alder, (genus Alnus), genus of about 30 species of ornamental shrubs and trees in the birch family (Betulaceae). Alders are distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere and in parts of western South America on cool wet sites at elevations up to 2,500 metres (8,200 feet). An alder may be

alder: Major species: …or lenticels; and the aromatic-leaved American green alder (A. viridis). A number of these species are also found in Europe, including the green alder and gray alder.

alder: Major species: The European alder (A. glutinosa), sometimes known as black alder for its dark bark and cones, is widespread throughout Eurasia and is cultivated in several varieties in North America. The name black alder is also applied to winterberry (Ilex verticillata), an unrelated holly.

alder: Major species: …or lenticels; and the aromatic-leaved American green alder (A. viridis). A number of these species are also found in Europe, including the green alder and gray alder.

alder: Major species: …North American alders are the red alder (Alnus rubra), a tall tree whose leaves have rusty hairs on their lower surfaces; the white, or Sierra, alder (A. rhombifolia), an early-flowering tree with orange-red twigs and buds; the gray, or speckled, alder (A. incana), a small shrubby tree, often with conspicuous…

alder: Major species: …on their lower surfaces; the white, or Sierra, alder (A. rhombifolia), an early-flowering tree with orange-red twigs and buds; the gray, or speckled, alder (A. incana), a small shrubby tree, often with conspicuous whitish, wartlike, porous markings, or lenticels; and the aromatic-leaved American green alder (A. viridis). A number of…

alder: Major species: …North American alders are the red alder (Alnus rubra), a tall tree whose leaves have rusty hairs on their lower surfaces; the white, or Sierra, alder (A. rhombifolia), an early-flowering tree with orange-red twigs and buds; the gray, or speckled, alder (A. incana), a small shrubby tree, often with conspicuous…

alder: Major species: …and buds; the gray, or speckled, alder (A. incana), a small shrubby tree, often with conspicuous whitish, wartlike, porous markings, or lenticels; and the aromatic-leaved American green alder (A. viridis). A number of these species are also found in Europe, including the green alder and gray alder.

Alnwick, town, unitary authority and historic county of Northumberland, northeastern England. It lies on the south bank of the River Aln, between the Cheviot Hills and the sea. The town is dominated by the Norman castle, after 1309 the principal seat of the Percy family, who later became earls of

Alnwick, former district, unitary authority and historic county of Northumberland, northern England, that borders Scotland on the northwest and the North Sea on the east. Alnwick descends eastward from the peaty moorlands of the Cheviot Hills, which reach elevations above 2,000 feet (610 metres)

Alnwick Castle, Norman castle in Alnwick, England, that is currently the seat of the 12th duke of Northumberland and is the second biggest inhabited castle in the United Kingdom. It was a fastness from which the northeast of England was long held against the Scots, especially during the 12th

Henry Percy, 1st earl of Northumberland was an English statesman, leading figure during the reigns of England’s Richard II and Henry IV. He and his son Sir Henry Percy, the celebrated “Hotspur,” are commemorated in William Shakespeare’s play Henry IV, Part I. Son of the 3rd Baron Percy of Alnwick

Aloadae, in Greek legend, the twin sons of Iphimedia, the wife of Aloeus, by the god Poseidon. Named Otus and Ephialtes, the Aloadae were of extraordinary strength and stature. The Aloadae attacked the Olympian gods and tried to storm heaven itself, but Apollo destroyed them before they reached

Mauritius hemp, (Furcraea foetida), plant of the asparagus family (Asparagaceae) and its fibre, belonging to the leaf fibre group. The fibre is made into bagging and other coarse fabrics and is sometimes mixed with other fibres to improve colour in rope. Despite its name, it is not a true hemp. The

aloe, (genus Aloe), genus of more than 500 species of shrubby succulent plants native to Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula. Several species are cultivated as ornamentals and houseplants and for their medicinal leaves. Most members of the genus have a rosette of leaves borne either at

aloe, (genus Aloe), genus of more than 500 species of shrubby succulent plants native to Africa, Madagascar, and the Arabian Peninsula. Several species are cultivated as ornamentals and houseplants and for their medicinal leaves. Most members of the genus have a rosette of leaves borne either at

aloe: Major species and uses: Snake, or mountain, aloe (A. broomii) is a common potted plant grown for its dense rosette of triangular leaves with dark teeth.

