Geographical articles from June 2006

Geographical archives from June 2006

The view from above.
June 1, 2006... We're so used to moving around in two dimensions, that slipping into the third always gives us something of a thrill. It quite literally adds another dimension to our perception of the landscape; moving upwards--whether in a tall building, on a...

Italian authorities have underestimated the potential effects of the next eruption of Mount Vesuvius, according to a new US--Italian study.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Italian authorities have underestimated the potential effects of the next eruption of Mount Vesuvius, according to a new US--Italian study. In the event of an eruption, official plans are in place to evacuate 600,000 people from Naples, but the...

The National Trust has acquired a 63-hectare area of Dorset coastline known as the East Man.(National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The National Trust has acquired a 63-hectare area of Dorset coastline known as the East Man. Part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage site, the new purchase connects two existing National Trust properties: Seacombe and Worth Matravers.

Rising river levels in the town of Znojmo in the southeastern Czech Republic in March.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Rising river levels in the town of Znojmo in the southeastern Czech Republic in March saw the evacuation of around 10,000 residents and caused Prague to put into operation its flood-defence barriers, built following the catastrophic floods of...

One hundred and fifty Indians from the Nukak Maku tribe have been forced to flee their land after becoming caught up in Colombia's drugs war.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... One hundred and fifty Indians from the Nukak Maku tribe have been forced to flee their land after becoming caught up in Colombia's drugs war. Left-wing guerrillas have taken over their territory and are engaged in battles with the Colombian...

Authorities in eastern India have arrested 30 poachers in the Sunderbans, the world's largest tiger reserve.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Authorities in eastern India have arrested 30 poachers in the Sunderbans, the world's largest tiger reserve. Protection across the country's 28 tiger reserves has recently been stepped up following reports of poachers wiping out an entire tiger...

Kenyan lake in crisis.(Lake Naivasha)
June 1, 2006... The water level of Kenya's second-largest lake, Lake Naivasha, has dropped by around three metres in the past 30 years, according to new research by an Earthwatch scientist. Located 100 kilometres northwest of Nairobi, the lake is a haven...

China shares river data with Bangladesh.(to predict floods)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... China has signed an agreement with Bangladesh to supply real time flow data on the upper tributaries of the Brahmaputra River, in order to bolster the delta nation's ability to predict floods. From the middle of April, China began to share...

This scalloped plume of ash, photographed rising ten kilometres above Volcan Reventador in Ecuador.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caption: This scalloped plume of ash, photographed rising ten kilometres above Volcan Reventador in Ecuador, is unlike any other previously recorded, according to recently published research by scientists from the...

Explorer breaks record and Russian law.(Karl Bushby)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Karl Bushby, who is currently halfway through his 12-year, 58,000-kilometre walk around the world (In conversation, May 2006), has become the first person to walk across the partially frozen Bering Straits from Alaska to Siberia. The 14-day,...

Top 10 longest railway networks.(Statistical table)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... TOP Longest railway networks 10 ('000 kilometres) 1 USA 233.8 2 Russia 85.5 3 Canada 73.2 4 India 63.1 5 China ...

50 years ago today geographical June 1956.(Afghanistan)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The June 1956 Geographical was something of an Afghanistan special, containing three features on this ancient nation. The first reported on the restoration of the Masjid-i-Juma or 'Friday Mosque' in Herat and the tomb at Kandahar of...

Annual prize recognises six environmental heroes.(Goldman Environmental Prize awarded to Tarcisio Feitosa, Craig Head, Annie Kajir, Olya Melen, Yu Xiaogang, Silas Siakor )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Grassroots campaigners from six continents have had their efforts to protect the environment recognised in the annual Goldman Environmental Prize. In Africa, Silas Siakor risked his life to expose illegal logging in Liberia, leading to US...

