This Is the World

and several thousand fish roasted on sticks over charcoal fires.*

Hong Kong lies on the south coast of continental China, 70on nautical miles below the Hong Kong lies the south coast of contiTropic Cancer the South nental of China, 70 on nautical milesChina belowSea. the It has a land surface of 425 square miles Tropic of Cancer on the South China Sea.and was Crown Colony for almost 150and It hasa aBritish land surface of 425 square miles years. Kowloon and the Newfor Territories, by was a British Crown Colony almost 150 far the Kowloon largest part theNew totalTerritories, area, are on years. andofthe by the mainland; the rest consists of 236 mostly far the largest part of the total area, are on uninhabited islands. Hong KongofIsland — 50 the mainland; the rest consists 236 mostly square milesislands. — withHong its cityKong of Victoria, the50 uninhabited Island — capital, is the — heart region. It lies the opposquare miles withofitsthe city of Victoria, site Kowloon. byItChina to capital, is the Both heartwere of theceded region. lies oppothe Crown perpetuity. New to site British Kowloon. Bothinwere ceded The by China Territories, bordering on China,The and New Lantau, the British Crown in perpetuity. the largest bordering island, were Great Territories, onleased China, to and Lantau, Britain in 1898. The lease expired in 1997.* the largest island, were leased to Great Britain in 1898. The lease expired in 1997.*

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Melbourne is a major center of commerce, industry, and cultural activity. But not all money goes into business. Horse races are very popular, as in all of Australia, the main event Universe Cup. Publishing. All Rights Reserved being ÂŠ the2014 Melbourne

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Platypus looks as if he were forever unable to decide what he wants to be: he has a beak like a bird, he swims under water like a fish, he has fur like a kangaroo, and he lays eggs but suckles his young.

The gentle koala is one of the most charming Australians. But he is also a determined individualist and a non-drinker. His name in the language of the aborigines means “not drinking water.” He is a gourmet; he feeds on the leaves of only seven out of 500 different kinds of gum trees. And if he looks sleepy, that’s because he is—in daytime. He is mainly nocturnal. Born less than an inch long, he lives at first in his mother’s pouch, which opens backwards, and later spends the rest of his childhood © 2014 hanging around her neck.Universe Publishing. All Rights Reserved

“Rome was not built in a day,” but the Colosseum was built in eight years. The work was finished in the year 80, and there was room for 50,000 people to sit inside and watch the gladiators fighting.

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But if you go inside today all you see are cats and tourists and photographers and postcard sellers.

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265 feet above the water level, crossing the entrance of the Bay from the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Bridge is the pride of the city.

The towers are as high as a 65-story building: 746 feet.

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