Britannica Student Encyclopedia - 2010

the person operating the balloon. Bags

of sand are hung around the basket for

ballast, or extra weight, so that the balloon

does not rise too fast.

The balloon rises gently after the cables

holding it on the ground are unhooked.

The movement of the balloon is largely

controlled by the wind. The main control

the balloonist has is to move the

balloon up and down. As ballast is

thrown overboard, the balloon rises. As

gas is released through the valve, the

balloon drops.

History

Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Etienne

Montgolfier were two brothers who

lived in France. They made the first

successful experiments with hot-air

balloon flights in 1783. The first

balloon passengers were a sheep, a

rooster, and a duck, but soon afterward

two men sailed for 5.5 miles (9

kilometers) over Paris.

Soon others began experimenting with

balloons. Some people focused on the

sport of trying to make longer and

longer flights. Others saw balloons as

useful tools, especially during wartime.

During the American CivilWar and

WorldWar I, armies used balloons to

spy on their enemies. Today scientists

send tools up in balloons to gather

information about the weather and the

upper atmosphere.

Free balloons are still used for sport and

adventure. In 1999 Bertrand Piccard

and Brian Jones became the first balloonists

to complete a nonstop voyage

around the world. Three years later U.S.

adventurer Steve Fossett became the first

person to complete the trip alone. In

Albuquerque, New Mexico, and other

locations there are annual hot-air balloon

festivals featuring hundreds of colorful

balloons.

Colorful hot-air balloons soar

above Albuquerque, New

Mexico.

16 Balloon BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Baltic Sea

An arm of the Atlantic Ocean, the Baltic

is a shallow sea in northern Europe. For

a sea, the Baltic does not have very salty

water. Several rivers, including the Oder

and the Vistula, drain into the sea. The

huge flow of fresh river water keeps the

Baltic from getting too salty.

The Baltic Sea lies between the Scandinavian

peninsula and the rest of Europe.

It covers an area of about 149,000

square miles (386,000 square kilometers).

The countries that border the Baltic

are Sweden, Denmark, Russia,

Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Germany,

and Poland. The coasts of Sweden

and Finland are generally rocky, but the

coasts on the southern Baltic are flat.

The Baltic coastline of Germany has a

lot of bays and shallow inlets called

fjords. Canals link the Baltic to the

North Sea and the Arctic Ocean.

The countries around the Baltic use the

sea for trade. The chief ports are Copenhagen,

Denmark; Stockholm, Sweden;

Helsinki, Finland; Saint Petersburg,

Russia; and Gdansk, Poland.

The Vikings were the first to trade on

the Baltic, in the AD 700s. During the

Middle Ages, German merchants of a

group called the Hanseatic League controlled

trade on the sea. As the countries

around the sea prospered, the area

became more developed. By the middle

of the 1900s pollution from industries

and farms was a concern. In the 1990s

the Baltic countries agreed to clean up

the environment in and around the sea.

..More to explore

Atlantic Ocean

Bamako

Population

(2007

estimate), urban

area,

1,494,000

Bamako is the capital of theWest African

country of Mali. The city is also

A small town in Sweden is set in the rocky

coast of the Baltic Sea.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bamako 17

Mali’s center for industry and trade.

Bamako spans both sides of the Niger

River. Large boats can travel on the river

for part of the year, when the water level

is high. The river is used to ship products

and for fishing.

At first Bamako was a settlement of only

a few hundred people. In 1880 the

French took it over. Bamako became the

capital of a colony called French Sudan

in 1908. When the area became the

country of Mali in 1960, Bamako

became its capital.

#More to explore

Mali

Bamboo

Bamboo is a name used for many types

of tall, treelike grasses. There are hundreds

of different species, or types, of

bamboo in the world. They grow in

mild to warm and humid areas. Most

are in Asia and on islands of the Indian

and Pacific oceans. A few types grow

naturally in the southern United States.

The stems of bamboo are called culms.

They vary greatly in size. The smallest

types are 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters)

tall. In the largest species the

culms can be more than 130 feet (40

meters) tall. Culms are hollow and grow

in clusters from an underground stem

called a rhizome. Some grow as much as

1 foot (0.3 meter) per day.

Bamboo is used for a variety of purposes,

especially in Asia. In some countries,

the seeds are eaten as grain, or the

young shoots are cooked and eaten as

vegetables. Cattle eat the leaves. Some

types of bamboo are crushed to make

paper. The stems of other types are tied

together and used as rafts. They are also

used to form scaffolding, or a framework

on building construction sites. Bamboo

stems are also used to make buckets,

pipes, furniture, walking sticks, fishing

poles, garden stakes, chopsticks, and

other utensils.

Banana

Bananas are one of the most important

and popular foods in the world. They

are a flavorful fruit that is full of vitamins.

They can be found in stores

throughout the year.

Where Bananas Grow

Scientists believe that bananas first grew

in the tropics in Asia. Over the years

they spread to other humid tropical

places. Today people grow bananas in

Many types of bamboo look like trees, but

they are actually tall grasses.

18 Bamboo BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Africa, Asia, Central America, and South

America.

Physical Features and Growth

Bananas grow on a banana plant.

Although it is often called a tree, the

banana plant is really a large herb. That

means it does not have a woody trunk

like a tree. Instead the banana plant has

a stalk that looks like a tree trunk. The

stalk grows from an underground stem.

The banana plant can be more than 20

feet (6 meters) tall. Large leaves grow

near the top. These leaves are 9 to 12

feet (3 to 3.5 meters) long. Each plant

produces 50 to 150 bananas. The

bananas grow in clusters of 10 to 20.

The bananas are usually chopped down

while green and unripe.

A banana plant only produces one

bunch of fruit. After the bananas have

been picked, the plant is cut down. In

six months new shoots grow from the

underground stem.

There are hundreds of types of banana.

One of the most popular is the common

banana. Its fruit is yellow and sweet

when ripe.

Uses

Bananas contain the mineral called

potassium. They are also a good source

of vitamins A and C. Bananas are usually

eaten fresh. However, they can be

used in pies, muffins, cakes, or breads.

The plantain is a close relative of the

common banana. It is always cooked

before being eaten.

..More to explore

Fruit • Herb

Bandar Seri

Begawan

Population

(2001 census),

city, 27,285;

(2004

estimate), urban

area, 81,500

Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital of

Brunei, a country in Southeast Asia. It is

also Brunei’s largest city. The city has a

port on the Brunei River. Ships can

travel from the port to the South China

Sea. Bandar Seri Begawan is a center for

the trade of farm products. It also has

Bananas grow in clusters on a

banana plant.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bandar Seri Begawan 19

factories for processing Brunei’s rich

reserves of oil and natural gas.

A water village probably existed in the

region as early as the 600s. The modern

city became the capital of Brunei in

1920. Bombing duringWorldWar II

(1939–45) destroyed most of the city.

But after the war the city was rebuilt.

..More to explore

Brunei

Bangkok

Population

(2007 estimate)

6,704,000

Bangkok is the capital of Thailand, a

country of Southeast Asia. It is Thailand’s

largest city by far. Bangkok is a

center for government, education, culture,

and business. It is also Thailand’s

main port. The city lies on both banks

of the Chao Phraya River.

More than 300 groups of Buddhist

temple buildings, called wats, are found

throughout Bangkok. They are centers

of the city’s religious and cultural life.

Factories in Bangkok process foods and

make cloth, building materials, and electronics.

Rice, tapioca, rubber, sugarcane,

and other products are shipped from the

city’s port. Tourism is also important to

the economy.

In 1782 Bangkok became the capital of

the kingdom of Siam, which is now

Thailand. Railways, electricity, and

other improvements made the city more

modern in the 1800s and early 1900s.

Bangkok began to grow rapidly in the

second half of the 1900s.

..More to explore

Thailand

A mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan is set in

an artificial lake.

Merchants sell fruits, vegetables, and other

items from boats at a floating market in

Bangkok.

20 Bangkok BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Bangladesh

Bangladesh is a country in south-central

Asia. It is one of the most crowded

countries in the world. Although 92

countries are larger than Bangladesh,

only seven have more people. Dhaka is

the capital.

Geography

Bangladesh is surrounded by India and

Myanmar. The Bay of Bengal lies to the

south. The country’s many rivers

include the Ganges (known as the

Padma in Bangladesh), the Brahmaputra

(known as the Jamuna in Bangladesh),

the Tista, the Meghna, the Surma, the

Karnaphuli, the Sangu, and the Matamuhari.

Bangladesh has a tropical monsoon

climate. This means that it has heavy

rains and high temperatures during the

summer. Damaging floods occur every

two or three summers. In 1991 a

cyclone killed more than 100,000

people. The winters, however, are dry

and cool.

Plants and Animals

Forests cover about one sixth of Bangladesh.

Plant life includes groves of

mango, jackfruit, bamboo, betel nut,

coconut, and date palm trees. The country’s

animals include elephants, royal

Bengal tigers, langur monkeys, leopards,

and black bears. About 750 types of bird

nest in Bangladesh, and snakes are also

common.

People

Almost 98 percent of the people are

Bengalis. They speak Bengali, the state

language.West Bengal, a neighboring

state of India, shares the Bengali culture.

Islam is the main religion in Bangladesh.

Followers of Islam, called Muslims,

make up about 86 percent of the population.

About 12 percent of the people

are Hindus. The rest are mostly Buddhists

and Christians.

Economy

Bangladesh is a poor country. Most of

the people live in rural areas and make

their living by farming. The main crops

are rice, sugarcane, potatoes, wheat, jute,

bananas, sweet potatoes, oilseeds, mangoes,

and tea. Goats and cattle are the

main livestock.

Bangladesh is one of the world’s largest

producers of jute fibers. These fibers are

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bangladesh 21

used to make fabric and twine. Manufacturers

also make clothing, shoes,

tobacco and food products, chemicals,

and iron and steel.

History

Bangladesh is part of a historic region

called Bengal. From the 700s to the

1100s Buddhist and Hindu kings ruled

Bengal. Muslims invaded in about 1200.

The region remained largely independent

until the 1600s. Then the Mughal

Empire, which controlled India at the

time, made Bengal one of its provinces.

The British took control of all of India

in the 1700s. They ruled the area as a

colony until 1947.

After the British left, the colony of India

was divided into two independent countries:

India and Pakistan. India lay

between Pakistan’s two provinces—East

Pakistan (now Bangladesh) andWest

Pakistan (now Pakistan). The people of

East andWest Pakistan spoke different

languages and had different cultures.

The provinces struggled for power.War

broke out in 1971. About 1 million

Bengalis were killed, and millions more

fled to India. India helped East Pakistan

defeatWest Pakistan. Then East Pakistan

became the independent country of

Bangladesh.

Bangladesh held its first national election

in 1973, but the military soon took

over the government. Beginning in 1991

Bangladesh held a series of free elections.

However, the elections often led to protests

and violence over the results.

..More to explore

Dhaka • Ganges River • India • Islam

• Pakistan • Tiger

A fishing boat sails on the Meghna River in Bangladesh.

Facts About

BANGLADESH

Population

(2008 estimate)

142,547,000

Area

56,977 sq mi

(147,570 sq km)

Capital

Dhaka

Form of

government

Republic

Major cities

Dhaka, Chittagong,

Khulna,

Rajshahi

22 Bangladesh BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Bangui

Population

(2003 census)

622,771

Bangui is the capital and largest city of

the Central African Republic, a country

in the middle of Africa. The city is

located on the Ubangi River.

Bangui is the country’s main port. Rivers

and railroads connect it with other

cities and to theWest African coast.

Bangui is also the country’s largest city

and center for manufacturing and business.

The city has a university as well.

The French built a fort in the area in

1889 to help them take control of central

Africa. Bangui grew up around the

fort. The city later became the capital of

the French colony in the area. In 1960

the Central African Republic became

independent from France. Bangui

became the new country’s capital.

Different groups tried to take over the

government of the Central African

Republic in Bangui several times in the

late 20th and early 21st centuries. Bangui

was then the site of power struggles,

riots, and looting.

#More to explore

Central African Republic

Banjul

Population

(2003 estimate),

city, 34,800;

metropolitan

area, 523,600

Banjul is the capital of theWest African

country of The Gambia. The city lies on

Saint Mary’s Island in the Gambia

River. It is the largest city in the country.

Banjul is The Gambia’s center for business

and transportation. The city’s factories

process peanuts and peanut oil.

These and other products are shipped to

other countries from Banjul’s port.

Tourism also brings money to the city.

The city dates from 1816, when the

British set up a fort and trading post on

the site. They named the settlement

Bathurst. The British used the fort to

force an end to the slave trade on the

Workers stack bags of peanuts in a warehouse

in Banjul.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Banjul 23

western coast of Africa. In 1965 The

Gambia became an independent country

with Bathurst as its capital. The city

was renamed Banjul in 1973.

#More to explore

Gambia, The

Bank and

Banking

A bank is a business that borrows and

lends money. It borrows money from

customers called depositors. It lends

money to other customers called borrowers.

It pays fees to the depositors and

collects fees from the borrowers. The

fees are called interest. The bank makes

a profit by collecting more interest than

it pays out. Modern banks do many

other things for their customers as well.

Bank Accounts

A person who has money deposited in a

bank is said to have a bank account.

One kind of bank account is called a

checking account. A person with a

checking account can write checks to

pay for things. A check is an instruction

to the bank to pay out money from that

person’s account. People can also use a

plastic card, called a debit or check card,

to pay out money from their checking

accounts. Checking accounts pay little

or no interest to the depositor. People

use them because they are a safe and

convenient way to handle money.

Another kind of bank account is a savings

account. People keep money in

savings accounts in order to earn interest.

The bank pays a certain amount of

interest for every dollar that someone

has in their savings account.

A bank keeps only part of the money in

its accounts as cash. It uses the rest to

lend to other people and to make investments.

It keeps track of all this money in

computers.

Lending and Other Services

People and businesses often borrow

money from banks. The money they

borrow is called a loan. They pay the

loan back with interest. They usually

pay in monthly portions called installments.

If the borrower does not repay,

the bank may take away the thing—a

car, for example—that the loan paid for.

Modern banks provide other services as

well. Some banks sell insurance, provide

help with taxes, and handle investments

Young people can open a savings

account at a bank with the

help of a parent or another relative.

24 Bank and Banking BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

in stocks and bonds. Many banks issue

credit cards and send monthly bills to

the people who use them. Banks also

maintain automated teller machines, or

ATMs. Bank customers can use the

ATMs to withdraw money from their

accounts or to make deposits.

Types of Banks

The banks most people use are called

commercial banks.Other kinds of banks

do special things. Investment banks sell

stocks and bonds. Credit unions make

loans to workers. Savings banks and

associations make loans to home buyers.

Central banks—such as the Bank of

England or the banks of the U.S. Federal

Reserve System—are responsible for their

country’s money. International banks

lend money to developing countries.

History

There was banking in ancient Mesopotamia

at least 4,000 years ago. The

first bankers kept gold and silver for

people and also lent it out. In ancient

Greece and Rome there were companies

very much like modern banks.

Florence and Venice, two cities in Italy,

became banking centers in the 1400s. In

England gold dealers served as bankers

until the Bank of England was founded

in 1694.

Many people in the United States did

not want the U.S. government to control

banking. The central Bank of the

United States closed in 1836. But in

1913 the U.S. government set up the

Federal Reserve System. This system

oversees U.S. banks today.

Many banks failed during a period

known as the Great Depression that

started in 1929. Depositors at these

banks lost their money. To protect

depositors, the U.S. Congress set up the

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

(FDIC) in 1933. The FDIC gives

depositors money if their bank fails.

Today banks use computers for nearly all

their business. Customers often use their

home computers for banking, too.

A woman uses an automated teller machine

in Shanghai, China.

Some aid agencies operate small banks

and credit unions to help people in developing

areas. They loan money to people to

start small businesses.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bank and Banking 25

People can pay bills or transfer money

between their bank accounts over the

Internet.

#More to explore

Money

Banneker,

Benjamin

A man of many talents, Benjamin Banneker

was one of the first distinguished

African American scientists and mathematicians.

He was also an inventor and

a writer.

Banneker was born on November 9,

1731, in Ellicott’s Mills, Maryland. His

father had been a slave, but Benjamin

was free. Although he had little schooling,

he grew up with a love of book

learning.

Banneker attracted attention in his early

20s by designing and building a wooden

clock. It was the first clock of its type to

be built in what is now the United

States.

Banneker taught himself astronomy and

in 1791 began to publish a yearly almanac.

In it he tracked when the sun,

Moon, and stars would appear in the

skies on every day in the coming year.

His almanacs were praised by European

scientists. Banneker also wrote essays

and pamphlets arguing against slavery

and war.

In the 1790s Banneker helped to lay out

the new national capital of Washington,

D.C. When the city plans were lost,

Banneker was able to reproduce them

from memory. He died in Baltimore,

Maryland, on October 25, 1806.

#More to explore

Astronomy •Washington, D.C.

An illustration from the 1400s shows people

using a bank in the city of Florence.

A U.S. postage stamp honors

African American scientist Benjamin

Banneker.

26 Banneker, Benjamin BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Barbados

The island country of Barbados lies at the

eastern end of theWest Indies, a group of

islands in the Caribbean Sea. A longtime

British colony, Barbados still shows the

influence of British culture. Bridgetown

is the capital and largest city.

Coral reefs surround Barbados. The surface

of the island is also made of coral,

which lies over rocks. There are no rivers

or lakes and few hilly areas. Barbados

has a moderate tropical climate with wet

and dry seasons.

The most common plant on Barbados is

sugarcane, which is grown on large plantations.

Trees include mahogany and

cabbage palm. Monkeys, hares, mongooses,

and egrets are common animals.

Green dolphins, barracudas, and parrot

fish live in the surrounding waters.

Barbados is a densely populated island.

About half of the people live in cities or

towns. Most Barbadians have African

ancestors. Smaller numbers of people

have mixed, British, U.S., or Asian

ancestry. English is the official language

of Barbados. Some people speak a form

of English called Bajan. Most of the

people are Christians.

