Rob Amend
Author for A-Z Animals
Rob Amend is a writer at A-Z Animals, primarily covering meteorology, geology, geography, and animal oddities. He attained a Master's Degree in Library Science in 2000 and served as reference librarian in an urban public library for 22 years. Rob lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, photography, woodworking, listening to classic rock, and watching classic films—his favorite animal is a six-foot-tall rabbit named Harvey.
Carbon dioxide (COâ‚‚), a heat-trapping gas, has been responsible for much human-driven climate change over the last 200 years. It is a byproduct of natural processes such as wildfires and… Read More
By Rob Amend 2 months ago
Although some states rank higher than others in terms of educational attainment, within any given state, population groupings may stand out. These tend to be college towns, towns with technology… Read More
By Rob Amend 2 months ago
As the warmth of spring returns to the Texas landscape, its flowering gardens can't be far behind. When the blooms begin to produce their sweet nectar, the fortunate observer may… Read More
By Rob Amend 2 months ago
Maryland is a beautiful northeastern U.S. state. It has a variety of mountain, river, lake, ocean, and forest towns throughout the state. You can find beauty here if you are… Read More
By Rob Amend 2 months ago
If you live in the contiguous United States, winter begins to wind down in February, and spring will be here before you know it. Don't be caught flat-footed by unseasonably… Read More
By Rob Amend 2 months ago
Mississippi is a humid subtropical state in the American South. It runs along the Mississippi River from Tennessee in the north to the Gulf of Mexico in the south, between… Read More
By Rob Amend 2 months ago
Wildflowers in California bloom on their own schedules. In some years, conditions are right for explosive wildflower growth in particular locations, while in other years, drought or other conditions cause… Read More
By Rob Amend 2 months ago
Within the United States and its territories, there are over 850 places with a population of over 1,000 that start with the letter P. So, after the states and territories,… Read More
By Rob Amend 2 months ago
Tourists worldwide come to the United States to see the national parks and their natural wonders. Given the idyllic surroundings of Montana's Lake McDonald and the beauty of Glacier National… Read More
By Rob Amend 2 months ago
The Cumberland River is a significant waterway, winding its way from the Appalachian Mountains through Kentucky and Tennessee before emptying itself into the waters of the Ohio River. From its… Read More
By Rob Amend 3 months ago
Though plasma makes up 99.9% of the visible universe, it seems rare in our little corner. So, how hot is plasma in Fahrenheit, and how does it compare to the… Read More
By Rob Amend 3 months ago
The Sahara Desert is the third largest desert in the world and the largest hot desert. It's located in North Africa, and it reaches across ten countries. It is nearly… Read More
By Rob Amend 3 months ago
The Illinois River watershed is the backbone of Illinois' prairie climate and an integral part of the state's economy. The river cuts diagonally through the state's north until it ends… Read More
By Rob Amend 3 months ago
The black bear, otherwise known as the American black bear, is a medium-sized bear that lives throughout forested areas of North America. It is the most widespread bear species on… Read More
By Rob Amend 3 months ago
Oregon's rugged landscapes, including the forested Cascade Mountains, the Columbia River, and the Klamath Basin wetlands, provide a beautiful setting for wildlife and fish. Elk is one of the larger… Read More
By Rob Amend 4 months ago
In the United States, wild hogs have been an invasive pest and a hazard to crops, animals, and humans since the 16th century. It was then that European colonists brought… Read More
By Rob Amend 4 months ago
Introduction The 50th state of the Union, Hawaii, is an archipelago of 137 islands with nearly 4 million acres of land. The top 20 landowners hold over 3.1 million acres… Read More
By Rob Amend 4 months ago
North America is home to one of the three tallest mountains in the world. Asia has Everest, which is 29,031.7Â feet tall. South America has the 22,837-foot-tall Aconcagua. North America has… Read More
By Rob Amend 5 months ago
Key Points With an area of about 53,000 square miles, Arkansas is only the 29th largest state in the United States. Arkansas joined the Union as its 25th state. The… Read More
By Rob Amend 5 months ago
Pennsylvania is one of the oldest states in the Union and has a large population and large industrial economy. Its large cities, bustling highways, and northern location add to its… Read More
By Rob Amend 5 months ago
Cucumbers are a refreshing summer treat, and where the proper growing zones exist, they can yield a prodigious number of fruits. What if you don't live in the correct planting… Read More
By Rob Amend 5 months ago
Wild hogs in the United States are invasive, destroying crops and endangering animals and humans. They have been a problem since the 16th century when European settlers imported domesticated pigs… Read More
By Rob Amend 5 months ago
About Lake Chelan Washington's Lake Chelan is the third deepest lake in the United States. It was formed by a glaciation process that carved out what is referred to as… Read More
By Rob Amend 5 months ago
Water, like food, is one of the necessities for survival that humanity has tried to cultivate and control for millennia. Since Arabian farmers began storing water for irrigation in craters… Read More
