THIS MAGICAL LAND OF US

10 American reasons why the great outdoors are truly great

Published on April 20, 2024

Image: Muneeb Usmani

The United States has truly earned its "America the Beautiful" nickname: We are lucky to live in a nation filled with such an amazing landscape. America contains many different weathers and terrains, and each state is home to stunningly beautiful natural jewels.

We have (metaphorically) traveled throughout the United States, coast to coast and north to south, to select our ten favorite natural treasures. Who knows? You might end up discovering your next holiday destination. Enjoy!

Grand Canyon - Arizona

Image: Omer Nezih Gerek

We’ll start this list with an outstanding icon, synonymous with everything that makes the United States great. The Grand Canyon is more than just a landmark, it's an American giant that has inspired generations throughout the history of this country. It is also world-famous, a truly iconic sightseeing destination, featured in everything from postcards to Arizona driving licenses.

The Grand Canyon has an outstanding depth of over a mile, which can be seen from strategically placed viewing points. Bald eagles and other birds can also be seen in this area, flying above and throughout the red rocky walls of the Canyon.

Niagara Falls - New York

Image: Edward Koorey

Niagara Falls is a true spectacle. This group of waterfalls inspires millions of tourists every year both by their inconceivable beauty and by their power, since over 5.9 million cubic feet of water go over their crest every minute.

The Falls are formed by the Niagara River, and they are located on the border between the U.S. state of New York and the Canadian province of Ontario. Its water’s sparkling green color has made it one of America’s most recognizable landmarks.

Yosemite National Park - California

Image: Aniket Deole

Extending over four counties in the heart of California, Yosemite National Park is home to immense granite cliffs, ancient giant sequoia trees, and incredibly diverse wildlife. It was President Lincoln himself who signed an act that declared Yosemite as federally preserved land in 1864 and, over a hundred years later in 1984, this iconic park was declared a World Heritage Site.

Yosemite features truly breathtaking rock formations, but perhaps the most unique among them are the rock domes such as Sentinel Dome and Half Dome. This park is also known for its majestic glaciers, the largest of them being Lyell Glacier.

Arches National Park - Utah

Image: Ken Cheung

If you’ve ever driven behind a car with a license plate from Utah, you might notice that they are decorated with one of this state’s most treasured landmarks: the iconic sandstone arches located in Arches National Park. These instantly recognizable formations are deeply ingrained in the identity of "the Beehive State," but their beauty and magnificence are an inspiring sight to every American who visits them.

This national park is home to over 2,000 natural sandstone arches, but perhaps the most iconic one is the Delicate Arch. In 2002, during the opening ceremony of the 2002 Salt Lake Winter Olympics, the Olympic torch relay went through this 52-foot-tall arch.

Redwood National and State Parks - California

Image: Nik Shuliahin

It is almost impossible to walk around any of the four parks that compose the Redwood National and State Parks and not feel extremely tiny: The mighty redwoods protected by this complex are the tallest trees in the world. Not only that, they are also among the oldest trees, so it's no wonder that their sight not only inspires curiosity but also the utmost respect.

Perhaps most notable among these already remarkable trees, a redwood tree named Hyperion stands at an impressive 380-foot height. Hyperion is the tallest tree in the world, and his runner-up for the title, a 377-foot tree called Helios, is also located in Redwood National Park.

Mammoth Cave National Park - Kentucky

Image: Joshua Sortino

Mammoth Cave can be an intimidating sight. After all, the world’s longest-known cave system is a massive network of dark and tall limestone caves. However, similar to how little time it takes for the human eye to adjust to the dark, it only takes a few moments to realize the inherent beauty that this Kentucky landmark has to offer.

Guided tours take visitors through some of the most gorgeous sights in the cave, such as the "Frozen Niagara" (a rock formation that resembles a waterfall) or the "Grand Avenue" (a flat and narrow area flowing between rocks). Mammoth Cave is home to a diverse ecosystem, which includes the Spotted-tail salamander or the Cave Crayfish.

