Cerro Azul is an active stratovolcano in the Maule Region of central
Chile, immediately south of Descabezado Grande. Part of the South
Volcanic Zone of the Andes, it rises 3,788 meters (12,428 ft) and is
capped by a summit crater 500 meters (1,600 ft) wide that opens to the
north. Cerro Azul is responsible for South America's largest recorded
eruptions, in 1846 and 1932. In 1846, an effusive eruption formed the
vent at the site of present-day Quizapu Crater on the northern flank of
Cerro Azul and sent lava flowing down the sides of the volcano,
creating a lava field of 8–9 square kilometers (3–3.5 square miles). In
1932, one of the largest explosive eruptions of the 20th century
occurred at Quizapu Crater and sent 9.5 cubic kilometers (2.3 cu mi) of
ash into the atmosphere. The volcano's most recent eruption was in
1967. The South Volcanic Zone has a long history of eruptions and poses
a threat to the surrounding region. Any volcanic hazard—ranging from
minor ashfalls to pyroclastic flows—could pose a significant risk to
humans and wildlife. Despite its current inactivity, Cerro Azul could
produce another major eruption. (Cerro Azul (Chile volcano)
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1593:
Ottoman forces were crushingly defeated by the Habsburgs at Sisak (now
in Croatia), triggering the Long War.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Sisak>
1633:
Galileo Galilei was forced to recant his heliocentric view of the Solar
System by the Roman Inquisition.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galileo_affair>
1813:
War of 1812: After learning of American plans for a forthcoming
surprise attack, Canadian Laura Secord set out on a 30 km (19 mi)
journey from Queenston, Ontario, on foot to warn Lieutenant James
FitzGibbon .
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laura_Secord>
1944:
World War II: The Soviet Union began its operation to expel German
forces from the Belorussian SSR and eastern Poland.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Bagration>
1978:
Working at the U.S. Naval Observatory, American astronomer James W.
Christy discovered Charon, then considered the sole moon of Pluto.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charon_%28moon%29>
2009:
Two Metro trains in Washington, D.C., collided, killing nine people and
injuring 80 others.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_2009_Washington_Metro_train_collision>
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
mezuzah (n):
(Judaism) A piece of parchment inscribed with Pentateuchal texts and
attached in a case to the doorpost of a house
<http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/mezuzah>
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
In tradition and in books an integral part of the individual persists,
for it can influence the minds and actions of other people in different
places and at different times: a row of black marks on a page can move
a man to tears, though the bones of him that wrote it are long ago
crumbled to dust. In truth, the whole progress of civilization is based
upon this power.
--Julian Huxley
<http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Julian_Huxley>