Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 August 21

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Today's featured article
The Red-necked Grebe is a migratory aquatic bird that is found in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Its wintering habitat is largely restricted to calm waters just beyond the waves around ocean coasts, although some birds may winter on large lakes. Grebes prefer shallow bodies of fresh water such as lakes, marshes or fish-ponds as breeding sites. A nondescript dusky-grey bird in winter, it acquires the distinctive red neck, black cap and contrasting pale grey face from which its name is derived during the breeding season. It also has an elaborate courtship display and a variety of loud mating calls. Once paired, it builds a nest from water plants on top of floating vegetation in a shallow lake or bog. (more...) Recently featured: Metacomet Ridge – 766th Independent Infantry Regiment – "200" Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that Dorival Caymmi (pictured), one of the fathers of bossa nova, loved to skinny dip? ... that during the 1946 Shibuya incident over a thousand Yakuza fought hundreds of Formosan gang members for control of the local black markets in Tokyo? ... that after debunking Abner Doubleday as the inventor of baseball, Frank Menke was placed in "the class that would belittle Washington, Lincoln and other men who have played their part in American history"? ... that "O Tú o Ninguna" performed by Mexican singer Luis Miguel received a nomination for Song of the Year at the 1st Latin Grammy Awards? ... that the extinct fern species Osmunda wehrii was named in honor of Northwest school painter and amateur paleobotanist Wesley C. Wehr? ... that a fossilized dragon has been found in Poland? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Hamas and Israel end a de facto truce after Israel responds to attacks in southern Israel with air strikes on the Gaza Strip. Indian social activist Anna Hazare agrees to leave his jail cell after Delhi police allow a 15-day hunger strike against corruption. Astronomers announce that TrES-2b has the lowest known albedo of any planet, reflecting less than 1% of the starlight falling upon it. Google (headquarters pictured) announces an agreement to acquire Motorola Mobility for US$12.5 billion. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
August 21: Ninoy Aquino Day in the Philippines 1680 – Several pueblos of Pueblo Indians captured the town of Santa Fe in Nuevo México. 1911 – Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa (pictured) was stolen from the Louvre by a museum employee and was not recovered until two years later. 1944 – World War II: A combined Canadian–Polish force captured the strategically important town of Falaise, France, in the final offensive of the Battle of Normandy. 2007 – Hurricane Dean made landfall on the Yucatán Peninsula as a Category 5 storm, causing 45 deaths and US$1.5 billion in damage. More anniversaries: August 20 – August 21 – August 22 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now August 21, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

This true-color satellite view of the Hawaiian Islands shows that most of the vegetation on the islands grows on the northeast sides which face the trade winds. The silver glow around the calmer southwest sides is the result of the shelter provided from the islands. Hawaii's mountains, the ocean current, and water temperature combine to create a "wind wake" that extends for 1,860 miles (2,990 km) to the southwest—ten times longer than any other.

Photo: Jacques Descloitres, MODIS team at NASA

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