WorldAtlas Latest Articles
Why Great Lakes Freighters Are Painted The Colors They Are
Copper paint against shipworms made hulls red, the Great Lakes Fleet added gray and black bow stripes in 1990, and a sale often sends a laker to the paint shop.
What Happens To A Rattlesnake That Wakes Up Too Early
A rattlesnake that wakes too early risks a lethal refreeze, burns fat reserves it can’t replace, and faces dehydration and predators before spring truly arrives.
Where Water Moccasins Go In The Winter
Northern cottonmouths brumate four or five months. South Florida cottonmouths may skip winter entirely. What does not change is that they leave the water.
Why Some Animals Turn White In Winter
Hares, Arctic foxes, weasels, and ptarmigan turn white because shorter days trigger the change, not cold. See why shrinking snow seasons put them at risk.
Where America's Meteorites Are Found Most Often
While a meteorite can land pretty much anywhere in the world, there are certain areas in the United States where they are more likely to be found.
How Did Someone Become A Roman Emperor?
There were multiple paths to ascend to Ancient Rome's highest office. Many of them involved death, betrayal, and political scheming.
6 Most Breathtaking Towns In Alaska
Sitka, Ketchikan, Girdwood, Valdez, Juneau, and Seward are six Alaska towns where glaciers, fjords, whales, and mountain trails sit close at hand.
8 Coziest Towns To Visit In The Pacific Northwest
Mount Angel’s glockenspiel, Port Gamble’s mill-town cottages, and Mazama’s snowy country store lead these cozy towns in the Pacific Northwest.
The Clearest Spring In America
At Rainbow Springs, underwater visibility can exceed 250 feet, and passengers once watched fish through viewing windows set below the waterline of boats.
The 9 Can't-Miss Towns In Southern California
Southern California’s beach towns, wine country, mountain villages, desert, and an offshore island, with the best stop in each and what to do there.
The State Parks That Feel Like The Grand Canyon
Nine state parks stand in for the Grand Canyon, from Waimea on Kauai to Letchworth in New York. One is 10 acres; another formed from bad farming in the 1800s.
What Happens If Lake Okeechobee’s Dike Fails
The 1928 hurricane broke Lake Okeechobee's levee, killing more than 2,500 people. Here is what a failure of today's Herbert Hoover Dike in Florida could mean
Why Fish Don’t Freeze In A Frozen Lake
Fish in frozen lakes survive winter in liquid water beneath the ice, where deeper water stays near 39°F and a slower metabolism helps them conserve energy.
9 Overlooked Towns In The Great Lakes Worth Visiting
Skip the crowds at the big-name Great Lakes stops for nine quieter towns nearby, spread from Lake Superior to Lake Ontario, each worth the detour.
The Best Places To Visit On Maryland’s Eastern Shore
These are the best places to visit on Maryland's Eastern Shore, with historic streets and local traditions worth planning a day or a weekend around.
The Truth About Turtles Breathing Through Their Butts Under Ice
Painted turtles survive months under ice without air. See which turtles truly breathe through their butts, and how the rest outlast winter on little oxygen.
Was Alexander The Great Or Julius Caesar A Better General?
Both Alexander The Great and Julius Caesar are considered some of the greatest generals of all time. But which was better?
These Small Towns In Washington’s San Juan Islands
A ferry ride across these islands of the San Juan archipelago can lead to places where the journey is only part of the appeal.
The Highest Mountain Range In The Lower 48
The Sierra Nevada runs about 400 miles through eastern California, climbing more than two miles above the Owens Valley and topping the Rockies and Cascades.
Why Space Is So Cold If The Sun Is So Hot
Sunlight crosses the near-vacuum of space without warming it, since so little matter is there to absorb it. Planets heat up, but the space between stays cold.
The Story Of The Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire ruled from Constantinople for a thousand years after Rome fell, shaping law, faith, and trade until the Ottoman conquest of 1453.
The Top Nuclear Power States In America
There are many states in America which have active nuclear power plants. These are the top twelve nuclear power producers.
The 10 Tallest Mountains In New Mexico
New Mexico's 10 tallest major mountains include Wheeler Peak, Truchas Peak, and remote summits with restricted hiking access.
The American Mountains With The Most Venomous Snakes
Rattlesnakes and copperheads live in the mountains of New York, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Arizona, denning on rocky slopes and even along hiking trails.
The American Mountains With A Lake On The Summit
Crater Lake fills a collapsed Oregon volcano, Lake Waiau sits in a cinder cone on Mauna Kea, and Rainier’s lakes lie in ice caves under its summit craters.
The Best Places To Visit On Wisconsin’s Door Peninsula
These 7 destinations along the Door Peninsula each have a distinct character, shaped by Great Lakes scenery, maritime heritage, and charming waterfronts.
The Largest Valley In The United States
California’s Central Valley is the largest US valley ringed by mountains. It grows a quarter of US food, and pumping sank land near Mendota nearly 30 feet.
Wisconsin’s Newport Of The West Is Ringed By Gilded Age Mansions
After the 1871 fire, Chicago's brewers and meatpackers built summer houses on Geneva Lake yet most are still private except for one thats open to visitors
The Last American Shipyards Still Building Ships
Destroyers are built in Bath, Maine, carriers in Newport News, Virginia, and the first US-built heavy icebreaker in about 50 years in Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Why Earth Is The Only Planet Not Named After A God
Every other planet carries a god's name. Earth kept the Old English word for soil, because nobody knew it was a planet until Copernicus put it in orbit.
The Most Ruthless Roman Generals
Roman commanders razed Carthage, crucified 6,000 rebel slaves on the Appian Way, massacred Gallic tribes, and purged rivals with public death lists.
The States That Import The Most Electricity
The states importing the most electricty, like New York, Vermont, and Minnesota, reveal how closely America's energy needs are tied together.
How Much Of The US Is Federal Land Compared To Other Countries
Some countries allow for much more private ownership of land than others. Here's how much federal land the US owns versus other countries.
What Rain Looks Like On Other Planets
As interesting as weather on Earth can be, other planets also undergo meteorological events, and they can be quite extreme.
The Top Solar Power States In America
Texas and California lead US solar generation, while Florida, Arizona, Nevada, and North Carolina add utility-scale projects, storage, and grid upgrades.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.