The word "ecology" can be translated from ancient Greek as "house" or "property". This translation is entirely consistent with the truth because the Earth is our typical home. We must not only constantly remember this but also do everything possible to keep the planet habitable for as long as possible!
Top facts about ecology
1. Lead poisoning is especially dangerous for the environment because it accumulates in the environment, as well as in living organisms. In the last century, lead was actively used as an additive for gasoline, but then its dangers were discovered, and now its use as such is prohibited.
2. There is a garbage patch in the Pacific Ocean, the area of which reaches 1.5 million km², which is larger than the area of most countries in the world. The currents carry millions of tons of garbage here every year, and it has turned into a kind of garbage continent.
3. Ordinary cats cause decent environmental damage on some islands. Having got there together with seafarers, they partially became wild, bred and occupied their niche in local ecosystems, crowding out or exterminating the local fauna.
4. In Australia, environmental organizations stretch artificial vines over highways so that koalas do not risk dying by crossing these roads.
5. Half of the world's population drinks water that is polluted to one degree or another, and therefore unsafe for health.
6. About 12% of the surface of our planet has a protected status.
7. Only about 10% of trees are planted annually on Earth from the number that is cut down over the same period.
8. The fight for the environment is best in the northern countries of Europe. In Sweden and Norway, for example, up to 95% of waste is recycled and reused, and internal combustion engines will soon be banned there, giving way to more environmentally friendly transport.
9. About 5% of the world's population lives in the USA, but this country produces up to 30% of all the world's waste.
10. Recycling is important not only because it saves resources, but also because ordinary plastic takes more than 500 years to decompose in nature.
11. The state of ecology is also evidenced by the fact that every year about 30 thousand species of living beings die out on our planet. At this rate, by the end of the 21st century, species diversity will be halved.
12. About 15% of all deaths and fatal diseases in the world are caused by high levels of air pollution.
13. An increase in the average global temperature of only 3-4 degrees can lead to ice melting, global flooding and the disappearance of most of the forests on Earth.
14. Modern cars emit an average of 1.5 kg of gaseous waste into the atmosphere per 100 kilometers.
15. Bad ecology really kills. Thus, in 2015 alone, according to statistics, more than 9 million people died due to environmental pollution.
16. Biological dead rivers flow through some large cities like Kabul and Manila, in which, due to the extreme level of pollution, there is no life at all.
17. The dirtiest air in the world can be breathed not even in Beijing or Mumbai.
18. Every person on Earth consumes about 500-600 m³ of fresh water per year, but it is distributed very unevenly.
19. One large city in Africa or Asia like Lagos or Karachi pollutes the environment more than the average European country.
20. In the 20th century, an ecological disaster broke out in Australia due to the fact that wild rabbits brought to this mainland incredibly bred. It was possible to cope with the threat only when a special virus was created and distributed, which reduced the size of the rabbit population.
21. The best ecology in the world is preserved in Tibet. True, in recent decades, this region has been actively developed by China, so that the local ecosystem in the future may be in a vulnerable position.
22. Due to intensive agriculture, soils are depleted and turn into deserts. In China alone, 1000-2000 km² of land is desertified annually.
23. Clean ponds in Moscow in the recent past were so polluted that they were called Pogany.
24. Modern research shows that excessive air pollution leads to a gradual decrease in brain volume in humans.
25. In Sweden, Iceland and some other Nordic countries, waste heat from crematoria is used to heat houses. The practical descendants of the Vikings do not waste anything.
Half of the 50 interesting facts about ecology are over. So much more ahead.
26. Solar energy is the most environmentally friendly, but petroleum products are still used to produce solar panels.
27. More than 50% of the world's grain harvest is used to feed livestock and produce biofuels.
28. In some African countries, ecologists deliberately saw off the tusks of elephants and the horns of rhinos to protect these animals from poachers.
29. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the air is constantly growing, new records are recorded every year.
30. Some farm animals have a negative impact on the environment. Their population is in the tens of millions, and the gases they emit on such a scale really pollute the atmosphere. Now geneticists are trying to figure out how to genetically modify cows to rid them of this feature. Kangaroos, for example, do not know how to emit gases at all.
31. Only 8% of fresh water is used for domestic purposes. Industry takes 22%, and the rest is spent by agriculture.
32. One of the most global and complex problems of modern ecology is the gradual increase in the level of acidity of the waters of the World Ocean. If nothing changes, in the future it may lead to the extinction of entire ecosystems, and, accordingly, to a global environmental catastrophe.
33. Pollution of the seas and oceans also affects people, and in the most direct way. Under the influence of solar ultraviolet radiation, plastic breaks down into tiny particles, which, due to their similarity to plankton, are eaten by crustaceans and fish that eat these crustaceans. Then these animals get on the table to people.
34. For the production of environmentally friendly electric vehicles, a lot of harmful technologies that pollute the environment are used. Mainly for the production of their batteries.
35. The Russian lake Karachay is the most polluted in the world, as it has been used as a radioactive waste disposal site since 1951. Over the entire period of its operation, 150 million curies have accumulated in it, which is equivalent to 6 Chernobyls. Now the lake is completely isolated and, one might say, filled up.
36. Agricultural water consumption could be reduced by a third simply by modernizing irrigation systems, but all countries prefer to save.
37. The greatest harm to the ecology of the Earth is caused by people themselves. At the same time, the population of our planet is increasing by about 10 thousand people every hour.
38. In recent years, the thickness of the Antarctic ice sheet has been decreasing by about 10 cm annually.
39. Even in a large city with dirty air on the street, it is still 20-30 times cleaner than in a poorly ventilated room.
Well, and the last 10 of 50 interesting facts about ecology. Not tired yet?
40. About 35 million Russians live in settlements where the environment is so bad that the degree of air pollution exceeds the established safe standards.
41. To grow 1 kilogram of potatoes, on average, 120 liters of water are spent, and to obtain 1 kilogram of beef - about 13,000 liters, more than a hundred times more.
42. Electricity consumption for the operation of the Internet is increasing by an average of 10% annually.
43. Every year, people around the world throw away about 125 million fully functional smartphones simply because they are tired of their owners, and only a small part of this garbage is sent for recycling.
44. By the middle of the 21st century, more than 50% of the world's population will experience an acute shortage of clean drinking water.
45. Already now, due to environmental problems, every sixth person lives in conditions hazardous to health.
46. About 14 thousand people die every day because of polluted water. Most of all - in Asia and Africa, least of all - in Europe and North America.
47. Over the past half century, the area of glaciers in the Himalayas has decreased by about 15%. It is gradually decreasing almost every year.
48. Noise pollution is also dangerous, as constant noise interferes with the normal life of a person and other living beings.
