1. Algeria is the Largest African Nation and the 10th Largest Nation in the World

Covering a massive 2.38 million square kilometers, Algeria just barely edges out the Democratic Republic of Congo (2.34 million square kilometers) as the largest country in Africa. The difference in size between the two nations is roughly the size of the US State of Indiana.

One aspect of African history that makes it particularly fascinating is that geographies are constantly changing. Algeria has only been the largest country in Africa since 2011. Any guesses as to which country held the title prior to Algeria? I’ll give you a hint: it’s a country that still exists today.

Prior to 2011, Sudan was the largest country in Africa, checking in at 2.51 million square kilometers. On 9 July, 2011, South Sudan broke off from Sudan and became its own country. As a result, the ensuing reduction in size dropped Sudan from the ninth to the sixteenth largest country in the world. But that’s a story for another day.

So just how big is Algeria? If you overlay it on a map of the United States, it covers the middle third of America almost perfectly.

Now, despite it being the largest country in Africa…

2. Only 12% of the Country’s Land Mass is Inhabited

The Sahara Desert covers the vast majority of Algeria. It’s one of the most extreme environments on the planet. Temperatures in the Sahara can reach 55°C (131°F), and going three or four years between rainfalls is quite common.

Nonetheless, Algerians haven’t let that fact stand in their way. Only 3% of Algeria’s land mass is cultivated, but that’s enough to feed their population self-sufficiently. Less than 1% of Algeria is forest.

So just how inhospitable and uninhabitable is the Sahara? We can explain it with simple math. The Sahara covers 88% of Algeria. What’s 100% minus 88%? 12%. And how much of Algeria’s land mass is inhabited? Yes, that Sahara really is that extreme and inhospitable.

3. Algeria is Home to Some of the World’s Largest Sand Dunes

Aptly named the Isaouane-n-Tifernine Sand Sea, the dunes in eastern Algeria are the largest in Africa. The dunes cover an area roughly the size of Kentucky and stretch into neighboring Libya. They tower up to 465 meters (1,525 feet) above the desert floor, reaching elevations of 2,000 meters (6,000 feet) above sea level. If you thought tromping through soft sand was tough, try doing it at elevation.

As for the tallest sand dunes in the world? It surprises a lot of people, but the top 3 tallest sand dunes are all in South America. Reaching elevations of nearly 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) above sea level, you can find them in Argentina, Peru, and Chile respectively.

4. Algeria was Once Part of France and Remains Rich with French Culture to this Day

Like much of West Africa, Algeria fell to French colonization efforts in the 19th century. The French occupation of Algeria began when they landed in Algiers in 1830. The French conquest of Algeria was bloody and brutal, killing untold members of Algeria’s indigenous population.

“[The French] had been for over a hundred years in Algeria and were determined that it was part of France, and they damn well were going to stay there. Of course, there was a very strong school of thought in the rest of Africa that they damn well weren’t.”

Joseph C. Satterthwaite, US Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, in 1961

While their relations were never great, the relationship between France and Algeria improved in the early 20th century. In 1961, the Algerian people voted overwhelmingly (about 80%) for independence from France. Following several failed coup attempts, French leader Charles de Gaulle formally recognized Algeria’s independence in 1962. Algeria’s relationship with France has remained close since then, but there have been difficult times.

130 Years of French Occupation Leaves Its Mark on Algerian Culture

Walk through any city or town in northern Algeria and you’ll find a melting pot of cultural influences dating back over 2,000 years. However, you’ll find French influences to be the strongest simply because they have been the most recent power to occupy Algeria. You’ll find plenty of French food, art, literature, and more. Over the years, Algeria has also been a part of Spain, Italy, and Turkey, so be sure to keep a look out for those influences as well.

While not one of Algeria’s official languages, French is widely spoken throughout the country. The French language is used in Algeria much in the same manner that Spanish is used in the United States. Road signs are all bilingual in both Arabic and French. The same goes for billboards, newspapers, menus, and pretty much anything else that’s in written form.

Why is French Not One of Algeria’s Official Languages?

If you travel south across West Africa, from Sénégal down to the Congo, you’ll find that many of France’s former colonies still not only speak French, but use it as their official language. Algeria is one notable exception. Its neighbor Tunisia is the other.

So why did these two neighbors not adopt French as their official language? It boils down to two reasons.

First, the Arabs first colonized Algeria in the 8th Century as they sought fertile lands on the Mediterranean shores to grow their crops. When the Arabs came, they brought Islam with them. As a result, Algeria has been an Islamic Nation for over 1,200 years.

The Arabic language is critically important to Islam. Muslims believe that Arabic was chosen by Allah, and that the holy scripture (the Quran) shall be written entirely in, and only in Arabic. Therefore, in order to fully understand the word of Allah, all Muslims must learn to read and speak Arabic. Modern linguistic scholars have revealed that the Quran is written is such precise Arabic, that it is nearly impossible to translate it into other languages without losing any meaning.

Most Islamic nations have carried this belief into their system of government. Indeed, have a look around the nations of the Muslim world. You’ll notice they all have one thing in common. They all use only one official language: Arabic.

Second, the French occupation of Algeria was such a dark period in its history. Untold numbers of Algerians died as a result of French colonization. You really can’t fault them for wanting to distance themselves from that.

5. Algeria is a Land of Temperature Extremes…But It’s Got Nothing on Russia and Canada

It’s no secret that desert environments can be extreme, especially when it comes to wild temperature swings. Just have a look at Algeria’s all-time temperature records.

The concept of temperature records in Algeria is actually hotly contested. If you do a quick Google search for Algeria’s all-time record high temperature, you’ll find a surprising range of claims. It turns out that weather data has not always been reliably measured or recorded, so records are broken into two categories: the hottest temperature ever reliably measured and the hottest temperature ever recorded. You’ll find numerous claims of air temperatures between 60°C and 65°C (140°F to 150°F) in Algeria. However, meteorologists have debunked those claims time and time again.

Russia and Canada put Algeria’s Temperature Range to Shame

For being in such a temperate climate, Algeria has an impressive temperature range. There’s no doubt about it. But unfortunately, Algeria doesn’t get cold enough to compete with the true champions of the temperature range. For that, you’ll need to turn to two countries that are well-known for their brutal, bone-chilling winters: Russia and Canada.

