On this day

2 February in history.

5 moments from 1709 to 2004: discovery, creativity and courage, each with a source to read more.

5 moments

1925

Sled dogs race medicine to Nome. Teams of mushers and dogs carried life-saving diphtheria medicine across frozen Alaska to the town of Nome. The relay later inspired the famous Iditarod sled dog race.

Photo: U.S. Bureau of Land Management / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

1709
A castaway is rescued
Alexander Selkirk, a Scottish sailor, was picked up after four years alone on an empty Pacific island. His story is thought to have inspired the novel Robinson Crusoe.
Wikipedia: Alexander Selkirk
Photo: SylviaStanley / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
1913
Grand Central Terminal opens
New York's grand new railway station opened just after midnight. No other train station in the world has more platforms.
Wikipedia: Grand Central Terminal
Photo: Fcb981 ; Eric Baetscher (attribution required) / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
1971
Countries agree to protect wetlands
In the Iranian town of Ramsar, nations signed a treaty to look after marshes, lakes and other wetlands. Today it covers thousands of sites around the world.
Wikipedia: Ramsar Convention Wikipedia: Wetland
Photo: Ramsar Convention / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)
2004
Federer reaches number one
Roger Federer became the world's top-ranked men's tennis player. He stayed there for 237 weeks in a row, a record.
Wikipedia: Roger Federer
Photo: Tatiana from Moscow, Russia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)

Moments chosen for discovery, creativity and courage. Each one links to a source where you can read more; photos are credited to their owners.