Arbeitsblatt: NI2, Places

Statue of Liberty The Statue of Liberty is found at the entrance to New York Harbor on small island known as Liberty Island. The official name of this copper and steel structure is Liberty Enlightening the World. The statue is woman with book in one hand and torch in her other hand. It stands on top of giant pedestal the whole structure is 93 meters high. The statue was gift from the people of France to the people of the United States to celebrate Americas independence and its democratic way of life. It represents the political freedom of the American immigrants. Citizens of both countries paid for the project by donations. American people paid for the pedestal and French people paid for the statue. The construction began in the 1880s. The statue was built in France and then broken down into 350 pieces, which were shipped to the United States in July 1884. The ship arrived in New York year later. It took four months to put the statue back together and place it on top of the pedestal. In 1984, the United Nations named it World Heritage. Words pedestal: Podest torch: Fackel donation: spenden World Heritage: Weltkulturerbe Own wordlist §§ Mount Kilimanjaro Mount Kilimanjaro lies on the border of Tanzania and Kenya. On clear day, Mount Kilimanjaro can be seen from more than 160 kilomerts away. Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa, the highest freestanding mountain in the world, and one of the largest volcanoes ever. Kilimanjaro is thought to be losing its glaciers because of global warming. Arab and Chinese traders and historians mentioned this big mountain, but few early traders traveled into the interior of the continent. But there was no real interest in the mountain until the middle of the 19th century. In 1848 Johann Rebmann, missionary from Germany, saw Mount Kilimanjaro. His guide told tales of porters who were sent up the mountains to bring back silver and treasures from the summit, and returned with only water. Rebmanns report, published in 1849, created great interest in Germany. Several expeditions were organized, first by Baron von Decken and later by Dr. Hans Meyer who finally stood on the highest point on October 5, 1889. Mount Kilimanjaro now attracts many thousands of walkers each year. Tourists who come to climb are surprised by the trees and flowering plants that change with the altitude. Because certain plants will only grow at certain altitudes, Kilimanjaro changes from rain forests to permanent ice fields. Words border: Grenze missionary: Missionar altitude: Höhe Own wordlist Mecca Mecca is Islams holiest city. Some Muslims turn toward Mecca five times day to pray. Mecca is located in Saudi Arabia. Islam was founded in Mecca by the Prophet Mohammed in the 7th century. The Kaba, cubed, black building, is the center of Islam. Al-Haram Mosque (the Great Mosque) surrounds the Kaba and the modern city of Mecca surrounds the mosque. Only Muslims are allowed to visit Mecca. All Muslims who have enough money to make the journey have to go on the spiritual Hajj to Mecca at least once in their life. During the Hajj, pilgrims must wear special white clothes. More than 2 million Muslims from 70 countries take part in the annual Hajj. Many travel long time to reach the holy city. While there, they perform certain rituals. After entering alHaram Mosque, they walk around the Kaba seven times in countercklockwise direction, ritual called the Tawaf. They must also run seven times along one of the passageways in the mosque. This ritual honors the search for water by Hajar, the Prophet Abrahams wife. The crowds of people and the heat have created problems in the past. Many pilgrims have died of heat or in crowds. The government of Saudi Arabia has set fixed number of pilgrims who are allowed to come from each country each year to try to overcome these problems. Words holiest: heiligste pray: beten cubed: gewürfelt counterclockwise: Gegenuhrzeigersinn pilgrim: Pilger Own wordlist The Great Wall of China The Great Wall of China is the largest military structure in the world and one of its great wonders. It runs from east to west across northern and north-central China, with about 8800 kilometers. The United Nations declared it World Heritage in 1987. Parts of the Great Wall are over 2,000 years old. About 210 BC, Emperor Qin united the country and ordered the individual sections to be connected. This took several centuries to complete. Qin and succeeding emperors used forced labour to build the wall higher, wider, and longer. Lookout posts and battle forts were constructed and soldiers were stationed along it. