THE 10 GREAT LARGEST SMARTPHONE BRANDS IN THE WORLD

The worldwide smartphone industry is enormous and growing expeditiously . Smartphones have revolutionized our day to day lives. Consumer preference is dynamically evolving as new technologies are sprouting up every day, bringing the latest styles, innovation, and features in the spectrum. Smartphones are said to curtail stress in busy work life. Smartphone use boosts and improves your brain’s functioning, helping to stay energetic and bustling. Smartphones have become a high-priority for our lives in less than two decades, and their craze and obsession are increasing day after day. Top mobile brands are indulging in extensive research and development in high-resolution cameras, design, processors, stylish look, and accessories, paying attention to the consumers’ needs. Today, customers can choose from a wide range of smartphones available in the market. The leading global players have a firm hold on the market, such as Apple, Samsung, Oppo, and Vivo. Some of these top brands also include Huawei, LG, followed by ZTE and Lenovo.

1.Samsung

South Korean tech giant Samsung topped the global smartphone market with 47% quarter-on-quarter and 2% year-on-year. Samsung is a global leader in the smartphone industry, as it consistently strives to enhance product capabilities through its extensive R&D. Samsung has expanded its product portfolio for affordably priced smartphones to high-end mobile phones to suit everybody’s needs. The company currently holds 1st ranking in the Top Best smartphone Brands, with more than 219.5 million annual sales. Out of all other smartphone brands, Samsung has managed to prevail in the list of top-selling phones in Europe. It’s a very reliable brand. Samsung smartphones are built with a perfect combination of cost-efficiency, performance, and accuracy. This brand’s latest technology and features make it the most demanding and trusted brand in the world. Popular Samsung mobile phone and smartphone models are Samsung Galaxy S20, Galaxy S10, Galaxy S10e, Galaxy S11, Galaxy Note9, Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and Note10+, Galaxy S9+, Galaxy S9, Galaxy Note8, Galaxy Fold, Samsung Galaxy Fold 2, Galaxy M31, Galaxy Z Flip, Samsung Galaxy M21, Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Lite, Samsung Galaxy A71 5G, Galaxy A90, and Samsung Galaxy M40.

Samsung is known for its Samsung Galaxy smartphone range, and the flagship products of Samsung are Samsung Galaxy S7 edge+ and Galaxy Note 7. Recently, Samsung developed the unique Tizen OS for its smartphones as an alternative to its Android smartphones. For its latest launch of Galaxy S9, Samsung also partnered with Audio companies such as AKG and Dolby, offering a high-quality sound experience. Samsung’s market share accounted for approximately 20%, making it one of the top mobile phone brands. Units Shipped: 315 million, Profit: USD 18,947 million, Sales: USD 170,625 million

  1. Apple

Apple Inc. is an American Multinational Company that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services. It was the first company to launch the world’s first smartphone brands by the iPhone’s name using its operating system named iOS. Apple has a large customer base as it offers products that have superior design and features, which have become more of an aspirational brand for people worldwide. Apple has a global footprint in around 22 countries with 499 retail stores. The company is known for its high specifications and stylish, simple iPhone that is the signature product of Apple. Apple released its first-generation iPhone in 2007. The company holds 2rd ranking in the Top 10 Best Mobile Phone Brands in the world. The new generation of iPhone has advanced three-lens cameras with the most powerful and smartest chip ever in any smartphone.
Best Apple iPhone models are iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, Apple iPhone 12, iPhone XR, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone SE.
Units Shipped: 215 million, Profit: USD 48,351 million, Sales: USD 229,234 million

  1. Huawei

The Chinese telecommunications company has been manufacturing mobile phones since 1997. It is also the largest telecom infrastructure maker in the world. The company also makes Android smartphones and tablets. Recently it has stepped into the smartwatch market with an Android Wear based device. It is another one of the big smartphone manufacturers from China. The smartphone was launched in 23rd December 2020. The phone comes with a 6.67-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1080 pixels by 2400 pixels. The Huawei Enjoy 20 SE is powered by octa-core HiSilicon Kirin 710A processor and it comes with 4GB of RAM. Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. is a Chinese multinational technology company headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong. It designs, develops, and sells telecommunications equipment and consumer electronics. Huawei has over 194,000 employees as of December 2019. Over 75,000 Huawei employees are in R&D. Huawei has deployed its products and services in more than 170 countries. Huawei has partnered with approximately 80% of the world’s top telecommunications companies. Huawei has one of the best innovation centers across the globe. In 2016, Huawei invested 14% of its revenue in R&D. Huawei operates in more than 170 countries and is also expected to develop its own operating system, which shows its strong potential in the mobile market. In March 2018, Huawei released the much-anticipated smartphone models called HUAWEI P20 and HUAWEI P20 Pro, which has the world’s first Leica triple camera. These innovations have enabled Huawei to establish itself as a top global mobile phone brand, with setting high expectations for smartphone photography.
Units Shipped: 152 million, Profit: USD 6,890 million, Sales: USD 87,646 million

4.Oppo

Guangdong OPPO Mobile Telecommunications Corp., Ltd, commonly referred to as OPPO, is a Chinese consumer electronics and mobile communications company knew for its smartphones, Blu-ray players, and other electronic devices. OPPO was the top smartphone brand in China in 2016. currently, the company holds 4th ranking in the Top 10 Mobile Phone Brands in the World. Oppo and Vivo are sister brands owned by the very same parent company Guangdong. Oppo is a subsidiary and part of BBK Electronics Corporation and Vivo, Realme, and OnePlus. Oppo’s sales went up by 80% at 21,524.6 crores in 2018-2019. Over the years, Oppo has launched a wide range of smartphones ranging from the low segment to targeting the affluent customer segments. Oppo has created a strong brand presence despite being a late entrant in the smartphone market. However, smart marketing campaigns and branding, along with high product quality, have made Oppo one of the top mobile phone brands in 2020.
In 2017, Oppo became the official sponsor of the Indian Cricket Team, giving the brand massive credibility and attention. The company in India has engaged with Bollywood actors who became the face of the brand. Apart from this, Oppo has a reliable distribution network that covers more than 200,000 retailers in India itself, and more across the globe. Popular Oppo Mobile Phone and Smartphone models are Oppo A31, Oppo F15, Oppo A5, Oppo A9, Oppo Reno2, Oppo F7, Oppo F5, Oppo F3, Oppo A71, Oppo F5 Youth, Oppo A83, Oppo F9 Pro, Oppo F11 Pro, and Oppo F9.
Units Shipped: 111 million, Profit: USD 1,400 million, Sales: USD 60,000 million

5.Vivo

Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd. is a Chinese Technology Company owned by BBK Electronics that designs and manufactures smartphones and smartphone accessories in China, software, and online services. BBK Electronics also owns Oppo, Realme, and One plus. Vivo entered the telecommunication and consumer electronics industry with landline phones and wireless phones. In 2011, Vivo started its smartphone business. In 2015, it became one of the Top 10 Mobile Phone Brands with a 2.7% share that gradually increased. Vivo entered the mobile phone market within half quarter of 2017 with a global market share of 10.7%. Celebrity endorsements, brilliant advertising, and sponsorships have propelled the brand to compete with Samsung, Apple, and Oppo. Popular Vivo Mobile phone and smartphone models are Vivo Z1x, Vivo V17 Pro, Vivo S1 Pro, Vivo V17, Vivo Z1 Pro, Vivo S1, Vivo U20, Vivo V15, Vivo U10, and Vivo Y11 2019. The company presently holds 6th ranking in the Top 10 Best Mobile Phone Brands globally, with a 7.2% market share and 103 million units. Vivo recently launched its V9 mobile range that is identical to Apple’s iPhone X with its notch display. Hence, Vivo became the first Android mobile phone company to launch phones that features a notch display like that of Apple’s iPhone X.
Units Shipped: 95 million, Profit: USD 1,125 million, Sales: USD 46,484 million

  1. Xiaomi

Xiaomi is a Chinese Multinational Company. Xiaomi is the 6th largest smartphone manufacturer in the world. Xiaomi’s flagship brands are the Redmi and Mi series, which have gained popularity and trust of millions of consumers. Xiaomi has created its brand value as it continues to focus on innovation and the latest technology. It makes and invests in smartphones, mobile apps, laptops, bags, trimmers, earphones, shoes, MI Televisions, fitness bands, and many other products. Its logo, “MI,” stands for “Mobile Internet.” It also has different meanings, including “Mission Impossible” because Xiaomi faced many challenges that had seemed impossible to deft in the early days. The company has its presence in India, China, Brazil, Singapore, Turkey, and Asian nation with its exclusive Mi and Redmi Series smartphones. Xiaomi’s shipments of smartphones were approximately 90 million in 2017 and have been able to grab a spot in the top 10 smartphone companies in the world. popular Xiaomi Mobile phone and smartphone models are Xiaomi Mi 9, Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, Xiaomi Mi Mix 3, Xiaomi Mi 9T Pro, Xiaomi Pocophone F1, Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, Xiaomi Mi 8, Xiaomi Mi Mix 25, Xiaomi Mi 8 Lite, Xiaomi Mi A2, Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite and Xiaomi Mi Note 3.

Units Shipped: 95 million, Profit: USD 1,000 million, Sales: USD 17,000 million

  1. LG

LG Corporation, formerly Lucky-Goldstar, is a South Korean multinational companyand is Founded in Seoul in the year 1958. It is the fourth-largest chaebol in South Korea. The company associates the letters LG with the company’s tagline “Life’s Good.” LG makes electronics, chemicals, and telecom products. The company is known for its flagship G series of smartphones and a wide range of products, including smart TVs. At present, the company holds rank 7th among the Top 10 Mobile Phone Brands globally, and it didn’t achieve excellent performance in many countries. LG’s smartphone business recorded revenues of $1.12 billion in Q4 2019. LG has been a known brand name in refrigerators and air-conditioners. The smartphone was launched in 9th November 2020. The phone comes with a 6.52-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 720 pixels by 1600 pixels. LG Android phones may not be as popular as the likes of Samsung and Google, LG continues to kick out quality phones year after year. But LG’s smartphone range has woo-ed over the consumers with their brilliant Android features. LG’s premium smartphone models include the K-series, G-series, LG Tribute, Flex, and Nexus. Popular LG mobile phone and smartphone models are LG W10 Alpha, LG K41S, LGK51S, LGK61, LG V502 ThinQ 5G, LG G8X ThinQ, LG Q70, LG Stylo 5, LG W10, LG G7 Plus ThinQ, LGV30 Plus, and many more. These smartphones have highly-advanced camera features, high-speed autofocus, and noise reduction for better calling and photography. LG’s latest mobile launch is the W31+.
Units Shipped: 55 million, Profit: USD 110 million, Sales: USD 46,800 million

  1. Lenovo

Lenova Founded in Beijing in 1984, Lenovo acquired IBM’s PC business in 2005, and first became the world’s top PC maker in 2013. It entered the Android and Windows tablet market in 2011, began selling Android smartphones in 2012. Lenovo Group Limited, often shortened to Lenovo, is a Chinese multinational company. The company manufactures and sells personal computers, tablets, smartphones, servers, electronic storage devices, etc. Lenovo couldn’t maintain its position in the smartphone market, and currently, the company holds 8th rank in the Top 10 Best Mobile Phone Brands in the world. Despite the increase of units sold by Lenovo, it lost its global participation. The company has also launched an online-only sub-brand for smartphones called Zuk in China. Lenovo has implemented an aggressive strategy to replace Samsung as mainland China’s top smartphone manufacturer. It spent $793.5 million in Wuhan to build a plant that can produce 30 to 40 million phones per year. Over the years, Lenovo has made a global presence in 160 countries and has grown to become one of the top global mobile companies. Lenovo’s Tango smartphones have unique sensors that are able to track motion and measure the contours of a room; also, it can measure interiors of apartments and buildings by using augmented reality features.

Some of the popular smartphones by Lenovo are P, K and A series, Zuk Series, and VIBE. Lenovo also launched the Moto Z models that live up to its tagline, “Different is better.” Popular Lenovo, mobile phone and smartphone models are Lenovo Z2 Plus, Lenovo P2, Lenovo K6 Power, Lenovo Vibe K5 Note, Lenovo Vibe K5, Lenovo A5, Lenovo Z5, Lenovo Z5 Pro, Lenovo Z5 Pro GT, and Lenovo Z5s.
Units Shipped: 50 million, Profit: USD 535 million, Sales: USD 43,035 million

  1. ZTE

Zhongxing Telecommunication Equipment Corporation is a Chinese multinational telecommunications equipment and systems company. The company has made several Android smartphones and tablets. While the company mainly sells products under the ZTE brand, it is also an original equipment manufacturer (OEM). It was founded in 1985 and it is listed on both the Hong Kong and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges. By 2009, the company had become the third-largest vendor of GSM telecom equipment worldwide, and about 20% of all GSM gear sold throughout the world that year was ZTE branded. In 2011 it holds around 7% of the key LTE patents and that same year launched the world’s first smartphone with dual GPS/GLONASS navigation, MTS 945. With intelligent marketing, an extensive distribution chain, and smart advertising, ZTE has made its presence in approximately 140 countries. Some of these devices can actually be classified as “underrated” as they didn’t make it out of China, got little attention when they were announced, or were overshadowed by other phones.
ZTE’s latest mobile launch is the Blade V2021 5G. The smartphone was launched in 2nd December 2020. The phone comes with a 6.52-inch touchscreen display. ZTE is famous for its smartphones, affordable mobile phones, tablets, etc. along with various network and telecommunication equipment. Units Shipped: 45 million, Profit: USD 719 million, Sales: USD 17,123 million

  1. Alcatel Lucent

Alcatel Lucent is a French brand of mobile handsets owned by Finnish consumer electronics company Nokia and used under license by Chinese electronics company TCL Technology. The Alcatel brand was licensed in 2005 by former French electronics and telecommunications company Alcatel-Lucent to TCL for mobile phones and devices. Alcatel-Lucent was acquired by Nokia back in 2016 but still runs under the name Alcatel-Lucent, with OneTouch series being its widely proclaimed smartphone range. The high specifications and quality have attracted a lot of customers as the company also allows customization and specialization in technology as per the consumers’ needs. This industry is providing built-in security and limited environmental impact. We offer flexible business models: in the cloud, on premises, and hybrid. Over 100 years of innovation have made us a trusted advisor to more than 830,000 customers around the world. From 1919 up to present day, Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise history has been nurtured. Alcatel Mobile Phones was established in April 2004 as a joint venture between Alcatel-Lucent (45%) and TCL Corporation (55%). Alcatel originally started making mobile phones in late 1996. In 2005, the joint venture was dissolved and TCL acquired Alcatel-Lucent’s 45 percent share, and Alcatel Mobile Phones became a wholly owned subsidiary group of TCL. The brand name was licensed to TCL. In 2010, Alcatel One Touch became the corporate brand. In February 2016, it was changed back to simply Alcatel and a new logo was introduced. Alcatel-Lucent’s premium smartphone range includes are Pixi, Idol, and Pop. The company recently released A50, A30 Plus, Idol 5S, Pop 4 plus smartphone models, incorporating virtual reality in their Idol 4 and Idol 4s series.
Units Shipped: 20 million, Profit: USD 218 million, Sales: USD 15,149 million

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THE GREAT LARGEST 10 AIRLINES IN THE WORLD BASED ON OPERATIONAL SAFETY, PASSENGER REVIEWS, PROFITABILITY, INVESTMENT RATING, FLEET AGE, PRODUCT OFFERING

Wright brothers of India invented the Aeroplane. An air transportation system includes its equipment, routes, operating personnel, and management. An Airline is an organization providing a regular public service for passengers and goods of air transport on one or more routes. It is a system that provides scheduled flights for passengers or cargo. It is a company that owns and operates many airplanes. Airlines utilize aircraft to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for codeshare agreements, in which they both offer and operate the same flight. Not all airlines are created equal. As in most businesses, there is a sort of stratification of airlines, at least within the United States. U.S. airlines are either publicly or privately owned – however, in many countries, the government owns the airlines.
The best international airlines in the world seem to pull off the nearly impossible: they not only connect travelers with some of the coolest destinations on the planet but also do it with the grace. We are looking for leadership and airlines that innovate to make a real difference to the passenger experience particularly in economy class.” “In our evaluation, we also consider the audited feedback from passengers on our website.” The largest airlines in the world can be defined in several ways. A full service airline typically offers passengers in flight entertainment, checked baggage, meals, beverages and comforts such as blankets and pillows in the ticket price.
As of 2019, American Airlines Group was the largest by fleet size, passengers carried and revenue passenger mile. Delta Air Lines was the largest by revenue, assets value and market capitalization. Lufthansa Group was the largest by number of employees, FedEx Express by freight tonne-kilometers, Turkish Airlines by number of countries served, Ryanair by number of routes and UPS Airlines by number of destinations served. To decide the rank of Airlines, a dozen key factors are included like operational safety, passenger reviews, profitability, investment rating, fleet age, and product offerings such as premium economy on long-haul flights and seating options in other classes.

1.Air New Zealand Airlines

The airline’s main hub is Auckland Airport, located near Mangere in the southern part of the Auckland urban area. Air New Zealand originated in 1940 as Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL), a company operating trans-Tasman flights between New Zealand and Australia. TEAL became wholly owned by the New Zealand Government in 1965, whereupon it was renamed Air New Zealand. The carrier has a fleet size of 104 and currently operates Airbus A320, Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 aircraft. It doesn’t compromise in terms of safety and reliability, and assures a great travel experience on air. Air New Zealand seeks to offer economical air fares to travelers. The airline flies to all key destinations of Europe, Africa, North America, South America, the Caribbean and the Middle East, and their service quality is outstanding. It operates scheduled passenger flights to 20 domestic and 32 international destinations in 20 countries primarily Australia, London, Los Angeles are some of the popular routes served by Air New Zealand. The airline has been a member of the Star Alliance since 1999. Air New Zealand was awarded Airline of the Year in 2010 and 2012 by the Air Transport World Global Airline Awards. In 2014, Air New Zealand was ranked the safest airline in the world by JACDEC. In March 1999, Air New Zealand became a member of the Star Alliance. From 1999 through 2000, Air New Zealand became embroiled in an ownership battle over Ansett with co-owner News Limited over a possible sale of the under-performing carrier to Singapore Airlines. For domestic flights Air New Zealand features four classes of seats: Seat, Seat + Bag, Flexi Time and Flexi Plus. For long haul fights there is Economy, Economy Skycouch, Premium Economy and Business Premiere.
You’ll find the best peaceful sleep in the sky

  1. Singapore Airlines

Singapore Airlines (SIA) is the flag carrier airline of Singapore with its hub at Singapore Changi Airport. Singapore Airlines (SIA) is founded in 1 May 1947 as Malayan Airways and it had started operations from 1 Oct 1972. The top international carrier is once again Singapore Airlines, which has won the No. 1 spot in each of the past 25 years. Singapore Airlines, which took 2nd position, is always at the forefront of airline awards and introduced its new A350 and 787-10 over the last 2 years, along with revamped A380s. Singapore Airlines was the launch customer for the Airbus A380 – the world’s largest passenger aircraft. Singapore Airlines operates an all wide-body passenger aircraft fleet from five aircraft families: Airbus A330, Airbus A350, Airbus A380, Boeing 777 and Boeing 787, totally 135 aircrafts as of 30 November 2020. Seven Boeing 747-400 cargo aircraft are also operated. It ranks amongst the top 15 carriers worldwide in terms of revenue passenger kilometers, and is ranked tenth in the world for international passengers carried. The airline also won the second and fourth positions as the World’s Best Airlines and World’s Cleanest Airlines respectively for 2019. Singapore Airlines flies to 137 destinations in 32 countries on five continents from its primary hub in Singapore. Singapore Airlines includes many airline-related subsidiaries. SIA Engineering Company handles maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) business across nine countries, with a portfolio of 27 joint ventures, including with Boeing and Rolls-Royce. Singapore Airlines Cargo operates SIA’s freighter fleet and manages the cargo-hold capacity in SIA’s passenger aircraft. It has two subsidiaries: SilkAir operates regional flights to secondary cities, while Scoot operates as a low-cost carrier.

3.All Nippon Airways(ANA)

In 3rd position is All Nippon Airways which continues its dominance of Japanese aviation. All Nippon Airways was founded in 27 December 1952 and is headquartered in Tokyo. It is the leading operators of the Boeing 787 and a launch customer for the 777X. The airline is at the forefront of cabin innovation. The hubs are Tokyo–Haneda Tokyo–Narita. Secondary hubs are Tokyo–Haneda Tokyo–Narita. All Nippon Airways also known as Zennikku is the largest airline in Japan by revenues and passenger numbers. Its headquarters are located in Shiodome City Center in the Shiodome area of Minato ward of Tokyo. It operates services to both domestic and international destinations. Far East Airlines merged with the newly named All Nippon Airways in March 1958. . In 2017, the airline received an award for the “World’s Best Airport Services”. In 1986 ANA expanded its international services gradually: to Beijing, Dalian, Hong Kong and Sydney in 1987; to Seoul in 1988; to London and Saipan in 1989; to Paris in 1990 and to New York and Singapore in 1991. Airbus equipment such as the A320 and A321 was added to the fleet in the early 1990s, as was the Boeing 747-400 jet. ANA joined the Star Alliance in October 1999. ANA has an extensive domestic route network that covers the entirety of Japan, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. ANA’s international route network extends through China, Korea, India, Southeast Asia, Canada, United States, Mexico, Australia, and Western Europe. It has grown to become one of the world’s top-class airline companies, with more than 42 million passengers annually. It is our goal to be the world’s leading airline group in customer satisfaction and value creation. ANA (All Nippon Airways) connects 49 Japanese cities with 113 routes, and 42 cities overseas with 87 routes.

