Main Page

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

Today's featured article
The Qayen earthquake was a major earthquake that struck Northern Iran's Khorasan Province on May 10, 1997. The largest in the area since 1990, it measured 7.3 on the moment magnitude scale and was centered approximately 270 kilometers (170 mi) south of Mashhad on the village of Ardekul. The third earthquake that year to cause severe damage, it devastated the Birjand–Qayen region, killing 1,567 and injuring over 2,300. The earthquake—which left 50,000 homeless and damaged or destroyed over 15,000 homes—was described as the deadliest of 1997 by the United States Geological Survey. Some 155 aftershocks caused further destruction and drove away survivors. The earthquake was later discovered to have been caused by a rupture along a fault that runs underneath the Iran–Afghanistan border. Damage was eventually estimated at $100 million, and many countries responded to the emergency with donations of blankets, tents, clothing, and food. Rescue teams were also dispatched to assist local volunteers in finding survivors trapped under the debris. The destruction around the earthquake's epicenter was, in places, almost total; this has been attributed to poor construction practices, and imparted momentum to a growing movement for changes in building codes. With 1 in 3,000 deaths in Iran attributable to earthquakes, one expert has suggested that a country-wide rebuilding program would be needed to address the ongoing public safety concerns. (more...) Recently featured: Cleomenean War – Richard II of England – The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that the smallflower false foxglove (pictured) is a hemiparasite? ... that Leslie H. Sabo, Jr. is scheduled to posthumously receive the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama 42 years after he was killed in the Vietnam War? ... that "the mill and trysting thorn" in Robert Burns's poem "The Soldier's Return" are located in the Scottish hamlet Millmannoch? ... that Suttle Lake, a natural lake on the eastern slope of the Cascade Range of Oregon, has brown trout weighing up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg)? ... that Bangkok hosted the 1978 Asian Games after Singapore and Islamabad dropped their plans to host for financial and political reasons, respectively? ... that a letter from Charles McEwen Hyde prompted Robert Louis Stevenson to publicly express his belief that Father Damien would one day achieve sainthood? ... that the Bergen Greenland Company colonized Greenland thinking it was a peninsula still inhabited by the old Norse settlers? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
A Sukhoi Superjet 100 crashes in Indonesia on a demonstration flight. Hairdresser Vidal Sassoon dies at the age of 84. Children's author and illustrator Maurice Sendak dies at the age of 83. The Progressive Liberal Party, led by Perry Christie, gains a majority in the Bahamian general election. Ronnie O'Sullivan (pictured) wins the World Snooker Championship. The coalition Let's Get Serbia Moving, led by Tomislav Nikolić, gains a plurality in the Serbian parliamentary election. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
May 10: Lag BaOmer (Judaism, 2012); Mother's Day in El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico; Constitution Day in the Federated States of Micronesia 1775 – American Revolutionary War: Delegates from the Thirteen Colonies met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to convene the Second Continental Congress, which would serve as the de facto national government of the future United States. 1824 – The National Gallery (pictured) in London opened to the public, in the former townhouse of the collector John Julius Angerstein. 1833 – Le Van Khoi broke out of prison to start a revolt against Vietnamese Emperor Minh Mạng, primarily to avenge the desecration of the grave of his adopted father Lê Văn Duyệt, former viceroy of the southern part of Vietnam. 1849 – A personal dispute between actors Edwin Forrest and William Macready in New York City devolved into a riot that left at least 25 dead and more than 120 injured. 1941 – World War II: Nazi leader Rudolf Hess parachuted into Scotland, claiming to be on a peace mission. 2005 – Armenian Vladimir Arutyunian attempted to assassinate U.S. President George W. Bush and Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili in Tbilisi using a hand grenade, which failed to detonate. More anniversaries: May 9 – May 10 – May 11 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now May 10, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

Lakota Sioux Sitting Bull (left) and American showman William F. Cody (right), better known as "Buffalo Bill", circa 1885. Buffalo Bill was best known as the inventor of the Wild West show, traveling vaudeville performances that introduced a romanticized version of the American Old West to a wide audience. Sitting Bull was a tribal chief who led his people during years of resistance to United States government policies, most notably in the victory against U.S. Army troops in the Battle of the Little Bighorn, although he eventually surrendered. In 1884, he joined Bill's troupe for four months, during which time he gave speeches advocating education for the young and reconciling relations between the Sioux and whites.

Photo: William Notman Studios; Restoration: PLW/Adam Cuerden

Recently featured: Impala – Encephalartos sclavoi reproductive cone – Glowing noble gases

Archive – More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.