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), major renovation of the Great Wall began, which took 200 years to complete. The wall became better in design and modern cannons were added. The Great Wall lost its military importance in the modern era and many sections of the wall are in ruins or have disappeared. However, there is still great interest in the wall. Today, the Great Wall is one of Chinas most important tourist attractions. Each year, hundred thousands of visitors visit the wall. Parts of the wall are being restored, but it is difficult and expensive process. Words World Heritage: Weltkulturerbe united: vereinheitlichen century: Jahrhundert forced labour: Zwangsarbeit cannon: Kanone Own wordlist The Dead Sea The Dead Sea has 810 km2 and is found in the Middle East, surrounded by Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank. It is called the Dead Sea because no major life form can live in it. The Dead Sea is over 400 meters below sea level, which makes it the lowest point on earth. It has the saltiest water – six times saltier than the oceans – and the highest concentration of minerals of any sea in the world. Although several rivers flow into it, nothing flows out of it because of its low level. Water can only escape through evaporation, which occurs daily in the hot Middle Eastern climate. When water evaporates, it leaves behind salt and minerals. The Dead Sea is so salty that people can float on it without any effort. The area is the largest natural spa in the world, and people travel big distances to relax in its warm waters and experience cosmetic mud baths and mineral treatments. The level of the Dead Sea sinks because people take water from the rivers that flow into it. Some people propose to pump water from the nearby Red Sea into it to keep its level. Words evaporate: verdunsten float: treiben effort: Anstrengung Own wordlist The Western Wall The Western Wall is one of the holiest sites in Judaism. You can find it in Jerusalem. It is also known as the Wailing Wall. Non-Jewish people began calling it this after watching Jewish people cry as they prayed at the wall. The wall is part of large ancient wall that Herod the Great built in biblical times. It was built to surround the area of the Temple Mount. The Temple Mound is the holiest place of the Jewish people. In the year 70, the Romans destroyed the Temple, but left parts of the wall standing. People began praying at the western section of the wall because it was the only reminder of their Temple. It gradually became holy place. Many people started leaving written prayers to God in the holes of the wall. Herods wall was constructed with enormous stones, most between 2 and 8 tons. Some are heavier than 100 tons, and scientists still do not know how these rocks were moved to the place. Men and women have separate prayer areas. Boys from Israel and around the world often come to the plaza to celebrate their Bar Mitzvah. Words wailing: Klagen pray: beten holy: heilig constructed: gebaut Own wordlist The leaning Tower of Pisa The Leaning Tower of Pisa, in Italy, is famous because it looks like it might fall over. This circular bell tower stands next to Pisas cathedral. It is 55,8 meters high and has 8 floors. Over 293 steps lead to 7 bells at the top. The outside is decorated with arches and columns. The construction began in 1173.The tower leans because it is too heavy for the ground it is built on. The uneven layers of soft sand and clay beneath it have caused the tower to sink more in certain places. Over the years, the tower became symbol of Italy and an important tourist attraction. Several attempts were made to straighten the tower, but some just made it worse. In 1990, the government closed the tower to the public and began 10-year effort to stabilize it. International experts tried different solutions but nothing worked. Then, in 1999, British engineering professor suggested that soil be removed slowly from the high side so that the tower could settle back into the ground. This worked and, by 2001, the tower was 16 inches straighter. Experts believe it is now safe for another 300 years. Words cathedral: Katedrale arches: Bögen column: Säule clay: Lehm sink: sinken attempt: Versuch soil: Boden Own wordlist Mount Everest Mount Everest rises about 8,850 meters above sea level, making it the tallest mountain on earth. It is found in Asia in the Himalayan mountain range on the border between Nepal and Tibet. Everest was named for Sir George Everest, the first person to record its height and location. Tibetans call it Chomolangma (Goddess Mother of the Snows); the Nepalese call it Sagarmatha (Mother of the Universe). There are two main routes for climbing Everest; the northwest ridge in Tibet and the southeast ridge in Nepal. When Nepal opened its border in 1949, climbers began using the southeast ridge. On May 29, 1953, Everest was finally conquered by Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay, his Sherpa guide, using this route. In 1975, Junko Tabei of Japan became the first woman to reach its summit. In 1978, Reinhold Messner of Italy climbed it without taking extra oxygen tanks, and in 1980 he climbed it alone. In 2003, 15-year-old Mingkipa Sherpa of Nepal became the youngest person to reach the top and 70-year-old Yuichiro Miura of Japan became the oldest. Miura summited again in 2013 at the age of 80. Over 3,500 climbers have reached the summit, and over 200 people have died on the mountain. The