81st OSCAR AWARDS

The 81st Academy Awards ceremony was held by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to honor its selection of the best films of 2008 on February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States. The ceremony was televised in the United States on ABC. Australian performer Hugh Jackman hosted the ceremony for the first time.[4] Oscar-nominated Laurence Mark served as the event's producer, while Oscar-winning writer and director Bill Condon served as executive producer.[5] The Academy hoped to revitalize the ceremony through an entirely new production team sworn to secrecy, and the telecast received mixed reviews from critics.

The nominees were announced on January 22, 2009,[6] by AMPAS president Sid Ganis and Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in the Academy's Beverly Hills headquarters.[7] The Curious Case of Benjamin Button led the nominations with a total of thirteen while Slumdog Millionaire received ten. The Dark Knight and Milk received eight nominations, and Doubt, The Reader, and Frost/Nixon each received five. WALL-E, the winner for Best Animated Feature, received six nominations, tying it with Beauty and the Beast for the most nominated animated film in Oscar history.[8] In an Academy Award rarity, all five of the Best Picture nominees were also the five Best Director nominees. This has happened only four other times in Oscar history: 1957, 1964, 1981, and 2005.

Slumdog Millionaire won eight awards, the most of the evening, including Best Picture and Best Director (Danny Boyle). The Curious Case of Benjamin Button came in second with three awards, followed by both The Dark Knight and Milk with two awards. Jerry Lewis was honored with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.[9] For the first time since the 60th Academy Awards (1987), no Honorary Award was presented.

On February 7, 2009, in a ceremony at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, the Academy Awards for Technical Achievement were presented by host Jessica Biel.[10]
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Winners
o 1.1 Major awards
o 1.2 Other awards
o 1.3 Honorary awards
o 1.4 Multiple nominations and awards
* 2 Schedule
* 3 In Memoriam
* 4 Presenters and performers
* 5 Advertisements
* 6 Voting trends and summary
o 6.1 Winners
* 7 Controversies
o 7.1 Disputes over Ledger's statuette
o 7.2 Faked winners leak
o 7.3 Other controversies
* 8 News and recap
o 8.1 Notable events
o 8.2 Memorable quotes
o 8.3 Special segments
+ 8.3.1 Animation
+ 8.3.2 Romance
+ 8.3.3 Comedy
+ 8.3.4 Documentary
+ 8.3.5 Action
o 8.4 Critical reviews
o 8.5 Reception
o 8.6 Criticism
o 8.7 Film previews
* 9 International broadcasters
* 10 See also
* 11 References
* 12 External links

[edit] Winners

Winners are listed first and highlighted in boldface.[11][12]
[edit] Major awards
Best Picture Best Director

* Slumdog Millionaire
o The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
o Frost/Nixon
o Milk
o The Reader



* Danny Boyle – Slumdog Millionaire
o Stephen Daldry – The Reader
o David Fincher – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
o Ron Howard – Frost/Nixon
o Gus Van Sant – Milk

Best Actor Best Actress

* Sean Penn – Milk as Harvey Milk
o Richard Jenkins – The Visitor as Walter Vale
o Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon as Richard Nixon
o Brad Pitt – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button as Benjamin Button
o Mickey Rourke – The Wrestler as Randy "The Ram" Robinson



* Kate Winslet – The Reader as Hanna Schmitz
o Anne Hathaway – Rachel Getting Married as Kym
o Angelina Jolie – Changeling as Christine Collins
o Melissa Leo – Frozen River as Ray Eddy
o Meryl Streep – Doubt as Sister Aloysius

Best Supporting Actor Best Supporting Actress

* Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight as The Joker
o Josh Brolin – Milk as Dan White
o Robert Downey, Jr. – Tropic Thunder as Kirk Lazarus
o Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt as Father Brendan
o Michael Shannon – Revolutionary Road as John Givings



* Penélope Cruz – Vicky Cristina Barcelona as Maria Elena
o Amy Adams – Doubt as Sister James
o Viola Davis – Doubt as Mrs. Miller
o Taraji P. Henson – The Curious Case of Benjamin Button as Queenie
o Marisa Tomei – The Wrestler as Cassidy

Best Original Screenplay Best Adapted Screenplay

* Milk – Dustin Lance Black
o Frozen River – Courtney Hunt
o Happy-Go-Lucky – Mike Leigh
o In Bruges – Martin McDonagh
o WALL-E – Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter



* Slumdog Millionaire – Simon Beaufoy from Q & A by Vikas Swarup
o The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Eric Roth and Robin Swicord from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by F. Scott Fitzgerald
o Doubt – John Patrick Shanley from Doubt by John Patrick Shanley
o Frost/Nixon – Peter Morgan from Frost/Nixon by Peter Morgan
o The Reader – David Hare from Der Vorleser by Bernhard Schlink

Best Animated Feature Best Foreign Language Film

* WALL-E – Andrew Stanton
o Bolt – Chris Williams and Byron Howard
o Kung Fu Panda – Mark Osborne and John Wayne Stevenson



* Departures (Japan) in Japanese – Yojiro Takita
o Waltz with Bashir (Israel) in Hebrew – Ari Folman
o Revanche (Austria) in German – Götz Spielmann
o The Class (France) in French – Laurent Cantet
o The Baader Meinhof Complex (Germany) in German – Uli Edel

[edit] Other awards
Best Documentary Feature Best Documentary Short

* Man on Wire
o The Betrayal - Nerakhoon
o Encounters at the End of the World
o The Garden
o Trouble the Water



* Smile Pinki – Megan Mylan
o The Conscience of Nhem En – Steven Okazaki
o The Final Inch
o The Witness - From the Balcony of Room 306

Best Live Action Short Best Animated Short

* Toyland (Spielzeugland)
o On the Line (Auf der Strecke)
o Manon On the Asphalt
o New Boy (Ireland)
o The Pig (Grisen)



* La Maison En Petits Cubes – Kunio Kato
o Lavatory - Lovestory – Konstantin Bronzit
o Oktapodi – Emud Mokhberi and Thierry Marchand
o Presto – Doug Sweetland
o This Way Up – Alan Smith and Adam Foulkes

Best Original Score Best Original Song

* Slumdog Millionaire – A. R. Rahman
o The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Alexandre Desplat
o Defiance (2008 film) – James Newton Howard
o Milk – Danny Elfman
o WALL-E – Thomas Newman



* "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire – A. R. Rahman (music), Gulzar (lyrics)
o "Down to Earth" from WALL-E – Peter Gabriel and
Thomas Newman (music), Peter Gabriel (lyrics)
o "O Saya" from Slumdog Millionaire – A. R. Rahman and M.I.A.

Best Sound Editing Best Sound Mixing

* The Dark Knight – Richard King
o Iron Man – Frank Eulner, Christopher Boyes
o Slumdog Millionaire – Tom Sayers
o WALL-E – Ben Burtt and Matthew Wood
o Wanted – Wylie Stateman



* Slumdog Millionaire – Resul Pookutty, Richard Pryke, Ian Tapp
o The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – David Parker, Michael Semanick, Ren Klyce, Mark Weingarten
o The Dark Knight – Lora Hirschberg, Gary Rizzo, Ed Novick
o WALL-E – Tom Myers, Michael Semanick, Ben Burtt
o Wanted – Chris Jenkins, Frank A. Montaño, Petr Forejt

Best Art Direction Best Cinematography

* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Donald Graham Burt, Victor J. Zolfo
o Changeling – James J. Murakami, Gary Fettis
o The Dark Knight – Nathan Crowley, Peter Lando
o The Duchess – Michael Carlin, Rebecca Alleway
o Revolutionary Road – Kristi Zea, Debra Schutt



* Slumdog Millionaire – Anthony Dod Mantle
o Changeling – Tom Stern
o The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Claudio Miranda
o The Dark Knight – Wally Pfister
o The Reader – Chris Menges, Roger Deakins

Best Makeup Best Costume Design

* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Greg Cannom
o The Dark Knight – John Caglione, Jr. and Conor O'Sullivan
o Hellboy II: The Golden Army – Mike Elizalde, Thom Floutz



* The Duchess – Michael O'Connor
o Australia – Catherine Martin
o The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Jacqueline West
o Milk – Danny Glicker
o Revolutionary Road – Albert Wolsky

Best Film Editing Best Visual Effects

* Slumdog Millionaire – Chris Dickens
o The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Kirk Baxter, Angus Wall
o The Dark Knight – Lee Smith
o Frost/Nixon – Mike Hill, Daniel P. Hanley
o Milk – Elliot Graham



* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Eric Barba, Steve Preeg, Burt Dalton, Craig Barron
o The Dark Knight – Nick Davis, Chris Corbould, Tim Webber, Paul Franklin
o Iron Man – John Nelson, Ben Snow, Dan Sudick, Shane Mahan

[edit] Honorary awards

* Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award - Jerry Lewis
* Gordon E. Sawyer Award - Edwin Catmull

[edit] Multiple nominations and awards

The following 15 films received multiple nominations.

* 13 nominations: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* 10 nominations: Slumdog Millionaire
* 8 nominations: The Dark Knight and Milk
* 6 nominations: WALL-E
* 5 nominations: Doubt, Frost/Nixon, and The Reader
* 3 nominations: Changeling and Revolutionary Road
* 2 nominations: The Duchess, Frozen River, Iron Man, Wanted, and The Wrestler



The following three films received multiple awards.

* 8 awards: Slumdog Millionaire
* 3 awards: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* 2 awards: The Dark Knight and Milk

[edit] Schedule
Date Event
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 Official Screen Credits forms due
Friday, December 26, 2008 Nomination ballots mailed
Monday, January 12, 2009 Nomination polls closed at 5:00 p.m. PST (01:00, Jan. 13 UTC) (8:00 p.m. EST)
Thursday, January 22, 2009 Nominations announced at 5:38 a.m. PST (13:38 UTC) (8:38 a.m. EST) at Samuel Goldwyn Theater
Wednesday, January 28, 2009 Final ballots mailed
Monday, February 2, 2009 Nominees Luncheon
Saturday, February 7, 2009 Scientific and Technical Achievement Awards presentation
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 Final polls closed at 5:00 p.m. PST (01:00, Feb. 18 UTC) (8:00 p.m. EST)
Sunday, February 22, 2009 81st Annual Academy Awards presentation
[edit] In Memoriam
Main article: List of 81st Academy Awards In Memoriam tribute honorees

Queen Latifah performed "I'll Be Seeing You" during the annual In Memoriam tribute to honor individuals who died since the previous year's Academy Award ceremonies. Listed below are those who were honored during the tribute.[13]

* Cyd Charisse
* Bernie Mac
* Bud Stone (executive)
* Ollie Johnston (animator)
* Van Johnson
* J. Paul Huntsman (sound editor)
* Michael Crichton (writer & director)
* Nina Foch
* Pat Hingle
* Harold Pinter (writer)
* Charles H. Joffe (producer)
* Kon Ichikawa (director)
* Charles H. Schneer (producer)
* Abby Mann (screenwriter)
* Roy Scheider
* David Watkin (director of photography)
* Robert Mulligan (director)
* Evelyn Keyes
* Richard Widmark



* Claude Berri (director)
* Maila Nurmi
* Isaac Hayes
* Leonard Rosenman (composer)
* Ricardo Montalbán
* Manny Farber (film critic)
* Robert DoQui
* Jules Dassin (director)
* Paul Scofield
* John Michael Hayes (screenwriter)
* Warren Cowan (publicist)
* Joseph H. Caracciolo (producer)
* Stan Winston (special effects)
* Ned Tanen (executive producer)
* James Whitmore
* Charlton Heston
* Anthony Minghella (director & producer)
* Sydney Pollack
* Paul Newman