6. The Rarest and Most Elusive Carnivore in the World Lives in Algeria

The Northwest African Cheetah, also known as the Saharan Cheetah, is a critically endangered species native to the Sahara Desert. As of 2008, there were estimated to only be at most 250 of them left on Earth. In March, 2020, the Office National du Parc Culturel de l’Ahaggar captured footage of the first Saharan Cheetah to be seen in over 10 years. A game camera recorded the cheetah inside of Parc Culturel de l’Ahaggar (Ahaggar Cultural Park) in southern Algeria.

7. The World’s Most Dangerous and Deadly Road Runs Across Algeria

Algeria is widely regarded as one of the safest and most stable countries in the Arab world. So how did it wind up with the world’s most dangerous and deadly road? Your mind is probably drawn to the images of extremist insurgent groups traversing war-torn countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, or Yemen. But those groups are non-existent in Algeria.

The road’s danger and deadliness is not attributed to the people on it. On the contrary, it’s the lack of people on it. The Trans-Sahara Highway stretches for 4,500 km (2,800 mi) from Algiers, Algeria to Lagos, Nigeria. For reference, if you flew from Boston, Massachusetts to Bogotá, Colombia, you would have traveled 4,200 km. Running through the guts of the Sahara desert, it’s one of the truest and most extreme adventures in Africa that attracts only the bravest and most foolhardy.

Successfully completing the journey requires a lot of skill, and a little luck. The Trans-Sahara Highway is one of the most difficult passages on the planet. You’ll need a specially outfitted 4×4 and plenty of desert experience to survive the extreme and harsh environment. Even though 85% of the route is paved, much of the pavement is littered with potholes and in disrepair. In addition, daytime temperatures often hit 50°C (122°F) and sandstorms bury the highway under massive drifts of sand on a regular basis. There are no services or supplies along the route. If you break down or have a medical emergency, you’re on your own. You better know how to fix it or treat it. And then there’s all of the bureaucracy you have to deal with if you want to cross any of the international borders along the route.

So what attracts so many adventurers to the Trans-Sahara Highway? The opportunity to experience the Sahara at its most mesmerizing. You’ll get to see something that very few others have, in its rawest and most pristine form.

8. Despite Being Almost Entirely Desert, Algeria is Full of Marine Fossils

From a climatological standpoint, the Sahara is absolutely fascinating. In some of its most uninhabitable locations, archaeologists have found fossils of tropical jungle plants, mangroves, fish, and even whales. Furthermore, they have uncovered evidence of ponds, lakes, and oceans in the middle of the Sahara.

How does all of this marine evidence wind up in the middle of the world’s largest desert? If we look at what archaeologists have uncovered in the Sahara, it’s clear that it hasn’t always been a vast desert.

Every 20,000 years, there is a wobble in the Earth’s orbit that causes a dramatic shift in the tropical monsoon over Central Africa. Depending on the direction of the orbit, the monsoon either shifts north, over the Sahara, or shifts south, over equatorial Africa. As a result, the Sahara cycles back and forth between a “Desert Sahara” and a “Green Sahara”.

Uncovering Evidence of a Green Sahara

The first step to confirming the existence of a Green Sahara is to look at the deposits of Saharan dust in core samples taken in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa, as well as in both North and South America. In those core samples, there is a significant reduction in dust deposits every 20,000 years. During the Green Sahara, trees, vegetation, and water hold the soil in place, preventing the massive sand storms that are common during the Desert Sahara.

Furthermore, archaeologists have also found paintings and sculptures depicting the Green Sahara in places no civilization would survive today. Coupled with the marine fossils found in the Sahara, we can paint a pretty clear mental picture of what the Green Sahara looked like.

What Does the Green Sahara Look Like?

Because the Sahara covers such a vast area, the Green Sahara is diverse. You’ll find swamps that resemble the Florida Everglades, and dense jungles like you’d find in South America or Southeast Asia. There will also be lush savannah and grasslands that closely resemble the ones you find in Kenya or Tanzania.

But most important for the survival of civilizations is the presence of water. The Green Sahara was covered in ponds and lakes. Some lakes were likely the size of the Great Lakes, if not bigger. There was more than enough water in the Green Sahara to support human, plant, and animal life.

When Is the Next Transition to the Green Sahara?

The most recent transition from the Green Sahara to the current Desert Sahara occurred about 5,500 years ago. The drying of the Sahara as it underwent that transition forced people living in what is currently Egypt to abandon their homes and re-settle along the Nile River. This migration gave rise to cities that eventually became the Ancient Egyptian Civilization.

The next transition back to the Green Sahara is still about 15,000 years away. Once the African monsoon shifts, it takes between 100 and 200 years to complete the transition. To put that into perspective, if the transition had started during the American Civil War in the 1860’s, it would be just barely complete today.

9. Algerian Cherries and Dates are Widely Renowned as the Best in the World

Thanks to its moderate, but diverse climates along its northern Mediterranean coast, Algeria is world-famous for its cherries and dates. And they’re not just great. They’re widely considered to be the best in the world. Don’t forget that at its closest point, Algeria is only about 220 km (135 mi) from Italy and 150 km (90 mi) from Spain, and we all know how good the fruits and veggies from both of those countries are.

10. Algerian Vexillology Tells a Fascinating Story of the Country’s History

The Algerian flag is very simple, but tells a fascinating story of the country’s history, going back at least 1,200 years. Designed when Algeria gained its independence from France in 1962, the flag is nothing more than a red star and crescent on a field that’s half green and half white. But its symbolism stretches far deeper than that.

• The green field is a symbol of Islam. The flags of most Middle Eastern and Islamic Nations nations have green on them.
• White symbolizes peace and purity.
• The star and crescent emblem can be traced back when the Ottoman Empire ruled Algeria prior to the French colonization. It’s also a symbol of Islam. You can find a very similar symbol of the flag of Turkey, which is where the Ottoman Empire originated.
• The red color actually has two meanings. It symbolizes the blood that the Algerian people shed during the war of independence from France. It’s also another link to the Ottoman Empire, which used the same flag Turkey does today. The Turkish flag is red with a white star and crescent on it.

And on a side note, a big shout out to The Big Bang Theory for introducing me to the term “vexillology” back in the day.

Bonus: A Few Extra Facts

Because Algeria is such a fascinating country, here are a few bonus bizarre facts.

