We might live on Earth, but there is still so much about our wonderful planet to learn and discover. Without Earth, humans wouldn’t survive, so it’s important to teach students about our planet and what we need to do to make sure it’s a safe and clean place to live for generations to come. As students learn to care for our planet, they will also be able to learn so many neat things about Earth – including these fun facts.

Fun Facts About Planet Earth Infographic
  1. Earth is the fifth largest planet.
  2. Earth is the only planet in our solar system that supports life.
  3. All planets in our solar system have names that come from Greek or Roman mythology – except Earth, which is a Germanic word that means “ground.”
  4. Earth is about 93 million miles away from the sun.
  5. Earth has a diameter of 7918 miles.
  6. Earth is the only place in our solar system where water can exist in all three forms – solid, liquid, and gas.
  7. Earth orbits around the sun at about 18.5 miles per second or about 67,000 miles per hour.
  8. Earth is not a perfect sphere – it bulges out slightly at the equator.
  9. You weigh less at the equator than at the North or South poles.
  10. The force of gravity in Hudson Bay, Canada, is less than anywhere else on Earth.
  11. Our moon is the fifth largest natural satellite in the solar system.
  12. The speed of Earth’s rotation is slowing down over time.
  13. People once thought Earth was at the center of the universe.
  14. The inner core of Earth is hotter than the surface of the sun.
  15. Earth’s core is mostly iron.
  16. “The Blue Planet” is the Earth’s nickname because it looks blue from outer space.
  17. Earth has fewer craters on the surface than the other planets.
  18. About 100 tons of cosmic dust lands on Earth every day.
  19. It takes 8 minutes and 19 seconds for sunlight to reach Earth.
  20. The Stromboli Volcano in Italy has been erupting almost continuously for the last 2000 years.
  21. Coastlines make up a small percentage of the land area of the United States but are home to nearly 40 percent of the U.S. population.
  22. Tokyo is the most densely populated city in the world with over 37 million residents.
  23. Greenland has the most open livable space anywhere on Earth.
  24. Earth has a tilt of 23.4 degrees on its axis, which is why we have seasons.
  25. The ozone layer protects Earth from the sun’s UV rays.
  26. About 71% of Earth’s surface is covered with oceans.
  27. The highest place on Earth is Mt. Everest, which is 29,029 feet high.
  28. The longest river on Earth is the Nile River, which is 4,132 miles long and runs through 11 countries.
  29. The hottest air temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134.1 degrees Fahrenheit in Death Valley, California on July 10, 1913.
  30. The coldest air temperature ever recorded on Earth was -128.6 degrees Fahrenheit in Vostok, Antarctica on July 21, 1983.
  31. The wettest place on Earth is Meghalaya, India, which gets an average of over 467 inches of rain each year.
  32. The driest place on Earth is Drys Valley, Antarctica, which gets less than 1 mm of precipitation each year.
  33. Earth’s atmosphere is 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gasses.
  34. Earth is the only planet in our solar system with exactly one moon.
  35. Earth wobbles slightly on its axis.
  36. There are seven continents on Earth.
  37. Earth’s magnetic field protects humans from solar radiation.
  38. The lowest point on Earth is the Dead Sea.
  39. Antarctica is a desert.
  40. Greenland is Earth’s largest island.
  41. Lightning strikes Earth about 8.6 million times every day.
  42. Scientists think Earth may have once had two moons.
  43. Earth has four layers: the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.
  44. The largest earthquake ever recorded on Earth was a 9.5 magnitude in Valdivia, Chile in 1960.
  45. Earth is in the “Goldilocks Zone,” which means it is in the just right location to sustain life.
  46. The continents on Earth are always moving.
  47. Earth is the only planet we know of that has liquid water on its surface.
  48. Geodesy is the science of measuring the shape, gravity, and rotation of Earth.
  49. Earth is the densest planet in the solar system.
  50. Earth has a strong magnetic field.

These facts will help students understand how special Earth is, encouraging them to take care of our unique planet for future generations.

Also check out these fun facts:

50 Fun Facts About Planet Earth (for Earth Day...or Any Day!)