45 Incredible Nature Facts to Know
Nature can be truly weird and wonderful. Here are 45 incredible nature facts to know:
1. The Amazon Makes Its Own Rain
Trees in the Amazon release water into the atmosphere through transpiration, creating clouds that return as rain and keep the rainforest ecosystem hydrated. The effect is weakening as deforestation grows.
2. Trees Communicate
Trees in forests can “talk” to each other through a network of fungi in the soil. They use this network to share nutrients and send warnings about pests.
3. Jellyfish Immortality
The Turritopsis dohrnii, also known as the “immortal jellyfish,” can revert back to its juvenile form after reaching maturity, essentially allowing it to live indefinitely.
4. There Are Lakes Under the Ocean
Certain areas on the ocean floor have highly saline “pools” of water that don’t mix with the surrounding seawater, creating lake-like formations complete with shorelines and sometimes even “waves.”
5. Crows Remember Faces
Crows can recognise and remember human faces, especially if the person poses a threat. They also share this information with other crows.
6. Ocean Depths Are Mostly Unexplored
Over 80% of the ocean remains unexplored, and scientists believe there are thousands of species still unknown.
7. Octopuses Have Three Hearts
Two hearts pump blood to the gills, while the third pumps it to the rest of the body.
8. Mount Everest is Still Growing
Due to the tectonic collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates, Mount Everest continues to grow by about 4 millimeters each year.
9. The Hummingbird’s Heartbeat
Hummingbirds have heart rates that can reach up to 1,200 beats per minute during flight, helping them sustain their rapid wing movement.
10. Butterflies Taste with Their Feet
Butterflies have taste sensors on their feet, helping them determine if a plant is suitable for laying eggs.
11. Dolphins Have Names
Dolphins communicate using unique whistles that function like names, identifying individuals within their pod.
12. Sequoia Trees Are Gigantic
The General Sherman Tree in California’s Sequoia National Park is the largest known living tree on Earth, weighing an estimated 2.7 million pounds.
13. Mushrooms That Glow in the Dark
Some species of fungi are bioluminescent, emitting a soft glow to attract insects for spore dispersal.
14. Elephants Can’t Jump
Elephants are the only land mammals that can’t jump due to their large mass and unique limb structure.
15. The Sahara Desert Was Once Green
About 6,000 years ago, the Sahara was lush and green with rivers, lakes, and diverse wildlife, before desertification transformed it.
16. Oceans Provide Most of Our Oxygen
The ocean, specifically phytoplankton, produces over 50% of the world’s oxygen, playing a crucial role in the global oxygen cycle.
17. Some Frogs Freeze and Thaw
Certain frog species can survive being frozen during the winter. They stop their hearts and later thaw out when temperatures rise.
18. Snow Can Be Pink
Algae in some snow produce a pink or red hue known as “watermelon snow.” This algae also smells faintly of watermelon.
19. Squirrels Accidentally Plant Millions of Trees
Squirrels bury nuts to store food, but they often forget where they hid them. These forgotten nuts can grow into trees, effectively making squirrels nature’s accidental gardeners.
20. Water Covers 71% of the Earth’s Surface
Yet, only 3% of Earth’s water is freshwater, and over two-thirds of that is locked in glaciers and ice caps.
21. The Blue Whale’s Tongue
A blue whale’s tongue can weigh as much as an adult elephant, and its heart can weigh as much as a small car.
22. Plants Know When They’re Being Eaten
Some plants release defensive chemicals when they “hear” the vibrations caused by caterpillars munching on their leaves.
23. Fungus Is the Largest Living Organism
A single fungus in Oregon’s Malheur National Forest, Armillaria ostoyae, covers about 2,400 acres and is estimated to be thousands of years old.
24. Pine Trees Can “Rain” Seeds
Some pine trees release seeds from their cones in a way that resembles rain, creating an abundance of new trees.
25. Giraffes Have the Same Number of Neck Bones as Humans
Despite their long necks, giraffes have just seven cervical vertebrae, the same as humans.
26. Starfish Can Regenerate Limbs
If a starfish loses an arm, it can grow a new one—and some species can even regrow an entire body from a single arm.
27. Vultures Have Acidic Stomachs
Vultures’ stomach acid is so strong it can dissolve anthrax and other pathogens, making them natural “cleaners” of dead animals.
28. Pandas Spend Most of Their Day Eating
Giant pandas eat bamboo for up to 14 hours a day, consuming as much as 40 pounds of it daily to get enough nutrients.
29. Trees Can Sleep, Kind of
Just like animals, trees have a form of circadian rhythm and go through a “sleep” phase at night. Their branches and leaves may droop slightly to conserve energy, especially in the dark hours.
30. Ants Have Their Own Superhighways
Some ant species create complex, high-speed trails for efficient travel, and they “leave messages” for each other using pheromones.
31. The Northern Lights Are Caused by Solar Wind
The Aurora Borealis is caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth’s magnetic field.
32. Flamingos’ Color Comes from Their Diet
Flamingos are born grey and only turn pink because of the carotenoid pigments in the algae and crustaceans they eat.
33. Birds Have Hollow Bones
Many birds have hollow bones that make their skeletons lighter, allowing for more efficient flight.
34. Some Turtles Breathe Through Their Rear Ends
Known as “cloacal respiration,” some turtle species can absorb oxygen from water through their cloaca.
35. Earthworms Have Multiple Hearts
Earthworms have five pairs of aortic arches that act like hearts to pump blood through their bodies.
36. The Sahara Has Snowed
Snowfall has been recorded in the Sahara Desert multiple times in recent decades, an unusual event in one of the world’s driest places.
37. Some Trees Can Live for Thousands of Years
Bristlecone pines can live over 5,000 years, making them some of the oldest known living trees.
38. Albatrosses Can Stay in the Air for Months
Albatrosses use dynamic soaring to glide for long periods without flapping their wings, covering thousands of miles over the ocean.
39. Frogs Can Breathe Through Their Skin
Frogs use their skin as a secondary respiratory surface, allowing them to absorb oxygen when underwater.
40. Sloths Are Surprisingly Strong Swimmers
Though slow on land, sloths are adept swimmers, using their long arms to paddle through water efficiently.
41. Sloths Can Also Hold Their Breath Longer Than Dolphins
Sloths can slow their heart rate and hold their breath underwater for up to 40 minutes, which is longer than a dolphin can manage.
42. The Deepest Point on Earth
The Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean reaches a depth of about 36,000 feet, deeper than Mount Everest is tall.
43. The Earth Isn’t Perfectly Round
Earth is an oblate spheroid, meaning it’s slightly flattened at the poles and bulges at the equator due to its rotation.
44. The Andean Condor Has the Largest Wingspan of Any Bird
Reaching up to 10.5 feet across, the condor’s wings are specially adapted for soaring on mountain thermals.
45. The Oldest Living Organism May Be a Colony
A clonal colony of quaking aspens in Utah, called “Pando,” is over 80,000 years old, sharing a single root system across 106 acres.
Nature: Varied & Vital
Nature’s adaptability, diversity, and beauty are astounding! These facts illustrate the incredible variety of life and phenomena found on Earth.
Importantly, nature is also key to our own survival. We rely on nature it all its various forms to maintain the environments we live and draw resources from. So, just a reminder to do what you can day-to-day to help nature thrive and continue to support us all!
Got any interesting nature facts of your own? Let us know in the comments section below!
Lastly, if you’d like to learn more about Climate Change and Sustainability then check out our recommended book lists below:
