12,671 1,749 40MB
Pages 150 Page size 714.4 x 853.3 pts Year 2011
R ev U is pd ed at an ed d
The atlas that brings the world and its people to life
ic er pack e mm
Spitsbergen ack ice
Laptev Sea
Cha nne l Madaga scar
Mo zam biqu e ns
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So
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In
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Malay Peninsula
Borneo
an
R
id
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Tr
Kerguelen
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G
Great Sandy Desert
AU S T R A L I A
a
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Bass Strait
u
t h e a s t
Tasmania
I n d i a n
R i d g e
Limit of winter pack ice
South Indian Basin
S O U T H E R N O C E A N
l
Arafura Sea
Great Victoria Desert or Plain llarb Nu
o
Trench M
Caroline
New Guinea
Java enc
Mariana Islands
Celebes
Java Sea
ge
S
Sea
East Indies
O C E A N
be
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South China Sea
rli n
l
Va
ft Ri
Gr
eat
Mauritius Réunion
rg
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anticR
D
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Bay of Bengal
r
-Atl
I N D I A N
Ryukyu Islands
ng Range eef vidi er R t D i arri ea
B a s in
Basin
Kyushu
Philippine
Andaman Islands
Seychelles
Honshu
Great B
C ap e
rt ese ib D
Kalahari Desert
East China Sea
tze
p
Taiwan
Sri Lanka Nicobar Islands
Maldive Islands
Ja
e Is
Nam
Ba sin
Mid
en
Sakhalin
Hokkaido
Sea of Japan (East Sea)
Trench ppine Phili lands
ey mbezi Za
Mount Everest 29,035ft (8850m)
nges
r
Plain
Yellow Sea
ng Ya
as
go
Manchurian
pin ilip Ph
all
Ang o la
St Helena
Tristan da Cunha Gough Island
Arabian Sea
Lake Victoria
Lake Nyasa
alay
ko
Sea of Okhotsk
i
Yello
Ja
if tV
Ascension Island
OCEAN
im
Ga
b
o
G
n Shan
Basin
Kilimanjaro 19,340ft Somali
a
Deccan
Arabian
(5895m) Lake Tanganyika
A
a atr
C
Gre atR
ATLANTIC
B asin
I
m Su
Con go
ou ltai nt ain s
kong Me
r
Gulf of Guinea
H
i
ats
d Ethiopian of A G ulf Highlands y Horn of le Africa
a aw m nds a a Ad ghl i H
A
t a in s oun Ku nl un M P l at eau of T i b et H
Thar Desert
Arabian Peninsula
Sea
rt
l
ige N
Cape Verde Islands
Iranian M Plateau ou nt ain s
P ami rs ush u K nd
Western Gh
Red
D e se
A F R IC A e
Tie
Persian Gulf il
i
Da
a
e
r
Tibesti
h
Caspian Sea
Syrian Desert
r
rs
ench Bonin Tr
an Sea
Ahaggar
a
Lake Balkhash
os gr Za
a
ne
S
Aral Sea
asu s
y an
h
A
Anatol i a
ra
Lib
a
Black Sea
kans Mts
N
Mediter
Cau c
e
Riv e
ts Da n ub e
b
he
Lake Baikal
Ninetyeast R idge
lps
Bal
S
S
lga
i
Gh ats
E
ea
Plain
S
Ob ’
M
A
las ns At ntai ou M
Canary Islands
rth
p uro
O P E R Carpat h ia E U nM
I b e ri a n P e n i n su l a
Madeira
l
Vo
Siberian Plateau
Siberian
ar i a na
s
Ural Mounta in
tic
No
Bay of Biscay
Azores
n
Sea
Sc Isles
Ba
ai
tC
North British Sea
l nP
Central
West
be
an
a
re
avi
Kh
S ea
Iceland
n di
ey Yenis
Norwegia n
Len a
Kara Sea
B aren ts S ea
k ar m it n e tra S
w
inter p
New Siberian Islands
Novaya Zemlya
Eas ter n
Limit of w
s
G reen l and Sea
D
Severnaya Zemlya
Franz Josef Land
Indu
t mi Li
u of s
ANTARCTICA
Limit of summer pack ice
Be a uf ort S ea
Q
en ue
lands eth Is
Greenland Baffi
Laurentian Mountains
M
n ia
la
ns ai Pl
ch
Ca
l if
Am
eri
n
e
o
O C E A N
G
re
a t eW e s t I n d i e s r An tilles
Caribbean Sea ca
ic
Basin
Yucatan Peninsula
Tr
en
Tropic of Cancer
ATLANTIC
L esser A n t illes
ch
Li
OCEAN
Guiana Highlands Equator
ne
n
s
nd hla
Hi g lian
azi
co
Br
B asin
ná
Cha
Tropic of Capricorn
P ar a
Gran
B razil
pa s A rgen t in e B asin
Pa Falkland Islands
Mountain
Tierra del Fuego
Permanent ice cap/ice shelf Limit of winter pack ice
m
a
Trench
Ker mad ec
Basin
Campbell Plateau
Cerro Aconcagua 22,831ft (6959m)
Juan Fernandez Islands
ni
-1640ft/-500m -3281ft/-1000m
Peru Basin
Planalto de Mato Grosso
Pa
Pacific
New Zealand
1640ft/500m 820ft/250m 328ft/100m 0 -820ft/-250m
s
North Island
Southwest
19,686ft/6000m 13,124ft/4000m 9843ft/3000m 6562ft/2000m 3281ft/1000m
ile Trench - Ch
s
e
nd
ru
New Caledonia
la
SOUTH AMERICA
d
o
Is
Pe
Elevation
Co
Tonga
Fiji
Physical key
go
a
a
Vanuatu
A n
i
ds
i Samoa
A ma z on
Amazon Basin
ta
an
s
Galapagos Islands
s
Isl
e
Phoenix Islands
ge
nt
American
Gulf of Mexico
d Ri
tla
at
er
y
P A C I F I C
Grand Banks of Newfoundland
North
rra
nt rie eO adr tal Sierra M en cid Oc dr e Ma a ni or
Si e
Lo w
al
dle
ts
pa
nc h re ile T
Sea
Sh
ri ou ss Mi
re
es
ds
M id
k
Tas m an S ea
G n s a i n t
Ku r
d
ou
an
r s
i
South Island
ng
Isl
Labrador
Great Lakes
l
c
s a
Co r a l Se a
ure Zone
n
N O RT H A M E R I C A
Hawai‘i
e nd
Ra
an
Marshall Islands
n Isl a
M
ai ‘i
o
Mi Mo d-Pa un cifi tai c C en tr a l n M s Pacific B a si n i
mo n
Coast
Haw
P
Solo
ns
ounts r Seam
ac t ray Fr Mur
Hudson Péninsule d'Ungava Bay
iel d Lake Winnipeg
ai
Vancouver Island
cture Zone ocino Fra Mend
N or t h w e s t Pa ci f i c Basin
Islands
ia
y
T
ch ren
nt
Empero
an Aleuti
Gulf of Alaska
k
Is
s
ou
ian
d lan
c
Aleut
Great Slave Lake
R M
A l e u ti an Basin
a
na
pack ice
Bering Sea
Arctic Circle
o
inter
st
Kam ch a tka
t of w
nd
Great Bear Lake
Ca
Limi
Mount McKinley (Denali) 20,321ft C (6194m) o
sla
Ap
g rin Be
nI
ac ke
ie nz
St rai t
M
ppi
Brooks Range
Mississi
Chukchi Sea
Ba f f i n Ba y
d-A
Limit of summer pack ice
zab Eli
A n d e s
East Siberian Sea
Ellesmere Island
O C E A N
Mi
A R C T I C
Winter limit of pack ice
Cape Horn
ss D rake Pa
age
South Georgia South Sandwich Islands
Summer limit of pack ice
Antarctic Peninsula Antarctic Circle
Severnaya Zemlya Franz Josef Land SVALBARD
New Siberian Islands
(to Norway)
Novaya Zemlya JAN MAYEN
ICELAND
DE
(to Norway)
(to Denmark)
NORWAY DENMARK UNITED IRELAND KINGDOM NETH. M
AN
Y
(to U.K.)
BELG. LUX.
CHANNEL ISLANDS
G
FINLAND
RUSS. FED.
ISLE OF MAN
ER
N
SWE
FAEROE ISLANDS
R U
ESTONIA LATVIA LITHUANIA
S I
A
N
F
E u r o p e a n
E
D E
A s i a t i c
R
A T
I O N
R u s s i a
R u s s i a
POLAND BELARUS SLOVAKIA
CZ.REP.
UKR AIN E
LIECH.
K A Z A K H S T A N
MOLDOVA FRANCE SWITZ. AUSTRIA HUNGARY SLOVENIA ROMANIA
(to U.K.)
S
M O N G O L I A
SERBIA CROATIA KOSOVO S.M. B.&H. BULGARIA VATICAN MONT. CITY ALB. MACEDONIA
MONACO
SPAIN
PORTUGAL
(to Spain)
ALGERIA
A
M O
Canary Islands
O CC RO
L I B Y A
IRAQ
C
AFGHANISTAN
BAHRAIN QATAR
RI
I
I
N
SOUTH KOREA
A
JAPAN
NEPAL BHUTAN
A ST
Ryukyu Islands (to Japan)
LAOS
BANGLADESH
U.A.E.
SAUDI ARABIA
TAIWAN
MYANMAR
I N D I A
(BURMA)
O
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
Paracel Islands
ET
AU
K PA
H
VI
CAPE VERDE
I R A N KUWAIT
JORDAN
EGYPT
TA
NI
WESTERN SAHARA (disputed)
SYRIA LEBANON
CYPRUS ISRAEL
MALTA
NORTH KOREA
AZERBAIJAN
AN
(to Portugal)
TUNISIA
GREECE
M
GIBRALTAR (to U.K.) Madeira
I TA LY
UZBEKISTAN GEORGIA KYRGYZSTAN ARMENIA AZERBAIJAN TURKMENISTAN TURKEY TAJIKISTAN
N
ANDORRA
Azores (to Portugal)
MICRONESIA
O
NG
O
CA M
AL
IA
ER OO
N
NAM
MALI M ERITREA (to U.S.) NIGER THAILAND YEMEN (disputed) CHAD SENEGAL Socotra A GUAM Laccadive N Andaman KI (to Yemen) S U DA N GAMBIA (to U.S.) CAMBODIA Islands UR SO Islands DJIBOUTI GUINEA(to India) PHILIPPIN E S GUINEA B FA (to India) NIGERIA Spratly BISSAU Islands CENTRAL ETHIOPIA SIERRA LEONE BENIN (disputed) Nicobar AFRICAN BRUNEI SRI LANKA Islands LIBERIA PALAU REPUBLIC EQ M MALDIVES (to India) .G CÔTE D’IVOIRE SO M A L AYSIA UIN UGANDA E A SINGAPORE (IVORY COAST) KENYA GHANA RWANDA GABON TOGO DEMOCRATIC BURUNDI C SAO TOME & PRINCIPE I N D O N E S I A R EP UB L IC Cabinda OF C ONG O ZA BRITISH INDIAN SEYCHELLES (to Angola) CHRISTMAS ISLAND NI OCEAN TERRITORY A EAST TIMOR (to Australia) (to U.K.) ASCENSION ISLAND Agalega Islands COMOROS (to St. Helena) ANGOLA ASHMORE & (to Mauritius) MALAWI COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS MAYOTTE (to France)
DAG ASC
Q
O C E A N
I
SWAZILAND
S OU T H A F RIC A
(to Australia)
CARTIER ISLANDS
(to Australia)
MAURITIUS REUNION (to France)
MA
MO Z
NAMIBIA BOTSWANA
AM
ZIMBABWE
A T L A N T I C
UE
BI
(to U.K.)
AR
N TA
ZAMBIA
ST. HELENA
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
N
D
I
A
A U S T R A L I A
N
LESOTHO
O
C
E
A
N
Abbreviations key ALB. BELG. B. & H. CZ. REP. EQ. GUINEA LIECH. LUX. NETH. NETH. ANT. RUSS. FED. S. M. MONT. SWITZ. U.A.E.
ALBANIA BELGIUM BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA CZECH REPUBLIC EQUATORIAL GUINEA LIECHTENSTEIN LUXEMBOURG NETHERLANDS NETHERLANDS ANTILLES RUSSIAN FEDERATION SAN MARINO MONTENEGRO SWITZERLAND UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Tasmania FRENCH SOUTHERN & ANTARCTIC TERRITORIES
Prince Edward Islands (to South Africa)
(to France)
HEARD & MCDONALD ISLANDS (to Australia)
S
O
U
T
H
E
R
N
O
A N T A R C T I C A
C
E
A
N
A
R O
C C
T E
I A
C Queen Elizabeth Islands
N
GREENLAND (to Denmark)
Baffin Island
ALASKA (to U.S.)
C Aleutian Islands (to U
Kurile Islands
A
N
A
D
A
.S . )
(to Russ. Fed.)
ST. PIERRE & MIQUELON
P
A
C
I
F
I
O
C
E
A
N
(to France)
C
U N I T E D O F
S T A T E S
A T L A N T I C
A M E R I C A
O C E A N
BERMUDA (to U.K.)
MIDWAY ISLANDS
M
Guadelupe
(to U.S.)
(to Mexico)
E
X
I
Hawaii
C
Revillagigedo Islands
(to U.S.)
WAKE ISLAND
JOHNSTON ATOLL (to U.S.)
MARSHALL ISLANDS
CLIPPERTON ISLAND
WALLIS & FUTUNA BAKER & HOWLAND ISLANDS
JAMAICA NAVASSA I.
GUATEMALA EL SALVADOR NICARAGUA COSTA RICA
(to U.S.)
ARUBA (to Neth.)
PANAMA
GUYANA SURINAME
ECUADOR
K I R I B A T I (to N.Z.)
VANUATU NEW CALEDONIA
COOK ISLANDS (to N.Z.)
FIJI
A
C
I
F
I
O
C
E
A
N
C
R
SAMOA
P
B
P E
TOKELAU
SOLOMON ISLANDS
R
(to Chile) (to Chile)
Sala y Gomez (to Chile)
Kermadec Island
San Ambrosia Island (to Chile)
CHILE
(to N.Z.)
Juan Fernandez Island (to Chile)
NEW ZEALAND Chatham Island (to N.Z.)
Bounty Island Campbell Island
A
Easter Island
(to N.Z.)
(to N.Z.)
Macquarie Island (to Australia)
Continental key NORTH AMERICA pages 2-23
EUROPE pages 46-73
SOUTH AMERICA pages 24-33
ASIA pages 74-99
AFRICA pages 34-45
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA pages 100-109
A R G E N T
(to Australia)
(to U.K.)
(to U.S.)
(to Australia)
Lord Howe Island
L
San Felix Island
I N
NORFOLK ISLAND
I
PARAGUAY PITCAIRN ISLANDS
NIUE (to N.Z.) AMERICAN SAMOA
(to Australia)
Z
B OL I V I A
(to France)
(to France)
CORAL SEA ISLANDS
A
U
FRENCH POLYNESIA
TONGA
(to France)
(to Ecuador)
JARVIS ISLAND (to U.S.)
TUVALU
FRENCH GUIANA
COLOMBIA
Galapagos Islands
(to U.S.)
NAURU
(to French Polynesia)
KINGMAN REEF (to U.S.) PALMYRA ATOLL (to U.S.)
(to France)
A
O
(to Mexico)
(to U.S.)
PUERTO RICO (to U.S.) BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS (to U.K.) VIRGIN ISLANDS (to U.S.) ANGUILLA (to U.K.) ST. KITTS & NEVIS ANTIGUA & BARBUDA MONTSERRAT (to U.K.) GUADELOUPE (to France) HAITI DOMINICA CURAÇAO MARTINIQUE (to France) (to Neth.) ST. LUCIA BARBADOS ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES GRENADA VENEZUELA TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC TURKS & CAICOS ISLANDS (to U.K.) CAYMAN ISLANDS (to U.K.) BAHAMAS HONDURAS CUBA BELIZE
URUGUAY
FALKLAND ISLANDS (to U.K.)
CHILE SOUTH GEORGIA & SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS (to U.K.)
ANTARCTICA
CHILDREN’S
WORLD ATLAS Consultant
Dr. Kathleen Baker Senior Lecturer in Geography, King’s College London (retired) Senior Visiting Fellow, London South Bank University Written by
Simon Adams • Mary Atkinson • Sarah Phillips • John Woodward
A Dorling Kindersley Book
Contents LONDON, NEW YORK, MUNICH, MELBOURNE, AND DELHI Project editors Lucy Hurst, Sadie Smith, Shaila Awan, Amber Tokeley Art editors Joe Conneally, Sheila Collins, Rebecca Johns, Simon Oon, Andrew Nash Senior editor Fran Jones Senior art editor Floyd Sayers Managing editor Andrew Macintyre Managing art editor Jane Thomas Picture research Carolyn Clerkin, Brenda Clynch DK Pictures Sarah Mills Production Jenny Jacoby DTP designer Siu Yin Ho Senior cartographic editor Simon Mumford Cartographer Ed Merritt Digital Cartography Encompass Graphics Limited Satellite images Rob Stokes 3D globes Planetary Visions Ltd., London THIS EDITION Editor Jessamy Wood Art editors Mark Lloyd, Katie Knutton Senior editor Rob Houston Senior art editor Carol Davis Managing editor Linda Esposito Managing art editor Jim Green Picture research Myriam Mégharbi Production editor Marc Staples Print production Charlotte Oliver Senior cartographic editor Simon Mumford Satellite images Ed Merritt 3D Globes Planetary Visions Ltd., London US editor Stephanie Pliakas First published in the United States in 2003. This revised edition published in the United States in 2011 by DK Publishing, 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014. Copyright © 2003, 2008, 2011 Dorling Kindersley Limited
ACTIVE PLANET PLANET PEOPLE MAPPING THE WORLD
iv
NORTH AMERICA
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22
WESTERN CANADA AND ALASKA EASTERN CANADA USA: NORTHEAST USA: SOUTH USA: MIDWEST USA: WEST USA: SOUTHWEST MEXICO CENTRAL AMERICA THE CARIBBEAN
vi 1
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 001 – 179338 – Jun/11 All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photycopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited. A catalogue record for this book is available from the Library of Congress. ISBN: 978-0-7566-7584-4 Colour reproduction by Colourscan, Singapore, and MDP, UK Printed and bound by Star Standard Industries Ltd, Singapore
Discover more at www.dk.com
SOUTH AMERICA
NORTHWEST SOUTH AMERICA BRAZIL SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA ATLANTIC OCEAN
24 26 28 30 32
ASIA
AFRICA
NORTHWEST AFRICA NORTHEAST AFRICA WEST AFRICA CENTRAL AFRICA SOUTHERN AFRICA
34 36 38 40 42 44
TURKEY AND THE CAUCASUS RUSSIA AND KAZAKHSTAN THE NEAR EAST THE MIDDLE EAST CENTRAL ASIA INDIAN SUBCONTINENT WESTERN CHINA AND MONGOLIA EASTERN CHINA AND KOREA JAPAN MAINLAND SOUTHEAST ASIA MARITIME SOUTHEAST ASIA INDIAN OCEAN
AUSTRALASIA AND OCEANIA EUROPE
SCANDINAVIA AND FINLAND THE BRITISH ISLES THE LOW COUNTRIES FRANCE GERMANY AND THE ALPINE STATES SPAIN AND PORTUGAL ITALY CENTRAL EUROPE SOUTHEAST EUROPE BULGARIA AND GREECE UKRAINE, MOLDOVA, AND ROMANIA BALTIC STATES AND BELARUS EUROPEAN RUSSIA
46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72
74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND PACIFIC OCEAN
100 102 104 106 108
ANTARCTICA ARCTIC OCEAN
110 111
GAZETTEER INDEX ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
112 134 136
ACTIVE PLANET
Active Planet
DOWN TO THE CORE
Earth formed from iron-rich asteroids that smashed together to build the planet. Early in its history it, melted, allowing the heavy iron to sink and create a metallic core. The core is surrounded by lighter rock, with the lightest forming Earth’s crust. Most of the water on the planet lies in huge oceans, and above them is the layer of air that forms the atmosphere.
Earth is a dynamic planet that is always
changing its form. Heat generated by nuclear reactions deep below the surface creates hugely powerful currents that keep Earth’s rocks on the move, triggering earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Meanwhile, solar energy striking the planet in different ways creates currents in the air, driving the atmospheric turmoil of the weather. This changes with the seasons and from place to place, creating an enormous range of climates and habitats for the most dynamic element of all—life.
Lower atmosphere, 10 miles (16 km) thick Crust, 5–45 miles (8–70 km) thick Mantle, 1,800 miles (2,900 km) thick
THE PLATES OF EARTH’S CRUST
North American Plate
North American Plate
Heat generated deep within the planet creates currents in the mobile mantle rock beneath the crust. These currents drag some sections of the cool, brittle crust apart while pushing other parts together, fracturing the crust into separate plates. The biggest of these span oceans and continents, but there are many smaller plates. At their boundaries the plates may be diverging (pulling apart), converging (pushing together), or sliding past each other at transform faults.
Eurasian Plate Caribbean Plate Pacific Plate
Cocos Plate African Plate Pacific Plate
Indo-Australian Plate
South American Plate Nazca Plate
Key to map
Antarctic Plate
WHERE MOVING PLATES MEET
The boundaries between the plates are volcanic earthquake zones. The plates move very slowly, pulling apart at divergent boundaries. This allows hot rock below to melt, erupt, and cool to form new crust – especially at the spreading rifts that form mid-ocean ridges. Meanwhile, at convergent boundaries, one plate slides beneath another, pushing up mountain ranges and making volcanoes erupt. Other volcanoes erupt over hot spots in the mantle below the crust.
Liquid outer core, 1,400 miles (2,250 km) thick
Solid inner core, 1,515 miles (2,440 km) across
Transform fault
Divergent boundary
Uncertain boundary
Convergent boundary
1
Continental crust, much thicker than oceanic crust
5
Oceanic crust formed from heavy basalt rock
9
Hot-spot volcano erupting over mantle plume
2
Broad basin formed near uplifted area
6
Upper mantle, mostly solid but very hot
10
Ocean trench marking convergent plate boundary
3
Ancient converging boundary, now inactive
7
Mantle, solid but mobile owing to heat currents
11
Volcano erupting over convergent boundary
4
Mountains created when plate boundary was active
8
Spreading rift forming a mid-ocean ridge
12
Earthquake zone—one plate grinding under another
13
Plates pulling apart, creating a rift valley
10
8
2 4
9
11
5
13
6
iv
1
12 3
7
ACTIVE PLANET North Pole THE SEASONS
Earth spins on a tilted axis, so as it orbits the Sun once a year, the North Pole points toward the Sun in June and away from it in December. This means that in regions north of the Tropics it is summer in June but winter in December—and the opposite is true to the south of the tropics. Near the Equator it is always warm and there are annual wet and dry seasons.
March is the northern spring
December is the southern summer and northern winter
Arctic Circle, where Sun’s rays are dispersed
South Pole
Cold air (in blue) becomes chilled in upper atmosphere
Earth’s axis
Warm air (in red) heats up near Earth’s surface
June is the northern summer and southern winter
The Sun Equator, where Sun’s rays are concentrated
Tropic of Cancer Tropic of Capricorn
COLD POLE
Descending cool, dry air over desert zone
The Tropics are the hottest parts of the planet because the Sun’s rays directly strike them, concentrating the heat energy. Near the poles the same amount of heat energy is spread out over a broader area, so it does not have as much heating effect, even in the summer. At midwinter, the entire polar region is in permanent darkness, so it gets no solar energy at all and is bitterly cold.
JUNGLE AND DESERT
Sahara Desert
Rainforest, Borneo
Concentrated sunlight near the Equator heats Earth’s surface, warming the air above. The warm air rises, carrying moisture with it. This forms huge clouds that spill tropical rain, fueling the growth of rainforests. The dry, cooling air then flows north and south and sinks over the subtropics, creating deserts. Similar air-circulation patterns affect the climate in the far north and south.
RAINFALL
Rising warm, moist air near Equator
Some parts of the world get much more rain than others. The wettest regions are mostly rainforest zones, where year-round rain and warmth promote lush plant growth. Regions of moderate rainfall are naturally forests and grasslands, although most of this land is now used for farming. The driest regions may be too dry for many plants to grow, creating deserts—but they also include some northern forest zones and polar tundra.
Key to map Less than 20 cm (50 in) 20–79 in (50–200 cm) More than 79 in (200 cm)
Atacama Desert, Chile
Cool, dry air sinks over desert zone
v
Planet People
The number of people on the planet has quadrupled since 1900. A lot of this growth has taken place in the developing world, which is now home to more than 80 percent of the population. Many of these people are very poor and do not enjoy the living conditions that most citizens of the developed world take for granted. This is changing, however, especially in nations such as China, India, and Brazil. Here, new technology and international trade are fueling rapid economic growth that is transforming how people live. But as more of the planet’s people demand more of its scarce resources, there may be some difficult challenges ahead.
POPULATION IN BILLIONS
PLANET PEOPLE
10
In 2050, there are expected to be almost 9 billion people
8 6 4 2 1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
YEAR POPULATION INCREASE
For centuries, the number of people on the planet stayed the same, at roughly 300 million. But since the 1750s, better living conditions and health care have allowed more babies to survive, causing a population explosion. In only 60 years from 1950, the population soared from 2.5 billion to 6.8 billion. It will keep growing, but probably not quite so fast.
Russia POPULATION DENSITY
United Kingdom
On this map the area of each part of the world is adjusted to reflect the number of people who live there. For example, Japan’s population of 128 million is much bigger than that of Australia, with 22 million, so it is shown much larger here despite being a smaller country. More people live in Nigeria—153 million—than in all of Russia. But the nations with the biggest populations by far are India and China, each with far more than 1 billion citizens.
Canada
China EUROPE
NORTH AMERICA
Japan
ASIA United States
Philippines India AFRICA
SOUTH AMERICA
Pakistan Nigeria
Indonesia
AUSTRALASIA
FAMILY SIZE
All over the world, some women have more children than others, but the average varies from continent to continent. European women have 1.5 children on average, so two families may have three children between them. This is much fewer than in Africa, where the population is growing faster despite higher death rates among children. Worldwide, the average is 2.6—more than enough to replace both parents.
BIRTH AND DEATH RATES
If the birth rate is the same as the death rate, the population stays the same. But in most countries, the birth rate is higher. In Niger, west Africa, there are 50.6 births but only 13.1 deaths per 1,000 people, and the population is growing at 4 percent a year. Brazil’s population is also growing, with 14.2 births compared to 6.5 deaths. By contrast, Lithuania has a shrinking population, with 9.9 births outweighed by 13.8 deaths. NIGER
vi
BRAZIL
AFRICA
4.6 children per woman
ASIA
2.3 children per woman
SOUTH AMERICA
NORTH AMERICA
2.2 children per woman
2 children per woman
A country with few young people is said to have an aging population. But these school children in Burundi, east Africa, are part of a youthful population, with fewer elder people. Both situations can cause problems. LITHUANIA
AUSTRALASIA
1.8 children per woman
EUROPE
1.5 children per woman
PLANET PEOPLE 34,000,000
CITY POPULATIONS
As populations grow, people tend to move from the country to a city to find work. Today one third of the world’s people live in cities, which grow bigger every year. Some are colossal, like Tokyo, Japan—the largest city in Asia. The other cities shown here are the most populous on each continent. They are vibrant centErs of civilization, but some cities are fringed by sprawling shantytowns, where poor people live in makeshift shacks with no public health services or clean water.
23,400,000
22,200,000 20,900,000 15,200,000 12,400,000
4,475,000
TOKYO
MEXICO CITY
NEW YORK CITY
SÃO PAULO
LANGUAGES
Christianity 2.1 billion
These are the 10 most common languages worldwide, sized in proportion to the number of native speakers. Chinese outstrips the others because China has such a huge population. But Spanish comes next because it is the main language of many Latin American countries, such as Mexico. English is almost as common, thanks mostly to it being the language of the United States. It is also used as an international language for trade.
HINDI
LONDON
CAIRO
ARABIC
SPANISH
CHINESE ENGLISH PORTUGUESE BENGALI
Hinduism 900 million
Chinese traditional 394 million
Buddhism 376 million
Indigenous 300 million
RUSSIAN
GERMAN
JAPANESE
Islam 1.5 billion
SYDNEY
African traditional Others 100 million 97.7 million
Others Sikhism Juche Spiritism Judaism Baha’i Jainism Shinto Cao Ðái Zoroastrianism Tenrikyo Neo-Paganism Unitarian Universalism Rastafarianism Scientology
23 million 19 million 15 million 14 million 7 million 4.2 million 4 million 4 million 2.6 million 2 million 1 million 800,000 600,000 500,000
RELIGIONS AND BELIEFS
Almost three fourths of the world’s population are followers of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, or Buddhism. But many people follow other faiths, especially in China, where the traditional folk religion, Shenism, is practiced by almost one third of the huge population. The “indigenous” and “African traditional religions” data points are both groupings of different, but similar, religions. Others are listed at the far right, in order of popularity.
AFRICA 10.9%
EUROPE 58.4%
SOUTH AMERICA 39.5% MIDDLE EAST 29.8%
% of population using the Internet
ONLINE ACCESS
Over the 10 years, the Internet has become a vital tool for global business, education, and politics, so the more people who can use it, the better. These charts show the percentage of people with Internet access both worldwide and in particular regions. North America, Australia, and Europe lead the field, but the number of Internet users is growing fastest in the Middle East and Africa.
ASIA 21.5%
CENTRAL AMERICA 24.9%
% of population not using the Internet AUSTRALIA 61.3% NORTH AMERICA 77.4%
WORLDWIDE 28.7%
vii
PLANET PEOPLE WEALTH
A country’s wealth is usually measured in terms of the money it earns divided by the number of its citizens living both at home and overseas. This is called its gross national product (GNP) per capita. Qatar in the Middle East has huge wealth generated by exports of oil and natural gas, and since it has a small population, its GNP per capita is very high. Burundi in east Africa has only one thirtieth of the income of Qatar divided between seven times as many people, so its GNP per capita is very low.
Burundi $135
Lithuania $11,871
Bolivia $1,457
Japan $38,207
Norway $87,068
Canada $41,729
Qatar $93,201
BUSIEST AIRPORTS
Air travel has expanded hugely since the 1950s, when international air travel was a luxury enjoyed by a few wealthy people known as the “jet set.” Today, flying is often the most economical way to travel, as well as the quickest. This is reflected in the vast number of passengers who pass through the world’s airports as they travel for business or pleasure. The busiest airport is HartsfieldJackson International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia, with more than 90 million people arriving and departing each year.
AIRBUS A380
HARTSFIELD-JACKSON, ATLANTA, GEORGIA
The growth in air travel has led to the development of giant airliners such as the Airbus A380. When it entered service in 2007, this was the world’s largest passenger plane, capable of carrying up to 853 people. The first commercial TOKYO, jet airliner, the Comet 1, had seats JAPAN for only 44 passengers at the most.
HEATHROW, LONDON, U.K.
90,039,280
KINGSFORD SMITH, SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
67,056,379 66,754,829
GUARULHOS, SÃO TAMBO, JO’BURG, PAULO, BRAZIL RSA
32,900,000 20,400,304
TRADE
Although air freight is an important part of international trade, about 80 percent of cargo by weight is transported by sea. This adds up to around 8.8 billion tons of freight. A lot of this is transported in containers carried by more than 4,700 container ships. The busiest shipping routes link Europe and North America with the Middle East and Far East, with ports such as Singapore, Shanghai (China), Dubai (U.A.E.), and Rotterdam (Netherlands) handling most of the trade. Traffic in millions of tonnes 400+ 300–400 200–300 100–200 20–100 10–20 5–10
viii
18,400,000
MAPPING THE WORLD
Mapping the World ABOUT THE ATLAS
MAP LOCATER
MAP COLORS
This atlas is divided into six continental sections—North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australasia and Oceania. Each country—or group of countries—then has its own map that shows cities, towns, and main geographical features such as rivers, lakes, and mountain ranges. Photographs and text provide detailed information about life in that country—its people, traditions, politics, and economy. Each continental section has a different colored border to help you locate that section. There is also a gazetteer (place-name index) and an index to help you access information.
This map shows, in red, the location of each country, part of a country, or group of countries in relation to the entire planet. There is a locater for each map in the book.
The colors shown on the maps are built up from numerous satellite photographs and reflect the true colors of the land, averaged over the seasons. Certain colors give clues to what the land is like—whether it is forested or farmland, mountains or desert. Land appearing sandy tends to be desert, semidesert, or scrub
ASIA D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
The five central asian nations rise up from hot deserts
KA
Aral Sea
Plateau
ZA
K
H
N
L
n
a
(4482m)
(TOSHKENT)
Yangiyo’l ’li
Guliston Jizzax Kattaqo’rg’on
Mazár-e Sharíf
Meymaneh Da
Sels
84
t ai n D
s
á ary
- ye
h Ka
rd ma
H
Cháríkár
Da s h t
ás
h
Gereshk
g
Khowst
Zarghún Shahr
S
T
A
Chakhánsúr Zaranj
ary á
Dasht-e Deh Shú -ye Helm an d
Má
rg
Qalát
Kúchnay Darweyshán
Rí
g
C
D
E
F
G
7
Tilla-Kari, a 17th-century Islamic religious school in Samarqand, Uzbekistan
Kandahár
ow
6
Tajik horsemen in Pamir, Tajikistan
Lashkar Gáh
Hámún-e fláberí
8
Spín Búldak THE SILK ROAD
0 km
100
0 miles
200 100
H
I
J
0 km
The Silk Road is the ancient trade route that brought silks and other fine goods from China through central Asia and the Middle East to Europe. Many cities were built along its route, including Buxoro (Bukhara, Uzbekistan), an important place of pilgrimage for Muslims, and Samarqand, which contains some of the finest Islamic architecture in the world. Many of these cities are now UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites.
n e stá
Chágai Hills
B
The majority of people of Tajikistan are Iranian in origin and speak Tajik, which is related to Farsi. The minority Uzbeks are mostly made up of descendents of Turkic-speaking (related to Turkish) nomads. This division has led to ethnic tension between the two groups. Civil war between the government and Islamic rebels in the east of the country during the 1990s led to an exodus of Uzbeks and Russians, who had moved into the country when it was part of the Soviet Union.
N
200
PAKISTAN A
TAJIKS
Asadábád
I
h rg eA
White shows land under permanent cover by snow and ice
Harvesting cotton in Uzbekistan
s
K
-y ry á Da
5
Qizilrabot
r
Darker greens usually indicate woodland or pasture
4
Baroghil Pass 12,392ft (3777m)
Khyber Pass 3543ft (1080m)
dá
h -e K
Delárám
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan all grow considerable crops of cotton—Uzbekistan is the world’s fifth-largest producer—as well as fruit and vegetables. The three countries are also rich in mineral deposits, such as gold, mercury, sulfur, and uranium, and have reserves of coal, oil, and natural gas.
PA
Fa rá h
Faráh
Ta
Mehtar Lám
Gardíz
Ghazní
d Rú
Ko k s h a a l -
Jalálábád
b
As a result of war, drought, and poverty, people in Afghanistan can expect to live an average of only 45 years, one of the lowest life expectancy rates in the world. Infant mortality is extremely high. Health services have almost completely collapsed, and few trained doctors and nurses are available to help the sick. Sadly, there are not enough orphanages to cope with the increasing number of children made homeless by war.
n
i
i
Pale green is usually grassland or cropland
3
Chatyr-Tash
Baríkow¢ Maímúd-e Ráqí
KABUL (KÁBOL)
Báb á
-e Kú h
AFGHAN ISTAN
9
Features on the maps are generally labeled in the language of that country. For example, you will see: Lake on English-speaking countries Lago on Spanish-speaking countries Lac on French-speaking countries However, if a feature is wellknown or mentioned in the main text on the page, it will appear there in English so that readers can easily find it.
Moun
Harírúd
Shíndand
D
FOREIGN NAMES
Tor ke sta n
ye Morgháb
Herát
Maydán Shahr
LIFE EXPECTANCY
8
á-
el ehye Saf íd Kúh
ol
m
ir
K u s h
d u
an
Children in Kabul, Afghanistan, made homeless by war
ry
Serhetabat Towraghoudí
Ghúríán
An Afghan refugee carries bread with which to break the Ramadan fast.
m
Ishkoshim
Táloqán Khánábád
Pol-e Khomrí
ik
a Dzhelandy
Kondoz
Baghlán
n
n
Kara-Say
LOCAL WEALTH
Murghob
P
n rt a
Fey∞ábád Kholm
Sheberghán
Ba
Khorugh
Farkhor
Dûstí
ar
a
h
MOUNTAIN LIFE
The two small eastern republics of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are both very mountainous and are subject to earthquakes and landslides. Only about six percent of Tajikistan can be used for agriculture, whereas Kyrgyzstan is more fertile.
Pik Pobedy 24,406ft (7439m)
e
Murgap
Garabil Belentligi
Ghûdara
Qal’aikhum
Kûlob Moskva
Jarqo’rg’on
e
Sary-Tash
Qullai Ismoili Somoní 24,590ft (7495m) S
TAJIKISTAN
Qûrghonteppa
Balkh
Naryn
i T Këk-Art
Daroot-Korgon Qarokûl
b kho
S Karakol
Moldo-Too
Dzhalal-Abad
Andijon Osh
Khaydarkan Sur
Norak Danghara
Boysun
Termiz Áqchah
Bálá Morgháb
Despite the horrors of recent years, Afghans still celebrate important Islamic festivals, notably Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. People visit friends and family and eat a festive meal together. The art of storytelling still flourishes in Afghanistan, as does the attan, the national dance.
Sulyukta Ûroteppa
Zeravshan
G
Atamyrat
Farg’ona
Khujand
nge r Ra sa i s DUSHANBE
Kitob
Qarshi
ebet Khr
Tash-Kumyr
Qo’qon
Bekobod
Samarqand Urgut
Koson
Amyderÿa
Andkhvoy
2
Dzhergalan
Kadzhi-Say
KYRGYZSTAN
Namangan
Olmaliq
Langar Oqtosh
m C ana l
Uzboyy
Sarahs
Aydark o’l K o
Nurota
Navoiy
a lR tk a
Tyup
Ozero IssykKarakol Kul’ Kyzyl-Suu
ng
Bayramaly
Murgab
Chirchiq Angren
Tokmak Kemin Balykchy
Ra
Gar a gu
Mary
Tejen
FESTIVALS IN AFGHANISTAN
7
Ch a
r
TASHKENT
Denov
Kelif
Kaka
A man in front of his home, called a yurt, in western Pamir, Tajikistan
A I N
One of the world’s largest gold mines is at Muruntau in the Kyzyl Kum desert in Uzbekistan.
6
Mountainous desert looks like this, with shadows on the sandy background color
P
1
H
Gora Chapan 9478ft (2889m)
5
O
KAZ A KHST A N The BISHKEK fishing Aral Sea K i Kara-Balta village of r Muynoq is now Talas g h i z R more than 30 miles (48 km) Leninpol’ ange Gora Manas e away from the Aral Sea ng 14,705ft
u
T
arya uD Am
4
N
C
in the west and south to cold, high mountain ranges in the east. n d ST Mo’ynoq The area has oil, gas, and mineral reserves, as well as other a l natural resources, but water is often scarce and agriculture w is limited. The four northern nations were o Chimboy Taxtako’pir once part of the Soviet Union and are Sarygamy∞ Nukus now independent nations. Afghanistan is Kyz yl K Köli Takhiatosh um Köneürgenà a landlocked country, and three fourths of Gubadag Uchquduq its land is inaccessible terrain. It was Gurbansoltan Eje Urganch Da∞oguz invaded by the Soviet Union in 1979, UZBEKISTAN To’rtko’l prompting a civil war that has lasted Xiva Zarafshon Üngüz Türkmenba∞y for more than 20 years. In 2002, Lebap Gazojak Türkmenba∞y Angyrsyndaky American and other Western forces Aylagy overthrew the fundamentalist Islamic Balkanabat Garagum Derweze Hazar regime in Afghanistan because of its Gazli Bereket TURKMENISTAN support for international terrorism. G’ijduvon Serdar Buxoro The country, however, has been Ko pet Seÿdi Kogon Ga da destroyed by these years of g Galkyny∞ ra G e Baharly Magtymguly continuous warfare, making it Caspian Türkmenabat rs gu h one of the poorest and most i m Abadan Saÿat Geok-Tepe Sea deprived nations on Earth. ASHGABAT sy la to yr P y ng Gum pla an Ga tag Uà
3
M
The vast inland Aral Sea, between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, was once a thriving freshwater lake full of fish. Over the years, the rivers flowing into it were diverted or drained to provide irrigation for crops. The sea has now shrunk to half of its original size, reducing the numbers of fish and leaving former fishing villages stranded inland.
A
2
L
ARAL SEA
Ustyurt
u
C
Pa
B
Central Asia
K
L
M
100
200
9
N
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P
0 miles
85
100
200
USING THE GRID REFERENCES 9
84
A
The letters and numbers around the outside of the page form a grid to help you find places on the map. For example, to find Kabul, look up its name in the gazetteer (pp. 112–133) and you’ll find the reference 85 J7. The first number is the page and the letter and number refer to the square made by following up or down from J and across from 7 to form J7.
SCALE
Each map features a scale that shows how distances on the map relate to kilometers and miles. The scale guide can be used to see how big a country is. Not all maps in the book are drawn to the same scale.
KEY TO MAP SYMBOLS
BORDERS
PHYSICAL FEATURES
COMMUNICATIONS
International border: Border between countries which is mutually recognized.
Mountain
Highway
State border: Border used in some large countries to show internal divisions.
Pass/Tunnel
Disputed border: Border used in practice, but not mutually agreed between two countries. Claimed border: Border which is not mutually recognized – where territory belonging to one country is claimed by another. Ceasefire line
Depression Volcano
Minor road
Airport
TOWNS & CITIES More than 500,000
Dam
100,000 – 500,000
Waterfall
NAMES
FRANCE
50,000 – 100,000 Less than 50,000
Dordogne
Cultural region
TOWNS & CITIES
SAN JUAN
National capital
MISCELLANEOUS FEATURES
Undefined boundary Site of interest Ancient wall
Internal administrative capital Polar research station
Dependent territory Administrative region
Seasonal lake
continued
PHYSICAL
Andes Balearic Islands
Country
KANSAS
PARIS
NAMES
Ardennes
REGIONS
(to UK)
Seasonal river
Canal
Tropics/Circles
JERSEY
Major river Minor river
Equator
Major road
Rail
DRAINAGE FEATURES
LATITUDE & LONGITUDE
National capital Dependent territory capital city
Majorca Lake Baikal
Landscape features Island group Island Lake/River /Canal
PAC I F I C OC E A N Gulf of Mexico
Sea features
Bay of Campeche Chile Rise
Undersea feature
Seattle Limón Genk
Other towns & cities
OTHER FEATURES Tropic of Cancer
Graticule text
San José
1
NORTH AMERICA The North American continent extends from the frozen wastes of Arctic Canada to the Caribbean islands and the tropical jungles of Panama. It is politically dominated by the United States, the richest nation on Earth, yet life in countries such as Mexico and Nicaragua is still a struggle. The data below is arranged in order of each nation’s size.
Canada 3,855,103 sq miles 9,984,670 sq km 33,600,000 Ottawa English, French, Chinese, Italian, German, Ukrainian, Portuguese, Inuktitut, Cree
United States of America 3,794,100 sq miles 9,826,675 sq km 315,000,000 Washington, DC English, Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Italian, Korean, Russian, Polish
Mexico
Honduras
758,449 sq miles 1,964,375 sq km 110,000,000 Mexico City
43,278 sq miles 112,090 sq km 7,470,000 Tegucigalpa
Spanish, Nahuatl, Mayan, Zapotec, Mixtec, Otomi, Totonac, Tzotzil, Tzeltal
Spanish, Garífuna (Carib), English Creole
Nicaragua 50,336 sq miles 130,370 sq km 5,740,000 Managua Spanish, English Creole, Miskito
The warm waters and glorious beaches of the Caribbean make islands like St. Lucia magnets for tourists. The wealth they bring is vital to the local economy.
Cuba 42,803 sq miles 110,860 sq km 11,200,000 Havana Spanish
Panama 29,120 sq miles 75,420 sq km 3,450,000 Panama City English Creole, Spanish, Amerindian languages, Chibchan languages
Guatemala
Spanish, French Creole
10,714 sq miles 27,750 sq km 10,000,000 Port-au-Prince
Quiché, Mam, Kakchiquel, Kekchí, Spanish
French Creole, French
Costa Rica
2
18,792 sq miles 48,670 sq km 10,100,000 Santo Domingo
Haiti
42,042 sq miles 108,889 sq km 14,000,000 Guatemala City
The Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor is a potent symbol of freedom, especially for political refugees to the United States who arrived by ship.
Dominican Republic
19,730 sq miles 51,100 sq km 4,580,000 San José Spanish, English Creole, Bribri, Cabecar
Belize 8,867 sq miles 22,966 sq km 306,800 Belmopan English Creole, Spanish, English, Mayan, Garifuna (Carib)
El Salvador
Dominica
8,124 sq miles 21,041 sq km 6,160,000 San Salvador City
290 sq miles 751 sq km 70,400 Roseau
Spanish
French Creole, English
Bahamas 5,359 sq miles 13,880 sq km 341,700 Nassau English, English Creole, French Creole
St. Lucia
Antigua and Barbuda
238 sq miles 616 sq km 172,200 Castries
171 sq miles 443 sq km 82,800 St John’s
English, French Creole
English, English Patois
Grenada
Jamaica 4,244 sq miles 10,991 sq km 2,720,000 Kingston
133 sq miles 344 sq km 103,900 St George’s
English Creole, English
English, English Creole
Most of Canada is still untamed wilderness—a land of huge, dramatic landscapes like this lake high up in the rugged, frost-shattered Rocky Mountains.
Trinidad and Tobago 1,980 sq miles 5,128 sq km 1,340,000 Port-of-Spain English Creole, English, Hindi, French, Spanish
Barbados 166 sq miles 430 sq km 255,900 Bridgetown Bajan (Barbadian English), English
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
St. Kitts and Nevis
150 sq miles 389 sq km 109,200 Kingstown
101 sq miles 261 sq km 46,100 Basseterre
English, English Creole
English, English Creole
3
NORTH AMERICA B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Western Canada and Alaska
Canada is a huge country and its western half
3
Large parts of western Canada are covered in forests, and lumbering is a major part of the local economy. The trees are used to make buildings, furniture, and paper. In the past, entire forests of trees were cleared, but now sustainable methods, such as selective cutting and replanting, are practiced.
stretches from the flat prairies in the east to the towering Rocky Mountains in the west, and from the relatively mild south to the permanently frozen area north of the Arctic Circle. Harsh conditions throughout most of the region mean that most of the population is concentrated in cities in the south, such as Vancouver, Calgary, and Winnipeg. The Prairies—once a vast expanse of grassland—are now mostly used for growing wheat on huge mechanized farms. Oil and natural gas are found there, too. These Chukchi Se a natural resources are also important in Alaska, Wevok Point Lay Barrow Ber Near a part of the United States. The ing S Islands t r t a i Kivalina majority of Alaska’s people Wales Gambell moved there to work Saint Lawrence vi l le Riv e r in these lucrative Rat Island Deering Islands Nort Umiat industries. Br on
Felled trees transported down a river near Vancouver
le u
a
n
5
Is
la
Kwigillingok
s Ku
Platinum
nd s
Bristol Bay
Umnak Island Dutch Harbor Unalaska Island Unimak Island
Mt s .
(to U.S.)
Fairbanks a Range k s a McKinley Al Mount
sula
Hope
Gulkana
Valdez
Chitina
McKinley
nz
M a
ie ou nta
Ware
COLUMBIA
Kitimat
Ocean Falls
C
Fort St. John
Prince George
s
Queen Charlotte Mount Sound Waddington
Fort Nelson
i n n t a o u
AN CE
Prince Rupert
13,176ft Port Hardy (4016m)
Vancouver
Nanaimo
Hay River
Fort McMurray
A ALBERTA Grande Prairie Athabasca haba s c At
Edmonton
North
Mount Robson 12,972ft (3954m)
Leduc Red Deer
Calgary Kelowna Lethbridge Cranbrook
Victoria
Great Slave Lake
Fort Vermilion
Kamloops
Campbell River
Vancouver Island
Echo Bay
Edzo Yellowknife
Fort Providence Fort Liard
BRITISH
s i n t a u n M o
Ketchikan
Queen Charlotte Islands
Tungsten Fort Simpson
M
t a s C o
der xan o Ale ipel ag ch Ar
Port Alexander
Great Bear Lake
ins
c
Kugluktuk (Coppermine)
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Atlin
Kake
O
C
Haines Gustavus Juneau
IC
B
o
Yakutat
IF
This city’s vibrant cultural mix is typical of Canada’s diversity. Many South Asian, Chinese, as well as other ethnic groups live here and reflect Vancouver’s historic role as a destination for migrants. Hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics raised its profile and its bustling economy, mild climate, and cultural links make it an attractive place to live.
cke
y
C
Fort Good Hope
k
A
Gulf of Alaska
VANCOUVER
4
R
Amundsen Gulf Holman
Paulatuk
TERRITORY Mount Logan 19,551 ft (5959m)
Katalla
The state sport of Alaska is dogsled racing. Here, competitors take part in the annual Iditarod Trail Great Sled Race, a gruelling run across the rugged landscape for drivers and their teams of dogs.
