The US Congress’s Metric Conversion Act, passed in 1975, declared that “the metric system is the preferred system of weights and measures for US trade and commerce” and established the United States Metric Board. President Ronald Reagan however abolished the Metric Board in 1982, ensuring continued use of imperial measurements in the USA.

Russia covers 1/8 of the total land on Earth or 17 million km2 (6.6 million sq mi). It is slightly more than the surface area of the dwarf-planet Pluto and roughly equal to the territories of the USA and Australia combined.

Denmark is by far the world leader in the incineration of household waste, burning some 80% of the local waste.

Nicosia, Cyprus, is the only European capital that is still divided (walls, checkpoints, passport controls, etc.) into two parts.

The African country of Morocco applied for membership in the European Union in 1987. The application was rejected.

 After the Fukushima earthquake, the islands of Japan moved sideways by 2.5 m (8 ft) and Earth tilted by 18 cm (7 in).

 Andorra welcomes almost 2.5 million tourists every year. The small country holds the world record with 33 visitors per resident.

Between 1958 and 1961, the United Arab Republic was a state and a short-lived political union between Egypt and Syria. It was dissolved in 1961, when Syria seceded.

In Moscow, Russia, you can receive your subway ticket free of charge in exchange of some physical exercise. All you have to do is to perform 30 squats in front of the ticketing machine.

The Archipelago of the Philippines is made up of 7,641 islands — several hundred more than the 7,107 islands scientists previously believed the country contained. 

New mapping research revealed the additional land masses a couple years ago, prompting "The Inquirer" to note, "The change is a reminder of how knowledge, even scientific knowledge, is a matter of faith...It’s good for our critical thinking to be reminded of the contingency of 'expert knowledge.'"

The southern Pacific islands were named for King Philip II of Spain. The country's largest island is Luzon, spanning 42,458 square miles.

Madrid, Spain, is farther north from the equator than Washington DC, USA.

In April 2016, North Korea proposed to halt its nuclear tests if the US stopped their annual military exercises with South Korea. The USA declined.

  Berlin, Germany, has around 1,700 bridges, several times more than Venice, Italy.

Discover Facts

Germany is known for a lot of things.

Free-tuition universities, high-quality education, and cultural diversity are some of the highlights.

Germany, however, is more interesting than you probably think. We’ve put together this long list of the most interesting Germany facts that you probably never heard of before.

