What animal are the Canary Islands named after? Detailed answer

Free technical library

BIG ENCYCLOPEDIA FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Free library / Directory / Big encyclopedia for children and adults

What animal are the Canary Islands named after? Detailed answer

Big encyclopedia for children and adults

Directory / Big encyclopedia. Questions for quiz and self-education

Comments on the article

Did you know?

What animal are the Canary Islands named after?

In honor of dogs. Canaries are named after the islands (of which they are aborigines), and not vice versa.

The archipelago got its name from the Latin name of the largest of the islands, which the Romans called the "Isle of Dogs" (Insula Canada) because of the huge number of these animals - both wild and domesticated.

It is said that a volcano on Palm Island, part of the archipelago, could destroy its entire western half, causing a tsunami that could cross the Atlantic Ocean and, after just eight hours, bring down a wave up to thirty meters high on the US East Coast.

One of the traditional sports competitions of the inhabitants of the Canary Islands, where all participants compete in a sandy circle - "terrero", is called the "Canarian wrestling". The main goal is to make the opponent touch the sand with any part of the body, except for the feet. No strikes are allowed. This sport originated among the Guanches - the first islanders who lived here before the arrival of the Spaniards.

Another attraction of the Canaries is the so-called "Homer whistle" (Silbo Gomero): a method of communication used on the Canary Island of Gomera to transmit information on a mountainous, rugged terrain. "Speakers" of such a language are called "silbadurs" (silbadors). And although initially communication took place in the native language of the Guanches, over time, the "silbadurs" adapted to whistle in Spanish. Today, the "Homer whistle" is a compulsory subject in local schools.

Canaries are small birds like finches. For centuries, British mining law mandated that these tiny birds be kept in mines to detect gas. Canaries were used in this role until 1986, and the corresponding article remained in the safety regulations for mining operations until 1995. The essence of this requirement was that toxic gases like carbon monoxide and methane killed birds before their concentration could pose a threat to the lives of miners. Preference was given to canaries because they sing a lot, so that the ensuing silence, when the bird falls silent, can be noticed almost immediately.

By the way, only males sing; they can also mimic the ringing of telephones and other household appliances. Yellow Tweety Pie in the famous cartoon series "Looney Tunes" is also a canary.

Canaries were originally greenish-brown, but 400 years of crossbreeding have led to the familiar yellow, "canary" color. No one has yet managed to breed a red canary, but a red pepper diet changes the color of the bird to orange.

London's Isle of Dogs was first named as such on a map dated 1588, possibly because the island was home to the royal kennels, although it may well be that the name was merely a derogatory term. By a strange coincidence, this is where the Canary Wharf tower (or Canary Wharf) is located.

Author: John Lloyd, John Mitchinson

Random interesting fact from the Great Encyclopedia:

Who built the first model of the universe?

There are few scientific works in the history of mankind that would retain their value over many centuries. Among these is the "Almagest" of the Greek scholar Claudius Ptolemy (about 90-160).

He lived for a long time in Alexandria, which, although located in Africa, at the mouth of the Nile, served as the center of Greek culture for several centuries. There Ptolemy made astronomical observations.

What did Ptolemy "construct" in this "Construction of the World"? In it, he outlined a new system of the world invented by him. Like Aristotle, who lived four centuries before him, he came up with a geocentric system of the world, and for him the motionless Earth served as the center of the universe. But, unlike Aristotle, the Alexandrian astronomer did not recognize any crystal spheres. He had the Sun and the planets revolving around the Earth in empty celestial space.

Test your knowledge! Did you know...

▪ How was the Minotaur born?

▪ Which river has salt water?

▪ Why did the female pharaoh Hatshepsut wear a beard?

See other articles Section Big encyclopedia. Questions for quiz and self-education.

Read and write useful comments on this article.