49. Over the past 15-20 years, cockroaches have begun to disappear en masse from large cities. Many scientists attribute this phenomenon to environmental degradation.
50. Light pollution is harmful in that it greatly changes the natural level of illumination and thus negatively affects the biorhythms of living beings.
Perhaps Earth Day should be celebrated every day because we should always strive to care for our planet. This holiday, which takes place annually on April 22, serves as a reminder to appreciate precisely how we live and how it affects our environment.
Earth Day was originally the brainchild of Senator Gaylord Nelson, a Democratic senator from Wisconsin who wanted to educate the nation about the environment. Since the first celebration in 1970, Nelson has inspired a billion people to take action to protect the future of our planet.
Earth Day - celebrate it every day
There are endless ways to celebrate Earth Day this year: share themed quotes with friends to inform and inspire them to take action to save the planet, engage in fun activities with their kids, or educate yourself and figure out how to stay environmentally conscious during a pandemic.
But first, read the Earth Day Facts to learn more about ways to reduce your carbon footprint and why this holiday is so critical to our future.
The United States almost leads the way in waste production
Compared to other countries, Americans are pretty wasteful: the average US citizen produces about 2 kg of garbage per day, including a significant part of recyclables. On average, the world's daily waste per person is about 700 g, so the amount of waste in America is almost three times the global average.
We have too many bottles
About 1 million water bottles are sold every minute worldwide - that's 1.3 billion bottles a day! About 35 million bottles in the US are sent to landfills each year, where they will take about 1,000 years to decompose.
If you want to stay hydrated on the road, consider purchasing a reusable container. It will keep the water cold but reduce your waste. And you will become an excellent example for others. In general, disposable water bottles are one of the single-use items that you should ditch right now.
Devices need to be turned off
Just because you have turned off the button on the device does not mean that you have turned off the power. Backup power, also known as phantom power, extends to devices such as computers, mobile phones, game systems, cable boxes, etc., as long as they are connected to the mains.
This waste of energy is bad for the environment and your wallet. You will save approximately 10% on your electricity bill! More importantly, reduce your home's carbon footprint by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide released into the air.
Our lifestyle is impossible to maintain
There are currently more than 7.6 billion people globally, and the population continues to grow. According to the United Nations, if the population reaches 9.6 billion by 2050, it would take three of our planets to produce enough natural resources to support our current way of life. This order is unstable and clarifies that we need to make some changes.
Polluted drinking water is a natural killer.
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 2 billion people worldwide are forced to drink water contaminated with feces. And this leads to severe consequences.
About 485,000 people die from diarrhea caused by drinking contaminated drinking water. Even more troubling, the organization estimates that by 2025, nearly half of the world's population will live in water-stressed areas.
Smog is another big problem
Suppose you thought smog was just an unfortunate consequence of manufacturing. In that case, you might be shocked to learn that about 7 million people die each year from air pollution worldwide.
Pollution refers to atmospheric (outdoor) air pollution and indoor (or domestic) pollution. The problem is so widespread that it is estimated that 9 out of 10 people breathe contaminated air.
Take a cue from Greta
Greta Thunberg is an inspirational figure and one of the youngest women to make history. In 2019, she made headlines by ditching air travel and traveling from Europe to the US by boat.
What was the reason? Draw the public's attention to the fact that aviation accounts for 2% of global carbon emissions today and that passenger numbers are predicted to double by 2037. Travel by train or bus to significantly reduce your carbon footprint whenever possible.
Our oceans are choking on plastic
According to the Ocean Conservancy, plastic has been found in 60% of seabirds and 100% sea turtles! Every year, 8 million metric tons of plastic enter our oceans, endangering wildlife and the environment.
There's a good reason for banning plastic straws
It's time to buy reusable straws! If you're wondering why plastic straws are slowly disappearing from restaurants, there's an excellent reason. Somewhere they were banned somewhere; they are issued at customers' request. The National Park Service estimates that 500 million plastic straws are used daily in the US alone. Sadly, they are not recyclable. And that means they end up in the oceans and landfills.
Eating less meat and dairy is a good idea
Eliminating meat and dairy from your diet would be the most effective way to reduce your carbon footprint. Meat and dairy products, including livestock, account for 14.5% of the world's greenhouse gases annually. This is the same amount of emissions as all trucks, cars, planes, and boats combined.
Meat and dairy products require a lot of water resources
The next time you buy a hamburger, remember that it took a lot of one of our most valuable resources, water, to produce it. Yes, it takes 2,500 liters of water to grow enough beef to make a pound of burgers. Meanwhile, it takes only 40 liters to grow enough wheat for a slice of bread.
Buying used clothes saves more than money
If you love scouring secondhand stores for hidden gems, you know that buying used items saves you a lot of money. It also protects the environment.
When you buy used clothes, they don't end up in landfills, use fewer resources, and result in less pollution than making new clothes. This is an important detail, considering that it takes about 6800 liters of water to produce one pair of jeans!
Your pets are another part of the problem
A medium-sized dog has the same carbon footprint as a large SUV. Of course, no one is saying to give up pets; just know that there are workable ways to reduce the carbon footprint of your beloved family member. For example, switching to a diet with less meat is better for the environment. But before changing your pet's diet, you should talk to your veterinarian.
We need to stop wasting food
In the US, the Department of Agriculture estimates that 30 to 40% of the food supply goes to waste. In comparison, more than 12% of Americans struggle with food insecurity.
This is not only a moral issue but also an environmental issue, as the world's precious resources are being used to produce food, which is wasted as a result.
The USDA says the best way to reduce food waste is not to produce so much. Ordinary people can also contribute by shopping more mindfully and preparing and storing food more carefully.
Recycling is the key to success
While many plastics are recyclable, 91% of recyclable plastic products are never recycled. If this continues, by 2050, there will be 12 billion tons of plastic in landfills.
It will take a global effort to solve this problem, from the actions of ordinary people to the policies of large companies that must consciously abandon single-use plastic.
Almond milk is terrible for the environment
If you love adding almond milk to your morning coffee, it might be time to consider looking into an alternative. It takes 6,000 liters of water to produce one liter of almond milk. Almond milk has another disadvantage that no one talks about: bees on almond farms are under stress.
Almonds require more insects to grow than most other crops. Even the growing season of the plant begins earlier, which means that farmers force insects to “go to work,” not at the call of nature.
Sustainability is big business
Sustainability is not only an ethical choice but also a business intent. Small purchases add up not only to a tidy sum but also go into maintaining the only planet we will ever have.
Glass is another environmental problem
If, after all this talk about plastic, you might be surprised to learn that glass creates problems too. According to recycling company Rubicon, glass bottles take 4,000 years to decompose.
