Wikipedia:Main Page history/2015 April 18

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From today's featured article

Hurricane Erika was the strongest and longest-lasting tropical cyclone in the 1997 Atlantic hurricane season. It developed from a tropical wave on September 3 and moved west-northwestward across the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Passing just north of the Lesser Antilles, it carried a cloud of volcanic ash to Antigua from the eruption of the Soufrière Hills Volcano on Montserrat. Strong waves from the hurricane produced beach erosion and coastal flooding in northern Puerto Rico, and caused the death of two surfers. Moderate wind gusts in the northern Leeward Islands and Puerto Rico left thousands of residents without power, and did $10 million in damage in the U.S. Caribbean territories. The hurricane was pushed to the north by an approaching trough, then quickly strengthened to become the only major hurricane of the season, with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph (205 km/h). It weakened as it passed over cooler waters, and finally became an extratropical cyclone after passing near the Azores archipelago. The months of August and September produced only this one Atlantic tropical cyclone; that had not happened since 1929. (Full article...)

Part of the 1997 Atlantic hurricane season series, one of Wikipedia's featured topics.

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Did you know...

From Wikipedia's new and recently improved content:

... that the Quilt National, the first major exhibition of quilt art (example pictured) in the United States, has been held biennially since 1979?
... that it was over 20 years between the first and last time Australian professional wrestler Allan Pinfold was the Australian Light Heavyweight Champion?
... that the music video for Rihanna's song "American Oxygen" depicts various moments from American history, including the inauguration of Barack Obama?
... that former migrant worker Zhou Qunfei started a touchscreen company and became China's richest woman with a net worth of US$10 billion?
... that 14 warbler species were observed in Pennsylvania State Game Lands Number 55 in May 1997?
... that Deus Ex: Mankind Divided was leaked in advance of its official reveal, an event called "Can't Kill Progress"?
... that one of the 1964 Laotian coups was carried out by policemen?

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In the news

United States President Barack Obama moves to remove Cuba from the State Sponsors of Terrorism list amid diplomatic efforts to improve relations between the two countries.
Wildfires in Southern Siberia, Russia, kill at least 33 people and damage more than 1,400 homes.
Günter Grass (pictured), Nobel laureate and author of The Tin Drum and Dog Years, dies at the age of 87.
In basketball, USK Praha beat UMMC Ekaterinburg to win the EuroLeague Women title.
In golf, American Jordan Spieth wins the Masters Tournament.
In rowing, Oxford's men's crew and women's crew defeat the respective Cambridge crews in the 161st Boat Race and the first Women's Boat Race held on the Tideway.

Ongoing: Yemeni Civil War – Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Recent deaths: Percy Sledge – Eduardo Galeano – Richie Benaud

On this day...

April 18: Easter Saturday (Eastern Christianity, 2015); Independence Day in Zimbabwe (1980)

1506 – Construction of the current St. Peter's Basilica (interior pictured) in Vatican City, to replace the old basilica built in the 4th century, began.
1775 – American Revolutionary War: Colonists Paul Revere, William Dawes, and Samuel Prescott began a "midnight ride" from Boston to Lexington to warn residents about the impending arrival of British troops.
1847 – Mexican–American War: Winfield Scott's United States troops out-flanked and drove Santa Anna's larger Mexican army from a strong defensive position in the Battle of Cerro Gordo.
1938 – Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, made his debut in Action Comics #1, the first true superhero comic book.
1996 – Israeli forces shelled Qana, Lebanon, during Operation Grapes of Wrath, killing more than 100 civilians and injuring more than 110 others at a UN compound.

More anniversaries: April 17 – April 18 – April 19

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It is now April 18, 2015 (UTC) – Reload this page

Today's featured picture

The House of the Estates is a historical building located opposite of the Bank of Finland building in Helsinki, Finland. Built in 1891, it housed the three commoner estates of the four estates of the realm of Finland. It continues to be sporadically used for governmental meetings.

Photograph: Joaquim Alves Gaspar

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