1. Do
you know the origin of the place name Alaska? The name Alaska comes
from the Aleut word alaxsxaq, meaning “object toward which
the action of the sea is directed” – that is, the mainland.
2. It is also known as Alyeska, the “great land”, an Aleut word formed from the same root.
3. Its nicknames are the Land of the Midnight Sun and America’s Last Frontier. Its first nicknames were “Seward’s folly” and “Seward’s icebox” to laugh at the secretary of state who negotiated the
purchase of Alaska from Russia, which was considered foolish at the time.
4. A landmark for the new millennium
Have you seen the photos of the London Eye? The London Eye is a giant
observation wheel located in the Jubilee Gardens on the South
Bank of the river Thames.
5. The structure was designed by the architectural team of David Marks and Julia Barfield, husband and wife.
6. They submitted their idea for a large observation wheel as part of a
competition to design a landmark for the new millennium. None of the
entrants won the competition.
7. However, the couple pressed on and eventually got the backing of British Airways, who sponsored their project.