1.

Location of the Dal Lake : -Dal Lake lies near the Tota Rani village in the district of Kangra in the state of Himachal Pradesh in northern India. It is located at an altitude of 1,775m above the sea level. The lake is 6.4 km long and 4 km wide and covers the total area about 10 square miles. The Dal Lake is the nature gift to the mankind. Undoubtly it is one of the most beautiful lake in India. Geographical Description of Dal Lake : It is the most popular lake in Srinagar. Srinagar is also known as the city of Dal Lake. The lake is divided into the major three parts known as Gagri bal, Lokut Dal and Bod Dal. Flora and Funa of the Lake : Dal lake contains the rich flora and fauna. The lake is dotted with many Mughal Gardens and orchards. Thousands of Lotus flowers, water lillies and water chestnut are added to this beautiful lake. The lake is surrounded by the majestic mountains and with the groves of chinar, poplar and willow. The local inhabitants even grow vegetables in its water during the summer months. Dal lake is also the birds paradise. Fishing in the Dal Lake Dal lake is the home to plenty of fishes. So the tourists can also try outfishing/angling in its water. 2. Location and History of Bhimtal Lake : Located 22 km from Nainital, Bhimtal Lake, lies at an altitude of 1370 meters. It is surrounded by the Kumaoun hills and falls in the northern region of India. The Lake is named after the second pandava called Bhima of the famous epic Mahabharata. It is most famous tourists place near Nainital. It is one of the largest lakes in the Nainital and the second largest lake in Kumaoun. There is an island in the middle of the lake and the restaurant is located atop it. Tourists reach this places by boats. The total distance of the island from the lake shore is around 91 meters. The best time to visit the lake lies from April to July and from September to October. Flora and Fauna of Bhimtal Lake : According to the geologist the Lake was created by the series of faults caused by the movements in the Earth crust. Surface drainage was somehow blocked which resulted in the formation of the Bhimtal lake. The lake has rich flora and fauna around it.

In and Around Bhimtal Lake :

Bhowali : It is the most beautiful scenic destination located near the Lake at the height of 1706 meters above the sea level. Bhowali enjoys the healty and pleasant climate through out the year and is covered by the forests of pine, oak, deodar and rhododendrons from all the sides. Kainchi :

Situated on the Almora road, Kainchi is the famous pilgrimage spot. It is known for the temple built by a sage of the twentieth century called Karauli Baba. Gorkhakhal : Gorkhakhal is known for the temple of Lord Golla, worshiped by the people of hills. Tourists can also make a visit to the famous Sainik school in this area. 3. Location of the Roopkund Lake : The popular Roopkund Lake lies in the Chamoli district of Uttranchal at the height of 5029 meter. The lake provides the stunning view of the Trishul peak (7122 meter). Due to it less depth it also known as the shallow Lake. It is also popularly called as the Skeleton Lake because of the skeleton mystery behind the lake. It falls on the way of the Nanda Jat to Homkung. The surrounding glaciers and the glittering peaks are an added charm to this frozen lake. The best time to visit the lake lies between December to April. Mystery Behind the Roopkund Lake : The mystery of Roopkund lake has haunted sociologist, historians and anthropologist for many years. The slopes of the Roopkund Lake are scattered with the hundred of human skeletons. These skeletons were discovered in the year 1942 when a park ranger Madhwal, walk unsteadily upon one of it and found the mass grave of skeleton. Roopkund Trek : With its prime location under the lap of the Trishul, Roopkund is the popular attractions among the trekkers. The lake offers the energetic outdoor for the trekkers and the exciting option for the adventure holidays. The trekking routes provides you as much discovery of the nature as the discovery of one's self. Flora and Fauna of the Lake : The lake supports the excellent scope for wildlife. The famous Nanda Devi lies near to the lake. So on the tour to the Roopkund lake you get the excellent opportunity to go for the wildlife safari. The Sanctuary has been declared as the World Heritage Site. The main attractions of the park include Himalayan Black Bear, Himalayan Tahr, serow, chir pheasants and snow leopards. 4. Location of the Vembanad Lake : Vembanad Lake lies in Kumarakom, 15 kms away from the Kottayam district ofKerala. It is the largest fresh water lake in Asia. Kottayam is the vast network of several rivers and canals, which drains water into the large expanse of water known as the Vembanad Lake. Flora and Fauna of the Vembanad Lake : Vembanad Lake supports the large variety of flora and fauna. Mangrove forests, emerald green paddy fields and coconut groves along with the white lillies surrounds this beautiful lake Nature Walk : Tourists can indulge in the leisure walk along the lake and admire its breathtaking beauty. You may

