50 Fun And Interesting Geography Facts

Africa Is the Only Continent in All Four Hemispheres
Africa is located in the Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western Hemispheres!

2. Mount Everest Is Getting Taller
Due to tectonic plate movement, Mount Everest grows about 1-2 inches (3-5 cm) every year.

3. The Pacific Ocean Is Shrinking
The Pacific Ocean is slowly getting smaller as tectonic plates shift.

4. Russia Spans 11 Time Zones
Russia is so big that it covers 11 of the world’s 24 time zones.

5. Alaska Is the Westernmost and Easternmost State in the U.S.
Because the Aleutian Islands cross the 180° meridian, Alaska is both the westernmost and easternmost U.S. state.

6. Australia Has More Sheep Than People
With nearly three times as many sheep as humans, Australia is a land of sheep!

7. Greenland Is the Largest Island in the World
Although it’s part of North America, Greenland is considered the world’s largest island (if you don’t count continents).

8. The Nile Is the Longest River in the World
Stretching over 4,135 miles (6,650 km), the Nile River is considered the longest in the world.

9. Antarctica Is the World’s Largest Desert
Despite being covered in ice, Antarctica is classified as a desert because it receives very little precipitation.

10. Asia Has the Most People
Over 60% of the world’s population lives in Asia, mostly in China and India.

11. There Are More Countries in Africa Than Any Other Continent
Africa has 54 countries, the most of any continent.

12. Istanbul Straddles Two Continents
Istanbul is the only major city that spans two continents, Europe and Asia.

13. The Amazon Rainforest Produces 20% of Earth's Oxygen
Known as the "lungs of the Earth," the Amazon is a critical source of oxygen.

14. Canada Has the Longest Coastline in the World
Canada’s coastline stretches over 125,000 miles (200,000 km), the longest of any country.

15. Monaco Is the World’s Most Densely Populated Country
This tiny country has over 18,000 people per square kilometer (48,000 per square mile).

16. Brazil Borders 10 Other Countries
Brazil borders every country in South America except Chile and Ecuador.

17. Earth Has 7 Continents and 5 Oceans
The continents are Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia, and the oceans are the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern.

18. Europe Has No Deserts
Europe is the only continent without a true desert.

19. The Sahara Desert Is as Large as the U.S.
Covering about 3.5 million square miles, the Sahara is nearly the same size as the United States.

20. Singapore Is Both a Country and a City
Singapore is one of the only places in the world that is both a city and an independent country.

21. Lake Baikal Is the World’s Deepest Lake
Located in Russia, Lake Baikal plunges over 5,387 feet (1,642 meters) deep.

22. Vatican City Is the World’s Smallest Country
Enclosed within Rome, Vatican City covers only about 0.17 square miles.

23. Bangladesh Has the World’s Most Rivers
With more than 700 rivers, Bangladesh has the highest number of rivers in any country.

24. The Dead Sea Is the Lowest Point on Earth
At 1,412 feet (430 meters) below sea level, it’s the lowest point on the planet.

25. The Great Wall of China Isn’t One Continuous Wall
It's a series of walls built over many centuries by different dynasties.

26. Japan Is Made Up of Over 6,800 Islands
Japan is an island nation with thousands of islands in its territory.

27. Mexico City Is Sinking
Built on a lake bed, Mexico City sinks about 10 inches each year.

28. China Has Only One Time Zone
Despite being one of the largest countries, China operates under one time zone.

29. The Arctic Ocean Is the Smallest Ocean
Covering about 5.4 million square miles, it's the smallest of the world’s oceans.

30. Norway Has More Than 1,000 Fjords
Known for its dramatic landscapes, Norway has some of the world’s most famous fjords.

31. Africa Has the Hottest Place on Earth
The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia can reach up to 125°F (52°C).

32. The Amazon Is the World’s Widest River
During the rainy season, the Amazon can be over 30 miles wide.

33. Italy Is Home to Europe’s Only Active Volcanoes
Mount Etna, Stromboli, and Vesuvius are all active volcanoes in Italy.

34. Greenland and Iceland Have Misleading Names
Iceland is greener than Greenland, which is covered in ice.

35. Australia Is Wider than the Moon
At 2,500 miles across, Australia is wider than the moon, which is about 2,160 miles wide.

36. New Zealand Has More Sheep Than People
With a population of about 5 million people and over 26 million sheep, there are far more sheep!

37. Egypt Is Home to the Only Remaining Wonder of the Ancient World
The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only surviving structure from the original Seven Wonders.

38. About 90% of the World’s Population Lives in the Northern Hemisphere
Most of Earth’s landmass and population are concentrated north of the equator.

39. The United States Has the Most Airports
The U.S. has more airports than any other country, with over 13,000.

40. The Amazon Rainforest Stretches Across Nine Countries
While most of it is in Brazil, the rainforest also extends into eight other countries.

41. Canada Has 10% of the World’s Forests
Known as the "lungs of the planet," Canadian forests make up a large percentage of global forest cover.

42. India’s Coastline Stretches Over 4,600 Miles
India has one of the longest coastlines in the world.

43. Argentina Is Home to the World’s Southernmost City
Ushuaia, in Argentina, is the southernmost city in the world.

44. The U.K. Is Made Up of Four Countries
The United Kingdom includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

45. Brazil Is the Largest Coffee Producer in the World
Brazil produces about a third of the world's coffee.

46. More Than 200 Languages Are Spoken in Nigeria
Nigeria is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world.

47. Asia Covers About 30% of Earth’s Total Land Area
Asia is the largest continent, covering a significant portion of Earth's land.

48. Mount Kilimanjaro Is a Free-Standing Mountain
Located in Tanzania, Kilimanjaro is the highest free-standing mountain in the world.

49. India Has the World’s Largest Postal Network
With over 150,000 post offices, India has an expansive postal network.

50. Europe and Asia Share the Longest Continuous Border
The Ural Mountains and the Ural River mark the border between Europe and Asia.