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Longest day (in Northern Hemisphere) -

The longest day of the year nearly always falls on June 21, and marks the official start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere.

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Longest river -

The Nile River is the longest river in the world. Its main source is Lake Victoria in east central Africa. From its farthest stream in Burundi, it extends 4,160 miles (6,695 km) in length.

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Longest epic poem -

The Mahabharata is the world's longest epic poem. Written in Sanskrit and principally composed between the 3rd century BCE and the 3rd century CE, its 200,000 verses narrate the events and aftermath of the Kurukshetra War. The text is revered in Hinduism.

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Longest road tunnel -

At 15.2 miles (24.5 km), the Lærdal tunnel in Norway is the world's longest road tunnel. The subterranean road links Aurland and Lærdal, in the heart of Sogn, and provides a ferry-free connection between Oslo and Bergen.

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Longest animal -

As well as being the longest animal on the planet, ranging in length from 80 to 100 ft (24 to 30 m), the blue whale is also the largest known animal ever to have lived on Earth. The marine mammal is classified as Endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

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Longest canal -

China's Grand Canal, also known as Jing–Hang Yunhe, is the longest canal in the world. It extends 1,104 miles (1,776 km), connecting Beijing in the north with Hangzhou in the south. The lengthy waterway is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Longest road -

The longest road in the world is the Pan-American Highway. Running 19,000 miles (30,577 km) through 14 countries, it connects to four more between North and South America. 

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Longest English word -

The longest English word is pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis, which is 45 letters long and refers to a type of lung disease.

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Longest international border -

The international land border between the United States and Canada is the longest in the world, at almost 5,523 miles (8,890 km).

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Longest container ship -

The largest container ship in the world is the Evergreen A-class container ship, a series of 13 specialized vessels constructed for the Taiwanese company Evergreen Marine. The vessels measure 1,312 feet (400 m) in length.

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Longest rail tunnel -

Opened in June 2016, the Gotthard Base Tunnel is 35 miles (57 km) in length and is the longest railway tunnel in the world. It starts in Erstfeld and runs through the Swiss Alps to end in Bodio.

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Longest naval ship -

At 1,105 ft (337 m) in length, the USS Gerald R. Ford is the longest and largest naval vessel in the world. It's named after the 38th president of the United States.

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Longest snake -

The reticulated python is known to be the world's longest snake and has been recorded to reach over 32 feet (10 m).

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Longest railway line -

The Trans–Siberian Railway, which connects Moscow with the Russian Far East, is the world's longest direct rail route, running for 5,753 miles (9,259 km).

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Largest bird -

Ostriches are the largest living birds in the world, with an average mass of 229 pounds (104 kg) and an average length of 6.8 feet (210 cm).

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Largest continent -

The largest continent on Earth is Asia. It stretches from the eastern Mediterranean Sea to the western Pacific Ocean, and encloses more than 40 countries.

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Largest desert -

The largest desert in the world may come as a surprise: it's the Antarctic Polar Desert! It covers 5.5 million square miles (14.2 million square km). The largest hot desert is the Sahara.

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Largest country -

The largest country in the world is Russia. Its vast area is equivalent to 11% of the total world's landmass.

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Largest diamond -

At 3,106 carats, the Cullinan Diamond is the largest gem-quality rough diamond ever found. Discovered near Pretoria in modern-day South Africa in 1905, the stone was polished and cut into nine large stones and 96 smaller stones, with two of the largest stones forming part of Britain's Crown Jewels.

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Largest lake -

Despite its name, the Caspian Sea is the world's largest lake, or inland body of water. Its surface area covers roughly 150,000 square miles (386,000 square km).

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Largest mosque -

The Masjid al-Haram, or Great Mosque, is the largest mosque in the world. Located in the holy city of Mecca, the mosque, the most sacred site in Islam, can accommodate more than one million worshippers at a time.

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Largest national park -

Northeast Greenland National Park is the world's largest national park. A sprawling ecological wonder, the park is home to the Kaiser Franz Joseph Fjords and 40% of the world's muskoxen population.

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Largest palace -

The Royal Palace of Caserta in southern Italy is the world's largest palace resulting from a single original project. However, due to its expansion over many years, the Louvre Palace in Paris (pictured) is the largest by volume. Today, much of the former royal residence constitutes the Louvre Museum.

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Largest active volcano -

Rising gradually to more than 2.5 miles (4 km) above sea level, Hawaii's Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on the planet. Mauna Loa last reminded us of its status in November 2022 when it erupted for 12 days, the first eruption since 1984.

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Largest church -

St. Peter's Basilica, whose architects include Michelangelo, is the world's largest church. Located in Vatican City, the late Renaissance masterpiece is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Largest temple -

Not only is Angkor Wat the world's largest temple, Guinness World Records considers it the largest religious structure in the world. The Hindu-Buddhist temple complex in Cambodia is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Largest bell -

While it has never been in working order, suspended, nor rung, the Russian Tsar Bell remains the largest bell ever constructed. Made of bronze, the bell cracked during a fire after being completed. It's on permanent display outside the Kremlin Wall in Moscow.

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Largest city by population -

The largest city in the world by population is Tokyo. Japan's capital houses an astonishing 37.4 million people.

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Largest tree fruit -

The jackfruit is the largest tree fruit in the world. A tropical delicacy, jackfruit is typically found in the Philippines, India, Southeast Asia, and central and eastern Africa. Its also enjoys great popularity in Suriname and Brazil.

Sources: (Time and Date) (Guinness World Records) (IUCN) (Marine Insight) (Natural History Museum) (Statista) (National Geographic) (National Park Service) (BBC Science Focus) 

See also: The oddest-looking fruits and vegetables from around the world

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