witness the women digging water from the edge of the lake into the terracotta pots. Spot the fishermen busy fishing in the lake, as part of their routine. Location of the Pushkar Lake : Pushkar is an artificial lake located in the state of Rajasthan in India. It is situated near the Pushkar town in the district of Ajmer. The lake is beautifully surrounded by the deserts and hills from all the sides. It covers the total area of about 5 km. It gets separated from the city of Ajmer by the snake mountain known as Nag Parbat. The pious Pushkar Lake is regarded as the sacred lake among the Hindus in India. It is the only lake connected with Lord Brahma in the whole country. The city of Pushkar is situated on the banks of the Pushkar Lake. The lake has around 400 temples, 52 palaces and 52 ghats and each ghat has water of special powers. The lake is known for its serene atmosphere throughout the year. Some of the most popular among them are Brahma Ghat, Gau Ghat and Varah Ghat. History of the Pushkar Lake : The lake was constructed in the 12th century with the estabishment of the dam across the headwaters of the Luni river. Among the Hindus, it is believed that the lake was created with the lotus blossom dropped from the hand of Lord Brahma, during the battle with the demon Vajra Nabh. It is same destination where the sage Vishwamitra mediated for the thousands of years. Also the Sanskrit poet and the playwriter Kalidas, chose the setting for his masterpiece Abhigyanam Shankuntalam here. Significance of the Pushkar Lake : Pushkar lake is mostly known for its religious importane. Every year this sacred lake of Pushkar attracts the thousands of pilgrims from all around the world. During the full moon day of Kartika Purnima in the month of November, devotees gather here to take a dip in its holy water. It is believed that by taking a bath in the lake one can achieve moksha. Man Mahal Palace : Man Mahal Palace is located in the banks of the Pushkar Lake. The magnificent Mahal was built by the Raja Man Singh. He built this palace so that he can visit the city of Ajmer and Pushkar easily. Presently it is the tourist bungalow run by the Rajasthan Tourism Department. 7. About the Chilka Lake : The Vast and beautiful Chilka Lake is situated on the east coast of Orissa India. It is upto 70 km long and upto 32 km wide. It is largest brakish salt water lagoon in Asia. The maximum dept of the Chilka lake is 132 meters. The lake receives direct water supply from the Mahanadi river. It is one of the largest lake in India and is the most sought after destination near to the magnificent city of Puri. Kalijai island, Breakfast island, Nalabana (island of reeds), Honeymoon island, Parikud island, Birds island, etc. are some of the interesting spots around the lake. Khurda and Ganjam are the two districts

spread around the Chilka lake. The ideal time to visit the lake lies between the month of October to June. Flora and Fauna of the Chilka Lake : Chilka Lake is the popular destination for the Eco tourism. The lake of Chilka holds the rich floral system. It is the home to large number of aquatic plants. The lake also holds the exotic wildlife. The Nalabana Island is the popular bird sanctuary, known as the Chilka Wildlife Sanctuary. Adventure At Chilka Lake : Due to the wide range of species of birds Chilka Lake is the popular birding site. Tourists on the tour to the Chilka must not forget to carry the binoculars with them and can engage themselves in the Bird watching. Chilka Lake is also quite popular for the fishing and angling. Even the visitors have the opportunity to take the boat cruise around the lake. You can also go for the leisure walk in and around the park to explore its beauty. Sightseeing at Chilka : Visiting the sightseeing destinations around the lake can be a enchanting experience. You may visit the island of Kalijai which is the popular religious center. Thousands of pilgrims flock here every year to pay homage to the Goddess kalijai.

