9781422275870

Ultimate Danger Ultimate Danger Ultimate

The Ultimate Book of

John Perritano

Ultimate Danger Ultimate Danger Ultimate

The Ultimate Book of

Ultimate Danger Ultimate Danger Ultimate

• D a n g e r • U l t i m a t e

The Ultimate Book of Dangerous Animals

The Ultimate Book of Dangerous Insects

The Ultimate Book of Dangerous Jobs

The Ultimate Book of Dangerous Places

The Ultimate Book of Dangerous Sports & Activities

The Ultimate Book of Dangerous Weather

Ultimate Danger Ultimate Danger Ultimate

The Ultimate Book of

John Perritano

Mason Crest Philadelphia • Miami

Ultimate Danger Ultimate Danger Ultimate

Mason Crest 450 Parkway Drive, Suite D Broomall, Pennsylvania 19008 (866) MCP-BOOK (toll-free) www.masoncrest.com

Copyright © 2020 by Mason Crest, an imprint of National Highlights, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission from the publisher. First printing 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 ISBN (hardback) 978-1-4222-4230-8

ISBN (series) 978-1-4222-4224-7 ISBN (ebook) 978-1-4222-7587-0 Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file with the Library of Congress.

Developed and Produced by National Highlights Inc. Editor: Peter Jaskowiake Interior and cover design: Annemarie Redmond Production: Michelle Luke QR CODES AND LINKS TO THIRD-PARTY CONTENT

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Words to Understand: These words with their easy-to-understand definitions will increase the reader’s understanding of the text, while building vocabulary skills. Sidebars: This boxed material within the main text allows readers to build knowl- edge, gain insights, explore possibilities, and broaden their perspectives by weav- ing together additional information to provide realistic and holistic perspectives. Educational Videos: Readers can view videos by scanning our QR codes, provid- ing them with additional educational content to supplement the text. Examples include news coverage, moments in history, speeches, iconic sports moments, and much more! Research Projects: Readers are pointed toward areas of further inquiry connect- ed to each chapter. Suggestions are provided for projects that encourage deeper research and analysis. Series Glossary of Key Terms: This back-of-the-book glossary contains terminol- ogy used throughout the series. Words found here increase the reader’s ability to read and comprehend higher-level books and articles in this field. Contents Series Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Chapter 1: Dangerous Blizzards and Ice Storms . . . . . . . . . 9 Chapter 2: Dangerous Droughts and Dust Storms . . . . . . . . 21 Chapter 3: Dangerous Hurricanes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Chapter 4: Dangerous Tornadoes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Chapter 5: Dangerous Tsunamis and Floods . . . . . . . . . . 59 Series Glossary of Key Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Further Reading and Internet Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Author’s Biography and Photo Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Key Icons to Look for:

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Series Introduction The Ultimate Danger set explores hair-raising hobbies, crime-ridden cities, death- dealing hurricanes, and much more. But what makes something dangerous? The answer may depend on your perspective. For example, some people would say that guns are so inherently dangerous that having one in the house is unthinkable. But to those who feel comfortable around guns, it’s fine to have weapons in the house—even desirable!—as long as they’re stored properly. Or consider this: most Americans think of New Zealand as a faraway land with breathtaking scenery and . . . who knows, maybe surfing? The point is, Americans don’t know all that much about New Zealand, and it looks adorably harmless to us from so far away. But to New Some Information on Information Boxes Each entry in this set includes an information box that provides basic facts about that topic. Most are self-explanatory, but a few require a little bit of explanation. In Dangerous Animals , one category is called “IUCN Red List.” This refers to a database created by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The IUCN assesses the population levels of animal species, and also whether that population is growing or declining. Each species is given a designation, such as “Endangered,” “Vulnerable,” or, if it’s doing well, “Least Concern.” The Dangerous Places volume has chapters on dangerous cities and countries—both use population information from the World Population Review website. Almost by definition, the countries and cities covered here tend to be unstable, meaning good data can be difficult to come by. In addition, some countries don’t report trustworthy numbers, and movements of refugees can shift population levels rapidly. In the “Dangerous Countries” chapter, the information box also gives travel advisory information from the U.S. State Department, which assesses the safety (or lack thereof) of countries to help tourists decide whether or not to visit them. Countries are put into four categories, with increasing levels of danger:

