Can we April fool you?

It’s April the 1st, and that can only mean one thing… can we April fool you with the below wacky travel facts…

One of them isn’t true. Can you guess which? 

Just here for the answers? Scroll on down to the bottom…

Did you guess?

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Actually, they’re all true!! (April fools!)

1. Antarctica is actually the biggest desert on earth

It might be icy, but Antarctica is in fact the largest desert on earth. Stretching out over 5.5 million square miles, it’s pretty sizable!

2. There’s a free red wine fountain in Italy

This might sound too good to be true, but it’s not! Visitors to the town of Abruzzo in central Italy can now stop and refresh with a glass of free red wine from an ever-flowing fountain. Open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, this has certainly put Abruzzo on the wish list for our next Italian getaway.

3. You can buy square watermelons in Japan

Of course you can, there isn’t much that doesn’t go in Japan! The melons are grown in glass boxes to encourage their square shape – making them easier to stack and store in refrigerators! It’s said they’re not that tasty though, more for convenience than flavour. (Being the food lovers we are here at HA, we’re not so sure we can get on board with that.)

4. It’s still 2015 in Ethiopia

A trip to Ethiopia is almost like stepping back in time. The Ethiopian calendar year consists of 13 months and their year is in fact seven to eight years behind the rest of the world.

5. The longest place name on earth is 85 characters long

Taumatawhakatangihanga-koauauotamateaturipukakapikimaung-ahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu, New Zealand, has the longest place name in the world. At 85 characters long, it’s quite the mouthful! If only place names were allowed in Scrabble aye?

6. Big Ben is ever so slightly on the wonk

Over the years, Big Ben has developed a slight tilt (even visible to the naked eye!) This is due to a combination of the settling of the foundation and the weight of the machinery that powers the clock face. Don’t panic though, it’s said to be 4,000 years away from reaching the same tilted angle as Italy’s Leaning Tower of Pisa.

7. In Israel, it’s illegal to bring bears onto the beach

You read that right! If you live in Israel and happen to have a pet bear… you’ll have to find other spots to walk it. Taking your bear onto the beach in Israel is against the law and could land you with a fairly hefty fine. You’re more than welcome for the heads up.

8. Peru has more varieties of potato than any other country in the world.

There are estimated to be more than 4,000 different varieties of potato grown in Peru –  that’s a lot of spuds!  From the oca potato to the huayro potato, there are simply too many varieties to count. It’s said that the Incan people were the very first to cultivate potatoes all the way up in the Andes mountains, a huge 3,800 meters above sea level.

So, there you go, all true! Did we get you?