• Algeria was called Numidia in ancient times. The name comes from a people who were well known for their horse-drawn army. Numidians later came to be known as Berbers. Today, Berber is one of the national languages of Algeria.
• It’s the largest oat market in Africa, and one of the largest producers of artichokes and watermelons in the world.
• Despite the fact that French is not an official language, Algeria is currently the second-largest French-speaking community in the world. Over 2/3 of the population can speak French, mostly as a second language. In 2016, 68% of Algerians that used Facebook posted in French.
• The furthest capital from Algiers (as the crow flies) is Wellington, New Zealand, which sits a whopping 19,141 km (11,894 mi) away

Conclusion

We’ve only begun to scratch the surface of Algeria’s history and culture. One of the aspects I love about writing this Weird Geography series is just how much I learn about these countries as I research them. This was especially true for Algeria because my studies of French culture did not cover Algeria at all. As a result, the whole melting pot of cultures along the north coast of Africa has been giving me that “tug” for quite a while now. Whether you’re interested in Algeria’s history, culture, or climate, it offers something for everyone. Where will your next adventure take you?

Top Photo: Hikers Cross Seemingly Endless Sand Dunes
Death Valley National Park, California – February, 2020

The post Weird Geography: 10 Bizarre and Unusual Facts About Algeria appeared first on Matthew Gove Blog.

Countries are constantly reshaping international borders around the world using everything from treaties to natural forces. Over the years, odd quirks, mystical clauses, and even human error have resulted in some, well, let’s just say, creative international borders.

The border between Baarle-Nassau, Netherlands and Baarle-Hertog, Belgium just boggles the mind. And what about Dahala Khagrabari? Until the signing of a 2015 treaty, it was a piece of India inside of a piece of Bangladesh inside a piece of India inside a piece of Bangladesh. If that gives you an ice cream headache, let me put it another way. Dahala Khagrabari is the only third-level enclave in world history.

Today, we’re going to take it a step further. Instead of looking at strange borders, let’s instead look at some countries that pop up in some rather unusual and unexpected places. You’ll learn about their history and explore some new places. Who knows, maybe you’ll even get some inspiration for your next adventure.

1. Ceuta and Melilla: Visit Spain and Africa at the Same Time

Spain is best-known for its rich culture, beautiful beaches, and temperate climate. In the 1500’s and 1600’s, it spread its influence around the world. Spanish conquistadors colonized everywhere from what is modern-day Latin America to the Philippines. In fact, did you know that in the 1800’s, Spain designated Mexico City as the administrative capital of the Philippines?

While Spain no longer holds any overseas colonies or territories, it still holds 2 exclaves outside of Europe. You’ll find both Spanish cities on the northern coast of Africa, embedded in Morocco. Ceuta has been part of Spain since 1668. A treaty with Morocco fixed the current city limits of Melilla in 1859.

Despite being part of Spain, you won’t find the traditional Spanish culture like you’d experience in the main body of Spain. Both cities are also rich in Arab culture with Jewish and Portuguese influences. Many of these influences stem from when Portugal occupied parts of Morocco from the middle ages to the 19th century.

Fun Fact

During his 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump frequently cited fencing around both Ceuta and Melilla as arguments for building a wall along the US-Mexico Border.

Interestingly, this is not the only time you’ll find Spain in an unexpected place. However, you will have to get very close to Spain to do so.

2. Llívia: Visit Spain Without Actually Going to Spain

Thanks to a bizarre history and the European Union’s laws that allow you to freely move between countries, you can visit Spain without actually going to Spain.

The town of Llívia sits about 2 km north of the border crossing between Bourg-Madame, France and Puigcerdà, Spain. Over the years, both countries have laid claim to it, while at other times, neither country has claimed it.

Llívia’s long and strange history began in 1659, when the Treaty of the Pyrenees ceded the enclave to France. However, due to a quirk in the wording of the treaty that stipulated that all villages would become part of France, Llívia was considered a town instead of a village, despite France’s claim to it. Over the years, both countries have laid claim to Llívia numerous times before finally ending their squabbling upon the formation of the European Union.

Today, Llívia remains steeped in history and rich in Spanish architecture, culture, and cuisine. Because both France and Spain are in the European Union’s Schengen Area, you can easily pass through town and not realize you are in another country. Despite France’s numerous claims to the territory, Llívia retains Spanish dialing codes, postal codes, and emergency services. Ironically, French is not spoken at all in Llívia. Its two primary languages are Spanish and Catalan.

Which is a perfect segue into our next oddity.

3. Campione d’Italia: The Italian Village That’s Part of Switzerland

Up until 1 January, 2020, the village of Campione d’Italia was one-of-a-kind. You needed to clear Swiss customs to access the village. Taxes that funded public services were paid to Switzerland. Campione had Swiss police, fire, and ambulance services. The town had Swiss postal and dialing codes. Its residents registered and insured their vehicles in Switzerland. Salaries were paid in Swiss Francs. So what’s the problem with this quaint Swiss village? It’s actually part of Italy, not Switzerland.

Campione d’Italia is another town with a long twisted history that starts with a geographical anomaly. As the crow flies, Campione is only 600 meters, or about half a mile, from the border between Switzerland and Italy. However, because of the steep and rugged mountainous terrain in the Alps, one must drive more than 20 km from town to reach the main body of Italy. This is just part of the reason that the town relied on Swiss infrastructure.

The Ancient Romans founded the village during the first century BC, which officially became part of Italy in the year 777. Between 1512 and 1900, Campione had numerous opportunities to become part of Switzerland, but it rejected them each time. Ironically, in 1848, the town petitioned Switzerland for annexation. The Swiss government denied the request over their desire to remain neutral.

Integration into Switzerland

Shortly after Benito Mussolini rose to power in Italy in the 1930s, his regime lost control of the Campione enclave. During that time, residents of Campione rejected Mussolini’s fascism and integrated with Switzerland. Campione remained essentially part of Switzerland until 1 January, 2020, when it formally became part of the EU Customs Territory.

Since its integration into the European Union, its Swiss postal codes have been invalidated and residents are now required to register their vehicles in the Italian Province of Como. Interestingly, calls to everywhere in town except for city hall still use the international dialing code for Switzerland.