• Level 1 (exercise normal precautions) • Level 2 (exercise increased caution)

• Level 3 (reconsider travel) • Level 4 (do not travel)

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Zealand’s indigenous Maori population, who were robbed and oppressed during two hundred years of imperialist rule, New Zealand may not seem quite as adorable. Given all that, it’s clear that “dangerous” is subjective. The term can also be a vaguely insulting one in some contexts. Consider the people of St. Louis, a city frequently included on lists of “most dangerous cities” due to its high rate of violent crimes per citizen. Many residents are annoyed about the city they love ending up on those lists. They’ll hold forth passionately about how the statistics are misreported, misunderstood, and just generally unfair. But not everyone finds “dangerous” to be insulting—for some, the word indicates something that’s a heck of a lot of fun. Three of this set’s six volumes ( Dangerous Jobs, Dangerous Places , and Dangerous Sports & Activities ) are partly or entirely devoted to dangers that humans actively pursue . Even those of us who would rather not dance with actual danger can’t get enough of TV shows and films that scare us, startle us, and let us experience danger at a distance. Some of us even read (and write!) books about the topic. So, without further ado, let’s check out the ultimate in dangerous creatures, activities, and events.

Series Introduction

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Words to Understand frostbite: injury caused to body tissue by exposure to extreme cold hypothermia: abnormally low body temperature nor’easter: a storm over the Atlantic that hugs the coastline as it moves northward weather front : a boundary in the atmosphere separating two masses of air wind chill : a lowering of the air temperature caused by the wind

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Chapter 1

Dangerous Blizzards and Ice Storms P eople use the word blizzard casually all the time, but it actually has a specific definition: a snowstorm with wind speeds of at least 35 miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour) for a minimum of three hours. A severe blizzard is a storm with winds in excess of 45 mph (72 kmh) and temperatures that drop below 10°F (−23°C). Blizzard-force winds can also rip trees from their roots, snap powerlines, and whip up waves that flood coastal communities. Blizzard snow can come down at such a furious rate that it can bury communities under huge drifts in almost no time at all. In addition, temperatures can dip way below zero, causing frostbite and hypothermia for those unlucky enough to be caught outside. Blizzards occur when currents of warm, moisture-laden air smack into a wall of cold, dry air. When that happens, cool air falls toward the earth, creating massive changes in air pressure. This difference spurs powerful winds that can push falling snow sideways and create a dangerous wind chill that can drop the air temperature by some 30 degrees.

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Tydal Mountain Blizzard (1719)

In 1700, a war known as the Great Northern War began when Russia, led by Peter the Great, invaded Sweden. Peter and his allies, which included Norway, believed Sweden’s 15-year-old king, Charles XII, was too young and inexperienced to adequately defend his homeland. The war went on for a number of years. Ultimately, Charles decided to attack Norway to force its king to make concessions during upcoming peace negotiations. On August 29, approximately 10,000 Swedish soldiers began their march. The invasion didn’t go well. By the end of December, Charles’ mighty army had dwindled to some 8,000. Swedish forces, under the command of General Carl Gustaf Armfelt,

What: Tydal Mountain Blizzard

When: During the first two weeks of January 1719 Casualties: About 3,000 soldiers died during the storm, and about 700 died afterward due to complications from the storm. Did You Know? “Carolean” is a nickname for Charles’s soldiers, so the blizzard has come to be known as the Carolean Death March.

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decided to retreat home. Armfelt decided in early January 1719 to take the shortest route—over Norway’s rugged Tydal Mountains. It would be a decision he and his men would regret. On the afternoon of January 12 (New Year’s Day in Sweden), a violent blizzard rolled in from the northwest, bringing with it a strong wind that swirled the snow. The temperature plummeted, forcing the Swedes to set up camp on a mountain by Lake Essand. As the blizzard raged and the temperature dropped, the Swedish soldiers did everything possible to keep warm, including setting fire to their muskets and sleds. Around 200 soldiers froze to death on the first night. The storm continued the next day, turning the Swedish retreat into chaos. Soldiers got lost in the hills. Of the 8,000 Swedes who had started out on the retreat, over 3,500 died, either on the mountain or shortly after getting home. “Whole companies lay stiff upon each other, having burned gun stocks and . . . anything else that would burn to keep out the cold.” The death toll remains the second largest ever recorded for a blizzard.

