A rather unremarkable hill in New Zealand has become world-famous for one feature alone, namely: its name, believed to be the longest place name on Earth. With 85 characters and 40 syllables, the toponym is a mouthful for most, though indigenous Polynesians or the most talented linguists might have a better row with it. The…
This Looks Like a Normal Hill in New Zealand but It Has the Longest Name on Earth—Here’s How You Say It
PHOTOS: The Jaw-Dropping Rainbow Mountain in Peru Is a Sight to Behold
This rainbow-striped mountain in Peru may resemble an abstract painting but is, in fact, an entirely natural phenomenon, drawing visitors from far and wide committed to finding out if the candy-colored rumors are true. Vinicunca, otherwise known as Rainbow Mountain or Montaña de Siete Colores (Mountain of Seven Colors), is part of the South American…
5 Renaissance Architecture Wonders That Merged Christian With Classical and Reshaped Our World
The artists of the dark ages were neither blind nor indifferent to the perfection and transcendent beauty of classical ancient Rome that lay half-buried strewn in their midst. Medieval artists didn’t know they were “medieval” relative to those ruins, yet the humanists who subsequently began fostering a classical revival knew full well they were different….
This Astronomical Clock Is Still Ticking After 600 Years—And Can Still Locate the Sun, Moon, and Stars
A mechanical wonder over six centuries old is mounted on the south wall of the Old Town Hall in Prague, located in the Old Town Square. Nested in ornate gothic decoration, this steampunk predecessor is still ticking today. Called the astronomical clock, it’s the oldest working clock of its kind in the world today and…
‘Masters of Camouflage’: Photographer Spots Scops Owls in Their Natural Habitats—Can You Spot Them?
Enraptured by the flora and fauna of his native India, a wildlife photographer has taken a stunning series of photos of creatures hiding in their natural habitats. Some are such masters of camouflage, they are almost impossible to spot. Hobby photographer Hardik Shelat, 35, lives in Ahmedabad in western India where he was born and…
Why Does This Surreal ‘Desert’ Fill With Endless Balmy Swimming Pools and Living Fish Every Year?
These endless sand dunes stretching to the horizon might make you think you’ve wandered into the Sahara. Yet with countless blue-turquoise lagoons weaving like emerald ribbons between each valley of sand, farther than eyes can see, the sight is quite extraterrestrial. But it’s a reality in one spot on our planet Earth. Highly unique, Lençóis…
‘Magic Mood Ring’ Volcanic Lakes in Indonesia Change From Turquois, Black, White, Even Red—Here’s Why
They look like balmy lagoons you could just dive right into, but this cluster of lakes is actually volcanic, the water whirling with sulfur. Found atop Mount Kelimutu on the island of Flores, Indonesia, three crater lakes each have different, changing colors, creating an effect like giant magical mood rings. Keli means “lake” and Mutu…
Modern Cannons Smashed The Medieval Castle—So They Invented This Insane Defensive Structure
The defensive fortifications of medieval times have surely inspired floorplans for the “perfect castle” in the minds of many a young nerd—replete with battlements, parapets, turrets, arrow slits, a keep, and of course murder holes. As with all technologies though, including castle fortifications, they tend to go obsolete with new developments. With the advent of…
Girl, 9, Finds ‘Once-in-a-Lifetime’ Huge Shark Tooth From 15 Million-Year-Old, 50-Foot Megalodon
A 9-year-old fossil hunter from Maryland stumbled across a once-in-a-lifetime find while scouting for treasures on the Calvert County coastline on the Chesapeake Bay: a huge tooth from a 15 million-year-old megalodon. On Dec. 25, Molly Sampson, a fourth grader from Southern Maryland was out fossil hunting with her big sister, Natalie. Molly was wrapped in…
‘Awe-Inspiring Sights’: Aurora Spotter Captures Ultra-Rare Orange and Pink Northern Lights in Norway
Not once, but twice this season, Norwegian skywatchers have been delighted by a super rare showing of the aurora borealis displaying unusual pink and purple hues, fading into an even rarer orange. Stunning photos depict the northern lights in a whole new visual dimension. Estonia-born photographer Markus Varik, 37, has trekked widely for his photos since 2009…
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