19 things you didn’t know about the UK

THE GUYS OVER AT FACTSLIDES put together some interesting facts for us about the UK, most of which we bet you didn’t know.

1. The Queen of the UK is the legal owner of one-sixth of the earth’s land surface.

#Repost @theracetospace ・・・ Our beautiful Earth. Goodnight! || #earth #earthfromspace #ocean #clouds #NASA @nasa

A photo posted by Caio Lobo / @bmfrances (@sayputz) on Dec 21, 2015 at 11:22am PST

2. In the UK, nearly 1 out of 10 couples are ethnically mixed.

3. The average age in the UK for a first kiss is 15.

#skins #cassieskins #cassie #skinsnation #cassieskinsquote #cassieainsworth #polishgirl #httr #tonystonem #sid #sidjenkins #love

A photo posted by Noemi (@noexii) on Jan 5, 2016 at 7:21am PST

4. The British Navy uses Britney Spears’ songs to scare off Somali pirates.

🇬🇧HMS Illustrious and other ships during "Ocean Wave 1997"🇬🇧 ———————————————— ➡@militaryglobal ➡️@mighty_united_kingdom ➡️@armythings ➡️@royal_navy_pics ➡️@royal_marines_commando ———————————————— #British #Britain #BritishNavy #Navy #Military #BritishMilitary #Uk #UkArmedForces #BritishArmedForces #Democracy #Gb #Guns #SA80 #Cannons #Mortar #Ships #Parade #RoyalNavy #England #Scotland #Wales #NorthernIreland #AirForce #RoyalMarines #Officer #Naval #Sailor #Soldier #Pilot #DontTreadOnMe

A photo posted by 🇬🇧Royal Navy🇬🇧 (@_britishnavy) on Jan 2, 2016 at 6:18am PST

5. In the UK you can never be more than 70 miles away from the sea.

We love this pic of Elgol, Isle of Skye by @distant.north. The stormier, the better says Cody, just not too stormy though! #skye #isleofskye #mountains #coast #nature #clouds #scotland #visitscotland #lovescotland

A photo posted by VisitScotland (@visitscotland) on Jan 1, 2016 at 11:44am PST

6. The British empire at its height was larger than Africa and was even comparable in size to the moon.

7. In the UK, if you reach your 100th birthday, you get a personalized card from the Queen.

#HappyBirthday #100thBirthday #100yearsold #specialdelivery #queenelizabeth #cardfromqueen #godsavethequeen #WHPresolutions2016 #igerslondon #nikonphotography 100歳をお祝いするクイーンからのカード。100歳になるからって自動的に届くわけじゃなくて、申請しないといけないらしい。で、前日に書き留めみたいなやつで届けられる仕組み。これを招待客の前でおばあちゃまに渡すってのが、先日のパーティーのメインイベントの一つだった。 #イギリス #スペシャルデリバリー #エリザベス女王 #英国王室 #100歳 #誕生日パーティー #ニコン #写真部 #ファインダー越しの私の世界

A photo posted by @chichiwawawa on Jan 3, 2016 at 2:07am PST

8. It’s legal for children over the age of 5 years old to drink alcohol at home or on other private premises.

9. All horses, ponies and donkeys must have a horse passport.

#snow #winter #equestrian #showjumping #wild #oldenburg ❄

A photo posted by @aadalatti on Jan 4, 2016 at 11:39pm PST

10. In the UK, accents change noticeably about every 25 miles (40km).

11. It’s illegal to die in the House of Parliament in London.

Having an absolute ball tearing around London with @kelly_fowler while she waits for me to take snaps like this. #england #london #bigben

A photo posted by Joe Whitworth (@whitstacam) on Dec 4, 2015 at 11:13am PST

12. Slavery was not made a statutory offense in the UK until April 6, 2010.

13. Kitkat’s year production could stretch around the London underground more than 350 times.

Ending the day at South Kensington Station, Piccadilly Line Platform taken by @uk.boy92 #londonunderground #tube_london

A photo posted by @TUBE_LONDON / Follow & Tag (@tube_london) on Jan 4, 2016 at 1:37pm PST

14. Nigeria has more English speakers than the United Kingdom.

15. U.S. eggs are illegal in the UK because they are washed. UK eggs are illegal in the U.S. because they are not.

One of the main reasons I started #gloriousgoogies is so I could farm safely with my little ones. And I'm so glad I did as they love it! #farminglife #kidsonfarms #happydays #happiness #freerangeeggs #freerangehens #lovelife #freedom #realfreerangeeggs #realfood

A photo posted by @gloriousgoogies on Nov 28, 2015 at 12:33pm PST

16. UK’s internet porn filter architect was arrested on child porn offenses.

17. The average car in Britain is parked for 96% of the time.

The important of a journey, is not just the destination but also the way to get there! Driving is a pleasure…………MINI #mini #miniuk #italy #midnight #black #motorsport #coopers #jcwkit #step2 #recaro #seat #bodykit #wilwoodbrakes #bilstein #rays #ring #ringlover #nurburgring #pirelli #snow #winter #austria #leutasch #seefeld #innsbruck #2016 #instacar #picoftheday #tags4likes #austria #instagramers

A photo posted by Roberto Arioli (@roby_lords) on Jan 5, 2016 at 11:33am PST

18. The UK is smaller than the U.S. state of Oregon.

19. The world’s shortest flight lasts for 2 minutes. It connects two islands in Scotland.

This time last year, we'd just got off this rather ace little #aircraft at the #airport on #Barra – in the #OuterHebrides! #Loganair #FlyBe #TwinOtter #IslandHopping #TwinProp #BeachRunway #TraighMhor #AvGeek #AvPorn #aviation #AviationGeek #AviationPorn #AviationNation #AviationPhotography #BlueSky #clouds #Hebrides #WesternIsles #beach #iPhone #iPhone5s #iPhoneography #InstaPlane #InstaAviation #InstagramAviation #Photozone72

A photo posted by Robyn PF (@robyn_pf) on Dec 27, 2015 at 6:26am PST