%) were registered as Unaffiliated. There were 15 voters registered as Libertarians or Greens.In the 2012 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 74.7% of the vote (3,692 cast), ahead of Republican Mitt Romney with 23.6% (1,169 votes), and other candidates with 1.7% (83 votes), among the 4,969 ballots cast by the township's 7,995 registered voters (25 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 62.2%. In the 2008 presidential election, Democrat Barack Obama received 72.4% of the vote (3,895 cast), ahead of Republican John McCain with 26.1% (1,406 votes) and other candidates with 1.0% (52 votes), among the 5,381 ballots cast by the township's 8,230 registered voters, for a turnout of 65.4%. In the 2004 presidential election, Democrat John Kerry received 65.0% of the vote (3,250 ballots cast), outpolling Republican George W. Bush with 33.8% (1,688 votes) and other candidates with 0.4% (26 votes), among the 4,997 ballots cast by the township's 7,293 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 68.5.In the 2013 gubernatorial election, Democrat Barbara Buono received 55.5% of the vote (1,407 cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 42.2% (1,070 votes), and other candidates with 2.4% (60 votes), among the 2,637 ballots cast by the township's 8,135 registered voters (100 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 32.4%. In the 2009 gubernatorial election, Democrat Jon Corzine received 69.9% of the vote (2,209 ballots cast), ahead of Republican Chris Christie with 25.1% (792 votes), Independent Chris Daggett with 3.8% (119 votes) and other candidates with 0.9% (27 votes), among the 3,161 ballots cast by the township's 7,220 registered voters, yielding a 43.8% turnout. Public safety Weehawken is served by North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue (NHRFR). Engine 3 and Engine 5 are assigned to two fire stations located in the township.Weehawken Volunteer First Aid and the Weehawken Police Department were among the many Hudson County agencies that responded to the January 2009 crash of Flight 1549, for which they received accolades from the survivors. Mayors Simon Kelly, 1887 to 1897. Edward W. Berger c. 1905 Morris Frost, in 1908 for a week William H. Wood c. 1908 George Gonzales c. 1908 William M. Brady in 1917 Emile W. Grauert (1855–1931), 1912 to 1931. He was born in 1855 in Manhattan and later worked as an architect. His mayorship was possibly split over non-consecutive terms. He died in the mayor's office on April 20, 1931, from a heart attack. Clara E. Grauert, the 72-year-old widow of Emile W. Grauert starting in 1931 filling the office of her husband John Meister in 1949 Charles F. Krause Jr. in 1956. Stanley D. Ianoco from before 1972 to 1979 Wally P. Lindsley (born 1949), from 1979 to 1982 Stanley D. Ianoco, 1982 to 1990, in his second non-consecutive turn Richard F. Turner (born 1950), from 1990 to present Education The Weehawken School District serves public school students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade. As of the 2018–19 school year, the district, comprised of three schools, had an enrollment of 1,458 students and 120.5 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 12.1:1. Schools in the district (with 2018–19 enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics) are Daniel Webster School served 418 students in Pre-K through 2nd grade, Theodore Roosevelt School served 420 students in grades 3–6, and Weehawken High School served 569 students in grades 7–12 The school system is known for its small classes and high ratings.The Woodrow Wilson Arts Integrated School (grades 1–8), located in Weehawken, was part of the Union City School District.Hoboken Catholic Academy, a consolidation of existing Catholic schools, is located in Hoboken. A K–8 school, it was formerly co-sponsored by St. Lawrence Church in Weehawken and four Hoboken churches before the archdiocese's Lighting the Way program changed the allocation of money for schools in the archdiocese.The Weehawken Public Library has a collection of approximately 43,000 volumes and circulates 40,600 items annually. and is a member of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System. The landmark building, extensively renovated and updated in 1999. Transportation Roads and highways As of May 2010, the township had a total of 16.08 miles (25.88 km) of roadways, of which 13.35 miles (21.48 km) were maintained by the municipality, 1.30 miles (2.09 km) by Hudson County and 1.43 miles (2.30 km) by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.Route 495 travels east-west between the Lincoln Tunnel and the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) with interchanges for Route 3 and U.S. Route 1/9 in North Bergen. The Lincoln Tunnel Helix in Weehawken carries traffic between the tunnel's toll plaza and the crest of the Palisades. County Route 505 also passes through the township. Public transportation Public transportation in Weehawken is provided by bus, ferry, and light rail. Bus service is provided along busy north-south corridors on Park Avenue, Boulevard East and Port Imperial Boulevard by NJ Transit and privately operated jitneys within Hudson County, and to Manhattan and Bergen County. NJT 123, 126, 128, 156, 158, 159, 165, 166, 168 originate/terminate at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. NJT 23 and 89 travel between Nungessers and Hoboken Terminal, where transfer is possible to PATH and NJT commuter rail. NJ Transit buses 84 and 86 travel between Nungessers and Journal Square or Pavonia/Newport in Jersey City. Routes 68 and 67 provide minimal peak service from Lincoln Harbor to the Jersey Shore.Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) service is available westbound to Bergenline and Tonnelle Avenue and southbound to Hoboken, Jersey City and Bayonne at the Lincoln Harbor station and Port Imperial station, where transfer to NY Waterway ferries to Midtown and Lower Manhattan is possible.NY Waterway headquarters are located at Weehawken Port Imperial.In 2013, a planned regional bike share system was announced by the Mayors of Weehawken and two cities to its south. Hudson Bike Share, launched in Hoboken in 2015, expanded to Weehawken in 2017. The program ended in 2020 when Hoboken joined the Citibike network. Media and culture Weehawken is located within the New York media market, with most of its daily papers available for sale or delivery. The Jersey Journal is a local daily paper covering news in the county. Local weeklies include the free bilingual paper, Hudson Dispatch Weekly, (named for the former daily Hudson Dispatch), The Hudson Reporter, the Weehawken Reporter, the Spanish language El Especialito. and the River View Observer. The Weehawken Sequence, an early 20th-century series of approximately 100 oil sketches by local artist John Marin, who worked in the city, is considered among, if not the first, abstract paintings done by an American artist. The sketches, which blend aspects of Impressionism, Fauvism and Cubism, have been compared to the work of Jackson Pollock.The Hudson Riverfront Performing Arts Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build a world-class performing arts center on the waterfront. Since 2004, it has presented both indoor and outdoor events at Lincoln Harbor. In popular culture The name and the place have inspired mention in multiple works of popular culture. In 2014, the Fox Channel animated television series, Futurama, Weehawken is the home of the former DOOP headquarters. In visual art, Weehawken is the subject of the American painter Edward Hopper's East Wind Over Weehawken. Additionally, the Broadway musical Hamilton includes a scene depicting the duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton, as well as the duel between Phillip Hamilton and George Eacker. In 1980, Italian science fiction/horror film Contamination features an Edwardian home on the corner of Boulevard East and 46th Street, in the scene in which a disgraced former astronaut is visited by the colonel who disgraced him. In the 1970s and early 1980s, jazz composer and pianist Thelonious Monk lived during his final decade until his death in 1982 in a modernist home at 63 Kingswood Road owned by Jazz patron and heiress Pannonica de Koenigswarter—which she bought from film director Josef von Sternberg and later dubbed "the Mad Pad" and "the Cathouse." In Dr. Seuss' 1940 children's book Horton Hatches the Egg, Horton the Elephant visits Weehawken while he is in the circus, and in Dr. Seuss's The Lorax, the Onceler gives directions to the land of the Truffula trees that include "...turn left at Weehawken." In the Apple TV+ animated musical, Central Park, a rap about Weehawken recorded by Daveed Diggs is sung by Helen, one of the characters, who is from there. Notable people People who were born in, residents of, or otherwise closely associated with Weehawken include: See also Bergen, New Netherland Bergen Township, Bergen County, New Jersey (Historical 1693) Gateway Region Gold Coast, New Jersey Hudson River Waterfront Walkway National Register of Historic Places listings in Hudson County, New Jersey North Hudson, New Jersey References External links Official website Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Weehawken" . Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weehawken,_New_Jersey

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Borso del Grappa

Borso del Grappa is a municipality of the Province of Treviso in the Veneto region of northeastern Italy. == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borso_del_Grappa

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Torralba de Ribota

Torralba de Ribota is a municipality located in the province of Zaragoza, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census (INE), the municipality had a population of 189 inhabitants. References External links Municipal Official Website

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torralba_de_Ribota

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Saint-Nicolas-de-Sommaire

Saint-Nicolas-de-Sommaire (French pronunciation: [sɛ̃ nikɔla də sɔmɛʁ] (listen)) is a commune in the Orne department in north-western France. See also Communes of the Orne department == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Nicolas-de-Sommaire

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Gröden

Gröden is a municipality in the Elbe-Elster district, in Brandenburg, Germany. History From 1952 to 1990, Gröden was part of the Bezirk Cottbus of East Germany. Demography == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gr%C3%B6den

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Glendale

Glendale is the anglicised version of the Gaelic Gleann Dail, which means valley of fertile, low-lying arable land. It may refer to: Places Australia Glendale, New South Wales Stockland Glendale, a shopping centre Glendale, Queensland, a locality in the Shire of Livingstone Canada Glendale, Calgary, Alberta, a neighbourhood Glendale, Nova Scotia Glendale Secondary School, a highschool in Hamilton, Ontario New Zealand Glendale, New Zealand, a suburb of Wainuiomata, Lower Hutt United Kingdom Glendale, Northumberland, England Glendale, Skye, Scotland Glendale, a neighbourhood of Robroyston, Glasgow, Scotland United States Glendale, Arizona, largest city with this name Glendale, California, a city in Los Angeles County Glendale University College of Law in Glendale, California Glendale Boulevard Glendale Freeway Glendale, Humboldt County, California Glendale, Colorado, in Arapahoe County Glendale, Boulder County, Colorado Glendale, Idaho Glendale Heights, Illinois Glendale, Illinois Glendale, Daviess County, Indiana Glendale, Indianapolis, Indiana Glendale, Kansas Glendale, Kentucky Glendale, Massachusetts Glendale, Missouri Glendale, Nevada Glendale Avenue Glendale, New Hampshire Glendale, Camden County, New Jersey Glendale, Mercer County, New Jersey Glendale, Queens, New York Glendale Township, Logan County, North Dakota Glendale, Ohio Glendale, Oklahoma Glendale, Oregon Glendale University, an unaccredited online school (not affiliated with the Glendale University College of Law) Glendale, Rhode Island Glendale, Utah, a town in Kane County Glendale, Salt Lake City, Utah, a neighborhood Glendale, Washington, a community on Whidbey Island Glendale, Wisconsin, a city in Milwaukee County Glendale, Monroe County, Wisconsin, a town Glendale (community), Monroe County, Wisconsin, an unincorporated community Other uses Battle of Glendale, a battle of the American Civil War in Henrico County, Virginia A character in the animated streaming television series Centaurworld See also Glendale High School (disambiguation) Glen Dale (disambiguation) Glenn Dale (disambiguation) Glenndale (disambiguation)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glendale

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Buk

Buk or BUK may refer to: Places Czech Republic Buk (Prachatice District), a municipality and village in the South Bohemian Region Buk (Přerov District), a municipality and village in the Olomouc Region Buk, a village and part of Jindřichův Hradec in the South Bohemian Region Buk, a village and part of Milín in the Central Bohemian Region Poland Buk, Greater Poland Voivodeship, a town in western Poland Gmina Buk, the administrative unit Buk, Podkarpackie Voivodeship, south-east Poland Buk, Lesser Poland Voivodeship, south Poland Buk, Goleniów County, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, North-west Poland Buk, Police County, West Pomeranian Voivodeship, north-west Poland Buk Góralski, a village in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, mid-northern Poland Buk Pomorski, a village in Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, mid-northern Poland Other places Buk, Bulgaria, a village Buk, Croatia, a village Bük, a village in Hungary Būk, a village in Iran Paranesti, a village in Greece formerly called Buk Buk District (disambiguation), several districts in South Korea People Choe Buk (fl. 1755–1785), Korean painter Tadeusz Buk (1960–2010), Polish soldier, Commander of the Polish Land Forces Other uses Buk (drum), a Korean drumBES-5, also known as Buk, a Soviet reactor Buk missile system, a Soviet and Russian missile system Bukawa language, by ISO 639 code Bayero University Kano, Nigeria See also Buk Bak, a Ghanaian musical group

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buk

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Skaun

Skaun is a municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway. It is part of the Orkdalen region. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Børsa. Other villages include Buvika, Eggkleiva, Melby, Skaun, and Viggja. Skaun is predominantly rural, but is nonetheless situated only 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Norway's third largest city, Trondheim. Most inhabitants, except agricultural and public sector workers, work outside of Skaun in Trondheim, Orkanger, or Melhus. The European route E39 runs east to west across the northern part of the municipality and Norwegian County Road 709 runs north and south through the municipality. The 224-square-kilometre (86 sq mi) municipality is the 297th largest by area out of the 356 municipalities in Norway. Skaun is the 127th most populous municipality in Norway with a population of 8,360. The municipality's population density is 39.2 inhabitants per square kilometre (102/sq mi) and its population has increased by 20.4% over the previous 10-year period. General information The municipality of Børseskognen was established on 1 January 1890 when it was separated from the municipality of Børsa. The initial population was 1,410. In 1930, the name was changed to Skaun. During the 1960s, there were many municipal mergers across Norway due to the work of the Schei Committee. On 1 January 1965, the three neighboring municipalities of Skaun (population: 1,251), Børsa (population: 1,476), and Buvik (population: 1,267) were merged to form a new, larger municipality of Skaun.On 1 January 2018, the municipality switched from the old Sør-Trøndelag county to the new Trøndelag county. Name The municipality was originally named Børsaskogen meaning "the forest of Børsa", referring to its more rural forested nature compared to the more built up area of Børsa to the north. In 1930, the name was changed to Skaun. This name was chosen after the old Skaun farm (Old Norse: Skaun) since the first Skaun Church was built there. The name comes from the Old Norse word skinr which means "to shine". This is believed to refer to the lake Laugen. Coat of arms The coat of arms was granted on 9 January 1987. The official blazon is "Per fess urdy azure and argent" (Norwegian: Delt blått og sølv ved palisadesnitt). This means the arms have a field (background) that is divided by a line with an "urdy" design. The background below the line has a tincture of argent which means it is commonly colored white, but if it is made out of metal, then silver is used. The background above the line has a tincture of blue. The arms are designed to look like the four large, old standing stones found in the municipality. The four stones are most likely associated with a large grave site dating back to around 500-1000 AD. Local tradition states that these stones are where Einar Tambarskjelve moored his ships, and he owned a fort in Husaby in Skaun. The arms were designed by Einar H. Skjervold. The municipal flag has the same design as the coat of arms. Churches The Church of Norway has three parishes (sokn) within the municipality of Skaun. It is part of the Orkdal prosti (deanery) in the Diocese of Nidaros. Geography The municipality of Skaun lies on the south side of the Gaulosen, an arm of the Trondheimsfjord. The river Mora flows north into the lake Laugen and the river Børselva flows north out of the lake Laugen up to the fjord. The lake Malmsjøen is located in the southeastern part of the municipality. Skaun has three neighboring municipalities: Orkland to the west, Melhus to the south and east, and Trondheim to the north across the Gaulosen. Government All municipalities in Norway, including Skaun, are responsible for primary education (through 10th grade), outpatient health services, senior citizen services, unemployment and other social services, zoning, economic development, and municipal roads. The municipality is governed by a municipal council of elected representatives, which in turn elect a mayor. The municipality falls under the Trøndelag District Court and the Frostating Court of Appeal. Municipal council The municipal council (Kommunestyre) of Skaun is made up of 23 representatives that are elected to four year terms. The party breakdown of the council is as follows: Mayors The mayors of Skaun: Notable people Einar Tambarskjelve (ca.980–ca.1050) the Viking, and his estate. The legend says he used the four monumental standing stones in Børsa to moor his boats. The stones are the theme for the coat-of-arms. Egil Aarvik (1912 in Børsa – 1990) a newspaper editor, author and politician Bjarne Saltnes (1934 in Skaun – 2016) a politician, Mayor of Skaun 1971–1975 and 1979–1983 Jostein Wilmann (born 1953 in Viggja) a former professional road racing cyclist, best placed Norwegian in the Tour de France Kari Aalvik Grimsbø (born 1985) is goalkeeper for the Norway women's national handball team Fictional residents Kristin Lavransdatter, who was the key character in a trilogy written by the Nobel Prize winner in literature, Sigrid Undset. There is a celebration of this every year the second week-end in August. It takes place at Husaby, where Sigrid Undset lived while writing the second book, Husfrue ("Houselady"). The books also have large parts of their storyline from Husaby. References External links Trøndelag travel guide from Wikivoyage Municipal fact sheet from Statistics Norway (in Norwegian) Skaun Tourist Information Celebration "Kristin på Husaby" (in Norwegian)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skaun

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Rusholme

Rusholme () is an area of Manchester, England, two miles south of the city centre. The population of the ward at the 2011 census was 13,643. Rusholme is bounded by Chorlton-on-Medlock to the north, Victoria Park and Longsight to the east, Fallowfield to the south and Moss Side to the west. It has a large student population, with several student halls and many students renting terraced houses, and suburban houses towards Victoria Park. History Etymology Rusholme, unlike other place names in Manchester with the suffix -hulme/holme is not a true water meadow. Its name derives from ryscum the dative plural of the Old English rysc, a "rush" meaning at the rushes. The name was recorded as Russum in 1235, Ryssham in 1316 and Rysholme in 1551. Early history Late in the Roman occupation of Britain a hoard of about 200 gold coins was hidden in the valley of the Gore Brook. These date from the 2nd and 3rd centuries CE and were found where Birchfields Road crosses the brook in the 1890s. They are now held in the Manchester Museum.The name Rusholme first appears in the mid-13th century, when "Russum" is mentioned. A house is known to have existed at Platt at that time, which was replaced by a larger one of black-and-white construction. This remained the home of the Platts until the present classical building replaced it in the mid-18th century. An early record of the Platt estate mentions the Nico Ditch, an 8th or 9th-century Anglo-Saxon linear earthwork running east–west through the area and probably marking an administrative boundary. Tales of battles between Danes and Normans associated with the road names Danes Road and Norman Road are not accepted by historians. Another black-and-white hall at Birch was probably built in the 16th century.The economy of the area was dependent on agriculture until the 18th century; however during the 17th and 18th centuries there was a growth of cottage industries such as spinning, weaving and brickmaking. Social history Over the Victorian era, there were several different socio-political meanings of Rusholme. Primarily, it was a township based around a general area known as Rusholme since at least the 13th century. The area grew into a township, and by the beginning of the 19th century, it had its own government responsible for public health, roads, policing, poor relief, and other local government tasks. Rusholme was originally a politically autonomous entity, which was vital to its self-conception as a discrete area even after its incorporation into Manchester. Low-cost terraced housing built between 1880 and 1930 dominates the landscape, along with a sprawling council housing estate from the interwar period. Political history Richard Cobden, William Royle (author of a history of the township), and Thomas Lowe (1815–1892) were long-time residents. Lowe began working as a baker and became a flour dealer, later a nurseryman and finally the proprietor of a dairy. Prime Minister H. H. Asquith was married here in 1877 to Miss Helen Melland.The Conservative Dame Kathleen Ollerenshaw was for 26 years one of the councillors for Rusholme on Manchester City Council, before becoming Lord Mayor of Manchester in 1975–1976. Other local politicians included ward Councillor Paul Shannon, a Liberal Democrat and former deputy leader of the Manchester City Council Liberal Democrat group who was defeated by Ahmed Ali (Labour) in May 2012. Rabnawaz Akbar was elected as a Labour councillor for Rusholme ward in May 2010. Councillor Akbar served on the Citizenship and Inclusion Committee. Governance Rusholme was a separate town until it was incorporated into Manchester in 1885. It is served in Westminster by the MP for Manchester Gorton, currently Afzal Khan. CouncillorsRusholme is represented on Manchester City Council by three Labour councillors, Ahmed Ali, Jill Lovecy and Rabnawaz Akbar. indicates seat up for re-election. indicates seat won in by-election. Geography The community is surrounded by Fallowfield to the south, Moss Side to the west, Victoria Park to the east and Chorlton-on-Medlock to the north. Platt Fields Park A large public park in the south-west, it opened in 1910 and proved popular; it was maintained by a team of up to 50 gardeners until the second half of the 20th century. The centrepiece is a large pleasure lake used for boating and fishing. The grounds contain Platt Hall, several formal gardens, and three dedicated show fields for outdoor events. In 2010, Platt Fields Park received a Green Flag Award for achieving the national standard for parks and green spaces. Churches The Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity is in Platt Lane. At Birch in Rusholme is the now disused, much older chapel of ease of St James (formerly known as Birch Chapel). The present building was built in 1845–1846 to replace an earlier chapel of 1595. The architect was J. M. Derick and it is in Gothic revival style. The south-west tower is topped by a broach spire; the aisle arcades have five bays. Since its conversion into a nursing home it has been known as St James House. The Housing Group of the St James', Birch, Fellowship investigated housing conditions in Chorlton-on-Medlock in 1931.In Thurloe Street is the Roman Catholic Church of St Edward. The architect was E. W. Pugin and the church was built in 1861–1862. It is small and the exterior sober; the planned south-west tower was never built and there is an apse at the east end. The arcades have short polished granite columns.A Wesleyan Church once stood on Dickenson Road near the junction with Wilmslow Road. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style by the architects William Hayley & Son, and opened in 1862. The chapel closed to worship in 1937 and after some years in use as a film and television studio, it was demolished in 1975. Culture and cultural references John Ruskin gave the lectures later published as Sesame and Lilies in 1865 at Rusholme Town Hall. In 1947 the disused Wesleyan church on Dickenson Road was converted into a film studios by Mancunian Films. Between 1947 and 1954 the company produced many feature films at Dickenson Road Studios, including the first Manchester-made feature film, Cup-Tie Honeymoon starring Sandy Powell and Pat Phoenix. Many Mancunian productions were filmed in local streets. In 1963 the BBC bought the studios as its northern base and on New Year's Day 1964, the first edition of Top of the Pops was broadcast from the Rusholme premises, presented by Jimmy Savile and opening with The Rolling Stones performing "I Wanna Be Your Man". Top of the Pops was broadcast from Rusholme until 1967, when the show moved to a larger facility at Lime Grove Studios in London. In 1975 the BBC transferred its operations to the New Broadcasting House in Oxford Road and the Dickenson Road chapel building was demolished. Today, a commemorative plaque affixed to a house marks the site of it.Rusholme was mentioned in the song "Rusholme Ruffians" by the Smiths on their 1985 album Meat Is Murder. According to the Smiths' singer, Morrissey: "[The song] is about going to a fair and being stabbed."Mint Royale's 1999 album On the Ropes contained a track titled "From Rusholme with Love". Rusholme was the home of the second indoor ice-skating rink in England, after the London Glaciarium, although this has since been replaced by a grocery store, having spent many years as a cabaret venue (Oceans 11). Social and economic conditions Social conditions Rusholme is one of the south Manchester areas, along with Moss Side, Longsight, Hulme and Old Trafford, to have suffered from gang-related gun crime and gang activity. However, shooting incidents have declined in recent years. Wilmslow Road Wilmslow Road is part of the B5117, a thoroughfare running from Parrs Wood north into the city centre, traversing the campuses of the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University. It forms part of what is the busiest bus route in Europe, with many stops being serviced by a bus from one of many different bus companies every 60 to 90 seconds during peak times. A section of this road known locally as the Curry Mile contains at least 70 restaurants, takeaways and kebab houses specialising in the cuisines of South Asia and the Middle East. Appleby Lodge is a 1930s block of flats opposite Platt Fields Park. Notable people The cricket writer and music critic Neville Cardus (1888–1975) was born in Rusholme, as were musicians Roy Harper (born 1941) and Marc Riley (born 1961), actors Alan Badel (1923–1982) and Tina O'Brien (born 1983), and the novelist and dramatist Ian Hay: John Hay Beith (1876–1952). Others include Marguerite Addy, a Spanish Civil War nurse and Second World War spy. See also Listed buildings in Manchester-M14 References Footnotes Bibliography Further reading Jill Cronin and Frank Rhodes, Rusholme and Victoria Park. Stroud: Tempus, 2006 ISBN 0-7524-4198-1 William Royle, Rusholme Past and Present, being a gossipy talk of men and things. Manchester: Wm. Hough & Sons, 1905 William Royle, History of Rusholme, with a gossipy talk of men and things. Manchester: Printed at the W. Morris Press, 1914 D. K. Royle, William Royle of Rusholme. Manchester: Sherratt & Hughes, 1924 Gay Sussex and Peter Helm, Looking Back at Rusholme & Fallowfield. Altrincham: Willow, 1984 External links Rusholme – Districts & Suburbs of Manchester England Rusholme and Victoria Park Archive Friends of Platt Fields Park Rusholme Curry Mile Manchester Dynamo Bowden Athletic Football club

