Columbia Encyclopedia

Search results

500 results found

Heyerdahl, Thor

(Encyclopedia)Heyerdahl, Thor hāˈərdälˌ, hīˈ– [key], 1914–2002, Norwegian explorer and anthropologist, b. Larvik. He carried out research in the Marquesas Islands in 1937–38 and studied the indigenous ...

Kola Peninsula

(Encyclopedia)Kola Peninsula kōˈlə, Rus. kôˈlə [key], peninsula, c.50,000 sq mi (129,500 sq km), NW European Russia, in Murmansk region. Forming an eastern extension of the Scandinavian peninsula, it lies bet...

Spratly Islands

(Encyclopedia)Spratly Islands, group of about 100 low islands and coral reefs in the central South China Sea, intersecting busy shipping lanes. The whole group is claimed by China, Taiwan, and Vietnam, and parts ar...

Kuban

(Encyclopedia)Kuban ko͞obănˈ, –bänˈ, Rus. ko͞obäˈnyə [key], river, c.570 mi (920 km) long, rising in the Greater Caucasus on the western slopes of Mt. Elbrus, S European Russia, and flowing north in a wi...

Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre

(Encyclopedia)Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre, formerly Lake Eyre, shallow salt lake, central South Australia state, Australia. The lake, in fact two lakes connected by a channel, is the continent's lowest point (49 ft/15 ...

Izabal

(Encyclopedia)Izabal ēsäbälˈ [key], lake, c.30 mi (48 km) long and 15 mi (24 km) wide, E Guatemala, largest lake in the country. Known also as the Golfo Dulce, it drains to the Caribbean Sea through the Golfete...

Borchgrevink, Carsten Egeberg

(Encyclopedia)Borchgrevink, Carsten Egeberg kärˈstən āˈgəbĕrˈ bôrkˈgrāˌvĭngk [key], 1864–1934, Norwegian-Australian antarctic explorer. He emigrated to Australia in 1888, and in 1894 he went south in...

Selwyn, George Augustus

(Encyclopedia)Selwyn, George Augustus sĕlˈwĭn [key], 1809–78, English prelate. In 1841 he was appointed to the colonial diocese of New Zealand, becoming the first Anglican bishop of the island. Having prepared...

Shantou

(Encyclopedia)Shantou swäˈtouˈ [key], city (1994 est. pop. 718,800), SE Guangdong prov., China, a port on the South China Sea, in the Han River delta. When it was opened to foreign trade after the second Opium W...

Santa Marta

(Encyclopedia)Santa Marta sänˈtä märˈtä [key], city (1993 pop. 270,253), capital of Magdalena dept., N Colombia, a port on the Caribbean Sea. The city's banana industry, operated by the United Fruit Company, ...

Browse by Subject