Denali - Alaska

Image: Bryson Beaver

The tallest mountain in North America is also one of its most beautiful ones. Located in Alaska, this mountain was first named "Mount McKinley" in 1896, after U.S. President William McKinley. However, in 2015, the U.S. Department of Interior decided to rename it into the name chosen by the native Koyukon people who inhabit the area.

Denali’s magnificence has dared many climbers throughout the ages to attempt to climb it, with the first verifiable attempt happening in 1913. In 1951, the safer and more accessible West Buttress route was discovered, which is still considered the best option by mountain climbers.

Bayou Bartholomew - Louisiana and Arkansas

Image: Andrew Perilloux

Louisiana is known as "the Bayou State" for its many gorgeous and picturesque bayous, so choosing one for this article is definitively a difficult task. We have decided to lean towards the longest bayou in the world, so massive that it extends into the neighboring state of Arkansas. We are talking, of course, about the iconic Bayou Bartholomew.

Measuring approximately 364 miles, Bayou Bartholomew is home to diverse wildlife, including over 100 different aquatic species. Thousands of anglers visit the bayou to catch gorgeous specimens of crawfish, bream, and catfish.

Finger Lakes - New York

Image: Brian Tafel

Some people compare the five boroughs in New York City to the five fingers on a hand. Perhaps this idea came from the Finger Lakes, a treasured natural landmark beloved by everyone in New York. This group of lakes was named after their narrow and long shape, but no one could mistake them with a human hand, since eleven different lakes compose this wonderful area.

One of the most beautiful things about the Finger Lakes is that, while similar, they all have their own characteristics and attributes that make them unique. Conesus Lake is a great place for fishing walleye and yellow perch, while Hemlock Lake is known for its landlocked salmon. Cayuga Lake is home to a folklore sea serpent known as "Old Greeny," regularly spotted throughout the years.

Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho

Image: Meina Yin

Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872 and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant in that same year. Fitting for our nation’s first park, Yellowstone is home to a huge variety of natural treasures, including geysers, canyons, and a dormant supervolcano. It is also home to many different species of animals, including grizzly bears and the oldest and largest free-ranging herd of bison in the country.

It is rather difficult to select a must-see sight in Yellowstone. Perhaps its most famous landmark is the "Old Faithful" geyser, which erupts up to 185 feet in the air in an almost scheduled pattern. However, another heavy contender would be the iconic Grand Prismatic Spring, the third-largest in the world and filled with bright and vivid colors.

LANGUAGE MYSTERIES REVEALED

Fit for a queen: 10 English words derived from Ancient Egyptian

Published on April 20, 2024

Image: Color Crescent

You are probably aware that the English language has Greek and Latin roots. But did you know some of the most used English words actually derive from Ancient Egyptian?

For example, the word pharaoh is a no-brainer. As you would imagine, it is an Ancient Egyptian word meaning "Great House", the place destined for a king. But can you recognize other influences in your everyday vocabulary? Keep reading to discover 10 English words you didn’t know were born in the land of Cleopatra.

Oasis

Image: David Emrich

Today we use the word oasis to refer to a serene and unattainable place, but it derives from the ancient Egyptian term wehe, meaning "fertile land". Oases were very important for the ancient Egyptians. They served as a place of provisioning and rest for the great caravans of Bedouin traders from the interior of Africa.

The word later became waaH(a) in Arabic, and took its current form, oasis, when the Greek and Latin languages added it to their vocabulary. Finally, the Greek word passed into French with its original meaning and then to English in the second half of the 19th century.

Adobe

Image: Evisa Kasaj

It turns out that the word adobe has been around for about 4,000 years, with relatively few changes in pronunciation and meaning. Contrary to what you might think, the word doesn’t come from a Native American language. It can be traced back to the Middle Egyptian word djebe or djobe, meaning "mud brick". The term underwent a minor transformation when it came in contact with the Arabic language and was later incorporated into the Spanish vocabulary when Northern African Arabs crossed over to Spain in the 8th century.

In modern English, the term adobe has come to mean a style of construction popular in the desert climates of North America, but in fact, it has its origins in the djobe vaults built in homes and underground tombs of Ancient Egypt.