The economy of Barbados is based on

tourism and on the production of sugar

and rum. Finance and other services are

also important. Manufacturers make

chemicals, paper, and metal products.

Arawak people may have lived on Barbados

when the Spanish visited the island

in the early 1500s. The English settled

there in 1627. They built sugar plantations

and brought slaves from Africa to

work on them. Great Britain ruled the

island until 1966. Barbados then

became an independent country.

..More to explore

Bridgetown • Coral •West Indies

A market that sells souvenirs to tourists is

located near a boat docking area in

Barbados.

Facts About

BARBADOS

Population

(2008 estimate)

282,000

Area

166 sq mi (430

sq km)

Capital

Bridgetown

Form of

government

Constitutional

monarchy

Major cities

Bridgetown,

Speightstown

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Barbados 27

Bark

Bark is the outer layer of the trunk of a

tree. Trees have an inner and an outer

layer of bark.

The inner layer of bark is alive and continues

to grow as the tree grows. It contains

a tissue called phloem. Phloem

carries the food that is made in the

leaves to all the other parts of the tree.

The outer layer of bark is dead. As the

living bark grows, it pushes outward and

later dies. It then becomes the rough

bark that is seen on the trunk of a tree.

Even though the outer layer of bark is

dead, it is still very useful to the tree. It

helps to keep water in the tree from

escaping. It also protects the tree from

injury by people, animals, and weather.

In addition, the outer bark helps to keep

out living things such as germs and

fungi, which can cause diseases.

#More to explore

Tree

Barley

Barley is a valuable grain. Grains are

grasses that produce seeds that can be

eaten. Barley seeds are called kernels or

barleycorns.

Barley was probably first grown in

Ethiopia and Southeast Asia in ancient

times. Today Russia, Canada, and Germany

are leading barley producers.

A barley plant grows to about 1 to 4 feet

(0.3 to 1.2 meters) tall. It has a thin

stem and long, narrow leaves. At the

ends of the stems are structures called

spikes, which produce small flowers.

The flowers develop into kernels. Each

spike produces two to six rows of kernels,

depending on the type of plant.

About half of the world’s barley is used

to feed livestock. The rest is used for

human foods and for malting. Malted

barley is soaked in water and then dried

Bark helps protect trees from people, animals,

and weather.

Kernels of barley grow in neat

rows.

28 Bark BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

with hot air. It is used mostly to make

beer. A type called pearl barley is

common in hot cereal and soups.

Barley is also ground into flour and

used to make flatbread and porridge,

which is like oatmeal. The stems of

barley plants are used as bedding and

food for farm animals.

#More to explore

Grain • Grass

Barracuda

Barracudas are among the fiercest fish in

tropical waters. They circle around

groups of smaller fish until the fish

huddle together in fear. The barracudas

then dive in and slash the fish with their

teeth. The species, or type, called the

great barracuda will sometimes even

attack human swimmers.

There are about 20 species of barracuda.

They live in warmer parts of the Atlantic

and Pacific oceans, including the Caribbean

Sea. Fishers often catch them for

sport and food. But barracudas that live

in some seas can be poisonous.

Barracudas have long mouths filled with

large, knifelike teeth. Their slender,

powerful bodies help them swim fast.

They have two fins on the back and

small scales on the body. Barracudas

average about 3 to 4 feet (1 meter) in

length. The great barracuda can reach a

length of 8 feet (2 meters).

Barracudas travel far in search of food.

They eat mainly smaller fish, such as

mullets, anchovies, and grunts.

#More to explore

Fish

Barton, Clara

Clara Barton was called “the angel of the

battlefield” for her work tending to

wounded soldiers in the American Civil

War. Later she organized the American

Red Cross to aid the victims of all wars

and disasters.

Clarissa Harlowe Barton was born on

December 25, 1821, in Oxford, Massachusetts.

She was educated at home. As

a young woman she taught school in

Massachusetts and New Jersey.

When the American Civil War began in

1861, Barton heard that Union

(Northern) soldiers were suffering and

dying because there were not enough

bandages and other medical supplies.

She organized a private agency to buy

supplies. Starting in 1862 she herself

worked as an unpaid nurse, aiding the

wounded where they fell. After the war

she led an effort to track down missing

soldiers.

Clara Barton

helped the

United States

to agree to

the Geneva

Convention.

The convention

was an

agreement

that protected

wounded

soldiers.

Barracuda

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Barton, Clara 29

Some people in Europe also wanted to

help soldiers wounded in battle. In 1863

these people founded the International

Red Cross. In 1870, while Barton was

staying in Europe, a war broke out

between France and Germany. Barton

tended the wounded under the Red

Cross banner. She also studied how the

organization worked.

Barton returned home in 1873 and

worked to organize a branch of the Red

Cross in the United States. She succeeded

in 1881. Barton was head of the

American Red Cross for 23 years. She

expanded the mission of the organization

to include helping victims of disasters

in peacetime as well as in war. In

1904 Barton retired. She died on April

12, 1912.

#More to explore

American CivilWar • Red Cross and

Red Crescent

Base

#see Acid and Base.

Baseball

The sport of baseball has been called the

national pastime of the United States.

Each spring millions of fans look forward

to the beginning of a new baseball

season. Baseball is also popular in many

Latin American and Asian countries,

especially Japan. The game is played

with a bat and a fist-sized ball. Two

teams of nine players compete against

each other. The goal is to score the most

points, which are called runs.

Playing Area and Equipment

A baseball field is divided into an infield

and an outfield.Within the infield is a

square area called the diamond. There

are four bases, one on each corner of the

diamond. One base is called home plate.

The others are called first, second, and

third base. The bases are 90 feet (about

27 meters) apart. The outfield is a grassy

area beyond the infield. A wall usually

marks the outer boundary of the outfield.

Clara Barton

A Boston Red Sox player bats during the

2004 World Series against the Saint Louis

Cardinals.

30 Base BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

A raised, circular mound is located in

the middle of the infield diamond. A

player called the pitcher throws the ball

toward home plate from a spot on the

mound. The spot is known as the rubber.

In professional baseball the rubber

is 60 feet, 6 inches (18.4 meters) from

home plate.

A baseball has a core made of cork and

rubber. Yarn is wrapped around the core.

The cover is made of two strips of white

leather that are sewn together. Players

hit the ball with a bat. A baseball bat is a

smooth, rounded stick made of wood or

aluminum. To catch the ball, players

wear leather gloves.

Playing the Game

The two teams in a baseball game take

turns being batters (playing offense) and

fielders (playing defense). The batting

team, also called the team at bat, tries to

score runs. It does this by advancing its

players around the bases. The fielding

team tries to prevent the batting team

from scoring.

Play begins when the fielding team’s

pitcher throws, or pitches, the ball

toward home plate. A batter tries to hit

the pitched ball, called a pitch, out of

the reach of the fielders. The fielding

team tries to get the batters out. When a

batter is called out his turn at bat is over.

The pitcher can get a batter out by

throwing three strikes. This is called a

strikeout. An umpire behind home

plate calls each pitch either a strike or a

ball. A strike is a pitch that passes

through the strike zone. The strike zone

is an imaginary rectangular box above

home plate. From bottom to top, it

extends from the batter’s knees to about

the middle of his chest. The umpire

calls a strike if the batter fails to swing

at a pitch thrown in the strike zone.

The batter also gets a strike for

swinging at the ball and missing.

If a pitch is outside the strike zone and

the batter does not swing, the umpire

calls a ball. If the umpire calls four balls

during a batter’s turn at bat, the batter

receives a walk. A walk lets the batter go

to first base. The batter also goes to first

base if a pitch hits him.

If the batter hits the ball onto the field,

he tries to run to first base or farther

without making an out. The fielders can

get the batter out in a variety of ways.

For example, they can catch a hit ball

before it bounces. They can also scoop

up the ball and throw it to first base

before the batter gets there.With the

ball in hand, a fielder may also tag the

Baseball fields do not all look the same, but

they all have certain features in common.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Baseball 31

batter out. If the batter safely gets to first

base or farther, he is said to have gotten

a hit.

After a batter reaches a base, he becomes

a base runner. He tries to advance from

base to base around the diamond. Usually

he does this as the next batters get

hits of their own. The batting team

scores a run when a base runner goes all

the way around the bases and returns to

home plate.

After three batters have made outs, the

fielding team takes its turn at bat. A

period of play called an inning is completed

after both teams have batted.

After nine innings, the team with the

most runs wins. If a game is tied, the

teams play extra innings until the tie is

broken.

History

Historians once thought that Abner

Doubleday, a U.S. Army officer,

invented baseball in 1839 in Cooperstown,

New York. Now, though, most

historians agree that baseball developed

from an English game called rounders.

English children played rounders in the

1700s. The game was quite similar to

modern baseball. It had nine-member

teams and a diamond-shaped infield

with bases on the corners.

In 1845 Alexander Cartwright organized

the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club in

New York City. The club was made up

of amateur players (players who were

not paid). The club put together a set of

rules for playing the game. Many of

those rules are still used today.

In 1869 the Cincinnati Red Stockings

began to pay players. The Red Stockings

are considered to be the first professional

baseball team. Two years later nine

teams formed the first professional baseball

association. In 1876 the National

League was formed. The American

League was founded in 1900 as a rival to

the National League.

Today the National and American

leagues are combined in the organization

called Major League Baseball. As of

2006 there were 30 professional teams

divided between the two leagues. Since

1903 the best teams from each league

have competed in a championship called

the World Series.

Amateur baseball is played in high

schools and colleges. Younger children

play baseball in the Little League system.

The Cleveland

Spiders of

1899 had one

of the worst

major league

baseball seasons

ever.

They won 20

games and

lost 134.

African Americans were not allowed to

play in baseball’s major leagues until

1947. Jackie Robinson was the first African

American to join a team. In 1949 Roy

Campanella, Larry Doby, Don Newcombe,

and Robinson (from left) were the first to

play in an All-Star game.

32 Baseball BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Each year the two best teams compete in

the Little LeagueWorld Series.

Basho

Basho was one of the most important

poets of Japan. He is considered the

master of the haiku, a type of poem that

has only three lines.

Basho’s original name was Matsuo

Manefusa. He was born in 1644 near

Kyoto, Japan. Basho was a member of

the samurai, a class of warriors. He

worked for a landowner, and the two

men wrote poetry together.

After the landowner died in 1666,

Basho devoted himself to writing. He

published his first poems in 1671 and

soon began attracting students and

admirers. In 1680 his students built him

a house. They planted a basho, or

banana plant, in the yard. That plant

was the source of his pen name.

Basho forever changed Japanese poetry.

Earlier haiku were playful and silly. But

Basho wrote serious artistic haiku. Many

of his poems were about nature. Soon

other poets began copying his style.

Basho also became known for his poetic

diaries. He wrote them during four long

journeys he took on foot across Japan.

The diaries include descriptions of the

places he visited, his thoughts, and

many short poems. The most famous is

The Narrow Road to the Deep North.

Basho died while on a journey in 1694.

#More to explore

Japan • Poetry • Samurai

Basketball

Basketball is a fast-paced and exciting

sport. It is very popular in the United

States, where it began in the 1890s. It

has also become popular in many other

countries. In a basketball game two

teams of five players compete. The goal

is to score more points than the other

team. Players score by tossing, or shooting,

a ball through a raised goal called a

basket.

Playing Area and Equipment

Basketball is played on a rectangular

court. A professional basketball court is

94 feet (28.7 meters) long and 50 feet

(15.2 meters) wide. High school and

international courts may be slightly

smaller.

A haiku is a

very short

poem. It has

three lines that

have five,

seven, and

five syllables

each.

A woodblock print from the

1800s shows Basho standing

and talking to two others.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Basketball 33

Each end of the court has a basket. The

basket is a metal ring with a net hanging

from the rim. It is attached to a backboard,

which is usually made of strong

glass. The rim of the basket is 10 feet (3

meters) above the floor of the court. A

basketball is round and full of air, which

makes it bounce well.

Playing the Game

A basketball team has five players: two

forwards, two guards, and a center. The

players are named for the different positions,

or roles, that they play on the

court. In general, the players at each

position have special abilities and duties.

For example, guards usually excel at

moving the ball down the court and

passing it to teammates.

Basketball players play both offense and

defense. When a team has the ball, it is

on offense and tries to score points. The

other team plays defense—it defends the

basket at its end of the court. The defensive

team tries to keep the other team

from scoring. It also tries to gain control

of the ball by taking it away from the

offensive team.

Play begins with a jump ball. A referee

tosses up the ball between two opposing

players in the middle of the court, inside

a circle called the center circle. The two

players jump for the ball and try to tap

it to a teammate. The other players

stand outside the center circle, ready to

catch the ball. The team that gets control

of the ball plays offense first.

The offensive team tries to advance the

ball toward the defensive team’s basket.

Offensive players can pass the ball to

teammates. They can also move the ball

down the court by themselves. However,

players cannot run freely with the ball.

They must dribble, or bounce, the ball

on the court as they run with it.

Any player with the ball may take a shot

at the basket. Most successful shots score

two points. Very long shots, from

behind a line called the three-point line,

score three points.

The defensive team tries to keep the

offense from getting a good shot at the

basket. When a shot is missed, both

teams try to recover the ball. This is

called rebounding. If the offense gets the

Every U.S. professional basketball court has the same dimensions.

34 Basketball BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

ball on the rebound, it can try to take

another shot. If the defense gets the

rebound, then it becomes the offense. It

tries to move the ball down the court to

the opponent’s basket. The defense can

also get the ball by taking it away, or

stealing it, from the offense. Defenders

can make a steal when the offense is

passing or dribbling the ball.

A group of officials makes sure that the

players follow the rules. The officials

penalize a team when one of its players

breaks a rule. For example, if an offensive

player runs without dribbling the

ball, the officials give the ball to the

defense. Some penalties are called fouls.

Most fouls happen when one player

makes physical contact with another

player. For example, officials call fouls

for bumping, pushing, and tripping.

The player who is fouled often gets to

take shots without having to worry

about the defense. These shots are called

free throws. They score one point.

History

James Naismith invented basketball in

1891. Naismith was a physical education

teacher in Springfield, Massachusetts.

His school asked him to create a

sport that students could play indoors

during the winter. The first basketball

game had peach baskets as the goals.

That is why the sport was named basketball.

The metal hoop was not invented

until 1906.

Basketball quickly became popular

throughout the United States. Both men

and women started playing basketball at

the college level in the early 1890s. The

first professional basketball league in the

United States was formed in 1898. The

National Basketball Association (NBA)

started in 1949. It is the main professional

league in the United States today.

Outside the United States, basketball

developed more slowly. Men’s basketball

became an Olympic event in 1936.

International world championships

began in 1950 for men and in 1953 for

women.Women’s basketball was added

to the Olympics in 1976.

The NBA grew especially popular in the

1980s. More games were televised than

ever before. Outstanding players such as

Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and Michael

Jordan attracted many new fans.

The first women’s professional leagues

in the United States began during the

1970s. They failed after a year or two.

The currentWomen’s National Basketball

Association (WNBA) began in

1997.

As one player tries to get the ball in the

basket another raises his hand to try to stop

him.

James

Naismith’s

original rules

of basketball

did not allow

players to run

with the ball.

They had to

throw it from

the spot where

they caught it.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Basketball 35

High school and college championship

tournaments are traditionally held in

March. There are separate tournaments

for both men’s and women’s teams.

#More to explore

Johnson, Magic • Jordan, Michael

Basque

The Basques are a people with a unique

history and culture. Most Basques live in

northern Spain, but some live in southern

France. They have lived in this

region for many hundreds of years.

Some Basques have moved away from

Europe, mostly to South America and

the United States.

The Basques have a unique language

called Euskara. It is unlike any other

European language. Some Basques who

live in the mountains still speak Euskara.

However, most Basques speak either

Spanish or French.

The Basques traditionally were farmers.

They also sailed far over the Atlantic

Ocean to fish and hunt whales. In more

recent times they have built large industrial

towns. Their factories make lumber,

furniture, iron, and steel.

For many years some Basques living in

Spain have not liked being under Spain’s

control. They have worked to get more

control over their region. In 1978 the

Spanish government gave the Basques in

Spain some of the freedom they wanted.

For example, the Basques won the right

to make their own laws.

However, some Basques want to break

away from Spain completely. Their goal

is to form an independent Basque

nation. Some of these Basques belong to

a terrorist group known as the ETA.

People carrying Basque flags attend a rally

for Basque independence held near Bilbao,

Spain.

Basketball is a very popular sport at the

college level for both men and women.

36 Basque BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

They have killed Spanish officials and

performed other acts of violence.

..More to explore

France • Spain

Bass

The fish called bass are valued all over

the world as a source of food. There are

hundreds of different species, or types,

of bass. Many of them belong to the sea

bass family. Others, such as black bass,

belong to the sunfish family. Some fish

in other families are also called bass.

Most bass have a spiky fin running

along their back. Many are dark on top

with a pale belly. Bass vary greatly in

size. Rock bass are about 6 inches (15

centimeters) long. By contrast, giant sea

bass may be more than 6 feet (2 meters)

long and more than 500 pounds (225

kilograms) in weight.

Sea bass are large-mouthed ocean fishes

that usually prefer warmer waters. They

are usually large. Some can change color.

Sea bass feed on fish, mollusks, and

other small animals without spines.

They also eat crustaceans, which are

animals that live in shells.

Black bass live in the freshwater ponds,

rivers, and lakes of North America.

Largemouth black bass have an upper

jawbone that extends beyond their eyes.

Their body varies in color from green to

black, with a dark, horizontal stripe.

Smallmouth black bass are smaller and

have a green to brownish color. Black

bass feed on smaller fishes.

..More to explore

Fish

Basseterre

Population

(2006 estimate)

12,900

Basseterre is the capital of Saint Kitts

and Nevis, an island country in the Caribbean

Sea. The town is located on the

coast of Saint Kitts Island. It is the

country’s largest town and main port.

