Amazing Geography Facts

Geography

• The world's largest desert is the Antarctic Desert, covering an area of about 14 million km² (5.4 million sq mi).
• The world's largest waterfall, by volume of water, is actually located underwater and is called the Denmark Strait Cataract, which is situated between Iceland and Greenland.
• Mount Everest, located in the Himalayas, is the highest mountain peak, standing at 8,848 meters (29,029 ft) above sea level.
• The world's longest mountain range is the Mid-Ocean Ridge, stretching for over 65,000 km (40,000 mi).

Science

• The human nose can detect over 1 trillion different scents.
• The largest living organism in the world is a fungus called Armillaria ostoyae, covering over 9.6 km² (3.7 sq mi) in Oregon, USA.
• The shortest war in history was between Britain and Zanzibar on August 27, 1896, and lasted only 38 minutes.
• The fastest land animal is the cheetah, which can reach speeds of up to 120 km/h (75 mph).

History

• The oldest known civilization is the Sumerian civilization, which existed in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) around 4500-1900 BCE.
• The earliest known written language is cuneiform, developed by the Sumerians around 3200 BCE.
• The Great Wall of China is the longest wall in the world, stretching over 13,000 km (8,000 mi) in length.
• The oldest known university is the University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859 CE in Fez, Morocco.

Arts and Culture

• The oldest known piece of music is the "Hymn to Nanna" from ancient Sumeria, dating back to around 4000 BCE.
• The Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is the most famous painting in the world, created in 1503-1506 CE.
• The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35, which reads, "Jesus wept."
• The longest word in the English language, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, a lung disease caused by inhaling silica particles.

Geography

• Antarctic Desert is the world's largest desert, covering 14 million km² (5.4 million sq mi).
• Denmark Strait Cataract, located between Iceland and Greenland, is the world's largest waterfall by volume of water.
• Mount Everest in the Himalayas is the highest mountain peak, standing at 8,848 meters (29,029 ft) above sea level.
• Mid-Ocean Ridge is the world's longest mountain range, stretching over 65,000 km (40,000 mi).

Science

• Human noses can detect over 1 trillion different scents.
• Armillaria ostoyae, a fungus in Oregon, USA, is the largest living organism, covering 9.6 km² (3.7 sq mi).
• The shortest war in history was between Britain and Zanzibar, lasting only 38 minutes on August 27, 1896.
• Cheetahs are the fastest land animals, reaching speeds of up to 120 km/h (75 mph).

History

• Sumerian civilization, existing in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) from 4500-1900 BCE, is the oldest known civilization.
• Cuneiform, developed by the Sumerians around 3200 BCE, is the earliest known written language.
• The Great Wall of China is the longest wall in the world, stretching over 13,000 km (8,000 mi) in length.
• University of Al Quaraouiyine, founded in 859 CE in Fez, Morocco, is the oldest known university.

Arts and Culture

• "Hymn to Nanna" from ancient Sumeria, dating back to around 4000 BCE, is the oldest known piece of music.
• Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, created in 1503-1506 CE, is the most famous painting in the world.
• John 11:35, "Jesus wept," is the shortest verse in the Bible.
• Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, a lung disease, is the longest word in the English language, according to the Oxford English Dictionary.

Test your knowledge of geography with these incredible facts about the world's largest desert, longest mountain range, and more!