Geography fun facts and oddities: Difference between revisions

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* See [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Virginia_earthquake Virginia earthquake, 2011 (wiki)]]
* See [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Virginia_earthquake Virginia earthquake, 2011 (wiki)]]
=== Rocks ===
=== Rocks ===
* '''Three Sisters''' or '''Three Sisters Islands''' (Washington, DC)
* '''Three Sisters''' or '''Three Sisters Islands'''  
* click EXPAND for info on & legends behind the name of the rocks:
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[[File:The Three Sisters islets, DC.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The Three Sisters islets, DC (wiki)]]
[[File:The Three Sisters islets, DC.jpg|thumb|200px|right|The Three Sisters islets, DC (wiki)]]
** three rocky islands in the Potomac River in Washington, DC
** three rocky islands in the Potomac River in Washington, DC
* click EXPAND for legends behind the name of the rocks:
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*** three Native American sisters who died crossing the river there while trying to rescue their brothers who had been kidnapped by another tribe
*** three Native American sisters who died crossing the river there while trying to rescue their brothers who had been kidnapped by another tribe
*** three Native American sisters who were banished to the islands after refusing the husbands selected for them by their father; the sisters cursed the spot, which is said to make an eerie sound whenever the River is about to take a life
*** three Native American sisters who were banished to the islands after refusing the husbands selected for them by their father; the sisters cursed the spot, which is said to make an eerie sound whenever the River is about to take a life
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* '''Independence Rock''' (Wyoming)
* '''Independence Rock'''  
* click EXPAND for details on Independence Rock
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[[File:Oregon Trail's Independence Rock 1870.gif|thumb|200px|right|Oregon Trail's Independence Rock 1870 (wiki)]]
[[File:Oregon Trail's Independence Rock 1870.gif|thumb|200px|right|Oregon Trail's Independence Rock 1870 (wiki)]]
[[File:Independence Rock, Wyoming, USA, July 2015.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Independence Rock, Wyoming, USA, July 2015 (wiki)]]
[[File:Independence Rock, Wyoming, USA, July 2015.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Independence Rock, Wyoming, USA, July 2015 (wiki)]]
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** located at the southeast end of the Granite Mountains
** located at the southeast end of the Granite Mountains
** served as a landmark for 19th century western settlers, some of whom carved their names on the rock and some of which are still visible
** served as a landmark for 19th century western settlers, some of whom carved their names on the rock and some of which are still visible
 
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* '''Devil's Tower''' (Wyoming)
* '''Devil's Tower'''
* click EXPAND for details on Devil's Tower
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[[File:Devils Tower Darton 1900.jpg|thumb||200px|Devils Tower, 1900 (wiki)]]
[[File:Devils Tower Darton 1900.jpg|thumb||200px|Devils Tower, 1900 (wiki)]]
** a butte formation in Wyoming that abruptly juts out of the landscape 1,267 ft high
** a butte formation in Wyoming that abruptly juts out of the landscape 1,267 ft high
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*** a Native American legend of its origin is that young girls where chased by bears, and their prayers for salvation were answered by the "Great Spirit" by lifting the rock they sat upon into the air, out of reach from the bears, whose claws scratched marks into the sides of the rock while trying to reach them.  
*** a Native American legend of its origin is that young girls where chased by bears, and their prayers for salvation were answered by the "Great Spirit" by lifting the rock they sat upon into the air, out of reach from the bears, whose claws scratched marks into the sides of the rock while trying to reach them.  
* See [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devils_Tower Devil's Tower (wiki)]]
* See [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Devils_Tower Devil's Tower (wiki)]]
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=== Sinkholes ===
=== Sinkholes ===
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* sinkholes are most common where limestone, sandstone, salt beds, or gypsum are prevalent
* sinkholes are most common where limestone, sandstone, salt beds, or gypsum are prevalent
[[File:Thor's Well (37588682016).jpg|250px|border|right|thumb|Thor's Well: a sinkhole on the coast of Cape Perpetua, Oregon]]
[[File:Thor's Well (37588682016).jpg|250px|border|right|thumb|Thor's Well: a sinkhole on the coast of Cape Perpetua, Oregon]]
* Thor's Well: a sinkhole on the coast of Cape Perpetua, Oregon, that drains at high tides
* Thor's Well
** a sinkhole on the coast of Cape Perpetua, Oregon, that drains at high tides
[[File:December_Giant_sinkhole_collapse_USGS_1972.jpg|200px|border|right|thumb|More than three acres of forest suddenly disappeared into this "December Giant" sinkhole in Montevallo, Alabama, USA.]]
[[File:December_Giant_sinkhole_collapse_USGS_1972.jpg|200px|border|right|thumb|More than three acres of forest suddenly disappeared into this "December Giant" sinkhole in Montevallo, Alabama, USA.]]
* Golly Hole in Shelby County is considered the largest sinkhole in the US.  
* Golly Hole in Shelby County is considered the largest sinkhole in the US.  
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=== Largest & smallest nations, Highest & lowest populations ===
=== Largest & smallest nations, Highest & lowest populations ===
'''Africa'''
'''Africa'''
* '''Algeria''' is the largest country in Africa
* largest country in Africa:
* click EXPAND for the answer
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* '''Algeria'''
* second & third largest countries in Africa are << todo
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* smallest country in mainland Africa:
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* '''The Gambia''' is the smallest country in mainland Africa
* '''The Gambia''' is the smallest country in mainland Africa
** '''The Gambia''' is a semi-enclave surrounded by Senegal and the Atlantic Ocean
** it is also a semi-enclave surrounded by Senegal and the Atlantic Ocean
* '''Seychelles''' is the smallest country in Africa, including islands
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* '''Nigeria''' has the highest population in Africa
* smallest smallest country in Africa, including islands:
** '''Ethiopia''' as the 2nd highest population
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* '''Djibouti''' has the lowest population in mainland Africa
* '''Seychelles'''
* '''Seychelles''' has the lowest population in Africa among independent nations (territories excluded) and including island states
highest population in Africa:
* '''Saint Helena''' the lowest population in Africa, including island states and semi-independent territories
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** '''Seychelles''' has the second lowest population in Africa, including island states and territories
* '''Nigeria'''  
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2nd highest population in Africa:
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** '''Ethiopia'''  
lowest population in mainland Africa:
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* '''Djibouti'''  
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lowest population in Africa among independent nations (territories excluded) and including island states:
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* '''Seychelles'''  
</div>
lowest population in Africa, including island states and semi-independent territories:
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* '''Saint Helena'''
<div>
second lowest population in Africa, including island states and territories:
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** '''Seychelles'''
</div>
 
''' Asia'''
''' Asia'''