Introduction 6 CHAPTER 1 BIGGEST 8 The Tallest Thing on Earth 10 Bigger Than Big 12 More Enormous Massive and Gargantuan 14 Case Study Race to the Top 16 Spotlight Colossal Coasters 18 Epic Records Out-of-This-World Moons 20 Creature Feature Polar Bears 22 Smackdown Central Battle of the Biggest 24 By the Numbers Great Barrier Reef 26 Blast From the Past A Mega Shark With a Monstrous Bite 28 Nature’s Biggest at a Glance 30 In Our World World’s Biggest Radio Telescope 32 Fun and Games Here’s the Big Finish 34 CHAPTER 2 SMALLEST 36 The Smallest Primate in the World 38 Small Wonders 40 More Things Micro and Mini 42 Case Study Tiny Houses Are Enormously Popular 44 Spotlight Small Sparkly and Expensive 46 Epic Records Petite Parks 48 Creature Feature Fennec Foxes 50 Smackdown Central Mini Is Mighty 52 By the Numbers Is There a Book Calling Your Name 54 Blast From the Past No Horsing Around 56 Bitty Birds at a Glance 58 In Our World World’s Smallest Production Car 60 Fun and Games Ready for a Mini Matchup 62 CHAPTER 3 FASTEST 64 The Fastest Person on the Planet 66 Speed With No Limits 68 Up Down Round and Round 70 Case Study Measuring the Speed of Light 72 Spotlight Fast Food 74 Epic Records Full Steam Ahead 76 Creature Feature Dragonflies 78 Smackdown Central Speed Demon Scuffle 80 By the Numbers Circling the Indy 500 82 Blast From the Past Fast Was Slow in the Old Days 84 Fast at a Glance 86 In Our World Rapid Regrowth 88 Fun and Games Myth-Busting 90 CHAPTER 4 WEIRDEST 92 The Deepest Weirdness on Earth 94 Zany Nature 96 People-Powered Peculiarities 98 Case Study Spherical Spectacles 100 Spotlight Ancient Oddities 102 Epic Travel Destinations Vacation Voyages 104
Creature Feature Chameleons 106 Smackdown Central What’s Weirder 108 By the Numbers The Human Body 110 Blast From the Past Far-Out Technology From Way Back When 112 Weird at a Glance 114 In Our World Totally Weird Science 116 Fun and Games What Weird Destination Is Right for You 118 CHAPTER 5 DEADLIEST 120 The Greatest Danger Underfoot 122 Dangerous Jobs 124 The Planet’s Deadliest Places 126 Case Study Tiny Terror 128 Spotlight Perilous Plants 130 Epic Records Record-Breaking Catastrophes 132 Creature Feature Saltwater Crocodiles 134 Smackdown Central Deadly Matchup 136 By the Numbers Epic Extinctions 138 Blast From the Past Deadly No More 140 Deadly at a Glance 142 In Our World Marie Curie 144 Fun and Games Identify the Lie 146 CHAPTER 6 COOLEST 148 The Most Awesome Adaptation in the World 150 Naturally Phenomenal 152 Cool Around the World 154 Case Study The World’s Coolest Light Shows 156 Spotlight The Cold Standard 158 Epic Records Great Stalacpipe Organ 160 Creature Feature Pink Fairy Armadillos 162 Smackdown Central Cool vs Cooler 164 By the Numbers Record-Breaking Sweets 166 Blast From the Past Supremely Cool Genius 168 Cool at a Glance 170 In Our World Cool and Connected 172 Fun and Games Cool Close-Ups 174 CHAPTER 7 MOST EXTREME 176 The Most Extreme Cave on Earth 178 Extreme Agility 180 Extreme Views 182 Case Study Death Valley 184 Spotlight Extremophiles 186 Epic Records Extreme Survival 188 Creature Feature Sociable Weavers 190 Smackdown Central Ultimate Face-Off 192 By the Numbers Going to Extremes in the Deep Blue Sea 194 Blast From the Past Ernest Shackleton 196 Extreme at a Glance 198 In Our World Turning Up the Heat in the Name of Science 200 Fun and Games Extremely Easy Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream 202 Index 204 Illustrations Credits 206 Acknowledgments Credits 208
GET READY TO GO TO THE EXTREME It’s time to set the records straight In National Geographic Extreme Records you’ll explore the most out-there records the world has to offer from the tallest mountain to the deepest cave from the smallest drone to the fastest trains from the most dangerous thing underfoot to the most dangerous jobs around and from the oddest ancient creatures to the teeniest deadliest and most extreme animals on Earth In every chapter check out more of our planet’s epic records in Case Study Spotlight and Creature Feature watch two extremes go head-to-head in Smackdown Central and check out long-ago extremes in Blast From the Past And at the end of each chapter it’s all about the fun and games Rank the extremes you read about do some myth-busting and even try out an extremely delicious ice-cream recipe Are you ready for some action-packed fun Then turn the page and dive in 6