44 Fun and Interesting Facts About Germany:

• Germany has a population of 81 million people.
• One-third of Germany is still covered in forests and woodlands.
• Germany is a member of the European Union.
• 65% of the highways in Germany (Autobahn) have no speed limit.
• University is free for everyone (even non-Germans).
• There are over 2100 castles in Germany.
• There are over 1,500 different beers in Germany.
• Germany is the seventh-largest country in Europe. Covering an area of 137,847 square miles, of which 34,836 square miles is covered by land and 3,011 square miles contains water.
• Berlin has the largest train station in Europe.
• Berlin is 9 times bigger than Paris and has more bridges than Venice.
• Germany is composed of sixteen states. The states have their own constitution and are largely autonomous in regard to their internal organization. At the municipal level, Germany is divided into 403 districts (Kreise), of which 301 are rural districts and 102 urban districts. Bavaria is the largest state.
• Germany is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
• Germany shares borders with nine other countries. Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands.
• Germany is the EU’s largest economy. With a gross domestic product (GDP) of 3.73 trillion USD,  and lies fourth place in the world behind the US, China and Japan.
• Germany is one of the world’s largest car producers. Selling 5.9 million cars in 2011. VW’s Golf is one of the best selling cars of all time: in 2012 it year it sold more than 430,000 Golfs around Europe (125,000 ahead of its nearest rival). In 2013, the top-selling car brands in Germany were Volkswagen, Mercedes. Audi and BMW.
• The following cities have all at one time or another been capitals of Germany: Aachen, Regensburg, Frankfurt-am-Main, Nuremberg, Berlin, Weimar, Bonn (and East Berlin), and, since 1990, Berlin again.
• The first printed book was in German.
• Germany is one of the world’s leading book nations. Publishing around 94,000 titles every year.
• The first magazine ever seen was launched in 1663 in Germany.
• Germany was the first country in the world to adopt Daylight saving time – DST, also known as summer time. This occured in 1916, in the midst of WWI.
• When JFK visited Berlin, he infamously said “Ich bin ein Berliner,” which also translates to “I am a jelly donut.”
• German is the most widely taught third language across the world.
• German remains the language with the most native speakers in Europe.
• Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein have German as the official language.
• Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft is the longest word to be published. It is 79 letters long.
• There are thirty-five dialects of the German language.
• There are over 300 different kinds of bread in Germany.
• There are over 1,000 kinds of sausages in Germany.
• Beer is considered a food in Bavaria officially.
• Smoking is banned in public places but drinking alcohol is still legal.
• After the Irish, the Germans are those consume the most beer, making Germany the second largest consumer of Beer.
• The biggest Beer Festival in the world is of course the Oktoberfest in Munich, Bavaria, where the size of the beer glass is not 500ml but a whole liter!
• To get ONE beer in Germany, you show your thumb. To show your first finger means that you want 2 beers: one with the thumb, and one with the finger.
• There are more football (soccer for the North Americans) fan clubs in Germany than anywhere else in the world.
• Germany has (once) lost a penalty shootout in a major football competition. It was in 1976 when the then West Germany lost a shootout 5-3 in in the European Championships against Czechoslovakia. On the four other occasions the Germans
  have been involved in one, they won.
• The Christmas tree (Tannenbaum) tradition came from Germany.
• Germany has over 400 zoos, the most in the world.
• Chancellor Angela Merkel has a Barbie doll made after her.
• Toilet paper in Germany has the softness and consistency of paper towels.
• Most taxis in Germany are Mercedes.
• Holocaust denial is either implicitly or explicitly a crime in 17 countries, including Germany and Austria.
• The world’s narrowest street is in Reutlingen. It is called Spreuerhofstrasse and is 31 cm (one foot) wide at its narrowest point.
• The Chancellor’s office in Berlin is known locally as as the “washing machine”.
• Germany is a leader in climate and energy policies – it made a decision in 2011 to decommission all nuclear power stations (then producing around 18 percent of electricity consumed) by 2022 and to replace them with renewable energies and new storage for green electricity.
• In Germany there’s no punishment for a prisoner who tries to escape from jail, because it is a basic human instinct to be free.

Looking at a map, it may seem Russia can swallow China whole. However, both countries border 14 countries.

Russia (including the region of Kaliningrad) borders Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, North Korea, Norway, Poland and the Ukraine.

China borders Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal. North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Vietnam.

Discover Facts

1. Italy is one of Western Europe's youngest countries

Did you know how old Italy is as a country? Italy has only been a country since 1861, when the separate nation-states unified together as the Kingdom of Italy. This might seem strange given Italy has one of the longest and most colourful histories in Europe – and even the world. Though Italy became a single political entity in Roman times, it divided again shortly after. Up until 1861, Italy remained a collection of smaller sovereign states, which accounts for cultural variations across the country today.

2. Rome is over 2,000 years old

Rome was founded in 753 BC. The Roman Empire, named after the city where it began started in 27 BC, and ruled over much of Europe and parts of North Africa until 395 AD. After this Italy was divided into many separate states, until it was unified in 1861. Italy's national day is called the Festa della Repubblica. The founding of the republic is celebrated every year on the 2nd of June.

3. The country was under a dictatorship for 20 years

The fascist dictator Benito Mussolini ruled over Italy from 1925 until 1945. Before assuming control of the country he served as prime minister for three years, from 1922. Known as Il Duce (which means the leader), Mussolini started out as a radical socialist but aligned himself with Adolf Hitler in the lead up to World War II. He was killed in 1945 by partisan troops.

4. Italy's last king ruled for just 36 days

On to a related Italy fun fact: even though it was ruled by a dictator until 1945, Italy had a royal family until 1946. In the wake of the Second World War, the citizens voted to abolish the idea of a ruling monarchy in favour of a republic. King Umberto II ruled from 9 May 1946 to 12 June 1946. He was cheekily nicknamed "the May King", and spent the rest of his days living in exile on the Portuguese Riviera.\

5. The national flag is green, white and red

The colours of the Italian flag represent hope (green), faith (white) and charity (red). Another interesting fact about Italy: the flag was inspired by the French flag of similar design. In Italian, it is frequently referred to as "il Tricolore", and there's even a Tricolour Day (or Flag Day) on 7 January. Celebrations are centred on Reggio Emilia, where the flag was first adopted by the Cispadane Republic in 1797.

