The Black Death originated in Central Asia and wiped out roughly half the population of Europe in under a decade.

The Roman navy played a key role in Mediterranean dominance.

The ocean contains structures larger than mountain ranges.

The shortest commercial flight in the world operates between two Scottish islands — Westray to Papa Westray — lasting about 90 seconds.

There are lakes beneath Antarctica’s ice.

The Aztecs built the city of Tenochtitlan on a lake.

The Amazon River discharges about 20% of all fresh water that flows into the world's oceans.

The Sahara Desert stretches across northern Africa.

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