Romy News - 10 April 2024
Hey there, welcome to a new episode of “Romy News”! I hope you had a great Wednesday. Today, we’ll talk about an incredible feat on the Eiffel Tower, explore why trees grow leaves again in spring, and then, we’ll delve into a fascinating country: Argentina. Get ready to learn lots of interesting things. Let’s go!
The Eiffel Tower, this giant iron structure proudly standing in the Paris sky, is a global symbol of France. But did you know that it’s also the stage for incredible feats? Like the one by Anouk Garnier, a champion obstacle course racer, who climbed to the second floor by rope for a very special cause: the fight against cancer.
Anouk Garnier, a 28-year-old, took on an extraordinary challenge today, on April 10, 2023. She climbed the Eiffel Tower by rope, reaching the second floor, 110 meters above the ground, in just 18 minutes, setting a new world record. Anouk undertook this extraordinary adventure to raise awareness about cancer, a disease affecting her mother. She described the experience as “amazing” and a “beautiful opportunity”, despite the vertigo and challenges faced during the ascent. Her courage and determination shone throughout this ordeal.
The Eiffel Tower has been the site of many other remarkable feats. In 1891, Sylvain Dornon, a baker, climbed the 674 steps to the 2nd floor… on stilts! In 1948, an 85-year-old elephant from the Bouglione circus amazed Parisians by climbing to the 1st floor. In 1952, American acrobats performed a trapeze act between the 2nd and 3rd floors, without a safety net. In 1987, Alan John Hackett introduced bungee jumping from the 2nd floor. And in 1989, tightrope walker Philippe Petit crossed from Trocadéro to the 2nd floor on a cable.
These feats remind us that the Eiffel Tower is not just a monument to admire, but also a source of inspiration, pushing people to push their limits. I encourage you to visit the Eiffel Tower and delve into its fascinating history. Can you imagine a new feat to achieve on the Eiffel Tower?
After discussing incredible feats on the Eiffel Tower, let’s change scenery to answer a very interesting question asked by Léon from Saint-Etienne: Why do trees have leaves again in spring? It’s an excellent question that plunges us into the fascinating life cycle of trees and the vital importance of leaves.
Trees shed their leaves in autumn due to decreasing daylight and temperatures, causing them to stop photosynthesis and prepare for winter. A special layer of cells, called the abscission layer, forms at the base of each leaf, weakening the bond between the leaf and the branch. Before the leaves fall, trees retrieve important nutrients they contain, storing them in their branches and trunk to survive winter. Eventually, wind and gravity play their part in dropping the leaves, helping the tree protect itself from the cold.
In spring, with longer days and warmer temperatures, buds open and new leaves emerge. These fresh leaves allow the tree to resume producing food through photosynthesis. Nutrients stored during winter help the tree quickly develop its new leaves. This spring growth is also perfectly synchronized with the availability of pollinators and a favorable growing season. Did you know that some trees, like evergreen oaks, keep their leaves all year in regions with mild winters?
Leaves play crucial roles for trees: they enable photosynthesis, the production of their own food through sunlight. They also help regulate the tree’s temperature through transpiration, enable respiration by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, and provide the energy needed for tree growth. Birch trees, for example, offer a beautiful sight when their leaves turn yellow in autumn.
To better understand this fascinating cycle, I challenge you to observe buds on a tree near you closely and note the changes over the days. You’ll see how important the leaf cycle is for tree survival and growth.
After exploring the mystery of trees regrowing leaves in spring, let’s dive into a completely different world for our editorial theme of the week, focusing on the culture and geography of the world. Today, I’m taking you to Argentina, a country in South America known for its breathtaking landscapes and rich history. We’ll talk about its geography, vibrant culture, famous personalities, and incredible places to visit.
Argentina is located in the southern part of South America, with long coasts along the Atlantic Ocean. This country is famous for its diverse landscapes: from glaciers and snow-capped peaks in the Andes, to the vast plains of the Pampas, and the subtropical forests in the north. Among its major rivers are the RÃo de la Plata and the Paraná. Its climate varies from subtropical in the north to a colder climate in Patagonia. An interesting fact is that Argentina is home to one of the largest freshwater reservoirs in the world, Lake Nahuel Huapi.
Argentine culture is a blend of European influences, especially Spanish and Italian, and indigenous cultures. Spanish is the official language, but there are regional dialects. Argentine cuisine is globally renowned, especially for its beef steak, wine, empanadas, and dulce de leche. Tango, a passionate and sensual dance, originated in Buenos Aires. Football is the national sport, with teams like Boca Juniors and River Plate. Mate, a traditional drink, plays an important role in social life.
Among the famous Argentine personalities are Evita Perón, a workers’ rights activist, Diego Maradona, a football legend, Che Guevara, a revolutionary, and Lionel Messi, one of the greatest footballers of all time. Did you know that Evita Perón was immortalized in the musical “Evita” with Madonna?
Argentina is full of tourist attractions: Buenos Aires, with its colorful neighborhoods like La Boca, Iguazu Falls, among the most impressive waterfalls in the world, Patagonia with its glacier landscapes, lakes, and mountains, and the Valdés Peninsula, a sanctuary for marine fauna. Tango enthusiasts can even attend shows in the milongas of Buenos Aires.
To wrap up, I suggest a creative activity: draw yourself in traditional Argentine costume or your favorite Argentine dish. Argentina is a fascinating and diverse country worth exploring on a future trip.
And that’s all for today! I hope you enjoyed our journey through the feat on the Eiffel Tower, the mystery of leaves growing back in spring, and our wonderful adventure in Argentina. Remember, learning and discovery are all around us, we just need to look and wonder.
If you have any questions or if you want to share something incredible you’ve learned, feel free to contact us via Instagram. We love hearing your stories and curiosities!
So, until our next episode, keep your curiosity alive and keep exploring the world around you. See you soon for more discoveries with “Romy News”!