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Teach me something about your country.  Example: Some words or a cool fact.

I'll start : Did you know that Tulips originally are not from The Netherlands? They were imported from Turkey and at one point the prices rose until a bulb cost as much as a house! But it all collapsed and left many farmers without a job. They became notorious in World War II as a food source because the Dutch people were starving.  

So next time when you buy tulips you have something to tell! 

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Julian Clement

I actually knew that! Did you know Pineapples in America used to be so rare and expensive, only the elite could afford them, and people would have Pineapple viewing parties?

natureman

Vulcanization, chemical process by which the physical properties of natural or synthetic rubber are improved; finished rubber has higher tensile strength and resistance to swelling and abrasion, and is elastic over a greater range of temperatures. In its simplest form, vulcanization is brought about by heating rubber with sulfur. The process was discovered in 1839 by the U.S. inventor Charles Goodyear

Michael Prevost

Finland has the highest per capita consumption of coffee in the world. Public buildings only display the national flag on official flag holidays, and on special occasions designated by Parliament. Finland hosts the annual World Wife Carrying Championship, where one spouse carries the other around an obstacle course. The winning prize is the weight of the carried spouse in beer. 😂

Steve Farr

The bald eagle is the US national bird. Did you know that Benjamin Franklin wanted the turkey to be US national bird? So I have heard. Another one the Adirondack State Parfk in New York State is bigger in geographic area than every national park in US. A personal fact: the house of the first member if my mom's family that came to USA in 1600s is now a museum.

Steve Farr

That is very interesting aboutt the tulips. I always thought they came from the Netherlands.

Lloyd Sparks

Michael Pollan tells this story in his excellent book, "The Botany of Desire: A Plant's-Eye View of the World."

O H

Cheese slicer is a typical Norwegian invention, Stella you should have one for your hard local cheeses. Patented in 1925. Did you know ? The distinctive Norwegian brown cheese is nice to cut with a slicer.

Tom

The English or European Walnut is actually from Persia but was given it's name because of our high command of the seas. The English cabinet makers also loved the wood and would import it from France, then, in 1709, there was a severe winter that killed off vast amounts of Walnuts, leading to a total ban in exports. In response, the English Prime Minister, Sir Robert Warploe, abolished all hardwood taxes from the Americas, soon Mahogany and Teak became highly desirable. This was the spark that led to the mass deforestation that we see today. Love the fact that you mentioned 'Tulipmania', I trade in environmental commodities and know that story well. :) xx

A Naked Girl

O my god the last one is gold! Really see the humor in that! How come Finland is so into coffee ☕

A Naked Girl

That's cool, something of your family became part of history. Have you've been to that museum?

A Naked Girl

Cool did not know that. Crazy so many actions involve a change in the world history! Also Funny that you knew about tulipmania!

Michael Prevost

I’m not a native, so I don’t know the background of Finns’ love affair with coffee. Perhaps it has something to do with the long dark and cold winters. But when Finns invite friends/family to their homes for “coffee”, it’s not just coffee. You’ll see lots of cakes, pastries, and other treats on the table. There’s also a treat called ”leipäjuusto”, a soft squishy variety of cheese.

Bill42GA

The Appalachian Trail(AT) is 2200 mi/3500 km long, and many people hike the entire trail each summer. It goes from Maine to Georgia through 14 States. It is especially popular with teachers, because they are off work each summer. The record fastest time to walk is about 46 days. The average is 5 to 7 months. In 2014 there were 241,936 hours of volunteer work to maintain the trail. It is about 10 mi/16 km from my house in the North Georgia mountains.

Steve Farr

Much of my mother's family has been there. I unfortunately have not. There is a website I've checked out. I can send you the link if you're curious.

KC

There was an American (US) “humorist” Will Rogers who wrote and toured the country about 100 yrs ago. One of his most memorable (and very true) phrase/comment/jokes was “we have the best Congress money can buy”😉

Anton

And I want to tell you only about a few things that surprise me myself. Lake Baikal. It was formed about 35 million years ago. The deepest lake on our planet - 1642 meters of water from the surface level! The average depth is also impressive - more than 740 meters! The dimensions are huge - 640 km long and 80 wide! The largest freshwater lake in the world by capacity and area! This is 20% of the world's fresh water reserves! Water temperature - even in summer at the surface no more than +10 degrees, and the water itself is so transparent that the bottom is visible at a depth of 40 meters. In winter, the lake freezes and the ice is so transparent that it is scary to walk on it - it seems that you are walking on water. Sunlight penetrates through it like through glass and you can see the bottom under your feet in great depth in all details... Amazing... Incredible... And further. In Russia, on the Kola Peninsula, near the town of Zapolyarny (it is very cold there), there is the deepest well in the world. The depth of the well was 12,262 meters; the diameter of the upper part is 92 cm, the diameter of the lower part is 21.5 cm. It began to be drilled as a scientific experiment during the USSR in 1968. Work continued until 1991. Since 1994, it has been abandoned... Just think - a drill more than 12 kilometers long rotates somewhere far underground!.. We in Russia have many amazing and beautiful places, magnificent nature and vast expanses - it is impossible to list everything! We, like everywhere, have kind, smart and beautiful people. It’s only a pity that we were often unlucky with those who led our huge country and set up “experiments” on us...

A Naked Girl

A 3500KM hike! That is a big challenge to take! Most foreign people cannot even make the walk to its fullest. Because their visa would expire 😂

A Naked Girl

Cool thanks Anton! Russia is an interesting country as well. To bad they are not so friendly on nudists.

Michael Prevost

You know, I never thought of it like that before, but you're exactly right. It's like high tea in the UK. With cardamom sweet bread instead of scones.

KC

As long as there still not "Putin" away Naturists as criminals to very cold Naturist Gulags, eh?❄⛄