The second-largest country on Earth, Canada possesses a tremendous variety of natural wonders. This new second revision to Canada the Land takes students on a fascinating tour of the countrys rugged coasts, frozen northern regions, vast prairies, and majestic mountain ranges.
The contributions to arts and culture by early Islamic empires is considerable. This book explores their great works of literature, as well as such artistic works as Arabesque art, calligraphy, mosques and tombs, palaces, weaving, textiles, metalware, pottery, carvings and molded plaster, and glassware.
This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Sahara Desert in North Africa. The biggest hot desert on Earth, it covers parts of twelve countries, more area than the entire United States! The Sahara has oases scattered widely and sand dunes that can reach as high as 600 feet (182m). Readers will learn about the people, plants, and animals such as camels, goats, and fennec foxes that inhabit this desert habitat. Special sections describe the desert's natural resources, such as oil and natural gas, and the unique problems facing this region.
What does it feel like to live in a pressurized metal tube 1000 feet (300 m) under the ocean, and only steps away from lethally dangerous nuclear fissile material? Nuclear submariners know. In wartime, theirs is an unenviable task - to hunt other submarines and destroy them before they themselves can be hunted down. Nuclear power allows these submarines to operate at high speed for long durations without having to surface frequently. Nuclear submarines never need to be refueled throughout their 25-year life-span. This fascinating book looks at what life is like for the men who live and work together on these boats; what the inside of a nuclear submarine looks like and how it works; how the sea gives the submariners all the air they need to breathe while under water; and how they "fight" the boat while they hunt other submarines.
Piloting experimental aircraft is more dangerous than most other types of flying. Test pilots are generally military aviators who fly new and modified aircraft, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated. In the 1950s, test pilots were being killed at the rate of about one a week, but the risks have shrunk to a fraction of that, thanks to the sophistication of aircraft technology, better ground-testing, and simulation of aircraft performance. Despite their image as fun-loving daredevils, these pilots have to be ruthlessly precise and professional when flying. This intriguing book looks at what type of people become test pilots, how they train, what the job includes, how it feels to be the first person to fly a new design, the aircraft they fly, and how they analyze and report on each flight.
Police officers are the protective barrier standing between the public on one side and lawlessness on the other - the so-called "thin blue line." A high-stress job, officers face daily interactions in stressful situations where the element of risk is always lurking. An officer's main duty is to maintain law and order within a community, which means they are regularly face to face with citizens and out patrolling the streets. This book looks at the duties of police officers in crime prevention, the apprehension of offenders, and emergency situations.
When the heat gets turned up in a conflict, support helicopter pilots are called upon to bring in additional troops and equipment or even provide battle support from the air. In modern warfare, the helicopter's agility and hovering ability have made it indispensible to the army, navy, air force, and marines for tactical support. This book describes the different missions support helicopter pilots undertake and the dangerous circumstances they must usually fly under.
These army pilots fly the most demanding helicopter in existence, a machine so complex to operate that its known as Riding the Dragon. Only 3% of existing army helicopter pilots qualify to fly it. Trainees have to learn to train their eyes to work independently of each other while the right eye sees flight and weapons information in the helmet's monocle, the left eye is free to look outside the aircraft and scan for threats and other obstacles. And, flying the helicopter is only half the battle - its purpose is to provide firepower from the air to protect soldiers on the ground. This book lifts the lid on what life is like for these men and women: their training; the aircraft; the missions, and what its actually like to be under fire while flying.
The backbone of any army, infantry soldiers seem to get all of the action but none of the glory. Trained for the very physical and aggressive work of engaging the enemy on the ground, the infantry's main focus is to advance on the enemy, take control of territory, and hold it. Not surprisingly the infantry tends to take high casualties because they are usually sent to the hottest spots in combat. This book looks at the high-risk jobs of the infantry soldier, including attack, defense, patrol, and intelligence gathering.
This informative title introduces readers to four of the states that make up the Southwest region of the United States: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. The Southwest has many people of Hispanic descent as well as Native-American people from nations such as the Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and Apache. Readers will discover how the climate, population distribution, history, and culture of this region make it distinct.
In 1922, archaeologist Howard Carter discovered King Tutankhamen's tomb. In addition to unearthing astonishing artifacts, Carters discovery revealed fascinating details about King Tut's life and provided insight into ancient Egyptian culture. Engaging, approachable text and vivid images take readers inside the pharaoh's tomb as they discover ancient treasures and learn how such artifacts shed light on King Tuts reign, his family's dynasty, the mystery surrounding his death, and the theories of King Tut's curse
This modern-day pirate tale details the recent hijacking and daring rescue of the Maersk Alabama and places its gripping story in context with the evolution of piracy on the high seas.
