15 Geography Facts That Will Surprise You

Geography is full of counterintuitive surprises. Here are 15 facts about our planet that challenge assumptions, the kind of things that, once you know them, you'll want to share immediately.

Size and Shape

Australia is wider than the Moon

Australia's east-west span is about 4,000 km, while the Moon's diameter is approximately 3,474 km. If you placed the Moon next to Australia, it wouldn't reach from coast to coast.

The Sahara is not the largest desert

Antarctica is the world's largest desert at 14.2 million km². A desert is defined by aridity (very low precipitation), not heat. The Sahara at 9.2 million km² is the largest hot desert, but Antarctica receives less annual precipitation than almost anywhere on Earth.

Africa spans all four hemispheres

Africa is the only continent in all four hemispheres: Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western. It straddles both the equator and the prime meridian, placing parts of it in every quarter of the globe.

Rivers, Oceans, and Lakes

The Pacific is bigger than all land combined

The Pacific Ocean covers about 165 million km², more than all the world's landmasses combined (148 million km²). From the right angle, Earth looks almost entirely blue.

The Amazon discharges 20% of all river water

The Amazon River discharges roughly 20% of all freshwater flowing into the world's oceans. During flood season, it can be up to 50 km wide. Its drainage basin covers about 40% of South America.

The Dead Sea is actually a lake

Despite its name, the Dead Sea is a saltwater lake bordered by Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank. At 430 meters below sea level, it is the lowest point on Earth's land surface. Its extreme salinity (10 times saltier than the ocean) makes it impossible to sink in.

Countries and Borders

Canada and the US share the world's longest border

The US–Canada border stretches 8,891 km, the world's longest international land border. It is entirely undefended, a distinction unique among large neighboring countries.

Indonesia has over 17,000 islands

Indonesia consists of over 17,000 islands, making it the world's largest archipelago. About 6,000 are inhabited. The country spans roughly the same east-west distance as the continental United States.

Russia borders 14 countries

Russia shares land borders with 14 countries, more than any other nation (China also borders 14). Russia's land border stretches over 22,000 km, traversing Arctic tundra, European plains, and Central Asian mountains.

Climate Extremes

The driest place on Earth is in Chile

The Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest non-polar desert on Earth. Parts of it have no recorded rainfall in all of recorded history. Some weather stations there have never measured any precipitation at all.

Greenland was named to attract settlers

Greenland, 81% covered in ice, was given its appealing name by Norse explorer Erik the Red around 985 AD to attract settlers. Iceland, which is quite green in its inhabited coastal areas, got the less attractive name, possibly to deter competing arrivals.

Political Surprises

France has more time zones than Russia

France spans 12 time zones when its overseas territories are included, more than Russia's 11. French Polynesia, Martinique, Guadeloupe, New Caledonia, and other territories spread France's reach across the globe.

Two countries are doubly landlocked

Only two countries are "doubly landlocked", meaning they are surrounded entirely by other landlocked countries: Liechtenstein (bordered by Switzerland and Austria) and Uzbekistan (bordered by five landlocked nations). You need to cross at least two borders to reach any sea.

The world's shortest scheduled flight is 90 seconds

Operated by Loganair between the Scottish islands of Westray and Papa Westray, this flight covers just 2.7 km in about 90 seconds. On a good day with a tailwind, it can take under a minute.

There are thousands more facts like these waiting to be discovered. Globe serves up a fresh dose of geography every day. Download the app and see how much there is still to learn.