  1. Qantas Airlines

Qantas took the fourth spot for its financial performance and Best Lounge and Best Domestic Service awards. It was founded as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service. QANTAS literally stands for “Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service”. Darwin to Singapore was the first Flight to Overseas, Qantas made it’s international debut on the Darwin – Singapore route in May 1935 on a De Havilland 86. In 2003 Qantas founded Jetstar Airways as an answer to the low-cost airline Virgin Blue (Now Virgin Australia) which entered the domestic market in 2000. The airline’s headquarters are in Sydney. Qantas is commonly known as the “Flying Kangaroo” because of its logo, which is identified as a white kangaroo on a red right-angle triangle. It is the second oldest continuously operating airline in the world. In June 1959, Qantas’ first jet airliner was delivered, which was a Boeing 707-138. Qantas has 18 domestic destinations within Australia and 23 international destinations in 15 countries. In 1934, QANTAS and Britain’s Imperial Airways formed Qantas Empire Airways Limited (QEA). Qantas Boeing 747-438 made the first record-breaking non-stop flight – London-Sydney non-stop flight, VH-OJA, City of Canberra, on March 24, 1989, the first commercial airline ever to cover more than 17,000 km. Most airlines on the list are squeaking by with domestic operations, despite all odds, Qatar Airways has continued operating to an impressive number of international destinations, with plans to serve 80 destinations globally this month, in June 2020. Its customer approval rating is at an all-time high. It is the third oldest airlines in the world.

  1. Cathay Pacific Airlines

Cathay Pacific Airways took 5th spot and is always in the winner’s circle. It has won numerous awards from Airlineratings.com including Best Business Class in 2013 and 2015 and Best Asia/Pacific Airline for 2016. Roy was an American citizen and served the CNAC during the war flying supplies to Burma. He named the airline Cathay Pacific. “Cathay” used to be the medieval name for China and Roy had the vision of flying over the Pacific Ocean one day, hence the name. No other airline in the world has been named “Airline of the Year” as often as the Hong Kong based carrier. The Skytrax awards have been given out since 2001 with Emirates being the first to win it. Cathay claimed the award in 2003, 2005, 2009 as well as 2014, more than any other airline in the world. The Airbus A350 is the most modern and latest passenger aircraft in service. Cathay placed an order of 46 A350-900 and -1000 to join the fleet in the next years with the aim to replace it’s A340’s. It’s currently operating on flights to Auckland, London and Dusseldorf. The “Queen of the Skies” is slowly fading from the skies due to the trend of operating, lighter and more efficient airplanes such as the 787 Dreamliner or the A350. In order to extend it’s network and to stay more competitive Cathay Pacific received its very first jet in 1964. The DC-3 is probably the Beetle of the aviation industry, it wouldn’t just stop working. You could fly on forever with this airplane, just as you could drive the VW Beetle for a lifetime.

  1. Emirates Airlines

In 6th spot is Emirates, which has just ordered 787-9s and A350s and announced it will introduce Premium Economy to its aircraft next year. Dubai Airport is 3rd busiest airport in the world. It is also the largest airline in the Middle East, operating over 3,600 flights per week from its hub at Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport, to more than 150 cities in 80 countries across six continents through its fleet of nearly 300 aircraft. Cargo activities are undertaken by Emirates SkyCargo. Emirates Airline is based in the heart of United Arab Emirates, Dubai. Nothing happens without a reason. Dubai is known as the ‘city of gold’ bathed in splendor, where wealth is so extreme that sometimes difficult to comprehend. Emirates Airlines aligns with that image pretty well. Emirates Airline also won in the best in-flight entertainment category. Dubai International Airport is the primary hub for the company. Emirates has a fleet size of 258 aircraft, one of the largest fleet sizes in the world. Emirates generates 36.5% of its revenue from Europe & Americas & spends 35.1% of its revenue on fuel. Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 was built exclusively for the use of Emirates at a cost of $4.5 billion and officially opened 14 October 2008. Emirates has made code-share agreement with Philippine Airlines, Qantas, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Silk Air, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, TAP Portugal, Thai Airways, Virgin America, Air Mauritius, Air New Zealand, Alaska Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific, Garuda Indonesia, JetBlue, Jetstar, Jetstar Asia, and Korean Air. Emirates is a state-owned company.

Emirates Airlines was first airlines in which showers are available under the plane. Only Emirates Super Jumbo, the Airbus A380 has a shower on board. Most of Emirates 777 come with a First Class. The Dubai based airline is due to welcome it’s 100th “Super Jumbo”. Emirates is the worlds 4th largest airline by scheduled revenue passenger-kilometres flown and operates the biggest Airbus A380 fleet in the world. 42 more 380’s are still on order and expected to join Emirates within the next few years making it 142 in total. The majority of the 20,000 cabin crew employed by Emirates come from the UK, no surprise by an average 20 flights between Dubai and the United Kingdom. Those are followed by Australian crew and Egyptians as well as Indian and Filipino Crew. Emirates was only founded in 1985. The airlines first flight took off on October 25 in 1985 on a Boeing 727, which was provided by the Royal Family to Karachi in Pakistan. Flight EK600 was a historic milestone and the birth of an airline which should 30 years later operate more than 3,600 flights a week to 140 cities in 80 countries around the world. In fact the Gulf carrier only uses 2 kinds of airplanes, the Airbus A380 as well as the Boeing 777. Emirates is the worlds largest operator of both airplane types. This makes 234 planes in total. The greatest thing of such an identical flight is that each of the 98,244 seats Emirates offers is identical. It’s is also the only airline in the world where every seat comes with a personal screen. In 17 hours you could comfortably fly from London to New York, have a Starbucks coffee in Manhattan and fly back to the UK or alternatively you could fly from Auckland, New Zealand to Dubai on the longest Airbus A380 flight in the world. The Dubai based carrier is extremely popular and the brand itself was valued at 7 Billion US-Dollars in 2016. But the airline was also awarded as Skytrax Airline of the year in 2001, 2002, 2013 and 2015. It is the biggest honor an airline can receive within industry. Emirates is the only major airline in the world which is not part of any alliance.

7.Virgin Atlantic Airlines

Moving into 7th spot is Virgin Atlantic which continues to innovate. A guy on a motorcycle used to pick up Virgin Atlantic customers and bring them to the airport. It might seem like a strange investment, but it’s well worth it for Delta, which now gets to fly its customers more frequently to London’s Heathrow Airport. Virgin Atlantic is a British Airline and considered to be of the more luxurious airlines in the world. It has been flying since 1984. The airline began operations on June 22nd, 1984 with the first flight between Gatwick and Newark with a leased Boeing 747-200 aircraft. On its vast network, it reaches out to major destinations in North America, the Caribbean, Africa, Europe and Asia. The airline was the first to introduce personal televisions to its business class passengers. The airline was ranked as the best airline in Europe. The airline in 2008 flew the first ever commercial flight in the world using biofuel. Subsequently, it made an order of 15 dreamliners which burn 27 percent less fuel than the A340. While British Airways operates all of its transatlantic long-haul flights from its bases at London’s Heathrow and Gatwick Airports, Virgin Atlantic has a secondary base in Manchester in Northern England, as well as operates numerous seasonal point-to-point routes from smaller cities throughout the Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in addition to its bases at both Heathrow and Gatwick. These point-to-point routes include Glasgow and Belfast to Orlando using the Boeing 747-400.
Steve Fossett singlehandedly flew around the world in a Virgin plane
In February 2005, the aviation pro and first man to fly around the earth in a balloon successfully circumnavigated the globe in Virgin Atlantic’s lightweight GlobalFlyer plane — the only aircraft to have made a 25,000-mile, round-the-world trip on a single tank of fuel. The personality and language of our brand plays a major role. Virgin Atlantic took to the skies 30 years ago and despite its rise in popularity. Virgin flew its customers’ cats and dogs from the US to London’s Heathrow Airport for the first time in 2003, and has since carried more than 15,000 animals on board.

  1. EVA Air Airlines

EVA Air is ranked in the top 3 ‘Most Loved Airlines’. EVA Air takes 8th spot, EVA Air has always been the leader in Taiwanese aviation and always at the forefront of cabin innovation such as premium economy in 1992. After receiving the 5-Star status, EVA Air was also voted to to be the third most loved airline in the world, ranked behind the Indonesian carrier Garuda and the South Korea-based airline Asiana. EVA Airways Corporation, of which “EVA” stands for Evergreen Airways, is a Taiwanese international airline based at Taoyuan International Airport near Taipei, Taiwan, operating passenger and dedicated cargo services to over 40 international destinations in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. EVA Air is largely privately owned and flies a fully international route network. It is the second largest Taiwanese airline. EVA Air is headquartered in Luzhu, Taoyuan City, Taiwan. The company slogan is “Sharing the World, Flying Together”. Its founding in 1989 as an affiliate of shipping conglomerate Evergreen Group. Its cargo arm, EVA Air Cargo, links with the Evergreen worldwide shipping network on sea and land. As of January 2018, EVA Air is the 15th safest airline in the world, with no hull losses, accidents, or fatalities since its establishment. EVA Air introduced their brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. On July 1st in 1991, the first commercial EVA Air flight took off from Taipei’s Taoyuan International airport. This was the beginning of a new era for the the first privately owned airline in Taiwan. In 1992, EVA Air introduced a “new” fourth class, these days commonly known as Premium Economy Class, to their 747 Jumbo fleet.

Wider seats, improved service, and wider screens were one of the benefits of the so called “Economy Deluxe” package. EVA Air’s longest flight takes 15hours and 55 Minutes. However, I doubt most Economy Class passengers look forward to a 16 hours flight whenever the plane takes off at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. The flight is among the 25 longest flights in the world, and covers the 12,776 kilometres it takes to Taiwan’s capital Taipei. Another major airline is about to retire it 747 Jumbo fleet on the 27th of March 2017. On the 1st of October 2016, Cathay Pacific is saying farewell to its last Jumbo when the ‘Queen of the Skies’ takes off for a very last adventure to Tokyo. The Taiwanese Airline just recently made an order for 24 787-10 Dreamliners which is the biggest version of Boeing’s latest aircraft worth 8 Billion dollars. That makes EVA Air the 3rd Asian customer for this specific Boeing version. EVA Air operates a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft, with Airbus A330, Airbus A321, Boeing 777, Boeing 787, and ATR 72 (operated by UNI Air) airliners primarily used on passenger routes, along with Boeing 777 freighter aircraft used on cargo routes. The airline was one of the first carriers to introduce the Premium Economy class, which it debuted in 1991. In June 2016, the Taiwanese airline got upgraded from a 4 to a 5-Star Airliner, joining a very privileged club. World class Airlines such as Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, or Hainan Airlines are all part of this amazing alliance. EVA Air is to date without any loss of an aircraft. It is also without passenger fatalities in its operational history, making it the third safest carrier on Earth. This is dominated by Asian carriers, the safest European Airline is the Amsterdam-based KLM.

  1. Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways, another great innovator is in 9th spot with its award-winning catering and Business Class Qsuites. In 1999 airlines such as Qantas, Air Berlin, American Airlines or Finnair teamed up to form the counterpart of Star Alliance and SkyTeam. Qatar sponsors the best team in the world. Qatar Airways is the first airline to operate all new generation aircrafts in it’s fleet. Many big players in the aviation market are undergoing big changes within their fleets, introducing new airplanes, replacing the older ones. While many airlines decided to operate either the Airbus A350, the Dreamliner or the Super Jumbo A380, the Doha based airline decided to make orders for all of them, being the first airliner to operate all 3 of them. The daily service from Doha to Auckland which is due to take off on December 3rd, 2016, is going to be the longest flight on earth. The distance between Qatar’s capital and the biggest city in New Zealand is 14,536 kilometres. The flight attendants are going to announce an estimated flight time of 18 hours and 30 minutes. On January 1st in 2016 an Airbus A350 embarked for a historical flight, being the first airline to land an Airbus 350 on American soil. When the new airliner left Doha Hamad International Airport it wasn’t heading for Los Angeles, Atlanta or New York as you would probably expect.

Qatar Airways is the best airline in the world. According to the World Airlines Award 2015, Qatar Airways was voted the number one airline on earth. The state owned carrier has won in the category best business class and best airline in the Middle East as well as best business class lounge. Seems like the perfect airline for any business trip. On the 15th of January 2015 the brand new Airbus A350-900 took off for it’s first commercial flight from Doha to Frankfurt. Development costs are estimated at 11 billion Euros and to date 777 350’s have been ordered by 43 worldwide customers. Qatar Airways base or better known as Hamad International Airport, was voted “Best Airport” in the Middle East, succeeding the two United Arab Emirates Airports located in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The new hub opened on April 30 in 2014 and is only 10 kilometres south of the Doha city center with is reachable by metro and frequent busses. Only a handful airlines are connecting their hubs with a straight flight to all inhabitant continents, Qatar Airways is one of them. Which also makes Hamad International one of only 5 airports in the world offering a non-stop connection to all 6 of them. Qatar Airways has since become one of the fastest growing carriers in the history of aviation with unprecedented expansion averaging double digit growth year on year. In April 2011, Qatar Airways reached a milestone reaching 100 destinations in its global route map.

  1. Virgin Australia Airlines

The airline took out Best Cabin Crew and Best Economy for 2020. It is an Australian-based airline. Airline has since grown to directly serve 33 cities in Australia, from hubs in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Virgin Australia’s young and stylish fleet currently flies you to over 45 destinations across Australia in addition to a number of international destinations including New Zealand, Indonesia and the Pacific Islands. It is the largest airline by fleet size to use the Virgin brand. It commenced services on 31 August 2000 as Virgin Blue as a low-cost airline with two Boeing 737-400 aircraft. The The airline’s headquarters is based in South Bank, Queensland. In 2011, the airline went through a massive transformation—the changing of its brand to Virgin Australia. This included the introduction of a new aircraft livery, new uniforms, and new onboard menu options. New wide-body aircraft were acquired for use to compete with Qantas, and the roll-out of business class across all the Virgin Australia network. It is providing a seamless experience across all international and domestic markets, while retaining the same excellent service. Virgin Australia’s most important commercial partner is Delta (due to their transpacific joint venture), while the airline is owned by Etihad Airways, Hainan Airlines, and Singapore Airlines. Australia’s second-largest airline is Virgin Australia.
In 2001, 14 new routes were launched, expanding to a true national domestic network. Virgin Australia welcomed its millionth Guest onboard in June 2001. In 2003, Virgin Blue Holidays, Virgin Blue’s holiday arm, was launched. Virgin Blue Holdings floated on the Australian Stock Exchange in December 2003, and Patrick Corporation invested a further $137m at the time of the Initial Public Offering. In 2004, Pacific Blue, a New Zealand-based leisure-focussed international airline, was launched, offering flights between Australia, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga and Vanuatu. In 2005, another Blue airline, Polynesian Blue, was launched in partnership with the Government of Samoa, with the first flight departing Auckland for Apia. In 2007, plans to establish a long haul international airline, V Australia, were announced, and Pacific Blue launched domestic services in New Zealand. In 2009, V Australia flies for the first time from Sydney to Los Angeles and Brisbane to Los Angeles. In 2012, Virgin Australia was awarded ‘Best Airline’ and ‘Best Staff Service’ in the 2012 Skytrax World Airline Awards. The airline began flying in New Zealand (formerly Pacific Blue), and Virgin Samoa (formerly Polynesian Blue) took-off in Samoa. In 2013, Virgin Australia has officially launched its new wireless in-flight entertainment system. In August 2015, Virgin Australia converted its outstanding order for 17 Boeing B737-800 aircraft to the Boeing 737 MAX 8 model. With the 23 Boeing B737 MAX 8 aircraft already on order, this conversion brings the order for this type to a total of 40 aircraft, with the first delivery for 2018. In 2016, Virgin Australia introduced new Business class and Economy Premium cabins on its long-haul international routes on board Boeing 777 aircraft.

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THE GREAT 10 LARGEST DESERTS IN THE WORLD ACCORDING TO THE AREA OF DESERTS

A desert is a barren area of landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions are hostile for plant and animal life. Approximately one-fifth of the Earth’s surface is covered by deserts. A region so arid because of little rainfall that it supports only sparse and widely spaced vegetation or no vegetation at all. This is an area in which few forms of life can exist because of lack of water, permanent frost, or absence of soil. This area of the ocean in which it is believed no marine life exists. Desert is unsettled area between Mississippi and rocky mountains thought to be unsuitable for human habitation. Experts have several ways of categorizing the different types of deserts, but most will agree on some version of the following four classifications: hot and dry, semiarid, coastal, and cold. Due to intense heat, rain is known to evaporate in hot and dry deserts before it can even reach the ground. Many semiarid deserts get so little rain because tall mountain ranges prevent precipitation from reaching these drier regions. These are the 10 largest deserts in the world by size.

1.Antarctic: 5,500,000 sq. miles

Antarctica is the driest continent. The Antarctic is located in the southern hemisphere and covered by around 7.1 million cubic miles of an ice sheet that is approximately 1.5 miles thick. With a humidity rating of 5% it is the driest region on the planet, and so, Antarctic is classified as a large barren cold desert. The name Antarctica is the romanised version of the Greek compound word ,meaning is “opposite to the Arctic”, “opposite to the north”. Very little snow or rain falls on the continent, but because it is so cold, the small amount of precipitation that does fall does not melt. 98% of Antarctica is covered by ice. The lowest temperature ever recorded on Earth was at Russia’s Vostok Station in Antarctica: -89.2°C (-128.6°F) on 21st July, 1983. About 70% of Earth’s fresh water is in the Antarctic ice cap. There are no countries in Antarctica; the continent is governed by an international treaty. There are no permanent residents. But up to 1,000 people may be wintering over at various research stations. It is the fifth-largest continent and nearly twice the size of Australia. At 0.00008 people per square km, it is by far the least densely populated continent. Antarctica is a good place to find meteorites, or rocks that fall from space to Earth. Scientists find more meteorites in Antarctica than any other place in the world. NASA sends teams to Antarctica to learn more about the planet Mars. Antarctica and Mars have a lot in common. Both places are cold. Both places are dry like a desert.

Antarctica and Arctic deserts are classified as cold deserts. Due to their positions at the northern and southern poles of our planet, they are also known as polar deserts. They are the largest deserts in the world. The former makes up the entire continent, while the latter stretches across numerous countries like Canada, Greenland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. They are very dry, but not in the traditional sense. They are cold all year round with frigid winters. Instead of sand, the surrounding surface is covered in layers of ice and snow. The average temperature hovers around freezing, but can plummet to -50 degrees Celsius. During wet seasons, cold deserts can get up to eighteen inches of rain every year, but on average, they receive only six to ten. Scientists take turns going there to study the ice. Tourists visit Antarctica in the summer season. One tool that NASA uses is ICESat. That stands for the Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite. Using ICESat, NASA can measure changes in the size of Antarctica’s ice sheets. ICESat also helps NASA to understand how polar ice may change and affect the rest of the planet. Melting ice sheets in Antarctica may change sea levels all over the world. Some experts even claim that certain areas in Antarctica have not seen rain in 14 million years. Few plants can survive such brutal conditions. Many of the animals that call these polar regions home have easily adapted to the cold, such as bears, penguins, and seals. About Organisms native to Antarctica include many types of algae, bacteria, fungi, plants, protista.

2.Arctic: 5,000,000 sq. miles

Arctic covers the island groups of Svalbard, Franz Josef Land, Severny Island and Severnaya Zemlya in the Arctic Ocean, above 75 degrees north latitude. The Arctic is the second largest desert on the planet and is slightly smaller in size than the Antarctic. It is so cold that the snow that does fall doesn’t melt, so deep snow covers the land and ice. As long as there is some source of moisture and some way to lift or cool the air, it can snow even at incredibly cold temperatures. The top part of the Arctic region, known as the Arctic Circle, receives minimal precipitation and is classified as desert land. The southern region of the Arctic, also known as Tundra, has greater precipitation and therefore, supports a thriving ecosystem. A large part of the Arctic is sea ice. The region is covered with glaciers, snow, and bare rock in a harshly cold environment. It has an area of 161,400 square kilometres (62,300 sq mi). The ecoregion stretches 2,000 km west-to-east, and 1,000 km north-to-south, across the Arctic Ocean north of Norway and Russia. Arctic, northernmost region of the Earth, centred on the North Pole and characterized by distinctively polar conditions of climate, plant and animal life, and other physical features. The term is derived from the Greek arktos (“bear”), referring to the northern constellation of the Bear. It has sometimes been used to designate the area within the Arctic Circle—a mathematical line that is drawn at latitude 66°30′ N, marking the southern limit of the zone in which there is at least one annual period of 24 hours during which the sun does not set and one during which it does not rise. This line, however, is without value as a geographic boundary, since it is not keyed to the nature of the terrain.

The Arctic Desert refers to a number of islands north of 75 degrees north latitude. This includes northern Novaya Zemlya, Franz Josef Islands and Severnaya Zemlya. Mapped ecoregion boundaries correspond to the arctic desert zone in Kurnaev’s forest map of the USSR. However, northern sections of the Taimyr Peninsula, Novosibirsk Islands and Wrangel Island were excluded from this region as their lower latitudes permit a wider range and higher abundance of species. International interest in the Arctic and subarctic regions has steadily increased during the 20th century, particularly since World War II. Three major factors are involved: the advantages of the North Pole route as a shortcut between important centres of population, the growing realization of economic potentialities such as mineral like petroleum and forest resources and grazing areas, and the importance of the regions in the study of global meteorology. The Arctic lands have developed geologically around four nuclei of ancient crystalline rocks. The largest of these, the Canadian Shield, underlies all the Canadian Arctic except for part of the Queen Elizabeth Islands. It is separated by Baffin Bay from a similar shield area that underlies most of Greenland. The Arctic desert is home to a number of highly adapted species, which can cope with the extreme conditions or, as some long-distant migratory bird species come there only for a short summer season.