But the good news is that glass is one of the most recyclable materials on the planet. It can be recycled over and over without loss of integrity. The trick is in the proper way of disposal: in a special wastebasket and not in a standard bucket.
NASA says humans are responsible for climate change
NASA scientists say there is over a 95% chance that humans are responsible for the current global warming trend. This means that we, too, are responsible for solving this problem to save the planet for future generations. Start small by replacing some frequently used items with organic products.
Ice cover is shrinking
NASA is also collecting data on our planet's shrinking ice sheet, and that's terrible news. Ice masses in Greenland and Antarctica are shrinking at an alarming rate. Between 1993 and 2016
Greenland was losing an estimated 286 billion tons of ice per year, and Antarctica lost 127. If you are wondering what will happen if the glaciers continue to melt, the answer is disappointing: sea levels will rise, the land configuration will change, and people will have to change their place of residence.
We need to start recycling soda cans
US residents use 65 billion aluminum cans a year! Fortunately, aluminum can can be recycled as much as you like. What's more, you can produce 20 recycled cans with the same amount of energy it would take to make one new one.
Turn off incandescent lamps
Turn off these incandescent lamps (wire-filament electric lamps) when not in use. They not only do not need to illuminate a room in which no one is sitting, incandescent lamps, in principle, are not the most efficient use of energy. Only 10% of their energy produces light, the rest giving off heat, an unnecessary and often unpleasant by-product.
Consider buying an electric car
Americans use about 9 million barrels of oil a year, about 2/3 of which is used for transportation. Switching to an electric or hybrid car will not only reduce fuel emissions but will also save you money in the long run as gas prices are volatile and tend to be very high.
Global warming causes dangerous hurricanes
Rising sea levels caused by melting polar ice make hurricanes even more dangerous. They increase storm surge levels, endangering people living near the ocean. Unfortunately, by 2100 the water level will rise by another 30-60 cm!
Sustainability brings health benefits
Cycling to work instead of driving is a great way to reduce your negative impact on the planet. But the benefits don't end there. A Canadian study found that workers who cycled to work were less stressed 45 minutes into the day than their counterparts.
Energy consumption is only increasing
Despite all the information available, the world's energy consumption continues to increase. The US Energy Information Administration predicts that energy consumption will grow by 50% by 2050, with the most significant consumption coming from Asia.
Global warming leads to drought
Due to climate change, droughts are becoming more and more frequent. In the United States, California was particularly hard hit, with a drought that lasted from 2011 to 2019 and was interrupted by particularly wet winters. This had an economic impact on farmers and also provoked the worst forest fires.
Time matters too
According to the UN, we need to reduce global emissions by 7.6% per year to combat climate change. And so on until 2030. If we had started ten years earlier, we would have only had to cut global emissions by 3.3% by 2030.
Scientists say the current situation is an emergency
At the end of 2019, 11,000 scientists worldwide declared that climate change is not just a cause for concern but a real emergency. They issued a document warning that if the situation is not changed quickly, "untold human suffering" awaits us.
Industrial activity causes significant damage to the environment
Over the past 15 decades, industrial activity has raised carbon dioxide levels from 280 ppm to 412.
Carbon dioxide leads to the appearance of the greenhouse effect when gases enter the earth's environment, affect the heat exchange of the planet and cause global warming. One way to solve this problem is to buy recycled items whenever possible and not contribute to producing a large number of new products.
Washing clothes in cold water is much more environmentally friendly
The easiest way to reduce energy consumption in your home is to wash your clothes in cold water. Most of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with laundry come from heating the water in the washing machine. By flying in cold water, you will not only do your part to protect the environment but also save on your energy bill by reducing your energy consumption.
We need to build intelligent buildings
Buildings account for nearly 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Building more energy-efficient buildings and switching to alternative energy sources such as solar energy will be a big step toward reducing the negative human impact on nature.
Greening isn't always about lawns
If you are interested in a green policy, you should consider reducing the size of your front lawn. In the US, grounds use nearly 13 trillion liters of water a year, and lawnmowers require 200 million gallons of gas. If these facts are not enough, we have another one: lawns contain 30 million kg of pesticides.
Bees are also in danger
If you have ever wondered why the world needs bees, the answer will surprise you. They produce honey, but they also pollinate every third piece of food we put in our mouths. These insects are also under threat: US beekeepers lost 22.2% of their colonies last year to pesticides, mites, habitat loss, and climate change.
Use clotheslines
There are about 90 million clothes dryers in the US. The next time you wash your laundry, dry it naturally - don't turn on the dryer. This step will reduce your family's carbon footprint by 1 kg per year and save you money. In addition, air drying is one of the many ways to extend the life of your favorite clothes.
Composting can make a difference
The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that food and yard waste makes up more than 28% of household waste in the US, and most of it can be composted. Composting will help enrich the soil and produce the perfect crop. Still, it will also reduce the need for chemical fertilizers.
Pump your tires all the way
Believe it or not, the US Department of Energy says under-inflated tires are bad for the environment. You can save up to 3% on fuel consumption if you inflate your tires to the recommended pressure. Using less of it will save you money. Still, it will also ensure that your car emits less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Turn down the heat at night
Turning the thermostat a few degrees lower before bed will save a few percent of energy in 8 hours. This is another easy way to save money and reduce your carbon footprint.
Bring back the stars!
80% of the world's population lives under light-polluted skies, while in Europe, this number rises to 99%. This means that the stars do not shine very brightly. And also - that we spend too much unnecessary energy. To reduce light pollution, it is necessary to turn off unused lights and not waste energy lighting unnecessary spaces.
Take care of wild animals
The World Wildlife Federation estimates that global warming puts 20 to 30% of wildlife species at risk of extinction. For example, the tiger population has already dwindled to 3,200. Global warming will only increase that number as sea levels rise and their habitats are threatened by droughts and wildfires.
Climate change makes it harder to grow food
A 2018 study concluded that by 2100 the growth of vegetables and legumes could be reduced by as much as 35% due to water shortages and ozone problems if we do not stop the current course of climate change.
Preventing a global food crisis is in our hands
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report showed that the likelihood that climate change will affect food production is very high. This is mainly due to the threat of an increase in extreme weather conditions - severe storms and droughts - which will affect both agriculture and livestock.
Our food is becoming less nutritious
The same study by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change revealed another major problem with our food: All the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reduces our crops' nutritional value. For example, grain has grown in areas with high carbon dioxide levels containing up to 8% less iron and up to 13% less protein.
Climate change affects life expectancy
A recent study of 4,100 different species of terrestrial vertebrates from around the world concluded that warmer temperatures associated with climate change affect the way cold-blooded organisms such as amphibians and reptiles age. In short, higher temperatures lead to faster aging and a shorter lifespan.
Not only cold-blooded creatures suffer
According to researchers, global warming is affecting human health more than ever. It is expected that between 2030 and 2050, climate change will cause an additional 250,000 deaths per year. It becomes clear that we need to change something.
Wealthy people contribute more to the environmental problem
Living a luxurious lifestyle and accumulating wealth means that, in general, the rich are more of a contributor to climate change than the poor. Oxfam estimates that the carbon footprint of the rich could be 175 times that of the less wealthy. Buying used goods, ditching private jets, and making smart investment choices will have a significant impact on reducing their negative environmental impact.
Rainforests are one of our best climate change mitigators
When rainforests thrive, they absorb billions of tons of harmful carbon dioxide from the air. In other words, rainforests are at the forefront of the fight against climate change. This is one of the many reasons it is essential to protect them.
In the US, they don't recycle everything they can
If you believe that the US is leading the way in saving the planet, you should think twice. There are many things that other countries recycle that the United States does not. In the United States, only 35% of waste is recycled or composted.
Surely each of us at least once in his life wondered, looking into the starry sky - what is there, beyond our Earth? Are there brothers in mind in these endless expanses? We are not talking about the sacramental question "Is there life on Mars?".
About black holes, wandering planets and other space facts - in short and accessible language
Of course, from school textbooks on astronomy, we remember something about our Universe, but over time, if you do not get carried away with this subject, knowledge is forgotten. But that's not the point. It's just that new facts about space are constantly being discovered - from a mega-huge void to "Planet Nine". Or, for example, have you heard about white holes? We were not mistaken, it was about whites (you probably already know about blacks anyway). And how long do you think a person can stay in outer space without a spacesuit?
Do you want to know? Then read our selection. We promise: you will learn a lot for yourself.
1. Any freely moving fluid in outer space will turn into a sphere.
2. The mass of the Sun occupies 99.86% of our solar system.
3. The biggest black hole - Monster Black Hole.
4. If a star passes too close to a black hole, it can be torn apart.
5. The gravity of Jupiter attracts a large percentage of asteroids, and this protects us from cosmic collisions.
6. Saturn would float in water if there was a suitable container.
7. We know more about Mars and our Moon than we do about our oceans.
8. There are more stars in the Universe than there are grains of sand on all the beaches of the Earth. That's at least a billion trillion!
9. Earth's Moon is the fifth largest moon in the solar system.
10. Metallic snow and sulfuric acid rain on Venus.
11. Scientists have discovered a 1 billion light-year-wide void in space that could be a parallel universe.
12. Saturn has a huge extra ring that was only discovered in 2009.
13. About once a year, an asteroid the size of a car enters the Earth's atmosphere, but it burns up before it reaches us.
14. Neutron stars can rotate 600 times per second.
15. More than a million Earths can fit inside the Sun, and the Sun is considered a medium-sized star.
16. Comets are the remnants of the creation of our solar system about 4.5 billion years ago, they are composed of sand, ice and carbon dioxide.
17. There is a planet made of diamonds.
18. About 1.4 billion years ago, a day on Earth lasted only 18 hours and 41 minutes.
19. The International Space Station orbits the Earth every 90 minutes.
20. For many years, it was believed that the Earth was the only planet in our solar system with liquid water. Most recently, NASA presented the most compelling evidence that Mars also periodically flows water!
21. The International Space Station (ISS) is the size of a football field.
22. More than 4,000 exoplanets are known, and their number continues to grow.
23. Mercury is still contracting.
24. At the edge of the solar system there may be a huge planet, nicknamed "Planet Nine".
25. Stars twinkle because light is distorted as it passes through the Earth's atmosphere.
26. Pluto is smaller than the United States.
27. The first living mammal to go into space was a dog named Laika from Russia.
28. There is complete silence in space, because there is no air in space - this is a vacuum.
29. At the center of the Milky Way galaxy are tens of thousands of black holes.
30. The largest known asteroid is 940 km wide.
31. Saturn has 83 known moons and the number continues to grow.
32. There are 2,000,000,000,000 galaxies in the observable universe.
33. Gamma-ray bursts can release more energy in 10 seconds than our Sun in its entire 10 billion years of its life.
34. Shooting stars are space junk that burns up as they enter the Earth's atmosphere.
35. If you drill a tunnel through the Earth and jump into it, you will reach the other side in 42 minutes and 12 seconds.
36. The estimated cost of a NASA spacesuit made in 1974 is between $15 million and $22 million per unit.
37. If two pieces of the same type of metal come into contact in space, they will forever unite.
38. On Titan, the satellite of Saturn, there are also lakes. The liquid in Titan's lakes is not water, but a substance called methane.
39. The moon has the shape of a lemon.
40. To date, more than 600 people have been in space.
41. The sun makes a complete revolution once every 25-35 days.
42. We always see the same side of the Moon, no matter where we are on Earth.
43. There is a planet in our galaxy where the daytime temperature is almost 1093.333 degrees Celsius, and it may be raining glass horizontally.
44. Halley's Comet won't orbit Earth again until 2061.
45. Planets can wander in space without a parent star.
46. Only 5% of the Universe is visible from Earth.
47. You can't walk on Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus or Neptune because they don't have a solid surface!
48. If you could fly a plane to Pluto, the journey would take over 800 years.
49. Black holes have theoretical opposites known as white holes.
50. Powerful volcanic eruptions occur on Jupiter's moon Io.
51. There are mountains on Pluto.
52. One teaspoon of a neutron star would weigh as much as Mount Everest.
53. The moon is moving further away from the Earth every year.
54. You would last in space for about 15 seconds without a space suit.
55. Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka spent the most in space - 879 days.
56. The rings of Saturn seem to disappear from time to time.
57. If you fell into a black hole, you would stretch out like spaghetti.
58. The dead skin of your feet flakes off in space.
59. The star VY Canis Majoris is the largest star in the universe, its diameter is about 2000 times the diameter of our Sun.
60. The hottest planet in our solar system is Venus, whose temperature reaches 464°C.
From the world of statistics: 30 facts that briefly explain what is happening to our world
Statistics seem to most people to be a boring science that is of interest only to specialists. But it is precisely thanks to statistics enclosed in numbers that we can learn amuchabout the world around us, from the state of nature to social problems.
Facts about the world for those who love numbers
They serve as a measure of progress while at the same time providing an understanding and patterns of many processes and allowing you to make decisions that contribute to the correct development of many areas of life and eliminate the causes that cause negative consequences.
If you are one of those who are passionate about numbers and facts, then you can dive into them right now. Bemorepanda is going to bring you more than three dozen data about the world collected on a Reddit thread where people from all walks of life shared interesting statistics. Animals, people, society, sports - we have found enough of everything to make you feel like a know-it-all in the end!
