1) The Sahara Desert, located in North Africa, is the largest hot desert in the world, covering an area of about 9.2 million square kilometers (3.6 million square miles). It is characterized by vast stretches of sand dunes, rocky plateaus, and extreme temperatures.

2) The world's oldest tree is believed to be a bristlecone pine named "Methuselah" in California, estimated to be over 4,800 years old.

3) The Age of Exploration, during the 15th and 16th centuries, saw European explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama reach new lands and establish trade routes.

4) The Olympic motto is "Citius, Altius, Fortius," which is Latin for "Faster, Higher, Stronger."