Sunday 31 January 2010

Brief: Collection 100 Opinions & Facts

100 Opinions:

1.P. Evans: A tiny little village called kames on the isle of Bute in Scotland, its surrounded by amazing landscapes and right by the sea and reminds me of happy times as a kid x

2.T. Harding: Trout Hall in Pievebovigliana, Italy. It's got amazing surrounding views of hills and woods, Italy always has the best light for drawing, and Trout Hall has an enormous studio for sale down in the basement under the flat.

3.N. Farrar: My favourite place is a beach where I live. It's near Maryport in Cumbria. I like it so much because it's got a lot of memories of summers I've spent there :)

4.J. Price: My favourite place would be Glasgow. Its just a really friendly place, nice people, good shops, places to eat, nights out etc etc its good to escape Edinburgh once in a while and the atmosphere in glasgae is so different. Like a mini London almost :)

5.K. Wallis: My favourite place is a village called Tudweiliog in Wales. It is basically 5 houses surrounded by a field, but I love it because it is an escape from modern society.

6.C. Pow: Hmm anywhere in Greece, particularly Crete though because some places are really pretty and its so nice and warm :-)

7.E. Fisher: hello! my favourite place is Meltham near Huddersfield - because it's home :D xxx

8.J.D. Finch: My favorite is Bloomington, IN. Most of the natives are between 18-25, there are more trees and flowers and castles than any other place in America, and, in Indiana, almost on the bottommost rung in the higher education ladder, 54% of the population has at least a bachelor's degree.

9.J. Essel: My favourite place is Durban in South Africa. Particularly the beaches and the crystal clear sea. It's a beautiful place to unwind and relax.

10.S. Miles: Newquay - because it has amazing memories and good beaches and nightlife!

11.J. Lowe: Salamanca- because it is where I learnt Spanish and had the best time of my life. I have memories of sitting outside in the early hours of the morning eating ice cream and it was still around 20-30c :)

12.N. Lovegrove: Well for me it would have to be Lech in the Austrian Alps because it is a skiing paradise on top of the world with some awesome places to stay.

13.J. Flear: Home. (Bradford) Specifically my bed.

14.K. Mead: Las Vegas - Was the highlight of my lads tour of the west coast. The mix of lights, sounds, people and events combined with its kind of sleazy side behind the glitz and glam of the huge over the top hotels just made it a totally amazing city to experience, oh and the desert heat helped :D

15.N. Jackson: Cornwall!! Good memories and relaxing :D

16.J. Temple: At a hippy festival in the hilly forests in Transylvania, Romania. Because I’ve never been surrounded by such beautiful nature and all the people were so full of love for everyone. :)

17.G. Byrne: Dragonby ponds near Scunthorpe- it is a place you can go and chill and contemplate on your own, its great to walk by in the winter and an amazing party place in summer! ahhh the memories.

18.C. Broadbent: Disneyland, Florida because i felt so happy there and something totally different it is like living a dream hehe!

19.S. Bourne: Paris ... just loved the culture - the little quaint streets etc

20.B. Gooch: New York City! Its an incredible place and makes you feel like your dreaming! I love the people, the food and the sites like ice skating in central park and shopping! There are always great things to do and see! It’s an exciting place!

21.J. Blackburn: Newcastle as its MAD!!

22.B. Hyder: Singapore without a shadow of a doubt is the place to be or Malaysia... then third maybe Dubai.. :D

23.D. Finch: Rome – culturally diverse, warmth of the local people and the Italian food.

24.A. Winterbourne: A small, slightly run down cottage in Thursford, Norfolk because its the most peaceful place i know and i have had great holidays there with my friends. It is also completely simple and has no unnecessary things in it so you feel a little like you have gone back in time!

25. H. Skelley: Mines Cornwall too!! i go every year too Watergate bay and i love it lots of fun times and my rubbish attempts of trying to surf :) long dive but totally worth it!! Xxxx

26. F. Eaton: Camel Club in Huddersfield ;) my second home where everyone knows my name :) lol

27. B. Colclough: Blackpool – because I have great memories of many family holidays spent there.

28. A.Lloyd: Cancun, Mexico as it is a sanctuary beyond expectation away from this concrete jungle world.

29. K.Rowland: on top of a roof in the Atlas Mountains in Morocco because it was so peaceful and relaxing and so so beautiful xx

30. L.Godden: Anywhere in the world, I’m not bothered- so long as I’m with people that I love & who love me! Friends & family. If I’ve got to choose a place…then Seoul, Korea as this is where I was born and my mothers family is Korean.

