Jigsaw puzzles have a long history and there are a number of puzzles facts that offer people a perspective of how popular the hobby is abound the world. When you learn about the world of jigsaw puzzles, you come to realize this is about more than a few jigsaw puzzles.

My first interaction with a jigsaw puzzle was one of pure joy. I've always come to appreciate puzzles, but jigsaw pieces bring a very physical attachment to the pieces. For me, I pull one piece out of the box at a time and arrange the table of the jigsaw pieces as I get started.

However you solve puzzles, you will be excited to impress your friends with some fascinating quirks and facts. Here are five weird facts about jigsaw puzzles:

1. Largest Jigsaw Puzzle: The largest jigsaw puzzle ever created, according to the Guinness World Records, had a whopping 551,232 pieces. It was assembled in 2011 by a team of 777 people in Baoji, China. This gigantic puzzle measured 27 feet by 6 feet, and it took 40 days to complete!

2. Missing Puzzle Piece Phobia: Some people suffer from a condition known as "jigsaw puzzle piece phobia" or "dissection puzzle phobia." This condition involves an irrational fear or discomfort associated with handling or even just thinking about jigsaw puzzle pieces. It can be quite debilitating for those who experience it.

3. Largest Commercially Available Puzzle: Ravensburger, a well-known puzzle manufacturer, produced one of the largest commercially available jigsaw puzzles. The puzzle, titled "Memorable Disney Moments," consists of 40,320 pieces. Completing this puzzle would be an impressive and time-consuming feat for any avid puzzle enthusiast.

4. World's Smallest Jigsaw Puzzle: On the opposite end of the size spectrum, there are micro-sized jigsaw puzzles designed to challenge even the most skilled puzzle solvers. Some of these puzzles have pieces as small as a grain of rice! Assembling such tiny puzzles requires incredible patience and dexterity.

5. Jigsaw Puzzle Competitions: Believe it or not, there are competitive jigsaw puzzle tournaments where participants race against the clock to complete puzzles of varying difficulty levels. These events attract serious puzzlers who can assemble intricate puzzles in record time. The World Puzzle Championship includes a jigsaw puzzle category, and the World Jigsaw Puzzle Championship is another notable competition specifically dedicated to these puzzles.

Jigsaw puzzles continue to capture the imagination of people worldwide, whether for their relaxing qualities or as a challenging hobby that pushes the boundaries of patience and problem-solving skills. These jigsaw puzzle facts are fun to know.