... Racial intermariages are commun and many Tahitians can claim French, Chinese, American and Polynesian ancestry. This accounts for the physical beauty of the inhabitants and the total abscence of racial prejudice, either from the Europeans or the Tahitians. Education Formal education is mandatory in Tahiti for every child to the age of 14. Primary education begins at age five, and continues to the age of 12, when children begin secondary education. There are several technical and vocational schools in Tahiti, as well as a large adult education program. Vocational training includes hotel, restaurant, nursing ...

... square miles in area. Texas is relatively the same size as Thailand. The size of Massachusetts is 8,000 square miles. That makes Thailand 25 times bigger than Massachusetts. The entire United States, however, is about 3.6 million square miles or 450 times bigger than Thailand. Thailand's population is 57,200,000 people. The population of the United States is 260,000,000 people. That means that the United States has 4 1/2 times more people than Thailand. Thailand's population density is 285 people per square mile. The population density of the United States is 72.22 people per square mile. Thailand, even t ...

... Alaska occupies the northwestern extremity of North America, with a 10,780-km (6,700-mi) coastline on the Pacific and Arctic oceans. is geographically one of the world's largest countries, and it is the third most populous (after China and India). The 50 states are blessed with a variety of resources that provide the basis for a highly productive economy--in fact, is the world's wealthiest nation. For most of the 20th century the country has enjoyed economic preeminence, particularly during the post-World War II era. Yet the population, per-capita wealth, and general welfare are unevenly distributed, with af ...

... and was ready for use. Later, (after 1937) the trail officially ended at Springer Mountain, 10 miles northeast of Mount Oglethorpe. In 1968 the Appalachian Trail became part of the National Park System and was officially renamed the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. To hike the Appalachian Trail, it is suggested to shop around for a good pair of hiking boots, a tent, and a sturdy backpack. Hiking the distance mentioned above obviously requires excellent footwear, and a light pack. Figure in fatigue and you need a comfortable tent to sleep in at night. Good boots are "solid" on the bottom, so tha ...

... Book 1995) Gabon is one of the most thinly populated countries in Africa. It has a population of approximately 1,155,000 (July 1995 est.) There are 11 people per square mile. The majority of the Gabonese are of ages 15-64 years. The average life expectancy is 55.14 years. Women live to be around 58, while men are usually around 52 when they die. This is why only 5% of the population is older than 65. The infant mortality is lower than many other African countries, 92.4 per 1,000 live births. (The World Fact Book 1995) As in most African countries, there are many Bantu tribes make up the ethnicity of the co ...

... rainfall averages about 40 in, and in Barranquilla it averages about 32 in. Dry weather prevails on the slopes of the Eastern Cordillera. Government Colombia has a Republican form of government. Colombia has a president who is elected by popular vote. He is chosen by any man or woman 18 years or older. The president can serve one four year term. He appoints a cabinet which has to be approved by congress. Congress is composed of a House of Representatives (199 members) and a Senate (112 members). Land Area The total land area of the country is 440,831 sq. mi. The capital and largest city is Bogota. Popul ...

... And there was a huge heavenly ladder which started on a mountain and reached all the way up to heaven's door. It goes on to tell a story of a man who had two children. One was a girl and the other was a boy. They lived in a house which had a huge very thick roof. The man had built the roof so thick because it rained almost every day. He hated the rain. He knew it had its benefits but too much of it ruined his crops, destroyed his livestock and every time it rained the roof of the house was destroyed. And every time the man rebuilt it, he made it thicker and thicker. He blamed all his misfortune on the Duke ...

... the pyramids that are waiting to be unlocked. The pyramids were not built in isolation but as part of a larger complex dedicated to the dead. The Egyptians believed that the physical body has a vital spiritual force, which they called ka. If the physical body was properly preserved and the tomb furnished with all the various objects of regular life, the ka could return and continue its life despite the death of the physical body. The Egyptians also had other means of burial practices. Many of the pharaohs were buried in hidden temples. A famous discovery is the one of King Tutankhamen. King Cheops of ...

... gold, ropes, and a few others. Balsam of Peru is a medicinal syrup which comes from a tree which grows in El Salvador. It was so called because it was sent to Spain from the port of Callao in Peru. The fertile soil of El Salvador is the country's chief source of income. Rich forests of valuable timber grow on the hot, tropical coast of El Salvador. Some of the trees produce a very valuable sap called “balsam of Peru� (see above). The country also has mineral deposits of gold, silver, coal, copper, iron, lead, zinc, sulfur, and quicksilver. Other valuable products include sugar, cocoa, rubber, cotton, tob ...

... The Blue Mountains are the highest mountains in Jamaica and Blue Mountain Peak which is the highest peak in Jamaica rises to 2256 m or 7 402 feet. They are made up primarily of limestone. Farther to the west in the cockpit country the limestone has eroded over many years to form large depressions, narrow valleys, underground caverns and rivers. Most of the surface rivers are short, swift flowing and descend quickly to the coast and consist of a series of rapids and waterfalls. The island is ringed by plains separated by mountain and sea. The country is divided into three counties. They are Cornwall to t ...