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusholme

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Benahavís

Benahavís is a Spanish town (pueblo) and municipality in the province of Malaga. It is mountain village between Marbella, Estepona, and Ronda, 7 kilometers from the coast. On the southern face of La Serranía de Ronda mountain range, Benahavís is one of the most mountainous villages on the western Costa del Sol, near the resort beaches as well as the spectacular mountains of the Serrania de Ronda. Its terrain is traversed by the Guadalmina, Guadaiza and Guadalmansa Rivers. Places of great natural and historic interest are to be found within its boundaries, such as El Cerro del Duque, Daidin and the Montemayor Castle. During the late 1990s, the Junta de Andalucia constructed a dam on the site of an old marble quarry, and now for much of the year the once ever-flowing Río Guadalmina is a dried-up riverbed. History At the end of the 11th century, Benahavís was founded by Arabs. The village was intimately involved with Andalusia's Arabic past, and particularly with Marbella, the municipal district to which it belonged until it was granted the so-called "Carta Puebla" by Philip II in 1572. Montemayor Castle, built prior to the founding of Benahavís, played an important role in disputes between successive Arab rulers in Andalusia, because of its strategic position. It was disputed for many years by the various military factions of the time. Its prominent location overlooking the coast, with up to a hundred kilometres of seaboard visible in clear weather, and even the African coast, was extremely useful at a time when piracy and invasion were commonplace. The town takes its name from Havis, an 11th-century Moorish prince who reigned in Montemayor Castle. The name Benahavís is derived from the Arabic "Binā' Ḥabīsh" (بناء حبيش), meaning "The Building of Ḥabīsh", the word 'Ḥabīsh' could have come from the Arabic word 'Ḥabashi' (حبشي), which meant Ethiopian, but was used to identify any dark-skinned African, this could indicate that the city was founded by a man of Sub-Saharan African descent. The castle's strategic location drew the attention of the Catholic Monarchs, who were intent on conquering the last Moorish kingdoms in the south of the Iberian Peninsula. Isabel and Ferdinand's forces had already laid siege to the Nazarite kingdom of Granada, but they decided first to occupy the nearby province of Málaga. Soon after, on the 11th of June, 1485, Benahavís, together with the localities of Daidin, Montemayor Castle, Cortes Fortress, Ojen, Arboto, Almáchar, Tramores and Calalui Fort (the Castle of Light), in the Sierra Bermeja, all within the district of Marbella, were handed over to King Ferdinand the Catholic, by Mohammed Abuneza after the signing of the capitulation. The Catholic Monarchs entrusted their custody to Don Pedro Villandrado, Count of Ribadeo, the first Christian mayor of Benahavís. From that moment on, a dispute arose between Benahavís and Marbella which lasted three and a half centuries, until Benahavís achieved the status of an independent community. References External links http://www.benahavis.net

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benahav%C3%ADs

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Sihor

Sihor (Gujarati: સિહોર Sihor) is a town, a municipality in Bhavnagar district in the Indian state of Gujarat. Placed along the river Gautami, this erstwhile capital of the Gohil Rajputs, surrounded by hills is situated about 20 km from Bhavnagar. It becomes Sihor by corrupting its name from Saraswatpur, Sinhalpur, Sinhpur, Sinhor, and Shihor. Regionally, Sihor is all-time famous and known for its hills, their rock pattern, Gautameshwar Mahadev & Lake, Sihor's Festivals, Navnath Pilgrimage (Navnath Yatra) of Shiva Temples, Brahma Kund, 'Sihori Rajwadi Penda' (Peda or chocolate cake), old town's ascends and descends, walled city and fort, narrow lanes, Nana Sahib Peshwa and the 1857 revolt, its food and delicacy, Copper-ware & Brass-ware, Pottery, snuff manufacturing factories, Rolling Mills and Industrial Plants. Known as 'Saraswatpur' during Mahabharata period and 'Sinhpur', 'Sinhalpur' after that, locally in Gujarat, it is often regarded as 'Chhote Kashi' (sub-version or model of Kashi - Varanasi - Banaras) also. This may be due to numerous temples and Shivalayas in and around this medium-sized town, religious activities and resemblance of town's architecture in particular. The town exhibits a definite texture and architecture through a numerous ancient temples and buildings. Etymology According to Hasmukh Dhirajlal Sankalia, the name Sihor is derived from Siṁhapura, which is attested in inscriptions from the Maitraka and Chaulukya eras. The name is either a reference to the lion (siṁha), which is native to Gujarat, or to someone named Siṁha. The name underwent several sound changes over the centuries to reach its present form: the root siṁha became sīha, while the suffix -pura was shortened to -or.: 71–2, 91 The name Sihor evolved from Saraswatpur, Sinhalpur, Sinhpur, Sinhor, and Shihor. Purana, rishis, sages and scholars regarded this place as Pavitra Kshetra attributed by the presence of scholarship and spirituality, such class of society and places out there. Mythology, progression and Saraswatpur According to Hinduism, Saraswatpur the name itself may suggest and support to the active power and significance of this place, as a place of knowledge, scholarship and spirituality while deriving from Saraswati the name of Saraswatpur should have been bestowed upon by those responsible. There are references of Saraswatpur in Purana, its references and references of lord Krishna's visits are found in Mahabharata and peculiarly in the texts related to Krishna as Krishna spent the remaining half of his life at Dvārakā / Dwarka.Another remarkable reference is Gautameshwar Temple, its Swayambhu Shivling in the cave, a proclaimed secret tunneled trek to Somnath from Gautameshwar, inscription and the legend of Gautama Maharishi, Ahalya and lord Rama. According to the legend and ancient inscription, Rishi Gautam's mention of tranquility, vibrations and holiness of this place, its old name as Saraswatpur and the detailed account of his stay, experiences and penance, are found. Even today, the Gautameshwar Mahadev Temple remains a frequently visited place for its tranquil space time, in and around Sihor and in Saurashtra / Gujarat. Transition and quest Sinhpur and Sinhalpur are the next to come in picture. Period between Saraswatpur and Sinhpur is not thoroughly referred or documented, and the amount of historical information of this period is in scattered form, to be more precise the period between 5000 BC-3000 BC. Denoting the west coast of India and Kathiawar peninsula, the obvious influence of Indus Civilization on this region can be mapped through further archaeological explorations and insights, and, processing existing archaeological and geological data of Sihor region along with a prime focus on study of Vallabhi and Maitraka era, exploration, survey and excavations targeting the submerged city of Vallabhi which has been critically responsible for Aryan Colonization across the continent with significance of Buddhism and Jainism during that period. Vedic, Buddhist and Maitraka periods Periodic excavations and findings, along with few existing ruins and monuments, already ask for thorough validation of their age. Eventually a large portion of Bhavnagar district falling under tectonically unstable zone, possibility of a major natural calamity in form of earthquake, tsunami or volcanic eruption can not be ruled out too. And therefore, the relics and old Vedic civilization may have been a matter of disappearance especially when the Vallabhi and Maitraka dynasty struggled to exist further, either a natural calamity or attacks by barbarians and/or later the known and frequent attacks by Mongols and Turks have to be the reasons behind the diminishing of a flourishing era of this region. Sihor is considered to be a prominent Buddhist circuit from about 5th-6th Centuries BC through Maitraka dynasty (till 8th century). Geologists are of opinion that rocks and the pattern of Sihor hills are unique and the age of this region would be older than that of Himalayas mountain range. The hill range is often observed as an outcome of volcanic activity.While efforts from historians and scholars for validating the research on Vijaya of Sri Lanka and his origin for his voyage to Ceylon in 543BC, the kingdom and dominance of Sinhapur need a greater attention. Its significance and mentions come out evident since early Vedic Period and Gupta empire through Maitraka dynasty during the peak of Vallabhi with its significance as Sinhapur, it should be the period post 6th century, the name Sinhapur would have transformed into Shihor / Sihor. Lions the identity and, Sinhpur to Sihor However, the presence of Lions in this region (Sihor hills) from olden times to very much till mid of 20th Century and therefore the gradual social transformation of this piece of civilization into Sinhpur or Sinhalpur may be understandable where the lion is called as 'Sinh' or 'Sinha' in a Sanskrit variant. Adding to the aesthetics of Sinhpur, King Sinhavarma is equally regarded for the Saraswatpur became Sinhpur. There is one more research task in asking toward bridging Sinhpur and Sinhalpur as both of these names have existed, either concurrently or at different points of time. Over the time with varying pronunciations and dialects, it has been found corrupting itself as Sinhor - Shihor and finally Sihor. Interesting to note while Sinhpur becomes Sihor in a few thousand years and lions are returning again to the Sihor hills gradually since last couple of decades and increasing off late, as in the year of 2011. Prince Vijaya, Sinhala, and the Sri Lanka and Buddhism The first king of Sri Lanka, Vijaya the Conqueror, may have been born in ancient Sihor as a prince before being ousted and banished from the region. Other sources however claim he was from Bengal, but after some rectification and cross-verification of all research works covering, Buddhism, Pali/Sanskrit Language, many linguistic-traditional references and connections, Vallabhi, Vijaya's documented route, Geo-political evidences and, documentation & references post Vijaya's settlement in Sri Lanka, all these almost establish that he hailed from Sihor. Period somewhere 600-500BCE through Maitraka dynasty in Vallabhi represents the peak of Buddhism along with Jainism in the region of Sihor and Vallabhi where the rulers were following Vedas and Hinduism but these philosophies co-existed and rather flourished, to the extent, to cross the shores and borders across Indian sub-continent. This is how, Sihor offers some exciting chapters of its connection with Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka's early history and Sinhala people/culture. Sihor while significantly claiming the credits, as Prince Vijaya (later known as Vijaya of Sri Lanka ) exiled from Sihor settled in Lanka, reaching there via sea-route and became medium for introduction of Aryan/Vedic culture and Buddhism in Lanka. This thriving, periodically accomplished research and ancient, popular story is often termed as "Lanka Ni Laadi Ne Ghogha No Var" meaning "Bride of Lanka and the Groom from Ghogha" in local culture and literature since very old times. There are couple of films also made on this subject as the title itself and there are few songs woven in folklore depicting the story of Prince Vijay and his succeeding march to Lanka. Ghogha, an all-weather port near Sihor-Bhavnagar, from where prince Vijay set off with his army to Lanka, after he was exiled by his father King Sinhavarma / Sinhabahu from Sinhpur. In ancient times, the region of Gujarat was known as Lata or Lala or Laldesa, which suggests to be Gujarat. Mahavamsa and various references mention of this. Confusion and issues still must be prevailing in settling Vijaya's origin either to North-East or North-West, a significant hindsight is Sinhabahu's who established the Kingdom of Sinhapura in Gujarat west coast, he (Sinhabahu) hailed from Eastern part of Indian subcontinent and thus two different and in fact real historical accounts must create confusion. However, scholars and historians have agreed and reckoned for the evidences to point to Vijaya having come from western coast. Let alone, locally in the present day Saurashtra and Gujarat region, there has been a long carrying telltale and story for several hundred years now about a local Prince called Vijaya to reach Sri Lanka with an army of 700, marry and settle there. Two immigration events, one that is Sinhabahu coming and settling in Sinhapura, Kathiawar - Gujarat from North Eastern coast of India, and his son from Sinhapura, western coast, settling in Sri Lanka, these two different events, the mixed ancestry has influenced the fact of history. Nana Sahib Peshwa, India's 1857 revolt and after that A critical fact and secret remains intact, that is Nana Sahib's remnants in Sihor. Undocumented material also suggests Nana Sahib would keep changing his location between Sihor and interior Shatrunjaya Hills around Palitana periodically. However, references, mentions and evidences of Nana Sahib's consistent stay in Sihor have been more dominant and documented in regional records and articles at regular intervals since many decades, for he spent his rest of the life in Sihor, initially as a sage. There were some active freedom fighters and volunteers from Sihor during British rule, and one of them, had he been associated with Nana Sahib is often anticipated to have facilitated Nana Sahib's hideout and his group's safe passage to Sihor during early 60s (1860s), while he would leave Nepal and striving to settle out against British aggression in North India and Kanpur which became evident post 1857. Sihor was a place still quiet, serene, surrounded by hills, with difficult passages and forests stretching up to Girnar range. Religiously to interview the land and region of Kathiawar or the Saurashtra (region), this province often known for its nobility, bravery, sacrifice and spirituality, the place of Sihor in Bhavnagar, Kathiawar, its dormant hills and the jungle surrounding the town may have been a better option and success for Nana Sahib and his allies to settle out there post 1857 revolt and after leaving Nepal. Also with the fact Sihor and its people had continuing connections with Mumbai and various parts of now Maharashtra, which in turn seemed to have helped Nana Sahib to keep a regular touch with few his allies down in Mumbai and Maharashtra. This may be seen from the correspondence, people who kept coming to meet him in Sihor. As per the records of Sihor history, Nana Sahib died in 1909 in Sihor, but curiosity, facts and revelations had started emerging peculiarly post 1947 across the region (Sihor) and Saurashtra, with some official efforts starting toward the 70s (1970s). Subsequently, opening of more links, correspondence, his writings, a few empirical archives, documents with the then state of Bhavnagar, few his rare photographs, some events, altogether a reasonable span of his stay of 45 years in Sihor, and Nana Sahib's local as well as national allies & revolutionaries found reference, nearly to establish without efforts in an unbiased manner, the most probable account of disappearance of this historical figure. Most critically when all these secrets were rather for keeping them as secret and not for the claims, either to prove a personality as Nana Sahib or reveal if it was Sihor which was marked by Nana Sahib's remainder of life, which almost carried along for 45–46 years. Among the locals, very interesting piece of history referring the remainder, Nana Sahib's life in Sihor, his character, his thoughts and deeds, his subtle nature and identity, his local and general involvement, all these conveyed by those who were close to him directly or indirectly in Sihor, periodically got published in the region. Adding to that, some steps and initiatives taken by him, and the belongings & remnants, these all when acknowledged and realized later, post 1947, eventually to acknowledge they were just Nana Sahib, are all a serious subject of learning and retrospection. This account poses re-evaluation of an incomplete task, a structured approach and serious initiative in asking for the state government of Gujarat and the Central Government, India. Presently, there is a house signified to Nana Sahib in old town of Sihor, remnants and materials, an old tomb as a tribute to him by the locals, a few existing connections/references and recently a recreational park named after Nana Sahib Peshwa in Sihor. Sihor is a Chunval village, about twelve miles north of Viramgam, where, in 1825, were the well-marked remains of an old city. The line of walls could be clearly traced, bricks much larger than those now in use were found, and many bracelets and other ornaments were often dug up. Like Kangavati and Patan, Sihor is, about 300 years ago, said to have been overwhelmed in a storm of dust and sand from the Rann of Kutch. A ruined temple of a Mata bears the date Samvat 1625 (1569). Geography Sihor is located at 21.425277°N 71.573604°E / 21.425277; 71.573604. It has an average elevation of 60 metres (196 feet). Demographics As of 2011 India census, Sihor had a population of 26000. Males constitute 13000 of the population and females 13000. Sihor has an average literacy rate of 81.11%, higher than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 87.81%, and female literacy is 73.62%. In Sihor, 12.51% of the population is under 6 years of age. Transportation Air The nearest airport to Sihor is Bhavnagar Airport which has direct flights to Mumbai. Railway Sihor is a railway junction.(SOJN) Sihor is connected to major parts of Saurashtra, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and rest of India by rail. As a Railway Junction in Bhavnagar Division, Sihor got the first rail access (Meter gauge) in form of Bhavnagar State Railway in year 1880 after the Princely state of Bhavnagar became the first in the province and third (after Baroda and Hyderabad) in the country to construct their own railway line. There is direct connection from Sihor to Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Junagadh, Jamnagar, Somnath, Okha, Dwarka, Palitana, Botad, Mahuva, Ahmedabad, Surendranagar, Surat, Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Kakinada, Kochuveli and many intermediate stations. The line has been converted into Broad gauge now. Road By Road, Sihor is connected with all major cities of Gujarat with some direct routes connecting Bhavnagar, Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and with another access to Saurashtra's coastal route via Bhavnagar and access to Vadodara, Mumbai and South India via Dholera Highway. These routes extend and connect to distant places and big centers of Saurashtra and Gujarat. As a popular approach for local and regional transport, people prefer road over rail as the mode of transportation to reach the town quickly. Private public transport is also available frequently to access nearby centers. Places of Historical, Archaeological and Religious significance A medium-sized town drawing a large number of historical and religious places and monuments, many of them religious structures and temples is something interesting and worth studies, it catches to surprise. It may have many reasons influenced by socio cultural transitions, some events and time periods of history and past. These different religious places have in fact varying and unique aspects to present, and not only religion or religious rituals. Some places denote some major historical events, spiritual significance, archaeological significance, social and cultural landmarks, architecture, community works, philanthropy, astronomical significance and environmental message in the background. Some of these places are famous and significant locally and a few are significant at larger level as well. Many of these places are instrumental and mediums for recreational activities for locals, different social works, educational activities, yoga, workshops and seminars, and civil works. Major points of attraction in Sihor are the 12th century Brahma Kund (a stepped tank surrounded by idols of Hindu deities) - built by Raja Jayasimha Siddharaja, Gautameshwar Temple and Lake, Sihor's hills and treks, and the 17th century Vijay Vilas Palace of the Maharajahs, with fine paintings and wood carvings. Another archaeological ancient site of Saat Sheri (a mountaintop or a mound) along with some of the nine major Shiva temples spread around the town are an important pilgrimage worth visiting. Other tourist interests in and around the town include the famous Khodiyar Mata Temple and the Sihori Mata Temple – which offers a panoramic view over Gautameshwar Lake and the whole town. The old fort of Sihor with its wall art is worth a visit. Instant look Sihori Mata Mandir (Kuldevi(Goddess) of 'Jani', 'Joshi' and 'Audichya' Brahmins and regarded as Nagardevi(Goddess) as well) At least 20 prominent Hill ranges surrounding Sihor, locally called as "Dungar" each (entire range which boast of flora, fauna, herbs, minerals and metals.) Gautmeshwar Lake, Kund & Mandir (Pre historic, references of Lord Rama, Gautam Rishi, Ahalya and later with stay of Nanasaheb Peshwa (Nana Sahib) nearby this place) Cave/Tunnel (Gufa) to Girnar and Somnath (Pre historic and an example of engineering brilliance, now sealed) Navnath Mahadevs (Nine main Shivayalas - Shiva Temples, some temples and their surrounding area needing serious conservation) Hanuman Dhara (a rare example of community and collective efforts) Brahma Kund (a stepped tank surrounded by idols of Hindu deities) Monghiba and Koyaram Bapu Ni Jagya Panch Pir (Five Dargahs/Mosques of Pir/Fakir/Saints, such as Gareebshah Pir) Darbargarh & Paintings Sihor Fort, Wall and Darwajas in various directions (ancient, needing serious attention-revival) Saat Sheri (Pre-historic monument) Surka Gate (Surka No Delo) (ancient, needing revival) Jodnath Mahadev and Shirdi Sai Nath Baba Temple What more explorable Some ancient trade/business practices, such as Copper, Brass, Bronze, Steel utensils, pottery, snuff and horticulture, etc. Architecture, lanes, temples of old Sihor, houses and town planning Archaeological Exploration and insights into almost under-surface pre-historic civilization Rocky mountain range/hills of Sihor and their unique rock pattern Remnants of Nana Sahib Peshwa, the Indian Rebellion of 1857, its legacy and some rare facts Secret Tunneled Trek from Sihor to Girnar - Somnath (pre historic) Ancient Gateway, Trek to Shatrunjaya Hills from Old Sihor (Hills), the trek overlapped and covered now, although its idea and view of Shatrunjaya Hills can be had during clear weather Iron & Steel Rolling Mills Delicious and fresh food/fruits/vegetables, Laddu, Sihori-Rajwadi Penda, Namkins(Farsan) and taste of Sihor Sihor's typically easy, simple, leisure, introvert, hard-shelled, slow-medium paced lifestyle Festivals, Festivities and 'Mela' of Sihor, especially during the month of Shraavan Navnath Mahadevs and other significant landmarks The Navnath Pilgrimage covers some ancient to very ancient Shiva temples of Sihor. These temples are built and/or renovated between 1000 AD - 1600 AD. This pilgrimage is believed to have more significance when undertaken in the month of Shraavan according to Hindu Calendar. There are faith and devotion attached among people in the region. However, devotees generally don't miss a chance to undertake this brief pilgrimage anytime during the year. Making this pilgrimage by foot is basically preferred and celebrated since old times, and those who are in hurry take up vehicle to cover it. The Standard Navnath itinerary Rajnath Mahadev (in the old town) Ramnath Mahadev (toward hills) Sukhnath Mahadev (close to Saat Sheri) Bhavnath Mahadev (en route Brahma Kund) Kamnath Mahadev (at Brahma Kund) Jodnath Mahadev & Shree Shirdi Sai Baba Temple (in the opposite direction of Brahma Kund) Bhootnath Mahadev (adjoining crematorium along the Gautami river) Dharnath Mahadev (opposite Bhootnath) Bhimnath Mahadev (opposite Pragateshwar or Pragatnath Mahadev) Along Navnath Yatra and other significant temples and places The following places and temples fall on the way or off the track in Navnath Yatra. Some are close and a few are distant from the Navnath route. Depending on the capacity and convenience, many devotees still pay a visit to following. Brahma Kund (there are two approaches to Brahma Kund, one from Old Sihor road and one from Kansara Bazar) Hanuman Dhara and Radha Krishna Temple (not far from Brahma Kund) Gautmeshwar Mahadev (very ancient site) Vishwanath Mahadev (near Gautam Kund) Vishe anath Mahadev (near patel farm Society) Amareshwar Mahadev (near Gautameshwar Temple, rebuilt in 1916) Mukteshwar Mahadev (opposite Bhootnath, a nice temple complex with garden and recreational facilities) Pragatnath Mahadev (close to Bus Depot) Monghibha Ni Jagya (off Pragatnath Road) Panchmukha Mahadev (while entering the old town, a little before main gate 'Delo') Other places Thakur Dwara Vaishnav Haveli Mahalakshmi Temple Mahakali Temple Dada Vav & Harihar Bapu - Darshan Das Bapu AshramOriginally a place with historical stepped well, which is now reclaimed and leveled up. There is no 'Vav' now. It had a dedicated section for Yoga and Library with some rare publications and books on Yoga, Meditation, Spirituality, Indian Philosophy, Ayurveda, Psychology, History, etc. This place has been named as 'Dada Vav' after Prince Dadbha Gohil. The 'Dada Ni Vav' remained a unique center of yoga and spiritual activities during the tenure of Swami U. N. Darshandasji, who was a scholar and very knowledgeable Sanyasi. Simultaneously it also served itself as Udasin Sant Kutir to the disciples of one of the Akharas and to Chandravanshi Sadhus till the early 1990s.Mukteshwar MandirMukteshwar Mandir is a nice temple complex covering large area with garden, lawns, children play area, recreational facilities. Mukteshwar Mahadev sits just opposite Surka Gate and Bhootnath Mahadev.Aanandkunj Ashram - Shri Dharmadas Bapu Ramdev Pir Mandir Tarshingda Khodiyar Mata Mandir Saagwadi (Agriculture & Farms) Rokadiya Hanuman Mandir A Jumma Masjid close to Jodnath Mahadev Temple campus. The mosque is managed by Tablighi disciple and descendant of caliph Umar Marhum Dawood Vali Mohammed Deraiya Panch Pirs Gareebshah Pir Todashah Pir Yaqeenshah Pir Gebanshah Pir Ghoomadshah Pir Notable individuals Sihor hosts few notable rulers and many individuals from different sections of governance, society, industry, religion, art, literature, education, and social reforms. However, the revolutionary Nana Sahib Peshwa made Sihor his home for rest of his life, post 1857 revolt carries greater attention, Prince Vijaya is another distinct figure from Vedic Period or Iron Age who introduced Buddhism to Sri Lanka. External links Sihor, Gohilwad Capital, Bhavnagar == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sihor

