Glacial Landforms of the Puget Lowland
During the last ice advance and retreat (in the latest Pleistocene), an extension of the Cordilleran ice sheet called the
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Map of first higher education degrees of European country leaders
Law dominates this map of European leaders’ first university degrees, but it’s far from the whole story. Physics, Philosophy, Engineering, Medicine, Architecture all have their representatives, scattered across the continent in ways that reflect each country’s own academic and political culture.
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The Geography of the Thanksgiving Meal
When we think of Thanksgiving sides, a mixture of dishes may come to mind, from tasty dishes like macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes to more delicious choices like cranberry sauce and cornbread. But when it comes to the most beloved Thanksgiving side of each U.S. state, tastes vary.
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License Plates by U.S. State
Wyoming has kept the same cowboy emblem on its license plate every year since 1936. Delaware’s current design dates to 1959. Mapped across all 50 states, these small metal rectangles carry more history than most people expect.
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Which Religion Dominates Each US County
Catholics lead the Northeast and Southwest, Southern Baptists fill the South, Mormons built their base in Utah, and Lutherans define the Upper Midwest. Each concentration traces back to immigration corridors, evangelical revivals, or planned settlements from centuries ago.
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How the World Regulates Prostitution
Ancient Rome taxed it and issued licenses for it. The Sumerians wrote about it on clay tablets in 2400 BCE. And yet in 2024, the world still runs six completely different legal frameworks for prostitution at the same time — ranging from full decriminalization in New Zealand to the death penalty in some jurisdictions.
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Dialects of Austria
Most of Austria speaks Bavarian dialects, but the westernmost state sounds almost like a different language. Here’s a look at all 11 dialect zones mapped across the country.
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Languages of Mongolia
Mongolia is the world’s most sparsely populated sovereign state — about 2 people per square kilometer (5.2 people per sq mi). But despite all that empty space, it fits ten languages inside its borders, from Kazakh in the far west to Tungusic-speaking Evenki communities in the north.
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Ye Olde Netherlands: Dutch Town Names in Their Oldest Written Forms
Every Dutch town on a modern road sign is the latest draft of something considerably older, worn down by centuries of spoken language. This map by Victor van Werkhooven uses documented historical sources to show what the country would look like if that process had never started.
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Visa-Free Countries for US Citizens
The US passport held the top spot globally in 2006 and again in 2014. In October 2025 it fell out of the top ten for the first time in the Henley Passport Index’s 20-year history. Brazil ended visa-free access for Americans, China expanded its visa-free network to 76 countries while leaving Americans off it, and the US itself admits only 46 nationalities without a visa, ranking 77th globally on that measure.
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