3.Sahara: 3,320,000 sq. miles

The Sahara is a desert on the African continent. Around 25% of the land is covered by sand with the total region comprising a mix of hilly areas and shallow land. The Sahara is the third largest desert and is part of a high-temperature zone, unlike the colder regions of Arctic and Antarctic. The total area varies but mostly stretches approximately 3,000 miles across and around 1,100 miles north to south. The northern areas of the Sahara experiences mostly dry subtropical temperatures while the southern areas remain mostly dry tropical. It is the largest hot desert in the world. The name ‘Sahara’ is derived from the Arabic word for “desert”. The population of the Sahara is just two million. For several hundred thousand years, the Sahara has alternated between desert and savanna grassland in a 20,000 year cycle caused by the precession of the Earth’s axis as it rotates around the Sun, which changes the location of the North African Monsoon. The area is next expected to become green in about 15,000 years . The Sahara is bordered in the west by the Atlantic Ocean, in the north by the Atlas Mountains and Mediterranean Sea, in the east by the Red Sea, and in the south by the Sahel—a semiarid region that forms a transitional zone between the Sahara to the north and savannas to the south. The enormous desert spans 11 countries: Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Western Sahara, Sudan and Tunisia. Other topographical features include mountains, plateaus, sand- and gravel-covered plains, salt flats, basins and depressions. Mount Koussi, an extinct volcano in Chad, is the highest point in the Sahara at 11,204 feet (3,415 m), and the Qattara Depression in Egypt is the Saraha’s deepest point, at 436 feet (133 m) below sea level. The highest peak in the Sahara is Emi Koussi (3,415m), a volcano located in Tibesti Mountains, Chad. In east-central Algeria lies the Isaouane-n-Tifernine Sand Sea, with sand dunes as high as 450m – some of the tallest in the world. The largest dunes in Morocco are the Erg Chigaga – with some dunes reaching a massive 300m.
Camels, also known as the “ships of the desert,” are well-adapted for the hot, arid environment, according to the San Diego Zoo. The humps on a camel’s back store fat, which can be used for energy and hydration in between meals. Camels store energy so efficiently that they can go more than a week without water and several months without food. Other residents of the Sahara include a variety of gazelles, addax, cheetahs, caracals, desert foxes and wild dogs, according to the Sahara Conservation Fund. Many reptile species also thrive in the desert environment, including several species of snakes, lizards, and even crocodiles in places where there is enough water. Plant species in the Sahara have adapted to the arid conditions, with roots that reach deep underground to find buried water sources and leaves that are shaped into spines that minimize moisture loss. The most arid parts of the desert are completely void of plant life, but oasis areas, such as the Nile Valley, support a large variety of plants, including olive trees, date palms and various shrubs and grasses. One proposal for mitigating the effects of climate change is to install large-scale wind and solar farms in the Sahara. The farms would provide clean energy and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere, and may also promote increased precipitation in the vicinity. Several activities you can do in the Sahara such as quad biking, stargazing, sand surfing, camping or trekking. Our Sahara Desert Trek is a fantastic adventure, taking us on a 4 day trek to the top of the Chegaga Dunes.
Although water is scarce across the entire region, the Sahara contains two permanent rivers (the Nile and the Niger), at least 20 seasonal lakes and huge aquifers, which are the primary sources of water. Despite the harsh, arid conditions of the desert, several plants and animals call the region home. There are approximately 500 species of plants, 70 known mammalian species, 90 avian species and 100 reptilian species that live in the Sahara, plus several species of spiders, scorpions and other small arthropods, according to World Wildlife Fund. Camels are one of the most iconic animals of the Sahara. The large mammals are native to North America and eventually made their way across the Bering Isthmus between 3 and 5 million years ago, according to a study in the Research Journal of Agriculture and Environmental Management in 2015. Camels were domesticated about 3,000 years ago on the Southeast Arabian Peninsula, to be used for transportation in the desert.The Sahara desert has a variety of land features, but is most famous for the sand dune fields that are often depicted in movies. The dunes can reach almost 600 feet (183 meters) high but they cover only about 15 percent of the entire desert. The average annual temperature is 30°C, whilst the hottest temperature ever recorded was 58°C. The area receives little rainfall, in fact, half of the Sahara Desert receives less than 1 inch of rain every year.

4.Arabian Desert: 900,000 sq. miles

The Arabian Desert appears as a vast expanse of light sand-coloured terrain with an occasional indistinct line of escarpments or mountain ranges, black lava flows, or reddish systems of desert dunes stretching to the horizon. Arabian Desert is the largest desert area on the continent—covering an area of about 900,000 square miles (2,300,000 square km)—and the second largest on Earth, surpassed in size only by the Sahara, in northern Africa. The Arabian desert is part of the Arabian Peninsula that extends across the 220 latitude and 120 to 340 north. Several countries that share the desert land include; Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and the UAE. Large parts of the desert experiences extremely high temperatures, reaching 1300 F during peak summer season. Arabian Desert, great desert region of extreme southwestern Asia that occupies almost the entire Arabian Peninsula. Mountainous highlands rise in the northwestern portion of the Hejaz region, in the Asir region, in Yemen, and in Oman. Lesser ranges have been uncovered by erosion in the interior. Eighteen volcanic fields are scattered through the west, mainly in Hejaz, several of them more than 10,000 square miles (25,000 square km) in area.

The Arabian Desert is bordered to the north by the Syrian Desert, to the northeast and east by the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, to the southeast and south by the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and to the west by the Red Sea. A large part of the Arabian Desert lies within the modern kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Yemen, on the coast of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, borders the desert to the southwest. Oman, bulging out into the Gulf of Oman, lies at the eastern edge of the desert. The sheikhdoms of the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to the west stretch along the southern coast of the Persian Gulf at the desert’s northeastern limit. The emirate of Kuwait abuts the northern Persian Gulf between Saudi Arabia and Iraq. In the northwest the desert extends into Jordan.
Vegetation at first seems nonexistent, but the discerning eye can find sparse patches of growth on the surface, or bits of green where shrubs strive to survive. There is almost always a breeze, which changes seasonally to winds of gale force. The Sun and Moon are bright in clear skies, although dust and humidity may lower visibility. The Arabian Desert consists of two major regions. The first, the ancient Arabian platform, is in the west. It is composed mainly of Precambrian gneiss and was assembled roughly 900 to 541 million years ago. The second region, in the east, comprises sedimentary rock layers deposited over the past 541 million years on continental shelves and within marine basins along the margins of the Arabian platform. Vast amounts of petroleum formed between those sedimentary rock layers, making the Arabian Desert the richest petroleum-producing region in the world. Roughly 33 million years ago, early in the Oligocene Epoch, Arabia began to split away from Africa. That was the onset of a period of rifting that was caused by upwelling from Earth’s mantle beneath the regions now lying on either side of the Red Sea.

5.Gobi Desert: 500,000 sq. miles

Located in Central Asia, the Gobi desert is shared by Mongolia and China. Unlike the Sahara and Arabian deserts, Gobi is mostly made up of hard rock and not sand. The desert is a result of the rain shadow from the tall Himalayan Mountains which prevents precipitation carrying winds from reaching the Gobi. Maximum temperature can touch a high of 1130 F during peak summer season while it can dip to as low as -400 F is some parts. The Gobi Desert is a large desert or brushland region in East Asia. The Gobi is a rain shadow desert, formed by the Tibetan Plateau blocking precipitation from the Indian Ocean reaching the Gobi territory. The Gobi is overall a cold desert, with frost and occasionally snow occurring on its dunes. Besides being quite far north, it is also located on a plateau roughly 910–1,520 m (2,990–4,990 ft) above sea level, which contributes to its low temperatures. An average of approximately 194 mm (7.6 in) of rain falls annually in the Gobi. Additional moisture reaches parts of the Gobi in winter as snow is blown by the wind from the Siberian Steppes.

Large copper deposits are being mined by Rio Tinto Group. The mine was and remains controversial. There was significant opposition in Mongolia’s parliament to the terms under which the mine will proceed, and some are calling for the terms to be renegotiated. The Gobi name come from Mongolian gobi, meaning “waterless place. Gobi is not sandy desert but bare rock. It is possible to drive over this surface by car for long distances in any direction: northward toward the Altai and Hangayn mountain ranges, eastward toward the Da Hinggan Range, or southward toward the Bei Mountains and Huang He valley. The Gobi consists of the Gaxun, Junggar (Dzungarian), and Trans-Altai Gobi in the west, the Eastern, or Mongolian, Gobi in the centre and east, and the Alxa Plateau (Ala Shan Desert) in the south. The Eastern Gobi is similar to the western regions, with elevations varying from 2,300 to 5,000 feet (700 to 1,500 metres), but it receives somewhat more precipitation—up to 8 inches (200 mm) per year—though it lacks significant rivers. The Gobi’s plains consist of chalk and other sedimentary rocks that are chiefly Cenozoic in age (i.e., up to about 66 million years old), though some of the low, isolated hills are older. The terrain contains small masses of shifting sands.

6.Kalahari Desert: 360,000 sq. miles

This subtropical desert is located in the southern part of the African continent and shared between Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Angola. One of the most interesting Kalahari Desert facts is that it is not a desert in the strictest sense of the word, as it receives too much rainfall – between 5 and 10 inches annually. However any rain filters rapidly through the vast expanses of sand, leaving nothing on the surface, turning the Kalahari into the “thirstland”. A more accurate definition of a desert is a region in which “the evaporation rate is twice as great as the precipitation”. This is true for the southwestern half of the Kalahari. The northeastern portion, however, receives much more rainfall and, climatically, cannot qualify as a desert; and yet, it is totally lacking in surface water. In the southwest it merges with the Namib, the coastal desert of Namibia. Kalahari is derived from the Tswana word Kgala, meaning “the great thirst”, or Kgalagadi, meaning “a waterless place”; The Kalahari has vast areas covered by red sand without any permanent surface water. The Kalahari’s longest north–south extent is roughly 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres), and its greatest east–west distance is about 600 miles; its area has been estimated at some 360,000 square miles (930,000 square kilometres). Extended dunes cover most of the north and northwestern parts of the Kalahari. Numerous pans exist within the Kalahari, including the Groot-vloer Pan and Verneukpan where evidence of a wetter climate exists in the form of former contouring for capturing of water. North and east, approximately where the dry forests, savannahs and salt lakes prevail, the climate is sub-humid rather than semi-arid. South and west, where the vegetation is predominantly xeric savanna or even a semi-desert, the climate is “Kalaharian” semi-arid. During peak summer, the temperature can reach 1150 F during the day and fall to 750 F at night. Winter temperatures drop to 100 F. Bedrock is exposed only in the low but vertical-walled hills, called kopjes, that rarely but conspicuously rise above the general surface. Aside from the kopjes, three surfaces characterize virtually all of the Kalahari: sand sheets, longitudinal dunes, and vleis (pans).
Due to its low aridity, the Kalahari supports a variety of flora. The native flora includes acacia trees and many other herbs and grasses. The kiwano fruit, also known as the horned melon, melano, African horned cucumber, jelly melon, or hedged gourd, is endemic to a region in the Kalahari Desert. The Kalahari is home to many migratory birds and animals. Previously havens for wild animals from elephants to giraffes, and for predators such as lions and cheetahs, the riverbeds are now mostly grazing spots, though leopards and cheetahs can still be found. The area is now heavily grazed and cattle fences restrict the movement of wildlife. Among deserts of the Southern Hemisphere, the Kalahari most closely resembles some Australian deserts in its latitude and its mode of formation. The temperatures in the Kalahari Desert are extreme, with summers being very hot while winter temperatures can go below zero degrees Celsius at night. This is a result of the Kalahari’s relatively high altitude and predominantly clear, dry air. Arid-adapted game includes springbok, gemsbok, wildebeest, kudu, steenbok and duiker. The Kalahari is home to desert specialties such as meerkat, bat-eared foxes, cape fox and brown hyena. One of the more unexpected Kalahari Desert facts is that all three African big cats can be found here –cheetah, leopard and the famous black-maned Kalahari lions. The Kalahari is the southernmost desert in Africa. It is the sixth biggest desert by area on Earth and the second biggest in Africa after the Sahara.

7.Great Victoria Desert: 220,000 sq. miles

The largest desert on the Australian continent is located in the southwestern region and extends over 700 miles across. The desert is mostly arid and made up of rocky terrain and undulating dunes. During the summer season, temperatures can exceed 1050 F, and in winters dip to as low as 680 F. The Great Victoria Desert is a sparsely-populated desert ecoregion and interim Australian bioregion in Western Australia and South Australia. The Great Victoria consists of many small sandhills, grassland plains, areas with a closely packed surface of pebbles and salt lakes. The area of the Great Victoria Desert is shared roughly equally by the states of South and Western Australia. It is north of the Nullarbor Plain and south of the Musgrave Ranges. The climate of the GVD is arid, with variable and unpredictable rainfall that can fall in either summer or winter. The median annual rainfall (1890–2005) averaged across the GVD is 162 mm. Its pristine, arid wilderness includes red sand dunes, stony plains and dry salt lakes. There is no permanent surface water, with scarce rock holes, claypans and soaks holding water only during wet periods. Within this landscape there are Aboriginal communities at Oak Valley, Watarru and Walalkara. 15 bird species with a conservation rating including the princess parrot, malleefowl and scarlet chested parrot. The Great Victoria Desert can be very dry and sandy. However, plants and animals still live there. The plants are adapted to the dry, arid climate, otherwise they would not be able to survive. Wallabies, bandy snakes, lizards. kangaroos . and many birds live in the Great Victoria Desert. These animals have also adapted to survive in extreme heat and extreme cold. It was penetrated in 1875 by a party led by the explorer Ernest Giles, who named it the Great Victoria Desert. Supports many vegetation types, including eucalypt open woodlands, mulga woodlands, acacia shrublands, casuarina and mallee shrublands and woodlands, and chenopod and samphire shrublands. Of note are the sparse woodlands of stately marble gums.

8.Patagonia Desert: 200,000 sq. miles

Located in South America between the Andes and the Atlantic Ocean, the Patagonia desert is part of Argentina and Chile. A cold winter desert, temperatures here average 370 F. The Patagonian Desert is the largest of the 40° parallel and is a large cold winter desert, where the temperature rarely exceeds 12 °C and averages just 3 °C. The region experiences about seven months of winter and five months of summer. Frost is not uncommon in the desert but, due to the very dry condition year round, snow is rare. It is bounded, approximately, by the Patagonian Andes to the west, the Colorado River to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Strait of Magellan to the south; the region south of the strait—Tierra del Fuego, which is divided between Argentina and Chile—also is often included in Patagonia. Desert and semidesert cover the Patagonian tableland that extends from the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean. The general aspect of this tableland is one of vast steppelike plains, rising in terrace fashion from high coastal cliffs to the foot of the Andes; but the true aspect of the plains is by no means as simple as such a general description would imply. The land along the Negro River rises in a series of fairly level terraces from about 300 feet (90 metres) at the coast to about 1,300 feet at the junction of the Limay and Neuquen rivers and 3,000 feet at the base of the Andes. South of the Negro River, the plains are much more irregular. Volcanic eruptions occurred in this area until fairly recent times, and basaltic sheets covered the tableland east of Lakes Buenos Aires and Pueyrredon.

  1. Syrian Desert: 200,000 sq. miles

Syrian Desert located in West Asia, the desert forms part of Syria, Iraq, and Jordan. The Syrian desert is about the same size as Patagonia but is a subtropical desert which is mostly dry. The Syrian Desert also known as the Syrian steppe, the Jordanian steppe, or the Badia, is a region of desert, semi-desert and steppe. The land is open, rocky or gravelly desert pavement, cut with occasional wadis. The desert is bounded by the Orontes Valley and the volcanic field of Harrat al-Shamah to the west, and by the Euphrates to the east. In the north, the desert gives way to the more fertile areas and to the south it runs into the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. Several parts of the Syrian Desert have been referred to separately such as the Palmyrene desert around Palmyra, and the Homs desert. The eastern section of the Syrian Desert, that within borders of Iraq, can be referred to as the Western Desert.

The Syrian desert, in turn, is divided into two parts, which differ in their surface structure. The first, a plateau in the southwest, is more elevated than the other part and also much drier. The part to the northeast starts at lower elevation in the south—2,208 feet (673 m)—and ends at 623 feet (190 m) in the north. This part is dry and has dry river channels (wadis) exposed to flooding. These wadis range in length from 93 to 186 miles (150–300 km) and in width from 0.3 to 0.6 miles (0.5 to 1 km). Annual precipitation in the Syrian desert does not exceed 5.85 inches (150 mm). Receiving on the average less than 5 inches (125 mm) of rainfall annually and largely covered by lava flows, it formed a nearly impenetrable barrier between the populated areas of the Levant and Mesopotamia until modern times ; several major motor routes and oil pipelines now bisect it. In the late 1970s, there was much oil exploration.

10.Great Basin Desert: 190,000 sq. miles

The Great Basin Desert is located in the United States and forms part of the Greater North American Desert. It’s mountain peaks (33) reaches 10,000 feet. Since large parts are mountainous, the temperatures vary based on the elevation. It covers an arid expanse of about 190,000 square miles (492,000 square km) and is bordered by the Sierra Nevada range on the west, the Wasatch Mountains on the east, the Columbia Plateau on the north, and the Mojave Desert on the south. Minerals have proved to be the greatest resource of the Great Basin. Much of the nation’s gold, magnesite, barite, and mercury are produced in Nevada, which is also among the leading producers of lithium, silver, diatomite, and gemstones. Utah is the leading producer of beryllium ore and is among the leading producers of gold, silver, copper, iron ore, and molybdenum. The desert is a geographical region that largely overlaps the Great Basin shrub steppe defined by the World Wildlife Fund, and the Central Basin and Range ecoregion defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and United States Geological Survey. The desert is one of the four biologically defined deserts in North America, in addition to the Mojave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan Deserts. There are more than 33 peaks within the desert with summits higher than 9,800 feet (3,000 m), but valleys in the region are also high, most with elevations above 3,900 feet (1,200 m). Different locations in the desert have different amounts of precipitation, depending on the strength of these rain shadows. The Great Basin Desert is the only “cold” desert in the country, where most precipitation falls in the form of snow. A desert is defined as a region that receives less than 10 inches (25cm) of precipitation per year.
The mountain ranges of the Great Basin have been likened, in an old survey report, to a group of caterpillars all crawling irregularly northward. The ranges are from 60 to 120 miles (95 to 190 km) long and 3 to 15 miles (5 to 24 km) wide. The valleys are usually somewhat wider than the ranges and are mostly deserts, with floors 1,000 to 6,000 feet (300 to 1,800 metres) above sea level. The annual rainfall of 6 to 12 inches (150 to 300 mm) in the basin supports little more than sparse desert or semidesert vegetation. In many places volcanic rocks that formed about 30 million years ago have been cut and displaced by the block faults. There are historical records of earthquakes and constant contemporary micro-earthquakes, indicating that faulting has continued to the present day. The valley floors have deep soils resulting from thousands of years of mountain erosion. These valleys receive little rainfall; most of precipitation occurs as winter snow. The combination of hot, dry summers and cold winters results in a characteristic vegetation dominated by aromatic, perennial shrubs such as various forms of sagebrush . This vegetation type is dominated by one species and is known as the Great Basin Sagebrush Zone. In the wetter, more northerly parts there is an increasing proportion of grasses, giving rise to a vegetation type termed Sagebrush Steppe. In other, scattered regions of this desert, where the soil particles are very fine, there are permanent lakes or temporary lakes. These areas and the surrounding lands can have a high salt concentration caused by the evaporation of water. Such areas are dominated by various types of saltbush giving a vegetation type known as Salt-Desert Shrub.

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THE GREAT 10 BIGGEST OCEANS AND SEAS IN THE WORLD BASED ON US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

About 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered with water. This water is composed of the world’s five oceans as well as many other bodies of water. One of these common water body types is a sea, a large lake-type water body that has saltwater and is sometimes attached to an ocean. However, a sea does not have to be connected to an ocean outlet; the world has many inland seas, such as the Caspian. The majority of life on Earth is aquatic. As so much of the Earth’s surface is underwater, it comes as no surprise that marine species outnumber those on land. But, it’s an incredible 94 per cent of the Earth’s living species that exist within the oceans. According to the World Register of Marine Species there are now 240,470 accepted species, but this is believed to be just a small proportion of the species that exist, with new marine life being discovered every day. Over 70 per cent of our planet’s oxygen is produced by the ocean. It’s thought that between 70 and 80 per cent of the oxygen we breathe is produced by marine plants, nearly all of which are marine algae. It’s possible to find rivers and lakes beneath the ocean.
The following is a list of the Earth’s 10 Biggest Occeans and Seas based on US geological survey.

1.Pacific Ocean

The word “Pacific” means peaceful. The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on the planet. It is so large it is bigger than the landmass of all the world’s continents combined. The Pacific Ocean is located between Americas to the East of the Pacific Ocean basin and the Asian and Australian continents to the West. The Equator divides the Pacific Ocean into the North Pacific Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean. It covers more than 30% of the earth’s surface. The Pacific Ocean is also the deepest ocean. The Pacific Ocean contains around 25,000 islands. The ring of fire is located in the Pacific Ocean basin. A number of volcanoes form a ring around the basin which is where the name comes from. The Pacific Ocean contains more than 75,000 volcanoes. Temperatures vary across the Pacific Ocean. The closer to the equator the warmer the water’s temperatures. Water near the poles reaches the freezing point.

The Pacific Ocean is home to most of the world’s islands. The Pacific Ocean is also home to many Atolls. An Atoll is a coral island surrounded by a lagoon. Atolls are only found in warm ocean waters. The Pacific Ocean is also home to the Great Barrier Reef. This reef is the largest in the world and stretches more than 1,429 miles. The Pacific Ocean actually shrinks by one inch every year , this is caused by the movement of tectonic plates. Marine Pollution has increased by over 100 times in the Pacific Ocean over the past 40 years. Pollution is most prevalent in the northeast part of the Pacific Ocean. The main culprit for the pollution of the water is small fragments of plastic which float in the water, polluting the surrounding environment and endangering wildlife. In addition to this, the Pacific has been polluted by the debris from satellite crashes, such as Mars 96, which broke up over a 200-mile stretch of the water, and also hit Chile and Bolivia.

2.Atlantic Ocean

Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean out of the other 5 world oceans, it is the second youngest. It covers approximately 20 percent of Earth’s surface and about 29 percent of its water surface area. The Atlantic Ocean is incredibly deep. It has an average depth of 10,925 feet (3,300 metres) and a maximum depth of 27,493 feet (8,380 metres) in the Puerto Rico Trench, north of the island of Puerto Rico. It has an area of about 106,460,000 km2 (41,100,000 sq mi). Atlantic Ocean, body of salt water covering approximately one-fifth of Earth’s surface and separating the continents of Europe and Africa to the east from those of North and South America to the west. The ocean’s name, derived from Greek mythology, means the “Sea of Atlas.” The Atlantic is, generally speaking, S-shaped and narrow in relation to its length. On average, the Atlantic is the saltiest of the world’s major oceans. The Equator divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North Atlantic Ocean and the South Atlantic Ocean and is located between Americas to the West of the Atlantic Ocean basin and the continents of Europe and Africa to the East. The Atlantic Ocean’s climatic zones vary with latitude: The warmest climatic zones stretch across the Atlantic north of the equator, while the coldest zones are in the high latitudes corresponding to the areas covered by sea ice. The Atlantic Ocean fisheries are the second most important in the world accounting for 28%, or 22,434,652 mt, of the global catch in 2017; of the seven regions delineated by the Food and Agriculture Organization in the Atlantic basin. Ocean water is on the move, affecting your climate, your local ecosystem, and the seafood that you eat. Ocean currents, abiotic features of the environment, are continuous and directed movements of ocean water. These currents are on the ocean’s surface and in its depths, flowing both locally and globally. Winds, water density, and tides all drive ocean currents. Ocean sediments comprise terrigenous, pelagic, and authigenic materials, which are so identified based on their origin and location on the sea floor. Terrigenous deposits formed by erosion, weathering, and volcanic activity on land and then washed to sea comprise sand, mud, and rock particles resting primarily on the continental shelves.

