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Welcome to Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.2,335,874 articles in EnglishArtsBiographyGeographyHistoryMathematicsScienceSocietyTechnologyAll portalsOverview · Editing · Questions · HelpContents · Categories · Featured content · A–Z indexToday’s featured articleDawson Creek is a small city in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. It covers an area of 20.66 square kilometres (8 sq mi) with a 2006 population of 11,615 people. Dubbed “The Capital of the Peace”, it is a service centre for the rural areas south of the Peace River and the seat of the Peace River Regional District. Dawson Creek turned from a small farming community to a regional centre when the western terminus of the Northern Alberta Railways was extended there in 1932, and the US Army used that terminus as a transshipment point in 1942 during the construction of the Alaska Highway. Most of the city’s development occurred between 1942 and 1966 when highways and railways were built connecting the farming area of the Peace River Country to the rest of BC through Dawson Creek. Dawson Creek derived its name from the creek of the same name that runs through the city. The creek was named after George Mercer Dawson by a member of his land survey team when they passed through the area in August 1879. The city, at the southern end of the Alaska Highway, is known as the “Mile 0 City” and is also home to a regional fall fair and heritage interpretation village. (more…)Recently featured: Virginia Tech massacre – Ailanthus altissima – 1999 Sydney hailstormArchive – By email – More featured articles…Did you know…From Wikipedia’s newest articles:…that objects found in 1939 in the ship burial at Sutton Hoo (helmet pictured) were not a treasure trove as their owners intended to bury them permanently?…that Quirinus Kuhlmann, a German poet who called himself “son of the Son of God”, was denounced as theologically and politically dangerous, and burnt at the stake for heresy in Moscow in 1689?…that the Militia of the Faith of Jesus Christ was founded to defend the lands of Amaury de Montfort, leader of the Albigensian Crusade?…that the Tang Dynasty chancellor Yuwen Rong was known in traditional history to have served for 100 days — even though he only served 99 days?…that before the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League adopted its current name, it had already won two Stanley Cups by defeating the Vancouver Millionaires in 1918 and in 1922?…that the Palace Hotel in Perth, Western Australia was described at its opening as “one of the most beautiful and elegant hotels in Australasia”?…that Palwankar Shivram, brother of the Dalit cricketers Baloo and Vithal, was a spin bowling all-rounder who represented the All-India cricket team that toured England in 1911?…that the pastor of Burbank’s St. Bellarmine Church was a World War I chaplain who modeled the campus on Monticello and Independence Hall?Archive – Start a new article…In the newsThe People of Freedom alliance led by Silvio Berlusconi (pictured) wins the general election in Italy.Trevor Immelman of South Africa wins the 2008 Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.Jacques-Édouard Alexis is ousted as Prime Minister of Haiti following riots over the price of food.The Channel Island Sark abolishes the last remaining feudal system in Europe.The Grand National Party of President Lee Myung-bak wins a majority of seats in the National Assembly of South Korea.The Olympic torch relay is disrupted in London, Paris and San Francisco by protesters objecting to China’s human rights record.Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events…On this day…April 17: Fast of the Firstborn (Judaism, 2008).1555 – After 18 months of resistance, Siena surrendered to Florence and was annexed into the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.1797 – French Revolutionary Wars: British Lieutenant General Ralph Abercromby and a force of over 6,000 men invaded Spanish-controlled Puerto Rico.1895 – The Empire of Japan and the Chinese Qing Empire signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki, an unequal treaty that ended the First Sino-Japanese War.1942 – World War II: Captured French General Henri Giraud (pictured) escaped from German captivity in the Königstein Castle.1961 – Armed Cuban exiles backed by the CIA invaded Cuba, landing in the Bay of Pigs, with the aim of ousting Fidel Castro.1969 – Czechoslovak Communist Party chairman Alexander Dubček was deposed.1975 – The Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot captured Phnom Penh, ending the Cambodian Civil War, and established the Democratic Kampuchea.1982 – A new “patriated” Constitution of Canada, including the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, was signed into law.1986 – The Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly declared peace, ending the Three Hundred and Thirty Five Years’ War.More events: April 16 – April 17 – April 18Archive – By email – More anniversaries…Today’s featured pictureA cutaway diagram of a gun turret using the 16″/50 caliber Mark 7 gun. This gun is the main armament of the Iowa-class battleships and is often considered to be the best battleship gun ever designed, due to its power and efficiency.Image credit: Voytek S/Jeff DahlRecently featured: First aerial refueling – Gilbert and Sullivan – Red-headed WoodpeckerArchive – More featured pictures…