China to purge rats following grassland damage.
June 1, 2006... China is channelling 7.5billion yuan (535million [pounds sterling]) into an assault on the rats responsible for turning the fragile wetlands of the Tibetan plateau into a barren wasteland. Over the past decade, the rodents have damaged one...

DIYers unwittingly buying illegally sourced timber.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Large retailers and DIY stores are selling timber that they can't prove comes from a legal source, according to a joint report by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) and Telepak. Undercover investigations revealed that while...

Cyclone season down under.(in Australia)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The tropical northeastern coast of Australia was battered by Cyclone Larry at the end of March. The cyclone--the strongest to hit Australia since Cyclone Tracy killed 71 people in Darwin in 1974-struck land near the small community of...

Crackdown on illegal fishing.(High Seas Task Force )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... A new taskforce, the result of a collaboration between six governments and three conservation organisations, is aiming to stop pirate trawlers fishing illegally. Illegal fishing, estimated to be worth 5.4billion [pounds sterling] a year, is...

The European Commission has threatened the UK with action in the European Court of Justice over raw sewage outflows into the Thames.
June 1, 2006... The European Commission has threatened the UK with action in the European Court of Justice over raw sewage outflows into the Thames. Forty million tonnes of raw sewage are forced into the river each year when rainfall causes the sewers to...

The Polish government is appealing to UNESCO to change the name of Auschwitz-Birkenau.(United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The Polish government is appealing to UNESCO to change the name of Auschwitz-Birkenau to 'Former Nazi German Concentration Camp Auschwitz-Birkenau' to ensure that it's clear to future generations that the site's grim history isn't linked to...

Following a series of underwater tremors in the Andaman Sea, officials are preparing evacuation plans for residents and tourists on the southern Thai coast.
June 1, 2006... Following a series of underwater tremors in the Andaman Sea, officials are preparing evacuation plans for residents and tourists on the southern Thai coast. The National Committee on Natural Disaster Warning recorded 39 quakes near the Andaman...

Geographical flags of the world UK.(Union Flag or Union Jack)(Country flag)
June 1, 2006... Description: The Union flag, or Union Jack as it's more commonly known, has a blue background. The main design consists of a red cross, edged in white, superimposed upon a diagonal red cross, also edged in white, that has, in turn, been...

The world's third-largest marine-protection area has been established in the Pacific island nation of Kiribati.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The world's third-largest marine protection area has been established in the Pacific island nation of Kiribati. The Phoenix Islands Protected Area is made up of eight atolls and two submerged reef systems with a total area of 184,700 square...

Up to 220,000 litres of crude oil has leaked from a pipeline in northern Alaska.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Up to 220,000 litres of crude oil has leaked from a pipeline in northern Alaska. Corrosion of the metal pipe is thought to have caused the leak, the largest to have occurred on the North Slope plains.

Residents in Seoul experienced a rare weather phenomenon in March--a yellow snowstorm caused by flakes mixing with dust blown from the Gobi Desert in China.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Residents in Seoul experienced a rare weather phenomenon in March--a yellow snowstorm caused by flakes mixing with dust blown from the Gobi Desert in China. Although dust storms occur in the region every spring, it's unusual for them to...

South African Mike Horn and Borge Ousland of Norway became the first people to walk to the North Pole during the Arctic winter unassisted by dogs or machines.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... South African Mike Horn and Borge Ousland of Norway became the first people to walk to the North Pole during the Arctic winter unassisted by dogs or machines. The expedition took 60 days and five hours to complete.

An epidemic of the mosquito borne Chikungunya virus on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion has claimed 148 lives.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... An epidemic of the mosquito borne Chikungunya virus on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion has claimed 148 lives. Believed to have originated in Africa, the outbreak has affected almost a third of the island's population. The French government...

A Canadian zinc-mining company will attempt to recover precious metals from 3,000 tonnes of discarded electronic devices.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... A Canadian zinc mining company will attempt to recover precious metals from 3,000 tonnes of discarded electronic devices. Dismantled parts from old TVs, radios and computers will be placed in a furnace, where lead, zinc and cadmium will be...