4. A 2-for-1 Special: Two American Towns Stranded in Canada

In 1846, the US and Great Britain signed the Oregon Treaty. The treaty established the 49th parallel as the northern border of the United States through the Rocky Mountains. Today, the 49th parallel forms the international border between the US and Canada.

Before signing the treaty, ambassadors from both Britain and the US agreed to survey the coastal area south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Both countries wanted to make sure the 49th parallel did not split any islands off the coast between the two countries.

After the survey, the US agreed to cede the southern end of Vancouver Island to the British. Both countries established the border through the Salish sea between Port Angeles, Washington, and Victoria, British Columbia.

Unfortunately, the surveyors were so focused on the islands that they missed part of the Tsawassan Peninsula that extended south of the 49th parallel near Vancouver.

Point Roberts, Washington

By the time the surveyors realized their mistake, it was too late. The treaty had already been signed. The border had cut off the southern tip of the Tsawassan Peninsula from the rest of the United States. The British government requested that the entire Tsawassan Peninsula should be part of Britain, but the US ultimately rejected the offer. The southern tip of the peninsula remained part of the US.

During the 1858 gold rush, Canadian prospectors established Robert’s Town on the US part of the Tsawassan Peninsula in an effort to avoid paying taxes. The town lasted less than a year, but was ultimately settled by Americans and named Point Roberts. It remained part of the Oregon Territory until the US Government granted Washington State statehood in 1889.

Much like Campione d’Italia, Point Roberts relies on Canadian services and infrastructure. The town’s water comes from Vancouver, and the municipality of Delta, British Columbia provides assistance to the Point Roberts police and fire services when requested. Up until 1988, Point Roberts used British Columbia’s 604 area code, meaning you had to make an international call to reach the rest of the United States.

Elm Point and Northwest Angle, Minnesota

It turns out that Point Roberts wasn’t the only “whoopsie” the treaty negotiators made in 1846. Much like Point Roberts, Elm Point is a tiny strip of land in Manitoba that dips south of the 49th parallel, making it technically part of Minnesota. Thankfully, Elm Point is uninhabited and thus does not have the logistical headaches of Point Roberts.

The US-Canada Border’s Biggest Anomaly

Not far from Elm Point is the largest anomaly on the entire US-Canada border. Minnesota’s Northwest Angle sits north of the 49th parallel and logically should be part of Canada. Due to an inaccurate map of the area, the Americans and the British had agreed to a geographical impossibility when they signed the Oregon Treaty in 1846.

The original treaty established the US-Canada border as running from Lake Superior west through the Rainy River to the northwest corner of Lake of The Woods. From there, it would run due west until it intersected the Mississippi River. It didn’t take long for surveyors to find a couple major problems.

1. The northwest corner of Lake of the Woods is north of the 49th parallel
2. If you go due west from there, you do not intersect the Mississippi River

Due to poor 19th century technology, it took decades to reach an agreement on where the border should be established. Once both Canada and the US were able to make accurate maps of Lake of the Woods, they agreed to run the border from the lake’s originally agreed upon northwest corner due south to the 49th parallel.

In doing so, they sliced off the Northwest Angle from Manitoba and made it part of Minnesota. Both Canada and Great Britain tried several times to buy the land back from the US in the late 1800’s. The US Government rejected every offer, and the Northwest Angle has stood as-is to this day.

5. Visit France on a Short Day Trip from Canada

When you ask about experiencing European or French culture in North America, most people would tell you to head to either Montréal or Québec City. While I have zero qualms against either Montréal or Québec City, why not take it a step further and just take a short day trip to France instead?

Wait, what? A short day trip to France from Canada? Yes, you heard that right. You can get on a ferry in Canada and be in France less than 2 hours later. Only 25 km from Point May, Newfoundland, Canada, you will find the French territory of St. Pierre et Miquelon.

Consider the following excerpt from our exploration of France in the Weird Geography series last summer.

St. Pierre and Miquelon may be small islands, but they carry a stark cultural distinction not just from Newfoundland and Labrador, but to Canada as a whole. When you visit the islands, you’ll experience French food, wine, and music. You’ll pay with Euros, charge your devices with 220 volt plugs, and of course will be speaking French, not English. Finally, St. Pierre and Miquelon are part of France, so don’t forget your passport.

Matt Gove, in Weird Geography: 10 Bizarre and Unusual Facts About France
5 July, 2020

6. Fancy Warmer Weather? Head to South America to Visit France

Nope, we’re not yanking your chain here, either. If the cold, damp, and grey in the Canadian Maritimes don’t suit your fancy, head south. In addition to the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe, French Guiana is rich in both French and Creole culture. It’s wedged between Brazil and Suriname, and it’s part of France, to boot.

French Guiana’s tropical climate is much more attractive, too. Average high temperatures are between 28 and 30°C (82 and 86°F) for 10 months of the year. The territory has never recorded a temperature below 18°C (64°F) either. Most of its population lives on the coast. Interior French Guiana is largely dense, uninhabitable jungle.

Read more about French Guiana in our Weird Geography visit to France.

7. Brits, Want a Holiday on the Mediterranean without Leaving the UK? You Can Do That, Too.

The United Kingdom has a reputation for being grey, chilly, and rainy. However, you can enjoy the spectacular climate and beaches of the Mediterranean Sea without having to leave the UK.

Gibraltar

Gibraltar sits on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, just south of La Línea de la Concepción, Spain. Its name is actually derived from the Arabic term Jabal Tāriq, which means “Mountain of Tariq”. While it doesn’t feel like the rest of United Kingdom, Gibraltar is a melting pot of cultures. You’ll find cultural influences from Spain, the Arab part of northern Africa, Judaism, and even Hinduism. English and Spanish are Gibraltar’s primary spoken languages, but you’ll hear languages from all over the world.

The British captured Gibraltar in 1704. Spain officially ceded the territory in 1713. Unlike places like Llívia or Campione d’Italia, there have been very few squabbles over Gibraltar. It’s been a bit awkward since the UK left the European Union. Thankfully, the EU and the UK are currently negotiating an agreement that would allow Gibraltar to participate in the Schengen Area and prevent a hard border with Spain.

Cyprus

The United Kingdom also has two Sovereign Base Areas on the Island of Cyprus. Both Sovereign Base Areas are heavily restricted and cannot be used for anything other than military purposes. The laws of both Sovereign Base Areas are similar, and in some cases identical to the corresponding Cypriot laws. However, British agencies handle law enforcement and the legal system.