To be a spy in today's high-tech world, you've got to specialize whether you're keeping tabs on foreign governments, fighting terrorist organizations, or stopping cyber espionage. This fascinating book describes spying throughout history, the gadgetry of a spy, and what kind of training is required to join intelligence-gathering agencies around the world.
Cold case files don't stay cold for very long anymore. After the medical and police teams have secured the area, the crime scene investigators arrive on the scene. This fascinating book follows the efforts of the different CSI personnel involved in gathering and analyzing the physical evidence of a crime, performing ballistics and DNA tests, following the digital trail through mobile device forensics, and giving evidence in court.
This fascinating title takes the reader to one of the most isolated prisons on the planet where some America's worst criminals were held. This is the story of how Alcatraz was created, what it was like to live there, and why it was virtually impossible to escape from.
This exciting book describes the geological makeup and history of the Mojave Desert in the United States. Located in the states of California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona, there are several national parks in the desert including Death Valley, the hottest place in North America. Readers will learn about the people, plants, and animals such as cougars, scorpions, and rattlesnakes that inhabit this desert habitat. The Mojave Desert is also a windy place where wind farms have been set up to generate electricity. Special sections describe the desert's natural resources, such as borax, silver, and gold, and the unique problems facing this region.
The history of human activity in the Rocky Mountain range is as colorful as its scenic natural wonders. It has been witness to the decimation of Native peoples, the westward expansion of European settlers, the frenzied activity of several gold rushes, and the blazing of transcontinental railways. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Rocky Mountains, as well as the cultures and ways of life of the people in the United States and Canada who live in its shadow. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in this mountain habitat, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Atacama Desert in Chile. One of the driest areas of the world - some parts never receive any rain - the desert's climate can be cold, sometimes producing snow and fog. Readers will be fascinated to learn that the Atacama's soil is so similar to soil samples from Mars that NASA goes to this desert to test its exploration instruments. NASA has also set up its Earth-Mars Cave Detection Program in the Atacama, too. Special sections also describe the desert's natural resources and unique problems facing this region, as well as the people, plants, and animals that inhabit this desert habitat.
The Ural Mountains form a natural boundary called the "Stone Belt" between Europe and Asia. Rich in mineral deposits, the Urals have long been a major source of industry for Russia. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Ural mountain range, as well as the cultures and ways of life of the people in Russia and Kazakhstan who live in its shadow. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in this mountain habitat, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
This amazing book describes the geological makeup and history of the Great Victoria Desert in Australia. Used in modern times for mining and testing of atomic bombs, this vast, sandy area has been home to a number of indigenous peoples for thousands of years. Although there is little rain, the blooms with a variety of plants. Readers will learn about the Mamungari Conservation Park located in the Great Victoria Desert, which is known for a eucalyptus tree called Ooldea mallee with large, spectacular red, pink, or yellow flowers. Special sections also describe the desert's natural resources, as well as the unique problems facing this region such as the introduction of non-native species of animals.
Running almost the full length of South America on its western coast, the Andes is the longest continental mountain range in the world. This remote and harsh environment saw the rise and fall of one of the great ancient civilizations of the world, the Incas. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Andes mountain range, and how it is intertwined with the cultures and ways of life of the people in South America who live in its shadow. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in this mountain habitat, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
Home of two of the world's highest peaks - Mount Everest and K2 - the Himalayas are both revered and feared by mountaineers around the world. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Himalaya mountain range, and how it is intertwined with the cultures and ways of life of the people in South Asia who live in its shadow. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in this mountain habitat, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
The Great Appalachian Valley, a major land form of the Appalachian mountains, played an important role in the early history of the United States. Routes through the valley, first made by Native Americans, made the mountains passable, later allowing European immigrants to expand colonization of the region. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the mountain ranges that form the Appalachians, and the people in the United States and Canada who live in their shadows. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in these mountain habitats, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
The famous peaks of the Alps - Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, the Eiger - have inspired adventure seekers, poets, and philosophers throughout history. This fascinating book describes the geological makeup and history of the Alps mountain range, and how it is intertwined with the cultures and ways of life of the people in Europe who live in its shadow. Special sections also describe the plants and animals that thrive in this mountain habitat, as well as the unique problems facing this region.
Learning Green introduces readers to a wide range of careers in education that address conservation and environmentalism. These include teaching and promoting a green curriculum in a public or private school setting. These subjects intersect with a vast assortment of professions, such as architecture, engineering, law, horticulture, forestry, biology, urban and regional planning, oceanography, geology, and geography.
