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Environment Trivia

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Water from the north Pacific can be carried by deep ocean currents right around Africa and into the North Atlantic.

The bark of the redwood tree is fireproof. Fires in redwood forests take place inside the trees.

Water has a greater molecular density in liquid form than as a solid. This is why ice floats.

The best diamonds are colored blue-white.

Water that is evaporated by air flowing in from outside leaves a residue of bumpy cave popcorn. Like moss on the north side of trees used by hikers for direction, cavers use cave popcorn as a compass to find new passages or their way out. "Moonmilk" is made of tiny calcite crystals, but has the look and feel of cottage cheese. It was a folk medicine smeared on livestock to heal wounds in ancient times. The folklore was accurate; moonmilk from caves is made from the same type of bacteria used to make antibiotics.

The biggest snowflake ever reported measured 15 inches across.

We rely on the Sun's output remaining steady for our climate to support life on Earth. If the Sun's energy output would decreased by one-tenth, the entire Earth would be covered in ice one mile thick; if the sun's energy increased by 30 percent, all life on Earth would be burnt to a cinder.

The bleakest places on Earth are the two poles: the South Pole has no sunshine for 182 days each year; the North Pole does slightly better — it has no sunlight for 176 days.

The bulbs and leaves of the daffodil contain poisonous crystals which only a select few insects can eat without suffering an agonizing death. While squirrels and other rodents won't eat them, they may dig up the bulbs.

The California redwood – coast redwood and giant sequoia – are the tallest and largest living organism in the world.

The canopy, or top layer of trees, is home to most of the animals and insects that live in the rainforest.

The carnation is native to the Mediterranean area.

The cashew tree is native to Brazil and other tropical areas in Central and South America.

When energy is used, it doesn't disappear; it merely goes elsewhere or is changed into another form.

When out hiking or camping, you can determine how much daylight is left by holding your fist up to the western horizon. Stack your fists on top of one another up to the Sun's level in the sky. Each fist represents about an hour of remaining daylight.

The cashew tree is related to the American poison ivy and poison sumac.

When viewed from above, rainbows are doughnut-shaped.

The cirrus cloud, the highest type of cloud in altitude, contains extremely cold water at -31° Fahrenheit.

While diamonds are usually considered the most precious of stones, a large, near flawless emerald is worth considerably more than a diamond of the same size.

The Coco de mer, or double coconut palm of the Seychelles, bears the largest seed in the plant kingdom, weighing up to 60 pounds.

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