Home Page of Global Virtual Classroom 1314

Greece
Interesting Facts about Greece:
1. Greece has 9000 miles of coastline, making it the 10th longest coastline in the world and has an estimated 2000 islands, with the biggest one being Crete. Furthermore, 80% of Greece is made up of mountains.
2. The weather in Greece is very nice, with 250 days of the year being sunshine. This is the equivalent of 180000 minutes of sunshine in a year!
3. Greece homes a diverse range of wildlife. This includes: 116 different types of mammals, 59 different types of reptiles, 240 different types of bird, 107 different types of fish.
4. Greek people wave with a closed hand as it is considered rude to show your palm of your hand with open fingers in public!.
5. A popular Greek tradition is called 'name day'. Each name that comes from a religious saint has a given day each year which is celebrated by the church. People who share the same name also celebrate the day, often receiving gifts from their friends and family. Name days are even more important than birthdays in Greece!
6. Greece is the 3rd biggest producer and distributor of olives in the world.
7. Greek food is diverse. Typical Greek ingredients are: olive oil, herbs, vegetables, grains, bread, chicken, rabbit, pork, fish, bread, cheese, eggplant and yoghurt. Greek deserts commonly include nuts, honey and filo pastry.
USA
Interesting Facts about the USA:
1. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was issued, establishing the United States of America.
2. The US is the 4th largest country in the world by land area and 3rd by population.
3. On February 25, 2013, the estimated population of the US was 315,568,000.
4. The US is a diverse country with a multicultural society.
5. The US has the world's largest economy.
6. The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers combine to form the longest river system in the US and the fourth longest in the world.
7. The tallest mountain the US is Mt McKinley,located in the state of Alaska it reaches 20,320 ft (6,194 m) above sea level.
8. Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 and is the largest state in the US by land area.
9. Hawaii is the most recent of the 50 states in the US (joining in 1959) and is the only one made up entirely of islands.
Australia
Interesting Facts about Australia:
1. Australia is the only country to cover an entire continent. 90% of this continent is dry, flat and arid. 85% of the 22 million population live within 50 kilometres of the Australian coastline
2. The largest Greek population in the world (apart from Athens) can be found in Melbourne, Victoria
3. Aboriginals have inhabited Australia for 50,000 years. The 'Dream Time' is the foundation of spiritual aboriginal art, traditions, legends, myths, folklore and culture.
4. 40% of Australians are migrants or the first-generation children of migrants.
5. In 1902.Australia was the second country in the world to give women the right to vote. (our neighbours New Zealand were first)
6. The use of a secret ballot to elect government was used for first time ever in Victoria and South Australia in 1856
7. The echidna and platypus are such unique animals that they are classified in a special class of their own. They are mammals known as monotremes, who lay eggs like a bird but suckle their young in a pouch like a kangaroo.

Warrandyte, Melbourne, AUSTRALIA	Louisville, Colorado, USA	Athens, GREECE
Warrandyte High School	Monarch High School	Winners Education