WorldAtlas Latest Articles
What Happens If GPS Goes Down
Pretty much everything we do with a phone today incorporates GPS at some point. If we were to suddenly lose our skyward helper, it would cause many issues.
Battles That Destroyed Entire Ancient Civilizations
From the Achaemenid Persian Empire to Ptolemaic Egypt, several ancient civilizations fought in battles that precipitated their collapse.
The Largest Lakes On Every Continent
Under Antarctic ice, inside a supervolcano crater, holding a fifth of Earth's fresh water: meet the biggest freshwater lake on each continent.
Why Eastern And Western States Own Water Completely Differently
Why do Eastern and Western states own water so differently? The East shares it by land (riparian); the West by "first in time, first in right." Rain explains it.
Is It Legal To Collect Rainwater In Every State
Yes, in all fifty states. Colorado caps you at two barrels, Utah wants you to register, and the man everyone says was jailed for it had stocked his reservoir with bass.
How Many State Parks Allow Camping?
How Many State Parks Allow Camping? More than 3,200 across the country, offering tent sites, RV hookups, primitive backcountry spots, cabins, and yurts.
8 Best Towns In Arizona For A Two-Day Recharge
Cool off in Arizona’s best small towns for a two-day recharge with trout streams and pine forests, plus Route 66 landmarks, mine tours, and dark desert skies.
11 of the Most Charming Towns in The Rockies to Visit in 2026
From Banff, where residency requires a job in the park, to Telluride's free gondola, these 11 Rocky Mountain towns earn the trip in 2026.
9 Prettiest Small Towns on the Pacific Coast
Whether you prefer the fairytale-like landscapes of Carmel-by-the-Sea or the glaciers of Ketchikan, discover the prettiest small towns on the Pacific Coast.
The Tallest Mountain East Of The Mississippi
The tallest mountain east of the Mississippi is North Carolina's Mount Mitchell (6,684 ft), named for a scientist who died proving it. Yes, you can drive up.
A Summer's Day In Sandusky
A Summer's Day In Sandusky, where a Canadian visitor conquers Cedar Point, finds a downtown speakeasy, and rediscovers an underrated Lake Erie town.
Why Whales Don't Live In The Arctic Year-Round
Why Whales Don't Live In The Arctic Year-Round comes down to food, sea ice, and safer calving, as bowheads and belugas stay while others migrate.
The English Port City That Built Ocean Liners and Concordes
The English Port City That Built Ocean Liners and Concordes is Bristol, where Brunel's first ocean liner and the last Concorde sit a few miles apart.
The Fastest Birds In The World
The White-throated Needletail is the fastest in horizontal flight at 170 km/h, while the Peregrine Falcon reaches 389 km/h in dives.
South China Tiger
South China Tiger is the only tiger subspecies extinct in the wild yet still alive in captivity, with no confirmed sighting in about half a century.
What Animals Live in the Atlantic Ocean?
The Atlantic Ocean makes up about 29% of the total world ocean waters. It is home to a wide variety of aquatic plant life and marine animals.
Dingo
Dingo is Australia's largest land predator, a sandy wild canid that howls instead of barks and keeps feral cats, foxes, and rabbits in check nationwide.
Why Uranus Spins Sideways
Uranus is the butt of countless childish jokes, but there are truly interesting qualities to it. Here's why Uranus spins sideways.
How Romans Trained Their Legions
The Roman military was known for strict discipline and training of its soldiers, who were considered among the most formidable fighters of the ancient world.
Which Planet Is The Smallest?
Although the context can change the answer to this question, Mercury is the smallest planet, circling closest to the Sun.
The Bloodiest Battles In Ancient History
Gaugamela, Cannae, Carthage, and the Catalaunian Plains: four ancient battles that killed tens of thousands and rewrote the map.
Island Hopping Across Lake Erie
Island Hopping Across Lake Erie means ferry-hopping between Pelee, Kelleys, and the Bass Islands, a bi-national run of wineries and glacial grooves.
11 Small Towns on the Atlantic Coast with the Best Downtowns
From foggy Maine fishing harbors to a Florida reef town, these 11 Atlantic Coast small towns pair a walkable main street with a working waterfront.
Where Did The Romans Come From And The Origins Of Rome
A wolf, a murder, and muddy huts on a hilltop: trace where the Romans really came from, from the villages above the Tiber to an empire of 70 million.
Speed Of Sound VS Speed Of Light
Light is about 880,000 times faster than sound, but the real differences are stranger: what each needs to travel through, and what slows them down.
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.
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.
11 Small Towns in The Northern United States with the Best Downtowns
Some downtowns are worth the whole trip. Meet 11 northern US towns with brick storefronts, lakeside Main Streets, and walkable historic districts.
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.
African Countries With Islam As The Religion Of The Majority
In 19 African countries, Islam serves as the religion of the majority.
Country Names With 10 Letters
18 countries have names that contain 10 letters, from Azerbaijan to Uzbekistan. Discover what other countries make the list!
Life Expectancy in Asia
Japan has the highest average life expectancy in Asia, as well as the world.
What Continent Is Hawaii In?
Although politically Hawaii is considered part of North America, geographically Hawaii is not part of any continent.
Landlocked Countries In Asia
Twelve countries in Asia are considered landlocked, although some of them, like Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan, are along the Caspian Sea.
The Largest Stadiums In Asia
The biggest stadium on Earth isn't in America or Europe. It's in Asia, alongside 14 more giants. See the largest stadiums in Asia, ranked by capacity.
What Is A Cloud Forest?
How cloud forests drink from the clouds, and why Kilimanjaro, Monteverde, Yakushima and the Appalachians all depend on the mist.
The Driest States In The United States
The driest states in the US aren't all deserts. Some are famous for snow. Ranked by NOAA precipitation data, with the geography that keeps each one dry.
Countries That Use Their Own Calendar
In Ethiopia, it's not the year you think, and there are 13 months. Discover the countries that still run on their own calendars instead of the Gregorian one.
European Countries With The Most Forest Cover
Sweden has the most forest cover of any European country.
The 10 Most Hurricane-Prone States in the US
A look at the 10 U.S. states most often hit by hurricanes, with context on storm history, coastal risk, and conditions behind landfall today.