Basseterre is also a center for shipping

goods to nearby islands. Its chief industries

are tourism and sugar processing.

The French founded Basseterre in 1627.

The British took over Basseterre and the

rest of Saint Kitts and Nevis in 1783. A

fire destroyed Basseterre in 1867, but

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Basseterre 37

the town was rebuilt. In 1983 Saint

Kitts and Nevis became an independent

country. Basseterre became its capital.

#More to explore

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Bastille Day

The French celebrate their freedom each

year on July 14. On that day in 1789 an

angry mob attacked the Bastille, a state

prison in Paris. The mob associated the

prison with the harsh rule of the king of

France. The attack is therefore considered

the beginning of the French Revolution,

which forced the king to give up

control of the country. French people

celebrate the day much as Americans

celebrate the Fourth of July, with

parades, speeches, and fireworks.

Bastille Day was first celebrated in 1790,

but it did not become a French national

holiday until 1880. Long before that,

the Bastille itself was torn down.

#More to explore

French Revolution

Bat

Bats are the only mammals that can

truly fly. Sometimes people mistake bats

for birds. But bats are more closely

related to other mammals—including

humans—than they are to birds. And

bats do not have feathers.

Where Bats Live

There are about 900 species, or types, of

bat. Bats are found worldwide, especially

in the tropics. They usually rest in dark

places such as caves, hollow trees, or

attics.

Physical Features

Bats have fur that is usually gray, tan,

brown, or black. They vary greatly in

size, depending on the species. Their

wings can measure from 6 inches (15

centimeters) to 5 feet (1.5 meters) across

when spread open. Their ears point forward

and are usually very large.

Jets trail the French national colors

at a Bastille Day parade in

Paris, France.

A leaf-nosed bat flies in the night.

38 Bastille Day BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

The wings consist of thin layers of bare

skin. They stretch from the long arms

down to the legs.

Behavior

Most kinds of bat live in large groups.

Nearly all bats rest during the day. Most

bats eat flying insects. Some kinds eat

small animals such as birds, frogs, mice,

and fish. Other kinds eat fruit or the

pollen and nectar from flowers. The

vampire bats of South and Central

America feed on the blood of mammals

and large birds.

While flying, most bats send out a cry.

This cry is so high-pitched that people

cannot hear it. The sounds bounce off

objects and echo back to the bat. The

bat can figure out the distance and size

of the objects based on the returning

sounds. Bats use this information to

avoid flying into objects in their paths

and also to find insects to eat.

..More to explore

Animal • Mammal

Baton Rouge

Population

(2000 census),

city, 227,818;

(2007 estimate)

227,071

Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S.

state of Louisiana. The city is located on

theMississippi River. It is one of the

leading U.S. ports. Goods brought to the

port by rail and river are transferred to

oceangoing ships. Baton Rouge is also a

center of industry and services. Its chief

industries process oil and natural gas.

The French founded Baton Rouge in

1719. The city and its surrounding area

changed hands several times. The British

gained control of Louisiana in 1763. But

the Spanish captured it in 1779. In

1800 France again took control of Louisiana.

A few years later the United States

bought Louisiana from France. Louisiana

became a U.S. state in 1812. Baton

Rouge became the state capital in 1849.

..More to explore

Louisiana

Battery

Batteries give electric power to flashlights,

radios, cell phones, handheld

games, and many other types of equipment.

A battery is a sort of container

that stores energy until it is needed.

Chemicals inside the battery store the

energy. When the battery is used, the

chemical energy changes into electric

energy.

How BatteriesWork

Inside a battery there are two pieces of

metal in a liquid or a paste. The metal

parts are called electrodes. The liquid or

paste, called an electrolyte, is a mix of

chemicals. Each electrode has a point,

called a terminal, that sticks out of the

battery.

“Baton rouge”

means “red

stick” in

French. French

settlers named

the town for a

post they saw

that marked a

boundary

between

Native American

territories.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Battery 39

For a battery to work, the terminals

must be linked by an outside wire. Then

the chemicals in the electrolyte cause

tiny particles called electrons to flow out

of one electrode’s terminal (the negative

terminal). The electrons travel along the

wire back to the other terminal (the

positive terminal). This flow of electrons

is an electric current. The wire usually

runs through a lightbulb or other device

before returning to the battery. The current

flowing through the wire makes the

device work.

Types of Batteries

There are two basic types of batteries. A

battery that can be used only once is

called a primary battery. When the metals

or electrolyte is used up, the battery

can no longer make electricity. The batteries

used in flashlights, radios, and toys

are primary batteries.

A battery that can be used more than

once is a secondary battery. Car batteries

and some batteries used in telephones

and medical equipment are secondary

batteries. Secondary batteries can be

recharged with an electric current from

another source. For example, a person

can recharge a cell phone battery by

plugging the cell phone into an electric

socket in a wall.

#More to explore

Electricity • Energy

Bean

Beans are seeds that people often eat.

They are an excellent source of protein.

Beans are used in many dishes, including

soups and chili.

Many different plants produce beans,

but they are all members of the same

scientific family. The family includes

peas, peanuts, and lentils as well as

beans. These plants grow in most parts

of the world. Most types grow either as a

bush or as a climbing plant.

In some flashlights, two or more batteries

produce an electric current. The current

flows out of the batteries, through a wire,

and through a lightbulb.

40 Bean BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Beans come in many colors—white,

green, yellow, tan, pink, red, brown,

purple, and black. They also have different

shapes. Some are nearly round or

oval. Others are flat or kidney-shaped.

Beans grow inside cases called pods or

legumes. Pods are usually 3 to 8 inches

(7.6 to 20 centimeters) long. They come

in shades of green, yellow, red, and

purple. Many pods are too tough to eat.

This is why beans are usually taken out

of the pod. Some pods can be eaten if

they are picked at an early stage in their

growth. These include green beans (also

known as snap or string beans).

Dry beans are grown only for their dry

seeds, not the pods. They include pinto,

lima, navy, black, kidney, fava, and

mung beans.

One of the most useful beans is the soybean.

Many chemical products, including

paint, are made from soybean oil.

Soybeans are fed to farm animals. They

are also a rich source of protein for

people around the world. They are used

to make soy milk, soy sauce, and tofu.

#More to explore

Legume • Seed

Bear

Bears are large, powerful mammals

related to dogs and raccoons. The biggest

bears are the world’s largest animals

that live on land and eat meat.

There are several species, or types, of

bear. They are the polar bear, the brown

bear, the black bear, the Asiatic black

bear, the sun bear, the spectacled bear,

and the sloth bear. The brown bear is

commonly called the grizzly bear in

North America. Most scientists also consider

the giant panda to be a member of

the bear family.

Where Bears Live

Bears are found in the Americas,

Europe, and Asia. They are often found

in mountainous areas and forests. The

black bear lives in North America. The

Beans come in many different shapes, sizes,

and colors.

Many beans are taken out of the pod

before they are eaten.

The polar bear

has fur on the

bottom of its

feet. This fur

helps the bear

to keep from

slipping on

ice.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bear 41

brown bear is found in North America,

Europe, and Asia. The Asiatic black bear

and the sloth bear live in parts of Asia.

The world’s far northern regions called

the Arctic are home to the polar bear.

Physical Features

Bears range in height from about 3 to

10 feet (1 to 3 meters). The sun bear is

the smallest species. A kind of Alaskan

brown bear called the Kodiak bear is the

largest bear. It may weigh 1,720 pounds

(780 kilograms). Some polar bears are

almost that big.

Most bears are mainly brown, redbrown,

or black. Some have white markings

on the chest or face. The type called

the black bear is sometimes actually

brown, blue-gray, or even white. The

polar bear’s white fur helps it blend in

with the Arctic ice and snow.

A bear has a broad head, a heavy body,

short legs, and a small tail. Bears have

poor eyesight but an excellent sense of

smell. Most kinds are good at climbing

trees and at swimming.

Behavior

Bears are carnivores, or meat eaters. For

example, the polar bear eats seals, walruses,

and fish. However, other bears eat

a lot of plants as well as animals. They

may eat roots, seeds, berries, and nuts in

addition to insects, fish, and deer.

In the autumn most bears eat a lot to

put on extra fat. They then sleep

through most of the winter. This is similar

to a very deep resting state called

hibernation. But bears are not true

hibernators. Their body temperature,

heartbeat rate, and breathing rate do not

drop much lower than normal.

#More to explore

Hibernation • Mammal • Panda

Beatles, The

The Beatles were one of the most successful

and influential pop-music groups

of the 1960s. This quartet of British

musicians were rhythm guitarist John

Lennon (October 9, 1940–December 8,

1980); bass guitarist Paul McCartney

(born June 18, 1942); lead guitarist

George Harrison (February 25, 1943–

Brown bears fish for salmon in Alaska. November 29, 2001); and drummer

A polar bear travels over snow and ice in

the Arctic region of Canada.

42 Beatles, The BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Ringo Starr (originally Richard Starkey;

born July 7, 1940).

Beginnings

Lennon formed a band in Liverpool,

England, while in high school in the

mid-1950s. McCartney and then Harrison

joined the group in the late 1950s.

In its early years the band also had several

other members. In 1962 they signed

a recording contract with a large music

company. At about this time they chose

Starr to replace drummer Pete Best.

At first the Beatles’ songs were upbeat

and fairly simple. The first song

recorded by the Beatles was “Love Me

Do” in 1962. Their first hit came the

following year, when “Please Please Me”

climbed to the top of the British music

charts.

Beatlemania

The Beatles became very famous in Britain.

People started calling the excitement

over the band Beatlemania. The Beatles

became wildly popular in the United

States too after appearing on Ed Sullivan’s

television program in February

1964. Teenage girls across the country

screamed and fainted over them, and

boys copied the Beatles’ look. By April

1964 the top five hits in the United

States were all Beatles songs.

Later Years

In the late 1960s the Beatles began creating

more adventurous music, combining

different musical styles. The album

Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club

Band (1967) showed a new complexity.

The band also recorded the albums The

Beatles (1968), Abbey Road (1969), and

Let It Be (1970).

The pressures of fame led the Beatles to

break up in 1970. All four continued

their musical careers—Lennon with his

wife, Yoko Ono; McCartney with the

bandWings and later as a solo performer;

and Starr and Harrison mainly

as solo artists.

#More to explore

Popular Music

Beaver

Beavers are mammals known for their

building skills. They use branches,

stones, and mud to build structures

called dams. A dam stretches across a

stream and blocks the flow of water.

This creates a large pond. Beavers build

The Beatles were John Lennon, George Harrison,

Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Beaver 43

their homes in the still waters of these

ponds rather than in rushing streams.

Beavers belong to the group of animals

called rodents. They are related to mice,

squirrels, and muskrats. There are two

species, or types, of beaver. The American

beaver is found in North America.

The Eurasian beaver is found in parts of

Europe and Asia. Beavers live in rivers,

streams, and lakes. They also spend

some time on land.

Beavers are about 4 feet (1.3 meters)

long, including the tail. Beaver tails are

scaly, flat, and shaped like paddles.

Thick brown fur covers their stocky

body and short legs. Beavers use their

small front feet to carry objects. Their

large back feet are webbed, which helps

them swim. Beavers can stay underwater

for up to 15 minutes.

Beavers are active at night. They eat

mainly trees, including buds, leaves,

twigs, and the layer under the bark.

Beavers use their powerful jaws and

teeth to cut down young trees. They

work in groups to build dams. Pairs of

beavers build homes called lodges out of

sticks and mud. A lodge may be 5 feet

(1.5 meters) high. Its roof is shaped like

a dome.

#More to explore

A Eurasian beaver gnaws on a branch. Dam • Rodent

Beavers live in dome-shaped lodges. They build the lodges out of branches plastered with

mud. Tunnel entrances open into a room above water level.

44 Beaver BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Beckham, David

Soccer star David Beckham is known as

a great midfielder. His shots often

appear to “bend” around players from

the other team.

David Robert Joseph Beckham was born

on May 2, 1975, in London, England.

At age 11 he won a soccer contest. One

of England’s best teams, Manchester

United, soon took interest. As a teenager,

Beckham played for Manchester

United’s youth team and led it to a

national championship.

Beckham joined the professional

Manchester United team in 1995. He

went on to help the team win six Premier

League championships.

Beckham also played for England’s

national team for 11 years. He led the

team to appearances in theWorld Cup

in 1998, 2002, and 2006. In 2006 he

made history by becoming the only

player from England’s national team to

score a goal in threeWorld Cup tournaments.

In 2003 Beckham left Manchester

United. He joined the Spanish soccer

club Real Madrid. Four years later he

moved to the United States to play for

the Los Angeles Galaxy team. In 2008

he signed a deal to play for the Italian

team AC Milan during the Galaxy’s offseason.

..More to explore

Soccer

Bee

Bees are insects related to wasps and

ants. They live all over the world except

Antarctica. There are more than 20,000

species, or types, of bee. The best-known

kinds are honeybees and bumblebees.

People have kept honeybees for their

honey for at least 4,000 years. Honeybees

also produce beeswax, which people

use to make candles.

Physical Features

Adult bees range in length from about

0.08 to 1.6 inches (0.2 to 4 centime-

David Beckham shows his skills on the soccer

field at a match in 2005.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bee 45

ters). They usually have a short, thick

body covered with hair. Most bees are

black, often with yellow or brown markings.

Like all insects, bees have six legs.

They have two pairs of wings and five

eyes. They also have mouth parts that

act like a long tongue. Female bees also

have a stinger. Male bees cannot sting.

Role in Pollination

Bees get all their food from flowers. This

food consists of a sweet liquid called

nectar and a dustlike substance called

pollen. Honeybees change nectar into

honey, which they feed to their young.

Bees also gather pollen to feed their

young. As they go from flower to flower,

they spill some pollen. In this way bees

perform a very useful task. When pollen

spreads from one flower to another of

the same kind it allows the flowers to

make seeds and therefore to make new

flowers.

Behavior

Most kinds of bee live in small families.

But some bees live in large, organized

groups that work together. These social

bees include honeybees and some

bumblebees. They are divided into

classes. Most of the females are workers.

They gather pollen, build the nest, and

take care of all the young. Each nest has

one queen. Her eggs develop into

females. The workers’ eggs develop into

males. Male bees, called drones, help the

queen reproduce.

#More to explore

Ant • Insect • Pollen •Wasp

Beet

Beets are vegetables. They come in four

different types. The garden beet, the

sugar beet, Swiss chard, and the mangelwurzel

are all varieties of the same plant.

This plant’s scientific name is Beta vulgaris.

It is related to spinach.

Worker honeybees surround a queen as

she lays eggs.

Garden beets, or beetroots, have red roots

that are often eaten after being cooked or

pickled.

46 Beet BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Beets grow in Europe, Asia, and North

America. The beet plant is a biennial,

which means that it lives for two years.

The root forms in the first year. In garden

beets, the root is thick and usually

round. It measures 1 to 4 inches (2.5 to

10 centimeters) across when fully

grown. The roots of garden beets are

usually red or purplish red. Sugar beets

have white roots. Those of mangelwurzels

are yellowish. Swiss chard does

not have thick roots.

In the second year, a stem grows. It is

tall and leafy. The stem has groups of

small green flowers. These flowers

become brown fruits called seedballs.

The leaves of the garden beet are a good

source of vitamins A and C. Many

people also eat its root. A beet soup

called borscht is popular in eastern

Europe. Swiss chard is grown for its

large leaves, which are used in cooking.

Mangel-wurzels are mostly fed to cattle.

The sugar beet is the most valuable type

of beet. In 1747 a German chemist first

made sugar from beets. Today about one

third of the world’s sugar comes from

sugar beets.

Beethoven,

Ludwig van

The composer Ludwig van Beethoven

created some of the most influential

music in history. He transformed many

traditional forms ofWestern classical

music. For example, he set new standards

for the symphony, creating longer

pieces that expressed important ideas

and deep feelings rather than just serving

as entertainment. His works include

nine symphonies, one opera, and many

pieces for small groups and for piano

and other solo instruments.

Early Life and Career

Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany,

in December 1770. He learned musical

composition from the official organist in

a nobleman’s court. Beethoven became

the assistant organist at age 11 and published

his first musical composition soon

after.

In 1787 Beethoven studied briefly with

the great composer Wolfgang Amadeus

Mozart in Vienna. Five years later

Beethoven settled in Vienna permanently.

There he studied with Joseph

Haydn and other famous composers.

A portrait of Ludwig van Beethoven shows

him writing his music.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Beethoven, Ludwig van 47

Growing Fame and Deafness

Beethoven became known as a highly

skilled piano player. Many of Vienna’s

wealthy residents enjoyed his music and

gave him money to live on. In 1800 he

performed some of his works at a large

public concert in Vienna. This event

helped him become widely famous.

In the late 1790s Beethoven began to lose

his hearing. For some time he continued

to compose and perform as before. But

by 1819 Beethoven had become totally

deaf. From then on he no longer

performed much in public, spending

most of his energy composing music.

In his last years Beethoven created

longer and more complicated pieces. In

1824 he conducted the first performance

of his Ninth Symphony with great

success despite being unable to hear the

music. Beethoven died in Vienna on

March 26, 1827. The masterpieces he

created continue to be performed nearly

two centuries after his death.

#More to explore

Classical Music • Mozart,Wolfgang

Amadeus

Beetle

Beetles are insects that have hardened

front wings. These front wings are not

used for flying. Instead, they cover and

protect a second pair of wings. In the

past all beetles could fly. But some kinds

have lost that ability over time.

There are at least 250,000 species, or

types, of beetle. Some beetles are called

by other names, such as weevils, fireflies,

ladybugs, borers, and chafers. Beetles are

found all over the world except Antarctica

and the peaks of the highest mountains.

Most live on land, but some live in

water.

