There were 272 million visits to U.S. national parks during the 2007 calendar year.
Source: National Park Service
Stories by FactCheck.org
FactCheck Mailbag, Week of July 14 – July 20
This week, readers sent us comments on our Web site redesign, health care and bogus e-mail rumors.
In the FactCheck Mailbag we feature some of the e-mail we receive. Readers can send comments to editor@factcheck.org. Letters may be edited for length.
July 21, 2009
The fastest a giraffe has been recorded running is 34.7 miles per hour.
Source: San Diego Zoo
July 20, 2009
On today’s date in 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon. Shortly thereafter, Buzz Aldrin became the second.
Source: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
July 19, 2009
On today’s date in 1814, firearm innovator Samuel Colt was born in Hartford, Conn.
Source: PBS
July 18, 2009
The world population of Caribou is about 5 million.
Source: Alaska Department of Fish and Game
July 17, 2009
A giraffe’s feet are 12 inches wide; its legs are 6 feet tall.
Source: San Diego Zoo
July 16, 2009
There were 66 nuclear power plants in the United States in 2007.
Source: Energy Information Administration
July 15, 2009
The word "smallpox" comes from the Latin word for "spotted" and is a reference to the bumps that appear on the body of a person who has the disease.
Source: Food and Drug Administration
FactCheck Mailbag, Week of July 7 – July 13
This week, readers sent us comments on our recent Ask FactCheck about the U.K.’s and Canada’s health care systems, along with requests to leave the comedy to Jon Stewart and to spend less time on chain e-mails, more on facts about daily news events.