Note: Several notable individuals including Sam Bottoms, George Carlin, Don S. Davis, Mel Ferrer, Beverly Garland, Estelle Getty, Eartha Kitt, Harvey Korman, Jerry Reed, Don LaFontaine, John Phillip Law, Patrick McGoohan, Anita Page, and Robert Prosky were not included in the "In Memoriam" tribute, though they died within the last year. Heath Ledger died shortly before the year before, and a tribute to him was included then.
[edit] Presenters and performers

The following individuals presented awards or performed musical numbers.[14]
[show]
Presenters (in order of appearance)
Name(s) Role Activity
Gina Tuttle Announcer Co-Announcer for the 81st Annual Academy Awards
Whoopi Goldberg
Goldie Hawn
Anjelica Huston
Eva Marie Saint
Tilda Swinton Presenters Best Supporting Actress
Tina Fey
Steve Martin Presenters Best Original Screenplay
Best Adapted Screenplay
Jennifer Aniston
Jack Black Presenters Animation 2008 Montage
Best Animated Short Film
Best Animated Feature
Daniel Craig
Sarah Jessica Parker Presenters Best Art Direction
Best Costume Design
Best Makeup
Robert Pattinson
Amanda Seyfried Presenters Romance 2008 Montage
Natalie Portman
Ben Stiller Presenters Best Cinematography
Alan Arkin
Cuba Gooding, Jr.
Joel Grey
Kevin Kline
Christopher Walken Presenters Best Supporting Actor
Bill Maher Presenter Best Documentary Feature
Best Documentary Short Subject
Jessica Biel Host of the Academy Awards for Technical Achievement and Presenter Academy Awards for Technical Achievement (awarded on February 7, 2009)
Gordon E. Sawyer Award
James Franco
Seth Rogen
Janusz Kamiński Presenters Best Live Action Short Film
Will Smith Presenter Best Sound Editing
Best Sound Mixing
Best Film Editing
Best Visual Effects
Eddie Murphy Presenter Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
Alicia Keys
Zac Efron Presenters Best Original Score
Best Original Song
Introduced A. R. Rahman, John Legend, and Mahalaxmi Iyer performing the Best Original Song nominees
Freida Pinto
Liam Neeson Presenters Best Foreign Language Film
Queen Latifah Presenter and Performer In Memoriam tribute
Reese Witherspoon Presenter Best Director
Halle Berry
Marion Cotillard
Nicole Kidman
Sophia Loren
Shirley MacLaine Presenters Best Actress
Adrien Brody
Michael Douglas
Robert De Niro
Anthony Hopkins
Ben Kingsley Presenters Best Actor
Steven Spielberg Presenter Best Picture Segment
Best Picture
[show]
Performers (in order of appearance)
Name(s) Role Performed
Michael Giacchino Musical Arranger Orchestral
James Marvel Last-minute addition Violinist Orchestral
Hugh Jackman
Anne Hathaway Performers Opening Number
Hugh Jackman
Beyoncé Knowles
Zac Efron
Vanessa Hudgens
Amanda Seyfried
Dominic Cooper
Spirit of Troy[15] Performed a medley created by Baz Luhrmann of songs from movie musicals

"Top Hat, White Tie and Tails" from Top Hat
"Singin' in the Rain" from Singin' in the Rain
"Big Spender" from Sweet Charity
"Maria" from West Side Story
"You're The One That I Want" from Grease
"Maria" from The Sound of Music
"All That Jazz" from Chicago
"Lady Marmalade" from Moulin Rouge!
"One Night Only" from Dreamgirls
"You Can't Stop The Beat" from Hairspray
"I Don't Know How To Love Him" from Jesus Christ Superstar
"At Last" from Orchestra Wives
"Last Chance" from High School Musical 3: Senior Year
"Mamma Mia" from Mamma Mia!
"Don't Cry For Me Argentina" from Evita
"Over the Rainbow" from The Wizard of Oz
"Somewhere" from West Side Story
[16]
A. R. Rahman Performer "O Saya" from Slumdog Millionaire
John Legend
Soweto Gospel Choir Performers "Down to Earth" from WALL-E
A. R. Rahman
Mahalaxmi Iyer Performers "Jai Ho" from Slumdog Millionaire[17]
Queen Latifah Presenter and Performer "I'll Be Seeing You" during the annual "In Memoriam" tribute
[edit] Advertisements

ABC aired a number of themed commercial advertisements which were shown during the ceremony. The Academy's ban that had previously disallowed film commercials to be aired during the telecast was lifted in mid-2007, thus allowing film companies to promote their upcoming films for the first time during the broadcast.[18] Thirty-second commercials cost between $1.4 million and $1.7 million, compared to up to $1.8 million during last year's show.[19] The decrease was due to the recent global economic crisis.[19]
[edit] Voting trends and summary
This section may contain original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding references. Statements consisting only of original research may be removed. More details may be available on the talk page. (March 2009)

Continuing a trend in recent years, the field of major nominees did not include a bona fide blockbuster at the U.S. box office, with all but one of the nominees for Best Picture performing even more poorly than those of the previous year. In fact, The Dark Knight earned more money than all the Best Picture nominees combined in its first four days of release.[citation needed] However, the top money earner in this year's field of Best Picture nominees performed slightly better in box office receipts compared to last year's highest grossing Best Film nominee, Juno. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was the highest earner among the Best Picture nominees with $104.4 million in domestic box office receipts (compared to Juno which grossed $87 million prior to its nomination).[citation needed] The film was followed by Slumdog Millionaire which earned $44.7 million, Milk with $20.7 million, and Frost/Nixon with $8.8 million.[citation needed] The Reader rounded out the Best Picture nominees with $8.3 million.[citation needed]

Among the rest of the top 50 releases of 2008 in U.S. box office before the nominations, 32 nominations went to eight films on the list. Only The Dark Knight (1st), Kung Fu Panda (3rd), WALL-E (9th), Bolt (19th), Tropic Thunder (20th), and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (21st) received nominations for best picture, directing, acting, or screenwriting. The other top-50 box office hits that earned nominations were Iron Man (2nd), and Wanted (16th).[citation needed] The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Dark Knight, Iron Man, WALL-E, and Wanted each received more than two nominations.

For the first time since 2004, two films received more than eight nominations: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button received thirteen and Slumdog Millionaire received ten.

For the fourth consecutive year, four of the Best Picture nominees were rated R (under 17 requires an accompanying adult). Of the 86 nominations awarded to non-documentary feature films (apart from the Foreign Film category), a majority of 46 went to R-rated films (down from 50 one year earlier), 35 to films rated PG-13 (up from 29 the previous year), two to PG-rated films (down from 4 the year before) and eight to a G-rated film (up from five from last year).[citation needed] Duplicating the rating-related division among the nominations for the past three years, R-rated films captured 27 of the 40 nominations for Best Picture, directing, screenwriting and acting; while non-R-rated films received 25 of the 43 nominations in the remaining categories, primarily those in "below the line" areas.[citation needed]
[edit] Winners
81st Academy Awards Presentations, Hollywood and Highland, Hollywood

For the tenth consecutive year, at least one lead acting award went to an actor playing a real-life person (Sean Penn for his portrayal of Harvey Milk). Penn's win was viewed as something of a surprise, Mickey Rourke having been the favourite to win. Penn received a standing ovation for his win.[20][21] This is also the eleventh year in a row that any of the acting awards went to the portrayal of a real person. For the second year running, the Best Actor trophy has been awarded to a previous Best Actor recipient. Also for second year running, a Spaniard (Penélope Cruz) has won in a supporting category (previously Javier Bardem), and for the fourth year a British actress (Kate Winslet) has won an award (previously Tilda Swinton, Helen Mirren, and Rachel Weisz consecutively).[22] This year also marks the second time Stephen Daldry has directed an actress into a Best Actress win (the other was Nicole Kidman, who also was a presenter), and the third time an actress he directed was nominated (Julie Walters). It was also the fourth time Woody Allen directed an actress into a Best Supporting Actress win (the others were Dianne Wiest, twice, and Mira Sorvino). This is also the first time the Award for Best Supporting Actor has been awarded posthumously, to Heath Ledger, and only the second posthumous acting award in Academy history. (The first was to Peter Finch for Best Actor in Network in 1976.)
[edit] Controversies
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The examples and perspective in this list of controversies may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page.

Like the previous year's awards, last year's Oscars had also faced multiple controversies.
[edit] Disputes over Ledger's statuette

Because Best Supporting Actor winner Heath Ledger died in January 2008 making his nomination one of posthumous recognition, the Academy had disputes over who should accept the award and who should gain ownership of it should Ledger win. Following talks with Ledger's family in Australia, the Academy ruled that his previous domestic partner Michelle Williams could not accept the award as the two were not married. They then decided that Ledger and Williams' three-year-old daughter, Matilda Rose Ledger, would own the award. However, due to Matilda's age, she will not gain full ownership of the statuette until her eighteenth birthday in 2023.[23] Until that time, Michelle Williams will hold the statuette in trust for Matilda.[24] Ledger's family attended the ceremony and his parents accepted the award on stage on his behalf.[25]
[edit] Faked winners leak

Shortly after the voting polls were closed for the awards, a purported list of winners was posted online.[26] The list, which bore a purported signature from Academy president Sid Ganis, stated that Mickey Rourke won for Best Actor, Kate Winslet won for Best Actress, Amy Adams won for Best Supporting Actress, Heath Ledger won for Best Supporting Actor, and Slumdog Millionaire won for Best Picture. It was later confirmed as a fake list. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences spokeswoman Leslie Unger later revealed that the list was "a complete fraud",[27] and that PricewaterhouseCoopers had just begun to count the ballots. The list was proved false as the first award of the night, Best Supporting Actress, was awarded to Penélope Cruz, not Amy Adams, the purported winner in the falsified list. (The last time names of award winners were leaked prior to the ceremony was at the 12th Academy Awards for 1939, before the Academy adopted the use of sealed envelopes for voting results.)
[edit] Other controversies

Prior to the nominations announcement, it was suggested that the 2008-09 Screen Actors Guild labor dispute could affect the awards by discouraging actors' attendance at the ceremony, However, as talks to end the dispute between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) were ongoing,[28][29] the expected strike did not affect the awards ceremony,[30] although a resolution between SAG and AMPTP has not yet been reached.[31][32]

Peter Gabriel, who was originally scheduled to perform his nominated song "Down to Earth" from WALL-E during the live broadcast, declined to perform after learning that he would be allowed to sing only 65 seconds of the song during the ceremony's Best Original Song nominee performances.[33] Gabriel still attended the ceremony. John Legend performed the song in place of Gabriel, backed by the Soweto Gospel Choir.
[edit] News and recap

Due to the declining viewership of the recent Academy Awards ceremonies, the Academy had contracted an entirely new production team in an attempt to revive the award ceremony and revamp its general script and theming. Marketing for the ceremony had even gone so far as to advertise it as "The Biggest Movie Event of the Year". Producers Bill Condon and Laurence Mark announced their plans to rewrite the script, and they made attempts to keep the entire premise of the ceremony a secret, even from the presenters and performers.[34] Film director Judd Apatow aired a new short film during the ceremony which starred Seth Rogen and James Franco reprising their roles from Pineapple Express. Previously, Apatow directed a short film aired during the 74th Academy Awards which starred Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller. Chris Harrison hosted "Road to the Oscars",[35] a weekly behind-the-scenes video blog on the Academy's website, oscar.com.[36] David Rockwell designed a new set and stage design for the ceremony.[37] The red carpet was directed by Robert Osborne.[38] Host Jackman expressed his anticipation of the awards in the few days preceding, and had commented that he was thrilled with preparations for the ceremony.[39] The recent global economic crisis caused a decrease in spending on the telecast from last year's awards, as well as a decrease in the cost to air advertisements during commercial breaks. The recession was mentioned by Jackman who said

this year, everything is being downsized because of the recession. Next year I'll be starring in a movie called New Zealand, and due to cutbacks, the academy said they didn't have enough money for an opening number; I'm gonna do one anyway

The presentation of the four acting awards was styled differently than in previous years (see Notable events section). among other changes, some celebrities presented multiple awards rather than only one or two as in previous years, and 2008 film genre segments replaced usual clip collections.

The telecast received a 6 second tape delay in some areas on the east coast during a section in which Host Jackman thanked Academy president Sid Ganis, and introduced Reese Witherspoon, who would present the Oscar for Directing. This was due to ABC, who panned out from the screen during the delay to present powerball numbers. This delay also occurred at the beginning of the The Oscars Red Carpet 2009. There was also a 30-second delay at the start of the telecast, though not a tape delay, but a direct delay which affected the ceremony. Errors also occurred directly following Jackman's opening monologue. After he introduced the Best Supporting Actress category, USA Today reported that a stage hand could be heard yelling to director Roger Goodman for "cutting him off!". Next, Goodman could be heard yelling at the stage hands to open the curtain which covered a projection screen in the theater. The curtain had not been opened when a montage of past Supporting Actress winners began, but was opened 2–3 seconds following. The telecast received a mixed reception from media personalities and critics, yet a more positive response from viewers at home.
[edit] Notable events

* During his opening monologue, Hugh Jackman joked that the Academy had not been able to prepare an elaborate opening number due to the recession, so he had created his own. Jackman's opening number parodied Slumdog Millionaire, Milk, The Dark Knight, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, The Reader, Iron Man and The Wrestler with cardboard sets and backup dancers. It was given a standing ovation by the crowd.
* The presentation of the Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, and Best Actor awards changed significantly from recent years. Instead of the previous year's winner of the opposite sex presenting the award with clips of the nominees in each film being shown, there was a montage of past winners in each category. Then, five past winners in the specific acting category appeared onstage and each gave a detailed characterization of an individual nominee. Finally, the most recent recipient of the award (except in the Lead and Supporting actor categories) announced the winner.
* When Ben Stiller and Natalie Portman appeared onstage to present the award for Best Cinematography, Stiller spoofed Joaquin Phoenix's recent appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, telling Portman "I'm trying to be a serious actor" and joking that Slumdog Millionaire was filmed entirely on a cell phone.
* After "Man on Wire" won Best Documentary, Philippe Petit joined the producers on stage, making a coin vanish from his hands while thanking the Academy for "believing in magic" and then balanced the Oscar by its head on his chin.
* The 81st Academy Awards ceremony would be the last during Sid Ganis's tenure as president of the Academy. Host Hugh Jackman acknowledged that Ganis was stepping down from his position, one which Ganis has held since 2005.
* Throughout the ceremony, instead of montages of past films being shown, the ceremony incorporated a "movie yearbook" that showed montages of various genres of movies released in 2008. The yearbook was composed of montages of the animation, romance, comedy, documentary, and action film categories.
* Instead of a pre-recorded instrumental tune, the annual In Memoriam tribute was accompanied by a live performance of "I'll Be Seeing You" sung by Queen Latifah, making the 81st Academy Awards' In Memoriam tribute the first with live vocal accompaniment.
* The Best Picture nominee segments which are usually seen throughout the telecast were instead incorporated into one whole montage preceding the presentation of the award, with each nominated film being compared to various past nominees and winners in the category.
* After five failed nominations for Sense and Sensibility, Titanic, Iris, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Little Children, Kate Winslet finally won an Oscar on her sixth nomination (for The Reader). In her speech, she thanked many who have helped her along the way, even giving thanks to recently departed producers, Sydney Pollack and Anthony Minghella.

[edit] Memorable quotes

* "Fifteen career Oscar nominations. That's a record. I hate to say it but when someone puts up numbers like that, it's just hard not to think steroids." – Host Hugh Jackman to Meryl Streep (during his opening monologue).[40]
* "It's not going to be 45 seconds, I can say that right now. Has anybody ever fainted here? Because I might be the first one." – Penélope Cruz, accepting the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Vicky Cristina Barcelona.[40]
* "I wish to say something in Tamil, which is 'Ella Pugazhum Iraivanukke', God is Great" - A. R. Rahman on Receiving the award for Best Original Music Score, Slumdog Millionaire.
* "All my life I had choices of 'love' and 'hate', I chose LOVE and I'm here" - A. R. Rahman on Receiving the award for Best Song "Jai Ho!" Slumdog Millionaire.
* "You know, it's serious, we have a 30 second delay but if you win, we switch to a twenty minute delay." - Host Hugh Jackman to Mickey Rourke during Jackman's opening monologue.
* "When I was 13 years old my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas, to California, and I heard the story of Harvey Milk and it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life." – Dustin Lance Black, accepting the Best Original Screenplay Oscar for Milk.
* "There are certain places in the universe you never imagine standing. For me, it's the moon, the South Pole, the Miss World podium and here." – Simon Beaufoy after winning the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire.[40]
* "Who do you think is a better actor? Ronald Reagan, or Barack Obama?" - Saul Silver (James Franco) to Dale Denton (Seth Rogen) during the Comedy 2008 montage.
* "This award tonight would have humbly validated Heath's quiet determination to be truly accepted by you all here – his peers within an industry he so loved." – Kim Ledger, accepting the Best Supporting Actor Oscar on behalf of his son Heath Ledger for The Dark Knight.[40]
* "I'd be lying if I said I haven't made a version of this speech before. I think I was probably 8 years old and staring into the bathroom mirror, and this would have been a shampoo bottle. Well, it's not a shampoo bottle now." – Kate Winslet, upon winning Best Actress for The Reader.[40]
* "Each year I do one DreamWorks project, then I take all the money to the Oscars and bet it on Pixar." - Jack Black explaining his animation movie career plan to Jennifer Aniston prior to them presenting the nominees for best animation movies.[41]
* "You commie homo-loving sons of guns! I did not expect this, but I — I want to make it clear I know how hard I make it to appreciate me." – Sean Penn, upon accepting his Oscar for Best Actor in Milk.[40]
* "I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone. And there are, and there are, these last two things. I'm very, very proud to live in a country that is willing to elect an elegant man president and a country who, for all its toughness, creates courageous artists." - Sean Penn in his acceptance speech, commenting on California's vote for Proposition 8.[42]
* "When we started out, we had no stars, we had no power or muscle, we didn't have enough money really to do what we wanted to do. But what we had was a script that inspired mad love in everyone who read it. ... Most of all, we had passion and we had belief and our film shows that if you have those two things, truly anything is possible." – Producer Christian Colson accepting the Best Picture award for Slumdog Millionaire.[40]
* "Dōmo arigatō, Mr. Roboto." - Kunio Katō, Japanese director of La Maison en Petits Cubes, accepting the award for Best Animated Short.[43]
* "I shall pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again." – Jerry Lewis, quoting Mohandas Gandhi, upon Lewis accepting the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.
* "How come comic-book movies never get nominated? How can a billion dollars be unsophisticated?" - Host Hugh Jackman, on the controversy surrounding the lack of a Best Film nomination for The Dark Knight.[44]
* "These are the Oscars and this is my dream! / I am a Slumdog, I am a Wrestler, I am The Reader, I’m Wolverine!" - Hugh Jackman, finishing his opening routine.[45]
* "Ever since you've been a star you always say that you want to be here on this very day we really wish you were but we proudly accept this award on behalf of your beautiful Matilda" Kate Ledger, sister of Heath Ledger.

[edit] Special segments

The telecast featured multiple yearbook style montages of film genres seen in 2008. They were made up of the animation, romance, comedy, documentary and action film categories.
[edit] Animation

The animation segment began in a scene from WALL-E where the title character cuts open a damaged refrigerator revealing a VHS tape and an Oscar stauette. Wall-E plays the VHS tape on a tape recorder, which features the actual segment. At the end of the segment, multiple animated characters from the clips are revealed to be watching the tape with Wall-E. Listed below are the films featured in the segment.

* Kung Fu Panda
* Horton Hears a Who!
* Space Chimps
* Bolt
* Star Wars: The Clone Wars
* The Tale of Despereaux
* Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

[edit] Romance

Listed below are the films featured in the segment.

* Iron Man
* Milk
* Slumdog Millionaire
* The Reader
* The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
* Last Chance Harvey
* Vicky Cristina Barcelona
* The Incredible Hulk
* The Dark Knight
* Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist
* Sex and the City
* What Happens in Vegas
* Mamma Mia!
* Revolutionary Road
* Twilight
* High School Musical 3: Senior Year
* WALL-E

Background music: 'Lovers in Japan' by Coldplay
[edit] Comedy

The segment begins in a set from Pineapple Express. Dale Denton brings Saul Silver every film that was not nominated for an Oscar to watch (though many were). After viewing the movies, Saul wonders why Janusz Kaminski is with a film crew in his apartment. They invite Kaminski to watch the remaining movies with them.

Listed below are the films featured in the segment.

* Slumdog Millionaire
* The Love Guru
* Step Brothers
* Tropic Thunder
* Doubt
* Milk
* Mamma Mia!
* The Wrestler
* Forgetting Sarah Marshall
* You Don't Mess with the Zohan
* The Reader

[edit] Documentary

The segment featured the directors and co-directors of each of the five nominated Best Documentary Feature films discussing their thoughts on the art of documentaries.

Listed below are the films featured in the segment.

* The Betrayal - Nerakhoon
* Encounters at the End of the World
* The Garden
* Man on Wire
* Trouble the Water

[edit] Action

Listed below are the films featured in the segment.

* Rambo
* Iron Man
* Speed Racer
* The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
* Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
* The Incredible Hulk
* Wanted
* Hancock
* Journey to the Center of the Earth
* Hellboy II: The Golden Army
* The Dark Knight
* The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
* Death Race
* Quantum of Solace
* Valkyrie

Background music: 'Tick Tick Boom' by The Hives
[edit] Critical reviews

The show received a mixed reception from media publications. Some media outlets received the broadcast more positively. Perez Hilton called the performance "wonderful";[46] E! Online said that "Jackman nailed it";[47] the Associated Press stated that "the key word was charm" and that Hugh Jackman "gave his all";[48] and Salon.com said "Hurray for the Recession Oscars, the sincerest, sweetest, most heartfelt Oscars ever!"[49] Roger Ebert said of Jackman: "I had a feeling Hugh Jackman would be a charmer as host, and he was." Of the show itself, Ebert added, "It was the best Oscar show I've ever seen, and I've seen plenty."[50] The Toronto Star, Japan Today, and The Sydney Morning Herald also gave positive reviews,[51][52][53] and many in the British media were particularly favourable of Hugh Jackman's hosting performance.[54]

Others media outlets were more critical of the show. The Los Angeles Times says the show "fell flat" and from "Jackman's strangely self-conscious, low-rent opening musical number to Ben Stiller's obscure spoof of Joaquin Phoenix's recent appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, the awards had a tone problem — they tried to be something for everyone, coming off like a movie script that had its edginess and guts airbrushed out by too many studio notes."[55] The Los Angeles Times' awards insider page The Envelope says host Hugh Jackman surely "obliterated all memory of the Uma-Oprah thing", in reference to the negative reception David Letterman received when hosting the 1995 Academy Awards ceremony.[56] The Boston Globe states the show "aimed for flash...but ultimately, fizzle prevailed."[57] The Baltimore Sun says "the Oscars show itself took a different direction this year: It went Tony with a vengeance. It was like a concept musical with a flaccid concept, badly in need of a Parisian riot or an exploding chandelier."[58] The Chicago Tribune states the "New format, host are unable to rescue a plodding telecast."[59] The New York Times says of the ceremony as "it was fun for a while, but then it just started to seem long."[60]
[edit] Reception

Results from online polls conducted by Newsday[61] and Entertainment Weekly[62] showed a mostly positive response from viewers.

