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Who Will Win Fat Bear Week?
Every year a tournament is held for the public to select the biggest bear in Alaska’s Katmai National Park & Reserve. The contest highlights how bears fatten up as they head into hibernation. A champion will be crowned next week, so you still have time to vote.
What species are the competitors?
They’re among the largest carnivores on Earth.
Why do bears and other animals hibernate?
It’s like addressing an empty refrigerator by taking a long nap.
What’s the smallest bear species?
Although it’s tiny by bear standards, its tongue can be up to 10 inches long.
Which bears have the biggest claws?
Find out that and more in our quiz.
The second Monday in October is Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the United States. The holiday honors the cultures and contributions of Native Americans. It also recognizes the hostilities to which American Indians have been subjected, including displacement, forced assimilation, foreign diseases, and warfare. Learn more about the celebration and the diverse societies that make up the First Nations.
Who Are the Indigenous Peoples?
Prints and Photographs Division/Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. (digital. id. cph 3b36217)
What Are Examples of Their Contributions?
© Julianne Gentry—iStock/Getty Images
What’s Wrong with Columbus Day?
Photos.com/Getty Images
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“El Precursor” to Simón Bolívar
Francisco de Miranda—who fought for American independence under George Washington—led a revolutionary army in Venezuela in 1810. He was caught and imprisoned in 1812, but his attempt paved the way for Simón Bolívar years later.
The first animal domesticated by humans was the dog, possibly as early as 30,000 years ago.
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