53 Interesting Facts About Earth You May Not Know

The Earth is our common home. But do you really know about this planet? In this article, we will introduce you to 53 interesting facts about the Earth that you may not know. These facts will help you have a new and interesting perspective on our blue planet. Let’s explore with Bien Thuy the facts about the Earth that you may have never heard of!

Shape and size of the Earth

1. The Earth has a diameter of about 12,742 km, determined from the radius at the equator of 6,378 km and at the poles of 6,357 km.
2. The mass of the Earth is 5.9722 × 10 ²⁴ kg. The Earth mass (M🜨) is a unit of mass used in astronomy to compare or calculate the masses of planets.
3. The total surface area of ​​the Earth is about 510 million km². The oceans cover the majority of it, about 361 million km², or 71% of the total area. In contrast, land covers only about 149 million km², or just 29% of the planet’s total area.
4. Based on satellite positions and algorithms, humans have proven that the Earth is not round or orange-shaped. In fact, the Earth is shaped like a sphere that is compressed at the poles and bulges at the equator. This bulge is due to the planet’s rotation, which increases the diameter at the equator compared to pole to pole, about 43 km.
5. The Earth is tilted about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane as it orbits the Sun. This tilt creates seasons and changes the length of day and night in different parts of the planet. The tilt also affects the Earth’s climate and weather conditions.
6. The circumference of the Earth at the equator is 40,075 km. This is the largest value of the circumference of the Earth, because the Earth bulges at the equator. The circumference of the Earth at the poles is 40,008 km, which is the smallest value of the circumference of the Earth, because the Earth is flattened at the poles. So, 1 revolution of the Earth can be 40,075 km or 40,008 km, depending on how you measure it. If you measure the circumference at the equator, 1 revolution of the Earth is about 12,750 British miles. If you measure the circumference at the poles, 1 revolution of the Earth is about 12,430 British miles.
7. The Earth rotates on its axis at about 1670 km/h at the equator.
8. Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the largest of the terrestrial planets in the Solar System. In terms of mass, it is the fifth largest of the eight recognized planets in the Solar System.
9. Based on methods such as radiometric dating, experts believe that the Earth formed about 4.543 billion years ago.

Composition and structure of the Earth

10. The Earth is divided into five main layers mechanically: the lithosphere, asthenosphere, mantle, outer core, and inner core. From a chemical perspective, the Earth is made up of four main layers, from the inside out: Inner core, Outer core, Mantle, Crust. In addition, the Earth also has an atmosphere that surrounds the outside, so people sometimes consider it a structural layer of the Earth.
11. The most abundant element in the Earth’s crust is oxygen , making up 46.6% of its mass. Oxygen often combines with other elements to form oxides, such as SiO2 (silicon dioxide), Al2O3 (aluminum oxide), and Fe2O3 (iron oxide). Oxygen is also a major component of the Earth’s atmosphere, making up 21% of its volume.
12. Silicon (Si) is the second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust (after Oxygen), accounting for about 27.7% of the Earth’s crust weight.
13. The Earth’s crust is the outermost layer of the Earth, with an average thickness of about 50 km. It is composed mainly of minerals and rocks such as silicate rocks, minerals such as quartz, feldspar, mica, amphibole, pyroxene, and olivine. In addition, the Earth’s crust contains small amounts of metals, such as iron, aluminum, magnesium, and calcium.
14. The Earth’s core is the innermost part of the planet, believed to be composed of an iron-nickel alloy, and has the highest temperature in the Earth’s composition. The Earth’s core consists of two parts: the liquid outer core and the solid inner core. The outer core is about 2,260 km thick, while the inner core is about 1,220 km thick. The total thickness of the Earth’s core is over 3,000 km. The Earth’s core plays an important role in creating the planet’s magnetic field, which protects the Earth from harmful rays from the sun. The Earth’s core also influences seismic phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanoes.
15. The Earth is believed to have a molten iron-nickel core, with temperatures reaching up to 6000 degrees Celsius. This iron core is the biggest mystery of our planet, as we cannot directly access it. The temperature inside the Earth’s core is proven to be equal to the temperature of the Sun.

