Interesting Geographic Facts in US and around world

• Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain on Earth:
  • Mount Everest may be the tallest mountain above sea level, but Mauna Kea in Hawaii is taller from its base at the bottom of the Pacific
  • Mauna Kea is 13,769 feet above sea level, but 32,880 feet from its base
• Mexico City is sinking into the Earth:
  • Mexico City is sinking around 3.2 feet every year
  • It has sunk an unbelievable 32 feet over the last 60 years due to the consumption of groundwater
• The Philippines has more than 7,600 islands:
  • The Archipelago of the Philippines is home to more than 7,641 islands
  • This is more than the previously believed 7,107 islands
• Alaska is both the westernmost and easternmost part of the United States:
  • Alaska is the westernmost state of the United States
  • Due to its large size, it also stretches far to the west, making it the easternmost part of the country as well
• Island-ception in the Philippines:
  • In the Philippines, there is an island in the middle of a lake, which is on an island in a lake, that's on an island
  • Vulcan Point is an island inside Main Crater Lake, which is situated on Volcano Island, which is located in Lake Taal on the island of Luzon
• Morning and night happen at the same time in Russia:
  • Russia has 11 time zones out of the 24 in the entire world
  • This means that while it is morning on one side of the country, it is evening on the other side
• The Sargasso Sea has no coasts:
  • The Sargasso Sea is the only sea without any coasts
  • It is surrounded by four ocean currents and has no land
• Mount Augustus is the largest rock in the world:
  • Mount Augustus in Australia is not a mountain, but a massive rock
  • It stands more than 2,300 feet tall and is more than twice the size of Ayers Rock

• Great Barrier Reef: A Heart in the Ocean:
  • The Great Barrier Reef, spanning 1,429 miles of Australia's coastline, has a heart-shaped reef that was first spotted in 1955.
  • The heart is 55 feet in diameter and is part of the Hardy Reef in Whitsunday's.
• Mount Everest Isn't the Closest Mountain to the Moon:
  • Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador is closer to the moon than Mount Everest by 1.5 miles.
  • This is because Earth is not a sphere, but an oval inflated in the middle, and the equator pushes Mount Chimborazo higher.
• Africa: Spanning All Four Hemispheres:
  • Africa covers the north, south, east, and west hemispheres, making it the only continent to do so.
  • It covers 12 million square miles and is home to 54 countries, with Algeria being the largest.
• The Abundance of Water on Earth:
  • More than 71% of the planet is covered in water, but humans can only consume 0.007% of it.
  • Only 2.5% of the water is freshwater, and of that, only 1% is readily accessible.
• A Piece of England in North Carolina:
  • A piece of land in Ocracoke, North Carolina, is leased forever to England as a cemetery and memorial for the sailors of the HTM Bedfordshire.
  • The sailors perished during World War II, and four bodies washed ashore and were buried in the leased cemetery.
• The Journey of the Mississippi River:
  • The Mississippi River, measuring 2,348 miles, would take a drop of water 90 days to travel from its source in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico.
  • It passes through or borders ten states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
• The Country with the Longest Official Name:
  • The United Kingdom officially has the most characters in its name - the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
  • Previously, Libya held the record with Al Jumahiriyah al Arabiyah al Libiyah ash Shabiyah al Ishtirakiyah al Uzma.
• Snow in Unexpected Places:
  • Hawaii, known for its tropical climate, receives snow on its tall volcanoes, such as Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, and Haleakala.
  • Australia's Alps, along the border of New South Wales and Victoria, receive more snowfall than the Swiss Alps due to their proximity to the coast.

• Los Angeles Is East Of Reno, Nevada:
  • The city of Los Angeles, California is actually East of Reno, Nevada.
  • Los Angeles is around 86 miles east of Reno.
• Istanbul Is The Only Major City That Rests On Two Continents:     
  • Istanbul is a major city located in both Europe and Asia.
  • The city is divided by the Bosphorus Strait and is known for its historical center.
• Russia Has The Coldest Inhabited Place On Earth:
  • Oymyakon, Russia is the coldest permanently inhabited place on Earth.
  • The region reached a staggering low of -96.16 degrees Fahrenheit in 1924.
• Russia And China Touch 14 Countries Each:
  • Russia borders 14 countries including Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, and Ukraine.
  • China borders 14 countries including Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
• Sudan Has More Pyramids Than Egypt:
  • Sudan has nearly twice the amount of pyramids compared to Egypt.
  • There are between 200 and 255 known pyramids in Sudan.
• Red Features A Total Population Greater Than The Gray:
  • Southern California has a greater population than the gray areas on the map.
  • Coastal states and the eastern seaboard are more densely populated.
• Texas Doesn't Look All That Big Compared To Africa:
  • Texas is dropped down on top of Africa, it looks about the size of one of the countries.
  • Africa is 45 times larger than Texas.
• Light Pollution Throughout The Continental United States:
  • Middle and northwest America have substantially less light pollution than the coastal states east of the Mississippi River.
  • Around 80 percent of North Americans can't see the Milky Way due to light pollution.