Terrigenous deposits are thickest off the mouths of large rivers or off desert coasts. Pelagic deposits, covering the sea floor in the deep waters far from shore are of two general types: the red clays resulting primarily from dust that has settled on the water, and the oozes, which are the remains of organisms that sink to the ocean floor. Depending on the predominant types of organisms forming them, the oozes are either calcareous or siliceous. Covering most of the ocean floor and ranging in thickness from 200 to 11,000 feet (60 to 3,300 meters), pelagic deposits are thickest in the convergence belts and in the zones of upwelling. Authigenic comprise materials such as manganese nodules that occur where sedimentation proceeds slowly or where currents sort the deposits. The salinity of the surface waters in the open ocean ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand (3.3 – 3.7 percent) by mass and varies with latitude and season. Surface salinity values are influenced by evaporation, precipitation, river inflow, and melting of sea ice. Although the minimum salinity values are found just north of the equator, in general the lowest values are in the high latitudes and along coasts where large rivers flow into the ocean. Maximum salinity values occur at about 25° north and south of the equator, in subtropical regions with low rainfall and high evaporation.

3.Indian Ocean

The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world’s oceanic divisions. It covers 70,560,000 km2 (27,240,000 sq mi) or 19.8% of the water on Earth’s surface. Indian Ocean’s average depth is 12,990 feet (3,960 metres), and its deepest point, in the Sunda Deep of the Java Trench off the southern coast of the island of Java, is 24,442 feet (7,450 metres). It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. Indian Ocean is unique. It constitutes the core of the large-scale Tropical Warm Pool which, when interacting with the atmosphere, affects the climate both regionally and globally. The name originates from the location around the Indian penisula. In size the Indian Ocean is comparable with roughly 5.5 times the size of the USA. Northern Indian Ocean also is the most important transport route for oil as it connects the oil-rich countries of the Middle East Each with Asia. Every day tankers are carrying a cargo of 17 million barrels of crude oil from the Persian Gulf on its waters. 40% of the world’s offshore oil production comes from the Indian Ocean, mainly from oilfields of Indonesia and the Persian Gulf. Suez Canal in Egypt, the Strait of Malacca between Malaysia and Indonesia are the two most well known waterways in the Indian Ocean. Asia blocks heat export and prevents the ventilation of the Indian Ocean thermocline.

The Indian Ocean is the warmest ocean in the world. Long-term ocean temperature records show a rapid, continuous warming in the Indian Ocean, at about 1.2 °C (34.2 °F). The temperature of 28 degrees Celsius/82 degrees Fahrenheit or higher is reached in coastal regions near the equator. On average the Indian Ocean has a minimum temperature of around 22 degrees Celsius/71 degree Fahrenheit. However in the southern regions, nearer to the polar regions the temperatures drop drastically below 40 degrees latitude south. Singapore port, Mumbai and Chennai ports in India, Aden (Yemen), Jakarta (Indonesia), Mombasa (Kenya), Durban port(South Africa) are the major seaports of the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean contains the largest submarine fans of the world, the Bengal Fan and Indus Fan, and the largest areas of slope terraces and rift valleys. The Indian Ocean is bounded by Iran, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh to the north; the Malay Peninsula, the Sunda Islands of Indonesia, and Australia to the east; Antarctica to the south; and Africa and the Arabian Peninsula to the west. Mumbai (India), Colombo (Sri Lanka), Singapore (Singapore), Perth (Australia), Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania), Durban (South Africa) are some big coastal cities situated along the Indian Ocean. The Indian Ocean provides home to many endangered sea species such as turtles, seals and dugongs (also called sea cows).

4.Southern Ocean

The Southern Ocean, also known as the Antarctic Ocean, South Polar Ocean or the Austral Ocean. Southern portions of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans and their tributary seas surrounding Antarctica are called Southern Ocean. It is regarded as the second-smallest of the five principal oceanic divisions: smaller than the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans but larger than the Arctic Ocean. Southern Ocean is the fourth biggest ocean on earth and covers only 6% of the earth’s surface. The Southern is between 4,000m and 4,800m/12,000ft and 14,000ft deep with some deep trenches. The average depth is about 3,200m/10,700ft. The deepest point in the Southern Ocean is in the South Sandwich Trench with a depth of over 7,000m 23,000ft. Icebergs will be encountered in the Southern Ocean during any season. Big iceberg fragments drift in the water. They can big several hundred metres high. The sea temperatures of the Southern Ocean range from -2 deg Celsius to 10 degrees Celsius/28F – 50F. The climatic conditions depend also on the seasons. The Southern Ocean is thus ’emerging’ from the waters of the South Atlantic Ocean, the South Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean in latitudes south of 60 degrees South.

The Southern Ocean is now the fourth largest of the world’s five oceans. The ocean’s most important organism in the higher food chain is the small, shrimplike krill. Animals on the sea bottom of the near-shore zone include the sessile hydrozoans, corals, sponges, and bryozoans, as well as the foraging, crablike sea spiders and isopods, the annelid worm polychaete, echinoids, starfish, and a variety of crustaceans and mollusks. At the sea bottom there are also eelpouts, sea snails, rat-tailed fishes, and codlike fishes. It was formed ‘only’ 30 million years ago when South America and Antarctica moved apart. Southern Ocean is home to the emperor penguins and wandering albatrosses, blue whales and fur seals. The biggest of the seals are the elephant seals which weigh up to 4,000kg/8,818lb. Every spring over 100 million birds nest on the rocky shores of Antarctica. There are only a few ports in the Southern Ocean. The ports belong mainly to research stations, such as the Rothera Station (British research base), Palmer Station (USA), Mawson Station (Australia), but the southernmost ports in Australia are recognised also as ports of the Southern Ocean. Among them are Adelaide port in South Australia and Macquarie Port on Tasmania.

5.Arctic Ocean

The Arctic Ocean is located in the northern hemisphere north of 60 degrees North latitude and borders the Eurasian and North American continents and surrounds Greenland and several islands. The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest of the world’s five major oceans. It is also known as the coldest of all the oceans. It is mostly covered by sea ice throughout the year and almost completely in winter. The Arctic Ocean derives its name from the word ‘arktos’ which means ‘bear’ in Greek. It covers less than 3% of the earth’s surface. The Arctic Ocean’s surface temperature and salinity vary seasonally as the ice cover melts and freezes; its salinity is the lowest on average of the five major oceans, due to low evaporation, heavy fresh water inflow from rivers and streams. Its area of 5,440,000 square miles (14,090,000 square km). The deepest sounding obtained in Arctic waters is 18,050 feet (5,502 metres), but the average depth is only 3,240 feet (987 metres). Distinguished by several unique features, including a cover of perennial ice and almost complete encirclement by the landmasses of North America, Eurasia, and Greenland, the north polar region has been a subject of speculation since the earliest concepts of a spherical Earth. From astronomical observations, the Greeks theorized that north of the Arctic Circle there must be a midnight sun at midsummer and continual darkness at midwinter. The sediments of the Arctic Ocean floor record the natural of the physical environment, climate, and ecosystems on time scales determined by the ability to sample them through coring and at resolutions determined by the rates of deposition. Of the hundreds of sediment corings taken, only four penetrate deeply enough to predate the onset of cold climatic conditions.

The oldest (approximately 80-million-year-old black muds and 67-million-year-old siliceous oozes) document that at least part of the Arctic Ocean was relatively warm and biologically productive prior to 40 million years ago.
The Arctic Ocean is warming faster than anywhere else on Earth and feeling the onslaught of climate change. The U.S., Canada, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and Russia all have territories that reach into the Arctic Ocean. As once impenetrable sea ice becomes less stable, Northern Hemisphere countries have begun to take a greater interest in the Arctic as a path for shipping lanes, military presence, and commercial opportunities, particularly oil and gas exploration. Many animals that are often seen roaming the sea ice are also adapted for the water. Polar bears have large, paddle-like paws to propel them through the water, and they’ve been documented swimming for hours. Walruses have large tusks that they use to pull themselves out of the water, and they find much of their food by foraging along the sea floor. Whales and fish are often an important food source for indigenous people living in the Arctic, but commercial fishing has been banned in much of the Arctic Ocean.

6.Arabian Sea

The Arabian Sea has been an important marine trade route since the era of the coastal sailing vessels. The Arabian Sea was formed within the past roughly 50 million years as the Indian subcontinent collided with Asia. The Arabian Sea has a monsoon climate. Minimum air temperatures of about 75 to 77 °F (24 to 25 °C) at the sea’s surface occur in the central Arabian Sea in January and February, while temperatures higher than 82 °F (28 °C) occur in both June and November. Its total area is 3,862,000 km2 (1,491,000 sq mi) and its maximum depth is 4,652 meters (15,262 ft). Arabian Sea is bounded to the west by the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, to the north by Iran and Pakistan, to the east by India, and to the south by the remainder of the Indian Ocean. To the north the Gulf of Oman connects the sea with the Persian Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz. To the west the Gulf of Aden connects it with the Red Sea via the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Major seaports include Kandla Port, Okha Port, Mumbai Port, Nhava Sheva Port (Navi Mumbai), Mormugão Port (Goa), New Mangalore Port, Vizhinjam International Seaport and Kochi Port in India, the Port of Karachi, Port Qasim, and the Gwadar Port in Pakistan, Chabahar Port in Iran and the Port of Salalah in Salalah, Oman.

The biggest river flowing into the sea is the Indus River. Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai is the largest port in the Arabian Sea, and the largest container port in India. Major Indian ports in the Arabian Sea are Mundra Port, Kandla Port, Nava Sheva, Vizhinjam International Seaport The Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport, also known as the Vizhinjam International Seaport and the Port of Trivandrum. Kochi Port, Mumbai Port, and Mormugao. There are several islands in the Arabian Sea, with the most important ones being Lakshadweep Islands (India), Socotra (Yemen), Masirah (Oman) and Astola Island (Pakistan). Stretching southeastward from Socotra is the submarine Carlsberg Ridge, which coincides with the belt of seismic activity in the Indian Ocean that divides the Arabian Sea into two major basins—the Arabian Basin to the east and the Somali Basin to the west. The region, which contains many fish remains, is known as a fish cemetery. The Arabian Sea contributes to a monsoon climate in the surrounding region by providing the water necessary for the wet storms. During the monsoon season, winds on the sea generally blow from the southwest and are particularly cold. A rich and varied aquatic habitat is supported in the Arabian Sea by high levels of inorganic

7.South China Sea

The South China Sea is a marginal sea of the Western Pacific Ocean. It is bounded in the north by the shores of South China (hence the name), in the west by the Indochinese Peninsula, in the east by the islands of Taiwan and northwestern Philippines (mainly Luzon, Mindoro and Palawan), and in the south by Borneo, eastern Sumatra and the Bangka Belitung Islands, encompassing an area of around 3,500,000 km2 (1,400,000 sq mi). The South China Sea is a region of tremendous economic and geostrategic importance. One-third of the world’s maritime shipping passes through it, carrying over US $3 trillion in trade each year.[1] Huge oil and natural gas reserves are believed to lie beneath its seabed.
At present, it is improbable that the PLA would attempt to actually land troops and occupy the island of Taiwan, because the probability of a successful military operation with minimum casualties for China is low.
The South China Sea is a critical commercial gateway for a significant portion of the world’s merchant shipping, and hence is an important economic and strategic sub-region of the Indo-Pacific. Geographically, the South China Sea plays a significant role in the geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific. The South China Sea is bordered by Brunei, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Their recent economic growth has contributed to a large portion of the world’s commercial merchant shipping passing through these waters. Japan and South Korea rely heavily on the South China Sea for their supply of fuels and raw materials and as an export route, although the availability of diversionary sea lanes bypassing the South China Sea provides non-littoral states with some flexibility in this regard. The South China Sea also contains rich, though unregulated and over-exploited fishing grounds and is reported to hold significant reserves of undiscovered oil and gas.

The South China Sea Islands consist of over 250 islands, atolls, cays, shoals, reefs and seamounts in the South China Sea. The islands are mostly low and small, and have few inhabitants. The islands and surrounding seas are subject to overlapping territorial claims by the countries bordering the South China Sea. More than half of the world’s fishing vessels are in the South China Sea, and millions of people depend on these waters for their food and livelihoods.
But the South China Sea has been dangerously overfished. Total fish stocks have been depleted by 70 to 95 percent since the 1950s. Coral reefs, which are vital to marine habitats, have been declining by 16 percent per decade, according to a report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The region also is the subject of more than a dozen overlapping and interconnected disputes over who is in charge of the various islands, rocks, shoals and reefs scattered throughout the South China Sea waters. For example, the Spratly Islands are claimed in entirety by China, Taiwan and Vietnam and in part by Brunei, the Philippines and Malaysia; each except Brunei occupies some of the islands.

  1. Caribbean Sea

The Caribbean Sea is an American Mediterranean sea of the Atlantic Ocean in the tropics of the Western Hemisphere. The entire area of the Caribbean Sea, the numerous islands of the West Indies, and adjacent coasts, are collectively known as the Caribbean. The name “Caribbean” derives from the Caribs, one of the region’s dominant Native American groups at the time of European contact during the late 15th century. It is approximately 1,063,000 square miles (2,753,000 square km) in extent. The Caribbean Sea is considered a relatively shallow sea in comparison to other bodies of water. The Caribbean Sea is a tropical sea in the Western Hemisphere, part of the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of the Gulf of Mexico. It is located between latitudes 9° and 22° N and longitudes 89° and 60° W. The Caribbean Sea is home to over 7,000 islands that belong to 28 nations. The habitats supported by the reefs of the Caribbean Sea are critical to such tourist activities as fishing and diving, and provide an annual economic value to Caribbean nations of $3.1–$4.6 billion. To the south it is bounded by the coasts of Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama; to the west by Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, and the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico; to the north by the Greater Antilles islands of Cuba, Hispaniola, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico; and to the east by the north-south chain of the Lesser Antilles, consisting of the island arc that extends from the Virgin Islands in the northeast to Trinidad, off the Venezuelan coast, in the southeast. Within the boundaries of the Caribbean itself, Jamaica, to the south of Cuba, is the largest of a number of islands. The sea’s deepest point is the Cayman Trough, between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica, at 7,686 m (25,217 ft) below sea level. The Wider Caribbean Region includes 35 states and territories that border two interconnected watersheds: the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

In the tropical waters of the Caribbean Sea the average temperature is 27°C and it varies no more than 3°C. Salinity is highest from January to May and lowest from June to December. Toward fall in the northern hemisphere, salinity drops in the southeastern end of the Caribbean Sea, due to discharges from the Orinoco and Amazon River watersheds. There are five basins within the Caribbean Sea, they are the Yucatan, Cayman, Colombian, Venezuelan, and Grenada basins. The Caribbean Sea floor is also home to two oceanic trenches: the Hispaniola Trench and Puerto Rico Trench, which put the area at a higher risk of earthquakes. Underwater earthquakes pose a threat of generating tsunamis which could have a devastating effect on the Caribbean islands. Scientific data reveals that over the last 500 years the area has seen a dozen earthquakes above 7.5 magnitude. The sea is one of the largest oil production areas in the world, producing approximately 170 million tons per year. The area also generates a large fishing industry for the surrounding countries, accounting for half a million metric tons of fish a year. A total of 12,046 marine species live in the Caribbean Sea. Of these, there are more than 1,000 known fish species, including flying fish, moray eels, bull sharks, tiger sharks, Caribbean reef sharks, giant oceanic manta rays, and parrotfish, as well as 90 mammal species, including dolphins, sperm whales, manatees, humpback whales, and seals.

  1. Mediterranean Sea

The opening of the Suez Canal the Mediterranean Sea also became an important strategic location for many European nations and as a result, the United Kingdom and France began building colonies and naval bases along its shores. The Mediterranean Sea is a large sea or body of water that is located between Europe, northern Africa, and southwestern Asia. Mediterranean Sea became controlled by the Byzantines, Arabs and Ottoman Turks. Its total area is 970,000 square miles (2,500,000 sq km) and its greatest depth is located off the coast of Greece at around 16,800 feet (5,121 m) deep. The average depth of the sea, however, is about 4,900 feet (1,500 m). Stone age tools have been discovered by archeologists along its shores and it is believed that the Egyptians began sailing on it by 3000 B.C.E. Today the Mediterranean is one of the busiest seas in the world. The Mediterranean Sea is a very large sea that is bounded by Europe, Africa, and Asia and stretches from the Strait of Gibraltar on the west to the Dardanelles and the Suez Canal on the east.

Geographically, the Mediterranean Sea is divided into two different basins—the Western Basin and the Eastern Basin. In total, the Mediterranean Sea borders 21 different nations as well as several different territories. Some of the nations with borders along the Mediterranean include Spain, France, Monaco, Malta, Turkey, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Morocco. It also borders several smaller seas and is home to over 3,000 islands. Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the narrow Strait of Gibraltar between Spain and Morocco. Trade and shipping traffic is prominent and there is also a significant amount of fishing activity in its water. The Mediterranean Sea has a large number of different fish and mammal species that are mainly derived from the Atlantic Ocean. Harbor porpoises, Bottlenose Dolphins, and Loggerhead Sea Turtles are common in the sea. In addition, tourism is also a large part of the region’s economy because of its climate. The largest of these islands are Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica, Cyprus, and Crete. The Mediterranean Sea loses more water by evaporation than it is fed by the rivers draining into it. The Mediterranean Sea is known for being an important historic trade path and a strong factor in the development of the region around it.

  1. Bering Sea

The Bering Sea is separated from the Gulf of Alaska by the Alaska Peninsula. It covers over 2,000,000 square kilometers (770,000 sq mi) and is bordered on the east and northeast by Alaska, on the west by Russian Far East and the Kamchatka Peninsula, on the south by the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands and on the far north by the Bering Strait, which connects the Bering Sea to the Arctic Ocean’s Chukchi Sea. The Bering Sea is a marginal sea of the Northern Pacific Ocean. It comprises a deep water basin, which then rises through a narrow slope into the shallower water above the continental shelves. Bering Sea and Strait, Russian Beringovo More and Proliv Beringa, northernmost part of the Pacific Ocean, separating the continents of Asia and North America. To the north the Bering Sea connects with the Arctic Ocean through the Bering Strait, at the narrowest point of which the two continents are about 53 miles (85 kilometres) apart. The Bering Sea ecosystem includes resources within the jurisdiction of the United States and Russia, as well as international waters in the middle of the sea. The interaction between currents, sea ice, and weather makes for a vigorous and productive ecosystem.

Fishers and crabbers in such a harsh environment occasionally create opportunities for beauty. The Bering Sea, near the chain of the Aleutian Islands, is one of the most intense patches of ocean on Earth. Strong winds, freezing temperatures, and icy water are normal conditions. The combination makes for some of the most ferocious waves on the planet, where the water can rise and fall 30 feet on a normal day. A lasting shift could dramatically transform a region with some of the nation’s most valuable fisheries and indigenous communities whose way of life relies on ice. Already scientists have documented changes in algae as well as zooplankton, fish, and seabird populations. The shifts are “a bit of a warning sign that these things can happen rather quickly,” says Robert Foy, the Juneau-based science and research director for NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center, which is headquartered in Seattle.

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THE GREAT 10 LARGEST HINDU TEMPLES IN THE WORLD

Largest 10 Hindu Temples in the World
Temple is a building devoted to the worship of a god or gods for religious practice. A Hindu temple is a symbolic house, seat and body of divinity for Hindus. It is a structure designed to bring human beings and gods together, using symbolism to express the ideas and beliefs of Hinduism. Temples of Hindu deities exist not only in India but around the world. People of the whole world are surprised by seeing the ancient Hindu temples famous for their vastness and amazing architecture. These amazing structures have been built several hundred years ago without any mechanical support. The spiritual principles symbolically represented in Hindu temples are given in the ancient Sanskrit texts of India for example, Vedas and Upanishads, while their structural rules are described in various ancient Sanskrit treatises on architecture. Here we are telling you about the 10 largest Hindu temples present in the world.

1.Angkor Wat, Angkor

man looking at an ancient temple
Photo by Tiago Cardoso on Pexels.com

Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia. It is the largest religious monument in the world, on a site measuring 162.6 hectares (1,626,000 m2; 402 acres) which was built for king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. The cultures of Southeast Asia reflect long periods of both Indian and Chinese influence. The temple complex contains numerous stone bas-reliefs in a highly refined style; many depict scenes from Hindu myth and legend. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious center since its foundation — first Hindu, dedicated to the god Shri Vishnu, then Buddhist. The most important structure in Angkor Thom is the temple known as the Bayon, whose most distinctive feature is the enormous stone faces found atop its towers, each face carefully constructed from multiple blocks of stone.

On the island of Java, the massive Buddhist monument known as Borobudur testifies both to Indian influence and the persistence of local cultures. The structure of Borobudur was created in the century by rulers of the Sailendra dynasty. A vast structure built on an actual hill, its plan forms a mandala and it features no fewer than 72 Buddha figures set into individual domes. While temples in the form of mountains or mounds are a feature of Indian Buddhism, Borobudur is nevertheless unique and scholars speculate that its form and function are best explained by ties to native traditions. The decorations on the walls of the temple have a uniquely Hindu story telling characteristics. They have fables and myths pictures that tell of the temple’s origin in Hindu religion.