31. S.Dyke: Kerkby Lonsdale, there’s a place there called Devils Bridge where everybody goes to jump of a massive bridge into a river. Its not very safe but its fun. Probably my favourite place because i have good memories of there from being a kid.

32. S.Uennatornwaranggoon: The beach in Thailand, more specifically Koh Samet. And just home In general! Xx

33. J.Essel: Under a willow tree in summer in my garden, Sowerby Bridge.

34. S.Essel: On the slopes of Verbier in Switzerland, because it's captivating and beautiful.

35. S.Haymonds: Right here in the snow in Halifax!!! :D

36. D.Dean: A small village called Llanrug, the Welsh Mountatins in summer.

37. J. Finch: An old temple near Mutainyu, China. Beautiful temples set in a pine forest and when I visited it was pouring with rain whilst incense and smoke was rising through the trees - very atmospheric.

38. Liz.Miles - La Rochelle in the south of France because we have amazing family holidays there cycling and doing watersports.

39. C.Miles - London because I used to work in the city everyday and I loved the sights and the tube and being so close to everything.

40. Lois.Miles - Cardiff because my dads half of the family live there and the shopping is immense and I love the accent.

41. E.Holmes: Leeds, because of the city lifestyle - great shops and bars plus awesome nightlife.

42. M.Bennett - Moreton Island, 
Australia because its so hot
 and there’s great food - particularly the barbecue’s. Also there is amazing animals like kangaroo’s and crocodile’s 
and everyone has huge houses!

43. A. Johnson: the cliff near my house in Wooldale - it overlooks the entire Holme valley and its relaxing to sit there at sunset and watch all the street lights come on one after another in Holmfirth.

44. J.Catlow: I’d say a little beach near Auckland New Zealand. So peaceful and beautiful and a place to gather your thoughts, - brings back really great memories.

45. P.Husband: Berlin. The contrast of the old and the new. The terror, the fear contrasted with the humanity and hope for a better world. The spirit of individualism, which has fought through the oppression. It is a city in which the arts flourish as a result of its history and forward thinking and is often a driving force for the future.

46. P.Adamek: I'll say The Outwoods (a wood near Loughborough). It's a top place with good views of the Soar Valley and I have loads of memories of going up there with mates.

47. Z.Puckering: Newcastle, because I’m having an amazing time here at Uni and it’s a great city with friendly people.

48. K.Saeed: Windermere in the Lake District because of the beautiful lake and amazing scenery. Also it’s very peaceful and quiet so you can chill out and relax.

49. R.Bahadori: Erm I love Galway, Ireland because of the countryside, the animals, the smell, the fresh air, peaceful, relaxing, carefree.

50. K.Hair: Bolzano, Italy - skiing in the dolomite mountains, because it is beautiful and amazing :)

51. H.Swainson: okay Australia, sunshine coast Mooloolaba, went on sports tour round australia and this place was just amazing with the best name ever!!!

52. B.Mellor: Egypt - After going there in the summer i loved every minute of it, especially going to see the pyramids and diving in the red sea, defiantly going back there this year! xxx

53. D.Goggs: Buenos Aires - I flew there before going up into the Andes to complete a ski instructor course, it has a buzzing atmosphere, great food, loads to do and see.

54. S. Husband: Salvador, Brazil- went there on honeymoon. It had a great carnival atmosphere, amazing beaches and tasty food!

55. P.Ward: Uluru, Australia: Ayers Rock is an incredible sight with even more astonishing sunsets.

56. B. Crighton: It has to be Dubai. An amazing modern city with incredible architecture that sits next to old, traditional Arabian bazaars and markets.

57. A.Eaton: Probably Barcelona because it’s a fun city with loads to do and see. It has amazing tapas restaurants and a brilliant beach too.

58. K.Choi: Dalian, China mainly because its where my family and friends are, its also a beautiful part of northern China.

59. J.Saunders: Jeiju, a small island off southern Korea. It has a very peaceful atmosphere and spectacular scenery and stunning temples.