Cyprus has an interesting history since its independence from Britain in 1960. Greece and Turkey immediately began posturing for control of the island. In 1974, the Greek Military executed a coup d’état to unite the island with Greece. Five days later, Turkey invaded Cyprus, setting off months of conflict on the island. By the time order was restored, the island had split in two. Turkey occupied the northeastern half of Cyprus, while Greece occupied the southwestern half.

In response, the United Nations declared a buffer zone between the two sides. After being completely sealed off from each other for 30 years, both sides began to ease border restrictions in 2003. Today, you can cross between the two sides, but you do need a passport. Greece and Turkey have discussed reunification, but those negotiations have all collapsed. You can still see the UN Buffer Zone denoted on Google Maps today.

8. Less than 500 km (300 mi) From Berlin, Germany, You’ll Find…Russia

A seemingly harmless cession of a portion of Germany at the end of World War II landed Russia a port that remains critical to its military and economic success to this day. The city of Kaliningrad is the only Russian port on the Baltic Sea that is ice-free year-round. Without Kaliningrad, the only available Russian ports in the winter would be on the Black Sea, which is less than ideal both militarily and economically.

Here’s the excerpt about Kaliningrad from our Weird Geography exploration of Russia last August.

Formerly part of East Prussia and Germany, the Kaliningrad Oblast (Калининградская область) is an isolated exclave of the Russian Federation sitting between Poland and Lithuania. In January 1945, the Soviet Union invaded and annexed all of East Prussia except for the city of Königsberg. After the Nazis were defeated in 1945, the Germans agreed to cede the city to the Soviets.

In 1946, the Soviets changed the name of Königsberg to Kaliningrad. By 1950, the remaining German population had been forcibly expelled, and Russian replaced German as the oblast’s official language. When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the Kaliningrad oblast was designated part of Russia. Kaliningrad has become even more isolated since Poland and Lithuania joined the European Union and significantly tightened their border security.

Matt Gove, in Weird Geography: 10 Bizarre and Unusual Facts About Russia
30 August, 2020

9. Go Island Hopping in Indonesia and Run into…Australia

Australia is not a country you would typically associate with overseas territories. However, it does have two. You’ll find both Christmas Island and the Cocos Islands just off the coast of Indonesia.

Christmas Island has a particularly fascinating history. Europeans first reached the island in 1643, but the British did not formally annex the island until 1888. During World War II, the Japanese became particularly interested in the island’s rich phosphate deposits. Japan took the island by force in 1942. When the Axis powers surrendered at the end of the war, Christmas Island became part of Singapore.

So how did Australia wind up with it? From the end of World War II until 1961, both Singapore and what is currently Malaysia were part of the United Kingdom. The Australian Government requested that the UK transfer sovereignty of Christmas Island from Singapore to Australia. On 1 October, 1958, Christmas Island officially became part of Australia, where it remains to this day.

10. Go Way Off the Grid in Bir Tawil. You Won’t Be in Any Country.

Bir Tawil sits along the border between Egypt and Sudan. It’s the result of a spectacular bungling of language in a treaty the United Kingdom drew up with Egypt and native tribes that inhabit the area in 1902.

At the time of the treaty, the British controlled what is now Sudan. In the intial treaty, Egypt and the UK agreed that the 22nd parallel would form the border between Egypt and Sudan. However, native tribe activity in two triangular areas along the border disrupted those plans.

The primary area in dispute, known as the Hala’ib Traingle is north of the 22nd parallel on the Red Sea. A much smaller area, Bir Tawil, sits south of the 22nd parallel and southwest of the Hala’ib Triangle. You can see both areas marked by the dashed lines in the map below.

An Attempt to Account for Native Tribes Backfires

In an attempt to better reflect the native tribes’ land use, the British redrew the border in November, 1902. They argued that Bir Tawil was grazing land used by a native tribe in Egypt and should become part of Egypt. Additionally, the native inhabitants of the Hala’ib Triangle were much culturally closer to Sudan, so the Hala’ib Triangle should be part of Sudan.

Egypt immediately fired back that the original border that they agreed to (the 22nd parallel) was the actual border. Using the 22nd parallel as the border would place the Hala’ib Triangle in Egypt and Bir Tawil in Sudan.

So what’s the result? You can probably guess.

• Both Egypt and Sudan claim the Hala’ib Triangle
• Neither country claims Bir Tawil

To this day, Bir Tawil remains the only terra nullius, or habitable place on earth not claimed by any recognized government.

So why hasn’t anyone claimed it for 120 years? Mainly because of Bir Tawil’s remoteness and extreme desert climate. Average high temperatures exceed 40°C (104°F) for seven months out of the year. Bir Tawil has measured temperatures above 100°F in every month of the year except December and January.

Conclusion

Whether it’s due to a poor choice of words, outdated technology, or just a bit of luck, countries often pop up where you least expect to see them. Making these discoveries Since many countries still restrict travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I hope this at least somewhat satisfies your drive to get out and explore. We’ll be back out adventuring in person soon.

Until then, in the list above, I’m most interested in a day trip to France from Canada and exploring the two Spanish cities on the coast of North Africa. Which countries intrigue you the most?

Top Photo: Welcome Sign at a Mexican Port of Entry
Los Algodones, Baja California, Mexico – December, 2017

The post Weird Geography: 10 Countries You’ll Find in Unexpected Places appeared first on Matthew Gove Blog.

While I have been doing routine COVID-19 model runs for the United States and Canada, I have not been forecasting in Europe. Unfortunately, I can’t say for sure whether the model’s stellar performance will translate to accurate COVID-19 forecasts in Europe. Let’s have a look at the best and worst case scenarios for the hardest-hit countries.

Identifying the Most Impacted Countries in Europe

How do we identify which countries we want to model? We have several tools to identify the most troubling trends in the existing data. First, let’s plot the new daily COVID-19 cases for all countries in Europe to identify surges. We are just looking for trends, so don’t worry about which line represents which country.

I’ve identified 2 clusters of COVID-19 surges in Europe. I’ve circled them in pink in the above plot. Countries in Group 1 are currently the hardest hit. On the other hand, significant imminent outbreaks of COVID-19 are likely in Group 2 countries.

