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North

Specialty Definition: North

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Specialty Definition: A406 road

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The A406 or the North Circular Road is a trunk-road linking west and east London going via North London.

It starts at junction 2 of the M4 motorway and the South Circular Road, and then goes via Gunnersbury Avenue, crossing Uxbridge Road onto Hanger Lane past Hanger Hill, then crosses Western Avenue and turns north-east and becomes the North Circular Road. It continues past Stonebridge Park railway station, and crosses Harrow Road. It goes through Neasden, then crosses Edgware Road and has a junction with the M1 motorway at Staples Corner. It passes by the Brent Cross Interchange, through Golders Green, then south of Finchley. It goes north of St Pancras and Islington Cemetery, and at Friern Barnet becomes Pinkham Way. It turns right into Bowes Road, becames the North Circular Road again at Green Lane, then Sterling Way after it crosses the Great Cambridge Road. After it crosses Fore Street it becomes Angel Road, then the Lea Valley Viaduct as it crosses the River Lea.

It becomes Southend Road and passes north of Walthamstow, and crosses Woodford New Road at Waterworks Corner. It then has a junction with the M11 motorway and starts heading south, passing the Eastern Avenue at Redbridge Roundabout. It passes Romford Road passes east of Ilford. It then crosses Barking Road in Barking, and finally terminates at an interchange with Newham Way in East Ham.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "A406 road."

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Frederick North, Lord North

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Frederick North, Lord North, Baron Guilford, (April 13, 1732-August 5, 1792) was Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1770 to 1782, and a major protagonist in the American Revolution.

He was educated at Eton College and Oxford where he was a member of Trinity College. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1754 to 1790 and first joined the government as a junior Lord of the Treasury on June 2, 1759 during the Newcastle-Pitt coalition. In December, 1767, he succeeded Charles Townshend as Chancellor of the Exchequer. When the Duke of Grafton resigned as Prime Minister, North formed a government on January 28, 1770. He resigned on March 27, 1782, as a result of the British defeat at Yorktown the year before. Most of his government was focused first of the growing problems with the American colonies and later with the actual Revolutionary War.

In April, 1783, North returned to power as Home Secretary in an unlikely coalition with the radical Whig leader Charles James Fox under the nominal leadership of The Duke of Portland. George III, who detested Fox, never forgave this supposed betrayal, and North never again served in government after the ministry fell in December, 1783.

He left his seat in parliament when he went blind in 1790. Later he succeeded his father as 2nd Earl of Guilford, so he spent his final years in the House of Lords. He died on August 5th, 1792 in London.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Frederick North, Lord North."

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Latitude

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

Latitude, denoted φ, gives the location of a place on Earth north or south of the equator. Latitude is an angular measurement ranging from 0° at the equator to 90° at the poles.

Usually, the difference in latitude largely affects the climates or weathers of that region.

Other latitudes of particular importance are the tropic of Cancer (latitude 23^o27' north), the tropic of Capricorn (latitude 23^o27' south), the arctic circle (latitude 66^o33' north) and the antarctic circle (latitude 66^o33' south). Only at latitudes between the tropics is it possible for the sun to be at the zenith. Only north of the arctic circle or south of the antarctic circle is the midnight sun possible.

All locations of a given latitude are collectively referred to as a parallel, because they are coplanar, and all such planes are parallel to the equator.

Latitude more loosely determines tendencies in climate, aurora, prevailing winds, and other physical characteristics of geographic locations.

One minute of arc of latitude is approximately one nautical mile.

See also:

• longitude
• horse latitude
• navigation

  Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Latitude."

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North

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

North is one of the four primary directions or cardinal points of the compass, specifically the direction treated, in Western culture, as the primary direction and used (explicitly or implicitly) to define all other directions. (As to the arbitrary nature of this choice, and psycho-social consequences of it, see boreocentrism.)

Definitions

North can mean:

1. true north, the direction along the earth's surface toward one pole of the earth's rotation, namely the pole that is clearly on one's left when standing at the Equator while facing the rising sun.
2. magnetic north, the direction along the earth's surface in which horizontal magnetic field strength has its most positive value (but see Flipping of planetary magnetic poles for an eventual event, so rare as to make unlikely any advance agreement on whether one or two retronyms would be involved in the replacement terminology)
3. a loosely specified direction, usually within half a right angle of true north, especially when stating travel instructions in an area where directions of travel are constrained by an approximately rectangular grid of streets, hallways, etc.
4. the orientation of a traveller with respect to a visible or otherwise definite continuous two-way route, such that sustained travel over the whole of the route produces a change of position to a location further north, even if that involves travelling a part of the route in another direction, even straight south; often termed "northbound".
5. pertaining to the part of a route mainly or exclusively used by northbound traffic, where southbound traffic is separated by barriers, or where both are encouraged to stay mostly in one portion by rules of the road; often termed "northbound".

Magnetic North and Declination

Magnetic north is of interest because it is the direction indicated as north on a properly functioning (but uncorrected) magnetic compass. The difference between it and true north is called the magnetic declination (or simply the declination where the context is clear). For many purposes and physical circumstances, the error in direction that results from ignoring the distinction is tolerable; in others a mental or instrument compensation, based on assumed knowledge of the applicable declination, can solve all the problems. But simple generalizations on the subject should be treated as unsound, and as likely to reflect popular misconceptions about terrestrial magnetism.

Roles of North as Prime Direction

The visible rotation of the night sky about the visible celestial pole provides a vivid metaphor of that direction corresponding to up. Thus the choice of the north as corresponding to up in the northern hemisphere, or of south in that role in the southern, is, prior to world-wide communication, anything but an arbitrary one. On the contrary, it is of interest that Chinese culture ever considered south as the proper top end for maps.
In Western culture (unless making a point about harmful effects, or the arbitrary nature, of boreocentrism):

• Up is a metaphor for north
• Maps tend to be drawn for viewing with either true north or magnetic north at the top (page layout)
• Globes of the earth have the North Pole at the top, or if the earth's axis is represented as inclined from vertical (normally by the angle it has relative to the axis of the earth's orbit), in the top half.
• Maps are usually labelled to indicate which direction on the map corresponds to a direction on the earth,
  • usually with a single arrow oriented to the map's representation of true north,
  • occasionally with a single arrow oriented to the map's representation of magnetic north, or two arrows oriented to true and magnetic north respectively,
  • occasionally with a compass rose, but if so, usually on a map with north at the top and usually with north decorated more prominently than any other compass point.

Roles of East and West as Inherantly Subsidiary Directions

It is worth noting that while the choice of north over south as prime direction reflects quite arbitrary historical factors, east and west are not nearly as natural alternatives as first glance might suggest. Their folk definitions are, respectively, "where the sun rises" and "where it sets". Except on the Equator, however, these definitions, taken together, would imply that

• east and west would not be 180 degrees apart, but instead would differ from that by up to twice the degrees of latitude of the location in question, and
• they would each move slightly from day to day and, in the temperate zones, markedly over the course of the year.

Reasonably accurate folk astronomy, such as is usually attributed to Stone Age Celts, would arrive at east and west by noting the directions of rising and setting (preferably more than once each) and choosing as prime direction one of the two mutually opposite directions that lie halfway between those two. The true folk-astronomical definitions of east and west are "the directions, a right angle from the prime direction, that are closest to the rising and setting, respectively, of the sun (or moon).

See also: "The North", a sense of the term that refers to the wealthy and powerful "North" of the world, as contrasted to the poorer "South".)

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North."

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North Africa

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

North Africa refers to the region of the continent of Africa north of the Sahara desert.

Contact between North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa was limited until after the time of the European expansion.

Modern territories of northern Africa

• Algeria
• Ceuta
• Egypt
• Libya
• Mauritania
• Melilla
• Morocco
• Sudan
• Tunisia
• Western Sahara

  Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North Africa."

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North America

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

simple:North America

North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere of Earth, located to the east of the Pacific Ocean, the west of the Atlantic Ocean, the south of the Arctic Ocean, and the north of South America. It is the north part of The Americas.

