Fact Or Fiction?

We are fortunate to live in a world where access to limitless knowledge is only a click away, yet occasionally the truths we discover turn out to be nothing more than fantasy. Some fallacies need to be debunked, ranging from country preconceptions to mind-bending geography and heated discussions over landmarks.

It Never Snows In The Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert, one of the world's hottest and driest areas, may not appear to be an ideal location for snowfall. However, the near-impossible has occurred several times.

The first recorded snowfall occurred in 1979, and it lasted around half an hour. Most recently, in 2022, the arid area of Ain Sefra in northwest Algeria was blanketed in snow and ice.

Egypt Has The Most Pyramids

Egypt is well-known for its pyramids and the ancient history around them, but Sudan has the most. The Sudanese province of Nubia is home to about 220 pyramids, more than double the number found in Egypt. And if the name seems familiar, it's because it was part of the Egyptian Empire for centuries. Several ancient Egyptian pharaohs were of Nubian origin.

Uluru Is Australia's Biggest Rock

Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, is widely recognized as one of Australia's most prominent sites. Uluru, which is higher than the Eiffel Tower, can be seen from space, therefore you may be shocked to discover that there is an even larger rock. Mount Augustus in Western Australia is twice the size of Uluru, rising 3,625 feet (1,105 metres) above sea level and occupying 18.5 square miles (48 square kilometers. Though Mount Augustus may really consist of several layers of sand and gravel rather than a single boulder, it is still up for question if this is the largest single rock in the world.

San Francisco Has The Steepest Street In The World

We’ve all seen classic photographs of San Francisco’s Lombard Street meandering down the steep hill, yet it’s not even the city’s steepest street (that would be Filbert Street). Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, currently holds the world record for the steepest street. The roadway has a 34.8% gradient and climbs from 90 feet (27 meters) above sea level at its base to 330 feet (100 meters) at its peak.

Space Views Of The Great Wall Of China

This 'truth' is only a space-based fiction, contrary to popular opinion. The claim was refuted by Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei, who stated in 2003 that the ancient edifice could not be seen from the International Space Station, let alone the Moon.

It is claimed that the wall is difficult to see with the unaided eye since it blends in with the surroundings' natural hues and forms.

Toronto Is The Capital Of Canada

As Canada's largest and most populated city, Toronto may appear to be a strong contender for the title of capital city. In fact, a Washington Post poll found that 73% of Americans were confident in Toronto as the Canadian capital. In truth, it is simply the provincial capital of Ontario, while the genuine capital is around 280 miles (450 kilometers) distant. Ottawa received its formal title in 1866.

The Statue Of Liberty Is In New York

It's both true and false. The statue is formally recognized as a National Monument by the state of New York; yet, the island (together with Ellis Island) is located in the seas of New Jersey. To make matters more complicated, New York has held jurisdiction over the two islands since 1834, but New Jersey controls the ocean surrounding them. When both islands were artificially extended, a 1987 verdict divided Ellis Island between the states, but there has been no legal determination on Liberty Island.

Buckingham Palace Is The Official Residence Of The King

When visiting London, most tourists include a visit to Buckingham Palace in their itinerary. Given its location in the heart of the British capital, it seems to reason that it would also serve as the King's formal home. While the King officially lives in Buckingham Palace (his official London house), his true official residence and private home is Windsor Castle, the world's biggest inhabited castle, located 21 miles (34 kilometers) west of London. King Charles III also spends a lot of time at Clarence House, one of his London homes.

There Are 24 Time Zones

With 12 time zones reaching east and west from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), it is understandable that the world is split into 24 time zones. But it doesn't. Some time zones have deviations of only 30 or 45 minutes. The International Date Line further confuses things because it does not run in an imagined straight line, and not all nations observe Daylight Saving Time, which adds to the complexity. Currently, there are 38 declared time zones: 24 regular time zones and 14-time offsets.