There are many bizarre and fascinating facts about Earth, but one that stands out is: The Earth is not perfectly round; it's slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator.
This shape, known as an oblate spheroid, is due to the centrifugal force created by Earth's rotation. While the difference is small, it's measurable and has implications for everything from mapping to satellite orbits.
Here are some other weird facts about our planet:
- The Eiffel Tower grows taller in summer: Due to thermal expansion, the Eiffel Tower is about 5.9 inches taller in the summer than in the winter.
- The Earth's core is hotter than the surface of the sun: The temperature at the Earth's core is estimated to be around 5,200 degrees Celsius (9,392 degrees Fahrenheit), whereas the surface of the sun is around 5,505 degrees Celsius (9,941 degrees Fahrenheit).
- There are places on Earth where it never rains: These are called hyper-arid deserts and are found in places like the Atacama Desert in Chile and the Namib Desert in Namibia.
These are just a few examples of the many peculiar and surprising facts about our planet. It's a testament to the diversity and complexity of the Earth and the wonders that continue to be discovered.
