Geography
A:
Because lions only inhabit certain limited parts of Africa, which is a very large continent with varied geology, they cannot accurately be said to dominate wildlife on that continent, though they are apex predators who tend to be at or near the top of their ecosystem's food chain. And while lions are skilled hunters and fierce predators, some other predators, such as hyenas, have been known to outcompete and even dominate lions.
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Q: Which African countries does the equator pass through?
A: The equator passes through the African countries of Gabon, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Somalia. In total, the equator passes through 12 countries. -
Q: What are the natural resources of the African Savanna?
A: The natural resources in the African Savanna include a multitude of grasses, oil, uranium, platinum, diamonds, coal, gold and oil. Because the Savanna spans nearly 5 million square miles of Africa, there are different natural resources in different parts of the continent. For example, the Congo region is known for being one of the largest diamond producing areas of the world. Ghana, Guinea and Mali are major producers of gold. -
Q: What is South Africa famous for?
A: South Africa is famous for its former president, Nelson Mandela, Kruger National Park and a variety of gem stones and minerals. Approximately 50 percent of the world's gold reserves are located in South Africa. The country is also the third largest exporter of coal in the world, in addition to being one of the world's leading producers of diamonds. This includes the rare 25.5 carat blue diamond discovered in 2014. -
Q: What are the main crops grown in Africa?
A: Some of the main crops grown in Africa include cereals and grains, such as corn, wheat and rice, and legumes and fodder, such as beans, groundnut and cowpea. Agriculture employs 65 percent of Africa's labor force and is responsible for 32 percent of its gross domestic product. -
Q: What is the average temperature in Nigeria?
A: The average temperature in Nigeria is usually at or around 23 degrees Celsius. The temperature tends to vary slightly based on the location within the country and the season. -
Q: What is the smallest country in Africa?
A: The smallest country in Africa is Seychelles, a group of islands off the continent's east coast. The smallest country on the mainland of the continent is The Gambia. - See More Africa Questions
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Q: What are the names of some cities in Antarctica?
A: There are no true cities on the continent of Antarctica; instead, there are approximately 24 research stations with populations ranging from 1,000 to 4,000 people. The research stations are designed for scientific studies only, and they do not support tourism. -
Q: What animals live at the North Pole?
A: Many animals live at the North Pole, commonly referred to as the Arctic region, including arctic foxes, arctic hares, Alaskan malamutes, polar bears, seals and beluga whales. Some animals live closer to the bottom of the Arctic region, like malamutes, while others live close to the physical North Pole like polar bears, seals and whales. -
Q: What kinds of plants grow in the polar regions?
A: Several types of plants grow in the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the world, including the Arctic willow, Antarctic pearlwort, pasque flower and bearberry. Generally, polar plants are small and grow low to the ground. -
Q: Who first discovered Antarctica?
A: The first explorer to gather evidence of Antarctica's existence was Captain James Cook between 1772 and 1775. It was not until subsequent expeditions (1819-1820) by William Smith and James Bransfield that the shore was sighted. It was another year before the American Captain John Davis actually landed on the continent. -
Q: What kind of animals live in Antarctica?
A: No animals live permanently in Antarctica; animals that live in the sea around Antarctica include fish, krill, penguins and a variety of seals. Most of these animals live permanently in the water because the land is too harsh and the temperatures are too cold. -
Q: Which continents does the Arctic Circle pass through?
A: The Arctic Circle passes through three continents: Asia, Europe and North America. This includes eight countries: Russia, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the United States (Alaska), Denmark (Greenland) and Iceland. - See More Antarctica Questions
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Q: What are some of Asia's most endangered animals?
A: There are many endangered species in Asia, including fish such as the Sompong's rasbora of Thailand, mammals such as the south China tiger, primates such Sumatran orangutan of Indonesia, reptiles such as the Red River giant softshell turtle and birds such as the spoon-billed sandpiper. As of February 2015, some of these animals, such as the Sumatran elephant and the Yangtze finless porpoise, are considered critically endangered. -
Q: How big is the Giant Panda?
A: Male pandas can weigh as much as 250 pounds, while female pandas typically weigh less than 220 pounds. Adult pandas, when on all fours, stand at about 2 to 3 feet tall at the shoulder and can be as much as 6 feet long. -
Q: What is bird's nest soup?
A: Bird's nest soup is a dish that is literally what it sounds like: a soup made of bird's nests. However, this soup is made of a specific type of bird nest that is formed through an extrusion of the bird's saliva rather than an assemblage of twigs and other materials. -
Q: How can you find shelter in sub-zero climates?
A: When there is snow in sub-zero temperatures, it's possible to build shelter using loose snow or snow blocks, depending on how tightly the snow is packed. The exact type of shelter you can build depends on whether you have equipment, like snow shovels and saws. -
Q: What country has the best school system in the world?
A: South Korea has the best public education system in the world, as of 2014, according to the international education company Pearson. The South Korean education system improved dramatically over the latter half of the 20th century, and the central component in that success is the country's focus on academic quality and rigor. -
Q: What is a century egg?
A: A century eggs is a Chinese delicacy that consists of an egg that has been preserved over a period of several weeks or months. Though the name implies that these eggs cure for many years, the process actually takes much less time. - See More Asia Questions
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Q: What oceans surround Australia?
A: Australia is surrounded by the Pacific, Southern and Indian Oceans. The Timor, Tasman and Coral Seas also lie on the outside of the country. -
Q: Which tiny creature is Australia's second-most deadly venomous animal?
A: The common honey bee is the second-deadliest venomous animal in that country. Even though only as many as 2 percent of Australians are actually allergic to the honey bee's venom, the proportion of danger relative to that posed by other venomous animals is quite high. -
Q: Which octopus has enough venom to kill more than 20 humans?
A: When threatened, the blue-ringed octopus can produce a powerful neurotoxin that is strong enough to kill 26 people. Fortunately, there are some physical signs that the octopus may be about to produce its toxin, including increased color intensity. Though its toxin has the power to kill multiple people, the blue-ringed octopus isn't actually responsible for many human deaths. -
Q: What makes the Portuguese man-of-war unique?
A: While the Portuguese man-of-war may look like a jellyfish, it's actually a siphonophore. Also known as simply "man-of-war" or "bluebottle," this complex creature is a colony of smaller individual organisms known as zooids. Though separate, the organisms that make up the Portuguese man-of-war work together and rely on each other for survival. -
Q: Can people climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge?
A: There are guided tours known as BridgeClimb that allow people to climb to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in a safe, controlled environment. More than 3 million people have climbed the iconic, 463 foot tall bridge. -
Q: Is Australia an island?
A: Australia matches the definition of an island, as it is surrounded by water on all sides. However, Australia is more frequently referred to as a continent rather than as an island; it is one of the largest land masses on Earth, so it fits the definition of a continent. - See More Australia Questions
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