Azerbaijan, located between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains, is home to hundreds of active mud volcanoes. Locally known as “yanardagh”, which means “burning mountain”, these volcanoes regularly expel mud, water, gases, and flames, creating a spectacular landscape. Mud volcanoes exist on almost every continent. It is estimated that Azerbaijan has around 400 mud […]
Geography
Just as all phenomena exist in time and thus have a history, they also exist in space and have a geography (United States National Research Council, 1997)
Marie Byrd Land: The Largest Unclaimed Territory on Earth
Marie Byrd Land is a vast territory that, due to its immense size and location in the most inhospitable continent on the planet, has managed to remain in a curious political limbo: it has not been claimed by any sovereign nation. With an area of 1,610,000 square kilometers (similar in size to Mongolia or Iran), […]
Rihonor de Castilla, the Village that is Half Spanish and Half Portuguese
Border towns and territories often have a turbulent history, being the object of both military and political confrontations over their possession, and frequently changing hands. When it comes to regions, the most characteristic examples are perhaps Alsace and Lorraine, which have alternated between being part of France and Germany. And if we talk about towns, […]
Antarctica: The Unknown Frontier Between Utopia and Dystopia
The Antarctic continent, with its vast and icy expanse, has fascinated explorers, scientists, and diplomats for centuries. This interest arises not only from its desolation and inhospitable beauty but also from the geographical and political imaginations it has inspired throughout history. A recent article by Joanne Yao explores how Antarctica, long conceived as the mythical […]
Peace Border, the world’s only binational plaza shared by two countries
In a world where borders are often synonymous with separation, control, and sometimes conflict, the Peace Border between Uruguay and Brazil is a curious exception. This border stretch, connecting the cities of Rivera (Uruguay) and Santana do Livramento (Brazil), is much more than just a dividing line between two nations. It is a symbol of […]
The Highest Peak in the Netherlands is a Caribbean Volcano You Climb via 1,064 Steps
Similar to Australia, whose highest peak is located in a remote part of the Indian Ocean, between Madagascar and Antarctica, the highest point in the Netherlands is not found in Europe, but on a small Caribbean island. This peak is Mount Scenery, a volcano located on the island of Saba, which rises 887 meters above […]
Longyearbyen, the northernmost city in the world with a permanent population, where carrying a rifle is mandatory when leaving
In the Svalbard archipelago, at 78 degrees north latitude, lies Longyearbyen, the northernmost city in the world with a permanent population. This Norwegian settlement, founded in 1906 by American businessman John Munroe Longyear as a mining town, has evolved over more than a century to become a fascinating microcosm of human life in the Arctic. […]
By 2100, Ships Could Sail Year-Round Through the Northern Sea Route in the Arctic, Changing Geopolitics and Global Trade
A team of researchers led by Pengjun Zhao has presented a revealing report on the future of maritime trade in the Arctic, specifically along the Northern Sea Route. This study, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, explores how climate change could allow navigation along this route year-round by the year 2100. Currently, Arctic […]
The Minneapolis Skyway System That Allows You to Traverse Downtown Without Going Outside
Can you imagine being able to walk down the street without having to endure harsh weather conditions? Traveling from one end of the city to the other safe from the rain, the scorching summer heat, or the freezing winter cold? Well, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, you can. Not on every street, of course, but on the […]
Altamira, the Brazilian city whose territory is larger than 104 countries
Altamira, located in the state of Pará, in northern Brazil, on the banks of the Xingu River (a tributary of the Amazon), is a geographic colossus that fascinates both for its vast territorial expanse and its natural and cultural wealth. With an area of 159,533 square kilometers, it is the largest municipality in Brazil and […]