If you dug straight through the center of the Earth to the other side, where would you pop up?

We’re all accustomed to stories about digging a hole to China. Technically, you could do that from anywhere if you angled the hole in just the right manner and could really dig that far. Of course, going right through the center of the Earth would require tunneling technology far beyond anything we can even imagine today. You’d face massive pressures, the movement of tectonic plates; then a boiling, seething sea of magma; and you’d need air conditioning suitable to cool the pits of Hell in order to survive the temperatures. Earth’s core is about 6,000° C, or 10,832° F.

But just for kicks, let’s imagine that we’ve solved all the technical hurdles. Can you burrow your way straight through the Earth and pop up in Beijing or Hunan Province for some exquisite Chinese cuisine? Not unless you live somewhere in southern South America. Here’s a map that let’s you visualize where you actually would emerge. And here’s a labeled world map to help you identify those outlines on the previous map. What’s directly opposite your location?

A few lucky Eskimos in far northern Alaska and Canada would emerge in even colder conditions on the continental shelf of Antarctica. The rest of us in North America, Central America and much of South America would come up in the Indian Ocean. On a planet that is 75% water, the odds aren’t good of tunneling to dry land. Given your current location, where would you pop up?