WorldAtlas Latest Articles
2026's 10 Best Small Towns To Visit In UK
The UK’s best small towns for 2026 include everything from famed historic castles to beautiful harbour towns, making for a memorable trip.
The Western Edge Of Copperhead Country
The Western Edge Of Copperhead Country runs through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas, where wooded creek bottoms give way to open prairie and the snakes fade out.
Twig Snake
Twig Snake facts, from the stick-like camouflage and keyhole pupils of this African tree snake to its rear-fanged venom, which has no commercial antivenom.
What Space Actually Smells Like
Space is an vacuum, so if you took a breath, there would be no air to inhale, and nothing to smell. But if we could smell there, here's what it would be like.
Why Trajan Was One of Rome’s Greatest Generals
Trajan is remembered as one of Rome's most formidable emperors for his ability to balance civic duty with military prowess.
9 Small Towns In South Australia With The Best Downtowns
Because of their storied pasts, the central streets of these communities maintain highly individual looks that residents still enjoy today.
The Largest Lakes In The Pacific Northwest
The largest lakes in the Pacific Northwest, ranked by surface area: giant Columbia River reservoirs and deep natural lakes across BC, Washington, and Oregon.
The State Parks With Petrified Wood
State parks preserving petrified wood, from Ginkgo in Washington and Escalante in Utah to Valley of Fire, Palo Duro Canyon and the North Dakota badlands.
12 Wallet-Friendly Small Towns To Retire In California
In Red Bluff, Lakeport, and Banning, the typical home costs under half the California median, making these 12 small towns wallet-friendly places to retire.
How Deep The Mariana Trench Is Compared To Mount Everest
The Mariana Trench’s Challenger Deep is about 36,000 feet deep, so drop Mount Everest in and its summit would still sit over a mile underwater.
The Longest Swinging Bridge In America
At 680 feet, the SkyBridge in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is the longest swinging bridge in the US. Here is how it works and the longer bridge proposed nearby.
One Of The Deepest Octopus Ever Filmed
NOAA filmed a pale, finless octopus nicknamed Casper 14,075 feet down off Hawaii in 2016, the deepest sighting of its kind. It still has no scientific name.
6 Underrated Washington Towns Worth the Drive in 2026
Take a road trip through six underrated Washington towns in 2026, where historic landmarks and local festivals reward curious travelers.
The Key West Of The North
Put-in-Bay on Lake Erie's South Bass Island is reached by ferry only, with swim-up bars, golf carts and, per Guinness, the world's longest permanent bar.
Why Some Towns Have A Hot And A Cold Water Tower
Hot and cold water towers in Pratt, Kansas, and towns like Canton and St. Clair began as local jokes. The water inside stays the same temperature either way.
What Happens When A Dam Uses Its Spillway For The First Time
Hoover Dam's first spillway run in 1941 gouged a cavity 45 feet deep. Six US reservoirs show what a first spill can expose, including a new gorge in Texas.
The US Mountain Trails With The Most Rattlesnake Encounters
From Phoenix to the Shawangunks, these busy mountain trails run straight through rattlesnake den country, where hikers and snakes end up on the same ledges.
Giant Manta Ray
Giant Manta Ray is the largest ray on Earth, a plankton eater with a wingspan over twenty feet, a big brain, and no sting, now listed as Endangered.
Who Were The Best Ottoman Military Leaders?
Exploring the best Ottoman military leaders in detail helps us paint a picture of why the empire became as powerful as it did.
The Driest Mountain In The United States
White Mountain Peak in eastern California rises to 14,246 feet, yet the Sierra Nevada rain shadow leaves its high slopes with relatively little precipitation.
10 Underrated Georgia Towns Worth the Drive in 2026
From St. Simons Island and Brunswick on the coast to Rome, Cedartown, and Tallulah Falls up north, these 10 Georgia small towns pair history with outdoor fun.
This 4,000-Acre Scottish Estate Has A 1634 Castle And Still Makes Its Own Power
Monzie Estate in Perthshire runs to 4,000 acres with a 1634 castle, an 1831 church and a 1952 hydro plant that still powers every cottage. You can rent one.
The Northern Edge Of Rattlesnake Country
The Northern Edge Of Rattlesnake Country lies in Canada, where three species cling to British Columbia valleys, prairie coulees, and Ontario wetlands.
Was Alexander The Great An Overrated General?
Alexander the Great looms larger than perhaps any other figure in history. At the same time, no one should have their reputation accepted uncritically.
The American Mountains With The Most Timber Rattlesnakes
Timber rattlesnakes den on five mountains in New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, including Overlook Mountain in the Catskills and Hawk Mountain.
The Mountains That Make Their Own Weather
Mountains such as Mount Rainier and Mount Denali reveal how towering peaks create their own clouds, fierce winds, and sudden storms.
Which Planet Is Most Like Early Earth Was?
Earth is constantly evolving, and in its early days, had a much different composition. Which planet now is most like early Earth once was?
Which Roman Generals Never Lost A Battle?
Scipio Africanus and Marcus Agrippa have Rome's strongest claims to an unbeaten battlefield record, while Caesar, Corbulo, and Aurelian carry real caveats.
The American Mountains With Old-Growth Forest
Old-growth forest takes hundreds of years to grow, yet can be cut down in an instant. Here are the American mountains where you can still find those forests.
Which Ancient Generals Never Lost A Battle?
Thutmose III, Alexander the Great, and Scipio Africanus are often called unbeaten ancient generals, but each record comes with caveats that muddy the claim.
Why Betelgeuse Keeps Dimming
Learn why Betelgeuse keeps dimming, what caused the Great Dimming, and how a newly discovered companion star explains its changing light.
What Happens To A Body Left In Space
What Happens To A Body Left In Space. A person would black out within seconds, then swell, freeze, and mummify, slowly worn down by tiny micrometeoroids.
How Far Apart America's Extremes Actually Are
America is a large country, and when its territories are factored in, its geographic extremes become even more prominent.
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.
How Long America's Rivers Are Compared To The Nile
The Mississippi runs about 57% of the Nile's length, and the Missouri-Mississippi nearly 90%, with the Yukon, Rio Grande, Colorado, and Columbia even shorter.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.