9
Ma
Whitehorse
P
Inuvik
Fort McPherson
YUKON
(6194m)
Cordova
Kodiak Island
Aklavik
M
Kodiak
Tuktoyaktuk
Park
Susitna 20,433ft
DOGSLED RACING
8
ge
Fort Yukon
A L A S K A
Banks Island
Sachs Harbour (Ikaahuk)
Kokrines
Anchorage
Shumagin Islands
The native peoples of British Columbia use totem poles to record their clan histories. Each carved and painted totem describes a real or mythical event and often features animals that the clan has a close connection with, such as the eagle (left).
w im
Kaktovik
zie en ck
Belkofski
k ko
Ran
River
Iliamna Lake
Alaska Peni n
TOTEM POLES
6
on Yuk
Grayling
ks
er Riv
n a n Atka d o s f
Pribilof Islands
Nunivak Island
oo
nd
Prudhoe Bay
Y u k on
re d n la A Is
ti
Alakanuk
Mould Bay
Beaufort Sea
l Co
Bering S ea
A
4
S ou
Prince Patrick Island
ARCTIC OCEAN
a
2
FORESTRY
Milk River
U N I T E D D
E
F
G
H
WESTERN CANADA AND ALASKA I
J
0 km
200
K
L
M
N
200
NATIVE PEOPLES
400
The native peoples of Alaska are the Aleut, and those in northern Canada are the Inuit. Native peoples are often called “First Nations” because they were the first to live in North America. Most of their land was later taken by European settlers. First Nation culture has revived, and Nunavut is now a self-governing Inuit territory. The Inuit have adapted to the harsh environment and often combine modern technology with their traditional lifestyle.
Ell and ere Isl
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Axel Heiberg Island Ellef Ringnes Island Amund Ringnes Island
Inuit children outside their summer camp on Baffin Island
Grise Fiord (Ausuituq)
B a f f i n B a y
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Large parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba have rich soils and form one of the largest wheat-growing areas in the world. More wheat is grown here than Canadians can consume, so vast amounts are exported. Wheat is used to make flour for staple foods such as bread. Once harvested, wheat is stored in grain elevators, waiting to be transported by lorry or train.
d Cumb erland Sou n d
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Amadjuak Lake
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NUNAVUT
Coats Island
Canada has a population of 34 million people, but only about 30 percent of them live in western Canada, and most live near the U.S. border.
Dubawn t
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Akimiski Island
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ROCKY MOUNTAINS
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Saskatoon Kindersley
Lake Qu ' Appelle Manitoba
Yorkton
Regina Medicine Hat
Brandon Weyburn
Estevan
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Grain elevators dominate the skyline of the prairies
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The rugged Rocky Mountains stretch south through western Canada and into the United States. Every year they attract millions of visitors, who enjoy walking, hiking, and canoeing in the dramatic scenery. Tourists sometimes see wildlife such as the grizzly bear, black bear, elk, moose, and wolf.
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Maple sap collected from cuts in the tree trunk
Eastern Canada
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The most industrialized and heavily populated
The maple trees of Québec and Ontario are tapped for maple syrup, a major export—and a popular topping on pancakes for Canadians. The maple leaf is the national symbol of Canada and features on the nation’s flag.
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Canadians have a high life expectancy—the average person lives to be 80 years old.
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Thunder Bay
Kapuskasing
Tip Top Mountain 2100ft (640m)
TORONTO
Toronto is Canada’s most important economic center. Located on Lake Ontario, close to the U.S. border, it is not only an industrial and commercial centre but is also home to a wide diversity of ethnic and cultural groups. The Canadian National (CN) tower, which dominates the Toronto skyline, is the world’s tallest tower, and locals and tourists can get an impressive view of the city and Lake Ontario from the top.
Superio r Lake
Rouyn-Noranda Kirkland Lake
Val-d'Or
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ICE HOCKEY
Lake Huron
Gatineau Hull
OTTAWA
Midland
Peterborough
Brampton Kitchener Hamilton Sarnia London Windsor Leamington
CN Tower
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Réservoir Gouin
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Sault Ste. Marie Sudbury Sports and leisure are important to Canadians. A popular sport is ice hockey, which thousands of people play or watch enthusiastically. Teams of skaters use long, curved sticks to try to get a hard rubber disk—called a puck—into the opposing team’s goal. Both the men’s and women’s national ice hockey teams won gold medals at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.
de Rupert
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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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parts of Canada are in the east. Ottawa, the capital, is located here, along with other important cities, such as Toronto, Montreal, and Québec. Some of the earliest settlers were French, and many people speak French as their first language. The Great Lakes—the largest system of lakes in the world—and the St. Lawrence Seaway link the interior to the coast. The most easterly parts of Canada, the Atlantic Provinces, have rugged coastlines and dramatic scenery. However, soils are thin and commercial agriculture is limited to a few areas. Fishing used to be the main activity, but fish stocks have been so depleted that few people are now employed in the industry, despite recent environmental efforts to rebuild the stocks. A growing oil and gas industry and new high-tech businesses are attracting younger workers, although many people still migrate to the bustling cities farther west.
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Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador attract tourists for their landscape, wildlife, and quaint seaside villages. Icebergs are a regular sight off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador as they drift south from the Arctic.
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FRENCH CANADA
Québec province is the main French-speaking part of Canada. With a different language and cultural traditions from other parts of the country, there have been calls in the past for Québec to become independent from the rest of Canada.
ST. PIERRE & MIQUELON
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Glace Bay Sydney
Cape Breton Island
NOVA SCOTIA Dartmouth
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The Grand Banks, off the coast of Newfoundland, are shallow waters that once contained huge stocks of fish. Stocks have declined, however, owing to overfishing, and now catches are severely restricted. Tourism has been a valuable alternative for those who relied on fishing for their livelihood.
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ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY
Stretching far inland, the St. Lawrence Seaway provides a link from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean. A series of huge locks descends from Lake Ontario to sea level, allowing oceangoing ships to transport their cargo as far inland as Lake Superior. Large amounts of iron ore, for example, are transported inland from Labrador to Ontario for processing. Corn, soy, and other agricultural products move in the opposite direction, from the prairies east to the markets of the world.
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All three branches of the federal government, the executive, legislative, and judicial, reside in Washington, D.C. The United States Congress (the legislative branch) meets here in the Capitol building. Many of the city’s residents work for the government.
Meadville
Elmira Sayre
Mansfield
Middletown
Scranton Wilkes Barre
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Du Bois
Milford
State College
Indiana Altoona
Pittsburgh
Washington
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Cumberland Oakland
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Harrisburg
Aberdeen Towson
Baltimore
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DELAWARE
WASHINGTON, D.C. Cambridge
MARYLAND
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Hagerstown
VIRGINIA
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Philadelphia
Carlisle York
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Aliquippa
Catskill Mountains
P E N N S Y LVA N I A
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Hamburg
Jamestown
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Oswego
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Niagara Falls
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ONTA RIO
Lake Ontario Once a major steel-manufacturing centre with a polluted environment, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is now a thriving financial center with a large number of corporate headquarters. Bridges span the three rivers that run through the city, connecting the core downtown Lake area (above) to the suburbs.
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New York City
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The White House in Washington, D.C. has been home to every president except George Washington, whom the city is named after.
New York is the largest city in the U.S. Historically it grew because it has a good harbor and sits at the mouth of the Hudson River. Immigrants from overseas flooded into the city in the 19th and 20th centuries, boosting its population and economy. Today, it is the main financial center, not just of the U.S.A., but of the world.
Al l Pl egh at
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Lake Ontario
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area that is steeped in history. This is traditionally the main immigration point into the United States, with the Statue of Liberty lighting the way for those arriving into New York City by boat. People from all over the world have settled in this region to live and work, creating a “melting pot” of cultures and ethnic groups. Important historical events, such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. These documents set the foundations for American life today. It is also here that the capital and center of government were established. Today, while industry and agriculture are still important, finance and commerce are the driving forces of the economy.
THRIVING CITY
Hudson River
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The northeastern united states is a heavily populated
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RHODE ISLAND Groton
CONNECTICUT Waterbury
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New York
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Nantucket Island
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New Haven Bridgeport Stamford Paterson
HIGHER EDUCATION
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Orleans
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Boston Provincetown Cape Cod
M AS S AC H USET TS Springfield
The first Thanksgiving was held in 1621 as a gesture of friendship between American Indians and the Pilgrims after the Pilgrims’ first successful harvest. Americans honor this tradition every November by gathering with family and friends to give thanks for life’s blessings and to share a meal.
Portsmouth
Lawrence
Worcester
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THANKSGIVING
Manchester Nashua
Greenfield
Pittsfield
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Biddeford Rochester
Lowell
Albany Hudson R
Portland
Concord Hillsboro
Maine (above), famous for its clam chowder and lobsters (right)
Bath
Lewiston
Laconia
Lebanon
Bay of Fundy
Mount Desert Island
Camden Mount Washington 6289ft (1917m)
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Lake Champlain
Although Maine is a large state, it is relatively sparsely populated. Early settlers were attracted to its coastline, and fishing communities gradually developed. To this day, fishing remains an important activity, while colorful foliage attracts tourists in the fall.
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Lincoln
Bangor
Newport Plattsburgh
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The northeast U.S. is a major cranberry-growing region. Cranberries grow in flooded bogs, and once harvested—often with high-tech equipment (above)—they can be eaten in pies and sauces.
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Mount Katahdin 5266ft (1605m)
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Madawaska
CRANBERRIES
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A large number of universities are located in this region, including two of the most famous—Harvard (above) and Yale. As well as studying, students enjoy a full campus life, including taking part in sport. Links between industry and education are strong, so many high-tech companies have been established here.
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Tourists can take an elevator to the top of the Statue of Liberty
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Atlantic City NEW YORK CITY
The center of U.S. commerce and business is New York City. People living here have a fast-paced lifestyle, and many travel by train or bus from the suburbs to work in the towering high-rise office buildings of Manhattan. People traveling by boat across the harbor pass the Statue of Liberty, a huge monument that represents freedom and opportunity to Americans. I
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The southern states of the U.S.A. have a varied landscape and an interesting 2
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Panama City Cape San Blas
Gulf of Me xico Mississippi River
Apalachee Bay
Delta CAJUN CULTURE
The Cajuns in this region are French-speaking people who were expelled from Canada in the 1700s. They mixed with other cultures in Louisiana, but their French influence can be seen in the music, food, and place names, such as Lafayette.
FLORIDA EVERGLADES
The increasing population of Florida means that the Everglades, swampy plains inhabited by alligators and other wildlife, are under threat as land is needed for houses and farms. However, the Everglades National Park protects part of this important ecosystem. C
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Fort Walton Biloxi
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MUSICAL ORIGINS
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New Orleans
Chef holding a skillet of jambalaya, a Cajun dish
The southern U.S.A. is famous for its music, most of which reflects the cultural mix of the region. New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana are the birthplaces of jazz and Cajun music, while bluegrass and country have origins in Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee. These music styles started here, but quickly spread throughout the country and developed even further in the cities.
Columbus
Montgomery
Venice
Jazz musician on Bourbon Street, New Orleans
Griffin
Opelika Phenix City
Demopolis Prattville
Mobile
Houma
Marietta
Atlanta
Chattahoochee River
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Cotton pod, or boll
Prichard
Gulfport
Metairie
Morgan City
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Bogalusa Opelousas
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Birmingham
Tuscaloosa
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Cleveland
Chattanooga Huntsville
Gadsden Anniston
Columbus
Greenville
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Lake Charles
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The Mississippi is the largest river in North America and the third largest in the world.
Hamilton
Grenada
Yazoo City Monroe Canton Clinton Meridian Tallulah Vicksburg Jackson er Laurel Natchez Brookhaven Hattiesburg McComb
Ruston
Natchitoches
e s s e e Ri ve Florence Decatur
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Cotton was once the main crop of the South and was grown by AfricanAmerican slaves. Today, cotton is still important for the economy of the region and is grown in large fields and harvested with huge machinery. Cotton has many uses, primarily as the raw material for textiles.
Hot Springs
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mix of people, both culturally and economically. Some areas of the region are poor, Newport especially the Appalachian Mountain communities, while other parts, such as the I N D I A N A Florida coast, are wealthy and attract many people from other states and countries. Louisville Frankfort The cultural mix includes people of Latin American origin, African-Americans, Cajuns Evansville Lexington (French-Canadians), and European Americans, giving rise to diverse music styles, Owensboro Henderson Richmond Elizabethtown dialects, pastimes, and food. While coal mining in the Appalachian Mountains ee K E N T U C K Y has declined in recent years, agriculture is still Paducah nR Somerset iv er M I S S O U R I important, as are tourism and industry. Tourism Hopkinsville Bowling Kentucky u Green Rogers is especially important in Florida and in Lake Bull Shoals ea Mountain Pocahontas Clarksville Lake Union Home New Orleans, Louisiana, Fayetteville Cookeville City Nashville Walnut Ridge M n o un ta in near the mouth Bosto Dyersburg Blytheville s Murfreesboro Franklin Fort Smith of the mighty A R K A N S A S JonesboroJackson T E N N E S S E E Maryville Searcy West Mississippi River. Russellville Memphis Lawrenceburg Columbia Memphis
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Asheville
Greenville
Charlotte
Goldsboro New Bern
Fayetteville
SOUTH CAROLINA
Gainesville Greenwood
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Tourism is an important industry in the south, especially for Florida. As well as warm weather and appealing scenery, tourists are attracted to the amusement parks around Orlando. Jobs and income are generated by tourism, with many people working in retail outlets, restaurants, hotels, and amusement parks.
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Valdosta Okefenokee Thomasville Swamp
Martin Luther King, Jr., (left) was born in Atlanta in 1929. In the 1960s, he led many peaceful protests to end the laws that discriminated against black Americans. King was assassinated in 1969 and has since been seen as a symbol of the struggle for racial equality. Many African-Americans live in the southern U.S., where, before the Civil War (1861–65), their ancestors were forced to work on cotton plantations and farms.
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Savannah Hinesville
Kumba roller coaster, the fastest in Florida, in Busch Gardens, Tampa
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR
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Aiken Orangeburg
Augusta
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Columbia
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Every year on the first Saturday of May, the Kentucky Derby takes place in Louisville. This horse race and the festivities based around it mark the beginning of spring for people in the area. The best horses and jockeys, as well as massive crowds of spectators from around the country, travel here for the event.
Cape Hatteras
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Florence
KENTUCKY DERBY
Havelock
Laurinburg Jacksonville
Rock Hill Union
Elizabeth City
Rocky Mount Raleigh Greenville
NORTH CAROLINA
Gastonia Spartanburg
Norfolk Virginia Beach
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Durham
High Point Cary
Mount Mitchell 6683ft (2037m)
Petersburg
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Danville Middlesboro Kingsport a Bristol i Greensboro Greeneville Winston
Cape Charles
Newport News Portsmouth
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Richmond
James R iver
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Harrisonburg
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Spruce Knob 4862ft (1482m)
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Lake City Saint Augustine
Gainesville Ocala
Lake George
Daytona Beach
De Land Deltona
Orlando
Spring Hill Clearwater Largo
Lakeland
Melbourne
Lake Kissimmee
Tampa Petersburg
Tampa Saint Bay Sarasota
Fort Pierce
Hutchinson Island
FLORIDA es
Boca Raton
Pompano Beach
Big Cypress Swamp
FLORIDA’S SUNSHINE COAST
West Palm Beach
Fort Lauderdale
eE ver
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Lake Okeechobee
glad
Port Charlotte Charlotte Harbor Fort Myers
Miami Beach
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Martin Luther King, Jr., speaking at the final rally of the March Against Fear, Mississippi, 1966
Cape Canaveral
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Florida’s sunny weather and sandy beaches have traditionally attracted many retired people, many of whom live in apartments along the coast in resorts such as Miami Beach (right). Florida also attracts young people, especially to the vibrant city of Miami, where many immigrants from Central America, Cuba, and other Caribbean islands live, and Spanish is spoken by half the population. The Florida Keys, an island chain in the south of the peninsula, is also popular with tourists, and contains sone of the largest living coral formations in North America.
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Buffalo herd on a reserve, South Dakota 7 MOUNT RUSHMORE
Mount Rushmore, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, was created as a tribute to the American presidency. Four of the United States’ greatest presidents—(left to right) George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln— were carved into the granite cliff between 1927 and 1941. Teams of workers hung from saddles anchored to the mountain to complete Each carved face is about the work, often enduring harsh 60 ft (18 m) high winds or blazing sun. Today, it is a popular tourist attraction.
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Concordia
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Wichita Wellington
Liberal
Bellevue
Creston Clarinda Lamoni
Maryville
Saint Joseph Excelsior Springs
Atchison
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Topeka Independence Ottawa Emporia
Newton M I S Iola El Dorado Fort Scott Chanute Pittsburg Parsons Springfield Arkansas City Carthage
O K L A H O M A
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Dramatic tornadoes, or “twisters,” regularly tear through the states of Kansas and Missouri along a path known as Tornado Alley. Tornadoes occur when warm and cold air masses meet. As the warm air rises, it cools, and under the right conditions, it can suck in more and more air until a whirling twister develops. The more air that is pulled in, the greater the power of the tornado.
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Up to 100 million buffalo once grazed on the Great Plains. They provided local Native Americans with food for the family, and skin for clothes and tepees. The Dakota people used buffalo bones to make shields and tools, and the animal’s bladder was made into a bag for carrying water. But overhunting and the destruction of the buffalo’s habitat by early European settlers drastically reduced the number of animals. The buffalo is now a protected species and lives in reserves.
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BUFFALO ON THE PLAINS
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Plains, once the home of cattle ranches, cowboys, and Native American peoples. However, the discovery of gold in South Dakota brought a rush of settlers to the area. This, combined with a decline in buffalo numbers, led to the eventual displacement of the Native Americans from the Plains. The area is prone to dramatic weather— tornadoes, blizzards, and hot summers. To the west, vast areas of farmland generate more wheat and corn than anywhere else in the world. East of the Mississippi River, the landscape varies and, although farming is important, this is the industrial center of the country. Cities such as Chicago (Illinois), Detroit (Michigan), and Cleveland (Ohio) are major manufacturing centers.
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Although most Americans today live in cities and large towns, there are still many small towns with populations of less than 10,000 people. These towns are often in farming communities and are where people go to shop or attend church. Children, such as these boys from Iowa (left), often have to be taken to and from school by special bus.
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The Great Lakes contain one-fifth of Earth’s fresh water.
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Grand Flint Rapids rie Lake Saint Clair Waukesha Wyoming Waverly Pontiac e E Racine v e Janesville k Lansing Warren r Waterloo Livonia La Kenosha Iowa Evansdale Rockford Waukegan Dubuque Detroit Falls Marion Ann Evanston Kalamazoo Arbor Elgin A Cedar Rapids Adrian Cleveland Euclid Chicago Toledo Newton Sterling Aurora Elkhart Gary Davenport Joliet South Bend Iowa City Sandusky Warren Rock Island Bowling Valparaiso Oskaloosa Fort Findlay Muscatine Green Ottawa Akron Youngstown ois River Wayne Mount Pleasant Van Kankakee llin
Milwaukee
Madison
Several large cities are located on the shores of the Great Lakes, including Chicago on Lake Michigan. Burned to the ground in the late 1800s, it is now a leading industrial and financial center and the third-largest city in the country. The Great Lakes and their lakeside retreats are also a popular tourist destination for vacationers who enjoy watersports.
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INDIANA
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Kokomo Anderson Muncie Sidney Kirksville Champaign Springfield Zanesville Carmel Quincy Columbus Dayton Macon Springfield Wilmington Decatur Indianapolis Hannibal Kettering io Oh Terre Haute Jacksonville Athens Moberly Chillicothe Cincinnati Mexico Effingham Oh Bloomington Columbus io R Portsmouth Florissant Alton ive r Ill in oi sR
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The first official game of football was played between Princeton and Rutgers universities in New Jersey on November 6, 1869. Since then, college and professional teams have been founded all over the country, and playing and watching football have become some of Americans’ favorite pastimes.
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AGRICULTURE
The Great Plains extend across the west of this region and are important for agriculture. Rich soils support crops of wheat and corn, while livestock grazes on the extensive grassland. Millions of people live on the Great Plains, many on family-owned and -run farms.
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NORTH AMERICA E
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Yreka sert
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Carson City
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Ruby
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nta
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Sparks
N E V A D A
South Lake Tahoe
a a d e v N a e y r r l l S i e V a
Santa Rosa Citrus Heights Walker Lake Basin Napa Sacramento Fairfield Mono Hawthorne Berkeley
Stockton Oakland Modesto Palo Alto Sunnyvale San Jose
Yosemite National Park
Fresno
Tonopah Alamo
Mount Whitney 14,495ft (4418m)
Las Vegas
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Visalia Hanford -282ft Porterville (-86m) Delano Ridgecrest
th le
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Atascadero San Luis Obispo
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Gilroy Madera
Salinas
n ui aq Jo n Sa c ia Lu nta nge Sa Ra
Santa Cruz Monterey Bay Monterey
Cr e e k Ran ge
y
Lake Tahoe
S ch e ll
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ver S a cr a ment o Ri
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Yuba City
Wells
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Honey Lake
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Sacramento V a l l e
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Bakersfield
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C A L I F O R MN I A
Santa Maria San Lompoc Raf
Santa Barbara
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ve D a e l M Lancaster ese ts. Barstow rt
Oxnard
Pasadena San Bernardino Riverside Long Beach Santa Palm Springs Huntington Beach Ana Salton Blythe
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o
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Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES
Sea This sprawling Oceanside Escondido city—the second largest in Encinitas the U.S.—is home to migrants San Diego El Cajon Brawley El Centro from all over the world as well as Chula other states in the country. Sandwiched Vista between the coast and the mountains, the city has major air-pollution problems. This mostly arises from the exhaust fumes from the high number of cars used by commuters on the city’s highways.
MEXICO
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S almon R i v er
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s Medford Ashland
E A O C
The Native American name for Death Valley is Tomesha, which means “land where the ground is on fire.”
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Clearwater Mountains
La Grande
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Vancouver
Eugene
F I C P A C I
The coastal areas of Oregon and Washington contain large forests. These produce economically important timber, but a lot of land is also left in its natural state and is popular with hikers. Most people here live in large cities like Seattle, Washington, and in the fertile inland valleys.
Coeur d'Alene
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W A S H I N G T O N
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California is warm, fertile, and well irrigated, ideal for agriculture. Grapes are an important crop north of San Francisco in the Napa Valley. Farther south, citrus crops such as oranges also flourish. Premium farming land is under threat, however, as the population expands.
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CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURE
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The Rocky Mountains separate
the coastal region from the drier inland states. Fast-growing cities in California, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, hug the Pacific coast and have attracted many migrants because of good job opportunities. Inland, blazing deserts and towering mountains provide some of the most dramatic landscapes in the country. National parks, such as Yellowstone in northwestern Wyoming and Montana, and Yosemite in central California, protect some of these wilderness areas. Farther east, the foothills of the Rockies give way to vast plains grazed by large herds of cattle.
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Steamboat Fort Collins Springs Greeley Sterling Loveland Fort Morgan Longmont Brighton Boulder Broomfield Denver
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C O L O R A D O Pikes Peak
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Gunnison 14,108ft (4300m)
Montrose
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San gre Uncompahgre Peak 14,308ft San Juan (4361m) Mountains Rio
La Junta
Alamosa
COLORADO
The Rocky Mountains cut through this region. The stunning terrain and the light, dry snow that falls here support the skiing industry in Colorado. Resorts such as Aspen are popular with Americans as well as overseas visitors.
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YELLOWSTONE
The first national park in the world, Yellowstone was established in 1827 in Wyoming and Montana to protect the abundant wildlife and hydrothermal activity. The United States now has more than 350 national parks, which attract millions of visitors every year.
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DEATH VALLEY
The driest place in the U.S. is Death Valley, which also holds the highest recorded temperature in North America of 135°F (57°C). Although seemingly inhospitable, its canyons, rock formations, and sudden spring blooms make it popular with tourists.
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Baldy Mountain Fort Peck 6624ft Lake (2019m)
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Many people who live in Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado work in the booming farming and mining industries. A lot of the land on these foothills and plains is grazed by cattle on huge ranches, established originally to provide food for the flourishing east coast. Modern cowboys may use horses, trucks, or even helicopters to watch over the cattle.
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EARTHQUAKES
Silicon, an element, is used in many computer products
San Francisco, California suffers from frequent earthquakes owing to its location on the San Andreas fault line. Modern skyscrapers are designed to withstand tremors, but many houses, especially those on typically steep streets, are still at risk.
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Tourists watching the Old Faithful geyser, Yellowstone National Park
SILICON VALLEY
The area between Palo Alto and San Jose has been nicknamed “Silicon Valley” because of the many companies engaged in high-technology research and manufacturing here. It is the center of the world’s computer industry. I
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HOT PLACE TO LIVE
The climate across much of the southwest is hot and dry, with summer temperatures often reaching 38°C (100°F). Although water can be scarce, many people have a swimming pool in their garden so they can cool off.
The Southwest is an area of huge contrasts. A lot of 2
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Oklahoma and Texas consists of flat, rolling grasslands and huge farms, while both Arizona and New Mexico are hot, arid, and mountainous, with vast canyons and river valleys carving their way through the land. Since the discovery of oil in 1901, Suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona Texas has become the country’s top oil producer with Houston as the center of the billion-dollar U T A H San Ju a n River C O L Lake Powell industry. Tourism is also important to the southwest, with visitors flocking to see the Page C h Shiprock Aztec Wheeler Peak u s Farmington Grand Canyon, the Painted Desert, n 13,159ft o N E V A D A Lake y k n a Bloomfield a (4011m) Mead dC n and other natural wonders. Buildings C o l o r a d o a Gr Tuba City Coconino here reflect the mix of Hispanic, Plateau Plateau Los Alamos Native American, European American, Espanola Santa Fe Humphreys Peak and modern American cultures. Gallup R o c k y 12,365ft (3851m) Kingman n
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Saguaro cacti in the Sonoran Desert
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Lake Havasu City
FORNIA
The saguaro cactus can reach up to 50 ft (15 m) tall, grow as many as 40 branches, and live for 200 years. Cacti, yucca, and other plants have all adapted to the hot, dry desert conditions found in the Southwest. So, too, have many animals, including the deadly rattlesnake.
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Hualapai Peak 8419ft (2566m)
CALI
DESERT LIFE
Benson Bisbee Douglas
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THE GRAND CANYON
El Paso
M E Fabens X I
NATIVE-AMERICAN CULTURES
Native Americans, including Navajo, Hopi, and Apache, used to live across the Southwest but are now concentrated in reservations set up by the U.S. government. The largest of these is in Arizona and New Mexico and is home to the Navajo people. The Navajo farm the land and produce crafts, such as the woven blanket wrapped around these Navajo children.
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Organ Peak 8871ft (2704m)
C O
The Grand Canyon in northern Arizona is one of the natural wonders of the world. This incredibly deep gorge was slowly cut out of the rock, beginning 6 million years ago, by the Colorado River. People can hike around its edge or venture down into the canyon to camp for the night.
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Kachina doll made by the Hopi
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Astronaut leaving the Space Shuttle by means of a manned manouvering unit (MMU)
Traditional homes of the Pueblo peoples of the Southwest were made from adobe bricks of sun-baked earth and straw covered with plaster. Dwellings had a flat roof and smooth walls. Modern adobe-style buildings can still be seen in the Southwest but are often made of concrete and then painted to look like adobe. Here, a woman demonstrates baking bread in an adobe oven.
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Dumas Borger Lake Meredith Pampa er
Elk City
Altus Childress
Vernon
Plainview
Llano Estacado
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Dallas
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Del Rio
Uvalde
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Huntsville
Houston Rosenberg
Beaumont Baytown Port Arthur
Pasadena
ra n
Robstown Alice
de
Kingsville
Laredo Norias OIL FIELDS
The oil industry has provided Texas with a lot of its wealth. Oil lies deep underground and is brought up to the surface by huge oil jacks, also known as nodding donkeys. I
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The Grand Canyon is up to 1 mile (1.6 km) deep, 18 miles (29 km) wide, and 217 miles (349 km) long.
Texas City Alvin Galveston El Campo Angleton Lake Jackson Edna Freeport Bay City
Beeville
io
Livingston
College Conroe Station Brenham
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Hondo
Pineland
Lufkin
Bryan
San Marcos Seguin
San Antonio
Henderson Jacksonville Toledo Nacogdoches Bend Reservoir
Taylor
Austin
New Braunfels Schertz
Longview
Athens
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Killeen
Lake Buchanan Round Rock Lake Travis
Kerrville
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Waco
Tyler
Marshall
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Amistad Reservoir
Emory Peak 7825ft (2385m)
Sulphur Springs
ISIAN
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Atlanta
Greenville
Arlington
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er Riv
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Idabel
Houston, Texas, is the centre of the United States space program. After a rocket has blasted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, its journey is controlled by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in Houston. Astronauts are also trained at the center, and new space technology is developed here.
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Sand Springs
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Boise City
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Miami
Ponca City
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Portland
Corpus Christi Laguna Madre
SPANISH INFLUENCE
Close to Mexico and Central America, the southwestern states have long been settled by Hispanic people, whose influence can be seen—and heard—throughout the Southwest. Spanish is widely spoken, and the Roman Catholic religion that the Spanish brought is evident in the churches scattered here.
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Padre Island Harlingen San Benito
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ALONG THE BORDER
In 1994, Mexico signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which effectively bound its economy to that of the U.S. A large industrial area has developed along the Mexican border with the U.S., and many American companies have relocated south of the border to benefit from the lower labor costs.
Once home to the great Aztec and Mayan civilizations
and then the focus of Spanish conquistadors who came in search of wealth, Mexico today reflects its colorful past through its culture and architecture. The majority of Mexicans is mestizo (mixed race)—of Spanish and native Indian descent. Mexicali U N I T E D S T A San Luis Mexico City, the site of the Tijuana Des iert ancient Aztec capital, is Rosarito od Ciudad Juárez eA today one of the largest l t Ensenada Samalayuca cities in the world, with Agua Prieta Nogales a population of more than Cananea Caborca 16 million. Despite oil and natural Magdalena Nuevo gas reserves and a plentiful supply Casas Grandes Cumpas of labor, large numbers of Mexicans Isla Ángel San Pedro de la Guarda are still poor, especially in rural areas de la Cueva and urban slums. Hermosillo Bahía
T E S No rte o
e Río Bavisp
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El Sueco
a
Ojinaga
El Sáuz
j
a
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f C a
de
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Navolato El Dorado
Durango
n
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Miraflores
Santa Genoveva 7894ft (2406m)
M E
id
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Culiacán
La Paz
Tropic of Cancer
O
Guamúchil
r
Gómez Palacio
O
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ta igan la G
Guasave
Bahía de La Paz
Isla Santa Margarita
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Los Mochis
Hidalgo del Parral
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rra Sie
Loreto
Santa Barbara
ad
o
a
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San Blas
Jiménez
San Francisco del Oro
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C
Navojoa
Huatabampo
Isla Magdalena
The volcano Popocatépetl is the highest peak around the city
Mexico City is the political, economic, and cultural hub of the country and is home to some 16 million people. Its location, in a basin surrounded by mountains, means that expansion is difficult. Air pollution from factories and cars cannot escape, so on most days a thick layer of smog builds up over the city. Attempts to deal with the pollution, including banning cars from some areas, have had limited success.
Ciudad Obregón
Ciudad Camargo
ra
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LIFE IN THE CITY
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One of the biggest festivals in Mexico is the Day of the Dead. It is believed that once a year the souls of the dead can come back and visit their loved ones. In celebration of this, special food is prepared to welcome the souls, and offerings of flowers, candles, and incense are made at gravesides.
5
Esperanza
os
Delicias
Cuauhtémoc
er
G
o San Ignacio
DAY OF THE DEAD
Empalme
Guaymas
f Guerrero Negro
Si
Isla Tiburón
l
no aí
Isla Cedros
Chihuahua
Yaqui Río
Vi zc
a
4
Seb astí an
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Isla Guadalupe
O F
Ri oG ra Ri nd de o Br e av l
ar
3
an ra S ti r Sier Már ro Ped
Colorado R ive r
2
F
Río C on ch
B
ta
l
Mazatlán Escuinapa
CE AN
Acaponeta Tuxpan
Tepic I s las Marías
Puerto Vallarta WORKING ON THE LAND
8
Mexico City is contained within a ring of mountains
Agriculture employs 6.5 million people—about one eighth of Mexico’s work force. However, only 12 percent of the land is suitable for farming because it is so mountainous and dry. The peasant communities of the south rely on farming for their food, while communities in the north are more industrialized. Here, the agave plant is being harvested near the town of Tequila.
Manzanillo
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CHEWING GUM
Mexican selling baskets, Puerto Escondido
Chicle is a latex produced by the sapodilla tree, native to the Yucatán Peninsula. In 1867, American inventor Thomas Adams added sugar to chicle pellets and invented an early form of chewing gum. This worker (right) is stretching heated chicle with a stick, preparing it to be made into chewing gum.
TOURIST INDUSTRY
1
2
One of Mexico’s largest employment sectors is tourism. Tourists are attracted to the numerous beautiful beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, as well as Mexico’s rich blend of history and culture. Popular tourist sites include the archaeological remains of the Aztec and Mayan civilizations, such as the Mayan ruins of the city of Palenque.
C
San Miguel
ra
nd
Sabinas
e
Nuevo Laredo
The Aztecs ruled a large part of this region from about 1428 until 1521, when they were conquered by the Spanish. Their capital, Tenochtitlán, was located on the site that is now Mexico City. The influence of this great civilization has left its mark on Mexico—more than 1 million Mexicans speak Nahuatl, the native Aztec language. This feather headdress is thought to have belonged to Moctezuma, the last Aztec ruler.
Ciudad Miguel Alemán
Sabinas Hidalgo
Reynosa San Pedro
Monterrey
Saltillo
Montemorelos
Matamoros
Juan Aldama Miguel Asua Río Grande
Aguascalientes
Poza Rica Papantla Tulancingo
Ciudad Guzmán Zapotiltic Tuxpan
(MÉXICO)
Morelia Toluca Cuernavaca Uruapan Taxco
Aguililla Río Balsas
Tecomán
Ixtapa
I
Córdoba
Popocatépetl 17,887ft (5452m)
Zacatepec
Tehuacán Tuxtepec
Iguala
100
Puerto Escondido
100
K
Miahuatlán
Puerto Angel
200
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Chichén-Itzá
Minatitlán
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Juchitán Salina Cruz Gulf of Tehuantepec
Chetumal
Fransisco Escárcega
L BE
Villahermosa
Teapa
Felipe Carrillo Puerto
Carmen
Comalcalco
Coatzacoalcos
Valladolid
Y u ca tá n Pe nins u la
Macuspana Palenque
Río Us um aci nt
Ocozocuautla Chiapa de Comitán Corzo Ixtepec Matías Romero Arriaga Tehuantepec Presa de la
Pinotepa Nacional
200
Umán
Pijijiapán Angostura Escuintla Huixtla
6
Isla Cozumel
Ticul Uxmal Peto Oxkutzcab Tekax
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IZ
8
a
Oaxaca
Monte Alban
Tecpan
San Andrés Tuxtla
Motul
Mérida
Cristóbal I s t m o d e T e h u a n t e p e c Tuxtla San de Las Casas
Huajuapan
Acapulco
0 miles
Alvarado
Puebla Cuautla
Progreso
Laguna de Términos
Frontera
Cancún Tizimín
Champotón
Bay of Campeche
Xalapa Veracruz
Perote
Tlaxcala
Chilpancingo
Lázaro Cárdenas
0 km
Teziutlán
tán Channel
Rio Lagartos
Campeche
Gulf of Mexico
Tuxpán
al
Querétaro
Yuca
Laguna de
Tamazunchale Tamiahua
Irapuato Pachuca Zamora de MEXICO CITY Hidalgo
Tlaquepaque
Colima
Ciudad Valles
nt
Lagos de Río Verde Moreno Dolores Hidalgo Guanajuato León
Guadalajara
Tampico
Pánuco
San Luis Potosí Villanueva
Tequila
Mexico is the world’s main producer of silver, which is mined in the center of the country.
Cancer
Ciudad Mante Ciudad Madero
Fresnillo Zacatecas Guadalupe
Yahualica
Tropic of
Ciudad Victoria
rie e O adr ra M
X I C O
5
Aztec headdress
Linares
Sier
Ciudad Lerdo
Jalpa
Matamoros
E
Torreón
Río Bravo
4
A
Monclova
MEDIEVAL RULERS
bbean Sea
oG Ri
Piedras Negras Nueva Rosita
Mexico has a large population, almost half of which is aged 24 or under. Very often extended families live together in one house, with the mother at the center of the family. Mother’s Day remains one of the most important dates in the Mexican calendar.
A
Boquillas
FAMILY TIES
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Villa Acuña
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Tapachula Ciudad Hidalgo
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NORTH AMERICA B
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Central America
G
Lake Nicaragua is the only freshwater lake in the world that contains sharks.
Corozal Caledonia Orange Walk San Pedro Indian Church
Volcanoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes
threaten the livelihoods of people in the M E X I C O Hill seven countries of Central America. People Belize City Bank Carmelita here have also struggled with poverty and i Bel civil war. In more recent years, however, Santa Elena BELMOPAN San Ignacio peace and economic recovery have offered Rí Dangriga Flores oU sum San Benito hope, and education is now free in all BELIZE ac in La Libertad t ya s ahía countries. Remains of the ancient Mayan Monkey River Ma tain la B Dolores n e Town u d civilization that flourished until the 1500s, s Roatán Mo Sayaxché la San Antonio Is Iriona d San Luis when the Spanish invaded, can be seen n Trujillo Punta Gorda Ho f o Puerto Cortés Limón throughout the region. Large numbers Gulf La Ceiba Chisec Barillas Tela of the native population died Puerto Barrios San Pedro Tocoa Savá Sula after the invasion, mostly from Jacaltenango G UChajul AT E M A LLagoAde Morales San Esteban El Progreso ie disease. Today, Spanish is the Cobán Gualaco Huehuetenango r r Nebaj Izabal La Unión Los Amates Yoro a ua g main language of the region. a Catacamas t Rabinal Salamá M Gualán Mo ze
2
H
ur
as
a
3
S
Río
GUATEMALA CITY
San José
Ahuachapán
SAN SALVADOR San Vicente
San Miguel
of
Fo
N I C ABoaco R
Chinandega
Lago de Managua
León
C
Tipitapa Juigalpa
MANAGUA
IF
Jinotepe Nandaime
Isla de Ometepe
La Cruz
O
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Golfo de Papagayo
N EA
The Spanish colonizers of the 1500s, and the missionaries who came with them, converted the native population and established Roman Catholicism throughout Central America. They also built many beautifully decorated churches. The one shown here, El Merced, is built in a low, squat style to resist the ever-present threat of earthquakes. The majority of people still follow the Roman Catholic faith.
Masaya Granada
Belén Rivas
IC
DECORATED CHURCHES
Pyramid has nine sloping terraces
Steps lead up to the temple at the top
n
PA
Between 250–900 CE, the Maya designed ceremonial centers filled with temples, courts, and plazas. Without metal, they shaped tools from the solid lava of volcanoes to carve the limestone buildings. One of the largest sites is at Tikal (left), Guatemala, where temple remains lie in a huge area of tropical rainforest.
Ocotal Somoto
Condega Jinotega Estelí Matagalpa Sébaco Muy Muy Ciudad Darío
Corinto
TEMPLE PYRAMIDS
Jalapa
C
Usulután aCholuteca Somotillo sec lf
EL SALVADOR
Gu
5
Danlí
Chalatenango
Sonsonate
Ecotourism, which encourages visitors but aims to protect and preserve the environment, is increasingly important in the region. In Belize, tourists can dive in the clear, warm waters off the world’s second-largest barrier reef, and there are wildlife hikes to many forest areas. Animals include jaguars, howler monkeys, and butterflies.
Comayagua
La Esperanza Metapán TEGUCIGALPA
Santa Ana
FAUNA AND FLORA
Juticalpa Campamento Bocay Guaimaca
eca
Escuintla
7
Santa Rosa de Copán
Chiquimula Jutiapa
6
H O Siguatepeque NDURAS
Zacapa
lu t
4
re Quezaltenango
ho
San Marcos
ad
Rí o
Santa Cruz del Quiché
Liberia Filadelfia Nicoya
Península de Nicoya
VOLCANIC REGION
Central America is an unstable area because it lies along the meeting point of two of Earth’s tectonic plates. There are at least 14 active volcanoes here, including Volcán de Pacaya (right). Although this makes it a dangerous place to live, the volcanic soil is very fertile and is good for crops.
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CENTRAL AMERICA I
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FOOD MARKETS
NATIVE PEOPLES
Coffee, bananas, and sugar cane are all key exports from here to the food markets of the world. Most are cultivated on large plantations. However, food for the local population, such as potatoes, avocados, rice, and corn, is grown on small farms and sold at local markets.
These Cuna Indians of Panama wear traditional embroidered clothes. Native Indians and mestizos (people of mixed heritage) form a small minority in the region, although the ethnic mix varies from country to country. In Guatemala, more than half the people are direct descendants of the Maya Indians.
O
P
1
2
Brus Laguna BANANA INDUSTRY
Pa tu
ca
Laguna de Caratasca
The hot, wet climate of Honduras is perfect for cultivating fruit, such as bananas. These are often grown on huge plantations, which employ local people who may work long hours for very little pay. Once cut down, the bananas are washed, inspected, and packed into boxes to be sent overseas. Bananas are a major export for Honduras.
Rí o
Puerto Lempira
Río
co Co
Cayos Miskitos
Waspam
Tuapi Yablis
Coast
Bonanza
La Sirena
4
Market, selling fresh fruit and vegetables
Puerto Cabezas
As bananas grow, they begin to point upward
Prinzapolka
Mosquito
Siuna
Barra de Río Grande Laguna de Perlas
AG UA
El Rama Bluefields
Punta Gorda
Lago de Nicaragua
3
COFFEE BEANS
Costa Rica was the first country in Central America to grow coffee and today produces more than 100,000 tons each year. Coffee is harvested from the fruit of the coffee bush. Once picked, the beans are left to dry in the sun. This worker is raking the beans as they dry.
5
6
San Carlos San Juan del Norte an Juan
COSTA RICA Siquirres
Puntarenas oya Nic de
o
lf
o
Guabito
Co Cerro Chirripó r Grande Ta dille l am ra d Quepos 12,530ft an e (3819m) ca Buenos Aires
Caribbean Colón Cristóbal Sea Panama Canal
Almirante
Laguna de Chiriquí
Archipiélago de las Perlas
Aguadulce
La Concepción Go 0 km
50
0 miles
100 50
I
150 100
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David
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Península de Osa
Gol fo d e Chi ri quí
200 150
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Santiago
D lf o
200
Isla de Coiba
K
PANAMA CITY
Capira
Cordillera Central
A
La Palma
Isla del Rey
N
A
Las Tablas
Gulf o f Pa n a m a
Chitré
Ocú Guarumal
Chimán
Puerto Obaldía S de e r
San Miguelito
Balboa
Penonomé
Península de Azuero Isla
M
El Real Garachiné
Jaqué
N
PANAMA CANAL
Forming a vital link Yaviza between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Panama Canal is one of the world’s busiest waterways. After sharing the canal with the U.S., Panama took full control in 1999. Over the years, trade has made Panama City a major financial center.
C M
Gulf of Darien
l D r an
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Cébaco
L
Aligandí
Lago Bayano
Lago Gatún
Mosquito Gulf
Volcán Barú 11,401ft (3475m)
Boquete
llera de San B Cordi las
ía n ié ar
G
Portobelo
Cartago
Bahía Cortés de Coronado Palmar Sur
El Porvenir
BIA
Limón
SAN JOSÉ
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Istmo de Panamá
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Puerto Bagaces Viejo Cañas Quesada Heredia Alajuela
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Rí
Upala
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NORTH AMERICA B
C
D
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The Caribbean
F
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
G
H
Grand Bahama Island Marsh Harbour Freeport
This region consists of thousands of islands stretching from
Great Abaco
Bimini Islands
han nel i d en ce C
or
2
id
a
rov Cuba in the west to Trinidad and Tobago in the southeast. European ast P Berry rthe o N Islands colonists wanted control of the islands in the 1500s, but the diseases Eleuthera Island NASSAU Nicholls they brought wiped out most of the local Carib and Arawak peoples. Town New Rock Sound African slaves, imported to work on plantations, replaced local Providence l Andros Town F peoples, and today most of the population are descended from Cat Island of Exuma s t i Cays those Africans. English, Spanish, and San Salvador a Andros Island Str French are spoken in different Tropic of Cancer BAHAMAS Anguilla Cays HAVANA Rum Cay countries, depending on George Town (LA HABANA) Guanabacoa Long Island Great Exuma Island which European power Artemisa Cárdenas e Pinar ss ag Matanzas Sagua la Grande Clarence P a Crooked claimed the territory. d del Río Archipiélago Town n Consolación Island la Santa Clara de Camagüey Tourism and agriculture Is La Fé del Sur d e k Croo Placetas Cienfuegos Ragged Island Acklins are major sources Nueva Gerona Morón Range Island Cayo Largo ua Sancti of employment. Isla de ag ag Ciego de Ávila May na
Little Cayman GEORGE TOWN
Santiago de Cuba Guantánamo Bay
G
Grand Cayman
e
Spanish Town
JAMAICA
7
Rastafarian, whose religion forbids him from cutting his hair
The Rastafarian religion began in Kingston, Jamaica, in the 1930s. Followers worship Haile Selassie, the former emperor of Ethiopia (Ras Tafari), and believe that God will lead black people back to Ethiopia, the Promised Land. Jamaica is also home to reggae music, a rhythmic blend of African, European, and South American styles that can be heard across the island. The lyrics often tell of hardship and political struggle.
am
e
ai
ca
Ch
JAMAICA r KINGSTON Car ibbea n Sea
Cuba specializes in making top-quality cigars
0 km 50
The most densely populated country in the Caribbean is Barbados.
0 miles
100 50
150 100
Cayes
ann
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200 150
200
The semitropical climate here creates ideal conditions for many crops, especially sugar. The growing and processing of sugar is an important industry in Cuba, Jamaica, and many of the Lesser Antilles, providing jobs and income for the region. Fermented cane sugar is used to make rum and is a major export. Sugar cane Plantain Sweet potato
Breadfruit
Papaya
Okra 9
Mango
22
A
B
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el
CARIBBEAN CROPS
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D
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Ginger F
Banana
Chilli G
ge
J
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t
dw
Jérémie
(to U.S.)
a
in
Île de la Gonâve
NAVASSA ISLAND
Montego Bay CUBA
W
(to U.S.)
r
(to U.K.)
Cuba is the largest island and the only communist country in the region. It was supported by the communist superpower, the U.S.S.R., until the U.S.S.R. collapsed in 1991, at which time many Cubans suffered great conomic hardship. The Cuban government invested its money in improving social services. The people benefit from good health care and a high literacy rate. Children who complete pre-college education are awarded the Bachillerato.
Guantánamo
Palma Soriano
CAYMAN ISLANDS
5
Matthew Town
Bayamo
Manzanillo Cayman Brac
Lake Rosa
Holguín
Las Tunas
ssa
Archipiélago de los Jardines de la Reina
4
Nuevitas
Camagüey
os
d
in
s
ar
ch
Pas
C U B A
Pa
Spíritus
o
os Archipiélago de los Canarre
eC
la Juventud
e
d hía Ba
Yuc C h a na t á n ne l
a um d Ex oun S
3
H
THE CARIBBEAN I
J
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HURRICANES
The Caribbean islands can be devastated by hurricanes between May and October each year. These powerful and damaging storms occur when a normal storm builds up energy as it moves across the Atlantic Ocean. Eventually, violent winds and torrential rain are released on the islands.
1
2
Tropic of Cancer
FAMILY LIFE
Family is very important here, and is usually the center of everyday life. Some Caribbean people migrated to other countries, such as the U.K., but return when they retire – often bringing considerable money back with them.
(to U.K.)
COCKBURN TOWN Little Inagua Great Inagua
CapHaïtien
Monte Cristi
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
ge
ssa
Pa
a
Isla Saona
Isla Mona
Caguas Ponce Mayagüez
PUERTO RICO
n
t
i
l
e
l
(to U.S.)
s HAITI
St. Croix
PLYMOUTH GUADELOUPE MONTSERRAT Grande Terre (to France) Pointe-à-Pitre
(to U.K.)
DOMINICA
A
n
s l l e ti
ROSEAU M a r t i n i q ue P a ss a g e MARTINIQUE FORT-DE-FRANCE el (to France) hann S t . L u cia C Sa
in t
Vieux Fort
Vincen
(to Netherlands)
(to Netherlands)
C
ORANJESTAD
O I
LO
M
B
GRENADA
CURAÇAO
IA
V E NE Z U E LA J
K
The Grenadines
ST. GEORGE'S
A TIME TO CELEBRATE
The celebration of Diwali (Hindu), Eid al-Fitr (Muslim), and Christmas (Christian) reflect the varied religions of people in Trinidad and Tobago. The woman above is dressed for Carnival in Port of Spain to mark the beginning of the Christian season of Lent.
WILLEMSTAD
L
BARBADOS
t P as s a g e
BRIDGETOWN KINGSTOWN
BONAIRE (to Netherlands)
7
8
W
ARUBA
CASTRIES
ST. LUCIA Saint Vincent
Lesser Antilles
6
Marie-Galante
BASSE-TERRE Basse-Terre
SAINT VINCENT & THE GRENADINES Haitian man selling flowers
5
ST JOHN’S Antigua
SAINT KITTS & NEVIS
Haiti was the first Caribbean country to become independent. However, political unrest, combined with poor soils, have made Haiti one of the poorest countries in the world. Health-care and sanitation levels are poor and, as a result, life expectancy is low.
n ANTIGUA & d s BARBUDA Barbuda
BASSETERRE
L e ss er
a
N
Isla Beata
(to Netherlands)
CHARLOTTE AMALIE
C
A
M
on
THE VALLEY Sint Maarten
l
I
E
SANTO DOMINGO
PORT-AUJacmel PRINCE
ROAD TOWN
I s
C
ra al
La Romana
SAN JUAN
T
a r
d BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS VIRGIN ANGUILLA (to U.K.) ISLANDS (to U.K.) (to U.S.)
