There is no denying that our planet truly is magnificent–we get to learn something new about it all the time and scientists/researchers hard at work make new discoveries about our home planet every single day. While mere mortals like us already believe that the Earth is spectacular, the handful of people who have gotten a chance to look at it up from space are even more amazed by it.

While we know how incredible our planet is, we also believe that it’s very strange–that is what makes it awesome! Today, we have listed down some of the strangest facts about the gas-covered rock and water that we call home.

1. Alive Clouds

There are times when people notice dark, shape-shiftting clouds at dusk near the ground. The way they deform and swirl around, you could almost be forgiven for thinking that they were alive. And as a matter of fact, they are…

The illusion of moving clouds is in fact due to burds like stirlings flying in a sequence. Scientists have concluded that these birds present such an awe-inspiring display to either evade predators or spot a roost, iIt is amazing and impressive to see these creatures work with so much synchrony.

Aleksandar Pasaric/Pexels | This sequence is known as murmuration

2. The Boiling River

People used to believe that boiling rivers were merely all myths and legends, that is, until scientists discovered there is an actual boiling river located in Peruvian Amazon. While the term ‘boiling’ may be somewhat of an exaggeration, the river is definitely more than just being ‘warm,’ so much so that it has the ability to turn an already beautiful forest into a mystical one, due to steam. This magnificent, other-worldy paradise is known by two names- Shanay-Timpisha or the La Bomba.

Ian Turnell/Pexels | This river makes the forest look majestic

3. A Giant Fungus

When we think about the biggest living organism on the planet, we typically think of elephants, blue whales, or giant trees. But you’d be surprised to find out that the biggest organism recorded is actually a fungus. It is known as the Armillaria mushroom and is located in Oregon. One of these mushrooms was discovered in 1992 in Michigan, spanning nearly 37 acres of land. Recently, however, a team of scientists working on investigating a mysterious tree found the humongous fungus, which covers nearly 2000 acres, and is said to be over a thousand years old.

Annelies Brouw/Pexels | Who would’ve thought a mushroom could occupy over 2000 acres of land?

So what do you think about these amazing hidden secrets of our planet?

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