The Nile is generally considered the world's longest river, but some measurements put the Amazon ahead depending on source point.

The eradication of polio in many countries marked a major health milestone.

There are deep ocean trenches deeper than Mount Everest is tall.

In 1896, two countries fought a war that lasted under 45 minutes.

The Berlin Conference divided much of Africa among European powers.

The ocean contains structures larger than mountain ranges.

The Sahara Desert receives less rainfall than most regions.

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.

The coldest temperature recorded on Earth occurred in Antarctica.