4
O
Santiago Gonaïves San Francisco de Macorís C o r d i l La Vega le HAITI
Centr
A T L A N w
L e e
Puerto Plata
3
Is lands
C
White sand and warm water attract vast numbers of visitors to these islands. Tourism is important to the economies of many countries, including the Bahamas and the Dominican Republic. Many people work in tourism-related jobs, such as at hotels.
in dw ard
TURKS g e & CAICOS a s s a sP ISLANDS co ai
Mayaguana
TROPICAL ISLES
M
N
Tobago PORT-OF-SPAIN
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO Trinidad
Gulf of Paria
9
San Fernando
O
P
23
SOUTH AMERICA Although South America is much poorer than its northern neighbor, it is rich in natural resources. Its mineral wealth led to its invasion by the Portuguese and Spanish in the 1500s, and their languages and culture still shape the lives of the people here. The nations below are listed in order of area, headed by Brazil—the world’s fifth-largest country.
Brazil
Venezuela
3,287,612 sq miles 8,514,877 sq km 194,000,000 Brasília Portuguese, German, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Japanese, Amerindian languages
Spanish, Amerindian languages
Bolivia 424,164 sq miles 1,098,581 sq km 9,860,000 La Paz Aymara, Quechua, Spanish
Argentina 1,073,518 sq miles 2,780,400 sq km 40,300,000 Buenos Aires Spanish, Italian, Amerindian languages
Peru 496,225 sq miles 1,285,216 sq km 29,200,000 Lima Spanish, Quechua, Aymara
Latin American culture is world famous, thanks to its infectious music and dance. Here a couple in Buenos Aires, Argentina, demonstrates the art of the tango.
352,144 sq miles 912,050 sq km 28,600,000 Caracas
Chile 291,933 sq miles 756,102 sq km 17,000,000 Santiago Spanish, Amerindian languages
Paraguay 157,048 sq miles 406,752 sq km 6,350,000 Asunción Guaraní, Spanish, German
Ecuador 109,484 sq miles 283,561 sq km 13,600,000 Quito Spanish, Quechua, other Amerindian languages
Guyana 83,000 sq miles 214,969 sq km 762,500 Georgetown English Creole, Hindi, Tamil, Amerindian languages, English
Colombia 439,737 sq miles 1,138,914 sq km 45,700,000 Bogotá Spanish, Wayuu, Páez, and other Amerindian languages
24
Uruguay 68,037 sq miles 176,215 sq km 3,360,000 Montevideo Spanish
Suriname
Soccer is a national passion in Brazil. Most of these barefoot boys on Ipanema beach, Rio de Janeiro, will be dreaming of playing for Brazil in the World Cup.
63,251 sq miles 163,820 sq km 519,700 Paramaribo Sranan (creole), Dutch, Javanese, Sarnami Hindi, Saramaccan (creole), Chinese, Carib
Hidden high up in the Andes, the ruined city of Machu Picchu is a spectacular symbol of the Inca Empire of Peru that was destroyed by Spanish invaders.
25
Machala
Guayaquil
Tumbes
Cali
Nuquí
Ciudad Ojeda
Sogamoso
QUITO
Ambato Riobamba Milagro R Cuenca ío
Loja
Porlamar
Tobago
& Carúpano TRINIDAD TOBAGO
Garzón
oN
apo
Río
r
n
o
o ay um
Pu t
Iquitos
Rí
O
i
q
San José del Guaviare
Neiva
Pitalito
eta M ío
Puerto Inírida
u
Am
aq u
n
oC
a zo
Rí
Río V aup és Rí oA pa po ris
et á
Equator
Mitú
Puerto Ayacucho
Puerto Carreño
n
Pa
rino co
a
A BR
Río O
i
R
Z
a
Mou karaima
H
ins
i g h l a n d s
Lethem
Kurupukari (Venezuela claims all of Guyana west of Essequibo River)
nta
Amsterdam
Apoera
Totness
Tum uc
(claimed by Suriname)
-Humac Mountai n s
(to France)
FRENCH GUIANA
Camopi
St.-Georges
Ouanary
CAYENNE
Sinnamary Kourou Grand-Santi
St.-Laurentdu-Maroni
PARAMARIBO
A T L O C A N T E A N I C
Venezuela’s population is growing rapidly, and more than 88 percent of the people now live in cities. The oil industry brings in considerable wealth, but many people are still poor. Although Caracas, Venezuela’s capital city, is an important financial center, it has many shantytowns.
CARACAS
(claimed by Suriname)
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French Guiana is the only remaining colony in South America and is governed by France. Tropical forests cover more than four fifths of its land. In 1968, the European Space Agency established a launch site on the coast in Kourou, which is still used today.
FRENCH GUIANA
H
SURINAME
Orealla
GUYANA
Linden
Peters Mine
Kamarang
Angel Falls
V E N E Z U E LEl Dorado A
Río Me
C O L O M B I A
o C Mocoa Florencia
Tulcán
Pasto
ECUADOR
Portoviejo
Manta
Medellín
Cartagena
Popayán
Ibarra
Santo Domingo de los Colorados
Valencia
CARACAS
Isla Blanquilla Isla de La Asunción Margarita
equibo Rive r Ess
Equator
Cabimas
Maracaibo
Quibdó Tunja Yopal Manizales Zipaquira Pereira Armenia BOGOTÁ Tuluá Ibagué Villavicencio Buenaventura Palmira
Tumaco
Esmeraldas
Valledupar
Coro
Punto Fijo
e tyn
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Soledad
Ríohacha
Puerto López
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The Andes, the world’s longest mountain chain, extends 4,505 miles (7,250 km) down the western edge of South America. Barley, wheat, and potatoes grow well in highland areas and are cultivated on the terraced hillsides.
ANDES MOUNTAINS
F
Cumaná Puerto La Cruz Trinidad Maracay Barcelona Barquisimeto Sincelejo Maturín Acarigua Valera Anaco Tucupita Valle de Montería El Vigía Guanare la Pascua El Tigre s co Ciudad Guayana Aguachica Mérida Barinas San Fernando o Río Orino uc a Upata Ca Cúcuta Caucasia Matthews n Ciudad Embalse San Cristóbal e a Ridge r l Charity u p Bolívar de Guri L Dabeiba Bucaramanga Río A ca Yarumal u El Callao GEORGETOWN a Aurora r R ío A New Barrancabermeja Bello ta
Gu lf o f Da rie n
Barranquilla
C a r i b b e a n Santa S e a Marta
P A O C C I F E A I C N
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E
and coastal swamps are found in this region. In the 1500s, promises of untold riches attracted the Spanish to the countries here. They found the vast empire of the Inca, which stretched from what is now Peru into northern Colombia. To the north and east, other colonizers—Dutch, English, and French—arrived. Today, although the countries are independent—with the exception of French Guiana—Spanish remains the main language. The population is mostly a mix of native peoples and Europeans, except along the Caribbean coast where descendants of former African slaves live.
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High mountains and plateaus, dense tropical rainforests,
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Northwest South America
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At 12,507 ft (3,812 m), Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. It is also South America’s largest lake. The Uru people live here in houses built on huge floating reed islands. They grow potatoes, hunt birds, and catch fish, using boats made from tightly bundled reeds.
A
LAKE TITICACA
Many countries in this area have extensive reserves of gold, silver, copper, and gems. Colombia produces more than half the world’s emeralds. The Inca made good use of these resources and created many beautiful golden objects, such as this llama.
A N C E
MINERALS
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Tacna
uap oré
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Tropic of Capricorn
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Puerto Suárez
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The Inca first lived in the mountainous area near Cusco in Peru. By the time of the Spanish invasion, the Inca Empire extended north into southern Colombia and south through Bolivia and into Argentina and Chile. The Quechua Indians were the most powerful group in the empire, and Quechua was the official language. The Quechua and Aymara peoples now live on the high plains of the Andes.
THE INCA
The railroad from Lima climbs 15,807 ft (4,818 m) into the Andes and is the highest in the world.
The Altiplano is a cold plateau at high altitude between two ranges of the Andes Mountains in southwest Bolivia and southern Peru. The native peoples who live here graze sheep and llamas on the windy plains. They have usually retained their own language and customs.
LIFE ON THE HIGH PLAINS
Quechua woman in Peru
A
AY
San José
San Matías
GU
Santa Cruz
Montero
Monteagudo
SUCRE
Aiquile
ue
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ANGEL FALLS
Each year, thousands of tourists visit the spectacular Angel Falls on the Churún River in eastern Venezuela. They were spotted by an American pilot, Jimmy Angel, in 1935 and were later named after him. The water drops for 807 m (2,648 ft), making Angel Falls the highest uninterrupted waterfall in the world.
AZ IL oG
ARGENTINA
Villazón
Ri
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Magdalena
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Trinidad
Potosí
Uncía
Tupiza
Villa Uyuni Martin
Sabaya
Sajama 21,391ft Lago (6520m) Poopó
L
Riberalta
Cochabamba Buena Vista Oruro Nevado
E I L D
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LA PAZ
Copacabana
Lake Titicaca
Puno
Arequipa
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Juliaca
B Nevado Pupuya 19,088ft (5818m)
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Lomas
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Puerto Maldonado
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The conquering Spaniards never found the remains of this important Inca city—it stayed a secret until Hiram Bingham, an American archaeologist and explorer, discovered its ruins hidden in the forest in 1911. Situated on a high ridge northwest of Cusco, Peru, this magnificent ruined city covers 5 sq miles (13 sq km), and has small houses, temples, and staircases built around a central square.
MACHU PICCHU
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Cerro de Pasco
0 miles
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Pisco
Pucallpa Aguaytía
Huánuco
C di
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LIMA
Callao
Huacho
Chiquián
Huaraz
Huarmey
Tarapoto
P E R U
Cajamarca
Chachapoyas
Río M a
Chimbote
Trujillo
San Pedro de Lloc
Chiclayo
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NORTHWEST SOUTH AMERICA
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SOUTH AMERICA D
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Uraricoera
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Boa Vista
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Brazil produces about one fourth of the world’s coffee, which is grown on large plantations in the states of Paraná and São Paulo. However, because world coffee prices go up and down so much, Brazilians are now growing other crops for export, too.
Rio Jap u r á
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COFFEE
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Covering more than one third of Brazil, the rainforest is home to a huge variety of animal and plant life. At one time, more than 5 million native Indians also lived here, but now only about 200,000 remain. Over the years, vast areas of forest have been cut down to provide timber for export, make way for farmland, or mine minerals such as gold, silver, and iron. The Kaxinawa Indians (left) still cultivate root vegetables as a food crop.
on dô nia Cha
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AMAZON RAINFOREST
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Pico da Neblina 9888ft (3014m)
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its fusion of music and dance—reflects the rich mix of its ethnic groups. The country also boasts immense natural resources with well-developed mining and manufacturing industries. Brazil grows all of its own food and exports large quantities of coffee, sugar cane, soybeans, oranges, and cotton. However, the wealth is not evenly distributed, with some people living in luxury, most struggling with poverty. São Paulo is home to almost 10 million people, but poverty and lack of housing means that many live in shantytowns without running water or sanitation. Brazil was colonized in the 1500s by the Portuguese, who established their language and Roman Catholic faith. It remains a deeply Catholic country with a strong emphasis on family life.
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The vibrant culture of brazil—with
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VENEZUELA
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BRASÍLIA
Brazilian morpho butterfly with brilliant blue wings, lives in rainforests from Brazil to Venezuela.
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Brasília replaced Rio de Janeiro as Brazil’s capital in 1960 as part of a program to develop the interior of the country. Situated on land that was once rainforest, the city is laid out in the shape of an airplane. Government buildings are in the “cockpit,” and residential areas are in the “wings.”
PEOPLE OF BRAZIL
8
Brazilians come from a variety of different ethnic groups, including descendants of the original native Indians, Portuguese colonizers, African slaves brought over to work in the sugar plantations, and European migrants.
SOCCER FANS 9
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Brazilians are passionate about football, which is played everywhere from beaches to shantytowns. There is fervent support for the national team, which has won the World Cup more times than any other country, most recently in 2002. A
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RIO CARNIVAL
During the five days leading up to Lent, Rio de Janeiro celebrates Carnival. There are parties, balls, and parades in the streets, and samba schools compete for awards for best costume and best float.
Itabuna
is Governador Valadares
Canavieiras
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Araçuai Caravelas
Espírito Santo
São Paulo has the world’s largest Japanese community outside of Japan.
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Vitória Campos
Rio de Janeiro
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Tropic of Capricorn
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Rio Grand e
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The Amazon River provides Brazil with its most important transportation link, not only for tourists but also for trade. Large boats can travel as far inland as the city of Manaus.
LA C NT EA IC N
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AMAZON TRANSPORT
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Parnaíba
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Ilha de Marajó
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0 miles
Tum u c - Hum ac M o u n tains
M
BEACH CULTURE
Wide, sandy beaches along the eastern coast of Brazil provide playgrounds for large numbers of Brazilians who come here to relax, meet friends, and play volleyball or soccer. By far the most popular beach is Copacabana (right) in Rio de Janeiro. Only the strongest swimmers brave the strong tides of the Atlantic. L
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Chile has a relatively high literacy rate (ability to read and write). This may be because between the ages of 6 and 18, education is both free and compulsory.
CHILEAN EDUCATION
Lagunas
Iquique
Antofagasta
Mejillones
Tocopilla
Domeyko
Vallenar
Talca
Curicó
Pichilemu
Cerro Ojos del Salado 22,572ft (6880m)
Cerro Aconcagua 22,835ft (6960m)
Cerro Galán 21,654ft (6600m)
Cafayate
Salta
Nevado de Chañi 20,341ft (6200m)
La Quiaca
Godoy Cruz
Mendoza
San Juan
General Alvear
Frías
Jesús María
Rosario
Paraná
s Realicó mpa a Lomas de Zamora P
Zárate
I
URUGUAY’S CAPITAL
Mix of Colonial Spanish, Italian, and Art Deco styles of architecture shows Montevideo’s rich history
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Florida
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MONTEVIDEO
Chuy
URUGUAY
Río N
Tacuarembó
Rivera
Melo
Posadas
Artigas
Z
Mirim Lagoon
A
Eldorado
Ciudad del Este
Encarnación
Pa
Yuty
Caazapá
BUENOS AIRES
Dolores
Mercedes
Paysandú
Salto
Trinidad
Concordia
Gualeguaychú Pergamino Junín
Goya
Santo Tomé Mercedes
Monte Caseros
Reconquista Vera
Santa Fe
Río Cuarto
Rufino
o
San Juan Pilar Bautista
Villarrica
Coronel Oviedo
Corrientes
Formosa
Resistencia
Laguna Mar Chiquita
ad
Rafaela
Villa Mercedes
San Luis
al
Añatuya
Santiago del Estero
Villa María
Córdoba
San Rafael
erm ejo
ASUNCIÓN
PARAGUAY
San Miguel de Tucumán
Metan
Deán Funes
La Rioja
San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca
SANTIAGO
La Calera
Rancagua
San Antonio
Viña del Mar Valparaíso
La Ligua
Salamanca
Illapel
Ovalle
Coquimbo
Calama
LIVIA
Capitán Pablo Lagerenza General Eugenio A.Garay Fuerte Olimpo
BO
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I
The capital of Uruguay, Montevideo, is home to almost half the country’s Mariscal population. It is also the main Estigarribia port and economic center. Pedro Juan This lively capital lies on the Caballero San Ramón de la east bank of the Río de la Nueva Orán Plata and is a Concepción Pi popular vacation Tropic of Caprico lco rn m San Salvador resort because ay o de Jujuy of its white Río sandy beaches. Rosario B Las Lomitas
The enormous Itaipú Dam on the Paraná River in Paraguay is one of the world’s largest hydroelectric projects. It can generate 90 percent of the electricity that Paraguay needs, as well as large amounts for export.
ITAIPÚ DAM
Chuquicamata
Monte Patria
Copiapó
Caldera
Chañaral
Taltal
La Serena
Sandwiched between the high Andes and the ocean, the Atacama Desert in northern Chile is one of the hottest and driest areas in the world. Rain hardly ever falls here. This harsh landscape, however, is rich in copper deposits.
ATACAMA DESERT
deserts create a very diverse geographical landscape. The four countries in this region—Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina—were once Spanish colonies but gained their independence in the early 1800s. Each country has an elected government, but their economies remain fragile. Most of RU E P the population speak Spanish and are mestizo—of mixed Spanish and Arica native Indian descent—except for Argentina, where up to 97 percent are descended from Europeans.
Towering mountains, vast grassy plains, and hot
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D e s e r t
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Southern South America
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SOUTH AMERICA
Ri Río (
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Cerro Mellizo Sur 10,007ft (3050m)
Isla Wellington
de
Cerro San Valentín 13,314ft na (4058m) Cochrane
Chile Chico
Coihaique
Puerto Aisén
PA
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I IF C C
E
A
Lago Musters
N
hi
Olavarría
Pehuajó
o C h ub ut
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(Cabo de Hornos)
Cape Horn
Beagle Channel
l Fueg o
Isla de los Estados
Strait of Magellan
D
E
F
Gaucho herding cattle in the Pampas region
G
la
Pl a
Pla te ta)
H
Chile has a large concentration of astronomical observatories because of its exceptionally clear skies.
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Popular around the world today, the tango originated in the slums of Buenos Aires in the late 1800s. This passionate dance with its characteristic rhythm is accompanied by music on a type of accordion known as a bandoneón, together with the piano and violin.
DANCING THE TANGO
Mar del Plata
Necochea
IC T N N A
ía Blanca
Coronel Dorrego
Tres Arroyos
de Dolores
Balcarce
Tandil
Azul
More than one third of Argentina’s population lives in or around the capital, Buenos Aires. A thriving port on the River Plate estuary, it is the largest city in Argentina. The colorful La Boca neighborhood, with its painted walls, is home to the descendants of Italian immigrants.
BUENOS AIRES
Vast treeless plains called the Pampas— which means “flat” in Spanish—cover most of southern and western Argentina. The Pampas are used to grow grain and raise cattle. Gauchos—Argentinian cowboys— work on large ranches, or estancias.
PAMPAS
Ushuaia
Ti
Puerto Deseado
Puerto San Julián
Bahía Grande
De
Caleta Olivia
Peninsula Valdés
u ev o Rawson
lfo N
Comodoro Rivadavia Golfo San Jorge
Río Gallegos
co
ío
Rí
Trelew
Go
Golfo San Matías
Río Ne gro
Bah
Viedma
Punta Alta
Bahía Blanca Choele Choel
San Antonio Oeste
Maquinchao
Porvenir
ruz
El Calafate
aC Río Sa nt
Rí oC
Lago Buenos Aires Perito Moreno
ad o
Cipolletti
Co lor
Neuquén
Paso de Indios
Sarmiento
Punta Arenas
Puerto Natales
Cerro Paine 8760ft (2670m)
E
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The Andes stretch the entire length of South America, and this has a major effect on the weather. As westerly air from the Pacific Ocean rises over the mountains, its moisture can fall as rain and snow. By the time it reaches the eastern side, the air is much drier and the landscape is more arid.
200
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Zapala
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Esquel
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ANDES WEATHER
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About 90 percent of Chileans live in the central region, where the rich soil is ideal for a wide range of agriculture. Vines were brought to Chile by the Spaniards, and the country now has an important winemaking industry that exports wine all over the world.
WINES FROM CHILE
Isla de Chiloé
Castro
Ancud
Puerto Montt
Puerto Varas
Osorno
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AT L A O
Talcahuano
A d rc h e l os i pi él a g o Cho n os
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ATLANTIC OCEAN C
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Atlantic Ocean
The world’s second-largest ocean, the Atlantic
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separates the Americas from Europe and Africa. The Atlantic is the world’s youngest ocean, starting to form about 180 million years ago, as the continental plates began to separate. This movement continues today, as the oceanic plates that meet at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge continue to pull apart. The Atlantic is a major source of fish but, due to overfishing, stocks are now low. Many shipping routes cross the Atlantic, and pollution is an international problem as ships dump chemicals and waste. There are substantial reserves of oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of west Africa, and in the north Atlantic.
F
G
H
GREENLAND
Fishing for halibut
The largest island in the world, Greenland is a self-governing part of Denmark. Most Greenlanders live on the southwest coast. Mostly Inuit, with some Danish-Norwegian influences, they make their living by seal hunting, fishing, and fur trapping.
NORTH AME RIC A
TOURISM
The volcanic islands and black beaches of the eastern Atlantic, especially the Canaries (left), Madeira, and the Azores, are popular with tourists, who are attracted to the scenery and subtropical climate.
BERMUDA
(to U.K.)
Ha tt Pla eras in
B
Gulf of Mexico Gr
ea
ter
Ant
Pu e r t o R T r e nc h ico
illes
WARM CURRENTS
The Gulf Stream flows up the east coast of North America and across the Atlantic. It brings warm water and a mild climate to northern Europe, which would otherwise be cooler.
Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Tristan da Cunha island
Peru-
A
en ch
sin
d e ch
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s
Ch
ren le T
Basin
-Chi
Chile
Peru
A
Tr
Ba
OCEAN
Ri
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FALKLANDS
Set in the windy south Atlantic off the coast of Argentina, the Falkland Islands belong to the U.K. but are also claimed by Argentina. Fishing and sheep farming are important. The land is rocky, mountainous, boggy, and almost treeless.
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32
ile
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Many whales live in the Atlantic, migrating from summer feeding grounds in the cold polar regions to warmer waters in the Caribbean for the winter. They give birth and mate again before returning north.
n
PACIFIC
The Atlantic Ocean contains more than half of the world’s total stock of fish. Herring, anchovy, sardine, cod, flounder, and tuna are among the most important fish found here. However, overfishing, especially of cod and tuna, has caused a significant decline in numbers.
Humpback whale breaching
SOUTH
Ch
Pe
ATLANTIC FISHING INDUSTRY
WHALES
B
nt
(to Ecuador)
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a huge underwater mountain chain that runs the entire length of the Atlantic. It was formed by magma that oozed up from the sea bed, cooled to create solid rock, and gradually built up to form a ridge. Some peaks are so high that they break the surface to form volcanic islands, such as the country of Iceland.
7
rA
Galápagos Islands
UNDERWATER MOUNTAINS 6
Le ss e
Panama Basin
At the center of the ridge is a valley at least 10 miles (16 km) wide
5
Colombian Basin
Guatemala Basin
ill
4
es
Caribbean Sea
C
D
E
H
J
K
(to Denmark)
lti
nk
ti
(to Portugal)
Canary Islands
Cape Verde e Zone Basin
a in
Fernando de Noronha
Guinea Basin
i d
Plain
on Ascensi
Gulf of Guinea
e Zon ure t c a r F
l a n t i c A t
(to St. Helena)
(to U.K.)
Rio Grande Rise
vi
Plateau
Basin Za p io l a R id ge
Scotia Sea
SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS
SOUTH GEORGIA Dra
assa ke P
ge
6
Cape
7
Cape of Good Hope
e Gough Island Zon (to Tristan da Cunha) e r u t Frac Gough
Gulf of San Matías
Cape Horn
Icebergs in the Atlantic Ocean are formed when ice sheets and glaciers reach the ocean. Parts break off and start to drift, driven by winds and currents.
(to St. Helena)
Argentine
(to U.K.)
5
Basin
TRISTAN DA CUNHA
FALKLAND ISLANDS
The Atlantic covers one fifth of Earth’s surface.
Zubov Seamount
O ra nge Fan
Santos
3
ST. HELENA
s R idg e
(to Brazil)
Angola Basin
R i d g e
Vitória Seamount
ICELAND
Iceland is situated in the north Atlantic on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. As a result, it has at least 20 active volcanoes and suffers from frequent earthquakes. There are numerous thermal springs with boiling mud lakes and geysers. Water from hot springs (above) is used to provide hot water and heat for a large proportion of Iceland’s population, most of whom live on the coast. The warm Gulf Stream ensures that the country’s ports stay icefree in the winter.
ICEBERGS
ASCENSION ISLAND
Ilha da Trindade
2
4
AFRICA
Brazil Basin
Gulf of San Jorge
n Sea
Sierra Leone Sierra Rise Leone Basin
Pernambuco
(to Brazil)
AMERICA
nea
S a h e l
-
Pl
ra
PRAIA
CAPE VERDE
M rá
er
s ntain
Cape Verde Plain
OCEAN Ce a
u
it
Mineral-rich waters in the Blue Lagoon, Iceland, are said to be beneficial to people’s health
S a h a r a
Doldrums Fractur e Zone
Amazon Fan
(to Spain)
Madeira
ATLANTIC
Dem Pla erar in a
o sM a l At
Madeira
Tablemount
s l p
Med
Zone East Azores Fracture
Plain
Fractur
A
(to Portugal)
an l t Great Meteor
Kane
Bay of Biscay Azores
Mi d
Nares Pl a i n
EUROPE
al
A
Sargasso Sea
P
1
W
Ber m Ris uda e
c
Newfoundland Basin
R
s of Grand Bank nd a l d n u o Newf
Plain
O
ICELAND
D REYKJAVIK FAEROE ISLANDS (to Denmark) Reykjanes Iceland Basin a British North Basin lB Sea Charlie-Gibbs Fractu al Ba Isles k re Zone c Ro
Newfoundland
Sohm
N
ait
id g e
Labrador Basin
en
Str
rk ma
M
a
GREE N L AN D Labrador Sea
L
cS e
I
(to U.K.)
BOUVET ISLAND
8
(to Norway)
(to U.K.)
SOUTHERN OCEAN East Scotia Basin 9
I
J
K
L
M
AFRICA Sudan 967,500 sq miles 2,505,813 sq km 42,300,000 Khartoum Arabic, Dinka, Nuer, Nubian, Beja, Zande, Bari, Fur, Shilluk, Lotuko
Algeria 919,595 sq miles 2,381,741 sq km 34,900,000 Algiers Arabic, Tamazight (Berber: Kabyle, Shawia, Tamashek), French
Congo, Dem Rep of
495,755 sq miles 1,284,000 sq km 11,200,000 N’Djamena French, Sara, Arabic, Maba
Niger 489,191 sq miles 1,267,000 sq km 15,300,000 Niamey
Ethiopia 426,373 sq miles 1,104,300 sq km 82,800,000 Addis Ababa
Namibia 318,261 sq miles 824,292 sq km 2,170,000 Windhoek
Amharic, Tigrinya, Galla, Sidamo, Somali, English, Arabic (Oromu)
Ovambo, Kavango, English, Bergdama, German, Afrikaans
Mauritania
Mozambique
397,955 sq miles 1,030,700 sq km 3,290,000 Nouakchott
308,642 sq miles 799,380 sq km 22,900,000 Maputo
Madagascar
Zimbabwe
226,658 sq miles 587,041 sq km 19,600,000 Antananarivo
150,872 sq miles 390,757 sq km 12,500,000 Harare
Malagasy, French
Shona, isiNdebele, English
Botswana 224,607 sq miles 581,730 sq km 1,950,000 Gaborone
Ivory Coast 124,504 sq miles 322,463 sq km 21,100,000 Yamoussoukro
Hausa, Djerma, Fula, Tuareg, Teda, French
Hassaniyah Arabic, Wolof, French
Makua, Xitsonga, Sena, Lomwe, Portuguese
Setswana, English, Shona, San, Khoikhoi, isiNdebele
Akan, French, Kru, Voltaïque
Angola
Egypt
Zambia
Kenya
Burkina Faso
905,355 sq miles 2,344,858 sq km 66,000,000 Kinshasa
481,354 sq miles 1,246,700 sq km 18,500,000 Luanda
386,662 sq miles 1,001,450 sq km 83,000,000 Cairo
Kiswahili, Tshiluba, Kikongo, Lingala, French
Portuguese, Umbundu, Kimbundu, Kikongo
Arabic, French, English, Berber
Bemba, Tongan, Nyanja, Lozi, Lala-Bisa, Nsenga, English
Kiswahili, English, Kikuyu, Luo, Kalenjin, Kamba
Mossi, Fulani, French, Tuareg, Diyula, Songhai
Congo, Republic of
Mali
Tanzania
Somalia
Cameroon
Gabon
905,355 sq miles 2,344,858 sq km 3,680,000 Brazzaville
478,841 sq miles 1,240,192 sq km 13,000,000 Bamako
Kikongo, Teke, Lingala, French
Bambara, Fula, Senufo, Soninke, French
Kiswahili, Sukuma,Kichagga, Nyamwezi, Hehe, Makonde, Yao, Sandawe, English
Libya
South Africa
Nigeria
679,362 sq miles 1,759,540 sq km 6,420,000 Tripoli Arabic, Tuareg
34
Chad
Covering one fifth of the world’s land area, Africa has a rapidly growing population. Many of its 52 nations—listed below in order of size—are desperately poor. This is partly due to hostile climates, especially in and around the vast Sahara desert, but also because of a history of political turmoil, ethnic tennsion or conflict and, in some countries, war. Despite this, African culture is among the most vibrant on Earth.
470,693 sq miles 1,219,090 sq km 50,100,000 Tshwane English, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Setswana, Sesotho, Xitsonga, siSwati, Tshivenda, isiNdebele
365,755 sq miles 947,300 sq km 43,700,000 Dodoma
356,669 sq miles 923,768 sq km 155,000,000 Abuja Hausa, English, Yoruba, Igbo
290,587 sq miles 752,618 sq km 12,900,000 Lusaka
246,201 sq miles 637,657 sq km 9,130,000 Mogadishu
224,081 sq miles 580,367 sq km 39,800,000 Nairobi
183,568 sq miles 475,440 sq km 19,500,000 Yaoundé
105,869 sq miles 274,200 sq km 15,800,000 Ouagadougou
103,347 sq miles 267,667 sq km 1,470,000 Libreville
Somali, Arabic, English, Italian
Bamileke, Fang, Fula, French, English
Fang, French, Punu, Sira, Nzebi, Mpongwe
Central African Republic
Morocco
Guinea
240,535 sq miles 622,984 sq km 4,420,000 Bangui Sango, Banda, Gbaya, French
172,414 sq miles 446,550 sq km 32,000,000 Rabat Arabic, Tamazight (Berber), French, Spanish
94,926 sq miles 245,857 sq km 10,100,000 Conakry Pulaar, Malinké, Sousou, French
Uganda 93,065 sq miles 241,038 sq km 32,700,000 Kampala
Eritrea 45,406 sq miles 117,600 sq km 5,070,000 Asmara
Luganda, Nkole, Chiga, Lango, Acholi, Teso, Lugbara, English
Tigrinya, English, Tigre, Afar, Arabic, Saho, Bilen, Kunama, Nara, Hedareb
Ghana
Benin
92,098 sq miles 238,533 sq km 23,800,000 Accra
112,622 sq km 43,484 sq miles 8,940,000 Porto-Novo
GuineaBissau 13,948 sq miles 36,125 sq km 1,610,000 Bissau
Twi-Fanti, Ewe, Ga, Adangbe, Gurma, Dagomba (Dagbani)
Fon, Bariba, Yorùbá, Adja, Houeda, Somba, French
Portuguese Creole, Balante, Fula, Malinké, Portuguese
Senegal
Liberia
Lesotho
75,955 sq miles 196,722 sq km 12,500,000 Dakar
43,000 sq miles 111,369 sq km 3,960,000 Monrovia
Wolof, Pulaar, Serer, Diyula, Mandinka, Malinké, Soninke, French
Kpelle, Vai, Bassa, Kru, Grebo, Kissi, Gola, Loma, English
Tunisia
Sierra Leone
63,170 sq miles 163,610 sq km 10,300,000 Tunis Arabic, French
Malawi
27,699 sq miles 71,740 sq km 5,700,000 Freetown Mende, Temne, Krio, English
Togo
45,747 sq miles 118,484 sq km 5,300,000 Lilongwe
21,925 sq miles 56,785 sq km 6,620,000 Lomé
Chewa, Lomwe, Yao, Ngoni, English
Ewe, Kabye, Gurma, French
11,720 sq miles 30,355 sq km 2,070,000 Maseru English, Sesotho, isiZulu
Equatorial Guinea
Rwanda 10,169 sq miles 26,338 sq km 10,000,000 Kigali
Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, Jola, Soninke, English
Djibouti
Cape Verde
23,200 sq km 8,958 sq miles 864,200 Djibouti City
Spanish, Fang, Bubi, French
Somali, Afar, French, Arabic
10,745 sq miles 27,830 sq km 8,300,000 Bujumbura Kirundi, French, Kiswahili
4,361 sq miles 11,295 sq km 1,710,000 Banjul
Kinyarwanda, French, Kiswahili, English
10,831 sq miles 28,051 sq km 676,300 Malabo
Burundi
Gambia
Swaziland 17,364 sq km 6,704 sq miles 1,180,000 Mbabane English, siSwati, isiZulu, Xitsonga
Mauritius 788 sq miles 2,040 sq km 1,290,000 Port Louis French Creole, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Chinese, English, French
São Tomé and Príncipe
1,557 sq miles 4,033 sq km 505,600 Praia
372 sq miles 964 sq km 162,800 São Tomé
Portuguese Creole, Portuguese
Portuguese Creole, Portuguese
Comoros 863 sq miles 2,235 sq km 676,000 Moroni Arabic, Comorian, French
35
AFRICA B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Northwest Africa
Four countries, plus the disputed area of Western Sahara, make
A
L
3
4
E
N
Ksar-el-Kebir
Salé
Essaouira
Agadir
Marrakech
(to Spain)
Sidi Bel Abbès Djelfa Tlemcen
Oujda
Fès
Jerada
Khouribga
Ha u
Beni-Mellal
s A t l a Er-Rachidia
6
El Mahbas
Galtat-Zemmour
Muslims going to worship at the Hassan II mosque in Casablanca, Morocco Ad Dakhla
WESTERN SAHARA
MAUR
ITANIA
(disputed territory under Moroccan occupation)
L
G
rg
i
E
Plateau du Tademaït
C
he
Tropic of Cancer
S an
M A
Lagouira
Berber woman working the land in the Atlas Mountains
B
C
D
E
R
Reggane
a
T
A
l
El Goléa
ez
ro
L
uf
t
I
9
36
ta
I-n-Salah
g Er
BERBERS
The Berber people were the original inhabitants of northwest Africa. Most now live in the Atlas Mountains or the desert. Although most Berbers converted to Islam when the Arabs arrived, they kept their own language and way of life. In 2001, Algeria recognized Berber (Tamazight) as an official language.
A
Adrar
uîd
Occ
n ide
a
Tindouf
Ig
Ghardaïa
Erg Grand
ch
Boujdour
Smara Bou Craa
s
Béchar
Tiznit
LAÂYOUNE
u x Chott ech Chergui en a r i Laghouat ah S as
te a
Figuig
Ouarzazate
r du D a d a m a H
la ts P
in t a Atl n u Mo
MOROCCO
Tan-Tan
8
Kénitra
Blida Mostaganem
Oran
Chefchaouen
Mohammedia
El-Jadida
Safi
Melilla
Tetouan
RABAT Casablanca
5
7
Tangier
O
A
Arab invasions during the 600s and 1000s have influenced the culture, religion (Islam), architecture, and language of northwest Africa. Today, Arabic is the main language, and MOROCCAN MARKET more than 95 percent In a souk, or market, craftworkers of the people here sell handmade products to are Muslim. tourists. Goods are displayed in booths along the bustling streets.
C
T
ARAB INFLUENCE
A
‘E
2
up this part of Africa. Algeria, Libya, and Tunisia have rich supplies of oil and natural gas that boost their economies. Morocco relies on tourism, phosphates used for chemicals and fertilizer, and agriculture. In the fertile valleys of the Atlas Mountains, farmers grow grapes, citrus fruit, dates, and olives. The area also attracts SUN AND SEA Many tourists visit Tunisia and Morocco each year to enjoy tourists to its colorful the warm climate and sandy beaches. Tourism provides jobs markets, historical sites, for the local people and brings much-needed income. and sandy beaches. The Tizi Ouzou Sahara Desert dominates ALGIERS C S I t rai the region, especially in GIBRALTAR (ALGER) T t of (to U.K.) Gibra Algeria and Libya. ltar N Chlef Ceuta (to Spain)
F
G
H
NORTHWEST AFRICA I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
ANCIENT RUINS
Phoenicians, Romans, and Greeks from ancient times have all left their marks on this part of Africa. Today, tourists come to admire the historical sites along the coast. These ruins of Carthage, near Tunis, date from 146 BCE, when Romans laid waste to this city. The Romans went on to control all of the north African coast.
DATE PALMS
Dates are an important crop for Algeria and Tunisia. Date palms are often grown at oases, where water lies close to the surface of the desert. Here, the clusters of dates are shown ripening beneath polyethylene. Leaves from the trees can be used for thatch and the trunk is cut for timber.
1
2
M e d i t e r r a S e a Bizerte n e a n Carthage
The pits from dates can be roasted and ground to make a traditional date coffee.
Annaba
TUNIS
Sétif
Constantine
Biskra
Sousse
Kairouan
Batna
Kasserine
Chott Melghir
Mahdia
Ruins of a Roman bath in Carthage
Sfax
Gafsa
Gabès
Tozeur
de Gabès Golfe
Chott el Jerid Médenine
Île de Jerba Zuwárah
TUNISIA
El Oued
Touggourt
(◊ARÁBULUS) Al Khums
l
Nálút
Mi§rátah
YafranGharyán
a Al Jab
(Banghází)
Gulf of Sirte
l al
h Ak
ça
Ajdábiyá
Marádah
Jálú
Great
Waddán
Bordj Omar Driss
Birák
L I
B
SURVIVAL IN THE SAHARA
ica
Al Jaghbúb
Marsá al Burayqah
A
Y
4
Wádí al Íamí m
Surt
en
Tr i p o l i t a n i a
◊ubruq
r
Cy rena
(Khalíj Surt)
ta
I
g O
Benghazi
San
A
Tiguentourine Sabhá
The Sahara Desert covers almost one third of Africa and is an inhospitable place to live, with high daytime temperatures and freezing nights. The Tuareg are nomads and call the desert home. Traditionally, they raise camels for transportation and to provide meat, milk, and hides. Many Tuareg now live in mountain areas or dwell in cities.
P T E G Y
r d E n a Gr
ri
Darnah
Al Bayçá’ Al Marj
TRIPOLI
Az Záwiyah
Ouargla
3
d S ea
6
Awbárí
Tassili
Zawílah
-n-
Aj
jer
h
Al 'Uwaynát
Djanet
ar agg
a
Idhán Murzuq
a
r
á
Libyan Al Kufrah
Desert Picco Bette 7500ft (2286m)
C
Tamanrasset
I
G
E
of Tropic Cancer
7
Tahat 9573ft (2918m)
N
ab y
na h
R
H
A
SUDAN
Ah
F e z z a n R am l a t R
5
D
Tuareg nomads in the Sahara carry salt to trade in markets
0 km 100 0 miles
8
200 100
200
LIBYAN OIL RESOURCES
The discovery of oil and gas in 1959 brought considerable wealth to Libya, and oil and gas currently make up 95 percent of the country’s exports. As a result, Libya’s cities have grown as people have moved from rural areas to find work in the oil industry. Some of the money from oil is spent on better health care and education for Libyans.
Libyan oil field
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
9
37
8
7
Tourists come to Egypt to see the pyramids in Giza and the temples along the Nile River, such as these two built in Abu Simbel, south of Aswan. Tourism brings in money to preserve these historical sites.
ABU SIMBEL
i
S
D
El Obeid
N
ile
A Er Rahad
Umm Ruwaba
(administered by Sudan)
Tokar
le ue Ni Bl
Ed Damazin
Bahir Dar
Tána Hayt’
Gonder
Ch’ok’é
Lalibela
Maych’ew
Mek’elé
Teseney
Khashm el Girba
Gedaref
ASMARA
Sennar
na
ki
lD
Desé
Weldiya
Da
Zula
Massawa
t
The Suez Canal, opened in 1869, is one of the world’s longest and most important artificial waterways. It links the Mediterranean Sea with the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea, providing a crucial shortcut from Europe to India and east Asia. The tolls from the canal are a large source of income for Egypt.
I
f
Shimbiris
en Karin 7897ft (2407m)
DJIBOUTI G u l
Ad of
Boosaaso
Caluula
As the population grows in Ethiopia, forests are cut down for firewood or to cultivate new areas for food crops. The soil, no longer held firm by the trees, is easily blown or washed away, and valuable farmland is lost.
DJIBOUTI Obock Dikhil
H
SUEZ CANAL
LOSING FARMLAND
Aseb
Plowing fields in Ethiopia
ERITREA
Haiya
Suakin
Port Sudan
Kassala
Shendi
Ed Damer
Atbara
Shereik
Abu Hamed
N
Wad Medani
KHARTOUM Sodiri
U
i
Omdurman
M el
Dilling El Muglad
El Fasher
Merowe
Argo
Ed Debba
Dongola
Delgo
Akasha
Nubian Desert
(administered by Egypt)
Wadi Halfa
i ad W
Aswán Lake Nasser
er
Ed Da‘ein
D
Aswan Dam
Idfú
Tropic of Cancer
G
The Nile is the world’s longest river. It flows north from Burundi running along the Tanzania–Rwanda border, then through Uganda, Sudan, and Egypt to the coast. Most of Egypt’s population lives around the valley and delta of the Nile, which provides the region’s water. The river also provides irrigation for local crops, such as cotton.
NILE RIVER
F
es
Nyala
El Geneina
Kebkabiya
a
Isná
z
Hurghada
ue
Qiná
Akhmím
Sawháj Luxor El Khârga
Qa§r Faráfra
le
Ni
Al Minyá Asyút
Mallawí
Gebel Mûsa 7497ft (2285m)
Sinai
Suez
CAIRO
E G Y P T
fur ar
ád
ar How
El‘Atrun
Jabal al ‘Uwaynát 6257ft (1907m)
Umm Buru
W
a d Se Gilf Kebir Plateau
Giza Beni Suef Bawí√í
e
6
San at Tropic of Cancer
Sa
Síwah
-436ft (-133m)
Depression
(W
5
4
E
civilizations in the continent and some of its poorest countries. The borders that divide the countries today were mostly created by colonial rulers in the last 100 years. Pastoral nomads with their herds of animals often cross these borders in search of pastures. Most people still live in the countryside and farm the land, but many people now live in cities. Tourism and agriculture are important sources of income for Egypt and Kenya, two of the richest and fastest-growing countries in the region. Elsewhere, tribal rivalries and disputes over land and resources have sometimes erupted into full-scale wars and these, d i t e reraa n e a n e together with droughts and M S Nile poverty, have blighted the Sîdi Barrâni D e l t a Dumyát Alexandria lives of millions of people Port Said Suez Canal Al ’Alamayn in the region. Qattara Al Ismá‘ílíyah Az Zagázíg
a l Des rá tern a í es íy rb a ) Gh rt
C H AD
3
D
This region, known as the Horn of Africa, contains the oldest
e fS
R e d
lk
S e a
White Nile
Gr lf o
LIBYA
Gu Wadi Ok o
2
C
Northeast Africa
B
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
AFRICA
A
B
C
Maridi
RWANDA Bukoba
D
0 miles
0 km
100
Nyeri
l e y
200
400
BI A
l
Mbeya
Lake Rukwa Sumbawanga
E
300
400
F
E
Newala
QU MBI Kenyan workers carefully select tea leaves for picking.
MOZA
Lake Nyasa
Tunduru
Lindi
Mafia
DAR ES SALAAM
Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Mtwara
Kilwa Kivinje
Nyamtumbo Masasi Songea
Njombe go we Lu
Mohoro
Rufiji
Morogoro
Pemba
Mombasa
Malindi
Buur Gaabo
Tanga
Kilimanjaro 19,341ft (5895m)
Moshi
Masai Steppe
Sao Hill
Iringa
G
Hárer
Berbera
li
(MUQDISHO)
MOGADISHU
Jawhar
Marka
G
H
I
Kenya is an important world producer of tea, which is grown on plantations in the highland areas (such as this one below). High rainfall here ensures good crops. Coffee is also a valuable export.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church has existed since the 300s CE. It is a branch of the Coptic Church and mixes Christian beliefs, such as Catholic saints, with some traditional African spiritual beliefs.
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Water makes up almost one fifth of the surface area of Uganda.
TEA IN KENYA
Coptic cross
SOMALIA
Gellinsoor
Buulobarde
Baraawe Jilib Equator Jamaame
Baardheere
Wanlaweyn
Sinujiif
d
Gaalkacyo
lee
Dhuusa Marreeb Beledweyne
Baydhabo
Xuddur
She be
den
Shilabo
Oga
Garoowe
Puntland
Bandarbeyla
Dooxo Nugaa
Somaliland
Hargeysa
Luuq
Doolow
Kismaayo Garissa
Garsen
NAIROBI
Arusha
Ruaha at re
DODOMA
Meru Kirinyaga 17,060ft (5200m)
TANZANIA
a
200
M
V
Kipili
Nzega
Shinyanga
Tabora Singida
Lake Tanganyika
Kigoma
Kasulu
Musoma
Nakuru
Kisumu
Afmadow
Negélé
KENYA
Lake Turkana
Marsabit
Ábaya Háyk’
Yabélo
Lokitaung
Mbale Eldoret
Mwanza
Lake Victoria
BUJUMBURA
BURUNDI
Jinja
Jíma
Nazrét
Mí’éso Áwash
Diré Dawa
Ábuyé Méda 13,123ft (4000m)
E T H I O P I A
(ÁDÍS ÁBEBA) Ágaro
Lodwar
Lotagipi Swamp
Entebbe
Biharamulo Nyantakara
KIGALI
Lake Kivu
Masindi
UGANDA
Masaka
Mbarara Kabale
Lake Edward
Equator
Kinyeti 10,456ft (3187m)
Kapoeta
(administered by Kenya)
Gulu Lira
Juba
Arua
Goré
Elemi Triangle
Kongor
Duk Faiwil
KAMPALA
Lake Albert
DEM. REP. CONGO
Bor Amadi
A
16
Tambura
Yambio
There are more than 500 different tribes in Sudan, who speak more than 100 languages and dialects. Like many tribal people here, the Dinka are nomadic—their cattle graze on the plains east of the Nile. Cattle are central to their lives—young Dinka men officially become adults with an initiation ceremony in which they are given an ox of their own.
IC
Rumbek
Z
The Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is one of the few places where you can still see a mountain gorilla (right) in the wild. These animals are threatened with extinction because of poachers and the destruction of their habitat. Tanzania and Kenya also have many important game reserves that preserve the wildlife of the savanna.
MOUNTAIN GORILLAS
BL
SUDANESE DINKA
Young Dinka man
PU
Tonj
Sudd
i t MALAWI
15
RE
Wau
Jur
t G r e a
R f
14
Busy street bazaar in Cairo
N
The largest city in Africa is Cairo, the capital of Egypt, with a population of more than 15 million. Here, Arab, African, and European influences exist alongside more traditional Egyptian customs.
CAIRO
A
Raga
gar Mala asi
13
12
11
10
9
Sumeih
ey
Malakal
e
Sue
Buré
IN O D
ll
at R i ft Va Gr
IA N
E t h io p ia n H ig h la n d s ADDIS ABABA
Great Rift V alley
Juba
C
C
A RI
N
TR F LA
A
N CE ile W hite N
E
Kadugli
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
NORTHEAST AFRICA
39
AFRICA B
C
D
E
West Africa
0 km 100
300
100
G
H
400
200
300
400
i
0 miles
200
F
u
îd
Dramatically different climates and landscapes influence life in
k
g
west Africa. In the hot, dry north, it is difficult to grow crops. Only oases I ‘Aïn Ben Tili in the Sahara Desert and seasonal rainfall in the Sahel make cropg r Bîr Mogreïn ' E growing possible. To the south, the climate is warm and wet, and e n crops such as cocoa and coffee are grown on large plantations. h a g g H â This region also has many valuable minerals. Despite these WESTERN Tropic of Cancer E r h K El e c h rich resources, most countries are poor. Since independence C SAHARA Fdérik Zouérat territory from colonial powers, there has been a lot of political unrest, under(disputed e Touâjîl Taoudenni Moroccan occupation) â n often sparked by poverty and tribal rivalries in the region. a r u West Africa is also divided by religion, with Islam Choûm Nouâdhibou dominant in the north and Christianity in the south. â rAœâr O
2
c Ak
GAMBIA
M A URI T A NI A
Rkîz
Idîni Boutilimit Magœa‘ Laìjar
Rosso
mb ia
T
San
BAMAKO
Boké Labé
Dinguiraye
L
O
A
C
Boundiali Korhogo
N
E
T
A
CÔTE Katiola D'IVOIRE
Beyla
Kenema Nzérékoré
(IVORY COAST) Danané
Gbanga
I
N
Tubmanburg
MONROVIA
Tengréla Ferkessédougou
Odienné
Kissidougou
LE O NE Bo
Bobo-Dioulasso
Kankan
Tokounou Makeni
Harbel
YAMOUSSOUKRO
Cavalla
Harper
Divo
ma da
S
LIBERIA
dra san as
C
8
Lac de Kossou
Gagnoa Ban
Zwedru
Buchanan
Sikasso
Siguiri
Faranah
S IE R RA
Koutiala
moé Ko
Mamou
Kindia
Bougouni
Tikinsso
Pita
G U I N E A
FREETOWN
B a ni
Koulikoro
Gaoual
CONAKRY
Abidjan
Sassandra San-Pédro
DIAMONDS AND GOLD
West Africa has many valuable minerals, including diamonds, uranium, copper, and gold. In Sierra Leone, where diamonds (left) provide crucial income, the mines have been a focus of fighting in the civil war between rebel groups and the government.
