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Welcome to Wikipedia,the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.2,345,531 articles in EnglishArtsBiographyGeographyHistoryMathematicsScienceSocietyTechnologyAll portalsOverview · Editing · Questions · HelpContents · Categories · Featured content · A–Z indexToday’s featured articleVasa is a warship that was built for Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden from 1626 to 1628. The ship foundered and sank on her maiden voyage on August 10, 1628 after sailing only about twenty minutes. Vasa fell into obscurity after some initial attempts at recovering her in the 17th century but was relocated in the late 1950s and salvaged with a largely intact hull on April 24, 1961. Thousands of artifacts and the remains of 16 people were found inside or near Vasa by marine archaeologists. Among the many items found were clothing, weapons, cannons, tools, coins, cutlery, food, drink and six of the ten sails. The artifacts and the ship itself have provided historians with invaluable insight into details of naval warfare, shipbuilding techniques and everyday life in early 17th-century Sweden. Vasa was housed in a temporary museum called Wasavarvet (”The Wasa Shipyard”) until 1987, and was then moved to the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. The ship is one of Sweden’s most popular tourist attractions and has as of 2008 attracted more than 25 million visitors. (more…)Recently featured: Thierry Henry – Pearl Jam – Monarchy of the United KingdomArchive – By email – More featured articles…Did you know…From Wikipedia’s newest articles:…that Annette E. Brown (pictured) was the first female commander of Navy Region Southeast of the United States Navy?…that BY Draconis, a multi-star system in the constellation Draco, includes a binary star system with an orbital period of only 5.98 days?…that the cultures of the Western Mexico shaft tomb tradition not only considered dogs to be soul guides for the dead, but a major source of protein as well?…that despite Al Gore’s efforts to appease Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Jesse Jackson, at the 2000 Democratic National Convention they agreed that endorsing Gore was like taking castor oil?…that modern historians still debate on whether or not the Ming Dynasty of China had sovereignty over Tibet?…that Lesotho is the only country in the world that lies entirely over 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) above mean sea level?…that the recent Typhoon Neoguri was the earliest tropical cyclone on record to affect China?Archive – Start a new article…In the newsFernando Lugo (pictured) wins the presidential election in Paraguay, ending the Colorado Party’s 61-year rule.In auto racing, Danica Patrick wins the Indy Japan 300, becoming the first female driver to win an IndyCar race.An airliner operated by Hewa Bora Airways crashes upon takeoff in Goma, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing at least 47 people.An alliance led by Silvio Berlusconi of the People of Freedom party wins the general election in Italy.Trevor Immelman of South Africa wins the 2008 Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club.Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events…On this day…April 24: Great Thursday in Eastern Christianity (2008); Republic Day in the Gambia; Genocide Remembrance Day in Armenia.1800 – The Library of Congress, today the de facto national library of the United States, was established as part of an act of Congress providing for the transfer of the nation’s capital from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.1877 – Russia declared war on the Ottoman Empire, starting the Russo-Turkish War.1915 – The Armenian Genocide in the Ottoman Empire began with the arrest and deportation of hundreds of prominent Armenians in Constantinople.1916 – Irish republicans led by teacher and political activist Patrick Pearse (pictured) began the Easter Rising, a rebellion against British rule in Ireland, and proclaimed the Irish Republic an independent state.1967 – The Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 1 crashed in Siberia during its return to Earth, killing cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov, the first in-flight fatality in the history of spaceflight.1990 – The Hubble Space Telescope was launched by the Space Shuttle Discovery in mission STS-31.More events: April 23 – April 24 – April 25Archive – By email – More anniversaries…Today’s featured pictureUnited States Army pilots in action during World War I. Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, known as the U.S. “Ace of Aces”, conducts a bombing run over German lines.Film credit: United States ArmyNeed help viewing this video?Recently featured: Sun dogs – Chipping Sparrow – Champ de MarsArchive – More featured pictures…