Antarctica is technically a desert — it receives less precipitation than the Sahara.

Mount Everest is not the closest point to space — that distinction belongs to Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador, due to Earth's equatorial bulge.

Urban populations now exceed rural populations worldwide.

There are places in Antarctica where no rain has fallen for millions of years.

A mountain goat can climb steep rocky cliffs with ease.

The ocean contains structures larger than mountain ranges.

The Roman navy played a key role in Mediterranean dominance.

Iceland runs almost entirely on geothermal and hydroelectric energy — it is one of the greenest countries on Earth.

The Transcontinental Railroad was completed in 1869.