5-five-5

Sunday, September 6, 2026

Flag of Spain

The flag of Spain (nicknamed rojigualda) consists of three horizontal stripes: red, yellow, and red.

The yellow stripe is twice as wide as each red stripe.

The usual ratio is 2:3.

On the official version, the Spanish coat of arms is located on the yellow stripe, slightly towards the hoist side (left).

That coat of arms depicts the historical kingdoms of Castile, León, Aragon, Navarre, and Granada, plus the Bourbon shield, the Pillars of Hercules with the motto Plus Ultra and the royal crown.

The red-yellow color combination has existed since 1785 (first as a naval flag under Charles III).

It has been the national flag since 1843.

The current version with the coat of arms is enshrined in the Constitution of 1978 and legislation from 1981.

There is also a civil variant without the coat of arms.

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Basilica of St. Mary of Licheń

The Basilica of St. Mary of Licheń (Bazylika Najświętszej Maryi Panny Licheńskiej) is located in the village of Licheń Stary, about 10–15 km from Konin in Greater Poland.

It is the largest church in Poland and one of the largest in the world.

It was built between 1994 and 2004 according to a design by architect Barbara Bielecka, primarily with donations from pilgrims.

It was consecrated in 2004; in 2005, Pope John Paul II elevated it to a basilica minor.

The Pope had blessed the still unfinished church in 1999.

The basilica is approximately 139 meters long and 77 meters wide, with a tower of 141.5 meters.

There are 33 steps in front of the entrance (representing the years of Jesus' life).

Inside stands the miraculous icon of Our Lady of Sorrows, Queen of Poland, with the Polish white eagle on her mantle.

The veneration dates back to 1813.

The severely wounded soldier Tomasz Kłossowski is said to have seen Mary during the Battle of Leipzig. Other apparitions and healings followed later.

Approximately 1 to 1.5 million pilgrims visit annually; it is the second most important Marian shrine in Poland, after Częstochowa.

The shrine is managed by the Marianas.

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Saturday, September 5, 2026

Flag of Sri Lanka

The flag of Sri Lanka (also called the Lion Flag or Sinha Flag) has a yellow border.

On the left are two vertical stripes: green (for the Muslim community) and orange (for the Tamils).

On the right is a maroon field with a golden lion holding a sword, and in the four corners, golden leaves of the Bodhi tree.

The lion symbolizes the Sinhalese (the majority) and bravery; the sword represents the sovereignty of the country.

The Bodhi tree leaves represent the four main Buddhist virtues (kindness, compassion, joy, and equilibrium) and the influence of Buddhism.

The yellow border represents the unity of all population groups.

The current form dates back to 1972 (when Ceylon became Sri Lanka) and was officially adopted in 1978.

The ratio is 1:2.

The lion has appeared on flags of Sri Lankan kingdoms for centuries.

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Caracas

Caracas is the capital and largest city of Venezuela.

The official name is Santiago de León de Caracas.

The city was founded on July 25, 1567, by the Spaniard Diego de Losada.

It is situated in a valley at an altitude of approximately 900 meters, close to the Caribbean Sea but separated from it by the El Ávila mountain range.

The metropolitan area has more than 5 million inhabitants.

Caracas is the political, economic, cultural, and industrial heart of the country.

The city is the birthplace of Simón Bolívar (1783), the liberator of several South American countries. Famous places include Plaza Bolívar with the cathedral, modern skyscrapers such as the Parque Central towers, and El Ávila National Park.

Due to its altitude, Caracas enjoys a pleasant climate, often referred to as "eternal spring."

The city has been struggling for years with major problems such as crime, traffic jams, inequality, and the consequences of the Venezuelan economic crisis.

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Friday, September 4, 2026

Flag of Suriname

The flag of Suriname was officially adopted on November 25, 1975, the day of independence from the Netherlands.

It consists of five horizontal stripes: green (top and bottom, double width), white, red (four times as wide), and white again.

In the center of the red stripe is a large yellow five-pointed star.

The ratio is 2:3.

The design is by Jack Pinas.

Meaning of the colors:

Green: fertility of the land and hope.

White: freedom, peace, and justice.

Red: progress and the struggle for a better life.

Yellow star: unity of all population groups and a golden future.

The flag replaced the earlier colonial flag (1959–1975), which had five colored stars for the different ethnic groups.

The current flag, on the other hand, emphasizes national unity.

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Mount Lofty Ranges

The Mount Lofty Ranges is a hill and mountain range in South Australia, directly east of Adelaide.

It stretches for over 300 km from Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula in the south to beyond Peterborough in the north.

The part near Adelaide is called the Adelaide Hills and forms the eastern edge of the Adelaide Plains.

The highest point of the southern part is Mount Lofty (710 m), overlooking the city.

The highest point of the entire range is Mount Bryan (936 m) in the north.

The mountain range has a Mediterranean climate, supplies water to Adelaide, and is known for vineyards, agriculture, hiking trails (such as the Heysen Trail), and nature parks.

It was named by Matthew Flinders in 1802.

Traditionally, it is the land of the Kaurna and Peramangk.

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