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Looking at the BBC weather map one night i was shocked to see that Norwich is north of Birmingham 
Had always thought of Norwich as being part of the South East . Had spoken to people who lived in Norwich and worked in London , and they made out it was quite normal to do so. Birmingham i considered the start of The North and could not imagine anyone living there and working in London.
Reykjavik is nearer to New York City than it is to Moscow
This surprised me as i considered Iceland is basically Scandinavia .
Scandinavia is the part of europe nearest to North West Russia.
Moscow is sort of North West Russia.
Had always thought of Norwich as being part of the South East . Had spoken to people who lived in Norwich and worked in London , and they made out it was quite normal to do so. Birmingham i considered the start of The North and could not imagine anyone living there and working in London.
Reykjavik is nearer to New York City than it is to Moscow
This surprised me as i considered Iceland is basically Scandinavia .
Scandinavia is the part of europe nearest to North West Russia.
Moscow is sort of North West Russia.
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Pub quiz question: which is further East, Helsinki or Athens?
Some are surprised that the answer is Helsinki.
Some are surprised that the answer is Helsinki.
Pub quiz question: which is further East, Helsinki or Athens?
Some are surprised that the answer is Helsinki.
Some are surprised that the answer is Helsinki.
Uk is mich bigger than i used to think it was.
If you drive from lands end to john o'groats and back again then thats further than driving from UK to Greece
If you drive from lands end to john o'groats and back again then thats further than driving from UK to Greece
It's not all that far to Tipperary but the road is winding which makes it feel like a long way.
i mentioned once before on here that North Norfolk ( southern England) is furtehr north than south Cheshire (North of England)
It's part due to the sloping nature of the country . Hence aslo the Dundee /Bristol position.
Btw - this isn't considered Geography - at least the education system doesn't see it so - Geography is all about spending 2 years studying rock formations , glaciers and inner city housing .
It's part due to the sloping nature of the country . Hence aslo the Dundee /Bristol position.
Btw - this isn't considered Geography - at least the education system doesn't see it so - Geography is all about spending 2 years studying rock formations , glaciers and inner city housing .
and answering the Q,
the only thing that surprised me was (when i was around 14 ) to learn that the far north of Spain is nearer to England than to parts of southern Spain .
the only thing that surprised me was (when i was around 14 ) to learn that the far north of Spain is nearer to England than to parts of southern Spain .
Greenland always looks massive on a world map but a bit of a fallacy due to its shape and position
you can sail in a straight line from pakistan to russia
I grew up in Essex on the side of the terminal morraine of the last glacial advance. Land sloped up to the south. Although, as a kid I assumed upslope meant north. Took me years to overcome that thinking.
The map of the world distorts countries sizes, video is interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=241&v=lPNrtjboISg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=241&v=lPNrtjboISg
Lands End is not the Southernmost point of the U.K. That belongs to St. Agnes on the Isles of Scilly on which most of the freehold land is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall. A good little earner for Charlie!
Lands End is not even the southernmost point on the mainland. That would be Lizard Point.
My bit of trivia... Alaska is the furthest north, furthest west and furthest east of all the US states.
My bit of trivia... Alaska is the furthest north, furthest west and furthest east of all the US states.
John O'Groats is not the most Northern point in the UK. It's Dunnet Head further West along the coast.
Florida only the 22nd largest state too.
Another yank 'un. There are four Great Lakes, not five. Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are actually one lake.
Another yank 'un. There are four Great Lakes, not five. Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are actually one lake.
Countries coloured pink on a map indicating they were part of the British Empire were not always delighted to be such.
Travelling south from Detroit what's the first country you pass through?
Thought it was Mexico but its Canada.
Thought it was Mexico but its Canada.
The Faroe Islands are under the jurisdiction of Denmark - I always thought it was Egypt 
Not really a geographical fact so much as a mathematical one:
The last hurricane dropped a million tonnes of rain per square mile over Houston.
The last hurricane dropped a million tonnes of rain per square mile over Houston.
Travelling south from Detroit what's the first country you pass through?
