1) The Tour de France, first held in 1903, is one of the most prestigious and grueling cycling races, covering over 3,500 kilometers (2,200 miles) in three weeks.

2) The study of fossils is called paleontology, and it helps us understand the history of life on Earth and the process of evolution.

3) 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.

4) The Dead Sea, located between Jordan and Israel, is the lowest point on Earth's surface. Its saltwater is so dense that people can easily float on its surface.