On the main continent itself can be found three large and relatively populous countries:

• Canada
  • Some other large islands off the shore of North America and belonging to Canada include Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands on the west, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island on the east, and Ellesmere Island, Baffin Island, and Victoria Island in the north.
• Mexico

• United States
  • includes the Aleutian Islands, Alaska.

At the extreme southern end of the continent, in a relatively small area (smaller than an average Canadian province) called Central America are:

• Belize
• Costa Rica
• El Salvador
• Guatemala
• Honduras
• Nicaragua
• Panama

At the extreme southeastern end of the continent, lies a chain of islands territories called the Antilles, the Caribbean or the West Indies. They include:

• Anguilla (British dependency)
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Aruba (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• British Virgin Islands (British dependency)
• Cayman Islands (British dependency)
• Cuba
• Dominica (Commonwealth of)
• Dominican Republic
• Grenada
• Guadeloupe (overseas department of France)
• Haiti
• Jamaica
• Martinique (overseas department of France)
• Montserrat (British dependency)
• Netherlands Antilles (part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
• Puerto Rico (U.S. commonwealth)
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos Islands (British dependency)
• U.S. Virgin Islands (territory of the USA)

In the Atlantic Ocean:

• Bermuda (British dependency)

• Greenland, the largest island in the world, is considered to be in North America and is located in the far north, to the east of Canada's Nunavut Territory. It is a self-governing dependency of Denmark.

• Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Found off the coast of Canada it is the last of France's once vast North American possessions.

country	pop. dens.	area	population
	(/km²)	(km²)	(2002-07-01 est.)
Bermuda (UK)	1,200	53	63,960
Barbados	642	431	276,607
Puerto Rico (US)	435	9,104	3,957,988
Martinique (Fr.)	384	1,100	422,277
Aruba (Neth.)	365	193	70,441
U.S. Virgin Islands (US)	351	352	123,498
El Salvador	302	21,040	6,353,681
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	299	389	116,394
Saint Lucia	260	616	160,145
Grenada	259	344	89,211
Haiti	255	27,750	7,063,722
Guadeloupe (Fr.)	245	1,780	435,739
Jamaica	244	10,991	2,680,029
Trinidad and Tobago	227	5,128	1,163,724
Netherlands Antilles (Neth.)	223	960	214,258
Dominican Republic	179	48,730	8,721,594
Antigua and Barbuda	152	443	67,448
Saint Kitts and Nevis	148	261	38,736
British Virgin Islands (UK)	139	153	21,272
Cayman Islands (UK)	138	262	36,273
Guatemala	122	108,890	13,314,079
Anguilla (UK)	122	102	12,446
Cuba	101	110,860	11,224,321
Dominica	93	754	70,158
Montserrat (UK)	83	102	8,437
Costa Rica	75	51,100	3,834,934
Honduras	59	112,090	6,560,608
Mexico	52	1,972,550	103,400,165
Turks and Caicos Islands (UK)	44	430	18,738
Nicaragua	39	129,494	5,023,818
Panama	37	78,200	2,882,329
United States	29	9,629,091	280,562,489
Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Fr.)	29	242	6,954
Bahamas	22	13,940	300,529
Belize	11	22,966	262,999
Canada	3.2	9,976,140	31,902,268
Greenland (Denm.)	0.03	2,166,086	56,376

Satellite image - Large version

See also: History of North America

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North America."

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North Carolina

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

North Carolina

(In Detail) (Full size)
State nickname: Tar Heel State
Other U.S. States
Capital	Raleigh
Largest City	Charlotte
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water  - % water	Ranked 28th 139,509 km² 126,256 km² 13,227 km² 9.5%
Population  - Total (2000)  - Density	Ranked 11th 8,049,313 57.7/km²
Admittance into Union  - Order  - Date	12th November 21, 1789
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Latitude Longitude	34°N to 36°21'N 75°30'W to 84°15'W
Width Length Elevation   -Highest   -Mean   -Lowest	240 km 805 km   2,037 meters 215 meters 0 meters
ISO 3166-2:	US-NC

North Carolina is a southern state in the United States. North Carolina was one of the thirteen colonies that revolted against British rule in the American Revolution. It is bordered by South Carolina on the south, Georgia on the southwest, Tennessee on the west, Virginia on the north, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. It was named in honor of King Charles I of England.

USS North Carolina was named in honor of this state.

History

Originally inhabited by a number of native tribes, including the Cherokee, North Carolina was the first American territory the English attempted to colonize. Sir Walter Raleigh, for whom the state capital is named, chartered two colonies on the North Carolina coast in the late 1580s, both ending in failure. The demise of one, the "Lost Colony" of Roanoke Island, remains one of the great mysteries of American history.

By the late seventeenth century, several permanent settlements had taken hold in the Carolina territory, which encompassed present-day South Carolina and Tennessee as well. In 1712, North Carolina became a separate colony. It reverted to a royal colony seventeen years later. In April 1776, the colony became the first to instruct its delegates to the Continental Congress to vote for independence from the British crown.

On November 21, 1789, North Carolina ratified the Constitution to become the twelfth state in the Union. Between the American Revolutionary War and the American Civil War, North Carolina worked to establish its state and local governments. In 1840, it completed the state capitol building in Raleigh, still standing today. In mid-century the state's rural and commercial areas were further connected by construction of a 129 mile wooden plank road, known as a "farmer's railroad," from Fayetteville in the east to Bethania (northwest of Winston-Salem).

Divided on whether to support the North or the South in the Civil War, North Carolina seceded from the Union in 1861.

Over the past century, North Carolina has grown to become a leader in agriculture and industry. The state's industrial output--mainly textiles, chemicals, electrical equipment, paper and paper products--ranked eighth in the nation in the early 1990s. Tobacco, one of North Carolina's earliest sources of revenue, remains vital to the local economy.

North Carolina has had three constitutions:

• 1776: This one was ratified December 18, 1776, as the first constitution of the independent state. The Declaration of Rights was ratified the preceding day.
• 1868: This was framed in accordance with the Reconstruction Acts after North Carolina was readmitted into the Union. It was a major reorganization and modification of the original into fourteen articles.
• 1971: This is a minor consolidation of the 1868 constitution and subsequent amendments.

Law and Government

The capital of North Carolina is Raleigh and its governor is Mike Easley (Democrat). Its two U.S. senators are John Edwards (Democrat) and Elizabeth Dole (Republican). See List of North Carolina Governors

Geography

See List of North Carolina counties

The State of North Carolina is included between the parallels 34° and 36°30' north latitude, and between the meridians 75°30' and 84°30' west longitude.

Its western boundary is the crest of the Smoky Mountains, which, with the Blue Ridge, forms a part of the great Appalachian system, extending almost from the mouth of the Saint Lawrence River to the Gulf of Mexico; its eastern is the Atlantic Ocean. Its mean breadth from north to south is about one hundred miles; its extreme breadth is one hundred and eighty-eight miles. The extreme length of the State from east to west is five hundred miles. The area embraced within its boundaries is fifty-two thousand two hundred and eighty-six square miles.

The climate of North Carolina is mild and equable. This is due in part to its geographical position; midway, as it were, between the northern and southern limits of the Union. Two other causes concur to modify it; the one, the lofty Appalachian chain, which forms, to some extent, a shield from the bleak winds of the northwest; the other, the softening influence of the Gulf Stream, the current of which sweeps along near its shores.

The result of these combined causes is shown in the character of the seasons. Fogs are almost unknown; frosts occur not until the middle of October; ice rarely forms of a sufficient thickness to be gathered; snows are light, seldom remaining on the ground more than two or three days. The average rainfall is about fifty-three inches, which is pretty uniformly distributed throughout the year. The climate is eminently favorable to health and longevity.