Beetles vary greatly in size. Adult beetles

range in length from about 0.01 inch

(0.025 centimeter) to more than 7

inches (18 centimeters). Many kinds are

colorful. They may be bright orange,

red, yellow, green, or blue. Some kinds

are black or brown.

Adult beetles have two antennas, or feelers,

on the head. These help beetles find

food and recognize other beetles. Like all

insects, they have six legs. A hard covering

protects the body.

Beetles eat a great variety of foods,

including other insects, small animals,

and plants. Some kinds are useful to

humans because they eat insect pests,

garbage, or decaying meat. Other kinds

are harmful. They destroy crops, spread

disease, or eat clothing and carpet.

Beethoven

could not hear

the audience

clapping when

his Ninth Symphony

was

first played.

He did not

know that they

liked it until he

turned to look

at them.

48 Beetle BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Many beetles produce light and sound to

attract a mate or frighten an enemy. They

make light by mixing chemicals inside

special organs. They make a high-pitched

sound by rubbing together two hard

body parts.

Beetles hatch from eggs. The newborn

beetles do not look like adult beetles.

Over the course of their lives, their

form changes completely. Their bodies

change in three stages: larva, pupa, and

adult. This process is called

metamorphosis.

..More to explore

Firefly • Insect • Metamorphosis

Beijing

Population

(2007

estimate), urban

area,

11,106,000

Beijing is the capital of China, a country

in eastern Asia. The city sits between

two rivers on a plain in northeastern

China. Beijing is an old city that has

played an important role in China’s history.

It has been China’s center of government

for almost 800 years. It is also

the country’s main center of industry,

education, and culture.

Beetles come in many different sizes and colors.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Beijing 49

Places of Interest

A huge plaza called Tiananmen Square

is often the site of political celebrations.

Many museums and monuments are

located there. At one end of the square is

a large gate called the Tiananmen. It has

become a symbol of China.

Through this gate is the Forbidden

City, a group of buildings from the

1400s. It contained the palaces of

several emperors. The Forbidden City

was so named because for many years

common people were not allowed there.

It is now a museum that is open to the

public.

Beijing is famous for its many parks.

The Summer Palace is known for its

beautiful landscaping and buildings,

including temples and bridges. Tiantan

Park contains the Temple of Heaven,

where emperors used to pray. Beihai

Park was built in the 1600s. Today, its

large lake is filled with boats in the summer

and ice skaters in the winter.

Economy

Factories in Beijing make cloth, cars,

electronics, computers, and machinery.

Unlike in many large cities, farmers

grow fruits and vegetables in the city

itself. Tourism also brings money to

Beijing.

History

People have lived in the Beijing area for

thousands of years. Several towns were

built on the site and later destroyed. In

the 1200s the Mongol leader Kublai

Khan built the city of Dadu on the site.

He made Dadu the capital of China.

Except for a few brief periods, the city

has been China’s capital ever since.

The city was renamed Beijing in the

early 1400s. It was known as Peking in

the United States and otherWestern

countries until the early 1980s. “Beijing”

is now the official way to write the city’s

name in English.

The Temple of Heaven in Beijing is more

than 500 years old.

Hundreds of children show their martial arts

skills in Beijing, China.

50 Beijing BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

In 1989 students held a protest against

the government in Tiananmen Square.

Government forces brought in tanks

and killed many people to break up the

protest. People around the world

criticized the government for its actions.

In the 1980s and ’90s, three of Beijing’s

historical areas were named World

Heritage sites by a branch of the United

Nations. They were the Forbidden City,

the Summer Palace, and the Temple of

Heaven.

#More to explore

China • Mongol Empire

Beirut

Population

(2003 estimate)

1,171,000

Beirut is the capital of Lebanon, a country

in the Middle East. The city spreads

over two hills along the coast of the

Mediterranean Sea. Beirut is Lebanon’s

main port and largest city. It was once

the most modern city in the Middle

East. However, a war in the late 20th

century caused a lot of damage there.

Tourism, banking, and other services are

important to the economy. Trade

through the port also brings money to

the city. Other major industries include

printing and food processing.

Beirut is an ancient city. It has been

conquered, destroyed, and rebuilt a

number of times. Over the centuries it

was ruled by Romans, Christian

Crusaders, and Arabs. Beirut was part

of the Turkish Ottoman Empire from

the 1500s to the early 1900s. After

World War I (1914–18) the French

ruled Lebanon. They made Beirut the

capital. Lebanon became an

independent country in 1943. Beirut

remained its capital.

Groups of Lebanese Muslims and Lebanese

Christians fought each other in a

civil war from 1975 to 1991. During the

war Beirut was divided into two

sections—a Christian East Beirut and a

Muslim West Beirut. After the war the

city remained divided, but it began to

rebuild its damaged buildings and

economy. In 2006 the city was damaged

again in fighting between the Lebanese

Muslim group known as Hezbollah and

forces from Israel.

#More to explore

Lebanon

Modern buildings stand among the ruins of

ancient structures in Beirut.

Beirut has

been a center

for education

since ancient

times. The

American University

of

Beirut became

a respected

school during

the 1900s.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Beirut 51

Belarus

Belarus is a country in eastern Europe.

Its capital and largest city is Minsk.

Belarus shares borders with Russia,

Poland, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Most of the country is flat, except for

central low hills. There are many wetlands,

including the Pripet Marshes in

the south. Belarus has cold winters and

cool summers.

Silver birch trees grow throughout

Belarus. Pines and spruces grow in the

north, while oak and hornbeam trees

grow in the south. Elk, deer, boars, and

European bison live in the forests. Birds

include partridges and ducks.

Belarusians make up the largest ethnic

group, followed by Russians. Most

people speak Belarusian and Russian.

Less than half the people are Christian;

the rest are nonreligious. More than two

thirds of the people live in cities.

Banking and other services, manufacturing,

and mining are important to

Belarus’ economy. Manufacturers make

machinery, chemicals, and food. Mines

provide potash, which is used to make

fertilizers. Belarus is also a leading producer

of peat, a type of fuel. Farmers

grow potatoes, sugar beets, barley, and

rye.

Slavic people settled in what is now

Belarus between the AD 500s and 700s.

Over the years the area was controlled

by various foreign powers, including

Russia, which took over in the 1700s. In

1922 Belarus became part of the Soviet

Union. In 1986 an accident at the Chernobyl

nuclear power plant in Ukraine

led to many health problems in Belarus.

In 1990 Belarus broke away from the

Soviet Union. In 1991 it declared full

independence.

..More to explore

Minsk • Union of Soviet Socialist

Republics •Wetland

People dance around a burning scarecrow

in Minsk, Belarus. The festivities are part of

a celebration marking the end of winter.

Facts About

BELARUS

Black Sea

Population

(2008 estimate)

9,675,000

Area

80,153 sq mi

(207,595 sq km)

Capital

Minsk

Form of

government

Republic

Major cities

Minsk, Homyel,

Mahilyow,

Vitsyebsk,

Hrodna

52 Belarus BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Belau

..see Palau.

Belfast

Population

(2006 estimate)

267,000

The United Kingdom is a country in

western Europe that is made up of four

main parts: England, Scotland,Wales,

andNorthern Ireland. Belfast isNorthern

Ireland’s capital and largest city. The city

is located in the northeastern part of the

island of Ireland. It lies where the Lagan

River flows into a part of the Irish Sea.

The economy of Belfast is based mainly

on service industries, such as health care,

social services, and tourism. The city is

Northern Ireland’s center of trade, banking,

and education. It is also the main

seaport in Northern Ireland.

People have lived in the Belfast area for

thousands of years. Belfast began as a

small fishing village. In the 1600s Scottish

and English settlers formed a colony

in the area. They built up a large industry

that made linen cloth.

Belfast and the rest of the island of Ireland

became part of the United Kingdom

in 1801. In 1920 the southern part

of the island became the separate country

of Ireland. Belfast was made the capital

of Northern Ireland, which remained

in the United Kingdom.

Throughout much of the 1900s Belfast

was torn by violent conflicts between its

two main groups—Protestants and

Roman Catholics. They fought about

whether Northern Ireland should stay in

the United Kingdom or join Ireland.

The United Kingdom is mainly Protestant,

while Ireland is mostly Catholic.

Most of the city’s people are Protestant.

In the late 1960s Belfast’s Catholics protested

against unfair treatment by the

Protestants. Deadly violence broke out.

Many people left the city in the 1970s

and 1980s because of the violence and

the loss of manufacturing jobs. The

fighting lasted until a peace agreement

was signed in 1998. After that the city

was more stable, and its economy

improved. However, clashes broke out

again in the early 21st century.

..More to explore

Northern Ireland • United Kingdom

Queen’s University is the oldest university in

Belfast. It was founded in 1845 by Victoria,

queen of the United Kingdom.

Belfast is

famous for its

shipbuilding.

The passenger

ship Titanic,

which sank

during its first

trip in 1912,

was built in

Belfast.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Belfast 53

Belgium

The Kingdom of Belgium is a small,

prosperous country in northwestern

Europe. Brussels is the capital and largest

city.

Geography

Belgium is bordered by The Netherlands,

Germany, Luxembourg, and France. The

North Sea lies to the northwest.

Belgium is divided into three main

regions. Lower Belgium, in the north, is

flat and low. Middle Belgium, in the

central part of the country, has many

farms on its plains. Upper Belgium, in

the south, includes the Ardennes highlands

and forests. Most of Belgium’s

wild animals—including boars, wildcats,

deer, and pheasants—are found in the

Ardennes.

People

Belgians are divided into two main

groups. More than half of the people are

Flemings, who live mostly in the north.

About one third are Walloons, who live

mostly in the south. The Flemings speak

Netherlandic, also known as Flemish or

Dutch. TheWalloons speak French. A

smaller number of people speak German.

Most Belgians are Roman Catholics.

Most of the people live in cities.

Economy

Banking and other services, manufacturing,

and international trade are the most

important parts of Belgium’s economy.

Manufacturers make chemicals, food

products, cars and car parts, and

machinery. The city of Antwerp is a

center of diamond cutting and dealing.

Farming is only a small part of the

economy.

History

Belgium takes its name from the

Belgae, a group of Celts who settled in

The Ardennes is a region of hills and forests

in the south of Belgium.

54 Belgium BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

the region during prehistoric times. The

Romans, led by Julius Caesar,

conquered the area in 57 BC. Germanic

Franks took control of the area in the

AD 400s and converted the people to

Christianity. By the end of the 800s

Belgium was divided into many

independent territories. Flemish towns

became centers of international trade

during the Middle Ages.

Foreign Rule

In the 1300s Belgium came under the

control of Burgundy, a territory that

included part of France. The Hapsburgs,

a powerful German family, ruled Belgium

for most of the 1500s through the

1700s.

In 1795 France seized Belgium. Following

the defeat of French emperor Napoleon

I in 1815, Belgium passed to the

mostly Protestant country of The Netherlands.

The many Roman Catholics in

Belgium fiercely resisted Dutch rule. In

1830 the Belgians rose up in rebellion,

and the following year they proclaimed

the independent Kingdom of Belgium.

Independence

In the late 1800s Belgian king Leopold

II gained control of a colony in the

Congo region of Africa (now the Democratic

Republic of the Congo). The Belgians

ruled their colony, sometimes

harshly, until 1960.

DuringWorldWar I (1914–18) and

WorldWar II (1939–45) Germany

invaded and occupied Belgium. During

WorldWar II the Nazis sent hundreds of

thousands of Belgians to Germany and

forced them to work.

AfterWorldWar II Belgium supported

the peaceful cooperation between the

countries of western Europe. It was a

founding member of the North Atlantic

Treaty Organization (NATO) and the

European Economic Community (later

called the European Union).

During the 1960s tensions grew

between Flemings andWalloons. The

government divided Belgium into three

language regions: Flemish Flanders,

FrenchWallonia, and bilingual Brussels.

In the 1990s the regions gained more

power to govern their own affairs, such

as education, transportation, and cultural

matters. They shared other powers

with the national government. The king

kept little political power.

..More to explore

Brussels • Congo, Democratic Republic

of the • European Union • Hapsburgs

• North Atlantic Treaty Organization

The city of Brugge in northwestern Belgium

is known for its network of canals.

Facts About

BELGIUM

Population

(2008 estimate)

10,697,000

Area

11,787 sq mi

(30,528 sq km)

Capital

Brussels

Form of

government

Federal constitutional

monarchy

Major cities

Brussels, Antwerp,

Ghent,

Charleroi, Liege

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Belgium 55

Belgrade

Population

(2002 estimate)

1,120,092

Belgrade is the capital of Serbia, a country

in southeastern Europe. The city is

located where the Sava and Danube

rivers meet.

Most of Serbia’s industry is in Belgrade.

Factories there make tractors, machines,

electrical equipment, chemicals, and

clothing. Many people in Belgrade work

for the government or in service industries,

such as education and banking.

Serbia’s best farmland is also in the Belgrade

region.

Belgrade has long been an important

city because of its location. Several land

and river trade routes meet at the city’s

site. Celtic people settled the site in the

300s BC. The town was later attacked

and rebuilt many times. In AD 1284 a

group called the Serbs captured Belgrade.

In 1402 they made Belgrade the

capital of their kingdom. The Turkish

Ottoman Empire ruled the city from

1521 to the 1800s. In the late 1800s

Belgrade again became the capital of

Serbia.

In the 1900s fighting damaged Belgrade

many times, including during World

Wars I and II. In 1918 the city became

the capital of the new Kingdom of

Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. That

country was later renamed Yugoslavia.

In the early 1990s parts of Yugoslavia

broke away, leaving only Serbia and

neighboring Montenegro in the

country. In 1999 a part of Serbia called

Kosovo tried to break free. International

forces bombed Belgrade during the

conflict.

In 2003 Yugoslavia changed its name to

Serbia and Montenegro. The government

remained in Belgrade. In 2006

Serbia and Montenegro split, and Belgrade

became the capital of Serbia.

..More to explore

Serbia

A crowd of students gathers at

Saint Sava Church in Belgrade

for a peace celebration.

56 Belgrade BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Belize

The Central American country of Belize

was Great Britain’s last colony on the

American mainland. The capital is Belmopan.

Belize is bordered by Mexico and Guatemala.

The Caribbean Sea lies to the east.

Rain forests cover much of the interior.

The Maya Mountains run through the

south. Lowlands lie along the coast. The

climate is warm year-round. Hurricanes

may occur from July through November,

during the rainy season.

Forests of mahogany, sapodilla, and

other trees cover almost half of Belize.

Grasslands and mangrove trees cover the

coastal lowlands.Wild animals include

jaguars, tapirs, American crocodiles, and

manatees.

The people of Belize include mestizos

(people with both European and Mayan

roots), Creoles (those with European and

African roots), Maya Indians, and Garifuna

(those with African and Carib

Indian roots). There are also some whites

and Asians. English is the official language,

but people speak many local languages.

Most of the people are Christian.

About half of the people live in cities.

Tourism and trade are the most important

parts of Belize’s economy. But

many people in Belize earn their living

from farming. Sugarcane, oranges,

grapefruit, and bananas are among the

main food crops. Fishing and logging

are important, too. Belize’s exports

include shrimp, sugar, fruit, and clothing.

The Maya lived in what is now Belize

from about AD 300 to 900. The Spanish

came in the 1500s. British loggers

settled there in the 1600s. In 1862 Great

Britain made the area the colony of British

Honduras. Belize gained independence

in 1981.

..More to explore

Belmopan • Central America • Maya

The Mayan ruins of Xunantunich sit on a

hilltop in Belize.

Facts About

BELIZE

Population

(2008 estimate)

323,000

Area

8,867 sq mi

(22,965 sq km)

Capital

Belmopan

Form of

government

Constitutional

monarchy

Major cities

Belize City, San

Ignacio/Santa

Elena, Orange

Walk, Belmopan,

Dangriga

US . BUMBRA. FOL R

OE

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Belize 57

Bell, Alexander

Graham

Alexander Graham Bell was an inventor

and a teacher of the deaf. He is famous

for creating one of the world’s most

important communication devices—the

telephone.

Alexander Graham Bell was born in

Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 3,

1847. Alexander was mostly schooled at

home. As a young man Alexander

worked with his father to teach deaf

people to speak.

In the mid-1870s, Bell began work on

the telephone with Thomas Augustus

Watson. On March 10, 1876, Bell made

the first successful test of the telephone.

He spoke a few words toWatson, beginning

with “Mr.Watson, come here.”

At the Centennial Exposition of 1876 in

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bell and

Watson demonstrated the telephone to

the public. People were amazed by this

new device. In 1877 Bell established the

Bell Telephone Company.

After his success with the telephone, Bell

pursued his interests in science, invention,

and the education of deaf people.

In 1890 he founded an organization in

Washington, D.C., to teach speech to

hearing-impaired people. This organization

later became the Alexander Graham

Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard

of Hearing.

Alexander Graham Bell died on August

2, 1922. At the time of his burial, every

telephone of the Bell system in the

United States and Canada was kept

silent for one minute.

#More to explore

Telephone

Bell, Cool Papa

The baseball player called Cool Papa

Bell is known as one of the fastest base

runners of all time. He was elected to

the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.

James Thomas Bell was born on May

17, 1903, in Starkville, Mississippi. He

began playing baseball as a professional

at age 19. At the time, African Americans

were not allowed to play for major

league teams. They played instead for

teams in the Negro leagues.

Bell earned the nickname Cool Papa as a

young pitcher. One day he struck out

Oscar Charleston, a future Hall of Fame

Alexander Graham Bell demonstrates his

telephone in 1876.

Alexander

Graham Bell

also invented

a machine

called a photophone.

It

transmitted

sound on a

beam of light.

58 Bell, Alexander Graham BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

player, without showing any nervousness

at all. Later, after hurting his pitching

arm, Bell played in the outfield.

Bell’s career lasted from 1922 to 1950.

He played for several different Negro

league teams as well as for leagues in

Mexico and the Dominican Republic. In

1940 he won the Mexican League’s

triple crown, leading the league in batting

average, home runs, and runs batted

in.