Thought it was Mexico but its Canada.
___________
also not many folk would think of Canada as far south as Barcelona lol
Thought it was Mexico but its Canada.
___________
also not many folk would think of Canada as far south as Barcelona lol
Russia and Alaska are only a few miles apart at their closest points.
tobermory 10 Sep 17 02:05
' .... Birmingham i considered the start of The North and could not imagine anyone living there and working in London.
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No wonder you were bemused by many other locations.
"Birmingham," is the heart of the Midlands - Nowhere near, "the North." ...... Thankfully.
' .... Birmingham i considered the start of The North and could not imagine anyone living there and working in London.
--------------------
No wonder you were bemused by many other locations.
"Birmingham," is the heart of the Midlands - Nowhere near, "the North." ...... Thankfully.
I have never been able to make peace with 3 things. I always thought North Korea was in the south of South Korea, NZ was in the west of Aus and Spain was connected to UK in the South West. I still imagine them wrong, unless im looking at a map.
Other than that, I was suprised at the size of Finland and Sweden the first time i saw it on the map. Also surprised that there is a small country inside South Africa.
Other than that, I was suprised at the size of Finland and Sweden the first time i saw it on the map. Also surprised that there is a small country inside South Africa.
Wastern Australia in 4 times the size of Texas, with fewer people than Essex.
Australia is a southern hemisphere version of Essex lol
Extra-geographical, but mind-blowing trivia fact
A day on Venus is longer than a year on Venus.
A day on Venus is longer than a year on Venus.
I grew up in Essex on the side of the terminal morraine of the last glacial advance. Land sloped up to the south. Although, as a kid I assumed upslope meant north. Took me years to overcome that thinking.
Hey pxb. This is really interesting. You've got to be talking about Harwich/Manningtree vicinity. Am i correct? Cheers
Hey pxb. This is really interesting. You've got to be talking about Harwich/Manningtree vicinity. Am i correct? Cheers
I once had a pub quiz question, which two of the UK's four national capitals are on the same line of longitude?
The answer surprised me.
The answer surprised me.
The most westerly point of the US is not Hawaii - its in Alaska.
The distance between Perth and Sydney in Australia is approx 800 Kilometres farther than the distance between London and Moscow (3295km v 2503km)
In terms of population Leeds is the third biggest in the UK behind London and Birmingham
steerforth 11 Sep 17 12:10
I once had a pub quiz question, which two of the UK's four national capitals are on the same line of longitude?
The answer surprised me.
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Not me - Edinburgh and Cardiff
Lots of people would get their Longitude and Latitudes mixed up - and say Cardiff and London.
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Similarly - 'If you travelled due South from Glasgow - Which English county would you first cross?'
The majority would say - Cumbria ... But the answer is, in fact, Devon.
I once had a pub quiz question, which two of the UK's four national capitals are on the same line of longitude?
The answer surprised me.
------------
Not me - Edinburgh and Cardiff
Lots of people would get their Longitude and Latitudes mixed up - and say Cardiff and London.
-----------
Similarly - 'If you travelled due South from Glasgow - Which English county would you first cross?'
The majority would say - Cumbria ... But the answer is, in fact, Devon.
In terms of population Leeds is the third biggest in the UK behind London and Birmingham
_____________
not remotely possible KL punter -it's got to be Glasgow or Manchester depending on which units you use - Leeds is like a provincial town by comparison
_____________
not remotely possible KL punter -it's got to be Glasgow or Manchester depending on which units you use - Leeds is like a provincial town by comparison
it's all because the UK sits at an angle - same as with all the others .
sometimes UK is shown too upright so it fits easier on the screen
sometimes UK is shown too upright so it fits easier on the screen
Having driven around a lot of Texas this one still gets me. San Diego Ca is closer to El Paso Tx than Houston is!
Here's one that occurred to me when I was on a putting green on Cromer's seafront a few weeks ago.
So I've looked it up and had near shock!
If you got in the sea on the north Norfolk coast and started swimming directly north, what would be the 1st land you'd get to?
