But the winds also drive away the mosquitoes, and break through that solid wall of summer heat.

BBC: Seductive southern Crete

As the 2012 London Summer Olympics winds down, it got me thinking about some of the great moments in history as it pertains to jewelry, gemstones and precious metals.

FORBES: The World's Largest Diamond And Other Record-Breaking Jewelry Moments

In fact, this list basically winds up being in reverse time order, going back to the beginning of the summer.

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This being an English summer, some of the aerial contributions had to be cancelled due to high winds.

ECONOMIST: The Empire strikes back

But even in summer, at an altitude of more than 3, 000 metres, the winds are fierce and frequent, the weather is changeable, and the nights are bitterly cold.

BBC: Nomadic Kyrgyzstan

The former, the simple-lifers, arrive in summer with high ideals, but soon discover the delights of social security when winter winds blow their crops away.

ECONOMIST: Beware the expression sea-girt