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The Eastern Massasauga rattlesnake struggles to survive in certain areas where its vital habitat is being destroyed or harmed. The snakes typically live in wetlands but are also found in grassland and even dry pastures. They are mainly found in Midwestern states - particularly Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin - but the range of their presence extends eastward to New York, Pennsylvania, and southern Ontario (Canada) and westward to Iowa, Minnesota, and Missouri. In Indiana, most Eastern Massasauga populations live in Northern Indiana, which has more wetlands than the rest of the state. It may seem strange, then, that most of Northern Indiana's counties are in the region where the Eastern Massasauga is endangered. That is because ecologists, environmentalists, scientists, and geographers know there are E. M. populations in the dark red counties but have been seeing less and less of them - hence why they are considered endangered. In light-shaded counties, the snake species is extremely rare to find or extinct, although there are likely some counties with enough snakes to stay off the endangered list. It is difficult to approximate the populations in each county, partly because the snakes are not very noticeable when they are out and about.
These are the 26 dark red-colored counties where the Eastern Massasauga is considered endangered: Allen, Carroll, Cass, Delaware, Elkhart, Fountain, Fulton, Hamilton, Hendricks, Jasper, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Lake, LaPorte, Marshall, Montgomery, Noble, Porter, Pulaski, Saint Joseph, Starke, Steuben, Sullivan, Wabash, Wells, and Whitley.
Above is an infographic map I made detailing some of the many types of food that Europeans have during Christmas and the holidays. They include appetizers, main dishes, and of course desserts. To see the image in the original, larger size, simply click on it. I hope you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a Happy New Year!
It comes as no surprise that there are a wide variety of Christmas and holiday cookies in the world, but it would be amazing to see all the varieties right in front of you! Many different shapes, sizes, colors, textures, and tastes abound with holiday cookies - there may easily be hundreds of varieties. Most cookies tend to originate from European countries; of course, America loves to make and bake a variety of cookies as well. There is a famous cookie/dessert that transcends national borders and has multiple names; it can be called a Russian or Swedish tea cake, butterball in the UNITED STATES, Melting Moment in AUSTRALIA, and Mexican wedding cake in, of course, MEXICO. While it can be made for Mexican weddings or tea time, the aforementioned cookie is a favorite at Christmastime. Most cookie aficionados would agree that this cookie actually originated from Arabia (the general Middle East region) during the Medieval times! A page on Christmas-cookies.com provides recipes for some around-the-world treats. In addition to the website's offerings, GERMANY makes Candy Crisps, Star Anise cookies, and others. If you have any awesome 'cookie traditions' that you want to brag about, feel free to post a comment!
The newest country in the world, SOUTH SUDAN gained its independence of July 2011 by breaking away from Sudan, formerly Africa's largest country. While new countries sometime have peaceful upbringings, that is not the case with South Sudan. While there are predictable difficulties that come with new countries finding their place among neighbors and the world, South Sudan faces a dilemma that goes beyond. The civil tensions and unrest have led some to express concern that an outright civil war might erupt in the capital, Juba, and even around the country if the situation still escalates.
The National Weather Service issued a Hydrological Outlook for Indiana, northeast Illinois (below Chicago) and Southern Illinois, most of Kentucky (except counties in the east), Southwest Michigan (the counties of Berrien, Branch, Cass, Hillsdale, and Saint Joseph), southeast Missouri, and northwest Ohio. This weather alert means that rainfall, in addition to snow melting, might result in flooding particularly around small rivers and streams. Stay up to date with the National Weather Service for updates.
Improved technology and positive attitudes in regards to preserving environments allows us to do a better job of protecting the Earth, but of course more work needs to be done. Thankfully, the values and applications of geography can help this cause. A big concern is drainage of wetlands; fortunately, cartographers can use data and make a map to show the areas with extensive wetlands loss or areas at risk of destruction by human development. Geography can help plot the ideal locations for national parks and reserves, protecting threatened areas. For example, countries in Africa are reserving more and more land for preservation of their environments. Take a look at an online map service, and you see that countries like Botswana are almost fully covered in the color green - the locations of parks and reserves. Wetlands preservation and the creation of new reserves are just two of the many environmental ways that geography and mapping can change our world!
Flowing through the Dinaric Alps mountains in Southeast Europe, the Sliv Neretva (Neretva River in English) winds around the cities and towns in the southern part of BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA, as well as 20 miles across the Dalmatian coastline of extreme Southern CROATIA. The river carves through steep gorges that are fascinating and "gorge"ous! Amongst the natural beauty that the river and surrounding gorges provide, there are manmade hydroelectric dams. The largest city located along the banks of the Sliv Neretva is Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Other towns include Metović and Ploče in Croatia and Jablanica, Jasenjani, Obalj, Ostrožac, and Ulog in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The A to Z categories are based on the English language and inadvertently might not include all native country names.
