abbytravelogue

= = ===**//Due to the overwhelming response, I've created a second page because this first page had so much on it it was becoming unwieldy to edit. Please add all new entries on the second page. Thanks to everyone for participating! I've now locked this page - if you already have info on this page and need to change/add something, please email me (karlfisch {at} gmail {dot} com) with the appropriate info and I'll update it.//**===

This wiki is for folks that would like to contribute to [|Abby]'s Travelogue assignment (read more at [|this post]). If you have any questions or need help with this wiki, please email karlfisch {at} gmail {dot} com. Thanks for participating.

(**Note**: When multiple people are editing this wiki at the same time, sometimes your changes will be lost. If you go into Edit mode and it shows that someone else is already editing, //please don’t try to edit//. Simply click on **Cancel** and then try again in a few minutes. It’s very helpful to type your info into Notepad/Text Edit or something else offline, then you’re able to quickly paste into the wiki when it’s your “turn.” Thanks for the great response and sorry for the inconvenience.)

Dear Friend,

I am a student in the third grade at [|Renaissance Elementary School] in [|Castle Rock], Colorado, USA. I am learning about world geography. With your help I can learn more about many different places. Here's how you can help:
 * 1) Complete one row in the table below. Enter only as much information as you're comfortable having everyone know. If you're under 18, ask a parent to be sure. [If you need instructions for how to add to this wiki, here's a [|basic guide (pdf)].]
 * 2) //Optional//: If you wish, send a postcard to my school. [[|instructions (pdf)]]
 * 3) //Optional//: If you wish, ask friends or relatives you know anywhere in the world to visit this page and contribute.

Thank you in advance to everyone that helps.

Sincerely,

Abby

Initial ||~ City ||~ State or Province ||~ Country ||~ Picture that's representative of where you live (link or actually upload into cell, 320 by 240 pixels) ||~ Write something descriptive of where you live. ||
 * ~ First Name ||~ Last
 * < Bud ||< H. ||< [|Fort Collins] ||< CO ||< USA ||< [[image:http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/2864105738_355f83e81d_m.jpg link="http://flickr.com/photos/budtheteacher/2864105738/"]] ||< I live at the edge of the mountains and the fringe of the plains. I love the wide open spaces and the trees, hills and rocks of the mountains. If Colorado had an ocean, I'd never need to leave. ||
 * < Scott ||< F ||< White Oak ||< TX ||< USA ||< [[image:http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3261/2801919482_7241230151_m.jpg link="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3261/2801919482_9cc8d442c1_o.jpg"]] ||< Our town is a small semi-rural east Texas community with about 6000 residents next to a town of about 80,000. The picture shows you our entire school district on one city block (click on the picture for larger view). The closest big Texas town near us is Dallas, about a 2.5 hour drive west. ||
 * < Judy ||< O ||< Albury ||< NSW ||< Australia ||< [[image:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2274/2214406080_85b997fe4c_m.jpg]] ||< My hometown of Albury is a city that sits on the boarder of two eastern states in Australia - New South Wales and Victoria. You can see where Albury is by visiting its [|Google Map page] where you can also visit other images from this city. I love this city because it still has a wonderful country feel. The picture I have included was taken with my phone, and is of the Murray River, right in the heart of the city at Noreuil Park. People love to visit the park and go for a ride on the [|Cumberoona Paddle Steamer]. Albury has a population of about 65,000 people, but as you can see from the picture, it is still easy to feel the Australian bush all around, and enjoy the very special things about living in country Australia. ||
 * Kyle || S || Dallas || TX || USA || [[image:downtownoakcliff.JPG width="239" height="161" link="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://lh5.ggpht.com/_cH9x2hrEOm8/R1ydoDekAZI/AAAAAAAAAhc/svDAg4ukhIE/IMGP0640.JPG&imgrefurl=http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iBL3WNtOGIKtGLziBlsR7Q&h=1063&w=1600&sz=9&hl=en&start=75&sig2=Z9f3hSvVDQDq8f3jIYjF8g&um=1&usg=__1UqgPVXDme_Lef__wYCZBwxxkYs=&tbnid=2JouHWTUHOSPpM:&tbnh=100&tbnw=150&ei=Z_zWSKqmA5DIgQKzwdT6CA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Doak%2Bcliff%26start%3D60%26ndsp%3D20%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN"]] || I live in the southern part of Dallas, TX known as Oak Cliff. The picture is a view of downtown Dallas from the Oak Cliff side of town. Oak Cliff was once a separate city, but annexed by the city of Dallas. You can read about the history of Oak Cliff [|here]. I love many things about Oak Cliff: the history, the community, etc. Overall I love how we maintain the benefits of the big city, but the connection to history and the tree lines of an older city. ||