average climbing team spends $200,000 on guides and supplies. Words explorer: Entdecker border: Grenze ridge: Kamm, Grat guide: Führer summit: Gipfel supply: Versorgung Own wordlist New Orleans New Orleans has often been called the most unique city in the United States. It is one of the oldest cities, and it is located in the state of Louisiana. New Orleans is famous for its food, its architecture, its celebrations, and especially its music. It is said to be the birthplace of jazz. New Orleans was named after Philippe II, duke of Orleans, regent of France. Because the city was on the Mississippi River, it became an important port for shipping and played large role in the slave trade. New Orleans was built mostly on higher ground along the river. drainage and pump system, developed by engineer A. Baldwin Wood, allowed the city to grow into low-lying areas. But by the late 1900s, people realized that these low-lying areas were at risk. In 1995, flood from heavy rain proved that the pumping system was not good enough. In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused the worst civil engineering disaster in American history. Floodwalls failed, and 80% of New Orleans flooded. More than 1,500 people died. Most of the city has since reopened to residents, but some badly damaged areas are not ready to be lived in yet. Before Katrina destroyed so much of the city, 485,000 people lived in New Orleans. In June 2006, the population was less than 230,000. Words unique: einzigartig port: Hafen drainage: Entwässerung flood: Überschwemmung Own wordlist The Niagara Falls Niagara Falls lies on the international border between the United States and Canada. Both Niagara Falls-New York and Niagara Falls-Ontario are said to be home to one of the most famous tourist attractions in North America. The falls were created more than 10,000 years ago. The escarpment has slowly eroded, forming the 11-metre-long Niagara Gorge with the Whirlpool Rapids. The American falls are more than 51 meters high and 320 meters wide. The Canadian falls, or the Horsehoe falls, are almost as high and more than twice as wide. Visitors can learn more about the history of the falls by visiting the Niagara Falls Museum in Niagara Falls, New York. The governments of the United States and Canada control the use of the land in the surrounding area, and much of it has been turned into parks. They also control the use of the water for important hydroelectric power. The power and beauty of the American and the Canadian falls continues to amaze visitors and make Niagara Falls popular destination for tourists from around the world. Words border: Grenze escarpment: Böschung erode: abtragen Own wordlist The Taj Mahal The Taj Mahal is beautiful monument that is found in Agra, India. Agra was the home of the Mughal emperors until 1637. Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, had the Taj Mahal built as tomb for his second wife, Arjumand Banu. She died in 1630 after giving birth to their 14th child. The Taj Mahal is part of large complex that also includes gateway, garden, mosque, and guest house. The Persian-style garden is large with long pools of water that reflect the Taj. The central dome of the Taj is 100 meters wide and 57 meters high. Mumtaz Mahal is entombed in lower chamber. After the Shahs death, his body was placed next to hers. Twenty thousand workers and master craftsmen from all over India and Asia were brought to Agra to build the Taj Mahal. Over 1,000 elephants transported the best materials of India. The mausoleum is made entirely of white marble. Light from the sun reflects off the marble during the day and moonlight reflects off it at night. It took 22 years to complete the project. The Taj Mahal is an outstanding example of Islamic art and architecture. In 1983, the United Nations declared it World Heritage. Over the years, millions of tourists have visited it. Word monument: Denkmal emperor: Kaiser mosque: Moschee reflect: reflektieren outstanding: herrvorragend World Heritage: Weltkulturerbe Own wordlist Machu Picchu Machu Picchu is the ruins of small city built in the 1400s by the Inca Indians. It is found high in the Andes mountains in central Peru, South America. Machu Picchu is about 2430 meter high, set in tropical forest between two mountains. The Urubamba River can be seen 900 meters below. The city had 200 buildings. These included palace, temples and many smaller houses for servents. People used local stone to build these structures. Terraced gardens were built on the citys steep sloves to grow potatoes and corn for the community. Stone stairways connected the different levels. Only nobles and priests, and their servants, knew about Machu Picchu. By 1527, half of the Inca population had died of smallpox. In the next few years, many more people were killed in civil wars between rival groups. When the Spanish conquered Peru in 1532, the city was already empty. The Incas had no written language and the Spanish never discovered Machu Picchu, so the city remained forgotten until 1911. In 