SortStack #2111 — 2032-03-20

By duration · Order from shortest to longest.

  1. The Wright brothers' first powered flight 12 sec

    The 1903 flight covered just 36.5 metres — shorter than the wingspan of a Boeing 747. Within 66 years, humans were on the Moon.

  2. A typical national anthem performance at a sports event 1.5 min

    Uruguay's full anthem runs about five minutes, while Japan's 'Kimigayo' has just four lines — the shortest lyrics of any anthem on Earth.

  3. An average swim across the English Channel 13.5 h

    Fewer people have swum the Channel than have climbed Everest — and rules forbid wetsuits, allowing only goggles, a cap, and grease.

  4. Holi, the Hindu festival of colours 2 days

    It opens with the Holika bonfire at night and erupts into colour-throwing the next day — the powders were traditionally made from flowers and herbs.

  5. Randy Gardner's world record for staying awake 11 days

    The 17-year-old's 1964 science-fair stunt of 11 sleepless days still stands — Guinness stopped certifying attempts as too dangerous.

  6. The main construction of Notre-Dame de Paris 97 years

    The medieval build ran from 1163 to 1260 — yet after the 2019 fire, the cathedral was restored and reopened in just five years.

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