9
40
A
B
C
E
a
er Baudiagara
Ségou
Kita
oé
GUINEABISSAU
Nig
Kolokani
Toukoto
ng
Sédhiou Bafatá
BISSAU
A
7
Ga
Mopti
Ténenkou
S
Tambacounda
Kolda
Ziguinchor
6
Nioro Kayes
GAMBIA
Bignona
Goundam
Sélibabi
Kaolack
BANJUL
Lac Faguibine
Bassikounou
Bafi
Family ties and a sense of community are important to the people of Ghana, and ceremonies throughout the year mark the events of childbirth, puberty, marriage, and death. About half of Ghanaians are Ashanti people whose ancestors developed one of the richest and most notable civilizations in Africa.
Oualâta Néma
Timbedgha Kobenni Amourj
Matam
Mbaké Diourbel
Sokone
Aoukâ
r Tâmchekkeœ Kiffa ‘Ayoûn el ‘Atroûs
Thiès
Mbour
Boûmdeïd
Kaédi
SENEGAL
Mékhé
DAKAR
Dagana Louga
Araouane
Tîchît
Tidjikja
Seneg Aleg
al
Saint Louis
PEOPLE OF GHANA
a
El M rey yé
Oujeft
NOUAKCHOTT
Richard Toll
5
S
Chingueœœi
Akjoujt
In recent years, tourism has become increasingly important to the economy of Gambia. Visitors come to see wildlife along the Gambia River and to visit the Atlantic coast beaches. These safari tourists are admiring a giant termite mound.
4
h
Ba g
3
F
G
H
WEST AFRICA I
M
N
O
P
FOOD CROPS
In wetter, southern regions, root vegetables, such as yams and cassavas, are grown for food. Peanuts, which also grow under the ground, are cultivated in the north for export or to cook in traditional stews.
Cassava 1
Yam
Peanuts
2
LIBYA
Gao
Tahoua
Ouahigouya
NIAMEY
BURKINA Kaya
Dogondoutchi
Yendi
Tamale
Bondoukou Wenchi Sunyani
Lake Volta
Sokodé
Oyo
Abomey
Kumasi
Kpalimé
Abengourou Volt a Nsawam
Asamankese
Ibadan
a
Ede
Nig e
Owo
ola ong
EP lJaotse aRu
Kumo
I
A
ABUJA Lafia
Warri
Benin
of
Wukari
Makurdi
Onitsha Owerri
Aba
th s
of Guinea ulf
Be
Lokoja
e nu
Port Harcourt
l ote ns G ntai u
C A
Uyo
t h e Niger
K
Yola
WEST AFRICAN FARMERS
In the dry northern areas, crop farming is restricted to when and where seasonal rain falls. Herders are partly nomadic and they need to follow the rains in search of grazing land for their animals. Further south, where rainfall is higher, farmers grow a wider variety of crops for their families to eat, and for sale.
7
M Herbs, shells, bones, and sticks are used by traditional healers
MEDICINE AND HEALING
Many people here seek advice from a traditional healer if they got ill. Often the healer is also a religious leader. Treatment may include the use of herbs or magical items to fight off the enemy spirit. Healers may also chant and dance to attract good spirits.
Masks, such as this one from the Dan tribe of the Ivory Coast, are worn by dancers who take on different characters during tribal ceremonies. Round-eyed masks represent males, while straight-eyed masks are for females. However, the actual dancers are always men. J
Gombi
Calabar
MASKED DANCERS
I
6
Biu
Bauchi
Benin City Enugu
Lagos Cotonou Sapele
A D
C
G
Ogbomosho
Mou
Cape Coast SekondiG Takoradi
Jebba
PORTO-NOVO
LOMÉ of Bight ACCRA
Kaduna Jos
I
Maiduguri
Potiskum
Zaria
Minna
5
Hadej i a
r
GHANA
lia
Lake Chad
Hadejia
Kano
Kainji Reservoir
N
4
Nguru
Katsina
Yelwa
Parakou Ilorin
Ngourti
Gouré
Guidimouni
Maradi
oto
Koko
BENIN
Ot i
it Wh V olta e
G O T O
Black Volta
FASO
Zinder
Tessaoua
Gusau
Fada-Ngourma Tenkodogo Bawku Kandi SansannéMango Natitingou
Di
R
de
l
Nguigmi
Dakoro
Birnin Konni
Jega
E
Keïta
Sokoto
Nig er
OUAGADOUGOU Koudougou
l
Tillabéri
Sok
e
G
nd
g Er
Sh Mo e b sh un i tai ns
Ayorou
I
Gra
M o
Hombori
h
Aboisso
N
Ménaka
Ansongo
Bolgatanga
m
Agadez
Timbuktu (Tombouctou) Lac Niangay
Monts Bagzane 6634ft (2022m)
Bi
H
I
n
N
A z
Massif de l'Aïr
é
R
L
ér
Iferouâne
Assamakka
d
Ma o u A
Wa
A
3
Séguédine
O
Tessalit
Adrar des Ifôghas
â
a G L
Ténéré du Tafassâsset
O
r
E
é
n
a
R
G
I-
g ‘E r
â -S
e
I
T
h
n kâ
The Sahara may be spreading south into a region of semi-desert known as the Sahel. People are planting grass to try to halt the erosion that may be a result of droughts, overgrazing, and tree removal.
Lake Volta in Ghana, formed by a dam, is the largest artificial lake in the world.
A
SPREADING SAHARA
E
Tropic of Cancer
L
M
N
O
P
41
F
Most people in rural areas live in villages or small towns. Some grow crops, such as cotton or cassava, for sale, but many exist by growing food just for their family.
VILLAGE LIFE
MALABO
Edéa
Douala
jé
Kélo
Baïbokoum
Doba
rab
Kyabé
Maro
Ma
G
s de
tt o
n
Ko
Bo
Sibut
i
Ippy
Bria
Mobaye
Alindao
Bambari (O u Ub bang an ui) g
Grimari
Bakala
Zongo Mbaïki
Damara
BANGUI
Bossembélé
Bouar
Dékoa
Bangassou
Dembia
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
s sif
di
Birao
m zou
Ouanda Djallé
A hr Ba
Kaga Bandoro
Ndélé
B a hr A o u
k
Abou-Déïa Am Timan
Sarh
Biltine
Massif du Kapka
Enne
Abéché
D
Fada
Mangalmé Goz Beïda Mongo
Ati
A
Koro Toro
Markounda
Goré
Laï Koumra
Ba Illi
Bossangoa
Baoro
Berbérati
Bertoua
YAOUNDÉ
aga San
Bafoussam
Foumban
a ri
Massenya
Bongor
Ch
Moundou
Adamawa Highlan ds
Moussoro
H
NDJAMENA
Mao
C
Fianga
Bol
Léré
Lac de Lagdo
C A ME RODO N
Banyo
Ngaoundéré
Mbé
Garoua
Guider
Maroua
Kousséri
rem
Kumba
Nkongsamba
Bamenda
Mud-brick home
Lake Chad
Nokou
N
jou Er g du D
N
8
7
6
5
Although Christianity is the main religion here, many people also follow traditional beliefs. These suggest that natural objects, such as mountains and rivers, have spirits. Masks, like this Bambuku head, are sometimes used to scare off evil spirits.
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
I
4
E
H
I
Bomu
Djéma
le Ue
Obo
Dungu
Aba
With almost half the country lying in the arid Sahara Desert, more than 70 percent of Chadians work on farmland near the Chari River in the south. Across Chad there are large numbers of ethnic groups, speaking more than 100 languages. Women here live an average of only 50 years and have 6.2 children.
PEOPLE OF CHAD
with a painful history of slavery. Since the 1960s, independence has brought them mixed success. Rich mineral deposits and the discovery of offshore oil reserves have provided income for Cameroon, Congo, and Gabon, while civil war and repressive governments have damaged other countries in the region. These include Chad and the Central African Tropic of Cancer Republic, two of the world’s poorest countries. Massif Although the north is mostly L FISHING IN LAKE CHAD d’Abo I arid, Africa’s largest tropical Lake Chad is an important source of food, but it is shrinking Aozou B at an alarming rate. A shallow lake, it is now only about rainforest dominates the Y Bardaï 6.5–13 ft (2–4 m) deep on average. Its surface area A south, with the powerful has also reduced, due to droughts and the Tibesti demand for water to irrigate the land. Congo River linking the Zouar interior with the coast. The S a h a r E r di a 0 km 100 200 300 400 tiny, volcanic country of Ounianga São Tomé and Príncipe Ma Kébir 0 miles 100 200 300 400 Erdi lies off the coast n o i Faya s s e r Dép i of Gabon. du Mourd
E R
G
3
D
All eight countries in central Africa were European colonies
I
N
E G
I A R
A S U D go
2
C
Central Africa
B
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
AFRICA
16
C TI N LA EAN T A OC
A
B
C
D
E
F
Demba
Mwene-Ditu
Mbuji-Mayi
Kananga
Luebo
Mweka
L u k en i e
Ilebo
Tshikapa
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has vast reserves of copper and was once one of the world’s major exporters. More recently, however, competition from lower-cost producers, such as Chile, has seen a dramatic downturn in the industry.
Ikela
Copper
zi be m
Dilolo
u
Lubao
G
Kasaji
Goma
Lac Upemba
Mulongo
Luvu a
Manono
Lake Mweru
ru
n
Lubumbashi
Ma
Moba
Kalemie
BURUNDI
H
I
Timber provides valuable income for Gabon, with most of the demand for okoumé—a softwood used to make plywood. Hardwoods, such as mahogany and ebony, are also felled. Because logging poses a threat to the future of the forests, the government is now setting up conservation programs, including 15 national parks that together cover at least 10 percent of the country.
LOGGING IN GABON
ZA MB IA
Kipushi
Likasi
Equator
RWANDA
Lake Tanganyika
kuga Lu
Kongolo
Kasongo
Kibombo
Kolwezi
Gandajika
Kabinda
Kamina
ur
Lodja
ri zo
Lake Edward
Bukavu
Kalima Kindu
Bunia
Lake Albert
Watsa
Beni Butembo
Lake Kivu
Lubutu
Kisangani
Nia-Nia
Mungbere
Isiro
A
15
A MINING FOR COPPER
go
14
L
Kikwit
Kasongo-Lunda
Kenge
Mangai
Kas ai
Lomela
apa
n
Titule
Yangambi
Buta
D E M . R E P . C O N G O
Lac Mai-Ndombe
o C o n g
i
Bumba Con go
s B aTshu
Boende
Lisala
Kasai
There are more than 5.4 million African refugees south of the Sahara—more than 40 percent of the world’s total. Conflicts, such as the civil war in Chad, and corrupt governments, such as in the Central African Republic, have resulted in huge numbers of Africans leaving their homes.
AN GO
Matadi
MbanzaNgungu
KINSHASA
onga Lul
Mbandaka
Bandundu
BRAZZAVILLE
Ngo
an
REFUGEES
(to Angola)
CABINDA
Nkayi
Sibiti
Tshela
Boma
Dolisie Pointe-Noire
Ndindi
Djambala
Gamboma
Lac Ntomba
Owando
Makoua
a m Oyo
Plateaux Kibangou Batéké
Mossendjo
Mouila Ndendé
Koulamoutou Moanda ai if d l l u u Franceville
Epéna
Impfondo
Akula
Gemena
Lulua
13
G A B OBonda N
Ndjolé
Ouésso
Dongou
(Oubangui)
CONGO
Etoumbi
Bélinga
Souanké Sembé
Ngoko
Kw
The waters of the Congo River have the capacity to provide electrical power for all of Africa.
The Congo River, also called the Zaire, is a crucial part of the area’s transportation system. Dugout canoes and motor boats take people, goods, and even health clinics from cities to the villages and back. The river is home to many species of fish, as well as crocodiles.
CONGO
Setté Cama
Oyem
Bitam
LIBREVILLE
Cocobeach
Acalayong
GUIN EA
Lambaréné Fougamou
Omboué
Port-Gentil
Equator
São Tomé SÃO TOMÉ
SAO TOME & PRINCIPE
Príncipe
T O Bata RIA L
Bétou
Kwilu
12
11
10
9
UA
Ambam
Al i
EQ
Ubangi
Nola
Con go
Ruw en
t ea
Gr
Sangmélima
UG A N DR i f A t
Ebolowa
k
fira Lu
Za
s as Ch San Lualab a
M Mpa ma
i
ANI
M
am
R a n g e
Lo m
ba
i t u m b a
L u ala
TANZ gu
y
le Va l
Isla de Bioco
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
CENTRAL AFRICA
43
AFRICA D
E
F
G
Southern Africa CABINDA Cabinda
M
.R
Planalto
ngo
a
m
Za m
Okavango Delta
o
Grootfontein
D
Gobabis
Gwanda
Francistown
Ghanzi
h Fis
ob
be ot rg e
AT
LA
Klein Karas
O
ra
NT
nge
M ol
op
Mmabatho
o
Klerksdorp
Kimberley
l
Vaa
LESOTHO MASERU
A F R I C A
O
De Aar
Kokstad
Colesberg
C
D
N
ay
EA
Beaufort West
Great
Cradock
Karoo
Queenstown
East London
Mdantsane
Mosselbaai
F
g er sb n ke r a Umtata
Uitenhage
George
Worcester
Kroonstad Bethlehem
Welkom
Prieska
IC E
Soweto
Johannesburg
BLOEMFONTEIN
St He len aB
o op
TSHWANE / PRETORIA
Karasburg Upington
R i v er
he
Polokwane (Pietersburg) Mochudi Modimolle (Nylstroom)
S O U T H
Oranjemund
9
GABORONE
Jwaneng Kanye Werda
Desert
o Gr s ra a K
Aus
No
p so
Mariental
Lüderitz
Mahalapye
Kalahari Au
e r t e s
Palapye
WINDHOEK Rehoboth
as
B O T S W Serowe ANA
Mamuno
Cape of Good Hope
D
Bulawayo
Nata
Keetmanshoop
Gold, first discovered near Johannesburg in 1886, brought a great deal of wealth to the region. South Africa currently produces about 12 percent of the world’s gold.
C
ZIMBABWE
Maun
Sh
i b
Water is a valuable resource in southern Africa, and Lesotho makes good use of its mountainous land and numerous rivers. The Highlands Water Project uses dams and tunnels to transport water to neighboring South Africa.
Dams are marked in black
Livingstone
Victoria Falls Hwange
ng va ka
N
Tropic of Capricorn
Lake Kariba
rip Caprivi S t O
Karibib
Walvis Bay
Kabwe
LUSAKA
Katima Mulilo Victoria Falls
Bellville
B
K af u e
o
Mongu
ito
CAPE TOWN
A
Nambala
Kaoma
Kafue Mazabuka Monze Kariba Choma
NAMIBIA
8
44
Mufulira Chingola Kitwe Luanshya
Otjiwarongo
Swakopmund
GOLD MINING
Solwezi
Z A M B I A Cuan d
Rundu
Tsumeb Otavi
NGO Mansa
Zambezi
Etosha Pan
Wlotzkasbaken
7
CO
zi be
gé-Bu ngo
Cu
Oshikango
Brandberg 8442ft (2573m)
LESOTHO
Lake Mweru
E
Lu n
N’Giva Olifa
Tunnels transport water between dams
400
ba Cu
nene Cu
With a population of more than 7.5 million, Johannesburg is the fourth-largest city in Africa after Cairo, Lagos, and Kinshasa. Many people have moved here from the surrounding countryside in search of work.
Luena
Menongue
Huíla Plateau
Tombua
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
OLA
do Bié
Lubango Namibe
The Okavango River does not run out to the ocean like most rivers, but runs inland into the Kalahari Desert.
P.
Saurimo
Caconda Cubango
4
5
Lucapa
Huambo
Caála
Cubal
One of the few groups of hunter-gatherers left in Africa, the San people roam the Kalahari Desert. Also known as Bush people, many San are now changing to a more settled life, often working on cattle ranches.
San hunter using a poison-tipped arrow
6
Lóvua Chitato
o
Benguela
SAN BUSHMEN
200
DE
Kalahari deserts in the west to the tropical (to Angola) M’Banza Congo forests in the north, southern Africa is a region of contrasts. Oil, diamonds, gold, Uíge and other precious metals are all mined Ambriz Camabatela here. There are huge inland plains that Caxito LUANDA are home to a variety of wildlife and large N’Dalatando areas devoted to agriculture. But flooding Malanje Dondo Cua nz a and droughts, together with civil unrest, Gabela ANG have hampered development so that, despite Sumbe Uaco Cungo an abundance of natural resources, many Môco Camacupa 8563ft Lobito (2610m) countries remain poor. Kuito g an
3
400
0 miles
Cu
2
200
Co ng o
From the dramatic Namib and
0 km
H
Lim p
C
Ka bo mp o
B
Port Alfred
Port Elizabeth
Cape Agulhas
G
H
SOUTHERN AFRICA J
K
L
M
N
O
P
MOZAMBIQUE FLOODS
Mozambique suffered a devastating civil war until 1992, and as a result many people continue to rely on foreign aid. Floods in 2000 made conditions worse, as they left millions homeless and vulnerable.
NZ
Mbala
A
N
Kasama
Lake Nyasa
Isoka
MALAWI Mzuzu
Samfya
WORKING THE LAND
In both Malawi and Mozambique, agriculture employs more than four out of every five workers. Important crops include cotton, tea, tobacco, and sugar.
IA
R io
Mocímboa da Praia
um Rov a
Mpika Ri o
Negomane
Serenje Chipata
da gen Lu
R
LILONGWE
Salima Monkey Bay
alo ess M io
Grande Comore
Mucojo Pemba
Zomba
Mohéli
MAMOUDZOU (to France)
M
Quelimane
e
A
C
a raha
Chimoio
Kwekwe Mutare
B em
Chitungwiza
Kadoma
B
Inyangani 8504ft (2592m)
l
A y
M A D
oz
Ma
ka
M a n g oky
Maroantsetra
Ihosy
MADAGASCAN MAMMALS
Fenoarivo Atsinanana
Madagascar has an unusual range of mammals that developed in isolation after the island split from the African mainland. It is the only place where lemurs, members of the primate family, live in the wild.
Toamasina
Ambositra Mananjary
PORT LOUIS
Fianarantsoa
Vangaindrano
Quissico Xai-Xai
5
Betafo
ST.-DENIS
Manakara Farafangana
Toliara
Inhambane
4
Sambava Antalaha
ANTANANARIVO
G
qu
Morondava
M
ane ang Ch
Musina (Messina)
bi
Machanga e
M
Rio S av
Beira
am
O
Z
Masvingo Zvishavane
Maromokotro 9436ft (2876m)
A
I
Mahajanga
Mocuba
Antsohihy
n
HARARE
Q
e
zi
Nsanje
Analalava
Nampula
n
m
Nyamapanda
U
Ambanja
Lumbo
R
Blantyre b eMilange
Antsiranana
MAYOTTE
ha
Za
Tete
E
Tanjona Bobaomby
Anjouan
Lúrio
rio Rio Lú
3
COMOROS
MORONI
Nacala
Albufeira de Cahora Bassa Vila do Zumbo
2
Tobacco plantation
S C
TA
At Victoria Falls, situated on the Zambia-Zimbabwe border, the mighty Zambezi River drops 420 ft (128 m) down a narrow chasm. The sound of the crashing water can be heard 25 miles (40 km) away.
A
Lake Rukwa
1
VICTORIA FALLS
Tropic of C
apricorn
Ring-tailed lemur
6
MAURITIUS
RÉUNION (to France)
n Masc a re
la e Is
n
ds
MAPUTO MBABANE
SWAZILAND
7
APARTHEID
Dundee
In 1994, Nelson Mandela became the first black president to govern South Africa. This historic event marked the end of white rule and the first fair elections in the new “Rainbow Nation”. Apartheid was a policy of racial segregation and restricted the rights of black people.
N
8
E
D
A
IA
N
Pietermaritzburg Durban
WILDLIFE
C
IN
Amboasary
Tanjona Vohimena
Southern Africa is home to a huge variety of animals. Numerous parks have been created to protect the animals and their habitat. The Gaza-Kruger-Gonarezhou Transfrontier Park joins parks in Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe to form the largest conservation and ecotourism park in Africa.
O
I
J
K
L
M
9
N
O
P
45
EUROPE Russian Federation 6,601,668 sq miles 17,098,242 sq km 141,000,000 Moscow Russian, Tatar, Ukrainian, Chuvash, various other national languages
Germany 137,847 sq miles 357,022 sq km 82,200,000 Berlin German, Turkish
United Kingdom 94,058 sq miles 243,610 sq km 61,600,000 London English, Welsh, Scottish Gaelic, Irish Gaelic
Separated from Asia by the ridge of the Ural Mountains, Europe is a continent of very different nations, listed below in order of their land area. Each nation has its own language and culture, but they share a 2,000-year-old history of civilization that has inspired some of the world’s greatest political ideas, works of art, and innovations in technology.
Iceland 39,769 sq miles 103,000 sq km 322,700 Reykjavík Icelandic
Serbia 29,913 sq miles 77,474 sq km 7,750,000 Belgrade Serbian, Hungarian (Magyar)
Bosnia and Herzegovina 19,767 sq miles 51,197 sq km 3,770,000 Sarajevo Bosnian, Serbian, Croatian
Slovakia France 248,429 sq miles 643,427 sq km 62,300,000 Paris French, Provençal, German, Breton, Catalan, Basque
Ukraine 233,032 sq miles 603,550 sq km 45,700,000 Kiev Ukrainian, Russian, Tatar
Spain 195,124 sq miles 505,370 sq km 44,900,000 Madrid Spanish, Catalan, Galician, Basque
Sweden 173,860 sq miles 450,295 sq km 9,250,000 Stockholm Swedish, Finnish, Sami
46
Finland 130,559 sq miles 338,145 sq km 5,330,000 Helsinki Finnish, Swedish, Sami
Norway 125,021 sq miles 323,802 sq km 4,810,000 Oslo Norwegian (Bokmål , “book language,” and Nynorsk,“ new Norsk”), Sami
Poland 120,728 sq miles 312,685 sq km 38,100,000 Warsaw Polish
Italy 116,348 sq miles 301,340 sq km 59,900,000 Rome Italian, German, French, Rhaeto-Romanic, Sardinian
Romania 92,043 sq miles 238,391sq km 21,300,000 Bucharest Romanian, Hungarian (Magyar), Romany, German
Belarus
Hungary
Ireland
35,918 sq miles 93,028 sq km 9,990,000 Budapest
27,133 sq miles 70,273 sq km 4,520,000 Dublin
Hungarian (Magyar)
English, Irish Gaelic
Portugal
Lithuania
18,933 sq miles 49,035 sq km 5,410,000 Bratislava Slovak, Hungarian (Magyar), Czech
Estonia
180,155 sq miles 207,600 sq km 9,630,000 Minsk
35,556 sq miles 92,090 sq km 10,700,000 Lisbon
25,212 sq miles 65,300 sq km 3,290,000 Vilnius
17,463 sq miles 45,228 sq km 1,340,000 Tallinn
Belarussian, Russian
Portuguese
Lithuanian, Russian
Estonian, Russian
Greece 50,949 sq miles 131,957 sq km 11,200,000 Athens
Austria 32,383 sq miles 83,871 sq km 8,360,000 Vienna
Greek, Turkish, Macedonian, Albanian
German, Croatian, Slovenian, Hungarian (Magyar)
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
42,811 sq miles 110,879 sq km 7,540,000 Sofia Bulgarian, Turkish, Romany
30,451 sq miles 78,867 sq km 10,400,000 Prague Czech, Slovak, Hungarian (Magyar)
Latvia
Denmark
24,938 sq miles 64,589 sq km 2,250,000 Riga
16,639 sq miles 43,094 sq km 5,470,000 Copenhagen
Latvian, Russian
Danish
Croatia
Netherlands
21,851 sq miles 56,594 sq km 4,420,000 Zagreb
16,040 sq miles 41,543 sq km 16,600,000 Amsterdam
Croatian
Dutch, Frisian
Switzerland 15,937 sq miles 41,277 sq km 7,570,000 Bern German, Swiss-German, French, Italian, Romansh
Moldova 13,070 sq miles 33,851 sq km 3,600,000 Chisinau Moldovan, Ukrainian, Russian
Slovenia 7,827 sq miles 20,273 sq km 2,020,000 Ljubljana Slovenian
Montenegro 5,333 sq miles 13,812 sq km 624,200 Podgorica Montenegrin, Serbian, Albanian, Bosnian, Croatian
Belgium 11,787 sq miles 30,528 sq km 10,600,000 Brussels Dutch, French, German
Albania 11,100 sq miles 28,748 sq km 3,160,000 Tirana Albanian, Greek
Macedonia 9,928 sq miles 25,713 sq km 2,040,000 Skopje Macedonian, Albanian, Turkish, Romany, Serbian
The cathedral dome of Santa Maria del Fiore dominates the skyline of Florence, Italy—one of the world’s most beautiful cities. Kosovo 4,203 sq miles 10,887 sq km 2,100,000 Pristina
Luxembourg 998 sq miles 2,586 sq km 486,200 Luxembourg
Albanian, Serbian, Bosnian, Gorani, Romany, Turkish
Luxembourgish, German, French
Cyprus
Andorra
3,572 sq miles 9,251 sq km 871,000 Nicosia Greek, Turkish
181 sq miles 468 sq km 82,200 Andorra la Vella Spanish, Catalan, French, Portuguese
Malta
San Marino
Vatican City
122 sq miles 316 sq km 408,700 Valletta
24 sq miles 61 sq km 31,400 San Marino
0.17 sq miles 0.44 sq km 800 Vatican City
Maltese, English
Italian
Italian, Latin
Liechtenstein 62 sq miles 160 sq km 35,000 Vaduz German, Alemannisch dialect, Italian
Monaco 0.77 sq miles 2 sq km 32,000 Monaco French, Italian, Monégasque, English
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100
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ov
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Støren
Femunden
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Glittertind 6946ft
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Sognefjorden
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Dombås
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Rovaniemi
Kajaani
Oulujärvi
Päijänne
Jyväskylä
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Tampere
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LAPLAND
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Imatra
Saimaa
Haukivesi
Varkaus
Kallavesi
Siilinjärvi
Pielinen
Joensuu
Kuhmo
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Northern Sweden and Finland are known as Lapland. Here, the local Sami people survive in the cold and inhospitable climate by e herding reindeer, which cl ir C c Arcti they breed for their meat, milk, and skins.
F I N L A NNurmes D Jakobstad (Pietarsaari)
Kokkola (Karleby)
Raahe
Kempele
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Kalix
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Sodankylä
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Kaamanen
Inarijärvi
Sattanen
Muonio
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Skellefteå
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Gällivare
Kiruna
Torneträsk
a
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H
Sami man in traditional costume
Varangerhalvøya
Válljohka Karigasniemi
Tan
Tana
(Nordkapp)
North Cape
d L a pM l a n
Kaaresuvanto
Holmsund
Sundsvall
Alta
Lakselv
Magerøya
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Talvik
Sørøya
N A E
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Hudiksvall
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Jokkmokk
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Örnsköldsvik Östersund
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SKIING
G
During the winter months, most of Scandinavia is covered in snow, so skiing is one of the easiest forms of transportation. It is also a very popular sport.
Malmberget
Kebnekaise 6946ft (2117m)
SWEDEN Storsjön
Heimdal
Storuman
Storuman
Fauske
Vilhelmina
Strömsund
Kvarnbergsvattnet
Mosjøen
rti
se
n de or
Sva
Bodø
Mo i Rana
Arctic Circle
Frøya Verdalsøra Levanger Hitra Trondheimsfjorden Smøla Stjørdal
200
Kristiansund Molde Ålesund Åndalsnes
100
Copenhagen in Denmark is the second-largest city in Scandinavia after Stockholm, Sweden.
Froh a
Scandinavia has a high urban Kvaløya population. Many people live in Tromsø towns and cities, with less than Senja one fifth living in the countryside. Andøya Since the region is covered in lakes, fjords, and surrounded by seas, many people also Ve st er ål en Harstad live near the water. øya inn n e H t Narvik o
URBAN POPULATIONS
o r we Se gia a n N
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Denmark, along with neighboring Finland, are among the most northerly countries in Europe. Here the winters are long and cold. In the far north above the Arctic Circle, the Sun remains below the horizon for up to two months each year. Perhaps because of its harsh climate and the geographical isolation, Scandinavia has attracted little immigration, so the population is not very ethnically diverse. Finland is the most densely forested country in Europe, and wood accounts O for 30 percent of its exports. All four countries are highly IC industrialized and are among the wealthiest in the world.
The three scandinavian countries of Norway, Sweden, and
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Hobro Viborg
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SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT
B
Ludvika
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Linköping
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Uppsala
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Bornholm
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Borgholm
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Gotland
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Karlskrona Lund Kristianstad Hanöbukten
Kalmar
Växjö
Jönköping
Helsingborg
Laholm
Ljungby
Møn Falster
Slagelse
Borås
Most of Norway and Sweden—and two thirds of Finland—is covered by dense forests of birch, pine, spruce, and other trees. Finland has more than 16 times more forested land per person than the European average. Many people in the region work in forestry, producing wood for the construction and furniture industries. This great natural resource is also used to build homes and churches, such as this medieval stave church (left) in Norway.
BUILDING WITH WOOD
RMA
Fyn
(KØBENHAVN)
COPENHAGEN
Odense
Kolding
DENMA RK
The people of Scandinavia are very environmentally conscious and recycle as many household items as they can. Strict national laws protect the environment from industrial waste and pollution, although there is growing concern about the levels of pollution in the Baltic Sea.
A
Århus
Læsø
(Göteborg)
æ
GE
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Esbjerg
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Holstebro
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Mölndal Kungsbacka Varberg
Trollhättan
Gothenburg
r
Halmstad Randers Jutland Katt eg at
North Sea
OSLO
Lillestrøm
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la nd
sH
av
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F
G
was invented in Finland about 1,000 years ago as a way of cleaning and relaxing the body. After a hot sauna, many Finns cool off by plunging into an icy pool (below) or a snowdrift.
Kotka
HELSINKI
Porvoo
Joutseno
H
I
The west coast of Norway has thousands of deep inlets—known as fjords—gouged out of the mountains by glaciers during the last ice age and then flooded by the sea. The fjords run inland between high mountains and make favorite destinations for cruise ships bringing tourists to admire the stunning scenery.
NORWEGIAN FJORDS
Manufacturing is an important source of employment and wealth throughout Scandinavia. Many of the goods produced, such as cars in Sweden, electronic goods in Denmark (above), and cell phones in Finland, are exported all over the world. In Denmark, many people also work in agriculture, fish processing, and brewing.
INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH
Espoo
f lf o Gu and l Fin
Vantaa
Kouvola
Lappeenranta
Riihimäki
Lahti
Hyvinkää
Hämeenlinna
Hanko
(Åbo)
Turku
Rauma
Pori
Ski Västerås Norrtälje Mälaren Moss Karlstad Nora Grums Täby Sarpsborg Sollentuna Halden Örebro Södertälje Fredrikstad STOCKHOLM Säffle Hjälmaren Åmål Strömstad Vänern Askersund Mellerud Nyköping Arendal THE SAUNA Mariestad Lidköping The sauna, or steam bath, a Norrköping r Uddevalla Vättern
Horten Porsgrunn
eb
16
Evje
Kristiansand
Liknes
Moi
Sandnes
Stavanger
afjorden
Sandvika
Sto r
15
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Gjøvik
Hønefoss
vi d d
Gol
Drammen Kongsberg
H ar d a n g e r
Haukeligrend
Haugesund
Leirvik
Hardangerfjorden
Eidfjord
Setesdal
11
10
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Geilo
k
Bergen
Lillehammer
(2464m)
a Glåm
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Hermansverk
Å
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Irish horse and rider on a training run
North Uist
F
nd
Boyle
s
l
Sligo
e
r
Ardee
Belfast
Whitehaven
Workington
Dumfries
Sout
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Prestwick Ayr
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(to U.K.)
ISLE OF MAN
DOUGLAS
Downpatrick
Kendal
se
i
Blackpool Preston Bradford
Lancaster
Barrow-inFurness
The City of London is the U.K.’s financial center. Before the banking crash of 2008, more than 500 banks had offices there. Lloyd’s Insurance Building (right) is one of the city’s most distinctive skyscrapers. Built of steel and glass, it has elevators on the outside.
MONEY MATTERS
York Castleford
Leeds
Harrogate
Northallerton
Kingston upon Hull
Beverley
Bridlington
Scarborough
Middlesbrough Darlington Whitby
Tee
Durham Hartlepool
South Shields
Newcastle upon Tyne
n
Drogheda
Dundalk
Newry
T
ll
Sunderland
Hi viot
Hawick
Penrith
Carlisle
U
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Galashiels
Edinburgh
I
Beneath the shallow seas around Great Britain, there are supplies of oil and natural gas. Oil rigs bring oil and gas to the surface, where it is pumped by pipeline to be refined on the mainland. Production has declined and supplies are now running low, but more distant reserves still wait to be exploited. However, few businesses are willing to take on further costly exploration. Berwickupon-Tweed
St. Andrews
Dundee
Arbroath
H
Scotland and England united as a single country in 1707. Today, however, Scotland is a self-governing part of the U.K., with its own parliament and distinct legal and educational systems. Edinburgh, above, is a popular city with a magnificent castle. Each summer, the city hosts an international arts festival.
SCOTLAND
NORTH SEA ENERGY
Lerwick
Aberdeen
Montrose
of Forth Firth
Dunfermline
Forfar
UNITED KINGDOM Armagh
Portadown
h
Stirling
F o rt
Perth
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Longford
Cavan
Upper Lough Erne
Enniskillen
t
Lough Neagh
Bangor
Isle of Arran
Newtownabbey Omagh
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Peterhead
e
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Castlebar
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Lower Lough Erne
e ga l B a y
S
Elgin
Fraserburgh
G
Mainland
Fetlar
Unst
Fair Isle
Yell
s
North Sea
P
Collooney
Don
Stranorlar Donegal
Loch Lomond
Stranraer
Kintyre
Ben Nevis 4406ft (1343 m)
NO RTH ER N Strabane IR ELA ND
Londonderry
Islay
Jura
M
M
irth yF ora
Greenock Glasgow Paisley Hamilton East Kilbride Kilmarnock
Oban
Aviemore
Loch Ness
Inverness
s nd
S C O T L A N D
Fort William
Mallaig
Lorn Firth of
Isle of Mull
Tiree
Coll
Ullapool
Stromeferry
Isle of Skye
Rhum Eigg
Coleraine
Lush pastures and a mild climate have encouraged the breeding of thoroughbred racehorses in Ireland. Stud farms here raise some of the finest racehorses in the world.
HORSE BREEDING
Harris
s
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Tourists visit Ireland, attracted by its unspoiled South Uist countryside and lively cities, such as Dublin Barra (left). Once part of Great Britain, Ireland gained independence in 1922. In 2005–2007, it had one of the fastest-growing economies in Europe, but its economy shrank along with Europe’s in 2008–2010.
IRELAND
St. Kilda
es ri d
ch
in
Th eM
3041ft (927m)
de Cly
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Wales has more than 200 castles. The Little M inc h
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history. This is evident from its legacy of ancient ruins, medieval castles, dramatic cathedrals, and grand country houses. Once a leading industrial and colonial power, British monarchs ruled an empire that circled the globe. As a result, English is still widely spoken around the world. Today, ds many traditional industries, such as shipbuilding, mining, and an l engineering, have declined, and the emphasis is now on Is Sanday banking and insurance, as well as pharmaceuticals. The British Isles Kirkwall ATLANTIC consists of two countries: the Mainland Hoy United Kingdom of Great Britain OCEAN John o'Groats Thurso and Northern Ireland (the U.K.), Wick Isle of Lewis and the Republic of Ireland. Ben Hope
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For such a small group of islands, the British Isles has a very rich
The British Isles
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Wales plays Scotland in rugby at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
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Fishguard
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Isles of Scilly 50
W A LES
Cardiff
Port Talbot
Worcester
D
Watford
Ipswich
on-Sea
Cambridge
Newmarket
Great Yarmouth
Lowestoft
Norwich
Peterborough
King's Lynn
North Sea
100 100
Plymouth
E
Havant
Windsor
Croydon
LONDON
Margate Canterbury
Sark
G
Each pod is almost completely see-through, giving the occupants a view of the whole city beneath them when it reaches the top
(to U.K.)
CHANNEL ISLANDS
Jersey
ST. HELIER
ST. PETER PORT Guernsey
Alderney
ish Engl l nne Cha
Hastings Eastbourne
H
I
The capital of the U.K. is London, a sprawling city on the banks of the River Thames. It is the political and financial center of the country, as well as home to more than 8 million people. One of its most recent attractions is the London Eye—a giant ferris wheel, 443 ft (135 m) high.
LONDON
Bournemouth
Isle of Wight
Southampton Hove Newport Portsmouth Poole
Lyme Bay Weymouth
Bridport
F
Reading
Swindon
Maidstone Andover Guildford Woking Dover Stonehenge Folkestone Crawley Channel Winchester Salisbury Tunnel Eastleigh Yeovil Brighton
Bath
Th
Milton Keynes
The Wash
The Fens
Kettering
Nuneaton
Leicester
Coventry Northampton
Newport Bristol
Torquay
Exmouth Saltash
Exeter
Dartmoor
Barnstaple
E xmoor Taunton Bideford Tiverton
Weston-superIlfracombe Mare
Bristol Channel
Swansea
Stonehenge in southern England was built from about 3000 BCE onward.
50
Stafford
Cambrian Birmingham Mountains Kidderminster
Wolverhampton
Shrewsbury
Boston
Nottingham
N G L A N D
Lincoln
Louth Skegness
Grimsby
Felixstowe Bedford Harwich Stevenage Gloucester Cheltenham Luton Colchester Carmarthen Brecon Harlow Hills d l o SouthendSt. Albans tsw mes Oxford Beacons Co a
Llanelli
Aberystwyth
Sheffield
Huddersfield Manchester Doncaster
Stoke-on-Trent Derby
E Chester Crewe i a n o d w no
Birkenhead M ersey
Tourism is a major industry in Britain. Visitors come from all over the world to see the many churches, castles, and ancient monuments, such as Stonehenge (above), and to admire the pretty villages. Many also come for the theaters, galleries, and stores in Britain’s vibrant cities.
BRITISH LANDMARKS
Britain once controlled a world empire, with colonies in every continent. Many people— from the Indian subcontinent, Africa, and the Caribbean in particular—came here and brought their cultures with them. Today, about 1 in 12 British people is from an ethnic minority but is integrated into British life.
MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY
Tywyn
Cardigan Bay
Milford Haven
e’s
S Barmouth
Bodmin Newquay St. Austell Truro Penzance Falmouth Land’s End
g eor
nel Chan
Arklow
I rish Se a
Bangor
Holyhead
Dún Laoghaire
Wexford
Celtic Sea
Youghal
Waterford
Kilkenny
Wales was formally united with England in 1536 but retains its own language and traditions. Welsh is widely spoken in some areas, and public signs appear in both Welsh and English. Coal mining and steel production were once important in the south, but both have declined. Rugby is the national sport.
WALES
l a c k w a te r
Clonmel
Cashel
Carlow
Leinster
Wicklow Mountains
DUBLIN
ar
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13
Bantry
Cork
Munster B
Limerick
Port Laoise Nenagh
Newbridge
ey iff
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12
y Ba
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Dingle Bay
Tralee
Rathkeale Abbeyfeale
Ennis
Lough Derg
on nn
Athlone
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G al w a y B a y Loughrea
Galway
I R E L A N D Lucan
Bolton
Liverpool
s
Exe
Sh a
Anglesey
e
Sev ern
L
n
Barrow
T r e nt
Lough Corrib
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THE BRITISH ISLES
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Castricum
Alkmaar
Den Helder
Noordwijk aan Zee
(W
ze
e
THE HAGUE
Leek
Meppel
Emmen
Vlagtwedde Borger Beilen
Haren Zuidlaren
Sassenheim
Ede
Amstelveen Vaassen Baarn Hilversum Apeldoorn
Zeewolde
Enschede
Hengelo Zutphen Haaksbergen Eibergen Dieren
Goor
Deventer
Rijssen
Purmerend Den Ham Lelystad Zwolle Zaanstad F l evol and Tubbergen Nunspeet Almere Almelo Denekamp
Hardenberg
Hoogeveen Coevorden Staphorst
Steenwijk
Wolvega
Delfzijl
Fertile soil and good irrigation have helped the Netherlands become a major exporter of agricultural products, with vegetables and tomatoes forming important crops. It is also famous for its bulbs and cut flowers, notably tulips.
CROPS
Dutch tulips
Appingedam
Groningen
Zuidhorn
Loppersum
Eemshaven
NETHERLANDS
Hoorn
H
I
Every year, more than 30,000 ocean-going ships and 110,000 barges call at the port of Rotterdam. Lying at the mouth of the Rhine River, this port is the largest in the world and is where huge container ships from all over the world load or unload their cargoes. The smaller barges help transport goods farther inland. With the port’s ultra-modern Vessel Traffic Service (VTS), it’s possible to track ships on a radar screen up to 37 miles, (60 km) off the coast and 25 miles (40 km) inland.
Assen Joure Heerenveen
Drachten
G
ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
Leeuwarden
Emmeloord
IJs s el m eer
Sneek
Dokkum Winsum
Harlingen
d Menaldum
en
Terschelling
Opmeer
Schagen
AMSTERDAM
Haarlem
Velsen-Noord
F
Vlieland
Texel
s
t
Leiden Amersfoort Zoetermeer Utrecht Zeist (’S-GRAVENHAGE)
The Dutch once ruled a vast empire in Indonesia, the Caribbean, and South America. As a result, many nationalities now live here. Ethnic minorities make up about 20 percent of the population and in some cities, the majority of elementary schoolchildren have a nonDutch background.
DUTCH PEOPLE
Over the centuries, the Dutch have reclaimed land from the sea. They did this by building huge dykes, or dams, to keep out the sea and then draining the surface water into canals. Windmills originally pumped out the water, but electric pumps are now used.
RECLAIMING THE LAND
Land below sea level on main map
a n d s I s l
F
n en) i a eiland Schiermonnikoog s n e Ameland r i add
Tulips were introduced to the Netherlands from Turkey in 1562. Black tulips were the most valuable.
e
4
Low Countries because the land is so flat and lowlying. In the case of the Netherlands, most of the land is below sea level—Netherlands is Dutch for “under lands.”The three countries are among the richest in Europe, and while farming still plays an important part, they all have strong modern economies based on manufacturing and trade. Luxembourg in particular is known as a tax haven and is a major center for international finance. Their location at the mouth of the Rhine River and other major European rivers places the three countries at the heart of western European trade and politics—all three were founding members of the European Economic Community (now the European Union, or EU), established in 1957.
The netherlands, belgium, and luxembourg are known as the
W
3
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ad W
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The Low Countries
C
IJssel
Y AN
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Ostend
Poperinge
Veurne
Fl
A
Goes ch eld e
Zuid-Beveland
Mouscron
Beringen
Overijse Wavre
Hasselt Riemst
Mons
Leuze-en-Hainaut Gembloux
Éghezèe
TRILINGUAL
D
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Bastogne
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Verviers Our Seraing gn
Herstal
Vaals
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Al z e t t e
F
Grevenmacher
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LUXEMBOURG Aubange Pétange Virton Dudelange Esch-sur-Alzette
Étalle
H
Bicyclists have their own traffic lights— this one is green for “go.”
I
The old architecture and picturesque canals make Amsterdam one of the most visited cities in Europe. Occasionally, the canals freeze over, and city officials may decide, it’s safe for people to go skating. When they do, men and women of all ages, from the very old to the very young, take to the ice. Amsterdam is also home to some of the world’s best museums, including the Van Gogh Museum.
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
n S û re n e Diekirch d Ettelbrück A r Neufchâteau LUXEMBOURG Recogne
Rochefort
Huy
The flatness of the land makes the Netherlands ideal for bicycling, and more than 500, 000 people bicycle to school or work each day. Lines of 20–100 children riding together to school are common. Most of the roads have special bicycle lanes, and bicycles are often the quickest form of transportation to get around the crowded towns and cities. The use of bicycles also reduces car use and thus cuts down the amount of air pollution.
BICYCLING
R
Couvin
n e F a g
m
Ciney
F a
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La Louvière Namur euse
Heerlen Kerkrade
Susteren
Roermond
Reuver
Venlo
Maastricht
Geleen
Genk
Tienen Landen Oupeye
Leuven
Bree
Echt
Weert Kinrooi
B E L G I U M Liège
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg lies between Germany, France, and Belgium. As a result, the majority of the people are trilingual—German and French are widely spoken as is Luxembourgish, the national language. The capital, also known as Luxembourg, has more than 200 banks.
C
Geel
Lommel
Tremelo Zonhoven
Herselt
Schaerbeek
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Jemappes Erquelinnes Binche Charleroi Thuin Gerpinnes Walcourt Dinant
Péruwelz
Ath
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(BRUSSEL/ BRUXELLES)
BRUSSELS
Aalst
up
Melle Mechelen
Gavere
t
Zwevegem
s e r Kortrijk
Aalter Deinze
Ghent Sint-Niklaas (Gent)
(Antwerpen)
Antwerp
Someren
Eindhoven
Veldhoven Turnhout Bergeyk
Winterswijk Ulft
Nieuw-Bergen
Helmond Horst
Schijndel Oirschot
Baarle-Hertog
Tilburg Kalmthout Kapellen
Essen
Breda
Vlijmen
E
B
Flags of the member states of the European Union
Tholen
Oosterhout Roosendaal
Terneuzen Axel Assenede Beveren Bruges (Brugge)
Tournai
e Lei
d an
Ieper
Roeselare
Torhout
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We
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Vlissingen s te r s
NoordBeveland Middelburg
Zeebrugge Blankenberge
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Cuijck Oss ’s-Hertogenbosch
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Arnhem
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Y G E R MAN
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Belgium is renowned for its beautiful historic buildings and for its excellent food, especially chocolates. Belgians have been making top-quality chocolates for more than 100 years, and pralines, a type of filled chocolate, are a speciality. Brussels even boasts a chocolate museum.
BELGIAN QUALITY
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THE LOW COUNTRIES
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Poitiers Niort
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Châtellerault
Thouars
Saumur
Cholet
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les Herbiers la Roche-sur-Yon les Sablesd’Olonne FontenayÎle de Ré le-Comte
Île d’Yeu
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Mulhouse
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Sélestat
Schiltigheim
St.-Louis Audincourt
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AN
Strasbourg
Belfort
Pontarlier
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Tourists flock to Paris to visit its world-famous museums and art galleries, shop in its elegant stores, and soak up its vibrant atmosphere. Montmartre, which overlooks the city, is famous for its artists. Close by, in the Place du Tertre (above), visitors can have their portraits painted.
STREETS OF PARIS
Hagondange
Chaumont Langres
e
Dijon
Côte d'Or
un dy) (Burgrgogne Bourges Bo u Vierzon
Châteauroux
R
Yon
Auxerre
Montargis
Sens
Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire
O r Olivet Blois l é a n a i s
Berry
Tou r Tours a i n e Trélazé
Vendôme
Orléans
Sedan
CharlevilleMézières
Châlons-enChampagne
Reims
Champagn Fontainebleau
ne
Challans
St.-Nazaire
la Baule-Escoublac
la Flèche
Angers
Sarthe
Melun Nemours Châteaudun
Île-de-France
Chartres
le Mans
Alençon
Créteil
Marne
ChâteauThierry
Compiègne
Laon
St.-Quentin
Hirson
Valenciennes Cambrai
Noyon Oi s e
PARIS
Pontoise
Senlis
Beauvais
Argenteuil Nanterre Versailles Antony
Évreux
Louviers
Rouen
Amiens Picardie
Albert
Arras
Douai
rne Ma
Belle Île
Redon
Laval Châteaubriant
Vitré
Lisieux
Barentin
) dy n e a r m ndi ( N oo r m a N
Maine
Fougères
Rennes
Dinan
Avranches
Granville
Caen
Bayeux
So m
is
M
ell e
C
A
Arto
IU
M os
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7
Pontivy Loudéac Quimperlé
Lorient Hennebont Vannes Auray
Concarneau
Quimper
St.-Malo
St.-Lô
le Havre
Dieppe
Abbeville
e in Se
B r i t t a n y St.-Brieuc (Bretagne)
Landerneau
Plérin
Berck-Plage
G
e
Iroise
Brest
Morlaix
Coutances
Golfe de St.-Malo
(to U.K.)
Fécamp
Baie de la Seine
Cherbourg
n English Cha
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G
Three fourths of France’s electricity is produced by nuclear power plants (above), making the country largely self-sufficient in energy and one of the main producers of nuclear power in Europe. Hydroelectric plants are also an important source of power.
NUCLEAR POWER
F
France has Europe’s fastest train, the TGV—train à grande vitesse— which travels at up to 186 mph (300 kph) during normal services. In 2007, a modified TGV even set a speed record for conventional trains of 357.2 mph (574.8 kph). The TGV network ve r connects Paris with all of the country’s major Channel f Do Tunnel trait o cities, which makes it easier to commute or S Dunkerque visit relatives. It also extends to Calais Germany, Italy, Belgium, St.-Omer Tourcoing Switzerland, and through Boulogne-sur-Mer the Channel Tunnel Roubaix le Portel to Great Britain. Lille
e m
CHANNEL ISLANDS
Boules, the national game of France, is still played in village squares around the country.
