Countries
Thailand was never colonised by Europe
Skilled diplomacy between British and French empires kept Siam independent while neighbours fell. Its name means land of the free.
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Japan has a vending machine for every 30 people
With roughly four million machines nationwide, Japan has the highest density on earth. They sell hot coffee, ramen, umbrellas and even fresh eggs, and are trusted to run unattended all night.
Italy has more than 350 pasta shapes
Each shape is designed for a specific sauce: ridged tubes grab thick ragu, thin strands suit oil, and shells hold chunky vegetables. Names and shapes change from region to region.
India has the world's largest postal network
More than 150,000 post offices serve the country, including a floating post office on Dal Lake in Srinagar and one of the world's highest at Hikkim in Himachal Pradesh.
Brazil holds 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest
The forest produces a huge share of the planet's biodiversity and pumps moisture inland through flying rivers, airborne water flows larger than the Amazon river itself.
Almost all Egyptians live along the Nile
About 95 percent of Egypt's population lives on roughly 5 percent of its land, a green ribbon beside the river surrounded by desert, clearly visible from space at night.
Switzerland has bunker space for everyone
Swiss law required fallout shelters in new buildings for decades, leaving the country with more shelter places than people. Many are now used as wine cellars, hostels and data centres.