The State falls naturally into three divisions or sections -- the Western or Mountain section, the Middle or Piedmont section, and the Eastern or Tidewater section. The first consists of mountains, many of them rising to towering heights, the highest, indeed, east of the Rocky Mountains. It is bounded on the east by the Blue Ridge and on the west by the Smoky Mountains. The section inclosed within these limits is in shape somewhat like an ellipse. Its length is about one hundred and eighty miles; its average breadth from twenty to fifty miles. It is a high plateau, from the plane of which many lofty mountains everywhere rise, and on its border the culminating points of the Appalachian system -- the Roau, the Grandfather and the Black -- lift their heads to the sky. Between the mountains are fertile valleys, plentifully watered by streams, many of them remarkable for their beauty. The mountains themselves are wooded, except a few which have prairies on their summits, locally distinguished as "balds." This section has long been one of the favorite resorts of the tourist and the painter.

The Middle section lies between the Blue Ridge and the falls where the rivers make their descent into the great plain which forms the Eastern section of the State. Its area comprises nearly one-half of the territory of the State. Throughout the greater part it presents an endless succession of hills and dales, though the surface near the mountains is of a bolder and sometimes of a rugged cast. The scenery of this section is as remarkable for quiet, picturesque beauty, as that of the Western is for sublimity and grandeur.

The Eastern section is a Champaign country; relieved, however, by gentle undulations. Its breadth is about one hundred miles. Its principal beauty lies in its river scenery and extensive water prospects.

The cultivated productions of the Mountain section are sweetcorn, wheat, oats, barley, hay, tobacco, fruits and vegetables. Cattle are also reared quite extensively for market. In the Middle section are found all the productions of the former, and over the southern half cotton appears as the staple product. In the Eastern section cotton, corn, oats and rice are staple crops, and the "trucking business" (growing fruits and vegetables for the Northern markets), constitutes a flourishing industry. The lumber business, and the various industries to which the long-leaf pine gives rise, tar, pitch and turpentine, have long been, and still continue to be, great resources of wealth for this section. Of the crops produced in the United States all are grown in North Carolina except sugar and some semi-tropical fruits, as the orange, the lemon and the banana. The wine grapes of America may be said to have their home in North Carolina; four of them, the Catawba, Isabella, Lincoln and Scuppernong, originated here.

The physical characteristics of the State will be better understood by picturing to the mind its surface as spread out upon a vast declivity, sloping down from the summits of the Smoky Mountains, an altitude of near seven thousand feet, to the ocean level. Through the range of elevation thus afforded, the plants and trees (or what is comprehended under the term flora) vary from those peculiar to Alpine regions to those peculiar to semi- tropical regions.

The variety of trees is most marked, including all those which yield timber employed in the useful and many of those employed in the ornamental arts. Indeed, nearly all the species found in the United States, east of the Rocky Mountains, are found in North Carolina. Her wealth in this respect will be appreciated when the striking fact is mentioned that there are more species of oaks in North Carolina than in all the States north of us, and only one less than in all the Southern States east of the Mississippi. This range of elevation affords also a great variety of medicinal herbs. In fact, the mountains of North Carolina are the 'storehouse' of the United States for plants of this description.

The mountains of North Carolina may be conveniently classed as four separate chains: the Smoky, forming the western boundary of the State; the Blue Ridge, running across the State in a very tortuous course, and shooting out spurs of great elevation; the Brushy (which divides, for the greater part of its course, the waters of the Catawba and Yadkin), beginning at a point near Lenoir and terminating in the Pilot and Sauratown Mountains; and an inferior range of much lower elevation, which may be termed, from its local name at different points, the Uwharrie or Oconeechee Mountains beginning in Montgomery county and terminating in the heights about Roxboro, in Person county.

Each of these mountain ranges is marked by distinct characteristics. The Smoky chain, as contrasted with the next highest -- the Blue Ridge -- is more continuous, more elevated, more regular in its direction and height, and rises very uniformly from five thousand to nearly six thousand seven hundred feet.

The Blue Ridge is composed of many fragments scarcely connected into a continuous and regular chain. Its loftier summits range from five thousand to five thousand nine hundred feet. The Brushy range presents, throughout the greater part of its course, a remarkable uniformity in direction and elevation, many of its peaks rising above two thousand feet. The last, the Oconeechee or Uwharrie range, sometimes presents a succession of elevated ridges, then a number of bold and isolated knobs, whose heights are one thousand feet above the sea level.

There are three distinct systems of rivers in the State: those that find their way to the Gulf of Mexico through the Mississippi, those that flow through South Carolina to the sea and those that reach the sea along our own coast. The divide between the first and the second is the Blue Ridge chain of mountains; that between the second and third systems is found in an elevation extending from the Blue Ridge, near the Virginia line, just between the sources of the Yadkin and the Roanoke, in a south-easterly direction some two hundred miles, almost to the sea-coast below Wilmington. In the divide between the first and second systems, which is also the great watershed between the Atlantic slope and the Mississippi Valley, a singular anomaly is presented, for it is formed not by the lofty Smoky range, but by the Blue Ridge -- not, therefore, at the crest of the great slope which the surface of the State presents, but on a line lower down. On the western flank of this lower range the beautiful French Broad and the other rivers of the first section, including the headwaters of the Great Khanawha, have their rise. In their course through the Smoky Mountains to the Mississippi they pass along chasms or "gaps" from three thousand to four thousand feet in depth. These chasms or "gaps" are more than a thousand feet lower than those of the corresponding parts of the Blue Ridge.

The rivers of the second system rise on the eastern flank of the Blue Ridge. These rivers -- the Catawba and the Yadkin, with their tributaries stretching from the Broad River, near the mountains in the west, to the Lumber near the seacoast -- water some thirty counties in the State, a fan-shaped territory, embracing much the greater portion of the Piedmont section of the State.

The rivers of the third system are the Chowan, the Roanoke, the Tar, the Neuse and the Cape Fear, usually navigable some for fifty and others to near one hundred miles for boats of light draught. Of these the three last have their rise near the northern boundary of the State, in a comparatively small area, near the eastern source of the Yadkin. The Chowan has its rise in Virginia, below Appomattox Court House. The principal sources of the Roanoke, also, are in Virginia, in the Blue Ridge, though some of its head streams are in North Carolina, and very near those of the Yadkin. Only one of these rivers, the Cape Fear, flows directly into the ocean in this State; the others, after reaching the low country, move on with diminished current and empty into large bodies of water known as sounds.

The great rivers of these three systems, with their network of countless tributaries, great and small, afford a truly magnificent water supply. Flat lands border the streams in every section; they are everywhere exceptionally rich, and in the Tidewater section, of great breadth. In their course from the high plateaus to the low country all the rivers of the State have a descent of many hundred feet, made by frequent falls and rapids. These falls and rapids afford all unlimited motive power for machinery of every description; and here many cotton mills and other factories have been established, and are multiplying every year.

The sounds, and the rivers which empty into them, constitute a network of waterway for steam and sailing vessels of eleven hundred miles. They are separated from the ocean by a line of sand banks, varying in breadth from one hundred yards to two miles, and in height from a few feet above the tide level to twenty-five or thirty feet, on which horses of a small breed, called "Bank Ponies," are reared in great numbers, and in a half wild state. These banks extend along the entire shore a distance of three hundred miles. Through them there are a number of inlets from the sea to the sounds, but they are usually too shallow except for vessels of light burden. Along its northern coast the commerce of the State has, in consequence, been restricted; it has, however, an extensive commerce through Beaufort Harbor and the Cape Fear River.

The sounds, and the rivers in their lower courses, abound with fish and waterfowl. Hunting the canvas-back duck and other fowls for the Northern cities is a regular and profitable branch of industry; while herring, shad and rock-fishing is pursued, especially along Albemarle Sound, with spirit, skill and energy, and a large outlay of capital.

Major geographic features include the Blue Ridge Mountains in the west, the Piedmont region of the south central portion of the state, and Cape Fear, Cape Hatteras, and the Outer Banks off the eastern coast.

