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We call upon all 8th graders to submit their ILA editorials to The Keller Courier! The best 5 will get published!
The Articles In This Section are...
*(NEW)* California
*(NEW)* Canada (Scroll Down)
*(NEW)*The Bermuda Triangle, Solved or Not? (Scroll Down)
Bolivia (Scroll Down)
Afghanistan (Scroll down)
Hidden Gems of Mumbai (Scroll down)
Check Out California!
California is the perfect place to take a vacation. When people think about California, they think about fun and beaches. But, there is so much more to this fun state than just that. Did you know that California is the 31st state in America? California became a state in 1950 as a non slavery state. It is claimed that when the Spanish came across California they named it after a fictional island in de Montalvo's book, because they thought it looked very similar to the island described in the book. Now, California is the 3rd biggest state in the United States. Did you know that California is home to barbie dolls, fortune cookies, and wetsuits. The weather can vary from 60 degrees fahrenheit in Los Angeles to 50 degrees fahrenheit in San Francisco. California has some of the most beautiful landmarks in the world such as the Redwood Forests, Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite Falls, Death Valley etc. Plus, There are over 100,000 earthquakes in California each year. California is such a beautiful, unique, and fun place to be in. It just makes everything so happy and joyful. So, next time you decide to take a family vacation California should be at the top of your list!
Sources:
https://www.americamp.co.uk/blog/facts-about-california
Canada
Canada is the second largest country in the world, with only Russia being bigger, yet only 0.5% of the world’s population lives there. The most well known mountain range in Canada is the Rockies. Canada has a diverse landscape that includes blue rivers and lakes, vast valleys, and cold forests. Canada has had many French and British immigrants over time and France conquered Canada, which left French influence in the country.
Stats (2023)
Population: 36,000,000
Capital: Ottawa
Wealth: 17,000,000,000 (USD)
Currency: Canadian Dollar
Main language(s): French and English
Main religion(s): Christianity
Government: Federal Parliamentary
Area: 10,000,000 kilometers squared
Quality of life (HDI): .936
Fun Facts
Canada police will give out positive tickets to people they catch doing good things
Canada is also known as the Land of Maple Syrup
Work Cited
https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/geography/countries/facts-about-canada/.
The Bermuda Triangle, solved or not?
Bermuda is an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean owned by the UK. It is very nice and expensive there. There are 7 main islands that make up Bermuda and about 170 additional smaller islands/rocks making it about 650 miles long. But that is just Bermuda… and this is about the triangle!
The Bermuda Triangle is this water section in between Florida, Puerto Rico, and of course, Bermuda. Over 50 known boats and 20 aircraft have disappeared going on or over the Bermuda Triangle. For a lot of the aircraft, their controls go wonky, compasses spin around, then they disappear off the radar. Most of the time, they are never seen again. Not even a trace of wreckage a lot of the time. As you can imagine, this sort of thing leads to many conspiracy theories.
One theory is that the lost city of Atlantis is on the bottom of the Bermuda Triangle. The Atlaneans are said to have very advanced technology, such as crystal energies that are still active on the seafloor which messes up boat and plane controls above it. It is becoming a more and more popular theory. It isn’t the most realistic, but it is a decent theory.
The next theory talks about even more unrealistic; wormholes. Now, out there, there is a small chance that there are wormholes throughout the universe. But on Earth? It seems very unlikely, but who knows? The triangle could perhaps be a portal to another space and time, or maybe even a whole nother dimension. It is said that aliens are the cause of wormholes and that is why the lots of the ships and aircraft just vanish. A living witness, yes living witness, of the wonders named Bruce Gernon lived to tell the tale supporting the theory.
Bruce Gernon was a seasoned pilot flying over the Bermuda Triangle to head over to Miami. It was a clear, calm day and this flight usually takes about 90 minutes to cover the 250 miles (400 kilometers) between the airports. Only a cloud or two in the vast, blue sky. However, one of the only clouds that was there began to grow when Gernon passed over it. The cloud was rapidly spreading for miles. He tried to fly over the massive as well as dark cloud, yet it was extremely tall, estimated to reach over 40,000 feet (12,192 meters). So he decided to try to fly over it, yet it reached sea level, almost as if it was somehow coming from the water. Very peculiar, isn’t it? Yet he saw blue sky down a 10 mile tunnel in the middle. He took the risk and flew into it. Gernon approximated that it would take 3 minutes to get out. However, it only took 20 seconds. In some of that time, he felt weightless in an odd way. What could be happening?