1. "There are more privately owned guns in the US than people." — Cantbetoobad1953 / Reddit
2. “Of the 30 fastest 100m runners, 21 were athletes who tested positive for doping. The other 9 running records were set by Usain Bolt.” — Davecasa / Reddit
3. "34 percent of adults and 75 percent of children sleep with a soft toy or blanket or other sentimental item as an object of comfort." — SuvenPan / Reddit
4. "3 people are killed by sharks a year, 3 million sharks are killed by people a year." Loopywolf / Reddit
“I thought to myself, '3 million sharks a year? It seems too big to be true." So I googled the number of sharks killed by humans per year and the answer was 100 million.” — SeaWaveGreg / Reddit
5. “The probability of successful hunting in dragonflies is 95%. This makes them the most efficient hunters in the world." JESquirrel / Reddit
"This is because the dragonfly's optic nerve connects directly to its wings, which allows for incredibly fast reaction times because target detection is not mediated by the nervous system." — supbros302 / Reddit
6. “49.6% of Pakistanis marry first cousins and 8.3% marry second cousins. In rural areas of Pakistan, up to 80% of people marry first cousins.” — Pleasant_Moose_5417
“In the UK, Pakistanis make up 2% of the population, but they account for 30% of children with genetic diseases. This is because, on average, 55% of them (but in some areas up to 70%) practice cousin marriage.” — ViolettaNoRegard / Reddit
“This is a consequence of arranged marriages and families not wanting ‘outsiders’ to join their families. They want a bride for their son that they can control, so a niece is preferable. One generation of cousin marriages won't cause these problems, but if cousins marry generation after generation, the result is a very small gene pool with bad recessive genes." — Transemacabre / Reddit
7. “I used to work as a meteorologist. More people die each year from floods than from all other natural disasters combined. At least a significant portion are people who think their cars can move on water when they obviously can't." — Cbandy / Reddit
"If there's one thing I've learned from survival shows and documentaries, it's that you should never underestimate the power of moving water." — BearsChief / Reddit
8. "Genghis Khan killed so many people that he cooled the Earth a little." — the_universe_is_ded / Reddit
9. “Only about 2% of the world's population has naturally blonde hair. It's crazy, if you think about it." — Vaspion66 / Reddit
“Light colors are rare in humans. 1% red-haired, 2% blonde, 20% brown-haired, black-haired majority in the world. The eyes are actually the same: green eyes 2%, blue eyes 8%, brown eyes (dark again in the majority) from 55% to 79%. — nba123490 / Reddit
10. “Miscarriages are increasing by 1% every year, and sperm count in men has decreased by 50% since 1970 (USA).” — uncleleo_ / Reddit
11. “While the numbers have risen slightly due to the pandemic, only about 4 out of every 10 Americans still wash their hands after going to the toilet, about 60% of women and only 35% of men.” — galaxy / Reddit
12. “20% of the mammal species on our planet are different types of bats. There are about 5,000 species of mammals, and about 1,000 of them are varieties of our little winged pals.” peon2/reddit
13. “Wayne Gretzky and his brother hold the record for most points by a brother in NHL history. His brother has four points." —Godofhorizons/Reddit
14. “Chronologically we are closer in time to Tyrannosaurus than Tyrannosaurus is to Stegosaurus. We are about 66 million years older than T-Rex, but Stegosaurus was about 85 million years earlier than T-Rex, which is 20 million years longer. Dinosaurs have been around for a VERY long time. Humans are just a drop in the ocean, evolved in just a few hundred thousand years for Homo sapiens.” — ConstantlySlippery / Reddit
15. “90% of the people on our planet live in the northern hemisphere.” – Salohacin / Reddit
16. “If you were making $295,000 every single day since the birth of Christ, you still wouldn’t be worth as much as Elon Musk.” — medicated_in_PHL / Reddit
17. "Despite the fact that Americans make up less than 4% of the population, Americans produce more than 20% of the world's garbage." — The Dankest Passions / Reddit
18. "6 percent of Americans believe they can beat a grizzly bear in hand-to-hand combat." — hellothere42069 / Reddit
19. “The birthday paradox is that if you have 23 random people, there is a 50% chance that two people have the same birthday.” – SebaZDK / Reddit
20. “With rabies, the mortality rate is 99%. You can live with it for a year without any signs or anything, but when you start showing symptoms, you die in a few hours.” — IDontKnoWhoBobRossIs / Reddit
21. “48% of Britons would not go into space even if their safety was guaranteed, and the most popular reason is that they were simply not interested in flying.” — Molesandmangoes/Reddit
22. “Butts make up about 38% of all garbage collected and can take up to 10 years to decompose. If you smoke, just throw them in the ashtray. Or better yet, stop smoking.” — hobochomsky / Reddit
23. "The risk of a heart attack is about 20% higher on Mondays for adult men and 15% higher for adult women." — ETphonehoooome / Reddit
24. “In 2018, National Geographic found that only 9% of all plastic in the world is recycled.” — Dynasty2201 / Reddit
25. “18% of all accidents on boats are due to people trying to urinate overboard.
The Canadian Red Cross conducted a survey of all water-related deaths between 1991 and 2008. It showed that 62 people died from urinating from their watercraft. This represents only 3% of the total number of deaths due to urination.
I couldn't find online information on how many accidents (non-fatal) involved urinating overboard, but my rowing instructor gave me a figure of 18%, and I've always trusted that figure.
The fact that they keep records of deaths due to urination and that insurance companies warn about the dangers of urinating overboard the boat makes me think that non-fatal accidents are much higher than 3%.” — Oscars_Grouch / Reddit
26. "Sharks have been around longer than Saturn's rings (450 million years versus about 100 million)." — Kriss0612 / Reddit
27. “Chopping wood for an hour leads to a 48% increase in testosterone levels in men.” — Bayou-Magic / Reddit
28. “I read somewhere that about 80% of Indians believe that if they are too happy, then something bad is just around the corner.” — Maxpro2001 / Reddit
29. “You are far more likely to die from a falling coconut than from a shark attack.” — reddit.com
30. "All the planets (including Pluto) can fit side by side between the Earth and the Moon (at its average distance)." — DoctorWho_isonfirst / Reddit
31. “In 2020, synthetic opioid overdose (most notably fentanyl) was the TOP cause of death for all Americans aged 18 to 45. Previously, car accidents were the leading cause of death in this age group.” — Nervemiester / Reddit
32. “The human eye blinks an average of 4.2 million times a year.” — reddit.com
33. “In over a quarter of teen pregnancies, the father is older than 20.” — Scythianlibrarian/Reddit
100 interesting geographical facts told through explicit and informative maps - Earth Day 2022
Geographers are looking up and down for interesting information about our world. They want to know “why”, but they also like to know what is the biggest / smallest, the farthest / closest and the longest / shortest. Geographers also want to answer confusing questions, such as "What time is it at the South Pole?" And other interesting things.
