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tourmaline

(Encyclopedia)tourmaline to͝orˈməlĭn, –lēn [key], complex borosilicate mineral with varying amounts of aluminum, iron, magnesium, sodium, lithium, potassium, and sometimes other elements, used as a gem. It o...

bittern

(Encyclopedia)bittern, common name for migratory marsh birds of the family Ardeidae (heron family). The American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus), often called “stake driver” because of a territorial male's boom...

bittersweet

(Encyclopedia)bittersweet, name for two unrelated plants, belonging to different families, both fall-fruiting woody vines sometimes cultivated for their decorative scarlet berries. One, called also woody nightshade...

sapphire

(Encyclopedia)sapphire, precious stone. A transparent blue corundum, it is classified among the most valuable of gems. Sapphires are found chiefly in Madagascar, Sri Lanka, and Myanmar and also in Thailand, Tanzani...

Glace Bay

(Encyclopedia)Glace Bay glās [key], town, E Cape Breton Island, N.S., Canada. Exploitation of its coal min...

Gaea

(Encyclopedia)Gaea jēˈə [key], in Greek religion and mythology, the earth, daughter of Chaos, both mother and wife of Uranus (the sky) and Pontus (the sea). Among Gaea's offspring by Uranus were the Cyclopes, th...

Natuna Islands

(Encyclopedia)Natuna Islands, island group (2010 pop. 69,300), 769 sq mi (1,993 sq km), Riau prov., Indonesia, in the South China Sea between the Malay Peninsula (W) and Borneo (E). The more than 250 islands are pa...

Krasnodar

(Encyclopedia)Krasnodar krəsˌnədärˈ [key], city (1989 pop. 621,000), capital of Krasnodar Territory, SE European Russia, on the Kuban River. A river port and railroad junction, it has petroleum refineries and ...

Bogoslof Island

(Encyclopedia)Bogoslof Island bōˈgəslôf [key], volcanic islet, c.1.2 mi (.75 km) long, SW Alaska, Aleutian Islands, in the Bering Sea, 61 mi (98 km) NW of Unalaska. The island first appeared in 1796 and has gro...

Wonsan

(Encyclopedia)Wonsan wŭnˈsän [key], Jap. Gensan, city (1993 pop. 300,148), capital of Kangwon prov., SE North Korea, on the Sea of Japan (or East Sea). It is a major port and naval base, with a natural harbor pr...