As he escaped from the cloud, he saw gray fog everywhere. There seemed to be electric energy all around which he later called electric fog. All of his electronic equipment was malfunctioning, even his compass! His plane also disappeared from the ground control’s radar.
When the fog cleared, Gernon was in Miami! It only took 47 minutes, and the maximum speed was 180 miles per hour (290 kilometers per hour). It just didn’t add up. Bruce Gernon later wrote a book about the strange mystery that he had experienced. What could have possibly happened? No one knows for sure.
Scientists have been chasing the overarching mystery for years, and they also have ideas. The main idea is that a massive asteroid crashed in the triangle and it affects compasses with magnetic norths and some controls. The force could maybe mess with weather, which explains the big storms and even the rogue waves. Rogue waves are massive waves at least twice the size of others around them. They have been spotted numerous times in the Bermuda Triangle.
The real answer is definitely unknown. It may always be unknown. What do you believe?
Works Cited
https://www.britannica.com/place/Bermuda.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/environment/a39750723/what-is-the-bermuda-triangle/.
https://www.llewellyn.com/journal/article/892.
https://brightside.me/articles/survivor-says-something-new-about-the-bermuda-triangle-mystery-813168/.
Bolivia
Bolivia is a South American country and is known for Lake Titicaca, the world's deepest lake
as well as Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat. In 1538 Spanish conquistadors gained
control of the land and were overthrown by the people who rebelled in 1825. The new leaders
formed an independent country. It was named Bolivia after the leader of the rebellion, Simón
Bolívar.
Stats (2023)
Population: 12,000,000
Capital: La Paz and Sucre
Wealth: 43,000,000,000 (USD)
Currency: Bolivian Boliviano
Main language(s): Spanish
Main religion(s): Roman Catholic
Government: Republic
Area: 3,604,268,373 feet²
Quality of life (HDI): .692
Fun Facts
In the 15th and 16th centuries the ancient tribe known as the Inca ruled the region.
Works Cited https://www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/geography/countries/bolivia-facts/#:~:text=Bolivia's%20land%20isn't%20just,the%20world's%20largest%20salt%20flat.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan is in Central Asia and is one of the poorest nations. However, in 2010, US military officials and geologists discovered that there was nearly 1 trillion dollars worth of mineral deposits. It is best known for the largest amount of opium, an addictive substance extracted from poppies, as well as many fruits.
Stats (2023)
Population: 42,000,000
Capital: Kabul
Wealth: 14,000,000,000 per year (USD)
Currency: Afghan Afghani
Main language(s): Dari and Pashto
Main religion(s): Sunni Muslim
Government: Republic
Area: 1,330,934,880 feet²
Quality of life (HDI): .478
Fun facts
Afghanistan has had 26 different flags throughout its history
90% of the population is living in poverty
91% of the average Afghan’s money is spent for food
In 2001, the US went to Afghanistan to wage a necessary war of self-defense.
Work Cited
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/countries/article/afghanistan.
https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/afghanistan/government.
The Hidden Gems of Mumbai
By Arjun S. Phatak
This summer, I visited my family in Mumbai, India. While I was there, I experienced the Hidden Gems of Mumbai that tourists often miss completely. I went on drives with my family, visited local stores, and went to markets. I was really able to see the city of Mumbai from a different perspective and a perspective I think all tourists would enjoy. While I agree that you should look at the important sights, there are easier and cheaper ways to do this. In this article, you will learn how to tour the beautiful city of Mumbai very thoroughly, all of which cost very little.
Cost is a big factor, so let’s talk about that. The only thing that you will have to pay for is a driver. You can use a bus, taxi, uber, or a friend/family car. This is the only thing that you have to actually pay for! You will also need to pay for the obvious things like food and trinkets but you can go sightseeing for very little cost.
