WorldAtlas Latest Articles
How Many Cities Sit On The Mississippi River
There are 124 cities and towns on the Mississippi River, and not one of them has a million people. How they break down along the river, and why none got big.
9 Cute Small Town Drives In Texas
Plan easy Texas road trips through small towns, historic sites, swimming holes, and wide-open landscapes made for a memorable weekend.
9 Best Towns In Minnesota For A Two-Day Recharge
Discover these charming Minnesota towns that are perfect for a weekend getaway, from lakeside art hubs to historic streets and scenic outdoor escapes.
The First Public Parks Built In America
Boston Common has been public land since 1634 and people still cross it daily. The first public parks built in America, and how many are still parks today.
The American Rivers That No Longer Reach The Ocean
The Colorado has not reached the sea naturally since 1998. The Gila, Santa Cruz, San Joaquin and Owens all stop short too. The American rivers that no longer finish.
The US Lakes Where Fish Are Unsafe To Eat
Some US lakes look clean, but their fish carry PFAS, mercury, and PCBs at levels that push state officials to warn anglers against eating them at all.
The Shipwrecks Still Missing At The Bottom Of The Sea
Here are six famous shipwrecks still missing somewhere beneath the sea, with one notable detour to the bottom of one of the Great Lakes.
The Deepest Lake In Every US State
The deepest lake in every US state, from Crater Lake at 1,949 feet to Delaware's nine. Great Lakes states get both answers, and several are disputed.
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.
Javan Rhino
Javan Rhino is widely regarded as the rarest large mammal on Earth. About 50 survive, all inside one Indonesian national park and none in captivity.
Sumatran Rhino
Sumatran Rhino, the smallest living rhinoceros and the only Asian species with two horns, is a critically endangered relative of the woolly rhino.
What Is The Largest Object In The Solar System After The Sun?
Jupiter isn't just the biggest planet; it's the largest object in our Solar System after the Sun, 11 times wider than Earth.
The Military Mistakes That Destroyed Great Empires
While they often occurred due to larger systemic problems within their respective societies, these errors frequently led to catastrophic consequences.
11 Small Towns in The Great Lakes with the Best Downtowns
Steps from the water, these Great Lakes small towns hide wine trails, lift bridges, and speakeasies in their compact, walkable downtowns.
How Lake Trout Were Brought Back To Lake Superior
How Lake Trout Were Brought Back To Lake Superior comes down to decades of sea lamprey control, stricter fishing limits, and steady hatchery stocking.
8 Overlooked Towns In Tennessee Worth Visiting
Discover Tennessee’s hidden gems—from historic Jonesborough to scenic Sparta—offering unique attractions beyond the usual tourist spots
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.
Which Moon Is The Largest?
Ganymede outsizes the planet Mercury and hides an ocean that may hold more water than all the seas on Earth's surface.
The Greatest Generals Of The Ancient World
How Philip II, Alexander the Great, Hannibal Barca, and Julius Caesar won the battles that decided the fate of states across the ancient world.
10 Small Towns in Queensland with the Best Downtowns
Discover 10 of Queensland's best small-town downtowns, where distinctive streetscapes reveal a different side of the Sunshine State.
The Most Isolated Mountain In The Lower 48
The most isolated mountain in the Lower 48 is Mount Whitney, 1,646 miles from any higher ground. Why the tallest peak wins, and how it differs from Mt. Rainier.
White Rhino
White Rhino is the largest rhino and, after the elephant, among the heaviest land animals, a grey grazer split between a recovery and a near extinction.
Which Planet Is The Least Dense?
Lighter than water despite its size, Saturn measures a mere 0.69 g/cm3. Here is why the solar system heavyweight is really its lowest-density world.
The Bloodiest Sieges Of The Ancient World
The sieges of Lachish, Tyre, Carthage, and Alesia ended in mass killing, enslavement, and the deliberate erasure of entire cities.
What if Earth Stopped Spinning?
See what would happen if Earth stopped spinning, from catastrophic winds and ocean surges to year-long days and a transformed climate.
The Strongest Ancient Navies Ever Assembled
Discover seven of the ancient world’s most powerful navies, from Athenian triremes and Roman fleets to Carthaginian warships and Han tower ships.
How The Alps Compare To The Rockies
The Rockies are 4x longer, but the Alps are taller and steeper, with a café at the summit. The Rockies counter with grizzlies. How the two ranges really compare.
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 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.
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.
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!
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 Longest Mountain Ranges in Asia
The Kunlun Mountains, in China, is the longest mountain range in Asia.
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.
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.