The Golden Temple in Amritsar, India is the most important pilgrimage site of Sikhism, attracting around 100,000 people for worship every day. It is also home to the largest free kitchen in the world, serving up to 100,000 meals on weekends and religious holidays. All visitors are entitled to a vegetarian meal from langar, the […]
The 1815 eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia was the most destructive in 10,000 years, killing at least 10,000 people and causing a three-year global climate downturn. The eruption caused a tsunami and severe climate change, leading to an agricultural apocalypse known as the “year without a summer.” In April 1815, the most destructive volcanic […]
Sandy Island, shown on maps since the late 1800s, was searched for by Australian scientists in 2012 but was not found. It is now believed to have never existed and was likely a mistake made by the crew of the whaler Velocity in 1876. Beginning in the late 1800s, maps of the area between Australia […]
World leaders’ salaries vary depending on their country’s economy. Some leaders, such as Obama, earn about eight times their country’s GDP per capita. The highest known salary is $1.7 million for Singapore’s prime minister. Some leaders, like Uruguay’s president, donate a large portion of their salary to charity. Queen Elizabeth II earns an estimated $54.5 […]
The world population grows by 80 million people annually, reaching almost 7 billion in 2010. Qatar has the highest growth rate at 11.9%, while 60% of the world’s population lives in Asia. The world population growth rate is about 1.17 percent. More than 80 million people are added to the world every year, about the […]
Fort Roughs was a WWII anti-aircraft platform in international waters, later taken over by Paddy Roy Bates who declared it the Principality of Sealand in 1967. The micro-state still exists today but is officially in British territorial waters and was denied island status by the United Nations in 1994. Fort Roughs was originally erected in […]
The United Nations predicts that the world’s population will reach 9.8 billion by 2050, with Africa contributing more than half of the growth. Nigeria is expected to become the third most populous country, and India is projected to become the most populous by 2024. Europe is expected to see population decline. According to a 2017 […]
Mongolia was a powerful empire in the 13th century, with naval power under Kublai Khan. Today, Mongolia has a peaceful foreign policy and a navy consisting of one tug that patrols Lake Khövsgöl. The lake contains 70% of Mongolia’s freshwater resources and is home to a crew of seven sailors, only one of whom can […]
India is building the world’s tallest statue, the Statue of Unity, in honor of independence leader Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. It will be twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty and cost around $500 million. The statue will be completed by the end of the year and will surpass the current record holder, the Spring […]
The World Beard and Mustache Championships are held every two years, with prizes awarded in various facial hair categories. The first competition was in Germany in 1990, and it has since been held in Norway, Sweden, the US, and England. Categories include mustaches, partial beards, and full beards, with styles ranging from national to freestyle. […]
The World Heritage List, created by UNESCO in the 1960s, includes 890 natural and cultural sites in 148 countries. Sites must meet ten criteria and be assessed by multiple governing bodies. Designated sites can receive funding for restoration, but those in danger may be removed from the list. The committee’s efforts are important for preserving […]
The world’s extreme points include the geographic and magnetic poles, Mt. Everest as the highest point, the Dead Sea as the lowest point on land, and the Challenger Deep as the lowest point in the ocean. El Azizia, Libya and Death Valley, California are the hottest points, while Vostok station in Antarctica is the coldest. […]
The most populated cities in the world are in South and East Asia, with eight cities having populations greater than 10 million. Monaco and Singapore are the most densely populated countries. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has the highest population density in the world. Despite concerns about overpopulation, highly populated cities can be vibrant and […]
The Third World classification has evolved since its inception after World War II. Initially, it was used to describe countries that were not part of the capitalist or communist blocs. Later, it was used to describe underdeveloped and economically dependent countries. Today, the term has no clear objective classification and is decided by whoever uses […]
Physicists predict the end of the world in 5 billion years, coinciding with the sun’s explosion. Other predictions include 7.5 billion years, 2060, and 2012. The year 2000 hype and unusual theories like alien invasion and rogue black holes are also mentioned. An Assyrian clay tablet from 2800 BC also predicted the end of the […]
The global human population will increase by over 2 billion people by 2050, with most growth occurring in India, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bangladesh, Uganda, the United States, Ethiopia, and China. Asia will have over 5 billion people, while North America will have only 500 million. Despite declining fertility rates, the […]
The smallest countries in the world are located in Europe, Oceania, and North America. The smallest countries by land mass include Holy See/Vatican City, Monaco, Nauru, Tuvalu, San Marino, Liechtenstein, Marshall Islands, Cook Islands, Niue, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Maldives, and Malta. The smallest countries by population include Holy See/Vatican City, Niue, Tuvalu, Nauru, Palau, […]
Greenland is the largest island in the world, followed by New Guinea and Borneo. Greenland is largely uninhabited and covered by an ice sheet, but melting ice is opening up exploration for oil and gas. New Guinea is known for its biodiversity and uncontacted tribes, while Borneo is the most populated of the three and […]
The “world of flowers and willows” is a formal and complex culture in Japan that includes geishas, traditional arts, and codes of conduct. Westernization has threatened its preservation, and while it is still appreciated by some, it is in decline and efforts to preserve it may be too late. In Japan, the “world of flowers […]
The Qattara Depression in Egypt is the world’s largest sinkhole, measuring 50 miles long and 74 miles wide. Other sinkholes include Berezniki in Russia, Guatemala City, and Daisetta in Texas. The largest sinkhole in the world is the Qattara Depression near Cairo, Egypt. The sinkhole, which is filled with mud and quicksand, measures nearly 50 […]
