25 Geography Facts That Are Stranger Than Fiction

The world is full of more mystery than we could ever conceive, whether it be a magnificent creature or the unexpected empathy of humanity. However, when you look at the Earth itself, the way its lands function, and how they affect people, you’ll find an astonishing amount of geography facts that make you rethink how you view the planet. These are some of the most surprising and bizarre.

1. Two Islands Are Two Miles Away and 21 Hours Apart

The Diomede Islands are comprised of the Big and Little Diomede in Russia and the U.S., respectively. A distance of an estimated 2.5 miles separates them. Between the two islands is the International Date Line, meaning the time difference in those walkable steps is 21 hours.

2. A Fire Has Been Burning Since the 1970s

A disaster happened in Turkmenistan in the 1970s. A natural gas field collapsed, falling apart and into a cavern below. At the time, experts took the only action they knew — setting the gas on fire to prevent the spread of methane. It remains burning to this day, earning it the nickname “The Door to Hell.”

3. A Nation Lives Within Nevada

Nevada has a de facto sovereignty within its borders. The Republic of Molossia spans over 11 acres and has its own currency, president, and national anthem. Its population consists of around 30 people and several pets.

4. Death Valley Has Stones That Move

Known as the “sailing stones,” these mysterious rocks move across the desert, leaving obvious evidence of their travels. Long trails in the sand mark their paths. They most likely travel due to the intense winds, but researchers have been studying them for a considerable amount of time.

5. NYC Has Buildings With Individual Zip Codes

The Big Apple is known for its towering skyline and dense urban forests, but did you know that some of these buildings are so large that they warrant their own postal designation? Some examples include the Empire State and the Chrysler Building.

6. Peru’s Mysterious Lines Make People Suspect Alien Activity

The Nazca Lines are massive geoglyphs that look like something out of a movie. Seeing them from above is nothing short of astonishing, as they create shapes that have never been seen anywhere on Earth. They have been around for thousands of years, and many people believe they were created by aliens — though this is simply a myth.

7. Australia Has So Many Beaches

Yes, Australia is both an island nation and a continent, so it’s no surprise that there are numerous beaches throughout. If you count them individually, there are over 10,000.

8. Bolivia’s Salt Flats Look Like Something Else

Salar de Uyuni is the planet’s most famous and massive salt flat. When it rains, the entire region appears to be a giant mirror. It is one of the most captivating tourist attractions in the world.

9. See the Moon on Earth

We all know what the surface of the moon looks like — gray and full of craters. The Valley of the Moon in Argentina is known by this name because it resembles the Moon’s famous landscape. 

10. Lava Is More Than Red

In Indonesia, there is a volcano called Kawah Ijen. When it combusts, blue lava pours out. It contains so much sulfuric gas that it looks different than most volcanic eruptions.

11. There Is a Lake Full of Spots

Typically, lakes are supposed to be serene, flat bodies of water, with the occasional ripple from fish or kids throwing stones. In British Columbia, Canada, there is a lake called the Spotted Lake that makes the water’s surface resemble a leopard’s spots. The “spots” are rich mineral deposits, which appear as the lake becomes shallower as it evaporates in warmer months.

12. Forests Do Not Have to Be All Trees

Tsingy de Bemaraha is a national park in Madagascar, also known as the Stone Forest. It developed this name because it has densely populated forests, but they are not green. They are tall limestone needles, making a forest unlike any other.

13. Some Mountains Look Like Candy

The Philippines is home to the Chocolate Hills. These formations resemble Hershey Kisses in the drier months. They are brown and cone-shaped, and there are well over 1,000 of them. During other parts of the year, greenery makes them look more like normal hills, but the way they are spread throughout the land is still a unique sight.

14. Fairies Live in Namibia

In the Marienflussstal grasslands of Namibia, strange and hypnotic circular patches that look like human-made formations form naturally across the landscape. These are known as fairy circles and are still being researched by geographers. Nobody is certain how they form, but some theories include help from termites or the fight between competitive grasses. Regardless, these speckle the land, making for an impressive yet confusing aerial photo.

15. Sand Can Sing

As wind pushes grains of sand off dunes, they can create an almost humming, singing sound. The dunes of Qatar are known for this low-frequency sound, and it can be heard from far away.

16. People Choose to Live in Subzero Temperatures

The coldest populated place on Earth is in Russia, in a town called Oymyakon. The coldest temperature on record has been -90° Fahrenheit. People bundle up in furs, use outhouses to prevent plumbing from freezing, and go to school in almost all temperatures.

17. One Waterfall Is an Illusion

Mauritius has a fascinating waterfall — if you can even call it one. Right off the coast of the island are massive deposits of salt and sand, and they are flowing into a deep dip in elevation. It creates the illusion of an underwater waterfall.

18. A Town Exists With a Population of One

Monowi, Nebraska, is home to Elsie Eiler. She serves as Monowi’s mayor, treasurer, tavern keeper, and everything in between. This is because she is the only person who lives there. She always wins elections because she is the only one who votes.

19. A Hot Tub You Don’t Want to Go In

The Boiling River in the Amazon Rainforest is known as the Shanay-Timpishka, also referred to as La Bomba. Its temperatures reach over 200° Fahrenheit. It causes every creature that attempts to enter it to die instantly or not survive for long.

20. This Beautiful Pool Has a Deep, Dark Secret

From above, the Great Blue Hole in Belize appears to be one of the most stunning swimming areas. This gorgeous place is actually a sinkhole, home to a massive submarine. It’s a dream for scuba divers.

21. Wind Acts Different in the White Desert

Egypt’s White Desert is renowned for several reasons. Its sand is chalky white, making it bright and captivating. However, its composition also makes its formations react strangely with the wind. Some sand has formed giant, mushroom-like structures or huge formations that resemble otherworldly rocks.

22. Bridges Are Alive

The extensive root systems of rubber trees have grown so long and far that they have created natural bridges in Meghalaya, India. They even cross rivers, helping travelers without spending time constructing anything human-made.

23. We Don’t Know Why This Crater Is Here

Patomskiy Crater in Irkutsk, Siberia, is still a mystery to geographers. This immense dome, with its unusual formation in the crater, stands out like a sore thumb in the midst of a vast sea of green. Some think it was created by a meteorite, but nobody knows for certain.

24. There Is an Island Like a Nesting Doll

Imagine an island in a lake on an island in a lake on an island. Do you follow? In the Philippines, on the island of Luzon, Lake Taal has an island, which has the Main Crater Lake, which has Vulcan Point. Vulcan Point is the only island in the world in this unique position.

25. You Can Float on the Dead Sea

You can float on any water if you have the practice, but even people who can’t swim can float in the Dead Sea. It has so much salt in it, you can’t help but do so. 

The World’s Best Geography Facts

Now you know more about the world than you could have imagined. The amount of curiosities that render mouths agape is only matched by the wonder of future geographical discoveries. Everyone deserves to know about these wonderful surprises and weird anomalies, as they could inspire people to care more about the planet.