Do you live in one of these?

Why does every town have a Maple Street? The 11 most-used street names

Image: Igor Shalyminov

Have you ever wondered why so many streets in the U.S. are named "Main," "Maple," or "Broadway"? From historical references to nature-inspired names and beyond, every street name has a reason behind it. Take a look at the following 11 common street names. How many of these names are present in your neighborhood?

Image: Brandon Jean

A self-explanatory name, for sure, "Main Street" is usually the most important avenue of a town or city, in its early stages. Sometimes, as it can happen, the city will grow and the "Main" street will no longer be the most important one, but the name almost always remains.

Image: KWON JUNHO

A testament to the U.S.’s most abundant tree, "Maple Street" is a common name found in towns and cities across the country. It has also appeared frequently in fictional settings, from novels and films to cartoons like The Simpsons.

Image: Timur M

Strangely enough, the name "Second Street" is more common than "First Street." One might assume that for every Second Street in America, there must also be a First Street—but that’s not always the case. The explanation lies in the fact that many "First Streets" have been renamed since their original naming.

Image: Seval Torun

Another common street name honoring one of America’s most widespread trees, "Oak Street," is a name that can be found in towns and cities of all sizes across the nation.

Image: Leroy Tan

Another self-explanatory name is the following example. The streets and avenues named "Park Street" in America usually start, end, or border a public park.

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A name somewhat similar in use to "Main Street" is "High Street." Though much less common in the US, it is often found in older towns with colonial or British influence and is typically bestowed upon the most important street in a town or city.

Image: S. Tsuchiya

Akin to "Main" and "High," "Central Street" is a name given to streets and avenues that are situated in the downtown area of a town or city, and pass through some of its most important features, like government buildings or central squares.

Image: Boyu Hu

Many street names originate as landmark references, pointing to notable features along the road. Nearly every town in America has a "Church Street," most of them named after a church that once stood—or still stands—along their path.

Image: Albert Stoynov

Across the country, streets named "Market Street" often serve as the center of commercial activity in a town or city. Like other landmark-based street names, the designation reflects the street’s primary use—in this case, as a commercial thoroughfare.

Image: Vlad Tchompalov

Unsurprisingly, "Washington Street," the Father of the Nation’s name, appears in nearly every American town and city, and in a larger proportion than any other historical figure’s name.

Image: Steve Lieman

The third and final tree-based street name in this list, "Elm Street," comes from a common North American tree. Like Maple and Oak, Elm Street has appeared in numerous fictional stories, television shows, novels, and movies, most notably, A Nightmare on Elm Street.

Stranger danger

From sharks to mosquitoes: The 12 most dangerous animals to humans

When we think of the most dangerous species of the animal kingdom, the first things that come to mind are snakes, sharks, and crocodiles. While these animals are sometimes lethal to humans, others are even more so. Read on to discover 12 of the world's most terrifying animals. Some of them will probably shock you!

Hippos can be as adorable as they are dangerous. They love water and spend up to two-thirds of their day submerged in rivers and swamps in central and southern sub-Saharan Africa. But behind that gentle, easy-going image lies one of the most aggressive species —even more so than lions and rhinos— killing up to 500 people a year.

With long tusks, strong jaws, and a weight that can reach 5,000 lb, they do not hesitate to confront any species when it comes to guarding their territory. Although they may seem somewhat lazy, they are fast, strong, and territorial. So be respectful and do not disturb their habitat!

There are many dangerous snakes in the world, but the one you should be more cautious about is the Taipan. The inland Taipan, a species endemic to Australia and New Guinea, has the most lethal toxins, and its bite can kill a person in just 45 minutes. Fortunately, there is an antidote to counteract its venom!

This species and others as dangerous as the Black Mamba and the King Cobra are responsible for the death of no less than 80,000 to 130,000 people per year globally.

There are more than 350 species of sharks, but only three are responsible for the highest percentage of attacks on humans: the great white shark, the tiger shark, and the bull shark. Although sharks are dangerous, they are not the most lethal animal for humans. In the last century, there has been an average of only 6 fatal attacks per year, with Australia having the highest number of incidents.

