› added 1 month ago

8

TIL the Gulf of Mexico is named after the Aztecs, who referred to themselves as the "Mexica." The name has no direct connection to the modern country of Mexico, which came later.

Read more wikipedia.org

via reddit.com

b9eK9 TIL the KKK sent death threats and led boycotts against Johnny Cash in the 1960's. They incorrectly thought his wife at the time was black.
PKNw TIL that in June 1983 British Sea Harrier pilot Sub-Lt Ian Watson lost radio contact with his ship and with one minute of fuel remaining landed his aircraft on the deck of an unsuspecting cargo ship
r5J4 TIL Animal Planet made a fake documentary about the existence of mermaids… twice
oBXQ8 TIL that notable pirates such as Blackbeard and Benjamin Hornigold united themselves under a "Republic of Pirates" which wreaked havoc across the Caribbean. Their island base of Nassau was recaptured after being without a Governor for 12 years.
wL04P TIL that figs are carnivorous