A closer look at key historic events that took place on August 17:
In 2008, Michael Phelps Wins a Record 8 Medals in the Games
During the 2008 Beijing Olympics, American swimmer Michael Phelps made history by winning eight gold medals, after helping his team win the 4 × 100-metre medley relay. He broke Mark Spitz’s 1972 record of most medals ever won by an athlete in a Single Games, solidifying Phelps’ status as one of the greatest Olympians of all time.
In 1999, the Izmit Earthquake Devastates Turkey
A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 struck the Izmit region of Turkey on August 17, causing widespread devastation. The earthquake resulted in the deaths of more than 17,000 people, left hundreds of thousands homeless, and caused extensive damage to infrastructure. It remains one of the deadliest natural disasters in Turkey’s history.
In 1978, the First Transatlantic Balloon Flight Is Completed
Ben Abruzzo, Maxie Anderson, and Larry Newman completed the first successful transatlantic balloon flight in the Double Eagle II. They departed from Maine, USA, and landed in Miserey, France, after a 137-hour journey, covering over 3,000 miles. This historic flight marked a significant achievement in aviation.
In 1970, Venera 7 Is Launched by the Soviet Union
The Soviet Union launched Venera 7, a spacecraft designed to land on Venus and transmit data back to Earth. It became the first spacecraft to successfully transmit data from the surface of another planet, providing valuable information about the conditions on Venus, including its extreme temperatures and atmospheric pressure.
In 1960, Gabon Gains Independence
Gabon declared its independence from France, becoming a sovereign nation on August 17. The transition to independence was relatively peaceful, and Léon M’ba became the first president of the newly independent country. Gabon’s independence was part of a larger wave of decolonization across Africa during that period.
In 1945, Animal Farm Is Published
George Orwell’s novella Animal Farm was published in the United Kingdom. The satirical allegory critiques totalitarian regimes, particularly Stalinism in the Soviet Union, through the tale of a group of farm animals who overthrow their human farmer. The book became a significant work of 20th-century literature and remains widely studied.
In 1807, the First Serviceable Steamboat Goes on Its Maiden Voyage
Robert Fulton’s steamboat, the Clermont, made its maiden voyage on the Hudson River from New York City to Albany. This marked the first successful use of a steamboat for commercial purposes, revolutionizing transportation by significantly reducing travel time and costs for passengers and goods.
