country in 1991. Ljubljana became
its capital.
#More to explore
Slovenia • Yugoslavia
Llama
The llama is a mammal that belongs to
the camel family. Unlike camels, llamas
do not have humps. But like most camels,
llamas are domesticated, or tamed to
help people. Other close relatives of the
llama are the alpaca, the guanaco, and
the vicuna. The llama’s scientific name
is Lama glama.
Most llamas are found in South
America. American Indians in Bolivia,
Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and Argentina
raise herds of the animals.
The llama has a long neck and a small
head. It has a short tail and long legs
that end in hooves. It is about 4 feet
(1.2 meters) tall at the shoulder. Its hairy
coat may be white, black, brown, or a
mixture of these colors.
The llama eats many types of grass and
other plants. It is a hardy animal that
can survive for a long time without
water. For these reasons, people often
use llamas to carry loads in the Andes
Mountains. People also use llama hair to
make clothing, rugs, and rope.
#More to explore
Camel • Mammal
Lobster
#see Crustacean.
Locust
Locusts are a type of grasshopper. They
are found worldwide. They sometimes
gather and fly together in huge groups
called swarms.
Llamas are usually gentle animals, but when
they get mad they may spit.
A 250-pound
(113-
kilogram)
llama can
carry a load
of 100 to 130
pounds (45 to
60 kilograms).
172 Llama BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Locusts are about 2 inches (5 centimeters)
long. They have short antennas.
Their strong, long hind legs make them
good jumpers. Locusts make noise by
rubbing their hind legs on their wings.
Locusts usually live a rather quiet life
alone. But sometimes they reproduce so
quickly that they become crowded
together. This crowding causes some
locusts to act differently. These locusts
might form a swarm. They can fly for
days or weeks over thousands of miles.
When they finally stop, each locust can
eat more than its body weight in food.
This can destroy farm fields very quickly.
Cicadas are often called locusts, but they
are a different family of insects. The
best-known type is called the 17-year
cicada. It lives underground for 17 years
before coming out. After a few weeks of
activity, it dies.
#More to explore
Grasshopper
Loire River
The longest river in France is the Loire.
It is 634 miles (1,020 kilometers) long.
The Loire Valley is a popular tourist area
known for its chateaus (French for
“castles”). The scenic valley is sometimes
called the Garden of France.
The Loire River begins about 4,500 feet
(1,370 meters) above sea level in the
Cevennes mountain range of southern
France. It is fed by melting snow from
The Loire River flows past a chateau, or castle, in France.
Swarms, or large groups, of locusts can fly
for thousands of miles.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Loire River 173
mountain peaks. The Loire flows north
through central France before swinging
in a great curve past the city ofOrleans
and turning westward. It empties into the
AtlanticOcean near the city of Nantes.
The Loire Valley is a main agricultural
region of France. Vegetables and fruit,
especially grapes used in making wine,
grow well there. The valley’s higher
ground produces rye and wheat. Dairy
farming and livestock grazing are common
in the area near Orleans.
..More to explore
France
Lome
Population
(2005
estimate), city,
921,000; urban
area,
1,337,000
Lome is the capital of Togo, a small
country in western Africa. The city is
located on the Gulf of Guinea, which is
part of the Atlantic Ocean. Lome is
Togo’s largest city. It is also the country’s
center of education, business, and transportation.
Shipping is important to Lome’s
economy. The city is Togo’s main port.
Ships load up there with products for
sale to other countries. Some of the
main products shipped are cocoa, coffee,
cotton, and minerals. Lome also has an
oil refinery.
Lome began as a small village called
Alome. Local people settled the village
in the 1700s. In 1884 Germany took
over the area. The Germans renamed the
village Lome. They made Lome the
capital of their colony of Togoland in
1897. In the early 1900s the area came
under the rule of France. In 1960
French Togoland became the independent
country of Togo, with Lome as its
capital.
..More to explore
Togo
Togo’s legislature, the National Assembly,
meets in a large building in Lome.
174 Lome BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
London
Population
(2006
estimate),
7,512,000
London is the capital of the United
Kingdom, a country in western Europe.
It is also the capital of England, which is
part of the United Kingdom. London
lies on the Thames River. It is the largest
city in the country. It has long been a
major center of culture, business, and
banking.
Places of Interest
London is an ancient city, and it has
many historical sites. Since 1066
England’s kings and queens have been
crowned in a church called Westminster
Abbey. The queen of England lives in
Buckingham Palace. The Parliament
meets in the Palace of Westminster. Its
famous clock tower contains a huge bell
called Big Ben.
London is known for its many museums.
The British Museum is the world’s
oldest public museum. It is full of