HISTORY:
Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orlans," was born in 1412 in Domrmy, Bar, France. A national heroine of France, Joan of Arc led the French army to victory over the British at Orlans, at age 18. Captured a year later, Joan was burned by the English and their French collaborators as a heretic. She was canonized as a Roman Catholic saint 500 years later, on May 16, 1920. In 1412 (on January 6, according to some sources), Joan of Arc was born into the French peasant class to devoutly religious parents in the village of Domremy. Beginning around age 12, she heard voices: those of St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret. She also possessed many characteristics common to her contemporary female visionaries, who were a notable fixture of her timeextreme piety, claims of direct communication with the saints, and a reliance on

individual experience, as opposed to that found through the institutions of the church, of the presence of God.

Historical Background
The crown of France during Joans time was in dispute between the dauphin, Charles (later Charles VII), and the English king, Henry VI. Henry's armies were occupying much of the northern part of the kingdom with the Burgundians (loyal to the Duke of Burgundy and allied to the English), and the dauphin's state was more tenuous yet, since, five years after his father's death, he still had not been crowned king of France. Joan's village was on the frontier between the two factions, and villagers had already had to abandon their homes. Led by the voices of the saints, in May 1428 Joan traveled to Vaucouleurs, where she asked for permission to join the dauphin and his cause. She and her visions were promptly dismissed, and the 16-yearold Joan went home. The next year, undeterred, she returned.

At Orlans
That April, the dauphin provided Joan with several military men, and she was joined in her fight by her brothers Jean and Pierre. Her standard was painted with an image of Christ in judgment, and the banner she would carry into battle bore the name of Jesus. When questioned about the sword she would wield, Joan said that it would be discovered in the church of Sainte-Catherine-de-Fierbois, and one was indeed found there. Her ensuing strategy was underpinned with rejecting the guarded, nonaggressive strategy that characterized French leadership during the war before her arrival. The cautious approach clearly had not been effective, and Joan sought to change the approach and the tide of the war. On May 4, led by Joan, the French attacked and captured the fortress of Saint Loup, and the next day Joan led a march to a second fortress called Saint Jean le Blanc.

Charles's Coronation
The subsequent victory at Orlans led the French army to reconsider and embrace further aggressive moves, while Joan urged Charles to hurry to Reims to be crowned. Joan soon urged King Charles to besiege Paris, an English stronghold, and the French assault on Paris ensued on September 8. Joan received a wound to the leg from a crossbow, but she continued the fight. The following morning, however, she received a royal order to withdraw.

QUICK FACTS

NAME: Joan of Arc OCCUPATION: Warrior BIRTH DATE: c. 1412 DEATH DATE: May 30, 1431 PLACE OF BIRTH: Domremy, France PLACE OF DEATH: Rouen, France FULL NAME: Saint Joan of Arc AKA: St Joan of Arc AKA: Joan of Arc

AKA: St Joan of Arc FULL NAME: Jeanne d'Arc

BEST KNOWN FOR

Martyr, saint and military leader Joan of Arc, acting under divine guidance, led the French army to victory over the British during the Hundred Years' War.

1. France folk tale

Folktales (or folk tales) are stories passed down through generations, mainly by telling. Different kinds of folktales include fairy tales (or fairytales), tall tales, trickster tales, myths, and legends. Youll find all of those here. (Other legendsshorter onescan be found in a special section of their own.)

1. Quackling
Told by Aaron Shepard

2. One-Eye! Two-Eyes! Three-Eyes!: A Very Grimm Fairy Tale Two-Eyes is different from her sisters and others, because she has just two eyes.
GENRE: Folktales CULTURE: German THEME: Being different AGES: 712 LENGTH: 1400 words

3. King o the Cats Peter is notorious for telling wild storiesso who will believe him now, with his crazy claims about cats?
GENRE: Folktales, tall tales, ghost stories CULTURE: British (English) THEME: Credibility AGES: 412 LENGTH: 1500 words

SUMMARY OF ANY FRENCH TALE

"Bluebeard" (French: La Barbe bleue) is a French literary folktale, the most famous surviving version of which was written by Charles Perrault and first published by Barbin in Paris in January 1697 in Histoires ou Contes du temps pass. The tale tells the story of a violent nobleman in the habit of murdering his wives and the attempts of one wife to avoid the fate of her predecessors. Gilles de Rais, a 15th-century aristocrat and prolific serial killer, has been suggested as the source for the character of Bluebeard, as has Conomor the Accursed, an early Breton king. "The White Dove", "Mister Fox" and "Fitcher's Bird" are tales similar to "Bluebeard".

Bluebeard is a wealthy aristocrat, feared and shunned because of his ugly, blue beard. He has been married several times, but no one knows what became of his wives. He is therefore avoided by the local

girls. When Bluebeard visits one of his neighbours and asks to marry one of her two daughters, the girls are terrified, and each tries to pass him on to the other. Eventually he talks the younger daughter into visiting him, and after hosting a wonderful banquet, he persuades her to marry him. After the ceremony she goes to live with him in his chteau. Very shortly after, Bluebeard announces that he must leave the country for a while; he gives all the keys of the chteau to his new wife, telling her they open the doors to rooms which contain his treasures. He tells her to use the keys freely, and enjoy herself whilst he is away. However, he also gives her the key to one small room beneath the castle, stressing to her that she must not enter this room under any circumstances. She vows she will never enter the room. He then goes away and leaves the house in her hands. Immediately she is overcome with the desire to see what the forbidden room holds, and despite warnings from her visiting sister, Anne, the girl abandons her guests during a house party, and takes the key to the room. The wife immediately discovers the room's horrible secret: its floor is awash with blood, and the murdered bodies of her husband's former wives hang from hooks on the walls. Horrified, she drops the key into the pool of blood. She flees the room, but the blood staining the key will not wash off. She reveals her murderous husband's secret to her sister Anne, and both plan to flee the castle the next day. But Bluebeard returns home unexpectedly the next morning, and, noticing the blood on the key, immediately knows his wife has broken her vow. In a blind rage he threatens to behead her on the spot, but she implores him to give her a quarter of an hour to say her prayers. He consents, so she locks herself in the highest tower with Anne. While Bluebeard, sword in hand, tries to break down the door, the sisters wait for their two brothers to arrive. At the last moment, as Bluebeard is about to deliver the fatal blow, the brothers break into the castle, and as he attempts to flee, they kill him. He leaves no heirs but his wife, who inherits all his great fortune. She uses part of it for a dowry to marry off her sister, another part for her brothers' captains' commissions, and the rest to marry a worthy gentleman who makes her forget her horrible encounter with Bluebeard.

POLITICAL SCIENCE
HISTORY AND VARIOUS ORGANS OF UNITED NATIONS
The name "United Nations", coined by United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt was first used in theDeclaration by United Nations of 1 January 1942, during the Second World War, when representatives of 26 nations pledged their Governments to continue fighting together against the Axis Powers. States first established international organizations to cooperate on specific matters. The International Telecommunication Union was founded in 1865 as the International Telegraph Union, and the Universal Postal Union was established in 1874. Both are now United Nations specialized agencies. In 1899, the International Peace Conference was held in The Hague to elaborate instruments for settling crises peacefully, preventing wars and codifying rules of warfare. It adopted the Convention for the Pacific

Settlement of International Disputes and established the Permanent Court of Arbitration, which began work in 1902. The forerunner of the United Nations was the League of Nations, an organization conceived in similar circumstances during the first World War, and established in 1919 under the Treaty of Versailles "to promote international cooperation and to achieve peace and security." The International Labour Organization was also created under the Treaty of Versailles as an affiliated agency of the League. The League of Nations ceased its activities after failing to prevent the Second World War. In 1945, representatives of 50 countries met in San Francisco at the United Nations Conference on International Organization to draw up the United Nations Charter. Those delegates deliberated on the basis of proposals worked out by the representatives of China, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States at Dumbarton Oaks, United States in August-October 1944. The Charter was signed on 26 June 1945 by the representatives of the 50 countries. Poland, which was not represented at the Conference, signed it later and became one of the original 51 Member States. The United Nations officially came into existence on 24 October 1945, when the Charter had been ratified by China, France, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, the United States and by a majority of other signatories. United Nations Day is celebrated on 24 October each year.

Achievements

The UN has helped many countries become democratic and peaceful states. The UN plays an important role in protecting our environment. The Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 was a big conference about climate control other problems of our environment.

It helps give developing countries safe and clean water . It fights drug abuse and improves the lives of children who live in poverty. It helps people learn how to read and write. It helps farmers in poor countries where it is too hot or too dry.

