Once the fourth-largest lake in the world, the Aral Sea—located between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan—has become one of the most striking examples of environmental degradation caused by human activity. Beginning in the 1960s, Soviet irrigation projects diverted rivers that fed the Aral Sea to support cotton farming in arid regions. Over time, the sea began shrinking…
Most people believe Mount Everest is the highest point on Earth — and in terms of elevation above sea level, that’s correct. However, if you measure from the center of the Earth, Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador actually claims the title of being the closest point to outer space. This is due to the Earth’s equatorial…
Socotra Island, located in the Arabian Sea off the coast of Yemen, is often described as the most alien-looking place on Earth. Home to over 700 species found nowhere else, including the famous dragon blood tree and desert rose, Socotra’s biodiversity has evolved in isolation for millions of years. This remarkable island offers a rare…
Nestled in northeastern Ethiopia, the Danakil Depression is one of the most inhospitable and geologically active places on Earth. Sitting at about 125 meters below sea level, this desert basin experiences average temperatures exceeding 34°C, making it one of the hottest inhabited regions globally. The area is characterized by its alien-like landscapes, including salt flats,…
In the heart of the Sundarbans delta, where the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers meet the Bay of Bengal, once lay Lohachara Island—a small, inhabited landmass that vanished beneath rising seas in the late 20th century. This disappearance marked one of the first documented instances of human settlement lost to climate change-induced sea-level rise. Lohachara’s submergence…
Nestled within Tanzania’s East African Rift Valley, Lake Natron is a geological marvel. This shallow, hypersaline lake spans approximately 56 kilometers in length and 22 kilometers in width, with depths rarely exceeding three meters. Fed primarily by the Southern Ewaso Ng’iro River and mineral-rich hot springs, its waters are highly alkaline, with pH levels often…
The Benin Bronzes, a collection of intricately crafted plaques and sculptures, were created by the Edo people of the Kingdom of Benin (modern-day Nigeria) as early as the 13th century. These masterworks of bronze, ivory, and wood showcased advanced metallurgical skill and served as historical records of royal lineage, rituals, and societal values. Far from…
Karst landscapes, formed primarily from the dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone, dolomite, and gypsum, play a vital but often overlooked role in global freshwater systems. These unique terrains are characterized by features such as sinkholes, caves, and underground rivers. Found in regions like Slovenia’s Škocjan Caves and China’s Guilin, karst areas serve as direct…
While geography traditionally focuses on Earth’s landscapes, extending this lens to our celestial neighbor, the Moon, offers intriguing insights. The Moon, Earth’s only natural satellite, has a diameter of about 3,500 km, making its surface area comparable to that of Africa. Its gravitational pull is approximately one-sixth that of Earth’s, influencing not only lunar phenomena…
As someone who’s trekked across arid landscapes, I can attest that Chile’s Atacama Desert is a marvel of nature’s extremes. Known as the driest non-polar desert on Earth, it stretches over 1,000 kilometers along the Pacific coast, where some areas haven’t seen rain in decades. My boots crunched over salt flats and volcanic rocks, and…