Bell’s outstanding talent was his speed.

It is believed that he once stole 175

bases in less than 200 games. The most

famous story about his speed was told by

his old roommate Satchel Paige. Paige

joked that Cool Papa could turn out the

hotel room lights and be in his bed

before the room got dark!

Bell finished his baseball career in 1950

as a player-manager of a team in Kansas

City. He died on March 7, 1991.

Belmopan

Population

(2007 estimate)

16,435

Belmopan is the capital of the small

Central American country of Belize.

Most people in the city work for the

government of Belize.

Belize City was once the capital of Belize.

Floods from a hurricane damaged

Belize City in 1961. The government of

Belize decided to build a new capital. It

chose a site away from the coast to avoid

flooding.Work began on Belmopan in

1966. The government offices moved

there in 1970. But few people moved

there besides government workers.

..More to explore

Belize

Cool Papa Bell

A fruit and vegetable market overflows with

goods in Belmopan.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Belmopan 59

Benin

Benin is a country on the west coast of

Africa. Porto-Novo is the capital, but

many government offices are in the city

of Cotonou.

Benin is bordered by Niger, Nigeria,

Togo, and Burkina Faso. The Gulf of

Guinea lies to the south. Benin is mostly

flat but has some hills and low mountains.

It is hot and humid in the south.

The north is drier.

Woodlands cover most of central Benin.

Grasslands cover the north. Elephants,

antelope, panthers, monkeys, crocodiles,

and tropical birds live in the south.

There are more than 40 ethnic groups in

Benin. The largest groups are the Fon,

the Yoruba, and the Adjara. Most

Beninese are Christians or follow traditional

beliefs, including voodoo. About

20 percent of the people are Muslims.

French is the official language, but most

people speak local languages.

Benin’s economy is based on agriculture.

Its main crops include cassava, yams,

corn, cotton, and oil palm fruit. The

Beninese also raise cattle, goats, sheep,

pigs, and chickens. Trade is another

important industry. Benin’s main products

are cotton yarn, food and beverages,

and crude petroleum (oil).

In the early 1600s several kingdoms,

including the large and powerful

Dahomey kingdom, ruled what is now

Benin. Dahomey became one of the

largest suppliers of slaves to Europeans.

France made Dahomey a colony in

1894.

Dahomey became independent in 1960.

After years of political troubles, army

officer Mathieu Kerekou seized power in

1972. In 1975 he changed the country’s

name to Benin. In the 1990s Benin got

a more democratic government.

..More to explore

Dahomey • Porto-Novo

A traditional village stands in the hills of

Benin.

Facts About

BENIN

Population

(2008 estimate)

8,295,000

Area

43,484 sq mi

(112,622 sq km)

Capital

Porto-Novo

Form of

government

Multiparty

republic

Major cities

Cotonou, Porto-

Novo, Parakou,

Djougou,

Abomey

60 Benin BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Bering Sea

The Bering Sea lies between Asia and

North America in the far northern part

of the Pacific Ocean. On the west the

sea borders the part of Russia called

Siberia. To the east is the U.S. state of

Alaska. The Aleutian Islands stretch

across the sea’s southern boundary.

The Bering Sea is one of the coldest and

most dangerous seas in the world. In

winter, the temperature over northern

and eastern parts of the sea may drop to

.49° F (.45° C). Floating ice is common

in the north. Ships normally sail in

the sea only between May or June and

October.

Fishing and fish-related industries are

the main economic activities in the

region. More than 300 species of fish are

found in the Bering Sea. They include

herring, cod, flounder, halibut, and pollack.

Huge numbers of salmon from

Alaska and Russia spend their adult lives

in the sea. There are also many shellfish.

The islands in the Bering Sea are a

breeding ground for sea otters and fur

seals. A huge number of seabirds also

live in and around the sea.

..More to explore

Pacific Ocean

Berlin

Population

(2006

estimate), city,

3,395,189;

urban area,

4,200,072

Berlin is the capital of Germany, a country

in central Europe. It is Germany’s

largest city. Berlin is also a center of education

and culture. Two of Germany’s

leading universities are in the city. The

Berlin Opera and Berlin Philharmonic

Orchestra are world famous.

Economy

Trade and the development of technology

are important to Berlin’s economy.

Water flows under a natural arch on the

Bering Sea in Alaska.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Berlin 61

The city is also a center of industry. Factories

in Berlin make electronics,

machinery, chemicals, cloth, and many

other products.

History

Berlin was founded in the early 1200s. It

was the capital of the German kingdom

of Prussia for most of the 1700s and

1800s. The city later became the capital

of Germany.

During WorldWar II (1939–45) Berlin

was nearly destroyed. The city was the

site of heavy bombing and bloody fighting.

More than 150,000 residents of

Berlin died.

Germany lost the war to the countries

known as the Allies. The Allies divided

Germany into two countries: East Germany

and West Germany. They also

divided Berlin into two sections. East

Berlin became the capital of East Germany.

(The capital ofWest Germany

was Bonn.) Different Allied powers created

different types of government in

East andWest Germany. The Soviet

Union brought Communism into East

Germany and East Berlin. The other

Allied powers madeWest Germany and

West Berlin a democracy.

About 2.5 million people fled from East

Berlin intoWest Berlin between 1949

and 1961. To prevent more people from

leaving, East Germany built a wall

through Berlin. The BerlinWall was

heavily guarded. It separated East Berlin

fromWest Berlin for almost 30 years.

East Germany’s Communist government

collapsed in 1989. People began to

tear down the BerlinWall. In 1990 the

two parts of Germany and Berlin were

reunited. Berlin was again the capital of

all of Germany.

..More to explore

Communism • Democracy • Germany

•WorldWar II

Bermuda

Bermuda is a cluster of islands in the

North Atlantic Ocean. There are seven

main islands and about 170 small

islands. The seven main islands form a

shape that looks like a fishhook. Bermuda

is a colony of Great Britain. The

capital is Hamilton.

Bermuda is far from other land. The

closest land is Cape Hatteras, North

Carolina, which lies about 650 miles

(1,050 kilometers) to the west. The largest

island is Great Bermuda, which is

In 1948–49

the United

States and its

allies brought

food to Berlin

in airplanes,

after Soviet

troops blocked

the roads. This

project was

called the

Berlin Airlift.

For many years the Brandenburg Gate, on

the left, was part of a wall that divided East

and West Berlin. Now it stands at the center

of a reunited Berlin.

62 Bermuda BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

usually called Main Island. It is larger

than all the other islands combined.

Coral reefs surround the islands.

Bermuda’s climate is mild and humid.

Common plants include flowering

shrubs and palm, pine, and mangrove

trees. Some birds visit the islands every

year as they migrate. Lizards and frogs

are the only other wildlife.

More than half of the people of Bermuda

are black. They are descendants of

Africans that white settlers brought to

the islands as slaves. There are also many

British and some Portuguese. English

and Portuguese are the main languages.

Bermuda’s economy depends on services.

Tourism and finance are the most

important industries. Many insurance

companies and other financial businesses

have offices in Bermuda.

Bermuda was named for the Spanish

explorer Juan de Bermudez. He may

have visited the islands in 1503. English

settlers arrived in Bermuda in the early

1600s. Britain made Bermuda a colony

in 1684.

Britain and, later, the United States set

up military bases in Bermuda. By the

late 20th century the bases had been

shut down. However, Bermuda

remained a British colony. In 1995 the

people of the islands voted against independence

from Britain.

..More to explore

Atlantic Ocean • Coral

Bern

Population

(2007

estimate), urban

area, 344,724

Bern is the capital of Switzerland, a

country in central Europe. The Aare

River loops through the older part of

the city. Bern’s name comes from the

German word for “bear.” Bears are a

symbol of the city. They have been kept

on display in Bern for hundreds of

years.

Many people in the city work for the

government or the University of Bern.

Tourism is also important to the

economy. Factories in Bern make milk

chocolate, condensed milk, machinery,

and scientific instruments.

Bern began in 1191 as a military post.

According to legend, it was named for

the first animal killed by its founder,

Berthold V, in that year. It grew into a

city and then into an independent state.

Bern became part of Switzerland in

1353. From the 1300s to the 1700s

Bern was very powerful. This power

ended when the French invaded in

1798. French rule ended in 1803. Bern

became the capital of Switzerland in

1848.

..More to explore

Switzerland

The Universal

Postal Union,

a group that

sets rules for

the flow of

mail between

countries, is

based in Bern,

Switzerland.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bern 63

Berry

Berries are small, fleshy fruits that usually

have many seeds. People and animals

eat many types of berries.

A true berry is a single fruit that grows

from one flower. Blueberries, cranberries,

currants, and gooseberries are all

true berries.

Botanists, or people who study plants,

call many other fruits true berries. These

fruits include grapes, tomatoes, dates,

watermelons, and oranges.

Most people call other fruits berries—

for example, blackberries, raspberries,

and strawberries. But these are not true

berries. They are aggregate fruits, or

groups of little fruits that grow from

one flower. Mulberries are not true

berries, either. They are multiple fruits,

or fruits that grow from a bunch of

flowers.

..More to explore

Blueberry • Cranberry • Fruit

• Raspberry • Strawberry

Bethlehem

Population

(2007 estimate)

25,266

Bethlehem is an ancient town in the

Middle East. It is important to Christians,

who believe it is where Jesus

Christ was born. Bethlehem lies just

outside the city of Jerusalem. It is

located in an area called the West Bank.

In modern times the country of Israel

and the Palestinian people have fought

to control theWest Bank.

Tourists from all over the world visit

Bethlehem because of its religious

importance. Craftspeople in the town

make religious gift items to sell to the

tourists. Bethlehem is also a center of

trade and a market for local farm

products.

Bethlehem is an important historical site

to Jews as well as to Christians. The

town is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible

as the early home of King David. He

ruled a Jewish kingdom about 3,000

years ago.

The Christian Bible tells that Jesus was

born in Bethlehem about 2,000 years

ago. In the 300s the Church of the

Nativity was built at the site thought to

be Jesus’ birthplace. It was rebuilt in the

Blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and

blueberries are all called berries. But scientists

say that only one of them, the blueberry,

is a true berry.

64 Berry BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

500s. Today it is one of the world’s oldest

Christian churches.

#More to explore

Israel • Jerusalem • Jesus Christ

• Palestine

Bethune, Mary

McLeod

Throughout her life Mary McLeod

Bethune worked to improve the lives of

African Americans. She served as an

adviser to President Franklin Roosevelt

on the problems of minority groups. She

also led several African American organizations.

Mary McLeod was born on July 10,

1875, on a small farm near Mayesville,

South Carolina. Her parents were

former slaves. She was not able to go to

school until 1885, when missionaries

opened a school for black children. She

went on to college in North Carolina

and Illinois. In 1898 she married Albertus

Bethune.

She taught school in the South and in

1904 opened a school for black girls in

Daytona Beach, Florida. She later said

she started the school with nothing

more than “five little girls, a dollar and a

half, and faith in God.” It later merged

with a school for boys called Cookman

Institute and became Bethune-

Cookman College.

Bethune later entered public life. In

1936 Roosevelt appointed her to the

National Youth Administration. The

year before that she had founded the

National Council of NegroWomen. She

also served as vice president of the

National Association for the Advancement

of Colored People (NAACP) from

1940 to 1955. She died on May 18,

1955.

#More to explore

African Americans • National

Association for the Advancement of

Colored People • Roosevelt, Franklin D.

Many Christians visit Bethlehem at Christmastime

to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Mary McLeod Bethune

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bethune, Mary McLeod 65

Bhutan

The country of Bhutan lies in the high

Himalayas of south-central Asia. The

capital is Thimphu.

Bhutan is surrounded by China and

India. In the north, snowcapped mountains

rise to more than 24,000 feet

(7,300 meters). Valleys cover central

Bhutan. In the south are jungles and

savannas.

Pine and oak trees grow on the mountains.

In the summer, yaks graze in pastures

on the mountain slopes.Wild

animals include snow leopards, monkeys,

and migrating birds.

The Bhutia, people with ancestors from

the Tibet region of China, make up

about half of the population. The Bhutia

practice Buddhism, the official religion,

and mainly speak Dzongkha, the official

language. The Nepalese are the second

largest group. They speak Nepali and

practice Hinduism. The smallest group

is the Sharchops, Buddhists from nearby

Indian areas who probably lived in the

region first.

Farming is the main occupation of Bhutan.

Farmers raise cattle, pigs, goats,

horses, and sheep. They grow corn, rice,

potatoes, sugarcane, wheat, fruits, and

vegetables. Logging and construction are

also important to the economy.

People from Tibet likely settled in what

is now Bhutan in the AD 800s. In the

1600s a Tibetan Buddhist priest became

the first king of Bhutan. The country’s

kings kept Bhutan isolated from the rest

of the world for hundreds of years. In

the mid-1900s that began to change.

The king at the time made changes to

start to modernize the country. By 2008

Bhutan had a new constitution and an

elected parliament for the first time.

..More to explore

Himalayas • Thimphu • Tibet

A Buddhist monastery known as the Tiger’s

Nest sits high up on a cliffside in western

Bhutan.

Facts About

BHUTAN

Population

(2008 estimate)

682,000

Area

14,824 sq mi

(38,394 sq km)

Capital

Thimphu

Form of

government

Constitutional

monarchy

Major cities

Thimphu,

Phuntsholing

66 Bhutan BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Bible

The Bible is an important book to both

Jews and Christians. However, the Bible

of Judaism is different from the Bible of

Christianity, even though they include

some of the same writings. The books of

the Bible were written by many different

authors over many hundreds of years.

The Bible of Judaism

The Jewish Bible focuses on the religious

experiences of the ancient nation of

Israel. It was written from about 1200

BC to 100 BC, mostly in Hebrew. It contains

24 books divided into three sections:

the Law, the Prophets, and the

Writings.

The first five books are Genesis, Exodus,

Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

Together they are known as the Law

because they explain and interpret God’s

laws. They also tell how ancient Israel

became a nation and came to possess the

promised land. These five books are

sometimes called the Torah.

The books of the Prophets contain messages

from the prophets—people of

ancient Israel who spoke to the nation

on behalf of God. These books also tell

more about the history of ancient Israel.

The Writings section includes a variety

of books that contain poetry, stories,

history, and other types of literature.

Among them is the Psalms, a collection

of sacred songs and poems from various

periods in the history of Israel. The

otherWritings use sayings and stories to

teach people about proper behavior.

The Bible of Christianity

The Christian Bible is made up of two

parts: the Old Testament and the New

Testament. The Old Testament is very

similar to the Jewish Bible, but the

books are arranged and numbered differently.

Not all Christian Bibles are exactly alike.

Besides the 39 books of the Christian

Old Testament, Roman Catholic and

Eastern Orthodox churches include

some books that are not accepted by

Protestants. These books are known as

the Apocrypha. The Jewish Bible does

not contain the Apocrypha either.

The word Bible

comes from a

word in the

Greek language

that

means “book.”

Many early copies of the Bible were written

by hand. They included colorful pictures.

One such illustration shows a story from the

book of Exodus. It tells how Moses helped

free the Israelites by leading them from

Egypt through the Red Sea.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bible 67

Christians created the New Testament

after Jesus’ death to help spread the message

about Jesus to the world. The New

Testament is thought to have been written

between about AD 50 and 150. The

New Testament has four sections: the

Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the

Epistles (letters), and Revelation.

The four books called the Gospels tell

about Jesus’ life and teachings. Each

book is believed to have been written by

one of Jesus’ closest followers: Matthew,

Mark, Luke, and John.

The Acts of the Apostles tell about the

early history of the church and its messengers

(apostles) after Jesus’ death.

The Epistles are letters of advice and

instruction. Saint Paul wrote most of

them. All the letters were later copied

and spread among the churches in the

Roman Empire to give followers solutions

to local church problems and

instructions on how to live a Christian

life. The letters also gave interpretations

of the Gospels.

The Book of Revelation describes the

end of the world and the events leading

up to it. It sends a message of hope to

Christians, reminding them to keep

their faith through trying situations

because the Kingdom of God is near.

#More to explore

Christianity • Eastern Orthodox

Churches • Jesus Christ • Judaism

• Protestantism • Roman Catholicism

• Torah

Bicycle

A bicycle, or bike, is a machine for getting

from place to place. Most bicycles

The books of the New Testament were originally written in Greek. The Greek text can be

seen on a page from a Bible made in the 500s.

68 Bicycle BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

have two wheels set in a frame. The

frame includes handlebars for steering, a

seat, and two pedals. Millions of people

throughout the world ride bicycles for

fun, for exercise, for sport (called

cycling), and for transportation.

How a BicycleWorks

To ride a bicycle, the rider sits on the

seat and places the feet on the pedals.

The pedals are connected by a chain to

the back wheel. When the rider pushes

on the pedals, the back wheel turns.

This moves the bicycle forward. The

rider steers by turning the handlebars or

by leaning.

Bicycles may have coaster brakes or

hand brakes. On a bicycle with coaster

brakes, a rider stops by pedaling backward.

Hand brakes are controlled using

levers on the handlebars. When a rider

squeezes the levers, pads squeeze against

the wheels and the bicycle stops.

Some bicycles also have gears, or speeds.

Shifting, or changing, gears lets the rider

keep a steady pedaling speed when traveling

on different surfaces. Higher gears

make pedaling harder but allow the

bicycle to go faster. A rider may shift the

bicycle into a higher gear when riding

on smooth, flat ground. Lower gears

make pedaling easier but slow down the

bicycle. A rider may shift to a lower gear

when riding up a hill.

Types of Bicycles

There are six main types of bicycles:

utility, mountain, hybrid, touring, racing,

and bicycle motocross (BMX). Utility

bicycles have heavy frames and

usually one speed. Mountain bikes have

wide tires, flat handlebars, and many

speeds. They are good for riding on

rough trails. Hybrid bicycles are like

mountain bikes, but their tires are not as

wide. They are good for both roads and

off-road trails. Touring and racing

bicycles have narrow tires, lightweight

frames, curved handlebars, and many

speeds. They are often called road bikes

because they are best for riding on roads.