HIGH-SPEED TRAVEL
E
L
6 d’Ouessant
5
4
3
2
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D
n direct contrast to its mostly rural landscape, France is a modern nation, with most people now living in towns and cities. It has flourishing industries and is the fifth-richest economy in the world after the U.S.A., Japan, Germany, and the U.K. A country of varied scenery, from gently rolling farmland in the north to a stretch of dry, warm Mediterranean coast in the south, France also shares two mountain ranges—the Pyrenees and the Alps. Each of the 22 regions within France, which includes the island of Corsica, has its own distinct identity and culture. The tiny countries of Andorra and Monaco lie next to France.
France
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Agde Narbonne
TOUR DE FRANCE
u s Perpignan sil lon
Limoux
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Béziers
Carcassonne
Lan
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Privas
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Martigues
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F
The Romans first planted grape vines in southern France about 2,000 years ago. Today, France is the world’s major wine-producing country, selling a range of wines for the home market and for export. The type of wine produced depends on the soil, location, and climate where the vine is planted. Wines from Burgundy, Champagne, and the Rhône valley are sold worldwide.
VINEYARDS
Sète
Avignon
Orange
Bollene
Annecy
é Gap
Digne
D ur a n
ce
Briançon
Mont Blanc 15,771ft (4807m) Little St.-Bernard Pass 7178ft (2188m)
m
Col du Mont Cenis 6834ft (2083m) Col de Montgenèvre 6070ft (1850m)
h
Me
G
dite
Among France’s best-known cheeses are Brie, Camembert, and Roquefort. Mountain regions each have several goat cheeses, while cheese from Normandy tends to be made from cows’ milk. A cheese is usually named after its town or region.
FRENCH CHEESES
H
m
m
c io
I
Strait of Bonifa
Bonifacio
Monte Incudine 7008ft Sartène (2136m)
Ajaccio
(Corse)
Corsica
Monte Cinto 8878ft (2706m)
rranean Sea
Li gur i an Sea Bastia
MONACO MONACO
Antibes Cannes ur Az ’ d Îles d’Hyères
Toulon
Aubagne la Ciotat Hyères
Provence
Manosque Tarascon Salon-deArles Nice Provence P r o v e n c e Camargue Aix-en- le Cannet
Sorgues
Alès
Nîmes
ne
I
Lake Geneva
Thononles-Bains
Chambéry Savoie
Grenoble
Voiron St.-Egrève
A Montélimar D r ô m e
c uedo
Cé
Montpellier
The Tour de France bicycle race was first held in 1903 and is the most important sporting event in France. Every July, thousands of people line the route to support their favorite team or cheer on the winner. The race covers about 2,500 miles (4,000 km) and is divided into 20 or more daily stages.
ANDORRA
s
Tarn
Tarn
Graulhet
Mende
Vienne
Villeurbanne
St.-Chamond
Valence
le Puy
he rdèc
C entral
St.-Flour
Massif
Carmaux
Rodez
Castelnaudary
Foix
e
Aurillac Figeac
A ve y r o n
Gaillac
Pamiers
ANDORRA LA VELLA
During the 1400s and 1500s, French aristocrats built beautiful châteaus, such as Chenonceau (above), in the Loire Valley, Bordeaux, and other regions of France. These houses were elaborately decorated by the best artists and craftsmen. Today, most are stateowned and open to the public.
HISTORIC HOMES
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Tarare
Bourg-en-Bresse Ambérieuen-Bugey
St.-Claude
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Dax
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tai
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Mont-de-Marsan
Aqui
Marmande
Gar on
Bordeaux
Ussel
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Saôn e
Lons-le-Saunier
h
12
de
la Teste
Arcachon
Brive-laGaillarde
Tulle
Thiers
Cusset
Digoin
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Riom
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Montluçon
Clermont-Ferrand
Limousin
Guéret
bonnais
Cahors
Périgueux
Dordogn Mérignac Cenon e Libourne Pessac Bergerac
Is l e
o is
The French were pioneers Anglet Bayonne Auch Orthez A of aviation. They cobuilt Biarritz rma Concorde and, in 1970, joined G a s c o gnac forces with German, Spanish, g n Pau and U.K. companies to produce short- to medium-range aircraft Tarbes Lourdes that were both economic to run St.-Gaudens and carried up to 300 passengers. Called Airbus, these aircraft filled a vital gap in the market and changed the face of the aviation industry.
AVIATION INDUSTRY
Limoges
V ie n n e
Angoulême Charente
nte
um
Char e
Cognac
ne
11
10
9
Saintes Royan
r Bou
ph
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D
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An
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FRANCE
55
H
Eutin
Oldenburg Bucht
Rostock
Warnemünde
Sassnitz
BERLIN
Greifswald
Rügen Pomeranian Bay
Nordhorn Rheine
Herford
Minden
Osnabrück Hannover
Lingen
Neumünster Cuxhaven Itzehoe
Brandenburg
Wismar
Wolfsburg Potsdam Braunschweig Magdeburg Salzgitter
Peine
Lübeck
Ludwigsfelde Eisenhüttenstadt Lübben
Frankfurt an der Oder GENEVA
Celebrations at Brandenburg Gate mark the tenth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
I
N
i ein Rh fel i
LUX. Trier
GIUM
Wittlich Bitburg
el
Boppard Rhin (Rhei e n)
Giessen Fulda Wetzlar H e s s e n
Coburg
Pfungstadt
Offenbach Darmstadt
Bayreuth
Würzburg Bamberg
Schweinfurt
. ts M ge) Plauen e r Hof O r zgebi r
Zittau
The Swiss speak German, French, Italian, and Romansh.
Pirna
Dresden
Chemnitz Zwickau
Gera
Münchberg ( E Marktredwitz
Saalfeld
Jena
Weimar
Kronach
Suhl
Frankfurt am Main Lichtenfels
Koblenz
Neuwied
irge
Wiesbaden Mainz
M os
Gotha
Bad Hersfeld Marburg an der Lahn Hünfeld
efergeb Schi
(Köln)
Cologne Siegen
es sc h
Blankenheim
Aachen Bonn
Alsdorf
Melsungen
G E R MErfurtA N Y
Hainichen
Geneva lies on the shores of Lake Münster Geneva, Europe’s largest Alpine lake. Hildesheim Rhine Schönebeck Bielefeld Guben This orderly city is a global S p ree Seesen Bocholt Dülmen Halberstadt Gütersloh Lübbenau center for banking and Cottbus Dessau Ahlen Paderborn Northeim finance. It Bernburg Recklinghausen Finsterwalde Torgau is also a base Hamm Göttingen Eisleben Halle-Neustadt Senftenberg Essen Warburg for many Dortmund Duisburg Nordhausen Hoyerswerda international y Riesa Bochum Marsberg Kassel Halle Leipzig n ) Krefeld Wuppertal x o s e n Bautzen Görlitz organizations, such as the Düsseldorf h Solingen Döbeln ac Löbau Red Cross. Leverkusen Olpe
L BE
8
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The annual Munich Oktoberfest is Germany’s biggest beer festival. Entertainment includes parades and music.
FOOD AND DRINK
With its coal and iron mines, the Ruhr Valley was once the powerhouse of the German economy. Today’s industry ranges from engineering to high-tech goods. Quality assembly and design make Germany the third-largest car producer in the world.
GERMAN INDUSTRY
Helgoland Bay Heide
Kiel Canal
l e Flensburg Kappeln e h m arn Kieler sw B elt Schleswig ig Bucht Bergen Puttgarden Husum -H Fehmarn ol Kiel Stralsund Mecklenburger Rendsburg s t e
Ba ltic Sea
After World War II, Germany was divided, with a U.S.-backed capitalist state in the west and a Russian-backed state in the east. Built in 1961, the Berlin Wall was 96 miles (155 km) long and was designed to stop East Germans from leaving for a better life in the West. The wall divided Berlin and separated families, friends, and a nation for 28 years. When Germany was unified (reunited) in 1990, the wall was demolished.
THE JOY OF UNIFICATION
S a a le
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6
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LAN
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D E N M A R K F
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Wolgast Anklam Demmin Oderhaff Teterow tf Güstrow (Os Norderstedt Malchin Elmshorn Norden Schwerin Waren Neubrandenburg Bremerhaven Stade Hamburg Parchim Pasewalk Wilhelmshaven Neustrelitz Boizenburg Rosengarten Winsen Emden Müritz Prenzlau Lüneburg Ludwigslust Wittstock Scheessel Oldenburg Leer Weener Angermünde Elbe Bremen Perleberg Dannenberg Delmenhorst Verden Wittenberge Neuruppin Eberswalde-Finow Soltau Uelzen Cloppenburg Oranienburg Bassum Bad Freienwalde Salzwedel Bernau Diepholz Celle Stendal sian Islands t Fre Inseln) Eas riesische
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4
Westerland
the world’s wealthiest nations. It is also Europe’s leading industrial power. To its south lie the Alpine states of Switzerland, Austria, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia. The region is famed for its beautiful Alpine scenery, mountains, and lakes. German is the main language in all but Slovenia. However, each of the five countries has its own distinct history, culture, and national identity. In fact, since 1815, Switzerland has been recognized as a neutral nation and has stayed out of all of the wars that have affected Europe.
Lying at the heart of europe, Germany is one of
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Zürich
Eiger 13,025ft (3970m)
100
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Lugano
Innsbruck
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Brenner Pass
Leoben
Kranj
Koper
Nova Gorica
Wolfsberg
VIENNA, AUSTRIA
Istra
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The opera ball in Vienna
H
IA
D r a va
I
Murska Sobota Ptuj
Novo Mesto Koâevje
SLOVENIA
Sava
Celje Trbovlje
Loibl Pass Velenje 4485ft (1367m)
Klagenfurt
LJUBLJANA
Tolmin
Jesenice
(WIEN)
VIENNA
Maribor
Graz
er ach b h n c Fis Alpe
Mürzzuschlag
Judenburg
Vienna is a city of baroque buildings, palaces, and famous concert halls. Grand balls with traditional waltzes are still common. These are a reminder of when the city was the center of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which controlled large parts of east and central Europe.
The high and graceful stride of the Lipizzaner horses makes them excel in competitions. F
ler kta ur pen Al
Villach
Gulf of Venice
Lienz
Plöcken Pass (1357m) I T 4452ft A L Y
p 4508ft (1374m) s
Grossglockner 12,461ft (3798m)
E nns
Steyr
Tulln
Hollabrunn
Mistelbach an der Zaya
Perchtoldsdorf Bad Vöslau Traiskirchen Eisenstadt Neusiedler See Wiener Neustadt
A U ST R I A
he Tauern Ho
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Kitzbüheler Alpen
Bad Ischl Liezen
Zwettl
Linz Sankt Pölten
Ebensee
Salzburg
Wels
Rosenheim
Inn
Pocking
D (Doanub na e u)
Hauzenberg
ZE CH REPUBLI C
(München)
of rule by overlords, Slovenia became independent in 1991. Although the population is only 2 million, the national culture is strong. The famous Lipizzaner show horses are named after the Slovenian farm where they were first bred.
St.Moritz
Chur
re
Deggendorf
Fo
C
Ried im Innkreis Vöcklabruck
Munich
Zugspitze 9718ft (2962m)
LIECHTENSTEIN VADUZ o l T i r Klosters
Sankt Gallen
Simplon Pass Bellinzona 6578ft Locarno (2005m)
A
rr rde Vo
Schwyz
Luzern
Zug
Zürichsee
Matterhorn Lake 14,692ft Great Saint (4478m) Maggiore Bernard Pass SLOVENIA 8100ft (2469m) After centuries
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(Genève)
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s r n e r A l p Brig B e Sion
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Geneva
Lake Geneva
Lausanne
Lac de Neuchâtel
Neuchâtel
La Chauxde-Fonds
Basel
n
Passau Landshut
Kempten Konstanz Friedrichshafen Füssen a v a r i a n A l p s B Winterthur
Mindelheim Memmingen Kaufbeuren
ayern)
Bavaria
Straubing
Ingolstadt
Donauwörth
Fr
Da (Do n u b e nau )
Regenstauf
Heidenheim an der Brenz Augsburg
Neu-Ulm ( B
Lake Constance
Stockach
Villingen -Schwenningen
Rottweil
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Weissenburg
Schwandorf
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Sinsheim
Stuttgart
Bad Krozingen Singen Müllheim Schaffhausen Lörrach R n e hi Bülach
Freiburg im Breisgau
Lahr Emmendingen
Offenburg
Kehl
Baden-Baden
The Alps run from southeast France and spread eastwardsthrough Switzerland and northern Italy into Austria and Slovenia. A popular tourist destination, the Alps are famous for dramatic scenery and winter sports.
ALPS
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The Swiss invented the first wristwatch, the first quartz watch, and the first waterresistant watch. With their worldwide reputation for quality and style, watches make up the country’s third-largest export.
Karlsruhe Pforzheim
Neustadt an der Weinstrasse
B
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Neunkirchen
Erlangen Fürth Mannheim Heidelberg Nuremberg
Worms Ludwigshafen
( la S ch ck w Fo a
SWISS WATCHES
R hô ne
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9
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GERMANY AND THE ALPINE STATES
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EUROPE B
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Spain and Portugal
3
the Iberian Peninsula. In the north, this land is cut off from the rest of Europe by the Pyrenees Mountains, while to the south, it is separated from Africa by the Strait of Gibraltar. The region was once ruled by Islamic people from north Africa known as Moors. Evidence of Gijon Avilés (Xixón) C o s t a V e r d e A Coruña Luarca Ferrol their occupation can still be seen in buildings in the cities of Villaviciosa (La Coruña) Pravia Llanes Betanzos Andalucía. The Moors were eventually defeated in 1492, Tineo Laracha Oviedo A sturias Mieres del Camino Vilalba and for a while, Portugal came under Spanish control, Santa Comba Cantabria G a l i c i a Pola de Lena Lugo Cabo Cabañaquinta as did most of Europe. During the 1900s, both countries Outes Fisterra were ruled by brutal ra Cantábrica Santiago Muros dille r o dictatorships that were Chantada C Lalín Ribeira Ponferrada León Monforte O Carballiño Pontevedra overthrown in the 1970s. Marín Ourense Astorga They are now modern (Orense) Vigo Castilla-León Ponteareas democracies. Xinzo de Limia ño i M nho i Ponte da Barca M
HARVESTING CORK
Bragança Embalse de
4
Cork is made from the outer bark of the evergreen cork oak tree. The bark is carefully stripped off, flattened, laid out in sheets, and then left to dry. Cork is used for many products, such as stoppers for wine bottles, mats, and tiles. Portugal is the world’s leading exporter of cork.
5
Póvoa de Varzim Vila do Conde
Portugal’s capital city is Lisbon, which is situated at the mouth of the Tagus River on a series of steep hills and valleys. In 1755, two thirds of the city was completely destroyed by an earthquake and tidal wave but was rebuilt with beautiful squares and public buildings. Many explorers have set sail from Lisbon in their quest to find new lands.
Alto da Torre 6539ft (1993m)
Ciudad-Rodrigo
Guarda
Béjar
ela str Covilhã aE d a Serr
Santarém
Alcácer do Sal
Sines
Valverde del Camino
FISHING
D
E
de
C
Trujillo Herrera del Duque
Villanueva de la Serena
Puertollano
Castuera
Villafranca de los Barros Pozoblanco Azuaga
al Guad
La Algaba
San Fernando
ta
B
Embalse de Valdecañas
Don Benito
Seville
Lepe
C os
Spain and Portugal have well-developed fishing industries, with large-scale fleets and many smaller local fleets. However, overfishing along Portugal’s coast and in the north Atlantic has put many people’s livelihoods at risk. A huge oil spill off the coast of Galicia in 2002 also affected fish stocks, but the Portuguese government and thousands of volunteers restored beaches to their former beauty.
Gredos
Carmona
Palma del Río Alcaudete
Ecija Andalucía Lucena Ayamonte (Sevilla) Osuna Isla Huelva Dos Hermanas Faro Archidona Tavira Cristina Antequera Olhão Las Cabezas de San Juan Olvera Álora Lebrija Culf of Cadiz Ubrique Ronda Málaga (Golfo de Cádiz) Coín Jeréz de Fuengirola Cádiz la Frontera
Algarve Lagos
tral
a o r e nMontoro M rra Córdoba Cortegana e i Bujalance S ir quiv Nerva
Ourique
Cabo de São Vicente
9
Zafra Jeréz de los Caballeros
Beja
Trams are a feature of Lisbon streets and a popular form of transportation for both locals and tourists.
8
Badajoz ra S er s s a Almendralejo O d’
P
Talavera de la Reina
Mérida
ana
Setúbal Baía de Setúbal
Évora
Gu adi
Almada
S i s de a
Extremadura Estremoz Elvas
LISBON
(LISBOA) Barreiro
Cen tema
Portalegre
Coruche Sintra Cascais
Segovia
Ávila
Sierr
Plasencia
PORTUGAL
Torres Vedras
S
Viseu
Portimão
A
Salamanca
Coria Castelo Branco u s g a T Tomar Embalse Entroncamento Abrantes de Alcántara Cáceres Caldas da Rainha Peniche
LISBON
58
Embalse Medina del Campo de Almendra
Lamego São João da Madeira
Coimbra
Duero
Toro
Douro
Ovar Albergaria-a-Velha Aveiro Ílhavo
Leiria
Valladolid
Zamora
Vila Real
Matosinhos Porto (Oporto) Vila Nova de Gaia
Figueira da Foz
7
Ricobayo
Chaves
Braga Guimarães
Palencia
Benavente
Viana do Castelo
6
H
Spanish families tend to eat dinner late, at around 9 PM. So after school, children eat a snack called a merienda.
The countries of spain and portugal share an area of land called
2
G
la
Barbate de Franco
Lu
z
Marbella l Sol a de t s Estepona Co
Algeciras ibraltar it of G Stra
GIBRALTAR (to U.K.)
Ceuta (to Spain)
MOROCCO
F
G
H
SPAIN AND PORTUGAL I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
SPANISH CITIES
The majority of Spanish people live in towns and cities. Madrid is the largest Spanish city and the capital of Spain. Bilbao, where this magnificent modern art museum (left) can be found, is the capital of the Basque region. It is a flourishing industrial city, home to Spain’s most important port.
1
The Guggenheim opened in 1997
Irun Tolosa
Burgos
Estella-Lizarra
Navarra
Logroño
Lerma
Arnedo
S
La Rioja
i
Calahorra Tudela
s
Eb
ro
La See d'Urgel
Zaragoza
a
Ib
Calatayud
Aragón
o ic ér
I
Reus Alcañiz
o
Tarancón
Ocaña
Toledo
ea c r i s Bal a e la
ci
s gu
Cuenca
Ta
Aranjuez
ds l a ne s ) s I r
Vinaròs
an
Teruel
MADRID
Tarragona
Amposta
Alcalá de Henares
Javalambre 6628ft (2020m)
Pa
Castilla-La Mancha
ís
V
e al
n
Castellon de la Plana
Onda
Sagunto
Burjassot
Mota del Cuervo
B
a l (Is
(Sagunt)
Valencia
5
Minorca (Menorca)
Ciutadella Mahón
Pollença Sa Pobla
Burriana
Vall d’ Uxó
4
Co
L’Hospitalet de Llobregat
Sant Carles de la Ràpita
Torrejón de Ardoz
3
Sitges El Vendrell
Tortosa
N
Guadalajara
Getafe
Banyoles
Barcelona
Vilafranca del Penedès Valls
Daroca
A
In Spain, many towns hold their own fiestas, or festivals, to celebrate a special event in their history or the birthday of their patron saint. These fiestas differ from one region to another. One of the most famous is held in Pamplona, where the brave run with the bulls.
Figueres
Ripoll
C a t a l Berga Manlleu Girona (Gerona) on Barbastro ( C a talu ia Vic ñ a) Palamós Palafrugell Monzón Balaguer Blanes Lleida Cervera Sabadell Arenys de Mar (Lérida) Tàrrega Terrassa Mataró Fraga st
a
Medinaceli
FIESTAS
Huesca Ejea de los Caballeros
Soria
m
El Burgo de Osma
de rra ma Sie darra a Gu
Tarazona
te
Aranda de Duero
C E y r e n ANDORRA e e Monte Perdido s Jaca 3348m
(Iruña)
Vitoria-Gasteiz Miranda de Ebro
F R A N
P Pamplona
a
asque Country The B s Vasco ) (Paí
Reinosa
av
Bilbao
ar
Torrelavega
The Pamplona bull run is an annual fiesta that takes place in July.
Donostia-San Sebastián
Br
Bermeo Zarautz Eibar
Laredo
Co sta del Az ah
Santander
2
Palma
Golfo de Valencia
Llucmajor
Easter in Spain is marked by solemn celebrations, known as the Holy Week processions. These processions vary according to the region, but generally, men wear robes and hoods and carry heavy crosses to show penitence.
Felanitx
Majorca Illa de Cabrera 0 km 0 miles
200
(Mallorca)
400 200
6
400
7
Sist
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s ma
Granada
B
i ét
s Murcia c o Huéscar
Totana
Lorca
Baza Guadix
Adra
Motril
Cartagena
Aguilas
Mulhacén 11,421ft (3481m)
da S i e r r a N e v a Berja
Mojácar Almería
Me
d
r ite
REGIONAL SPAIN
There are 17 Spanish regions, each with its own distinct cultures and traditions. For example, in the south is Andalucía, with flamenco dancing and traces of Moorish influences. I
La Unión
J
ra
Cost
Jaén
Martos
aB la
nc
Campo de Criptana Torrente Catarroja Socuéllamos Sueca Ibiza Júcar La Roda Algemesí (Eivissa) Cullera Tomelloso Daimiel Gandía Albacete Xàtiva Manzanares Oliva Ibiza Almansa La Solana Ciudad (Eivissa) Denia Alcoy Ontinyent Real Valdepeñas Villanueva de los Infantes Villena Formentera Benidorm Hellín Jumilla Elda Villajoyosa (La Vila Joíosa) Segura San Juan de Alicante Monóvar Beas de Segura La Carolina Alicante (Alicant) Elche Moratalla Cieza Bailén a Villacarrillo Orihuela Mula Linares UbedaCazorla Murcia
HOLY WEEK
Manacor
a ne
n
a e S
Flamenco dancing was created by the gypsies of Andalucía and dates back to the 1400s.
8
COASTAL RESORTS
Every year, millions of northern Europeans head south for the beaches of southern Spain and Portugal or for the Spanish Balearic Islands. They are attracted to the warm climate and the affordable hotels and restaurants.
N
O
9
P
59
o
Turin
Vercelli
Novara
l
Milan
Imperia
San Remo
The oval-shaped Colosseum stood at 620 ft (189 m) high.
Ventimiglia
MONACO
Savona
P Parma
Livorno
i
Portoferraio
Ar
Venice (Venezia)
SAN MARINO
Venice Foci del Po
ch
i l pe ag
A
Civitavecchia
Ascoli Piceno Teramo L’Aquila
Fermo
Chieti
A
Italians are crazy about soccer and fanatically follow the performance of teams such as Juventus, AC Milan, Inter, and Roma. Italian teams frequently win major European competitions, and the national team has won the World Cup four times—in 1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006.
Ortona
Pescara
Civitanova Marche
H
Carnival masks
The beautiful city of Venice is made up of 118 islands, 177 canals, and 400 bridges. The only way to get around is to walk or take a boat: a vaporetto, motoscafo, or motonave. The most distinctive boat, however, is the gondola. Each year, in the days before Ash Wednesday, Venice hosts a carnival when the city celebrates with fireworks and everyone wears spectacular masks.
CITY OF CANALS
SOCCER FANS
A TI
Trieste
CRO
Ancona
Falconara Marittima
Giulianova
i Terni
Todi
a
ano
Viterbo
Lago di Bolsena
Perugia
n
Foligno
M
Pesaro Fano
igi
T Orbetello os ca no
Grosseto
Lago Trasimeno
T (T osc an a)
Tuscany
n
Sansepolcro
n
M
Isola d’Elba
nt
b
Piombino
Siena
Arezzo
(Firenze)
Florence
e
y
Ferrara
e
Comacchio
l
Adig
Udine
e Chioggia Gulf of Rovigo
m
ro
ch ar
n
(to France)
(Corse)
Corsica
l
R
Monfalcone Portogruaro
Pordenone Treviso
Mestre Padova
Monselice Ostiglia Carpi
a
a hi
Cecina
Arno
C
Pisa
La Spezia
p
Modena
V
U
Imola Carrara Bologna Ravenna Massa Faenza Forlì Pistoia Viareggio Cesena Ap Rimini pe Lucca Prato SAN MARINO n
A
Reggio nell’ Emilia
Bassano del Grappa
Lake Garda
Vicenza Verona
Cremona o Mantova
Brescia
Genoa (Genova)
Gulf of Genoa
Mondovì
Arco
Bressanone
A
G
I
Vatican City has a permanent population of only about 800 people, although more than 3,000 come to work in the city-state each day.
IA es i t Cortina d’Ampezzo lom Do Trento Gemona del Friuli Tarvisio
Merano
s
Brenner Pass 4508ft (1374m)
ST
Andrea Bocelli
F
The idea of setting drama to music originated in Italy during the 1500s. Since then, Italian composers, such as Rossini, Verdi, and Puccini, have made opera the most popular musical form in Italy. Many cities have their own opera houses.
HOME OF OPERA
Bolzano Edolo
Sesto San Giovanni
Bergamo
(Lombardia)
Como Lo mbardy
Alessandria Piacenza nnino Ligu Appe re
Finale Ligure
Cuneo
Savigliano
Piemo nte
p Lake Como
Monza Rho
Varese
Lake Maggiore
Rivoli (Milano) (Torino) Moncalieri Asti Casteggio Pavia P
Susa
A
Gran Paradiso 13,323ft (4061m)
Aosta
Great St.-Bernard Pass 8,100ft (2469m)
SWITZERLAND
I
U
rc
he
8
One of Rome’s greatest sights is the Coliseum, which opened in 80 CE. Deadly gladiatorial combats and animal fights were staged here before crowds of up to 55,000 people.
COLISEUM
Little St.-Bernard Pass 7178ft (2188m)
Mont Blanc 15,771ft (4807m)
Rhône
mountainous north down to the Mediterranean Sea. For most of its history, Italy consisted of city-states—such as Florence and Venice—and was united only in 1870. Regional differences in Italy are huge, as each region has its own cuisine, customs, and dialect and is geographically quite distinct. As a result, many Italians identify themselves first by region and then by country. The largest division, however, is between the rich north and the poorer south—a rugged region with several active volcanoes and the occasional severe earthquake. The mainland of Italy includes two tiny independent states—San Marino and Vatican City.
Po
i
no
7
D
V EN IA
6
5
4
3
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The boot-shaped country of Italy stretches from the
Italy
E
FRANC
SLO
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B
8
7
6
5
4
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EUROPE
o
15
Florence (below) sits on both sides of the Arno River. During the 1400s, a new movement in art and architecture—known as the Renaissance, or rebirth—began in Italy. Painters and sculptors, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael, created beautiful works of art using improved techniques of perspective and realism. Many of these can still be seen in the galleries and churches of Florence.
M ed
ite
nean
Isole Pelagie
rra
eto
RENAISSANCE ITALY
Swiss guards, in their red, yellow, and blue striped costumes, stand at the gates of Vatican City.
Isola di Pantelleria
Si m
Sea
Gozo
lta
Cha
nnel
VALLETTA Malta
MALTA
Ma
Pozzallo
Caltanissetta Catania Agrigento St ra Gela it Siracusa Vittoria of Si Ragusa cil Modica y
( Si c i l i a)
Mount Etna 10,958ft (3340m)
Cosenza
0 miles
a c
Gallipoli
S
e
S tr ai t
O
100
Family life is important in Italy, and most people live at home until they get married This is partly owing to the lack of cheap housing. Lunch (pranzo) is often the main meal of the day.
HOME LIFE
50
100
Sea
of
Maglie
Ionian
Crotone
Ciro Marino
Taranto
Golfo di
50
i
Taranto Brindisi Lecce
t
Manduria
Matera
P u g l i a
Bari
Catanzaro
0 km
Siderno
Reggio di Calabria
Palmi
Lamezia
La Sila
Rossano
Lauria
Amantea
Isola l i e Stromboli Isola Lipari
Potenza
Altamura
Castrovillari
Sapri
Sala Consilina
h ea en ia n
Messina
Isola Vulcano
Cefalù
Sicily
Palermo
Agropoli
Gulf of Salerno
Battipaglia
of St r a i t n a i s s e M
14
13
Alcamo
Castelvetrano
Marsala
Trapani
Avellino
o ant
Molfetta
Barletta Andria Bitonto
Foggia
Manfredonia
San Severo
Cerignola
Torre del Greco Salerno
rr y S T
This tiny state in Rome is the center of the Roman Catholic Church and home to the Pope. As well as St. Peter’s Basilica and the surrounding buildings and gardens, the Vatican boasts Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel. The state has its own flag, postage stamps, and coins.
Y
Vesuvius Benevento 4190ft (1277m)
Isole Eo
Isola di Capri
(Napoli)
Naples
Caserta
tur
C a m p a ni a
ol
Campobasso
Termoli
o
VATICAN CITY
Italy is a big producer of olive oil, producing around 3.6 million tonnes, which is second only to Spain in Europe. The oil is produced by first pressing the fruit of the olive tree between steel or stone rollers and then squeezing oil from the pulp using a press. Olive trees flourish in the fertile soil and the mild, frost-free climate of southern Italy.
OLIVE HARVEST
Isole Ponziane
Golfo di Gaeta
Terracina Gaeta
Isernia
n zz nin es o e
L
Quartu Sant’ Elena
Cagliari
(ROMA)
Latina
Anzio
ROME
Avezzano
o
Carbonia
Olive harvesters gather olives in nets
VATICAN CITY
Tivoli
nin n
11
Punta La Marmora 6017ft (1834m)
Villacidro Iglesias
Oristano
Macomer
Olbia
Tempio Pausania
Ozieri Siniscola Nuoro
Sassari
io
la Maddalena
t o f B o n if a c
pe Ap bru A
Alghero
Porto Torres
(Sardegna)
Isola Asinara
rai
V
10
9
Sardinia
St
no Of
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a
n to
e d i
t ra
A r
14
13
12
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Szprotawa
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Zielona Góra Od
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Ostróda
Brodnica
Kètrzyn
Bartoszyce
Szczytno Nidzica
Olsztyn
Goîdap
Pisz
Îomæa
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Giæycko Eîk
M a
Jezioro ⁄niardwy
Dobre Miasto Biskupiec
Lidzbark Warmiúski
Grudziàdz
Cheîmæa Solec Kujawski
⁄wiecie
Kwidzyú
Malbork
Elblàg
(to Russian Federation)
KALININGRAD
u
Leszno
Kalisz
L Pleszew
O
Koîo
Beîchatów
Sieradz
Zgierz Pabianice
A
Kraków
Tomaszów Mazowiecki Radom
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Góra Skierniewice Grójec Kalwaria Îód¶
N
a
Puîawy
Ryki
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Bolesîawiec l Zgorzelec Legnica
Wieluú Radomsko Kluczbork
I
Sokóîka
Kuænica
Augustów
Suwaîki
Lublin
Wîodawa
Radzyú Podlaski
Mièdzyrzec Podlaski
Biaîa Podlaska
The Roman Catholic Church is very strong throughout central Europe. Attending mass on Sunday and observing religious holidays, such as Christmas and Easter, are important features of family life.
RELIGION
The countries of central Europe, except Slovakia, are heavily industrialized. Huge coal mines, steelworks (above), and engineering works dominate the urban landscape. Although some of these sites are old and poorly equipped, these countries are trying to update the machinery and introduce measures to improve standards of environmental pollution.
Grajewo
Narew
H
TRADITIONAL TRADES
Biaîystok Ostroîèka Rypin Mîawa Îapy Bydgoszcz Ostrów Toruú Zambrów Ciechanów Chodzieæ Noteá Mazowiecka Lipno Sierpc Ænin Bu Bielsk Podlaski Puîtusk Inowrocîaw Pîoúsk Wyszków Wîocîawek Gniezno Mogilno Siemiatycze Pîock WARSAW Nowy Dwór Mazowiecki Wrze¡nia (WARSZAWA) Pruszków Kutno Konin Siedlce
Czîuchów
Chojnice
Ko¡cierzyna
Tczew
Gdaúsk
Gîogów Rawicz Ostrów Wielkopolski Lubin
e r (O
Nowa Sól
P
Poznaú
Sulechów Krosno Odrzaúskie
⁄wiebodzin
Oborniki Mièdzyrzecz
Gorzów Wielkopolski
S
8
d
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)
Trzcianka
Choszczno
Stargard Szczeciúski
⁄widwin Nowogard Goleniów
Biaîogard
Bytów
Braniewo
Gdynia
Rumia Vistula Lagoon
Gulf of Danzig
G
g
Piotrków SkaræyskoCheîm Poniatowa e Kèpno Trybunalski Kamienna Krasnystaw s Ostrowiec Starachowice S u Jelenia Góra i a Wrocîaw ⁄wiètokrzyski yna Lubelska de Kielce Brzeg Wyæ Dçâín a Kîobuck Zamo¡á t n e y a Czèstochowa ⁄widnica Ústí nad Labem æ n s k Sandomierz y l Opole Liberec o Snçªka Jèdrzejów W op Teplice Stalowa Wola Waîbrzych Lubliniec 5256ft Lovosice a î Tarnobrzeg Turnov Zàbkowice ⁄làskie Chomutov (1602m) Tomaszów Lubelski M Bytom Most Zawiercie Karlovy Vary Gliwice Kèdzierzyn-Koæle Mielec Hradec Leæajsk PRAGUE Miechów Chorzów Kladno Cheb (PRAHA) Podçbrady Králové Rybnik Dàbrowa Tarnowska Katowice Jarosîaw
Part of Prague’s colorful history is preserved in buildings around the Old Town Square.
ra
Pyrzyce
Szczecin
Zalew Szczeciúski
⁄winouj¡cie
Koszalin Pomeranian Bay Koîobrzeg
Sîupsk
Lèbork
Wejherowo
a S eWîadysîawowo
Szczecinek
ic t Ustka l B a Sîawno
Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. It contains many old buildings with golden roofs and grand squares. Unlike other central European cities, Prague escaped serious damage during both world wars, and thus retains a lot of its charm.
GOLDEN PRAGUE
(O er Od
7
6
5
4
3
Poland has one of the largest agricultural sectors in Europe, with more than one fourth of the work force employed in farming. Most farms are still small, family-run businesses, growing grains, beets, and potatoes. Large numbers of pigs and other animals are also raised.
FAMILY FARMS
F
US
W ar ta
2
Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. The region is typically composed of wide plains broken up by gentle hills and the Carpathian mountain range in the south. In the late 1980s, these countries broke away from years of communist rule. The new democratic governments were faced with the problems of trying to modernize their nations. These changes are ongoing, but in some of the countries, such as the Czech Republic, there are signs of improvement and a rise in living standards.
Four countries lie at the heart of central Europe—
Central Europe
E
isî a
W
D
B AR EL
W isî
C
y r
B
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
EUROPE
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16
15
Písek
A
The Czech Republic is central Europe’s most industrialized country. It is renowned for its centuries-old glass industry. The region also produces some of the world’s best-known beers. Pilsner beer, for example, originated in the town of Plzen, while Budweiser beer has been brewed in Ceské Budejovice for more than 100 years.
INDUSTRIAL LIFE
B
Budapest was once two cities—Buda on the right bank of the Danube River and Pest on the left bank.
Âeskÿ Krumlov
t
C
AU
Otrokovice
it
Senec D an u b el e
t
Nitra Levice
(2499m)
Eger
Miskolc
BUDAPEST Nagykörös
tty re
Püspökladány Berettyóújfalu ó
Hajdúhadház
R
Széchenyi baths has the hottest spa water in Budapest. D
IA
0 miles
0 km
AT Dra va
50
Siklós
E
50
Pécs
O
Mecsek
Barcs
A land of fertile plains, Hungary is also famous for its numerous hot springs. In the capital city of Budapest, there are more than 100 hot springs. The warm waters rise naturally from the ground, and spas and baths are centerd on these springs. They are as popular today as they were centuries ago, when the Romans used the hot springs on the Buda side of the city.
HOT SPRINGS
C
Csurgó
Körmend
Baja
100 100
S ER B
IA
F
FOLK CULTURE
Traditional folk culture is still preserved in Slovakia and is seen as an essential part of regional identity. Throughout the year, especially during the summer months, folk festivals are held in many towns. The people dress up in their colorful regional folk costumes, play traditional instruments, and sing and dance.
G
H
I
Slovakia is divided between a fertile, lowland south and a more rugged, mountainous north. The country is much more rural than its industrial neighbor, the Czech Republic. Most Slovaks live in small towns and mountain villages. The Tatra Mountains in the north are popular with skiers and hikers, who bring in much-needed tourist income.
LANDSCAPE OF SLOVAKIA
A
Kisvárda Fehérgyarmat
Záhony
Nyíregyháza
Veszprém Dunaújváros Mezötúr Great nyn Gyomaendröd o Tiszakécske Kecskemét k Ba at o Zalaegerszeg Bal Békéscsaba Hungarian SL Keszthely OV Fonyód EN Mur Lenti Paks IA P l a i n Hódmezövásárhely Kaposvár Szekszárd Tolna Nagykanizsa Makó Szeged
Székesfehérvár
Nagykálló
Debrecen
Szolnok
Gyöngyös
Kékes 3326ft Vác (1014m)
Ip e l ’ I po ly
Ko#ice
Encs
s
Snina Vranov nad Topl’ou Michalovce
Pre#ov
Sátoraljaújhely
Roªõava
Ózd
é Rudohrie ensk v o Luâenec Sl
Banská Bystrica
H U N G A R Y
Esztergom
Alföld
‹urany Kolárovo
Galanta
Zvolen
a M ts
Ruªomberok Poprad
T a tr
SLOVAKIA
Martin Trenâín
Vá
·ilina
Sanok
thian Mount C a r pPaoprad ain Zakopane Rysy 8199ft Bardejov
Nowy Sàcz
Dèbica Rzeszów Æory Tychy Jastrzèbie-Zdrój Wieliczka Tarnów Przemy¡l Limanowa Havíüov Bielsko-Biaîa Krosno
Frÿdek-Místek Bytâa
Tatabánya
Györ
Celldömölk
Csorna
Mosonmagyaróvár
Sopron
Pie#˚any
Zlín
Püerov
Ostrava
Trnava
Pezinok
Malacky
BRATISLAVA
IA
Znojmo Hodonín
Brno
Moravia
Prostçjov
Szombathely
Danube
STR
Tüebíâ
Jihlava
Tábor
Âeské Budçjovice
Klatovy Strakonice
B ohemia Olomouc
Wodzisîaw ⁄làski Opava
C Z E C H RHumpolec EPUBLIC
Zábüeh
Pardubice
nube Da
14
13
12
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Plzeõ
Elbe
M
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Kolín
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Nitra
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r Fo L
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Bo rec Labo
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AI N
Tachov
16
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9
CENTRAL EUROPE
63
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Beli Manastir
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Vojvodina
Baâka Topola
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Y H U N G A R Subotica
Family-run allotments
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Split
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Srebrenica Rogatica
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SERBIA
Gornji Milanovac Kragujevac Uªice Jagodina Poªega Âaâak
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Magazine with Cyrillic script
Negotin
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Magazine with Roman script
Dan ub e( Poªarevac
Bela Crkva
(BEOGRAD) Smederevo
BELGRADE
Panâevo
Indija Stara Pazova Batajnica
Mladenovac Smederevska Palanka Valjevo Aranãelovac
Loznica
Sa
Ruma
The most fertile area in this region lies along the Danube River in northern Serbia and eastern Croatia. Here, vegetables, fruit, corn, and cereals are grown, as well as grapes for winemaking. Most farms are small-scale family businesses that grow a wide range of crops.
GROWING FOOD
I
The Croatian and Serbian languages are very similar, but the people of Croatia, a predominantly Roman Catholic country, write in Roman script, as do Bosnians. Serbians are mostly Eastern Orthodox and write using both Roman and Russian Cyrillic scripts.
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Konjic
FEDERACIJA BOSNA I HERCEGOVINA
Tuzla
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Sremska Mitrovica Bijeljina
Zvornik
H ER ZEGOVINA Livno
Jajce
na
Maglaj
Brâko
REPUBLIKA Modriâa SRPSKA Gradaâac
B OS NIA &
Banja Luka
H
DIFFERENT SCRIPTS
Ve l i k a Mo r a v a
Trogir
Un ac
i
n
‹ibenik
Sesvete
Kriªevci
Varaªdin
Âakovec
The Dalmatian dog is named after the coastal region of Dalmatia in Croatia, its first known home.
The long Adriatic coastline of Croatia is one of the most beautiful in Europe. The wooded hillsides, pretty beaches, such as Markarska (right), islands, and historic towns once attracted tourists from all over Europe. Now that the country is no longer involved in the war, tourists are returning, contributing vital income to the national economy.
THE ADRIATIC
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Kikinda Osijek Nova Slavonska Poªega Vrbas Beâej Gradi#ka Bosanska Dubica Borovo Srbobran Ãakovo Bosanski Novi Bosanska Gradi#ka Temerin Vukovar Slavonski Brod Cazin Ko Baâka Palanka Zrenjanin Vinkovci z ar a Prijedor n U a Bosanski ‹amac Bihaá V ·upanja Futog Novi Sad Muªlja Derventa
Karlovac
IA
CROATIA
ZAGREB
Samobor
Gospiá
Crikvenica Ogulin
Rijeka
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Janica Kostelic
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Croatia is a great sports nation. Skier Janica Kostelic is not only Croatia’s first triple Olympic champion, but she is also the most successful female Alpine skier of all time, winning three gold medals at the 2002 Winter Olympics and another gold and silver medal in 2006.
SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT
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Montenegro, and Macedonia were all part of Yugoslavia. Ethnic tensions between the Serbs and other peoples in Yugoslavia caused a series of bloody wars that broke up the country. Peace was eventually restored in 1999, but all five countries have suffered from intense economic problems as a result. So, too, has Albania ever since its communist government collapsed. The six nations do, however, have huge potential, with considerable agricultural and mineral resources. In the north, the Danube River is an important trade route for both Croatia and Serbia, while Croatia has a flourishing tourist industry along its beautiful Adriatic coast.
Until 1991, croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia,
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Southeast Europe
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About 8 miles (13 km) outside the city of Fier, Albania, lie the ruins of an ancient city called Apollonia. Founded in 588 BCE by Greeks from Corinth, it is one of 30 cities named after the Greek god Apollo. Austrian archaeologists began excavating the site during World War I, and French archaeologists continued digging in the 1930s. However, most of the city still remains buried in the surrounding hills.
APOLLONIA
Konispol
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Koâani
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Gevgelija
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The remains of an impressive temple still stands in Apollonia, Albania.
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Strumica
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Surdulica
Kumanovo
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Lake Prespa
Bitola
Korçë
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Vlasotince
MACEDONIA
Kiâevo
Gostivar
Struga Ohrid
Debar
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Sarandë
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Corfu (Kérkyra)
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Lake Ohrid
Elbasan
ALBANIA
Berat
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Fier
(TIRANË)
TIRANA ubinit Lu mi i Shk
Kuçovë
Lushnjë
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Durrës
Burrel
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SKOPJE
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PRISTINA
Vushtrri
KOSOVO
Fushë Kosovë
Gjakovë (disputed) Rahovec Ferizaj Gjilan Prizren Pre#evo
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Knjaªevac
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Áuprija
Mitrovicë Podujevë
Ãeravica 8720ft (2658m)
Berane
Bajram Curri
Lezhë
Kraljevo
Sjenica Novi Pazar
Prijepolje
North Albanian Alps
Krujë
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Bar
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An Albanian family
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PODGORICA
Kotor
Trebinje
Otra Strait of s
Albania is one of the poorest countries in Europe. Most people are ethnic Albanian, with a sizable Greek minority in the south of the country. Loyalty to one’s family or clan is more important than national identity, and married sons often live with their parents and look after them in old age.
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LIFE IN ALBANIA
Mljet
Ploâe
Mostar
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Macedonia contains two huge lakes—Ohrid and Prespa. The latter has clear water fed by underground streams and is a popular tourist destination. In 2002, the first Prespa boat regatta took place here. Both lakes have substantial fish stocks, especially of trout and eel, which are used to make local dishes.
GREAT LAKES
a
The medieval walled city of Dubrovnik, at the southern tip of Croatia on the Adriatic Sea, is one of the architectural gems of Europe. In 1991, Serb troops shelled the city, causing immense damage. The city was restored after the end of the war. Other historic cities damaged during the fighting, notably Sarajevo and Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, have yet to be fully restored.
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DUBROVNIK
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SOUTHEAST EUROPE
Trams provide an efficient way for people to get around the city of Sofia.
Wheat, corn, and other cereals grow in the fertile Danube River valley in the north of the country. Tobacco (right) grows in the Maritsa River valley in the southeast, while grapes for the wine industry flourish on the slopes of the Balkan Mountains. The festival of Kukerov Den, with traditional processions, celebrates the start of the agricultural year.
BULGARIAN AGRICULTURE
(Dunav)
SOFIA
Pernik
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Iskûr
Giannitsá Alexándreia
Aridaía
Polÿkastro
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Malko Tûrnovo
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The 24 characters in the Greek alphabet date from the 700s BCE, when the first texts were written in classical Greek. Since then the language has evolved and is now spoken by 11 million people around the world.
LANGUAGE
Rezovo
Kondolovo
Primorsko Tsarevo
Burgaski Za liv Sredets Bolyarovo
Svilengrad A rd as
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Momchilgrad
Kûrdzhali
ar
Topolovgrad Kharmanli
Khaskovo Chepelare Ardino
Dimitrovgrad Velingrad Yakoruda
Plovdiv
Sredets
Stara Zagora
Burgas Yambol
Black Sea Banya
Dolni Chiflik Lyulyakovo Aytos
i Z a liv
ne n s k
Varna
Shumen
Var
Kavarna Zlatni Pyasûtsi
Karnobat
os Sidirókastro Souflí Komotiní Xánthi Dráma Sérres Sápes Alistráti Kilkís try mó Féres Ávdira n as Néa Lachanás Kavála Zíchni Alexandroúpoli Thr ac i an Thásos Salonica (Thessaloníki)
Petrich
Brezovo
Kazanlûk
Sliven
Durankulak
Dobrich
Alfatar Dulovo Tervel Karapelit
Silistra
Gara Khitrino Suvorovo
Veselinovo
Dolna Oryakhovitsa
Pazardzhik
Kresna Strumyani Sandanski
Kyustendil o v g Musala O s o tai n s 9596ft n u (2925m) Mo Blagoevgrad Simitli
Kostenets
Zavet
Razgrad Polsko Trûmbesh Dralfa
B U L G A R I A Dupnitsa
Yazovir Iskûr
Klisura
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Veliko Tûrnovo iya mch L u d a Ka Gabrovo
ains
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Bulgaria contains many beautiful old churches, monasteries, and mosques, despite the damage done to the country during World War II. Rila Monastery (above) was founded by a hermit monk who took to the mountains in search of solitude in 927 CE. After a fire in 1833, Rila was rebuilt, and the magnificent church now boasts three fine domes, a museum, and 1,200 frescoes.
ARCHITECTURE
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Mount
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ROMANIA Miziya
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(SOFIYA) Izvor
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Dragoman
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Amÿntaio
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Bulgarians make up about 85 percent of the total population of the country. The rest are Turkish, Macedonian, or Roma. Most people live in apartment buildings in the main towns and cities. They are more likely to use public transportation as not all households have a car.
CITY LIFE
Lom
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Boychinovtsi D Vinishte Montana Borovan Vratsa Berkovitsa
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Bulgaria and Greece were ruled by the Ottoman Turks. Bulgaria gained independence in 1908, while southern Greece became independent in 1832 and was joined by northern Greece in 1913. After World War II, Bulgaria became a communist state. Both states are now democracies and members of the European Union (EU). Bulgaria remains relatively poor while in 2010, it emerged that Greece had a huge national deficit owing to spending more than it had been collecting in taxes. The EU lent Greece 112 billion euros (146.6 billion dollars) to restore its economy. Although they border each other, Bulgaria and Greece are quite different; the Greek mainland is mountainous, with only one third of the land suitable for cultivation. By contrast, Bulgaria is First held in Athens more fertile, with a strong agricultural tradition. in 1896, the modern Tourism is an important source of income to both Olympic Games countries, with visitors flocking to the Black Sea resorts in Bulgaria, to the Greek mainland to see were staged there the ancient ruins, and to the again in 2004. Greek islands in search of sandy beaches.
For more than 400 years,
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About 94 percent of Greeks follow the Greek Orthodox religion, and weddings follow the rites of the Orthodox Church. At a wedding ceremony it is traditional for the best man to place wreaths of orange blossoms, linked by a silk ribbon, on the heads of the bride and groom (above).
GREEK WEDDING
H
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The capital city of Greece is dominated by the Parthenon, a temple built in 447–438 BCE on a rocky hill known as the Acropolis. Modern-day Athens is a sprawling city where the large number of cars causes serious air pollution.
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The idyllic landscape of the Greek Islands, such as Santorini (left), can be rocked by earthquakes. This is because the islands and mainland of Greece, as well as Bulgaria, sit on a plate boundary. There is now a Greek Seismic Code that outlines regulations for all new buildings.
50
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Geroliménas
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The Corinth Canal was built to provide a shortcut for ships travelling between the Aegean and Ionian Seas. Dug through solid limestone, the steep-sided canal was begun in 1882 by the French and completed in 1893 by the Greeks.
