Key Global Facts and Figures
Aquifers: Underground Water Reservoirs
An aquifer is an underground formation of permeable rock that stores water from rain.
Global Water Distribution
97% of Earth’s water is saltwater; only 3% is freshwater. This freshwater is primarily located in glaciers (68%), underground water sources (30%), and permafrost (1%).
Mexican Oil Types
Mexico produces three main types of oil: Maya (heavy crude, representing over half of total production), Istmo (light, low-sulfur content, almost a third of total production), and Olmeca (extra-light, nearly a fifth of total production).
US Electoral College Votes
Key states’ electoral votes include: California (56), Texas (34), Florida (29), New York (29), Arizona (10), and Washington D.C. (3). The total number of electoral votes is 538.
The candidate with the majority of the popular vote in a state typically receives all of that state’s electoral votes.
Former US Possessions
Throughout history, the US has held control over territories including the Philippines, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guam, Hawaii, Alaska, Louisiana, California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.
Top Global Oil Producers
The top oil-producing countries are the USA, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Canada, and China.
Western Hemisphere Oil Producers
Major oil producers in the Western Hemisphere include the USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, and Venezuela.
Countries Rich in Freshwater
Countries with abundant freshwater resources include the USA, Canada, Brazil, China, and Russia.
Countries Designated as State Sponsors of Terrorism (as of November 2023)
Countries designated by the US as state sponsors of terrorism include Cuba, Iran, Syria, North Korea. Other countries sometimes included on such lists include South Yemen, Pakistan, Libya, and Sudan.
US Time Zones
The US has five main time zones: Pacific, Mountain, Central, Eastern, and Atlantic.
US Coastlines
The East Coast is on the right, and the West Coast is on the left when viewing a standard map.
Dow Jones Industrial Average
The Dow Jones Industrial Average tracks the price performance of 30 large, publicly owned companies on the New York Stock Exchange, primarily focused on manufacturing. It’s currently around 28,000 points.
Nasdaq Composite
The Nasdaq Composite tracks the price performance of around 3,000 companies focused on technology. It’s currently around 8,500 points.
Standard & Poor’s 500
The S&P 500 measures the stock performance of 500 large companies listed on US stock exchanges. It’s considered a strong representation of the US stock market and is currently around 3,120 points.
Brain Drain/Brain Gain
“Brain drain” refers to the emigration of highly educated individuals due to factors like domestic turmoil, better opportunities abroad, or a desire for a higher standard of living. The receiving country experiences “brain gain.”
Capital Flight
Capital flight is a large-scale exodus of financial assets from a nation due to political or economic instability, currency devaluation, or capital controls.
USMCA/T-MEC
The USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) or T-MEC (Tratado entre México, Estados Unidos y Canadá) is a free trade agreement between the three countries.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)
FDI is an investment made by a company in one country into business interests in another country.
Wetback/Dryback
“Wetback” is a derogatory term for an undocumented Mexican immigrant in the USA. “Dryback” refers to an undocumented American immigrant in Mexico.
Independent Countries
There are approximately 197 independent countries globally, including transcontinental nations. Africa has 54, Europe has 51, Asia has 48, the Americas have 35, and Oceania has 14.
The Equator
The Equator is an imaginary line dividing the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Used for navigation, it’s a complete circle touching three continents (Africa, Asia, and South America).
Prime Meridian
The Prime Meridian, half a circle used for navigation and international timekeeping, touches Europe and Africa, passing through countries like England, France, Spain, Algeria, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Ghana.
International Date Line
The International Date Line, half a circle opposite the Prime Meridian, forms a complete circle with it, dividing the Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres. It separates “yesterday” from “today.”
Panama Canal
The Panama Canal saves time and money by enabling faster cargo transport between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It uses locks and separates Panama.
Suez Canal
The Suez Canal, similar to the Panama Canal, connects the Mediterranean and Red Seas (linking the Atlantic and Indian Oceans). It has no locks and separates Egypt.
Continental Divides
The Mediterranean Sea divides Europe and Africa. The Black Sea separates Turkey (European and Asian parts). The Red Sea divides Africa and Asia. The Ural Mountains divide European and Asian Russia, ending in Kazakhstan.