Which country has the most interesting/surprising facts?

 Netherlands

• We were once a global superpower. Now we're taking a break to give the US a chance, but some people are losing their composure and have already dusted off their bikes. Just kidding.
• Approximately one-third of our country is below sea level.
• We are, on average, the tallest people in the world. I think that has something to do with being underwater. At least our heads would stick out.
• There are more bicycles than people. Those who say artificial intelligence is dangerous have never been to the Netherlands.

Warning: See the graphic image below.

• Emergency alerts will sound in all cities on the first Monday of every month. Please do not attack us during this time, as we do not expect it.
• Approximately 20-30% of babies are born at home. In fact, that was the case for me too.
• There are highways specifically for cyclists.

• Due to a shortage of prisoners, it is necessary to close or repurpose prisons.
• There are dozens of ecoducts built on highways that serve as crossroads for wildlife.

• Our national anthem is one of the oldest known national anthems. That said, many people dislike the frequent references to Spain and Germany.
• We have the world's best and most stealthy special forces.

• We are at least twice as smart and funny as those Belgians.
• After Scandinavia, we are the world's largest coffee consumer. *View credentials*
• If you want to attract the attention of the Dutch, put up a sign that says "Free..." It doesn't matter what it is, we'll come and check it out.

What makes Japan so noticeably different from every other country in the world?

 You know, it's these little things that make Japan different.

Here are 11 examples of these differences;

1. Drinks for the blind

Blind people can now know what's inside a can by reading the braille written on the top.

2. Conserve natural resources

A common type of toilet in Japan is one where you can wash your hands with water from the toilet tank, and reuse it for the next flush.

3. Street Arts

The manhole covers in Japan are beautiful.

4. Consideration for others

If you lose a bag in the street, chances are someone will put it somewhere easy to find and untouched. And nobody will take it.

5. Fish location

Fish (Koi) sometimes live in pipes in Japan.

6. Toilet courtesy

With modern toilets, you can mask the sounds of peeing and pooping with the sounds of running water.

7. Umbrellas

Umbrella lockers, so you can leave your umbrella at the entrance of the building, without anyone accidentally taking it (no one would steal it anyway).

8. Emergency Procedures

Elevator seats that can be used as toilets in case of emergency.

9. Restaurant Menus

Fake plastic items in front of restaurants that look like real food.

10. Bathroom label

Separate slippers for going to the toilet.

11. Retail sale of eggs

Eggs sold in vending machines are common in the countryside.

Here is a list of things that make Japan a little different.

Which country has the happiest people?

 BHUTAN

• The only country that measures its growth by happiness.
• There are no beggars or homeless people.
• The only country in the world that is able to implement negative carbon (all activities to reduce the levels of carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere) .
• Plastic bags are banned from circulation for ecological reasons.
• They don't care about the existence of TV, radio, or the internet - life is simple.
• 50% of the country's territory is protected as national parks.
• The difference between commoners and nobles was not that great.
• Less pollution to keep at least 60% of land under forest cover, this protection is also in its constitution.
• Bhutan is the first organic country in the world.
• There are no traffic lights there.
• The people of Bhutan celebrated the birth of the king and queen's first son by planting 108,000 trees across the country.
• One thing I would like to add is that Bhutanese people do not kill animals, whatsoever (not even mosquitoes).

, the King of Bhutan was so humble that he sat down to cut onions while serving food to the less fortunate.

This is a Ted Talk from the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay. Worth watching.

What is the most unusual country map?

 At first glance, everything seems quite normal. Apart from Corsica, there's nothing unusual about the shape of the map of France (no offense to Corsica!):

It resembles a hexagon, doesn't it? In fact, the hexagon is considered a French symbol to such an extent that it's represented on coins. Here's a French euro coin:

If France were as simple as that, I wouldn't even mention your map in this response. But it's not. See below a real map of France:

France's longest border is not with Spain or Belgium, but with Brazil. The overseas department of French Guiana shares a 730 km border with Brazil, while mainland France's longest border is with Spain, measuring only 657 kilometers, and is even bisected by the Franco-Andorran border.

France also shares a border with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, but it lies on the Caribbean island of St. Martin/Sint Maarten. France has a maritime border with Canada due to St. Pierre and Miquelon, islands located off the coast of Newfoundland.

As can be seen on the second map, there are parts of France also in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Great Britain has many overseas territories, but they are not an integral part of the United Kingdom. All the areas shaded in blue on the second map are an integral part of the French Republic, and their inhabitants are French citizens, equal in all respects to the inhabitants of Paris or Marseille. Or even Corsica.

France is definitely the country with the strangest map shape on the planet. Besides, it's actually the land where the sun never sets. Somewhere in the world, the sun is always shining in France.

