Young, Brigham (1801-1877), led the Mormons from Illinois to what is now Utah, and established their church there. Young was the second president of the Mormon church, which is officially called the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He became the Mormon leader in 1844, after Joseph Smith, the church founder, was shot to death. Young was a tireless worker. A strong will, engaging personality, and deep convictions made him an outstanding leader...

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Young, John Watts (1930-...), is a United States astronaut. He has made more space flights than any other astronaut. On March 23, 1965, Young and Virgil I. Grissom made the first flight in the Gemini program. They circled the earth three times and became the first space pilots to change their orbit...

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Yugoslavia is what remains of a much larger country, also called Yugoslavia, that broke up into several independent nations in 1991 and 1992. The new Yugoslavia, like the former, lies on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe. Belgrade is the nation's capital and largest city...

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Yukon River is one of the longest rivers in North America. It rises in far northwestern British Columbia, Canada. It flows across Canada's Yukon Territory and Alaska in the United States. About two-thirds of the river's course is in Alaska, and about one-third is in Canada. The river's total length is 1,979 miles (3,185 kilometers). The Yukon drains more than 330,000 square miles (855,000 square kilometers). About half of this area lies in Alaska...

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Yukon Territory, pronounced YOO kahn, is a region in northwest Canada. It is part of a vast subarctic region, with long, cold winters and short, cool summers. The Yukon Territory is sparsely populated due to its harsh climate and rugged terrain. The territory has rich mineral deposits and magnificent scenery. Many prospectors hurried to the territory during the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897 and 1898. Today, mining remains the most important industry. Tourism and government are also important...

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Zinc, a chemical element, is a shiny, bluish-white metal. It is important in industry. Zinc can be worked into almost any shape using conventional metalworking methods. Such metals as iron and steel can be galvanized--that is, coated with zinc--to prevent rusting. Galvanized metal is used in such products as roof gutters and tank linings. Zinc is also used in electric batteries. Plants and animals require zinc for normal growth and healing. Zinc is also a component of the hormone insulin...

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Zambia, pronounced ZAM bee uh, is a country in south-central Africa. It ranks as one of the world's largest producers of copper. Zambia exports copper to many parts of the world and gains much income from the exports...

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Zappa, Frank (1940-1993), was one of the most creative and versatile personalities in the history of American rock music. Zappa was a composer, bandleader, and guitarist. Although he was one of the major innovators of rock music, he also attempted to blend jazz and classical music. Zappa performed much of his work through his band, the Mothers of Invention, a shifting group of musicians that he led for many years...

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Zebra is a striped member of the horse family. There are three species--the common zebra, Grevy's zebra, and the mountain zebra. They live in herds in the deserts and grasslands of eastern and southern Africa...

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Zimbabwe, pronounced zihm BAH bway, is a landlocked country in southern Africa. Most of the country is a high plateau. Zimbabwe lies in the tropics but has a pleasant climate because of the high altitude. Zimbabwe's beautiful scenery includes the famous Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River along the country's northern border. Zimbabwe is a leading mineral producer. Harare is the capital and largest city...

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