2.Swami narayan Mandir, New Jersey

The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Robbinsville in Central New Jersey is a Hindu place of worship built by the BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha and consecrated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, led by Mahant Swami Maharaj, is a denomination of the Swaminarayan branch of Hinduism. One of the most interesting facts about the making of the Akshardham Temple in New Jersey is that stone marble was sourced from Europe and handcrafted in Rajasthan for years. An epitome of Indian culture, spirituality, and architecture, Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple is an abode of God built in 2005. The mandir is built of hand-carved Italian Carrara marble, Turkish limestone, and Indian pink stone. Over 8000 volunteers from all around the world were involved in the construction of intricately carved marble and sandstone structure of the temple. The central shrine holds the murtis of Swaminarayan and Gunatitanand Swami, together worshipped as Akshar-Purushottam Maharaj. Similarly, different shrines hold other murtis, including Radha & Krishna, Shiva & Parvati, Sita & Ram, Hanuman, Ganapati, and the lineage of BAPS gurus who are Swaminarayan’s spiritual successors. It was quite challenging to transport tons of marble from Europe to USA in a certain time frame. The mandir was constructed according to guidelines outlined in ancient Vedas, or Hindu scriptures. According to The Times of India, 2,000 artisans in Rajasthan are hand-crafting the temples in Italian and Rajasthani marble.

The finished pieces are then assembled in New Jersey by a team of master craftsmen. The main gate of the mandap, called Mayur Dwar, is a major attraction of the temple. The Mayur Dwar is meticulously adorned with 236 sculptures including peacocks, elephants, monks and devotees carved out of marble. The ornate pillars, panels, walls and ceilings depict stories of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and ancient scriptures. This is beautiful both outside and inside. The temple is the first and only Swaminarayan temple outside India to have the twin form of Nar Narayan as central deities. It is also one of the first in the US to have domes. The architecture and intricate marble carvings were absolutely beautiful. Visiting this temple is a truly unique experience. The temple campus sprawls over 160 acres. A total of 4.7 million man hours spent by craftsmen and volunteers of all ages went into the making of the largest Hindu temple in USA, which is apparently not visible to the naked eye. A seat of spirituality, divinity, Hinduism and humanitarianism, the temple opened its door to devotees. It is made of chiseled Italian marble, this New Jersey Indian temple is a wonder in itself.

3.Ranganathaswamy Temple, Thiruchirapalli

Srirangam temple is often listed as the largest functioning Hindu temple in the world. The temple, located in Tamil Nadu, occupies an area of 156 acres (631,000 m²) with a perimeter of 4,116m (10,710 feet) making it the largest temple in India and one of the largest religious complexes in the world. The Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple is one of the most distinguished and captivating Hindu temples in the world. This temple is considered to be the world’s largest functioning Hindu temple and the largest Temple in India. The temple houses the tallest gopuram or temple tower across South India. Located in Srirangam in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, the magnificent Ranganathaswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Ranganatha, a form of Lord Vishnu in a reclining pose. This temple has 108 deities displaying different forms of Vishnu.

The largest functioning Hindu temple is spread over an area of about 155 acres within a perimeter of 4 km. The temple houses the ancient inscriptions not just in Tamil, but also in other languages like, Sanskrit, Telegu, Marathi, Oriya and Kannada. The temple is enclosed by seven concentric walls with a total length of 32,592 feet or over six miles. These walls are enclosed by 21 Gopurams. The Ranganathanswamy Temple complex with 49 shrines, all dedicated to Lord Vishnu, is so huge that it is like a city within itself. However, the entire temple is not used for the religious purpose, the first three out of seven concentric walls are used by private commercial establishments such as restaurants, hotels, flower market, and residential homes. The temple was awarded with UNESCO Asia Pacific Award for Cultural Heritage Conservation Program in the year 2017 for the category ‘Award of Merit’. The annual 21 days festival attracts more than 1 million visitors every year. This is one of the must visit festivals in south India. Another interesting fact about the temple is that the walls of the temple complex are painted with exquisite paintings using herbal and vegetable dyes.

  1. Chhatarpur Temple, New Delhi

Commonly known as Chhatarpur Mandir, the Shree Adya Katyayani Shaktipeeth Mandir is nestled amidst the beautiful surroundings of the historical Mehrauli area in south Delhi, barely 4 kilometres from the Qutub Minar. this grand temple is dedicated to goddess Katyayani. It is also counted among the heritage sites of South Delhi. Spread over an area of about 70 acres, the temple features separate as well as shared areas dedicated to each deity divided into three complexes. There are captivating idols of deities like Katyayani, Laxmi-Ganesh, Shiva-Parvati, and Hanuman. It is like a marble art coming alive and is a modern mix of both northern and southern architectures. This temple was considered as the biggest temple in India and second largest in the world, before the Akshardham Temple was created in 2005 in Delhi. Thousands of devotees assemble here during festivals of Dussehra, Mahashivratri and Janmashtami, when special pujas and grand celebrations.

In the courtyard of the temple is a holy peepal tree where people tie threads for wish fulfilment. The temple was established in 1974, by Baba Sant Nagpal ji, who died in 1998. His samadhi shrine lies in the premises of the Shiv-Gauri Nageshwar Mandir within the temple complex. This temple is totally constructed from marble and on all the facets there is jaali (perforated stone or latticed screen) work. It can be classified a vesara style of architecture. Katyayani is one of the incarnations of Goddess Durga, also known as Parvati or Lalitha, the wife of Lord Shiva and has the following story as the background. There was a Rishi named Katyayan who worshipped Durga devi and asked her for a boon that she be born as his daughter. Devi got pleased and fulfilled his wish. In this Avtaar, she killed Mahishasur, the demon. The idol of Devi is depicted as golden complexioned and carrying various weapons in her hand for destruction of evil.

5.Swaminarayan Akshardham ,New Delhi

Akshardham is a Hindu temple complex in Delhi, India. Also referred to as Delhi Akshardham or Swaminarayan Akshardham, the complex displays millennia of traditional Indian and Hindu culture, spirituality, and architecture. The building was inspired and moderated by Pramukh Swami Maharaj, the spiritual head of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, whose 3,000 volunteers helped 7,000 artisans construct Akshardham. The temple was officially inaugurated on 6 November, 2005. The construction of Akshardham Complex was completed in just five years with the efforts of Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) along with the help of thousands of artisans and BAPS volunteers. The temple is spread over 83,342 square feet area. It consists of 350 feet long, 315 feet wide and 141 feet high monuments, which are very attractive. The structure of the temple was designed in such a way that it can last for at least 1000 years more.

Akshardham Temple comprises 200 sculptured stone figures of India’s sages, monks, Acharyas and divine incarnations. It also consists of 234 ornately carved pillars, 9 ornate domes, Gajendra Pith and 20,000 statues of divine figures of India. Akshardham Temple is surrounded by Narayan Sarovar, which is a lake and carries water from 151 lakes in India. There are 108 faces of cows placed along the lakes which represent 108 Hindu deities. It has a 3,000-feet-long orbital path for Parikrama made up of red stones brought from Rajasthan. There is also an exquisite garden in the Akshardham temple complex in the shape of lotus and therefore is also, known as the Lotus Garden. The magnificent musical fountain show of this beautiful temple is the centre of attraction for the audience. Another interesting fact about Akshardham temple is that there are 10 gates, which represents the 10 directions according to Vedic literature. In the Akshardham temple complex, there is a Yagnapurush Kund which is the largest yagna kund in the world. In the temple premises there are green lawns which are collectively known as Garden of India or Bharat Upavan. The temple has 11 feet high beautiful statue of Lakshmi Narayan and other statues of Shiva Parvati, Radha Krishna and Sita Ram within the memorial.

6.Besakih Temple, Bali, Indonesia

Besakih Temple is a pura complex in the village of Besakih on the slopes of Mount Agung in eastern Bali, Indonesia. It is known as and accepted as Bali’s Mother Temple for more than a thousand years. It is the most important, the largest and holiest temple of Hindu religion in Bali, and one of a series of Balinese temples. Perched nearly 1000 meters up the side of Gunung Agung, it is an extensive complex of 23 separate but related temples with the largest and most important being Pura Penataran Agung. The temple is built on six levels, terraced up the slope. The entrance is marked by a candi bentar (split gateway), and beyond it the Kori Agung is the gateway to the second courtyard. At least 70 celebrations take place at Besakih every year, as each shrine has its own anniversary. Its high location offers spectacular countryside views with rice paddies, hills, mountains, and streams. visiting the temple sanctuaries of Besakih is a special pilgrimage.

Mount Agung’s position gives it an almost mystical quality. Several stairs lead up to the sacred mountainside, leading to temples that vary by type, status, and function. Pura Penataran Agung has white banners for Shiva, the destroyer; Pura Kiduling Kreteg features red banners for Brahma, the creator; and Pura Batu Madeg represents Vishnu, the preserver, with its black banners. Pura Pasimpangan lies on the downstream side (on the east of the main street), while Pura Pangubengan can be found upstream. A series of eruptions of Mount Agung in 1963, which killed approximately 1,700 people, also threatened Pura Besakih. The lava flows missed the temple complex by mere meters. This complex of Hindu temples is the largest, holiest and most important on the island and miraculously survived the catastrophic volcanic eruption. The location of Mount Agung gives the temple complex a mystical quality and for the local Balinese, visiting this temple sanctuary is a truly special pilgrimage. It serves as a popular destination for visitors to Bali and as a place of prayer for local Hindu people.

7.Belur Math, West Bengal

Mutt is the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda, a chief disciple of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. It is located on the west bank of Hooghly River, Belur, West Bengal, India and is one of the significant institutions in Calcutta. This temple is the heart of the Ramakrishna Movement. The temple is notable for its architecture that fuses Hindu, Christian and Islamic motifs as a symbol of unity of all religions. Swami Shivananda said about the earlier temple echoes in our ears: ‘This is our shrine. Sit here for a while and do japa. Sri Ramakrishna is present here fully awakened; he sees and hears everything; … pray to him for bhakti, mukti, wisdom, power of discrimination, dispassion, liberation or money, power, pleasures of life or anything; you will get whatever you want.’ Even people not interested in religion come here for the peace it exudes. The serene campus of belur math on the Ganga includes temples dedicated to Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Sarada Devi and Swami Vivekananda, in which their relics are enshrined, and the main monastery of the

Ramakrishna order. The place has been sanctified by the stay of Swami Vivekananda and most of the monastic disciples of Sri Ramakrishna who spent several years here. Holy Mother Sri Sarada Devi also visited this place on several occasions. The room in which Swamiji attained Mahasamadhi has been preserved here. This place of religious importance is visited by people from all over India and abroad. The main gate of belur math leads to the Ramkrishna Sarada Mandir. belur math has also provided other things such as an art college, an industrial school and charitable dispensary. belur math is free from bigotry and sectarian rational and is modern in outlook. Belur math has an amazingly big prayer hall, where you can find the awesome statue of Ramakrishna. This international tourist attraction place is based on the principle of religious fraternity, as was advocated by Ramakrishna Paramhansa. This is also reflected in the architectural design of Math, which exhibits a blend of temple, church and mosque patterns.

  1. Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram

The architecture of the temple represents the link between arts and spirituality. Thillai Natarajah Temple, Chidambaram – Chidambaram Thillai Natarajar-Koothan Kovil or Chidambaram temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the centre of the temple town of Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu in east-central South India. Chidambaram is a temple complex spread over 40 acres (160,000 m2) in the heart of the city. The Cholas considered Lord Shiva as Nataraj as their family deity. The temple has five main Halls or Sabhas namely the Kanaka Sabha, the Cit Sabha, Nritta Sabha, Deva Sabha and Raja Sabha. This temple is located at the Center Point of world ‘s Magnetic Equator. amoung the “Pancha bootha” temples, Chidambaram denotes the Skies. Kalahasthi denotes Wind. Kanchi Ekambareswar denotes land. All these 3 temples are located in a straight line at 79 degrees 41 minutes Longitude. This can be verified. An amazing fact & astronomical miracle.

It is truly a large temple which is completely used for religious purpose. Temple roof is made of 21600 gold sheets which denotes the 21600 breaths taken by a human being every day (15 x 60 x 24 = 21600). These 21600 gold sheets are fixed on the “Vimanam” (Roof) using 72000 gold nails which denote the total no. of Nadis (Nerves) in the human body. “Ponnambalam ” is placed slightly tilted towards the left. This represents our Heart. To reach this, we need to climb 5 steps called “Panchatshara padi ” “Si, Va, Ya, Na, Ma ” are the 5 Panchatshara mantras. There are 4 pillars holding the Kanagasabha representing the 4 Vedas. Kalasas on the Golden Roof represent the 9 types of Sakthi or Energies.The 6 pillars at the Artha Mantapa represent the 6 types of Sashtras. The 18 pillars in the adjacant Mantapa represents 18 Puranams. The main complex to Lord Shiva Nataraja also contains shrines to deities such as Sivakami Amman, Ganesh, Murugan and Vishnu in the form Govindaraja Perumal.

9.Prambanan, Yogyakarta

Rara Jonggrang is a 9th-century Hindu temple compound in Central Java, Indonesia, dedicated to Shiva. It also houses shrines of Vishnu, Brahma and their consorts. The temple compound is located approximately 17 kilometres (11 mi) northeast of the city of Yogyakarta on the boundary between Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces. The temple compound, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the largest Hindu temple site in Indonesia, and one of the biggest in Southeast Asia. It is characterized by its tall and pointed architecture, typical of Hindu temple architecture, and by the towering 47-metre-high (154 ft) central building (Lord Shiva shrine) inside a large complex of individual temples. Prambanan attracts many visitors from across the world. The complex is laid out in the form of a mandala, and features the towering, broad spires that are typical of Hindu temple architecture, and represent Meru, the holy mountain where the gods live. Originally there were 240 temples in the complex but many of them have deteriorated or been looted leaving just scattered stones.

The three main inner shrines are dedicated to Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Keeper and Shiva the Destroyer. The three towers cut a striking figure in any conditions, but are perhaps most breathtaking when lit up at night. The Shiva temple dedicated to Shiva the Destroyer is the tallest and largest structure in Prambanan complex, it measures 47 meters (154 feet) tall and 34 meters (111 feet) wide. The other name of this temple is the Lorojonggrang temple. Prambanan attracts many visitors from around the world. Prambanan Temple Compounds comprises of two groups of buildings which includes Loro Jonggrang, Sewu complexes, Lumbung, Bubrah and Asu (Gana). The 508 stone temples of various shapes and sizes are either in a complete and preserved condition or have been retained as ruins. This site includes all elements necessary to express its exceptional significance and is well maintained. There are no threats of development or neglect; however the area is prone to natural threats such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. This temple has been revitalized and today is widely regarded as the most beautiful and graceful Hindu temple in Indonesia.

10.Brihadisvara Temple, Thanjavur

The temple, which is also called as Brihadeshwara Temple and RajaRajeswara Temple Rajarajeswaram, is among the largest temples of the country. It was the Marathas who gave it the name Brihadeeshwara or the Great Ishwara.The temple has the world’s tallest vimanam (temple tower) and its Kumbam (the structure on the top) weighs approximately 80 tons. The temple is said to have a huge cap stone on top of it, The Garbhagriha where the Shiva lingam is located is said to generate large amount of electromagnetic energy. The 80 tonne stone acts a repulsive force and channels the energy to the inner areas of the temple to sustain its piousness and divinity. The positive energy radiant within in the temple structure is said to have a calming, soothing effect both mentally and physically on the devotees. The structure is a proof of wealth, artistic expertise and power of the Chola kingdom. The temple has a huge statue of Nandi (sacred bull) at the entrance. The statue is carved out of a single rock and weighs around 20 tons. The Lingam inside the temple is 3.7 meters tall. Brihadeeswarar temple is the first complete granite temple in the world. Around 60,000 tons of granite is said to be used to build the temple.

A long associated myth with this temple is that the shadow of the main structure does not fall on the ground. There is also evidence that the temple was a platform for talented dancers to showcase their talent. The inscriptions also mention the different kinds of jewels used in the period. Each of these jewels are mentioned in detail. A total of twenty three different types of pearls, eleven varieties of diamonds and rubies are mentioned in these inscriptions. We can’t even imagine how this would have made possible in those days without any special equipment. The big Tanjavur temple is said to have more than hundred underground passages that connects to various other places. Nowadays, most of the passages are sealed. In the earlier days, the passages were used by sages, Kings and Queens to roam about different temples and places, especially during auspicious festivals like Deepavali, Maha Shivarathri and Makar Sankranti.

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THE GREAT 10 LARGEST FLOWERS IN THE WORLD

Nature often surprises us with true wonders. There are the flowers that can leave anybody speechless. The seed-bearing part of a plant, consisting of reproductive organs that are typically surrounded by a brightly coloured corolla (petals) and a green calyx (sepals) is called flower. There are many fragrant and beautiful flowers on earth, but many of them are similar in size about 1inch to 5 inches in diameter. Rose is one of the most popular and loved of the beautiful flowers. Flowers are part of the most important occasions of life and have a language of their own. Flowers’ meanings and symbolization were a key element many years ago. Plants succeeded in using their flower’s deceptive development–using color and smell to attract insects and animals for pollination.

1.Rafflesia arnoldii

Rafflesia arnoldii is one of the world’s most endangered plant species. It has a diameter of over three feet. It is also known as Rafflesia tuanmudae or Stinking corpse lily or corpse flower and is one of the largest living organisms. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies certain Rafflesian species, such as Rafflesia Magnifica, as “critically endangered.” This process happens once a year, when Rafflesia grows to its maximum diameter with five leathery, red spotted petals around a bowl-like center that swallows flies and insects for further sustenance. This parasitic plant is steady, not visible until it is about to bloom, with no roots, stems, twigs, or leaves. Buds arise over months to the size of the cabbage without a sign of the contaminated host plant. Corpse flower’s bloom too has a rotten corpse smell. The rafflesia feeds on a host plant to live, drinking its water and nutrients. The rafflesia’s life is tragically short. Its mouth remains open for just one week before it rots and dies. so the largest flower on Earth is on borrowed time. While the flies gain nothing from the flowers, the pollen sticks to its back as they rest on the bloom,attracted by its rotten meat scent.
When these flies pass into a female flora, the pollen is released in the flowers so they can fertilize it. Its produced fruit has thousands of seeds and is fleshy and small. Such fruits are consumed by tree shrews, which then continue to disperse the plant’s seeds. Rafflesia arnoldii is one of the three national flowers in Indonesia, the other two being the white jasmine and moon orchid. It was officially recognized as a national “rare flower”. Scientists just found one of the world’s largest flowers blooming in an Indonesian jungle. It was named Rafflesia after British colonialist Sir Stamford Raffles who spotted one in Indonesia in the early 19th Century. Rafflesia is a genus of flower with 28 known species, the second largest of which is Rafflesia kerrii, with blooms measuring 70 to 110 cm across, or over three feet. Only Rafflesia arnoldii of Sumatra exceeds its dimensions slightly, becoming the largest single flower on Earth. Rafflesia is endemic in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

  1. Titan arum

Titans normally open in the evening and the intense odor only lasts for 12 hours. The bloom will stay open (with a much lighter odor) for only 1-2 days. The plant must reach 10-15 years of age before it blooms for the first time and then blooms every 3-5 years thereafter. Titan arum also known as Amorphophallus titanum or death flower, is the flowering plant with the largest unbranched inflorescence in the world, that bloom rarely for a short period. This bud started growing in April, and we believe that it will bloom in early June. It is not among best-smelling flowers as this flower releases while it is in bloom a smell, like a rotten corpse. Fluorescence of the titan arum is not as large as the talipot palm but rather branches off, unlike talipot, which makes it a bigger flower. The plant itself reaches approximately 10 to 15 feet in height, and the leaves can be as large as 13 feet(4 m). The tallest recorded bloom of corpse flower, according to Guinness Book of World Records, was 10 feet 2.225 inches tall that also makes titan arum as the tallest flower in the world.
In the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the corpse flower is classified as “vulnerable” in the Red List of Threatened Plants. But, if the conditions that affect its life and reproduction do not change, the plant may become endangered. Habitat loss and devastation are the primary threats. Titan Arums are only found in the jungles of Sumatra and produce the world’s largest floral structures. Greenhouse Manager Tammy Blume and volunteer and titan enthusiast Mariah Huffman attempted pollination by hand with pollen that was collected three weeks earlier from Rotney. This pollination was successful, and Odie produced beautiful orange and red berries, which you can see below. These seeds were collected and some were used to start new plants for our collection, while others were shared with other institutions all over the country.

  1. Talipot palm

Talipot palm is one of the world’s largest palms, having origins from South India. It has a height of up to 25 m and a diameter of stems of up to 1.3 m. It is a palm fan with a diameter of up to 5 m, a petiole up to 4 m, and around 130 leaflets. The Talipot Palm has one or more million small flowers, the largest inflorescence in any plant, 6-8 m long, on a branched trunk stitched on top of a trunk. The Talipot palms are monocarpic, which means their flowers only once at the age of 30 to 80. The plant dies after fruiting. A single tree yields more than250 kg of seeds. Talipot Palm has many uses it is as useful as coconut in its native region, and Talipot fruits, which are surprisingly tasty, are known as ice apple. Their leaves are also used extensively for wall protection, for plaiting the mats and as umbrellas during rainy season. Like other palms, the central part of the stem of Corypha umbraculifera, is a rich source of starch. Palms are felled to extract this central ‘pith’ which is dried, powdered, stored and used for preparation of bread. It is a species of palm native to eastern and southern India and Sri Lanka. It is also grown in Cambodia, Myanmar, China, Thailand and the Andaman Islands. Kerala coast and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are also home to this species. Once the seeds fall, the tree also dies.

  1. Neptune grass (Posidonia oceanica)

The Posidonia Oceanica, which is also named “Neptune grass,” has been sequenced by a group of scientists to be around 200,000 old seaweed covering ocean floors from Spain to Cyprus. The plant has roots, twigs, leaves, flowers, and it creates fruits known as sea olives. It forms large underwater meadows that are an important part of the ecosystem. It should not be confused with algae. It flowers in the autumn. The leaves are tape-shaped, measuring between 1 cm in width and between 30 and 120 cm in length. This aquatic plant lives in the Mediterranean Sea and in certain areas south of Australia, with similar characteristics to dry land. Among the many strengths of Neptune Grass is that it oxidizes the oceans and is also a food source formany animal species.Its appearance also shows that the water is of good quality and is well stored. Biologists often term Posidonia Oceanica as “Mediterranean’s Lungs.” Balls of fibrous material from its foliage, known as egagropili, wash up to nearby shorelines. This species is found only in the Mediterranean Sea where it is in decline, occupying an area of about 3% of the basin.
Seagrasses are a paraphyletic group of angiosperm plants, which are exclusively found in estuarine and marine environments. They belong to four families, Posidoniaceae, Zosteraceae, Cymodoceaceae, and Hydrocharitaceae. Among these, the endemic species Posidonia oceanica is predominant in the Mediterranean Sea. Posidonia meadows provide breeding and nursery grounds for various fish and other marine organisms. They influence commercial fishing and shape the coastal structure by accumulating nutrients. The meadows of the seagrass posidonia oceanica are essential for the protection of the marine environment on the Spanish Mediterranean coasts. Posidonia oceanica is a Mediterranean endemic phanerogam or flowering plant which has special characteristics which must be known at the outset in order to prevent serious environmental damage through the construction of harbour works. These characteristics include a millenary life span, a need for light and clear water, very slow growth and reproduction rate, a need for sandy beds, a shedding of leaves in Autumn and the fact that they form meadows over a very long period which stabilise the shoreline by preventing the impact of the sea.

