YOU’LL IMMEDIATELY FEEL SMARTER AFTER READING THESE TRIVIA ON EVERYTHING FROM NATURE TO GLOBAL POLITICS.
The earth is full of fascinating, amusing, and interesting information, with over 7.8 billion people living in over 200 countries (plus more species like plants, animals, and other living things). For example, the largest percentage of pet owners on the planet can be found in the homeland of the Kiwis. One of only two flags in the world that uses the colour purple is that of Nicaragua. Interested in learning more information about the world’s expanding population? Continue reading to discover some fascinating facts about the past, present, and future of the Earth.
1. A little more than 69% of the freshwater on Earth is stored in glaciers and ice sheets.
According to Water in Crisis: A Guide to the World’s Fresh Water Resources published by the United States Geological Survey, the seas hold just over 96% of the world’s total water supply (USGS). But the majority of that is seawater. As 68.7 percent of the world’s freshwater is covered in ice caps, glaciers, and ever-present snow, you must travel to the poles to find the majority of it. Join our daily email to receive additional information delivered directly to your inbox.
2. On Earth, a gust of wind once reached a speed of 253 miles per hour.
This isn’t your typical windstorm, so hold onto your hats. A record-breaking tropical cyclone by the name of Olivia made landfall off the Australian island of Barrow in 1996. The peak of Olivia’s eyewall’s five intense three-second wind gusts, which reached 253 mph, broke the previous wind record of 231 mph established at Mount Washington, New Hampshire back in 1934, according to The Weather Channel.
3. The most severe droughts in 2,100 years occurred recently in Europe.
Since 2015, Europe has been hit by prolonged dry periods and sweltering temperatures, which have resulted in severe droughts. In an effort to identify the cause, research led by the University of Cambridge examined isotopes in the rings of ancient European Oak trees in Central Europe that formed over thousands of years (and was published on the website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). According to EurekAlert, they found that the dry spells are a “result of human-caused climate change and associated shifts in the jet stream”!
4. Hawaii is the best site in the world to watch rainbows.
Hawaii is the perfect place to visit if you enjoy watching rainbows and want to see as many as you can. The mountains in the region “create high variations in clouds and rainfall, which are important to abundant rainbow sightings,” according to a report by the American Meteorological Society released in 2021. In terms of both quantity and quality of rainbows, Hawaii tops the list thanks to air pollution, pollen, and a lot of cresting waves.