The 81st Academy Awards was watched by 36.94 million people, which was a 13% increase in viewership compared to last year's telecast. The telecast also attained higher Nielsen ratings with 21.68% households watching over a 32.44 share. However, the ceremony was the third least watched ceremony since individual viewership figures began being compiled in 1974 and the third lowest rated since Nielsen ratings for the Oscars have been recorded since 1967, ahead only of the previous year's 31.76 million with an 18.66 Nieslen rating and the 33.04 million with a 20.58 rating for the 2003 ceremony.[63]

At July 16, 2009, the ceremony presentation received 10 Emmy nominations at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards, and won 4 of them.

* Outstanding Art Direction For Variety, Music Or Nonfiction Programming, David Rockwell, Joe Celli, David Edwards
* WIN - Outstanding Choreography, Rob Ashford
* Outstanding Directing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Special, Roger Goodman
* Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic, Multi-Camera) For Variety, Music Or Comedy Programming, Robert A. Dickinson, Robert Barnhart, Andy O'Reilly.
* WIN - Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics, Hugh Jackman Opening Number: William Ross, John Kimbrough, Dan Harmon, Rob Schrab
* WIN - Outstanding Short Form Picture Editing, Best Motion Picture Moontage: Kyle Cooper, Hal Honigsberg
* WIN - Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Variety Or Music Series Or Special, Sound Mixing Team
* Outstanding Special Class Program
* Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video Control For A Miniseries, Movie Or A Special, Technical Director & Camera teams
* Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Special, Writer team

[edit] Criticism

Baz Luhrmann, who has been dismissed in the past by the Australian media as a postmodern for his adaption William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, put together a performance for Jackman hailing the comeback of musicals. This divided the critics, with one Australian journalist saying it was "perhaps overstated" and others applauding the (apparent) focus upon a younger audience.[64][65][66]

Many critics expressed surprise and/or disdain at some of the nominee lists, such as the omission of WALL-E and The Dark Knight from the Best Picture category,[67][68] Sally Hawkins for Happy-Go-Lucky (for which Hawkins had won a Golden Globe), and the omission of Clint Eastwood's performance in Gran Torino from the Best Actor category.[69] The Academy also surprised critics when it only put forward three nominations for the Best Song category, excluding Bruce Springsteen's "The Wrestler" and the theme from Gran Torino.[70] The shortened list led Rolling Stone to accuse the Academy of snubbing Springsteen.[70]

Some critics also showed disgust at the telecast due to the Academy's decision to not present their Honorary Oscar.
[edit] Film previews
See also: 2009 in film

Due to the Academy's action of lifting their ban on film previews being aired during commercial breaks, commercials for upcoming films were seen for the first time during the telecast. Though some websites, such as Yahoo!, had expected commercials for summer blockbusters to be aired, most commercials were for films due for release in the spring season. Film commercials aired included Knowing, The Soloist and The Proposal.

During the end credits of the telecast, instead of clips from the preceding ceremony being aired, there were instead various clips of films which were released in 2009. Listed below are the films that were previewed during this segment, in the order in which they were shown.

* Sherlock Holmes
* Funny People
* The Taking of Pelham 123
* Public Enemies
* Julie and Julia
* The Soloist
* Up
* Fame
* Terminator Salvation
* 500 Days of Summer
* Amelia
* Whatever Works



* Inglourious Basterds
* Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
* Monsters vs Aliens
* Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
* Angels and Demons
* Old Dogs
* Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
* The Boat That Rocked
* An Education
* State of Play
* Imagine That
* G-Force

[edit] International broadcasters

Some of the broadcasters outside the United States (telecasted on ABC) showing the event live:[71]

* Argentina - TNT Latin America
* Australia - Nine Network and Movie Extra
* Austria - ORF1
* Bangladesh - STAR Movies
* Belgium - Prime
* Belize - Tropical Vision Limited (Channel 7)
* Brazil - TNT Brasil
* Canada - CTV
* Chile - La Red
* China - CCTV-6 and STAR Movies
* Colombia - RCN TV and TNT
* Costa Rica - Teletica and TNT
* Croatia - HRT1
* Czech Republic - HBO Czech
* Denmark - TV 2 Film
* Finland - Nelonen
* France - Canal+
* Germany - Pro 7
* Greece - Filmnet
* Hong Kong - TVB Pearl and STAR Movies
* Hungary - RTL Klub
* India - STAR Movies
* Ireland - RTE
* Italy - Sky Italia
* Japan - WOWOW
* Malaysia - ntv7 and Star Movies



* Middle East - Fox Movies
* Middle East - Star Movies
* Mexico - Channel 7 TV Azteca & TNT
* Netherlands - Film1
* Panama - RPC Channel 4
* Peru - Frecuencia Latina
* Philippines - ABS-CBN
* Poland - Canal+
* Portugal - TVI
* Puerto Rico - WAPA Channel 4
* Romania - Pro Tv
* Russia - Channel One
* Serbia - RTS 1
* Singapore - MediaCorp TV Channel 5 and STAR Movies
* Spain - Canal+
* Sweden - Kanal 9
* Taiwan - STAR Movies
* Thailand - STAR Movies
* Trinidad and Tobago - CCN TV6
* Turkey - NTV
* United Kingdom - Sky Movies
* Uruguay - Canal 4 Montecarlo Televisión
* Venezuela - Venevisión
* Vietnam - VTC1

[edit] See also
Academy Award portal

* 2008 in film
* 61st Primetime Emmy Awards
* 63rd Tony Awards
* 51st Grammy Awards
* 66th Golden Globe Awards
* 15th Screen Actors Guild Awards
* 62nd British Academy Film Awards
* 29th Golden Raspberry Awards

Tourism in beautiful India

Tourism is the largest service industry in India, with a contribution of 6.23% to the national GDP and 8.78% of the total employment in India. India witnesses more than 5 million annual foreign tourist arrivals and 562 million domestic tourism visits.[1] The tourism industry in India generated about US$100 billion in 2008 and that is expected to increase to US$275.5 billion by 2018 at a 9.4% annual growth rate.[2] The Ministry of Tourism is the nodal agency for the development and promotion of tourism in India and maintains the "Incredible India" campaign.

According to World Travel and Tourism Council, India will be a tourism hotspot from 2009-2018,[3] having the highest 10-year growth potential.[4] The Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2007 ranked tourism in India 6th in terms of price competitiveness and 39th in terms of safety and security.[5] Despite short- and medium-term setbacks, such as shortage of hotel rooms,[6] tourism revenues are expected to surge by 42% from 2007 to 2017.[7]

India has a growing medical tourism sector. The 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi are expected to significantly boost tourism in India.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Tourism by state
o 1.1 Andhra Pradesh
o 1.2 Assam
o 1.3 Bihar
o 1.4 Delhi
o 1.5 Goa
o 1.6 Himachal Pradesh
o 1.7 Jammu and Kashmir
o 1.8 Karnataka
o 1.9 Kerala
o 1.10 Madhya Pradesh
o 1.11 Maharashtra
o 1.12 Orissa
o 1.13 Puducherry
o 1.14 Punjab
o 1.15 Rajasthan
o 1.16 Sikkim
o 1.17 Tamil Nadu
o 1.18 Uttarakhand
o 1.19 Uttar Pradesh
o 1.20 West Bengal
* 2 Historic monuments
* 3 Nature Tourism
o 3.1 Wildlife in India
o 3.2 Hill stations
o 3.3 Beaches
o 3.4 Adventure Tourism
* 4 See also
* 5 References
* 6 External links

Tourism by state
Andhra Pradesh
Further information: Tourist attractions in Hyderabad
Charminar in Hyderabad

Andhra Pradesh has a rich cultural heritage and a variety of tourist attractions. The state of Andhra Pradesh comprises scenic hills, forests, beaches and temples. Also known as The City of Nizams and The City of Pearls, Hyderabad is today one of the most developed cities in the country and a modern hub of information technology, ITES, and biotechnology. Hyderabad is known for its rich history, culture and architecture representing its unique character as a meeting point for North and South India, and also its multilingual culture, both geographically and culturally.

Andhra Pradesh is the home of many religious pilgrim centres. Tirupati, the abode of Lord Venkateswara, is the richest and most visited religious center (of any faith) in the world. Srisailam, the abode of Sri Mallikarjuna, is one of twelve Jyothirlingalu in India, Amaravati's Siva temple is one of the Pancharamams, and Yadagirigutta, the abode of an avatara of Vishnu, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha. The Ramappa temple and Thousand Pillars temple in Warangal are famous for some fine temple carvings. The state has numerous Buddhist centres at Amaravati, Nagarjuna Konda, Bhattiprolu, Ghantasala, Nelakondapalli, Dhulikatta, Bavikonda, Thotlakonda, Shalihundam, Pavuralakonda, Sankaram, Phanigiri and Kolanpaka.

The golden beaches at Visakhapatnam, the one-million-year old limestone caves at Borra, picturesque Araku Valley, hill resorts of Horsley Hills, river Godavari racing through a narrow gorge at Papi Kondalu, waterfalls at Ettipotala, Kuntala and rich bio-diversity at Talakona, are some of the natural attractions of the state. Visakhapatnam is home to many tourist attactions such as the INS Karasura Submarine museum (The only one of its kind in India), Yarada Beach, Araku Valley, VUDA Park, Indira Gandhi Zoological Gardens. The weather in Andhra Pradesh is mostly tropical and the best time to visit is in November through to January. The monsoon season commences in June and ends in September, so travel would not be advisable during this period.

See Also: Andhra Pradesh Official Tourism Website
Assam
Main article: Tourism in Assam
Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park.

Assam is the central state in the North-East Region of India and serves as the gateway to the rest of the Seven Sister States. Assam boasts of famous wildlife preserves – the Kaziranga National Park (pictured) and the Manas National Park, the largest river island Majuli, and tea-estates dating back to time of British Raj. The weather is mostly sub-tropical. Assam experiences the Indian monsoon and has one of the highest forest densities in India. The winter months (October to April) are the best time to visit.

Assam has a rich cultural heritage going back to the Ahom Kingdom which governed the region for many centuries before the British occupation. Other notable features include the Brahmaputra River, the mystery of the bird suicides in Jatinga, numerous temples including Kamakhya of Tantric sect, ruins of palaces, etc. Guwahati, the capital city of Assam, boasts many bazaars, temples, and wildlife sanctuaries.


See Also: Assam Official Tourism Website
Bihar
Main article: Tourism in Bihar
Mahabodhi Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Bihar is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world with history of 3000 years. The rich culture and heritage of Bihar is evident from the innumerable ancient monuments that are dotted all over this state in eastern India. This is the Place of Aryabhatta, Great Ashoka, Chanakya and many more.

