Thailand

• Capital: Bangkok
• Major Geographical Features
  • Andaman Sea
  • Strait of Malacca
  • South China Sea
  • Gulf of Thailand
  • Chao River
  • Mekong River
  • Indochina Peninsula
  • Khoret Plateau
  • Chao Phraya Lowlands
  • Isthmus of Kra
• Official Name: Kingdom of Thailand
  • Formerly: Siam
• Religion: Buddhist (94.6%)
• Languages:
  • Thai
  • English
• 1767-1782: Capital at Thonburi
• 1932: Bloodless revolution results in constitutional monarchy
• 1939: Changed name to Thailand
• 1940's: Japanese ally in World War Two due to Asia for the Asians
• 2006: Military coup declares martial law and writes a new constitution
• 2014: Another military coup declares martial law
• Independence: 1238, Siam united
• Government: Constitutional monarchy
• Currency: bant (THB)
• Thailand is slightly larger than 2 Wyomings
• Literacy: 92%
• Climate: Tropical
• Only Southeast Asian nation to not be colonized
• Largest rice exporter
• World's smallest mammal (the bumblebee bat) lives in Thailand
• 8th largest US importer

Edible Flags

I bet you have never seen a nation's flag made out of food. Well, now you can. In preparation of the Sydney International Food Festival of 2009, people created flags of the participating nations out of common food from that nation. For example, Italy's flag was created using basil, spaghetti, and tomatoes.

Enjoy!

United Arab Emirates

• Formerly
  • The Trucial State
  • Trucial Oman
• Capital: Abu Dhabi
• Major City: Dubai
• Major Geographical Features
  • Persian Gulf
  • Strait of Hormuz
  • Gulf of Oman
  • Rub Al Khali (Empty Quarter)
• Religion: Muslim
• Languages:
  • Arabic (official)
  • Persian
  • English
  • Hindi
  • Urdu
• 19th century: British grant the United Arab Emirates foreign affairs and defense autonomy
• 1958: Oil is discovered
• Independence: 1971-72: The 7 emirates unite to make one country; from the United Kingdom
• Government: federation
• Currency: Emirati dirham
• Maine is slightly larger than the United Arab Emirates
• Literacy: 78%
• Climate: desert
• The Strait of Hormuz sees the transport of most of the world's crude oil
• Plays a vital role in Middle Eastern political affairs
• Burj Dubai in Dubai is the tallest building in the world
• 3/4 of the United Arab Emirates' work force is foreign

Ohio: The Buckeye State

• Capital: Columbus
• Major Cities:
  • Cleveland
  • Cincinnati
  • Akron
  • Toledo
  • Youngstown
  • Dayton
• Major Geographical Features
  • Great Lakes Plains
  • Allegheny Plateau
  • Lake Erie
  • Ohio River
  • Scioto River
• National Parks: Cuyahoga Valley National Park
• 1787: Became part of Northwest Territories
• 1803: Ohio became the 17th state (first west of the Alleghenies)
• 1869: Chewing Gum was invented in Ohio
• 1903: Wright Brothers develop a practical aircraft in Dayton
• Motto: "With God All Things are Possible"
• Name Meaning: "Great River" in Iroquois
• Cleveland is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
• Canton is home to the National Football Hall of Fame
• Natural Resources: Water, Land (produces soy beans, corn)
• Known for making rubber
• Famous People
  • Neil Armstrong
  • Wright Brothers
  • Doris Day
  • Judith A. Resnik
  • Annie Oakley
  • James Garfield
  • Ulysses S. Grant
  • Warren G. Harding
  • Rutherford B. Hayes
  • William McKinley
  • William Henry Harrison

Largest (and Smallest) States in the United States

Largest States:

1. Alaska
2. Texas
3. California
4. Montana
5. New Mexico
6. Arizona
7. Nevada
8. Colorado
9. Wyoming
10. Oregon...

 ...The largest state east of the Mississippi River is Georgia, ranked at 21

Smallest States:

1. Rhode Island
2. Delaware
3. Connecticut
4. Hawaii
5. New Jersey
6. Massachusetts
7. New Hampshire
8. Vermont
9. Maryland
10. West Virginia...

...The smallest contiguous state west of the Mississippi River is Louisiana, the 18th smallest state

Finland

• Capital: Helsinki
• Major Cities
  • Turku
  • Tampere
• Major Geographical Features
  • Baltic Sea
  • Gulf of Bothnia
  • Gulf of Finland
  • Aland Islands
• Official Name: Republic of Finland
• Religion: Evangelical Lutheran (82.5%)
• Language: Finnish (95%)
• World War Two: Successfully defended itself from Germany and Soviet Union
• 1995: Joins the European Union
• Independence: 1917 from Russia (following the Russian Revolution of 1917)
• Government: republic
• Currency: Euro (EUR)
  • Only Nordic nation using the Euro
• Montana is slightly larger than Finland
• Literacy: 100%
• Climate: Subarctic
• Helsinki is the northernmost capital in Europe
  • It is also only 40 miles from Tallinn, Estonia
• Exports
  • Telecommunications
  • Paper
  • Machines