Just 80 kilometers (50 miles) north of Bangkok, Thailand rests the old capital city, Ayutthaya (pronounced ah-you-tah-ya) nestled on a river isle.
From 1350 to 1767 (417 years), Ayutthaya was once a thriving international commercial center welcoming foreign traders from China, Vietnam, India, Japan, Persia and Europe and was comparable to the size and wealth of Paris. In 1767, the trade city was destroyed by Burmese invaders. And in 1768, Bangkok became the new capital of Thailand.
Today, the ruins of Ayutthaya reside in the northwest corner of the isle. The ancient city is one of Thailand’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site with its many temples, Buddha figures and chedis. These key historical shrines can be explored on foot. Many other places of interest can be found on the banks of the three main rivers opposite the sacred city, but cover a wider area.
Geography Quiz
The following quiz questions highlight content of our preliminary course, The World and Its Physical Geography.
Q1. How do mid-ocean ridges form? Which answer is NOT correct.
a) The mid-ocean ridges are indicators of structurally weak regions of the ocean floor as the plates pull apart.
b) New magma from deep inside the mantle rises easily through weak regions.
c) The new molten magma erupts along the peaks of the ridges to create new oceanic crust.
d) Through a process called 'seafloor spreading'
e) Planet Earth is becoming larger.
Q2. This great chain of rugged mountain ranges is situated in western Canada and United States. It is believed that the subducted Pacific plate lies almost parallel to the overriding North American plate.
a) Alps
b) Apennines
c) Rockies
d) Pyrenees
e) Ural
Q3. This sea is the northwestern portion of the Indian Ocean, bordered by India on the east and the Arabian Peninsula on the west. Since 3000 BC, it has been a major transportation route for trading.
a) Arabian Sea
b) Caribbean Sea
c) Mediterranean Sea
d) Red Sea
e) Bering Sea
Q4. This major lake forms part of the Great Lakes system between Canada and the United States. Its major inflow is Lake Huron and its main outflow is Lake Ontario by way of the beautiful Niagara Falls.
a) Lake Winnipeg
b) Caspian Sea
c) Great Slave Lake
d) Lake Erie
e) Lake Michigan
Q5. This river is located in southwestern Asia and has a twin river almost parallel to it, the Tigris River. Its headwaters originate from mountains in Turkey flowing southeast and meets with its twin river before emptying into the Persian Gulf.
a) Mackenzie River
b) Euphrates River
c) Missouri River
d) Ob River
e) St. Lawrence River
(See answers in right sidebar)
Planet Friendly
Our planet Earth has so much to offer. Remind yourself what it is you’re trying to rescue: nature.
Interacting with nature significantly improves our brain’s ability to perceive, think, reason and remember. Above all, being in natural surroundings strengthens our ability to focus and aids our memory. Nature, unlike a hectic urban landscape, is filled with inherently fascinating stimuli like a sunset or a frog call. Because you are captivated by the pinkish orange twilight sky, paying attention to the sunset doesn’t take any extra mental work and our attention circuits are able to recharge themselves. A walk in the woods listening to a frog is like a vacation for our brains.
Walking in the city, however, compels the brain to constantly be aware, as we keep away from obstacles such as moving cars, ignore extraneous stimuli like squealing bus brakes and reaching our destination. The outcome is that city strolls are less therapeutic than walks in the middle of nature.
Nature has been proven to be a powerful destressor. Enjoy the miracles of a picnic in a park, exploring a forest (pray that the crunching sound under your feet is not a bag of chips), horseback riding and swimming in a lake.
Geography Quote
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” - Mark Twain
We Love Referrals
Hint - The next time you are entertaining children build a Baking Soda Volcano. Kids will be thrilled! Tell them a little about Tectonic Plates. Next pop the question, ‘Would you like to learn more?!’ Then, write out The Globe in a Nutshell website on a piece of paper with your Referral Code. They will undoubtedly share their enthusiasm with their Moms and Dads.
We have an award system in place to honor members who have given us the greatest of compliments ... REFERRALS. We LOVE Referrals. For more information on our Referral Program click here.
To be a member, you must register online with our preliminary course, The World and Its Phusical Geography. Once you have registered, you will receive your very own Referral Code. Please share your Referral Code with everyone.
Our Referral Program allows you to earn Regional Interest Courses at no cost when people enter your Referral Code during online registration with our preliminary course, The World and Its Physical Geography. 1 Referral = 1 Travel Point and 5 Referrals = 5 Travel Points = 1 Regional Interest Course at no cost.
Everyone wins! They win because they receive a discount of $20 CDN by simply entering your Referral Code when they register online with The Globe in a Nutshell’s preliminary course, The World and Its Physical Geography. You win because you earned a Travel Point. And, The Globe in a Nutshell wins because we have a new member.
So register today and once you receive your Referral Code, email your friends this newsletter and provide them your Referral Code.
