According to Yahoo News:
South African palaeontologist Adam Yates announces the discovery of a new species of dinosaur during a news conference in Johannesburg November 11 ,2009. Yates, a palaeontologist at Johannesburg’s Wits University, said the seven-metre-long Aardonyx Celestae occupied a “very significant position in the family tree of dinosaurs”.
New Zealand is known worldwide for its beautiful, lush landscape. Having stood in for the imaginary lands of J.R.R. Tolkien, the areas in and around Nelson, New Zealand are awe-inspiring. The area lies near the center of the country, and is a great attraction for movie fans and nature-lovers alike. From Cape Reinga, visitors can see where the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean meet. This cape is significant to the native Maori people, and is also home to an iconic and popular lighthouse. And the Huka Falls allow you to view firsthand the enormous power of water. In this video, WatchMojo.com looks at New Zealand’s striking scenery.
Located in New England, Salem is a city in the American state of Massachusetts. The city is now famous as the site of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Because of this, throughout the years Salem has served as a backdrop in literature and popular culture relating to witches. Notable examples which used Salem as a setting include the TV show ‘Bewitched,’ and Arthur Miller’s play ‘The Crucible.’ Today, Salem continues to propagate this witchy reputation with Halloween celebrations and museums. In this video, WatchMojo.com takes a look at some activities and sites you should take in when traveling to Salem.
Today is the first day of snow for us here at WatchMojo’s main office. Just watching this video helped me warm up!
I need to start buying this brand of pantyhose! Mine never go through anything like this and still always seem to rip…
Its label as one of the United States’ most unique cities is in part due to its history of multiculturalism that permeates every aspect of life there. New Orleans is found on the banks of the Mississippi River, and there is a large portion of the city which is found below sea level. The city’s unique location was a liability when Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005. The Big Easy was ravaged by the storm, but has since rebuilt and is again a popular destination for tourists. In this video, WatchMojo.com learns more about the birthplace of jazz: New Orleans.
When Scottish Highlanders get bored on the job they get creative.
Continue to learn more about the history of the Harry Potter franchise here.
According to Reuters.com
Creators of the highly anticipated Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando revealed some details of three major Potter-themed attractions on Tuesday, including a “Forbidden Journey” ride set in the iconic Hogwart’s Castle.
“(It is) brand new, extremely exciting, never been done, never been seen before. I can’t say big enough words. It’s going to be absolutely mind-blowing,” said Alan Gilmore, the project’s supervising art director and art director on two Harry Potter films.
Paul Daurio, show producer for the Wizarding World, said the attraction “couldn’t be further from a roller coaster.”
The 20-acre “park within a park” is due to open next spring. In a Webcast, descriptions of the attractions were generalized, and questions submitted via the Internet about ticket price and the effect on park attendance were ignored.
The Webcast included a short animated video but no actual photography of the park.
Mark Woodbury, head of Universal Creative, said Wizarding World scenery, attractions and souvenirs were faithful to British author J.K. Rowlings’ seven-book Harry Potter series.
Woodbury said visitors would be able to sample butter beer and pumpkin juice at the Three Broomsticks Restaurant, relax in the Owlery and be fitted for a magical wand in Ollivander’s Wand Shop, all of which are familiar to Potter fans.
Major attractions include the Dragon Challenge, a high-speed ride described as “definitely for the brave.” It is based on the Triwizard Tournament, a fictional 13th century contest between students of the three most prestigious magical schools of Europe.
Another is Flight of the Hippogriff, a coaster based on Rowlings’ magical creature with the head, wings and front legs of a giant eagle and body, hind legs and tail of a horse.
Actor Tom Felton, cast as Draco Malfoy in the film versions of the Harry Potter novels, participated in the Webcast and said of the park: “It’s going to blow some serious minds.”
Woodbury said the Wizarding World had been under development for five years. Park details have been tightly held since the project was announced in 2007.
Universal Orlando is co-owned by the Blackstone Group private equity firm and NBC Universal, a unit of General Electric Co.
Universal’s Webcast capped two-and-a-half weeks of headline announcements by Orlando’s two biggest theme parks.
On August 31, the Walt Disney Co agreed to buy Marvel Entertainment Inc for $4 billion in the biggest media deal of the year. And on September 12, Disney announced a major expansion of Fantasyland at Orlando’s Disney World to break ground in 2010 and open in two stages in 2012 and 2013.
Entertainment and travel industry analyst Harold Vogel of Vogel Capital Management said both Universal’s and Disney’s theme parks are in need of refreshment, and the announced projects will help maintain interest.
“It (Harry Potter) is the kind of story that can keep them (Universal) going for at least five to 10 years in terms of worldwide interest,” said Vogel who also teaches at Columbia Business School.
He said Disney’s Orlando parks are likely to see a dip in attendance during the one or two quarters after the opening of Wizarding World, which he said likely figured in the timing of Disney’s Fantasyland expansion plans.
Vogel said he doubts the opening of Wizarding World will significantly change the tourism outlook next year for the Orlando area, which has seen the number of visitors plummet during the recession, since large numbers of people likely will remain unemployed.
“I am not a long-term optimist about this (theme park) sort of business. I think it is capital intensive and it will not face the same type of environment that is has for the last 40 or 50 years. This is a different world that we’re in,” Vogel said.
California’s beaches are one of the most popular natural tourist draws. Each beach features a different natural landscape, from lagoons and bays, to rocky stretches. The variety and easy access to many surf spots, as well as the easy to ride, quality waves, keep people coming back. California also provides visitors and residents with a plethora of snow sports for the colder months. There are five regions for skiing and snow sports in this state, and many of them are close to major cities. In this video, WatchMojo.com learns that sand, sun and snow are just a few of the reasons to visit the Golden State.
Natural beauty and striking attractions are some of Calgary’s most stunning assets. The Calgary Tower is a popular tourist destination in the city, even for residents. Homeplace Ranch recreates western-style living. Visitors can experience the customs, way of life and natural splendor that are representative of this area’s unique lifestyle. The Bow River runs through some of Canada’s most beautiful landscapes. The Bow River flows past the Rocky Mountains, the emerald waters of Lake Louise, fields of grain, valleys and fields of wheat and barley, this river flows for almost 400 miles. In this video, WatchMojo.com learns more about some of Calgary’s most popular attractions.
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