While Bulgaria is the oldest European country by name, the Republic of San Marino, an autonomous state inside Italy's borders, is Europe's oldest independent state. It was born in the year 301 AD. As other Italian republics fought and collectively became part of Italy, San Marino was able to maintain its independence for centuries, thanks in large part to its steep geography.

That is five times as fast as the typical airplane, which flies at 575mph.

There are eight ways to Mate in two moves from the starting position, but 355 ways to Mate in three moves. It should be noted that the average game lasts 38 moves.

The Chapman University Survey on American Fears found that Democrats are about twice as likely to believe in astrology as Republicans. Democrats were also noted to believe in the paranormal more in general.

 

Climbing up and down the cobblestone streets may exhaust you. Bring suitable walking shoes and be prepared.

So many popular perfumes contain musk, but the origins of this scent will shock you. Musk is a reddish-brown secretion from the "musk pod" of the male musk deer. It is such a popular ingredient that it is even mentioned in Kabir’s poems. However, since its popularity encouraged the hunting of this endangered deer, its scent is now replicated synthetically.

Sweden has a population of around 10.3 million people. That is nearly double the population of Norway! It is also significantly larger than Denmark, the other Scandinavian nation, which has a population of about 5.8 million people.

India was not conquered by Genghis Khan for the following reasons. Genghis Khan was aware of Iltutmish's military prowess. The Himalayas have shielded India from invasions by Central Asian tribes for countless years. Some historians, like the Juzjani, thought that the Khan's army, which was trained to fight in a cold environment, would be too vulnerable in India's hot climate.

The typhoon season lasts from May to November, and Hong Kong has a very effective infrastructure in place to deal with these intense tropical storms. A T1 signal implies that a storm is on its way. Then a T3 indicates that the storm intensifies, so schoolchildren and the elderly should stay home. Winds up to 180km/h swirl across the city during a T8 or T10, closing businesses and public transportation.

Santa's way of expressing happiness and joy is 'Ho Ho Ho'; if he said 'Ha Ha Ha,' people might think he was laughing at them!

These magnificent reptiles have been known to travel entire oceans in quest of food! They usually nest on tropical and subtropical beaches, and certain Leatherbacks (a type of sea turtle) can endure extremely cold temperatures (as low as 30 F).

The Trans-Siberian Railway crosses 3,901 bridges on a one-way trip. The Trans-Siberian Railway is not only Russia's longest railroad but also the world's longest. During the seven-day journey, passengers pass through eight different time zones and cross 3,901 bridges.

Halloween evolved from the Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the Celtic calendar year in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle of Man. They believed it was a time when spirits or fairies could enter our world, and the Celts would set out treats and food to appease the spirits - sometimes, a place at the table was even set for the souls of the dead. Wiccans continue to celebrate Samhain as a New Year's Eve celebration today.

Although no one knows for certain, it appears that cricket started in the hands of shepherds as a simple method to pass the time while protecting a sheep. Our first impression of cricket was that the cricket balls were made of cotton and that the bowlers' speed was likely unattainable. Cricket has been recorded in English history since 1597, when in a dispute over land possession, he cited the game of "creckkett." However, it took over ten thousand years until the first formal cricket match was held in 1877.

Known as ambergris, the excrement of sperm whales, which is rumoured to be a by-product of the whale trying to digest indigestible items, used to be very popular in perfumes. It has a sweet smell once it ages, which is why it is used in perfumes even now. But since it led to the hunting of sperm whales, it is now made synthetically.

If cats are repeatedly exposed to catnip, they might develop desensitized to its effects. When your cat has finished playing with the catnip toys, put them away, and aim to provide catnip once a week or so.

According to studies, those who consume more vitamin C in their diets had a lower risk of contracting cancer. Additionally, there is a small body of evidence suggesting consuming citrus fruits like grapefruit may reduce the incidence of stomach and lung cancer.

Stonehenge is made up of two types of stones: sarsen stones (the bigger outside stones) and bluestones (the smaller inside stones). Sarsen stones are a form of sandstone that can be found in the nearby area, around 20 miles away. The bluestones, on the other hand, come from the Preseli Hills in south-west Wales. more than 140 miles away

Mulan was originally conceived as a straight-to-video film called China Doll, about a poor, oppressed Chinese girl who is whisked away by a white guy to live a happier life in the West. When a writer discovered the Chinese poem "The Song of Fa Mu Lan," the studio decided to combine both projects and create Mulan. Knowing the film's slightly racist, tone-deaf origins, on the other hand, casts the film in a whole new light.

Did you know that the process of digesting food burns calories? Protein burns the most calories of the three macronutrients (carbohydrates, protein, and fat). According to research, boosting protein consumption temporarily increases metabolism by 15 to 30 percent. A protein-rich diet, on the other hand, promotes healthy amounts of lean muscle mass, which raises the basal metabolic rate. Lean meats like chicken and fish, as well as dairy, whole grains, beans, lentils, and nuts, are also good sources, according to Cederquist. Spread protein consumption throughout the day for the best results.

Bhutan's monarchy has always strictly limited outside influences in order to protect the nation's uniqueness from the crowning of the first king in 1907. Because of its small size and fragile situation, the country considers maintaining sovereignty essential. Bhutan first opened its doors to foreign tourists in 1974, the year it was recognized as a country by the United Nations.