WHAT ALL HAPPENED FEBRUARY TO MAY 1997
Find out what all happened February to May 1997

The United States government acknowledges the existence of the "Secret War" in Laos and dedicates the Laos Memorial in honor of Hmong and other "Secret War" veterans. (15. May 1997)

In Roslin, Scotland, scientists announce that an adult sheep named Dolly has been successfully cloned. (22. February 1997)

Thirty-nine bodies are found in the Heaven's Gate cult suicides. (26. March 1997)

An earthquake in northern Iran is responsible for about 3,000 deaths. (28. February 1997)

Tara Lipinski, age 14 years and 10 months, becomes the youngest champion women's World Figure Skating Champion. (22. March 1997)

Haouch Khemisti massacre in Algeria – 93 villagers killed. (22. April 1997)

Troops of Laurent Kabila march into Kinshasa. Zaire is officially renamed Democratic Republic of the Congo. (17. May 1997)

The Maeslantkering, a storm surge barrier in the Netherlands that is one of the world's largest moving structures, is opened by Queen Beatrix. (10. May 1997)

The tallest free-standing structure in the Southern Hemisphere, Sky Tower in downtown Auckland, New Zealand, opens after two-and-a-half years of construction. (3. March 1997)

A military coup in Sierra Leone replaces President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah with Major Johnny Paul Koromah. (25. May 1997)

The Japanese embassy hostage crisis ends in Lima, Peru. (22. April 1997)

The Phoenix lights are seen over Phoenix, Arizona by hundreds of people, and by millions on television. (13. March 1997)

India's Missionaries of Charity chooses Sister Nirmala to succeed Mother Teresa as its leader. (13. March 1997)

The Thalit massacre begins in Algeria; all but 1 of the 53 inhabitants of Thalit are killed by guerrillas. (3. April 1997)

A China Southern Airlines Boeing 737 crashes on approach into Bao'an International Airport, killing 35 people. (8. May 1997)

Comet Hale–Bopp: Observers in China, Mongolia and eastern Siberia are treated to a rare double feature as an eclipse permits Hale-Bopp to be seen during the day. (9. March 1997)

A 7.3 Mw earthquake strikes Iran's Khorasan Province, killing 1,567, injuring over 2,300, leaving 50,000 homeless, and damaging or destroying over 15,000 homes. (10. May 1997)

Tiger Woods becomes the youngest golfer to win the Masters Tournament. (13. April 1997)

Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on a mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. (11. February 1997)

The Sierra Gorda Biosphere, the most ecologically diverse region in Mexico, is established as a result of grassroots efforts. (19. May 1997)