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Special Drawing Rights

(Encyclopedia)Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), type of international monetary reserve currency established (1968) by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Created in response to worries concerning the limitations of...

El Dorado, legendary country of South America

(Encyclopedia)El Dorado ĕlˈdəräˈdō, –rāˈ– [key] [Span.,=the gilded man], legendary country of the Golden Man sought by adventurers in South America. The legend supposedly originated in a custom of the C...

Contarini

(Encyclopedia)Contarini kōntärēˈnē [key], ancient Venetian family, including eight doges, a cardinal, and several artists. The most celebrated member was Andrea Contarini, 1300?–1382. He was doge (1368–82)...

Essequibo

(Encyclopedia)Essequibo ĕsākēˈbō [key], longest river of Guyana, c.600 mi (970 km) long, rising in the Guiana Highlands, S Guyana, and flowing generally N to the Atlantic Ocean. Most of the river's course is b...

Induráin, Miguel

(Encyclopedia)Induráin, Miguel (Miguel Angel Induráin Larraya) mēgĕlˈ ängˈkhāl ĭndo͞oräˈēn läˈräyä [key], 1964–, Spanish bicycle racer. In a career lasting from 1985 to 1997, he dominated Europea...

Gage, Lyman Judson

(Encyclopedia)Gage, Lyman Judson, 1836–1927, American banker and cabinet member, b. Madison co., N.Y. He moved to Chicago in 1855 and from 1868 was associated with the First National Bank of Chicago, of which he ...

Gastein

(Encyclopedia)Gastein gäˈstīn [key], valley, Salzburg prov., central Austria, in the N Hohe Tauern range. A popular and beautiful resort area, it has hot radioactive springs. Badgastein, one of the most fashiona...

Elmina

(Encyclopedia)Elmina ĕlmēˈnə [key], town, S Ghana, on the Gulf of Guinea; also known locally as Edina. It is a fishing center located in a region where corn and cassava are grown. In the late 1400s the Portugue...

Ophir

(Encyclopedia)Ophir ōˈfər [key], in the Bible. 1 Seaport or region from which the ships of Solomon brought fine gold in great quantity. Sandalwood, precious stones, ivory, apes, and peacocks were also part of th...

Macapá

(Encyclopedia)Macapá məkəpäˈ [key], city (1996 pop. 214,197), capital of Amapá state, extreme N Brazil, on the Amazon River. Mining is central to its economy. It exports tin iron, gold, and manganese, as well...