As a matter of fact, despite their reputation as vicious predators in movies, they are often the victims. Sharks are heavily hunted for their skin, fins, meat, and even their organs.

This predatory arachnid arthropod is another of the most dangerous animals for humans: it kills approximately 5,000 people per year worldwide. Scorpions can live in a variety of habitats, from deserts to urban areas, and it’s common to find them under rocks, in crevices, or in construction debris.

However, of the more than 1,000 venomous scorpion species, only about 25 can be deadly to humans. The most venomous scorpion is the thick-tailed scorpion, responsible for 90% of the deaths caused by scorpion attacks in Africa.

In general, bees aren’t violent, but they should be treated with the utmost respect and care since they tend to act in self-defense. When they sting, they can cause anything from a minor injury to acute poisoning if the attack occurs on a person allergic to their venom.

The Apis mellifera scutellata (Africanized honey bee) are among the most fearsome because they act in swarms: although they attack only if provoked, their defense mechanism is so aggressive that they do not stop until they catch and sometimes kill their prey. In the United States alone, between 50 and 100 people die each year as victims of bee attacks.

Despite being carnivores and eating any animal they come across to satisfy their hunger, they kill far fewer people in the world than one might expect. In Tanzania, the birthplace of the African lion, about 22 humans die each year attacked by these animals and it is estimated that there are no more than 100 victims worldwide.

Not that lions are not to be feared: they attack in groups, are capable of running at a speed of 46.0 mph, and can digest 66 lb of meat in a single meal with their sharp teeth and particular claws. So, beware!

Although it’s not in their nature to attack their prey, jellyfish can be dangerous to humans. If you accidentally touch one while swimming, you will be stung and its tentacles will immediately release venom, in many cases even if the animal is dead.

Some species, such as the box jellyfish —found in Australia, the Philippines, and other tropical areas—, are the most lethal. They send out toxic stingers capable of stopping a person's heart in less than five minutes. Jellyfish stings affect hundreds of thousands of humans globally, and numbers indicate that up to 100 of those are fatal. Believe it or not, the smallest are the most poisonous!

Like most animals, spiders will attack only if they feel in danger. If they bite, many pose no threat to humans other than mild swelling or a rash. Others, however, carry deadly venom, such as the Brown Widow, the Red Widow, the Redback, and the Funnel-web spiders.

Fortunately, there are effective antidotes for almost all spider bites. Yet, at least 50 people die worldwide each year, 7 of them in the United States.

These ancient animals are the largest reptiles in the world —they can be up to 20 feet long and weigh over 2,200 lbs. Their powerful jaws and high-action speed make them terrifying to their prey, including humans.

The most dangerous are the saltwater species, abundant in swampy areas of Southeast Asia, northern Australia, and Africa. Saltwater crocodiles are responsible for at least 1,000 deaths annually, the highest number of victims for a large animal.

Did you know that there is a species of ant that releases a poison even more powerful than arsenic or cyanide? The bulldog ant, considered the most dangerous ant in the world, is solitary and aggressive. It lives in parts of Australia, and if it feels threatened, it can cling to its prey with its jaws and sting simultaneously, killing an adult in just 15 minutes.

Another ant to watch out for is the Siafu ant, also known as the army ant. Known for having larger mandibles than most insects of its size, it is found in West Africa and the Congo. This species of ant attacks in groups and can devour an animal a thousand times bigger than their size.

Although it may sound strange, man's best friend is the third-deadliest animal to humans. While deaths from dog attacks are uncommon, a bite from these animals can transmit a lethal disease.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 59,000 people die each year worldwide from rabies —95% of them in Asia and Africa— a virus transmitted by the saliva of unvaccinated dogs.

When you think of the most lethal animal to humans, what comes to mind? Perhaps a shark or any of the venomous creatures listed in this article, such as snakes and scorpions. Well, you’d be wrong. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the animal that threatens human life the most is none other than the mosquito.

Yes, this slender, long-legged little insect, whose buzzing sound is one of the most annoying sounds in the world, is the deadliest animal on the planet. Why? Because mosquitoes are vectors of many dangerous diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever. According to the WHO, mosquito-borne diseases cause some 700,000 deaths a year.