A magnitude-8.3 quake hits Chile

 

A powerful magnitude-8.3 earthquake hit off Chile’s northern coast Wednesday night, causing buildings to sway in the capital of Santiago and bringing flooding from small tsunami waves in some shore towns.

Officials reported three deaths. There were no reports of serious damage hours after the quake, but officials were still checking the region late into the night.

Authorities had issued a tsunami alert for Chile’s entire Pacific coast, and the tremor was so strong that people on the other side of the continent, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, reported feeling it.

Numerous strong aftershocks, including one measuring 7.0 magnitude and three above 6, rattled the region after the first major tremor since a powerful quake and tsunami killed hundreds in 2010 and leveled part of the city of Concepcion in south-central Chile.

“Once again we must confront a powerful blow from nature,” President Michelle Bachelet said, addressing the nation late Wednesday.

Bachelet said three people had been killed in the quake but gave no details. She urged people who had been evacuated from coastal areas to stay on high ground until authorities could fully evaluate the situation early Thursday.

Late Wednesday, authorities lifted the tsunami warning for Chile’s far southern regions. The warnings remained in effect everywhere else, and authorities said school classes would be canceled in most of the country Thursday.

Jorge Medina, a Santiago resident, said he was in an aerobics class when the quake hit.

“People started screaming that everything was shaking,” he said.

Officials ordered people to evacuate low-lying areas along the 2,400 miles (3,900 kilometers) of Chile’s Pacific shore, from Puerto Aysen in the south to Arica in the north. Fishing boats headed out to sea and cars streamed inland carrying people to higher ground. Santiago’s main airport was evacuated as a precaution and authorities announced classes would be suspended in the port city of Valparaiso on Thursday.

Chile state TV showed water flowing in streets of Concon, a coastal town known for its beautiful beaches that is close to Valparaiso. Higher water was also seen in other cities but no destructive high waves had been reported.

Authorities said some adobe houses collapsed in the inland city of Illapel, about 175 miles (280 kilometers) north of Santiago. Illapel is about 34 miles (55 kilometers) east of the quake’s epicenter.

Illapel’s mayor, Denis Cortes, told a local television station that a woman had been killed in the city but declined to give any details.

Source : businessmirror.com.ph

Now Ohio has the best roller coaster in the world

 

Warning, this new roller coaster isn’t for the faint of heart.

Ohio’s Cedar Point amusement park released a CG mockup of its newest coaster, the Valravn Birdseye, which will be the tallest, fastest and longest dive coaster.

Not only that, but when the ride opens next summer, the Valravn Birdseye will break 10 roller coaster records:

1. Tallest dive coaster (223 feet)
2. Fastest dive coaster (75 mph)
3. Longest dive coaster (3,415 feet)
4. Most inversions on a dive coaster (three)
5. Longest drop on a dive coaster (214 feet)
6. Highest inversion on a dive coaster (165 feet)
7. Most roller coasters taller than 200 feet at one amusement park (5)
8. Most rides at one amusement park (72)
9. Most steel roller coaster track at one amusement park (52,125 feet/9.9 miles)
10. Most roller coaster track at one amusement park (60,110 feet/11.4 miles)

The Valravn Birdseye was designed and built by Bolliger & Mabillard in Monthey, Switzerland, and is the 100th coaster the firm has created.

The roller coaster is expected to go into operation in the summer of 2016, so all roller coaster lovers rejoice! And maybe start getting in line for the first ride.

source : Yahoo.com

A Few Types of Holden (HK, HT and HG series)

'Bigger is Better' seems to be the guiding philosophy behind the HK series which followed in January 1968. Everything was made bigger: the choice of models, the choice of engines and transmissions and, of course, the exterior dimensions. The HK series is especially significant because it introduced Holden's first V8 engine, its first sports coupe (Monaro) and the famous 'Kingswood' model. (The base Holden HK sedan was called Belmont and the best selling model, formerly called 'Special', was given the now legendary 'Kingswood' tag.)

The Premier name was retained but from mid-1968 it would never again denote the top Holden, because at that time a stretched version of the HK, called Brougham, was introduced to compete with Ford's enormously successful Fairlane. Although built on the standard wheelbase, the Brougham sedan was over 200 mm longer. Most of the additional length consisted of a massive boot. This newcomer was powered by a Chevrolet-built '307' V8 engine. As you might expect, it had automatic transmission, power steering, an upmarket interior and all the add-ons in Holden's armoury. It still didn't shape up as a credible opponent for the Fairlane, however, and was later replaced by the more successful Holden Statesman.

The new V8 was made available for all models. In fact, the HK range offered the largest choice of engines, transmissions and interior fittings ever seen in a mass-produced Australian car. The Monaro was released at the same time as the Brougham. This spectacular two-door (covered in a separate chapter) was the first vehicle of its type seen downunder. It attracted a lot more attention than the Brougham and, understandably, was blessed with a lot more success.

During 1969 the two-millionth Holden was produced. The HK production run fell a few units short of 200,000, at which point it received the usual facelift and became the 'HT'. The major significance of the HT was that in some models the US-built '307' was replaced by an Aussie-designed and built bent eight. Minor styling changes included reshaped rear guards which eliminated the 'coke-bottle' waist of the former model. The Aussie V8 came in two versions: The '253' (4.2 litres) was launched first, followed by the '308' (5 litres), which replaced the Chevy 307. The Chevrolet '350' remained available on the Monaro coupe.

The HT model choice still included the extended Brougham luxury model which was upgraded but not substantially changed. The body shape had one more outing as the HG before the all-new HQ was released. The Holden HG replaced the HT in July 1970. Aside from the usual cosmetic changes, the HG introduced the Australian-built three-speed Tri-Matic automatic transmission. The range included no less than 13 distinct variants, each with a choice of up to five engines and four transmissions.

Source : http://www.uniquecarsandparts.com.au