So, without further ado, here are the top eleven geographic events of 2004:
11) Bhutan Gets Credit Cards (October)
The Himalayan nation of Bhutan receives credit cards for the first time ever. The Bhutan National Bank issued 12 Visa credit cards in October to government officials and business leaders to make their international transactions easier.
10) New Capital of South Korea Selected (August)
Despite negative reaction to moving South Korea's capital from Seoul, President Roh Moo-hyun selected the central Yeongi-Kongju area of the Chungchong province of South Korea as the location of the new capital city. Work on the new capital is expected to begin in 2007 and be completed by 2030. The move was one of the President's objectives of his term in office.
9) Seven New Members of NATO (April)
On April 2 seven countries joined NATO - Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
8) Flag Changes
March - The state of Georgia approves a new flag.
April - Chad is upset with Romania's flag.
June - New Iraq flag is old Iraq flag which replaced interim flag.
July - New Zealand considers a new flag.
October - Montenegro selects new flag.
7) Maldives Makes New Island to Lessen Overcrowding
Fifteen hundred people have moved to a 465 acre island called Hulhumale, a brand-new island being built by the government of the Maldives to ease overcrowding. The government hopes to move about 45,000 people of the country's 300,000 residents over the next 15 years to this artificial island built on a lagoon. The creation of Hulhumale began in 1997.
6) Greenland Seeks Independence (October)
Greenland has been ruled by Denmark since 1721 and now the large island with a population of just 57,000 is hoping that the discovery of gold, diamonds, and oil will move the territory closer to independence.
5) Longest Passenger Flight Record Broken Twice (June)
By launching flights from Singapore to Newark in June, Singapore Airlines beat their own record for a non-stop passenger flight established in February for flights from Singapore to Los Angeles. The flight to Newark, New Jersey is 18.5 hours long.
4) Wild Hurricane Year
In addition to hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne striking Florida, 2004 was a banner year for hurricanes. The first-ever South Atlantic hurricane struck Brazil in March. In addition, the Lushine Line was created; it's an imaginary line exists along longitude 68° West from 19° to 26° North, north of the Dominican Republic.
3) Iran Bans National Geographic Publications Over Geographic Name (November)
In November, Iran banned the sale of National Geographic Society publications to protest the use of the name "Arabian Gulf" in National Geographic's new Eighth Edition Atlas of the World. The use of Arabian Gulf is used as an alternative second name for the Persian Gulf in the atlas.
2) New Members of the European Union (May)
Ten countries joined the European Union - Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia - which expanded EU membership to twenty-five member states.
1) Largest Earthquake on Planet Since 1964 Strikes Indonesia, Causes Catastrophic Tsunami
A magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia on Sunday, December 26, 2004 at 6:58:50 a.m. local time (Sunday, December 26, 2004 at 00:58:50 UTC). Tens of thousands were killed throughout Asia due to tsunamis caused by the quake. This was the largest earthquake since the 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska earthquake (magnitude 9.2) and is tied for the fourth largest earthquake in the world since 1900.
Honorable Mentions
