7 Fascinating Facts About Nature, History, and Inventions

Did you know there's a fish that can walk on mud?
The mudskipper is a special kind of fish that lives in shallow water. When the tide goes out, it uses its strong fin-like legs to pull itself onto land and move around in a way that looks like walking. It hunts insects and crabs on the muddy shore. The mudskipper can breathe out of water thanks to special gill chambers filled with water, letting it stay alive on land for a long time.

Did you know what's called a flying boat?
In the early 1900s, airplanes already existed, but airports were rare and often unsafe. So, people built planes that could land on water, like calm lakes. These “flying boats” looked like a mix between an airplane and a boat. Their bottom was shaped to float, and their wings had extra floats for balance on the water.

Did you know the fastest land animal in the world?
It’s the cheetah! A cheetah can run at speeds of 70 to 75 miles per hour. During a sprint, it can leap 26 feet in a single jump. No other land animal comes close in speed.

Did you know where the largest salt desert in the world is?
It’s in Bolivia and called the Salar de Uyuni. This salt flat is the biggest on Earth and is part of the Andes Mountains. It covers over 4,000 square miles and sits very high above sea level. There’s even a hotel made entirely from blocks of salt!

Did you know how arches were made to stay strong?
Long ago, builders used arches to hold more weight than ever before. They used an odd number of stones shaped like trapezoids. Each stone leaned on the next until the one at the top, called the “keystone,” locked the whole arch into place. This special design kept the arch standing strong for many years.

Did you know where the scariest bridge in the world is?
It’s in Japan and is called the Eshima Ohashi Bridge. It’s super steep so that ships can pass underneath. From far away, it looks just like a roller coaster! It’s the largest bridge of its kind in Japan and the third largest in the world.

Did you know what causes a tsunami?
A tsunami is a giant ocean wave that crashes onto land and can cause a lot of damage and flooding. Most tsunamis happen after an underwater earthquake, but they can also be caused by underwater landslides. The word "tsunami" comes from Japanese and means “great wave.”