Earth or the Blue Planet, is the third planet from the Sun and the largest of the terrestrial planets in the Solar System. It is the only planet in the universe known to have life and hides a lot of amazing details.
Today through the prism of 100 folders you will discover new things from all over the world. In the meantime, you will be able to read curiosities about our planet. It's time for new acquaintances with Bemorepanda!
1.The New Longest Possible Train Journey In The World
2.Atheists Are Prohibited From Holding Public Office In 8 Us States
3.Is Escape A Crime?
4.This Map Of All Of The Sunken Japanese Ships Of Wwii Is Mind Blowing!
Planet Earth is part of the solar system, is the largest terrestrial planet, formed about 4.57 billion years ago and is the densest planet in the entire solar system. Read general information about planet Earth.
Planet Earth revolves around the sun in 365.26 days, and this period is known as one year. During all this time, the Earth rotates about its axis about 366.26 times. During gravity, the Earth interacts with other objects in space, especially the Sun and Moon, the Earth's only natural satellite.
Seasons appear on Earth because its axis of rotation is inclined relative to its orbital plane. The gravitational interaction between the Earth and the Moon stabilizes the Earth's orientation on its axis and gradually slows down its rotation.
The Earth's surface is 71% covered with water, mainly by the oceans, and the remaining 29% is made up of continents and islands that, along with other rivers and water sources, contribute to the hydrosphere.
5.Most Common Means Of Transportation To Work By County. [usa] Acs Survey
![Most Common Means Of Transportation To Work By County. [usa] Acs Survey](https://bemorepanda.com/files/2021-12-20/images/741507.jpeg)
6.Countries That Have Had Female Heads Of State Or Government In The Last Century
7.Innocent Opinions That Divide Nations
8.European Cultural Superiority
The name of the planet Earth does not derive from Greek or Roman mythology, as is the case with the other planets that were named after gods and goddesses from Greco-Roman mythology. The word "earth" comes from the Latin word "pavimentum", which means "paved earth" or "level", "floor", "paved road", "smooth place", "pavement", "mosaic" or "weft".
Since its formation, the Earth has undergone many geological and biological processes. The Earth's atmosphere and oceans were formed by volcanic activity and expulsion. From here, water vapor condensed into oceans amplified with water and ice from asteroids, comets and protoplants.
More than 3.5 billion years ago, the Earth's magnetic field stabilized, and this prevented the solar wind from scattering the atmosphere.
Approximately 4.5 billion years old, the Earth was formed when a cloud of dust collapsed due to gravity, and like planets such as Mercury, Venus, and Mars, the planet Earth is a rocky, central core. which is surrounded by a mantle and a solid crust.
9.The World If The Sea Level Decreased By 1000 Meters
10.“Lgbtq+ Free” Zones In Poland
11.The World's Longest Non-Stop Flights
12.Each Star Represents A Capital City Of A Country
The shape is approximately oblique spheroidal and, due to the rotation, the Earth is flattened at the poles and bulging around the equator. Its diameter at the equator is 43 kilometers, larger than the pole-pole diameter.
The main deviations from the Earth's surface are: Mount Everest, 8,850 meters above sea level and the Marianas Pit, 10,924 meters below sea level.
The Earth's mass consists mainly of iron (32.1%), oxygen (30.1%), silicon (15.1%), magnesium (13.9%), sulfur (2.9%), nickel (1 , 8%), calcium 1.5%), aluminum (1.4%), the remaining 1.2% consisting of small amounts of other elements. Due to mass segregation, it is estimated that the core consists mainly of iron (88.8%), with smaller amounts of nickel (5.8%), sulfur (4.5%) and less than 1% trace elements.
The total area of the Earth is about 510 million square kilometers, of which 70.8% and 361.13 square kilometers are below sea level and covered with ocean, the remaining 29.2% and 148.94 million square kilometers, respectively it is not covered by water and consists of mountains, plains, deserts, plateaus and other landforms.
13. A Map Centered On Antarctica
14.The Topography Of Russia
15.A Map Visualizing The Armenian Genocide - Started 106 Years Ago
Due to the swelling of the earth at the equator, the summit of Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador (20,700 feet or 6,310 meters) is the farthest point from the center of the Earth. Thus, the mountain claims the title of being "the highest point on Earth" (although Mount Everest is still the highest point above sea level). Mt. Chimorazo is an extinct volcano and is located about a degree south of the equator.
While at sea level, the boiling point of water is 212 F, it changes if you are higher than that. How much does it change? For every 500 feet of elevation increase, the boiling point decreases by one degree. Thus, in a city 5,000 meters above sea level, the water boils at 202 F.
The fourth most populous country in the world has the largest Muslim population. About 87% of Indonesia's population is Muslim; Thus, with a population of 216 million, Indonesia is home to about 188 million Muslims. The religion of Islam spread to Indonesia in the Middle Ages.
16.This Road Trip Will Be The Same Temperature Year-Round
17.Countries Where More Than 50% Of The Population Is Vaccinated With Two Doses Of Covid-19 Vaccine
18.Europe: Protests: 2020-2021
19.15th October 2019 - 1st November 2021: Indian Households With A Tap Water Connection (Data: Jal Jeevan Mission)
The largest lake in Africa is Lake Victoria, located in East Africa, on the border of Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. It is the second largest freshwater lake in the world, after Lake Superior in North America.
Lake Victoria was named by John Hanning Speke, a British explorer and first European to see the lake (1858), in honor of Queen Victoria.
The country with the lowest population density in the world is Mongolia, with a population density of about four people per square mile. Mongolia's 2.5 million people occupy more than 600,000 square miles of land.
20.Government Request To Remove Content (Google) Since 2011
21.Date Formats Worldwide
22.Made An Ink Map Of The Grand Canyon!
The total density of Mongolia is limited, as only a small part of the land can be used for agriculture, the vast majority of the land can only be used for nomadic grazing.
Hadrian's Wall is located in the north of Great Britain (the main island of Great Britain) and stretches for almost 120 kilometers from Solwat Firth in the west to the River Tyne near Newcastle in the east.
The wall was built under the rule of the Roman emperor Hadrian in the 2nd century to keep the Caledonians of Scotland out of England. Portions of the wall still exist today.
23. Olympus Mons Compared To France
24.Interesting Map Made In 1996; One Square Equals 1% Of The World’s Population
25.Eu Countries Pushing To Label Nuclear Power As Green Energy
The deepest lake in the United States is Crater Lake in Oregon. Crater Lake is located in the collapsed crater of an ancient volcano called Mount Mazama and is 1,932 feet (589 meters) deep.