Now that we’ve identified the patterns, let’s look at which countries make up each group. The hardest hit countries in Group 1 include France, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Meanwhile, seven countries in Europe should expect an imminent and significant surge of COVID-19 cases. Group 2 includes Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland. Did you notice that all seven countries have eclipsed their new daily case peak back in April? Some have done so significantly.

Confirm These Plots with a Map

Before we jump into the models, let’s confirm these plots so we don’t waste time modeling countries that are not experiencing a COVID-19 spike. My COVID-19 dashboard includes a map that will confirm the above plots.

Group 1 countries are currently the hardest hit. If we plot the new daily cases on the map, France, Spain, and the UK should show the highest numbers. The darkest blues indicate the highest number of new daily cases.

Group 2 countries are a little trickier. New daily case counts in many Group 2 countries are similar to other countries that are at risk for imminent outbreaks. Instead of looking at daily new cases, let’s look at the percent change in daily new cases over the past two weeks. Group 2 countries will have the largest percent change. Look for the darkest reds on the map.

Recent Model Performance

Following a strong June performance, my COVID-19 model has been on fire. Since 1 July, it has been correct on 90-100% of both two-week and one-month predictions. It did not get a single two-week prediction wrong in August.

The model’s recent performance gives me plenty of confidence in its predictions for Europe. However, models can be fickle, and its success in the US and Canada does not necessarily mean it will do as well predicting a COVID-19 surge in Europe.

Back in the spring, I wrote about how there are actually two best-fit lines for each country. We’ll use those as a baseline for the best and worst-case scenarios in our model runs.

While we hope for the best-case scenario, what actually happens will likely fall between the best and worst-case scenarios. The model projections for the worst-case scenarios are sobering, but remember the chance of the worst-case scenario playing out is extremely low.

Please note that I have run the model through next spring. The accuracy of the model predictions drops significantly for forecasts more than 1 month into the future. We’ll start our analysis with Group 1 in alphabetical order, followed by Group 2.

France

France is the most concerning country in Europe right now. It is registering a 7-day average of 20,000 new COVID-19 cases per day. There is no sign of it slowing down. In the best case scenario, cases will peak in late October or early November at about 30,000 to 35,000 new cases per day.

In the worst case scenario, cases will continue to spike into the winter. They will peak in late February with about 120,000 new cases per day. France will have over 15 million total cases by next summer.

Spain

The good news is that the best-case scenario is playing out for Spain…for now. New cases are showing signs of leveling off. However, they can restart an upward trend at any time. Heading into the winter with new daily cases elevated, the risk of a resurgence is high.

In Spain’s best case scenario, cases are peaking as we speak at about 14,000 new cases per day. While the model shows we may be past this peak, the actual new case counts are still rising, albeit slowly.

On the other hand, this could, and likely will, be just a temporary lull. While I highly doubt the worst-case scenario will play out, I think it’s equally unlikely that the current leveling off of new cases is actually the winter peak. Don’t forget, there’s still two months until the start of winter.

United Kingdom

As the UK approaches 20,000 new daily cases, it has shattered its April peak of about 5,500 new daily cases. As a result, the government has reinstated COVID-19 restrictions, including a three-tier lockdown. Several British media outlets estimate the new restrictions could impact over half of England’s population.

When you first look at the UK’s best-case scenario, you may find yourself a bit confused. Mathematical models do output confusing results from time to time. My best guess is that new cases will peak somewhere between the green and orange lines, or at about 20,000 to 25,000 new cases per day.

The time frame will closely follow the green line, but will be time-shifted about a month later. That means that while the green line shows the peak occurring in early October, the actual peak will likely occur in early November.

As with Spain, any leveling off of new cases within the next month or so will likely be just a temporary lull. Let’s shift gears and look at the worst-case scenario.

As eye-popping as the new case predictions are in the worst-case scenario, the chance of it actually playing out are next to zero. With the new lockdown rules in effect, there is no possible way COVID-19 cases will surge this much in Britain.

Let’s now pivot and look at Group 2 countries. These countries appear to be at the very beginning of a possible surge. As a result, model predictions will not be as accurate as those for France, Spain, and the UK.

Belgium

Belgium has seen an alarming spike in cases, going from 1,600 to 10,200 new daily cases in just the past 3 weeks. Even in the best-case scenario, the model has certainly reacted to the surge.

Like we saw in the projections for the UK, I think the green line is the most likely timeline for Belgium. Just how high cases will spike is much less clear. In a best-case scenario, they will not peak higher than the orange line. My best guess is that it will peak between 15,000 and 20,000 daily new cases.

Amazingly, the worst-case scenario is not much different from the best case scenario. However, in a worst-case scenario, the outbreak is longer in duration. Depending on your point of view, that’s either really good news or really bad news. In the worst-case scenario, 4.2 million Belgians will contract COVID-19 by Spring, 2021.

Czech Republic

In the context of COVID-19, you don’t hear much about the Czech Republic. It did an amazingly good job suppressing the virus in March and April, with daily new cases peaking at about 250 per day. However, cases are now exploding across the Czech Republic. The country reported 11,100 new cases yesterday.

Because new cases in the Czech Republic are surging so rapidly, let’s try a different tactic. The best and worst-case scenarios are so similar, let’s just consider a single case that is most likely to play out. It falls between the best and worst-case scenarios.

New cases in the Czech Republic will continue to climb throughout the rest of 2020. They’ll peak around the first of the year at 20,000 to 25,000 new cases per day. By next spring, COVID-19 will infect just over 3 million Czechs.

Germany

Germany’s current COVID-19 trajectory looks very similar to France’s. Germany has been more successful than France at suppressing the virus, but has suffered a recent resurgence in cases. In the current surge, Germany’s new daily case counts are a little over 1 month behind France’s.

Now, just because we say that Germany is a month behind France, it doesn’t mean that Germany will suffer the same fate. Indeed, the model shows that Germany will peak at about 12,000 new daily cases, compared to over 30,000 in France. However, the duration of the outbreaks in Germany and France will be similar.

Germany also fares much better than France in the worst-case scenario. Though highly unlikely, cases could spike to 120,000 per day in France. Meanwhile, Germany is not expected to see more than 33,000 cases per day, even in the worst-case scenario.

Italy

While COVID-19 ravaged Italy back in the spring, there is no indication from the model that Italy will be the epicenter of Europe during the surge this fall and winter. I expect many of the countries we’ve discussed today will peak higher than Italy.

