Mauna Kea is Taller Than Everest:
Mount Everest may be the tallest mountain above sea level, but when it comes to the tallest mountain on earth, that honor goes to Mauna Kea. Above the sea, Mauna Kea only stands 13,796 feet in height. But when you follow the mountain to its base at the bottom of the Pacific, it's 32,808 feet — more than 3,000 feet taller than Everest.
Mt. Everest is not as close to the Moon as Mt. Chimborazo:
Poor Mt. Everest — is it not actually the tallest mountain in the world, but it is also not the closest to outer space, even though it boasts the highest elevation above sea level. That distinction goes, instead, to Ecuador's Mt. Chimborazo. How so? Earth is not actually round, but oval, with an inflated middle. Though Ecuador's Mt. Chimborazo is only 20,564 feet in height, its equator location pushes it closer to the stars than Mt. Everest, at 29,035 feet.
Iceland is Growing 5 Centimeters per year:
Iceland, divided by the North American and European tectonic plates, is growing by nearly 5 centimeters per year as the plates grow wider apart.
The Pacific Ocean is Shrinking:
As North America and South America move more westward, the Pacific Ocean is shrinking. Every year, Asia and North America get closer and closer as the Pacific is reduced by two to three centimeters.
A good Morning is a good night in parts of Russia:
Russia has eleven times zones (of just 24 totals in the world!). So, when a Russian on one side of the country is awaking at 7 a.m., another on the other side may be sitting down to dinner. Another fun fact? France actually uses more time zones — 12 — than Russia or anywhere else in the world, due to its overseas territories.
Los Angeles is East of Reno, Nevada:
Sure, California is west of Nevada, however check the map closely and you will see the city of Angels is actually 86 miles east of Reno. This is particularly mind-boggling when you consider Nevada is close to 300 miles from the Pacific Ocean.
Mexico City Is Sinking:
Originally built on a lake in 1325 A.D., Mexico City is currently sinking by about 3.2 feet per year. The Aztecs filled in Lago DE Texcoco to create an artificial island, and the Spaniards created a second location atop the ruins in 1521. because the majority of locals rely on water extracted from the aquifer below the city, it's dropped a total of 32 feet over the last 60 years!
Iceland, divided by the North American and European tectonic plates, is growing by nearly 5 centimeters per year as the plates grow wider apart.
The Pacific Ocean is Shrinking:
As North America and South America move more westward, the Pacific Ocean is shrinking. Every year, Asia and North America get closer and closer as the Pacific is reduced by two to three centimeters.
A good Morning is a good night in parts of Russia:
Russia has eleven times zones (of just 24 totals in the world!). So, when a Russian on one side of the country is awaking at 7 a.m., another on the other side may be sitting down to dinner. Another fun fact? France actually uses more time zones — 12 — than Russia or anywhere else in the world, due to its overseas territories.
Los Angeles is East of Reno, Nevada:
Sure, California is west of Nevada, however check the map closely and you will see the city of Angels is actually 86 miles east of Reno. This is particularly mind-boggling when you consider Nevada is close to 300 miles from the Pacific Ocean.
Mexico City Is Sinking:
Originally built on a lake in 1325 A.D., Mexico City is currently sinking by about 3.2 feet per year. The Aztecs filled in Lago DE Texcoco to create an artificial island, and the Spaniards created a second location atop the ruins in 1521. because the majority of locals rely on water extracted from the aquifer below the city, it's dropped a total of 32 feet over the last 60 years!
Los Angeles and San Francisco will be Neighboring Cities:
The San Andreas fault in California is "consuming" nearly 2 inches of land each year. If humans are still around in 15 million years, those living in Las Angeles and San Francisco can be neighbors.
There are 7,100+ Islands in the Philippines:
The archipelago of the Philippines is formed of 7,641 islands — many hundred more than the 7,107 islands scientists previously believed the country contained. New mapping research revealed the additional land masses a couple years ago, prompting "The Inquirer" to note, "The change is a reminder of how knowledge, even scientific knowledge, is a matter of religion...It’s good for our critical thinking to be reminded of the contingency of 'expert knowledge.'" The southern Pacific islands were named for King Philip II of Spain. The country's largest island is Luzon, spanning 42,458 square miles.
Russia and China touch 14 Countries each:
Looking at a map, it may seem Russia can swallow China whole. However, both countries border 14 countries. Russia (including the region of Kaliningrad) borders Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, North Korea, Norway, Poland and Ukraine. China borders Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal. North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Vietnam.
The San Andreas fault in California is "consuming" nearly 2 inches of land each year. If humans are still around in 15 million years, those living in Las Angeles and San Francisco can be neighbors.
There are 7,100+ Islands in the Philippines:
The archipelago of the Philippines is formed of 7,641 islands — many hundred more than the 7,107 islands scientists previously believed the country contained. New mapping research revealed the additional land masses a couple years ago, prompting "The Inquirer" to note, "The change is a reminder of how knowledge, even scientific knowledge, is a matter of religion...It’s good for our critical thinking to be reminded of the contingency of 'expert knowledge.'" The southern Pacific islands were named for King Philip II of Spain. The country's largest island is Luzon, spanning 42,458 square miles.
Russia and China touch 14 Countries each:
Looking at a map, it may seem Russia can swallow China whole. However, both countries border 14 countries. Russia (including the region of Kaliningrad) borders Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, North Korea, Norway, Poland and Ukraine. China borders Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal. North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Vietnam.