Happy Earth Day! What better day to talk about the Earth!
Earth is the 3rd planet from the sun and the 5th largest in the solar system. It’s the only astronomical object known to harbor life. 70% of the surface of the Earth is covered by water. Almost all of the planet’s volcanoes are hidden under the oceans, and the longest mountain range is also underwater. It’s found at the bottom of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans and is 4 times longer than the Andes, Rockies, and Himalayas combined!
The most remote place in the world is known as Point Nemo in the Pacific Ocean. It’s the place on Earth that’s farthest away from land, with the closest islands more than 1600 miles away. It’s so remote there that, since no regular marine or air traffic routes are within 250 miles, that sometimes the closest human beings are the astronauts aboard the International Space Station. The wider area is known as a “spacecraft cemetery” because hundreds of decommissioned satellites, space stations, and other spacecraft have crash landed there upon reentering the atmosphere, to lessen the risk of hitting inhabited locations or maritime traffic.
Earth is the only planet to have one one moon. But that’s not the only thing in Earth’s orbit. There are 4,550 operational, human-made satellites also orbiting the planet. There are also inoperative satellites and more than 16,000 pieces of space debris.
The first photo of Earth from space was taken in 1946. Images of the planet, especially those taken by the Apollo program, have been credited with changing the way people view the planet they live on, emphasizing its beauty, uniqueness, and apparent fragility.
What do you think the largest living organism is on Earth? If you’re thinking of an animal, you’re wrong! It’s actually a type of fungus that’s found in Oregon’s Malheur National Forest. Known as the “Humungous Fungus”, it’s the largest living organism on Earth by mass, area, and volume. The specimen covers 2,400 acres and possibly weighs as much as 35,000 tons!