Did you know?

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I love this thread! Almost every day, I have to Google something that I see here. Yesterday, I searched on the tall building in Dubai, to see what was in there (offices, retail, apartments). Today I Googled the kid who lost his arms, to see how he was doing (not great).

Thanks to all who contribute amazing facts!

Lee
 
Did you know that the Snail Road, also known as Paso de los Libertadores, is one of the most emblematic and challenging routes in South America. This road connects Chile with Argentina, passing through the majestic Andes Range.

Top features:

1. **Location**: The road is located in the Valparaiso Region, Chile, and runs through to the province of Mendoza in Argentina.

2. **Route**: The route rises from the valley of the Aconcagua River in Chile to the Cristo Redentor tunnel, located at a height of approximately 3,200 meters above sea level.

3. **Design**: It's known for its closed, steep, snail-like curves, from which its name derives. The road has numerous zig-zag curves that are a challenge for both drivers and vehicles.

4. **Weather Conditions**: During winter, the road can be extremely hazardous due to snowfall and severe weather conditions, which often leads to temporary closures.

5. **Importance**: It is a crucial route for trade and tourism between Chile and Argentina, and is often used by trucks and tourists who wish to cross the mountain range.

6. **Tourist Attractions**: Along the route, you can observe breathtaking landscapes of the mountain range, as well as points of interest such as the Inca Lagoon and Portillo Ski Resort.

The Snails Road is a spectacular and challenging route that offers a unique driving experience through one of the most breathtaking landscapes of the Andes. Its intricate design and location in a region with extreme weather conditions make it one of the most famous and photographed routes in South America.

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Frank 'Rocky' Fiegel, born in Poland on January 27, 1868. He emigrated with his family to America where in 1887 he joined the Navy.
When Popeye's creator met him, he was a retired sailor contracted by Wiebusch’s tavern in the city of Chester, Illinois, to clean and maintain order. He had a reputation to be always involved in fighting, so he had a deformed eye (“Pop-eye”). He had demonstrated his strength in so many fights that he became a local legend. He always smoked his pipe, so he spoke only with one side of his mouth.
When he was with children he held the pipe with the corner of his mouth and told them the antics of his youth, often boasting of his physical strength and loudly claiming that spinach is the food that makes him invincible.
Popeye's character creator Elzie Crisler Segar was born in Chester and was one of the children who had the privilege of hearing 'live' the stories of the former sailor.
 
Luckytrim said:
Frank 'Rocky' Fiegel, born in Poland on January 27, 1868. He emigrated with his family to America where in 1887 he joined the Navy.
When Popeye's creator met him, he was a retired sailor contracted by Wiebusch’s tavern in the city of Chester, Illinois, to clean and maintain order. He had a reputation to be always involved in fighting, so he had a deformed eye (“Pop-eye”). He had demonstrated his strength in so many fights that he became a local legend. He always smoked his pipe, so he spoke only with one side of his mouth.
When he was with children he held the pipe with the corner of his mouth and told them the antics of his youth, often boasting of his physical strength and loudly claiming that spinach is the food that makes him invincible.
Popeye's character creator Elzie Crisler Segar was born in Chester and was one of the children who had the privilege of hearing 'live' the stories of the former sailor.
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I LOVE this, LT! Popeye was Polish!!

Lee
 
Meet "Sampson," the world's strongest and biggest horse, born in 1799 (?) on a farm in Alberta, Canada. Sampson is a Shire horse, a breed known for their impressive size and strength. From a young age, Sampson stood out from the rest, with a voracious appetite and an insatiable desire to grow. As he matured, Sampson’s incredible strength became apparent. He could pull loads of over 5,000 pounds and run at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. His massive size - he stood at an astonishing 20.3 hands (68 inches or 173 cm) tall and weighed over 2,000 pounds - made him a gentle giant, with a heart to match.
Samson's fame spread far and wide, with appearances at horse shows, parades, and even film and television productions. He became a beloved celebrity, known for his intelligence, kindness, and unwavering strength.