aloe: Major species and uses: Spiral aloe (Aloe polyphylla) is a popular specimen for its compact geometric spiral of spiny leaves. Arabian aloe (A. rubroviolacea) has long blue-green leaves with red teeth and is planted outdoors in warm climates; the leaves turn red if exposed to full sun. Snake, or…

aloe: Major species and uses: Arabian aloe (A. rubroviolacea) has long blue-green leaves with red teeth and is planted outdoors in warm climates; the leaves turn red if exposed to full sun. Snake, or mountain, aloe (A. broomii) is a common potted plant grown for its dense rosette of triangular…

aloe vera, (Aloe vera), perennial succulent plant cultivated worldwide as an ornamental and for medicinal and cosmetic uses. The gelatinous interior of the leaves is commonly applied directly to the skin as a beauty treatment or to soothe sunburns, and it is sometimes ingested as a traditional

aloe vera, (Aloe vera), perennial succulent plant cultivated worldwide as an ornamental and for medicinal and cosmetic uses. The gelatinous interior of the leaves is commonly applied directly to the skin as a beauty treatment or to soothe sunburns, and it is sometimes ingested as a traditional

Cordia: …leaves of the tropical American geiger tree, aloewood, or sebesten plum (C. sebestena) are used as a substitute for sandpaper. The bright red-orange, six- to seven-lobed flowers are striking and occur in large clusters. The greenish, acid-tasting fruits are edible. The tree grows to 10 metres high (about 33 feet).

Niue: …capital and largest settlement is Alofi. Area 100 square miles (260 square km). Pop. (2017) 1,719.

Horne Islands: …of volcanic islands (Futuna and Alofi) forming the southwestern part of the French overseas collectivity of Wallis and Futuna, in the west-central Pacific Ocean. Futuna (not to be confused with its namesake in Vanuatu, which is said to have been settled from Futuna) is the site of Mount Singavi (also…

Liliuokalani: …Hawaii’s Queen and composed “Aloha Oe,” a song ever afterward beloved in the islands. Thereafter she withdrew from public life, enjoying a government pension and the homage of islanders and visitors alike.

Hawaii, constituent state of the United States of America. Hawaii (Hawaiian: Hawai‘i) became the 50th U.S. state on August 21, 1959. Hawaii is a group of volcanic islands in the central Pacific Ocean. The islands lie 2,397 miles (3,857 km) from San Francisco, California, to the east and 5,293 miles

Alois, Graf Lexa von Aehrenthal was the foreign minister (1906–12) of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy, whose direction of the latter’s annexation of Bosnia and Hercegovina (1908) provoked an international crisis. (See Bosnian crisis of 1908.) Entering the imperial foreign service as attaché in

Liechtenstein: History of Liechtenstein: In 2004 Hans Adam’s son, Crown Prince Alois, assumed the day-to-day responsibilities of royal governance, though his father officially remained head of state. In 2006 the principality celebrated its 200th anniversary.

Alojzy Fortunat Żółkowski was an actor, writer, translator, and head of a Polish theatrical family. Żółkowski was born into a noble family and served in the army during the revolt of 1794. He made his acting debut in Warsaw in 1798, toured the country for four years, and then joined the National

David Bowie: The 1970s: Bowie’s signature decade: …including guitarists Mick Ronson and Carlos Alomar and ace nouveau-funk producer Nile Rodgers for “Let’s Dance” (1983), when he needed a hit. As music, Low and its sequels, “Heroes” (1977) and Lodger (1979), would prove to be Bowie’s most influential and lasting, serving as a blueprint for a later generation…

Roberto Alomar is an inductee of the Baseball Hall of Fame, where his plaque reads that he “set the standard for a generation of second basemen with a quick, powerful bat, a smooth, steady glove and seemingly endless range.” During his stellar 17-year career in the major leagues, he was a 12-time

Roberto Alomar is an inductee of the Baseball Hall of Fame, where his plaque reads that he “set the standard for a generation of second basemen with a quick, powerful bat, a smooth, steady glove and seemingly endless range.” During his stellar 17-year career in the major leagues, he was a 12-time

Alaungpaya was a king (1752–60) who unified Myanmar (Burma) and founded the Alaungpaya, or Konbaung, dynasty, which held power until the British annexed Upper (northern) Burma on Jan. 1, 1886. He also conquered the independent Mon kingdom of Pegu (in the Irrawaddy River delta). Of humble origins,

Donald Sutherland: …heist, and the horror thriller Alone (2020).

