Geographical Knowledge that Challenges Your World
Our planet is truly an incredible place, with geographical elements shaped by nature and inventions made by ourselves. If you want to learn about the world, you can simply open a map – but there are things that remain hidden to most people. We have gathered geographical knowledge about the Earth that will challenge your understanding.
Mount Everest is not the tallest mountain in the world
Mount Everest is probably the most well-known mountain in the world, and many people risk their lives daily to reach its summit. However, it is a common misconception that Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world.
Yes, it is the tallest mountain above sea level, but when it comes to the tallest mountain in the world, we must consider Mauna Kea. Located in Hawaii, Mauna Kea is only 13,769 feet above the Earth's surface, but it extends 32,808 feet into the Pacific Ocean. Therefore, it surpasses the mighty Everest by 3,000 feet.
Mexico City is sinking into the ground
Mexico City was originally built on a lake in 1325, and the city seems to sink about 3.2 feet every year. Before the arrival of Europeans, the Aztecs filled the lake, Lago de Texcoco, to create an artificial island upon which the Spanish eventually built in 1521.
However, as the population relies on the water beneath the city, Mexico City has sunk 32 feet in the last 60 years.
The Philippines have 7,600 islands
The Philippines, also known as the Philippine Islands, have more islands than most people realize. In fact, there are 7,641 islands, which is more than initially thought by researchers.
The Inquirer has even admitted, "This change is a reminder that even science can be mistaken... It is good to critically examine things and compare expert opinions."
Alaska belongs to both the easternmost and westernmost parts of the USA
From a quick look at the map, it is evident that Alaska belongs to the westernmost part of the USA. That is true, but Alaska is also part of the easternmost part. This is possible because it extends from the far west to the eastern hemisphere.
Additionally, there is the Semisopochnoi Island, which also belongs to Alaska. Technically speaking, this island belongs to the easternmost part of all of North America.
Ception Island in the Philippines
Somewhere in the world, there is an island in the middle of a lake, which in turn is located on an island that sits on another lake. Confusing? This place is actually real, and it can be found in the Philippines. Vulcan Point is an island within a crater lake.
The main crater lake is on the Volcano Island, and the Volcano Island is in Taal Lake. This lake is situated on the island of Luzon, which happens to be the largest and most populous island in the Philippines.
Morning and night happen simultaneously in Russia
When one realizes the vast size of Russia, it becomes apparent that it spans eleven time zones – a total of twenty-four time zones exist worldwide. This means that while one side of Russia wakes up at 7 AM, the other side is just sitting down for dinner.
Did you know that France has more time zones than Russia? This is indeed the case, due to France's numerous overseas territories.
The Sargasso Sea has no shores
It might seem logical to assume that any body of water must have some form of coastline separating it from the landmass. However, this is not the case when it comes to the Sargasso Sea – the only sea without shores.
Located in the Northern Atlantic Ocean, it is surrounded by four different ocean currents, completely devoid of land. It derives its name from the Sargassum seaweed found there.
The Largest Rock in the World is in Australia
Despite its name, Mount Augustus is not actually a mountain but a massive rock. It can be found in the Australian outback and is hard to miss, standing at a height of 2,300 feet. It can be seen from a distance of 100 miles.
Surprisingly, this rock is twice the size of Ayers Rock, which is probably the most famous rock in the world. Additionally, Mount Augustus is over 1,650 million years old!
Two Islands Separated by 2.4 Miles
Between the USA and Russia lie the Diomede Islands, which separate the two countries. "Big Diomede" is in Russia, and "Little Diomede" is in America. These islands, in fact, represent international borders.
Although the two islands are only 2.4 miles apart, they have a 20-hour time difference. Consequently, Big Diomede is called the "Tomorrow Island," and Little Diomede is appropriately known as the "Yesterday Island."
Damascus is the Oldest Continuously Inhabited City in the World
When one thinks of the oldest cities in the world, cities like Athens or Cairo come to mind. However, it is actually Damascus, in Syria, that holds this title. The city has been continuously inhabited for approximately 11,000 years and was crowned the Arab Capital of Culture in 2008.
