WorldAtlas Latest Articles

National Parks

The National Parks With A Ski Area Inside The Boundary

Discover the rare ski resorts located inside national parks in the US and Canada, including Yosemite's Badger Pass and Banff's slopes.

Places

11 Most Scenic Drives in The Northern United States

These eleven drives traverse through the northern portion of the United States, showcasing some of the nation's most scenic views, communities, and landmarks.

Lakes

Why The Edmund Fitzgerald Was Never Raised

The Edmund Fitzgerald lies in two pieces 530 feet down in Canadian waters, a protected grave where only its bell has been raised, at the families’ request.

Rivers

Where Water Moccasins And Rattlesnakes Overlap

Cottonmouths meet rattlesnakes where swamps rise into ridges and bluffs, as at Illinois's Snake Road, closed to cars twice a year for migrating snakes.

Cities

Ontario's 11 Best Retirement Towns Ranked

Eleven Ontario towns under 50,000 people for retirement, with 55+ programs, hospitals close by, and waterfront living in Goderich, Brockville and Parry Sound.

Lakes

The Longest Lakes In The United States

A length ranking of the longest lakes in the United States, from Lake Superior and the Great Lakes to Iliamna, Great Salt Lake, and Rainy Lake.

County

The County Seats That Aren't The Biggest Town

Nine American county seats where a bigger town nearby holds the population, as well as a parish seat in Louisiana and an Alaskan borough seat.

Oceans

What Would Happen If The Great Pacific Garbage Patch Reached Shore

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch won't wash ashore as one mass, but its plastic already reaches Hawaii's beaches and reefs, endangering turtles and seabirds.

Sports

The Highest-Altitude Stadiums In North America

North America's highest stadiums, from Denver's mile-high venues to Mountaineer Bowl in Gunnison and Estadio Nemesio Diez in Toluca, Mexico.

Oceans

What Would Happen If Sea Level Rose 10 Feet On The East Coast

The Atlantic would reach far beyond the beach, flooding city streets, cutting off coastal roads, and pushing saltwater into local freshwater supplies.

Animals

Why Snakes Crawl Into Car Engines When It Gets Cold

They do get into engine bays, and the usual explanation is wrong. The warmth is incidental and occasionally fatal. What actually draws them in is the mice.

Animals

Lyrebird

Lyrebird is famous for mimicking chainsaws and camera shutters, yet its raking feet shift tons of soil a year and can lower the intensity of bushfires.

Space

The Largest Asteroids That Will Pass Earth This Century

Certain asteroids, were they to hit Earth, would potentially cause an extinction event. These are the largest we expect to pass near Earth this century.

Ancient World

The Worst People In Ancient History

Sennacherib, Phalaris, Julius Caesar, and Commodus are accused of torture, mass killing, and misrule, though the ancient sources on them are often unreliable.

Industries

The US States That Export The Most Electricity

Pennsylvania leads US states in net electricity exports, followed by Alabama and Illinois, as nuclear, gas, and wind plants feed grids across state lines.

Industries

What Happens If A Refinery Belt Goes Offline

A Gulf Coast, Midwest, or West Coast refinery shutdown would cut US gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel supplies, raising prices for drivers, farms, and freight.

Wildlife By Place

How Far Grizzlies Have Spread Beyond Yellowstone

How Far Grizzlies Have Spread Beyond Yellowstone depends on direction, as the Yellowstone range shrinks while northern bears push south to close the gap.

Wildlife By Place

Why Snakes Come Back Out During A Warm Spell In November

Snakes come back out during a November warm spell because they brumate rather than hibernate, emerging to bask whenever a sunny day warms them enough to move.

Space

What Happens If An Astronaut Gets Sick In Space

There is no emergency room 250 miles above Earth. Astronauts rely on trained crewmates, doctors on the ground, and sometimes an early ride home.

Ancient World

Who Were The Most Underrated Ancient Greek Generals?

This article explores some of the most underrated Ancient Greek generals, including Brasidas, Epaminondas, Nicias, and Philip II.

