1) The first modern Olympic marathon race was held at the 1896 Olympics in Athens and has since become one of the most iconic and challenging events in athletics.

2) The world's largest flower is the Rafflesia arnoldii, which can grow up to 3 feet (1 meter) in diameter and weighs about 15 pounds (7 kilograms).

3) A group of flamingos is called a "flamboyance."

4) The Age of Exploration, during the 15th and 16th centuries, saw European explorers such as Christopher Columbus and Vasco da Gama reach new lands and establish trade routes.