Nope, not the Shetlands, or Norway, or Spitzbergen....
given that the north pole is not land.....
It would be the north coast of eastern Russia not far from the Bering Strait. It's VERY close to the gap between Russia and Alaska.
It's almost, but not quite, all the way to Antarctica. Just skirting NZ on the way.
All mi oan wurk
So I've looked it up and had near shock!
If you got in the sea on the north Norfolk coast and started swimming directly north, what would be the 1st land you'd get to?
Nope, not the Shetlands, or Norway, or Spitzbergen....
given that the north pole is not land.....
It would be the north coast of eastern Russia not far from the Bering Strait. It's VERY close to the gap between Russia and Alaska.
It's almost, but not quite, all the way to Antarctica. Just skirting NZ on the way.
All mi oan wurk
I recall a quiz question which was... In order which country is nearest to the Isle Of Man, England Scotland Wales or Northern Ireland? The answer was the exact inverse of what I actually believed.
recently it surprised me that the population of the 4th largest city in the US (Houston) was only just over 2 million.
The population of India is about double that of Europe and four times that of the USA.
Yes , I think Australia has 4 cities larger than Houston.
I was pleasantly surprised that Great Britain has a turlough - had assumed there wouldn't be any.
And then found that the island of Ireland has a dozen or so.
Still find it hard to credit that the Shannon is the longest river in the Brit Isles, that there is a mountain on Mars twice the height of anything Nepal and Pakistan have got.
And then found that the island of Ireland has a dozen or so.
Still find it hard to credit that the Shannon is the longest river in the Brit Isles, that there is a mountain on Mars twice the height of anything Nepal and Pakistan have got.
Coachbuilder
Largest Cities by Population
www.ukcities. co.uk populations
London 7.2 million
Birmingham 992,000
LEEDS 720,000
Glasgow 560,000
a provincial town....I think not
Largest Cities by Population
www.ukcities. co.uk populations
London 7.2 million
Birmingham 992,000
LEEDS 720,000
Glasgow 560,000
a provincial town....I think not
one thing blew my mind a few weeks ago when I finally realised just how big russia is, it blew my mind!
Hey pxb. This is really interesting. You've got to be talking about Harwich/Manningtree vicinity. Am i correct? Cheers
The south side of Harlow. Alongside Latton Common and Woods (the edge of the morraine). I recall reading that prior to the glaciation, the River Thames ran in that area and reached the sea on the present day coast of Essex near the Blackwater Estuary.
http://www.geoessex.org.uk/files/thames_and_medway.jpg
The south side of Harlow. Alongside Latton Common and Woods (the edge of the morraine). I recall reading that prior to the glaciation, the River Thames ran in that area and reached the sea on the present day coast of Essex near the Blackwater Estuary.
http://www.geoessex.org.uk/files/thames_and_medway.jpg
Sep 11, 2017 -- 10:16PM, GRANTCKING wrote:
one thing blew my mind a few weeks ago when I finally realised just how big russia is, it blew my mind!
imagine it before the breakup.
I think the Thames and the Rhine were 3 ends of the same river back then.
Loving this thread - got me looking at a map. I had no idea that the Republic of Ireland extends further north than Northern Ireland
Measuring cities by population is a tricky one. Different definitions of what constitutes a city etc. Take this list of cities with a population over 1 million...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_cities#/search
Only one Australian city makes the list - Brisbane, with almost 1.2 million. Houston has almost 2.5 million. This next list sees both Sydney and Melbourne make the world's top 100, at 87th and 89th respectively. Houston 64th, Brisbane unsighted.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_urban_areas_by_population
Finally, metropolitan area:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_areas_by_population
Again Houston comfortably ahead of the Aussie cities.
Using that last list, and bearing in mind how massive Australia is, it's interesting to note that 9 'cities' have a larger population than the whole of Australia.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_cities#/search
Only one Australian city makes the list - Brisbane, with almost 1.2 million. Houston has almost 2.5 million. This next list sees both Sydney and Melbourne make the world's top 100, at 87th and 89th respectively. Houston 64th, Brisbane unsighted.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_urban_areas_by_population
Finally, metropolitan area:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_metropolitan_areas_by_population
Again Houston comfortably ahead of the Aussie cities.
