Geographical Misconceptions
Lakes Michigan and Huron, commonly thought to be two separate lakes, are actually one lake. Don't believe it? Consider the facts: the surfaces of Michigan and Huron are at the same elevation, and they are connected by the Straits of Mackinac -- 5 miles wide, 30 miles long, and depths similar to either half of the lake. Hydrologically, Lake Michigan, the Straits of Mackinac, and Lake Huron are all parts of the same body of water -- the largest freshwater lake in the world (and second-largest of all lakes behind the Caspian Sea).
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001804.html
There are five oceans, not just four. The Southern Ocean surrounds Antarctica, and it's actually the fourth-largest. It wasn't officially recognized until 2000.
http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/oceans.htm
Mount Everest's peak is the highest point on earth relative to sea level, but two other mountains could claim to be Earth's tallest. Mauna Kea, in Hawaii, rises only about 13,800 feet above sea level, but an additional 19,700 feet are beneath the Pacific Ocean's surface At nearly 33,500 feet from base to peak, it is much taller than any other mountain on earth. And because of the planet's rotation over time, the planet is fatter at the equator, so sea level at the equator is several miles farther from the center of the earth than is sea level at either pole. As a result, Mount Chimborazo (Ecuador, Andes Mountains) is about 9000 feet closer to sea level but about 7000 feet closer to outer space than Mount Everest. (For the same reason, the Mississippi River technically flows UPHILL to get to New Orleans.)
http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2001/BeataUnke.shtml
http://www.post-gazette.com/travel/20001029bear1.asp
Also, the northernmost, westernmost, and easternmost points in the continental United States are in Minnesota, Washington, and Maine, respectively. If the "continental" requirement is removed, then all three United States extremities are in Alaska (although, if we ignore the technicality provided by crossing the Prime Meridian, the easternmost point would still be in Maine). The southernmost extremities are in Florida or Hawaii.
For more geographical misconceptions, see here:
http://ztechzone.net/learningzone/science/science55/geography1.html
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001804.html
There are five oceans, not just four. The Southern Ocean surrounds Antarctica, and it's actually the fourth-largest. It wasn't officially recognized until 2000.
http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/oceans.htm
Mount Everest's peak is the highest point on earth relative to sea level, but two other mountains could claim to be Earth's tallest. Mauna Kea, in Hawaii, rises only about 13,800 feet above sea level, but an additional 19,700 feet are beneath the Pacific Ocean's surface At nearly 33,500 feet from base to peak, it is much taller than any other mountain on earth. And because of the planet's rotation over time, the planet is fatter at the equator, so sea level at the equator is several miles farther from the center of the earth than is sea level at either pole. As a result, Mount Chimborazo (Ecuador, Andes Mountains) is about 9000 feet closer to sea level but about 7000 feet closer to outer space than Mount Everest. (For the same reason, the Mississippi River technically flows UPHILL to get to New Orleans.)
http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2001/BeataUnke.shtml
http://www.post-gazette.com/travel/20001029bear1.asp
Also, the northernmost, westernmost, and easternmost points in the continental United States are in Minnesota, Washington, and Maine, respectively. If the "continental" requirement is removed, then all three United States extremities are in Alaska (although, if we ignore the technicality provided by crossing the Prime Meridian, the easternmost point would still be in Maine). The southernmost extremities are in Florida or Hawaii.
For more geographical misconceptions, see here:
http://ztechzone.net/learningzone/science/science55/geography1.html