10 Fun Facts From Around the World to Make You Smile

When it comes to national animals, the US has the bald eagle, Canada the beaver, and Scotland has the unicorn. Choosing a mythical creature as its national animal may seem strange to some but the unicorn has played a role in Scottish history for centuries, according to the Visit Scotland website. The unicorn was used  on the Scottish royal coat of arms in the 12 th century  and coinage contained unicorns as well. The Scottish even have a National Unicorn Day that falls on April 9 every year.

Japan has the highest number of vending machines per person in the world, with one per every 40 people according to the Readers Digest. These machines sell beverages, ice cream, soups, hot noodles, and even toys. It’s become a big part of the culture of this hard-working country.

While most people travel to Egypt to see the pyramids, they would be remiss in thinking that this country contains the most pyramids. Sudan has more! A lot more! To date, 255 pyramids have been discovered in Sudan, while only 138 have been found in Egypt.

Dutch people are very serious about coffee. With per capita consumption of 2.44 cups of coffee a day, they are the number one coffee drinkers in the world according to Mental Floss.  Finland and Sweden come in second and third in indulging in a cup of Joe. But Americans come in 16 th with only 0.931 cups per day.

While some holidays celebrate dogs or cats, Thailand has a festival dedicated to honoring monkeys, explained THE TRAVELINTERN website. It comes from Sanskrit folklore about a monkey helping Prince Rama save his bride from a 10-headed demon. To honor the monkeys that live in the Phra Prang Sam Yot temple, they are treated to fruits, vegetables, and Tai desserts. Local people dress up like monkeys to perform for the primates.

Russia and the US are separated by the Bering Strait which is only 3.8km at its narrowest end. During the winter the water freezes and it is possible to walk across. But don’t try this yourself, as it is not safe or legal. The ocean winds are very cold and the ice could shift. And if you are successful, you could be in violation of immigration laws.

Deserts are usually thought of as hot and dry with very little precipitation. Rain is rare, so snowfall would be thought to be an impossibility. As unlikely as it seems, snow does fall in the Sahara desert. In 2018, the Sahara was blanketed by snow although it only lasted a day before melting.

Most people have been taught that Mt Everest which straddles Nepal and China is the tallest mountain in the world. That’s actually not the case. Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, the twin volcanoes in Hawaii, are actually taller, reported BBC Science Focus. That’s because 4.2km of these mountains are submerged underwater.

According to the World Happiness Report, Finland has ranked first for seven years in a row. But it isn’t all that surprising, since Finland is the home of Santa Claus and reindeer. But on a more serious side, Finns are known for their deep sense of community, work-life balance, and life satisfaction.

While Americans are used to eating a large variety of foods, the sandwich is still the most popular lunch staple, according to Mental Floss. In fact, 49 percent of Americans eat a sandwich every day. So whether you enjoy  ham and cheese on white bread, a meatball hero, or corned beef on rye, there is a sandwich for everyone.

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