Bihar is one of the most sacred places of various religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism & Islam. Famous Attraction includes Mahabodhi Temple, a Buddhist shrine and UNESCO World Heritage Site is also situated in Bihar, Barabar Caves the oldest rockcut caves in India, Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Library the Oldest Library of India.

See Also: Bihar Official Tourism Website
Delhi
Lotus Temple
Main article: Tourism in Delhi

Delhi is the capital city of India. A fine blend of old and new, ancient and modern, Delhi is a melting pot of cultures, religions. Delhi has been the capital of numerous empires that ruled India, making it rich in history. The rulers left behind their trademark architectural styles. Delhi currently has many renowned historic monuments and landmarks such as the Tughlaqabad fort, Qutub Minar, Purana Quila, Lodhi Gardens, Jama Masjid, Humayun's tomb, Red Fort, and Safdarjung's Tomb. Modern monuments include Jantar Mantar, India Gate, Rashtrapati Bhavan, Laxminarayan Temple, Lotus temple and Akshardham Temple.

New Delhi is famous for its British colonial architecture, wide roads, and tree-lined boulevards. Delhi is home to numerous political landmarks, national museums, Islamic shrines, Hindu temples, green parks, and trendy malls.

See Also: Delhi Tourism Official Website
Goa
Goa is noted for its resorts and beaches.
Main article: Tourism in Goa

Goa is one of the most famous tourist destinations in India. A former colony of Portugal, Goa is famous for its excellent beaches, Portuguese churches, Hindu temples, and wildlife sanctuaries. The Basilica of Bom Jesus, Mangueshi Temple, Dudhsagar Falls, and Shantadurga are famous attractions in Goa. Recently a Wax Museum (Wax World) has also opened in Old Goa housing a number of wax personalities of Indian history, culture and heritage.

The Goa Carnival is a world famous event, with colorful masks and floats, drums and reverberating music, and dance performances. The celebrations run three days culminating in a carnival parade on fat Tuesday.

See Also: Goa Tourism Official Website
Himachal Pradesh
The Himalayan landscape of Himachal Pradesh is ideal for out-door activities such as skiing

Himachal Pradesh is famous for its Himalayan landscapes and popular hill-stations. Many outdoor activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking, paragliding, ice-skating, and heli-skiing are popular tourist attractions in Himachal Pradesh.[8]

Shimla, the state capital, is very popular among tourists. The Kalka-Shimla Railway is a Mountain railway which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Shimla is also a famous skiing attraction in India. Other popular hill stations include Manali and Kasauli.

Dharamshala, home of the Dalai Lama, is known for its Tibetan monasteries and Buddhist temples. Many trekking expeditions also begin here.

See Also Himachal Pradesh Official Website
Jammu and Kashmir
Main article: Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu & Kashmir is known for its scenic landscape

Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. Jammu is noted for its scenic landscape, ancient temples, Hindu shrines, castles, gardens, and forts. The Hindu holy shrines of Amarnath and Vaishno Devi attract tens of thousands of Hindu devotees every year. Jammu's natural landscape has made it one of the popular destinations for adventure tourism in South Asia. Jammu's historic monuments feature a unique blend of Islamic and Hindu architecture styles.

Tourism forms an integral part of the Kashmiri economy. Often dubbed "Paradise on Earth", Kashmir's mountainous landscape has attracted tourists for centuries. Notable places are Dal Lake, Srinagar Phalagam, Gulmarg, Yeusmarg and Mughal Gardens etc. However, the tourism industry is severely affected by the insurgency.

In recent years, Ladakh has emerged as a major hub for adventure tourism. This part of Greater Himalaya called "moon on earth" comprising of naked peaks and deep gorges was once known for the silk route to High Asia from the subcontinent. Leh is also a growing tourist spot.

See Also: Jammu & Kashmir Official Tourism Website
Karnataka
Main article: Tourism in Karnataka
Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur, has the second largest pre-modern dome in the world after the Byzantine Hagia Sophia.

Karnataka has been ranked as fourth most popular destination for tourism among states of India. It has the second highest number of protected monuments in India, at 507.

Kannada dynasties like Kadambas, Western Gangas, Chalukyas, Rashtrakutas, Hoysalas and Vijayanagaras, ruled Karnataka particularly North Karnataka.[9][10] They built great monuments to Buddhism, Jainism, Shaivism. The monuments are still present at Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, Hampi, Lakshmeshwar, Sudi, Hooli, Mahadeva Temple (Itagi), Dambal, Lakkundi, Gadag, Hangal, Halasi, Galaganatha, Chaudayyadanapura, Banavasi, Belur, Halebidu, Shravanabelagola, Sannati and many more. Notable Islamic monuments are present at Bijapur, Bidar, Gulbarga, Raichur and other part of the state. Gol Gumbaz at Bijapur, has the second largest pre-modern dome in the world after the Byzantine Hagia Sophia. Karnataka has two World heritage sites, at Hampi and Pattadakal, both are in North Karnataka.

Karnataka is famous for its waterfalls. Jog falls of Shimoga District is one of the highest waterfalls in Asia. This state has 21 wildlife sanctuaries and five National parks and is home to more than 500 species of birds. Karnataka has many beaches at Karwar, Gokarna, Murdeshwara, Surathkal. Karnataka is a rock climbers paradise. Yana in Uttara Kannada, Fort in Chitradurga, Ramnagara near Bangalore district, Shivagange in Tumkur district and tekal in Kolar district are a rock climbers heaven.[citation needed]

See Also: Karnataka Official Tourism Website
Kerala
Kerala, nicknamed as "God's own country," is famous for its houseboats.
Main article: Tourism in Kerala

Kerala is a state on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India. Nicknamed as one of the "10 paradises of the world" by National Geographic, Kerala is famous especially for its ecotourism initiatives. Its unique culture and traditions, coupled with its varied demography, has made it one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Growing at a rate of 13.31%, the tourism industry significantly contributes to the state's economy.

Kerala is known for its tropical backwaters and pristine beaches such as Kovalam.

See Also: Kerala Tourism Official Website
Madhya Pradesh
Main article: Tourism in Madhya Pradesh
The temples of Khajuraho are famous for their erotic sculptures. The Khajuraho group of monuments are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Madhya Pradesh is called the "Heart of India" because of its location in the centre of the country. It has been home to the cultural heritage of Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism. Innumerable monuments, exquisitely carved temples, stupas, forts and palaces are dotted all over the State.

The temples of Khajuraho are world-famous for their erotic sculptures, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Gwalior is famous for its forts, the Tomb of Rani Lakshmibai, and the Palace of Tansen.

Madhya Pradesh is also known as Tiger State because of the tiger population. Famous national parks like Kanha, Bandhavgadh, Shivpuri, Sanjay, Pench are located in MP. Spectacular mountain ranges, meandering rivers and miles and miles of dense forests offering a unique and exciting panorama of wildlife in sylvan surroundings.

See Also: Madhya Pradesh Offical Tourism Website
Maharashtra
Mumbai is the most cosmopolitan city in India, famous for its architecture, shopping, gastronomy, and Bollywood. Maharashtra accounts for second largest foreign tourists arrivals in India.[11]
Main article: Tourism in Maharashtra
See also: Tourist Attractions in Mumbai and Tourist attractions in Aurangabad district

Maharashtra is the second most visited state in India by foreign tourists,[11] with more than 2 million foreign tourists arrivals annually. Maharashtra boasts of a large number of popular and revered religious venues that are heavily frequented by locals as well as out-of-state visitors.

Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves and Victoria Terminus are the three UNESCO World Heritage sites in Maharashtra and are highly responsible for the development of Tourism in the state.

Mumbai is the most cosmopolitan city in India, and a great place to experience modern India. Mumbai famous for Bollywood, the world's largest film industry. In addition, Mumbai is famous for its clubs, shopping, and upscale gastronomy. The city is known for its architecture, from the ancient Elephanta Caves, to the Islamic Haji Ali Mosque, to the colonial architecture of Bombay High Court and Victoria Terminus.

Maharashtra also has numerous adventure tourism destinations, including paragliding, rock climbing, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving. Maharashtra also has several pristine national parks and reserves. The Bibi Ka Maqbara at Aurangabad the Mahalakshmi temple at Kolhapur, the cities of Nashik, Trimbak famous for religious importance and the city of Pune the seat of the Maratha Empire and the fantastic Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations together contribute for the Tourism sector of Mahrashtra.

See Also: Maharashtra Tourism Official Website
Orissa
Konark Sun Temple built by the Eastern Ganga dynasty is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Orissa has been a preferred destination from ancient days for people who have an interest in spirituality, religion, culture, art and natural beauty. Ancient and medieval architecture, pristine sea beaches, the classical and ethnic dance forms and a variety of festivals. Orissa has kept the religion of Buddhism alive. Rock-edicts that have challenged time stand huge and over-powering by the banks of the river Daya. The torch of Buddhism is still ablaze in the sublime triangle at Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves, on the banks of river Birupa. Precious fragments of a glorious past come alive in the shape of stupas, rock-cut caves, rock-edicts, excavated monasteries, viharas, chaityas and sacred relics in caskets and the Rock-edicts of Ashoka. Orissa is also famous for its well-preserved Hindu Temples, especially the Konark Sun Temple.[12]

Orissa is the home for various tribal communities who have contributed uniquely to the multicultural and multilingual character of the state. Their handicrafts, different dance forms, jungle products and their unique life style blended with their healing practices have got world wide attention.

See Also: Orissa Tourism Official Website
Puducherry
Main article: Tourism in Puducherry
The Matrimandir, a golden metallic sphere in auroville, Puducherry

The Union Territory of Puducherry comprises four coastal regions viz- Puducherry, Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam. Puducherry is the Capital of this Union Territory and one of the most popular tourist destinations in South India. Puducherry has been described by National Geographic as "a glowing highlight of subcontinental sojourn". The city has many beautiful colonial buildings, churches, temples, and statues, which, combined with the systematic town planning and the well planned French style avenues, still preserve much of the colonial ambience.
Punjab
Main article: Tourism in Punjab (India)
Harimandir Sahib or "The Golden Temple"

Punjab is one of India's most beautiful states. The state of Punjab is renowned for its cuisine, culture and history. Punjab has a vast public transportation and communication network. Some of the main cities in Punjab are Amritsar, Chandigarh, and Ludhiana. Punjab also has a rich religious history incorporating Sikhism and Hinduism. Tourism in Punjab is principally suited for the tourists interested in culture, ancient civilization, spirituality and epic history. Some of the villages in Punjab are also a must see for the person who wants to see the true Punjab, with their beautiful traditional Indian homes, farms and temples, this is a must see for any visitor that goes to Punjab.
Rajasthan
Umaid Bhawan Palace
Main article: Tourism in Rajasthan

Rajasthan, literally meaning "Land of the Kings", is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Northern India. The vast sand dunes of the Thar Desert attract millions of tourists from around the globe every year.

Attractions:

* Jaipur - The capital of Rajasthan, famous for its rich history and royal architecture.
* Jodhpur - Fortress-city at the edge of the Thar Desert, famous for its blue homes and architecture.
* Udaipur - Known as the "Venice" of India.
* Jaisalmer - Famous for its golden fortress.
* Barmer - Barmer and surrounding areas offer perfect picture of typical Rajasthani villages.
* Bikaner - Famous for its medieval history as a trade route outpost.
* Mount Abu - Is the highest peak in the Aravalli Range of Rajasthan.
* Pushkar - It has the first and one of the very Brahma temples in the world.
* Nathdwara - This town near Udaipur hosts the famous temple of Shrinathji.
* Ranthambore - Situated near Sawai Madhopur, this town has one of the largest and most famous national parks in India.