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Sutton County, Texas

Sutton County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,372. Its county seat is Sonora. The county was created in 1887 and organized in 1890. Sutton County is named for John S. Sutton, an officer in the Confederate Army. History 9500 BC – c. 1860s AD Paleo-Indians in the county leave behind archaeological remains of a burned-rock midden with mortar and pestle, as well as other tools. Later native inhabitants include Tonkawa, Comanche and Lipan Apache. 1736 Lt. Miguel de la Garza Falcón leads 100 soldiers along the Devils River 1852, February 2 - Camp Terrett, later known as Fort Terrett, established to protect settlers from Comanches. Founded by Lt. Col. Henry Bainbridge and named for Lt. John Terrett, who was killed in the Battle of Monterrey in 1846. 1881 Wall's Well discovered by Tim Birtrong and Ed Wall. Town of Wentworth discovered. Birtrong Ranch is the area's only ranch. 1885 Charles G. Adams, a merchant and sometime rancher from Fort McKavett, founds Sonora, Texas, named after a family servant from Sonora, Mexico. 1887 The Texas legislature establishes Sutton County, carved out of eastern Crockett County named for Confederate officer John Schuyler Sutton. 1890 Sonora becomes the county seat. 1915 Texas Sheep & Goat Raisers’ Association organized. 1928 The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway acquires Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway to connect Sonora with San Angelo, Del Rio, and the outside world by rail. 1930 Sonora Wool and Mohair Company established. 1936 WPA projects help local economy. 1958, August 1 – Sonora Municipal Airport activated. 1960, July 16 – Caverns of Sonora open to the public. 1965 Caverns of Sonora designated National Natural Landmark. 1975 Fort Terrett Ranch is purchased by the Texas oil industrialist Bill Noël and used in part for the growing of pecans. Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,454 square miles (3,770 km2), of which 1,454 square miles (3,770 km2) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) (0.03%) is water. Major highways Interstate 10 U.S. Highway 277 Adjacent counties Schleicher County (north) Kimble County (east) Edwards County (south) Val Verde County (southwest) Crockett County (west) Menard County (northeast) Demographics Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. As of the census of 2000, there were 4,077 people, 1,515 households, and 1,145 families residing in the county. The population density was 3 people per square mile (1.2 people/km2). There were 1,998 housing units at an average density of 1 units per square mile (0.39 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 45.28% White, 0.25% Black or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 2.27% from other races, and 1.62% from two or more races. 49.99% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 1,515 households, out of which 38.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.60% were married couples living together, 7.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.40% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.15. In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.80% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 99.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males. The median income for a household in the county was $34,385, and the median income for a family was $38,143. Males had a median income of $31,193 versus $18,587 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,105. About 14.10% of families and 18.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.20% of those under age 18 and 16.10% of those age 65 or over. Education Sutton County is served by the Sonora Independent School District based in Sonora. Communities City Sonora (county seat) Ghost Towns Fort Terrett Owenville Wentworth Politics Sutton County is very conservative in national politics. In 2016, it gave 76% of its vote to Republican candidate Donald Trump. It last supported a Democrat in 1964, when Texan Lyndon B. Johnson was the Democratic candidate. However, this was not always the case. In fact, in 1916, the Democratic candidate received 10 times as many votes as the Republican. It hasn't supported a Democrat in Texas gubernatorial elections since 1974, when Dolph Briscoe, the Democrat, carried all but five counties in the state. See also List of museums in Central Texas National Register of Historic Places listings in Sutton County, Texas Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Sutton County References External links Media related to Sutton County, Texas at Wikimedia Commons Sutton County government's website Sutton County from the Handbook of Texas Online Sutton County Profile from the Texas Association of Counties

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutton_County,_Texas

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San Mamés de Burgos

San Mamés de Burgos is a municipality and town located in the province of Burgos, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 258 inhabitants. == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Mam%C3%A9s_de_Burgos

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Castelo Branco

Castelo Branco is Portuguese for white castle, and may refer to: People João Rodrigues de Castelo Branco, physician, better known as Amato Lusitano and Amatus Lusitanus (1511–1568) Camilo Castelo Branco (1825–1890), Portuguese writer Humberto de Alencar Castelo Branco (1897–1967), president of Brazil between 1964 and 1967 Sérgio Tertuliano Castelo Branco, see List of governors of São Paulo Places Brazil Castelo Branco (João Pessoa), a neighbourhood in the municipality of João Pessoa, State of Paraiba Portugal Castelo Branco (district), a district in the Centro Region Castelo Branco Municipality, a municipality in the district of Castelo Branco Castelo Branco, Portugal, a city in the municipality of Castelo Branco Castelo Branco (Mogadouro), a civil parish in Mogadouro MunicipalityIn the archipelago of the AzoresCastelo Branco (Horta), a civil parish in the municipality of Horta, island of Faial Other Rodovia Castelo Branco (SP-280), a roadway in the State of São Paulo Castelo Branco cheese, a cheese named after the city of the same name in Portugal, the main city of the district where it is produced Clube Atlético Castelo Branco, a Brazilian football (soccer) club See also Presidente Castelo Branco (disambiguation)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castelo_Branco

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Castañuelas

Castañuelas is a town and municipality located in Monte Cristi Province, Dominican Republic. Its total population is 14,878 with the urban population at 4,005. == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casta%C3%B1uelas

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Alcalá de Gurrea

Alcalá de Gurrea is a municipality located in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain. According to the 2004 census (INE), the municipality had a population of 292 inhabitants. == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcal%C3%A1_de_Gurrea

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Les Choux

Les Choux (French pronunciation: ​[le ʃu]) is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France. See also Communes of the Loiret department == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Choux

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Bel Air

Bel Air or Bel-Air may refer to: Places France Bastide Bel-Air, a historic, listed building in Aix-en-Provence, France Bel-Air (Paris Métro), a station of the Paris Métro Haiti Bel Air, Haiti, a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince United States Bel Air, Los Angeles, a neighborhood of the city of Los Angeles, California Hotel Bel-Air, a hotel located in Bel-Air, Los Angeles, California Bel Air, Allegany County, Maryland, an unincorporated place in Maryland Bel Air, Harford County, Maryland, town and county seat in Maryland Bel Air (Minnieville, Virginia), a historic plantation in Prince William County, Virginia Bel Air, Minot, a neighborhood in Minot, North Dakota Bel-Air (Sanford), a neighborhood of the city of Sanford, Florida Other places Bel Air, Seychelles Bel-Air, residential development of Cyberport business park, Hong Kong Bel-Air, Makati, a gated community in the Philippines Place de Bel-Air (Genève), a plaza and major public transportation intersection in Geneva, Switzerland; see Trolleybuses in Geneva Brands and companies Bel-Air Athletics, a clothing brand founded by Will Smith Bel Air Circuit, an exclusive home movie club Chevrolet Bel Air, a car Bel Air Markets, a trading name for the Raley's Supermarkets chain in the western US Media and entertainment Bel Air (album) (2011), by Guano Apes "Bel Air ~Kuuhaku no Shunkan no Naka De~", song by Malice Mizer "Bel Air" (song), by Lana Del Rey from her extended play album Paradise "Bel Air", song by The Church (band) "Bel Air", song by the German band Can, on the album Future Days Bel-Air (film), a 2019 short film based on the 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Bel-Air (TV series), a reboot of the 1990s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Bel Air (sometimes Bel-Air), a French record label in existence 1956–64/65; Paul Mauriat Schools Bel Air High School (El Paso, Texas) Bel Air High School (Harford County, Maryland) See also Belleair, Florida Bel-Aire (disambiguation) Belair (disambiguation) Bellaire (disambiguation)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bel_Air

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Fontenay-Saint-Père

Fontenay-Saint-Père (French pronunciation: ​[fɔ̃tnɛ sɛ̃ pɛʁ]) is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. See also Communes of the Yvelines department == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fontenay-Saint-P%C3%A8re

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Talty

Talty is a surname found in County Clare, Ireland. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "Ó Tailtigh" ‘descendant of Tailteach’. Other surnames with the same origin are Tully, Tally, MacTully, MacAtilla, Flood and possibly Floyd. The Ó Tailtigh family were physicians to the O'Conors, Kings of Connacht and also to the O'Reillys of Breffny in County Cavan. References Talty in GoIreland Archived 10 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine Irish Families, Their Names and Origins by Edward MacLysaght, (Dublin, 1958) [1] Ireland's DNA

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talty

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Saint-Julien-le-Châtel

Saint-Julien-le-Châtel (French pronunciation: ​[sɛ̃ ʒyljɛ̃ lə ʃatɛl]; Occitan: Sent Julian lo Chastel) is a commune in the Creuse department in central France. Geography The river Tardes forms part of the commune's eastern border. The Voueize flows north through the western part of the commune. Population See also Communes of the Creuse department == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint-Julien-le-Ch%C3%A2tel

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Chappaqua, New York

Chappaqua ( CHAP-ə-kwah) is a hamlet and census-designated place in the town of New Castle, in northern Westchester County, New York. It is approximately 30 miles (50 km) north of New York City. The hamlet is served by the Chappaqua station of the Metro-North Railroad's Harlem Line. In the New York State Legislature it is within the New York State Assembly's 93rd district and the New York Senate's 40th district. In Congress the village is in New York's 17th District. Chappaqua was founded by a group of Quakers in the 1730s and was the home of Horace Greeley, New-York Tribune editor and U.S. congressman. Since the late 1990s, former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton have lived there. History In the early 1730s, a group of Quakers moved north from Purchase, New York, to settle in present-day Chappaqua. They built their homes on Quaker Road (more recently, Quaker Street) and held their meetings at the home of Abel Weeks. Their meeting house was built in 1753 and still holds weekly meetings each Sunday. The area around the meeting house, known as Old Chappaqua Historic District, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Horace Greeley's home, known as Rehoboth and built by Greeley himself, still stands in Chappaqua. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places along with Chappaqua Railroad Depot and Depot Plaza, Church of Saint Mary the Virgin and Greeley Grove, and the Greeley House.Various spellings were used for the name they heard Native Americans use for their valley and hillside. It was an Algonquian word, shah-pah-ka, and it meant "the rustling land" or "the rattling land," or a place where nothing is heard but the rustling of the wind in the leaves. The Quakers spelled it Shapiqua, Shapaqua, Shapequa, Shappaqua, and, finally, Chappaqua. Their meeting was often referred to as the Shapequa Meeting as early as 1745.On March 18, 1791, the government of New York decided to split the overly large town of North Castle (jokingly called "the two saddlebags") into two smaller towns, one of which was named New Castle. The border was drawn from the southwest corner of Bedford to the northeast edge of Mount Pleasant. New Castle's borders have remained the same since 1791, except for a small piece of land received from Somers in 1846 and the secession of Mount Kisco in 1978. Chappaqua had great streams such as the Saw Mill River and Roaring Brook. These bodies of water powered mills to crush corn and press oil from beans. The eastern half of Chappaqua was very suitable for farming. The majority of the Quaker settlers of Chappaqua were farmers. The popular farming industry also helped give way to Chappaqua's high milk production. Other popular industries from Chappaqua included shoes, hardware, vinegar, pickles, eyeglasses, and furniture. Many early homes and businesses were demolished in the 1904 Chappaqua tornado. In 1846 when the New York and Harlem Railroad extended through Chappaqua, business became centered on the new train station. These businesses included a hotel, livery stables, a public library, and various stores and small factories. The railroad enabled commuters to travel to New York City and back each day. Geography According to the 2020 U.S. census, Chappaqua has a total area of 0.45 square miles (1.2 km2), all land. As delineated for the 2000 census, the CDP of Chappaqua covered a much greater area: 9.44 square miles (24.4 km2), of which 9.38 square miles (24.3 km2) was land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km2), or 0.64%, was water. Parts of the Chappaqua ZIP Code area are located in the towns of Mount Kisco, New Castle, Mount Pleasant, Yorktown, and Bedford, and the hamlet of Millwood. Parts of the Chappaqua Central School District include homes in other zip codes, such as 10570, the Pleasantville zip code. Climate Demographics As of the 2010 census, following a major revision to the delineation of its boundaries by the Census Bureau, the population was 1,436. At the 2000 census, with very different census-defined boundaries, Chappaqua had a population of 9,468.As of the census of 2010, there were 1,434 people residing in Chappaqua. According to the 2015-2019 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, there are 595 housing units and the median household income is $250,000+. The racial makeup of the CDP was 76.1% White alone, 0% Black or African American alone, 0% Native American alone, 22.6% Asian alone, 0% Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander alone, 0% some other race alone, and 1.3% from two or more races. According to the 2010 census], the median age was 39 years, with 3.8% of the population under 5, 81.6% 18 and older, and 10% 65 and older. Males had a median income of $207,083 versus $128,750 for females. 0% of families were below the poverty line. 6.6% of people old enough had a high school or equivalent degree of education, 5.8 had some college but no degree, 4% had an associate degree, 37.3% had a bachelor's degree, and 46.3% had a graduate or professional degree. Nationwide, Chappaqua ranks 42nd among the 100 highest-income places in the United States (with at least 1,000 households). In 2008, CNNMoney listed Chappaqua fifth in their list of "25 top-earning towns." Chappaqua 2007 estimated median household income was $198,000. Crime Although Chappaqua's crime rate is far below the national average, the area has had a few high-profile murders. In 1996, a battle between a lottery winner and his former lover over custody of their 5-year-old child resulted in a gun battle; the winner was acquitted of the murder of his former lover on the basis of self-defense, and convicted of the shooting of the woman's father. In November 2006 a disbarred attorney drove the body of his severely injured wife to Northern Westchester Hospital, claiming that the couple had been ambushed and shot in the nearby town of Millwood. She died soon after. For over a year, police expressed skepticism about the husband's account and did not rule him out as a suspect. In December 2007 the man was charged with his wife's murder after trying to collect on life insurance policies. Carlos Perez-Olivo was convicted October 4, 2008 for the murder of his wife, Peggy Perez-Olivo, who had been working as a teaching assistant at Douglas Grafflin Elementary School in Chappaqua. Arts and culture Notable structures The Chappaqua Friends Meeting House, circa 1753, is the oldest extant Quaker meeting house in Westchester County, and is a contributing property to the Old Chappaqua Historic District. America's first concrete barn was completed by Horace Greeley on his Chappaqua farm in 1856. It was also one of the first concrete buildings ever built in the U.S. Greeley's daughter and son-in-law later remodeled it into their house and named it Rehoboth. The world headquarters of Reader's Digest was in Chappaqua. The exterior featured statues of Pegasus. Part of the original structure of one of Horace Greeley's homes is part of the present-day New Castle Historical Society. The Shamberg House, designed by Richard Meier, was built in Chappaqua in 1974.A Georgian-inspired mansion in Chappaqua served as the shooting location for the 2022 horror film Bodies Bodies Bodies. Education Small, one-room schoolhouses devoid of windows were prevalent in the 1800s. In the Chappaqua region, there were eight such schoolhouses. These small schools prevailed until around 1870, when the Quakers built a large school called the Chappaqua Mountain Institute on Quaker Street. In the year 1885 the school caught fire, and much refurbishing was done, with the addition of two new wings. It was sold in 1908 and the school's property is now owned by Children's Aid. Around 1928, Robert E. Bell Middle School, known at the time as Horace Greeley School, was built. The present day Horace Greeley High School was built in 1957. The three elementary schools in Chappaqua were completed over a twenty-year period: Roaring Brook School in 1951, Douglas G. Grafflin in 1962, and Westorchard in 1971. In 2003, after the opening of the new middle school, Seven Bridges, and the moving of the fifth grade from Chappaqua's elementary schools to the middle schools, the district added a full day kindergarten.Schools currently operating in Chappaqua include: Robert E. Bell MS Douglas Grafflin ES Seven Bridges MS Roaring Brook ES Horace Greeley High School Westorchard ES Infrastructure Emergency services Emergency medical services and fire protection are provided by volunteer agencies. The Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps provides basic life support services to most of New Castle, including Chappaqua. The hamlet is protected by the New Castle Police Department, which also provides first-response services for medical emergencies. The volunteer-based Chappaqua Fire Department, established in 1910, provides firefighting services to the hamlet of Chappaqua. The fire department currently maintains two firehouses in Chappaqua. Notable people Bill Ackman, investor and CEO & Founder of Pershing Square Capital Management Adam Arkin, American television, film, and stage actor, son of Alan Arkin Alan Arkin, Academy Award-winning actor, best known for his roles in such films as The In-Laws, Catch-22, The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, Wait Until Dark, Argo, and Little Miss Sunshine. Bibi Besch, actress Dave Bickler, lead singer of Survivor Dan Biederman, urban redevelopment expert Mark Bomback, screenwriter Tina L. Brozman, former Chief Justice of the Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York Dan Bucatinsky, actor, producer, director, 2013 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series as James Novak in Scandal. Bill and Hillary Clinton, former governor of Arkansas and U.S. president, and former first lady, U.S. senator, and United States secretary of state. The Clintons purchased their home in Chappaqua for $1.7 million in 1999, near the end of Bill Clinton's presidency. Renee Cox, Jamaican-American artist, photographer, political activist, and curator Ace Frehley, lead guitarist of Kiss Eric Fromm, tennis player Jean Craighead George, author of children's novels My Side of the Mountain (set in the Catskills) and Julie of the Wolves Bob Giraldi, television and commercial director Earl G. Graves, Jr., former NBA player Horace Greeley, reformer, politician, editor of the newspaper New York Tribune. He came to Chappaqua to live in a rural area, so in 1853 he bought 78 acres (320,000 m2) of land just east of the railroad. His land included upland pastures near present-day Aldridge Road, Greeley Hill, and the marshy fields now the site of the Bell Middle School fields and the shopping area along South Greeley Avenue. Nora Guthrie, daughter of Woody Guthrie and sister of Arlo Guthrie Roxanne Hart, American television, film and stage actress, appeared in Highlander, nurse on Chicago Hope among other roles. (Her father, Edward Hart, was principal of Horace Greeley High School) David Ho, prominent HIV/AIDS researcher Ian Hunter, singer and guitar player with the band Mott The Hoople. Mary Beth Hurt, actress Paul F. Iams, founder of the Iams pet food company Kenneth T. Jackson, American historian Stu Jackson, former NBA head coach and current senior vice president of the NBA Herman Kahn, Cold War military strategist Heather Paige Kent, actress, podcaster and reality TV personality Jonathan Klein, former president of CNN Peter Kunhardt, documentary film-maker Sandra Lee, host of Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee, a show on the Food Network Brian Leiser, musician Paul Levitz, president of DC Comics Ferdinand Lundberg, author, journalist, economist Andrew McCabe, former acting director of the FBI William F. May, former chairman and chief executive of the American Can Company, co-founder of the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Richard McKelvey, noted political scientist and professor at California Institute of Technology Jordan Mechner, creator of Prince of Persia, also filmmaker Adam Mosseri, entrepreneur, head of Instagram Jacqueline Novak, comedian Daniel O'Keefe, Reader's Digest editor and inventor of the secular holiday Festivus. His son, Dan O'Keefe, popularized the holiday in 1997 by writing it into the plot of the television sitcom Seinfeld. Frank R. Pierson, screenwriter and film director Robert L. "Nob" Rauch, financier and flying disc sports executive Andy Rubin, technology pioneer (hand-held devices) Jay O. Sanders, American character actor Peter Saul, painter Paul Schrader, writer and director John and Elizabeth Sherrill, Christian writers Ben Stiller, actor Bert Sugar, boxing historian Martin J. Sullivan, former president and former chief executive officer of American International Group, Inc. Rene Syler, journalist Christine Taylor, actress Jeff Van Gundy, former head coach of the Houston Rockets, former head coach of the New York Knicks Kevin Wade, screenwriter known best for Working Girl Dar Williams, singer-songwriter Vanessa Williams, Miss America 1984 beauty pageant, model, actress, singer Jenna Wolfe, sportscaster References External links Town of New Castle official website