60. D. Taylor: Bombay/Mumbai in India. Its insanely busy day and night with incredible sights, sounds and smells.

61. Kyoto, Japan: Elegance and philosophy permeate every sweep of a rake-pebble temple garden in unarguably, the bastion of Japan’s rich cultural heritage, Kyoto. Here the springtime is highly anticipated as it brings with it the cherry blossom season - celebrated for centuries in public and private spaces and across the ages.

62.Istanbul, Turkey: A beautiful, spiky skyline of delicate minarets and onion domes, a city adorned with fantastic palaces decorated with riches gained in conquest. Visitors can see the city’s roots as a trading post with foreign lands in the magnificent Grand Bazaar with its miles of covered passageways and thousands of glistening shops and stalls.

63. New York City, USA: The pulse and pace are daunting at first, but the relentlessly fast rhythm of city life can’t be ignored. Before you know it, you are dashing around like a local, talking fast and eating on the run. New York can be anything you want it to be - stylishly chic or cutting edge trendy: a high temple of culture or hive of commercialism.

64. Bridgetown, Barbados: It’s dawn in the Caribbean and roseate sunlight glitters upon glassy waters silhouetting emerald isles rising sheer from seas of impossible blues and greens. Coral reefs edge up to frosted sands that coruscate like diamonds washed ashore from a Spanish treasure ship and the colours seem to pulsate in the Caribbean light.

65. Panama City, Panama: This wonderful city causes a double take; on the one hand it’s a quaint colonial city and on the other hand it poses high rise modernity set in dramatic counterpoint. Either way this inviting, sultry port city sits temptingly alongside the hustle and bustle of the famous Panama Canal.

66. Quito, Ecuador: Nestled in a narrow valley at the base of the Pichincha Volcano, Quito is a true Andean gem. A city of two complementary facets; to the north, sleek tree lined avenues housing embassies and offices and to the south, the Centro Historico which forms the ornate, colonial centre and has some of the finest views in the Andes.

67. Punta Arenas, Chile: As dawn breaks on the beagle channel, the early morning light gradually illuminates the electric blue ice of the floating glaciers surrounding your ship, and the intense, wintry silence is occasionally broken by an occasional thunderous crack as huge chunks of ice detach themselves and plunge into the ocean.

68. Venice, Italy: Built on the water, slowly sinking into the sea, Venice is one of the most romantic cities in the world, as well as one of the most distinctive. However many photographs or paintings you see of it, the first view of Venice never fails to take your breath away.

69. Tokyo, Japan: Nowhere in the world brings together the ancient and the modern quite like Tokyo. On one hand it’s a futuristic neon cityscape, fast-paced and crowded with a high-octane lifestyle and a real, genuine buzz about it. On the other hand there are cobble stone streets, Shinto shrines and spaces for quiet contemplation for Tokyoites.

70. San Francisco, USA: Highway I snakes along wave-lashed seashores, hugging the Golden State’s coast all the way from the beautiful vineyards of Medocino to just south of the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles. A classic route between San Francisco and Monterrey that winds past seaside towns, forests of giant redwoods and enchanting resorts nestled against the roaring Pacific.

71. Florence, Italy: Tuscany is a feast for the senses. Sublime art and breathtaking architecture vie for your attention amid vistas of incompareably romantic landscapes swathed in vineyards that clamber among timeless hilltop towns.

72. Santorini, Greece: The raw, elemental beauty of Santorini must be seen to be believed. The pick of the Greek Islands, it is best known for its incredible, volcanic landscape that is adorned by gleaming white villages with cobalt rooftops that defy gravity to great effect.

73. Vermont, USA: With its mix of mountains and meadows, Vermont is a special scenic corner of America, blessed with an abundance of sugar maple trees that not only produce the state’s famous maple syrup but are responsible for the distinctive bright red leaves that make this one of autumn’s most colourful destinations.

74. Bazaruto, Mozambique: Long one of Southern Africa’s least known destinations, Mozambique is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the continents most submarket and alluring resorts. Its magnificent coastline is fringed by pristine islands, their white sands dotted with palm trees and crisscrossed by centuries old footsteps from trading centres as distant as Goa, Macau and Arabia.

75. Lucerne, Switzerland: With its fairytale turrets and covered wooden bridges, medieval Lucerne is one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Surrounded by mountains on the western shore of the lake that shares its name, there can be few festival towns that enjoy such a setting.

