The Soaring Vulture and Other Amazing Facts

The Soaring Vulture and Other Fascinating Facts
Meet the highest-flying bird of prey, learn what a peninsula is, and discover the Israeli invention that changed farming.

Which Bird of Prey Flies the Highest?
The Rüppell's vulture is known as the bird of prey that flies the highest. Most of the time, it soars around 6 kilometers (about 19,685 feet) above the ground. But in one rare case, a Rüppell’s vulture even collided with a commercial airplane flying at 11.3 kilometers (about 37,073 feet) in the air.

This bird is mostly found in Central Africa and is named after Eduard Rüppell, a German zoologist who discovered it in the 1800s.

What Is a Peninsula?
A peninsula is almost like an island. It’s a piece of land that sticks out into the water and is surrounded by water on most sides, but still connected to the mainland. The biggest peninsula in the world is the Arabian Peninsula. Others include the Iberian Peninsula, the Gallipoli Peninsula, and the Sinai Peninsula.

Who Developed Drip Irrigation Technology?
Drip irrigation is one of Israel’s great contributions to the world. It helps water plants even in dry, desert places by dripping water exactly where it’s needed, without wasting any. This smart method was invented by Simcha Blass, an Israeli water engineer. He also started a company called Tahal, which builds water systems in Israel and many other countries.