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Mers-el-Kebir

(Encyclopedia)Mers-el-Kebir mĕrs-ĕl-kəbĭrˈ [key], town, NW Algeria, on the Gulf of Oran. Originally a Roman port, it has a long history of maritime importance. During the 15th cent. it was a center of activity...

Woodstock, cities, United States

(Encyclopedia)Woodstock. 1 City (1990 pop. 14,353) seat of McHenry co., NE Ill.; inc. 1845. In a grain and dairying area, the city has food processing and produces paper products, medical equipment, machinery, and ...

Butenandt, Adolf Friedrich Johann

(Encyclopedia)Butenandt, Adolf Friedrich Johann, 1903–95, German biochemist, Ph.D. Univ. of Göttingen, 1927. Butenandt held academic posts at the Univ. of Göttingen (1927–33) and the Institute of Technology a...

Bytom

(Encyclopedia)Bytom bĭˈtôm [key], Ger. Beuthen, city (1994 est. pop. 232,400), Śląskie prov., SW Poland, in the Katowice mining region. An important heavy industrial center, it has iron- and steelworks and the...

Afwerki, Isaias

(Encyclopedia)Afwerki or Afewerki, Isaias, 1945–, Eritrean political leader, president of Eritrea (1993–), b. Asmara. He studied engineering at the Univ. of Addis Ababa, leaving in 1966 to join the Eritrean Lib...

relay

(Encyclopedia)relay, electromechanical switch operated by a flow of electricity in one circuit and controlling the flow of electricity in another circuit. A relay consists basically of an electromagnet with a soft ...

equestrianism

(Encyclopedia)equestrianism, art of riding and handling a horse. Horseback riding was practiced as far back as the Bronze Age and was thereafter adapted to commerce, industry, war, sport, and recreation. Diverse st...

Imperial Conference

(Encyclopedia)Imperial Conference, assembly of representatives of the self-governing members of the British Empire, held about every four years until World War II. The meetings prior to 1911—in 1887, 1897, 1902, ...

Rizpah

(Encyclopedia)Rizpah rĭzˈpə [key], in the Bible, Saul's concubine, Aiah's daughter, who held watch over her dead sons on Mt. Gibeah. ...

Tasman Glacier

(Encyclopedia)Tasman Glacier, largest glacier of New Zealand, 18 mi (29 km) long and 5.6 mi (9 km) wide, on the South Island, in the Southern Alps. It flows SE to the Tasman River. Ski meets are held there. ...