Interesting Geography

Oxford · 09-26-2006, 06:27 PM

More than half of the coastline of the entire United States is in
Alaska.

The Amazon rainforest produces more than 20% the world's oxygen
supply.

The Amazon River pushes so much water into the Atlantic Ocean
that, more than one hundred miles at sea off the mouth of the river,
one can dip fresh water out of the ocean. The volume of water
in the Amazon river is greater than the next eight largest rivers
in the world combined and three times the flow of all rivers in
the United States.

Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned
by any country. Ninety percent of the world's ice covers Antarctica.
This ice also represents seventy percent of all the fresh water
in the world. As strange as it sounds, however, Antarctica is
essentially a desert. The average yearly total precipitation is
about two inches although covered with ice (all but 0.4% of it,
i.e.); Antarctica is the driest place on the planet, with an
absolute humidity lower than the Gobi desert.

Brazil got its name from the nut, not the other way around.

Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined.
Canada is an Indian word meaning "Big Village."

Next to Warsaw, Chicago has the largest Polish population
in the world.

Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, carries the designation
M-1, named so because it was the first paved road anywhere.

Damascus, Syria, was flourishing a couple of thousand years
before Rome was founded in 753 BC, making it the oldest
continuously inhabited city in existence.

Istanbul, Turkey, is the only city in the world located on
two continents.

Los Angeles's full name is El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina
de Los Angeles de Porciuncula --and can be abbreviated to 3.63%
of its size: L.A.

The term "The Big Apple" was coined by touring jazz musicians
of the 1930's who used the slang expression "apple" for any
town or city. Therefore, to play New York City is to play the
big time - The Big Apple.

There are more Irish in New York City than in Dublin, Ireland;
more Italians in New York City than in Rome, Italy; and more
Jews in New York City than in Tel Aviv, Israel.

There are no natural lakes in the state of Ohio, every one
is manmade.

The smallest island with country status is Pitcairn in Polynesia,
at just 1.75 sq. miles/4,53 sq. km.

The first city to reach a population of 1 million people was
Rome, Italy in 133 B. C. There is a city called Rome on every
continent.

Siberia contains more than 25% of the world's forests.

The actual smallest sovereign entity in the world is the
Sovereign Military Order of Malta (S.M.O.M.). It is located
in the city of Rome, Italy, has an area of two tennis courts,
and as of 2001 has a population of 80, 20 less people than
the Vatican. It is a sovereign entity under international
law, just as the Vatican is.

In the Sahara Desert, there is a town named Tidikelt, which
did not receive a drop of rain for ten years. Technically
though, the driest place on Earth is in the valleys of the
Antarctic near Ross Island. There has been no rainfall there
for two million years.

Spain literally means 'the land of rabbits.'

St. Paul, Minnesota, was originally called Pig's Eye after
a man named Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant who set up the first
business there.

Chances that a road is unpaved in the U.S.A.: 1%, in
Canada: 75%

The deepest hole ever made in the world is in Texas. It is
as deep as 20 empire state buildings but only 3 inches wide.

The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one-mile in
every five must be straight. These straight sections are
usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies.

The water of Angel Falls (the World's highest) in Venezuela
drops 3,212 feet (979 meters) they are 15 times higher than
Niagara Falls.

.22guy · 09-26-2006, 06:37 PM

That's some crazy stuff Ox, some are kinda hard to believe though. Especially about the Amazon river, that's a lotta water!

Apollyon67 · 09-26-2006, 08:24 PM

Cool info Ox, Thanks for sharing. Now I know where to go when I get tired of rain. LOL. I got a sweet litte 16ga Stevens double bbl, that wants to go to Spain.

Oxford · 09-26-2006, 09:00 PM

I wouldn't guarantee anything in that post. I passed it on exactly the way it was received.

Despoiler · 09-26-2006, 10:21 PM

Thanks Ox for the post for the most part I found it interesting.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oxford

There are no natural lakes in the state of Ohio, every one
is manmade.

I do find this one hard to believe are they not counting the Great Lakes?

troy2000 · 09-27-2006, 06:41 PM

The Great Lakes are not "in" Ohio...although I think one touches it.

Despoiler · 09-27-2006, 09:03 PM

I don't know troy, but I used to live in Lorain Ohio, and I had a friend whom lived on Kelley Island Ohio. Kelleys Island is part of Ohio and it is in Lake Erie. So I would think that at least part of lake Erie is in Ohio. I really don't know, but it ain't no big thing either way.