Morrison's has opened the UK's first bioethanol filling pump at its Albion Way outlet in Norwich.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Morrison's has opened the UK's first bioethanol filling pump at its Albion Way outlet in Norwich. The supermarket chain plans to open a further nine pumps around England in the coming months.

National survey finds pesticides in most US rivers.
June 1, 2006... The US Geological Survey (USGS) has discovered pesticides linked to cancer, birth defects and neurological disorders in almost all of the country's rivers and streams. The results were contained within a new report based on the analysis of...

African soil degradation spreading.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... More than 80 per cent of farmland in sub-Saharan Africa is suffering severe degradation, according to a report from the International Center for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development. Based on more than 24 years of research, the...

New British Standard.(Royal Geographical Society, Institute of British Geographers )(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... The British Standards Institution has invited the RGS-IBG to help develop a British Standard entitled 'The provision of adventurous activities, expeditions, visits and fieldwork undertaken for educational, training or recreational purposes...

Annual conference 2006.
June 1, 2006... Trevor Phillips, chair of the Commission for Racial Equality, will open a special introductory discussion session entitled 'Multicultural Britain'at the Society's annual conference in August. If you are interested in attending the conference,...

A new perspective on global change.(from Royal Geographical Society)
June 1, 2006... The Society is supporting three new and exciting international geographical research projects--all of which will kick into action this month. The Society's Expeditions and Fieldwork, and Research and Higher Education committees worked in...

Lectures of the month: Regional Theatres events.(Royal Geographical Society)
June 1, 2006... The event highlights for June are connected to the Society's Regional Theatres Programme, with photographer and travel writer Kari Herbert and travel writer John Gimlette jointly taking on a total of five theatre venues across England between...

A selection of June's other Society events.(Royal Geographical Society)(Brief article)(Calendar)
June 1, 2006... For details, please contact the Events Office on 020 7591 3100 Mid-June to October Antarctic witness (EXHIBITION, LANCASHIRE) A captivating display of black-and-white prints taken by Frank Hurley that chart Ernest Shackleton's...

The greatest Sheire in Englande: manuscript map of Yorkshire (c. 1605).
June 1, 2006... This is the only manuscript, or hand-drawn map in a collection of engraved, hand-coloured British Isles county maps, many of which were signed by the Dutch engraver Pieter van den Keere. Born in 1571, in Ghent, van den Keere left Holland to...

Seeing the Earth anew.(Nicholas Cheetham's 'Earth: A New Perspective')
June 1, 2006... GLOBAL A, our skies have become more and more densely populated with satellites, many of them bristling with increasingly sophisticated instruments, we've been rewarded with a steady stream of fascinating insights into the workings of our...

Stories from the sands: previously semi-nomadic, the Bedouin of Egypt's Sinai Peninsula are increasingly settling down to a sedentary life, and a process of cultural adjustment is taking place. Among the fading customs are the oral traditions once so pivotal to tribal communication. Nicola Harrison has spent the past year collecting the Bedouin's stories, which offer a fascinating window on their beliefs and views.
June 1, 2006... "Some Bedu remember stories and some Bedu are better off milking goats!" Harabiya's husband has forgotten the end of the story at a crucial moment. I press pause on my tape recorder as she hobbles over to join us at the fireside and...

Saturation point.(floods in Wales and United Kingdom)
June 1, 2006... According to a new country-wide assessment, more than 550,000 properties in England and Wales, with a combined value in excess of 100billion [pounds sterling], are at significant risk of flooding, and the number is still growing. As global...