What is normal in your country but weird in the rest of the world?

 Iceland here.

• If it’s 10degrees or hotter outside [50 degrees Fahrenheit, for Americans] we will go out in bikinis and sunbathe
• Almost every family owns at least one summer cabin that is frequently visited
• We say ‘good morning’ or ‘good evening’ to everyone we pass on the street, depending on the time of day
• We will often have long discussions (*hem* arguments) of what type of snow is snowing at the moment
• The first real day of summer was three days ago and almost everyone took a break from work to go and enjoy it (it was around 14 degrees or something)
• It snows from August to June
• All the houses are built like fortresses so they can withstand the frequent earthquakes
• We await the next volcanic eruption with excitement

(Eyjafjallajökull, 2010)

• Most of us watch football religiously
• Dried fish is a delicacy

• We loudly announce when we go to the toilet and ask if we have permission to do so
• Going on dates is a formal and a rare experience, not standard at all
• Blind dates is something that doesn’t happen
• In swimming pools we wash without clothes with everyone else of the same gender, no stalls
• We drink a lot of milk —it goes with everything
• We leave our babies outside in their prams -of cafes, our homes, in the garden, in our unlocked cars
• We love sauces; we probably have hundreds of different types, also ice cream shops normally have about six different sauces
• We will have barbecues in any weather
• We drink lots of alcohol: beer, wine, you name it
• It’s never cold inside our houses, ever
• We party until way after midnight —if you are camping and want to sleep, don’t camp next to Icelanders
• Believing in elves and trolls is normal and we have tons of stories that we’ve been told about them since we were young
• We have 13 Santa Clauses

edit : some more for y’all + pics on the original answer

• We have a Christmas Cat that, if you don’t get new clothes for christmas, will come and eat you (particularly children)

• The christmas cat is owned by a pair of trolls called Grýla and Leppalúði. they are the Santa Clauses’ parents, who are also trolls.
• Grýla kidnaps, cooks and eats misbehaving children.

• We have a day dedicates to eating these delicious balls of air

• The water quality is 500% and so when we visit other countries we are dying because the water tastes so bad there
• We are taught from a young age that we should never ever ever step on the moss and if you do then u deserve to burn in hell (ok maybe not but that’s the idea)
• Everyone hates Justin Bieber for that music video he did. (+We had to close down the park a part of it was shot in because the tourists were tearing up the moss.)
• In winter we all wear the thickest coats you’ll see while still trying to stay fashionable and we all look giant
• Conjugation is a thing so a noun has 16 different variations of itself.
• Tourism is the top industry of Iceland
• Ice cream is enjoyed whenever; in a snow storm or on a rare hot day; doesn’t matter

What is the most useless country in the world in terms of resources, economy, etc?

 Welcome to Tuvalu

This small island nation stretches across the Pacific Ocean, right between Hawaii and Australia.

It has an area of ​​26 km2 and has the lowest GDP in the world.

Population - Approximately 11000

Industry - Fisheries Only

Agriculture - Farmers here only harvest coconuts and grow a native plant called pulaka. This crop contributes little to the economy.

Tourism - Due to its remote location only 2000 people visited Tuvalu in 2016 of which 65% were business travelers and 15% were international agency workers and technical consultants.

Telecommunications - The country only has an AM station, also provided by Japan. Only 900 people use the internet. Speeds are very slow: 512 kbps upload and 1.5 Mbps download.

Clean water Tuvalu has only one source of clean water rain. However, due to global warming in recent years, rainfall in Tuvalu has been reduced. Therefore, the need for clean water is currently met by the presence of a water purification facility provided by the United Nations.

Tuvalu has one college and one hospital. It's interesting to note that India annually provides $125,000 in aid to Tuvalu's only hospital for essential medicines and equipment.

Due to lack of land, there's no large playground for the children to play in. So they play on the airstrip! However, when a plane arrives, they'll be warned by a loud siren. When the plane lands, they'll come back. It's dangerous, but they have no other choice.

Tuvalu is not blessed with natural resources. The largest contributor to Tuvalu's GDP is the internet domain .tv.

Yes, you read that correctly. In 1998, an American startup paid the Tuvaluan government $50 million for the .tv domain rights for 12 years. With this money, Tuvalu was able to join the United Nations with a then-current $100,000 entry fee. The .tv domain also increased GDP by 50%. The government was able to provide electricity to all islands.

And most importantly, I want to tell you that this island nation will cease to exist within the next 50 years because it will sink due to global warming. The risk of sinking is twice the international average. Within the next 50 years, all residents must be evacuated to safety.

So, in closing, I'm not saying Tuvalu is a worthless country. I have no right to hurt the feelings of Tuvaluans. The people who live there are just like us, and just like us, they're proud of their country.

