Hot Dogs by the Numbers: Fourth of July Traditions
From Nation, For Nation - Pulse of the Nation
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Swiss Break Record with 1.2-Mile-Long Passenger Train
Weighing 2,990 tons, the extra-long train was comprised of 25 smaller “Capricorn” electric trains, traveled approximately 15 miles from Preda to Alvaneu along a UNESCO World Heritage route in eastern Switzerland on October 29, according to CNN. The area is renowned for its plunging hills, switchbacks, viaducts, and tunnels.
Chugging Along
During the hour-long excursion, the train descended from 5,866 feet above sea level in Preda about 30 miles from Italy’s border to 3,279 feet at Alavneu. The route is slightly treacherous due to its sharp curves, 22 tunnels, 48 bridges, and narrow-gauge construction.
Belgium and the Dutch previously held the longest passenger train record but did so by operating their trains on standard-gauge railways on level landscapes. In contrast, the Swiss train traveled on a narrow-gauge railway in which the rails were spaced just 3.3 feet apart as opposed to the standard gauge of 4 feet 8.5 inches. →
From Globe, For Globe - Pulse of the Planet
Every Independence Day, Americans celebrate freedom with food, consuming 155 million hot dogs in a single day-enough to stretch from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles five times.
From backyard grills to baseball games and street carts, the hot dog has become a true Fourth of July icon.
Loved nationwide, it stands as a symbol of summer, tradition, and all-American celebration.
America’s passion for hot dogs is best told through numbers.
Baseball fans eat 20 million hot dogs annually at ballparks, while Los Angeles alone consumes 39 million, more than any city in the world.
During “hot dog season,” Americans devour 7 billion hot dogs, averaging 800 every second.
This love affair also fuels big business and big events.
Americans spend $8.5 billion each year on hot dogs and sausages in supermarkets alone.
And at the pinnacle of hot dog fame, 40,000 fans gather at Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island every Fourth of July.
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