Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, or Robert de La Salle was born on 22nd November 1643 in Rouen, Normandy, France, and he died on 19th March 1687 (aged 43 years) in Huntsville, Texas. Rene is known for leading an expedition to the Mississippi river and claiming the area for France. He named it […]
Sir Richard Francis Burton was born on 19th March 1821 in Torquay, Devon, England, and he died on 20th October 1890 (aged 69 years) in Trieste, Hungary. The first European to visit the Great Lakes of Africa, Richard and his companion were the first to reach Lake Tanganyika. He wrote a well-documented trip to the
Pedro de Alvarado was born in about 1485 in Badojoz, Spain, and he died on 4th July 1541 (aged 56 years) in Guadalajara, Mexico. A Spanish conquistador and Second-in-command to Hernan Cortes in the expedition for the conquest of Mexico, Pedro occupied the Aztec capital. He was also sent to take over the Mayans and
Joseph Banks was born on 24th February 1743 in London, UK, and he died on 19th June 1820 (aged 77 years) in London, UK. Joseph was a Botanist, scientist and explorer. He explored the newly discovered areas of New Foundland and Labrador and even went as far as Iceland to study the natural history of
Richard Evelyn Byrd was born on 25th October 1888 in Winchester, Virginia, and he died on 11th March 1957 (aged 68 years) in Boston, Massachusetts. The first person to reach the South Pole by air, Richard completed the distance in 18 hours and 41 minutes. He was an American naval officer and polar explorer. He
John Galt was born on 2nd May 1779 in Irvine, Scotland, and he died on 11th April 1839 (aged 60 years) in Greenock, Scotland. Appointed to aid the colonization of Canada, John opened roads through the thick forests between Lakes Huron and Erie and founded the cities of Guelph and Goderich. He explored and travelled
Mungo Park was born on 11th September 1771 in Selkirk, Scotland and he died in January 1806 (aged 35 years) in Bussa, Nigeria. The first westerner to travel to find the source of the Niger River, Mungo wrote about this expedition which became very popular. On the journey he was held prisoner by a Moorish
Robert Edwin Peary was born on 6th May 1856 in Pennsylvania and he died on 20th February 1920 (aged 64 years) in Washington DC. Robert reached the Geographic North Pole with his expedition on 6th April 1909. Robert Peary made his first expedition to the Arctic hoping to cross by a dog-sled. He and a
Zona del Silencio, also known as Mapimí Silent Zone, lies in northern Mexico. Legend says that in this area, electromagnetic transmissions cannot be received, radio doesn’t work, compasses do not point to magnetic north, and the flora and fauna have abnormal mutations. The myth started in July, 1970 when the US military fired an Athena
Zodiac Killer was directly linked to at least five murders in Northern California in 1968 and 1969. From 1969 to 1974, he made threats through letters to area newspapers and the police. A letter written to two newspapers declared, “I am the killer of the 2 teenagers last Christmas at Lake Herman.” A symbol consisting
Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park is situated in the province of Gansu in China. It was formed by the erosion of red sandstone, forming isolated peaks. Its special geological structure, combined with long-term desert conditions, and wind and water erosion gave its present appearance. Geologists believe that it was formed by the folding of layered
The Yonaguni Monument is an underwater mystery off the coast of the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, discovered in 1986 by Masaaki Kimura. The massive underwater rock formation is speculated to have existed for more than 10,000 years. Yonaguni is composed of sandstone and mudstone that dates back 20 million years. Kimura claims that the site was
The Yeti or Abominable Snowman is an ape-like creature who carries a large stone as a weapon and makes a whistling sound, taller than an average human, and is said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. The scientific community has generally regarded the Yeti as a legend, given the lack of
Lower Pecos River, an archaeological region on the borders of Texas and Mexico, houses the most famous White Shaman Cave. It has a stunning pictograph dating back 4,000 years in the Pecos River style, and is the most impressive rock painting in the world. They are realistic presentations of human figures and animals, including canines,
White Rainbow, also known as a Fog Bow, is just like a regular rainbow. It occurs when sunlight shines through water droplets. But because fog droplets are smaller than rain droplets, a lot of colour is lost. When we stand with the sun behind us and look into a bank of fog, the sunlight is