Shanghai, the world’s largest seaport, handled 12.45 million TEUs in Q1 2024, an 8.6% increase from 2023. Located on the Yangtze River, it is a global trade powerhouse.

Seattle, part of the Port of Seattle-Tacoma, is a major U.S. seaport on the Pacific coast. It handled an 18% TEU increase through July 2024, driven by rising imports.

Busan, South Korea’s largest seaport, handled 2.8 million TEUs in December 2022, though 2024 data is unavailable. It is a major hub for containers and trade.

Bab-el-Mandeb, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, faced Houthi attacks on shipping in 2024, disrupting trade routes and raising global security concerns.

The Malacca Strait reported four armed robbery incidents in 2024, targeting bulk carriers’ engine spares, underscoring ongoing security challenges despite reduced piracy.

Lombok Strait, connecting the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean, is an alternative to the Malacca Strait but faces piracy risks, with four armed robbery incidents reported in 2024.

Lake Victoria’s greatest depth is 270 feet (82 meters), much shallower than Lake Superior or Lake Baikal.

In 2024, parts of the Sahara Desert, particularly in Morocco and Algeria, experienced rare heavy rainfall, causing unprecedented flooding in typically arid regions, highlighting climate variability.

Death Valley, part of the Mojave Desert, is located in California, USA. It holds the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth, reaching 56.7°C in 1913.

The Atacama Desert, located primarily in northern Chile, is one of the driest places on Earth. Its extreme aridity makes it a unique environment, used as a testing ground for Mars exploration technologies.