Ever wondered which country has the most lakes, or who built the Giant’s Causeway? This month’s Do You Know feature takes a look at some fascinating holiday destination facts from around the world.
Flat Lands, Silent Islands and Active Volcanoes
The Maldives is the flattest country on Earth, with an average ground level of just 1.5 metres above sea level. Meanwhile, Bali celebrates a day of silence called Nyepi, when the entire island shuts down for 24 hours. Mount Fuji in Japan is an active volcano, although it hasn’t erupted for over 300 years.
One of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history created the Greek island of Santorini. Also, Costa Rica protects around 25 per cent of its land as national parks or reserves. Consequently, the country has become a magnet for nature lovers seeking untouched landscapes.
Singapore has an airport with a butterfly garden, indoor waterfall and rooftop swimming pool. The Azores, meanwhile, are one of Europe’s best places for whale watching, with over 20 species spotted there. Meanwhile, Japan has over 6,800 islands, although only around 430 are inhabited.
Sinking Cities and Colourful Sands
Mexico City is sinking by up to 25cm per year in some areas. Its ancient soft, clay-rich lake bed is compacting due to massive over-extraction of groundwater from the aquifer. The beaches in Bermuda, by contrast, are famous for their naturally pink sand.
The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is so large it can be seen from space. Croatia has over 1,200 islands, making it a paradise for island hopping. Therefore, both destinations reward visitors who take the time to explore beyond the obvious highlights.
Ancient Wonders and Modern Surprises
Machu Picchu in Peru was unknown to the outside world until 1911. Portugal is home to the world’s oldest operating bookshop, dating back to 1732. Switzerland has over 1,500 lakes despite being a relatively small country. The Colosseum in Rome could hold around 50,000 spectators nearly 2,000 years ago.
The Statue of Liberty started out a copper colour, turning green naturally over time. Canada, meanwhile, has more lakes than the rest of the world’s countries combined. New Zealand has around five million people but over 25 million sheep. Finally, the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland is made up of around 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, legend says built by the giant Finn MacCool.
Deserts, Dogs and Dramatic Engineering
Egypt’s Great Pyramid of Giza held the title of tallest man-made structure in the world for nearly 4,000 years. The Canary Islands, meanwhile, are named after dogs rather than birds, since the name means “Islands of Dogs”. In Venice, Italy, more than 400 bridges connect around 150 canals across the city.
Malta has some of the clearest sea water in Europe, often with visibility exceeding 30 metres. Scotland, therefore, is not the only country with a rich coastal story, having over 790 offshore islands, around 90 of which are inhabited. Consequently, whichever destination is next on your list, there is likely to be a surprising fact waiting to be discovered along the way.
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