Richard E. Byrd: Byrd’s accomplishments: …to the South Pole, and Alone (1938) describes his experiences at Bolling Advance Base. Byrd was extremely competent in public relations, and his expeditions were surrounded by a glare of publicity that made him a national hero and an internationally famous figure.

Alex Honnold: Early climbing accomplishments: His memoir, with the same title, was published in 2016 (cowritten by David Roberts).

Richard Howard: In Alone with America: Essays on the Art of Poetry in the United States Since 1950 (1969), Howard offered a critical analysis of the work and styles of 41 American poets. He is perhaps best known for his translation of a vast body of work from…

crustacean: Size range and diversity of structure: …fleas (class Branchiopoda), such as Alonella, reach lengths of less than 0.25 millimetre (0.009 inch), and many members of the subclass Copepoda are less than one millimetre in length. The range of structure is reflected in the complex classification of the group. Some of the parasitic forms are so modified…

James Patterson: …the promotion of his novel Along Came a Spider (1993; film 2001) by taking the unusual step of creating and financing a television commercial for it. The book, a grisly thriller featuring African American homicide detective Alex Cross, became an instant best seller, and its protagonist resurfaced in more than…

Sydney Sweeney: Breakthrough parts and stardom: …spirits in the horror film Along Came the Devil (2018), and she played an aspiring actress in the psychological thriller Clementine (2019). Later in 2019 she portrayed Snake, a member of cult leader Charles Manson’s “Family,” in Once upon a Time…in Hollywood. Additionally, she garnered critical acclaim for portraying American…

Kirk Douglas: …father’s death in Raoul Walsh’s Along the Great Divide (1951); and a volatile and vengeful cop in William Wyler’s Detective Story (1951). He was cast as a corrupt motion-picture executive in Vincente Minnelli’s The Bad and the Beautiful (1952), and the performance earned Douglas his second Oscar nomination. One

The Tempest: …a wedding in Tunis: King Alonso of Naples, his son Ferdinand, his brother Sebastian, and Prospero’s brother, Antonio.

Don Quixote, 17th-century Spanish literary character, the protagonist of the novel Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. The book, originally published in Spanish in two parts (1605, 1615), concerns the eponymous would-be knight errant whose delusions of grandeur make him the butt of many practical

José Rizal was a patriot, physician, and man of letters who was an inspiration to the Philippine nationalist movement. The son of a prosperous landowner, Rizal was educated in Manila and at the University of Madrid. A brilliant medical student, he soon committed himself to the reform of Spanish

Alicia Alonso was a Cuban ballerina highly regarded for her convincing portrayals of leading roles in the great works of classical and Romantic ballet. She was best known for her lively, precise Giselle and for her sensual, tragic Carmen. Her dance studies began in childhood with flamenco lessons

Dámaso Alonso was a Spanish poet, literary critic, and scholar, a member of the group of poets called the Generation of 1927. Educated at the University of Madrid, Alonso taught at the Centre of Historical Studies, Madrid (1923–36), and was a professor at the University of Valencia (1933–39) and

Giovanni Alfonso Borelli was an Italian physiologist and physicist who was the first to explain muscular movement and other body functions according to the laws of statics and dynamics. He was appointed professor of mathematics at Messina in 1649 and at Pisa in 1656. In 1667 he returned to Messina

Western sculpture: 19th-century sculpture: …Christ of the Andes by Mateo Alonso erected in 1902 on the border of Chile and Argentina. Abstractions were also endowed with a more urgent ideological content than in former centuries. In France, at least in the great Triumph of the Republic by Jules Dalou (unveiled in 1899 in the…

Pete Alonso is a slugging first baseman for the New York Mets who holds the record for most home runs by a rookie (53) and who is also famous for his prodigious “moon shots.” He is called the “Polar Bear” for his big body, his power, and his fun-loving personality. Alonso was born to Michelle and

Pete Alonso is a slugging first baseman for the New York Mets who holds the record for most home runs by a rookie (53) and who is also famous for his prodigious “moon shots.” He is called the “Polar Bear” for his big body, his power, and his fun-loving personality. Alonso was born to Michelle and