I live in Rochester, New York which is on the north coast of the United States. Just to the north of us is Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes, and across that is Canada. Living that close to a large lake means that in the winter, we get a lot of snow – over 100 inches each year. The picture is of a huge Lilac Festival that happens here every May – there are hundreds of different lilacs and it smells terrific. People come from all over the world to visit the Festival. Rochester is also the home of Eastman Kodak Company and Xerox Corporation so we are famous for that too. Good luck with your project! I’m also sending a postcard to your school. Kathryn J || are about 15,000 people who live in my community. Scottsbluff is the largest city in the panhandle of Nebraska. Just to the west of town is Scotts Bluff National Monument. Pioneers used this sand stone monument as a marker about 150 years ago as they traveled along the Oregon Trail on their way out west. If you look closely you can still see the ruts left by the wagon trains. || by mugley (Creative Commons License: [|Attribution, Share-Alike]) || Hi Abby I live in the suburb of North Carlton in the city of Melbourne which is the capital of the state of Victoria. Melbourne has a population of over 3.5 million people. It is the second largest city in Australia. Melbourne hosts lots of festivals throughout the year - my favorites are the food festival and the comedy festival. This picture shows people enjoying a festival in the courtyard of the Melbourne Exhibition Building looking across the Carlton Gardens towards the city. Melbourne is located on the Yarra River, which flows into Port Phillip Bay. The local terrain is fairly flat - although to the north east of Melbourne is the Great Dividing Mountain Range. ||
 * < Tim ||< C ||< Cleveland ||< TN ||< USA ||< [[image:rebeldi.jpg align="left"]] ||< Cleveland is located near Chattanooga, TN and is just 30 minutes away from the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains. The Ocoee River runs near us. It was the site of the kayak races for the Olylmpics held in Atlanta, GA. I teach middle school south of town near the GA line. Cleveland is known for the International Headquarters of the Church of God, Lee University, and the Rebel Drive-In ||
 * < Diane ||< M ||< San Jose ||< CA ||< USA ||< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:SJPan.jpg ||< San Jose is considered to be the capital of Silicon Valley, the heart and birthplace of the computer chip industry. Even though I am a hard-core geek, it's much more than that to me. If you look at the picture I linked to at Wikipedia, you can see that we are a city nestled between mountains and foothills, less than an hour from the ocean, and just a few hours away from the snow in the Sierras. We get the best of ALL worlds here. Here in our town itself there is so much to do and see, both historical and natural. We love it here. ||
 * < Sara ||< V ||< Negaunee ||< MI ||< USA ||< [|U.P. Canoe Ride] ||< Negaunee is located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In the winter we get a lot of snow--sometimes over 300 inches! Our town has a heritage rich in the mining of iron ore. It is a beautiful place! ||
 * < Darren ||< K ||< Winnipeg ||< MA ||< Canada ||< [[image:http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2668691103_c2ec8d47c3_m_d.jpg]] ||< That picture is the view out my front door after a heavy rain in the spring time. Winnipeg is beautiful; it's the sunshine capital of Canada and right in the middle of the continent (East to West). Our city slogan used to be: "One Great CIty". The mayor just changed it to: "The Heart of the Continent". In the winter it can get as cold as -50°C with the wind chill. In the summer it can get up to 35°C. It's a city of great extremes but wonderful people. The slogan on the license plates of all cars registered in Manitoba is: Friendly Manitoba. Yup. ||
 * < Claire ||< H ||< Newberg ||< OR ||< USA ||< [[image:1.jpg width="244" height="152"]] ||< This is where I live on 10 acres on Parrett Mountain about 45 minutes from Portland, Oregon and an hour and 15 minutes from the coast. I live in a beautiful Douglas fir forest with my husband, two kids, two dogs and a cat. Parrett Mountain is in the coastal range of Oregon that runs north-south for the length of the state. I am on the edge of the Willamette Valley which is a tremendous agricultural area that grows many fruits, vegetables, trees and nursery plants. We have the mountains, the ocean and the big city close by and love living here. ||
 * < Elizabeth ||< H ||< Creve Couer ||< MO ||< USA ||< media type="custom" key="2040802" ||< Creve Couer means Broken Heart. It is a suburb of St Louis which is on the Mississippi River. This is river country and camping and canoeing is great fun here. This summer we had some serious floods.This is where Lewis and Clark started their westward expansion. You can ride a bike along their trail (the Katy Trail) now. A well kept secret is the Basilica; it rivals some European cathedrals with its mosaics.http://www.slide.com/r/8pO3Va9l5z-S8SI7b91CM4ILSleJpCLh?previous_view=lt_embedded_url ||
 * < Kim ||< E ||< Burleson ||< TX ||< USA ||< [[image:burleson.jpg width="273" height="176" align="center"]] ||< I live in Burleson, Texas, just twenty minutes south of Fort Worth. We are a growing suburban community that still gives you the feeling of small town closeness. We are the proud home of Olympian Stacy Sykora and American Idol Kelly Clarkson! We have 9 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 1 high school and 1 alternative campus. We are the home of the ELKS! Go Elks!!! Last June several students from our school had the honor of speaking to astronaut Greg Chamitoff as he circled the earth on board the International Space Station. Our town is a typical Texas town - HOT! We usually have pretty mild winters (with an odd snowstorm every once in a while) and our summers could melt the rubber off your sneakers! We have everything in our town from herds of Texas Longhorns to trendy Cyber cafe's where you can have a coffee and check your email! Come see us, y'all! ||
 * < Dean ||< S. ||< Moose Jaw ||< SK ||< Canada ||< [[image:http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/2283222260_0eb696b245_m.jpg]] ||< I live in the one of the prairie provinces. Provinces are like states. It is very flat in this part of the world. Winters are quite cold and summers hot. Even though we live in the north, we do not get as much snow as many places. That's because we don't live near large bodies of water or mountains. it's usually very sunny. In fact we are one of the sunniest places in Canada. If you want some live photos or chat about where I live, you can skype me at dean_shareski ||
 * < Erin ||< W ||< Waukegan ||< IL ||< USA ||< [[image:IMG_0711.JPG width="245" height="160" caption="Backyard Plant"]] ||< I live in Waukegan, Illinios. It is a city in northern Illnois, located about half way between Chicago and Milwaukee. The city is on Lake Michigan and is the county seat for Lake County, Illinois. A former industrial center, work is currently being done to try to re-energize the downtown part of the city. The town has about 80,000 residents. It's a great place to live. Early in its history the town was called Little Fort. ||
 * < Christine ||< A. ||< Parker ||< CO ||< USA ||< [[image:http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/2385152045_414906b9a9_m.jpg]] ||< Not to far from where you are, Parker combines the best of both worlds as we enjoy a little bit of country in a rapidly growing city. We love all the sunny days in Colorado as well as the colorful seasons that grace this state. ||
 * < Kathryn ||< J ||< Rochester ||< NY ||< USA ||<   [[image:http://tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:GUgVF6i74DpF3M:http://www.history.rochester.edu/class/sethfox/lilac1.gif width="188" height="272" link="http://www.history.rochester.edu/class/sethfox/lilac1.gif"]] ||< Hi Abby!
 * < Beth ||< S ||< [|Scottsbluff] ||< NE ||< USA ||< [[image:scottBluffTop.jpg width="240" height="171" caption="Scottsbluff, NE"]] ||< Scottsbluff is located in western Nebraska. There
 * Clare || S || Melbourne || VI || Australia || [[image:melbourne.jpg width="238" height="132"]]
 * < [|Ian] ||< H ||< [|Prince Albert] ||< SK ||< Canada ||< [[image:http://www.marturia.net/offsite/patourism.jpg caption="Prince Albert aerial view"]] ||< Prince Albert is a small city of about 32,000 people in Saskatchewan Canada. I live in the same province as Dean S., but a bit further north. As you can see on [|this map] of Saskatchewan eco-regions, I'm in an area called boreal transition. Basically, that means that we have both broad-leaf (deciduous) and pine/conifer (boreal) trees. There's a river called the North Saskatchewan that runs across the north end of the city (that's it in the photo). Prince Albert is the third largest city in the province, after Saskatoon and Regina. The capital city, Regina, was named after [|Queen Victoria], and Prince Albert is named after [|her husband].