6. Tourists throw €1,000,000 into the Trevi Fountain each year

According to myth and legend, tossing a coin into Rome's Trevi Fountain guarantees you'll return to the Eternal City. And it seems everyone likes Rome so much they want to return, because roughly €3,000 of change is thrown in the Trevi Fountain every day. This amount to a staggering million pounds a year. In case you were wondering: the money is collected and donated to charity.

7. 13 of Shakespeare's 38 plays are set in Italy

Romeo and Juliet is set in the city of Verona (you can even visit "Juliet's balcony" for yourself), while Julius Caesar takes place in Rome. Othello and the Merchant of Venice are set in Venice (no surprise there) while Much Ado About Nothing is based in the Sicilian city of Messina. Even though there's no evidence that the Bard spent time in Italy himself, his depictions of the country are surprisingly accurate.

8. Pinocchio was first published in an Italian newspaper

The classic tale of a wooden toy who comes to life – and who likes to tell lies – was written in 1880 by Carlo Collodi. It was serialised in Gioniale per i Bambini, Italy's first children's newspaper. Pinocchio remains a cultural icon, and is known all over the world.

9. Italy has the most UNECO sites in the world

From Mount Etna to the trulli of Alberobello, to Rome's Colosseum, Italy is packed with important sights. Still it is a lesser known of the Italy fact that it has 55 world heritage sites. To see some of them yourself contact our tailor-made trip service to plan and book a fully customised holiday in Italy. If you prefer to book and plan yourself, just make sure you book skip-the-line tickets ahead of time, to save you time and money.

10. The Sistine Chapel welcomes over 20,000 visitors per day

Painted by Michelangelo in 1512, the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican City is one of the most famous monuments in the world. While certainly the most impressive, it's actually just one of a number of fabulous frescoes that decorate the chapel in the . Today, the Sistine Chapel is the the official residence of the pope and the site of the Papal Conclave, the process that is responsible for selecting the next Pope. To spend more time exploring and less time standing in line, make sure you get your priority access tickets to the Sistine Chapel and Vatican museums ahead of time.

11. Italy is home to Europe’s only three active volcanoes

On the island of Sicily, Mount Etna last erupted in 2018, but you can often see a white plume of steam rising from the top. It's a surreal sight as you stroll along Catania's main shopping street, the via Etnea. For a more up-close sight, consider trekking to the summit of Mount Etna.

Mount Stromboli is currently active and located its own small island off the coast of Sicily. You can plan to visit the island, but be aware that you might have to change plans depending on the current level of activity. If you make it out, make sure to take a guided hike to visit the 'Sciara del Fuoco'. 

Vesuvius overlooks the southern city of Naples and hasn't erupted since 1944, making it together with the excavation site of Pompeii a very popular half-day excursion from Naples. 

12. The Vatican City is the smallest country in the world

At just 100 acres, the Vatican City in Rome is roughly 1/8 the size of New York's Central Park. It became a soveign nation, separate from Italy, in 1929, with the Pope as head of state. Despite being small in scale, it's packed with historic monuments like St Peter's Cathedral, the Sistine Chapel, Raphael frescoes and more, while its economy is fuelled by religious donations, museum revenues and the sale of postage stamps and souvenirs. Consider taking a guided tour to explore the Vatican, granting you fast-track access.

13. Italy is the fifth most visited country in the world

Though 2020 was an obviously anomaly, some 64.8 million people visited Italy in 2019 – with many heading to tourist hotspots like Rome, Florence and Pisa. Despite the millions of visitors, you can still find places not teeming with people, like Castelmezzano in Basilicata, or Camogli in Liguria. Our local experts would be happy to guide you find the perfect balance between must-see hotspots and off-the-beaten-track destinations. All in one convenient itinerary for you, ready to be booked.

