15 Weird Things About the Earth You Never Knew Before

Weird | By Ian Anglin | February 22, 2018

Everyone knows that our planet is a strange place. There are so many different types of environments, animals, and people, that a person can travel around the world for the better part of their life, and still don't get to see everything there is to see. That is why guides like this one are helpful - you can get to see at some of the weirdest and funniest places in the world, without having to spend thousands of dollar or months of your time traveling.

The Hottest Place in the World

According to Wikipedia, the hottest place in the world is Al-Aziza, a region in the North African state of Libya. This place has the highest temperatures ever recorded (136 F) - in fact, they are the record holder for the past 90 years.

The Coldest Place in the World

Obviously, after discovering the hottest place in the world, you now need to know about the coldest one. That award goes to the Soviet Vostok Station, located in Antartica. They received the "award" back on July 21, 1983, and have held it ever since.

The Magnetic Poles Switch Sides

Most people think that the North Pole is always going to be North, and the same goes for the South pole. That is not correct - scientists have found out that every 450 thousand years (that's almost half a million years), the poles change sides, and the Northside moves to the Southside.

Hawaii Has the Tallest Mountain

Watching many movies and TV shows, and you would believe that Mount Everest is the highest mount in the world - due to the amount publicity the place gets. Technically speaking, the tallest mountain in the world is Mauna Kea in Hawaii, which is half a mile taller than Mount Everest.

The World's Largest Meteorite

The Earth has been hit by thousands of small and large meteorites over the ages. One of them even wiped out the dinosaurs. Most meteorites get destroyed upon impact, however that didn't happen with Hoba - the largest meteorite in the world.

The T-Rex Was Not Fast

Another thing that movies have ruined for many people are dinosaurs - specifically the T-Rex. Watching the Jurassic Park movies, you might think there is no chance you could escape one. The truth is that T-Rex's could only run at 15-25 miles per hour.

The Deepest Part of the Ocean

Just as the Earth's land is filled with both mountain peaks and canyons, so are the oceans. There are mountains that are many miles high located on the ocean floor. The deepest part of the ocean is more than 10,000 meters below the sea, just off the coast of Japan.

The Driest Place in the World

Continuing with the most extreme places in the world is the driest location on the map. That award goes to McMurdo Dry Valleys. The place shouldn't be too bad, as most people prefer dry air to the heavy, humid type of air.

The Oldest Fossils

Fossils are a very important part of our world. One reason is that we use them for fuel when they are in liquid form, but another reason is that we can learn a lot of about evolution from old fossils. The oldest such fossil is in Australia, and they are 3.45 billion years old.

Our Sky is Just 38 Miles High

Looking up at the sky, you might be wondering how tall it is. That is true - the stars you see are light years away from us, but the sky itself (our atmosphere) is just 62 km away - that is about 38 miles. In total, there are five different layers in the Earth's atmosphere.

The Lowest Land Point

Most cities near a sea or an ocean at said to be at "sea level." That means they are at about 0m height. There is one sea that is an exception to this rule - the Dead Sea, that borders Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. Cities on the cost of this sea are 430 meters below sea level.

The Oldest Religious Structure in the World

There have been many religions in the world that have been popular in the past, but have either died off over time or are popular only in small communities. The oldest such structure of one of the old religions I the Gobekli Tepe, a sanctuary in Turkey.

The World Is Full Of Life

You can probably imagine how many different species live in the world. However, mankind has only learned of a handful of all the different species on our planet. The reason for that is that many animals are either too small or live in the depths of the ocean.

The Smallest Living Mammal

Mammals are a very interesting species, as they come in a huge different variety - from small mammals like rats, to medium-sizes like Humans, and huge in the case of Whales. The smallest mammals is the Kitti's Hog-nosed bat. This bat is only 1.1 to 1.3 inches in length.

There Are Two Different Types of Auroras

Almost everyone has heard of Auroras, but not everyone can see them, as they only appear in places close to the poles. That is why many people don't know that there are actually two different types of auroras - the Northern Lights and the Southern Lights.



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