Water

Then we have the wonder of water. Nowhere else in the universe do we find water in any abundance except here on the earth. Water, the amazing solvent, dissolves almost everything on this earth except those things which are life-sustaining. This amazing liquid exists as ice, breaks up rocks, and produces soil. As snow, it stores up water in the valleys. As rain, it waters and cleanses the earth. As vapour, it provides moisture for much of the arable land of this earth. If we had clouds like Venus, Earth would not exist. But we have exactly 50 percent of the surface of the earth covered by clouds at any one time, allowing just the right amount of sunlight to come through. As steam, it runs the powerful machinery that we have here on earth. Other than bismuth it is the only liquid that is heavier at 4⁰ C than it is at freezing. If this were not so, life would not exist on this planet. Therefore, when it is frozen, it is lighter and it rises. If this were not so, lakes and rivers would freeze from the bottom up and kill all the fish. The algae would be destroyed and our oxygen supply would cease, and mankind would die.