76. Hanoi, Vietnam: In a land of mesmerizing sights, sounds, smells and tastes that is like no other, Vietnam delivers adventure and sensory overload. This is a land of picture postcard images such as scattered bobbing conical straw hats dotting a patchwork landscape of emerald rice fields.

77. Vancouver, Canada: It is one of the most naturally spectacular cities in the world, and at barely 100 years old it is also one of the youngest. Like many young towns it is still establishing itself as a cultural hub but its art scene is beginning to thrive and it is also a magnet for lovers of the outdoors.

78. La Paz, Bolivia: For even the most seasoned traveler, a visit to La Paz is not one that will be forgotten. The views around the city are staggering, with phenomenal vistas of the encircling mountains and, above all the sight of the triple peaked Illimani, with its snow capped summit ignited a blazing orange by the sun.

79. Mexico City, Mexico: Ancient yet modern, Mexico City pulsates with life and culture, serving up a veritable feast of history, art, music and cuisine. Once know as Tenochtitlan by the Aztecs who founded their city in a giant caldera in 1325, this is North America’s oldest city and one of the world’s largest.

80. Miami, USA: Sultry, sizzling Miami has it all; miles of sunny beach by day, pulsating nightlife, fine dining, trendy shopping, an exciting art scene, and a vibrant cultural life. While there is a bustling commercial downtown - for many, Miami means Miami beach.

81. Beijing, China: Like China itself, Beijing makes no concessions to the visitor. It is a vast, uncontainable city teeming with people. They throng the downtown neighborhoods, spill out from restaurants and cafes and crowd into the city’s many landscaped parks.

82. Dubrovnik, Croatia: The most visited destination in Croatia, Dubrovnik has a full package of delights for any visitor - a happy combination of historic, fortified towns, Roman ruins, Venetian palaces and miles and miles of crystal clear waters and a constantly warm and dry climate.

83. Barcelona, Spain: Few cities are better for strolling and people watching than Barcelona. The city is home to Las Ramblas - a spectacular mile long promenade that runs down from the city centre to the sea. This avenue gains a special verve inn early summer as the last chills of spring are cast off and fresh sunlight dapples the pavement and illuminates street side flower stalls.

84. Samarkand, Uzbekistan: One of the most romantic names of the trading stops along the Silk Road, Samarkand is still rich in the architecture that made it a remarkable outpost of medieval civilization. The city luxuriates in a golden sunlight that causes everything to glitter, from tomb mosaics to vivid lapis-blue tiled cupolas.

85. Berlin, Germany: Berlin is an ever-changing city, a cultural blend of German-Prussian traditions and a proud history, with an insatiable longing for new, daring architecture, art and music. Life in the German Capital has always been on the cutting edge - from the wild days of the 1920’s cabaret and the horrors of World War II, to the menacing Wall and the sudden reunification and rejuvenation of this metropolis.

86. Marrakech, Morocco: One of the most exotic places on Earth, the ancient market town of Marrakech was born as the first stop after the Atlas Mountains for trading caravans heading further into North Africa. Life in this old walled city revolves around the medieval minaret of the Koutoubia Mosque that stands high above all other buildings, a beacon to new arrivals.

87. Katmandu, Nepal: Nepal is the crown of the Indian subcontinent, set against a stunning backdrop of the Himalaya’s which stretch like a spine across the north of the country. A fascinating amalgam of two great faith’s and cultures mean majestic temples, shrines and monasteries’ in even the remotest of places.

88. Zermatt, Switzerland: In this quintessential Swiss village, picturesque chalets dot the hillsides and horse drawn sleighs ply the main street, where all cars are forbidden, all under the watchful gaze of Switzerland’s most famous landmark - the mighty Matterhorn Mountain.

89. Hong Kong, China: Firecrackers explode on the streets, their metallic booms and bangs traveling up the skyscraper facades into the skies amid blazes of thick smoke. The sounds of drums, gongs and cymbals - played frantically as the wafting smoky smell of burning incense accompany the larger than life lions and dragons dancing playfully through the streets - it can only be Chinese new year in Hong Kong.

90. Bangkok, Thailand: At first sight, Bangkok is an incomprehensible, sprawling megalopolis of some eight million, a chaotic capital of dust, smog, dirt and traffic made for daredevils. However, once you look beyond the obvious distractions, Bangkok has an astonishing beauty and grace ranging from the spiraling towers of the Golden Palace, to the many glistening temples that are spread across the city.