Organs of the U.N. The U.N charter provided for six organs of the U.N. It is through these organs that its work is carried out for the fulfilment of the purposes of the U.N. The principal organs of the U.N are :1] The General Assembly 2] The Security Council 3] The Economic and Social Council. 4] The Trsuteeship Council 5] The International Court of Justice.

6] The Secretariat.

The United Nations Security Council - This organ has primary responsibility under the UN Charter to maintain international peace and security. There are five permanent members (the UK, USA, Russia, China, and France) and a number of non-permanent members. Each of the permanent members has a right of veto.

The United Nations General Assembly - This body consists of representatives from every memberstate of the UN, and each country has one vote each. It is the UN's main deliberative body, and offers recommendations in the form of UNGA Resolutions.

The Secretariat - The UN Secretary-General, currently Kofi Annan, presides over the Secretariat. It acts as administrator for the UN. The UN would grind to a halt without it.

International Court of Justice - The principal judicial organ of the UN settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions.

Economic and Social Council - This organ coordinates economic and social related work of the UN. It has numerous subsidiary bodies.

Trusteeship Council - The Trusteeship Council was created to provide international supervision to Trust Territories places under the administration of other member states, as Mandates. This organ has mostly fallen into disrepair, its work mostly completed. It suspended itself in 1994. Other UN bodies include UNICEF, the UNHCR, the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Court of Justice (also called the World Court), UNESCO, and several others.
PROJECT OR PRESENTATION ON ROLE OF APARTHEID AND ROLE OF PEOPLE NELSON MANDELA Apartheid was a system of racial segregation enforced through legislation by the National Party (NP) governments, who were the ruling party from 1948 to 1994, of South Africa, under which the rights of the majority black inhabitants of South Africa were curtailed and white supremacy and Afrikaner minority rule was maintained. Apartheid was developed after World War II by the Afrikaner-dominated National Party and Broederbond organisations and was practised also in South West Africa, which was administered by South Africa under a League of Nations mandate (revoked in 1966 via United Nations [2] [3] Resolution 2145 ), until it gained independence as Namibia in 1990. Racial segregation in South Africa began in colonial times under Dutch and British rule. However, apartheid as an official policy was introduced following the general election of 1948. New legislation [5] classified inhabitants into four racial groups ("native", "white", "coloured", and "Asian"), and residential
[4]

areas were segregated, sometimes by means of forced removals. Non-white political representation was completely abolished in 1970, and starting in that year black people were deprived of their citizenship, legally becoming citizens of one of ten tribally based self-governing homelands called bantustans, four of which became nominally independent states. The government segregated education, medical care, beaches, and other public services, and provided black people with services inferior to those of white [6] people.

South Africa (see map) is a country blessed with an abundance of natural resources including fertile farmlands and unique mineral resources. South African mines are world leaders in the production of diamonds and gold as well as strategic metals such as platinum. The climate is mild, reportedly resembling the San Francisco bay area weather more than anywhere in the world. South Africa was colonized by the English and Dutch in the seventeenth century. English domination of the Dutch descendents (known as Boers or Afrikaners) resulted in the Dutch establishing the new colonies of Orange Free State and Transvaal. The discovery of diamonds in these lands around 1900 resulted in an English invasion which sparked the Boer War With the enactment of apartheid laws in 1948, racial discrimination was institutionalized. Race laws touched every aspect of social life, including a prohibition of marriage between non-whites and whites, and the sanctioning of ``white-only'' jobs. In 1950, the Population Registration Act required that all South Africans be racially classified into one of three categories: white, black (African), or colored (of mixed decent). The coloured category included major subgroups of Indians and Asians. Classification into these categories was based on appearance, social acceptance, and descent. For example, a white person was defined as ``in appearance obviously a white person or generally accepted as a white person.'' A person could not be considered white if one of his or her parents were non-white. The determination that a person was ``obviously white'' would take into account ``his habits, education, and speech and deportment and demeanor.'' A black person would be of or accepted as a member of an African tribe or race, and a colored person is one that is not black or white. The Department of Home Affairs (a government bureau) was responsible for the classification of the citizenry. Non-compliance with the race laws were dealt with harshly. All blacks were required to carry ``pass books'' containing fingerprints, photo and information on access to non-black areas. In 1953, the Public Safety Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act were passed, which empowered the government to declare stringent states of emergency and increased penalties for protesting against or supporting the repeal of a law. The penalties included fines, imprisonment and whippings. In 1960, a large group of blacks in Sharpeville refused to carry their passes; the government declared a state of emergency. The emergency lasted for 156 days, leaving 69 people dead and 187 people wounded. Wielding the Public Safety Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act, the white regime had no intention of changing the unjust laws of apartheid.