Otter · 09-28-2006, 08:29 AM

99% of the worlds' population lives on 1% of the land.

Oxford · 09-28-2006, 04:11 PM

Otter...sometimes I think that 99% of the world's drivers are on expressways around Kansas City. But...on second thought after driving in Cali...they can't be both places.

troy2000 · 09-28-2006, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AllenT

I don't know troy, but I used to live in Lorain Ohio, and I had a friend whom lived on Kelley Island Ohio. Kelleys Island is part of Ohio and it is in Lake Erie. So I would think that at least part of lake Erie is in Ohio. I really don't know, but it ain't no big thing either way.

That puts part of Ohio in the lake...

carbaxp · 10-06-2006, 11:13 AM

While I can't vouch for all the information, I do know that the eisenhower road "fact", 1 mile in 5 needs to be strait, is a myth. check the link to Urban Legends Reference Pages

here's a brief quote "

Claim: The American interstate highway system was designed to be used for emergency airstrips in case of war.

Status: False.

Origins: Numerous folks swear Interstate highways in the United States must be designed so that one mile in every five is perfectly straight and flat. Make way! According to this whispered bit of facetious lore, if the U.S. ever comes under attack, those straight, flat stretches will be used as landing strips. "

Urban Legends Reference Pages: Automobiles (Landing of Hope and Glory)

freakingout · 10-11-2006, 10:09 PM

Didn't know most of that stuff.

Otter · 10-12-2006, 12:55 PM

Anyone know what state has the most light houses?

Oxford · 10-12-2006, 07:12 PM

My guess on the lighthouse question is that it's among the following states:

Alaska , Maine or MA

Apollyon67 · 10-12-2006, 09:53 PM

Michigan?

Otter · 10-31-2006, 03:41 PM

Apollyon67 is correct, Michigan had almost twice as many as Maine, 118 vs 68

Apollyon67 · 11-01-2006, 08:24 PM

Dang, I just figured the Great lakes had alot of bad shoreline.

09-26-2006, 06:27 PM	#1
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,021 Blog Entries: 4	Interesting Geography More than half of the coastline of the entire United States is in Alaska. The Amazon rainforest produces more than 20% the world's oxygen supply. The Amazon River pushes so much water into the Atlantic Ocean that, more than one hundred miles at sea off the mouth of the river, one can dip fresh water out of the ocean. The volume of water in the Amazon river is greater than the next eight largest rivers in the world combined and three times the flow of all rivers in the United States. Antarctica is the only land on our planet that is not owned by any country. Ninety percent of the world's ice covers Antarctica. This ice also represents seventy percent of all the fresh water in the world. As strange as it sounds, however, Antarctica is essentially a desert. The average yearly total precipitation is about two inches although covered with ice (all but 0.4% of it, i.e.); Antarctica is the driest place on the planet, with an absolute humidity lower than the Gobi desert. Brazil got its name from the nut, not the other way around. Canada has more lakes than the rest of the world combined. Canada is an Indian word meaning "Big Village." Next to Warsaw, Chicago has the largest Polish population in the world. Woodward Avenue in Detroit, Michigan, carries the designation M-1, named so because it was the first paved road anywhere. Damascus, Syria, was flourishing a couple of thousand years before Rome was founded in 753 BC, making it the oldest continuously inhabited city in existence. Istanbul, Turkey, is the only city in the world located on two continents. Los Angeles's full name is El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles de Porciuncula --and can be abbreviated to 3.63% of its size: L.A. The term "The Big Apple" was coined by touring jazz musicians of the 1930's who used the slang expression "apple" for any town or city. Therefore, to play New York City is to play the big time - The Big Apple. There are more Irish in New York City than in Dublin, Ireland; more Italians in New York City than in Rome, Italy; and more Jews in New York City than in Tel Aviv, Israel. There are no natural lakes in the state of Ohio, every one is manmade. The smallest island with country status is Pitcairn in Polynesia, at just 1.75 sq. miles/4,53 sq. km. The first city to reach a population of 1 million people was Rome, Italy in 133 B. C. There is a city called Rome on every continent. Siberia contains more than 25% of the world's forests. The actual smallest sovereign entity in the world is the Sovereign Military Order of Malta (S.M.O.M.). It is located in the city of Rome, Italy, has an area of two tennis courts, and as of 2001 has a population of 80, 20 less people than the Vatican. It is a sovereign entity under international law, just as the Vatican is. In the Sahara Desert, there is a town named Tidikelt, which did not receive a drop of rain for ten years. Technically though, the driest place on Earth is in the valleys of the Antarctic near Ross Island. There has been no rainfall there for two million years. Spain literally means 'the land of rabbits.' St. Paul, Minnesota, was originally called Pig's Eye after a man named Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant who set up the first business there. Chances that a road is unpaved in the U.S.A.: 1%, in Canada: 75% The deepest hole ever made in the world is in Texas. It is as deep as 20 empire state buildings but only 3 inches wide. The Eisenhower interstate system requires that one-mile in every five must be straight. These straight sections are usable as airstrips in times of war or other emergencies. The water of Angel Falls (the World's highest) in Venezuela drops 3,212 feet (979 meters) they are 15 times higher than Niagara Falls. __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

