Surprising fact of each country

Learn these surprising facts about each country in the world and surprise every person during international networking events. Recommended to Learn "Answer with Definition" and in "Flashcard" only.

France

France’s second-largest city, Marseille, was founded by Greek sailors from Phocaea around 600 BC — making it older than Paris by many centuries.

Spain

Spain produces more than 40% of the world’s olive oil — even more than Italy or Greece — mostly from Andalusia.

United States

The U.S. has no official national language at the federal level — English is dominant but not legally designated.

China

Ketchup actually has origins in a fermented fish sauce from southern China called kê-tsiap, which spread to Europe via trade routes.

Italy

The world’s first bank (Monte dei Paschi di Siena) founded in 1472 in Siena, Italy, is still operating today — making it the oldest surviving bank.

Turkey

The city now called Istanbul has changed names at least three major times — Byzantium, Constantinople, then Istanbul — and was the capital of three empires.

Mexico

Mexico introduced chocolate to the world; the word “chocolate” comes from the Nahuatl word “xocolātl.”

Thailand

Thailand is the only Southeast Asian country never colonized by a European power, which shaped its unique modern history.

Germany

Germany is home to over 25,000 castles — far more than most people realize — some dating back a thousand years.

United Kingdom

London has had an underground mail railway (“Mail Rail”) running beneath the city for more than 75 years, carrying post rather than passengers.

United Kingdom

London has had an underground mail railway (“Mail Rail”) running beneath the city for more than 75 years, carrying post rather than passengers.

Brazil

Brazil has a desert, the Pequeno Atacama, nestled within the state of São Paulo – it's a surprisingly arid region with cacti and unique geological formations, completely unlike the lush rainforest most associate with the country. Few Brazilians are even aware of its existence!

India

India has a "floating post office" on Dal Lake in Srinagar - it's built on a houseboat and delivers mail while offering stunning views! Surprisingly, it was initially a marketing gimmick that unexpectedly became a beloved and functioning postal service.

Japan

Japan has a thriving "cuckoo clock" industry, with many handcrafted wooden clocks being produced in Nagano Prefecture – a surprising deviation from the country's reputation for minimalist design! These clocks often incorporate traditional Japanese motifs and craftsmanship, blending European and Japanese aesthetics.

Australia

Australia has a desert biome larger than the entire country of France! While often associated with beaches, over 10% of Australia is arid or semi-arid land.

Canada

Canada has a town called Manitowaning, Ontario, where the local time is officially "Central Time" despite being geographically located in the Eastern Time Zone – a quirk stemming from historical railway decisions! It's a fascinating example of how time zones aren't always dictated by geography.

Nigeria

Nigeria is home to Nok culture terracotta sculptures, some dating back to 500 BC - making them older than the pyramids of Egypt and demonstrating a sophisticated artistic tradition largely unknown outside archaeology. These incredible artifacts were discovered surprisingly in the Jos Plateau, challenging previous understandings of early African civilization.

Argentina

Argentina is home to the world's narrowest street, Pasaje 24 de Octubre in La Boca, which is just 1 meter (3.3 feet) wide in places! Surprisingly, it was intentionally narrowed to obstruct the passage of carts during a territorial dispute in the 1880s.

South Africa

South Africa is home to the world's largest inland river delta, the Okavango Delta, despite the delta being located entirely within Botswana! While it originates in Angola and flows through Botswana, a small portion of its water eventually reaches the South African border.

Egypt

Ancient Egyptians used acacia tree sap to create a primitive form of chewing gum, flavored with things like honey and myrrh – archaeologists have even found preserved pieces! It wasn't just for freshness, but possibly for medicinal or ritualistic purposes.

Russia

Russia has a "refrigerator cemetery" in Norilsk, Siberia, where thousands of obsolete Soviet-era refrigerators were dumped due to the impracticality of transporting them back for recycling. The resulting toxic waste has created a bizarre and ecologically damaging landscape.