  1. Puya raimondii

Puya raimondii is the largest bromeliad species, with a height up to 15 m and is also known as the queen of the Andes. We can find this type of plant species in Bolivian and Peruvian forests from the high Andes. The flower can reach a height of up to 30 feet (9.14 m), which contains 8-12 million seeds per plant. The Queen of the Andes in the wild have only three populations. There are thousands of species comprising the bromeliad group, but Puya raimondii has less geneticdiversity. Puya raimondii is currently on a verge of extinction because of the inability to adapt to climate changeand deforestation. The species name of raimondii commemorates the 19th-century Italian scientist Antonio Raimondi, who immigrated to Peru and made extensive botanical expeditions there. The whole plant may reach as much as 15 m (50 ft) tall.
This plant can produce between 8,000 and 20,000 flowers in a 3-month period. Its reproductive cycle lasts approximately 80 years. of the Andes (Puya raimondii) is a terrestrial bromeliad. Many bromeliads are epiphytes, growing on the surface of other plants and getting their food from the air and accumulated plant matter trapped in branch crevices. Terrestrial bromeliads have their roots in soil. There are only three populations of Queen of the Andes in the wild. Most of them have many thousands of plants, but their genetic diversity is very low. They may be unable to adapt to changes in climate. Human impacts to the populations include repeated fires to generate or maintain pasture for livestock forage.

  1. Common Sunflower
yellow sunflower macro photographyt
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Sunflowers are extremely well-known worldwide. Sunflowers are mainly from North and South America, and some species are cultivated in farms for the spectacular sizes of their blossom and for their edible seeds. nowadays you can find them in numerous countries around the world. Sunflowers Their bright yellow color is their defining characteristic and makes them very striking. Sunflower seeds are used to make sunflower oil or can directly be eaten roasted. At least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day is needed for the sunflowers, the better if you try to maximize their potential for size. The excessive blooming of gigantic sunflowers is difficult to top. On towering stems, the Russian variety opens flowers up to 14 inches in diameter, 9 to 12 feet high. The disk flowers are brown, yellow, or purple, while the petallike ray flowers are yellow. The fruit is a single-seeded achene.
Oilseed varieties typically have small black achenes, while those grown for direct seed consumption, known as confection varieties, have larger black-and-white achenes that readily separate from the seed within. Farmers generally sow seeds in spring while they harvest the crop at the end of summer. If considered usability, Sunflower is the biggest flower in the world. The leaves are used as fodder, the flowers yield a yellow dye, and the seeds contain oil and are used for food. The oil is also used in soap and paints and as a lubricant. The sweet yellow oil obtained by compression of the seeds is considered equal to olive or almond oil for table use. These flowers with their gorgeous big and bright blooms have a unique and winning combination of offering some rather amazing benefits to us as well as being pretty to look at. It is a useful alternative and replacement for unhealthy margarine spreads and high fat butter for cakes and home bakes.

  1. Tree peony

Common peony is an exquisite flower but, its bigger counterpart, the tree peony, is a very different plant. Tree peonies are woody shrubs, with no support, as some grow at 10 feet high. They have many forms, colors, and fragrances, and their flowers are much bigger and typically bloom about two weeks earlier than herby peonies. During their bloom season, which lasts for about two weeks in April and May, plants can have more than 50 blooms at one time. For gardeners we must embrace China for they provided many of our most cherished garden flowers, including the stunningly beautiful tree peony. Chinese use them as decorative ornaments and for medicinal purposes. As the season advances, the flower buds begin to swell, reaching the size of a small apple before issuing forth in late April with a flower the size of a salad plate.
Double forms are most common with the blossoms in delicate pastel shades of red, pink, white and yellow. Tree peonies can be grown in all parts of Arkansas but are less common in gardens than their herbaceous cousins. Their rarity in cultivation is because they’re difficult to propagate. Tree peonies do best in a fertile, well drained garden soil. They will grow in full sun or light shade and are easy to grow if well sited. With so many varieties of peonies available these days, selecting the right peony for your garden can be confusing. Add terms like tree peony, itoh peony and herbaceous peony, and it can seem overwhelming. The mid to late spring blossoms of tree peonies are unrivaled in size, color and fragrance.

  1. Hibiscus
red blue and green bird on tree branch
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Hibiscus or Hibiscus sabdariffa is one of the world’s largest flower. The name ‘Hibiscus’ comes from hibiskos, the old Greek name for the common marsh mallow. Hibiscus develops large, trumpet-shaped flower without scent. Flower consists of five or more petals. There are over 200 species of hibiscus that can be found in the warm and tropical regions all over the world. These beautiful bright flowers surely beautify a home or garden but are also used as medicine. We can find these plants in various colors like white, yellow, orange, purple, pink, red or blue. Size wise, Hibiscus can be as wide as 8 inches in diameter. The hibiscus family is a mix of diverse plants–from annuals to perennials and shrubs–famed for their large, audacious bloom, often as big as a plate. It contains both male (stamen) and female (pistil) reproductive organs. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds are main pollinators of hibiscus flowers.
Brightly colored flowers of hibiscus are rich source of natural dyes that are used in the food industry. Dried hibiscus is edible, and it is often a delicacy in Mexico. It can also be candied and used as a garnish, usually for desserts. Women in use dyes extracted from hibiscus flowers to dye their eyebrows and hair. The most popular beverage made of hibiscus is tea (made of dry flowers). Besides pleasant taste, tea made of hibiscus represents rich source of vitamin C. According to some medical studies, tea made of hibiscus lowers blood pressure and decreases cholesterol level. Hibiscus cannabinus is a species of hibiscus that is used in the paper industry. China and Thailand are the greatest producers of hibiscus in the world. Hibiscus is known as “shoe flower” in China because people use hibiscus to polish their shoes. The hibiscus is used as an offering to goddess Kali and Lord Ganesha in Hindu worship. Hibiscus is considered a very feminine flower.

9.Magnolia

The first flowering plant on Earth is believed by researchers to be magnolias. One of the world’s biggest flowering plants, as believed by many researchers. There are around 210 species of magnolia that differ in size, shape, color of the flower and type of habitat. Magnolia trees originate from Southeast Asia and North America, but they have been naturalized to almost all continents in the world because of their beauty. Fossils prove that they have been on Earth for around 100 million years, according to scientific research. Because magnolia is so old, the flowers have no real petals and sepals; they have petal-like tepals instead. Magnolia flowers come according to variety in various shapes, sizes, and colors. The magnolia family comprises high and fluffy trees with pink, white, red, purple, yellow blossoms. Magnolia blooms from April to June. First flowers develop seven years after planting.
Most magnolia varieties have wide bulbs measuring 6 to 8 inches in diameter.
The magnolia is eye-catching due to its soft colors and its large, lovely petals. It’s one of the most famous flowers in the world due to its beauty. It’s commonly used in decoration, bouquets, gifts, etc. Size of magnolia tree depends on the species. Smaller species are only 15 feet tall. Larger species can grow 80 feet in height. Magnolia produces cone-like brownish fruit that can reach 2 to 10 inches in length. Kidney-shaped seed can be red, orange or pink in color. Seed of magnolia is favorite food of many birds. Bark and flowers of magnolia are used in traditional Asian medicine. Leaves of magnolia are used for wrapping of food in Asia. Magnolia is resistant to most pests and diseases. Some species are prone to fungal infections. Larvae of certain insects eat different parts of magnolia tree. Wood of magnolia is used for the production of pallets and furniture. Flower contains both male and female reproductive organs. Flowers release sugary scent which attracts pollinators.

10.Lotus

aquatic aquatic plant beautiful bloom
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The lotus flower is also known as the “Nile flower. The Nelumbo family’s white lotus flowers and pink lotus are seen as sacredness. The lotus flower is one of the world’s most recognizable and sacred flowers. The stunning flower is a universal symbol of some of history’s most influential cultures and is the national flower of India. Lotus’s color influences its important significance. The most interesting detail about this lovely flower is the lifespan of its seeds, which can sprout after many centuries. Lotus flowers can conclude a spiritual meaning of ascent, enlightenment, or renaissance in more bright colors red, purple, and blue, white. It mostly grows in murky and shallow waters and need warm sunlight to grow, but are cold climate intolerant. This flower would not flourish in winter, consequently, as it is aquatic. With its roots in the deeper sludge, this flower only thrives in under muddy still water.
Its bloom, which is above the water surface, commonly has a diameter up to 20 centimeters when fully matured. It’s an extraordinary flower that is famous worldwide, mainly because it’s an aquatic flower. It’s India’s national flower and is symbolic in Buddhism and Hinduism for wealth, prosperity, purity and fertility. The flower species is native to Asia, and most predominantly in India and China. Flower opens in the morning and closes at night. Lotus was a symbol of sun, rebirth and creation in the ancient Egypt. Dried stamens of the lotus are used for the preparation of aromatic tea. Flower, young leaves, seeds and root are edible and often used in Asian cuisine. Older and bigger leaves are used for wrapping of food. Lotus is rich in fibers and vitamins of the B group. It is also rich source of iron and other important minerals. Lotus uses rhizomes to attach itself to the ground. This flower is known by its beautiful odor.

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THE GREAT LARGEST 10 HOSPITALS IN THE WORLD

A Hospital is an institution providing medical and surgical treatment and nursing care for sick or injured people. A hospital provides the patients a treatment with specialized medical and quality is one of the most powerful ways to assess this aspect of health care, and hospital accreditation. Here are the Largest 10 Hospitals in the world in the year 2020.

1.The Mayo Clinic (Rochester, Minnesota)

Mayo Clinic is ranked number 1 in the United States for 2019-2020. It is maintaining a position at or near the top for more than 27 years. Mayo Clinic has been caring for patients from around the world for more than 100 years. Mayo Clinic is an American nonprofit academic medical center focused on integrated patient care, education, and research. It employs over 4,500 physicians and scientists, along with another 58,400 administrative and allied health staff, across three major campuses: Rochester, Minnesota; Jacksonville, Florida; and Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. Mayo Clinic serves more than 1.3 million people each year in 19 hospitals across five states. It provides vital innovation for the entire medical community.
The practice specializes in treating difficult cases through tertiary care and destination medicine. William Worrall Mayo settled his family in Rochester in 1864 and opened a sole proprietorship medical practice that evolved under his sons, Will and Charlie Mayo, along with practice partners Drs. Stinchfield, Graham, Plummer, Millet, Judd, and Balfour, into Mayo Clinic. Today, in addition to its flagship hospital in Rochester, Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Arizona and Florida. It has general medical and surgical facility. The Mayo Clinic has a large integrated transplantation program.

  1. Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland)

Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland ranked No. 2 on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll. It is a teaching hospital. Cleveland Clinic, a non-profit academic medical center, provides clinical and hospital care and is a leader in research, education and health information. Cleveland Clinic is one of the largest medical providers in the world, with hospitals in the United States, Canada, and the United Emirates. The medical center’s heart and surgery program has been ranked as the best in America each year since 1995, and it was the best major medical center to combine clinical services around one organ system or disease. It has served patients from all 50 states and 135 countries. The Cleveland Clinic is an American academic medical center based in Cleveland, Ohio. Owned and operated by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, an Ohio nonprofit corporation established in 1921, it runs a 170 acres (69 ha) campus in Cleveland, as well as 11 affiliated hospitals, 19 family health centers in Northeast Ohio, and hospitals in Florida and Nevada.
As of 2019, it has over 67,500 employees, a figure that includes over 17,000 registered nurses and advanced practice providers and over 4,520 physicians and scientists in 140 specialties. It is affiliated with the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, with which it started a physician-investigator medical school training program: the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. The organization grew out of the surgical practice of Frank J. Weed at 16 Church Street on the near-west side of Cleveland. It includes the Taussig Cancer Institute, Global Cardiovascular Innovation Center, Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic Children’s and Pediatric Institute, and Centers for Geriatric and Diabetes Care. The hospital’s Transplant Center performed almost 700 organ transplants in 2017, and its procedures include heart, lung, liver and pancreas.

3.Massachusetts General Hospital (Boston)

Massachusetts General Hospital is located in the West End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. Massachusetts General Hospital is the teaching hospital for Harvard Medical School, has the largest hospital-based research program in the United States, with over 1,200 clinical trials being conducted at any given time, in topics ranging from the opioid epidemic to the impact of socioeconomic status on health. Massachusetts General Hospital was established to provide care to Boston’s sick, regardless of socioeconomic status. It has remained at the forefront of medicine by fostering a culture of collaboration, pushing the boundaries of medical research, educating the brightest medical minds and maintaining an unwavering commitment to the diverse community we were created to serve.
It has a keen focus on equity to serve, heal, educate and innovate at the highest levels. This Hospital’s first priority is the well-being of our patients near and far. As a team they are able to maintain a singular focus on providing the highest quality, most compassionate care to each and every patient. Many multidisciplinary care teams known worldwide for innovations in cancer, digestive disorders, the neurosciences, heart disease, orthopaedics, transplantation, urologic diseases and trauma care unite specialists across the hospital to offer comprehensive, state-of-the-art medical care.

  1. Toronto General Hospital (Toronto)

Toronto General Hospital (TGH) is one of Toronto’s oldest hospitals, dating back to 1819 when the Loyal and Patriotic Society of Upper Canada organized a trust fund to support the construction and maintenance of a hospital in the provincial capital, the Town of York. Toronto General Hospital is the teaching hospital for University of Toronto, is the largest research organization in Canada and the largest transplant center in North America. The hospital also performed the first triple organ transplant. Toronto General Hospital has been ranked one of the world’s best hospitals in a global ranking. It is cited for its world-leading Sprott Department of Surgery, Peter Munk Cardiac Centre and Soham & Shaila Ajmera Family Transplant Centre. TGH’s excellence in the fields of endocrinology, autoimmunology and diabetes, its work to provide access to high-quality care to patients in remote communities, and a strong strategic plan were also contributing factors.
It is in the top-10 list in 2020 year and it was finalized by a panel of doctors, medical professionals and administrators from across four continents. Since TGH first opened, world’s clinical use of insulin, the first successful single- and double-lung transplants, the first transplant using the Ex Vivo Lung Perfusion System, and the first successful direct stimulation of a heart that had stopped beating, the precursor of all pacemakers. The University Health Network has grown out of a series of mergers between our current hospitals, as we have adjusted and change to accommodate our growing and changing patient community in and around the GTA. It is the only Ontarian Center providing Extracorporeal Life support for respiratory and cardio-pulmonary failure. The Multi- Organ transplant program is Canada’s largest organ transplant program. More than 500 transplants are performed each year and more than 5000 recipients are followed by a multidisciplinary team.

  1. Charite (Berlin)

The Charite Universitatsmedizin Berlin is one of Europe’s largest university hospitals, affiliated with Humboldt University and Free University Berlin. It was ranked by Focus as the best of over 1000 hospitals in Germany. Charite is internationally renowned for its excellence in teaching and training. It has ablility to provide appropriate treatment for almost any diagnosed condition. In 2019 and 2020 ranked the Charite as fifth best hospital in the world and best in Europe. Charite is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe. All of our clinical care, research and teaching is delivered by physicians and researchers of the highest international standard. Charite proudly lays claim to more than half of all German Nobel Prize winners in Physiology or Medicine, including Emil von Behring, Robert Koch, and Paul Ehrlich.
Charite extends over four campuses, and has close to 100 different Departments and Institutes, which make up a total of 17 different Charite Centers. Having marked its 300-year anniversary in 2010, Charite is now one of the largest employers in Berlin, employing 15,500 staff. QS World University Rankings 2019 ranked the Charite Medical School as number one for medicine in Germany and ninth best in Europe. 4,135 nurses work at the Charite, their tireless commitment to patient satisfaction contributing to the hospital’s outstanding reputation. Each year, around 800,000 inpatients and outpatients receive professional and dedicated care and treatment here.

6.Johns Hopkins Hospital (Baltimore)

The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD is ranked No. 6 on the Best Hospitals Honor Roll. Johns Hopkins Hospital serves over three million patients each year through its 40 patient care locations, four health and surgery centers, and six hospitals.
It also houses the second-highest rated medical school in the United States, which has “the most advanced clinical research in the world.” It is a general medical and surgical facility. The Johns Hopkins Health System was created in 1986, and 10 years later, it joined with the medical school to create Johns Hopkins Medicine. It includes the Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center and Wilmer Eye Institute. Among Hopkins’ research institutes are those dedicated to studying brain science, cell engineering, diabetes and genetic medicine. Hopkins can lay claim to a number of medical firsts, such as developing renal dialysis, isolating and crystallizing insulin and inventing the rechargeable, implantable pacemaker. Main aim of this hospital is to provide the highest quality care and service for all people in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human illness.

  1. University Hospital Zurich, (Switzerland)

The University’s hospitals ensure the close association between medical research and clinical services. It provides primary health care and cutting-edge medicine in a central location in Zurich. We use our superior academic knowledge to treat a wide range of health issues, taking a personal touch and utilizing highly specialized and up-to-date research. The first hospital in Zurich, from which the current hospital derives, is recorded as having existed as early as 1204. The University Hospital of Zurich has clinical departments for neurology, medical oncology, cardiovascular-thoracic medicine, trauma-derma-rheuma-plastic surgery, abdomen-metabolism, imaging, diagnostics, anesthesiology-intensive care or management, and clinical research.
The quality of this clinical services and the superior care they give to their patients are their highest priorities. The University Children’s Hospital is a nonprofit private institution serving all children and adolescents. It is the largest children’s hospital in Switzerland and one of Europe’s leading centers for pediatric and adolescent medicine. The University Hospital of Zurich is the university hospital of Zurich, Switzerland. With its 43 divisions and institutes, the hospital is known for its achievements in health care, research, and teaching. A wide variety of countries prefer to come to here for treatment, another reason being that they are one of the best-rated university hospitals in Europe. University Hospital Zurich help University Hospital Zurich take a semi automated approach to medical coding, replacing a manual, complex and time-consuming process. It has created a machine learning system that accurately proposes complex medical codes to human administrators

8.Singapore General Hospital (Singapore)

Singapore General Hospital (SGH) is Singapore’s flagship hospital. SGH operates as a restructured hospital and is a not-for-profit institution with a long tradition of providing affordable tertiary healthcare. Singapore General sees more than one million people annually. The tertiary referral hospital has on-campus specialist centers, leads clinical research, and offers undergraduate and postgraduate training for students and professionals. Singapore General Hospital was ranked as the eighth best hospital in the world. The Singapore General Hospital was established in 1821, when the first General Hospital was located in the cantonment for British troops near the Singapore River.
As the bedrock of medical education, SGH continues to play a key role in nurturing doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, and is committed to innovative translational and clinical research. Our social mission and humanitarian legacy have been the driving force behind the Hospital’s efforts and achievements in service, education and research are the “three pillars” of SGH. This Hospital offers emergency care, women’s health services, cardiology, orthopedic, and oncology services. Singapore General Hospital serves its patients throughout the Singapore. Polyclinics offer a range of subsidised primary care services, including medical treatment for acute conditions, chronic disease management, women’s and children’s health services, as well as radiological, laboratory and pharmacy services.

  1. Sheba Medical Center at Tel HaShomer, Israel

Sheba Medical Center has been ranked by Newsweek among the World’s Top 10 Hospitals for the past two years. We are an international leader in medical innovation, collaborating with health centers around the globe to develop groundbreaking techniques and life-saving treatments. Our all-inclusive hospital features 159 medical departments and clinics, and we treat over 1 million patients yearly. Along with continuously advancing our technologies and a wide range of services. Our Sheba team is deeply committed to providing patient-focused, compassionate, and personalized care. In 2020, it is ranked as the 9th-best hospital in the world. It includes 200,000 emergency visits annually, and conducts more than two million medical tests of all types each year, on a $320 million annual budget.
The medical center is also home to the Israel National Center for Health Policy and Epidemiology Research, the internationally acclaimed Israel National Center for Medical Simulation, the Israel National Blood Bank and Cord Blood Bank, and the Safra International Congenital Heart Center. Other major centers at Sheba include the Sheba Cancer Treatment and Research Centers, the Sheba Heart Center that was donated by Lev Leviev, and the Tel Hashomer Medical Research, Infrastructure and Services Co. Ltd., which provides global consulting and training services. Sheba provides services to patients from across the Middle East, including many patients from the Palestinian Authority. It also provides guidance and mentoring in the planning, construction and operation of healthcare systems and hospitals around the world.

  1. Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden
A man walks to the entrance of Karolinska hospital in Stockholm on March 30, 2012 as former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard was taken into intensive care at the hospital earlier today. Rocard, an 81-year-old Socialist veteran, has fallen ill in the Swedish capital and was treated in intensive care, the French foreign ministry said Friday. AFP PHOTO (Photo by JONAS EKSTROMER / SCANPIX SWEDEN / AFP) (Photo by JONAS EKSTROMER/SCANPIX SWEDEN/AFP via Getty Images)

The Karolinska University Hospital is a teaching hospital affiliated with Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, Sweden, with two major sites in the municipalities of Solna and Huddinge. It covers areas such as biochemistry, genetics, pharmacology, pathology, anatomy, physiology and medical microbiology, among others. It is recognised as Sweden’s best university and one of the largest, most prestigious medical universities in the world. The Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute awards the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Healthcare at Karolinska is now organized in patient care flows. For example, patients with heart and vascular conditions are treated in an integrated manner, with specialists from functions such as emergency medicine, imaging and cardiology working together – often in the same building or corridor. The hospital network is the second largest in Sweden.
In 2014, Karolinska and the Stockholm County Council established a 14-year strategic innovation partnership with Philips to help bring this vision to life with joint innovations that increase the value of care for patients. It has 15,800 employees and it gives treatment for 1.6 million patient visits per year. It has two sites in the Swedish capital of Stockholm: Huddinge and Solna. The building will augment our ability to carry out our assignment to provide highly specialised care, not only for patients in Stockholm, but for those from other parts of Sweden and other countries, too. The new facilities will also optimize the expertise and equipment at our disposal, enhancing our ability to take care of the most severely injured and seriously ill patients.

