Wikipedia:Main Page history/2017 August 31

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The meteorological history of Hurricane Ivan (2004) spans 26 days, the tenth longest storm duration of any Atlantic hurricane on record. The tropical cyclone developed on August 31 from a tropical wave that moved off the coast of Africa. Tracking westward due to a ridge, it developed into Tropical Depression Nine on September 2, gradually intensifying until September 5, when it underwent rapid deepening and reached Category 4 status on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. At the time Ivan was the southernmost major North Atlantic hurricane on record. It was weakened by dry air but gradually reorganized, passing just south of Grenada as a major hurricane on September 7. The hurricane attained Category 5 status in the central Caribbean Sea, and passed just south of Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, and western Cuba with winds at or slightly below that. Ivan gradually weakened before making landfall just west of Gulf Shores, Alabama, on September 16 with winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). After weakening, crossing Florida, restrengthening, and making another landfall in Louisiana, its circulation dissipated in Texas on September 25. (Full article...)

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Dolomedes schauinslandi

... that Dolomedes schauinslandi (pictured), one of New Zealand's largest spiders, could be capable of ballooning between islands?
... that E. Joy Johnson wrote The Foreman of the J.A.6. based on her experience owning a ranch in frontierland Wyoming?
... that the Thirteenth Doctor, to be portrayed by Jodie Whittaker, will be the first female incarnation of the Doctor in the continuity of Doctor Who?
... that the 2007–08 Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team did not lose a single game in the month of February?
... that surgeon Sir Terence English, who performed the first successful heart transplant in the UK in August 1979, had an earlier career in mining engineering?
... that the wildlife of Turkmenistan includes 82 species of reptile but only 5 of amphibian?
... that three hospitals and two other medical facilities were combined to form the Queens Hospital Center in New York City?
... that as CEO of Nestlé Mexico, Eugenio Minvielle Lagos pushed for the "pull strategy"?

In the news

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

In boxing, Floyd Mayweather Jr. (pictured) defeats Conor McGregor, surpassing the 49–0 winning streak of Rocky Marciano.
The Women's Rugby World Cup concludes with New Zealand defeating England in the final.
Hurricane Harvey makes landfall in Texas, causing severe flooding and at least 30 fatalities.
At least 36 people are killed in riots in Northern India after guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is convicted of rape.
Typhoon Hato strikes South China and Vietnam, killing at least 26 people.

On this day...

August 31: Day of Arafah (Islam, 2017)

Interior view of Kinetoscope with peephole viewer

1897 – Thomas Edison was granted a patent for the Kinetoscope (pictured), a precursor to the movie projector.
1939 – Nazi forces, posing as Poles, staged an attack against the German radio station Sender Gleiwitz in Gleiwitz, Upper Silesia, Germany, creating an excuse to invade Poland the next day.
1969 – Approximately 150,000 people attended the Isle of Wight Festival, which featured Bob Dylan in his first gig since 1966.
1982 – Anti-government demonstrations were held in 66 Polish cities to commemorate the second anniversary of the Gdańsk Agreement, which allowed the Solidarity trade union to be established.
1997 – Diana, Princess of Wales, her companion Dodi Fayed, and their driver Henri Paul were killed in a high speed car accident in the Pont de l'Alma road tunnel in Paris.

Aidan of Lindisfarne (d. 651) · Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin (b. 1842) · Sara Ramirez (b. 1975)

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Today's featured picture

The Lindau Lighthouse, located in Lindau on Lake Constance, is the southernmost lighthouse in Germany. It is 33 metres (108 ft) tall and has a perimeter of 24 metres (79 ft) at its base. It has a clock in its facade.

Photograph: Taxiarchos228

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