Gum

Image: Dustin Humes

Although the first commercial flavored chewing gum was created in the United States in the 1860s and later gained worldwide popularity during WWII, the practice can be traced back to ancient civilizations. The word gum comes from the Latin gummi, which is a loan from the Greek kommi; the Greeks, in turn, took this word from the Ancient Egyptian qmy or qemi, meaning gum or resin.

Just like Native Americans, Ancient Egyptians also used to chew resin made from the sap of trees. Nowadays gum is a cheap treat, but back then it was very expensive and had to be imported. In Ancient Egypt only pharaohs and wealthy people could afford it, so now that you know, you’ll have a better appreciation for the lost packet of Dentin forgotten in the bottom of your bag.

Ammonia

Image: Daniela Turcanu

This colorless smelly gas gets its name from the Ancient Egyptian god Amun, meaning "the Hidden (One)". His temple, located in present-day Libya, is credited with producing the oldest form of ammonia, the ammoniacal salt obtained by burning camel dung.

The word was later adapted to Ammon by the Greeks. Today, this nitrogen and hydrogen compound is used in plastics, refrigeration, and cleaning solutions, however, Ancient Egyptian worshipers of Amun used ammonia to perform spiritual rites in his honor.

Ebony

Image: Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The word ebonycan be traced back to several Ancient African languages. The English language takes it from the Latin ebenus, which in turn is a loan from the Greek ébenos. This Ancient Greek word derives from the Egyptian hbnj, which seems to originate from the Nubian language.

Ebony is the name for certain trees of the genus Diospyros, as well as its prized exotic black wood. This wood, like gum, was imported and very expensive, so it was used for furnishings and decorative carvings in houses of the wealthiest classes in Ancient Egyptian society.

Ivory

Image: Museo Egizio, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Did you know that ebony and ivory have more in common than just piano keys and an iconic 1980s song? Like ebony, the word ivory can be traced back to Ancient Egypt. It comes from the Latin eboreus whose origin is the Egyptian word ab, meaning "elephant," and more specifically abu, "elephant’s tooth."

In Ancient Egypt ivory was as precious as ebony, and it was used in jewelry and as an ornament in the decoration of rooms, furniture, and temples.

Barge/Embark

Image: Tomas Williams

In modern English barge is the word to name a flat-bottomed vessel, and for some reason, its shape instantly reminds us of ancient civilizations. The assumption is correct since the term derives from the Latin barca, which comes from the Ancient Egyptian word bar or bari. The bar was a type of boat used in the River Nile to transport food, construction materials, and royals and peasants alike.

The French language later took the Latin word and transformed it into barque, an ancestor of the English verb embark. The rest is history.

Alchemy

Image: Tom Podmore

Some etymologists establish that the word alchemy comes from the Arabic al-kīmiyā and the Ancient Greek khumeía. Other scholars argue that alchemy, used as a scientific term until the 1600s when it was debunked by the more accurate chemistry, is derived from kēme. In Ancient Egyptkēme meant "black earth" and was used to describe the fertile land in the Nile Valley.

The theory that the term alchemy has an Egyptian origin makes perfect sense. It is believed that the Egyptian city of Alexandria is where alchemical thought, a practice that combined science with religion and philosophy, was born.

Lily & Susan

Image: Earl Wilcox

Lily and Susan are two very popular names in the English language and they have in common that they share an Ancient Egyptian origin. It turns out that they both refer to flowers too!

The English word lily has roots in the Latin līlia and ancient Greek leírion, which etymologists connect with ḥrrt, the ancient Egyptian word for "flower". Susan, at the same time, comes from the word sSn (seshen)meaning "lotus" or "water lily".

Desert

Image: Mariam Soliman

The jury is still out with this one. If you look up the etymology of the English word desert you’ll find it derives from the Latin desertum, which means "an abandoned place". However, there might be a connection with the ancient Egyptian term deshret, which means "red land". Sounds very similar, right?

Sometimes it is not entirely possible to establish exactly where a word comes from, however, it is always a fun experience to compare different languages to find potential origins and connections that we had never thought possible.