Earth’s Water and Atmosphere

16. Water on Earth is mainly distributed in the seas and oceans in the form of salt water , accounting for about 97.5% of the total water on Earth. Fresh water accounts for only 2.5%, of which, 2/3 of the fresh water exists in the form of ice in glaciers and at the poles. Most of the remaining 1/3 of fresh water is groundwater, and only a very small part exists on land and in the air.
17. On Earth, the least amount of rain falls in the polar regions, especially in Antarctica . The average annual rainfall in Antarctica is only about 200 mm, and there are places where it may not rain for many years. The reason is that in the polar regions, the temperature is very low, making it difficult for the air to hold much water vapor. In addition, the polar regions often have strong winds, causing rain clouds to be blown away before they can fall to the ground.
18. The rainiest region on Earth is the equatorial region . This is a region with high temperatures, low pressure, many seas and oceans, large forest areas and strong evaporation, creating conditions for the formation and development of clouds and rain. Mawsynram village in Meghalaya state, India, with an annual rainfall of about 11,873 mm. This is the place with the most rain in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records.
19. The Earth has a total water volume of 1,386 million km3 ⁽ that is, about 1.4 billion cubic kilometers), accounting for about 0.02% of the Earth’s mass. This amount of water accounts for about 71% of the Earth’s surface area.
20. Due to climate change and the greenhouse effect, water levels on Earth could rise by 60 cm to 1 meter by 2100.
21. Cumulonimbus clouds are clouds that are capable of producing lightning and other severe weather such as gusty winds, hail, and occasionally tornadoes.

Earth’s Magnetic Field and Seismicity

22. The Earth’s magnetic north pole is the point on the Earth’s surface in the northern hemisphere where the magnetic field points straight down (e.g., 90° inclination). Physically, the magnetic north pole is the south pole of the magnetic field. The magnetic north pole is sometimes confused with the geomagnetic north pole.
23. Gravity is the gravitational force between the Earth and other objects, including humans. This force is what causes objects to fall when dropped, and what gives objects on the Earth’s surface weight.
24. The largest earthquake ever recorded on Earth was the 1960 Valdivia earthquake in Chile. It had a magnitude of 9.4 to 9.6 and triggered a tsunami that was up to 25 meters high. The earthquake killed more than 2,000 people and caused extensive damage in Chile and neighboring countries.
25. Earthquakes can occur at any time of the year. However, they are more likely to occur at night.
26. The highest tide in the world is the tide in the Bay of Fundy, Canada, with a peak of 16.3 metres (while the average tide in the world is 1 metre.

Earth’s orbit and rotation

27. The Earth takes about 365.26 days to orbit the Sun once. This creates the solar year. In addition, the Earth does not rotate completely, but rather has a flattened shape, like a sphere that is flattened at the poles. This makes some days in the year longer or shorter than others.
28. The Earth rotates on its axis about every 24 hours. This rotation creates day and night, when one side of the planet is illuminated by the Sun, while the other side is in darkness. The Earth’s rotation speed is fastest at the equator, about 1,670 km/h. However, due to the influence of the Sun and the Moon, this rotation speed can change over time.
29. The Earth has only one satellite, the Moon, which orbits it every 27.3 days. The Moon influences the tides in the oceans and contributes to the conditions for life on the planet. The Moon also plays a major role in maintaining the stability of the Earth’s rotation axis.

Life and creatures of Earth

30. The average temperature of the Earth ranges from 13 to 46 degrees Celsius. This can vary depending on location and time of year. The stable temperature range helps maintain diverse living conditions on the planet.
31. Earth is the only planet in the universe that we know of that has life.
32. As of November 17, 2024, the world population is estimated to be 8,188,191,017. This is the highest level in human history. The world population is growing at a rate of about 1.1% per year.
33. According to the convention and general recognition of the United Nations, the earth has a total of 7 continents, including: Asia, Africa, Europe, America, Oceania, Antarctica. The number of continents is determined based on different criteria, such as geography, culture and history. According to geographical criteria, a continent is defined as a large land mass surrounded by seas or oceans.
34. According to the definition of the National Geographic Society, there are 5 oceans on Earth, including: Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Southern Ocean. Of which, the Southern Ocean is a new ocean recognized by the National Geographic Society on June 8, 2021. This is the smallest of the 5 oceans, with an area of ​​about 20 million km2.
35. The fastest flying animal in the world is the Peregrine Falcon, which can fly at speeds of 322 km/h.
36. The fastest animal is the Cheetah, when hunting, they can run at speeds of up to 120 km/h.
37. The only animal that is immortal and considered to be the longest-living animal in the world is the immortal jellyfish, English name Turritopsis dohrnii. If not sick or eaten, they can rejuvenate by returning to the polyp stage after adulthood.