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chappaqua,_New_York

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Fromentières

Fromentières may refer to the following places in France: Fromentières, Marne, a commune in the Marne department Fromentières, Mayenne, a commune in the Mayenne department

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fromenti%C3%A8res

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Cosges

Cosges (French pronunciation: ​[koʒ]) is a commune in the Jura department in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté in eastern France. Population See also Communes of the Jura department == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosges

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Anchor Point

Anchor Point or anchor point may refer to: Anchor Point, Alaska, US Anchor Point, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Anchor point (audio)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchor_Point

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Tirgo

Tirgo is a village in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain. The municipality covers an area of 9.04 square kilometres (3.49 sq mi) and as of 2011 had a population of 231 people. == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tirgo

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Micanopy

Micanopy (c. 1780 – December 1848 or January 1849), also known as Micco-Nuppe, Michenopah, Miccanopa, and Mico-an-opa, and Sint-chakkee ("pond frequenter", as he was known prior to being selected as chief), was the leading chief of the Seminole during the Second Seminole War. Biography His name was derived from the Hitchiti terms miko (chief), and naba (above), and consequently meaning "high chief" or the like. Micanopy was also known as Hulbutta Hajo, (or "Crazy Alligator"). Little is known of his early life other than that Micanopy was born near present-day St. Augustine, Florida, sometime around 1780. He succeeded Bolek as hereditary principal chief of the Seminole following the latter's death in 1819. The people had a matrilineal kinship system: property and position were passed through the maternal line. Nearly 40 when he became chief, Micanopy soon began acquiring large amounts of land and cattle. As was common practice among elite Seminole, he hired more than 100 fugitive slaves to work his estates during the early nineteenth century. He encouraged intermarriage between the Seminole and blacks. This had been the Seminole tradition since they considered blacks to be human equals, unlike the view by whites at the time. Some of their mixed-race descendants gained influence as an elite among tribal councils (including several war chiefs).Following the American purchase of Florida from Spain in 1819 through the Adams–Onís Treaty, and the subsequent appointment of Andrew Jackson as territorial governor in 1821, large numbers of American settlers began colonizing northern Florida during the next decade. Micanopy opposed further American settlement of the region. As conflicts arose more frequently between the Seminole and settlers, the Seminole were driven away from the Florida coast and into the extensive wetlands of the interior. By the Treaty of Moultrie Creek in 1823, the Americans seized 24 million acres of Seminole land in northern Florida. The Seminole moved to central and southern territory.Slaveholders from Florida and neighboring states demanded that the Seminole capture and return slaves who had taken refuge with them. American development of large cotton plantations in Florida resulted in planters buying more slaves as workers, and some continued to escape the harsh regime. Pressure continued against the tribe, and Americans pressed for removal following passage of the Indian Removal Act in 1830. A group of Seminole chiefs eventually agreed to the Treaty of Payne's Landing in 1832; on May 9, 1832, they ceded more Seminole lands in exchange for a reservation in the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). While working to negotiate a peaceful resolution between the Seminole and local authorities, Micanopy refused to sign the treaty. He joined younger chiefs, such as Osceola, Alligator, and Wild Cat (a nephew of his), in opposing the treaty. They began to organize resistance among the Seminole warriors. Following Osceola's murder of US Indian agent General Wiley Thompson, in December 1835 Micanopy (with Osceola) attacked US forces under Major Francis Langhorne Dade and General Duncan Lamont Clinch. Only three soldiers survived what the Americans called Dade's Massacre. Repeated demands were made by settlers for US military action against the Seminole, and the Second Seminole War began. The Seminole had early success, but the elderly Micanopy became convinced of the futility of war as he realized the large number of American soldiers who could be sent against the Seminole. He surrendered in June 1837 and began negotiating to move his tribe to the Indian Territory, but he was kidnapped by Osceola. In December 1838, Micanopy was captured by General Thomas S. Jesup's forces while under a flag of truce, when he had already agreed to sign a peace treaty. This breach of honor by the US was considered an outrage by much of the public, increasing their sympathy toward the Seminole. Imprisoned at Charlestown, South Carolina, Micanopy was eventually released and sent with around 200 other Seminole to Indian Territory. They were initially put under Creek Nation authority, although the people had long been independent. Although Micanopy attempted to reestablish the Seminole as independent, he never regained his previous power. In 1845, he was one of the signatories of a treaty with the US, which gave the Seminole of western Florida semi-independence from the Creek Nation in Indian Territory. The treaty provided for full Seminole independence to be granted in 1855. Micanopy died at Fort Gibson on January 2, 1849. As the Seminole had a matrilineal kinship system, his sister's son, Jim Jumper, succeeded Micanopy as principal chief. The Seminole gradually re-established their italwa and traditional organizations in Indian Territory. Jim Jumper was succeeded after his death four years later by his brother, John Jumper, who led the tribe until after the American Civil War. At that time, the United States required tribes that supported the Confederacy to make new treaties, providing for emancipation of all slaves and granting those who wanted to stay with the Seminole equal rights as citizens. Legacy and honors European Americans named Micanopy, Florida after the chief. It was founded at the site of the chief's capital town, Cuscowilla. Notes References Johansen, Bruce E. and Donald A. Grinde, Jr., The Encyclopedia of Native American Biography, New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1997. Markowitz, Harvey., ed., Magill's Choice American Indian Biographies, California: Salem Press Inc., 1999. Sattler, Richard A. "The Seminole in the West", Handbook of North American Indians: Southeast, Vol. 14, ed. William Sturtevant, Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution, 2004 External links "Micconopy" . Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography. 1900.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micanopy

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Hautot-le-Vatois

Hautot-le-Vatois (French pronunciation: ​[oto lə vatwa]) is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Normandy region in northern France. Geography A small farming village situated in the Pays de Caux, some 27 miles (43 km) northeast of Le Havre, at the junction of the D5, D240 and D110 roads. The A29 autoroute passes through the commune's southern farmland. Population Places of interest The chapel of St. Geneviève, dating from the seventeenth century. The twelfth century church of Notre-Dame. See also Communes of the Seine-Maritime department == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hautot-le-Vatois

