Connections
Jul. 27th, 2005 08:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
threemonkeysWhat is the second most southerly national capital? Why do I want to know that?
It all starts with a discussion about a type of rifle that we had not heard of from a thriller that somebody was reading. Turns out that the make of rifle comes from Finland. So we go talking about Finland's economy and what it produces. Which of course leads to talking about Nokia. But that is a distraction as we get to talking about the climate in Finland. Just how cold does it get. Just how much continental climate warm does it get. Really cold - is it that far north? Look at a map - yes Helsinki is way north - further north than any part of the UK (except various smaller islands). It seems that only Reykjavik is further north of the world's capital cities - Helsinki is number 2. Now we know Wellington is the southernmost world capital. What is number 2 in the south.
Such is the level of conversation at work. We do get some strange looks.
By the way, he answer would appear to be Canberra at 35.17 South, then Montevideo then Buenos Aires. All according to the CIA factbook - and no, before anybody gets picky, I don't count either the Fauklands or the Faroes in my consideration.
It all starts with a discussion about a type of rifle that we had not heard of from a thriller that somebody was reading. Turns out that the make of rifle comes from Finland. So we go talking about Finland's economy and what it produces. Which of course leads to talking about Nokia. But that is a distraction as we get to talking about the climate in Finland. Just how cold does it get. Just how much continental climate warm does it get. Really cold - is it that far north? Look at a map - yes Helsinki is way north - further north than any part of the UK (except various smaller islands). It seems that only Reykjavik is further north of the world's capital cities - Helsinki is number 2. Now we know Wellington is the southernmost world capital. What is number 2 in the south.
Such is the level of conversation at work. We do get some strange looks.
By the way, he answer would appear to be Canberra at 35.17 South, then Montevideo then Buenos Aires. All according to the CIA factbook - and no, before anybody gets picky, I don't count either the Fauklands or the Faroes in my consideration.
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no subject
Date: 2005-07-27 11:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-07-28 06:25 am (UTC)The thing that continues to interest me is that Wellington is opposite central Spain if you map through to the equivalent position in the northern hemisphere - i.e. warm country. Welly is actually closer to the equator than the pole. (Canberra is another 6 degrees closer to the equator still.) I feel cheated - it should be warmer.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-28 11:30 am (UTC)You know, Australia has the *number* of mountains down pat - we just haven't worked out that they ought to be higher than a molehill. Like Canberra hasn't worked out that negative temperatures in the rest of the world get snow: we just get bitter, bitter cold. Maybe it is our excuse to stay indoors and read good books.
no subject
Date: 2005-07-29 02:09 am (UTC)Mountains - we are rather overstocked this site of the Tasman. Nevertheless I would like to be in Spain right now - the current temperature in Salamanca (directly opposite Wellington) is 15 degrees C - that is warmer than the max for today here and its the middle of the night there - expected high is a very pleasant 25. mmmmm