Economy

The state's 1999 total gross state product was $259 billion, placing it 12^th in the nation. Its 2000 Per Capita Personal Income was $27,194, 30^th in the nation. North Carolina's agricultural outputs are poultry and eggs, tobacco, hogs, milk, nursery stock, cattle, and soybeans. Its industrial outputs are tobacco products, textile goods, chemical products, electric equipment, machinery, and tourism.

Demographics

According the 2000 census, North Carolina's population was 8,049,313.

Important Cities and Towns

Asheville Cary Charlotte Concord Durham Fayetteville Gastonia Greensboro

Greenville High Point Jacksonville Raleigh (the capital) Rocky Mount Wilmington Winston-Salem

Small towns/areas with interesting names:

• Climax, North Carolina (in Guilford County, near Greensboro)
• Lizard Lick, North Carolina (in Wake County, near Raleigh)
• Soul City, North Carolina (in Warren County)

Education

Colleges and Universities

Appalachian State University Barber-Scotia College Barton College Belmont Abbey College Bennett College Brevard College Campbell University Catawba College Chowan College Davidson College Duke University East Carolina University Elizabeth City State University Elon University Fayetteville State University Gardner-Webb University Greensboro College Guilford College High Point University Johnson C. Smith University Lees-McRae College Lenoir-Rhyne College Livingstone College Louisburg College Mars Hill College Meredith College Methodist College Montreat College Mount Olive College

North Carolina Central University North Carolina A and T State University North Carolina School of the Arts North Carolina State University North Carolina Wesleyan College Peace College Pfeiffer University Piedmont Baptist College Queens College Roanoke Bible College St. Andrews Presbyterian College St. Augustine's College Salem College Shaw University University of North Carolina at Asheville University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Charlotte University of North Carolina at Greensboro University of North Carolina at Pembroke University of North Carolina at Wilmington Wake Forest University Warren Wilson College Western Carolina University Wingate University Winston-Salem State University

Professional Sports Teams

Carolina Panthers, National Football League Carolina Hurricanes, National Hockey League Charlotte Bobcats, National Basketball Association 2004 Charlotte Sting, Women's National Basketball Association Carolina Courage, Women's United Soccer Association (playing in Chapel Hill)

Minor League Baseball teams Charlotte Knights Durham Bulls Kinston Indians Winston-Salem Warthogs Burlington Indians Carolina Mudcats Kannapolis Intimidators Greensboro Bats Asheville Tourists Hickory Crawdads

Miscellaneous Information

State Bird: Cardinal Scientific Name: Cardinalis cardinalis
State Flower: Dogwood Scientific Name: Cornus florida
State Motto: Esse quam videri (To be, rather than to seem)

Sources:

• Library of Congress: "Today in History: November 21"

External Links

• http://www.ncgov.com

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North Carolina."

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North Chungcheong

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

North Chungcheong (Chungcheong-bukdo; 충청 북도; 忠清北道) is a province (Do) in the centre of South Korea. It was formed in 1896 from the northeastern half of the former Chungcheong Province, was a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea. The provincial capital is Cheongju.

The province is part of the Hoseo region, and is bounded on the west by South Chungcheong Province, on the north by Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces, on the south by North Jeolla Province, and on the east by North Gyeongsang. Chungcheong is the only province in South Korea with no access to the sea. The province is mostly mountainous, dominated by the Noryong Mountains to the north and the Sobaek Mountains to the east.

Agricultural produce includes rice, barley, beans and sweet potatoes, but the province is specialized on ginseng and tobacco. The tobacco has been introduced from the US in 1912 and has been transplanted from Virginia, US.

There are mineral reserves of gold, iron, coal, steatite, fluorite, molybdenum, as well as marble and limestone in the northern part of the province. Silk weaving plays an important role.

The main attractions of the province are Mount Songni (1,058 metres) in the Sobaek mountains with its national park. Pobju-sa, the site of one of the oldest temples of Korea is located in this national park. There is another national park around Mount Worak.

Apart from Cheongju, other large or notable cities in the province include Chungju, Jecheon, and Yeongdong.

Area: 7,436 square kilometres

Population: 1,462,621 (2000 census).

Administrative Divisions:

• Cheongju-si (청주시, 淸州市}
• Chungju-si (충주시, 忠州市}
• Jecheon-si (제천시, 堤川市}
• Boeun-gun (보은군, 報恩郡)
• Cheongwon-gun (청원군, 淸原郡)
• Danyang-gun (단양군, 丹陽郡)
• Eumseong-gun (음성군, 陰城郡)
• Goesan-gun (괴산군, 槐山郡)
• Jincheon-gun (진천군, 鎭川郡)
• Okcheon-gun (옥천군, 沃川郡)
• Yeongdong-gun (영동군, 永同郡)

  Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North Chungcheong."

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North Dakota

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

North Dakota

(In Detail) (Full size)
State nickname: Peace Garden State
Other U.S. States
Capital	Bismarck
Largest City	Fargo
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water  - % water	Ranked 19th 183,272 km² 178,839 km² 4,432 km² 2.4%
Population  - Total (2000)  - Density	Ranked 47th 642,200 3.5/km²
Admittance into Union  - Order  - Date	39th November 2, 1889
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5 Mountain: UTC-7/-6 Eastern ND is Central, Western is Mountain
Latitude Longitude	45°55' N to 49° N 97° W to 104° W
Width Length Elevation   -Highest   -Mean   -Lowest	340 km 545 km   1,069 meters 580 meters 229 meters
ISO 3166-2:	US-ND

North Dakota is a state of the United States, named after the Lakota (Sioux) Native American Indians. Its U.S. postal abbreviation is ND.

USS North Dakota was named in honor of this state.

History

North Dakota got its name from the Dakota division of the Sioux Indians who lived on the plains before the Europeans arrived. "Dakota" means "friend". North Dakota was admitted to the Union as the 39^th state on November 2, 1889. On the same day, South Dakota was admitted.

Law and government

The capital of North Dakota is Bismarck and its governor is John Hoeven (Republican). Its two U.S. senators are Kent Conrad (Democrat) and Byron L. Dorgan (Democrat). Its congressman is Earl Pomeroy (Democrat).

See: List of North Dakota Governors

Geography

See: List of North Dakota counties

North Dakota is bordered on the north by the Canadian Provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, on the west by Montana, on the south by South Dakota, and on the east, across the Red River of the North, by Minnesota. The Missouri River runs through much of the state. It is mainly a farm state and most of its industries (food processing and farm equipment) are connected to farming. Farms and ranches stretch from the flat Red River Valley, in the east, across rolling plains, to the rugged Badlands in the west. The geographic center of the North American continent is located at Rugby in North Dakota.

Economy

North Dakota's 1999 total gross state product was $17 billion, the smallest in the nation. Its 2000 Per Capita Personal Income was $25,068, placing it 38^th in the nation. The state's agricultural outputs are wheat, cattle, barley, sunflowers, milk, and sugar beets. Its industrial outputs are food processing, machinery, mining, and tourism.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census, the population of North Dakota is 642,200. Its population grew 0.5% (3,400) from its 1990 levels. According to the 2000 census, 92.4% (593,181) identified themselves as White, 1.2% (7,786) as Hispanic or Latino, 0.6% (3,916) as black, 0.6% (3,606) as Asian, 4.9% (31,329) as American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.04% (230) as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.4% (2,540) as other, and 1.2% (7,398) identified themselves as belonging to two or more races.

6.1% of its population were reported as under 5, 25% under 18, and 14.7% were 65 or older. Females made up approximately 50.1% of the population.

Important cities and towns

Major cities are Grand Forks and Fargo.

Fargo Bismarck Grand Forks Minot Mandan

Dickinson Jamestown West Fargo Williston Wahpeton

Education

Colleges and universities

Dickinson State University Jamestown College Mayville State University Minot State University North Dakota State University

Trinity Bible College University of Mary University of North Dakota Valley City State University

Miscellaneous information

Counties: 53

Bird: Western Meadowlark

Flower: Prairie Rose

Tree: American Elm

Nicknames: Roughrider State, Flickertail State, Peace Garden State

External links

• http://www.state.nd.us

  Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North Dakota."