A short drive north of us is Prince Albert National Park, which contains the home of [|Grey Owl],a British naturalist who took on a First Nations identity in order to better present the idea of natural conservation. || I live in a town called Southampton. Southampton is located just beyond the northeast corner of the city of Philadelphia. It is located in Bucks County. Bucks County is home to a number of different interesting places. [|Ringing Rocks] - is a neat place where there are rocks that [|ring like bells] when struck with a hammer. There are some great museums. My favorite is in Doylestown and is called the [|Mercer Museum]. It features all of the handmade tools our ancestors used before the industrial revolution. It is located in a castle and it's a great Halloween visit. || Land area: 105.7 sq. mi. Water area: 0.2 sq. mi. Population density: 53 people per square mile Males: 2,485 (47.5%) Females: 2,744 (52.5%) White population: 4,783 Black population: 317 American Indian population: 10 Asian population: 30 Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander population: 0 Some other race population: 35 Two or more races population: 54 || I live in Jacksonville, Florida/USA although I was born in Germany and raised in Argentina. Jacksonville is in the Northern part of Florida and has many beaches, where we can go swimming and play in the Atlantic ocean. It is a pretty big city. Almost 1 Million people live here. Most of the people like the Jaguar football team. I don't, since I like soccer more :) We are only 2.5 hours away from Orlando. Kids love being able to go to Disney World, Sea World or Universal Studios as a field trip with their classmates. || I live in Camden New South Wales Australia. It is south west of Sydney and a beautiful part of the world. It was founded by General Macarthur and his family who farmed the area when Sydney was a colony of Britain. There are lots of old buildings in town which gives it a real country feel and yet we aren't that far from the city. The population is growing as more and more people discover what a great place it is to live in.< || Nadu ||< India ||< ||< Hi Abby! I'm from North Carolina originally but am now living in India! My husband and I live in Chennai, India. It used to be called Madras. It is the 4th largest city in India. Chennai is located on the Coromandel Coast on the Bay of Bengal. This is a picture of the beach a couple of blocks from our apartment. || Greetings from Chardon, Ohio! Chardon is in northeast Ohio, just south of Lake Erie and east of Cleveland, Ohio (yes, another Cleveland!). This is a picture of Chardon square with the courthouse in the background. Most Ohio small towns were organized around a square. Chardon is in the heart of the snowbelt and averages 140 inches of snow a winter. It's lovely here in spring and summer! Chardon is known for its Maple Festival; they tap the maple trees for syrup in early spring. [|Here's a post with pictures of the tapping!] || [|Sandwich] is one of the largest towns (in size) in New Hampshire, but has one of the smallest populations. Only 1300 folks live here year round, although in the summer our population booms. We are known for holding the last traditional fair of the year, the good old, good old [|Sandwich Fair].
 * < Al ||< T ||< Southampton ||< PA ||< USA ||< [[image:Tammamend-path.jpg width="134" height="177" align="left"]] ||< Hi Abby:
 * Paula || W || Crozet (near Charlottesville) || Va || USA || [[image:crozet.jpg width="245" height="148"]] || Hi, Abby, Thought you might like some data to show how tiny and rural our small town is! We're right at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in VA.
 * < Silvia ||< T ||< Jacksonville ||< FL ||< USA ||< [[image:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2385/2408354100_cc4598c3f5.jpg?v=0 width="215" height="164"]] ||< Hello Abby,
 * Toni || S || Camden || NSW || Australia || [[image:about-camden-logo.PNG_150×132_pixels.jpg]] || Hi Abby
 * < Joel ||< A ||< Kerrville ||< TX ||< USA ||< [[image:http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/2878147689_92771f6474_m.jpg]] ||< Kerrville is a city Kerr County, Texas. The population is a little more than 23,000. Kerrville is named after James Kerr who was a major in the Texas Revolution. Kerrville is located in the southwestern portion of the Texas Hill Country. Kerrville hosts the Folk Music Festival and the State Arts & Crafts Fair each year. It is also the home of James Avery Craftsman Jewelry and Schreiner University. ||
 * < Katie ||< C ||< Chennai ||< Tamil
 * < D ||< M ||< Andover ||< MA ||< USA ||< [[image:http://farm1.static.flickr.com/122/260691151_978b79750a_m.jpg]] ||< Andover is located about 35 minutes north of Boston, not far from the border with New Hampshire. Because we are close to the city, many people live here and work in Boston. We love it because we are close to the city, not far from the lakes and mountains of New Hampshire, and an easy trip to the beaches in Ipswich and Gloucester, MA. Andover is a typical New England town, known in part as the location of Philips Andover Academy. ||
 * < Lani ||< R ||< Chardon ||< OH ||< USA ||< [[image:chardon1.jpg width="191" height="253"]] ||< Hi Abby,
 * < John ||< M ||< [|Sandwich] ||< NH ||< USA ||< [[image:http://farm1.static.flickr.com/36/82988811_625d5c8d91_m_d.jpg align="left" caption="Sandwich, NH in winter" link="http://flickr.com/search/?q=sandwich&w=63586135%40N00&page=3"]] ||< Hi Abby,

