after birth. Adult apes may provide care
for the young for several years.
Under Threat
Most types of ape are endangered, or at
risk of dying out completely in the wild.
Humans have cut down the trees in forests
where some apes live, destroying
their habitats. People also kill apes for
their meat. However, people have also
begun trying to save these animals.
Some countries have national parks to
protect apes and their habitats. Laws
also make it illegal to hunt or capture
endangered apes.
#More to explore
Chimpanzee Gibbon Gorilla
Orangutan Primate
Aphrodite
In ancient Greek mythology Aphrodite
was the goddess of love and beauty. She
was one of the 12 chief gods believed to
live on Mount Olympus. Aphrodite is
associated with the Roman goddess
Venus because they shared many of the
same characteristics. The symbols of
Aphrodite are the dove, rose, myrtle
tree, and swan.
In one story Aphrodite was the daughter
of Zeus, the ruler of all the gods. Her
mother was a Titan named Dione.
Some apes spend part of their time in trees
and part on the ground. Orangutans, like
gibbons, spend most of their time in trees.
148 Aphrodite BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Titans were giants who once ruled the
world. Other stories tell that Aphrodite
sprang fully grown from the foam of the
sea. The wind carried her on a shell to
the island of Cyprus, which became her
home. Sailors prayed to her to calm the
wind and waves.
According to legend, gods and humans
alike desired Aphrodite because of her
beauty. But she was proud and rejected
her admirers. To punish her, Zeus had
her marry the ugly god of fire, named
Hephaestus. Aphrodite soon left him
for Ares, the handsome god of war.
One of their children was Eros, the
winged god of love. Zeus later arranged
for Aphrodite to fall in love with a
handsome shepherd named Anchises.
From that union Aeneas was born. He
was said to be an ancestor of the
Roman people.
#More to explore
Ares Greece, Ancient Hephaestus
Mythology Zeus
Apia
Apia is the capital of Samoa, an island
country in the southern Pacific Ocean.
It lies on the northern coast of Upolu
Island. Apia is Samoas main port. It
ships dried coconut meat, bananas,
cocoa, and coffee to other countries.
Manufacturing and tourism also bring
money to the city.
Apia developed into a port after European
missionaries and traders arrived in
the mid-1800s. In the 1940s, during
WorldWar II, U.S. Marines used Apia
as a base.
The former home of Scottish writer
Robert Louis Stevenson sits on a hill
overlooking Apia. Today Samoas head
of state lives there.
#More to explore
Samoa
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Apia 149
Apollo
In ancient Greek mythology Apollo was
the god of music, healing, light, and
prophecy (predicting the future). He
was one of the 12 main gods believed to
live on Mount Olympus. He also came
to be considered a sun god. Because of
Apollos many important roles, the
Greeks loved him greatly. The Romans
later worshipped him too. The laurel
tree, dolphin, and crow were sacred to
Apollo.
Apollo was the son of Zeus, the chief
god, and Leto. Leto was a Titan, or one
of the giants that once ruled the world.
Apollo was also the twin brother of
Artemis, the goddess of hunting.
According to tradition, one of Apollos
earliest deeds was to slay a giant snake,
called Python. No human dared
approach the monster. Apollo came
down from Mount Olympus and, after a
hard fight, killed Python using his silver
bow and golden arrows.
The famous Temple of Apollo stood at a
site called Delphi. This was near the
place where Apollo had killed Python.
People traveled great distances to visit
the shrine. There they would speak to
one of Apollos priestesses. She would
give them an oracle, or prediction of the
future, said to come from Apollo.
According to legend, the god Hermes
gave Apollo a lyre (a kind of stringed
instrument). Apollo loved the gift and
became skilled at playing it.With his
music, Apollo charmed the other gods at
feasts on Mount Olympus.
#More to explore
Artemis Greece, Ancient Hermes
Mythology Zeus
150 Apollo BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Appalachian
Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains of eastern
North America are lower but much
older than the Rocky Mountains in the
West. For early settlers who wanted to
move from the territory of the original
13 American Colonies to the west, the
Appalachians were a natural barrier.
The Appalachians extend almost 2,000
miles (3,200 kilometers), from the
Canadian province of Newfoundland
and Labrador in the north to the U.S.
state of Alabama in the south. The
mountains are more than 250 million
years old and have been worn down over
the years.
Because they extend so far north and
south, the Appalachians have a wide
range of temperatures. In Canada and in
the White Mountains of New Hampshire,
Arctic conditions often prevail,
especially at high elevations. The south
has milder weather, but heavy clouds
and haze are common.
Before settlers arrived from Europe, the
Appalachian area from Maine to Georgia
was completely covered by forests.
The forested area is now smaller but still
impressive. Hawks, wild turkeys, and
many kinds of songbirds make the
Appalachians their home. The region
also has black bears, white-tailed deer,
wild boars, raccoons, and beavers.
Before the arrival of Europeans, the
northern part of the Appalachians was
occupied by Native Americans of various
EasternWoodland groups. In the southern
mountains, the Cherokee were the
main inhabitants. By the middle of the
1800s, most of the Native Americans
had been removed from the area. In the
south, they were replaced by settlers who
lived in isolated communities. Separated
from the outside world by the hills,
Screw Auger Falls are in a section
of the northern Appalachian
Mountains in Maine.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Appalachian Mountains 151
these people made their own distinctive
culture and music.
Eastern Appalachia has rich farmland.
Cotton is grown in the south, while
tobacco and fruit are the main crops
farther north. The Appalachian area is
also known for its minerals. Coal is the
most important mineral. It is mined in
large quantities in the Appalachian Plateau,
from Pennsylvania to Alabama.
Tourism is also a major industry. The
Appalachians offer splendid scenery and
many opportunities for outdoor activities.
The Appalachian National Scenic
Trail is a hiking path that winds through
14 states on its way from Mount Katahdin,
in Maine, to Springer Mountain in
Georgia.
#More to explore
Mountain Rocky Mountains
Appendix
The appendix is a part of the human
digestive system. It is a finger-sized tube
attached to the large intestine. The
appendix does not seem to help with
digestion. However, if it becomes
blocked or infected, it can cause an illness
called appendicitis.
Human beings are one of the few animals
that have an appendix. The human
appendix is usually 3 to 4 inches (8 to