BMX bikes are designed for racing on

dirt tracks. BMX bikes have a small

Safe bicyclists always wear helmets.

Two men ride an early form of bicycle

called an ordinary, or a penny-farthing.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bicycle 69

frame, a low seat, high handlebars, and

one speed.

History

The first machines similar to bicycles

were invented in the early 1800s. They

had no pedals. Later machines had pedals

and front wheels that were much

larger than the back wheels. The front

wheels were about 5 feet (1.5 meters)

tall. By about 1900 bicycles looked similar

to the bicycles of today.

#More to explore

Cycling • Transportation

Big Tree

#see Giant Sequoia.

Bill of Rights

A written statement that explains the

basic freedoms and rights of citizens is

generally called a bill of rights. In the

United States, the first 10 amendments

to the Constitution are called the Bill of

Rights.

History

For most of human history there was no

thought given to the rights of individual

citizens. The king or other ruler often

had complete power over the people.

This began to change in the late Middle

Ages. The nobles of England forced

King John in 1215 to guarantee them

certain rights. The document he signed

was called the Magna Carta, or Great

Charter.

Many years later people in some countries

tried to change their governments

so that the governments would represent

the people and not just the king. They

often drew up a bill of rights. England

produced a Bill of Rights in 1689, and

the French Declaration of the Rights of

Man (1789) stated the principles of the

French Revolution.

United States Bill of Rights

The U.S. Constitution of 1787 set up a

government that was subject to majority

rule. However, many people wanted to

protect individual rights and limit government

power. They put statements

such as the Virginia Declaration of

Rights (1776) into state constitutions.

Their demands led lawmakers to add 10

amendments to the Constitution in

1791. Among other things, those

amendments guarantee freedom of religion,

freedom of speech, and the right

to public assembly. The rights granted

The U.S. Bill of Rights became law in 1791. by the Bill of Rights are not absolute.

70 Big Tree BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Decisions by judges have expanded

some rights and reduced others.

Other Documents

In 1948 the United Nations accepted

the Universal Declaration of Human

Rights as a standard for all countries.

Governments and international organizations

have used the declaration to

judge how well human rights are

observed around the world.

#More to explore

Amendment • French Revolution

• Human Rights • Magna Carta

• United Nations • United States

Constitution

Bin Laden,

Osama

Osama bin Laden is the leader of the

terrorist group al-Qaeda. A terrorist is a

person who tries to control people

through violence and fear. Bin Laden

and others founded al-Qaeda in the late

1980s. Their goal was to protect the

religion of Islam and Muslim people.

Early Life

Bin Laden was born in 1957 in Riyadh,

Saudi Arabia. He grew up in a large and

very rich family. He attended King

Abdul Aziz University and became an

engineer.

Organizing al-Qaeda

In 1979 troops from the Soviet Union

invaded Afghanistan, a Muslim country.

Bin Laden went to Afghanistan to help

fight the invaders. It was during this

period that he helped found al-Qaeda.

He returned to Saudi Arabia as a hero.

Soon after he returned the Persian Gulf

War broke out. The Saudi government

allowed troops from the United States to

establish a military base there. Bin

Laden was angry with his government

for letting the U.S. troops into the country.

He was also angry with the U.S.

government because he believed that it

was interfering in the Muslim world. He

moved to Sudan to set up training

camps in 1994. He later moved to

Afghanistan.

Attacks

Al-Qaeda carried out attacks worldwide

throughout the 1990s. On September

11, 2001, members of al-Qaeda hijacked

four airplanes. They crashed three of

them into the World Trade Center in

New York City and the Pentagon near

Washington, D.C. The fourth airplane

crashed in a field in Pennsylvania. About

Osama bin Laden 3,000 people died in these attacks.

Osama bin

Laden had

more than 50

brothers and

sisters.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bin Laden, Osama 71

powered binoculars can make objects

look three times bigger. They are handy

for watching a sporting event or a play

or concert in a theater.

The size of the lenses is important, too.

Larger lenses allow more light to enter

the binoculars. This makes them work

better at night or in dim light. However,

larger lenses are also heavier. This makes

the binoculars harder to carry and

harder to hold steady. Smaller lenses

might not be best for night viewing, but

they are easy to hold and to carry.

#More to explore

Lens • Prism • Telescope

Biology

Biology is the study of living things. A

biologist is a scientist who studies biology.

Biologists try to understand the

natural world and the things that live in

it. These things include plants, animals,

fungi, protozoa, algae, bacteria, and

viruses.

The study of biology covers many areas.

It is usually divided into separate

branches, or fields. Some biologists

study anatomy, or the structure of living

things. Some study physiology, or how

the different parts of a body work

together. Still others study ecology, or

how organisms interact with their environment.

There are many other

branches as well.

In addition to these general fields, some

branches of biology study certain types

of living things. Some biologists study

large groups, such as all animals (zoology)

or all plants (botany). Others, however,

only study specific groups, such as

insects, birds, or mosses.

No one knows exactly when humans

first began to study the natural world.

Most biologists agree, however, that it

was thousands of years ago. Many of

today’s ideas about biology started from

the work of scientists who lived hundreds

of years ago.

#More to explore

Anatomy • Botany • Ecology • Zoology

Biome

A biome is a large region of Earth that

has a certain climate and certain types of

living things. Major biomes include

tundras, forests, grasslands, and deserts.

The plants and animals of each biome

have traits that help them to survive in

their particular biome. Plants and animals

that live within smaller areas of a

biome also depend on each other for

Biologists study an island gray fox on Santa

Catalina Island near California.

During the

1900s, some

of the biggest

discoveries in

biology had to

do with a

material called

DNA. DNA is

present in

every cell of

every living

thing.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Biome 73

survival. These smaller areas are called

ecosystems. Each biome has many ecosystems.

Tundras

The tundra biome is found in extreme

northern regions. This biome has cold,

dry conditions. The main plants include

mosses, lichens, and short grasses. Arctic

foxes, reindeer, and migrating birds are

some common tundra animals.

Forests

Trees are the main plants in forest

biomes. There are several different types

of forest biome.

The taiga is a conifer forest biome. It lies

just south of the tundra biome. The

taiga has long, cold winters and short,

mild summers. It gets more rain than

tundras do, so it can support conifers.

Conifers are trees with needles, such as

spruces and firs. Lynx, timber wolves,

moose, and beavers live in this biome.

Deciduous forests are found mainly in

the Northern Hemisphere. This biome

has cold winters and warm summers.

The trees are deciduous, meaning that

they shed their leaves in the fall. Deer,

bears, bobcats, and squirrels are common

to this biome.

Tropical rain forests lie near the equator.

This biome has hot, wet conditions all

year long. Tall, tropical trees and many

other plants grow there. Monkeys, parrots,

and anaconda snakes are some of

the many rain forest animals.

Grasslands

Grassland biomes are places that get

enough rain for grasses to grow but not

enough to support forests. Temperate

grasslands have hot summers and cold

winters. Tropical grasslands, also known

as savannas, are hot all year long. Prairie

dogs and mule deer live in the temperate

grasslands of North America. Giraffes,

zebras, and lions live in the tropical

grasslands of Africa.

Not all deserts

are hot. A

cold desert

covers part of

Antarctica.

74 Biome BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Deserts

Deserts are the driest biome. The largest

desert, the Sahara, is in northern Africa.

Deserts receive less than 10 inches (25

centimeters) of rain each year. Cacti and

creosote bushes are two types of plant

that can survive the dry conditions.

Rattlesnakes, lizards, roadrunners, and

owls are some of the animals of this

biome.

#More to explore

Desert • Ecology • Forest • Grassland

• Rain Forest • Taiga • Tundra

Birch

The trees called birches have long been

known for their beautiful bark. Native

Americans used birch bark to make

canoes, tepees, and moccasins. Today

people use birch wood to make

furniture, flooring, and plywood.

Birches are also planted in parks and

gardens.

Birch trees are found in the northern

half of the world. They grow in areas

with cool to cold weather.

There are about 60 species, or types, of

birch. Some birches are shrubs, but most

are trees. The monarch birch of Japan is

one of the tallest birches. It grows to 100

feet (30 meters). Many birch trees in the

United States are 40 to 70 feet (12 to 21

meters) tall. Birches have narrow trunks.

Their bark is often white, and it has

lines that go from side to side. Most

young birch trees have bark that is easy

to peel off.

Birch leaves are usually bright green.

They turn golden yellow in the fall.

Clusters of flowers grow on birches.

They are called catkins. Some catkins

look like miniature pinecones. These

cones hold seeds. When the cone falls

apart, the seeds scatter.

Birches can reproduce in several ways.

Some birches grow from seeds. Others

sprout from birch trunks or birch roots.

#More to explore

Bark • Tree

Scientists in England created a humid tropical

biome under a dome. It was part of a

project to teach people about the relationships

between plants and amimals.

Birch trees are known for their white bark.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Birch 75

Bird

From pigeons in big cities to penguins

in Antarctica, all birds have similar features.

They all have wings, though they

cannot all fly. All birds also have feathers.

In fact, birds are the only living animals

that have feathers.

Birds have fascinated people throughout

history. Many people keep birds as pets

or enjoy watching them in the wild or at

zoos. In addition, farmers raise poultry

for their meat and eggs. Hunters shoot

some birds as game. People also use bird

feathers in various products and for

decoration.

Where Birds Live

Birds are found almost everywhere on

Earth. There are more than 9,000 species,

or types, alive today. Different types

of bird have adapted to different habitats,

from deserts to rain forests to icy

lands to cities.

Many birds migrate, or fly long distances

between their winter and summer

homes. For example, many European

birds travel to Africa for the winter. This

helps them find enough food yearround.

Physical Features

Birds are warm-blooded. This means

that their body temperature stays about

the same, regardless of the temperature

of their surroundings. Mammals,

including humans, are also warmblooded.

However, birds are more

closely related to the group of coldblooded

animals called reptiles than they

are to mammals. In fact, many scientists

think that birds developed from dinosaurs,

which were reptiles, millions of

years ago.

Size and Color

Birds vary greatly in size. The bee hummingbird

is the smallest living bird. It is

only about 2.5 inches (6.3 centimeters)

long and weighs less than 0.1 ounce (3

grams). The largest living bird is the

ostrich. Some male ostriches can stand 8

feet (2.5 meters) tall and weigh 300

pounds (135 kilograms).

Feather colors range from drab to very

bright. In many species the male is more

brightly colored than the female. The

female’s dull coloring may help it

remain hidden in the nest. In some

cases, the brightly colored male perches

a short distance away from the nest. In

this way, the male bird draws the attention

of enemies to himself and away

from the eggs and young. The male’s

Many people keep parakeets or

other birds as pets.

There were

no house

sparrows,

starlings, or

domestic

pigeons in

North

America

before Europeans

arrived.

Settlers

brought the

birds from

Europe.

76 Bird BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

showy coloring may also help it to

attract a mate.

Flight and Basic Structure

Most birds can fly. They are able to do

so because of their body structure and

feathers. Flying birds are strong but

light. Their powerful chest muscles help

them flap their wings. Many of their

bones are hollow, which keeps them

light. Their compact bodies narrow

toward the ends like jet airplanes. Air

flows smoothly over their feathers while

they fly.

However, a few types of bird cannot fly.

Penguins have paddlelike wings that are

useless for flying. But their wings help

them swim well. Ostriches and similar

flightless birds have small wings and

weak chests. They walk or run

everywhere on their strong legs. Most

other kinds of bird can walk (or swim)

and fly.

Every bird has two legs, two feet, and a

bill. Many birds have a pouchlike area of

the throat called the crop. The crop is

used to store food. Many birds also have

a gizzard, a part of the stomach that

grinds up food. Birds lack teeth, so they

cannot chew their food.

Feathers

Feathers help birds fly and protect them

from water, heat, and cold. Birds rearrange

and clean their feathers regularly.

Most kinds also apply oil to the feathers

from a gland near the tail.Water slides

off the oiled feathers instead of soaking

through. At least once a year birds shed

Birds have different kinds of bills to help

them eat different kinds of food.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bird 77

their old feathers and grow new ones.

This process is called molting.

Senses

Birds have sharp eyesight. For instance,

an American kestrel flying 100 feet (30

meters) above a field can spot a

grasshopper on the ground below.

However, birds generally have a

narrower range of hearing than humans

do. Their sense of smell is usually not

highly developed.

Behavior and Feeding Habits

Some types of bird live alone most of the

time. Other types are more social. They

may feed, sleep, fly, and nest in groups

called flocks.

Birds use many different sounds to communicate

with one another. For

example, some baby chicks stop moving

when their mother produces a danger

call. Birds may sing to attract mates.

They may also sing to announce that a

certain patch of land belongs to them.

Birds eat a wide variety of foods. Many

types eat insects. Some waterbirds catch

fish. Birds of prey catch many kinds of

animals, including other birds. Some

birds, such as vultures, feed on dead

animals and garbage. Many other types

eat plant material, such as seeds and

fruits.

Reproduction

Most birds breed at least once a year.

Many types build nests for their eggs. A

nest can range from a scrape in the sand

to a cup of twigs and mud to a complex

hanging basket. The female bird lays a

set of anywhere from 1 to 20 eggs,

depending on the species.

Most birds sit on their eggs to keep

them warm. This process is called incubation.

The eggs hatch into young birds

in about 11 to 80 days, depending on

the species. Some young birds can feed

themselves almost immediately. Other

types depend on their parents to provide

their food for a time.

#More to explore

Animal • Dinosaur • Feather

• Migration, Animal • Pet • Poultry

Bird, Flightless

Millions of years ago, all birds could fly.

But as time passed, some birds became

flightless. That is, they lost the ability to

fly, though they still have wings.

An American robin brings a worm to its

hungry young.

78 Bird, Flightless BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Why Some Birds Do Not Fly

Scientists do not agree on how some

birds became flightless. One idea has to

do with where the birds lived. The first

flightless birds may have appeared in

isolated places, or places cut off from the

rest of the world. Birds living in these

isolated spots, like islands, found no

enemies. For that reason, they did not

need to fly to stay alive. So, as these

birds evolved, or developed over thousands

of years, they gradually lost their

ability to fly.

Flightless Birds Today

The largest flightless birds are the

ostriches of Africa. Rheas, emus, and

cassowaries are other large flightless

birds. Rheas live in South America,

emus live in Australia, and cassowaries

live in Australia and New Guinea. All

these birds are about 5 feet (1.5 meters)

tall and have very strong legs.

Kiwis and penguins are two kinds of

smaller flightless birds. Kiwis are about

the size of a chicken. They live in New

Zealand. Penguins can be up to about

3.5 feet (1 meter) tall. They live mainly

in Antarctica.

Extinct Flightless Birds

Some flightless birds are extinct, or completely

wiped out. Huge elephant birds

lived on the island of Madagascar, off

the east coast of Africa. These birds

sometimes reached a height of 10 feet (3

meters) and a weight of about 1,000

pounds (450 kilograms). Elephant birds

disappeared within the last 1,000 years.

Moas lived on the islands of New

Zealand. In about AD 1250 people

arrived and began to hunt them for

food. Moas died out by about 1350.

Dodos lived on Mauritius, an island in

the Indian Ocean. Sailors arrived in

about 1507 and began to hunt dodos.

The flightless birds made their nests on

the ground, so their eggs were unprotected,

too. Pigs and rats, which came

with the people, easily found the eggs

and ate them. Dodos became extinct by

about 1690.

#More to explore

Bird • Ostrich • Penguin

Two young emus graze in a field with an

adult.

The flightless kiwi lives in New Zealand.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bird, Flightless 79

Bird of Prey

Several kinds of bird that eat animals

are known as birds of prey. Some

common birds of prey include eagles,

falcons, hawks, ospreys, owls, buzzards,

and vultures. Birds of prey are found all

over the world. They are sometimes

called raptors.

Birds of prey are usually large and

strong. Most are excellent hunters. Their

good eyesight helps them see prey from

far away. Most of the birds have hooked

beaks and sharp claws that are useful for

holding and killing prey. Most birds of

prey feed during the day and sleep at

night. Owls, however, hunt at night and

sleep during the day.

Birds of prey eat a great variety of animals.

Some kinds eat other birds. Some

eat insects, fish, rodents, snakes, frogs,

or other animals. A few kinds look for

animals that are already dead to eat.

Vultures, for instance, hardly ever hunt

live animals.

Many birds of prey keep the same mate

for their whole lives. Most kinds build

nests in trees, on ledges of cliffs, or on

the ground. They usually lay one to

four eggs. Owls, however, may lay up

to 12 eggs at a time. Most eggs are

white or greenish in color and have

spots.

Birds of prey are helpful to people

because they eat dead animals and kill

rodents and other pests. But some

people kill the birds. They fear the birds

will eat their livestock. And over the

years people have cut down many trees.

This has limited the areas where the

birds can live and find food. Chemicals

that people use to kill pests have also

harmed birds of prey. Several kinds are

in danger of dying out, or becoming

extinct.

#More to explore

Bird • Endangered Species

The common buzzard uses its claws to

grasp prey and its beak to tear flesh.

A screech owl holds a frog it has

just caught.

80 Bird of Prey BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Bishkek

Population

(1999 census)

762,308

Bishkek is the capital of Kyrgyzstan, a

country of central Asia. Rivers flow on

two sides of the city center. Bishkek is

the largest city in Kyrgyzstan. It is also

the country’s center of culture and

industry. Factories in Bishkek make

machines and work metals.

Bishkek began in 1825. In that year the

ruler of the Uzbek people built a fort on

the site. A town gradually grew up

around the fort. The Russians captured

it in 1862. In 1926 the city became the

capital of the newly created Kyrgyz

republic of the Soviet Union. The Soviets

called the city Frunze. In 1991 Kyrgyzstan

became an independent country.

