Navies are important parts of a country’s military. They protect the seas, help during wars and support rescue missions. In 2025, many countries have made their navies bigger and stronger. Some have the most ships, while others have the best technology. This article will tell you about the top-10 largest navies in the world.

Significance of Navies

Naval Power is very important for countries that have coastlines or trade across the sea. A strong navy helps protect sea routes and keeps a country safe from threats coming by water. It also shows how powerful and influential a country is around the world.

In 2025, the two most powerful navies are the United States Navy and China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy. Both have hundreds of warships, submarines and aircraft. This article will explain the top-10 largest navies in the world in 2025, based on the number of ships and their total value of strength.

Top-10 Largest Navies in the World by 2025

The United States Navy (USN) is the most powerful navy in the world. It has many large warships like aircraft carriers, destroyers and submarines. The list followed by People’s Liberation Army Navy and Russian Navy.

Here is the list of top-10 largest navies in the world by 2025:

World’s Largest Navy – United States Navy

The United Nations Navy is the largest navy in the world. It has many powerful ships like aircraft carriers, destroyers and submarines. These ships are big and modern. The U.S. Navy has the most total weight of ships, showing that it uses large vessels. Right now, it has 232 active ships. The U.S. Navy is very strong and can work in any part of the world.

People’s Liberation Army Navy, World’s Second Largest Navy

China’s Navy is one of the biggest and fastest-growing in the world. It has the largest number of ships, with around 730 military vessels. China is improving its Navy by adding new and modern ships. Its fleet includes many types of warships like aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates and submarines. The Chinese Navy is becoming stronger and more powerful every year.

Third Largest Navy in the World – Russian Navy

The Russian Navy is very old and strong. It is one of the top military navies in the world. Russia is ranked third in the total weight of its navy ships, with 1,260,447 tonnes. Some navies focus more on surface ships, while others give more importance to submarines or aircraft carriers.

Many universities around the world have a long and rich history. Some of them were started hundreds of years ago and are still running today. These places have helped shape education and have taught many great thinkers, scientists and leaders. They are known for their old buildings, traditions and strong leadership systems. In this article, we will know about the top-5 oldest universities in the world, their established and location.

Top-5 Oldest Universities in the World

The oldest universities of the world have a long history of education. They began many centuries ago and are still important centres of learning today. Here are the names of top-5 oldest universities of the world:

• University of al-Qarawiyyin
• Al-Azhar University
• University of Bolgona
• University of Oxford
• University of Salamanca

World’s Oldest University – University of al-Qarawiyyin

The University of al-Qarawiyyin, located in Fez, Morocco, was founded by Fatima al-Fihri between 857 and 859 as a mosque. Over time, it became an important center for learning during the Islamic Golden Age. It was officially made part of Morocco’s modern university system in 1963. Many people consider it the oldest university in the world that has been running continuously. The building itself is also famous for its beautiful and historic Moroccan and Islamic architecture.

Second Oldest University of the World – Al-Azhar University

Al-Azhar University , located in Cairo, Egypt, is the second oldest university in the world. It was started for Islamic learning and is one of the most respected places for studying Islam. Along with higher education, it runs many schools across Egypt, teaching around two million students. As of 1996, more than 4,000 teaching institutes were linked to Al-Azhar University.

World’s Third Oldest University – University of Bologna

The University of Bologna, in Italy, is the third oldest university in the world. It began teaching around 1088 and is the oldest university in Europe still running today. It was the first to award degrees and became famous for its student-led system. Known as the ”Nourishing mother of studies,” it now has over 90,000 students and is one of Europe’s largest universities.

University of Oxford

The University of Oxford, in England, is the fourth oldest university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Teaching began around 1096. It grew quickly after English students were banned from studying in Paris in 1167. In 1209, some Oxford scholars moved and started the University of Cambridge. Together, Oxford and Cambridge are known as ”Oxbridge” and are famous for their long academic traditions.

University of Salamanca

The University of Salamanca, in Spain, is the fifth oldest university in the world and the oldest in the Hispanic world. It was founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX. Known for its rich history, it has played an important role in education and Spanish exploration. Today, it welcomes over 30,000 students from around 50 different countries, making it a global center of learning.

Jammu and Kashmir is a beautiful region in northern India, known for its snow-capped mountains, scenic valleys and rich natural beauty. The state is home to many unique plants and flowers that grow in its cool climate and hilly areas. Each Indian state has its own state flower, which shows the natural beauty and culture of the region. Jammu and Kashmir also has a special flower of its own.

An Overview of Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir is a union territory of India. It covers the southern part of the larger Kashmir region, which is disputed by India, Pakistan and China. The Line of Control separates it from areas controlled by Pakistan. J&K is located north of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, and west of Ladakh, which is also a union territory of India.

State Flower of Jammu and Kashmir

The state flower of Jammu and Kashmir is Rhododendron ponticum. It is a beautiful plant with purple flowers. This flowers grows in the hilly areas and forests. It is known for its bright color and thick green leaves. It also helps in making the forests look colorful and supports the local environment.

Where it Grows Naturally?

Rhododendron ponticum is native to two faraway places:

• Southwest Europe: in parts of Portugal and Spain
• West Asia: near the Black Sea region (Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia and the Caucasus)

It also grows in some other countries where it was introduced by humans, like Britain, Belgium and New Zealand.

Appearance and Size of Rhododendron Ponticum

This plant is a shrub or a small tree. It usually grows up to 5 meters (16 feet) tall but can reach 8 meters (26 feet) in some cases.

Its leaves are evergreen, which means they stay green all year round. The leaves are long and shiny. The flowers are violet-purple and often have greenish-yellow spots. They are large and beautiful, which makes the plant popular in gardens.

It produces dry fruits with many small seeds inside.

Subspecies and Varieties

There are two main subspecies of this plant:

• R.p. baeticum: Found in Portugal and southern spain
• R.p. ponticum: Found around the Black Sea (Turkey, Georgia, Bulgaria etc)

There is also a variegated variety found in Turkey called R.p. var. heterophyllum.

History and Meaning

The plant was named after an ancient kingdom called Pontus, near the Black Sea, where it was found. It was first introduced to Britain in 1763 as a garden plant. Over time, it spread widely and became popular. However, in some places like Britain, it became invasive, meaning it grows too much and harms local plants.

Use in Gardens and Medicines

This plant is widely grown in European gardens. It is often used as a rootstock – a base plant on which other rhododendrons are grafted.

Its snap has been used in traditional medicine to treat tootaches.

However, honey made from its flowers can be poisonous. This ”mad honey” contains a natural toxin called grayanotoxin, which can cause low blood pressure and slow heartbeat.

A Problem in Some Places

Even though Rhododendron ponticum is beautiful, it can become a problem in the wild. It grows quickly, spreads fast and covers large areas. In places like Scotland, Wales and Ireland, it blocks sunlight and prevents native plants from growing.

To control it, people cut the plants or use herbicides. Some methods include injecting herbicide directly into the plant for better results.

Impact on Bees

A study found that rhododendron nectar is toxic to some bees like European honeybees and solitary bees. It can paralyze or kill them.

But buff-tailed bumblebees are not affected. Also, most honeybees avoid the toxic flowers because they can detect the poison in the nectar.

In some regions like the Caucasus, a type of honey bee can tolerate the toxin and makes the special ”mad honey.”