68. Saint Lucia

Home of two Nobel laureates, and the smallest country to have produced even one. Between 1979 and 1992, the island received as many Nobels as China.

67. Bratislava, Slovakia

 

The only capital bordering two other countries (Austria and Hungary). The world's oldest-known emoji, a neutral face, appeared in a Slovakian document from 1635 alongside a drawing of a clown's hand. The 'clown's hand' emoji is yet to catch on. 😐

66. Dolceacqua, Italy

A medieval village with a picturesque bridge. Besides tourism, olive-growing is a major component of the local economy. In Judaism, an olive is a unit for measuring volume. Consuming anything smaller is not considered eating, allowing a 'cheat' from normal kosher restrictions (and rabbinical Weight Watchers).

65. Egypt

Home of the camel since 525 BCE. Camels are responsible for a dispute over the world's only inhabitable unclaimed land. According to an 1899 boundary set by the British, the Bir Tawil region was part of Sudan. However, a 1902 map placed it in Egypt as their nomads used it for camel grazing. In exchange, the much more valuable Hala'ib Triangle was transferred to Sudan. Both Egypt and Sudan have backed their preferred map ever since, leaving Bir Tawil unclaimed.

64. Minsk, Belarus

From the Galileo Mall in Minsk. The first country in Europe to introduce colour television. Belarus has the highest population of European bison (Europe's largest land animal), and is the world's third biggest butter exporter. The butter does not come from bison.

63. Sint Maarten

Part of St Martin, the world's smallest inhabited island shared by two countries (the other country, confusingly, is also called St Martin). Peter Stuyvesant, the last mayor of New York under Dutch rule, acquired the nickname 'Peg Leg Pete' on the island after being struck by a Spanish cannonball. He later founded Broadway.

62. Paris, France

France is the most visited country on Earth. On average, one Japanese tourist per month suffers Paris Syndrome, a psychological disorder caused by having overly high expectations of Paris. No equivalent disorder exists for Brussels.

61. Baalbek, Lebanon

Home of the well-preserved Temple of Bacchus, and the Temple of Jupiter, the largest Roman temple ever built. Its six remaining columns are 30 metres tall. Baalbek is the reputed birthplace of Saint Barbara, patron saint of explosives and barbiturates.