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9570ft (2917m) More than 2,000 Gulf Kalpáki Kraniá Akrotírio Drépano Gónnoi islands lie off Sidári Límnos Stómio Loutrá Akrotírio Métsovo Mÿrina the mainland of Tÿrnavos Corfu P Palioúri i Greece. The ne Kalampáka Agiá (Kérkyra) Corfu (Kérkyra) ió s Ágios Cyclades and Lárisa Tríkala Ioánnina Igoumenítsa Efstrátios Dodecanese in the Aegean Sea are often Lefkímmi Kleisoúra rocky and arid, while Vólos Kyrá Panagía Kalloní Párga Kardítsa Alónnisos Ántissa the Ionian Islands, such Argalastí Paxoí Skíathos as Zákynthos (below), are Lesbos Rentína Árta Antípaxoi Soúrpi Skópelos more fertile. Tourists often Domokós (Lésvos) r e Préveza Karpenísi t h ie Plomári travel from one island to Agriovótano N o r V ó re Lefkáda another by ferry ( Lamía Skÿros Skÿros Mólos Amfilochía Strofyliá or hovercraft. Lefkáda Katoúna Livanátes Psará Kÿmi
GREEK ISLANDS
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BULGARIA AND GREECE
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Ukraine, Moldova, & Romania
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hroughout most of the past century, Ukraine and Moldova B E L A R Pripet P formed part of the Soviet Union, while Romania was ruled for U S ripet M a r she 20 years by the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu. In 1989, Ceausescu was s overthrown, while Ukraine and Moldova became independent in Kovel’ Sarny 1991. Today, the three countries are struggling to come to terms Ovruch Olevs’k Volodymyr-Volyns’kyy S with their communist inheritance and transform themselves into Kivertsi Korosten’ modern democracies. All three lack modern technology and face Luts’k Rivne Sokal’ Malyn serious economic and environmental problems arising from Dubno NovohradRadomyshl’ Volyns’kyy P Zhovkva Chervonohrad outdated industry. They also face increasing ethnic tensions Shepetivka Zhytomyr with their minority populations—Hungarians in Romania, Yavoriv Kremenets’ L’viv Polonne Izyaslav Zolochiv as well as Russians left behind in Ukraine and Moldova Horodok Berdychiv Sambir Zbarazh after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Bug
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The word Transylvania means “land beyond the forests.”
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Situated in Transylvania, Bran Castle is a favourite tourist destination. This is where author Bram Stoker’s fictional blood-drinking Count Dracula lived. The story is probably based on a 15th-century Romanian prince, Vlad Dracula, who reigned for less than 10 years but caused more than 50,000 deaths.
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Despite years of communist rule, folk customs thrived in the rural areas of Romania and Ukraine. In Ukraine, singers perform dumas, historical epics that tell of slavery under the Turks. One of the traditional instruments is a bandura (left), a stringed instrument that sounds like a harpsichord.
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Romania has many cities and towns, with a mix of old and new buildings. Sibiu (left) was founded in the 1100s and, at one time, had 19 guilds—each representing a different craft —within its city walls. Most remains from this colorful history, especially in the painted buildings of the old town.
Starokostyantyniv
Berezhany
Prut
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EASTER BREAD
In Romania, Easter is celebrated with a meal of roast lamb served with a bread called cozonac. This is made by pounding nuts, raisins, and even cocoa into the dough. E
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UKRAINE, MOLDOVA, AND ROMANIA I
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INDUSTRY IN THE UKRAINE
Liquid iron ore
Ukraine is the world’s eighth-largest producer of steel and has a large coal industry, as well as reserves of oil and gas. Today, however, most of its industry is out of date and inefficient. Most of the heavy industry is situated in the central Dnieper River valley.
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B l a c k
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Sea of Azov
PEOPLE OF ROMANIA
Kerch Lenine
Saky (Kryms’kyy Pivostriv) Feodosiya Simferopol’ Hory Bakhchysaray 'k i s y m Alushta Kr
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3
The Black Sea resorts of the Crimea, in southern Ukraine, were once a favorite vacation destination for Russians heading south for the summer sun. Today, resorts such as Yalta (below), are growing again in popularity, sometimes as a budget alternative to Mediterranean destinations. The quality of facilities is improving as tourist numbers increase.
Amvrosiyivka Dokuchayevs’k
Molochans’k
Krasnoperekops’k toka ’ka Za inits k r Rozdol’ne Dzhankoy Ka Krasnohvardiys’ke Chornomors’ke Zatoka Nyzhn’ohirs’kyy Syvash
S e a
Rubizhne
Yenakiyeve Makiyivka
Synel’nykove
Zhovtneve
Ochakiv
VACATIONS BY THE SEA
Syeverodonets’k Slov’’yans’k Lysychans’k Kramators’k Zolote Luhans’k Pavlohrad Kostyantynivka
Dnipropetrovs’k Horlivka
Kam’’yanka-Dniprovs’ka Kakhovs’ka Vodoskhovyshche Mykolayiv
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Children of the Maramures region of Transylvania
Romanians speak Romanian—a language closely related to French, Italian, and Spanish. The country also has sizable Hungarian and Roma minorities, which have both been discriminated against in recent years. Most Hungarian speakers live in the region of Romania known as Transylvania.
7
Yalta
Alupka RICH SOIL OF MOLDOVA
Moldova consists of partially wooded plains intercut with rivers and streams. About 75 percent of the land is rich in chernozem (black) soil, which is very fertile. Wine and sunflower production are important here. Fruit and vegetables, such as pumpkins (left), also grow well.
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fossilized resin of pine trees—is washed up from the seabed along the Baltic coast. Amber is used to make jewelry, among other items.
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Gulf of
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VILNIUS
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Navapolatsk Polatsk Obal’ Shumilina
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Belarus used to be known as Belorussia, a name that means “White Russia.”
Narva Reservoir
Narva a rv Na
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Political rally in Tallinn
nd Sillamäe
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ESTONIA
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LITHUANIA
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Usmas Ezers
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Estonia is known for its classical music tradition— most notably its choirs. This love of music was most powerful when people raised their voices during the Singing Revolution in 1988 (right), part of their move toward indpendence.
SINGING REVOLUTION
Saaremaa
Mazirbe Ventspils
as
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6
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Ainaªi Salacgríva Lake Staicele Tartu Róngu Engures Ezers Peipus Riga ta Aloja Rújiena Grobiöa Kandava Engure Vónnu Tórva Durbe Burtnieku Otepää m e e z Ezers Valka r Tukums u K Saulkrasti Valmiera Rucava Valga Pólva Saldus Räpina Júrmala Brocéni Suur Salantai G a uja Vóru Césis Lake RIGA Munamägi Skuodas Kretinga Pskov Smiltene 1043ft (318m) Maªeikiai Klaipëda Plungë Jelgava Ape Tel#iai Papilë Gargªdai Priekulë Iecava Gaizina Kalns Jaunpiebalga Alúksne Joni#kis Bauska 1020ft ·em Gulbene Nida Pionerskiy aiâ (311m) i Aizkraukle Zelenogradsk ù Balvi ‹ilutë ‹iauliai Primorsk A ‹ilalë Viôaka uk Pôaviöas Madona Courland Pakruojis # Kelmë Birªai t Rugáji Lagoon Mamonovo Lubáns Jékabpils Viesíte Radvili#kis Tauragë Kaliningrad Pasvalys Skaudvilë Varakôáni Nereta Gvardeysk Neman Kársava Bagrationovsk Panevëªys Líváni Raseiniai Naujamiestis KALININGRAD Roki#kis Rézekne Jurbarkas Ludza (to Russian Federation) Dotnuva Subaâius Chernyakhovsk Obeliai Malta Spogi Zheleznodorozhnyy Gusev Anyk#âiai Zarasai Daugavpils Dagda Jonava Kaunas Vilkavi#kis Ukmergë Utena Kráslava Visaginas Marijampolé Kai#iadorys AMBER Yukhavichy Bihosava Two thirds of the Giedraiâiai Prienai Vidzy Kalvarija Vyerkhnyadzvinsk D world’s amber—the
Pávilosta
With its colorful buildings, turreted walls, and gabled roofs, Tallinn is one of the best-preserved capital cities in Europe. All of the winding, cobbled streets lead to Town Hall Square (left).
TALLINN’S OLD TOWN
Lithuania—all share a small stretch of coast on the Baltic Sea. Belarus lies between Poland, Ukraine, and the Russian Federation. Following independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, all of these countries faced problems such as price rises, food shortages, and pollution. However, the Baltic States have since tried to reform their societies and economies along Western lines. Belarus has kept close links with Russia and has been the slowest to reform. This mostly rural country remains isolated from the rest of Europe and, with few natural resources, remains one of its poorest nations.
The three baltic states—Estonia, Latvia, and
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In some Lithuanian villages, people still wear traditional folk costumes, especially for festive occasions. Women’s clothing is generally colorful (left) and might include a white linen shirt, a skirt, and an apron. The decoration and style of the costume shows which region of Lithuania the wearer comes from.
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have large dairy farms. Belarus is a major producer of flax, which is used to make linen and other products. Potatoes—used to make vodka—beets, and other root crops are also grown here.
U
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LITHUANIAN DRESS
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Krasnaye
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Ferns thrive in this Latvian forest
The former Soviet Union worked its young athletes and gymnasts extremely hard in order to win Olympic medals and thus national glory. Many of the most famous gymnasts came from Belarus, notably Olga Korbut and, more recently, Svetlana Boginskaya (right), who has won three gold, one silver, and one bronze Olympic medals.
GYMNASTICS
Dn iep e
11
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Novy Dvor
Valozhyn
B E L A R U S
Zel’va Navahrudak
Orlya
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All four countries are lowlying, with many moors, bogs, unspoiled lakes, and fir and pine forests. Forestry is an important industry, providing wood pulp for papermaking and timber for furniture and houses.
FORESTS AND LAKES
Dnieper Kruhlaye Orsha Stowbtsy Rudzyensk Sava Shklow Chervyen’ Ivatsevichy Brest Zhabinka Nyasvizh Mar’’ina Lyakhavichy Horki Pukhavichy Byalynichy Kapyl’ Horka Kobryn Mahilyow Abrova Shyshchytsy Tal’ka Haradzyets Yalizava Hantsavichy Damachava Slutsk Syemyezhava Harbavichy Dashkawka Drahichyn Asipovichy Makrany Lyusina Chachevichy Chavusy Salihorsk Khodasy Ivanava Staryya Babruysk Starobin TEXTILES Darohi Bastyn’ Krychaw Cherykaw Abidavichy Pinsk The development of the Brozha MINSK Luninyets textile industry (above) The capital of Slawharad Pr Rahachow Klimavichy Shchadryn i in these countries is pe Mikashevichy Belarus, Minsk, was t M strong, with foreign investment from several other Zhlobin Aktsyabrski destroyed during Zhytkavichy Kastsyukovichy a r shes Myerkulavichy European countries helping growth. Clothes, World War II and Svyetlahorsk bedding, curtains, and towels are just some Kaptsevichy Budathen rebuilt in a Baron’ki of the items made for export. Kashalyova starkly modern style. Pyetrykaw Ptsich Shyichy Tonyezh Minsk is the country’s Uvaravichy Simanichy Pr ipet economic center. Cars, Kalinkavichy Lyel’chytsy lorries and tractors, chemicals, Rechytsa Kastsyukowka Mazyr Milashavichy FARMING timber products, and a range of Yel’sk Dobrush The fertile soil high-tech goods are all produced Homyel’ Narowlya Dabryn’ and flat landscape here. Farm produce (above) is Tsyerakhowka Khoyniki make this region good also sold in markets. Loyew for farming. The Baltic Byval’ki States, especially Latvia (left),
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BALTIC STATES AND BELARUS
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Kem’
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Barents Sea
Novodvinsk
Russia is famous for its Sortavala Suoyarvi Gulf ballet companies, such Vyborg of F Kondopoga as the Bolshoi Ballet of inl Lake an Savinskiy Moscow and the Kirov d Petrozavodsk Lagoda Olonets A Ballet of St. Petersburg. NIPetrodvorets Lake Plesetsk O Most of the ballets Saint Petersburg Onega rn performed are classics, Gatchina (Sankt-Peterburg) a Nyandoma such as Swan Lake and Kolpino Volkhov Sleeping Beauty. Luga Kirishi Konosha Tikhvin Pskov Developed in Sol’tsy Velikiy Novgorod Belozersk Vel’sk Europe in the 1800s, ballet Kotlas Ostrov Babayevo Porkhov became a popular a n o Uglovka Cherepovets Sukh form of art and Opochka Borovichi Sokol entertainment Valday Vologda in the 1900s.
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Children attend school here from the age of 7 through 17. Although the state education system is free, education declined after the fall of communism owing to chronic underfunding. Major efforts are now raising standards in state schools, but private schools are becoming increasingly popular.
EDUCATION
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Once Russia’s capital, St. Petersburg was built in the 1700s by Czar Peter the Great as a “window on the west.” Today, it is a popular tourist destination, full of grand palaces and extravagant architecture (left). The city spreads over some 40 islands, linked by a network of canals and rivers.
i v K a rs k i y e V o r o t
Nar’yan-Mar
H ST. PETERSBURG
Pechorskoye More
F E D E R A T I O N Ivanovo Elektrostal’ Vladimir
Rybinsk Tver’
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The Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood marks the spot where Czar Alexander II was murdered in 1881.
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Apatity Kandalaksha
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Zapolyarnyy Nikel’ Polyarnyy Murmashi Severomorsk
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BALLET
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Sleeping Beauty is performed here by dancers from the Kirov Ballet.
F I N
3
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European Russia is so large that it spans four time zones. The climate and landscape range from cold desert and frozen tundra in the north to the warm coast of the Black Sea in the southwest. Forests and grassy steppes cover huge areas. More than 100 million people— two thirds of the total Russian population—live in European Russia, most of them in cities such as the capital, Moscow. Since the collapse of communism in 1991, many Russians have experienced a decline in their standard of living. Shortages of food and manufactured goods occurred, and crime and unemployment rates rose. As a result, Russia was the only European country in which NO RW life expectancy dropped. As the country recovered, it was hit by deep recession in 2009.
Separated from asian russia by the Ural Mountains,
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Not many underground trains can claim to be tourist attractions, but Moscow’s subway can. Built in the 1930s, many of its stations are decorated with beautiful chandeliers, mosaics, paintings, and sculptures. One of the busiest, most efficient subway systems in the world, it is used by more than 7 million people daily. D
Novotroitsk
Saraktash
Russia’s largest ethnic minority, the Tatars (below) are an Islamic people descended from the Mongols. Their largest population lives in the Tatarstan Republic, halfway between Moscow and the Urals.
THE TATARS
Sol’-Iletsk
Orenburg
Sibay
Baymak
Orsk
F
G
The main religion in Russia is the Russian Orthodox Church. Under communism, all religion was banned. The new freedom means that many Russians now attend church services on a regular basis. New churches are being built, old ones restored, and seminaries reopened to train new priests.
THE RUSSIAN CHURCH
The title czar, once used for Russian rulers, means “emperor” and comes from the ancient Roman title “Caesar.”
Derbent
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MOSCOW SUBWAY
ca
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Nal’chik Groznyy Vladikavkaz Khasavyurt
El’brus 18,510ft (5642m)
l ra
TAN KHS
Krasnyy Kut
Saratov
Kamyshin
Volzhskiy
Ilovlya
Mikhaylovka
Krasnoarmeysk
The communists Volgodonsk Akhtubinsk Starominskaya invested heavily in Zimovniki industry, but their Tikhoretsk Sal’sk outdated methods of production have affected Novorossiysk ian Kropotkin Elista sp ssion a the environment. Rivers C re Krasnodar such as the Volga are badly ep Stavropol’ D polluted, and many cities Tuapse Svetlograd Astrakhan’ are covered in a permanent Maykop Cherkessk and poisonous smog. Sochi Chest infections and other Nevinnomyssk K uma Sea diseases related to air Pyatigorsk n Kislovodsk pollution are common. ia
POLLUTION
Ryazan’
Novomoskovsk
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13
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Shchëkino
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Serpukhov Dzerzhinsk Nizhniy Kolomna Murom Novgorod
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Rural life has become extremely tough since the economic collapse of large-scale farms in the 1990s, with many people living in poverty. Smaller cooperatives and farms (above) have sprung up, and the agricultural industry is going through a painful period of reform. Due to the harsh climate, only 10 percent of the land is suitable for agriculture.
RURAL LIFE
Icons, common in the Russian Orthodox Church, are religious images painted on wooden panels.
Orël Naberezhnyye Chelny Yefremov Nizhnekamsk Saransk Birsk Yelets Kuybyshevskoye Michurinsk Vodokhranilishche Al’met’yevsk Kursk Ul’yanovsk Lipetsk Tambov Ufa Dimitrovgrad Gryazi Staryy Oskol Penza Oktyabr’skiy Tol’yatti Voronezh Belgorod Kuznetsk Gubkin Samara Beloretsk Syzran’ Buguruslan Shebekino Liski Sterlitamak Balashov Vol’sk Chapayevsk Buzuluk Borisoglebsk Salavat Rossosh’ Balakovo Kumertau
Zheleznogorsk
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Industrial smog casts a haze over Moscow.
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EUROPEAN RUSSIA
a
73
ASIA China 3,705,387 sq miles 9,596,961 sq km 1,350,000,000 Beijing
Iran 636,368 sq miles 1,648,195 sq km 74,200,000 Tehran
Afghanistan 251,826 sq miles 652,230 sq km 28,100,000 Kabul
Iraq 169,234 sq miles 438,317 sq km 30,700,000 Baghdad
Philippines 115,830 sq miles 300,000 sq km 92,000,000 Manila
Mandarin, Wu, Cantonese, Hsiang, Min, Hakka, Kan
Farsi, Azeri, Luri, Gilaki, Mazandarani, Kurdish, Turkmen, Arabic, Balochi
Pashto, Tajik, Dari, Farsi, Uzbek, Turkmen
Arabic, Kurdish, Turkic languages, Armenian, Assyrian
Filipino, English, Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Hiligaynon, many other local languages
India
Mongolia
Yemen
Japan
Laos
1,269,212 sq miles 3,287,263 sq km 1,200,000,000 New Delhi
603,905 sq miles 1,564,116 sq km 2,670,000 Ulan Bator
Hindi, English, Urdu, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Bihari, Gujarati, Kannada.
Khalkha Mongolian, Kazakh, Chinese, Russian
Kazakhstan
Pakistan
1,052,084 sq miles 2,724,900 sq km 15,600,000 Astana
203,848 sq miles 527,968 sq km 23,600,000 Sanaak
145,913 sq miles 377,915 sq km 127,000,000 Tokyo
Arabic
Japanese, Korean, Chinese
Thailand
Vietnam
Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Khmer, Muong, Nung, Miao, Yao, Jarai
Kyrgyz, Russian, Uzbek, Tatar, Ukrainian
Saudi Arabia
Turkey
Turkmenistan
Malaysia
Syria
Indonesia 735,354 sq miles 1,904,569 sq km 230,000,000 Jakarta Javanese, Sundanese, Madurese, Bahasa Indonesia, Dutch
Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic, Circassian, Armenian, Greek, Georgian, Ladino (Judaeo-Spanish)
Myanmar (Burma)
77,201 sq miles 199,951 sq km 5,480,000 Bishkek
71,498 sq miles 185,180 sq km 21,900,000 Damascus
Turkmen, Uzbek, Russian, Kazakh, Tatar
Bahasa Malaysia, Malay, Chinese, Tamil, English
Arabic, French, Kurdish, Armenian, Circassian, Turkic languages, Assyrian, Aramaic
Uzbekistan
Oman
Cambodia
261,227 sq miles 676,578 sq km 50,000,000 Nay Pyi Taw
172,741 sq miles 447,400 sq km 27,500,000 Tashkent
Burmese, Shan, Karen, Rakhine (Arakanese), Chin, Yangbye, Kachin, Mon
Uzbek, Russian, Tajik, Kazakh
119,498 sq miles 309,500 sq km 2,850,000 Muscat Arabic, Balochi, Farsi, Hindi, Punjabi
Bangladesh 55,598 sq miles 143,998 sq km 162,000,000 Dhaka
Tajikistan
Thai, Chinese, Malay, Khmer, Mon, Karen, Miao
Arabic
Nepali, Maithili, Bhojpuri
Kyrgyzstan
Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtu, Urdu, Balochi, Brahui
127,354 sq miles 329,847 sq km 27,500,000 Kuala Lumpur
56,827 sq miles 147,181 sq km 29,300,000 Kathmandu
Bengali, Urdu, Chakma, Marma (Magh), Garo, Khasi, Santhali, Tripura, Mru
Kazakh, Russian, Ukrainian, German, Uzbek, Tatar, Uyghur
188,455 sq miles 488,100 sq km 5,110,000 Ashgabat
Nepal
Lao, Mon-Khmer, Yao, Vietnamese, Chinese, French
198,116 sq miles 513,120 sq km 67,800,000 Bangkok
302,533 sq miles 783,562 sq km 74,800,000 Ankara
127,880 sq miles 331,210 sq km 88,100,000 Hanoi
91,428 sq miles 236,800 sq km 6,320,000 Vientiane
307,372 sq miles 796,095 sq km 181,000,000 Islamabad
829,995 sq miles 2,149,690 sq km 25,700,000 Riyadh
74
The vast continent of Asia is dominated by two giant nations—China and India each with more than one billion people and a rich and colorful history. Both are being transformed by rapid economic growth, and so are many other Asian countries, listed below in order of size. Yet in some regions of central Asia, life has barely changed in thousands of years.
69,898 sq miles 181,035 sq km 14,800,000 Phnom Penh Khmer, French, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cham
55,251 sq miles 143,100 sq km 6,950,000 Dushanbe Tajik, Uzbek, Russian
North Korea 46,540 sq miles 120,538 sq km 23,900,000 Pyongyang Korean
South Korea 38,502 sq miles 99,720 sq km 48,300,000 Seoul Korean
Jordan
Sri Lanka
34,495 sq miles 89,342 sq km 6,320,000 Amman
25,332 sq miles 65,610 sq km 20,200,000 Colombo
Arabic
Sinhala, Tamil, Sinhala-Tamil, English
Azerbaijan 33,436 sq miles 86,600 sq km 8,830,000 Baku Azerbaijani, Russian
United Arab Emirates 32,278 sq miles 83,600 sq km 4,600,000 Abu Dhabi
Bhutan 14,824 sq miles 38,394 sq km 697,300 Thimphu
Hebrew, Arabic, Yiddish, German, Russian, Polish, Romanian, Persian
Taiwan
Kuwait
13,892 sq miles 35,980 sq km 23,000,000 Taipei Amoy Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, Hakka Chinese
Georgia
Armenia
Georgian, Russian, Azeri, Armenian, Mingrelian, Ossetian, Abkhazian
8,019 sq miles 20,770 sq km 7,170,000 Jerusalem
Dzongkha, Nepali, Assamese
Arabic, Farsi, Indian and Pakistani languages, English
26,911 sq miles 69,700 sq km 4,260,000 T’bilisi
Israel
11,484 sq miles 29,743 sq km 3,080,000 Yerevan Armenian, Azeri, Russian
6,880 sq miles 17,818 sq km 2,990,000 Kuwait City Arabic, English
East Timor
Qatar 4,473 sq miles 11,586 sq km 1,410,000 Doha Arabic
Lebanon 4,015 sq miles 10,400 sq km 4,220,000 Beirut Arabic, French, Armenian, Assyrian
Brunei
5,743 sq miles 14,874 sq km 1,130,000 Dili
2,226 sq miles 5,765 sq km 399,700 Bandar Seri Begawan
Tetum (Portuguese/ Austronesian), Bahasa Indonesia, Portuguese
Malay, English, Chinese
Bahrain 286 sq miles 741 sq km 791,500 Manama Arabic
Singapore 269 sq miles 697 sq km 4,740,000 Singapore Mandarin, Malay, Tamil, English
Seychelles 176 sq miles 455 sq km 84,600 Victoria French Creole, English, French
Maldives 115 sq miles 298 sq km 309,400 Malé Dhivehi (Maldivian), Sinhala, Tamil, Arabic
75
ASIA B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Turkey and the Caucasus
Turkey lies in both asia and Europe—separated
Bo
Ça yı
Dardanelles (Çanakkale Boêazı)
Balıkesir
Sima v
4
(ƒs s ta n
C
E
3
The different faces of Turkey can
be seen in its former capital, by the Bosphorus—and was once part of the powerful Istanbul, which lies on both Ottoman Empire. Although Turks are 99 percent sides of the Bosphorus waterway. Churches, mosques, Muslim, modern Turkey is a country with no official and ancient buildings in both religion. Western Turkey is relatively industrialized, with European and Islamic styles sit side by side with modern stores a tourist industry along the Mediterranean coast that and offices. Bridges link the two brings in considerable income. Many farmers and parts of the city. In 1923, Ankara became the new capital. herders in the center and east, however, struggle IA to make a living in the AR LG arid environment. ƒnebolu Edirne Sinop To the northeast Cide Kırklareli s êazı) Gerze B l a c k u or Bo lie the Caucasus Bartın a D ê l e a Bafra r r ü ph bul ı K Zonguldak countries of Georgia, E e Çayi Kastamonu gen E r Samsun E Çorlu R Karabük Azerbaijan, and Ca Ünye Devrek G Kargı Istanbul Tekirdaê ni kD Armenia. Once Sea of Marmara ƒzmit Adapazarı Çerke§ Ordu aêl arı (Marmara Denizi) part of the U.S.S.R., Merzifon Gerede k Bolu a Bandırma Yalova ƒznik Gölü they are now rm Çankırı ıl I Kız Çorum Bilecik independent. Çanakkale
BU
2
ISTANBUL
Bursa
Eski§ehir
Bozüyük
5
Simav Gediz
Akhisar Ge
E E G R
6
Milas
Denizli Burdur Burdur Gölü
Tavas
Muêla
Dalaman
flarkı§la
Gürün
Göksun
Niêde
E
Antalya Körfezi
(Toros Daê Mut
Alanya
Med iterra nean Sea
Tarsus
Mersin (čel) Silifke
e y G ü n
Kahramanmara§ Ceyhan
Adana
Gaziantep Osmaniye Kilis
ƒskenderun Antakya
Kırıkhan
Anamur
TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS (recognized only by Turkey)
CYPRUS
EPHESUS
Tourism is one of Turkey’s major industries. As well as beach resorts, the country has many ancient sites. One of these is the ancient Greek city of Ephesus, which lies 35 miles (56 km) south of modern-day Izmir on the Aegean coast. The city was famous for its Temple of Artemis, which was considered one of the seven wonders of the world.
8
9
76
Visitors to Ephesus admiring the remains of the Library of Celsus A
B
C
D
K
Kayseri
s in Ta Karaman a t urus Moun ) ları
C Finike
Nev§ehir
Konya
Manavgat
Ka§
R
ƒncesu
Ereêli
Antalya
Fethiye
7
Gölü
ƒsparta
Bodrum Marmaris
Boêazlıyan
Aksaray A n a t o l i a Bey§ehir
Dinar
Nazilli
s Ne h r i endere ükm y Bü
(Tuz Gölü)
Ak§ehir
Ala§ehir
Aydın Söke
U
Bünyan Cihanbeyli Lake Tuz
Ödemi§ Turkey is self-sufficient in food, and grows specialized crops such as eggplants, peppers, figs, and dates. A typical Turkish meal might consist of spiced lamb, often grilled on a skewer with onion and tomato to make a shish kebab. This would be served with rice or cracked wheat.
Hirfanli Baraji
Afyon
Izmir TURKISH FOOD
T
Kulu
U§ak
di z N e hr
i
Manisa Menemen
Sivas
Kırıkkale
Polatlı
Kütahya
Zara
Yıldızeli
Sorgun
Edremit Ayvalık
Tokat
Alaca
Kalecik
ANKARA
FATHER OF THE TURKS
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (1881–1938), the founder of the modern Turkish state, became its first president in 1923. He introduced many reforms, including more equality for women and better education for all. He also declared that Islam was no longer the official religion. E
F
H
TURKEY AND THE CAUCASUS J 100
Ap
’kh
Sokhumi
azet
RU SSI AN u
a
’i
Enguri
c
Mestia
Kazbek 16,558ft (5047m)
Och’amch’ire
FE DE RA s u TIO
a
South
Samtredia
P’ot’i
s
Hopa
Of
Giresun
a z D
Ço
Bitlis
Batman
Adıyaman
S
Mardin
Viran§ehir
Y
Ceylanpınar
R
K
I
I
Äli-Bayramı
ƒmi§li
as Ar
Biläsuvar
A
R
N
4
5
CaucasusMountains block cold air from the north.
CAUCASUS
The towering Caucasus Mountains protect Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan from cold northerly winds. As a result, farmers can take advantage of this mild climate to grow citrus fruit, tobacco, and tea. Walnuts and hazelnuts are valuable export crops.
ur di sta n I R
6
Q
A
Vines and fruit grow in the valleys. PEOPLE OF TURKEY
The Turks, who make up about 70 percent of the population of 75 million, are a diverse group with a shared sense of national identity. The largest minority in Turkey—about 15 million people—are the Kurds (below), who speak their own language but have no homeland. They live in eastern Turkey, as well as in neighbouring Iraq and Iran.
RUG MARKET
Turkey is world-famous for its knotted-pile rugs—known as kilims—woven by skilled craftworkers. Each region of Turkey produces rugs with different designs and colors. Every worker incorporates into the designs symbols that tell the maker’s own family history or origins.
Turkish rugs, made in centers such as Malatya and Kayseri
Qazimämmäd
Van
A
Nusaybin
(BAKI)
Länkäran
Geva§
flırnak
Silverek
flanlıurfa
Lake Van (Van Gölü)
BAKU
flamaxı
C
Siirt
Diyarbakır
Sumqayıt
Xankändi
Muradiye
Bingöl
Mount Ararat in Turkey is said to be the resting place of Noah’s ark after the flood described in the Bible.
casus
N
Erci§
Tatvan
Cau
Siyäzän
Yevlax
AZ Goris ER BA IJA Naxàıvan
Patnos
Mu§
3
Quba
Mingäçevir
Nagornyy Karabakh
Artashat
Mount Ararat (Büyükaêrı Daêı) 16,854ft (5137m)
Doêubayazıt
o s l a r T o r Silvan
Atatürk Baraji
Aêri
Tercan
Elâzıê
ê u D o
Aras
fläki
er
AZERBAIJAN
Sevana Lich
YEREVAN
Horasan
Y
Keban Baraji
ARMENIA
Sarıkamı§
Erzurum
Erzincan ates phr ri) Eu at Neh r Kemah (Fi
Sevan
Art’ik
Kars
at
a
Refahiye
Malatya
N
Pasinler
A§kale
Hekimhan
h
ƒspir
Gümü§hane
E
ru
rı
Xaàmaz
re
Kur
eni Doêu Karad
a êl
Zaqatala
T’BILISI L e s s e Tsalka Rust’avi r C a u Achara Akhalts’ikhe c a s u Ku s ra Artvin Gäncä Vanadzor Gyumri
eh
Trabzon
ri
Pazar
Rize
N
Gori
GEORGIA
Bat’umi
1
G
S e a
P
2
K’ut’aisi O s s et ia
K’obulet’i
O
Many years ago, caravans of camels carried vessels loaded with oil from Baku to nearby countries. By the end of the 1800s, the city was known as the “black gold” capital of the world. Today, the total amount of oil that could be produced is 1.1 billion tons, which does not include undeveloped areas off the coast.
200
C
N
OIL FROM AZERBAIJAN
100
Gudaut’a
M
200
0 miles
Gagra
L
Se pia a n
0 km
K
as
I
7
8
9
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
77
ASIA B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Russia and Kazakhstan
The russian federation is the biggest country in the world, almost 2
0 km
400
800
of
twice as big as either the USA or China. It extends halfway around the 0 miles 400 800 world, crosses two continents, and spans 11 time zones. The vast region Franz Josef of Siberia alone is larger than Canada. Kazakhstan lies to its south Land and is a large but sparsely populated country. From 1917 to 1991, North Cape (Nordkapp) both countries were part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics A R (U.S.S.R.), the world’s first communist state. When the U.S.S.R. C T Barents I C ND collapsed, Russia, Kazakhstan, and the 13 other Gu A L lf N I member republics gained independence. Since F Murmansk S e a Kandalaksha Kola . then, Russia and Kazakhstan have begun to T EST. LA Peninsula lya Zem transform themselves from communist Saint Petersburg a vay e Lake (Sankt-Peterburg) S e a e) states into democratic nations. Both No r a ye Mor Lagoda Petrozavodsk a K sko Ostrov Pskov countries have a lot of fertile land, huge r Ostrov Belyy Severodvinsk Lake Onega Kolguyev Ka ( Velikiy Novgorod Dikson mineral deposits, and many other Arkhangel’sk natural resources. However, Smolensk Cherepovets Nar’yan-Mar Vel’sk Tver’ Russia still has a very low life MOSCOW Vologda (MOSKVA) Vorkuta expectancy compared to other Yaroslavl’ Kotlas Ukhta Bryansk Talnakh industrialized countries. Kineshma Tula n s Salekhard Fi
nl
an
al y a Gu Penin ba su la
Yam
Pe ch or a
ka
i
’ Ob
Ob
Noril’sk
s
Igarka
Nadym Taz
u
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o
M
l
a
r
a Se an ST
AN
spi
NI ME
ar y
D
Aral Sea
Aral’sk Novokazalinsk
a
Dzhusaly
Temirtau
Zhezkazgan Kyzylorda
EK
RK
Ish im
Novosibirsk Krasnoyarsk
t e lu n d pp a e
Kemerovo Barnaul Novokuznetsk Abakan Karaganda y S
Ustyurt Plateau
Syr
Ca
Shchuchinsk
Ku
Atbasar
Strelka
Tomsk
KAZAKHSTAN ASTANA Pavlodar
Zhanaozen
Saran’ Kazakh Uplands
Turkestan
TA
Arys’
Shymkent
Ayaguz Ozero Zaysan
Lake Balkhash
Kentau Karatau Shu
N
Ki
Tekeli
iz Range
8
GYZ
Altai
Taldykorgan
Taraz
r gh
Almaty
C
(Alma-Ata)
STA
H
ad n
IN
Gora Belukha 14,783ft (4506m)
Mou
nta
A
N
NATURAL WEALTH
Siberia contains almost one third of the world’s natural gas reserves and has huge deposits of oil, as well as abundant minerals such as coal and precious metals including gold. However, many of these resources are inaccessible or in remote places, and the extreme winters make it difficult to extract them.
9
78
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
y
Leninogorsk Zap Kyzyl Zyryanovsk
Shar
Balkhash
KYR
Coal miners in Siberia
Semipalatinsk
Ust’-Kamenogorsk
Kyzyl Kum
IS
TU
R U SSIA N
Kostanay Orsk Petropavlovsk Rudnyy Omsk Kokshetau
Chelkar
Aktau
ZB
The majority of people in N Kazakhstan are Kazakh JA Muslims. They were once a AI B nomadic people who traveled ER AZ around on horseback, herding their sheep. Although most Kazakhs live in rural areas of the country, retaining a strong loyalty to their clans and families, the new, modern capital city of Astana is growing quickly, due to wealth generated by oil and gas.
Ishim
’ Ob
KAZAKH CULTURE
Alga
Emba
Fort-Shevchenko
ol ob
Plain
Tobol’sk
ysh Irt
Nal’chik Vladikavkaz Atyrau Aktobe Groznyy Makhachkala (Aktyubinsk)
Chelyabinsk T
Ura l
Orenburg Astrakhan’ Magnitogorsk
U
Ural’sk
U
7
Volga
El’brus 18,510ft (5642m)
GE
Kazakh man hunting with a trained golden eagle
Kirov Glazov Solikamsk
a
t
Nyagan’ Penza Kazan’ Izhevsk Perm’ West Rostov-na-Donu Ul’yanovsk Serov Khanty-Mansiysk Saratov Krasnodar Tol’yatti Naberezhnyye Siberian Yekaterinburg Volgograd Samara Chelny Sochi Nizhnevartovsk Surgut Sterlitamak Ufa Tyumen’ Stavropol’
s su uca IA Ca ORG
6
Black Sea
5
Lake Baikal is up to 6,365 ft (1,940 m) deep and contains more than 20 percent of the world’s freshwater supply.
Nizhniy Novgorod
Tambov
Voronezh
Syktyvkar
Vladimir
Belgorod Ryazan’
n
U K R AI N
4
E
BE
Sever n a y a Dv in a
LA
RU
S
it W he a S
d
3
H
ins
RUSSIA AND KAZAKHSTAN I
J
K
L
M
N
O
TAIGA FOREST
P
Nenets man guiding a sledge and reindeer
Russia’s forests cover more than two fifths of the country’s territory. The taiga type extends across the Urals to cover most of Siberia. This type of forest is formed by small, widely spaced trees, with large areas of poorly drained marsh grasses.
Berin g Str
1
ait
C hukchi Sea
iy ps k a t t va Anadyrskiy vy ebe Ek Khr Zaliv
S
r’ y
Olovyannaya
ns
Kyakhta
C
H
Krasnokamensk
IN
A
e O st r ova )
ile Island s
ri l’ sk iy
Kur
Russian Federation, claimed by Japan)
Bikin
Zabaykal’sk
Sea of Japan (East Sea)
Ussuriysk Nakhodka Vladivostok
OLIA
J
Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk
ouse Per La trait (administered by S
Khor
Birobidzhan
Russian is the official language of the Russian Federation, but many of the 152 other nationalities inside the country speak their own languages, too. The Russian language uses the Cyrillic alphabet, which was devised by Greek missionaries.
5
OLD CUSTOMS
The communists tried to impose a Russian national culture on the native peoples of Siberia, but many of their customs survived in remote areas. Today, traditional costumes, music, and dance are all flourishing throughout Siberia.
6
7
JAPAN Russian dancer in traditional dress
Trans-Siberian Railway train
I
r ’ ye
go
Na oye
msk K ol y et Dzhug
Blagoveshchensk
(Ku
t be re hi
o Chita bl
Irkutsk Ulan-Ude
MONG
Khabarovsk
l ka
Kh
y vy
no
Ostrov Iturup Kuril’sk
Alin’
Ya
Svobodnyy
i Ussur
n Usol’ye-Sibirskoye n Sa Saya Angarsk ya
(Ozero Baykal)
Komsomol’skna-Amure
Ostrov Urup
Sikhote-
er
Ostrov Sakhalin
ebet
st
Tulun
Shantarskiye Ostrova
Skovorodino Am ur
Mil’kovo
Ostrov Paramushir
(Okhotskoye More)
Khr
Ea
Lake Baikal
4 RUSSIAN LANGUAGE
Pervy y Kuril'skiy Proliv
Neryungri Tynda
Vitim
Ust’-Kut
Bratsk
Sea of Okhotsk
3
Ust’-Kamchatsk
PetropavlovskKamchatskiy
Bodaybo
Ust’-Ilimsk
Kansk
kma Olë
L
a en
Khreb
Olëkminsk
n
Suntar
F ED ERAT I O N Angara
A
I
R
B MirnyyE
Ostrov Karaginskiy
Atlasovo
Okhotsk
Yakutsk
Sea
Kamchatka Peninsula
y K h r e b et dzhur
y lyu Vi
Nyurba
) ( S I B I R ’
Chunya
Susuman
an Ald
During the winter months, temperatures in Siberia regularly drop to below –45°F (–43°C). The native peoples who live here, such as the Nenets people of the Yamal peninsula region, have adapted well to their environment and survive by herding reindeer, hunting, and fishing.
Vulkan Klyucheyskaya Sopka Atka 15,381ft (4688m)
kogo
Al da
I
ers
Zaliv Shelikhova
NATIVE PEOPLES
Bering
Ossora
Magadan
Am ga
S
a
Ch
e
Am ur
Olenëk
T
a ey
nyaya Tunguska
r
s
ki
na
N izh
et
Ady ch
Central Siberian Uplands
eb
an
Le
Olenëk
irka dig
Kazach’ye
Tiksi
ho y
Plato Putorana
Ala z
Kh
a
Kotuy
t K he
Ust’-Olenëk
nnost'
Ambarchik Cherskiy
In
Ya n a
birsk
la
Ozero Taymyr
izme aya N
Ostrov Bol’shoy Lyakhovskiy
V erk
ro-Si
insu
yr’
Novaya Sibir'
Laptev Sea
A n a b ar
Seve
y
en rP
ad
Koryakskoye N ago
Ostrov Kotel’nyy
Ostrov Bol’shevik
m ay
New Siberian Islands
Kolyma
Severnaya Ostrov Oktyabr’skoy Zemlya Revolyutsii
Anadyr’
Pevek
E a s t Si ber i an Sea Ostrov
An
A N O C E
Ostrov Komsomolets
2
Siberian tiger
K
8
TRANS-SIBERIAN RAILWAY
SIBERIAN WILDLIFE
The longest railroad in the world runs 5,785 miles (9,310 km) from Moscow’s Yaroslavl station in the west, across Siberia, to the Pacific port of Vladivostok in the east. The railroad was started in 1891 and took 14 years to finish. Trains take eight days to complete the trip and cross eight time zones.
Siberia is home to a huge range of wildlife, including the rare Siberian tiger (the biggest tiger in the world), wolves, reindeer, and black and brown bears. The Baikal seal—found only in Lake Baikal—is the world’s only freshwater seal.
L
M
N
O
P
9
79
8
7
4
3
2
Sovereign
Akrotírion
(to U.K.)
Lárnaka
(Lemesós)
Limassol
(Gazimaêusa) (Famagusta) Sovereign Base Area (to U.K.)
Ammóchostos
(Deêirmenlik)
CYPRUS
Troódos
Páfos Base Area
Pólis
(Güzelyurt)
Mórfou
(recognized only by Turkey)
Kythréa
Dekéleia
(Girne)
Kerÿneia
NICOSIA
(Lapta)
Lápithos
TURKISH REPUBLIC OF NORTHERN CYPRUS
(Yenierenköy)
Agialoúsa
LEBANON
Batroûn
Ma∞yáf
Baalbek
DAILY LIFE
50
Jarábulus
Al Qu∞ayr
Íim∞ (Homs)
Salamíyah
Íamáh
S
Y
Abú aç Çuhúr
R
I
Sab‘ Ábár
Al Báridah
Ar Rámí
Sabkhat al Jabbúl
‘
Eu
al í Jab ‘Az al Abd
Ra’s al ‘Ayn
h
As Sukhnah
is Jabal B
Jabal a√ ◊anf 2533ft (772m)
rí
R
∞if
Q
Abú Kamál
A
R
Subaykhán Abú Íardán
Bu§ayrah
Al M aná
A§ fluwár
Ash Shadádah
Al Jazírah
I
Al Málikíyah
Al Qámishlí
Al Íasakah
Al ‘Ashárah
I
I
T ig
The map on Cyprus’s flag is copper colored because Cyprus means “island of copper.”
H
Al Mayádín
Dayr az Zawr
ph rat es At Tibní
As Sabkhah
Tudmur (Palmyra)
A
Madínat ath Thawrah
(Buíayrat al Asad)
Ar Raqqah
At Tall al Abyaç
Y
Damascus is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. At its center is a huge souk (bazaar) where the streets are full of stalls and small stores selling everything from rugss, textiles, and jewelry to household goods and fresh produce.
SYRIAN MARKET
G
K E R T U
100
Lake Assad
Manbij
Euph r
100
Aleppo (Íalab)
A‘záz Al Báb
50
Even in a war-torn country such as Israel, people continue to live as normal a life as possible. Children listen to rock music and watch their favorite sports stars, either live or on Television. In a peaceful break, these Palestinian boys play football in a Jerusalem street.
Ma‘arrat an Nu‘mán
Arííá
Idlib
Íárim
Qoubaïyât
Tripoli
0 miles
0 km
‘Afrín
Tall Kalakh
El Mina
◊ar√ús
Bániyás
Jablah
(Latakia)
Ládhiqíyah
Cyprus became independent from Great Britain in 1960. However, conflict between Greeks and Turks caused Turkey to invade the island in 1974. Since then, Cyprus has been divided between a Turkish-Cypriot north and a Greek-Cypriot south. Most Cypriots make a living from farming grapes, citrus fruit, and olives. Women often sell handmade lace items to tourists.
CYPRUS
Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, was once the commercial and banking center of the Arab world but was devastated by the civil war that ravaged the country from 1975 to the early 1990s. Today, the country is largely at peace, and Beirut is regaining much of its former glory. Lebanon remains dominated, however, by its two powerful neighbors— Syria and Israel.
LEBANON REBUILT
collectively known as the Near East. This is a land that is dominated by deserts but also has fertile coastal plains. Lack of water is a constant problem here, although Israel has introduced computerized irrigation systems to extend the land suitable for agriculture. The creation of the Jewish state of Israel in 1948, in what was previously Arab-dominated Palestine, has led to almost continuous conflict in the region. Arabs and Israelis have fought four major wars that have cost many lives. The Mediterranean island of Cyprus has also suffered a violent recent history.
Israel, jordan, syria, and lebanon are the countries
The Near East
D
Jeb Lib el an
Nah Balík r h
C
dit err a Sea nean Me
s l a Jibá yah lí Sáíi
anon
s ate
Leb
z
ris
Q
A
B
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
ASIA
16
A
B
WEST
Náblus
Jenín
(Natzrat)
Wádí as Sír BANK Jericho
As Sal√
Ashkelon
Khán Yúnis Rafah ‘Arad
Jordanian desert police officer patrolling the borders—most officers are from Bedouin families
Elat
Ra’s an Naqb
Ma‘án
Al Jafr
Ash Shawbak
E
Qá‘ al Jafr
Báyir
Ar
ç
R
fla
w
F
A
I
G
IA B A AR
H
Western Wall
D e s e r t
S y r i a n
A√ ∏anf
I AB
JERUSALEM
A
a§
UD A S
Muqá√
The old city of Jerusalem is sacred to three of the world’s major religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—each with their own holy sites and separate districts. Both Israelis and Palestinians claim Jerusalem as their capital. As a result, the city is a frequent source of conflict. The Dome of the Rock, sacred to Muslims, and the Western Wall, sacred to Jews, stand next to each other.
Al ‘Aqabah Al Mudawwarah
Al Quwayrah
Petra
Sappir
Gharandal
Be’ér Menuha
Mitspe Ramon
(H a Neg e v)
Negev
Al Íisá
Al Karak Al ‘Ayná
JORDAN
Al Mazra‘ah
I S R A E L A√ ◊alfílah
Be’er Sheva
Gaza
Dead
Hebron Sea
Al ‘Umarí
AMMAN (‘AMMÁN)
Wáíat al Azraq
A∞ fiafáwí
Jabal ad Durúz 5899ft (1798m)
As Suwaydá’
Az Zarqá’
Ar Ramthá
Dar‘á
Al Mafraq
Irbid
Al Qunay√irah
Mount (DIMASHQ) Hermon 9232ft (2814m)
DAMASCUS
Ma’dabá Rehovot Ashdod Bethlehem JERUSALEM
Holon
GAZA STRIP
Most of Jordan is hot, dry desert, with little land available for agriculture. Water is scarce, and control of the Jordan River, which forms a border with Israel, is an important issue in peace talks. The desert is home to nomadic tribes of Bedouin, who live in large tents woven from camel hair. Modern Bedouin use cars and trucks for transportation. Jordan has few natural resources other than phosphates, which it exports for use as fertilizer, and some limited oil reserves.
THE KINGDOM OF JORDAN
Tverya
Lake Tiberias
Tsefat
Dúmá Qa√aná
Tel Aviv-Yafo Petah Tikva
Netanya
Hadera
(under Palestinian administration)
Refugees living in crowded conditions in a camp near Amman, Jordan
hr
Bent Jbaïl
Na
(Hefa) Nazareth
Haifa
Mifrats Hefa
Nahariya
En Nâqoûra
Soûr
T YP
15
14
13
12
11
10
The frequent wars between Israel and its Arab neighbors have created a huge number of Palestinian refugees who have fled Israel to seek shelter in adjoining countries. Many live in poorly equipped refugee camps or settlements, with few facilities and little chance of work. There are currently about 4.3 million registered refugees living in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, and the West Bank.
PALESTINIAN REFUGEES
Saïda
Damoûr
(BEYROUTH)
ti-
An úz
Ash Sha ráh
9
Joûnié Rayak Zahlé
el
L ít
ani
Wádí al 'Arab ah
Gulf of Aqaba
EG SA
I
Jorda n
án
D
n Golahts Heig
w
U
BEIRUT ANCIENT CITY OF PETRA
I
The Dome of the Rock
Temples and tombs were cut out of the rock to form the spectacular city of Petra in modern-day Jordan. Petra was built by the Nabataeans, an Arab tribe from the 300s B.C.E. The remains of the city are situated in a valley surrounded by cliffs, with only one narrow entrance. Petra is Jordan’s most famous historic site.
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
THE NEAR EAST
81
R
D
Je
EG
be
hr a
Ni§ab
eh
-ye
-y
e
M
Sárí
z
Mehríz
E§fahán Shahr-e Kord
Yazd
N
Kavír
Ardakán
ht-e
R Ná’ín A
Káshán
s Da
eh
Mayamey
Sháhrúd
TEHRAN Semnán
Qom
ou
r lbo
Qolleh-ye Damávand 18,606ft (5671m)
Kuhhá-ye A
Ámol
Gorgán
pp
l ía ád Al Warí’ah W
Ar Rawçatayn Al Jahrá’
(Al Ba§rah)
Basra
KUWAIT
(AL KUWAYT)
KUWAIT
Ábádán
la
n
sh
Sh
Ma n d Bandar-e Kangán Gávbandí
Rúd-e
Bandar-e Búshehr
Kázerún
ST
AN
Báft
Bam
Máhán
Kermán
Zarand
si
Gu
ifá
Qeshm
Bandar-e ‘Abbás
H
A
Sarakhs
Mírjáveh
Hámún-e Jaz Múríán
Fahraj
I
P
A
Family life is important throughout the Muslim world. The role of women varies from country to country—traditionally, women stay at home and look after the family, but some now work. In public, many cover their head or whole body with a burqa.
