30 Geography Facts Most People Get Wrong

Summary

In this educational video, host Sam from 'The Geography Bible' debunks 30 common geography misconceptions, such as the difference between the United Kingdom and Great Britain, the distinction between Holland and the Netherlands, and the true capital of Brazil. The video also clarifies that Antarctica is the driest continent, Java is the most populated island, and Egypt is transcontinental, among other intriguing facts, aiming to enlighten viewers on geographical truths they might have gotten wrong.

Takeaways

• 🇬🇧 The United Kingdom and Great Britain are not the same; Great Britain includes England, Scotland, and Wales but not Northern Ireland.
• 🇳🇱 Holland is just two provinces of the Netherlands, not the whole country.
• 🏙️ Toronto and Vancouver are not the capitals of Canada; Ottawa is.
• 🇮🇸 Iceland's landscapes are diverse, not just covered in ice.
• ❄️ Iran can be quite cold in January and February, with temperatures as low as 4°C.
• 🗺️ Greenland appears larger on maps than it actually is, but it's still very large.
• 🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro was the capital of Brazil until 1960; the current capital is Brasília.
• 🏞️ Alaska is larger than Texas, being around 1.5 million square kilometers compared to Texas's 678,000.
• 🏔️ Mount Everest is the tallest mountain by height above sea level, but Ecuador's Mount Chimborazo extends further out due to its proximity to the equator.
• 🇿🇦 Johannesburg and Cape Town are not the capitals of South Africa; it's Bloemfontein, Pretoria.
• 🌍 Antarctica is the driest continent and the largest desert in the world, not Africa.
• 🇺🇸 Brazil is larger than the continental US, despite the US being the fourth largest country and Brazil being fifth.
• 🏛️ The Pyramids of Giza are not in the middle of the desert but are easily accessible from Cairo.
• 🇹🇷 Istanbul is not the capital of Turkey; it's Ankara.
• 🌊 The Pacific Ocean is the largest body of water on Earth, not the Atlantic.
• 🇳🇴 Norway has the second most coastline in the world, after Canada.
• 🏝️ Java is the most populated island in the world, with around 150 million inhabitants.
• 🇬🇧 Great Britain is the third most populated island in the world, with around 66 million inhabitants.
• 🏞️ Greenland is the largest island in the world, not Australia, which is a continent.
• 🇸🇷 Suriname's official language is Dutch, not Spanish or Portuguese.
• 🏙️ California has a larger population than all of Canada.
• 🗣️ Spanish is the second most native spoken language in the world, after Mandarin, not English.
• 🇨🇳 China, despite being the most populated country, does not have a city in the top five most populated cities in the world.
• 🇰🇵 North Korea and Finland are separated by just one country, Russia.
• 🏰 Greenland is an autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark and is not independent.
• 🌳 Florida is not the closest state to Africa; Quoddy Head in Maine is closer.
• 🇲🇽 Mexico is not entirely south of the US; 11 US states have land farther south than the most northern point in Mexico.
• 🇦🇫 Afghanistan is geographically more in South Asia than the Middle East.
• 🇪🇬 Egypt is considered a transcontinental country, with a small part of its territory in Asia.

Q & A

What is the difference between the United Kingdom and Great Britain?

The United Kingdom includes Great Britain and Northern Ireland, while Great Britain is the collective name for England, Scotland, and Wales, and does not include Northern Ireland.

Why can't Holland be used interchangeably with the Netherlands?

Holland refers to only two provinces, North and South Holland, whereas the Netherlands is the term for the entire country consisting of twelve provinces.

What is the capital of Canada, and why is there a common misconception about it?

The capital of Canada is Ottawa. The misconception might arise from the prominence of cities like Toronto and Vancouver, but neither is the capital.

Is Iceland's landscape predominantly covered in ice?

No, Iceland's landscapes are diverse, ranging from deep fjords to volcanic deserts, black sand beaches, snow-capped mountains, and waterfalls.

Can Iran be cold in January and February?

Yes, Iran can experience cold temperatures during January and February, with lows as cold as 4 degrees Celsius.

Why does Greenland appear larger on traditional maps than it actually is?