• Size Comparison of New Zealand and the United Kingdom:
  • New Zealand is 3,558 percent larger than the United Kingdom.
  • Both countries are similar in size.
• Metric System Vs. Imperial System:
  • The United States and two other countries still use the imperial system.
  • Rest of the world uses the metric system.
• Forests in America:
  • America is home to 8 percent of the world's forests.
  • Forests are densely populated in the northwest and east of Mississippi River.
• Abandoned Railways in the United States:
  • Railways played a significant role in America's construction.
  • Most abandoned railways are located in the east, slowly expanding west.
• Flamingos in the Wild:
  • Flamingos can be found in Africa, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, and southern America.
  • Flamingos tend to stand on one leg, possibly to retain body heat.
• California Vs. Italy Size Comparison:
  • California is larger in area than Italy.
  • California is 74.61 percent the size of Italy.
• Population Distribution in Middle America:
  • Most people live on the eastern and western seaboard.
  • The majority of middle states have a smaller population.
• Highway System in the United States:
  • The United States has a total of 157,724 miles of highways.
  • Highways are maintained by state and local governments.
• Australia Vs. The United States Size Comparison:
  • The United States is 1.3 times larger than Australia.
  • Australia has a smaller land area than the United States.
• Population Density in the United States:
  • The population density of each state determines its size on the map.
  • Alaska is shrunk down while states like California and Florida remain similar in size.
• Size Comparison of China and the United States:
  • China is slightly larger than the United States in terms of surface area.
  • China is the most populated country in the world.
• Hudson Bay Vs. Cuba Size Comparison:
  • Hudson Bay is significantly larger than Cuba.
  • Cuba appears tiny when compared to Hudson Bay.
• Population Comparison of LA County with Other US States:
  • LA County has a population of 10 million, out-populating a majority of US states.
  • North Carolina and Georgia population sizes are similar to LA County.

• Greenland vs South America:
  • Greenland has an area of 2,166,086 sq km, while South America has an area of 17,840,000 sq km.
  • South America is 8.2 times larger than Greenland.
• Problem with World Maps:
  • Translating a three-dimensional planet into a two-dimensional map can lead to countries appearing larger or smaller than they are.
  • Maps must choose between representing the shape or size of regions.
• Continents' Movement:
  • Continents move at an average rate of 20 millimeters per year.
  • This is equivalent to the rate at which fingernails grow.
• Australia's Width:
  • Australia's width is approximately 2,485 miles.
  • The Moon's equatorial diameter is about 2,160 miles, making Australia slightly wider than the Moon.
• Mt. Thor's 105-Degree Cliff Face:
  • Mt. Thor on Baffin Island has a steep, 105-degree cliff face.
  • It is the site of the world's longest purely vertical drop.
• Shrinking Dead Sea:
  • Over 1,000 sinkholes have formed in the Dead Sea, causing it to shrink.
  • These sinkholes threaten the aquifers and surrounding hotels.
• Vatican City: The Smallest Country:
  • Vatican City is the smallest country in the world.
  • It has an area of just 0.19 square miles and a population of 800-900 people.
• Iceland's Growing Landmass:
  • The middle of Iceland is growing by about two centimeters every year.
  • This is due to the drifting of tectonic plates.
• San Francisco and Los Angeles' Future:
  • The San Andreas fault is pushing southern California northward toward San Francisco.
  • It will take an estimated 10.6 million years for them to be close neighbors.
• Italy's Landlocked Neighbors:
  • Vatican City and San Marino are landlocked within Italy's borders.
  • San Marino is one of the oldest republics and reflects Italy's history of city-states.
• America's Largest Cities in Alaska:
  • Sitka, Alaska, is the most vast city in the United States with an area of 2,870 square miles.
  • Other large cities in Alaska include Juneau, Wrangell, and Anchorage.