91. St. Petersburg, Russia: The eternal enigma that is Russia comes closest to the West, literally and figuratively in the city of St. Petersburg, glittering beside the river Neva, just off the Baltic Sea.

92. Male, Maldives: The only way to describe this group of lush and tropical remote islands, each one with its own coral reefs and shallow turquoise lagoons, floating in the idyllic Indian Ocean is to call it “heaven on earth”. On land, there are masses of coconut palms and fruit trees and the white sand beaches that ring each island are scattered with beautiful shells of every shape and description.

93. Havana, Cuba: Cuba’s capital city exudes exoticism and eccentricity with its slightly surreal blend of colonialism and communism. It is steeped in an almost tangible 1950’s, pre-revolutionary charm that is simply irresistible.

94. Temuco, Chile: Midnight trails lead through lush forest to a necklace of rock pools, where hot springs bubble and steam. The craggy peaks of Chile’s lake district, crowned by the smoldering Volcan Villarrica, tower over the burbling pools whose therapeutic waters beckon a nocturnal dip.

95. Vieques, Puerto Rico: Affectionately known as the Spanish Virgins, Vieques and nearby Cuelbra are the largest isles in a small archipelago off the east coast of Puerto Rico. These pearls in a sapphire sea are edged by silky sands dissolving into waters of lapis lazuli.

96. Cartagena, Colombia: Soaring temperatures add a steamy Caribbean haze to Cartagena’s exquisite streetscape, a picture perfect labyrinth of balconied colonial buildings in a dazzling array of bubblegum hues. Blossom-clad shutters look out on neat plazas hemmed by a riddle of cobblestone backstreets where vendors ply giant red papayas and juicy mangoes in the shade.

97. Quebec City, Canada: History runs deep in Quebec City. The French-speaking town on the St.Lawerence River has North America’s only fortified town outside Mexico, and you can walk its walls. Dominating the old town is the French style chateau Frontenac, with its turrets, towers and steep green copper roof.

98. Montevideo, Uruguay: “The highest quality of life in South America” is a statement that’s often made about Montevideo and it’s easy to see why. This is a prosperous, sophisticated, relaxed city, with wide avenues, handsome European style buildings and all the trappings of modern life. The beaches are pretty wonderful too.

99. Siena, Italy: Nobody who walks into Siena’s Piazza del Campo can fail to be overwhelmed by the audacity of it’s space. This hilltop Tuscan town is smaller and less busy than major tourist centre’s such as Florence, but is jammed full of rewarding corners and artistic highlights.

100. Hue, Vietnam: Looking at the grand illuminated Ngo Mon Gate at night, it’s hard to imagine the battering Hue Citadel received during the Vietnam War. Home of emperors from the mid-18th century until the end of World War 1, its jumble of knocked about monuments is still an impressive sight. Utterly tranquil now beside the ‘perfume river’, the citadel of the old, fortified, imperial capital has quiet streets to wander around.

100 Facts:

1.Kames, Bute, Scotland:

Latitude: 55.89277, Longitude: -5.24518

2.Pievebovigliana, Italy:

Latitude: 43.06413, Longitude: 13.08390

3.Maryport, Cumbria, England:

Latitude: 54.71276, Longitude: -3.49632

4.Glasgow, Scotland:

Latitude: 55.86563, Longitude: -4.25722

5.Tudweiliog, Wales:

Latitude: 52.89864, Longitude: -4.62220

6.Iraklio, Crete, Greece:

Latitude: 35.32916, Longitude: 25.13853

7.Meltham, England:

Latitude: 53.59206, Longitude: -1.85081

8.Bloomington, Indiana, USA:

Latitude: 39.16533, Longitude: -86.52639

9.Durban, South Africa:

Latitude: -29.85700, Longitude: 31.02479

10.Newquay, England:

Latitude: 50.41361, Longitude: -5.08336

11.Salamanca, Spain:

Latitude: 40.96497, Longitude: -5.66305

12.Lech, Austria:

Latitude: 47.20812, Longitude: 10.14170

13.Bradford, England:

Latitude: 53.79385, Longitude: 1.75244

14.Las Vegas, USA:

Latitude: 36.11465, Longitude: -115.17282

15.Truro, England:

Latitude: 50.26295, Longitude: -5.05070

16.Oradea, Romania:

Latitude: 47.05792, Longitude: 21.94151

17.Scunthorpe, England:

Latitude: 53.57912, Longitude: 0.65441

18.Orlando, Florida, USA:

Latitude: 28.52926, Longitude: -81.37925

19.Paris, France:

Latitude: 48.85667, Longitude: 2.35099

20.New York City, USA:

Latitude: 40.71427, Longitude: 74.00597

21.Newcastle, England:

Latitude: 54.97784, Longitude: -1.61292

22.Singapore:

Latitude: 1.35208, Longitude: 103.81984

23.Rome, Italy:

Latitude: 41.89547, Longitude: 12.48232

24.Thursford, Norfolk, England:

Latitude: 52.86560, Longitude: 0.95989

25.Watergate Bay, Cornwall, England:

Latitude: 50.44484, Longitude: -5.04130

26.Huddersfield, England:

Latitude: 53.64512, Longitude: -1.78488

27.Blackpool, England:

Latitude: 53.81417, Longitude: -3.05351

28.Cancun, Mexico:

Latitude: 21.14782 Longitude: -86.83499

29. Ain ech Chair, Atlas Mountains, Morocco:

Latitude: 32.20357 Longitude: 2.51732

30. Seoul, South Korea:

Latitude: 37.56654, Longitude: 126.97797

31. Kerkby Lonsdale, North Yorkshire, England:

Latitude: 54.22498, Longitude: -2.19485

32. Koh Samet, Thailand:

Latitude: 12.56685, Longitude: 101.45947

33. Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire, England:

Latitude: 53.70764, Longitude: -1.91254

34. Verbier, Switzerland:

Latitude: 46.09677, Longitude: 7.22922

35. Halifax, Yorkshire, England:

Latitude: 53.72438, Longitude: -1.86158

36. Llanrug, Wales:

Latitude: 53.11310, Longitude: -4.12210

37. Mutainyu, China:

Latitude: 40.14424, Longitude: 116.32599

38. La Rochelle, France:

Latitude: 46.15810, Longitude: -1.15364

39. London, England:

Latitude: 51.50015, Longitude: -0.12624

40. Cardiff, Wales:

Latitude: 51.48131, Longitude: 3.18050

41. Leeds, England:

Latitude: 53.79964, Longitude: -1.54911

42. Moreton Island, Australia:

Latitude: -27.08732, Longitude: 153.41542

43. Wooldale, Yorkshire, England:

Latitude: 53.57617, Longitude: -1.77054

44. Auckland, New Zealand:

Latitude: -36.84739, Longitude: 174.76574

45. Berlin, Germany:

Latitude: 52.52341, Longitude: 13.41140

46. Loughborough, England:

Latitude: 52.77077, Longitude: -1.20435

47. Newcastle, Englland:

Latitude: 54.97784, Longitude: -1.61292

48. Windermere, England:

Latitude: 54.36193, Longitude: -2.92351

49. Galway, Ireland:

Latitude: 53.27380, Longitude: -9.05178

50. Bolzano, Italy:

Latitude: 46.49672, Longitude: 11.35800

51. Mooloolaba, Australia:

Latitude: -26.67769, Longitude: 153.11717

52. Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt:

Latitude: 27.85980, Longitude: 34.28240

53. Buenos Aires, Argentina:

Latitude: -34.60842, Longitude: -58.37316

54. Salvador, Brazil:

Latitude: -12.97038, Longitude: -38.51238

55. Uluru, Australia:

Latitude: -25.30068, Longitude: 130.99723

56. Dubai, UAE:

Latitude: 25.27114, Longitude: 55.30749

57. Barcelona, Spain:

Latitude: 41.38792, Longitude: 2.16992

58. Dalian, China:

Latitude: 38.91378, Longitude: 121.61477

59.Mumbai, India:

Latitude: 19.01766, Longitude: 72.85618

60. There are 194 recognised countries in the World as of May 8th, 2009.

61. The world population count stands most recently at 6,692,030,277 claims the World Development Indicators.

62. Asia is the largest continent in the world covering an area of 43,608,000sq km/16,838,365 miles.

63. The largest ocean in the world is the Pacific Ocean covering an area of

165,384,000 sq km/ 63,838,000 sq miles.