People and Culture of the Earth

38. Earth Day was named in 1970 by US Senator Gaylord Nelson. But in 2009, the United Nations officially recognized and celebrated it annually on April 22, called International Mother Earth Day.
39. There are 204 countries in the world today. Of these, 193 are recognized by the United Nations (UN) and are full members of the UN. There are two countries, Palestine and the Vatican, which are under UN observer status. Neither of these countries has been recognized by other countries. There are nine countries that have not been recognized by the UN, including: Kosovo, Taiwan, Western Sahara, Abkhazia, Northern Cyprus, Nagorno-Karabakh, Transnistria, Somaliland, and Zealandia. Some of these are recognized by other countries, but are not independent in terms of government or are subject to territorial disputes.
40. Anatomically modern humans originated in Africa about 300,000 years ago, evolving from Homo heidelbergensis or a similar species. About 195,000 years ago, the first modern human fossils were found in Africa, including the Omo remains from Ethiopia. However, scientists believe that biologically modern humans only appeared about 200,000 years ago.
41. The Earth is about 15,000 times older than humans (the Earth is about 4.5 billion years old while humans are about 300,000 years old).
42. We do not know who “named” Earth. Earth is also the only planet in the Solar System whose name is not that of a Greek or Roman god.

Earth in the Solar System and Universe

43. The majority of solar radiation reaching the Earth is absorbed by the Earth’s surface (47%). The remainder is reflected into space (30%), absorbed by the atmosphere (19%), and belongs to the infrared and radio spectrum (λ > 0.76 μm).
44. The average distance from Earth to the Moon is 384,400 km, or 238,855 miles. This is the distance from the center of the Earth to the center of the Moon. The actual distance between the two celestial bodies can vary from 363,104 km to 405,696 km, because the Moon’s orbit is not circular but elliptical. Meanwhile, the distance from Earth to the Sun is 149,597,870,700 meters (more than 149.5 million km).
45. The Earth is larger than the Moon. The Earth is a planet, while the Moon is a natural satellite of the Earth. The diameter of the Earth is about 12,742 km (about 7,918 miles), while the diameter of the Moon is about 3,474 km (about 2,159 miles). This means that the Earth is about 3.67 times the diameter of the Moon. The Earth is also much more massive than the Moon. The mass of the Earth is about 5.97 x 10 ²⁴ kg, while the mass of the Moon is about 73.47 x 10 ²¹ kg. This means that the Earth is about 81.3 times the mass of the Moon.
46. When the Moon, Sun, and Earth are in a straight line, the tidal range is greatest, called spring tide. When the Moon, Earth, and Sun are at right angles, the tidal range is smallest, called neap tide.
47. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Earth and the Sun, at which point, when viewed from Earth, the Moon appears to partially or completely obscure the Sun. To put it simply, a solar eclipse occurs when the Moon partially or completely obscures the Sun.
48. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth is between the Sun and the Moon. At this time, the Earth completely blocks the sunlight from shining on the Moon. Lunar eclipses occur less frequently, usually occurring 1 to 2 times a year and in 5 years there will be 1 year without this phenomenon.
49. The Sun has 1,300,000 times the volume of the Earth and 332,946 times the mass of the Earth. This means that the Sun is many times larger than the Earth.
50. The farthest planet from Earth in the Solar System is Neptune. Neptune is on average about 30.1 AU from Earth, or 4.35 billion kilometers. The closest planet to Earth is Venus. Venus is on average about 0.28 AU from Earth, or 41.9 million kilometers.
51. The first planet discovered in the solar system was Mercury. It was first observed by the Babylonian astronomer Naburimannu around 1600 BC. However, without a telescope, Naburimannu only saw Mercury as a moving star in the sky.
52. Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System, with a mass 318 times that of Earth. Jupiter has a diameter at the equator of 142,984 km, more than 11 times that of Earth.
53. The smallest planet in the solar system is Mercury, with a diameter of about 4,879.4 km, about 0.383 times that of Earth. Mercury is also the closest planet to the Sun, with an average distance of 57.91 million km.