Chocolate is huge in this European country, which can produce some 600,000 tons of it per year across its more than 2,000 companies and shops specializing in the confection. This European country is the birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes, whose iconic Don Quixote is considered the first modern novel. The Yoruba people in the southwest part of this African nation are known for giving birth to more twins than anywhere else in the world, at a rate of 50 per 1,000 births. You might find yourself saying "the" before various countries and place names when referring to them, thanks to grammar and common pronunciation, which is why we say the United States or the Maldives. The North American . To help fuel your planning, we've found 10 fascinating facts from destinations around the world - oddities and unknowns that will inspire your inner explorer. The rate surpassed 3 percent in 2001 and hit 3.3 percent in 2010. In the 1980s, Norway started selling salmon, one of its major exports, to Japan because that island nation was facing a seafood shortage. The Greek goddess of love, Aphrodite, is said to have been born on a beach in this Mediterranean Sea island nation. Most people live along the coast and only 5% of the population lives inland. Unique Cultural Traditions Around the World In order not to be considered disrespectful or rude when you're visiting another country, learn some of the unique cultural traditions and customs around the world. Or enjoy a day of silence during Nyepi in Bali where both work and pleasure are prohibited for one whole day. This Middle East country has a bright history with the tomato. Oil explorations in the 1950s uncovered a fossil aquifer in this African nation that is 40,000 years old and existed before the end of the last ice age. However, there were recently three countries that stood out: Liberia, Myanmar, and the United States. In 2022, another country made it onto the list. Europe has been experiencing serious dry spells and extreme heat since 2015, which has caused major droughts. Read on to learn some interesting trivia about the Earth's past, present, and future. The coins are legal tender on the Polynesian atoll, but around the world, they are being traded as collector's items. Mount Qasioun, which overlooks the capital of Damascus in this Middle East country, is said to be where Cain killed Abel with a rock before carrying his body on his shoulders for centuries. It sat out both World Wars and its last conflict was in 1814 with neighbor Norway, which had declared its independence. Oct 27, 2019 - This is a guest post contributed by List25 Depending on which government list you're reading from and which countries they recognize, it's estimated that there are about 196 official countries in the world. While Im not about to do an interesting fact about all 196, here are a list of 25 fascinating facts about various countries in the world today: Find more interesting lists at List25.com. Would you believe theres a country where a rat-like creature is considered a culinary delicacy? The "weapons-grade" Dragon's Breath chili pepper is so hot it's downright deadly. So do the folks from Lake Chargoggagoggman-chauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg in Massachusetts and Tweebuffelsmeteen-skootmorsdoodgeskietfontein, South Africa. This small country in southern Africa once had a national soccer team, but it was dissolved in 2017 because of continued poor results. India gave the world its sweet tooth. During holy communion, for example, Catholics consume a wafer made from unleavened bread. With so many people packed into such a small space, it's the most densely populated island in the world, according to The Guardian. Following its invasion of Ukraine, the Coca-Cola Company announced that it would be suspending business in Russia. The United Nations recognizes 193 countries plus two observer states, Palestine and the Vatican (Holy See). France is a beautiful country, filled to the brim with delicious wines, scrumptious cheese, and tons of romance. It involves bare-knuckle fighting and is comparable to mixed martial arts. It's seven years old. A 2020 study led by Clemson University scientists determined that the UV pigmentation in flowers has increased over time which has led to the degradation of their pollen. Mongooses are a familiar sight on this Caribbean island. The popularity is thanks to a Muslim tradition of naming every firstborn son after the Islamic prophet. Christopher Columbus named these Caribbean islands after himself (Kitts was the famous explorers nickname) and the Spanish word for snow (nieves), even though snow is the last thing youd ever find in a place with an average annual temperature of 82 degrees. People in Bolivia don't tend to be much taller, with an average adult height of 5 feet, 2.4 inches. Impress your friends with mind-blowing trivia about dolphins, koalas, bats, and more. With around 200 countries and more than 7.8 billion people (plus plants, animals, and other organisms), the world is full of interesting, fun, and fascinating facts. Most crocodiles live in tropical rivers and swamps and many can grow up to 7 m/ 23 ft in length. 