The clear water of Crater Lake has no streams to feed it and no streams as springs - it has been filled and sustained by rainfall and melting snow. Located in southern Oregon, Crater Lake is the seventh deepest lake in the world and contains 4.6 trillion gallons of water.
In 1947, the British left South Asia and divided their territory into independent countries in India and Pakistan. The Muslim regions on the east and west sides of Hindu India have become part of Pakistan.
The two separate territories were part of a single country, but were known as East and West Pakistan and were separated by more than 1,609 km. After 24 years of turmoil, East Pakistan declared independence and became Bangladesh in 1971.
26.Beavers In Europe, 1900 And 2021
27.Comparative Size Of Australia And The Mediterranean
28.Biden's Approval In Each State On Inauguration Day vs. Today
29.This Was Up In The Bathroom Of A Canadian Company I Was Doing Some Work At
30.Europe And North America At The Same Latitude
Because the longitude lines converge at the North and South Poles, it is almost impossible (and very impractical) to determine which time zone you are in based on longitude.
Therefore, researchers in the Arctic and Antarctic regions of the Earth typically use the time zone associated with their research stations. For example, because almost all flights to Antarctica and the South Pole come from New Zealand, New Zealand time is the most common time zone in Antarctica.
The longest river in Russia and Europe is the Volga River, which flows entirely in Russia for 3,685 km (2,290 miles). Its source is in the Valdai Hills, near the town of Rzhev, and flows into the Caspian Sea in southern Russia.
The Volga River is navigable for much of its length and, with the addition of dams, has become important for energy and irrigation. The canals connect it to the Don River, as well as the Baltic Sea and the White Sea.
31.A Phone-Map Of Ireland
32.The 38 States Of America, Proposed By George Etzel Pearcy In 1973 Based On Cultural And Economic Relation Of Existing Regions
33.Some Really Strange Political Parties
At one point, in recent decades, someone started an idea to alert people that population growth was out of control, saying that most people who have ever lived were alive today. Well, that's a gross overestimation.
Most studies place the total number of human beings who have ever lived between 60 and 120 billion. Since the world's population is currently only 7 billion, the percentage of people who have lived and are alive today is only 5% to 10%.
34.1987 The World According To Ronald Reagan (Version #2)
35.20 Years Of Deforestation In The Amazon
36.America’s Beautiful Weather Zones By Mattie Lubchansky
37.Paper Sizes Around The World
38.The Topography Of Ukraine
39.Countries That Have, Or Have Had, Openly Gay Heads Of Government
40.Canada, But It's Just Roads
41.How People Call Their Homeland
42.Safety Walking Alone At Night Europe
43.Countries That Drive On The Left Side Of The Road (Orange) vs. Countries That Drive On The Right Side Of The Road (Blue). (Map From Statista)
44.My Grandpa Was A Radar Operator During World War Two, Here's One Of His Maps
45.The U.S.' Google Searches Of European Countries
46.Homicide Rate By Country
47.Flights Within One Country
48.Canada, But It's Just Trees
49.Average Color Of Each Country
50.Map Of The World From Its Flight Routes
51.I Found A 1958 World Map While Tearing Out A Basement Interior Wall In My House
52.Newest Republic In The World
53.Cousin Marriage Rates In Nations With Significant Muslim Populations
54.At This Time Of Day, In This Part Of The Country, Localized Entirely Within The Area In Green On This Map. Whether You Can See It Depends On How Far North You Are As Well As Cloudiness
55.Cat Map
56.Odd Places In The UK
57.Most Common European Ancestry In The Americas. Now With Subdivisions!
58.The Search Queries For "How Do I..." In Europe
59.How Many Billionaires Live In Each Country?
60.An Small Reminder That This Country Exist
61.Amazon Basin
62.This Is The Farthest Place On Earth From Any Ocean
63.Which States In The US Are Actually City States?
64.If The US Was Split Into Two Halves With Equal Population
65.Countries Where Covid-19 Vaccinations Are Mandatory For Everyone
66.Map For Halloween - Every Castle In Europe
67.Where People Still Practice Open Defecation
68.Manhattan Is Less Dense Today Then It Was In 1910
69.The Scariest Thing In Every European Country
70.Piracy In The 21st Century
71.The World According To Bhutan
72.Uncontacted Tribes In The Deep Amazon
73.Countries With The Most Islands
74.The Minimum Ages In Which Children In Each Country Can Be Sent To Prison
75.Us 1956 Nuclear War Plan Targets
76.Percentage Of Population Increase From 1960 To 2020 By Country In Europe (Source: World Bank)
77.Origin Of Immigrants In Europe
78.A Map Of Italy Made Out Of Pizza. By Modernist Cuisine (2018)
79.Share Of Europeans Who Have Travelled At Least Once Outside The Eu (2014)
80.The Pakistan-India Border Can Be Seen From Space
81.Us States To Entire Countries Gdp
82.Average Fixed Internet Speed In European Subcontinent As It Was In September 2021
83.Topography Of Africa
84.A Map Relating To When Counties Will Achieve Net Zero Emissions
85.The Probability Of A White Christmas In The United States
86.A Peculiar World Map From 1581
87.How Much Longer Women Live Compared To Men
88.South Asia Is More Populated Than North America, South America, Europe And Oceania Combined (South Asia Is Roughly Half The Size Of USA)
89.The Soviet Union For 4 Days
90.Map Of India According To (Un, Pakistan, China And India Itself)
91.''snow'' In European Languages
92.A Globe Without The British Isles In Sarawak State Library (Former British Colony Until 1963)
93.Every Country Invaded By France
94.Political Positions 2021
95.Civilian Gun Ownership Per Capita In 2017. Data From Small Arms Survey
96.Paid Leave For New Mothers (Nyt)
97.On Blacks, Asians, Muslims And Jews Across Europe, 2017
98.Europe In China View
99.The World At War In 2021
100.New York State Stereotype Maps
Among the animals, both small creatures are invisible to the eye and real giants. The dinosaurs died out a long time ago, so we can no longer see the brachiosaurs with our eyes, which could weigh up to 50 tons. There are some animals whose sizes are unique. Below is a selection of the ten largest animals.
Which one is the biggest animal?
Hundreds of thousands of animals of various sizes live on earth. There are real giants, the dimensions of which, although inferior to prehistoric monsters, far exceed the sizes of those animals that we can usually see around.
10. Giant Squid
Giant squids are clear evidence of deep-sea gigantism. Today, it is reliably known about individuals whose length from the ends of the tentacles to the fins reaches eight m. When, after death, the squid muscles are relaxed, length measurements can show the figure 16 m. The mass of these inhabitants of the ocean reaches 275 kg.