See Also: Rajasthan Tourism Official Website
Sikkim
Kangchenjunga at Sikkim is the third highest mountain in the world.

Originally known as Suk-Heem, which in the local language means "peaceful home", Sikkim was an independent kingdom till the year 1974, when it became a part of the Republic of India. The capital of Sikkim is Gangtok, located approximately 185 kilometers from New Jalpaiguri, the nearest railway station to Sikkim. Although, an airport is under construction at Dekiling in East Sikkim, the nearest airport to Sikkim would be Bagdogra. Sikkim is considered as the land of Orchids and mystic cultures and colorful traditions. Sikkim is well known among trekkers and adventure lovers, as West Sikkim has a lot to give them.

Places near Sikkim include Darjeeling also known as the Queen of hills and Kalimpong. Darjeeling, other than its world famous "Darjeeling tea" is also famous for its refined "Prep schools" founded during the British Raj. Kalimpong is also famous for its flora cultivation and is home to many internationally known Nurseries.

See Also: Sikkim Tourism Official Website
Tamil Nadu
Main article: Tourism in Tamil Nadu
The Shore Temple in Mahabalipuram is an ancient temple on the Indian Ocean, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Tamil Nadu lies in the southern Indian peninsula, on the shores of the Bay of Bengal. Many great rulers including the Cholas, Pallavas, Pandyas and the Vijayanagara Empire ruled over parts of Tamil Nadu. The state is known for its cultural heritage and temple architecture.

Attractions includeMahabalipuram, famous for its Shore Temple, Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, Auroville, an International Utopian city, Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Ooty and Kodaikanal, two famous hill stations. The Nilgiri Mountain Railway is a Unesco World Heritage Site

See Also: Tamil Nadu Tourism Official Website
Uttarakhand
The Valley of Flowers and Nanda Devi National Parks are UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Uttaranchal is the 27th state of the Republic of India. It contains glaciers, snow-clad mountains, valley of flowers, skiing slopes and dense forests, and many shrines and places of pilgrimage. Char-dhams, the four most sacred and revered Hindu temples: Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri are nestled in the Himalayas. Haridwar which means Gateway to God is the only place on the plains.

It holds the watershed for Gangetic River System spanning 300 km from Satluj in the west to Kali river in the east. Nanda Devi (25640 Ft) is the second highest peak in India after Kanchenjunga (28160 Ft). Dunagiri, Neelkanth, Chaukhamba, Panchachuli, Trisul are other peaks above 23000 Ft. It is considered the abode of Devtas, Yakashyas, Kinners, Fairies and Sages.[citation needed] It boasts of some old hill-stations developed during British era like Mussoorie, Almora and Nainital.

Glaciers
Pindari Glacier, Milam Glacier, Gangotri Glacier, Bunder Punch Glacier, Khatling Glacier, Doonagiri Glacier, Dokrani Glacier, Kaphini Glacier, Ralam Glacier


Wildlife Reserves
Corbett National Park, Rajaji National Park, Asan Conservation Reserve, Nanda Devi National Park, Govind Wildlife Sanctuary, Askot Musk Deer Sanctuary (Askot), Valley of Flowers


Adventure Sports
Skiing at Mundali, Auli, Dayara Bagyal and Munsiyari. Trekking at Mussoorie, Uttarkashi, Joshimath, Munsiyari, Chaukori, Pauri, Almora, Nainital


See Also: Uttarakhand Tourism Official Website
Uttar Pradesh
Main article: Tourism in Uttar Pradesh
Diwan-i-Khas – Hall of Private Audience at Fatehpur Sikri

Situated in the northern part of India, Uttar Pradesh is important with its wealth of monuments and religious fervour. Geographically, Uttar Pradesh is very diverse, with Himalayan foothills in the extreme north, the Gangetic Plain in the centre, and the Vindhya Mountain Range towards the South. It is also home of India's most visited site, the Taj Mahal, and Hinduism's holiest city, Varanasi. The most populous state of the Indian Union also has a rich cultural heritage, and at the heart of North India, Uttar Pradesh has much to offer. Places of interest include Varanasi, Agra, Mathura, Jhansi, Prayag, Sarnath, Ayodhya, Dudhwa National Park and Fatehpur Sikri.
West Bengal
Victoria Memorial in Kolkata

Kolkata, one of the many cities in the state of West Bengal has been nicknamed the City of Palaces. This comes from the numerous palatial mansions built all over the city. Unlike many north Indian cities, whose construction stresses minimalism, the layout of much of the architectural variety in Kolkata owes its origins to European styles and tastes imported by the British and, to a much lesser extent, the Portuguese and French. The buildings were designed and inspired by the tastes of the English gentleman around and the aspiring Bengali Babu (literally, a nouveau riche Bengali who aspired to cultivation of English etiquette, manners and custom, as such practices were favourable to monetary gains from the British). Today, many of these structures are in various stages of decay. Some of the major buildings of this period are well maintained and several buildings have been declared as heritage structures.

From historical point of view, the story of West Bengal begins from Gour and Pandua situated close to the present district town of Malda. The twin medieval cities had been sacked at least once by changing powers in the 15th century. However, ruins from the period still remain, and several architectural specimens still retain the glory and shin of those times. The Hindu architecture of Bishnupur in terracotta and laterite sandstone are renowned world over. Towards the British colonial period came the architecture of Murshidabad and Coochbehar.

Notable site of West Bengal
Cooch Behar · Cooch Behar · Darjeeling · Kalimpong · Kurseong · Dooars · Digha · Bishnupur · Malda · Mukutmanipur · Ayodhya Hills · Murshidabad · Kolkata.


Places of Worship
Dakshineswar Kali Temple · Kalighat Temple · Birla temple · Belur Math · Bhoothnath · Tipu Sultan Mosque · Nakhoda Mosque · St. Paul's Cathedral · St. John's Church · Parsi Fire Temples · Japanese Buddhist Temple · Pareshnath Jain Temple

See Also: Tourism Official Website
Historic monuments

The Taj Mahal is one of India's best-known sites and one of the best architectural achievements in India. Located in Agra, it was built between 1631 and 1653 by Emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his wife, Arjumand Banu, more popularly known as Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal serves as her tomb.

The Golden Temple is one of the most respected temples in India and the most sacred place for Sikhs. The Golden Temple is located in Amritsar, Punjab, India.

The Bahá'í temple in Delhi, was completed in 1986 and serves as the Mother Temple of the Indian Subcontinent. It has won numerous architectural awards and been featured in hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles. (It is also known as the Lotus Temple.)

The Victoria Terminus in Mumbai was built by the British and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Taj Mahal Palace is an icon of Mumbai.

The Victoria Memorial in Kolkata
Nature Tourism

India has geographical diversity, which resulted in varieties of nature tourism.

* Water falls in Western Ghats including Jog falls (highest in India).
* Western Ghats
* Kerala backwaters
* Hill Stations
* Wildlife reserves

Wildlife in India
Main article: Fauna of India
Royal Bengal Tiger in Sundarbans. The world's largest mangrove forest as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

India is home to several well known large mammals including the Asian Elephant, Bengal Tiger, Asiatic Lion, Leopard and Indian Rhinoceros, often engrained culturally and religiously often being associated with deities. Other well known large Indian mammals include ungulates such as the domestic Asian Water buffalo, wild Asian Water buffalo, Nilgai, Gaur and several species of deer and antelope. Some members of the dog family such as the Indian Wolf, Bengal Fox, Golden Jackal and the Dhole or Wild Dogs are also widely distributed. It is also home to the Striped Hyaena, Macaques, Langurs and Mongoose species. India also has a large variety of protected wildlife. The country's protected wilderness consists of 75 National parks of India and 421 Sanctuaries, of which 19 fall under the purview of Project Tiger. Its climatic and geographic diversity makes it the home of over 350 mammals and 1200 bird species, many of which are unique to the subcontinent.

Some well known national wildlife sanctuaries include Bharatpur, Corbett, Kanha, Kaziranga, Periyar, Ranthambore and Sariska. The world's largest mangrove forest Sundarbans is located in southern West Bengal. The Sundarbans is UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hill stations
A summer view of Khajjiar, a hill station in Himachal Pradesh.
Main article: List of Indian hill stations

Several hill stations served as summer capitals of Indian provinces, princely states, or, in the case of Shimla, of British India itself. Since Indian Independence, the role of these hill stations as summer capitals has largely ended, but many hill stations remain popular summer resorts. Most famous hill stations are:

* Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh - It is also known as The Queen of Satpura.
* Araku, Andhra Pradesh
* Gulmarg, Srinagar and Laddakh in Jammu and Kashmir
* Darjeeling in West Bengal
* Munnar in Kerala
* Ooty and Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu
* Shillong in Meghalaya
* Shimla, Kullu in Himachal Pradesh
* Nainital in Uttarakhand
* Gangtok in Sikkim
* Mussoorie in Uttarakhand

In addition to the bustling hill stations and summer capitals of yore, there are several serene and peaceful nature retreats and places of interest to visit for a nature lover. These range from the stunning moonscapes of Leh and Ladhak, to small, exclusive nature retreats such as Dunagiri, Binsar, Mukteshwar in the Himalayas, to rolling vistas of Western Ghats to numerous private retreats in the rolling hills of Kerala.
Beaches
Main article: List of beaches in India
Wiki letter w.svg This section requires expansion.
Elephants and camels rides are common on Indian beaches. Shown here is Havelock Island, part of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

India offers a wide range of tropical beaches with silver/golden sand to coral beaches of Lakshadweep. States like Kerala and Goa have exploited the potential of beaches to the fullest. However, there are a lot many unexploited beaches in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharastra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. These states have very high potential to be develop them as future destinations for prospective tourists. Some of the famous tourist beaches are:

* Beaches of Vizag, Andhra Pradesh
* Beaches of Puri, Orissa
* Beaches of Digha, West Bengal
* Beaches of Goa
* Kovalam Beach, Kerala
* Marina Beach, Chennai
* Beaches of Mahabalipuram
* Beaches in Mumbai
* Beaches of Diu
* Beaches of Midnapore, West Bengal
* Andaman and Nicobar Islands
* Lakshadweep Islands

Adventure Tourism
Skiing in Manali, Himachal Pradesh

* River rafting and kayaking in Himalayas
* Mountain climbing in Himalayas
* Rock climbing in Madhya Pradesh
* Skiing in Gulmarg or Auli
* Boat racing in Bhopal
* Paragliding in Maharashtra

2010 Chile earthquake

The 2010 Chilean earthquake occurred off the coast of the Maule Region of Chile[4] on February 27, 2010, at 03:34 local time (06:34 UTC), rating a magnitude of 8.8 on the moment magnitude scale and lasting about three minutes.[5][6] The cities experiencing the strongest shaking—VIII (Destructive) on the Mercalli intensity scale—were Talcahuano, Arauco, Lota, Chiguayante, Cañete, and San Antonio.[1] The earthquake was felt in the capital Santiago at Mercalli intensity scale VII (Very Strong).[7] Tremors were felt in many Argentine cities, including Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza and La Rioja.[8][9] Tremors were felt as far north as the city of Ica in southern Peru.[10] Tsunami warnings were issued in 53 countries,[7] and a tsunami was recorded, with amplitude of up to 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) high, at Valparaíso. President Michelle Bachelet declared a "state of catastrophe". She also confirmed the deaths of at least 723 people,[11] although later reports from Chilean officials reduced the estimated death toll to 279.[12] Many more have been reported missing.[13][14][15]

