The Great Lakes Storm of 1913 was a blizzard with hurricane-force winds that devastated the Great Lakes basin in the United States Midwest and the Canadian province of Ontario from November 7 to November 10, 1913. The deadliest natural disaster to ever hit the lakes, it killed over 250 people, destroyed 19 ships, and stranded 19 others. The financial loss in vessels alone was nearly USD$5 million, or about USD$100 million in present-day adjusted dollars. The large loss of cargo, including coal, iron ore, and grain, meant short-term rising prices for consumer products throughout North America. The storm originated as the convergence of two major storm fronts that was fuelled by the lakes' relatively warm waters, a seasonal process historically called a "November gale." It produced 90 mile per hour (145 km/hour) winds, waves over 35 feet (11 m) high, and whiteout snow squalls.

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_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1594: The King of Navarre was crowned King Henry IV of France at the Cathedral of Chartres near Paris, beginning the Bourbon dynasty. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_IV_of_France)

1617: Sweden signed the Treaty of Stolbovo to end the Ingrian War with Russia, making large territorial gains. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Stolbovo)

1933: The Reichstag building was set on fire, a pivotal event in the establishment of the Nazi regime in Germany. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_fire)

1976: The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic was proclaimed in Western Sahara. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Sahara)

2002: Ethnic conflict in India: The death of 58 Hindu pilgrims in a train fire triggered a violent riot in Gujarat, killing at least 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, in the following days. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Gujarat_violence)

_____________________ Wikiquote of the day:

"The writer is delegated to declare and to celebrate man's proven capacity for greatness of heart and spirit— for gallantry in defeat— for courage, compassion and love. In the endless war against weakness and despair, these are the bright rally-flags of hope and of emulation. I hold that a writer who does not passionately believe in the perfectibility of man, has no dedication nor any membership in literature." -- John Steinbeck (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/John_Steinbeck)