Top 10’s for any product area, helpful when looking for info. One of the Most Famous Streets in the U.S. ? Lombard Street is unique because the street itself is the actual attraction. It is famous because of its one block section between Leavenworth and Hyde Streets that has eight very sharp hairpin turns. Lombard Street is known as the “crookedest” street in the world. It was constructed in 1922 and it was designed this way in order to allow cars and pedestrians to safely travel down Russian Hill since it has a 27% grade. Additionally, such a road would was deemed to be too hazardous for pedestrians, especially those in wheelchairs. Although this road meanders through a residential area, after taking an unforgettable car ride down Russian Hill there are still plenty of other tourist attractions to enjoy in the immediate vicinity.
One of the Highest Grossing Movies of All Time ? Avatar, This 2009 blockbuster science fiction action film, which was directed and written by James Cameron, grossed an astonishing $2,782,300,000. Filming was supposed to begin back in 1997, but James Cameron decided that the technology necessary to fulfill his vision were not yet available. The film is set in the mid-22nd century and centers on the theme that Earth has used up all of its natural resources and has now taken to mining a precious mineral called unobtanium on a planet named Pandora. Human activities on Pandora put them at odds with the native Na’vi humanoids that live there. Avatar won three Academy Awards for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects and Best Art Direction. It also won Golden Globe Awards for Best Director and Best Motion Picture in the drama category.
One of the Longest Living Animals ? The Ocean quahog is an edible clam which has been confirmed to live for more than 500 years. Notably, this mollusk is thought to be an example of negligible senescence, which means that it does not show signs of aging. The Ocean quahog has many names, including: the Icelandic cyprine, black quahog, black clam and mahogany quahog. They are found in the Northern Atlantic Ocean in both deep and shallow waters (25 to 1,300 feet) where they are frequently harvested for food through the process of dredging. The age of a quahog can be established by counting growth rings that appear on its shell. As they get older they tend to grow more slowly, hence the growth rings get closer and closer together. This can make it difficult to determine the exact age of a specimen. Extra top 10’s at UtopTens.
One of the Tallest Mountains in the World ? Makalu is the fifth highest mountain in the world and is located about 14 miles east of Everest. It is located on the boarder of Nepal and China. It is an isolated peak that has the unique shape of a four-sided pyramid. There is another subsidiary peak that doesn’t quite meet up to the “eight-thousander” reputation called Kangchungtse, or Makalu II. It lies northeast of the main summit and is connected to it by a arrow saddle called Chomo Lonzo.