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rain

(Encyclopedia)rain, precipitation in liquid form. It consists of drops of water falling from clouds; if the drops are very small, they are collectively termed drizzle. Rain plays a key role in the hydrologic, or wa...

North Channel

(Encyclopedia)North Channel, strait, c.75 mi (120 km) long, between Northern Ireland and Scotland, connecting the Irish Sea with the Atlantic Ocean. It is 13 mi (21 km) across at its narrowest point. ...

Saint George's Channel

(Encyclopedia)Saint George's Channel, strait, c.100 mi (160 km) long and 50 to 95 mi (80–153 km) wide, linking the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea. It separates SE Ireland from Wales. ...

Queensland

(Encyclopedia)Queensland, state (2016 pop. 4,703,193), 667,000 sq mi (1,727,200 sq km), NE Australia. Brisbane is the capital; other important cities are Gold Coast, Toowoomba, Townsville, Rockhampton, Cairns, and ...

Auckland Islands

(Encyclopedia)Auckland Islands, small uninhabited group (234 sq mi/606 sq km), S Pacific, c.300 mi (480 km) S of Stewart Island, New Zealand, to which they belong. There is a nature preserve for birds and sea mamma...

sediment

(Encyclopedia)sediment, mineral or organic particles that are deposited by the action of wind, water, or glacial ice. These sediments can eventually form sedimentary rocks (see rock). Sediments form sedimentary ...

Punchbowl

(Encyclopedia)Punchbowl, hill, 500 ft (152 m) high, in the city of Honolulu, SE Oahu island, Hawaii. In the bowllike extinct volcanic crater at the summit (reached by a scenic drive) is the National Memorial Cemete...

Sandy Island

(Encyclopedia)Sandy or Sable Island, Fr. Île de Sable, misreported island, New Caledonia, S Pacific, in the Coral Sea some 70 mi (110 km) E of the Chesterfield Islands. Long shown as a sizable island on marine cha...

Santiago, city, Panama

(Encyclopedia)Santiago säntyäˈgō [key], city (1990 pop. 60,959), W central Panama. Santiago is a communications and commercial center in the Pacific lowlands. It is a provincial and district capital. ...

Denmark Strait

(Encyclopedia)Denmark Strait, passage, c.300 mi (480 km) long and 180 mi (290 km) wide at the narrowest point, between Greenland and Iceland. The cold E Greenland current passes through the strait and carries icebe...