Britannica Student Encyclopedia - 2010

Bermuda is far from other land. The

closest land is Cape Hatteras, North

Carolina, which lies about 650 miles

(1,050 kilometers) to the west. The largest

island is Great Bermuda, which is

In 1948–49

the United

States and its

allies brought

food to Berlin

in airplanes,

after Soviet

troops blocked

the roads. This

project was

called the

Berlin Airlift.

For many years the Brandenburg Gate, on

the left, was part of a wall that divided East

and West Berlin. Now it stands at the center

of a reunited Berlin.

62 Bermuda BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

 

usually called Main Island. It is larger

than all the other islands combined.

Coral reefs surround the islands.

Bermuda’s climate is mild and humid.

Common plants include flowering

shrubs and palm, pine, and mangrove

trees. Some birds visit the islands every

year as they migrate. Lizards and frogs

are the only other wildlife.

More than half of the people of Bermuda

are black. They are descendants of

Africans that white settlers brought to

the islands as slaves. There are also many

British and some Portuguese. English

and Portuguese are the main languages.

Bermuda’s economy depends on services.

Tourism and finance are the most

important industries. Many insurance

companies and other financial businesses

have offices in Bermuda.

Bermuda was named for the Spanish

explorer Juan de Bermudez. He may

have visited the islands in 1503. English

settlers arrived in Bermuda in the early

1600s. Britain made Bermuda a colony

in 1684.

Britain and, later, the United States set

up military bases in Bermuda. By the

late 20th century the bases had been

shut down. However, Bermuda

remained a British colony. In 1995 the

people of the islands voted against independence

from Britain.

..More to explore

Atlantic Ocean • Coral

Bern

Population

(2007

estimate), urban

area, 344,724

Bern is the capital of Switzerland, a

country in central Europe. The Aare

River loops through the older part of

the city. Bern’s name comes from the

German word for “bear.” Bears are a

symbol of the city. They have been kept

on display in Bern for hundreds of

years.

Many people in the city work for the

government or the University of Bern.

Tourism is also important to the

economy. Factories in Bern make milk

chocolate, condensed milk, machinery,

and scientific instruments.

Bern began in 1191 as a military post.

According to legend, it was named for

the first animal killed by its founder,

Berthold V, in that year. It grew into a

city and then into an independent state.

Bern became part of Switzerland in

1353. From the 1300s to the 1700s

Bern was very powerful. This power

ended when the French invaded in

1798. French rule ended in 1803. Bern

became the capital of Switzerland in

1848.

..More to explore

Switzerland

The Universal

Postal Union,

a group that

sets rules for

the flow of

mail between

countries, is

based in Bern,

Switzerland.

BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Bern 63

 

Berry

Berries are small, fleshy fruits that usually

have many seeds. People and animals

eat many types of berries.

A true berry is a single fruit that grows

from one flower. Blueberries, cranberries,

currants, and gooseberries are all

true berries.

Botanists, or people who study plants,

call many other fruits true berries. These

fruits include grapes, tomatoes, dates,

watermelons, and oranges.

Most people call other fruits berries—

for example, blackberries, raspberries,

and strawberries. But these are not true

berries. They are aggregate fruits, or

groups of little fruits that grow from

one flower. Mulberries are not true

berries, either. They are multiple fruits,

or fruits that grow from a bunch of

flowers.

..More to explore

Blueberry • Cranberry • Fruit

• Raspberry • Strawberry

Bethlehem

Population

(2007 estimate)

25,266

Bethlehem is an ancient town in the

Middle East. It is important to Christians,

who believe it is where Jesus

Christ was born. Bethlehem lies just

outside the city of Jerusalem. It is

located in an area called the West Bank.

In modern times the country of Israel

and the Palestinian people have fought

to control theWest Bank.

Tourists from all over the world visit

Bethlehem because of its religious

importance. Craftspeople in the town

make religious gift items to sell to the

tourists. Bethlehem is also a center of

trade and a market for local farm

products.

Bethlehem is an important historical site

to Jews as well as to Christians. The

town is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible

as the early home of King David. He

ruled a Jewish kingdom about 3,000

years ago.

The Christian Bible tells that Jesus was

born in Bethlehem about 2,000 years

ago. In the 300s the Church of the

Nativity was built at the site thought to

be Jesus’ birthplace. It was rebuilt in the

Blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, and

blueberries are all called berries. But scientists

say that only one of them, the blueberry,

is a true berry.

64 Berry BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA

 

500s. Today it is one of the world’s oldest

Christian churches.

#More to explore

Israel • Jerusalem • Jesus Christ

• Palestine

Bethune, Mary

McLeod

Throughout her life Mary McLeod

Bethune worked to improve the lives of

African Americans. She served as an