All Facts
Every fact here links to the source it was checked against.
The Emancipation Proclamation Did Not End Slavery Nationwide
The Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, did not end slavery in the United States; it applied only to states that had seceded.
The Declaration of Independence Was Not Signed on July 4
The engrossed Declaration of Independence was signed on August 2, 1776, not on July 4.
The Great Wall of China Is Not Visible From the Moon
The Great Wall of China is not visible from the Moon, and it is difficult or impossible to see from Earth orbit without high-powered lenses.
Some Humpback Whales Migrate 5,000 Miles
Some humpback whale populations swim 5,000 miles between tropical breeding grounds and colder feeding grounds.
Elephant Seals Spend About Nine Months a Year at Sea
Northern elephant seals spend about nine months of the year in the ocean, most of that time underwater.
The Giant Manta Ray Has a Wingspan of Up to 26 Feet
The giant manta ray is the world's largest ray, with a wingspan of up to 26 feet.
Pronghorn Can Sprint at 45 to 50 Miles per Hour
Pronghorn can run sprints at 45 to 50 miles per hour, an adaptation to outrun a cheetah that is now extinct.
The Bison Is the Largest Land Mammal in North America
Bison are the largest land-dwelling mammals in North America; a male can weigh up to 2,000 pounds and still run 35 miles per hour.
The Green Turtle Is Named for Its Fat, Not Its Shell
The green turtle is named for the color of its fat, not its shell.
The Fin Whale Is the Second-Largest Whale on Earth
The fin whale is the second-largest whale species on Earth, second only to the blue whale.
Gray Whales Migrate About 10,000 Miles Every Year
Gray whales make one of the longest annual migrations of any mammal, traveling about 10,000 miles round-trip.
A Narwhal's Tusk Is Actually a Tooth
The tusk of a male narwhal is a tooth that grows out through the front of the jaw; it can reach 9.8 feet long.
Bowhead Whales May Live for More Than 200 Years
Evidence suggests that bowhead whales can live for more than 200 years.
About 91 Percent of Ocean Species Have Not Been Described
A 2011 study estimated that about 2.2 million species live in the ocean and that some 91 percent of them still await description.
The Gulf Stream Moves More Water Than All the World's Rivers
The Gulf Stream transports an amount of water greater than that carried by all of the world's rivers combined.
The Greenland Shark Is the Longest-Lived Vertebrate Known
The Greenland shark is the longest-lived vertebrate known: radiocarbon dating of 28 sharks revealed a life span of at least 272 years.
There Is Gold Dissolved in the Ocean
Ocean water contains gold, but it is so dilute that one study found only about one gram for every 100 million metric tons of water in the Atlantic and north Pacific.
Seawater Freezes at About 28.4 Degrees Fahrenheit
Seawater freezes at about 28.4 degrees Fahrenheit, lower than the 32 degrees at which fresh water freezes, because of the salt in it.
The Highest Tides in the World Are in Canada's Bay of Fundy
The highest tides in the world are found in Canada's Bay of Fundy, at Burntcoat Head in Nova Scotia.
The World's Largest Waterfall Is Under the Ocean
The world's largest waterfall lies beneath the Denmark Strait, between Iceland and Greenland, where cold water plunges nearly two miles.