Using that last list, and bearing in mind how massive Australia is, it's interesting to note that 9 'cities' have a larger population than the whole of Australia.
Using that same list, Tokyo has a larger population than Canada, the 2nd largest country in the world!
As a kid, I calculated that you could draw a straight line from the highest point of the Latton Woods morraine all the way to the Ural Mountains without encoutering a higher elevation. Might find it's not true if I did the same on Google Earth.
Coachbuilder lol
Largest Cities by Population
www.ukcities. co.uk populations
London 7.2 million
Birmingham 992,000
LEEDS 720,000
Glasgow 560,000
a provincial town....I think not
Don't belive any of them - someone has been messing about with things again (boundaries etc) idiots can't stop meddling with things - traditionally Glasgow or Brum /Greater Manchester -not a lot has changed.
Largest Cities by Population
www.ukcities. co.uk populations
London 7.2 million
Birmingham 992,000
LEEDS 720,000
Glasgow 560,000
a provincial town....I think not
Don't belive any of them - someone has been messing about with things again (boundaries etc) idiots can't stop meddling with things - traditionally Glasgow or Brum /Greater Manchester -not a lot has changed.
not sure how Glasgow is half the size either ha - i know a lot have moved down south lol
they've done the same to my town - despite the fact the town keeps edging out further and further /more and more building over the last 20 years into the countryside , the population has mysteriously gone down in the last 40 years - yeah right 
tbf - they mess about with it so much i can't be bothered to check the figures any more .
G;asgow btw is anything up to 2.5 million - which again is ridiculous -but a Wegie will tell you it's somewhere around the 1m figure
tbf - they mess about with it so much i can't be bothered to check the figures any more .
G;asgow btw is anything up to 2.5 million - which again is ridiculous -but a Wegie will tell you it's somewhere around the 1m figure
pxb - in a Rising damp episode , Rigsby mentioned there was nothing between his top floor attic room and the Urals
It was a common belief in that part of Essex that the east wind blew directly from Siberia. Some truth to it.
The land we are currently sat on now (UK) used to be south of the Equator.
You can find fossils from the bottom of the sea on the top of Snowdon.
Inverness on scottish east coast is further west than Liverpool
You can find fossils from the bottom of the sea on the top of Snowdon.
Inverness on scottish east coast is further west than Liverpool
Canada has a bigger area than the USA, but the USA has a bigger land area than Canada.
Half of Ireland was part of the American land mass, and half was part of the European land mass.
http://all-geo.org/metageologist/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/574px-Iapetus_fossil_evidence_EN.jpg
Half of Ireland was part of the American land mass, and half was part of the European land mass.
http://all-geo.org/metageologist/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/574px-Iapetus_fossil_evidence_EN.jpg
Western Australia is 2% of the world's entire land surface area.
STUDYFORM 11 Sep 17 21:14
If you got in the sea on the north Norfolk coast and started swimming directly north, what would be the 1st land you'd get to?
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None - You would either Drown or Freeze to death.
If you got in the sea on the north Norfolk coast and started swimming directly north, what would be the 1st land you'd get to?
------------
None - You would either Drown or Freeze to death.
New Zealand was above Australia opposed to being below it.
The country that makes the map always puts their country in the centre of the map and no reason why North is always at the top of the map so really NZ is not above, below nor at the side of Australia.
The only tollgate in London that requires payment to pass through is in College Road, Dulwich.£1.20 a pop.
Sep 12, 2017 -- 2:59PM, trilby22 wrote:
"Inverness on scottish east coast"
I was just puzzling over the very same thing!
that Inverness situation can also equally apply to Edin burgh
thought of one that really surprised me a couple of years back - Vienna/Brittany and also Budapest more northerly Nantes NW France ...took me a while to get my head round that one as i thought Nantes was much further north
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