14. You'll find over 1500 lakes in Italy

From the famous names like Lake Garda and Lake Como to the lesser-known Lake Iseo in Lombardy, the country is dotted with charming bodies of water. And that means an abundance of waterside activities, too. From tracing beautiful lakes on tremendous hiking trails to scenic boat trips and stellar wild swimming, there's plenty on offer for active visitors in Italy. Explore the northern lakes with our sample Enchanting Italian Lakes trip - fully customizable to fit your preferences.

15. Italy's highest mountain is Mont Blanc

Rising 4,808 metres (15,774 ft) above sea level, Mont Blanc (or Monte Bianco to Italians) stands on the border between France and Italy. It's also the highest mountain in the Alps, and is eternally popular with all kinds of outdoor enthusiasts, from hikers to skiiers, climbers to trail runners. Day tours are available from Milan, allowing you to visit both Mont Blanc as well as Courmayeur.

16. Italy has the oldest population in Europe

In 2020, the average age of an Italian was 45.7 years. By 2050, estimates put the median age of the Italian population at a mighty 53 or 54. Italy is second only to Japan in terms of an ageing population, while Germany comes a close third. In Italy, these statistics largely come down to a low birthrate and a long life span. In fact, the isolated isle of Sardinia is one of the world's five Blue Zones – regions across the globe where residents live the longest.

17. The first thermometer was designed by Italian inventor Santorio Santorio

Invented in 1612, Santorio's device was the first instrument that could show an exact temperature against a scale. Before him, Galileo had worked on a thermoscope that could show whether something was getting hotter or colder.

18. Batteries were invented in Italy

Italian scientist Alessandro Volta created the first battery in 1800. The volt – the unit of electrical power – is named after him.

19. Christopher Columbus was Italian

Although known the world over for his voyages of discovery to the Americas under the Spanish flag, Christopher Columbus was actually Italian. The explorer was born in Genoa in 1451. Make sure to spend at least a day in Genoa, the largest medieval town in Europe, to trace Columbus' footsteps on a guided tour.

20. The first ever bank started in Italy

The Bank of San Giorgia in Genoa opened its doors in 1149.

21. Italians invented eyeglasses

Although the exact date is not certain, it's thought the first pair of glasses with corrective lenses were made in Italy in the late 13th century. Romans had long used glass to magnify text, but these were the first glasses that sat on the nose. They were originally used mainly by monks. Italy is a country well known today for its cutting-edge fashion, and some of the world's most stylish eyeglasses are still designed inside its borders.

20. Pizza was invented in Naples

Mentions of the word pizza can be found all the way back to the 10th century AD, but pizza in its modern form – with a tomato base – was developed in Naples in the late 18th century. What better place in the world then to learn how to make pizza? Join a pizza-making workshop in Naples and learn from an Italian chef all about the secret ingredients and recipes.

21. Italians ate pasta as far back as the 4th century BC

Wall paintings in a pre-Roman Italian tomb depict what many Italians believe is pasta-making equipment.

22. Fourteen billion espressos are consumed in Italy each year

With many Italians drinking their daily coffee ration out in local cafés, being a barista is big business. Over 20,000 Italians work as baristas, while the annual coffee consumption per household is 37 kg. And while it's fair game to have an espresso at any time of the day in Italy, ordering a cappuccino after 11am will be sure to raise some eyebrows. This is a country that's serious about its coffee.

23. Italy is the world's largest wine producer

Italy knows a thing or two about fine food – and good wine, too. In 2018 the country produced a staggering 54,800 hectolitres of wine, ahead of France at 49,000 hectolitres. The country is also one of the world's largest exporters of wine, with the majority going to Germany, the US and the UK. A great way to get a feeling of this to go on a wine tour in Tuscany. Some of the most famous Italian varieties include cianti, barolo and pinot grigio.

As North America and South America are move more westward, the Pacific Ocean is shrinking. Every year, Asia and North America get closer and closer as the Pacific is reduced by two to three centimeters. 

China has grown more maize (corn) than rice since 2011.

There are many “volcanoes” on Triton (Neptune’s largest moon). Instead of lava, they erupt ice!

