Flag of Togo
Togo celebrates Independence Day. It became free from France in 1960. This long, thin country (slightly smaller than West Virginia) is located on the southern coast of West Africa. The climate is tropical in the south and semiarid in the north. Togo exports cotton, cocoa, and coffee. About 7.1 million people reside in Togo. Lome, located on the coast, is the capital. Children can learn more at: Togo.
Flag of Netherlands
Netherlands celebrate King’s Day, a national holiday. King Willem-Alexander became the country’s monarch on April 30, 2013. The country celebrates his birthday on April 27. This European country bordering the North Sea is, according to the CIA World Factbook, about the size of New Jersey. The Dutch experience cool summers and mild winters. Almost 17 million people live there, and farmers grow grains, sugar beets, and potatoes. Amsterdam is the capital. Children can learn more at: Netherlands.
Kon-Tiki
Thor Heyerdahl set sail on the Kon-Tiki in 1947. He and a five-person crew left Peru on a hand-made raft and arrived in Polynesia over one hundred days later, on August 7, 1947. He proved that ancient mariners could have made long sea voyages to establish new colonies. He wrote The Kon-Tiki Expedition: By Raft Across the South Seas.