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World Meteorological Organization

(Encyclopedia)World Meteorological Organization (WMO), specialized agency of the United Nations; established in 1950 with headquarters at Geneva, it became affiliated with the United Nations a year later. It replac...

Nicaragua Canal

(Encyclopedia)Nicaragua Canal, proposed waterway between the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans. One often considered route would be 172.8 mi (278 km) long and would generally follow the San Juan River, then go throug...

Costa Rica

(Encyclopedia)CE5 Costa Rica kŏsˈtə rēˈkə [key], officially Republic of Costa Rica, republic (2020 est. pop. ...

Tutuila

(Encyclopedia)Tutuila to͞oto͞oēˈlä [key], island (2010 pop. 54,359), 52 sq mi (135 sq km), largest island of American Samoa. The capital and principal harbor is Pago Pago. The island has a rugged eastern area,...

Lewis and Clark expedition

(Encyclopedia)Lewis and Clark expedition, 1803–6, U.S. expedition that explored the territory of the Louisiana Purchase and the country beyond as far as the Pacific Ocean. The men were gathered and in the winte...

Mesozoic era

(Encyclopedia)Mesozoic era mĕzˌəzōˈĭk [key] [Gr.,=middle life], major division of geologic time (see Geologic Timescale, tablegeologic timescale, table) from 65 to 225 million years ago. Great crustal disturb...

Solomon Islands

(Encyclopedia)Solomon Islands, independent Commonwealth nation (2015 est. pop. 587,000), c.15,500 sq mi (40,150 sq km), SW Pacific, E of New Guinea. The islands that constitute the nation of the Solomon Islands—G...

Mauna Kea

(Encyclopedia)Mauna Kea mouˈnə kāˈə [key], dormant volcano, 13,796 ft (4,205 m) high, in the south central part of the island of Hawaii. It is the loftiest peak in the Hawaiian Islands and the highest island m...

Hardangerfjord

(Encyclopedia)Hardangerfjord härdängˈərfyôrˈ [key], second largest fjord of Norway, penetrating 114 mi (183 km) from the Atlantic Ocean into Hordaland co., SW Norway. A southern branch, the Sørfjord, cleaves...

Fundy, Bay of

(Encyclopedia)Fundy, Bay of, large inlet of the Atlantic Ocean, c.170 mi (270 km) long and 30 to 50 mi (50–80 km) wide, between New Brunswick and SW Nova Scotia, Canada. It is famous for its tide and tidal bore; ...