The green line represents the most likely projection for Italy’s best case scenario. While I expect the timeline to be accurate, the number of new daily cases will peak higher than what the green line indicates, but lower than the orange line’s apex.

Italy’s worst-case scenario puts it on par with Belgium, the Czech Republic, and Germany. The model projects Italy will peak at 35,000 new daily cases around 1 January. I hope that Italians are especially sensitive to the seriousness of COVID-19 after being hit so hard in the spring. If they take COVID-19 seriously, there is no doubt in my mind that Italy will trend much closer to its best-case scenario.

The Netherlands

Like neighboring Belgium, The Netherlands successfully held COVID-19 at bay back in the spring. It’s now also facing a significant surge in cases. New daily cases have risen from 2,800 to 8,000 in just the past three weeks.

The model projects that cases will peak at 10,000 new cases per day around 1 December. However, I believe that the Netherlands will see closer to 15,000 new daily cases at its peak. It could be even higher than that.

The worst-case scenario paints a start contrast. Without action, new daily cases in the Netherlands could spike to 40,000 per day by early January. By next summer, nearly 6 million people could contract COVID-19.

Poland

Poland is another country that has not appeared in the COVID-19 conversation very much. Like the Czech Republic, Poland successfully suppressed the coronavirus back in the spring, but is now seeing a surge in cases. It continues to set new records every day.

In a best-case scenario, new daily cases will peak in mid-December. New daily cases at the peak will likely be higher than what the green line indicates. I don’t expect the peak to exceed what the orange line depicts. I think an apex of 15,000 to 20,000 new daily cases is a safe bet.

Poland’s worst-case scenario follows a very similar pattern. I expect the peak number of new daily cases would fall between what the green and orange lines forecast. Should that happen, over 6 million Poles could contract COVID-19 by next summer.

Switzerland

Much like the rest of west-central Europe, Switzerland is currently in the midst of a huge spike in COVID-19 cases. Its small size makes it a bit tricky to forecast, but here’s what the model’s best guesses are.

There is a chance that Switzerland could see what happened in Québec, Canada last week. A little over a week ago, Québec’s projected case counts looked almost identical to Switzerland’s best-case scenario. As quickly as cases shot up in Québec, they’ve peaked and have started coming back down. Don’t pin your hopes on it, though. Worst-case scenario forecasts for Québec were apocalyptic. I expect multiple waves will hit both Québec and Europe this winter.

Because Switzerland is starting at a lower baseline of new cases, its worst-case scenario looks far better than Québec’s. In this scenario, cases could peak as much as a month after what the model predicts. Should the worst-case scenario play out, about 2.7 million Swiss residents could contract COVID-19 by next summer.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 surge across Europe is especially concerning for other parts of the world. The European Union had for the most part suppressed the virus over the summer. Most countries reported less than 500 new cases per day this summer, and some have since spiked to over 30,000.

Countries that are letting COVID-19 run rampant should be particularly on high alert. These countries include Brazil, India, and the United States. The current explosion in cases across Europe looks to at least mirror the outbreak in Melbourne, Australia during their winter. Cases in Australia went up by two orders of magnitude between late June and early August.

France has gone from 400 new cases a day to about 30,000 cases per day. Much of the rest of central and western Europe has seen a COVID-19 surge of at least one order of magnitude, or ten-fold. They are showing no signs of slowing down.

Now imagine what those same calculations look like for a country like the United States, which is starting from a baseline of about 50,000 daily new cases. Buckle up. It’s gonna be a wild ride this winter.

The post COVID-19 Surge in Europe: How Bad will it Get? appeared first on Matthew Gove Blog.

1. Contrary to Popular Belief, France Borders 8 Other Countries

When you think of countries that border France, I’m guessing that Spain, Italy, Germany, and Belgium are among the first neighboring countries that come to mind. While those 4 countries do take up the majority of France’s land borders, France also borders numerous smaller countries such as Monaco and Andorra. The complete list of countries that border France is:

1. Spain
2. Andorra
3. Monaco
4. Italy
5. Switzerland
6. Germany
7. Luxembourg
8. Belgium

Now, despite the fact that the map says otherwise…

2. France Shares a Border with the Netherlands

No, your eyes are not playing tricks on you. There are no weird gotchas in the map above. On the European continent, France does not border the Netherlands. However, in the Caribbean, sitting about 150 km (90 mi) east of both the US and British Virgin Islands is the island of St. Martin. The northern half of the island is a territory of France (Saint-Martin), while the southern half of the island is a territory of the Netherlands (Sint Maarten).

If that wasn’t strange enough on the border front…

3. France Also Shares a Border with Brazil

When you think of South America, Latin and Hispanic culture is always the first thing that comes to mind. As it should be. Nearly the entire continent speaks either Spanish or Portuguese. However, three small outliers sit on the north coast of South America, wedged between Venezuela and Brazil.

Going from west to east, those three outliers are:

• Guyana – an English-speaking country and former British territory.
• Suriname – a Dutch-speaking country and former territory of the Netherlands.
• French Guiana – currently an overseas department, or territory, of France.

All right, enough with French territories for now. Let’s head back to Europe.

4. You can visit Spain without leaving France

Thanks to an anomaly in the border between France and Spain and the European Union’s laws that allow you to freely move between countries, you can visit Spain without having to cross France’s southern border.

Located about 2 km north of the border crossing between Bourg-Madame, France and Puigcerdà, Spain, you’ll find the town of Llívia, a Spanish town located entirely inside of France. Spain originally ceded the village to France in 1659 as part of the Treaty of the Pyrenees, but bureaucratic oversight kept it officially as part of Spain, where it remains to this day.

Today, Llívia is steeped in history that goes back to the Middle Ages. It is a great place to go indulge in Spanish architecture, culture, and cuisine. Over the years, Llívia has maintained its Spanish heritage despite strong French influences from being surrounded by France.

Because both France and Spain are members of the European Union, you can easily pass through town without even realizing you were in another country. Unlike some other enclaves, Llívia has Spanish dialing codes, postal codes, and emergency services.

Feel free to read more about Llívia in the Spanish newspaper El País.