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North District, Hong Kong

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

North District is the north most district of the 18 districts of Hong Kong. It is located in the New Territories.

It borders with Shenzhen city with the Shenzhen river. Major access to Mainland China from Hong Kong all lies in North District. Population in North District in 2000 is 294,200.

According to the statistics in the district, 70% of the population stays in the public estates in the two major town: Fanling and Sheung Shui. Including with the 40,000 villagers in the two town and another two rural towns Sha Tau Kok and Ta Ku Ling, that accounts for all residents in the district.

See also: List of buildings, sites and areas in Hong Kong

External link

• District Council website

  Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North District, Hong Kong."

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North Gyeongsang

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

North Gyeongsang (Gyeongsangbuk-do; 경상 북도; 慶尚北道) is a province (Do) in eastern South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Gyeongsang Province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea. The provincial capital and largest city is Daegu, which was the capital of Gyeongsang before 1896 and which is separately administered as a provincial-level Metropolitan City today.

The province is part of the Yeongnam region, and is bounded on the east by the East Sea/Sea of Japan (see Notice on Talk page), on the south by South Gyeongsang Province, on the west by North Jeolla and North Chungcheong Provinces, and on the north by Gangwon Province.

North Gyeongsang is the homeland of the former kingdom of Silla and has retained much of its cultural tradition. A number of artists, political leaders and scholars have come from the province.

During the summer, North Gyeongsang is the hottest province in South Korea. This is helped by the fact that the province is largely surrounded by mountains: the Taebaek Mountains in the east and the Sobaek Mountains in the west.

Agricultural products of the province include rice, beans, potatoes and barley. Apples from around Daegu are considered a speciality of the province. In addition, dairy farming exists in several districts, but there is also seawead, shellfish and cuttlefish.

Apart from Daegu, other large or notable cities in the province include Gimcheon, Sangju, Yeongju, Andong, Gumi, Gyeongju, and Pohang.

• Area: 19,440 km²
• Population (excluding Daegu Metropolitan City): 2,716,218 (2000 census)

Administrative divisions:

• Andong-shi (안동시; 安東市)
• Gimcheon-shi (김천시; 金泉市)
• Gyeongju-shi (경주시; 慶州市)
• Gyeongsan-shi (경산시; 慶山市)
• Gumi-shi (구미시; 龜尾市)
• Mungyeong-shi (문경시;聞慶市)
• Pohang-shi (포항시; 浦項市)
• Sangju-shi (상주시; 尙州市)
• Yeongcheon-shi (영천시; 永川市)
• Yeongju-shi (영주시; 榮州市)
• Bonghwa-gun (봉화군; 奉化郡)
• Cheongdo-gun (청도군; 淸道郡)
• Cheongsong-gun (청송군; 靑松郡)
• Chilgok-gun (칠곡군; 漆谷郡)
• Goryeong-gun (고령군; 高靈郡)
• Gunwi-gun (군위군;軍威郡)
• Seongju-gun (성주군; 星州郡)
• Uiseong-gun (의성군; 義城郡)
• Uljin-gun (울진군; 蔚珍郡)
• Ulleung-gun (울릉군; 鬱陵郡)
• Yecheon-gun (예천군; 醴泉郡)
• Yeongdeok-gun (영덕군; 盈德郡)
• Yeongyang-gun (영양군; 英陽郡)

  Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North Gyeongsang."

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North Hwanghae

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

North Hwanghae is a region of North Korea.

Its administrative divisions are:

• Sariwŏn-shi (사리원시; 沙里院市)
• Songr'ŏm-shi (송림시; 松林市)
• Hwangchu-gun (황주군; 黃州郡)
• Insan-gun (인산군; 麟山郡)
• Koksan-gun (곡산군; 谷山郡)
• Kŭmch'ŏn-gun (금천군; 金川郡)
• Pongsan-gun (봉산군; 鳳山郡)
• P'yŏngsan-gun (평산군; 平山郡)
• Singye-gun (신계군; 新溪郡)
• Sinp'yŏng-gun (신평군; 新坪郡)
• Sŏhŭng-gun (서흥군; 瑞興郡)
• Suan-gun (수안군; 送安郡)
• Tosan-gun (토산군; 兎山郡)
• Ŭnp'a-gun (은파군; 銀波郡)
• Yŏnsan-gun (연산군; 延山郡)
• Yŏntan-gun (연탄군; 燕灘郡)

  Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North Hwanghae."

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North Island

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, the other being the South Island. (A grammatical note: New Zealanders refer to them with a definite article as "the North Island" and "the South Island", like "the North Sea" and "the Western World", but unlike "Rangitoto Island" or "West Point"). Several important cities are in the North Island, notably Auckland and Wellington, the capital of New Zealand at the southern extremity of the island.

Maori mythology says that the North and South islands of New Zealand came from the time of Maui who was a demigod.

The story goes that he and his brothers were fishing from their canoe (the South Island) when he caught a great fish and pulled it from the sea. While he was not looking his brothers fought over the fish and chopped it up.

This great fish became the North Island and thus the Maori name for the North Island is Te Ika O Maui (The Fish of Maui). The mountains and valleys are said to have been formed as a result of them hacking at the fish.

Cities and towns on the North Island

• Auckland
• Cambridge
• Coromandel
• Foxton
• Gisborne
• Hamilton
• Hastings
• Huntly
• Kerikeri
• Matamata
• Napier
• New Plymouth
• Pahiatua
• Palmerston North
• Raglan
• Rotorua
• Stratford
• Taupo
• Tauranga
• Wellington

Geographic features

• Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu

  Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North Island."

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North Jeolla

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

North Jeolla (Jeollabuk-do; 전라 북도; 全羅北道) is a province (Do) in the southwest of South Korea. The province was formed in 1896 from the northern half of the former Jeolla Province, remained a province of Korea until the country's division in 1945, then became part of South Korea. The provincial capital is located at Jeonju, which was the capital of Jeolla before 1896.

The province is part of the Honam region, and is bounded on the west by the Yellow Sea, on the north by South Chungcheong Province, on the south by South Jeolla, and on the east by North and South Gyeongsang Provinces.

The Noryong Mountains divide the province. The eastern half is a plateau, the western one a plain. Through the plain in the west flow four rivers: Somjin, Mankyong, Tongjin and Geum. The plain is one of the largest granaries of South Korea. Apart from rice, important products include cotton, barley, hemp and paper mulberry which is used for the paper in traditional sliding doors. Cattle breeding is important in the eastern plateau.

In the 1960s the Honam highway (which has since been upgraded to the Honam Expressway) was built. This created an industrial belt, connecting the cities of Iri (now called Iksan) and Gunsan (a port city) with the provincial capital of Jeonju.

Area: 8,043 square kilometres

Population: 1,887,239 (2000 census).

Administrative divisions:

• Gimje-shi (김제시; 金堤市)
• Gunsan-shi (군산시; 群山市)
• Iksan-shi (익산시; 益山市)
• Jeongjeup-shi (정읍시; 井邑市)
• Jeonju-shi (전주시; 全州市)
• Namwon-shi (남원시; 南原市)
• Buan-gun (부안군; 扶安郡)
• Gochang-gun (고창군; 高敞郡)
• Imshil-gun (임실군; 任實郡)
• Jangsu-gun (장수군; 長水郡)
• Jinan-gun (진안군; 鎭安郡)
• Muju-gun (무주군; 茂朱郡)
• Suncheong-gun (순창군; 淳昌郡)
• Wanju-gun (완주군; 完州郡)

  Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North Jeolla."

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North Korea

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in eastern Asia, covering the northern half of the peninsula of Korea. To the south it borders South Korea with which it formed a single nation until 1948. Its northern border is predominantly with China, and a small section with Russia. It is more commonly known locally as Buk Chosŏn ("North Chosŏn"; 북조선 北朝鮮). Buk Han ("North Han"; 북한 北韓) is commonly used in South Korea, as is the revised romanisation of Chosun Minjujui Inmin Gonghwa-guk for the official name.