I'd rather say that they're all unfortunate people who don't have the resources we normally have. What adds to their disappointment is that their country will no longer be in the future, and that pains me deeply.

What are some amazing facts about your country?

 My Country has Oldest Astronomical Book in the World.

Soorya Siddhant. (At least 2500 years old)

This book contains knowledge which was given to Asur Maya by Lord Sooryadev in Tretayug. The present Soorya Siddhanta may nevertheless be considered a direct descendant of the text available to Varahamihira. (who lived between 505–587 CE)

Now if we calculate the size of a year by Soorya Siddhant, it is 365.2421756 days, which is only 1.4 seconds shorter than the modern value of 365.2421904 days !

Similarly if we calculate solar/lunar eclipse as per Soorya Siddhant, it's at par with the current time by 99.8%.

Soorya Siddhanta also estimates the diameters of the planets. The estimate for the diameter of Mercury is 3,008 miles, an error of less than 1% from the currently accepted diameter of 3,032 miles.
It also estimates the diameter of Saturn as 73,882 miles, which again has an error of less than 1% from the currently accepted diameter of 74,580.

Surya Siddhanta also contains the roots of Trigonometry.

It uses sine (jya), cosine (kojya or “perpendicular sine”) and inverse sine (otkram jya) for the first time, and also contains the earliest use of the tangent and secant when discussing the shadow cast by a gnomon in verses 21–22 of Chapter 3:

Of [the sun’s meridian zenith distance] find the jya(“base sine”) and kojya (cosine or “perpendicular sine”). If then the jya and radius be multiplied respectively by the measure of the gnomon in digits, and divided by the kojya, the results are the shadow and hypotenuse at mid-day.
In modern notation, this gives the shadow of the gnomon at midday as :

Even today most of the authentic astrologers in India use Surya Siddhanta as base to compute their Panchangs (Almanacs) in many languages.

Such is the knowledge in the ancient Bharat!

India is known as Vishwa Guru for some reason I believe!

Every country has rules – written or unwritten – that should be followed.

Since I am fascinated by Japanese culture, I will show you some of the taboos that tourists should absolutely not break there…:

Many Japanese rules are related to death and misfortune.
The Japanese have some rituals that seem a little bizarre to us at first glance.
But perhaps it's the other way around too – although I could hardly name any off the top of my head.

In Japan, you shouldn't sleep with your head facing north.

It's considered taboo.
This stems from the fact that graves are oriented towards the north
(kitamakura = "north pillow") .
This practice is attributed to Buddha, who, according to tradition, entered Nirvana with his head turned north and his gaze directed west. The deceased are meant to follow his example.
Because this sleeping position symbolizes death, people in Japan are careful in their daily lives to avoid sleeping with their heads facing north—if it can be avoided at all costs. And

you shouldn't stick your chopsticks in your rice!

In Europe, it's quite common to place your cutlery in or on your food.
This leads some tourists to simply stick their chopsticks in their rice while they do something else.
However, in Japan, chopsticks stuck in rice are seen as an invitation to the dead to eat.
Crossing your chopsticks over the bowl also symbolizes death and should be avoided.
Furthermore, in Japan, you should never pass food with chopsticks.
This, too, is associated with death, as in funeral rituals, relatives use chopsticks to place the cremated remains of the deceased into the urn.

And remember, the left side of a kimono is always on top!

Should you ever get the idea to put on a kimono (who can actually do that formally correctly?), it's extremely important that the left side is on top of the right.
With both the kimono (着物) and the yukata (浴衣), the left side (from your perspective) is always on top, so you can tuck your right hand in sideways.
Only the dead wear it the other way around.

There are special rules when seeing a hearse .

When you see a hearse, you tuck your thumb, which in Japanese is called oya-yubi親指 (“parent finger”), protectively into your fist so that nothing bad happens to the parents.

In general, there are special rules regarding the dead: you shouldn't photograph graves because you would disturb the peace of the deceased and attract misfortune.

One should not write one's name in red.

On gravestones, the names of the dead are usually written in black, those of the living in red.
Writing one's own name or someone else's name in red is believed to shorten one's life.
In Japan, people have the custom of erecting their own graves to be ready when their time comes.
They then write their own name in red on the gravestone to indicate that they are still alive. On the day of the funeral, the name is then written in black on the gravestone to signify the person's death.
However, writing someone's name in red can also mean that they will soon go bankrupt.
This may be related to the fact that the word for "deficit" or "debt" is composed of the characters .
Writing a name in red can even indicate that the person is a criminal.
The names of prisoners sentenced to death are written in red on their cell doors.

There are countless other rules to follow in Japan.

You can probably only truly understand them if you grew up there…