Our town sits at the southern edge of the White Mountain National Forest and lies just north of the largest lake in the state, Lake Winnipesaukee. || I have chosen a photo that shows a group of girls dancing at "carneval".This is celebrated in February, especially in the Rhine valley where I live. There are also parades that are shown on German TV.
 * < Ingrid ||<  ||< Braband ||< Cologne ||< Germany ||<  [[image:http://www.kvmyk.de/r_presse/presse2006/februar2006/presse_051i.jpg width="222" height="223"]] ||< Hello Abby,

Cologne is on the river Rhine. It is the fourth-largest city in Germany; nearly 1 million people live here. It is also very famous for its cathedral which is very old. || There are 215 schools (elementary, junior high and high) with 71.000 students. There is also a university and a number of colleges and academies (business, music, art, theatre etc.) with around 50.000 students. Most jobs are in business, IT in particular, and of course the government. ||  In the middle of the town sits Lake Mohawk, once a popular resort community. It is known for its lakestyle architecture. ||
 * < John ||< K ||< Phoenix ||< AZ ||< USA ||< [[image:http://www.mustseephoenix.com/attractions/attraction-images/camelback-mountain.jpg width="228" height="156" caption="Camelback Mountain, Phoenix, AZ"]] ||< Phoenix is the capital of the state of Arizona. This is a picture of Camelback Mountain, a Phoenix landmark. Phoenix is located in the Sonoran Desert. It is very hot in the summer, but the weather is nice in the winter. ||
 * < Paul ||< H ||< Courtenay ||< BC ||< Canada ||< [[image:Glacier_01.jpg width="240" height="166" link="http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulhami/2623829628/in/set-72157603791022606/"]] ||< Courtenay is a small city on the east coast of Vancouver Island, which is just off the west coast of Canada. Courtenay is situated in the Comox Valley, and it is about mid-way between the northern and southern tips of Vancouver Island. Courtenay has a beautiful setting, right on the ocean and with a beautiful view of some of Vancouver Island's mountains. The Comox Glacier (see photo) is Courtenay's best known landmark. It looms over the city, and I can see it from my window as I write this. ||
 * < Kimberly ||< M ||< Las Vegas ||< NV ||< USA ||< [[image:Las_Vegas_Strip_II.jpg width="238" height="162"]] ||< I live about 20 minutes from the Las Vegas Strip - close to the mountains and in a very quiet area of the city. ||
 * < Sean ||< W ||< Yorba Linda ||< CA ||< USA ||< [[image:C08088943_0.jpg width="259" height="144"]] ||< Yorba Linda is at the far east edge of Orange County in Southern California. There are a lot of tract homes and developments but there is also a lot of old town Yorba Linda around. Most of the city is zoned for horses and there are miles of trails. We border Chino Hills state park as well so there is still a lot of open space. ||
 * < Chris ||< L ||< Philadelphia ||< PA ||< USA ||<  ||< Philadelphia is a special town. Folks from Philly take being from Philly very seriously. The city plays a very important role in American history. It is where the foothills founding fathers of the US signed the [|Declaration of Independence] and it was the site first capital of the United States. Today, Philadelphia is a diverse, exciting city with wonderful museums and traditions and sports teams... even if our [|most famous sports figure] isn't real . And Philadelphia is also famous for the its food -- so when you visit, be sure to have a [|cheesesteak] but get with Provolone, not CheezWhiz. ||
 * < Susan ||< W ||< Wawota ||< SK ||< Canada ||<  ||< The name "Wawota" is derived from a Native word meaning deep snow. It is located in Southeastern Saskatchewan. ||
 * < Paul ||< C ||< Wake Forest ||< NC ||< USA ||< [[image:downtown_wake_forest.jpg width="267" height="192"]] ||< I live in this wonderful suburb of Raleigh, that was once a sleepy college town, but is exploding into the latest retail center for this part of the third fastest growing region in the country. ||
 * < Hunter ||< H ||< Sausalito ||< CA ||< USA ||< [[image:600ShelterCoveSausalitoPicassaNow2007.jpg width="270" height="212"]] ||< Sausalito is a small town of about 7000 people, not far from San Francisco (which you can see in the background). The Golden Gate Bridge is just behind the hill you see. This picture is taken from a little park that is straight across the valley from our house, and we live a couple of hundred yards from the right edge of the photo. At the other end of town, about 2 miles north, people live in houseboats. We have our own weather because of the Bay and Pacific Ocean- the temperature is almost always between about 50 and 80 degrees F all year round, and it rains only in the winter. That's a little boring, but we can travel to snowy and hot places that are nearby. ||
 * < Paul ||< W ||< Duncanville ||< TX ||< USA ||<  ||< Duncanville is a suburb of Dallas on the southern side of what is called the metroplex. Duncanville is known for it's small town atmosphere. It is about 8 miles from the school I work at which is Bishop Dunne High School. We are a 6-12 school and you can find out about the school at [|www.bdhs.org]. ||
 * < [|Larko] ||<  ||< [|Helsinki] ||<   ||< Finland ||< [[image:http://www.larko.org/varasto/stadi2.jpg width="234" height="154"]] ||< Helsinki (population 570.000) is the capital of Finland at the southern coast of Finland. The town was founded 1550 by Gustavus Wasa, the King of Sweden. It became the capital 1812 after Finland had become an autonomous part of Russia 1809 and continued to be the capital when the country became independent 1917. Helsinki hosted the Olympic games 1952 and the first and third stage of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe 1973 and 1975. The Helsinki Accord was signed here on August 1 1975 by 35 heads of states, including president Gerald Ford.
 * < Scott ||< E ||< Loveland ||< CO ||< USA ||< [[image:http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1010/589929305_cdd0262f9b_m.jpg]] ||< Like that "Bud" guy at the top of the list, I live right on the edge of where the mountains meet the plains. Loveland, CO, USA, is (for me) a small-ish town of around 68,000 people. Plenty of visitors pass through town on their way up to Rocky Mountain National Park. Here is a link to all of [|my Flickr pictures tagged with "Loveland."] ||
 * < Reggie ||< R ||< Chicago ||< IL ||< USA ||< [[image:chicago-theatre.jpg]] ||< Hey Abby, I live near Chicago, IL- home of the soon to be World Series champs, the Chicago Cubs! Many people live here and we are very friendly, love Lake Michigan and have a blast. We are known for jazz, food, the lake front, architecture and many other things. Take care! ||
 * < Patrick ||< H ||< Sparta ||< NJ ||< USA ||< [[image:sparta.jpg]] ||< Sparta, NJ is a suburb of New York City, residing about 50 miles to the northeast of Manhattan. As detailed in the picture to the left, we are a mostly rural community with many lakes, trails and foothills. We are in close proximity to the Appalachian Trail, which cuts across the northern reaches of our county.
 * < Rodney ||< M ||< Mobile ||< AL ||< USA ||< [[image:20040317azaleas053b.jpg]] ||< Hi Abby, Hey y’all, from [|Mobile, Alabama]! Mobile is a historic city located at the southernmost part of Alabama and alond the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico. Mobile’s history dates back to 1519 when Spanish explorers visited the area. Since that time many countries have set up colonies in Mobile (France, Britain, and Spain). In the 1800’s, Mobile was famous for being a port where the chief crop of the area, cotton, was shipped to other ports all over the world. Mobile is also famous for having one of the world’s largest [|estuaries] (Mobile Bay). Many civil war battles took place in and around Mobile. One of the most famous was the “Battle of Mobile Bay”. During this battle, the Northern troops defeated the Souther troops (the confederates). Mobile is known for its mild winters, hot and humid summers, beautiful azaleas, old homes and it’s slow paced lifestyle. One of the most famous tourist items in Mobile is the [|WWII Battleship USS Alabama]anchored in Mobile Bay. ||
 * < Jeff ||< B ||< Florence ||< AL ||< USA ||< [[image:dam1.jpg width="250" height="177"]] ||< Hi Abby, Florence is a city of about 35,000 people located on the banks of the Tennessee River in northwest Alabama. It is the largest city of the "Shoals Area", so named because of the shoals of mussels that once made traveling the Tennessee River nearly impossible. Today the Tennessee Valley Authority operates Wilson Dam at the shoals to provide for transportation, flood control, and electricity. Florence is situated on the gently rolling foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. It is the birthplace of W.C. Handy, father of the blues, and is home to the University of North Alabama. Helen Keller was also born in the "Shoals Area", in Tuscumbia (less than 5 miles from Florence). ||
 * < Jennifer ||< O ||< Springfield ||< Virginia ||< USA ||< [[image:i-495_il_exit_027_01.jpg width="244" height="191"]] ||< I live about 20 miles south of Washington DC. It's a suburban area with lots of traffic and lots of people. ||
 * < Shirley ||< S ||< Chapin ||< SC ||< USA ||< [[image:chapinsc.jpg width="268" height="177"]] ||< Chapin, SC is about 30 miles NW of Columbia, SC the state capitol. It is a small town next a 50,000 acre lake called Lake Murray--built 75 years ago to provide hydropower to most of our state. This picture was taken next to the highway exit for our town which is why there are fast food restaurants and gas stations. We are also known for a great BBQ place called Farm Boys. ||
 * < Barry ||< B ||< Roseland ||< NJ ||< USA ||< [[image:http://roselandnj.org/images/borohall.jpg width="267" height="142"]] ||< Roseland, New Jersey is a small town (Pop. 6000) about 30 minutes west of New York City in Essex County. This year we are celebrating the town's 100th anniversary! We are known for being the location of "Becker's Farm". ||
 * < Roberta ||< T ||< Rosswood ||< BC ||< Canada ||< [[image:Nisgaa.jpg width="275" height="155"]] ||< I live on ten acres of bush in Northern BC's temperate rainforest, in the coastal mountains. There are lots of bears, eagles, and salmon here. To get to work, we have to drive through miles of lava, from a volcano that blew up about 250 years ago.