ROLE OF WOMEN
No§ratábád
Záhedán
Nehbandán
Dasht -e L
Bírjand
Moíammadábád Rígán
Bandar-e Khamír
Sírjan
Plateau Shiráz
h
NI
Mashhad
ág
ME
Sabzevár
D
TURK Bojnúrd
Ko
About half the total population of Iran are Persians, who live in the center and north of the country. Large numbers of Azeris live in the northwest, while Kurds live in the west and Baluchi in the southeast. The official language of Iran is Farsi, but many other languages are also spoken.
IRANIANS
Z n Iranian Ahváz á g r t a i Ízad Khvást Anár os Hawr al Íammár ) ns flafáshahr (Deh Bíd)
Al ‘Amárah
Kuwayt
Al Kút Dezfúl
I
Arák
r Pe
Al ’Ulá
Rafíah
Íá’il
up
Al Íillah
Tig ris
Bákhtarán Eslámábád
BAGHDAD
ht
Caspian Sea
Sanandaj Qorveh Hamadán
As Sulaymáníyah
Ba‘qúbah
es
Qazvín
R
G
Most international boundaries in the Middle East are simply lines drawn in the sand by former European colonial powers and have often caused conflicts. Iraq and Iran fought a bitter eight-year war along their common border from 1980. Since then, further conflicts between Iraq and international forces have caused a lot of suffering.
F
TA
Taymá’
Na
d fú
Sakákah
Saqqez
te s As Samáwah An Ná§iríyah
An Najaf
Karbalá’
Buíayrat ar Razázah
Ar Ramádí
Al Baghdádí
Judayyidat Hámir ‘Ar‘ar
An
‘Annah
I R A Q
Kirkúk
Altin Köprü
Buíayrat ath Tharthár Ar Ruπbah
Al Jawf
◊urayf
AN
Mosul (Al Maw§il)
E
N
IS
8
Aqa Y P ba T
DESERT WARS
The Persian language is written in Arabic script
Rasht
Ardabíl
Míáneh
Tabríz
AZERBAIJAN
Marágheh Zanján Arbíl
Zákhó
Daryácheh-ye Orúmíyeh
TURKEY
IA
AZ.
EN
Khvoy
Mákú
M
The Middle East is the world’s major oil producer—Saudi Arabia alone produces more than 10 percent of the world’s supply. Oil has brought great wealth to the region, in particular to Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States.
OIL PRODUCTION
Z a (K
o s há r g uh
út
Tabúk
JO
which developed in the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys of present-day Iraq more than 6,000 years ago. The world’s first towns and cities were built here. Since then, many powerful empires have dominated the region, all leaving a wealth of buildings and monuments behind them. Today, the Middle East is at the center of the Islamic world. The population of every country is Arab and speaks Arabic, except Iran, where half the population are Farsi-speaking Persians.
The middle east is home to the world’s oldest civilizations,
E
A
7
6
5
4
3
D
H
TA
Gulf o f
A
RI SY
AR
F G S NI
K
Bá √ in
2
C
The Middle East
B
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
ASIA
N
a lf
fla‘dah
M an
A
B
C
lat Da
hm
(Em
Wuday‘ah
Say’ún
Shuqrah
D
Sayíút
E
Ade f o f Gul
n
150 150
300
(to Yemen)
Socotra (Suqutrá)
Damqawt
flalálah
Thamarit
F
A lot of the Middle East is covered with a hot desert. Water is scarce although there are some oases where animals can be watered and crops irrigated. On the coastline, desalination plants, such as this one in Oman, remove salt from seawater to make it suitable for domestic consumption and agriculture.
WATER
0 miles
0 km
Al Mukallá
ah
ra
M akran Coast Cancer
Sea
Arabian
Tropic of
G
300
H
I
A typical Middle Eastern meal consists of pita bread, bulgur wheat, lentils, spiced meat—usually lamb or goat—fruit, and hummus made from chickpeas. Most Muslims do not drink alcohol, preferring water, mint tea, or coffee from Yemen, the producer of some of the world’s finest coffee beans.
MIDDLE EASTERN FOOD
The Arabian Sea, south of Yemen and Oman, is rich in fish, providing a valuable source of both income and food for local people. Fishermen use traditional sailboats equipped with outboard motors for greater speed, landing large catches of sardines, tuna, anchovies, cuttlefish, cod, and other fish.
A WEALTH OF FISH
Juzur al Íaláníyát
flawqirah
Duqm
Jazírat Ma§írah
Khalíj Ma§írah
Al Ghábah
Ramlat Ál Wahíbah
flúr
(MASQA◊)
MUSCAT
Gulf of Oman l G h Ar Rustáq ar bí
fluíár
O M A N
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
(ABÚ ±ABY)
ABU DHABI
r Al M a h
Sanáw
Ash Shiír
Tarím
Y E M E N
Aden (‘Adan)
SANAA
lí há
K al ‘ er) b u art u R Q Ar pty
As Sulayyil
Dubai
Stra
(Dubayy) (AD DAWÍAH)
DOHA
QATAR
e n i n s u l a Laylá
t lat n a w t) (flAN‘Á’) R a m t a y m u b‘a ç r a ma as Sa Ía d h r a (Ha
m
Najrán
Ra
deb
Ta‘izz
P
(AR RIYÁÇ)
RIYADH
Al Hufúf
(AL MANÁMAH)
uz (to Oman) orm H f Ash Sháriqah it o
Bandar-e Lengeh
MANAMA BAHRAIN
Ad Dammán
S AU DI A R A B I A
n
Tathlíth
Khamís Mushayt
Saudi Arabia is the only country in the world to be named after its royal family—the house of Al Saud.
The Koran—the book of sacred writings of Islam
Zabíd
a
A
Al Majma‘ah
Az Zilfí
Shaqrá’
imah
Qal ‘at Bíshah
(Al Hudaydah)
Hodeida
Jízán
flabyá
Abhá
Al Báíah
Al Líth
Turabah
Mecca (Makkah) A√ ◊á’if
i ±alim
b
W
ar R ádí
‘Unayzah
l be
16
(Jiddah)
Jedda
a Se
The Islamic religion began in the 600s in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia. Minarets—the tall, thin towers of mosques—dominate the skyline of every town and city in the region. From these, devout Muslims are summoned to pray five times a day. Muslims are also required to make a Hajj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca (above) at least once in their lifetime.
ISLAM
ancer
(Al Madínah)
Medina
a
Ba
15
13
12
Tropic of C
Yanbu‘al Baír
r
Buraydah
aja
11
10
9
dí al Í amç
A
á
d Re W
way
Wá
Raha√ Íarrat ah
’
ís h
a q
D ná h
dí B
d Al Í
Ja b al ◊u
Al Wajh
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
THE MIDDLE EAST
83
ASIA B
C
D
E
Central Asia
F
G
Us t y u r t
The five central asian nations rise up from hot deserts
H
KA
Aral Sea
Plateau
ZA
K
H
N
in the west and south to cold, high mountain ranges in the east. n d STA Mo’ynoq The area has oil, gas, and mineral reserves, as well as other a l natural resources, but water is often scarce and agriculture w is limited. The four northern nations were o Chimboy Taxtako’pir once part of the Soviet Union and are Sarygamy∞ Nukus now independent nations. Afghanistan is Kyzyl Ku Köli Takhiatosh m Köneürgenà a landlocked country, and three fourths of Gubadag Uchquduq its land is inaccessible terrain. It was Gurbansoltan Eje Urganch Da∞oguz invaded by the Soviet Union in 1979, UZBEKISTAN To’rtko’l prompting a civil war that has lasted Xiva Zarafshon Üngüz Türkmenba∞y for more than 20 years. In 2002, Lebap Gazojak Türkmenba∞y Angyrsyndaky American and other Western forces Aylagy overthrew the fundamentalist Islamic Balkanabat Garagum Derweze Hazar regime in Afghanistan because of its Gazli Bereket TURKMENISTAN support for international terrorism. G’ijduvon Serdar Buxoro The country, however, has been Kopet Seÿdi Kogon Ga da destroyed by these years of g G Galkyny∞ ra Magtymguly continuous warfare, making it e r Baharly Caspian Türkmenabat g sh u one of the poorest and most i m Abadan Saÿat Geok-Tepe Sea deprived nations on Earth. ASHGABAT
a
r
u
T
arya uD Am
y atos r Pl y ngy Gum pla an Ga tag Uà
3
n
L
2
4
Gora Chapan 9478ft (2889m)
One of the world’s largest gold mines is at Muruntau in the Kyzyl Kum desert in Uzbekistan.
Kaka
Tejen
Bayramaly
Murgab
Amyderÿa
C a na l
Atamyrat
Uzboyy
Murgap
5
Kelif
Gara gu m
Mary
Andkhvoy
Sarahs
Garabil Belentligi Meymaneh
Bálá Morgháb
6
Da
FESTIVALS IN AFGHANISTAN
Serhetabat Towraghoudí
Sels Ghúríán
Children in Kabul, Afghanistan, made homeless by war
Shíndand
Fa rá h
As a result of war, drought, and poverty, people in Afghanistan can expect to live an average of only 45 years, one of the lowest life expectancy rates in the world. Infant mortality is extremely high. Health services have almost completely collapsed, and few trained doctors and nurses are available to help the sick. Sadly, there are not enough orphanages to cope with the increasing number of children made homeless by war.
d Rú
Faráh
Dasht
-e
á Kh
Delárám
sh
Gereshk Lashkar Gáh
Hámún-e fláberí
Chakhánsúr Zaranj
Da
M Da s h t- e Deh Shú ryá
- y e H e l m a nd
árg
Kandahár
ow
Kúchnay Darweyshán
ge Rí
stán
Chágai Hills
9
84
Harírúd
Herát
AFGHAN
LIFE EXPECTANCY
8
Torkestan
á - y e Morghá b
elehye Safí d Kúh
An Afghan refugee carries bread with which to break the Ramadan fast. 7
ry
Despite the horrors of recent years, Afghans still celebrate important Islamic festivals, notably Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan. People visit friends and family and eat a festive meal together. The art of storytelling still flourishes in Afghanistan, as does the attan, the national dance.
PAKISTAN A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
ARAL SEA
The vast inland Aral Sea, between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, was once a thriving freshwater lake full of fish. Over the years, the rivers flowing into it were diverted or drained to provide irrigation for crops. The sea has now shrunk to half of its original size, reducing the numbers of fish and leaving former fishing villages stranded inland.
1
A man in front of his home, called a yurt, in western Pamir, Tajikistan
2
KAZAKHST A N
(4482m)
TASHKENT
Chirchiq Angren
(TOSHKENT)
Yangiyo’l
Aydark o’l K o’li Nurota
Ch a
Guliston Jizzax Kattaqo’rg’on
Sulyukta Ûroteppa
Baghlán
Pol-e Khomrí
Moun
tain
H
rd ma Ka h e y Cháríkár ryá Da
s
n
i
s
Baroghil Pass 12,392ft (3777m)
TAJIKS
The majority of people of Tajikistan are Iranian in origin and speak Tajik, which is related to Farsi. The minority Uzbeks are mostly made up of descendents of Turkic-speaking (related to Turkish) nomads. This division has led to ethnic tension between the two groups. Civil war between the government and Islamic rebels in the east of the country during the 1990s led to an exodus of Uzbeks and Russians, who had moved into the country when it was part of the Soviet Union.
g
Asadábád
Khyber Pass 3543ft (1080m)
Ghazní dá
b
Khowst
an
I
h
S
N
7
Tajik horsemen in Pamir, Tajikistan
K
Zarghún Shahr
T
A
6
PA
Da
Harvesting cotton in Uzbekistan
Baríkow¢ Maímúd-e Ráqí
Gardíz
4
5
Jalálábád
ISTAN rg
Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan all grow considerable crops of cotton—Uzbekistan is the world’s fifth-largest producer—as well as fruit and vegetables. The three countries are also rich in mineral deposits, such as gold, mercury, sulfur, and uranium, and have reserves of coal, oil, and natural gas.
Qizilrabot
r
3
Chatyr-Tash
Mehtar Lám
Maydán Shahr
eA -y ryá
Pa
K u s h
d u
KABUL (KÁBOL)
-e Bábá Kúh
i
Ishkoshim
Táloqán Khánábád
Ta
e
Kondoz
ol
m
ir m
Pik Pobedy 24,406ft (7439m)
ng
Kholm
a Dzhelandy
Fey∞ábád
Mazár-e Sharíf
n
Khorugh
Farkhor
Dûstí
Balkh Sheberghán
rta
ik
Murghob
P
Moskva
Jarqo’rg’on
Termiz Áqchah
Ba
Kûlob
Qûrghonteppa
Ghûdara
ar
n
The two small eastern republics of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are both very mountainous and are subject to earthquakes and landslides. Only about six percent of Tajikistan can be used for agriculture, whereas Kyrgyzstan is more fertile.
LOCAL WEALTH
Ra
Boysun
Qullai Ismoili Somoní 24,590ft (7495m) S
Qal’aikhum
h
MOUNTAIN LIFE
Kara-Say
Koksha a l -
Sary-Tash
TAJIKISTAN
Norak Danghara
S Karakol
A I N
Denov
n
a
Kadzhi-Say
H
Qarshi
Dzhergalan
T Këk-Art
Daroot-Korgon Qarokûl
khob Sur
Range ar s i s DUSHANBE G
Kitob
e
i
Andijon Osh
Khaydarkan
Zeravshan
Tyup
Ozero IssykKarakol Kul’ Kyzyl-Suu
C
Koson
Farg’ona
Khujand
Samarqand Urgut
oldo-Too ebet M Khr Naryn
Dzhalal-Abad
Qo’qon
Bekobod
Kemin Balykchy
KYRGYZSTAN
Tash-Kumyr
Langar Oqtosh
l
Namangan
Olmaliq
Navoiy
tk a
Ra
Tokmak
u
The BISHKEK fishing Aral Sea K i Kara-Balta village of r Muynoq is now Talas g h i z R more than 30 miles (48 km) Leninpol’ ange Gora Manas e away from the Aral Sea ng 14,705ft
Qalát
Tilla-Kari, a 17th-century Islamic religious school in Samarqand, Uzbekistan
8
Spín Búldak THE SILK ROAD
0 km 0 miles
I
100
The Silk Road is the ancient trade route that brought silks and other fine goods from China through central Asia and the Middle East to Europe. Many cities were built along its route, including Buxoro (Bukhara, Uzbekistan), an important place of pilgrimage for Muslims, and Samarqand, which contains some of the finest Islamic architecture in the world. Many of these cities are now UNESCO-designated World Heritage Sites.
200 100
J
200
K
L
M
9
N
O
P
85
(claimed by India)
ASIA B
C
D
E
F
Ka ra
Indus
A
am
Ra
ng
e
Mardán ISLAMABAD
Pesháwar Wáh
ST
or
Mingáora
Khyber Pass 3543ft (1080m)
N
Separated from the rest of Asia by the Himalayas, the Indian subcontinent
K2 28,251ft (8611m)
k
Indian Subcontinent
Indu s
S
Su
lai
IR
m án
R ange
e
Ráwalpindi is home to almost one fourth of the world’s population—a staggering I Jhelum Potwa N r Plate au 1.5 billion people. They have a long and complex history, Jammu A Gujrát H Sargodha G Gujránwála form many different ethnic groups, speak a wide g P Lahore AF an Amritsar variety of languages, and worship many different ar R u Chaman T oba K á k n Faisalábád gods. While some people in these countries are j a Ludhiána b Quetta Dera Gházi Khán Multán Okára wealthy, many others live in poverty. Tensions Chandígarh Chá gai Hills ej Bathinda Sibi utl between and within countries in this region Kálat Haryāna have sometimes erupted into warfare. The Indian Karnál P A K IJacobábád STAN Baháwalpur Baluchistān subcontinent is often affected by natural disasters, Rahímyár Delhi Shikárpur Khán notably cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and Sukkur t NEW DELHI Lárkána e r ng e Bíkáner n Ra Khairpur es earthquakes and floods in Pakistan. However, C e nt ral Ma k rá D Alwar India, the most heavily populated nation and a r Jaisalmer Turbat Jaipur h Nawábsháh T Jodhpur once prone to famine, is now more than Gwádar Pasni Mírpur Khás Hyderábád self-sufficient in food. All but Nepal and Bhutan Beáwar Páli Karáchi were once ruled by the British, whose legacy can be seen Sind R ā j a s t h ā n Kota Sujáwal in the common language of English, the architecture, the vast Udaipur railroad system, and in sports—most notably cricket. Rann o f K a c h c h h of Pálanpur
H
2
K u s h
n d u H i
Tropic of
Indu s
Cancer s
Gulf of Gándhídhám Kachchh
MONSOON
5
s uth u M o e Ind th
4
K í r t ha R a ng e r
AN
3
From May/June to September, warm, moist southerly winds sweep up from the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal across the subcontinent. Once these winds meet dry land, moisture falls as monsoon rainfall. Although this irrigates the land and replenishes the water supply, it can also cause severe flooding.
Gujar ā t Ahmadábád
Godhra
Jámnagar
Rájkot
Porbandar
0 km
150
0 miles
300 150
300
Bhusáwal
Súrat Damán
Manmád
n t e r W e s
Bárámati
SRI LANKA
Solápur Gulbarga Kolhápur
Belgaum Panaji
Gadag
Hubli
Shimoga
Mangalore
Bangalore Mysore Erode
a
FAMILY LIFE IN PAKISTAN
ral
Kozhikode / Calicut
Ke
Kannur / Cannanore
Coimbatore
Pakistanis have strong ties to their extended families, and often many generations live and work together in family-run businesses. Smaller family units, however, are becoming more common in urban areas. Although some women hold prominent positions in public and commercial life, such as Benazir Bhutto who was prime minister twice before she was assassinated in December 2007, most women do not work outside the home.
Ernákulam
Ta
mi
Kochi / Cochin Kollam / Quilon
Thiruvananthapuram / Trivandrum
9
86
Dávangere
Udupi Kásaragod
8
Ráichúr
Karnātaka
s a t G h
In 1983, civil war erupted in Sri Lanka between the Buddhist majority Sinhalese, who dominate the government, and the Hindu minority Tamils, who wanted to establish their own independent state in the north of the island. The civil war, which ended in 2009 when the government defeated the Tamil Tigers, has cost many lives and disrupted the island’s economy. Yet Sri Lanka still has one of the highest literacy rates in the world and high levels of health care.
7
I N
S át pura Range
Aurangábád Náshik Go d á Kalyán M a h ā rvari āshtra D e Mumbai Pune (Bombay) Nánded
Arabian Sea
6
Indore Vadodara
Bhávnagar Gulf of Khambhát
Ratlám e a ng ya R h d Vin
Nágercoil
School child, Sri Lanka A
B
C
F
G
H
l
INDIAN SUBCONTINENT
(A"line of control" was agreed between India and Pakistan in 1972)
J
K
L
M
N
O
THE HIMALAYAS
The highest chain of mountains in the world, the Himalayas have eight peaks that are more than 26,247 ft (8,000 m) high. Everest, the world’s highest mountain at 29,035 ft (8,850 m), is on the border of Nepal and Tibet. Mountaineers come from far and wide to scale these massive peaks.
AKSAI CHIN (administered by China, claimed by India)
J am m u a nd Kashmír
DEMCHOK/ DÊMQOG (administered by China, claimed by India)
i Yamu na
m Utta r a k h a
l
NEPAL
G an g
a
C H
a
y
BHUTAN
s
Hidden away in the Himalayas, the people of Bhutan are devoutly Buddhist and have little contact with the outside world. A minority of the population are Nepalese Hindus who came to the country in the first half of the 1900s. Most Bhutanese live in the fertile river valleys of the center and south of the country. Traditional dress—the kira for women and the gho for men—is widely worn.
Annapurna
Dibrugarh
MY
AN
MA
R
es
es
D I AC hBiláspur hattīsgar
(Calcutta)
Korba
Gondia Raipur
th Or
Chandrapur
c
a eG of th Mouths
Báleshwar
Sambalpur
iss
Ma hán
a
ad i
Cuttack
Jagdalpur
Brahmapur
st
G
h des s a r P A n d h r oa Vizianagaram at dá G h va Warangal Visákhapatnam ri Hyderábád r n Rájahmundry e
Hindus bathe in the Ganges River, which is considered sacred
Ongole
Tádpatri
5
RELIGION
Chírála
Kurnool
l
Two of the world’s great religions—Hinduism and Buddhism—began in India more than 2,500 years ago. Most Pakistanis and Bangladeshis are Muslim, most Indians and Nepalese are Hindu, and most Sri Lankans and Bhutanese are Buddhist.
Vijayawáda
Ea
hna Kris
4
The name Bhutan means “Land of the Thunder Dragon” in Dzongkha, the country’s official language.
e
Bay of Benga
Puri
Nizámábád Karímnagar
ng
3
Bhubaneshwar
n
a
1
(claimed by China)
I N A Kula Kangri Bareilly 26,545ft (8091m) ›alyán Mount Everest 24,783ft (7554m) 29,035ft (8850m) THIMPHU tr a Pokhará Uttar Bhaktapur apu BHUTAN hm P r a d e s h KATHMANDU Lalitpur a r Darjiling Bongaigaon B m Jorhát Ágra a Lucknow Faizábád Birátnagar Shiliguri Ass Kohíma Gorakhpur Guwáháti Gwalior Kánpur Dinajpur Rangpur M e g h ā l a y a Imphál Chhapra Bihār Allahábád Ga Jamalpur Sylhet Patna Jhánsi Silchar ng Shivpuri BANGLADESH Váránasi Gaya Ma dhy J h ā r k h a n dRajshahi Cancer a Prad Tropic of Pabna DHAKA e s h Ságar Dhanbád Comilla Jessore Murwára Ásánsol Cho t a Khulna Ránchi W e u r s t Bengal Bhopál Jabalpur N á g p Chittagong Jamshedpur Barisal Kolkata Ráulakela Kharagpur s Nágpur
Bhutanese people
ARUNACHAI PRADESH
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Kávali North Andaman
Cuddapah Nellore
Middle Andaman
Chennai (Madras)
Port Blair
Vellore Kánchípuram Salem
South Andaman
Andaman Islands (to India)
Pondicherry Little Andaman
Nādu
Tiruchchiráppalli
TEA IN SRI LANKA
k Strait
Jaffna
Mannar
SRI LANKA
Tuticorin Trincomalee Gulf of Puttalam Mannar Batticaloa Negombo
Kandy
INDIAN
Sri Jayewardanapura Kotte Galle Matara
More movies are produced in Mumbai (Bombay), India—more than 800 a year—than in the entire USA, turning “Bollywood,” as it is known, into a major cultural center. Bollywood movies generally have historical, religious, or social themes and are famous for their song-and-dance routines and glamorous stars. These movies are an important export to n central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
(to India)
Car Nicobar
Katchall Island Little Nicobar
Indira Point
COLOMBO Kalutara
Sri Lanka is the world’s largest exporter of tea. The plantations are mostly located in the center of the island and they employ women to pick the delicate, green shoots of the bushes.
8
BOLLYWOOD
a m da ea An S
Madurai
Pal
Nicobar Islands
Great Nicobar
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OCEAN K
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ASIA B
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Western China and Mongolia China is a land of huge geographical diversity and 2
DESERT LANDS
The cold, rocky Gobi Desert (right) stretches for more than 400,000 sq miles (1,000,000 sq km) through Mongolia and northeast China. Many dinosaur bones and eggs have been found here, making it one of the richest dinosaur fossil regions in the world.
amazing landscapes. More than 90 percent of the population are Han Chinese—descendents of people who settled here more than 5,000 years ago. This region includes western China, Mongolia, and Tibet. Mongolia gained its independence from China in 1911 and is now an independent democracy. Tibet is currently governed by China. Compared to eastern China, this region is sparsely populated and characterized by vast deserts, remote mountains, and extreme temperatures. MONGOLIANS
3
Most of the people living in Mongolia are Khalkha Mongols. About half of these people now live in urban areas, but some still lead traditional lives as nomadic herders. They live in large felt tents called yurts. Smoke from the central iron stove escapes through a chimney in the roof.
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Har S han
Qamdo Salw
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Lhasa Gonggar Gyangzê
(claimed by China)
M AR
Chinese symbols, whose strokes have to be written in a certain order
9
88
A
B
MONASTERIES IN MONGOLIA
Under communism, Mongolians were forbidden to practice their traditional Buddhist faith, which was viewed as superstitious and unscientific. Since the democratic government was set up in 1990, about 100 monasteries have reopened. Most people, however, no longer follow any religion. G
H
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INDIA
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BHUTAN
sARUNÁCHAL PRADESH
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Mount Everest 29,035ft (8850m)
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The Chinese alphabet is not made up of letters. Instead, separate symbols stand for individual words or parts of words. There are more than 40,000 characters in the Chinese language. The same symbols are used everywhere in China, and no matter what Chinese language or dialect people speak, they can all read the same script.
Atas Bogd 8842ft (2695m)
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(administered by China, claimed by India)
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AKSAI CHIN (administered by China, claimed by India)
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Aj Bogd Uul 12,474ft (3802m)
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akla Makan
(claimed by India)
K2 28,251ft (8611m)
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XINJIANG
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In traditional Mongolian khoomi singing, men are able to sing several notes at once.
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WESTERN CHINA AND MONGOLIA K
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Sea of Japan (East Sea)
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Great
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FESTIVAL OF NAADAM
Each July, people all over Mongolia celebrate the sports festival of Naadam. Three sports—wrestling (above), archery, and horse riding—are the focus of the festivities. The skills needed to take part in these activities are those that would have helped people survive a traditional nomadic lifestyle.
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(Ulanhad)
4
PEOPLE OF TIBET
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Most Tibetans live in the valleys of the Tibetan plateau, high up in the Himalayas and surrounded by the world’s tallest mountains. Tibetans have their own language and culture. Recently, many Han Chinese have moved to this region looking for a better life.
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GREAT WALL OF CHINA
About 2,200 years ago, approximately 300,000 slaves began to build China’s enormous Great Wall. Originally constructed to protect China’s northern borders, it is the longest human-made structure ever built and stretches from central Asia to the Yellow Sea, a distance of 3,980 miles (6,400 km).
Wenxian
Buddhist prayer flags
7
TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
As well as modern medicine, many Chinese still use alternative remedies. Traditional medicine is based on the belief that health is achieved by balancing a person’s mind and body— their yin and yang. Any imbalance is treated with medicines made from dried plant materials (left). Some animals, including Asiatic bears, are now endangered owing to the demand for parts used in traditional medicine.
I
J
K
L
8
BUDDHIST TIBET
Many Tibetans are devout Buddhists. Their religious leader, the Dalai Lama, used to live in Lhasa. In 1951, however, Tibet became part of China, and the government restricted the people’s religious freedom and lifestyle. This has resulted in tension between Tibetans and the Chinese government. The Dalai Lama now lives in exile in India. M
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ASIA B
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Eastern China and Korea
China has a large population of more than 1.3 billion,
Chinese New Year parade
IA
3
Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is the country’s most important festival. It is usually held in January or February. Good-luck messages decorate buildings, and there are feasts, fireworks, fairs, and processions. People wear red clothes for good luck and give gifts of coins to symbolize wealth.
with two thirds living in eastern China. For thousands of years, powerful emperors ruled China. During this period, Chinese civilization was very advanced, but most of the population lived in poverty. In 1949, after a communist revolution, the People’s Republic of China was established. Food, education, and health care became available to more people, but there was also a loss of freedom. Today, Chinese people have more freedom, but the government still has tight control over their lives. The Korean peninsula is politically divided into north and south, and political tensions continue to exist between the two governments. Since 1949, Taiwan has been in dispute with China about who governs the mountainous island of Taiwan.
GX
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NEW -YEAR CELEBRATIONS
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GUIZHOU
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G UA N G X I
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Rice forms the basis Jinghong of most Chinese meals. It grows in paddy fields in the southeast of the country. During the growing season, fields are flooded so that farmers can grow more rice more quickly. In drier regions, wheat is grown and 0 km used to make noodles, buns, and dumplings. Rice or wheat is combined 0 miles with local vegetables, meats, and spices to create regional dishes.
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Skyline of Hong Kong with a Chinese junk in the foreground
Many Chinese children do not have brothers or sisters. This is owing to policies introduced by the Chinese goverment in 1979. To try to control the rising population, the government offers special benefits to couples with only one child. Although this has slowed down the rate of growth, China’s population still grows by millions each year.
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Tongchuan an
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For 100 years, Hong Kong was a British colony. Then, in 1997, it was returned to China. These small islands are some of the most densely populated areas of the world. Most people live and work in skyscrapers. It has a prosperous economy at the heart of global finance, and the people there have one of the world’s highest life expectancies.
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HAINAN
EASTERN CHINA AND KOREA I
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NORTH KOREA
North Korea is an independent communist country, but since the break up of the Soviet Union, it has lost many of its trading partners and is now very poor. However, the country has a good education system and a high literacy rate. Education is free and compulsory for all children for ten years.
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(North and South Korea have been divided by a ceasefire agreement since 1953)
Weifang
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East Korea Bay
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SEOUL (SÔUL)
Taejôn
SOUTH KOREA
Taegu Ulsan
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SHANDONG
Qingdao Anyang Chinju Kwangju Rizhao Jining Yôsu Xinxiang Mokp’o Zaozhuang Yellow Sanmenxia Kaifeng Cheju Strait a Lianyungang S e a re Luoyang Zhengzhou Xuzhou Ko
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The majority of the Chinese population lives in only 15 percent of the total land area.
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Pingdingshan Suzhou
JIANGSU
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Guangzhou Zhaoqing Jiangmen Yulin Macao
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Hong Kong (Xianggang)
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G UA N G D O N G
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Tropic of Cancer
TAIWAN
8 BEAUTY OF TAIWAN
Taiwan’s mountainous countryside is famous for its natural beauty, scenic lakes, and many ornate Buddhist temples. This peaceful environment contrasts sharply with Taiwan’s capital city, Taipei, which is one of the fastest -growing cities in Asia.
Bicycle factory
(Aomen)
Suixi
Fuzhou
Longyan Quanzhou Shaoguan Zhangzhou
Guilin Lipu
Yong’an
t
Chenzhou
(China and Taiwan claim all of each other's territory)
Sanming
Ganzhou
Maoming
Zhanjiang Xuwen
Haikou
Hainan Dao I
CHINESE INDUSTRY
After the revolutionary leader Mao Zedong died in 1976, China’s economy opened up. New industry is now encouraged, and many people are moving from the country to cities, where there are relatively well-paid jobs. J
K
6
Fu’an
Nanping
Sea
Hengyang
FUJIAN
Nanfeng
uth
JIANGXI
Yongzhou Quanzhou
ZHEJIANG
Wenzhou Shangrao Linchuan
Xiangtan
Hongjiang
Quzhou
China’s largest city is Shanghai. More than 13 million people live in this wealthy east-coast port. International trade has recently transformed Shanghai’s skyline, which is now crowded with skyscrapers and modern shopping malls. The center of town still has some old Western-style buildings that have survived from the days before the revolution.
So
Jingdezhen Changde Nanchang Changsha
H U NA N
Ningbo Jinhua
Jiujiang
MODERN SHANGHAI
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Hangzhou
Huangshi
Yueyang
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SHANGHI SHI
Jiaxing
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Gorges Reservoir
Cheju-do
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Nanyang Huainan Xiangfang Nanjing Hefei Xinyang Three
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Dalian Sariwôn Korea Haeju Yantai Bay Inch’ôn
TIANJIN SHI
Shijiazhuang H E B E I Botou Taiyuan
Hyesan
South Korea is a democratic nation with a thriving electronics and machinery industry. One fourth of the population lives in or near the capital city, Seoul. The Internet has quickly developed in South Korea and plays an important role in work and leisure. The children below are using computers at an Internet café in the central city of Taejon.
NORTH KOREA
P’YONGYANG
Tangshan Tianjin Bo Hai
Langfang Renqiu
SHANXI
Dandong
Qinhuangdao
BEIJING Datong (PEKING) Shouzhou
Kanggye
Anshan Haicheng
Fengcheng Huailai
Sea of Japan (East Sea)
Ch’ôngjin
Fushun
L I AO N I N G
Jinzhou
Chengde
Zhangjiakou
JIL
Shenyang Fuxin
Chaoyang
SOUTH KOREA
Najin
A L I O G M O N
E R I N N
1
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5
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Mount Fuji is a dormant volcano.
Many Japanese people follow a mix of the Shinto and Buddhist religions, attending wedding ceremonies in Shinto shrines and funerals in Buddhist temples. Buddhism originated in India and arrived in Japan in the 500s, whereas the Shinto faith is native to Japan. Respect for nature is especially important in the Shinto religion. Many natural locations, such as Mount Fuji, are considered sacred.
RELIGIONS OF JAPAN
Ocean off the coast of the Asian continent. It is made up of four main islands and more than 3,000 smaller ones. The Japanese people have a distinctive culture based on traditions built up over thousands of years. They have their own language and script. School children all learn to read and write both in the traditional script and using letters. Social rules in Japan are strict, and respect and politeness are considered very important. Most people bow when greeting one another, for example. Japan is a very modern country, however, with one of the world’s most technologically advanced societies. Its economy is based on the development and production of cutting-edge electronics and vehicles, and most families have the latest consumer goods.
Japan is situated in the north Pacific
Japan
C
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0 miles
0 km 100
Japanese Temple
100
200
Wakkanai
Noboribetsu
Gojóme
Miyako
Fudi
Morioka
Iwate
Kuji
Hachinohe
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Furukawa
Sendai
Sakata Tsuruoka Atsumi
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Ishinomaki
Shizugawa
Hanamaki Yokote Kesennuma
Ódate
Kuroishi
Towada
Traditional and modern dresses
Hiroo
Horoshiri-dake 6732ft (2052m)
Ostrov Kunashir
Ostrov Shikotan
I
(Kurile Islands administered by Russian Federation, claimed by Japan)
Nemuro Akkeshi
Bekkai
Shari
On regular days, Japanese people usually wear Western-style clothes. Most children have a school uniform. On festival days, such as Children’s Day, many people prefer to wear the traditional kimono. Women’s kimonos are often made of colorful silk, decorated with beautiful designs.
FASHION IN JAPAN
Kushiro Obihiro
Shintoku
Mutsu -wan
Mutsu
Honjó Yuzawa
Akita
Noshiro
Asahi-dake 7513ft (2290m)
Kitami
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Most of the country’s 127 million people live in cities in the flatter coastal areas. Tokyo and Osaka are very crowded, and homes here are usually very small and are designed to make the most of the limited space.
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The islands of Japan are situated in an area where four of Earth’s tectonic plates meet. This causes frequent earthquakes. Japanese school children are taught how to stay safe during an earthquake by sheltering in a doorway or under a table.
EARTHQUAKES
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Mount Fuji 12,388ft (3776m)
Ina
One of the fastest ways to travel around Japan is on their high-speed train system—known as bullet trains, or Shinkansen. This network connects Tokyo with most of the country’s other major cities, such as Sapporo and Nagasaki. The trains reach speeds of more than 186 mph (300 km/h). Japan built the world’s first high-speed train in 1964.
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IC F I C AN PA CE O
BULLET TRAINS
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Shikoku
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Uwajima
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Hitoyoshi
Tokushima
Kashiwazaki ak my n a s iM ik u n
Sóma Haramachi
Kóriyama
JAPAN
Inawashiro-ko
Niitsu Aizu
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Biwa-ko Nagoya
Wadayama Kyóto
Maizuru
Niihama Matsuyama
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Nagasaki Yatsushiro
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Hitachi Utsunomiya Itoigawa Toyama Mito Nagano Maebashi -wan Oyama Kasumiga-ura Takaoka Toyama Takasaki Narita Matsumoto Chóshi Kanazawa Kawagoe
Matsue anc Kendo is a popular martial art in Japan. It was Izumo u-s k developed (in its modern form) about 200 years Himeji Kóbe go ago and teaches the art of Japanese samurai hú C Gótsu AwajiOkayama swordsmanship. Children train using Harima- shima bamboo swords (above). Hamada Kurashiki nada Fukuyama
MARTIAL ARTS
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MODERN TECHNOLOGY
Japan’s economy is based on high-tech research, development, and production. The country has built a reputation for providing the latest technology in vehicles and electronic goods, such as televisions, computers, and stereo systems. Japanese products are usually of a high quality but are still affordable.
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9
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Sushi, a dish of raw fish and rice
I
Baseball, known as yakyu, is fast becoming Japan’s most popular sport, As well as two professional leagues, the game is played at universities and schools. It was introduced to Japan in the late 1800s.
BASEBALL
Rice is the major crop grown on the small amount of flat land in Japan. Along with rice, fish is an important part of most meals, and Japan has one of the world’s largest fishing fleets. This healthy diet may be part of the reason why Japanese people have one of the world’s longest life expectancy rates.
A HEALTHY DIET
Hachijó-jima
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Izu
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93
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i
IA
Chi nd w
LAD ESH
n
Thandwe
Thayetmyo
(Yangon)
Hpa-an
Thaton
Kyaikto Kayan
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Phayao
Tak
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L
200
a ck
H
oa
Udon Thani Phitsanulok
Loei
(VIANGCHAN)
VIENTIANE
ne
A
n
a
E tiqu i I m S Sakon Nakhon
n
Thai Binh
Ãông Ha
Ãông Hòi
Gu lf of T ongk ing
Thanh Hoa
Vinh
Tõòng Ãõòng
Thakhèk
Plateau
Korat
Nong Khai
aî
O
Ch Ang Nam Ngum Pakxan N am
A
Louangphabang Muong Xiang Ngeun Pèk Xaignabouli
Hông Gai
Câm Pha
KAREN TRIBE
I
There are 600,000 tribespeople living in the northeastern hills of Thailand. The Karen are the largest hill tribe. They originated from Myanmar but moved into Thailand to escape political unrest.
Padaung women, who are part of the Karen tribe, wear distinctive gold neck rings.
Hai Phong
Bâc Giang
Ha Ãông
Nam Ãinh
Hoa Binh
HA NÔI
Lang Sòn
Cao Bâng
Tropic of Cancer
Rice is the most important crop in southeast Asia. It grows well in wet lowland areas, such as the Mekong River delta in Vietnam, where the plants can be grown in paddy fields. Most rice is planted and harvested by women.
Ha Giang
Viêt Tri
G
GROWING RICE
Thai Nguyên
Lao Cai
Sop Hao Xam Nua
Muang Namo
Ãiên Biên
Lai Châu
Riv er
I N A
200
Ban Hin Heup
Nan
Sirikit Reservoir
n
Lampang Phrae
HBl
100
Phôngsali
C
100
Houayxay Chiang Rai
Chiang Mai
Fang
RURAL LIVING
Cambodia has a very high percentage of widows and orphans, mostly because many men were killed in civil wars in recent decades.
ORPHANS IN CAMBODIA
F
Most people in southeast Asia live in rural areas rather than cities, and farming is the most common occupation. The steep, mountainous regions are often unsuitable for growing crops or raising cattle, however, and many farming communities are based in the fertile river valleys and deltas. There are more than 200 villages on and around this lake (right) in Myanmar.
Louangnamtha
Muang Sing
0 miles
0 km
Viangphoukha
Keng Tung
ea
n
Pathein
Bago
Pyuntaza
Nyaunglebin
a
Rangoon
Hinthada
Taungoo
Loikaw
T
Bengal
ma
Myanaung Letpadan
Paungde Phyu
Pyay
Aunglan
at
en Salwe
Taunggyi
NAY PYI TAW
Taungdwingyi
Yenangyaung
Magway
Minbu
Chauk
Meiktila
Pl
Lashio
Pyn-Oo-Lwin Sagaing Mandalay Amarapura Kyaukse Sha Pakokku n Myingyan
ka
Yo ung tto Si
Bay of
Shwebo
Monywa
Falam
a Ar
Cheduba Island
Katha
Bhamo
P a wn
Ramree Island
s
Pyechin
ill Chin H
Sittwe
Banmauk
Myitkyina
MYANMAR
IN D
Tamu
Mogaung
N
Sh u
8
D
mO Na
7
Tropic of Cancer
BA NG
6
5
4
Ran ge
mon
Ku
3
H I a nN A n
Mae Nam P in g
Irrawaddy
ma
duan
Li
Sò
Yom M a e N am e Nam Na Ma
2
C
he peninsula of Southeast Asia lies directly to the south of India and China, between the Pacific and Indian oceans. It is made up of Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Over thousands of years, the influence of people from nearby India, China, and Arabian countries has helped give this region a diverse mix of cultures and religions. Most of the land here is mountainous, with half of the region covered in forests. Most people live in coastal or lowland regions, where they can grow crops such as rice, raise cattle, and catch fish. In recent years, the electronics Cambodian Hkakabo Razi orphanage industry has also become 19,308ft (5885m) an important part of southeast Asian economies, especially in Maingkwan Thailand. nn
T
C
i H ka
Mainland SE Asia
B
ng He
ng
ên
V
T e
e
8
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14
Tourism is now a major industry for Thailand. Popular destinations include the country’s lively capital, Bangkok, and beautiful island beach resorts (below). Phuket, Thailand’s largest island, is often referred to as the “Pearl of the South.”
THAI BEACHES
A large, previously unknown mammal, the Vu Quang ox was only recently discovered in the forests of northern Vietnam.
The capital of Thailand, Bangkok, is a busy, crowded city with more than nine million inhabitants. The city was built on an island in the river, and has many canals. Boats, known as sampans, (above) act as floating markets from which traders sell fresh fruit and vegetables.
FLOATING MARKET
Little Coco Island
Great Coco Island
Mudon
Letsôk-aw Kyun
Ranong
da Se m a n a
Ko Lanta
Phuket
Ko Phangan Ko Samui
MA
Ca Mau
Vinh Rach Gia
Rach Gia
Kâmpôt
Châu Ãôc
(PHNUM PENH)
Virôchey
g ôn
Krâchéh
Sea
Svay Riêng
Mo
s uth
of
H
I
Angkor Wat
The impressive temple complex of Angkor in Cambodia attracts visitors interested in its history and architecture. Côn Ãao This combination of temples and palaces was built in 1113 CE by the Khmer king Suryavarman II. The buildings, such as Angkor Wat, below, are made of stone and brick and are decorated with relief sculptures showing mythical scenes of Hindu gods and great royal processions. The complex was uncovered in 1861 by French naturalist Henri Mouhot, following stories of a “lost city” in the jungle.
th
Phan RangThap Cham
Cam Ranh
Nha Trang
Tuy Hoa
Quy Nhòn
Phan Thiêt
Hô Chi Minh
Biên Hoa
Di Linh
Ãa Lat
Plây Cu
Quang Ngai
Hôi An Tam Ky
Ãâ Nâng
Vung Tau My Tho Cân Thò Tra Vinh Soc Trâng ANGKOR Bac Liêu e
Long Xuyên
Suông
M
The main religion in mainland southeast Asia is Buddhism. Almost all Thai villages have their own temple, or wat, which is the center of village life. Most young men spend some time in a monastery, where they have few possessions and spend most of their time in meditation.
MONASTIC LIFE
A
Narathiwat
L AYSI
Yala
Poûthîsât
South China Pattani
Thale Luang Songkhla
Phatthalung
Hat Yai
Pulau Langkawi
Ko Ta Ru Tao
Trang
Pak Phanang
T
ôn
Huê
Samakhixai
C A M BTrâpeâng O DVêngI A
PHNOM PENH
Kâmpóng Saôm
Nakhon Si Thammarat
Sichon
Surat Thani
Lang Suan
of Kra
Chumphon
Isthmus
Phang-Nga Ko Thung Song Phuket
Ko Phra Thong
Zadetkyi Kyun
Lanbi Kyun
Gulf of Thailand
Muang Không Phumî t œn Sâmraông g
Pakxé
Muang Khôngxédôn
Salavan
Kâmpóng Chhnâng Chuor Phnum Kâmpóng Cham Krâvanh Ôdôngk
Reâng Kesei Moûng Roessei Chanthaburi
Ko Chang
Ao Krung Pattaya Thep Rayong Ban Hua Hin
Phetchaburi
Champasak
ôr Ph num D ân gr êk
Krâlânh
Chu
Surin
Buriram
Ubon Ratchathani
Roi Et
Khanthabouli Muang Phalan Kalasin
Angkor Wat Tônle Sr êpôk Stœng Trêng Tônlé Sap Phumî Kâmpong Trâbêk Bâtdâmbâng
Samut Prakan Chon Buri
Ratchaburi
BANGKOK
Sara Buri
(KRUNG THEP)
Ayutthaya
Srinagarind Reservoir
Lop Buri
Nakhon Sawan Nakhon Ratchasima
Khon Kaen
THAILAND
Lom Sak
Nakhon Pathom
Daung Kyun Tenasserim
Kadan Kyun Myeik
Mali Kyun
Dawei
Ye
Kyaikkami
A
13
12
11
10
9
t he I r r a w a d d y
Bogale
B
M Labutta ou ths of
n g R ange
ktau
K
Mawlamyine
M
Kanbe Martaban Kyaiklat
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Merg ui Archi
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Myaungmya
ng eko
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R a n g e S
Sên
ila u
N le
A M
n
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ASIA B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Maritime SE Asia T
Orangutans are great apes that live only in Borneo and the northern corner of Sumatra. They spend most of their time in the trees, even building tree-top nests in which to sleep. Sadly, the orangutan is endangered because of deforestation.
PEOPLE OF MALAYSIA
ait
Medan
Pulau Simeulue Tebingtinggi
5
Pematangsiantar
Pulau Nias
Ipoh
Kuala Lipis
ca
Klang
Kota Kinabalu
BRUNEI
Cukai
Kuantan
M
A
L
Kepulauan Lingga Kualatungkal
Ka
A
B
B atang Ra jan g
n ga un r n u ll e Peg Mu
im
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Pulau Belitung
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B o r n e o n Kalimanta
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ri
n
I
I
at
T
ai ng Su
Sarawa k
pu a gai Ka Sun
at
(Sumatera) Palembang Lahat
Sibu
Sidas
Pontianak
Jambi Bangka Pangkalpinang
a ri
S
Bintulu
Sri Aman
Sumatra
a Bengkulu
Skyscrapers in Singapore’s financial district
e ra s a n at S S e l Kuching
Sel
B
CE
ua u l a ai K e p nta w N Me A
O
n
Y
Singkawang
Rengat
B a tan gH
Sungaipenuh
SINGAPORE
Sampit
a
a ka
Balikpapan Amuntai
D Banjarmasin O Ja
Cirebon
JAKARTA Tegal Pekalongan Serang
Semarang Kudus
Sukabumi
Bandung
Tasikmalaya
J ava
(Jawa)
Cilacap Magelang
8
Pulau Laut
va
Pulau Madura
Sea
Surabaya Probolinggo Jember Bali Mataram
Malang
Kediri Madiun
Yogyakarta Surakarta
Denpasar Pulau Lombok
KITE FLYING
After the harvest, the people of Malaysia celebrate with the Wau (kite-flying) Festival, where skilled people demonstrate the traditional Malaysian sport.
9
96
A
B
C
D
E
F
m
Kandangan
N
S e l a t S u n d a Bogor
yan Ka
Sung ai
Kotabumi
Bandar Lampung
h
Miri
ah M
Solok
A
Johor Bahru
Pekanbaru
an ng nu gu
AN
Pulau Siberut
Padang
Kepulauan Natuna
KUALA LUMPUR
Pe
Panyabungan
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Dungun
PUTRAJAYA
Equator
7
Taiping
Batu Pahat
DI
6
As the financial and industrial centre of southeast Asia, Singapore is one of the wealthiest countries in this region. It has a thriving high-tech industry and a high standard of living. There are strictly enforced laws forbidding littering and other petty crimes. The death penalty is imposed for drug smuggling. The government also controls the press and restricts the Internet.
IN
SINGAPORE
ac
Gunung Kinabalu 13,455ft (4101m)
Kuala Terengganu
Danau Seremban Muar Keluang Melaka Sibolga Toba
Kepulauan Banyak Ubadiah mosque, Malaysia
Butterworth
Pulau Pinang
al
Meulaboh
M
Langsa
D
Kota Bharu
George Town
of
Sigli
South China Sea
ba
Str
Banda Aceh
LA N
Brunei is ruled by a sultan who lives in the world’s largest palace. The sultan is one of the wealthiest abac Bal men in the world.
Sa
TH AI
And aman Sea
4
THE SULTAN OF BRUNEI
Sultan of Brunei
a amnjar ab a n o
Ethnic Malaysians make up 53 percent of the population and are known as bumiputera, meaning “son of the soil.” Most Malaysians are Muslim. Ethnic Chinese form 26 percent of the population.
i B a r it o
3
GREAT APES
Sunga
2
o the south of the Asian mainland lies maritime southeast Asia. It includes Malaysia, Indonesia, East Timor, Singapore, and the Philippines. Part of Malaysia is connected to the mainland, but the rest of the region is made up of more than 20,000 islands that stretch across the Pacific and Indian oceans. Lying near the Equator, the climate is mostly hot, wet, and humid. Most of the larger islands are mountainous and covered in dense forests, and many people live in villages near rivers or on the coast. Like the rest of southeast Asia, the population is made up of people from many different cultural backgrounds speaking hundreds of different languages. The most common religion is Islam, except in the Philippines, where most people are Roman Catholic.
