Columbia Encyclopedia

(Encyclopedia) geoduck go͞oˈēdŭkˌ [key], common name of a Pacific clam, Panope generosa. The largest intertidal burrowing bivalve in the world, the geoduck may weigh up to 12 lb (5.4 kg). The shell is thin, lac...

(Encyclopedia) tournament or tourney, in the Middle Ages, public contest between armed horsemen in simulation of real battle. In this military game, which flourished from the 12th to the 16th cent., combatants were ...

(Encyclopedia) Scandinavia skănˌdĭnāˈvēə [key], region of N Europe. It consists of the kingdoms of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark; Finland and Iceland are usually considered part of Scandinavia. Physiographicall...

(Encyclopedia) Franklin, Sir John, 1786–1847, British explorer in N Canada whose disappearance caused a widespread search of the Arctic. Entering the navy in 1801, he fought in the battle of Trafalgar. On his firs...

(Encyclopedia) ozone layer or ozonosphere, region of the stratosphere containing relatively high concentrations of ozone, located at altitudes of 12–30 mi (19–48 km) above the earth's surface. Ozone in the ozone...

(Encyclopedia) Mimas mīˈmăs [key], in astronomy, one of the named moons, or natural satellites, of Saturn. Also known as Saturn I (or S1), Mimas is 244 mi (392 km) in diameter, orbits Saturn at a mean distance of...

(Encyclopedia) Phoebe fēˈbē [key], in astronomy, one of the named moons, or natural satellites, of Saturn. Also known as Saturn IX (or S9), Phoebe is 137 mi (220 km) in diameter, orbits Saturn at a mean distance ...

(Encyclopedia) Canadian Shield or Laurentian Plateau lôrĕnˈchən [key], U-shaped region of ancient rock, the nucleus of North America, stretching N from the Great Lakes to the Arctic Ocean. Covering more than hal...

(Encyclopedia) Hyperion hīpērˈēən [key], in astronomy, one of the named moons, or natural satellites, of Saturn. Also known as Saturn VII (or S7), Hyperion is the largest highly irregular (nonspherical) body in...

(Encyclopedia) snakebite, wound inflicted by the teeth of a snake. The bite of a nonvenomous snake is rarely serious. Venomous snakes have fangs, hollow teeth through which poison is injected into a victim. All type...