This area is the traditional home of the Nisga'a people, and we enjoy taking part in many of their traditional cultural events. || between 2 mountain ranges-the Cascades and the Coast Range. Many people think it rains all the time in Oregon, but we just get our rain (39") in the winter and Spring. I live up on a small mountain (750') and if we face East we can see Mt. Hood. To the northeast is Mt. Adams and then Mt. St. Helenes. On a clear day we might even get to see Mt. Rainier. Our early settlers were trappers and farmers. Even farming is an important business here. Many people have started vineyards so we an important new crop-grapes. || I’m from Houston, Texas, the 4th largest city in the US. Last week (9/13/08) we were hit by Ike a Hurricane. The schools closed for a week because we had no power. Several of my fellow teachers still don’t have power. Our librarian had to move to town 2 hours away from our school, so she could stay with family that had power. My family was lucky. The worst damage was at my house. You can see the picture of the downed trees outside my front door. I was lucky because they just missed my house. My niece Loren (3 yo), nephew Brett (9 months), and their cousin Jimmy (5 yo) were very tired of being inside after 4 days of not being allowed outside because of downed lines, high water, and fire ants. The zoo reopened on Wednesday, so Jimmy’s Mom and I took the kids to the Zoo. They had a blast checking on their friends – Topper the giraffe and Mac the Elephant. They also saw Mr. Melvin, who runs the Carousel. ||
 * < Diane ||< P ||< Sherwood ||< OR ||< USA ||< [[image:http://www.i-5online.com/images/portland.jpg width="270" height="363"]] ||< Sherwood is about 25 miles outside of Portland on the northern edge of the Willamette Valley. We are
 * < Mike ||< A ||< Holland ||< MI ||< USA ||< [[image:windmill_tulips.jpg width="261" height="182"]] ||< The city of Holland MI was founded in 1947 by Dutch immigrants seeking religious freedom. It is located on the Eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Each year Holland holds a Tulip Festival in honor of it's Dutch heritage. Upwards of 1,000,000 people from all over the country attend. Holland is also the home of the last windmill to be exported from the Netherlands (see photo). Hundreds of thousands of tulip bulbs are planted annually throughout the city. Adults and children dress in native costumes representing the different regions of the Netherlands and participate in parades (3) each spring. ||
 * < Milly ||< R ||< Te Awamutu ||<  ||< New Zealand ||< [[image:rosegarden01.jpg]] ||< Te Awamutu is a small town 30km away from one of the main cities of New Zealand, Hamilton. We are also know as Rosetown a rual farming town. We have many great schools in Te Awamutu including the school I am from, Te Awamutu Intermediate. (My teacher showed me this wiki and told me to add something about our community.) The picture is of our beautiful rose gardens when our roses are blooming. ||
 * < Kimberly ||< H ||< Houston ||< Texas ||< USA ||< [[image:Life_After_Ike02.jpg width="255" height="148" align="center"]] ||< Hi Abby,