The city remained the capital, but it was

renamed Bishkek.

..More to explore

Kyrgyzstan

Bismarck

Population

(2000 census)

55,532; (2007

estimate)

59,503

Bismarck is the capital of the U.S. state

of North Dakota. The city lies on the

Missouri River. Bismarck is the state’s

center of business and finance. It is also

a center for the sale of grain and livestock.

Native American groups lived in the

region for thousands of years. In the

1830s the site of Bismarck became a

river port called “Crossing on the Missouri.”

The U.S. Army built a fort on the site in

1872. A settlement sprang up near the

fort. It was named Bismarck in 1873.

The following year gold was discovered

in what is now South Dakota. Many

gold seekers bought equipment in Bismarck

before setting out on their adventures.

The city grew in population and

wealth.

In 1883 Bismarck became the capital of

the Dakota Territory. In 1889 the territory

was split into two states—North

An elderly man walks past a government

building in Bishkek.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bismarck 81

and South Dakota. Bismarck became

North Dakota’s capital.

#More to explore

North Dakota

Bison

Bison are the largest land mammals in

North America and Europe. There are

two species, or types, of bison: the

American bison and the European

bison. The animal commonly called the

American buffalo is actually the American

bison. It is also called the plains

bison. The European bison is also called

the wisent. The true buffalo are a different

group of animals found in Africa

and Asia. Bison are closely related to

buffalo, cattle, and yaks.

Where Bison Live

Both types of bison once existed in

much greater numbers. Tens of millions

of American bison roamed the western

plains in what are now Canada and the

United States. They were important

animals to the Plains Indians. The European

bison once lived throughout most

of Europe. Over time settlers and hunters

killed millions of both types of bison.

By the early 1900s both species were

endangered, or in danger of dying out.

Since then people have worked to save

these animals.

Today the American bison is found

mainly in protected areas such as

national parks. It is no longer endangered.

Small numbers of European bison

can be found in parts of eastern Europe,

especially Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, and

Russia. It is still an endangered species.

Physical Features

Bison are large, powerful animals. An

adult male American bison stands about

6.5 feet (2 meters) tall at the shoulder. It

may weigh about 2,000 pounds (900

kilograms). The females are smaller. The

European bison is slightly larger than

the American bison but is not as heavily

built.

Bison have huge heads and a hump at

the shoulders. Two short horns curve

upward. They have hooves on all four

feet. Bison have shaggy brown fur. The

fur is usually longer on the head, neck,

and shoulders.

A herd of bison runs through a state park in

South Dakota.

American, or plains, bison

82 Bison BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Behavior

Bison eat mainly grasses. They usually

move with a plodding walk. But they

can also run at speeds of about 40 miles

per hour (65 kilometers per hour). Bison

usually live in small groups. Sometimes

dozens or even hundreds of groups come

together to form large herds.

#More to explore

Buffalo • Cattle • Endangered Species

• Mammal • Yak

Bissau

Population

(2004 estimate)

305,700

Bissau is the capital of the West African

country of Guinea-Bissau. The city lies

on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of

the Geba River. It is the country’s

largest city and main port. Factories in

Bissau process coconuts, cashews, and

rice.

The Portuguese founded Bissau in 1687

as a fort and center for trading slaves.

Over the next 200 years several

European countries struggled for

control of the city and its port. Portugal

made all of what is now Guinea-Bissau

into a colony by 1915. Bissau became

the capital of the colony in 1941. In

1974 Guinea-Bissau became an

independent country. Bissau remained

its capital.

#More to explore

Guinea-Bissau

Bivalve

Bivalves are animals that have a shell

with two halves called valves. The word

bivalve means “two valves.” Bivalves are

part of a larger group called mollusks.

Mollusks are a type of animal with a soft

body.

There are about 8,000 species, or kinds,

of bivalve. They include scallops, cockles,

clams, oysters, and mussels. Most

bivalves live in the ocean, but a few species

live in freshwater.

Physical Features

Bivalves vary greatly in size, shape, and

color. Tiny freshwater shells may be only

0.06 inch (1.5 millimeters) long. Giant

clams in the southern Pacific Ocean may

be more than 4 feet (1.2 meters) long

Scallops are a type of bivalve. Most kinds

of scallop shells are shaped like fans.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bivalve 83

and weigh more than 500 pounds (225

kilograms).

A bivalve’s shell protects its soft body.

Muscles connect the two valves of the

shell on one side. These muscles allow

the shell to close quickly and tightly.

When a bivalve relaxes the muscles, the

shell opens.

A bivalve’s body includes a nervous system,

a digestive system, and a heart.

Bivalves have gills instead of lungs.

When a bivalve opens its shell, water

washes over the gills. The gills then

strain out oxygen and food particles.

Behavior

Different bivalve species live in different

ways. Oysters and ocean mussels spend

their lives attached to solid, underwater

surfaces, such as rocks on the ocean

floor. Some bivalves, such as scallops,

swim by clapping their valves together.

This pushes water out of the shell and

moves them forward. Clams and freshwater

mussels move around with a muscular

“foot.” The foot is shaped like a

blade. These bivalves escape enemies by

using it to dig into sand.

Uses

Bivalves are an important source of food

for fish, birds, and people. People also

make jewelry and crafts out of the shells.

The shiny material of some shells, called

mother-of-pearl, can be made into buttons

or other decorations. Some bivalves

build shiny round beads around particles

of dirt that enter their shells.

People make jewelry out of these beads,

which are called pearls.

#More to explore

Mollusk • Shell

Black Americans

#see African Americans.

Blackbird

There are many species, or types, of

blackbird—songbirds named for the

black color of the males’ feathers. The

OldWorld, or common, blackbird is

related to thrushes, robins, and bluebirds.

All other types of blackbird are in

the same scientific family with grackles,

cowbirds, orioles, and meadowlarks. The

best-known types are the red-winged

blackbird and the yellow-headed blackbird.

Although crows and ravens also

have black feathers, those birds are not

called blackbirds.

Early humans

used scallop

shells as

dishes.

The red-winged blackbird is found in North

America and Central America.

84 Black Americans BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

The OldWorld blackbird lives in woods

and gardens in Europe, Asia, New

Zealand, and Australia. Most types of

blackbird, however, are found in North

America. They live in marshes, fields,

prairies, woods, and towns.

Blackbirds generally range from about 8

to 11 inches (20 to 28 centimeters) in

length. Among OldWorld blackbirds

the males are black and the females are

brown. This is true of many blackbirds.

Often the males also have some brightly

colored or dark, glossy feathers. The

male red-winged blackbird has yellow

and red feathers on its shoulders. The

female is brown and streaky like a sparrow.

The male yellow-headed blackbird

has a bright yellow head and a black

body. The female has a dull yellow head

and a gray-brown body.

Most blackbirds eat mainly insects and

grains and other seeds. They often look

for food on the ground in large groups.

The OldWorld blackbird eats insects,

worms, and fruits.

#More to explore

Bluebird • Cowbird • Robin • Songbird

Blackfoot

The Blackfoot (also called Blackfeet) are

a group of three Native American

tribes—the Piegan, the Blood, and the

Blackfoot proper (also called Northern

Blackfoot). The Blackfoot were most

powerful in the early 1800s. At that time

they controlled a large area of land in

the United States and Canada from

Montana to Alberta and Saskatchewan.

The Blackfoot got most of their food by

hunting bison (buffalo). They lived in

portable cone-shaped tepees made from

a wooden frame covered with bison

hides.

European traders arrived in the Blackfoot’s

territory in the late 1700s. The

Indians were friendly to these newcomers

until 1806, when the Lewis and

Clark Expedition killed two of their

warriors. Afterward the Blackfoot considered

Americans to be their enemies,

and they attacked traders, miners, and

settlers.

The Blackfoot suffered from diseases

such as smallpox that were introduced

by the Europeans. Non-Indians also

killed nearly all the bison of the Plains.

This left the Blackfoot without their

most important source of food.

Unable to live as bison hunters, the

Blackfoot agreed to move to reservations.

By the end of the 20th century,

about 32,000 Blackfoot lived in the

United States, mostly in Montana.

Children from the Blackfoot tribe wear colorful

traditional clothing.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Blackfoot 85

Another 12,000 lived in Canada, primarily

in Alberta.

#More to explore

Lewis and Clark Expedition • Native

Americans

Black Hawk

A chief of the Sauk people, Black Hawk

led a band of 1,000 Native Americans

who refused to be forced from their

homeland by white settlers. In 1832

their struggle sparked the brief Black

HawkWar.

Black Hawk was born in 1767 near the

mouth of the Rock River in what is now

the U.S. state of Illinois. His Indian

name was Ma-ka-tai-me-she-kia-kiak.

Black Hawk resented the coming of

American settlers and fought with the

British against the United States in the

War of 1812.

While Black Hawk was away, Keokuk

became leader of the Sauk. Keokuk was

friendly with U.S. officials. His followers

agreed to move across the Mississippi

River into what is now Iowa. Black

Hawk and his followers resisted, but

they were forced to move to Iowa in

1831. The next spring, however, they

returned to their homeland. President

Andrew Jackson then sent troops.

Black Hawk did not get the help he

needed from other tribes. The U.S.

troops drove his band north into what is

nowWisconsin. In the final battle of the

Black HawkWar, the troops killed most

of the Indians at the Bad Axe River.

Black Hawk survived and was sent to

prison. In 1833 he was allowed to return

to Iowa. He died there in 1838.

#More to explore

Jackson, Andrew • Native Americans

•War of 1812

Black Hills

The Black Hills of the west-central

United States are abundant in natural

beauty. The hills were home to Native

Chief Black Hawk led his people,

the Sauk tribe, in a fight against

white settlers.

86 Black Hawk BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Americans until the area became the

center of a gold rush in the late 1800s.

Today they attract millions of visitors

from all over the world.

The Black Hills lie largely within the

Black Hills National Forest of western

South Dakota and northeasternWyoming.

From a distance their rounded

hilltops and heavily forested slopes look

dark, which is why they are named the

Black Hills. The hills rise approximately

3,000 feet (900 meters) above the surrounding

Great Plains.

The Black Hills contain many tourist

attractions. Mount Rushmore National

Memorial in South Dakota features

huge carvings of Presidents George

Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham

Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.

South Dakota’s Custer State Park is

home to a large herd of roaming bison.

Other attractions in South Dakota

include Jewel Cave National Monument,

Wind Cave National Park, and

the old mining town of Deadwood.

Devils Tower National Monument is in

Wyoming.

The Black Hills were once a hunting

ground and sacred territory of the Sioux

Indians. A treaty signed in 1868 gave

the Sioux rights to the region. However,

white miners rushed into the hills after

gold was discovered in 1874. In 1876

the Indians fought U.S. troops in the

Black HillsWar. After being defeated,

the Indians were forced to leave the hills.

#More to explore

Gold Rush • Sioux

Black Hole

A black hole is an area in space with an

incredibly strong force called gravity.

This gravity pulls in everything that gets

close. Nothing, not even light, can

Mount Rushmore National Memorial rises

above the forested slopes of the Black Hills.

A picture from the Hubble Space Telescope

shows a huge ring of gas and dust in

space. Scientists think the ring may surround

a black hole.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Black Hole 87

escape from a black hole once it has

been pulled in.

Black holes are not actually holes. They

have great amounts of material packed

in very tightly. They are remarkably

heavy for their size. This gives black

holes their strong inward pull. They are

called “black” because they are invisible.

That is because no light can bounce off

a black hole. All the light that gets near

one is trapped inside.

Finding a Black Hole

Because no one can see black holes, they

are hard to find. Scientists detect black

holes by noting their effects on objects

nearby. For example, just before material

enters a black hole, it gives off many

waves of energy called X-rays. Scientists

can detect those X-rays.

How Black Holes Form

A black hole can be formed when a huge

star uses up its fuel. A star is normally a

huge ball of a gas called hydrogen,

which serves as fuel for the star. The star

constantly changes the hydrogen into

other gases and in the process makes

energy. The energy pushes outward. At

the same time, the star’s gravity pulls

inward. This balance of pushing and

pulling keeps the star about the same

size. However, when a star runs out of

hydrogen, it cannot make the energy

that pushes outward. Gravity continues

to pull the star in on itself. If the star is

very large, its gravity is very strong. The

gravity crushes the star smaller and

smaller, and it becomes a black hole.

Scientists think that black holes can also

be formed in other ways, but they do

not know for certain how this happens.

They believe that a huge black hole lies

at the center of nearly every galaxy, or

group of stars, gases, and dust.

#More to explore

Galaxy • Gravity • Star

Black Sea

The Black Sea lies in the southeastern

part of Europe. It is roughly oval in

shape. Though far inland, it connects

with the Atlantic Ocean through a series

of other waterways. The Bosporus Strait,

the Sea of Marmara, and the Dardanelles

Strait link the Black Sea to the

Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, and

finally, the Atlantic.

The Black Sea is located where Europe

and Asia meet. It is bordered by Ukraine

to the north, Russia to the northeast,

Georgia to the east, Turkey to the south,

and Bulgaria and Romania to the west.

Several great rivers empty into the Black

Sea. These include the Danube, Dniester,

Bug, Dnieper, Don, and Kuban. The

88 Black Sea BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Crimean Peninsula juts into the Black

Sea from the north. The sea covers about

163,000 square miles (422,000 square

kilometers).

The Black Sea is important for transportation

year-round. It is the starting point

for the shipment of goods from eastern

Europe to the rest of the world. The

magnificent climate and mineral springs

around the Black Sea have made it a

major health and vacation center. The

Crimea is the most popular region for

visitors.

#More to explore

Aegean Sea • Crimea • Mediterranean

Sea

Blackwell,

Elizabeth

Elizabeth Blackwell was the first woman

to become a doctor in the United States.

During Blackwell’s life few people

would accept the idea of a woman doctor.

As a result Blackwell had to struggle

all her life to practice medicine.

Early Life

Elizabeth Blackwell was born on February

3, 1821, in Bristol, England. Her

family moved to the United States when

she was 11 years old. When she was

about 24 years old she decided she

wanted to become a doctor.

Blackwell applied to many medical colleges,

but none of them would allow a

woman to study there. Finally, in 1847,

Blackwell was accepted by Geneva

Medical College in Geneva, New York.

She graduated two years later at the top

of her class. Blackwell then traveled to

Paris, France, where she worked at a

hospital for women. She continued her

medical studies in England.

Career

In 1851 Blackwell traveled back to the

United States, but no hospital would

The ruins of an old fort lie near the Black

Sea in Turkey.

Elizabeth Blackwell

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Blackwell, Elizabeth 89

hire her. She started a small clinic for the

poor in New York City. In 1857 the

clinic became the New York Infirmary

forWomen and Children. In 1868

Blackwell opened theWoman’s Medical

College at the New York Infirmary.

In 1869 Blackwell moved to England.

She helped to set up the National

Health Society. She also served as a professor

at the London School of Medicine

forWomen from 1875 to 1907. Blackwell

died in England on May 31, 1910.

#More to explore

Medicine

Blimp

#see Airship.

Blindness

People who are not able to see have a

condition called blindness. Blindness

can affect one or both eyes. Some blind

people have no sight at all. Others can

see light and shadows or blurry shapes.

Color blindness is a different kind of

condition. Color-blind people have

trouble telling colors apart. Some can

see no color at all. Color blindness is

inherited, or passed on from one generation

to another.

Causes

Sometimes blindness is inherited. An

injury to the eyes or the brain may also

cause blindness. However, a number of

diseases and disorders are the main

causes of blindness. These include cataracts,

glaucoma, macular degeneration,

and diabetes mellitus.

A cataract is the clouding of the lens of

an eye. Glaucoma is a disease that can

damage the optic nerve, which connects

the eye to the brain. Macular degeneration

is a disease that damages the retina,

or the lining of the eye. Diabetes mellitus

is a disease of the body that can also

damage the retina. All these problems

cause blindness mainly in older people.

Prevention and Treatment

Proper medical care can prevent or cure

some common types of blindness. For

example, doctors can treat glaucoma

with special eye drops or surgery. Doctors

can use surgery to treat cataracts,

too. They remove the clouded lenses and

replace them with artificial (man-made)

lenses.

A blind mountain climber

crosses a temporary bridge on

the way to the top of Mount

Everest.

A disease

called river

blindness is a

serious problem

in parts of

Africa. It is

caused by a

small worm

that is spread

to humans by

the bite of the

black fly.

90 Blimp BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Sometimes blindness cannot be prevented

or treated. Nevertheless, many

blind people are able to live on their

own. Some have specially trained guide

dogs that help them to get around.

Many can read books and signs that are

printed in Braille. This is a code of

raised dots that people read with their

fingers.

#More to explore

Braille • Eye

Bloemfontein

Population

(2005 estimate)

379,000

The country of South Africa has three

capitals—Bloemfontein, Pretoria (Tshwane),

and Cape Town. Bloemfontein is

the judicial capital, or where the country’s

highest court meets. The city’s

name means “fountain of flowers.” It is

known for its many parks and gardens.

Bloemfontein is a center of South Africa’s

transportation systems. Many

people in the city work in government

offices or tourism.

The British founded Bloemfontein in

1846 as a fort and settlement. The British

and the Boers were struggling for

control of the area. The Boers were

descendants of earlier Dutch settlers.

Bloemfontein became the area’s capital

under the British and later the Boers.

South Africa became an independent

country in 1910. Bloemfontein was

made its judicial capital. In 2000

Bloemfontein was combined with some

nearby towns to create a larger area

called Mangaung.

#More to explore

Cape Town • Pretoria • South Africa

Blood

In humans and many other animals,

blood is a liquid that carries nutrients

and removes waste. Blood moves

through the body’s cardiovascular system.

This includes the heart and a vast

network of blood vessels. The heart

pumps blood through the blood vessels

to all parts of the body.

Structure

Blood cells make up about half the volume

(amount) of blood. These cells

form inside bone marrow, which is a soft

Gardens surround a court building in

Bloemfontein, South Africa.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Blood 91

tissue inside bones. There are three main

types of blood cell: red cells, white cells,

and platelets.

