OT: Interesting Facts (history, geography, science, etc.)

[Travelman6]

Indeed it is the dog days of summer, a long way from the start of the season, so no better time for a topic like this!

What are some interesting historical facts you know for history buffs, something interesting about geography or maybe an interesting science fact?

Random Fact: 10th President John Tyler (born 1790) has a living grandson (and another who died less than a year ago).

Harrison Ruffin Tyler, born Nov. 9, 1928, and still alive at age 92. A US president born in the 18th century (1790) still has a grandchild alive in the 3rd decade of the 21st century! Pretty crazy imo.

 

[storrsroars]

I bet ole Harrison is still getting some. Those old Tyler guys were randy chaps.

On the geography front, thanks to Covid isolation, I learned there's a chunk of Minnesota that can only be reached through Canada

 

[prankster]

The Pacific ocean end of the Panama canal is to the East of the Atlantic ocean end of the canal.

 

[prankster]

Storrs, Connecticut is at the same latitude as Madrid, Spain and Rome, Italy.

 

[RichZ]

On the geography front, thanks to Covid isolation, I learned there's a chunk of Minnesota that can only be reached through Canada

Only if you're limited to travelling by land. No borders need be crossed to reach it by boat. Or by truck if you're visiting in January or February.

 

[Ricker]

When I was in Peru on the Pacific Ocean, I was still in the Eastern Time zone with CT

 

[Kenny11]

Olander has one more ring than...

 

[87Xfer]

Reno, NV is farther west than Los Angeles

 

[QDOG5]

The national currency of Equador is the US Dollar.

 

[Sonova]

Reno, NV is farther west than Los Angeles

Pittsburgh is further east than Savannah, GA

 

[ClifSpliffy]

'Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
Fritter and waste the hours in an off hand way.
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way...'

 

[Samoo]

The northern border of Florida is south of the southern border of California

 

[dvegas]

If you stand on the beach in Greenwich or Stamford, and travel either north, south, east or west, you will end up in New York state. Supposedly an anomaly exclusive to those spots in the United States. (edited to possibly include Darien).

 

[mussels]

On the geography front, thanks to Covid isolation, I learned there's a chunk of Minnesota that can only be reached through Canada

Same deal for Point Roberts, Washington. You can only drive there by going through 25 miles of Canada.

 

[Kenny11]

The national currency of Equador is the US Dollar.

I was just there recently. Very easy.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Same deal for Point Roberts, Washington. You can only drive there by going through 25 miles of Canada.

I think it's the same for Syracuse too.

 

[boba]

I think it's the same for Syracuse too.

Yeah but there's a shortcut that goes through Siberia.

 

[dennismenace]

Storrs, Connecticut is at the same latitude as Madrid, Spain and Rome, Italy.

That makes sense...three great cities.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Same deal for Point Roberts, Washington. You can only drive there by going through 25 miles of Canada.

Drive sure, yet thanks to SARS-2 people can currently travel to/fro Bellingham via ferry.

 

[CL82]

The Pacific ocean end of the Panama canal is to the East of the Atlantic ocean end of the canal.

Good one.

 

[CL82]

Storrs, Connecticut is at the same latitude as Madrid, Spain and Rome, Italy.

Madrid is slightly lower 40 degrees , but Barcelona is 41 degrees. Rome and Storrs are almost spot on.

 

[storrsroars]

Good one.

View attachment 68502

And as a result, the sun rises over the Pacific and sets over the Atlantic.

 

[dvegas]

And as a result, the sun rises over the Pacific and sets over the Atlantic.

Love the sunset over Connecticut from Montauk Harbor . . . .

 

[HuskyHawk]

Love the sunset over Connecticut from Montauk Harbor . . . .

And over Buzzard's Bay from Falmouth, MA. It's on almost exactly the same latitude line as Barcelona, Spain.

 

[Pawsox]

Indeed it is the dog days of summer, a long way from the start of the season, so no better time for a topic like this!

What are some interesting historical facts you know for history buffs, something interesting about geography or maybe an interesting science fact?

Random Fact: 10th President John Tyler (born 1790) has a living grandson (and another who died less than a year ago).

Harrison Ruffin Tyler, born Nov. 9, 1928, and still alive at age 92. A US president born in the 18th century (1790) still has a grandchild alive in the 3rd decade of the 21st century! Pretty crazy imo.

Not one to rest on his families laurels, Harrison Tyler founded Chemtreat in 1968. It is now one of the largest industrial water treatment firms in the world.

He also owns Sherwood Forest, his home in Virginia, which counts two presidents as owners. William Henry Harrison originally owned it and then sold it to John Tyler. It is 301 feet long and for a long time was the longest wood framed house in the US. You can still tour the house which is relatively close to Williamsburg.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

Yellowstone is due to erupt any day now and we are all Doomed.

 

[temery]

A school of clownfish is always built into a hierarchy with a female fish at the top. When she dies, the most dominant male changes sex, takes her place and can then lay eggs, use the ladies room, etc.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

Most of Earth's coal exists because of one species, Archeaopteris. This species thrived because it was the first plant to manufacture lignin, dramatically increasing the strength of their stems and therefore the height they could grow (30ft or more). At the time, there was no species that could decompose the lignin, so Archeaopteris piled up in huge mounds that were eventually buried and crushed into coal.

When coal is burned, you release the energy of 300 million year old sunlight, and the carbon from a plant equally as old.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I live in Florida and am west of Detroit, Nashville, Indianapolis and Louisville and am about 3/10 of a degree east of Chicago.

 

[formerlurker]

Betty White is literally older than sliced bread.