64. The highest mountain in the world is Mount Everest in Nepal, which stands at 8,848m/ 29,028ft.

65. The highest waterfall in the world is the Angel Falls in Venezuela, which stands at 979m/ 3,212ft.

66. The largest lake in the world is the Caspian Sea, which covers 371,000 sq km/ 143,205 sq miles.

67. The longest river in the world is the Nile, in Egypt, which stretches 6,670km/4,145miles.

68. The largest island in the world is Greenland, which belongs to Denmark and covers 2,175,600 sq km/839,780 sq miles.

69. The most populous city in the world is Shanghai in China which, has according to its 2007 census has 14,348,535 people.

70. The most widely spoken language is Chinese Mandarin with an estimated 1.6 billion speakers.

71. Lines of latitude stretch east to west around the globe and they are measured in degrees north and south of the Equator.

72. Lines of longitude circle the earth from north to south and are measured in degrees east and west of the Greenwich Meridian.

73. The largest country in terms of size is the Russian Federation, which covers 17,075,ooo sq km/6,592,637 sq miles.

74. The smallest country in terms of size is the Vatican City, which lies in the city of Rome and has a total area of only 0.44sq km/0.17sq miles.

75. As the world is round it is difficult to show its surface on a flat page and the only way to flatten out the surface is by splitting it into segments, which makes a map that is difficult to use. In order to draw a map areas of it must be stretched using one of many types of map projection, the most common of which is equal area projection.

76. The shortest river in the world is the Roe River in Montana, USA, which is only 60m/200ft long.

77. The world’s highest geyser is found in Yellowstone National Park, USA, which can reach 115m/380ft high.

78. The world’s longest land border is between Canada and the United States, measuring 6,416km/3,987miles.

79. The driest place on earth can be found in the Atacama Desert, Chile, where the average rainfall there is nil. In 1971, rain fell there for the first time in over 400 years.

80. The Sahara is the largest desert in the world and stretches across North Africa covering an area of around 9,000,000sq km/3,474,927 sq miles.

81. The world’s highest temperature was recorded in 1922, Al’Azizya, Libya where it reached 58 degrees Celsius in the shade.

82. The largest man-made lake in world is Lake Volta, Ghana, which was formed by the Akosombo Dam and has a surface area of 8,482sq km/3,275 miles.

83. There are 24 separate time zones that divide up the globe and are measured from Greenwich, England.

84. The Equator is located at zero degrees latitude, is 24,901.55 miles long and divides planet earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

85. The Prime Meridian is located at zero degrees longitude and divides planet earth into the Eastern and Western Hemispheres and is the line from which all other lines of longitude are measured.

86. The Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn are located at 23.5 degrees north and south of the equator respectively. This area known as the ‘Tropics’, experiences no dramatic change in season because the sun is consistently high in the sky throughout the year.

87. The greatest ocean depth is found in the Pacific where the Mariana Trench plunges 35,827ft/10,924m.

88. China is the country that has the most land borders - 14 in total.

89. The richest country in terms of GNP is Luxembourg, which has an average of $45,360.

90. The poorest country in terms of GNP is Mozambique, which has an average of $80.

91. The country with the highest density of people per square kilometer is Monaco with 16,205.

92. The country with the lowest density of people per square kilometer is Mongolia with 2.

93. The wettest inhabited place on earth is Buenaventira, Colombia, which has an annual average rainfall of 267 inches.

94.The driest inhabited place on earth is Aswan, Egypt, which has an annual average rainfall of 0.02 inches.

95. Reykjavik, Iceland is considered the greenest city in the world as it has the lowest per capita carbon emissions due to hydrogen buses, geothermal and hydropower sources and is targeting to be fossil fuel free in 2050.

96. La Paz, Bolivia, sitting at an altitude of 3,600 metres makes it the highest capital city in the world.

97. The deepest lake in the world is Lake Baikal in the Russian Federation that reaches a depth of 5,315ft.

98. The hottest place in the world is Dalol, Ethiopia, which has an average annual temperature of 34 degrees Celsius.

99. The coldest place in the world in the Plateau Station, Antarctica, which has an average annual temperature of -56.7 degrees Celsius.

100. The youngest country in the world is Kosovo, which was formed after the break up of Yugoslavia.