WorldAtlas Latest Articles

Cities

8 Prettiest Downtown Strips In Washington

Taken together, these eight prettiest small town downtowns in Washington show how much character and beauty can into a few blocks.

Cities

9 Perfect Destinations for a Long Weekend in Oregon

Discover more about these great long-weekend destinations across Oregon, from coastal towns like Cannon Beach to inland spots like Ashland.

Oceans

The Sea Animals That Never Stop Growing

These ocean giants never stop growing. Meet the Greenland shark, whale shark, and other sea creatures with indeterminate, lifelong growth.

Places

This Arizona Scenic Byway Is The Road Trip Of A Lifetime

A herd of 200 feral horses roams free at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Here is why they are there and where else in the parks horses run loose.

Lakes

The US Lakes That Went From Polluted To Clean

See how polluted US lakes were restored through sewage controls, sediment cleanup, and major reductions in agricultural and urban runoff.

Cities

6 of the Most Vibrant Towns in Northern California

Discover Northern California: San Francisco's heart, Pacifica's views, Sausalito's vibe, Trinidad's beaches, Calistoga's spas, and Bodega Bay's charm.

Historic Sites

These 6 South Carolina Towns Have The Best Historic Districts

Walk through South Carolina towns where historic districts preserve colonial streets, landmark homes, and storied courthouses and theaters.

Bodies of Water

The US Waters Where Forever Chemicals Have Been Found

PFAS, or forever chemicals, have been detected in US waters from North Carolina to Michigan to the Colorado River, across nine waterways in all.

Oceans

What Lies Beneath The Deepest Part Of The Ocean

The depths of Earth's oceans are equally mysterious and terrifying; humans know more about the surface of the moon than about the deepest part of the ocean.

Animals

Wandering Albatross

Wandering Albatross, a giant seabird of the Southern Ocean, has the largest wingspan of any living bird and can glide for years over the open sea.

Animals

Malayan Blue Krait

Malayan Blue Krait, one of Southeast Asia's most venomous snakes, delivers a potent neurotoxic bite that can paralyze and kill without antivenom.

Space

Which Moon Could Be Shooting Geysers Into Space?

Computer models hint at geysers erupting from Europa's icy crust, the kind already confirmed on Saturn's moon Enceladus. Europa Clipper arrives in 2030.

Ancient World

Did The Roman Republic Or Empire Have A Better Army?

The transition from the Roman Republic to the Roman Empire ushered in several fundamental changes in the Roman Army's composition, management, and strategies.

Mountains

The Widest Mountain In The United States

One American mountain spreads so far across the landscape that its width rivals its height for sheer scale, giving it a footprint unlike any other.

Wildlife By Place

Why Mountain Lions Disappeared From The Eastern US

Mountain lions once roamed much of the eastern US, but bounties, hunting, fewer deer, and habitat loss eventually wiped out most populations.

Animals

Alligator Gar

Alligator Gar, one of North America's largest freshwater fish, is an ancient, armored predator named for its broad, toothy, alligator-like snout.

Animals

Red-Bellied Black Snake

Red-Bellied Black Snake, a glossy Australian elapid with a crimson underside, is venomous but notably shy, and rarely a serious danger to people.

Space

What Happens If Kessler Syndrome Starts

One shattered satellite could start a chain reaction in orbit, multiplying debris until entire regions of space become too dangerous to use.

Ancient World

The Roman Empire’s Deadliest Political Purge

The proscriptions of 43 BCE killed Cicero and emptied the Roman Senate, funding the armies that turned a broken Republic into an empire.

Ancient World

How Ancient Generals Used Fear As A Weapon

Discover how ancient generals used fear, brutality, propaganda, purges, and military reputation to intimidate rivals and rule empires.

Travel

9 Small Towns in The Adirondack Mountains with the Best Downtowns

These small Adirondack Mountain towns, from Lake Placid to Speculator, pair mountain views with walkable downtowns, local shops, and museums.

Ancient World

Rome's Most Corrupt Rulers

Absolute power, as the saying goes, corrupts absolutely. Few were so powerful, and so potentially corrupted, as Rome's less scrupulous emperors.

Space

Why Doesn't the Moon Fall?

Gravity pulls the Moon toward Earth every second, yet it never lands. Tangential speed and Earth's curved surface turn that fall into a stable orbit.

Space

Which Planet Would Float On Water?

The massive planet of Saturn, a gas giant, has a density such that if you could place it in a giant tub of water, it would float.

Mountains

The Rainiest Mountain In America

The Rainiest Mountain In America is Mount Waialeale on Kauai, where the summit averages about 450 inches of rain a year and once recorded 683 in 1982.

Mountains

Why Some Mountains Are Flat On Top

Grand Mesa, Table Mountain, Mount Roraima, and Herðubreið are all flat-topped, but four entirely different geologic processes made them that way.

Mountains

The Highest Mountain You Can Reach Without Climbing Gear

The Highest Mountain You Can Reach Without Climbing Gear is Argentina's Aconcagua, whose Normal Route reaches the summit on foot, with no rope or ice axe.

Mountains

The Windiest Mountain In America

Mount Washington, New Hampshire, averages 34.9 mph winds a year. That long-term figure, not the 231-mph gust of 1934, is what earns the summit its title.

Travel

10 Amazing Weekend Getaways in Georgia for 2026

Gold-rush squares, Bavarian streets, working shrimp docks: ten Georgia towns with enough to fill a full weekend, from the Blue Ridge to the coast.

Stories

Sunsets & Stargazing in Southampton, Ontario

Southampton, Ontario sits on Lake Huron in Bruce County, pairing High Street shops and a wide beach with camping, trails and dark skies at MacGregor Point.

Stories

London’s West End Packs Four Centuries of British Culture

London's West End Packs Four Centuries of British Culture into a two-mile walk, and Trafalgar Square, the National Gallery, and Covent Garden are all free.

Stories

Britain’s Own Bayeux Tapestry Is in Reading, and It’s Free

Britain's Own Bayeux Tapestry Is in Reading, and It's Free. A full-size Victorian replica of the famous embroidery, with no ticket or queue.

Geography

What Is The Thailand-Cambodia Border Dispute

A border drawn more than a century ago still divides Thailand and Cambodia, with disputed temples and territory keeping tensions alive today.

Geography

How Big Alaska Is Compared To The Lower 48

Alaska is one fifth the size of the Lower 48 and bigger than Texas, California and Montana combined. Why the maps you grew up with got it wrong twice.

Climate

The 10 US Cities With the Longest Summers

Some US cities barely see winter at all. Ranked by NOAA normals, here are the ten with the longest thermal summers, from Honolulu to Fort Lauderdale.

Industries

10 Countries with the Largest Uranium Reserves

Australia holds 1.67 million tonnes of recoverable uranium, but Kazakhstan mines the most. How the ten largest resource holders compare.

Religion

African Countries With Islam As The Religion Of The Majority

In 19 African countries, Islam serves as the religion of the majority.

Geography

Country Names With 10 Letters

18 countries have names that contain 10 letters, from Azerbaijan to Uzbekistan. Discover what other countries make the list!

Society

Life Expectancy in Asia

Japan has the highest average life expectancy in Asia, as well as the world.

Geography

What Continent Is Hawaii In?

Although politically Hawaii is considered part of North America, geographically Hawaii is not part of any continent.