Iowa is the only US state whose name starts with two vowels.

Feng shui sprang from the art of choosing an appropriate place for a grave.

 Bolivian capital La Paz has the world’s largest aerial cable car urban transit system. It is called Mi Teleférico and as of early 2018 has a length of 17.3 km (10.7 mi).

Discover Facts

1. Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite is the national motto

The country’s national motto Liberte, Egalite, Franernite ("Liberty, Equality and Fratenity") has its roots in the French Revolution, but wasn’t popularized until the end of the 19th century. The famous trio of words were first vocalized in 1790 in a speech given by Maximilien Robespierre. Interestingly, the phrase is also the national motto of the Republic of Haiti (a former French colony). 

2. The Tour de France cycle race has been running for over 100 years

The world’s most prestigious cycling race was first held in 1903. It has run every year since, save for the two world wars. In 2020, the race was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic – but it still went ahead! 

 

3. The camera phone was invented in France

That’s right, the camera phone was invented in France in 1997 by an enterprising Parisian called Philippe Kahn - a very surprising France fact. The first photo he took was of his new-born daughter, Sophie, which he sent to his family and friends. 

4. The Louvre in Paris is the most visited art museum in the world

In 2019, a record 10.2 million people visited Paris’ Louvre Museum – it’s been suggested that a Beyonce and Jay-Z video filmed in the museum helped boost visitor numbers. The accolade stands. All the more important it is, to book your ticket ahead of time.

5. France has won the most Nobel prizes for literature

Since French writer Sully Prudhomme won the first ever Nobel Prize for Literature in 1903, the country has taken the accolade a further fourteen times (the USA and Great Britain come in second with twelve prizes apiece). The winning writers include Jean-Paul Sartre, who won the prize in 1967 but declined it. He described his reasons for declining the prize as being both “personal and objective”.  

6. France is the most popular tourist destination in the world

France welcomes some 89 million visitors annually; Spain comes in second place with some 82 million visitors, while the USA comes in third with 78 million. Though 2020 has been a tough one for the travel industry, let’s hope visitors return to their number-one spot as soon as it’s safe to do so. If you can't wait to get back to French shores, chat with one of our local experts to start planning your next trip.

7. France is known as L'Hexagone

The French affectionately refer to their country as “L’Hexagone” ("the hexagon"), due to its geometrical shape – check for yourself on the map of France. Of course, the hexagon only covers the mainland – let’s not forget Corsica and France’s overseas territories!

8. The French coastline adds up to 3427km

That’s quite a figure, roughly equating to the distance from Paris to Petra. From bustling ports to sandy bays and rocky coves, you’ll find beaches of every shape and size along the French coast. 

9. France is the largest country in the EU

France has a land area of 547,000 square kilometres, making it the largest country in the EU. If you extend the parameters to include all European nations – rather than just those in the EU – then France follows up in third place, behind Ukraine and Russia, which dwarfs the rest. 

10. Turning a baguette upside down is unlucky

There are a number of different origin stories linked to this French superstition, but the most likely dates back to medieval times. When an execution was scheduled in town, legend has it the executioner himself would not have time to pop to the bakery before work. The baker would therefore reserve his loaf by turning the bread upside down. Thus, turning a baguette on its head came to be associated with death and misfortune – and the superstition lives on. If you'd like to learn more kitchen secrets, take a "behind-the-scenes" bakery tour in Paris. 

11. The croissant was actually invented in Austria

France might be the spiritual home of the croissant, but the pastry actually began its days in Austria. The kipferl – ancestor of the croissant, born in the coffee shops of Vienna in the 13th century – was the original crescent-shaped morning sweet. Made of a denser and less flaky dough, the kipferl later crossed the border to France and became the famous croissant.

12. Some claim French toast isn't French at all

Yep, some stories suggest that French toast doesn’t actually come from France – instead, it was invented a world away by a man called Joseph French. A humble inn keeper in New York, Joseph French forgot the apostrophe when penning his creation, and “French’s toast” became simply “French toast”. And the seeds of uncertainty were sown…

13. Each new day sees two new cooking books

Another interesting fact about France: two new cookbooks are published here every day. France is known for its mouthwatering cuisine, held as a standard the world over. Some of the most famous dishes to originate in France – and that are still cooked to perfection today – range from coq au vin to chocolate soufflé and French onion soup. Why not try recreating them in your kitchen, or plan a trip to France with our local experts and check off all the foodie highlights on your bucketlist. 