5. You can drive from Paris, France to London, England without having to get on a boat

While you certainly have the option to get on a boat if you wish, you can also opt to take the train through Channel Tunnel (Le tunnel sous la manche) between Folkestone, England and Calais, France. The 50 km (31 mi) tunnel is the only fixed link between the UK and mainland Europe and is the longest underwater tunnel in the world.

The tunnel first opened in 1994, facilitating a direct connection between high-speed railways in the UK and France. Trains travel through the tunnel at 160 km/h (99 mph), making it much faster than ferries. In 2017, the tunnel carried 10.3 million passengers, 10.4 million passenger cars, and 1.22 million tons of freight.

Now, let’s dive into French culture…

6. The world’s most populous French-speaking city is not in France

If I asked you what is the biggest French-speaking city in the world, your first guess would likely be Paris. When I told you that wasn’t correct, you’d probably start guessing other French cities such as Lyon, Marseille, and Toulouse. Nope. I’ll give you a hint. It’s not in France. You’ll tell me it’s Montréal, and I’ll once again tell you you’re wrong.

Paris was the world’s most populous French-speaking city until the mid 2010’s. In 2015, Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, passed Paris to become the most populous French-speaking city in the world and the most populous city on the African continent.

Here are the 5 most populous French-speaking cities in the world, as of 2017:

1. Kinshasa, DR Congo – 11.58 million
2. Paris, France – 10.85 million
3. Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire – 4.8 million
4. Montréal, Québec, Canada – 3.54 million
5. Dakar, Sénégal – 3.52 million

Booming populations in Francophone Africa are driving the shift in demographics and turning parts of Africa into centers for innovation. As a result, you are seeing the rise megacities such as Kinshasa, Abidjan, and Dakar all over French-speaking Africa.

7. Besides English, the most common second language you’ll find in French-speaking countries is Arabic

While your initial instinct would probably be to guess Spanish or Italian here, I’ll direct your attention back to the last point where we discussed the boom across Francophone Africa, and more specifically, northern Africa. Across many of the countries that make up the Sahara Desert, Arab culture has been and continues to merge with a booming French-speaking Africa.

As a result, many countries now speak both French and Arabic. Some countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Mauritania use Arabic as their primary language and French as their secondary languages. Others, such as Senegal, Niger, and the Central African Republic do the opposite, primarily speaking French, while using Arabic as a secondary language.

Here are the most common second languages in French-speaking countries:

1. English – 11 countries
2. Arabic – 9 countries
3. German – 3 countries
4. Wolof – 2 countries
5. Spanish – 2 countries

8. French is spoken as an official or primary unofficial language on every continent

While it’s easy to identify French-speaking countries, states, and territories on continents such as Europe, Africa, and North America, I want to focus on the lesser-known places. France’s extensive network of territories and former colonies have left the French language and culture dotted all over the world.

Let’s start in South America. If you remember earlier, the French territory of French Guiana sits on the north coast of the continent between Brazil and Venezuela. French Guiana shares the same vibrant Creole culture you’ll find across the French Caribbean, such as in places like Haiti, Martinique, and Guadeloupe. It’s part of France, so its official language is French.

French language and culture in Asia is quickly dying out, but if you know what to look for, you can still find it. From 1887 to 1954, French Indochina was comprised of what is currently Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. After French Indochina was granted independence from France, it retained its French culture and language similar to Francophone Africa. However, it has since faded into a distant memory as those countries restore their native culture, as they have much smaller connection to Europe than French-speaking Africa.

While fewer and fewer people in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam are speaking French, they still do, albeit not to a very large extent. Some of the best remaining evidence of French influence in southeast Asia can actually be found on Google Maps (click the image to enlarge).

And Oceania? That’s a perfect segue into our next fact.

9. From Australia, you can travel round-trip to France and cover less distance than if you flew one-way from Paris to Moscow

France’s territories strike again, here. About 1,200 km (800 mi) off the coast of Australia’s Queensland state, you will find the island of New Caledonia (Novelle Calédonie), the southernmost French territory in the South Pacific. The island is a top snorkeling and scuba diving location, well known for its pristine beaches, stunning lagoons, expansive coral reefs, and diverse flora and fauna. It is also rich in both Polynesian and French culture.

And as for the distance from Paris to Moscow? It’s about 2,500 km (1,500 mi) as the crow flies.

10. You can get on a ferry in Canada and be in France 80 minutes later

Have you ever seen the tourism ads for Canada that tell people that they can experience Europe without leaving North America? They’re usually inviting you to come experience the strong European influences in cities such as Montréal and Québec City (La Ville Québec).

It turns out you can take that a step further and actually visit Europe without ever leaving North America. About 25 km (15 mi) west of Point May, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, you will find the French territory of St. Pierre and Miquelon.

St. Pierre and Miquelon may be small islands, but they carry a stark cultural distinction not just from Newfoundland and Labrador, but to Canada as a whole. When you visit the islands, you’ll experience French food, wine, and music. You’ll pay with Euros, charge your devices with 220 volt plugs, and of course will be speaking French, not English. Finally, St. Pierre and Miquelon are part of France, so don’t forget your passport.

Fun Fact: Because of its proximity to St. Pierre and Miquelon, Newfoundland is the only place in North America where you’ll see cars with European license plates on a regular basis.

Bonus: The French city of Nice, with its palm tree-lined boulevards, sits at the same latitude as Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Despite the stark differences in climate, both cities sit at 43°N latitude. While Toronto is well-known for its long, cold, and often snowy winters, Nice benefits from mild winters and warm summers on the Mediterranean Sea, which are greatly aided by a steady flow of warm water from the Gulf Stream. Indeed, the French Riviera is the furthest north location in the world where palm trees can both grow and thrive.

However, don’t let the fact that Nice sits at 43°N fool you. The city has seen temperatures as low as -7°C (19°F) and averages 1.2 snowy days per year.

So how did I manage to visit France without actually setting foot in Europe? After reading this post, you’ll likely conclude that I visited one of France’s many overseas departments or territories. Indeed, I visited the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe for two weeks in December, 2004.

Well that wraps up our exploration of the unusual geography of France. I hope you’ve enjoyed this article as much as I’ve enjoyed studying French language and culture over the years. Until next time.

Top Image: Plant Nursery – Magog, Québec, Canada – August, 2019

The post Weird Geography: 10 Bizarre and Unusual Facts About France appeared first on Matthew Gove Blog.