GEOGRAPHY

The Dallol volcano in Ethiopia’s Danakil Desert is one of the most unearthly places on Earth.

19 Places You Won’t Believe Exist

From boiling lakes to glowing caves and hidden prehistoric villages, Earth is full of amazing and unexpected places.

Curious about what your state's name means?

This Map Shows the Literal Translations of U.S. Place Names

From California to Boston, here are the literal translations of every American state and capital city name.

You’ll be searching for these spots forever.

10 Places That No Longer Exist

Not even a compass could help you get to lost places like Doggerland, Guaíra Falls, and Rungholt.

Snow blankets the Donner Lake area in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains.

10 of the Biggest Blizzards in History

The United States has hosted half of the biggest blizzards in history. Discover what makes these snowstorms so legendary.

The Vinland Map courted controversy from the moment its discovery was announced.

The Vinland Map: How a Mysterious Forgery Fooled Experts for Decades

Unravel the mystery of the Vinland Map—a controversial document that claimed Vikings arrived in North America before Columbus. Discover the truth now.

These geography facts are sure to break your brain.

19 Surprising Geography Facts That Will Change Your Perspective

Discover fascinating geography facts that will warp your sense of the world, from Alaska being both easternmost and westernmost state to France having the most time zones.

Mountaineers making their way to the summit of Mount Everest.

28 Geographical Extremes That Will Change How You See the World

In this episode of The List Show, Mental Floss editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy discusses some impressive geographical superlatives, from the planet’s deepest caves to its tallest peaks to its blusteriest winds.

How Ireland Became the ‘Emerald Isle’

The origins of Ireland's ‘Emerald Isle’ nickname trace back to the 18th-century physician, poet, and activist who penned the poem “When Erin First Rose.”

Many of these mysteries continue to endure.

15 of History’s Greatest Mysteries

From a book no one can decipher and puzzling disappearances to unsolved crimes and beyond, many of these historical mysteries still have us scratching our heads.

There’s a reason no one lives on Palmyra Atoll.

10 Uninhabited Islands—and the Reasons They’re Devoid of Humans

Some of these islands were never occupied by humans, but the majority have been abandoned.

Why Is Australia Both a Country And a Continent?

The definition of a continent isn't as concrete as you might expect, but a few qualities help earn Australia that distinction.

The dialects of the two countries have been diverging.

13 Words That Differ in the North and South Korean Dialects

The two dialects have transformed to the point that North Korean defectors often struggle with unfamiliar language when arriving in South Korea—so much that the South Korean government publishes a list of commonly confused words to aid new defectors.

Why Alaska is Home to America’s Easternmost Point

To find the easternmost point in the United States, look west.

“Nutmeg State” isn’t actually Connecticut’s official nickname.

Why is Connecticut Called the “Nutmeg State”?

Technically, it’s not. Connecticut’s “official nickname” is the “Constitution State.”

British vs. English: What’s the Difference?

First, you have to understand the difference between England and Britain (and the UK, while we’re at it).

Nope, Rhode Island is definitely not part of New York.

1 Misconception About Each of the 50 States (and D.C.)

We debunk one myth about each state in the U.S., from the Rocky Mountain not-so-high of Colorado to New Mexico. That’s right, New Mexico.

13 Facts About Mount Fuji

Japan’s highest mountain is also one of its most iconic landmarks.

Vermont has been home to a strange series of disappearances.

The Lost Girl of Vermont's 'Bennington Triangle'

In 1946, college student Paula Welden went for a hike on a local path known as the Long Trail. Her fate has become part of Vermont's folklore.

The Devil's Island lighthouse in the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior.

10 Deep Facts About the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes of North America span 750 miles from east to west and form the largest freshwater system on Earth. Here are 10 facts about the fab five.

9 Remote Islands and Towns You Probably Didn’t Know Existed

Some are more than a thousand miles from the nearest human civilization.

Which Portland? This Interactive Map Shows All the Duplicate Place Names in the U.S.

Maryland and New Jersey each have an Ocean City. They’re not the only ones.

Some early explorers went looking for an legendary land named “Ultima Thule”—which may have been inspired by Iceland.

10 Legendary (and Probably Made-Up) Islands

These imaginary isles all have a place in world history, literature, or mythology—despite not having a place on the map.

10 Star-Studded Facts About the Hollywood Sign

When developers put up a larger-than-life advertisement for their new L.A. housing development in 1923, they had no idea it would become one of the most iconic landmarks of all time.

The Giant’s Causeway in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

8 Facts About The Giant’s Causeway

In Northern Ireland, thousands of hexagonal stone columns of various heights rise out of the North Atlantic Ocean and climb up to the foot of a cliff, as if they had been placed by a massive mythical creature.