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Valencia

Valencia (Spanish: [baˈlenθja]), natively and officially València (Valencian: [vaˈlensi.a]), is the capital of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third-most populated municipality in Spain, with 792,492 inhabitants (2022). It is the capital of the province of the same name. The wider urban area comprising the neighbouring municipalities has a population of around 1.6 million, constituting one of the major urban areas on the European side of the Mediterranean Sea. It is located on the banks of the Turia, on the east coast of the Iberian Peninsula at the Gulf of Valencia, north of the Albufera lagoon. Valencia was founded as a Roman colony in 138 BC. Islamic rule and acculturation ensued in the 8th century, together with the introduction of new irrigation systems and crops. Aragonese Christian conquest took place in 1238, and so the city became the capital of the Kingdom of Valencia. The city's population thrived in the 15th century, owing to trade with the rest of the Iberian Peninsula, Italian ports, and other Mediterranean locations, becoming one of the largest European cities by the end of the century. Already harmed by the emergence of the Atlantic Ocean in detriment of the Mediterranean in the global trade networks and insecurity created by Barbary piracy throughout the 16th century, the city's economic activity experienced a crisis upon the expulsion of the Moriscos in 1609. The city became a major silk manufacturing centre in the 18th century. During the Spanish Civil War, the city served as the accidental seat of the Spanish Government from 1936 to 1937.The Port of Valencia is the 5th-busiest container port in Europe and the second busiest container port on the Mediterranean Sea. The city is ranked as a Gamma-level global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network. Its historic centre is one of the largest in Spain, spanning approximately 169 hectares (420 acres). Due to its long history, Valencia has numerous celebrations and traditions, such as the Falles (or Fallas), which was declared a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest of Spain in 1965 and an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in November 2016. In 2022, the city was voted the world's top destination for expatriates, based on criteria such as quality of life and affordability. Joan Ribó of the Compromís party has been the mayor of Valencia since 2015. Name The Latin name of the city was Valentia (IPA: [waˈlɛntɪ.a]), meaning "strength" or "valour", due to the Roman practice of recognising the valour of former Roman soldiers after a war. The Roman historian Livy explains that the founding of Valentia in the 2nd century BC was due to the settling of the Roman soldiers who fought against a Lusitanian rebel, Viriatus, during the Third Lusitanian Raid of the Lusitanian War.During the rule of the Muslim kingdoms in Spain, it had the title Medina at-Tarab ('City of Joy') according to one transliteration, or Medina at-Turab ('City of Sands') according to another, since it was located on the banks of the River Turia. It is not clear if the term Balansiyya was reserved for the entire Taifa of Valencia, or also designated the city.Via gradual phonetic changes, Valentia became Valencia [baˈlenθja] in Castilian and València [vaˈlensia] in Valencian. In Valencian, an e with a grave accent (è) indicates [ɛ] in contrast to [e], but the word València is an exception to this rule, since è is pronounced [e]. The spelling "València" was approved by the AVL based on tradition after a debate on the matter. The name "València" has been the only official name of the city since 2017. Geography Location Located on the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula and the western part of the Mediterranean Sea, fronting the Gulf of Valencia, Valencia lies on the highly fertile alluvial silts accumulated on the floodplain formed in the lower course of the Turia River. At its founding by the Romans, it stood on a river island in the Turia, 6.4 kilometres (4 miles) from the sea. The Albufera lagoon, located about 12 km (7 mi) south of the city proper (and part of the municipality), was originally a saltwater lagoon, but since the severing of links to the sea, it has eventually become a freshwater lagoon, progressively decreasing in size. The lagoon and its environment are used for the cultivation of rice in paddy fields, and for hunting and fishing purposes.The Valencia City Council bought the lake from the Crown of Spain for 1,072,980 pesetas in 1911, and today it forms the main portion of the Parc Natural de l'Albufera (Albufera Nature Reserve), with a surface area of 21,120 hectares (52,200 acres). Because of its cultural, historical, and ecological value, it was declared a natural park in 1976. Climate The climate of Valencia is a Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa) with mild winters and hot, dry summers. According to the Siegmund/Frankenberg climate classification, Valencia has a subtropical climate.The maximum of precipitation occurs in autumn, coinciding with the time of the year when cold drop (gota fría) episodes of heavy rainfall—associated to cut-off low pressure systems at high altitude— are common along the Western mediterranean coast. The year-on-year variability in precipitation may be, however, considerable.Snowfall is extremely rare; the most recent occasion snow accumulated on the ground was on 11 January 1960. Valencia has one of the mildest winters in Europe, owing to its southern location on the Mediterranean Sea and the Foehn phenomenon, locally known as ponentà. The January average is comparable to temperatures expected for May and September in the major cities of northern Europe.Its average annual temperature is 18.3 °C (64.9 °F); 22.8 °C (73.0 °F) during the day and 13.8 °C (56.8 °F) at night. In the coldest month, January, the maximum daily temperature typically ranges from 14 to 20 °C (57 to 68 °F), the minimum temperature typically at night ranges from 5 to 10 °C (41 to 50 °F). During the warmest months – July and August, the maximum temperature during the day typically ranges from 28 to 32 °C (82 to 90 °F), about 21 to 23 °C (70 to 73 °F) at night. March is transitional, the temperature often exceeds 20 °C (68 °F), with an average temperature of 19.3 °C (66.7 °F) during the day and 10.0 °C (50.0 °F) at night. December, January and February are the coldest months, with average temperatures around 17 °C (63 °F) during the day and 8 °C (46 °F) at night. The highest and lowest temperatures recorded in the city since 1937 were 44.7 °C (112.5 °F) on 10 August 2023 and −7.2 °C (19.0 °F) on 11 February 1956.Valencia, on average, has 2,696 sunshine hours per year, from 155 in December (average of 5 hours of sunshine duration a day) to 315 in July (average above 10 hours of sunshine duration a day). The average temperature of the sea is 14–15 °C (57–59 °F) in winter and 25–26 °C (77–79 °F) in summer. Average annual relative humidity is 65%. History Roman colony Valencia is one of the oldest cities in Spain, founded in the Roman period c. 138 BC under the name Valentia Edetanorum. A few centuries later, with the power vacuum left by the demise of the Roman imperial administration, the Catholic Church assumed power in the city, coinciding with the first waves of the invading Germanic peoples (Suebi, Vandals, Alans, and later Visigoths). Middle Ages The city surrendered to the invading Moors about 714 AD. Abd al-Rahman I laid waste to old Valencia by 788–789. From then on, the name of Valencia (Arabised as Balansiya) appears more related to the wider area than to the city, which is primarily cited as Madînat al-Turâb ('city of earth' or 'sand') and presumably had diminished importance throughout the period. During the emiral period, the surrounding territory, under the ascendancy of Berber chieftains, was prone to unruliness. In the wake of the start of the fitna of al-Andalus, Valencia became the head of an independent emirate, initially controlled by eunuchs, and then, after 1021, by Abd al-Azîz (a grandson of Almanzor). Valencia experienced notable urban development in this period. Many Jews lived in Valencia, including the accomplished Jewish poet Solomon ibn Gabirol, who spent his last years in the city. After a damaging offensive by Castilian–Leonese forces towards 1065, the territory became a satellite of the Taifa of Toledo, and following the fall of the latter in 1085, a protectorate of "El Cid". A revolt erupted in 1092, handing the city to the Almoravids and forcing El Cid to take the city by force in 1094, henceforth establishing his own principality.Following the evacuation of the city in 1102, the Almoravids took control. As the Almoravid empire crumbled in the mid 12th-century, ibn Mardanīsh took control of eastern al-Andalus, creating a Murcia-centered independent emirate to which Valencia belonged, resisting the Almohads until 1172. During the Almohad rule, the city perhaps had a population of about 20,000. When the city fell to James I of Aragon, the Jewish population constituted about 7 percent of the total population. In 1238, King James I of Aragon, with an army composed of Aragonese, Catalans, Navarrese, and crusaders from the Order of Calatrava, laid siege to Valencia and on 28 September obtained a surrender. Fifty thousand Moors were forced to leave.The city endured serious troubles in the mid-14th century, including the decimation of the population by the Black Death of 1348 and subsequent years of epidemics—as well as a series of wars and riots that followed. In 1391, the Jewish quarter was destroyed in a pogrom.Genoese traders promoted the expansion of the cultivation of white mulberry in the area by the late 14th century, and later introduced innovative silk manufacturing techniques. The city became a centre of mulberry production and was, at least for a time, a major silk-making centre. The Genoese community in Valencia—merchants, artisans and workers—became, along with Seville's, one of the most important in the Iberian Peninsula.In 1407, following the model of the Barcelona's institution created some years before, a Taula de canvi (a municipal public bank) was created in Valencia, although its first iteration yielded limited success.The 15th century was a time of economic expansion, known as the Valencian Golden Age, during which culture and the arts flourished. Concurrent population growth made Valencia the most populous city in the Crown of Aragon. Some of the landmark buildings of the city were built during the Late Middle Ages, including the Serranos Towers, the Silk Exchange, the Miguelete Tower, and the Chapel of the Kings of the Convent of Sant Domènec. In painting and sculpture, Flemish and Italian trends had an influence on Valencian artists. Valencia became a major slave trade centre in the 15th century, second only to Lisbon in the West, prompting a Lisbon–Seville–Valencia axis by the second half of the century powered by the incipient Portuguese slave trade originating in West Africa. By the end of the 15th century Valencia was one of the largest European cities, being the most populated city in the Hispanic Monarchy and second to Lisbon in the Iberian Peninsula. Modern history Following the death of Ferdinand II in 1516, the nobiliary estate challenged the Crown amid the relative void of power. In 1519, the Taula de Canvis was recreated again, known as Nova Taula. The nobles earned the rejection from the people of Valencia, and the whole kingdom was plunged into the armed Revolt of the Brotherhoods and full-blown civil war between 1521 and 1522. Muslim vassals were forced to convert in 1526 at the behest of Charles V.Urban and rural delinquency—linked to phenomena such as vagrancy, gambling, larceny, pimping and false begging—as well as the nobiliary banditry consisting of the revenges and rivalries between the aristocratic families flourished in Valencia during the 16th century.Also during the 16th century, North African piracy targeted the whole coastline of the kingdom of Valencia, forcing the fortification of sites. By the late 1520s, the intensification of Barbary corsair activity along with domestic conflicts and the emergence of the Atlantic Ocean in detriment of the Mediterranean in global trade networks put an end to the economic splendor of the city. The piracy also paved the way for the ensuing development of Christian piracy, that had Valencia as one of its main bases in the Iberian Mediterranean. The Berber threat—initially with Ottoman support—generated great insecurity on the coast, and it would not be substantially reduced until the 1580s. The crisis deepened during the 17th century with the 1609 expulsion of the Moriscos, descendants of the Muslim population that had converted to Christianity. The Spanish government systematically forced Moriscos to leave the kingdom for Muslim North Africa. They were concentrated in the former Crown of Aragon, and in the Kingdom of Valencia specifically, and constituted roughly a third of the total population. The expulsion caused the financial ruin of some of the Valencian nobility and the bankruptcy of the Taula de canvi in 1613. The decline of the city reached its nadir with the War of the Spanish Succession (1702–1709), marking the end of the political and legal independence of the Kingdom of Valencia. During the War of the Spanish Succession, Valencia sided with the Habsburg ruler of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles of Austria. King Charles of Austria vowed to protect the laws (Furs) of the Kingdom of Valencia, which gained him the sympathy of a wide sector of the Valencian population. On 24 January 1706, Charles Mordaunt, 3rd Earl of Peterborough, 1st Earl of Monmouth, led a handful of English cavalrymen into the city after riding south from Barcelona, captured the nearby fortress at Sagunt, and bluffed the Spanish Bourbon army into withdrawal. The English held the city for 16 months and defeated several attempts to expel them. After the victory of the Bourbons at the Battle of Almansa on 25 April 1707, the English army evacuated Valencia and Philip V ordered the repeal of the Furs of Valencia as punishment for the kingdom's support of Charles of Austria. By the Nueva Planta decrees, the ancient Charters of Valencia were abolished and the city was governed by the Castilian Charter, similarly to other places in the Crown of Aragon. The Valencian economy recovered during the 18th century with the rising manufacture of woven silk and ceramic tiles. The silk industry boomed during this century, with Valencia replacing Toledo as the main silk-manufacturing centre in Spain. The Palau de Justícia is an example of the affluence manifested in the most prosperous times of Bourbon rule (1758–1802) during the rule of Charles III. The 18th century was the Age of Enlightenment in Europe, and its humanistic ideals influenced men such as Gregory Maians and Pérez Bayer in Valencia, who maintained correspondence with the leading French and German thinkers of the time. Peninsular War The 19th century began with Spain embroiled in wars with France, Portugal, and England—but the Peninsular War (Spanish War of Independence) most affected the Valencian territories and the capital city. The repercussions of the French Revolution were still felt when Napoleon's armies invaded the Iberian Peninsula. The Valencian people rose up in arms against them on 23 May 1808, inspired by leaders such as Vicent Doménech el Palleter.The mutineers seized the Citadel, the Supreme Junta government took over, and on 26–28 June, Napoleon's Marshal Moncey attacked the city with a column of 9,000 French imperial troops in the First Battle of Valencia. He failed to take the city in two assaults and retreated to Madrid. Marshal Suchet began a long siege of the city in October 1811, and after intense bombardment forced it to surrender on 8 January 1812. After Valencian capitulation, the French instituted reforms in Valencia, which became the capital of Spain when the Bonapartist pretender to the throne, José I (Joseph Bonaparte, Napoleon's elder brother), moved the Court there in the middle of 1812. The disaster of the Battle of Vitoria on 21 June 1813 obliged Suchet to quit Valencia, and the French troops withdrew in July. Post-war Ferdinand VII became king after the victorious end of the Peninsular War, which freed Spain from Napoleonic domination. When he returned on 24 March 1814 from exile in France, the Cortes requested that he respect the liberal Constitution of 1812, which significantly limited royal powers. Ferdinand refused and went to Valencia instead of Madrid. Here, on 17 April, General Elio invited the King to reclaim his absolute rights and put his troops at the King's disposition. The king abolished the Constitution of 1812 and dissolved the two chambers of the Spanish Parliament on 10 May. Thus began six years (1814–1820) of absolutist rule, but the constitution was reinstated during the Trienio Liberal, a period of three years of liberal government in Spain from 1820 to 1823. On King Ferdinand VII's death in 1833, Baldomero Espartero became one of the most ardent defenders of the hereditary rights of the king's daughter, the future Isabella II. During the regency of Maria Cristina, Espartero ruled Spain for two years as its 18th Prime Minister from 16 September 1840 to 21 May 1841. City life in Valencia carried on in a revolutionary climate, with frequent clashes between liberals and republicans. The reign of Isabella II as an adult (1843–1868) was a period of relative stability and growth for Valencia. During the second half of the 19th century the bourgeoisie encouraged the development of the city and its environs; land-owners were enriched by the introduction of the orange crop and the expansion of vineyards and other crops. This economic boom corresponded with a revival of local traditions and of the Valencian language, which had been ruthlessly suppressed from the time of Philip V. Work to demolish the walls of the old city started on 20 February 1865. The demolition of the citadel ended after the 1868 Glorious Revolution.Following the introduction of universal manhood suffrage in the late 19th century, the political landscape in Valencia—until then consisting of the bipartisanship characteristic of the early Restoration period—experienced a change, leading to a growth of republican forces, gathered around the emerging figure of Vicente Blasco Ibáñez. Not unlike the equally republican Lerrouxism, the Populist Blasquism came to mobilize the Valencian masses by promoting anticlericalism. Meanwhile, in reaction, the right-wing coalesced around several initiatives such as the Catholic League or the reformulation of Valencian Carlism, and Valencianism did similarly with organizations such as Valencia Nova or the Unió Valencianista. 20th century In the early 20th century, Valencia was an industrialised city. The silk industry had disappeared, but there was a large production of hides and skins, wood, metals, and foodstuffs, the latter with substantial exports, particularly of wine and citrus. Small businesses predominated, but with the rapid mechanisation of the industry, larger companies were being formed. The best expression of this dynamic was in regional exhibitions, including that of 1909 held next to the pedestrian avenue L'Albereda (Paseo de la Alameda), which depicted the progress of agriculture and industry. Among the most architecturally successful buildings of the era were those designed in the Art Nouveau style, such as the Estació del Nord and the Central and Columbus markets. World War I (1914–1918) greatly affected the Valencian economy, causing the collapse of its citrus exports. The Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939) opened the way for democratic participation and the increased politicisation of citizens, especially in response to the rise of Conservative Front power in 1933. The inevitable march toward civil war and combat in Madrid resulted in the relocation of the capital of the Republic to Valencia. After the continuous unsuccessful Francoist offensive on besieged Madrid during the Spanish Civil War, Valencia temporarily became the capital of Republican Spain on 6 November 1936. It hosted the government until 31 October 1937. Francoist Spain In the Spanish civil war, Valencia was heavily bombarded by air and sea, mainly by the Fascist Italian air force, as well as the Francoist air force with Nazi German support. By the end of the war, the city had survived 442 bombardments, leaving 2,831 dead and 847 wounded, although it is estimated that the death toll was higher. The Republican government moved to Barcelona on 31 October of that year. On 30 March 1939, Valencia surrendered and Nationalist Spanish troops entered the city. The postwar years were a time of hardship for Valencians. During Franco's regime, speaking or teaching Valencian was prohibited; in a significant reversal, it is now compulsory for every schoolchild in Valencia. Franco's dictatorship forbade political parties and began a harsh ideological and cultural repression countenanced and sometimes led by the Catholic Church. Franco's regime also executed some leading Valencian intellectuals, such as Juan Peset, rector of University of Valencia. Large groups of them, including Josep Renau and Max Aub, went into exile.In 1943, Franco decreed the exclusivity of Valencia and Barcelona for the celebration of international fairs in Spain. These two cities would hold the monopoly on international fairs for more than three decades, until the rule's abolishment in 1979 by the government of Adolfo Suárez. In October 1957, a flood from the Turia river resulted in 81 casualties and extensive property damage. The disaster led to the remodelling of the city and the creation of a new river bed for the Turia, with the old one becoming one of the city's "green lungs". The economy began to recover in the early 1960s, and the city experienced explosive population growth through immigration spurred by jobs created with the implementation of major urban projects and infrastructure improvements. Post-Franco With the advent of democracy in Spain, the ancient kingdom of Valencia was established as a new autonomous entity, the Valencian Community, the Statute of Autonomy of 1982 designating Valencia as its capital. Valencia has since then experienced a surge in its cultural development, exemplified by exhibitions and performances at such iconic institutions as the Palau de la Música, the Palacio de Congresos, the Metro, the City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències), the Valencian Museum of Enlightenment and Modernity (Museo Valenciano de la Ilustracion y la Modernidad), and the Institute of Modern Art (Institut Valencià d'Art Modern). The various productions of Santiago Calatrava, a renowned structural engineer, architect, and sculptor and of the architect Félix Candela have contributed to Valencia's international reputation. These public works and the ongoing rehabilitation of the "Old City" (Ciutat Vella) have helped improve the city's livability, and tourism is continually increasing. 21st century On 3 July 2006, a major mass transit disaster, the Valencia Metro derailment, left 43 dead and 47 wounded. Days later, on 9 July, the World Day of Families, during Mass at Valencia's Cathedral, Our Lady of the Forsaken Basilica, Pope Benedict XVI used the Sant Calze, a 1st-century Middle-Eastern artifact that some Catholics believe is the Holy Grail.Valencia was selected in 2003 to host the historic America's Cup yacht race, the first European city ever to do so. The 2007 America's Cup matches took place from April to July. On 3 July 2007, Alinghi defeated Team New Zealand to retain the America's Cup. Twenty-two days later, on 25 July 2007, the leaders of the Alinghi syndicate, holder of the America's Cup, officially announced that Valencia would be the host city for the 33rd America's Cup, held in June 2009.The results of the Valencia municipal elections from 1991 to 2011 delivered a 24-year uninterrupted rule (1991–2015) by the People's Party (PP) and Mayor Rita Barberá, with support from the Valencian Union. Barberá's rule was ousted by left-leaning forces after the 2015 municipal election, with Joan Ribó of Compromís becoming the new mayor. Economy Valencia enjoyed strong economic growth before the Great Recession of 2008, much of it spurred by tourism and construction, with concurrent development and expansion of telecommunications and transport. The city's economy is service-oriented, as nearly 84% of the working population is employed in service sector occupations. However, the city still maintains an important industrial base, with 8.5% of the population employed in this sector. Growth has recently improved in the manufacturing sector, mainly automobile assembly; Ford Valencia Body and Assembly lies in the municipality of Almussafes. Agricultural activity still occurs but is of relatively minor importance, with only 1.9% of the working population working in agriculture and 3,973 ha (9,820 acres) of farmland (mostly orchards and citrus groves). Since the onset of the Great Recession, Valencia had experienced a growing unemployment rate, increased government debt, and other issues, and severe spending cuts were introduced by the city government. However, in 2009, Valencia was designated "the 29th fastest-improving European city". Its influence in commerce, education, entertainment, media, fashion, science and the arts contributes to its status as one of the world's "Gamma" rank global cities.The city is the seat of one of the four stock exchanges in Spain, the Bolsa de Valencia, part of Bolsas y Mercados Españoles (BME), owned by SIX Group.The Valencia metropolitan area had a GDP amounting to $52.7 billion, and $28,141 per capita. Port Valencia's port is the biggest on the Mediterranean western coast, the first in Spain in container traffic as of 2008 and the second in Spain in total traffic, handling 20% of Spain's exports. The main exports are foodstuffs and beverages. Other exports include oranges, furniture, ceramic tiles, fans, textiles and iron products. Valencia's manufacturing sector focuses on metallurgy, chemicals, textiles, shipbuilding and brewing. Small and medium-sized industries are an important part of the local economy, and before the current crisis, unemployment was lower than the Spanish average. Valencia's port underwent radical changes to accommodate the 32nd America's Cup in 2007. It was divided into two parts—one was unchanged while the other section was modified for America's Cup festivities. The two sections remain divided by a wall that projects far into the water to maintain clean water for America's Cup events. Transport Public transport is provided by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat Valenciana (FGV), which operates the Metrovalencia and other rail and bus services. The Estació del Nord (North Station) is the major railway terminus in Valencia. A second station, the Estació de València-Joaquín Sorolla, has been built on land adjacent to this terminus to accommodate high speed AVE trains to and from Madrid, Barcelona, Seville and Alicante. Valencia Airport is situated 9 km (5.6 mi) west of the city centre, and Alicante–Elche Airport is approximately 133 km (83 mi) south of the city centre. A bicycle-sharing system named Valenbisi is available to both visitors and residents. As of 13 October 2012, the system had 2750 bikes distributed over 250 stations throughout the city.The average amount of time people spend on public transit in Valencia on a weekday is 44 minutes. 6% of public transit riders ride for more than 2 hours every day. The average amount of time people wait at a stop or station for public transit is 10 minutes, while 9% of riders wait for over 20 minutes on average every day. The average distance people usually ride in a single trip with public transit is 5.9 km (3.7 mi), while 8% travel for over 12 km (7.5 mi) in a single direction. Tourism Starting in the mid-1990s, Valencia, formerly an industrial centre, saw rapid development that expanded its cultural and tourism possibilities, and transformed it into a newly vibrant city. Many local landmarks were restored, including the medieval Torres de Serranos and Quart Towers and the Monasterio de San Miguel de los Reyes, which now holds a conservation library. Whole sections of the old city, for example the Carmen Quarter, have been extensively renovated. The Passeig Marítim, a 4 km (2 mi) long palm tree-lined promenade, was constructed along the beaches of the north side of the port (Platja de Les Arenes, Platja del Cabanyal and Platja de la Malva-rosa). Valencia boasts a highly active and diverse nightlife, with bars, dance bars, and nightclubs staying open well past midnight. The city has numerous convention centres and venues for trade events, among them the Institución Ferial de Valencia and the Palau de Congressos (Conference Palace), and several five-star hotels to accommodate business travelers.In its long history, Valencia has acquired many local traditions and festivals, among them the Falles, which was declared a Celebration of International Tourist Interest (Festes d'Interés Turístic Internacional) on 25 January 1965 and an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO on 30 November 2016, and the Water Tribunal of Valencia (Tribunal de les Aigües de València), which was declared an intangible cultural heritage in 2009. In addition to these, Valencia has hosted world-class events that helped shape the city's reputation and put it in the international spotlight, such as the Regional Exhibition of 1909, the 32nd and the 33rd America's Cup competitions, the European Grand Prix of Formula One auto racing, the former Valencia Open tennis tournament, and the Global Champions Tour of equestrian sports. The final round of the MotoGP Championship is held annually at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana. The 2007 America's Cup yachting races were held at Valencia in June and July 2007 and attracted huge crowds. The Louis Vuitton stage drew 1,044,373 visitors and the America's Cup match drew 466,010 visitors to the event.In October 2021, Valencia was shortlisted for the European Commission's 2022 European Capital of Smart Tourism award, along with Bordeaux, Copenhagen, Dublin, Florence, Ljubljana, and Palma de Mallorca. Government and administration Valencia is a municipality, the basic local administrative division in Spain. The ayuntamiento (known as the Consell Municipal de València in the case of Valencia) is the body charged with the municipal government and administration, and is formed by 33 elected municipal councillors. The last municipal election took place on 26 May 2019. Since 2015, Joan Ribó has served as mayor, renewing his term for a second mandate following the 2019 election. Demographics The third largest city in Spain and the 24th most populous municipality in the European Union, Valencia had a population of 809,267 within its administrative limits on a land area of 134.6 km2 (52 sq mi) in 2009. The urban area of Valencia extending beyond the administrative city limits has a population of between 1,564,145 and 1,595,000.According to the Spanish Ministry of Development, the Greater Urban Area within Horta of Valencia has a population of 1,551,585 in an area of 628.81 km2 (242.78 sq mi). From 2001 to 2011, there was a population increase of 14.1%, amounting to 191,842 people.The metropolitan area had a population of 1,770,742 in 2010 according to citypopulation.de, 2,300,000 in 2015 according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, 2,513,965 in 2017 according to the World Gazetteer, and 2,522,383 in 2017 according to Eurostat.Between 2007 and 2008, there was a 14% increase in the foreign-born population, with the largest numeric increases by country being from Bolivia, Romania, and Italy. This growth in the foreign born population, which rose from 1.5% in 2000 to 9.1% in 2009, has also occurred in the two larger cities of Madrid and Barcelona. The main countries of origin in those cases were Romania, the United Kingdom, and Bulgaria. Culture Valencia is known internationally for the Falles (Les Falles), a local festival held in March, as well as for paella valenciana, traditional Valencian ceramics, craftsmanship in traditional dress, and the architecture of the City of Arts and Sciences, designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. There are also a number of well-preserved traditional Catholic festivities throughout the year, like those of the Holy Week, which are considered some of the most colourful in Spain.Valencia used to be the place of the Formula One European Grand Prix, first hosting the event on 24 August 2008, but was dropped later at the beginning of the Grand Prix 2013 season. However, Valencia still holds the annual Moto GP race at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, usually the last race of the season, in November. The University of Valencia (officially Universitat de València Estudi General), founded in 1499, is one of the oldest surviving universities in Spain and the oldest in the Valencian Community. It was listed as one of the four leading Spanish universities in the 2011 Shanghai Academic Ranking of World Universities. In 2012, Boston's Berklee College of Music opened a satellite campus at the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia, their first and only international campus outside the U.S. Since 2003, Valencia has also hosted the music courses of Musikeon, the leading musical institution in the Spanish-speaking world. Food Valencia is known for its gastronomic culture. The paella, a simmered rice dish with meat (usually chicken or rabbit) or seafood, was born in Valencia. Other traditional dishes of Valencian gastronomy include fideuà, arròs a banda, arròs negre (black rice), fartons, bunyols, Spanish omelette, pinchos or tapas and calamares (squid). Valencia was also the birthplace of the cold xufa beverage known as orxata, popular in many parts of the world, including the Americas. Languages Valencian and Spanish are the official languages. Spanish is currently the predominant language in the city proper. Valencia proper and its surrounding metropolitan area are—along the Alicante area—the traditionally Valencian-speaking territories of the Valencian Community is where the Valencian language is less spoken and read. According to a 2019 survey commissioned by the local government, 76% of the population use only Spanish in their daily life, 1.3% only use the Valencian language, while 17.6% of the population use both languages indistinctively. However, vis-à-vis the education system and according to the 1983 regional Law on the Use and Teaching of the Valencian Language, the municipality of Valencia is included within the territory of Valencian linguistic predominance. In 1993, the municipal government agreed to exclusively use Valencian for the signage of new street plaques. Festivals Falles Every year, the five days and nights from 15 to 19 March, called Falles, are a continual festival in Valencia; beginning on 1 March, the popular pyrotechnic events called mascletàes start every day at 2:00 pm. The Falles (Fallas in Spanish) is an enduring tradition in Valencia and other towns in the Valencian Community, where it has become an important tourist attraction. The festival started being celebrated in the 18th century, and came to be celebrated on the night of the feast day of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, with the burning of waste planks of wood from their workshops, as well as worn-out wooden objects brought by people in the neighborhood.This tradition continued to evolve, and eventually the parots were dressed with clothing to look like people—these were the first ninots, with features identifiable as being those of a well-known person from the neighborhood often added as well. In 1901 the city inaugurated the awarding of prizes for the best Falles monuments, and neighborhood groups still rival with each other to make the most impressive creations. Their intricate assemblages, on top of pedestals for better visibility, depict famous personalities and topical subjects of the past year, presenting humorous and often satirical commentary on them. On the night of 19 March, Valencians burn all the Falles in an event called "La Cremà". Holy WeekThe Setmana or Semana Santa Marinera, as the Holy Week is known in the city, was declared "Festival of National Tourist Interest" by 2012. Main sights Major monuments include Valencia Cathedral, the Torres de Serrans, the Torres de Quart (ca:Torres de Quart), the Lonja de la Seda (declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1996), and the Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences), an entertainment-based cultural and architectural complex designed by Santiago Calatrava and Félix Candela. The Museu de Belles Arts de València houses a large collection of paintings from the 14th to the 18th centuries, including works by Velázquez, El Greco, and Goya, as well as an important series of engravings by Piranesi. The Institut Valencià d'Art Modern (Valencian Institute of Modern Art) houses both permanent collections and temporary exhibitions of contemporary art and photography. Architecture The ancient winding streets of the Barrio del Carmen contain buildings dating to Roman and Arab times. The Cathedral and its bell tower El Miguelete, built between the 13th and 15th centuries, are primarily of Valencian Gothic style but contains elements of Baroque and Romanesque architecture. Beside the cathedral is the Gothic Basilica of the Virgin (Basílica De La Mare de Déu dels Desamparats). The 15th-century Serrans and Quart towers are part of what was once the wall surrounding the city. UNESCO has recognised the Silk Exchange market (La Llotja de la Seda), erected in early Valencian Gothic style, as a World Heritage Site. The Central Market (Mercat Central) in Valencian Art Nouveau style, is one of the largest in Europe. The main railway station Estació Del Nord is built in Valencian Art Nouveau (a Spanish version of Art Nouveau) style. World-renowned (and city-born) architect Santiago Calatrava produced the futuristic City of Arts and Sciences (Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències), which contains an opera house/performing arts centre, a science museum, an IMAX cinema/planetarium, an oceanographic park and other structures such as a long covered walkway and restaurants. Calatrava is also responsible for the bridge named after him in the centre of the city. The Palau de la Música de València (Music Palace) is another noteworthy example of modern architecture in Valencia. Cathedral The Valencia Cathedral was called Iglesia Major in the early days of the Reconquista, then Iglesia de la Seu (Seu is from the Latin sedes, i.e., (archiepiscopal) See), and by virtue of the papal concession of 16 October 1866, it was called the Basilica Metropolitana. It is situated in the centre of the ancient Roman city where some believe the temple of Diana stood. In Gothic times, it seems to have been dedicated to the Holy Saviour; the Cid dedicated it to the Blessed Virgin; King James I of Aragon did likewise, leaving in the main chapel the image of the Blessed Virgin, which he carried with him and is reputed to be the one now preserved in the sacristy. The Moorish mosque, which had been converted into a Christian Church by the conqueror, was deemed unworthy of the title of the cathedral of Valencia, and in 1262 Bishop Andrés de Albalat laid the cornerstone of the new Gothic building, with three naves; these reach only to the choir of the present building. Bishop Vidal de Blanes built the chapter hall, and James I added the tower, called El Miguelete in Castilian Spanish or Torre del Micalet in the Valencian language because it was blessed on St. Michael's day in 1418. The tower is about 58 metres (190 feet) high and is topped with a belfry (1660–1736). In the 15th century the dome was added and the naves extended back of the choir, uniting the building to the tower and forming a main entrance. Archbishop Luis Alfonso de los Cameros began the building of the main chapel in 1674; the walls were decorated with marbles and bronzes in the Baroque style of that period. At the beginning of the 18th century the German Conrad Rudolphus built the façade of the main entrance. The other two doors lead into the transept; one, that of the Apostles in pure pointed Gothic, dates from the 14th century, the other is that of the Palau. The additions made to the back of the cathedral detract from its height. The 18th-century restoration rounded the pointed arches, covered the Gothic columns with Corinthian pillars, and redecorated the walls. The dome has no lantern, its plain ceiling being pierced by two large side windows. There are four chapels on either side, besides that at the end and those that open into the choir, the transept, and the sanctuary. It contains many paintings by eminent artists. A silver reredos, which was behind the altar, was carried away in the war of 1808, and converted into coin to meet the expenses of the campaign. There are two paintings by Francisco de Goya in the San Francesco chapel. Behind the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament is a small Renaissance chapel built by Calixtus III. Beside the cathedral is the chapel dedicated to the Our Lady of the Forsaken (Mare de Déu dels Desemparats). The Tribunal de les Aigües (Water Court), a court dating from Moorish times that hears and mediates in matters relating to irrigation water, sits at noon every Thursday outside the Porta dels Apostols (Portal of the Apostles). Hospital In 1409, a hospital was founded and placed under the patronage of Santa Maria dels Innocents; to this was attached a confraternity devoted to recovering the bodies of the unfriended dead in the city and within a radius of 5 km (3.1 mi) around it. At the end of the 15th century this confraternity separated from the hospital, and continued its work under the name of "Cofradia para el ámparo de los desamparados". King Philip IV of Spain and the Duke of Arcos suggested the building of the new chapel, and in 1647 the Viceroy, Conde de Oropesa, who had been preserved from the bubonic plague, insisted on carrying out their project. The Blessed Virgin was proclaimed patroness of the city under the title of Virgen de los desamparados (Virgin of the Forsaken), and Archbishop Pedro de Urbina, on 31 June 1652, laid the cornerstone of the new chapel of this name. The archiepiscopal palace, a grain market in the time of the Moors, is simple in design, with an inside cloister and achapel. In 1357, the arch that connects it with the cathedral was built. Inside the council chamber are preserved the portraits of all the prelates of Valencia. Medieval churches Sant Joan del Mercat- Gothic parish church dedicated to John the Baptist and Evangelist, rebuilt in the Baroque style after a 1598 fire. The interior ceilings were frescoed by Palomino. Sant Nicolau Santa Catalina Sant EsteveEl Temple (the Temple), the ancient church of the Knights Templar, which passed into the hands of the Order of Montesa and was rebuilt in the reigns of Ferdinand VI and Charles III; the former convent of the Dominicans, at one time the headquarters of the Capitan General, the cloister of which has a Gothic wing and chapter room, large columns imitating palm trees; the Colegio del Corpus Christi, which is devoted to the Blessed Sacrament, and in which perpetual adoration is carried on; the Jesuit college, which was destroyed in 1868 by the revolutionary Committee of the Popular Front, but later rebuilt; and the Colegio de San Juan (also of the Society), the former college of the nobles, now a provincial institute for secondary instruction. Squares and gardens The largest plaza in Valencia is the Plaça del Ajuntament; it is home to the City Hall (Ajuntament) on its western side and the central post office (Edifici de Correus) on its eastern side, a cinema that shows classic movies, and many restaurants and bars. The plaza is triangular in shape, with a large cement lot at the southern end, normally surrounded by flower vendors. It serves as ground zero during the Les Falles when the fireworks of the Mascletà can be heard every afternoon. There is a large fountain at the northern end. The Plaça de la Mare de Déu contains the Basilica of the Virgin and the Turia fountain, and is a popular spot for locals and tourists. Around the corner is the Plaza de la Reina, with the cathedral, orange trees, and many bars and restaurants. The Turia River was diverted in the 1960s, after severe flooding, and the old riverbed is now the Turia gardens, which contain a children's playground, a fountain, and sports fields. The Palau de la Música is adjacent to the Turia gardens and the City of Arts and Sciences lies at one end. The Valencia Bioparc is a zoo, also located in the Turia riverbed. Other gardens in Valencia include: The Jardíns de Monfort (es:Jardines de Monforte) The Botanical Garden of Valencia (Jardí Botànic) The Jardins del Real or Jardins de Vivers (Del Real Gardens) are located in the Pla del Real district, on just the former site of the Del Real Palace. Museums Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències (City of Arts and Sciences). Designed by the Valencian architect Santiago Calatrava, it is situated in the former Túria river-bed and comprises the following monuments: Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía, a flamboyant opera and music palace with four halls and a total area of 37,000 m2 (398,000 sq ft). L'Oceanogràfic, the largest aquarium in Europe, with a variety of ocean beings from different environments: from the Mediterranean, fishes from the ocean and reef inhabitants, sharks, mackerel swarms, dolphinarium, inhabitants of the polar regions (belugas, walruses, penguins), coast inhabitants (sea lions, etc. L'Oceanogràfic exhibits also smaller animals as coral, jellyfish, sea anemones, etc. El Museu de les Ciències Príncipe Felipe, an interactive museum of science but resembling the skeleton of a whale. It has an area of around 40,000 square metres (430,556 square feet) across three floors. L'Hemisfèric, an IMAX cinema (es:L'Hemisfèric) Museu de Prehistòria de València (Prehistory Museum of Valencia) Museu Valencià d'Etnologia (Valencian Museum of Ethnology) Blasco Ibáñez House Museum Institut Valencià d'Art Modern - IVAM – Centre Julio González (Valencian Institute of Modern Art) Museu de Belles Arts de València (Museum of Fine Arts of Valencia) Museu Faller (Falles Museum) Museu d'Història de València (Valencia History Museum) L'Almoina Museum (Centre Arqueològic de l'Almoina), located near the Cathedral Natural Science Museum of Valencia, located at Jardins del Real Museu Taurí de València (Bullfighting Museum) MuVIM – Museu Valencià de la Il·lustració i la Modernitat (Valencian Museum of Enlightenment and Modernity) González Martí National Museum of Ceramics and Decorative Arts, housed in the Palace of the Marqués de Dos Aguas Computer Museum, located within Technical School of Computer Engineering in Technical University of Valencia Sport Football Valencia is also internationally famous for its football club, Valencia CF, one of the most successful clubs in Europe and La Liga, winning the Spanish league a total of six times including in 2002 and 2004 (the year it also won the UEFA Cup), and was a UEFA Champions League runner-up in 2000 and 2001. The club is currently owned by Peter Lim, a Singaporean businessman who bought the club in 2014. The team's stadium is the Mestalla, which can host up to 49,000 fans. The club's city rival, Levante UD, plays its home games at Estadi Ciutat de València. American football Valencia is the only city in Spain with two American football teams in LNFA Serie A, the national first division: Valencia Firebats and Valencia Giants. The Firebats have been national champions four times and have represented Valencia and Spain in the European playoffs since 2005. Both teams share the Jardín del Turia stadium. Motor sports Once a year between 2008 and 2012 the European Formula One Grand Prix took place in the Valencia Street Circuit. Valencia is among (with Barcelona, Porto and Monte Carlo) the only European cities ever to host Formula One World Championship Grands Prix on public roads in the middle of cities. The final race in 2012 European Grand Prix saw home driver Fernando Alonso win for Ferrari, in spite of starting halfway down the field. The Valencian Community motorcycle Grand Prix (Gran Premi de la Comunitat Valenciana de motociclisme) is part of the Grand Prix motorcycle racing season at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo (also known as Circuit de València), held in November in the nearby town of Cheste. Periodically the Spanish round of the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters touring car racing Championship (DTM) is held in Valencia. Rugby League Valencia is also the home of the Asociación Española de Rugby League, who are the governing body for Rugby league in Spain. The city plays host to a number of clubs playing the sport and to date has hosted all of the country's international home matches. In 2015, Valencia hosted their first match in the Rugby league European Federation C competition, which was a qualifier for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. Spain won the fixture 40–30. Districts Ciutat Vella: La Seu, La Xerea, El Carmen, El Pilar, El Mercat, Sant Francesc Eixample: Russafa, El Pla del Remei, Gran Via Extramurs: El Botànic, La Roqueta, La Petxina, Arrancapins Campanar: Campanar, Les Tendetes, El Calvari, Sant Pau La Saïdia: Marxalenes, Morvedre, Trinitat, Tormos, Sant Antoni Pla del Real: Exposició, Mestalla, Jaume Roig, Ciutat Universitària Olivereta: Nou Moles, Soternes, Tres Forques, La Fontsanta, La Llum Patraix: Patraix, Sant Isidre, Vara de Quart, Safranar, Favara Jesús: La Raiosa, L'Hort de Senabre, La Creu Coberta, Sant Marcel·lí, Camí Real Quatre Carreres: Montolivet, En Corts, Malilla, La Font de Sant Lluís, Na Rovella, La Punta, Ciutat de les Arts i les Ciències Poblats Marítims: El Grau, El Cabanyal, El Canyameral, La Malva-Rosa, Beteró, Natzaret Camins del Grau: Aiora, Albors, Creu del Grau, Camí Fondo, Penya-Roja Algirós: Illa Perduda, Ciutat Jardí, Amistat, Vega Baixa, La Carrasca Benimaclet: Benimaclet, Camí de Vera Rascanya: Els Orriols, Torrefiel, Sant Llorenç Benicalap: Benicalap, Ciutat Fallera Pobles del Nord Pobles del Oest Pobles del Sud Other towns within the municipality of Valencia These towns administratively are within districts of Valencia. Towns north of Valencia city: Benifaraig, Poble Nou, Carpesa, Cases de Bàrcena, Mauella, Massarrojos, Borbotó Towns west of Valencia city: Benimàmet, Beniferri Towns south of Valencia city: Forn d'Alcedo, Castellar-l'Oliveral, Pinedo, El Saler, El Palmar, El Perellonet, La Torre Twin towns – sister cities Valencia is twinned with: Valencia also has friendly relations with: Odesa, Ukraine (1981) Chengdu, China (2017) See also Archdiocese of Valencia List of tallest buildings in Valencia Nou Mestalla Prehistory of the Valencian Community Notes References Informational references Citations Bibliography Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "James I. of Aragon" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 141–142. Martínez Díez, Gonzalo (1999). El Cid histórico: un estudio exhaustivo sobre el verdadero Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar. Barcelona: Editorial Planeta. Amado, Ramón Ruiz (1912). "Archdiocese of Valencia" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company. This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Valentia". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray. Beltran i Calvo, Vicent; Segura i Llopes, Carles (2018). Els parlars valencians. ISBN 978-84-9134-240-3. Aguiló Lúcia, Lluís (1992). "Notas sobre la historia política de la ciudad de Valencia (1876-1939)" (PDF). Cuadernos Constitucionales de la Cátedra Fadrique Furió Ceriol. Valencia: Universitat de València (1): 59–65. ISSN 1133-7087. Briz, Antonio (2004). "El castellano en la Comunidad Valenciana". Revista Internacional de Lingüística Iberoamericana. 2 (4): 119–129. JSTOR 41678056. Clemente Meoro, Mario Enrique (2008). Ramón Fernández, Francisca; Altur Grau, Vicent-Jesús (eds.). "Los aprovechamientos pesqueros en La Albufera de Valencia". Estudios Sobre Derecho Civil Foral Valenciano. Franch Benavent, Ricardo (2008). "El comercio en el Mediterráneo español durante la Edad Moderna. El estudio del tráfico a su vinculación con la realidad productiva y el contexto social". Obradoiro de Historia Moderna. Santiago de Compostela: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (17): 77–112. doi:10.15304/ohm.17.446. hdl:10347/3896. ISSN 1133-0481. García Martínez, Sebastián (1972). "Bandolerismo, piratería y control de moriscos en Valencia durante el reinado de Felipe II". Estudis: Revista de Historia Moderna. Valencia: Universidad de Valencia (1): 85–168. ISSN 0210-9093. González Arévalo (2019). "La esclavitud en la España Medieval. (siglos XIV-XV). Generalidades y rasgos diferenciales". Millars: Espai i Història. Castellón de la Plana: Universitat Jaime I (47): 11–37. doi:10.6035/Millars.2019.47.2. hdl:10234/187209. ISSN 1132-9823. Navarro Espinach, Germán (1994). "Los genoveses y el negocio de la seda en Valencia (1457-1512)". Anuario de Estudios Medievales. Barcelona: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas. 24: 201. doi:10.3989/aem.1994.v24.971. ISSN 0066-5061. Pérez García, Pablo (2019). "La nobleza valenciana del Quinientos: lo social y su nomenclatura". E-Spania. Paris: Université Paris-Sorbonne, Paris IV (34). doi:10.4000/e-spania.32914. hdl:10550/71887. ISSN 1951-6169. Puncel Chornet, Alfonso (1999). "Valencia: opciones, desorden y modernidad, o la ciudad que se devora a sí misma". Scripta Nova. Revista Electrónica de Geografía y Ciencias Sociales. Barcelona: Universidad de Barcelona. 3 (47). ISSN 1138-9788. Santamaría, Álvaro (1992). "La demografía en el contexto de Valencia. Siglo XV". Medievalia. Bellaterra: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. 10: 363–386. doi:10.5565/rev/medievalia.291. Suárez Cortina, Manuel (2011). "El republicanismo en la España liberal (1820-1931). Una aproximación historiográfica". Bulletin d'Histoire Contemporaine de l'Espagne. Aix-en-Provence: Publications de l'Université de Provence (46): 11–42. ISSN 0987-4135. Torró, Josep (2009). "Maldîna Balansiya. La Valencia andalusí. Siglos VIII-XIII" (PDF). La ciudad de Valencia: historia, geografía y arte de la ciudad de Valencia. Vol. 1. pp. 159–169. ISBN 978-84-370-7665-2. Zabaltza, Xabier (2017). "¿Vías paralelas? Anticatalanismo valenciano y antivasquismo navarro durante la Transición". Dictatorships & Democracies. Journal of History and Culture. Barcelona: Universitat Oberta de Catalunya; Fundació Carles Pi i Sunyer. 5 (5): 53–80. doi:10.7238/dd.v0i5.3134. hdl:10357/48474. ISSN 2564-8829. Further reading "Valencia". Spain and Portugal: handbook for travellers (3rd ed.). Leipsic: Karl Baedeker. 1908. OCLC 1581249. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Valencia (city)" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 845–846. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Valencia (province)" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 844–845. External links Official website of the city of Valencia (Valencian) (in Spanish) Official tourism website of the city of Valencia (Valencian) (in English, German, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese) Official website of the Community Valenciana tourism Valencia-The City of Arts & Science Postal codes in Valencia spainestate

