20 Fascinating Facts About Earth: Wonders of Our Home Planet
Earth, our home in the vast universe, is a planet full of wonders and mysteries. From its unique ability to support life to phenomena like earthquake lights and the Lut Desert's extreme temperatures, there’s so much to marvel at. Did you know Earth isn’t a perfect sphere or that it has a quasi-satellite? Dive into 20 fascinating facts that reveal just how special our planet is.
Here are some fun facts about Earth
Earth is a planet that is so full of wonders and mysteries which distinguish it in the whole vast universe. Some fun and interesting facts about our home planet are as follows:
1. Earth Isn't a Perfect Sphere
Earth is slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator due to its rotation. This shape is called an oblate spheroid.
2. It's the Only Planet Known to Support Life
So far, Earth is the only planet we know which has the right combination of factors—water, atmosphere, and temperature—to support life.
3. Earth's Surface Majority is Water
About 71% of Earth's surface is made up of water, which has been termed "the Blue Planet." Of this, over 96% is accounted for in the oceans.
4. Earth Has a Mighty Magnetic Field
The molten iron in the planet's core creates a magnetic field that shields us from damaging solar radiation and makes phenomena like auroras feasible.
5. One Day on Earth Gets Longer
Millions of years ago, a day on Earth was close to 21.9 hours. The Moon's gravitational pull slows Earth's rotation – about 1.7 milliseconds per century.
6. Earth's Atmosphere Saves Life
Our atmosphere shields us from the damage caused by harmful cosmic radiation and meteors-burning most of the latter off before they can strike the ground. It also regulates our climate and supplies us with oxygen.
7. Earthquake Lights
Earthquake lights are strange lights seen in the sky either just before or during an earthquake. According to scientists, they could be connected to electrical charges released from stressed rocks.
8. The Hottest Place on Earth
The Lut Desert in Iran holds the record for the highest ground temperature ever recorded, reaching a blistering 159.3°F (70.7°C).
9. Earth Has a Twin (Kind of)
Venus is often called Earth’s twin because of its similar size, mass, and composition. However, Venus is extremely hot and inhospitable due to its thick atmosphere.
10. We’re Constantly Losing Atmosphere
Earth loses about 90 tons of atmospheric material to space every day, but don't fret—this is a teeny fraction compared to the atmosphere's total mass.
11. Earth's Core Is as Hot as the Sun's Surface
According to estimates, the temperature at Earth's core is about 10,800°F (6,000°C), which is comparable to the Sun's surface temperature.
12. You Weigh Less at the Equator
Because Earth has a polar axis that makes it slightly ellipsoidal, the rotation also means that gravity is a little weaker at the equator than at the poles, which means you weigh less there.
13. The Earth Is Moving Fast
Earth rotates about 1,000 miles per hour (1,600 km/h) at the equator and travels about 67,000 miles per hour (107,000 km/h) in an orbit around the Sun.
14. Earth Has a Second "Moon" (Sort Of)
It has a quasi-satellite called 3753 Cruithne. It is not an actual moon, but it is in orbit around the Sun in such a way that it will pass by Earth.
15. Deepest Point on Earth
The Mariana Trench is the deepest point on Earth, featuring depths of about 36,037 feet (10,984 meters) below sea level.
16. Earth's Age Is About 4.54 Billion Years Old
Geologists determine the age of Earth by radiometric dating of rocks and meteorites.
17. The First Earth Day Was in 1970
Earth Day, marked on April 22, was created to raise awareness about the environment and preserve the earth.
18. The Great Barrier Reef Is Visible from Space
The Great Barrier Reef, which is located in Australia, is the biggest coral reef system in the world, and it's possible to see it from space.
19. Earth's Largest Living Organism
A fungal network in Oregon, known as Armillaria ostoyae, spans over 2.4 miles (3.8 km) and is considered the largest living organism on Earth.
20. We’re All Made of Star Stuff
The elements in your body, such as carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen, were formed in the cores of stars billions of years ago.
It is not only our home but a wonder of the cosmos, filled with unique characteristics and incredible phenomena that make it endlessly fascinating! ????✨
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