조선 민주주의 인민 공화국
Chosun Minchu'chui Inmin Konghwa'guk

(In Detail)
National motto: One is sure to win if he believes in and depends upon the people
Official language	Korean
Capital	P'yŏngyang
Chairman, National Defense Commission	Kim Jong-il2
President, Supreme People's Assembly Presidium	Kim Yong-nam1
Premier	Pak Pong-ju
Area  - Total  - % water	Ranked 97th 120,540 km² 0.1%
Population  - Total (2002)  - Density	Ranked 49th 22,224,195 182.25/km²
Independence  - Date	From Japan August 15, 1945
Currency	North Korean won
Time zone	UTC +9
National anthem	A ch'im un pinnara, i kangsan ungum e
Internet TLD	None (.KP is reserved)
Calling Code	850
(1) Kim Yong-nam is the de facto head of state; Kim Il-sung is "eternal president"
(2) Kim Jong Il is the most powerful figure in the DPRK; the Chairman of the National Defence Commission is accorded the nation's "highest administrative authority"

History

For pre-1945 history, see Korea Main article: History of North Korea

Japanese occupation of Korea ended after World War II in 1945. Then, Korea was occupied by the Soviet Union north of the 38th parallel and by the United States south of the 38th parallel. United States suppressed an existing network of local Peoples Committees; meanwhile Cold War tensions rose. This led in 1948 to the establishment of two governments claiming to be the sole government of all of Korea: a communist North, and a United States-controlled South led by anti-communist Syngman Rhee. In June 1950, the North Korean Peoples Army attacked, launching the Korean War. The United States-backed South and the Chinese-backed North eventually reached a stalemate. In 1953 they signed a ceasefire, splitting the peninsula along a demilitarised zone along the 38th parallel.

North Korea was ruled from 1948 by Kim Il Sung until his death in 1994. After the death of Kim Il Sung, his son Kim Jong Il was named General Secretary of the Korean Workers' Party in October 1997. In 1998, the legislature reconfirmed him as Chairman of the National Defence Commission and declared that position as the "highest office of state." International relations generally improved, and there was a historic North-South summit in June 2000. However, tensions recently increased since the United States failed to comply with the 1994 Agreed Framework and North Korea resumed its nuclear weapons programme.

Politics

Main article: Politics of North Korea

North Korea's government is dominated by the communist Korean Workers' Party (KWP), to which all government officials belong, though minor political parties exist. The exact spower tructure is somewhat unclear. North Korea is officially lead by a Prime Minister, but real power lies with Chairman of the National Defence Commission Kim Jong Il (son of Kim Il Jung) and the military.

North Korea's 1972 constitution was amended in late 1992 and again in 1998. The government is led by the prime minister and, in theory, a super cabinet called the Central People's Committee (CPC), the government's top policymaking body. CPC is headed by the president, who also nominates the other committee members. The CPC makes policy decisions and supervises the cabinet, or State Administration Council (SAC). SAC is headed by a premier and is the dominant administrative and executive agency.

Officially, the parliament, the Supreme People's Assembly (최고인민회의 ; Ch'oego Inmin Hoeui), is the highest organ of state power. Its 687 members are elected every four years by popular vote. Usually it holds only two annual meetings, each lasting a few days, but it mostly ratifies decisions made by the ruling KWP. A standing committee elected by the Assembly performs legislative functions when the Assembly is not in session.

Provinces and Cities

Main article: Administrative divisions of Korea. For historical information, see Provinces of Korea and Special cities of Korea.

As of 2003, North Korea consists of 9 Provinces (Do, singular and plural; 도 道) 3 Directly Governed [Self-Governing] Cities (Chik'alshi, singular and plural; 직할시; 直轄市), and several other regions, as listed below. (Names are romanized according to the McCune-Reischauer system as officially used in North Korea; the editor was also guided by the spellings used on the 2003 National Geographic map of Korea).

• Chagang Province (Chagang-do; 자강도; 慈江道)
• North Hamgyŏng Province (Hamgyŏng-bukto; 함경 북도; 咸鏡北道)
• South Hamgyŏng Province (Hamgyŏng-namdo; 함경 남도; 咸鏡南道)
• North Hwanghae Province (Hwanghae-bukto; 황해 북도; 黃海北道)
• South Hwanghae Province (Hwanghae-namdo; 황해 남도; 黃海南道)
• Kaesŏng Industrial Region (Kaesŏng Kong-ŏp Chigu; 개성 공업 지구; 開城工業地區)
• Kangwŏn Province (Kangwŏndo; 강원도; 江原道)
• Kŭmgang-san Tourist Region (Kŭmgang-san Kwangwang Chigu; 금강산 관광 지구; 金剛山觀光地區)
• Namp'o Chik'alshi (남포 직할시; 南浦直轄市)
• North P'yŏngan Province (P'yŏngan-bukto; 평안 북도; 平安北道)
• South P'yŏngan Province (P'yŏngan-namdo; 평안 남도; 平安南道)
• P'yŏngyang Chik'alsi (평양 직할시; 平壤直轄市)
• Rasŏn (Rajin-S&335;nbong) Chik'alsi (라선 직할시; ??直轄市)
• Shinŭiju Special Administrative Region (Shinŭiju T'ŭkbyŏl Haengjeonggu; 신의주 특별 행정구; 新?州特別行政區)
• Yanggang Province (Yanggang-do; 량강도; 兩江道)

Ch'ŏngjin City (청진시; 淸津市) used to be a self-governing city, but is now part of North Hamgyŏng Province. The source for this section is located at Chosun Ilbo's http://nk.chosun.com/map/map.html?ACT=geo_01 page (but is only in Korean).

Geography

Main article: Geography of North Korea

Korea forms a peninsula that extends 1,100 km from the Asian mainland. To the west it borders the Yellow Sea and the Korea Bay; to the east it borders the East Sea of Korea/East Sea/Sea of Japan (the name of the sea is disputed). The peninsula ends at the Korea Strait and the East China Sea to the south. The peninsula's northern part (including North Korea) has mostly hills and mountains separated by deep, narrow valleys in the north and east, and has coastal plains prominently in the west. The highest point in Korea is the Paektu-san at 2,744 m. Major rivers include the Tumen and the Yalu that form the northern border with Chinese Manchuria.

The local climate is relatively temperate, with precipitation heavier in summer during a short rainy season called jangma, and winters that can be bitterly cold on occasion. North Korea's capital and largest city is P'yongyang; other major cities include Kaesong in the south, Sinuiju in the northwest, Wonsan and Hamhung in the east and Chongjin in the north.

Economy

Main article: Economy of North Korea

Following the official ideology of juche (self-reliance), North Korea has developed independently of global capitalist economies. The resulting economic development and the government's reluctance to publicise economic data limit the amount of reliable information available. Publicly-owned industry produces nearly all manufactured goods, and the regime continues to focus on heavy and military industries at the expense of light and consumer industries.

Due to a five-decade United States embargo and the collapse of the Soviet Bloc, the economy has stagnated. Economic decline is partly due to acute energy shortages, worsened by the United States's refusal to implement the 1994 Agreed Framework which required petroleum shipments and construction of lightwater nuclear reactors under KEDO. United States containment policies have made it difficult for the government to maintain aging industrial facilities and obtain new investment. The agricultural outlook, is slightly improved over previous years, but remains weak. The combined effects of serious fertilizer shortages, successive natural disasters, and structural constraints - such as little arable land and a short growing season - have reduced staple grain output to more than 1 million tons less than what the country needs to meet even minimum international requirements.

The steady flow of international food aid has been critical in meeting the population's basic food needs. The impact of other forms of humanitarian assistance such as medical supplies and agricultural assistance has largely been limited to certain areas. Even with aid, malnutrition rates are among the world's highest and estimates of mortality range in the hundreds of thousands or even millions as a direct result of malnutrition and famine-related diseases.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of North Korea

North Korea's population is one of the most ethnically and linguistically homogenous in the world, with only very small Chinese and Japanese communities. Korean language is not a member of a wider linguistic family, though links to Japanese and Altaic languages are being considered. The Korean writing system, Hangeul, was invented in the 15th century by King Sejong the Great to replace the system of Chinese characters, known in Korea as Hanja, which are no longer officially in use in the North. North Korea continues to use the McCune-Reischauer romanisation of Korean, in contrast to the South's revised version.