Initial ||~ City ||~ State or Province ||~ Country ||~ Picture that's representative of where you live (link or actually upload into cell, 320 by 240 pixels) ||~ Write something descriptive of where you live. || I live in Staten Island, New York. Staten Island is one of New York's 5 boroughs. It is considered part of New York City. While part of a city, Staten Island has many parks and sometimes doesn't seem like a city at all. The picture at left is of a yacht club 3 blocks from my house. My family does a lot of sailing during the summer. It is fun living in Staten Island because it is very close to Manhattan (Broadway, Empire State Building, etc.) and yet not as big and doesn't have as many people. Staten Island is also very close to New Jersey. I hope you enjoy your project..it seems like it will be a lot of fun! P.S. I visited Colorado last summer--what a beautiful place! ||
 * ~ First Name ||~ Last
 * < Denise ||< O ||< Staten Island ||< NY ||< USA ||< [[image:ClubJPG2.gif width="256" height="156"]] ||< Hi Abby,
 * < Kathy ||< N ||< New Port Richey ||< FL ||< USA ||< [[image:Pithlachascotee_River_New_Port_Richey_FL-New_Port_Richey.jpg width="271" height="169" caption="Pithlachascotee River"]] ||< Since its incorporation in the year 1924, New Port Richey is most recognized for its cultural heritage and unique riverfront landscape. Located in Western Pasco County, New Port Richey is approximately thirty miles northwest of Greater Tampa and within a few miles to the Gulf of Mexico. During the 1920's several Hollywood stars made NPR their winter home including Gloria Swanson.

The local high school, Gulf HS, is celebrating its 86th birthday this month. || Providence is the capitol of our smallest state. We are on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean and there is lots of coastline. I have been a teacher in a small school in East Providence for 24 years. My students come from all over the state and from Massachusetts and Connecticut. We have such a small state that it is not too far to drive each day to school. The leaves are just about to start turning colors, the days are warm but the nights are cool now. I know that the seasons are changing. My students are keeping track of the length of the shadows to get a sense of how the earth makes the trip around the sun and how that changes the seasons. Our climate is moderated by the Ocean. It is not so cold in the winter and not so warm in the summer as you are in Colorado. || Honolulu is the biggest city in the state of Hawaii. It's located on the island of Oahu. We have great weather here pretty much all year round. The temperature never goes much below 65, or much above 85. It's a pretty small-scale city, not many skyscrapers, lots of wide roads, and sunshine. || Megan Bailey ||< T W L ||< Rangiora ||< Canterbury ||< NZ ||<  ||<   || Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the [|New Forest]. It lies at the northern-most point of Southampton Water where it is joined by the River Test and River Itchen with the River Hamble joining to the south of the urban area. Near where I teach. The picture is taken at the docks, as Southampton is best known for being the launching point of the Titanic. Good luck with the project! || I have more pictures [|on Flickr]. ||
 * Jacqui ||< K || Providence || Rhode Island || USA ||<  || Hi Abby,
 * < Mike ||< H ||< Mechanicsville ||< Virginia ||< USA ||< [[image:windmill.jpg width="271" height="176"]] ||< Hi Abby. I live in Mechanicsville, Va which is near the capital of Richmond. It gets hot in the summer, and humid which Colorado doesn't get much of. But we also don't get a lot of snow. Just a few inches will cause schools to be closed for days. My oldest daughter is also in 3rd grade and goes to a brand new school called Laurel Meadows. ||
 * < Bruce ||< S ||< Honolulu ||< Hawaii ||< USA ||< [[image:http://www.honoluluicc.org/img/Honolulu-hawaii-us_01-360a021507.jpg width="272" height="154"]] ||< Hi Abby,
 * < Georgia
 * < Becky ||< M ||< Guttenberg ||< Iowa ||< USA ||< [[image:100_0062t.JPG width="263" height="173" caption="American Queen"]] ||< Hi Abby- Guttenberg is a very small town in NE Iowa, on the Mississippi River. The //American Queen// sailed by our town yesterday, 9/21 on her way to St. Paul, MN, with lots of passengers.The river is a very important part of our town and our state- lots of corn, soy beans, and coal travel up and down the river on huge barges pushed by tow boats. ||
 * < Chary ||< I ||< Annapolis ||< Maryland ||< USA ||< [[image:annapolis.jpg width="256" height="165" caption="Annapolis, Marland"]] ||< Hello, Abby. This is a picture of the downtown, city docks area of my hometown. Annapolis is the capital city of Maryland. It has a long history dating back to 1654! There is a statue of Alex Haley, the man who wrote the book ROOTS, because slaves like Kunte Kinte were sold right on our city docks after their long voyage across the seas. Annapolis is sometimes called the sailing capital of the world. It is home to the US Naval Academy ||
 * < Still ||< K ||< Southampton ||<  ||< England ||< [[image:http://www.cheapdayout.com/images/hampshire%20-%20southampton.jpg]] ||< Hi, this is Southampton England.
 * Southampton** is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England.
 * < Aaron ||< D ||< [|Shippensburg] ||< Pennsylvania ||< US of A ||<  ||< Shippensburg is a sleepy university town in the middle of Pennsylvania's "Central Valley." We're 90 miles from the Washington Monument and only 40 miles from Hershey, PA (Yes, and the Hershey chocolate factory) ||
 * < Tina ||< H ||< Oxford ||< Mississippi ||< USA ||< [[image:http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3006/2876267937_a44097c7dd_m.jpg]] ||< Oxford is the county seat of Lafayette County, Miss., and is home to the University of Mississippi. This Friday (Sept. 26), the first presidential debate will at the Ford Center, which is the brick building in the picture. The white media tent was built over the summer, and the stands during the past month. That road is now closed, and will have cables for internet, phone, and electricity laying across it. This has definitely been an interesting experience so far.

