Geography

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What are some facts about Istanbul, Turkey?

Istanbul was first named Constantinople after Constantine the Great. He made the city the seat of the Eastern Roman Empire in 330 A.D. and fashioned it to mirror the seven hills of Rome. By 660 B.C., the city's name was changed to Byzantium for the capital of the Byzantine Empire. It didn't gain the name of Istanbul until 1930. Istanbul was ahead of its time in many ways, containing hundreds of public toilets during the height of the Ottoman Empire before Europe or any other countries had any built.\nOther items, such as tulips, had their origins in Istanbul. Although Holland is reno..

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What countries make up Indochina?

Indochina had been under French rule for much time up until the middle of the 20th century, when the end of a Japanese occupation led Vietnam to establish itself under Ho Chi Minh as its own central authority. This would soon lead to conflicts with the French, referred to as the First Indochina War. Treaties soon ratified the three regions as their own independent countries, now known as Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. But these nations were being ruled by puppet governments set by the French, and it wasn't until the Geneva Conference of 1954 that this was amended.In 2014, the nations that ma..

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Where is Iceland?

Iceland is the second largest island in the North Atlantic, as only Greenland is larger. It has an area of 39,770 square miles, and as of 2014, the population is 325,671, making it the most sparsely populated nation in Europe. Roughly two-thirds of the population lives in the capital city of Reykjavík. Despite its high latitude and proximity to the Arctic Circle, Iceland has a moderate climate because it's warmed by the Gulf Stream.

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Where is Guantanamo Bay located?

Guantanamo Bay houses a naval base that is the oldest military base outside of a U.S. territory. The area was leased from Cuba on Feb. 23, 1903, by President Theodore Roosevelt as part of the ratification of the Cuban-American Treaty.\nHowever, Guantanamo Bay is also well-known for its detention center. Since its opening in 2002, the isolated facility has housed over 770 prisoners from numerous countries, as of 2015. Many occupants are suspected terrorists who are considered a major threat to the United States.

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In what direction does the Nile River flow?

According to American University, the Nile, which is the world's longest river, is a lifeline for some 123 million people. The Nile River is a major source of water for irrigated agriculture, a technological practice that humans have been using for centuries. The Nile flows northward from its original sources in central Africa and empties into the Mediterranean Sea at its terminating point in Egypt.

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What do the cabins at Gatlinburg Falls have to offer?

The Gatlinburg Falls Resort is located in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The cabins provide easy access to the downtown area of Gatlinburg. There is a pool and playground for children located on the grounds. Guests who wish to bring their pets to Gatlinburg Falls Resort can choose from one of the available pet friendly cabins. Other amenities offered by Gatlinburg Falls Resort include lodge-style furnishings, views of Mount LeConte, hot tubs, sauna and luxury steam room.The Gatlinburg Falls Resort offers special packages for couples celebrating a honey..

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How deep is Lake Superior?

Lake Superior contains enough water to cover North and South America in one foot of water. The surface area of the lake is roughly the size of South Carolina, about 31,700 miles. Lake Superior holds 10 percent of the world's fresh surface water that is not frozen.\nLake Superior is a popular destination for tourists who enjoy scuba diving, boating and kayaking. Fishing is a favored pastime due to the wide abundance of fish species prevalent in the lake.

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What were some of the top U.S. vacation spots in 2014?

Considered the top destination of 2014, Grand Rapids is a beer-tourism mecca that boasts dozens of craft breweries and several alcohol-centered festivals such as the Winter Beer Festivals and Summer Craft Beer Festival. Lake Michigan's Gold Coast lies just minutes away, offering tourists a range of activities from picking fruits at U-pick orchards and antiquing.\nVisitors can explore the Yosemite National Park in California by climbing Yosemite Falls or hiking across the backcountry. California's Central Coast also offers plenty of scenic views, such as the 100-mile long Big Sur and ..

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What countries border Ecuador?

The exact delineation of Ecuador's border with Peru caused the longest-running international armed conflict in the Western Hemisphere. The dispute began in 1821, when Peru and Gran Colombia, which included Ecuador, declared independence from Spain. It lasted until Oct. 26, 1998, when both countries agreed to a set of borders that they formally drew up beginning on May 13, 1999. Ecuador's northern border with Colombia has also been contentious. In 2008, members of the Colombian military pursued anti-government militants into Ecuador, causing a diplomatic crisis.

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What is a country beginning with "X"?

The letter X is the 24th letter of the Latin alphabet and, in English, is the initial letter in the fewest number of words of any letter of the alphabet. X is the third-least commonly used letter in the English language; only Q and Z are more infrequent. The letter X is often used as an abbreviation of the prefix "trans-"; a word like "transmit" can be shortened to "XMIT." X is also used as a shorthand for the word "Christ," yielding shortened words like "X-mas" for "Christmas."

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