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valencia

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Urcuit

Urcuit (French pronunciation: ​[yʁkɥit]; Basque: Urketa) is a small village and a commune in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department in south-western France. It is part of the traditional Basque province of Labourd. Population See also Communes of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urcuit

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New Boston

New Boston is the name of several places in the United States of America: New Boston, Illinois New Boston, Harrison County, Indiana New Boston, Spencer County, Indiana New Boston, Iowa New Boston, Michigan New Boston, Missouri New Boston, New Hampshire, a New England town New Boston (CDP), New Hampshire, the main village in the town New Boston Space Force Station New Boston, Ohio New Boston, Pennsylvania New Boston, Texas See also Neu Boston, a village in the town of Storkow, Brandenburg, Germany Boston (disambiguation)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Boston

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Kirchdorf

Many places in German-speaking countries are called Kirchdorf (church village): Germany Baden-Württemberg Kirchdorf an der Iller, a municipality in the district of Biberach Bavaria Kirchdorf am Haunpold, former name of the municipality of Bruckmühl Kirchdorf am Inn, in the district of Rottal-Inn Kirchdorf Wildcats, an American football team from Kirchdorf am Inn Kirchdorf am Inn (Raubling), former name of the municipality of Raubling Kirchdorf an der Amper, a municipality in the district of Freising Kirchdorf im Wald, a municipality in the district of Regen Kirchdorf, Lower Bavaria, a municipality in the district of Kelheim Kirchdorf, Upper Bavaria, a municipality in the district of Mühldorf Hamburg Kirchdorf Süd in Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg Lower Saxony Kirchdorf, Lower Saxony, a municipality in the district of Diepholz Kirchdorf (Samtgemeinde), a Samtgemeinde in the district of Diepholz Kirchdorf (Deister), a part of the city Barsinghausen Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Kirchdorf, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a municipality in the district Vorpommern-Rügen Kirchdorf (Poel), village on the island Poel Poland Kirchdorf, the German name for Stróżewo, Greater Poland Voivodeship, in western Poland Austria Kirchdorf (Amstetten) Kirchdorf am Inn, Upper Austria Kirchdorf an der Krems Kirchdorf in Tirol Slovakia Spišské Podhradie, also known as Kirchdorf amongst German-speakers. Switzerland Kirchdorf, Switzerland, a municipality in the canton of Bern Kirchdorf, Aargau, part of Obersiggenthal

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirchdorf

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Freimettigen

Freimettigen is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. History Freimettigen is first mentioned in 1282 as Vrimuotingen.The oldest trace of a settlement in the area is a hoard of Bronze Age jewelry which was discovered in 1910. During the Middle Ages it was part of the Twingherrschaft of Hünigen. During the 13th and 14th centuries, Interlaken and Fraubrunnen Abbeys acquired bits of land in the village. These were probably taken by the city of Bern in 1528 when it secularized the Abbeys.Freimettigen has always been part of the parish of Oberdiessbach.The village has remained generally rural with a number of dairy farmers. The Burgdorf-Thun railway station provides transportation for workers who commute to Bern or Thun for jobs. Geography Freimettigen has an area of 2.96 km2 (1.14 sq mi). Of this area, 1.88 km2 (0.73 sq mi) or 63.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while 0.88 km2 (0.34 sq mi) or 29.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.17 km2 (0.066 sq mi) or 5.8% is settled (buildings or roads).Of the built up area, housing and buildings made up 3.4% and transportation infrastructure made up 2.0%. Out of the forested land, all of the forested land area is covered with heavy forests. Of the agricultural land, 35.9% is used for growing crops and 26.4% is pastures, while 1.4% is used for orchards or vine crops.The municipality is located on the north-west slope of the Kurzenberg, and a portion is in the Kiesen Valley. It includes the village of Freimettigen, the hamlet Dessikofen and scattered individual farm houses. On 31 December 2009 Amtsbezirk Konolfingen, the municipality's former district, was dissolved. On the following day, 1 January 2010, it joined the newly created Verwaltungskreis Bern-Mittelland. Coat of arms The blazon of the municipal coat of arms is Gules a Cross crosslet in Saltire Argent. Demographics Freimettigen has a population (as of December 2020) of 461. As of 2010, 6.3% of the population are resident foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years (2001-2011) the population has changed at a rate of 0.5%. Migration accounted for 0%, while births and deaths accounted for 0.2%.Most of the population (as of 2000) speaks German (367 or 94.1%) as their first language, Spanish is the second most common (11 or 2.8%) and English is the third (6 or 1.5%). There is 1 person who speaks French.As of 2008, the population was 48.4% male and 51.6% female. The population was made up of 195 Swiss men (45.1% of the population) and 14 (3.2%) non-Swiss men. There were 210 Swiss women (48.6%) and 13 (3.0%) non-Swiss women. Of the population in the municipality, 122 or about 31.3% were born in Freimettigen and lived there in 2000. There were 201 or 51.5% who were born in the same canton, while 34 or 8.7% were born somewhere else in Switzerland, and 28 or 7.2% were born outside of Switzerland.As of 2011, children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 25.3% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 61.8% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 12.9%.As of 2000, there were 181 people who were single and never married in the municipality. There were 189 married individuals, 14 widows or widowers and 6 individuals who are divorced.As of 2000, there were 37 households that consist of only one person and 18 households with five or more people. In 2000, a total of 143 apartments (93.5% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 3 apartments (2.0%) were seasonally occupied and 7 apartments (4.6%) were empty. As of 2010, the construction rate of new housing units was 9.3 new units per 1000 residents.The historical population is given in the following chart: Politics In the 2011 federal election the most popular party was the Swiss People's Party (SVP) which received 30.9% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP) (16.4%), the Evangelical People's Party (EVP) (13.3%) and the Christian Social Party (CSP) (13.3%). In the federal election, a total of 166 votes were cast, and the voter turnout was 50.6%. Economy As of 2011, Freimettigen had an unemployment rate of 0.75%. As of 2008, there were a total of 57 people employed in the municipality. Of these, there were 36 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 13 businesses involved in this sector. No one was employed in the secondary sector. 21 people were employed in the tertiary sector, with 6 businesses in this sector. There were 209 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which females made up 38.8% of the workforce. In 2008 there were a total of 37 full-time equivalent jobs. The number of jobs in the primary sector was 22, all of which were in agriculture. There were no jobs in the secondary sector. The number of jobs in the tertiary sector was 15. In the tertiary sector; 1 was in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 4 or 26.7% were in a hotel or restaurant, 1 was a technical professional or scientist, 3 or 20.0% were in education.In 2000, there were 8 workers who commuted into the municipality and 157 workers who commuted away. The municipality is a net exporter of workers, with about 19.6 workers leaving the municipality for every one entering. Of the working population, 15.8% used public transportation to get to work, and 48.8% used a private car. Religion From the 2000 census, 306 or 78.5% belonged to the Swiss Reformed Church, while 24 or 6.2% were Roman Catholic. Of the rest of the population, there were 72 individuals (or about 18.46% of the population) who belonged to another Christian church. There were 4 (or about 1.03% of the population) who were Islamic. 14 (or about 3.59% of the population) belonged to no church, are agnostic or atheist, and 6 individuals (or about 1.54% of the population) did not answer the question. Education In Freimettigen about 160 or (41.0%) of the population have completed non-mandatory upper secondary education, and 65 or (16.7%) have completed additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule). Of the 65 who completed tertiary schooling, 64.6% were Swiss men, 24.6% were Swiss women.The Canton of Bern school system provides one year of non-obligatory Kindergarten, followed by six years of Primary school. This is followed by three years of obligatory lower Secondary school where the students are separated according to ability and aptitude. Following the lower Secondary students may attend additional schooling or they may enter an apprenticeship.During the 2010-11 school year, there were a total of 47 students attending classes in Freimettigen. There was one kindergarten class with a total of 12 students in the municipality. Of the kindergarten students, 8.3% were permanent or temporary residents of Switzerland (not citizens) and 8.3% have a different mother language than the classroom language. The municipality had one primary class and 25 students. During the same year, there was one lower secondary class with a total of 10 students. There was one student who was a permanent or temporary resident of Switzerland (not the citizen) and had a different mother language than the classroom language.As of 2000, there were 66 students from Freimettigen who attended schools outside the municipality. References External links Freimettigen in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freimettigen

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Thessalon

Thessalon is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario, located at the junction of Highway 17 and Highway 129 on the north shore of Lake Huron. It is surrounded by, but not part of, the municipality of Huron Shores, and is part of Algoma District. The main industries are timber and tourism. The town is a popular retirement community. It is the administrative headquarters of the Thessalon First Nation. History The region was first surveyed in 1869 to determine if the area could support a viable lumber industry. By the winter of 1870 the beginnings of a lumber camp had taken root and in 1877 a more permanent settlement was established. Thessalon was incorporated in 1892 with Walter Barrett serving as mayor. Nathaniel Dyment of Barrie, the owner of Dyment Co., one of the earliest and most prominent lumber companies in the area, is considered the founding figure of Thessalon. The exact origin of the town's name is unclear. Area historian J.E. MacDonald reported that "Thessalon" is a corruption of a name given by local First Nations, Neyashewun, meaning "a point of land". It is also theorized that the town may have been named by Jesuit missionaries who compared their travels through the region to the plight of the Thessalonians described in the Pauline epistles. The town was spelt "Tessalon" on some early maps. Amenities and recreation There is an arena, a curling club and one primary school in the town. The town was also home to the Thessalon Flyers. The Voyageur Hiking Trail passes near the community.The Thessalon River flows through the town and into Lake Huron at Water Street. Fishing is excellent in the river: yellow perch, pickerel, bass, northwater salmon and muskie. Demographics In the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Thessalon had a population of 1,260 living in 559 of its 600 total private dwellings, a change of -2% from its 2016 population of 1,286. With a land area of 4.38 km2 (1.69 sq mi), it had a population density of 287.7/km2 (745.1/sq mi) in 2021. Population trend: Population in 2016: 1,286 Population in 2011: 1,279 Population in 2006: 1,312 Population in 2001: 1,386 Population in 1996: 1,485 Population in 1991: 1,543 Transportation Ontario Northland provides intercity motor coach service to Thessalon as a stop along its Sault Ste. Marie–Sudbury–North Bay–Ottawa route, with one bus a day each headed eastbound and westbound from Sunday to Friday, with no service on Saturdays. Thessalon station was once a divisional point along the Canadian Pacific Railway's Sudbury–Soo Line. Passenger service began in the area around 1905, and a station building was constructed around 1910. With dwindling passenger traffic along the line, service was gradually discontinued, and the station was demolished sometime after 1971. Notable people John Fullerton, politician Henry Horricks, minister, pacifist, (born near Thessalon) Jack Markle, hockey player Wilfred Lynn Miller, politician References External links Official website

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thessalon

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Kuhsar

Kuhsar (Persian: كوهسار); formerly two independent villages, Chendar (Persian: چِندارو also Romanized as Chendār and Chandār), and Qal'e Soleimankhani (Persian: قلعه سلیمانخانی) is a city in Chendar District of Savojbolagh County, Alborz province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 7,757, in 2,075 households, when it was in Tehran province. At the time of the latest census of 2016, the population had risen to 10,940 in 3,321 households, by which time the county had separated from the province and become a part of recently established Alborz province. == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuhsar

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Valdegovía/Gaubea

Valdegovía/Gaubea (Spanish: Valdegovía, Basque: Gaubea) is a town and municipality located in the province of Álava, in the Basque Country (autonomous community), northern Spain. The town-hall is located in Villanueva de Valdegovía / Uribarri Gaubea. There is a factory producing mantecadas in Tuesta. Villages The municipal term includes 30 small villages, some of which are grouped in Concejos: Acebedo Astúlez Bachicabo Barrio Basabe Bóveda Caranca y Mioma, Concejo formed by Caranca and Mioma villages Karkamu (Cárcamo) Corro Espejo Fresneda Ginea Gurendes-Quejo, Concejo formed by Gurendes and Quejo Nograro Osma Pinedo Quintanilla Tobillas Tuesta Valderejo, Concejo formed by Lahoz, Lalastra, Ribera and Villamardones Valluerca Villamaderne, includes Bellojín village Villanañe Villanueva de Valdegovía-Uribarri Gaubea, main town Gallery External links VALDEGOVÍA / GAUBEA in the Bernardo Estornés Lasa - Auñamendi Encyclopedia (Euskomedia Fundazioa) (in Spanish)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valdegov%C3%ADa/Gaubea

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Epiniac

Epiniac (French pronunciation: ​[epinjak]; Breton: Sperneg; Gallo: Espeinyac) is a commune in the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany in northwestern France. Population Inhabitants of Epiniac are called Epiniacais in French. Gallery See also Communes of the Ille-et-Vilaine department References External links Base Mérimée: Search for heritage in the commune, Ministère français de la Culture. (in French) Mayors of Ille-et-Vilaine Association Archived 2012-01-14 at the Wayback Machine (in French)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiniac

