Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) Special Drawing Rights (SDRs), type of international monetary reserve currency established (1968) by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Created in response to worries concerning the limitations of...

(Encyclopedia) El Dorado ĕlˈdəräˈdō, –rāˈ– [key] [Span.,=the gilded man], legendary country of the Golden Man sought by adventurers in South America. The legend supposedly originated in a custom of the C...

(Encyclopedia) Macapá məkəpäˈ [key], city (1996 pop. 214,197), capital of Amapá state, extreme N Brazil, on the Amazon River. Mining is central to its economy. It exports tin iron, gold, and manganese, as well...

(Encyclopedia) Ophir ōˈfər [key], in the Bible. 1 Seaport or region from which the ships of Solomon brought fine gold in great quantity. Sandalwood, precious stones, ivory, apes, and peacocks were also part of th...

(Encyclopedia) Carson Sink, swampy area, c.100 sq mi (260 sq km), W Nev.; a remnant of ancient Lake Lahontan. Fallon National Wildlife Refuge is located there. The Carson River (c.125 mi/200 km long), fed by melted ...

(Encyclopedia) Callimachus kəlĭmˈəkəs [key], fl. 2d half of 5th cent. b.c., Greek sculptor from Athens. He was famous as the maker of the gold lamp in the Erechtheum and a seated image of Hera for a temple at P...

(Encyclopedia) Cape Coast, town (1984 pop. 57,224), capital of Central Region, S Ghana, on the Gulf of Guinea. Known locally as Gna or Oegna, the town is an export port and fishing center. The town originated as an ...

(Encyclopedia) Induráin, Miguel (Miguel Angel Induráin Larraya) mēgĕlˈ ängˈkhāl ĭndo͞oräˈēn läˈräyä [key], 1964–, Spanish bicycle racer. In a career lasting from 1985 to 1997, he dominated Europea...

(Encyclopedia) Contarini kōntärēˈnē [key], ancient Venetian family, including eight doges, a cardinal, and several artists. The most celebrated member was Andrea Contarini, 1300?–1382. He was doge (1368–82)...

(Encyclopedia) Skellefteå shĕlĕfˈtəōˌ [key], city (1990 pop. 31,050), Västerbotten co., NE Sweden, on the Skellefteälven River inland from its mouth on the Gulf of Bothnia. The center of a rich mining regio...