The tidal basin formed by the two converging rivers was named "dubh linn" (meaning "black pool") by Celts, who had inhabited the area upstream as early as 500 BC.

BBC: Dublin's Viking heritage

Now fast-forward to 2013, where in the past few weeks the Curiosity rover has been drilling into some different rocks half a planet away, inside a deep basin formed by the Gale impact crater.

CNN: Have a drink on Mars

Similar scenes at 28 meetings have fired up rural Australia since the water-use plan was unveiled in early October by the authority responsible for managing the basin formed by two of Australia's longest rivers, the Murray and the Darling.

ECONOMIST: Australia's water war

This year marks the first time in recorded history that a tropical storm has formed in both the east Pacific basin and Atlantic basin before the official start of hurricane season, the Hurricane Center said.

CNN: Tropical Storm Alberto forms in the Atlantic