Industries

What Happens When The Wind Stops In A Wind-Powered State

When wind output drops in Texas and the Great Plains, gas plants, batteries, regional grids, and demand cuts fill the gap.

Mountains

The American Mountains With The Most Copperheads

Copperheads in Virginia's Blue Ridge, the Smokies, Missouri's Ozarks, New York's Hudson Highlands, and Connecticut favor rocky slopes and woodland edges.

Industries

The American Towns Built Entirely Around A Car Plant

Dearborn, Michigan, grew up around Ford, while Kenosha, Lordstown, and Marysville rose with the AMC, GM, and Honda plants that reshaped their local economies.

Society

US States With the Most Snake Species

The states with the most snake species line the country's southern edge, and eight of the top 10 touch either the Mexican border or the Gulf Coast.

Destinations

5 Caribbean Islands That Are Affordable In 2026

A $2 ferry in Puerto Rico, a $55 room in Santo Domingo, a $6 bowl of oil down in Grenada: five Caribbean islands where the prices have not caught up yet.

Ancient World

The Non-Italian Emperors Who Ruled Rome

Non-Italians often rose to prominence in Ancient Rome, with some even attaining the highest-ranking position in the empire.

Mountains

The American Mountains Where Snakebites Happen Most Often

The American Mountains Where Snakebites Happen Most Often include North Carolina’s Blue Ridge, where well-hidden copperheads cause most of the state’s bites.

Climate

Every Place In America That Averages Over 200 Inches Of Snow

At just 95 feet above sea level, Valdez averages more snow than some mountain stations, showing why America's 200-inch snow zones aren't all peaks.

Industries

The Top Paper-Producing States In America

Paper still runs deep in American manufacturing, with leading states producing everything from packaging and tissue to pulp and specialty grades.

Stories

Visiting The Best Spots Along Lake Huron's Shoreline

Lake Huron's 3,827 miles of shoreline run from the Pinery's dunes to Tobermory's shipwrecks and on to Mackinac Island, split between Ontario and Michigan.

Space

What Would Happen If The Moon Disappeared

Our world relies on the Moon for far more than most realize. Here's exactly what would happen if the Moon were to disappear.

Ancient World

The Roman Generals Who Won Battles But Lost Their Wars

Roman generals achieved some major victories in individual battles. However, these didn’t always translate into success in the larger war.

Ancient World

The Most Hated Roman Emperors In History

Discover the most hated Roman emperors in history, from Caligula and Nero to Commodus, and the cruelty and power struggles behind their infamous reigns.

Mountains

The 10 Tallest Mountains In New York

Mount Marcy tops New York's 10 tallest mountains, a set of Adirondack summits that includes Algonquin Peak, Olympic-era Whiteface, and remote Basin Mountain.

Mountains

The 10 Tallest Mountains In The Adirondacks

The Adirondacks' 10 tallest mountains combine ancient geology, challenging hikes, alpine summits, and fascinating historical landmarks.

Space

Which Planet Has The Most Extreme Seasons?

Uranus has the most extreme seasons in the solar system, with a sideways tilt, 21-year seasons, and decades of continuous polar darkness.

Geography

How Big Yellowstone Is Compared To Small Countries

Of the many wonderful aspects of Yellowstone National Park is its sheer size, equaling or surpassing that of many small countries.

Destinations

These Lakeside Towns On Lake Champlain Deserve A Long Weekend

From Burlington and Shelburne in Vermont to Essex and Ticonderoga in New York, these Lake Champlain towns make an easy long weekend of history and lake views.

Stories

National Parks And Monuments You’ve Seen In The Movies

Tatooine is Death Valley, the mothership landed by Devils Tower, and the road to the Overlook Hotel runs through Glacier. All are still open to visitors.

Destinations

The Real Places Behind Panem In Sunrise on the Reaping

The 50th Hunger Games arena is a glacial valley in Asturias. The Capitol is a Berlin airfield, District 12 a Ruhr ironworks, and you can walk into all three.