World Facts and Geography

Hawaii is the only U.S. state with a climate suitable for large-scale commercial coffee production.

Europe is the only continent that does not have a large desert region, although it does have some arid areas.

Under the Antarctic Treaty System, Antarctica is not owned by any country and is reserved for peaceful scientific research.

Approximately 71 percent of the Earth's surface is covered by water, primarily the oceans.

Russia is the world's largest country by total land area, spanning approximately 17.1 million square kilometers across Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is nearly twice the size of Canada, the second-largest country, and covers more than 11% of Earth's total landmass.

Asia contains the Himalayan mountain range, which includes Mount Everest, the highest peak on Earth.

Africa has the highest number of sovereign countries of any continent, with 54 recognized nations.

The Netherlands consistently ranks at the top of the EF English Proficiency Index for countries where English is not a native language. France, Italy, and Russia generally score significantly lower in English proficiency rankings.

The USA has the largest number of English speakers, followed by India and Pakistan, where English is widely used as an official or secondary language. Other options include countries with smaller total populations or lower English usage rates.

The Tom Thumb, built by Peter Cooper in 1830, is widely considered the first American-built steam locomotive to operate on a common-carrier railroad.

India was the first country to raise the issue of apartheid in South Africa at the United Nations in 1946, due to the treatment of Indians in South Africa.

A subcontinent is a large, distinguishable part of a continent, such as the Indian subcontinent, which is separated from the rest of Asia by mountains.

Bolivia is a landlocked country in South America. Uruguay, Chile, and Colombia all have coastlines on the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans.

Canada has the longest coastline in the world, stretching over 202,080 kilometers due to its vast number of islands and irregular shoreline.

Qatar is a desert country with no permanent rivers. Israel, Iraq, and Syria all have significant river systems (e.g., the Jordan, Tigris, and Euphrates).