There are 11 countries with names starting with the letter T. They belong to four continents: Africa, Asia, North America, and Oceania (vast area of islands in the Pacific Ocean that are oftentimes grouped with the continent of Australia). Europe also counts as a continent with a T country because the city of Istanbul and a peninsula in Turkey belongs to Europe.
Africa (3): TANZANIA is in East Africa, TOGO is a thin and skinny country in Western Africa, and TUNISIA is a North African country south of the Mediterranean Sea.
Asia (5): TAJIKISTAN is a former-Soviet republic in Central Asia, THAILAND is in Indochina (Southeast Asia), TIMOR-LESTE (also called East Timor and therefore also featured in the E Countries post) is a relatively small country achieving independence in 2004, TURKEY is in Western Asia and partially in Eastern Europe, and TURKMENISTAN is another former-Soviet republic in Central Asia.
North America (1): TRINIDAD and TOBAGO is in the eastern fringe of the Caribbean Sea. The country is south of a chain of islands called the Windward Islands.
Oceania (2): TONGA and TUVALU are island comprised of many islands in the Pacific Ocean. Both countries are in the southern half of the Pacific Ocean.
Gain knowledge about these countries by accessing the Countries page!
Go to the National Weather Service's website for updates.
For Indiana, the National Weather Service has issued winter weather advisories in anticipation of several inches of snowfall tonight and into Saturday. A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Northern and Central Indiana - the northern extent is comprised of DeKalb, Marshall, and Noble Counties, while the southern fringe goes from Clay and Vigo Counties in Southwest Indiana, eastward to Indianapolis and Marion County, and further eastward to Randolph County in Eastern Indiana. Some areas, particularly in Central Indiana, may receive around 5 to 7 inches or more. Roads could get slick and dangerous, so be cautious.
Sunday, December 8th was the season finale of CBS's The Amazing Race, Season 23. Season 23 started in late December and was seen each Sunday night for eleven weeks. The teams started and ended in the UNITED STATES. The state of California was the beginning destination, while Alaska was the location for Season 23's end. Teams traveled to CHILE, PORTUGAL, NORWAY, POLAND, AUSTRIA, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, INDONESIA, and JAPAN.
PLACINGS in Episode 11 - Finale of Season 23
1st - Amy and Jason - WINNERS!!!
2nd - Marie and Tim
3rd - Nicole and Travis
4th - Jamal and Leo - eliminated in 1st round of the 2-hour finale episode
Access the National Weather Service's website and you will see that practically the whole country has winter weather watches, advisories, and warnings dealing with freezing, low temperatures, and high snowfall amounts. While coldness and snow usually occur in the month of December, this weather situation is a little extreme. Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for the West, Midwest, and the Northeast. In the Hoosier State, Northern Indiana was spared the harsh wintry conditions that Central and Southern Indiana experienced. A Winter Storm Warning is occurring in the southern half of Indiana, and Jay County has a Winter Weather Advisory. Right before I made this post, the Winter Weather Advisory was cancelled for these nine counties: Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Howard, Montgomery, Tippecanoe, Tipton, Vermillion, and Warren.
6:13 P.M. Central Time Update: For the Southwest Indiana counties of Gibson, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh, and Warrick, the Winter Storm Warning is now cancelled.
North of Guatemala and Belize in the easternmost part of MEXICO, the Yucatán Peninsula is notable for successful tourism industries in cities like Cancún and Chetumal. The three Mexican states on the peninsula are Campeche, Quintana Roo, and Yucatán. A plethora of ancient pyramids and other structures built by the Aztecs and Mayans are scattered across the peninsula. One of the most famous pyramids in the area is Chichen Itzá, located in the center of the peninsula in the state of Yucatán. The Gulf of Mexico lies north and west of the Yucatan Peninsula while the Caribbean Sea is off the eastern coast. Off the northern coast of the Yucatan, the large Campeche Bank in the Gulf of Mexico features small islands, shoals, and reefs.
The island country of GRENADA forms the southern edge of the Windward Islands chain in the eastern region of the Caribbean Sea. Being in the Caribbean Sea, Grenada certainly has a risk of hurricanes arriving at its shores once in a while. Unlike some islands that are low-lying, Grenada's terrain is quite mountainous. Located in north-central Grenada, the highest peak is Mount Saint Catherine, which stands at 2,756 feet or 840 meters.
The commonwealth of DOMINICA is an island country in the Caribbean Sea south of the Dominica Passage and Guadeloupe and north of the Martinique Passage and Martinique. The main religion that Dominicans worship is Christianity. More than 75% of the population is Roman Catholic, and Protestants make up most of the remaining population.
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