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LARGEST 10 GREAT ECONOMIES IN THE WORLD AND THE SOURCES OF ECONOMY

Economy means the state of a country or region in terms of the production and consumption of goods and services and the supply of money. Economies determine how resources are distributed among members of a society, they determine the value of goods or services. The political and legal structure of a society will govern how wealth can be accumulated, how wealth and resources are distributed, and the manner of competition permitted between different participants in the economy. There are three big economic systems in use by modern governments: capitalism, socialism, and communism. We wanted to understand how the top 10 largest economies in the world measured by GDP(Gross Domestic Product). We took historical GDP figures from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2020.

1.United States

new york statue of liberty usa monument
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The U.S. has retained its position of being the world’s largest economy since 1871. economy of the United States is that of a highly developed country with a mixed economy. It is the world’s largest economy by nominal GDP and net wealth. U.S. Nominal GDP: $21.44 trillion – U.S. GDP (PPP): $21.44 trillion.
The size of the U.S. economy was at $20.58 trillion in 2018 in nominal terms and is expected to reach $22.32 trillion in 2020. The U.S. is often dubbed as an economic superpower and that’s because the economy constitutes almost a quarter of the global economy, backed by advanced infrastructure, technology, and an abundance of natural resources.
When the economies are assessed in terms of purchasing power parity, the U.S. loses its top spot to its close competitor China. In 2019, the U.S. economy, in terms of GDP (PPP), was at $21.44 trillion, while the Chinese economy was measured at $27.31 trillion. United States has the most technologically powerful economy in the world and its firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers, pharmaceuticals, and medical, aerospace, and military equipment. The largest U.S. trading partners are China, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Germany, South Korea, United Kingdom, France, India, and Taiwan. The nation’s economy is fueled by abundant natural resources, a well-developed infrastructure, and high productivity. It is the world’s largest producer of petroleum and natural gas. U.S. not only has the largest internal market for goods, but also dominates the trade in services.

2.China

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China Nominal GDP: $14.14 trillion – China GDP (PPP): $27.31 trillion
China has experienced exponential growth over the past few decades, breaking the barriers of a centrally-planned closed economy to evolve into a manufacturing and exporting hub of the world. China is often referred to as the “world’s factory,” given its huge manufacturing and export base. However, over the years, the role of services has gradually increased and that of manufacturing as a contributor to GDP has declined relatively. The IMF projects a growth of 5.8% in 2020. China has experienced exponential growth over the past few decades. It is a manufacturing and exporting hub of the world. China is often referred to as the “world’s factory,” given its huge manufacturing and export base. However, over the years, the role of services has gradually increased and that of manufacturing as a contributor to GDP has declined relatively.

3.India ($12.36 T )

brown concrete india gate
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The economy of India is characterised as a developing market economy. India was the world’s fastest growing major economy and Historically it is the largest economy in the world. The long-term growth perspective of the Indian economy remains positive due to its young population and corresponding low dependency ratio, healthy savings and investment rates, and is increasing integration into the global economy. Apart from private consumption, India’s GDP is also fueled by government spending, investment, and exports. India has one of the world’s highest number of billionaires and extreme income inequality.
According to World Bank, to achieve sustainable economic development India must focus on public sector reform, infrastructure, agricultural and rural development, removal of land and labour regulations, financial inclusion, spur private investment and exports, education and public health. India’s ten largest trading partners were USA, China, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Iraq, Singapore, Germany, South Korea and Switzerland. India ranks second globally in food and agricultural production. India’s telecommunication industry is the world’s second largest by number of mobile phone, smartphone, and internet users. It is the world’s tenth-largest oil producer and the third-largest oil consumer.

  1. Japan ( $5.89T )
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The economy of Japan is a highly developed free-market economy. With this low growth rate, the national debt of Japan has expanded due to its considerable social welfare spending in an aging society with a shrinking tax-base. The scenario of “Abandoned homes” continues to spread from rural areas to urban areas in Japan.
A mountainous, volcanic island country, Japan has inadequate natural resources to support its growing economy and large population, and therefore exports goods in which it has a comparative advantage such as engineering-oriented, research and development-led industrial products in exchange for the import of raw materials and petroleum. The nation’s large and varied forest resources, which covered 70 percent of the country. Japan is among the top-three importers for agricultural products in the world in total volume for covering of its own domestic agricultural consumption. The nation, therefore, built up the manufacturing and processing industries to convert raw materials imported from abroad.
Japan is the world’s largest single national importer of fish and fishery products. This strategy of economic development necessitated the establishment of a strong economic infrastructure to provide the needed energy, transportation, communications, and technology. Tokyo Metropolitan Central Wholesale Market is the largest wholesale market for primary products in Japan. Although many kinds of minerals were extracted throughout the country, most mineral resources had to be imported in the postwar era. Iron ore, copper, bauxite, and alumina must be imported, as well as many forest products. Local deposits of metal-bearing ores were difficult to process because they were low grade. Deposits of gold, magnesium, and silver meet current industrial demands, but Japan is dependent on foreign sources for many of the minerals essential to modern industry. Japan lags behind other developed countries in labor productivity. Early European visitors were amazed by the quality of Japanese craftsmanship and metalsmithing. This stems from the fact that Japan itself is rather rich in natural resources found commonly in Europe, especially iron.

  1. Germany ( $4.59T )
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It has the largest national economy in Europe. The economy of Germany is a highly developed social market economy. The top 10 exports of Germany are vehicles, machinery, chemical goods, electronic products, electrical equipment, pharmaceuticals, transport equipment, basic metals, food products, and rubber and plastics. The economy of Germany is the largest manufacturing economy in Europe and it is less likely to be affected by the financial downturn and conduct applied research with practical industrial value and sees itself as a bridge between the latest university insights and industry-specific product and process improvements, and by generating a great deal of knowledge in its own laboratories as well. Germany is rich in timber, lignite, potash and salt. Some minor sources of natural gas are being exploited in the state of Lower Saxony. Until reunification, the German Democratic Republic mined for uranium in the Ore Mountains.
Energy in Germany is sourced predominantly by fossil fuels (30%), followed by wind second, then nuclear power, gas, solar, biomass and hydro. Germany is the first major industrialized nation to commit to the renewable energy transition called Energiewende. Germany is the leading producer of wind turbines in the world. Germany is the world’s top location for trade fairs. Around two thirds of the world’s leading trade fairs take place in Germany. Over time, other German states joined the customs union and started linking their railroads, which began to connect the corners of Germany together. The growth of free trade and of a rail system across Germany intensified economic development which opened up new markets for local products, created a pool of middle managers, increased the demand for engineers, architects and skilled machinists, and stimulated investments in coal and iron.

  1. Russia ( $4.52T )
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The economy of Russia is an upper-middle income mixed and transition economy. Russia contains over 30 percent of the world’s natural resources. Russia relies on energy revenues to drive most of its growth. Russia has an abundance of oil, natural gas and precious metals, which make up a major share of Russia’s exports. Russia is considered an “energy superpower”. It has the world’s largest proven natural gas reserves and is the largest exporter of natural gas. Russia has a large and sophisticated arms industry, capable of designing and manufacturing high-tech military equipment, including a fifth-generation fighter jet, nuclear powered submarines, firearms, and short range/long range ballistic missiles. Top military exports from Russia include combat aircraft, air defence systems, ships and submarines. the wealth held offshore by rich Russians is about three times larger than official net foreign reserves, and is comparable in magnitude to total household financial assets held in Russia.
Russia had undergone a radical transformation, moving from a centrally planned economy to a globally integrated market economy. Especially in the production of oil, gas, and electricity and in the chemical industries—there was a marked diversification in industrial output, including a limited expansion in consumer goods. Major components of the reforms included establishing privately owned industrial and commercial ventures and privatizing state-owned enterprises. To encourage privatization, the government issued vouchers to Russian citizens that enabled them to purchase of shares in privatized firms, though in practice these vouchers frequently were sold for cash and were accumulated by entrepreneurs. A commodity- and stock-exchange system also was established. For business growth, taxes on medium and small enterprises were moderated, and the government began to offer incentives for reinvesting profits into the domestic economy. By the early 21st century, the measures had begun to have a positive effect on the Russian economy, which showed signs of recovery and stable growth. Steady earnings from oil exports permitted investments in factories, and the devalued currency made Russian goods more competitive on the international market.

  1. Indonesia ( $4.01T )
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Indonesia is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It has charted impressive economic growth since overcoming the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s. The world’s 10th largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, and a member of the G-20. Furthermore, Indonesia has made enormous gains in poverty reduction, cutting the poverty rate by more than half since 1999, to 9.78% in 2020. It aims to further strengthen Indonesia’s economy by improving the country’s human capital and competitiveness in the global market. The Indonesian economy has been climbing steadily higher. Indonesia is the world’s largest island country .
Indonesia is composed of some 17,500 islands, of which more than 7,000 are uninhabited. It is the 14th-largest country by land area, at 1,904,569 square kilometres (735,358 square miles). The country’s capital, Jakarta, is the second-most populous urban area in the world. In the early 21st century Indonesia was the fourth most populous in the world. The name Indonesia derives from Greek Indos and the word nesos, meaning “Indian islands”. The economy of Indonesia is the largest in Southeast Asia and is one of the emerging market economies of the world. As an upper-middle income country and member of the G20, Indonesia is classified as a newly industrialised country.

  1. Brazil ( $3.60T )
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Brazil is one of the world giants of mining, agriculture, and manufacturing, and it has a strong and rapidly growing service sector. The country was heavily dependent on one or two major agricultural products, whose prices fluctuated widely on international markets. The Brazilian government in the 20th century attempted to diversify the country’s production and reduce its dependency on agricultural exports by strongly encouraging manufacturing. The government initiated several key industries, including a modern shipbuilding program, a petrochemical sector led by the huge Petrobras company, a burgeoning microelectronics and personal computer industry, and aircraft manufacturing by the Embraer corporation, including commercial jetliners, aviation and surveillance equipment, and aircraft for the Brazilian air force. It established a motor vehicle industry in the 1950s to replace U.S. and German imports and assembly plants. The government privatized dozens of financial institutions, manufacturers, and mining companies in the 1990s, including several major steel producers and the Rio Doce Valley Company.
The CVRD, Brazil’s giant mining and shipping conglomerate, was apportioned into separate mining and shipping units. The government also sold a minority of its Petrobras shares to private investors and partially opened the petroleum industry to competition. At the beginning of the 21st century, serious problems marked the Brazilian economy, aggravated by political uncertainties. Inflation, financial instability, and unemployment (or underemployment) remained constant threats, and political and financial scandals periodically erupted throughout the country. Brazil still has one of the world’s most lopsided distributions of wealth. It is a leading producer of a host of minerals, including iron ore, tin, bauxite (the ore of aluminum), manganese, gold, quartz, and diamonds and other gems, and it exports vast quantities of steel, automobiles, electronics, and consumer goods. Brazil is the world’s primary source of coffee, oranges, and cassava (manioc) and a major producer of sugar, soy, and beef.

  1. UK ( $3.24T )
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The economy of the United Kingdom is a highly developed social market and market-orientated economy. In 2019, the UK was the fifth-largest exporter in the world and the fifth-largest goods importer. It also had the second-largest inward foreign direct investment, and the third-largest outward foreign direct investment. UK is one of the most globalised economies, and it is composed of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The service sector dominates, contributing around 80% of GDP, the financial services industry is particularly important, and London is the second-largest financial centre in the world. The currency of the UK is the pound sterling, which is the world’s fourth-largest reserve currency. The economy of the United Kingdom has slowly been climbing the ranks of the mostly free for the past decade. Although some economic disruptions are likely, the U.K. will also have new opportunities to expand economic freedom, especially by reducing the tax burden and government spending and pursuing new trade agreements with the United States and other countries.
UK economic output shrank by 20.4% in the second quarter of 2020, the worst quarterly slump on record, pushing the country into the deepest recession of any major global economy. Britain already faces a tough 2021 as the country battles the twin shocks of coronavirus and Brexit. But failing to secure an agreement with the United Kingdom’s biggest export market would amplify the pain. With a limited trade agreement, the UK economy is due to bounce back with growth of 4.6% in 2021 before losing some momentum between 2022 and 2024, according to IFS and Citi projections. Failing to reach a trade deal with Europe would shave as much as one percentage point off that level of growth.

10.France ($3.16T )

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The economy of France is highly developed and free-market-oriented. France is one of the major economic powers of the world, ranking along with such countries as the United States, Japan, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. It included the large industrial companies such as Renault. France is also the most visited destination in the world, as well the European Union’s leading agricultural power. France IS the largest Foreign Direct Investment recipient in Europe in 2020. Paris is a leading global city and it has one of the largest city GPD in the world. Paris has been ranked as the 2nd most attractive global city in the world in 2019 by KPMG. 31 companies that are part of the world’s biggest 500 companies are existing here. It is the world’s fourth largest private oil company.
Another indicator of improved living standards is the growth of ownership of various household and consumer goods, particularly such items as automobiles and computers. Here indirect taxation in the form of a value-added tax (VAT) is relatively high. The top individual income tax rate is 45 percent, and the top corporate tax rate is 31 percent. Other taxes include a value-added tax. The overall tax burden equals 46.2 percent of total domestic income. The overall managerial environment is bolstered by France’s modern business culture, mature financial markets, skilled entrepreneurs, and well-protected intellectual property rights. The total value of exports and imports of goods and services equals 63.4 percent of GDP. State ownership is primarily concentrated in transport, defense, and broadcasting.

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LARGEST 10 GREAT HYDROELECTRIC DAMS IN THE WORLD IN TERMS OF INSTALLED POWER

A hydroelectric dam is one of the major components of a hydroelectric facility. A dam is a large, man-made structure built to contain some body of water. In addition to construction for the purpose of producing hydroelectric power, dams are created to control river flow and regulate flooding. In some rivers, small scale dams known as weirs are built to control and measure water flow. Dams fall into the category of retaining structures, or structures that are built to create large standing bodies of water known as reservoirs. These reservoirs can be used for irrigation, electrical generation, or water supply. Hydroelectricity is one of the fore-runners of the renewable energy industry. Here are 10 Largest hydroelectric Dams in the World in terms of installed power.

1.Three Gorges Dam, China

The Three Gorges Dam has been the world’s largest power station in terms of installed capacity (22,500 MW) since 2012. In 2018, the dam generated 101.6 terawatt-hours (TWh). As well as producing electricity, the dam is intended to increase the Yangtze River’s shipping capacity. The dam is located 44km from the city of Yichang in Hubei province. The project has 34 generators, which includes 32 main generators. The other two are power generators with a capacity of 50MW each. When construction of the dam officially began in 1994, it was the largest engineering project in China. At the time of its completion in 2006, it was the largest dam structure in the world. The height of Three Gorges is about 594 feet (181 meters (m)) and the length is about 7,770 feet (2, 335 m).
The dam creates the Three Gorges Reservoir, which has a surface area of about 400 square miles (1,045 square kilometers) and extends upstream from the dam about 370 miles (600 kilometers). The gorge controls approximately one million square kilometres of drainage area and averages a runoff of 451 billion cubic metres annually. Ecology and environmental monitoring information system for the project was opened in 2007. Fish Nurturing Centre Base was also built for the conservation of Asian carp and other species through the eco-scheduling process. The official total cost of the Three Gorges Dam project was estimated as CNY203bn ($29bn).

2.Itaipu Dam, Brazil and Paraguay

The Itaipu Dam is a hydroelectric dam on the Parana River located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay. The volume of this Dam is 12,300,000 m3 (430,000,000 cu ft) and total capacity is 29 km3 (24,000,000 acre⋅ft). It’s location is Foz do Iguacu, ‎Hernandarias. Itaipu Hydroelectric Dam is the world’s second-largest operational hydroelectric power plant in terms of installed power. With an installed generation capacity of 14GW, the plant is operated by Itaipu Binacional and located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay. Energy generated by Itaipu helps to meet the demands of the two countries. Approximately 90% of the energy generated by the plant is used by Brazil. Itaipu has 20 generating units, each with a capacity of 700MW. The dam’s reservoir, which covers an area of 1,350km² with Spanning of 170 kilometers in length.
The name “Itaipu” was taken from an isle that existed near the construction site. In the Guarani language, Itaipu means “the sounding stone”. To ensure water quantity and quality, Itaipu has created an environmental conservation area, planting more than 44 million trees. The protected areas now total over 100,000 hectares, including reserves and wildlife refuges in both countries and the biological forest corridor that protects the reservoir.Recently, Itaipu became the first hydroelectric plant in the world to have its own protected areas and supporting landscapes which are now recognized by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve. Although forest conservation is an essential safety measure for water security, it also depends on other environmental priorities, especially those that relate to land use. It regularly surpasses the production of the larger dam and holds the world record for energy produced, achieving 103.1 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2016.

3.Xiluodu Dam, China

The Xiluodu Dam is an arch dam on the Jinsha River, i.e. the upper course of the Yangtze in China. It is located near the town of Xiluodu in Yongshan County of Yunnan Province but the dam straddles into Leibo County . The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and its power station has an installed capacity of 13,860 MW. The primary purpose of the dam is hydroelectric power generation and its power station has an installed capacity of 13,860 MW. Additionally, the dam provides for flood control, silt control and its regulated water releases are intended to improve navigation downstream. Xiluodu power plant offsets approximately 150m tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions a year. It reduces the consumption of 41 million tonnes of coal for electricity generation. The Xiluodu plant generates 64bkWh of electricity a year.
The Xiluodu plant is made up of two power houses located on both sides of the dam. The power house comprises 18 Francis turbine-generators and an air-cooled generator with 855.6MVA output. The reservoir has a total storage capacity of 16.5 billion cubic yards, of which six billion cubic yards are for flood control. The construction of the dam was carried out using belt conveyors, crawler tractors, hydraulic excavators, rock trucks and wheel loaders. The water discharge structures of Xiluodu Hydropower Station are composed of 7 surface holes of the dam body, 8 deep holes and 4 spillway tunnels on the bank. The main task of flood control operation of Xiluodu Hydropower Station is to control the flood of the Chuanjiang River section and enhance the flood control standard of cities such as Yibin along the bank, while ensuring the safety of the hydro-complex project.

4.Guri Dam, Venezuela

The Guri power project, also known as the Simon Bolivar hydroelectric power station, is located on the Caroni River in the Bolivar State of southeastern Venezuela. Installed Capacity is 10,235 MW. The power plant consists of 20 generating units of different capacities ranging between 130MW and 770MW. Surface Area of this dam is 4,250 km2 (1,641 sq mi). The Guri dam measures 532ft in height and 4,314ft in length. To free a greater proportion of the country’s petroleum for sale and export, the Venezuelan government made the bold move to transition from hydrocarbon- to hydroelectric-generated power as the country’s primary electricity source. The economic efficiency of Guri Dam’s construction can be attributed to its phased development. While other concepts called for the dam to be built to the final height at the first stage a much easier design the region would not have been able to absorb all of the generated power, making it more difficult to finance.
In addition, the compact and incremental design of the dam resulted in inexpensive power at the time approximately US$550 per kW, which attracted aluminum and iron ore smelting industries to the area. Fulfilled government’s goal to significantly decrease dependence on petroleum as a domestic power source: ability to generate more than 10,000MW and produce up to 50,000GWh per year—the equivalent of 300,000 barrels of oil per day. Alstom was awarded two contracts in 2007 and 2009 to refurbish four 400MW units and five 630MW respectively. Andritz received a contract to supply five 770MW Francis turbines for the powerhouse II of Guri in 2007. The Guri power station supplies approximately 12,900GW/h of energy for Venezuela. The plant provides approximately 50,000GW/h of energy to the country annually.

5.Belo Monte Dam, Brazil

The Belo Monte power station is owned and operated by Norte Energia. The Belo Monte hydropower project under construction on the lower reach of the Xingu River, in Para, Brazil, was installed with 9.39GW generating capacity as of September 2019. The project comprises two dams and two powerhouses, including a main powerhouse equipped with 18 Francis turbines of 611MW capacity each, and a supplemental power house with six 38.85 MW Bulb turbines. The capacity of the dam is 11,233 megawatts (MW). This Dam is the second largest hydroelectric dam in Brazil. Brazil’s rapid economic growth over the last decade has provoked a huge demand for new and stable sources of energy, especially to supply its growing industries. In Brazil, hydroelectric power plants produce over 85% of the electrical energy. The aim is to stimulate the country’s economic growth by building a huge infrastructure of roads and dams, mainly in the Amazon region. The controversial Belo Monte mega-dam in Para state has done significant socio environmental harm to the Xingu River and the indigenous and traditional people living beside it.
Important Brazilian Panel on Climate Change report warned that global warming could drop water levels all across the Amazon basin, putting hydropower in serious jeopardy. Brazil needs Belo Monte and 60 other major dam projects in the Amazon to meet its growing energy demand. Belo Monte’s 668km2 reservoir will flood over 400km2 of forest, generating enormous qualities methane, a greenhouse gas that is 25 times more potent than CO2. Like other big dams, Belo Monte would cause considerable direct and indirect environmental destruction. Belo Monte is only one dam complex, not a series of upstream dams. The government is aware that Belo Monte’s seasonal inefficiency can only be managed by creating more dam reservoirs upstream, allowing technicians to regulate river flows for the entire year. As such, project plans continue to point to the eventual construction of four dams in addition to Belo Monte: Altamira, Iriri, Pombal, and Sao Felix.