Today, Damascus is home to over 125 monuments from various periods in history, some dating back to the third millennium BC. Currently, it is inhabited by 1.7 million people.
The State of Kentucky has More Caves than Anywhere Else in the World
Officially known as the Commonwealth of Kentucky and nicknamed the "Bluegrass State," Kentucky is the 37th largest and 26th most populous of the 50 United States. It is also home to the largest cave system known as Mammoth Cave.
This cave system stretches for a whopping 400 miles (at least as explored so far), with researchers believing there may be an additional 200 miles of unexplored systems. Tourists can even visit portions of the cave in Mammoth National Park.
Snow in the Sahara Desert
The Sahara Desert is known as the hottest place on Earth, with temperatures exceeding 136 degrees Fahrenheit. With such extreme heat, it is difficult to imagine snow. However, surprising as it may be, the average temperature in the desert is about 86 degrees Fahrenheit, and during the evenings, it can drop to 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
In fact, there have been reports of snowfall in the Sahara Desert in 2018, the third occurrence in the last 40 years. It was also reported in 2016 and 1979.
The Heart of the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest living organism in the world, stretching for 1,429 miles along the coast of Australia. That alone is fascinating, but when flying over it, one can see that a portion of the reef has the shape of a heart.
The first pilot to notice this was flying over the "heart" of the Great Barrier Reef in 1955. It measures 55 feet in diameter and is part of the Hardy Reef in the Whitsunday Islands. However, approaching it by boat is not allowed!
Everest is not Closest to the Moon
Mount Everest is not only mistaken as the tallest mountain in the world but also not the mountain closest to the moon. That honor actually goes to Mount Chimborazo. This is only possible because our planet is not a perfect sphere, as most people assume, but an oblate spheroid.
In Ecuador, Mount Chimborazo stands at a height of 20,564 feet, and although it is shorter than Everest, it is approximately 1.5 miles closer to the moon.
Africa Spans All Four Hemispheres
Africa is the second-longest and second-most populous continent on Earth, following Asia. It covers a whopping 6% of the total Earth's surface and 20% of the land area, with a population of 1.3 billion people.
That, in itself, is impressive, but did you know that Africa is also the only continent that spans the northern, southern, western, and eastern hemispheres, covering a total area of 12 million square miles? Africa is currently home to 54 countries, with Algeria being the largest among them.
Water Covers the Majority of the Earth
71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, but humans can only consume 0.007 percent of it. Out of all the water, only 2.5 percent is freshwater, while the rest is saltwater, as one would expect.
Even out of that, only 1% of freshwater is accessible. The rest is locked in glaciers and snowfields around the world. That's a lot of non-drinkable water on the planet!
Part of North Carolina Belongs to England
On the Outer Banks of North Carolina, there is a town called Ocracoke. Within that town, there is a piece of land that is actually permanently leased to England. It is a cemetery and memorial honoring the HMS Bedfordshire, a British naval ship that patrolled the waters during World War II.
The ship was eventually sunk by a German U-boat, and 37 sailors lost their lives. Most of the casualties were never recovered, with only four bodies washing ashore later and being buried in this cemetery. The cemetery was then leased to England so that the men could find their rest on "home soil."
It Takes 90 Days for a Drop of Water to Travel Down the Mississippi
Did you know that the Mississippi River is the second-longest river and the second-largest drainage system on the North American continent? This enormous river runs through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
The river is a staggering 2,348 miles long, which means it takes a drop of water a whopping 90 days to travel from its northernmost source in Minnesota to its end in the Gulf of Mexico. That's quite a long journey, don't you think?
The Country with the Longest Name
The official name of the United Kingdom is actually "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland" – making it the longest full name for a country. However, this name has evolved over time.
Libya once held the record with 63 characters when it was known as the "Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya." In 2013, the name was changed to the State of Libya – perhaps a more practical decision.
It Snows in Hawaii
Although Hawaii is known for its tropical environment, volcanoes, and surf waves, there are some volcanoes high enough to represent a completely different world. There, you won't find palm trees or salty air, but sometimes even snow.
For example, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, two mountains on the Big Island, and Haleakala on the island of Maui, are over 10,000 feet high. During the winter months, you can expect snow there. It's almost unimaginable!