Giant squids live at depths of 300-1000 m, and they can be found in any ocean on Earth. They feed on fish and smaller species of squid.
9. Polar bear
Bears are the largest land mammal, predators. Among them, polar bears are the largest. Their length can reach 3 m, and their weight can reach 500 kg. The giant polar bears live on the coast of the White Sea.
The polar bear hunts seals and sea hares but, if possible, attacks seals and walruses. His favorite technique is to overturn the ice floe on which the seals are located. Today, there are approximately 25,000 polar bears in the world. It is worth noting that they live in the Northern Hemisphere, in the Arctic. They are not found in Antarctica.
8. Giraffe
The tallest animal on the planet, whose height can reach 6 m. The mass of adults is 900-1200 kg. The high neck allows giraffes, exclusively herbivores, to feed on the leaves of tall trees. At the same time, other herbivores cannot reach these leaves because of their high location, and therefore giraffes do not experience competition from them.
However, it is difficult for the animal's heart to pump blood because of the high neck. It is forced to create a blood pressure three times higher than a human. The nature of the giraffe weighs over 12 kg.
7. Saltwater Crocodile
The largest among crocodiles are combed crocodiles that live in Australia, India, Indonesia, Indochina. The length of their bodies can reach up to 6.2 m, and the mass of such crocodiles can exceed a ton. Due to their size, combed crocodiles are considered the planet's giant reptiles and terrestrial predators.
Salted crocodiles are extremely dangerous and can attack even some types of sharks in the water. In nature, they have no natural enemies. Even a man with a firearm is hard to resist. The incident that occurred in February 1945 on Ramri Island is indicative. During the Second World War, an armed detachment of more than a thousand armed Japanese tried to get out of the encirclement, making their route through one swamp. As a result, almost all the soldiers were eaten by combed crocodiles, only 20 Japanese survived.
6. Hippo
The average mass of these giants living in Africa reaches 3 tons. However, record-holders weigh more than 4500 kg. The length of hippos can be 5.4 m.
They spend most of the day in the water but come out to feed at night. Although hippos are herbivores, they often attack other animals, including rhinos and elephants, when disturbed. There are frequent cases of fights between two hippos, while the weaker male usually dies in such disputes. Although hippopotamuses seem, clumsy creatures, if necessary, they can reach speeds of up to 30 km/h.
5. Elephant seal
Among all pinnipeds and seals, the largest species is the southern elephant seal. The mass of one such animal sometimes exceeds 3.5 tons, and its body length is 6.5 m. The name of the species suggests that it has a trunk. However, its length is usually only 10 cm.
Southern elephant seals live mainly off the coast of the subantarctic islands - the Kerguelen archipelago, the islands of South Georgia, Crozet, etc. Approximately 5% of individuals live directly in Antarctica. Also, animal colonies are present in the southernmost regions of Argentina. If necessary, elephant seals can hold their breath for 2 hours and dive to 2000 m.
4. Rhino
Among these animals, distinguished by the presence of one giant horn, the largest are white rhinos, which are gray. Their mass can reach up to 5 tons, although usually, it is in the range of 2-2.5 tons. The length of the rhinos is 4.2 m, and the height is 1.6-2 meters.
There are white rhinos in southern Africa. They create groups that can reach up to 18 individuals. There are two subspecies of white rhinos - northern and southern. The subspecies of the north are almost exterminated - there are two females left, which are kept in the zoo. There are approximately 20,000 southern white rhinos.
3. Elephant
Among all land animals, elephants are the largest, and among them, the savannah elephants that live in Africa are the largest. The average weight is estimated at 7 tons, and females weigh about 5 tons. However, in 1974, a specimen was shot in Angola while hunting, whose weight was 12.2 tons. The length of the savannah elephants reaches 7 m, and the height reaches 3.8 m.
Elephants lead a peaceful lifestyle and feed on vegetation. Nevertheless, only in Zimbabwe from 1982-to 1989, did 500 people become their victims, because elephants can still show aggression, protecting themselves and the herd. The number of savannah elephants back in 1930 was 5 million individuals, but today there are no more than 700 thousand.
2. Whale Shark
The largest of the sharks is also the largest fish on Earth. Usually, the length of the whale shark does not exceed 12 m, but there were individuals with a height of 20 m. The mass of such giants can reach 34 tons.
The speed of these species of sharks does not exceed 5 km/h. They feed on plankton and therefore are safe for humans. Sometimes people can even ride on their backs.
The lifespan of whale sharks is remarkable. Individuals reach sexual maturity only by 30, and they live up to 100 or even 150 years.
1. Blue whale
In general, all whales are enormous animals, and if desired, the entire TOP 10 could be filled with different types of whales. But the largest among them are blue whales. The length of the most prominent individuals reaches 33 meters, and the mass of such animals exceeds 150 tons.
Oddly enough, these giants do not feed on fish but only on plankton, consisting of small crustaceans (no more than 6 cm in size). Seeing their flock, the whale opens its mouth and launches a massive amount of water inside. Then it closes its mouth and uses a unique mechanism to push out the water.
Back in the 19th century, the number of blue whales exceeded 350 thousand individuals. Whalers could not hunt this species for a long time - it was too strong. But in 1868, hunters mastered a new weapon - a harpoon gun, with the help of which the extraction of blue whales became possible. By 1967, the number of blue whales was reduced to 2 thousand, as a result of which their fishing was utterly prohibited. Since then, the number of blue whales has grown very slowly.
What is the smallest animal in the world?
The Etruscan shrew is the smallest modern mammal on the planet.
The pygmy shrew, or Etruscan shrew (Suncus Etruscans), is the smallest known mammal. Her body weight does not exceed 1.8 grams, and the maximum body length is 4.5 centimeters.
The shrew moves very fast and has an extremely high metabolic rate, which causes it to eat twice its weight in food. So, this crumb has to eat up to 25 times a day, hunting for insects, young frogs, and lizards.
As a rule, the heartbeat of a shrew reaches 1511 beats/min (25 beats/sec), and its body temperature is 37 ° C. However, when a shrew falls into a temporary torpor, its temperature drops to 12°C. Usually, this state of the body occurs during a food shortage and with the onset of cold weather. The exit from the stupor is accompanied by a sharp increase in heart rate - from 100 to 800-1200 per minute.
Today, these amazing creatures are endangered in some countries. This is mainly due to sudden climate changes, to which pygmy shrews are very sensitive. But to a greater extent, the destruction of their dwellings due to agricultural work leads to a decrease in the number of Etruscan shrews. This fact is even more upsetting when you consider that the shrew is of great benefit to people, destroying pests in their gardens, vegetable gardens, and fields.
