Countries

In 1755, one of the most tragic earthquakes in human history occurred in Lisbon.

The rapid development of rum production in Cuba took place after 1800, when copper alembics - vessels used for distillation - were imported from Europe and when it was discovered that aged rum improves its taste and aroma.

Although Switzerland is a neutral country, almost every Swiss home has weapons.

George Bernard Shaw, the Irish playwright and novelist, won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1925.

Peru has over 1800 species of birds (including 120 endemics), 500 species of mammals (about 70 endemics), and over 300 species of reptiles.

In 1102, Croatia was annexed by Hungary.

Albania has one of the longest wine-growing histories in Europe.

The Tatra Mountains are the highest mountains in Poland.

A mountaineer from New Zealand, Sir Edmund Hillary, was the first man to reach the summit of Mount Everest on May 29th, 1953.

The Chinese were the first to invent the water mill.