30 Of The Most Interesting Facts About Countries Around The World. [That means] one out of every 30 babies born is a twin.". These days, around 86 percent of adults around the world can enjoy a book on their own. Want to try it? The U.S. Defense Departments Operation Christmas Drop started in 1952 on one of the many islands that make up Micronesia in the North Pacific Ocean. 1 spot for 2021. But the group dates all the way back to 1914 when the International Criminal Police Congress was held in Monaco. The wildly popular Brazilian dance style known as samba is rooted in Angolan circle dances. We've already featured some interesting . Crocodiles are found on the American, Asian and Australian continents. Before and during World War II, the country backed Germany. Their version of the Lords Prayer? Only recently did this African nation switch from marbles to paper ballots for elections. Though the Japanese were hesitant at first, it became a raw-seafood staple for them by 1995. The practice dates to before colonization and is quite progressive compared to the rest of the world. Tabu is the money of choice by the Tolai society, and while its not easy to make, its used like regular currency. There is a tire dump in this small Middle East nation that is so massive, its not only the biggest in the world, but it can be seen from space. The Richat Structure, an uplifted dome that has eroded away, is located in this African nation. The total population of people who are alive on Earth hasn't even hit 8 billion. That means it has 12 hours of light and 12 hours of night every day of the year, and sunrise and sunset times are always within a one-hour period. Fun Facts about Countries Enjoy our range of fun facts for kids from countries all around the world. The fossils age? This former Yugoslavian republic was once the center of the Roman empire and it shows there were 18 emperors born in what is now modern-day Serbia. It was the most ancient human skeleton ever unearthed, and helped scientists understand early human behavior. Still, the 2018 cold spell was blamed for 12 deaths. It's 36,201 feet (11,034m) deep. Kimchi and rice are the two most important foodstuffs of this East Asian nation, and there is a common saying that if you have kimchi and rice then you have a meal. This reliance on kimchi and rice dates back up to 3,000 years. Although the vast majority of Bolivians are Catholic, they still hold many indigenous beliefs, such as sacrificing llamas to the goddess of the Earth, Pachamama. Besides big players like the United States, Indonesia, Pakistan, China, Mexico and Brazil, most of these countries have fewer than 50 million residents and might be difficult for people to find on a map. Although it's off the coast of northwestern Africa, the archipelago is actually part of Spain. Its water resources are shared by 11 different countries, too. While that sounds excessive, its basically all-inclusive food, transportation, accommodations, daily guide and local taxes. On that day, men are not allowed to visit the souk or sell anything there. Boys and girls are educated separately in Iran until they reach university. That's because every one of the gentle giants in zoos around the world is on loan from China. The bitterly cold winter of 1977 made its way to the Bahamas and on January 19, snow fell on Grand Bahama Island. The East African island is now part of Tanzania. The first four artciles seem to have childish edits they just make this website look more amateurish. That means that 106 people die each minute, 6,392 people die each hour, 153,424 people die each day, and 56 million people die each year. In fact, some of those itty-bitty biological cells are actually good for us and aid the world in various and complex ways. The exact date varies from year to year, but it always falls during the winter. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-72659260-1&cid=48118e46-45d5-4c9f-8212-f8ea832ed522&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=8609396378615663536'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); It gets about 15 inches of rain a year, compared to the global average of 3.8 inches. This country in Southern Africa has the continents highest concentration of elephants thanks to strict regulations around hunting. This island nation in the Caribbean Sea is the only country in the world thats named after a woman, in this case Saint Lucy of Syracuse. After several years at No. Other biting research conducted by the University of Bologna, Italy on a 14,000-year-old skull found that "one rotten tooth in the jaw had been deliberately scoured and scraped with a tool." 90% of the world's fresh water is in Antarctica! Indonesia attempted to count them all in 2017, but several differing figures still exist. The tallest people among us live in the Netherlands, where the average adult height is 6 feet. This former Soviet republic was