Korea has a Buddhist and Confucianist heritage, with Christian and traditional Chondogyo ("Heavenly Way") communities. Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, was the center of Christian activity before the Korean War. Due to one one of the highest literacy rates in the world, autonomous religious activities are now almost nonexistent in the North.

Culture & Tourism

Main article: Culture of North Korea

An official escort/guide is compulsory when visiting the country. The government welcomes visitors and provides official tours of the country throughout the year. Citizens of the US and South Korea are allowed to visit with a valid visa. United States citizens must enter through a third country since the U.S. government refuses to sign a peace treaty and normalize relations with the D.P.R.K. In recent years, numerous independent tours have been established to such scenic locations as Mt. Kumgang and Pyongyang.

• List of Koreans
• Korean cuisine
• Music of Korea

Holidays

Date	English Name	Local Name	Remarks
January 1	New Year's Day
February 16	Kim Jong Il's Birthday
April 15	Kim Il-Sung's Birthday
May 1	Day of Work
August 15	Independence Day
September 9	Founding of the DPRK
October 10	Founding of the KWP
December 27	Proclamation of the socialistic constitution

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in North Korea
• Transportation in North Korea
• Military of North Korea
• Foreign relations of North Korea
• Cities of North Korea
• Kimjongilia (national flower)
• List of Korea-related topics

External Links

• SinoKorea - Korea Fan Workroom(China)
• Korean Friendship Association
• Korean Central News Agency - Official DPRK news site
• North Korea Resources - Links and backgrounds on North Korea
• Another Korea - Background stories on North Korea

Further reading

• Bruce Cumings, Korea's Place in the Sun: A Modern History, W.W. Norton & Company, 1998, paperback, 527 pages, ISBN 0393316815.
• Bruce Cumings, Origins of the Korean War: Liberation and the Emergence of Separate Regimes, Princeton University Press, 1981, paperback, ASIN 0691101132.
• John Feffer, North Korea South Korea: U.S. Policy at a Time of Crisis, Seven Stories Press, 2003, paperback, 197 pages, ISBN 1583226036.
• Mitchell B. Lerner, The Pueblo Incident: A Spy Ship and the Failure of American Foreign Policy, University Press of Kansas, 2002, hardcover, 408 pages, ISBN 0700611711.
• Norbert Vollertsen, Inside North Korea: Diary of a Mad Place, Encounter Books, 2003, hardcover, 280 pages, ISBN 1893554872.

---

Countries of the world  |  Asia

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North Korea."

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North Pole

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The North Pole, the northernmost point on the Earth, can be defined in four different ways. Only the first two definitions are commonly used. However it is defined, the North Pole lies in the Arctic Ocean.

1. The Geographic North Pole, also known as True North, is the northernmost point on the Earth as determined by the planet's rotation. It has a known fixed position, at latitude 90° North. The boundaries of Canada extend all the way to the Geographic North Pole. There is no land at this location, which is usually covered by sea ice.
2. The Magnetic North Pole is the northern point at which the geomagnetic field points vertically, i.e. the dip is 90°. This definition was proposed by Sir William Gilbert, a courtier of Queen Elizabeth I, in 1600 and is still used. Despite its name, it is a south magnetic pole, because the north pole (labelled N) of every other magnet is attracted to it, and opposite magnetic poles attract each other. Its location (in 2003) is 78°18' North, 104° West, near Ellef Ringness Island, one of the Queen Elizabeth Islands, in Canada.
3. The Geomagnetic North Pole is the pole of the Earth's geomagnetic field closest to true north. Like Magnetic North, it is a south magnetic pole. It is the centre of the region in the magnetosphere in which the Aurora Borealis can be seen. Its present location is 78°30' North, 69° West, near Thule in Greenland.
4. The Northern Pole of Inaccessibility is defined as the point in the Arctic farthest from any coastline, and is at 84°03' North, 174°51' West. It is of interest mainly to explorers and crackpot conspiracy theorists, and was first visited in 1927.

Astronomers define the north "geographic" pole of a planet in the solar system by the planetary pole that is in the same ecliptic hemisphere as the Earth's north pole. For the magnetic poles, their names are decided upon by the direction that their field lines emerge or enter the planet's crust. If they enter the same way as they do for Earth at the north pole, we call this the planet's north magnetic pole. Magnetic poles can flip flop from north to south and back again. The Earth's poles have done this repeatedly throughout history, and 500,000 years ago, the south magnetic pole was at the North Pole. It is thought that this occurs when the circulation of liquid nickel/iron in the Earth's outer core is disrupted and then reestablishes itself in the opposite direction. It is not known what causes these disruptions.

Saturn's moon Hyperion is the only object in the solar system that is known to lack a geographic north pole. It rotates chaotically due to a combination of its irregular shape and tidal influences from nearby moons.

The axial tilt of the planet Uranus is very nearly 90 degrees relative to the ecliptic plane, so that labelling one pole or the other to be the "north" pole is still a matter of some dispute. When a body's axial tilt is greater than 90 degrees, either one of two interpretations can be considered equally valid; the axis could be tilted greater than 90 degrees, or the labelling of the poles could be reversed (north becomes south) and the body considered to be rotating in a retrograde direction.

The projection of the north geographic pole onto the celestial sphere gives the north celestial pole.

See also South Pole

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North Pole."

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North P'yongan

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

North P'yongan is a region of North Korea.

Its administrative divisions are:

• Kusŏng-shi (구성시; 龜城市)
• Sinŭichu-shi (신의주시; 新義州市)
• Ch'angsŏng-gun (창성군; 昌城郡)
• Ch'ŏlsan-gun (철산군; 鐵山郡)
• Chŏngchu-gun (정주군; 定州郡)
• Chŏnma-gun (천마군; 天摩郡)
• Hyangsan-gun (향산군; 香山郡)
• Kuchang-gun (구장군; 球場郡)
• Kwaksan-gun (곽산군; 郭山郡)
• Pakch'ŏn-gun (박천군; 博川郡)
• P'ihyŏn-gun (피현군; 枇峴郡)
• Pyŏktong-gun (벽동군; 碧潼郡)
• Sakchu-gun (삭주군; 朔州郡)
• Sŏnch'ŏn-gun (선천군; 宣川郡)
• T'aech'ŏn-gun (태천군; 泰川郡)
• Taekwan-gun (대관군; 大館郡)
• Tongch'ŏng-gun (동창군; 東倉郡)
• Tongrim-gun (동림군; 東林郡)
• Ŭichu-gun (의주군; 義州郡)
• Unchŏn-gun (운전군; 雲田郡)
• Unsan-gun (운산군; 雲山郡)
• Yŏmchu-gun (염주군; 鹽州郡)
• Yongch'ŏn-gun (용천군; 龍川郡)
• Yŏngpyŏn-gun (영변군; 寧邊郡)

  Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North P'yongan."

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North Sea

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The North Sea is the part of the Atlantic Ocean situated between the west coast of Norway and the east coast of Britain. There is a substantial amount of oil and natural gas under the seabed: see North Sea oil. A bay of the North Sea is Kattegat, between Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, which connects to the Baltic Sea through Öresund, Great Belt and Small Belt. In the south, the North Sea connects with the rest of the Atlantic through the English Channel and in the north through the Norwegian Sea.

Countries that border on the North Sea are the United Kingdom, Norway, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

Major waterways that drain into the North Sea include the Kattegat (which drains the Baltic Sea), the Elbe (at Cuxhaven), the Weser (at Bremerhaven), the Ems at Emden, the Rhine and Meuse (at Rotterdam), the Scheldt (at Flushing), the Thames, and the Humber (at Hull).