14. It is illegal to throw out food in France

It's time to dazzle your recycling-loving friends with this fun fact about France! It seems fitting that a country that loves food as much as France should be the first to pass a law making throwing away good food illegal. As of 2016, any unsold but edible food must be donated rather than thrown away, or you could come up against the long arm of the law. 

15. The average French citizen eats 500 snails each year

Snails – or escargots – are a popular French delicacy, traditionally served as an hors-d’oeuvre with garlic butter. If you’ve mastered snails, move on to frog’s legs! 

16. There are over 400 kinds of cheese made in France

Move over, snails. The French are the highest consumers of cheese on the planet, with almost half the population eating the stuff on a daily basis. And that means hundreds of different types of cheese produced on home soil, with some seriously good produce. 

17. The French consume 11.2 billion glasses of wine per year

Wine is the tipple of choice in France, accounting for almost sixty percent of the country’s total alcohol consumption. The population’s penchant for a glass (or two) of wine might have something to do with the fact that France is one of the world’s biggest wine producers, creating some of the best varieties on Earth.

18. French was once the official language of England

Following the Norman Conquest, French was the language of the King and Court from 1066 to 1362 (that's about three hundred years). Though English regained prominence in the 14th century, the English language today is still peppered with French-derived words and phrases. 

19. Kilts originated in France, not Scotland

While kilts are synonymous with Scotland, similar garments were in fact worn in a number of different countries across the globe, including in early France. Most were worn below the knee, stretching to the ground. However, tartan kilts as we know them today do indeed herald from Gaelic lands, originating in the first quarter of the 18th century. 

20. A 1910 law forbids couples kissing on train platforms

It’s true: in 1910, a French law confined couples kissing on train platforms to romantic scenes on the silver screen. The ban was intended to avoid overcrowded stations and service delays – how much difference it made is anyone’s guess. Today there’s no penalty for a cheeky train-station smooch, which is good news for lovers heading for Paris, the unchallenged romance capital of the world. 

If you want to take the train across Russia, you'll need to set aside seven days for a direct route that doesn't stop, crossing through all 11 time zones.

The railway crosses Russia's 16 largest rivers, including the Volga, as well as an astonishing 3,901 bridges along 62 miles of bridgework.

 In 1979, China invaded Vietnam because Vietnam had invaded Cambodia and had ousted the notorious Khmers Rouges, supported by China. The conflict lasted a month and the Chinese army withdrew from Vietnam. Both sides claimed a victory.

The Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean is the deepest place on the surface of Earth, with a small depression called the Challenger Deep the deepest part of the trench. The depression reaches depths of nearly 35,814 feet (10916 m).

Haiti experienced more hurricanes and earthquakes than any other country in the Western Hemisphere.

Oceans cover 70% of Earth’s surface. Yet, rather counterintuitively, lightning is more likely to strike land surface than water.

Bolivia was founded in 1825. On average, it has experienced one coup d’état per year of existence.

 The world’s longest standing alliance was ratified in 1386 and is still in force. It is between the United Kingdom and Portugal.

Kentucky's cave system, Mammoth Cave, is nearly 400 miles in length — and that's just what's been explored! Scientists think there are 200 more miles of unexplored caves, making the cave system the largest on Earth.

You can visit portions of the caves at Mammoth Cave National Park.

The closest distance between Russia and the United States of America is only 4 km (2.5 mi), between the islands Little Diomede (USA) and Big Diomede (Russia).

The Bazaar of Tabriz, Iran, is the largest covered market in the world. Founded in the 12th century, the complex covers an area of 0.3 km2 (0.1 sq mi), and is only a bit smaller than the world’s tiniest country, Vatican City.

Jupiter and Saturn radiate more energy than they absorb from the Sun.

The Hague is the third biggest inhabited locality in the Netherlands with its 510,000 citizens. Administratively speaking however, it has never received an official city status and is therefore dubbed “the largest village in Europe”.

