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    Home / Editor's Pick /

    This week in weather and science history

08:00 PM
December 19, 2021

This week in history
Weekly throwback – Dec. 20–Dec.26

Here is a brief look at a few of the events that happened this week in history. This week we take a look at big natural disasters hitting Asia, a new holiday tradition and an endurance record.

Monday December 20

On this day in 1803, the Louisiana Purchase is completed with a flag raising ceremony in New Orleans. France sells the Louisiana Territory, which included the entire Mississippi River Valley and the central Plains to the Rockies for $15 million. It would nearly double the size of the United States landmass.

Louisiana Purchase
1804 map of "Louisiana", bounded on the west by the Rocky Mountains (Library or Congress Geography and Map Division via Wikipedia)

Tuesday December 21

On this day in 1937, a new holiday tradition of holiday animated features began with the premiere of the Disney’s Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Los Angeles. It was Walt Disney Pictures and the world’s first full-length animated feature film. It would gross $8 million during its first run against a budget of $1.5 million.

Wednesday December 22

On this day in 2018, a tsunami caused by eruptions and subsequent collapse of the Ana Krakatau volcano struck about 200 miles of Indonesian coast. The tsunami, which reach a height of 44 feet in at least one place, happened at night and killed at least 430 people.

Thursday December 23

On December 23, 1986, Voyager, after being piloted by Dick Rutan and Jeana Yeager, landed at California’s Edwards Air Force Base. It was the first aircraft to fly non-stop around the world without refueling. It took nine days to complete the trip at an average of 106 mph.

Friday December 24

On this day in 1777, the Pacific atoll Kiritimati, also called Christmas Island, was discovered by James Cook. The island is the biggest atoll in the world by land area and is now part of the Republic of Kiribati.

Saturday December 25

Christmas was not peaceful in the Philippines in 2019. Typhoon Phanfone (known as Ursula in the Philippines) struck the island nation. About 50 deaths were reported, with several dozen more missing and presumed dead. Destruction was estimated to be more than $50 million in total.

Phanfone was not the first Christmas typhoon to hit the Philippines. Nock-ten hit the Philippines in 2016.

Sunday December 26

On this day in 2004, a 9.1-9.3 magnitude earthquake shook the northern part of Indonesia’s Sumatra Island, triggering one of the biggest observed tsunamis in human history. This tsunami spread across the Indian Ocean, devastating the coasts of Thailand, Indian, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. The official death toll is estimated at 227,898.

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