In classical times this body of water was referred to as the Oceanum- or Mare Germanicum, meaning German Ocean or Sea. This name was commonly used in English and other languages until the early eighteenth century, but by the late-nineteenth century it was a rare, scholarly usage even in Germany. Its modern name is thought to have originated from a Frisian point of view which lies directly to the south of the North Sea (also see Zuiderzee).

See also

• List of islands
• List of islands of Denmark
• List of islands of Germany
• List of islands of the Netherlands
• List of islands of Norway
• List of islands of the United Kingdom

External links

• Hallo Nordseefreunde, http://www.nordsee.org/
• Nordsømuseet i Hirtshals (The North Sea Museum in Hirtshals, Denmark), http://www.nordsoemuseet.dk/
• Etymology and History of names, http://www.eastsea.org/article3/report3.htm

  Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North Sea."

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North Vietnam

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The Democratic Republic of Vietnam (Vietnamese Việt Nam Dân Chủ Cộng Hòa), also known as North Vietnam was created by the partition of Vietnam in 1954 after the defeat of France at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. The Viet Minh took control of North Vietnam on October 11, 1954.

North Vietnam's capital was Hanoi and it was ruled by a Communist government allied with the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China and fought against the United States and South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The People's Republic of China helped to support the government during the war; for example, on August 7, 1967 the PRC agreed to give North Vietnam and undisclosed amount of aid in the form of a grant.

With the fall of Saigon (now officially Ho Chi Minh City, but still called Saigon by its inhabitants) to North Vietnamese forces in 1975, political authority within South Vietnam was taken by the Communist backed Republic of South Vietnam. This government merged with North Vietnam on July 2, 1976, to form a single nation called the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, commonly known simply as Vietnam.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North Vietnam."

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North, South Carolina

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

North is a town located in Orangeburg County, South Carolina. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 813.

Geography

North is located at 33°36'58" North, 81°6'13" West (33.615983, -81.103588)¹. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.2 km² (0.9 mi²). 2.2 km² (0.9 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there are 813 people, 356 households, and 223 families residing in the town. The population density is 369.3/km² (953.7/mi²). There are 412 housing units at an average density of 187.1/km² (483.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 52.64% White, 46.37% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 0.62% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. There are 356 households out of which 25.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.5% are married couples living together, 19.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% are non-families. 34.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 18.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.28 and the average family size is 2.94. In the town the population is spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 80.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 74.7 males. The median income for a household in the town is $21,136, and the median income for a family is $30,750. Males have a median income of $24,286 versus $21,406 for females. The per capita income for the town is $14,237. 30.5% of the population and 27.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 39.3% are under the age of 18 and 24.2% are 65 or older.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "North, South Carolina."

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Northern Europe

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

'Northern Europe'\ includes Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden.

Subdivisions within the group includes:

• Scandinavia which includes Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
• Nordic countries, which includes Scandinavia with Finland and Iceland.
• Baltic States, which includes Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

A related term, the Baltic sea countries also includes Germany, Poland and Russia.

Due to their recent history, the Baltic States often are considered to be part of Eastern Europe although they belong geographically and culturally to Northern Europe. A compromise terminology for the Baltic states is "Northeastern Europe".

In a European Union context Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Germany and the Netherlands are often seen as belonging to the northern group.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Northern Europe."

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Northern Ontario

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

That part of the Canadian North-West Territories which was transferred to the province of Ontario in 1882 and 1912 – roughly speaking, all of Ontario northward from the French River, including Algoma (chief cities Sault Ste Marie, Elliot Lake), the District of Sudbury (chief cities Sudbury, Espanola) and Nipissing (chief city North Bay). Northern Ontario covers 1 million square kilometres and constitutes 90% of the surface area of Ontario, although it contains only 10% of the population.

Most of Northern Ontario is situated on the Canadian Shield, a vast rocky plateau. The climate is characterized by extremes of temperature, extremely cold in winter and hot in summer. The principal industries are mining, forestry, and hydroelectricity.

The chief cities are Kenora, Thunder Bay, Hearst, Cochrane, Timmins, Kirkland Lake, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, Elliot Lake and North Bay. There are universities in Thunder Bay (Lakehead University), North Bay (Nipissing University) and Sudbury (Laurentian University).

The mining boom of the early twentieth century attracted many francophones to Northern Ontario, and French is still widely spoken there. While the Canadian constitution never required the Province of Ontario to recognize French as an official language, the government provides full services in the French language to any citizen, resident, or vistor wishing it including communications, schools, hospitals, social services, and in the courts. As well, the Government of Canada provides French and English equally in all matters. See Franco-Ontarian for further information.

For some purposes, Northern Ontario is further subdivided into Northeastern and Northwestern Ontario. When the region is divided in this way, the dividing line roughly follows the 85th meridian from the eastern shore of Lake Superior to Hudson Bay. "Northeastern Ontario" contains most of Northern Ontario's population.

Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Northern Ontario."

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The North

(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)

The term the North is often used to refer to the wealthy and technologically advanced nations of the world, as opposed to the South, which is poorer and less developed. In some cases the compass direction north is not accurate; Australia is in this sense a Northern country, even though it is south of the equator. The phrase rich north, poor south is sometimes used.

In the study of politics and international relations, the term the North is often used as a more theoretically coherent replacement for the earlier notion of the West.

The term the North can also be used to indicate the northern part of a particular country or geographical region. Within that region, if places with a common characteristic are mostly found in the north, then the North becomes a synonym for that characteristic.

• Italy is one of several countries with a north-south divide where the wealthier regions are in the north. The North is the richer industrial and commercial heartland of the country, whilst the South is mainly agricultural. Lega Nord (the Northern League) campaign for the secession of northern Italy from the rest of the country.

• In England, by contrast, the North is relatively poor. It is the home of many of the traditional heavy industries that have much run-down in recent years.

• In the United States of America the North is used to refer to those states which did not secede at the time of the American Civil War. It also indicates a wealthier half of the country, mainly because the manufacturing facilities more popular in the North benefited greatly from the Industrial Revolution, as opposed to the mostly agricultural South.

• In Canada the North refers to the arctic region, as opposed to the southern areas close to the border with the United States. The North is usually understood as the Yukon, Northwest Territories, northern parts of British Columbia, and Nunavut, which is populated mostly by First Nations and Inuit. It can also refer to the northern parts of some of the provinces.

  Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "The North."

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Abbreviations & Acronyms: North

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Image Slideshow: North

Photos: North More pictures...

Illustrations: North More pictures...

Computer Images: North More pictures...

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Photo Album: North

Thumbnail	Description & Credit	Thumbnail	Description & Credit
	Shown is EPN (Executive Plaza North), one of NIH's satellite office buildings located in Rockville, Maryland. Credit: Bill Branson (photographer).		Shown are EPN and EPS, (Executive Plaza North and Executive Plaza South), two of NIH's satellite office buildings located in Rockville, Maryland. Credit: Bill Branson (photographer).
	John Taylor, pilot for the Emergency Mosquito Control offices in North Carolina, stands beside a PHS plane. Credit: CDC.		North American YF-86D. Credit: NASA.
	North American F-100. Credit: NASA.		North American X-15 Model. Credit: NASA.
	In this Hubble telescope picture, a curtain of glowing gas is wrapped around Jupiter's north ... Credit: NASA.		Four-frame mosaic of Europa's northern hemisphere (including the north pole). Credit: NASA.
	View of North America from Apollo 16. Credit: NASA.		North Central Thailand. Credit: NASA.
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

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Digital Photo Gallery: North
 

"North Curl Curl Beach" by Jon Sepúlveda Commentary: "One of Sydney's best kept secrets."	"North sea" by Isaac Esteban Commentary: "Holidays in the north."
Source: photographs selected by the editor, with permission from the photographers.

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Familiar Quotations: North

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Usage Frequency: North

Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.

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Name Usage Frequency: North

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Derived & Related Names: North

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Usage in Company Names: North

Source: compiled by the editor from Icon Group International, Inc.

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Cities: North

INDEX

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