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The Great Blizzard of 1888

At around midnight on March 12, 1888, snow began to fall in New York City. The Great Blizzard of 1888 had begun. When it was over, 400 people in the Northeast—200 in New York City alone— had perished. The Great Blizzard of 1888 is still the deadliest and snowiest in U.S. history. Up until that point, the winter of 1887–1888 in New England and the Northeast wasn’t so bad. A cold snap in January had chilled the region, but by early March, temperatures in the Northeast danced around the mid-50s. Then, on March 11, a mass of cold Arctic air swept down from Canada and collided with a wall of warm, moist air trekking northward from the Gulf of Mexico. Almost instantly, temperatures plunged and rain turned to snow.

What: The Great Blizzard of 1888 When: March 11–13, 1888 Casualties: A total of 400 people were killed, with 200 fatalities in New York City. Impact: There was $2 million in damage in New York City alone. Did You Know? The snowfall total was 40–50 inches (101–127 cm) in some areas, and wind gusts blew at 80 mph (129 kmh).

The storm sat off the coast of southern New England, making a counterclockwise loop. The wind howled violently, blowing at 85 mph (137 kmh) in New York City. As more and more snow fell, it drifted into mounds that reached the second story of some buildings. Still, city residents tried to go about their day. Some took elevated trains to work, which turned out to be a bad decision. Snowdrifts on the track made it impossible for the trains to move, and about 15,000 commuters were stranded. The writer Mark Twain, who was visiting New York City from Hartford, was holed up for several days in his hotel, the snow too deep to venture outside. Others ducked into the nearest shelter they could find, including the ritzy Astor Hotel, where workers set up 100 cots to accommodate the refugees.

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The storm ravaged Connecticut, Long Island, and New Jersey. Snowdrifts measured 38 inches (96 cm) in Connecticut, cutting off rail lines. Snowfall topped 58 inches (147 cm), and drifts as high as 40 feet (12 meters [m]) were reported.

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The Great Arctic Outbreak (1899)

In February 1899, devastating winter conditions gripped the North American continent for two weeks, causing widespread devastation from Saskatchewan, Canada, all the way south as far as Cuba. The frigid conditions not only produced a major blizzard, but also froze a good portion of the United States also. The situation was particularly difficult in the South, which had little experience with such weather conditions. The Great Arctic Outbreak began slowly when a mass of cold air moved southward from Canada during the first week of February. The western United States was the first to feel the bite, as

What: The Great Arctic Outbreak of 1899, across much of the United States When: First two weeks of February 1899 Casualties: Estimates put the death toll at about 100, although many suspect it was a

good deal higher. Damage: Tens of

millions of dollars were lost in crop and livestock. Did You Know?

temperatures dropped as low as 33°F (0.5°C) in Los Angeles, and −9°F (−22°C) degrees in Boise, Idaho. The cold plunged down into the northern Great Plains and Midwest. It was so cold in Chicago that the ground froze 5 feet (1.5 m) below the surface, snapping water lines as well as gas and sewer pipes. The cold continued its trek southward, freezing parts of the Mississippi River. Cold air then poured eastward, with the thermometers reaching −20°F (−28°C) in the Ohio Valley. By February 13, below-zero temperatures stretched as far south as Florida. But it wasn’t just the cold that wreaked havoc—blizzard and icy conditions ravaged the Mid-Atlantic all the way through to New England. That’s because the snow that began falling on western Florida on February 12 moved up the coast, forming into a nor’easter . As the storm moved north, it brought with it devastating snow and sinking temperatures. The cold air and snow stopped a yellow fever epidemic in the South by killing the mosquitoes that were spreading the disease.

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