Seismologists estimate that the earthquake was so powerful that it may have shortened the length of the day by 1.26 microseconds and moved the earth's axis of rotation by 8 cm or 2.7 milliarcseconds.[16][17]

The epicenter of the earthquake was offshore from the Maule Region, approximately 8 km (5.0 miles) west of Curanipe and 115 km (71 mi) north-northeast of Chile's second largest city, Concepción.[18][19] The earthquake also caused seiches to occur in Lake Pontchartrain to the north of New Orleans, United States, located nearly 4,700 miles (7,600 km) from the epicenter of the quake.[20]
Contents
[hide]

* 1 Geology
o 1.1 Compared to past earthquakes
o 1.2 Aftershocks
* 2 Damage and casualties
o 2.1 Humanitarian response
* 3 Conditions in the aftermath
o 3.1 Chaos and disorder
o 3.2 Prison escape and riots
o 3.3 Government response
o 3.4 Economic recovery
* 4 Tsunami
o 4.1 Chile
o 4.2 Oceania
o 4.3 North America
o 4.4 Tsunami related aid given
o 4.5 Data
* 5 See also
* 6 References
* 7 External links

[edit] Geology
The Nazca Plate is subducting under the South American Plate. This movement causes seismicity and volcanism throughout Chile.
Main articles: Nazca Plate and geology of Chile
Search Wikinews Wikinews has related news: NASA scientist: Chile earthquake may have shifted Earth's axis, shortened day

The earthquake took place along the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates, at a location where they converge at a rate of eighty millimeters (about three inches) a year. This earthquake was characterized by a thrust-faulting focal mechanism, caused by the subduction of the Nazca plate beneath the South American.[18]

Chile has been at a convergent plate boundary that generates megathrust earthquakes since the Paleozoic (500 million yeas ago). In historical times the Chilean coast has suffered many megathrust earthquakes along this plate boundary, including the strongest earthquake ever measured. Most recently, the boundary ruptured in 2007 in northern Chile.

The segment of the fault zone which ruptured in this earthquake was estimated to be over 700 km (430 mi) long with slips of almost 10 meters.[21] It lay immediately north of the 1,000 km (620 mi) segment which ruptured in the great earthquake of 1960.[22]
[edit] Compared to past earthquakes

This was the strongest earthquake affecting Chile since the magnitude 9.5 1960 Valdivia earthquake (the most energetic earthquake ever recorded in the world), and it is the strongest earthquake worldwide since the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.[23] It is tied with the Ecuadoran earthquake of 1906 as the seventh strongest earthquake ever recorded, five hundred times more forceful than the 7.0 Mw earthquake in Haiti in January of 2010.[24]
[edit] Aftershocks

An aftershock of 6.2 was recorded 20 minutes after the initial quake.[25][26] Two more aftershocks of magnitudes 5.4 and 5.6 followed within an hour of the initial quake.[26] The USGS said that "a large vigorous aftershock sequence can be expected from this earthquake".[18] By March 6 UTC, more than one hundred thirty aftershocks had been registered, including thirteen above magnitude 6.0.[27]

A 6.9-magnitude offshore earthquake struck approximately 185 miles southwest of, and less than 90 minutes after, the initial shock; however, it is not clear if that quake is related to the main shock.[28] A separate earthquake of magnitude 6.3 occurred in Salta, Argentina, at 3:45 pm UTC on February 27, at a depth of 38.2 km (23.7 mi);[29] two people were injured and one died in Salta.[30] This earthquake was followed on March 1, at 6:32 am UTC by a magnitude 4.9 aftershock.[31] Four other earthquakes above M5.0, some possible aftershocks, also occured near the border in Argentina following the Chile earthquake; a magnitude 5.0 earthquake occured in Mendoza on February 28, a M5.3 earthquake in Neuquen and a M5.2 in San Juan on March 2, and a M5.1 quake in Mendoza on March 4.[32][33][34][35]

Another earthquake occured on March 4, at 22:39 UTC in Antofagasta in northern Chile, with a magnitude of 6.3.[36]

Minor quakes generated by the main one could be felt as far away as São Paulo, Brazil,[37] located about 3,000 km (1,900 mi) away from Concepción. Since the major earthquake, and as of March 5, at least four to forty >M5.0 earthquakes have been recorded daily in the vicinity of the main earthquae[38], including four above magnitude 6.0 between March 3 and 00:00 UTC March 6.[26]

On March 5, two aftershocks above M6.0 were reported. The first was a 6.3-magnitude off the coast of the Bio-Bio region. The second was near the epicenter of the original quake at 8:47am local time with a magnitude of 6.6. [39]
[edit] Damage and casualties
Structural damage caused by the earthquake.

According to an Associated Press Television News cameraman, some buildings collapsed in Santiago and there are power outages in parts of the city.[40] A fire was reported in a chemical plant in an outskirt of Santiago and caused the evacuation of the neighborhood.[25] Santiago's International Airport seems to have been damaged and the airport authority has closed off all flight operations for the next 24 hours from around 12:00 UTC.[4] On Sunday, February 28, Ricardo Ortega, head of the Chilean Air Force, said commercial airline service had been partially re-established and aircraft were being allowed to land in Santiago.[41]

Santiago's national Fine Arts Museum was badly damaged. An apartment building's two-story parking lot collapsed, smashing about 50 cars. According to one health official, three hospitals in Santiago collapsed, and a dozen more south of the capital also suffered significant damage.[42]
Slight damage to buildings in Santiago de Chile on the morning after the earthquake.

In Valparaíso, a tsunami wave of 1.29 m was reported. The port of Valparaíso was orderd to be closed due to the damage caused by the earthquake. The port started to resume limited operations on February 28.[43] In Viña del Mar, a touristic city and part of Greater Valparaíso, several buildings were structually damaged, pricipally in the district Plan de Viña.[44]

Many cities in Maule region were seriously affected by the earthquake. Curanipe, only 8 km (5 mi) from the epicenter, was hit by a tsunami after the earthquake and still remained isolated from outside as of February 28.[45] A surfer said the tsunami "...was like the one in Thailand, a sudden rise of water. One could not estimate the dimension of the wave, because it was advancing foam. There were 10 to 15 rises, the last one being at 08:30 in the morning."[46] In Talca, the capital of Maule region, many dead were trapped in the rubble. The administrative building was uninhabitable, and the authorities had to be set up in the parade ground.[47] All but two of the local hospital’s thirteen wings were in ruins. Dr. Claudio Martínez was quoted as saying, “We’re only keeping the people in danger of dying.” Hospital staff attempted to transport some patients to Santiago on Sunday morning, but roads were blocked.[48]
USGS shake map of the earthquake

Damaged buildings and fires were reported in Concepción.[49] Rescue teams had difficulty accessing Concepción because of the damaged infrastructure.[25] The fifteen-storey residential building "Alto Río" fell backwards, horizontally lay on the ground, and trapped many of the residents. As the building was newly completed, 19 of the apartments were occupied and 36 were unknown if there were habitants therein.[50][51][52] A 2.34 m (7.68 ft) tsunami wave hit Talcahuano, a port city and part of the Concepción conurbation. The tsunami caused serious damage to port facilities and lifted boats out of the water.[53] In the fishing town of Dichato, which has 7,000 residents, it was the third tsunami wave that ended up being the most damaging.[54]

Dilapidated buildings could be seen on the streets of Temuco, about 400 km (250 mi) from the epicenter. The adobe of some buildings fell. Façades fell in pieces and crushed cars. Two people were reported dead because of not having been able to escape from a discothèque. On February 27, it was reported that "to find a business open is almost impossible" ("Encontrar un negocio abierto es casi imposible").[55][56]

In Chile, at least 500,000 homes are estimated to be damaged.[57] At least 723 people were reported killed, although later reports from Chilean officials indicated that the death toll was significantly overestimated, with the actual identified death toll being only 279 as of March 4, 2010.[12]

The Chilean National Emergency Office (Oficina Nacional de Emergencia) estimated that the intensity of the earthquake was 9 on the Mercalli scale in the Biobío Region and 8 in Santiago.[25][58] USGS put the intensity in Talcahuano at MM VIII, in Santiago and Concepción at MM VII and in Valparaíso at MM VI.[1]
[edit] Humanitarian response
Main article: Humanitarian response to the 2010 Chile earthquake

Despite President Michelle Bachelet's earlier statement that Chile did not need international aid,[59] leaders of many countries and intergovernmental organizations, including the United Nations and European Union, responded to the earthquake and sent messages of condolence to the government and people of Chile over the loss of lives and property. Argentina, the United States, United Kingdom, People's Republic of China, Singapore, Haiti, and Pakistan were among the countries that responded earliest following the quake.[60][61] Appeals for humanitarian aid were issued by the UK-based Oxfam, Save the Children and others.

Chilean television host Don Francisco created a charity event called Chile helps Chile to be released in Santiago on March 5 and March 6, 2010.[62]
[edit] Conditions in the aftermath
Main Beach of Pichilemu after the Earthquake, Saturday February 27, 2010.
Wiki letter w.svg This section requires expansion.
[edit] Chaos and disorder

Nearly half the regions in the country were declared "catastrophe zones", and curfews were imposed in some areas of looting and public disorder.[63] On February 28, 2010, a day after the earthquake, some affected cities were chaotic, with extensive looting of supermarkets in Concepción. Items stolen included not only food and other necessities, but also electronic goods and other durable merchandise. To control vandalism, a special force of carabineros (the "GOPE") was sent to disperse rioters with tear gas and water cannon.[64] However, despite these and other government acts (including the curfews), pillaging continued in both urban and rural areas of the affected zones.[65] Reportedly, military police arrested 160 in Concepción on March 1st and 2nd.[66]
The damaged Museum of Contemporary Art

On March 1, 2010, pillaging of supermarkets in Concepción and in some districts of Santiago continued. In Santiago, the police were forced to shoot into the air in order to disperse mobs which, again, were stealing both necessities such as food and water and durable goods such as electronic devices and home appliances).[65] In Concepción, despite the militarization of the zone, mobs continued to steal from supermarkets and went as far as to set one store ablaze.[67]

According to the BBC on March 5th, the city and fishing port of Talcahuano, which lies but a few kilometers down the coast from Concepción, has been left largely to fend by itself. Neighborhood vigilante groups, including one led by a public works employee with a gun license, and the few police present allow such behavior as residents' siphoning fuel from tanks at a petrol station, but step in if someone starts to attack a cash machine. One man stated, "I've personally saved dozens of people from attack in this apartment block."[68]

Chileans living in regions not affected by the earthquake (including those living abroad) also grieved, as they sought to learn more regarding kinsmen and friends affected by the earthquake. In the hardest-hit zones there was no communication with the exterior because of the failure of electricity and the destruction of telephone lines.[65]
[edit] Prison escape and riots

In the prison of El Manzano in Concepción, a prison riot began after a failed escape atempt by the inmates. Different parts of the prison were set afire and the riot was brought under control only after the guards shot into the air and recieved help from military units.[69]

