15 Interesting Facts About the World

Introduction:

The world that we live in is full of interesting facts, from the depths of the ocean to the boundaries of space. From the canyon walls of the desert to the snowy mountain peaks, the Earth is vast and packed with engaging tales. To explore the riches that our fledgling planet has to offer, we’ve gathered some of the most interesting facts about the world in one place. Here we explore 15 amazing and sometimes strange facts about our planet that will blow your mind.

Fact 1: Whenever You Look Up At The Sky, You’re Looking Into The Past

When we look up at the night sky, we’re really gazing back in time. That’s because the light from the stars take so long to reach us that we’re seeing their image in the past, in some cases billions of years ago. For instance, when you look up at the Sun, you’re staring into what it looked like 8 minutes and 20 seconds ago – the time it takes for sunlight to travel from the Sun to our planet.

Fact 2: Mount Everest Is Actually Still Growing

The highest mountain peak in the world, Mount Everest, is still actively growing today. The almost vertical Himalayan mountain range was created when two plates of the Earth’s crust collided, slowly but surely pushing up its towering mountains. Mount Everest continues to grow about an inch taller every single year today.

Fact 3: India’s Population Is Larger Than All Of Europe and The Americas Combined

India is the second most populous country in the world, with its population making up almost 17% of the total global population – meaning over 1 billion people call the subcontinent home. In fact, India’s population is greater than the combined populations of all of Europe and the Americas put together!

Fact 4: Earth Is The Only Planet In Our Solar System To Have An Atmosphere With Free Oxygen

The Earth is the only planet in our solar system with an atmosphere capable of supporting life. That’s because the planet has an atmosphere that contains free oxygen, something no other planet in the Solar System has (although Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, does have oxygen in its atmosphere).

Fact 5: Water Is The Only Substance Found On Earth Naturally In All Three States

Water is the only substance on Earth that exists in all three states – solids, liquids and gasses. This means that water can be found in the form of solid ice, liquid water or steamy vapour throughout the planet.

Fact 6: There Is A Spell Of Day That Lasts For 6 Months In The Antarctic

The Antarctic Circle experiences an extreme season where its populous goes through a spell of night that lasts for months, known as polar night. During this spell, the sun does not shine and is not visible for a period of time – sometimes lasting up to 6 months. However, a similar phenomenon happens in summer known as polar day, where the sun is continuously visible in the sky for 6 months.

Fact 7: The Richest One Percent Of The World’s Population Owns More Than Half Of The World’s Wealth

The world of wealth and assets is becoming increasingly unbalanced. As of now, the richest 1% of the world’s population owns over 50% of its wealth. This concentration of wealth in the world can be attributed to the increasing disparity of income due to globalization and automation.

Fact 8: The Earth’s Population Billions of Years Ago Was Just Two People

Going billions of years back, the Earth saw its first inhabitants – two people. These two were Adam and Eve, according to the Bible. They left behind an entire species that is now populated with 7.5 billion people living on the planet, each with their own stories, culture and ideals.

Fact 9: The World Has More Than 5 Million Different Species Of Animals And Plants

The Earth is incredibly populated with species. Between plants and animals, scientists estimate that there are more than 5 million different species living on our planet, of which 1.75 million have been identified and studied.

Fact 10: The World Is Estimated To Have 70% Of All Life’s Species Living In Its Oceans

The ocean is considered the cradle of life. That’s because the Earth’s oceans are ocean are estimated to be home to about 70% of all life’s species. This is why conservation of our oceans is so important – as we continue to pollute and deplete the ocean of its life, we risk depleting the rest of our planet’s resources too.

Fact 11: The World’s Largest Mountain Range is Underwater

The largest mountain range in the world isn’t the Himalayas, it’s actually an underwater mountain range called the Mid-Ocean Ridge that stretches around the entire planet! This crack in the Earth’s crust is constantly changing and continues to grow, making it the largest mountain range in the world.

Fact 12: There Are More Single-Person Households In The World Than Any Other

One of the major changes that have taken place over the past few decades is the evolution of the family structure. In most parts of the world, the traditional nuclear family that includes two parents and their children is now being replaced with single-person households. In fact, according to a report published by UN Women, there are now more single-person households in the world than any other.

Fact 13: The World Is Filled With Underground Lakes, Rivers And Springs

Many of us don’t know that below the Earth’s surface are underground lakes, rivers and springs. These are formed by the rainwater that seeps into the crevices in the Earth’s crust and is later pushed back up along fault lines. Some of these underground rivers can be found hundreds of meters below the Earth’s surface.

Fact 14: SE Asia’s Fastest Growing Economy is Myanmar

Myanmar is one of the fastest growing economies in South East Asia. The country has seen spurring economic growth over the past few years, with a growth rate of 7.3%. This strong economic performance coupled with its abundant natural resources has made the country one of the hottest destinations for investment and business in the region.

Fact 15: The World’s Largest Desert Is Antarctica

At an immense 5.5 million square miles, Antarctica is considered the world’s largest desert. Being the smallest continent, Antarctica is also the driest, coldest, and windiest place on the planet, making it ideal for scientific research. It is also home to some of the most pristine and unique wildlife species, such as emperor penguins, Weddell seals, and albatrosses.

Conclusion

From extremely cold temperatures to incredibly rich biodiversity, from abundant natural resources to sparkling waters, our planet is full of interesting facts worth exploring. The 15 interesting facts shared here are only the tip of the iceberg – they cover a vast array of details about the planet. Exploring the mysterious depths of the Earth is an adventure that we all can embark on!