Greenland is distorted on traditional maps due to the way they represent areas near the poles, making it seem larger than it is in reality.

What is the actual capital of Brazil, and why is there confusion with Rio de Janeiro?

The capital of Brazil is Brasília, located on the central plateau. Rio de Janeiro was the capital until 1960, which might cause the confusion.

Is Texas the largest state in the United States?

No, Alaska is the largest state in the United States, with Texas ranking second in size.

Why is Mount Chimborazo considered to protrude further out than Mount Everest?

Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador is closer to the equator, which causes it to protrude further out due to the Earth's shape, even though Mount Everest is the highest mountain above sea level.

Which cities are commonly mistaken for the capitals of South Africa and Australia, and what are their actual capitals?

Johannesburg and Cape Town are often mistaken for the capital of South Africa, which is actually Pretoria. Sydney is the most populous and iconic city in Australia, but Canberra is the capital.

Is Antarctica the driest continent on Earth?

Yes, Antarctica is considered the driest continent due to its extremely low precipitation, making it the largest desert in the world.

Why is Sydney not the capital of Australia despite its prominence?

Sydney is the most populous and iconic city in Australia, but Canberra was chosen as the capital for its central location and to avoid favoring any existing major city.

What is the actual capital of Turkey, and why is Istanbul often mistaken for it?

Ankara is the capital of Turkey. Istanbul, while being the most populous and iconic city, is not the capital due to historical and political reasons.

Why is the Pacific Ocean considered the largest body of water on Earth?

The Pacific Ocean is the largest body of water on Earth due to its vast size, which is significantly larger than that of the Atlantic Ocean.

Why does Norway have the second most coastline in the world?

Norway's extensive coastline is due to its long, indented coastline with numerous fjords and inlets, making it the second longest after Canada.

What makes Java the most populated island in the world?

Java's high population is due to its large area, fertile land, and the presence of Indonesia's capital, Jakarta, which contributes to its dense population of around 150 million.

Why is Great Britain considered the third most populated island in the world?

With a population of around 66 million inhabitants, Great Britain ranks as the third most populated island due to its high population density.

Why is Greenland considered the largest island in the world, and not Australia?

Greenland is considered the largest island because it is entirely surrounded by water and is smaller than a continent. Australia, being a continent itself, does not qualify as an island.

What is the official language of Suriname, and why is it often confused with other languages?

The official language of Suriname is Dutch. It might be confused with Spanish or Portuguese due to the influence of other languages in the region.

Why is California more populated than the entirety of Canada?

California has a higher population than Canada due to its large population density, economic opportunities, and diverse demographics.

Why is Spanish considered the second most native spoken language in the world, and not English?

Spanish is the second most native spoken language because of the large number of Spanish speakers in countries like Mexico, Spain, and various South American nations, surpassing English in terms of native speakers.

Why does China, despite being the most populated country, not have a city in the top five most populated cities in the world?

Although China has a large population, its cities may not rank in the top five due to the distribution of its population across many urban areas, rather than concentrating in a few mega-cities.

What country separates North Korea and Finland, and why is this surprising?

Russia separates North Korea and Finland, which is surprising because it highlights the vastness of Russia and the geographical spread of these countries.

Why is Greenland not considered an independent country?

Greenland is an autonomous constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark. It has a degree of self-governance but is not fully independent.

Why is Quoddy Head, Maine, closer to Africa than Florida?

Quoddy Head is closer to Africa because it is a small peninsula off the coast of Maine, making it geographically closer to Morocco than the closest point in Florida.

Why is Mexico not considered strictly south of the United States?

Mexico is not strictly south of the United States because 11 U.S. states have land farther south than the most northern point in Mexico, making the border more to the west than directly south.

Why is Afghanistan considered more part of South Asia than the Middle East?

Afghanistan is considered more part of South Asia due to its geographical location, which is closer to cities like Mumbai than to countries like Iraq or Yemen.

Why is Egypt considered a transcontinental country?

Egypt is considered a transcontinental country because it spans both the African and Asian continents, with a small part of its territory lying on the Asian side of the Suez Canal.