12 questions · Geography
Picture the planet as a series of record-breakers. The largest country by area is Russia, which spans both Europe and Asia and eleven time zones; the smallest is Vatican City, an independent state in the middle of Rome that covers only about 0.44 square kilometres. The largest continent is Asia, home to more people than all the other continents combined, and to the highest mountain on Earth, Mount Everest, on the border between Nepal and Tibet, first climbed in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Water sets records too. The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean, larger than all the Earth's land masses put together. The Nile, the lifeline of north-east Africa along which ancient Egyptian civilisation arose, competes with the Amazon for the title of longest river: it depends on how you measure. Egypt itself lies in Africa, although the Sinai Peninsula already reaches over into Asia. Across the country runs the Suez Canal, linking the Mediterranean and the Red Sea and sparing ships the long voyage around Africa. To the west stretches the Sahara, the largest hot desert on Earth, almost as large as the entire United States. Finally, a few capitals that catch people out. Australia is governed not from Sydney but from Canberra, Canada not from Toronto but from Ottawa, and Vietnam not from its largest city but from Hanoi. Knowing where these places lie turns a globe from a coloured ball into a map you can actually read.
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Russia
Russia is by far the largest country in the world by area and stretches across both Europe and Asia. Even so, fewer people live there than in some much smaller countries.
💡 Did you know? Russia is so large that it spans eleven time zones.
Nile
The Nile is the lifeline of north-east Africa, flowing through several countries before reaching the Mediterranean in Egypt. The ancient Egyptian civilisation arose along its banks.
💡 Did you know? The Nile and the Amazon compete for the title of longest river: depending on how you measure.
Mount Everest
Mount Everest lies in the Himalayas on the border between Nepal and Tibet. It was first climbed in 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
💡 Did you know? Its summit, at around 8849 metres, is so high that only about a third of the oxygen available at sea level is there.
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific is the largest and deepest ocean on Earth, reaching from the Americas to Asia. It holds thousands of islands and the deepest point on the planet.
💡 Did you know? The Pacific is larger than all the land masses of the Earth put together.
Asia
Asia is the largest and most populous continent on Earth. It is home both to the highest mountains and to some of the oldest civilisations.
💡 Did you know? More people live in Asia than on all the other continents combined.
Vatican City
Vatican City is an independent state in the middle of Rome and the seat of the Pope. It is at the same time the smallest recognised country in the world.
💡 Did you know? The entire state is smaller than some city parks: only about 0.44 square kilometres.
Sahara
The Sahara stretches across much of North Africa and is the largest hot desert on Earth. Despite its vastness, people live there at oases and along ancient trade routes.
💡 Did you know? The Sahara is almost as large as the entire United States.
Africa
Africa is the second-largest continent and the cradle of humankind. It reaches from the Sahara in the north to rainforests and savannahs in the south.
💡 Did you know? Egypt lies in north-east Africa; the Sinai Peninsula already reaches over into Asia.
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal in Egypt links the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, connecting Europe and Asia by sea. It is one of the most important waterways in world trade.
💡 Did you know? The Suez Canal saves ships the long voyage all the way around Africa.
Hanoi
Canberra
Ottawa
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