A growing solution: in the arid, impoverished West African nation of Burkina Faso, desertification is an increasing problem. But government attempts to stem the tide by banning the cutting of trees has created problems for local people, who need wood for cooking. Kate Eshelby reports on a group of women who are working to solve both problems by regenerating the forests themselves.
June 1, 2006... Amma takes the bundle of wood down from atop her head and places it in the corner of the yard. "We now have to walk far to find dry wood on the forest floors, instead of cutting the trees as we used to," she says. Dressed in an egg-shell yellow...

Salt of the earth: for centuries, the people of Tsakalho in southern China have produced salt in specially built terraced ponds along the steep sides of the Mekong River. But now it appears that the rampant development going on elsewhere in the world's most populous nation is about to reach this remove valley, threatening its extraordinary traditional industry.
June 1, 2006... Perched on the side of the Mekong River valley at an elevation of more than 3,000 metres, the town of Tsakalho straddles the border between the Tibet Autonomous Region and Yunnan Province in southern China. Once an important trading post...

Conflict in the Chaco: a semi-arid expanse of dense thorn scrubland the size of Poland, the Chaco region of Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina isn't exactly what you would call prime real estate. Yet more than 100,000 people lost their lives when Paraguay and Bolivia went to war over it. And now, as Felicity Aston discovers, a new dispute is brewing.
June 1, 2006... Tranquilino Florencio sits in a shady corner of the Casa de Ex-Combatientes, an ex-servicemen's club in the Paraguayan capital. Asuncion. The 89-year-old is a veteran of the bloodiest South American conflict of the 20th century. "They died...

For the love of cod: between January and April, the waters surrounding Norway's Lofoten Islands become the spawning ground for millions of cod. This annual event has attracted fishermen to these bountiful seas for centuries. Ken Chowder discovers that the humble cod is responsible for a lot more than the islands' cuisine.
June 1, 2006... A visit to the Lofoten Islands isn't complete until you've been thoroughly informed about cod. The history, economy and even architecture of this imposing archipelago, which curves down from Norway's northern coast, are firmly rooted in the...

Love and loss.
June 1, 2006... If there is one certainty in life, it must be its extinction. So it's hardly surprising that the rituals and accoutrements surrounding death and mourning in societies around the world show such diversity, from the towering funeral biers of...

Life in the freezer.(The Last Imaginary Place: A Human History of the Arctic World)(Book review)
June 1, 2006... The Last Imaginary Place: A Human History of the Arctic World by Robert McGhee Oxford University Press, hb, pp304, 20.00 [pounds sterling] The ends of the Earth continue to entrance us. During the 19th century, when Western knowledge about...

Capturing the world.(Planet Earth: The Making of All Epic Series)(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2006... Planet Earth: The Making of all Epic Series By David Nicholson-Lord BBC Books, pb, pp128, 9.99 [pounds sterling] Four years in the making, Planet Earth--the sequel to Blue Planetis every bit as sumptuous as its predecessor. This...

Divining China's truths.(Oracle Bones: A Journey Between China and the West)(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2006... Oracle Bones: A Journey between China and the West by Peter Hessler John Murray, hb, pp470, 20 [pounds sterling] The soil in China--a fine grained wind-blown sediment called loess--creates 'ghosts', quickly causing buried wooden artefacts...

Paperback round-up.(The Great Game: On Secret Service in High Asia)(The Sad Story of Burton, Speke and the Nile or was John Hanning Speke a Cad?)(The Street Philosopher and the Holy Fool)(Book review)
June 1, 2006... Fans of political history and adventure are in for a treat as publishing house John Murray reissues its Peter Hopkirk series. A former journalist and officer in the King's African Rifles, Hopkirk has written six books concerning political...

Spying for the Raj: The Pundits and the Mapping of the Himalaya.(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2006... Spying for the Raj:The Pundits and the Mapping of the Himalaya by Jules Stewart Sutton, hb, pp205, 17.99 [pounds sterling] As late as the mid-19th century, the state of geographical knowledge in Britain was such that the Royal Geographical...

