Earth is the only planet known to us that we can safely call populated. Today this is a defining moment that distinguishes our space house from similar objects. However, interesting facts about the Earth are just beginning with it. Despite the fact that the answers to many secrets of the planet are literally under your feet and above your head, scientists still can not explain much. On the other hand, among the accumulated information there are sometimes more surprising facts than other events in deep space.
Cases of bygone days
For the distant ancestors of any nation, all inexplicable facts on Earth were evidence of the presence of supernatural powers: gods, spirits, fairies and sorceresses. However, in the epoch most remote from us in time, inquisitive minds were found that sought to explain the events differently. They found patterns, learned to predict certain phenomena, created theories about the structure of the world. The myth of the Earth resting on the backs of huge animals, which arose in the process of such attempts to understand the surrounding nature, is unusually tenacious. It is still found, for example, among the Indians. According to their model of the universe, the Earth rests on the back of a turtle and flinches every time it takes a step.
Tremors of the earth
Of course, such an explanation of earthquakes does not satisfy scientists. Today, almost everyone knows that the cause of this phenomenon is the movement and collision of tectonic plates. However, many facts are not connected with earthquakes, which are not known to the majority, and some of them still remain inexplicable.
Interesting facts about the Earth include, for example, such statistics:
- every year around the world there are about 500 thousand earthquakes, and every day their number reaches 8 thousand, but most of them are imperceptible;
- noticeable to humans occur about 55 thousand times a year;
- earthquakes that cause damage and have a magnitude of 5 to 8.9 points occur no more than 1000 times a year;
- Fortunately, the most catastrophic in their consequences are very rare - about once every 20 years.
Interestingly, the complete disappearance of earthquakes, as well as volcanic activity, will mean the cessation of tectonic activity. This is possible after the completion of all the processes that occur in the bowels. Oddly enough, such a thing is very undesirable for humans, since it is a sign of the end of the differentiation of the bowels, and, therefore, the loss of the Earth’s main source of energy, “warming” it. It can be said that earthquakes are a sign of planet life.
Weird flash
There are some very unusual facts about the Earth related to the shaking of the firmament. According to many eyewitnesses, such phenomena are accompanied not only by destruction and tremors, but also by bright flashes. The physicist from Italy, Cristiano Feruga, has collected a large number of references to such phenomena, covering many sources up to 2000 BC. However, scientists drew attention to this evidence only after the publication of photographs taken during the earthquake in 1966 in Japan.
Today there are already many such pictures. It is sometimes difficult to understand whether it is fake or not. However, an explanation for the phenomenon is still not found.
Supercontinent
The cause of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and mountain building lies in the movements of tectonic plates. It also leads to what scientists call the drift of the continents. Thanks to this process, interesting facts about the Earth are supplemented by information about the existence in the distant past of several supercontinents that disintegrated and, after a while, “gathered” again, but in a slightly different configuration. The last of them is called Pangea. However, the most interesting thing about the Earth from this angle is that the process continues at the present time. Each year lithospheric plates cover a distance of several centimeters, that is, in the future, after about 250 million years, a new single continent will form.
Moving stones
What movement of tectonic plates does not explain is the change in position of strange stones in the famous Death Valley in California. They are on the surface of a dried lake and leave clear marks, slowly moving along it. Numerous studies and observations have yielded small results - scientists are still not able to explain the movement of stones. It is only known that for 7 years they cover about 200 m, but no one has ever seen how they move. The greatest "activity" of stones occurs in the winter.
Miracles are very close
Interesting facts about the relief of the Earth of this kind are not only of American origin. Strange stones called trents are also in Romania. People living next to them say that they can multiply. On the rounded stone, growths gradually form, which after a while "bud" and then grow on their own, and at a fairly high speed. There is no comprehensive explanation for the “behavior” of boulders. Some theories describe them as a silicon form of life.
Unusual stones are also found in Kolpnyansky district of the Oryol region . They periodically begin to grow, like seedlings. Some locals refer to the boulders as a shrine. It is believed that touching them gives strength and health.
Earth's magnetic field: interesting facts
If you look at the photo of the stones from the Death Valley, it may seem that something attracts them. Involuntarily, it is recalled that our planet is a kind of huge magnet. Interestingly, the occurrence of the Earth's magnetic field also belongs to the category of facts without an unambiguous scientific explanation. The main hypothesis is that it is generated by the liquid part of the core, consisting of alloys of iron and nickel. However, not all facts such a hypothesis can explain.
The researchers found that the cooling lava can talk about the direction and strength of the magnetic field. Her samples of different times were studied. It turned out that the strength of the field in some periods of the history of the planet was significantly reduced. This fact, as well as the dependence of the field on solar activity, is explained by another hypothesis of the origin of the planet's magnetism. According to her, the main role in the process is played by the air-water ocean. Water, evaporating, is electrified and receives a positive charge. At the same time, negative ions accumulate in the earth. Due to the rotation of the planet, a stream of charged particles is formed, that is, actually a current. And, as you know from the school physics course, where there is electric current, there is a magnetic field.
The work of human hands
Many incredible facts about the Earth owe their appearance to people. Unfortunately, quite often they have a negative color. There are also known cases in history when the decision of a small group of people led to rather strong changes in the landscape. An impressive example of this is the Gates of Hell in Turkmenistan. This is a deep hole in which flames rage. About 35 years ago, gas was developed here. In the process of mining, the site on which the camp of geologists is located collapsed into a deep cave. No one was willing to go down for things, since the entire hole formed was filled with natural gas. They set it on fire. It is still burning, and it is not known when this man-made miracle will cease to please and frighten local residents.
Interesting facts about the Earth can be listed endlessly. With the development of science, an explanation of an increasing number of mystical phenomena and simply strange natural processes appears. At the same time, research makes its contribution to a collection of curious information: every year, scientists discover something new, the existence of which they had no idea.