 5% of the entire population of North Korea serve in the army.

Hawaii is the only US state without a straight line on its borders. It is also the only one to use the United Kingdom’s Union Jack on its flag

Jupiter is the fastest rotating planet in the Solar System.

 In 2014, a Spanish village was renamed to Castrillo Mota de Judíos. The old name was Castrillo Matajudíos (Spanish for “Camp Kill the Jews”).

Batman is a town in south-eastern Turkey.

In the English language, no sovereign state in the world (member of the UN) has a name starting with the letters W and X.

During WWI, France built a “fake Paris” near the real city in order to confuse German pilots.

Japan and Russia did not sign a peace treaty after WWII, meaning that in theory a state of war still exists between them.

On 24 August 2007, some 50 km (over 30 mi) of the Pacific shoreline in Australia was covered with thick foam. The media called this phenomenon “Cappuccino Coast”.

Monaco and Indonesia have virtually the same national flag. The only slight difference is the size ratio.

The Mediterranean island of Mallorca (Spain) has the oldest tourist service worldwide, established more than 110 years ago.

Russia has 11 times zones (of just 24 total in the world!). So when a Russian on one side of the country is awaking at 7 a.m., another on the other side may be sitting down to dinner.

Another fun fact? France actually uses more time zones — 12 — than Russia or anywhere else in the world, due to its overseas territories. 

Over 4,000 islands in Indonesia are still unmanaged and without names. In January 2017, the Indonesian government announced that if foreign investors develop an island, they could name it as they wish.

 Jupiter’s moon Io is so volcanically active that its surface is no more than 1,000 years old.

Sri Lanka was known by the name of Ceylon until 1948.

On the Faroe Islands, they fit cameras on the back of sheep to create Google Street View.

Two out of every three US citizens do not have a passport.

  Iceland switches off street lights so that everyone can enjoy the aurora borealis (the Northern Lights).

In Liechtenstein, the gender ratio at birth is 126 males for every 100 females.

Worldwide, deforestation claims an area roughly the size of Greece every year.

  The assault rifle, AK-47, appears on the flag of Mozambique and on the coats of arms of Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso (even though only from 1984 to 1997) and East Timor. The rifle is also seen on the flags of the Lebanese militant organisation Hezbollah and the Revolutionary Guard of the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

In 1848, Bern and Zurich were both striving to become the capital of Switzerland. In Bern, as a brave publicity move, they literally made wine flow from the city’s fountains.

 In 1667, the Dutch swapped with Great Britain the island of Manhattan for Run Island, one of Indonesia’s Banda Islands. Back then, the Indonesian islands were regarded as a precious source of spices.

Birmingham, United Kingdom, is often referred to as the city of 1,000 inventions. About 70% of all inventions copyrighted in the UK came from within a 50-km (35-mi) radius of the city.

 Turkey has only 3% of its territory in Europe. The country applied for membership in the European Union in 1987 and is still awaiting accession.

Madagascar hosts the world’s only pirate graveyard.

Pigeons are the only bird that can suck up water.

Mount Everest (in the Himalayas) was formed millions of years after the Tyrannosaurus rex became extinct.

Norway planned to give Finland a mountain peak as a gift for the latter’s 100th birthday (on 6 December 2017). The peak would have become Finland’s highest point. Administrative and legal difficulties however blocked the noble initiative.

You may have thought Jerusalem or Athens was the oldest city in the world, but that honor goes to Damascus, Syria. Continuously inhabited since at least 11,000 years ago, it was named the Arab Capital of Culture in 2008.

Damascus has more than 125 monuments showcasing its different periods of history since the 3rd millennium B.C., including the Great Mosque of the Umayyads, built in the 8th century. Today, the city is home to 1.7 million people.

When Marco Polo first saw rhinos, he thought they were unicorns.

 Measured from the centre of Earth, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is higher than the Himalayas.

Discover Facts

1. Most Ancient Egyptian pyramids were built as tombs for pharaohs (rulers of Ancient Egypt) and their families. To date, over 130 pyramids have been discovered in Egypt.

2. The afterlife was incredibly important to the Egyptians. They believed that by preserving a dead person’s body – which they did through the process of mummification – their soul would live on in the after-life forever.