Initial ||~ City ||~ State or Province ||~ Country ||~ Picture that's representative of where you live (link or actually upload into cell, 320 by 240 pixels) ||~ Write something descriptive of where you live. || The name, Saskatoon, comes from the Cree word, "[|misâskwatômina]," which refers to the sweet, violet-coloured Saskatoon berries that grow in the area. Saskatchewan: Easy to draw. Hard to spell. || http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/712 ||
 * ~ First Name ||~ Last
 * < Heather ||< A ||< Saskatoon ||< Saskatchewan ||< Canada ||< [[image:Saskatoon.jpg width="248" height="177"]] ||< **Saskatoon** is a the largest city in Saskatchewan with a population of approximately 235,000. The South Saskatchewan River runs through Saskatoon and lends so much beauty and recreational options to the city. Residents of Saskatoon are called //Saskatonians//. Saskatoon is also called Bridge City because of the 7 bridges linking the east and west sides.
 * < Grace ||< L ||< [|Alvin] ||< Texas ||< US ||< [[image:http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A1834/18344/300_18344.jpg]] ||< [|Alvin] is located twenty five miles southeast of Houston in northeast Brazoria County. There are 22,142 people in Alvin. I actually live about 3 miles outside of the city limits and I work in Houston. Alvin is best known as the birthplace of Nolan Ryan - a famous baseball pitcher. We just went through Hurricane Ike, with the rest of the Houston/Galveston area. The picture is of the Nolan Ryan Center. What I fun project. I love to travel. ||
 * < Rick ||< S ||< Vicenza ||< Vicenza ||< Italy ||< [[image:Vicenza2.jpg]] ||< Founded in the 2nd century B.C. in northern Italy, Vicenza prospered under Venetian rule from the early 15th to the end of the 18th century. The work of Andrea Palladio (1508–80), based on a detailed study of classical Roman architecture, gives the city its unique appearance. Palladio's urban buildings, as well as his villas, scattered throughout the Veneto region, had a decisive influence on the development of architecture. His work inspired a distinct architectural style known as Palladian, which spread to England and other European countries, and also to North America.
 * < Grace ||< L ||< [|Alvin] ||< Texas ||< US ||< [[image:http://images-cdn01.associatedcontent.com/image/A1834/18344/300_18344.jpg]] ||< [|Alvin] is located twenty five miles southeast of Houston in northeast Brazoria County. There are 22,142 people in Alvin. I actually live about 3 miles outside of the city limits and I work in Houston. Alvin is best known as the birthplace of Nolan Ryan - a famous baseball pitcher. We just went through Hurricane Ike, with the rest of the Houston/Galveston area. The picture is of the Nolan Ryan Center. What I fun project. I love to travel. ||
 * < Rick ||< S ||< Vicenza ||< Vicenza ||< Italy ||< [[image:Vicenza2.jpg]] ||< Founded in the 2nd century B.C. in northern Italy, Vicenza prospered under Venetian rule from the early 15th to the end of the 18th century. The work of Andrea Palladio (1508–80), based on a detailed study of classical Roman architecture, gives the city its unique appearance. Palladio's urban buildings, as well as his villas, scattered throughout the Veneto region, had a decisive influence on the development of architecture. His work inspired a distinct architectural style known as Palladian, which spread to England and other European countries, and also to North America.
 * < Carrie ||< A ||< Washington ||< District of Columbia ||< USA ||< [[image:http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3064/2334288068_25774fe41d_o.jpg width="289" height="219"]] ||< I live in the nation's capital, Washington, DC. While most people think of Congress, the White House, or one of our monuments, I wanted to give a picture of the street I live on. Over 580,000 people live in DC, yet the District of Columbia does not have any voting representation in Congress. You can learn more here: http://dcvote.org/. ||
 * < Cynthia ||< P ||< Athens ||< GA ||< USA ||<  ||< Athens is in NE GA about 70 miles east of Atlanta. It is home to the University of Georgia: [|www.uga.edu] We have muggy summers and mild winters. Here is a [|link to more information about the town] from the New Georgia Encyclopedia ||
 * < Haley ||< H ||< Charleston ||< SC ||< USA ||< [[image:http://www.sciway.net/photos/main.php?g2_view=core.DownloadItem&g2_itemId=211&g2_serialNumber=6 width="170" height="253"]] ||< Located on the coast of South Carolina where the Ashley and Cooper Rivers meet, is Charleston, SC. Charleston is the major port city of South Carolina and is the second largest city in South Carolina. Nicknamed “The Holy City”, it is also one of the most historic locations in the state, boasting rich cultural, religious, and political history. Notably, the start of the Civil War was signaled at Fort Sumter on Charleston’s coast when federal troops were fired upon by Confederate forces in April 1861. Also home to Charleston were three signers of the constitution: Charles Pinckney, Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, and John Rutledge. ||

