Some of the Earth’s tectonic plates move a little quicker than others when shifting. Australia sits on one that travels northward. It has a slight clockwise rotation at a rate of around 2.7 inches a year. GPS systems in the country have to be updated every so often as a result.

The piece of land is British soil.

Ireland is not exactly a tropical getaway. But the Irish coasts have plants that look so much like palm trees. The cordyline australis, or cabbage palm, is a plant native to New Zealand. It became popular in Irish gardens in the 1800s. It’s not technically a tree hence why they’re able to thrive in Ireland’s warm ocean currents.

As of 2019, Canada has a population of around 37,589,262 people. The 2019 US Census data puts California‘s population at 39,512,223.

California’s southern curve is often overlooked and forgotten leading to people thinking that the city in the west coast state is farther. When in actuality, Reno is located at 119°49’ west, while Los Angeles is located at 118°14’ west.

Texas is massive. Anyone driving from Houston to San Diego will tell you the same. El Paso is the middle point and is actually closer to San Diego than it is to Houston. San Diego to El Paso comes to 724 miles driving and about 626.82 in a straight line. Then El Paso to Houston is 745 miles of driving, with a straight line of 673.93.

Point Nemo is located in the Pacific Ocean at 48°52.6′S 123°23.6′W. It is the farthest distance from land on Earth. The National Ocean Service explains,

“Point Nemo is about 2,688 kilometers [1,670 miles] from the nearest land – Ducie Island, part of the Pitcairn Islands, to the north; Motu Nui, one of the Easter Islands, to the northeast; and Maher Island, part of Antarctica, to the south.”

The Himalayas were formed between 40 and 50 million years ago with the collision of the Indian Plate and Eurasian Plate. Since both plates are still pushing against each other, the Himalayas rise. Everest gains a millimeter a year. The mountains in the north grow around 10 millimeters annually.

Back in May 1942, a German submarine hit the HMT Bedfordshire with a torpedo off the coast of Ocracoke Island, NC. Only four men made it to the shore. The Americans buried the men on the island as they didn’t have the time or resources to ship them back to England. It was this piece of land that was later leased to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission “in perpetuity”.

Canada can boast of having the most lakes. The country has 62% of the world’s lakes measuring 10 hectares or larger. And in fact, Canada and the United States contain 18% of the world’s fresh lake water.

French Guiana, located on the northern coast of South America, is between Surinam to the north-west with Brazil to the south. The border measures 730 kilometers with the second-longest being with Belgium at 657 kilometers.

In 2015, NASA’s New Horizon mission flew by Pluto giving us precise measurements of the dwarf planet. The planet’s diameter measured at 2,370 kilometers. Russia measures 6,000 kilometers from east-to-west while its north-to-south height is 3,000 kilometers. That means Pluto would fit inside the country.

With that said, Pluto’s slightly larger surface area at 17,646,012 square kilometers versus Russia’s 17,125,191 square kilometers means it would be a good stretch.

Most people don’t realize just how massive Alaska is. Texas may be the second-largest state but split Alaska in two and Texas would move to being the third largest. Alaska covers 664,988 square miles. Texas “only” has 268,597.

Bangladesh has approximately 168,472,000 people all sharing the 147,570 square kilometers of the South Asian country. Russia‘s population of roughly 146,962,000 people have all of 17,125,000 square kilometers to live in.

Many Canadians find themselves living in the south of a major American city. Toronto and Montreal are found south of Seattle, including Ottawa, the fourth-largest city and federal capital. 72% of Canadians live below the known border, something a lot of people don’t realize.

To those residing beyond the borders of Kansas and Missouri, it might appear perplexing that the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area extends across these two states, resulting in the existence of two distinct Kansas Citys, each governed by separate city administrations.

Surprisingly, many of Kansas City’s renowned features and identities, such as the Kansas City Chiefs, are primarily associated with the Missouri side rather than Kansas.

The interchangeable use of “Great Britain” and the “United Kingdom” is widespread, especially outside of Europe. However, it’s important to note that this practice isn’t entirely precise.

To clarify, “Great Britain” exclusively encompasses England, Scotland, Wales, and their adjacent islands, whereas the “United Kingdom” includes those three regions that constitute Great Britain along with Northern Ireland.

The terms “Holland” and “the Netherlands” are often used interchangeably when discussing the Western European country, but they do not actually refer to the same entity.

The Netherlands is a sovereign nation comprised of 12 provinces, among which are the regions of North Holland and South Holland.

To equate “Holland” with the entire Netherlands would be akin to characterizing the United States as solely Texas or New York, neglecting the diversity and complexity of the broader nation.

The Statue of Liberty has evolved into an iconic symbol of New York City ever since its installation in 1875.

Yet, its association with New York is a result of a Supreme Court ruling in 1987, as, from a geographical perspective, it stands on the New Jersey side of the state border and is officially recognized on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places.

Indeed, Egypt is situated within the African continent, but it holds the unique status of being a transcontinental country. This distinction arises because the Suez Canal serves as a division between Asia and Africa.

Moreover, there is a small peninsula in Egypt that extends across the canal, effectively straddling the boundary between these two continents.

The Nile River is often acknowledged as the world’s longest river. Although its length of approximately 4,123 miles is indeed remarkable, recent expeditions by scientists have revealed that the Amazon River surpasses the Nile by about 65 miles, making it the longest river on Earth.

For those residing in Canada, it’s no surprise, but internationally, there’s a common misconception that Toronto serves as the capital of the country.

In reality, the capital of Canada is Ottawa, which is a considerably smaller city located a few hours to the east of Toronto. Although Toronto is the country’s most populous city, the political center and seat of government are situated in Ottawa.

Tourists often visit Key West to capture pictures at what’s claimed to be the “southernmost point in the United States.”

However, it’s important to note that this point is not actually the southernmost state in the U.S. From a technical perspective, Hawaii is situated farther south than any other American state.

The true southernmost point in the United States is Ka Lae, which translates to “the point” and is found on Hawaii’s Big Island.

Geneva and Zurich are renowned tourist destinations for those exploring Switzerland, but it’s crucial to note that neither of them serves as the capital of the country.

The Swiss capital is officially considered to be the city of Bern, even though Switzerland, on paper, lacks an officially designated capital

Puerto Rico, a Caribbean island, possesses a unique and distinct identity of its own. While the predominant language spoken on the island is Spanish, it’s important to highlight that Puerto Rico is, in fact, a territory of the United States.

The name of this small island in the Atlantic can be misleading, as Iceland is not composed of ice and doesn’t have an extremely cold climate. On average, temperatures in Iceland range between 50 to 59 degrees Fahrenheit.

This country is characterized by a diverse natural landscape that includes glaciers, volcanic activity, hot springs, and geysers alongside its more temperate regions.

When people envision the capital of Australia, they often picture scenes featuring kangaroos, koalas, and the iconic Sydney Opera House. Nevertheless, despite its popularity among tourists, it’s important to clarify that Sydney is not the capital of Australia.

The capital city is Canberra, situated approximately 150 miles southwest of Sydney.

Daylight saving time has sparked debates in recent years, indicating that it may not be as essential as previously believed. In response, some states have opted out of the practice of adjusting the clocks in the spring and autumn.

Notably, both Hawaii and Arizona do not observe daylight saving time. Furthermore, it is anticipated that more states will join this list in the years to come.

Canada is undeniably vast and rich in natural resources, but it is the second largest country in the world, not the largest. Canada covers approximately 3,855,100 square miles of land.

In contrast, Russia holds the title for the world’s largest country, with an expansive landmass exceeding 10 million square miles.

When it comes to culture and climate, Maine epitomizes the East Coast, but in terms of geographical position, it’s not the easternmost state in the United States.

The distinction for being the easternmost point goes to the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, which extend beyond the 180th meridian, marking the furthest eastern longitudes of the world within the United States.

Greenland often confuses many, as it is frequently perceived as a separate country, distinct from any other nation.

However, the reality is that Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, even though it is located geographically in North America, off the coast of Canada.

The Mercator Map projection has indeed contributed to a misperception of the relative sizes of countries. As a result, many people have grown up believing that Greenland is proportionally similar in size to South America or Africa.

In actuality, Greenland is significantly smaller, being roughly one-eighth the size of South America and more than 14 times smaller than Africa.

Florida’s prominent southeastern location along the Atlantic Ocean might lead one to assume it is the closest U.S. state to Africa. However, Quoddy Head peninsula, situated off the coast of Maine, holds the distinction of being much closer.

It is just 3,154 miles from El Beddouza, Morocco, located in Northern Africa.

The notion of being able to see parts of Russia from Alaska, as suggested by Sarah Palin, may sound surprising, but it is indeed based on factual accuracy.

Certain locations on Cape Prince of Wales in Alaska offer clear views of mainland Siberia, which is situated a mere 50 miles away from Alaska at its closest point.

While it’s often said that everything is bigger in Texas, when it comes to sheer landmass, Texas isn’t the largest state in the U.S. In fact, Alaska is considerably larger, with a land area that is over twice the size of Texas.

Mexico is indeed located to the south of the United States, but it’s worth noting that the border between the two countries isn’t strictly a north-south line.

The border between Mexico and the United States features a slight downward curve. As a result, there are approximately 11 U.S. states with land that extends farther to the south than the northernmost points of Mexico.