The penalties imposed on political protest, even non-violent protest, were severe. During the states of emergency which continued intermittently until 1989, anyone could be detained without a hearing by a low-level police official for up to six months. Thousands of individuals died in custody, frequently after gruesome acts of torture. Those who were tried were sentenced to death, banished, or imprisoned for life, like Nelson Mandela. The apartheid policy was highly effective of achieving its goal of preferential treatment for whites, as is demonstrated by the statistics in Figure 1.

Nelson Mandela and Apartheid South African Anti-Apartheid leader and first black President Nelson Mandela. Pictured burning his "pass" which was required for blacks to carry with them to identify their race and area of the country. They were not permitted to leave to travel to another region without a passport. Nelson Mandela is South Africa's most influential leader.

Nelson Mandela: South Africas Savior

Nelson Mandela was a dominant figure in the South African liberation movement, burning his pass as a peaceful protest. The twentieth century in South Africa is something that unfortunately cannot be retrospectively looked at with pride, because of the practice of apartheid. Apartheid had similarities to segregation in the American South, but was much worse. In addition to not being able to vote and separation from the whites in public businesses, blacks (which made up seventy percent of the population) were forced to live in a small area of the country, and could not leave without a pass, which very few people had and were very hard to get. Also, apartheid laws were explicitly stated laws, not just de facto rules that society followed, which South African blacks were forced to follow for nearly fifty years. Nelson Mandela rose up as leader of the African National Congress and major speaker against the evils of Apartheid, becoming the voice of the movement to end apartheid. The use of passes came into effect when Prime Minister Hendrik Verwoerd developed the policy of separate development, in which the nine African groups that lived in South Africa were moved from the urban areas into the country areas. If the Africans wanted to travel anywhere, or work, they needed a pass showing that they were allowed out of their designated section. If found without their passes, or traveling outside of the regulated boundaries, they were arrested and put in jail for a minimum of 30 days. These passes were used to keep the Africans in check, to regulate their ability to move and their freedom. To the people of South Africa, the passes represented lost freedom. Nelson Mandelas contribution and dedication to South Africas struggle in achieving freedom and equal rights for every South African led to his popularity and respect in South Africa. In the 1950s, Mandela began working on ending the apartheid. In 1964, he was arrested and imprisoned for trying to overthrow the government, but continued his fight even from his prison cell. After his release in 1990, Mandela traveled throughout the world trying to earn money to support the anti-apartheid movement. Mandela continued to advocate equality for all South Africans regardless of their ethnic backgrounds. In 1993, Mandela earned the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in improving human rights. In 1994, Nelson Mandela became the first black South African to be elected as president of his country. His presidency was characterized by the successful negotiation of a new constitution for South Africa, but his main focus was the restructuring of South Africa after the damage done by the apartheid. The picture as a whole is significant to South Africa because it showed the people that they could stand up for themselves and fight against their oppression. Nelson Mandela presented the people of South Africa with a leader in their struggle, providing the inspiration needed for a drastic change. He planted the idea in the people that there was something they could do about their situation. Mandela would do anything to win the battle. The picture is significant to the twentieth century because it provided yet another example of the common theme of the struggle against oppression and the fight for freedom. It may be possible to oppress a group of people,

but it is impossible to oppress the spread of ideas. Once the idea of freedom is sparked it can spread like wildfire. Therefore the picture represents the fight and struggle that people will go through no matter what the cost might be.
Nelson Mandela and Apartheid South African Anti-Apartheid leader and first black President Nelson Mandela. Pictured burning his "pass" which was required for blacks to carry with them to identify their race and area of the country. They were not permitted to leave to travel to another region without a passport. Nelson Mandela is South Africa's most influential leader.