Bolivia: Increase in tin mining: …or representatives (Mariano Baptista, 1892–96; Severo Fernández Alonso, 1896–99), the Liberals and subsequent 20th-century presidents were largely outside the mining elite. No tin magnate actively participated in leadership positions within the political system. Rather, they came to rely on a more effective system of pressure group politics.

location theory: William Alonso (Location and Land Use: Toward a General Theory of Land Rent, 1964) built upon the Thünen model to account for intra-urban variations in land use. He attempted to apply accessibility requirements to the city centre for various types of land use (housing, commercial,…

chaat: Aloo tikki is a golden fried-potato patty that is often stuffed with peas or dal and served with a variety of spicy chutneys and sometimes chickpeas, while aloo chaat is simply boiled potatoes that are cubed, fried, seasoned, and served hot.

baldness, the lack or loss of hair. Two primary types of baldness can be distinguished: permanent hair loss, arising from abnormalities in or destruction of hair follicles, and temporary hair loss, arising from transitory damage to the follicles. The first category is dominated by male pattern

alopecia areata, autoimmune disease characterized primarily by hair loss on the face and scalp and often also on other parts of the body. Alopecia areata usually is chronic and ranges from mild to severe, with some individuals experiencing only one episode of hair loss and others having episodes

alopecia areata: Types: Alopecia totalis affects the scalp and is characterized by complete or almost complete hair loss. Alopecia universalis, which is rare, involves total or near total hair loss over the entire body. Two other types are diffuse alopecia areata, in which hair thins across the scalp,…

alopecia areata: Types: Alopecia universalis, which is rare, involves total or near total hair loss over the entire body. Two other types are diffuse alopecia areata, in which hair thins across the scalp, and ophiasis alopecia, in which hair loss occurs in a band along the sides and…

Pomeranian: Care and upkeep: …from a painless disorder called alopecia X, or black skin disease. It first appears as areas of hair loss, and the exposed skin may eventually turn black. Affected dogs should wear shirts or sunscreen to prevent sunburn. In addition, some Poms that have had their coat clipped may not regrow…

foxtail: …are about 25 species of Alopecurus, which are distributed throughout the north temperate zone. Most species are perennials and bear dense cylindrical, often brushlike, flower clusters. Meadow foxtail (A. pratensis), which is native to Eurasia, is used as a forage grass in northern North America; it stands 30 to 80…

foxtail: Meadow foxtail (A. pratensis), which is native to Eurasia, is used as a forage grass in northern North America; it stands 30 to 80 cm (about 12 to 30 inches) high and has a light-green flower cluster 7 cm long.

Arctic fox, (Vulpes lagopus), northern fox of the family Canidae, found throughout the Arctic region, usually on tundra or mountains near the sea. Fully grown adults reach about 50–60 cm (20–24 inches) in length, exclusive of the 30-cm (12-inch) tail, and a weight of about 3–8 kg (6.6–17 pounds).

thresher shark, (genus Alopias), any of three species of sharks of the family Alopiidae noted for their long, scythelike tails that may constitute almost one-half their total length. Thresher sharks are found in tropical and temperate seas throughout the world. They feed on squid and schooling

fox shark, species of thresher shark

chondrichthyan: Annotated classification: Family Alopiidae (thresher sharks) Distinguished by the elongated upper lobe of the tail fin, which is almost as long as the rest of the body. Teeth small, bladelike. Ovoviviparous. Total length to about 6 metres (20 feet). Harmless to humans. Occasionally sold for food. 1 genus,…

Joan II: …queen and appointed her lover Pandolfello Alopo grand chamberlain. Alopo temporarily removed from power the condottiere Muzio Attendolo Sforza, an important figure in the previous regime. On July 14, 1415, Joan married Jacques de Bourbon, Count de la Marche, who, confident of his power, soon had Alopo executed (1415), usurped…

Egyptian goose, (Alopochen aegyptiaca), species of African waterfowl classified with ducks and geese in family Anatidae in the bird order Anseriformes; it is the only living member of genus Alopochen. Despite the bird’s common name, it is a sheldgoose, and thus it is more closely related to ducks

Egyptian goose, (Alopochen aegyptiaca), species of African waterfowl classified with ducks and geese in family Anatidae in the bird order Anseriformes; it is the only living member of genus Alopochen. Despite the bird’s common name, it is a sheldgoose, and thus it is more closely related to ducks