By March 1st, prison guards in Chillán had recaptured 36 of 203 prisoners who had escaped following the earthquake. During their escape, prisoners burned seven houses close to the prison. A witness in Chillán asserted that he had robbed by prisoners with a machine gun who also had forced his girlfriend to kiss them. Another witness alleged sexual molestation by around twenty men who were believed to be escaped prisoners. The leading Chilean newspaper El Mercurio described the situation in Chillán as reminiscent of the "Wild West".[69]
[edit] Government response

Four hours after the earthquake, when the death count was still low, President Bachelet provided a press conference in which she informed the population of the situation and stated that Chile did not yet need international aid.[59] However, about two million people have been affected by the quake with more than 500,000 houses completely damaged. In many cities, people slept in tents in parks or simply on streets, for fear of aftershocks. The government was prepared to begin distributing food and other vital aid around the country.[70]

On February 28, President Bachelet stated that her government had reached an agreement with the major supermarkets that would allow them to give away stocked basic foodstuffs to people affected by the earthquake.[71] As of February 28, the Santiago Metro rapid-transit network was already partially available and was expected to be fully operative on the following day, March 1.[72]

On March 4, President-elect Sebastián Piñera, who assumes office on March 11, was quoted as saying that his goals are "to cope with the emergency needs of citizens, find people who are still missing, provide prompt and timely assistance to the sick and wounded, and restore law and order so that people can return to peace."[73]
[edit] Economic recovery

As of March 3, the central port city of San Antonio has said it has returned to 80% capacity. In addition, for Valparaiso port, Raul Maturana, a spokesman for the Federation of Port Workers Union, has stated that Valparaiso is operating normally. However, ports in southern Chile, which are closer to the epicenter, remain closed.[74]

On March 4, President Bachelet said Chile will need international loans and three to four years to rebuild.[75]
[edit] Tsunami
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A tsunami warning was first declared for Chile and Peru,[76] and a tsunami watch for Ecuador, Colombia, Antarctica, Panama and Costa Rica.[77][78] The warning was later extended to a Pacific Ocean-wide warning, covering all coastal areas on the Pacific Ocean except the west coast of the United States, British Columbia, and Alaska.[79] Hawaiian media reported that tsunami warning sirens sounded at 6 am local time.[80] The U.S. Tsunami Warning Center issued advisories about potential tidal waves of less than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) striking the Pacific Ocean coastline between California and most of Alaska late in the afternoon or through the evening 12 or more hours after the initial earthquake.[81]

The tsunami warning was cancelled for all countries except Japan and Russia in PTWC Bulletin 18 of 00:12 UTC on 28 February 2010.[82]

In general, tsunamis tend to come in several waves, of which the first may not be the highest.[83][84]
The tsunami's passage as recorded by National Data Buoy Center Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) buoy 34142, located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean 630 nautical miles (1170 km) southwest of Lima, Peru.

The U.S. National Weather Service's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning throughout a huge swathe of the Pacific region, including Antarctica.[85] In the Americas, the warning extends to Chile (including Easter Island), Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Panama.[85] A warning was also issued for the Oceania and Pacific Islands nations and territories of American Samoa, Australia, the Cook Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia (including the FSM states of Chuuk, Kosrae, Pohnpei and Yap), Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hawaii, Jarvis Island, Johnston Island, the Kermadec Islands, Kiribati, Marcus Island, the Marshall Islands, Midway Island, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna and Wake Island.[85] Tsunami warnings are also in effect as far away as East and Southeast Asia including Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Russia and Taiwan.[85]

Coastal areas of Canada's westernmost province British Columbia were under a tsunami advisory.[86] No large wave was expected to strike British Columbia, but strong local ocean currents combined with a wave put low-lying coastal regions at risk of flooding.[86] The first wave was expected to reach southern British Columbia at 3:11 p.m. local time.[86] Residents were advised to avoid beaches, harbours and marinas.[87]

A tsunami advisory was also issued for coastal areas of California, Oregon, Washington and southern Alaska in the United States.[88] This tsunami advisory was canceled as of 7:13 AM UTD on February 28.[89]

Russian authorities lifted a tsunami alert for the Kamchatka coast, after the arrival of a 0.8 m (2.6 ft) surge that caused no damage.[90] The tsunami was also reported to be small along the Japanese coast passed without incident. Many coastal areas in Japan had been evacuated as a precaution.[91]

The projections use DART (Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis) gauges spread along the sea floor, which is a fairly new technology. Initial deep sea readings showed wave height of 25 centimeters, which is huge for deep water according to Gerard Fryer of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. He went on to say, “although it was huge, we didn't quite know what it meant because we haven't much experience with those. As we get more under our belts, we'll get better."[92]
[edit] Chile

Some 30 minutes after the first shock, consecutive tsunami waves hit coastal towns, among which Constitución suffered the hardest damage;[93] subsequently, a tsunami amplitude of up to 2.6 m (8 ft 6 in) high was recorded in the sea at Valparaíso.[25][94][95] A wave amplitude of 2.34 m (7.68 ft) was recorded at Talcahuano in the Biobío Region.[2] Robinson Crusoe Island, the largest of the Juan Fernández Islands, was struck by a large wave led to the deaths of four people on the island, with eleven people reported as missing, according to Provincial Governor Ivan De La Maza. President Bachelet is reported to have sent an aid mission to the remote island.[96][97]

As a precaution against the coming tsunami, partial evacuation was ordered in Easter Island, about 3,510 km (2,180 mi) away from the coast of Chile. The tsunami wave arrived in Easter Island at 12:05 UTC, measuring 0.35 m (1.15 ft).[98][99]

On 27 February, defense minister Francisco Vidal said that the Chilean Navy had made a mistake by not immediately issuing a tsunami warning after the earthquake, a step that could have helped coastal villagers flee to higher ground sooner. However, an alarm was later sounded by port captains and saved some lives.[100]
[edit] Oceania

New Zealand

Initially, the New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management (CDEM) said they did not expect a tsunami to reach New Zealand,[101] but later issued a warning stating that waves of up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high were likely for the eastern[102] and later the entire New Zealand coast.[103] By 7:55 pm UTC (8:40 am local), Civil Defence reported wave activity of 50 cm (1.6 ft) in the Chatham Islands,[104] and 2 m (6 ft 7 in) surges were reported there later in the morning.[105] A surge 2.2 m (7 ft 3 in) high hit the South Island's Banks Peninsula,[103][106] while surges up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) high were reported in the northern North Island.[107] By mid afternoon (local time), Civil Defence had downgraded the tsunami warning to an alert, while still advising that sea levels could change quickly for up to 24 hours from the initial surge.[108]

Antarctica

The U.S. Antarctic Program's coastal station along the Antarctic Peninsula, Palmer Station, went on a tsunami alert shortly after the earthquake struck Chile. To prepare for a possible tsunami, station personnel removed all Zodiac boats from the water and moved any materials from low-lying areas that waves could have swept away. Personnel also retreated to the station’s highest building, GWR, while the tsunami warning was in effect, Ellis said. Palmer personnel developed a tsunami emergency plan following the 2004 earthquake in the Indian Ocean that created a tsunami that killed more than 230,000 people in 14 countries. While no noticeable tsunami occurred at Palmer, the station tide monitor displayed bumps of several centimeters, signifying that a small wave had indeed reached the shores of Anvers Island.[109]

Australia

The Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Center (JATWC) sent out tsunami warnings for New South Wales, Queensland, Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island, Tasmania, and Victoria. The organization warned of the possibility of dangerous waves, strong ocean currents and foreshore flooding to occur on the east coast of Australia for several hours on Sunday.[110] As a result of the warnings, patrolled beaches in New South Wales and Queensland remained closed (red flags) and lifeguards ushered people to leave the water. However beach goers and surfers ignored the warnings. Numerous onlookers also crowded parts of the shore to view potential effects of the tsunami.[111] The beach ban was lifted by the end of the day and there was no reports of damage, flooding or other emergencies. Tsunami waves of between 10 cm and 50 cm were recorded and their surges were believed to have created strong currents. Increases in sea levels include: Norfolk Island 50 cm, Gold Coast (Qld) 20 cm, Port Kembla (NSW) 14 cm, Southport (Tas) 17 cm.[111]

French Polynesia

A wave measuring up to 6 ft (1.8 m) high struck portions of French Polynesia between 3:50 pm to 5:50 pm UTC (6:50 am to 6:50 am local), with no reports of injuries as of February 28, 2010 (2010 -02-28)[update].[112] A wave 4 meters high is reported to have struck Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands.[113] The first waves were expected to hit the main island of Tahiti at approximately 4:50 pm UTC (7:50 am local).[114] Cars and other automobiles were banned from roads closer than 500 m (1,600 ft) from the Pacific Ocean.[114]

Réseau France Outre-mer in Papeete reported that a wave measuring less than 1 m (3 ft 3 in) passed east of the Gambier Islands with no damage, according to Monique Richeton, the mayor of Rikitea.[112][114] Residents of the Tuamotus, which are low-lying, were told to move to the highest points on the island.[114]

American Samoa

The first wave was expected to reach American Samoa, which is still recovering from the 2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami, at 8:51 local time.[114] Lieutenant Governor Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia urged residents not to rush to A'oloau, a high elevation area on Tutuila, as it could cause traffic jams, putting safety at risk.[114] Many coastal towns, including the main city of Pago Pago, had already been heavily damaged in the 2009 tsunami. The first wave arrived on Pago Plaza at 21:58 UTC.

Philippines

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) issued an advisory that tsunami wave(s) were expected to hit the eastern coast of the Philippines on Sunday between 5:00 am and 6:30 am UTC (1:00 pm and 2:30 pm local). Residents of 19 eastern provinces "are advised to prepare for possible evacuation."[115] However, at 3:15 PM on February 28, 2010, all warnings have been cancelled.[116]

Hawaii

United States Senators Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka issued a joint press release announcing the first tsunami evacuation in Hawaii since 1994.[117][118] Warning sirens were sounded throughout the state, as hotels in Waikiki evacuated tourists at 6 a.m. People in tall buildings were encouraged to move above the third floor. Waves measuring nine feet high were originally predicted to strike Hilo Bay on the Big Island of Hawai'i at 11:05 a.m. local time (2105 GMT),[119] but by 11:18 a.m., major receding and waves had not been reported on the shoreline. By 11:40, several waves hit the islands amounting to raising and lowering of the sea near the coast, and a fourth wave hit around 1:12 p.m. The tsunami warning for Hawaii was canceled in the early afternoon on Saturday, February 27.

Gerard Fryer, a geophysicist for the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center was quoted as saying: “We expected the waves to be bigger in Hawaii, maybe about 50 percent bigger than they actually were."[120] Early in the morning, the Center expected waves of 10 feet. In actuality, the highest tsunami waves ended up being about 5 to 6 feet peak to trough.[92]
[edit] North America

British Columbia

At around 11:00 pm UTC (3:00 pm local), a tsunami warning was issued for coastal British Columbia. Extra precautions were already in place due to the 2010 Winter Olympics being held in Vancouver at the time.[121]

California

Small waves were expected in California, and receding was reported at Long Beach. Minor damage was reported on some coastal areas. The tsunami damaged navigation buoys at Ventura.[122] Additionally, a boat was torn loose from its mooring and minor erosion occurred within Ventura Harbor. Damage to docks and pilings in the area was moderate.[123]

Guerrero

In Guerrero, surges of between 30 cm and 1 meter and receding of up to 10 m were reported, and three small vessels were sunk at Tecpán de Galeana. The state tourism authorities announced they would be sending a letter to the CNN news network to protest the "alarming" way in which it had forecast a tsunami for the major tourist destination of Acapulco.[124]
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