Geography Of The World
The Coldest Ocean On Earth
The Coldest Ocean On Earth is the Southern Ocean, where surface waters hover near freezing and the world's strongest current circles all of Antarctica.
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.
The US Reservoirs That Have Never Filled Completely
Some reservoirs were built to hold far more water than they ever have, leaving century-old shorelines that never reached their intended mark.
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.
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.
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 Native Western Fish Making A Comeback
Native Western fish are fighting back: the Apache trout was delisted, humpback chub downlisted, Klamath salmon returned. But bonytail and others may not make it.
What Happens When A Reservoir Hits Dead Pool
Dead pool is the point at which a reservoir can no longer release water downstream. What it means for Lake Mead, Lake Powell, and the Colorado River.
The Whirlpools Strong Enough To Pull Down Boats
Learn how the world's most powerful tidal whirlpools threaten small boats through fast currents, turbulent waves, and sudden loss of control.
Positive Steps Taken To Clean Up The Great Lakes In The Past Decade
Sealed sediment, deep sewer tunnels, and farm nutrient controls have pulled some of the Great Lakes' worst legacy pollution sites back from the brink.
The US Lakes Where Anglers Spend The Most Money
It's never just the rod and reel. See how boats, fuel, and guides turn a day on the water into billions at the US lakes where anglers spend most.
The Pacific Coast Where Sea Otters Have Come Back
Sea otters were hunted nearly to extinction. See where they've come back on the Pacific coast, from Big Sur to Alaska and BC, and the 840-mile Oregon gap.
The Lakes Where Invasive Plants Have Choked Out Boaters
Invasive weeds have choked the ramps and boat lanes on lakes across the US, from Texas salvinia to Adirondack milfoil, and crews fight to keep them open.
What Happens To Plastic Once It Reaches The Ocean
Plastic can drift for years after reaching the ocean, breaking into invisible fragments, entering marine life, and sinking into places humans can barely reach
The Great Lakes Fish That Live Longest
Meet the Great Lakes fish that live longest, including century-old lake sturgeon and long-lived trout, carp, and freshwater drum.
The Deepest Point In The Gulf Of Mexico
The deepest point in the Gulf of Mexico is the Sigsbee Deep, nearly 3 miles down. Underwater cliffs, salt domes, and brine pools that pickle whatever swims in.
How Many Lakes Are Big Enough To Be Seen From Space?
Most of Earth's 117 million lakes vanish from space. Meet the giants big enough to glow from orbit, from the Caspian Sea to Baikal and the Great Lakes.
How Much Water Lake Mead Has Lost, Measured In Great Lakes
Lake Mead has lost about 6.5 trillion gallons, a historic collapse. Measured against the Great Lakes, it's only ~5% of Lake Erie. The surprising math of scale.
The American Towns Built Directly Below A Dam
Nearly 17,000 US dams are rated high hazard, and the count is rising because towns keep building below them. Oroville, Midland, Rexburg and the risk they live with. (159, would trim)
The Largest Lakes West Of The Rockies
Saltier than the ocean, perched on an active earthquake fault, or ringed by polar bears, the largest lakes west of the Rockies defy the alpine postcard.
How Many Undiscovered Species Are In The Sea?
Scientists estimate that half a million to 2 million marine species remain unknown, while much of the deep seafloor has never been seen.
The Best Catfish Lakes In The United States
Where do America's record catfish come from? Ten US reservoirs grow trophy blue, channel, and flathead cats, backed by state fisheries data.
The Most Isolated Lakes On Earth
The most notable of the isolated lakes are named, mapped, and certainly studied, but to most people, they remain completely inaccessible.
How Much Of The Ocean Is Still Unexplored
How Much Of The Ocean Is Still Unexplored depends on the question, since only about a third of the seafloor is mapped and far less has ever been seen.
The Cargo Great Lakes Freighters Carry The Most
Many are shocked when they realize the true scale of the Great Lakes, which can appear more like oceans. Here's the cargo freighters carry on it the most.
The Sea Creatures That Outlived The Dinosaurs
Non-avian dinosaurs vanished 66 million years ago, but the oceans still hold survivors from much older chapters of Earth’s history.
The Difference Between A Reservoir And A Lake
What's the difference between a reservoir and a lake? A lake is natural; a reservoir is a man-made, dammed lake. Why Lake Mead and Lake Powell aren't lakes.
The Oldest Dams In The US
Of the nearly 100,000 dams in the United States, all of the four oldest can be found in Massachusetts, and were created in the 1600s.
What Happens If The Rio Grande Stops Reaching The Gulf
The Rio Grande already fails to reach the Gulf some years. If it stops for good: a drinking-water crisis for millions, dead farms, and a collapsing delta.
The Largest River Deltas in North America
Nine of the largest river deltas in North America, and why federal agencies cannot agree on how big any of them actually are.
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 Shallowest Large Lakes In The United States
The Shallowest Large Lakes In The United States begin with Mattamuskeet in North Carolina, which covers 63 square miles but averages just 18 inches deep.
How Many Miles Of Shoreline Do The Great Lakes Have?
How Many Miles Of Shoreline Do The Great Lakes Have? About 10,200 in all, ranging from Lake Ontario's 712 miles to Lake Huron's chart-topping 3,827.
What Happens If The Colorado River Stops Reaching Lake Mead
Lake Mead is the largest US reservoir. Here is what would happen to Southwest water, farms and power if the Colorado River stopped reaching it.
The Ocean Animals That Have Attacked Boats
Learn which ocean animals have attacked or damaged boats, from sperm whales and swordfish to sharks and orcas, and why these encounters happen.
The Lakes Where Bluegill Reach Record Size
Most bluegill weigh under a pound, but these eight public lakes have produced record-book giants, from a 2-pound catch to a 4-pound world record.
Why Lake Erie Turns Green Every Summer
Learn why western Lake Erie turns green each summer, how harmful algal blooms affect health, and what is being done to reduce phosphorus runoff.
The US Waters Where Flesh-Eating Bacteria Have Been Found
Vibrio vulnificus has been found from the Gulf Coast to Long Island Sound, and the range is moving north 30 miles a year. Where it is, and who is actually at risk.
The Rivers Where Walleye Grow Largest
Rivers hold the most walleye and rarely the biggest. Where river walleye actually grow large, from the Columbia to the Detroit, and the record that got un-disqualified.