Alor Islands: The largest island is Alor (900 square miles [2,330 square km]), the two major mountains of which, Kolana (5,791 feet [1,765 metres]) and Muna (4,724 feet [1,440 metres]), are both old volcanoes. Alor is broken up by steep ravines, with only one plateau and some small coastal plains. Pantar…

Alor Islands, group of two major islands and several lesser islets in East Nusa Tenggara propinsi (province), Indonesia. Part of the Lesser Sunda Islands, they lie between the Flores and Savu seas. The largest island is Alor (900 square miles [2,330 square km]), the two major mountains of which,

Alor Setar, town, northwestern West Malaysia (Malaya), on the Kedah River. The town, neatly laid out, is concentrated on the west bank of the river and is the residence of the sultan of Kedah. Alor Setar is the major distribution centre for the north Kedah plain, a region in which paddy rice is

Alor Setar, town, northwestern West Malaysia (Malaya), on the Kedah River. The town, neatly laid out, is concentrated on the west bank of the river and is the residence of the sultan of Kedah. Alor Setar is the major distribution centre for the north Kedah plain, a region in which paddy rice is

Alor Islands, group of two major islands and several lesser islets in East Nusa Tenggara propinsi (province), Indonesia. Part of the Lesser Sunda Islands, they lie between the Flores and Savu seas. The largest island is Alor (900 square miles [2,330 square km]), the two major mountains of which,

Leonor de Almeida de Portugal was a Portuguese poet whose work forms a bridge between the literary periods of Arcádia and Romanticism in Portugal; her style leans toward the Romantic, but she favoured such classical forms as the ode and epithet and made many allusions to mythology and the classics.

Concha Alós was a Spanish novelist and short-story writer, best known for her neorealistic, often existential works deploring social injustice, especially the institutionally sanctioned victimization of women. Alós and her family fled to Murcia during the Spanish Civil War. After her mother’s

shad: Shad of the genus Alosa are rather deep bodied and have a notch in the upper jaw into which the tip of the lower fits. Young shad have small teeth, but the adults are toothless. The flesh of these fishes is considered very good to eat, though bony; the…

shad: The Allis (or Allice) shad (A. alosa) of Europe is about 75 cm (30 inches) long and 3.6 kg (8 pounds) in weight. The twaite shad (A. finta) is smaller.

clupeiform: Migration: Some forms of the Caspian shad (Alosa caspia) remain year-round in the southern region of the Caspian Sea, while others move long distances from winter habitats in southern parts to spawning grounds in the northern region of the Caspian.

herring: …the family Clupeidae, including the skipjack herring (Alosa chrysochloris) and the alewife (A., or Pomolobus, pseudoharengus). Various other, less common species in the family are also called herrings. The term herring is also used for certain fishes in families other than Clupeidae, such as the wolf herring (Chirocentrus dorab).

shad: The twaite shad (A. finta) is smaller.

alewife, (Pomolobus, or Alosa, pseudoharengus), important North American food fish of the herring family, Clupeidae. Deeper-bodied than the true herring, the alewife has a pronounced saw-edge on the underside; it grows to about 30 cm (1 foot). Except for members of a few lake populations, it spends

shad: The American shad (Alosa sapidissima), formerly found only on the Atlantic coast from Florida to Newfoundland, was introduced into the Pacific Ocean in 1871 and now ranges from San Diego to British Columbia. It is a migratory plankton eater and evidently enters deep water in fall.…

Aalst, municipality, Flanders Region, north-central Belgium, on the Dender River, 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Brussels. The town hall (begun in the middle of the 12th century), with its 52-bell carillon, is the oldest in Belgium, and its archives include 12th-century manuscripts. Ravaged by fire

Alotau, port town, southeast tip of mainland Papua New Guinea, southwestern Pacific Ocean. Situated on the northern shore of Milne Bay, the town lies in the forested foothills of an eastward extension of the Owen Stanley Range. Cocoa and vegetables are grown nearby, and coconuts are raised along

Chicago Cubs: Curse of the Billy Goat and years in the wilderness: …an attempted catch by outfielder Moises Alou of a pop foul near the stands (the so-called Bartman incident). The Cubs ended up losing the game—and the series.

