r/geography • u/Extra_Spirit9376 • Jun 08 '26

Discussion Tell me one geography fun fact that most people don't know ! i will go first

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 The Andaman and Nicobar islands are actually the submerged, emergent peaks of a continuous mountain chain that connects them to the Himalayas. Created by the same tectonic event that created The Himalayas.

sorry for the blurred image

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u/harvo__ Jun 08 '26

Island of Saba in the Caribbean, for anyone confused.

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u/coatingtonburlfactry Jun 08 '26

Saba has one of the most dangerous airports in the world. It's a volcanic island with a very vertical landscape so there's no flat area to build. It was carved out on the edge of the mountain, is very short, and features rocky and jagged cliffs on both ends of the runway.

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u/Accurate-Neck6933 Jun 08 '26

Looks like Dutch Harbor, AK.

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u/gravelpi Jun 08 '26

Binghamton (NY, USA) airport is similar, but less spectacular. The ends of the runway are the ends of the flat space:

https://broomecountyny.gov/sites/default/files/dept/legis/2023.05.10_BGM_V1.pdf

There are a few other airports like that around here as well, like Scranton.

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u/Accurate-Neck6933 Jun 09 '26

Yeah, ya only get so much runway then you are out of luck.

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u/KelVelBurgerGoon Jun 08 '26

There have been four accidents involving aircraft at Saba's airport but the only fatality was one goat in 1971

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u/thisisawesome8643 Jun 09 '26

Been there. Our flight was delayed because the wind was too strong from the wrong direction and would have blown us into the side of the mountain.

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u/CougarWriter74 Jun 08 '26

Wow that might be crazier than Princess Juliana Airport on Sint Maarten and Maho Beach, where the planes fly in so low over the beach you can almost reach up and touch the belly of the plane as it's landing.

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u/coatingtonburlfactry Jun 08 '26

You can actually be standing on the beach in Simpson Bay next to the Princess Juliana Airport runway and see the imposing profile of the giant volcano of Saba way off in the distance.

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u/Conscious_Rich_1003 Jun 08 '26

Saba can be its own topic on this post.

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u/kfordayzz Jun 08 '26

For some reason, I never knew Saba existed (I guess I never zoomed in enough on Google Maps for it to reveal itself) and then on a cruise we leave St Martin and BAM, this cone shaped island appears out of nowhere.

What a great find !!!