09-26-2006, 06:37 PM	#2
.22guy Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 4,140	That's some crazy stuff Ox, some are kinda hard to believe though. Especially about the Amazon river, that's a lotta water! __________________ Guns: they are like baseball cards except they are cool and you can kill things with em. -Billy

09-26-2006, 08:24 PM	#3
Apollyon67 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 2,235 Images: 17	Cool info Ox, Thanks for sharing. Now I know where to go when I get tired of rain. LOL. I got a sweet litte 16ga Stevens double bbl, that wants to go to Spain. __________________ "To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish." Ben Franklin

09-26-2006, 09:00 PM	#4
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,021 Blog Entries: 4	I wouldn't guarantee anything in that post. I passed it on exactly the way it was received. __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

09-27-2006, 06:41 PM	#6
troy2000 Resident Armed Liberal Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Southern California Posts: 9,406 Images: 9	The Great Lakes are not "in" Ohio...although I think one touches it. __________________ If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing. -Anatole France

09-27-2006, 09:03 PM	#7
Despoiler Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: The Occupied Territory of California Posts: 2,232	I don't know troy, but I used to live in Lorain Ohio, and I had a friend whom lived on Kelley Island Ohio. Kelleys Island is part of Ohio and it is in Lake Erie. So I would think that at least part of lake Erie is in Ohio. I really don't know, but it ain't no big thing either way.

09-28-2006, 08:29 AM	#8
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 949 Images: 6	99% of the worlds' population lives on 1% of the land. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

09-28-2006, 04:11 PM	#9
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,021 Blog Entries: 4	Otter...sometimes I think that 99% of the world's drivers are on expressways around Kansas City. But...on second thought after driving in Cali...they can't be both places. __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

10-06-2006, 11:13 AM	#11
carbaxp Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 40	a little false info. While I can't vouch for all the information, I do know that the eisenhower road "fact", 1 mile in 5 needs to be strait, is a myth. check the link to Urban Legends Reference Pages here's a brief quote " Claim: The American interstate highway system was designed to be used for emergency airstrips in case of war. Status: False. Origins: Numerous folks swear Interstate highways in the United States must be designed so that one mile in every five is perfectly straight and flat. Make way! According to this whispered bit of facetious lore, if the U.S. ever comes under attack, those straight, flat stretches will be used as landing strips. " Urban Legends Reference Pages: Automobiles (Landing of Hope and Glory)

10-11-2006, 10:09 PM	#12
freakingout Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Opelousas, LA Posts: 118	Didn't know most of that stuff.

10-12-2006, 12:55 PM	#13
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 949 Images: 6	Anyone know what state has the most light houses? __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

10-12-2006, 07:12 PM	#14
Oxford Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Gladstone, Missouri Posts: 13,021 Blog Entries: 4	My guess on the lighthouse question is that it's among the following states: Alaska , Maine or MA __________________ "If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right".

10-12-2006, 09:53 PM	#15
Apollyon67 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 2,235 Images: 17	Michigan? __________________ "To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish." Ben Franklin

10-31-2006, 03:41 PM	#16
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 949 Images: 6	Apollyon67 is correct, Michigan had almost twice as many as Maine, 118 vs 68 __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.

11-01-2006, 08:24 PM	#17
Apollyon67 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 2,235 Images: 17	Dang, I just figured the Great lakes had alot of bad shoreline. __________________ "To err is human, to repent divine; to persist devilish." Ben Franklin