Interesting Facts about Geography
1. Iceland is the world's oldest
functioning democracy.
2. Mongolia is the largest landlocked
country.
3. Because heat expands the metal, the
Eiffel Tower always leans away from the Sun.
4. There are 1,792 steps to the top of
the Eiffel Tower.
5. In Calama, a town in the Atacama
Desert of Chile, it has never rained.
6. The only man-made structure visible
from space is the Great Wall of China.
7. Birth-control campaigns in Egypt in
the late 1970s failed because village women ended up wearing the pills in
lockets, as talismans.
8. Niagara Falls has moved about ten
miles upstream in the last 10,000 years. The falls are eroding at the rate of 5
feet per year.
9. The Sahara desert is expanding half a
mile south every year.
10.
The
Channel between England and France grows about 300 millimeters each year.
11.
The
Hudson River along the island of Manhattan flows in either direction depending
on the tide.
12.
There
is now an ATM at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, which has a winter population
of 200 people.
13.
The
Australian term for extras in cricket is 'sundries'.
14.
In
early Rome, March 1 was New Year's Day. Later, the ancient Romans made January
1 the beginning of the year.
15.
Ancient
Persians gave New Year's gifts of eggs, symbolizing productivity.
16.
Due
to precipitation, for a few weeks K2 is bigger than Mt Everest.
17.
Vietnamese
currency consists only of paper money; no coins.
18.
Canada
declared national beauty contests canceled as of 1992, claiming they were
degrading to women.
19.
There
are more Rolls Royce cars in Hong Kong than anywhere else in the world.
20.
Until
1896, India was the only source for diamonds to the world.
21.
It
snowed in the Sahara Desert in February of 1979.
22.
Australia's
national anthem is called Advance Australia Fair.
23.
The
only nation whose name begins with an A, but doesn't end in an A is Afghanistan.
24.
The
Atlantic Ocean gets wider by a little more than one inch every year.
25.
The
world's only city whose name consists solely of vowels is Aiea, in Hawaii, USA.
26.
Soldiers
in the Netherlands are not required to salute officers.
27.
Los
Angeles' full name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles
de Porciuncula" . In English this means 'The City of Angels'.
28.
The
Netherlands has built 800 miles of massive dikes and sea walls to hold back the
sea. If it wasn't for these walls, 40% of the country would be flooded.
29.
Big
Ben is actually the name of the largest bell inside the London clock tower, not
of the clock itself.
30.
In
1867 the United States paid Russia only $7.2 million (2 cents an acre) for
Alaska.
31.
Every
year in France there is a "Thieves Fair" where people are encouraged
to try to steal things from the stalls.
32.
The
world's longest street is in Canada. Toronto's Yonge Street runs 1,190 miles.
33.
In
the kingdom of Bhutan, all citizens officially become a year older on New
Year's Day.
34.
Santa
Claus, St. Nicholas, was born in the ancient southeastern Turkish town of Lycia
early in the fourth century.
35.
Belgium
is the only country that has never imposed censorship for adult films.
36.
The
Nullarbor Plain of Australia covers 100,000 square miles without a tree.
37.
Antarctica
is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country.
38.
Australia
is the only continent on earth without an active volcano.
39.
In
Turkey, in the 16th and 17th centuries, anyone caught drinking coffee was put
to death.
40.
There
are twice as many kangaroos in Australia as there are people.
41.
There
are no public toilets in Peru.
42.
Mickey
Mouse is known as "Topolino" in Italy.
43.
The
oldest national flag still in existence that of Denmark, dates back to the 13th
century.
44.
Nepal
is the only country that doesn't have a rectangular or square flag.
45.
In
1949, the temperature in part of Portugal soared to 158 degrees F for a couple
of minutes. No one knows why.
46.
Nauru
is the only country in the world with no official capital.
47.
Windmills
always turn counter-clockwise. Except for the windmills in Ireland.
48.
It
was once against the law to slam your car door in a city in Switzerland.
49.
In
1980, Bhutan was the only country in the world with no telephones.
50.
There
is a hotel in Sweden built entirely out of ice; it is rebuilt every year.
51.
In
the great fire of London in 1666 half of London was burnt down but only 6
people were injured.
52.
The
longest fence in the world is in Australia and it runs for over 3,436 miles
(5,530 km).
53.
In
Switzerland, it is illegal to flush the toilet after 10 P.M. if you live in an
apartment.
54.
Holland
is the lowest country in the world. It is estimated that 40 percent of the land
is below sea level.
55.
Tokyo
has had 24 recorded instances of people either killed or receiving serious skull
fractures while bowing to each other with the traditional Japanese greeting.
56.
Netherlands,
most densely populated country in the world, followed by Belgium, then Japan.
57.
Perth,
Australia, is the most isolated city on the planet...200 miles across impenetrable
desert from the next city of any size.
58.
Los
Angeles's full name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina delos Angeles
de Porciuncula" . It means the City of Angels.
59.
India
never invaded any country in her last 10000 years of history.
60.
In
Thailand, it is illegal to leave your house if you are not wearing underwear.
61.
In
Israel, picking your nose is illegal.
62.
In
Sweden, while prostitution is legal, it is illegal for anyone to use the
services of a prostitute.
63.
On
every continent there is a city called Rome.
64.
Vatican
City is the smallest country in the world with a population of 1,000 and a size
of 108.7 acres.
65.
China
has only about 200 family names.
66.
The
country with the most Post offices is India with over 152,792 compared with
just over 38,000 in the United States.
67.
Colombia
produces the most emeralds of any country in South America.
68.
The
world's largest gold mine is in Juneau, Alaska.
69.
Namibia,
Africa, supplies the most valuable diamonds of the 18 countries in southern
Africa rich with diamonds.
70.
Switzerland
attracts the most suicide tourists.
71.
India
has no rabbits in the wild – only hares.
72.
In
Tokyo, a bicycle is faster than a car for most trips of less than 50 minutes!
73.
It's
illegal to drink beer out of a bucket while you're sitting on a curb in St. Louis,
Missouri!
74.
It's
against the law to pawn your dentures in Las Vegas!
75.
It's
against the law to burp, or sneeze in a certain churches in Omaha, Nebraska!
76.
The
state of Florida is bigger than England!
77.
In
Natoma, Kansas, it's illegal to throw knives at men wearing striped suits.
78.
It
was once against the law to have a pet dog in a city in Iceland!
79.
There
are more plastic flamingos in the U.S, than real ones!
80.
About
3000 years ago, most Egyptians died by the time they were 30!
81.
In
Bangladesh, kids as young as 15 can be jailed for cheating on their finals!
82.
A
company in Taiwan makes dinnerware out of wheat, so you can eat your plate!
83.
Q
is the only letter in the alphabet that does not appear in the name of any of
the United States!
84.
In
Tokyo, they sell toupees for dogs!
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