Top 10 writer's reads.(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Kim by Rudyard Kipling (Penguin Popular Classics, 1.99 [pounds sterling]) I never tire of this masterpiece and the sheer energy of Kipling's prose The Mulberry Empire by Philip Hensher (Flamingo, 7.99 [pounds sterling]) The First Afghan...

Geographical classic #31.(A Cure for Serpents: An Italian Doctor in North Africa)(Book review)
June 1, 2006... A Cure for Serpents: An Italian Doctor in North Africa by the Duke of Pirajno. First published in 1955. Latest edition: Eland Books, pb, pp272, 12.99 [pounds sterling] In 1924, Dr Alberto Denti took up a position as medical officer on the...

Birds of a feather shuffle together.(March of the Penguins)(Video recording review)
June 1, 2006... March of the Penguins directed by Luc Jacquet running time: 85 mins, available on DVD for 17.99 [pounds sterling] from Warner Home Video from 8 May There's something infinitely watchable about penguins, and March of the Penguins' position...

Around the world in 3,600-plus days.(Giant Steps by Karl Bushby)(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2006... Giant Steps by Karl Bushby Time Warner, pb, pp302, 12.99 [pounds sterling] When you're embarking on the longest walk in the world, it's alarming that your diary opens with the words "A nightmare". Karl Bushby set off from Punta Arenas in...

Discovery down under.(The Fever of Discovery: The Story of Matthew Flinders)(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2006... The Fever of Discovery: The Story of Matthew Flinders by Marion Body New European Publications, hb, pp250, 15 [pounds sterling] "It is hoped that this book will interest Australians," announces Marion Body in her introduction. That seems a...

Better get a wriggle on ...(Unforgettable Journeys to Take Before You Die)(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2006... Unforgettable Journeys to Take Before You Die Steve Watkins and Clare Jones BBC, pb, pp256, 18.99 [pounds sterling] This, the third in the BBC's 'Unforgettable'series, shifts its focus from destinations to journeys, outlining 30 trips we...

Honorary Tiger: The Life of Billy Arjan Singh.(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2006... Honorary Tiger: The Life of Billy Arjan Singh by Duff Hart-Davis Methuen, hb, pp224, 16.99 [pounds sterling] "What is it that turns a mindless killer of animals into a conservationist?" asks Duff Hart-Davis, and then attempts, with this...

God's Terrorists.(Brief article)(Book review)
June 1, 2006... God's Terrorists by Charles Allen Little Brown, hb, pp384, 20 [pounds sterling] In this enlightening work, Charles Allen traces the history of the Wahhabi cult, from its origins in Arabia in the mid-18th century via India and Pakistan to...

Just add water: essential gear take a paddle on the wild side with Paul Grogan as he presents a round-up of the past, present and future of expedition kayaking.(Editorial)
June 1, 2006... When a friend and I first hatched a plan to paddle Siberia's Amur River from source to sea, little did I know that one of the biggest challenges I was going to have to face would be getting in and out of my Kayak every morning Our spray...

Ten of the best.(travelers kit and safety products)
June 1, 2006... To whet your appetite, we've put together a selection of some essential touring products, chosen to provide a complete, affordable kit without compromising on performance or quality 1 For expeditions Prijon Yukon Expedition Kayak ...

Start interacting.
June 1, 2006... Ordnance Survey has just released an atlas of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on CD-ROM (19.99 [pounds sterling]). Interactive software allows users to pinpoint any UK city, town or village, trace the nation's highways and byways and check...

Protect your banana!
June 1, 2006... Gone are the days of finding a a squidgy, blackened banana-flavoured mess at the bottom of your bag. Simply slip your bendy fruit into a BananaGuard (3.95 [pounds sterling] or 4.35 [pounds sterling] for the glow-in-the-dark version) and then...

Record storage.
June 1, 2006... Having copies of your travel documents to hand often comes in, well, handy, when you're travelling, but keeping paper versions safe isn't always feasible. Zaptag has the solution: a 256-megabyte USB drive (45 [pounds sterling]). Like other USB...

