Seven Hills of Rome & Other Tidbits
Farthest From the Center of the Earth
Due to the bulge of the earth at the Equator, the peak of Ecuador’s Mount Chimborazo (20,700 feet or 6,310 meters) is the point farthest from the center of the Earth. Thus, the mountain claims the title of being the “highest point on Earth” (although Mt. Everest is still the highest point above sea level). Mt. Chimorazo is an extinct volcano and is about one degree south of the Equator.
Boiling Temperature of Water Change
While at sea level, the boiling point of water is 212 F, it changes if you are higher than that. How much does it change? For every 500-foot increase in elevation, the boiling point drops one degree. Thus, at a city 5,000 feet above sea level, water boils at 202 F.
Why Rhode Island is Called an Island
The state commonly called Rhode Island actually has the official name of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. “Rhode Island” is the island where the city of Newport sits today; however, the state also occupies mainland and three other major islands.
Home to the Most Muslims
The world’s fourth most populous country has the largest population of Muslims. Approximately 87% of Indonesia’s population are Muslims; thus, with a population of 216 million, Indonesia is home to approximately 188 million Muslims. The religion of Islam spread to Indonesia during the Middle Ages.
Production and Exportation of the Most Rice
Rice is a food staple worldwide and China is the world’s leading rice-producing country, producing just over one-third (33.9%) of the world’s rice supply. Thailand is the world’s leading rice exporter, however, and it is exporting 28.3% of the world’s rice export. India is the world’s second largest producer and exporter.
Seven Hills of Rome
Rome was famously built upon seven hills. Rome was said to have been founded when Romulus and Remus, twin sons of Mars, ended up at the foot of the hill Palatine and founded the city. The other six hills are Capitoline (the seat of government), Quirinal, Viminal, Esquiline, Caelian, and Aventine.
Africa’s Largest Lake
Africa’s largest lake is Lake Victoria, located in eastern Africa at the border of Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. It’s the world’s second largest freshwater lake, following Lake Superior in North America.