Today in History - 20th of May

What Happened On This Day – 20 May

2006 The Three Gorges Dam is officially opened

The hydroelectric dam is the world's largest power station in terms of installed capacity. Despite its benefits, the project remains controversial because it flooded archeological and cultural sites and displaced some 1.3 million people.
1983 In South Africa, a car bomb planted by anti-Apartheid activists kills 19

The Church Street Bombing was carried out by the military wing of the African National Congress (ANC). It was one of the bloodiest chapters in the ANC’s long and difficult struggle against racial segregation and oppression in South Africa.
1940 The first prisoners arrive at Auschwitz concentration camp

Auschwitz was the biggest extermination camp during World War II. From 1940 to 1945, the Nazi regime murdered at least 1.1 million people here.
1927 Charles Lindbergh takes off on the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight

He departed from Long Island in the United States and arrived in Paris, France at 22:22 on the next day.
1873 Blue jeans are patented

Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis invented the garment, which today represents one of the most popular types of trousers worldwide.

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Births On This Day – 20 May

1971 Tony Stewart

American race car driver
1946 Cher

American singer-songwriter, actress, producer, director
1944 Joe Cocker

English singer-songwriter
1915 Moshe Dayan

Israeli general, politician, 5th Minister of Foreign Affairs for Israel)
1799 Honoré de Balzac

French author, playwright