Random Geography Facts That Rocked Our World (15 items)

(#3) The Majority Of Canadians Live South Of Seattle

The majority of the population of the United States' "neighbor to the north" actually lives south of a major American city. While the 49th parallel is often thought of as the border between the US and Canada, around 72% of Canadians live below it, and Seattle, WA. Canada's two largest cities, Toronto and Montreal are well south of Seattle, as is its fourth-largest city and federal capital, Ottawa.
(#13) Ireland Has "Palm Trees"

We typically picture palm trees lining a tropical beach paradise. And while Ireland has its many charms, being a tropical getaway is not exactly one of them. Despite this, there are plants on some Irish coasts that appear so much like palm trees, they add a bit of seemingly tropical flavor.

The cordyline australis, or cabbage palm, looks like a palm tree; however, it is technically not a tree, a palm, or a cabbage. It's a plant that is native to New Zealand and became popular in Irish gardens in the 1800s. They are able to thrive in Ireland's warm ocean currents.
(#6) France's Longest Border Is With Brazil

French Guiana is located on the northern coast of South America, between Surinam to the north-west and Brazil to the south. Its border with Brazil is 730 kilometers. France's second-longest border is with Belgium at 657 kilometers.

French Guiana is a fully integrated region of France, much like a state in the United States. The language is French, the head of state is the French president, residents are in the European Union, and their money is the euro.
(#15) Reno, NV, Is Farther West Than Los Angeles, CA

While we naturally think that a city in a west coast state would be farther west than a city in its neighboring eastern state, we often forget about California's southern curve.

Reno is located at 119°49’ west, while Los Angeles is located at 118°14’ west.
(#5) Pluto Could Fit Inside Russia

NASA’s New Horizon mission flew by Pluto in 2015 and provided the most accurate measurements of the dwarf planet yet. Pluto's diameter was measured at 2,370 kilometers which would easily fit inside Russia's east-to-west-width of 6,000 kilometers, and its narrower north-to-south height of 3,000 kilometers.

In spite of that, Pluto does have a slightly larger surface area than the earthly country, coming in at a recently adjusted 17,646,012 square kilometers versus Russia's 17,125,191 square kilometers.
(#14) There Are More People In California Than In Canada

According to data compiled by World Bank, as of 2019, Canada has a population of approximately 37,589,262 people. The 2019 US Census data says that California comes in slightly higher with a population of 39,512,223.