Construction of the Transcontinental Railroad began in 1863 and was completed in 1869. A ceremony was held in Promontory, Utah to drive in the final “golden” spike. The Overland Route, as it was then known, ran for 3,069 kilometers and was built by the Central Pacific, Union Pacific, and Western Pacific railroads.
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Apis mellifera - There are approximately 20,000 species of bees, each classified as either social or solitary. Honey bees are among the social bees and form single colonies containing as many as 50,000 to 60,000 individuals. Each colony has one reigning queen, a few hundred drones, and thousands of workers, the infertile daughters of the queen. Honey bees are native to Africa, Asia, and Europe; they were introduced to the New World in the 1600’s. Bees provide a crucial ecological service in the pollination of plants.