G
H
I
J
K
L
uyan C
Baguio
Tuguegarao Ilagan
Cabanatuan
Naga Legazpi City Samar
Cadiz
Negros
Sulu Sea
Cebu B o h ol S
ea
Butuan Cagayan de Oro
Iligan
Bislig
Mindanao Moro Gulf
ch
i
General Santos
Manado
gu Q u n u n ga n arl es
Pe
Se
Ce le be s
T el u k
cc
Halmahera p a m Sorong M Sea Selat D Jazirah ol Doberai
Ce
Waflia Tifu
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Kendari Kolaka Pulau
Pulau Buru
ram
Sea
Wahai
Pulau Seram
S
Ambon
0 miles I
Se or
Nikiniki
400 400 J
b er
A
Puncak Java 16,503ft (5030m)
Amamapare
am o
Ma
Papua
oke
(Irian Jaya)
New Guinea
Kepulauan Aru
Tutuala
Pulau Yamdena
A
u raf
ra
Sun g a i D
S
Alotip
7
8
Timor
Ti m
200
l
am
Rice is the primary food source for half of the world’s population. Near Manila, Philippines, scientists are now experimenting with ways of creating rice plants that produce greater yields. New varieties are also being developed to grow faster, allowing farmers to harvest and replant several times during one growing season.
EAST TIMOR
Endeh
200
a
Jayapura M
Pe g u n u n g a n
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DILI
Flores
0 km
(M
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T nd elu k era w as ih Maniwori
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Pulau or ser Sunda ara) A l Wetar n ua (Nusa Tengg K epula
Kupang
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Kepulauan Kai
Kepulauan Tanimbar
ds Islan
Savu Sea
s
I
a Banda Se
Bulukumba
Pulau Sumba
ca
Pulau Misool
6
RICE RESEARCH
Ce
k
Makassar
t Sumba Sela
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Buton
Flores Sea
Pulau Biak Manokwari Pulau Yapen
u
Bo
ne
Danau Towuti
Equator
Pulau Waigeo
ie
Kepulauan Sula
(Sulawesi)
Machine replanting rice seedlings
Pulau Halmahera
Ternate
u ol
Kepulauan Banggai
Poso
Wotu
Singkang Watampone
M
5
ai
ass
a
Str ar
Gulf of Tomini
Children living and working in “Smoky Mountain,” Manila
ng
ak
Bitung
Gorontalo
4
Su
M
Pulau Morotai
Tolitoli
t
The people of the Philippines are called Filipinos and are mostly of Malay descent. It is estimated that more than 40 percent of the population lives in poverty. Because income is higher in the cities, many people move there in the hope of escaping poverty. However, lack of adequate housing means that many poorer families have to live in crowded slums.
Kepulauan Talaud
Ke p ulau a
Celebes Sea
Les
ao G u lf
r
r uA Sul
pe
av
n San gir
go
Lebak
la
Sandakan
Davao
Digos
D
Basilan
Mount Pinatubo erupting in 1991
THE PHILIPPINES
Strait
Zamboanga
3
Leyte
PA PU A NE W GU IN EA
Pa
Iloilo Bacolod City
Puerto Princesa
Tacloban
l
ssa ge
Panay Island
Palawan
Pa la wa n
Calbayog
Roxas City
a
ait Str
Min Mindoro do Sibuyan ro Sea
2
ig u
Lucena
Batangas
Parepare N
In Malay, orangutan means “man of the jungle.”
PHILIPPINES
MANILA
Samarinda Palu
1
ea
Mt. Pinatubo 4872ft (1485m)
ai
P
Luzon
Dagupan Angeles
Tawau
O
The islands of the Philippines are on a fault line and form part of the “Pacific Ring of Fire”—an area prone to volcanic activity and earthquakes. When Mount Pinatubo, on the island of Luzon, erupted in 1991, it destroyed more than 40,000 homes.
han n e l
Cordillera
Laoag
N
STORMS AND VOLCANOES
Babuyan Island B ab
M
K
a
OIL RICHES
Oil was first discovered in Brunei in 1929. Since then, oil has also been drilled offshore. Brunei’s most important natural resource has made the country very wealthy. Its people enjoy free health care and education and pay no taxes. L
9
M
N
O
P
97
INDIAN OCEAN B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Indian Ocean
The third-largest ocean in the world, the Indian 2
THE MALDIVES
The Maldives is a low-lying archipelago of 1,300 small coral islands, of which 202 are inhabited. The main industries are fishing—still carried out by traditional pole and line methods to conserve stocks—and tourism. Vacation resorts are on separate islands to those inhabited by locals, so as not to disturb the Maldive peoples’ traditional Muslim lifestyles.
Black Sea
Mediterranean Sea
A rabian Pe ninsula Red
3
Sea
Ocean is bounded by Africa, Asia, Australasia, and Antarctica. The ocean contains some 5,000 islands. Madagascar and Sri Lanka are large, but most of the islands are small and ringed by coral reefs. The people of the Maldives have very mixed origins, incorporating Indian, Sinhalese, Arab, and African heritages, while two thirds of those living in Mauritius are Indian immigrants and their descendents. Altogether, about one fifth of the world’s population live on this ocean’s warm shores. Those along the northern coasts are often threatened by monsoon rain and tropical storms, which can cause severe flooding.
E th io pian Hig h lan ds
CORAL ISLANDS
Coral is a living organism formed in warm water by tiny sea creatures known as polyps. These creatures build limestone skeletons around themselves that accumulate over thousands of years. As sea levels change, this coral can be exposed as low-lying islands or submerged as reefs.
Andrew Tablemount
as
in
AFRICA
Horn of Africa
iB
4
f lf o Gu n e Ad
So
5
m
al
COMOROS MAYOTTE
THE SEYCHELLES
(to France)
Moza m Chan bique nel
A MAD
b e Mozam Davi e Ridg
6
AR GASC
The Seychelles consists of 115 islands—some are coral islands, while others are mountainous and made of granite. Most Seychellois people are Creoles—people of mixed African, Asian, and European ancestry. There are also small Chinese and Indian communities.
Market on the largest Seychelles island, Mahé
Natal Basin
ENVIRONMENT
Africana Seamount
(to South Africa)
LIMITED TOURISM
98
The tropical climate, sandy beaches, beautiful coral reefs, and abundant marine life make both the Seychelles and the Maldives ideal tourist destinations. These same features also make them extremely attractive to scuba divers. However, the fragile environment of both island nations means that they have deliberately tried to make them exclusive, attracting only limited numbers of wealthy visitors, instead of pursuing mass tourism. A
B
C
D
E
F
u
Prince Edward Islands
8
9
tea
Agulhas Agulhas Plateau Basin
Pl a
7
ique
Beautiful shells are for sale on this beach in South Africa. If the trader collects only empty shells, no harm is done, but in many parts of the world, dealers hunt live shellfish, sea turtles, and rare species of starfish and sea urchins. Nations such as the Maldives take great care to protect the environment.
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
SALT FROM THE SEA
Aral Sea
Caspian Sea
H
i
Iranian Plateau r Pe G u
sia lf n
b i G o
Shan
en
Ti
Salt is essential for life and has been traded here for centuries. People around the Indian Ocean make salt by flooding large flat areas with seawater. As the water evaporates in the sun, salt crystals are left behind. These are then collected, drained, and cleaned.
1
Collecting salt in the Maldives
A S I A m
a
2
Yellow Sea
l a y a s
G ulf of Oman In d Ganges Fa
Arabian Sea
Ar abi an Laccadive Bas i n Islands
R i d g e
N i n e t y e a s t
Amsterdam Island St. Paul Island
S o u t h e a
Crozet Plateau
Crozet Islands
(to France)
Ker gu Kerguelen
ele
nP
HEARD & MCDONALD ISLANDS Ob' Tablemount
(to Australia)
Lena Tablemount
erby End
la
te
au
s t
am
Tre
nch
m
Cuvier a n Plateau
st Ri Ind dg e Di
Celebes
a Se a Java
Perth Basin
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
Naturaliste Plateau tina Frac ture Zone
an
I n d i a n
6
INTERNATIONAL SEAWAYS
The Indian Ocean contains some of the busiest and most important shipping routes in the world. Smaller ships sail to and from the Mediterranean Sea and the ports of Europe and North America through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, while larger freighters and oil tankers from the Persian Gulf sail around the Cape of Good Hope at the southern tip of Africa.
R i d g e
South Indian Basin
S O U T H E R N
5
7
Banzare Seamounts
n Plai
The moutia dance of the Seychelles was brought to the islands by African slaves in the 1700s.
Exmouth Plateau
ia
oken Ri dge
I n d i e s
North Australian Basin
(to Australia)
Ba si n
FRENCH SOUTHERN & ANTARCTIC TERRITORIES
va
CHRISTMAS ISLAND
Wharton
OCEAN
Basin
Ja
Ea
Cha gos Chag - L a c c a d i v e P l a t e a u os Tre nch
Ow Ch Ri ain dg e sc Pla aren in e
Ma
So
(to Australia)
Br
Crozet
tra
R
ma
n
ge
ne
Su
t
In
a di
id
a
Zo
E a s t Jav
Basin COCOS ISLANDS
A lot of the coast in the tropical part of the Indian Ocean is fringed with mangrove forests. These amazing trees live in salty water and have long roots that trap sediment and protect the coast from erosion. Without these trees, settlements and land along the coast are in danger of being damaged by high tides and strong storms.
Borneo
Cocos
Ridge
Madagascar Basin
r aF
e ur
Se
E
(to France)
i ger
ct
n
an lau ai I n v e s t i g a t o r pu w Ke enta M
MAURITIUS
RÉUNION
ctu
n
Fra
INDIAN
Zo re
e d g R i
o Arg
(to U.K.)
Sea MANGROVES
Mid-Indian Basin
South China
a
4
C e y l on Plain
BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY
Mascarene Basin
es
(to India)
MALE'
n M i d - I n d i a
e dg Ri
VICTORIA
hw
Nicobar Islands
ma
SRI LANKA
MALDIVES
Gulf of Thailand
da
Ca rls be rg
An
(to India)
3
OCEAN
Andaman Islands
(to India)
SEYCHELLES
ut
Bay of Bengal
e
Socotra
(to Yemen)
PACIFIC
n
an
en F Zo ract ne ur e Mu Ri r d
F us
y ra e g
8
O C E A N
ANTARCTICA Norwegian freighter I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
99
AUSTRALASIA OCEANIA Unknown to the outside world before the 1600s, Australia is a still a sparsely inhabited land where most people live in cities. At its heart is a huge arid desert, in stark contrast to the islands of Oceania, where all of life revolves around the glittering ocean. The 3,000 named islands are grouped into nations, listed below in order of land area.
Australia 2,988,902 sq miles 7,741,220 sq km 21,300,000 Canberra English, Italian, Cantonese, Greek, Arabic, Vietnamese, Aboriginal languages
Micronesia The thickly wooded Rock Islands of Palau near the Philippines are ancient reefs raised above sea level, fringed by coral sand beaches and blue lagoons.
271 sq miles 702 sq km 110,700 Palikir Trukese, Pohnpeian, Kosraean, Yapese, English
New Zealand
Palau
103,363 sq miles 267,710 sq km 4,270,000 Wellington
177 sq miles 459 sq km 20,400 Melekeok
English, Maori
Papa New Guinea 178,704 sq miles 462,840 sq km 6,730,000 Port Moresby Pidgin English, Papuan, English, Motu, 800 (est) native languages
Solomon Islands 11,157 sq miles 28,896 sq km 523,200 Honiara English, Pidgin English, Melanesian Pidgin, c. 120 other languages
Palauan, English, Japanese, Angaur, Tobi, Sonsorolese
Fiji 7,056 sq miles 18,274 sq km 849,200 Suva Fijian, English, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Telugu
Vanuatu 4,706 sq miles 12,189 sq km 239,800 Port-Vila Bislama (Melanesian Pidgin), English, French, other indigenous languages
Samoa
Kiribati 313 sq miles 811 sq km 99,482 Bairiki (Tarawa Atoll) English, Kiribati
Tonga
1,093 sq miles 2,831 sq km 178,800 Apia
288 sq miles 747 sq km 104,000 Nuku’Alofa
Samoan, English
English, Tongan
Marshall Islands 70 sq miles 181 sq km 65,859 Majuro Sydney’s iconic Opera House and Harbor Bridge symbolize this Australian city’s role as a center of global culture.
100
Marshallese, English, Japanese, German
The ancestors of today’s Pacific Islanders reached their islands by crossing the ocean in giant canoes. Many islanders still rely on the ocean to make a living.
Tuvalu 10 sq miles 26 sq km 11,100 Fongafale (Funafuti Atol) Tuvaluan, Kiribati, English
Nauru 8 sq miles 21 sq km 9,800 None Nauruan, Kiribati, Chinese, Tuvaluan, English
The colorfully named Champagne Pool is one of many hot springs in Rotorua, New Zealand— one of the most volcanically active countries in the world.
101
AUSTRALASIA AND OCEANIA B
C
D
SW Pacific
. HAGATÑA
GUAM (to U.S.)
C
ha
in
C
I s l a n d s
Kosrae
Ebon Atoll
i
a
Admiralty Islands
elag
B i s m a r c k Se a
o
M
New Ireland
e
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Cen tral Madang Ra ng Mount Wilhelm 14,793ft (4509m)
Lae
l
Bougainville Island
New Britain
Banaba
NAURU
St.Matthias Group
Bismarck Archip
a
e nl ta nS
Islands
Guadalcanal
Louisiade Archipelago
Santa Cruz Islands
San Cristobal Rennell
C o r a l
Christianity is the dominant religion on most southwest Pacific islands. However Islam and Hinduism are also practiced. Many people also retain beliefs from traditional religions that existed before the islands were colonized by people from Europe and Asia.
n
Choiseul So lom So lo mo n Sea o n Santa Isabel SOLOMON Is New Georgia Gulf of y l a Malaita Islands Ra Papua n ng e HONIARA d ISLANDS PORT MORESBY D'Entrecasteaux s
New Guinea
e Ow
7
Rongelap Atoll
k
l i n e
A MIX OF RELIGIONS
Beads, shells, and feathers form part of the decoration.
Bikini Atoll
i MARSHALL ISLANDS R Ujelang Atoll at c r Kwajalein Atoll o M I C R O N E S I A Namu Atoll h n Ailinglaplap a i n Chuuk PALIKIR Atoll Islands Pohnpei e Jaluit Atoll C a r o
Men in Papua New Guinea wearing traditional makeup
6
Enewetak Atoll
M
ak
5
Rota
e
Historically, the mountainous landscape of Papua New Guinea made contact between villages difficult. As a result of many years of isolation, some villages developed their own individual languages. Nationwide, about 800 different languages evolved.
Saipan
s
LAND OF MANY LANGUAGES
Tinian
li
4
(to U.S.)
Ra
3
White sandy beaches and warm water makes this region ideal for tourists.
NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
INDONE SIA
2
F
ISLAND VACATION
The islands of the southwest Pacific Ocean are home to people of many different cultures and languages. These islands are divided into three general groups based on their location and the similarities between their peoples. The Polynesian islands to the east include Tonga, Samoa, the Cook Islands, and Tahiti. Yap Melanesia includes Fiji, Babeldaob the Solomon Islands, MELEKEOK and Vanuatu. The smallest group, PALAU Micronesia, includes the Marshall, Kiribati, and Caroline Islands. The first Europeans came to the southwest Pacific Equator in the 1600s, several thousand years after the Melanesians, Micronesians, and Polynesians first arrived.
E
S e a
Banks Islands
VANUATUMaéwo
CORAL SEA ISLANDS
Espiritu Santo
(to Australia)
Malekula
PORT-VILA
Pentecost Ambrym Epi Efate
NE W Erromango C ALE D O NI A Tanna (to France)
s
NOUMÉA Tropic of Capricorn
9
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Vanuatu tribespeople dancing at a religious ceremony A
B
C
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E
F
G
Aneityum
o y Lifou a u Maré té
L
8
Ile
New Caledonia
Ouvéa
H
SOUTHWEST PACIFIC I
J
K
L
FOOD CROPS
M
N
O
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THE KINGDOM OF TONGA
Most Pacific Islanders live in small villages near the ocean. Inland areas are often mountainous, making farming difficult. Instead, people grow foods such as sweet potatoes, bananas, and coconuts in lowland areas. As well as providing milk, coconut flesh is used to produce copra, a substance for making soap and cosmetics.
Tonga is the only Pacific nation never fully brought under foreign rule. Instead, it is run in the traditional way by its own king. All land is owned by the royal family and is allotted to households for their use. Now, some young, Westernized Tongans have started calling for more democracy.
Copra worker in Fiji scooping coconut kernels
1
The Royal Palace in Tonga
2
Maloelap Atoll Majuro Atoll
KINGMAN REEF
Mili Atoll
Cook Islands family
PALMYRA ATOLL (to U.S.)
3
(to U.S.)
Tarawa
BAIRIKI
T u
BAKER & HOWLAND ISLANDS
Kiritimati (Christmas Island)
JARVIS ISLAND
(to U.S.)
n
Abemama
Teraina Tabuaeran
International Dateline
Makin
L
(to U.S.)
g
i
P A C I F I C McKean Island
Malden Island
KIRIBATI P
TUVALU
(to New Zealand) Nukunonu Fakaofo Atoll Atoll
Nukulaelae
Penrhyn Rakahanga
e
y
Vostok Island
i
PAGO PAGO
a
Cikobia
(to New Zealand)
Tikehau
Niuatoputapu
Tu
Vanua Levu
Vava‘u Group
Kadavu
NIUE
Palmerston
(to New Zealand)
Ha‘apai Group
NUKU‘ ALOFA Tongatapu 'Eua
To n G r gatapu oup
International Dateline
Tofua
rc
A
SUVA
roup
Viti Levu
TONGA
G Lau
Nadi
ALOFI
Sout her n C ook Is l and s
Manuae Takutea
Raiatea
pe
ld e l a
Makemo
otu
Islan
PAPEETE
ds
7 Amanu
Tahiti
Tatakoto
Soc
Ahunui
iété (to France)
Rarotonga Mangaia
Île s
Au st ra
Marutea
Vanavana
Rurutu Tubuai
Islanders net fishing in an outrigger off the coast of Ifalik, Micronesia
Transportation between many islands has traditionally been by outrigger canoes. Floats attached to the sides provide extra stability, especially useful for the fishermen who stand in the boats to cast their nets. J
hi
Fakarava
am
FRENCH POLYNESIA
AVARUA
OUTRIGGER CANOES
I
Takaroa
a
Tutuila
COOK ISLANDS
Ta'ú
6
i
Savai‘i ‘Upolu
Île Uvea Île Futuna
Fatu Hiva
Flint Island
(to U.S.)
APIA
Hiva Oa
Marquesas Islands
s
SAMOA
(to France)
MATA'UTU
Nuku Hiva
Millennium Island
n
Nor t her n C ook Is l and s
AMERICAN SAMOA
Tropic of Capricorn
Fangataufa
Raevavae
le
s
0 km
300
600 300
600
Marotiri
L
M
N
8
Tureia
0 miles
K
5
e
s
WALLIS & FUTUNA
FIJI
l
Manihiki
Niulakita
Rotuma
o
TOKELAU
Atafu Atoll
d s
Starbuck Island
Nui Atoll
Nukufetau FONGAFALE Funafuti Atoll
n
KIRIBATI
Phoenix Islands
Niutao Nanumaga
Many Pacific peoples live in extended family groups. Recently, however, some islanders have migrated to countries such as New Zealand and the United States in order to look for work.
a
Nanumea Atoll
Enderbury Island Manra
Orona
Nikumaroro
FAMILY LIFE
l
KIRIBATI
O C E A N
s
Kanton Birnie Island
I
Nikunau Tamana Arorae
n
e
u
r
Beru
a
Nonouti
4
Equator
O
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103
AUSTRALASIA AND OCEANIA B
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Australia
Melville Island
A huge, generally flat country, Australia
FLYING DOCTOR
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ulf G
Hamersley
B
ar
n
lee
ac
zr o
Ei gh
ty
M
Ri
Gr
Fitzroy Crossing y Ri
eat
Percival Lakes
Marble Bar
Top Springs Roadhouse
Halls Creek T a n a m i
ver
Desert
San
Ran
ge
W E S T E R N
Lake Mackay
Lake Disappointment
ge
G i b s o n ver Ri
Robinson
Mu rch
iso n
Denham
AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES
Kalbarri
AD e s e r U t
S
Lake Carnegie
Ra ng e
Lake Wells
M usgr
ave Range
Great Victoria Lake Carey
Desert
Lake Barlee Lake Moore
Lake Rebecca
Kalgoorlie Southern Cross
Coolgardie
Gingin
Merredin Northam Norseman Brookton Fremantle Narrogin Mandurah Wagin Bunbury Collie Katanning Busselton Manjimup Augusta
Perth
Reid
Zanthus
Nul
Lake Cowan
larbor
Plain Eucla
Balladonia
Esperance
G
Australian Bight t a re
Albany
0 km 8
200
0 miles
400 200
OUTDOOR SPORTS
400
A warm climate, with easy access to beaches and wilderness areas, has made outdoor activities an important part of modern Australian life. Watersports, such as swimming, sailing, and surfing, are especially popular. Because of the danger of exposure to strong sunlight, people are told to cover up and always use sunscreen.
AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL
9
104
A popular sport here is Australian Rules Football. One of the rules is that players can kick or punch the ball, but they must not throw it. Many Australians either play the game themselves or support their favorite team. As the name implies, the game originated in Australia, but it now has leagues in other countries, such as Great Britain and the U.S. A
B
C
D
T
A U S T R A L I A Mount Magnet
Moora
Australia has one of the world’s most important mining industries, with resources including gold (left), coal, natural gas, iron ore, copper, and opals. However, damage to the environment—and Aboriginal claims over land used for mining— still need to be faced.
Lake Amadeus
Uluru (Ayers Rock) 2844ft (867m)
Meekatharra
Geraldton
MINING
Macdon
Newman
Carnarvon
Dirk Hartog Island
N O
dy D esert
T E R
ver
Ran
ia Riv
Kununurra
Kimberley Plateau Fi t
c t or
il e
r Gascoyn e R i v e
Shark Bay
7
Heywood Islands
h
AN
Fortes cue Riv er
Tropic of Capricorn
6
King S
Vi
Wyndham
Onslow
Ashbu rto
The original inhabitants of Australia had an intimate understanding of the environment. This connection to the land and its plants and animals affects every aspect of their culture. When Europeans started arriving in the late 1700s, only the Aborigines in remote areas escaped contact with the diseases they brought. Today, Aborigines rarely live off the land, but instead work in factories or on farms.
Archipelago
Port Hedland
Dampier
Exmouth
5
E OC
Pine Creek
Gulf
Bigge Island
Broome
Barrow Island Exmo uth
Bernier Island Dorre Island
Bonaparte
For anyone living in the remote Australian outback, the nearest doctor can be many hours away. When emergency help is needed, the Royal Flying Doctor Service can get to the scene to treat a patient or fly them to a hospital.
INDIA
4
Joseph Cape Londonderry Bonaparte
er
has relatively few inhabitants. This is mostly because most of the land is hot, semiarid desert—known as the outback—unsuitable for towns or farms. In places where there is some vegetation or the land has been irrigated, sheep and cattle are grazed. Wheat is grown in the fertile south. The first people to live here were the Aborigines, who arrived from Asia at least 50,000 years ago. Today, most Australians are descendants of European immigrants, with a more recent addition of Asians.
nd ou
3
Darwin
Be
2
Van Diemen Gulf
Bathurst Island
E
F
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s
AUSTRALIA I
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N
es Strait Torr
Arafura Sea
Badu Island Prince of Wales Island t St r a i Endeavour
Wessel Islands
Moa Island
UNIQUE WILDLIFE
Animal parks and refuges allow “townies” and tourists to get close to Australia’s unique wildlife. They can see marsupials, such as koalas and wallabies (left), as well as crocodiles, snakes, and the world’s only egg-laying mammals—the platypus and the echidna.
r York Peninsula Princess
Carpentaria
iv e
r
la
Burketown
de
Tennant Creek
e ng Ra
F l in
nd
Gr eg or y
r ve Ri rs
Se y
Mount Isa
Cloncurry
lw
R T H E R N
Cairns
Hinchinbrook Island
Hughenden
an
Winton
I
A
Simpson
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ree k
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vi
Barcaldine
rC
A
Emerald
Ra
Blackall
Charleville
Maryborough Gympie
G
W A L E S
Bathurst
M u rrumb idgee Riv Cootamundra Hay er
Wagga Wagga
at
nge
Newcastle Gosford
Parramatta
Sydney
Wollongong
Goulburn
CANBERRA
VI CT O RIA
South East Point
Cooma Bega
7 LIFE IN CITIES
Most Australians live in the coastal towns and cities of southeastern Australia, where the climate is cooler. Although Canberra is the capital, Sydney is the largest and oldest city and is beautifully situated around Sydney Harbor. One of the world’s most famous landmarks is Sydney Opera House (below), which has five separate auditoriums for concerts, operas, and plays. The design echoes the sails of a ship.
Se
A
Wodonga Horsham Bendigo Wangaratta a n Naracoorte li tra Mount Sunbury A u s Gambier Ballarat Melbourne Portland Sale Moe Warrnambool Geelong Traralgon
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
6
8
an
Mount Kosciuszko 7310ft Albury (2228m) Shepparton
King Island
re
Orange
Deniliquin
Keith
g
id
Dubbo
River Parkes hlan Lac
Adelaide
Grafton
Coffs Harbour Port Macquarie D Taree Muswellbrook
a
Riv er
S O U T H
Ivanhoe
Mildura
Lismore
iv
Cobar
N E W
Australia boasts an impressive range of high-quality wine-growing regions, specializing in different grapes. Wines are exported to more than 90 countries.
Surfers Paradise Murwillumbah
in
Narrabri Armidale Gunnedah Nyngan Tamworth
VINEYARDS
Ipswich
Ra
ver
Warre go Ri
an Wilcannia
Toowoomba
r
5
m
Kangaroo Island
Bourke
Brisbane
Moonie
Walgett
R
Gawler Tailem Bend Ouyen
B arw o n R i ve
Tourism is important to Australia’s economy, and there is plenty to attract visitors. Popular destinations include the tropical waters around the Great Barrier Reef (above), the modern cities of Sydney and Melbourne, and the impressive sight of Uluru (Ayers Rock), a mountainous rock sacred to the Aborigines.
Caloundra
Goondiwindi Warwick Stanthorpe Moree
s
it
Bollon
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
as
Investigator Stra
St. George
lp
ce Sp e n
Elizabeth
r r ie
Broken Hill
Peterborough Eyre Port Pirie Crystal Brook f Peninsula Gul M u rray River
Port Lincoln
Fraser Island
Dalby
a R Cunnamulla
ge
Ra n Flind
B ar
r
Elliston
Port Augusta Whyalla
g
Lake Callabonna Lake Frome
ers
Lake Torrens
Penong
Lake Gairdner
ges
AUS TR AL I A
G
Lake Blanche
Marree
y re
Darling
Lake Eyre South
Ceduna
Gladstone
e n
Lake Eyre North -52ft (-16m)
Tarcoola
e
Gayndah Murgon Roma Miles
Mitchell
Tropic of
Curtis Island Capricorn
Biloela Augathella
Lake Everard
Rockhampton
Bundaberg
Desert
Coober Pedy
ng
Windorah
S O U T H
Maryborough Yeppon
Clermont
ng
Springsure
Coo pe
R
Longreach
f 4
i
Q U EEN SL A ND
Alice Springs
e
Mackay
t D
ges
ge
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Whitsunday Group
Bloomsbury
a
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Bowen
Charters Towers
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3
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Townsville
Grea
n
R I T O R Y
R
Atherton Innisfail Tully
S l a r or e i
le
Normanton
Port Douglas
1
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tR
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Cooktown
ing Range
ab
ve
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T
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Ri
a r
ly
lb
ll
Divid
rk
Mornington Island
P
Voting in government elections in Australia is compulsory. Citizens who fail to vote can be fined.
B
he
Wellesley Islands
i G
Ba
eat
M
itc
Daly Waters
t
Gr
Sir Edward Pellew Group
Ran nell
Charlotte Bay
Groote Eylandt
Katherine
a
Arn hem L an d
e
Cape
Gulf of
O
Cape York
G
Croker Island South Goulburn Island
L
T
B a s s S t r a i t Flinders Island
Hunter Island
Marrawah
Ba nks S t r a Cape Barren Island it Burnie
Devonport
9
Launceston
TASMAN IA I
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Hobart
Maria Island
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With its safe harbor and nearby scenic islands, Auckland is known as the “city of sails”. It boasts more pleasure boats per person than anywhere else in the world. The water that separates the bigger islands is home to dolphins, families of blue penguins, and the occasional whale.
AUCKLAND
E
Maoris make up almost 16 percent of the population, with most living on North Island. Before the coming of the Pakeha (white man), Maori history was orally passed on to succeeding generations. This included many legends and waiata (songs). Their carvings in wood (left) and stone (right) were another way in which they recorded and remembered events. In recent years, interest in Maori culture has increased, and schoolchildren are now taught the Maori language.
MAORI CULTURE
0 miles
0 km 50
100
Cape Farewell
50
Greenstone (jade) carving, an example of Maori art
H
Golden Bay
Cape Egmont
Te Kuiti
Taumarunui
Taihape
Levin
Palmerston North
Feilding
Hawke Bay
I
P
Havelock North
Mahia Peninsula
Ruatoria
East Cape
Gisborne Po ve r ty B ay
um
A
Wairoa
Hastings Waipawa
Napier
R
k au
Lake Waikaremoana
Murupara
Kawerau
Opotiki
Whakatane
Waipukurau Dannevirke Woodville Pahiatua Cape Turnagain
ei ik
Waiouru
Mount Ruapehu 9177ft (2797m)
North Island
Taupo
Lake Taupo
Lake Rotorua
Matamata
Bay o f P le n ty
H
In 1893, New Zealand was the first country to give women the vote. Tauranga
Rotorua
Turangi
Marton
Wanganui
South Taranaki Patea Bight
Raetihi
Mayor Island
Katikati
Paeroa
Thames
Whitianga
Tokoroa
Cambridge
New Plymouth
Hawera
D'Urville Island
Pukekohe
Otorohanga
Stratford
nn e l
Coromandel
Ch a
Papakura
lle
Huntly Morrinsville
North Taranaki Bight Ohura Waitara
lv i
Great Barrier Island
G
Manurewa
Hamilton
Waiuku
Auckland
Takapuna
Co
Hauraki Gulf
Warkworth Helensville
ur
Wellsford Kaipara Harbo
Mount Taranaki (Mount Egmont) 8261ft (2518m)
100
Wa iro a
Ruawai
Little Barrier Island
Whangarei
ade up of two main islands and several smaller ones, New Zealand is one of the most isolated countries in the world. Located in the southern Pacific, the country has a mild climate, with warm summers and cool, wet winters. Both main islands have mountains, short, swift-flowing rivers, forests, and fertile farmland. Until the Three Kings Europeans arrived, most of the landscape was covered in Islands dense forest known as native bush. Today, although forests Cape Reinga North Cape remain, most has been cleared for farming. Most Great Exhibition New Zealanders live on North Island, which is warmer Te Kao Bay and less mountainous. Although New Zealanders are of mostly British descent, the Maoris—a people of Polynesian origin— were the first to arrive about 1,000 years ago. Today, non-Maori Kerikeri Kaitaia Paihia Polynesians and Asians are adding to the ethnic mix. The country Okaihau a has a liberal, clean,“green”image and a high standard of living. Hokiang r Kaikohe Hikurangi ar b o u
M
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New Zealand
B
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Ra ng i
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u
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Alexandra
Cromwell
A
Ross
Hokitika
lp
s
Otira
Tokanui
rn
ta ki
Arthur’s Pass 3018ft (920m)
C
ce ren la
Hanmer Springs
Pegasus
Waipara
Springs Junction
Hurunui
Lake Brunner
Timaru
Oamaru
Studholme Waimate
D
New Zealand offers a huge range of adventure sports and outdoor activities, from white-water rafting (below) to bungee jumping. The latter originated in Queenstown on South Island. The town is billed as the country’s top adventure-tourism destination because its surrounding lakes, mountains, and rivers— and its mostly dry climate—are ideal for outdoor pursuits.
ADVENTURE-SPORTS PARADISE
Otago Peninsula
Dunedin
Hampden
ai
Island
Balclutha
C
Rak aia
e South
Mosgiel Milton Mataura
e s B ay Ruapuke Island
To
o
Lake Hawea
Invercargill
Gore
Stewart Island
t
Muttonbird Islands
Halfmoon Bay
Fov
Riverton
xS
16
e
Codfish Island
Ta W a e w a
aiau W
y Ba
Winton
Lake Manapouri
Te Anau
Queenstown
ra tau
Lake Hauroko
Lake Wakatipu
Wanaka
Lake Wanaka
Ma
15
West Cape
Resolution Island
Milford George S ound Sound l e l S ound Casw Lake Te Anau
Milford Sou nd
Haast
C lutha
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Kaikoura
Clarence
E
Otaki Masterton
F
Most of the country’s electricity comes from hydroelectric power. It is generated by river water gushing through turbines inside dams at power plants. New Zealand also has geothermal energy, using heat taken from inside Earth.
GREEN ENERGY
G
New Zealand has many unique and endangered animal species, especially birds. There were no mammal predators before humans introduced them, so many animal species have few means of defense, and some birds, such as the kiwi, cannot fly. Conservation programs are now in place to protect endangered species.
Cape Palliser
WELLINGTON
Lower Hutt
Porirua
Cape Campbell
irau Blenheim Wa Seddon
NEW ZEALAND
hm Ric
Picton
Paraparaumu
Oxford Rangiora Bay Kaiapoi Darfield Christchurch Flightless Lyttelton Kiwi bird Aoraki (Mt Cook) Plains y r Banks 12,283ft (3744m) Mayfield rbu Lake e t Ashburton Ellesmere Peninsula Mount Cook Hinds Canterbury Geraldine Lake Fairlie UNIQUE WILDLIFE Bight Pukaki Temuka
New Zealand has a well-established film industry. Today, thanks to the acclaimed Tolkien trilogy Lord of the Rings (above), the Abut Head country has become increasingly popular with Whataroa international studios for location work. The country offers an unusually wide range of Fox Glacier scenery, as well as technical experts.
FILM INDUSTRY
Runanga Greymouth
Reefton
Cape Foulwind
Westport
ge Ran ond
Nelson
Tasman Bay
Richmond
Motueka
Mount Owen Seddonville 6152ft (1875m)
Karamea Bight
Ca n
10
r
L i vi n g s to n e M ts . Eyre M ts.
it
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9
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dl a
Fio
Taie ri
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H
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A fault line runs through New Zealand, where two major tectonic plates meet. It has caused devastating earthquakes but has also helped create breathtaking scenery. This includes South Island’s Southern Alps and many smaller volcanic mountains, hot springs, and geysers on North Island.
VOLCANIC ACTIVITY
Lady Knox geyser, North Island
Agriculture is of prime importance, and it accounts for more than half of national export earnings. Orchards produce a wide range of fruit, from apples (above) to kiwi fruit (below). Cereals and other crops, such as sunflowers, add color and variety to the landscape. Traditional sheep and cattle farming has expanded to include deer, goats, and even ostrich.
AN AGRICULTURAL NATION
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PACIFIC OCEAN D
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Pacific Ocean
HAWAII
This chain of eight volcanic islands and 124 islets forms the 50th state of the United States of America, and was admitted to the union in 1959. The dramatic landscape and palm-fringed beaches make Hawaii a popular destination for tourists. Today, native Hawaiians are a minority in their own land.
5
a
Se
ch
a
Taiwan
ut Ba h Ch sin in a
So
h
en
C
st
u Ry
ky
u
Philippine NORTHERN Sea MARIANA ISLANDS
Borneo
Ja T re pan nc h
Challenger Deep 36,201ft (11,034m)
(to U.S.)
Philippines
South China Sea
(to U.S.)
GUAM
PALAU
Caro lin e I s lan ds
MICRON
Celebes Sea
M
Celebes
E a s t
I n d i e s
J a v a Sea
Banda Sea
Java
Ar
af Torres Stra ur i
t Gr
Se
a
Coral Sea
e rr i Ba e at ee f R
I N DI AN O CEAN
Timor Timo r S ea
e l
New Guinea
a
Black smoker chimney
6
Japan
Tr
Ea
When British naturalist Charles Darwin (1809–1882) traveled to the Galápagos Islands, he found many unusual animals. He also noticed differences between animals of the same species living elsewhere. This led him to believe that, over time, animals adapt, or evolve, to suit their habitats.
Earthquakes beneath the Ocean may cause giant waves called tsunamis. These can travel great distances across the ocean, building into a huge wall of water as they approach the coast. They can leave immense damage in their wake.
Yellow Sea
Marine iguana on black volcanic rocks, Galápagos Islands
GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS TSUNAMI
an ap a) J of e a tS S e Eas (
ts
4
ASIA
Hawaiian conch shells, once blown to sound a warning
n Emper or Se a m o u oku S h i ks i n Ba
3
one third of Earth’s surface. The island nations of Japan, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, and many others are completely surrounded by this enormous ocean, which stretches from the Arctic in the north to the Antarctic in the south. The Pacific is also the world’s deepest ocean—its greatest known depth is in the Mariana Trench, off Guam, which plunges steeply for 36,198 ft (11,033 m). Within the Pacific, there are many smaller seas that lie near land. These include the Tasman Sea, the South China Sea, and the Bering Sea. There are more than 30,000 islands in the Pacific. Most are too small or barren to be inhabited, but others are home to people of many different cultures and religions. The native island peoples fall into three main groups—Polynesians, Melanesians, and Micronesians. Although the word pacific means “peaceful,” strong currents, tropical storms, and tsunamis can all make this ocean far from peaceful.
Ma riana Tre nch
The largest ocean on earth, the Pacific covers 2
H
in
C
Phili pp Bas ine in
B
r
SURFING
7
AUSTRALASIA & OCEANIA
The Hawaiian sport of surfing ranks as the oldest sport in the USA. It was first practiced by the nobility as a form of religious ceremony until the 1820s, when missionaries, who thought it was immoral, tried to ban it. Today, surfing is one of the most popular watersports and can be enjoyed all over the world, from Australia to the U.K.
Great l Au s t r a i a n B i g h
t
South Large red tube worms
Basin Underwater exploration has revealed some amazing places deep in the Pacific. Large vents, formed by solidified minerals, act as chimneys for super-hot steam and gas that stream up from the sea bed. These vents are known as black smokers. Scientists have found a variety of new creatures living in this hostile environment.
9
A
B
C
D
r a it ss S t
Australian Tasmania
DEEP-SEA VENTS
8
108
Ba
E
The Pacific is larger than Earth’s entire land surface. F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
tr a
it
ARCTIC OCEAN Ber
S
Bering Aleutian Sea ds Basin an l s I
ch n
re
T
y Cascadia Basin
gh
u
KINGMAN REEF
R
id
Co
id c R
ni n
Fra
ctu r
Amu
ge
id
Tuna fishing needs to be carefully monitored. J
K
L
6
M
s e d
SOUTH PACIFIC FISH
n
n
l ain nds en P
SOUTHERN OCEAN
I
(to Chile)
si
Mornington Abyssal Plain
e Zo ne Sou t he a st Pa c i fi c B a si n
ge
5
R
ca e
i fic-Antarct
Islas Juan Fernández (to Chile) enge r Fr act u C h re Z on il e is
El ta
Peru Basin
(to Chile)
R
Paci
Isla San Félix
e
g
e
EL NIÑO
Every few years, winds off the South American coast weaken, causing an unusually warm ocean current known as El Niño. This kills off plankton that provide food for fish such as anchovies. Scientists use heat-sensitive cameras to map ocean temperatures and keep track of El Niño. The warmest waters are shown in orange/red (above).
Isla San Ambrosio
(to Chile)
(to Chile)
ne re Zo
Islands Bounty Chatham (to N.Z.) Trough
Sala y Gomez
Easter Island
Ch al l
e
A
(to U.K.)
tu z Frac Agassi
Campbell Plateau
Zo n
Ba
les
Men
u re
e
str a
PITCAIRN ISLANDS
Basin
le
sin
Au
il
Ba
s
Pacific
sv
an
Îles Gambier
Southwest
(to N.Z.)
ui
si
e
sm
Île
ral A u s t Z on e e r Frac t u
r ac t d aña F
N
ga T r ench
T on
Kermadec Islands Lo
ow
Ba
H
Ri n se
Ta
(to France)
Horizon Deep Ozbourn Seamount
North Island NEW ZEALAND Tasman South at ha m Ri se h Island C Sea Tasman Plateau
(to N.Z.)
(to N.Z.)
a
FRENCH POLYNESIA
Galápagos Rise
h
d
onia
(to Australia)
Tahiti
COOK ISLANDS
NIUE
i
E
Caled
Lor
NORFOLK ISLAND
(to U.S.)
Tiki Basin
h
Ne w
South Fiji Basin
s
Bauer Basin
nc
TONGA
e
SOUTH AMERICA
(to Ecuador)
az
Ga Marquesas Islands Fra esas rqu a M
n
ge
Galápagos Islands
C
a
FIJI
SAMOA
y
ch
Tre
i
NEW CALEDONIA (to France)
AMERICAN SAMOA
(to France)
North Fiji VANUATU Basin
l
en
bbean Se a
Peru-Chile
s
WALLIS & FUTUNA
one ure Z Gallego Rise one Z cture
ract os F g a láp
(to U.S.)
P o
Tr
Guatemala Basin
(to France)
R i s e
ia
O C E A N
BAKER & HOWLAND ISLANDS
(to N.Z.)
ca
(to U.S.)
KIRIBATI TUVALU TOKELAU
SOLOMON ISLANDS
n
C ari eA me ri
co
JARVIS ISLAND
(to U.S.)
erto
ddl
CLIPPERTON ISLAND
P a c i f i c
s
ATOLL
Basin
pp Cli
Zone
ture Frac
Mi
sR
(to U.S.)
P a c i f i c PALMYRA
NAURU
e
Zone
ture
il
Cla
Frac rion
3
Gulf of Mexico
id
HAWAII
(U.S. STATE)
ins
P A C I F I C
Central
e
Melanesian Basin
Mounta
e e Zon
a s t
n
ESIA
(to U.S.)
Fractur
a orni alif of C
ro
e Zone
lf Gu
MARSHALL M ISLANDS
kai Molo
n R idge
s i n t a
r ractu ray F Mur
Easter Island in the Pacific lies more than 2,000 miles (3,218 km) from the nearest populated land. It is best known for the gigantic stone figures known as Moai that were carved from volcanic rock and erected facing the ocean. It is thought that the people who built the statues were of Peruvian descent.
NORTH AMERICA
n
iia
JOHNSTON ATOLL
acific
no F rac tur e Zone
(to U.S.)
wa
EASTER ISLAND
o
Mendoci
(to U.S.)
d-P
M
rou ok T Chino
WAKE ISLAND
n
k
ic
Ha
a
c
cif
MIDWAY ISLANDS
ic
o
a tP es w n th a s i or B N
Mi
Gulf of Alaska
h n nc A leutia Tre n a Aleuti
R
Sea of Okhotsk
e ril ds Kulan e Is il ur K
i ng
Fish stocks in the south Pacific are an important food source for the island countries and a major source of employment. Migratory tuna are the most important fish. However, it is becoming clear that the industry needs to be effectively managed in order to avoid the dangers of overfishing and the collapse of fish stocks.
7
8
ANTARCTICA B
C
D
E
F
Tourists visit Antarctica in the summer. There are no hotels, so visitors generally stay on small cruise ships. When they come ashore, people have to wear insulated clothing and goggles to protect their eyes from the glare off the ice.
The frozen continent of antarctica is covered by a vast
3
icecap, many thousands of years old, and surrounded by the freezing waters of the Southern Ocean. It is the only continent with no permanent inhabitants—the only people who come here are scientists or tourists. Although the land is rich in oil and minerals, mining is prohibited under the laws of the Antarctic Treaty. This Treaty, agreed by 45 countries, made Antarctica OZONE HOLE a “continent for science” High up in the atmosphere, ozone (a gas) forms a natural shield that protects us from the Sun’s to be used for peaceful ultraviolet rays. Scientists at both poles have purposes only. found holes in the ozone layer, caused by chemicals known as CFCs, once used in Orcadas SOU aerosols, fridges, and plastic packaging. (Argentina) South Orkney Signy Islands
Sanae (South Africa) Novolazarevskaya
Drak
e P as
sa
ge
(U.K.)
4
Georg von Neumayer
South Shetland Islands Esperanza (Argentina)
0 miles
(Chile)
nt
m ha Gra nd La
(U.S.)
A
(U.K.)
cti
(U.K.)
Palm San Martín
in
er
(Argentina)
The only people who live in Antactica are scientists. They come to study the climate, Bellingshausen weather, and Sea geology. By taking ice samples, for example, they can PETER I learn about changes ISLAND (to Norway) in the world’s climate over time.
Cape Darnley
Mackenzie Bay Prydz Bay Princess Elizabeth Davis Land (Australia)
(U.S.)
an
s
an
ie
rd
c
Vostok
M
(Russian Federation)
o
W il kes L and
Scott Base
(Australia)
Cape Poinsett
(N.Z.)
nd a La tori Vic
S
Shelf McMurdo Base
Ross Sea
6
Casey
s
Ross Ice
in
Mount Markham 14,275ft (4351m)
d
Roosevelt Island
U O TH C EA ERN N
ti
Antarctica
Mount Kirkpatrick 14,856 ft (4528m)
Mount Sidley 13,717ft (4181m)
O
rc
ta
Lan
ta
5
un
By
South Pole
KRILL
Tiny, shrimplike creatures, krill are the primary food source for a large number of Antarctic animals. These include Mirny (Russ. Fed.) whales, seals, Shackleton penguins, squids, and fish. Ice Shelf
East
Amundsen-Scott
Tr
West ar
4 (Australia)
Berkner Island
Vinson Massif 16,066ft (4897m)
10,171ft (3100m)
Scientist checking an ice core
(Russian Federation)
Mawson
Antarctica M
N
(Argentina)
Ronne Ice Shelf
Amundsen Sea Mount Siple
7
Molodezhnaya
ANTARCTICA
6
EA
Belgrano II
a
Ellsworth Land
OC
Coats Land
Weddell su S e a l nd
RESEARCH
N
Enderby Land
Halley
c P en
ER
Syowa
500
La
Rothera
ar
3
(Japan)
Capitán Arturo Prat
Palmer
5
500
TH
Lützow Holmbukta
Dronning M L a n d aud
1
2
(Russian Federation)
(Germany)
0 km
H
DAYTRIPPERS
Antarctica
2
G
(U.S.)
Emperor penguins huddling for warmth
Terre Adélie
Mount Erebus 12,448ft (3794m)
7
Dumont d’Urville
Antarctica is actually a desert.
FLOATING ICE
Icebergs are giant chunks of floating ice that break away, or calve, from ice sheets or glaciers. Most of their mass lies hidden below sea level.
8
(France)
George V Land
Cape Adare
South Geomagnetic Pole
Leningradskaya (Russian Federation) Ant
ir c l ic C arct
e
8
Balleny Islands
PENGUINS
9
110
Penguins walk awkwardly on land but can swiftly swim to catch fish. Waterproof feathers and a thick layer of fat help keep them warm. A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
9
ARCTIC OCEAN B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Arctic Ocean
1
The smallest of the world’s oceans, the Arctic is almost
2
gS tr a i
t
2
completely surrounded by the northern edges of North America, Europe, and Asia. For most of the year, its waters are covered by a thick sheet of ice, although warmer currents from the Pacific and Atlantic oceans melt the ice along the continental coasts for a short time in the summer. Despite the harsh conditions, the region is home to a range of wildlife, such as reindeer, Arctic Circle musk oxen, foxes, and wolves. Some people, including the Inuit of Chukchi Canada and the Sami of Sea northern Scandinavia, Ostrov have also adapted to this Vrangelya tough environment.
LONG DAYS
Be
ri n
Seasons at the poles are extreme. Polar summers are short, but there can be sunshine for 24 hours a day as the Sun never dips below the horizon (above). This is because Earth rotates at an angle to the Sun.
Severnaya Zemlya
ds
Elizabeth L a nc as t er
North Pole
Islands Elle
So u n
O C E A N
smere Island
Na r es
d
S tr a
Lincoln Sea
it
Kn u d R a s m u s s en La nd
Franz Josef Land
Baffin Bay Fre d Lan erik VI d
II
Wandel Sea Spitsbergen
SVALBARD
(to Norway)
LONGYEARBYEN
ng
250
0 miles
500 250
(to Denmark)
500 i ct Ar
cC
irc
Kon
le
g C hr i st ia n d IX L an
Barents Sea
Norwegian Sea
JAN MAYEN (to Norway)
ARCTIC SURVIVORS
Polar bears live along the Arctic coasts of Canada, Greenland, and Russia. They hunt seals and fish at points where the sea ice melts. With so much Arctic ice having melted away in recent years, the polar bear’s habitat is slowly disappearing. An insulating layer of fat called blubber helps the bears survive the cold. Their white fur also provides essential camouflage on the ice.
A
Bjørnøya (to Norway)
8
9
Greenland Sea
GREENLAND NUUK
B
Kara Se a
Kap Morris Jesup
Ko
0 km
N N IO
North Geomagnetic Pole
Queen
Walrus breed off the Arctic coasts.
IA 5
CANADA
6
AT
A R C T I C
Melville Island
SS
Reserves of oil and gas in the Beaufort Sea, off the coast of Alaska, have attracted interest However, the introduction of ships and oil platforms brings problems. In a bid to protect the area, several environmental organizations are actively working to prevent drilling for more oil in this area.
7
ER
Laptev Sea
Victoria Island
ALASKAN OIL
5
Banks Island
4
U
Am
Novosibirskiye Ostrova
Sea
un
D
en
Beaufort
R
4
3
East Siberian Sea FE
Gu
lf
3
De
nma
7
NORTHERN LIGHTS
In midwinter, the north polar skies are sometimes lit up by dramatic curtains of red and green light. Known as the northern lights, these special effects are caused by disturbances in the upper atmosphere. The same happens near Antarctica, where the effect is called the southern lights.
8
rk Strait
ICELAND REYKJAVÍK
C
D
9
E
F
G
H
111
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