The city of Babylon was one of the most important cities in all of ancient Mesopotamia. It dates back to at least 4,000 B.C. and remained a major metropolis for many centuries after that. Not only was Babylon the capital of the Babylon empire, but it was considered the largest city in the world twice …
The largest city in the USA is currently New York, located in the state of New York, as of 2022. Lots of people are curious about which cities are the biggest, whether its to answer a trivia question, win a simple bet, or even write an essay for geography class. Well, here are the 100 …
The largest shopping center in the world is currently the Dubai Mall, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The massive complex’s size is 1,124,000 square meters (12,098,635 square feet), which is equivalent to more than 200 football fields. It first opened in November 2008 and has constantly been running since then. There are over 1,200 …
The application of international waters can be a tricky subject. For most countries, the general rule of thumb is a country’s water-boundaries extend 200 nautical miles in the seas. But what happens when countries are next-door neighbors? When their continental shelves extend way beyond the land? Or when a WWII relic was never torn down …
The Principality of Sealand: The Incredibly Strange Story Behind the Micronation Read More »
In the days of pirates and unknown exploration into the big deep blue, the Pacific Ocean was a land of tribes, kingdoms, and greedy colonialists. Any spot of land was looked upon as being untouched and ripe for the taking by sailors from the other side of the planet. Spot an island? It’s the Queen’s …
The Pitcairn Islands: Mutineers, Murder, Mayhem, and Incest Read More »
You find yourself wanting to take a day trip to visit the historic Overtoun House, a 19th-century mansion and estate built in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It was first built in 1863 by a man named James White. The stunning building has a storied past of being owned by an industrialist turned baron, housing injured soldiers …
The Overtoun Bridge: Where Dogs Go to Leap to Their Deaths Read More »
“What is this, a skyscraper for ants?!” A huge petroleum reservoir was discovered just over 100 years ago in Wichita County, Texas. Much like the Klondike Gold Rush way up north, people flooded the area, increasing the surrounding population by 20,000 seemingly overnight by 1918. Oil men, riggers, and all sorts of would-be fortune finders …
The World’s Littlest Skyscraper: How to Scam the Rich, in Style Read More »
You’re in the tropics strolling down the beach at night when you suddenly spot something a bit…out of place. As the waves roll in front of you, an alienesque white glow emanates from the watery depths. Do you run? Do you scream? Do you search for this article and find out what’s behind this uber-cool …
The Sea of Stars in the Maldives: Bioluminescent Dinoflagellates Read More »
Around 260 kilometers north of Turkmenistan’s capital city, Darvaza, lies a devilish view. A circular depression opens up in the middle of the surrounding desert and visitors are greeted by the sight of leaping flames, boiling mud, and the burning smell of ancient history. The phenomenon goes by several names: The Gates of Hell, the …
Take a three-hour drive down the west coast from Portland, and you’ll find yourself looking at a strange sight. The coast is beautiful, the waves are rolling, and then seemingly out of nowhere, the water goes — well, nowhere! During stormy weather and high tides, what appears to be a massive sinkhole shows up, sucking thousands of …
Thor’s Well: Oregon’s Gate to Hell in the Pacific Ocean Read More »