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Fishguard

Fishguard (Welsh: Abergwaun, meaning "Mouth of the River Gwaun") is a coastal town in Pembrokeshire, Wales, with a population of 3,419 in 2011; the community of Fishguard and Goodwick had a population of 5,407. Modern Fishguard consists of two parts, Lower Fishguard and the "Main Town". Fishguard and Goodwick are twin towns with a joint Town Council. Lower Fishguard is believed to be the site of the original hamlet from which modern Fishguard has grown. It is in a deep valley where the River Gwaun meets the sea, hence the Welsh name for Fishguard. It is a typical fishing village with a short tidal quay. The settlement stretches along the north slope of the valley. The main town contains the parish church, the High Street and most of the modern development, and lies upon the hill to the south of Lower Fishguard, to which it is joined by a steep and winding road. The west part of the town that faces Goodwick grew in the first decade of the 20th century with the development of Fishguard Harbour. Etymology The English name Fishguard derives from Old Norse Fiskigarðr meaning "fish catching enclosure", cognate with Modern English fish + yard. In Welsh, Abergwaun means "the mouth of the River Gwaun", the name of the river referring to the high, wet, level ground of a marsh or moor. History Fishguard is within the historic Welsh cantref of Cemais, and part of the Welsh province of Dyfed, within the historic Principality of Deheubarth. The coasts of Wales were subject to Norse raids during the Viking era, and in the latter part of the 10th century Norse trading posts and settlements emerged within Dyfed, with Fishguard established sometime between 950 and 1000 AD.In 1078 Goodwick Moor, was the scene of a bloody battle in which Rhys, son of Owain ap Edwyn, was defeated and slain by Trahaearn ap Caradog (Brut y Tywysogion) in the Battle of Pwllgwdg, The English place name indicates that there may have been a Scandinavian trading post, although no evidence has been found. However the "V" shaped stone structures of ancient fish traps can still be seen at low tide on both sides of the bay and it is believed these were the foundations for wooden fences that would trap the fish as the tide went out. Other examples can be found around the country and they probably date from Saxon times, though similar devices have been in use since Neolithic times. Called Fiscard until the turn of the 19th century when the name was Anglicised, Fishguard was a marcher borough and in 1603 was described as one of five Pembrokeshire boroughs overseen by a portreeve. The Norman settlement lay along what is now High Street between the church at its north end and the remains of a Norman motte at its south end. In 1912, Denys Corbett Wilson made the first flight between Britain and Ireland. Starting his journey from Hendon aerodrome on 17 April 1912, he eventually landed in Goodwick on 21 April having made a few unscheduled stops along the way. He then set off from a field near Harbour Village at 5:47 on 22 April and crash-landed 100 minutes later in Crane near Enniscorthy in County Wexford. Lower Fishguard developed as a herring fishery and port, trading with Ireland, Bristol and Liverpool. In the late 18th century it had 50 coasting vessels, and exported oats and salt herring. In 1779, the port was raided by the privateer Black Prince, which bombarded the town when the payment of a £1,000 ransom was refused. As a result, Fishguard Fort was completed in 1781, overlooking Lower Fishguard. The port declined in the latter half of the 19th century. Fishguard's ancient Royal Oak public house was the site of the signing of surrender after the Battle of Fishguard. This brief campaign, on 22–24 February 1797, is the most recent landing on British soil by a hostile foreign force, and thus is often referred to as the "last invasion of mainland Britain". A force of 1,400 French soldiers landed near Fishguard but surrendered two days later.A 19th-century vicar of Fishguard, the Rev. Samuel Fenton MA, wrote the book The History of Pembrokeshire.The ancient Parliamentary Borough of Fishguard was contributory to the Borough of Haverfordwest. During the Second World War, the Fishguard Bay Hotel was Station IXc of Special Operations Executive where submersibles were tested in Fishguard Bay. Fishguard & Goodwick Golf Club was founded in 1921 and closed in the 1960s. Governance There are two tiers of local government covering Fishguard, at community (town) and county level: Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council and Pembrokeshire County Council. The town council is based at Fishguard Town Hall in Market Square.Fishguard was an ancient parish. When parish and district councils were established in 1894, the parish of Fishguard was included in the Haverfordwest Rural District. In 1906 it was decided to create an urban district covering Fishguard, making it independent from the Haverfordwest Rural District Council. The whole parish of Fishguard was considered too large to be an urban district and so it was split into two parishes: Fishguard North covering the main built up area, to be governed by Fishguard Urban District Council, and Fishguard South which stayed in the Haverfordwest Rural District. These changes took effect on 1 April 1907. The first meeting of Fishguard Urban District Council was held on 8 April 1907 at the Town Hall, when John Robertson Richards, a Conservative, was appointed the first chairman of the council.The urban district was enlarged in 1934 to include neighbouring Goodwick, becoming Fishguard and Goodwick Urban District. Fishguard and Goodwick Urban District was abolished under the Local Government Act 1972, with the area becoming part of the district of Preseli Pembrokeshire on 1 April 1974. A community covering the former urban district was established at the same time, with its council taking the name Fishguard and Goodwick Town Council. Preseli Pembrokeshire was abolished in 1996 to become part of a re-established Pembrokeshire. Geography The town is situated at the back of a north facing bay known as Fishguard Bay (Welsh: Bae Abergwaun) which offers protection from waves generated by prevailing westerly winds. It has a relatively mild climate due to its coastal position. The winds coming from the west or south-west have a determining influence on temperature and precipitation. There is an islet in Fishguard Bay, Needle Rock which reaches 131 feet (40 metres). Wildlife around Fishguard is rich with a wide variety of colourful wild flowers and sea mammals including the grey seal, porpoises and dolphins. The local birdlife include Eurasian curlew, common redshank and sanderling regularly foraging in the lower Fishguard Harbour and European stonechat, great cormorant and northern fulmar can be seen from the coastal path. Demography According to the United Kingdom Census 2001, Fishguard had 3,193 inhabitants and 1,465 households. In 2001, 39.8% of the population could speak Welsh. This compares with 58.9% in 1951 and 90.3% in 1901. The population of 3,193 breaks down as follows: Landmarks Outside Fishguard there is a stone monument commemorating the signing of the Peace Treaty after the last invasion of Britain in 1797. Women dressed in Welsh costume are said to have startled the invaders. The 19th-century parish church of St Mary's contains a memorial stone to the heroine Jemima Nicholas, who helped repel the French invasion. There is also a Bi-Centenary memorial stone monument in West Street, Fishguard to commemorate the invasion. A tapestry was created in 1997 to commemorate the invasion and is on display to the public in Fishguard Town Hall.There are more than 80 listed buildings in and around the town. Community and culture Fishguard has hotels and is the main shopping town of North Pembrokeshire with a market in the town hall on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Fishguard has a Round Table doing community work including running the Fishguard & Goodwick Carnival and the Fishguard Autumn Festival. The Gwaun Lodge of the Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, is a charitable organisation within the community who host sponsored events and other community works throughout the year. Fishguard has a 180-seat cinema/theatre called Theatr Gwaun which provides a venue for film, music and live theatre and hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1936 and 1986. Transport Fishguard is the terminus of the London to Fishguard Trunk Road (A40). A regular ferry operated by Stena Line leaves for Rosslare in Ireland from the port of Fishguard Harbour, Goodwick. Following the Brexit withdrawal agreement, freight traffic from Rosslare fell by 50% in January 2021.Rail services are operated by Transport for Wales Rail from Fishguard Harbour and Fishguard and Goodwick railway stations on the West Wales line to Swansea and Cardiff. Through trains to London were withdrawn in 2004. Starting in 1909 the fast Cunard liners from New York began anchoring at Fishguard to allow passengers to take a Great Western train to London, saving a few hours compared to Liverpool. In the media Lower Fishguard was used as "Llareggub" in the film of Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood, starring Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor and Peter O'Toole. Many local people were involved in the production of this film as background characters. The film Moby Dick (starring Gregory Peck) was filmed there in 1955. Business Fishguard and Goodwick Chamber of Trade and Tourism is a business support group. Notable people See Category:People from FishguardRichard Fenton (1747–1821), a Welsh lawyer, topographer and poet; retired and died in Fishguard Jemima Nicholas (ca.1750–1832), armed only with a pitchfork, single-handedly captured 12 French soldiers in the Battle of Fishguard in 1797. John Bowen (1815–1859), an Anglican bishop in Sierra Leone; born at nearby Court. Willie Thomas (1866–1921), rugby player Arthur Wade-Evans (1875–1964), clergyman and historian Glenys Cour MBE (born 1924), a Welsh artist known for painting, stained glass and collage Sue Jones-Davies (born 1949), actress and singer, attended Fishguard County Secondary School during the 1960s. Jonathan Lean (born 1952), retired as Dean of St Davids Cathedral in 2017. Paula Craig MBE (born 1963), a former detective, cyclist, former runner, paratriathlete Cerys Matthews MBE (born 1969), lead singer of Catatonia went to Ysgol Bro Gwaun. Mark Delaney (born 1976), footballer, grew up in Fishguard. Twinning Fishguard is twinned with Loctudy in Brittany, France. See also Fishguard Folk Festival Fishguard Lifeboat Station References External links historic-uk.com An historic account of Fishguard

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fishguard

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Delphos

Delphos may refer to: Delphos (mythology), the son of Apollo in Greek mythology; Delphi was named for him Isle of Delphos, a former name for the island of Delos, mythological birthplace of Apollo Places in the United States Delphos, Iowa Delphos, Kansas Delphos, New Mexico Delphos, Ohio

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delphos

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Ühlingen-Birkendorf

Ühlingen-Birkendorf is a municipality in the district of Waldshut in Baden-Württemberg in Germany. Notable people Karl Albiker (1878–1961), sculptor See also List of cities and towns in Germany == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%9Chlingen-Birkendorf

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Vall de Almonacid

Vall de Almonacid is a municipality in the comarca of Alto Palancia, Castellón, Valencia, Spain. The name in Valencian is La Vall d'Almonesir, but the local language is Spanish, not Valencian. It contains the "Castle of Almonesir". See also Serra d'Espadà == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vall_de_Almonacid

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Clifton

Clifton may refer to: People Clifton (surname) Clifton (given name) Places Australia Clifton, Queensland, a town Shire of Clifton Clifton, New South Wales, a suburb of Wollongong Clifton, Western Australia Canada Clifton, Nova Scotia, a rural community Clifton, a former name of New London, Prince Edward Island Clifton, a former name of Niagara Falls England Clifton, Bedfordshire Clifton, Bristol, a suburb Clifton Suspension Bridge Clifton, Cheshire, a location Clifton, Cumbria, village near Penrith Great Clifton, Cumbria Little Clifton, Cumbria Clifton, Derbyshire Clifton, Devon, a location Clifton, Doncaster, village in the borough of Doncaster, South Yorkshire Clifton, Greater Manchester, in the City of Salford Clifton, Lancashire, village west of Preston Clifton, Northumberland, a hamlet Clifton, Nottinghamshire, near Nottingham North Clifton, Nottinghamshire South Clifton, Nottinghamshire Clifton, Harrogate, North Yorkshire Clifton, York, a suburb Clifton Without Clifton-on-Yore, a civil parish in North Yorkshire Clifton, Oxfordshire, a hamlet Clifton, Rotherham, a suburb Clifton, West Yorkshire Clifton, Worcestershire Clifton Campville, a village in Staffordshire New Zealand Clifton, Christchurch, a suburb of Christchurch Clifton, Hawke's Bay, a town Clifton, Invercargill, a suburb of Invercargill Clifton, Tasman, a locality in Golden Bay Clifton, Auckland, the home of Josiah Firth and a Category 1 Heritage New Zealand listed building Pakistan Clifton, Karachi, a neighborhood Clifton Beach, Karachi Clifton Cantonment, Karachi United States Clifton, Arizona, a town Clifton, former name of Del Rey, California Clifton, former name of Last Chance, California Clifton, Colorado, a census-designated place Clifton, Idaho, a small city Clifton, Illinois, a village Clifton, Indiana, an unincorporated community Clifton, Kansas, a city Clifton, Louisiana, an unincorporated community Clifton, Louisville, Kentucky, a neighborhood east of downtown Louisville Clifton, Maine, a town Clifton, Massachusetts Clifton, Michigan, a ghost town Clifton, Nevada, a ghost town Clifton Township, Lyon County, Minnesota Clifton Township, Traverse County, Minnesota Clifton, Oregon County, Missouri, an unincorporated community Clifton, Schuyler County, Missouri, an unincorporated community Clifton City, Missouri, an unincorporated community Clifton, New Jersey, a city Clifton, New York, a town Clifton, Staten Island, New York Clifton, North Carolina, an unincorporated community Clifton, Ohio, a village Clifton, Cincinnati, Ohio, a neighborhood in Cincinnati Clifton, Clatsop County, Oregon Clifton, Hood River County, Oregon Clifton Township, Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania Clifton, Tennessee, a city Clifton, Texas, a city Clifton, Virginia, a town Clifton, Grant County, Wisconsin, a town Clifton, Monroe County, Wisconsin, a town Clifton, Pierce County, Wisconsin, a town Clifton (community), Wisconsin, an unincorporated community Historic sites Clifton Park, Baltimore, an urban park and the location of the "Clifton Mansion" Clifton (Davenport, Iowa) Clifton (Clarksville, Maryland) Clifton (Ednor, Maryland) Clifton (Roslyn Harbor, New York) Clifton (Hamilton, Virginia) Clifton (Kilmarnock, Virginia) Clifton (Lexington, Virginia) Clifton (Rixeyville, Virginia) Clifton (Shadwell, Virginia) Other countries Clifton, County Cavan, Ireland Clifton, Cape Town, South Africa, a suburb Clifton, Stirling, a location in Scotland Clifton, Union Island, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Transportation Clifton (NJT station), a New Jersey Transit train station Clifton (Staten Island Railway station), a Staten Island Railway station SS Clifton, a steamship that sank with all hands in 1924 Clifton, a New Zealand Company chartered sailing ship that bought immigrants to Wellington, New Zealand, in 1842 USS Clifton (1861), a side-wheel gunboat of the American Civil War USS Clifton (IX-184), a station tanker which served from 1945–1946 Other uses Clifton (comics), a Franco-Belgian comics series USS Clifton, several US Navy ships See also Clifton Hall (disambiguation) Clifton Heights (disambiguation) Clifton High School (disambiguation) Clifton Hotel (disambiguation) Clifton railway station (disambiguation) Clifton School (disambiguation) Clifden (disambiguation)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifton

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Zemitz

Zemitz is a municipality in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany. It consists of Zemitz Hohensee Seckeritz Wehrland-Bauer Negenmark == References ==

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zemitz

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Apt

Apt. is an abbreviation for apartment. Apt may also refer to: Places Apt Cathedral, a former cathedral, and national monument of France, in the town of Apt in Provence Apt, Vaucluse, a commune of the Vaucluse département of France Arrondissement of Apt, an arrondissement in the Vaucluse département of France Canton of Apt, France Opatów, a town in Poland, called "Apt" in the Yiddish language Surname Jerome Apt (born 1949), Ph.D., an American astronaut Leonard Apt, inventor of the Apt test Milburn G. Apt (1924–1956), US test pilot Arts, entertainment, and media Apt. (album), a 2006 album by Chilean singer Nicole Apt. (film), a 2006 South Korean horror film Apt, a literary journal published by Aforementioned Productions Apt Pupil, a novella by Stephen King, originally published in the 1982 Apt Pupil (film), a 1998 film based on Stephen King's eponymous novel Apt Records, a subsidiary record label of ABC-Paramount Records Other uses APT (software), a package manager associated with Linux, commonly spelled "apt", in lowercase Apt (Egyptian), may refer to several deities or to a location in Egypt Apt (Martian crater) Apt test, a medical test used to differentiate fetal or neonatal blood from maternal blood Apt meteorite of 1803, a meteorite which fell in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France See also APT (disambiguation) Apartment (disambiguation)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apt

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Colomiers

Colomiers (French pronunciation: ​[kɔlɔmje]; Occitan: Colomèrs; Languedocien dialect: Colomièrs) is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in the Occitania region in Southwestern France. With a population of 39,968 as of 2019, it is the largest suburb of the city of Toulouse, to which it is adjacent on the west side. Colomiers is part of Toulouse Métropole. Demographics The inhabitants of the commune are known as Columérins (masculine) or Columérines (feminine). Transport In 1971 it became the first area of France to offer zero-fare public transport, but had to cancel this project in 2016. Education There are nine public preschools (maternelles) and six public elementary schools. There are four public junior high schools (collèges): Léon Blum, Victor Hugo, Jean Jaurès, and Voltaire. There are two public senior high schools, Lycée International Victor Hugo and Lycée des Métiers de l'électrotechnique, de la maintenance et Chaudronnerie Eugène-Montel.There is an international school in Colomiers (International School of Toulouse or IST) which is run by Airbus and which prepares for the International Baccalaureate, and, within the international lycée, a German school (Deutsche Schule Toulouse, DST). English 31, supported by Airbus, provides English-language tuition. There is also a private preschool, elementary and middle school, Institution « Sainte-Thérèse ». Sport US Colomiers is a French rugby union club based in Colomiers. See also Communes of the Haute-Garonne department References External links Official website (in French)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colomiers

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Boutte

Boutte or Boutté may refer to Places Boutte, Louisiana, a census-designated place in United States People Alvin J. Boutte (1929–2012), founder of the largest Black-owned bank in the U.S., Chicago civic leader and civil rights activist Denise Boutte, American actress and model Duane Boutte (born 1966), American actor, director, and composer Etnah Rochon Boutte (1880–1973), African-American educator, pharmacist, and clubwoman John Boutté (born 1958), American jazz singer Kayshon Boutte (born 2002), American football player Lillian Boutté (born 1949), American jazz singer Marc Boutte (born 1969), American football defensive tackle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boutte

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Bilibino

Bilibino (Russian: Били́бино) is a town and the administrative center of Bilibinsky District in Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Russia. It is located 625 kilometers (388 mi) northwest of Anadyr, the administrative center of the autonomous okrug. It is the second largest town in the autonomous okrug after Anadyr. Population: 5,546 (2021 Census); 5,506 (2010 Census); 6,181 (2002 Census); 15,558 (1989 Census). Geography The town of Bilibino was built at the confluence of the Karalveyem and Bolshoy Keperveyem Rivers (Kolyma's basin). Bilibino is on the transition zone between the conifer forest and the tundra of the East Siberian Mountains, southeast of the Pyrkanay Range (Горы Пырканай), southwest of the Rauchuan Range (Раучуанский хребет) and north of the Kyrganay Range and the Chuvan Mountains. History As with much of the rest of Chukotka, the earliest human remains found in the region around Bilibino have been dated to the Early Neolithic, with camp sites having been excavated at Orlovka 2, a site on the banks of the Orlovka River, as well as at Lakes Tytyl and Ilirney.Interest in the area around the present day site of the town began in the 1920s when prospectors including Soviet geologist Yuri Bilibin (1901—1952) discovered gold in the region and began to make assessments regarding the commercial viability of its extraction. In March 1955, gold mining operations commenced and the construction of a settlement started, though at this stage it was little more than a collection of geologists' and prospectors' tents, who had originally been based in Seymchan. Because of his discovery of gold in the region, particularly within the vicinity of the Bolshoy Anyuy and Maly Anyuy Rivers, the geologists named the new settlement after Yury Bilibin, and the new name was officially adopted in February 1956. On September 6, 1958, Bilibino was granted urban-type settlement status.Bilibino's development intensified in the early 1960s when it was joined to the Pevek power grid. On August 2, 1961, Bilibino became the administrative center of the Eastern Tundra District (Rayon Vostochnoy Tundry) which was renamed Bilibino District (Bilibinsky Rayon) on the occasion. In 1965, the Soviet government decided to build the Bilibino Nuclear Power Plant. The construction aided by several hundred volunteers from the Komsomol organization was completed in 1974; by 1976 three additional reactors were put into operation. Town status was granted to Bilibino on June 28, 1993. Administrative and municipal status Within the framework of administrative divisions, Bilibino serves as the administrative center of Bilibinsky District, to which it is directly subordinated. As a municipal division, the town of Bilibino is, together with the selo of Keperveyem, incorporated within Bilibinsky Municipal District as Bilibino Urban Settlement. Economy The town is home to the world's northernmost nuclear power plant, the Bilibino Nuclear Power Plant, which opened in January 1974. It is the only nuclear power plant in the Russian Far East[1] and has four reactors, each with an output of 12 MWe. The plant will be progressively shut down and decommissioned, and will be replaced by the Akademik Lomonosov floating nuclear power plant. The first reactor was shut down at the end of 2018.The nearest operating gold mine is located 20 kilometers (12 mi) west of the town.[2] Transportation The region where Bilibino is located has virtually no roads that are usable year-round; even a trip from the Keperveyem Airport to Bilibino town requires a 33-kilometer (21 mi) journey along an unpaved road. There is also an unpaved road to the seaport of Zelyony Mys on the Kolyma River near Chersky in the Sakha Republic (around 250 km). Heavier transports use this road. There is a winter-only ice road between Pevek and Bilibino. Demographics In a typical development for the post-Soviet era in the Russian Far East, Bilibino's population dropped significantly after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. During the 1989 Soviet Census, the population of Bilibino was 15,558; it fell to 6,181 in the 2002 Census and further down to 5,506 in the 2010 Russian Census. As of January 2010, the ethnic make up of the town was mostly Russians (71%) and Ukrainians (15%); Chukchi people and Evens accounted for 6% and 3%, correspondingly; with all other ethnicities accounting for less than 1% each. Climate Bilibino has a subarctic climate (Dfc) according to the Köppen climate classification. Summers are short and cool with chilly nights, while winters are long, dry and bitterly cold. References Notes Sources Дума Чукотского автономного округа. Закон №33-ОЗ от 30 июня 1998 г. «Об административно-территориальном устройстве Чукотского автономного округа», в ред. Закона №55-ОЗ от 9 июня 2012 г. «О внесении изменений в Закон Чукотского автономного округа "Об административно-территориальном устройстве Чукотского автономного округа"». Вступил в силу по истечении десяти дней со дня его официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Ведомости", №7 (28), 14 мая 1999 г. (Duma of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Law #33-OZ of June 30, 1998 On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, as amended by the Law #55-OZ of June 9, 2012 On Amending the Law of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug "On the Administrative-Territorial Structure of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug". Effective as of after ten days from the day of the official publication.). Правительство Чукотского автономного округа. Распоряжение №517-рп от 30 декабря 2008 г. «Об утверждении реестра административно-территориальных и территориальных образований Чукотского автономного округа», в ред. Распоряжения №323-рп от 27 июня 2011 г. «О внесении изменений в Распоряжение Правительства Чукотского автономного округа от 30 декабря 2008 года №517-рп». Опубликован: База данных "Консультант-плюс". (Government of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Directive #517-rp of December 30, 2008 On the Adoption of the Registry of the Administrative-Territorial and Territorial Formations of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, as amended by the Directive #323-rp of June 27, 2011 On Amending the Government of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug Directive No. 517-rp of December 30, 2008. ). Дума Чукотского автономного округа. Закон №43-ОЗ от 29 ноября 2004 г. «О статусе, границах и административных центрах муниципальных образований на территории Билибинского района Чукотского автономного округа», в ред. Закона №88-ОЗ от 20 октября 2010 г «О преобразовании путём объединения поселений на территории Билибинского муниципального района и внесении изменений в Закон Чукотского автономного округа "О статусе, границах и административных центрах муниципальных образований на территории Билибинского района Чукотского автономного округа"». Вступил в силу через десять дней со дня официального опубликования. Опубликован: "Ведомости", №31/1 (178/1), 10 декабря 2004 г. (Duma of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. Law #43-OZ of November 29, 2004 On the Status, Borders, and Administrative Centers of the Municipal Formations on the Territory of Bilibinsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, as amended by the Law #88-OZ of October 20, 2010 On the Transformation (Merger) of the Settlements on the Territory of Bilibinsky Municipal District and Amending the Law of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug "On the Status, Borders, and Administrative Centers of the Municipal Formations on the Territory of Bilibinsky District of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug". Effective as of the day ten days after the official publication date.). Petit Fute. Chukotka. McKnight, Tom L; Hess, Darrel (2000). "Climate Zones and Types". Physical Geography: A Landscape Appreciation. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-020263-0. External links Official website of Bilibino (in Russian) Bilibino Business Directory (in Russian) BBC. Description of a visit to the power plant Bilibino Photo Gallery Short film about Bilibino

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilibino

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Higashikawa, Hokkaido

Higashikawa (東川町, Higashikawa-chō) is a town located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of September 2016, the town has an estimated population of 8,092, and a density of 33 persons per km2. The total area is 247.06 km2. Higashikawa declared itself a photo town (写真の町, shashin no machi) in the 1980s and has done much to sponsor photography since, notably the annually awarded Higashikawa Prizes. Climate References External links Media related to Higashikawa, Hokkaidō at Wikimedia Commons Official Website (in Japanese) Tourism Info (in Japanese)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higashikawa,_Hokkaido

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Autrey

Autrey may refer to: Communes in France Autrey, Meurthe-et-Moselle, in Meurthe-et-Moselle Autrey, Vosges, in Vosges Autrey-le-Vay, in Haute-Saône Autrey-lès-Cerre, in Haute-Saône Autrey-lès-Gray, in Haute-Saône Surname Billy Autrey (1933–2020), American football player Henry Autrey (born 1952), United States district judge Herman Autrey (1904–1980), American jazz trumpeter Latta Malette Autrey (1876–1938), American politician Scott Autrey (born 1953), motorcycle speedway rider Wesley Autrey (born 1956), military officer Given name Autrey Nell Wiley (1901–1990), American literary critic and professor Other uses Autrey Mill Middle School Autrey Mill Nature Preserve & Heritage Center Autrey House, historic house in Louisiana See also Autry (name), given name and surname Blue Stahli, music project of Bret Autrey

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autrey

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Zoutkamp

Zoutkamp (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈzʌutkɑmp]; Gronings: Zoltkamp [ˈzɔːɫtkɑmp]) is a village in the municipality Het Hogeland which is part of the province Groningen in the Netherlands. The village started as a sconce. During the Dutch Revolt, it was the site of the Battle of Zoutkamp. Later it became a fishing village. The harbour was moved to Lauwersoog in 1969 as a result of the closure of the Lauwersmeer, and is nowadays used for recreational purposes. The economy of the village mainly depends on fishing. History Zoutkamp was first mentioned in documents in 1418 as Soltcampum. Its first inhabitants might have been soldiers. Its name refers to salt and field, which probably means that it was a place for salt production.During the Dutch Revolt, the city of Groningen sided with Spain. Most of the Ommelanden (country side) and the province of Friesland opted for the Dutch Republic. In 1576, a sconce was built at Zoutkamp by the Spanish. In 1589, the sconce was conquered in the Battle of Zoutkamp by the Dutch Republic under the command of William Louis of Nassau. On 22 July 1594, after the Siege of Groningen, Groningen was forced to side with Dutch Republic.During the 17th and 18th century, fishers settled in Zoutkamp. By 1756, Zoutkamp consisted of 25 houses. In 1828, a harbour was constructed, and the church was built in 1836. In 1840, the population had increased to 720 people. In 1882, the fortification was demolished and the military function of Zoutkamp ceased. During World War II, between 80 and 100 soldiers of the Kriegsmarine were stationed near Zoutkamp, however the village saw little action. Lauwersmeer In the 1950s, there were calls to close the Lauwerszee, the bay near which Zoutkamp was located. As part of the Zuiderzee Works, it was decided to build a dike between Friesland and Groningen, and turn the bay into Lauwersmeer. In 1969, the dike was completed, and a harbour was constructed at Lauwersoog. The province of Groningen intended to use the harbour for recreational purposes only, because they were constructing the Eemshaven, as a new main harbour. Zoutkamp and the province of Friesland desired a commercial harbour. In January 1970, the conflict was brought to the States General of the Netherlands.Lauwersoog became a successful fishing harbour, however the fishers of Zoutkamp still use the registration "ZK" instead of "LO" to indicate their place of origin. The harbour of Zoutkamp is nowadays for recreational boats only. The ferry to Schiermonnikoog which used to depart from Zoutkamp and Oostmahorn was moved to Lauwersoog. Recent history Until 2008, Zoutkamp was the site of a ground station of the Dutch Nationale SIGINT Organisatie (National Signals Intelligence Service), which intercepted satellite communications much like the U.S. National Security Agency. The economy of Zoutkamp is still based on fishing and the village is not subject to a move to the city. As a result, it still has a lively centre with much retail. In 2019, it became part of the municipality of Het Hogeland. Gallery See also ZK 14 – Sailing ship from Zoutkamp, bought by German bard and writer Martin Luserke in 1934 References External links Infosite about Zoutkamp (in Dutch language) Infosite about Zoutkamp harbour (in Dutch language) Webcam Zoutkamp harbour Infosite about historic fishery in Zoutkamp (in Dutch language)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoutkamp

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Royal City

Royal City may refer to: Places Historical Royal city in Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, a historical type of cities Royal cities, a historic title of Czech cities and towns Current Royal City, Washington, United States Ciudad Real, Spain Wangcheng (Zhou dynasty) in China Klang (city), Malaysia Royal City Avenue, a neighborhood in Bangkok, ThailandAs a nickname New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada Guelph, Ontario, Canada Other uses Royal City (band), a Canadian rock band Royal City (album), a 2009 album by the band Royal City, a comic by Jeff Lemire Royal City Curling Club, based in New Westminster, British Columbia Royal City Roller Derby, a roller derby league in Guelph, Ontario, Canada See also Royal town (disambiguation)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_City

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El Centro, California

El Centro (Spanish for "The Center") is a city and county seat of Imperial County, California, United States. El Centro is the largest city in the Imperial Valley, the east anchor of the Southern California Border Region, and the core urban area and principal city of the El Centro metropolitan area which encompasses all of Imperial County. El Centro is also the largest U.S. city to lie entirely below sea level (−42 feet or −13 meters). The city, located in southeastern California, is 113 miles (182 km) from San Diego and less than 20 miles (32 km) from the Mexican city of Mexicali. The city was founded in 1906 by W. F. Holt and C.A. Barker, who purchased the land on which El Centro was eventually built for about $40 per acre ($100 per hectare) and invested $100,000 ($3,300,000 in 2022 dollars) in improvements. The modern city is home to retail, transportation, wholesale, and agricultural industries. There are also two international border crossings nearby for commercial and noncommercial vehicles. El Centro's census population as of 2020 was 44,322, up from 42,598 at the 2010 Census. History Spanish explorer Melchor Díaz was one of the first Europeans to visit the area around El Centro and Imperial Valley in 1540. The explorer Juan Bautista de Anza also explored the area in 1776 (an elementary school in El Centro now bears his name). Years later, after the Mexican–American War, the northern half of the valley was annexed by the U.S., while the southern half remained under Mexican rule. Small scale settlement in natural aquifer areas occurred in the early 19th century (the present-day site of Mexicali), but most permanent settlement (Anglo Americans on the U.S. side, Mexicans on the other side) was after 1900.Originally part of San Diego County, the Imperial Valley was settled by farmers once water from the Colorado River was diverted via canals to irrigate the desert valley floor.Before the town was incorporated, the railroad had established a station and named the place Cabarker, after C.A. Barker, a friend of the landowner. The first post office in El Centro opened in 1905. In 1906, the land on which El Centro was later built was purchased by W. F. Holt and C.A. Barker, and in 1907 Imperial County was split off from San Diego County; by then much of the valley was successfully irrigated. El Centro was incorporated on April 16, 1908, and became the county seat of Imperial County.Early growth was rapid with the city's population reaching 1,610 by 1910 and more than tripling by 1920 to 5,646 people. One reason for this rapid early growth was El Centro's successful battle with the City of Imperial to become the county seat. In these early days, relationships among the cities of the Imperial Valley were often intensely competitive, reflecting the particular frontier character of the area and the fact that six cities within a twenty-mile radius were all established within one generation. These cities were in a horse race to win the prize of being the Valley's leading city and the intense competition is measured by the fact that it took twenty years to get a county fair started because of strong local loyalties on the County Board of Supervisors. In 1940, El Centro experienced a a 7.1 earthquake and population growth accelerated through the 1940s. By the mid-1940s, El Centro had become the second largest city in the Imperial Valley, with a population of about 11,000 people. El Centro had also become the location of the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) administrative offices.Agriculture has been an important industry within El Centro since the 1940s, because of its strategic location near rail lines and U.S. Highways 80 and 99 – more than 35 growers and shippers still operate in El Centro. However, by the early 1980s the two largest employment sectors in El Centro were government and wholesale/retail trade, reflecting El Centro's emerging role as a regional administrative and commercial center. Sites of interest The nearby Algodones Dunes, the largest dune field in the US, draws thousands of visitors each year, mainly for off-road driving. The Salton Sea lies 30 miles (48 km) north of El Centro, but water sport enthusiasts head to the Colorado River, 50 miles (80 km) to the east near Yuma, Arizona. The El Centro Naval Air Facility 10 miles (16 km) to the west is home to the annual Blue Angels flight maneuvering event. Stark Field is home of a minor league baseball team El Centro Imperials of the Arizona Summer League. Mexico (the border city of Mexicali, Baja California) is 10 miles (16 km) away, which offers big city amenities like museums, a zoo and a sports/convention center. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.1 square miles (29 km2), of which over 99% is land. El Centro is located in the Imperial Valley (considered locally as synonymous with Imperial County). The city is 50 feet (15 m) below sea level and the largest city in the United States below sea level. The Imperial Valley is in the Colorado Desert, an extension of the larger Sonoran Desert. The agriculture industry's demand for water is supplied by canals diverting water from the nearby Colorado River. The Salton Sea was created after a 1905 flood from the Colorado River.The El Centro earthquake of 1940 had a moment magnitude of 6.9 and a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. It was the first major earthquake to be recorded by a strong-motion seismograph located next to a fault rupture. It was intensely studied by structural engineers and assumed to be typical until the Northridge earthquake of 1994. In this region, the geology is dominated by the transition of the tectonic plate boundary from rift to transverse fault. The southernmost strands of the San Andreas Fault connect the northernmost extensions of the East Pacific Rise. Consequently, the region is subject to earthquakes, and the crust is being stretched, resulting in a sinking of the terrain over time. Climate El Centro has a desert climate and is the southernmost desert city below sea level in the continental United States. It features long, extremely hot summers, and mild winters. El Centro has over 350 days of sunshine and under 3 inches (76 mm) of rain annually. Winter temperatures are in the mid to high 60s with over-night lows in the low 40s. During summer days of June; typically the driest month of the year with no precipitation, the dry, desert heat can push temperatures well into the 100s, while the nights stay in the high 70s. The North American Monsoon typically increases moisture. At times, the climate can resemble that of tropical areas in the Caribbean. This leads to daily thunderstorms that can bring hail, downpours, lightning, and dust storms, more commonly known as Haboob. During the Eastern Pacific hurricane season, remnants of hurricanes or tropical storms may track through the desert and can result in heavy thunderstorms. This can lead to significantly higher than normal precipitation, at times bringing heavy rain. The precipitation in the winter months is predominantly rain showers from the occasional winter storms. At times these storms bring cold temperatures to El Centro and surrounding cities, and mountain snowfall to the nearby Mountains. El Niño and La Niña play a large role in how much rain falls in the winter, La Nina typically brings drier and cooler conditions to El Centro and surrounding areas. El Niño tends to being wetter and average temperatures. Snow is almost totally unknown in the area. However, on December 12, 1934, a very powerful winter storm brought record cold and snowfall to El Centro and surrounding areas of the Imperial Valley. Snow began falling at 8:45 p.m. December 11 and by 5 a.m. the next day (December 12)1-4 inches of snow had blanketed the desert floor. Another instance of freezing precipitation was observed in December 1967 as a mix of sleet hail. On average there are about 15 days that dip into the mid to lower 30s. Being below sea level, El Centro has warm days and cool nights in winter. The coldest daily maximum on record is 44 °F (7 °C) on December 14, 1967, and the mean for the coldest day is at 56.1 °F (13.4 °C) for the reference period between 1991 and 2020. The warmest low temperature on record is 98 °F (37 °C), recorded on August 30, 1976. The mean for the hottest night annually is at 87.2 °F (30.7 °C). Economy As of 2009 the employment of El Centro residents is dominated by the local government, California state government, and federal government. Two nearby prisons (Centinela and Calipatria) and a U.S. Border Patrol station provide employment; The Economist states that the prisons and border patrol were "relatively untouched" by the late-2000s recession. The El Centro area has many farming plots, where carrots, lettuce, and other crops are produced, and therefore the El Centro economy is subject to seasonal variations like other farming areas. Between November and March in winter periods, El Centro-area farmers harvest lettuce for $8–10 per hour. During March the harvest moves to the north and is no longer in El Centro; in previous eras farmers migrated, while in the first decade of the 21st century many collect unemployment benefits during the summer.El Centro is surrounded by thousands of acres of farmland that has transformed the desert into one of the most productive farming regions in California with an annual crop production of over $1 billion. Agriculture is the largest industry in Imperial County and accounts for 48% of all employment.Being the commercial center of Imperial County, fifty percent of the jobs in the El Centro come from the service and retail sector.A recent growth in the interest of Imperial County as a filming location, has spurred growth in servicing this industry. Due to its desert environment and proximity to Los Angeles, California, movies are sometimes filmed in the sand dunes outside the agricultural portions of the Imperial County. These have included Return of the Jedi, Stargate, The Scorpion King, Jarhead, Into the Wild, and American Sniper. During the late-2000s recession According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of April 30, 2009 the El Centro area had a 25.0% unemployment rate, the highest for a Metropolitan Area in the country. By August of that year, El Centro's unemployment rate was 27.5%, three times the overall United States unemployment rate of 9.7%. The Economist stated that the city is not the "centre of the Great Recession" like the figure would appear to indicate. While El Centro has a seasonal farming economy, there is still a fixed "baseline" unemployment at 12%. Timothy Kelly, the head of the Imperial Valley Economic Development Corporation, estimated that between 40,000 and 60,000 residents of Mexicali work in El Centro. The Economist added that there are likely many El Centro residents who work in Mexicali and collect unemployment benefits in El Centro; Ruben Duran, the city manager of El Centro, said that if the Mexicali jobs were factored into the employment rate, El Centro would have a normal employment rate. The manager of a job search agency called One Stop, said that about 3,000 people per month come into her agency; she says that some make a genuine effort to find jobs, while many do not have motivation to actually find a job, but to instead show proof that they tried to find a job. Kelly stated that unemployment fraud does not account for all of the issues with the El Centro area; he said that many residents have a lack of education and a lack of English language proficiency, so some of them cannot find jobs. The Economist added that the collapse of the housing market eliminated some construction jobs; the magazine countered that the scenario is true in many places in the United States. In December 2008 listed as No. 5 on Forbes.com's list of "The Top 10 Places in America Where Homes are Losing their Value Fastest" with 31.4% of homeowners owing more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. A national report on the effects of the "Great recession" of 2008/09 has found El Centro and the Imperial Valley in the top 5 poorest medium-sized cities in the U.S. in poverty and unemployment rates. Culture While the majority of the residents in this community are Hispanic, there is a diverse population with a wide array of interests. In the winter residents race on nearby sand dunes using four wheel drive buggies. During the summer residents spend time indoors instead of outside. Spanish is a dominant language among residents and over the radio. Many area residents live in both the United States and Mexico and go across the border frequently. Demographics 2010 The 2010 United States Census reported that El Centro had a population of 42,598. The population density was 3,838.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,481.9/km2). The racial makeup of El Centro was 25,376 (59.6%) White, 1,081 (2.5%) African American, 554 (1.3%) Native American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 34,751 persons (81.6%), 965 (2.3%) Asian, 34 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 12,356 (29.0%) from other races, and 2,232 (5.2%) from two or more races. The Census reported that 41,782 people (98.1% of the population) lived in households, 296 (0.7%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 520 (1.2%) were institutionalized. There were 13,108 households, out of which 6,257 (47.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 6,550 (50.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,845 (21.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 815 (6.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 804 (6.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 58 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. Of the households, 2,458 (18.8%) were made up of individuals, and 1,004 (7.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.19. There were 10,210 families (77.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.64. The population was spread out, with 12,671 people (29.7%) under the age of 18, 4,803 people (11.3%) aged 18 to 24, 10,661 people (25.0%) aged 25 to 44, 9,907 people (23.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,556 people (10.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males. There were 14,476 housing units at an average density of 1,304.3 per square mile (503.6/km2), of which 13,108 were occupied, of which 6,488 (49.5%) were owner-occupied, and 6,620 (50.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%. 21,429 people (50.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 20,353 people (47.8%) lived in rental housing units. 2000 As of the census of 2000, there were 37,835 people, 11,439 households, and 8,910 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,950.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,525.2/km2). There were 12,263 housing units at an average density of 1,280.3 per square mile (494.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 46.9% White, 3.2% Black or African American, 1.0% Native American, 3.5% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 41.7% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. 74.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 11,439 households, out of which 47.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 18.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. Of all households, 18.8% were made up of individuals, and 7.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.2 and the average family size was 3.7. In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.6% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $33,161, and the median income for a family was $36,910. Males had a median income of $36,753 versus $24,514 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,874. About 20.6% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 14.8% of those age 65 or over. In 2009 the Latinos in El Centro mainly consisted of dual citizens and permanent resident card (green card) holders. Illegal immigrants tended to go through Imperial County instead of staying in Imperial County. Education Within its boundary, there are three school districts – McCabe Union Elementary School District, El Centro School District and Central Union High School District.El Centro has 11 elementary schools, four middle/junior high schools and three high schools: Elementary schools De Anza Magnet School Desert Gardens Elementary School Harding Elementary School Hedrick Elementary School (named after Margaret Hedrick, a woman who had been teaching and working in schools for 55 years, 35 of them in the El Centro School District). King Elementary School Lincoln Elementary School McCabe Elementary School McKinley Elementary School Meadows Elementary School Sunflower Elementary Washington Elementary School St. Mary's Catholic School Middle and junior high schools Corfman Middle School (Grades 4–8) Kennedy Middle School Wilson Junior High St. Mary's Catholic School High schools The Central Union High School District includes two four-year comprehensive high schools (Central Union and Southwest) and one alternative education school (Desert Oasis). The school district's 3,450 students are supported by more than 350 certified and classified staff. The District is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees. Central Union High School (Central Union was established near the time when the city was established and celebrated its centennial in 2008.) Desert Oasis High School Southwest High School, whose performing arts theater is named after local musician Jimmie Cannon, director of CUHS's Great Spartan Band from 1966 to 1996 Colleges and universities Opportunities to attend college are available through Imperial Valley College, a local 2-year college, and an extension of San Diego State University located in the nearby city of Calexico. San Diego State University's Calexico Campus offers a variety of bachelor's and master's degrees. Transportation Freeways and highways There are three major highways that serve El Centro. Interstate 8 connects San Diego to the west and Yuma, Arizona to the east. State Route 86 and State Route 111 parallel each other as they go north to Brawley before running along the west and east shores of the Salton Sea, respectively, on their way to the Coachella Valley. Going south from El Centro, State Route 86 terminates at State Route 111, which runs to Calexico and Mexicali, Mexico. Public transportation Imperial Valley Transit is the primary provider of mass transportation in the Imperial Valley. Formed in 1989 with just 3 buses and serving just 3,000 people per month, the agency now currently serves more than 73,000 riders within the area per month. Through a partnership between the Imperial County Transportation Commission (ICTC), the Yuma County Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (YCIPTA), and the Quechan Indian Tribe, Yuma County Area Transit Turquoise Route 10 buses stop at El Centro locations and connects the city to Winterhaven, California and Yuma, Arizona. Greyhound Lines provides intercity bus service to El Centro. Airports Imperial County Airport is located in nearby Imperial. Service is subsidized by the Essential Air Service program. The nearest large international airports are San Diego International Airport and Mexicali International Airport. Naval Air Facility El Centro is a U.S. Navy airfield Douthitt Strip Airport is a former military airfield, now a private use airport. Politics El Centro operates under a council–manager form of government. The members of the City Council also sit as the Community Development Commission (Commission) and Redevelopment Agency (Agency) governing boards. The City Manager is empowered as the executive director of the Commission and Agency.In the state legislature, El Centro is in the 40th Senate District, represented by Republican Brian Jones, and the 56th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Lisa Calderon.Federally, El Centro is in California's 25th congressional district, represented by Democrat Raul Ruiz. Government The City of El Centro Public Works operates water, sewer, and trash services for the city. Notable people Notable people from El Centro or who lived in El Centro for an extended period of time. Walter Beasley (born 1961), jazz musician and professor Glenn Cadrez (born 1970), American football linebacker for the Denver Broncos Julian Segura Camacho (born 1969), Mexican American literature author Dino Cazares (born 1966) heavy metal musician, songwriter, and producer Cher (born 1946), pop musician, actress Roscoe Cook (1939–2011), holder of three world records in track Doug Harvey (1930–2018), Major League Baseball Hall of Fame umpire Ken Howard (1944–2016), actor Donal Logue (born 1966), actor Emmy Lou Packard (1914–1998), fine artist, printmaker David Varela (born 1982), artist and philanthropist References External links Official website El Centro Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau El Centro Earthquake 1940

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Centro,_California

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