Earth Day is an annual event that aims to inspire awareness of and appreciation for our environment. There are two different observances of Earth Day, both held annually during spring in the northern hemisphere. The United Nations celebrates Earth Day each year on the vernal (March) equinox; while a global observance in many countries is held each year on 22 April.

Facts about Earth

Age: 4.6 billion years old (Life as we know it, has only existed on the planet for the last 150 million to 200 million years)

Position: 3rd planet from the sun.

Size: 5th largest planet in our solar system.

Diameter: The Earth has an average diameter of 12,742 kilometers. (7,926 miles)

Earth is the only planet in the Solar System to have water in its three states of matter: as a solid (ice), a liquid (sea, rain, etc.) and as a gas (clouds).

The length of time it takes for Earth to orbit the Sun is 365 and a quarter days. To make up this extra quarter which isn't counted at the end of a year, we have an extra day every four years on 29th February.

Earth travels through space at 66,700 miles per hour.

The centre of the Earth, its core, is molten. This means that it is liquid rock which sometimes erupts onto the surface through volcanic eruptions. This core is 7,500°c, hotter than the surface of the Sun!

Earth is the only planet in the Solar System not to be named after a mythical God.

Only 29% of the surface is actually 'earth.' The rest of the planet's surface (71%) is made up of water.

Also on this day ........

Good Friday
Information on the meaning, history, customs and traditions of Good Friday and why the day is called Good Friday.
http://projectbritain.com/easter/goodfriday.htm

British and World Marbles Championship
britishmarbles.org.uk
Marbles, a once popular playground game, is taken to the most competitive level in the British and World Marbles Championship, at The Greyhound, Tinsley Green in Sussex, England

The game of marbles has been played for hundreds of years and some historians say that it might have been started by rolling eggs. In the past, round stones, hazelnuts, round balls of baked clay and even cherry stones have been used.

In some place in England, Good Frday was called Marble Day or Long Rope Day. All through Lent the traditional games marbles and skipping were played. The games were stopped on the stroke of twelve noon on Good Friday.