Our planet is a constant source of wonder and amazement, no matter if we study it from the ground, sort to speak, or from the outskirts of space. There is no doubt that science helped us not only understand the mysteries surrounding our earthly existence, but to further explore the wonders of our Universe. And while it’s a common saying that Mother Earth was created around 4.5 billion years ago, we still don’t know everything there is to know about our home, nor do we remain neutral when the latest technological advancements help us learn something new every day. So let’s see together ten awesome facts about our planet.
1. The Iceberg
Scientists say that 10% of the entirety of Earth’s melted water comes from the meltdown of one singular iceberg: between 2004 and 2009 the Canadian Arctic lost such a great volume of water it equals 75% of the Erie Lake in the US, and that lake counts for 483 cube kilometers.
2. The Lightning
It is said that a sole lightning can increase the air’s temperature with 30.000 Celsius degrees.
3. Comets
Ever wonder how there’s so much dust in the air? Well, apparently, almost 100 tons of dust fall daily on Earth and this is space dust nonetheless, said to be coming from comets.
4. Earthquakes
To the present day, the biggest earthquake registered on the Richter scale was the one that hit Chile on May, 22nd, 1960. It went up to 9.5 degrees and the damages were immense.
5. Purple rain
No, actually purple Earth. Professor Shil DasSarma, from the University of Maryland believes that once upon a time, Earth was purple, as the microorganisms didn’t have any chlorophyll to feed on. Why purple and not… yellow? Still something to debate on.
6. The Exploding Lakes
Nyos, Monoun and Kivu are three volcanic lakes set in Cameroon on the borders of Rwanda and Congo. The volcanic magma from the volcanoes still releases carbon monoxide into the lakes’ waters, this being released further into the air through explosions.
7. The Day
The real length of a day is 23 hours, 56 minutes and four seconds. This is called the “sidereal”day and measures the rotation of Earth around its axis.
8. Magnetic poles
Once we heard the Apocalypse was coming, we blamed, among others, the magnetic poles switch. However, this is a phenomenon that takes places once 200.00 – 300.000 years and the whole process lasts some few thousand years. So no Apocalypse this time either.
9. The Temperature extremes
Global warming or not, we are witnessing climacteric changes and paradoxes. But historically speaking, some people suffered even more than we did. The warmest day and place on Earth are considered September 13 th, 1922, in El Azizia, Libia, when the thermometers registered57,8 degrees Celsius. The opposite happened in 21st of July 1983 in Vostok, Antarctica, where the records show a temperature of -89 degrees Celsius.
10. The Sea’s Strangest Square Mile
Did you ever hear about it? It’s Lembeh Strait, Indonezia, and it is said to be one of the greatest mysteries for divers and bio-scientists, as it is filled with strange looking animals, fish and worms that don’t look like anything one has seen before.