Mount Everest is indeed a colossal mountain, but when it comes to measuring a mountain’s height, it’s essential to consider that the calculation is based on how high it rises above sea level. Mount Everest’s elevation is approximately 29,029 feet.

However, Mauna Kea in Hawaii is even taller, with an elevation of 33,465 feet.

The reason Mauna Kea is often overlooked is because more than half of its mass is submerged underwater, and this underwater portion is not considered when measuring a mountain’s height above sea level.

Cape Town is indeed the legislative capital of South Africa. However, South Africa follows a unique system with three separate capital cities, each representing different branches of government.

Pretoria serves as the administrative capital, Bloemfontein is the judicial capital, and Cape Town, as you mentioned, is the legislative capital. This arrangement symbolizes the division of powers and functions within the South African government.

The belief that the Great Wall of China is visible to the naked eye from space is a common misconception. In reality, the Great Wall is not easily distinguishable by the naked eye when viewed from space.

While modern technology and increased light pollution have made it somewhat easier to spot certain man-made structures from space, identifying the Great Wall still typically requires the use of a camera lens to discern the sprawling structure from above.

Visiting the Pyramids of Giza might seem like it entails a long journey into the Egyptian desert, but in reality, it’s a relatively easy trip from the Cairo city center.

The distance between Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza is just 8 miles, making it accessible with a quick 30-minute public train ride or a 15-minute car ride. This proximity allows for a convenient and straightforward visit to these iconic structures.

It’s a common misconception for many Americans to assume that Afghanistan and Pakistan are geographically part of the Middle East. However, they are quite a distance from the Middle East, situated approximately 1,509 miles away.

These countries are more accurately categorized as part of Central Asia. While they do have cultural, historical, and political ties with their Middle Eastern neighbors to the west, their geographical location places them in the Central Asian region.

Bali is indeed a highly sought-after tourist destination in Asia, and it’s frequently mistaken as its own country. However, it is essential to clarify that Bali is not an independent nation but rather an island that is part of the country of Indonesia.

Just like Jakarta or Papua, Bali is one of the provinces of Indonesia, offering unique cultural and natural attractions to visitors.

Singapore, although occasionally associated with China by North American travelers, is a distinct sovereign entity as an island city-state. It is not a Chinese province and is not in close proximity to the Chinese borders.

In reality, Singapore is an island located in Southeast Asia and is approximately a seven-hour flight from Shanghai or a 10-hour flight from Beijing. It stands as an independent nation with its own government and unique identity.

Budapest and Bucharest, while they may sound similar when spoken, are distinct cities located in different countries. Bucharest is the capital of Romania, while Budapest is the capital of Hungary. These two cities are about 518 miles apart from each other.

The status of Taiwan is a complex and sensitive issue in international relations. Taiwan officially calls itself the Republic of China and considers itself a sovereign, independent country.

However, the People’s Republic of China (mainland China) claims Taiwan as a province of China and does not recognize Taiwan’s sovereignty. The international community is divided on this matter, with some countries recognizing Taiwan as a separate entity, while others do not.

Rio de Janeiro served as the capital of Brazil from 1822 to 1960. However, in 1960, the capital was officially moved to Brasília, which is situated in the central plateau of the country.

Today, Brasília is the designated capital of Brazil, while Rio de Janeiro remains an iconic city with significant cultural and historical importance.

The Pyramids of Giza in Egypt are undoubtedly the most renowned pyramids globally, but the title of the largest pyramid by volume goes to the Great Pyramid of Cholula, also known as Tlachihualtepetl.

Located in Mexico, this pyramid is considered the largest by volume, making it a remarkable archaeological site with a rich history and significance in Mesoamerican culture.

It’s not uncommon for North American travelers to occasionally confuse Denmark and the Netherlands, possibly due to their geographic proximity or general misconceptions about the two countries.

However, it’s important to clarify that they are distinct nations with different capitals. Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands, while Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark.

Contrary to common misconceptions, Antarctica is not devoid of time zones. In fact, there are multiple time zones in use on the icy continent, with around nine different time zones that correspond to the various scientific research centers and research facilities.

These time zones help coordinate activities and research across the continent, as it’s inhabited by researchers from different countries working on various projects.

Colloquially, the term “America” is often used to refer to the United States.

However, it’s important to recognize that the term “America” actually encompasses both North and South America as continents, comprising numerous countries, from Canada and the United States in North America to countries like Brazil, Argentina, and Chile in South America, as well as all the countries in between.

Russia, the vast country that spans both Europe and Asia, indeed has a European city in St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg is situated firmly within the European continent, to the west of parts of Ukraine, Finland, and Norway, and holds a prominent place in Russia’s history and culture as an important imperial city.