A 3.3 magnitude earthquake shook the southwest Portland metro area at 8:53 p.m. Wednesday.
The quake was centered just west of Barlow, nine miles south of Tualatin and about 19 miles southwest of Portland. Some buildings shook but no one was injured.
Earth Changes
A 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck Peru on Thursday near the city of Pucallpa in the Amazonian rain forest, US seismologists said.
The US Geological Survey said the quake occurred at 12.43am (05H23 GMT) and had a depth of 152 kilometres.
The US Geological Survey said the quake occurred at 12.43am (05H23 GMT) and had a depth of 152 kilometres.
A flood-weary region cringed again early this week as more rain fell, causing more high water.
Storms drenched parts of Oklahoma and Texas, dropping 3 to 6 inches of rain. Thunderstorms were forecast for the region for the rest of the week.
Storms drenched parts of Oklahoma and Texas, dropping 3 to 6 inches of rain. Thunderstorms were forecast for the region for the rest of the week.
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| ©National Weather Service - Wichita, Kansas |
| Residents cleaning up from flooding in Coffeyville must cope with an oil spill as well. |
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| ©Reuters |
| Local residents check a bridge which is partially submerged by the floods in southwest China's Chongqing municipality |
China flooded dozens of evacuated villages on Tuesday to ease pressure from a swollen river after torrential rains that have killed more than 100 people nationwide.
Heavy rain and unseasonably low temperatures have marred the beginning of the summer holiday period in many parts of Switzerland, the official Swiss info website reported on Tuesday.
While the mixed weather appears to have had no major impact on tourism, the authorities issued warnings as the levels of several lakes reached a critical point, according to the report.
While the mixed weather appears to have had no major impact on tourism, the authorities issued warnings as the levels of several lakes reached a critical point, according to the report.
A more than 20-kilo (41-lb) mushroom has been picked in a forest in Mexico's southernmost state of Chiapas, university officials said Tuesday.
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| ©AFP |
Unusual concentrations of the mauve stinger jellyfish, Pelagia noctiluca, have been discovered off Spain's Balearic Islands, as well as elsewhere in the Mediterranean. It is feared the creatures, which can give a painful sting, will show up on tourist beaches in August.
Pelagia noctiluca grows up to 10 centimeters wide, and is sometimes also called the nightlight jellyfish because it produces a blue-green luminescent mucus, most often seen as a glow in ships' wakes. But its more common name, mauve stinger, reflects the species' most noticeable effect on people.
Mauve stingers normally live in the open ocean, so they are often seen around offshore islands such as the Balearics. But they approach mainland beaches in late summer when rainfall drops, and freshwater runoff into coastal seas diminishes, making inshore waters more salty and suited to jellyfish.
Pelagia noctiluca grows up to 10 centimeters wide, and is sometimes also called the nightlight jellyfish because it produces a blue-green luminescent mucus, most often seen as a glow in ships' wakes. But its more common name, mauve stinger, reflects the species' most noticeable effect on people.
Mauve stingers normally live in the open ocean, so they are often seen around offshore islands such as the Balearics. But they approach mainland beaches in late summer when rainfall drops, and freshwater runoff into coastal seas diminishes, making inshore waters more salty and suited to jellyfish.
A rare giant squid measuring eight metres (26 feet) in length and weighing in at more than 250 kilogrammes (550 pounds) has washed up on an Australian beach, scientists said Wednesday.
The massive sea monster was found on the island state of Tasmania late Tuesday by a member of the public near the town of Strahan, Tasmanian Museum invertebrate expert Genefor Walker-Smith said.
"It's a whopper," Walker-Smith said. "The main mantle of the squid is about one metre across and its total length is about eight metres.
"It's a very exciting discovery."
The giant squid, Architeuthis Dux, is one of the world's largest invertebrates, although little is known about the creatures because they live at depths of about a kilometre.
A group of Japanese zoologists made the first recording of a live giant squid in 2005, showing the animals were far faster and more active predators than previously thought.
The creatures are a legend among seafarers, the source of tales of tentacled monsters able to grab a ship and pull it down to its doom.
The massive sea monster was found on the island state of Tasmania late Tuesday by a member of the public near the town of Strahan, Tasmanian Museum invertebrate expert Genefor Walker-Smith said.
"It's a whopper," Walker-Smith said. "The main mantle of the squid is about one metre across and its total length is about eight metres.
"It's a very exciting discovery."
The giant squid, Architeuthis Dux, is one of the world's largest invertebrates, although little is known about the creatures because they live at depths of about a kilometre.
A group of Japanese zoologists made the first recording of a live giant squid in 2005, showing the animals were far faster and more active predators than previously thought.
The creatures are a legend among seafarers, the source of tales of tentacled monsters able to grab a ship and pull it down to its doom.
Heavy rain and storms have caused flooding in the south and east of China leaving 131 people dead and 31 missing, with a further 1.2 million people being forced from their homes, the Ministry of Civil Affairs said.
The rain and storms raging since the end of June have affected around 36 million people, causing damage to 99,000 homes and buildings, as well as devastating more than 2.5 million hectares of farmland, the local media said citing the ministry.
The rain and storms raging since the end of June have affected around 36 million people, causing damage to 99,000 homes and buildings, as well as devastating more than 2.5 million hectares of farmland, the local media said citing the ministry.
This is the spectacular sight of 20 bottle-nosed dolphins in a line crashing through the waves and frolicking off the Australian coast.
