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Freshwater Records 5) Northern Pike: 46 lbs 2 oz Pike are a long, torpedo-shaped fish with rows of sharp spikey teeth. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation recommends many of the larger Adirondack lakes in New York for the best pike fishing. The biggest pike ever caught in New York was pulled from Great Sacandaga Lake by Peter Dubuc. This record breaking 46 lbs 2 oz pike is the oldest freshwater record on the books!...

A live stream on Youtube shows us just how breathtaking Norway is from the Bergen Line and Flåm Railway. One of the most breathtaking scenic views in all of Europe may be had while traveling on the Bergen Line. Onto the Hardangervidda plateau, the largest high mountain plateau in Europe, it crosses the Hardangervidda National Park. The Bergen Railway, which connects Oslo and Bergen through the mountains, was established in 1909....

Also, we’ve included an honorable mention that isn’t technically an annual, but that deserves consideration for its versatility and beauty! What Are Plant Zones? The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed and maintains the Plant Hardiness Map. This map splits into 13 Zones to aid growers in selecting plants that thrive well in their area. These zones are determined by the lowest average winter temperatures like a weather map....

Living in a city can be hard for dogs, especially when they don’t have the room to play and exercise. A healthy dog needs quality playtime with its owner and enough room to exercise and get out all its energy. St. Paul offers a variety of dog parks for you to choose from. Maybe you need a new daily park, or you’re just passing through town. Whatever your reason for visiting, here is our list of the 4 best dog parks in St....

What Are Plant Zones? The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) developed and maintains the Plant Hardiness Map. This map is split into 13 areas called “zones” to help gardeners select plants that will thrive in that area. Zones are organized according to the lowest average winter temperatures in those areas, like a weather map. All zones are further classified as northern or southern as well. For example, Zone 3a indicates this is the northern part of the zone, while Zone 3b indicates the south....

From Cape Cod to the Nashua River, there is much above and below the water to experience and discover. There is more to Massachusetts than its luxurious foliage, Harvard, or the indescribable Bostonian accent. A list of aquariums in Massachusetts includes: Berkshire MuseumCape Cod Museum of Natural HistoryMaria Mitchell AquariumNew England AquariumWoods Hole Science Aquarium Now that we know what we are looking at, let’s take a closer look at some of the best aquariums in Massachusetts!...

Some of the benefits of companion planting are: Efficiency in combatting pestsReduced use of pesticidesImproved nutrient uptakeIncreased vegetable productionEnhanced pollination How to Choose Coleus Companion Plants Interestingly, coleus is a very hardy plant, easy to grow, and you probably won’t have any problems cultivating it. Thus, the variables to consider are what colors and textures you want to combine and what conditions both plants need to thrive. As for colors and textures, there are an infinite number of unique cultivars, and no two coleus plants are alike....

1) First Landing State Park Campground One of the most popular parks in Virginia is the First Landing State Park, right on the Chesapeake Bay. It is the first State Park established in the state and is recognized as the spot where English settlers landed in back 1607. The park has 20 miles of trails for hiking and biking as well as 1.5 miles of Bay Front sandy beach for swimming, paddle boarding and shell collecting....

It is a cat’s natural instinct to climb; even cats indoors will attempt to climb to various heights —as most cat owners can attest to. While it may not present much danger indoors, climbing outside can get a cat into tricky situations. Let’s look at some of the best ways to cat-proof your fence. Mesh Fence Topper The first method of cat-proofing a fence that we’ll go over is the mesh fence topper....

There may only be three species of bed bugs that regularly feed on humans, but these three species have managed to cover every continent occupied by humans — and they manage to find purchase even in immaculately clean environments and appear as prodigiously in developed nations as in still developing ones. Chances are that you won’t be able to help with the identification of individual types of bed bugs, but understanding the basic facts can help you provide a pest control expert with the best information you can....

Where is Estonia? Estonia is a small country in Europe. Estonia’s area is 17,506 miles squared with about 2,357.5 miles of coastline. It has more than 2,000 islands and borders Russia and Latvia. Two of the largest islands are Saaremaa and Hiiumaa and they are both off the West coast. Towards the West is the Baltic Sea and on the North is the Gulf of Finland. Fun fact, Estonia is ranked as the 24th smallest country in Europe and the 133rd in the world....

Where is Kenya? Kenya is on the eastern side of the continent of Africa. Ethiopia is just north of Kenya with Somalia on the east, Tanzania to the south, and Uganda on the west. A portion of the southeastern border is coastal on the Indian Ocean. The equator runs right through the middle of the country, dividing it nearly in half. What does the Flag of Kenya Look Like? The flag of Kenya has three horizontal stripes in black, red and green....

Where is Lesotho? The Kingdom of Lesotho is an enclave and landlocked country surrounded by South Africa. Despite its small size, Lesotho is a culturally rich country with much to offer visitors. Formerly known as Basutoland, Lesotho gained independence from the United Kingdom on October 4, 1966. Lesotho is a fascinating country with a rich culture worth learning more about. The country is known for its traditional woven blankets and colorful Basotho hats, both commonly worn by men and women....

What Are La Niña and El Niño? La Niña and El Niño are two different weather patterns in the Pacific Ocean that vary from the usual. The typical weather pattern sees trade winds pushing warm water west from South America towards Asia. Then, due to fluid dynamics, cold water rises closer to the surface to replace that warm water. During an El Niño period, the trade winds that typically push the water towards Asia are weaker....

The term “lamb” refers to a baby sheep.Sheep are also some of the most successfully domesticated animals in the world, as well as some of the first.Lambs are smaller than adult sheep with long, lanky legs and shorter coats. Do you sometimes look at lambs and sheep and wonder ‘are lamb and sheep the same’? There’s a good reason lambs and sheep look similar. A lamb is a baby sheep. A female sheep is known as a ewe, and a male sheep is known as a ram....

Lisianthus grows slowly from seed, which is why germinating indoors starting in January or February is a must. Keep these tiny seeds warm once planted in soil, and do not cover them with dirt- they need light in order to germinate. Most lisianthus plants aren’t ready to be planted outdoors until late spring, but their blooms should develop in late fall! You can also dig up your plants and overwinter them indoors, keeping them as perennials rather than annuals....

One fisherman captured the encounter on his GoPro camera, earning an award for the footage. In the video, Johan Potgieter is spearfishing off the coast of South Africa. He is clearly experienced at the sport, adjusting his gear as he gets ready to go into the water. Johan gestures to the camera to come along, then grabs it. He dives down through the murky turquoise water until he sees the ocean floor....

It shows a team of volunteers monitoring a group of seals on a sandy shore. One of the volunteers has noticed that a seal has some rope tied around its neck. It looks like a necklace but is actually very dangerous for the seal. We learn that it is the type of rope that is used to secure things to buoys at sea. The seal makes a good attempt to get away but thankfully the humans are just a little faster....

Knowing about the digestive wastes of otters can help you identify their poop as well as understand to an extent their feeding habits. If you’re curious to know about otter poop, read on to find out everything you’ve ever wanted to know. Where Does The Otter Poop? Because otters spend most of their time in the water, it’s easy to conclude that they poop in the water. However, otters rarely poop in the water....

Rattlesnakes are recognized primarily by their sound. You are more likely to hear one before you spot it. They range in size from two to six feet long, and Arizona is home to more rattlesnake species than anywhere else. Although rattlesnake bites can be deadly, they rarely are—so long as they’re treated quickly. Rattlesnakes dwell inside dens known officially as hibernacula. From the surface, it could just look like a small hole, but inside, multiple rattlesnakes may be hibernating together....