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Johnny West said:
Meet "Sampson," the world's strongest and biggest horse, born in 1799 (?) on a farm in Alberta, Canada. Sampson is a Shire horse, a breed known for their impressive size and strength. From a young age, Sampson stood out from the rest, with a voracious appetite and an insatiable desire to grow. As he matured, Sampson’s incredible strength became apparent. He could pull loads of over 5,000 pounds and run at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. His massive size - he stood at an astonishing 20.3 hands (68 inches or 173 cm) tall and weighed over 2,000 pounds - made him a gentle giant, with a heart to match.
Samson's fame spread far and wide, with appearances at horse shows, parades, and even film and television productions. He became a beloved celebrity, known for his intelligence, kindness, and unwavering strength.

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When you say TV I guess in later movies or documentaries, with a substitute.
Wikipedia gives a different birthday and an even bigger size.
Whatever it is, this one could have challenged an elephant! With people beside it reminds me of the Trojan Horse!
 
The town of Bryan Ohio is located in the northwest corner of the Buckeye state. It has a small train depot that still operates as an Amtrak station. In the parking lot is a historical marker that recalls the fastest train in America. The sixty-seven miles of railroad track from Toledo, Ohio to Butler, Indiana is the longest multiple track straight railroad line in the world. It was on this stretch of track that the New York Central Railroad Company tested the feasibility of operating high-speed passenger service.
In 1966, the New York Central Railroad modified a passenger rail car. They added an aerodynamic cowling around the bottom and on the top two jet engines for power. The engines were second-hand General Electric J47-19 jet engines, originally used as boosters for the Convair B-36 Peacemaker intercontinental bomber. The railcar M-497 was nicknamed the Black Beetle by the press and tested on July 23, 1966. The railcar with the jet engines strapped to the roof reached a maximum speed of 183.68 mph, an American rail speed record that still stands today.

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Luckytrim said:
The town of Bryan Ohio is located in the northwest corner of the Buckeye state. It has a small train depot that still operates as an Amtrak station. In the parking lot is a historical marker that recalls the fastest train in America. The sixty-seven miles of railroad track from Toledo, Ohio to Butler, Indiana is the longest multiple track straight railroad line in the world. It was on this stretch of track that the New York Central Railroad Company tested the feasibility of operating high-speed passenger service.
In 1966, the New York Central Railroad modified a passenger rail car. They added an aerodynamic cowling around the bottom and on the top two jet engines for power. The engines were second-hand General Electric J47-19 jet engines, originally used as boosters for the Convair B-36 Peacemaker intercontinental bomber. The railcar M-497 was nicknamed the Black Beetle by the press and tested on July 23, 1966. The railcar with the jet engines strapped to the roof reached a maximum speed of 183.68 mph, an American rail speed record that still stands today.

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Yep, Bryan is about 20 minutes from here.
 
With the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization defining a forest as a contiguous area with at least 10 percent tree canopy cover, London qualifies as a forest.

London’s 3,000 parks offer a wonderful dose of nature, making the city one of the greenest urban hubs in the world. London is the world’s largest urban forest, 388,400 acres of it, an actual forest made of more than 8 million trees.
 
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“Here’s some trivia:
During the shooting of the film, Christian Bale spoke in an American accent off set at all times. At the wrap party, when he began to speak in his own British accent, many of the crew thought he was speaking that way as an accent for another film - they had thought he was American throughout the entire shoot.”
 
Jun 30, 1913, Herta Heuwer was born. The name might not be internationally famous, but she’s a legend in Berlin, as the creator of the currywurst! In 1949, she was feeling bored in her snack bar in West Berlin. She started experimenting with some curry powder she had acquired from British soldiers – mixing it with tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, a little salt, and sugar – and served the sauce up with a bratwurst. Customers were thrilled with the new dish – and the currywurst was born.

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