Do you think Mount Everest is the highest on Earth? I did too. There are numerous so-called facts about our planet that many of us believe without a doubt. Below I list 9 common misbeliefs that will surprise you proving the world around us is full of wonders. I still can’t stop wondering about fact #3.
More info: globelink.co.uk
Myth 1: Great Britain is the rainiest country in Europe.
Truth: Annual average for rainfall plus snowfall in London is 550 mm, in Naples, Italy – 1000, in Ljubljana, Slovenia – 1300, in Podgorica, Montenegro – 1600 mm. Maybe the reason for this belief is that in UK it rains steadily during all seasons, while in other countries it is mainly in autumn and winter.
Myth 2: Mount Everest is the highest mountain on Earth.
Truth: Mauna Kea on Hawaii is technically the highest mountain on our planet. It is over 10 km tall when measured from its base hidden under the ocean to the summit standing over 4 km above the sea level (Mount Everest is less than 9 km tall). It is a dormant one million years old volcano.
Myth 3: Sahara is the world’s largest desert.
Truth: The largest desert is Antarctica with annual precipitation of only 200 mm at 14,000,000 square kilometres. Researchers say that Antarctica's Friis Hills haven’t seen water for 14 million years. Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world, and the third largest desert after Antarctica and the Arctic. Its surface area of 9,400,000 square kilometres.
Myth 4: The Nile is the longest river on Earth.
Truth: The Amazon River, South America is the longest in length. It is 139 km longer than the Nile and is also the largest river by discharge of water.
Myth 5: Clouds are weightless
Truth: Clouds are made of tiny water droplets suspended in the atmosphere. According to scientists, the average cloud weights around 1.1 million pounds. Can’t even imagine such weight? Think of 100 elephants.
Myth 6: Lightning does not strike the same place twice
Truth: It does. The Empire State Building gets around 25 lightning strikes annually, according to the National Weather Service. Once it was hit 8 times during 24 minutes.
Myth 7: Diamonds can’t be broken
Truth: Even though diamonds are the hardest mineral we know, they are not unbreakable. Have you ever thought that they are born in various forms and sizes and then carved to obtain the look you are used to? This suggests they can be chipped. Given enough force (hammer will be just fine) they break like any other gemstone.
Myth 8: All trees get water through their roots.
Truth: There is an absolutely unique plant growing in the Namib desert within Namibia and Angola and called Welwitschia mirabilis. It has only two leaves growing up to 8 metres long and up to 2 metres wide to the opposite sides. As the Namib desert is very dry, Welwitschia absorbs water from morning and evening mist coming from the Atlantic ocean. This means, the leaves bring water to the roots.
Myth 9: The Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure visible from space.
Truth: Despite this common space-based myth, it can be barely seen from Low Earth Orbit given perfect conditions but it can’t be seen from any farther e.g. from the moon.