6.Tucurui Dam, Brazil

A more modest hydroelectric facility on a small river north of Manaus supplies that city with power. The Tucuruí Hydropower Complex situated on the lower Tocantins River in Tucurui, Para, Brazil. It involved installation of 11 generating units with 370MW capacity each. It is the first large-scale hydroelectric project in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest. The installed capacity of the 25-unit plant is 8,370 megawatts (11,220,000 hp). The power station delivers electricity to the Belem town and the surrounding area. It is located about 350 kilometers from the state’s capital Belém, it caused the flooding of an area of about 3,014 km2 and displaced about 32,000 people. A case study on the social impacts of the Tucuruí dam by Fearnside (1999) reported a systematic overestimation of the plant’s benefits by public authorities, while social and environmental impacts have rather been downplayed, making it an example of Brazil’s unlearned lessons in hydroelectric development.
It notes that most generated power was used for the highly subsidized aluminum industry in Barcarena and Sao Luis. Additionally, dams disturb the flow and composition of the water within rivers and channels. Water released downstream from dams has unnaturally high energy and very little sediment, which causes “hungry water” to run forcefully, eroding the riverbeds, without sufficient sediment concentration to slow it down. This deepens the riverbed compared to the surrounding water table, which causes the ground water to rush into the channel and become surface water – a process known as incision.

7.Grand Coulee Dam, USA

The Grand Coulee hydropower project located on the Columbia River in Washington, US. The annual generating capacity of the plant is more than 24TWh. It consists of total 18 Francis turbines rated 125MW and three 10MW additional units. The Grand Coulee is an ancient river bed in the U.S. state. This area has underlying granite bedrock, formed deep in the Earth’s crust 40 to 60 million years ago. The land periodically uplifted and subsided over millions of years giving rise to some small mountains and, eventually, an inland sea. The dam has four power plants. It is 550 feet (167.6 meters) tall, measured from its foundation in solid granite, or approximately 350 feet (106.7 meters) from the downstream river surface to the top of the dam. It is 5,223 feet (1,592 meters) long, or 57 feet short of a mile. The two original power plants. The total generating capacity is 6,809 megawatts and its average annual energy output is about 2,300 megawatts, or enough power to continuously supply the needs of two cities the size of Seattle.
Hydropower accounts for 79.7 percent of Grand Coulee’s authorized purposes, the others being irrigation and flood control. While hydropower is the primary purpose of the dam today, the public desire for irrigation was the driving force behind its construction. Hydroelectric power plants provide a very efficient, renewable method of generating electricity without producing air pollution. Hydroelectricity produced electricity currently accounts for nearly 7% of the total electricity generated in the United States. However, currently less than 3% of all dams in the United States are used to generate electricity. This discrepancy presents a great opportunity to increase the use of renewable energy production through hydroelectric power. There are many factors which make hydroelectric energy a desirable alternative to the burning of fossil fuels, yet the construction and operation of hydroelectric plants also involves a number of disadvantages. These drawbacks include environmental changes which could adversely affect the health of humans and animals.

8.Xiangjiaba, China

Xiangjiaba is built on the outlet of Jinsha River canyon, which is located Yibin City of Sichuan and Shuifu County, Yunnan, China. The reservoir area is 458,800km² and the reservoir capacity is 5.163 billion cubic metres. The power plant is installed with eight units of 800MW each and comprises various structures for flood discharge, diversion, power generation, and ship lift. The Xiangjiaba is gravity dam with 162m-high and has a crest elevation of 384m. The annual generating capacity of the power plant is 30.88kWh. The Xiangjiaba hydropower facility exploits the lower mainstream water of Jinsha River, a tributary of the Yangtze River. After the successful launch of the Three Gorges hydro power project in 1994, the CTG was authorised for building four hydropower plants namely Xiluodu, Xiangjiaba, Wudongde and Baihetan, all located either on the mainstream or on the tributaries of the Yangtze River. The power output of the Xiangjiaba hydroelectric plant is supplied to central China and east China via the 800kV Xiangjiaba-Shanghai UHVDC (Ultra High Voltage Direct Current) transmission link.
Xiangjiaba will be the third largest hydropower project in the country, after Three Gorges and Xiluodu. As an important part of China’s Great Western Development Programme, the project is expected to drive local social and economic development. It will primarily supply power to China’s central and eastern regions, while at the same time meeting power demand in the Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. The project Xiangjiaba hydro project includes eight turbine generator sets. Major benefits are from power generation to CO2 reduction and flood control. The Xiangjiaba hydropower project brings major flood control benefits, and its combined operation with the Xiluodu hydropower project will improve flood prevention in the downstream coastal cities of Yibin, Luzhou and Chongqing.

9.Sayano-Shushenskaya, Russia

The Sayano-Shushenskaya hydropower plant located on the Yenisei River in Sayanogorsk, Khakassia, Russia. It is operated by RusHydro. An arch-gravity dam 242m tall and 1,066m long was constructed as part of the project. The power plant consists of ten Francis generating units with a capacity of 640MW each. It generates 23.5TWh of energy a year, of which 70% is delivered to four aluminium smelters in Siberia. It is the largest power plant in Russia and the 9th-largest hydroelectric plant in the world, by average power generation. Plant operated ten hydro turbines manufactured at the Leningradsky Metallichesky Zavod, each of which at 194-metre (636 ft) head. The destruction of the turbines and auxiliary equipment at Russia’s Sayano-Shushenskaya Hydro Power Plant in August 2009 claimed the lives of 75 workers and wrecked an indispensable source of electricity that will take years to fully restore.
The disaster, as this report explains, was predictable and preventable. technicians were operating multiple hydroelectric turbines at the plant, including Unit 2, and plant maintenance work on other equipment was continuing. About 70% of the energy generated by RusHydro goes to United Company Rusal’s aluminum smelters, which produce about 12% of the world’s aluminum. It consists of a solid left-bank dam 246.1 metres long, a power dam 331.8 metres long, a spillway dam 189.6 metres long and a solid right-bank dam 298.5 metres long. The dam supports the Sayano-Shushenskoe reservoir, with a total capacity of 31.34 km3, useful capacity of 15.34 km3 and surface area of 621 km2.

10.Longtan Dam, China

The Longtan hydropower project located on the Hongshui River in Tian’e County, Guangxi, China, is the sixth biggest in Asia. The hydroelectric power station consists of nine Francis 700MW generating units. The Longtan dam is a roller-compacted concrete gravity dam 216.5m in height and 832m in width. The dam is intended for hydroelectric power production, flood control and navigation. The dam contains seven surface spillways, two bottom outlets and an underground power station. This gravity dam more than 700 feet tall, So this is the tallest of its type in the world. The hydroelectric power station consists of 9 power generating units with a capacity of more than 17.3 billion kilowatt hours. This system of valves provides a high quality, reliable solution to the stringent requirements of one of the largest and most advanced hydroelectric generation plants of its kind, ensuring optimal utilization of available natural resources. The project is owned by Longtan Hydropower Development. The dam’s newest hydroelectric turbine was installed in 2009. The design and construction of the dam have applied the state of the art of modern RCC and it also represents the highest level of present RCC construction. After reservoir impoundment, the dam’s operation is normal and presents good performance.

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THE GREAT LARGEST 10 LIBRARIES IN THE WORLD ACCORDING TO THE COLLECTION OF ITEMS

Library is a building or room containing collections of books, periodicals, and sometimes films and recorded music for use or borrowing by the public or the members of an institution. Libraries are knowledge powerhouses. They have served as the major source of knowledge transfer generation after generation regardless of the time barrier. If you get the chance to visit some of the world’s largest libraries, you’ve never seen so many books in all your life. The world has excelled in all walks with the help of knowledge that has been preserved in bookish form and stored in world’s biggest libraries. Here we bring to you a list of 10 of the world’s largest libraries based on the collection of books that each one of them possesses.

1.Library Of Congress

It is located in Washington, D.C., the Library of Congress is the national library of the United States and the largest library in the world. Collection of books are 162 million. Its collection was growing at a rate of about two million items per year. It is established in April 24, 1800. The John Adams Building, completed in 1939, received its current name in 1980 to honour the president, who is in 1800 signed the act of Congress establishing the library. The Adams Building was built in Art Deco style and faced with white Georgia marble. The Library of Congress is the largest library of the world in terms of number of items stored and shelf capacity. It officially serves the United State Congress for research purposes. The collection includes more than 32 million catalogued books and other print materials in 470 languages, more than 61 million manuscripts, over 1 million US government publications, 1 million issues of world newspapers, 33,000 bound newspaper volumes, 500,000 microfilm reels, more than 120,000 issues comic book, 5.3 million maps, 6 million works of sheet music, 3 million sound recordings, more than 14.7 million prints and photographic images including fine and popular art pieces and architectural drawings.
Some of those materials include one of the smallest books in the world (you have to turn the pages with a needle). James Billington served as the Librarian of Congress in Washington, D.C., from 1987 to 2015. He earned his doctorate from Oxford University. The Library of Congress serves members, committees, and staff of the U.S. Congress, other government agencies, libraries throughout the country and the world, and the scholars, researchers, artists, and scientists who use its resources. It is the national centre for library service to the blind and physically handicapped, and it offers many concerts, lectures, and exhibitions for the general public. The continued growth of the collection in a wide variety of formats during the 1980s and ’90s necessitated the off-site relocation of some materials to storage facilities in Fort Meade, Maryland, and to the Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, Virginia, the library’s state-of-the-art facility for audiovisual preservation.

2.British Library, UK

British Library, national library of Great Britain, formed by the British Library Act (1972) and organized by July 1, 1973. British Library serves as the national library of United Kingdom which is located in London. It is also the second largest library of the world. Collection of books are more than 150 million in this library.The British Library holds more than 25 million printed books as well as hundreds of thousands of periodicals, microfilms, rare manuscripts, and titles in electronic form. Its special offerings include the Oriental and India Office Collections, the National Sound Archive, printed music, a map library, and philatelic materials. The British Library adds some 3 million items every year occupying 9.6 kilometres of new shelf space. There is space in the library for over 1,200 readers. In over 400 languages including books, magazines, manuscripts, maps, music scores, newspapers, patents, databases, philatelic items, prints and drawings and sound recordings. The British Library is a major research library, with items in many languages and in many formats, both print and digital.
An interesting fact about the British Library is that it will take you 80,000 years to see the entire collection if you are seeing 5 items daily. Their impressive collection includes handwritten Beatles lyrics and an original draft of Chapter 10 and 11 from Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Telling the stories from over 3000 years of human experience, the treasures from our collection include everything from ancient Chinese oracle bones, Magna Carta, the Lindisfarne Gospels and Leonardo da Vinci’s notebook to the Beatles’ lyrics and musical scores by Beethoven, Handel and Chopin. The British Museum library was long housed in the main building of the British Museum, in Bloomsbury, London. The centrepiece of the British Museum library was the huge round dome-ceilinged Reading Room, which was designed by Sydney Smirke in association with the librarian Anthony Panizzi and completed by 1857. The museum (with its library) was founded in 1753 on the basis of the collections of Sir Hans Sloane; Edward and Robert Harley, earls of Oxford; and Sir Robert Cotton. As the library holdings grew in the 20th century, additional space was acquired in Bloomsbury, and annexes were opened at Bayswater and other London locations. In 1962 the National Lending Library for Science and Technology was established at Boston Spa, Yorkshire. The Newspaper Library became part of the British Library in 1973. It is classified as a Grade I listed building “of exceptional interest” for its architecture and history..

  1. Library And Archives Canada

Collection of books are more than 54 million. Canada’s national library, located in Ottawa, acquires and preserves Canada’s documentary heritage. The Dominion Archives was founded in 1872 as a division within the Department of Agriculture and was transformed into the autonomous Public Archives of Canada in 1912 and renamed the National Archives of Canada in 1987. The design is the direct result of an unprecedented public co-design process that asked Ottawa residents, Indigenous communities, and Canadians from across the country to provide inspiration at every stage. The National Library of Canada was founded in 1953. In 2004, Library and Archives Canada (LAC) combined the functions of the National Archives of Canada and the National Library of Canada. LAC’s stated mandate is:
• to preserve the documentary heritage of Canada for the benefit of present and future generations;
• to be a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada as a free and democratic society;
• to facilitate in Canada co-operation among communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge;
• to serve as the continuing memory of the Government of Canada and its institutions.
Among its collection, plenty of antique photos are existed. LAC’s holdings include the archival records of the Government of Canada, representative private archives, 20 million books acquired largely through legal deposit, 24 million photographs, and more than a petabyte of digital content. Some of this content, primarily the book collection, university theses and census material, is available online. In homes, schools and libraries across Canada, people are looking for evidence of what it means to be a Canadian. ARCHIVESCANADA.ca is a gateway to archival resources found in over 800 repositories across Canada – it’s your gateway to Canada’s collective memory.

  1. New York Public Library

The New York Public Library is in Manhattan and it’s the fourth largest library in the world. As of 2010, the research collections contain 44,507,623 items (books, videotapes, maps, etc.), while the branch libraries contain 8,438,775 items. It is a private, non-governmental, independently managed, nonprofit corporation operating with both private and public financing. Collection of books are more than 53.1 million. The collections have been organized into more than 100 major topics, ranging from “Accents and Dialects” to “Women’s Studies” with others such as “Baseball,” “Computer Science,” “Gay and Lesbian Studies,” “Immigration,” “Judaica,” “Theatre,” and “U.S. History” in between. Very often, the expendable products of bygone ages are viewed today as treasures, and the Library’s stacks of old newspapers, including the long-defunct New York Atlas, have provided endlessly rich material for scholars and writers. The building is also home to the Library’s historic children’s materials, including the original stuffed animals that inspired the Winnie-the-Pooh children’s classics, as well as circulating collections for children.
In combination with the lending collections, it is the most comprehensive library collection ever brought together for the free use of the public. The library has branches in the boroughs of the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island and affiliations with academic and professional libraries in the New York metropolitan area. The New York Public Library also has four research libraries, which are also open to the general public. The “New York Public Library” name may also refer to its Main Branch, which is easily recognizable by its lion statues named Patience and Fortitude that sit either side of the entrance. The branch was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1965, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1966, and designated a New York City Landmark in 1967. Today the Library continues to make major investments in its most distinctive collections, especially in unique primary source materials.

  1. Russian State Library

Collection of books are more than 44.4 million. The Russian State Library was established in 1862, and even has a nickname: “Leninka.” It is located in Moscow. It was named the V. I. Lenin State Library of the USSR from 1925 until it was renamed in 1992 as the Russian State Library. The library has over 275 km of shelves. There are items in 247 languages of the world, the foreign part representing about 29 percent of the entire collection. The Russian State Library (RSL) is the largest library in Russia, the fifth largest library in the world. It was a part of the Moscow Public and Rumyantsev Museums. Now the Russian State Library stores in its holdings books, documents and artefacts. More than 800 thousand people visit the library annually and about 100 thousand new library tickets are issued. There are 36 reading rooms in the RSL, where more than one and a half thousand people can work at the same time. Any citizen of Russia or other state above 14 years old can become a user of the Library.
It is important for the Library not only to enlarge its collections, but also to make them as accessible as possible, paying attention to the preservation of rare and valuable editions. Access to copyrighted documents is only possible from the Library premises. At the end of 2014 by the decision of the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation the Russian State Library was appointed the operator of the National Electronic Library (NEL). NEL is a modern project aimed at free access of readers to the collections of key Russian libraries through the integrated portal and search system. The Library is developing and looking for new forms of interaction with the reader. The best and the most interesting of the RSL collections is demonstrated at exhibitions. In 2016 the Russian State Library opened the new museum space for major exhibitions Ivanovsky Hall. On traditional events of LibraryNight, LibraryDay and Open Doors Day experts and everyone are welcome to acquaint with the work of the Library.

  1. National Diet Library

The National Diet Library is located in Tokyo. It was established in 1948 for the purpose of assisting members of the National Diet of Japan, in researching matters of public policy. Collection of books are more than 41.88 million in this Library. The library is similar in purpose and scope to the United States Library of Congress. The National Diet Library has been actively working on digitization of its collections. The National Diet Library (NDL) consists of two main facilities in Tokyo and Kyoto, and several other branch libraries throughout Japan. It is organized on the system of the U.S. Library of Congress, serving legislators and the nation at large through various major divisions and 35 branch libraries. It is Japan’s only national deposit library and also the country’s parliamentary library. The “Digital Library from the Meiji Era”, which was opened to the public in 2002, carries full-text digital images of about 127,000 volumes of 89,000 titles of the books published in the Meiji era (1868-1912). In addition, it has been promoting copyright clearance and digitization of most of the books published in the Taisho era (1912-1926).
The National Diet Library is the successor of three separate libraries: the library of the House of Peers, the library of the House of Representatives, both of which were established at the creation of Japan’s Imperial Diet in 1890; and the Imperial Library, which had been established in 1872 under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education. National Diet Library, Japanese Kokuritsu Kokkai Toshokan, is combining the libraries of the upper and lower houses of the Diet with the collections of the former Imperial Library. The “Web Archiving Project (WARP)” is a project to preserve information gathered from the Internet for the sake of future generations. We have collected, selected Internet resources with license agreements, and provided about 1,500 online periodicals and 1,900 websites.

  1. Bibliotheque Nationale De France

Paris is the home of the Bibliotheque Nationale de France, a national repository of everything published in France and home to the beautiful Oval Reading Room. Collection of books are more than 40 million in this Library. It contains a portion of the modern manuscripts and archive documents like brochures, programs, screenplays, press clippings, typescripts, correspondences, letters, autographs on performing arts and music from the Richelieu-Louvois Library. Books and periodicals kept in the storage and on the shelves. Documents in audio format (78 rpm recordings, phonograph records, compact discs, and audio cassettes), video format (videotapes and videodiscs), multimedia and electronic formats (CD-ROMS, DVD-ROMS, video games etc.). It contains Objects: brass, carved wood, lithographic stones, fabrics etc. It also contains Iconographic documents: prints, photographs, posters and Printed and handwritten sheet music.
Throughout its history, it has always performed the task of collecting and preserving national and global collections in its care, in any form, for the benefit of all. It is digital library, Gallica was launched in 1997. It is one of the oldest in the world, located in Paris. On the site Francois-Mitterrand, a building whose four angular towers symbolize four open books, overlooking the banks of the 13th arrondissement of Paris, more than 15 million books and printed works are preserved. The garden can be found in between the 4 towers: it can be seen from all over the Library, but entry is not permitted.

  1. National Library Of Russia

The National Library of Russia is in St Petersburg, and has been digitizing many titles — over 80,000 titles are available to view electronically. The Imperial Public Library was established in 1795 by Catherine the Great. Collection of items are more than 36.5 million in this Library. The National Library of Russia in Saint Petersburg ,is not only the oldest public library in the nation, but also the first national library in the country. It has the second richest library collection in the Russian Federation, a treasury of national heritage, and is the All-Russian Information, Research and Cultural Center. Over the course of its history, the Library has aimed for comprehensive acquisition of the national printed output and has provided free access to its collections. It is known as the Imperial Public Library. The idea of a public library in Russia emerged in the early 18th century but did not take shape until the arrival of the Russian Enlightenment.
The cornerstone of the foreign-language department came from the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the form of Załuski’s Library (420,000 volumes), nationalized by the Russian government at the time of the partitions. The Polish-language books from the library (numbering some 55,000 titles) were returned to Poland by the Russian SFSR in 1921. For five years after its foundation, the library was run by Comte Marie-Gabriel-Florent-Auguste de Choiseul-Gouffier. The stocks were arranged according to a specially compiled manual of library classification. In 1810, Emperor Alexander I approved Russia’s first library law stipulating, among other things, that two legal copies of all printed matter in Russia be deposited in the Library.

  1. Royal Danish Library

The Royal Library in Copenhagen is the national library of Denmark. Collection of books are more than 35.1 million in this Library and it is largest in the Nordic countries. In 2017 it merged with the State and University Library in Aarhus to form a combined national library. The combined library organisation is known as the Royal Danish Library. The “Black Diamond” is a characteristic new library building at the waterfront of Copenhagen. The building from 1999 is designed by the Danish architects Schmidt, Hammer and Lassen. The Library building is shiny, black facets mirror the sea and the sky at the harbour front. It is an extension to the Royal Library. It is founded in 1648. It houses many ancient manuscripts, notably The Gutenberg Bible and the manuscripts and letters of Hans Christian Andersen. The name refers to the prismatic sharp edges and the black marble plates and glass of the exterior, that reflects the water of the harbour. Also from the wave-like balconies of central foyer, that cuts into the building as an 24 meter high atrium, there is a panoramic view over the harbour.
The variety of cultural activities of the new building has turned The Royal Library into a central cultural centre of Copenhagen as part of the harbour promenade. The ceiling of the bridge between the old and the new is decorated by the Danish artist Per Kirkeby. In the old building of The Royal Library a Jewish museum has been designed by Daniel Libeskind in 2004 with sloping floors and light wooden interior. The seven stories of the building contain not only traditional library functions such as the four new reading rooms, but also a concert hall, exhibition galleries, bookshop, cafe and restaurant. It contains numerous historical treasures, and a copy of all works printed in Denmark since the 17th century are deposited there. A large incision cleaves the building into two formations and gives light to the atrium inside. The atrium connects the city with the sea outside as well as the old and new library buildings. The glass facade is held by iron girders weighing approximately one metric tonne per metre.

  1. The National Library of China

The National Library of China in Beijing has many rare Chinese items such as ancient books, oracle bones and tortoise shells from the Shang dynasty, and Buddhist manuscripts from the sixth century. Collection of items are more than 35.1 million in this Library. In 1916, the library received depository library status. In July 1928, its name was changed to National Peiping Library and was later changed to the National Library. The design of KSP Jurgen Engel for the new National Library of China in Beijing was the winning entry in an international competition. It is founded in 1909. The tripartite design of the library, symbolizing the past, present and future, consists of a solid base, a glazed center section enclosing structural cores and a steel-clad volume at the top. The stone-clad plinth houses the books and documents, representing China‘s rich cultural tradition. The steel box at the top houses the digital library. Weighing 10,388 tons, the 120 × 105 m earthquake-proof steel of the roof structure is designed as a steel lattice framework. Six reinforced cores transfer this load to the base, thus enabling the column-free floating ceiling over the grand reading room.
The glazed center section accommodates the public information area, access to reading rooms, foyer and cafeteria – all activities anchored to the present. The NLC faces the challenges of readership in the technological age. The creation of the National Digital Library is part of a strategy to combat this trend and to provide integrated services that include the availability of 10,000 e-books, mobile phone enabled library services and the use of RFID technology for the ease of locating items. Web pages, e-journals, blogs and so on – that appear only electronically.” With only 20 % of the National Library’s holdings available to the public in digital form in 2008, the Digital Library will greatly increase the reach of the National Library.

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