The Geography Student

Image by  David Peterson  from  Pixabay   Happy East Timor Independence Restoration Day! I know very little about this fascinating country, so I have been doing some and have picked out ten fun facts I thought I'd share. According to legend, the island was once a starving crocodile, rescued by a boy after being stranded on a beach. To return the favor, the crocodile allowed the boy to explore the world on his back. Eventually the crocodile died, transmuting into an island where the boy could live with his family. During extreme droughts some Timorese resort to eating the powder of palm trees. This is known as akar and is extricated by beating the bark of a palm tree. The most famous writer in Timor Leste is, in fact, the fifth prime minister. Talk about your talents taking you far! Unfortunately, I'm not sure this blog is going to be as successful :(. Xanana Gusmão's books detail the fight for independence as well as Timorese culture (well at least we've got s

Image by  Ansgar Scheffold  from  Pixabay The 27th April is the Netherlands' king's birthday, the national day of the Netherlands. To celebrate this day, I've found ten fascinating facts about the Netherlands.  1. The Netherlands is the 6th happiest country in the world, according to the World Happiness Report. I'm sure all teens will agree with me when I say teenage years are far from easy, but Dutch adolescents are ranked among the least stressed in the world. This is even more surprising when compared to other developed countries in Europe, where depression and suicide rates are increasing. So why are the Dutch so happy? According to de Roos, from the Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP), it is as simple as maintaining positive surroundings, in school, home, and with people. Also, Dutch children are more likely to eat breakfast, less likely to be overweight and less likely to have had underage sex. Children have more freedom and independence fro

Image by  Dust in the Wind  from  Pixabay   As if it isn't hard enough to navigate in the pitch-black night, bats can hunt their prey with no sight at all! However, global warming threatens the effectiveness of their unique ability to see without eyes. Bats use echolocation instead of sight, emitting high-frequency sounds (ultrasound) that bounce off objects, returning to the bat so it can tell how far away they are. But this method of navigation relies on variables that, with global warming, may be displaced. A rise in water vapor, wind and temperature - all consequences of climate change - decreases the quality and sound of ultrasound. These effects are particularly damaging in warmer climates, where ultrasound is of higher-frequency.  With dimmed senses bats may be less able to catch prey, putting them at risk of starvation. Also, it would be harder for them to detect predators such as owls and hawks, who don't rely on echolocation. Most species live in sub-tropic

Image by  Bruno /Germany  from  Pixabay   Beavers may be pests when it comes to irrigation, but they may also be capable of protecting ecosystems and prohibiting global warming. Description Large, furry mammals with webbed feet and flat scaly tales. Habitat Mainly found in North America, but also in Europe and Asia. Live in or near freshwater bodies, in homes called ‘lodges’ made predominantly of sticks and mud. Population Once more than 60 billion in North America alone, in 1988 there were only an estimated 6-12 million mainly due to hunting for fur. Food Herbivores. Eat tree bark, twigs, aquatic plants etc. Predators Hawks, otters, wolves, coyotes, bears etc. Humans are still a major threat to the beaver population. Species There are two species: the North American beaver and the Eurasian beaver. Endangered? No According to environmental journalist, Ben Goldfarb, by