WorldAtlas Latest Articles
How Big The Mojave Desert Is Compared To England
England covers 50,301 square miles and the Mojave covers somewhere between 31,000 and 54,000 depending who you ask. Three answers, all defensible.
How Much Iron Ore Gets Stockpiled Before The Soo Locks Close
The Lake Superior ore docks hold 15 million tons. Federal analysis says the mills need 15.5 to survive the Soo Locks closure. The system runs with no margin.
Where Coral Snakes And Kingsnakes Overlap
Coral snakes and kingsnakes overlap across the US South, where the harmless scarlet kingsnake both mimics the venomous coral snake and preys on it.
Where Bass Go In The Winter
Most bass winter close to home, but Mississippi River smallmouth swim up to 17 mi to slack water, and striped bass winter up to 30 miles off North Carolina.
Where Black Bears Are Spreading Back In The East
Where Black Bears Are Spreading Back In The East traces a comeback from Arkansas releases to new sightings in Ohio, Missouri, and Illinois as forests regrow.
How Long Rattlesnakes Can Go Without Eating In Winter
Western diamondbacks cut their resting metabolism by 72 percent over 168 days without food, and grew longer while doing it. Six months is routine.
Giant Freshwater Stingray
Giant Freshwater Stingray can grow wider than a dinner table, and one caught in the Mekong set the record as the largest freshwater fish ever documented.
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.
10 Of The Quietest Pacific Northwest Towns
10 Of The Quietest Pacific Northwest Towns include roadless Stehekin, ferry-only Lopez Island, and Shaniko, a high-desert near ghost town.
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.
11 Most Peaceful Small Towns In California's Sierra Nevada
11 Most Peaceful Small Towns In California’s Sierra Nevada pair Gold Rush streets with alpine lakes, giant sequoias, and Mono Lake’s strange tufa towers.
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 State Parks That Allow Hunting In November
State parks in New York, Michigan, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Nevada welcome licensed hunters in November, with seasons for deer, elk, and waterfowl.
What Happens To Boulder City If Lake Mead Hits Dead Pool
A Lake Mead dead pool would reach Boulder City, Nevada, through its tap water, its share of Hoover Dam power, its boat ramps, and the visitors it depends on.
The Most Snake Infested Rivers In Washington
Washington's snake-filled rivers feature rocky rattlesnake habitats, riverside garter snakes, and wild canyons across the state.
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.
The 7 Tallest Mountains In The Appalachians
The tallest mountains in the Appalachians rise above North Carolina and Tennessee, with towering summits shaped by geology and conservation.
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
7 Underrated Connecticut Towns Worth the Drive in 2026
Travel from the northwestern hills to the state’s quiet eastern corner, and these towns give you a reason to get up and go explore Connecticut.
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.
Where Bald Eagles Gather In The Winter
Where Bald Eagles Gather In The Winter depends on open water, easy food, and sheltered trees, which draw thousands of eagles to Alaska’s Chilkat River.
The American Rivers With The Most River Otters
The American rivers with the most river otters, from the Upper Mississippi and Louisiana’s Atchafalaya to the Columbia, Snake, Suwannee, and Yellowstone.
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.
Exploring Japans Ancient Capital Where Deer Roam Freely
Nara was Japan's first permanent capital, and 1,400 deer still roam its temple park. A week there buys early mornings at Todaiji before the tour groups arrive
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.
9 Small Towns in The Rockies with the Best Downtowns
Watch taffy wrapped on a 1918 machine in Philipsburg, get a jackalope hunting license in Douglas, and soak for free in Thermopolis on nine Rockies main streets.
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.
Was The Ottoman Empire Inspired By The Roman Empire?
The Ottoman Empire's ties to Rome ran from Mehmed II's claim to the title Caesar of Rome to its choice of Constantinople as the new imperial capital.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.