Huff, puff and blow your coat up.(Gore-Tex introduces jacket)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Winter sports such as skiing often involve periods of activity, followed by periods of relative inactivity. This variation in physical demands makes the body's temperature fluctuate. And in the mountains, you also have to contend with...

Win a pair of sporty sandals.
June 1, 2006... Sandals have often found themselves on fashionistas' blacklists, especially when worn with socks--just don't go there--but footwear company Keen is hoping to change all that. Its lightweight new Venice sports sandals (69.99 [pounds sterling] )...

Outdoor meal kit.(from Nordic Outdoor)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Eating outdoors in 'style' just got a little easier, with the arrival in the UK of Light My Fire's award winning outdoor dinner kit (15 [pounds sterling] ). Designed and built in Sweden, it's now available from Nordic Outdoor. The set comprises...

General principles of food hygiene: medical advice from Jason Gibbs, head pharmacist at Nomad Travel stores and health clinics.
June 1, 2006... Having previously looked at the causes and cures of travellers diarrhoea (March 2006), it's now time to turn to avoidance--always the best protection. There is a universally accepted mnemonic to help travellers avoid the riskiest situations:...

Explorer's essentials: Anna McCormack, full-time adcenture racer.(jackets, gloves, headwear, running shoes)
June 1, 2006... (1.) Nike ACG Orizaba Trail-Running Shoes and 'Run Speed One' X-Socks. These stable, lightweight shoes can be worn as comfortably in the jungle as in the mountains. * www.nike.com (2). Buff Headwear, These versatile seamless garments are...

Freedom to roam guides: the Geographical Good Guide Guide.(The Geographical Good Guide Guide)(Brief article)
June 1, 2006... Helping you choose that vitally important, but often rather confusing, item of kit: the guidebook What are they like? Last year, publishers Frances Lincoln teamed up with the Ramblers Association to produce five pocket-sized guides to...

The closer view: getting up close and personal with your subject will open up a wealth of exciting new photographic opportunities.
June 1, 2006... Having the right lenses for any photographic situation always pays off, and many photographers prefer to limit their choice to a clutch of zooms when travelling light.Telephoto zooms are among the most popular because of their versatility. They...

Guinea foul.(MAILBAG)(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... Why has Chris Edwards devalued the guinea (Q&A, May 2006)? It was always worth 21 shillings in my day. June Constantine, by email

Half time in Sri Lanka.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... With reference to the item in February's Q&A about part-hour time zones, last weekend, Sri Lanka joined the list of seven (GMT +5.30 hours). In the country's northeast, however, where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam have control, a...

An unbalanced view.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... Charlie Furniss's Dossier on the palm oil industry (February 2006) had some elements to commend it: namely some wonderful and emotive photographs of orangutans and a serious review of how important, globally, this industry actually is, a fact...

The fallout from nuclear power.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... I read with interest the review of Fallout, the exhibition marking 20 years since the explosion in Chernobyl's Unit 4 reactor (Reviews, May 2006). I have to say that, a few anniversary documentaries and cursory newspaper reports...

Don't shoot!(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... I love Geographical and read it from cover to cover, having first looked at the pictures 50 years ago on my father's knee. However, the article by Mikael Strandberg in the May issue (Into the heart of darkness) about his walk across Siberia...

Elephants' poignant plight.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2006... The article on the plight of the world's elephant populations by Born Free's Will Travers (Elephants: The big picture, April 2006) was both evocative and poignant. I agree that zoos must become more hospitable and vast in order to accommodate...

Jo Sargent in conversation with ...(Jonathan Scott )(Interview)
June 1, 2006... Jonathan Scott is a Kenya-based wildlife photographer and writer who has co-presented the Big Cat Diary series since its inception ten years ago. The programme's success has led to spin-off series following the lives of elephants, chimps and,...