<< Back

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

Machine for thinning flowers in gardens 02.05.2024

In modern agriculture, technological progress is developing aimed at increasing the efficiency of plant care processes. The innovative Florix flower thinning machine was presented in Italy, designed to optimize the harvesting stage. This tool is equipped with mobile arms, allowing it to be easily adapted to the needs of the garden. The operator can adjust the speed of the thin wires by controlling them from the tractor cab using a joystick. This approach significantly increases the efficiency of the flower thinning process, providing the possibility of individual adjustment to the specific conditions of the garden, as well as the variety and type of fruit grown in it. After testing the Florix machine for two years on various types of fruit, the results were very encouraging. Farmers such as Filiberto Montanari, who has used a Florix machine for several years, have reported a significant reduction in the time and labor required to thin flowers. ... >>

Advanced Infrared Microscope 02.05.2024

Microscopes play an important role in scientific research, allowing scientists to delve into structures and processes invisible to the eye. However, various microscopy methods have their limitations, and among them was the limitation of resolution when using the infrared range. But the latest achievements of Japanese researchers from the University of Tokyo open up new prospects for studying the microworld. Scientists from the University of Tokyo have unveiled a new microscope that will revolutionize the capabilities of infrared microscopy. This advanced instrument allows you to see the internal structures of living bacteria with amazing clarity on the nanometer scale. Typically, mid-infrared microscopes are limited by low resolution, but the latest development from Japanese researchers overcomes these limitations. According to scientists, the developed microscope allows creating images with a resolution of up to 120 nanometers, which is 30 times higher than the resolution of traditional microscopes. ... >>

Air trap for insects 01.05.2024

Agriculture is one of the key sectors of the economy, and pest control is an integral part of this process. A team of scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI), Shimla, has come up with an innovative solution to this problem - a wind-powered insect air trap. This device addresses the shortcomings of traditional pest control methods by providing real-time insect population data. The trap is powered entirely by wind energy, making it an environmentally friendly solution that requires no power. Its unique design allows monitoring of both harmful and beneficial insects, providing a complete overview of the population in any agricultural area. “By assessing target pests at the right time, we can take necessary measures to control both pests and diseases,” says Kapil ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Schoolchildren in Yekaterinburg pay for lunch with the touch of a finger 16.06.2012

Uniteller announced the provision of payment processing services as part of the new social project "School Window". The pilot project has already started at school No. 76 in Yekaterinburg.

The Biometric School Lunch Project allows parents to control both their child's meals and how they spend money given to their child for meals at school. As a result, to pay for lunch, students no longer need to carry money or a bank card with them, which can be lost - just touch the scanner with your finger, Uniteller stressed.

"In order to participate in this program, one of the parents needs to register their card in the system. The required amount for lunch is securely debited from the card at the moment when the child puts his finger on the biometric system. An SMS confirms the purchase of lunch and the successful debiting of funds - a message that is instantly sent to the parent's mobile phone," said Aleksey Morozov, head of electronic payments at Uniteller. "Also, in the personal account of the school website, parents can check what exactly the child spent money on in the school cafeteria."

According to Igor Klimovskikh, director of school No. 76, "the most important advantage of the project is that it allows you to enter personal accounts for each child individually. As a result, each parent will directly pay the food service provider, which in the future will free the school from competitive procedures and immediately food quality".

Other interesting news:

▪ Metal brittleness problem overcome

▪ Only the old man Hottabych can survive in a copper jug

▪ Samsung is preparing to release flexible displays

▪ antibiotics in plants

▪ Smart diaper on Intel platform

News feed of science and technology, new electronics

Interesting materials of the Free Technical Library:

▪ section of the website job descriptions. Article selection

▪ article Potato pitchfork. Tips for the home master

▪ article What is atomic energy? Detailed answer

▪ Cyclamen article. Legends, cultivation, methods of application

▪ article Technical characteristics of domestically produced electrodes intended for welding carbon steels. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

▪ article Electrical installations in hazardous areas. Classification of explosive mixtures according to GOST 12.1.011-78. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

Leave your comment on this article:

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews