Guides
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In-depth, easy-to-read guides to the biggest questions in geography — researched, ranked and richly linked.
Forests
Types of Forests Explained: Rainforest, Taiga, Mangrove & More
From steaming equatorial rainforests to the frozen taiga that circles the Arctic, here is how the world’s forests are classified — and what makes each one unique.
Record-breakers
The Tallest Trees in the World
The tallest living things on the planet are trees — and the very tallest would dwarf the Statue of Liberty. Here are the record-holders and how they reach such staggering heights.
Rivers
The Longest Rivers in the World
Rivers are the planet’s great lifelines. These are the longest of them all — and why the title of “longest river” is still argued over today.
Mountains
The Highest Mountain on Every Continent (The Seven Summits)
The highest peak on each continent together form the legendary “Seven Summits” — a mountaineering grand slam. Here they are, from Everest down.
Phenomena
What Causes the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)?
The shimmering curtains of the aurora are a collision between the Sun and our atmosphere. Here is exactly what causes them — and where to go to witness them.
Deserts
The Largest Deserts in the World
A desert is defined by how little it rains — not by how hot it is. By that measure, the two largest deserts on Earth are frozen. Here is the full ranking.