Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
inland as Pennsylvania. New York City evacuated many residents and took the un-
precedented step of shutting down all public transit. More than 7.4 million homes
lost electrical power, rivers ran wild, and at least 45 people died. The damage has
been estimated to be $7 billion.
East C
quake On August 23, 2011, a rare earthquake rattled the Eastern
USA. The 5.8 magnitude tremor had its epicenter located in Mineral, Virginia, but
was felt from Maine right through to South Carolina, and was the area's strongest
quake since 1897. There was no serious damage, though it did crack the Washing-
ton Monument and knock three spires off the National Cathedral in Washington,
DC.
Hur
t Coast E
t Eartthquak
Hurriicane Sa
e Sanddy On October 29, 2012, America suffered its second-costliest hur-
ricane in US history (after Katrina). Sandy was the largest Atlantic hurricane ever
recorded, with storm winds spanning over 1000 miles. The Jersey Shore and low-
lying areas of New York City (such as Staten Island) were particularly hard hit.
More than 80 people died in the USA, and estimated damages amounted to more
than $65 billion.
Black Bear
Despite a decline in numbers, black bears prowl most parts of the region, especially in
the Adirondacks, the Great Smoky Mountains and the Midwest's north woods. Males can
stand 7ft tall and weigh 550lb - but that depends on when you encounter them. In au-
tumn they weigh up to 30% more than when they emerge from hibernation in the spring.
Although they enjoy an occasional meaty snack, black bears usually fill their bellies with
berries and other vegetation. They're opportunistic, adaptable and curious animals, and
can survive on very small home ranges. As their forests diminish, they're occasionally
seen traipsing through nearby populated areas.
Does it or exist or no?
Stalking the Ghost Bird: The Elusive Ivory-Billed Woodpecker in
Louisiana
(2008), by Mike Steinberg, recounts what happened when kayakers claimed
to have sighted the 'extinct' bird, igniting a frenzy in the bayou.
Panther
A remnant population of panthers licks its chops in Everglades National Park, Florida.
Before European contact, perhaps 1500 roamed the state. The first panther bounty ($5 a
scalp) was passed in 1832, and over the next 130 years they were hunted relentlessly.
Though hunting was stopped in 1958, it was too late for panthers to survive on their own.