1983, the United Nations named Machu Picchu World Heritage. Today, it is Perus largest tourist attraction and is visited by 500,000 people each year. Words steep slopes: steile Abhänge servant: Diener conquer: erobern discover: entdecken Word Heritage Own wordlist The Panama Canal The Panama Canal is waterway that crosses the Central American country of Panama and connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Ships can pass from one ocean to the other without making the long journey around the tip of South America. The canal opened officially on August 15, 1914. The canal is 82 kilometers long and ships take about 15 hours to pass through it. French company began digging the Panama Canal on January 20, 1882. By the time it abandoned the project in 1888, thousands of workers had died in flood waters or mud slided or from the extreme heat, poisonous snake bites, or tropical diseases. It had spent over $285 million to build 11 miles of the canal. The United States government took over its construction in 1904. Nine years later, the canal was finished. The canal took 34 years to build and cost over $600 million. Of the 80,000 people who worked on it, over 30,000 died while doing so. Today, over 14,000 ships pass through the Panama Canal each year. This includes cruise ships carrying thousands of tourists who want to see one of the greatest engineering feats in the world. Words abandon: aufgeben poisonous: giftig disease: Krankheit Own wordlist The Pyramids The pyramids are tombs that were built over 5,000 years ago for the kings of ancient Egypt. Ancient Egyptians believed that after their kings died, they became gods in another world. pyramid was to be the dead kings palace in the afterlife where he would rule as god. As well as burial chamber, the complex included rooms to hold things the king would need in the afterlife, such as furniture, jewelry, and cooking utensils. Servants or wives who died later were buried close by in much smaller tombs. Archeologists believe that local farmers and villagers willingly worked on the pyramids during the flood season, when the land could not be worked. The workers thought it would ensure their own afterlife and make Egypt rich. Of the 80 known pyramids, the biggest and finest is the Great Pyramid of Khufu at Giza. The base of the Great Pyramid covers over 13 acres. It was 481 feet high but, over the years, has lost 30 feet off its top. Two million blocks of stone, each weighing over 2 tons, were used to build it. Workers likely moved these huge stones into position by using ropes to pull them up ramps. As many as 20,000 to 30,000 men may have worked on this pyramid, which took 20 years to finish. Words tomb: Grab chamber: Kammer ramp: Rampe Own wordlist Stonehenge Stonehenge is an ancient monument that is located on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, Southern England. The United Nations declared it World Heritage in 1986. About 2300 BC, the bluestones were arranged and big stones, some weighing up to 45 tons, were brought from 20 miles away. Thirty massive standstones, each about 13 feet high, were stood on end about 3 to 4 feet apart in large circle. Heavy rectangular stones were placed on top of them and fitted together using woodworking methods. Modern scientists believe that three different groups of prehistoric people built Stonehenge. It was tremendous engineering achievement, and thousands of people have worked on it. Today, only about half of the original monument exists. In later centuries, many of the stones were used to build homes or roads. To stop the damage, since 1978, Stonehenge can only be viewed from distance. Words ancient: uralt monument: Denkmal Word Heritage: Weltkulturerbe weigh: wiegen damage: Schaden Own wordlist The Sydney Opera House The Sydney Opera House in Sydney, Australia, is famous all over the world and World Heritage. It stands on Bennelong Point, near the Syndey Harbour Bridge. The roof of the opera house was designed and built to look like ship under full sail. Since its official opening on October 20, 1973, the building and its spectacular white-sailed roof have become symbol of Australia. The Sydney Opera House was designed in the late 1950s by Jorn Utzon, Danish architect. The opera house cost close to $100 million to construct. It is 67 meters tall, almost 118 meter wide in places, and more than 184 meters long. It sits on 580 concrete piers, some of which are sunk 80 feet below the sea. The building has five performance rooms. The largest is the Concert Hall (2,679 seats); the smallest is the Studio Theatre (364 seats). Each year, more than 2 million people attend the 3,000 performances. Rehearsal halls, restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops are among the more than 1,000 rooms in the building. The Sydney Opera House is considered by many to be one of the finest examples of modern abstract architectural design in the world. Words World Heritage: Weltkulturerbe Construct: Konstruktion concrete pier: Betonpfeiler rehearsal: Probe Own wordlist