Red blood cells are the most numerous

kind of blood cell. Their main job is to

transport oxygen. In each cell, an ironrich

substance called hemoglobin carries

the oxygen. Hemoglobin and oxygen

together give blood its red color.

White blood cells, or leukocytes, help to

keep the body healthy. Some swallow up

tiny living things called bacteria or other

foreign substances. Others release proteins

that attack invading substances.

Still others help to break down and

remove dead cells.

Platelets are the smallest of the blood

cells. They are able to stick to one

another and form blood clots. Clots

plug holes that may develop in the walls

of blood vessels. This helps to stop

bleeding.

The watery part of the blood is the

plasma. Most of the plasma is water.

Plasma also contains nutrients, chemicals,

hormones, and wastes.

Functions

As blood passes through the lungs it

picks up oxygen. The oxygen-rich blood

then travels throughout the body. The

body’s cells take in this oxygen. In

exchange, they send a gas called carbon

dioxide into the blood. The blood carries

the carbon dioxide back to the

lungs, which push the gas out of the

body.

Blood is made up of red blood cells, white

blood cells, platelets, and plasma.

Blood is an important part of the body, but

people can lose a small amount of their

blood and feel fine. Doctors can examine a

patient’s blood to tell if they have a particular

disease. People can also give some of

their blood to others who may need extra

blood.

92 Blood BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Blood also carries nutrients (proteins,

fats, sugars, salts, vitamins, and minerals)

to the body’s cells. It takes away

various wastes made by the cells. The

kidneys, spleen, and liver clear the blood

of wastes.

#More to explore

Cardiovascular System

Blueberry

Blueberries are small, dark blue fruits

that grow on bushes. They have a mildly

tart taste. Blueberries are eaten fresh or

used to make bakery goods and jams.

They contain vitamin C, vitamin A, and

iron.

Blueberry bushes are found in woods

and hilly areas of North America, Great

Britain, northern Europe, and Asia. In

the United States blueberries are grown

in Maine, New Jersey, Michigan, and

North Carolina.

Blueberry bushes produce flowers in the

spring. Each flower develops into a

single berry. For this reason botanists

(people who study plants) consider blueberries

to be true berries. Cranberries are

also true berries. Some other berries,

such as strawberries and raspberries, are

actually clusters of small fruits that grow

from a single flower.

Blueberry bushes tend to produce too

much fruit. This limits the size of the

fruit. It also increases the time that it

takes the fruit to grow to full size. Growers

remove some flower buds from blueberry

bushes to allow larger berries to

grow in a shorter time. Growers also

have improved the plants to produce

better-tasting fruit.

#More to explore

Berry • Cranberry • Fruit

Bluebird

Bluebirds are songbirds named for the

males’ bright blue feathers. The soft

whistles of their song are among the

Blueberries are considered true berries

because of the way they develop. They start

as flowers, and each flower on a blueberry

bush produces a single berry.

The western bluebird is one of three types of

bluebird.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bluebird 93

earliest sounds of spring in North

America. Bluebirds belong to the thrush

family. This means that they are related

to thrushes, robins, and nightingales.

There are three species, or types, of bluebird:

the eastern bluebird, the western

bluebird, and the mountain bluebird.

Bluebirds are found in fields, orchards,

parks, and gardens. Eastern bluebirds

live in eastern Canada and the eastern

United States. The western and mountain

types are found in western Canada

and the western United States. Many

bluebirds avoid cold winters by flying

south for the winter. Some of the birds

fly as far south as Mexico.

Most bluebirds are about 7 inches (18

centimeters) long. The males are mostly

blue, while the females are mostly

bluish gray. The male eastern and

western types have rusty-red-colored

breasts. The females of those types have

dull orange breasts. Bluebirds have

slender bills, which they use to eat

insects and fruit.

Bluebirds build their nests in holes, such

as in trees, fence posts, or nest boxes that

people make. The female lays four to six

eggs at a time.

#More to explore

Nightingale • Robin • Songbird

Blue Ridge

Mountains

The Blue Ridge Mountains are a segment

of the Appalachian Mountains in

the United States. They extend from

Pennsylvania through parts of Maryland,

Virginia, North Carolina, and South

Carolina to Mount Oglethorpe in Georgia.

The range is quite narrow, only 5 to

65 miles (8 kilometers to 105 kilometers)

wide, and has average heights

between 2,000 and 4,000 feet (600 to

1,200 meters). The range includes the

Black, Great Smoky, and Unaka mountains.

The Blue Ridge spreads through several

national forests. The Shenandoah

National Park in northern Virginia and

the Great Smoky Mountains National

Park also lie in the Blue Ridge. The Blue

Ridge Parkway is a scenic highway established

in 1936 that extends through the

Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and

North Carolina. It covers 142 square

miles (368 square kilometers).

The Blue Ridge region is rather

isolated. Many people in this area work

in tobacco production, cattle raising,

and truck farming. The forests in the

ridge are a rich source of timber. The

94 Blue Ridge Mountains BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Blue Ridge region is known to have

more than 700 varieties of trees and

plants.

#More to explore

Appalachian Mountains

Blues

The blues is a type of American music

that became popular in the early 1900s.

It is closely related to jazz. Instrumental

music is important in the blues. Guitar,

piano, and harmonica are typical blues

instruments. But singing plays the key

role in many songs. Rather than simply

tell a story, blues singers express their

feelings. These feelings are often sad.

Often the blues singer sings the first

part of a line of music. The instruments

then repeat or “answer” the part the

singer sang. Blues performers make up

parts of the music while performing it,

within certain rules. This is known as

improvisation.

The blues developed from the folk

music of black people in the American

South. That music included songs that

blacks sang while working in the fields

during the time of slavery. Later, in the

early 1900s, the black bandleader W.C.

Handy wrote blues songs that helped

make the style popular. In the 1920s

black singers such as Mamie Smith, Ma

Rainey, and Bessie Smith made the first

blues recordings.

In the first half of the 1900s many

blacks moved from country areas in the

South to cities in the North. They

brought the blues with them. Musicians

in Chicago played the biggest role in

developing urban, or city, blues.

Famous blues performers include Riley

“B.B.” King, John Lee Hooker, Muddy

Waters, and Buddy Guy. Blues music

has greatly influenced several other

musical styles, including jazz, rock, and

soul.

#More to explore

Folk Music • Jazz • Popular Music

• Rock Music

The Blue Ridge Mountains are covered with

forests in most places. A haze that often

hangs over the forests gives the mountains

their blue color.

B.B. King is a well-known blues guitarist

and singer.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Blues 95

Blume, Judy

The U.S. author Judy Blume writes

popular books for children and young

adults. Her books are read all over the

world. They have been published in

more than 20 languages.

Blume was born on February 12, 1938,

in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Her name was

originally Judy Sussman. Blume was her

first husband’s last name. In 1961 she

graduated from New York University

with a degree in education. Her first

book, The One in the Middle Is the Green

Kangaroo, was published in 1969.

Blume’s books contain language, situations,

and concerns that feel real to kids.

Her books talk about adolescence in an

honest, understandable way. Blume

became famous when her novel Are You

There God? It’s Me, Margaret was published

in 1970. Blume used her own

memories of growing up to write the

book.

Many young readers liked how Blume

wrote realistically about their concerns.

However, some adults thought that

Blume’s books were too direct in their

discussion of sensitive subjects. They did

not want the books to be available to

children. Some people tried to have

Blume’s books removed from schools

and libraries.

Blume’s experiences led her to speak out

against the banning of books. Blume

also started the Kids Fund, which

encourages parents and children to talk

openly with each other.

Boa Constrictor

The boa constrictor is a large nonpoisonous

snake. It kills its prey by coiling

around it so tightly that the animal cannot

breathe. Despite this deadly

strength, the boa constrictor has become

a popular pet. These snakes normally

have mild tempers. They belong to the

boa family, along with anacondas, tree

boas, and many other types of snake.

Boa constrictors can be found in Central

and South America. They live in a vari-

Judy Blume

A boa constrictor coils around a tree branch.

96 Blume, Judy BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

ety of habitats, including tropical rain

forests, grasslands, and drier areas.

Boa constrictors have thick, muscular

bodies. Most of them grow to about 10

feet (3 meters) in length. But some

South American boa constrictors have

grown to more than 18 feet (5.5

meters). Most boa constrictors have

brown and gray bodies with brown,

black, and white markings. Some boa

constrictors have silver or red bodies.

During the day the boa constrictor rests

in tree hollows, old logs, and animal

homes called burrows. At night it hunts

a wide variety of birds, reptiles, and

mammals. It hunts most animals on the

ground. But it moves up into trees to

hunt birds and bats.

Most types of snake hatch from eggs laid

by the female. However, the eggs of boa

constrictors develop inside the female’s

body. The female gives birth to live

babies, often 25 or more at a time. The

baby snakes measure from 1 to 2 feet

(0.3 to 0.6 meter) long.

#More to explore

Anaconda • Pet • Snake

Boat

For thousands of years people have used

boats to move goods and people across

water. Today the word boat means a

small watercraft used for fun or for carrying

small loads. Larger boats that carry

many people or tons of goods over long

distances are called ships.

Parts of a Boat

Most boats have several common parts.

The hull is the body, or frame, of the

boat. The walls of the boat are called

bulkheads. The deck is the floor of the

boat. Underneath the boat are the keel

and the rudder. The keel runs from the

front to the back of the boat. It sticks

into the water to keep the boat from

tipping over sideways. The rudder is

attached to the back of the boat. It helps

to steer the boat.

The sections of boats also have special

names. The front of the boat is called

the bow. The back is called the stern.

The left side of the boat is called port.

The right side is called starboard.

Types of Boats

Boats come in many different sizes and

types. In general they can be grouped

There are many different kinds of boats, but

most have the same basic parts.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Boat 97

into three main categories. These are

based on the type of power needed to

move them through the water.

Many boats need the effort of human

muscles to move them. These include

canoes and kayaks, which are small,

lightweight boats with pointed ends.

People use paddles to move canoes and

kayaks forward. Rowboats are wider and

heavier than canoes. People move rowboats

forward with oars.

Sailboats are boats with sails, or large

pieces of cloth, raised on posts called

masts. Sails catch the wind, which

pushes the sailboat along. Sailboats

range in size from small, one-person

boats to huge sailing ships that can cross

oceans.

A motorboat is any boat that is

powered by a motor. Engines can be

inboard or outboard. An inboard

engine is permanently mounted inside

the boat’s hull. An outboard engine is

clamped to the outside of the hull and

can be removed easily. Both types

usually move the boat by turning a

propeller in the water.

Uses

Boats can be used for pleasure, for sport,

or for work. Many people enjoy taking a

canoe or kayak out on a river or a sailboat

out on a lake for fun. Others like to

race boats. Very narrow rowboats called

shells or sculls are used in the sport of

racing. Several categories of rowing are

events in the Olympic Games. Sailboats

and motorboats are also used for racing.

The most famous international sailing

competition is the America’s Cup race.

Boats used for work include fishing

boats and tugboats.

Five common types of boat are the rowboat, the sailboat, the motorboat, the raft, and the

canoe.

98 Boat BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

History

Ancient peoples used boats as many as

10,000 years ago. Some of the earliest

boats were simple rafts made out of

bunches of reeds or logs tied together.

Ancient peoples around the world made

dugouts, or canoes carved out of logs.

Native American and Inuit peoples

made canoes out of bark or animal

hides. People later built boats out of

wooden planks. They added masts and

sails, and later engines, for speed. Modern

boats are often made of metal, fiberglass,

or plastic.

..More to explore

Ship

Bog

A bog is a kind of wetland with wet,

spongy soil. Bogs differ from marshes

and swamps because their soil contains

almost no minerals. That is because their

main source of water is rainwater, which

contains few minerals. In contrast,

marshes and swamps have mineral-rich

soil.

Bogs generally form in places where

glaciers once dug into the Earth’s surface.

The glaciers left holes that filled

with water and eventually formed bogs.

A bog begins to form as a lake is covered

with a floating layer of plants. As the

layer thickens, pieces of the plants sink

to the bottom. The plants eventually fill

the lake and create a bog.

Plant life is limited in a bog because of

the lack of minerals in the soil. Mosses

and heaths are the main plants. Layers of

dead plants build up in bogs to form a

material called peat. Dried peat is

burned for fuel. Animals are not common

in bogs.

..More to explore

Glacier • Marsh • Swamp •Wetland

Bogota

Population

(2005 estimate)

6,763,325

Bogota is the capital of the South

American country of Colombia. It is one

of the largest cities in the northern part

of South America. Bogota is also a center

of education, culture, and business.

Service industries such as banking, education,

and health care are important to

the economy. Manufacturing also brings

The Irish countryside features large areas of

peat bogs.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bogota 99

money to the city. Bogota’s major products

include tires, chemicals, and medicines.

At the center of Bogota is the Plaza Bolivar,

where the city government buildings

and Roman Catholic cathedral are

located. The city also has several major

museums, libraries, and theaters. The

Gold Museum has thousands of gold

objects made by native peoples before

Europeans arrived in the Americas.

Hundreds of years ago the Chibcha

Indians lived in the area. The Spanish

captured the Chibcha’s main city in

1538. They named it Bogota and made

it the capital of a huge area they controlled

in northwestern South America.

The city was under Spanish rule until

1819. Bogota remained a center of government

in the area. It later became the

capital of Colombia.

..More to explore

Colombia

Boise

Population

(2000 census),

city, 185,787;

(2007 estimate)

202,832

Boise is the capital of the U.S. state of

Idaho. The city lies on the Boise River.

It is the state’s largest city.

Boise is also a center of business and

banking. Local companies make computer

parts, processed foods, and wood

and metal products. Many people in

Boise work for government offices or in

construction.

Gold was discovered near the site of

Boise in 1862. Fort Boise was soon

founded in the area. A community

sprang up to provide services to the gold

Street performers entertain a crowd in

Bogota.

Mountains rise up to the north of Boise.

They protect the city from blizzards that

form in Canada in the winter.

100 Boise BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

miners. It grew into the city of Boise.

Today tourists visit the empty old mines

and mining towns, called ghost towns,

near Boise.

In 1864 Boise became the capital of the

Idaho Territory. It remained the capital

when Idaho became a U.S. state in

1890.

Bolivar, Simon

Known as the Liberator, Simon Bolivar

led revolutions against Spanish rule in

South America. The countries of Venezuela,

Colombia, Ecuador, Panama,

Peru, and Bolivia all owe their independence

largely to him.

Bolivar was born on July 24, 1783, in

Caracas, New Granada (now in Venezuela).

After studying in Europe, he

returned to South America and began to

fight Spanish rule. Between 1810 and

1814 Venezuela made two failed tries to

break free from Spain. After the second

defeat, Bolivar fled to Jamaica and then

Haiti.

In 1819 Bolivar made a daring attack on

the Spanish in New Granada. That

colony included the territory of modern

Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and

Panama. In August 1819 Bolivar’s men

defeated a much larger Spanish army.

Then he announced that New Granada

had become a new republic called Gran

Colombia. He was its president. By

1822 all of Gran Colombia was free

from Spain.

Bolivar next went to Peru. There he

continued the work of Jose de San

Martin. Martin had earlier begun a

fight for independence. In 1824 his

forces defeated the Spanish there. In the

next year one of Bolivar’s officers freed

Upper Peru, the last part of South

America under Spanish rule. To honor

Bolivar, its name was changed to

Bolivia.

At the height of his power, between

1825 and 1828, Bolivar ruled Gran

Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia. He wanted

the new countries to be allies, but they

started fighting among themselves. Venezuela

broke away from Gran Colombia

in 1829, and Ecuador left in 1830.

Deeply disappointed, Bolivar resigned as

president. He died near Santa Marta,

Colombia, on December 17, 1830.

#More to explore

Bolivia • Colombia • Ecuador • Panama

Simon Bolivar • Peru • Venezuela

Venezuela

named its unit

of money the

bolivar to

honor Simon

Bolivar.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bolivar, Simon 101

Bolivia

A country in South America, Bolivia has

breathtaking scenery, including deserts,

jungles, and snow-covered peaks. Bolivia’s

culture blends American Indian and

Spanish influences. Its judicial, or legal,

capital is Sucre. However, the president

and the legislature are based in La Paz.

Geography

Bolivia is bordered by Brazil, Paraguay,

Argentina, Chile, and Peru. In the west

the Andes Mountains stretch from north

to south in two parallel ranges. The

cool, dry Altiplano (High Plateau) lies

between the two ranges. Tropical lowlands

cover the east. Amazon rain forest

covers the far north. The Bolivian Chaco

region in the south is swampy in the

rainy season but hot and desertlike for

the rest of the year.

Plants and Animals

Coarse grass is common in the northern

Altiplano, but much of that region is

bare. Heavy forests of pines, laurels, and

cedars cover the mountain slopes.

Grasses, shrubs, and small trees that do

not need a lot of water grow in the

south. Mahogany and rubber trees grow

in the northern rain forests.

The wildlife in Bolivia includes members

of the camel family—llamas,

alpacas, guanacos, and vicunas. The

Andean condor roosts in the mountains.

In the northern forests are jaguars,

sloths, monkeys, and tapirs. Parrots and

toucans also live in the rain forests.

People

About 65 percent of Bolivians are

American Indians, including the Aymara

and the Quechua peoples. The Quechua

are descendants of the Inca. About 30

percent of the population is mestizo, a

mixture of Indian and European. The

rest of the people are white, mainly

descendants of Spanish conquerors.

Aymara, Quechua, and Spanish are

Aymara Indian women take part in a festival

in La Paz.

102 Bolivia BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

Bolivia’s official languages. Roman

Catholicism is the main religion. More

than half of the people live in cities.

Economy

Bolivia is one of the poorest countries in

South America. However, it has large

amounts of natural gas and is a major

producer of zinc and tin. Most of the