Initial ||~ City ||~ State or Province ||~ Country ||~ Picture that's representative of where you live (link or actually upload into cell, 320 by 240 pixels) ||~ Write something descriptive of where you live. ||
 * ~ First Name ||~ Last
 * < John ||< M ||< Katy ||< TX ||< USA ||< [[image:http://www.katyhasit.com/images/katy_sign-clean.jpg]] ||< Katy, Texas is a town 30 miles due west of Houston, our nation's 4th largest city. The school district serves an astonishing 50,000 students! One of the most interesting places to visit in Katy is the Forbidden Gardens . Prior to becoming a bustling bedroom community, Katy was home to many rice farms. ||
 * < Chaunacey ||< D ||< Fullerton ||< CA ||< USA ||< [[image:Fullerton_PD.jpg]] ||< Hi Abby, I live in Fullerton, which is in Orange County, California. We are just north of Anaheim, which makes us 15 minutes away from Disneyland! There are just over 137,000 people who call Fullerton home. Some of the famous people from Fullerton include Gwen Stefani (from No Doubt), Tommy Lasorda (from baseball), and Philip K. Dick (a science-fiction writer). Have fun with your project! ||
 * < Katherine ||< N ||< Greensboro ||< NC ||< USA ||< [[image:guilford.jpg width="196" height="274"]] ||< Greensboro, NC has almost a population of 260,000. We are the third largest city in North Carolina. We are located between the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains to the west and the Atlantic beaches and Outer Banks to our east. The city itself was named af ter Major General Nathaniel Greene. The Guilford Courthouse National Park in Greensboro commemorates the 1781 Battle of Guilford Park (where this statue is located). The short story writer O.Henry was born here and the author Orson Scott Card currently lives here. We have one minor league Baseball team, the Greensboro Grasshoppers. Our primary newspaper is the Greensboro News and Record. ||
 * < Rachael ||< B ||< East Hampton ||< CT ||< USA ||< [[image:http://emp.trincoll.edu/%7Erbarlow/DSC_0020.JPG width="244" height="146" caption="external image"]] ||< East Hampton Connecticut is known for its bell making industry. It's also down the road from Portland (where I grew up), known for its shipping industry during colonial times and its brownstone quarries (used to make all the famous brownstone buildings in New York City). It's very close to the Connecticut River (seen in the picture). ||
 * < Bill ||< F ||< Raleigh ||< NC ||< USA ||< [[image:CarolinaHurricanes.jpg]] ||< Raleigh, North Carolina is known for one thing and one thing only: [|Carolina Hurricanes Hockey]! Despite being well south of the Mason-Dixon Line, our pond loving lads have been to two Stanley Cup finals since moving from Hartford, Conneticut---and won the championship in 2006.

Of course, other things DO happen in and around Raleigh---an area known as the Research Triangle---every now and then. We're also the home of several internationally known universities---including [|North Carolina State], the [|University of North Carolina] and [|Duke University].

Several major corporations also have their headquarters in and around Raleigh---drawing from our highly educated workforce---as well, including [|Red Hat] and [|SAS].

We eat barbecue ([|the vinegar kind]) and [|banana pudding]---and we'd trade our left arm for a glass of [|sweet tea]!

If you want to learn more, jump into the conversation around [|this Voicethread presentation] my students are making. Ask us questions about our hometown and we'll give you answers! || Bay ||< Ontario ||< Canada ||< ||< Hello Abby! North Bay is located approximately 350km north of Toronto, and has a population of 55,000. Our summers are warm and our winters are quite cold and long. There are a number of lakes in the area, and everyone goes boating and fishing in the summer, and skating and ice fishing in the winter. During the summer, there are several music and cultural festivals here and in the general area in both English and French. North Bay is home to the Dionne Quintuplets Museum, commemorating the five most famous babies in Canadian history. || ||< <span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Williamsburg, Virginia, is located in eastern Virginia. It is surrounded by history! Nearby is Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement. It was founded on May 14, 1607 and just celebrated its 400th birthday last year. Colonial Williamsburg, an historical recreation of the original colonial capital of Virginia, is also located in the area. Visitors to Colonial Williamsburg might meet Thomas Jefferson or George Washington. It is often considered the birthplace of America. Finally, Yorktown is close by, where the English army surrendered to end the American Revolution. If you want to learn more, start here at the website for the Historic Triangle. ||
 * < Mr. H's Class ||< Mr. Hancock ||< Chilliwack, ||< British Columbia, ||< Canada ||<  ||< Hello! we are very excited about your project and we are going to send you a picture of Chilliwack, B.C. However, we are having a wonderful discussion about what picture would really show all about Chilliwack. One of our students, said that we need a picture that shows the "big picture" not just any picture. We will get right back to you!!!!! Sincerely, Mr. Hancock's Grade 3 class! Thanks ||
 * < Jo ||< B ||< Toowoomba ||< Queensland ||< Australia ||< [[image:http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2290/2252642053_0eefcb6722_m.jpg]] ||< Hi there, I have a daughter who is 8 and in year 3, so thought I'd help out! I live in Toowoomba, in Queensland Australia. Our city normally is very beautiful and green, and we are known as the 'garden city'. Unfortunately, we have been in drought for a few years, so our town is not looking its beautiful best. I work in the local public library. ||
 * < Maggs ||< b ||< Toowoomba ||< Queensland ||< Australia ||< [[image:http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3040/2312549935_4e6b1aba18_m.jpg]] ||< Hi there, I am in year 3 and I go to martin luther primary school. I live in Toowoomba, and we have just had a carnival of flowers. //I// am on school holidays at the moment, and will tell my teacher about this wiki. I have put in a picture of me and my friend. ||
 * < Krista ||< J ||< Whitby ||< Ontario ||< Canada ||< [[image:whitby.jpg]] ||< <span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Hi Abby, I live in Whitby, Ontario, about a 30 minute highway drive east of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. There is a population of 110,000 people in Whitby. Unfortunately I couldn't get the photo to attach so I included a link instead. This is an old photo of a movie theatre that was in Whitby, Ontario in 1909. Today Whitby is a lot different, but I thought a fun photo. Prior to becoming a suburban community Whitby was home to many farmers. Best of luck with your project! ||
 * < Cara ||< S ||< Littleton ||< CO ||< USA ||<  ||< <span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">Hi Abby, I'm pretty much your next door neighbor, but I thought that someone from your dad's school should add to your assignment. So, instead of describing where I live, I'll just tell you to look out your window. We're probably looking at the same mountains! What a neat way to connect to people all over the world! ||
 * < Polly ||< F ||< Albany ||< NY ||< USA ||< [[image:albany.jpg]] ||< I live in Albany NY, the capital of New York State. Our downtown area is full of old and new buildings right next to each other. This is a photo of an old church that is being renovated. And a one of the big office buildings where lots of government offices are located. ||
 * < Rebecca ||< L ||< North
 * < Karen ||< R ||< Williamsburg ||< VA ||< USA ||< <span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'">This photo is the Governor's Palace and is part of the Library of Congress collection at flickr. Colonial Williamsburg was reconstructed by John D. Rockefeller in the 1930s.