Wikipedia:Main Page history/2012 September 8

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Today's featured article
Hurricane Gustav was a Category 2 hurricane that paralleled the East Coast of the United States from September 8 to 12 during the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the seventh named storm and first hurricane of the season. Initially a subtropical depression north of the Bahamas, Gustav passed slightly to the east of the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a tropical storm before moving northeastward and making two landfalls in Atlantic Canada as a Category 1 hurricane. The storm was responsible for one death and $100,000 in damage, mostly in North Carolina. The interaction between Gustav and a non-tropical system produced strong winds that caused an additional $240,000 (2002 USD) in damage in New England, but this damage was not directly attributed to the hurricane. Gustav spent the early part of its life as a subtropical storm, and was the first such storm to be named from the current lists by the National Hurricane Center. Previously, subtropical storms were not given names. The cyclone was also the latest-forming first hurricane of the season since 1941. (more...) Recently featured: Pedro I of Brazil – Avery Brundage – Sebastian Shaw Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest content: ... that 2012 Australian Paralympic swimmer Kayla Clarke (pictured) has a scholarship from the Queensland Academy of Sport and receives athlete support grants from the Australian government? ... that the Corporation of Madras was established in 1688, and is the oldest municipal body in India? ... that in the Kinks' song "Sitting in My Hotel", singer and songwriter Ray Davies muses about the cost of stardom in terms of loneliness and losing touch with his roots? ... that a Philippine Basketball Association team that successfully defends the Philippine Cup for three consecutive times, will permanently keep the Jun Bernardino Trophy? ... that in August 2012, an employee of Gibraltar-based Profield Contractors was arrested on suspicion of being a member of a terrorist cell? ... that 2012 Paralympics competitor Rajinder Singh Rahelu won the first-ever medal for India in powerlifting in 2004? ... that the type specimen of Eucalyptus denticulata was only collected in 1989? ... that Conflict Kitchen, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a take-out restaurant that only serves food from nations with which the United States is in conflict? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Canada severs diplomatic ties with Iran. NASA's Dawn probe (artist's concept pictured) leaves the orbit of asteroid Vesta, en route to the dwarf planet Ceres. The ENCODE project announces the creation of an "encyclopedia" of the human genome, publishing a coordinated series of 30 papers in Nature, Genome Biology, and Genome Research. A Bahraini court upholds sentences up to life in prison for 13 opposition leaders. Sun Myung Moon, founder of the Unification Church, dies at the age of 92. Syrian civil war – Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
September 8: International Literacy Day; Independence Day in the Republic of Macedonia (1991); Victory Day in Pakistan (1965) 1755 – French and Indian War: British and French forces and their respective Indian allies fought to a draw in the Battle of Lake George. 1900 – The Great Galveston Hurricane (damage pictured), one of the deadliest Atlantic hurricanes with estimated winds of 135 miles per hour (215 km/h) at landfall, struck Galveston, Texas, US, killing at least 6,000 people. 1941 – World War II: German forces severed the last land connection to Leningrad, beginning a 28-month siege that would result in the deaths of over 1 million of the city's civilians from starvation, making it one of the most lethal battles in world history. 1954 – Eight nations signed an agreement to create the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization, a Southeast Asian version of NATO. 1966 – The American science fiction show Star Trek premiered on the NBC television network, launching a media franchise that has since created a cult phenomenon and has influenced the design of many current technologies. More anniversaries: September 7 – September 8 – September 9 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now September 8, 2012 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

A view of the High Engadin valley in Switzerland, from Muottas Muragl. The Engadin follows the route of the Inn River from its headwaters at Maloja Pass running northeast until the Inn flows into Austria 100 km (62 mi) downstream. The Engadin is protected by high mountains on all sides and is famous for its sunny climate, beautiful landscapes and outdoor activities.

Photo: Murdockcrc

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