WorldAtlas Latest Articles

Forests

The National Forests With The Most Coral Snakes

Venomous but shy, the coral snake hides in five national forests, from Florida’s sand-pine scrub to the Arizona desert borderlands near Mexico.

Lakes

How Many Great Lakes It Would Take To Fill The Mariana Trench

Somewhere between 19 and 62, and the embarrassing range exists because nobody has agreed where the Mariana Trench starts. The arithmetic, three ways.

Animals

Dark-Spotted Anaconda

The dark-spotted anaconda lives in northeastern Brazil and French Guiana, a little-studied water boa that bears live young and hides in flooded wetlands.

Space

How NASA Uses American Deserts To Prepare For Mars Expeditions

NASA rehearses Mars missions and tests rovers, drones and spacesuits in the Mojave, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico.

Ancient World

Who Were The Most Influential Ancient Generals?

On top of their seemingly mythic status, these generals had a practical influence through their military accomplishments and political endeavors.

Places

7 Tick Infested Areas In Australia

Australia has several tick-prone regions. Learn where seven documented hotspots are located and which tick-related illnesses occur there.

Cities

The 11 Friendliest Little Towns In The Pacific Northwest

Beyond the urban sprawl of bigger cities, these coastal, mountain, and riverfront towns are among the friendliest in the Pacific Northwest.

Mountains

The American Mountains With The Darkest Night Skies

The American Mountains With The Darkest Night Skies. Spot Andromeda from Wheeler Peak, use a research telescope on Mount Locke, or camp above Death Valley.

Places

11 Great Road Trips to Take in Northern California

The 11 best road trips in Northern California all follow a river, from the undammed Smith to the Pit's crossing of the Cascades. Here's the scenery on each.

Lakes

What Happens If Lake Mead Refills Faster Than Anyone Expects

If Lake Mead refilled fast, the cuts would ease, hydropower would rebound, and the bathtub ring would vanish, but one wet streak won’t fix an over-allocated river.

Bodies of Water

How Much Water A Town's Water Tower Actually Holds

Most US water towers hold 500,000 to 1 million gallons, but capacity depends on tank style and town needs, from old 30,000-gallon cone tops to modern giants.

Oceans

The Largest Whale Ever Seen Off The US Coast

Blue whales feed off California each summer and fall, drawn by krill, 2,200 now return, close to the population's pre-whaling size, and 80 feet is typical.

Rivers

What Would Happen To The Colorado River If Hoover Dam Were Removed?

Without Hoover Dam, Lake Mead would drain to a Colorado River channel, stranding Las Vegas intakes, ending hydropower, and reshaping fish habitat.

Animals

Are There Crocodiles Sneaking Up the Mississippi River Delta?

Are There Crocodiles Sneaking Up the Mississippi River Delta? No. The delta is full of alligators, but cold winters keep American crocodiles in South Florida.

Animals

Tiger Rattlesnake

Tiger Rattlesnake produces the most toxic venom of any rattlesnake, yet it is among the smallest of them, with a tiny head and a very low venom yield.

Ancient World

How Roman Generals Dominated Their Opponents

The best generals of Ancient Rome relied on a slew of tactics, both military and psychological, to defeat their opponents.

Geography

How Big The Great Plains Is Compared To All Of Western Europe

The Great Plains could fit Western Europe twice with room for Texas. See how this vast region compares with European countries, from France to Austria.

Travel

Pittsburgh Has More Bridges Than Any City In America, If You Want It To

Pittsburgh calls itself the City of Bridges, and 446 is the number everyone repeats. Houston has 2,325. Here is how the claim survived for over a century.

Animals

Star-Nosed Mole

Star-Nosed Mole facts, from the fleshy star that is the most sensitive touch organ known to its record-fast foraging in the wetlands of eastern North America.

Space

Why The Milky Way May Never Collide With Andromeda

A 2025 study of the Milky Way and Andromeda found roughly even odds of a merger within 10 billion years, challenging the long-held collision forecast.

Ancient World

The Worst Mistakes Made By Roman Emperors

Roman emperors were among history's most powerful rulers but even those who wielded immense authority made grievous mistakes.

Travel

10 Underrated Florida Towns Worth the Drive in 2026

10 Underrated Florida Towns Worth the Drive in 2026. See manatees at Blue Spring, the Navy SEAL museum in Fort Pierce, and a cattle drive in Okeechobee.

Space

Which Moon Is The Most Cratered?

In space, floating bodies often collide. Most commonly, this occurs between asteroids and planets or moons. But which moon is most cratered?

Travel

8 Underrated Iowa Towns Worth The Drive In 2026

These towns will take you through Danish settlements, former railroad communities, and towns preserving unusually specialized museums.

Industries

The Top Semiconductor States In America

Semiconductors are some of the most coveted materials on the planet, currently. Here are the top semiconductor states in America.

Ancient World

Rome’s Bloodiest Power Struggles

Explore Ancient Rome’s most consequential power struggles and how battles for political control helped bring down the Republic and reshape the Empire.

Ancient World

The Most Important Roman Cities

Four cities shaped the Roman Empire's rise and legacy. Learn how Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, and Carthage influenced its history.

Geography

How Big Texas Is Compared To Europe's Largest Countries

Texas is larger than nearly every country in Europe. Its 268,597 square miles stack up against Europe’s biggest nations in surprising ways.

Travel

10 Small Towns in The Poconos with the Best Downtowns

Old rail hubs, compact main streets, and unexpected local landmarks give these Poconos downtowns a personality far bigger than their size.

Space

What Would Happen If Earth's Magnetic Field Flipped

The question of Earth's magnetic field flipping is less a matter of "if", and more a matter of "when." Here's what would happen when it does.

Travel

6 Underrated Oregon Towns Worth the Drive in 2026

Six underrated Oregon towns worth a trip in 2026, from Warrenton's shipwreck beach and Manzanita's surf to Newberg wineries, The Dalles, Sisters, and Ashland.

GDP

The Richest Countries In Africa 2025

Africa’s richest countries fall into three types: island economies, hydrocarbon exporters, and diversified markets, shaped by resources and policies

Climate

The Difference Between A Hurricane, A Typhoon, And A Cyclone

A hurricane, a typhoon and a cyclone are the same storm under three names. Which one you get depends on the ocean, and a date line crossing proves it.

Mountains

The Mountains That Are Still Growing

Some mountains are still rising today, pushed upward by tectonic forces even as erosion and melting ice reshape their peaks.

Mountains

How The Himalayas Compare To The Rockies

How the Himalayas and Rockies compare in height, length, age, glacier ice, earthquakes, and the rivers they feed, from Everest to the Continental Divide.

Mountains

Why Denali Is Harder To Climb Than Everest

Lower summit, harder climb. Thin polar air, 100-pound loads, and rescue that can be days away make Denali a tougher test than Everest for most climbers.

GDP

The Richest Countries In Europe 2026

Europe has been an economic hub of the world for centuries. Strong banking and manufacturing sectors and embracing free trade have been key to its success.

GDP

The Richest Countries in North America 2026

In 2025, the U.S., Canada, and Panama lead North America in GDP per capita, reflecting diverse economic strengths and strategies.

Industries

The States With More Farmland Than People

Eight US states have more farmland than people, with farm operations covering over half their land and fewer than 100 residents per square mile.

Geography

How Much of America Drains Into the Mississippi River?

The Mississippi-Atchafalaya basin drains about 41% of the contiguous US, over 1.245 million square miles, and the Missouri subbasin alone supplies 43% of it.