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

 

[prankster]

Winston Churchill was a dual citizen. His mother was Jenny Jerome, an American. Jerome Avenue in the Bronx, was named after her father.

Barack Obama is a dual citizen. His father was a British citizen. Kenya was a British colony when he was born. Barack's mother was an American.

One became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. One became the President of the United States.

Toss the coin and Churchill could have been the US President and Obama the Prime Minister.

 

[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.