Category Archive

Early humans (and their predecessors) wandered all over the landscape for thousands of years, noting mountains, and rivers, and big trees, and rock formations to give them an idea of where they were and where they were going.

Yellowstone National Park is justly famous for its geysers, steaming pools and mudpots. The hot geologic features of the park are the remnants of three enormous volcanic explosions that left three calderas covering nearly 1,000 square miles.

Birds build nests. So do rats. Termite mounds are pretty impressive. But what other animal (nevermind us) builds anything so impressive as does the beaver?

Some countries expand their size by taking over neighboring territory. But in the South China Sea, China is simply making new land.

Geographic name changes for large expanses of the earth’s surface aren’t all that common. The breakup of the Soviet Union presented such a moment decades ago, and the one we’ll focus on today isn’t breaking news either. It cropped up 15 years ago and isn’t universally accepted yet. But its story is interesting and illustrates the tenacity of established geographic … Read More

As with almost every geographic “biggest” or “longest”, there are seven different ways to tabulate the results. The longest border between two countries would seem to be that between the U.S. and Canada. In total, it’s about 5,526 miles.

As with almost every geographic “biggest” or “longest”, there are seven different ways to tabulate the results. The longest border between two countries would seem to be that between the U.S. and Canada. In total, it’s about 5,526 miles.

This is the story of a big deal with a big footprint. During the end of the last Ice Age in North America, starting around 20,000 years ago, glaciers would advance and retreat with global temperature changes.

It takes a special set of circumstances: rain, of course, with some clearing for the rays of a low-angled moon coming from a direction opposite the rain, a dark sky, plus the added requirement of a moon in full or nearly-full phase.

Growing tall gives a tree the edge on capturing sunlight before some other tree shades it out. But the taller it gets, the harder it is for water to get drawn up all the way to the top.