the largest country in Europe in the 15th century. That set the Guinness World Record for the most expensive coin ever sold at auction. According to The Weather Channel, "Olivia's eyewall produced five extreme three-second wind gusts, the peak of which was a 253 mph gust," which blew past the previous wind record of 231 mph set in Mount Washington, New Hampshire back in 1934. } Interesting Facts. This African nation is a birders paradise. The Wayuu tribe, one of Colombia's several indigenous American groups, is located at the northernmost point of South America. July 23, 2021 15:37. We reject government funding so we can guarantee our absolute independence and integrity. Everyone associates this European nation with chocolate, and for good reason. Now you're ready for the facts. For instance: Were you aware that the Pacific Ocean is shrinking every year? Even teachers must be of the same gender as the classes they teach. Dating back to between 500 BC and 500 AD, they are one of archaeologys great enigmas due to their size, quantity and continuity. The first part was published in 1605 and the second 10 years later. He published several other works but made almost no money off any of them. In the land of the Kiwis, for instance, you'll find the highest concentration of pet owners on the planet. Does Absinthe Actually Make You Hallucinate? Religious edicts called fatwas encourage contraceptives, and both men and women are required by law to take a class on modern contraception before their marriage license will be issued. It might seem safe to assume that the Canary Islands were named after canary birds, but the location was actually named after a different animal. The 49th parallel marks the border between Canada and the United States. The smallest recognized independent country in the world uses the euro as its currency even though its not part of the Eurozone or European Union. In 2015, airborne laser scanners found vast ancient cities buried under the jungle near Angkor Wat in this Southeast Asia nation. During Frances 30-year war In the 17th century, King Louis XIII hired Croatian mercenaries who wore a piece of cloth around their necks that the king was particularly fond of. When Raiders of the Lost Ark filmed in this North Africa country, part of the city of Kairouan stood in for 1930s Cairo. "As soon as one enters the room, one immediately feels a strange and unique sensation which is hard to describe," Hundraj Gopal, a speech and hearing scientist and principal designer of the anechoic chamber at Microsoft, told CNN. In the land of the Kiwis, for instance, you'll find the highest concentration of pet owners on the planet. All Muslims are encouraged to visit it at least once, and because of its holy status, only Muslims are allowed to enter. From Japan's penis festivities to the baby-jumping revelry in Spain, experience some weird holidays and bizarre festivals from . But has it always been so icy? Geography Facts That Will Blow Your Mind By Lissa Poirot, updated on October 18, 2022 Getty Images Whether you've just completed school or you graduated decades ago, there are likely many things you don't know about the extraordinary planet on which we live. At nearly 6 minutes long, this South American country has the worlds longest national anthem. Five hundred people live on the island in around 155 houses. chemically refined about 2,500 years ago in India, 20 percent of the worlds 6.0-magnitude or higher temblors, 18 emperors born in what is now modern-day Serbia, mints its own euro coins and issues its own stamps. Firewalking on hot stones is an ancient tradition that started in this South Pacific island nation. 23. Ancient Kazakhs are credited with domesticating wild horses. Mother Teresa was ethnically Albanian and remains the only person from this European country to have won the Nobel Prize. Time for some literal world facts: Earth's radius at the equator is 3,963 miles (6,378 km), according to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. READ THIS NEXT: 40 Facts So Funny They're Hard to Believe. Today, it has the most foreign-born players in Major League Baseball, at 102. Of all 24 countries involved, the shortest border length is the 17km border between North Korea and Russia, and the longest is the 7512km border between Russia and Kazakhstan. On Sundays in this West Africa country, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean are reserved for sheep bathing. In 2011, this Pacific Ocean nation comprised of dozens of islands and atolls created the largest shark sanctuary in the world. These birds, which live in sub-Saharan Africa, are considered agricultural pests because their massive flocks can obliterate entire crops. Every second, we welcome four new babies into our overall population. We are a movement of people from over 100 countries. The recovery is thanks in large part to the Montreal Protocol of 1987, which put a global ban on the use of one of the main culprits for the damage: chlorofluorocarbons (CFOs). Bread was invented in Egypt around 8,000 BC.