3. The Pyramid of Khufu at Giza is the largest Egyptian pyramid. This incredible structure weighs as much as 16 Empire State buildings!

4. Both Egyptian men and women wore make-up. The eye-paint was usually green (made from copper) or black (made from lead). As well as offering protection from the sun, the Egyptians believed make-up had magical healing powers, too!

5. Unwrapped, the bandages of an Ancient Egyptian mummy could stretch for 1.6km. Yikes!

6. The Egyptian alphabet contained more than 700 hieroglyphs! Uncover the meaning behind these ancient symbols by checking out our awesome hieroglyphics feature.

7.  Ancient Egyptians believed in more than 2,000 deities! They had gods for everything, from dangers to chores! Each had different responsibilities and needed to be worshipped so that life could be kept in balance.

8. Cats were considered to be a sacred animal by the Ancient Egyptians. It’s thought that most families kept a cat as a pet, which they believed would bring the household good luck!

9.  Love playing boardgames with your pals? Well, gang, so did the Ancient Egyptians! One popular game was Senet, which was played for over 2,000 years! The game involved throwing sticks (in the same way we throw dice) to see how many squares to move your piece forward on the board.

10.  The Ancient Egyptians invented lots of things we still use today, such as paper, pens, locks and keys and – believe it or not – toothpaste!

The capital of Egypt, Cairo, was named after the planet Mars.

The closest distance between Russia and the United States of America is only 4 km (2.5 mi), between the islands Little Diomede (USA) and Big Diomede (Russia).

Istanbul, Turkey, is the largest city that occupies two continents.

The streets of Chesham’s town centre (UK) feature Smart Wi-Fi Pavements, providing free internet since 2015.

The only case when two democracies were at war occurred in 1941, with Great Britain declaring war on Finland.

At Kuala Lumpur’s airport, Malaysia, someone abandoned three Boeing 747s on the tarmac and never took them back. In late 2015, the airport placed an ad in the local newspapers asking for help in identifying their owner.

 45% of Russia is covered with forests. These forests roughly equal the total area of the continent Australia.

The town of Lauscher, Germany, produced the entire world’s supply of Christmas balls between 1840 and 1940.

Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America.

Nobody climbed Everest in 2015.

Cambodia, Malaysia and Vatican City are the only existent elective monarchies.

 Venezuela’s name roughly translates as “the little Venice”.

Iceland, divided by the North American and European tectonic plates, is growing by nearly 5 centimeters per year as the plates grow wider apart. 

The US flag’s official colours are called “Old Glory Red”, “White”, and “Old Glory Blue”.

The smallest town in the world is Hum, Croatia. It has only 30 inhabitants but has preserved its town institutions from the time when its population was considerably larger.

Despite its name, Mount Augustus is not a mountain, but one very large rock. Located in the Australian Outback, the rock stands more than 2,300 feet tall and can be seen from nearly 100 miles.

The rock is twice the size of Ayers Rock, which is the Outback's more famous granite rock. It's also 1,650 million years old!

  In South Korea and Japan, writing a person’s name in red ink traditionally means that the person is deceased.

Every two-dimensional map of Earth is distorted.

 One third of the inhabitants of Kaiserslautern, Germany, are American citizens. The city hosts one of the largest communities of US military personnel outside of the USA.

Mount Everest may be the tallest mountain above sea level, but when it comes to the tallest mountain on earth, that honor goes to Mauna Kea.

Above the sea, Mauna Kea only stands 13,796 feet in height. But when you follow the mountain to its base at the bottom of the Pacific, it's 32,808 feet — more than 3,000 feet taller than Everest.

Nowadays, only Cyprus and Kosovo have a map on their national flag.

New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, is the world’s southernmost.

Egypt's Pyramids of Giza may be considered one of the wonders of the world, but Sudan has nearly twice the number of pyramids. Sudan touts 200-255 known pyramids, built for the Kushite kingdoms of Nubia, compared to Egypt's relatively paltry 138 pyramids.

Within the Sahara, you can still visit the ancient and reconstructed pyramids of Meroe.

Bangladesh used to be called East Pakistan until 1971.