howler monkey, (genus Alouatta), any of several tropical American monkeys noted for their roaring cries. Several species of howlers are widely distributed through Central and South America. These are the largest New World monkeys and generally attain lengths of about 40–70 cm (16–28 inches),

howler monkey: The Yucatán black howler monkey (A. pigra), which is native to Guatemala, Belize, and southern Mexico, has been listed as an endangered species since 2003. Since 1978 it has declined by more than 60 percent because of hunting, habitat loss, and disease. Diet, temperament, and other…

howler monkey: The Colombian red howler (A. seniculus) has the largest distribution, and it has been listed as a species of least concern on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, but it is heavily hunted in some areas for its meat. Many other howler monkey species are also…

howler monkey: The Maranhão red-handed howler monkey (A. ululata)—whose range is limited to the Atlantic coastal forests in the states of Maranhão, Piauí, and Ceará in Brazil—has been considered critically endangered since 1996. Hunting and habitat loss have taken a substantial toll on the species, and in 2008…

Jean Anouilh: L’Alouette (1953; The Lark) is the spiritual adventure of Joan of Arc, who, like Antigone and Thérèse Tarde (La Sauvage), is another of Anouilh’s rebels who rejects the world, its order, and its trite happiness. In another historical play, Becket ou l’honneur de Dieu (1959; Becket, or,…

Assia Djebar: …New World) and its sequel, Les Alouettes naïves (1967; “The Naive Larks”), chronicle the growth of Algerian feminism and describe the contributions of Algerian women to the war for independence (1954–62) from France. Djebar collaborated with Walid Garn, then her husband, on the play Rouge l’aube (“Red Is the Dawn”),…

lemon verbena, (Aloysia citriodora or Lippia citriodora), tropical perennial shrub belonging to the family Verbenaceae, originating in Argentina and Chile. Growing more than 3 metres (10 feet) high in warm climates, it is also grown as a potted plant reaching a height of about 25.4 cm (10 inches).

St. Aloysius Gonzaga ; canonized 1726; feast day June 21) was an Italian Jesuit who is venerated as a patron saint of Roman Catholic youth. He is also a patron of students and people with AIDS and their caregivers. Aloysius was the eldest of seven children born to Ferrante Gonzaga, the marchese di

American Labor Party, (ALP), minor U.S. political party that was based in New York state. The ALP was organized in 1936 by the labour leaders Sidney Hillman and David Dubinsky and by liberal Democrats and old-line Socialists, and it had strong ties with labour unions. The party supported President

Australian Labor Party (ALP), one of the major Australian political parties. The first significant political representation of labour was achieved during the 1890s; in 1891, for example, candidates endorsed by the Sydney Trades and Labor Council gained 86 out of 141 seats in the New South Wales

Iran: The Ghaznavids: Alp Tigin founded the Ghaznavid fortunes when he established himself at Ghazna (modern Ghaznī, Afghanistan) in 962. He and Abū al-Ḥasan Sīmjūrī, as Samanid generals, competed with each other for the governorship of Khorasan and control of the Samanid empire by placing on the throne…

Alp-Arslan was the second sultan of the Seljuq Turks (1063–72), who inherited the Seljuq territories of Khorāsān and western Iran and went on to conquer Georgia, Armenia, and much of Asia Minor (won from the Byzantines). Alp-Arslan was the son of Chaghri Beg, the ruler of Khorāsān in Iran, and the

alpaca, (Vicugna pacos), domesticated South American member of the camel family, Camelidae (order Artiodactyla), that derives from the vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) and is closely related to the other lamoids (llama [Lama glama] and guanaco [L. guanicoe]) as well. Alpacas inhabit marshy mountainous

alpaca: Alpaca fibre is sometimes combined with other fibres to make dress and lightweight suit fabrics and is also woven as a pile fabric used both for coating and as a lining for outerwear. Peru is the leading producer of the fleece, most of it being…

Alps: Plant and animal life: These distinctive mountain pastures—called alpages, from which both the names of the mountain system and the vegetational zone are derived—are found above the main and lateral valleys; the spread of invasive weeds, pollution from animal wastes, and erosion from ski-related development limit their carrying capacity. In the southern reaches…

Alp-Arslan was the second sultan of the Seljuq Turks (1063–72), who inherited the Seljuq territories of Khorāsān and western Iran and went on to conquer Georgia, Armenia, and much of Asia Minor (won from the Byzantines). Alp-Arslan was the son of Chaghri Beg, the ruler of Khorāsān in Iran, and the