By Rob Amend 5 months ago
Wisconsin is a boater's dream, with 15,000 lakes within its borders. Some of these lakes are quite large and play an important role in the culture and economy of the… Read More
By Rob Amend 5 months ago
Across the world, there are thousands of underwater volcanos. Some are active, and some are dormant, but they all formed as the world's tectonic plates moved over magma hotspots from… Read More
By Rob Amend 6 months ago
Kentucky is a quintessential small-town state with 340 incorporated towns under 5,000 people. Its smallest town, though, could fit into a stretch limo. What Is a 'Town?' A town with… Read More
By Rob Amend 6 months ago
At a time when vast swaths of the United States are experiencing drought conditions and the Mississippi River is at a historic low, it is comforting to know that there… Read More
By Rob Amend 6 months ago
Alaska, the northernmost state in the U.S., sees plenty of cold weather and snow. Sometimes, it can be so cold that the air cannot hold much moisture, meaning that winter… Read More
By Rob Amend 6 months ago
Introduction No country in the world has more lakes than Canada. It has more than 875,000—about 62% of the world's lakes. Some of these lakes are quite large. Including the… Read More
By Rob Amend 6 months ago
Maybe it's something in the Delaware water. Well, it's something in the Delaware water—blue catfish! The record for the largest blue catfish caught in Delaware was broken again only 20… Read More
By Rob Amend 7 months ago
Montana is no stranger to winter storms. With its extreme northern latitude and its mountainous western region, blizzards and winter storms are par for the course. The heaviest snow in… Read More
By Rob Amend 7 months ago
Wild and feral hogs have been a problem in the United States for many years. These omnivorous pests devastate crops and pose a danger to other animals and humans. In… Read More
By Rob Amend 7 months ago
The state of Michigan is no stranger to massive snowstorms. As a northern state in the middle of the Great Lakes, it receives plenty of moisture and arctic blasts of… Read More
By Rob Amend 7 months ago
Georgia is a beautiful southeastern state with many types of real estate. There are urban parcels that are ideal for business and industry. Additionally, natural resources are distributed throughout the… Read More
By Rob Amend 7 months ago
Wisconsin, one of the Great Lakes states in the U.S., has many lakes. As a matter of fact, with over 15,000, it is second to only Alaska. Many of these… Read More
By Rob Amend 7 months ago
As the first European colony in what is now the United States, Virginia had many established cities and towns. This includes the state capital of Richmond, Arlington's influential presence on… Read More
By Rob Amend 7 months ago
Summer heat can be intense, but it can be even more uncomfortable for those living in a city. The structural configurations, as well as the materials used in cities, create… Read More
By Rob Amend 7 months ago
Virginia is one of the oldest colonies in the United States, though it is not medieval. Why, then, does it have castles? To find out, let's look at three castles… Read More
By Rob Amend 7 months ago
Oklahoma is an interior, South Central state of the United States. Located to the north of Texas, it receives cold air from the Rocky Mountains and Canada and hot, dry… Read More
By Rob Amend 7 months ago
Key Points Oklahoma is the 20th largest state in the United States. Its area is 69,898 square miles. The population of Oklahoma does not cluster in one part of the… Read More
By Rob Amend 7 months ago
Key Points Thirty-nine percent of people in East Cleveland live below the poverty line. The poorest city in Ohio is Lincoln Heights. The highest crime rate in Ohio belongs to… Read More
By Rob Amend 8 months ago
Key Points Georgia is the biggest state east of the Mississippi River. Georgia has the largest swamp in North America—the Okefenokee. The oldest state park in the United States can… Read More
By Rob Amend 8 months ago
Tennessee is a hilly and forested state east of the Appalachian Mountains. It is also the 36th largest state in the United States. Though it is not one of the… Read More
By Rob Amend 8 months ago
New Mexico is a dry, rugged, mountainous state. The air is dry and hot as a desert state, though the mountains provide a cooler alternative to the heat at lower… Read More
By Rob Amend 8 months ago
The Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the United States are notorious for the ferocity of their hurricanes. However, hurricanes seldom make landfall in New Jersey. Most of the destructive storms… Read More
By Rob Amend 8 months ago
The Southwest has always been the hottest region of the United States, and New Mexico has had its share of record-breaking heat. Summer days in New Mexico can reach astounding… Read More
By Rob Amend 8 months ago
Key Points: The oldest town in Indiana is called Vincennes. Francois Vincennes established a trading post with the original fort in 1732. For 13 years, Vincennes was the capital of… Read More
By Rob Amend 8 months ago
When you travel to Jamaica, you can expect clear, blue water, sunshine, ocean breezes, tropical foliage, and white sands. As the summer winds down and transitions through autumn to winter,… Read More
By Rob Amend 9 months ago
Quick Answers: Sound travels at about 767 mph at sea level. Mach 8 is 6,136 mph, which is super fast! Creating a piloted plane capable of reaching Mach 8 is… Read More
By Rob Amend 9 months ago
