At Guinness World Records, we are passionate about everything that revolves around wildlife, and we know how imperative it is to protect the environment.
Did you know that 71% of our globe is covered by water, but that only 2.5% of it is findable in the form of fresh liquid water? Even less, a measly 1.2% is readily available from the surface.
Such as the case of the largest glacier (the Antarctic Ice Sheet) or the Siberian deepest permafrost (where the ground is constantly frozen to a depth of around 1,000 m (3,200 ft), roughly the equivalent of 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools), most of the water on Earth is frozen away in glaciers or hidden away in underground caves.
But, no matter the form it may take - from the largest lake (the Caspian sea) to the majestic beauty of the widest waterfall (southern Laos' Khone Falls) - no other substance has shaped our world like water.
That is why we met with adventurer, CBBC presenter and record holder Steve Backshall, who kayaked across the Thames with his adventure partner Tom McGibbon and officially set the fastest time to row the length of the Thames by double canoe/kayak with portaging (Teddington lock), to chat about the deep blue sea.
We asked him to play a little guessing game with us, showing him some of the record-breaking marine animals in the new Guinness World Records 2024 book.
The game was simple: Steve had to correctly identify the records of those animals.
From the fastest marine mammal (orcas) to the largest freshwater mammal (the hippo), from penguins to the many records of the blue whale, we can confidently say that Steve smashed the challenge!
Do you want to know more about the marine wildlife in Guinness World Records 2024?
Find your copy here.
The BBC presenter is currently touring the UK with his live show Oceans, presenting his most recent book and talking about the efforts we all must make to preserve our seas from the looming threat of global change.
“I’m touring around the country talking about our oceans,” he explains, “and talking about the most iconic animals that live in them.”
We are talking about the future and what we can do to preserve our seas. - Steve Backshall
As the oceans get warmer, Steve reminds us, everything in them starts to change.
For example, the largest ice sheet melt in one day happened in 2019 and produced over 24 billion tonnes (26.5 billion US tons) of meltwater.
The terrifying amount was enough to fill 10 million Olympic-sized swimming pools
Out of all the mutations caused by climate change and global warming, seas, oceans and glaciers are the environments that are changing faster: they are suffering from the consequences of our pollution right under our eyes, and we have the power to do something about it.
Everything we can do on a personal, national, political and global scale is aimed toward this big goal of making our oceans a better place. That is something that HAS to happen.
Most importantly, Steve is eager to speak to the younger generations and involve them into the conversation about nature, wildlife and activism.
Plenty of communities rely directly on water, and numerous children all over the world grow up loving the sea: playing on the coast and in the water is as fun as it is educational. Chasing the waves, looking for treasures washed ashore by the tide, and discovering the marine fauna are all hugely important parts of a child’s formative years.
Sadly, however, our oceans are plagued by plastics and microplastics (the overall most common ocean pollutant) sometimes creating dangerous zones such as the Pacific Garbage patch: the largest oceanic garbage patch, a terrifying open-air dump situated in North Pacific Central Gyre.
In this global emergency, the record holder reminds us that it's important that the younger generations know that they can make a change.
By educating and empowering the advocates of tomorrow, we encourage them to make a difference from a young age: recycling, respecting the fauna and correctly disposing of trash are little everyday gestures that make a huge difference.
“Every single, tiny thing you can do matters,” Steve says, “and we can all make a difference if we work together.”
The most important thing is to realize the power that you have, and to realize that your efforts are important.
Among other active efforts to protect our waters, for his tour Steve partnered with several charities to champion more awareness and proactiveness in the battle for cleaner oceans.
One of his allies is the initiative Kids Vs Plastic, from National Geographic Kids.
“They are amazing activists who are still in school and who have managed to help out our oceans one piece of plastic at a time. They show that one single person can make a difference.”
"The way we perceive the use of plastic, and particularly single-use plastic, is important to realize what a huge difference one single person can make," he continued. "And, particularly, it's important how we get rid of that plastic."
If you think that one plastic bag or one straw could kill a whole animal, then you realize that not using that object or disposing of it properly could also save that animal.
But how do you become an explorer like Steve?
For the kids who dream about learning more about wildlife and fantasize about embarking on amazing adventures, Steve suggests starting with small expeditions and learning the basics.
“Start from your own backyard,” he suggests.
All the young adventurers can start by learning how to pack a backpack, or studying and exploring their surroundings.
Preparation, fun and developing an unwavering respect for our planet (and the animals and plants that live in it) are all small but crucial steps that will make the explorers of tomorrow.
A passion for water
“I think I’ve always been crazy about oceans,” Steve confesses.
“One of my first memories as a toddler is going down to the seashore, and it’s something that is part of most children’s lives.”
A passion for our blue planet that, years and many wildlife expeditions later, translated also into a record that saw Steve and his friend and paddle partner Tom kayaking down the Thames.
“We had wanted to do it for a long time and we discovered that the existing similar record was very achievable. So we started training until, sadly, I got Covid a week before we were due to go," Steve explained.
In the meantime, somebody else broke the record: the fastest time to row the length of the Thames by single canoe/kayak (Teddington lock) was broken in 2021.
But that didn’t discourage the pair, who continued to train until they decided to “just go for it and make it happen”.
Eventually, this August, they embarked on the never-tried-before fastest time to row the length of the Thames by double canoe/kayak with portaging (Teddington lock), starting from Lechlade Bridge and arriving at Teddington in only 20 hours and 29 minutes.
The record set an unprecedented first, breaking the minimum with hours to spare.
Tom and Steve supported each other throughout the entire attempt and kept each other focused and awake despite the difficulties of the paddling.
They also got “a little bit lost,” as Steve recalls.
Especially during the night, when fatigue kicked in and the complete darkness caused moments of difficulty, the two rowers supported one another with jokes and words of encouragement.
“We were a very good unit, we kept each other happy and we made endless terrible jokes,” Steve remembers, praising not only his paddling partner but also their support crew.
We kept each other going.
"This was one of the hardest things either of us have ever done," Steve declared after the record-breaking paddle. “It’s something you share it with a friend and a challenge you complete as a unit. And I could never have done it alone.”
Want more? Follow us on Google News and across our social media channels to stay up-to-date with all things Guinness World Records! You can find us on Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Snapchat Discover.
Don't forget to check out our videos on YouTube and become part of our group chat by following the Guinness World Records WhatsApp channel.
Still not had enough? Click here to buy our latest book, filled to the brim with stories about our amazing record breakers.
Related Articles