Let’s begin with the hidden gems that you would never see. The first place you should go to is a place called Bhaji Gully, which translates to Vegetable Alley in English. This is an alley on Grant Road that is full of little stalls. These stalls sell vegetables, fruit, regular food, and more. There is also a regular convenience store in the alley as well. Most of the residents of Mumbai do their shopping there as you can get everything you need in this one alley. Bhaji Gully is very charming, from the old vegetables on the ground to the scooter and motorcycles driving through the alley. Please be careful when buying things from Bhaji Gully as you have to check for flies and rot. Take a seasoned Bhaji Gully shopper with you for your first time. Next, walk down the streets of Mumbai and visit the small specialty shops. You will find things that you could never imagine and food that is beyond belief. Be warned though, make sure you go to reliable restaurants because some food can be too tough on your system if you are not used to it. Also, make sure to bring your own water because most restaurants have water that has bacteria in it. This is one way to see the beauty of Mumbai.
The next way to see Mumbai is to take a drive around Mumbai. Visit the Taj Hotel, the fanciest hotel in Mumbai. This is also one of the buildings where the 26/11 terrorist attack happened. Visit Marine Drive and walk along the coast of the Arabian Sea. Sit along the walkway and let the huge waves soak you. Beware, the water is not very clean. Take a drive to Malabar Hill where you will find Old Women’s Shoe and so much more. You will also find a viewing tower at The Hanging Gardens. Climb to the top of this viewing tower to find a beautiful view of the entire city of Mumbai. This is a truly priceless view that costs you 0.00 Rupees!!
You can also drive around different tourist locations. This is a great way because it doesn’t cost much. Visit the Gateway of India, the location when Queen Elizabeth landed in Mumbai during the India vs. British war. Visit VT Station, a beautiful British Times train station. Next to it, you will find another British Style building. This is a government municipal building. There is a viewing gallery where you can stand and take priceless pictures that will make the rip truly memorable. Make sure you also visit Mr. Ambani’s house. He owns a HUGE building that is the second most expensive house in the world. The first is The Buckingham Palace. This building is a very pretty modern building with a ton of detail. Don’t forget to visit the celebrity's house in Bandra West, Mumbai. Visit Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachan ,and so much more. Most importantly, make sure you visit the famous Shah Rukh Khan’s house. Here is a picture of me in front of his house.
As you can see, Mumbai has so much more to offer than the usual tourist attractions. Mumbai is a beautiful place full of beautiful people. This is the only way to really experience Mumbai. So what are you waiting for? Go book your ticket!!
Works Cited
“';;.'” ';;' - YouTube, 9 March 2019, https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftraderjanki.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F02%2F08%2Fpostcards-from-bombay-bhaji-gully-in-the-early-evening%2F&psig=AOvVaw2tI7BiHzUhHjeFmopMd94s&ust=1698236042422000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CA4QjRxqF. Accessed 24 October 2023.
“';;.'” ';;' - YouTube, 9 March 2019, https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FTaj_Mahal_Palace_Hotel&psig=AOvVaw2AWDaj4ktqOqy2SWs_Zk76&ust=1698238378966000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CA4QjRxqFwoTCND97o3djoIDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD. Accessed 24 October 2023.
“';;.'” ';;' - YouTube, 9 March 2019, https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FHanging_Gardens_of_Mumbai&psig=AOvVaw3V3KTALKNiF5eQ-0QbuOiD&ust=1698238508067000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CA4QjRxqFwoTCKDLx8vdjoIDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD. Accessed 24 October 2023.
“';;.'” ';;' - YouTube, 9 March 2019, https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FChhatrapati_Shivaji_Terminus&psig=AOvVaw2-mYzgm-NlZVitMxprZBVU&ust=1698238588898000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CA4QjRxqFwoTCPiG-PLdjoIDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD. Accessed 24 October 2023.
“';;.'” ';;' - YouTube, 9 March 2019, https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.burohappold.com%2Fnews%2Fmumbai-the-other-city-that-never-sleeps%2F&psig=AOvVaw0b6YrH-Gu99qT-qC_dyIbW&ust=1698238731060000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CA4QjRxqFwoTCPjb47XejoIDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD. Accessed 24 October 2023.
“';;.'” ';;' - YouTube, 9 March 2019, https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dreamhomemakers.in%2Fnews%2Fshahrukh-khan-house-mannat&psig=AOvVaw3-UIn5FYLa0zV-ZPoeBrdw&ust=1698257962550000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CBAQjRxqFwoTCNDniIumj4IDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ. Accessed 24 October 2023.
Saini, Nupur. “Mannat, Shahrukh Khan House : Price, Inside Tour, Address, Photos.” MagicBricks, 25 July 2023, https://www.magicbricks.com/blog/shahrukh-khan-house-mannat/126490.html. Accessed 24 October 2023.
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