5 Fascinating Facts You Might Not Know

Did you know how a river delta is formed? When a river flows into the sea, it often creates a flat, triangle-shaped area called a delta. This happens because the river carries bits of sand and soil, which settle at the mouth and split the river into smaller streams. It’s called a delta because it looks like the Greek letter by the same name.

Did you know what stone was once used for makeup? A blue mineral called kohl was once used by women to line their eyes. That’s where the expression “without kohl and rouge” comes from which means without makeup or pretending. Today, kohl isn’t used much anymore because it contains lead, which can be harmful.

Did you know what lies at the edge of the solar system? Far beyond Neptune’s orbit is the Kuiper Belt. It’s about 7 billion kilometers away and holds icy space objects, including Pluto, which used to be considered a planet.

Did you know which bridges connect two continents? There are only two, and both are in Turkey. The Bosphorus Bridge and the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge link the European and Asian sides of the country. They stand just 5 kilometers apart, crossing the Bosphorus Strait.

Did you know how to tell how far away lightning struck? After you see lightning, count how many seconds pass until you hear the thunder. Then divide that number by 3 and that gives you the distance in kilometers from where the lightning hit.