Fun Geography Facts

Iceland is the world's oldest functioning democracy

Mongolia is the largest landlocked country

Because heat expands the metal, the Eiffel Tower always leans away from the Sun

There are 1,792 steps to the top of the Eiffel Tower

In Calama, a town in the Atacama Desert of Chile, it has never rained

The only man-made structure visible from space is the Great Wall of China

Birth-control campaigns in Egypt in the late 1970s failed because village women ended up wearing the pills in lockets, as talismans

Niagara Falls has moved about ten miles upstream in the last 10,000 years. The falls are eroding at the rate of 5 feet per year

The Sahara desert is expanding half a mile south every year

The Channel between England and France grows about 300 millimeters each year

The Hudson River along the island of Manhattan flows in either direction depending on the tide.

There is now an ATM at McMurdo Station in Antarctica, which has a winter population of 200 people

The Australian term for extras in cricket are 'sundries'

In early Rome, March 1 was New Year's Day. Later, the ancient Romans made January 1 the beginning of the year

Ancient Persians gave New Year's gifts of eggs, symbolizing productivity

Due to precipitation, for a few weeks K2 is bigger than Mt Everest

Vietnamese currency consists only of paper money; no coins

Canada declared national beauty contests canceled as of 1992, claiming they were degrading to women

There are more Rolls Royce cars in Hong Kong than anywhere else in the world

Until 1896, India was the only source for diamonds to the world

It snowed in the Sahara Desert in February of 1979

Australia's national anthem is called Advance Australia Fair

The only nation whose name begins with an A, but doesn't end in an A is Afghanistan

The Atlantic Ocean gets wider by a little more than one inch every year

The world's only city whose name consists solely of vowels is Aiea, in Hawaii, USA.

Soldiers in the Netherlands are not required to salute officers

Los Angeles' full name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de los Angeles de Porciuncula" . In English this means 'The City of Angels'

The Netherlands has built 800 miles of massive dikes and sea walls to hold back the sea. If it wasn't for these walls, 40% of the country would be flooded.

Big Ben is actually the name of the largest bell inside the London clock tower, not of the clock itself.

In 1867 the United States paid Russia only $7.2 million (2 cents an acre) for Alaska

Every year in France there is a "Thieves Fair" where people are encouraged to try to steal things from the stalls

The world's longest street is in Canada. Toronto's Yonge Street runs 1,190 miles

In the kingdom of Bhutan, all citizens officially become a year older on New Year's Day

Santa Claus, St. Nicholas, was born in the ancient southeastern Turkish town of Lycia early in the fourth century

Belgium is the only country that has never imposed censorship for adult films

The Nullarbor Plain of Australia covers 100,000 square miles without a tree.

Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country

Australia is the only continent on earth without an active volcano.

In Turkey, in the 16th and 17th centuries, anyone caught drinking coffee was put to death

There are twice as many kangaroos in Australia as there are people.

There are no public toilets in Peru

Mickey Mouse is known as "Topolino" in Italy

The oldest national flag still in existence, that of Denmark, dates back to the 13th century

Nepal is the only country that doesn't have a rectangular or square flag

In 1949, the temperature in part of Portugal soared to 158 degrees F for a couple of minutes. No one knows why

Nauru is the only country in the world with no official capital

Windmills always turn counter-clockwise. Except for the windmills in Ireland

It was once against the law to slam your car door in a city in Switzerland

In 1980, Bhutan was the only country in the world with no telephones

There is a hotel in Sweden built entirely out of ice; it is rebuilt every year.

In the great fire of London in 1666 half of London was burnt down but only 6 people were injured.

The longest fence in the world is in Australia and it runs for over 3,436 miles (5,530 km)

In Switzerland, it is illegal to flush the toilet after 10 P.M. if you live in an apartment.

Holland is the lowest country in the world. It is estimated that 40 percent of the land is below sea level.

Tokyo has had 24 recorded instances of people either killed or receiving serious skull fractures while bowing to each other with the traditional Japanese greeting

Netherlands, most densely populated country in the world, followed by Belgium, then Japan

Perth, Australia, is the most isolated city on the planet..200 miles across impenetrable desert from the next city of any size.

Los Angeles's full name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina delos Angeles de Porciuncula" . It means the City of Angels.

India never invaded any country in her last 10000 years of history.

In Thailand, it is illegal to leave your house if you are not wearing underwear

In Israel, picking your nose is illegal.

In Sweden, while prostitution is legal, it is illegal for anyone to use the services of a prostitute.

On every continent there is a city called Rome.

Vatican City is the smallest country in the world with a population of 1,000 and a size of 108.7 acres.

China has only about 200 family names.

The country with the most Post offices is India with over 152,792 compared with just over 38,000 in the United States.

Colombia produces the most emeralds of any country in South America.

The world's largest gold mine is in Juneau, Alaska

Namibia, Africa, supplies the most valuable diamonds of the 18 countries in southern Africa rich with diamonds.

Switzerland attracts the most suicide tourists.

India has no rabbits in the wild � only hares

In Tokyo, a bicycle is faster than a car for most trips of less than 50 minutes!

It's illegal to drink beer out of a bucket while you're sitting on a curb in St. Louis, Missouri!

It's against the law to pawn your dentures in Las Vegas!

It's against the law to burp, or sneeze in a certain churches in Omaha, Nebraska!

The state of Florida is bigger than England!

In Natoma, Kansas, it's illegal to throw knives at men wearing striped suits.

It was once against the law to have a pet dog in a city in Iceland!

There are more plastic flamingos in the U.S, than real ones!

About 3000 years ago, most Egyptians died by the time they were 30!

In Bangladesh, kids as young as 15 can be jailed for cheating on their finals!

A company in Taiwan makes dinnerware out of wheat, so you can eat your plate!

Q is the only letter in the alphabet that does not appear in the name of any of the United States!

In Tokyo, they sell toupees for dogs!